Improvements in Razor Strops.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Razor Strops.
I, ARTHUR Moss LAWRENCE of No. 226 West 14th Street in the City,
County and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said 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 has for its main object to provide a construction of razor strop of
greater softness or flexibility than heretofore by which the razor may be more
evenly and quickly sharpened and without liability of turning or spoiling the edge
thereof. To these main ends my invention consists primarily, of a razor strop
mounted upon a cushion which may be filled with air, liquid or other fluid, for the
purpose of affording a soft or yielding backing to the strop and secondarily, in
certain features of construction or combinations of devices hereinafter more fully
described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a plan view of a razor-strop embodying my invention, one ply of the
handle portion being turned back to exhibit the location of the valve or stopper.
Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same with the handle-portions in
their normal positions.
Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section taken at the line, x, of Fig. 1.
Figure 4 is a similar section showing the cushion filled or expanded and ready for
use, and,
Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the valve or stopper employed for filling
the tube or cushion and closing the same thereafter.
In the several views the same part will be found designated by the same numeral
of reference.
I have shown herein a razor-strop provided with two abrading surfaces which
may be strips of leather or other suitable material, marked respectively 1 and 2,
but so far as the main feature of my invention is concerned but one such surface may
be employed. These strips 1 and 2 are stitched together along their edges as
indicated by the dotted lines 3, forming an elongated casing or structure within
which is inserted a cushion or bag 4 made preferably of vulcanized india-rubber
and extending the whole length of the strop. The cushion or bag is preferably
seamless or closed at one end 5, and at its other, mouth-end is provided with some
suitable stopper or valvular contrivance 6 which may be secured thereto by means
of a wrapping-cord or wire 7 as indicated at Fig. 5. At one end of the strop is
arranged eyelet devices 8 by which the same may be suspended, and at the other
end are provided two tabs or handles 9 which may be conveniently grasped by the
user when about to strap or sharpen the razor.
In practice I prefer to first attach the valve to the cushion, then lay the two
plies of abrading material on opposite sides of the same, and then to secure the
whole in position by stitching all around the edge as indicated by the dotted lines.
The contrivance may, however, be made by first sewing together the two parts of the
strop proper and then pushing the cushion into the space between the same.
The valve may be of any desired construction but I prefer that shown at Fig. 5
which consists of a hollow stem or tube 10 having a series of coarse threads or
depressions 11 on its exterior surface into which the mouth-end of the cushion may
be forced by the binding cord or wire 7, to provide effectually against any leakage
at the point of connection between the valve and the cushion. The stem or tube is
provided exteriorly with a threaded portion 12 upon which is screwed a hollow
cap 13 provided with a tubular inwardly-projecting support 14 having at its inner
[B/1

page_text: end a valve 15 of leather or rubber adapted to be seated or forced against the outer
end of the stem or tube 10, to prevent the escape of any fluid from the cushion.
The support 14 is provided on opposite sides with lateral ports or openings 16 which
communicate with the interior of the cap or shell 13 and with the cushion 4 when
the valve is unseated.
When the contrivance is not in use the cushion may be emptied of its fluid and
the whole rolled or folded up into smaller compass for storage or convenience in
transportation. When it may be desired to use the strop the cap or shell is
partially unscrewed as shown at Fig. 5, and the bag or cushion filled or partially
filled with a suitable fluid. In practice I have thus far used and prefer air, but a
gas or liquid may be employed.
The filling with air may be accomplished by holding the shell or cap to the
mouth and blowing the air from the lungs through the ports 16 and the tube 10 into
the bag or cushion until the parts have assumed about the condition represented
at Fig. 4, or until the desired quantity of air has been admitted. The shell is then
screwed down until the valve 15 is seated against the mouth of the tube 10, thus
preventing any escape of the air from the bag.
If a liquid be used it may be poured into the bag and then confined by closing the
valve or stopper.
In the use of the contrivance, the razor is strapped in the usual way, but by
reason of the presence of the cushion a softer, more flexible, or yielding device is
presented which enables the abrading surface to accommodate itself more freely to
the edge of the razor, with the result that a longer line of contact is obtained
between the edge of the razor and the abrading surface, which enables the razor to
be sharpened more uniformly and in less time and without liability of turning the
edge at any stage of the operation.
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. A. razor-strop having a suitable abrading material mounted on a fluid-bag or
cushion; substantially as set forth.
2. A razor-strop having a suitable abrading material mounted on a fluid-bag or
cushion which is provided with a suitable valve or stopper; substantially as set
forth.
3. A razor-strop consisting of two strips of abrading material and an intermediate
fluid-bag or cushion; substantially as set forth.
4. A razor-strop consisting of two strips of abrading material united at their
edges, and an intermediate fluid-bag or cushion having a valve or stopper pro-
truding at one end; substantially as set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of June 1891.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.