Patent ID: 12198569

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now to the drawings, the same illustrate an exemplary embodiment of an intelligent hair clipper training system20(referred to herein as “system” for brevity) constructed in accordance with the teachings herein. With reference toFIG.1, system20includes a housing in the form of a mannequin head22with hair24affixed thereto. System20also includes an electric hair clipper26(referred to herein as a “clipper”).

As will be explained by the following, system20is operable to provide an indication, generally depicted as an illuminated area28, to a user of where to cut hair on mannequin head22at a given length. System20may also be configured to provide an additional indication via an indicator30, corresponding to whether clipper26is in its correct configuration, and in the correct location, relative to the zone of hair to be cut on mannequin head22.

It is contemplated, however, that indicator30may be omitted. In such an instance, the indication of as to whether clipper26is in its correct configuration and in the correct location may be provided by the same structure providing illuminated area28, as described in greater detail below. In either case, such a configuration advantageously allows for real-time feedback as a user cuts hair24. Further, it is also contemplated herein that the housing may take on other forms other than a mannequin head. For example, the housing may be in the form of another body part of a mannequin. In general, the housing contemplated herein may be structure that is sufficient to have hair attached to it.

Still referring toFIG.1, clipper26includes a bladeset32for cutting hair24. A taper lever34is operable to control a blade gap of bladeset32, which in turns provides fine adjustment of the length of hair24that is cut by bladeset32. System20also includes a comb. Such a comb may be embodied as one or more combs36mountable on clipper26. Combs36are also used to govern the length of hair24that is cut by bladeset32, primarily by spacing bladeset32a predefined distance away from a scalp surface upon which hair24is situated on. Alternatively, a comb can include a single comb that is movable relative to clipper26to adjust a length of hair cut.

As will be explained in greater detail below, system20is operable to progress a user through various zones of hair24. Each zone has a comb36associated with it. In other words, each zone has a different hair length in that zone relative to the other zones. The zone corresponding to the area the user should be cutting will be illuminated, as is shown for example by illuminated zone28. This illumination provides the user with an instruction of where they should be cutting hair.

System20is also operable to verify that the user is using the correct comb36for that zone, as well as a whether taper lever34is in its correct taper lever position. System20is also operable to indicate to the user whether the user has strayed outside of the zone the user should be working in, and/or whether the user has attached an incorrect comb36or does not have taper lever34in the correct position. Such a configuration is particularly helpful for producing the aforementioned fade haircut. With the foregoing general introduction in hand, a description of the particulars of system20will be provided hereafter.

Turning now toFIG.2, mannequin head22is illustrated in a cross section. As can be seen in this view, mannequin head22includes a generally hollow interior which houses a sensor array that includes at least one sensor strip, and in the particular illustrated embodiment, a pair of sensor strips40,42. Sensor strips40,42may be provided as generally flexible members so that they assume the general shape of the interior of mannequin head22, which may be generally spherical. Sensor strips40,42may be attached directly to the interior surface of mannequin head22defining the interior space thereof, or alternatively may be mounted to a separate mounting structure. Sensor strips40,42generally extend along the same area that hair24extends along.

Sensor strips are designed to detect a spatial position of clipper26relative to mannequin head22. To achieve this, sensor strip40is provided with a plurality of position sensors40a,40b,40c,40daffixed to a base thereof. These position sensors40a-dmay, for example, may be embodied as Hall effect sensors. In such an instance, clipper26may be fitted with a magnet (not shown) so that Hall effect sensors40a-dmay detect when clipper26is in proximity to select ones of the sensors.

Likewise, sensor strip42may also include Hall effect sensors42a,42b,42c, and42dmounted to a base thereof. It should be noted that the number of sensors shown is non limiting. Fewer or greater sensors may be included on each sensor strip40,42depending on the type of sensor used and the accuracy of position detection of clipper26desired.

