GB2266259A

GB2266259A - Hair trimmer for nose or ears

Info

Publication number: GB2266259A
Application number: GB9208203A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yen Tung Yan Lau
Original assignee: Specialife Ind Ltd
Current assignee: Specialife Ind Ltd
Priority date: 1992-04-14
Filing date: 1992-04-14
Publication date: 1993-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 2012-04-14
Also published as: GB9208203D0; GB2266259B

Abstract

A hair trimmer for the nose or ears, comprises a body serving as a handle and having an extension (3) for insertion into the nose or ear with cutting means at its distal end. The extension (3) may be provided with a laterally extending stop (14) for limiting the extent of its insertion. The cutting means comprises a reciprocally movable blade (6) slidably engaging an anvil (7), the anvil (7) having two apertures and being shaped so as to form a shield which encloses the blade (6). <IMAGE>

Description

Hair trimmer for nose or ears This invention relates to a hair trimmer for the nose or ears. Such trimmers are known which comprise a body serving as a handle and having an extension for insertion in the nose or ear with cutting means at its distal end. Such trimmers have the disadvantage that harm can come to the user from inadvertently inserting the device too far into the nose or ear.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a hair trimmer for the nose or ears, comprising a body serving as a handle and having an extension for insertion in the nose or ear with cutting means at its distal end, said cutting means comprising reciprocally movable blade means slidably engaging an anvil having at least one aperture therein for hairs to enter, and said anvil being shaped so as to form a shield which encloses the blade means.

Since the blade means is enclosed within the shield, a user is protected against injury when trimming nose or ear hair.

Although any suitable shape of the shield may be used to enclose the blade means, in a preferred arrangement, the shield is substantially U-shaped.

Preferably the or each said aperture extends from one side of the shield on one side of the blade means to an opposite side of the shield on the other side of the blade means. The extent of such an aperture permits easy access for hairs, such that hairs can enter the aperture from both sides of the shield. The shield preferably has two of said apertures.

In a preferred arrangement the movable blade means comprises a single blade. Such a blade may engage one inside face of the shield, and an opposite inside face of the shield may be spaced from the blade. This reduces any likelihood of the blade seizing up.

Although in this arrangement the cutting action only takes place on one side of the trimmer, the extent of the preferred type of aperture may permit hairs to be cut from both sides of the trimmer.

In an alternative arrangement the blade means comprises two blades engaging opposite sides of the shield.

The blade means is in preferred embodiments spaced from the distal end of the shield. The user is thus afforded additional safety since the distal end of the shield acts as a stop means.

The extension may be provided with a laterally extending stop means for limiting the extent of its said insertion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a hair trimmer for the nose or ears, comprising a body serving as a handle and having an extension for insertion in the nose or ear with cutting means at its distal end, said extension being provided with laterally extending stop means for limiting the extent of its said insertion.

The provision of such stop means reduces the risk of damaging the delicate areas of skin in the region of the nose or ear in use of the trimmer.

The stop means is preferably adjustably positionable along the extension of the trimmer so that a user of the trimmer can choose to what depth to trim.

Preferably the cutting means comprises reciprocally movable blade means slidably engaging an anvil. The anvil may consist of a single projection or it may consist of a plurality of projections defining one or more open-ended slots. The anvil preferably has at least one aperture and is shaped so as to form a shield which encloses the blade means.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the trimmer; Figure 2 is a side elevation, in part crosssection, of the upper end of the trimmer; Figure 3 is a plan elevation from below of the upper end of the trimmer; and Figure 4 is a plan elevation from above in part cross-section.

Referring to the drawings, a hair trimmer 1 for the nose or ears includes a body 2 which serves as a handle and an extension 3 for insertion in the nose or ear with cutting means being provided at the distal end of the extension 3. The body 2 includes a sleeve 4 which can be removed to provide access to a compartment for housing a power source such as for example a battery. A cap 5, shown in phantom lines, is used to protect the cutting means when the trimmer is not being used.

As is shown in Figure 2, the cutting means comprises a single blade 6 and a shield 7 which acts as an anvil on one side. The cutting means may, in an alternative arrangement, take the form of a pair of blades which engage opposite inside faces of the shield 7. The blade 6 shown is pivotably mounted on pin 8 and held biased in position by spring 8a. The blade 6 is fixedly attached to bracket member 9 whose arm 9a is formed with an aperture 10 which receives a cam 11 mounted off-centre on the shaft of motor 12. The motor 12 can be switched on and off by means of switch 13.

In operation of the trimmer, the motor is switched on through switch 13 causing the shaft and cam 11 to rotate. The off-centre mounting of cam 11 on the motor shaft causes a reciprocating movement of member 9 about pivot pin 8, such that blade 6 reciprocates relative to the inside face of the shield 7. Blade 6 is inclined such that it engages only one side of the shield 7, this side of the shield forming the anvil which enables hairs to be cut.

Stopper 14 is shown attached to the extension 3 in various positions. As is shown, the stopper 14 includes a laterally extending part 15 which limits the extent of insertion of the extension 3 thus preventing harm to a user that may occur from inadvertently inserting the device too far into the nose or ear. The stopper 14 shown is adjustably positionable along the extension.

Although any suitable means may be provided for adjustably positioning the stopper on the extension, in the embodiment shown, the extension is provided with detents 17 which locate a ridge 16 in the stopper 14.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of a trimmer from below.

The shield 7 is shown as having two apertures 18 extending from one side of the shield 7 to the other.

Any suitable number of apertures may however be used.

Extension 3 includes a cover 19 which can be removed to clean the space within the cover of hair clippings.

Figure 4 shows a cutaway plan view from above the trimmer. Arrows A show the movement of the blade 6 within the extension 3 and shield 7. The blade 6 is shown as having three prongs, although any other suitable number may be used.

Claims

1. A hair trimmer for the nose or ears, comprising a body serving as a handle and having an extension for insertion in the nose or ear with cutting means at its distal end, said cutting means comprising reciprocally movable blade means slidably engaging an anvil having at least one aperture therein for hairs to enter, and said anvil being shaped so as to form a shield which encloses the blade means.

2. A hair trimmer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shield is substantially U-shaped.

3. A hair trimmer as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said aperture extends from one side of the shield on one side of the blade means to an opposite side of the shield on the other side of the blade means.

4. A hair trimmer as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein said shield has two of said apertures.

5. A hair trimmer as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said blade means comprises a single blade which engages only one side of the shield.

6. A hair trimmer as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said blade means comprises two blades engaging opposite sides of the shield.

7. A hair trimmer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said blade means is spaced from a distal end of the shield.

8. A hair trimmer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said extension is provided with a laterally extending stop means for limiting the extent of its said insertion.

9. A hair trimmer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A hair trimmer for the nose or ears, comprising a body serving as a handle and having an extension for insertion in the nose or ear with cutting means at its distal end, said extension being provided with laterally extending stop means for limiting the extent of its said insertion.

11. A hair trimmer as claimed in claim 10, wherein said stop means is adjustably positionable along said extension.

12. A hair trimmer as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein said cutting means comprises reciprocally movable blade means slidably engaging an anvil having at least one aperture and being shaped so as to form a shield which encloses the blade means.

13. A hair trimmer as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the features of any of claims 2 to 7.