Abstract:
A pair of scissors equipped with a three axially pivoting ringlet is presented. The ringlet of the scissors according to current application is comprised of flexible NBR (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber). The ringlet is attached to one handle of the scissors of the current application to provide a thumb&#39;s insert, thereby providing proper fit to the user&#39;s fingers due to the flexibility of the NBR. The ringlet is attached to the thumb portion of one handle of the scissors via a part that enables the ringlet to rotate in two independent directions and to pivot around one axis that is parallel to handle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The current application relates to scissors, specifically related to scissors that are equipped with a three axially pivoting ringlet. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Barbers, hair dressers, tailors, surgeons and gardeners all use scissors as a main tool. Gardeners use scissors that are designed to maximize force when cutting branches of a plant. Other than a gardener&#39;s scissors, the other scissors are very similar. Among those who use scissors as a main tool, barbers use them most frequently. In addition, they must use their scissors in various positions for the comfort of their customer. As a result, a barber must sacrifice his or her own comfort in handling the scissors. After years of practicing as a barber, most of them suffer from arthritis in their thumbs and index fingers. Most barbers believe that the inconvenient grip of the scissors cause the arthritis in their fingers. Scissors that are equipped with flexible and rotating ringlets for fingers have been introduced. However, most of them do not provide full convenience to the barbers due to the limitation of the rotation and flexibility of the ringlets. It is the purpose of the current application to provide scissors that will provide full convenience to barbers by equipping scissors with a ringlet that will rotate and bend in every direction. In addition, it is another purpose of the current application to provide scissors equipped with a ringlet that fits any finger irrespective of the shape and size of the finger. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,159 to Brenton, et al. illustrates scissors equipped with an interchangeable finger and thumb ringlet. Flexible ringlets having various sizes are attached to the handle portions of such instruments, thereby providing proper fit to the user&#39;s fingers. The ringlets only rotate in two directions. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,617 to Gauvry illustrates scissors having an obliquely oriented thumb loop. The thumb loop is oriented approximately 45 degrees downward and 45 degrees laterally with respect to the axis of the handle to which it is attached. The thumb loop also allows for flexible rotational movement of approximately 45 degrees, and flexible vertical movement of approximately 45 degrees. The loop is held in position by a flexible connecting member having a flexible intermediate section that allows for the desired movement as well as the return of the thumb loop to a steady state position upon release. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,895 to Gauvry illustrates scissors including a thumb loop means interconnected with respect to the handle of the second member by way of a ball and socket interconnection allowing free movement longitudinally along and perpendicularly around the axis of the second handle. Also, a tab means is included to limit the rotational movement of the thumb loop means about the ball within the socket itself. The finger loop, not for the thumb, includes removable O-ring means to allow for various size fingers of users. The thumb ringlet of the scissors is made of solid material and has limited rotation. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,551 to Megna, et al. illustrates scissors comprised of a movable blade pivotally connected to a stationary blade with a finger bow arranged on the respective stock portions of the blades. The finger bow arranged on the movable blade is made of synthetic or similar material and is mounted in an outwardly open opening at the rearward end of the said scissors blade. It has only two directional degrees of freedom. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,640,264 to Sullivan, et al., illustrates scissors with a ringlet, which is equipped with a thumb guide, positioned on one of the handles thereof. The ringlet is comprised of one external ring and one internal ring. The thumb guide rotates freely with the internal ring and the ringlet rotates along the axis of the handle for the thumb. It has only two directional degrees of freedom. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,108,572 to Gordon illustrates cherry clipping scissors, which has a thumb piece pivotally rotating at the end of a first handle of the scissors. It has only one directional degree of freedom. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 440,436 and 430,677 to Pearsall illustrate shears, which have a thumb support hinged at the end of a shank. It has one directional degree of freedom. 
     None of the prior art illustrates scissors that enables directional freedom for a thumb ringlet in three directions while also providing a fit for various thumb shapes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Barbers, hair dressers, tailors, surgeons and gardeners all use scissors as a main tool. Gardeners use scissors that are designed to maximize force when cutting branches of a plant. Other than a gardener&#39;s scissors, the other scissors are very similar. Among those who use scissors as a main tool, barbers use them most frequently. In addition, they must use their scissors in various positions for the comfort of their customer. As a result, a barber must sacrifice his or her own comfort in handling the scissors. After years of practicing as a barber, most of them suffer from arthritis in their thumbs and index fingers. Most barbers believe that the inconvenient grip of the scissors cause the arthritis in their fingers. Scissors that are equipped with flexible and rotating ringlets for fingers have been introduced. However, most of them do not provide full convenience to the barbers due to the limitation of the rotation and flexibility of the ringlets. It is the purpose of the current application to provide scissors that will provide full convenience to barbers by equipping scissors with a ringlet that will rotate and bend in every direction. In addition, it is another purpose of the current application to provide scissors equipped with a ringlet that fits any finger irrespective of the shape and size of the finger. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing of the directional degree of freedom of the first example of the prior arts. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic drawing of the directional degree of freedom of the second example of the prior arts. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of third example of the prior arts and a schematic drawing of the directional degree of freedom thereof. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic drawing showing how the third example of the prior arts is used. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a connecting means between the scissors handle and ringlet for the third example of the prior arts. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a pair of scissors combined with an exploded view of a ringlet and a connecting part for the pair of scissors according to preferred embodiment of the current application. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing of directional degree of freedom of one example of the prior arts, U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,159 to Brenton, et at. In  FIG. 1 , the X axis is an axis parallel to the handle of the scissor. The Y axis is an axis that is perpendicular to a plane that is formed by two blades of the scissors. The Z axis is an axis that is perpendicular to the X axis and the Y axis. 
