To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Walter H. Nicholls, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Boston, county of Suffolk, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Razors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to safety razors, and particularly to that type of safety razor employing a detachable, flexible blade, and has for its object to produce means whereby such blade may be securely held in position and easily flexed, thereby imparting rigidity to the cutting edge and bringing the same into proper cutting position, and the said invention consists of a flexible guard plate, a concave backing plate, and a handle attached to the said devices, and means controlled by the handle for rigidly clamping the said guard plate and backing together so as securely to hold the blade between them, and also of sundry details hereinafter explained and fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved razor showing the same open. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the same closed. Fig. 3 is a front elevation. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation. Fig. 5 is an inner plan view of the guard-plate and backing open. Fig. 6 is a top view of the razor. Figs. 7 and 7^a are plan and side views of the blade. Fig. 8 is a detail, in section, of a socket.

Like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawing.

The handle 1 of the razor has at its outer end a socket 20, within which is a threaded, opening which receives the threaded rod 2, and this threaded rod is rigidly attached to the plate 3, slotted at 4, and which at its inner end terminates in a hook 5. The guard-plate 6 is made of material sufficiently thin to be flexed or bent transversely, and at its free end has guard teeth 7, and at its center has a downwardly projecting hub 8, through which passes a pivoting pin 9. This pin also passes through the slot 4 of plate 3, and suffices to retain the same in position. The hub 8 is slotted or channeled at 10 to permit the passage of the plate 3, and this channel extends from the top to the bottom of the hub, so as to permit the hook 5 to pass through the same, and should be of sufficient dimensions to permit plate 3 to have a tilting motion therein for the purpose presently to be described.

A backing plate 11 is hinged to the guard-plate 6 at 12, and is bowed transversely so as to present a concave face to the razor, whereby the same may be flexed and rigidity imparted thereto. A perforated lug 13 is formed integral with the backing 11, and within said lug and extending transversely across the perforation therein, is a locking pin 14 which receives hook 5. The upper or inner face of the flexible guard-plate 6 has a recess 15 above the boss, which is of sufficient depth to receive the perforated lug 13 and permit the outer edge of the backing 11 to come in contact with the razor blade when in position.

Perforations 16 are formed in the said flexible guard-plate at each side of the hub 8 for the purpose of rendering the same more flexible, and a bead 17 may, if desired, likewise be formed in the said guard-plate for the same purpose.

The razor blade 18 is illustrated in plan and side view in Figs. 7 and 7a, and as shown in plan view, it is perforated at 19 for the purpose of permitting the passage of the lug 13. This razor blade is made preferably of thin, flexible material and may be sharpened upon one edge, or, if desired, upon both its edges. If it is sharpened upon both its edges, it should be of such width that its rear edge will not be dulled by contact with the hinge 12 when its forward edge is adjusted to cutting position, The bending of the blade guard plate 6 transversely by downward pressure exerted by the free end of the curved backing plate 11, has the effect of flexing the blade and thereby imparting a desirable stiffness thereto, and of bringing the cutting edge into intimate and uniform relation to the guard.

The assembling of my device is exceedingly simple and will be readily understood from the foregoing description of its parts. The razor blade 18 is inserted upon the flexible guard 6 to proper cutting position, the hook 5 passing through perforation 19 in said blade. The backing plate is then swung down to its seat and the handle 1 tipped forward, throwing the hook 5 backward and into engagement with locking pin 14 in the slotted lug 13. The handle 1 will then be screwed up on the threaded rod 2, and the end of slotted plate 3 will pass within the ferrule 20 on the handle, bringing the said ferrule flush with the hub 8, and a further rotation of the handle will cause locking pin 14 to pass within hook 5, effectually securing the parts together, and will cause the concave backing plate to press with force upon the razor blade and the flexible guard plate, thereby flexing the said blade and guard plate, imparting the necessary rigidity to the blade and furnishing a proper support for the cutting edge, and at the same time lug 13, which fits the perforation 19 in the blade, will pass through the same and adjust the blade. When it is desired to remove the razor, the handle may be slightly unscrewed and tipped toward the back of the razor, which will cause hook 5 to be thrown forward and to ride up out of contact with the pin 14, when the backing plate may be swung open and the razor removed.

It is obvious that many modifications and changes may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and I do not mean to limit myself to the precise embodiment shown and described, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a safety razor, a blade receiving plate capable of being bent transversely, a backing plate contracting therewith at the edges and means controlled by the handle for clamping the same together, substantially as described.

2. In a safety razor, a blade receiving plate capable of being bent transversely, a curved backing plate, a guard on one of said plates, and means controlled by the handle for clamping the same together and flexing the blade between said plates, substantially as described.

3. In a safety razor, a blade receiving plate, a backing plate hinged thereto, a locking projection in said backing plate, and a latch controlled by the handle for clamping the said plates together, substantially as described.

4. In a safety razor, a blade receiving plate capable of being bent transversely, a curved backing plate hinged thereto, guard teeth on one of said plates and locking means for clamping the blade between said plates and releasing same, substantially as described.

5. In a safety razor, a flexible blade receiving plate; a curved backing plate hinged thereto, guard teeth on one of said plates, a locking projection on the backing plate, and a latch controlled by the handle for clamping and securing the said plates together, substantially as described.

6. In a safety razor, a blade receiving plate, a backing plate, guard teeth on one of said plates, a locking projection in the back plate, a latch pivotally mounted in the blade receiving plate so as to move longitudinally, and a handle controlling said latch, substantially as described.

7. In a safety razor, a flexible blade receiving plate, a curved backing plate, guard teeth on one of said plates, a locking projection in the back plate, a latch pivotally mounted in the blade receiving plate so as to move longitudinally, a threaded projection thereon, and a handle engaging said threaded projection, substantially as described.

8. In a safety razor, a blade receiving plate capable of being bent transversely, a flexible blade, a curved backing plate, a guard on one of said plates, and means for clamping same together, substantially as described.

9. In a safety razor, a blade receiving plate capable of being bent transversely, a flexible blade, a curved backing plate, a guard on one of said plates and means for clamping said plates together and adjusting and retaining the blade, substantially as described.

10. In a safety razor, a blade receiving plate capable of being bent transversely, a flexible blade, a curved backing plate, a guard on one of said plates, and means for clamping said plates together connected to and controlled by the handle, substantially as described.

11. In a safety razor, a flexible blade receiving plate having guard teeth and a slotted hub, a curved backing plate having a slotted lug, and a pin extending transversely thereof, a perforated flexible blade, a slotted plate pivotally mounted in said hub and having a limited longitudinal movement, a hook at the outer end thereof, a screw shank at the inner end, and a handle having a threaded socket, substantially as described.

12. In a safety razor, a flexible blade receiving plate having guard teeth and an attached slotted hub, a curved backing plate hinged thereto having an attached slotted lug, a pin extending transversely thereof, a perforated flexible blade, a plate pivotally mounted on said hub and having an elongated slot, a hook at the outer end of said plate, a threaded shank at the inner end, and a handle having a socket to receive said plate, screw threaded internally to receive said threaded shank, substantially as described.

13. A safety razor comprising flexible guard plate 6, curved backing plate 11, blade 18, hook 5, pin 14, plate 3, threaded shank 2, threaded socket 20 and hub 8, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

Walter H. Nicholls.

Witnesses:

Adolph F. Dinse,

Henrietta E. Workman.