Attachment comb and hair cutting appliance

A hair cutting appliance is configured to be moved through hair in a moving direction in order to cut hair. The hair cutting appliance includes a housing portion, a blade set having a skin-facing top surface, and a releasable attachment comb. The blade set is arranged pivotably with respect to the housing portion. The attachment comb includes a supporting frame, at least one spacing guard element configured to space the blade set from a working surface when in operation, a mounting portion configured to be attached to a housing portion of the hair cutting appliance, and an orientation determining portion configured to engage the blade set and to define a locking orientation of the blade set when mounted to the hair cutting appliance.

This application is the U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2015/057996, filed on Apr. 14, 2015, which claims the benefit of European Application No. 14165286.7 filed on Apr. 18, 2014. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to an attachment comb for a hair cutting appliance. The present disclosure further relates to a hair cutting appliance that can be fitted with an attachment comb. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a hair cutting appliance that is operable in a hair trimming mode and in a shaving mode.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

WO 2013/150412 A1 discloses a hair cutting appliance and a corresponding blade set of a hair cutting appliance. The blade set comprises a stationary blade and a movable blade, wherein the movable blade can be reciprocatingly driven with respect to the stationary blade for cutting hair. The blade set is particularly suited for enabling both trimming and shaving operations.

For the purpose of cutting body hair, there exist basically two customarily distinguished types of electrically powered appliances: the razor, and the hair trimmer or clipper. Generally, the razor is used for shaving, i.e. slicing body hairs at the level of the skin so as to obtain a smooth skin without stubbles. The hair trimmer is typically used to sever the hairs at a chosen distance from the skin, i.e. for cutting the hairs to a desired length. The difference in application is reflected in the different structure and architectures of the cutting blade arrangement implemented on either appliance.

An electric razor typically includes a foil, i.e. an ultra-thin perforated screen, and a cutter blade that is movable along the inside of and with respect to the foil. During use, the outside of the foil is placed and pushed against the skin, such that any hairs that penetrate the foil are cut off by the cutter blade that moves with respect to the inside thereof, and fall into hollow hair collection portions inside the razor.

An electric hair trimmer, on the other hand, typically includes generally two cutter blades having a toothed edge, one placed on top of the other such that the respective toothed edges overlap. In operation, the cutter blades reciprocate relative to each other, cutting off any hairs that are trapped between their teeth in a scissor action. The precise level above the skin at which the hairs are cut off is normally determined by means of an additional attachable part, called a (spacer) guard or comb.

Furthermore, combined devices are known that are basically adapted to both shaving and trimming purposes. However, these devices merely include two separate and distinct cutting sections, namely a shaving section comprising a setup that matches the concept of powered razors as set out above, and a trimming section comprising a setup that, on the other hand, matches the concept of hair trimmers.

Common electric razors are not particularly suited for cutting hair to a desired variable length above the skin, i.e., for precise trimming operations. This can be explained, at least in part, by the fact that they do not include mechanisms for spacing the foil and, consequently, the cutter blade from the skin. But even if they did, e.g. by adding attachment spacer parts, such as spacing combs, the configuration of the foil, which typically involves a large number of small perforations, would diminish the efficient capture of all but the shortest and stiffest of hairs.

Similarly, common hair trimmers are not particularly suited for shaving, primarily because the separate cutter blades require a certain rigidity, and therefore thickness, to perform the scissor action without deforming. It is the minimum required blade thickness of a skin-facing blade thereof that prevents hair from being cut off close to the skin. Consequently, a user desiring to both shave and trim his/her body hair may need to purchase and apply two separate appliances.

Furthermore, combined shaving and trimming devices show several drawbacks since they basically require two cutting blade sets and respective drive mechanisms. Consequently, these devices are heavier and more susceptible to wear than standard type single-purpose hair cutting appliances, and also require costly manufacturing and assembling processes. Similarly, operating these combined devices is often experienced to be rather uncomfortable and complex. Even in case a conventional combined shaving and trimming device comprising two separate cutting sections is utilized, handling the device and switching between different operation modes may be considered as being time-consuming and not very user-friendly. Since the cutting sections are typically provided at different locations of the device, guidance accuracy (and therefore also cutting accuracy) may be reduced, as the user needs to get used to two distinct dominant holding positions during operation.

The above WO 2013/150412 A1 tackles some of these issues by providing a blade set comprising a stationary blade that houses the movable blade such that a first portion of the stationary blade is arranged at the side of the movable blade facing the skin, when used for shaving, and that a second portion of the stationary blade is arranged at the side of the movable blade facing away from the skin when in use. Furthermore, at a toothed cutting edge, the first portion and the second portion of the stationary blade are connected, thereby forming a plurality of stationary teeth that cover respective teeth of the movable blade. Consequently, the movable blade is guarded by the stationary blade.

