This invention relates to an improved razor and particularly to the shaving head. The razor is one that can be used as a magazine razor, that is, the head can be mounted on a magazine forming part of the handle or it can be used as an independent razor joined temporarily to a magazine for the purpose of supplying a fresh blade to the razor. Both forms are illustrated in this application.

The object of the invention is to provide a shaving head that receives a blade at a place in rear of shaving position and carries the blade forwardly to shaving position automatically. The shaving head is pivoted to a post and the means for moving, the blade is actuated automatically by the tilting or swinging of the shaving head on the post.

The invention also relates to the blade moving parts being held firmly but yieldingly in its extremes or limits of movement. This feature holds the blade receiving parts firmly in position when a blade is fed endwise into the shaving head in one extreme position and holds it firmly in position for resistance to shaving pressure in the other extreme position.

Another feature of the invention is that the blade is easily inserted and expelled as it is held lightly when the parts are in receiving position but the grip on the blade is tightened when the blade is carried to shaving position.

The advantage of the rearward position of the blade in razors employing stops for the front corners of the blade is that the entrance and expulsion of the blades insures the posts against being cut away by the edges of the blades. As a blade passes out of the shaving head it cuts slightly into the stops and as the stops are made of soft metal the position of the blade after the razor has been used a while is too far forward for proper shaving.

Furthermore, the edges of incoming blades are remote from the stops and are thus insured against any damage to the cutting edges engaging any part of the razor until the blade is carried forward to shaving position.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a front view of a shaving head embodying my invention mounted on a magazine razor in which the handle forms the magazine. Figure 2 is a top view of the shaving head-shown in Figure 1 with the handle partly broken away. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the shaving head with the head arranged laterally on the post which is the shaving position. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the blade carrier of the shaving head. Figure 5 is a central cross section of the shaving head with the blade carrier retreated. Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 with the blade carrier in forward position. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the shaving head and the magazine when they are of the type assembled only for the feeding of a fresh blade. Figure 8 is a top detail view of a corner of the shaving head and Figure 9 is a front view of the same.

The shaving head includes a post 10 which can be used as a handle in the form of razor shown in Figure 7 or it can form part of a handle as shown in Figures 1 and 2 in which case the handle 11 may be of the commercial type known as magazine razors. The blade feeding mechanism is operated by a grip 12 and successively feeds blades endwise through a slit 13. This feeding mechanism is not shown in detail as it is well known as in my patent, No. 1,877,429, issued September 13, 1932, on Safety razor.

The shaving head also includes a guard member 14 which has a forward extending part 15 on the front edge of which is a suitable guard 16. The guard member 14 is pivoted to the post 10 usually intermediate the ends of the guard member and I show the flange 17 pivoted at 18 to the post. This pivot is so arranged that the guard member can be arranged parallel with the post which is the position it assumes when a blade is to be fed into the shaving head, as shown in Figures 1, 5 and 7, or it can be extended laterally across the end of the post for shaving as shown in Figure 6 and in dotted outline in Figure 1.

The part that receives the blade I call the blade carrier and it is adapted to rest in a rear position for receiving a blade and is adapted to be moved forwardly to its normal position for shaving. The blade carrier is preferably made of sheet metal forming a blade holder 19, the metal being formed into a return bend with a top wall 20 and a bottom wall 21 for receiving the blade 22 and holding it lightly in place by engaging the top and bottom faces of the blade.

The preferred manner of movably supporting the blade carrier is by pivoting it. In order to provide this movement I provide ears 23 on the ends of the guard member. These ears project downwardly. The blade holder has downwardly extending ears 24 at its ends. The ears 24 are pivoted to the ears 23 by pins or rivets 25. The parts are arranged and proportioned to cause the blade holder to rest on the part 15 of the guard member to provide positive stops for the forward movement of the blade and to protect the front corners of the cutting edge of the blade.

The blade carrier is readily operated automatically when the guard member, which carries the blade carrier, is swung on its pivot, relative to the post. The preferred manner of providing such co-acting parts for automatic operation is to provide a pin 27 on the post and arrange it eccentric to the pivot 18. The blade holder is provided with a lip or apron 28. This lip can be bent back and down from the front edge of the bottom wall 21 of the blade holder. The apron when made of spring metal maintains its position better. The lip 28 extends down in contact with the front face of the post 10 and is provided with a slot 29 through which the pin 27 projects. The slot 29 is preferably arcuate to form depressed ends which serve to receive the pin 27. In this way the slot and pin serve to hold the blade carrier firmly when it is at its limits of movement whereby the blade holder is held in the precise place where it will receive a blade endwise from the magazine at one limit of movement and is held firmly in shaving position at the other limit of movement.

