Patent Publication Number: US-2009223530-A1

Title: Facial hair trimming template and method

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/033,604 filed Mar. 4, 2008. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates, in general, to a hair trimming device and, more particularly, this invention relates to a device for use in trimming facial hair. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, it is generally well known in the prior art to trim, cut, and shave facial hair to maintain a well-groomed and attractive beard for self confidence and comfort. Unfortunately it can be very difficult to trim a beard, especially since it is a general goal to maintain and perfect the symmetry of such beard. 
     Specifically of interest to the present invention are the following: Sussan, U.S. Publication No. 2004/0074511, discloses a guide to trim and shave facial hair that is held in place by a chin plate and releasable neck strap holding the plate tight on the chin. 
     Maynard, U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,094 discloses a right and left two-piece sideburn shaving guide comprised of adhesive paper. 
     Flanick, U.S. Publication No. 2005/0217687 discloses a template for cutting hair comprising a strip of material, the material having first and second sides, the first side bearing an indicia to guide cutting of the hair, and the second side adapted to receive an adhesive to secure the strip to a person. 
     Ferdy, U.S. Pat. No. 587,193 discloses a mustache shaping device which is meant to cover a user&#39;s mustache and is held in place by loops secured to a wearer&#39;s ears. 
     Seerhan, U.S. Pat. No. 3,709,234, discloses a hairline guide which resembles a glasses frame without lenses for resting on the bridge of a user&#39;s nose and to which templates may be attached for use as a hairline guide. 
     Gieger, U.S. Pat. No. 3,858,589, discloses a sideburn and moustache shaper, such sideburn shaper including an accessory which rests upon a user&#39;s ear and such moustache shaper including an accessory meant to be being held in place by the person trimming the moustache. 
     Barbarow, U.S. Pat. No. 3,870,055, discloses a mustache styling device held in place by such user placing a portion of the device within such user&#39;s mouth. 
     Hamilton, U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,672, discloses a template for cutting designs in hair comprising a flexible planar member having a front and back with an aperture defined therein in the desired shape of the design to be cut in the hair the template adapted to be placed upon the head and bent to the head&#39;s curvature with the hair that falls within the aperture of the template to be removed. 
     Bertucci, U.S. Pat. No. 6,655,389, discloses a device for styling a goatee which resembles a small open ended box type device for placement over a user&#39;s chin and through which such user&#39;s chin hair is accessible for trimming. 
     Bailey, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 381,462 discloses the ornamental design for a mustache shield. 
     Irfan, German Patent No DE 103 56 780 discloses the ornamental design for a template for use during removal of body hair. 
     None of the cited references provide the benefits attenuate with the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a facial hair trimming template. Such facial hair trimming template includes right and left template members manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size for placement over predetermined left and right facial regions of a user, such right and left template members being mirror images of each other and each having a front side and a back side. A securing mechanism is engageable with such right and left template members and at least one of such user&#39;s face, such user&#39;s facial hair, such user&#39;s ears, such user&#39;s head, and a combination thereof. 
     According to another embodiment, a method of using a facial hair trimming template is provided. Such method includes the steps of selecting a facial hair trimming template including right and left template members manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size for placement over predetermined left and right facial regions of a user, such right and left template members being mirror images of each other and each having a front side and a back side and having a securing means engageable with such template members and at least one of such user&#39;s face, such user&#39;s facial hair, such user&#39;s ears, such user&#39;s head, and a combination thereof; placing such right and left template members on such predetermined left and right facial regions of a user; securing such template members to at least one of such user&#39;s face, such user&#39;s facial hair, such user&#39;s ears, such user&#39;s head, and a combination thereof; and at least one of cutting, trimming, shaving, and a combination thereof such user&#39;s facial hair such that such facial hair is cut, trimmed, shaved, and a combination thereof to at least partially match such first predetermined shape of such right and left template members. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a facial hair trimming template for use in cutting, trimming, and styling facial hair. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an easy to use adhesive type device which can be applied to an individual&#39;s face for providing a template to be followed by a person trimming and shaving such facial hair. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a facial hair trimming device including a moldable frame which can be releasably attached to and molded to a user&#39;s face for covering a predetermined portion of such user&#39;s face thereby preventing hair growing on such predetermined portion of such user&#39;s face from being cut, trimmed, shaved, and the like. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a mesh template device having a predetermined size and shape for placement over a predetermined portion of a man&#39;s beard, such that such beard may be trimmed, cut and shaped to match such predetermined size and shape of such mesh template device. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a disposable template for use in shaping a person&#39;s beard to match such template. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of trimming facial hair that will enable a person trimming and grooming such facial hair to do so conveniently, symmetrically, evenly, easily, and the like, and which will reduce the amount of time necessary for trimming grooming to such facial hair. 
