The present invention relates generally to improvements in convertible implements adapted to be used either for shaving hollow body portions such as the arm pits, or for trimming objectionable growths such as corns and calluses.

It has heretofore been proposed, as shown and described in copending application Serial No. 558,944, filed August 24, 1931, to provide a dual purpose implement adapted either for shaving the arm pits, or for cutting corns and calluses. In this prior device, means were provided for curving a standard double-edged safety razor blade by utilizing a handle to force the blade into contact with a curved support, and both edges of the blade could be utilized by revolving the blade about the central axis of the clamping handle when released, and by subsequently urging the blade into engagement with the support, the latter being only of sufficient width to present one cutting edge for a predetermined setting of the blade.

It was subsequently proposed, as disclosed and described in copending application Serial No. 588,631, filed January 25, 1932, to provide a similar implement wherein the curved support is narrower than the blade in order to constantly permit both of the cutting edges of the blade to project beyond the support, these edges being alternately guarded or protected by means of a shiftable plate disposed between the blade and the clamping handle. By releasing the handle of this improved device and subsequently merely shifting the guard plate, either cutting edge can be utilized for cutting purposes while the other edge will remain guarded, thus avoiding necessity of revolving the blade when making a conversion.

The present invention contemplates various improvements in the construction of implements of the above described general type, and especially of devices of the improved type last referred to.

One of the more specific objects of the invention is to provide a dual-purpose cutting device wherein both cutting edges of the blade are constantly guarded to eliminate possible accidental injury of a user.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide an improved cutting implement wherein the cutting blade is at all times properly positioned and held against possible displacement even when converting the device from one use to another.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide an improved excrescence remover which may be conveniently adjusted for use either for shaving hollow body portions such as the arm pits, or for trimming objectionable growths such as corns and calluses.

Still another specific object of the invention is to provide a neat appearing, compact and sanitary cutting and shaving tool capable of utilizing standard safety razor blades of various types and designs, and wherein the blade is at all times effectively confined in assembled position.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide a simple and readily manipulable dual-purpose cutting implement, which can be manufactured and sold at minimum cost, and which is extremely durable in construction.

The above and other additional objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of an embodiment of the invention and of the mode of constructing and of manipulating devices built in accordance with the improvement, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved curved support against which a double-edged blade is adapted to be clamped;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a typical double-edged safety razor blade of relatively standard design;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the improved guard which is cooperable with the support and blade of Figs. 1 and 2 respectively;

Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section through one of the improved implements partially assembled, the section being taken longitudinally through the support, blade and guard;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the improved implement, showing the same completely assembled and ready for use;

Fig. 6 is a partial longitudinal section through the implement, taken transversely of the support, blade and guard, and showing the guard set for corn or callus cutting;

Fig. 7 is another partial longitudinal section through the implement, taken transversely of the support, blade and guard, and showing the guard set for shaving purposes; and

Fig. 8 is a side view of the improved implement, showing the same in use as when paring a corn.

Referring specifically to the drawing, it will be apparent that the improved cutting implement comprises in general only four cooperable elements,: namely, a curved support 10 having a clamping stud 11 rigidly attached thereto and disposed radially thereof, a double-edged safety blade 12 of relatively standard construction, an adjustable clamping plate or guard 13, and a combined clamping member and handle 14.

The support 10 shown in Fig. 1, is preferably formed of sheet metal of sufficient thickness to prevent distortion during clamping of a blade 12 thereto, and is curved to most effectively cooperate with the usual concave surfaces such as the arm pits, with which the device is intended to cooperate. The extreme opposite ends of the support 10 are provided with integral corner projections 15 which extend directly away from the support ends to provide intervening parallel sided recesses 16. The stud 11 may be rivetted or otherwise permanently attached to the central portion of the support 10, and has a threaded free end portion 17, the remainder of the stud being substantially cylindrical or slightly tapered enlarging toward the support. The threaded end portion 17 of the stud may project away from the support 10 some distance beyond the projections 15, so that the blade 12 will coact with the support 10 only after the stud portion 17 has pierced the blade.

The standard double-edged blade 12 disclosed in detail in Fig. 2, has oppositely disposed parallel cutting edges 18 and parallel sided end projections 19. This blade 12 is sufficiently thin and flexible to permit bending thereof to the curvature of the support 10, without utilizing excessive pressure and without danger of breaking the blade. The blade 12 is provided with a central opening 20, and may have slots 21 therein extending away from the opening 20, and the width of the blade measured across the edges 18 is somewhat more than the corresponding width of the support 10. It will be apparent that other types of standard safety razor blades may be utilized in the improved cutting implement, if so desired.

The combined clamping plate and guard 13 shown in Fig. 3, is likewise preferably formed of sheet metal of suitable thickness and rigidity, this guard being curved longitudinally to snugly fit the curvature of the support 10. The guard 13 is of considerably greater transverse width than the blade 12, and has a central elongated slot 22 adapted to receive the stud 11 and to permit shifting of the guard laterally of this stud, this slot 22 being surrounded by a raised resilient portion 23. One of the longitudinally curved edge portions of the guard 13 is provided with an inwardly curved recess 24 through which the medial portion of the adjacent edge 18 of the blade 12 may be exposed for corn or callus cutting purposes, when the guard is shifted to one extreme position relative to the stud 11 as illustrated in Fig. 6. The opposite longitudinal edge portion of the guard 13 is raised to approximately the height of the central portion 23 and is provided with a series of curved guard fingers 25 similar to those of an ordinary safety razor. When the guard 13 is shifted to the opposite extreme position relative to the stud 11, from that previously mentioned, the cutting edge 18 of the blade 12 directly adjacent to the fingers 25, becomes effective for shaving purposes while the opposite blade edge is completely guarded as shown in Fig. 7. With the guard 13 shifted to central position relative to the stud 11, both cutting edges 18 of the blade 12 are substantially guarded.