In order to hold the guide member in place reliance is placed on a fairly tight pivot 18 but in the position parallel with the post for receiving a blade it can be yieldingly held by a slight projection 30 which snaps into a hole or recess 31 in the post. The guard member can be limited against excessive tilting by the projection 32 engaged by the bottom edge of the part 17 of the guard member as shown in Figure 3.

If the blade carrier 19 is made of relatively thin spring metal it can be forced to firmly grip the blade in its shaving or forward position by the top plate 33 which extends forwardly from its vertical back plate 34 which is fastened in turn to the back of guard member by screws or pins 35. The top plate 33 is arranged at a desired angle to lie in the path of part or of all the top wall 20 of the blade carrier. The top plate thus co-operates with the pin 27 and the slotted lip 28 to squeeze the blade carrier more tightly against the blade when the blade carrier is lifted and carried forward to its shaving position.

In Figure 7 I show the razor as an independent unit, the post 10 forming the handle.

The magazine 36 is separate and has a blade feeding means, not illustrated here as it is well-known commercially as shown in my patent, No. 1,967,345- read No. 1,969,945, issued July 20, 1933, the blades issuing, one at a time, through a slit 37 at the end of the magazine when propelled by a slide having the grip 38. Alongside the magazine is the channel 39 which receives the handle 10. When the handle is pushed all the way in it is held in place by suitable means. Such means may be embodied in the projection 40 on the handle snapping into a recess 41 in the wall of the channel. The magazine and the shaving head are thus held in alignment for feeding a blade through the slit 37 and into the blade carrier 19.

The operation of the shaving head is simple. When a fresh blade is to be placed in the shaving head the guard member is swung on its pivot to a position parallel with the post 10. This motion, as the pin 27 moves in the slot 29, pulls the blade carrier 19 down to its rearward position as shown in Figure 5. The blade in the razor is now well back of the guard and of the stops 26 as the back of the blade rests against the return bend at the back of the blade carrier. The blade carrier is also relieved of the pressure of the top plate 33 and is free to receive a fresh blade. The magazine slide is operated and blade is forced endwise against the used blade and pushes the used blade out while it is passing into the blade carrier. Both blades are removed from the stops 26 and no damage is done to either the stops or the blades.

When the fresh blade is in the blade carrier the guard member is tilted on its pivot 18 and placed transversely on the post 10. In the form shown in Figure 7 the post 10 is withdrawn from the recess 39 before the guard member is swung to transverse position. When the guard member is being tilted the blade carrier is moved with it and the slotted apron or lip 28, through the influence of the pin 27 and the slot 29 is forced upwardly. The apron 28 being part of the blade carrier, the blade carrier and its blade are moved forwardly and in the case of a pivoted blade carriage as shown, the blade carrier is moved forwardly and upwardly into shaving position relative to the guard, as shown in Figure 6. If stops 26 are used the blade is carried with the corners of its cutting edge against the stops. In case the razor is equipped with the top plate 33 the blade carrier is pressed against it to more firmly hold the blade in place. This is in case the walls 20 and 21 of the blade carrier are of relatively thin metal.

The blade carrier is retained in this shaving position by one of the depressed ends of the slot 29 engaging the pin 27. This frictional hold yields under manipulation and the arc-shaped bottom of the slot 29 is carried beyond the pin when the blade carrier is swung to its retreated position. In fact both ends of the slot, being depressed act as yielding means for holding the guard member and the blade carrier at their limits of movement.

It will be evident that any anti-friction device may be employed on the stud 27 for reducing its frictional contact with the edges of the slot. A roller or ring freely rotatable on the stud 27 is one form that is readily adapted for this purpose.

In Figures 8 and 9 I show a form of stop which is not contacted forcibly by the cutting edge of the blade and there is therefore an absence of gradual cutting or gouging of the stop. When such cutting takes place the blade eventually is seated forwardly relative to its proper shaving position in reference to the guard. The stop to prevent this engages the blade beyond the cutting edge and at the corners.

