To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Henry G. Fiske, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Razor-Guards, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in removable guards for razors, which prevent the latter from cutting the skin while shaving; and the objects of my improvement are, first, to adapt the guard to be easily and accurately fitted to any one of several different patterns of razors; second, to adapt the fastenings of the guard to be quickly tightened and loosened for the purpose of facilitating its application to and removal from the razor. I attain these objects by the mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings, in which—

Figure 1 is an elevation of my razor-guard applied to a razor, the latter being shown in dotted lines and broken off near where it should join the handle. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is the reverse of Fig. 1, with the clamp loosened and razor removed. Fig. 4 is a top view of my guard with the clamp loosened. Fig. 5 is an end view of a section of my guard with an adjusting-wrench applied, showing the manner of adjusting the several parts of the guard. Fig. 6 shows a modification of the section shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is still another modification of the section, and shows the manner of securing an increased adjustment of the fingers. Fig. 8 is plan view of the adjusting-wrench; and Fig. 9 is a plan of a section of the guard, showing in detail the manner of securing the fingers to obtain an increased adjustment shown in Fig. 7.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The guard, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, is constructed of sheet metal and in two parts—namely, the shell A, which forms the plate or shield to which the several operative parts are attached, and the cam B, which adapts the shell to be clamped to a razor. The shell A, in cross-section, in the shape shown in the drawings, is of a general oval form, with an opening on one side, and covers the heel and one side of the razor C. The general form lengthwise is straight, or in conformity with the shape of the cutting-edge of the razor. On the opposite side from the opening, and extending outward over the razor's edge, are a series of fingers, a, which are bent inward and provided with an offset, e, adapted to rest upon the side of the razor C, back of and free from the cutting-edge, and arranged sufficiently close together to act as a guard or protecting edge to prevent the razor C from cutting the skin while shaving. The offset e is to prevent any possible contact of the fingers a with the sharp edge of the razor C, and admit of their being adjusted by the use of the wrench D to and fro over the edge while the guard is secured to the razor, thus enabling the operator to adjust the fingers slightly over and in conformity with the general outline of the cutting-edge. The adaptability of the fingers to be bent, and thus adjust the tips bodily to and fro over the edge of the razor, is owing to their being foreshortened by having a curve midway, and also the elevated position at which they join the shell A. The fingers may be so adjusted as to admit of the guard being applied to either side of the razor, if desired. The regulation of the fingers as a whole to and fro crosswise on the side of the razor is secured by bending the stops b, which extend inwardly from the shell A, so as to admit the razor C to sink to a greater or less depth in the sockets c. These sockets are elastic, and are formed by extending the shell over the back of the razor in the form of springs l, and thence returning from k are bent over within the shell, and in position to act as a support upon the upper side or face of the razor, and forming a socket of sufficient depth to admit of the proper action of the stops b. These sockets may be closed to such an extent as to impinge firmly upon the back of the razor and hold the guard in position; but when so arranged the operator is in danger of being cut or of injuring the keen edge of the razor while applying and removing the guard. Therefore I fit these sockets quite loosely and secure the necessary tension by aid of the cam B, which is hinged to the shell A at d, and by aid of the handle m, I force it between the under side of the razor C and the outside of the sockets c. The handle being made of the proper shape, then rests against the side of the socket and out of the way of the operator while shaving. Should the operator desire to sharpen or clean the razor or reverse the guard, he simply loosens the cam, and the guard is free to be removed.

Razors as usually manufactured vary to a considerable extent both in width and general form, and to adapt the guard to a wider range of adjustment I provide additional means for adjusting at two separate points, which may be used separately or connectedly with or independently of that already shown. The first is shown in Fig. 6, and consists in coiling the end of the finger to a greater or less degree, whereby the effective length of the finger may be increased or diminished. The second is shown in Figs. 7 and 9, and consists in making the fingers a separate from the shell A, and securing them in place between the shell and bar h by aid of the screws i. The fingers are guided into position by resting in grooves in the bar and shell. The grooves maybe in either alone, if preferred, and the fingers may be made separately, or made up in sections, with two or more in a section, if desired. The slots j in the shell A are to adapt the latter to attain a firm and even bearing upon the fingers, and thereby upon the bar h.

It is obvious that the shell A may be constructed of any suitable material and form to which the operative parts may be applied, and I do not wish to confine myself to the material described, or the particular form shown in the drawings; also, it is obvious that the cam may be arranged upon either side of the sockets, or may be suspended to the shell independently of the sockets, and still perform its function of securing the razor in them; also, that the guard may be provided with sockets which are adapted to fit a razor loosely, but which are provided with a spring-clamp which is held inoperative by a cam, wedge, screw, or other means while the razor is being applied or removed; also, that the necessary tension upon the sockets may be created by the aid of a wedge or screw to perform the functions of the cam shown; also, that the guard may be provided with a different style of protecting edge or finger from that shown, and the cam will still perform its functions of securing the guard to the razor; also, it is obvious that the sockets c are adapted to hold the razor in place without the aid of the stops b, and also that the offset e is not absolutely essential to the operation or adjustability of the fingers a, but may be dispensed with at the risk of injury to the keen edge of the razor.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is—

1. The combination, in a razor-guard, of the shell A, the adjustable fingers a, the stop b, the socket c, and the cam B, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, in a razor-guard, of the shell A, the adjustable fingers a, the socket c, and the cam B, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination, in a razor-guard, of the shell A, the adjustable fingers a, and the socket c, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination, in a razor-guard, of the shell A, having a protecting-edge, with the socket c and cam B, substantially as described.

5. The combination, in a razor-guard, of the shell A, having a protecting-edge, with the socket c and stop b, substantially as described.

6. The combination, in a razor guard, of the shell A, having a protecting-edge, with the socket c, cam B, and stop b, substantially as shown and described.

7. In a razor-guard, protecting-fingers having coiled tips adapted to the purpose herein shown and described.

8. In a razor-guard, protecting-fingers having the offset e, adapted to the purpose herein shown and described.

9. The combination, in a razor-guard, of the shell A, with a protecting-edge composed of sections constructed separately from the said shell and attached thereto adjustably, and adapted to the purpose herein shown and described.

Henry G. Fiske.

Witnesses:

H. H. Bowman,

A. K. Patten, Jr.