US1749543A - Hand hair clipper - Google Patents

Description

March 4, 1.930. J. OSTER HAND HAIR CLIPPER Filed Sept. 2, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet nun...

March 4, 1930. J. OSTER HAND HAIR CLIPPER Filed Sept. 2 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

Patented Mar; 4,' 1930 JOHN OSTER, OF RAGINE, WISCONSIN -HAND HAIR CLIPPER This invention relates to certain improvements in hand hair clippers; and the nature and objects of the invention will be readily recognized and understood by those I skilled in the art in the light of the following explanation and detailed description of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I at present consider to be the preferred embodiments or mechanical expressions of my invention from among various other forms, arrangements, combinations and constructions of which the invention is capable within the spirit and scope thereof.

H The invention is particularly directed and 1 deals with those types of hand hair clippers characterized generally by a fiat bottom plate or comb plate forming the base plate of the implement; a cooperating reciprocating cutter plate or blade that slides onthe top face 5 of the comb or base plate; a fixed handle and a pivoted handle on and extending from the base plate with the pivoted handle operatively engaged with the cutter plate or blade for reciprocating the same; a spring, usually of the torsion type and mounted around the axis of the pivoted handle, for controlling the handle and the blade opera-ted thereby; and a removable housing or cap over the base plate and blade with the front of the to blade and cooperating comb or base plate exposed, to enclose and house the inner ends of the handles and spring'with the handles extending outwardly from and through the cap. With the foregoing types of hand hair clippers it is essential in order to secure efficient operation and results therefrom in use, that the reciprocating cutting plate or blade be maintained in-the proper operative alinement with the comb or base plate, and that the cutting plate or blade be held against the base'or comb plate under therequiredtension I or pressure for the desired operative cutting cooperation between the cutting elements thereof, as will be clear to and readily understand by those familiar with the operation and use of hair clippers.

The present invention has as a general objectthereof, the production of a simple, read- 7 ily assembled and inexpensive construction and arrangement of hair clipper, wherein the Application filed September 2, 1926. Serial No. 133,158.

cutting plate or blade is maintained under all conditions in proper alinement with the base or comb plate, and wherein the tension or pressure under which the blade is slidably held on and against the comb plate can be readily accurately adjusted as desired to meet the various conditions encounted in use.

A characteristic and main feature of the invention resides in the design, construction and mounting of the housing or cap of the hair clipper to cooperate with the base or comb plate and the recipro'catory cutter plate or blade to maintain the proper operative alinement between the comb plate and the blade, and to permit of adjusting the tension between the blade and comb plate through the medium of the cap which cooperates therewith to this end.

A further object of the invention is to utilize a clipper cap or housing for cooperative engagement with the reciprocatory cutting plate or blade to maintain such blade in proper operative alinement with a clipper comb or base plate, and thus eliminate the necessity of forming or adding separate guide and alining elements for the blade with the increased complexity in construction and added cost of production resulting therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hair clipper housing or cap designed and mounted on a clipper comb or base plate to maintain the clipper reciprocating cutting plate or blade in proper alinement with the comb plate, and for adjusting the tension between the blade and the base plate as desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hand hair clipper construction in Which a removable housing or cap therefor forms the means for maintaining the clipper plates or blades in alinement and for adjusting the tension between the plates; and

in which an efficient mounting and arrangement of the fixed and pivoted operating handles on the base or comb plate in cooperation with the reciprocating plate or blade and the removable housing or cap, is presented, to the end that the clipper can be readily assembled and disassembled and will be positive in operation and durable in use, while of relatively small cost to manufacture.

With the foregoing genera-l objects, and certain other objects and results in view, which will be readily recognized from the following description, the invention consists in certain novel features in construction, and in combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully and particularly referred to and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1, is a top plan View of a clipper embodying the reciprocating blade alining and tensioning cap of the invention.

Fig. 2, is a side elevation.

Fig. 3, is a rear elevation.

Fig. 1, is a bottom plan.

Fig. 5, is a vertical section through the clip per of Fig. 1, with parts thereof in elevation.