The blade for this form of holder is one that has the bevelled corners 43. The stop is shown at 42 and is positioned at each corner of the plate 15 to receive the bevelled corner of the blade at an edge 44. This edge is preferably bevelled to fit the corner of the blade but this is not essential. If desired the stops 26 can also be used to function with the stop 42 for holding the blade. The stop 42 is effective in preventing the forceful engagement of blade edge with the stop 26 as the corners 43 of the blade are not sharpened. When the stops 26 are dispensed with the whole cutting edge of the blade is exposed for shaving.

Various changes can be made in the form and proportion of the parts of the device without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:—

1. A shaving head for razors comprising a post, a guard member pivoted on the post, a blade carrier on the guard member, means for automatically shifting the position of the blade carrier when the guard member is swung on its pivot.

2. A shaving head for razors comprising a post, a guard member pivoted on the post, a blade carrier movable toward and from the front edge of guard member, and means for automatically moving the blade carrier when the guard member is swung on its pivot.

3. A shaving head for razors comprising a post, a guard member pivoted on the post, a blade carrier movable toward and from the front edge of guard member, and means for automatically moving the blade carrier when the guard member is swung on its pivot, said means also yieldingly holding the guard member in its extreme positions.

4. A shaving head for razors comprising a post, a guard member pivoted on the post, stops on the guard member, a blade carrier for holding a blade and mounted on the guard member in a manner to allow a back and forth motion of the blade carrier, and automatic means for moving the blade carrier when the guard member is swung on the pivot.

5. A shaving head for safety razors comprising a post, a guard member pivoted on the post, a blade carrier mounted on the guard member in a manner to allow a back and forth movement of the blade carrier; on the guard member, the blade carrier having walls to receive a blade with little friction, a stiff plate in the path of the blade carrier whereby the blade carrier firmly holds the blade when forced into contact with the plate, and means for moving the blade carrier.

6. A shaving head for safety razors comprising a post, a guard member pivoted on the post, a blade carrier mounted on the guard member in a manner to allow a back and forth movement of the blade carrier on the guard member, the blade carrier having walls to receive a blade with little friction, a stiff plate in the path of the blade carrier whereby the blade carrier firmly holds the blade when forced into contact with the plate, and means for automatically moving the blade carrier by swinging the guard member on its pivot.

7. A shaving head for safety razors comprising a post, a guard member pivoted on the post so as to swing in a plane substantially parallel with the post, a blade carrier movable on the guard member in a direction lateral of the plane of movement of the guard member, and automatic means for moving the blade carrier when the guarded member is swung on its pivot.

8. A shaving head for safety razors comprising a post, a guard member pivoted on the post so as to swing in a plane substantially parallel with the post, a blade carrier movable on the guard member in a direction lateral of the plane of movement of the guard member and co-acting means on the blade carrier and the post for moving the blade carrier when the guard member is moved on its pivot.

9. A shaving head for safety razors comprising a post, a guard member pivoted on the post so as to swing in a plane substantially parallel with the post, a blade carrier movable on the guard member in a direction lateral of the plane of movement of the guard member and co-acting means on the blade carrier and the post for moving the blade carrier when the guard member is moved on its pivot, said last mentioned means including yielding holding means for securing the guard member at its limit of movement.

10. A shaving head comprising a post, a guard member pivoted on the post and adapted to swing in a plane parallel with its longer dimension, a carrier having a space for holding a blade in place, said carrier being supported by the guard member and movable on said guard member in a direction lateral relative to the direction of movement of the guard member, and automatic means for moving the blade carrier simultaneously with movement of the guard member.

11. A shaving head comprising a post, a guard member pivoted on the post and adapted to swing in a plane parallel with its longer dimension, a carrier having a space for holding a blade in place, said carrier being supported by the guard member and movable on said guard member in a direction lateral relative to the direction of movement of the guard member, automatic means for moving the blade carrier simultaneously with movement of the guard member, the guard member having stops to be engaged by a blade in the carrier when the guard member is at one of its limits of movement.

12. A shaving head comprising a post, a guard member pivoted intermediate its ends on the post, a blade carrier pivoted on the guard member so as to swing toward and from the front edge of guard member, and a connection between the blade carrier and the post to function when the guard member is swung on the post whereby the blade carrier is on its forward position when the guard member lies transversely on the post.

