Hair clipping device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hair clipping device (10) comprising: a housing (14), a cutting assembly (16) which is arranged on a distal end (18) of said housing (14) and comprises a stationary cutting blade (22) with a stationary cutting edge (26) and a moveable cutting blade (24) with a moveable cutting edge (28), and a comb attachment (12) which is attachable to the housing (14) and comprises a first comb element (34) and a second comb element (38); wherein the first comb element (34) is configured to be arranged on a front side (36) of the housing (14) and configured to cover the stationary and the moveable cutting edge (26, 28), wherein said front side (36) runs transverse to the distal end (18) and the cutting assembly (16), and wherein the first comb element (36) comprises a plurality of first comb ribs (40) running parallel to each other and parallel to a first longitudinal direction (44) of the first comb element (34); wherein the second comb element (38) is arranged transverse to the first comb element (34) and configured to at least partly cover the distal end (18) of the housing (14), wherein the second comb element (38) comprises a plurality of second comb ribs (42) running parallel to each other and parallel to a second longitudinal direction (46) of the second comb element (38), wherein a gap size (48), which is defined as distance between two of the second comb ribs (42) measured in lateral direction (50) perpendicular to the second longitudinal direction (46), is smaller than 1 mm and wherein the second comb element (38) comprises a connection beam (68) that is arranged at a back end (58) of the second comb ribs (42) opposite their free end (60) and runs parallel to the lateral direction (50); and wherein a free end (64) of the first comb ribs (40) is spaced apart from a free end (60) of the second comb ribs (42), such that a gap (66) occurs between the first and the second comb element (34, 38).

Claims

1. A hair clipping device comprising: a housing, a cutting assembly which is arranged on a distal end of said housing and comprises a stationary cutting blade with a stationary cutting edge and a moveable cutting blade with a moveable cutting edge, and a comb attachment which is attachable to the housing and comprises a first comb element having a plurality of first comb ribs and a second comb element having a plurality of second comb ribs; wherein the first comb element is configured to be arranged on a front side of the housing and configured to cover the stationary and the moveable cutting edge, wherein said front side runs transverse to the distal end and the cutting assembly, and wherein the plurality of first comb ribs run parallel to each other and parallel to a first longitudinal direction of the first comb element; wherein the plurality of second comb ribs are arranged transverse to the plurality of first comb ribs and are configured to at least partly cover the distal end of the housing, wherein the plurality of second comb ribs run parallel to each other and parallel to a second longitudinal direction of the second comb element, wherein a gap size, which is defined as distance between two of the second comb ribs measured in lateral direction perpendicular to the second longitudinal direction, is smaller than 1 mm, and wherein the second comb element comprises a connection beam that is arranged at a back end of the second comb ribs opposite their free end and runs parallel to the lateral direction; and wherein a free end of the first comb ribs is spaced apart from a free end of the second comb ribs, such that a gap occurs between the first and the second comb element.

2. The hair clipping device according to claim 1, wherein a backside of the connection beam that faces away from the distal end is configured to touch a skin of the user during use, and wherein said backside is arranged substantially coplanar with a corresponding backside of the second comb ribs.

3. The hair clipping device according to claim 1, wherein a height of the second comb ribs measured perpendicular to the lateral and the second longitudinal direction is at the free end of the second comb ribs smaller than 2 mm.

4. The hair clipping device according to claim 1, a height of the second comb ribs measured perpendicular to the lateral and the second longitudinal direction is at the back end of the second comb ribs larger than 1 mm and smaller than 5 mm.

5. The hair clipping device according to claim 1, wherein the free end of the second comb ribs comprises a rounded tip portion.

6. The hair clipping device according to claim 1, wherein a pitch size, which is defined as a sum of the gap size and a width of one of the second comb ribs measured in the lateral direction, is smaller than 2 mm.

7. The hair clipping device according to claim 6, wherein the pitch size of the second comb ribs is larger than 0.7 mm and smaller than 1.7 mm.

8. The hair clipping device according to claim 1, wherein the gap size of the second comb ribs is larger than 0.2 mm and smaller than 0.8 mm.

9. The hair clipping device according to claim 1, wherein a width of the second comb ribs is larger than 0.5 mm and smaller than 1 mm.