Fig. 6, is a view similar to Fig. 1, with the alining and tensioning cap removed toshow the arrangement of operatinghandles and torsion spring with the construction and mounting of the cutting plate or blade operatively engaged by the pivoted handle.

Fig. 7 is a view in front elevation of the clipper housing or cap.

Fig. 8, is a view in side elevation of the cap of Fig. 7.

'Fig. 9, is a detail perspective view of the inner attached end of the fixed operating handle for the clipper.

Fig. 10, is a detail perspective view of the inner end of the pivoted handle for the clipoer.

1 In the particular embodiment of my invention illustrated herewith purely by way of example and not of limitation, the flat base plate 1 provides the comb or bottom fixed plate or blade having the straight transverse front edge formed with the row of hair cutting teeth l The upper surface or top of teeth 1 is elevated above the plane of the top surface of plate 1 and these teeth terminate along their rear ends in a smooth transverse surface providing a rib or track 1 extending across plate 1. A similar raised track or rib 1 having its upper surface in the plane of surface 1 is formed extending across plate 1 parallel to and spaced inwardly from raised surface 1 A flat upper or reciprocating cutting plate or blade 2 is arranged transversely of the front portion of the base plate 1 and slidably supported on the ribs or elevated surfaces 1" and 1, with its front edge formed to provide a straight row of cutting teeth 2 to cooperate with the teeth 1 of the base plate 1 when reciprocated thereon, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. Immediately in rear of its front row of hair cutting teeth 2 the blade 2 is formed with a transverse groove 2 in and across the upper surface thereof, which is interrupted at a central portion by an elongated slot or opening 2 extending completely through blade 2 and rearwardly from the forward side of.

groove 2 and having a central rearward reduced extension providing a slot or socket 2 extending completely through the blade. The base or comb plate 1 is provided with a slot or opening 1 extending completely therethrough and disposed in vertical alinement with the reciprocating blade slot 2, but of less length and width, as will be clear by reference to Figs. 1 and 6, of the accompanying drawings. The rear rounded or curved edge of the comb plate or' lower fixed blade 1, is furtherformed with an edge slot 1 extending completely through the blade and inwardly a distance through the rear edge thereof, for a purpose appearing hereinafter.

A bolt 3 is mounted adjacent and to the rear of the raised track or rib 1, in the lower blade or comb plate 1, and extends upwardly therethrough and a distance thereabove, with its head .3 squared and seated in a suitable socket in the under or lower face of base or comb plate 1, so as to prevent turning of the bolt and to have the head substantially flush with the lower surface of plate or blade 1. A fixed operating lever handle 4. (see Fig. 9) is formed with the flat laterally disposedlower or inner end attaching head 41 having the slot 1* opening through its forward edge, and

this handle is mounted in fixed position on and to the clipper base plate or lower blade 1 by the head 4 which is fitted onto the upper face of plate 1 with the bolt 3 received in the slot 1, and the nut 4 threaded onto the bolt and screwed down onto head 1 to clamp the head between the base 1 and the nut. The handle 4. is thus fixed to base plate or lower blade 1 and extends rearwardly and outwar ly therefrom.

A pivoted operating hand lever 5 is provided for reciprocating the sliding blade 2 on lower blade 1, and in the present example (see Fig. 10) is formed with the inner end laterally extending arm 5 terminating in the depending lug or finger 5 A. bushing or bearing 5 forming a hub for pivotally mounting arm 5 is provided extending vertically from the upper side of arm 5 with a vertical bore extending therethrough' and through the arm. The lever handle 5 is pivotally mounted on bolt 3 above nut 4 by the bushing or hub 5which receives'the bolt, i

