Patent Abstract:
A portable multi purpose machine having removable head attachments primarily for personal grooming. The removable head attachments used for multiple purposes include: cutting and vacuuming, shaving, hair clipping, tooth brushing, vacuuming, and massaging. The multi purpose machine comprises a housing having first and second walls and a motor assembly. The motor assembly has an electrically powered drive member to operate each of the heads. A power cord assembly provides power to rechargeable batteries.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to portable multi purpose machines, and more particularly, to a multi purpose machine having removable head attachments primarily for personal grooming. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Many designs for grooming machines have been designed in the past. None of them, however, includes removable head attachments used for multiple purposes including: cutting, shaving, clipping, tooth brushing, vacuuming, and massaging. 
   There are no similar multi purpose machines to the best of applicant&#39;s knowledge, having removable head attachments, and are primarily for personal grooming. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A portable grooming machine, comprising a housing; a motor assembly and an electrically powered drive member mounted inside the housing; a power cord assembly removably connected to the housing; and a first head means removably secured upon the housing for cutting hair while vacuuming the hair into the housing. The first head means comprises a first cutter with a first coupling element that when assembled are housed within the first head means. The first coupling element transmits a first drive motion to the first cutter. The first coupling element is adapted to be set in a reciprocating motion by the electrically powered drive member and the first drive motion is transmitted to the first cutter. 
   The housing comprises first and second faces having a plurality of tracks. The plurality of tracks receives rails extending from a guard that extends above the first head means in an extended position and below the first head means in a retracted position. 
   Second head means are removably secured upon the housing for shaving hair. The second head means comprise a second cutter with a second coupling element that when assembled are housed within the second head means. The second coupling element transmits a second drive motion to the second cutter. The second coupling element is adapted to be set in the reciprocating motion by the electrically powered drive member and the second drive motion is transmitted to the second cutter. 
   A third head means is removably secured upon the housing for clipping hair. The third head means comprises a third cutter with a third coupling element that when assembled is housed within the third head means. The third coupling element transmits the second drive motion to the third cutter. The third coupling element is adapted to be set in the reciprocating motion by the electrically powered drive member and the second drive motion is transmitted to the third cutter. 
   A fourth head means is removably secured upon the housing for tooth brushing. The fourth head means comprises a circular tooth brush means having an engaging pin to the electrically powered drive member, transmitting either the first drive motion or the second drive motion. 
   A fifth head means is removably secured upon the housing for vacuuming. The fifth head means is substantially hollow to receive matter therethrough when the electrically powered drive member is engaged in the first drive motion. 
   A sixth head means is removably secured upon the housing for massaging. The sixth head means comprises a massage pad with a fourth coupling element. The fourth coupling element transmits either the first drive motion or the second drive motion to the massage pad. The fourth coupling element is adapted to be set in the reciprocating motion by the electrically powered drive member. 
   The housing has first and second switches, the first switch engaging the first drive motion and the second switch engaging the second drive motion. The housing also comprises a jack to receive the power cord assembly. In addition, the housing houses a rechargeable battery system, the rechargeable battery system recharged from the power cord assembly. 
   It is therefore one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a portable multi purpose machine having a plurality of removable heads. 
   It is another object of this invention to provide a portable multi purpose machine that is primarily used for personal grooming. 
   It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a device that is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining its effectiveness. 
   Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  represents a perspective view of the instant invention. 
       FIG. 1   a  is a representation of an exploded view of a hair-cutting/vacuum head assembly. 
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the housing assembly. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a cut view of the housing assembly taken along the line  3 — 3  as seen in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 3   a  is a representation of an exploded view of the head assembly underside, male adaptor, and female shaft. 
       FIG. 4  represents a perspective view of the instant invention with a dry shaver head assembly. 
       FIG. 4   a  is a representation of an exploded view of a dry shaver head assembly. 
       FIG. 4   b  is a representation of an exploded view of a hair clipper head assembly. 
       FIG. 4   c  is a representation of an exploded view of a toothbrush head assembly. 
       FIG. 4   d  is a representation of a vacuum head assembly. 
       FIG. 4   e  is a representation of a massage head assembly. 
       FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the power supply cord assembly. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral  10 , it can be observed that it basically includes housing  20 , motor assembly  70 , head assembly  90 , and power supply cord assembly  600 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 1 , seated on housing  20  is a hair-cutting/vacuum head assembly  90  having detachably secured head  92 . Instant invention  10  comprises housing  20  having face  22  on its front side and face  24  on its rear side, seen in  FIG. 3 . Arranged on each side where faces  22  and  24  meet, are switch  30  and vacuum switch  32 . Provided at end  36  where faces  22  and  24  also meet is socket  44  for connection to power supply cord assembly  600 , seen in  FIG. 5 . Housing  20  has indicator lights  38  and  40 . Indicator lights  38  indicate the amount of battery power remaining for instant invention  10  to operate. When all of indicator lights  38  are lit, it indicates full battery charge in battery  52 , seen in  FIG. 3 , and when none of indicator lights  38  are lit, it indicates no battery charge remaining in battery  52 . Indicator light  40  illuminates when power supply cord assembly  600  is connected and supplying electrical power to charge/recharge battery  52 . Also seen on housing  20  is speed control lever  46  that rides within channel  47 . Speed control lever  46  controls the speed at which motor assembly  70  is operating. Guard  28  has rails  29 , which slide upon tracks  26 . A user may adjust guard  28  to a predetermined height when cutting hair, wherein hair to be cut is placed through the mid section of guard  28  and is cut by head  92 . The user may cut hair utilizing head  92  while vacuuming the hair simultaneously when activating instant invention  10  with vacuum switch  32 . 
     FIG. 1   a  shows an exploded view of the removable head assembly  90  in which a hair-cutting/vacuum unit comprises an under cutter  95  with a coupling element  94 , which when assembled, is housed within head  92 . Coupling element  94  transmits the drive motion to under cutter  95 . Coupling element  94 , which is adapted to be set in a reciprocating motion by the electric drive mechanism from motor  70 , is coupled via drive pin  88  mounted upon male adaptor  77 , as seen in  FIG. 3   a . Hair that is placed upon cutting foil  91  is cut by under cutter  95  and falls through either side of coupling element  94  as it is vacuumed. Coupling element  94  has aperture  96  for insertion of pin  100  having notch  104 . Tabs  99  align with and engage into holes  102  when head  92  is assembled. 
   As seen in  FIG. 2 , housing  20  has head bracket arms  84 . Bracket arms  84  have tabs  86  upon which all head assemblies removably snap thereon. While switch  30  is in the “on” position, female shaft  76  spins in a clockwise direction. While switch  32  is in the “on” position, female shaft  76  spins in a counter-clockwise direction. 
   As seen in  FIG. 3 , face  24  of housing  20  comprises electrical cavity  48  and collector cavity  60 . Instant invention  10  is powered by battery  52 , which is positioned in electrical system  50 . Electrical wires from shaver socket  44  connect to battery  52  for charging and recharging. Also within electrical system  50  is motor assembly  70 . Electrical wires from switch  30  and vacuum switch  32  send electronic signals to engage motor  70 . Extending from motor  70  and through collector  62  is female shaft  76 . Female shaft  76  has shaft ends  78  and  80  and in the preferred embodiment, is an allen-type shape shaft. 
   Extending approximately perpendicularly from female shaft  76  and below collector  62  is propeller  82 . While switch  30  is in the “on” position, female shaft  76  spins in a clockwise direction, causing propeller  82  to spin in a clockwise direction and direct air flow from vents  37 , seen in  FIG. 1 , through electrical cavity  48 , collector cavity  60 , and out through head assembly  90 . This airflow cools instant invention  10 . 
   While switch  32  is in the “on” position, female shaft  76  spins in a counter-clockwise direction, causing propeller  82  to spin in a counter-clockwise direction and direct air flow from head assembly  90  at end  34 , through collector cavity  60 , electrical cavity  48 , and out through vents  37 , seen in  FIG. 1 . Collector  62 , within collector cavity  60 , collects hair, particles, and matter in general when instant invention  10  is utilized in a vacuum manner, such as with heads  92  and  492 , seen in  FIGS. 1 and 4   d  respectfully. 
   Face  24  comprises a plurality of apertures  54 . Pins, not seen, extending from face  22 , align with and snap into apertures  54  when housing  20  is assembled. 
