Electric hair trimmer

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cutter head for a private trimmer, the cutter head comprising: a cutter head frame attachable to an elongated handle; a pair of mating cutter blades each having at least one row of comb-shaped cutting teeth for long hair cutting and movable relative to each other; and a shear sheet system with at least one perforated zone for short hair cutting arranged on the rear side or the trailing side of the at least one row of comb-shaped cutting teeth; the protective accessory is used for protecting the skin from being cut by the comb-shaped cutting teeth and comprises a row of comb-shaped protective teeth; wherein the cutting teeth for long hair cutting are arranged in a countersunk position below a virtual tangential plane on the comb-like protective teeth of the shearing sheet metal system and the protective attachment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to cutting body hair in sensitive skin areas, such as pubic hair trimmers or body hair combers. More specifically, the invention relates to a cutter head for a pubic trimmer or body comber, the cutter head comprising: a cutter head frame attachable to an elongated handle; a pair of mating cutter blades, each having at least one row of comb-like cutting teeth for cutting long hair and movable relative to each other; a shearing metal sheet system having at least one area of ​​perforations for cutting short hair arranged on the rear or tail side of the at least one row of comb-like cutting teeth; and additionally, a protective attachment for protecting the skin from being cut by the comb-like cutting teeth. The invention also relates to a hair cutter, such as a pubic trimmer or body comber, comprising an elongated handle and such a cutter head attached to an end portion of the elongated handle. Background Technology

[0002] Electric razors and trimmers utilize various mechanisms to provide hair-cutting functionality. Some electric razors include a perforated cutting blade that engages with a bottom cutter that can move relative to it to cut hair that enters the perforations in the cutting blade. This type of blade-cutting razor is typically used daily to provide a clean shave where short, stubble beard stubble is cut close to the skin's surface.

[0003] On the other hand, other cutter systems that include a pair of mating comb-like cutting elements are typically used to cut longer stubble, curly body hair in intimate areas, or more generally, body hair that is too long to be shaved with a shearing metal blade system. These mating comb-like cutting elements have multiple comb-like or rake-like cutting teeth that reciprocate or rotate relative to each other. Depending on the type of driving motion, the teeth of such comb-like or rake-like cutting elements are typically projecting substantially parallel to each other or substantially radially, and can cut hair into the gaps between the cutting teeth, where cutting or shearing is achieved in a scissor-like manner as the cutting teeth of the mating elements close the gaps between the finger-like cutting teeth and pass over each other.

[0004] Such a cutting system for longer hair can be integrated into an electric comb or trimmer, which may also include the aforementioned shearing metal blade cutter. For example, there is an electric trimmer or styling device with a pair of such comb-like cutting elements spaced apart from each other and facing away from each other, wherein the shearing metal blade system is arranged between the pair of rake-like cutting elements, see EP 41 19 313 A1. Alternatively, only one row of such comb-like cutting elements may be provided, accompanied by a shearing metal blade system arranged on its tail side.

[0005] In such combined trimmers or combers, different cutting systems can provide two-step hair-cutting actions in a single stroke. In the first cutting step, a rake-like cutting element cuts longer hairs, and in the second step, a shearing metal blade system cuts the remaining stubble after the first step. This two-step cutting can be achieved in a single movement when the shearing metal blade system is positioned behind or tail-side of the long hair cutter. Thus, as the cutter head moves across the skin in a direction substantially perpendicular to the extension of the rake-like cutting teeth, the shearing metal blade system follows the comb-like cutting element and shaves the area of ​​skin just traversed by the comb-like cutting teeth. Therefore, the rake-like cutting teeth form a pre-cutter unit, and the shearing metal blade system forms a final or subsequent cutter unit or a post-cutter unit.

[0006] For effective cutting by a shearing metal blade system to be achieved, the stubble left by the rake-like cutting element needs to be short enough to find a path into the perforation of the shearing metal blade cutter, preferably less than 1 mm in length. However, to cut long hair so short, the user needs to move the cutter head with the rake-like cutting element very close to the skin, which exposes the sharp rake-like cutting element to the skin and poses a risk of irritation, minor cuts, and similar micro-injuries. This risk is increased when using a hair cutter in sensitive skin areas, such as the genital area, where the skin is very soft and tends to be easily bulging and thus caught by the sharp tip of the rake-like cutting element. Even when the upper cutter blade in the cutter blade is held in place, such problems with the skin surrounding the tips of the rake-like cutting element can cause skin irritation and damage, which is exacerbated by cutter systems with driven (e.g., reciprocating) upper cutter blades.

[0007] To keep the cutting element at a certain distance from the skin, a distance comb can be attached to the cutter head. Such a distance comb may include multiple ribs that extend substantially parallel to the preferred or natural direction of movement of the cutter head on the skin. For example, for the aforementioned rake-like cutting element used to cut longer hair in a scissor-like manner, the ribs of the distance comb may be oriented perpendicular to the rows of teeth of such a rake-like cutting element, see EP 3 131 711 B1. Such a distance comb can be used to control the length of hair remaining on the skin after cutting, where, for example, a distance comb with ribs defining a skin contact surface 3 mm away from the rake-like cutting element can achieve a hair cut leaving a 3 mm length of hair on the skin. On the other hand, when the hair clipper is used by a less experienced user, such a distance comb also serves to protect sensitive skin from irritation such as cuts, lacerations, or abrasions. For example, when using a hair clipper to cut hair that tends to easily enter the cutting element in intimate areas of a body with very soft and sensitive skin, such a distance comb is a beneficial protector.

