IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLIPPING HAIR
Year: 1884

page_text: I HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLIPPING HAIR," to be
as follows:
This invention relates to that class of instruments and apparatus which are used
for clipping the hair, of men and animals close to the skin; and has for its objects
to simplify the construction of such instruments so that the same may be readily
taken apart for cleaning and grinding, and then as readily put together again; and
to facilitate the operation of such instruments.
•
The said invention consists partly in so constructing a hair clipper as to enable
it to be taken apart and put together again without the use of any tools, but
simply by manipulations of a single thumb-screw forming a part of the instrument.
It also partly consists in providing the comb-plates of such instruments with a
series of grooves or depressions whereby all adhesion of the implement to the skin
is avoided. The invention further comprises a novel construction of the handles of
such implements.
In carrying the said invention into practice I form upon the upper side of the
comb-plate a central depression which produces two raised bearing surfaces the
former being at the front and the latter at the rear of the said plate. These
surfaces are accurately ground and upon them the cutter-plate slides. There being
no projections on the comb-plate the raised surfaces can be readily reground when
they become worn by use. The comb-plate is also provided with a circular bole in
which a post is placed; the said post being provided at its head with a projection
which fits into a slotted extension of the circular hole so as to prevent the post
from turning in the said hole. At the rear of the comb plate is formed a second'
hole which receives a stud projecting from underneath the cover, and in the forward
end of the comb plate is formed a square hole which receives another stud
projecting from beneath the cover.
On its under face, the cutter-plate is formed with raised bearing surfaces similar
to, and corresponding with, the bearing surfaces of the comb-plate. The upper

page_text: surface of the cutter plate is provided with a groove parallel with the cutting edge
of the plate and with a bevelled surface at the rear edge of the plate. The central
portion of the said b-velled surface and of the corresponding bearing surface, is cut
away so as to form two bearing surfaces, one at each end of the plate, which should
extend as far rearward as possible. In the centre of the groove of the cutter plate
is a square hole through which passes the projection of the cover which enters the
square hole in the comb-plate; said projection forming a stop which limits the
reciprocation of the cutter-plate. To the rear of the hole in the cutter plate is
made a hole which receives the stud on the short end of the actuating lever. The
cutter-plate is thus free from projections like the comb-plate, and its bearing
surfaces also can be readily ground when worn.
The actuating lever consists of a curved outer portion, the inner extremity of
which is formed with a boss through which the said post passes, on which the said
lever turns. On the opposite side of the boss is formed a stud the outer portion of
which is bent at right angles and enters a hole in the cutter plate, the arrangement
being such that the cutter-plate is reciprocated by the lever. The aperture or eye
in the boss of the actuating lever is formed with a slotted extension into which a
pin on the upper end of the post is placed to retain the actuating lever in place.
In a modification of this arrangement a coiled spring interposed between
the cutter-plate and the cover and surrounding the boss, is used in lieu of the
said pin.
The post consists of a round central shank, forming the bearing for the actuating
lever and formed with a round head which enters a recess in the comb plate the
said post being also provided with a projection which enters a slotted extension of
the said circular hole whereby the post is prevented from rotating. The upper end
of the post is formed with a screw-thread and is split or bifurcated longitudinally,
and a thumb-screw is screwed upon the upper end of the post, the split in the
upper end of the post affording sufficient spring to prevent the thumb-screw from
becoming loose.
The cover is convex externally and is raised in the centre to form a bearing for
the thumb-screw. A fixed lever projects from the rear of the cover in exact
alignment with the operating lever and is curved exactly like the operating lever,
so that in operating the clipper all tendency to twist is avoided and a perfectly
steady working of the instrument is secured. This arrangement is greatly superior
to that heretofore employed in which the levers are placed one above the other,
because greater steadiness is secured and the strain upon the operator in holding
the old instrument by the fixed handle is avoided, thus rendering manipulations of
the improved implement much less fatiguing than has heretofore been the case.
The cover is also provided with a projection which enters a hole in the conib-plate.
and secures the rear part of the cover in position. A small pin or any similar
projection, is placed close to the said projection and serves to permit the self-
adjustment of the cover and forms a bearing upon the plate. Upon the front part
of the cover is formed a projection which, extends through an elongated hole in the
cutter-plate and also enters a hole in the comb-plate and serves to limit the
reciprocatory movements of the cutter-plate. The forward edge of the cover is
turned down at right angles and enters the groove of the cutter-plate, and forms
the way or guide along which the cutter-plate moves as the latter is reciprocated
by the actuating lever. The cutter-plate must move in close contact with the
comb-plate, and the thumb-screw serves to regulate this degree of contact and
maintain it by taking up the wear between the bearing surfaces. In order to
reduce the friction between the cutter-plate and the cover, the bearing of the latter
upon the former is confined to the two bearing surfaces; the arrangement being
such that all binding of the cutter-plate is avoided and clean cutting attained.
The comb-plate is provided on its under side with a series of grooves extending
from the comb-edge between the comb-teeth backward over the whole surface of
the comb-plate to, or nearly to, the rear edge of the plate.

