Patent Publication Number: US-11376755-B2

Title: Hair cutting assembly and associated method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an improved handheld hair cutter structured to be employed in cutting the hair on a member of the animal kingdom and to an associated method. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     It has been known that in the hands of skilled individuals, such as barbers, beauticians, and hair stylists, and using scissors and a comb one may cut the hair on the head of a member of the animal kingdom, such as a human being, to achieve the desired length and style. 
     Various forms of razor blade-containing shaving and hair trimming devices have been known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,841 discloses a handheld, unpowered, razor blade-type hair trimmer. 
     It has also been known to employ electrically-energized shavers and hair cutting devices. See generally U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,079,103; 6,427,337 and 6,622,385. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,065,977 discloses a vibratory drive with an electric motor for achieving reciprocating vibratory movement for use in shaving heads. 
     In spite of the foregoing known systems, there remains a very real and substantial need for an improved form of handheld cutter which can be used to trim hair on the body. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has met the above-described need by providing a handheld hair cutter having a base comb with a plurality of elongated base teeth extending in a first direction and a supporting comb spaced from the base comb having a plurality of elongated supporting teeth extending generally in the first direction to a lesser extent than the base teeth. A cutter blade extends generally in the first direction secured on the supporting comb side of the base comb in spaced relationship with the base comb. The cutter blade has a cutting edge facing generally in the first direction and extending to a greater extent than the supporting comb teeth, but to a lesser extent than the base comb teeth. 
     The cutter preferably has a handle to facilitate manual engagement by the user and is structured such that the free ends of the supporting teeth and base teeth may be simultaneously engaged with the body during the cutting operation as the cutter is moved progressively along the body in the region where the hair is to be cut. The supporting teeth are preferably disposed closer to the body than the base teeth during the cutting operation. 
     In another embodiment, additional combs having teeth extending generally in a first direction are provided. 
     A corresponding method is provided, wherein the cutter is positioned with the free ends of the supporting teeth and base teeth engaged with the portion of the body, such as the human head, to be cut and preferably is positioned such that the base teeth are oriented at an angle of about 25 degrees to 45 degrees as the cutter is moved manually, preferably downwardly, along the region having the hair to be cut. The cycle of operation is then repeated on other portions of the body. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the blade may be adjusted with respect to the base comb and support comb. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, an electrically-energized vibrating motor causes the blade to vibrate. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an efficient, handheld hair cutter which may be used effectively by those who are semi-skilled or unskilled in the art of hair cutting. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide such a construction, which may be employed by individuals to cut regions of their own hair. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a hair cutter, which is easy to engage manually, is lightweight, and economical to manufacture. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a hair cutter, wherein the cutting blade may be caused to vibrate during use. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a hair cutter, wherein it may efficiently cut hair on the head of a human being to varying lengths depending upon the position of the blade and angle at which the hair cutter is held with respect to the underlying body portion. 
     These and other objects of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the invention on reference to the illustrations appended hereto. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a first embodiment of the hair cutter of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear elevational view of the hair cutter of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional illustration through  3 - 3  of the hair cutter of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of a blade having stabilizer nubs employable in the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a bolt and wing nut employable in the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of a blade employable in the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a partial front elevational view showing an embodiment having measuring markings. 
         FIG. 8  is an elevational view of the two-edged blade of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the blade of  FIG. 7  taken through  8 - 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is an end elevational view of an embodiment of the hair cutter having a modified handle. 
         FIG. 11  shows an end elevational view of an embodiment of the hair cutter having a vibrating motor secured thereto. 
         FIG. 12  is a rear elevational view of the hair cutter of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a hair cutter of the present invention positioned against the head of a human being. 
         FIG. 14  is an end elevational view of an embodiment of the present invention having the modified handle. 
         FIG. 15  shows an end elevational view of a cartridge form of blade securement suitable for use with a recess-defining haircutter, such as is shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is an end elevational view of the cutter of the present invention employing a modified cartridge. 
