US2292828A - Hair and beard clipper - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 11, 1942,

' w. F. FEYRE R HA'IR AND BEARD CLIPPER '7 Filed Oct. is, 1938 INVENTOR 'erable commercial success.

Patented Aug. 11, 1942 UNITED v STATE s PATENT OFFICE HAIR AND BEARD CLIPPER. Wi lliam Feyrer, Norwalh, Conn. I Application October 13,1937,- Serial- Nt. 158,693

,3: Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in hair 7 andbeard clippers.

During recent years there has been a considerable development of hair and-beard cutting implements, and some of these have had a consid- -However,-most of these prior developments depended uponoffset or superposed. shearing cutters and upon a shearing action. With such cutting implements there is the danger of tilting the hairs, or beard,

1 or beard on the swath line is first partially cut by one movable cutter. This distribution of the cut breaks up or divides the-cutting load and thereby makes possible the provision of a smaller and morecompact prime mover than would be the case if the complete out were simultaneously made.

and causing an adverse pulling action, especially a if there is even a slight extent of wear between r the cooperating shearing cutters.

- It is an important object of the present invention toprovide a hair and beard cutting implement, herein referred to as a hairand beard clipper, which will not have the disadvantage of ofiset or shearing cutters heretofore provided.

A feature resulting from the attainment of this object isthe provision of cooperating cutters engaging or'nearly engaging each other on'an even plane so that the hair or beard is nipped and not sheared. In the claims and parts of the detailed description hereinafter the terms nip, nipped and nipping will be-used to distinguish l i'further and very important object of the present invention is to'provide a hair and beard clipper which will effectively cut hair or a beard very close to the skin, yet effectively prevent the close skin from getting intothe path of the cooperating cutters. I

Features flowing fromtheattainmentcf this .object include the provision of: cutting edges operable on a level with the surface of the skin, with no grillesor guards interposed between the cutting edges and the skin as are very often provided: interfitting prongs with cutting edges alternately brought into operative engagement;

. movable cutters adapted'to serveas protectors to prevent theusers skin from being cut; interfitting sets of prongs having cutting edges, with the advantageous structures wherein the opposed cooperating cutters are on an even plane as distinguished fromthe less advantageous shear or shearing structures wherein the cooperating cutters are offset or superposed relative to each other.

A further feature is the provision of a main cutter and a pair of cooperating cutters which may be moved alternately relative to the main cutter. Complementing the last mentioned feature, the present invention provides driving mechanism for positively and accurately moving the pair of cooperating cutters relative to the main cutter, and in some forms, keeping one cooperating cutter in the operative position before retracting the same until the-other cooperating v cutter is moved from the inoperativeposition completely or substantially into the operative position.

' these objects, include the provision of a main cutter and a pair of movable cutters with interspersed cutting edges adapted to be alternately brought into operative engagement whereby erative position, and vice versa.

one set of prongs serving-ass. guard and'defining hair receiving openings while the other set of prongs and cutting edges is advanced to the op- A further and important feature of the present invention is the provision of means for easily and effectively setting the main or fixed cutting edges relative to each other, initially for the best I results on light and heavy beards, and to compensatefor wear whenever necessary.

In the drawing which illustrates the,present preferred embodiments of the invention:

Figure 1 is an end view of the hair and heard clipper.

Fig. 2 is an exploded and perspective view of the cutting head shown in Figure 1.

' Fig. 2A is a fragmentary view of a modified form ofcam layout. Fig. 3jis a fragmentary bottom view of the cutters, showninFigs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4" is a sectional view, similar to the form shown in Figs. 1 through 3, but with cutter setting mechanism, taken on line 4-4 of 5.

4A is a sectional view similar to Figs. 1 through 4, but shows the cutters in a shearing relation.

Fig. 5 is a side view, partly in section, of the cutter head shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an end view similar to Fig. 1, show inga modified view of the invention, including hair pivotally rather than rectilinearly moved cutters.

Fig. '1 is an exploded and perspective view of the cutting head shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is one view of the cutter driving mechanism.

Fig. 8A is a cam layout of shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 10, showing a modified cutter setting mech- 111115111.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side view of the cutter setting mechanism shown in Fig. 9.

Before describing the present improvements and mode of operation thereof in detail it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement the mechanism of parts shown in the accompanying drawing,

which is merely illustrative of the present preferred embodiments, since the invention is capable of other embodiments, and the phraseology employed is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referringnow in detail to the drawing, that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 through 3 comprises a handle l2 secured as by a threaded connection l3 to a cutter head M which includes a main cutter I5 and a pair of cooperating movable cutters l6 and I1.