This arrangement is advantageous insofar as the stationary blade may provide the blade set with increased strength and stiffness since the stationary blade is also present at the side of the movable blade facing away from the skin. This may generally enable a reduction of the thickness of the first portion of the stationary blade at the skin-facing side of the movable blade. Consequently, since in this way the movable blade may come closer to the skin during operation, the above blade set is well-suited for hair shaving operations. Aside from that, the blade set is also particularly suited for hair trimming operations since the configuration of the cutting edge, including respective teeth alternating with slots, also allows longer hairs to enter the slots and, consequently, to be cut by the relative cutting motion between the movable blade and the stationary blade.

However, there is still a need for improvement in hair cutting appliances. This may particularly involve user comfort related aspects and performance related aspects. Particularly with hair cutting appliances comprising blade sets that are pivotably attached to the housing, operating the appliance in different distinct operation modes may pose several challenges. Particularly reliably spacing the blade set of such an appliance from a user's skin may be difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an attachment comb arranged for trimming operations that can be easily attached to and detached from a hair cutting appliance. More preferably, the present disclosure may address at least some drawbacks inherent in known prior art hair cutting appliances as discussed above, for instance. It is further preferred to provide a hair cutting appliance arranged to be selectively operated in a shaving mode and in a trimming mode. It is particularly preferred that the attachment comb enhances the trimming performance of the hair cutting appliance.

In a first aspect of the present disclosure a hair cutting appliance arranged to be moved through hair in a moving direction to cut hair is presented, said hair cutting appliance comprising a blade set, particularly a pivotably mounted blade set, and an attachment comb, said attachment comb comprising:a supporting frame,at least one spacing guard element arranged to space the blade set from a working surface when in operation, particularly to space a skin-facing side thereof from a user's skin,a mounting portion arranged to be attached to a housing portion of the hair cutting appliance, andan orientation determining portion arranged to engage the blade set and to define a locking orientation of the blade set when mounted to the hair cutting appliance.

This aspect is based on the insight that the attachment comb may serve several purposes. On the one hand side, the attachment comb may space the blade set from the skin so as to define the length of the (remaining) hair. On the other hand, the attachment comb may activate the trimming mode at the device by bringing the blade set into a desired orientation, e.g. a trimming orientation. It is preferred that the blade set is locked in the trimming mode, i.e. that the blade set cannot be pivoted with respect to the housing of the appliance. It goes without saying that the blade set as such is still operable in the locking orientation, i.e. a movable cutter blade of the blade set may be moved with respect to a stationary blade of the blade set. It is further preferred that the attachment comb may actuate or induce the locking orientation upon being mounted to the hair cutting appliance.

In the shaving mode, when the attachment comb is detached from the hair cutting appliance, the blade set may be pivoted with respect to the housing, thereby providing a contour-following capability. As a result of the removal of the attachment comb, the blade set may be released from its relatively fixed orientation in the locking configuration. Consequently, the blade set again may be pivoted or swiveled with respect to the housing portion in the shaving mode.

It is worth mentioning in the context that the attachment comb preferably may be mounted to hair cutting appliances that comprise blade sets that are arranges as dual-purpose or multi-purpose blade sets. Consequently, the same blade set may be utilized for trimming and for shaving.

In one embodiment, the orientation determining portion is arranged to block a swiveling mechanism that couples the blade set and the housing portion of the hair cutting appliance. Blocking the swiveling mechanism may involve blocking the blade set attached thereto. In the alternative, or in addition, blocking the swiveling mechanism may involve blocking an element of the swiveling mechanism to which the blade set is attached, for instance a bar of a four-bar linkage mechanism.

In one embodiment, the mounting portion further comprises at least one retaining element, particularly at least one resilient snap-on hook, wherein the at least one retaining element is arranged to engage a mounting contour at the housing portion, and wherein the at least one retaining element biases against the mounting contour when mounted to the hair cutting appliance. Preferably, the at least one retaining element can be actuated without the need of directly operating the retaining element, i.e. without the need of directly pushing of pulling the retaining element. Consequently, the at least one retaining element may be arranged as a mediately actuable or, rather, a self-actuable retaining element.

In one embodiment, the at least one retaining element is a pretensioned mounting element, particularly a flexible resilient mounting element or a spring-pretensioned mounting element. Consequently, a locking force may be generated. As a result, the attachment comb may be urged or biased into the desired position with respect to the hair cutting appliance and its blade set.

In one embodiment, the at least one retaining element is rotatably attached to or integrally formed at the supporting frame, and wherein the supporting frame contacts the at least one retaining element and the orientation determining portion. Hence, the at least one retaining element may apply a locking force to the frame and, consequently, to the orientation determining portion that may contact the blade set.

In one embodiment, the at least one retaining element is arranged to apply an alignment force to the housing portion when mounted to the hair cutting appliance, wherein the alignment force urges the orientation determining portion into engagement with the blade set, and wherein the blade set is urged into the locking orientation.

