Electrically powered hair-cutting appliance

Abstract

 The invention concerns an electrically powered hair-cutting appliance (1) having a shaver system (3) built onto the front face of a housing (2) and powered by an electric motor (125). A carrier body (9) accommodating at least one long-hair clipper (10, 11) is affixed to the back side (7) of the housing (2) in such a way that it can be slid lengthwise along the housing (9). This makes it possible to trim a beard using either the long-hair clipper (10) on its own or in conjunction with the shaver (3). The long-hair clipper (10) consists of at least two cutter elements (106, 107) that slide with respect to one another and are integrated into a cutter-head frame (98). The long-hair clipper (10) according to the present invention is mounted on a carrier body (9) in such a way that it can pivot about a pivot axis (25) to a predefined angle (α). This makes it possible to protect the skin and improve shaving results either while performing a trim and a shave using the shaver and the long-hair clipper or while trimming without shaving. At the same time, this will make the hair-cutting appliance (1) easier to handle when shaving.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to an electrically powered hair-cutting appliance according to the preamble of Claim 1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] DE-41 17 990 A1 describes an electrically powered hair-cutting appliance having a shaver on the top of its front face powered by an electric motor. The trimmer preferably consists of a convex top blade made of a perforated metal foil perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the clipper housing, whereby a lower blade connected to a motor via a drive mechanism oscillates directly up against the bottom side of the top blade. A slider switch positioned on the front of the clipper is used to switch the motor on and/or off.

[0003] A carrier body having a clipper for cutting longer hair is mounted on the front of the appliance housing and is operated via an additional slider switch positioned next to the initial slider switch; this second switch allows the user to adjust this clipper upward to various positions along the housing. The drive mechanism of the long-hair clipper is mechanically coupled to that of the shaver, which, in turn, is coupled to the motor. The long-hair clipper consists of a spring-mounted, comb-like trimmer that extends outward from the housing and that can be raised and lowered via a sliding block guide on the carrier body. When performing a trim and a shave, the advantage of this design is that the long-hair clipper always moves and/or is slid out of the way just enough that it works with the shaver system to provide a consistently optimum position with respect to the surface of the skin. This also limits the pressure applied to the skin of the individual operating the device.

[0004] Furthermore, EP 1 641 601 B1 also discloses a hair-cutting appliance of the type described above, wherein a carrier body is mounted on a slider switch in front of the shaver on the front side of the appliance housing; long-hair clippers are positioned directly across each other on this carrier body, which can be rotated by 180°. When the slider switch is in position 1, the electric motor, and thus the shaver, is switched on. A shave with the shaver system is the only option available for position 1.

[0005] The long-hair clippers can now be engaged by moving the slider switch into position 2, thereby sliding the carrier body and clippers upwards such that the long-hair clipper and the shaver are aligned along the same cutting plane. At the same time, the drive shaft extends into the coupler mount of the long-hair clipper, which mechanically couples the cutters of the latter to the electric motor, allowing the user to perform a trim and a shave. The carrier body with the two long-hair clippers is mounted on the slider switch such that it rotates on an axis, thereby allowing the operator to use the clipper with the longer clipper teeth by rotating the carrier body to one position, and then to use the clipper with the shorter teeth by rotating the carrier body 180° into the other position.

[0006] If the slider switch is then moved into position 3, the wider clipper (if this is the long-hair clipper currently in use) will move along the housing to the point where its teeth protrude beyond the shaver system, so that they now form the only cutting plane of the hair-cutting appliance. This then will be the only long-hair clipper in use when the slider switch is in this position and the clipper appliance is placed against the user's skin; this arrangement can be used to maintain one-day beard growth or to shape sideburns.

[0007] If the carrier body is rotated about its axis while in position 3, the other long-hair clipper, i.e., the fixture having teeth that are shorter and curved slightly outwards, will be the only clipper available and can be used to shape sideburns or contours.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The aim of the present invention is to create an electrically powered hair-cutting appliance that protects the skin while improving shaving results and that allows the user to perform a trim and a shave using the shaver and the long-hair clipper and to perform a trim with no shave using only the long-hair clipper. At the same time, the appliance should be easier to handle during the shaving process.

[0009] This aim is achieved according to the present invention through the characteristic features disclosed in Claim 1. The long-hair clipper can be pivoted about a pivot axis, allowing it to better adapt to the contours of the user's skin and, especially, to provide more thorough results while better protecting the user's skin. Because the long-hair clipper according to the present invention pivots about a pivot axis, the contact surface of the clipper always remains flush with the surface of the skin such that the blade system can reach and cut very short hairs, even over large areas. The contact surface of the clipper according to the present invention will always necessarily follow the contours of the skin, virtually regardless of the angle to the skin at which the user holds the housing of the hair-cutting appliance. When handling the housing, the angles at which the user can move the appliance should cover as large a range as possible and this is accomplished by making the predefined angle large enough that, when shaving, the contact surface can always follow the movements of the hair-cutting appliance along the surface of the skin. This angle α is preferably 60°, which allows a great deal of room to maneuver and therefore makes the hair-cutting appliance easier to handle when shaving.

[0010] An example of the blade system for the long-hair clipper could be a cutter system that moves back and forth or that rotates. The pivot axis in either case is located slightly below the contact surface and/or below the blade of the long-hair clipper. The long-hair clipper must be able to pivot about this axis, and, as such, the element driving the lower blade must naturally be designed in such a way that it engages the lower blade in the form of a sliding block guide.

[0011] The pivoting long-hair clipper can be mounted directly on the carrier body, which, in turn, is mounted in a way that allows it to slide along the housing; the clipper can also, however, be indirectly affixed to the carrier body via one or more intermediate elements. The carrier body can also be affixed to the housing via an intermediate element which, in turn, is mounted on the housing in a way that allows it to slide.

[0012] The cutting plane of the long-hair clipper and the pivot axis are both advantageously located on the same side of the center of gravity formed both by the frame for the clipper head and by the cutter elements (Claim 2). This means that the long-hair clipper does not move independently during a shave-the contact surface instead necessarily follows the contours of the skin.

