Hair cutting device for use

Abstract

A hair comb 200 for a hair-cutting device 100 is described that seeks to provide consistent and improved hair lifting and guidance. The hair comb 200 has a plurality of tines 302, where at least one of the tines has a recess in the guard-facing surface 214 facing the skin-contacting surface 216. The recess defines a space for receiving the guard tines 116 of the cutting device 100. The hair comb 200 is configured to cooperate with the cutting head 102 such that when the hair comb 200 is attached to the cutting head 102, at least a distal end 404 of the guard tines 116 are received within the space defined by the recess 402 and engaged with the at least one tine 302.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a comb for a hair-cutting device and to a hair-cutting system comprising a hair-cutting device and a comb. [Background technology]

[0002] Hair-cutting devices, such as clippers or electric shavers, are widely used to cut body hair and typically include a handle and a cutting head. The cutting head typically has a movable inner cutting member that reciprocates relative to an outer guard member to perform the cutting process. The outer guard member has a body and a plurality of guard teeth extending from the body in side-by-side relationship, and the inner cutting member includes a plurality of blade teeth arranged in side-by-side relationship to cooperate with the guard teeth. In use, hair received between adjacent guard teeth is cut by the inner cutting member in a scissor-like action.

[0003] To guide the hair to the cutting area, the hair-cutting device may include a hair comb, which lifts and guides the hair to the cutting area as the comb is moved over the skin. A hair comb typically has a base that attaches to the cutting device. Extending from the base are a plurality of tines for guiding the hair to the cutting area. The tines have a skin-contacting surface for sliding along the user's skin during the cutting stroke. Opposite the tines to the skin-contacting surface is a guard-facing surface that faces the guard member when the comb is attached to the cutting device. When the comb is attached to the cutting device, the guard tines abut against the guard-facing surface to provide a predetermined spacing between the skin and the blade tines to define the remaining length of the hair after cutting (i.e., the cut length of the hair).

[0004] EP 3 381 629 A1 discloses a comb for a hair-cutting device, the comb having a comb piece configured to be placed on the skin-facing side of a fixed blade of a blade set, the comb piece having a plurality of tines that define the cutting length of the blade set when the comb arrangement is attached to the blade set, and a bent portion configured to bias a front portion of the comb piece against the skin-facing side of the fixed blade. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, a problem with such combs is that the stiffness of the tines is limited by the small geometry and volume required to properly manipulate and guide hair to the cutting area. The tines are often flexible and can be displaced from their intended position relative to the guard teeth. For example, the tines can be displaced laterally along the direction in which they are spaced apart. This not only reduces the overall robustness and quality of the hair comb, but also its ability to consistently and uniformly lift and guide hair to the cutting area.

[0006] It would be advantageous to provide a comb for a hair-cutting device that consistently improves hair lift and guidance. It is also desirable to provide a hair comb that has increased robustness. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To better address one or more of the above concerns, a first aspect of the present invention provides a hair comb for attachment to a cutting head of a hair-cutting device, the cutting head having an inner cutting member, a main body, and an outer guard member including a plurality of guard teeth extending in a side-by-side relationship from the main body. The hair comb has a support for attachment to the cutting head and a plurality of tines extending longitudinally from the support in a side-by-side relationship. At least one tine (and in some embodiments, each tine) of the plurality of tines has a skin-contacting surface and a guard-facing surface opposite the skin-contacting surface, the guard-facing surface having a recess defining a space for receiving a distal end of the guard tooth when the hair comb is attached to the cutting head. The recess extends longitudinally of the tine. Thus, the recess limits lateral movement of the tine relative to the guard teeth when the hair comb is attached to the cutting head. Additionally or alternatively, this arrangement prevents the distal end of the guard tooth from forming part of a hair-guiding interface. In use, the hair comb is attached to, or in other words engaged with, the cutting head, and the guard teeth and at least one comb tine have an outer profile that defines a hair guiding interface for guiding hair to the inner cutting member.

[0008] In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hair-cutting system comprising a hair-cutting device including a cutting head having an inner cutting member and an outer guard member, the outer guard member including a body and a plurality of guard teeth extending in side-by-side relationship from the body, and a hair comb as described above, the hair comb configured to cooperate with the cutting head such that when the hair comb is attached to the cutting head, at least distal ends of the guard teeth are received in spaces defined by recesses in the guard-facing surface for engagement with at least one comb tine.

