U.S. patent application number 12/864755 was filed with the patent office on 2011-04-28 for device for cutting off split ends of hair.
Invention is credited to Markus Klein, Robert Kuechler.
Application Number | 20110094532 12/864755 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39595770 |
Filed Date | 2011-04-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110094532 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Klein; Markus ; et
al. |
April 28, 2011 |
DEVICE FOR CUTTING OFF SPLIT ENDS OF HAIR
Abstract
In a device (1) for cutting off split ends (2) of hair, a body
(3) of the device holds a strand of hair (4). The ends (2) are
inserted into a slot (5), after which the ends (2) can be cut off
by means of a cutting mechanism (6). To ensure the device (1) is
economical and easy to use, it is proposed that the device have a
connecting part (7) which can be connected with a hairstyling
device, especially a blow dryer or hot air brush (8), to allow a
stream of air (9) produced by that device to flow into an inside
area (10) of the device (1) where the slot (5) is positioned, and
that a bracket (12) be arranged on the outer surface of the sleeve
(11) to hold the strand of hair (4) in place with an opening (13)
in the bracket (12) that at least partially fits the slot (5) on
the sleeve (11) so that when the strand of hair (4) is clamped
between the bracket (12) and sleeve (11) and the ends (2) are
positioned between the opening (13) and the slot (5), they are thus
caught by the flow of air (9) and are blown through the opening
(13) of the bracket (12) where they can be cut off with a cutting
mechanism (6) on the outside of the bracket (12).
Inventors: |
Klein; Markus; (Buettelborn,
DE) ; Kuechler; Robert; (Walldorf, DE) |
Family ID: |
39595770 |
Appl. No.: |
12/864755 |
Filed: |
February 18, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
February 18, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2009/050661 |
371 Date: |
November 30, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/214 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B26B 19/3826 20130101;
A45D 1/04 20130101; A45D 20/50 20130101; A45D 2001/002 20130101;
B26B 19/3806 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/214 |
International
Class: |
A45D 24/36 20060101
A45D024/36 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 28, 2008 |
EP |
08152078.5 |
Claims
1. Device (1) for cutting off split ends (2) of hair with a body
(3) for holding a strand of hair (4) and a slot (5) into which the
ends are inserted (2) so that the ends (2) can be cut off with a
cutting device (6), wherein the device (1) has a connecting part
(7) designed to be connected with a hair styling device, especially
a blow dryer or hot air brush (8) to allow a flow of air (9)
produced by that device to flow in an inside area (10) of the
device (1) and wherein the inside area (10) is arranged in a sleeve
(11) of the body (3) in which the slot (5) is located so that a
bracket (12) is present on the outer surface of the sleeve (11) for
holding the strand of hair (4), and wherein an opening (13) is
formed in the bracket (12) which at least partly fits the slot (5)
on the sleeve (11) so that when the strand of hair (4) is clamped
between the bracket (12) and the sleeve (11), the ends (2) are
located between the opening (13) and the slot (5) and are thereby
caught by the flow of air (9) and are blown through the opening
(13) in the bracket (12) to the other side of the bracket (12)
where they can be cut off by the cutting mechanism (6).
2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the bracket (12) is
connected with the body (3) by means of a joint (14) and is held on
the sleeve (11) by means of a spring (15).
3. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a dividing tip
(16) is arranged on the device (1) to cut off a strand of hair (4)
from the hair.
4. Device according to one of claims 1 through 3, wherein a row
(17) of comb teeth is arranged either on the sleeve (11) or on the
bracket (12) between the sleeve (11) and the bracket (12).
5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the row (17) runs along
the edge (19) of the bracket (12).
6. Device according to claim 5, wherein there is a row (17) on each
of the two opposite sides of the bracket (12).
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The patent application concerns an object for use in hair
styling and is a device for cutting off trichoptilosis, more
commonly called split ends of hair.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is well known that the ends of human hair have a tendency
to split, in which case they must be cut off. Hair stylists
accordingly treat the ends of strands of hair by shortening them
slightly with scissors. Devices are also known for cutting off ends
of hair.
[0003] EP 1 381 496 A discloses a device for cutting off split ends
of hair with a body for holding a strand of hair and a slot into
which the ends are inserted so that the ends can be cut off along
the slot by means of a cutting mechanism.
[0004] The known device is relatively complicated from a technical
point of view and is automated. It is therefore less suitable for
hair stylists who would prefer a very simply designed but effective
and economical device for use with their method, which is
essentially manual.
[0005] The purpose of the invention is to eliminate this
disadvantage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The problem is solved as described in the characterizing
part of Claim 1. Accordingly, the device has a connecting part that
is used to connect it with a hairstyling device, especially with a
blow dryer or hot air brush to allow a stream of air produced by
one of the latter devices into the inside area of the device
according to the invention. The inside area is located in a sleeve
of the body in which the slot is positioned. There is a bracket on
the outer surface of the sleeve for holding strands of hair. The
bracket has an opening in it that at least partially fits the slot
so that when strands of hair are clamped between the bracket and
the sleeve, the ends are positioned between the opening and the
slot and are therefore caught by the flow of air and blown through
the opening of the bracket where they can be cut off with a cutting
mechanism on the outside of the bracket.
