To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Clinton J. Warren, a citizen of the United States, residing in Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Temporary Holders for Safety-Razor Blades, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like figures on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of a conveniently-operated, simple, and efficient holder for blades of safety-razors when it is necessary to hone or strop the same, such blades being frequently made of thin short steel blades often provided with two opposite cutting edges. Some holding device must be used temporarily if such a blade is to be honed, ground, or stropped, as the blade is so small that it is impractical to hold it directly in the hand.

In accordance with my present invention the blade-holder comprises an elongated handle, a blade-clamp longitudinally movable thereon and having jaws to receive and grip the blade between them and means to open and close the jaws by longitudinal movement of the clamp on the handle.

The novel features of my invention will be fully described in the subjoined specification and particularly pointed out in the following claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a blade-holder embodying my invention, shown with a blade clamped and in readiness to be sharpened. Fig.2 is a plan view thereof, showing the longitudinal slot in the handle by or through which the operation of the clamp-jaws is governed. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the handle and clamp with the jaws of the latter open; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 5 5, Fig. 4.

In accordance with the present embodiment of my invention the handle 1 is made of metal and tubular and long enough to present a hand-grip 2 at one end, said hand-grip being preferably corrugated to afford a firm grasp for the hand of the operator. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the handle is longitudinally slotted from end to end at 3 4, the part 4 in the grip portion 2 being considerably wider than the part 3 of the slot, the edges of the latter being inclined between the wide and narrow portions, as at 5. A stop 6 is upturned at one end of the handle, and a similar stop 7 is provided at the opposite end, said stops projecting inward from the unslotted back of the handle.

The clamp is made of thin spring metal bent to form a partially-tubular body 8, adapted to be retained in and slide longitudinally in the handle, and having its sides prolonged to form jaws 9, which extend through the slot in the handle. The resiliency of the body tends to separate or open the jaws when permitted to act, as when the clamp is moved to bring the jaws into the wider portion 3 of the slot; but when the clamp is slid in the direction of arrow 25, Fig. 4, into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the narrow part 4 of the slot presses the jaws toward each other and closes them. If a blade B, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, be inserted between the open jaws and the clamp is slid in the direction of the arrow 25, Fig. 4, the jaws will be closed upon the blade to clamp it firmly and rigidly when the jaws are in the narrow portion 4 of the handle-slot, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and the sharpening of the exposed edge of the blade can then be readily accomplished.

Some blades are made with apertures to assist in holding them in place in the razor-handle, and I have herein provided the clamp with means to coöperate with such openings and positively position the blade between the jaws. One of the jaws has two annular projections 10 on its inner face, easily made by striking up the metal of the jaws, and the other jaw has two opposite apertures 11 somewhat larger than the projections. (See Figs. 3, 4, and 5.) When a blade is to be clamped, it is laid against the inner face of the jaws having the projections 10, the latter passing through the openings hereinbefore referred to in the blade, and the jaws are closed by moving the clamp to the narrow end of the handle-slot. The jaws are thereby pressed tightly against the blade, and the apertures 11 permit the ends of the projections 10 to pass freely therethrough, as shown in Fig. 3, holding the blade without any possibility of slipping or displacement.

The inclined portions 5 of the slot edges act as cams to gradually close the jaws when the clamp is moved in one direction and permit the resiliency of the jaws and clamp-body 8 to gradually open the jaws when slid in the opposite direction in the handle, while the stops 6 and 7 prevent separation of the clamp and handle.

My invention is not restricted to the precise construction and arrangement herein shown and described, as changes or modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

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

1. In a device of the class described, an elongated handle, a blade-clamp slidably mounted thereon and having jaws to receive the razor-blade between them, and means to automatically open and close the jaws by or through sliding movement of the clamp on the handle.

2. In a device of the class described, an elongated handle, a blade-clamp slidably mounted thereon and having jaws to receive the razor-blade between them, means on the jaws to positively position the blade thereon, and means to open and close the jaws by or through sliding movement of the clamp on the handle.

3. In a device of the class described, a longitudinally-slotted, tubular handle, a blade-clamp slidable therein and having jaws to receive the blade between them, and means to automatically effect opening and closing of the jaws by or through sliding movement of the clamp in the handle.

4. In a device of the class described, a handle, a blade-clamp longitudinally movable thereon and having spring-jaws to receive the razor-blade between them, and means to press the jaws together by longitudinal movement of the clamp in one direction on the handle, opposite movement of the clamp permitting the jaws to open to release the blade.

5. In a device of the class described, a tubular handle having a longitudinal slot therein reduced in width at one end, and a blade-clamp slidable within the handle and having spring-separated jaws to receive the razor-blade between them, the jaws projecting through the slot in the handle, movement of the clamp to bring the jaws into the narrowed end of the slot pressing the jaws firmly together.

6. In a device of the class described, a tubular handle having a longitudinal slot therein reduced in width at one end, and a resilient blade-clamp slidable within the handle and having opposed jaws extended through the slot, one of said jaws having apertures and the other jaw having annular projections thereon to pass through openings in a razor-blade when inserted between the jaws, to positively position the blade when the jaws are closed upon it, movement of the clamp to bring the jaws into the narrowed end of the slot pressing the jaws together.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Clinton J. Warren.

Witnesses:

Louis C. Smith,

Emily C. Hodges.