[0009] By receiving the distal ends of the guard teeth within the space defined by the recesses on the guard-facing surfaces of the comb teeth, the distal ends are bounded (in at least one direction) by the comb tooth material (i.e., the sides of the recesses). As a result, relative movement between the comb teeth and the guard teeth is limited, and in some embodiments, prevented. There may be a gap between the guard teeth and one or more sides of the recess, in which case the comb teeth are allowed to move a distance corresponding to the size of the gap until one of the sides of the recess contacts the guard teeth and prevents further movement. In other embodiments, the guard teeth may be snugly received in the space between the sides of the recess to substantially prevent movement of the comb teeth relative to the guard teeth when engaged. This improves the overall robustness and quality of the hair comb, as well as its ability to consistently and uniformly lift and guide hair into the cutting zone.

[0010] Furthermore, applicant has recognized that another problem with many hair combs is that hairs received between adjacent comb tines can fall onto the guard-facing surface at a location forward of the guard teeth in the direction of the hair-cutting stroke, causing the distal ends of the guard teeth from the main body to strike these hairs and displace them from the cutting area. In adjustable-length hair combs, where the comb tines can translate relative to the cutting head to adjust the hair-cut length, this problem is exacerbated because more area of ​​the guard-facing surface is exposed, potentially displacing more hairs upon impact with the guard teeth. This can adversely affect the comb's ability to capture and transport hairs into the cutting spaces between the guard teeth, resulting in uneven and inaccurate hair length results.

[0011] When engaged, the guard teeth and at least one comb tooth have an outer profile that defines a hair-guiding interface for guiding hair to the inner cutting member. However, by receiving the distal ends of the guard teeth in the space defined by the surface indentation of the guard tooth-facing surface, the outer profile can be reduced compared to a hypothetical arrangement in which the guard-facing surface does not have the indentation and the guard teeth simply rest on the guard-facing surface. The distal ends of the guard teeth can have a height defined between the inner and outer surfaces of the guard member, and the indentation can have a depth such that, when the hair comb is attached to the cutting head, at least a portion of the height of the distal ends is received within the space defined by the indentation and is prevented from forming part of the hair-guiding interface.

[0012] The hair comb may be a single-piece hair comb that defines a fixed hair-cutting length when attached to the cutting head. In other embodiments, the hair comb may be an adjustable-length hair comb with two movable parts. In this case, the hair comb has a first member fixedly attached to the cutting head and a second member including a support and a plurality of tines, at least one of the tines being wedge-shaped, with a height between the guard-facing surface and the skin-contacting surface tapering from the support toward a distal end of the at least one tine, and the second member is movably connected to the first member to allow translation of the tine in a first direction relative to the first member, whereby, in use, translation of the tine in the first direction causes the distal end of the at least one tine to move forward of the guard tines in the cutting direction to adjust the space between the user's skin and the inner cutting member to define a hair-cutting length.

[0013] The recesses can have any size and shape suitable for receiving and demarcating the guard teeth. The guard-facing surface can have a recess that includes a groove. The groove can be a recess with two side walls extending in the length direction and defining a space therebetween for receiving the guard teeth. The groove extends in the longitudinal direction of the comb teeth. In this way, the groove (particularly the side walls) limits lateral movement of the comb teeth.

[0014] The grooves extend longitudinally in a first direction, which limits lateral movement of the comb teeth while allowing translation of the comb teeth to adjust the hair-cutting length, and which additionally or alternatively help to conceal the distal ends of the guard teeth and prevent the guard teeth from forming part of the hair-guiding interface at multiple hair-cutting length settings.

[0015] The recess may have a depth such that when the hair comb is attached to the cutting head, at least 50% of the height of the distal end is received within the space defined by the recess and is prevented from forming part of the hair guiding interface.

