Hair Trimmer

Abstract

This disclosure includes a combination comb and hair trimmer which receives replaceable razor blades. The cutting edge of the trimmer includes a number of teeth defining a comb with the teeth projecting forwardly beyond the transverse cutting edge of the razor blade. The teeth are effective to comb the hair just prior to cutting and also to provide a safety guard for the sharp razor edge. The trimmer is formed from two generally flat and separable parts, each part having a portion of the teeth formed integrally therewith so that when the parts are mated they will define the full teeth of the comb. Each of the parts also include means for supporting the razor blade firmly in position in relation to the comb. The tooth portions in each of the parts are made so that no crevices are presented to the user's hair as the trimmer is advanced through his hair in a cutting stroke, thus avoiding the likelihood of catching the user's hair.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to hair trimming devices and, more particularly, to hair trimmers suited for home use which employ replaceable razor blades as cutting elements.

In trimmers of the type described, a combined comb and razor blade are provided in which the razor blade is supported so that the razor edge extends transversely through the teeth of the comb but behind the leading end of the teeth. Trimmers of this type usually are of a two-piece construction in which half of each tooth is formed on each part of the trimmer so that when the parts are mated with the razor blade sandwiched therebetween, the teeth are fully defined and the trimmer is ready for use. Because each tooth is of two-piece construction, a crevice or separation line exists at the leading end of each tooth where the halves of the tooth meet. These crevices tend to catch the user's hair and cause painful pulling on the hair as the trimmer is used.

It is among the primary objects of the invention to provide an improved hair trimmer of two-piece construction which avoids any crevices or separation lines which might tend to catch and pull on the user's hair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In brief, the hair trimmer is formed in two generally flat sections which are separable to receive and grip the replaceable razor blades in the desired position. The trimmer has one or more edges formed with a plurality of teeth defining a comb. A portion of each tooth is formed on each of the trimmer parts so that when the parts are mated the tooth sections will combine to define the fully formed teeth in the comb.

An important aspect of the invention relates to the configuration of the tooth sections on each of the trimmer parts. Unlike prior devices, the tooth sections on one of the trimmer parts are fully formed at their leading ends and do not define any crevices or separation lines. The only portion of the tooth which is missing in this first section is the rear portion of each tooth. The other trimmer part includes integrally formed rearward portions of the teeth which, when the two parts are mated, complete the teeth configurations. The tooth sections meet along a separation line which lies in a plane disposed at a substantial angle to the angle of advancement of the comb so that the crevice or separation line cannot catch any hairs.

An additional feature of the invention resides in an improved arrangement for securing the razor blades in the device while securing the parts to each other.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide an improved hair trimming device of the type described in which the likelihood of catching hairs in any crevices of the device is minimized.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hair trimmer having two mateable parts, each of which includes a section of a number of teeth which, when the parts are assembled, define the complete teeth and in which the separation line between the two sections is located away from the leading end of the teeth.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hair trimmer of the type described having an improved arrangement for retaining the razor blade in place and for retaining the parts together.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood more fully from the following detailed description thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmented plan view of the trimmer; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation of the trimmer as viewed along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in the drawings, the trimmer includes an upper part 10 and lower part 12 which are of similar configuration. The parts 10, 12 preferably are of a molded plastic construction and may be fabricated according to well-known techniques. The upper and lower parts 10, 12 are assembled as shown in FIG. 1 and may define edges having an integrally formed comb indicated generally by the reference character 14. The trimming device may be provided with two such combs, one having relatively long teeth for use with longer hair and the other comb 16 having relatively short teeth for use with short hair which is to be shaved close to the skin.

One or more conventional razor blades 18 are associated with each comb and are supported so that the leading razor edge 20 of each blade 18 extends transversely through the comb with the leading edge 20 being disposed behind the leading ends of the teeth in the comb. The razor blades 18 preferably are supported on a shoulder 22 formed integrally with one of the parts, the shoulder including upstanding bosses 24 which pass through openings in the razor blades 18 to secure the blades 18 in position. The mating upper part 10 of the trimmer also includes a flat surface 26 which bears against the other side of the razor blade 18. The surface 26 is provided with sockets 28 which receive the bosses 24 formed in the lower part 12. The upper and lower parts 10, 12 and the razor blades supported and gripped therebetween are secured together by a screw 30 which is passed through a hole in the upper part 10 and which is threaded into a receptive nut 32 secured to the lower part 12.

