Multi-piece hair clipper structure with metal outer housing

Abstract

A hair clipper is provided comprising a chassis (12) having an upper chassis portion and a lower chassis portion (14, 16) defining an enclosed interior chamber (18), the upper and lower chassis portions being configured to be fastened together, and an outer housing (20) comprising an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion (22, 24) constructed and arranged to enclose the chassis when the housing portions are fastened together, such that the interior chamber is isolated from the housing.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to electric hair grooming devices commonly known as hair clippers or trimmers, and more particularly to a multi-piece hair clipper construction featuring a metal outer housing piece. BACKGROUND

[0002] Conventional electric hair clippers and trimmers, collectively referred to herein as hair clippers, feature an inner chassis to which a motor, electronic controller, battery or AC power cord and blade set power transmission linkage are mounted. This construction is then covered by an outer housing, which is typically an upper and lower clamshell-like portion secured to the chassis by threaded fasteners. In most cases, the outer housing is made of a molded plastic piece.

[0003] A performance goal that hair clipper designers have pursued is to reduce the vibration and noise of the motor and blade set. Another goal is to reduce the number of production parts and lower assembly costs.

[0004] A recent interest of designers is the ability to replace the conventional plastic housing with a metal housing. The challenge here is that metal housings are less forgiving of variations in tolerances as compared to plastic parts. Thus, achieving a high quality, aesthetically pleasing and tight fit of the components assembled in a factory environment is a significant challenge to the hair clipper designer. In addition, modern hair clipper housings often have separate decorative parts made of metal, plastic or plastic with a metal or foil plating that desirably fit tightly against the housing. Thus, the challenge to the hair clipper designer is to balance the numerous, often opposing design considerations, accommodate multiple parts with different tolerances, achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance and secure the operational parts in a manner that reduces vibration and noise.

[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved hair clipper construction that meets the above design criteria. SUMMARY

[0006] The multi-piece hair clipper construction of the present invention meets or exceeds the above needs and includes a core chassis having an upper portion and a lower portion configured to enclose a motor and electronic control components and a portion of a blade set power transmission assembly. In addition, since the chassis is preferably made of plastic, the internal hair clipper components (motor, switches, circuitry, power cord, etc.) are protected from electrical interference with the preferred metal housing portions (including the upper and lower portions that surround the chassis). In a preferred embodiment, the housing is made of cast polished aluminum, however other metals are contemplated as well as being made of a plastic containing known mixtures of materials or selected engineered materials. With the present hair clipper construction, the relatively high voltage of 120-230V of the preferred hair clipper motor is electrically isolated from the metal housing.

[0007] The motor recess included in the lower chassis portion is configured and arranged to accommodate a motor, preferably a vibrator type motor, however, other motors known in the field of hair clippers are considered suitable. Also included in the lower chassis portion is an integral extruded rib that holds the motor in place in a friction fit that tightens as the chassis is assembled. When the chassis portions are fastened together, the overhanging cleats on the upper chassis portion engage in the cavities of the extruded rib to further secure the motor in place. Threaded fasteners restrain the motor between the upper and lower chassis portions without tightly restricting the motor. This function is accomplished by the extruded rib that further wedges with the motor as the upper chassis is tightened into place. As the motor is securely held within the upper and lower chassis portions, the inventive assembly has been found to reduce the operational noise and vibration of the motor as compared to conventional hair clipper assembly techniques. In this way, the motor is electrically isolated from the metal hair clipper housing in the inventive hair clipper.

[0008] Also included on the lower chassis is an integral blade guide channel that replaces the separate metal bracket on conventional hair clippers. The blade guide channel is defined by a configuration at the blade tip end of the chassis that also defines the travel path of the cam follower. As known in the art, the cam follower travels perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hair clipper and parallel to the motion of the moving blade of the blade set. A third function of the blade guide channel is to define the angled seat of the front edge of the lower hair clipper housing, which is preferably made of metal as described above.

