US2622603A

US2622603A - Combined professional comb and scale

Info

Publication number: US2622603A
Application number: US180427A
Authority: US
Inventors: Claps Carmine
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-08-19
Filing date: 1950-08-19
Publication date: 1952-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 1969-12-23

Description

Dec. 23, 1952 Q CLAPS 2,622,603

COMBINED PROFESSIONAL COMB AND SCALE Filed Aug. 19, 1950 256 fyi 5 l? [so Z 32 iii 4/ IN VEN TOR. CARMINE CL APS Bywawp Patented Dec. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SCAL 1 i This invention relates to new and useful protements in implements 'for bfarbers, Yneurdressersv and the like; and, more particularly; the aim is to provide a novel and valuable professional comb which is so constituted that 'a hairdresser, in using a pair of scissors or shears, inaydbe guided, while,- cutting'l or trimming the hair ver a customer, -to insure that the hair will be cut to the intended length.` ,v t, j g- As is well known, the operation of haii-cutting or trimming as performed by a barber or hairdresser involves, except at the location-s where the hand tool known as ya clipper is applied, the conjoint use of a comb and a pair of scissors or shea-rs; the 'comb for lifting strandsu or a tressef hair into position for cutting, and the shears' for effecting the cut. The 'clipper is rarely if ever used on a womans head, and onlytat certain minor places on a mans head, even where aman is willing to permita clipper to be used at all. The manipulation of comb and shears requires, especially, a high degree of care andskillj otherwise' differently located clumps of,k hair strands will be cut to such incorrectly differing lengths that the appearance of the iiairV 'after vaziatte'mpt to cut, trim "or dress it will beworse than before and perhaps lquite unk'empt and ragged. i This invention will help the hair stylist tov vfolilow the creation of 'a new,hair style. For eirample, to measure thelerigth of the hair desired at the nape of the neck, above it, the side length and the front of the head. and by so doing the created or prescribed style will be copied co1"- rectly by beauticians, or hairdressers. VByline" present invention, however, there is 'v vided an implement comprising a professional comb combined ni a spcial way with a scale cali-v brated in terms of linear nieasurernentlas inches. l*

Since said scale is extended or extensible long tudinallyV of the comb, a comparatively in perienced barber or hairdresser may rea ry manipulate the comb, relative to a strand of hair, to cause that strand to be disposedin such position that when tue 'shears is applied tiisrt at thev customary distance above the comb teeth said strand will be out to precisely a desired length. Thislegtm for instance, may be one requested by the customer. t

While the invention attains its chief utility in a professional comb, that is, one' used by hairL dressers and ordinarily 7"' long, the invention may be applied to a pocket comb; as one' l5 or 6" long. Such` a' pocket comb, for instance; may well be in the possession of any one; for self use,

3 Claims. (Cl. 132-11) as to facilitate an occasional trimming operation by the aid of an ordinary pair of scissors.

A feature of the invention is that said scale is so carried by the comb that its calibrations by direct readings therefrom give true lengths.

nother feature of the invention is that scale calibrations may be carried by the comb aleng a side thereof, or along opposite sides thereof, or along the top thereof, or along a side and the con` thereof. l, A, A

A further feature of the invention is that the scale calibrations may be of various ekinds., as one in inches and another in centimeters. This scale may be inscribed on the comb body or in an indented strip of metal, such as stainless steel, aluminum, or of any other durable material.

` Still another feature of the invention is that the scale or scales carried by the comb may be directly carried by the later, or carried by an auxiliary member easily and inexpensively added to the combination.

Still another feature of the invention is that the comb iriay carry a plurality of different scales. as one for giving measurements in Vcentimeters and fractions thereof, whereby quick and easy reading of either scale as prevised may be had, and this without any chance of a fractional factor 'ofoiie kind of measurement being confused with a fractional factor of the other kind of measuremet.'

