Multi-positionable hair trimmer

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6684507
  • Patent Number
    6,684,507
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, January 7, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, February 3, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
By providing a dual cutting head module which is constructed for precisely cutting beards and mustaches in a wide variety of alternate widths using one cutting blade, while also trimming and cutting nose/ear hair using a second cutting blade, an easily employed, dependable, reliable, multi-purpose beard/mustache and nose/ear hair trimming system is achieved. In one embodiment, the dual cutting blade head member is constructed for removable mounted engagement with the support base, as well as being arcuately pivotable relative thereto, enabling either of the two desired cutting blades to be moved into the operating position whenever desired by the user. In an alternate embodiment, the dual cutting blade head member is mounted to the support base for pivotable movement only, enabling the desired multi-purpose use and operation to be provided, with reduced simplicity in manufacturing.
Description




TECHNICAL FIELD




This invention relates to beard, mustache, ear, and nose hair trimmers and, more particularly, to movable cutting elements for such trimmers.




BACKGROUND ART




During the last many years, individuals have been increasingly drawn to the advantages provided by electric shaver's and electric hair trimmers. In general, the consuming public has found that the use of scissors, razors, and other cutting systems are extremely inconvenient for removing, trimming, or maintaining beards, mustaches, and hair lengths. In particular, cutting or trimming children's hair is often difficult with prior art methods. In addition, with the ever-increasing time constraints and commitments individuals typically encounter, a fast and effective trimming or cutting system is most desirable.




Through the years, numerous alternate constructions have been created for hair trimmers, particularly suited for beards, mustaches, nose and ear hair. Most of these prior art systems employ similar cutting systems. Typically, one fixed blade and one movable blade cooperate to perform the hair or whisker cutting function.




In order to provide a hair trimmer which is capable of being used in a wide variety of alternate hair cutting situations, prior art systems employ a comb element associated with the hair trimmer which is movably adjustable relative to the cutting blades, in order to allow the user to control the length at which the hair fibers are cut. Unfortunately, prior art constructions have been incapable of providing an adjustable comb element which is easy to employ, while also assuring secure locked engagement of the comb element in any desired position.




Typically, in these prior art constructions, the comb element is either extremely difficult to move or to adjust between its alternate positions. Alternatively, in those prior art systems where movement of the comb element is capable of being achieved with reasonable ease or convenience, the comb element is not securely retained in any desired position. Instead, the comb element easily returns to its original position, whenever any pressure is applied to the comb element.




This unwanted movement of the comb element is extremely difficult for the user to endure, since the user is attempting to cut the beard, mustache, or hair fibers to a specific length. In this regard, whenever the position of the comb element moves during use, the hair fibers are cut to a substantially different length and the desired uniformity or consistency is lost.




In attempting to eliminate these problems, many prior art systems have been developed which are specifically constructed with cutting blades having narrow cutting surfaces, in order to allow consumers to obtain the detailed cutting desired for beards and mustaches, and for cutting and trimming nose and ear hair. Although such prior art systems have been successful in satisfying the various needs of consumers, no universal cutting or trimming system has been developed which satisfies all of the typical needs of a user. As a result, multiple cutting systems are required, causing consumers to incur substantially added cost and maintenance difficulties.




Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a beard and mustache trimmer system which is easy to employ and incorporates two separate and independent blade assemblies of different widths for enabling any desired area to be cut.




Another object of the present invention is to provide a beard and mustache trimmer system having the characteristic features described above which enables the user to quickly and easily switch between either blade assembly.




Another object of the present invention is to provide a beard and mustache trimmer system having the characteristic features described above wherein the blade assemblies are formed on a cutting blade module which is rotatable relative to the support base.




Another object of the present invention is to provide a beard and mustache trimmer system having the characteristic features described above wherein the cutter blade module is removable from the base.




