US2631371A - Razor blade pocket knife - Google Patents

Description

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a m wgw m a h R H STEAD ETAL RAZOR BLADE POCKET KNIFE Filed April 19, 1950 Ill- E 0 g gy j i March 17, 1953 Patented Mar. 17, 1953 RAZOR BLADE POCKET KNIFE Richard H. Stead, Revere, and William E. Burns, Norfolk, Mass.

Application April 19, 1950, Serial No. 156,738

16 Claims.

This invention relates to razor-blade pocket knives for cutting or scraping.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, we have disclosed several embodiments thereof in the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the two-part shell or casing of the razor-blade pocket knife, constituting the first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the said device with the razor blade in concealed, protected or stowing position within the shell or casing;

Fig. 3 is a vertical central elevation of the righthand half-shell or casing looking toward the right in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but representing the razor blade with one-half the length of the edge thereof in exposed, projected or cutting position, in which position the blade is used more as a knife than as a scraper; this being what we term the stepped-down mating, longitudinal relation of one of said casing sections to the other;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but with the entire length of the razor blade edge in exposed, projected, cutting or scraping position;

Fig. 6 is a vertical, cross sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but with the razor blade positioned as shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a vertical, cross sectional view similar to Fig. 3, but with the razor blade edge in exposed, projected, cutting or scraping position;

Fig. 8 is a detail in longitudinal vertical section of the upper portion of the shell or casing and showing a second form of looking or latching means for holding the two-parts of the shell or casing together in assembled relation;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but representing another form of locking or latching means for holding the two parts of the shell or casing together in assembled relation;

Fig. 10 is a vertical longitudinal section of still another embodiment of our invention disclosing a different form of latching tongue, not providing a positive lock; and

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the razor blade preferably used.

The object of our invention is to provide a razor-blade knife that may be conveniently car ried in a pocket as, for example, a mans vest pocket, which knife is inexpensive to manufacture and wherein the razor blade may be quickly positioned firmly either (1) in a cutting or scraping position in which the entire length of the razor blade edge is exposed for use, or (2) in a position in which one half only of the length of the razor blade edge is exposed for use, as for cutting this being what we term the steppeddown mating, longitudinal relation of one of said casing sections to the other, or (3) in a position in which the razor blade is in retracted or stowing position, being entirely concealed Within the shell or casing.

Referring more particularly to the drawing,.

and first to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to '7 thereof, representing the first and preferred embodiment of our invention, the shell or casing is preferably made of two generally similar members or halves or casing sections I and 2, preferably but not necessarily of equal size and which may be made of any suitable material. Preferably we form the shell or casing of plastic material, such as molded methacrylate sheet stock, but it may be made of other material, as, for example, stainless steel. or casing, as best shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, is sufliciently greater than the length of the razor blade 3 (which may be and preferably is a Gem razor blade having a thickness at the back of about .052 of an inch and at the cutting edge .009 of an inch) to provide a sturdy construction, and it is of sufiicient height or vertical extent to provide a sufficiently strong construction, and also to provide for the three positions of the edge of the razor blade 3, namely, the concealed, stowing This invention constitutes an improvement upon the generic construction shown in the copending application of Richard H. Stead, one of the joint inventors of this application, said copending application being filed April 23, 1949 and consists mainly of certain constructions of tongue looking or latching means for holding the two parts of the shell or casing in either an assembled position in which the edge of the razor blade is wholly concealed or stowed, or in either of two other positions in which respectively all or a part only of the edge of the razor blade is exposed in cutting or scraping position.

The internal construction of the two parts of the shell or casing desirably calls for a razor blade have a thickness of about .052 of an inch, and at the cutting edge .009 of an inch.

