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<ep-patent-document id="EP11190782B1" file="EP11190782NWB1.xml" lang="en" country="EP" doc-number="2465652" kind="B1" date-publ="20140108" status="n" dtd-version="ep-patent-document-v1-4">
<SDOBI lang="en"><B000><eptags><B001EP>ATBECHDEDKESFRGBGRITLILUNLSEMCPTIESILTLVFIROMKCYALTRBGCZEEHUPLSK..HRIS..MTNORS..SM..................</B001EP><B005EP>J</B005EP><B007EP>DIM360 Ver 2.40 (30 Jan 2013) -  2100000/0</B007EP></eptags></B000><B100><B110>2465652</B110><B120><B121>EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION</B121></B120><B130>B1</B130><B140><date>20140108</date></B140><B190>EP</B190></B100><B200><B210>11190782.0</B210><B220><date>20111125</date></B220><B240><B241><date>20111125</date></B241></B240><B250>en</B250><B251EP>en</B251EP><B260>en</B260></B200><B300><B310>2010282097</B310><B320><date>20101217</date></B320><B330><ctry>JP</ctry></B330></B300><B400><B405><date>20140108</date><bnum>201402</bnum></B405><B430><date>20120620</date><bnum>201225</bnum></B430><B450><date>20140108</date><bnum>201402</bnum></B450><B452EP><date>20130723</date></B452EP></B400><B500><B510EP><classification-ipcr sequence="1"><text>B26B  19/20        20060101AFI20120319BHEP        </text></classification-ipcr><classification-ipcr sequence="2"><text>B26B  19/38        20060101ALI20120319BHEP        </text></classification-ipcr></B510EP><B540><B541>de</B541><B542>Haarschneider</B542><B541>en</B541><B542>Hair cutter</B542><B541>fr</B541><B542>Dispositif de coupe de cheveux</B542></B540><B560><B561><text>EP-A1- 1 632 321</text></B561><B561><text>DE-A1- 2 511 960</text></B561><B561><text>US-A- 2 867 902</text></B561><B561><text>US-A- 2 880 504</text></B561><B561><text>US-A- 3 116 550</text></B561><B561><text>US-A- 3 651 570</text></B561></B560></B500><B700><B720><B721><snm>Ogawa, Hitoshi</snm><adr><str>c/o Panasonic Corporation
Intellectual Property Center
IP Developement Group
7F OBP Panasonic Tower,
2-1-61, Shiromi, Chuo-ku</str><city>Osaka 540-6207</city><ctry>JP</ctry></adr></B721></B720><B730><B731><snm>Panasonic Corporation</snm><iid>101295897</iid><irf>FB25778</irf><adr><str>1006, Oaza Kadoma 
Kadoma-shi</str><city>Osaka 571-8501</city><ctry>JP</ctry></adr></B731></B730><B740><B741><snm>Appelt, Christian W.</snm><iid>100768809</iid><adr><str>Boehmert &amp; Boehmert 
Pettenkoferstrasse 20-22</str><city>80336 München</city><ctry>DE</ctry></adr></B741></B740></B700><B800><B840><ctry>AL</ctry><ctry>AT</ctry><ctry>BE</ctry><ctry>BG</ctry><ctry>CH</ctry><ctry>CY</ctry><ctry>CZ</ctry><ctry>DE</ctry><ctry>DK</ctry><ctry>EE</ctry><ctry>ES</ctry><ctry>FI</ctry><ctry>FR</ctry><ctry>GB</ctry><ctry>GR</ctry><ctry>HR</ctry><ctry>HU</ctry><ctry>IE</ctry><ctry>IS</ctry><ctry>IT</ctry><ctry>LI</ctry><ctry>LT</ctry><ctry>LU</ctry><ctry>LV</ctry><ctry>MC</ctry><ctry>MK</ctry><ctry>MT</ctry><ctry>NL</ctry><ctry>NO</ctry><ctry>PL</ctry><ctry>PT</ctry><ctry>RO</ctry><ctry>RS</ctry><ctry>SE</ctry><ctry>SI</ctry><ctry>SK</ctry><ctry>SM</ctry><ctry>TR</ctry></B840><B880><date>20120620</date><bnum>201225</bnum></B880></B800></SDOBI>
<description id="desc" lang="en"><!-- EPO <DP n="1"> -->
<heading id="h0001"><b>Technical Field</b></heading>
<p id="p0001" num="0001">The invention relates to a hair cutter for shearing hair so that the hair is trimmed short.</p>
<heading id="h0002"><b>Background Art</b></heading>
<p id="p0002" num="0002">An electric shaver as shown in <figref idref="f0006">FIGS. 7A and 7B</figref> is one of the most common hair cutters. When hair (H) is trimmed short, hair is sheared with a cutting unit directly kept in contact with a scalp (G).</p>
<p id="p0003" num="0003">A hair cutter disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="JP8187374A"><text>8-187374</text></patcit> (hereinafter referred to as a "Document-1") is known as a hair cutter with which hair can be trimmed at home without requiring comparatively a lot of skill.</p>
<p id="p0004" num="0004">The hair cutter of the Document-1 has a cutting unit which is at an end of a body and configured to shear hair, and a supporting member for supporting comb teeth sticking out of the tip of the cutting unit so that the cutting unit is apart from a scalp by a predetermined interval. Hair is cut with the cutting unit while the body is moved from above to below with the tip of the supporting member kept in contact with the scalp. A presser for pushing hair when the hair is sheared by moving the body is provided in parallel with the cutting faces of the cutting unit, and the presser is placed behind the shearing position of the cutting unit. Thereby, any body can shear the whole easily and uniformly with dispatch.</p>
<p id="p0005" num="0005">In the electric shaver of the former, as shown in <figref idref="f0006">FIG. 7A</figref>, when hair is sheared by moving a body 2 forward (D), the hair can be sheared safely with a cutting unit 3 because an end side of the body 2 comes into contact with the scalp (G). As shown in <figref idref="f0006">FIG. 7B</figref>, when hair is sheared by drawing (pulling) the body 2 rearward (E) with the tip of the cutting unit 3 kept at right angle with the scalp (G) (draw cutting), there is a possibility of skin damage by the<!-- EPO <DP n="2"> --> cutting unit 3 because a force for pressing the tip of the cutting unit 3 is liable to concentrate on the scalp (G). Therefore, the draw cutting as shown in <figref idref="f0006">FIG. 7B</figref> is under the ban through the owner's manual or the like. There is however a use error possibility.</p>
<p id="p0006" num="0006">In the hair cutter of the Document-1, since the predetermined interval is provided between the cutting unit and a scalp, hair cannot be trimmed short.</p>
<p id="p0007" num="0007"><patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US3651570A"><text>US 3,651,570 A</text></patcit> discloses a clipper unit comprising a body, a cutting unit including a fixed blade and a movable blade, and a contact member with a bearing surface for engaging and sliding on the hair of a user.</p>