[0016] The recess can have a lateral extent (e.g., between its two sides) along the direction in which the tines are spaced, such that the guard tooth and at least one tine engage and limit lateral movement of the tines. This can further improve the robustness of the hair comb, since the tines tend to flex laterally. Furthermore, by limiting the lateral movement of the tines, a uniform number of hairs can be distributed between adjacent tines and thus guided to the cutting edge of the cutting device. This can improve the quality of the hair cutting.

[0017] The lateral extent of the recess can be equal to the lateral thickness of the guard tooth, which limits lateral movement of the comb tooth to a greater extent.

[0018] The thickness of the guard teeth in the lateral direction in which they are spaced apart may taper towards the distal ends of the guard teeth, and the lateral extent of the recess may taper towards the bottom of the recess, which limits lateral movement of the comb teeth to a greater extent.

[0019] The depression may have a V-profile in cross section. Alternatively, the depression may have a U-profile in cross section.

[0020] The hair comb can be configured to cooperate with the cutting head so that when the hair comb is attached to the cutting head, at least the distal ends of the guard teeth are inclined relative to the guard facing surface and the distal tips of the guard teeth point towards the recesses. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a hair-cutting device, in particular a hair clipper; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the hair clipper of FIG. 1. [Figure 3]FIG. 2 is a diagram including two side views of a hair-cutting system having the hair clipper and length-adjustable hair comb of FIG. 1, the two views showing the hair comb in a fully retracted position and a fully extended position, respectively. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a top view of a portion of the adjustable hair comb of FIG. 3, particularly the movable member. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a simplified front perspective view of a portion of the hair-cutting system of FIG. 3, with only one tine of the hair comb shown. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the hair-cutting system of FIG. 3. [Figure 7] 4A-4C are schematic cross-sectional views of recesses in the surface of the hair-cutting system of FIG. 3, according to two alternative embodiments of the present invention; [Figure 8] FIG. 6 is a simplified front perspective view of a portion of the hair-cutting system of FIG. 5 in use. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Exemplary embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0023] 1-8, there is shown a hair-cutting system 10 generally comprising a hair-cutting device in the form of a hair clipper 100 and a hair comb 200. Although the figures show a hair clipper in particular, it will be appreciated that the invention is more generally applicable to any known type of cutting device having an inner cutting member and an outer guard member, such as an electric shaver.

[0024] 1 and 2, which show a hair clipper 100 in isolation, the hair clipper 100 has a clipper body having a cutting head 102 to which a cutting element 104 is attached and a handle portion 106 extending generally away from the cutting head 102. The clipper body is generally defined by a housing which forms the exterior of the clipper body.

[0025] The handle portion 106 is an elongated, grippable portion that allows a user to manually grip the clipper 100 during use. The handle portion 106 is partially covered with a rubberized or textured surface 108 to facilitate a user's proper grip of the clipper 100, especially when the handle portion 106 is wet. A power button 109 is provided on the rear surface of the handle portion 106 for turning the clipper 100 on and off.

[0026] The cutting head 102 is disposed at the end of the handle portion 106. The cutting head 102 comprises the cutting element 104 of the clipper 100. The cutting element 104 comprises a movable inner cutting member 110 that reciprocates relative to a stationary outer guard member 112 to perform the cutting process. The outer guard member 112, also referred to as the stationary outer cutting member, comprises a body 114 and a plurality of guard teeth 116 (which may themselves be blades) extending in side-by-side relationship from the body 114. The inner cutting member 110 comprises a plurality of blade teeth 118 arranged side-by-side to cooperate with the guard teeth 116.

[0027] As best shown in FIG. 5, the blade teeth 118 and guard teeth 116 combine to form a cutting edge 120 (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 5). The blade teeth 118 are reciprocated laterally relative to the stationary guard teeth 116 in a direction parallel to the cutting edge 120, resulting in a scissors-like action that cuts hairs located between the guard teeth 116 as the blade teeth 118 pass over them. The movable inner cutting member 110 can be reciprocated using a motor that powers a reciprocating mechanism (not shown) attached to the inner cutting member 110. The motor can be powered by a rechargeable battery contained within the body of the clipper 100. The motor can be selectively turned on and off using a power button 109.

