GB2418168A

GB2418168A - Scissors and comb

Info

Publication number: GB2418168A
Application number: GB0420741A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Akbar Darabi-Ford; Mehredod Darabi-Ford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-09-17
Filing date: 2004-09-17
Publication date: 2006-03-22
Also published as: GB0420741D0

Abstract

The pair of scissors 20 has a comb 34, 44 projecting outwardly from the non-cutting edge 36 of at least one blade 24, 28. The scissors may be thinning scissors. The comb teeth 40, 46 may pivot 48 into a stowage position. The comb 34, 44 may be permanently fixed to the blade 24, 28 or removable.

Description

A PAIR OF SCISSORS

This invention relates to a pair of scissors. The scissors may be especially useful for hair dressers when they are removing hair, for example by cutting, styling, trimming or thinning hair.

When a hairdresser is cutting, styling, trimming or thinning hair, the hairdresser will usually have a pair of scissors in one hand, and a comb in the other hand. Usually, the hairdresser will first comb the hair, and will then lift the combed hair upwards and hold it between two fingers. The hairdresser will then pass the comb to the other hand which is holding the pair of scissors. The hairdresser will then take the pair of scissors and cut the hair. Having done this, the hairdresser will then take the comb and repeat the combing and cutting procedure until the hair cutting, styling, trimming or thinning is completed. The entire process is tedious and tiring for the hairdresser. In addition, the hairdresser will be doing this all day with clients so that the problem becomes more and more tedious and more and more tiring.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problem.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a pair of scissors comprising a first handle, a first blade, a second handle, a second blade, a first edge which is on the first blade, a first edge which is on the second blade and which faces the first edge on the first blade for enabling a hair-removing action of the pair of scissors, and a comb on the first or the second blade, the comb extending along its blade and projecting outwardly from an edge of its blade which is opposite the first edge of its blade.

The pair of scissors of the present invention is advantageous in that the provision of the comb on the scissors avoids a hairdresser having to keep changing hands as mentioned above when using a comb and a traditional pair of scissors.

The pair of scissors of the present invention can be made in a wide variety of designs, including known designs, providing of course that the pair of scissors of the present invention also has the comb. Thus, the pair of scissors of the present invention may be manufactured with a wide variety of designs for the first and second handles and for the first and second blades.

The first edges on the first and second blades may give any known type of hair-removing action, including cutting, styling, trimming and thinning.

The pair of scissors may be one in which the first and the second blades are such that both of their first edges are straight cutting edges. In this case, the hair-removing action of the scissors will usually be a simple cutting action.

Alternatively, the pair of scissors may be one in which one of the first and second blades is such that its first edge is a straight cutting edge, and in which the other one of the first and second blades is such that its first edge is a thinning edge for thinning hair. In this case, the scissors will be normally used as thinning scissors rather than cutting scissors.

The pair of scissors may be one in which the comb has fixed teeth.

Alternatively, the pair of scissors may be one in which the comb has teeth which are moveable between a combing position and a stowage position. The stowage position may be convenient when using the scissors at times when it is not desired to cut, thin, or otherwise remove hair.

Preferably, the teeth will pivot between the combing position and the stowage position. Other types of action for moving the teeth between the combing position and the stowage position may be employed.

The pair of scissors may have a control member for causing the teeth to move between the combing position and the stowage position.

Preferably, the control member is a sliding control member. Other types of control member may however be employed so that, for example, the control member may be a rotatable control member. The control member may be a knob or other formation.

The pair of scissors may be one in which the comb is a permanent fit on its blade. In this case, the pair of scissors will normally be manufactured with the comb.

Alternatively, the pair of scissors may be one in which the comb is a removable fit on its blade. In this case, the comb may be in the form of an accessory which is fitted to scissors which are either existing scissors which have been made without the comb, or which are new scissors which have been manufactured to receive the comb as and when the comb is required to be present on the scissors.

The pair of scissors may be one in which the blade that does not have the comb is such that it has an edge which is opposite the first edge and which is of a known design serving no specific hairdressing function.

Alternatively the pair of scissors may be one in which the blade that does not have the comb is such that it has another comb, the said other comb having teeth which project outwardly from an edge which is opposite the first edge.

