EP0500643A1

EP0500643A1 - Hairdressing comb

Info

Publication number: EP0500643A1
Application number: EP19900916511
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mario Granito
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-11-08
Filing date: 1990-11-08
Publication date: 1992-09-02
Also published as: BR9007824A; FI922075A; AU6712290A; AU635585B2; GB8925197D0; FI922075A0; WO1991007113A1; GB2237989A; JPH05503438A

Abstract

Un peigne comprend un corps dont dépend un ensemble de dents de peigne et une poignée partant de l'une des extrémités du corps, caractérisé par le fait que le corps (D, 30, 53) intégre un dispositif de coupe (22, 36, 62) qui peut être actionné au moyen d'un système de commande (24, 40) le long d'un chemin (X) à partir d'une position de départ (Y) à travers les dents (C, 32, 51) vers une position prolongée (Z) pour couper des cheveux ou tout produit de même nature positionné entre les dents. Dans une des applications, le dispositif de coupe se déplace sur une distance de coupe comparable à une longueur d'espacement des dents du peigne. Dans une autre application, la distance de coupe est comparable à la longueur du peigne.A comb comprises a body on which a set of comb teeth and a handle extending from one end of the body depends, characterized in that the body (D, 30, 53) incorporates a cutting device (22, 36, 62) which can be actuated by means of a control system (24, 40) along a path (X) from a starting position (Y) through the teeth (C, 32, 51) to an extended position (Z) for cutting hair or any similar product positioned between the teeth. In one of the applications, the cutting device moves over a cutting distance comparable to a spacing length of the teeth of the comb. In another application, the cutting distance is comparable to the length of the comb.

Description

HAIRDRESSING COMB

This invention relates to a hairdressing comb.

Background art

Combs are universally used for hairdressing. On their own they are used to cause hair to lie in a particular fashion. A hairdresser makes use of a comb, in one hand, to gather and retain a lock of hair which he thereafter cuts by way of a pair of scissors to a selected length.

It is known to cut hair with scissors with at least one of blades of the pair whose blades are crenellated to give an interrupted cutting edge rather than a continuous straight edge. This provides for thinning of the hair by cutting only those hairs in a lock presented to the scissors on those parts of the straight edge of the scissor blade which form the top of the crenellations . The edges forming the lower part do not provide for a cutting action . The crenellated form of blade is not to provide for a combing function but rather to provide for a reduced cutting capacity of a given blade in comparison with that of a pair of the conventional scissors of similar blade length.

Disclosure of invention

According to the present invention there is provided a comb comprising a spine from which depends a set of comb teeth and a gripping handle extending from one end of the spine, characterised in that the body incorporating a cutting implement which can be moved by means of a driving device along a path from a home position across the set of comb teeth to cut hair or hair like fibres positioned between the teeth in the vicinity of the spine to an extended position.

According to a first preferred version of the present invention the cutting implement is characterised by being in the form of a blade and the driving device provide for the reciprocation of the blade along the path from the home position to the extended position over a distance comparable with that of the overall length of the majority if not all the comb teeth measured in the direction of the path.

According to a second preferred version of the present invention the cutting implement is characterised by being in the form of a blade and the driving device serves to reciprocate the blade along the path from the home position to the extended position over a distance comparable with that of the distance between an adjacent pair of teeth. Preferably the blade is in two parts the first being fixed and lying in the path and the second part being reciprocatable as aforesaid, both parts having at least cutting edges of similar form, such that hairs or comparable fibres lying in contact with, or being drawn into contact with, the cutting edges are sheared by interaction between the cutting edges.

According to a selected embodiment of the second preferred version of the present invention the blade is itself in the form of a comb having teeth of a length considerably less than that of the comb teeth but of similar pitch spacing; the blade being located at the root of the comb teeth; the blade being reciprocatable along the path between- the home position wherein the blade teeth are aligned with the comb teeth in the vicinity of the root of the comb teeth to allow ready access to the space between the comb teeth; and the extended position wherein the blade teeth are offset along the path from the home position by a distance comparable with that of the pitch spacing.

According to the present invention or any preferred version of it the driving device is embodied by a manually operable lever extending from the handle and adapted for displacing the blade along the path, there being a resilient loading device biassing the blade, directly or indirectly, from the extended position towards the home position. Brief description of the drawings

Three exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of additional parts housed within the handle of the comb shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of a second embodiment;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of a third embodiment; and

Figure 5 is a horizontal section on section V-V of Figure 4.

Embodiments of the invention

FIGURE 1 AND 2

Figure 1 shows comb A having a spine B , from which depend a set of comb teeth C , and a gripping handle D extending from one end of the head B .

Figure 2 shows an arrangement installed partly within the handle D of the comb A shown in Figure 1. A retractable blade 22 mounted on one end of a shaft 22A whose other end has mounted on it a disc 22B . Trigger pin 23 serves to locate disc 22B against the loading of a compression spring 24. The blade 22 is shown on path X at its home position Y. Operation of trigger 23 causes the spring 24 to expand driving the blade 22 forwardly along the path X to extended position Z where the blade (shown in ghosted outline) by way of root area R of the comb teeth C. Interaction between the blade 22 in the route area of the teeth and the guide 26 mounted within spine B results in severing of strands of hair passing through the root area R of the comb teeth C in the vicinity of the path X.