[0008] However, such protective attachments, as known from EP 3 131 711 B1, are unsatisfactory for combined cutter systems that include both a rake-like cutter element and a shearing sheet cutter to achieve the aforementioned two-step cutting action. This is because the protective ribs tend to keep the skin away not only from the rake-like cutter element but also from the shearing sheet, so that short hair stubble left in the first cutting step may not enter the perforation of the shearing sheet. Furthermore, such protective attachments tend to keep the rake-like cutting element too far from the skin, so that even when the shearing sheet cutter can contact the skin, hair stubble left by the rake-like cutting element may still be too long to find a path into the perforation of the shearing sheet. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The underlying objective of this invention is to provide an improved hair cutter that allows for enhanced pubic hair cutting or body hair combing in sensitive skin areas. More specifically, it is desirable to achieve effective body hair combing or pubic hair cutting with only one stroke of the cutter head along the skin, without sacrificing skin protection and safety against skin irritation or damage.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved protective attachment that allows the rake-like cutter element to be close enough to the skin to leave hair stubble short enough for subsequent shearing of thin metal sheets, while still keeping the sensitive and soft skin that can be easily protruded reliably away from the tips of the rake-like cutter element.

[0011] Another underlying objective of this invention is to create an efficient and easy-to-use body hair comb or pubic hair cutter that achieves clean cutting of long hair in just one stroke along the skin without sacrificing skin protection.

[0012] To achieve at least one of the aforementioned objectives, it is proposed to provide a cutter head having a protective attachment that partially forms a skin-contact surface of the cutter head, such that the rake-like cutting teeth of the cooperating cutter blade are slightly recessed from the skin-contact surface, and on the other hand, a shearing metal blade system is firmly in contact with the skin to ensure effective short hair cutting of the stubble left by the cooperating cutter blade. More specifically, the protective attachment may include a row of comb-like protective teeth arranged on the front side of the cutting teeth for long hair cutting, opposite the shearing metal blade system on the rear or tail side of the cutting teeth, wherein the cutting teeth for long hair cutting are arranged in a countersunk position below the height level of the protective teeth. More specifically, when considering a virtual plane defined by contact between the shearing metal blade system and the countersunk cutting teeth, the protective teeth rise and protrude beyond such a virtual plane. Furthermore, when considering another virtual plane located on the protective tooth and parallel to the aforementioned plane that contacts the shearing metal sheet system and the cutting tooth, the cutting tooth is in a countersunk position below such another virtual plane located on the protective tooth.

[0013] Therefore, the skin moving on the cutter head during the cutting stroke is guided like a bridge at the tips of the cutting teeth, where the protective teeth of the protective attachment on the front side of the cutting teeth and the shearing metal sheet system on the rear side of the cutting teeth form a bridge abutment. Due to the countersunk position of the cutting teeth on the rear side of the protective teeth, skin is reliably prevented from wrapping around the tips of the teeth, even when the skin protrudes towards the cutter head between the protective teeth and the shearing metal sheet system.

[0014] Advantageously, the row of protective teeth and the shearing metal sheet system together form part of the skin contact surface of the cutter head, wherein the skin contact surface provides a recess for the skin protrusion between the row of protective teeth and the shearing metal sheet system, and the row of cutting teeth for cutting long hair is arranged in the recess. This arrangement of the cutting teeth in the recess of the skin contact surface of the cutter head allows the skin to protrude toward the cutter head, and thus ensures a firm skin contact with the shearing metal sheet system, while still preventing the skin from wrapping around the tooth tips. When considering the travel of the cutter head on the skin portion, the skin is allowed to protrude toward the cutter head to a certain extent behind the comb-like cutting teeth (i.e., after the protective teeth and cutting teeth have passed), ensuring that the remaining stubble can enter the perforations of the shearing metal sheet system, while the countersunk positioning of the cutting teeth prevents the skin from wrapping around the tooth tips.

[0015] The offset of the cutting teeth from the aforementioned plane located on the protective teeth to the countersunk position can be quite small and can be adapted to the size of the perforation in the shearing metal sheet system. More specifically, the offset to the countersunk position can substantially correspond to or may be slightly smaller than the diameter of the perforation, so as to allow any remaining hair stubble to reliably find a path into the perforation of the shearing metal sheet system, and on the other hand, to keep the skin at a sufficient distance from the tips of the rake-like cutting element to avoid skin irritation and damage.

[0016] For example, the offset of the rake-like cutter element from the plane located on the protective teeth can be in the range of 33% to 100%, or 50% to 95%, of the diameter of the perforation in the shearing metal sheet system. Such offset distance can be in the range of, for example, 0.1 mm to 0.6 mm, or 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm.

[0017] These and other advantages become more apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings and possible examples. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 Perspective view of a pubic hair trimmer with a protective attachment attached to the trimmer's cutter head.

[0019] Figure 2 Perspective view of the cutter head and attached protective attachment removed from the handle of the hair trimmer.

[0020] Figure 3 : A perspective view of the cutter head without protective attachments, showing the cutter system of the cutter head, which includes two rows of rake-like cutting teeth and a shearing sheet metal cutter system positioned between the two rows of cutting teeth.

[0021] Figure 4 : Perspective view of the protective accessories, showing two rows of protective teeth on opposite sides of the accessory frame.

[0022] Figure 5 Similar to Figure 3 The perspective view of the cutter head in the view, but Figure 4 The protective accessory is attached to the cutter head.

[0023] Figure 6 Front view of the cutter head with its attached protective attachment.

[0024] Figure 7 Cutter head and protective accessories along Figure 6 The sectional view of line AA in the middle.

[0025] Figure 8: The cutter head, and more specifically, the cutter head is composed of Figure 7 An enlarged sectional view of the portion marked with the shaded circle B in the image.