[0013] In order to achieve good shaving results, the pivot axis is parallel to the direction in which the cutter element(s) move. The contact surface is advantageously parallel to the pivot axis of the long-hair clipper, and the direction in which the comb-like teeth extend is essentially perpendicular to the pivot axis (Claim 4). This also means that the pivot axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the appliance housing, i.e., shaving requires moving the hair-cutting appliance toward the front or rear axis of the housing and essentially parallel to the pivot axis.

[0014] An especially simple mounting configuration is achieved for the long-hair clipper in that the pivot axis of the long-hair clipper fits into the two opposite ends of a fork-shaped support structure mounted on the carrier body. The fork-shaped support structure is also designed with mounting pins that extend into mounts built onto the frame of the long-hair clipper head in such a way as to permit the assembly to slide (Claim 5). The long-hair clipper, in other words, is suspended on the housing of the hair-cutting appliance like a swing, which causes little friction and allows the assembly to pivot easily during shaving. This configuration also permits an equivalent solution, of course, in which mounting pins built onto the long-hair clipper extend into mounts on the fork-shaped support structure.

[0015] In order to use the long-hair clipper in combination with the shaver, the user must slide the long-hair clipper along the housing until the contact surface of the shaver and that of the long-hair clipper form a single plane (Claim 6). The advantage here is that the contact surfaces of the shaver and long-hair clipper are essentially horizontal and thus perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing. From this position, the hair-cutting appliance can, depending on the pivot angle α of the long-hair clipper, be tilted sufficiently up or down from a midpoint while keeping the common contact surface of the two cutter systems flush with the surface of the user's skin. With this design, it is particularly advantageous if the contact surface of the shaver is curved outward, i.e., convex, and if its longitudinal axis is parallel to the pivot axis of the long-hair clipper and/or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing of the hair-cutting appliance. The upper blade is advantageously comprised of a convex shaver foil, whereby multiple, disk-shaped and likewise convex blades aligned one after another oscillate along the underside of this foil and combine with the openings in the upper blade to perform a cutting action.

[0016] If using the long-hair clipper exclusively, the clipper slides advantageously up along the housing until it extends beyond the shaver system such that, when the hair-cutting apparatus is placed against the user's skin, the latter only comes into contact with the surface of the long-hair clipper, which therefore follows the contours of the skin.

[0017] When placing only the comb-like tips in contact with the surface of the skin, for instance when shaping sideburns or beard contours, a built-in, manually activated stop or locking device located between the fork-shaped support structure and the frame of the long-hair clipper head is advantageous; enabling this device prevents the long-hair clipper from pivoting, thereby allowing the user to cut precise contours. The comb-like free end (tips) of the fixed comb teeth form a second contact surface that moves along the surface of the skin. This makes it possible for the upper and lower blades to cut any hairs that protrude from the front into the comb-like openings between the tips.

[0018] The long-hair clipper described here can therefore approach the surface of the skin from two sides: the level, flat contact surface provides a better means of shaving flat surfaces, whereas contours can be better cut by guiding the long-hair clipper to the skin starting with the tips of the cutter teeth.

[0019] According to a further improvement, the fork-shaped support structure is constructed on a mount piece which, in turn, is designed with a means for lowering the long-hair clipper a specific distance with respect to the carrier body and/or shaver against resistance provided by a spring assembly (Claim 7). This means that the long-hair clipper not only pivots about a pivot axis running along the longitudinal axis of the cutter assembly, but can also be moved up and down along the longitudinal axis of the housing by applying pressure against a spring assembly. This second degree of freedom of movement allows the contact surface of the long-hair clipper to better adapt to the surface of the user's skin. This is particularly advantageous when performing a shave and a trim: not only can the shaver and long-hair clipper form a contact surface that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing, but, when the hair-cutting appliance is held at an angle to the surface of the skin, this surface can likewise be formed at an angle, i.e., the contact surfaces of the two cutter systems form constantly changing planes that adapt perfectly to the movement of the hair-cutting appliance and to the contours of the skin.

[0020] The structures for lowering the long-hair cutter preferably consists of at least two guide elements extending above the carrier body; these, in turn, slide into mounts built onto the mount element (Claim 8). These structures are built on both sides of the long-hair clipper so that the clipper can be lowered easily without tilting.

[0021] Advantageously, these guide elements are comprised of guide rods and the mount fixtures are comprised of holes; the holes of the long-hair clipper move along within these structures, wherein one of the two holes and its corresponding guide rod form a sliding fit over a certain area. At the same time, this hole is conical and expands at each end, whereas the diameter of the other hole is larger than that of the corresponding guide rod to a predefined extent (Claim 9). This counteracts the familiar drawer effect and, at the same time, allows one side of the clipper to lower to a different depth than the other.

[0022] In the lowerable, long-hair clipper system, the hole with the sliding fit forms what is known as a fixed bearing, about which the other side of the long-hair clipper can easily pivot and/or tip, albeit only so far as permitted by the clearance between the guide rod and the hole on the one hand and, on the other hand, by the room between the conical expanded areas and the holes. This aspect of the invention makes it possible for the long-hair clipper to be lowered and simultaneously at an angle when shaving. This embodiment of the present invention is not difficult to design or costly to manufacture and is especially easy to produce.

[0023] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the guide rods are mounted to a cover element that, in turn, is linked to the carrier body via vibration dampers. These vibration dampers are comprised of molded springs that snap into the cover element and the carrier body via snap-on connections. The connection between the fork-shaped support structure and the mount element, which can tip and lower, is fixed and, as such, consists of just one piece, preferably of plastic; the guide rods, on the other hand, are mounted in a cover element, which, in turn, is connected to the housing via vibration dampers to absorb vibrations that the guide rods introduce to the cover element during shaving. This increases the elasticity of the long-hair clipper while, at the same time, greatly diminishing the vibrations reaching the long-hair clipper from the drive assembly on the side closest to the housing, which enhances the comfort of the shave. The molded springs are preferably made of metal or plastic and utilize snaps or clips to connect the cover element to the housing for the motor of the hair-cutting appliance. This makes the appliance particularly easy to assemble.