<p id="p0008" num="0008"><patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US2867902A"><text>US 2,867,902 A</text></patcit> discloses a power driven hair clipper with a clipper head providing a flat bearing surface or face which extends transversely for the entire width of the clipper and which has laterally spaced cutting slots of substantial depth extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the face.</p>
<heading id="h0003"><b>Summary of Invention</b></heading>
<p id="p0009" num="0009">It is an object of the present invention to shear hair in safety so that the hair is trimmed short with low skin irritation and beautiful finish.</p>
<p id="p0010" num="0010">A hair cutter (1) of the present invention comprises: a body (2); a cutting unit (3) for cutting hair, the cutting unit (3) being placed at an end side of the body (2); and a contact member (10) that is located around a tip of the cutting unit (3) and configured to come into contact with a skin of a region on which hair to be cut with the cutting unit (3) grows. The contact member (10) comprises a comb member (13) having comb teeth (12) arranged side by side. Each tip of the comb teeth (12) is a skin contact edge face (11). The cutting unit (3) is arranged so that a part of the cutting unit (3) sticks further out than each skin contact edge face (11) of the comb member (13).</p>
<p id="p0011" num="0011">In an embodiment, the cutting unit (3) has first and second faces. At least a part of the comb teeth (12) comprises pairs of first and second comb tooth halves (12a, 12b). The first comb tooth halves (12a) and the second comb tooth halves (12b) in the comb member (13) are arranged at the first face side and the second face side of the cutting unit (3), respectively so that the cutting unit (3) is intervened between the first comb tooth halves (12a) and the second comb tooth halves (12b).</p>
<p id="p0012" num="0012">In an embodiment, the contact member (10) is placed so that each edge direction (D, E) of the skin contact edge faces (11) of the comb member (13) and a direction that the part of the cutting unit (3) sticks out are in the shape of a cross.</p>
<p id="p0013" num="0013">In an embodiment, the cutting unit (3) comprises a fixed blade (4)<!-- EPO <DP n="3"> --><!-- EPO <DP n="4"> --> which is a comb blade and a movable blade (5) which is a comb blade and configured to oscillate so that the movable blade (5) slides against the fixed blade (4). The fixed blade (4) is arranged so that a tip of the fixed blade (4) sticks further out than each skin contact edge face (11) of the comb member (13). The movable blade (5) is arranged so that a tip of the movable blade (5) is set further back than each skin contact edge face (11) of the comb member (13).</p>
<p id="p0014" num="0014">In an embodiment, a projection direction (A) of the part of the cutting unit (3) is inclined to be an obtuse angle with the long axis (B) of the body (2). Each skin contact edge face (11) of the comb member (13) is an acute angle (α) with the long axis (B) of the body (2).</p>
<p id="p0015" num="0015">In an embodiment, the body (2) comprises a head (2a) at said end side of the body (2). The head (2a) is provided with the cutting unit (3). The contact member (10) is detachably attached to the head (2a).</p>
<p id="p0016" num="0016">In an embodiment, the comb teeth (12) are flat pieces arranged side by side in parallel with each other along a width direction (F) of the cutting unit (3).</p>
<p id="p0017" num="0017">In an embodiment, the movable blade (5) is configured to oscillate so that a distance between the tooth tips of the comb blade as the movable blade (5) and the tooth tips of the comb blade as the fixed blade (4) is constant.</p>
<p id="p0018" num="0018">In an embodiment, each tooth tip of the comb blade as the fixed blade (4) has an R-chamfer.</p>
<p id="p0019" num="0019">In an embodiment, the body (2) comprises a handle grip (2b) along said long axis (B).</p>
<p id="p0020" num="0020">In an embodiment, each skin contact edge face (11) of the comb member (13) is flush with a plane that is at the acute angle (α) with the long axis (B) of the body (2).</p>
<p id="p0021" num="0021">In the present invention, it is possible to shear hair in safety so that the hair is trimmed short with low skin irritation and beautiful finish.</p>
<heading id="h0004"><b>Brief Description of Drawings</b></heading>
<p id="p0022" num="0022">Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in<!-- EPO <DP n="5"> --> further details. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings where:
<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact">
<li><figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref> shows a cross sectional view of an essential part with a contact member attached to an end side of a body of a hair cutter in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;</li>
<li><figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2A</figref> is a perspective view of the whole body in the embodiment and <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2B</figref> is a perspective view of the embodiment with the contact member attached to the end side of the body;</li>
<li><figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref> is a perspective view of the contact member and a head in the embodiment;</li>
<li><figref idref="f0003">FIG. 4</figref> is a cross sectional view for showing a positional relation between tips of fixed and movable blades constituting a cutting unit in the body and a skin contact edge face;</li>
<li><figref idref="f0004">FIG. 5A</figref> is an explanatory diagram of shearing while moving the body forward and <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 5B</figref> is an explanatory diagram of shearing while drawing the body rearward;</li>
<li><figref idref="f0005">FIG. 6</figref> is a perspective view of a contact member and a head in an embodiment of the present invention; and</li>
<li><figref idref="f0006">FIGS. 7A and 7B</figref> show a usage example of a prior art electric shaver, the former is an explanatory diagram of shearing while moving the electric shaver forward (push cutting), and the latter is an explanatory diagram of shearing while drawing the electric shaver rearward (draw cutting).</li>
</ul></p>