[0026] Figure 9 Similar to Figure 8 The view shows an enlarged partial sectional view of the cutter head and the installed protective attachment, illustrating two virtual tangential planes to show the positioning of the rake-like cutting teeth and the contour of the skin-contact surface of the cutter head.

[0027] Figure 10 : A side view of the protective teeth of the protective attachment in a partial view, showing the rounded outline of the protective teeth away from the edge of the rake-shaped cutting teeth.

[0028] Figure 11 A top-view plan view of the cutter head shows the positioning of the protective tooth row in front of the cutting tooth row and the completely free axis of the shearing sheet metal system.

[0029] Figure 12 : A side view of the protective teeth of the protective attachment in a partial view, showing the inclined skin contact surface on the top side of the teeth. Detailed Implementation

[0030] In order to allow the comb-like cutter element to be close enough to the skin to leave a short enough stubble for subsequent shearing of the metal sheet system, while still keeping the raised, soft skin reliably away from the tips of the rake-like cutter element, the cutter head may be provided with a protective attachment that partially forms the skin contact surface of the cutter head, such that the rake-like cutting teeth are slightly recessed from the skin contact surface formed by the protective attachment.

[0031] More specifically, the protective accessory may include a row of comb-like protective teeth arranged along the front side of the cutting teeth opposite the shearing metal sheet system on the rear or tail side of the cutting teeth. The comb-like cutting teeth are arranged in a countersunk position below a plane located on the protective teeth and parallel to a virtual plane that contacts the shearing metal sheet system and the comb-like protective teeth of the protective accessory. Such a virtual plane may have contact lines or contact points on each of the shearing metal sheet system and the row of protective teeth. Thus, the skin traveling on the cutter head is guided in a bridge-like manner to flow or glide on the tips of the cutting teeth, where the protective teeth of the protective accessory on the front side of the cutting teeth and the shearing metal sheet system on the rear side of the cutting teeth form a bridge abutment. Due to the countersunk position of the cutting teeth on the rear side of the protective teeth, skin is reliably prevented from wrapping around the tips of the teeth, even when the skin protrudes towards the cutter head between the protective teeth and the shearing metal sheet system.

[0032] Advantageously, the row of protective teeth and the shearing metal blade system can together form part of the skin contact surface of the cutter head, wherein the skin contact surface may have recesses or deepenings for skin protrusions between the row of protective teeth and the shearing metal blade system, wherein the row of cutting teeth for cutting long hair is arranged in the recesses. This arrangement of the cutting teeth in the recesses of the skin contact surface of the cutter head allows the skin to protrude toward the cutter head, and thus ensures firm skin contact with the shearing metal blade system, while still preventing the skin from wrapping around the tooth tips.

[0033] When considering the travel of the cutter head on the skin portion (which may have a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the cutting teeth row, with the cutting teeth traveling in front), the skin is allowed to bulge towards the cutter head to a certain extent behind the comb-shaped cutting teeth (i.e., after the guard teeth and cutting teeth have passed), so that the skin can make firm contact with the subsequent shearing of the metal sheet system, and thus the stub left can reliably enter the perforation of the shearing of the metal sheet system, while the countersunk positioning of the cutting teeth prevents the skin from wrapping around the tooth tips.

[0034] The offset of the cutting teeth from the aforementioned plane (located on the protective teeth and parallel to the virtual plane in contact with the cutting teeth and the shearing sheet system) to the countersunk position can be quite small and can be adapted to the size of the perforation in the shearing sheet system. More specifically, the offset to the countersunk position can substantially correspond to or be slightly smaller than the diameter of the perforation, so as to allow any remaining hair stubble to reliably find a path into the perforation of the shearing sheet system, and to keep the skin at a sufficient distance from the tips of the rake-like cutting element to avoid skin irritation and damage.

[0035] For example, the offset of the rake-like cutter element from the virtual plane located on the protective teeth can be in the range of 25% to 125%, or 33% to 100%, or 50% to 95%, or 66% to 95%, or 75% to 95% of the diameter of the perforation in the shearing metal sheet system.

[0036] For example, such offset distances can be in the range of, for example, 0.1 mm to 0.6 mm, or 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm.

[0037] The perforations in the shearing sheet of the shearing sheet system can have a diameter or maximum width of about 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm, or about 0.5 mm.

[0038] When considering the direction of the cutter head's travel on the skin, although the protective teeth of the protective attachment are positioned in front of the cutting teeth, the number of protective teeth of the protective attachment may be less than the number of cutting teeth in order to allow hair to reliably enter the channel-like recesses between the cutting teeth, so as to provide additional space between the protective teeth and make it easier for hair to pass through the protective teeth.

[0039] More specifically, the number of protective teeth can range from only 20% to 80%, or 25% to 50%, of the number of cutting teeth. Due to this reduced number of protective teeth, there is less obstruction in front of the row of cutting teeth through which the hair to be cut passes. In other words, although the protective teeth of the protective attachment are positioned in front of the cutting teeth, the attachment does not block the cutting teeth, and more specifically, does not prevent hair from entering the gaps between the cutting teeth. However, this reduced number of protective teeth is sufficient to prevent skin from wrapping around the tips of the teeth.

[0040] To further reduce such obstruction effects and keep the access channel unobstructed, the arrangement of the protective teeth of the protective accessory may have a tooth pitch that is an integer multiple of the tooth pitch of the cutting teeth.

[0041] More specifically, the guard teeth may be arranged such that they are positioned in front of every second, third, or fourth fixed cutting tooth of the rake-like cutting teeth that engage with the cutter blade. This alignment of the guard teeth with the fixed teeth of the cutter blade maximizes the width of the passage through which hair enters the gap between the cutting teeth, and thus minimizes the likelihood of hair deflecting away from the cutting edge of the cutting teeth, and thus minimizes the likelihood of hair being blocked from entering the cutting area of ​​the engagement cutter blade.