[0024] The mounting element tips and lowers and must be able to move up and down with respect to the cover element without letting its guide rods leave the mounting holes; to accomplish this, the mounting element is linked to the cover with a floating connection that limits its motion, i.e., arms oriented toward the cover element are built onto the fork-shaped support structure and have angled profiles that engage the cover element from the outside and provide at least some play to the rear and sides, whereby open space exists between the fork-shaped support structure and the cover element (Claim 11). The mounting element can move within this space to the point where it makes contact with the upper edge of the cover element. Assembly requires stretching the arms away from the cover element, opening the arms to the point where their angled end sections engage the ridges on the cover element, thereby guiding the mounting element to the cover element and limiting the movement of the former.

[0025] In order to absorb the vibrations emanating towards the motor housing, a w-shaped oscillatory bridge is mounted in the center of the cover element; both outer legs of the bridge are fixed to the cover element via rods, while a rod that drives one cutter element within a fitting bore is movably mounted on one side of the middle portion of the bridge; when the long-hair clipper is in operation, a power transmission element linked to the electric motor of the hair-cutting appliance extends into a coupling mount built onto the other side of the bridge (Claim 12). In this way, the vibrations affecting the long-hair clipper counteract those at the drive rods, which results in an advantageous reduction in the vibrations at the long-hair clipper.

[0026] In order to ensure that the spring mechanism continuously presses the lower blade against the upper blade, one end of the drive rod is linked to the lower blade of the long-hair clipper, while the spring mechanism, which is supported by the oscillatory bridge, engages at the other end; the oscillatory bridge is movably mounted on the cover element and perpendicular to the direction of motion of the drive rod (Claim 13). This also keeps the mounting element, which is linked to the fork-shaped support structure, in its upper position on the guide elements; as a result, when force is applied from above, the long-hair clipper moves toward the cover element against the force of the spring mechanism and then returns to its original position through the force of the springs.

[0027] The carrier body is mounted to a slider switch so that the former can be rotated 180°. At the same time, the coupling mount extends into the power transmission element when the slider switch is moved out of the on position and into the operating position in which the long-hair clipper is engaged (Claim 14). This also means that the hair-cutting appliance is particularly effective at saving energy, as the long-hair clipper does not engage with the motor until it is in use, i.e., until the slider switch is actuated.

[0028] In order to be able to operate the hair-cutting appliance with a second type of long-hair clipper, the carrier body is rotatably linked to the slider switch via a rotating axle; at the same time, a second long-hair clipper is built onto the carrier opposite the lowerable clipper and can be connected to the electronic motor (Claim 15). When the first long-hair clipper is switched on, the lower blade of the long-hair clipper at one end and the lower blade of the other long-hair clipper at the other end are driven in an opposing rhythm, i.e., the lower blades are each coupled to the motor via the single coupling mount. It is quite conceivable, however, that the other long-hair clipper would only be engaged once the carrier body is turned, at which point the long-hair clipper that had just been engaged is then switched off.

[0029] It should be pointed out here that the slider switch can be omitted if the carrier body is equipped with only one long-hair clipper apparatus. In this embodiment of the invention, the user would slide the carrier body along the housing both to switch on the hair-cutting appliance and to extend the long-hair clipper.

[0030] Unlike the first long-hair clipper, which can be used for shaving and trimming, the second long-hair clipper, which curves outward and is preferably used for trimming or shaping beard contours, is not positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hair-cutting appliance but instead is parallel to the longitudinal axis, i.e., parallel to the direction in which the slider switch moves. When using either long-hair clipper, the housing of the hair-cutting appliance is applied roughly perpendicular to the surface of the skin, whereas the housing is applied to the skin essentially face-first when using the pivoting long-hair clipper.

[0031] Other objectives, characteristics, advantages and sample applications of the present invention can be found in the following description of an example embodiment. All of the characteristics described or illustrated here, whether considered separately or in any given combination, constitute the object of the present invention, regardless of how they are summarized in the claims or a retroactive application thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The drawing shows an example embodiment of the present invention and will be described in more detail in the following:

Fig. 1A three-dimensional representation of a hair-cutting appliance according to the invention shown from the back right and slightly from above, wherein the slider switch, and thus the long-hair clipper system mounted in front of the shaver, is in its initial retracted, inactive position

Fig. 2A side view (R) from the right of the hair-cutting appliance shown in fig. 1

Fig. 3 The same side view as shown in fig. 2, except that in this case the slider switch has been moved into position 1, in which the long-hair clipper is mechanically engaged and positioned along the same plane as the shaver, thereby allowing the user to perform a shave and trim using both the shaver and the long-hair clipper

Fig. 4 The same side view as shown in fig. 2, except that in this case the slider switch has been moved into position 2, in which the long-hair clipper extends above and beyond the shaver, thereby practically limiting the user to performing only a trim with the long-hair clipper

Figs. 5 to 7 Identical side views (shown from the right) of the slider switch and carrier body, which have been removed from the housing; also visible are the two long-hair clippers mounted directly opposite each other on the carrier body, wherein each of the three figures shows the top long-hair clipper, which pivots about a pivot axis, in a different position

Fig. 8 An enlarged, three-dimensional view of the right-hand side of the carrier body shown from the rear left and slightly from below; also visible are the two long-hair clippers mounted opposite each other as shown in figure 1

Fig. 9A cross-section taken along the IX-IX plane in fig. 10 at the level of the floating connection between the fork-shaped support structure and the cover element, which is fixed to the housing

Fig. 10A center cross-section taken along the V-V plane in fig. 5 at the level of the pivot axis running through the carrier body and showing the integrated cutter assemblies

Fig. 11A center cross-section taken along the XI-XI plane in fig. 10

Fig. 12A cross-section taken along the XII-XII plane in fig. 13 at the level of the floating connection between the fork-shaped support structure and the cover element, which is fixed to the housing

Fig. 13A center cross-section at the level of the pivot axis running through the carrier body as shown in figure 10; here, however, the contact surface of the comb-like side of the upper long-hair clipper is horizontal and the frame of the clipper head, including the fork-shape support structure and mounting element, is shown tipped clockwise about the guide elements

Fig. 14A center cross-section taken along the XIV-XIV plane in fig. 13

Fig. 15A close-up of area A in fig. 13

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] The three-dimensional representation in figures 1 through 4 shows an essentially familiar hair-cutting appliance 1 designed as a dry shaver; the appliance has a housing 2 and a shaver system 3 on its top face. The shaver system 3 consists of a generally familiar, upwardly curved upper blade 4 designed as a perforated shaver foil, below which a lower blade (not shown here) oscillates back and forth, powered by a drive mechanism and/or electric motor represented here by a dashed line 125.