As shown clearly, particularly in Figs. 3, 6 and The length of the two-part shell 7, each of the two members I, 2 of the shell or casing is provided internally with a lengthwise extending slot or recess, which slots or recesses together are of sufiicient combined length to receive and snugly to hold the razor blade 3 when inserted therein. These two slots or recesses, when the device is used as represented in Fig. 5, are in complete longitudinal alignment with each other when the parts are assembled as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, and the said slots extend to the very bottom of the shell or casin members I, 2, as indicated at in Fig. 3, so that the edge of the razor blade 3 extends out through said bottom of the shell or casing, as indicated in Fig. 5, when said razor blade is in the cutting, scraping or exposed position shown in Figs. 5 and '7 We have referred to the fact that the two halves or parts I and 2 of the shell or casing are respectively provided with a length wise extending slot. The combined length of the said two slots is equal to or may very slightly exceed the length of the razor blade, and the said combined slot has upper and lower laterallyenlarged portions, best shown at 6,1 in Fig. 3. Between the said larger recessed portions 6, I, there are provided inwardly extending ridges 8, 9 sufficiently approaching each other as just to receive the thin portion of the razor blade 3, but not to receive the thicker rear or back edge 4 of the razor blade. Thus above and below the said ridge portions 8, 9, as best shown in Fig. 3, there are the two laterally wider recessed portions 5, I of sufiicient width in a direction transversely of the shell or casing to receive snugly or with a sufiiciently tight fit the relatively thick rear or back edge 5 of the razor blade v3, thereby to hold it firmly in either position in which it may be placed. If desired, the longitudinal edges of the recesses 6, I may be beveled to permit the ready insertion of the razor blade 3.

In order to provide means for locking orlatching together the two half-shells or casing members, we provide any one of several constructions. We will first refer to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 7.

Therein one of the two half-shells or members I or 2 (as herein represented the right-hand half-shell or member 2) is provided with a latching or looking tongue herein generically termed a member for holding the sections together, indicated generally at It in Figs. 2 and 4, which may be made of plastic material the same as that used for the shell or casing members or of some suitable metallic material or the like. In Fig. 2 the said tongue II! is cemented or otherwise suitably secured in a recessed portion II of the member 2, and is long enough (as shown in Fig. 2) to extend entirely through the upper end of the shell or casing member I, when the two shells or casing members are assembled, and desirably slightly to project beyond the end or most remote edge thereof, as represented in Fig. 2.

. As already stated, each of the two half-shells or casing members I and 2 has the two slots 6 and I sufiiciently enlarged to receive the back 4 of the razor blade 3 and has between said two laterally enlarged slots the narrower slit-like portion for the body itself on the razor blade 3.

1h addition, the half-shell or casing. member in which the latching or locking tongue is not mounted has two other slots to receive the locking or latching tongue I!) in one or the otherof two alternate positions. The said two additional slots are best represented in Fig. 4 at I2 and I3- The upper slot 12 (that is,v the slot that is the farthest away from the cutting edge of the razor blade 3) acts to receive the locking or latching tongue It in the stowing or concealing position of the razor blade 3. When the two half-shells or members I, 2 are close together with the looking or latching tongue II] in the said upper slot l2, the said tongue It lacks or latches positively onto a ledge It at the outer end of the slot I2, as best shown at the left-hand end of Figs. 2 and 4. The locking or latching tongue I0, as is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4, has a narrower flexible portion I5, and at its extreme outer end is provided with a ledge, shoulder or hook-like portion I 6 which engages the ledge It at the outer end of the slot I 2. It is to be noted that the enlarged portion of the locking or latching tongue I0 is continued of such enlarged size beyond the inner end of the shell or casing member 2, as indicated at I6? This protruding portion I6 of the said enlarged size fits closely into the adjacent end of the slot I2 of the half-shell or casing member I and acts as a dowel.