[0042] To allow the shearing metal blade system to effectively cut the stubble of hair left by the mating cutter blade, and thus to allow for a clean hair cut in a single stroke, a protective attachment may be uniquely formed outside the central cutter head region, where at least the shearing metal blade system is positioned to allow for firm contact between the skin and the shearing metal blade system. Specifically, the protective attachment does not include any protective ribs extending from the shearing metal blade system.

[0043] More generally, when considering the viewing direction perpendicular to the skin-contact surface of the cutter head, the shearing system for thin metal sheets is completely unimpeded by protective attachments.

[0044] More specifically, the central cutter head region, unobstructed by the protective attachment, may be slightly larger than the overall shape of the sheet metal cutter system. More specifically, the protective attachment may be uniquely formed outside the central cutter head region, which includes the sheet metal cutter system plus at least one row of cutting teeth, or, when a pair of rows of cutting teeth are provided, includes the sheet metal cutter system plus the two rows of cutting teeth.

[0045] According to another aspect, a skin contact bracket may be disposed between the shearing metal sheet system and the at least one row of cutting teeth, wherein a deepening portion may be disposed between the skin contact bracket and the shearing metal sheet system, and / or the deepening portion may be disposed between the skin contact bracket and the row of cutting teeth. Such a skin contact bracket may have a ribbed, elongated profile and may extend along the rear side of the cutting teeth.

[0046] For example, elongated grooves or chamfered recesses may be provided on both sides of the skin contact bracket that extends along the edge portion of the shearing sheet system. Such skin contact brackets between the shearing sheet system and adjacent or adjacent rows of cutting teeth can form another type of bridging abutment, which guides the skin on the rake-like cutting teeth even when soft skin protrudes towards the cutter head. More specifically, the skin contact surface may form a stop for protruding skin and shorten the distance between the protective teeth of one attachment and the surface of the shearing sheet system on the other side of the free skin protrusion.

[0047] Such skin contact surfaces can form part of the skin contact surface of the cutter head, wherein such a portion of the skin contact surface formed by the skin contact bracket can be formed parallel to or adjacent to the virtual plane that contacts the shearing metal sheet system on one side and the cutting tooth row on the other. For example, the skin contact surface of the skin contact bracket can be located or nearly located in the virtual plane that contacts the shearing metal sheet system and the cutting teeth, wherein such skin contact surfaces can be substantially planar, slightly convex, or concave. When a curved profile is present, such a curved profile can be substantially tangential to the virtual plane that contacts the shearing metal sheet system and the cutting teeth.

[0048] Therefore, the skin contact bracket prevents the skin from protruding deeper than the upper surface of the cutting teeth. Because the protective teeth of the protective accessory on the other side of the cutting teeth are raised relative to the upper surface of the cutting teeth, the skin contact bracket has a surface tangential to a plane that contacts the upper surface of the cutting teeth on one side and the shearing metal sheet system on the other, effectively preventing skin contact with the cutting teeth, while allowing the cutting teeth to approach the skin to cut long hair short enough.

[0049] The skin contact bracket may have a skin contact surface that is substantially planar and inclined such that it is substantially parallel to the aforementioned virtual tangential plane that contacts the shearing metal sheet and the cutting teeth.

[0050] On the other hand, the protective teeth of the protective accessory may also have a substantially planar top end face, which may be oriented substantially parallel to the aforementioned virtual tangential plane defined by contact with the shearing metal sheet system and the cutting tooth row.

[0051] To allow for smooth gliding or sliding on the skin, the protective teeth of the attachment may have rounded outer edges. Such outer edges may be the edges of the protective teeth that face away from the row of cutting teeth. More specifically, the rounded edges may be the front edges of the protective teeth when considering the direction of travel of the cutter head moving on the skin in front of the protective teeth of the rake-like cutting teeth.

[0052] The rounded front edges of the protective teeth of the protective attachment can connect to tooth surfaces inclined at acute angles to each other, the acute angle ranging from approximately 60° to 90°, or 70° to 89°, or 75° to 85°. Such acute angles facilitate the combination of the slim, compact size of the protective teeth with the smooth gliding of the protective attachment on the skin. This slim, compact size also helps allow hair to reliably and directly enter the gaps between the rake-like cutting teeth.

[0053] Two of the mating cutter blades with the rake-like cutting teeth can be movable and driven by a drive unit, where having one fixed cutter blade and one driven cutter blade may be advantageous. For example, the upper cutter blade, which is closer to the skin than the lower cutter blade, can be fixed, and the lower cutter blade can be driven, for example, in a reciprocating linear or rotary manner. On the other hand, according to one aspect, the driven blade can be the upper cutter blade, while the lower cutter blade, which is further away from the skin, can be fixed. Due to the efficient protection of the protective attachment, the upper cutter blade can be reciprocated without sacrificing skin protection.

[0054] To allow for safe use by inexperienced users and to provide maximum performance for skilled users, the protective accessory can be releasably attached to or snapped into the cutter head frame with the cutter head. The releasable attachment element of the protective accessory also allows for easy cleaning.

[0055] As mentioned, the cutter head may have only one row of rake-like cutting teeth. On the other hand, in order to allow the cutter head to travel on the skin in two opposite directions, the cutter head may be provided with two rows of rake-like cutting teeth that are opposite to and spaced apart from each other, wherein the shearing metal sheet system is positioned between the two rows of cutting teeth.

