Abstract:
A pair of scissors is provided having a heated cutting plate in thermal communication with a first scissor half and defining a first sharp edge and a a non-heated cutting plate overlapped by the heated cutting plate and forming a said second sharp edge. The pivoting of the heated cutting plate and the said non-heated cutting plate forms a cutting action similar to that found on an otherwise conventional pair of scissors

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in Disclosure Document Registration 483,348 filed on Nov. 30, 2000 under 35 U.S.C. §122 and 37 C.F.R. §1.14. There are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to electrically heated devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to electrically heated scissors. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Personal hair styles are as unique as one&#39;s personality. In the world of hair styling, there are literally thousands of styles from which to choose. One popular style which is finding wide-ranged acceptance, especially with those of African-American heritage is that of the braided design. These styles are often worn with artificial or synthetic wigs. When braiding or setting of these wigs, any cut ends must be burned on an individual basis to seal them and prevent them from unraveling. This of course occupies a great deal of time. This same problem occurs when cutting many materials or textiles which are of an artificial nature. Heat is often necessary to make the cutting process easier or seal any frayed ends. 
     A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related. 
     The following patents disclose electrically heated scissors with two pivotally connected limbs. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,060,695 issued in the name of Harle et al. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,017 issued in the name of Dreher et al. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,640 issued in the name of Canon 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,083,386 issued in the name of Chapman 
     The following patents describe bipolar electrosurgical scissors with metal cutting edges and shearing surfaces. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,549 issued in the name of Richardson et al. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,420 issued in the name of Parins et al. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,166 issued in the name of Hooven 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,685 issued in the name of Parins et al. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,024 issued in the name of Van Zyl discloses a hollow knife, paint scraper, or the like for receiving a heating element. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,863,036 issued in the name of Mitchell et al. describes electrically heated butcher knives. 
     Consequently, there exists a need for a means by which artificial materials can be cut quickly and easily without any of the disadvantages as listed above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide electrically heated scissors. 
     Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention, a pair of electrically heated scissors are provided that can function like a pair of conventional scissors. In addition, a power cord provides power to a set of heating elements located in the cutting blade portion of the invention. The heating elements are controlled by a thermostatic control which is set with a dial. 
     The invention operates on 120 vAC, but can also operate on 12 vDC with the use of a suitable power inverter. The invention is intended for use in cutting. synthetic or artificial hair, especially braided hair worn by African-Americans, but can be used in any application where the cutting process is aided by heating of the material being cut. 
     The use of the electrically heated scissors allows one to cut synthetic hair in a manner which is quick, easy and efficient. 
     Further, when using the electrically heated scissors with synthetic or artificial hair, it eliminates having to burn each individual hair. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the electrically heated scissors  10  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 a  is a sectional view of the electrically heated scissors  10 , as taken along a line I—I, as seen in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 2 b  is a sectional view of the electrically heated scissors  10 , as taken along a line II—II, as seen in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial elevational view of the electrically heated scissors  10  shown in an utilized state; and 
     FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic diagram of the electrically heated scissors  10 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the Figures. 
     1. Detailed Description of the Figures 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, an isometric view of the electrically heated scissors  10  is depicted according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The electrically heated scissors  10  comprise a first scissor half  15  and a second scissor half  20 , as commonly found in conventional scissors, and joined together at a single point by a pivot means  25  such as a screw or a rivet. The lower handle portion of the electrically heated scissors  10  are covered with heat insulating grips  30  such as plastic to prevent the transference of heat to the user&#39;s hands. At the lowest portion of the first scissor half  15  and its heat insulating grips  30  is a power cord  35 . The power cord  35  has an in-line voltage regulator  40  and an electrical plug  45  at its opposite end. The in-line voltage regulator  40  is well-known in the art and can take the form of any electrical device designed to vary the voltage applied to the electrically heated scissors  10 . Examples of these include a solid-state voltage regulator, a variable transformer, a power-rated potentiometer or the like. As such, the in-line voltage regulator  40  is general in nature, and is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present invention. The in-line voltage regulator  40  has a temperature adjustment control  50  and temperature level indicator  55  which are utilized by the user to select temperature levels envisioned to be OFF, LOW, MEDIUM and HIGH. At the top of the first scissor half  15  is a heated cutting plate  60 . At the top of the second scissor half  20  is a non-heated cutting plate  65 . When a user squeezes the heat insulating grips  30  together, as in a manner normally associated with conventional scissors, the heated cutting plate  60  and the non-heated cutting plate  65  come together as defined by a first conductor  70 . The non-heated cutting plate  65  will overlap the heated cutting plate  60  when fully closed, as will be seen herein below. 