The said enlarged portion I-(i of the looking or latching tongue It at the extreme end or termination of its enlarged portion that extends into the shell or casing half-member I is provided with a slight chamfer I1, I8, as shown in Fig. 2, the facilitate the entrance of the locking or latching tongue it into the slot I2 or into the slot I3 of the half-shell or member I. The function of the said cham'fer is as follows:

As the locking or latching tongue It is introduced into the tongue receiving slot I'2 or I3, it is depressed by reason of the upper face of either of said tongue receiving slots pressing onto the latching ledge I6 of the locking or latching tongue II]. This tends to misalign the doweling sections of the looking or latching tongue I it with respect to the slot I2 or slot I3, as the case may be. As the looking or latching tongue I6 is introduced further into the slot I2 or slot I3, the chamfer I1, I 8 is sufficient to rise above the misalignment, and therefore to act as an inclined plane, by which the dowel section of the looking or latching tongue It may rise.

The upper tongue receiving slot I2 receives the locking or latching tongue II! when the two half-shell or casing members I, 2 are positioned or are to be positioned and assembled as shown in Fig. 2. The second or lower tongue receiving slot I3 in the half-shell or casing member I (best represented in Fig. 4) is simply an enlargement of the uppermost recessed portion 6, Fig. 3, and'in the construction herein shown the lower face of the said lower tongue receiving slot I3 coincides with the lower face of the enlarged recess 6 of the shell member 2, carrying the looking or latching tongue It, and the distance between such lower face of the slot I 3 and the upper face of the lower recess 1 is equal to the distance between the lower face of the upper tongue re-- ceiving slot I2 and the upper face of the upper recessed portion (-5. This is for the reason that otherwise the device could not properly be assembled in the position shown in Fig. 4. The distance from the upper or back edge I of the razor blade 3 to the bottom of the dowell section I6 of the locking or latching tongue I9 is the same as the distance just referred to. And if the device is to be assembled so that the razor blade is in the upper slot of the right-hand shell section or member 2 that carried the locking or latching tongue I0, and the other half-shell-or member I is to be assembled in either of its two relations shown respectively in Figs, 2 and 4, then the thickness of the body material between the locking or latching tongue I0 and the razor blade 3 in the shell portion I having the locking edge I4 must be the same in both instances.

It will be understood from the foregoing description of Figs. 1 to '7 that there are three pos-- sible ways of assembling the device consisting of the two shell or casing members I, 2 and the razor blade 3. The first of these is what may be termed the stowing assembly in which the back or thicker edge 4 of the razor blade 3 is carried in the upper recessed portions 6 of each halfshell or member I, 2, and the looking or latching tongue I0 is in the upper tongue receiving slot I2 of the half-shell or member I and the ledges I4, l6 engage each other to lock the assembly together positively for safety.

The second possible manner of assembling the' device is that in which the razor blade 3 is used more as a knife than as a scraper. That is, the cutting corner of the razor blade, which in Figs. land 11 will be the left-hand corner, is used rather than the full length of the cutting edge of the blade 3 and the portion of the edge of the blade 3 that is not to be used in this assembly of the parts, is concealed for the protec tion of the user of the blade in gripping the assembly and for convenience in holding it.

In the assembled position shown in Fig. 4, the razor blade 3 is carried, of course, in the upper recessed portion 6 of the half-shell or member 2 which carries the looking or latching tongue I0.

However, in this position of assembly, the looking or latching tongue IE! is introduced into the lower tongue receiving slot I3 of the half-shell or member I, it being of the same cross sec tional dimension as the upper tongue receiving slot I2 so far as the fit of the tongue III thereinto is concerned. However, the ledge I6 of the looking or latching tongue III in this position of assembly engages an inclined ledge I9 instead of engaging the square ledge I l, this construction the razor blade 3 engages is the lower recess portion I of the half-shell or member 2 carrying the latching ledge I9.

The third position of assembly is that with the razor blade 3 in the lowest enlarged recess I of each half-shell or member I, 2, and with the looking or latching tongue Ill engaging the upper tongue receiving slot I2 with positive locking effect. In this position of assembly, which is that shown in Fig. 5, the knife or device can" the locking or latching tongue III is of such a,

length that the free or left-hand end of the locking or latching tongue Ill, as shown in Fig.