A retraction lever, not shown, extends through the side of the handle D and is operated to return the blade 22 to its home position Y to enable the trigger pin 23 to snap into place to lock the spring 24 in its compressed state. In this way the blade 22 can be reciprocated between its home position Y within the handle and its extended position Z and back to its home position by a single operation of trigger and handle .

FIGURE 3

Figure 3 shows in part exploded form a comb 29 with a body 30 having a spine 31 from which depends a set of comb teeth 32 (having a pitch separation P) . A handle 33 extends from one end of the spine 31. The comb body 30 incorporates a chamber 34 and a channel 35 which serve to house a blade 36 shown separated from the body of the comb to facilitate the present description.

The blade 36 is mounted in a housing 37 which in use is retained in the chamber 34 enabling the blade 36 to seat in the channel 35. The blade 36 is made up of a fixed member 38 and a sliding member 39. The sliding member

39 can be reciprocated along path X in the channel 35 by means of a lever

40 between a home position Y (as shown) and an extended position Z. The fixed member 38 and sliding member 39 are provided with teeth, Typically, and respectively, with teeth 38A, 38B; 39A, 39B) which have a pitch Q between adjacent teeth similar to that of the comb teeth 32. In addition the teeth 38A, 38B; 39A, 39B are of similar form to one another and to the form R of the root area of the teeth 32. The member 39 is shown in the drawing in its home position where its teeth are aligned with the teeth of fixed member 38 and comb R. The teeth of moving member 39 are reciprocatable along path X between: the home position Y where the teeth of members 38, 39 and of the comb R provide a clear passage for the passage of hair through the teeth of the comb; and the extended position Z where the teeth of the sliding member 39 are displaced over a distance approximating to pitch so that the teeth of sliding member 39 interact with those of the fixed member 38 to shear any hair or other fibrous material located between them when they were in or near the rest position.

The lever 40 is pivotably mounted at one end in housing 37 and operates through a bell crank device on one end of the sliding member 39 to provide the motive power for the cutting action as will be described hereafter. The normal starting location of the lever 40 relative to the handle 33 is shown by full 40. The lever 40 is shown in full outline at its location when the fixed member is in its home position Y. The broken outline 41 shows the position of the lever with the blade at the other limit of travel.

The fixed member 38 has a pin 42 anchored in it which projects into slot 43 in sliding member 39. The pin 42 and slot 43 serve to locate the parts of the blade 36 on their assembly and to limit the travel of member 39 relative to member 38.

In use the comb teeth 32 is run through hair with the lever 40 fully released and the moving member 39 in its home position to enable hair to freely pass through the comb in the vicinity of the root R of the comb relative positions of the blade and comb teeth as shown in the drawing in their rest position. On the comb arriving at a position where the hair is to be cut the lever 40 is drawn into handle 33 to cause displacement of the sliding member 39 relative to the fixed member 38. As a result the hair in the root region of the comb is cut by the interaction of the teeth of member 39 with the teeth of member 38. Thereafter the handle 40 is released to enable handle, and so the moving member 39, to return to their home position. Thereafter the combing action, followed by the cutting action, can be repeated as necessary.

FIGURES 4 AND 5

This embodiment provides a compact form of power comb of unitary construction having a motor energised by way of an internal battery. Power comb 50 includes a comb head 51 secured to one end 52 of body 53 by bolts 54. Opposite end 55 of the body 53 is closed by a cap 56 secured by bolts 57. The comb 51 has conventional teeth, typically teeth 58, 59, with root area 51 A where the teeth join with the spine 60. The spine 60 contains a channel 61 coaxial with the root area 51A in which angled and sharpened end 64 of blade 62 is reciprocated along path X between home position Y and extended position Z as will be described hereafter to cause the blade end to cut hair located in teeth root area 51A in the vicinity of channel 61 in the spine 60.

Blade 62 is reciprocated by way of a reversible motor 65 located on rear end plate 66 secured to the body 53. Motor 65 has an output shaft 67 which drives gear train 68 whose output shaft 69 in turn drives a sleeve 70 having an internal helical thread 71. A shaft 72 has an external twin helical thread 73 complementary in form to that of thread 71 with which it freely engages . A substantial part of the shaft 72 is supported by way of a plain bush 74 mounted in a recess 75 in the body 53. The bush 74 has a slot 76 engaging with a projecting lug integral with the body 53. Outer end 77 of shaft 72 is rotatably coupled to carrier 78 which is mounted to one side of blade 62.

The motor 65 is powered by a rechargeable battery 79 which is coupled to the motor 65 by way of an on-off trigger switch 80.