<heading id="h0005"><b>Description of Embodiments</b></heading>
<p id="p0023" num="0023">In an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in <figref idref="f0002">FIGS. 2A and 2B</figref>, a hair cutter 1 is an electric shaver that includes a body 2 and a contact member 10 detachably attached to an end (a first end) 2a side of the body 2. Hereinafter, the first end side of the body 2 is referred to as a head 2a, and a second end side of the body 2 is referred to as a handle grip 2b. The body 2 has a long axis, and has and the handle grip 2b along the long axis. The body 2 also has a first face and a second face that are, for example, a front face and<!-- EPO <DP n="6"> --> a rear face, respectively. Specifically, the handle grip 2b is in the shape of a cylinder with the long axis and a bottom, and the body 2 has a rectangular cross section with rounded corners in the handle grip 2b. And, one of two sides, in a longitudinal direction, of the body 2 is the first face of the body 2 and the other is the second face. In an example of the <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>, a manual operation button 17 as, for example, a power switch is located at the first face (the front face) of the body 2.</p>
<p id="p0024" num="0024">As shown in <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>, the head 2a is provided with a cutting unit 3 for cutting hair. In the example of <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>, the cutting unit 3 is located at an inner end face of the first end of the body 2 so that a part (a tip) of the cutting unit 3 sticks out in an oblique direction (an obliquely forward and upward) from the inside of the first end of the body 2 (the inside of the upper end of the head 2a) to the first end side in the first surface of the body 2. The cutting unit 3 includes a fixed blade 4 and a movable blade 5 each of which is a comb blade. The movable blade 5 is configured to oscillate (reciprocate) so that the movable blade 5 slides against the fixed blade 4. Each comb blade of the fixed blade 4 and the movable blade 5 is a flat piece of metal having flat blade faces and has a row of teeth along one side edge (a blade edge). Therefore, the cutting unit 3 has a first face and a second face that are the outer blade face of the movable blade 5 and the outer blade face of the fixed blade 4, respectively. The first face and the second face of the cutting unit 3 are located at the first face side and the second face side of the body 2, respectively. Unlike the movable blade 5, each tooth tip of the fixed blade 4 has an R-chamfer, which allows each tooth tip of the fixed blade 4 touch, for example, a human scalp. The movable blade 5 is oscillated through an electrical driving mechanism (not shown) put in the body 2. For example, the driving mechanism includes a battery (e.g., a secondary battery), a motor and a conversion mechanism configured to convert the motor's rotational motion into linear motion. The movable blade 5 is oscillated by the linear motion. Hair can be sheared between the fixed blade 4 and the movable blade 5 by oscillating the movable blade 5. In the embodiment, the movable blade 5 is configured, through the driving mechanism, to oscillate so that a distance between the tooth tips of the<!-- EPO <DP n="7"> --> movable blade 5 and the tooth tips of the fixed blade 4 is kept constant.</p>
<p id="p0025" num="0025">A contact member 10 is located around a tip (blade edges) of the cutting unit 3, and configured to come into contact with a skin of a region (e.g., a scalp G) on which hair to be cut (sheared) with the cutting unit 3 grows. In the embodiment, the contact member 10 is a comb-shaped head cap of e.g., plastic (hereinafter also referred to as a "cap 10") that is formed to cover the head 2a. The cap 10 is comprised of a cylindrical fixed part 14 detachably attached to the head 2a of the body 2, and a comb member 13 integrally formed at an end of the cylindrical fixed part 14. In <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 2</figref>, 15 is a cap release button for detaching the cap 10 from the head 2a.</p>
<p id="p0026" num="0026">As shown in <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref>, the comb member 13 of the cap 10 includes a plurality of comb teeth 12 arranged side by side, and a contact part 16 as a contact face. The comb teeth 12 are flat pieces arranged side by side in parallel with each other along a width direction (F) of the cutting unit 3. In the example of <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref>, the comb teeth 12 are evenly spaced in parallel with each other in a width direction (F) of the blades of the cutting unit 3. Tips of the comb teeth 12 each are skin contact edge faces 11 which are flush with each other and constitute the contact part 16. Specifically, each skin contact edge face 11 is flush with a plane that is at the acute angle (α) with the long axis (B) of the body 2.</p>
<p id="p0027" num="0027">At least a part of the comb teeth 12 includes pairs of first and second comb tooth halves 12a and 12b. In the example of <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 3</figref>, the pairs of first and second comb tooth halves 12a and 12b are arranged between two comb teeth 12 located at both ends of the comb member 13. The first comb tooth halves 12a and the second comb tooth halves 12b in the comb member 13 are arranged at the first face side and the second face side of the cutting unit 3, respectively so that the cutting unit 3 is intervened between the first comb tooth halves 12a and the second comb tooth halves 12b. The first face and the second face of the cutting unit 3 are placed at a front side (D) and a rear side (E) of the body 2, respectively. The cap 10 is placed so that each edge direction (E, D) of the skin contact edge faces 11 of the comb member 13 and a direction (A) that the part of the cutting unit 3 sticks out are in the shape of a<!-- EPO <DP n="8"> --> cross (+). The direction (A) is hereinafter referred to as a "projection direction (A)". Specifically, an edge direction (E, D) of a comb tooth 12 at an end of the comb member 13 and the projection direction (A) is cruciform as seen from the side of the body 2, and an edge direction (E, D) of each pair of comb tooth halves 12a and 12b between both ends of the comb member 13 and the projection direction (A) is also cruciform as seen from the side. In the example of <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>, each skin contact edge face 11 of the comb member 13 is arranged to be substantially at right angle with the projection direction (A) as seen from the side. Each skin contact edge face 11 has a significant function for preventing an excess suppress strength from the tip of the cutting unit 3 onto a skin. The excess suppress strength causes discomfort such as skin damage and skin irritation by excess press of the cutting unit 3 on the skin. Therefore, the skin contact edge faces 11 is provided to reduce such irritation.</p>
