The invention relates to an improved razor and particularly a razor of the type in combination with which a separate magazine is employed after the manner shown and described in United States Patent No. 1,969,945, issued August 14, 1934—that is to say, the type wherein blades are ejected from shaving position in the head and a substitute blade inserted in the head by means of a magazine provided with a finger for alignment of the magazine with the blade channel in the head, and with a slide or other suitable means for ejecting a blade from the magazine and at the same time ejecting from the razor a blade, if any, located therein.

More particularly, the invention relates to a magazine razor that is constructed in accordance with, and operates on the principle of that illustrated in my United States Patent No. 2,066,800, issued January 5, 1937, and which is provided with means whereby a blade may be ejected therefrom and a substitute blade inserted by means of a magazine provided with the aligning finger and ejector above referred to.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front view in elevation of the preferred form of the razor involved in the invention, in association with a magazine of the ejector type;

Fig. 2 is a view on the line 2—2 of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 showing the parts in position to receive a blade from the magazine;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of one end of the ejector and the aligning finger protruding therefrom;

Fig. 5 is a detail view in cross-section on the line 5—5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a rear view in elevation of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the razor of Fig. 6.

Describing the preferred form shown in Figs. 1-5, the shank 10 projecting from the handle 11 is provided with a blade platform comprising a platform 12 at about a right angle to the shank (as shown in Figs. 2 and 3), terminating in a guard 13 and slotted as indicated by the numeral 14. The guard is also provided with stops 15 and 15a which serve as abutments against which the extreme ends of the cutting edge of the blade abut when the blade is brought to shaving position, as will presently be described.

From the ends of the platform 12 two ears 16 and 16a depend, these ears serving as mounting members for the blade-retaining part of the mechanism.

The blade-retaining part of the mechanism comprises a blade holder in the form of a spring clip consisting of the upper plate 17 and the lower plate 18 joined together at 19 (the entire structure being resilient), the lower plate terminating in the spring tongue 20, which for reasons hereinafter mentioned is preferably resilient—a quality which may be imparted to it by the resilience of the material of which it is composed.

The blade holder, in turn, is slidably fitted in a blade clamp 21, and from said clamp depend two ears 22 and 22a, the ear 22 being pivotally connected with the ear 16 and the ear 22a being pivotally connected with the ear 16a, as is clearly shown in the figures, particularly Fig. 1. Ordinary rivets 23 and 23a may serve to effect the pivotal connections. It is apparent therefore that the blade holder is capable of swinging on these pivotal connections from the position shown in Fig. 2 (its shaving position) to that shown in Fig. 3 (its retracted position), or vice versa.

The blade clamp 21 just referred to is preferably of spring material and is provided with two lugs 45 and 45a, which in combination with the apertures 46 and 46a in the platform and into which they project constitute virtually a hinge connection between the blade clamp and the platform. The center of rotation of the blade clamp on this hinge connection and the center of rotation of the blade holder are so positioned with relation to each other and with relation to the stops 15 and 15a that, when the blade holder and blade clamp are in the retracted position shown in Fig. 3, they maintain their parallelism with each other without strain, and when they are in the shaving position shown in Fig. 2 they likewise maintain parallelism with each other without substantial strain, which result however is somewhat helped by dimensioning them to a somewhat slack fit.

The mechanism for moving the blade holder from one of the described positions to the other comprises an eccentric arrangement operating in the cam slot 24 in the spring tongue 20. The preferred mechanism comprises a lever 25 terminating at one end in a sheath or scabbard 26, which—and the purpose of which—will presently be more particularly described, and oscillatably mounted on the stud 27, which projects from the rivet 28 secured in the shank. The lever is provided at its other end with a stud 29 serving as a bearing for the cam following roller 30, which in turn projects through the cam slot 24. The cam slot is so shaped that, as the lever is rotated on the stud 27, it forces the spring tongue 20 upwardly or downwardly, as the case may be, although the stressing of the spring tongue 20 may return the parts. When the lever is swung to the position shown in Fig. 1, which may be termed its “down” position, the plate is forced upwardly, thus swinging the blade holder to its shaving position shown in Fig. 2, with the edge of the blade in contact with the stops 15 and 15a, which is the proper position for shaving purposes. When the lever is brought to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, which may be referred to as its “up” position, the blade holder is withdrawn to its retracted position shown in Fig. 3, in which position a blade may be injected into the blade holder as will be further described.

