To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Conrad Beck, of Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented an Improved Razor, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to form a razor in such a manner that it can be more readily pivoted and held between the forefinger and thumb of the operator in the various ways in which it must be turned and applied to the human face. It consists in forming thumb and finger rests in the shank of the blade, and in making a handle with a wide and concave back, all as hereinafter fully set forth.

My drawing is a perspective view illustrating the construction of my improvements.

A is the blade, preferably shorter than razor-blades are commonly made. B is the shank of the blade.

No. 1 is a lateral concave enlargement at the junction of the blade and shank. A corresponding enlargement is on the opposite side, and the two are designed to receive the ends of the thumb and finger, and afford a means of pivoting the blade at a point close to the cutting-edge, and thereby gain better control of it in the act of shaving. No. 2 is a concave thumb or finger rest on the under side of the shank B, and intersects the lateral pivotal rests, No. 1, at right angles. No. 3 is a concave in rear of and contiguous to the No. 2 rest.

The back of the shank B has curvatures opposite the concave pivotal rests Nos. 2 and 3, so that the razor can be readily and alternately pivoted and held between the thumb and finger at the points where the rests 2 and 3 are located, and in such a manner as to present the cutting-edge at right angles from the position it assumes when pivoted and held by means of the lateral rests No. 1. C is the handle, consisting of two corresponding sides, made of any suitable material, and joined together with rivets, or in any suitable way. a a represent an elongated concave in the back, designed to admit the fingers, and to make the curvature of the handle in reverse order from that usually made in razor-handles. This curvature and concave a a also enable me to form a handle with a back that is wider than the sides at the point or portion where it is designed to come in contact with the fingers. By being thus formed it is more readily admitted between the fingers, and less liable to cramp the fingers, or roll and turn during the manipulation of the blade. b is a cavity designed to receive the enlargements, No. 1, on the blade when the blade is folded into the handle. The blade is hinged to the handle by means of a socket-joint, or in any suitable way.

I am aware that a thumb-rest has been formed in the side of a razor-blade shank at some distance from the blade; but I claim that my rest No. 2, intersecting the rest No. 1 at right angles therewith, and the rest No. 3 contiguous thereto, is a novel feature, that enables me to turn and pivot the razor-blade advantageously at various angles relative to the face, as required in the operation of shaving. I also claim that the concave a a, in the handle C, designed to form a wide back and reduced sides, and a curvature in reverse order from razor-handles in use, is new, and enables me to pass the handle between the fingers without spreading and cramping them, as is commonly the result with known handles.

I claim as my invention—

1. As an improved article of manufacture, a razor having the pivotal thumb and finger rests Nos. 2 and 3 at right angles to the rest No. 1, substantially as and for the purposes shown and described.

2. A razor-handle having a concave, a a, in its back, as and for the special purposes set forth.

3. The combination of the finger-rests 1 2 3 upon the razor-blade A B, with the concaved recess a a in the back of the handle C, all arranged as and for the purposes described.

Conrad Beck.

Witnesses:

C. A. Johnson,

W. J. Kline.