Other and more specific objects will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




By employing the present invention, all of the difficulties and drawbacks found in the prior art are completely eliminated and an easily employed, dependable, reliable, multi-purpose beard/mustache and nose/ear hair trimming system is achieved. In accordance with the present invention, a dual cutting head module is provided which is constructed for precisely cutting beards and mustaches in a wide variety of alternate widths using one cutting blade, while also trimming and cutting nose/ear hair using a second cutting blade. As a result, a single cutting system is achieved, whereas prior art systems require multiple, separate, and independent cutting systems.




In the present invention, a single support base is employed which incorporates a drive system constructed for cooperative driving engagement with a removable and/or pivotable dual cutting blade head member. In the preferred construction, the dual cutting blade head member incorporates a first cutting blade formed thereon which is constructed for providing the desired beard/mustache trimming capabilities, while also incorporating a smaller, more narrow cutting blade formed on the opposed end thereof, specifically constructed for cutting and trimming nose/ear hair.




In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the dual cutting blade head member is constructed for removable mounted engagement with the support base, as well as being arcuately pivotable relative thereto, enabling either of the two desired cutting blades to be moved into the operating position whenever desired by the user. In addition, the user is also able to completely remove the dual cutting blade head member from the support base for cleaning and maintenance, as well as for selecting the desired cutting end to be employed. As a result, ease of operation and multi-purpose use is realized.




In an alternate embodiment, the dual cutting blade head member is mounted to the support base for pivotable movement only. In this way, the desired multi-purpose use and operation ease is provided, with reduced simplicity in manufacturing.




In order to achieve the multipurpose, dual cutting trimming system of the present invention, the single support base incorporates a drive motor and a movable drive system which is selectively engageable and disengageable from the dual blade head member. In this way, the desired cutting blade can be selected and easily operated by activating the motor contained in the support base. In addition, once the dual blade head member has been employed, its quick and easy removability from the support base enables the cutting blades to be quickly and easily cleaned whenever required.




In the preferred construction of the present invention, the support base incorporates a locking member which securely affixes the removable dual blade head member to the support base when desired or, alternatively, secures the pivotable dual blade head member in either of its two alternate positions. In addition, when removability is sought, the removable embodiment provides for the simple movement of a single release button to allow the dual blade cutting head to be removed from the support base.




Furthermore, in both embodiments, the release member also engages and disengages the drive arm connected to the drive motor. As a result, the single activation button assures that the removable cutting blade head member, or the pivotable cutting head member is securely mounted to the drive motor whenever the cutting head member is positioned in direct mounted engagement with the support base in a desired position.




In both preferred embodiments, the dual blade cutting head member is capable of being rotated in position when securely mounted to the support base. As a result, the particular cutting blades to be employed is quickly and easily selected. Furthermore, to assure that complete positioning of the cutting blades is achieved, position alignment zones are formed in the support base for enabling the cutting head to be pivoted and mounted in position with the support base, in the precisely desired location.




As is evident from the foregoing detailed disclosure, the present invention achieves a single product which enables two separate and independent cutting blades to be selectively movable into an operating position for allowing the user to cut or trim a beard or mustache using one cutting blade and then quickly and easily switch to a second cutting blade for trimming nose and ear hair. As result, a single system is employed for achieving what previously could only be achieved using multiple, separate units.




The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.











THE DRAWINGS




For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:





FIG. 1

is a front perspective view of the dual head cutting and trimming system of the present invention with the beard/mustache cutting blade mounted in the operating position;





FIG. 2

is a front perspective view of the dual head cutting and trimming system of the present invention with the nose/ear hair trimming cutting blade mounted in the operating position;





FIG. 2A

is an exploded front elevation view, partially broken away, depicting the upper housing separated from the support base.





