Patent Grant
11420349
This application is the U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2018/076884 filed Oct. 3, 2018, published as WO 2019/068746 on Apr. 11, 2019, which claims the benefit of European Patent Application Number 17194660.1 filed Oct. 4, 2017. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
The present application concerns combs for hair clippers and hair clipper apparatus comprising combs.
Hair clippers are used for trimming hair. The cutting element of a hair clipper usually comprises a pair of comb-like blades which rapidly slide back and forth relative to each other in order to cut hairs positioned between the teeth of the blades with a scissor-like action. Clippers enable large numbers of hairs to be cut in a single stroke.
In order to guide hairs to the cutting element, hair clippers are sometimes provided with a comb which lifts and guides hairs as the hair clipper is moved over the skin. The comb can also comprise a skin guide portion which contacts the skin and can be used to provide a predetermined spacing between the skin and the cutting element in order to define a remaining length of the hairs after cutting.
A problem with such combs for hair clippers is that, configurations of the comb which most effectively lift and guide hairs can also cause cut hair debris to clog the comb, thereby reducing cutting efficiency. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a comb for a hair clipper which reduces the tendency of cut hair debris to clog the comb.
In a first aspect, there is provided a hair clipper comprising: a comb portion configured to be arranged forward of a cutting element of the hair clipper in a cutting movement direction of the hair clipper, the comb portion comprising a plurality of comb teeth having slots formed there between for guiding hairs to be cut to the cutting element, wherein the comb portion is configured such that, when the comb is attached to the hair clipper, a spacing between the comb teeth and a housing of the hair clipper increases with distance away from the cutting element so as to form a substantially wedge-shaped hair debris receiving space between the housing and the comb portion into which hair debris can flow.
The comb according to the first aspect provides a hair-receiving space between the housing and the comb for receiving hair debris after the hairs have been trimmed. The increasing size of the hair-receiving space with distance away from the cutting element provides an unobstructed outflow path for hair debris. In some cases, hair debris may change orientation as it moves away from the cutting element and otherwise become stuck and clog the comb, so the comb of the first aspect provides increasing space for hairs to freely flow out of the comb as they move away from the cutting edge.
The shape of the hair receiving space may also promote easy removal of hair debris, such as by gentle shaking or tapping, in the event that the comb does become clogged, as the hair has more space to be re-arranged and thereby become unclogged. Furthermore, the increasing size of the space may inhibit hair debris from becoming densely packed near the cutting element, which might otherwise be difficult or time consuming to remove.
The hair clipper may be any type of hair trimming device, such as a hair trimmer or beard trimmer. The comb may be a guide comb for lifting and guiding hairs to a cutting element of the hair clipper. The comb may comprise a skin guide portion for contact and sliding movement over the skin of a user during hair trimming. A gap may be provided between the skin guide and comb portions for the cutting element of the hair clipper.
The cutting direction of the hair clipper may be a direction in which the clipper must be moved in order to cut hair most effectively. The cutting element may comprise one or more comb-like blades having blade teeth. The cutting direction may be the direction in which the blade teeth point, or a direction in which the clipper must be moved in order to move hairs between the blade teeth points for cutting. The comb portion must be at least partially forward of the cutting element. The hair clipper housing may comprise a front housing surface arranged adjacent the cutting element and which faces generally forward in the cutting direction during use of the clipper. The comb portion may be arranged forward of the front housing surface in the cutting direction.
The comb teeth may be substantially identical. The comb teeth may be arranged with a contact spacing there between across a width of the comb portion. The comb teeth may be connected to a connecting bar at an end of the comb teeth ultimate the cutting element in use. The comb teeth may be unsupported at any other location than the connecting bar. An end of the comb teeth proximate the cutting element in use may be free to move. The comb portion may further comprise one or more frame elements arranged to support the connecting bar and connect the comb portion to the skin guide portion or the clipper. First and second frame elements may be arranged on first and second sides of the comb and the comb portion. The connecting bar may extend between the two frame elements across a width of the comb. The comb teeth may be arranged between the two frame elements.
