A hair trimming device suitable for trimming one's own hair

Abstract

A hair trimming device suitable for trimming one's own hair, comprising a comb having a plurality of teeth with a smooth comb edge proximate an open end and a sharp trimming edge proximate a closed end, a moving trimming arm having sharp trimming teeth in partial contact with and generally aligned with the sharp edge of the comb teeth, capable of moving back and forth laterally and in combination with the sharp edge teeth of the comb to trim hair, and a hair guard immediately adjacent along its length. The hair guard can be lowered to expose the sharp edges of the teeth of the comb and moving trimming arm to trim hair, or raised above the sharp trimming edges to be used as a comb. The hair trimming device also has a single pass or short duration trimming mode, and all of its functions can be controlled by a wireless remote.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE

[0002] This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application number 63 / 107,162, filed October 29, 2020, by the inventor. BACKGROUND

[0003] U.S. Patent

[0004] Patent No. Class Code Issue Date Patentee

[0005] 10820679 B1 November 3, 2020 Aossey

[0006] 10357092 B2 July 23, 2019 Kustra

[0007] 10307921 B2 June 4, 2019 Krenik

[0008] Trimming hair for others involves the use of both hands working together. Usually one hand uses a comb as a guide to determine the portion of hair to be trimmed. The other hand holds a trimming device (a pair of scissors or a barber clipper) to cut the portion of hair guided by the comb. It is almost impossible to trim one’s own hair with both hands behind or on the sides of one’s head. Using a mirror to guide and properly trim one’s own hair adds another level of difficulty due to the inherent loss of orientation with using a mirror image. For these reasons, there is no simple hair trimming device available to trim one’s own hair. The present invention teaches a simple and easy to use device to accomplish this function - trimming one’s own hair.

[0009] The prior art cited here for the purpose of trimming one’s own hair is inadequate or impractical. U.S. Patent 10820679 to Aossey (2020) is merely a guide device that hangs around one’s ears to provide a uniform line to the trimming device. U.S. Patents 10357092 to Kustra (2019) and 10307921 to Krenik (2019) are very expensive and complicated devices that require sensors, computing or decision machines, and intelligent hair trimming devices. Even though they can be cost effective for the average consumer; they will be impractical for the average user due to the learning process required to achieve proficiency. SUMMARY

[0010] The invention combines a comb and a trimming device into a comb-like trimming device. The comb-like piece has a top portion of the teeth near the open end that is smooth like a comb tooth. The lower portion of the teeth near the closed end has a sharp trimming edge. Adjacent to the comb-like piece and along its length is a hair guard that can move up and down. When the hair guard is up, its sharp edges are covered and the comb-like piece works like a comb. Hair will not be caught or obstructed by the sharp trimming edges at the lower portion of the teeth. When the hair guard is lowered to expose the sharp trimming edges, hair between the sharp trimming edge teeth can be cut like a regular haircut clipper in combination with the sharp edge teeth of the moving trimming arm. A control and drive unit can lower and raise the hair guard, adjust the spacing between the hair guard and the comb-like piece, and drive the moving trimming arm back and forth laterally. The device effectively reduces the hair trimming process to a single hand operation.

[0011] The control and drive unit further has switches with various functions for trimming hair. It can further be controlled by a wireless remote control unit. The wireless remote control unit can include all functions, or even additional functions beyond those enabled with the switches on the control and drive unit. The wireless remote control is also an important part of the invention for trimming one's own hair. One can hold the wireless remote control in the other hand in any position, or use voice or other means only to remotely activate all functions on the control and drive unit. Thus, the hand holding the hair trimming device with the control and drive unit can remain steady to cut the planned hair without being distracted by the need and action of touching the switches on the control and drive unit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the hair trimming device (5) with a comb-like piece (10), a moving trimming arm (12), a hair guard (11), a control and drive unit (13) with function switches, and an AC converter (18).

[0013] FIG. 1A is an exploded view of a single tooth of the comb-like piece (10) showing the smooth edge portion (10a) and the sharp edge portion (10b).

[0014] FIG. 2 is a top view of the hair trimming device (5) showing the comb-like piece (10) in the middle, the hair guard (11) on one side of the comb-like piece (10), the moving trimming arm (12) on the other side, and the control and drive unit (13) on the right side.