13. A shaving head comprising a post, a guard member pivoted intermediate its ends on the post, a blade carrier pivoted on the guard member so as to swing toward and from the front edge of guard member, and a connection between the blade carrier and the post to function when the guard member is swung on the past whereby the blade carrier is on its forward position when the guard member lies transversely on the post, the blade carrier having two walls to embrace the sides of a blade, the walls being relatively thin to grasp a blade lightly, and a stiff top plate against which the blade carrier is forced in its forward position in order to cause the blade carrier to embrace the blade firmly.

14. A shaving head comprising a post, a guard member having a pair of downwardly extending ears at its ends, a blade carrier comprising a channelled sheet metal holding portion to receive a blade endwise and having depending ears pivoted to the ears of the guard member, the guard member being pivoted intermediate its ends to the post, a pin on the post eccentric to the pivot, the blade carrier having a slotted part engaging the pin whereby the blade carrier is moved on its pivot when the guard member is swung on the post.

15. A shaving head comprising a post, a guard member pivoted intermediate its ends near the end of the post, the guard member having a pair of stops at the corners of its front edge and having depending ears at its ends, a blade carrier having a channel for receiving a blade endwise and having depending ears pivoted to the ears of the guard member, in a manner to position the channelled part of the blade carrier substantially parallel with the top face of the guard member whereby the blade carrier can be swung upwardly and forwardly to position a blade in the carrier with its cutting edge at the stops, and means for swinging the blade carrier when the guard member is swung on its pivot.

16. A shaving head comprising a post, a guard member pivoted intermediate its ends near the end of the post, the guard member having a pair of stops at the corners of its front edge and having depending ears at its ends, a blade carrier having a channel for receiving a blade endwise and having depending ears pivoted to the ears of the guard member, in a manner to position the channelled part of the blade carrier substantially parallel with the top face of the guard member whereby the blade carrier can be swung upwardly and forwardly to position a blade in the carrier with its cutting edge at the stops, and a pin on the post eccentric to the pivot of the guard member, the blade carrier having a lip provided with a slot over the pin whereby the blade carrier is swung forwardly when the guard member is transversely positioned on the post and is swung downwardly on the guard member when the guard member is positioned substantially parallel with the post.

17. A shaving head comprising a post, a guard member pivoted intermediate its ends near the end of the post, the guard member having a pair of stops at the corners of its front edge and having depending ears at its ends, a blade carrier having a channel for receiving a blade endwise and having depending ears pivoted to the ears of the guard member, in a manner to position the channelled part of the blade carrier substantially parallel with the top face of the guard member whereby the blade carrier can be swung upwardly and forwardly to position a blade in the carrier with its cutting edge at the stops, means for swinging the blade carrier when the guard member is swung on its pivot, a pin on the post eccentric to the pivot of the guard member, the blade carrier having a lip provided with a slot over the pin whereby the blade carrier is swung forwardly when the guard member is transversely positioned on the post and is swung downwardly on the guard member when the guard member is positioned substantially parallel with the post, the channelled part of the blade carrier having resilient walls to hold the blade lightly, and a top plate against which the blade carrier is forced when swung upwardly and forwardly thereby causing more firm grasping of the blade.

18. A shaving head comprising a post, a guard member pivoted on the post, a blade carrier member movable forwardly and rearwardly and pivotally supported at its ends on the guard member, and co-acting means on the post and the blade carrier for moving the blade carrier forwardly when the guard member is transversely arranged on the post and for moving the blade carrier to its rear position when the guard member is substantially parallel with the post.

19. A shaving head comprising a post, a guard member pivoted on the post, a blade carrier member movable forwardly and rearwardly and pivotally supported at its ends on the guard member, and co-acting means on the post and the blade carrier for moving the blade carrier forwardly when the guard member is transversely arranged on the post and for moving the blade carrier to its rear position when the guard member is substantially parallel with the post, said means being operative as a yielding holding means when the blade carrier is at its limit of movement.

20. A shaving head comprising a guard member, a blade carrier movable on the guard member, said blade carrier having a channel for receiving a blade with its cutting edge exposed, means for moving the blade carrier back and forth on the guard member and a relatively stiff abutment against which the blade carrier bears when in its forward position to increase the holding pressure of the blade carrier on the blade.

Octavius Victor Rodrigues.