The spacing between the comb teeth and the housing may be a distance between the comb teeth and the housing. The spacing may be a distance between the comb teeth and the housing measured in the cutting direction. The spacing may vary along a height of the comb portion. The spacing may be measured between the front housing surface and the comb teeth and, in particular, between the front housing surface and a rear edge of the comb teeth. The spacing between the frame elements and the housing may or may not be substantially identical to the spacing of the comb teeth.
The distance away from the cutting element may be measured along a height of the comb portion. Accordingly, the spacing between the comb teeth and the housing decreases with decreasing distance from the cutting element along the comb teeth. The spacing may not be constant across a width of the comb at a given distance from the cutting element (or given height on the comb portion). For example, the comb portion could be arced forward or backward in the cutting direction across the width of the comb when viewed from above, or the spacing angle between the comb teeth and the housing may vary across a width of the comb portion. However, it will be understood that, at any given width across the comb portion, the spacing between the comb teeth and the housing at that width will increase with increasing distance from the cutting element. Therefore, while the shape of the receiving space may not be constant or identical across the width of the comb, it should be understood that the receiving space has a substantially wedge shape in any given plane taken across its width. The wedge-shaped receiving space may additionally or alternatively be described as a tapered receiving space, in the sense that the space tapers in depth towards the cutting element.
Hair debris may refer to cut hair debris or hair particles which have been cut by the cutting element.
The height of the comb portion may be measured in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the skin when the clipper is in use. The depth of the comb, or part thereof may be measured in the cutting direction. The width of the comb or part thereof may be measured in a direction across the comb when viewed along the cutting direction.
The first spacing angle is formed between the comb teeth and the housing of the hair clipper such that the spacing between the comb teeth and the housing increases with distance away from the cutting element. The spacing may increase substantially linearly with distance away from the cutting element. The first spacing angle may be around 10 to 30 degrees, optionally 10-15 degrees and may be around 15 degrees. The first spacing angle may vary across a width of the comb portion.
Rear edges of the comb teeth, which face the housing of the hair clipper in use, define a first rear comb surface proximate the cutting element in use and a second rear comb surface ultimate the cutting element in use. The first spacing angle is formed between the first rear comb surface and the housing, and a second spacing angle may be formed between the second rear comb surface and the housing. The first and second rear comb surfaces may be substantially planar, or may be curved across a width of the comb.
The second spacing angle may be larger than the first spacing angle. The second spacing angle may be smaller than the first spacing angle. The second spacing angle may be around 10 degrees to around 50 degrees, around 30 degrees to around 50 degrees, and may be around 45 degrees. The second spacing angle may vary across a width of the comb portion.
The comb is an adjustable comb for adjusting a cutting length of the hair clipper. The length of the first rear comb surface may be equal to or greater than a cutting length range of the hair clipper.
The comb comprises adjustment features defining a length adjustment direction of the comb, the length adjustment direction may substantially parallel to the first rear comb surface, such that a gap between the comb teeth and the cutting element in use is substantially constant for all cutting lengths in the cutting length range. In some examples, the length adjustment direction may be misaligned with the first rear comb surface by an angle less than a predetermined angle, such that a gap between the comb teeth and the cutting element in use remains below a predetermined limit for all cutting lengths in the cutting length range. The predetermined angle may be less than 20 degrees, less than 10 degrees, or less than 5 degrees. The predetermined limit may be 10 mm, 8 mm, 6 mm, 4 mm, or 2 mm.
In a second aspect, there is provided a hair clipper comprising: a comb portion configured to be arranged forward of a cutting element of the hair clipper in a cutting movement direction of the hair clipper, the comb portion comprising a plurality of comb teeth having slots formed there between for guiding hairs to be cut to the cutting element, wherein two or more of the comb teeth comprise an extension portion which extends generally forwardly away from the respective comb tooth in the cutting movement direction; and wherein a connecting bar connects the two or more comb teeth together within their respective extension portions, such that, in use, the connecting bar is spaced apart from a housing of the hair clipper by a greater distance than the plurality of comb teeth.