In one embodiment, the at least one retaining element comprises a sliding surface arranged to cooperate with a sliding ramp surface associated with mounting contour, wherein the sliding surface and the sliding ramp surface deflect the at least one retaining element upon mounting the attachment comb such that a retaining surface of the retaining element engages an engagement surface associated with the mounting contour. This may have the advantage that the retaining element may automatically engage the mounting contour in the course of mounting the attachment comb.

In one embodiment, the attachment comb further comprises a handling tab, particularly a disengagement handling tab actuable by a user, wherein the at least one retaining element is disengaged from the mounting contour upon applying a disengagement force to the handling tab.

Disengaging the retaining element may involve deflecting or flexing the retaining element such that the retaining surface may be released from the engagement surface. Preferably, disengaging may involve pivoting the retaining element such that the retaining surface may overcome an apex point between the engagement surface and the sliding ramp surface of the mounting contour.

In one alternative embodiment, the handling tab is coupled to the at least one retaining element, and wherein the handling tab is selectively actuable to disengage the least one retaining element from the housing portion. In accordance with this embodiment, the user may directly actuate the retaining element to disengage or engage the retaining element.

In one embodiment, the orientation determining portion swivels the blade set against a swivel limit stop member associated with the housing portion. As a result, the blade set may be kept with relatively high accuracy in the desired locking orientation.

In an alternative embodiment, the orientation determining portion swivels the blade set against a blade set orientation biasing force applied by a biasing element associated with the housing portion. By way of example, the swiveling mechanism may be provided with the biasing element. Generally, the biasing element may urge the swiveling mechanism and, consequently, the blade set into a neutral position. As a result of the attachment of the attachment comb, the orientation determining portion may bias the blade set against the biasing force applied by the biasing element into the desired locking orientation.

In one embodiment, the attachment comb is arranged as a hair trimming comb, wherein the orientation determining portion is arranged to induce a trimming orientation of the blade set when the attachment comb is mounted to the hair cutting appliance, wherein the trimming orientation particularly involves a defined angular orientation of the blade set with respect to the housing portion. The attachment comb may comprise a plurality of comb teeth that may space the blade set from the skin when in operation.

In one embodiment, the attachment comb further comprises an insertion portion adjacent to the orientation determining portion, wherein the insertion portion is configured to facilitate imposing or putting the attachment comb on the blade set in a mounting direction. Consequently, assembly faults may be avoided. The mounting process can be further simplified.

In one embodiment, the mounting direction is adapted to a standard orientation of the blade set with respect to the housing portion. As indicated above, the blade set may assume a standard or neutral orientation when no external load is applied thereto. It is therefore particularly beneficial to adapt the insertion portion to the standard orientation of the blade set.

Mounting the attachment comb may involve approaching the blade set in the mounting direction and, having contacted the blade set with the orientation determining portion, swivel the attachment comb about laterally extending axis that may be basically parallel to the pivot axis or virtual pivot axis of the blade set.

In one embodiment, the mounting portion further comprises at least one side clip element, particularly a first side clip element and a second side clip element opposite to the first side clip element, wherein the at least one side clip element is configured to engage the housing portion upon swiveling the attachment comb into a mounting orientation, thereby urging the blade set into the locking orientation.

In a related embodiment, the mounting portion comprises a first side clip element and a second side clip element, wherein the first side clip element and the second side clip element are arranged to embrace the housing portion when the attachment comb is mounted to the hair cutting appliance, wherein the first side clip element and the second side clip element exert opposite retaining forces, wherein the preferably opposite retaining forces are preferably perpendicular to an alignment force applicable by a retaining element. However, several embodiments can be envisaged that may be implemented without side clip elements.

In one embodiment of the hair cutting appliance, the appliance is operable to shave hair in a shaving mode, wherein the blade set is configured to swivel in the shaving mode, wherein an actual orientation of the blade set is adaptable to a working surface, particularly to a user's skin, and wherein the appliance, being equipped with the attachment comb, is operable to trim hair in a trimming mode, wherein the blade set is urged into the locking orientation by means of the attachment comb in the trimming mode.

In a further aspect of the present disclosure a releasable attachment comb for a blade set of a hair cutting appliance, particularly for a pivotably supported blade set, is presented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1schematically illustrates, in a simplified perspective view, an exemplary embodiment of a hair cutting appliance10, particularly an electric hair cutting appliance10. The cutting appliance10may comprise a housing or, more particularly, a housing portion12, a motor indicated by a dashed block14in the housing portion12, and a drive mechanism or drivetrain indicated by a dashed block16in a housing portion12. For powering the motor14, at least in some embodiments of the cutting appliance10, an electrical battery, indicated by a dashed block17in the housing portion12, may be provided, such as, for instance, a rechargeable battery, a replaceable battery, etc. However, in some embodiments, the cutting appliance10may be further provided with a power cable for connecting a power supply. A power supply connector may be provided in addition or in the alternative to the (internal) electric battery17.