FIG. 3

is a side elevation view of the dual head cutting and trimming system of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 4

is a cross-sectional side elevation view of one embodiment of the dual head cutting and trimming system of the present invention shown with the dual cutting blades module in its operating position;





FIG. 5

is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the dual head cutting and trimming system of

FIG. 4

shown with the dual cutting blade module in the disengaged or released position;





FIGS. 6

,


7


, and


8


are plan views of the dual cutting blade module of

FIG. 4

;





FIG. 9

is a side view of the dual cutting blade module of

FIG. 4

;





FIG. 10

is a cross-sectional side elevation view of a second embodiment of the dual head cutting and trimming system of the present invention shown with the dual cutting blades module in its operating position;





FIG. 11

is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the dual head cutting and trimming system of

FIG. 10

shown with the dual cutting blade module in the disengaged or released position;





FIGS. 12

,


13


, and


14


are plan views of the dual cutting blade module of

FIG. 10

; and





FIG. 15

is a side view of the dual cutting blade module of FIG.


10


.











DETAILED DISCLOSURE




By referring to

FIGS. 1-15

, along with the following detailed disclosure, the construction and operation of the dual head cutting and trimming system of the present invention can best be understood. In this regard, two preferred embodiments of the present invention are fully disclosed and detailed. However, alternate constructions can be made to this system without departing from the scope of the present invention. Consequently, it is to be understood that the embodiments disclosed in the Figures and detailed herein are provided for exemplary purposes only, and are not intended as a limitation of the present invention.




As shown in

FIGS. 1-15

, dual head cutting and trimming system


20


incorporates lower support base


21


and removable upper housing


25


, within which dual cutting blade module or head member


22


is mounted. In the preferred constructions, dual cutting blade module or head member


22


comprises cutting blade assembly


23


which is specifically dimensioned for precisely trimming beards and mustaches, while also incorporating cutting blade assembly


24


, specifically dimensioned for cutting and trimming nose and ear hair.




Furthermore, as shown in

FIG. 2

, lower housing


21


incorporates drive motor


32


to which eccentrically mounted pin


33


is mounted for continuous rotation when activated. In addition, pin engaging fork


26


is mounted in upper housing


25


for controlled driving engagement with pin


33


when fully assembled. In this way, the desired movement of the cutting blades is realized.




As more fully detailed below, cutting blade assembly


23


is formed at one end of dual cutting blade module/head member


22


, while cutting blade assembly


24


is formed at the opposed end of dual cutting blade module/head member


22


. In addition, both cutting blade assemblies


23


and


24


are constructed in a generally conventional manner, with each assembly comprising two blade members which incorporate toothed cutting edges and are mounted in cooperating relationship with each other. In addition, one of said blade members is fixedly mounted, while the other blade member is constructed for reciprocating movement relative thereto. In this way, the desired cutting action is achieved.




As is fully detailed herein, by employing the present invention, a single, dual cutting blade module


22


is selectively movable on upper housing


25


in any desired position, in order to provide the precise hair trimming or cutting blade desired for a particular operation. Regardless of which blade assembly is selected, the placement of dual cutting blade module


22


in upper housing


25


, with upper housing


25


mounted to support base


21


, assures driving engagement of the desired cutting blade with the motor contained in support base


21


, in order to achieve the desired cutting action.




By referring to the following detailed disclosure, along with

FIGS. 4-9

, the preferred construction and operation of one embodiment of the present invention can best be understood. In this embodiment, dual cutting blade module


22


is removably mounted to upper housing


25


of system


20


, while also being rotationally movable in upper housing


25


.




In the preferred construction, upper housing


25


incorporates receiving and holding zone


27


which is constructed for enabling removable/rotatable dual head cutting blade module/head member


22


to be securely positioned and retained therein. In the preferred construction, zone


27


is defined by two, juxtaposed, spaced, facing surfaces or walls


48


and


49


. In addition, upper housing


25


also incorporates retaining plate


28


which is mounted to surface


48


in cooperation with spring means


29


to continuously bias retaining plate


28


into engagement with removable/rotatable dual head cutting blade module


22


.