The comb according to the second aspect provides connecting bar which is spaced apart from the housing by a greater distance than the comb teeth. Thus, the slots defined between the comb teeth may be substantially unobstructed along their length. The slots may also be open at an end ultimate the cutting element, where the connecting bar would otherwise be located in prior art systems. Accordingly, cut hair debris may pass along the slots and out of the end of the slots. Accordingly, clogging of the comb may be reduced.
Furthermore, the connecting bar being spaces away from the housing may enable hair debris, and in particular longer hair debris, to pivot about the connecting bar to be oriented more appropriately for free-flow out of the comb. Accordingly, the present comb may reduce clogging at high hair cut delta lengths (i.e. length difference of the remaining hair before and after cutting) such that the hair clipper can be used to cut longer hair, and thereby enable hair cutting to occur less frequently without clogging issues.
The extension portion may be a portion of the respective comb tooth which extends at an angle to a main part of the comb tooth.
The extension portion is a portion of the comb tooth having an increased depth in the cutting movement direction compared to a remainder of the comb tooth.
The extension portion of the comb teeth may be configured to be ultimate the cutting element of the hair clipper in use.
The connecting bar may be spaced apart from the rear edges of the comb teeth by a greater distance than a depth of the comb teeth such that the slots formed between the comb teeth are open at the ends of the slots ultimate from the cutting element in use.
The skilled person will appreciate that except where mutually exclusive, a feature described in relation to any one of the above aspects may be applied mutatis mutandis to any other aspect. Furthermore except where mutually exclusive any feature described herein may be applied to any aspect and/or combined with any other feature described herein.
Embodiments will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the Figures, in which:
Referring to
The hair clipper 100 comprises an elongate grippable body 102 having a cutting head 104 on which a cutting element 106 is arranged and a handle portion 108 which generally extends away from the cutting head 104. The clipper body 102 is generally formed by a housing 109 which forms the external surface of the clipper body 102.
The handle portion 108 is an elongate grippable portion by which a user can grip the clipper 100 with their hand during use. The handle portion 108 is partially covered with a rubberized or textured surface 110 to facilitate better gripping of the clipper 100 by a user, particularly when the handle portion 108 is wet. On a front face of the handle portion 108, a power button 112 and a cutting length adjustment switch 114 are provided for powering the clipper 100 on/off and adjusting a cutting length of the clipper 100 respectively.
The cutting head 104 is arranged at an end of the handle portion 108 such that, when the handle portion 108 is gripped by a user, the cutting head 104 extends out of the user's fist. The cutting head 104 comprises the cutting element 106 of the clipper. Referring also to
The cutting edge 117 forms a front edge of the cutting head 104, which defines a cutting direction x of the hair clipper 100. It should be understood that in order for hairs to easily enter the gaps between the blade teeth 120, they must approach the cutting edge 117 from in front, and therefore, the hair clipper 100 cuts hair most effectively when moved forwards in the cutting direction x.
The external surface 126 of the cutting head which is rearward of the cutting edge 117 in the cutting direction x is a skin facing surface 126. In use, for a close shave without the comb 200 attached to the clipper 100, the skin-facing surface 126 is generally pressed lightly against the user's skin, and the clipper is slid, while contacting the user's skin, in the cutting direction, such that the cutting edge 117 moves forward along the user's skin in the cutting direction x, thereby cutting hairs it encounters.
The part of the hair which is cut off by the cutting element 106, which will be referred to as hair debris or debris, will be located on a first side of the cutting edge adjacent a front face 128 of the clipper housing 109, while the part of the hair remaining attached to the skin will move past the cutting edge in the cutting direction, remaining in contact with the skin-facing surface 126.
The front-facing housing surface 128 is part of the clipper housing 109. The front housing surface 128 extends at a large acute angle, around 60 degrees, to the skin-facing surface 126 and generally meets the skin-facing surface 126 at the cutting edge 117. In use, the front housing surface 128 generally extends away from the user's skin above the cutting edge 117. The front housing surface is substantially planar across a majority of the width of the clipper housing 109.