[0028] The cutting edge 120 forms the leading edge of the cutting head 102. The cutting direction x of the clipper 100 is perpendicular to the cutting edge 120. It should be understood that in order for hair to easily enter the gaps between the guard teeth 116 and the blade teeth 118, they must approach the cutting edge 120 from the front side of the cutting edge 120, parallel to the cutting direction x. Thus, the hair clipper 100 most effectively cuts hair when moved forward in the cutting direction x as shown in FIG. 5.

[0029] 1 and 2, the outer surface 124 of the outer guard member 112 rearward of the cutting edge 120 in the cutting direction x faces the skin (not shown) in use. In use, when the clipper 100 is used for a close shave without a comb, the skin-facing outer surface 124 is typically pressed lightly against the user's skin and the clipper 100 is slid along the user's skin in the cutting direction x, causing the cutting edge 120 to advance along the user's skin in the cutting direction x, cutting any hairs that are encountered.

[0030] As best seen in Figure 3, the system 10 also includes a comb 200. The comb 200 guides and lifts the hair to be cut so that the cutting elements 104 can effectively and efficiently cut the hair.

[0031] The comb 200 has a first member 202 and a second member 204. The first member 202 has a body for fixedly attaching to the outer guard member 112 of the clipper 100. To facilitate this, a connector in the form of a clip 206 extends from the rear of the body of the first member 202. The clip 206 has a flexible or spring-loaded protrusion, the end of which is shaped to engage a lip 208 at the rear of the outer guard member 112 and hold the first member 202 to the outer guard member 112 in a fixed position. The clip 206 forms a snap-fit ​​connection to the outer guard member 112. The clip 206 also has a lever portion 210 that can be pressed to release the snap fit and remove the first member 202, and therefore the entire hair comb 200, from the outer guard member 112. Other known types of connection features are possible.

[0032] The second member 204 has a support 300 movably connected to the body of the first member 202, allowing the second member 204 to translate relative to the first member 202, and thus relative to the cutting edge 120 of the clipper 100, when the first member 202 is attached to the cutting head 102. The second member 204 is configured to translate relative to the first member 202 in a first direction 212 that is perpendicular to the cutting edge 120.

[0033] As best shown in FIG. 4 , the second member 204 is configured to be movably connected to the first member 202 in that it has two side elements 304 extending longitudinally in a first direction 212 on opposite sides of the support 300. The lateral extent between the side elements 304 is substantially equal to the width of the first member 202 in the lateral direction, such that the first member 202 can be received between and slide along the side elements 304 of the second member 204 in the first direction 212. The first member 202 and second member 204 may be movably connected via one or more rails incorporated into the first member 202 or the second member 204, for example, along the side elements 304, or via other mechanisms that limit relative movement in the first direction 212. The first direction 212 is perpendicular to the cutting edge 120 and, in use, parallel to the outer surface 124 of the outer guard member 112.

[0034] The support 300 is a substantially continuous, e.g., planar, body having protrusions extending therefrom to form a plurality of tines 302. Each one of the plurality of tines 302 extends longitudinally from the support 300 in a first direction, and in use in the cutting direction x, to a distal end 220 of the tine 302 that is furthest from the support 300. The tines 302 are arranged in a side-by-side relationship and spaced apart along a lateral direction parallel to the cutting edge 120.

[0035] Although the figures show the tines 302 extending from a substantially continuous, planar support 300, it should be understood that this is not required. The support 300 may, for example, be formed by a strip extending in the cutting direction x from a rear connecting bar. In fact, the hair comb 200 may have any shape or configuration that is suitable for attachment to the cutting head 102 of the hair clipper 100 and that generally defines a plurality of tines 302.

[0036] As best shown in FIG. 3 , the tines 302 generally extend parallel to the support 300 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the cutting edge 120, away from the support 300, toward the surface of the skin where the hair to be cut is located. The tines 302 extend forward of the guard tines 116 and the housing of the clipper 100 in the cutting direction x and in the first direction 212. Each tine 302 has a guard-facing surface 214 that extends at an obtuse angle of approximately 120 degrees from the forward surface 121 of the cutting head 102. During translation of the second member 204 relative to the first member 202, the guard-facing surface 214 of the tine 302 slides along the guard tine 116, although contact therebetween is not required. Each tine 302 has a skin-contacting surface 216 opposite the guard-facing surface 214, where the skin-contacting surface 216 contacts and slides along the user's skin during a cutting stroke along the cutting direction x.