In use the blade 62 starts from its rest, home, position located as shown by outline 86 so allowing hair to pass freely up the gap between, for example, teeth 58, 59 into the region 51 A at the end of the gaps between the teeth and in vicinity of channel 61. The trigger switch 80 is then pressed to energise the motor 65 resulting in the blade 62 being driven from its home position and pass from right to left (as seen in Figure 4) causing sharpened end 64 of the blade to shear off any hair in the region 51A.

Microswitch 81 is mounted (Figure 4) above the axis 83 of rotation of shaft 72 and has switch arm 82 projecting downwardly. With the relative position of the parts as shown in Figure 4 (which shows the blade 62 in its extended position) , stud 84 on carrier 78 causes the switch arm 82 to be displaced. This causes microswitch 81 to operate to cause the reversal of the direction of rotation of the motor 65 by way of a motor reversing circuit mounted on circuit board 85. As a result the direction of rotation of output shafts 67, 69 and of the sleeve 70 are reversed causing the blade 62 to drawn by shaft 72 back from its extended position Z, as shown in Figure 4, to its home position Y where end 64 rests in position generally indicated by ghosted outline 86. The power comb is then ready to repeat the cutting cycle when the user has located a fresh lock of hair in the region C and corresponding regions of the other teeth. When not in use the power comb 50 is mounted on a charger to enable the battery 79 to be re-charged pending further use.

The embodiment described in connection with Figures 4 and 5 shows a compact design of power comb with the component parts laid out to provide a balanced unit which would be comfortable to use throughout a working day. While the use of a built in power supply does provide for a greater degree freedom of movement on the part of the hairdresser in an alternative design the weight is further reduced by replacing the motor and its battery by a motor which is powered from a supply located outside the comb to which the comb is linked by way of a cable.

By using a modular form of construction the third embodiment provides for the ready replacement of blade 62 by a fresh blade or the resharpening of the blade. A self sharpening blade can be used in the comb to reduce the need for periodically removing a blade from the body of the comb for sharpening. In addition by removing end cap 56 the motor or gear train components can be readily serviced.

If necessary a further hairdressing tool, such as conventional comb or brush, can be mounted on the body of the power comb substantially parallel to axis X so as to be capable of being introduced readily into use by the user of the power comb rolling their wrist slightly to introduce the further tool temporarily into use before reverting to the position using the power comb as described above in connection with Figures 4 and 5.

While the embodiments exemplify combs intended particularly for human hairdressing they can be used or adopted for other hair cutting purposes such as for the clipping of the hair of dogs or other animals or for cutting fibres or other hair like material.

Claims

A comb comprising a spine from which depends a set of comb teeth and a gripping handle extending from one end of the spine, characterised in that the spine (B , 30, 53) incorporate a cutting implement (22, 36, 62) which can be moved by a driving device (24, 40) along a path (X) from a home position (Y) across teeth (C, 32, 51) to an extended position (Z) so as to cut hair or hair like material positioned between the teeth in the path (X) .

A comb as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that the cutting implement (22, 62) includes a blade (27 , 64) and the driving device (24, 70/72) serves to reciprocate the blade along the path (X) from the home position (Y) to the extended position (Z) over a distance comparable with that of the distance taken up by the majority or all of the comb teeth (19, 51) in the direction of the path (X) .

A comb as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that the cutting implement (36) is in the form of a blade (38, 39) and the driving device (37) serves to reciprocate the blade (39) along the path (X) from the home position (Y) to the extended position (Z) over a distance comparable with that of the distance (P) between an adjacent pair of teeth (38A, 38B) in the direction of the path (X) .

A comb as claimed in Claim 3 characterised in that the blade (36) is in two parts (38, 39) both parts (38, 39) having cutting edges of similar form, the first part (38) being fixed and lying in the path (X) and the second part (39) being reciprocatable as aforesaid, such that hairs or hair like material lying in contact with, or being drawn into contact with, the cutting edges are sheared by interaction between the parts of the blade (38, 39) .

A comb as claimed in Claim 4 characterised in that the blade 36 is itself in the form of a comb having teeth (38A, 38B ; 39A, 39B) of a depth substantially less than that of the teeth (32) of the comb but of similar pitch spacing ( ) ; the blade (36) being located at the root of the comb teeth (32) .

A comb as claimed in any of preceding claims 3, 4 or 5 characterised in that the driving device (40) is embodied by a manually operable lever extends from the handle (33) and by a drive unit (37) coupling the lever (40) to the blade (39) , the lever (40) being adapted for use in conjunction with the handle (33) by the hand of a user so as to displace the blade (39) along the path (X) , there being a loading device (37) resiliently biassing the blade (39) , directly or indirectly, from the extended position (Z) towards the home position (Y) .

A comb as claimed in any of preceding claims 1 to 5 characterised in that the driving device is a motor (65) , and a circuit providing for the motor to reciprocate the blade (62) between the home position (X) and the extended (Y) position.

A comb as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that a further hairdressing device such as a comb, brush or auxiliary cutter is disposed on, or supported by, the body to enable a user of the comb to utilise the further device by realignment of the body.