Clipper head with drag reduction

A clipper head (100) includes a base surface (102) and a front surface (204). One or more clipper teeth (109) extend from an intersection (108) of the base surface and the front surface. One or more protuberances (110,111,112) extend from the base surface. The protuberances reduce the surface area that contacts a patient's skin, thereby reducing friction and drag.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

This disclosure relates generally to clippers, trimmers, or shavers, and more particularly to a head for a clipper, trimmer, or shaver.

Background Art

In medical procedures, razors and clippers are frequently used to remove a patient's hair about the surgical site prior to the procedure. Many medical personnel prefer to have all hair removed prior to the procedure. While disposable razors are useful in accomplishing this, many medical professionals have discontinued their use due to the fact that such razors can cause nicks, cuts, bumps, or other skin irritation. This irritation can result in post-operative infection in some instances. In other instances, the reddened and irritated skin can complicate the procedure. For this reason, most medical professionals today prefer to use electric clippers for hair removal.

While electrical clippers are effective at removing hair quickly, they are not as efficient as a manual razor. Conventional electrical clippers may require many passes through the patient's hair to successfully remove enough of the hair for the procedure. Additionally, conventional clippers can cause static electrical fields that cause clipped hair to remain on the surgical site, which increases potential for contamination and the clipper, which in turn would increase cleaning and disinfecting time. It would be advantageous to have an improved clipper head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a clipper head that is suitable for use with an electronic clipper. In one embodiment, the clipper head comprises a base surface and a front surface. The front surface and the base surface can extend from an intersection, which defines an edge of the clipper head in one or more embodiments. One or more clipper teeth can extend from the intersection of the base surface and the front surface.

In one embodiment, one or more protuberances can be disposed along the base surface. The one or more protuberances can, in one embodiment, work to reduce the surface area of the base surface that contacts a patient's skin when the clipper head is in use. For example, in one embodiment the base surface defines a base surface area and the one or more protuberances define a protuberance surface area that is less than the base surface area. This functions to reduce friction to reduce drag and effort needed to push the one or more clipper teeth through a patient's hair.

In one embodiment, the protuberances are disposed distally from the intersection of the base surface and the front surface. For example, in one embodiment at least fifty percent of the base surface area disposed between the intersection and the one or more protuberances. This causes the rear edge of the clipper head to be biased upward and away from a patient's skin when the clipper head is in use. This causes the one or more clipper teeth to extend toward the patient's skin, thereby ensuring a more efficient and closer trim that requires fewer passes with less effort to achieve the desired clipped result. The closer cut offered by the protuberances allows for a more unrestricted view of the surgical site that will assist the medical professional performing the subsequent surgical procedure.

Advantageously, the inclusion of the one or more protuberances also reduces the amount of static charge generated when the clipper head passes along a patient's skin. This reduction in static charge results in less clipped hair sticking to the patient, the clipper attached to the clipper head, or the clipper head itself, which in turn results in reduced cleaning resulting from clipper head usage. Advantageously, clipper assemblies using clipper heads configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure last longer and require less maintenance.

In one or more embodiments, the one or more protuberances comprise three protuberances. The three protuberances can be configured as partial spherical surfaces, although other shapes will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. In one embodiment, the protuberances can each be define a hemispherical surface. In addition to providing the advantages noted above, the inclusion of the one or more protuberances can serve as a mnemonic device identifying which surface of the clipper head is the base surface and should be placed against the patient's skin. The protrusions therefore ensure that a user has a visually intuitive indication of which side of the clipper head to place against a person's skin.

Turning now toFIGS. 1-8, illustrated therein is one explanatory clipper head100configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.FIGS. 1-2illustrate perspective views, whileFIGS. 3-4illustrate side elevation views.FIGS. 5-6illustrate front and rear elevation views, respectively, whileFIGS. 7-8illustrate bottom and top plan views, respectively.

The clipper head100can be selectively attachable to, and detachable from, an electric clipper body in one or more embodiments. One or more mechanical features, snaps, releases, or other attachment features (not shown) can allow the clipper head100to be attached to the clipper body. Making the clipper head100selectively attachable to a clipper body facilitates ease of cleaning in one or more embodiments. However, embodiments of the disclosure are not so limited. In other embodiments, the clipper head100can be integrated with an electric clipper such that the electric clipper and the clipper head100are manufactured as a unitary device.

In one embodiment, the clipper head100includes a housing101. The housing101can define one or more surfaces of the clipper head100. The housing101can also define other features, such as a thumb recess114, clipper engagement features315,415, and so forth.

In one embodiment, the housing101can be manufactured from a rigid material, such as a thermoplastic resin. The housing101can be manufactured by an injection molding process. For example, in one embodiment the housing101is formed by injecting a first material, such as a thermoplastic like polycarbonate, into an injection mold cavity. Accordingly, the housing101in one embodiment is formed as a unitary, singular component in one or more embodiments.