The cutting appliance10may further comprise a cutting head18. At the cutting head18, a blade set20may be attached to the hair cutting appliance10. The blade set20may be driven by the motor14via the drive mechanism or drivetrain16to enable a cutting motion. The cutting motion may generally be regarded as a relative motion between a stationary blade and a movable blade which will be further described and discussed hereinafter. Generally, a user may grasp, hold and manually guide the cutting appliance10through hair in a moving direction28to cut hair. The cutting appliance10may be generally regarded as a hand-guided and hand-operated electrically powered device. Furthermore, the cutting head18or, more particularly, the blade set20can be connected to the housing portion12of the cutting appliance10in a pivotable manner, refer to the curved double-arrow indicated by reference numeral26inFIG. 1. In some embodiments, the cutting appliance10or, more specifically, the cutting head18including the blade set20can be moved along skin to cut hair growing at the skin. When cutting hair closely to the skin, basically a shaving operation can be performed aiming at cutting or chopping hair at the level of the skin. However, also clipping (or trimming) operations may be envisaged, wherein the cutting head18comprising the blade set20is passed along a path at a desired distance relative to the skin.

When being guided moved through hair, the cutting appliance10including the blade set20is typically moved along a common moving direction which is indicated by the reference numeral28inFIG. 1. It is worth mentioning in this connection that, given that the hair cutting appliance10is typically manually guided and moved, the moving direction28thus not necessarily has to be construed as a precise geometric reference having a fixed definition and relation with respect to the orientation of the hair cutting appliance10and its cutting head18fitted with the blade set20. That is, an overall orientation of the hair cutting appliance10with respect of the to-be-cut hair at the skin may be construed as somewhat unsteady. However, for illustrative purposes, it may be fairly assumed that the (imaginary) moving direction28is parallel (or generally parallel) to a main central plane of a coordinate system which may serve in the following as a means for describing structural features of the hair cutting appliance10.

For ease of reference, coordinate systems are indicated in several drawings herein. By way of example, a Cartesian coordinate system X-Y-Z is indicated inFIG. 1. An axis X of the respective coordinate system extends in a generally longitudinal direction that is generally associated with length, for the purpose of this disclosure. An axis Y of the coordinate system extends in a lateral (or transverse) direction associated with width, for the purpose of this disclosure. An axis Z of the coordinate system extends in a height (or vertical) direction which may be referred to for illustrative purposes, at least in some embodiments, as a generally vertical direction. It goes without saying that an association of the coordinate system X-Y-Z to characteristic features and/or embodiments of the hair cutting appliance10is primarily provided for illustrative purposes and shall not be construed in a limiting way. It should be understood that those skilled in the art may readily convert and/or transfer the coordinate system provided herein when being confronted with alternative embodiments, respective figures and illustrations including different orientations. It is further worth mentioning that, for the purpose of the present disclosure, the coordinate system X-Y-Z is generally aligned with main directions and orientations of the cutting head18including the blade set20.

FIG. 2shows a perspective top of a blade set20that may be implemented in the cutting head18illustrated inFIG. 1. The stationary blade22of the blade set20may define at least one toothed leading edge30a,30bcomprising a plurality of teeth. Also the moveable cutter blade24may comprise respective toothed leading edges provided with respective teeth. The moveable cutter blade24is indicated inFIG. 2in a dashed representation. The moveable blade24may be driven by a drive shaft48in a reciprocating manner. Consequently, the moveable blade24and the stationary blade22may be reciprocatingly moved with respect to each other and therefore cooperate to cut hairs that enter slots between the teeth at the at least one toothed leading edge30a,30bwhen the hair cutting appliance10is moved through hair in the moving direction28. As already indicated above, the blade set20may be particularly suited for shaving and trimming operations. Shaving performance may be further improved when the blade set20is capable of following an actual skin contour. Consequently, it may be preferred that the blade set20is pivotably attachable to the housing or housing portion12of the hair cutting appliance10.

The stationary blade22may be arranged as a guard for the moveable blade24. It is particular preferred that the stationary blade22comprises a first wall portion and a second wall portion which are at least partially spaced from each other such that a guide slot for the moveable blade24is defined therebetween. Hence, the stationary blade22may also cover the moveable blade24at the at least one toothed leading edge30a,30b. The blade set20may be attached to a swiveling mechanism40. The swiveling mechanism40may form a part of the cutting head18that is interposed between the blade set20and the housing portion12. The swiveling mechanism40may define a pivot or, rather, a virtual pivot for the blade set20, refer to the curved double-arrow26inFIGS. 1 and 2.

