The present invention relates generally to housings for powered hair clippers or trimmers (collectively referred to as “hair clippers”), and specifically to multi-part lids for such housings.
Multi-part clipper housing lids or covers are known, among others from U.S. D597,254; D568,542; D500,392 and D435,936. By providing lids in multiple components, hair clipper designers can optionally create a variety of appearances or grades of trim by utilizing different materials or surface treatments for selected lid components without creating new molds. Thus, a relatively large variety of appearance variations can be achieved without excessive tooling costs to create distinct housings for different products. Such lids typically include a main lid secured to a lower or main clipper housing by fasteners such as screws, or combinations of screws and snaps, and at least one cover that is secured to the main lid by snaps or chemical adhesive.
A challenge for clipper designers is developing multi-part lids configured so that the respective components can be easily secured together, as well as to the main housing. Another challenge is designing such lids which are readily disassembled when the clipper requires servicing. Many conventional multi-piece lids are snapped together such that breakage of the snaps and/or portions of the lid often occurs during disassembly.
The above-identified needs are met or exceeded by providing a multi-part clipper lid which employs a single fastener to retain all of the lid components at one end of the lid to a main clipper housing. A trim component and a cover component each slide into place into specialized receptacles of a base component. In the preferred embodiment, both the trim component and the cover component slide into place on the base component using similar sliding motion and direction. Assembly of all the components is easily achieved without the use of force by assembly personnel greater than that needed for mere placement of the components, and the components readily nest together to form a flush exterior surface. Specialized depending locators on the trim and cover components engage accommodating receptacles on the base component which are configured to facilitate rapid assembly.
More specifically, a multi-part hair clipper housing lid is provided that is configured for engagement upon a main hair clipper housing. The lid includes a base having an interior portion defined by an interior edge, a trim piece having an outer trim edge configured for locating on the interior edge, the trim piece defining an inner space defined by an inner peripheral edge, and a cover configured for seating upon the inner peripheral edge and covering the inner space. The cover is constructed and arranged such that upon being fastened to the main housing, the trim piece is retained upon the base.
In another embodiment, a hair clipper housing is provided, including a main clipper housing, a multi-part hair clipper housing lid configured for engagement upon the main hair clipper housing, and a fastener. Included on the lid are a base, a trim piece and a cover. The base is configured for engaging the main clipper housing, having an interior portion defined by an interior edge. The trim piece has an outer trim edge configured for locating on the interior edge, and has an inner space defined by an inner peripheral edge. Configured for seating upon the peripheral edge and covering the inner space, the cover is constructed and arranged such that upon being fastened to the main housing, the trim piece is retained upon the base. The fastener engages the cover and fastens the cover to the main clipper housing such that the trim piece is held in place by the fastening of the cover.
Referring to
More specifically, the above-listed advantages are obtained by the construction of the present lid 10, which provides a sequential nesting relationship between the base 16, the trim piece 18 and the cover 20. The base 16 includes an outer periphery 26 which preferably corresponds to the plan profile of the main clipper housing 12 (
Provided on the interior portion 28 is at least one and preferably a plurality of undercut recesses generally designated 32. In the preferred embodiment, the recesses 32 include a first type of recess 34 configured for securing the cover 20, and a second type of recess 36 configured for securing the trim piece 18 as will be described below. Both types of recesses 34, 36 include a relatively large recessed basin 38 defined by radiused walls 40. In the preferred embodiment, the walls 40 define the basins 38 into rectangular, square or otherwise polygonal shapes, however other shapes are contemplated.
Referring now to
The trim piece 18 is preferably generally “U”-shaped and has an outer trim edge 56 configured for locating on the interior edge 30 of the base 16. In addition, the trim piece 18 has an inner peripheral edge 58 defining a generally “U”-shaped inner space 60, which upon assembly is in communication with the interior portion 28. The inner peripheral edge 58 defines a recessed, stepped seat 62 that is recessed below an exterior surface 64.
On an underside 66 of the trim piece 18, at least one and preferably a pair of depending locators 68 are provided that are configured for engaging the trim piece recesses 36 in the base 16. Each locator 68 is integral with the trim piece 18 and is generally “L”-shaped, having a vertical leg 70 and a trailing leg 72. The trailing legs 72 project towards the rear end 44 of the lid 10. As seen in
To maintain the alignment of the trim piece 18, a transverse support bar 74 is integrally formed near a front end 76 of the trim piece. A transverse recess 78 formed in the interior portion 28 accommodates the support bar 74, and a pair of triangular recesses 80 (
Referring now to
An underside 88 of the cover 20 has a peripheral shoulder 90 defining a relatively thinner peripheral lip 92 (
However, it will be appreciated that the locators 68a are larger than the locators 68, and matingly and slidingly engage the sockets 46 in the recesses 34. Also, that the recesses 34 have a length in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the lid 10 that is greater than a length of the trailing legs 72 of each of the locators 68a. In addition, the locators 68a are disposed upon the underside 88 in an axially spaced orientation, instead of the transverse spacing of the locators 68 on the trim piece 18.
Referring now to
While a particular embodiment of the present multi-part hair clipper housing lid 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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Entry |
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Chinese Office Action from Corresponding Chinese Patent Application No. CN 201210350159.7, dated Jan. 19, 2016. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20130067752 A1 | Mar 2013 | US |