US2814112A - Device for tapering and thinning hair - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 26, 1957 T.' GORE 2,814,112

DEVICE FOR TAPERING AND THINNING HAIR Filed Aug. 16, 1954 FEE-.5

.50 34 T155 La INVENTO/i WHOM/45 6054-".

United States Patent Office 2,814,112 Patented Nov. 26,1957.

DEVICE FOR TAPERING AND THINNING HAIR Thomas Gore, South Bend, Ind. Application August 16, 1954, Serial No. 450,016

1 Claim. (Cl. 30-439) This invention relates to a device for tapering and thinning hair, and more particularly to a device usable by hair stylists for preparing and shaping womens hair for various styles of hair-dresses or coifiures.

Hair dressers and barbers now have available as means for tapering and thinning Womens hair only razors and shears. The razors commonly employed for this purpose are the straight-edge type having a blade mounted upon a carrier having guard teeth projecting beyond the cutting edge of the blade. Thinning shears are provided with one or more notched blades. Both' razors and thinning shears have only limited usefulness for tapering womens hair. Thus the thinning shears are intended for use primarily by barbers working on short hair, and particularly mens hair, for the purpose of causing the hair to lie close tothe head, as is frequently desired by men. Such shears are not satisfactory for use by hair stylists who are interested in tapering a comparatively long strand of hair in such a manner as to facilitate curling the strand, for example, for the purpose of forming pin curls. The straight edged type of razor can be used for tapering a long strand of hair but its use for that purpose is quite difiicult and is characterized by a tendency of the hair to wedge and be caught between the razor blade and the guard teeth, with the result that the razor is quickly clogged and will not operate satisfactorily until the clogged hair has been removed, as is required at frequent intervals.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a device of this character which will overcome the disadvantages and limitations of the straight edge razors and thinning shears in tapering and thinning hair as aforementioned.

A further object is .to providea device of this character with a handle to which is pivoted 'a blade carrier detachably mounting a bladchaving a projecting cutting edge portion of interrupted form characterizedby notch ing thereof.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a holder for a double-edged blade whose edge portions project therefrom, said holder being provided with a handle and a finger guard facilitating gripping and maneuvering of the device and positioning of the blade to selectively expose either of the'two edges thereof.

A further object is to provide a device of this character, comprising a blade carrier having aseparable part removable to accommodate application and removal of a blade, wherein the separable part has a'finger-engaging projecting portion accommodating manipulation thereof relative to the remainder of the carrier. I I

A further object is to provide a device of this character, including a carrier and a removable blade, wherein a protector is engageable with the carrier and extends around the projecting edge of the blade so as toprevent accidental contact with the edge of theblade by'the user.

A further object is toprovidea device'ofithis character havingv a handle to whichacarrier'is pivoteisaidcarriet removably mounting "a double ed'ge'd "blade, having one edge adapted to be projected within the outline of the handle when the razor is folded to storage position, and said carrier mounting a protector fitting around the other projecting edge of the blade so that the cutting edges of the blade are both withdrawn to protected positions when the razor is not in use.

A further object is to provide a hair-thinning device with an exposed cutting edge interrupted by notches spaced apart and having blunt edges so that hair entering said notches will not be cut.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of my new hair-thinning device with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the interlock between the parts of the blade carrier;

Fig. 5 is an inner face view of one part of ,the blade carrier;

Fig. 6 is a face view of one form of blade usable in the device;

Fig. 7 is an inner face view of the other part of blade carrier;

Fig. 8 is a schematic view illustrating the .manner ,in which the device may be used for tapering astrand of hair;.

Fig. 9 is a view illustrating a tapered strand of hair and showing in dotted lines the manner in which the same may be curled.

Referring to the drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates the handle of a razor of the straight edge type which preferably is longitudinally slotted for the major part ofits length so that it is formed of two longitudinally extending substantially parallel halves interconnected at one end by a web, and interconnected at the other end by a pivot pin 12. Pin 12 extends through the parallel handle parts and through the intermediate portion of a shank 14 of a blade carrier, so that the end portion 16 of said shank is positioned between .the opposed side portions of the handle when the device. is in extended position, or at least a part of the main portion of the shank 14 is positioned between the handle parts when the device is folded to collapsed position for storage in the manner well understood in this art.