[0009] In addition, relatively soft, rubber-like retainers that provide comfort to the user are attached to the chassis on the sides of the hair clipper. These retainers form compression zones to accommodate variations in the metal housing tolerances that secure the housing and retainers together without unsightly gaps or misalignments. In other words, the retainers are sized slightly larger and configured to be compressed without bulging as the upper and lower housing portions are fastened to the chassis. In a preferred embodiment, each retainer is loosely clipped along the upper and lower edges to the assembled chassis using a hook and loop system. In a preferred embodiment, the hook and loop attachment system includes at least one ramp hook on the chassis and at least one complementary loop on the retainer, each hook surrounded by a platform that receives the hook. In addition, in an embodiment, the retainer has at least one loop protruding from the upper edge and at least one loop protruding from the lower edge. In addition, each retainer includes at least one supplemental retention configuration on at least one of the front and rear ends, and the chassis is configured to receive each supplemental retention configuration in a snap-fit engagement.

[0010] By loosely retaining the retainers to the chassis, the retainers can move or "float" to accommodate variations in the rigid metal housing portions. When the upper and lower housing portions are fastened together and the chassis is restrained between them, the retainer material compresses as needed.

[0011] Another feature of the present hair clipper is a fastening system for securing a decorative badge or ornament to the metal hair clipper housing so as to achieve a tight, aligned fit without the use of threaded fasteners. Achieving such a fit is challenging given the dimensional variations of the cast and polished metal housing parts. The ornament is provided with at least one and preferably a plurality of cantilevered hook-like projections that extend into the interior of the hair clipper. A retainer is placed on the bottom face of the housing, the retainer being configured with a plurality of complementary projections that engage the hook-like projections of the ornament in a snap-fit relationship. In a preferred embodiment, the retainer includes two types of projections, a first plurality of planar projections and a second plurality of dog-legged projections, the latter being configured to exert a pre-loaded clamping force on the projections of the ornament.

[0012] In an embodiment, the base includes a projection recess for receiving the hook and the projections of the retainer. Also, the upper and lower housing portions are provided with mounting bosses configured to protrude from complementary through-holes in the base such that fasteners passing through the bosses tightly retain the base between the upper and lower housing portions. Also, at least one of the housing portions includes at least one positioning formation protruding from the interior of the housing portion and matingly engages at least one receiving formation in the base.

[0013] More particularly, there is provided a hair clipper comprising a base having upper and lower base portions defining an enclosed interior chamber, the upper and lower base portions being configured to be fastened together; an outer housing comprising upper and lower housing portions configured and arranged to enclose the base when the housing portions are fastened together such that the interior chamber is isolated from the housing.

[0014] In another embodiment, there is provided a hair clipper comprising a base having upper and lower base portions defining an enclosed interior chamber, the upper and lower base portions being configured to be fastened together. An outer housing comprises upper and lower housing portions configured and arranged to enclose the base when the housing portions are fastened together such that the interior chamber is isolated from the housing. The interior chamber includes a motor recess, and a motor retained in the motor recess by a tight fit of complementary formations on the upper and lower base portions; and a resilient retention formation loosely connected to the base and configured and arranged to be compressed when the upper and lower housing portions are assembled.

[0015] In another embodiment, a method for assembling hair clippers includes providing a base having upper and lower base portions defining an enclosed internal chamber, the upper and lower base portions being configured to be fastened together; providing an outer housing including upper and lower housing portions configured and arranged to close the base when the housing portions are fastened together, thereby isolating the internal chamber from the housing; providing a blade end and a rear end to the base, the blade end including an integral blade guide channel. The blade guide channel is incorporated into a configuration defining a housing receiving surface oriented at an angle to an axis defined by the base, and the lower housing portion having an angled front edge slidably engaged along the housing receiving surface. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a top perspective assembly view of the hair clipper of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of a barber's clippers;

[0018] Figure 3 This is an exploded perspective view of the base of the hair clipper of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 4 This is a partially exploded side view of the hair clipper of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 5 for Figure 4 The image shows a partial exploded perspective view of the rear of a barber's clipper.