and the finger or lug 5 depending from the arm extends into and is operatively received by the slot or socket 2 of the reciprocating and slidably mounted upper blade 2, as will be clear by reference to Figs. 5 and 6 in par- In mounted position handle 5 exticular. tends rearwardly and outwardly from the clipper in divergent relation to fixed arm 4. andis swingable on bolt 3toward andlfrom arm 4, to reciprocate blade 2. "The arm 5 and blade 2 operatively engaged and operated thereby are controlled by a coiled torsion spring 6 mounted over and around the bolt 3 and bushing or hub 5 of arm 5, with one end thereof engaging fixed arm 4, and its opposite end secured to pivoted arm 5. The spring 6 tends to hold pivoted arm in position on bolt 3 and further normally forces pivoted arm 5 outwardlyfrom arm 4 to its limit of outward movement with blade 2 slid to its limit of movement in the opposite direction to aline its teeth 2 with the teeth 1 of comb plate or lower blade 1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. In operation arm 5 is pressed toward arm 4 against the tension of spring 6, then released to permit the spring to return the arm to outward position, so that by repeating these operations blade 2 is reciprocated on lower blade 1 to reciprocate its teeth 2 back and forth across lower blade teeth 1 in hair cutting cooperation.

According to the invention, a cap or housing 7 is provided and is so designed con structed and mounted as to maintain blade 2 in alinement with lower blade 1, and to permit of adjusting the tension between these blades. Preferably, the cap 7 is pressed or struck up by dies or in other ways from suit able sheet material, such as sheet or plate steel, although not limited to formation by such method or from such material. The cap 7 is hollow and in the form of an inverted cup or hood having a flat top wall fitted over and through which the clipper bolt 3 extends, with a downwardly and forwardly sloping front wall terminating in a straight vertically disposed, depending front edge 7 received in and forming a sliding fit with the transverse groove 2 of the reciprocating blade 2 (see Fig. 2). The central portion of the front edge of cap 7 is formed with a depending tongue 7 having a rearwardly and upwardly bent end edge, which tongue extends and depends downwardly through the elongated slot 2 of blade 2 and fits into slot 1 in lower blade 1 for vertical move ment therein. The tongue 7 is of less width than the length of blade slot 2 and thus permits of reciprocation of the blade within the limitsdefined by the opposite end edges of slot 2 alternately engaging the opposite edges of tongue 7 The opposite rear sides of the cap 7 are open and the operating 1 handles t and 5 extend therethrough, respectively, the pivoted handle 5 having free swinging movement in its cap opening. The cap 7 is formed with atail or depending leg member 7 c disposed betwen the handles 4 and 5 and the cap openings, which leg member 7 isfitted into the rear edge slot l of the base plate or lower blade 1 and supports the cap in proper position, the lower end of the leg being formed with'shoulders 7 for engaging and bearing on the upper face of blade 1. The cap is secured in mounted position by a nut 8 threaded onto the upper end of bolt 3 above the fiat top of the cap with a spring washer 8 interposed between the cap and the nut, so that the cap 7 is clamped into position onto the base plate or lower blade 1, over and covering the rear of the reciprocating blade back of teeth 2*, the inner ends of operating handles 4 and 5, and the spring 6 and major portion of the bolt 3, with the cap supported by the rear leg member 7.

The cap 7 is so designed and mounted on and over the clipper base or lower blade 1, that the front depending edge 7 is received in upper blade groove 2 with the upper blade 2 in proper operative position on the lower blade, and maintains the upper reciprocating blade in alinement with the lower blade with the upper and lower cutting teeth 1 and 2 of these blades in proper relation for cutting when the upper blade is reciprocated by operation of the pivoted lever handle 5. The front blade alining edge 7 of cap 7 is held in the desired position against displacement, by the cap rear leg 7 fitted into the base or lower blade 1 rear slot 1, and the clamping nut 8, and the front tongue 7 in the lower blade slot 1 which prevent turning or lateral displacement of the cap and front alining edge 7 thereof. In this manner the cap 7 functions to maintain the upper reciprocating blade 2 in proper alinement during operation thereof under all operating conditions to insure the maximum of efliciency in cutting with the clipper.

The cap or housing 7 of the clipper further operates and functions to adjust the tension between the upper reciprocating blade 2 and teeth 2, and the lower blade 1 and teeth 1, to thereby permit of adjusting or varying the cutting with the teeth as may be desired. Due to the construction of the cap and its mounting supported at the rear of lower blade 1 by the rear leg member 7 and vertically movable at the front or forward end, while maintained in proper position by the forward tongue 7 fitting in lower blade slot 1, the forward alining edge 7 a be forced downwardly against the upper blade 2 in the groove 2 thereof to hold the upper blade in engagement with'the lower blade under the desired pressure or tension.