   Seen in  FIG. 3   a  are female shaft  76 , male adaptor  77 , and a bottom view of head  92 . In operation, drive pin  88  makes engagement with groove  98  of coupling element  94 , causing back-and-forth movement in the directions of arrow A for transmission of a drive motion reciprocating in the directions of arrow B to under cutter  130 , seen in  FIG. 4   a , mounted for oscillatory motion in head  192 . Similarly, in operation, drive pin  88  makes engagement with groove  98  of coupling element  94 , causing back-and-forth movement in the directions of arrow A for transmission of a drive motion reciprocating in the directions of arrow B to under cutter  95 , seen in  FIG. 1   a , mounted for oscillatory motion in head  92 . 
   Seen in  FIGS. 4 and 4   a  is a shaving head assembly  190  having detachably secured head  192 . Removable head assembly  190  as a hair-shaving unit comprises an under cutter  130  with a coupling element  194 , which when assembled, is housed within shaver foil  134 . Coupling element  194  transmits the drive motion to under cutter  130 . Coupling element  194 , which is adapted to be set in a reciprocating motion by the electric drive mechanism from motor  70 , is coupled via drive pin  88  mounted upon male adaptor  77 . Coupling element  194  has aperture  196  for insertion of pin  100  having notch  104 . Foil protector cap  138  protects shaver foil  134  when not in use. 
     FIG. 4   b  shows an exploded view of removable head assembly  290  in which a hair-clipping unit comprises head  292  having a clipper plate  242 . Biased against clipper plate  242  is a clipper  246 . As with removable head assembly  190 , coupling element  294  transmits the drive motion to clipper  246 . The coupling element  294 , which is adapted to be set in a reciprocating motion by the electric drive mechanism from motor  70 , is coupled via drive pin  88  mounted upon male adaptor  77 . 
   Similarly as when used in the hair-shaving defined above, in operation of removable head assembly  290 , drive pin  88  makes engagement with groove  98 , seen in  FIG. 3   a , of coupling element  294 , causing back-and-forth movement in the directions of arrow A for transmission of a drive motion reciprocating in the directions of arrow B to clipper  246 , causing hair to be clipped and/or cut when biased against clipper plate  242 . Guard  250  slides within track  293  to adjust the length of hair to be clipped and/or cut. The numbers on the side of guard  250  represent the length of hair to be clipped and/or cut. Coupling element  194  has aperture  196  for insertion of pin  200  having notch  204 . 
     FIG. 4   c  shows a perspective view of the removable head assembly  390  having toothbrush assembly  360 . Toothbrush assembly  360  comprises circular toothbrush  380  mounted upon handle  364 . Extending from handle  364  and in opposite direction from circular toothbrush  380 , is male shaft  372  terminating at end  368 . Removable head assembly  390  has through-hole  376 . When assembled for operation, male shaft  372  is inserted through through-hole  376  and directly into female shaft  76 . Circular toothbrush  380  may be operated with either switch  30  or vacuum switch  32 . In operation, male shaft  372  extends through handle  364  to drive circular toothbrush  380 . 
     FIG. 4   d  shows a perspective view of the removable head assembly  490  in which a vacuum unit comprises head  492  having a brush  454 . When vacuum switch  32  is in the “on” position, female shaft  76  spins in a counter-clockwise direction, causing propeller  82  to spin in a counter-clockwise direction, thus creating a vacuum. Head  492  is mostly hollow to allow matter to pass into collector  62 . 
     FIG. 4   e  shows a perspective view of removable head assembly  590  comprising head  592  and massage pad  556 . As with removable head assemblies  190  and  290 , coupling element  194 , seen in  FIG. 4   a , transmits the drive motion to massage pad  556 . The coupling element  194 , which is adapted to be set in a reciprocating motion by the electric drive mechanism from motor  70 , is coupled via drive pin  88  mounted upon male adaptor  77 . 
   Similarly as when used in the hair-shaving and hair-clipping defined above, in operation of removable head assembly  590 , drive pin  88  makes engagement with groove  98 , seen in  FIG. 3   a , of coupling element  194 , causing back-and-forth movement in the directions of arrow A for transmission of vibration, causing massage pad  556  to vibrate. 
   As seen in  FIG. 5 , power supply cord assembly  600  comprises plug blades  602 , which are inserted into an electrical outlet for power and power plug  604 , which is inserted into shaver socket  44 . Electrical wires from shaver socket  44  connect to battery  52  for charging and recharging, as seen in  FIG. 3 . 
   The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1