US2915071A - Comb - Google Patents

Description

. Dec-1,1959 w. R. WATKINS 2,915,071

COMB

Filed lay 16, 1958 Willie Rufus Watkins Y INVENTOR.

States Patent COMB Willie Rufus Watkins, Greensboro, N.C., assignor of fifty percent to Alfred T. Staples, Greensboro, N.C.

i] Application May 16, 1958, Serial No. 735,154 r 3 Claims. 01. 132-45 with the teeth of the comb engaged with the hair thus enabling the clippers to pass over the teeth and the hand without injury to the hand and without interference to the path of movement of the clippers thereby enabling the hair to be accurately cut along the top surface of the comb thus facilitating the cutting of flat tops and further providing a safe comb for use by a barber.

The ends of the body 12 are provided with rigid end members and the ends of the teeth 14 'are arranged in such a manner that the central teeth are shorter than the edge teeth thus defining a concave curve.

Figure4 illustrates a thickened body portion on the main body 12 with the thickened portion designated by the numeral 24-and which provides an offset for the teeth in that the thickened portion 24 will engage the surface of the head and generally hold the teeth in an inclined position and will also structurally reinforce the comb.

Each of the teeth 14 is constructed of a highly flexible material such as hard rubber or metal, or plastic, so that when the ends of the teeth are engaged with the a surface of the head, the teeth will easily conform to and hand grip so that when the comb is used by a barber the electric clippers may pass over the comb in a path of movementabove the' position of the hand of the person'holding the comb without injury to the hand and without interference of the hand with the normal maneuverable passage of the clippers.

. Another important feature of the present invention is toprovide a comb in accordance with the preceding objects in which each individual tooth is provided with a" plurality of pointed projections along a lengthwise edge thereof forengaging the hair so that the hair may be caught hold of, lifted up, and pulled back into a generally vertical position or for any purpose desired when cutting the hair or arranging the hair in a particular manner.

Another important feature of the present invention is to provide a comb including-all of the preceding objects together with a construction in which the ends of the teeth are'arranged so that they define a concave curve.

Other important featuresof the present invention include its simplicity of construction, ease of use, effectiveness for its particular-purposes and its relatively inexpensive manufacture cost. 7

These together with other objects and advantages which will become'subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed,.reference being had to the-accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a plan view of the comb of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the comb;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3-3 of Figure 2 illustrating the construction of the teeth and particularly the barbs or projections thereon; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the comb of the present invention which includes an elongated main body portion 12 or backing member of relatively thick construction having a plurality of teeth l4 integral therewith and an extending downwardly offset end member 16 terminating in a hand grip 18 which is disposed below the plane of the main body 12. This facilitates the positioning of the teeth 14 in the hair and permits the comb to beheld flat engage the entire contour of the head surface.

Each tooth 14 is further provided on one side thereof only with a plurality of hook shaped projections '26 confronting a smooth side of an adjacent tooth and which may also be termed barbs each of which is defined'by an outwardly inclined edge 28 and a concave and longitudinally inclined top surface 30 as clearly shown in Figure 3 thus generally simulating a'hook construction so that when the teeth are inserted into the hair, thehair holding barbs or projections on the teeth will support and hold the strands of hair more securely thus enabling the same to be pulled to and held accessibly'in an-eay-to-cut' position by moving the comb. The invention is especially useful when it is desired to pull the hair back up aparticular manner for cutting the hair evenlyr The comb of the present invention provides an arrangement in which the teeth are flexible and having a concave curve defined by the outer end thereof and provided with spurs for engaging the'hair for pulling the same with the comb when the comb is moved away from the.

hair. The comb further is providedwith a downwardlyoffset handle to enable the comb to be disposed in the hair for holding the same while cutting and trimming with the clippers being capable of moving straight across the comb without interruption by the hand holding the comb. While the teeth have been illustrated as extending laterally-of the main body 12, it is' also within the purview of the present invention to extend the teethlongitudinally of the main body 12 for use in the'same manner. Also, the handle may be attached to the end of the' cor'r'ib' as shown, or in the middle of the back-edge'thereofso that the handle is perpendicular with the comb. A clip-on gauge such as normally employed in clippers may be attached to the comb for determining the length of the hair when giving a crew cut and for aiding in maintaining; the desired length.

