IE51768B1 - Hair cutting device - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to hair-cutting devices and mere particularly tc a hair-cutting device where in use movement cf the device on the surface of the head of the person whose hair is to be cut and the displacement of a cutting edge from the surface of the head can be operatively connected with each other.

In a conventional hair-cutting device, the distance between the device and a head is adjusted depending on the sense and judgment of the user and therefore a considerable skill is required for cutting hair. A hair-cutting device during the use of which the distance between the head surface and a cutting edge is automatically adjusted by an operational connection with the movement of the hair-cutting device along the head surface is not known. It is believed that a hair-cutting device having such mechanism would not require a skilled user and would be very convenient.

The present inventor has previously proposed a hair-cutting device and this is described in U.S.

Patent No. 4,150,483. The present invention is based on a new viewpoint of such devices.

An object of the present invention is to provide a hair-cutting device having a mechanism whereby the movement of the device and the distance of a cutting edge from the head surface is operatively connected.

According to the present invention there is provided a hair-cutting device comprising an electrically operated cutter and a casing, the cutter being displaceably fitted within the casing wherein the cutter includes a cutting edge disposed relative to an opening in the casing so that the cutting edge may be brought into contact with hair to be cut, the cutting edge also having a first relative position vith respect to the opening in the casing, the device also including a rotatable drum on which a first thread is wound, tbe thread also being connected, in operation of the device, to a fixed external location, resilient means connecting the casing with the cutter and operative to urge the cutter when displaced back to its first position, and a power transmitting member connecting - 4 said rotatable drum with the cutter to operatively connect the displacement of the cutter with the rotation of the drum, so that the drum is rotated by alteration of the relative positions cf ohe casing and the fixed external location to vary the relative position of the cutter from its first relative position with the casing.

One or more guide rails may be provided in the casing on which the cutter is slidably mounted to enable the relative displacement of the cutter and casing.

The resilient means may be formed by a second rotatable drum rotatably mounted within the casing, a second thread wound on the second rotary drum and connected to the cutter, a spring supported at one end by the casing' and a third thread wound in a reverse sense to that of the second thread on the second drum and connected at the other end of said spring.

The power transmitting member may comprise a fourth thread wound on the rotatable drum on which the first thread is wound and wound in a reverse sense to the first thread and connected to a surface of the cutter. - 5 Alternatively it may comprise a pulley on a side surface of the cutter and a thread wound on the pulley as fixed at one end to the casing and wound reversely at its other end to the- rotatable drum on which the first thread is wound.

In another version the power transmitting member comprises a pinion integral with the rotatable drum on which the first thread is wound and a rack fixed to a side surface of the cutter.

The cutting edge may be on a cutting blade inclined to the main axis of the cutter, a second rotatable drum is mounted coaxially with said rotatable drum on the casing at a position towards one end of the cutter, a second thread connected to a surface of the cutter and a third thread connected to a spring supported at one end by the casing are wound respectively reversely to each other on the second drum, a fourth thread is wound at one end, reversely to the first thread, on the first drum, at the other end to third rotatable drum mounted at a position within the casing spaced from said first and second drums and a fifth thread connected to a surface of the cutter is wound - 6 reversely to the winding of the fourth thread on the third drum, the positions of the first and second drums with respect to the third drum being such that The cutting edge moves Towards the third drum ar.i away from the first and second drums when the casing is moved away from the fixed external location.

The cutter may move along guide rails located in the casing or alternatively be pivotally mounred on the casing. •Ό At least one of the rotary drums included in the hair cutting device cf the present invention, where in use, the threads are wound, is stepped to provide portions cf different diameters and the stepped portions may also be tapered so that the distance cf the displacement of the clipper with the movement of the device can be varied and further a member making the peripheral edge of the cutting blade of the clipper communicate with a vacuum source can be provided.

Apparatus for fitting the device to a human head is also provided comprising a support member having adjustably mounted therein; a forehead-contacting member, a chin-receiving member and a guide member to which - 7 in use said first thread is attached to provide said fixed external location. This location being adjustably moving the part of attachment cn the guide member.

