PATENT SPECIFICATION

Application Date : Aug. 17, 1934. No, 23766/34. Complete Specification Left : Nov. 2, 1934. Complete Specification Accepted : Feb. 17, 1936.

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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. Improvements in or relating to Safety Razors

461,542

I, Alfred Schmidt, of 71, Jermyn Street, London, S.W.1, a Citizen of the United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:—

This invention relates to improvements in safety razors and has more particular reference to that type in which the blade is constituted as a ribbon and adapted to be wound off one spool on to another to obtain a fresh cutting edge, which spools lie adjacent to the head or operative part of the device.

The invention consists in improving the older type of construction, and embraces means whereby the new or refill blade ribbon for use with the apparatus can be assembled and retained in a compact state for immediate insertion in the razor holder and means whereby when the ribbon blade is in situ without any external release means the old cutting edge may be replaced by a new one by the turning of a knob.

These features comprise modified ribbon blade spools, a winding spool and centring device in the spool housing whereby the two spools are aligned and the blade ribbon will freely pass from one spool to another.

In carrying the invention into effect and in the preferred manner, the razor spool or drum casings are attached to or formed as part of the razor handle and form an integral part of the upper structure of the razor including the guard.

The back portion of the guard is pierced to enable a presser plate to pass therethrough and a shank thereon to enter the handle of the razor wherein the presser plate is moved into and out of operative position by means of an external screw on said shank engaging a conveniently screwed socket whose end remote from the blade is rotatable at will.

The spool holders are formed in two main parts, (1) a cover or sheath formed with a circular mutilated flange and (2) the spool casing proper with the internal circular walls of which the flange of the aforesaid cover engages. The spool casing is formed with a concentric steel axle or support adapted to enter and provide a concentric bearing for short axles provided with the covers or sheaths, upon which axles the blade ribbon spool arbors are seated.

The blade ribbon spool arbors differ; the magazine spool arbor is a metal annulus or tube upon the periphery of which one terminal of the ribbon is attached, the ribbon being thereafter coiled upon same in a spiral layer. This tubular arbor is seated upon a circular axle formed with or secured in a central position to the appropriate sheath or cover. The other or winding-off spool arbor is also a tubular member to the periphery of which the forward end of the blade ribbon is attached, but the internal part of the arbor is square sectioned or splined, and is engaged with a square or suitably sectioned axle which is centrally journalled in the winding-off cover or sheath. The winding-off axle is fast with a ratchet wheel with which a spring impelled detent engages compelling rotation in one direction only, the axle protruding beyond the cover and terminating in a knurled knob.

Each sheath or cover is provided with a mutilated flange adapted to enter the casing and enclose the spool of ribbon, registering devices being provided for centring the cover and allowing a mutilation of the flange to become coincident with an appropriate tangential slot in the spool casing through which the blade ribbon is passed.

In operation the blade ribbon is wound on to the magazine spool, its other end being anchored to the arbor of the winding-off spool, These are respectively placed in the left and right hand side casings, the ribbon being passed over the guard, and the presser plate then screwed down tight into position.

The blade ribbon leaves and enters the casing tangentially and its length on either side of the guard is protected by ears formed with or attached to the presser plate, these ears being adapted to meet or even overlap the tangential opening in the casing. Should a new length of blade be required by the user it is only necessary to give the winding-off spool a partial rotation when a new length of blade is immediately available for use. Backward movement of the blade ribbon is prevented by means of the ratchet wheel within the sheath and a vernier provided on the exterior of the knob on the sheath denotes by external depressions or marking on the sheath cover the amount of ribbon which has been brought into use. With this improvement the blade ribbons caw be made up as re-fills in a very compact and usable form, presenting no difficulty to secure them in position and immediately giving the user a fresh length of blade to employ, the time taken to refill the spool holders being less than that normally employed for replenishing any type of safety razor with a single fresh blade, whilst the ribbon may within a very small coil be capable of providing a plurality of fresh cutting edges.

I, Alfred Schmidt, of 71, Jermyn Street, London, S.W.1, a Citizen of the United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—

This invention relates to improvements in safety razors and has more particular reference to that type in which the blade is constituted as a ribbon and adapted to be wound off one spool on to another to obtain a fresh cutting edge, which spools lie adjacent to the head or operative part of the device.

According to the invention a ribbon blade safety razor of the type described is provided wherein the on and off winding spools for the blade are located in casings disposed at each side of a handle and integral therewith, the said casings being also formed integral with a guard over which a presser plate is removably mounted.

In order that the invention may be better understood reference is made to the accompanying drawing in which:—

Fig. 1 shows a rear elevation of the razor with the blade and presser plate removed, from their operative positions,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the winding-off spool,

Fig. 3 is an outside elevation of the winding-off spool,

Fig. 4 is a plan of the winding-off spool,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the winding-on spool,

Fig. 6 is an outside elevation of the winding-on spool,

Fig. 7 is a plan of the winding-on spool,

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the razor in its partly assembled condition,

Fig. 9 shows the razor in its completely assembled condition,

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings and to Fig. 1 in which is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the body of the razor is formed as die casting and comprises the hollow handle 1, the casings 2, the yoke 3, the guard or comb 4. The handle 1 is provided with a screwed socket rotary extension piece 5, the socket being adapted to engage the screwed portion 6 of tail piece or shank 7 of the presser plate 8. The presser plate 8 is adapted to fit over the guard plate or comb 4 and has ear-like extensions 8a which embrace the sides of the guard plate and provide a cover for the ribbon blade 9.