An important aspect of the invention resides in the manner in which the teeth defining the comb are formed. As shown in the drawings, a section of each tooth defining the comb 14 is formed on the upper and lower parts 10, 12 so that the tooth sections will mate and define each tooth fully. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, the tooth sections formed integrally with the lower plate include the fully formed forward end 34 of each of the teeth which are cut away behind the forward end of the teeth to define a corner formed by the heightwise extending surface 36 and the generally flat surface 38. The flat surface 38 is continuous and coplanar with the surface of the shoulder 22. The height wise extending surface 36 of the tooth sections formed on the lower plate 12 are positioned in relation to the bosses 24 so that when properly positioned, the leading edge 20 of the razor blades 18 will extend along the heightwise extending rearwardly facing surfaces 36.

The upper plate 10 includes tooth sections which are complementary to the corner regions defined by the surfaces 36, 38 in the lower plate so that when the upper and lower plates 10, 12 are mated, the crevice or separation line 40 will be disposed at an angle to the direction in which the teeth extend and along which the device is advanced through the user's hair. By forming the parts so that the crevice defined by the separation line does not face in the direction of advancement of the trimmer, the likelihood of any hair being caught in the crevice is minimized considerably. This eliminates one of the main causes for discomfort when employing hair trimmers of the type described.

In the illustrative embodiment, only the comb 14 is provided with the improved tooth construction having the separation liner disposed at a substantial angle to the lengthwise dimension of the teeth. Although the improved tooth configuration could be employed with both combs, we have found that it may not be essential to employ the improved tooth configuration with the comb and razor edge intended for use to shave short hairs. Thus, in the comb 16 the edge of the razor blade is quite close to the leading edge of the teeth. Because the comb 16 will be passed only through relatively short hair there is little, if any, tendency for the short hairs to become caught in the teeth defining the comb 16. Because the edge of the razor blade is located just behind the leading end of the teeth the hairs are cut almost immediately. On the other hand, the comb 14 has relatively long teeth and the leading edge 20 of the razor blade 18 is disposed well behind the leading ends of the teeth. One of the primary objections to prior devices has been that the longer hair would tend to become caught in the separation line extending forwardly of the razor blade thus causing discomfort to the user. The instant invention permits the teeth to project well beyond the leading edge 20 of the razor blade 18 thus permitting longer hair to be cut without discomfort.

A further aspect of the invention resides in the provision of a slot 42 formed along the edge of one of the parts 10, 12 to facilitate disassembly, as when replacing razor blades. The bosses 24 and mating sockets 28 of the plates 10, 12 mate in a snug fit and tend to hold the plates together even after the screw 30 has been removed. The slot 42 permits the user to insert a fingernail or key to help pry the plates 10, 12 apart.

It should be understood that the foregoing description of the invention is intended merely to be illustrative thereof and that other modifications and embodiments thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from its spirit. For example, although the separation line between the sections of the teeth have been described as defining the heightwise extending surface 36 which is disposed normally to the direction in which the teeth extend, other complementary configurations may be employed for the tooth section, provided that they do not expose the separation line to the direction in which the trimmer is advanced during use. It is important that the complete forward end of each of the teeth is formed integrally with one of the plates.

Claims

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A hair trimming device comprising:

a pair of plates connected to each other and having teeth formed along an edge thereof to define a comb, said teeth being formed by means comprising each of said plates having a plurality of tooth sections transversely spaced along a side thereof, the tooth sections on each plate being complementary to the tooth sections on the other plate so that the combined plates define a comb of fully formed teeth, the complementary mating surfaces of said tooth sections being formed so that the line of separation therebetween is defined along a surface which lies in a plane substantially normal to the length of said teeth and then extends rearwardly from said teeth, each of said teeth being of unitary construction and formed continuously in the region thereof forwardly of said edge of said blade so that said forward regions of said teeth are free of crevices, said line of separation defining a rearwardly facing corner, said forward edge of said blade lying along said corner region of each of said teeth;

means for securing said razor blade between said plates comprising a support surface formed integrally with one of said plates rearwardly of and continuously with the rearwardly extending surface of said separation line, said support surface including upstanding bosses formed integrally therewith, and support surface formed in the other plate rearwardly of the complementary tooth sections thereof, said support surface in said other plate having sockets formed therein in spaced relation to receive said bosses on said first mentioned plate in a snug fit, said bosses and sockets being spaced to pass through holes formed in said razor blade; and

means forming a slot in the edge of one of of said plates at the mating surface with the other of said plates to permit said plates to be pried apart.