In the preferred construction, retaining plate


28


incorporates a recess or cavity


30


formed in its exposed surface, which is constructed for mating engagement with a raised boss or dimple


31


formed on the outer surface of dual head cutting blade module


22


. By employing this construction, positive holding engagement of dual cutting blade module


22


in upper housing


25


is attained, while also enabling dual head cutting blade module


22


to be quickly and easily removed from engagement with upper housing


25


. In order to remove dual cutting blade module


22


, the user merely advances dual head cutting blade module


22


out of engagement with upper housing


25


, using sufficient force to cause retaining plate


28


to move against spring member


29


and release the surface engagement between raised boss or dimple


31


and recess zone


30


of retaining plate


28


.




In addition, in the preferred configuration, retaining plate


28


is positioned substantially midway along the length of removable dual head cutting blade module


22


. As a result, once dual head cutting blade module


22


is in secure engagement in upper housing


25


, dual head cutting module


22


is capable of rotating about the perpendicular axis thereof which extends through raised boss/dimple


31


and recess zone


30


of holding member


28


. In this way, the user is able to select the precisely desired cutting blade assembly needed by either entirely removing cutting blade module


22


from upper housing


25


or arcuately rotating cutting blade module


22


relative to support base


21


while retained in its engaged position.




As discussed above, cutting blade assemblies


23


and


24


each comprise fixed blade member


34


and movable blade member


35


. As depicted, blade members


34


and


35


are mounted in juxtaposed cooperating relationship with each other, with movable blade member


35


positioned for side to side movement relative to fixed blade member


34


, thereby providing the desired cutting action.




In order to achieve the desired movement of blade member


35


, support base


21


incorporates drive motor


32


, the output of which is directly connected to eccentric pin


33


, which is engaged with fork


26


formed at one end of movable arm member


36


. In this construction, arm member


36


incorporates a distal drive end or finger member


37


which directly engages movable blade member


35


of each cutting blade assembly


23


and


24


to cause movable blade member


35


to reciprocatingly move in a first plane. As shown in

FIG. 12

, each movable blade member


35


is controllably connected to lever arm


39


which causes blade member


35


to move as desired. The desired movement is achieved by the reciprocating, pivoting movement of arm member


36


due to the rotation of pin


33


in fork


26


.




In addition to providing the desired side to side, reciprocating movement of lever


39


and blade member


35


relative to fixed blade member


34


, whenever the motor has been activated, arm member


36


is also capable of lateral movement in its entirety between a first blade member engaged position and a second blade member disengaged position. As a result of this lateral movement of arm member


36


, arm member


36


is capable of being disengaged from driving contact with blade member


35


when in its second position.




In order to control the lateral movement of arm member


36


, upper housing


25


incorporates a guide pin


40


securely mounted to one surface thereof, with spring means


41


peripherally surrounding guide pin


40


. In addition, movable arm member


36


is constructed surrounding and engaging guide pin


40


for axial movement relative thereto. In addition, arm member


36


comprises a surface thereof which is in contact with spring means


41


. In the preferred construction, spring means


41


comprises a coil spring which is constructed for continuously biasing movable arm member


36


towards dual head cutting blade module


22


, thereby normally maintaining arm member


36


engaged with movable blade member


35


of dual head cutting blade module


22


.




By employing this construction, movable arm member


36


is normally engaged with cutting blade assembly


23


or


24


in order to provide the desired reciprocating movement for enabling cutting blade assembly


23


and


24


to perform the desired cutting operation. However, whenever dual head cutting blade module


22


is to be removed from support base


21


, for cleaning or for being positioned in an alternate orientation, movable arm member


36


must be disengaged from dual head cutting blade module


22


.




In order to provide the required lateral movement of arm member


36


relative to dual cutting blade module


22


, in order to disengage drive end


37


from cutting blade assembly


23


or


24


, pushbutton


43


is employed. Pushbutton


43


is movably mounted to upper housing


25


in combination with coil spring member


44


and elongated rod


45


. Pushbutton


43


is constructed for movement between two alternate positions, while spring member


44


is constructed for biasing pushbutton


43


outwardly and maintaining pushbutton


43


in its first position, depicted in FIG.