<p id="p0028" num="0028">The projection direction (A) of the cutting unit 3 (i.e., the blade edges of the fixed and movable blades 4 and 5) from the head 2a slopes forward (D) (an obliquely forward and downward) with respect to the long axis (B) of the body 2. The cutting unit 3 is arranged so that a part (tip) of the cutting unit 3 (i.e., a part of the blade edge of the fixed blade 5) sticks further out than each skin contact edge face 11 of the comb member 13 by a predetermined little length. In an example of <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 4</figref>, the fixed blade 4 is arranged so that the tip of the fixed blade 4 sticks further out than each skin contact edge face 11 configured to come into contact with a scalp (G) by a predetermined length (M). The movable blade 5 is arranged so that the tip of the movable blade 5 is set further back than each skin contact edge face 11 by a predetermined length (N). Each of M and N can be appropriately set by change of design.</p>
<p id="p0029" num="0029">As shown in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 5A</figref>, if the hair cutter 1 is pushed forward (D), with the handle grip 2b of the body 2 held by hand, so that each skin contact edge face 11 comes into contact with a scalp (G), hair (H) can be cut (push cutting). In this instance, even if the direction (projection direction) of the blade edges of the cutting unit 3 is at a right angle with the scalp (G), each skin contact edge face 11 comes into contact with the scalp (G) and thereby the orientation of the comb member 13 is stabilized, and also skin irritation can be reduced.<!-- EPO <DP n="9"> --> As shown in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 5B</figref>, even when hair (H) is cut by drawing the hair cutter 1 backward (E) (draw cutting), a force for pressing the cutting unit 3 is hard to concentrate on the scalp (G) by the existence of the skin contact edge faces 11, and skin irritation is reduced and skin is hard to be damaged. Even in any of the push cutting and the draw cutting, before hair (H) is cut, the hair to be cut is raised in order to easily make it neat through the skin contact edge faces 11 provided at the tip of the comb member 13 and then is combed with the comb teeth 12, which allows the cutting unit 3 to easily capture hair (H), improving cutting performance. As a result, as well as an expert, anyone can easily obtain a beautiful finish in safety.</p>
<p id="p0030" num="0030">Since the first comb tooth halves 12a and the second comb tooth halves 12b of the comb member 13 are arranged at the front side and the second side of the cutting unit 3, respectively, hair (G) is held by the skin contact edge faces 11 at both sides of the cutting unit 3. Thereby, the orientation of the comb member 13 is stabilized, and irritation can be more reduced.</p>
<p id="p0031" num="0031">The comb member 13 is arranged so that each edge direction of the skin contact edge faces 11 is substantially at a right angle with the projection direction (A) of the cutting unit 3. Accordingly, the guiding performance of hair towards the cutting unit 3 can be secured and also through the skin contact edge faces 11, a scalp (G) is protected from being damaged by the blade edge of the cutting unit 3 (the movable blade 5).</p>
<p id="p0032" num="0032">The fixed blade 4 is arranged so that only the tip of the fixed blade 4 stick further out than the skin contact edge faces 11, and the movable blade 5 is arranged so that the tip of the movable blade 5 does not stick further out than the skin contact edge faces 11. Thereby, it is possible to shear hair (H) with the tip of the fixed blade 4 coming into contact with a scalp (G) while preventing the tip of the movable blade 5 from being pushed on the scalp (G), which allows the scalp (G) to be protected from damage by the tip of the movable blade 5.</p>
<p id="p0033" num="0033">Each gap 120a of the first comb tooth halves 12a and each gap 120b of the second comb tooth halves 12b are at a position in front (D) and rear (E) of the cutting unit 3, respectively. Accordingly, sheared hairs (H) are guided to<!-- EPO <DP n="10"> --> the gaps 120a of the first comb tooth halves 12a and the gaps 120b of the second comb tooth halves 12b from side edges 121a of the first comb tooth halves 12a and side edges 121b of the second comb tooth halves 12b, respectively (<figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1</figref>), and the sheared hairs are smoothly discharged without the sheared hairs accumulating near the cutting unit 3. Since the cap 10 including the comb member 13 can be detachably attached to the head 2a of the body 2, the cutting unit 3 and the comb member 13 can be easily cleaned.</p>