[0015] FIG. 3An inverted rear view showing the hair trimming device (5), comb (10), hair guard (11) and control and drive unit (13).

[0016] FIG. 4 A battery pack (17) is shown.

[0017] FIG. 5 A wireless remote control (19) with equivalent function switches on the control and drive unit (13) is shown.

[0018] FIG. 6 A front view showing the cover (40) covering the moving trimming arm (12).

[0019] FIG. 7 An inverted rear view showing the selective hair guard (50) as an alternative to the conventional hair guard (11).

[0020] FIG. 8 A front view showing the manually driven embodiment (60) of the hair trimming device.

[0021] FIG. 9 An inverted rear view showing the manually driven embodiment (60) of the hair trimming device.

[0022] Reference numbers in the drawings:

[0023] 5. Hair trimming device

[0024] 10. Comb

[0025] 10a. Smooth comb portion of comb teeth

[0026] 10b. Sharp trimming edge portion of comb teeth

[0027] 11. Hair guard

[0028] 12. Moving trimming arm

[0029] 12a. Sharp edge trimming teeth on moving trimming arm

[0030] 12b. Driving teeth on moving trimming arm

[0031] 13. Control and drive unit

[0032] 14, 15 and 16. Function switches on control and drive unit (13)

[0033] 14R, 15R and 15R. Equivalent function switches on wireless remote control (19)

[0034] 17. Battery pack

[0035] 18. AC converter unit

[0036] 19. Wireless remote control

[0037] 20. Power jack on control and drive unit (13)

[0038] 20a. Charging jack on battery pack (17)

[0039] 21. Connector plug from AC converter (18) to jack (20) on control and drive unit (13)

[0040] 21a. Connector plug from battery pack (17) to jack (20) on control and drive unit (13)

[0041] 40. Mobile trimmer arm cover

[0042] 50. Selective hair guard

[0043] 60. Manual embodiment

[0044] 61. Pivot

[0045] 62. Circular mobile with transmission teeth

[0046] 63. Scissor arm

[0047] 65. Tap on scissor arm (63). DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] FIG. 1The preferred embodiment of the hair trimming device (5) in the figure comprises a comb (10) where the top portion (10a) of its teeth near the open end is a smooth comb tooth and the bottom portion (10b) of the teeth near the closed end comprises a sharp edge for trimming hair. The moving trimming arms (12) with sharp edge teeth (12a) are able to move back and forth laterally. The moving trimming arms (12) are held in close proximity to the comb (10). Their sharp teeth touch to allow trimming of hair like a conventional hair clipper. Their sharp teeth tips are approximately in line with the height of the sharp edge of the comb teeth (10b). With the sharp edge teeth (10b) of the comb (10), they work like a regular hair clipper that is able to cut hair between their sharp edges. When the trimming function is not activated, the hair guard (11) is in position above the trimming teeth (10b) of the comb (10) and the trimming teeth (12a) of the moving trimming arms (12). Thus, the hair trimming device (5) functions as a comb. When the hair trimming function is activated, the hair guard (11) will lower itself to expose the sharp edges of the teeth (10b) of the comb (10) and the moving trimming arm teeth (12a). The moving trimming arms move back and forth laterally. Like a hair clipper, hair between the trimming teeth will be cut. When the hair trimming function is terminated, the hair guard is raised to the original position and the moving trimming arms stop. The hair trimming device (5) functions as a comb again.

[0049] The comb (10), the hair guard (11) and the moving trimming arms (12) are coupled with a control and drive unit (13). The control and drive unit (13) comprises one or more electric motors, mechanical gears and connections to lower and raise the hair guard (11) and to drive the moving trimming arms (12) back and forth laterally to perform the hair trimming function.

[0050] Although not shown or not shown in detail in the drawings, one with ordinary mechanical design skills can hold the hair guard (11) in place at opposite ends of the control and drive unit (13) and hold the hair guard (11) possible to move up and down. The moving trimming arms (12) can be held in close proximity with their sharp teeth (12a) touching the sharp teeth (10b) of the comb (10) and can be held able to move back and forth laterally to trim hair like a conventional hair clipper.