While Hall effect sensors have been described herein, it is also contemplated that each sensor strip40,42could utilize other types of sensors, e.g. temperature sensors, audible sensors, vibration sensors, etc. It is contemplated herein that any sensor capable of detecting when clipper26is in proximity thereto could be utilized.

As can be seen from inspection ofFIG.2, sensor strips40,42are arranged in planes parallel to one another. This arrangement defines three distinct hair cutting zones Z1, Z2, Z3. When clipper26is at the same height or below sensor strip42, system20will consider clipper26as being in zone Z1given that the signal produced by sensors42a-dwill be considerably greater than that of sensors40a-d. When clipper26is between sensor strips40,42, system20will consider clipper26in zone Z2as the signal produced by sensors40a-dwill be generally the same or only slightly different than the signal produced by sensors42a-d. When clipper26is at or above sensor strip40, system20will consider clipper26as being in zone Z3given that the signal produced by sensors40a-dwill be considerably greater than that of sensors42a-d. The foregoing methodology is how the position of clipper26relative to mannequin head22is determined.

While two sensor strips40,42are shown, it is contemplated of course that fewer or greater sensor strips could be employed to correspondingly define fewer or greater zones. For fade haircuts, particularly the so-called “bald fade” haircut, the applicant has found that three zones are ideal.

An indicator arrangement including at least one indicator strip, and in the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of indicator strips44,46,48. Indicator strips are configured to illuminate a corresponding zone Z1, Z2, Z3to provide a user with an indication of the zone in which they should cut hair in. In the illustrated embodiment, indicator strip44is positioned to illuminate zone Z1, indicator strip46is positioned to illuminate zone Z2, and indicator strip48is positioned to illuminate zone Z3. Indicator strip44includes a plurality of LED lights44a,44b,44c,44dmounted to a base thereof. Indicator strip46includes a plurality of LED lights46a,46b,46c,46dmounted to a base thereof. Indicator strip48includes a plurality of LED lights48a,48b,48c,48dmounted to a base thereof. It is contemplated that the LED lights of each indicator strip44,46,48may all be illuminated at one time to thereby illuminate the entire corresponding zone. It is also contemplated that only select ones of the LED lights of each indicator strip may be illuminated simultaneously to only illuminate a portion of the corresponding zone.

As was the case with sensor strips40,42, indicator strips44,46,48are generally flexible members and may assume the general peripheral shape of mannequin head22. Indicator strips may be mounted to the interior surface of Mannequin head22or may be mounted on a separate structure within the interior space of mannequin head22. Mannequin head22may include a plurality of openings or slits so that light produced by LED lights44a-d,46a-d,48a-d, may pass through the wall of mannequin head22and be perceived by a user through hair24.

Each indicator strip44,46,48may also be used to provide information to the user beyond just illuminating a zone. For example, indicator strips44,46,48may be designed to blink or change color to convey messages to the user. Indeed, the LED lights of one strip may blink in succession if the user begins to stray out of the intended zone Z1, Z2, Z3. As another example, the lights may change color to indicate to the user that it is time to progress to the next zone.

Turning now toFIG.3, sensor strips40,42and indicator strips44,46,48are in operative communication with a control arrangement50. Control arrangement50is schematically illustrated inFIG.3and includes a central processing unit52, memory54, a power source56, an RFID reader58, and a wireless transceiver60. Central processing unit52is configured to execute instructions stored in memory54to produce the functionality described herein. Central processing unit52receives input signals from sensor strips40,42, RFID reader58, and wireless transceiver60and produces outputs using indicator strips44,46, and48.

RFID reader58receives an RFID signal R (seeFIG.2) produced by an RFID tag affixed to comb46. It is contemplated that system20can be provided with more than one comb36, and in such an instance each comb will include its own RFID tag to uniquely identify that comb. The use of this RFID scheme is desirable as it allows system20to determine whether the user currently has the correct comb attached for a zone Z1, Z2, Z3(SeeFIG.2).

