US2677178A - Hair clipper - Google Patents

Description

y 4, 1954 H. M. DAGGETT 2,677,178

HAIR CLIPPER Filed Nov. 10. 1949 e Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Gttornegs May 4, 1954 H. M. DAGGETT HAIR CLIPPER Filed Nov. 10, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Smaeutor attornegs May 4, 1954 H. M. DAGGETT HAIR CLIPPER e Sheets-Shet 5 Filed Nov. 10, 1949 y 1954 H. M. DAGGETT ,677,178

HAIR CLIPPER Filed Nov. 10, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Imnentor 479 mbm Gttomegs y 1954 H. M. DAGGETT 2,677,178

HAIR CLIPPER Filed Nov. 10. 1949 e Shee'ts-Sheet 5 3nventor 14% P W w uwp m (Ittomegs H. M. DAGGETT HAIR CLIPPER May 4, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed NOV. 10, 1949 a a 4 mm 3nventor illll-lullllllll-lnI-llllin-t IIIIIA 9474?: i: If

Gttomegs Patented May 4, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAIR CLIP-PER,

Homer M. Daggett, West Haven, Conn.

Application November 10, 1949, Serial No. 126,497

17 Claims. 1

ihis invention relates to clippers, and more particularly to motor-operated hair ciipper-s which are operable automatically to effect a tapering cut at the back of the neck.

Dev-ices of this general class have been proposed heretofore, but insofar as I am advised they have in all cases had serious defects which have interfered with their giving satisfactory service for the intended purpose.

One object of the present invent-ion is to overcome the defects present previous devices of this class, and to provide a motor-operated hair clipper which contains effectively operating, practical, durable mechanism for tapering the out as th device travels along the neck in an upward direction.

Another object is to provide simplified improved mechanism operable from one or more rollers moving along the persons neck to shift the comb or gauge with relation to the cutting devices.

Another object is to provide an improved tapering device by which it is possible readily to make adjustments so that within certain limits the length of the taper can be varied, as desired.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation looking from the forward end;

Fig.

Fig.

3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. l; i is a section on line 4+4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of "Fig. 4, showing the comb in the normal position Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. .5, showing the comb in an advanced position with respect to the cutter;

Fig. 7 is a section on 'line 7*] of 1 .3 is an exploded perspective View showing the members of the stationary frame or guide, in which the comb-carrying element isguided;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing certain members of the comb-carrying element;

Fig. 10 is a detail view showing th means for transmittin vibratory movement to th movabl cutter member;

Fi 11 is a somewhat diagrammatic viemshcwin the device as it appears whcnin use;

Fig. 12 is aside elevation .of a clipper of somewhat modified ,form

Fi .13 is an enlargcdse ion n line 13-13 .of Fig. '12;

Figs. 14 and '15 are diagrams illusiratinsd rtain f tures of he dcviceshowninlFisi- .12;

Fig. 16 is a side elevation of .a further mod fied form of clipper;

Fig. 17 is a section on line I'7---l7 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a section on line lB-l8 of Fig. 1'7;

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 17, showing the clutch in the disengaged position;

Fig. 29 is a section on line -2020 of Fig. 16; and

21 is a perspective view of the clutchshi-fting lever.

In its general features the device selected ior illustration comprises an electric motor of elongated shape adapted to be connected at it rear end to an electric conductor and provided with a shaft extending longitudinally of the device and provided at its forward extremity with means for vibrating the laterally movable cutting blade that cooperates with a fixed cutting Folade. The electric motor is fastened within a housing or casing comprising upper and lower parts that are suitably connected to the casing of the motor. The

electric conductor which supplies current to the motor passes through the rear end of the housing, and the forward end of the motor is supported upon a support within the forward end portion of the main housing, which support is used also for the securement and support of the fixed blade or member of the cutter. Arranged forwardly of the cutter and movable generally forwardly and rearwardly in line with the rotating motor shaft is a comp carrier carrying a comb that is in approximate parallelism with thecutter. This comb carrier is provided with rollers or ls adapted to roll alo e e hack o t e perscns neck as the device i moved upwardly in cutting hair. This comb carrier, moreover, .is provided with guide members which are movable in relatively stationary guide members the main housing at the respectivesides of the motor. The comb carrier is operatively connected with the fi ed part of the c i pe mechanism n the manner hereinafter described, ,so that, ,as the comb carrier rolls along the persons neck in an upward direction, the distance between the .comb and the fixed cutter is progressively increased, thus decreasing the length of the hair that is being .cut oil and imparting the desired tapering effect.