[0051] The control and drive unit (13) further includes switches and decision means for performing various functions or sequences of functions. The decision means can include, but are not limited to, one or more microprocessors. It can include a switch for a single or short duration trim mode (14) and a continuous hair trim mode switch (15). The single or short duration trim mode simulates a one-trip cut by a pair of scissors or hair clipper guided by a comb. This mode of cutting hair mitigates the serious mistake of cutting off more hair than intended. The continuous mode allows for faster continuous trimming at locations where hair length is less important or as the skill of the person improves.

[0052] The control and drive unit (13) can further include a switch (16) for adjusting the spacing between the hair guard (11) and the comb (10) to control the length of hair after trimming. This feature can help less experienced users to determine the length of hair remaining after trimming by using the hair guard against the person's head.

[0053] The control and drive unit (13) can further include a wireless receiver that will receive control signals from a wireless remote control (19) described below. Additional functions can be added to control the movement or sequence of movement of the hair guard (11) and the moving trim arm (12).

[0054] An AC adapter (18) with a power connector plug (21) can be plugged into a power jack (20) on the control and drive unit (13) to provide power to the hair trimmer device (5).

[0055] In another embodiment, a battery pack (17) can be used in place of the AC adapter (18). The battery pack has a power connector plug (21a) that can be plugged into the power jack (20) on the control and drive unit (13) to provide power and cordless the hair trimmer device. The battery pack can be charged by the AC adapter (18) through the power jack (20a). Alternatively, a charging base can be employed to charge the battery pack through physical or wireless (i.e. inductive) charging.

[0056] In another embodiment, the control and drive unit (13) can be integrated with FIG. 5The wireless remote control (19) in the communication with the control and drive unit (13). The wireless remote control (19) can have all the function switches and operating modes or additional function switches and operating modes in addition to the switches on the control and drive unit (13). The switches 14R, 15R and 16R on the wireless remote control (19) can be equivalent function switches to 14, 15, 16 on the control and drive unit (13). Due to the physical space limitation of the control and drive unit (13), some function switches can only be implemented on the wireless remote control (19). The person can use the other hand, voice or other means to activate the functions without interfering with the hand holding the hair trimming device (5).

[0057] In another embodiment, there is a moving trimmer arm cover (40) in the communication with the control and drive unit (13) to protect the user from the action of the moving trimmer arm (12). The cover (40) can be moved up and down by the control and drive unit (13) in a similar but separately controlled manner as the hair guard (11). FIG. 6

[0058] FIG. 6 The moving trimmer arm cover (40) in the communication with the control and drive unit (13) can be used as another hair guard on the side of the moving trimmer arm (12) in addition to the hair guard (11). It can be moved up and down together with the hair guard (11). The advantage of this embodiment will allow the hair trimming device to be held and used by the right or left hand without the moving trimmer arm (12) directly touching the head.

[0059] In yet another embodiment, the moving trimmer arm (12) can be positioned between the comb (10) and the hair guard (11). Thus, the hair guard (11) also serves as a cover for the moving and trimming arm (12). This embodiment also allows the hair trimming device to be held and used by the right or left hand without the moving trimmer arm (12) touching the head.

[0060] It is also possible that even the lower part of the comb teeth can be smooth. A separate hair trimming mechanism can be formed by another set of sharp teeth (not shown in the figures) behind the moving trimmer arm (12) and the lower part of the comb teeth.

[0061] The selective hair guard (50) in the communication with the control and drive unit (13) can be used instead of the conventional level hair guard (11) in the communication with the control and drive unit (13). FIG. 3 FIG. 7 The selective hair guard (50) allows different parts of the trimming teeth to be exposed when the selective hair guard (50) is lowered. FIG. 7 It is shown that every other pair of trimming teeth is blocked by the selective hair guard (50) when it is lowered. Different selective hair guard styles can be designed to allow different trimming.

[0062] ​​When the spacing between the hair guard and the comb is increased too much to be practical, additional spacers can be attached to the hair guard to provide additional spacing between the head and the trimming elements associated with the comb. Although such spacers are not shown in this disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art can readily devise such designs.

[0063] In yet another embodiment, there can be more fully smoothed comb teeth on the comb (10). Both the top and bottom portions of the teeth are as smooth as comb teeth. These fully smoothed comb teeth can be located on one or both sides outside the range of the trimming teeth (12a) of the moving trim arm in this way, the comb trimmer will have many comb teeth but only some of them will trim hair when the hair trimming function is activated.