[0034] The long axis of the shaver system 3, which can be designed in any number of ways without affecting the present invention, is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 12 of the hair-cutting appliance 1, as shown in figures 1 through 4. The housing 2 accommodates the motor 125, drive mechanisms (not shown), electrical components such as a PCB (not shown), electrical switch 6, etc., and possibly battery cells and/or power or charging components supplying electricity to the motor 125. As shown in figures 2 through 4, the electrical on/off switch 6 is positioned on the front 5 of the housing 2. This switch is used to turn the power supplied to the motor 125 on or off. When engaged, the motor 125 drives the lower blade (not shown) of the shaver system 3, causing the former to oscillate in direction Z (figure 1).

[0035] As shown in figures 1 through 4, a carrier body 9 is mounted on a slider switch 8, which, in turn, is positioned on the rear 7 of the housing 2; a first and second long-hair clipper 10/11 are positioned directly opposite each other on the slider switch. The slider switch 8 can be moved along the longitudinal or central axis 12 (fig. 1) of the housing 2 from its initial position in figures 1 and 2 into a position for performing a shave and trim (figure 3) and into a position exclusively for trimming with a long-hair clipper (figure 4). As shown in figure 10 and 13, the carrier body 9, in turn, can be pivoted about an axis of rotation 13 on the slider switch 8, whose middle point is indicated by M. The midline 14 (figure 12) of the axis of rotation 13 is perpendicular to the mounting surface 16 (figure 4) of the slider switch 8.

[0036] The center axis 19 of the front and rear side 5, 7 of the housing 2 is angled slightly outwards as shown in figures 1 through 4. The rear 7 of the housing 2 is formed by the sliding surface 20 for the slider switch 8. The slider switch 8 slides on the housing 2 in the Z direction by means of well-known design features, such as runner-like longitudinal guides, sliding block guides, etc. For the sake of simplicity, however, these are not shown in greater detail in the drawings. The two lateral surfaces 17, 18 of the housing 2 curve slightly outwards. The relative positions of the preassembled module consisting of the slider switch 8 and the carrier body 9 are shown in more detail in figures 5 through 7. The front view (not shown) of slider switch 7 is comprised of a semi-oval; the side view (figures 2 through 4) is comprised of a triangular structure, the longest side of which forms the base 21 on which the slider switch surface 20 moves along the housing 2. The surface facing away from the housing 2 serves as the mounting surface 16 for the attachment surface 15 of the carrier body 9. The third surface serves as the gripping surface 22 with protruding ridges 23 (figures 1 through 4). The base surface 21, in other words, is the means by which the slider switch 8 slides lengthwise along the housing 2.

[0037] In figure 5, the upper long-hair clipper 10 with its comb-like teeth 24 (figure 8) rotates counterclockwise about a pivot axis 25 until the contact surface 26, which comes into contact with the surface of the user's skin, forms an angle α of approximately 60° with the longitudinal axis 27 of the carrier body 9. In figure 6, the angle α is roughly 120°, i.e., the contact surface 26 is angled downward to the right. In figure 7, the angle α is roughly 90°, i.e., the contact surface 26 is roughly perpendicular to longitudinal axis 27.

[0038] Figures 8 through 14 only show carrier body 9 with its two long-hair clippers 10, 11; these will be discussed in more detail in the following. When viewed from the front in the direction indicated by the letter T in figure 8, the carrier body 9 essentially consists of a semi-oval housing shell 28, the open back of which is partially covered by a plate 29, as shown in figure 11. The plate 29 is fixed to the housing shell 28 via multiple riveted bars 30.

[0039] As shown in figures 11 and 14, a plastic molded arm 31 is mounted onto the larger diameter of the rear riveted bar 30 in such a way that it can pivot with an oscillating motion; this lever, in turn, has a catch 32 at one end that is mechanically linked to a drive cam lobe of the motor 125, whereby the cam lobe is not shown in this drawing. On the other side, rivets 34 affix a molded sheet-metal blade 33 to the arm 31, whereby the blade extends out straight from below the carrier body 9. Pins 36 fix an upper blade 35 into place on the housing shell 28. Upper and lower blades 35, 33 are positioned against each other in a manner that allows them to slide, generating a cutting effect between the comb-like teeth 37, 38, as has long been known for shavers with long-hair clippers. The second long-hair clipper 11 is convex, i.e., curved outwards, whereby the line connecting the tips of the teeth 37, 38 lies on a circular segment 124 whose center point lies along the longitudinal axis 12 of the carrier body 9.

[0040] As shown in figures 10 and 13, a downwardly flared coupling engagement 39 is built onto a male fitting 126 and can be coupled to the drive mechanism 125 of the hair-cutting appliance via a drive member not shown in the drawing. Bolts 40 rigidly connect the coupling engagement 39 to a largely W-shaped oscillatory bridge 41. The oscillatory bridge 41 and coupling engagement 39 run symmetrically to the longitudinal axis 12 of the carrier body 9. The coupling engagement 39 can be glued, grouted, riveted or otherwise connected to the oscillatory bridge 41. Pins 44, 45 fix the two outer legs 42, 43 of the oscillatory bridge 41 into place on the housing shell 28.