The ribbon blade 9 is carried in its wound condition within a winding-off spool constituted by a light housing 13 adapted to be mounted in one of the casing members 2 as shown in Fig. 2. The end of the blade 9 is anchored to a ring 10 mounted around an axle 15 fast to or forming part of the cover 16 of the housing 13. A pin 17 centrally positioned in the casing 2 enters a socket 18 in the axle 15 which is formed with a parallel slot 15a into which a spring 15b is pressed, adapted to engage a necked portion on the head of the pin 17, this arrangement retaining the housing 13 and blade anchorage in position against all but intentional removal. The housing 13 is formed with a slot 14 for passage of the blade and also carries an alignment pip 20 which is adapted to engage a recess 21 in casing 2 for the purpose of correctly positioning the housing 13 therein.

The opposite end of the ribbon blade 9 is anchored within a winding-on spool also constituted by a light housing 13a constructed and adapted to be mounted in one of the casing members 2 in a similar manner to the housing 13. The interior of the housing, however, is provided with a square axle 24 over which is fixed a ring 11 having a square aperture 12 the end of the band blade 9 being fixed to the ring 11. The axle 24 is adapted to be mounted over a pin 17 in one of the casings 2 in the manner already described. The housing 13a is otherwise similar in construction to the housing 13 and corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference numerals with the addition of the latter a. The axle 24 carries a ratchet wheel 25 engaged by a spring pressed detent 26 to compel rotation in one direction only. The knob 23a, fixed to the axle 24 is provided with a vernier 27 which moves with the winding movements of the axle and indicates visually the amount of blade which has been presented either as a fresh cutting edge or its slack taken up in fitting, the said vernier moving in relation to studs 28 which are either cast in the housing 13a or applied as shown in section in Fig. 5. With this arrangement half a revolution of the winding-on spool will provide approximately a complete length of fresh cutting edge in the razor.

The method of assembling the parts above described is as follows:—

When a new ribbon blade is to be fitted, the housing 13 containing the wound blade is inserted into the casing socket 2 until the spring 15b engages in the notch of the pin 17. The blade is partially unwound and the free portion passed over the face of the guard 4, up one side, across the top, down the other side and the winding-on spool 13a pressed into position in the right hand casing socket 2 of Fig. 1. The presser plate 8 is then drawn down into position, its screwed shank 7 entering a hollow cavity in the handle 1 until the screw threaded socket is met.

In using the razor the operator unconsciously feels for and finds the correct angle for cutting and maintains that angle during the shaving operation. Owing, however, to the fact that the blade has no necessity to protrude for any appreciable distance beyond the straight face of the guard plate 5, it is impossible for the blade to enter beneath the surface of the skin whilst on the other hand all surface excresences are removed.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:—

1. A ribbon blade safety razor of the type described wherein the on and off winding spools for the blade are located in casings disposed at each side of a handle and integral therewith, the said casings being also formed integral with a guard over which a presser plate is removably mounted.

2. A ribbon blade safety razor according to Claim 1 including external covers for the winding spool casings and locking devices for retaining said covers in place.

3. A ribbon blade safety razor according to Claim 1 including extension ears formed on the presser plate and adapted to engage said casings.

4. A ribbon blade safety razor according to Claims 1 and 2 including a stub shaft mounted centrally in one of said casings, a notched head on said shaft, a cover for said casing, a tubular shaft in said cover and a horizontal spring on said tube shaft adapted to engage a notch on the stub shaft to retain the cover in position.

5. A ribbon blade safety razor according to Claim 4 including a tubular arbor upon which said blade is attached and coiled and an internally square tubular arbor to which the opposed end is attached.

6. A ribbon blade safety razor, according to Claim 4 including an off winding ribbon blade tubular arbor centrally disposed in a spool casing, a notched central stub axle in said casing, a cover for said casing, a shaft fast in said cover carrying said arbor, a locking device between the cover shaft and stub axle, a flange on said cover adapted to enter said casing, a mutilation in said flange for blade ribbon feed and a locating pip on said flange engaging a recess in said casing.

7. A ribbon blade safety razor according to Claim 4 including an on winding ribbon blade arbor, a squared hole therethrough, a ribbon blade secured thereto, a casing carrying said arbor, a central notched stub axle in said casing, a cover for said casing, a shaft journalled in said cover, an external knob for rotating said shaft and a ratchet device to compel rotation in one direction.

8. A ribbon blade safety razor according to any of the preceding claims including the provision of indicating devices to show the degree of rotation or length of ribbon blade wound on the winding-on arbor.

9. A ribbon blade safety razor according to Claim 8 wherein the said indicating devices include a vernier on the shaft and markings on the cover to indicate rotation of the shaft.

10. A ribbon blade safety razor constructed arranged and adapted to operate substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.