[0007] The proposed device offers the advantage that it can be
manufactured economically and is simple to use. The device is
simply attached to another device which would already be present in
a hair salon that produces a flow of air, for example a blow dryer
or a hot air brush, thus using the blower of the attached device.
After a strand of hair is clamped in place, the device is pulled
back along the strand. When this happens, the split ends, which lie
relatively flat, are blown out of the opening in the bracket. There
they can be cut off with a pair of scissors or an electrical hair
cutting machine. While the device is being used, the ends are blown
out of the slot and are lying over it. The hair stylist can always
decide where along the strands of hair and at what length the ends
should be cut off.
[0008] Advantageous designs of the proposed device are described in
Claims 2 through 6.
[0009] Use of the device is simplified if as described in Claim 2
the bracket is connected with the body by means of a joint and is
held against the sleeve by a spring. Then the spring can be rotated
away from the sleeve to receive a strand of hair and released again
to grasp the strand of hair and hold it in place by spring force
while the device is being used.
[0010] A divider tip on the device (Claim 3) is used to separate a
strand of hair, which can then be held in place by the bracket. If
a row of comb teeth is arranged between the sleeve and the bracket,
either on the sleeve or on the bracket (Claim 4), it will help
guide a wide strand of hair along the device more easily when the
device is pulled back. The strand of hair can be held in a spread
out shape more easily if the row runs along one edge of the bracket
(Claim 5). This effect is further enhanced if as described in
(Claim 6) a row is arranged on two opposite sides of the bracket.
Instead of comb teeth, brush bristles can be used in a comparable
manner along one edge or both edges of the bracket. It makes no
differences whether the comb teeth or bristles are fastened to the
sleeve or to the bracket.
[0011] The proposed device is described in greater detail below by
way of figures representing an embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a device having a mechanism for
cutting off split ends of hair with a bracket that has a
slot-shaped opening connected to the air outlet of a hot air
brush;
[0013] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the object in FIG. 1 rotated 90
degrees to the view in FIG. 1 and
[0014] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the object in FIG. 2 along A-A
of FIG. 2, but with a strand of hair inserted in addition and with
a cutting mechanism for cutting off the ends of hair that protrude
out from the slot.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] In a device for cutting off split ends 2 of hair, a body 3
of the device holds a strand of hair 4. The ends 2 are inserted
into a slot 5, after which the ends 2 can be cut off by means of a
cutting mechanism 6. The device 1 has a connecting part 7 designed
for connecting to a hairstyling device, which is a hot air brush 8.
This allows a stream of air produced by the hot air brush to flow
into an inside area 10 of the device 1. The inside area 10 is
located in a sleeve 11 of the body 13 in which the slot 5 is
positioned. A bracket 12 for holding the strand of hair 4 is
arranged on the outer surface of the sleeve 11 with a slot-shaped
opening 13 in the bracket 12 designed to be wider than the slot and
which approximately fits the slot 5 in the sleeve 11. When the
strand of hair 4 is clamped between the bracket 12 and the sleeve
11, the ends 2 are between the opening 13 and the slot 5. Thus they
are caught by the flow of air 9 and blown through the opening 13 in
the bracket 12, where they can be cut off outside the bracket 12 by
a cutting mechanism 6. The device 1 with the strand of hair 4
clamped in it is pulled back along the strand. The flow of air 9
from the slot 5 easily blows the split ends of the hair, i.e. the
area close to the ends 2, out through the opening 13 where they can
be cut off by the blade 18 of the manually operated cutting
mechanism.
[0016] A divider tip 16 on the body 3 of the device 1 serves to
separate each strand of hair 4 with split ends. The strand of hair
4 is placed under the open bracket by pressing the button 20. This
triggers a spring 15 force which causes the bracket 12 to rotate
about a joint 14 back to its starting position against the sleeve
11, thereby clamping the strand of hair in place 4. A row 17 of
comb teeth is positioned on the bracket along the two opposite
edges of the bracket 12 to hold the strand of hair 4 constantly
spread out while the device 1 is pulled back along the strand of
hair 4.
[0017] The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be
understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values
recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension
is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension
disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm ". [0018] 1
Device [0019] 2 End [0020] 3 Body [0021] 4 Strand of hair [0022] 5
Slot [0023] 6 Cutting mechanism [0024] 7 Connecting part [0025] 8
Hot air brush [0026] 9 Flow of air [0027] 10 Inside area [0028] 11
Sleeve [0029] 12 Bracket [0030] 13 Opening [0031] 14 Joint [0032]
15 Spring [0033] 16 Divider tip [0034] 17 Row of comb teeth [0035]
18 Blade [0036] 19 Edge [0037] 20 Button
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