10. The hair clipping device according to claim 1, wherein a length of the second comb ribs measured along the second longitudinal direction is smaller than or equal to 20 mm.

11. The hair clipping device according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the comb attachment relative to the cutting assembly.

12. The hair clipping device according to claim 1, wherein an angle between the first longitudinal direction of the first comb element and the second longitudinal direction of the second comb element is smaller than 90?, preferably smaller than 80?.

13. The hair clipping device according to claim 1, further comprising a suction unit for generating an under-pressure in an area between the cutting assembly and the comb attachment.

14. A comb attachment for attachment to a hair clipping device having a housing and a cutting assembly which is arranged on a distal end of said housing and comprises a stationary cutting blade with a stationary cutting edge and a moveable cutting blade with a moveable cutting edge, wherein the comb attachment comprises a first comb element having a plurality of first comb ribs and a second comb element having a plurality of second comb ribs; wherein the first comb element is configured to be arranged on a front side of the housing and configured to cover the stationary and the moveable cutting edge, wherein said front side runs transverse to the distal end and the cutting assembly, and wherein the plurality of first comb ribs run parallel to each other and parallel to a first longitudinal direction of the first comb element; wherein the plurality of second comb ribs are arranged transverse to the plurality of first comb ribs and are configured to at least partly cover the distal end of the housing, wherein the plurality of second comb ribs run parallel to each other and parallel to a second longitudinal direction of the second comb element, wherein a gap size, which is defined as distance between two of the second comb ribs measured in lateral direction perpendicular to the second longitudinal direction, is smaller than 1 mm and wherein the second comb element comprises a connection beam that is arranged at a back end of the second comb ribs opposite their free end and runs parallel to the lateral direction; and wherein a free end of the first comb ribs is spaced apart from a free end of the second comb ribs, such that a gap occurs between the first and the second comb element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter. In the following drawings

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a hair clipping device with a comb attachment according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of the hair clipping device shown in FIG. 1 without the comb attachment;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the comb attachment from its backside in a total view (FIG. 3A) as well as in an enlarged view (FIG. 3B);

(5) FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a function principle of the comb attachment according to the present invention in a perspective view (FIG. 4A) as well as in a sectional view (FIG. 4B); and

(6) FIG. 5 shows a function principle of a comb attachment according to the prior art in a perspective view (FIG. 5A) as well as in a sectional view (FIG. 5B).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the hair clipping device according to the present invention with and without a comb attachment. The hair clipping device is therein in its entirety denoted with reference numeral 10.

(8) The hair clipping device 10 comprises a comb attachment 12 which is releasably attachable to the hair clipping device 10. FIG. 1 shows the hair clipping device with the comb attachment 12, whereas FIG. 2 shows the hair clipping device 10 without the comb attachment 12.

(9) The hair clipping device 10 comprises a housing 14 in which all remaining parts are usually integrated and to which the comb attachment 12 may be attached. The housing 14 also serves as a holder for a cutting assembly 16. The cutting assembly 16 may be releasably fixed to a distal end 18 of the housing 14. The cutting assembly 16 may, however, also be permanently fixed to the distal end 18 of the housing 14. The housing 14 is usually realized as an elongated body that forms a handle 20 at its rear end, i.e. the end opposite the distal end 18.

(10) The cutting assembly 16 comprises a stationary cutting blade 22 and a movable cutting blade 24. The movable cutting blade 24 is in the known manner displaceably mounted on an upper surface of the stationary cutting blade 22. By the help of one or more springs (not shown), the movable cutting blade 24 is resiliently biased against the stationary cutting blade 22. The spring exerts a spring force onto the movable cutting blade 24 in order to keep the two cutting blades 22, 24 close together. Both cutting blades 22, 24 each comprise a cutting edge 26, 28 with a plurality of cutting teeth arranged in parallel to each other. The cutting edge 26 of the stationary cutting blade 22 is herein denoted as stationary cutting edge 26. The cutting edge 28 of the movable cutting blade 24 is herein denoted as movable cutting edge 28.

