To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, William Schuch, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Hoboken, county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Attachments for Razors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to safety attachments for razors; and it has for its object to provide an improved device of this class whereby an ordinary razor of any type may be converted into a “safety-razor,” or one in the use of which danger of cutting the face is practically entirely obviated.

The present invention constitutes an improvement with respect to the subject-matter of a prior application for Letters Patent, which said application was filed December 10, 1901, bearing serial number 85,343; and this present invention has for its object the provision of an improved device of the class above mentioned which will be superior in point of facility of attachment and detachment, simplicity, and inexpensiveness of construction, adaptability to razors of widely-varying kinds and character and general efficiency, and which may be readily cleaned and kept in perfect repair.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front face view of the improved device constituting the subject-matter of the present invention and partly shown in section, the same being shown as applied in operative position to a razor-blade, which latter is illustrated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is an end-view of the same looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the same, taken upon line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail plan view of an element of the improved construction. Fig. 5 is a detail vertical sectional view taken upon the line 5 5, Fig. 1, the parts being shown in full lines.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawings, 1 designates my improved safety attachment for razors, which consists, essentially, of a guard member 2, stop members 3 and 4, respectively, and a securing or clamping member 5, whereby the guard member is positively clamped to the razor-blade, which is shown in dotted lines at 6, and whereby the stop members 3 and 4 are brought to bear positively upon the operative edge portion of the razor-blade in such manner and position as to maintain the guard member in longitudinal relation to the operative edge portion of the razor-blade. The stop members 3 and 4 are arranged at the opposite ends of the guard member 2, and the securing member 5 is preferably detachably connected with the guard member 2, at one end of the same, in juxtaposition to one of the stop members 3 and 4 and is of such formation as to permit its longitudinal extension into a position wherein it maybe operatively engaged with the razor-blade 6 at a point substantially midway between the end portions of the guard member 2 or between the stop members 3 and 4. The securing or clamping member 5 is preferably possessed of an inherent spring quality, whereby its operative engagement with the top portion of the razor-blade positively secures said clamping member in operative connection with the guard member 2 and at the same time positively secures the guard member 2 and the stop members 3 and 4 in operative position and in engagement with the razor-blade. In the preferred form of construction said guard member 2 consists of an elongated bar or web 7, with which are integrally formed the stop members 3 and 4 and also a plurality or longitudinal series of depending spaced fingers 8, which in use are designed to bear upon the face of the user and limit the cutting operation of the operative edge portion of the razor-blade. Said fingers 8 may be formed by serially and longitudinally notching or slotting the bar or web 7, and the resultant fingers 8 may then be formed into any shape or contour best adapted to the work in view, being preferably outwardly bent or projected at their lower or outer end portions, as at 9. Between the stop members 3 and 4 the bar or web 7 is outwardly struck or bent, forming bends at the lines of junction of the bar or web 7 and the stop members 3 and 4, as at 10, and this outward bending of the bar or web 7 results in materially spacing the same from the face of the razor-blade when the device is operatively connected with the same, the stop members 3 and 4 being formed and designed to fit the face of the razor-blade in close engagement. The fingers 8 from their points of connection with the bar or web 7, as at 11, are preferably given a rearward deflection to predetermined corresponding points in their longitudinal formation, as at 12, and it results from this formation of the fingers 8 and the bar or web 7 that a free and open chamber is formed between the inner face of the bar or web 7, the inner face of the upper portions of the fingers 8, and the forward face of the razor-blade 6, in which the lather, hair, and other substances accumulated in the shaving process are collected, and from which open space or chamber such substances may be readily removed by dipping the same in water or subjecting the same to a flow of water and without the removal of the device from operative position. The portions 12a of the fingers 8 which lie intermediate of the outwardly-projected end portions 9 and the limiting-points 12 of rearward projection lie when the device is in operative position in corresponding positions, but slightly spaced from the forward face of the razor-blade. The fingers 8 may, however, as above stated, be of any preferred particular formation; but the combined formation of the upper portions of the fingers 8 and the bar or web 7 to form a chamber between the guard member and the razor-blade, as above described, is particularly advantageous with respect to facility in cleaning the razor and the safety-attachment device during use of the same.

