Patent Publication Number: US-2011061243-A1

Title: Attachment comb for hair trimmer

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/242,766 filed Sep. 15, 2009, entitled ATTACHMENT COMB FOR HAIR TRIMMER, the specification of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Personal grooming devices, such as hair trimming devices, more commonly known as hair dippers, use combs that are designed to cut the hair to a relatively fixed length by keeping the trimmer cutting edge at a particular distance from the skin surface. Combs of various sizes provide a range of different spacings between the skin surface and the trimmer cutting edge, where each different comb size corresponds to a desired hair length. 
     Examples of personal grooming devices are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,648,370; 3,969,819; 4,614,036; 4,622,745; 5,937,526; 6,079,103; 7,051,442; D286,454; and D555,793 the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, in theft entirety and for all purposes. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure is directed to an attachment comb for a hair trimming device. In one embodiment, the comb includes a base configured to secure the comb to a trimming device, primary teeth configured to provide a fixed distance from a cutting edge of the trimming device, and secondary teeth configured to manipulate hair to a predetermined orientation relative to the cutting edge. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a top perspective view of an exemplary comb. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a bottom perspective view of an exemplary comb. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom front perspective view of an exemplary comb. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a front perspective view of an exemplary comb. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom view of an exemplary comb. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of an exemplary comb. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a back view of an exemplary comb. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a front view of an exemplary comb. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a side view of an exemplary comb. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a transparent side view of an exemplary comb. 
         FIG. 11  is a bottom perspective photograph nf an exemplary comb rapid prototyped with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic. 
         FIG. 12  is a top perspective photograph of the exemplary comb of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a bottom perspective photograph of a current trimming device. 
         FIG. 14  is a top perspective photograph of the trimming device of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 15  is a front perspective photograph of the exemplary comb attached to the trimming device. 
         FIG. 16  is a bottom perspective photograph of the trimmer and comb of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a top perspective photograph of the trimmer and comb of  FIG. 15 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND BEST MODE 
     A common problem with existing hair trimmer combs is their inability to sufficiently reorient the hair away from the skin and uniformly bring the hair towards the trimmer cutting edge. Current combs are designed to ensure that the trimmer cutting edge is a particular distance away from the skin surface. Such designs have relatively wide teeth and spacing between the teeth and do not sufficiently orient or position the hair relative to the cutting edge. Cutting the hair to a uniform length with current combs relies on the assumption that the hair naturally stands up straight or is already oriented perpendicular to the surface of the skin. If this is not the case and the hair is oriented at any other angle, the existing combs do not have the mechanical leverage or ability to align the hair with the trimmer cutting edge. This results in hair that is cut to various lengths depending on the orientation when cut. 
     This inefficiency forces hair stylists to either run the trimmer through the hair multiple times in various directions in the hope that the hair gets pushed around enough to eventually be cut uniformly, or to use the hair trimmer in combination with a traditional hair comb. The hair comb is used to first re-orient the hair so that the trimmer achieves a more uniform cut. Without this additional effort, some hairs will not be properly oriented to the cutting edge and will not be cut to the intended length. 
     This inability of current combs to align hair with the trimmer cutting edge is particularly evident when the length of the hair being out is already close to the desired length. In this instance the only way to achieve a uniform out is to ensure that the hair is oriented at the moment just prior to being cut. Current combs do not offer this functionality. 
     The disclosed comb design incorporates mechanical aspects that enable the comb attachment to orient the hair to achieve a uniform cut, such as by changing the angle between the hair and scalp so that the hair is substantially taut and perpendicular to the cutting edge. The added components are designed to manipulate and re-orient the strands of hair while they are in the process of being cut. The proposed comb  10  will properly orient the hair relative to the scalp and cutting edge and uniformly bring the hair towards the trimmer cutting edge  102  as the hair is being cut. The proposed comb  10  manipulates the hair by providing sufficient contact with the hair to guide the hair to the trimmer cutting edge  102  in a desired orientation. This additional contact will ensure that short hair is efficiently oriented while long or curly hair is oriented and held taut in order to be cut to the intended length. 
       FIGS. 1 through 12  illustrate an exemplary design that provides for the manipulation of hair towards the trimmer cutting edge  102 , such as by re-orienting the hair. This is accomplished by incorporating additional comb surface area throughout the comb  10  that manipulates the hair during the cutting process. 
     The comb  10  includes a base  12 , primary teeth  14 , and secondary teeth  16 . The base  12  of the comb  10  provides the structural strength and various coupling members  18  for securing the comb  10  to a hair trimmer  100 . Coupled to the base  12  are the primary teeth  14  and the secondary teeth  16 . The primary teeth  14  set the minimum fixed length  15  that the cutting edge  102  is to be distanced from the skin surface, and therefore the desired length at which the hair is to be cut. The comb  10  further includes secondary teeth  16 , which provide additional contact surface area with the hair during the cutting process. It is this contact that allows the hair to be manipulated towards the trimmer cutting edge  102 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-12 , the secondary teeth are spaced closer together than the primary teeth and are smaller and finer in design in order to more efficiently penetrate and orient the hair. 
