IMPROVEMENTS IN HAIR-CLIPPERS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lucian Sharpe, of Providence, State of Rhode Island, one
of the United States of America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HAIR-CLIPPERS." A communication from Cyrus Carleton, of Providence, Rhode
Island, United States of America.
Sealed the 6th January 1880, and dated the 9th July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lucian Sharpe at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th July 1879.
LUCIAN SHARPE, of Providence, State of Rhode Island, one of the United States
of America. "IMPROVEMENTS OF HAIR CLIPPERS." [A communication from Cyrus
Carleton, of Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America.]
This Invention has reference to improvements in hair clippers generally, and is
peculiarly adapted for clipping the hair of small animals, and parts of animals
difficult to clip with clippers as heretofore constructed, such parts, for instance, as
portions of the head and those parts of the legs difficult of access, amongst which
are the fetlocks. The said Invention is also particularly designed for the use of
hairdressers.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I combine with the cutter plate of a
hair clipping machine a comb-plate of considerable thickness at the edges of the
cutter plate, the lower surface of which is curved, and diminishes rapidly in thick-
ness rear-ward, so that the comb-plate may enter irregularities in the surface, and
cut the hair of uniform length. I also provide the comb-plate with long slender
teeth, the forward ends of which have a spring temper imparted to them, so as to
give strength and elasticity to the same; and I give to the cutter-plate a long
bearing, both front and rear, on the comb-plate, and secure the two together by a
spring-washer, so as to ensure the easy working of the parts. I also secure a coiled
spring to the comb-plate, and also to the operating lever, so that the said spring
will move the cutter in one direction whilst the hand of the operator moves the
same against the pressure of the spring in the opposite direction, and I arrange the
parts in such a manner that one screw secures the whole together, and the working
parts are protected against dust and hair.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Lucian Sharpe in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th January
1880.
LUCIAN SHARPE, of Providence, State of Rhode Island, one of the United States
of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HAIR-CLIPPERS." A communication from Cyrus..
Carleton, of Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America.
This Invention has-reference to improvements in hair clippers generally, and is
peculiarly adapted for clipping the hair of small animals, or parts of animals
difficult to clip with the old construction of clippers, such as portions of the head,
parts of the legs difficult to get at, amongst which are the fetlocks, and is also
particularly designed for barbers' use.
The Invention consists in the peculiar arrangement, combination, and construction
of the various parts, by which a new and superior machine is produced, and which
will be more fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.
Figure 1 is a top view of my improved clipper adapted to be operated by one
hand, the handles being provided with finger and thumb rests, so that the clipper
can be firmly held and operated.
Figure 2 is a top view of the comb-plate and the cutter-plate, shewing the lever
operating the cutter-plate, the fulcrum of the lever, the spiral spring operating the
lever by reaction, and the position of the two hand levers, the cap covering these
parts in Figure 1 being removed.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of Figure 1 through the line "A, B," indicated on
Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of Figure 2 through the line "C, D."
Figure 5 is a rear end view of the clipper, the hand levers being shown broken off.
In the Drawing "a
represents the comb-plate provided with the comb teeth
"b;" these teeth are made of considerable depth, much greater than comb-plate
teeth as heretofore made. The under surface from the front end of the teeth to the
rear end is slightly curved, and the plate in rear of the teeth diminishes rapidly in
thickness, so much so that the teeth can pass into curved surfaces and cut the hair
of uniform length in all parts. The teeth in the comb-plate are also much longer
and more slender than such teeth as heretofore made, and will therefore guide the
hair better in passing through the same, and hold the hair more firmly whilst the
same is cut by the reciprocating cutter plate.
As the long and slender comb-teeth would be liable to break off at a slight touch
the temper of the forward portion is drawn to a spring temper, whilst the rear
cutting portion is left sufficiently hard to present a good cutting edge.
The comb plate forms the base of the clipper, and all the parts are directly or-
indirectly secured to the same. Figures 1 and 2 show the outline of the comb plate,
and Figures 3 and 4 the varying thickness of the plate in section.
"C" represents the cutter plate. The central portion of this plate is cut out
sufficiently, so as to give a narrow bearing on the front and rear edges of the plate,
both bearings extending the whole length of the plate. "d, d," are two slots in the
plate, and the pins "d', d," secured in the comb-plate as shewn in Figure 4, pass
through the slots "d, d," in the cutter-plate, forming guides for the plate and stops
to limit the reciprocation of the cutter plate. The hole "e" in which the cam on the
lever by means of which the cutter plate is reciprocated oscillates is cut through the.
cutter plate, but the segmental cut "f" removes only a portion of the upper part of.
the cutter plate without disturbing the rear bearing of the plate, as has been the
case with cutter plates as heretofore constructed. This break in the bearing of
the cutter-plate, within which the short arm of the lever heretofore moved, allowed
air and dirt to accumulate between the lever and the plate, and caused much wear
and friction, all of which is avoided in my improved clipper. The fixed lever "g"
is secured to the comb-plate by means of two screws, as shown in Figures 2 and 4,

page_text: firmly holding the plate "g" forming part of the fixed lever to the comb-plate, and to
more rigidly hold the fixed lever to the comb-plate a portion of the plate g¹ extends
down even with the comb-plate, and fits closely to the edge of the same, as is shown
in Figures 3, 4, and 5.