In one embodiment, the material used to manufacture the housing101must be capable of being sterilized prior to packaging. In one embodiment, the clipper head100is used to trim a user's hair prior to surgical procedures being performed. Accordingly, the clipper head100may need to be sterilized prior to use. Examples of materials suitable for sterilization without compromising reliability of the clipper head100include polycarbonate, ABS, and nylon. Other such materials will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

In one embodiment, the material used to manufacture the housing101is static-charge resistant. For example, in one embodiment the material includes electrically conductive materials. The material can be impregnated with metal, metal fibers, or other conductive materials to reduce the chance that a static charge will develop when the housing101is passed along a patient's skin during use. In another embodiment, the material can be coated with conductive materials, such as metallized film coatings and so forth. This reduction in static charge works to reduce the amount of clipped hair that statically clings to a surgical site, thereby reducing potential for contamination of the surgical site.

In one embodiment, the housing101defines several surfaces. For example, in the illustrative embodiment ofFIGS. 1-8, the housing101includes a base surface102, one or more side surfaces103,203, a front surface204, and an optional trailing surface105. The illustrative contours shown inFIGS. 1-8are illustrative only, as others will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

In one embodiment, the base surface102and the front surface204intersect at an intersection108. The intersection108can define a corner in one or more embodiments. In the illustrative embodiment ofFIGS. 1-8, the intersection108defines a rounded edge. In one embodiment, the base surface102and the front surface204extend from the intersection108to define an acute angle317. A top surface206can define an aperture207into which a clipper can be inserted to attach the clipper to the clipper head100.

In one embodiment, one or more clipper teeth109extend from the intersection108of the base surface102and the front surface204. The one or more clipper teeth109form a reciprocating blade assembly in one embodiment that oscillate back and forth to cut hair or other objects. The one or more clipper teeth109can be mechanically connected to features disposed within the aperture207such that the one or more clipper teeth109can be mechanically connected to a motor disposed within an electric clipper. When a user actuates a power button on the electric clipper, an electric motor disposed within the clipper can drive the one or more clipper teeth109, thereby causing them to reciprocate to cut the hair of a patient.

In one embodiment, to reduce friction and drag, as well as electrostatic charge, one or more protuberances110,111,112can be disposed along the base surface102. The one or more protuberances110,111,112extend distally from the base surface102at least a predetermined distance316in one or more embodiments. For example, in one embodiment the one or more protuberances110,111,112extend from the base surface102by a distance316of at least two millimeters.

The one or more protuberances110,111,112can be integrally formed with the base surface102in one embodiment. For example, the one or more protuberances110,111,112can be integrally formed with the housing101using an injection molding process in one embodiment. In other embodiments, the one or more protuberances110,111,112are detachable. Detachability offers the advantage of being able to attach different protuberances of different sizes in one or more embodiments.

In the illustrative embodiment ofFIGS. 1-8, the one or more protuberances110,111,112comprise a plurality of protuberances. In this illustrative embodiment, there are only three protuberances110,111,112, with each configured as a partial spherical surface. However, in other embodiments there can be more than three protuberances or less than three protuberances. For example, turning briefly toFIG. 10, illustrated therein is a clipper head1000having a single protuberance1010. Turning toFIG. 11, illustrated therein is a clipper head1100with two protuberances1110,1111. Turning toFIG. 12, illustrated therein is a clipper head1200with four protuberances1210,1211,1212,1213. Other numbers of protuberances, as well as locations of protuberances, will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

Turning now back toFIGS. 1-8, the rounded shape of the partial spherical surface works to reduce the amount of surface area contacting a patient's skin when the clipper head100is in use. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-8, the use of three partial spherical protuberances110,111,112reduces the amount of surface area contacting a patient's skin. Said differently, where the base surface102defines a base surface area, and the three partial spherical protuberances110,111,112define a protuberance surface area, in one embodiment the protuberance surface area is less than the base surface area. Advantageously, the partial spherical surface reduces the amount of drag and effort needed to push the clipper head100through hair while the one or more clipper teeth109are cutting. Since clipping becomes more efficient, fewer passes are required to obtain an acceptable cut.

The inclusion of the one or more protuberances110,111,112offers other advantages as well. In one embodiment, the one or more protuberances define a mnemonic device identifying which surface of the clipper head100is the base surface102. A user can simply look at the protuberances110,111,112to quickly identify the fact that the side with the protuberances110,111,112, i.e., the base surface102, is to contact a user's skin. Accordingly, the protuberances110,111,112provide an intuitive clipper head orientation to a user.

As will be shown in more detail inFIG. 9below, in one embodiment the protuberances raise the rear of the base surface102, which lowers the one or more clipper teeth109so as to be closer to a user's skin. This, in turn, provides a closer cut. A closer cut provides a more unrestricted view of a surgical site, which benefits a surgeon operating on a site trimmed with the clipper head100.

In one or more embodiments, the inclusion of the one or more protuberances110,111,112also help to reduce the amount of static that accumulates on the housing101by reducing the amount of surface area of the housing101that frictionally engages a user's skin during the cutting process. This reduction in static electricity works to reduce the amount of hair that statically clings to the housing101, which reduces cleaning, disinfecting, and maintenance requirements for the clipper head100.

