The present invention relates generally to hair cutting devices, also referred to hair clippers or hair trimmers employing reciprocating blade action for achieving cutting action, here collectively referred to as hair clippers, more specifically to blades for such clippers, and more particularly to the specific configuration of teeth for such blades.
Conventionally, clipper blades include a stationary or fixed blade, and a moving blade that reciprocates under a drive force relative to the fixed blade. Each blade has a generally planar base, which in the stationary blades is often provided with fastener openings for accommodating fasteners that secure the blade to the clipper. The moving blade is typically clamped against the fixed blade by a spring clip and includes a generally central opening for receiving a drive member.
Common edges of the fixed and moving blades are provided with a plurality of cutting teeth. Depending on the type of cutting action desired, and the target subject to be clipped, including humans, livestock, pets, carpet, etc., the tooth length and configuration may vary, but in most cases the teeth have a box-like transverse cross-section. This cross-sectional configuration extends from a root of the tooth adjacent the base, to an opposing tooth tip. In many cases, tips of the teeth are initially finished using conventional grinding and polishing techniques to remove sharp edges on the corners. A planar surface is formed along a lower tooth surface, forming the cutting surface. Also, many conventional blades are subjected to secondary finishing that applies a radius between the sides and the cutting surface. Despite this finishing, teeth on conventional blades are typically formed of a plurality of planar surfaces.
An improvement in the above-identified conventional blade tooth profile is provided that has been found to significantly improve the cutting operation of hair clippers. In fact, by replacing conventional blades with blades having teeth configured as described below, the feed rate of hair through a hair clipper bladeset has been improved by a factor of several times, the amount of improvement depending on the density of the material being cut and the particular blade configuration. In some cases, an increase by as much as ten times the conventional feed rate was obtained using the present blade tooth configuration. Also, the quality of the cut increases significantly, and a given clipper equipped with the present blades is capable of superior cutting and fiber (hair) feeding compared to the same clipper equipped with conventional blades.
Another feature of the present blade tooth is an elliptical transition zone on the tooth tip, forming a three-dimensional feed enhancing shape. Thus formed, the tooth tip lacks a planar surface except for the cutting surface. In a preferred embodiment, the arc defined in the axial or Y direction of the tooth is greater than that of the transverse or X direction, creating an elliptical shape. In some applications, it is contemplated that the dimensions of the arc of the Y direction will be as much as three times that of the X direction.
More specifically, a tooth for a blade of a hair cutting apparatus includes a root secured to a base of the blade, a tip opposite the root, and a longitudinal axis of the tooth defined between the root and the tip. A lower, planar cutting surface is provided on the tooth, as is an upper surface opposite the lower surface, and sidewalls separating the upper surface from the lower surface. At least a portion of the upper surface and the sidewalls are elliptical in the direction of the longitudinal axis, beginning at the tip.
In another embodiment, a cutting blade for use in a hair cutting apparatus is provided, including a base having a first edge and an opposite second edge, a plurality of teeth projecting from the first edge, the teeth each defining a longitudinal axis between a root secured to the first edge and a tip opposite the root. Each of the teeth is provided with a lower, planar cutting surface, and opposite upper and sidewall surfaces. A cross-section taken of each of the teeth in a plane defined by the tip and being at least one of parallel to the planar cutting surface and perpendicular to the cutting surface and extending along the longitudinal axis defining an ellipse.
Referring now to
A plurality of clipper teeth 22 project from the second edge 16 and each has a root 24 secured to the second edge, and an opposite tip 26. In the present application, the tip 26 refers to the end or distal region of the tooth 22, and is not restricted to its endpoint. Reference number 26 thus also refers to a tip area. Each tooth 22 defines a longitudinal axis ‘Q’ between the root 24 and the tip 26. It will be seen from
Referring now to
Referring now to
As seen in
However, to enhance the ability of the present blade 22′ to feed through the hair, it is preferred that the looking from line 3A-3A towards the tip 26, (seen on the left side of
Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 5-7, extending the concept of the radiused shape of the corner 44A, optionally, in some applications, a peripheral edge 46 of the lower, cutting surface 28 is also radiused or smoothly transitioned at ‘R’ so that there is no corner defined between the cutting surface and the sidewalls 32 at the tip 26. This transition area ‘R’ blends smoothly into the planar cutting surface 28. It is especially preferred that the radiused transition area ‘R’ is restricted to the tooth tip 26, however it is also contemplated that the transition area ‘R’ extends toward the tooth root 24 along the peripheral edge 46.
Comparing
Referring now to
Referring now to
It has been found that the removal of the right angles or corners at the edges 34-42 has resulted in significantly increased hair feed rates through a bladeset 48 made up of a fixed or stationary blade 50 and a complementary moving blade 52, at least one of which being equipped with the present teeth 22′(
Cutting rates in the order of 5 to 10 times faster than standard “cornered” blades with planar upper and sidewall surfaces have been achieved with at least the stationary blade 50 provided with the present teeth 22′. In addition, the blade 52 may also be equipped with the teeth 22′, as long as the stationary blade 50 is provided with such teeth. The main performance advantages of the present teeth 22′ are achieved when formed on the stationary blade 50. It has also been found that cutting efficiency improves with the present teeth 22′, such that fewer passes are required by the user working with the clipper on a certain area of a subject's head. Thus, a clipper equipped with blades 50, 52 at least the blade 50 having the present teeth 22′ often performs at a level of a much more expensive clipper.
Table 1 below provides a comparison of blade feed rates between standard clipper blades and the present blade having teeth 22′:
Synthetic Hair Cutting Test
This test measured the time in seconds taken to move three sample blade sets (A, B and C) of each configuration through a specified density of artificial hair arrayed along a specified distance, for example in the range of 20-24 inches long.
Averaging the above results, the present blade cut approximately five times faster than the stock blade.
Referring again to
It is contemplated that the present blades, 50, 52 having the present teeth 22′ can be shaped so that the teeth have the desired profile using any of the following, well-known machining, dressing and finishing technologies, including but not limited to abrasive media tumbling, abrasive drag finishing, rubberized abrasives, buffing wheels, abrasive polishes, as well as other known grinding, polishing, buffing and machining technologies.
Thus, it will be seen that providing a cutting blade 50 having teeth 22′ produced with a tip area 26 that lacks planar surfaces except for the cutting surface results in hair feed rates significantly faster than conventional clipper blade sets.
While a particular embodiment of the present low resistance hair clipper blade tooth profile has been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the following claims.
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Number | Date | Country |
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415455 | Aug 1934 | GB |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20110225830 A1 | Sep 2011 | US |