To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Levi T. Snow, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Safety-Razors; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in—

Figure 1, a view in front elevation of a safety-razor constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a view thereof in central longitudinal section; Fig. 3, a view thereof in transverse section on the line a b of Fig. 2 drawn to an enlarged scale; Fig. 4, a detached view, in inside elevation, of the operating-plate; Fig. 5, an edge view thereof; Fig. 6, a detached plan view of the razor-blade; Fig. 7, an edge view thereof; Fig. 8, a detached view, in front elevation, of the backing-plate, the edges of which are toothed to form the comb, the handle being broken away; Fig. 9, a broken view of the sliding operating-bar.

My invention relates to an improvement in safety-razors, the object being to produce a simple and compact device constructed with particular reference to superior convenience and effectiveness in use.

With these ends in view my invention consists in a safety-razor having certain details of construction, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In carrying out my invention as herein shown I employ a straight tubular handle 2, by preference having its surface roughened to enable it to be securely gripped and carrying an alined backing-plate 3, concavo-convex in cross-section and formed upon its side edges with comb-teeth 4, the said plate being rigid with the handle and forming, in effect, an extension of the outer end thereof. I also employ a flexible removable razor-blade slightly rounded at its ends and formed with holes 6 and 7, adapting it to be set over studs 8 and 9, located near the ends of an operating-plate 10, also concavo-convex in cross-section. The said studs 8 and 9 pass forward from rear to front through holes 11 and 12, formed in the backing-plate 3, whereby the blade 5 is longitudinally flexed and held between the convex outer face of the plate 3 and the concave inner face of the plate 10, with its edges in proximity to the comb-teeth 4. The extent to which the blade is centrally flexed longitudinally will of course determine the position of its cutting edges with respect to the comb-teeth. The coupling of the operating-plate 10 to the coupling-plate 3 is effected by means of a longitudinally-movable plate-like operating-bar 13, narrower than the plate 3 and formed near its outer and inner ends, respectively, with slots 14 and 15 and having square outer and rounded inner ends adapted in width to receive the pins 8 and 9, the square outer end of the slot 14 being cut down to form a cam 16 and the square outer end of the slot 15 being cut down to form a cam 17. The said cams 16 and 17, respectively, enter transverse notches 18 and 19, respectively, formed in the upper faces of the pins 8 and 9 and having beveled upper walls, so that when the bar 13 is drawn inward with respect to the backing-plate 3 the bevels 16 and 17 coact with the bevels of the notches 18 and 19 to draw the operating-plate 10 laterally forward toward the convex rear face of the backing-plate 3, whereby the blade 5 is flexed, as described. The bar 13 is formed with a centrally-arranged slot 20, having its inner end enlarged, as at 21, to adapt it to fit over a coupling-pin 22, having an overhanging head located in the front face of the backing-plate 3 about midway the length thereof. The bar is longitudinally operated by the provision of its inner end with a long rod-like stem 23, having its lower end threaded for entrance into the threaded inner end of a cylindrical rotatable finger-piece 24, having a hub 25, adapted to enter the lower end of the handle 2, to which the finger-piece 24 corresponds in diameter and of which it virtually constitutes an extension.

By turning the finger-piece 24 from left to right the operating-bar 13 is drawn downward, whereby the operating-plate 10 is drawn forward and the razor-blade 5 flexed, so as to cause its cutting edges to approach the comb-teeth 4. By turning the finger-piece 24 from right to left the operating-bar 13 is allowed to move outward and the blade 5 permitted to assert itself and push the operating-plate 10 laterally backward away from the convex rear face of the plate 3. As this is done the blade assumes more nearly its normal flat shape and its edges, therefore, move away from the comb-teeth.

It is apparent that in carrying out my invention some changes from the construction herein shown and described may be made. I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself thereto, but hold myself at liberty to make such departures therefrom as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

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

1. In a safety-razor, the combination with the handle thereof, of a backing-plate extending in line with the said handle and rigid therewith and having a convex outer face, of an operating-plate having a convex inner face for coaction with the convex outer face of the backing-plate, a longitudinally-movable operating-bar, a finger-piece for operating the said bar, and means for connecting the operating-bar and the operating-plate, whereby the said bar and plate are moved toward each other to hold and flex the blade.

2. In a safety-razor, the combination with the handle thereof, of a backing-plate extending in line with the said handle and made rigid therewith and having a convex outer face, of an operating-plate having a convex inner face coacting with the convex outer face of the backing-plate and provided with two studs having beveled notches and extending from rear to front through holes in the backing-plate, an operating-bar formed with slots for the reception of the said studs, and with bevels for coaction with the beveled notches of the said studs, and a finger-piece combined with the handle and connected with the said operating-bar for moving the same longitudinally.

3. In a safety-razor, the combination with the handle thereof, of a backing-plate extending in line with the said handle and made rigid therewith, having comb-teeth upon its side edges and having a convex outer face, an operating-plate having a convex inner face for coaction with the convex outer face of the backing-plate and provided with notched studs which pass from rear to front through the backing-plate, an operating-bar having slots for the reception of the said studs and formed with bevels to enter the notches thereof, a stem located upon the said operating-bar and extending into the handle, and a finger-piece engaging with the said stem for longitudinally moving the bar, and hence securing the inward movement of the operating-plate.

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

Levi T. Snow.

Witnesses:

Clara L. Weed,

George D. Seymour.