Patent Publication Number: US-10307920-B1

Title: Hair clipper variable comb attachment

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES AND RELATED SUBJECT MATTER 
     This application is a non-provisional filing of provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/474,224, filed in the United States Patent Office on Mar. 21, 2017, from which priority is claimed and which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to hair clippers. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a variable comb attachment that mounts to a hair clipper that allows hair to be trimmed at various lengths using a single comb attachment. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electric hair clippers are used by barbers and hair stylists to cut and shape human hair. These hair clippers conventionally provide a pair of blades, comprised of a reciprocating upper blade and a fixed lower plate. Both blades provide a plurality of teeth along their common edges. The reciprocating or movable blade moves in relation to the fixed blade, such that the teeth move in a rapid scissor-like motion. 
     Recent trends in hair styling have produced the so-called “faded haircut” or “fade”, which creates an area of hair with gradually tapering lengths, typically on the sides and back of the head. Creating gradually tapering lengths of hair requires a great deal of time and skill on the part of the barber or hair stylist. 
     Comb attachments of various lengths are available, which hold the hair clippers at a consistent distance from the scalp, thus ensuring a consistent length of hair after the cut. Changing the comb attachments repeatedly will assist the barber or hair stylist in achieving a faded haircut, but is time consuming. 
     Great care and a steady hand are required to avoid a “stair-stepped” look, where the transition between different hair lengths created by different comb attachments is abrupt and obvious, which reflects poorly on the stylist. For all of these reasons, barbers and hair stylists who are inexperienced or lack confidence may decline to attempt a faded haircut. 
     While these hair clipper blades may be suitable for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present disclosure as disclosed hereafter. Hair clipper blades and comb attachments, as disclosed in the prior art, require the barber or hair stylist (the user) to invest substantial time and skill in producing a faded haircut, creating a disadvantage when compared to more traditional or conventional haircuts. 
     While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present disclosure as disclosed hereafter. 
     In the present disclosure, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge or otherwise constitutes prior art under the applicable statutory provisions; or is known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which the present disclosure is concerned. 
     While certain aspects of conventional technologies have been discussed to facilitate the present disclosure, no technical aspects are disclaimed and it is contemplated that the claims may encompass one or more of the conventional technical aspects discussed herein. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     An aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure is to provide a hair clipper attachment that may be easily used to produce a faded haircut without changing blades or changing detachable combs. Accordingly, the present disclosure describes a comb device that employs a movable comb that can adjust cutting length to produce a faded haircut without switching blades or combs. 
     Accordingly, the present disclosure describes a hair clipper variable comb attachment, for use with a hair clipper having a fixed upper blade and a movable lower blade, including a blade mount, a main part, a comb carrier, and a pair of adjustment pegs. The comb carrier has a front and a plurality of longitudinally extending tines that increase in height as they extend rearwardly. The blade mount secures to the fixed upper blade of the clipper. The comb carrier is slidably attached onto the main part so that as the adjustment pegs are rotated the comb carrier can move forwardly with respect to the blade to increase cutting height of the clipper and can move rearwardly to decrease cutting height. Adjustment of the comb carrier position and thus the cutting height can be made without removing the comb attachment from the hair clipper. 
     The present disclosure addresses at least one of the foregoing disadvantages. However, it is contemplated that the present disclosure may prove useful in addressing other problems and deficiencies in a number of technical areas. Therefore, the claims should not necessarily be construed as limited to addressing any of the particular problems or deficiencies discussed hereinabove. To the accomplishment of the above, this disclosure may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows. 
         FIG. 1  is diagrammatic perspective view, illustrating the comb device, per se. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic perspective view, illustrating the comb device from an alternate viewing angle. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic perspective view, illustrating the comb device mounted onto a hair clipper. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic perspective view, illustrating the comb device mounted onto a hair clipper from an alternate viewing angle. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic perspective view, illustrating the fully assembled comb device secured onto the front of the clipper blade. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic perspective view, illustrating the fully assembled comb device secured onto the rear of the clipper blade. 
         FIG. 7A  illustrates the blade mount in conjunction with the clipper blade, showing the forward pockets into which the front side edges extend when mounting the comb device onto the clipper blade. 
         FIG. 7B  illustrates the blade mount in conjunction with the clipper blade, showing the rear clip engaged with the rear of the clipper blade when the comb device is mounted onto the clipper blade. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view, showing the interconnection of the main part, blade mount, comb carrier, and adjusting pegs. 
         FIG. 9A  is a top plan view, illustrating a notch mechanism for maintaining the comb carrier in an adjustment position, with the comb device in a first position. 