As noted, in this illustrative embodiment the one or more protuberances110,111,112define partial spherical surfaces. It will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that the protuberances110,111,112could take other shapes as well. For example, in another embodiment the one or more protuberances110,111,112define hemispherical surface. In another embodiment, the one or more protuberances110,111,112define a partial ovular surface. In another embodiment, the one or more protuberances110,111,112define a partial parabolic surface.

A few alternate protuberance shapes are illustrated inFIGS. 13-16. Turning briefly toFIG. 13, illustrated therein is a clipper head1300with a singular protuberance1310configured as an orthogonal flange. The protuberance1310is referred to as an “orthogonal flange” because it is oriented substantially perpendicular with a major dimension1330of the base surface1302that is oriented substantially parallel with the direction of motion1331when the clipper head1300is in use. The orthogonal flange extends distally from the base surface1302at a substantially orthogonal angle in this embodiment. Note that the terms “about” or “substantially” refer to an alignment or dimension inclusive of manufacturing tolerances. Thus, a “substantially orthogonal” angle with a manufacturing tolerance of plus or minus 0.5 degrees would include any angle between 89.5 degrees and 90.5 degrees, inclusive.

InFIG. 13, the orthogonal flange extends substantially all of the width1332of the clipper head1300. However, it could be shorter—or even longer in other embodiments. The orthogonal flange of this illustrative embodiment terminates in a curved edge1333so as to provide similar advantages to the rounded surfaces of the protuberances (110,111,112) of the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-8.

Turning briefly toFIG. 14, illustrated therein is another clipper head1400in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. InFIG. 14, the clipper head1400includes four protuberances1410,1411,1412,1413, each being configured as an orthogonal flange. InFIG. 14, each orthogonal flange extends along only a portion of the width1432of the clipper head1400. In this illustrative embodiment, each of the four protuberances1410,1411,1412,1413has a common height and is arranged in a single lone across the base surface1402of the clipper head1400. However, the four protuberances1410,1411,1412,1413could be staggered in a non-linear arrangement along the base surface1402of the clipper head1400as well. In such an embodiment, one or more of the four protuberances1410,1411,1412,1413may have a height that is different from another of the four protuberances1410,1411,1412,1413.

Turning briefly toFIG. 15, illustrated therein is another clipper head1500comprising one or more protuberances1510,1511,1512. The protuberances1510,1511,1512ofFIG. 15have a shark-fin appearance and are oriented substantially parallel with a major dimension1530of the base surface1502that is oriented substantially parallel with the direction of motion1531when the clipper head1500is in use. InFIG. 15, three protuberances1510,1511,1512are shown. However, as with previous embodiments, more or fewer than three protuberances1510,1511,1512can be used as well.

Turning briefly toFIG. 16, illustrated therein is yet another clipper head1600configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. InFIG. 16, as withFIGS. 10 and 13, the clipper head1600comprises a singular protuberance1610extending from the base surface1602of the clipper head1600. The protuberance1610includes a plurality of apertures1660,1661,1662,1663that allow clipped hair or other debris to pass therethrough during the cutting process. The embodiments ofFIGS. 10-16are illustrations of some of the many embodiments in which clipper heads in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure can be configured. Still others will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

Turning now back toFIGS. 1-8, and as best shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the one or more protuberances110,111,112raise the trailing edge313of the base surface102. Accordingly, when the clipper head100rests on a substantially flat surface, the one or more protuberances110,111,112cause the one or more clipper teeth109to project toward the surface. Thus, when the clipper head100rests such that the intersection108and the one or more protuberances110,111,112are against a patient's skin, the one or more clipper teeth109are closer to the skin to provide a closer cut.

In one embodiment, the one or more protuberances110,111,112are disposed distally across the base surface102from the intersection108of the base surface102and the front surface204. In one embodiment, at least fifty percent of the base surface area of the base surface102is disposed between the intersection108and the one or more protuberances110,111,112. As best shown inFIGS. 1 and 7, in one embodiment the one or more protuberances110,111,112are disposed between the intersection108and the thumb recess114.

Turning now toFIG. 9, illustrated therein is an explanatory clipper head900configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. The clipper head900has been attached to an electric clipper920and is being passed along a surface921, which in this example is a patient's skin. One or more clipper teeth909are being used to clip a patient's hair922. As shown inFIG. 9, the one or more clipper teeth909extend from the edge908toward the surface921.

The clipper head900includes a first surface902and a second surface904. The first surface902and the second surface904intersect to define an edge908of the clipper head900. One or more protuberances910are disposed along, and extend from, the first surface902. Note that if the convention was reversed, and the first surface902and second surface904were reversed, the one or more protuberances910would extend from the second surface904. As noted above, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions.

In this embodiment, each protuberance910is configured as a rounded protuberance. The protuberances910have less surface area than does the first surface902, thereby reducing friction as the clipper head900passes along the surface921. This reduction in friction results in a lessened potential for skin abrasion and irritation during the cutting process. There are only three protuberances910in this embodiment. However, other embodiments could include more, or fewer, protuberances as desired for a particular application or clipper head size. For example, a small clipper head may only have one protuberance, while a larger clipper head may have four or more protuberances.