U.S. patent application number 15/936108 was filed with the patent office on 2018-10-18 for comb.
The applicant listed for this patent is WAHL CLIPPER CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Robert N. BUCK, JR., James E. MCCAMBRIDGE, Laura VANDERMOERE, Tracy VOCK.
Application Number | 20180295965 15/936108 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63791208 |
Filed Date | 2018-10-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180295965 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BUCK, JR.; Robert N. ; et
al. |
October 18, 2018 |
COMB
Abstract
A comb includes a generally flat, planar body having a left side
surface, a right side surface, a top edge, a handle end, and an
opposite front end. A plurality of teeth is provided on the body,
each tooth having a root secured to the comb body near the top edge
and having an opposite free end, a first barb projecting in a first
direction towards the handle end and being located approximately
half a distance between the root and the free end, and a second
barb projecting in a second direction opposite the first direction,
and being located approximately half a distance between the first
barb and the root.
Inventors: |
BUCK, JR.; Robert N.; (Rock
Falls, IL) ; MCCAMBRIDGE; James E.; (Lake
Panasoffkee, FL) ; VANDERMOERE; Laura; (Johns Island,
SC) ; VOCK; Tracy; (Morrison, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
WAHL CLIPPER CORPORATION |
Sterling |
IL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
63791208 |
Appl. No.: |
15/936108 |
Filed: |
March 26, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62486256 |
Apr 17, 2017 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 24/36 20130101;
A45D 24/16 20130101; A45D 24/02 20130101; A45D 2024/005
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45D 24/02 20060101
A45D024/02 |
Claims
1. A comb, comprising: a generally flat, planar body having a left
side surface, a right side surface, a top edge, a handle end, an
opposite front end; and a plurality of teeth, each said tooth
having a root secured to said comb body near said top edge and
having an opposite free end, a first barb projecting in a first
direction towards said handle end and being located approximately
half a distance between said root and said free end, and a second
barb projecting in a second direction opposite said first
direction, and being located approximately half a distance between
said first barb and said root.
2. The comb of claim 1, wherein said first and second barbs project
approximately 180.degree. from each other, and within a plane
defined by said teeth.
3. The comb of claim 1, wherein said first and second barbs are
generally triangular in shape as viewed from said right and left
sides.
4. The comb of claim 1, further including a guide slot projecting
along each of said left and right side surfaces and extending
parallel to a longitudinal axis of said comb body.
5. The comb of claim 4, wherein said slot is located between said
roots of said teeth and said top edge.
6. The comb of claim 1, wherein said top edge is arched and has a
beveled surface formed by said left and right side surfaces to form
a relatively narrow edge portion.
7. The comb of claim 1, further including a handle on said body
between said teeth and said handle end, said handle having at least
one finger grip on a lower edge.
8. The comb of claim 7, wherein said handle is formed on said body
with a narrowed neck portion adjacent said teeth.
9. The comb of claim 8, wherein said neck is provided with raised
radiused gripping formations projecting from each of said left and
right side surfaces.
10. The comb of claim 7, wherein said handle end forms a curved
lobe.
11. The comb of claim 10, wherein said lobe is asymmetrical
relative to a longitudinal axis of said body.
12. A comb, comprising: a generally flat, planar body having a left
side surface, a right side surface, a top edge, a handle end, an
opposite front end; a plurality of teeth, each said tooth having a
root secured to said comb body near said top edge and having an
opposite free end, a first barb projecting in a first direction
towards said handle end, and a second barb projecting in a second
direction opposite said first direction; and said top edge is
arched and has a beveled surface formed by said left and right side
surfaces to form a relatively narrow edge portion.
13. The comb of claim 12, wherein said arched top edge extends on
said body from a narrow neck defining an end of a handle to a front
end of said comb.
14. The comb of claim 13, wherein said neck is provided with raised
radiused gripping formations projecting from each of said left and
right side surfaces.
