To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Schuyler Frazier, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bristol, in the county of Washington and State of Virginia, have invented a new and Improved Razor-Blade Holder, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to devices for holding safety razor blades when they are being stropped.

The object of the invention is to produce a device of this kind which is simple in construction and which can be readily operated to seize or release the razor blade, and which will hold the razor blade very securely for stropping.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan of the device shown in Fig. 1 and of a razor blade held thereon; Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3—3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing another form the invention may take.

Referring more particularly to the parts, and especially to Figs. 1 to 3, 1 represents the body of the device, which is formed with a handle 2, from the forward extremity of which a fixed tongue 3 projects forwardly. Near its root this tongue is reinforced in thickness, as shown in Fig. 1, and at the junction between the tongue and the handle, upwardly projecting ears 4 are formed in the body of the device, as shown in Fig. 2. Between the ears 4 a clamping tongue 5 is pivotally attached upon a suitable pin 6 passing transversely of the handle, as shown. At its root this tongue 5 is reinforced like the tongue 3, and in manner indicated in Fig. 1. The tongues are arranged so that they constitute a clamp operated by means of a set screw 7 which passes loosely through the tongue 5 and is threaded in the tongue 3. In the lower face of the tongue 5 a recess 8 is formed, in which there is received a helical spring 9. The lower end of this spring thrusts against the upper face of the tongue 3 in such a way that the jaws of the clamp tend to separate. On its upper face the fixed tongue or jaw 3 is provided with upwardly projecting dowel pins 10 and these are preferably formed with conical points. Opposite these pins openings 11 are formed in the moving jaw or tongue 5. These openings register with the pins so that when the clamp is closed, the adjacent faces of the tongues may come close together. The razor blade 13 has substantially the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and is provided with openings 14 as shown in Fig. 3. These openings are adapted to register with the pins when the blade is placed in the slot in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3. The set screw 7 is then rotated so as to clamp the jaws upon the blade. The edges 15 of the blade then extend parallel with the axis of the device. The outer faces of the jaws or tongues are preferably rounded as shown in Fig. 3 so as to enable the blade, when held in the device, to be stropped like the blade of an ordinary razor.

I also construct the device in the manner shown in Fig. 4; in this instance, the body 16 of the device is formed at one end into a handle 17, and at the other end into a fixed tongue or jaw 18. A substantial shank 19 is formed from the forward part of the handle, and to this shank near the handle 17, an offset leaf spring 20 is rigidly attached by means of suitable screws 21. This spring is formed integrally with a movable tongue or jaw 22; near its junction with the spring 20, the root of the tongue 22 is formed into an enlarged shoulder or seat 23 for the head of a set screw 24. This set screw passes loosely through the movable jaw and is threaded in the shank 19. On the upper face of the fixed jaw 18, upwardly projecting dowel pins 25 are provided, which are similar to the dowel pins 10, and opposite these pins the jaw 22 is provided with openings 26 which aline with the pins, as indicated. The resiliency of the spring 20 tends to hold the jaws apart when the thumb-screw 24 is unscrewed. In this way an opening is formed between the jaws for the insertion of the blade of the razor. In this case also the blade is provided with openings which receive the pins 25 so that when the jaws are clamped together by means of the thumb-screw the blade is securely held in the manner indicated in Fig. 3.

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

1. A device of the class described having a handle with a rigid jaw, said jaw having pins projecting from the inner face thereof, a movable jaw having a resilient extension attached to said handle and tending to hold said jaw removed from said fixed jaw, said movable jaw having openings therein opposite said pins, and a thumb-screw connecting said jaws and adapted to force the same together.

2. A device of the class described having a handle with a fixed jaw, a movable jaw having an offset resilient extension rigidly attached thereto and tending to hold said movable jaw removed from said fixed jaw, and means connecting said jaws, for drawing the same together.

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

Schuyler Frazier.

Witnesses:

H. W. Hobson,

F. A. Thompson.