<p id="p0034" num="0034">The first comb tooth halves 12a and the second comb tooth halves 12b of the comb member 13 are located in front (D) (an obliquely forward and downward) and rear (E) (an obliquely rearward and upward) of the cutting unit 3, respectively but the present invention is not limited to that configuration. For example, in an embodiment of the present invention, the comb member 13 is located at least in front of the cutting unit 3, and the comb member 13 in rear (E) of the cutting unit 3, namely the second comb tooth halves 12b between the two comb teeth 12 at both ends of the comb member 13 may be removed so that the rear side of the two comb teeth 12 function only as the contact part 16. In this instance, the skin contact edge faces 11 of the two comb teeth 12 and the skin contact edge faces 11 of the first comb tooth halves 12a between the two comb teeth 12 function as the contact part 16. For example, the comb teeth 12 of the comb member 13 may be located only in (just) front (D) of the cutting unit 3 in a range that an angle of the long axis (B) of the body 2 with a scalp (G) is an acute angle (α) (see <figref idref="f0003">FIG. 4</figref>) when a projection direction of the blade edges of the cutting unit 3 is perpendicular to the scalp (G). In this instance, as shown in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 5B</figref> and <figref idref="f0006">FIG. 7A</figref> (prior art), the hair cutter 1 can be moved (push cutting) so that the contact part 16 comes into contact with a scalp. In addition, as shown in <figref idref="f0004">FIG. 5A</figref>, the hair cutter 1 can be moved (draw cutting) so that the contact part 16 comes into contact with a scalp (G). In this embodiment, it is possible to obtain a reduction performance of skin irritation which the prior art (<figref idref="f0006">FIG. 7B</figref>) can obtain, and a compact comb member 13 can be obtained.</p>
<p id="p0035" num="0035">In the embodiment, each skin contact edge face 11 is in the shape of a straight line that is substantially an right angle with the projection direction<!-- EPO <DP n="11"> --> of the cutting unit 3 as seen from the side of the body 2, but the present invention is not limited to that configuration. For example, in an embodiment, as shown in <figref idref="f0005">FIG. 6</figref>, each skin contact edge face 11 is in the shape of a circular arc as seen from the side of the body 2. That is, each skin contact edge face 11 of the first and second comb tooth halves is in the shape of a circular arc formed so that its own end side near the cutting unit 3 is higher than its own other end side near the upper end of the cylindrical fixed part 14. In this instance, the hair cutter 1 can be easily moved so that each skin contact edge face 11 comes into contact with a narrow scalp behind an ear or the like. Shearing handle-ability can be improved.</p>
<p id="p0036" num="0036">In the aforementioned embodiment, the movable blade 5 is arranged so that the tip (blade edge) of the movable blade 5 does not stick further out than each skin contact edge face 11, but the present invention is not limited to that configuration. For example, the movable blade 5 may be arranged so that the tip of the movable blade 5 sticks further out than each skin contact edge face 11. In short, what is needed is the tip of the movable blade 5 is set further back than the fixed blade 4.</p>
<p id="p0037" num="0037">Although the present invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the appended claims.</p>
</description>
<claims id="claims01" lang="en"><!-- EPO <DP n="12"> -->
<claim id="c-en-01-0001" num="0001">
<claim-text>A hair cutter, comprising:
<claim-text>a body (2);</claim-text>
<claim-text>a cutting unit (3) for cutting hair, the cutting unit (3) being placed at an end side of the body (2) and comprising a fixed blade (4) and a movable blade (5); and</claim-text>
<claim-text>a contact member (10) that is located around a tip of the cutting unit (3) and configured to come into contact with a skin of a region on which hair to be cut with the cutting unit (3) grows,</claim-text>
<claim-text>wherein the cutting unit (3) is arranged so that a part of the cutting unit (3) sticks further out than a skin contact edge face (11) of the contact member (10),</claim-text>
<claim-text><b>characterized in that</b> the contact member (10) comprises a comb member (13) having comb teeth (12) arranged side by side, each tip of the comb teeth (12) being a skin contact edge face (11) and the cutting unit (3) being arranged so that a part of the cutting unit (3) sticks further out than each skin contact edge face (11) of the comb member (13),</claim-text>
<claim-text>wherein the fixed blade (4) is arranged so that a tip of the fixed blade (4) sticks further out than each skin contact edge face (11) configured to come into contact with a scalp (G) by a predetermined length (M), and</claim-text>
<claim-text>wherein the movable blade (5) is arranged so that a tip of the movable blade (5) is set further back than each skin contact edge face (11) by a predetermined length (N).</claim-text></claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0002" num="0002">
<claim-text>The hair cutter of claim 1,<br/>
wherein the cutting unit (3) has first and second faces,<br/>
wherein at least a part of the comb teeth (12) comprises pairs of first and second comb tooth halves (12a, 12b), and<br/>
wherein the first comb tooth halves (12a) and the second comb tooth halves (12b) in the comb member (13) are arranged at the first face side and<!-- EPO <DP n="13"> --> the second face side of the cutting unit (3), respectively so that the cutting unit (3) is intervened between the first comb tooth halves (12a) and the second comb tooth halves (12b).</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0003" num="0003">
<claim-text>The hair cutter of claim 1, wherein the contact member (10) is placed so that each edge direction (D, E) of the skin contact edge faces (11) of the comb member (13) and a direction that the part of the cutting unit (3) sticks out are in the shape of a cross.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0004" num="0004">
<claim-text>The hair cutter of claim 2, wherein the contact member (10) is placed so that each edge direction (D, E) of the skin contact edge face (11) of the comb member (13) and a direction that the part of the cutting unit (3) sticks out are in the shape of a cross.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0005" num="0005">
<claim-text>The hair cutter of any one of claims 1-4,<br/>
wherein the fixed blade (4) is a comb blade and the movable blade (5) is a comb blade and configured to oscillate so that the movable blade (5) slides against the fixed blade (4),<br/>