Yet a further feature of the invention is that the advantages iu'st above recited, as well as one or more others., are attained by virtue of the fact that some of the calibrations of each scale are directly carried by the comb and another or other calibrations of each scale are carried by 'the auxiliary member aforesaid. y

For further comprehension of the invention, and 'or the objects and advantages thereof, referene'e Willlbe had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the append-'- ed claims in which the various novel features of thev invention are Vrriore particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a inaterial part of this disclosure:

y F Y, 1 elevation of the implement of Fig; n i c v 3i idbiigt either eriiithereofi' El. d, is@ eliiliat Sle Cal*- rymg member of Figs.- 3 and 4, looking at the side of said member opposite to the side thereof seen in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is also a View similar to Fig. l, but showing a further modification.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the implement of Fig. 6, looking toward either end thereof.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is another view similar to Fig. l, but showing still a further modification.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged end elevation of Fig. 9, looking toward the right in that View.

Fig. 11 is a view side elevationally showing another now favored embodiment .of the invention.

Fig. 12 is an end elevation thereof, looking toward the right in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13, fragmentarily, is a view similar to Fig.

11, but showing the parts in a different adjustment.

Fig. 14 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1l, but looking at the side of the implement undermost in Fig. 11. l n

Fig. 15 is an end elevation, looking toward the right in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16, fragmentarily, is a view similar to Fig. 14, but showing the parts in a different adjustment.

The hairdressers implement, according to the first form of the present invention shown in Figs. l and 2, includes a comb I5 having a main longitudinally extending portion I6 constituting the back from which are extended the comb teeth; this comb being further shown as having a vline of fine teeth Il and a line of coarsev teeth I8, as beingmolded for instance from hard rubber, and as being a professional comb 7 long.

In this comb of Figs. 1 and 2, the scale of the invention is shown as comprising a line of calibrations I 9 indented in and spaced one inch from one another along a side of the backing I6. The comb I5 being, as just stated, 7" in length, there are six of these calibrations I9. Reading from left to right in Fig. 1, the calibrations I9 are marked, respectively, as also by indentations in the backing 6, 1, m2, 3,11 4) 5 and 6. Said l will be noted in Fig. 2, at said 1, being also having the same reference numeral 20 applied thereto in Fig. 1. Note that the end of the comb I5 at the left in Fig. 1, lies in a line 2| which is perpendicular to the direction of length of the scale including the calibrations I9. Said line, in said direction, is distant one inch from the calibration I9 marked 1. Consequently, the scale is so carried by the comb that its calibrations by direct readings therefrom give true lengths. y

Also, said scale is a full 7" scale, because the end of the comb I5 at the right in Fig. 1 lies in a line 22 which is perpendicular to the direction of length of the scale, and said line 22, in said direction, is one inchfrom the calibration I9 associated with the marking 6.

Barbers and hairdressers, like others, are mor often right handed than left handed. A right handed barber or hairdresser, in using comb and shears for hair cutting or trimming, would hold the comb in his left hand and the shears in his right hand. In such case, the scalevshould extend, in the direction of increase of lineal value of the successive calibrations, from left to right, along the side of the comb to be held uppermost; as shown in Fig. 1.

To adapt the new combined comb and scale to ready use by a left handedvbarber-or hairdresser, the comb I5 desirably andvalso pursuant to the invention, would be provided along its side opposite to its side seen in Fig. 1 with a line of calibrations exactly corresponding to the calibrations I9 and similarly marked, and with the marking corresponding to the marking l opposite the marking 1, the marking corresponding to the marking "2 opposite the marking 2, the marking corresponding to the marking 3 Opposite the marking 3, and so on; in other words, the two scales and their calibrations and markings will be such that Fig. 1 may be taken as showing one side or the other of the comb I5. As a consequence, the same .comb I5, when held in the right hand of a left handed hairdresser and so freeing his right hand for use of the shears, Wouldpresent its scale to extend, in the direction of increase of lineal value of the successive calibrations, from right to left, if he so grasped the comb that the side thereof undermost in Fig. 1 would now be the side thereof uppermost.