[0041] As shown in figures 10 and 13, the legs 42, 43 of the oscillatory bridge 41 initially run vertically from the pins 44, 45 and then taper to film hinges 122, 123, after which they merge into a center element 46 designed in the shape of a roof. The roof/pyramid-shaped center element 46 has a bore hole 47 that is open at the bottom and has a lengthwise groove 127; the bore hole is closed off by the disk-shaped segment 48 of the male fitting 126. The coupling engagement 39 extends downward from one side of the disk-shaped segment 48, while a centering pin 49 extends upward from the center of the other side; a spiral compression spring 50 is supported on this pin in a centering manner. The other end of the compression spring 50 extends into the open space at the top of the bore hole 47 and presses against a plunger 51 via a centering mandrel 52; the plunger extends into the bore hole 47 and is pressed into a central position with a drive rod 53. The drive rod 53 extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis 12 into a fitting bore 54 at the top end of the oscillatory bridge 41, where it passes through the latter.

[0042] As shown in figures 10 and 13, the top portion of the oscillatory bridge 41 extends into an opening 55 in the housing shell 28 and then expands to form a disk-shaped segment 56 that is movably supported on an annular wall 128 of the housing shell 28. A cover element 57 is attached to the top of the housing shell 28; this cover has a central opening 58 through which the drive rod 53 extends upward. Curved clips 59, 60 punched from metal connect both sides of the cover element 57 to the housing shell 28. The clips 59, 60 are essentially U-shaped, whereby their U-shaped feet 61 clip into slits 62 in the housing shell 28 to keep them centered and held in place. A securing hook 63 is built onto the inner legs of the clips 59, 60; when the cover element 57 is mounted on the housing shell 28, this hook catches on a protruding element extending outward from the housing. This fixes the clips 59, 60 onto the housing shell 28.

[0043] As shown in figures 10 and 13, arched sections 65 extend outward from the outer legs of the clips 59, 60 and connect to the horizontal support element 66 at one end. The cover element 57 is mounted by pressing it down in the Z direction against the housing shell 28, whereby ramps 67 built onto the cover element 57 press the spring-like sections 65 inward until they catch in the outward-extending recesses 68 on the cover element 57. This fixes the cover element 57 onto the housing shell 28. The support elements 66 are, in turn, supported by the walls 69 of the cover element 57, whereby the cover element 57 retains a stable position with respect to the housing shell 28 with no play. Because the inner legs of the clips 59, 60 are connected to the housing shell 28 and the outer legs are connected to the cover element 57, the clips 59, 60 can cushion and/or absorb all or some of the vibrations from the cover element 57 while the hair-cutting appliance 1 is in operation.

[0044] Guide elements 72, 73 in the form of pins or bolts are mounted in bore holes 70, 71 on both sides of the cover element 57 at the height of the clips 59, 60; these elements extend out above the cover element 57. The pins 72, 73 can be grouted, glued, screwed or otherwise mounted in the bore holes 70, 71. The free ends of the pins 72, 73 extend movably into holes 74, 75 bored into a mounting element 76, which, as shown in figure 8, is shaped like a bowl and partially encompasses the cover element 57 from above. As shown in figures 10 and 13, the diameter of the right-hand mounting bore 75 is significantly larger than the diameter of the corresponding pin 73, while the left-hand mounting bore 74 (as shown in figure 15) is conical, with its wide end at the bottom and narrow end at the top 77, the latter of which accommodates guide element 72 with virtually no play. This makes it possible to slide mounting element 76, and thus the mounting bore 74, downward onto the guide element 72 with no play while, at the same time, to turn the mounting element either clockwise or counterclockwise around the guide element 72.

[0045] Figure 15 is a close-up clearly showing that mounting element 76 in its highest position, but has been turned clockwise so that the left-hand portion of the conical mounting bore 74 has more play with respect to the guide element 72 than the right-hand portion of the mounting bore 74. The cross-sectional profiles of the guide elements 72, 73 could be round, square, oval or other shape. All that matters is that the corresponding mounting bore 74 fits the cross-section of the guide element 72, 73 and that the mounting bore 74 expands enough at the bottom to accommodate the desired degree of pivoting about the guide element 72. As shown in figure 8, protruding elements 79 have been built onto the lateral surfaces of cover element 57; these protruding elements movably catch in the guide slits 78 in mounting element 76 and ensure that the mounting element 76 can only tip to the side along a single plane.

[0046] As shown in figures 9, 10, 12 and 14, the bowl-shaped mounting element 76 is limited on its long sides by walls 80, 81, the insides of which are adjacent to a downward pointing U-shaped, and preferably a fork-shaped, metal support piece 82. Angled profiles 83, 84 are built on the free ends of the walls 88, 89 of the support structure 82; these profiles face each other and engage the lateral strips 85 built onto the cover element 57. Downward facing guide walls 86 are attached to the strips 85; the angled profiles 83, 84 slide along these walls when the cover element 57 is moved. The angled profiles 84 also define a stop point for the cover element 57, ensuring that the latter can only be slid back and forth across the distance indicated by S 1 within the space 87 formed by the support structure 82. When connecting the cover element 57 to the support structure 82, applying pressure to the cover element 57 spreads the angled profiles 83, 84 away from each other in a spring-elastic motion until they encompass the strips 85; upon further application of pressure, these will then spring back and engage the strips as clearly shown in figure 9 (after assembly). This constitutes the floating link between the fork-shaped support structure 82 and the cover element 57.

[0047] As shown in figures 10 and 13, holes 90, 91 have been bored into both of the lateral walls 88, 89 of the support structure 82 along the longitudinal axis 12; the protruding areas 92, 93 on the inner surfaces of the walls 80, 81 of the mounting element 76 fit perfectly into these holes. This is accomplished by the walls 88, 89, which are spread apart in a spring-elastic motion until the protruding areas 92, 93 slip into the corresponding bore holes 90, 91. To make assembly easier, ramps 94, 95 have been built onto the face of the protruding areas 92, 93 so that the protruding areas 92, 93 snap into the bore holes 90, 91 more readily. After assembly, the fork-shaped support structure 82 is securely affixed to the mounting element 76. As shown in figures 10, 11, the walls 88, 89 are linked with each other via a connecting element 130 having a center opening 131 that allows the drive rod 53 to pass through.

