Catch Comb With Movable Gripper and Angle Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hair cutting combs do not effectively hold hair in a specific orientation during cutting, leading to inconsistent cuts and difficulty in replicating angled cuts.
Innovation Solution
A catch comb with a pair of components, a fixed comb, a movable gripper comb, and a rotatable angle indicator, actuated by a grip trigger with position lock, allowing precise hair holding and angled cut replication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional comb is used for cutting hair, then the comb structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the comb cannot effectively hold hair in a specific orientation during cutting
Solution Approach 1:
The comb is divided into two separate components: a fixed comb and a movable gripper comb. The movable gripper comb can be positioned independently to hold hair in specific orientations, while the fixed comb provides the base structure. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function effectively without requiring the entire comb to be complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable gripper comb is designed to move between a retracted position (where it does not interfere with cutting) and an extended position (where it holds hair in a specific orientation). This dynamic capability allows the comb to adapt its structure during different phases of the cutting process, providing reliable hair holding only when needed while maintaining simplicity otherwise.
2Manufacturing precision
If a movable gripper comb is added to hold hair in specific orientation, then hair holding capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A trigger mechanism serves as an intermediary component that controls the movement of the movable gripper comb. When the trigger is actuated, it causes the movable gripper comb to extend to the desired angle; when released, the spring returns it to the retracted position. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the control of the movable comb, allowing precise angular positioning without requiring complex actuation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
A spring mechanism provides self-service by automatically returning the movable gripper comb to its retracted position after use. The spring stores energy when the comb is extended and releases it to return the comb to its neutral position, eliminating the need for additional motors or complex resetting mechanisms. This self-service feature maintains manufacturing precision while minimizing device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If multiple components are used for precise hair holding, then cutting precision is improved, but the ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The movable gripper comb and the angle indication feature are merged into a single integrated component. The movable gripper comb itself serves dual purposes: it physically holds the hair at the desired angle and simultaneously provides the angle indication to the user. This merging reduces the total number of separate components while maintaining ease of operation and cutting precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable gripper comb performs multiple functions: it holds hair in specific orientations during cutting, provides angle indication to the user, and can be retracted to avoid interference during cutting. This multi-functionality allows a single component to replace what would otherwise require multiple separate features, simplifying the overall device while improving ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A catch comb comprising a right component and a left component which are joined together. There is a set of fixed teeth, and a set of movable teeth. The movable teeth are actuated by a grip trigger, which also has a position lock. There is also a rotatable angle indicator, so as to allow replication of angled cuts.