     According to Brenton, the ringlet  18  is attached to extension  16  and is constructed from flexible materials so that additional motion is available to an inserted digit of the user of the device. A handle extension  16  including a tubular section  46  is located at the terminus thereof having its axis disposed in a substantially perpendicular manner to the axis of the handle extension and adapted to receive the ringlet  18 . Handle extension  16  has a hole  48  bored along the axis thereof in order to enable it to receive the reduced diameter terminus  32  of the scissors handle  14  to which it is rigidly attached. 
     Therefore, the ringlet  18  of &#39;159 rotates freely around the Z axis and X axis of  FIG. 1 . Slight movement around the Y axis may be possible. But, every movement around the Y axis provides a stress strain to the ringlet  18 . Since the ringlet  18  is constructed from flexible materials, repeated stress strain applied to the ringlet  18  will deteriorate the physical property of the material and it will eventually break down. If this happens while cutting a customer&#39;s hair, it may cause serious damage to the customer. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic drawing of directional degree of freedom of second example of the prior arts, U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,895 to Gauvry. In  FIG. 2 , the X′ axis is an axis parallel to the handle of the scissors. The Y′ axis is an axis that is perpendicular to a plane that is formed by two blades of the scissors. The Z′ axis is an axis that is perpendicular to the X′ axis and the Y′ axis. 
     According to Gauvry, a thumb loop means  28  is mounted on a second handle means  22  by way of a movable interconnecting means  36 . It takes the form of a ball means  38  which is fixedly secured with respect to the thumb loop means  28  and a socket means  40  defined within the second handle means  22 . 
     A tap means  50  is positioned therein extending downwardly from the thumb loop means  50  to restrict rotation of the thumb loop. 
     Therefore, the thumb loop means  28  of &#39;895 rotates freely only around the X′ axis of  FIG. 2 . The tap means  50  not only restricts the rotation of the thumb loop means  28  around the Z′ axis but also around the Y′ axis due to the long tail of the tap means  50 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the third example of the prior arts and a schematic drawing of directional degree of freedom thereof. In,  FIG. 3 , X″ axis is an axis parallel to the handle of the scissor. Y″ axis is an axis that is perpendicular to a plane that is formed by two blades of the scissors. Z″ axis is an axis that is perpendicular to the X″ axis and the Y″ axis. The third example is a popular product on market. The pair of scissors of the third example is comprised of a main body ( 1 ) and a ringlet ( 2 ). 
     The ringlet ( 2 ) is rotatably connected to a handle ( 5   a ) of the scissor via a connecting means ( 3 ). The ringlet ( 2 ) of the scissor in  FIG. 3  rotates freely only around the Z″ axis. 
       FIG. 4 . is a schematic drawing showing how the third example of the prior arts is used. The thumb of a user is engaged to the ringlet ( 2 ). 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a connecting means ( 3 ) for the third example of the prior arts that rotatably connects the scissors&#39; handle ( 5   a ) and ringlet ( 2 ). The connecting means ( 3 ) is made of a rubbery material. The connecting means ( 3 ) has an upper section ( 3 U) and a lower section ( 3 L). The upper section ( 3 U) of the connecting means ( 3 ) is engaged to a bore ( 7 ) developed on the lower bottom of the ringlet ( 2 ) and the lower section ( 3 L) of the connecting mean is engaged to a hole ( 6 ) developed on a handle ( 5   a ) of the scissor. 
     Since the ringlet ( 2 ) of the third example can rotate freely only around the Z″ axis of the  FIG. 3 , the inventor tries to give some flexibility by applying a rubbery material to the connecting means ( 3 ). However, it is well known that repeated stress to a rubbery material deteriorates physical properties. Therefore, the same danger of cutting the customer&#39;s head or skin remains as explained in the first example. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a pair of scissors ( 10 ′) combined with an exploded view of a ringlet ( 20 ′) and a connecting part ( 30 ′) for a scissors according to the embodiment of the current application. The scissors ( 10 ′) according to the current application is comprised of a first shank member ( 14   a ′) including a first cutting portion ( 15   a ′) and a first handle portion ( 50   a ′), and second shank member ( 14   b ′) including a first cutting portion ( 15   a ′) and a first handle portion ( 50   a ′), and second shank member ( 14   b ′) including a second cutting portion ( 15   b ′) and a second handle portion ( 50   b ′). The first shank member ( 14   a ′) and second shank member ( 14   b ′) are pivotally connected to each other via screw ( 16 ′). The second handle portion ( 50   b ′) has a solid ringlet ( 41 ′). A flexible ringlet ( 20 ′) is rotatably connected to the first handle portion ( 50   a ′) via a connecting part ( 30 ′) that is engaged to a narrow portion ( 11 ′) of the first handle portion ( 50   a ′). The ringlet ( 20 ′) is comprised of a flexible material. A bore ( 22 ′) is developed at the bottom of the ringlet ( 20 ′) for insertion of the connecting part ( 30 ′). The bore ( 22 ′) is in the shape of a cone ( 24 ′) on a cylindrical rod ( 26 ′) and a hole ( 34 ′) is developed at the top of the bore ( 22 ′). 
     The connecting part ( 30 ′) is comprised of a top portion consisting of a cone ( 32 ′) on a cylindrical rod ( 36 ′) and an extension ( 33 ′), to aid the insertion of the top portion ( 32 ′) into the bore ( 22 ′), and a bottom portion consisting of a tube ( 31 ′). The tube ( 31 ′) is engaged on the narrow portion ( 11 ′) of the first handle portion ( 50   a ′).