Shearing Handpiece with Improved Comb Bed

Abstract

-6 Abstract A shearing hand piece (10) comprising a body (12) and a comb bed (14) that projects forwardly therefrom, wherein the comb bed (14) has a notch (28) provided in a forward edge (24) thereof. - 6 - Abstract2020233682 16 Sep 2020 1 0 2 2 3 6 2 6 3 4 3 0 2 8 3 0 2 4 3 4 2 6 3 6 1 4 1 2 1 8 3 2 F ig u re 1 1 / 3 20 20 23 36 82 1 6 Se p 20 20 20 20 23 36 82 1 6 Se p 20 20 2020233682 16 Sep 2020 10 36 22 18 26 34 30 28 32 12 1 / 3 30 24 34 26 36 14 Figure 1

Description

“Shearing Hand Piece with Improved Comb Bed” Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a shearing hand piece with an improved comb bed. More particularly, the shearing hand piece of the present invention is intended for use with a shearing comb and cutter, for shearing sheep or other animals. Background

[0002] At present, the shearing, crutching and trimming of animal wool and hair is most commonly achieved using either an electric or externally driven shearing hand piece utilising both a comb and cutter to cut hair or wool through which the comb and cutter are pushed. The comb is generally releasably fixed relative to the shearing hand piece whilst the cutter is driven in a reciprocating fashion across an upper surface of the comb.

[0003] In use, a shearer moves the hand piece through the wool, such that the bottom surface of the comb rests on the animal's skin, while the cutter sweeps back and forth across the upper surface of the comb, cutting the wool fibres caught between the teeth. As such, the comb and cutter reciprocating thereover are forced apart by the density of the wool causing the teeth of the comb to flex and spring, particularly those with less support from the comb bed. This springing action results in “rough running” as the reciprocating cutter contacts the springing teeth, and leads to greater wear in both the comb and the cutter.

[0004] Therefore, in order to prevent flexing and springing, the traditional shape of the comb bed is such that each tooth of the comb thereof is supported and follows the arcuate-shape of a comb at its forward edge, to provide support and stability.

[0005] Presently, shearing hand pieces with wide comb beds are most commonly used by shearers in an effort to minimise this flexing or springing in the teeth of the shearing comb as springing and flexing lead to greater wear in combs and cutters, reducing cutting performance.

[00086] It is one object of the shearing hand piece of the present invention to overcome substantially the abovementioned problems of the prior art, or at least provide a useful alternative thereto.

[0007] Each document, reference, patent application or patent cited in this text is expressly incorporated herein in their entirety by reference, which means that it should be read and considered by the reader as part of this text. That the document, reference, patent application, or patent cited in this text is not repeated in this text is merely for reasons of conciseness.

[0008] Reference to cited material or information contained in the text should not be understood as a concession that the material or information was part of the common general knowledge or was known in Australia or any other country.

[0009] Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Summary of the Invention

[0010] In accordance with the present invention there is provided a shearing hand piece comprising a body and a comb bed that projects forwardly therefrom, wherein the comb bed has a notch provided in a forward edge thereof.

[0011] Preferably, the notch extends rearwardly from the forward edge of the comb bed.

[0012] Still preferably, the comb bed has an upper surface and a bottom surface, the notch extending through the full thickness of the comb bed between the upper and bottom surface.

[0013] The notch is preferably provided with arcuate edges that define a gullet therebetween.

[0014] Preferably, the gullet has a smooth regular concave curved surface.

[0015] Still preferably, the forward edge on each side of the notch has a rounded forwardmost portion that sweeps rearwardly toward lateral edges of the comb bed. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] The shearing hand piece of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to one embodiment thereof and the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a shearing hand piece with an improved comb bed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the shearing hand piece of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the shearing hand piece of Figure 1, taken through a mid-line of the shearing hand piece. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0017] In Figures 1 to 3 there is shown a shearing hand piece 10 in accordance with the present invention. The shearing hand piece 10 comprises a body 12 and a comb bed 14. The body 12 has an upper surface 16 and a bottom surface 18. The comb bed 14 projects forwardly from the body 12 of the shearing hand piece 10.

[0018] The comb bed 14 has a substantially flat upper surface 20 and a substantially flat bottom surface 22. The upper surface 20 of the comb bed 14 is contiguous with the upper surface 16 of the body 12, whilst the bottom surface 22 is contiguous with the bottom surface 18 of the body 12. The comb bed 14 further has a beveled forward edge 24 that can be best seen in Figure 3, the bevel being contiguous with the upper surface 20.

[0019] The forward edge 24 has provided therein a notch 28. The notch 28 is provided with arcuate sides or edges 30 that define a gullet 32 therebetween, best seen in Figures 1 and 2. The forward edge 24 on each side of the notch 28 has a rounded forwardmost portion 34 that sweeps rearwardly toward lateral edges 36 of the comb bed 14.

[0020] The notch 28 extends through the full thickness of the comb bed 14 between the upper 20 and bottom surface 22, best seen in Figure 3. The gullet 32 has a smooth regular concave curved surface as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0021] A pair of transversely spaced threaded apertures 26 are provided in the comb bed 14 and are proportioned to receive therein comb screws (not shown) whereby a comb (not shown) may be fastened to the comb bed 14. A radius of the arcuate edges 30 of the notch 28 is substantially centred on respective apertures 26.

[0022] Unlike comb beds of the prior art, the comb bed 14 of the present invention comprises at least one notch 28 that in use acts to provide greater comb flex, vertically and thereby contributes to harmonic flow whilst also providing stability and support. This harmonic flow is defined as “repeating regularly” in motion. This is to be contrasted with size-reduced comb beds of the prior art that lack cut strength, and rather create springing of the teeth which leads to low cutting performance. This springing action results in rough running as the cutter contacts the springing teeth, and leads to greater wear in both the comb and the cutter.

[0023] The Applicant envisages that the forward edge 24 of the comb bed 14 having at least one notch 28 acts to substantially increase comb flex, thereby facilitating the ease of harmonic movement across the comb bed 14. In addition, the comb bed 14 provides stability and support to the comb (not shown) attached thereto by way of comb screws (not shown), whilst improving flow and cut strength.

[0024] It is envisaged that the shape of the notch 28 provided in the forward edge 24 of the comb bed 14 may vary. For example, in differing forms of the present invention the notch may be provided as a cut-away portion or a narrow slit extending rearwardly from the forward edge 24.

[0025] It is further envisaged that the shearing hand piece of the present invention will be suitable for use with shearing combs and cutters available in the art.

[0026] Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A shearing hand piece comprising a body and a comb bed that projects forwardly therefrom, wherein the comb bed has a notch provided in a forward edge thereof.

2. The shearing hand piece of claim 1, wherein the notch extends rearwardly from the forward edge of the comb bed.

3. The shearing hand piece of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the comb bed has an upper surface and a bottom surface.

4. The shearing hand piece of claim 3, wherein the notch extends through the full thickness of the comb bed between the upper and bottom surface.

5. The shearing hand piece of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the notch is provided with arcuate edges that define a gullet between.

6. The shearing hand piece of claim 5, wherein the gullet has a smooth regular concave curved surface. f. The shearing hand piece of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the forward edge on each side of the notch has a rounded forwardmost portion that sweeps rearwardly toward lateral edges of the comb bed.

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