The lever 25 terminates at one end, as has already been described, in a scabbard or sheath 26. This scabbard or sheath serves for the reception of the aligning finger 32, which is made for a sliding but reasonably accurate fit in the scabbard. When the aligning finger is inserted into the scabbard to its full distance and the scabbard and magazine 33 are swung to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the discharge orifice 34 of the magazine is in alignment with the blade slot in the blade holder and by operating the ejector slides 35 (all as is described in the patents above referred to), a blade may be injected into the blade holder, and any blade that may at the time be present in the blade holder is ejected therefrom. It is to be understood that, when this operation takes place, the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3.

It is desirable that some provision be made to insure that the aligning finger shall not be accidentally withdrawn during the operation of transferring a blade from the magazine to the razor. This might happen, for example, when the ejector slide 35 is being retracted preparatory to ejecting a blade from the magazine and transferring it into the razor. Such effects may be avoided with sufficient certainty for practical purposes by providing the slot 36 in the scabbard and a registering slot 37 registering therewith in the aligning finger, registration of these slots taking place only when the aligning finger extends into the scabbard to its fullest extent. The two slots together, in turn, register with a projection 38 extending downwardly from the platform 12, and this relationship of the parts causes the aligning finger to be locked against withdrawal from the scabbard.

Again, it is desirable that, when the razor is ready for shaving and during the shaving operation, the scabbard should be positively located in its down position—i. e., the position shown in Fig. 1, and that it should not be released except as the operator desires. A convenient way of providing for this contingency is to provide the scabbard with a slot 39 and the spring tongue 20 with a short lug 40, the slot and the lug being so positioned with relation to each other that, when the scabbard is in the position shown In Fig. 1, the lug projects through the slot 39. The lug is struck out from the spring tongue 20 and therefore being merely spring-pressed in position, it will be readily displaced by the aligning finger when the latter is inserted in the scabbard. To make the operation smooth, the aligning finger may terminate in a projection 41 beveled off as at 42, and the edge of the slot 39 may be beveled off as at 43. When, therefore, the scabbard is in the down position shown in Fig. 1 and free from the aligning finger, it is securely locked against rotation and can only be unlocked by the insertion therein of the aligning finger to its full length.

Another feature which assists greatly in the performance of the device as a shaving implement may be observed by reference to Figs. 2 and 3. It will be seen that, in Fig. 3 wherein the blade holder is in retracted position ready for the transfer of a blade (the blade 31 already in the blade holder being retracted from the stops), the blade holder is seated well back into the blade clamp, and that it is withdrawn clear of the lip 44 of the blade clamp formed by turning down the edge of the latter. Preferably, the clamping tension of the blade holder itself is so adjusted in manufacture that the pressure on the blade, insofar as it is produced merely by the tension of the holder itself, is merely sufficient to prevent the blade from falling out. The reason why some frictional grip on the holder is desirable even when the blade clamp is in the retracted position of Fig. 3 is in order that the blade that is being ejected from the razor may be easily deposited where it is wanted, and also in order that the incoming blade shall remain located. On the other hand, too much pressure of the blade holder during the transfer of a blade from the magazine is objectionable—first, because it imposes an undue resistance to operation of the magazine ejector slide, and, second, because repeated injection of blades into the slot in the blade holder exerts a broaching action which if repeated often enough results in weakening it and in widening the slot from its original dimensions. Still, on the other hand, efficient and comfortable shaving requires that, when the blade is in shaving position, it shall be held tightly clamped and be held rigidly in place. The latter object, together with avoidance of the objectionable results arising out of too loose pressure of the blade holder on the blade are accomplished by means of the lip 44 of the blade clamp above referred to. Since the blade clamp is capable of only a pivotal motion on the platform 12 (being incapable of moving either backward from or forward toward the stops), and since the blade holder with its blade must oscillate on its pivotal connections 23 and 23a, a motion of the blade holder toward the stops results in its partially leaving the blade clamp, as shown in Fig. 2, but in doing so it encounters the lip 44 of the blade clamp which, being spring-pressed by virtue of the resilience of its material and normally making a narrow channel, presses the lip 44 downwardly against the part 17 of the blade holder and thus secures the blade itself rigidly and firmly in position. On the other hand, withdrawal of the blade from contact with the stops to the position shown in Fig. 3 effects a release of the pressure exerted by the lip 44 and thus reduces the clamping pressure on the blade to that exerted by the blade holder alone.

