To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Frederick Kampfe, Richard Kampfe, and Otto Kampfe, citizens of the United States, residing in New York, borough of Brooklyn, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Razors, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to improve the safety-razor for which Letters Patent were granted to us, No. 672,984, on April 30, 1901, in such a manner that the blade-holding case can be conveniently opened at the rear part for permitting the cleaning of the case, the blade adjusted in a more accurate manner by means of retaining-clips and set-screws, the blade locked in position by means of a pivoted and spring-actuated double clasp, and the guard device at the front part of the blade-holding case adjusted on its axis so as to permit the adjustment of the guard-fingers relatively to the edge of the blade; and for this purpose the invention consists in the construction of the blade-holding case, an improved device for adjusting the blade on the case, a double spring-actuated clasp for locking the blade to the casing, and a rotatable guard device pivoted at the front part of the; casing so as to be adjustable relatively to the edge of the blade, as will be fully described hereinafter and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front view of our improved safety-razor. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a top view showing the upper top part of the blade-holding case shifted longitudinally on the lower portion for permitting the opening of the same. Fig. 4 is a vertical detail section of the mechanism for adjusting the blade on the blade-holding case. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a front and a side elevation of a safety-razor, showing the improved double clasp, for holding the back of the blade and the axially-adjustable guard device. Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of the safety-razor shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section on line 8 8, Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a vertical section through the guard device on line 9 9, Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of the improved double clasp for locking the blade to the casing.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, B represents the lower, and C the upper, part of the blade-holding casing, which is preferably made of metal and substantially U-shaped in cross-section. The angular upper part C is hinged to the upper edge of the lower part in such manner that said top part can be swung in upward and backward directions, so as to fully expose the under side of the top part C and the upper side of the lower part B. When the top part C is in its usual position over the lower part B, the rear portion of the top part C forms the rear wall of the casing in continuation of the rear portion of the bottom part B. The upper edge of the lower part B and the lower edge of the upper part C are recessed at adjacent points, so as to permit the shifting of the top part C in longitudinal directions on pintles of the lower part, as shown in Fig. 3. The pintles d are attached to ears d′ at the upper edge of the lower part B, so that the ears d² of the upper part can be shifted on the pintles from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 3 and back again to the normal position shown in Fig. 1. The lower part B is provided at its upper edge with an inwardly and upwardly projecting hook d³, which interlocks with an inwardly-projecting lug d⁴ at the lower edge of the upper part C when the parts are in normal position, while the hook d³ and lug d⁴ clear each other when the upper part C is shifted longitudinally on the lower part, so that the former can swing in upward and backward directions in position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8. For returning the upper part into its normally-locked position it is moved in forward direction again and then shifted longitudinally on the pintles. The ears d² of the upper part are slid back on the pintles, and the inwardly-projecting lug d⁴ is reëngaged by the hook d³, so that the top and bottom parts of the casing are locked together. The opening of the upper part C of the casing is assisted by flat springs e, which are attached to the lower part B and extend so that their free ends bear on the upper part, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3. In place of the springs e two coil-springs e′ may be used, which are placed on the pintles d d and the opposite ends of which engage the lower and upper parts B and C of the casing, as shown in Figs. 5 to 7. The springs e or e′ move the upper part of the casing in backward direction as soon as the same is shifted on the pintles so that the lug d⁴ clears the hook d³.

The upper portion of the top part C is slightly concaved and provided with openings and at each end with a straight and slotted end piece F, which serves to guide the blade in the conventional manner. At each end of the top part C is arranged on the slotted portion of each end piece F a retaining-clip G of any approved construction. The shanks of the retaining-clips are guided in the slots of the end pieces F by slide-pieces g and firmly clamped to the end pieces by screws g′ which engage the slide-pieces g and the heads g² of which are adapted to be engaged by a suitable key. The clips G bind by their inclined forwardly-extending ends on the ends of the blade, so as to hold it firmly in position on the concaved portion of the top part C. As the size of the blades used varies within certain limits it is of considerable advantage to adjust the clips G accurately on the ends of the blades either in forward or backward direction. This is accomplished by means of set-screws g³, which pass through the upper part of the casing, near the angular bend of the same, said set-screws having collars, so as to turn freely in holes of the casing, while their inner ends engage inwardly-bent lugs at the rear ends of the slide-pieces g. The outer ends of the set-screws g³ are provided with heads adapted to be engaged by the same key by which the clamping-screws g′ are adjusted. By the set-screws g³ and clamping-screws g′ the clips G are readily adjusted to the required position on the blade as required by the size of the same. By this adjustment of the clips G in forward or backward direction as required by the blade the clamping-screws g′ require only to be loosened sufficiently for permitting the adjustment of the set-screws g³, after which the screws g′ and clips G are clamped firmly in position. By this arrangement of clamping-screws and set-screws there is no danger of disconnection of the clips G from the slotted end pieces F and consequent loss of the same.

