Abstract:
A lubricated hair clipper drive system includes a clipper frame with a pair of opposed arms separated by a drive space, a drive shaft reciprocating laterally between the arms at high speed, a drive member receiving motive power from a power source and secured to the shaft for common reciprocation within the drive space, and a lubricant reservoir and applicator disposed on the shaft between the drive member and a corresponding one of the arms.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to hair cutting devices having a bladeset including a moving blade reciprocating relative to a stationary blade and a drive system for powering the bladeset, and more specifically to a lubrication system for hair clippers or trimmers used for cutting hair of humans or animals. 
         [0002]    Conventional hair cutting devices using a rotary drive system, such as hair trimmers and clippers typically include a drive member powered by the output shaft of the motor. For the purposes of this application, the terms “hair cutting device”, “hair clipper” and “hair trimmer” are considered interchangeable. The drive system converts rotary motion generated by the motor into linear motion in the form of the reciprocating moving blade relative to the stationary blade. 
         [0003]    In a hair clipper drive system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,346,990 incorporated by reference herein, a driving end of the drive member follows a linearly reciprocating path as it engages the moving blade of the bladeset. In a production version of the invention disclosed in the &#39;990 patent, the drive member is secured to a transverse shaft, also referred to as a linear drive shaft, which reciprocates with the drive member relative to the clipper frame. In some applications, over time, there has been excessive friction between the shaft and sleeve bushings mounted in the clipper frame. As a result, operational conditions, including heat and friction, combine to cause wear and deterioration of the sleeve bushings through which the linear drive shaft slides. Such wear decreases operational efficiency of the clipper and often increases operational noise. 
         [0004]    Insufficient lubrication limits the ability to overcome what is known as “stiction.” Stiction is an informal combination of the term “static friction,” perhaps also influenced by the verb “stick.” Two solid objects, such as the linear drive shaft and a sleeve bushing, pressing against each other (but not sliding) will require some threshold of force parallel to the surface of contact to overcome static cohesion. Stiction is that threshold (not a continuous force) encountered during each cycle of the linear drive shaft when it changes direction. For a brief moment, the drive is stationary, and a “running oil film” that the sleeve bushings rely on for their service life is diminished. To obtain an extended life expectancy for the sleeve bushings on the linear drive shaft, a lubricant film should be reestablished once the drive shaft begins to move again. 
         [0005]    Thus, there is a need for a lubrication system for a hair cutting device which addresses the above-identified problems of conventional units. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The above-listed need is met or exceeded by the present hair cutting device which overcomes the limitations of the current technology. Among other things, the present cutting device is designed for accommodating reciprocating linear movement of a drive member attached to a linear drive shaft. To improve the lubrication of the reciprocating shaft relative to the clipper frame, the linear drive shaft is provided with movable lubricant applicators in the form of foam wicks sandwiched between the drive member and the respective clipper frame arm as the drive shaft slides through sleeve bushings attached to each clipper frame arm. 
         [0007]    In contrast to conventional wicking materials and methods, the present system provides for reestablishment of a lubricant film after each cycle of the linear drive shaft. In this application, the lubricant applicators are soaked in oil and the volume of oil the foam wicks hold is based on their expanded size. As the drive member cycles toward one arm, the applicator is placed into compression between the drive member and that arm, releasing the lubricating oil 360 degrees around the linear drive shaft, thus substantially coating the shaft. As the drive member cycles away from the wick, the wick expands only partially, as the preferred type of foam is one that slowly rebounds. However, the amount that the applicator is cyclically compressed produces a pumping type action that allows this slow rebounding material to maintain a greater amount of oil upon the shaft and bushings for better performance and longer life by reabsorbing the excess oil. Once the clipper is turned off, the wicks absorb excess oil from the shaft, and act as a reservoir. 
         [0008]    An advantage of the foam lubricant applicator over conventional wicking materials of cotton and felt is that the vast majority of the foam&#39;s volume is made up of air. This air, when displaced by lubricant, allows the foam wick to carry as much as four times the volume of lubricant over its conventional counterparts. 