The blade carrier is formed in two parts, as best illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 7, with the part 18 thereof being preferably mounted on the end of the shank 14. The part 18 is elongated and includes a central longitudinal portion 20 and marginal portions 22 offset from the central portion to defineashallow substantially longitudinal recess 24 extending full length of the part 18 at its inner face. The inner faces .of the marginalplortions 22 are preferably coplanar, as illustrated in .Fig. 3. The outer surface of each part 18 .is preferably provided with a pair of spaced longitudinal .grooves 26, preferably located adjacent the junctions of the parts 20 and :22 and spaced apart as seen in Fig. 3, for purposes to betdescribed.

A finger guard 30 is formed atthe inneriendof 111C carrier part 13 adjacent to-the shank :14, and preferably" consists of a pair of laterally projecting 'parts30 .whose' surfaces adjacent the shank 14 are curved .or rounded, as best seen in Fig. 1, to be presseduponby thmfingers of the hand which holds the 'device-in use,- as bet;we'ejh the thumb and fore finger of the hand'. Tlie device ivill normally be held in such a position that the handle will be pressed toward the palm of the hand by the little finger and the fourth finger, while the thumb and index finger grip the shank 14 and bear against the finger guard portions 31).

A separable or removable portion 32 of the blade carrier is elongated and has a central portion 34 extending longitudinally thereof and marginal portions 36 whose inner surfaces are offset from the inner surface of the portion 34 so that a shallow groove 38 is formed in the inner surface of the part 32 substantially in register with the shallow groove 24 of the part 18. Shallow longitudinal grooves 40 are formed in the outer surface of the member 32 in parallel relation and in register with the shallow grooves 26 of the part 13 when the parts 18 and 32 are positioned in register. Each of the parts 18 and 32 is rigid and is of substantially the same width so that said parts register when superimposed upon each other. The longitudinal edges of the parts 18 and 32 are of substantially the same length but the separable part 32 is characterized by a tapered projecting end portion 42 extending longitudinally thereof and bent laterally, as best seen in Fig. 2, and for purposes to be described.

The plate portion 18 has a pair of hook portions formed therein spaced apart longitudinally thereof and in substantially longitudinal central alignment therein. Each of these hook portions is preferably formed integrally with the central portion 20 of the carrier part 18 by cutting or stamping the same to define openings 44 from which tabs may be struck. The tabs each include a portion 46 bent substantially perpendicularly from the carrier portion 20, as best seen in Fig. 4, and which terminate in hook portions 48 extending substantially parallel to and spaced from the carrier part 20 and projecting beyond the inner coplanar surfaces of the portions 22 of the carrier part 18. In other words, the hook part 46 extends across the shallow groove 24- and therebeyond to position the terminal hook portion 48 spaced from the plane of the inner surfaces of the marginal carrier parts 22 a distance less than the overall thickness of the carrier part 32. Each hook portion 48 preferably has an inwardly projecting dimple 50 formed therein.

The central portion 34 of the separable carrier part 32 has a pair of apertures 52 formed therein which are spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between the hook parts 43 and whose longitudinal dimension is slightly greater than the length of the hook parts 48 so as to receive said hook parts. The apertures 52 are spaced from the side margins of the carrier part 32 the same distance that the hook portions 48 are spaced from the side margins of the portion 18 so that extension of the hook portions 46, 48 through the apertures 52 serves to hold the carrier parts 18 and 32 against lateral relative displacement with their longitudinal side margins substantially in register. The outer surface of the central portion 34 of the separable carrier part 32 is recessed at one end of each aperture 52 to provide a reduced thickness portion 54 against which the inner surface of the hook 48 may bear, as best illustrated in Fig. 4. This surface may have a small recess therein to receive the dimple 50 and thus provide a spring interlock between the parts 18 and 32 to resist separation of the parts during normal use thereof.

The part 32 includes a substantially perpendicularly outwardly projecting portion 56 which may be pressed upon by the thumb of the hand which holds the device for the purpose of sliding the separable carrier part 32 longitudinally outwardly relative to the carrier part 18 to effect disengagement of the interlock of the parts 18 and 32 by the hook members 46 and 48 seating in the recesses or sockets 54. It will be apparent that the projection 56 also accommodates sliding of the separable part 32 to effect interengagement of the hook portions 48 with the recesses 54 of the part 32.