Alternatively, the pair of scissors may be one in which the blade that does not have the comb is such that it has a razor on it for razor cutting hair, the razor having a razor cutting edge which projects outwardly from an edge which is opposite the first edge.

The pair of scissors may be made from a single material. Such a material will usually be stainless steel but other materials such for example as a ceramic material or carbon fibre may be employed. Alternatively, the pair of scissors may be made from more than one material. In this case, the pair of scissors may be made from a plastics material and a metal. Thus, for example, the plastics material may be used for the handle and/or part of the blades, with stainless steel or other metal being used for forming a cutting part of the blades or vice versa.

The comb may be made from the same material as the rest of the pair of scissors, or from the same material as part of the pair of scissors when the pair of scissors, is made from more than one material.

Alternatively, the comb may be made from a different material to the rest of the pair of scissors, or part of the pair of scissors, when the pair of scissors is made from more than one material.

The comb may have teeth with spacings between the teeth of one size. Alternatively, the comb may have teeth with spacings between the teeth of two or more different sizes. Generally, the teeth may be of any suitable and appropriate construction, including any length and any angle.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the problem that a hairdressers has in cutting hair with a known pair of scissors and a separate known comb; Figures 3 and 4 show a hairdresser cutting hair with a first pair of scissors of the present invention; Figure 5 shows in more detail the first pair of scissors of the present invention; Figure 6 shows a second pair of scissors of the present invention; Figure 7 shows a third pair of scissors of the present invention; Figures 8, 9 and 10 show how the comb part of the pair of scissors shown in Figure 7 has teeth which move between a combing position and a stowage position; Figure 11 shows a fourth pair of scissors of the present invention; Figure 12 is a sectional view through the comb and its blade shown in Figure 11; Figure 13 is an enlarged perspective view of the comb and its blade shown in Figure 11; Figures 14 and 15 show two modifications of the pair of scissors as shown in Figure 12; Figure 16 shows a design for a blade of a pair of scissors of the present invention, the blade being that blade which is not provided with the comb; Figure 17 shows a fifth pair of scissors of the present invention; Figure 18 shows a sixth pair of scissors; and Figures 19 and 20 show a seventh pair of scissors.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a person 2 having their hair 4 cut by a hairdresser 6. The hairdresser 6 has a comb 8 in his or her right hand 10, and a known pair of scissors 12 in his or her left hand 14.

As can be seen from a comparison of Figures 1 and 2, when the hairdresser 6 has combed a piece of hair requiring to be cut, then the hairdresser 6 needs to grasp the hair to be cut between fingers 16 of the left hand 14. Then the comb 8 in the right hand 10 has to be passed to the left hand 14. Then the pair of scissors 12 has to be taken from the left hand 14, correctly gripped in the right hand 10, and then used to cut the held piece of hair 4 as shown in Figure 2. This process needs to be repeated many times until the entire head of hair 4 is cut, trimmed or styled as may be required. If the hairdresser 6 should be left handed rather than right handed, then the above procedure needs to be repeated but with opposite hands to those mentioned above. It will be seen that the entire hairdressing operation is tedious and tiring. If a hairdresser is doing this for clients throughout the entire day, then the hairdresser may find the entire procedure very tedious and very tiring by the end of the day.

Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 5 there is shown the hairdresser 6 using a first pair of scissors 20 of the present invention. The pair of scissors comprises a first handle 22, a first blade 24, a second handle 26, and a second blade 28. The pair of scissors 20 is such that there is a first edge 30 on the first blade. Also, there is a first edge 32 which is on the second blade 28 and which faces the first edge 30 on the first blade 24. This is for enabling the pair of scissors 20 to effect a hair-removing action, for example cutting, styling, trimming or thinning.

The pair of scissors 20 has a comb 34 on the first blade 24. As can be seen from Figure 3, the comb 34 extends along its first blade 24. Also, the comb 34 projects outwardly from an edge 36 of its first blade 24 which is opposite the first edge 30 of its first blade 24. As can be seen from Figure 3, the first and second blades 24, 28 are such that both of their first edges 30, 32 respectively are straight cutting edges for effecting a cutting action as the hair-removing action. During the cutting, the first and second blades 24, 28 pivot about a pivot 38. The comb 8 is such that it has teeth 40.

