Abstract:
A comb system for creating or replicating a haircut. The comb system has a comb that measures different angles via level and measuring attachments that can be affixed or movable about the comb so user can select the desired angle for an accurate cut.

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/099466 filed Sep. 23, 2008. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of the invention relates to a flexible level system for use with a comb for aiding in the cutting of hair at specific angles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Everyone needs a haircut yet this seemingly simple act is quite complicated. Not only is everyone&#39;s hair texture, head shape, hair direction and needs different, but the common tools available to today&#39;s hair stylists are quite limiting. Combs, razors, and scissors are the staples of a hairstylist&#39;s arsenal and yet they have remained the same for decades, if not for centuries. A brilliant cut can involve angles that are difficult to replicate and making the process to achieve error-free “perfection” laborious and time consuming. Thus, brilliant haircuts are limited to those who have practiced for years or that have an innate sense of how it works or simply a random luck of the draw. 
     Numerous comb designs have include a level or a measuring device within the structure of the comb. See U.S. Pat. No. 2,879,777 to Miller et al.; U.S. Des. No. 428,529 to Lucero; U.S. Des. No. 428,669 to Lucero; U.S. Des. No. 406,391 to Lucero; U.S. Des. No. 405,228 to Lucero; U.S. Des. No. 405,227 to Lucero; U.S. Des. No. 283,057 to Rogers U.S. Pat. No. 4,368,745 to McGuffey. However, these fixed levels are limiting because they can only measure one particular angel at a time. 
     Improvements have been made to combs to measure more than one angle. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,998 to Furco; U.S. Publ. No. 2008/0078418 to Ghoorchian. However, these levels are permanently affixed to the comb and can only measure a limiting amount of angles. Furthermore, a person&#39;s head is a three dimensional object in which measurement of one direction is not enough to obtain a desired angle and cut. 
     Others have taken the three dimensional scale of a head into consideration. However, the ball level as disclosed in U.S. Publ. No. 2007/0023063 to Deuel can give a consideration of different degrees in different axis, but it is hard to manipulate the ball level for accurate reading. The level in U.S. Publ. No. 2005/0011531 to Gers also proves to be impractical as the angle dial sits perpendicular to the comb and is inflexible. 
     Thus, there exists a need for a system in which different angles can be obtained quickly and easily to facilitate a specific angled haircut. There also exist a need for a comb so replicating or teaching a particular cut can be done more accurately and efficiently. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present inventive subject matter provides a system that includes a comb with a toothed portion, a handle portion and a number of removable level attachments placed along the toothed portion. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the comb handle has a groove in which different level attachment can engage the groove along the comb for a reading of different angle measurements. Preferred level attachments have a bubble level that is set at 15°, 45° and 90°. Yet another preferred level attachment includes a rotary dial unit that can read any angle ranging from 1° to 180°. It is also contemplated that a number of fixed levels can be integrated along the comb. 
     The level attachments preferably are situated in a level housing that contains a cylindrical bubble level. Furthermore, the level attachments are preferably engaged along a groove of the comb, but can be attached via other means such as an adhesive attached to the bottom of the level attachments. It is also contemplated that the level attachment can be engaged in a separate adapter that can be used with existing combs that are without a groove or it can be used on its own or with other instruments. 
     It is also preferred that a measuring device can be either affixed to a comb or movable along the comb to measure different angles. Once a desired angle is determined, then a corresponding level attachment can be selected and used on the comb. 
     Yet preferably, there exists a kit that contains a comb, a set of level attachments for measuring various angles that are coupled to the comb and an instruction booklet as to how to use the comb for cutting hair. 
     Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a comb system implementing the present inventive subject matter. 
         FIGS. 2A ,  2 B,  2 C are close-up view of various level attachments embodying the present inventive subject matter. 
         FIG. 3  is a close-up view of an adjustable level attachment. 
         FIG. 4  is a close-up view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another preferred implementation of a comb system embodying the present inventive subject matter. 
         FIG. 6  is a close-up view of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of yet another preferred implementation of a comb system embodying the present inventive subject matter. 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  are close-up view of a measuring level. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As illustrated in the attached Figures, a comb is provided to guide a person to cut hair at constant varying angles. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in one implementation, a comb is provided that includes four levels for determining when the comb is positioned at various angles. 
     In  FIG. 1 , comb  10  generally includes a portion of fine teeth  12  and a portion of wide teeth  14  and back portion  18 . Also along the back portion of the comb is a scale  22  for indicating the length of hair that needs to be cut. Along the scale, a fixed level  24  is affixed as part of the comb. The fixed levels may be of different angles can be incorporated along the back portion of the comb or in combs with a wide handle, can be integrated with the handle of the comb. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the fixed level can be a bubble level which includes horizontal and vertical angels ranging from 0° to 180° relative to central axis  26  of comb. 
     Preferably, the comb is made out of a semi-rigid moldable material such as plastic, glass reinforced resin, ABS, and polystyrene. The teeth are the same shape, size and form as commonly found on standard combs, which preferably includes a comb with two different sized teeth. The comb preferably has back portion section. However it is contemplated that the comb can have a handle portion as found on standard combs. 