page_text: The shank of the lever is made slightly tapering; The wooden handle for the
shanks, is formed with a central longitudinal socket reamed to correspond with
the taper of the shank which it is designed to receive. In order to prevent the
handle from turning on its shauk one or more fins are formed on the sides of the
shank, so as to project radially therefrom, and when the handle is driven on
the shank the fin or fins enters or enter the sides of the socket and firmly holds or
hold the bandle upon the shank. The fins may be formed by raising the surface of
the shank with a chisel, or by casting, or otherwise.
In order to compensate for the shrinkage of the wooden handle, and to prevent
the consequent loosening of the ferrule, the ferrule end of the handle is turned
slightly tapering, and the interior of the ferrule is formed with a saw-tooth-
sectioned screw-thread, so that when the wood has shrunk the ferrule may be
turned and tightened up, thus compensating for the shrinkage and preventing the
loosening of the ferrule. An annular groove is cut into the base of the handle and
receives the edge of the ferrule; the arrangement being such that a finished
appearance is presented by the handle, whether the ferrule is screwed onto the
handle much or little, si: ce the edge of the ferrule is always within the groove.
This improved clipper can be readily taken apart for cleaning and grinding, by
simply unscrewing the thumb-screw, and the grooves under the comb-plate
prevent the adhesion of the instrument to the skin by forming air-spaces between
the comb-plate and the skin, and finally no dust or hair can get in between the
shanks and the handles owing to the improved arrangement of such parts.
Deted this 5th dow of Mou 1001
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant..

page_text: I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLIPPING HAIR" and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to that class of instruments or apparatus which are used
for clipping the hair of men and animals close to the skin; and has for its objects
to simplify the construction of such, apparatus so that the same may be readily
taken apart for cleaning and grinding, and then as readily put together again; and
to facilitate the operation of such apparatus.
The said invention consists partly in so constructing a hair clipper as to enable
it to be, taken apart and put together again without the use of any tools, but
simply by manipulations of a single thumb-screw forming a part of the instrument.
It also partly consists in providing the comb-plates of such instruments with a
series of grooves or depressions whereby all adhesion of the instrument to the skin
is avoided. The invention further comprises a novel construction of the handles
of such instruments.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a top view of apparatus constructed according to this invention the
actuating lever being shown as broken off close to the clipper.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the comb-plate, the cutter-plate and the cover,
showing the bearing surfaces on the cover, and the stop for limiting the movements
of the cutter-plate.
Figure 3 is a top view of the clipper with its cover removed.
Figure 4 is a view of the post.
Figure 5 is a view of a portion of the comb-plate, showing the slot which receives
the projection on the post.
Figure 6 is a sectional view of the instrument, showing the coiled spring inter-
posed between the cover and the boss of the actuating lever.
Figure 7 is a sectional view of the clipper on the line x of Figure 1.
Figure 8 is a similar view on the line y of Figure 1.
Figure 9 is a sectional view of the handle secured to the actuating lever.
Figure 10 is a side view of the complete instrument.
Figure 11 is a sectional view of the comb and cutter plates..
Figure 12 is a cross-section of the handle and actuating lever.
Figure 13 is a view of a barber's clipper.
Figure 14 is an under side view of the improved comb-plate.
Figure 15 is a sectional view of the comb-plate, and
Figure 16 is a cross-section of the comb-plate.
A designates the comb-plate, B the cutter-plate, C the operating-lever for the
cutter-plate, D the cover with the fixed handle, E the post, and F the thumb-screw;
these six parts constituting the complete instrument and all connected and adjusted
by means of the thumb-screw.