In this example, a plurality of recessed debris guiding chutes 130 are provided on the clipper housing 109 in the front surface 128. The debris chutes 130 are formed between plurality of non-recessed elongate ribs 132 which are flush with and form part of the front surface 128. The ribs 132 are each parallel and extend perpendicular to the cutting edge 117 along the front surface 128 such that the debris chutes 130 are formed between the ribs 132 and extend in substantially the same direction. The debris chutes 130 may provide better removal of hair debris. In some cases, the debris chutes 130 and ribs 132 may not be provided and the front surface 128 may be substantially continuous. Despite the discontinuities in the front surface 128 in the illustrated example, it should be understood that the front surface 128 of the housing 109 is generally the front-most surface of the housing 109 of the hair clipper and is generally planar as shown in
The apparatus 10 also comprises a comb 200, as best illustrated in
The comb 200 comprises two generally L-shaped side frame elements 202. The frame elements 202 are connected together and spaced apart by a rear connecting bar 204 and a front connecting bar 206. The two arms of the L-shaped frame elements 202 form a comb portion 208 and a skin guide portion 210. In this example, the frame elements 202 are shaped such that skin guide portion 210 is attached to the base of the comb portion 208 at the base of the comb portion 208. In other examples, the frame elements 202 may connect the skin guide portion 210 to the comb portion 208 at another location, for example at an upper or middle location on the comb portion 208, such that the base of the comb 200 provides an open space at the areas to the sides of the cutting element 106. The distance between the frame elements 202 (and the axial length of the connecting bars 204, 206) is substantially equal to the width of the cutting head 104 of the clipper 100 such that the comb 200 can be mounted on the cutting head 104 between the frame elements 202.
An adjustment feature in the form of an adjustment rail 207 extends from each of the frame elements 202 in the skin guide portion 210. The adjustment rails 207 are insertable into corresponding slots in the clipper 100 for attaching the comb 200 to the clipper. In order to adjust a cutting length of the clipper 100, the adjustment switch 114 can be moved to extend or retract the comb 200 by moving the adjustment rails 207 out of or in to the clipper 100. Accordingly, the adjustment rails, which are substantially straight and linear define an adjustment direction along which the comb moves when a length adjustment is made.
The skin guide portion 210 generally conforms to the skin facing surface 126 of the clipper 100 such that, when the comb 200 is attached to the clipper 100, the skin guide portion overlies the skin-facing surface 126. An outer surface of the skin guide portion 210 is a skin contact surface 212 for contacting the skin in use when the comb 200 is attached to the clipper 100. Thus, when the skin contact surface 212 is in contact with the skin, the skin facing surface 126 is spaced apart from the skin-contact surface 212 (and consequently the skin) by at least a depth of the skin guide portion 210.
The rear connecting bar 204 is formed at a rearward edge skin guide portion 210, as best seen in
The comb portion 208 is arranged generally perpendicular to the skin guide portion 210 and forward of the cutting element and the housing 109 in the cutting direction x. A comb cutting zone 215 is generally defined proximate the meeting point of the comb portion 208 and the skin guide portion 210 at between the corners of the L-shaped frame elements 202. In use, the comb cutting zone 215 is generally arranged proximate the cutting element 106 of the clipper 100.
The front connecting bar 206 extends between the frame elements 202 at an end of the comb portion 208 which is ultimate the cutting element 106 in use. A plurality of comb teeth 216 extend from the connecting bar 206 towards the cutting zone 215. The comb teeth 216 have equal thickness (i.e. across a width of the comb 200) and are generally equally spaced across the width of the connecting bar 204. In other examples, the teeth 216 may not be equally spaced. The comb teeth 216 also generally extend in parallel directions such that a plurality of slots 218 are formed between the comb teeth 216 themselves and between the outer-most comb teeth 216a and the frame elements 202.
The comb teeth 216 and the slots 218 generally extend along the comb portion 208 away from the cutting zone 215 and the cutting element 106. More generally, they extend away from and perpendicular to the skin in use.
As will be best understood with reference to
As can be seen in
In the example of
As shown in
A further example of a comb 300 is shown in
In this example, the comb portion 308 comprises a first portion 325 which, in use, is proximate the cutting element 106, and a second portion ultimate the cutting element 106. Accordingly, the frame elements 302 and the comb teeth 316 each have corresponding first and second portions proximate and ultimate the cutting element 106 in use.