         FIG. 17  is an end elevational view of the form of cutter of the present invention having a plurality of combs and being particularly suitable for use in cutting the hair of an animal. 
         FIG. 18  is an end elevational view of another embodiment of the invention having a plurality of combs. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As employed herein, the term “member of the animal kingdom” shall broadly include all members of the animal kingdom, including human beings. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , there is shown a hair cutter  2  of the present invention having an elongated handle  4 . A base comb  8  has a plurality of elongated base teeth, such as  9 ,  11 , extending in a first direction, which is indicated by arrow A in  FIG. 3 . Spaced from the base comb  8  is a supporting comb  12  having supporting teeth, such as  19 ,  21 , extending generally in first direction A. A cutter blade  14  is positioned generally on the supporting comb  12  side of the base comb  8  and extends generally in the first direction A terminating in a lower cutting edge  18 . In the form as shown, the blade  14  has a pair of spaced, rearwardly-projecting stabilizer nubs  13 ,  15 , which engage the comb teeth of base comb  8  and serve to resist undesired blade movement. A threaded bolt  24  having bolt head  22  secures elongated blade  14  between bolt head  22  and base comb  8 . A wing nut  25  is threadedly-secured to bolt  24  to secure blade  14  in position. As shown in  FIG. 4 , blade  14  has an upwardly-open recess  38  through which the threaded shank of the bolt  24  passes. The pair of laterally-spaced stabilizer nubs  13 ,  15  project rearwardly from blade  14  on opposite sides of threaded bolt  24  and through corresponding openings in blade  14 . As the invention primarily is intended to cut hair of significant length, while leaving residual portions of the cut hair, unlike shaving, the blade  14  will have its lower edge  18  spaced from the lower end of base comb  8 , but will be adjustable upwardly from the lowermost position illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . The wing nut  25  or other mechanical fastener need only be loosened, the blade  14  moved to the desired cutting position and then the wing nut  25  will be tightened. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , it is preferred that the space W between the inner surface of base comb  8  and the inner surface of supporting comb  12  be about ¼ to ½ inch. It is further preferred that the spacing X between the outer surface of blade  14  and the inner surface  34  of base comb  8  be about 1/16 to ⅛ inch and that the spacing Y between the cutting edge  18  of blade  14  and the inner surface  32  of supporting comb  12  be about ⅜ to 7/16 inch. Further, it is preferred that the height of base comb  8 , H, be about 1¼ to 1¾ inch and the height M of supporting comb  12  be about ½ to ¾ inch. 
     If desired, the handle  4  can be provided of sufficient length to project not only to the left of the cutter combs  8 ,  12  as shown in  FIG. 1 , but, in addition, to project to the right or to project solely to the right. 
       FIGS. 4 and 6  show the elongated blade  14  which has an upwardly-open recess passage of threaded bolt  24  therethrough and spaced stabilizer nubs  13 ,  15 .  FIG. 5  shows an exploded view of the wing nut  25  and the threaded bolt  24  which is structured to be threadedly received therein to secure the assembly. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a blade  14  secured to the base comb  8  by the belt  24  and wing nut  25  with only the bolt head  22  shown in this view. The bolt is partially received within blade recess  38 , and the nub  13 ,  15  projects rearwardly respectively in space  30  between teeth  36 ,  37  and in space  43  between teeth  39 ,  41 . Finally, the bolt shank passes through recess  38 , which is disposed in space  35  between teeth  31 ,  33 . The blade has lower cutting edge  18 . 
     In  FIGS. 7 and 8 , there is shown an alternate embodiment, wherein the blade  40  has both upper and lower cutting edges  42 ,  44 , which permit the blade to be removed and rotated 180 degrees when a first edge, such as  44 , has become dull and to place the other cutting edge  42  in cutting position. In this embodiment, there is also found an opening  50  through a more central portion of the blade for passage of a bolt shank, such as  24 , therethrough with head  22  being in abutting relationship with the blade central portion and a wing nut  25  securing the same to the base comb. On opposite edges  52 ,  54  of the blade  40  are a pair of rearwardly projecting nubs  46 ,  48 , which are structured to engage base comb teeth for stability and may be of sufficiently small size as to extend at least partially between the pair of adjacent teeth of the base comb  8 . 
