To all whom it may concern:

Be it knowni that I, Otto Kampfe, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Safety-Razors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in safety razor frames, that is, to the frame portion of the safety razor adapted to be connected to a handle of usual construction and adapted to receive a razor blade, and the object of my invention is the provision of means for receiving the blade and for simultaneously gripping the same along its opposite ends so that the blade is positively held against slipping, or other movement; also in the device for effecting the gripping action which when released serves as a support.

In carrying out my invention and in combination with a handle of suitable character I employ a frame of flattened or spread U or yoke shape, with in-turned upper edges, a guard-comb pivoted at the edge of its teeth to and between the upper parts of said frame and adapted to swing and a cam device pivoted in said frame below the guard-comb and adapted to lift the guard-comb and blade and to clamp the blade securely in position ready for use.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a rear elevation representing the device of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same in position reversed from the position of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the handle device and a vertical section at about the dotted line x, x, of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged section and partial elevation at about the dotted line y, y, of Fig. 2.

a represents a handle which is preferably of metal and tubular; a¹ a head part of which is made as a socket to receive one end of the handle and part as a screw to receive and be connected to the central portion of the frame b. This frame b is of flattened U-shape or flattened yoke-shape, especially comprising a curved lower member and upright distant parallel members, the upper ends of which at b¹ are in-turned, or in other words, overturned toward one another to an appreciable extent.

c represents the guard-comb as shown composed of integral parts that are in parallel planes; the rear portion being in a lower plane than the forward portion, which includes the teeth c¹.

d represents the thin flat sheet metal razor blade as shown constructed with a stiffening frame edge d¹.

The guard-comb c is pivoted between the upright members of the frame b at its forward edge, that is, the edge having the teeth c¹, by pivot pins 2 which by preference and as shown, are formed with screw members to pass through the upright members of the frame b, with heads that come against the outer surface of said frame parts and with reduced inner ends that act as the pivot pins and pass through slots 3 in the side members of the guard-comb at the forward or teeth portions; thus providing for the forward pivoted portion of the guard-comb a slight up and down motion.

e represents an arbor passing across between parallel upright members of the frame b, through the same, and by preference with the outer ends thereof upset or riveted to the frame parts. Tube members f snugly surround the said arbor and are secured at their opposite central ends to the lever device so that the connected tube members fit in between the upright members of the frame b. This lever device is by virtue of its connection to the tube members pivotally mounted upon the arbor e. The lever device comprises parallel frame parts 4, the plate 5 which at the same time is a finger plate and a stop plate, cam surfaces 6 upon the frame parts 4 and a tang 7 forming a supporting surface.

The parts as shown in the drawings, are in the position in which the blade is clamped in position for use between the parallel parts of the guard-comb c and the in-turned upper edges b¹ of the frame, with the cam surfaces 6 against the under side of the guard-comb, and with the lower end of the plate 5 acting in the capacity of a stop coming against an edge of the frame b where the same surrounds the screw of the head a¹ and in which position the lever device is held against accidental displacement.

When it is desired to remove the razor blade for cleaning or for replacement with a sharper blade, the lever device is swung from the position Figs. 1 and 3, in the direction of the dotted line until the flat face or support surface 7 comes beneath the guard-comb. This removes all pressure produced by the cam surface 6 in raising the guard-comb up against the blade and permits the guard-comb to drop and rest upon the surface 7 and also to drop at its forward or toothed edge to the limit of the slot 3, when the razor blade is completely released and may be removed or dropped out by backwardly turning the frame. The reverse movement takes place when a new blade is inserted and the lever device is swung down into the full line position Fig. 3, in which case the entire guard-comb is lifted and the opposite ends of the blade are pressed upward against the over-turned edges b¹ of the frame so that the blade is held as nearly as possible along its entire opposite ends against accidental displacement in shaving or otherwise.

I do not herein limit my invention to the particular shape in cross section of the guard-comb c or of the in-turned upper edges b¹ of the frame, nor to the particular character of the blade, because by slightly modifying this shape or configuration, a blade which in cross section agrees with the cross section of the ordinary razor blade such as has for years been employed by myself and my firm in our well known “Star safety razor” may be employed to substantially equal advantage.

My improved frame is of simple construction, is easy to manufacture, is readily operated and is eminently efficient in the clamping action produced on the blade.

I claim as my invention:—

1. In a safety razor, the combination with a suitable handle, of a frame connected thereto having engaging parts, a guard-comb, pivots therefor at its forward edge, bearings in which said pivots are movable laterally and a manually actuated lever and cam device for lifting said guard-comb and securely holding the razor blade between the said guard and the engaging edges of the frame.

2. In a safety razor, the combination with a suitable handle, of a frame connected thereto having engaging parts, a guard-comb loosely pivoted therein at its forward edge, an arbor passing across between upright members of the frame and secured thereto, tube members surrounding said arbor and a manually actuated lever and cam device comprising parallel frame parts connected to said tubes, a plate simultaneously forming a finger-plate and stop plate connected to the parallel frame parts, a tang portion forming a support surface and the parallel frame parts having cam surfaces and said parts adapted for lifting the guard-comb and securely holding the razor blade between the said guard-comb and the engaging edges of the frame in one position, and in the other position acting as a support for the guard-comb in its released position.

3. In a safety razor, the combination with a suitable handle, of a frame connected thereto and formed as a flattened U or yoke shaped part with in-turned upper edges forming engaging parts, a guard-comb, pivots therefor at its forward edge and bearings in said frame in which said pivots are movable laterally, and a manually actuated lever device for lifting the said guard-comb and securely holding the razor blade between the said guard-comb and engaging edges of the frame.

4. In a safety razor, the combination with a suitable handle, of a frame connected thereto and formed as a flattened U or yoke shaped part, with in-turned upper edges forming engaging parts and said overturned edges being offset, or in other words, having parts in parallel planes, a guard-comb, pivots therefor at its forward edge and bearings in said frame in which said pivots are movable laterally, and said guard-comb in cross section having parts in parallel planes and a manually actuated lever device for lifting the said guard-comb and securely holding the razor blade between the said guard-comb and engaging edges of the frame.

5. In a safety razor, the combination with a suitable handle, of a frame connected thereto and formed as a flattened U or yoke shaped part, with in-turned upper edges forming engaging parts, a guard-comb loosely pivoted in said frame between the upright edges thereof and at its forward edge, the forward ends of the guard-comb being slotted and a reduced ended pin forming the pivot therein and a manually actuated lever and cam device pivotally mounted between the upright members of the frame and having cam surfaces to bear upon the under surface of the guard-comb and a plate which simultaneously forms a fingerplate and stop plate, whereby the lever device is manually actuated and swung into its opposite positions for lifting the guard-comb and securely holding the razor blade or releasing the same.

Signed by me this 24th day of Februarv 1910.

OTTO KAMPFE.

Witnesses:

Arthur H. Serrell,

E. Zachariasen.