US2409281A - Tonsorial device - Google Patents

Description

w A L C S L O H N ToNsoRIAL DEVICE Filed Feb. 8, 1945 Patented Oct. 15, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TON SORIAL DEVICE Neil Holsclaw, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor of one-half to Fred E. Sudlow, Rock Island, Ill.

Application February 8, 1945, Serial No. 576,795

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in haircutting devices and more particularly to an implement having all the features of a hair clipper, a comb and a pair of shears embodied in a unitary device, all in cooperative relationship to each other.

When cutting a head of hair, normally a pair of scissors, a hair clipper, and a comb are used to do the job. The comb must be used when either the clipper or the scissors is used; therefore, to do the job both hands of the hair cutter must be used at all times. The comb is normally used to lift the hair to a desired length, then the hair is out over the comb, either with a pair of shears or a clipper. It is the main object of this invention to combine all of these tools in one implement and to produce a device which is far superior to known devices; to provide such a device which is so simple that any one can cut his own head of hair Without having the skill of an expert barber; to provide such a device in which both sides of the clipper may be used, thereby producing a tool which may be used with either the left or right-hand of the operator.

Other objects of this invention are to provide a new and improved tool which may be used either as a clipper, a comb or a shears, all three being combined in a unitary structure; to provide a device of this character having a pair ofA coacting elongated toothed cutter members, each member arranged to be reciprocated in opposite directions simultaneously by manipulation of a pair of pivoted handle members; to provide a device of this character having a resilient clip member to retain the cutter members in assembled relationship; to provide a device of this character having no protruding parts extending beyond the outer faces of the cutter members; to provide a device of this character wherein the cutter members are operable on two faces thereof; to

provide a device of this character having a pair of pivoted handles and a pair of link arms, each pivotally secured at one end to one of the handles and at the other end to one of the cutter members respectively, and spaced apart by a stationary guide bar whereby to cause each cutter member to reciprocate in an opposite direction upon manipulation of the handles; and to pro- Vide a device of this character which is simple in construction and operation and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

A specific embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of my invention looking down at the cutter teeth.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. I

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views taken on the lines 3 3, 1 -4, 5-5 and B--I respectively of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view showing an edge of the cutters and particularly the resilient clip means for holding the cutters in assembled relation.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the handle members I and 2 are pivotally held together in operative relation by bolt 3 in the usual manner and in form approximate corresponding parts of shears or scissors. The stationary guide' bar 4, is generally of I-shaped construction in .cross-section te form a pair of channels or slideways 5 and 6, and is provided with a lateral extension 'E having a bore 8 therein. The extension portion I of the guide bar 4 is positioned between the handle members I and. 2 and held ytherebetween by the bolt 3 which is threaded through the bore 8.

A pair of link arms 9 and IB are arranged to seat in the channels or slideways 5 and Brespectively and to be shiftable therein. The terminal ends of each of links 9 and I0 are secured to the handle members 2 and I respectively by rivets, or the like, I I and I2 respectively, so as to impart reciprocating movement to the link arms upon the closing of the handle members I and 2. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be apparent that when handle member I is moved towards handle mem-'- ber 2, the movement of link arm I0 will be to the left, while the movement of handle member I will cause the link arm 9 to move towards the right; therefore, the link arms will move in opposite directions upon the closing of the handle members I and 2.

The handle members I and 2 will automatically open or return to the positionshown in Fig. 2 by the action of the compression spring I3 which is secured therebetween in any suitable manner.

The cutters or toothed members I4 and I5 are identical in design and construction, having relatively long slightly tapered teeth I6, the tapers also running laterally (see both Figs. l and 2) so that when placed in coacting relation to each other, the composite structure thereof resembles a wide toothed comb. The members I4 and I5 are each respectively provided with a channel I'I and I8, whereby to form a slideway for the guide bar 4, and position the members I4 and I5 with respect to each other.

The toothed members I4 and I5 are secured to link arms 9 and I0 respectively by rivets, or the like, I9 and 20 respectively, wherebythe-movement of link arms 9 and I9 is translated to the toothed members I4 and I5 respectively.

Each toothed member I4 and I5 is recessed and provided with cut-out portions 2I and grooves 22, whereby to receive spring clips 23 which retain the members I4 and I5 in coactive relationship. As will be apparent from Figs. 3 and 6, the spring clips are spaced away from and do not bear against the outer faces of the members I and Iii. Only the free ends of the clips 23 bear against the members I5 and I6 and then in the groove 22, whereby to cause the inner faces of the members I4 and I5 to abut against each other. Maximum tension is thereby exerted to cause the members I5 and I5 to clip or cut the hair entering,r between the teeth I 6, without the need of the usual adjusting screw and the like.