4


.




In addition, elongated rod


45


is mounted within spring member


44


and in controlled engagement with pushbutton


43


. In the first position, a portion of rod member


45


extends outwardly from spring member


44


in a direction opposite from pushbutton


43


. Furthermore, rod member


45


is positioned for cooperative, controlled engagement with arm member


36


.




By employing this construction, the movement of pushbutton


43


from its first position to its second position causes elongated rod member


45


to move axially outwardly from coil spring


44


into engagement with arm member


36


. In addition, as elongated rod


45


is axially advanced outwardly from coil spring


44


, rod


45


contacts arm


36


, causing arm


36


to move laterally along guide pin


40


against the spring forces caused by spring member


41


.




Once pushbutton


43


has been moved into its second position, elongated rod


45


is advanced completely outwardly from coil spring


44


and arm member


36


has been moved into its second position, completely disengaged from dual head cutting blade module


22


. This completely disengaged position is shown in FIG.


5


.




Once the activating forces are removed from pushbutton


43


, coil spring member


44


causes pushbutton


43


to return to its first position, while spring member


41


causes arm member


36


to automatically advance from the disengaged position into the engaged position. As a result, automatic movement of arm member


36


into its normally engaged and operating position is quickly and easily obtained, whenever the user removes any activation force from pushbutton


43


. As a result, quick, easy, and reliable operation of dual blade cutting and trimming system


20


is realized.




In the preferred construction of this embodiment, many of the structural components defined above are also incorporated in this embodiment. Consequently, for ease of description and understanding, the same reference numerals are employed. Furthermore, when not required, a detailed disclosure of these identical components is not provided and the foregoing disclosure is incorporated by reference.




By referring to the following detailed disclosure, along with

FIGS. 10-15

, the preferred construction and operation of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention can best be understood. In this embodiment, dual cutting blade module


22


is rotationally mounted to upper housing


25


of system


20


, while being incapable of being removed from upper housing


25


.




In the preferred construction of this embodiment, upper housing


25


incorporates receiving and holding zone


27


which is constructed for enabling removable/rotatable dual head cutting blade module/head member


22


to be securely positioned and retained therein. In the preferred construction, zone


27


is defined by two, juxtaposed, spaced, facing surfaces or walls


48


and


49


. In addition, upper housing


25


also incorporates rectangular shaped hub


55


which is mounted to surface


48


for controlled rotational movement relative thereto.




In the preferred construction, hub


55


is constructed for mating engagement with cavity


56


formed on the outer surface of dual head cutting blade module


22


. In addition, hub


55


is journalled in surface


48


, in combination with a flexible outer ring


57


integrally attached thereto. By constructing outer ring


57


with a plurality of detents, the desired alternate positions for cutting blade module


22


are established, enabling the user to quickly and easily overcome the frictional resistance provided by the detents and rotate cutting blade module


22


into its alternate position.




In addition, in the preferred configuration, hub


55


is positioned substantially midway along the length of dual head cutting blade module


22


. As a result, dual head cutting module


22


is capable of easily rotating about the perpendicular axis extending through hub


55


and cavity


56


of cutting blade module


22


. In this way, the user is able to quickly and easily select the precisely desired cutting blade assembly needed by merely arcuately rotating cutting blade module


22


relative to support base


21


while retained in position.




As discussed above, cutting blade assemblies


23


and


24


each comprise fixed blade member


34


and movable blade member


35


. As depicted, blade members


34


and


35


are mounted in juxtaposed cooperating relationship with each other, with movable blade member


35


positioned for side to side movement relative to fixed blade member


34


, thereby providing the desired cutting action.