As can be seen from Figures 3 and 4, the hairdresser 6 is able to effect both the cutting and the combing with the pair of scissors 20. The pair of scissors 20 avoids the problems that occur when using a separate pair of scissors 12 and a separate comb 8 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Referring to Figure 6, there is shown a second pair of scissors 21 which is similar to the pair of scissors 20. Similar parts in the two pairs of scissors 20, 21 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. In Figure 6, it will be seen that the pair of scissors 21 has a second comb 23 extending from an edge 25 which is opposite the first edge 32 of the second blade 28. In Figure 5, the edge 25 has nothing on it. In Figure 6 the edge 25 has the comb 23.

Referring now to Figures 7 - 10, there is shown a pair of scissors 42 having a comb 44 with teeth 46 which are movable teeth 46. More specifically, the teeth 46 are movable between a combing position shown in Figures 7 and 8 and a stowage position shown in Figure 10. An intermediate position of the teeth 44 is shown in Figure 9. The edge 36 is on the second blade 28 rather than the first blade 24.

For ease of illustration and understanding, parts of the pair of scissors 42 that are the same as in the pair of scissors 12 have been given the same reference numerals and their precise construction and operation will not again be given.

As can best be seen from Figure 8, 9 and 10, the teeth 46 pivot between a combing position which is shown in Figure 8, to a stowage position which is shown in Figure 10. The stowage position may be convenient if the pair of scissors 42 is being used such that it is not desired to comb a person's hair. Figure 9 shows the teeth 46 of the comb 44 nearly in their stowage position, having passed from their combing position which is shown in broken lines. The teeth 46 are individually pivoted on pivots 48.

The pivoting of the teeth 46 is effected by a control member in the form of a sliding control knob 50.

The three pairs of scissors 20, 23, 42 are such that their combs 34, 44 are a permanent fit on their blades. An alternative design is show in Figures 11, 12 and 13 wherein it will be seen that a pair of scissors 52 is provided with a comb 54 which is a removable fit on its second blade 28. For ease of comparison and understanding, similar parts as in previous figures have been given the same reference numerals and their precise construction and operation will not again be given.

As can best be seen from Figures 12 and 13, the comb 54 has a channelshaped body portion 56 which receives the edge 36 of the blade 28.

The body portion 26 has apertures 58 (only one of which is shown) which align with apertures 60 (only one of which is shown) on the second blade 28.

A screw 62 or any other suitable and appropriate fastening device is then used to fasten the body portion 56 in position on the edge 36. The edge 36 is in the form of a bead, as most clearly shown in Figure 13. The body portion 56 has teeth 64 as shown. The teeth 64 are fixed teeth.

Referring to Figure 14, there is shown a pair of scissors 53 which is like the pair of scissors 52 shown in Figure 12 but in which the comb 54 has teeth extending to the left as shown in Figure 14.

Figure 15 shows a pair of scissors 55 which is also like the pair of scissors 52 shown in Figure 12 except that the comb 54 now has its teeth 64 extending to the right as shown in Figure 15.

Referring now to Figure 16, there is shown part of a pair of scissors in which a blade 70 has the edge 25 opposite its first edge 72. It will be seen that the edge 25 is provided with a razor 74 for effecting razor cutting. The razor 74 has a blade 76 and a cutting edge 78. The blade 76 is mounted on a body portion 80 which is constructed like the body portion 56 and which is held in position in a similar manner by screws 62 or other appropriate fastening devices.

Figure 17 shows a pair of scissors 82 which is like the pair of scissors shown in Figure 5. Similar parts in the two pairs of scissors 20, 82 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding.

The comb 82 is different from the comb 20 in that the comb 82 is provided with a thinning comb 84 on the second blade 28. The thinning comb 84 thus has the first edge 32. The thinning comb 84 acts with a hair- removing action which thins the hair. Thus the thinning comb 84 is not a comb simply for combing hair without removing it, as is the function of the known comb 8 shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the combs 34, 44, 54 shown in Figures 4 - 16.