(11) During operation hair cutting is performed by the interaction of the stationary cutting blade 22 and the movable cutting blade 24 that reciprocates on the stationary cutting blade 22 as this is known from other conventional hair clipping devices.

(12) The stationary cutting blade 22 is usually designed to be thicker than the movable cutting blade 24. Said stationary cutting blade 22 is also denoted as guard. In order to receive a good cutting performance, the movable cutting blade 24 is actively pressed onto the upper surface of the guard 22 to receive a so-called teeth pressure. This teeth pressure is, inter alia, guaranteed by the above-mentioned spring that presses the two cutting blades 22, 24 together.

(13) A drive arrangement including a motor (not shown) is configured to drive the movable cutting blade 24 in an oscillatory manner relative to the stationary cutting blade 22. The motor itself is usually realized as an electric motor that is either powered by main supplied electricity or battery-driven.

(14) Depending on the desired hair cut length that shall be achieved, the hair clipping device 10 may either be used with or without comb attachment 12. Especially when longer hair cut lengths are desired, the comb attachment 12 may be attached to the distal end 18 of the housing 14. As shown in FIG. 1, the comb attachment 12 is thereby mounted over the cutting assembly 16 and spaces the cutting blades 22, 24 apart from the surface of the skin of the user from which the hairs extend. It so to say acts as a spacer between the user's skin and the cutting assembly 16, so that the resulting length of the hair cut is increased compared to a usage of the hair clipping device without comb attachment 12.

(15) The comb attachment 12 is preferably designed to be displaceable relative to the housing 14, so that different hair cut lengths may be achieved with one and the same comb attachment 12. The hair clipping device 10 thereto comprises an adjustment mechanism 30 for adjusting the position of the comb attachment 12 relative to the housing 14. The adjustment mechanism 30 comprises according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 an adjustment wheel that allows shifting the comb attachment 12 by turning the adjustment wheel about a longitudinal axis of the handle 20. However, it shall be noted that the adjustment mechanism 30 may also be differently designed, e.g. by comprising a shifting bar or other types of mechanical shifting mechanisms. In the shown embodiment the comb attachment 12 is guided by two guiding rails 32 that are arranged on two opposing lateral sides of the housing 14 and two corresponding guiding rails (not shown) arranged on an inner side of the comb attachment 12. Instead of these guiding rails 32, a ratchet-type mechanism may be provided.

(16) It is to be noted that the adjustment mechanism 30 for adjusting the position of the comb attachment 12 relative to the housing 14 may be realized in a variety of other ways. Instead of a stepless adjustment of the comb attachment 12, other adjustment mechanisms are conceivable for providing a stepwise adjustment in certain predefined steps, .e.g. in one millimeter steps.

(17) One of the central points of the present invention relates to the structural design of the comb attachment 12. The comb attachment 12 comprises a first comb element 34 that is configured to be arranged on a front side 36 of the housing 14 and configured to cover the stationary and the movable cutting edge 26, 28 when the comb attachment 12 is attached to the housing 14 of the hair clipping device 10. It is to be noted that the front side 36 of the housing 14 shall denote the upper side of the housing 14 which runs transverse to the surface provided at the distal end 18 of the housing 14. The latter mentioned surface at the distal end 18 is arranged at the bottom side of the cutting assembly 16, i.e. at the side of the stationary cutting blade 22 that faces away from the movable cutting blade 24. In the context of this invention transverse shall not necessarily be understood as perpendicular, but rather as non-parallel.

(18) The comb attachment 12 further comprises a second comb element 38 that is arranged transverse to the first comb element 34. This second comb element 38 is configured to at least partly cover the distal end 18 of the housing 14, i.e. to cover at least partly the bottom side of the stationary cutting blade 22.