As will be understood, there may be additional and minor calibrations between the calibrations I9, as to indicate half-inch or quarter-inch, oneeighth, or one-sixteenth division.

It is also to be understood that the calibrations may be pursuant to the metric system, as indicative of `centimeters and a fraction or fractions thereof, or said calibrations may be according to any arbitrary scale of linear measurement.

Referring to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, wherein the parts to which are applied reference numerals with primes added correspond, respectively, to the parts to which have been applied the same reference numerals without primes, it will be noted that in these views, by way of example, half-inch calibrations 23 are indicated as included in the scale having the inch calibrations I 9.

The backing I6 is longitudinally slotted as at 24, and in this slot is an auxiliary member 25, carrying on one side, as shown in Fig. 3, a scale identical with the scale of Fig. 1 except for the addition as just stated of said half-inch calibrations 23. The member 25 may be of any selected material, as metal or a plastic, and its markings may be indented therein, engraved therein, or otherwise marked therein or thereon; and to render said markings readable the comb l5 is made of transparent material.

The reverse side of the auxiliary member 25, as seen in Fig. 5, is provided with a scale to indicate measurements according to the metric system. Here the calibrations designated 26 are spaced one centimeter one from another; and to make easy the quick reading of markings in terms of centimeters, such markings, as indicated at 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 are applied at points spaced a distance of three centimeters one from another.

Referring to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, here the parts to which are applied reference numerals with double primes added correspond, respectively, to the parts to which have been applied the same reference numerals without primes. To simplify the drawing, the line or lines of teeth present are indicated merely, as having such teeth extended between the dot and dash lines 21 and 28. -The auxiliary member 25" is a slide having a shaped bottom rib 29 the dove-tail cross-section of which from end to end of said member is the same as that of the groove 24, which latter is of constant cross-section from end to end thereof, as is the grooveI 24. The calibrations I9", it will be .s noted, are partially at a side edge of the upper main portion of the member 25" and partially at the top of said main portion of the member 25, and the markings 1," 2, 3, etc., representing inches, are placed at the top of said main portion of the member 25 adjacent to the appropriate calibrations.

Referring to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 9 and 10, wherein the parts to which are applied reference numerals with the suix a added correspond, respectively, to the parts to Awhich have been applied the same reference numerals but without such suffix, an implement according to the invention is shown which incorporates a pocket comb long. The comb I5a is of transparent material, so that opposite sides of the auxiliary member a have scales, pursuant to the principles explained in connection with Figs. 3 and 5 or otherwise. One of such scales can be seen in Fig. 9, this scale including the inch scale calibrations I9a and appropriately associated therewith the

markings

1, 2, 3, and 4. All along its length and at its bottom the auxiliary member 25a has an inclined outer wall, to establish at 29a what may be called a half dovetail, thereby to make of the member 25 a slide like the slide 25".

Referring to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 11 through 16, a comb 30 is shown which is exactly like the comb I5a in respect to the backing 3|, this corresponding to the backing IBS, and the groove 32, this corresponding to the groove 24', and the fact that the comb, at least at its said backing, as is desirable although not essential, of transparent material. Here also, there is included, for being received retentively yet slidingly in said groove, an auxiliary member 33, this corresponding to the auxiliary member 25a.

The form of the invention now being described is further shown as carrying scales calibrated one in inches and the other in centimeters, the inch calibrations being on the side of the implement seen in Figs. 11 and 13 and the centimeter calibrations being on the side of the implement seen in Figs. 14 and 16. The inch scale calibrations, 34, each measuring oif a full inch, and so individually associated with the

markings

1, 2, 3, etc., are on the back 3l. The metric scale calibrations, 35, each measuring off a full centimeter, are also on the back 3|; these having the

markings

3, 6, 9, etc., associated therewith, to emphasize the identity of the calibrations respectively designating a three-centimeter measurement, a six-centimeter measurement, a ninecentimeter measurement, and so on.