     In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partial perspective front view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial perspective rear view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which the device has been secured in position for use in at least one of trimming, cutting, shaving, and a combination thereof a user&#39;s facial hair. 
         FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which the invention is being used as a template for guiding the trimming of such user&#39;s beard. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which the invention has been secured to the face of a user and in which such illustration depicts how such user&#39;s beard has been trimmed to match the shape of such template. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures. 
     Reference is now made, more particularly, to  FIGS. 1-5 . 
     A facial hair trimming template, generally designated  10 , is provided. Such facial hair trimming template  10  includes right and left template members  12 , manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size for placement over predetermined left and right facial regions of a user  11 , such right and left template members  12  being mirror images of each other and each having a front side  14  and a back side  16 . 
     A securing means  18  is engageable with such right and left template members  12  and at least one of such user&#39;s face  22 , such user&#39;s facial hair  24 , such user&#39;s ears  26 , such user&#39;s head  28 , and a combination thereof. It is presently preferred that such securing means  18  is an adhesive type securing means  28 . It is further presently preferred that such adhesive type securing means  28  is disposed on such back sides  16  of such right and left template members  12  at predetermined locations thereon, preferably closely adjacent edges thereof as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     It is presently preferred that such facial hair trimming template  10  further includes a connecting means  32  engaged with such right and left template members  12  at predetermined locations thereon for at least one of extending between such right and left template members  12 , connecting such right and left template members  12 , and a combination thereof. Such connecting means  32  is depicted in  FIGS. 1-6 , however, as indicated, the connecting means, although part of the preferred embodiment, is not a absolutely required for use of the device  10  and the device  10  may be implemented without the connecting means if desired. 
     It is presently preferred that such connecting means  32  is a strap member  34  connected at a first end  36  thereof to a lower end  38  of such right template member  42  and connected at a second end  44  thereof to a lower end  46  of such left template member  48 . It is further presently preferred that such strap member  34  is elastic. It is meant that a user apply the right and left template members and secure such template members in place. The connecting means serves to stabilize such right and left template members and further secure the device in position closely adjacent a user&#39;s facial regions such that the templates may be used to facilitate an accurate trimming, cutting, and shaving of such user&#39;s facial hair. 
     It is presently preferred that such first predetermined material is at least one of fabric, cellulose, plastic, and a combination thereof. It is presently preferred that such first predetermined material is at least one of mesh and netting. It is presently most preferred that such first predetermined material is mesh. Such mesh being stretched to cover such facial region and manipulate facial lines to avoid being offset from facial hair. It is further presently preferred that such first predetermined material is an elastomer and is flexible. It is meant that the template members are flexible such that they may be molded to conform to the curvature of a user&#39;s face. Such first predetermined material is also preferably breathable. 
     It is presently preferred that such right and left template members  12  each further include a moldable frame member  52  disposed at least one of thereon and therein at predetermined locations, such moldable frame member  52  being manufactured from a second predetermined material and having a second predetermined size and a second predetermined shape. It is further presently preferred that such moldable frame members  52  are disposed closely adjacent edges of each of such respective right and left template members  12 . It is presently preferred that such second predetermined material is at least one of plastic, metal, and a combination thereof. 
     It is presently preferred that such facial hair trimming template  10  is disposable such that it may be implemented in barber shops, salons, beauty parlors, studios, at home, and anywhere else grooming is performed such that such grooming may be done hygienically, sanitarily, easily and conveniently. Such right and left template members may be shaped to match cutting edge fashion styles and used to reduce incidents of misshapen and lopsided facial hair. 
     According to another embodiment, a method of using a facial hair trimming template is provided. Such method includes the steps of selecting a facial hair trimming template including right and left template members manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size for placement over predetermined left and right facial regions of a user, such right and left template members being mirror images of each other and each having a front side and a back side and having a securing means engageable with such template members and at least one of such user&#39;s face, such user&#39;s facial hair, such user&#39;s ears, such user&#39;s head, and a combination thereof; placing such right and left template members on such predetermined left and right facial regions of a user; securing such template members to at least one of such user&#39;s face, such user&#39;s facial hair, such user&#39;s ears, such user&#39;s head, and a combination thereof; and at least one of cutting, trimming, shaving, and a combination thereof such user&#39;s facial hair such that such facial hair is cut, trimmed, shaved, and a combination thereof to at least partially match such first predetermined shape of such right and left template members. 
     It is presently preferred that such method includes using a moldable frame member disposed at least one of on and in such template members at predetermined locations to mold such template members closely to such user&#39;s face. 
     While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.