[0056] Regardless of the number of rows of cutting teeth, the protective attachment can have a substantially annular construction, wherein the protective attachment may include an annular attachment frame, which may be provided with two rows of protective teeth along opposite frame legs. Even when used in combination with a cutter head having only one row of rake-like cutting teeth, it is useful to have the protective attachment with two rows of protective teeth to prevent beginners from attaching the protective attachment in the wrong orientation, and to eliminate the need for an attachment button that allows attachment in only one orientation. Simultaneously, the same protective attachment can be used for cutter heads with only one row of cutting teeth and cutter heads with a pair of rows of cutting teeth.

[0057] When the cutter head has two rows of cutting teeth that are opposite to and spaced apart from each other, protective teeth along the opposite frame legs of the annular attachment frame can be positioned along the front side of the two rows of cutting teeth. The attachment frame can be configured to extend around the shearing sheet metal system and around the two rows of cutting teeth, wherein the protective teeth are arranged in front of the two rows of cutting teeth.

[0058] Furthermore, when the cutter head has two rows of cutting teeth that are opposite to and spaced apart from each other, the cutter head as a whole can have a saddle-shaped roof-like or ridge-shaped roof-like structure. More specifically, a first virtual plane that contacts the shearing metal sheet system and the first row of cutting teeth, and a second virtual plane that contacts the shearing metal sheet system and the second row of cutting teeth, can define such a saddle-shaped roof-like or ridge-shaped roof-like structure, and can be inclined at obtuse angles to each other.

[0059] If possible Figure 1 and Figure 2 As can be seen, the cutter head 3 may be attached to the handle 2 of the motorized body comb or pubic trimmer 1. More specifically, the comb and / or trimmer 1 may include an elongated handle 2 that houses electronic and / or electric components, such as a control unit, an electric drive motor or a magnetic drive motor, and a drive system 130 for transmitting the drive action of the motor to the cutter head 3 of the cutter system 19 (see [link to documentation]). Figure 8 and Figure 9 The cutter head 3 can be positioned at one end of the extended handle 2, see [reference]. Figure 1 .

[0060] The elongated handle 2 can be straight or have a gooseneck-shaped, slightly curved, or angled upper portion, in which the drive motor can be housed or the cutter head 3 can be supported, the upper portion being curved at an acute angle relative to the lower gripping portion. More specifically, the drive motor, control unit, and / or battery / rechargeable battery for powering the drive motor 31 can be arranged at an angle relative to each other in the gooseneck-shaped handle portion. Alternatively, the handle can be wider than it is longer.

[0061] The cutter system 19 includes a pair of mating cutter blades 4 and 5 and an additional sheet metal shearing system 11, wherein, for example, the cutter system 19 may have at least one row 10 of mating rake-like cutting teeth 8, 9 positioned along the edge portion of the sheet metal shearing cutter 12.

[0062] The cutting tooth row 10 can reciprocate relative to each other along a straight path 35. See Figure 3 The cutting action is achieved by closing the gap between the teeth and passing over each other. Alternatively, the cutter system may also include cutting teeth aligned in a circle and / or arranged radially. Such rotary cutting elements may have substantially radially projecting cutting teeth, wherein the cutting elements can be driven to rotate and / or oscillate relative to each other. When rotating and / or oscillating, cyclically closing and reopening the gap between adjacent teeth and passing over each other like scissors, the cutting action is substantially similar to that of a reciprocating cutting element, such as radially extending teeth. Reciprocating motion or rotation relative to each other can be achieved by the reciprocating or rotational movement of two cutter blades, or by the reciprocating or rotational movement of only one of the cutter blades, while the other cutter blade is fixed and therefore does not move.

[0063] If passed Figure 9 As shown, the driven component can be the upper cutter blade 4 of the pair of cutter blades 4, 5, while the lower cutter blade 5 of the mating cutter blades 4, 5 can be fixed. The transmitter of the aforementioned drive system 130 can transmit the driving action to the upper cutter blade 4 to cause the upper cutter blade 4 to reciprocate.

[0064] The sheet metal shearing system 11 may include a sheet metal shearing cutter 12, which includes: a perforated sheet metal shearing element forming an upper cutter element; and a lower cutter including a plurality of blade-shaped cutting shoulders that contact and slide on the lower or inner surface of the sheet metal shearing. See also Figure 9 It shows one of the perforations 17 with a perforation diameter of 24 in a sheared metal sheet. (As shown by...) Figure 9 As shown, the shearing metal sheet cutter 12 may have a curved upper surface that forms a cylindrical or elongated convex surface, see [reference]. Figure 3 .

[0065] Similar to the reciprocating motion of the cutter blades 4 and 5 relative to each other, the shearing metal sheet cutter 12 can also be driven in a reciprocating manner, wherein the lower cutter can be driven by the transmitter of the drive system 130 to reciprocate the long linear path 35. Therefore, the reciprocating movement of the cutter blades 4 and 5 on one side and the reciprocating movement of the shearing metal sheet cutter 12 on the other side can be parallel to each other and / or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cutter head 3, see [reference needed]. Figure 3 .

[0066] If possible Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 9 As can be seen, the upper surface of the shearing metal sheet system 11 can form part of the skin contact surface 14 of the cutter head 3.

[0067] Additionally, when using the hair cutter 1 without protective accessory 6 (see...) Figure 3 When the cutting elements 4 and 5 are in operation, the outer cutting element or the upper cutting element 4 itself may define a portion of the skin contact surface 14 of the cutter head 3 at the forward end portion of the cutter head 3.

[0068] On the other hand, when the protective accessory 6 is attached to the cutter head 3, it is not the upper / outer cutting element 4 itself, but rather this protective accessory 6, together with the shearing metal sheet system 11, that defines the skin contact surface 14 of the cutter system, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 3 and Figure 6 More specifically, the surface of the comb 6 away from the handle 2 or away from the cutter elements 4, 5 may define the skin contact surface 14, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 5 , Figure 8 and Figure 9 Additionally, when protective accessory 6 is installed, another portion of the skin contact surface is still defined by the shear metal sheet system 11.

