BARBER TOOL

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to combs and scissors and more specifically to a combination comb and scissor tool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many scissors and combs available today for hair styling are not flexible in positioning in respect to the handle, and do not have replaceable comb scissors and heads. Moreover, when such combs and scissors are used, the user first has to equalize the distance of the hair from the head by measuring it with a comb, then put the comb down and pick up scissors to trim the hair. These actions must be performed repeatedly to equalize and cut the hair, thus contributing to user fatigue, often causing carpal tunnel syndrome, and requiring additional time to go through the repeated movements. Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method for reducing the number of repetitive movements needed first to equalize the length of the hair to be cut, and then to cut the hair, thereby minimizing user fatigue, minimizing the risk of contracting carpal tunnel syndrome, and reducing the time needed for completing a haircut. The present invention addresses such a need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A tool comprising a scissors, the scissors including two handles, each handle including an aperture therethrough is disclosed. The tool includes a comb attached to the scissors. The comb includes a handle portion and a comb portion. The handle portion of the comb includes a plurality of extensions therefrom, the extensions for engaging the aperture of one of the handles of the scissors, wherein the comb can be removed from the scissors by disengaging the extensions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 shows the clip-on comb in accordance with the present invention with extensions on its handle in more detail.

Figure 3 is a photograph showing measurement of the length of hair to be cut utilizing the comb in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 4 is a photograph showing cutting of the hair utilizing the comb in accordance with the present invention. Figure 5 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention, comprising a mechanized comb-scissors device/tool/mechanism with a lever.

Figure 6 illustrates the measurement or equalization of hair to be cut.

Figure 7 shows the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 illustrates an inner cam located inside the handle in the second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention, comprising a mechanized comb-scissors device with a thumb tab.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention relates generally to combs and scissors and more specifically to a combination comb and scissor tool.

The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiments and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, comprising a comb 10 which clips onto one of the apertures (finger holes) 18a and 18b of a pair of scissors

12. The scissors 12 comprise handle portions 20a and 20b and blade portions 22a and 22b. The handle portions 20a and 20b include apertures 18a and 18b, one of which through which the user's finger (not shown) is inserted, depending upon whether the user is left or right handed. The comb 10 comprises a comb portion 26, a handle portion 24, and has a plurality of extensions 14a- 14c on its handle 24 which clip onto one of the handles 16a and 16b of the scissors 12 through the apertures 18a and 18b one of which into which the user's finger (not shown) is inserted.

Figure 2 shows the clip-on comb 10 in accordance with the present invention with extensions 14a' -14c' on its handle 24 in more detail. The handle 24 comprises a circular-like portion 202 with raised pads 14a' -14c' thereon. The clip-on comb 10 may be utilized by either a person who is left-handed or a person who is right-handed, since the extensions 14a'- 14c' shown in Figures 1 and 2 allow the comb 10 to be attached to either side of the scissors (not shown).

Figure 3 is a photograph showing measurement of the length of hair to be cut utilizing the comb in accordance with the present invention. When the comb 10 in accordance with the present invention is clipped onto the scissors 12 using the extensions 14a-c on its handle as described in Figures 1 and 2, the user first measures or equalizes the length of the hair to be cut and then positions the hair with the comb 10. In this way the hair is prepared to be cut.

Figure 4 is a photograph showing cutting of the hair utilizing the comb in accordance with the present invention. After the hair length to be cut is measured, as shown in Figure 3, the user then moves the comb 10 out of the way or to the side, and cuts the hair with the scissors 12, as shown in Figure 4.

By utilizing the clip-on comb 10 and scissors 12 combination to cut hair, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, time is saved since the user does not need to use a second hand to operate a pair of scissors while holding the comb with the first hand to equalize the length of the hair to be cut and also position the hair.

Figure 5 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention, comprising a mechanized comb-scissors device 500 with a lever 504. The device 500 comprises a handle portion 502, a lever 504 with an opening for a finger, a comb 506 and a scissors cutting blade(s) 508. In order to cut hair using the device 500, the user first measures or equalizes the length of hair to be cut, as shown in Figure 6. Referring to Figure 7, the back-and-forth movement of the lever (not shown) causes a scissors blade(s) 508 to move in such a way as to cut the hair which is being held and positioned by the comb 506, thereby accomplishing both positioning and "equalizing" the length of the hair to be cut via the comb 506 and then cutting the hair with the scissors 508.

Figure 8 illustrates an inner cam 702 located inside the handle 502' which links the scissors blade(s) 508' to the lever 504', causing the scissors blade(s) 508' to move up

and down to cut the hair as the user moves the lever 504' back and forth with their finger.

Figure 9 illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention, comprising a mechanized comb-scissors device 900 with a thumb tab 904. The device 900 comprises a handle portion 902, a thumb tab 904, a comb 906 and a scissors cutting blade(s) 908.

In this embodiment, the user moves the thumb tab 904 back and forth, thereby causing the scissors cutting blade(s) 908 to move up and down to cut the hair which is being positioned and measured to an "equalized" length by the comb 906.

A person skilled in the art can see that other means by which a user causes the scissors cutting blade(s) to move up and down in combination with a comb to cut the hair would also be within the scope of the present invention.

Although the present invention has been described in accordance with the embodiments shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that there could be variations to the embodiments and those variations would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.