The stop members 3 and 4, which, as above described, are of integral formation with the guard member 2, are connected with the major portion of the bar or web 7 at the ends of the same by means of the bends 10, and consist each in the preferred form of construction of a vertical bar 13, which is formed to fit the forward face of the razor-blade in close engagement, as illustrated, and extends substantially from the top to the lower operative edge portion of the razor-blade and is formed at its lower end portion into a hook or bend 14, which is of suitable formation to prevent the engagement of the extreme operative edge portion of the razor-blade with the base or lower wall of the same, thus preventing chipping or dulling of the razor-blade, and which is designed for engagement with the lower or operative edge portion of the razor-blade at one end of the same or at a suitable point from the operative end of the same. This engagement of the hooks or bends 14 with the operative edge portion of the razor-blade firmly locks the guard member in operative position upon the razor-blade when the securing or clamping member 5 is operatively connected with the razor-blade.

In the preferred form of construction the securing or clamping member 5 consists of a single length 15 of stiff spring-wire, which is formed at its inner end into a straight finger or pivot 16, designed to enter a vertical slot or pivot-hole formed in a lug or head 17, which projects from the guard member 2, preferably at the inner end of the same, being arranged or formed upon the inner stop member 4 at a point approximately midway of its upper and lower ends. From the finger or pivot 16 the wire of which the securing or clamping member 5 is formed is bent laterally and downwardly, as at 18, and is thence extended laterally in the opposite direction to form a straight arm 19, which arm 19 is merged at its outer end into an outwardly-projecting loop or bow 20, from the outer end of which projects a terminal catch-finger 21, which extends substantially at right angles to the arm 19 and is designed for direct engagement with the top or upper edge portion of the razor-blade 6.

The lower end portions of the fingers 8 and of the bars 13 are preferably included in a general downward curvature extending longitudinally of the guard member, which longitudinal curvature effects a substantially equivalent spacing of the lower end portions 9 of the fingers 8 from the operative edge portion of the razor-blade and adapts the lower end portions of the bars 13 of the stop members 3 and 4 to a uniform contact with the face of the user of the device.

The operation and advantages of my improved safety attachment for razors will be readily understood. When not in use, the securing or clamping member 5 maybe readily detached from the guard member 2 by simply slipping the finger or pivot 16 out of the pivot-hole in the lug or head 17, and in preparing the device for use the reverse operation is performed. The hooks 14 of the stop members 3 and 4 are brought to bear upon the operative edge portion of the razor-blade, fitting the bars 13 closely against the face of the razor-blade in an engagement determined by the curvature of the face of the razor-blade and the curvature of the bars 13 and the arm 19 of the securing or clamping member 5, which normally assumes the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is raised into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and partially shown in full lines in Fig. 5. This elevation of the arm 15 gives the same a tension, which firmly binds the securing member to the guard member and also firmly binds the guard member and stop members in positive operative engagement with the razor-blade. The terminal catch-finger 21 of the arm 19 of the securing member 5 may be slightly curved, as illustrated, to cause a more secure engagement of the same with the top of the razor-blade. The engagement of the catch-finger 21 with the top of the razor-blade at a point substantially intermediate of the stop members 3 and 4 causes a practically equivalent and firm binding of said stop members upon the razor-blade, and the pivotal connection of the arm 19 of the securing member 5 with the guard member enables the arm 19 to be readily swung laterally in engaging the catch-finger 21 with the razor-blade and in disengaging the former from the latter. With the parts thus in operative position a perfect and safe shaving operation may be performed, and the razor and attachment may be successively and conveniently cleaned by the application of water, all accumulations being thereby readily removed from the chamber or open space b tween the guard member and the razor-blade. After use the device may be readily detached from the razor-blade by simply slipping the catch-finger 21 free from the top of the razor-blade and then slipping the hooks 14 of the stop members 3 and 4 from the lower edge of the razor-blade. A final and thorough cleaning of the attachment may then be performed, previous to which to prevent accumulation of rust in and about the parts of the securing member 5 the same maybe readily disconnected from the guard member by slipping the finger or pivot 16 free from the lug or head 17. The parts may then be readily packed together in small compass.

The elasticity or spring quality of the length of spring-wire 15, constituting the securing member 5, permits of the attachment of the device to any width of razor-blade, and as the hooks 14 of the stop members 3 and 4 may be operatively engaged with the operative edge portion of the razor-blade at any suitable points the device may be fitted to razor-blades of any length. Furthermore, as the width of a given razor-blade diminishes by wearing away in use the attachment will adjust itself to such diminution of dimension and a perfect fit and attachment may thus be secured at any stage of the use of a given razor-blade. The general longitudinal curvature of the guard member 2 at the lower ends of the fingers 8 causes a perfect contact of the operative edge portion of the razor-blade with the face at all points of the former. It is manifest that the attachment may be fitted to either face of the razor-blade by a mere reversal of the position of the ends of the same, thus adapting the attachment in use to all styles and methods of shaving. The outwardly-projecting loop or bow 20 constitutes a finger-piece for convenient manipulation of the securing member 5.

