Scissors with adjustable finger loop

A pair of the hair cutting scissors ( 10 ) includes a finger loop ( 20 ), preferably the one for the thumb, which has a finger loop part ( 32 ) that can be selectively interconnected with a fixed finger loop part ( 22 ) to vary the finger loop area.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, a first embodiment of scissors of the present invention is enumerated generally as 10 . In its major components, the scissors are seen to include first and second scissor blades 12 and 14 rotatably secured to one another by a pivot member 16 , and first and second finger loop means 18 and 20 for the respective scissor blades. The components 12 , 14 and 16 may be of conventional construction whereas the subject invention relates essentially to the construction of the finger loop means 20 and the adjustable thumb loop size provided thereby. As shown best in FIG. 3 , the overall geometry of finger loop 20 is slightly oval, although the shape can vary somewhat (e.g., circular). A fixed finger loop part 22 is integral with scissor blade 14 and has a somewhat oval half-circle shape, a scissor blade end 24 of which includes a transverse threaded opening 26 and the other or free end 28 of which incudes a threaded opening 30 for a use to be described later. A second and removable finger loop part 32 is also generally semi-circular or slightly oval and is so dimensioned that its ends can generally coincide with the ends of the fixed loop part 22 to form a complete closed finger loop ( FIG. 1 ). The finger loop part 32 includes a composite of three parts, namely, a first end connector 34 , a second end connector 36 and a central flexible portion 38 interconnected with both the first and second end connectors. More particularly, the first end connector 34 of the removable loop part is constructed of metal and has a hollow end 40 and an integral tab 42 ( FIG. 2 ). The tab incudes transverse opening (not shown) for receiving a large-headed threaded pin 44 therethrough and threaded into opening 26 to secure the fixed and removable loop parts together. As can be seen best in FIG. 4 , the tab 42 is canted with respect to the hollow end 40 at an angle &agr; to aid in reducing pressure on the thumb of the user. The central portion 38 of the removable finger loop part 32 consists of a length of cylindrical rubber or flexible plastic material, one end portion of which is secured within the hollow end 40 of first end connector 34 and the other end portion of which is secured to the second end connector 36 , as will be described. The second end connector 36 includes a hollow end portion 46 within which the outer end of the flexible center portion 38 is secured. Unitary with end portion 46 is connector strip 48 including a plurality of spaced apart openings 50 and which strip has a curvature enabling fitting receipt onto and against the outer surface of 22 . A threaded member 52 on being received within one of the openings 50 and threaded within opening 30 serves to provide a corresponding opening size for the thumb loop 20 . To change the thumb loop opening size, the member 52 is removed and then inserted into another more appropriate opening 50 and threaded again into opening 30 . By practice of the present invention, a pair of scissors can have the opening in the thumb loop customized to comfortably fit a wide range of different finger (thumb) sizes. Moreover, any desired change in loop size can be quickly and easily achieved. Although the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is contemplated that one skilled in art may make modifications that come within spirit of the invention as described and within the ambit of the appended claims. For example, it could be advantageous to modify the loop 18 in the same manner as loop 20 , only directed to accommodate different sizes in a user's index finger.