wherein the fixed blade (4) is arranged so that a tip of the fixed blade (4) sticks further out than each skin contact edge face (11) of the comb member (13), and<br/>
wherein the movable blade (5) is arranged so that a tip of the movable blade (5) is set further back than each skin contact edge face (11) of the comb member (13).</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0006" num="0006">
<claim-text>The hair cutter of claim 1, 3 or 4,<br/>
wherein a projection direction (A) of the part of the cutting unit (3) is inclined to be an obtuse angle with the long axis (B) of the body (2), and<br/>
wherein each skin contact edge face (11) of the comb member (13) is an acute angle (α) with the long axis (B) of the body (2).</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0007" num="0007">
<claim-text>The hair cutter of claim 5,<br/>
<!-- EPO <DP n="14"> -->wherein a projection direction (A) of the part of the cutting unit (3) is inclined to be an obtuse angle with the long axis (B) of the body (2), and<br/>
wherein each skin contact edge face (11) of the comb member (13) is an acute angle (α) with the long axis (B) of the body (2).</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0008" num="0008">
<claim-text>The hair cutter of claim 1,<br/>
wherein the body (2) comprises a head (2a) at said end side of the body (2),<br/>
wherein the head (2a) is provided with the cutting unit (3), and wherein the contact member (10) is detachably attached to the head (2a).</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0009" num="0009">
<claim-text>The hair cutter of claim 2, wherein the comb teeth (12) are flat pieces arranged side by side in parallel with each other along a width direction (F) of the cutting unit (3).</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0010" num="0010">
<claim-text>The hair cutter of claim 5, wherein the movable blade (5) is configured to oscillate so that a distance between the tooth tips of the comb blade as the movable blade (5) and the tooth tips of the comb blade as the fixed blade (4) is constant.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0011" num="0011">
<claim-text>The hair cutter of claim 10, wherein each tooth tip of the comb blade as the fixed blade (4) has an R-chamfer.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0012" num="0012">
<claim-text>The hair cutter of claim 6, wherein the body (2) comprises a handle grip (2b) along said long axis (B).</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0013" num="0013">
<claim-text>The hair cutter of claim 6, wherein each skin contact edge face (11) of the comb member (13) is flush with a plane that is at the acute angle (α) with the long axis (B) of the body (2).</claim-text></claim>
</claims>
<claims id="claims02" lang="de"><!-- EPO <DP n="15"> -->
<claim id="c-de-01-0001" num="0001">
<claim-text>Ein Haarschneidegerät, das aufweist:
<claim-text>ein Rumpfteil (2);</claim-text>
<claim-text>eine Schneideeinheit (3) zum Schneiden von Haar, wobei die Schneideeinheit (3) an einer Endseite des Rumpfteils (2) angeordnet ist und eine feststehende Klinge (4) sowie eine bewegliche Klinge (5) umfasst; und</claim-text>
<claim-text>ein Kontaktelement (10), das im Bereich einer Spitze der Schneideeinheit (3) positioniert und dazu eingerichtet ist, mit Haut einer Region in Kontakt zu kommen, auf der mit der Schneideeinheit (3) zu schneidendes Haar wächst,</claim-text>
<claim-text>wobei die Schneideeinheit (3) so angeordnet ist, dass ein Teil der Schneideeinheit (3) weiter nach außen absteht als eine für Hautkontakt vorgesehene Randfläche (11) des Kontaktelements (10),</claim-text>
<claim-text><b>dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass</b> das Kontaktelement (10) ein Kammelement (13) mit nebeneinander angeordneten Kammzähnen (12) aufweist, wobei jede Spitze der Kammzähne (12) eine für Hautkontakt vorgesehene Randfläche (11) ist und wobei die Schneideeinheit (3) so angeordnet ist, dass ein Teil der Schneideeinheit (3) weiter nach außen absteht als jede für Hautkontakt vorgesehene Randfläche (11) des Kammelements (13),</claim-text>
<claim-text>wobei die feststehende Klinge (4) so angeordnet ist, dass eine Spitze der feststehenden Klinge (4) um eine vorbestimmte Länge (M) weiter nach außen absteht als jede für Hautkontakt vorgesehene Randfläche (11), die eingerichtet ist, mit einer Kopfhaut (G) in Kontakt zu kommen, und</claim-text>
<claim-text>wobei die bewegliche Klinge (5) so eingerichtet ist, dass eine Spitze der beweglichen Klinge (5) um eine vorbestimmte Länge (N) weiter nach hinten versetzt ist als jede für Hautkontakt vorgesehene Randfläche (11).</claim-text></claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0002" num="0002">
<claim-text>Das Haarschneidegerät von Anspruch 1,<br/>
wobei die Schneideeinheit (3) erste und zweite Flächen aufweist,<br/>
wobei mindestens ein Teil der Kammzähne (12) Paare von ersten und zweiten Kammzahnhälften (12a, 12b) aufweist, und<br/>
wobei die ersten Kammzahnhälften (12a) und die zweiten Kammzahnhälften (12b) im Kammelement (13) an der ersten Flächenseite bzw. der zweiten Flächenseite der<!-- EPO <DP n="16"> --> Schneideeinheit (3) angeordnet sind, so dass die Schneideeinheit (3) zwischen den ersten Kammzahnhälften (12a) und den zweiten Kammzahnhälften (12b) eingreift.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0003" num="0003">
<claim-text>Das Haarschneidegerät von Anspruch 1,<br/>
wobei das Kontaktelement (10) so positioniert ist, dass jede Randrichtung (D, E) der für Hautkontakt vorgesehene Randflächen (11) des Kammelements (13) und eine Richtung, in der der Teil der Schneideeinheit (3) absteht, die Form eines Kreuzes bilden.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0004" num="0004">
<claim-text>Das Haarschneidegerät von Anspruch 2,<br/>
wobei das Kontaktelement (10) so positioniert ist, dass jede Randrichtung (D, E) der für Hautkontakt vorgesehene Randfläche (11) des Kammelements (13) und eine Richtung, in der der Teil der Schneideeinheit (3) absteht, die Form eines Kreuzes bilden.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0005" num="0005">
<claim-text>Das Haarschneidegerät von einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4,<br/>