This is accomplished through the medium of the clamping nut 8 on the upper end of bolt 3, by screwing this nut downwardly to exert pressure upon the cap and force the forward or front free side of the cap with alining edge 7" and tongue 7 downwardly onto blade 2, the cap rear leg member 7 having sufiicient spring or give to allow the relatively small range of vertical movement of the front of the cap required for the blade tension adjustment. By movement of nut 8 upwardly away from the cap the pressure thereon is reduced and allows the front of the cap with edge 7 thereof to move upwardly, by the tendency of leg 7 to return the cap to normal raised position, and the tension or of the cap can pressure between the upper and lower blades is reduced. These adjustments are covered by a small range of movement of cap 7 and nut 8, but can be accurately performed to secure the desired tension between the blades and teeth for proper cutting.

The design, construction, and arrangement of the clipper as above described is such that a clipper can be readily assembled or disassembled. 'The cap 7. is removable by removing nut 8 from bolt 3 and then raising the cap from lower blade 1, which then gives access to the remaining elements for removal and replacement, as will be clear. The cap of the invention is formed as a separate element of the clipper without-attachment to or as a part of the fixed handle 4, which is separately and directly removably attached to the base or lower blade 1, thus eliminating a serious manufacuring difficulty with the general type of clipper in which the fixed handle is secured to and carried by the clipper housing or cap. The housing or cap hereof by functioning to aline and maintain the reciprocating blade in position with respect to the fixed blade, and further to allow of adjusting the tension between the blades, eliminates the use of other elements or parts for performing these functions, and provides a clipper in which a maximum of cutting efiiciency is obtained in use, with a construction and arrangement of simplicity and minimum of parts which lends itself to production at a relatively low cost.

While a hand hair clipper is here shown and described, the broad features of the invention which provide the separate clipper housing or cap functioning as a blade aliner and for adjusting the tension between the blades, is not limited to such clippers, but is of general application to hair and the like clippers and cutting implements where similar or equivalent conditions are. encountered whether of the hand operated or power operated types.

It is also evident that various changes, modfications, variations and substitutions might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact and specific disclosures hereof.

What I claim is: I

1. In a hair clipper, a fixed lower blade, a reciprocating upper blade slidably mounted thereon, a cap resiliently mounted at its rear on the rear of the fixed blade and extending forwardly a distance over the reciprocating blade, the reciprocating blade formed with a groove thereacross and a slot through the blade at the central portion of the groove, the forward edge of the cap slidably engaged by said groove and formed with a tongue de pending through said slot for movement verticall'y therein andpermittinglimitedreciprocation of the blade, the forward edge of the cap alining the reciprocating blade with the fixed blade and movable vertically due to the reciprocating blade to adjustthe tension between the blades.

2. In a hair clipper, a fixed lower blade, a

reciprocating upper blade slidably mounted across the forward portion of the fixed blade, a bolt secured in the fixed blade to the rear of the reciprocating blade and extending upwardly thereabove, a fixed operating handle secured to the fixed blade by said bolt, a movable operating handle pivotally mounted on said bolt above the fixed handle, a torsion spring mounted on and around said bolt in engagement with said handles to normally force them to their limits of movement in one direction, said movable handle operatively engaging the slidable upper blade for reciprocating the same, a separate removable cap fitted over said bolt and extending over the blades, a nut on the upper end of the bolt for securing the cap in position, and the said cap engaging the reciprocating blade to maintain the same in alinement, the pressure exerted on the reciprocating blade adjustable by said bolt nut to adjust the tension between the blades. I

