The present invention relates to grooming devices, more specifically hair clipping devices designed for use in trimming hair. The device includes a motor, an electrostatic ion generator, a power cord, a switch and an indicating light, all housed within an elongated plastic housing. The device also utilizes a tapered blade assembly at one end of the device housing. The power cord is connected to the switch and the switch is connected to control the motor, electrostatic ion generator and indicating light. When the switch is engaged it provides power to the motor, electrostatic ion generator and indicating light. The electrostatic ion generator's output is coupled between positive and negative electrode arrays. Preferably, the positive electrode array is a pointed electrode and the negative electrode array includes an annular-like electrode having a central opening coaxial with the associated pointed electrode. Preferably, the annular-like electrodes are formed from a single sheet of metal by extrusion or punching such that the surface of the annular-like electrode is smooth and continuous. The opening for the discharge of the ions is positioned so that the ions are directed towards the hair being trimmed.
Cutting hair requires precise control of hair being trimmed in order to get a clean, crisp hair trim. In order to get a perfect hair trim one is required to thoroughly wet the hair or utilize other styling agents in order to maintain tight control of the hair being trimmed. It is therefore beneficial to have a hair trimming device that would allow a person to achieve a precise hair trim without having to wet or utilize styling agents on the hair thus causing hair to stick on the blades of the trimming device. It is thus an object of the present invention to allow the user to trim hair without having to wet or utilize styling agents on the hair. The present invention utilizes an electrostatic ion generator that discharges negative ions onto the hair in order to have better control of the hair by eliminating static control and frizzys caused by the constant combing during trimming. The negative ions provide two benefits, (i) eliminating static control, thus eliminating flyaway hair and (ii) attaching themselves to the positively charged hair being trimmed and causing the trimmed hair to fall to the floor instead of being attracted to the cutting blades that create positive ions due to their cutting motion.
Throughout this disclosure, unless the context dictates otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising,” is understood to mean “includes, but is not limited to” such that other elements that are not explicitly mentioned may also be included. Further, unless the context dictates otherwise, use of the term “a” may mean a singular object or element, or it may mean a plurality, or one or more of such objects or elements.
The following drawings form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the present invention. The invention may be better understood by reference to one or more of these drawings in combination with the detailed description of specific embodiments presented herein.
An embodiment of the present invention is shown in top view in
A side view of the preferred device is shown in
A schematic view of an electrical circuit of the device is shown in