In order to achieve the desired movement of blade member


35


, support base


21


incorporates drive motor


32


, the output of which is directly connected to eccentric pin


33


, which is engaged with fork


26


formed at one end of movable arm member


36


. In this construction, arm member


36


incorporates a distal drive end or finger member


37


which directly engages movable blade member


35


of each cutting blade assembly


23


and


24


to cause movable blade member


35


to reciprocatingly move in a first plane. As shown in

FIG. 12

, each movable blade member


35


is controllably connected to lever arm


39


which causes blade member


35


to move as desired. The desired movement is achieved by the reciprocating, pivoting movement of arm member


36


due to the rotation of pin


33


in fork


26


.




In addition to providing the desired side to side, reciprocating movement of lever arm


39


and blade member


35


relative to fixed blade member


34


, whenever the motor has been activated, arm member


36


is also capable of lateral movement in its entirety between a first blade member engaged position and a second blade member disengaged position. As a result of this lateral movement of arm member


36


, arm member


36


is capable of being disengaged from driving contact with blade member


35


when in its second position.




In order to control the lateral movement of arm member


36


, upper housing


25


incorporates a guide pin


40


securely mounted to one surface thereof, with spring means


41


peripherally surrounding guide pin


40


. In addition, movable arm member


36


is constructed surrounding and engaging guide pin


40


for axial movement relative thereto. In addition, arm member


36


comprises a surface thereof which is in contact with spring means


41


. In the preferred construction, spring means


41


comprises a coil spring which is constructed for continuously biasing movable arm member


36


towards dual head cutting blade module


22


, thereby normally maintaining arm member


36


engaged with movable blade member


35


of dual head cutting blade module


22


.




By employing this construction, movable arm member


36


is normally engaged with cutting blade assembly


23


or


24


in order to provide the desired reciprocating movement for enabling cutting blade assembly


23


and


24


to perform the desired cutting operation. However, whenever dual head cutting blade module


22


is to be rotated in support base


21


, for cleaning or for being positioned in an alternate orientation, movable arm member


36


must be disengaged from dual head cutting blade module


22


.




In order to provide the required lateral movement of arm member


36


relative to dual cutting blade module


22


and disengage drive end


37


from cutting blade assembly


23


or


24


, pushbutton


43


is employed. Pushbutton


43


is movably mounted to upper housing


25


in combination with coil spring member


44


and elongated rod


45


. Pushbutton


43


is constructed for movement between two alternate positions, while spring member


44


is constructed for biasing pushbutton


43


outwardly and maintaining pushbutton


43


in its first position, depicted in FIG.


10


.




In addition, elongated rod


45


is mounted within spring member


44


and in controlled engagement with pushbutton


43


. In the first position, a portion of rod member


45


extends outwardly from spring member


44


in a direction opposite from pushbutton


43


. Furthermore, rod member


45


is positioned for cooperative, controlled engagement with arm member


36


in combination with plate


58


.




In this embodiment, as shown in

FIGS. 10 and 11

, upper housing


25


comprises elongated control plate


58


mounted in association with arm member


36


. In this preferred construction, plate


58


extends substantially the entire length of arm member


36


and is movably mounted to guide pin


40


. In addition, plate member


58


is positioned between arm member


36


and rod


45


.




By employing this construction, the movement of pushbutton


43


from its first position to its second position causes elongated rod member


45


to move axially outwardly from coil spring


44


into engagement with control plate


58


. In addition, as elongated rod


45


is axially advanced outwardly from coil spring


44


, rod


45


contacts control plate


58


, causing plate


58


and arm


36


to move laterally along guide pin


40


against the spring forces caused by spring member


41


. By employing control plate


58


, a heavy duty, preferred metallic component is provided which eliminated any possibility of bending of arm


36


and assures the desired movement of arm


36


in its entirety.




Once pushbutton


43


has been moved into its second position, elongated rod


45


is advanced completely outwardly from coil spring


44


, and arm member


36


, with plate


58


, are moved into their second position, with arm member


36


completely disengaged from dual head cutting blade module


22


. This completely disengaged position is shown in FIG.


11


.