         FIG. 9B  is a side elevational view, illustrating the comb device in the first position. 
         FIG. 9C  is a side elevational view, illustrating hair in conjunction with a scalp, that is long in length, having been cut with the comb device set in the first position. 
         FIG. 10A  is a top plan view, illustrating the comb device in a second position. 
         FIG. 10B  is a side elevational view, illustrating the comb device in the second position. 
         FIG. 10C  is a side elevational view, illustrating hair in conjunction with a scalp, that is short in length, having been cut with the comb device set in the second position. 
     
    
    
     The present disclosure now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show various example embodiments. However, the present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure is thorough, complete and fully conveys the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  illustrates a variable comb attachment device  20  having a front  20 F, a rear  20 R, and a pair of sides  20 S. The comb device  20  includes a comb carrier  30 , a blade mount  40 , a main part  50 , and a pair of adjustment pegs  60 . The comb carrier  30  has a front  30 F and a rear  30 R and includes a plurality of longitudinally extending tines  32  that come to a point at the front, and are taller as they extend rearwardly on the comb carrier  30 . The tines  32  are substantially evenly spaced apart. In accordance with principles of operation described in further detail hereinbelow, the comb carrier  30  is easily movable by the user by turning the adjustment pegs  60  to move the front  30 F thereof forwardly to increase the length of hair about to be cut and rearwardly to decrease the length of hair about to be cut. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the comb device  20  is attached to a hair clipper  80 . The hair clipper  80  includes a housing  82  that has a front  80 F and rear  80 R and also serves a handle during use, a bottom  82 B, a top  82 T, and a mounting plate  83  at the top  82 T. The hair clipper  80  also includes a blade assembly  84  that includes a fixed upper blade  85  and a movable lower blade  86 . The movable lower blade  86  is sandwiched between the fixed upper blade  85  and the mounting plate  83  and is reciprocated by the clipper to create a shearing cutting action.  FIG. 7A  further illustrates the fixed upper blade  85 . In particular, the fixed upper blade  85  has a main plate  88  and a beveled forward portion  90  that contains a plurality of teeth  85 T and a pair of forward side parts  91  that are beveled like the teeth but are significantly wider and are not configured for cutting. The main plate  88  has a pair of mounting holes  92  for securing the upper blade  85  to the mounting plate  83  ( FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 ). Also seen in  FIG. 7A , the blade mount  40  has a pair of side portions  41  that have a pair of opposed front pockets  42  that are shaped to fit over the forward side parts  91  of the upper blade  85 . In addition, the blade mount  40  includes a bridge  44  that connects the side portions  41  and a pair of lower hemispherical wheel guides  46 . The blade mount  40  has a rear  40 R on an opposite end from the front pockets  42  and a blade clip  48  that extends rearwardly and downwardly from the bridge  44  at the rear  40 R to secure beneath the fixed blade  85 . In particular, referring to  FIG. 6 , a rear opening  86 A is present at a rear edge of the lower movable blade  86 . This rear opening  86 A is conventionally employed for attaching combs onto the clipper  80 . The blade clip  48  includes a tooth  49  that selectively extends into the rear opening  86 A to lock the comb device  20  onto the clipper  80  at the rear of the blade.  FIG. 7B  shows the blade mount  40  fully seated onto the fixed upper blade  85  wherein the teeth  85 T extend between the side portions  41 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the movable lower plate  86  also has teeth  86 T. The movement of the lower plate  86  cause shearing between the teeth  85 T of the upper plate  85  and the teeth  86 T of the lower plate at a shearing plane therebetween. Note that as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , with the comb device  20  mounted onto the clipper  80 , the comb carrier  30  can extend significantly forwardly of the teeth  85 T. The effective height of the tines  32  where the cutting by the clipper  80  occurs increase as the comb carrier  30  is adjusted to move forwardly. The positioning of the comb carrier  30  can thereby effectively set a cutting length for the clipper  80 , since hair must be at least as long as the tines  32  are tall at cutting plane of the intersection of the teeth  85 T,  86 T to be effectively cut thereby. 