In the drawings, the main housing of .the device is indicated at the electric motor at B, the con.- zductor cord connected to the rear .end of the motor at .C, the cutter mechanism at D, the iongitudinally movab e omb o c s at E, e c m carrier at ,F, and the fixed guide for the comb carrie a G- .The hou A in this iorm i con tru t d o upper and lower sections 28 a d r t vely, which are secured relatively to the motor by means of screws or like fastening members and which provide between them a rear aperture 22 through which the cord C enters the housing. The forward end of the housing is open, as shown in Fig. 3, and adjacent this open end a sup port 23 is fixed within the housing. By means of the support 23 the forward end of the motor casing is secured in place, as shown in Fig. 3, and the support 23 also serves for the rigid support of the forwardly and upwardly inclined fixed member 24 of the cutter D, which member is secured to the support 23 by suitable means, as, for example, screws 25. The other cutter member of the cutter D is a laterally vibrating member 26 which rests against the upper face of the member 24, and is vibrated laterally by an angular member 27 having a spring-pressed pin 28 extending into a socket in the cutter member 26. The angular member 27 carries the pin 28 in a downwardly and forwardly inclined portion thereof, and at the rear, member 21 is provided with a vertically depending portion 29 having a vertically elongated rounded slot 38 in which is disposed an eccentric 3! carried by the motor shaft 32 at the forward end of the shaft. By this arrangement, rotation of the motor shaft causes the cutter member 26 to be vibrated laterally upon the cutter member 24.

For starting the motor, the motor is provided at the upper part with a manually operable starter device 33 of any preferred kind.

The comb carrier F is guided for forward and rearward movement in the main housing in the direction of the motor shaft axis. This device comprises side frames that may be suitably constructed of sheet metal, and which are fastened together by having the ends of the comb E secured to the respective frames in an appropriate manner. Each of the frames is equipped at the outer side with a laterally enlarged housing portion 3 1 that is connected in a suitable manner to the main portion 35 of the side frame, and this laterally enlarged portion of each side frame partially encloses a roller or wheel 36. The wheel 33 is fixed upon a shaft 37, one end portion of which is arranged to rotate in the frame portion 35 and the other end portion of which is arranged to rotate in the frame portion 34, the shafts 3? being horizontal and transverse to the motor shaft and in the plane of the motor shaft. The wheels 36 are preferably provided with rubber rims 38 and the arrangement is such, as hereinafter described, that, as the wheels roll upward along the neck of the individual whose hair is being cut, the comb E will have its distance from the cutter increased. Each member 35 of the side frames of the movable frame F is preferably constructed of sheet metal in the shape shown in Fig. 9, the same having a vertical longitudinal wall provided at the forward end with a lip 39 by means of which one end of the comb E can be firmly clinched, and each of these side frame members also having upper and lower rearwardly projecting guide members or prongs ll] and GI, the member 40 being a downwardly facing channel member and the member 45 being an upwardly facing channel member. These members are adapted to be inserted and guided in a fixed frame G constructed of sheet metal and having portions located at the respective sides of the motor, in the manner shown in Fig. 7. This frame also has a certain portion G located beneath the motor, as shown in Fig. '7. As shown in Fig. 8, the frame G has an upper portion, in-

dicated at 42, generally in the form of a channel which receives the motor body, and the frame also comprises a lower complementary part 43. The upper part 42 has a lower cross member 44, and this part 4 in conjunction with a similar part 35 carried by the frame portion 43, provides a bearing for a longitudinal stop screw 46, the function of which will be described at a later point.