wobei die feststehende Klinge (4) eine Kammklinge ist und die bewegliche Klinge (5) eine Kammklinge ist und dazu eingerichtet ist, so hin und her zu schwingen, dass die bewegliche Klinge (5) gegen die feststehende Klinge (4) gleitet,<br/>
wobei die feststehende Klinge (4) so eingerichtet ist, dass eine Spitze der feststehenden Klinge (4) weiter hervorsteht als jede für Hautkontakt vorgesehene Randfläche (11) des Kammelements (13), und<br/>
wobei die bewegliche Klinge (5) so eingerichtet ist, dass eine Spitze der beweglichen Klinge (5) weiter nach hinten versetzt ist als jede für Hautkontakt vorgesehene Randfläche (11) des Kammelements (13).</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0006" num="0006">
<claim-text>Das Haarschneidegerät von Anspruch 1, 3 oder 4,<br/>
wobei eine Überhangrichtung (A) des Teils der Schneideeinheit (3) so geneigt ist, dass sie einen stumpfen Winkel mit der Längsachse (B) des Rumpfteils (2) bildet, und<br/>
wobei jede für Hautkontakt vorgesehene Randfläche (11) des Kammelements (13) einen spitzen Winkel (α) mit der Längsachse (B) des Rumpfteils (2) bildet.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0007" num="0007">
<claim-text>Das Haarschneidegerät von Anspruch 5,<br/>
wobei eine Überhangrichtung (A) des Teils der Schneideeinheit (3) so geneigt ist, dass sie einen stumpfen Winkel mit der Längsachse (B) des Rumpfteils (2) bildet, und wobei jede für Hautkontakt vorgesehene Randfläche (11) des Kammelements (13) einen spitzen Winkel (α) mit der Längsachse (B) des Rumpfteils (2) bildet.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0008" num="0008">
<claim-text>Das Haarschneidegerät von Anspruch 1,<br/>
<!-- EPO <DP n="17"> -->wobei das Rumpfteil (2) ein Kopfteil (2a) an der besagten Endseite des Rumpfteils (2) aufweist,<br/>
wobei das Kopfteil (2a) mit der Schneideeinheit (3) ausgestattet ist, und<br/>
wobei das Kontaktelement (10) ablösbar mit dem Kopfteil (2a) verbunden ist.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0009" num="0009">
<claim-text>Das Haarschneidegerät von Anspruch 2, wobei die Kammzähne (12) flache Teile sind, die nebeneinander parallel zueinander entlang einer Querrichtung (F) der Schneideeinheit (3) angeordnet sind.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0010" num="0010">
<claim-text>Das Haarschneidegerät von Anspruch 5, wobei die bewegliche Klinge (5) dazu eingerichtet ist, so hin und her zu schwingen, dass ein Abstand zwischen den Zahnspitzen der Kammklinge als der beweglichen Klinge (5) und den Zahnspitzen der Kammklinge als der feststehenden Klinge (4) konstant ist.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0011" num="0011">
<claim-text>Das Haarschneidegerät von Anspruch 10, wobei jede Zahnspitze der Kammklinge als der feststehenden Klinge (4) eine R-Abkantung aufweist.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0012" num="0012">
<claim-text>Das Haarschneidegerät von Anspruch 6, wobei das Rumpfteil (2) einen Handgriff (2b) entlang der besagten Längsachse (B) aufweist.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0013" num="0013">
<claim-text>Das Haarschneidegerät von Anspruch 6, wobei jede für Hautkontakt vorgesehene Randfläche (11) des Kammelements (13) bündig mit einer Ebene ist, die an dem spitzen Winkel (α) mit der Längsachse (B) des Rumpfteils (2) ist.</claim-text></claim>
</claims>
<claims id="claims03" lang="fr"><!-- EPO <DP n="18"> -->
<claim id="c-fr-01-0001" num="0001">
<claim-text>Dispositif de coupe de cheveux comprenant :
<claim-text>un corps (2) ;</claim-text>
<claim-text>une unité de coupe (3) pour couper les cheveux, l'unité de coupe (3) étant placée au niveau d'un côté d'extrémité du corps (2) et comprenant une lame fixe (4) et une lame mobile (5) ; et</claim-text>
<claim-text>un élément de contact (10) qui est positionné autour d'une pointe de l'unité de coupe (3) et configuré pour venir en contact avec la peau d'une région sur laquelle poussent les cheveux qui doivent être coupés avec l'unité de coupe (3),</claim-text>
<claim-text>dans lequel l'unité de coupe (3) est agencée de sorte qu'une partie de l'unité de coupe (3) est davantage en saillie qu'une face de bord de contact cutané (11) de l'élément de contact (10),</claim-text>
<claim-text><b>caractérisé en ce que</b> l'élément de contact (10) comprend un élément de peigne (13) ayant des dents de peigne (12) agencées côte à côte, chaque pointe des dents de peigne (12) étant une face de bord de contact cutané (11) et l'unité de coupe (3) étant agencée de sorte qu'une partie de l'unité de coupe (3) fait davantage saillie que chaque face de bord de contact cutané (11) de l'élément de peigne (13),</claim-text>
<claim-text>dans lequel la lame fixe (4) est agencée de sorte qu'une pointe de la lame fixe (4) fait davantage saillie que chaque face de bord de contact cutané (11) configurée pour venir en contact avec un crane (G) selon une longueur prédéterminée (M), et</claim-text>
<claim-text>dans lequel la lame mobile (5) est agencée de sorte qu'une pointe de la lame mobile (5) est placée plus en arrière que chaque face de bord de contact cutané (11) selon une longueur prédéterminée (N).</claim-text></claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0002" num="0002">
<claim-text>Dispositif de coupe de cheveux selon la revendication 1,<br/>
<!-- EPO <DP n="19"> -->dans lequel l'unité de coupe (3) a des première et seconde faces,<br/>
dans lequel au moins une partie des dents de peigne (12) comprend des paires de premières et secondes moitiés de dent de peigne (12a, 12b), et<br/>
dans lequel les premières moitiés de dent de peigne (12a) et les secondes moitiés de dents de peigne (12b) dans l'élément de peigne (13) sont agencées au niveau du premier côté de face et du second côté de face de l'unité de coupe (3), respectivement de sorte que l'unité de coupe (3) intervient entre les premières moitiés de dent de peigne (12a) et les secondes moitiés de dent de peigne (12b).</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0003" num="0003">