2, extends slightly beyond the body of the shell member I. By pressing the extending corner 20 of the locking or latching tongue I0 down 01f the blade 3.

against a flat unyielding surface, such as the top of a desk or table, the looking or latching tongue ID will unlock the pressure on the end of the said locking or latching tongue III will slide the half-shell or member 2 carrying the locking tongue Ill back away from the first mentioned shell-half or portion I, thus disengaging the look. If the looking or latching tongue I0 is made long enough a similar effect may be gained with the looking or latching tongue III with respect to the lower tongue receiving slot l3. However, with the pull-away catch construction above referred to, this feature is not necessary in the lower tongue receiving slot I3.

The half-shell or member 2 which carries the looking or latching tongue III integral with it or fixedly secured to it, can be made with a hole 2| through it in the corner, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, where the latch construction is provided with the other half-shell or member I. In using the device, it should be operated always with the edge of the razor blade 3 directed away from the person operating or holding the device, in order to avoid cutting himself.

In order to change the assembly from the stowing or concealed position of the razor blade 3, as shown in Fig. 2, to the scraper position as shown in Fig. 5, or to change the razor blade 3 from any of the-above described positions to any other position, it is not necessary for the user to touch the razor blade 3. In order to change from the stowing position shown in Fig. 1 to the scraper position shown in Fig. 5, the looking or latching tongue I0 should first be unlocked as previously described by pressing downwardly on the corner of the protruding end 23 thereof (upper corner in the drawing) against a stationary surface, then one or the other of the half-shell members I, 2, should be pinched tightly between the thumb and fingers, thereby holding the razor blade 3 tight in that half-shell I or 2. Of course, both halfshells or members I and 2 should not be pinched at the same time. By pinching one half-shell or member the other half-shell or member slides Then while holding the blade 3 in the half-shell or member I or 2 in which it is pinched, the blade 3 is inserted in the lower blade slot of the other half-shell or member, but without touching it with the fingers. Now, if the half-shell or member which was originally pinched was the one not carrying the looking or latching tongue I3, then, as the razor blade 3 is inserted in the lower slot I in the half-shell or member 2 carrying the said tongue I0, the latter simply protrudes. If, however, the half-shell or member which was originally pinched was the half -shell or member 2 which carries the locking or latching tongue III, then the said looking or latching tongue It slides into the lower tongue receiving slot I3 of the shell or member I. If,

however, there had not been provided the lower tongue receiving slot I3, the looking or latching tongue It! would be without any receiving provision, and it would not be possible without manually touching the razor'blade 3 to assemble the device by following the described procedure.

The half-shell or member which has the razor blade 3, inserted in the lower slot I should be pinched and withdrawn from the other half-shell or member. If the lower tongue receiving slot I3 has the pull-away catch or formation I9, as already described, this affords greater facility than if the said lower tongue receiving slot I3 were provided with the same positive type of lock I4 that is provided'for the upper tongue receiving 7 slot IiZ. Now the razor blade 3 should be inserted in the lower slot i of the remaining half-shell or member, and the parts should be slid together until the positive ledge 14 engages. The knife is now ready for use as a scraper or as a cutter.

It is to be understood that the parts must be close fitting. For convenience in manufacturing, the two half-shells or members I and 2 may be identical except as otherwise described, and the locking or latching tongue Ill is cemented or otherwise secured into the position shown in Figs. 1. and-4 of the shell section or member 2, or it may be made or molded integral with it. The plastic material used should be such as to give good durability and to withstand the flexing to which the locking or latching tongue I6 is subjected in use. In order to hold the two parts of the device, the outer surfaces thereof may be roughened, Or a medallion effect may be provided as indicated at 22, 23, Fig. l, with elevated or depressed wording or design providing a gripping surface.

