US2752677A

US2752677A - Hair cutting apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2752677A
Application number: US505600A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mullen H James
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-05-03
Filing date: 1955-05-03
Publication date: 1956-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 1973-07-03

Description

July 3, 1956 Filed May 3, 1955 H J. MULLEN HAIR CUTTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. H. JAMES MU LLEN AT T U RNEYI y 3, 1956 H J. MULLEN 2,75

HAIR CUTTING APPARATUS Filed May 3, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. H J AMES MU L LEN .18 BY 5% W ArT TO RNE Y.

rates ZJSZfiW? Patented July 3, 1956 This invention relates to hair-cutting apparatus, and more particularly to provision of mechanism for automatically varying the length of the haircut.

In cutting hair it is the usual practice to use a clipper Where the hair is short and to use fixed spacers or tip the clipper to effect cuts at different length. Such practice does not assure uniformity.

The present invention is directed to a clipper embodying cam wheels, which are adapted to roll on the back of the neck and head as the clipper is moved upwardly, the cam wheels providing a graduated cut of increasing hair length. The invention further employs suction to dispose of the cuttings, and to lift the hair normal to the head or neck, so that the hair will be cut, while standing up thereby resulting in an accurate graduated cut. The apparatus embodying the invention is so constructed as to render it possible to effect a series of cuts up the back and sides of the neck and head, all of which cuts will produce the same graduated length. The invention also is directed to providing reciprocating clipper movement from a rotary flexible drive cable.

The above and other novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is expressly understood that the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters dicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the clipper;

Figure 2 is an elevational view from the clipper blade side of the clipper;

Figure 3 is a side elevation;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view showing the attachment of the cam rings;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view of the coordinating pinions, return spring and brake, as viewed substantially from the line 77 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional stantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the broken line 99 of Figure 5 and view taken subsuch clipper comprises.

open cam rings

24 and 26, which cam rings may be formed of vulcanized rubber. Each of the wheels is provided with a rim 28 having a flange 30 to which the

cam rings

24 and 26 are attached. As is shown in Figure 4, the ends of such rings are provided with

keyslotshaped openings

32 and 34 which are adapted to be hooked over

headed posts

36 and 38, which are rigidly embedded in the rim 28. Such key slots permit the reby clamped upon the shaft 52 between the flanges 5d and 56.

and is soldered or otherwise secured flange 54.

The other end of the shaft 52 is port rod 84 which as at 82 in the end The movetending inwardly facing pro ection 108 of the stationary cutter blade 98. The projection 108 and roove 1496 In order to actuate the movable cutter blade, power is derived from a flexible conduit 114 and drive shaft 116 which enters the handle 78 at its lower end, the conduit 114 being clamped within the handle in grooves 118 provided in the

sections

86 and 88. The end of the flexible shaft 116 is connected to one end of a shaft 120 having a bearing 122 in the handle 78. The shaft extends radially towards the collar 60 and a boss 124 formed thereon. The boss is provided with a bearing socket 126 for the other end of the shaft 120.

The shaft 120 is provided with an angular offset portion 128 on which is positioned a trunnion sleeve 130. The

trunnions

132 and 134 of the trunnion sleeve are journalled in an arbor ring 136 located intermediate of the

ends

138 and 140 of the oscillating shaft 142. The shaft end 138 is journalled in an integral bracket 144 extending from the collar 60, and the other shaft end 140 is journalled in a socket 146 formed in the end of the stationary cutter blade 98. The end 140 of the arbor shaft 142 has pinned thereto an arm 148 having a forked end 150. An offset lever 152 is pivoted on a projection 154 on the radial wall 70 by a pin 156. The lever has a slot'158 located intermediate its length, into which projects a pin 160 integrally secured to the movable cutter blade 102. The free end of the lever 152 is provided with a pin 162 which extends into the forked end 150 of the arm 148.

It will be seen that upon rotation of the shaft 120, the trunnion sleeve 130 is caused to gyrate, producing oscillatory motion in the arbor shaft 142. The oscillatory motion of the arbor shaft 142. is transmitted by the arm 148 to the lever 152 which in turn reciprocates the movable cutter blade 102.

In order to cause the cam bearing wheels to have coordinated movement, the bracket 144 is extended and provided with a transverse portion 164 having bearing

ears

166 and 168 for the coordinating pinion shaft 170. The shaft 170 has rigidly secured to its opposite ends, pinions 172 and 174 which mesh with

internal teeth

176 and 178 on the rims 28 of the

wheels

20 and 22. The internal teeth are discontinued for a few degrees on each of the wheels as is indicated at 180, so as to provide a suitable return stop. The pinion shaft 170 is provided with a light coil spring 182, one end of which is affixed to the shaft as at 184 and the other end of which is affixed to the bearing ear 166 as at 186 to yieldingly urge the wheels to the position shown in Figure 5. The shaft is provided with a self-actuating brake to prevent return rotation in one direction, such brake comprising one or more helical turns of a spring 188, one end of which is keyed as at 190 to the ear 168, and the other end of which is bent at right angles and extends radially as is indicated at 192. The internal diameter of the coils of the spring 188 are such as to lightly resiliently grip the shaft 170, when the shaft is rotated in the return direction so as to cause the spring coils to contract from frictional contact between the internal surfaces of the coils and the shaft 170. The spring thereby acts as a brake. When the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction, the coils of the spring 188 are expanded and the shaft turns freely.

