To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Oscar C. Williams, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Safety-Razor, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to a safety razor having a plurality of cutting edges and guards therefor, more particularly a blade having a plurality of cutting edges, and a guard plate keyed to the blade and having a plurality of guard sides or edges corresponding in number to the cutting edges of the blade; the invention having reference more particularly to a safety razor provided with a plurality of cutting edges and also a frame and a handle adjustable to various positions relatively to the shaving blade to permit the razor to be variously used.

An object of the invention is to provide a safety razor that shall be so constructed as to enable the razor to perform its functions many times or for long periods without requiring re-sharpening or renewing of the blade.

Another object is to provide a safety razor which shall be so constructed as to have a single blade with the maximum number of cutting edges so as to permit of economical construction and saving of time in the changing, re-sharpening and handling of the blades.

A further object is to provide a safety razor of such construction as to permit the razor to be used in various ways, as by drawing it, or pushing it, or moving it sidewise.

A still further object is to provide a safety razor which shall be so constructed as to have a quickly-adjustable handle and a quickly-adjustable frame, of simple and inexpensive character, to enable the razor to be used in various ways, especially as may be desired on faces on which the beard or hairs lean in various directions.

With the above-mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in a frame of novel construction having a handle adjustable thereon, and a guard plate and a razor blade of novel construction and adjustably connected to the frame; and, the invention consists also further in the parts and combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter particularly described and further defined in the accompanying claims.

Referring to the drawings,—Figure 1 is a side elevation of the razor as preferably constructed; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan of Fig. 1 with the razor handle in a relatively angular position; Fig. 4 is a central transverse section of the safety razor on an enlarged scale; Fig. 5 is a bottom plan of the razor blade on a relatively small scale; Fig. 6 is a bottom plan of the razor frame; Fig. 7 is a top plan of the guard plate; and, Fig. 8 is a central transverse section similar to Fig. 4, but slightly modified.

Similar reference characters in the different figures of the drawings indicate corresponding elements or features of construction herein referred to in detail.

As preferably constructed the razor is provided with four cutting edges and also a guard plate having four guard sides or edges, the blade and the plate being keyed or locked together; and so constructed the razor is provided with a metallic guard plate 1 that is rectangular in plan and having a central aperture 2 which preferably is squared, and the plate has four straight edges 3, 4, 5, 6, the plate being squared and on the corners thereof it has guard fingers 7, 8, 9, 10, respectively, the different edges having rows of guard fingers 11, 12, 13, 14, respectively, each row being arranged between two corner fingers. Preferably the plate has socket apertures 15 and 16 therein equi-distant from the central aperture.

A rectangular or squared razor blade 17 is provided which has a central aperture 18 therein that preferably is squared, and the blade has four straight cutting edges 19, 20, 21, and 22 and preferably has also key sockets 23 and 24 spaced apart similarly to the socket apertures in the guard plate.

A clamp plate 25 is provided which has a central stud 26 suitably fixed to the plate; the stud having a body portion 27 adapted to fit into the apertures 2 and 18, the body portion preferably being squared to correspond with the apertures, and it has a cylindrical stem 28 extending from the body portion and having a flange or collar 29 thereon to constitute a head portion. In some cases the clamp plate has key studs or dowels 30 and 31 arranged on its back to be received into the key sockets that are in the guard plate and the razor blade, these being more desirable in case the central apertures and the stud body are not squared.

A novel frame is provided which preferably is composed of suitable sheet metal and shaped to constitute a base plate having an approximately flat and straight portion 32 at one edge portion and a curved opposite edge portion 33, the body portion 34 of the plate being pressed up centrally so as to have a concave under side and a convex upper side; and the base plate body portion has a slot 35 extending from the curved edge 33 and inward slightly beyond the middle portion of the plate. The flat or straight portion 32 of the base plate has a handle arm integral thereon which comprises at upstanding base portion 36, a reach portion 37 and a terminal portion 38, the different portions being curved and may be differently curved as may be desired with different degrees of curvature, the arm extending over the base plate of the frame and having a slot 38 — read 39? therein which extends approximately from the base plate through the different portions and nearly to the end of the arm. A metallic handle 40 is provided which has a socket 41 in one end provided with screw threads, said end being arranged on the outer side of the arm, the socket receiving a securing screw 42 which extends through the slot 38 and has a head 43 thereon engaging the inner side of the arm, the head preferably having a tapering back 44 adapted to slightly enter the slot so as to tend to prevent the screw from turning in the slot.