The plate g' is milled out to receive the operating lever, and is partially sur-
rounded with a raised rim g2, from which the fixed lever projects. By this construc-
tion the upward curved portion of the fixed and operating levers can be placed on
the same height, be curved both in the same manner, exert the force on the same
plane, and present a more elegant and finished appearance than when they are made
to pass one over or in front of the other.
"i" is the axial fulcrum on which the operating lever "7" is hinged; it is a stout
pin screwed into the comb-plate and resting on the same by a projecting shoulder.
The operating lever "7" is provided with the sleeve "m," which secures it to a long
bearing on the pin "i" and adds much to the accuracy of the working. Surrounding
the sleeve "m" is the coiled spring "n," one end of which is in contact with a pin
on the short end of the lever "," and the other end rests against the end "h" of the
rim g The whole is protected by the cover" O" resting at "h" on the curved
rim g², and bearing on the cutter-plate "C" along the cutters, as is shewn in Figs. 1
and 3. The pin i projects through the cover "O," and is provided with a screw-
thread. A washer p is placed on the plate, made of spring steel, and curved so
that when the nut "q" is tightened the cover "O," resting firmly at "h," will exert
a yielding pressure along the line of the cutters, and thus keep the same in contact
with the comb-plate, not fixed and rigidly, but yielding to the spring of the
washer "p."
"
All the parts are protected by means of the cover "O," and hair and other impuri-
ties are not liable to interfere with the free working of the clipper. The pressure
on the cutter-plate can be easily regulated by the nut "q" acting on the spring-
washer, and when regulated is not liable to be disturbed. All the operating parts
work on long bearings, so that the cutter-plate works smoothly; and the operating
lever is also hinged on a long bearing and bears on the lower part of the pin, so that
it is not liable to bind. The whole works accurately with the least possible friction;
and the general appearance is elegant. The hand levers g and are rounded on the
outside, the ends curved inward, and thumb and finger rests are provided to facilitate
the handling of the clipper without fatigue, an important point when intended for
barbers' use.
Having thus described my Invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by
Letters Patent,-
First. In a hair-clipping machine the combination with the cutter-plate "C" of a
comb-plate, the forward portion of which is of greater thickness than the rear portion,
and in which the lower surface of the forward portion is curved, and diminishes
rapidly from the end of the teeth rearward, so that the teeth can enter irregularities
in the surface, and the hair can be cut uniform in length as described.
Second. A comb-plate provided with long comb-teeth, when the whole is hardened
so as to secure hard cutting edges, and the pointed forward portion of the teeth is
annealed to a spring temper, so as to prevent injury to the same in use.
Third. The combination with the comb-plate of the cutter plate, provided with a
bearing on the cutting edge and the rear edge the whole length of the plate, when
the plate is reciprocated by the short end of the operating lever, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The combination with the comb-plate and the lever g of the plate gl
provided with the curved rim g² arranged to secure the lever g to the comb-plate,
enclose a portion of the clipper, and form a bearing for the cover O, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. The combination with the comb-plate "a" of the pin "i" arranged to form
the fulcrum for the operating lever and secure the cover "O," as and for the
Un cat forth

page_text: «
Sixth. The combination with the lever "g" and plate "g"," provided with a recess
_arranged to receive the operating lever, of the lever "" provided with a long sleevo
m".
("arranged to surround the fulcrum pin "" and the cam "e" secured to the
short end of the lever, the whole arranged to operate the clipper substantially as and
for the-purpose set forth.
2
Seventh. The combination with the-fixed lever secured to the comb-plate and
the operating lever arranged to reciprocate the cutter-plate of a spiral-spring sur-
rounding the fulcrum, and arranged to move the operating lever in-one direction
when the same has been moved by hand power in the opposite direction, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
""
Eighth. The combination with the lever "7" of the sleeve "m" and coiled spring
n "when one end of the spring rests against any part of the lever "1" and the
other end against any part or secured to the comb-plate, arranged to move the cutter
plate in one direction by the action of the coiled spring, or assist in so moving the
same.
•
Ninth. The combination with the comb plate, the pin "," and nut "q" of the
cover "O," arranged to cover and protect the operating parts of the clipper, as and
for the purpose set forth.
Tenth. The combination with the comb plate and the cutter plate of the pin "¿,"
the cover "O," the nut "q," and the spring-washer "p," arranged to exert a yielding
pressure on the cutter-plate as and for the purpose set forth.
Eleventh. The combination with the cover "O," pin “i," nut "q," and spring-
washer "p" of the raised rim "92" provided with the rest "h," arranged to form a
bearing for the cover "O" at the rear, and allow the cover to exert a yielding
pressure near the cutting edge on the cutter plate, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lucian Sharpe, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Eighteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
In presence of
JOSEPH A. MILLER,
Civil Engineer & Solicitor of Patents,
Providence,
R. I.
LUCIAN SHARPE. (L.S.)