Abstract:
Described is a hand held hair cutting apparatus that includes a razor blade holder with four finger holes extending through the holder. A razor blade, either straight or arched, can be attached to one edge of the holder. allowing the razor to be easily changed. Placing fingers through the holes in the holder allows a user to securely hold tool using four fingers. The apparatus can also be configured with three finger holes and a finger rest for end finger.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims priority on provisional patent applications: Ser. No. 61/519,226, filed May 18, 2011; and Ser. No. 61/462,364, filed Feb. 1, 2011. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DESCRIBED APPARATUS 
       [0002]    The described apparatus and methods relate generally to human hair cutting. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Most hair styling or razor cutting devices are composed of a razor with stem handle which is held by a stylist between the thumb and forefinger that does not allowing the stylist to maintain pressure accurately and evenly across the shafts of the hair. This hair cutting technique has a number the disadvantages. For example, this approach typically results in more hair being removed on the side the handle is being held due to the inability of the slyest to consistently stabilize the pressure distribution to the cutting surface. As a result, certain hair cutting techniques such as texturizing and the creation of certain hair styles can be difficult or impossible. Also, because of the unbalanced nature of these types of devices, significant stress can result on parts of the hand and wrist of the individuals using devices. 
         [0004]    Examples of other types of hair cutting devices are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. D484,796, 1,587,656, 2,636,265, and 6,267,117. The various devices described in these patents suffer from a number of the same or similar limitations in both in the nature of the cuts that can be performed or in the difficulty in using the device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Described is an apparatus and method of cutting hair using a razor mounted in a blade holder having four apertures enabling a stylist to grasp the holder in one hand and a strand of an individual&#39;s hair in the other and stylize the hair by moving the holder downwardly along the strand away from the individual&#39;s head. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a hair cutting apparatus; 
           [0007]      FIG. 1A  is a side view of a comb-blade assembly for use with the hair cutting apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a view of a manner of grasping the hair cutting apparatus of  FIG. 1  ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of a method of using the hair cutting apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the hair cutting apparatus; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the second embodiment of the hair cutting apparatus and a manner of holding same. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a depiction of the preferred embodiment of a hair cutting apparatus  10  that includes a generally rectangular blade holder  12 . Located in said blade holder  12  are set of four generally elliptically shaped finger holes or apertures  14 - 20 . The apertures  14 - 20  are preferably configure to permit a stylist or user to easily insert the fingers on one hand through the apertures  14 - 20  and to be able to maintain a firm grip on the holder  12 . In addition the apertures  14 - 20  are preferably positioned on said blade holder  12  in such a manner to provide for a balanced hair cutting tool where the weight of the hair cutting apparatus is evenly distributed across the user&#39;s fingers along with natural finger positioning. 
         [0013]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the preferred aperture location includes the first  14  of said apertures centered at a first position  22  in the blade holder  12  along a first side  24  of the blade holder  12 ; a second of the apertures  16  centered at a second position  26  in the blade holder  12  next to said the aperture  18  and closer to an upper portion  28  than said first aperture  14 ; the third  18  of said apertures centered at a third position  30  in the blade holder  12  next to the second aperture  16  closer to said upper portion  28  than the first aperture  14 ; and the fourth  20  of the apertures centered at a fourth position  32  in the blade holder  12  next to said third aperture and further away from the upper portion  28  than said second apertures  16  and  18 . Also, in the preferred embodiment, the center position of the third aperture  18  is further away from the upper portion  28  than said second apertures  16 . This positioning of the finger holes or grips  14 - 20  permits an ergonomically correct positioning of the hand while using said apparatus  10 . Preferably, the blade holder  12  is fabricated out of a single block of material such as aluminum, plastic or a zinc alloy. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1A  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a comb-blade assembly  34  for insertion in a slot  36  of the blade holder  12 . Included in the comb-blade assembly  34  is a straight razor blade  38  which is secured to a comb  40 . The assembly  34  can also include a support member  42  which in this case is formed from a U-shaped portion of the comb  40 . Various other arrangements can be used to secure a blade and comb assembly in a blade holder such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,728. 
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the hair cutting apparatus  10  with a user&#39;s fingers  44 - 50  on one hand  52  inserted through the apertures  14 - 20 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of a method of using the hair cutting apparatus  10 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , a hair stylist can grasp the blade holder  12  by inserting her fingers  44 - 50  of the hand  52  through the apertures  14 - 20 , hold a strand  54  of a client&#39;s hair with the other hand  56  and move the apparatus  10  downwardly along the strand  54  away from the client&#39;s head. As shown in  FIG. 3 , using the apparatus  10  with the hand  52  palm down, such that the blade  38  engages the top portion of the strand  54 , will result in shorter pieces of hair on the top portion of the strand  54 . Similarly, using the apparatus  10  with palm side up with the blade  38  engaging the underside of the strand creates shorter hair in the underneath portion of the strand  54 . Generally, the amount of hair that will be removed from the strand  54  in each such operation will be determined by the amount of blade pressure applied to the strand  54 . 
         [0017]    To texturized, or remove bulk from the client&#39;s hair, the apparatus  10  is used by taking the strand  54 ; placing the apparatus  10  midway through the strand  54  with the blade  38  facing the ends of the hair and then gliding the blade  38  across the hair in the strand  54 . This can create empty spaces or air pockets that will allow the hair to move more easily and temporarily eliminate unwanted density. 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of a second embodiment  60  of a blade holder. It is similar to the blade holder  12  of  FIG. 1  except it is configured with a notch  62  at one end instead of an aperture of the type  20  to receive a user&#39;s finger. 
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second embodiment  64  of a hair cutting apparatus being held by a user. In this embodiment, a V-shaped or arcuate comb and blade assembly  66  is used rather than the straight blade assembly  34  of  FIGS. 1-3 . In this particular embodiment, the blade comb assembly  66  approximates an arch by utilizing two separate linear blade comb combinations  70  and  72  which are secured to a blade holder  74  by a number of fasteners as shown. Alternately, the comb blade can be fabricated using curved blades and comb members. While the straight blade is the preferred embodiment, there can be certain situations where a blade having arcuate shape can be of advantage. 
         [0020]    The hair cutting apparatus  10  as described above permits a stylist to cut hair at a fast and efficient pace, as it can glide through each section or strand of hair quickly. Stress on parts of the hand and wrist that hair cutters typically experience in using other tools is substantially reduced or eliminated. Also, by permitting a stylist to use the entire arm to perform the motions necessary to style hair, substantially alleviates pressure on the hand and wrist that typically occur using other cutting devices to achieve similar results.