Figure 18 shows a comb 86 which is like the comb 20 shown in Figure 5. Similar parts have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. In Figure 18, the handles 22, 24 have been twisted so that they are offset from their blades. With such twisted handles, the blades may be at a more convenient angle for combing and cutting.

Figures 19 and 20 show a pair of scissors 88. In the pair of scissors 88, offsetting of the handles 22, 26 with respect to the blades 24, 28 is able to be effected with a pivot arrangement 90. The pivot arrangement 90 comprises a pivot bar 92 which is secured in two opposing parts 94, 96 of the handle 26. The handle 22 may be provided with a similar pivoting arrangement 90 if desired.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, where combs of the invention with fixed teeth have been shown, the teeth may be movable teeth, and vice versa. The sliding control knob 50 could be another type of control knob so that, for example, it could be a rotating control knob or a control knob that operates with another type of action. The teeth on the combs of the illustrated scissors of the present invention may be such that they have a constant spacing between individual teeth as shown. Alternatively, the spacing between individual teeth may vary so that, for example, half of the comb has closer teeth spacings than the other half of the comb. The teeth may have points or the teeth may be blunt. The handles and blades of the scissors shown in the drawings of the present invention may be of a wide variety of designs. The scissors may be made of one material, usually a metal such as stainless steel, but another material for example ceramic material or carbon fibre may be used if desired.

Alternatively, the scissors may be made of more than one material so that, for example, the handles may be made of a plastics material and all or part of the blades may be made of a metal such for example as stainless steel, a ceramic material or carbon hbre, or vice versa.

Claims

1. A pair of scissors comprising a first handle, a first blade, a second handle, a second blade, a first edge which is on the first blade, a first edge which is on the second blade and which faces the first edge on the first blade for enabling a hair-removing action of the pair of scissors, and a comb on the first or the second blade, the comb extending along its blade and projecting outwardly from an edge of its blade which is opposite the first edge of its blade.

2. A pair of scissors according to claim 1 in which the first and second blades are such that both of their first edges are straight cutting edges.

3. A pair of scissors according to claim 1 in which one of the first and second blades is such that its first edge is a straight cutting edge, and in which the other one of the first and second blades is such that its first edge is a thinning edge for thinning hair.

4. A pair of scissors according to any one of the preceding claims in which the comb has fixed teeth.

5. A pair of scissors according to any one of claims 1 - 3 in which the comb has teeth which are movable between a combing position and a stowage position.

6. A pair of scissors according to claim 5 in which the teeth pivot between the combing position and the stowage position.

7. A pair of scissors according to claim 6 and including a control member for causing the teeth to move between the combing position and the stowage position.

8. A pair of scissors according to claim 7 in which the control member is a sliding control member.

9. A pair of scissors according to any one of the preceding claims in which the comb is a permanent fit on its blade.

10. A pair of scissors according to any one of claims 1 - 8 in which the comb is a removable fit on its blade.

11. A pair of scissors according to any one of the preceding claims in which the blade that does not have the comb is such that it has an edge which is opposite the first edge and which is of a known design serving no specific hairdressing function.

12. A pair of scissors according to any one of claims 1 -10 in which the blade that does not have the comb is such that it has another comb, the said other comb having teeth which project outwardly from an edge which is opposite the first edge.

13. A pair of scissors according to any one of claims 1 - 10 in which the cutting hair, the razor having a razor cutting edge which projects outwardly from an edge which is opposite the first edge.

14. A pair of scissors according to any one of the preceding claims and which is made from a single material.

15. A pair of scissors according to any one of claims 1 -13 and which is made from more than one material.

16. A pair of scissors according to any one of the preceding claims in which the comb is made from the same material as the rest of the pair of scissors, or part of the pair of scissors when the pair of scissors is made from more than one material.

17. A pair of scissors according to any one of claims 1 -15 in which the comb is made from a different material to the rest of the pair of scissors, or part of the pair of scissors when the pair of scissors is made from more than one material.

18. A pair of scissors according to any one of the preceding claims in which the comb has teeth with spacings between the teeth of one size.

19. A pair of scissors according to any one of claims 1 -17 in which the comb has teeth with spacings between the teeth of two or more different sizes.

20. A pair of scissors substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 3 - 12 of the accompanying drawings.