[0037] The tines 302 provide a predetermined spacing 218 between the user's skin and the cutting edge 120 to define the cut length of the hair, i.e., the length of the hair after cutting. Furthermore, the tines 302 are substantially wedge-shaped in that the height between the guard-facing surface 214 and the skin-contacting surface 216 tapers toward the distal end 220 of the tines 302. Thus, during translation of the second member 204 along the first direction 212, the distal end 220 of the tines 302 moves in front of the guard tines 116, and thus the cutting edge 120, in the cutting direction x, which is a horizontal direction parallel to the skin surface, to adjust the predetermined spacing 218, and therefore the cut length.

[0038] The second member 204 is movable between a fully retracted position (as shown in FIG. 3 a) in which the distal ends of the guard tines 116 rest against or abut the distal regions of the tines 302, and a fully extended position ( FIG. 3 b) in which the distal ends of the guard tines 116 rest against or abut the tines 302 in regions of the tines 302 that are proximal to the support 300 of the second member 204. In the fully retracted position, the hair comb 200 is set to the shortest hair-cutting length, while the hair comb 200 is set to the longest hair-cutting length when in the fully extended position.

[0039] The distal ends 220 of the comb tines 302 curve upwardly, away from the skin surface, at their forward ends (i.e., furthest from the support 300 in the cutting direction x), defining a curved portion with a rearward-facing surface 222 facing rearward in the cutting direction x. The rearward-facing surface 222 and the guard-facing surface 214 define a discontinuous shoulder configured to extend around the cutting elements 104 and cutting edge 120 of the clipper 100 when the comb 200 is set in its fully retracted position (i.e., its shortest hair-cutting length setting), as shown in FIG. 3a.

[0040] A portion of the guard-facing surface 214 of one (in this embodiment, each) of the comb tines 302 is recessed, depressed, or set back from the remaining area of ​​the guard-facing surface 214, forming a surface depression. The surface depression defines a space surrounded by the comb material that includes the remaining area of ​​the guard-facing surface 214 of the comb tine. This space is suitable for receiving a corresponding guard tooth 116 of the cutting head 102, and the hair comb 200 is configured to cooperate with the cutting head 102 such that when the hair comb 200 is attached to the cutting head 102, at least the distal end of the guard tooth 116 is received in the space defined by the surface depression and engages with the comb tine 302.

[0041] In this embodiment, the surface depressions are in the form of grooves 402 extending longitudinally of the tines 302 between a first end 403 of the second member 204 proximate the support 300 and a second end 405 at the rear-facing surface 222 proximate the distal end 220 of the tines 302 from the support 300. The grooves 402 extend perpendicular to the cutting edge 120 and parallel to the first direction 212 in which the second member 204 translates relative to the first member 202. In that regard, the guard teeth 116 slide within the grooves 402 (but do not necessarily contact their inner surfaces, for example) as the second comb member 204 translates relative to the first comb member 202 to adjust the hair cutting length. However, in other embodiments, the grooves may extend longitudinally laterally of the tines 302 in which the tines 302 are spaced apart. Furthermore, the comb tines 302 may have two or more such grooves, where these grooves are located on the guard-facing surface 214 at distinct longitudinal positions away from the support 300 of the second member 204, each distinct longitudinal position corresponding to a different hair-cutting length of the comb 200.

[0042] In this embodiment, every other guard tooth 116 in the lateral direction in which the guard teeth 116 are spaced is received in a corresponding groove 402 of the comb tooth 302. To facilitate this, the pitch between laterally adjacent comb teeth 302 (and grooves 402) is equal to twice the pitch between laterally adjacent guard teeth 116. Thus, when the comb 200 is attached to the cutting head 102 of the clipper 100, the grooves 402 have the same lateral positions as (half of) the guard teeth 116. As a result, the guard teeth 116 are received in these grooves 402.