The hair-cutting device-of the present invention 5 may include a graduated series of markings cn a side surface of the cutter, a datum line on the casing side surface and means for fixing the first thread to the side surface of the casing so that the cutting edge of the cutter can be fixed at a predetermined distance from C the end surface of the device.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Fig. 1A is a side view of a hair-cutting device which is a first embodiment of the invention. Fig. IB is a plan view of the device of Fig. 1A. Fig. 1C is a bottom view of the device of Fig. 1A. Fig. 2 is a partly sectioned elevation view of the device of Fig. 1A. Fig 3 is a partly sectioned side view of the device of Fig. 1A.

Fig. 4A is a sectioned view on line IVA-IVA in Fig 2. Fig. 43 is a sectioned view on line IVB-Γ.’Α in Fig 2. Fig 5 is a sectioned view showing an alternative construction - 8 of a rotatable drum used in the device. Fig. 6A is a partly sectioned side view showing another embodiment cf the invention. Fig. 6B is a sectional view on line VIS-VIS in Fig. 6A. Fig. VA'is a partly sectional side view showing another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7B is a sectional view cn line VII-VII in Fig. 7A.

Fig. 8 is a partly sectional view showing another embodiment of the invention. Fig. 9A is a partly sectional view shewing another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 93 is a sectional view cn line IX-IX in Fig. 9A.

Fig. 10 is a partly sectional side view showing another embodiment of the invention, rig. 11 is a partly sectional side view showing still another.embodiment of the invention Fig. 12 is a side view of the cutting end of hair cutting device showing a comb attachment. Fig. 13 is a side view of apparatus of fitting the device to a human head. Fig. 14A is a side view of alternative version of a forehead con tacting member of the apparatus of Fig. 13. Fig. 14B is a view seen in the direction A shown on Fig. 14A. Fig. 15 is a side view of an alternative version of a chin receiving member for tbe apparatus of Fig, 13.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a casing fitted - 9 to a clipper 2 so that the end surface 3 of a fixed cutting blade of the clipper 2 may coincide with the opening 4 at one end of the casing 1. Rotary drums 5 and 6 are provided within and adjacent opposide ends of the casing 1, their axes of rotation being parallel, and orthogonal to the main axis of the casing. A thread 3 connected to a fixing piece 7 outside the casing is wound around, and fixed at its end on, the rotary drum 5. The thread 8 extends down the length of the casing 1C then around a guide pulley 9 attached to the rotary drum 6 at the cutting blade end of *.'.e clipper 2. From there the thread joins the fixing piece 7. A thread 10 is wound reversely to the thread 8 and is fixed to the rotary drum 5. The thread 10 extends within the casing and is fixed at its other end to a fixing lug 11 formed on the rearwardly-facing side surface of the clipper 2.

A further thread 12 is fixed at one end to the fixing lug 11, and from there extends to the rotary drum 6 about which it is wound and fixed at its other end. A thread 13 also fixed at one end to the rotary drum 6 is wound on the drum in a reverse sense to the thread 12, from there it extends approximately halfway along the length of the casing and is connected at its other end to a hook on one end of a coil spring 14 supported at its other end on the casing 1 so that il is disposed lengthways thereto..

A pair cf guide rails 25 to guide the movement of the clipper 2 are arranged lengthwise within the casing 1. Tubular sleeves 26 around the guide rails 25 are arranged for sliding movement along the guide rails 25 and are fixed to the side surface of the clipper 2 *0 so that the clipper 2 can move positively and stably with respect to the casing 1 and be moved by the rotations c-f the rotary drums 5 and 6.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 6, the thread 10 wound on the rotary drum 5 is fixed at one end to the inner wall of the casing 1 via a pulley 22 provided on the side surface of the clipper 2 so that the rotation of the drum is operatively connected with the displacement of the clipper. In such a case, the moving distance of the clipper with the movement of the casing will be smaller than in the case where the thread 10 is fixed to the fixing lug 11 on the clipper 2.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, instead of the motion being transmitted by using the thread 10, a pinion 23 may be attached to the rotary drum 5 and a rack 24 say be provided on the side surface of the clipper 2 so as tc mesh with each coher.