[0048] When the hair-cutting appliance 1 is in its starting position (figures 9 through 11), strip-like fork arms 96, 97 positioned symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis 12 extend vertically upward from the connecting element 130 of the fork-shaped support structure 82; the frame of the head 98 of the long-hair clipper 10 is mounted on these arms in a way that permits pivoting. Mounts 103, 104 in the form of holes have been bored into both fork arms 96, 97; tapered arrow-like and/or conical segments 132, 133 of mounting pins 101, 102 extend into these mounts from the outside, whereby the mounting pins 101, 102 are fixed into position in horizontal mounting bores 99, 100 of the frame of the clipper head 98. The mounting pins 101, 102 can be glued, press fit, welded or threaded into place in the mounting bores 99, 100 or fixed into place using other traditional mounting techniques. If threading the pins into place, as done in the sample embodiment shown here, the mounting pins 101, 102 can be screwed into the mounts 99, 100 from outside until virtually all lateral play has been eliminated, thereby allowing the frame of the clipper head 98 to pivot easily but with no play about its pivot axis 25 while remaining optimally centered on the support structure 82.

[0049] The central line connecting the two mounting pins 101, 102 is formed by the pivot axis 25 of the frame of the clipper head 98; the latter houses the cutter elements 106, 107, whereby cutter element 106 consists of the upper blade and cutter element 107 consists of the lower blade. Whereas the upper blade 106 is securely mounted, via injection, riveting, gluing or other technique, in the frame of the clipper head 98, the lower blade 107 slides along the underneath side of the upper blade 106. The two cutter elements 106, 107 extend parallel to the pivot axis 25. As shown in figures 1 and 11, comb-like teeth 108, 109 are built onto the open ends and contact surface 117 of the cutter elements 106, 107; the pressure supplied by a spring mechanism 110 (figures 10 and 13) keep the facing surfaces of these teeth pressed up against each other while still allowing them to slide. This results in a particularly effective cutting effect when the lower blade oscillates back and forth against the upper blade. Hairs extend into the gaps 111, 112 (figure 8) between the teeth 108, 109 and are then cut off by the teeth 109 during the cutting process.

[0050] As shown in figure 10, affixed to the lower blade 107 is a coupling member 114 having a coupling mount 113 that is open from below. The coupling member 114 can, for instance, be injected, riveted, glued or otherwise mechanically linked to the lower blade. The coupling mount 113 has a central fitting groove 115; the free end of the drive rod 53 fits precisely into this groove with no play and in a way that permits movement, thereby allowing the frame of the clipper head 98 to pivot slightly with respect to the drive rod 53. For this reason, the fitting groove 115 is joined to a slit-shaped open space 116 (see figure 10) that allows the free end of the drive rod 53 to move freely into the open space when the frame of the clipper head 98 pivots. As is clearly shown in figure 11, the open space 116 extends in the direction of pivoting, thereby allowing the frame of the clipper head 98 to pivot about its pivot axis 25 with respect to the drive rod 53. The precise fit between the drive rod 53 and the frame of the clipper head 98 allows the oscillating motions (horizontal motion as shown in figure 10) to be transferred onto the lower blade 107 via the coupling member 114 with no play.

[0051] The cutter elements 106, 107 consist of clipper teeth with an initial contact surface 117 that points upward (as shown in figure 11) and preferably a second contact surface 118 at the tips. If the first contact surface 117 is moved along the surface of the user's skin, the hairs are cut off at a length corresponding to the thickness d1 of the upper blade 106 (figure 14). If the second contact surface 118, however, is moved along the surface of the user's skin, the hairs are cut off at a length corresponding to the distance d1 between the tips of the upper blade 106 and those of the lower blade 107. Depending on the length represented by d1 or d2, both results could be used for maintaining one-day beard growth or for performing nearly a clean shave.

[0052] It should also be mentioned that the longitudinal axis 12 constitutes the axis of symmetry of the hair-cutting appliance, as can be concluded from figures 10 and 13.

[0053] The hair-cutting appliance 1 in the present invention works in the following manner:

Figures 1 and 2 show the hair-cutting appliance 1 in its starting position. Sliding the on/off switch 6 on the front side 5 of the hair-cutting appliance 1 into the on position will turn on the motor 125 situated in the housing 2 using power from a battery (not shown) in the housing or a power cable (not shown). The motor 125 and an intermediate, mechanical drive system (not shown) drives the shaver system 3 situated on the front face of the housing 2 by causing the lower blade (not shown) to oscillate back and forth in the direction indicated by Y along the lower side of the top blade 4. The Y axis runs perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 12 of the hair cutting appliance 1. When the upper blade 4 is moved along the surface of the user's skin, hairs extend through the perforated foil of the upper blade 4 into the slits of the lower blade (not shown), where they are cut off by the corresponding cutter blade (not shown). No contact can be made with the contact surface 117 of the long-hair clipper 10 in this position (figure 2).

[0054] If the user wishes to perform a shave and a trim using the hair-cutting appliance 1, he or she must slide the slider switch 8 on the back side of the housing 2 upwards from its starting position (as shown in figure 2) into operating position 1 as shown in figure 3. The on/off switch 6 remains in the on position during this process. Because the long-hair clippers 10, 11 are mounted on the carrier body 9, which, in turn, is rotatably mounted on the slider switch 8, the clippers are slid upward along with the rest of the structure, as can be seen in figure 3. In position 2, the contact surface 117 of the first long-hair clipper 10 is positioned such that it essentially forms a single plane with the contact surface 119 of the shaver system 3 when both contact surfaces 119, 117 are moved across the surface of the user's skin. This configuration allows the user to perform a shave and a trim.