The swiveling mechanism40may further comprise a limit stop42to define a maximum swiveling angle of the blade set20with respect to the housing portion12. At least one contact surface44may be associated with the blade set20. Consequently, when the blade set20is pivoted about the pivot axis or the virtual pivot axis, the contact surface44may contact the limit stop42and therefore limit the pivoting motion. The cutting head18may be regarded as a replaceable cutting head. The cutting head18may comprise an attachment interface46which is arranged to engage a respective receiving interface at the housing portion12of the hair cutting appliance10. Particularly, the cutting head18may be arranged as a plug-in cutting head18. As already indicated above, the blade set20, particularly the moveable cutter blade24thereof, may be coupled to the drive shaft48. The drive shaft48may comprise an eccentric portion that may revolve about a longitudinal axis of the drive shaft48. Consequently, an eccentric cutting mechanism may be provided for reciprocatingly driving the moveable cutter blade24with respect to the stationary blade22.

Being fitted with the swiveling mechanism40illustrated inFIG. 2or with another exemplary embodiment of a swiveling mechanism40, the cutting head18may be particularly suited for shaving operations. However, it is preferred that the cutting head18is also suited for hair trimming operations. Hair trimming may involve cutting hairs at a desired length. The desired remaining length of the hairs may be defined with a so-called attachment comb. An attachment comb may generally space the blade set20from a skin surface. When attaching the attachment comb to the hair cutting appliance10, it has to be considered that the blade set20is basically pivotably mounted at the housing portion12. The pivotable mounting may improve the shaving performance of the hair cutting appliance10. However, on the other hand, it might be preferred to lock or block the orientation of the blade set20in the trimming mode. Locking the blade set20may involve maintaining the blade set20in a desired trimming orientation.

With reference toFIGS. 3 to 17, exemplary embodiments of attachment combs50will be illustrated and further described. With particular reference toFIGS. 3 to 7, a first exemplary embodiment of an attachment comb50will be elucidated. As can be best seen fromFIGS. 3 and 4, the attachment comb50may comprise a supporting frame52. The supporting frame52may comprise a support beam54which may be arranged to engage a housing portion12of the hair cutting appliance10. To this end, a locking engagement element56may be attached to the support beam54. The attachment comb50may generally comprise a mounting portion60which is arranged to define a predefined orientation of the attachment comb50with respect to the housing portion12. The mounting portion60may be provided with the locking engagement element56, for instance. The locking engagement element56may be arranged to engage a mounting contour90, particularly a mounting recess at the housing portion12. As can be best seen from the cross-sectional representation of the cutting head18of the hair cutting appliance10inFIG. 3, the cutting head18may comprise a blade set20which is pivotably connected to the housing portion12. However, when the attachment comb50is attached to the hair cutting appliance10, in a trimming mode, it is preferred that the blade set20is brought into and maintained in a preferred trimming orientation which may also be referred to as locking orientation. The locking orientation of the blade set may involve a preferred angular orientation. In other words, the blade set20may be arranged at an angle α with respect to the attachment comb50and, consequently, to the housing portion12.

The attachment comb50may further comprise an orientation determining portion62. The orientation determining portion62may be arranged to define the locking orientation or trimming orientation of the blade set20when the attachment comb50is attached to the housing portion12and the blade set20in a predefined manner. By way of example, the orientation determining portion62may comprise a receiving seat64which may be arranged to contact the top surface32(refer toFIG. 5) of the blade set20, at least sectionally. Having assumed its predetermined orientation, the attachment comb50may basically urge the blade set20into the locking orientation.

As can be best seen from the perspective view ofFIG. 4, the attachment comb50may further comprise a spacing guard element58which may involve a plurality of comb teeth66. The comb teeth66may be arranged to contact the users skin when the hair cutting appliance10is used for hair trimming operations. The spacing guard element58, particularly the comb teeth66thereof, may offset the toothed leading edge30aof the blade set20from the skin and therefore define an actual (remaining) length of hair. As can be further seen fromFIG. 4, the blade set20may be attached to a swiveling mechanism40which may be arranged as a four-bar linkage mechanism. The swiveling mechanism40may comprise a biasing element69, particularly a spring element69, refer toFIG. 4. The biasing element69may be arranged to urge the blade set into a predefined neutral position. The neutral position may be regarded as the position of the blade set20that is assumed when no external load is applied to the blade set20. Consequently, the orientation determining portion62may act against the spring element69to urge the blade set20into the locking orientation desired for trimming purposes.

As can be further seen fromFIG. 4, the attachment comb50may basically comprise a shovel-like shape. The supporting frame52and the spacing guard element58may guard the top surface32of the blade set20. As can be best seen fromFIG. 5, the mounting portion60may be arranged to be put on the blade set20in a mounting direction74. The attachment comb50may further comprise a defined insertion portion70which may basically comprise a slot that is adapted to a lateral extension (Y-dimension) of the blade set, refer also toFIG. 2. When the orientation determining portion62is put on the blade set20, the blade set20may enter the insertion portion70. The blade set20may be brought into contact with the receiving seat64. At a front end thereof, particularly at a toothed leading edge30athereof, the blade set20may be brought in contact with a frontal contact surface67.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7illustrate an exemplary mounting procedure of the attachment comb50. With reference toFIG. 5, at an initial state, the attachment comb50may approach the blade set20in the mounting direction74so that the blade set20may contact the orientation determining portion62. This may particularly involve contacting the frontal contact surface67with a frontal end of the blade set20. The respective mounting motion may be referred to as substantially rectilinear motion. In a further stage, illustrated inFIG. 6, the attachment comb50which may be already in contact with the blade set20may be swiveled together with the blade set20in a swiveling mounting direction76. Consequently, the mounting portion60may approach the housing portion12of the hair cutting appliance10.