It will be evident that the offsetting of the hand grip, minimizes the likelihood that the hand holding the grip might offer interference. Therefore, the offset grip assures a clear area for Work. The teeth with the hair hooking and retaining spurs or projections hold the hair in position and the comb can be shifted backward anti; forward with the locks or strands still held in an upstanding state. Then, too, the curvate or arcuate contourconsidering the plan configuration seen in Fig. 1 results. from the predetermined progressive lengthening and shortening of the terminal ends of the teeth and consequently provides an arcuate leading edge which, generally spealbing, conforms to the contour of the average head or scalp and permits the teeth to pick up hair on the sides as: well as the top. The points of the teeth are blunt and the spurs: or projections: are designed and positionedso as. not. to contact. or irritatingly touch the scalp of the, customer.

Simple and brief instructions which can be followed in theE mode of use would involve placing, the fingers atopithe handleand the thumb to the side. The user may. push the leading arcuate or. curvilinealedge, formed by the teeth, into the hair fromthe forehead back. It is sometimes. advisable to tilt the teeth upward resting and fulcruming, if desired, the back of the comb on the head; and then, tozraise to the cutting level which seems at thetimeto-be most desired or advantageous. In use the clippers can be caused to pass over the hair for clipping action without. interference from the hands. It may be stressed, too, that the barbed edges or projections: on the comb teeth and, the projections themselves constitute auxiliaryv teeth; so, each main tooth is thus provided along at least oneedge, the edge at right angles, to the back of the comb, with auxiliary teeth and the other edge, which may be, called the rearward edge, is plain or straight from end to, end. Equipped with this comb, the experienced barber will find it capable of all of the advantages and features which are to be associated therewith.

Theforegoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1'. For use primarily by a barber when giving a customer a fiat top hair cut, a special purpose comb comprising an elongated fiat-faced body embodying an elongated rigid back provided at forward and rearward ends, respectively, with right angularly disposed distal and proximal end members, said end members and back defining and providing an elongated generally U-shaped frame, said proximal member being provided with an angled connecting web joined to a hand grip, said hand grip being disposed in a plane offset relative to the plane of said frame, one lengthwise edge of said back being provided between the respective distal and proximal end members with a plurality of right angularly disposed spaced parallel combing teeth, each tooth having a forwardly facing edge and a rearwardly facing edge, the rearwardly facing edges being linearly straight and smooth from end to end, the forwardly facing edges being provided with longitudinally spaced projections adapted to assist the barber in engaging strands of hair, lifting the same away from the head and supporting and holding otherwise flimsy strands of hair in a position for clipping and cutting relative to the scalp and clippers to facilitate, cutting said strands with the clippers, said projec- 4 tions being spaced apart and having pointed hook-like terminals spaced, fromv adjacent edge, portions of, the complemental tooth and providing hair-strand hooking, seating and retaining barbs, the hook-like terminals on said projections being directed toward the backing member, certain of the teeth at the center of the over-all bank of teeth being of a length less than the length of the teeth to the left and right thereof, and each tooth to the left or right of the relatively short central teeth being slightly longer than the next adjacent companion tooth increasing; slightly. inlength in amanner. to define a leading edge, said leading edge being arcuate in. plan, the shape of the arc of said leading edge being adapted to conform with the normal contours of a persons head.

2. For use primarily by a barber when giving a customer a flat top hair cut, a special purpose comb comprising an elongated flat-faced body embodying an elongated rigid back provided at opposite ends with right angularly. disposed distal and proximal end members respectively, said end members. and back defining and pro.- viding an elongated generally U-shaped frame, said proximal member being provided with an angled connecting web joined to a hand grip, said hand grip being disposed in a. plane offset relative to the plane of said frame, one lengthwise edge of said back being provided between the distal and proximal end members with: a plurality of right angularly disposed spaced parallel combing teeth, each tooth having a first lengthwise edge and a second lengthwise edge, the, second lengthwise edges being linearly straight and smooth from end to end, the first lengthwise edges being provided with spaced projections adapted to assist the barber inengaging strands of hair, lifting the same away from the head and supporting and holding otherwise flimsy strands of hair in a posi tion for clipping and cutting relative to the scalp and clippers to facilitate cutting said strandswith the clippers, said projections being spaced apart and havinghook-like terminals providing notch-like hair retaining seats, the

hook-like terminals on each tooth being directed toward the backing member and being further directed toward the smooth straight edge of the next adjacent tooth.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 and wherein the end members and backing member in conjunction with the teeth cooperate in providing a comb, said combbeing relatively broad to facilitate supporting and guiding the hair clippers and which, being offset and in a plane above the plane of the hand grip readily. assists the barber in effectually keeping an, eye on the exact portion of the head which is being worked on.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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