To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Frederick H. Arnold, a citizen of the United States, residing at Reading, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Razors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in safety razors and the object of the present construction is to provide a device in which a double edged blade is removably held between guard plates and capable of being incased in a tubular handle when not in use.

The invention is intended more particularly as an improvement on the device shown and described in U.S. Letters Patent No. 833,767 issued to me under date of October 23rd, 1906, in which is shown a device having a double edged blade held between a double edged guard and a backing plate, so that while both cutting edges of the blade could be used, only one side of the instrument could be presented to the face while the instrument was held in the same hand. In order to use the opposite edge of the blade it was necessary to open the device, remove the blade and replace it in reverse position.

In my present device the blade is held between two identical plates, each of which serves in the double capacity of a backing plate and a guard and permitting both cutting edges to be used by merely turning the razor and presenting the opposite side thereof to the face.

The invention is more fully described in the following specification and clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:—

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my razor, Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the guard plates.

The numeral 1 designates a tubular casing or handle. The numeral 2 designates a plug adapted to enter the open end of said casing. This plug is reversible as both its ends are adapted to engage the casing.

The numeral 3 designates the guard plates. There are two of these plates and each of them is provided at one end with a hinge member 4 by means of which they are hinged together. At their opposite ends these plates are formed with half-round, externally screw-threaded stems 6, and adapted to be engaged and held together by the plug 2 which is screw-threaded internally. One of these plates is provided with positioning pins 7 for the blade 8. This blade is perforated to engage said pins and is provided with a cutting edge along both of its longitudinal edges.

The guard plates 3 are provided each with a series of teeth 9 along one edge adapted to be in close proximity to the edge of the blade, while the opposite edge of the plate is concaved to a degree that will expose substantially one-half of the blade surface. This clearance is provided for the purpose of allowing the blade to lie close to the skin when in use and as the teeth extend beyond the cutting edge they will protect the skin from accidental cutting.

It is evident that with my device, if during the act of shaving, the cutting edge being used should prove unsatisfactory for any reason, the device is merely turned over and the opposite side presented to the skin, both sides being exactly alike. In this manner I overcome the necessity, as has been the case heretofore, of opening the razor and reversing the blade in the holder.

It is evident that as both guard plates are identical but one set of dies is required in manufacturing, thus materially reducing the cost.

Having thus fully described my invention and its operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:—

1. A safety razor comprising a perforated blade, a pair of guard plates of identical form and construction hinged together at their outer ends, one of which is formed with positioning pins for the blade, half round screw-threaded stems formed on the inner ends of said plates, each of said plates having a series of teeth formed along one of its edges and having its opposite edge concaved, an internally screw-threaded plug adapted to engage said stems and a tubular handle adapted to engage either end of said plug.

2. A clamping device for safety razor blades comprising a pair of identical plates, hinged together at one end and provided with means for securing them together at their opposite ends, each of said plates having a series of teeth along one of its sides and being concaved along the opposite side.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

Frederick H. Arnold.

Witnesses:

Ed. A. Kelly,

J. O'R. Kelly.