IMPROVEMENTS IN SHAVING APPARATUS AND RAZOR GUARDS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SHAVING APPARATUS AND RAZOR GUARDS." A communication from
abroad by Pierre Lucien Fontaine, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd July 1880.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHAVING APPARATUS AND RAZOR GUARDS."
A communication from abroad by Pierre Lucien Fontaine, of Paris, in the Republic
of France.
This Invention relates to improvements in shaving apparatus, whereby the
danger and inconvenience attending the employment of the razors heretofore
employed is obviated.
In carrying out this Invention a cutting blade is carried by a holder formed of
a flat piece of metal bent and cut out in a peculiar manner, being provided at the
part carrying the blade with two small bent tongues which embrace the extremities
of the blade so as to retain it in the proper position. A. screw working in a nut
carried by the holder bears against the back of the blade and enables the latter
to be adjusted when required.
A portion of the holder is bent at right angles to the part carrying the blade so
as to form a handle, and is provided on each side with two long tongues acting as
diagonal ties or stays, being fixed at their extremities into corresponding holes
formed in the part carrying the blade.
The holder is provided with teeth which are slightly curved and bear against
the skin, so that the cutting edge of the blade, which is situate at about one
twelfth of an inch behind the said teeth, is enabled to shave off the hair closely,
but is prevented from cutting or even grazing the epidermis, whilst the cut hair
and lather are allowed to pass between the teeth and through an opening formed
in this part of the holder at the side of the blade.

page_text: For the purposs of sharpening the edge of the blade it is removed from the
holder and inserted in a device consisting of a tube or ferrule attached to a suitable
handle, and provided with a slot in which the back of the blade is inserted, being
retained in position therein by the pressure of the edges of the slot acting as
springs.
The opening hereinbefore referred to provided in the holder by the side of the
blade for the passage of the lather and cut hairs may be partially filled by a
grating the bars of which are formed by a continuation of the teeth, in which case
the said bars must be bent in such a manner as to allow sufficient room for the
passage of the lather 'between them and the blade.. When this arrangement is
adopted the angular part of the bars projects a sufficient distance in front of the
cutting edge to prevent the latter from entering the skin.
Holders or guards of similar construction and suitable dimensions may be fitted
to ordinary razors having handles, and such razors are thereby rendered as safe as
the improved shaving apparatus hereinbefore described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
January 1881.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHAVING APPARATUS AND RAZOR GUARDS."
A communication from abroad by Pierre Lucien Fontaine, of Paris, in the Republic
of France.
The said Invention relates to improvements in shaving apparatus, whereby the
danger and inconvenience attending the use of the razors heretofore employed is
obviated.
The improved shaving apparatus may be used by unskilled persons without risk
of cutting the skin. It is provided with a single opening between the edge of the
blade and the blade holder or guard in a similar manner to a carpenter's plane,
and the opening is furnished with a number of teeth arranged in front of the cutting
edge of blade or razor, which allow the lather to pass between them, and serve to
guide the said edge and prevent it from entering the skin.
The extremities of the blade are connected to the holder by two hooks; this
arrangement maintains the edge in the proper position, and enables the blade to
be adjusted by means of a screw bearing against the back of the razor.
In order to facilitate the stropping or sharpening the back of the razor or cutting
blade is inserted in a slot formed in a long ferrule or tube connected to a suitable
haudle, and which holds the blade with sufficient steadiness to retain it in position
during the operation of stropping or sharpening.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of
reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents an elevation of a piece of
metal forming the blade holder before it is bent to the required angles.
Figure 2 is a view of the same piece after being bent and adjusted ready to
receive the blade.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the complete apparatus; and Figure 4 is a
corresponding plan showing the hooks or claws for retaining the blade.
Figures 5 and 6 represent the handle or holder to be used when sharpening the
blade.
B is a cutting blade carried by a holder A, which is formed of a flat piece of
metal bent and cut out in a peculiar manner, it being provided at the part carrying
the blade with two small bent tongues, which embrace the extremities of the
blade so as to retain it in the proper position. A screw v working in a nut carried
by the holder bears against the back of the blade and enables the latter to be
adjusted when required.
A portion of the holder is bent at right angles to the part carrying the blade so
as to form a handle, and is provided with two long tongues t, one on each side,
acting as diagonal ties or stays, the same being fixed at their extremities into
corresponding holes formed in the part carrying the blade.
The holder is provided with teeth d which are slightly curved and bear against
the skin, so that the cutting edge of the blade, which is situate at, say, about one
twelfth of an inch behind the said teeth, is enabled to shave off the hair closely,
but is prevented from cutting or even grazing the epidermis, whilst the cut hair
and lather are allowed to pass between the teeth and through an opening formed
in this part of the holder at the side of the blade.

page_text: When it is required to sharpen the edge of the blade it is removed from the
holder and inserted in a device represented in Figures 5 and 6 consisting of a tube
or ferrule V attached to a suitable handle M, and provided with a slot in which
the back of the blade B is inserted, being retained in position therein 'by the
pressure of the edges of the slot acting as springs.
The opening hereinbefore referred to provided in the holder by the side of the
blade for the passage of the latter and cut hairs may be partially filled by a
grating, the bars of which are formed by a continuation of the teeth d, in which
case the said bars should be bent in such a manner as to allow sufficient room for
the passage of the lather between them and the blade.
When this arrangement is adopted the angular part of the bars projects a
sufficient distance in front of the cutting edge to prevent the latter from entering
the skin.
Holders or guards of similar construction and suitable dimensions may be fitted
to ordinary razors having handles, and such razors are thereby rendered as safe as
the improved shaving apparatus hereinbefore described.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The peculiar shaving apparatus consisting of the holder, in which a blade
is fixed and adjusted, as herein set forth, the said holder having curved teeth
bearing against the surface of the skin, and allowing the cut hair and excess of
lather to pass through a single opening, all substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Second. The combination with razors having handles of guards or holders
constructed substantially in the manner herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Twenty first day of January, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)