Once the activating forces are removed from pushbutton


43


, coil spring member


44


causes pushbutton


43


to return to its first position, while spring member


41


causes arm member


36


and plate


58


to automatically advance from the disengaged position into the engaged position. As a result, automatic movement of arm member


36


into its normally engaged and operating position is quickly and easily obtained, whenever the user removes any activation force from pushbutton


43


. As a result, quick, easy, and reliable operation of dual blade cutting and trimming system


20


is realized.




It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above article without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.




It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.



Claims
  • 1. A beard and mustache trimmer system constructed for enabling separate cutting blade assemblies to be alternatively selected for use, said trimmer system comprising:A. a support base incorporating a drive motor and an eccentrically mounted pin rotationally connected to the drive motor; B. an upper housing a. removably mountable to the support base, b. incorporating a movable drive fork engageable with the eccentric pin for controlled movement thereof, and c. comprising a holding zone constructed for supportingly retaining a dual cutting blade module/head member therein and enabling the dual cutting blade module/head member to be rotationally moved between its two alternate positions, said holding zone comprising two juxtaposed, spaced, facing surfaces, with at least one of said surfaces incorporating a support plate on which one side of said dual cutting blade module/head member is supportingly retained; C. a dual cutting blade module or head member, a. Incorporating a first cutting blade assembly at one end thereof and a second cutting blade assembly at the opposed end thereof, and b. mounted to the upper housing for rotational movement relative thereto and for enabling the first cutting blade assembly to be positioned in an operative location, whenever desired, and also enabling the second cutting blade assembly to be rotated into the operative location, when desired; whereby a beard and mustache trimmer system is achieved which provides two separate and independent cutting blade assemblies, for use by a consumer, whenever desired, in order to achieve a particular cutting effect or result.
  • 2. The beard and mustache trimmer system defined in claim 1, wherein the support plate mounted to the support surface is further defined as being frictionally journalled in said upper housing for controlling the rotational movement of the dual cutting blade module/head member and requiring sufficient force to overcome the frictional engagement thereof.
  • 3. A beard and mustache trimmer system constructed for enabling separate cutting blade assemblies to be alternatively selected for use, said trimmer system comprising:A. a support base incorporating a drive motor and an eccentrically mounted pin rotationally connected to the drive motor; B. an upper housing a. removably mountable to the support base, b. incorporating a movable drive fork engageable with the eccentric pin for controlled movement thereof, and c. comprising an elongated drive arm mounted to the housing for enabling said drive arm to pivot relative thereto, with the drive arm incorporating the drive fork at one end thereof and an upstanding finger member at the opposed end thereof; C. a dual cutting blade module or head member, a. incorporating a first cutting blade assembly at one end thereof and a second cutting blade assembly at the opposed end thereof, and b. mounted to the upper housing for rotational movement relative thereto and for enabling the first cutting blade assembly to be positioned in an operative location, whenever desired, and also enabling the second cutting blade assembly to be rotated into the operative location, when desired; whereby a beard and mustache trimmer system is achieved which provides two separate and independent cutting blade assemblies, for use by a consumer, whenever desired, in order to achieve a particular cutting effect or result.
  • 4. The beard and mustache trimmer system defined in claim 3, wherein the first cutting blade assembly and the second cutting blade assembly each comprise one fixedly mounted blade member and one movable blade member cooperatively associated therewith, each of said movable blade members being connected to a movement control lever for providing side to side, translational movement of the movable blade member relative to the fixedly mounted blade member, thereby obtaining the desired cutting action.
  • 5. The beard and mustache trimmer defined in claim 4, wherein said first cutting blade assembly comprises blade members having a narrow width constructed for cutting and trimming nose and ear hairs, and said second cutting blade assembly comprises blade members having a wider width constructed for cutting and trimming beards and mustaches.