15. The comb of claim 14, wherein at least one of an upper and a
lower edge of said neck defines one of a plurality of finger grips
in said handle.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims 35 USC 119 priority from U.S. Ser.
No. 62/486,256 filed Apr. 17, 2017, the contents of which are
incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to hair combs, and more
particularly to such combs constructed and arranged for use by
barbers, hair stylists and other hair care professionals.
[0003] Conventional styling combs used by hair care professionals
have been adapted over the years to perform more and more
styling-related functions. For example, the comb teeth have been
provided with barbs or other projections for enhanced grasping and
holding of hair strands for cutting. The comb handle has been
modified to enhance gripping by the stylist, and to improve
ergonomic properties of the comb to reduce stylist fatigue in the
hand muscles. An edge of the comb near bases of the teeth has been
used as a guide for powered clippers or trimmers. In addition, the
comb itself has been configured to better grasp and coil or
otherwise position locks of hair for easier cutting or otherwise
manipulating by the stylist.
[0004] It has been found that conventional styling combs of this
type have been deficient in sufficiently achieving the needs of
hair stylists in being effective in grasping and manipulating hair,
being ergonomically effective in reducing stylist hand fatigue, and
in serving as a guide for powered hair clippers and trimmers. Thus,
there is a need for an improved styling comb.
SUMMARY
[0005] The above-listed need is addressed by the present comb,
which features multiple barbs on each comb tooth for more
aggressively grasping hair strands. Each tooth is provided with a
first barb near a tooth base facing in a first direction, and a
second barb spaced linearly from the first barb and facing in an
opposite direction. It is preferred that the two sets of barbs are
oriented approximately 180.degree. degrees from each other. Also,
the barbs are located in a plane defined by the comb teeth. In
addition, the present comb is provided with a recessed guide slot
spaced between bases of the comb teeth and a top edge of the comb.
The slot is located parallel to a longitudinal axis of the comb,
and is located between the teeth and the curved, beveled top edge
portion of the comb which is configured for improved grasping of
hair strands as the comb is rotated by the stylist about the
longitudinal axis.
[0006] Improved gripping by the stylist is achieved by a radially
enlarged gripping collar extending from left and right side
surfaces of the comb and located at a relatively narrow "neck" of
the comb between the teeth and the handle. Also, the handle is
provided with finger grip recesses along one edge, and a lobed
handle end.
[0007] More specifically, the present comb includes a generally
flat, planar body having a left side surface, a right side surface,
a top edge, a handle end, and an opposite front end. A plurality of
teeth is provided on the body, each tooth having a root secured to
the comb body near the top edge and having an opposite free end, a
first barb projecting in a first direction towards the handle end
and being located approximately half a distance between the root
and the free end, and a second barb projecting in a second
direction opposite the first direction, and being located
approximately half a distance between the first barb and the
root.
[0008] In another embodiment, a comb is provided, including a
generally flat, planar body having a left side surface, a right
side surface, a top edge, a handle end, and an opposite front end.
A plurality of teeth is provided, each tooth has a root secured to
the comb body near the top edge and having an opposite free end, a
first barb projecting in a first direction towards the handle end,
and a second barb projecting in a second direction opposite the
first direction. The top edge is arched and has a beveled surface
formed by the left and right side surfaces to form a relatively
narrow edge portion.
[0009] It is preferred that the first and second barbs, which are
preferably generally triangular in shape, project approximately
180.degree. from each other, and within a plane defined by the comb
teeth. The present comb includes a guide slot projecting along each
of the left and right side surfaces, extending parallel to a
longitudinal axis of the comb body, and located between the roots
and the top edge. A handle of the body has at least one finger grip
on a lower edge, and one of the grips is formed by a narrow neck.
