Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a hair container (32) for a hair cutting appliance (10), and to an attachment kit (34) comprising a hair container (32) and an attachment comb (30). The hair container (32) comprises a container housing (46) comprising a hair compartment (48) for accommodating cut hair sections, and an attachment portion (50) for releasably attaching the hair container (32) to a hair cutting appliance (10), wherein the attachment portion (50) is arranged to attach the hair container (32) to the hair cutting appliance (10) when an attachment comb (30) is attached to the hair cutting appliance (10). The present disclosure further relates to a hair cutting appliance (10) that is fitted with a respective attachment kit (34).
Claims
1. A hair container for a hair cutting appliance having an attachment comb comprising an attachment comb, the hair container comprising: a container housing comprising a hair compartment for accommodating cut hair sections, an attachment portion for attaching the hair container to an attachment comb of a hair cutting appliance, and two lateral catching arms which laterally delimit a guiding channel, wherein the attachment portion is arranged to attach the hair container to the hair cutting appliance in a mediate fashion, when the attachment comb is attached to the hair cutting appliance.
2. The hair container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hair container is arranged to be at least sectionally interposed between a housing portion of the hair cutting appliance and the attachment comb, when the attachment comb is attached to the hair cutting appliance.
3. The hair container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment portion comprises at least one locking element that is arranged to lock the hair container at the attachment comb in a releasable fashion.
4. The hair container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the attachment portion comprises at least two lateral locking elements that are spaced apart from one another and that are arranged to engage mating snap lock elements at the attachment comb.
5. The hair container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the attachment portion comprises at least one alignment element that is arranged to engage a mating positioning element at the attachment comb.
6. The hair container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hair container is arranged, in the mounted state, to be moved with the attachment comb relative to the housing portion of the hair cutting appliance, when the attachment comb is moved for comb length adjustment.
7. The hair container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a guide wall that is preferably shovel blade shaped, a front end of which, in the mounted state, is arranged between rear ribs of the attachment comb and a rear side of the housing portion of the hair cutting appliance in close proximity to the rear side.
8. The hair container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lateral catching arms are flexible.
9. The hair container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hair compartment is arranged as a rigid container, particularly as a rigid bucket-like compartment, or wherein the hair compartment is arranged as a flexible container, particularly as a flexible backpack-like compartment.
10. An attachment kit for a hair cutting appliance comprising: a hair container as claimed in claim 1, an attachment comb, preferably a releasable snap-lock mounting attachment comb, that is arranged to be attached to the hair cutting appliance, wherein the hair container is mounted to the attachment comb, and wherein the hair container is attached to the hair cutting appliance in a mediate fashion, when the attachment comb is attached to the hair cutting appliance.
11. The attachment kit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the attachment comb is an adjustable attachment comb, and wherein the attachment comb is arranged to engage an adjustment drive of the hair cutting appliance, particularly to engage a movable adjustment carriage of the adjustment drive.
12. The attachment kit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the attachment comb comprises a tail portion which is at least partially offset from the housing portion of the hair cutting appliance, wherein the hair container, in its mounted state, at least partially engages an offset gap between the tail portion and the housing portion.
13. The attachment kit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the attachment comb is arranged as an integrally shaped injection moulding part, and wherein the hair container is arranged as an integrally shaped injection moulding part.
14. The attachment kit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the attachment comb and the hair container jointly define a hair guiding channel through which, in the mounted state, cut hair sections are guided to be received in the hair compartment.