[0021] Figure 6 This is an enlarged partial top perspective view of the present invention's hair clippers, showing the blade assembly;

[0022] Figure 7 This is a partial exploded perspective view of the rear of the hair clipper of the present invention, showing details of the side holding pads;

[0023] Figure 8 It is along Figure 1 Line 8-8 and the cross-section in the generally indicated direction;

[0024] Figure 9 yes Figure 8 A magnified close-up view of the hair clippers shown;

[0025] Figure 10 It is along Figure 1 The line 10-10 and the cross section in the generally indicating direction;

[0026] Figure 11 This is a magnified partial top view of the hair clipper of the present invention, with some parts omitted for clarity;

[0027] Figure 12 This is a partial front perspective view of the hair clipper of the present invention; some parts have been omitted for clarity.

[0028] Figure 13 yes Figure 12 An enlarged top perspective view of a barber's clippers;

[0029] Figure 14 It is along Figure 13 Line 14-14 and the cross section in the generally indicated direction;

[0030] Figure 15 It is along Figure 1 Line 15-15 and a local vertical cross section in the generally indicating direction;

[0031] Figure 16 It is along Figure 1 Line 16-16 in the middle and the vertical cross section in the general direction of indication;

[0032] Figure 17 yes Figure 1 A partial exploded top perspective view of a barber's clippers, with some parts omitted for clarity;

[0033] Figure 18 yes Figure 1 A magnified top perspective view of a barber's clippers, with some parts omitted for clarity;

[0034] Figure 19 This is a top perspective view of the decorative design element of the hair clipper of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 20 yes Figure 19 A magnified top perspective view of the component;

[0036] Figure 21 yes Figure 19 A top perspective view of the decomposed decorative design elements. Detailed Implementation

[0037] See now Figures 1-3 The present invention, generally designated 10, includes a base 12 having an upper base portion 14 and a lower base portion 16, which define a closed internal chamber 18. Figure 3 The upper base portion 14 and the lower base portion 16 are constructed and arranged for fastening together, such as using threaded fasteners. For the purposes of this application, "upper" and "lower" refer to the orientation of the hair clippers 10 as shown in the figure, which is the same orientation as when the hair clippers are placed on a base such as a table or stylist's workstation. Other orientations of the hair clippers 10 may be conceived during use.

[0038] Surrounding the base 12 is a housing 20, including an upper housing portion 22 and a lower housing portion 24, which are constructed and arranged to surround the base 12 when the housing portions are fastened together, so that the interior chamber 18 is isolated from the housing. In the preferred embodiment, the base 12 is made of an electrically insulating material, such as injection molded plastic, and the housing 20 is made of metal, preferably cast and polished aluminum, or other metals or composite materials known in the art. As described in greater detail below, the base 12 has several features to accommodate variations in the size of the housing 20 caused by the casting and polishing process, so as to facilitate assembly of the hair clipper 10, and to have the respective components fully aligned for a high quality appearance.

[0039] As is known in the art, the hair clipper 10 is also provided with a blade set 26, including a fixed blade 28 and a laterally reciprocating blade 30, each having a respective plurality of teeth 32, 34. A cutting action occurs when the reciprocating blade 30 is reciprocated relative to the fixed blade 28. An adjustment lever 36 is connected to the base 12 and the fixed blade 28, which is configured to move the fixed blade relative to the reciprocating blade 30, as is known in the art.

[0040] The base 12 has a blade end 38 and an opposite end or rear end 40. As is known in the art, at the rear end 40, a power cord protector 42 is fastened to the base 12 for protecting the power cord. It is also contemplated that the present hair clipper 10 is powered by AC current from the wall, or by batteries, in which case the power cord protector 42 is eliminated.

[0041] Positioned between the upper housing portion 22 and the lower housing portion 24 is a relatively resilient rubber-like retention portion 44, described in greater detail below. Also included on the housing 20, preferably on the upper housing portion 22, is a trim piece 46 or decorative badge, also described in greater detail below.

[0042] Reference is now made to Figure 3 and 8-11, within the interior chamber 18 of the base 12 is a motor recess 48 sized to accommodate a motor 50, preferably a vibrating motor of the type described in commonly owned U.S. Patent Nos. 5,787,587, 7,239,053 and 8,276,279, all of which are incorporated by reference, and such motors are well known in the art. However, other types of motors commonly used in hair clippers are contemplated. One of the features of the hair clipper 10 of the present application is that the motor 50 is held in place in the interior chamber 18 of the base 12 so as to reduce operating noise and vibration, and the motor is installed with less labor than in conventional hair clippers. To this end, the motor 50 is held in the motor recess 48 by the close cooperation of a complementary formation 52 on the upper base portion 14 and a complementary formation 54 on the lower base portion 16, although it is contemplated that the configuration of these formations can be reversed in accordance with the present application.

