The present specification relates generally to tonsorial devices. More particularly, the present specification relates to shears having a detachable comb and the attachment mechanism thereof.
Hairstylists and barbers currently use a method for cutting hair in which a pair of shears is held in one hand, while a comb is passed back and forth between hands. The comb is held in the dominant hand to comb the hair and then transferred to the other hand before a cut is made. The transfer of the comb between hands may be repeated many times within a single haircut. Obviously the time spent transferring the comb and shears from one hand to another increases the time to complete the task and causes excess stress on the stylist's upper limbs and neck. The repetition of this transfer during the course of a stylist's career results in a decrease in efficiency and an increase in the likelihood of injury arising from repetitive stress.
Tonsorial tools comprising a pair of shears in combination with a comb are known in the art. Current devices generally include a pair of shears with a comb integrally formed therewith. In such devices, comb teeth extend from the spine of one or both blades of a pair of shears. However, these devices carry inherent disadvantages that outweigh those of the current method of cutting hair. One of the most significant disadvantages is that, since the comb portion is integrally formed with the shears portion of these devices, to sanitize either the comb or the shears, the whole device must be sanitized, rather than only the portion needing sanitization. Another disadvantage lies in the limited versatility of the one set of comb teeth present on a single device. In order to use a different type of comb with a given pair of shears, multiple complete tools must be purchased having different comb portions, thereby increasing the expense of using such devices.
Other devices are known in the art that theoretically overcome these disadvantages, but fail to do so in a manner efficient enough for them to actually be used frequently. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,806,486 to Mirafuentes (Mirafuentes) discloses a pair of hair cutting shears having a removable comb attached thereto. This device may overcome the two disadvantages set forth above regarding integrally formed comb-and-shears devices, but the mechanism by which the comb is attached to the shears is too cumbersome to be useful to a hairstylist in practice. The mechanism disclosed for attaching the comb to the shears includes two threaded screws that attach the comb to one blade of the shears. As shown in the figures of Mirafuentes, the screws require manipulation by a tool, such as a screwdriver, thereby making the device an impractical means for overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages in an efficient manner. The difficulty of use outweighs the benefits of the design.
Yet still other devices are known in the art that theoretically overcome these disadvantages. U.S. Pat. No. 6,526,663 to Simmons et al. discloses a pair of hair gutting shears having a removable comb attached to the shears. Simmons discloses a comb that includes a notch located in the proximal end of the comb, which receives the collar of a nut to attach the shears. The comb also includes a channel disposed along the spine thereof, whereby one blade of a pair of shears is received. The comb may be attached to a pair of shears by sliding the non-cutting side of a blade of the shears into the channel and sliding the nut into the notch included therein. Although the shears disclosed by Simmons overcome many disadvantages of previous incarnations of shears, they have several shortcomings.
All of the comb-shears combinations in the prior art require that a new pair of shears must be obtained in order to benefit from the combination of the comb and shears. The combs in the prior art are made to fit only the specially designed shears or scissors. The shears that Simmons discloses have a special nut or bolt that protrudes from one of the blades, giving the comb a point of attachment. The scissors that Mirafuentes discloses require a special plate with holes in it to accept threaded screws.
Many hairstylists and barbers have a preference as to the style, shape, or brand of scissors they use. Indeed the comb-shears combinations are largely unused among professionals in the industry for this reason. The hairstylists and barbers prefer the way that a particular style or brand of scissors cut or fit their hands. Many other people who are not professional hairstylists or barbers also cut hair. Many of these people may not use their scissors enough to warrant buying an entire new pair of scissors simply to enjoy the added benefit of the attached comb.
It is therefore desirable to provide a tonsorial device including a comb-and-shears apparatus by providing a comb which may attach to any pair of scissors that are already in the possession of the user. It is also desirable that such a device allows for the quick and efficient removal of the comb portion from the shears portion, while allowing a variety of types of shears to be used with a variety of combs.
In one of the many possible embodiments, a comb is configured to be attached to a pair of shears by a magnet or a series of magnets. According to several embodiments, the comb is detachably secured to one blade of the shears. It is secured in such manner so as to make it convenient for the user to attach and detach the comb as is desired. According to an alternative embodiment, the comb may be fixedly attached to the pair of shears by an adhesive, glue, epoxy, Velcro™, or any other fixation means, such as welding or soldering.
According to an alternative embodiment, the shears and comb are configured with protrusions and corresponding orifices. The comb is attached to the shears by mating the protrusions with the orifices. According to one exemplary embodiment, and as is illustrated, the comb is configured with orifices or thru-bores on one blade of the shears configured to receive protruding members on the comb. According to a similar alternative embodiment, the shears are configured with thru-bores or orifices and the comb has corresponding protruding members configured to be mated with the shears.
According to an alternative embodiment, the comb is specifically configured with an attachment mechanism. The attachment mechanism allows the comb to be easily and quickly attached to and detached from one blade of the shears. Along the top portion of the spine of the comb there are two opposing flaps. The two flaps are configured to create an interference fit therebetween and thereby secure the bottom portion of one blade of the shears. Therefore, the comb may be attached by sliding the opposing flaps down one blade of the shears; or, alternatively, by snap-fitting the opposing flaps onto the bottom edge of one blade of the shears.
According to yet another embodiment, a clip is configured specifically to secure a comb within two opposing walls. With the clip securing a comb, the clip and comb combination may be slid within a specially configured blade of the shears. Additionally the clip and comb combination might be snapped into the blade of the shears. The blade of the shears is configured with a cutting portion on one edge and the opposing bottom edge is configured with a channel running longitudinally along the length of the blade. The channel is defined by two walls configured to receive and secure the clip. With the clip securing a comb, and the clip slid or snapped into the bottom edge channel of one blade of the shears, the shears effectively have a comb that is easily detached or attached as is desired.