     Also shown in  FIG. 7  is a series of pairs of dimensional reference lines, such as  58   a ,  58   b , which are on the same level, or considered another way, the same distance from the lower extremity of the respective teeth  36 ,  41  on which they appear. Reference lines  60   a  and  60   b ,  62   a  and  62   b , and  64   a  and  64   b , as well as any additional desired indicia, may be provided. Also, if desired, the lateral edges of the blade  18  may be provided with pointing projections  66 ,  67 , which enable the user to more effectively determine the position of the blade. This will permit a user to predetermine which settings they prefer the blade for different portions of the hair to be cut. 
     It will be appreciated, therefore, that the blade, when secured in position, will have the desired cutting edge  18  spacing from the lower end of base comb  8  so as to achieve the desired length of cutting of the hair in a particular location. The vertical adjustability permits adjustment according to the desired amount of cutting to be done and amount of residual hair to be left uncut. 
       FIG. 10  shows a modified form of handheld cutter, wherein the base comb  68  and supporting comb  72  have the blade  74  secured between bolt  80  and base comb  68  by wing nut  76 . The assembly is secured in form shown by wing nut  76  and stabilizer nubs (not shown) on opposite sides thereof. The handle  86  in this embodiment projects upwardly and rearwardly from the comb top connector  88  as contrasted with the lateral extent of handle  4  in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The handle  86  may be substantially coextensive in width with the base comb  68 . The handle  86  terminates in an enlarged rib  90  to facilitate gripping. The hair cutter may be operating in essentially the same manner as the first embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , in this embodiment, a hair trimmer has a base comb  98 , a supporting comb  100 , an upwardly and rearwardly extending handle  102  and a blade  104  secured adjacent to base comb  98 , and a wing nut  106  along with stabilized nubs projecting rearwardly from blade  104  to assist with control of the extent of cutting of the hair. In this embodiment, a vibrating motor  114  is connected by an electrically-conductive wire  116  to a switch  118 , which has a battery  120  operatively associated therewith. When the switch is in the “on” position, the motor  114 , which is operatively associated with the blade  104 , will cause the blade  104  to vibrate so as to enhance the efficiency of the hair cutting operation. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , in effecting cutting employing the device of the present invention on the head  121  of a human being, the cutter  122  is held at an angle B with respect to the portion of the body having its hair trimmed. The angle B will preferably be in the range of about 25 degrees to 45 degrees. In the act of cutting, both the free ends  124 ,  126  of the respective base comb  128  and support comb  130  are closely adjacent to or engaged with the portion of the body being cut with the handheld cutter  122  being moved progressively in the general direction indicated by arrow C. After the lowermost portion of the head  121  has been trimmed with the hair cutter  122 , the process is repeated in the next area to be trimmed. 
     It will be appreciated that while in the preferred illustrated form, the shorter support comb  130  is shown closer to the body than the base comb  128 , and for some purposes, it may be desirable to place the support comb  128  closer to the head. To facilitate such flexibility, if desired, the cutter may be designed with the handle  136  extending generally vertically so as to permit ease of manual engagement regardless of the relative orientation of the combs  128 ,  130  with respect to the portion of the body having the hair cut. Such a construction is shown in  FIG. 14 , wherein combs  128 ,  130  have the blade  142  secured adjacent comb  128 , threaded bolt  150  having bolt head  146 , and wing nut  154 . Handle  156  projects generally upwardly and terminates in an enlargement  157  to facilitate the ease of gripping. The handle emerges from top surface  158  and may be formed unitarily therewith or separately and secured thereto so as to establish a unitary structure. 