The upper member 42 of the guide has downwardly turned lips 46 at the sides, and the lower member 43 has generally similar upwardly extending lips 47, and the lips 46 and 37 are overlapped and interconnected by screws 48 entering the main housing from the sides. The guide parts 42 and 43 together form vertically elongated hollow guide members, best shown in Fig. 7, receiving the projecting members or prongs 30, 4| of the comb carrier, each hollow guide member having the prong e6 engaging it at the top and the prong 4| engaging it at the bottom in a manner such that, when the comb carrier is advanced or retracted, it has a straight-line movement without tipping.

The advance and retraction of the comb carrier is effected through the rolling of the wheels 36, and for this purpose each shaft 37 of a wheel carries rigidly a pinion 48 between the ends of the shaft, said pinion meshing with a gear segment 29 that has a pivot 50 on the comb carrier and is turned on its pivot by the rotation of the pinion :8. The gear segment 49, in turn, is pivotally connected at El to an arm or link 52 at the forward end of the arm, said arm being connected at 53 at its rear end to a member which is in fixed relationship to the body of the device, which member in this instance is the guide frame G. The screws 43 previously mentioned have inner portions which provide the pivots 53. The rear end of each arm 52 has a hub portion engaging the pivot 53, and the forward end of the arm 52 is forked so as to straddie the segment t9, and the pin 5| passes through the forked end of the arm and through the segment. The gear segment has the pivot 59 as its center, and in area is somewhat larger than a semicircle, as shown, and in the retracted position of the comb carrier the gear segment has the position shown in Fig. 5, the same being held in that position by a small coil spring 54. In this position the straight-edge part of the segment is inclined forwardly and upwardly, as shown in Fig. 5, and the connection of the arm 52 to the gear is at the upper portion of the gear in a location in advance of the gear pivot, and preferably the arm 52 has a dog-leg shape, the same comprising a forwardly and downwardly inclined short forward end portion and a longer downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion extending to the rear pivot. Supposing the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 5, the rotation of the wheel 38 in the direction of the arrow, i. e. in a clockwise direction, will cause rotation of the gear segment in a counterclockwise direction, and, if the wheel is against the neck of the person whose hair is being cut, the rotation of the segment will cause the arm 52 to thrust the body of the device rearwardly, the body being moved by its connection with the rear end of the arm. This causes progressive separation of the comb from the cutter, and in this manner the comb can be relatively advanced to a position such as shown in Fig. 6, or, if desired, to a somewhat greater extent, due to the rotation of the segment and the thrusting action of the arm pivotally connected to the segment. The connection oi the rear end of the arm with the device body is preferably about midway of the height of the body and in line with the motor shaft, and the connection of the forward end of the arm with the segment is at a point above the motor-shaft axis in the position of Fig. 5, and in the other positions assumed by the combshifting mechanism.

It will be apparent that, upon the two wheels of the comb carrier being moved out of contact with the persons neck, the springs 54 associated with the gear segments will return the comb to the retracted position shown in Fig. 5. The retracted position of the comb can be adjusted, if desired, by means of the screw 46 previcusly described, which screw is guided for forward and rearward movement, which movement can be caused by rotation of a nut 55 engaging the screw threads intermediate the ends of the screw, as shown in Fig. 3. The forward end of the screw is adapted to be contacted by a transverse connecting portion 55 provided at the lower end or the comb carrier or comb frame, and in this manner the rearward travel of the comb can be arrested at the desired point. In the adjustment shown in Fig. 3, the upper or gauging part of the comb is substantially in contact with the cutting portion of the stationary cutting member. The travel of the comb away from the cutter can be limited by the connections previously described provided between the wheel axle and the device body, but if desired an alternative stop arrangement can be utilized.