Other constructions may be provided for the looking or latching tongue. For example, in Fig. 8, we have represented a member 24 which may be of metal or of plastic material and which may be inserted, as shown, in to a slot 25 of the tongue carrying member 2 and extend into a slot 26 of the other member I. As shown, the said looking or latching member 24 is of a somewhat hairpin shape with a circular or annular head portion 2? and two legs 28, 2%, the former being provided with a free end 30 to engage the outer end 3I of the shell member I, which thus provides a locking ledge construction equivalent to that shown at I4 in Fig. 2. The other leg 29 of the locking tongue or member 24 is provided with an upturned end 32 which engages the leg 28 and acts as afulcrum, being at a sufficient distance from the outer end of the latter to permit the end 30 of the leg 28 to be pressed downward against an unyielding surface as described in connection with the end 26 of the locking or latching tongue Ii] in Fig. 2. The leg 29 has a downwardly extending formation 29 entering a recess in the member 2 to hold the latching tongue or member 24 in place, the latter being shaped to provide a counterpart of the dowel IS. The ring portion 21 may be used to suspend the entire device.

In the construction shown in Fig. 9, the lockin or latching tongue is shown at 33. It has the same enlarged portion as in Fig. 2, with the part 3.4 acting as a dowel; however, the reduced portion 35 does not extend to the extreme outer or leftehand end of the section or member I, but is provided with an upwardly extending projection 36 that enters a recess or cavity 31 in the upper edge of the shell or member I. In this construction the two members or shell portions I, 2 are separated by the act of pressing downward or inward with a thumb or finger against the extension 36 of the looking or latching tongue 33, as will be evident from the position of the parts shown in Fig. 9. This construction effects the positive locking together of the two sections until so released.

The construction shown in Fig. 10 is a variation of that best shown in longitudinal section in Figs. 2 and 4. In said Fig. 10, there are providedin the shell section or member I two longitudinal recesses .44, generally similar to the recesses I2, I3 of Figs. 2 and 4. However, in the said recesses there are respectively provided two inclined ledges 49, 41 generally similar to the ledge I9 of Fig. 4, and adapted to be engaged by the head 48 on a shortened latchin tongue secured in the shell section or member 2 in a, manner similar to that shown in Figs. 2 and 4. This provides a pull-away latching effect similar to that shown at I9 in Fig. 4, there being in this construction, shown in Fig. 10, no positive locking effect as at I4 in Figs. 2 and 4.

Within the scope of out invention the ridges 8, 9 may each extend along the entire length of the blade, or f convenience of construction they may be of reduced length, as, for example, being provided only for a short distance at both ends of the blade sufiiciently to support the same, and we may if desired leave a small portion of said ridges B, 9, at the areas where the two parts I, 2 come together. Also, for convenience of construction, the structure at the slot 5 may be similarly formed, but in such case it is desirable to provide a rim alon the lower edge of the parts I and 2 at both faces of the blade. This will prevent dirt from entering the holder, and it will give a support for the blade along its entire length and prevent the blade from dropping out if the halves or parts i, 2 are slightly separated. It will therefore be possible in such a construction to shake the holder sufficiently to lower the blade to cutting position. Also, the height of the slot 5 (viewing Figs. 1, 6 and 7) may be varied as desired.

Having thus described the principle and purpose of our invention and several embodimentsof means for practicing the same, it is to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A razor-blade pocket knife comprising a razor blade receiving shell or casing composed of two mating sections each of a length to re ceive a substantial portion of the length of a razor blade and each internally longitudinally recessed to receive a substantial portion of the length of a razor blade, said recesses together receiving and enclosing th entire razor blade when said mating sections are mated in longitudinal relation with each other, and being open along the entire lower edge of each of said sections, to permit the entire length of the cutting edge of the blade to be exposed ther through for use, said internal longitudinal recesses each being enlarged in width throughout its extent at two different vertically-spaced areas, so that the thickened rear edge of a razor blade may be received in either of said enlar ements when said mating sections are mated in longitudinal relation with each other, whereby the razor blade edge is concealed if said thickened rear edge is positioned in the uppermost of said enlargements, but is exposed if said thickened rear edge is positioned in the lower of said two enlargements and the two sections of shell or casing are brought together in complete longitudinal alignment, and locking means mounted interiorly of one of said sections and extending longitudinally outward from said section, and the other of said sections having a co-acting formation to be engaged by said lockin means when the two sections are brought together in mating longitudinal relation with each other, thereby to hold said sections locked together.