[0069] If possible Figure 3 , Figure 8 and Figure 11 As can be seen, the cutter system 19 may include two rows of 10 cutting teeth 8, 9, spaced apart from each other, wherein the sheet metal shearing system 11 is positioned between the two rows of 10 cutting teeth 8, 9. The two rows of 10 cutting teeth 8, 9 are opposite to each other to allow the cutter head 3 to travel on the skin in opposite travel directions 36, 37, see [reference needed]. Figure 7 and Figure 9 It shows such travel directions 36 and 37.

[0070] If passed Figure 4As shown, the protective attachment 6 may include an annular attachment frame 34, the shape of which is substantially adapted to the shape of the cutter head 3. Since the rows 10 of the shearing sheet metal system 11 and the cutting teeth 8, 9 may have elongated shapes and may define a substantially rectangular cutter system 19, the attachment frame 34 may have a substantially rectangular elongated construction, see [reference needed]. Figure 4 .

[0071] A pair of frame legs 38 forming the longer side of the attachment frame 34 may be provided with a row of 15 protective teeth 7, which may be aligned with each other and may have the same shape or construction. When the protective attachment 6 is mounted on the cutter head 3, the protective teeth 7 may be arranged along the front side of each row of cutting teeth in the rows 10 of the cutting teeth 8, 9, taking into account the travel directions 36 and 37, see [reference]. Figure 5 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 , Figure 9 and Figure 11 .

[0072] Releasable attachment or snap-fit ​​elements 38R, 16R may be located on one side at another part of the frame leg 38 or accessory frame 34, and / or on the other side at the cutter head frame 16, to allow the protective accessory 6 to be easily and releasably attached to the cutter head 3, see [reference]. Figure 3 and Figure 4 .

[0073] When considering a plan view that is substantially perpendicular to the skin contact surface 14 of the cutter head 3, as shown by... Figure 11 As shown, the protective attachment 6 is adapted to the cutter head 3 such that the central cutter head region 25, including the shearing metal sheet system 11 and two rows of 10 comb-like cutting teeth 8, 9, remains open and unobstructed by the protective attachment 6, allowing skin free access to the shearing metal sheet cutter system 11 from above. When considered in a top view in a direction substantially perpendicular to the skin contact surface 14, the attachment frame 34, including the two rows of 15 protective teeth 7, extends only beyond the central cutter head region 25.

[0074] As mentioned, when considering the opposite travel directions 36 and 37, the row 15 of the protective teeth 7 is arranged on the front side of the row 10 of the comb-shaped cutting teeth 8, 9. Although the protective teeth 7 are arranged on the front side of the cutting teeth 8, 9, there are fewer protective teeth 7 than comb-shaped cutting teeth 8, 9 in order not to obstruct hair from entering the cutting area of ​​the cutter blades 4, 5. For example, the number of cutting teeth 8, 9 of the cutter blades 4, 5 can be twice the number of protective teeth 7. Therefore, the gap between adjacent protective teeth 7 can be significantly larger than the gap between adjacent cutting teeth 8 or 9.

[0075] If possible Figure 11 As can be seen, the pitch 7a of the protective tooth 7 can be an integer multiple of the pitch 9a of the tooth 9 of the fixed cutting blade 5. For example, the pitch 7a of the protective tooth 7 can be 200% of the pitch 9a of the fixed cutting tooth 9.

[0076] Regardless of the exact tooth pitch, the protective tooth 7 can be precisely positioned in front of one of the fixed cutting teeth 9, as if by... Figure 11 As shown, the linear positioning of the protective tooth 7 on one side and the fixed cutting tooth 9 on the other side maximizes the width of the inner channel through which the hair enters the cutting zone, and thus allows the hair to reliably enter the cutting zone of the cooperating cutter blades 4, 5.

[0077] If possible Figure 9 As can be seen, the protective tooth 7 defines a plane 18 with its upper end side. This plane is a virtual plane and does not completely correspond to the skin contact surface 14 of the cutter head 3, because the skin contact surface 14 exhibits a recess 22 in the region between the protective tooth 7 and the shearing metal sheet system 11. In other words, the element between the upper end portion of the protective tooth 7 on one side and the shearing metal sheet system 11 on the other side is in a countersunk position or lowered relative to the virtual plane 18, see [reference needed]. Figure 9 Dashed line 91 illustrates an exemplary skin protrusion in which a protective attachment is attached to the cutter head. Thus, the skin follows the sloping skin contact surface of the top side of the teeth of the protective attachment, then is pushed into the recess toward the top side of the cutting teeth 8, 9, and then follows along line 29 or 90 toward the shearing sheet metal cutting system.

[0078] If possible Figure 9 As can be seen, plane 18 lies on the protective teeth and is parallel to a virtual plane 29 that contacts the tip of at least one of the cutting teeth 8, 9 (of the movable or non-movable long hair cutter or both) and the shearing metal sheet system. Therefore, this offset 23 between the two parallel lines 29 and 18 produces a stubble trimming that is later easily shaved by the short hair shearing metal sheet system, since shorter hair is more easily caught by the shearing metal sheet system than longer hair.

[0079] Specifically, with the comb-like cutting teeth 8 and 9 of the cutter blades 4 and 5 positioned below the plane 18 that contacts the protective teeth 7, this countersunk position ensures that even if the skin then protrudes towards the cutter head 3, the skin will not directly contact the comb-like cutting teeth 8 and 9. See [reference needed]. Figure 9 It shows such skin protrusions through curved shading lines.