     Extending from the end teeth  16  of the comb and fixed along the back portion is a groove  20  that can be coupled with various level attachments  28 ,  34 ,  40 , and  46 . Each attachment can be of a varying angle with respect to the central axis of the comb. First level attachment  28 , which is shown in detail in  FIG. 2A , includes a cylindrical bubble level  31  that is 15° from one side of the central axis. The cylindrical bubble level  31  is placed in first level housing  30 , which is coupled to the groove of the comb via the first level attachment engaging portion  32 . 
     Second level attachment  34  which is shown in detail in  FIG. 2B , includes a cylindrical bubble level  35  that provides 45° angle from the central axis. The cylindrical bubble level  35  is placed in second level housing  36 , which is coupled to the groove of the comb via the second level attachment engaging portion  38 . 
     Third level attachment  40  which is shown in detail in  FIG. 2C , includes a cylindrical bubble level  41  that provides 90° angle or is perpendicular from the central axis. The cylindrical bubble level  41  is placed in third level housing  42 , which is coupled to the groove and the end tooth of the comb via the third level attachment engaging portion  44 . 
     For flexibility, as shown in detail in  FIG. 3 , an adjustable level attachment  46  includes a cylindrical bubble level  49  that sits inside an adjustable housing  48  and abuts a dial  52  that is placed in a recess  54  so the cylindrical bubble level  49  can be adjusted to any desired angle. The cylindrical bubble and the dial are placed in adjustable level housing  48 , which is coupled to the groove of the comb via the adjustable level attachment engaging portion  50 . Preferably the adjustable level attachment can be removed on and off the comb via a coupling mechanism. However, it is contemplated that the adjustable level attachment can be permanently affixed to the comb. 
     The cylindrical bubble levels can be mounted on the level housing or within the comb in a click-lock arrangement as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,717 to Taylor et al., which is incorporated herein, or other means in which one skilled in the art would do. 
     An advantage of the present inventive subject matter is to provide different angles for use in a flexible manners. The level attachments can be easily taken on and off in combination along the groove of the comb for any desired combination of angles to facilitate cutting of hair. The groove is a recess in which the level engaging portion can easily be coupled with for use and for change of different angles.  FIG. 4  shows a close-up view of the level attachment being coupled to the groove of the comb which works as a recess to allow the level engaging portion to be slide on and off. Accordingly, level attachments may be sold separately for engagement or interfacing with a particular type of comb. 
     Despite a current preference for a comb to have a groove, it is also contemplated that embodiments of the inventive subject matter could be practiced on any existing combs, as illustrated in one preferred embodiment in  FIG. 5 . A comb  10  has a back portion  18  but does not have any existing groove or recess. The level attachments,  60 ,  70  and  80  are then placed on the back portion of the comb via other coupling means, such as an adhesive  90  as shown in a close-up view in  FIG. 6 . Thus, instead of having an engaging portion to couple with the back portion of the comb, the level attachments have an edge shown in  64 ,  74  and  84  that an adhesive  90  can be attached to. Adhesive can be any adhesive, such as glue, magnets, double-sided tape or any others that are known to one skilled in the art to couple the attachments to the back portion of the comb. Other preferred coupling mechanism includes having a sleeve (not shown) with grooves that can be placed over an existing comb. While it is preferred to have the level attachments be used with a comb, it is contemplated that an adapter device with a set of level attachments can be used on its own or with other instruments for measuring. 
     In another preferred embodiment, shown in  FIG. 7 , a comb  10  has a concave level  100  placed on the back portion  18 . The concave level  100  has a concave cylindrical bubble  102  that can be used to measure a particular angle for cutting. For example, when a user wants to cut hair in a particular direction but does not know the angel of such direction, the user can measure the direction using the concave level relative to the central axis to determine the angle of the direction. Once the angle is determined, the user then can find the right level attachments to ensure accuracy in cutting the hair. Preferably, the concave level  100  is fixed within the back portion of the comb. However, it is also contemplated that the concave level  100  can be attached in similar fashions as the adaptable level attachments by engaging a groove of a comb or using an adhesive on existing combs without a groove. It is also contemplated that the concave level can be a convex level relative to the central axis of the comb as shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B . 
     Any type of bubble or spirit level device capable of indicating the level of a surface between horizontal, vertical or to the nearest degree, may be utilized in connection with the present inventive subject matter. Preferably, the cylindrical bubble levels are placed in the level housing via an adhesive or another other means as appreciated by one ordinary skilled in the art. 
     It is contemplated that a kit can have a comb with a coupling mechanism to receive the various different level attachments. It is also contemplated that a kit can have just the different level attachments and coupling mechanism to use with existing combs. 
     The advantages of this system are numerous and enormous. Users not only have a selection of angles to choose from to facilitate or to teach how to cut hair, but the implementation of the level attachment to the comb is simple and effective. Users do not have to worry about the inconvenience of hard to read instructions or cumbersome tools. 
     It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. Moreover, in interpreting the disclosure, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps could be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.