The main cutter I5 is preferably made of one piece and is provided with a cutting edge 18 at the rear of which may be provided a channel i9, to facilitate forming and sharpening the cutting edge, and more particularly to provide a clearance passage for out hair or heard.

The movable cutter l6 has a set of prongs 20 with slots 2| therebetween, generally curving toward the main cutter to provide a channel 22, complementing the channel i9 of the main cut- Similarly the other movable cutter l1 includes a set of prongs 23 closely and slidably fitting into the slots 2|, while intermediate slots 24 thereof likewise accommodate prongs 20 of the movable cutter IS. The prongs 20 and 23 are each provided with cutting edges 25 and 25 on the same plane as and cooperable with the cutting edge I! of the main cutter. Now, it should be particularly noted that this cooperation of the cutting edges on the same plane effects a very advantageous nipping action, as distinguished from the less advantageous shearing action which is generally 'used on dry shaving and like devices.

In this form of the invention the cooperating cutters l6 and I1 are moved rectilinearly toward, and into, an operative position relative to the main cutter. To make this travel possible the present invention provides a channel 26 between lugs 21 including a table 28 upon and between which the movable cutters l6 and I1 may be superposed, supported and guided. Side sections 29 and 30 thereof are close fitting between the lugs 21 to insure a straight line movement toward and from the main cutter l5. Adverse vertical movement of the movable cutters i6 and I1 relative to the main cutter I5 is prevented by the provision of a plate 3| overlying the pair of movable cutters I6 and I1 and secured to the lugs 21 as by screws 32.

A driving mechanism 33, for that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 through 5, includes a drive shaft 34 axially disposed in .the handle 12 and connected to any well-known type of rime mover, with cams 35 and 35 at th lower end thereof cooperating with elongated slot 31 and,v

ll in the movable cutters l6 and I1 respectively. The cams are offset relative to each other to alternately move the cutters l6 and I1 into operative engagement with the main cutter l5.

Preferably, as shown in Fig. 2A, a modified form of driving mechanism 39 is provided to allow one movable cutter to remain in close operative relation with the main cutter 15 until the other movable cutter is in or close to operative relation thereto before retraction. To this end modified cams 35' and 36, and modified slots 31' and 3B of greater width than the cams are provided so that the high point of each cam successively after moving its cutter to the main cutter moves arcuately approximately degrees before pushing its associated cutter back to an inoperative position and away from the main cutter.

The prongs 20 and 23 successively after they reach the operative position serve as protectors to prevent skin from getting into the path of the then working cutting edges, and at the same time define small hair or heard receiving apertures. Also, by alternately moving first one and then the other set of cutting edges 25 and 25' into operative or cutting engagement with the main cutter I5 the cutting load is halved so that there is no bad pull as would occur if the cutting action-took place completely across the line of swath at one time. However, it does cut completely across the line of swath so that in a straight passage of the clipper there will be no series of cut and uncut tracks as occurs with those dry shavers or clippers in which grilles or guards are provided longitudinally of the line of travel, with the cutting action taking place only between such guards.

. That form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is similar to the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, differing therefrom only in the provision of a main or fixed setting mechanism 40 for: initialily having a correct relationship between the cutting edges I 8, 25 and 25', when the device is first manufacturedg'insuring a close relationship between the edges without actually having the same strike against each other adversely; effecting a proper setting for nipping light, heavy, soft, wiry, beards or the like; and compensating for wear or resharpening.

This setting mechanism 40 merely icludes a slide connection 4| between the head 42 and main cutter l5a, so that the latter may be moved toward and from the movable cutters l5 and I1. To effect and maintain such positioning cams 43 on a rod 44 adapted to enter apertures 45 are provided. The rod and cams may be turned by a small knob 46 and may be held in desired position by. a screw 41.

Fig. 4A discloses a slightly modified form of the invention, similar to that shown in Figs. 1 through 5, inclusive, differing therefrom primamy in having prongs 20a and 23a on movable cutters lGa and l1a above the cutting edge "a on a main cutter I51) and over-riding the latter to efiect a shearing rather than a nipping action. With this form of the invention the prongs 20a and 23a define hair receiving apertures, break the swath line, and divide or break the cutting load. However, it is believed that the shearing action is much less desirable than the nipping action of the other forms of the invention.

Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 8A show a further modified form of the invention, differing from the form in Figs. 1 through 5, inclusive, primarilyin the provisionflof movable cutters 50 and it having 'apivoted'mountin'g l2 and a different driving mechanism 53. The pivoted mounting includes a pivot rod 54 on the back of a head no: a main cutter 56. The rod'is supported by lugs 51 which ternately move the latter toward and from themain cutter 55. The row-bottom-cam slot 59, see Fig. 8A, is provided with ashort liftinglobe 60 and a long lowering slot 59 whereby the movable cutters are successively retracted only while the mating movable cutter is in the operative station and is again moved into the operative station before the cutter in the operative position is retracted. Thus, either the cutter 50 oril is always.

in the operative position, servingas a guard and cutting edges of each of said pair of'cooperating cutters alternately relative to the long straightcutting edge. 7

6. In a hair and beard clipper, the combination of amain cutter; a first cooperating cutter;

a second cooperating cutter, separately movable relative to the first cooperating cutter; and means for alternately moving said first and second cooperatingcutters arcuafely relative to said maincutter. V I

7. In a hair and beard clipper, the combination of a main cutter; a continuous cuttingedge on said main cutter, a pair of cooperating cutters; and means for alternately moving each of permitting the working cutting edges of the other 7 cutter to safely nip the hair or beard level with the skin.

Figs. 9 and 10 are similar to Figs. 4 and 5 for they disclose a setting mechanism. 65 comprising a slide section 65 with flanged screws 61 at two sides entering suitable threaded holes 68. Flanges 69 on the screws enter recesses I0 to move the main cutter H relative to the head 12 toward and away from the movable cutters l6 and I! to obtain the most effective cutting'relation. Either of the setting mechanisms 40 or 65 may be used with that form of the invention shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. 7

Other variations and modifications .may be made within the scope of this invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others. 1

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a hair and beard clipper, the combination of a main cutter; only one main nipping edge on ,the main cutter; a pair of relatively movable cooperating nipping cutters; means: for supporting said pair of cooperating cutters for movement relative'to each other; and means for moving each of said pair of cooperating nippin cutters alternately and independently of each other toward and from abutment with the one main members toward said main cutter.

2. In a hair and beard clipper the combination of a main cutter; a, cooperating cutter having a plurality of cutting prongs; a second cooperating cutter having a plurality of cutting prongs slidable between the cutting prongs oi. the first cooperating cutter member; and means for moving the prongs of said cooperating cutters alternately toward saidmain cutter.

3. In a hair and heard clipper the combination a pair of cuttersrectilinearly relative to. and into operative conditionwith respect to, the continuous cutting edge on said main cutter. g

8. In a hair and beard clipper, the combination of a main cutter; a pair of cooperating cutters-having operative and inoperative positions; means for alternately moving said pair of cooperating cutters toward and from the main cutter and for alternately maintaining one of said cooperating cutters at the operative position while moving the other cooperating cutter to the inoperative position; and means for effecting a main fixed setting between said main cutter and said cooperating cutters. V I

'9. In a shaving'and hair cutting'implement the combination of one main cutter; a pair of separately movable cooperating cutters; means for supporting said pair of cooperating cutters for movement wholly independent of each other back and forth relative to s'aidone main cutter; and means for effecting alternating relative .movement between said one main cutter and said separately movable cooperating cutters.

10. In a hair. and beard clipper the combination of a main cutter; a pair of cooperating cutof a head having a-channel; a main cutter on a said head; a ,pair of separate inter-fitting and cooperating cutters supported in said channel; and means for moving each of said pair of cooperating cutters separately in said channel alternately toward said-main cutten.

4. In a hair and beard clipperthe combination of a head; a main cutter on said head; a cooperating member having alternate recesses and fingers; a second cooperating member having alternate recesses, and fingers slidable in recesses of the other cooperating cutter member; and

means for alternately moving said cooperating members toward said main cutter.

5. In a hair and beard clipper the combination of a main cutter; a long straight cutting edge on 7 said main cutter; a pair of cooperating cutters,

each having a plurality of cutting edges; and means for alternately moving the plurality of ters: prongs on said pair of cooperating. cutters; and driving means for moving some of said cut-. ters relatively to each other into an operative and inoperative position and for alternately causing the prongsof one cutter to serve as a protector while the other cutter is moved into an operative cutting condition, and vice versa.