<claim-text>Dispositif de coupe de cheveux selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'élément de contact (10) est placé de sorte que chaque direction de bord (D, E) des faces de bord de contact cutané (11) de l'élément de peigne (13) et une direction dans laquelle la partie de l'unité de coupe (3) fait saillie, ont la forme d'une croix.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0004" num="0004">
<claim-text>Dispositif de coupe de cheveux selon la revendication 2, dans lequel l'élément de contact (10) est placé de sorte que chaque direction de bord (D, E) de la face de bord de contact cutané (11) de l'élément de peigne (13) et une direction dans laquelle la partie de l'unité de coupe (3) fait saillie, ont la forme d'une croix.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0005" num="0005">
<claim-text>Dispositif de coupe de cheveux selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4,<br/>
dans lequel la lame fixe (4) est une lame de peigne et la lame mobile (5) est une lame de peigne et configurée afin d'osciller de sorte que la lame mobile (5) glisse contre la lame fixe (4),<br/>
dans lequel la lame fixe (4) est agencée de sorte qu'une pointe de la lame fixe (4) fait davantage saillie que chaque face de bord de contact cutané (11) de l'élément de peigne (13), et<br/>
<!-- EPO <DP n="20"> -->dans lequel la lame mobile (5) est agencée de sorte qu'une pointe de la lame mobile (5) est placée plus en arrière que chaque face de bord de contact cutané (11) de l'élément de peigne (13).</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0006" num="0006">
<claim-text>Dispositif de coupe de cheveux selon la revendication 1, 3 ou 4,<br/>
dans lequel une direction de saillie (A) de la partie de l'unité de coupe (3) est inclinée pour être un angle obtus avec l'axe longitudinal (B) du corps (2), et<br/>
dans lequel chaque face de bord de contact cutané (11) de l'élément de peigne (13) est un angle aigu (α) avec l'axe longitudinal (B) du corps (2).</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0007" num="0007">
<claim-text>Dispositif de coupe de cheveux selon la revendication 5,<br/>
dans lequel une direction de saillie (A) de la partie de l'unité de coupe (3) est inclinée pour être un angle obtus avec l'axe longitudinal (B) du corps (2), et<br/>
dans lequel chaque face de bord de contact cutané (11) de l'élément de peigne (13) est un angle aigu (α) avec l'axe longitudinal (B) du corps (2).</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0008" num="0008">
<claim-text>Dispositif de coupe de cheveux selon la revendication 1,<br/>
dans lequel le corps (2) comprend une tête (2a) au niveau dudit côté d'extrémité du corps (2),<br/>
dans lequel la tête (2a) est prévue avec l'unité de coupe (3), et<br/>
dans lequel l'élément de contact (10) est fixé de manière détachable à la tête (2a).</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0009" num="0009">
<claim-text>Dispositif de coupe de cheveux selon la revendication 2, dans lequel les dents de peigne (12) sont des pièces plates agencées côte à côte en parallèle les unes par rapport aux autres le long du sens de la largeur (F) de l'unité de coupe (3).<!-- EPO <DP n="21"> --></claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0010" num="0010">
<claim-text>Dispositif de coupe de cheveux selon la revendication 5, dans lequel la lame mobile (5) est configurée pour osciller de sorte qu'une distance entre les pointes de dent de la lame de peigne en tant que lame mobile (5) et les pointes de dent de la lame de peigne en tant que lame fixe (4) est constante.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0011" num="0011">
<claim-text>Dispositif de coupe de cheveux selon la revendication 10, dans lequel chaque pointe de dent de la lame de peigne en tant que lame fixe (4) a un chanfrein en forme de R.</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0012" num="0012">
<claim-text>Dispositif de coupe de cheveux selon la revendication 6, dans lequel le corps (2) comprend une poignée (2b) le long dudit axe longitudinal (B).</claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0013" num="0013">
<claim-text>Dispositif de coupe de cheveux selon la revendication 6, dans lequel chaque face de bord de contact cutané (11) de l'élément de peigne (13) est de niveau avec un plan qui est à un angle aigu (α) avec l'axe longitudinal (B) du corps (2).</claim-text></claim>
</claims>
<drawings id="draw" lang="en"><!-- EPO <DP n="22"> -->
<figure id="f0001" num="1"><img id="if0001" file="imgf0001.tif" wi="159" he="204" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="23"> -->
<figure id="f0002" num="2A,2B"><img id="if0002" file="imgf0002.tif" wi="165" he="188" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="24"> -->
<figure id="f0003" num="3,4"><img id="if0003" file="imgf0003.tif" wi="144" he="233" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="25"> -->
<figure id="f0004" num="5A,5B"><img id="if0004" file="imgf0004.tif" wi="148" he="233" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="26"> -->
<figure id="f0005" num="6"><img id="if0005" file="imgf0005.tif" wi="146" he="163" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="27"> -->
<figure id="f0006" num="7A,7B"><img id="if0006" file="imgf0006.tif" wi="160" he="230" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure>
</drawings>
<ep-reference-list id="ref-list">
<heading id="ref-h0001"><b>REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION</b></heading>
<p id="ref-p0001" num=""><i>This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.</i></p>
<heading id="ref-h0002"><b>Patent documents cited in the description</b></heading>
<p id="ref-p0002" num="">
<ul id="ref-ul0001" list-style="bullet">
<li><patcit id="ref-pcit0001" dnum="JP8187374A"><document-id><country>JP</country><doc-number>8187374</doc-number><kind>A</kind></document-id></patcit><crossref idref="pcit0001">[0003]</crossref></li>
<li><patcit id="ref-pcit0002" dnum="US3651570A"><document-id><country>US</country><doc-number>3651570</doc-number><kind>A</kind></document-id></patcit><crossref idref="pcit0002">[0007]</crossref></li>
<li><patcit id="ref-pcit0003" dnum="US2867902A"><document-id><country>US</country><doc-number>2867902</doc-number><kind>A</kind></document-id></patcit><crossref idref="pcit0003">[0008]</crossref></li>
</ul></p>
</ep-reference-list>
</ep-patent-document>