[0043] In embodiments, the complementary formations 52, 54 Figure 3 、 8 and 10) include an extruded rib 56 integrally formed on the lower base portion 16. More particularly, the extruded rib 56 includes an inner wall 58 configured to closely and slidingly engage an outer surface 60 of a platen 62 of the motor 50. Defined behind the inner wall 58 is a cavity 64, which is partially enclosed by an outer wall 66 of the lower base portion 16. On the upper base portion 14, the complementary formation 52 takes the form of a cantilevered wedge on the other base portion that engages in the cavity 64 in the extruded rib. The wedge and the cavity 64 are configured and arranged so that when the upper base portion 14 and the lower base portion 16 are fastened together around the motor 50, the wedge increases the holding force of the extruded rib 56 on the motor. The complementary formations 52, 54 act as the primary structure for holding the motor 50 within the motor recess 48. In addition, the hair clipper 10 has threaded fasteners 68 for fastening the upper base portion 14 and the lower base portion 16 together. As shown in Figure 9 and 11 , the fasteners 68 are loosely received within through holes 70 of the motor 50, thus positioning the motor within the motor recess.

[0044] Referring now to Figure 2 、 4 , 5, 7 and 18, another feature of the present hair clipper 10 is the use of resilient retainers 44 to accommodate manufacturing variations in the upper housing portion 22 and the lower housing portion 24 so that the finished assembly has an aesthetically pleasing appearance without unsightly gaps between the components. As such, the retainers 44 have a slightly oversized peripheral edge 72 so that upon assembly, the corresponding edge 74 of the upper housing portion 22 and the corresponding edge 76 of the lower housing portion 24 exert a compressive force on the retainers 44.

[0045] To enhance the ability of the retaining portion 44 to accommodate the manufacturing variations described above, it is preferred that the retaining portion be connected to the base relatively loosely. In the preferred embodiment, the connection is achieved through a hook and loop connection system. While it is contemplated that either the retaining portion 44 or the base 12 be provided with hooks and the other component be provided with loops, in the preferred embodiment, the retaining portion 44 is provided with at least one and preferably a plurality of loops 78 that project laterally or generally horizontally from the inner surface 80 of the peripheral edge 72. Each loop has a relatively large opening 81.

[0046] A ramped hook 82 on the base 12 engages each loop 78, each hook loosely engaging in the opening 81 and rising progressively toward the longitudinal axis of the base 12. Surrounding each hook 82 is a generally planar platform 84 Figure 3 that is preferably configured to complementarily receive the outer edge 86 of the loop 78 Figure 7 . In the preferred embodiment, each retaining portion 44 has at least one and preferably a pair of loops 78 projecting from the upper portion of the edge 72 and at least one and preferably a pair of loops 78 projecting from the lower portion of the edge 72.

[0047] Referring now to Figure 2 , 7 and 8, the retaining portion 44 is further secured to the base 12 by the use of at least one supplemental retaining formation 88 on at least one of the front end 90 and the rear end 92 of the retaining portion, and the base 12 is configured with an opening 94 for receiving each supplemental retaining formation in a snap engagement. In the preferred embodiment, the supplemental retaining formation 88 is provided with a barbed end 96 Figure 7 . As shown in Figure 7 , in the preferred embodiment, one of the retaining portions 44 has an opening 98 for receiving an ON / OFF switch 100.

[0048] Referring now to Figures 1-6 and 11-14, another feature of the hair clipper 10 is that the base 12 has a blade end 38 that includes an integral blade guide channel 102, as well as a rear end 40. As is well known in the art, hair clippers are provided with supplemental metal guide brackets for slidingly receiving the motion of the stationary blade 28 perpendicular to the transverse, reciprocating cutting motion. In the present hair clipper 10, the conventional brackets are replaced by a blade guide channel 102 defined by an enlarged formation 104 oriented at an oblique angle α to the longitudinal axis "A" of the base Figure 4 . While other angles are contemplated, in the preferred embodiment, the angle α is 60°.