Torelease the grip of the coil spring 188 upon the shaft 170, there is provided a finger control rod 194 extending to the handle 86, such finger control rod having a thumb button 196. The finger control is slidably mounted upon the handle by a pin and slot 198, so as to move lengthwise of the handle. The other end of the finger control rod 194 is attached to an offset member 200 having a pin and slot connection 202 on an extension 204 of the member 144. The offset member has a laterally extending fork 206 which embraces the radial end 192 of the brake spring 188. Movement of the control 192 upwardly as in Figures 3 and 7 unwils the spring 188, causing it to release its grip completely upon the shaft 170.

The exposed portion of the cutting teeth may be shortened by a curved slide plate 210, which is held by a headed stud 212 embedded in the cutter plate 98, the slide plate having a slot 214, through which the stud extends, and having a finger grip 216, to facilitate positioning of the slide plate.

Operation of the hair cutter will be apparent from the foregoing description. When the brake spring 188 is held in released position, the spring 182 normally returns the cam wheels to the position shown in Figure 5, with the pinions 172 and 174 resting against the stops 180 of the internal gears. The flexible drive cable is coupled to a motor, and the flexible suction conduit 77 is connected to a source of vacuum, both not shown. In practice, the motor and source of vacuum may be a combined unit, mounted conveniently on the adjacent wall or elsewhere. With suction drawing air through the cutter teeth into the suction inlet passage 62, and the shaft 120 rotating, the arbor 136 is caused to oscillate, swinging the arm 148, and the offset lever 152, whereby the movable cutter blade 102 is caused to rapidly reciprocate, with its movable teeth 104 reciprocated relative to the stationary teeth 100.

The low end of the

rubber cams

24 and 26, of the

wheels

20 and 22 are engaged with the lower part of the neck. Thereafter, the operator, holding the apparatus approximately as shown in Figure 1, rolls the apparatus upwardly along the neck and over the back of the head. The cam wheels rotate clockwise (as in Figure l), or counterclockwise as in Figures 3 and 5, to bring successively higher portions of the cam ring into engagement with the head as travel of the apparatus continues upward. The spiral shape of the cam rings serves to increasingly space the cutting teeth and 104 from the neck or head of the recipient of the haircuit, whereby to cut a gradually increasing length of hair as the apparatus is caused to travel upward. The peripheral length of the cam rings is about ten inches, and when the full travel is used, the apparatus is lifted from the head, the brake spring 188 is released, allowing the wheels to return to the position shown in Figure 5 by action of the return spring 182. Thereafter successive upward cuts are made over the entire back of the neck, from one side around to the other.

When cutting close to the ear, it may be desirable to remove one or the other of the cam rings temporarily so that the wheel may travel over the ear, graduated cutting being effected by' the rolling of the remaining cam ring upon the neck and head, to the rear of or forward of the ear, the operator holding the apparatus in the same relation as when both cam rings are in place, and the apparatus applied to the back of the neck.

It will be appreciated that the suction lifts the hair of the recipient to a position normal to the neck or head so that during the actual cutting, the length of hair remaining will be accurately measured. At the same time, the cut ends of hair will be drawn down the suction tube, and collected in any suitable manner at the source of vacuum as, for example, in the manner shown in Patent No. 1,723,828.

When an increase in suction is desired at the cutting teeth, and it is desired to shorten the effective length of such teeth, the slide plate 210 may he slid upward to partially cover the root ends of the cutting teeth and also constrict the opening of the passage 62.

The open cam rings 24 and 26 may be made of vulcanized rubber and of a resiliency to readily stretch into place, with the key slot ends hooked upon the

pins

36 and 38, the rings thereby being held on the rims of the wheels. Should it be desired to out part way up the back of the neck or back of the head, and temporarily lift the cam wheels from rolling contact with the recipient, return rotation of the cam wheels is prevented by the self wrapping coils 188 of the brake on shaft 170. The cutting stroke may thereafter be completed from such point by again contacting the cam rings with the recipient, and completing the upward travel. When the stroke is completed, or at any time it is desired to return the wheels to the starting position, release of the brake is efiected by shifting the finger button 196, to expand the coils 188, whereupon the return spring 182 is free to rotate the pinion shaft 170 toreturn the cam wheels to the starting position.