  • 6. The beard and mustache trimmer system defined in claim 3, wherein the movable blade member of each cutting blade assembly is further defined as being controllably driven by the movement of the upstanding finger member of the drive arm engaged with the movement control lever which is controllably driven in a reciprocating arcuate path by the pivoting movement of the drive arm and the movement of the drive fork when engaged with the eccentrically mounted pin.
  • 7. The beard and mustache trimmer system defined in claim 6, wherein the upper housing further comprises a drive arm supporting shaft for retaining the drive arm thereon and enabling said drive arm to arcuately pivot relative thereto, said drive arm supporting shaft also comprising spring means mounted thereon for normally biasing the drive arm into a first, engaged position, wherein the finger member of the drive arm is engaged with the movement control lever of one of said cutting blade assemblies.
  • 8. The beard and mustache trimmer system defined in claim 7, wherein said upper housing further comprises a push button mounted thereto, accessible from an outer surface of said upper housing and constructed for controlling the movement of the drive arm to move between its first engaged position and a second disengaged position, wherein the finger member of the drive arm is disengaged from the movement control lever of the cutting blade assembly.
  • 9. The beard and mustache trimmer system defined in claim 8, wherein the movement of the drive arm into its second position enables the dual cutting blade module/head member to be rotationally moved between its two alternate operating positions.
  • 10. The beard and mustache trimmer system defined in claim 8, wherein said upper housing further comprises an elongated plate member cooperatively associated with the drive arm and the push button for assuring movement of the drive arm in its entirety whenever said push button is activated.
  • 11. A beard and mustache trimmer system constructed for enabling separate cutting blade assemblies to be alternatively selected for use, said trimmer system comprising:A. a support base incorporating a drive motor and an eccentrically mounted pin rotationally connected to the drive motor; B. an upper housing a. removably mountable to the support base, b. incorporating a movable drive fork engageable with the eccentric pin for controlled movement thereof, and C. a dual cutting blade module or head member, a. incorporating a first cutting blade assembly at one end thereof and a second cutting blade assembly at the opposed end thereof, and b. mounted to the upper housing for rotational movement relative thereto and for enabling the first cutting blade assembly to be positioned in an operative location, whenever desired, and also enabling the second cutting blade assembly to be rotated into the operative location, when desired, and c. removably mounted to the upper housing for being separated therefrom in its entirety, whenever desired by a user, whereby a beard and mustache trimmer system is achieved which provides two separate and independent cutting blade assemblies, for use by a consumer, whenever desired, in order to achieve a particular cutting effect or result.
  • 12. The beard and mustache trimmer system defined in claim 11, wherein the upper housing is further defined as comprising a holding zone constructed for supportingly retaining the dual cutting blade module/head member therein and enabling the dual cutting blade module/head member to be rotationally moved therein, while also being removable therefrom in its entirety.
  • 13. The beard and mustache trimmer system defined in claim 12, wherein the holding zone of the upper housing is further defined as being formed by two, juxtaposed, spaced, facing, support surfaces, with at least one of said surfaces incorporating a support member on which one side of said dual cutting blade module/head member is supportingly and removably retained.
  • 14. The beard and mustache trimmer system defined in claim 13, wherein said support member formed on one of said surfaces of the holding zone of the upper housing is further defined as comprising a cavity bearing plate member mounted in said upper housing in cooperating association with spring means and positioned for engaging a raised boss/dimple formed on the outer surface of said dual cutting blade module/head member, whereby said dual cutting blade module/head member is securely retained in the holding zone by the engagement of said boss/dimple in the cavity bearing plate member while also being removable from said holding zone by longitudinally moving the dual cutting blade module/head member with sufficient force to overcome the biased engagement of the cavity bearing plate member with the dimple/boss.
RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/346,477, filed Jan. 8, 2002, entitled MULTI-POSITIONABLE HAIR TRIMMER.

US Referenced Citations (5)
Number Name Date Kind
1380272 Tomasulo May 1921 A
1519601 Tomasulo Dec 1924 A
2484610 Cromonic Oct 1949 A
5105541 Messinger et al. Apr 1992 A
20020073550 Long et al. Jun 2002 A1
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
4-322689 Nov 1992 JP
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/346477 Jan 2002 US