15. A hair cutting appliance, particularly a hair trimmer or clipper, comprising a housing portion, a cutting unit including a blade set, and at least one of a hair container as claimed in claim 1 and an attachment kit.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0043] These and other aspects of the disclosure will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. In the following drawings
[0044] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an electric hair cutting appliance;
[0045] FIG. 2 shows a further view of the appliance of FIG. 1, wherein also an attachment kit including an attachment comb and a hair container is illustrated, the attachment kit shown in a detached exploded state;
[0046] FIG. 3 shows a partial view of the hair cutting appliance of FIG. 2 including the attachment kit, wherein the attachment kit is shown in a mounted state, and wherein the hair container is illustrated in transparent fashion by a broken line representation:
[0047] FIG. 4 shows yet another partial view of the arrangement of FIG. 3 in a further (perspective frontal) orientation;
[0048] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective exploded view of an attachment kit for a hair cutting appliance, the kit comprising a hair container and an attachment comb;
[0049] FIG. 6 illustrates a further view of the arrangement of FIG. 5 in another perspective orientation;
[0050] FIG. 7 shows a lateral view of a hair cutting appliance to which an attachment comb is mounted, wherein a hair container is shown in a detached state approaching the attachment comb;
[0051] FIG. 8 shows a partial lateral view of the attachment of FIG. 7, wherein the hair container is mounted to the attachment comb, the attachment comb shown in a refracted state;
[0052] FIG. 9 shows yet another view of the arrangement of FIG. 8, the attachment comb shown in an extracted state;
[0053] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a (longitudinal) cross-section of an attachment kit for a hair cutting appliance;
[0054] FIG. 11 shows yet a further (transversal) cross-sectional view of the arrangement of FIG. 10 in another viewing orientation; and
[0055] FIG. 12 illustrates a schematic lateral view of a hair cutting appliance that is fitted with an attachment kit including an adjustable attachment comb and a hair container that is attached to the attachment comb; the hair cutting appliance shown in cutting operation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0056] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a hair cutting appliance 10, particularly an electrically-operated hair cutting appliance 10. The appliance 10 may also be referred to as hair clipper or hair trimmer. The appliance 10 comprises a housing or housing portion 12 having a generally elongated shape. At a first, top end thereof, a cutting unit 14 is provided. The cutting unit 14 comprises a blade set 16. The blade set 16 may comprise a movable blade and a stationary blade that may be moved with respect to each other to cut hair. At a central portion and a second, bottom end of the housing 12, a handle or grip portion 18 may be provided. A user may grasp or grab the housing 12 at the grip portion 18.
[0057] The appliance 10 further comprises operator controls. For instance, an on-off switch or button 20 may be provided. Furthermore, in case the appliance 10 is provided with a comb length adjustment mechanism, a length adjustment control 22 may be provided at the housing 12 of the appliance 10. As with the embodiment of FIG. 1, the length adjustment control 22 is arranged as a length adjustment wheel.
[0058] A front side of the housing portion 12 is indicated in FIG. 1 by reference numeral 24. An opposite rear side is indicated by reference numeral 26. Consequently, for illustrative purposes, the housing 12 of the hair cutting appliance 10 comprises a top side, where the blade set 16 is mounted, a bottom side that is opposite to the top side, a front side 24 which typically faces the skin of the to-be-groomed subject when the appliance 10 is in operation, and a rear side 26 that is opposite to the front side 24. Further, supplementary lateral sides are present, refer to the viewing orientation of FIG. 7, for instance.
[0059] Further reference is made to FIG. 2. As shown in at least some Figures herein, for illustrative purposes, a coordinate system (Cartesian coordinate system) X-Y-Z is provided. The coordinate system X-Y-Z is used in the following for describing orientations and locations of components of the hair cutting appliance 10. However, as can be already seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, not in each case a perfect match of components or parts of the appliance 10 with any of the axis X-Y-Z is provided. By way of example, the housing 12 may exhibit an elongated but somewhat curved shape for ergonomic and design reasons. Therefore, a main elongation direction of the housing 12 does not perfectly match the direction of the X-axis. It goes without saying that the skilled person is capable of adapting or, if necessary, transforming or converting the coordinate system X-Y-Z when being confronted with new embodiments, illustrations and/or orientations as the coordinate system X-Y-Z is merely an illustrative means for describing elements of the presented exemplary embodiment of the appliance 10 and their interrelation.
[0060] As indicated above, the housing 12 has a main (longitudinal) direction which will be hereinafter associated with the X-axis (length direction). Therefore, the top end and the bottom end of the housing 12 are spaced from one another in the X-direction. Further, the front side 24 and the rear side 26 are basically spaced from one another in the Y-direction. Lateral sides of the housing 12 are basically spaced from one another in the Z-direction.
[0061] As shown in FIG. 2 in a detached or exploded state, an attachment comb 30 may be mounted to the appliance 10. In the mounted state, the attachment comb 30 basically spaces the blade set 16 of the cutting unit 14 away from the to-be-treated body portion (in the X-direction). Hence, a defined cutting length (e.g. 6 mm, 9 mm, etc.) may be achieved. Further, a hair container 32 may be attached to the appliance 10. The main purpose of the hair container 32 is to catch and collect cut hair sections so as to minimize the amount of falling-down hairs which may pollute the floor and/or stick at the operator's or the to-be-groomed subject's skin or clothes.