[0049] As shown in Figure 1 , 5As shown in Figs. 6, the blade guide channel 102 slidingly receives a substantially "U" shaped bracket 106 that is fastened to the stationary blade 28, and also receives the adjustment rod 36 that is threadably fastened to the formation 104. Movement of the adjustment rod 36 causes sliding action of the bracket 106 and stationary blade 28 in the blade guide channel 102 by way of an eccentric cam (not shown) on the adjustment rod 36.

[0050] Referring now to Figures 11-14 , another function of the blade end formation 104 is that it defines a travel path 108 for a cam follower 110 that uses a drive arm 111 to transfer lateral reciprocating motion from the motor 50 to the moving blade 30 Figure 11 . The travel path 108 extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the base 12. In addition, the formation 104 defines a central opening 112 Figure 12 that receives reciprocating motion of the cam follower 110.

[0051] Referring now to Figures 4-6 , another feature of the formation 104 is that it defines a housing receiving surface 114 oriented at an oblique angle, preferably angle a, for slidingly receiving a beveled leading edge 116 of one of the upper and lower housing portions 22 and 24, preferably the lower housing portion 24. During assembly of the hair clipper 10, once the base 12 is fastened together, the lower housing portion 24 is slidingly engaged on the lower base portion 16 such that the leading edge 116 slides and angularly engages the receiving surface 114 in the direction of arrow "B" Figure 6 .

[0052] Referring now to Figures 16-21 , despite manufacturing tolerances associated with the upper and lower housing portions 22 and 24, another feature of the present hair clipper 10 is the ability to closely receive a separate badge or trim piece 46. In the preferred embodiment, the trim piece 46 is fastened to the upper housing portion 22, however, attachment to the lower housing portion 24 is contemplated depending on the application. Advantageously, the trim piece 46 is fastened to the upper and lower housing portions 22 and 24 without the use of threaded fasteners.

[0053] More particularly, the trim piece 46 is provided with a plurality of hook-like protrusions 122 Figure 2 , 16 , 17 and 21) that extend into the interior of the hair clipper 10 that snap fit into separate retainers 124 located on the bottom surface 126 Figure 2 of the upper and lower housing portions 22 and 24 that receive the trim piece. As noted above, the upper and lower housing portions 22 and 24 are preferably metal, such as aluminum or the like, and the trim piece 46 and retainers 124 are preferably both plastic, with the trim piece 46 preferably coated with a metal or foil as known in the art.

[0054] During assembly, the trim piece 46 and the retainer 124 are fastened to one another with the respective upper housing portion 22 and lower housing portion 24 sandwiched therebetween. The retainer 124 is thus provided with a complementary plurality of retention protrusions configured and arranged to engage the hook protrusions 122. The plurality of retention protrusions includes a first plurality of planar protrusions 128 and a second plurality of dogleg protrusions 130 configured to exert a preloaded clamping force on the hook protrusions 122. Figure 20 The dogleg protrusions 130 thus exert a pulling or retaining force on the trim piece 46 to maintain it in close relationship with the upper housing portion 22 and lower housing portion 24. The planar protrusions 128 are received in slots 132 of the trim piece 46.

[0055] Referring now to Figure 8 , 16 and 17, the chassis 12 is further provided with at least one protrusion groove 134 for receiving the hook protrusions 122 and retention protrusions for more secure positioning of the upper housing portion 22 and lower housing portion 24 on the chassis. In addition, the upper housing portion 22 and lower housing portion 24 are provided with at least one mounting boss 136 configured to protrude from a complementary through hole 138 in the chassis 12 such that a fastener passing through the boss tightly retains the chassis between the upper and lower housing portions.

[0056] Referring now to Figure 16 At least one of the upper housing portion 22 and lower housing portion 24 includes at least one positioning formation 140 protruding from an interior of the at least one housing portion that mates with at least one complementary receiving formation 142 in the chassis. These formations 140 facilitate positioning of the upper housing portion 22 and lower housing portion 24 on the chassis 12 during assembly of the hair clipper 10.