The rear edges 322 of the comb teeth 316 and the frame elements 302 in the first portion 325 in combination define a first rear comb surface 324 which generally forms a rearmost surface or plane of the first portion 325 of the comb portion. As with the rear comb surface 224, it will be understood that the first rear comb surface 324 is not a continuous solid surface, but is a generally a plane defined by and occupied by the rear edges 322.
Furthermore, the rear edges 322 of the comb teeth 316 and the frame elements 302 in the second portion 327 in combination define a second rear comb surface 328 which generally forms a rearmost surface or plane of the second portion 327 of the comb portion. As with the rear comb surface 224 and the first rear comb surface 324, it will be understood that the second rear comb surface 328 is not a continuous solid surface, but is a generally a plane defined by and occupied by the rear edges 322.
The first and second rear comb surfaces 324 and 328 are generally planar in this example, although they may not be in other examples. The first rear comb surface 324 extends in a first direction such that a first spacing angle θ1 is formed between the housing 109 (in particular the front housing surface 128) and the first rear comb surface 324 in the same manner as described for the comb 200 above. However, in the comb 300, the second portion 327 of the comb 300 is angled yet further away from the housing such that a second spacing angle θ2 is formed between the second rear comb surface 328 and the housing 109 (and in particular the front housing surface 128).
Accordingly the wedge-shaped hair debris receiving space 326 is formed of a first wedge 326a formed between the first rear comb surface 324 and the housing 109, and a second wedge 326b formed between the second rear comb surface 328 and the housing 109. In this example, the first spacing angle θ1 is smaller than the second spacing angle θ2 such that rate of increase of the spacing between the rear comb surfaces 324, 328 and the housing 109 is greater in the second portion 327 than the first portion 325. Of course, in other examples, the first spacing angle θ1 may be larger than the second spacing angle θ2. The comb 300 yet further promotes the easy flow of hair debris out of the space 326, as the spacing or distance between the comb portion 308 and the housing 109 increases substantially with distance away from the cutting element 106 owing to the increased spacing angle θ2 in the second portion of the comb. In this example, the first spacing angle θ1 may be around 15 degrees and the second spacing angle θ2 may be around 45 degrees. These angles may be particularly effective at avoiding clogging of the comb.
As shown in the inset detailed view of the encircled portion proximate the cutting element 106 in
The minimum size of gap F at the minimum length extension (of the comb 300) provided by the adjustment rails 307 is 3.5 mm. Therefore, the distances E and H sum to a minimum of 3.5 mm at the minimum length extension of the comb 300. It will be appreciated that the gap F could be larger than 3.5 mm at the minimum length extension of the comb 300. The distance E may have a minimum size of 1.5 mm, and the distance H may have a minimum size of 0.5 mm, although it will be appreciated that they may not both have their minimum size in the same example, in order to ensure that the gap F is at least 3.5 mm. It will be appreciated that there are many combinations of distances E and H which sum to a minimum of 3.5 mm.
A yet further arrangement of a comb 300′ is shown in
In this example, the first rear comb surface 324′ is formed such that it is parallel with an adjustment direction A defined by the adjustment rails 307′. Furthermore, the length of the rear comb surface 324′ in the adjustment direction A is greater than the total length adjustment range provided by the adjustment rails 307′, and even at maximum extension as shown in
Accordingly, a gap G formed between the cutting element 106 and the rear comb surface 324′ has a substantially constant size regardless of the length adjustment required. Accordingly, the gap G can be controlled carefully in order to avoid the gap becoming too great, thereby increasing cutting effectiveness, as fewer hairs will fall between the comb portion 308′ and the cutting element 106. As shown, the spacing angle θ2 between the second rear comb surface 328 and the housing 109 still provides a wedge-shaped space 326′ to promote easy hair debris flow out of the comb 300′.