     Referring next to FIG. 2 a , a sectional view of the electrically heated scissors  10 , as seen along a line I—I in FIG. 1, is disclosed. As electrical power must be routed from the power cord  35  to the heated cutting plate  60 , as seen in FIG. 1, a first conductor  70  and a second conductor  75  routed with the first scissor half  15  are provided. The first conductor  70  and the second conductor  75  are held captive by a securing means  80  such as epoxy, adhesive or the like. Such positioning of the first conductor  70  and the second conductor  75  ensure that they will not be damaged during use of the electrically heated scissors  10 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 2 b , a sectional view of the electrically heated scissors  10 , as seen along a line II—II in FIG. 1, is disclosed. The heated cutting plate  60  has an internal heating coil  85  provided as shown. The connection points of the internal heating coil  85  are connected to the first conductor  70  and the second conductor  75  (as shown in FIG. 2 a ). While the operating temperature of the internal heating coil  85  can vary as set by the user with the temperature adjustment control  50  (as shown in FIG.  1 ), it is envisioned that the operating temperature will vary from 200 degrees Fahrenheit to 500 degrees Fahrenheit depending on the material being cut. While a high enough temperature is needed to seal open ends and fibers, too high of a temperature could result in burning or scorching of the material, or perhaps even ignition. 
     Referring next to FIG. 3, a partial elevational view of the electrically heated scissors  10  shown in an utilized state is depicted. The heated cutting plate  60  is overlapped by the non-heated cutting plate  65  and form a cutting action as defined by a first sharp edge  90  and a second sharp edge  95  respectively. Such action is similar to that found on a conventional pair of scissors. A section of cutting material  100 , such as braided human hair, nylon webbing, synthetic rope, or any material subject to unraveling when cut is shown. As the cutting action of the first sharp edge  90  and the second sharp edge  95  commences, the hot surface of the heated cutting plate  60  initially aids in the cutting action. Then as the cutting action nears its completion, the non-heated cutting plate  65  pushes the cutting material  100  across the hot surface of the heated cutting plate  60  as shown to fuse any loose fibers together, thus preventing future unraveling of the cutting material  100 . Such cutting action produces a discard piece  105  which is simply discarded. 
     Referring finally to FIG. 4, an electrical schematic of the electrically heated scissors  10  is shown. Power from the electrical plug  45  is routed to the in-line voltage regulator  40  which produces a reduced voltage waveform at its output as controlled by the temperature adjustment control  50 . This power is routed in the power cord  35  and its associated first conductor  70  and second conductor  75  to the internal heating coil  85 . This arrangement is well-known in the art and is commonly associated with curling irons, heating pads, electric blankets and the like. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment 
     The present invention is designed with ease of operation features in mind that allow it to be utilized by a common user with little or no training or experience in a transparent manner. After acquisition of the electrically heated scissors  10 , it is connected to a suitable power source, envisioned to be 120 volts alternating current, with the use of the electrical plug  45 . Next, a suitable temperature level, dependent on the material being cut, is selected with the aid of the temperature adjustment control  50  and the temperature level indicator  55 . After a suitable warm-up period, envisioned to be approximately 15-25 minutes, the electrically heated scissors  10  is ready for use. 
     To perform actual cutting operations with the electrically heated scissors the user would grasp the electrically heated scissors  10  in a manner identical to that of a conventional pair of scissors. Then, while firmly holding the cutting material  100 , the user simply squeezes the first scissor half  15  and the second scissor half  20  together, thus forcing the heated cutting plate  60  and the non-heated cutting plate  65  together at the desired cutting point. As the first sharp edge  90  and the second sharp edge  95  cut through the cutting material  100 , the raw fiber ends are fused/melted together from the heat provided by the heated cutting plate  60 . Upon completion of the cutting action, the electrically heated scissors  10  is simply opened back up, once again in a manner similar to that of a pair of scissors and the discard piece  105  is removed and eliminated. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.