2. A razor-blade pocket knife comprising a razor-blade-receiving shell or casing composed of two mating sections, each adapted to receive and to support one end portion of a razor blade and together, when in mating relation, to receive and support the entire razor blade, said two sections adapted to be positioned in matin longitudinal relation with respect to each other, and together to support the razor blade within the said shell or casing, one of said sections being wholly closed at its outer end and the other section being partly closed at its outer end, said two sections being of equal thickness and equal vertical extent, each of said sections being longitudinally recessed to receive therein a substantial portion of the length of such razor blade, said two recesses together, when said sections are positioned in mating longitudinal relation with each other receiving and enclosing the entire razor blade, and being open along the entire lower edge of each of said sections, to permit the entire length of the cutting edge of the blade to be exposed therethrough for use, and locking means mounted interiorly of one of said sections and extenting longitudinally outward from said section, and the other of said sections having having a co-acting formation to be engaged by said locking means when the two sections are brought together, thereby to hold said section locked together.

3. A razor blade pocket knife comprising a razor blade receiving shell or casing composed of two mating sections each of a length to receive a substantial portion of the length of a razor blade and each internally longitudinally recessed to receive a substantial portion of the length of a razor blade, said recesses together receiving and enclosing the entire razor blade when said mating sections are mated in longitudinal relation with each other, and being open along the entire lower edge of each of said sections, to permit the entire length of the cutting edge of the blade to be exposed therethrough for use, one of said section having an elongated locking tongue mounted interiorly thereof and of sufiicient length to extend longitudinally entirely through the other section, when said two sections are brought into mating longitudinal relation with each other, said other section having a co-acting locking formation substantially at its edge that is most remote from the first section when the two sections are brought together in mating longitudinal relation with each other, whereby when said locking tongue engages said locking formation in a locking relation the two sections are locked together in mating longitudinal relation with each other.

4. A razor-blade pocket knife in accordance with claim 3, wherein said locking formation is a ledge on said most remote edge of said other section, and the locking tongue has a hook portion to engage said ledge, thereby to lock said two sections together in mating longitudinal relation to each other.

5. A razor-blade pocket knife comprising a razor-blade receiving shell or casing composed of two mating sections each of a length to receive a substantial portion of the length of a razor blade and each internally longitudinally recessed to receive a substantial portion of the length of a razor blade, said recesses together, when said sections are in mating longitudinal relation receiving and enclosing the entire razor blade, and being open along the entire lower edge of each of said sections, to permit the entire length of the cutting edge of the blade to be exposed therethrough for use, one of said sections having an elongated locking tongue mounted interiorly thereof and of sufficient length to extend lengthwise entirely through the other section, when said two sections are brought into mating longitudinal relation with each other, said other section having a co-acting locking formation with which said elongated locking tongue ha positive engagement when said sections are in mating longitudinal relation with each other, the end of the locking tongue that extends lengthwise through the said other section when the two sections are in mating longitudinal relation to each other being exposed at the said most remote edge of the said other section, whereby the user, holding the assembled razor-blade pocket-knife in his hand, may press said exposed end of the locking tongue against an external object and thereby cause said locking tongue to move into disengagement from said co-acting locking formation.