As the various parts of the safety razor are assembled the base plate of the frame is arranged upon the guard plate 1 and the stem 28 of the stud is received in the slot 35. The base plate is slightly elastic and the head 29 of the stud closely engages the outer side or top of the base plate but permits the base plate to be turned rotatively on the guard plate when slight force is applied to the different parts in the proper direction. The razor blade 17 thus is clamped between the guard plate and the clamp plate 25. The cutting edges of the blade project beyond the clamp plate and under the guard fingers a suitable distance, but not to the end of the fingers.

In practical use the handle 40 of the razor may be slightly turned so as to loosen it from the frame arm, after which it may be moved along the arm to different positions as indicated by broken lines in Figs. 1 and 3, or the handle may be arranged vertically with resepct to the guard plate, and when slightly turned in the proper direction it is screwed fast to the arm. The frame may be readily turned on the guard plate to suit the needs of the user so that the blade may be drawn at different angles, or to permit one edge to be used on one portion of the face and another edge on another portion, and permitting opposite cutting edges to be pushed along the face or on the user's neck, as may be most convenient. In case one cutting edge is used solely until it becomes dulled, the blade may be quickly re-adjusted so that another cutting edge may be likewise used, and subsequently the other separate cutting edges may be successively used until all the cutting edges require re-sharpening. The razor blade may be quickly removed by first sliding the frame base away from the stud head 29 to permit the stud to be withdrawn from the guard plate and the razor blade. With equally simple reverse operations a sharp four edged blade may be quickly assembled with the razor frame and its handle.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is—

1. A safety razor comprising a rectangular guard plate having four fingered guards and also a central aperture and a socket, a rectangular blade having four cutting edges and also a central aperture and a socket, a clamp plate that is rectangular in plan and having a stud central thereon and extending through the apertures in the blade and the guard plate, the clamp plate having also a dowel thereon that extends through the sockets in the blade and the guard plate, said stud having a head thereon, a frame comprising a curved base plate having a concave side arranged on the guard plate and a curved arm extending from the edge of the base plate and over the outer or convex side of the base plate, said base plate having a slot receiving said stud, the convex side of said base plate engaging the head of said stud, and a handle adjustably connected to the curved arm.

2. A safety razor comprising a guard plate having a central aperture and also four relatively rectangular fingered guards, a rectangular blade having a central aperture and also four cutting edges, a clamp plate provided with a central stud having a head on its end, the stud extending through the apertures in the guard plate and the blade, a frame having an elastic base that has a concave side seated at its edge on the guard plate and having a slot extending from one portion of its edge, the slot receiving said stud to enable it with its head to secure the frame base rotatably on the guard plate and to clamp the blade to the guard plate, the frame base being on a portion of its edge provided with a handle arm, and a handle adjustably connected to the handle arm.

3. In a safety razor, the combination with a guard plate having a plurality of fingered guards, and a blade connected to the guard plate and having a plurality of cutting edges, of a clamp plate having a stud central thereon and extending centrally through the blade and the guard plate, the stud having a head thereon beyond the guard plate, a frame comprising a curved base plate having a concave side arranged on the guard plate and a curved arm extending from the edge of the base plate and over the outer or convex side of the base plate, said base plate having a slot therein receiving said stud, the convex side of said base plate engaging the head of said stud, said arm having a slot therein, a handle adjustable on the convex side of said arm, and a securing screw extending through the slot in said arm and into said handle, said screw having a head engaging the concave side of said arm.

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

OSCAR C, WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

E. T. Silvius,

Omer S. Whiteman.