Although a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. As various changes in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A hair clipper comprising a shaft, spaced Wheels journalled on said shaft adapted to support peripheral spiral cam members, a clipper mounted in fixed relation to said shaft having relatively movable cutter blades disposed between said wheels at the approximate periphery thereof, and cam members mounted on the rim of each of said wheels, said cam members having like spiral outer neck and head contacting peripheries adapted to roll upon the nec' and head upon upward movement of the clipper therealong to gradually increase the spacing of the clipper from the neck and head.

2. A hair clipper comprising a shaft, spaced cam bearing wheels journalled on said shaft adapted to support peripheral spiral cam members, a clipper mounted in fixed relation to said shaft and having relatively movable cutter blades disposed between said wheels at the approximate periphery thereof, means for synchronizing the rotation of said Wheels, and cam members mounted on the rim of each of said wheels, said cam members having like spiral outer neck and head contacting peripheries adapted to roll upon the neck and head upon upward movement of the clipper therealong to gradually increase the spacing of the clipper from the neck and head.

3. A hair clipper comprising a shaft, spaced cam bearing wheels journalled on said shaft adapted to support peripheral spiral cam members, a clipper mounted in fixed relation to said shaft and having relatively movable cutter blades disposed between said wheels at the approximate periphery thereof, means for synchronizing the rotation of said wheels and limiting rotation thereof between limits angularly spaced less than 360 degrees, and cam members mounted on and extending around the rim of each of said wheels, said cam members having like spiral outer neck and head contacting peripheries of gradually increasing radius adapted to roll upon the neck and head upon upward movement of the clipper therealong to gradually increase the spacing of the clipper from the neck and head, said cam members being angularly disposed on said Wheels in relation to said limits to coordinate the travel of said cam surfaces in relation to said clipper.

4-. A hair clipper comprising a shaft, spaced wheels journalled on said shaft adapted to support peripheral spiral cam members, a suction inlet duct mounted on said shaft between said wheels, and extending radially therefrom to the rim of said wheels and adapted to be directed toward the neck and head, a clipper having relatively movable cutter blades disposed across the end of said duct and mounted in fixed relation thereto, and cam members mounted on the rim of each of said wheels, said cammembers having like spiral outer neck and head contacting peripheries of gradually increasing radius adapted to roll upon the neck and head upon upward movement of the clipper therealong to gradually increase the spacing of the clipper from the neck and head.

5. A hair clipper comprising a shaft, spaced wheels journalled on said shaft adapted to support peripher'af spiral cam members, a suction inlet duct mounted on said shaft between said wheels, and extending radially therefrom to the rim of said wheels and adapted to be directed toward the neck and head, a clipper having relatively movable cutter blades disposed across the end of said duct and mounted in fixed relation thereto, means for synchronizing the rotation of said wheels, and cam members mounted on and extending around the rim of each of said wheels, said cam members having like spiral outer neckand head contacting peripheries of gradually increasing radius adapted to roll upon the neck and head upon upward movement of the clipper therealong to gradually increase the spacing of the clipper from the neck and head.

6. A hair clipper comprising a shaft, spaced wheels journalled on said shaft adapted to support peripheral spiral cam members, a suction inlet duct mounted on said shaft between said wheels, and extending radially therefrom to the rim of said wheels and ing around the rim of each of said wheels, said cam members having like spiral outer neck and head contacting peripheries of gradually increasing radius adapted to roll movement of the the spacing clipper from the neck and head.

of said wheels, said cam members having neck and head contacting peripheries of gradually increasing radius adapted to roll upon the neck and head upon upward movement of the clipper therealong to gradually increase the spacing of the clipper from the neck and head.

clipper therealong to gradually increase:

and extending around the rim of each like spiral outer 9. A hair clipper comprising a shaft, spaced wheels jou-rnalled on said shaft adapted to support peripheral spiral cam members, a suction inlet duct mounted on said shaft between said wheels, and extending radially therefrom to the rim of said wheels and adapted to be directed toward the neck and head, a clipper having relatively moveable cutter blades disposed across the end of said duct and mounted in fixed relation thereto, means for synchronizing the rotation of said wheels and limiting rotation thereof between limits angularly spaced less than 360 degrees, resilient means adapted to rotate said wheels toward one of said limits, and cam members mounted on and extending around the rim of each of said wheels, said cam members having like spiral outer neck and head contacting peripheries of gradually increasing radius adapted to roll upon the neck and head upon upward movement of the clipper therealong to gradually increase the spacing of the clipper from the neck and head, said cam members being angularly disposed on said wheels in relation to said limits to coordinate the travel of said cam surfaces in relation to said clipper.