[0057] Referring now to Figure 13 and 14 Another feature of the present hair clipper 10 is that the cam follower 110 is slidably retained within the central opening 112 of the formation 104 for lateral reciprocation. In addition, engagement of the cam follower 110 in the formation 104 retains the cam follower in an operative position when the user elects to remove the blade set 26 for maintenance, thus eliminating the risk of losing the element when the hair clipper is disassembled.

[0058] More particularly, at an upper end 144 of the cam follower 110, a crossbar 146 is slidingly engaged and reciprocates laterally in the travel path 108. A bifurcation or diverging end 148 of the crossbar 146 exerts a friction fit within the travel path 108 and helps retain the cam follower 110 in place. Moving toward the rear end 40, a recessed, generally U-shaped saddle 150 is defined behind the crossbar 146. A substantially vertically protruding tab 152 defines a rear end of the saddle 150.

[0059] When the cam follower is engaged with the end of the drive arm 111, the dimensions of the saddle 150 are such that it slidably engages the upper beam 154 of the formation 104. The tab 152 is received in an opening 156 on the beam 154. In addition, the front face 158 of the cam follower includes a protrusion 160 that engages a slot (not shown) in the moving blade 30. During operation of the hair clipper 10, turning the drive arm 111 causes lateral reciprocating motion of the cam follower 110, which, through engagement of the protrusion 160, causes lateral reciprocating motion of the moving blade 30 relative to the stationary blade 28, thereby causing a cutting action.

[0060] When periodic maintenance of the blade set 26 is required, the user can easily remove the stationary blade 28 and the moving blade 30, leaving the U-shaped slide bracket 106 in place. The cam follower 110 is retained in the opening 112 by the engagement of the saddle 150 with the upper beam 154 and the presence of the bracket 106.

[0061] A method for assembling a hair clipper 10 includes providing a chassis 12 having an upper chassis portion 14 and a lower chassis portion 16 defining an enclosed interior cavity 18, the upper and lower chassis portions configured to be fastened together; providing a housing 20 including an upper housing portion 22 and a lower housing portion 24 configured and arranged to enclose the chassis when the housing portions are fastened together such that the interior cavity is isolated from the housing; providing the chassis 12 having a blade end 38 and a rear end 40, the blade end including an integral blade guide channel 102. The blade guide channel 102 is incorporated into a formation 104 that defines a housing receiving surface 114 oriented at an oblique angle a to an axis defined by the chassis, the lower housing portion having a sloped front edge 116 that slidingly engages the housing receiving surface. The upper housing portion 22 and the lower housing portion 24 are fastened together to enclose the chassis 12.

[0062] While specific embodiments of the present multi-piece hair clipper construction having a metal housing have been described herein, those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications and variations to them can be made without departing from the broader aspects of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A type of hair clipper, comprising: The base (12) has an upper base portion (14) and a lower base portion (16) defining an enclosed internal cavity (18), wherein the internal cavity (18) includes a motor recess (48), and the upper base portion and the lower base portion are configured to be fastened together; The outer housing (20) includes an upper housing portion (22) and a lower housing portion (24), the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion being configured and arranged to close the base when the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion are fastened together, thereby isolating the internal cavity from the housing; The motor (50) is held in the motor recess (48) by the close engagement of complementary structures (52) on the upper base portion (14) and complementary structures (54) on the lower base portion (16), wherein the engagement of the complementary structures generates a holding force on the motor to hold the motor in the motor recess. as well as The blade assembly (26), connected to the base, includes a fixed blade (28) and a movable blade (30), the movable blade (30) being laterally reciprocated relative to the fixed blade (28) by the operation of the motor, thereby causing a cutting action.

2. The hair clippers according to claim 1, wherein the base (12) is made of an electrically insulating material and the outer housing (20) is made of metal.

3. The hair clipper according to claim 1, wherein the complementary construction includes a compression rib (56) on one of the upper base portion and the lower base portion, and a suspension wedge on the other of the upper base portion and the lower base portion, the wedge engaging in a cavity (64) in the compression rib.