     It will be appreciated that preferred embodiments of the invention showing mechanical securement of the blade at a position spaced from the lower extremity of the longer comb, the securement being achieved by a mechanical fastener, has been disclosed. If desired, the blade may be provided in a housing with the blade projecting therefrom such that the housing may be friction-fit into the inverted channel defined by the two combs and the connecting upper portion, such as, for example, in  FIG. 14 , the combs  128  and  130  and the comb top connector  158  defining a recess  200  within which blade, such as  202  in  FIG. 15 , is secured offset from transverse center of the blade housing  204 , such that snapping the same into recess  200  will result in effective frictional retention while permitting ready withdrawal for blade replacement. This would be in lieu of the cutter and blade elements  142 ,  146 ,  150 ,  154  shown in  FIG. 14 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 16 , there is shown a modified form of the invention, wherein a support comb  160  cooperates with a base comb  162  and a handle  164  to support the blade  166  at a position spaced upwardly from the lower end  168  of the teeth of the support comb  160 . In this embodiment, the blade  166  is positioned angularly downwardly toward the support comb  160  at an angle D, which preferably may be about 5 degrees to 20 degrees. The blade  210  in that position with the threaded stud  214  passing through the blade  210  and housing  212  with securement being effected by wing nut  216 . 
     It will be appreciated that the cutter may be made of any suitable material with the general preference for the combs which may be formed as a unitary, inverted, channel-type construction being made of a metal or a suitable plastic, the blade being metal and the fasteners being metal or a suitable plastic. In respect of metal, any suitable stainless steel, aluminum, or steel material may be employed. Also, other forms of mechanical blade retention may be employed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 17 , there is shown another embodiment of the invention, wherein in addition to support comb  211  and base comb  217 , there is an interposed comb  213  spaced generally equally from combs  211 ,  217 . It has a length which is greater than the length of comb  211  and less than the length of comb  217 . The assembly has a handle  215  for manual engagement when a cutter is employed. The blade  218  is secured adjacent to the base comb  217  by bolt  226 , which has a bolt head  230  and is secured to wing nut  228  with spacer plate  220  being interposed. This form of cutter may advantageously be employed to effect greater control over the hair being cut and may particularly be suited to longer hair, such as might be encountered with animals and some human beings. 
     Referring to  FIG. 18 , there is shown an assembly similar to that of  FIG. 17 , but with a total of six combs consisting of support comb  248 , intermediate combs  246 ,  244 ,  242 ,  250 , and base comb  256 . The intermediate combs  246 ,  244 ,  242 ,  250  are generally equally spaced with respect to each other and progressively have lengths greater than the support comb  248  and less than the base comb  256  with the length increasing with each successive comb going from comb  246  to  250 . The blade  262  is secured adjacent to base comb  256  by threaded bolt  266 , which has bolt head  270  and passes through spacer plate  260  with wing nut  268  effecting the intimate securement. 
     In the method of the present invention, a hair cutter of the type shown in any of the hereinbefore, previously-described embodiments is manually engaged and is positioned against the portion of the body which is to have its hair cut, such as a human head, for example. It is then moved progressively along the region to trim the hair to the desired length. It will be appreciated that the hair will move between the teeth in the supporting comb as well as the base comb and, depending upon the orientation of the hair cutter with respect to the body portion, will achieve the desired cutting length. The angle may be changed as the hair cutter is moved along the desired path. Leaving the hair cutter on a longitudinal path will effect trimming of the hair for the longitudinal extent of movement across the width of the cutting blade. After completing a desired region of the cutting, the process is then repeated with an adjacent or other desired region which is to be trimmed. It will generally be preferred that the cutter be held in such a fashion that both the base comb  8  and the supporting comb  12  have their free ends  50 ,  52  in contact with the portion of the body to be cut. Unlike a razor employed for shaving, the cutting edge of the blade may be spaced upwardly from the lower ends of the comb teeth so that only a portion of the hair will be trimmed. Also, the position of the blade may be adjusted. 
     It will be appreciated that while emphasis has been placed herein on the use of a single blade, the various embodiments may also be employed with two and three or more blades with each of them having appropriate spacers between them. 
     Whereas particular embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the details may be made without departing from the invention as set forth in the appended claims.