Note further that the end of the combi which lies at the left in Fig. 11 lies in a line 36 which, perpendicular to the direction of length of the scale including the calibrations 33', is distant one inch from the calibration marked 1. Note, too, that the opposite end of the comb 30, which comb end.v is the one lying at the left in Fig. 14, lies in a line 33 which, perpendicular to the direction of length of the scale including the calibrations 35, is distant one centimeter from the nearest one of the calibrations 35. Thereby, so far as full units of measurement are concerned, both the scales carried by the comb are true scales in terms of the length of the comb itself, with the zero point of each scale at an appropriate end of the comb.

But the two scales carried by the implement are not, however, merely full units of measurement scales. They are, in addition, scales for adding fractions of a unit of measurement to any selected unit or plurality of full units of measurement. The auxiliary member 33 at the end portion thereof at the left in Fig. 11 carries a calibration 31 which is one-half inch from the adjacent end of said member, another calibration 38 which is one-quarter inch from said end of said member, and another calibration 39 which is three-quarters of an inch from said end of said member. Also, said auxiliary member 33, at the end portion thereof at the left in Fig. 14, carries a calibration 43 which is distant one-half of a centimeter from the adjacent end of said member.

Desirably, as will now be appreciated, the auxe iliary member 33 is suiiiciently opaque so that reading of a

calibration

3l, 33 or 39 will not be accompanied by a confusingly visible reading of the calibration lill, and vice versa.

Said member 33 is iitted in the groove 32, snugly, and yet slidably; so that while said member may be endwisely moved along said groove, either to be fully housed therein as in Figs. 11 and 14, or to be partially projected from the comb 3G at either end of the latter, friction may be depended on to hold said member against accidental or casual shift from any projected position to which it has been manually adjusted.

Said projection of the auxiliary member 33 will be to prepare the implement for use in aid of a cutting ci a hair tress or clump to a length equal to some desired one represented by one or more full units of measurement plus a fractional part of one such unit as determined by the extent of said projection of said member 33. Thus, where the scale having' the inch calibrations 34 is employed, then, obviously, with the side of the comb 33 seen in Fig. 11 uppermost, and with the member 33 having previously been projected, for instance, to the extent indicated in Fig. l13, the hair may be readily cut to a length of 1%, 2%" or 3%", and so on, merely by observation of the scale having the calibrations 33 at the instant of application of the shears. Similarly, where the metric scale having the centimeter calibrations 35 is employed, then with the side of the comb seen in Fig. 14 uppermost, and with the member 33 having previously been projected, for instance, as Fig. 16, the hair may be readily cut to a length of 1.5 cm., 2.5 cm. or 3.5 cm., and so on, merely by observation of the scale having the calibrations 35 at the instant a snipping operation is effected at the shears.

Due to the fact that the bottom portion of the auxiliary member or slide 33, where cross-sectionally enlarged as at di, is of what may be called half dove-tail form, said member is not receivable in the groove 32 except in a way properly significantly to associate such calibrations as those typified at 3l, 33 and 39 with only the scale appropriate thereto, that is, the scale including the calibrations 34, and 4consequently said member must also be received in the said groove in a way properly significantly to associate such calibrations as typified at l0 with the scale appropriate thereto, that is, the scale including the calibrations 35.