       FIG. 8  further detail the components of the comb device  20  that facilitate the movement of the comb carrier  30  to facilitate on-the-fly adjustment of hair cutting length. In particular, the main part  50  includes a track  51  with a plurality of protrusions  52  that spaced apart like the tines  32  and parallel to each other, for meshing with and guiding the tines  32  of the comb carrier  30  as the comb carrier is adjusted longitudinally. The main part  50  also includes a pair of peg mounting assemblies  53 , that each include a peg channel  54 , and also a square central tube  56  having side openings  57 . The main part  50  also has a pair of upper hemispherical wheel guides  58  that match the lower hemispherical wheel guides  46  in the blade mount  40 . As indicated, the main part  50  is attached on top of the blade mount  40  by any suitable means. When the main part  50  is attached to the blade mount  40 , the upper and lower hemispherical wheel guides  46 ,  58  together form a shroud for a portion of the adjustment pegs  60 . The comb carrier  30  has a pair of sides  30 S and a lower surface  30 L. A pair of racks  34  extend longitudinally on the lower surface  30 L near the sides  30 S. An adjustment mechanism allows relative adjustment of the comb carrier  30  and main part  50 , and includes the adjustment pegs  60 . The adjustment pegs  60  each have a main shaft  62  that is configured to extend within the peg channel  54 , a pinion  64  that is configured to mesh with one of the racks  34 , and a thumb wheel  66 . Each adjustment peg  60  also has a square end  68  fully opposite from the thumb wheel  66  and attached axially to the main shaft  62  with a bearing such that the main shaft  62  can rotate with respect to the square end  68 . The square end  68  extends into the square central tube  56  of the main part  50  where it is held in place and thereby stabilizes the adjustment pegs  60  while allowing free rotary motion of the thumb wheel  66  and pinion  64 . In particular, as the thumb wheel  66  is rotated, its associated pinion  64  causes the rack  34  to move forwardly or rearwardly, thereby adjusting the relative position of the comb carrier  30  and main part  40 . 
       FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 10A, and 10B  illustrated adjustment of the comb device  20  to modify the length of hair about to be cut using the clipper (not shown).  FIG. 9C  and  FIG. 10C  illustrates hair  100  growing from a scalp  102 . The hair  100  has a length that is longer in  FIG. 9C  than in  FIG. 10C . Note that the comb device  20  in  FIGS. 9A and 9B  is adjusted to a position of the comb carrier  30  where it can cut hair at the longer length shown in  FIG. 9C . In  FIGS. 10A and 10B , however, the comb device  20  is adjusted to a position where it would cut hair at the shorter length as shown in  FIG. 10C . In particular, as illustrated in  FIG. 9A  and  FIG. 9B , the comb carrier  30  is located further forwardly with respect to the blade mount  40  than in  FIGS. 10A and 10B . Note the positioning of the tines  32  with respect to the side portions  41  of the blade mount. In  FIG. 10A  the tines  32  are only slightly forward of the side portions  41 , and thus when mounted on the blade, the tines would provide very little height to reduce cutting by the teeth thereof. 
       FIG. 9A ,  FIG. 9B ,  FIG. 10A , and  FIG. 10B  also provide an example of mechanism for maintaining the comb carrier  30  in an adjusted position. In particular, the sides  30 S of the comb carrier  30  have several protuberances  35 , and the peg mounting assemblies  53  each have a notch  59  that is configured to interfere with the protuberances. In particular, once one of the protuberances  35  snaps into one of the notches  59 , it will require some force on the thumb wheel  66  to deform the protuberance sufficiently so that it can move clear of the notch  59 . Accordingly, interference between the notches  59  and protuberances  35  help the comb carrier  30  to effectively maintain an adjusted position until it is desirable to readjust it. Also note that the protuberances may be staggered in longitudinal position among the sides  30 S of the comb carrier  30 . In this way, only one of the notches  59  at a time may be required to hold the comb carrier  30  in position. Near the rear  30 R of the comb carrier  30 , however, two of the protuberances  35  may be aligned in substantially the same longitudinal position, as illustrated, which would require both of the thumb wheels  66  to move the comb carrier  30  beyond its final position and would thereby be effective in preventing the comb carrier  30  from coming off of its track. 
     It is understood that when an element is referred hereinabove as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present therebetween. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. 
     Moreover, any components or materials can be formed from a same, structurally continuous piece or separately fabricated and connected. 
     It is further understood that, although ordinal terms, such as, “first,” “second,” “third,” are used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, “a first element,” “component,” “region,” “layer” or “section” discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings herein. 
     Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, are used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It is understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device can be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
     Example embodiments are described herein with reference to cross section illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, example embodiments described herein should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions as illustrated herein, but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. For example, a region illustrated or described as flat may, typically, have rough and/or nonlinear features. Moreover, sharp angles that are illustrated may be rounded. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region and are not intended to limit the scope of the present claims. 
     In conclusion, herein is presented a hair clipper variable comb attachment. The disclosure is illustrated by example in the drawing figures, and throughout the written description. It should be understood that numerous variations are possible, while adhering to the inventive concept. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the present disclosure.