page_text: Upon the upper side of the comb-plate A is formed a central depression which
produces the two raised bearing surfaces a', a², the former being at the front and
the latter at the rear of the plate. These surfaces are accurately ground and upon
them the cutter-plate B slides. There being no projections on the comb-plate, the
raised surfaces can be readily reground when they become worn by use.
Tho
comb-plate A is also provided with the circular hole a³, in which the post E is
placed, the said post being provided at its head with a projection which fits into a
slotted extension of the hole a³ so as to prevent the post from turning in the hole.
At the rear of the plate A is formed a hole at which receives a stud projecting
from underneath the cover D, and in the forward end of the plate A is formed a
square hole as which receives another stud projecting from beneath the cover D.
On its under face the cutter-plate is formed with raised bearing surfaces similar
to and corresponding with the bearing surfaces of the comb-plate. The upper
surface of the cutter-plate is provided with the groove b, parallel with the cutting
edge of the plate, and with the bevelled surface b¹ at the rear edge of the plate B.
The central portion of the bevelled surface b¹, and of the corresponding bearing
surface, is cut away so as to form two bearing surfaces one at each end of the plate,
which extend as far rearward as possible.
In the centre of the groove b, of the plate B, is a square hole 62, through which,
passes the projection of the cover D, which projection enters the hole as in the
comb-plate; said projection forming a stop which limits the reciprocation of the
cutter-plate (see figure 3). To the rear of the hole 62 in the plate B is made
the hole 63, which receives the stud on the short end of the actuating lever C. It
will thus be seen that. the cutter-plate is free from projections like the comb-plate A,
and that its bearing surfaces also can be readily ground when worn.
The actuating lever C consists of curved outer portion, the inner extremity of
which is formed with the boss c¹ through which the post E passes on which the.
said lever turns. On the opposite side of the boss c¹ is formed the stud c², the
outer portion of which is bent at right angles and enters the hole b³ in the plate B;
the arrangement being such that the plate B is reciprocated by the lever C. The
aperture or eye in the boss c¹ of the lever C, is formed with a slotted extension ³,
into which a pin ea on the upper end of the post E is placed, as shown in Figure 3,
to retain the actuating lever in place.
A modification of this arrangement is shown in figure 6, wherein a coiled spring
interposed between the cutter-plate and the cover and surrounding the boss c³, is
used in lieu of the pin e³.
The post E consists of the round central shank, forming the bearing for the
actuating lever C and formed with a round head which enters a recess in the
plate A; the said post being also provided with the projection e¹ which enters
the slotted extension of the hole a³, whereby the post E is prevented from
rotating. The upper end of the post is formed with a screw-thread and is split or.
bifurcated longitudinally, and the thumb-screw F is screwed upon the upper end of
the post, the split in the upper end of the post affording sufficient spring to prevent
the thumb-screw from becoming loose.
The cover D is convex externally, and is raised in the centre to form a bearing
for the thumb-screw F. The fixed lever d projects from the rear of the cover in
exact alignment with the operating lever C, and is curved exactly like the operating
lever, so that, in operating the clipper, all tendency to twist is avoided and a
perfectly steady working of the instrument is secured.
This arrangement is greatly superior to that heretofore employed, in which the
levers are placed one above the other, because greater steadiness is secured, and the
strain upon the operator in holding the old instrument by the fixed handle is
avoided, thus rendering manipulations of the improved instrument much less
fatiguing than has heretofore been the case.
The cover D is also provided with the projection d' which enters the hole a in
the comb-plate H and secures the rear part of the cover in position. The small
pin d², or any similar projection, is placed close.to the projection d', and serves to