It is contemplated, however, that other comb detection methodologies could be employed. For example, the comb affixed to clipper26could be detected by clipper26, and this information communicated via a wireless signal B (seeFIG.2) produced by clipper26. Further, comb36could be fixed to clipper26and movable via an adjustment mechanism of clipper26. Such a configuration avoids the need for multiple different combs. In such an instance, information pertaining to comb36position could be collected by an internal controller and wirelessly communicated via a wireless communication module62described below.

Wireless signal B (seeFIG.2) is communicated by a wireless communication module62of clipper26. As already mentioned, this wireless signal may include comb information in some embodiments, and includes information pertaining to the specific position of taper lever34as described below. It is also contemplated that different instructions may be loaded into memory54corresponding to different haircuts. As such, it is contemplated that an input/output port could also be included to allow for loading new instructions into control arrangement50.

FIG.4is an exemplary illustration of sensor strip40and the above described sensors40a-dmounted to a base64. Each sensor may be individually wired to control arrangement50as is shown, or alternatively the wiring may be bundled and terminated with a plug or the like.

FIG.5illustrates a side view of clipper26. As mentioned above, the specific position of taper lever34is detected at clipper26and communicated via wireless communication module62. To detect taper lever position, taper lever34includes a pin contact70that may be brought into contact with three discrete contacts72,74,76provided on an outer housing of clipper26.FIG.6illustrates the aforementioned in greater detail.

As can be seen inFIG.6, wireless communication module62includes a controller80operable to detect which contact72,74,76is in contact with contact pin70. Wireless communication module62also includes a transmitter unit82configured to send the wireless signal B (seeFIG.2). Communication module62may employ any communication protocol, including but not limited to conventional radio, wifi, Bluetooth, etc. Controller80and transmitter82may be connected to a power supply84, which may be the existing battery of clipper26, or the power circuit of clipper26.

It is also contemplated that taper lever position detection could be achieved via any other configuration useful for position detection. For example, taper lever34could be provided with a magnet, and a plurality of Hall effect sensors could be mounted to the housing of clipper26. As another example, infrared based position detection could also be employed using infrared sensors.

FIG.7is an exemplary depiction of a comb36including an RFID tag90affixed thereto. The positioning of RFID tag90is such that it does not disrupt the ability of comb36to readily attach to bladeset32(seeFIG.2).

Not shown in the figures, but contemplated herein, is a user interface with user manipulated controls. This interface may be embodied as a hardware device on or connected to mannequin head22. Alternatively, this interface may be embodied as software and presented as an application on another device such as a mobile device. In such an instance, it is contemplated that the device could communicate directly with wireless transceiver60(seeFIG.2). Still further, the interface could be configured to receive voice commands from the user.

Having described the structure of system20, a brief explanation will now be provided as to its operation, referring to all the figures previously discussed. To use system20, a user must turn system20on and initiate a training session using the aforementioned interface. One of zones Z1, Z2, Z3will then be illuminated providing an indication to the user where to cut hair. System20may also provide an indication to the user as to what comb36to attach, and to what position taper lever34should be set. System20will then monitor whether the correct comb36is and remains attached, and whether taper lever34is and remains in the correct position, while within the instructed zone Z1, Z2, Z3. Once hair cutting in the zone is complete as is indicated by the user via the interface as determined by control arrangement50based on historically tracking the positional data of clipper26, the user will then be directed to the next illuminated zone.

If, however, system20detects the user has attached the wrong comb36, or determined that taper lever34is in the incorrect position, the system20will provide a warning indication to the user via one or more of indicator strips44,46,48, or via an additional indicator30(SeeFIG.1). This additional indicator30may produce any type of indication, including visual, audible, haptic, etc. The process continues until the user completes the haircut. To repeat this process, a user need only replace hair24and restart the program using the interface.

While a particular embodiment of the present system has been described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the following claims.