In a hair clipper, the combination with a lower fixed blade, and an upper reciprocating blade slidably mounted thereon, of a bolt mounted in the fixed blade extending upwardly therefrom to the rear of the reciprocating blade, a fixed leverhandle having an inner end head receiving said bolt, a nut on the bolt clamping said handle head to the lower blade with the handle extending outwardly and rearwardly from the blade, a movable operating handle having an inner end hub portion pivotally mounted on said bolt above the fixed handle head with the movable handle extending outwardly and rearwardly from the lower blade in divergent relation to the fixed handle, a-torsion spring mounted on the bolt over and around the movable handle hub with one end engaging the fixed handle and the other end of the movable handle to normally force the latter to its limit of outward movement, said movable handle operatively engaging the upper blade for reciprocating the same, and a cap removably secured over the rear portions of the blades by said bolt to form a housing for means, said stamping having a tongue'atits forward end formed with an angular extension, the fixed blade having a slot in which the tongue and its extension are snugly fitted, said stamping also having a leg at its rear, said fixed blade having a slot in which the leg is snugly fitted, said stamping and said movable blade having interfitting guide means whereby the movable blade is constrained to proper cutting movement, and

- means for forcing the stamping against the blades.

5. A hair clipper comprising a fixed blade, a movable blade slidable back and forth across the fixed blade and having a transverse guide slot, a separate fixed handle secured to the fixed blade, a movable handle pivotally mounted relative to the fixed handle and operatively connected to the movable blade for actuating the same, a separate and removable tension member and housing consisting of a single piece sheet metal stamping provided with alining lugs at its front and rear and also having its forward end formed to provide a transverse guide engaged in the guide slot of the movable blade, said fixed blade having alining slots in which said alining lugs are snugly fitted to rigidly interconnect the fixed blade and the tension member and housing against relative lateral movement and thereby so locate the guide for the movable blade as to properly alineboth blades, and releasable and adjustable means for forcing the housing and tension member toward the blades and for holding the alining lugs interfitted with the alining slots of the fixed blade. 7

6. A hair clipper comprising a fixed blade, a movable blade slidable back and forth across the fixed blade and having a transverse guide slot, a separate fixed handle, means for securing the fixed handle to the fixed blade and including a bolt fixedly secured to the fixed blade and to the fixed handle and projecting up above the fixed handle, a movable handle pivotally mounted on said bolt and operative ly connected with the movable blade for actuating the same, a separate housing and tension member having an opening loosely receiving the bolt and having a guide coacting with the guide slot of the movable blade to constrain the movable blade to proper cutting movement, said housing and tension member having alining extensions at its front and rear portions, said fixed blade having alining slots in which said alining extensions are snugly interfitted whereby the guide is properly located and the blades are alined, and means adjustably secured to the bolt and engaging the housing to force it against the blades.

7 A hair clipper comprising a fixed blade,

a movable blade coacting therewith, a separate fixed handle secured to the fixed blade, a movable handle pivotally mounted relative to the fixed handle and connected to the movable blade for operating the same, a removable tension member separate from the handles and having guide means cooperable with the movable blade, and cooperating means on spaced portions of the tension member and the fixed blade for directly and rigidly interconnecting said tension member and said fixed blade to locate the guide means of the tension member in proper relation to the fixed blade whereby the movable blade and the fixed blade are alined solely by means of the tension member and fixed blade.

8. A hair clipper comprising cooperable blades, a tension member for the blades, handling and operating means for the blades, cooperating guide means between the tension member and one of the blades, interengaging alining means between the tension member and the other blade for rigidly interconnecting the tension member and said other blade against relative lateral movement and for properly locating the guide means and alining the blades, and means for forcing the tension member against the blades to "hold the same together with the proper pressure and to retain the alining means interfitted.

9. A hair clipper comprising a fixed blade, a movable blade slidable back and forth across the fixed blade and having a slot, a separate stationary handle rigidly secured to the fixed blade, a pivot extending upwardly from the portion of the fixed handle secured to the fixed blade, a movable handle mounted on said pivot and having an arm overlying the movable blade and extending into the slot thereof for actuating the movable blade, said arm retaining the blades assembled although permitting the said blades to be moved apart a limited distance for cleaning, a separate and removable housing rigidly and. directly interconnected with the fixed blade as against all lateral movement, connecting guide means between the housing and the movable blade, releasable means coacting with the pivot for forcing the housing toward the blades and means for spreading the handles and for releasably holding the movable handle on its pivot when the housing is removed.

Sign-ed at Racine, lVisconsin, this 27th day

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