The blade is retained in position by the ordinary blade-retaining spring H which is pivoted to the rear of the top part C and adapted to be swung up so as to bear upon the back of the blade and hold it in position in the clips G. In place of the spring H, a double spring-clasp H′ may be used, which is hinged at the angle of the top part C, said top part being recessed as shown in Fig. 7, and pintles h formed in the top part C. The double spring-clasp H′ is hinged to said pintles and provided with two bent-up lugs h′ at its upper end, and an upwardly-bent central portion or handle-piece h² by which the spring-clasp is moved forward and backward, so that its side lugs h′ either engage or release the back of the blade. Below the central portion h² is arranged at the lower end of the clasp H′ a forwardly-bent heel h³, that is engaged by a flat spring h⁴, the forward end of which is riveted to the under side of the concaved portion of the top part C, as shown in Fig. 8, so as to hold the blade-retaining spring-clasp H′ firmly in position on the blade, while it can be readily released therefrom by turning it in backward direction, the spring h⁴yielding, and then retaining the clasp H in retracted position.

In place of the forked teeth or guards at the front of the upper part C, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, a rotary guard device D may be employed, the arc-shaped teeth of which extend from the rear part i′ that is provided with inwardly-bent ears i² at the ends, which are pivoted to stationary ears i³ at the front ends of the end pieces F and engaged by screws i⁴ having rectangular heads. The screws i⁴ form the pivots of the rotary guard device D, so that the same may be turned and then set at different relative positions toward the edge of the blade. The screws engage nuts i⁵ at the inner sides of the ears i², said nuts having each a finger i⁶, adapted to abut against the back i′ and thereby prevent turning of the nuts, said fingers projecting into the path of the blade and forming a stop for the same, as shown in Fig. 6. When hair-stubble of considerable length is to be shaved, the rotary guard device has to be set forward to a greater extent than when shorter stubble is to be shaved, so as to bring the hair to a greater or less extent in the space between the teeth and permit the effective action of the edge of the blade thereon. The adjustment of the set-screws i⁴ may be performed by the same key by which the adjustment of the clamping-screws and set-screws of the clips G is produced. The rotary guard device D, with curved or arc-shaped teeth, permits the adjustment of the guard to the growth of the hair, gives a better hold on the stubble according to its length, and permits easier and quicker shaving.

The advantages of our improved safety-razor are, first, that the blade-holding casing can be quickly and conveniently opened for the purpose of cleaning the different parts; secondly, that the blade can be locked in a very convenient manner by the double spring-clasp; thirdly, that the blade can be adjusted easily and accurately relatively to the teeth of the guard device, and, lastly, that the guard device can be readily turned on its axis and adjusted for the longer or shorter growth of hair to be shaved.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent—

1. In a safety-razor, the combination, with a blade-holding casing consisting of a lower part and a top part hinged thereto, of a locking device for holding the top part in normally closed position on the lower part, and means for shifting the top part in one direction on the lower part so as to release the parts of the locking device, and for shifting the top part in opposite direction for producing the reëngagement of the locking device, substantially as set forth.

2. In a safety-razor, the combination, with a blade-holding casing composed of a lower part and a top part hinged thereto, said top part being adapted to be longitudinally shifted on fixed pintles of the lower part, of a locking device consisting of an inwardly-projecting lug on the top part and an inwardly and upwardly projecting hook on the lower part, the parts of the locking device being released when the top part is shifted in one direction and interlocked when the top part is shifted in opposite direction, substantially as set forth.

3. In a safety-razor, the combination with a blade-holding casing consisting of a lower part and a top part hinged thereto, of means for longitudinally shifting the top part in one direction and back again on the lower part, a locking device between the lower part and top part, and springs acting on the top part when the locking device is released by the shifting of the top part so as to swing the latter into open position, substantially as set forth.

4. In a safety-razor, the combination, with a blade-holding casing provided with a concave top portion and slotted end pieces, of blade-retaining clips guided in said end pieces, slide-pieces for said clips, clamping-screws engaging the clips and slide-pieces, and set-screws arranged in line with the clips and adapted to engage the slide-pieces, for adjusting the said slide-pieces and clips, substantially as set forth.

5. In a safety-razor, the combination, with a blade-holding casing, of a double spring-clasp, hinged near the angle between the rear wall and upper portion of the top part, said double spring-clasp being provided with blade-actuating lugs, an intermediate handle-piece at the upper end and a forwardly-extending heel at the lower end, and a spring attached to the under side of the upper portion of the top part and adapted to engage said heel for retaining said spring-clasp in position on the blade, substantially as set forth.

6. In a safety-razor, the combination, with a blade-holding casing, of a rotatable guard device supported at the top part of the casing, and provided with curved or arc-shaped teeth, and a clamping device at each end of same for adjusting said guard device into proper position relatively to the edge of the blade, substantially as set forth.

7. In a safety-razor, the combination, with a blade-holding casing provided with end pieces having downwardly-bent ears on their front ends, of a rotary guard device provided with curved or arc-shaped teeth, ears at the ends of said guard device, and clamping-screws connecting the ears of the guard device and end pieces, for adjusting the same in relative position to the blade, substantially as set forth.

8. In a safety-razor, the combination, with a blade-holding casing, of a rotatable guard device pivoted to the front part of the casing, said guard device having curved or arc-shaped teeth, means for axially adjusting said guard device, upwardly-extending fingers at the ends of the guard device, and means for clamping the guard device and fingers into position for use, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention we have signed our names in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses:

George Geibel,

Paul Goepel.