The pivot pins 50 provided for the gear segments is pass through the segments and into the panel members 35 of the comb carrier, in which panel members they are secured in any suitable manner such that the segment i properly pivoted to the comb carrier to swing in a vertical plane (Fig. 7)

In the modified form of the device shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the arrangement of the wheel pinion, the pivoted segment, and the pivoted arm is as above described, but for purposes of enabling the taper of the out made by the impleent to be adjusted within certain limits, the pivot connecting the rear end or" the arm with the body member is an adjustable pivot. The

arm 52* is provided at its rear end with a boss 5 or hub-like portion 51 having a bore in which is received a pivot pin 58 by means or" which the arm is pivoted. The pivot 58, instead of bestationary, is adjustable in a vertical direction, for which purpose the side of the main housing is provided with a vertically directed slot 59 into which the pivot pin 58 projects. A nut is threaded on the right-hand end of the pivot pin (Fig. 13), and is adapted to clamp the pivot pin in fixed position in the slot, the housing wall adjacent the slot being interposed between the nut and a rigid shoulder cl on the pivot pin. The pivot pin is placed in the desired position in the slot, and the nut is then tightened to clamp the pin in position. Usually graduaticns, not shown, will be placed along the edge of the slot to facilitate placing the pivot pin in the desired position. The slot, as shown in Fig. 12, is extend-ed equal distances above and below a horizontal line that in this particular case coincides with the axis of the motor shaft and the axis of the wheel shaft, and the pivot pin may be placed on this line, or it may be placed above it or below it, as may be desired.

Fig. 14 shows diagrammatically the eflieot of moving the pivot pin to positions respectively above and below the center of the slot. In this view the gear segment is indicated at 62, the wheel or roller (36) at 63, the pinion carried by the wheel at 64, and the arm connecting the segment to the stationary part of the device by the line marked '65. The central or intermediate position of the arm with reference to the slot (59) is indicated by the letter X at the rear pivot. Similarly, the letter Y indicates a position where the arm is raised, and the letter "2 indicates another position in which th arm is lowered to the same extent. The letters X, Y and Z, respectively, also indicate the respective curved paths taken by the pivot point at the forward end of the arm. The numerals 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 on Fig. 14 indicate a number of equal distances through which the center point of the segment moves in being shifted from the position X of the segment toward the position T, shown in dotted l nes.

In Fig. 15 tire graph shows the distances 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 of Fig. 14 on twice the scale of Fig. 14, and the ordinates O- A B C D E F and G represent the amount of travel of a point on the segments toothed periphery. The curves X, Y and Z plotted on Fig. 15 show for each of the three positions of the arm (X, Y and Z) the corresponding distance traveled by the point on the segment periphery in reference to the dis tance traveled by the center point of the segment. By raising the rear pivot of the arm to the position Y of Fig. 14, the length of the taper produced in cutting of the hair is increased, and by placing the arm in the Z position, the length or" the taper is decreased.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 16 to 21, clipper structure in general is similar to that previously described, but provision "is made for rendering the comb-projecting apparatus inoperative when the comb is removed from its carrier. Here the comb carrier is shown at F and the comb at E, the comb being received in an open-topped slideway 235 on the carrier, the slideway in this instance being formed by bending over he ends of a sheet metal comb retainer that has a structure similar to that shown in Fig. 9. The housing portion of the carrier, which oncloses the wheel or roller 65, is shown at '61, the gear segment at 59 and the arm connected to the gear segment at til The wheel 86 is mounted on axle 53, arranged as shown in Fig. 17. Between the axle 68 and the wheel is a sleeve member 59 upon a portion of which the wheel is rotatably supported. Another portion of the sleeve member 58 is constituted by the pinion 48 which is an integral part of the sleeve memher, and a further integral part of the sleeve member at the middle portion of the latter is in the form of a male cone-clutch member it. This cone-clutch member is adapted to be engaged frictionally with the wheel within a female conical member or portion H provided upon the wheel body. For the purpose of operating the clutch thus constituted, a lever 12 is provided which is controlled by the insertion of the comb into and its removal from its retaining slideway. The lever :2 may be constructed of sheet metal in the form shown in Fig. 21, having lugs it by which it is pivoted to swing .laterally on the frame F, the pivotal connection being indicated at it (Fig. 17). The pinion 48 is shown as being wider than the gear segment. The spring acting on the gear segment in the manner pre viously described holds the comb carrier normally in the retracted position of Fig. 16, and if, when the carrier is in this position, the comb E is in place in its retainer, an end edge of the comb engages a part 15 of lever 12 so as to hold the wheel frictionally engaged with the part to which the pinion is fixed, and upon rotation of the wheel in the proper direction the comb will be advanced. However, upon withdrawal of the comb from its retainer the part '!5 of lever l2 will be disengaged, and therefore the wheel 68 will be released so that, if it is rotated, there will be no movement of the comb carrier. The lever 12 has a body in the form of a yoke, and the ends of the yoke are in the form of lugs 16 engaging an annular groove 77 provided in a portion of the wheel GE. In placing the comb in its retainer the movement of the lever causes the wheel 66 to be engaged with its cooperating clutch part by axial movement of the wheel, and upon removal of the comb the wheel moves from the engaged position of Fig. 17 to the released position of Fig. 19.

