My invention relates generally to razors, and more particularly to a lady's safety razor which is adapted for shaving under arms.

Due to the concave curved surface of the axilla, it is difficult to shave this portion of the body with an ordinary straight-edged razor of conventional design. Special curved edge razors have been designed for this purpose, but have had numerous disadvantages. One such disadvantage arises from the fact that special designs heretofore have necessitated special blades not always easily available for replacement.

Another disadvantage of previous construction is that often complex mechanisms involving a large number of separate parts were required to hold the blade in place.

A major object of my invention is to provide a razor for the purpose stated which is adapted to use conventional double edged safety razor blades of the type used in conventional men's razors.

It is another object of my invention to provide a razor of the class described which is easily and quickly assembled or dis-assembled, and which requires a minimum of working parts.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a razor which is economical to manufacture, requiring only simple stamping operations for its fabrication.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description thereof, such consideration being taken in connection with the attached drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a curved blade razor embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an elevational section taken on the line 2—2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial elevational section taken on the line 3—-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an exploded front elevational view of an alternate form of razor embodying my invention; and

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Figure 4 with the parts assembled.

In referring to the form shown in Figures 1 through 3, I have designated the handle portion of the device by the reference character 10. The handle 10 is the general shape of a ring split at the top as indicated by the character 11 in Figure 3. The two end portions of the ring-shaped handle 10 are formed as a transversely divided blade carrier 9 with outwardly projecting rake-like teeth 12 which form the operative edges of the razor as best seen in Figure 1. The purpose of these tooth-like projections 12 is, as is conventional in razors of the general class described, to contact the skin ahead of the cutting edge ahead of the razor and stretch the skin to hold the hairs upright. The projections 12 also serve to protect the cutting edge of the blade and to prevent the skin from bunching and being cut.

The handle 10 is constructed of resilient material and normally biased so as to expand in the direction of the arrows placed on Figure 3. When the razor is assembled, such expansion is prevented by a blade holder or guard plate 13 having downwardly projecting and inwardly bent hook-like members 14. Since the looped portion of the handle 10 is less in width than the total width of the carrier 9, thus to form transverse shoulders at the outer ends of the carrier 9 where it joins the handle 10, the hook members 14 are adapted and positioned to engage the shoulders adjacent the ends of the carrier 9 whereby to hold the handle 10 in the closed position indicated in Figure 3.

Between the upper surface of the carrier 9 and the guard plate 13 is placed a conventional slotted razor blade 15. Thus the razor is securely clamped between the guard 13 and the carrier 9, being held in this position by the normal tendency of the handle 10 to expand the carrier against the hook members 14.

In order to properly position the cutting edge of the blade, the guard plate 13 is formed with a downwardly extending and elongated boss 20 which is proportioned to engage the slot 15a in the razor blade 15 and properly align the blade with respect to the guard 13. Since the hook portions 14 which attach the guard plate 13 to the handle 10 align the guard 13 with the handle 10, it therefore follows that the blade is properly aligned with the rake teeth 12. The boss 20 may be formed by coining the guard member 13 as shown in the drawings, or alternatively, may be formed by securing an elongated member to the under surface of the guard 13.

In order to provide clearance for the boss 20, a complemental depressed portion 21 is formed in the adjacent surface of the handle 10.

To assemble the razor shown in Figures 1 through 3, the handle 10 is compressed by manual pressure until the ends at the split 11 are touching. The razor blade 15 is then laid in position on top of the handle 10 with its cutting edges in approximate position adjacent the teeth 12. The guard member 13 is then placed on top of the blade 15 with the boss 20 entering the slot 15a in the blade and is pressed downwardly to bend the blade into the arcuate shape shown in Figure 3 and with the hook members 14 extending downwardly beyond the teeth 12. The pressure is then released from the handle 10, allowing it to expand whereby to bring the end teeth 12 into engagement with the hooks 14, thus securing the entire assembly together. Dis-assembly is, of course, the reverse of the procedure just described.

Thus it will be seen that the only parts required in addition to the blade are the handle 10 and the guard 13. These parts can be fabricated from stock material of the same thickness and require relatively simple stamping operations to form them. The total absence of screw threads, pivoted parts or other complicated mechanisms makes the razor extremely easy to clean since there are no crevices in which shaving cream, hair cuttings, or other material can lodge.

A modified form of my invention such as would be suitable for men shavers is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. In the modified form it will be noted that the end portions 25 of a modified handle 110 are bent outwardly so as to form a generally T-shaped razor having a looped handle.

A further difference of the modified form is shown in Figure 5 wherein it will be seen that the blade is curved in its transverse direction. The guard member 113 of the modified form is identical to the first form described except that it is not bent longitudinally but is bent transversely as can be seen in Figure 5. The manner of assembling the modified razor is practically the same as in the first form, pressure being applied to the sides of the handle 110 to bring the surfaces 26 into contact whereupon the blade 15 and guard 113 may be assembled and the pressure released to lock the parts in place.

The devices just described may be constructed from various different materials, but stainless steel has been found to be particularly adaptable in that it requires no plating or other finishing operation and will not rust or corrode.

It is contemplated that the radius of curvature of the blade-adjacent portions of the device shown in Figures 1 through 3 may be varied to suit various uses. In the present instance the curvature is rather slight in order that the razor may be used not only for underarm shaving, but may be used to shave other parts of the body as well.

While the devices shown and described herein are fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is realized that they can be modified somewhat by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For this reason I do not not mean to be limited to the form shown and described, but rather to the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

In a razor having a removable blade, the combination of a rectangular carrier for said blade, said carrier being of greater width than said blade and having a plurality of rake-tooth-like projections formed along a lateral edge thereof and adapted to project beyond the cutting edge of a blade held on said carrier whereby to stretch skin ahead of said cutting edge, said carrier being divided along a transverse joint, into two portions, which portions are relatively movable in a direction substantially parallel to said cutting edge; a handle comprising a looped resilient member having its ends connected to said portions and being spring biased whereby to urge separation of said carrier portions, said looped member being further adapted to receive manual pressure to force said carrier portions together; and a guard plate removably secured to said carrier whereby to clamp said blade thereagainst with said cutting edge thereof in operative position, said guard plate having a boss formed therein adapted to engage a slot in said blade whereby to hold the same in said operative position, said guard plate having depending hooks on the ends thereof positioned to engage end teeth of said carrier whereby said separation pressure of said looped member secures said guard plate to said carrier and whereby said guard plate may be removed by said manual pressure applied to said looped member.

Hale B. Streeter.

References Cited in the file of this patent

United States Patents

Number Name Date

D. 118,833 Pierson Feb. 6, 1940

783,660 Williams Feb. 28, 1905

1,290,641 Munroe Jan. 7, 1919

1,929,982 Koree Oct. 10, 1933

Foreign Patens

Number Country Date

347,432 Great Britain Apr. 30, 1931

416,014 France July 27, 1910