page_text: permit the self-adjustment of the cover and forms a bearing upon the plate A.
Upon the front part of the cover is formed a projection d³ which extends through
the elongated hole 62 in the cutter-plate B, and also enters the hole a³ in the comb-
plate A and serves to limit the reciprocatory movements of the cutter-plate. The
forward edge of the cover D is turned down at right angles, and enters the
groove 6 of the cutter-plate, forming the way or guide along which the cutter-plate
moves as the latter is reciprocated by the actuating lever C. The cutter-plate B.
must move in close contact with the comb-plate A, and the thumb-screw F serves
to regulate this degree of contact and maintain it by taking up the wear between
the bearing surfaces. In order to reduce the friction between the cutter-plate and
the cover the bearing of the latter upon the former is confined to the two bearing
surfaces d³ the arrangement being such that all binding of the cutter-plate. is
avoided and clean cutting attained.
The comb-plate A is provided on its under side, with a series of grooves a
extending from the coinb-edge, between the comb-teeth a backward over the
whole surface of the comb-plate to or nearly to the rear edge of the plate.
G designates the shank of the lever which is made slightly tapering. H designates
the wooden handle for the shank which is formed with a central longitudinal socket
,reamed to correspond with the taper of the shank which it is designed to receive.
In order to prevent the handle from turning on its shank one or more fins g are
formed on the sides of the shank, so as to project radially therefrom, and when the
handle is driven on the shank the fin or fins enter. the sides of the socket and
firmly hold the handle upon the shank. The fins g may be formed by raising the
surface of the shank with a chisel, or by casting, or otherwise.
In order to compensate for the shrinkage of the wooden handle H, and to prevent
the consequent loosening of the ferrule, the ferrule end of the handle is turned
slightly tapering, and the interior of the ferrule is formed with a saw-tooth-sectioned
screw-thread, so that when the wood has shrunk the ferrule may be turned and
tightened up, thus compensating for the shrinkage and preventing the loosening of
the ferrule. An annular groove ¹ is cut into the base of the handle and receives
the edge of the ferrule; the arrangement being such that a finished appearance is
presented by the handle, whether the ferrule is screwed on to the handle much or
little, since the edge of the ferrule is always within the groove.
This improved clipper can be readily taken apart for cleaning and grinding by
simply unscrewing the thumb screw F, and the grooves under the comb-plate
prevent the adhesion of the instrument to the skin by forming air-spaces between
the comb-plate and the skin, and finally no dust or air can get in between the
shanks and the handles owing to the improved arrangement of such parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. In a hair-clipper, the combination with the reciprocating cutter-plate, the
cover, and the post and thumb-screw, of the comb-plate provided with the raised
bearing surfaces a¹, a³ the hole a³ arranged to receive the post E, and the holes a* að
arranged, to receive the projections on the cover as described.
Second. The combination with the comb-plate A of the cutter-plate B provided
with the groove b, the slot 62, the cover D having projections d², d³, the post E,
the thumb-screw F and the boss c¹ carrying the down-turned projection c* as
described.
Third. The combination with the comb-plate A, the cutter-plate B provided with
the handle d and the groove b, the post E, the thumb-screw F, and the boss c¹
carrying the handle C, of the cover D provided with the way or guide d' arranged
to enter the groove b, and the projection d' arranged to enter the comb-plate and
to secure the cover and plates in their proper relative positions, as described.
Fourth. The combination with the cover, the cutter-plate, the comb-plate, the
post, and the thumb-screw, all constructed and arranged substantially as described,
of the fixed lever d secured to the cover, and the actuating lever C. with its boss cl

page_text: and extension c²; the said levers being arranged to move in the same plane and
curved to correspond with each other, as described.
Fifth. The combination with the cutting and comb-plates arranged as described,
of the cover D provided with a projection on its rear arranged to allow of the free
adjustment of the cover upon the cutter-plate, as described.
Sixth. The combination with the comb-plate and the reciprocating cutter-plate,
of the cover D formed with the extension ³ constituting a stop, and the bearing
surfaces d³ to hold the cutter-plate against the comb-plate and acting as guides,
as described.
Seventh. The comb-plate A provided with a series of grooves upon its under
surface, for the purpose set forth.
Eighth. The combination with the cutter-plate, the cover, and the operative
connections of a hair-clipping machine, of the comb-plate A provided with the
grooves a substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Ninth. The handle for hair-clippers, consisting of the hand-piece provided with
a tapered central longitudinal socket, and the shank provided on its sides with one
or more radial projections or fins arranged to enter the sides of the socket, for the
purpose set forth.
Tenth. The handle H provided with the tapered reduced end and the annular
groove h¹, in combination with the ferrule h having the internal saw-tooth-sectioned
screw thread, for the purposes set forth.
Eleventh. The combination with, the hair clipper herein described, of the shank G
provided with the fin or fins g, the handle provided with the central longitudinal
socket, the tapered reduced portion and the annular ring h', and the ferrule h
provided with the internal saw-tooth-sectioned screw-thread, as, and for the
purposes, described.
Dated this 4th day of Enh