It is to be understood that the blade clamp may be omitted from the construction if desired, but in such case it is necessary that the clamping pressure of the blade holder be increased over what it would be if it were used in association with the blade clamp in order that the blade may be held firmly and rigidly when in shaving position. In such a construction however the ejection of a blade from the razor and the injection of a blade into it is accompanied by considerable more resistance to the operation of the ejector slide than in the construction just described wherein the full clamping pressure on the blade is effected mainly by the blade clamp. The mode of operation of the preferred form or embodiment of the invention has already been partly described in connection with the description of its construction. The modified form operates on essentially the same principle, but it is constructed so that the scabbard is located at the back instead of the front of the shank—i. e., on the side of the shank facing away from the blade edge. It should be added, however, that in the case of both forms the aligning finger 32 is merely for the purpose of operating the scabbard to open and close the head of the razor for the ejection of a blade therefrom and the substitution of a new one. When this operation has been completed, the aligning finger is withdrawn. In other words, it is only when it is desired to transfer a new blade from the magazine to the holder that the finger 32 is inserted in the scabbard 26.

The only material points of difference between the modified form and the preferred form consist in the location of the modified form of the scabbard and operating lever on the back of the shank, as shown in Fig. 6. As a means of imparting motion to the spring tongue 20 and thence to the blade holder, the scabbard is provided with an arm 50 which is carried around the shank and is provided with a roller 51 which operates in the cam slot 24 of the plate, just as in the preferred form. In order to permit the arm 50 to swing into a position wherein the mechanism is properly aligned with the razor to permit transfer of a blade, the slot 52 in the shank is provided. As the arm 50 swings, its lower end—i. e., the horizontal portion (as shown in the drawing), travels in the slot 52. This modified form is in all other respects like the preferred form, being, if desired, provided with similar means for locking the scabbard in the “down” position, locking the aligning finger in the scabbard in the “upward” position, and effecting a rigid clamping of the blade when in “shaving” position and a release of it when in “retracted” position.

I have described above certain embodiments of my invention and a preferred process with certain modifications thereof, but I wish it to be understood that these are illustrative and not limitative of my invention and that I reserve the right to make various changes in form, construction and arrangement of parts and also to make various changes in process of manufacture falling within the spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. A razor comprising a shank, a blade platform supported by the shank, a guard, a blade holder supported by the blade platform and movable toward and away from the guard, and means for effecting back and forth movement of the blade holder, said means comprising a lever one arm of which has operating connection with the blade holder and the other arm of which is adapted for detachable connection with a blade magazine.

2. A razor comprising a shank, a blade platform supported by the shank, a guard, a blade holder supported by the blade platform and movable toward and away from the guard, and means for effecting back and forth movement of the blade holder, said means comprising a lever one arm of which has operating connection with the blade holder and the other arm of which is provided with a sheath for the reception of the aligning finger projecting from a blade magazine.

3. A razor comprising a shank, a blade platform supported by the shank, a guard, a blade holder supported by the blade platform and movable toward and away from the guard, a spring tongue projecting from the blade holder, and means for effecting back and forth movement of the blade holder, said means comprising a lever one arm of which engages the said spring tongue and the other arm of which is adapted for detachable connection with a blade magazine.

4. A razor comprising a shank, a blade platform supported by the shank, a guard, a blade holder supported by the blade platform and movable toward and away from the guard, a spring tongue projecting from the blade holder and provided with a cam surface, and means for effecting back and forth movement of the blade holder, said means comprising a lever one arm of which operates on the said cam surface and the other arm of which is adapted for detachable connection with a blade magazine.

5. A razor comprising a shank, a blade platform supported by the shank, a guard, a blade holder supported by the blade platform and movable toward and away from the guard, means for effecting back and forth movement of the blade holder, said means comprising a lever pivoted on the said shank, one arm of which has operating connection with the blade holder and the other arm of which is adapted for detachable connection with a blade magazine, and a spring catch for releasably locking the lever in a desired position of its angular movement.

6. A razor comprising a shank, a blade platform supported by the shank, a guard, a blade holder supported by the blade platform and movable toward and away from the guard, means for effecting back and forth movement of the blade holder, said means comprising a lever pivoted on the said shank, one arm of which has operating connection with the blade holder and the other arm of which is adapted for detachable connection with a blade magazine, and means for preventing detachment of the blade magazine from its connection with the said other arm when the blade magazine and said lever are swung to a position wherein the blade magazine is aligned with the blade holder for the transfer of a blade from the magazine to the blade holder.