[0062] Usage of the hair container 32 may be particularly beneficial for trimming relatively short hair as the resulting (cut) hair sections are considerably short and relatively easy to catch. Further, short hair sections are often experienced as being tickling, particularly in facial regions and also difficult to be removed from clothes, towels, scarfs, etc.
[0063] The attachment comb 30 and the hair container 32 may jointly form an attachment kit 34 for the appliance 10. Preferably, the attachment kit 34 is a releasable attachment kit. Further, the attachment kit 34 is arranged for a snap-on or snap-in attachment and detachment. Preferably, the attachment kit 34 improves the appliance's hair trimming performance.
[0064] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a perspective rear view of the appliance 10. The attachment kit 34 is shown in more detail in the mounted state in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 illustrate the attachment kit 34 in the detached state. In FIG. 3, a transparent representation of the hair container 32 is provided for illustrative purposes, refer to the dotted line representation. The attachment comb 30 is attached to the appliance 10 at the top side thereof. In the mounted state, the hair container 32 is arranged at the rear side 26 of the housing 12 of the appliance 10.
[0065] FIG. 4 shows a partial perspective top/frontal/lateral view of the appliance 10 in a state fitted with the attachment kit 34. The attachment comb 30 comprises an arrangement of ribs 40 which further define a window or opening 42 in which, in the mounted state as shown in FIG. 4, the blade set 16 is arranged, particularly a cutting edge thereof. When in use for trimming hair, the appliance 10 is basically moved in a moving or operating direction 52, refer also to FIG. 12. Relative movement between the stationary blade and the movable cutter blade of the blade set 16 is indicated in FIG. 4 by a double-arrow indicated by reference numeral 54. The hair container 32 comprises a container housing 46 which defines and delimits a hair compartment 48 (interior of the container housing 46), refer also to FIG. 3.
[0066] As can be further seen in conjunction from FIGS. 3 and 4, the length adjustment control 22 is arranged as an adjustment wheel whose axis of rotation is inclined at a small angle with respect to (or even parallel to) the X-axis, refer also to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.
[0067] For mounting the hair container 32 to the appliance 10, an attachment portion 50 is provided (not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4). The attachment portion 50 enables mounting the hair container 32 to the attachment comb 30. As a consequence, no direct connection or direct mounting between the hair container 32 and the housing 12 of the appliance 10 is provided. Rather, the attachment comb 30 so-to-say bridges the housing 12 and the hair container 32. This is beneficial as in this way the hair container 32 is arranged to be movable with the attachment comb 30 when the attachment comb 30 is moved with respect to the housing 12 for adjustment.
[0068] A further benefit of this arrangement is that no attachment or interface geometry for the hair container 32 is required at the housing 12. Hence, when the hair container 32 is not required, no disturbing of obstructing elements are present. Consequently, the appliance 10 may be particularly suited for multi-purpose usage, particularly for trimming, shaving and styling. Further, also attachment combs may be mounted to the appliance 10 which are not arranged to receive the hair container 32.
[0069] Further reference is made to FIG. 5 and to FIG. 6 each of which showing the attached comb 30 and the hair container 32 of the attachment kit 34 in a separated detached state. FIG. 5 is a perspective top/lateral view. FIG. 6 is a perspective bottom/rear view. In FIG. 5, a mounting direction 56 for the hair container 32 is indicated by reference number 56. In the exemplary embodiment, the mounting direction 56 is inclined at a small angle with respect to (or even parallel to) the X-axis. As with the embodiment of FIG. 5, basically the same applies to an adjustment attachment direction 58 of the attachment comb 30. The double-arrow 58 indicates the moving direction of the adjustment comb 30 with respect to the housing 12, when the adjust comb and, if any, the mounted hair container 32 is/are moved for adjustment.
[0070] The attachment comb 30 comprises a comb frame 62 which is arranged as an all-round frame. Between lateral frame sections the ribs 40 are arranged and may define front ribs 80 and rear ribs 82 which are separated from one another by the opening 42. At a most remote top and rear end, the ribs 40 define a tip edge 64 of the attachment comb 30. As with the embodiment of FIG. 5, the rear ribs 82 define the tip edge 64.