By the provisions just described the clipper may be used as an ordinary clipper if and when desired, it only being necessary to remove the comb from the comb carrier, which carrier remains in the retracted position. In this position it does not overlie the cutter and in no way affects the usual cutting operation in which there is no tapering.

The comb not only serves as a gauge for the cutting operation in tapering, but also acts to raise the hair to an upstanding position so that it can be cut in an easy and uniform manner. When the hair is flattened or matted, the element in front of the cutter serves to place it in proper condition for cutting.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the invention provides relatively simple and eifective mechanism for tapering the out as a rolling element rotates in contact with the neck of the person, and provides improved mechanism which shifts the comb or gauge for producing a tapering out. In the second form of device, also, it is possible to vary the length of the taper by making a relatively simple adjustment. The comb carrier or gauge has a movement in a forward and rearward direction, and substantially in line with the axis of the motor shaft, and the comb carrier in part is mounted within and protected by the main housing. The comb carrier is effectively guided by the rearwardly directed guide members or prongs moving in the guide elements within the main housing. The cutters are in parallel planes at an angle to the motor shaft, and the comb is also at an angle to the motor shaft in approximate parallelism to the cutter blades. The device is relatively inexpensive, and makes the cutting of hair much easier than heretofore. The mechanical movement for producing relative sliding movement of the fixed and movable members is simple in structure and very effective for the intended purpose.

Only three forms of the device are shown in the drawings, but various modifications and additional forms may be provided, and various changes in the details may be made without departure from the principles of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a motor-driven hair clipper, the combination of a housing, an electric motor within the housing having a forwardly extending shaft one end of which has vibrating connection to one member of a two-member cutter, a slidable comb carrier having an upwardly and forwardly sloped comb disposed forwardly of the cutter and provided with members at opposite sides of the motor arranged to slide in a forward and rearward direction in the housing to guide the carrier, said comb carrier being equipped with a roller adapted to roll along the neck of the person whose hair is being cut, and means operable from said roller and located in part within the side portions of the housing for advancing the comb carrier with respect to the housing as the roller rotates.

2. In a motor-driven hair clipper, the combination of a housing, an electric motor within the housing having a forwardly extending shaft one end of which has vibrating connection to one member of a two-member cutter, a slidable comb carrier having an upwardly and forwardly sloped comb disposed forwardly of the cutter and provided with members at opposite sides of the motor arranged to slide in a forward and rearward direction in the housing to guide the carrier, said comb carrier being equipped with a roller adapted to roll along the neck of the person whose hair is being cut, and means operable from said roller and located in part within the side portions of the housing for advancing the comb carrier with respect to the housing as the roller rotates, said means comprising intermeshing gear members mounted respectively on the shaft of the roller and on the comb carrier.

3. In a motor-driven hair clipper, the combination of a housing, an electric motor within the housing having a forwardly extending shaft one end of which has vibrating connection to one member of a two-member cutter, a slidable comb carrier having a comb disposed forwardly of the cutter and provided with members at opposite sides of the motor arranged to slide in a forward and rearward direction in the housing, said comb carrier being equipped with a roller adapted to roll along the neck of the person Whose hair is being cut, and means operable from said roller for advancing the comb carrier with respect to the housing as the roller rotates, said means comprising interineshing gear members mounted respectively on the shaft of the roller and on the comb carrier, the gear member on the comb carrier being a gear segment connected at one side by a pivoted link member to a stationary part interiorly of the housing.