It should be understood that, in order to control the size of the gap G, the first rear comb surface 324′ need not be exactly parallel to the adjustment direction A. For example, an angular deviation between the surface 324′ and the direction A can be controlled to thereby control the increase in the size of the gap G as the comb 300′ is extended. The angular deviation may be set at a certain maximum in order to provide an acceptable maximum size of the gap G when the comb 300′ is fully extended.
The combs herein described also provide a further advantageous aspect as will be described below.
As can be best seen in
In order to provide this increased spacing, the comb teeth 216 and the frame elements 200 comprise an extension portion 230 which extends generally forwardly in the cutting direction x. The extension portions 230 extend forwardly from the rear faces 222 of the comb teeth 216 by a distance D which is greater than the depth E of the comb teeth.
The connecting bar 206 connects the comb teeth 216 and the frame elements 202 together within their respective extension portions 230 and in particular, at a portion thereof ultimate the housing 109 and the cutting element 106. Therefore, in use, the connecting bar 206 is spaced apart from a housing 109 of the hair clipper 100 by a greater distance than the plurality of comb teeth 216. It will also be understood that owing to the extension portions 230, the connecting bar 206 is spaced apart from the rear edges 222 of the comb teeth 216 by a greater distance than a depth E of the comb teeth 216
As best illustrated in
In this example, the extension portions 230 are a portion of the respective comb tooth or frame element which extends at an angle to a main part of the comb tooth 216, or to the rear comb surface 224 of the comb portion 208. The extension portion 230 generally extends perpendicularly to the front housing surface 128 to maximize the spacing between the connecting bar 206 and the housing 109 over the length of the extension portion 230.
The extension portion 230 can also be thought of as a portion of the comb teeth 216 and frame elements 202 which has an increased depth D in the cutting movement direction compared to a depth E of the remainder of the comb portion (i.e. the comb teeth 216 and frame elements 202).
The arrangement of the connecting bar 206 at an increased distance from the housing 109 than a remainder of the comb portion 208 also provides a further advantage when a delta cutting length (i.e. when the change in hair length during cutting is particularly large, such as when there has been a long time between cuttings). This further advantage will be described with respect to
Before cutting, a hair 400 has a length equal to L+Δ, where L is the length of a cut hair 404 after cutting and Δ is the change in hair length before and after cutting or, in other words, the length of the hair debris 402 after cutting.
As illustrated in
The extension portions 230 of the comb portion 208 arrange the connecting bar 206 such that, for large Δ, the connecting bar 206 contacts the hair debris 402 near an ultimate end thereof. Accordingly, the hair debris 402 may be encouraged to pivot about the connecting bar 206 as shown in
The connecting bar 206 may have an inner pivoting surface 206a which faces the housing and the space 226 and is rounded or curved. The hair debris 402 may generally contact the pivoting surface 206a and, due to the curvature of the surface 206a, be encouraged to pivot away and out of the comb portion 208 more effectively than compared to an angular or flat connecting bar surface.
Accordingly, the combs 200, 300, 300′ described herein serve to generally inhibit or reduce clogging with hair debris by encouraging the flow of hair debris of all lengths out of the comb. It should be understood that the arrangement of the combs to provide the wedge-shaped space between the comb portion and the housing of the clipper, and the extension portions providing increased spacing of the connecting bar from the housing may be implemented separately or in combination dependent upon the application required. Both aspects of the invention may generally serve to reduce clogging, but in combination, they may provide particularly effective clogging prevention or reduction.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.
The aspects and embodiments disclosed and described herein may be combined with features disclosed in the earlier-filed European patent application number EP17171051.0, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. In particular, a distance or spacing between the comb teeth and housing could, in addition to the increased spacing with increasing distance from the cutting element disclosed herein, be varied along other dimensions or directions relative to the comb or comb portion. For example, the spacing between the comb portion and the housing could vary across the width of the comb, and in particular with comb teeth closer to the edges or sides of the comb portion being spaced from the housing to a greater degree than the comb teeth arranged in the middle or center of the comb portion.
Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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| 17194660 | Oct 2017 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2018/076884 | 10/3/2018 | WO |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2019/068746 | 4/11/2019 | WO | A |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20200238547 A1 | Jul 2020 | US |