[0071] Further, the attachment comb 30 comprises attachment bars 66 extending from the comb frame 62. The attachment bars 66 may be referred to as lateral attachment bars. The attachment bars 66 basically extend in the X-direction from the top side towards the bottom side (refer to the double-arrow 58 of FIG. 5). Inwardly facing lateral sides of the attachment bars 66 are provided with guide elements 66 and snap-lock elements 70 for interaction with respective mating elements at the adjustment drive or mechanism at the appliance 10 for cutting length adjustment.
[0072] The ribs 40 of the attachment comb 30 further define a top surface or portion 72 which basically defines a contact surface with the to-be-groomed skin. The top portion 42 is defined by the front ribs 80 and a top portion of the rear ribs 82.
[0073] A tail portion 74 of the attachment comb 30 is basically defined by the rear ribs 82 and the respective portion of the comb frame 62. At the tail portion 74, snap lock elements 76 are provided at the comb frame 62. The snap lock elements 76 may be arranged as snap-on or snap-in elements, for instance. In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, the snap lock elements 76 are arranged as protruding bars or ribs. Two snap lock elements 76 are provided that are spaced from one another in the lateral direction (Z-direction). Further, as can be best seen in FIG. 6, at the bottom end of the tail portion 74, a positioning element 78 is provided which is arranged as a central bottom recess at the comb frame 62.
[0074] The attachment portion 50 of the hair container 32 is arranged to engage the snap lock elements 76 and the positioning element 78 of the attachment comb. As can be further seen from FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the hair container 32 is arranged in a basket-like or bucket-like fashion. At the front side of the hair container 32, a guide wall 84 is provided which is arranged in close proximity to the rear wall 28 of the housing 12 of the hair cutting appliance 10 in the attached state. At a top end of the guide wall 84, a front edge 86 is provided. Preferably, the front edge 86 is arranged as a tapered front edge. The hair container 32 further comprises two lateral catching arms 88 at opposite lateral ends thereof. The lateral catching arms 88 basically extend in the X-direction. The lateral catching arms 88 and, at least partially, the guide wall 84 are arranged to reach under the tail portion 74 of the attachment comb 30.
[0075] The attachment portion 50 of the hair container 32 comprises snap locking elements 90 which are arranged as recesses. The snap locking elements 90 may be arranged as snap-on or snap-in locking elements 90. The snap locking elements 90 are arranged to engage the snap lock elements 76 (mating snap-on or snap-in elements) of the attachment comb 30. The snap locking elements 90 are arranged at lateral ends of the container housing 46 at or adjacent to the lateral catching arms 88. The hair container 32 further comprises an alignment element 92 which is arranged to engage the positioning element 78 of the attachment comb 30. The alignment element 92 is arranged as a protruding alignment tab at the container housing 46.
[0076] As can be further seen from FIG. 6, the container housing 46 of the hair container 32 further comprises a bottom wall 94 and a rear wall 96. The bottom wall 94, the rear wall 96, the guide wall 84 and the lateral catching arms 88 jointly define the bucket-like shape of the hair compartment 48. At the rear wall 96, particularly the top end thereof, the alignment element 92 is arranged.
[0077] Further reference is made to FIG. 7, FIG. 8 and to FIG. 9. FIG. 7 illustrates a state of the appliance 10 wherein the attachment comb 30 already has been mounted to the housing 12. As can be seen from the side view of FIG. 7, the tail portion 74 is at least slightly offset or bent away from the rear side 26 of the housing 12. Consequently, an offset gap 98 is defined between the tail portion 76 and the rear side 26. The hair container 32 is shown in FIG. 7 in an approaching state, refer to the mounting direction 56. The lateral catching arms 88 and, at least partially, the guide wall 84 including the front end 86 may be inserted in the offset gap 98 to mount the hair container 32 to the attachment comb 30. Mounting the hair container 32 also involves engaging the snap lock element 76 with the snap locking elements 90, and engaging the positioning element 78 with the alignment element 92. Snap-on or snap-in mounting enables repetitive attachment and detachment, for instance for emptying the hair compartment 48.