10. A hair clipper comprising a shaft, spaced wheels journalled on said shaft adapted to support peripheral spiral cam members, a suction inlet duct mounted on said shaft between said wheels, and extending radially therefrom to the rim of said wheels and adapted to be directed toward the neck and head, a clipper having relatively movable cutter blades disposed across the end of said duct and mounted in fixed relation thereto, means for synchronizing the rotation of said wheels and limiting rotation thereof between limits angularly spaced less than 360 degrees, resilient means adapted to rotate said wheels toward one of said limits, a releasable brake associated with said synchronizing means for preventing rotation of said wheels toward said one of said limits, and cam members mounted on and extending around the rim of each of said wheels, said cam members having like spiral outer neck and head contacting peripheries of gradually increasing radius adapted to roll upon the neck and head upon upward movement of the clipper therealong to gradually increase the spacing of the clipper from the neck and head, said cam members being angularly disposed on said wheels in relation to said limits to coordinate the travel of said cam surfaces in relation to said clipper.

11. A hair clipper comprising a shaft, spaced wheels journalled on said shaft adapted to support peripheral spiral cam members, a clipper mounted in fixed relation to said shaft having relatively moveable cutter blades disposed between said wheels at the approximate periphery thereof, means for synchronizing the rotation of said wheels and limiting rotation thereof between limits angularly spaced less than 360 degrees, resilient means adapted to rotate said wheels toward one of said limits, and cam members mounted on and extending around the rim of each of said wheels, said cam members having like spiral outer neck and head contacting peripheries of gradually increasing radius adapted to roll upon the neck and head upon upward movement of the clipper therealong to gradually increase the spacing of the clipper from the neck and head.

12. A hair clipper comprising a shaft, spaced wheels journalled on said shaft adapted to support peripheral spiral cam members, a clipper mounted in fixed relation to said shaft having relatively moveable cutter blades disposed between said wheels at the approximate periphery thereof, means for synchronizing the rotation of said wheelsand limiting rotation thereof between limits angularly spaced less than 360 degrees, resilient means adapted to rotate said wheels toward one of said limits, a releasable brake associated with said synchronizing means for preventing rotation of said wheels toward said one of said limits, and cam members mounted on and extending around the rim of each of said wheels, said cam members having like spiral outer neck and head contacting peripheries of gradually increasing radius adapted to roll upon the neck and head upon upward movement of the clipper therealong to graduallyincrease the spacing of the clipper from the neck and head.

13. A hair clipper comprising a shaft, spaced wheels journalled on said shaft adapted to support peripheral spiral cam members, a clipper mounted in fixed relation to said shaft having relatively moveable cutter blades disposed between said wheels at the approximate periphery thereof, means for synchronizing the rotation of said wheels and limiting rotation thereof between limits angularly spaced less than 360 degrees, resilient means adapted to rotate said wheels toward one of said limits, and cam members mounted on and extending around the rim of each of said wheels, said cam members having like spiral outer neck and. head contacting peripheries of gradually increasing radius adapted to roll upon the neck and head upon upward movement of the clipper therealong to gradually increase the spacing of the clipper from the neck and head, said cam members being angularly disposed on said wheels in relation to said limits to coordinate the travel of said cam surfaces in relation to said clipper.

14. A hair clipper comprising a shaft, spaced wheels journalled on said shaft adapted to support peripheral spiral cam members, a clipper mounted in fixed relation to said shaft having relatively moveable cutter blades disposed between said wheels at the approximate periphery thereof, means for synchronizing the rotation of said wheels and limiting rotation thereof between limits angularly spaced less than 360 degrees, resilient means adapted to rotate said wheels toward one of said limits, a releasable brake associated with said synchronizing means for preventing rotation of said wheels toward said one of said limits, and cam members mounted on and extending around the rim of each of said wheels, said cam members having like spiral outer neck and head contacting peripheries of gradually increasing radius adapted to roll upon the neck and head upon upward movement of the clipper therealong to gradually increase the spacing of the clipper from the neck and head, said cam members being angularly disposed on said wheels in relation to said limits to coordinate the travel of said earn surfaces in relation to said clipper.

15. A hair clipper comprising a shaft, spaced wheels journalled on said shaft adapted to support peripheral spiral cam members, a clipper mounted in fixed relation to said shaft having relatively moveable cutter blades disposed between said wheels at the approximate periphery thereof, means journalled in respect to said shaft and associated with one of the relatively movable cutter blades to actuate the same, and cam members mounted on the rim of each of said wheels, said cam members having like spiral outer neck and head contacting peripheries adapted to roll upon the neck and head upon upward movement of the clipper therealong to gradually increase the spacing of the clipper from the neck and head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,364,559 Kaufman Jan. 4, 1921 1,446,559 Gray Feb. 27, 1923 1,528,745 Lutes Mar. 3, 1925 1,705,552 Bauer Mar. 19, 1929 2,590,684 -Clark Mar. 25, 1952