[0080] If passed Figure 9As shown, the offset 23 of the cutting teeth 8, 9 from the plane 18 located on the protective teeth 7 can be, for example, about 0.5 mm. More generally, such countersunk offset 23 can substantially correspond to or be slightly smaller than the diameter 24 of the perforation 17 of the shearing sheet metal cutter system 11.

[0081] If passed Figure 3 , Figure 5 And also through Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, a skin contact bracket 26 may be formed on the rear side of the row 10 of the comb-shaped cutting teeth 8, 9, or more generally, between the comb-shaped cutting teeth 8, 9 and the sheared metal sheet system 11. Such a skin contact bracket 26 may have an elongated profile and / or may form ribs extending substantially parallel to the row 10 of the cutting teeth 8, 9. Such a skin contact bracket 26 may form an additional portion of the skin contact surface 14, wherein, however, such a skin contact bracket 26 can serve a dual function, as it can be used to hold or mount the sheared metal sheet of the sheared metal sheet cutter 12, see [reference needed]. Figure 9 .

[0082] When considering travel directions 36 and 37, see [link / reference]. Figure 7 Recesses 28 and 27 may be present on opposite sides of the skin contact bracket 26, wherein such recesses 27 and 28 may form part of the aforementioned recess 22 of the skin contact surface 14. Therefore, the upper surface of the skin contact bracket 26 forms part of the skin contact surface 14.

[0083] If possible Figure 9 As can be seen, such an upper surface of the skin contact bracket 26 may be parallel to or form part of the virtual plane 29, which is defined by contact with the shearing metal sheet system 11 on one hand and with the tips of the cutting teeth 8, 9 on the other hand, see [reference needed]. Figure 9 .

[0084] In order to allow the cutter head 3 to slide smoothly along the skin surface, the protective tooth 7 may have a rounded front edge 31, which is the edge of the protective tooth away from the comb-shaped cutting teeth 8, 9.

[0085] If passed Figure 10 As shown, the rounded front edge 31 connects tooth surfaces 32 and 33 to each other, wherein the upper tooth surface 32 of the tooth surfaces 32 and 33 forms the aforementioned top end face 30 that defines a portion of the skin contact surface 14. (As shown by...) Figure 12 As shown, each protective tooth of the protective accessory has a top end face 30, which is inclined at an angle along line 93 relative to the horizontal line 92. The angle is in the range of 10° to 35°. This optional tilt easily creates a recess as the skin is guided upwards along its path to the sheared metal sheet. See also Figure 9 And line 90, which uses a tangentially sheared metal sheet to connect the top end face and substantially coincides with line 93.

[0086] If passed Figure 10 As shown, the tooth surfaces 32, 33, which are connected to each other by rounded front edges 31, can be inclined at an acute angle β relative to each other, wherein such acute angle β can be about 80°, or in the range of about 75° to 85°.

[0087] As described above, the pubic trimmer or body comb includes a handle 2 that allows for the interchangeability and attachment of different types of cutter heads 3 for different trimming or shaving purposes. The body comb or pubic trimmer cutter head 3 includes a cutting unit that can be interchanged and replaced if the blade becomes dull or worn within the cutter head housing. This replaceable cutting unit includes mating long hair trimmer cutter blades 4, 5 on their relatively longer sides and a short hair cutting shearing metal blade system 11 between them. Alternatively, other types of cutter and blade arrangements are used, for example, without short hair cutters and / or only one long hair cutter and / or different orders of arrangement relative to each other and / or other functional units. Alternatively, the cutter head 3 with the cutter head frame 16 is not interchangeably provided, which facilitates a more compact overall design and integration with the handle. Further alternatively, the handle is not elongated, but rather wider than longer.

[0088] Therefore, with the aforementioned intimate trimmer, the long hair cutter blade first trims the hair to a stubble length of less than 1mm, and then the short hair cutting shearing metal blade system easily captures the stubble, then cuts or shaves the hair, leaving no stubble remaining. For this, the user simply needs to glide the trimmer or body comb across the skin at a slightly angled position—along line 90, where the protective comb attachment 6 is attached, or along line 29, without the protective attachment—following the tilt of the skin-contacting surface and the roof-like shape of one side of the cutter head 3.

[0089] To further protect sensitive, very thin skin, such as in the genital area, from being cut by the long hair trimmer blades 3 and 4, the user must attach a protective comb attachment 6 that surrounds the cutting blades at the head of the trimmer. The teeth of the protective comb attachment not only pre-comb the hair (which improves trimming efficiency) but also prevent direct contact with the cutting teeth, as otherwise thin skin might fold and bulge between these cutting teeth 8 and 9 and be cut. During normal operation, non-thin skin will not bulge between the teeth. Furthermore, the teeth of the protective comb attachment raise the level of skin contact relative to the cutting teeth 8 and 9, which are then positioned in recesses. Therefore, thin skin, such as in the genital area (where it is more prone to bulging), will remain close to the cutting teeth 8 and 9 and will not be cut.

[0090] The dimensions and values ​​disclosed herein should not be construed as strictly limited to the precise numerical values ​​cited. Rather, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to represent the stated value and the range surrounding its functional equivalent. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to represent “approximately 40 mm”.

[0091] Unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited, every reference cited herein, including any cross-references or related patents or patent applications, and any patent application or patent claiming priority to or benefiting from it, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Reference to any reference is not an endorsement of it as prior art to any disclosed or protected art herein, nor is it an endorsement of any such invention, either on its own or in combination with any one or more references. Furthermore, where any meaning or definition of a term in this invention conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in referenced documents, the meaning or definition given to that term in this invention shall prevail.

