Hair Cutting and Trimming Apparatus

The present invention relates to hair cutting and trimming devices in which a length of hair is suctioned into a hollow body and cut therein. More particularly, the present invention relates to improvements in such devices which provide greater versatility, simpler hair length selection, and more convenience in use than is permitted by prior art devices.

It is known in the prior art to use a vacuum source in conjunction with an automatic hair cutting and trimming device. Such prior art may be readily separated into two categories: those in which the vacuum is used only to remove hair clippings from the cutter (as typified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,618,713; 2,653,380; and 2,748,472); and those in which the vacuum is also used to stretch out the hair so that it may be cut to a particular length (as typified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,238,061; 1,331,218; 1,735,766; 3,654,699; and 3,979,825). The present invention is concerned with the second type of device wherein the vacuum source serves the combined function of removing the clippings and extending the hair. Such devices in the prior art have the clipper located entirely inside the suction path, a feature which makes for many practical disadvantages. For example, the portion of the suction device which is placed against the scalp must be relatively long to accommodate the cutter and therefore requires the user's arms to be held in uncomfortable positions. Further, with the cutter mounted inside the suction device it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to use the cutter independently of the suction device.

It is also important in devices of this type to include gauging means for selectively changing the length of hair to be cut. Such gauging means in the prior art have taken forms such as: a sleeve which threadedly engages the forward end of the device (as in U.S. Pat. No. 1,238,061); a sleeve which slidably engages the forward end of the device (as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,654,699); and means for moving the clipper itself within the body of the device (U.S. Pat. No. 3,979,825). All of these gauging approaches provide for continuous adjustment mechanisms (as opposed to discrete length settings) and are complex to operate and expensive to mass produce.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hair cutting device which permits hair to be cut to a preselected length by an unskilled person.

It is a further object of this invention to provide for the use of a vacuum means to pull individual hairs into straight line configurations along the length of a gauge which sets the cutting length without requiring the entire clipper set to be inside the walls of the air passage.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a simple means to change hair cutting length over a wide range without complicating the design and manufacture of the device.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a hair cutting and gauging device which is neither awkward nor inconvenient for the user to hold and operate.

In accordance with the present invention, a vacuum attachment includes a hollow head portion secured in flow communication to one end of a hollow tube, the tube in turn having its other end connected to a vacuum source. The height of the head portion is much smaller than the width and is arranged such that hair is drawn into its open forward end. The angle made by the tube and the under surface of the head portion is in the range of approximately 90.degree. to 120.degree. so that a user can hold the tube in one hand and place the forward end of the head portion against a scalp while keeping the user's arm in comfortable positions. Mounting means are provided on the tube exterior for an electric clipper to be positioned with its cutter blades extending into the head portion through a slot defined in the head undersurfaces. Attachments of specific axial length are adapted to functionally engage the forward end of the head portion to selectively shorten the length of hair extending to the cutter blades.

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the major component of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view in plan of the head portion of the device of FIG. 1 without its cap;

FIG. 3 is a view in section taken along lines 3 -- 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view in plan of the cap for the head portion of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view in section taken along lines 5 -- 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view in plan of a conventional electrical hair clipper;

FIG. 7 is a view in perspective of the hair clipper of FIG. 6 being mounted onto the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a view in perspective of an adapter which fits over the forward end of the head portion of the device of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 are views in perspective of two gauge members which are adapted to fit into the forward end of the adapter of FIG. 8.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 1 - 5, the major component of the present invention is illustrated as a plurality of individually molded parts which are bonded together. It is to be understood that a single part may be so molded to take the shape and perform the functions described herein. A hollow cylindrical tube 1 has a lower end adapted to be connected to a hose or other inlet connection for a vacuum source, such as a standard household vacuum cleaner. The upper end of tube 1 is inserted into and secured to a neck 2 which depends from the under side 4 of a head member 3. The head member comprises: a body portion 5 which is open along its top and from which neck 2 depends; and a cap 6 which covers the open top of the body portion. Body portion 5 has a bottom wall, formed by under side 4, of a generally solid U-shape and is bounded along its periphery by an upstanding U-shaped wall 7. A hole 8 is defined through wall 4, proximate the back end of head 3, from which hollow neck 2 projects downwardly at an angle between 90.degree. and 120.degree.. This angle defines the angle subsisting between tube 1 and head 3. Cap 6 is also configured in a generally solid U-shape and secured, by suitable adhesive or the like, to the top edge of upstanding wall 7. A recess 22 is defined transversely across cap 6 and projects part way down toward bottom wall 4 at a location forward of hole 8. The forward end of the head is open to form a rectangular slot 9.