7. A razor comprising a shank, a blade platform supported by the shark, a guard, a blade holder supported by the blade platform and movable toward and away from the guard, means for effecting back and forth movement of the blade holder, said means comprising a lever pivoted on the said shank, one arm of which has operating connection with the blade holder and the other arm of which is adapted for detachable connection with a blade magazine, and means for preventing detachment of the blade magazine from its connection with the said other arm when the blade magazine and said lever are swung to a position wherein the blade magazine is aligned with the blade holder for the transfer of a blade from the magazine to the blade holder, said last-mentioned means consisting of a lug projecting from the blade platform and positioned to engage a notch in the blade magazine.

8. A razor comprising a shank, a blade platform supported by the shank, a guard, a blade holder supported by the blade platform by means of a pivotal connection the axis of which is parallel to the guard, means for effecting back and forth movement of the blade holder on its said pivotal connection, said means comprising a lever one arm of which has operating connection with the blade holder and the other arm of which is adapted for detachable connection with a blade magazine.

9. A razor comprising a shank, a blade platform supported by the shank, a guard, an abutment on the blade platform in proximity to the guard, a blade holder supported by the blade platform by means of a pivotal connection the axis of which is parallel to the guard and positioned so that the edge of a blade carried by the blade holder will encounter the abutment when the holder is moved in the direction of the guard, and means for effecting back and forth movement of the blade holder on its pivotal connection toward and away from the guard, said means comprising a lever one arm of which has operating connection with the blade holder and the other arm of which is adapted for detachable connection with a blade magazine.

10. A razor comprising a shank, a blade platform supported by the shank, a guard, stops projecting from the blade platform, a blade holder supported by the blade platform by means of a pivotal connection so located that as the blade holder is swung thereon toward the guard the edge of a blade carried thereby will encounter the said stops, and means for effecting back and forth movement of the blade holder on its said pivotal connection, said means comprising a lever one arm of which has operating connection with the blade holder and the other arm of which is adaptable for detachable connection with a blade magazine.

11. A razor comprising a shank, a blade platform supported by the shank, a guard, a blade holder supported by the blade platform by means of a pivotal connection the axis of which is parallel to the guard, a spring tongue projecting from the blade holder and provided with a cam surface, and means for effecting back and forth movement of the blade holder on its said pivotal connection, said means comprising a lever one arm of which operates on said cam surface and the other arm of which is adapted for detachable connection with a blade magazine.

12. A razor comprising a shank, a blade platform supported by the shank, a guard, a blade holder supported by the blade platform by means of a pivotal connection the axis of which is parallel to the guard, a spring tongue projecting from the blade holder and provided with a cam surface, and means for effecting back and forth movement of the blade holder on its said pivotal connection, said means comprising a lever one arm of which operates on said cam surface and the other arm of which is provided with a sheath for the reception of the aligning member projecting from a blade magazine.

13. A razor comprising a shank, a blade platform supported by the shank, a guard, a blade holder supported by the blade platform and movable toward and away from the guard, a tongue projecting from the blade holder, and means for effecting back and forth movement of the blade holder, said means comprising a lever one arm of which engages the said tongue and the other arm of which is adapted for detachable connection with a blade magazine.

14. A razor comprising a shank, a blade platform supported by the shank, a guard, a blade holder supported by the blade platform and movable toward and away from the guard, means for effecting back and forth movement of the blade holder, said means comprising a lever pivoted on the said shank, one arm of which has operating connection with the blade holder and the other arm of which is adapted for detachable connection with a blade magazine, and means for releasably locking the lever in a desired position of its angular movement.

15. A razor comprising a shank, a blade platform supported by the shank, a guard, a blade holder supported by the blade platform and movable toward and away from the guard means for effecting back and forth movement of the blade holder, said means comprising a lever pivoted on the said shank, one arm of which has operating connection with the blade holder and the other arm of which is adapted for detachable connection with a blade magazine, and means for preventing detachment of the blade magazine from its connection with the said other arm when the blade magazine and said lever are swung to a position wherein the bladed magazine is aligned with the blade holder for the transfer of a blade from the magazine to the blade holder.

16. A razor comprising a shank, a blade platform supported by the shank, a guard, a blade holder pivotally supported by the blade platform, the axis of the pivot being parallel with the guard, and a blade clamp also pivotally mounted on the blade platform and likewise movable toward and away from the guard, said blade clamp enclosing the blade holder but having a sliding fit therewith, the pivoting axes of the blade holder and the blade clamp being so positioned with relation to each other that, as the blade holder is moved toward the guard, the blade clamp bears against it and thus securely clamps the blade.

Octavius V. Rodrigues