The clipper 2 is of a conventional electricallyoperated type and the end surface 3 oi its fixed cutting blade is orthogonal to the axis of the clipper 2.

In alternative embodiments the end surface 3 of the fixed cutting blade of the clipper may be inclined to the axis. As shown in Figs 8 and 9, rotary drums 6a. and 6b are pivoted coaxially as non-operatively connected an the fixed cutting blade side end of the clipper. A thread 8 a connected to the fixing piece 7 is wound and fixed at its other end on the drum 6a. A thread 12 connected to a fixing lug 11b on a side surface cf the clipper and a thread 13 connected to a spring 14 supported at one end by the casing 1 are wound reversely to each other (that is, so that, when the thread 12 is unwound, the thread 13 will be wound) and fixed at their ends on the drum 6. A thread 8b fixed at one end and wound reversely to the thread 8a on the rotary drum 6a is wound reversely to the winding of the thread Sb cn the drum 6a (that is, so that, when it is wound on the drum 6a, it will be unwound on the drum 63) on the rotary drum 5· - 12 A thread 10 connected to a fixing lug 11a on the side surface of the clipper is wound reversely to the winding of the thread Sb and fixed at its end on the rotary drum 5.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig 8, tubular sliding members 26 are provided on the side surface of the clipper 2 and guide rails 25 for the tubular sliding members 26 are respectively provided spaced apart and at right angles to the opening 4 at the end of the casing so that the clipper 2 can move vertically.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 9, the clipper 2 is pivotally mounted at its end remote from fixed cutting blade on the casing 1 by means of a pin 27 fixed to the inner surface of the casing so that the clipper may be rocked with the pin 27 as a fulcrum and the end surface 3 of the fixed cutting blade of the clipper 2 may be separated from the opening 4 of the casing 1.

By properly varying the diameters of the respective rotatable drums of the hair cutting device the moving speed of the clipper 2 can be varied and - 13 the curve of the finished surface of cut hairs can be varied. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 4, steps are formed on the rotary drums 5 and 6 so thax the differenx threads can be wound cn the drum surfaces of the respective steps. Furthermore, as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, tapered steps may be formed on the rotary drum.

In the drawing, reference numeral 21 denotes a cord connected to the clipper 2 along which electric power is supplied to the device.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 10, a flow path 29 connected to a vacuum source (not illustrated) via a flexible tube 28 opens near the cutting blade of the clipper 2. Loose hairs will be sucked in through the flow path 29 and will he prevented from being scattered around. Clearly, such vacuum flew path 29 can be provided not only in the embodiment shown in Fig. 10 hut also in any other embodiment.

A comb 30 can be provided on the outside of the casing, forwardly facing, near the cutting blade of the clipper 2 so that hair can be cut while being raised by the comb 30 and a better finish to the cut hair can be obtained. The comb JO is adjustable Vertically and is removable.

The hair-cutting device is used by securing the fixing piece 7 at the hair growth boundary. An example of a means for securing the fixing piece 7 is shown in Figs. 13 to 15. The means for securing the fixing piece comprises a supporting member 33, a forehead contacting member 37, a chin receiving member 42 and a guide member 50. The supporting member 33 consists of a sloping, cylindrical stay 35 and base plate 34 which is stable when the base plate lies flat on a surface. There is an advantage that, if a graduation 36 is marked on the side surface of the stay 35, the positions of the forehead contacting member,37, chin receiving member 42 and guide member 50 will be able to be quickly adjusted in response to the head being operated upon.

The forehead contacting member 37 has a rigid arcuate band 38 acting as forehead contacting part and a sleeve 39 and is fixed in a proper position with a fixing adjuster 40 by locating the sleeve 39 around the cylindrical stay 35. The forehead contacting part 38 is formed so as to be rotatable with respect to the sleeve 39 and the inclination of the forehead contacting - 15 surface can be made properly adjustable by a fixing adjuster 41 (Fig. 14).