6. A razor-blade pocket knife comprising a razor-blade receiving shell or casing composed of two mating sections each of a length to receive a substantial portion of the length of a razor blade and each internally longitudinally recessed to receive a substantial portion of the length of a razor blade, said recesses together,

when said sections are in mating longitudinal relation receiving and enclosing the entire razor blade, and being open along the entire lower edge of each of said sections, to permit the entire length of the cutting edge of the blade to be exposed therethrough for use, one of said sections having an elongated locking tongue mounted interiorly thereof and or sunicient length to extend lengthwise entirely through the other section and engage a locking Iormation thereof, when said two sections are brought into mating longitudinal relation with each other, said other section having two lengthwise extending recesses one above the other, either one 01' which may receive said elongated locking tongue and also having formations to be engaged by said elongated locxlng tongue when the two sections are in mating, longitudinal relation with each other; whereby, when the said locking tongue is received in the uppermost or said two lengthwise extending recesses, the two sections are brought together into complete longitudinal alignment with the entire length of the properly positioned razor blade 11']. exposed position and with, said elongated locxing tongue in positive IOCKlIlg engagement with said other section, and whereby, when the aid loclnng tongue is received in the lowermost 01 said two lengthwise extending recesses, the two sections are assembled, but with the said n'rst section lower than the said other section, so that of the inserted razor blade only the cutting edge or that portion 01' the blade is exposed that is carried in said other section.

7. A razor-blade pocket knife in accordance.

with claim 6, wherein the uppermost of said two lengthwise extending recesses for the reception of said locking tongue is provided with a locking formation with which said locking tongue has positive locking engagement when the said sections are mated in longitudinal relation with each other, and wherein the lowermost of said recesses is provided with a ledge constituting a catch formation for spring engagement with said locking tongue.

8. A razor-blade pocket knife comprising a razor-blade receiving shell or casing composed of two mating sections, each internally longitudinally recessed to receive a part of the length of the razor blade and together in mating longitudinal relation with each other, receiving the positioned razor blade, said two sections being engageable with each other in mating exact longitudinal relation or in mating stepped-down longitudinal relation, the recesses in said sections being of a sufi'icient height and being of such formation as to receive and support the razor blade with its cutting edge, either wholly exposed or wholly concealed with the two sections in exact longitudinal mating relation with each other, or with the cutting edge exposed for a portion only of its length when the two mating sections are in their stepped-down longitudinal relation with respect to each other, the section which occupies such stepped-down longitudinal relation concealing, when in such relation, the cutting edge of that part of the razor blade supported by said stepped-down section, the said shell or casing having holding means for holding said two parts of said shell or casing in either of said two positions, with the razor blade in the accordingly selected one of its said three positions.

9. A razor-blade pocket knife comprising a razor blade receiving shell or casing composed of two mating sections each of a length to receive a substantial portion of the length of a razor blade and each internally longitudinally recessed to receive a substantial portion of the length .of

a razor blade, said recesses together, when saidv and being open along the entire lower edge of each of said sections, to permit the entire length of the cutting edge of the blade to be exposed therethrough for use, said internal longitudinal recesses each being enlarged in width throughout its extent at two different vertically-spaced areas, so that the thickened rear edge of a razor blade may be received in either of said enlargements, whereby the razor blade edge is concealed if said thickened rear edge is positioned in the uppermost of said enlargements, but is exposed if said thickened rear edge is positioned in the lower of said two enlargements and the two sections of the shell or casing are brought together in complete longitudinal alignment, a member for holding the sections together mounted interiorly of one of said sections and extending longitudinally into the other of said sections when they are assembled, the other of said sections having a co-acting catch formation to be engaged by said member for holding the sections together when said sections are assembled in mating longitudinal relation with each other.

10. A razor-blade pocket knife comprising a razor blade receiving shell or casing composed of two mating sections each of a length to receive a substantial portion of the length of a razor blade and each internally longitudinally recessed to receive a substantial portion of the length of a razor blade, said recesses together, when said sections are in mating longitudinal relation receiving and enclosing the entire razor blade,

in the lower of said two enlargements and the two sections of the shell or casing are brought together in complete longitudinal alignment, and a member for holding the sections together mounted interiorly of one of said sections and extending entirely through the other of said sections when they are assembled, the other of said sections having a co-acting catch formation to be engaged by said member for holding the sections together, when said sections are assembled in mating longitudinal relation with each other.