     The comb base  12  provides coupling members  18  to secure the comb  10  to a hair trimming device  100 . The coupling members  18  may be positioned, sized, and shaped as is appropriate for coupling to any existing or newly designed trimming device  100 . The coupling members  18  may be protrusions, slots, cavities, screws, and the like, on or in the base  12  as needed to secure the comb  10  to the trimming device  100 . In some embodiments, the comb may be integrally formed with the trimming device. These features may be of any suitable size and orientation and may be mounted at any suitable location on the comb  10  or comb base  12 . The comb base  12  is designed such that the comb  10  attaches firmly to the hair trimming device  100  to ensure that it does not detach during regular use. The base  12  configuration also allows for easy removal when the trimmer  100  is to be used with a different sized comb  10  or without a comb  10 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  4  and  6 , coupling members  18  take the form of protrusions and secure the comb  10  to the trimmer  100  such that the cutting edge  102  is perpendicular to the direction in which the primary teeth  14  extend. The comb base  12  provides the structural support and attachment for one or both of the primary  14  and secondary teeth  16 . 
     As discussed above and shown in  FIGS. 1-12 , the comb  10  may include primary teeth  14  and secondary teeth  16 . The primary teeth  14  maintain the desired fixed distance  15  between the trimmer cutting edge  102  and the skin surface. As shown in the example of  FIGS. 1-12 , the primary teeth  14  extend perpendicularly to the comb base  12  and the trimmer cutting edge  102 . The primary teeth  14  are spaced apart such as to always ensure the clipper cutting edge  102  remains at a minimum distance  15  away from the skin surface regardless of the curvature of the skin surface. The height  15  of the primary teeth  14  may be sized to correspond to particular desirable trimming lengths. The width of the primary teeth  14  may be such as to provide sufficient structural strength during regular use in order to remain rigid while also allowing the teeth to easily penetrate the hair. Besides maintaining the fixed distance  15  between the trimmer cutting edge  102  and the skin surface, the primary teeth  14  may take any shape or size provided they do not limit the movement of hair through the comb  10  towards the cutting edge  102 . Considerations for the shape of the primary teeth  14  may include, but are not limited to, the comfort of the teeth pushing against the skin, prevention of sharp edges in order to maximize safety, ease of use, providing a compact design to minimize storage space and material costs, product appearance, and the like. 
     The secondary teeth  16  uniformly manipulate the hair towards the trimmer cutting edge  102  so that the hair is cut to the intended length  15 . The secondary teeth  16  provide additional surface area to guide the hair into the optimal position relative to the cutting edge  102  in order to be cut to the intended length  15 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-12 , the secondary teeth  16  extend from the base  12  of the comb  10  and are positioned pointing forward towards the leading edge of the comb as it enters the hair and moves along a path of travel  200 . The secondary teeth  16  are disposed at a slight downward angle θ, as shown in  FIG. 10 . This allows the secondary teeth  16  to penetrate into the hair towards the surface of the skin. The secondary teeth  16  may also be coupled at any other suitable location on the comb  10 . As the comb  10  moves over the skin surface the secondary teeth  16  make contact with the hair, re-orienting and lifting as-needed, to guide the hair towards the trimmer cutting edge  102 . The size and angle of the secondary teeth  16  may vary according to the size of the comb  10 , the width of the primary teeth  14 , or the type of hair desired to be cut. As shown in the example of  FIGS. 1-12 ,  15 - 17  one or more secondary teeth  16  are spaced between the primary teeth  14 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11 ,  12 , and  15 - 17 , the disclosed comb  10  may be manufactured from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic due to its ease of use and cost effectiveness. It should be appreciated that any other plastics or metals could be used. 
     As shown in the exemplary design,  FIGS. 1-12 ,  15 - 17 , the comb  10  is integrally formed with base  12 , primary teeth  14  and secondary teeth  16  all provided in a single unit or comb  10 . These various sections may be separate components that couple together to form a desired configuration. As such the secondary teeth  16  may be designed as a separate unit that attaches to any existing comb  10 . 
     The above disclosure provides a comb  10  comprising a base  12  configured to couple to a trimming device  100 , primary teeth  14  configured to provide a fixed distance  15  from a cutting edge  102  of the trimming device  100 , and secondary teeth  16  configured to manipulate hair to a predetermined orientation relative to the cutting edge  102 . In some embodiments, the secondary teeth  16  are disposed between the primary teeth  14 . 
     The above disclosure provides an attachment for a comb  10  comprising secondary teeth  16  configured to be mounted to a comb  10  and further configured to manipulate hair to a predetermined orientation relative to a cutting edge  102 . In some embodiments, the secondary teeth  16  are disposed adjacent the primary teeth  14 . 
     Although the invention has been disclosed in its preferred forms, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the invention includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and sub combinations of the various elements, features, functions, and/or properties disclosed herein. No single feature, function, element or property of the disclosed embodiments is essential. The following claims define certain combinations and sub combinations of features, functions, elements, and/or properties that are regarded as novel and non obvious. Other combinations and sub combinations may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such claims, whether they are broader, narrower, equal, or different in scope to any earlier claims, also are regarded as included within the subject matter of the invention.