It will be apparent that according to several embodiments, a traditional or common pair of shears can be mated with a specially configured comb. According to alternative embodiments, a traditional comb can be mated with a specially configured pair of shears. Finally, several embodiments may allow an adapter, such as a magnet or clip, to secure a traditional comb to a traditional pair of shears; this may be desirable in that any comb and shears combination can be used.
The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of the present system and method and are a part of the specification. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples of the present system and method and do not limit the scope thereof.
In the figures, identical reference numbers identify similar elements or acts. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements and angles are not drawn to scale, and some of these elements are arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility. Further, the particular shapes of the elements as drawn, are not intended to convey any information regarding the actual shape of the particular elements, and have been solely selected for ease of recognition in the drawings. Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar but not necessarily identical elements.
The following description provides a number of exemplary connection members and methods for attaching a comb to a pair of shears. According to the present exemplary system and method a comb is attached to a pair of shears in a manner allowing the comb to be detached and reattached as desired. According to one specific embodiment, a comb is configured with magnets along the spine of the comb. The magnets detachably secure the spine of the comb to the outside front face of a blade of a pair of shears. The magnets secure the comb sufficient to allow the comb to be used in any manner normally associated with a comb without worry that the comb will become detached from the blade of the shears.
According to another embodiment, the comb is configured with voids or holes in a keyhole shape. That is, the holes or voids have a wider portion and a narrower portion. The shears are configured with corresponding bolts configured to be mated with the keyhole voids. The bolts have a wider head portion and a narrower shaft portion. According to this embodiment, the comb can be placed on the bolts in such a manner so as to allow the bolts to enter the wider portion of the keyhole voids, the comb is then translated along the length of the blade causing the shafts of the bolts to enter the narrow portions of the keyhole voids. In this position the comb is secured to the blade because the head of the bolt is too wide to pass through the narrow portion of the keyhole void. One exemplary embodiment is illustrated in
According to yet another embodiment, a comb is specifically configured to receive the bottom edge of a blade of a pair of shears. The top edge of the spine of the comb is specifically configured with two opposing flaps; the flaps are capable of compressionally securing the blade of a shear. According to this embodiment, the teeth of the comb extend away from the bottom edge of the blade belonging to a pair of shears. The bottom edge is best defined as being the edge of a blade on the opposing side from the cutting edge of the blade.
Finally according to an additional embodiment, a clip member is configured to secure a comb to a pair of shears specifically designed to receive and secure the clip. Accordingly, a clip member is configured to secure a specific comb, or a clip member may be configured so as to allow its use with a variety of comb shapes and sizes. The clip member may alternatively be integrated with the spine of a comb, consequently the comb would be specifically configured to be received by the specially adapted shears. The shears, according to this embodiment, have at least one blade specifically configured to receive the clip member and/or clip-and-comb combination. The blade has a cutting edge and opposite this cutting edge a bottom edge. The bottom edge is configured with a channel defined by two opposing walls capable of receiving the clip member. The two opposing walls act to secure the clip member through an interference fit within the channel.
According to one variation of the above embodiment involving a clip, the clip member and corresponding comb are snapped in place. According to an alternative variation, the clip member and comb are slideably attached and detached. It is also conceivable that the comb and clip can be both snapped or slid into place as is convenient. Additionally, just as the clip could be integrated with the comb, the clip could be integrated with the shears. Also it is possible that the bottom edge or other portion of the shears be specifically configured with two opposing walls capable of directly receiving and compressionally securing the spine of a comb; the comb may be specifically configured for this purpose, or alternatively, the receiving walls of the shears may be configured so as to secure a wide variety of combs.
Each of the above-described embodiments will be described in detail below. Associated with the description found below are several illustrations offering examples of the above-described embodiments that provide better understanding of each of the embodiments. It should be understood that the illustrations as well as the description found below are of various exemplary embodiments, many variations are possible without deviating from the spirit of the exemplary disclosure and not all are described in detail.
In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present systems and methods. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present apparatus, systems and methods may be practiced without these specific details. Reference in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an example” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least that one embodiment, but not necessarily in other embodiments. The various instances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or similar phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Additionally, the term “shears” is intended to represent any number tonsorial devices designed for cutting hair, including scissors; consequently the terms “shears” and “scissors” are used interchangeably throughout the specification.
As shown in the figures, a comb-and-shears apparatus includes a comb (150) releasably attached to a pair of shears (100). As shown in
Turning now to
Turning now to
As shown in
According to an additional embodiment described above, a clip is used to secure a comb to a pair of shears. As has been previously disclosed, the clip may be integrated into the comb or the shears, or it may be an entirely separate member. The clip may be configured to interact with a specific comb or with various combs. The clip may be configured to interact with a specific pair of shears or with any number of shears of varying sizes and shapes. Regardless, various methods involving compressional walls, flaps, slots, snaps, may be utilized and accommodated for. One exemplary embodiment of a tonsorial system allowing a comb to be attached to a pair of shears is depicted in
As illustrated,
According to one exemplary embodiment, the two walls (1510, 1520) may not extend fully to the cutting edge (125,
Both
The preceding description has provided several exemplary embodiments of a tonsorial device including shears and a detachable comb. The description in conjunction with the figures provides several examples according to various exemplary embodiments; however it should be understood that many variations and modifications of the preceding description are possible and have not been described in detail due to their vast number. It will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present exemplary systems and methods.
The preceding description has been presented only to illustrate and describe embodiments and examples of the principles described. This description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit these principles to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims.
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/950,228 filed Jul. 17, 2007 titled “Hair Cutting Scissors with Integrated Comb”. The above-mentioned application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60950228 | Jul 2007 | US |