When assembled the teeth I6 of both members I4 and I5 are in mutual alinement with each other; hence take on the appearance of a comb and thus may be used as such when combing the hair. When making a cut, thev hair is rst combed downwardly in the direction of the shoulders to straighten the same, then the device is moved in the opposite direction to lift the hair away from the scalp and outwardly to the position desired, so that the user may cut off the amount of hair he wants, by closing the handles I and 2. Whilethe handles are still closed the device is withdrawn from the head and the handles allowed to be opened by releasing the pressure of the fingers and allowing the spring to force the handles outwardly. Now the hair is again "combed with the device to straighten the hair and the cutting step again repeated.

It is, therefore, apparent that this device does the work of the usual scissors, clipper and comb and it performs the function of all three of these devices and the device is capable of manipulation with the use of only one hand.

The long teeth, like a comb, pick up the hair and hold it firmly and perfectly therebetween until the handles are closed to make the cut. As the teeth are long and sturdy, they allow the hair that has been previously cut by the device to fall through the openings between the teeth so that only the hair which is desired to be cut remains between the teeth for clipping.

It can readily be seen that by placing one of the outer faces of the teeth fiat against the neck or skin of the user the device acts as a clipper.

It is also apparent from the drawing and the foregoing description that there are no bolts, screws, or the like in or about the members I4 and I5; therefore, there are no protruding parts extending beyond the outer faces of the members I4 and I5. As the outer faces of the cutter comb members I4 and I5 are free of protuberances of any character, the device will slide smoothly and freely over the skin, regardless of Whether the outer face of the member I4 or the outer face of the member I5 is placed adjacent the skin. Therefore, the hair cannot catch hold of the sides of the comb or become entangled in any protuberance. From this it will be apparent that the device may be used by either the Vright or lefthand of the user. Regardless of whether or not the device is gripped in either hand, the cutting action of the members I4 and I5 will be the same as by closing the handles I and 2, the handles translate movement to both the members where by each one reciprocates in a direction opposite to that of the other simultaneously.

EachV tooth of the cutter members I4 and I5 is provided with a blunt point whereby to prevent scratching or cutting the skin of the user. This feature is especially shown in Fig. 3. It is also to be noted in Fig. 3 that each tooth is tapered on three of its four sides, the taper running to the tip or free end of the tooth, while the fourth side, which is the inner face of the tooth, lies in a vertical plane. The tip or free end of the tooth is rounded to form a blunt point.

It will be understood that numerous details of the invention herein shown and described may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim: I

1. In a device of the class described, a longitudinally extending guide means, a pair of reciprocating co-acting cutter members slidable on said guide means, means to hold said members in co-acting relationship, a pair of pivoted handlemembers in line with said guide means, and means connecting said handles and cutter members to produce reciprocating movement of said cutter members in opposite directions relative to each other and toward and away from said handles, upon operation of the handles.

2. The device according to claim l wherein said cutter members are retained in assembled position and kept under tension by means of clip springs.

3. A device of the class described comprising a pair of coacting cutter members each having elongated toothed members in face to face relationship, a pair of handles pivotally connected together and having a stationary, longitudinally extending guide bar extending therefrom and secured between said handles by said pivot, a pair of link arms, one on each side of said guide bar and pivotally connected one to each of said handles, said cutter members being positioned one on each side of the free end of said guide bar and connected one to each of said link arms, and resilient clip means for securing said cutter members to said guide bar in assembled operative rc lationship; whereby when said handles are manipulated, each of said cutter members will be reciprocated simultaneously in opposite directions.'

4. A device of the character described comprising a pair of handle members pivotally held together at one end, an elongated stationary guide bar extending forwardly from said handles and secured therebetween by said handle pivot, a pair of link arms positioned one on each side of saidguide bar, one of said link arms being secured at one end to one of said handle members, and the other of said link arms being secured at one end to the other of said handle members, a pair of co-acting slidable elongated toothed members of identical design arranged one on each side of said guide bar, and each secured to the free end of one of said link arms respectively, whereby upon manipulation of said handle members, each of said toothed members will reciprocate in opposite directions simultaneously, and spring clip means for retaining said toothed members in assembled operative position on said guide bar.

5. The device according to claim 4 wherein each of said toothed members is provided with a horizontally extending channel for the reception of said guide bar.

6. The device according to claim 4 wherein said guide bar is generally I-shaped in cross-section, whereby to form slideways on both sides thereof for the reception of said link arms.

7. A device of the class described comprising a pair of cooperating cutter members each having forwardly projecting elongated spaced teeth, means for reciprocating each of the cutter members simultaneously in opposite directions, three sides of each tooth of each of said cutter members being tapered toward the free end thereof, the inner face of each tooth lying in a fiat plane and the free end being rounded whereby each tooth is provided with a blunt point.

8. In a device of the class described comprising a pair of cooperating cutter members each having forwardly projecting elongated spaced teeth, means for reciprocating each of the cutter members simultaneously in opposite directions, three edges of each tooth of each of said cutter members being tapered toward the free end thereof, the inner face of each tooth lying in a flat plane to form a shearing face, and the opposed 10 teeth being slightly spaced at their tips.

NEIL HOLSCLAW.

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