Mounting the mounting portion60to the housing portion12may include a snap-on mounting of the mounting portion60. To this end, at least in some embodiments, the mounting portion60may comprise at least one side clip72, particularly a pair of side clips that are arranged in an opposite manner with respect to each other. The side clips72may engage opposite lateral sides of the housing portion12. The side clips72may pull the locking engagement element56in contact with the mounting contour90at the housing portion12. Consequently, the attachment comb50may be releasably attached to the housing portion12in a predefined snap-on manner. Attaching the attachment comb50in a predefined orientation may include bringing the blade set20into its locking orientation.

With further reference toFIGS. 8 to 15, a further exemplary embodiment of an attachment comb50′ for a hair cutting appliance10will be further detailed and described. As can be best seen fromFIGS. 8, 12 and 13, the attachment comb50′ may be attached to a housing or housing portion12of the hair cutting appliance10which may also include engaging a blade set20of the hair cutting appliance10. It should be further noted that a swiveling mechanism for the blade set20is hidden inFIGS. 8 to 15for illustrative purposes. Generally, the blade set20and the swiveling mechanism may be arranged in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the swiveling mechanism40illustrated inFIG. 2. As can be best seen fromFIGS. 8 and 9, the attachment comb50′ may comprise a supporting frame52′, particularly a supporting frame52′ shaped in a loop-like fashion. As can be best seen fromFIGS. 8 and 10, the attachment comb50′ may comprise a spacing guard element58which may comprise a plurality of comb teeth66. The spacing guard element58may space or offset the top surface32of the blade set20from the user's skin in a predefined manner to enable trimming hairs at a predefined length. For illustrated purposes, the spacing guard element58is hidden inFIGS. 9 and 11 to 15. In some embodiments, the spacing guard element may be referred to as an adjustable spacing guard element58. It may be therefore preferred that the spacing guard element58may be adjusted to modify a spacing between the blade set20and the user's skin.

The attachment comb50′ may further comprise a mounting portion60comprising a retaining element80, particularly a retaining hook. The retaining element80may also be referred to, at least in some embodiments, as a resilient retaining element80. The retaining element80may be integrally formed with or mounted at the supporting frame52′. It is particularly preferred that the retaining element80is a deflectable retaining element which may be operated or actuated for selectively locking or disengaging the attachment comb50′. A deflecting operating motion of the retaining element80in indicated inFIG. 12by a curved double-arrow denoted by reference numeral82. The retaining element80may be arranged to cooperate with a mounting contour90at the housing portion12.

As can be best seen fromFIGS. 9, 11 and 12, the attachment comb50′ may be further provided with an orientation determining portion62which may comprise at least one receiving seat64which may contact the top surface32of the blade set20in the mounted state of the attachment comb50′. By way of example, the orientation determining portion62may comprise a first receiving seat64and a second receiving seat64, refer also toFIG. 10. The at least one receiving seat64may extend from a top portion65of the support beam54. The orientation determining portion62may further comprise at least one lateral guide element71. Preferably, a first guide element71and a second lateral guide element71are provided that are arranged to guide lateral ends of the blade set20so as to define the lateral position (Y-position) of the blade set20. Consequently, the attachment comb50′ and the blade set20may be entirely aligned in the mounted state.

As can be best seen fromFIG. 11, the receiving seat64may comprise a longitudinal extension lrthat may cover at least a substantial portion of a longitudinal dimension lbof the blade set20. This may basically prevent a faulty mounting of the attachment comb50′ which might include engaging a bottom side (rather than the top surface32) of the blade set. It is therefore preferred that the longitudinal coverage of the blade set by the at least one receiving seat64exceeds at least half the length of the longitudinal extension lbof the blade set20.

Generally, the at least one receiving seat64may be arranged as a tab or tooth extending from the supporting frame52. As can be best seen fromFIG. 8, the at least one receiving seat64may be arranged in slots between the comb teeth66of the spacing guard element58. Consequently, the at least one spacing guard element58generally does not interfere with the comb teeth66. In some embodiments, the spacing guard element58and the orientation determining portion62may be at least sectionally integrally formed. This applies in particular when the spacing guard element58is a non-adjustable spacing guard element58. In this context, the at least one receiving seat64may be arranged at a rear or bottom side or at least some of the comb teeth66.