[0092] While specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described by way of example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that all such changes and modifications falling within the scope of the invention be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cutter head for a feminine trimmer (1) or body comber, the cutter head comprising: A cutter head frame (16) is available for attachment to an extended handle (2); A pair of mating cutter blades (4,5), each having at least one row (10) of comb-like cutting teeth (8,9) for cutting long hair and being movable relative to each other; And a shearing metal sheet system (11) having at least one area (13) of perforations (17) for cutting short hair arranged on the rear or tail side of the at least one row (10) of comb-shaped cutting teeth (8,9); and furthermore, a protective attachment (6) for protecting the skin from being cut by the comb-shaped cutting teeth (8,9), characterized in that the protective attachment (6) includes a row (15) of comb-shaped protective teeth (7) arranged on the front side (20) of the cutting teeth (8,9) for cutting long hair in accordance with the cutting teeth. The shearing metal sheet system (11) on the rear or tail side (21) is opposite to the shearing metal sheet system (11), wherein the row (15) of protective teeth (7) and the shearing metal sheet system (11) together form part of the skin contact surface (14) of the cutter head (3), wherein the skin contact surface (14) provides a recess (22) for the skin protrusion between the row (15) of protective teeth (7) and the shearing metal sheet system (11), wherein the row (10) of the cutting teeth (8,9) for cutting long hair is arranged in the recess (22).

2. The cutter head according to the preceding claim, wherein the comb-shaped protective teeth (7) of the protective accessory (6) protrude beyond a virtual plane (29) located on at least one of the tips of the shearing sheet system (11) and the cutting teeth (8, 9) and are raised relative to the virtual plane by a distance (23) in the range of 25% to 125%, or 33% to 100%, or 50% to 95% of the diameter (24) of the perforation (17) of the shearing sheet system (11) and / or by a distance (23) in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.6 mm, or 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, or 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm.

3. The cutter head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shearing metal sheet system (11) has a convex barrel-shaped or extruded skin contact profile forming a portion of the skin contact surface (14) of the cutter head (3), wherein the skin contact surface (14) has at least one elongated or channel-shaped deepening portion (27, 28) between the convex skin contact profile of the shearing metal sheet system (11) and the row (15) of protective teeth.

4. The cutter head according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pitch (7a) of the protective tooth (7) is an integer multiple of the pitch (8a, 9a) of the cutting teeth (8, 9), and / or the protective tooth (7) is arranged such that the protective tooth (7) is positioned in front of each second or third fixed cutting tooth (9).

5. The cutter head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a.) the protective attachment (6) is uniquely formed outside the central cutter head region (25), at least the shearing metal sheet system (11) or the shearing metal sheet system (11) plus the at least one row (10) of cutting teeth (8,9) is arranged in the central cutter head region such that, when considering the viewing direction perpendicular to the virtual tangential plane (18), at least the shearing metal sheet system (11) or the shearing metal sheet system (11) plus the cutting teeth (8,9) is not obstructed by the protective attachment (6), or b.) wherein the protective attachment (6) is arranged only on the lateral side of the shearing metal sheet system (11) plus the at least one row (10) of cutting teeth (8,9), such that the protective attachment (6) forms a frame for the shearing metal sheet system (11) plus the at least one row (10) of cutting teeth (8,9).

6. The cutter head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the skin contact bracket (26) is disposed between the shearing metal sheet system (11) and the row (10) of the cutting teeth (8,9).

7. The cutter head according to the preceding claim, wherein the skin contact bracket (26) forms a portion of the skin contact surface (14) of the cutter head (3), the portion of the skin contact surface (14) formed by the skin contact bracket (26) being tangential to or adjacent to a virtual plane (29) / the virtual plane (29) on the shearing metal sheet system (11) and the row (10) of the cutting teeth (8,9), wherein a deepening portion (27) is disposed between the skin contact bracket (26) and the shearing metal sheet system (11), and another deepening portion (28) is disposed between the skin contact bracket (26) and the row (10) of the cutting teeth (8,9).

8. The cutter head according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the protective tooth (7) has a top end face (30) that is substantially flat for contacting the skin and is inclined at 5° to 40° or 10° to 30° relative to the horizontal line.

9. The cutter head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protective tooth (7) has an outer rounded edge (31) of a row (10) facing away from the cutting teeth (8,9) and connecting tooth surfaces (32,33) inclined to each other at an acute angle β.

10. The cutter head according to the preceding claim, wherein the acute angle β is in the range of 60° to 90°, or 70° to 89°, or 75° to 85°.

11. The cutter head according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one of the cutter blades (5) is a fixed cutter blade, and the other cutter blade (4) is a movable or reciprocating cutter blade (4), wherein the movable or reciprocating cutter blade (4) is an upper cutter blade (4) that is closer to the shearing sheet metal system (11) and the virtual tangential plane (18) of the row (15) of protective teeth (7) than the fixed cutter blade (5).

12. The cutter head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protective accessory (6) is releasably attached to or snapped into the cutter head frame (16).

13. The cutter head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein two rows (10) of cutting teeth (8,9) are provided, the rows (10) of the cutting teeth (8,9) being opposite to each other and positioned on opposite sides of the shearing sheet metal system (11), wherein the protective attachment (6) comprises an annular attachment frame (34) having two rows (15) of protective teeth (7) along opposite frame legs, wherein the attachment frame (34) is configured to extend around the shearing sheet metal system (11) and the two rows of cutting teeth (8,9), wherein the two rows (15) of protective teeth (7) are arranged along the front side of the rows (10) of the cutting teeth (8,9).

14. A hair cutter for cutting hair in sensitive and / or private body areas, the hair cutter comprising an elongated handle (2) and a cutter head (3) according to any of the preceding claims and capable of being attached to the handle (2).

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