11. In a hair and beard clipper the combination of a main cutter; a pair of cooperating mov- -able cutters, having operative and inoperative positions; prongs on each of said cooperating cutters; cutting edges. on said prongs; and driving means for moving. said movable cutters alternately into operative engagement with said main cutter, and for alternately maintaining prongs of one cutter in close proximity to the main cutter to serve as a protector while the prongs and cutting edges of the other movable cutter pass from a retracted inoperative position to an advanced and operative position. i v

12. Ina hair and beard clipper the combination ofa'main cutter; a pair of movable and cooperating cuttera: movable toward and into a cutting condition relative to the main cutter, having operative and inoperative positions; cutting edges on said cooperating cutters; prongs on each of said movable cooperating cutters, forming protectors defining hair receiving apertures and serving to prevent passage of a person's hair bearing skin intoithe path or the cooperating cutting edges; and means for maintaining the .pro'ngs .of one cooperatingcutter in close association with the main cutter while moving the other cooperating cutter and cutting edges there-V 13. In a hair and beard clipper the combination of a plurality of cooperating cutters defining a swathline; prongs with nipping, edges v 21. In a hair andbea'rd clipper the combination oi'a head; a pair of cooperating cutters; a

on at least one of said cutters; meanssupporting said cooperating cutters in nipping relation to each other; means for guarding skin irom said -nipping edges while at least one of the cutters moves from operative tgLnoperative position and back into operative position; and means for etfecting relative movement between the cutters at substantially a right angle to the swathline.

- 14. In a hair and beard clipper thecombination of a cutter head having a channel; walls for said channel; a main cutter; a pair of movable cutters, located and guided relative tosaid main cutter by the walls of said channel; a pivotal support for said movable cutters; and means imparting relative movement to said cutters.

main cutting edge onsaid head, common to said pairof cooperating cutters and at a right angle to the normal path or the clipper; means for supporting said pair of cooperating cutters for separate movement toward and from the main cutting edge and substantially along the path or the clipper; and driving means for alternately operating, said pair of cooperating cutters in opposite directions relative to each other and to- I ward the main cutting edge.

15. In a hair and heard clipper the c'ombination of a cutter head having only one channel; walls for said channel; a main cutter; a pair of separately movable cutters located and guided relative to said main cutter by the walls of said one channel; and a cam and slot driving means for efiecting relative movement between the movable cutters and the main cutter.

16. In ahair and beard clipper the combina- "22. In a hair and beard clipper, the combination of a head; a wide cutting edge on said head;

a first set of cooperating cutters; a second set of cooperating cutters; means for interfitting said two sets or cutters, one within the other; and driving means for alternately moving said first set of cooperating cutters into operative engagetion of a. cutter head having a channel; walls.

for said channel; a main cutter; a pair .of movable cutters located and guided relative to said main cutter by the walls of said channel, each having an elongated slot; and a camming member entering the elongated slots for driving said pair of movable cutters .altemately to and away from the main cutter. 2

1'7. In a hair and beard cl pervthe combination of a cutter head having a channel; a main cutter; a pair of separatelyand independently movable cutters; interdigutating means on said pairotmpvable cutters; means for guiding said separately and independently movable cutters relative to the main cutter; .and drivingmeans for-altemately moving .said separately and independently movable cutters into operative condition separately andindependently relative to the main cutter.

18. In a hair and beard clipper the combination of a cutter head having a channel; a main cutter; v a pair of movable cutters; means for guiding said movable cutters relative to the main cutter; and means for alternately moving said movable cutters into operative condition relative to the main cutter and for imparting an intermittent dwell to said movable-cutters alternately in the operative position.

19. In a hair and beard clipper the combination of a cutter head; a main cutter; a continuous cutting edge on said main cutter; a pair of movable cutters; sets of interfitting prongs on each of said movable cutters defining hair receiving apertures; cutting edges on each of said sets of prongs; and means for altemately moving one set of prongs into anoperative condition relative to the main cutter whileretracting the other set of prongs to form small hair and beard receiving openings. v 20. In a hairand beard clipper the combination of a main cutter; a single'wide andsub for oscillating said movable cutters altemately to and from, said single cutting edge.

ment with the wide cutting edge and concurrently moving the second set of cooperating cutters away from the wide cutting edge and vice versa, for alternately operating said first and second sets of cooperating cutters in opposite directions between each other and toward the main cutting edge. a

23.- Ina hair and beard clipper the combination of a head; a pair of cooperating nipping cutters; onlyv one main nipping cutter on said head, common to said pair of cooperating nipping cutters and at a right angle to the normal path of the clipper; means for supporting each of said pair of cooperating nipping cutters, for relativelyindependent movement toward and from abutment with said main nipping cutter; and driving means for alternately moving said cooperating cutters relative to each other and toward the main nipping cutter. 24. In a hair and beard clipper the combination of ,a head; a first set of spaced apart nipping cutters; a second set of spaced apart nipping cutters, interfitting with the first set; a wide main nipping cutter on said head common to said first and second sets of spaced apart nipping cutters, and at a right angle to the normal path of the. clipper; and means for alternately moving said first and second sets of nipping cuttionof a head having one channel; a main cutter on' said head; one set of cooperating cutters;

a second set of cooperating cutters lnterfltting with the first set; means in said one channel for supporting both sets of interfitting cutters; and driving means for moving each of said interfitting sets' or cooperating cutters between each other alternately toward and from the main cutter.