The chin receiving member A2 has a chinreceiving part 4; contoured το the normal shape of a chin and a sleeve 44 and is fixed in a proper position with a fixing adjuster 45 by locating the sleeve 44 over the cylindrical stay 55. An adjusting mechanism comprising a shaft 46 connected orthogonally to the sleeve 44, a surrounding sleeve 47 and fixing adjuster 4s is provided between the chin-receiving part Aj and the sleeve 44. The chin-receiving part 45 may be rotatably mounted with respect to the surrounding sleeve 47 and a fixing adjuster 49 may be provided so that the distance between the chin-receiving part 45 and stay 55 and the inclination of the chin receiving surface can be properly adjusted (Fig. 15).

The guide member 50 consists cf an arcuate guide frame 51 and an arcuate supporting bracket. The bracket 55 is fixed in position by means of a fixing adjuster 57 by fitting a sleeve 56 at the base of the bracket 55 around the stay 35. The guide frame 51 has an elongate spigot 55 at each end and has a raised flange 52 along one arcuate edge which is adapted to locate against a subject's neck. The fixing piece 7 lies across the width of the guide frame and is slidably mounted on the flange 52. The two projecting spigots 53 are inserted through sockets on the ends of respective ones of the two brackets 55. The spigots can be inserted by selectable amounts through the sockets and fixed in position by an adjuster 54.

Thus, in use the forehead-contacting member 37, chin-receiving member 42 and guide member 50 are fixed in properly adjusted positions, the inclinations of the contacting surface of the forehead-contacting part 38 and chin-receiving surface of the chinreceiving part 43 are adjusted as required, the subjects head is lowered into position and the guide frame 51 is brought into contact with the hair growth boundary on the rear part of the subjects head and is fixed in this position. The fixing piece 7 of the haircutting device is fitted to the guide member and the hair cutting device is moved along the surface of the head to cut the subjects' hair.

When the clipper 2 is moved together with - 17 the casing 1, since the fixer 7 is fixed by the guide member 51» as shown by the arrows in Figs, z and 5, the thread 8 wound on the rotary drum will be unwound, thereby winding the thread 13 in the reverse direction on the rotary drum 5, and then the clipper 2 will be gradually pulled and the end surface 3 of the fixed cutting blade will gradually separate from the opening 4 of the end of the casing 1. So, when the casing 1 is moved over the hair from the hair growth boundary on the surface of the subject's head, the clipper 2 will accordingly separate from the opening 4 of the casing 1 and will be able to cut the hair.

Sy this movement of the clipper 2, the thread 12 fixed to the clipper 2 will be unwound from the rotary drum 6. At the same time, the thread 13 will be wound up on the rotary drum 6 and the spring 14 will be stretched. If the casing 1 is returned to the original position, due to the resiliency of the spring 14, the clipper 2 will return to its original position.

By moving the fixer 7 sequentially the subject's hair can be cut.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 11, a series of graduated markings are made on the side surface of the clipper 2 and a datum line is marked on the casing *. The fixing piece 7. or a set screw 32 or any other fixing member having a washer 31 which can fix the thread connected to the fixing piece 7 is fitted to the casing 1. When the graduation cf the clipper 2 is determined by the datum line cf the casing 1, then the thread 3 is fixed to the '0 casing and the distance between the opening 4 of the casing and the end surface 3 of the fixed Cuxting blade 3 of the clipper 2 is determined, the casing 1 and clipper 2 will maintain their relative positions and a so-called 5% cut, 30% cut or 50% cut can be made without using any auxiliary device.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that hair-cutting devices according to the present invention, may be used without requiring any skill, and many desired forms of hair cut can be easily made. Hair cutting at home which is favoured by many is very easily accomplished and hairs cut off can even be prevented from scattering around.

Further, as the fitting member of the present invention can be fixed in a predetermined position cf the head without applying any load to one human body, the hairs can be smccohly cut.