11. A razor-blade pocket knife in accordance with claim 8, wherein the said holding meansincludes a holding member in one of said two sections which is suificiently elongated so that when the two sections are assembled, in mating longitudinal relation with each other it extends into the other of said sections and engages the same in a holding relation.

12. A razor-blade pocket knife in accordance with claim 8, wherein one of said sections has a locking tongue mounted therein and extending outwardly therefrom, and wherein the other section is provided with a recess into which said locking tongue extends when the two sections are assembled in mated longitudinal relation with each other, said recess continuing and extending to the upper edge'of such other section, and said locking tongue having an upwardly extending terminal formation which isreceived in the said recess in the upper edge of said other section so as to be capable of being pressed downwardly by a finger of the user, to release said locking tongue from its locking relation.

13. A razor-blade pocket knife in accordance with claim 8, wherein the said two mating sections are provided respectively with cooperating latching means which constitute said holding means and which may be separated by opposite pull upon said sections, said cooperating latching means including a latching tongue carried by one of said sections and two opposing sloping ledges in recesses in the other of said sections and with either of which ledges said latching tongue may be engaged when the parts are assembled in mated longitudinal relation with each other.

14. A razor-blade pocket knife in accordance with claim 8, wherein one of said two sections has removably inserted therein a holding member of general hairpin shape, and which issufficiently elongated so that when the two sections are assembled in mated longitudinal relation with each other, it extends into the other of said sections, said holding member having two legs, one of which has a free end to engage the outer end of said other section tohold them together; and the other of which legs has a fulcruming formation for said first mentioned leg and also a holding formation.

15. A thin, parallel walled, razor-blade pocket knife comprising a razor blade receiving shell or casing composed of two casing sections of equal thickness, each casing section being of a length to receive and support a substantial portion of the length of a razor blade, and which casing sections together, when positioned in exact longitudinal alignment with each other, together encloses the entire razor blade, each of said casing sections having an internal longitudinal razor-blade-receiving recess, the dimensions of which recesses together, when said casing sections are in mating longitudinal relation to each other, correspond to those of the razor blade, and each of which recesses extends to the bottom of its casing section, each of said casing sections thus being open along the entire lower edge thereof, thereby permitting the entire length of the cutting edge of the blade to be exposed therethrough for use, with the said two casing sections mated together in exact longitudinal alignment, with each other, the said two casing sections having internal interengageable holding formations that are respectively so positioned that they interengage when the two casing sections are mated together in exact lengthwise alignment with each other and also interengage when the two casing sections are assembled in a longitudinally mating relation but with one casing section in a stepped-down relation with respect to the other, and thus out of exact longitudinal alignment with the other casing section, whereby the portion of the razor blade is wholly concealed, that is, positioned in the casing section that is stepped down with relation to the other casing section, and whereby the portion of the razor blade that is positioned in the other casing section has its cutting edge exposed for use, the said two casing sections being thus capable of being mated in exact longitudinal alignment with each other or in said steppeddown relation with respect to each other, and thu out of exact longitudinal alignment with each other.

' 16. A thin parallel walled razor-blade pocket knife in accordance with claim 15, wherein the said internal longitudinal recesses are each of greater transverse width throughout the length thereof at two different vertically-spaced areas than at the intervening portions of said recesses, so that the thickened rear edge of a razor blade may be received in either the upper or the lower portions of said recesses, that are of greater transverse width, whereby the razor blade is concealed if said thickened rear edge is positioned in such upper portion of greater transverse width but is exposed if said thickened portion is positioned in such lower portion of greater transverse width, and the two casing sections are mated together in exact longitudinal alignment with each other.

RICHARD H. STEAD. "WILLIAM E. BURNS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,105,663 Laverty Jan. 18, 1938 2,119,045 Dietrich May 31, 1938 2,374,502 Rose Apr. 24, 1945 2,390,964 Savoy Dec. 11, 1945

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