The attachment comb50′ may further comprise a handling tab84, particularly a disengagement handling tab84. Generally, the handling tab may also be referred to as handle. The handling tab84may be arranged at a bottom portion83of the supporting frame52′. The handling tab84may be actuated or operated by the user to disengage or release the attachment comb50′ from the hair cutting appliance10.

With further reference toFIGS. 10 and 11, the retaining element80and the mounting contour90of an exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure will be further detailed.FIG. 11shows a cross-sectional view of an attachment comb50′ which is attached to a housing portion12of a hair cutting appliance10, refer also to the line XI-XI inFIG. 10. The retaining element80may be arranged as a deflectable retaining hook. The retaining element80may be pivotably mounted at the supporting frame52′. To this end, a pivot or mounting pivot88may be provided. The retaining element80may swivel about the pivot88, refer to the curved double-arrow indicated by reference number82inFIG. 12. Generally, the attachment comb50′, particularly the supporting frame52′ thereof, may be adapted to an outer contour of the housing portion12exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 13. The retaining element80may comprise a tip86which may be configured to engage the mounting contour90at the housing portion12. The mounting contour90may comprise a slide ramp surface92and an engagement surface94.

As can be best seen fromFIG. 13, the slide ramp surface92may be basically outwardly oriented. The engagement surface94may be basically inwardly oriented (with respect to the housing portion12). The engagement surface94may also be regarded as locking element of the mounting contour90. At the engagement surface94, the tip86of the retaining element80may be locked. Consequently, the attachment comb50′ may be locked at the housing portion12. The attachment comb50′ may further comprise a biasing element100, particularly a spring element100for the retaining element80. The biasing element100may generally urge the retaining element80into engagement with the mounting contour90. Given the exemplary orientation of the attachment comb50′ shown inFIG. 11, the biasing element100may apply a rotation force to the retaining element80that tends to urge the retaining element80into clockwise rotation. It should be noted in this context that the above term “clockwise” shall not be construed in a limiting manner but shall be rather regarded as an exemplary configuration of the biasing element100and the retaining element80.

As can be best seen fromFIGS. 13 and 15, the retaining element80may further comprise, at the tip86, a retaining surface96and a slide surface98. Basically the slide surface98may be arranged to cooperate with the slide ramp surface92of the mounting contour90upon insertion of the tip86of the retaining element80into the mounting contour90. The slide surface98may slide at the slide ramp surface92such that the retaining element80may be deflected against the biasing force of the biasing element100. Consequently, the tip86can enter the mounting contour90, wherein the retaining surface96may engage or contact the engagement surface94to lock the retaining element80and, consequently, the attachment comb50′.

Further reference is made toFIG. 11.FIG. 11illustrates the attachment comb50′ in the mounted state. In the mounted state, the attachment comb50′, particularly the orientation determining portion62thereof, may bring the blade set20into a predefined orientation suitable for trimming. Generally, the blade set20may be coupled to a biasing element or spring element69which may be attached to or associated with the housing portion12. The spring element69is schematically shown inFIG. 11for illustrative purposes. Further reference in this regard is made to the spring element69illustrated inFIG. 4. Generally, the spring element69may be configured to urge the blade set20into a predefined neutral swiveling orientation, refer toFIG. 14, for instance. Consequently, as shown inFIG. 11, the orientation determining portion62may act against the spring element69. Therefore, the blade set20may be kept in the locking orientation suitable for trimming in a biased of preloaded state, basically without considerable play.

As can be further seen inFIG. 11, the biasing element100may basically pull the orientation determining portion62into a defined engagement with the blade set20. A direction of a locking force that is attributable to by the biasing element100and applied by the retaining element80is indicated inFIG. 11by FL. Given the actual orientation of the blade set20in the mounted state, refer to the (blade set) coordinate system indicated inFIG. 11, the locking force FL. may cause, at a top end adjacent the blade set20, a resulting retaining force FR which basically prevents a release motion of the attachment comb50′ in the longitudinal direction X. Consequently, the attachment comb50′ may be regarded as a self-aligning attachment comb50′. The desired locking orientation of the blade set20may further improve a mating fit of the attachment comb50′. The attachment comb50′ may be also referred to as self-retaining or self-locking attachment comb50′.

As already mentioned above, the attachment comb50′ may be further provided with a handle or handling tab84which may be integrally formed with and extend from the supporting frame52′. The user may actuate the handling tab84to disengage the attachment comb50′. A respective actuation direction is indicated inFIG. 11by an arrow denoted by reference number112. Pushing the handling tab84in the disengagement direction112may rotate or swivel the retaining element80. Given the exemplary configuration illustrated inFIG. 11, the retaining element80may be rotated counterclockwise upon pushing the handling tab84in the disengagement direction112. Consequently, the tip86, particularly the retaining surface96(refer toFIG. 15) of the retaining element80may be disengaged from the engagement surface94. In this way, the retaining element80may be released from engagement with the mounting contour90. Hence, the attachment comb50′ may be released from the hair cutting appliance10. In other words, at least in some embodiments, the attachment comb50′ may be regarded as a single-step release attachment comb50′. Disengaging the retaining element80may generally involve rolling or sliding the retaining element80over the slide ramp surface92which may induce the swivel motion of the retaining element80. Consequently, the tip86may surmount and apex point between the slide ramp surface92and the engagement surface94of the mounting contour90.