(19) Each of the first and the second comb element 34, 38 comprises a plurality of comb ribs 40, 42 which run parallel to each other. The comb ribs 40 of the first comb element 34 are herein denoted as first comb ribs 40. The comb ribs 42 of the second comb element 38 are herein denoted as second comb ribs 42. The first comb ribs 40 are arranged parallel to a first longitudinal direction 44. The second comb ribs 42 are arranged parallel to a second longitudinal direction 46. As shown in FIG. 1, the first longitudinal direction 44 is arranged transverse to the second longitudinal direction 46. As it can be furthermore observed from the figures, in particular from FIGS. 3A and 3B, the first comb ribs 40 have different dimensions than the second comb ribs 42. The first comb ribs 40 of the first comb element 34 are preferably designed to be thicker than the second comb ribs 42 of the second comb element 38. The space between two neighboring first comb ribs 40 is preferably also larger than the space between two neighboring second comb ribs 42. In other words, the second comb element 38 comprises more comb ribs that are spaced closer to each other than the first comb element 34. The second comb element 38 comprises a very fine-pitched comb structure, whereas the first comb element 34 may comprise a regular comb structure as this is known from many comb attachments of the prior art. However, it shall be noted that the first comb element 34 may also comprise a similar or even the same fine-pitched comb structure as the second comb element 38.

(20) All of the second comb ribs 42 preferably have the same dimensions. In contrast to known comb elements of the prior art, the dimensions of the second comb ribs 42 and the distances between the second comb ribs 42 are chosen to be comparatively small. A distance 48 between two neighboring second comb ribs 42 is preferably smaller than 1 mm. Said distance 48 is herein denoted as gap size. The gap size 48 is defined as distance between two neighboring second comb ribs 42 measured in lateral direction 50, wherein the lateral direction 50 is arranged perpendicular to the first and the second longitudinal directions 44, 46. It shall be noted that the mentioned gap size 48 preferably occurs between all neighboring second comb ribs 42.

(21) A width 52 of each of the second comb ribs 42 is preferably in the range of 0.5 mm and 1 mm. Said width 52 denotes the dimension of the second comb ribs 42 measured in the lateral direction 50.

(22) A pitch size 54, which is defined as the sum of the gap size 48 and the width 50 of one second comb rib 42, is preferably smaller than 2 mm.

(23) Such a fine-pitched comb structure of the second comb element 38 increases the probability that curled and stiff hairs are actively caught and lifted up when the comb attachment 12 is stroked over the user's skin. In other words, the second comb element 38 provides an active manipulation also for curled and stiff hairs to lift them up from their natural orientation, such that the hair cutting performance is significantly improved in contrast to regular comb attachments of the prior art which usually have significantly larger gap sizes with larger comb ribs.

(24) Comb elements of known comb attachments that are arranged at the same position as the second comb element 38 of the herein presented comb attachment 12 are usually only used as gliding elements that allow to glide or stroke the comb attachment over the user's skin. However, the herein presented fine-pitched second comb element 38 is not only used as a gliding element, but also provides an active hair manipulation. This structure will enforce that uncut hairs are lifted up as much as possible to increase the chance that the hairs will be effectively cut during the second stroke of the hair clipping device over the same area. Next to that, flat oriented and partially ingrown hairs will also be pre-combed in a more upright orientation. The fine-pitched second comb ribs 42 due to their close distancing still allow to effectively follow the skin and provide a skin-friendly contact surface.

(25) Experiments of the applicant have led to the following preferred size dimensions of the second comb ribs 42:

(26) The gap size 48 is preferably between 0.2 mm and 0.8 mm. The pitch size 54 is preferably between 0.7 mm and 1.7 mm. The width of the second comb ribs 42 is preferably between 0.5 mm and 1 mm.

(27) A height 56 (see FIG. 4A) of the second comb ribs 42 is preferably between 1 mm and 5 mm, at least at a back end 58 that is opposite a free end 60 of the comb ribs 42. Said height 56 denotes the dimension of the second comb ribs 42 measured perpendicular to the second longitudinal direction 46 and the lateral direction 50. Such a small height 56 provides the advantage of an increased visibility of the cutting assembly 16, such that the cutting assembly 16 is always clearly visible to the user during use. This facilitates the handling of the hair clipping device 10 for the user. However, it shall be noted that the height 56 of each of the second comb ribs 42 is preferably even smaller than the above-mentioned range in the area at and around the tip portions at the free end 60 of the comb ribs 42. The height 56 at said free ends 60 of the second comb ribs 42 is preferably even smaller than 2 mm. This further improves the hair catching, since the hairs enter the second comb element 38 usually at these free ends 60 of the second comb ribs 42. In order to further improve the skin friendliness, the free ends 60 of the second comb ribs 42 furthermore preferably each comprise a rounded tip portion.