Furthermore, since a professional corn-b, that is, one used professionally b-y a barber or hairdresser, has a straight top edge l2 for its back 3l as illustrated, and since the auxiliary member 33 may, also as shown, have a matchingly straight top, visual detection is instantly made of an accidental and unintended projection of an end of the member 33 beyond an end of the comb; thereby to. insure that when either scale at its calibrations on the comb is to be read for measurements during hair cutting or trimming, it will be the appropriate end of the comb, and not an end of the member 33 projected beyond a comb end, which rests against the scalp.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the preoise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reversed to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A combined comb and measuring scale, wherein the scale is calibrated in terms of units of linear measurement, said scale extended along the length of the comb and so in a direction substantially at right angles to the directions of length of the comb teeth, said scale having its zero point contained in a line marking one end of the comb, said line substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the scale, said scale being at one side of the comb, there being another scale at the opposite side ofthe comb, the comb at its backing being of transparent material and along its said backing having a groove, and there being an auxiliary member in said groove, said member carrying on one of its sides one of said scales and on its opposite side the other of said scales, said groove laterally thereof having an undercut portion, and said auxiliary member having a cross-section matching that of said groove, whereby said member may be endwsely inserted into the groove then to be held therein against other than endwise removal therefrom.

2. A combined comb and measuring scale, wherein the scale is calibrated in terms of units of linear measurement, said scale extended along the length of the comb and so in a direction substantially at right angles to the directions of length of the comb teeth, said scale having its zero point contained in a line marking one end of the comb, said line substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the scale, said scale being at one side of the comb and including calibrations on the comb backing each representing a terminus of a full unit of measurement pursuant to said scale, there being another scale at the opposite side of the comb and including calibrations on the comb backing each lrepresenting a terminus of a full unit of measurement pursuant to such other scale, said units of one of said scales being different from said units of the other scale, the second-named scale also having its zero point contained in a line marking one end of the comb substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of said scale, said backing having a groove at the top of the comb extending longitudinally and from end to end thereof, there being an auxiliary strip-like member slidable in said groove, said member on one side thereof being calibrated to mark off thereon a subdivision of the length thereof equal to a predetermined fractional part of the distance between two adjoining calibrations of the firstnamed scale and said member on the opposite side thereof being calibrated to mark oilD thereon a subdivision of the length thereof equal to a predetermined fractional part of the distance between two adjoining calibrations on the second-named scale.

3. A combined comb and measuring scale, wherein the scale is calibrated in terms of units of linear measurement, said scale extended along the length of the comb and so in a direction substantially at right angles to the directions of length of the comb teeth, said scale having its zero point contained in a line marking one end of the comb, said line substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the scale, said scale being at one side of the comb and including calibrations on the comb backing each representing a terminus of a full unit of measurement pursuant to said scale, there being another scale at the opposite side of the comb and including calibrations on the comb backing each representing a terminus of a full unit of measurement pursuant to such other scale, said units of one of said scales being different from said units of the other scale, the second-named scale also having its zero point contained in a line marking one end of the comb substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of said scale, said backing having a groove at the top of the comb extending longitudinally and from end to end thereof, there being an auxiliary strip-like member slidable in said groove, said member on one side thereof being calibrated to mark off thereon a subdivision of the length thereof equal to a predetermined fractional part of the distance between two adjoining calibrations of the first-named scale and said member on the opposite side thereof being calibrated to mark off thereon a subdivision of the length thereof equal to a predetermined fractional part of the distance between two adjoining calibrations on the secondnamed scale, said groove being of constant crosssection from end to end of the comb with said cross-section such that the groove is non-symmetrically undercut, and said calibrations on the opposite sides of said auxiliary member being so placed thereon that said member may be received in said groove only in a Way properly visually significantly to correlate one of said calibrated sides of said member with the calibrations on the appropriate side of the comb backing and consequently in a way properly visually significantly to correlate the other calibrated side of said member with the scale calibrations on the side of the comb backing opposite to the side thereof last-named.-

CARMINE CLAPS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D, 116,039 Madsen Aug. 8, 1939 D. 149,393 Wheeler et al Apr. 20, 1948 1,432,834 Buck Oct. 24, 1922 2,507,056 Smith May 9, 1950 OTHER REFERENCES Modern Beauty Shop; June 1949, page 98; left hand column. A copy of this publication is available at the Scientific Library of the Patent Office.