A blade 60 of substantially rectangular form, as illustrated in Fig. 6, and of a length substantially equal to the length of the portions of the carrier 18 from the free edge thereof to the finger projection 30, is formed of comparatively thin hardened sheet steel. The blade 66 has a central longitudinal elongated opening 62 therein whose length preferably is slightly greater than the spacing of the outer surfaces of the hook portions 46 and less than the spacing between the portion 46 of the right-hand book, as seen in Fig. 2, and the tip or free end portionof the hook part 48 at the left, as seen in Fig. 2. Thus the blade can be applied to the carrier part 18 by sliding the left-hand end thereof under the left hook portion 48 while in a position somewhat tilted relative to the plane of the carrier 18 due to the fact that the right end of the blade bears on the right hook portion 48. The blade is then shifted to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, until the right end of the slot slips around the right-hand hook, whereupon the blade comes to rest in face contact with the inner surfaces of the marginal portions 22 of the carrier 18. Thereupon, separable carrier portion 32 may be applied to the carrier portion 18 by passing the hooks 48 through the apertures 52 and sliding the carrier portion 32 relative to the carrier portion 18 to the position illustrated in Fig. 2.

The opposite longitudinal edges of the blade 60 constitute cutting edges, and the overall width of the blade 60 is greater than the Width of the carrier parts 18 and 32, so that the longitudinal edge portions of the blade project beyond the longitudinal side edges of the carrier parts 18 and 32. The blade 60 is preferably doubleedged, and as here illustrated, one edge portion 64 thereof is preferably a continuous straight edge sharpened to effectively cut haid. The opposite longitudinal edge portion 66 of the blade is likewise sharpened to cut hair and has a plurality of transversely extending longitudinally spaced notches 68 interrupting the same. The spaces 68 may be of any selected number, width and spacing, depending upon the requirements of the user. Because of the fact that the blade 60 is of a width greater than the width of the carrier, so that the opposite longitudinal cutting edges thereof project from the carrier, it is desirable to provide a protector for one or both of these projecting edges which is readily mounted or removed and which will maintain its position during the time that the device is manipulated to use it. Such protector is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 and is identified by the numeral 70. This protector is of a length substantially equal to or slightly greater than the length of the blade 60 and is formed of metal, plastic or other suitable material, bent transversely to desired configuration defining a longitudinally uniform passage therethrough open at its opposite ends, and also open at one longitudinal side thereof as defined by lip portions 72 which converge inwardly toward their free edges and are spaced apart a distance less than the spacing between the bottom or inner edges of the longitudinal grooves 26 and 40. The dimensions of the parts are such that the lip 72 will fit within the grooves 26 and 40 with a spring fit, and the transverse dimension of the part 71 is such that the part thereof adjacent to the exposed edge or". the blade to be confined thereby is spaced from that blade. Also, if desired, a strip 74 of a soft material having a central groove therein may be mounted in such a manner as to receive the free edge of the blade as illustrated in Fig. 3. The material 74 may constitute rubber or a soft plastic such as a soft vinyl chloride material. It will be apparent that the member 70 protects the user against contact with one edge of the blade so that the user need be careful only about the other edge of the blade which is being used. For purposes of storage the razor may be collapsed by swinging the handle 10 and the shank 14 to such a position as to position one marginal edge of the blade within the handle, whereby complete protection of the user is provided because neither cutting edge of the blade is exposed, one being confined within the slot of the handle and the other being encased by the pro tector 70.

The device is illustrated in Fig. 1 in condition for use for thinning and tapering hair. One manner in which a strand 80 of hair may be thinned and tapered to substantially the form shown schematically in Fig. 9 at 81, is by having the strand 80 held in extended position in one hand while the notched edge 66 of the blade of the device is applied to the strand at spaced points. Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 8, the notched edge 66 of the blade may be applied to the strand 80 at spaced points along the length of the strand and extending either diagonally of the strand, as illustrated in Fig. 8, or substantially perpendicularly to the strand. In either event the blade will contact only some of the hairs of the strand to sever the same, while other hairs will enter the notches 68 of the blade. Fig. 8 the spacing of the points of contact of the blade with the hair strand is both longitudinal and transverse so that if the strand is of greater width than the blade, when used as shown in Fig. 8, the strands of the lowermost portion shown in Fig. 8 will be unsevered while at least a portion of the strands in the uppermost portions will be severed much shorter than the normal or starting length of the strand. The result is to produce a tapered strand, as illustrated in Fig. 9, which readily accommodates curling, as illustrated by the dotted line 82 in Fig. 9.