With particular reference toFIG. 14andFIG. 15, a mounting process of the attachment comb50′ will be further described. As can be seen inFIG. 14, the blade set20of the cutting head18may assume a basically neutral orientation (refer to the coordinate axes X, Z) when no external load or force is applied thereto. The attachment comb50′ may be fed to the hair cutting appliance10in a mounting direction114. Particularly, the orientation determining portion62may approach the blade set20. As can be best seen inFIG. 15, the orientation determining portion62, particularly the at least one receiving seat64thereof, may urge the blade set20towards a locking orientation when the orientation determining portion62contacts the top surface32of the blade set20(refer to the inclined coordinate axes X, Z inFIG. 15). A respective swivel motion of the blade set20is indicated by a curved arrow denoted by reference number116inFIG. 15.

Basically, the blade set20and the at least one receiving seat64may be put into alignment upon mounting the attachment comb50′. As already mentioned in connection with the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 11, the blade set20may be urged against a spring element69. However, as can be seen inFIG. 15, in yet another embodiment, the blade set20may be urged against a limit stop member68. However, this embodiment may still involve a spring element69provided at the blade set. The limit stop member68may be attached to or associated with the housing portion12. Once the blade set20is brought into the desired orientation, the attachment comb50′, particularly the supporting frame52′ thereof, may be brought into contact with the housing portion12. This may basically involve rotating or pivoting the attachment comb50′ to bring it into alignment with the housing portion12, refer to a curved arrow designated by reference number118inFIG. 15.

In this way, the retaining element80may contact the mounting contour90at the housing portion12. This may involve a sliding contact (also a combined sliding and rolling contact) of the slide surface98with the slide ramp surface92, refer also toFIG. 11. Consequently, the retaining element80may be deflected (e.g. pivoted about the pivot88) so that the slide surface98may surmount the slide ramp surface92, refer to a curved arrow inFIG. 15indicated by reference number120. In the course of this, the retaining surface96may engage the engagement surface94at the mounting contour90. Consequently, the attachment comb50′ may be aligned with and locked at the housing portion12. This may have the advantage that the user of the device does not have to directly actuate the retaining element80for engaging the mounting contour90. Basically the same may apply when the attachment comb50′ is disengaged from the hair cutting appliance10. The retaining element80may be therefore regarded as mediately actuable retaining element80.

With further reference toFIGS. 16 and 17alternative mounting configurations of exemplary attachment combs50″,50′″ for hair cutting appliances10will be illustrated and further discussed. The embodiment illustrated inFIG. 16may be basically referred to as back pack attachment comb50″. The back pack attachment comb50″ may generally correspond to the embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 8 to 15. The back pack attachment comb50″ may be regarded as an attachment comb50″ which is attachable to a back side or rear side of the housing portion12of the hair cutting appliance10. An attachment housing132of the back pack attachment comb50″ is indicated by reference number132inFIG. 16.

FIG. 17illustrates an alternative embodiment of an attachment comb50′″. The attachment comb50′″ may be regarded as front pack attachment comb50′″. In other words, the attachment comb50′″ ofFIG. 17may be attachable to a front side of the hair cutting appliance10which is opposite to the back side illustrated inFIG. 16. A respective attachment housing134that is adapted to a front side of the housing portion12of the hair cutting appliance10is indicated inFIG. 17by reference number134. Also a front pack attachment comb50′″ may be mounted to the hair cutting appliance10such that the blade set20is brought into a predefined locking orientation suitable for trimming.

With further reference toFIGS. 16 and 17, it shall be further observed that the at least one receiving seat64of the orientation determining portion62may be generally integrally formed with the comb teeth66of the spacing guard element58. Such an arrangement may be envisaged when a spacing guard element58is utilized that is basically not adjustable with respect to its spacing length. Consequently, the position of the comb teeth66with respect to the blade set20is basically fixed in the mounted state. Therefore, the comb teeth66may form the receiving seat64for the top surface32of the blade set20. However, when a spacing guard element58is utilized which is adjustable in length, it may be preferred to provide separate receiving seats64that may form the orientation determining portion62, refer also toFIG. 8andFIG. 9.

Generally, the back side of the housing of the hair cutting appliance10may be regarded as the side from which the top surface32of the blade set20is turned away in the mounted state of the attachment comb50. Generally, the front side of the housing of the hair cutting appliance10may be regarded as the side to which the top surface32of the blade set20is turned in the mounted state of the attachment comb50.