4. In a hair clipper, the combination of a housing of elongated shape, an electric motor within the housing having a longitudinally extending shaft having its forward end arranged near the forward end of the housing, a cutter operable from the last-named end of the motor comprising fixed and movable blades, and a forwardly projectable and retractable element at the forward end of the housing having guide parts in the housing at the sides of the motor, said element having an upwardly and forwardly sloping member in advance of the cutter adapted to place the hair in an upstanding position.

5. In a hair clipper, the combination of a housing of elongated shape, an electric motor within the housing having a longitudinally extending shaft having its forward end arranged near the forward end of the housing, a cutter operable from the last-named end of the motor comprising fixed and movable blades, said blades being arranged at an inclination to the motor shaft and being inclined in a forward and upward direction, a projectable and retractable comb carrier at the forward end of the housing having sliding guide parts in the housing at the sides of the motor, said carrier havingacomb or gauge inclined upwardly and forwardly and in advance of the cutter, the comb carrier being provided at the forward end of the device with wheels having shafts which are directed transversely of the housing, and means of connection between said wheels and the body of the device whereby the comb carrier is moved relatively to the body of the device when the wheels are rotated.

6. In a hair clipper, the combination of a housing of elongated shape, an elect ic motor within the housing having a longitudinally extending shaft having its forward end arranged near the forward end of the housing, a cutter operable from the last-named end of the motor comprising fixed and movable blades, 'said blades being arranged at an inclination to the motor shaft and being inclined in a forward and upward direction, projectable and retractable comb carrier at the forward end of the housing having sliding guide parts in the housing at the sides of the motor, said carrier having a comb or gauge inclined upwardly and forwardly and in advance of the cutter, the comb carrier being provided at the forward end of the device with wheels having shafts which are directed transversely of the housing, and means of connection between said wheels and an anchoring part in fixed relationship to the housing at the interior of the housing whereby the comb carrier is moved relatively to the body of the device when the wheels are ro tated, said means of connection including gear segments pivoted on the carrier and meshing with pinions driven by the wheels and also including in the nature of links articulated to said fixed part and to the gear segments.

'7. In a hair clipper having a cutter device at the forward end comprising fixed and movable cutters, a slidable comb carrier having a comb disposed forwardly of the cutters and sloped forwardly and upwardly and movable in a forward and rearward direction and provided with a neck contacting roller, and means operable from said roller for advancing the comb carrier as the roller 1 rotates comprising an arm having a rearwardly projecting rear end pivoted to a stationary part the clipper.

8. In a hair clipper having a cutter device at the forward end comprising fixed and movable cutters, a slidable comb carrier having a comb disposed forwardly of the cutters and movable in a forward and rearward direction and provided with a neck-contacting roller, and means operable from said roller for advancing the comb as the roller rotates comprising a gear segment operable from a pinion in fixed relation to the roller, said segment being swingingly mounted on the comb carrier, and further comprising a link connection between said segment and a fixed part of the clipper.

9. In a hair clipper having an elongated housing with fixed and movable forwardly and upwardly inclined cutters at the forward end, a forwardly slidable comb carrier having a forwardly and upwardly inclined comb in advance of the cutters and having a neck-contacting roller, a pinion carried by said roller, an arm ha ng a rearwardly extending end pivoted to a part of the clipper, and a gear segment wingingly mounted on the comb carrier and rushing with said pinion and pivoted to the forward end of said arm.

is. In a hair clipper having an elongated housing with fixed and movable forwardly and upwardly inclined cutters at'the forward end, a forwardly slidable comb carrier having a forwardly and upwardly inclined combin advance of the cutters and having a neck-contacting roller, a pinion carried by said roller, an arm having a rearwardly extendingend pivoted to a fixed part of the clipper, a gear segment swingingly mounted on the comb carrier and meshing with said pinion and pivoted to the forward end of said arm, and a spring acting on said segment to hold the comb carrier normally in a position where it is in close-adjacency to the cutters.