[0055] When the long-hair clipper 10 is in the position shown in figure 3, an actuator rod (not shown) projecting from the motor 125 extends into the coupling engagement 39 of the oscillatory bridge 41 in such a way that the oscillatory bridge 41 moves back and forth with short, highfrequency strokes in the direction indicated by V and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 12 (see figures 10 and 13). Sections similar to film hinges 122, 123 are built into the transitions between the legs 42, 43 and the center element 46, a configuration that lends the particularly good vibrational characteristics to the oscillatory bridge 41. The horizontal motion of the oscillatory bridge 41 in the direction indicated by V transfers the oscillatory motion first to the drive rod 53, from there to the coupling member connected to the lower blade 107 and finally to the lower blade 107 itself. When oscillating, the lower blade 107 slides along the underneath side of the fixed upper blade 106 in a way that cuts hairs that extend between the teeth 108, 109.

[0056] If the contact surface 117 of the long-hair clipper 10 is now moved along the surface of the user's skin, it will always follow the contours of the skin, regardless of how the hair-cutting appliance is held; this is due to the frame of the clipper head 98, which pivots along with its cutter elements 106, 107 about the pivot axis 25, and also to the center of gravity indicated by S, which is situated just below the contact surface 117. Whereas figure 7 shows the frame of the clipper head 98 pivoted to a horizontal position, figure 5 shows the maximum degree of counterclockwise pivot and figure 6 shows the maximum degree of clockwise pivot. The illustration in figure 5 largely corresponds to that in figure 11, and the illustration in figure 7 largely corresponds to that in figure 14.

[0057] When the clipper head frame 98 pivots about its pivot axis 25, the frame and its slot-like open space 116 slides along the free end of the drive rod 53 as shown in figures 10 and 11; this allows the drive rod to transfer the oscillatory motion to the lower blade 107 with virtually no play. Depending on how the hair-cutting appliance 1 is held against the surface of the user's skin, the contact surface 119 of the shaver system 3 and the contact surface 117 of the first long-hair clipper form a common plane (figure 3), such that the long-hair clipper 10 cuts longer hairs before (or at the same time as) the shaver 3 subsequently (or simultaneously) cuts the shorter hairs.

[0058] If the user wishes to use only the long-hair clipper 10, he or she then moves the slider switch 8 up into position two (along with the carrier body 9 and the long-hair clipper system 10, 11) as shown in figure 4. In this position, the contact surface 117 can be placed against the user's skin separately without involving the shaver system 3. The user holds the longitudinal axis 12 of the hair-cutting appliance 1 essentially perpendicular to the surface of the skin so that the contact surface 117 of the long-hair clipper 10 can slide along the skin. During this process, the contact surface of the long-hair clipper 10 always follows the profile of the skin, because it pivots about its pivot axis 105 if necessary as a result of either the position of the hair-cutting appliance 1 or the contours of the face. Because the pivot axis 25 is situated between the cutter elements 106, 107 and the center of gravity S of the long-hair clipper 10, the contact surface 117 always follows the contours of the user's skin. Hairs protruding into the gaps 111, 112 between teeth are cut along cutting plane E as shown in figure 14.

[0059] If the user now wishes to use the hair-cutting appliance 1 in the present invention to shape the beard, this can be done by means of a locking device not shown in the drawing that stops the frame of the clipper head 98 from moving, i.e., the clipper head frame 98 is prevented from pivoting about its pivot axis 25 and maintains, for instance, the horizontal position shown in figure 14. In this position, the contact surface 118 on the front face is essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis 12 of the hair-cutting appliance 1. Hairs extending over the tips of the teeth and into the gaps 111, 112 between teeth are cut in this position as well (from the front face).

[0060] As can be concluded from figure 10, the contact surface 117 will be perpendicular to the bolts 72, 73, as long as the pressure generated by the surface of the user's skin on the contact surface 117 is constant over the entire length of the top blade 106 and as long as the hair-cutting appliance 1 is held in such a way that the longitudinal axis 12 is perpendicular to the contact surface 117. If pressure is increased on the right side of the contact surface 117, for instance, the right-hand side will sink against the pressure of the compression spring 50 as shown in figure 13 and will move down onto the right-hand bolt 73 via the right-hand bore hole 75. The narrowest point 77 along the left-hand bolt 72 will hold the long-hair clipper 10 will be held in place, as it can only move up and down here and not to the side. The conical bore hole 74 is larger at the bottom and allows the mounting element 76 to tip clockwise, as the conical shape provides some open space between the left-hand bolt 72 and the corresponding bore hole 74. It follows that the narrowest point 77 on the left-hand mount serves as what is known as a what fixed bearing for the mounting element 76 with respect to lateral motion, whereas the right-hand bore hole 75 serves as what is known as a floating bearing for the right-hand bolt 73, as it provides compensation for any lateral movement arising from tipping.

[0061] As shown, for instance, in figure 10, if force is applied on the left side of the contact surface 117, the mounting element 76 will slide down on the left-hand bolt 72 with no lateral movement. Lateral movement is compensated between the right-hand bore hole 75 and the right-hand bolt 73 in this case as well. This type of guide structure is especially easy to manufacture and allows the the long-hair clipper 10 to tip uniformly or to the side (clockwise or counterclockwise) in such a way that the contact surface 117 can always follow the contours of the user's face, thereby producing the best possible shave. According to the present invention, the long-hair clipper 10 can therefore move in three dimensions simultaneously, in that it can pivot about the pivot axis 25 and move down along the guide elements or bolts 72, 73, in the latter case this motion can be either uniform or different from one side to the other.

[0062] If the user now wishes to use the second long-hair clipper 11, whose teeth lie in a circular arrangement, this is accomplished by rotating the carrier body 9 about its axis of rotation 13 in such a way that the second long-hair clipper 11 is now at the top of the apparatus as shown in figure 10, while the first long-hair clipper 10 is at the bottom. During rotation, the coupling engagement 39 of the first and second long-hair clippers 10, 11 remains mechanically engaged with the drive mechanism of the motor 125. Also conceivable, however, is that the first coupling engagement 39 would disengage from the drive mechanism of the motor 125 during rotation, whereas the lower blade 33 of the second long-hair clipper 11 would then engage with the drive shaft (not shown) of the motor 125. The second long-hair clipper 11 can now be used advantageously to cut curved contours.
The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm."