         [0009]    More specifically, the present lubricated hair clipper drive system includes a clipper frame with a pair of opposed arms separated by a drive space, a drive shaft reciprocating laterally between the arms at high speed, a drive member receiving motive power from a power source and secured to the shaft for common reciprocation within the drive space, and a lubricant reservoir and applicator disposed on the shaft between the drive member and a corresponding one of the arms. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a fragmentary top perspective view of a hair clipper provided with the present hair clipper drive system; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a fragmentary perspective sequential view of the present drive system in motion just after start up; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary perspective sequential view of the present drive system after the view shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary perspective sequential view of the present drive system after the view shown in  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the present lubricant applicator. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a hair clipper suitable for use with the present drive system is generally designated  10 , and includes a motor  12 , typically an electric motor powered by battery or line voltage. As is well known in the art, the clipper  10  is provided with a covering housing, not shown here. It will be appreciated that the size and/or type of the motor  12  may vary to suit the application. The motor  12  is designated as a rotary type, having an axially projecting output shaft (not shown) connected to an off-center cam  16 . As is well known in the art, rotation of the output shaft is translated into reciprocating linear motion of a moving blade  18  relative to a stationary blade  20  of a clipper bladeset  22 . 
         [0016]    The bladeset  22  typically includes a biasing element  24  in the form of a spring which causes the moving blade  18  to be slidingly biased against the stationary blade  20  for more effective cutting action. In the present embodiment, the moving blade  18  defines a drive recess (not shown) for receiving a blade engagement or driving tip  28  ( FIG. 2 ) of a driving member  30 . A drive system, generally designated  32 , receives power from the motor  12  and reciprocates the driving member  30 , secured to a linear drive shaft  34 , in a true linear fashion relative to the bladeset  22 . While the drive shaft  34  is preferably unitary, multiple component shafts are also contemplated, each separately secured to a corresponding side of the driving member  30 . The reciprocating movement of the driving member  30  and the drive shaft  34  is parallel to the movement of the moving blade  18 . Additional details of the drive system  32  are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,346,990, incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , the drive system  32  includes a frame  36  mounted to the motor  12 , as by suitable fasteners  38  passing through a base plate  40 . The frame  36  also includes a pair of spaced, generally parallel, normally projecting arms  42 . A drive space  44  is defined between the arms  42 . The frame  36  is preferably unitary, however multi-component frames are also contemplated. A central opening  45  in the base plate  40  accommodates passage of the output shaft (not shown) attached to the off-center cam  16 . 
         [0018]    Each of the arms  42  has a throughbore  46  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) dimensioned for accommodating the sliding linear drive shaft  34 . Each throughbore  46  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) is provided with a sleeve bushing  48 , preferably made of relatively low friction, wear-resistant material such as brass, bronze, Delrin® material, or the like. An inner diameter of each sleeve bushing  48  is dimensioned to slidingly receive the linear drive shaft  34 , and is slidingly received in the throughbores  46  on an outer diameter. 
