A cutting-assembly mount for hair clippers includes an accommodating base, which can be fastened on the hair clippers, and an accommodating limb, which is mounted on the accommodating base and on which an interchangeable cutting assembly can be arranged. A blocking element is provided which can be moved between a pivoting position and a blocking position and is designed to be suitable for blocking a pivoting movement of the accommodating limb in the direction of the accommodating base without any cutting assembly arranged on the accommodating limb.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to a cutting-assembly mount for hair clippers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A corresponding cutting-assembly mount for hair clippers has an accommodating base, which can be fastened on the hair clippers, and an accommodating limb, which is mounted in a pivotable manner on the accommodating base, wherein an interchangeable cutting assembly can be arranged on the accommodating limb. Such cutting-assembly mounts are used typically for hair clippers used predominantly in the care of animals, and serve for accommodating an interchangeable cutting assembly which can be arranged on the hair clippers. The cutting-assembly mounts are designed, for this purpose, in the form of a swing-action mechanism, wherein the cutting assembly can be arranged on the accommodating limb of the cutting-assembly mount, e.g. it can be pushed onto the same, and then, together with the accommodating limb, can be swung onto the hair clippers in the direction of the accommodating base and fixed there, for example by latching.

In the case of the known cutting-assembly mounts, such latching takes place even when the cutting-assembly mount is accidentally swung closed without the cutting assembly inserted, i.e. when the accommodating limb is pivoted in the direction of the accommodating base, and latched there, without any cutting assembly arranged thereon. If swung closed without any cutting assembly arranged thereon, the prior-art cutting-assembly mounts can be opened again only with the aid of a tool and thus have the disadvantage that any further use of the hair clippers is not possible if there is no suitable tool available or handling thereof is mismanaged. Furthermore, mismanagement of the appropriate tool gives rise to an increased risk of injury.

Accordingly it would be desirable to eliminate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A cutting-assembly mount according to the system described herein for hair clippers has an accommodating base, which can be fastened on the hair clippers, and an accommodating limb, which is mounted in a pivotable manner on the accommodating base and on which an interchangeable cutting assembly can be arranged, there being provided, on the cutting-assembly mount, a blocking element, which can be moved between a pivoting position and a blocking position and is designed to be suitable for blocking a pivoting movement of the accommodating limb in the direction of the accommodating base without any cutting assembly arranged on the accommodating limb.

The configuration according to the system described herein has the advantage that an appropriately configured blocking element prevents the cutting-assembly mount, without any cutting assembly arranged thereon, from accidentally swinging closed, and thus makes it possible to avoid the use of an appropriate tool for opening the cutting-assembly mount. The risks of injury mentioned and the necessity to provide an appropriate tool are thus avoided.

Particularly favorable handling is achieved if the blocking element is suitably designed to be capable of being transferred into the pivoting position by the cutting assembly as the latter is being arranged on the accommodating limb.

As a result, the blocking element is transferred by, for example, the cutting assembly being plugged onto the accommodating limb. Swing action can thus be released without any additional manipulation, whereas, without any cutting assembly arranged on the accommodating limb, the pivoting movement is blocked. In comparison with a configuration in which the blocking element is transferred into the pivoting position manually, for example via an unlocking lever, this has the advantage that accidental swing action of the cutting-assembly mount without any cutting assembly arranged thereon is not possible.

The blocking element may be mounted, for example, on a pivot pin of the cutting-assembly mount.

A particularly reliable configuration can be achieved if the blocking element is spring-loaded in the direction of the blocking position.

Spring-loading of the blocking element in the direction of the blocking position provides that the blocking element, without any force acting thereon, is always transferred into the blocking position. It is only if the blocking element is subjected to force, for example by the cutting assembly being pushed onto the accommodating limb, that it is transferred out of the blocking position into the pivoting position, and swing action of the accommodating limb, with the cutting assembly arranged thereon, onto the accommodating base is thus released.

The blocking element may be designed, for example, as a blocking catch.

Such a blocking catch may be mounted in a displaceable manner on the cutting-assembly mount, for example such that it can be displaced parallel to the accommodating limb.

If the blocking catch is mounted such that it can be displaced parallel to the accommodating limb, this makes it possible for the blocking catch to be transferred into the pivoting position by the cutting assembly being pushed onto the accommodating limb. Since the movement of the cutting assembly being pushed onto the accommodating limb is executed usually parallel to the accommodating limb, this linear movement can be transmitted directly to the blocking catch, and any change in the movement direction and associated risks of jamming are thus avoided.