[0043] At least the distal ends 404 of the guard teeth 116, which are the forward-most regions of the guard teeth 116 in the cutting direction x, are received in the grooves 402. To facilitate this, as best shown in Figure 6, the hair comb 200 is configured to cooperate with the cutting head 102 so that when the hair comb 200 is attached to the cutting head 102, the outer surface 124 of the outer guard member 112 at the distal end 404 is inclined at an angle θ relative to the guard-facing surface 214 so that the front faces 406 or tips of the guard teeth 116 facing the body 114 face towards the grooves 402. It will be appreciated that the shape and size of the comb 200 can be adjusted and designed so that the front faces 406 face towards the grooves 402 when the comb 200 is attached to the cutting head 102. 3, the first member 202 of the comb 200 is substantially wedge-shaped in that its thickness, in a direction perpendicular to the cutting edge 120 and the first direction 212, tapers (decreases) toward the forward-most end of the first member 202 in the cutting direction x. However, in other embodiments, the distal ends 404 of the guard teeth 116 can be inclined at an angle relative to the body 114 of the outer guard member 112, which is substantially planar, so that the front faces 406 face the grooves 402 when the comb 200 is attached to the cutting head 102. The distal ends 404 of the guard teeth 116 can be directed outward from the clipper body.

[0044] By receiving the guard tines 116 in the spaces formed by the recesses, the guard tines 116 engage with the tines 302 in a manner that at least partially limits movement of the tines 302. In this manner, the overall robustness and quality of the hair comb 200 may be improved, resulting in an improved ability to consistently and evenly lift and guide hair into the cutting elements.

[0045] As best shown in FIG. 7, which shows a schematic cross-sectional view of alternative groove configurations a) and b), the groove 402 has two sidewalls 408 that form two lateral sides of the groove 402 in a lateral direction parallel to the cutting edge 120 of the cutting head.

[0046] The guard teeth 116 are received in the spaces defined between the sidewalls 408 to engage the grooves 402. The guard teeth 116 need not abut the sidewalls 408. As a result, some relative movement between the guard teeth 116 and the corresponding comb teeth 302 may be permitted, for example, until the guard teeth 116 abut one of the sidewalls 408 of the groove 402, limiting or preventing further lateral movement of the comb teeth 302. However, in certain embodiments, relative movement between the guard teeth 116 and the corresponding comb grooves 402 may be prohibited. The degree to which the comb teeth 302 are permitted to move relative to the guard teeth 116 depends, among other things, on the lateral extent of the grooves 402 relative to the thickness of the guard teeth 116. In that regard, the grooves 402 may have a lateral extent 606 between the two sidewalls 408 equal to the thickness 608 of the front faces 406 or tips of the guard teeth 116 ( FIG. 7A ), such that the guard teeth 116 are snugly received in the spaces between the sidewalls. The groove 402 may alternatively have a lateral extent 606 between the two side walls 408 that is greater than the thickness 608 of the front face 406 or tip of the guard tooth 116 (FIG. 7b) so as to define a gap between the guard tooth and the side walls 408 when engaged. In that case, the comb teeth will be allowed to move a distance corresponding to the size of the gap, i.e., until one of the sides of the recess abuts the guard tooth to limit or prevent further movement.

[0047] The degree of lateral restriction can be increased by providing a groove 402 having a shape that matches the shape of the distal end 404 of the guard tooth 116. In an embodiment such as that shown in Figure 7, the thickness of the guard tooth 116 in the lateral direction tapers towards the distal end 404 of the guard tooth 116, and the groove 402 has a lateral extent 606 that tapers towards the bottom of the groove 402. Specifically, the side walls 408 can be angled to meet at the bottom of the groove 402 so that the cross section defines a V-profile, as shown in Figure 7a.

[0048] In an alternative embodiment, as shown in Figure 7b, the bottom of the groove 402 has a base 410 that, together with the sidewalls 408, defines a cross-sectional U-profile. In that case, the sidewalls 408 may be substantially vertical, although one or more of the sidewalls 408 may deviate from vertical. While Figure 7 shows the sidewalls 408 and base 410 to be substantially straight (planar), it should be understood that this is not required.

[0049] The size of the groove 402 relative to the distal end 404 of the guard tooth 116 can be adjusted to set the amount of the guard tooth 116 that is received in the groove 402. In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the groove 402 has a depth 602 such that at least 50% of the height 604 of the front surface 406 or tip is received within the space defined by the groove 402 and below the remaining guide-facing surface 214 (i.e., no portion of the guide-facing surface 214 forms an inner surface of the groove 402).

