Improvements in Pocket Razors.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pocket Razors.
I CHARLES RICHARD NOWILL of the firm of John Nowill and Sons of Nowills
Cutlery Works Scotland Street, Sheffield in the County of York, Cutlery and Electro
Plate Manufacturer 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:—
My invention relates to improvements in pocket razors and has for its object to
obtain an instrument which when opened for use will embody all the necessary
qualities of an ordinary razor and when closed for the pocket will be very compact
and completely enclose the blade and render the same perfectly secure against
accidental exposure.
For this purpose I flatten the tang of the blade and hinge or pivot thereto at each
side thereof two horns in such manner that they are capable of folding down upon
the blade and of being turned into alignment with the tang so as to form an extension
thereof similar to that of an ordinary razor.
Upon the inside of each of these horns near to their hinges but at right angles
thereto I pivot the inner end of a metal half cover or scale and I shape these metal
scales to the contour of the back of the blade leaving the same exposed but I curve
their opposite edges so as to meet and cover the edge of the blade.
To the outer edge of one of the scales and upon the inside thereof I fix a rounded
distance or filling piece which forms a solid end to the instrument when closed and
upon which the other scale shuts down and to which it is secured by a turn button
and the filling or distance piece is upon its inner edge formed with a rounded nib or
projection which enters a corresponding recess in the end of the blade when the
instrument is closed and prevents any movement of the blade in relation to the
scales.
By turning back the scales or half covers and horns upon the hinges of the latter
into alignment with the tang of the blade and then turning the scales upon their
pivots to a suitable angle the scales will constitute a handle and the parts will
assume the form of an ordinary razor.
Or I may dispense with the horns and hinge the scales directly to the tang of the
blade.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully to
describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side view of a razor constructed according to my invention and
opened in readiness for use.
Figure 2 is a plan thereof.
Figure 3 is a front edge view thereof.
Figure 4 is a side view showing the scales or half covers turned into alignment
with the blade in readiness for closing.
Figure 5 is a front edge view thereof.
Figure 6 is a side view of the razor when closed.
Figure 7 is an opposite side view thereof.
Figure 8 is a front edge view thereof.
Figure 9 is a rear edge view thereof.
Figure 10 is an end view thereof.
Figure 11 is a transverse section taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 6 and drawn to
an enlarged scale.

page_text: Figures 12 to 17 are detail views of parts and
Figure 18 is a side view representing a modification.
In the several figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
a represents the blade of the razor and a¹ represents the tang which is formed
with a flattened enlargement a³ at the end thereof provided with a hole as thero-
through at each side thereof and represents two horns which are at their ends
formed with knuckles 6' provided with holes therethrough to correspond with the
holes a of the enlargement a³ of the tang and to receive a pin or pivot 6³ which
unites the parts thus hinging the horns b to the tang a¹ in such manner that they are
capable of folding down upon the blade a and of being turned into alignment with
the tang a¹ so as to form an extension thereof similar to that of an ordinary razor
as represented more particularly at Figure 1.
Upon the inside of each of the horns b near to their hinges but at right angles
thereto I pivot by a pin joint c¹ the inner end of a metal scale or half cover c and I
shape these metal scales at 2 to the contour of the back of the blade a leaving the
same exposed to form a finish to the instrument at that part but I curve their opposite
edges so as to meet and cover the edge of the blade a as represented more particu-
larly at Figures 8-10 and 11.
To the outer end of one of the scales and upon the inside thereof I fix a
rounded distance or filling piece c which forms a solid end to the instrument
when closed as shown more clearly at Figure 10 upon which the other scale c
shuts down and I mount upon the distance or filling piece c a turn button c³
which passes through a notch in the other scale c and effectually locks the
scales together.
The filling or distance piece ct is upon its inner edge formed with a rounded nib
or projection c* which enters a corresponding recess a* in the end of the blade a
when the instrument is closed and prevents any movement of the blade a in relation
to the scales c.
By turning back the scales c and horns upon the hinges of the latter into
alignment with the tang a¹ of the blade a as represented at Figures 4 and 5 and
then turning the scales c upon their pivots c¹ to a suitable angle as represented at
Figure 1. the scales c will constitute a handle and the parts will assume the form
of an ordinary razor whilst by reversing that operation and turning the horns b
and scales cupon the hinge pins 63 as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 5 the
scales c may be shut down upon the blade a completely enclosing the same as repre-
sented at Figures 6 to 11 and rendering the instrument portable and safe for carriage
in the pocket.
According to the modification represented at Figure 18, I dispense with the
horns 6 and form the knuckles 61 upon the scales c and hinge them directly to the
tang a¹ of the blade a but in this case the scales c will merely be capable of opening
into alignment with the blade a and not of being turned at an angle thereto as
represented at Figure 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. The improvements in pocket razors substantially as herein shown and described.
2. A pocket razor formed with two scales or half covers c hinged to the tang a¹ of
the blade a and adapted to enclose the blade or turn back and form a handle thereto
the sales c being provided with suitable fastening means substantially as herein
shown and described.
3. In a pocket razor the combination of two horns 6 hinged to the tang a¹ of the
blade a two scales or half covers c hinged to the horns 6 and adapted to enclose the
blade a or turn back and form a handle thereto; the scales c being provided with
suitable fastening means substantially as herein shown and described.
4. In a pocket razor the combination of two horns b hinged to the tang a¹ of the
blade a; two scales or half covers c hinged to the horns 6 and adapted to enclose

page_text: the blade a or turn back and form a handle thereto; a distance or filling piece cupon
one of the scales c; a projection c* upon the filling piece c; a corresponding
recess a in the end of the blade a and a turn button or fastening to lock the parts
together substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 22nd day of May 1890.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.