[0064] FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 It is shown that the hair trimming device can be implemented as a manual trimmer (60). As FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 The lowering of the hair guard (11) and the trimming action of the moving trim arm (12) can be activated manually as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. A scissors-like arm (63) with a knock piece (65) is coupled with a circular moving piece (62) with drive teeth. The comb (10) also serves as the other arm of the scissors. The knock piece (65) protrudes slightly and is able to push the hair guard (11) downward. When the scissors-like arm (63) is closed, the knock piece (65) first pushes the hair guard (11) downward to expose the trimming teeth of both the comb (10) and the moving trim arm (12). The scissors-like arm (63) and the circular moving piece (62) rotate around a pivot (61). Then, the drive teeth on the circular moving piece (62) engage the drive teeth (12b) on the moving trim arm (12). As indicated, the moving trim arm (12) moves laterally. The trimming teeth (10b) of the comb (10) and (12a) of the moving trim arm (12) will cut the hair between them. When the scissors-like arm (63) is opened, the associated actions are reversed. Although not shown in the figures, one with ordinary mechanical design skills can return the hair guard (11) to its original position. Thus, one trimming step is completed. The process can be repeated until the desired hair trimming is achieved.

[0065] In another embodiment, the control and drive unit (13) or the manual mechanism of the manual trimmer (60) can be located at the left side for left-handed users or directly under the comb (10) like a regular barber clipper.

[0066] Operation:

[0067] Adjust the hair guard spacing (16 or 16R) for the desired length of hair after trimming.

[0068] All sides of the person's head are viewed using a mirror, multiple mirrors, or a camera with a display. The hair is combed to expose hair that needs to be cut. The single or short duration mode switch 14 (or 14R) is activated. Only the hair exposed by the comb and between the comb and the sharp edge of the moving trimmer arm is trimmed. The single or short duration trim mode reduces the chance of accidentally cutting unplanned hair clumps compared to a conventional electric hair clipper that runs continuously. It behaves more like a pair of scissors or a hair clipper guided by a comb, one cut at a time. As the person's skill improves, or at less important hair clumps, or trimming someone else's hair, the continuous trim mode can be used. The horizontal orientation and comb design make it easy to trim one's own hair. The two trim modes can be used interchangeably until the desired hair trim is achieved. Different attachments of hair guard spacers or selective hair guards (50) can be used for the desired hairstyle.

[0069] The present disclosure teaches a simple hair trimming device suitable for trimming one's own hair. The important concepts and various embodiments of the present invention have been clearly demonstrated. Different variations can be made based on the concepts and various embodiments described above.

Claims

1. A hair trimming device comprising: a comb having a plurality of teeth, wherein top portions of the teeth near the open end are smooth and lower portions of the teeth near the closed end have sharp edges; a movable trimming arm having a plurality of sharp trimming teeth; a hair guard immediately adjacent the comb along its length and movable over and under the sharp-edged teeth of the comb; a control and drive unit coupled to the comb member, the hair guard and the mobile trimming arm, the control and drive unit being capable of lowering and raising the hair guard and driving the mobile trimming arm laterally back and forth; wherein, when the trimming function is not enabled, the hair guard is raised to a first position above the sharp edges of the plurality of teeth of the comb; When the hair trimming function is activated, the hair guard is lowered to a second position to expose the sharp edges of the plurality of teeth of the comb member; Wherein, when the hair guard is in the second position, the plurality of sharp trimming teeth of the movable trimming arm move back and forth laterally to trim hair together with the sharp edges of the plurality of teeth of the comb-shaped element.

2. The hair trimming device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: Motor, switch, means for decision making and connections to perform the hair trimming function.

3. The hair trimming device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: A wireless receiver for receiving wireless control signals.

4. The hair trimming device according to claim 1, wherein: The comb member is coupled to a mechanical pivoting arm having means for pushing downwards and lifting upwards the hair guard, which is further coupled to a circular moving member having means for driving the moving trimming arm laterally back and forth.

5. The hair trimming device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hair trimming device has a function wherein, when the function is activated, the hair trimming device can perform a single trim or a short duration trim without having to turn off and on the power supply thereof.

6. The hair trimming device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hair trimming device has its functions controlled by a wireless remote control.

Images