11. In a hair clipper having an elongated housing with fixed and movable forwardly and upwardly inclined cutters at the forward end, a forwardly slidable comb carrier having a forwardly and upwardly inclined comb in advance of the cutters and having a neck-contacting roller, a pinion carried by said roller, an arm having a rearwardly extending end pivoted to a fixed part of the clipper, a gear segment swingingly mounted on the comb carrier and meshing with said pinion and pivoted to the'forward end of said arm, and a spring acting on said segment to hold the comb carrier normally in a position where it is in close adjacency to the cutters, the rear end of said arm being pivoted to the clipper and said pinion beinglocated substantially in the median longitudinal horizontal plane of the clipper, and the forward end of said arm being pivoted to the gear segment at a point offset from said plane.

12. In a hair clipper having a forwardly extending motor shaft the forward end of which is operably connected to a cutter having forwardly and upwardly inclined fixed and movable cutters, a forwardly sliding comb carrier carrying a neck-contacting roller having a shaft substantially in the median horizontal plane of the clipper and having a forwardly and upwardly inclined comb in advance of the cutters, a pinion carried by said shaft, a gear segment swingingly mounted on the carrier and meshing with said pinion, an arm pivoted to a fixed part of the clipper and to said segment, and a spring acting on the segment normally to hold, the comb carrier in a retracted position.

13. In a hair clipper, a slidable forwardly and rearwardly movable comb carrier having a comb disposed forwardly of the cutter element, said comb carrier being equipped with a neck-contacting roller having a shaft, a pinion on said shaft, an arm having a rear end pivoted to the fixed part of the clipper, a swinging gear segment on the carrier pivoted to the forward end of said rm and meshing with said pinion, and means for adjusting the rear end of said arm with respect to the clipper body for varying the length of the tapering cut.

14. In a hair clipper, a cutter element, a forwardly and rearwardly movable comb carrier having a removable comb disposed forwardly of the cutter element, said comb carrier being equipped with a movable neck-contacting member, means operable from said neck-contacting member for advancing the comb carrier to effect a tapering cut, and means operable upon removal of the comb from the carrier for rendering said advancing means inoperative.

15. In a hair clipper, a cutter element, a forwardly and rearwardly movable comb carrier having a comb removably held therein and disposed forwardly of the cutter element, said comb carrier being equipped with a neck-contacting wheel having a shaft, and means operable from said shaft for advancing the comb carrier relatively to the clipper, said last means including in its structure a clutch operable by insertion of the comb into and removal of the comb from the comb carrier.

16. In a hair clipper having a cutter element at the forward end thereof, a slidable forwardly and rearwardly movable comb carrier having a comb disposed forwardly of the cutter element, said comb carrier being equipped with a neckcontacting roller having a shaft, a pinion on said shaft, an arm having a rear end disposed within the clipper structure intermediate of the ends of the latter, and a mounting member for said rear end slotted transversely of the clipper structure to permit adjustment of said rear end transversely of the structure, said arm having a forward end pivoted to one side of a swinging gear segment pivoted on the carrier, said swinging gear segment being meshed with said pinion, the swinging movement of said gear segment being efiective to taper the cut produced by the cutter element, and the adjustment of the rear end of said arm being efiective to vary the length of the tapering cut.

17. In a hair clipper, a housing carrying at the forward end a two-member cutter, a motor within the housing having a longitudinally disposed shaft operating the cutter, a slidable comb carrier having a comb disposed forwardly of said cutter, said carrier being movable in a forward and rearward direction with respect to the housing to move the comb forwardly and rearwardly in advance of the cutter, said carrier being provided at the sides with rearwardly extending mounting members in the nature of prongs extending into the housing at the sides of the housing and efiective to guide the forward and rearward movement of the comb carrier, said comb carrier having wheel at the sides thereof whose centers are disposed in regions in adjacency to the comb but behind the comb, and mechanism intermediate the wheels and a fixed anchoring part within the housing for efiecting advance and retraction of the comb as the wheels rotate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,364,559 Kaufman Jan. 4, 1921 1,509,787 ISmith Sept. 23, 1924 1,705,552 Bauer Mar. 19, 1929 1,860,234 Chulanovsky May 24, 1932 1,928,000 Adelmo Sept. 26, 1933 1,988,199 Greco Jan. 15, 1935

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