[0050] The outer profile of the guard facing surface 214 and the tines 302 together, when engaged, define a hair guiding interface having a surface for guiding hair received between adjacent tines 302 to the inner cutting member 110. Thus, by effectively recessing at least a portion of the guide teeth 116 below the surrounding guard facing surface 214, that portion does not define the outer profile and is therefore prevented from forming part of the hair guiding interface. This can provide an improved configuration in which the guard teeth 116 present fewer obstructions to hair in the hair transport path to the cutting edge 120.

[0051] 8 , as the system 10 is moved in the cutting direction x, hairs 700 are carried towards the comb 200 and cut. The hairs 700 may be randomly tangled and oriented from their roots 701 at the surface of the skin (not shown). Thus, as hairs 700 with roots 701 located adjacent to the tines 302 enter the comb 200 and are separated and detangled from hairs with roots located on a different side of the tines 302, some of these hairs 700 may fall and lie across the guard-facing surface 214 at a position in front of the guard teeth 116 in the cutting direction x. These hairs 700 are then lifted and guided towards the downstream cutting edge 120 of the tines 302.

[0052] In conventional configurations, the guard teeth 116 lie on the upper or outermost region of the guard-facing surface 214, creating a barrier or step height that can impinge on hairs crossing the guard-facing surface 214 and prevent the hair from being lifted and directed toward the cutting edge 120. This is exacerbated at long hair-cutting length settings, similar to the fully extended position of FIG. 3b, where the spacing between the cutting edge 120 in the first direction 212 and the rearward-facing surfaces 222 of the tines 302 is increased, thereby exposing a larger area of ​​the guard surface 214. This problem reduces the number of hairs that are cut by the cutting element 104 despite having a root location between adjacent tines 302. Furthermore, even hairs that overcome the obstacle posed by the guard teeth 116 may not be sufficiently lifted before entering the cutting zone. This is because the hair may be pushed out of the cutting zone by the guard teeth 116 as it overcomes the step height. Such an arrangement therefore results in uneven and inaccurate hair length results, which may vary for each stroke through the hair.

[0053] Thus, by receiving at least the distal ends of the guard teeth 116 in the grooves 402, the comb 200 conceals the portions of the guard teeth 116 below the upper or outermost region of the guard facing surface 214, and consequently conceals the hair 700 that falls onto the upper or outermost region of the guard facing surface 214 at a location forward of the guard teeth 116 in the cutting direction x. In this way, the hair 700 that falls onto the guard facing surface 214 of the comb tines 302 encounters a smaller step height to overcome (in some cases, no step height at all) when it encounters the guard teeth 116 during its cutting stroke through the hair. This may provide an improved configuration in which the guard teeth 116 present fewer obstacles to the hair in its hair transport path to the cutting edge 120. Thus, the hair 700 may be consistently and appropriately manipulated in the desired direction to be cut.

[0054] It should be appreciated that the above-described advantages can be realized so long as a portion of the guard tooth is received within the recess to conceal a portion of the guard tooth from the hair guiding interface. Thus, less than 50% of the height of the front surface 406 can be received within the recess and thus concealed from the hair guiding interface. However, the more the guard tooth is received within the groove, the less obstruction the guard tooth will present to hair moving along the hair guiding interface.

[0055] Furthermore, although the recesses are described above as being in the form of grooves, this is not required: the recesses can have any shape or actual size suitable for receiving and demarcating the guard teeth.

[0056] Additionally, the tines 302 may have multiple depressions arranged side-by-side or end-to-end along the length of the tines 302, with each depression having a distinct longitudinal position away from the support 300 of the second member 204. For example, each depression may have a distinct longitudinal position corresponding to a different hair-cutting length of the comb 200. Adjacent depressions may be separated longitudinally by ridges in the comb material, the peaks of which may be flush with the remainder of the guard-facing surface 214. The multiple depressions may form alternating peaks and valleys longitudinally, with each depression formed by a distinct valley.