The blocking catch may be designed, for example, such that, in the blocking position, a blocking step of the blocking catch runs up against the accommodating base and thus blocks a pivoting movement of the accommodating limb. The accommodating base preferably has a recess for accommodating the blocking catch in the pivoting position.

As an alternative to a configuration of the blocking element as a blocking catch, the blocking element may also be designed as something of an angled blocking element.

Such an angled blocking element may be mounted such that it can be displaced, for example, parallel to the pivot pin.

An angled blocking element mounted such that it can be displaced parallel to the pivot pin may have, for example, a run-up edge which runs obliquely in the pushing-on direction of the cutting assembly and by which a pushing-on movement oriented in the direction of the pivot pin is converted into a movement of the angled blocking element oriented parallel to the pivot pin, and therefore this angled blocking element can be transferred into the pivoting position by the cutting assembly being pushed on.

As an alternative, the angled blocking element may be mounted in a pivotable manner on the cutting-assembly mount.

Spring-loading of the blocking element in the direction of the blocking position also makes it possible to achieve the situation where a cutting assembly, in the open state of the cutting-assembly mount, is detached, as it were, automatically from the accommodating limb and thus ejected more or less automatically.

The operations of the cutting-assembly mount being opened automatically and of the cutting assembly being ejected automatically can be assisted by the accommodating limb being of spring-loaded configuration in the opening direction.

If, in the case of such a configuration, a locking device of the cutting-assembly mount is opened, then the accommodating limb swings down automatically from the accommodating base, wherein, in the case of the blocking element being of spring-loaded configuration, appropriate dimensioning of the spring also makes it possible for the cutting assembly to be ejected automatically.

In principle, however, it is not imperative for the cutting assembly to be ejected, since a strong spring would be necessary for this purpose, and this would make it difficult for the cutting assembly to be plugged on again. Ideally, the spring force is large enough in order to move the blocking element reliably into the blocking position, but small enough in order to be moved out of the blocking position again by the gravitational force of a cutting assembly placed in position vertically. There should therefore be no need for the user to apply any additional force, for the purpose of moving the blocking element, if he is placing the cutting assembly in position vertically.

Hair clippers may be equipped directly with a cutting-assembly mount having the features described above. Such hair clippers are used preferably in the care of animals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1shows a side view of hair clippers having a housing2, on the front side of which is arranged a cutting assembly3comprising a clipping comb4and a clipping blade5, which is arranged above the latter such that it can be driven in oscillation. An oscillating movement of the clipping blade5can be generated by a hair-clippers drive arranged in the housing2.

This illustration shows the construction of the cutting assembly3to particularly good effect. A cutting compression spring7, which is arranged on the clipping comb4, subjects the clipping blade5to a contact pressure, which prevents hair from jamming between teeth arranged on the front side of the clipping comb4and the clipping blade5, which would result in the cutting assembly3blocking. An oscillation movement of the drive is transmitted to the clipping blade5via a driver6. The driver6is arranged on the drive side of the clipping blade5and has an engagement device for a stub which is arranged on the front side of the drive and is intended for transmitting the oscillation movement.

FIG. 3illustrates a cutting-assembly mount1as is used on the front side of the hair clippers fromFIGS. 1 and 2.FIG. 3shows a sectional illustration of the cutting-assembly mount1, and this allows the construction of the latter to be shown to particularly good effect.

The cutting-assembly mount1is formed essentially from an accommodating base10, on which an accommodating limb20is arranged in a pivotable manner. The accommodating limb20is of essentially L-shaped design in side view and is mounted on the accommodating base10such that it can be pivoted via a pivot pin18. Also mounted on the pivot pin18is a blocking element30, the latter such that it can be displaced parallel to the accommodating limb20. The blocking element30has a U-shaped guide34, by which it engages over the pivot pin18and can thus be displaced along the accommodating limb20. The accommodating limb20is subjected, on its rear side, to the action of a leaf spring12, which is arranged on the accommodating base10and is of arcuate configuration such that a rear portion of the accommodating limb20slides into the arc and thus, as a result of the spring-loading, causes the accommodating limb20to open, i.e. swing down. On its side which is directed toward the accommodating limb20, oriented in the direction of the pivot pin18, the accommodating base10has a stop edge13, against which the blocking element30, which in the present example is designed as a blocking catch30, strikes in the blocking position and can thus block the cutting-assembly mount1from swinging closed. For this purpose, the blocking catch30has a blocking step32which, when the blocking catch30is located in the blocking position, strikes against the stop edge13.