Gripping formations extend radially from the left and right side
surfaces at the neck for enhancing gripping by the stylist. A
handle end of the comb forms an asymmetric lobe.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the present comb;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a left side view of same;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a right side view of the comb of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a front view of same;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the comb of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a top view of same; and
[0016] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the comb of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Referring now to FIGS. 1-7, the present comb is generally
designated 10, and includes a generally flat, planar comb body 12,
which is preferably integrally formed of molded plastic or similar
self-supporting, durable material. The body 12 has a left side
surface 14, a right side surface 16, a top edge 18, a handle end
20, and an opposite front end 22. Also included on the body 12 is a
plurality of teeth 24, each tooth preferably being identical,
having a root 26 secured to the comb body near the top edge 18, and
having an opposite free end or tip 28. A first barb 30 is generally
triangular in shape when viewed from the left and right sides, and
projects or points in a first direction towards the handle end 20.
While other locations are contemplated, it is preferred that the
first barb 30 on each tooth 24 is located approximately half a
distance "D" between the root 26 and the tip (FIG. 1). Also, FIGS.
1-3 illustrate that an optional additional first barb 30a is
preferably located on the body 12 near a first tooth 24a.
[0018] A second barb 32 projects in a second direction opposite the
first direction and towards the front end 22. While other locations
are contemplated, as is the case with the first barb 30, the second
barb 32 is preferably located approximately half a distance "d"
between the first barb and the root (FIG. 1). It is further
preferred that the first and second barbs 30, 32 project
approximately 180.degree. from each other and are located within a
plane defined by the teeth 24 (FIG. 7).
[0019] Also found on the comb body 12 is a recessed guide slot 34
projecting along each of the left and right side surfaces 14, 16
and extending parallel to a longitudinal axis "A" of the comb body
(FIG. 2). In the preferred embodiment, the guide slot 34 is located
between the roots 26 of teeth 24 and the top edge 18. More
specifically, it is especially preferred that the guide slot 34 is
located closer to the roots 26 than to an apex 36 of the arched or
curved top edge 18.
[0020] Referring now to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, another feature of the
arched top edge 18 is that a beveled surface 38 formed on each of
the left and right side surfaces 14, 16 at the top edge forms a
relatively narrow or tapered edge portion 40 relative to the body
12. A line 41 defines a lower extent of the tapered edge portion
40, which is generally "D"-shaped. The beveled surfaces 38 on each
of the sides 14, 16 combine to form a general tapered wedge-shape
as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. It has been found that the arched shape
of the top edge 18 is more comfortable to the subject receiving
styling, since the comb 10 is optionally placed against the
subject's head. By providing the arched profile, with the beveled
edge portion 40, user comfort is increased through use of the
present comb 10.
[0021] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 and 6-7, a handle 42 is
integrally formed on the body 12 between the teeth 24 and the
handle end 20, and meets the body at a narrowed neck 44. As is seen
in FIGS. 1-3, the neck 44 is adjacent the teeth 24. At least one
and preferably a plurality of arcuate finger recesses 46 are formed
on a lower handle edge 48. One such recess 46a is formed by the
neck 44 at the lower edge 48. In addition, another recess 46b is
located on a handle top edge 50, which is continuous with the top
edge 18. Also, the arched top edge 18 extends from the neck 44 to
the front end 22.
[0022] As seen in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, the neck 44 is provided with
raised, radiused gripping formations 52 on each of the left and
right side surfaces 14, 16. In the preferred embodiment, the
formations 52 are arched relative to a plane of the respective side
surface 14, 16, and have spaced, generally parallel flutes 54,
however it is contemplated that the particular configuration and
arrangement may vary to suit the application. When the user grips
the comb 10, the formations 52 facilitate gripping, as well as
rotating the comb about the longitudinal axis "A" during the
styling operation.
[0023] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, at the handle end 20, the comb
10 has a curved lobe 56 that also enhances the ergonomic comfort of
the comb in a user's hand. More specifically, the lobe 56 is
asymmetrical relative to the longitudinal axis "A" of the body 12
(FIG. 2).
[0024] While a particular embodiment of the present comb has been
disclosed herein, 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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