Claims (14)

1. A hair-cutting device comprising an electrically operated cutter and a casing, the cutter ' being displaceaoly fitted wimm the casing wherein the cutter includes a cutting edge disposed relative to an opening in the casing so that the cutting edge may be brought into contact with hair to be cut, the cutting edge also having a first relative position with 10 respect to the opening in the casing, the device also including a rotatable drum on which a first thread is wound, the thread also being connected, in operation of the device, to a fixed external location, resilient means connecting the casing with the cutter and 15 operative to urge tbe cutter when displaced back to its first position, and a power transmitting member connecting said rotatable drum with the cutter to operatively connect the displacement of the cutter with the rotation of drum, so that the drum is rotated by alteration of the relative positions of the casing and the fixed external location to vary the relative position of the cutter from its first relative position with the casing.

2. A hair-cutting device according to claim 1 including one or more guide rails in the casing on which the cutter is slidably mounted to enable the displacement of the cutter and casing.

3. A hair-cutting device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wnerein che resilient means is formed by a second rotatable drum rotatably mounted within the casing, a second thread wound on the second rotary 10 drum and connected to the cutter, a spring supported at one end by the casing, and a third thread wound in a reverse sense to that of the second thread on the second drum and connected at the other end of said spring.

4. A hair-cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the power transmitting member comprises a fourth thread wound on the rotatable drum on which the first thread is wound and wound in a 22 reverse sense to the first thread and connected to a surface of the cutter.

5. A hair-cutting device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the power transmitting 5 member comprises a pulley on a side surface of the cutter and a thread wound on the pulley and fixed at one end to the casing and wound reversely at its other end on the rotatable drum on which the first thread is wound. 26. A hair-cutting device as claimed in any one of claims 1 tc 3 wherein the power transmitting member comprises a pinion integral with the rotatable drum on which the first thread is wound and a rack fixed to a side surface of the cutter. 57. A hair-cutting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the cutting edge is generally at a right angle to the main axis of the cutter. - 23 8. A hair-cutting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cutting edge is on a cutting blade inclined to the main axis of the cutter, a second rotatable drum is mounted coaxially with said rotatable drum ir. 5 the casing at a position towards one end of the cutter, a second thread connected to a surface of the cutter and a third thread connected to a spring supported at one end ty the casing are wound respectively reversely to each ether on the second drum, a fourth thread is

6. 10 wound at one end, reversely tc the first thread, cr. the first drum, and at the other end on a third rotatable drum mounted at a position within the casing spaced from said first and second drums and a fifth thread connected to a surface cf the cutter is wound reversely to 15 the winding of the fourth thread on the third drum, the positions of the first and second drums with respect to the third drum being such that the cutting edge moves towards the third drum and away from the first and second drums when the casing is moved away from the 20 fixed external location. 9. A hair-cutting device as claimed in claim 8 24 including one or more guide rails in the casing on which the cutter is slidably mounted to enable the relative displacement of the cutter and casing. 10. A hair-cutting device as claimed in claim 8 5 wherein the cutter is pivotally connected to the casing so that the displacement motion cf the cutter with respect το the casing in response to alterations cf the relative positions of the casing and the fixed external location is a pivotal notion. '3

7. 11. A hair-cutting device as claimed in eny one cf claims 3, 4 or 8 wherein at least one cf the rotatable drums, where in use threads are w’ound, is stepped to provide different diameter portions.

8. 12. A hair-cutting device according to claim 11 15 wherein the stepped portions of the drums are also tapered.

9. 13. A hair-cutting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a vacuum source - 25 communicating with the vicinity of the cutting edge.

10. 14. A hair-cutting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein an adjustably positioned 5 comb is removably mounted on the device at a position which in use is above the cutting edge of the cutter.

11. 15. A hair-cutting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a series of graduated 10 markings are provided on a side surface of the cutter, a datum mark is provided on a surface of the casing adjacent said series on the cutter and means are provided for fixing said first thread to a surface of the casing.

12. 16. A hair-cutting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which further includes head engaging means comprising a support member having adjustably mounted thereon, a forehead-contacting 20 member, a chin receiving member and a member providing the external location to which said first thread is attached, this location being adjustable by moving the point of attachment on the member.

13. 17. A hair-cutting device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the inclinations of a surface of the forehead contacting member adapted to contact the forehead of a subject when in use and a surface of the 5 chin-receiving member adapted to contact the chin of a subject when in use are adjustable.

14. 18. A hair-cutting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as 10 illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.