The blocking catch30is illustrated in two different positions inFIG. 3, wherein a position in which it is disengaged in the frontward direction (illustrated by dashed lines) constitutes the blocking position of the blocking catch32. That position of the blocking catch30which is illustrated by solid lines constitutes an intermediate position, in which the blocking catch30has been displaced in the direction of the pivoting position. The pivoting position is reached as soon as a front edge of the blocking step32can slide past the stop edge13.

Spring-loading of the blocking catch30is achieved by a compression spring which engages in the engagement opening36and thus loads the blocking catch30in the frontward direction. Such a compression spring may be supported, for example, in the rearward direction, on the L-shaped accommodating limb20or on the pivot pin18.

FIG. 4shows a plan view of the cutting-assembly mount1fromFIG. 3. It is only the accommodating base10with the pivot pin18arranged thereon which is illustrated, the accommodating limb20having been omitted in order to give a better view of the blocking mechanism.

This plan view shows that the present exemplary embodiment has two blocking catches30, which are spaced apart from one another on the pivot pin18. This makes it possible to achieve uniform distribution of force over the accommodating base for the case where, despite the blocking catch30being located in the blocking position, an attempt is made to swing the cutting-assembly mount closed. Furthermore, the cutting-assembly mount1is prevented from being swung closed if the cutting assembly3is inserted in a skewed state, and therefore incorrect operation, in this way, is ruled out.

The blocking catches30are illustrated in the blocking position inFIG. 4. This is evident in that a front edge of the blocking catches30overlaps with the stop edge13of the accommodating base10and thus strikes against the same. In order to accommodate the blocking catches30in the pivoting position, the accommodating base10has two recesses19, into which the blocking catches30can penetrate when they are pushed in the direction of the pivot pin18by the cutting assembly3, and therefore a pivoting movement of the accommodating limb20is released.

The pivot pin18is retained on the outside of the accommodating base10via two bearing bushings16, which in the present exemplary embodiment are formed in one piece on the accommodating base10.

The accommodating base10also has two fastening bores14, by way of which the accommodating base10can be fastened on the hair clippers by two screws.

FIG. 5shows a second exemplary embodiment of a cutting-assembly mount1according to the system described herein. The cutting-assembly mount1according toFIG. 5differs from the cutting-assembly mount1according toFIG. 4in that the blocking element30, rather than being designed as a blocking catch, is designed as something of an angled blocking element30. A corresponding angled blocking element30has a blocking nose39which, in the blocking position of the angled blocking element, strikes against the accommodating base10and thus blocks a pivoting movement of the accommodating limb20in the direction of the accommodating base10. As is illustrated inFIG. 5, such an angled blocking element30, depending on how it is mounted, can be transferred from the blocking position into the pivoting position in two ways.

In a first variant, the angled blocking element30is mounted on the pivoting pin18and is designed such that it can be displaced along the pin18. In order for the angled blocking element30to be transferred from the blocking position into the pivoting position, a run-up edge37is provided, this being designed such that it transfers a linear pushing-on movement of the cutting assembly3in the direction of the pivot pin18into a linear movement of the angled blocking element30parallel to the pivot pin18. In this way, the blocking nose39is likewise displaced parallel to the pivot pin18and can thus be transferred from being positioned above the accommodating base10into a position in the region of one of the recesses19. The blocking nose39is then arranged such that it penetrates into the recesses19and thus allows a pivoting movement of the accommodating limb20in the direction of the accommodating base10.

In this embodiment, spring-loading of the angled blocking element30can be achieved particularly straightforwardly, for example, by a helical spring arranged on the pivot pin18.

In a second embodiment, the angled blocking element30is mounted in a pivotable manner either on the accommodating base or on the accommodating limb and is pivoted, by virtue of the cutting assembly3being plugged on, into a position over the recess19, and therefore, in this position too, a pivoting movement between the accommodating limb20and accommodating base10is released.

There is also, in principle, a series of further options which are intended for configuring a cutting-assembly mount1with a blocking element30and can be realized without deviating from the basic concept of the system described herein. In particular, a possible configuration of the accommodating base10, accommodating limb20and blocking element is one in which the recess19, rather than being provided in the accommodating base10, is provided on the accommodating limb20or on the blocking element30.

Various embodiments discussed herein may be combined with each other in appropriate combinations in connection with the system described herein. Additionally, in some instances, the order of steps in the flowcharts, flow diagrams and/or described flow processing may be modified, where appropriate.