(28) A length 62 of the second comb ribs 42 measured along the second longitudinal direction 46 is preferably smaller than or equal to 20 mm. Larger lengths 62 would otherwise result in too flexible and too weak comb ribs 42.

(29) However, the above-mentioned advantageous hair lifting effect does not only result from the fine-pitched grating structure of the second comb element 38, but also from the following features which are also essential for the present invention:

(30) The first comb ribs 40 of the first comb element 34 are not directly connected to the second comb ribs 42 of the second comb element 38. Therefore, not only each of the second comb ribs 42 comprises a free end 60, but also each of the first comb ribs 40 comprises a free end 64. This results in a gap 66 that occurs in between the first comb ribs 40 and the second comb ribs 42, in particular in between the free ends 64 of the first comb ribs 40 and the free ends 60 of the second comb ribs 42. This gap 66 extends parallel to the lateral direction 50. The gap 66 serves as entering space for uncut hairs.

(31) A still further important feature of the second comb element 38 is the connection beam 68 that also extends parallel to the lateral direction 50 and is arranged locally behind the second comb ribs 42. This connection beam 68 connects the back end 58 of each of the second comb ribs 42 with each other. A backside 70 of the connection beam 68 during use of the comb attachment 12 faces away from the distal end 18 and is configured to touch the skin of the user when stroking the comb attachment 12 over the user's skin. Said backside 70 in other words faces away from the bottom side of the stationary cutting blade 22. The backside 70 is preferably arranged coplanar, i.e. in one and the same plane, with a corresponding backside 72 of the second comb ribs, wherein the backside 72 during use also faces away from the bottom side of the stationary cutting blade 22.

(32) The fine-pitched grating structure of the second comb element 38, the gap 66 as well as the latter mentioned connection beam 68 cooperate together in order to catch the uncut hairs and lift them up in an efficient way. The technical principle of the cooperation of these three features is explained in the following with reference to the schematical illustration shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

(33) FIGS. 4A and 4B schematically illustrate how uncut hairs 74 are combed and lifted by means of the second comb element 38. The uncut hairs 74 enter the second comb element 38 at the gap 66 between the first and the second comb element 34, 38. By stroking the second comb element 38 over the user's skin, these uncut hairs 74 will then travel in between the second comb ribs 42 until they hit against the connection beam 68 arranged at the back ends 58 of the second comb ribs 42. The second comb element 38 is thereto preferably moved against the hair grain direction. The uncut hairs will already be lifted when traveling in between the second comb ribs 42. However, as soon as they hit against the connection beam 68, the hairs will be bent. By stroking the connection beam 68 over the hairs 74, each hair will then be completely bent against its grain direction, such that the hairs 74 which have passed the comb attachment 12 are arranged in a much more upright manner compared to the hairs 74 that have not yet passed the comb attachment 12. By stroking over the upright standing hairs 74 again a second time, almost all hairs 74 are cut by the cutting assembly 16 to the desired hair cut length. It shall be noted that of course a lot of hairs 74 are already cut to the desired length within the first stroke.

(34) The above-mentioned effects are usually not achieved with comb elements of the prior art. FIGS. 5A and 5B show an example of such a prior art comb element. This prior art comb element 38 more or less only serves as a gliding element that allows gliding the comb attachment over the user's skin. It does, however, not lift the hairs as efficient as the second comb element 38 according to the present invention. First of all, it usually comprises a way larger gap size in between the comb ribs. Secondly, the connection beam 68 is not configured to touch the user's skin and to thereby bend the hairs in the above-mentioned way. In contrast thereto, the connection beam 68 is usually distanced from the backside of the comb ribs, such that the hairs simply pass underneath the connection beam 68 without getting bent and reoriented.

(35) The comb attachment 12 of the hair clipping device 10 according to the present invention thus provides compared to prior art comb attachments of this type a significantly improved hair lifting which again leads to an improved hair cutting performance.

(36) While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

(37) In the claims, the word comprising does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality. A single element or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

(38) Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.