[0057] In this manner, the present invention can provide consistently improved hair lift and guidance and can provide increased hold. While the present invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and description, such illustration and description are exemplary or explanatory only and are not restrictive. The present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

[0058] Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the figures, the description and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprises" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite articles "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. 1. A hair comb for attachment to a cutting head of a hair-cutting device, said cutting head having an inner cutting member and an outer guard member including a body and a plurality of guard teeth extending in side-by-side relationship from said body, said hair comb comprising: a support for attachment to the cutting head; a plurality of comb teeth extending in a longitudinal direction of the hair comb in a side-by-side relationship from the support; At least one of the plurality of comb teeth is a skin contact surface and a guard facing surface facing the skin contact surface; the guard-facing surface has recesses defining spaces for receiving distal ends of guard teeth when the hair comb is attached to the cutting head; when the hair comb is attached to the cutting head, the guard teeth and the at least one comb tine have an outer profile that defines a hair guiding interface that guides hair into the inner cutting member; A hair comb, wherein the recesses extend longitudinally of the tines, and the recesses limit lateral movement of the tines relative to the guard teeth when the hair comb is attached to the cutting head.

2. The hair comb is a first member for fixed attachment to the cutting head; a second member including the support body and the plurality of comb teeth; the at least one comb tooth is wedge-shaped such that a height between the guard-facing surface and the skin-contacting surface tapers from the support toward a distal end of the at least one comb tooth; the second member is movably connected to the first member to allow the comb tines to move relative to the first member; 2. The hair comb of claim 1, wherein, in use, movement of the at least one comb tine causes a distal end of the comb tine to move forward of the guard tine in a cutting direction to adjust the spacing between a user's skin and the inner cutting member to define a hair cutting length.

3. The hair comb of claim 1 , wherein the guard-facing surface has a recess including a groove.

4. The hair comb of claim 3 , wherein the grooves extend in the longitudinal direction of the at least one tine.

5. 1. A hair cutting system comprising: a hair-cutting device including a cutting head having an inner cutting member and an outer guard member, the outer guard member including a body and a plurality of guard teeth extending in side-by-side relationship from the body; and a hair comb according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The hair comb is configured to cooperate with the cutting head, and when the hair comb is attached to the cutting head: at least a distal end of the guard tooth is received within a space defined by a recess in the guard facing surface so as to engage the at least one comb tooth; when the hair comb is attached to the cutting head, the guard teeth and the at least one comb tine have an outer profile that defines a hair guiding interface that guides hair into the inner cutting member; A hair-cutting system, wherein the recesses extend longitudinally of the tines, and the recesses limit lateral movement of the tines relative to the guard teeth when the hair comb is attached to the cutting head.

6. the distal ends of the guard teeth have a height defined between the inner and outer surfaces of the guard member; 6. The hair-cutting system of claim 5, wherein the recess has a depth such that when the hair comb is attached to the cutting head, at least a portion of the height of the distal end is received within a space defined by the recess and is prevented from forming part of the hair guiding interface.

7. 7. The hair-cutting system of claim 6, wherein the recess has a depth such that when the hair comb is attached to the cutting head, at least 50% of the height of the distal end is received within a space defined by the recess and is prevented from forming part of the hair guiding interface.

8. 6. The hair-cutting system of claim 5, wherein the recess has a lateral extent in a direction in which the plurality of tines are spaced apart, and the guard tooth and the at least one tine engage to limit lateral movement of the tine.

9. 9. A hair-cutting system according to claim 8, wherein the lateral extent of said recess is equal to the thickness of said guard tooth in said lateral direction.

10. the thickness of the guard teeth in the lateral direction in which the guard teeth are spaced apart tapers toward the distal ends of the guard teeth; 6. A hair-cutting system according to claim 5, wherein the lateral extent of the recess tapers towards the bottom of the recess.

11. The hair-cutting system of claim 5 , wherein the recess has a V-profile in cross section.

12. The hair-cutting system of claim 5 , wherein the recess has a U-profile in cross section.

13. 6. The hair-cutting system of claim 5, wherein the hair comb is configured to cooperate with the cutting head, and when the hair comb is attached to the cutting head, at least distal ends of the guard teeth are inclined with respect to the guard-facing surface, and distal tips of the guard teeth point towards the recesses.

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