The foregoing operation can be accomplished quickly by simply touching the notched edge of the blade to the strand at spaced points thereof while the strand is being held substantially taut so that the Worker can observe the progress of his work and the relations of the positions at which successive cuts are made. If the overall length of the strand is to be limited, the continuous edge 64 of the blade is readily positioned for use by simply turning the shank 14 in the fingers to position and ready for use, assuming, of course, that the guard 70 has been removed preparatory to the operation.

Different types of hair require different shaping or tapering and, therefore, it may be desirable to provide a set of blades '60 with each device. These blades can differ as to the spacing and the width of the notches 68 and as to the total number of the notches. By having such a supply of blades, the hair dresser could observe the condition of the hair to be tapered or thinned with respect to its coarseness or fineness, and with respect to its natural curliness or other properties important to the accomplishment of a given coiffure, and then could select a blade which would produce the desired tapering or shaping most expeditiously. Substitution of one blade for another is accomplished easily by simply holding the device in one hand by means of the handle 10 and the shank 14 and pushing upon the projection 56 of the retainer part 32 to slide the same toward the left as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, until the notches 52 of the separable container part 32 register with the hook portions 48 of the carrier part 18, so as to facilitate separation of said carrier parts and expose the inner surface of the carrier 18 to facilitate manipulation of the blade existing therein to release it from the books 48 and to permit substitution of a new blade. The separable carrier part 32 is then replaced by passing the hooks 48 through the apertures 52 and sliding the carrier part 32 to the right by means of the member 56 while continuing to hold the device by means of its handle and its shank 14. A spring snap interlock is afforded by the dimple 50 as illustrated in Fig. 4 to lock the separable part 32 in operative position when the device is fully assembled as shown in Fig. 2-

The projection of the end portion 42 of the separable carrier part 32 both longitudinally relative to carrier part 18 and laterally relative thereto as best seen in Fig. 2, coupled with the rounding of the tip thereof as shown in Fig. 1, reduces the likelihood of hair being caught between the two carrier parts and the blade at the outer end thereof by the tendency of the projecting part 42 to deflect the hair clear of the end edge of the carrier part 18. The provision of the projections 30 serves the dual function of increasing the maneuverability of the device when held in the hand and also of protecting the fingers against accidental contact with the end of the blade 60 adjacent thereto. In this connection it will be observed in Fig. 1 that the blade terminates spaced from the right-hand curved edges of the projections 30 which the fingers engage.

One of the important considerations in the use of this device is the fact that hair Will not catch therein to clog the device. For this purpose the notches 68 will preferably be of such a depth that they terminate at the edges of the carrier parts. Thus hair, which enters the notches incident to the cutting stroke, is released from the notches upon the releasing motion of the blade. The hair so cut may fall freely, but if it does not fall freely, because supported by adjacent uncut hairs, it does not interfere with successive trimming actions because of its freedom to enter and release itself from the blade notches 68. This freedom of the device from clogging permits rapid progress of the use of the device, avoids interference or obstruction with a view of the hair and the work done thereon by the hair dresser, and facilitates rapid accomplishment of the tapering or shaping operation.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it will be understood that changes in the construction may be made within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

A device for use by hairdressers to taper and thin hair strands, comprising a blade carrier formed of two separably connected parts having straight blunt longitudinal edges substantially in register, and a blade clamped between said parts and having a longitudinal edge projecting laterally outwardly relative to said carrier parts and interrupted by notches defining teeth therebetween, said notches being of a depth to terminate substantially flush With the adjacent straight edges of said carrier parts, the projecting teeth of said blade having outer substantially aligned hair severing sharp edges to sever spaced parts of a tautly held strand of hair against which said teeth are pressed crosswise of said strand, the edges of said blade defining said notches being blunt and receiving the remaining portions of said strand therebetween without severing the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 979,100 Schwenzfeier Dec. 20, 1910 1,617,563 Baum Feb. 15, 1927 1,622,904 Crews Mar. 29, 1927 1,791,855 Taylor Feb. 10, 1931 1,823,808 Thompson Sept. 15, 1931 2,049,718 Pearson Aug. 4, 1936 2,530,216 Appel Nov. 14, 1950 2,591,014 Sansom Apr. 1, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 776,867 France Nov. 17. 1934

Images