Cutlery – Razors – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-11
2001-08-21
Rachuba, M. (Department: 3724)
Cutlery
Razors
Combined
C030S043920
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276060
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a dry shaving apparatus or hair cutting apparatus with a housing, with an electric drive mechanism and with at least one cutter assembly comprised of cooperating cutter blades combining to form a cutting edge, and with a spacer comb having at least one engagement surface associated with the cutting edge and formed by tines, with a relative distance to the cutting edge being adjustable by displacement of the engagement surface or engagement line.
From DE 34 41 060 A1 a hair cutting apparatus is known having a cutter assembly comprised of cooperating cutter blades and a spacer comb slidably arranged on the housing of the hair cutting apparatus. The spacer comb is comprised of a tubular section and tines that are integrally formed with the tubular section and have legs approximately parallel with the plane of the stationary blade of the cutter assembly, the legs forming an acute angle with upper legs of the tines and combining with them to form a leading edge parallel to the cutting edge. The tines extending parallel to the lower plane of the blade provide a what is referred to as engagement surface whose relative distance to the cutter assembly is variable by displacement of the spacer comb such as to lock into various positions while the relative distance of the cutter assembly to the upper legs of the tines is maintained unchanged.
From Japanese patent application 62-246397 A1 a hair cutting apparatus is known having a spacer comb that is slidably arranged for locking engagement in various positions. The spacer comb is comprised of a tubular section as well as a contiguous second section formed of tines and surrounding the cutter assembly of the hair cutting apparatus. This second section formed of tines extends at an acute angle to the rear section equally formed of tines which is oriented parallel to the stationary blade of the cutter assembly. Both sections are suited for use as engagement surface for the cutting of hair. However, in this known hair cutting apparatus the relative distance of the cutting edge of the cutter assembly to the first section is designed to be greater than to the second section. As a result, on displacements of the spacer comb from one setting into a further one of the settings provided, different relative distances of the one engagement surface and the other engagement surface to the cutting edge of the cutter assembly are produced.
From U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,940 it is known to vary the distance of the two angularly extending engagement surfaces of a spacer comb relative to the cutting edge of the cutter assembly by fitting the spacer comb in a first or second push-on position provided on the housing of the hair cutting apparatus, with the desired distance being set along a spatial axis extending through the cutting edge.
It is an object of the present invention to improve a dry shaving apparatus or a hair cutting apparatus in such a way that the hair remaining on the user's head is cut to a uniform length at any setting and engagement position relative to a skin surface to which the spacer comb is adjusted.
According to the present invention, this object is accomplished in an apparatus of the type referred to in claim
1
by the features indicated in the characterizing portion of this claim.
The invention embodying the solution as disclosed in claim
1
enables the use of spacer combs having one or several engagement surfaces and ensures that the engagement surfaces which are provided on a spacer comb of a dry shaving apparatus or a hair cutting apparatus for the cutting of hair, on setting to any cutting length, cause the hair to be cut to the set cutting length uniformly, regardless of the particular position of the spacer comb relative to the skin surface in which the spacer comb is guided over the user's skin surface.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the relative distances of the engagement surfaces to the cutting edge are of like magnitude in the initial position of the spacer comb. It is an essential advantage of this embodiment that it enables the user to be cut to an extremely short and at the same time uniform length immediately open setting the apparatus in operation.
In an embodiment of the present invention in which the spacer comb has at least two engagement surfaces, the engagement surfaces are slidable substantially along their bisector. This approach enables a plurality of different cutting lengths and ensures, upon adjustment or presetting of a particular cutting length, a uniform hair cut on the user. Depending on the predetermined setting, it is possible in this manner to cut a beard that has been allowed to grow over one or several days, such as four or five days, to a uniform length.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the engagement surface is formed by the envelope surface of a cylinder.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the relative distance of the engagement surface to the cutting edge is infinitely variable. In an alternative aspect of this embodiment, provision is made for the relative distance of the engagement surface to the cutting edge to be variable in steps. A very simple and effective embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the engagement surface is of an arcuate configuration. In an alternative embodiment, the engagement surface is of an L-shaped configuration. A still further embodiment is characterized in that the engagement surface is of a planar configuration.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the spacing of the engagement surface is adjustable by means of a control device. According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the variation of the spacing of the engagement surface by means of a control device may be accomplished simply by forming the control device of components of the spacer comb or an actuating member associated therewith. In a further aspect of this embodiment, the spacer comb is formed of a housing, a movably mounted comb attachment incorporating the tines, the actuating member, detent members and control members. This spacer comb is designed to be an accessory for a shaver or a hair cutter, for example, but it may also be a component part of a shaver or a hair cutter.
To produce a uniform distance of one or several engagement surfaces relative to the cutting edge in a relatively simple manner, the control members provided in the spacer comb comprise control grooves extending obliquely to the vertical direction Y as well as obliquely to the horizontal direction X, and control cams slidably guided in the control grooves. For variation of the relative distance of the engagement surface(s) to the cutting edge, an obliquely extending control groove is provided in a front panel of the comb attachment, and a control cam engaging within this control groove is provided on the actuating member. To obtain at the same time a uniform distance of one several engagement surfaces relative to the cutting edge, two control cams are preferably provided on the narrow side walls of the comb attachment for engagement with the control grooves extending obliquely to each other. In a further aspect of this embodiment, the obliquely extending control grooves are provided in opposed narrow side walls of a control plate insertable into the housing.
For perfect guiding of the actuating member, the control plate includes a horizontally extending slot for engagement with a control cam provided on the actuating member. A very simple positioning of the tines of the spacer comb at different relative distances to the cutting edge is accomplished in that cooperating detent members are provided on the control plate and on the actuating member. Preferably, the detent members on the control plate are configured as notches. Correspondingly, the detent members on the actuating member are formed of a bow part provided with detent noses. A further benefit afforded by the present invention is that the spacer comb is at the same time suited for use as a guard member for the long-hair trimmer, and that the
Faulstich Helmut
Klotz Michael
Braun Aktiengesellschaft
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Rachuba M.
LandOfFree
Dry shaving apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Dry shaving apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Dry shaving apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2473166