27. In a hair and beard clipper the combination or a head; a wide main cutter on said head; a first set'of cooperating cutting fingers with recesses therebetween; means for concurrently moving said set of fingers; a second set of cooperating cutting fingers movable within the recesses between the first set of cutting fingers; means for concurrently moving said second set of cutting fingers; and driving means 'foralter- V nately moving said first and second sets of cutting fingers between each other toward and from the wide main cutter. 3

28. In a hair and beard clipperrthe combination of a head; a wide main nipping edge on said head; a first set of cooperating nipping fingers with recesses therebetween; means for concurrently moving said set of fingers; a second set of cooperating nipping fingers'movable within the recesses between thefirst set of nipping finnation of amain cutter; a plurality of cooperating cutters, interspersed and-movable relative to each other and also to operative and inoperative position relative to the main cutter; and driving means for alternately moving certain of said movable cutters into operative engagement with gers; means for concurrently moving said sec- 0nd set of nipping fingers; and driving means for alternately moving said first andsecond sets of nipping fingers between each other toward and from the wide main nipping edge.

29. In a hair and beard clipper the combination of a head; a wide nipping edge on the head; a first set of cooperating nipping edges; a second set of cooperating nipping edges; means for supporting said first and second sets of nipping edges in interspersed relation with each other; and means for alternately moving said the main cutterand maintaining them in close proximity thereto while and until the other of said movable cutters are moved from a retracted and inoperative position into an advanced and operative position. Y j

34. In a hair and heard clipper the combination of a head; a main nipping cutter; a first set oi cooperating nipping cutters having retracted and advanced positions with recesses therebetween; a second set of cooperating nipping cutters interspersed and movable relative to the first' set having retracted and advanced positions;'andmeans for moving said first and. second sets of nipping cutters between each other alternately toward and. from the main nipping cutter, and

sets arcuately between each other andboth tocutters between each other rectilinearly alternately toward and from the wide main nipping cutter.

31. In ahair and beard clipper, the combination of a head; a main cutter on the head; a pair of cooperating cutters; means to oscillate said pair or cutters back and forthrelative to each other and back and forth relative to said main cutter; and means for setting the main maintaining each of said sets.a1ternate1y in the advanced position while the other of said sets of nipping cutte'rsis moved from the retracted to the advanced position.

35..In a hair and beard clipper the eombination of a cutter head having a channel; a'main nipping cutter; a set of cooperating nipping cutters; :a second set of cooperating nipping cutters;

cutter in various positions on the head and rela- V tive to the cooperating cutters.

32. In a hair and beard clipper the combinetion or a head; a 'main nipping cutter on the head; a set of cooperating nipping cutters on' the head; a second set oi cooperating nipping cutters; means for supporting said. sets of cooperating nipping cutters in interspersed and relatively slidable reiationrmeans for driving said sets of'cooperating nipping cutters toward and from said main nipping cutters; .and means for setting said main and cooperating nipping cutters in an operative relation.

' 33. In a hair-and beard clipper the combia for supporting said pair oilcutters for movement 7 a ing means for relatively reciprocating each 01" said pair of cooperating cutters altemately'and independently of each other back and forth into cutting relation toward and from the one wide and regular cutting edge on the main cutter.

means in said channel for'locating and guiding said'sets of nipping cutters relative to said main nipping cutter; apivotal support for said movv able cutters; and driving means, for pivotally moving the cooperating nipping cutters thereon'into' operative relation with the main nipping cutter. r a v 36.'-In a hair and beard clipper the .combination of a body; a main cutter; sets of interfitting movable cutters; means for supporting said sets of movable cutters for pivotal movement between each other; and driving means for mov-- ing said interfltting cutters between each other alternately into operative relation cutter; v

3'1. In 'a hair and beard clipper, the combination of a main cutter; only one wide and regular cutting edge'on the main cutter; a pair of relatively movable. cooperating cutters; means independently relative to each othe raand driv- With the main 7

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