[0078] FIG. 8 is a partial lateral view of the arrangement of FIG. 7, wherein the hair container 32 is shown in the final attached state. As already indicated above, preferably the attachment comb 30 is arranged as an adjustable attachment comb 30. Consequently, the adjustment comb 30 is shown in FIG. 9 in an extended or extracted state, whereas FIG. 8 illustrates basically the same arrangement in a retracted state. As can be seen from FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, for length adjustment, both the adjustment comb 30 and the hair container 32 are jointly moved in the adjustment direction 58 with respect to the housing 12 of the appliance 10. For length adjustment, the attachment bars 66 of the attachment comb 30 are inserted in the housing 12 and engage a mounting receptacle 100. To this end, the guide elements 68 and the snap-lock elements 70 of the attachment bars 66 may be utilized, refer also to FIG. 6.
[0079] Adjustment may be effected by operating the length adjustment control 22. The adjustment mechanism may be a manually operated mechanism or a motor powered adjustment drive. Hence, the user may either directly retract or extract the adjusted attachment comb 30 or may operate or control a motor which acts as an adjustment drive motor.
[0080] Further reference is made to FIG. 10 and to FIG. 11 illustrating cross-sectional perspective views of the attachment kit 34 wherein the attachment comb 30 and the hair container 32 are shown in their engaged state attached to one another. As can be best seen from FIG. 10, the protruding alignment element 92 of the hair container 32 engages the recess-shaped positioning element 78 of the attachment comb 30. Further, a lateral cross-section of the hair compartment 48 is shown in FIG. 10. The hair compartment 48 comprises a trap-like chamber or compartment.
[0081] As can be best seen from FIG. 11, the (lateral) snap locking elements 90 of the hair container 32 engage the snap lock elements 76 of the attachment comb. The snap lock elements 76 are arranged as protruding elements. The snap locking elements 90 are arranged as recessed elements. Since at least in some embodiments the attachment comb 30 and the hair container 32 are integrally shaped injection-moulding parts, a certain (elastic) deflection may be effected which enables the snap-on or snap-in mounting and detachment action.
[0082] Reference is still made to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. Further reference is made to FIG. 12. In FIG. 12, a lateral cross-sectional simplified view of a hair cutting appliance 10 that is fitted with an attachment kit in accordance with the present disclosure is shown, the appliance 10 being used for hair trimming. More particularly, FIG. 10, FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 illustrate a hair guiding channel 102 that is jointly defined by the hair container 32, the attachment comb 30 and, in some respect, by the rear wall 28 of the rear side 26 of the housing 12. For illustrative purposes, the appliance 10, particularly the housing 12 thereof, is shown in FIG. 12 in simplified representation by dotted lines. The appliance 10 is moved in the operating direction 52 through hair 106 at a to-be-groomed skin portion 104. A top end of the attachment comb 30 touches the skin 104.
[0083] Hairs 106 may be caught, raked and erected by the ribs 40 of the attachment comb 30. Eventually, the hairs are guided towards the blade set 16 and cut by the cooperating cutting action of the stationary blade and the movable cutter blade thereof. Cut hair sections may then enter the hair guiding channel 102 so as to be guided and moved towards the hair compartment 48, where cut hair sections 108 may accumulate. Preferably, as can be best seen from FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the lateral catching arms 88 basically close or block the offset gap 98. Therefore, typically only a small number of hairs is missed by the hair container 32.
[0084] FIG. 12 further illustrates in a rather simplified block representation an adjustment drive 110 for the adjustable attachment comb 30. The attachment bars 66 of the attachment comb 30 are attached to a carriage 114 which is coupled to a drive shaft 112 which can be operated through the length adjustment control 22. For instance, the length adjustment control 22 is arranged as a control wheel which is coupled to a threadened shaft or nut which may basically translate a rotational input into a transversal output. Via appropriate joints, the carriage 114 which may form part of the mounting receptacle 100 (refer to FIG. 9) may be driven for movement in the adjustment direction 58, either for extending or retracting movement. A resulting relative movement between the attachment comb 30 and the appliance 10 also involves a relative movement between the hair container 32 and the appliance 10 as the hair container 32 is attached to the attachment comb 30. Adjustment movement may involve a sliding relative movement between the guide wall 84, particularly the front end 86 thereof and the rear wall 28 of the housing 12.
[0085] 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.
[0086] 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.
[0087] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.