4. The hair clipper according to claim 3 further includes a threaded fastener, the threaded fastener being used to fasten the upper base portion and the lower base portion together and to position the motor (50) in the motor groove (48).

5. The hair clipper according to claim 1 further includes an elastic retaining portion (44) loosely connected to the base and configured and arranged to be compressed after the upper housing portion (22) and the lower housing portion (24) are assembled.

6. The hair clipper according to claim 5, wherein the elastic retaining part (44) is connected to the base by a hook and loop connection system.

7. The hair clipper according to claim 6, wherein the hook-loop connection system comprises at least one ramp hook (82) on the base and at least one complementary ring (78) on the resilient retaining portion, each hook being surrounded by a platform (84) for receiving the hook.

8. The hair clipper according to claim 7, wherein the elastic retaining portion (44) has at least one ring (78) protruding from the upper edge and at least one ring protruding from the lower edge.

9. The hair clipper of claim 7, wherein each of the resilient retaining portions (44) includes at least one supplementary retaining structure (88) on at least one of the front and rear ends, and the base is configured to receive the at least one supplementary retaining structure by snap-fit ​​engagement.

10. The hair clipper according to claim 1, wherein the base (12) has a blade end (38) and a rear end (40), and the blade end includes an integral blade guide channel (102).

11. The hair clipper of claim 10, wherein the blade guide channel (102) is incorporated into a configuration (104) that defines the travel path (108) of the cam follower (110).

12. The hair clipper of claim 10, wherein the blade guide channel (102) is incorporated into a configuration defining a housing receiving surface, the housing receiving surface being oriented at an angle to the axis defined by the base to slidably receive an angled front edge (116) of one of the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion.

13. The hair clipper of claim 11, wherein the cam follower (110) includes a saddle (150) for slidably engaging the upper beam (154) of the configuration (104), the engagement of the saddle on the configuration holding the cam follower (110) in the configuration after the hair clipper blade assembly (26) fastened to the base is periodically removed.

14. The hair clippers of claim 13, wherein the saddle (150) is defined by a crossbar that slidably engages the travel path and a generally vertically projecting tab (152).

15. The hair clipper according to claim 1, further comprising at least one decorative element (46) which is fixed to one of the upper housing portion (22) and the lower housing portion (24) without the use of threaded fasteners.

16. The hair clipper according to claim 15, wherein the decorative element (46) is provided with a plurality of hook-shaped protrusions (122) extending into the interior of the clipper, the plurality of hook-shaped protrusions engaging with a separate retainer (124) located on the bottom surface (126) of one of the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion that receives the decorative element.

17. The hair clipper of claim 16, wherein the retainer (124) is provided with a plurality of complementary retaining protrusions configured and arranged to engage the hook protrusion (122).

18. The hair clippers of claim 17, wherein the plurality of retaining protrusions comprises a first plurality of planar protrusions (128) and a second plurality of dog-leg protrusions (130), the latter configured to apply a preloaded clamping force to the hook-shaped protrusions.

19. The hair clipper according to claim 1, wherein the upper housing portion (22) and the lower housing portion (24) are provided with mounting bosses (136) configured to extend from complementary through holes (138) in the base, such that fasteners passing through the bosses securely hold the base between the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion.

20. The hair clipper according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the upper housing portion (22) and the lower housing portion (24) includes at least one positioning structure (140) extending from the interior of the at least one housing portion, the at least one positioning structure engaging in a mating manner with at least one complementary receiving structure (142) in the base.

21. A method for assembling barber clippers, comprising: A base is provided having an upper base portion and a lower base portion defining an enclosed internal cavity, the upper base portion and the lower base portion being configured to be fastened together; An outer housing is provided, the outer housing including an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion, the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion being configured and arranged to close the base when the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion are fastened together, thereby isolating the internal cavity from the housing; The base is provided with a first end and a second end, the first end including an integral blade guide channel; The blade guide channel is incorporated into a configuration that defines a housing receiving surface, which is oriented at an oblique angle to the axis defined by the base; as well as The lower housing portion has an angled front edge that is slidably engaged along the housing receiving surface.

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