From the above it will be seen that the attachment, while simple and inexpensive in construction, meets all the requirements of a convenient, durable, and perfectly-operating device of this class having a wide range of adaptability to razors of all styles and in all conditions of use.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the specific construction and arrangement of parts as herein described and illustrated, but reserve the right to vary the same in adapting the device to various conditions of use without departing from the spirit of my invention and the terms of the following claims.

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

1. An improved safety attachment for razors, comprising a guard member; and a pivoted, detachable, tensional securing member whereby said guard member may be clamped in connection with the razor-blade and in longitudinal relation to the operative edge portion of the razor-blade.

2. An improved safety attachment for razors, comprising a guard member; and a pivoted, detachable, tensional securing member arranged to bear upon the razor-blade at a point intermediate of the ends of the guard member and whereby said guard member may be clamped in connection with the razor-blade and in longitudinal relation to the operative edge portion of the razor-blade.

3. An improved safety attachment for razors, comprising a guard member; and a tensional securing member connected at one end with one end of the guard member and arranged to bear at the other end upon the razor-blade at a point intermediate of the ends of the guard member whereby said guard member may be clamped in connection with the razor-blade and in longitudinal relation to the operative edge portion of the razor-blade.

4. An improved safety attachment for razors, comprising a guard member; and a securing member consisting of a pivoted spring-arm connected with said guard member at one end of the latter and arranged to bear at its free end upon a razor-blade at a point intermediate of the ends of the guard member and whereby said guard member may be clamped in connection with the razor-blade and in longitudinal relation to the operative edge portion of the razor-blade.

5. An improved safety attachment for razors, comprising a guard member; and a securing member consisting of a pivoted, detachable spring-arm which is connected at one end with one end of the said guard member and is arranged to bear at its free end upon the razor-blade at a point intermediate of the ends of the guard member whereby said guard member may be clamped in connection with the razor-blade and in longitudinal relation to the operative edge portion of the razor-blade.

6. An improved safety attachment for razors, comprising a guard member; and a securing member whereby said guard member may be clamped in connection with the razor-blade and in longitudinal relation to the operative edge portion of the razor-blade; said securing member consisting of a single length of stiff spring-wire which is formed at one end into a pivot adapted for detachable connection with said securing member at one end of the same, the length of wire being thence laterally and downwardly bent and extended to form a spring-arm which terminates in a catch-finger arranged to be engaged with the razor-blade at a point intermediate of the ends of the guard member.

7. An improved safety attachment for razors, comprising a guard member, stop members arranged at either end of said guard member, and a securing member whereby said guard member may be clamped in connection with the razor-blade and in longitudinal relation to the operative edge portion of the razor-blade and whereby said stop members may be brought to bear upon the face of the razor-blade and upon the operative edge portion of said razor-blade; said guard member and said stop members being of integral formation; said guard member embodying a plurality or longitudinal series of spaced fingers, and said guard member, including predetermined portions of said fingers, being outwardly bent from the plane of said stop members whereby a chamber is formed between said guard member and the razor-blade when the device is in connection with the razor-blade.

8. An improved safety attachment for razors, comprising a guard member, stop members arranged at either end of said guard member, and a securing member whereby said guard member may be clamped in connection with the razor-blade and in longitudinal relation to the operative edge portion of the razor-blade and whereby said stop members may be brought to bear upon the face of the razor-blade and upon the operative edge portion of said razor-blade; said guard member and said stop members being of integral formation; said guard member consisting of a bar provided with a plurality of depending spaced fingers; said stop members consisting each of a bar extending at right angles to said guard member and connected with the same by an outward bend, one of said stop members being provided with an outwardly-projecting lug; and said securing member consisting of a spring-arm having a detachable pivotal connection with said lug at one end and provided at the other end with an outward bow constituting a finger-piece and terminating in a catch-finger arranged to bear upon the top of the razor-blade at a point intermediate of said stop members.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

William Schuch.

Witnesses:

Raymond I. Blakeslee,

David Franklin.