         [0019]    Referring to the above-identified problem of lubricating the reciprocating linear drive shaft, conventional hair clippers, as well as the present clipper  10 , operate at at least approximately 1,000 RPM, generally in the range of 3,000 to 5,000 RPM and in some cases approaching 15,000 RPM. As such, maintaining proper lubrication of the linear drive shaft  34  is an operational challenge. Traditional wicking may provide some relief to this problem, but traditional materials such as cotton or felt are indiscriminate in the application of the lubricant film. Additionally, conventional wicking has a latent tendency for the lubricant to pool at the bottom of the wick and thus is insufficiently distributed on the linear drive shaft  34 , further contributing to the loss of a lubricant film when the shaft changes direction. In the hair clipper  10 , the lubricant film needs to be reestablished on the drive shaft  34  each time the drive shaft changes direction to reduce the negative forces due to “stiction.” 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  5 , an important feature of the present clipper drive system  32  is the provision of a lubricant wick applicator, generally designated  50 , which is soaked in oil (not shown), though other lubricants have been contemplated, and is disposed on the drive shaft  34 . In the instant application, the applicator  50  is designed to be slidable relative to the drive shaft  34 . While captured between the drive member  30  and the frame arms  42 , the applicator  50  is otherwise freely movable upon the drive shaft  34 . In the preferred embodiment, an applicator  50  is disposed on each side of the drive member  30 , although the number of applicators may vary to suit the situation. It is also preferred that each applicator  50  is uncovered to allow for efficient lubrication of the drive shaft  34 . Furthermore, although other materials are useable, in the present application the applicator  50  is made of open-celled foam ( FIG. 5 ) and is shaped as a cylindrical disk, however other shapes are contemplated depending on the application. A central throughbore  52  is provided for slidingly accommodating the drive shaft  34 . 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , each applicator  50  has an axial width ‘W’ in the uncompressed start up condition where the drive member  30  is in a mid-arm position, and a compressed width ‘C’ in an operational condition. It will be understood that in many cases, the hair clipper  10  will not start with the drive member  30  in the mid-arm position of  FIG. 1 . In contrast, the drive member  30  will be located in whatever position it was when the clipper was last turned off Additionally, in the mid-arm position seen in  FIG. 1 , the width ‘W’ of the applicator  50  preferably extends more than half a distance ‘D’ on the drive shaft  34  between the drive member  30  and a corresponding inner surface  54  of the arm  42 . 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the drive system  32  enters an operational condition upon turning on of the motor  12 , wherein the drive shaft  34 , oriented parallel to the operational axis of the moving blade  18 , reciprocates laterally relative to the arms  42  at a high speed, typically at least 1,000 RPM and in some cases approaching 15,000 RPM. Through operation of the drive member  30 , the applicator  50  is compressed against the corresponding arm  42 , releasing lubricant onto the drive shaft  34 , preferably around a full periphery of the shaft, approximately 360 degrees around. Thus, the applicator facilitates sliding of the drive shaft relative to the arm, and more specifically through the sleeve bushings  48 . 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , as mentioned above, during clipper operation, the left applicator  50   a  is compressed against the inner surface of the corresponding arm  42  through the reciprocal movement of the drive shaft  34  and the drive member  30 . As a result, the compressed applicator  50   a  is temporarily adhered to the corresponding arm  42  when the hair clipper drive system  32  is in the fully operational condition. Due to the slow rebounding properties of the foam applicator  50 , it will remain compressed as the drive member  30  cycles to the opposite arm  42  and back to the corresponding arm. As seen in  FIG. 4 , the drive member  30  continues its operational cycle and proceeds to compress the opposite applicator  50   b  against the corresponding frame arm  42 . While fully compressed, the width ‘C’ of the applicator  50  is approximately ½ of the axial width ‘W’. 
         [0024]    Also, when the clipper drive system  32  is operational, the compressed applicator  50  pumps lubricant to the drive shaft  34 . An important advantage of the present applicator  50  is that its free movement along the drive shaft  34  between the drive member  30  and the corresponding frame arm  42 , as well as the above-described pumping action, helps to maintain a hydrodynamic state between the drive shaft  34  and the bushing  48 . Thus, the reciprocating drive shaft  34  is constantly lubricated during operation of the clipper  10 . 
         [0025]    However, once the clipper is shut down, the drive member  30  is typically in a position where pressure is released on one of the applicators  50 . The decompressed applicator  50  then reverts to a rest condition and absorbs lubricant from the drive shaft  34  as it returns from its compressed width ‘C’ to its axial width ‘W’. In this fashion, the applicator  50  also operates as a reservoir, holding the lubricant until the hair clipper  10  is switched back to the operational state. 
         [0026]    The present application provides a drive system  32  with lubricant applicators  50  that substantially lubricate the linear drive shaft  34  and sleeve bushings  48  with a pumping action while compressed to the corresponding arm  42  when the hair clipper  10  is under operation. When the hair clipper  10  is turned off, the applicators  50  become reservoirs, storing the lubricant until the hair clipper is used again. 
         [0027]    While a particular embodiment of the present movable lubricating wick for a hair clipper has been described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the following claims.