Abstract:
An interlocking stand for storing and charging a rechargeable appliance such as a hair trimmer or hair clipper having a rechargeable battery includes a structure for supporting the appliance for storage. The supporting structure has at least one electrical contact for connecting to the appliance and a structure for providing power to the contact. The interlocking stand is also provided with structure that interlocks the stand with at least one other stand.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to charging stands, and in particular, to interlocking charging stands useful in storing and charging hair clippers and/or hair trimmers. 
     Stands constructed to store and charge rechargeable articles are known in the art. Such stands typically include a base with a cradle configured to support elongate articles such as hair clippers or hair trimmers in an upright or inclined position, allowing the article to make electrical contact with a power source. 
     Prior art hair clipper and hair trimmer stands have been used for storing the appliances when not in use. One function of the stand is to charge the hair clippers or trimmer when not in use. Many conventional rechargeable electronic appliances engage a stationary stand which is electrically connected to a power supply, such as household current. Upon engagement with the stand, the batteries in the portable unit begin to recharge for the next use. 
     Another function of the stand is to provide easy access to the clipper, such as by an individual or professional stylist who repeatedly puts the clippers or trimmers down while in use. For example, before trimming a portion of hair, the hair may be required to be combed or otherwise adjusted. Thus, during the hair styling process, the user or stylist may be required to put the trimmer or clipper down and apply a comb or brush to this portion of the hair, and be able to quickly and easily remove the clippers or trimmer from the stand. 
     Some users, particularly professional stylists, have multiple hair cutting tools on a flat space such as a counter top. The tools sometimes include multiple hair clippers and/or trimmers. A problem with the prior art stands, particularly when used by a professional stylist, is that it is difficult to keep the stands organized in the stylist&#39;s work area. Another problem with the prior art stands is that individual stands, and thus individual clippers or trimmers, can become separated from other stands holding related clippers or trimmers. Such separation of stands is a problem when particular clippers or trimmers are ordered in the work space, such as by size of bladeset or other criteria. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In keeping with one aspect of the invention, an interlocking stand for storing and charging a rechargeable appliance such as a hair trimmer or hair clipper having a rechargeable battery includes a structure for supporting the appliance for storage. The supporting structure has at least one electrical contact for connecting to the appliance and a structure for providing power to the contact. The interlocking stand is also provided with structure that interlocks the stand with one or two other stands. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an interlocking trimmer and clipper stand of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the trimmer stand of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the clipper stand of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the trimmer stand of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the clipper stand of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the trimmer of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the clipper of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a back view of the trimmer stand of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a back view of the clipper stand of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the trimmer stand of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to FIG  1 , an interlocking trimmer and clipper stand is generally designated  10 , and includes preferably portable rechargeable units, such as trimmers and clippers  12 ,  14 . A trimmer stand  16  and a clipper stand  18  are engaged for recharging the trimmer  12  and the clipper  14 . The rechargeable units  12 ,  14  are a hair trimmer and a hair clipper, but the present invention is contemplated as being utilized with other rechargeable electric devices including shavers or other appliances using charging stands. Alternatively, the stand  10  may hold appliances that do not have rechargeable batteries or require recharging on the stand. The stands are preferably plastic but may be any other material suitable for holding a rechargeable or non-rechargeable unit. 
     The trimmer  12  and clipper  14  include housings  20 ,  22  with working ends  24 ,  26  which are equipped with bladesets  28 ,  29 . On the opposite end of the housings  20 ,  22  from the working ends  24 ,  26  are charging ends  30 ,  32 . The charging ends  30 ,  32  may have a pair of contacts (not shown). 
     The trimmer stand  16  and the clipper stand  18  have a trimmer base  34  and a clipper base  36 , respectively, for supporting the interlocking stand  10 , and the trimmer stand and the clipper stand individually, upon a substrate such as a table or shelf. Both the trimmer base  34  and the clipper base  36  have essentially the same configuration and are generally curved in profile. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1–3 , supports for the bases  34 ,  36  are along a front edge  38 ,  40  and a back platform  42 ,  44 . A generally flat region  39 ,  41  may also be located above the front edge  38 ,  40  and may be suitable for identification of the brand, the type of rechargeable unit, or may indicate “his” and “hers”. Although the interlocking stand  10  is illustrated as having two stands, it should be understood that the number of stands is not limited to two, but may incorporate as many stands as the user pleases. Additionally, the order of the stands is also variable. 
     The trimmer stand  16  and the clipper stand  18  are substantially similar, and are both described with reference to the trimmer stand unless otherwise indicated. 
     The trimmer stand  16  has a cradle  46  curved corresponding to the curvature of the trimmer  12  (the clipper stand  18  has a cradle  47  curved corresponding to the clipper  14 ), and may be upright or slightly inclined with respect to the base  34 . The cradle  46  extends the full height of the stand  16  and includes an upper end  48  and a lower end  50  having a spoon shape. Additionally, the lower end  50  has a bottom  52  providing support to the stand  16  and contacting the substrate. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2–5 , a feature of the trimmer stand  16  is that the trimmer base  34  and the cradle  46  define a docking recess  54  for receiving the trimmer  12 . An upper end  55  of the base  34  and the lower end  50  of the cradle  46  support the charging end  30  of the trimmer  12  when docked in the recess  54 . A floor  58  which is provided with at least one contact  56  is disposed at the bottom of the docking recess  54 . 