The combined clamping member and handle 14 which when released slightly, permits free adjustment of the guard 13 laterally of the stud 11, is formed of three end united sections 26, 27, 28, the former of which is bored and threaded to coact with the stud 11 and guard portion 23 for clamping, purposes. The end sections 26, 28 of the handle 14 may be formed of metal and are provided with knurled extensions 29 which are embedded within the ends of the intermediate section 27, as shown in Fig. 4. The handle section 27 may be formed of plastic substance capable of being molded, and adapted to subsequently harden and subject to polishing so as to present an attractive appearance. The cross section of the handle portion or section 27 may be circular or polygonal, and the neat appearance of the entire implement may be enhanced by plating or polishing the metallic elements of the structure.

In assembling the improved implement, it is first necessary to initially assemble the structure as illustrated in Fig. 4, with the blade opening 20 penetrated by the stud 11 and with the end projections 19 lying within the recesses 16 of the support 10. The guard 13 coacts with the central portion of the blade 12, and the threaded portion 17 of the stud 11 is partially engaged by the threaded section 26 of the handle 14. By subsequently rotating the handle 14, the section 26 rides along the threaded stud portion 17 and coacts with the raised central guard portion 23 to curve the blade 12 toward the support 10. As the central portion of the blade 12 approaches the support 10, the blade projections 19 move along the recesses 16, and the blade 12 is eventually forced into intimate contact with the adjacent curved surface of the support. During this curving of the blade 12, the curved guard 13 will naturally assume a position parallel to the support 10 and the blade will be prevented from rotating by the end projections 19.

If it is subsequently desired to utilize the device for shaving purposes, the handle 14 may be slightly released and pressure applied to the guard fingers 25, whereupon the guard will be shifted to the position shown in Fig. 7, thus properly positioning the blade edge 18 adjacent to the fingers 25 for shaving purposes and simultaneously covering or guarding the opposite blade edge. If it is desired to utilize the implement for corn or callus cutting purposes, the handle 14 may again be slightly released and pressure applied to the guard on opposite sides of the recess 24, whereupon the guard 13 will be shifted to the position shown in Figs. 6 and 8, with the medial portion of the opposite blade edge 18 exposed at the recess 24. During such adjustment of the guard 13, the end projections 19 of the blade 12 will engage the recesses 16 of the support 10 the moment that the handle 14 is released, sufficiently to positively prevent rotation of the blade about the axis of the handle, thus always insuring proper disposition of the blade edges 18 relative to the support 10, while permitting relatively free adjustment of the guard 13 upon only slight release of the clamping pressure produced by the handle 14.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the improved device may be quickly converted from one use to another, and effectively utilized for the dual purpose of shaving the arm pits or of cutting corns and calluses. The device may be conveniently manipulated and is thoroughly guarded to prevent possible accidental injury to a person handling or using the same. The implement presents a highly attractive appearance, and because of the few elements utilized in its construction, it may be readily dismantled and cleaned after using, and may also be quickly reassembled. The implement is obviously capable of utilizing standard safety razor blades, but special blades may also be utilized without departing from the present invention.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination, a longitudinally curved support having central recesses at the opposite ends thereof, a double-edged blade of greater transverse width than said support having central end projections slidable in said recesses during longitudinal flexing of said blade relative to said support, said blade projections being disengageable from said support recesses when said blade has been flexed to the curvature of said support, and a transversely adjustable guard of greater transverse width than said blade cooperable with the latter to flex the same longitudinally relative to said support, said guard being adjustable transversely of said projections to alternately expose the opposite cutting edges of said blade and having one curved edge provided with elevated guard fingers for guarding one cutting edge of said blade and an opposite curved edge provided with spaced lateral projections forming a central recess for exposing only the central portion of the opposite blade edge when said guard projections have been shifted as near as possible toward said opposite blade edge.

2. In combination, a longitudinally curved support having integral laterally spaced end projections forming central end recesses, a double-edged blade of greater transverse width than said support having central end projections slidable in said recesses during longitudinal flexing of said blade relative to said support, said blade and support projections being disengageable from each other when said blade has been flexed to the curvature of said support, a transversely adjustable guard of greater transverse width than said blade cooperable with the latter to flex the same longitudinally relative to said support, and a handle for moving said guard toward said blade and for clamping said blade to said support.

3. In combination, a longitudinally curved support having central recesses at the opposite ends thereof and having an intermediate stud projecting from the concave side thereof, a double-edged normally plane blade of greater transverse width than said support having central end projections slidable in said recesses and also having an intermediate opening cooperable with said stud, a transversely adjustable longitudinally curved guard of greater transverse width than said blade having a transverse central elongated slot for receiving said stud, one curved edge of said guard being provided with elevated guard fingers for guarding one edge of said blade and the opposite curved edge of said guard being provided with spaced lateral projections forming a central recess for exposing only the central portion of the opposite blade edge when said guard projections have been shifted as near as possible toward said opposite blade edge, and a handle cooperable with said stud to cause said guard to longitudinally curve said blade and clamp the same against said support, said blade projections being disengageable from said support recesses when said blade is finally clamped.

William J. Grotenhuis.