A transversely extending rectangular slot 10 is defined in bottom wall 4. A pair of generally inverted V-shaped guard members 11 are formed in wall 7 at opposite ends of slot 10 and extend from top to bottom of head 3.

A strap 12 is secured to tube 1 by means of a rivet 13 or the like so as to extend circumferentially about tube 1 with considerable slack. Specifically, the slack in strap 12 is selected to permit the strap to hold the body of an electric hair clipper against the tube 1. Engagement means, such as mating snap-fit members 14 and 15, are provided at opposite ends of the strap to securely hold the clipper in position. A cradle 16 is secured to tube 1, at a location below strap 12 and includes a generally arcuate support surface 17 terminating in two projecting feet 18.

The unit as described thus far is arranged to support an electric clipper 19, such as that illustrated in FIG. 6. The particular clipper 19 so illustrated is the commercially available Model 23-01B manufactured by the John Oster Manufacturing Company of Milwaukee, Wis. It is to be understood that the present invention can be constructed to accommodate other types of clippers equally as well.

As best illustrated in FIG. 7, clipper 19 is secured to the device of the present invention by first inserting the clipper blades 20 into slot 10. When the blades are fully inserted in the slot, feet 18 of cradle 16 are positioned to extend into recessed screw holes 21 of clipper 19. Likewise, the body of the clipper rests in the arcuate surface 17 of the cradle. The strap 12 (shown in FIG. 1 but not in FIG. 7 for purposes of clarity) is then secured about the clipper. The clipper 19 is thus held securely in place, with feet 18 preventing inadvertent movement in any direction.

In operation, the user connects the vacuum source to the lower end of tube 1 and points the slot toward the scalp of the person whose hair is to be cut. The hair is sucked into slot 9, over the blades 20 of clipper 19, and then under the recess 22 which forms an air baffle with the head 3. The baffle acts to pull the elongated hair downward onto the blades 20 to assure that the hair is cleanly and evenly cut. The cut hair is then drawn through hole 8 and tube 1 to the vacuum source.

Slot 9 is located a predetermined distance in front of slot 10 so that the hair can be cut to a length corresponding to that distance. Nominally such distance will be about one inch. Naturally, it is desirable to be able to cut hair to different lengths and, in accordance with this invention an adapter 23 (FIG. 8) and extenders 24 (FIG. 9) and 25 (FIG. 10) are provided for this purpose. Specifically, adapter 23 is a hollow body formed in two sections: a rectangular sleeve 26 at one end; and a cylinder 27 at the other end. Sleeve 26 is adapted to fit over and functionally engage the forward end of head 3 so that slot 9 in head 3 abuts the rear end of cylinder 27. Cylinder 27 thereby serves as an extender, permitting hair to be cut to a length corresponding to the sum of the length of cylinder 27 plus the distance between slots 9 and 10. Extender 24 is in the form of a cylinder having a relatively small diameter section 29 and a relatively large diameter section 30, the transition between the two sections being demarked by an annular shoulder 31. Small-diameter section 29 is configured to fit inside cylinder 27 in abutting relationship to sleeve 26. Extender 24 thereby extends the length to which hair is cut by the length of large-diameter cylinder 30. The diameter of cylinder 30 is the same as that of cylinder 27.

Extender 25 is a simple hollow single cylinder of such diameter to fit into either cylinder 27 or cylinder 30. When placed into cylinder 27 extender 25 abuts sleeve 26 and adds to the length to which the hair is cut. When extender 25 is placed in cylinder 30 it projects only part way therein and combines with extender 24 to increase the hair length. Extender 25 is provided with at least one small hole 32 to permit some air leakage and thereby prevent the applied suction force from grabbing the scalp of the person whose hair is being cut. A variety of extender lengths may be used, each permitting hair to be cut to different predetermined lengths when used along and in combination.

Strap 12 is preferably made of flexible material to permit firm engagement of clipper 19 against tube 1. However, if the strap is properly sized for use with a particular clipper, flexibility is not required of the strap.

The angle formed between tube 1 and head 3 permits the device to be used without the user's arm being held in awkward positions. Specifically, the user holds the device along tube 1 and directs slot 9 of head 3 against the scalp of the person whose hair is being cut. For virtually all scalp locations the user can hold head 3 in place without lifting his elbow up awkwardly and holding it there in a tiring position.

The device of FIG. 1 is preferably made of plastic. Tube 1 is easily extruded whereas head 3 and cap 6 are readily injection molded. As discussed briefly above, the entire device of FIG. 1 may be formed of an integral plastic member having a more gradual bend between the tube and head sections, and having the same advantages as the embodiment described above.

While we have described and illustrated one specific embodiment of our invention, it will be clear that variations of the details of construction which are specifically illustrated and described may be resorted to without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.