     Typically, there are two contacts  56  on each of the trimmer  12  and the trimmer base  34  which are located in adjacent relationship to each other. While the preferred embodiment has two contacts  56 , it is contemplated that the number, positioning and type of contacts may vary to suit the application, provided there is at least one contact  56  constructed and arranged for making physical and electrical contact with a contact on the trimmer  12 . Additionally, with respect to the clipper stand  18  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ), a floor  59  may have contacts  60  spaced a distance apart. Recharging is achieved by the electrical connection between the trimmer  12  and the base  34 , and the connection is typically maintained through the physical engagement of the corresponding metallic contacts  56 ,  60 . 
     The contacts  56 ,  60  may be configured for causing an enhanced, more consistent wiping contact action between the contact on the trimmer  12  and the contacts on the base  34 . In the preferred embodiment, the wiping engagement is created by the contacts  56 ,  60  forming an inclined surface, but the contacts may also be flush or recessed, depending on the configuration of the contacts on the trimmer  12 . 
     Also included in the docking recess  54  is a curved wall  66  which preferably corresponds to the curvature of the trimmer  12  at the charging end  32 . The docking recess  54  forms receptacle for the charging end  32  and the curved wall  66  extends upwardly a length suitable to maintain the trimmer  12  in the recess. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , during the insertion of the trimmer  12  into the base  34  or, similarly, the clipper  18  into the base  36 , the trimmer  12  is received in the cradle  46 , and is removably coupled to the base by sliding the trimmer until the charging end  30  engages the floor  58 . An electrical connection results as the contacts on the trimmer  12  touch at least one contact  56  protruding through the contact hole  60 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , extending around each side of the docking recess  54  are base legs  68  which, with the back platform  42 , define a base opening  70 . With respect to the trimmer stand  16  only, the leg  68  further has a lateral detent  72  which extends the entire length of the base  34 . Further, two holes  74  are disposed in each detent  72  spaced a distance apart along the length of the base  34 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , base legs  69  of the clipper stand  18  and back platform  44  define a base opening  71 . Each leg  69  does not have a lateral detent, but has a raised rim  73  extending the length of the base  36 . Further, the raised rim  73  does not have holes disposed within it. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2–7  and  10 , the cradle  46  is disposed in the opening  70  between two ridges  76  and defines an enclosure  78  between the floor  58  of docking recess  54  and the trimmer cradle bottom  52  (shown in  FIGS. 6 and 10 ). The enclosure  78  houses the at least one contact  56 ,  60 . Screws  79 , snaps or other fasteners securably hold the cradle  46  and the base  34  together to form the enclosure  78 . As seen in  FIG. 10 . prongs  89  extend from the contact  56  for engagement with an outlet, an extension cord, or the like. 
     With respect to the clipper stand  18  only, as seen in  FIG. 3 , two tabs  75  are located on the underside of each raised rim  73  and are disposed along a side edge  83  of the base  36 . The tabs  75  are dimensioned to fit within the holes  74  in the lateral detent  72  of the trimmer base  34 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the two ridges  76  run the length of the opening  70  and make the base  34  more rigid. With respect to the trimmer base  34 , two raised rims  80  are disposed on the underside of the base  34  and run the length of the base  34 , each of the rims  80  further having the two holes  74 . The rims  80  on the trimmer base  34  are generally similar to the rims  73  on the clipper base  36 . 
     With respect to the clipper base  36 , a lateral detent  81  is disposed on the underside of the base  36  and run the length of the base  36 . The two tabs  75  are located outwardly of the lateral detent  81  at the side edge  83  and are spaced a distance from the front edge  40  and the back platform  44 . While the tabs  75  are configured to fit within the holes  74  on the trimmer stand  16 , the side edge  83  of the clipper stand  18  is also configured to nest in the lateral detent  72  of the trimmer stand. Similarly, the side edge  82  of the trimmer stand  16  is configured to nest in the lateral detent  81  of the clipper stand  18 . 
     When the trimmer stand  16  and the clipper stand  18  are securably engaged, the interlocking stand  10  is generally flush along the connection and additional trimmer stands or clipper stands may be added on either side of the interlocking stand. In the preferred embodiment, the clipper stand  18  has the tab configuration and the trimmer has the hole configuration, but it should be understood that various engagements of the stands may be used, including, but not limited to latches, lugs, or any other mechanical or magnetic attachment. Additionally, although the preferred embodiment incorporates a mating configuration to lockingly engage the stands together, it is also contemplated that other configurations may be used that lockingly engage or merely lodge the stands in a particular position with respect to another stand. Further, the engagements of the stands are contemplated as being asymmetrical and should not be limited to symmetrical configurations. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , located centrally on the trimmer cradle lower end  50  is an aperture  86  configured to receive an input such as a power cord  87 . When the cord  87  is mated with the aperture  86 , the connection is between the legs  68  of the base  34  and between the base and the cradle  46 . Further, when the cord  87  is engaged in the aperture  86 , the cord may either pass through the base opening  70  or pass under the legs  68  and out the side of the base  34 . Similarly, with respect to the clipper stand  18 , an aperture  88  is located on the cradle lower end  51  and is configured to receive an input. The apertures  86 ,  88  may be similar or may be configured to receive different inputs. Additionally, when the cord  87  is connected to the aperture  88  of the clipper stand  18 , the cord may similarly exit the periphery of the stand. In this manner, the connection of the cord  87  at the input is shielded by the stand and the likelihood of the connection coming loose or becoming damaged is lessoned. 
     While particular embodiments of the interlocking stand for a rechargeable unit has been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the following claims.