Claims

1. An electrically powered hair-cutting appliance (1) having a shaver system (3) built onto the front face of the housing (2) and powered by an electric motor (125), and having a carrier body (9) built onto the front or rear of the housing (2) accommodating at least one long-hair clipper (10) that can be moved with respect to the housing (2) in such a way that, depending on its position, it can be used to trim a beard either separately or in conjunction with the shaver system (3), wherein the long-hair clipper (10) is comprised of at least two cutter elements (106, 107) mounted on a clipper head frame (98) that can be moved relative to each other by a motor (125), characterized in that the long-hair clipper (10) is mounted on a pivot axis (25) allowing it to pivot by a pivot angle (α).

2. The hair-cutting appliance according to Claim 1, characterized in that the pivot axis (25) is situated on the same side of the center of gravity (S), which is formed by the clipper head frame (98) and the cutter elements (106, 107), as that on which the cutter elements (106, 107) of the long-hair clipper (10) are located.

3. The hair-cutting appliance according to Claim 1, characterized in that the pivot axis (25) is parallel to the direction of movement (V) of the cutter element(s) (106, 107).

4. The hair-cutting appliance according to Claim 1, characterized in that the cutter elements (106, 107) are comprised of two clipper combs whose teeth (108, 109) slide against each other, further characterized in that a contact surface (117) accessible from outside is built onto one of the clipper combs (106) and provides a surface that moves along the user's skin when the long-hair clipper (10) is in use, and further characterized in that the contact surface (117) of the clipper comb (106) is parallel to the pivot axis (25) of the long-hair clipper (10).

5. The hair-cutting appliance according to Claim 1, characterized in that the pivot axis (25) of the long-hair clipper (10) is built onto the ends (96, 97) of a fork-shaped support structure (82) mounted on the carrier body (9), and further characterized in that the fork ends (96, 97) have mounts (103, 104) that interact in a sliding manner with the mounting pins (101, 102) built onto the clipper head frame (98) of the long-hair clipper (10).

6. The hair-cutting appliance according to Claim 4, characterized in that, when the shaver (3) and long-hair clipper (10) are used simultaneously, the latter must be moved along the housing (2) until the contact surface (119) of the shaver (3) and the contact surface (117) of the long-hair clipper (10) form a common plane (119, 117).

7. The hair-cutting appliance according to Claim 5, characterized in that the fork-shaped support structure (82) is built on a mounting element (76) which, in turn, is designed with a means for lowering the long-hair clipper (10) a specific distance with respect to the carrier body (9) and/or shaver system (3) against resistance provided by a spring assembly (50).

8. The hair-cutting appliance according to Claim 7, characterized in that the means for lowering the long-hair clipper (10) consist of at least two guide elements (72, 73) supported by the carrier body (9) and extending into a mounts (74, 75) built onto a mounting element (76) in such a way that allows them to slide.

9. The hair-cutting appliance according to Claim 8, characterized in that the guide elements (72, 73) consist of guide rods and the mounts (74, 75) consist of bore holes, further characterized in that one of the two bore holes (74) and its corresponding guide rod (72) form a sliding fit at one of the narrowest points (77), and further characterized in that this bore hole (74) is conical and expands at least one end, whereas the diameter of the other hole (75) is larger than that of the corresponding guide rod (73) to a predefined extent.

10. The hair-cutting appliance according to Claim 9, characterized in that the guide rods (72, 73) are secured to a cover element (57) linked to the carrier body (9) via vibration dampers (59, 60) and further characterized in that the vibration dampers (59, 60) are comprised of molded springs that snap into both the cover element (57) as well as the carrier body (9) via snap-on connections (63, 64, 65, 67).

11. The hair-cutting appliance according to Claim 5, characterized in that arms (120, 121) oriented toward the cover element (57) are built onto the fork-shaped support structure (82) and have angled profiles (83, 84) that engage the cover element (57) from the outside and provide at least some play to the rear and sides, and further characterized in that open space (87) exists between the fork-shaped support structure (82) and the cover element (57).

12. The hair-cutting appliance according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a w-shaped oscillatory bridge (41) is mounted in the center of the cover element (57) and both outer legs (42, 43) of the bridge are fixed to the cover element (57) via rods (44, 45), while a rod (53) that drives one cutter element (107) within a fitting bore (54) is movably mounted on one side of the middle portion (46) of the bridge, whereas, when the long-hair clipper (10) is in operation, a power transmission element linked to the electric motor of the hair-cutting appliance (1) extends into a coupling mount (39) built onto the other side of the bridge.

13. The hair-cutting appliance according to Claims 7 and 12, characterized in that the cutter elements (106, 107) of the long-hair clipper (10) consist of lower and upper blades, further characterized in that one end of the drive rod (53) is linked to the lower blade (107) of the long-hair clipper (10), while the spring mechanism (50), which is supported by the oscillatory bridge (41), engages at the other end, and further characterized in that the oscillatory bridge (41) is movably mounted on the cover element (57) and positioned perpendicularly to the direction of motion (Z) of the drive rod (53).

14. The hair-cutting appliance according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier body (9) is secured to a slider switch (8) that can be moved lengthwise along the housing (2) and further characterized in that the coupling mount (39) does not engage the power transmission member of the drive mechanism until the switch is moved out of the on position and into the position in which the long-hair clipper (10, 11) is engaged.

15. The hair-cutting appliance according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier body (9) is rotatably linked to the slider switch (8) via a rotating axle (13), further characterized in that a second long-hair clipper (11) is built onto the carrier body (9) opposite the lowerable long-hair clipper (10) and can be connected to the electronic motor, and further characterized in that the upper and lower blade (35, 33) of the second long-hair clipper (11) extends outward along the longitudinal axis (12) of the hair-cutting appliance (1).

Drawing