PRIORITY DOCUMENTS

[0001] The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No.

2019901624 titled“A COMB” and fded on 13 May 2019, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a comb for the thinning of hair or fur. The present disclosure is particularly, but not exclusively, suitable for thinning the hair of a person or for thinning the fur of a pet.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Various devices exist for grooming hair or fur such as brushes, combs, scissors and razors. Each of these devices are typically adapted for a specific purpose, such as to brush hair, comb hair, thin hair, shave hair or to cut hair (similarly may be applied to fur). For a user, it is often necessary to have a variety of these devices on hand to achieve a variety of different results in the grooming of hair or fur.

[0004] A common technique to thin hair or fur is with scissors with at least one of the blades of the pair whose blades are crenelated to provide an interrupted cutting edge rather than a continuous straight edge. Scissors of this type allow a user to thin hair or fur by cutting only those hairs in a lock presented to the scissors on those parts of the straight edge of the scissor blade which forms the top of the crenellations. The edges forming the lower part of the scissors do not provide for a cutting action, thus allowing the hair or fur to effectively be thinned.

[0005] However, these presently available scissors are for thinning hair or fur function in a reduced cutting capacity of a given blade in comparison to that of a pair of conventional scissors of similar or same blade length. Additionally, the presently available scissors are limited to use for only one of either thinning the hair of a person or thinning the fur of a pet. Particularly referring to those devices available for thinning the hair of a person, assistance is typically required from a hairdresser (or another person) to use such available devices.

[0006] Additionally, presently available combs for humans and pets are typically only capable of combing out loose hair or fur that is dislodged from the skin, and combing the remaining hair or fur into a neat state. These known combs typically comprise a comb with a row of teeth, and often further comprise a blade disposed behind the row of teeth. The disadvantage of these known combs is that they fail to thin hair or fur when said hair or fur is knotted. The knotted hair or fur is often caught in these combs, thereby stopping the combing motion, and often requiring excessive force that results in both the knotted hair or fur, and the unknotted hair or fur, being cut from the human or pet. Furthermore, these combs when used with knotted hair or fur are known to cause discomfort to either the human or pet that the comb is being used on.

[0007] It would be advantageous to provide a device, that thins hair or fur more efficiently than the presently available scissors, and other devices. It would also be advantageous to provide a device, capable of thinning both the hair of a person and of a pet. It would be additionally advantageous to provide a device that may be used easily by the person wishing to thin their hair, that is, may be used directly by the individual without the help of another person. It would also be further advantageous to provide a device capable of thinning both hair and fur that is knotted without applying excessive force, or causing discomfort to the human or pet.

[0008] It is against this background and the problems and difficulties associated therewith, that the present invention has been developed.

SUMMARY

[0009] According to a first aspect, there is provided a comb for thinning of hair or fur, the comb comprising: a comb portion, wherein the comb portion comprises an elongate base, a pair of ends extending from the elongate base, and a plurality of blades arranged in a row between the ends and extending in a first direction perpendicular to the base, wherein each blade comprises at least one notch disposed on a first side of the blade between a root and a tip of the blade, wherein the at least one notch is orientated in a direction consistent with the direction the comb moves for thinning hair or fur, and the row of blades providing a gap between each adjacent pair; and a casing configured to conceal at least a portion of the comb portion in a cavity at an end of the casing, wherein the casing comprises a handle portion connected to the end, wherein the handle extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0010] In one form, the comb further comprises an ejector portion, wherein the ejector portion comprises an edge, the edge of the ejector portion being movable between a first position and a second position relative to the comb portion, the edge of the ejector portion being biased from the second position to the first position such that an external force is required to move the edge of the ejector portion from the first position to the second position, the ejector portion being configured and adapted to permit hair or fur to pass through the gaps of the comb portion when the edge of the ejector portion is in the first portion, the edge of the ejector portion being adapted to slidably contact the blades of the comb portion and to contact hair or fur passing through the gaps of the comb portion in a manner forcing the hair or fur out from the gaps of the comb portion as the ejector portion moves away from the first position toward the second position.

[0011] In one form, the ejector portion further comprises a resilient member, wherein the resilient member biases the edge of the ejector portion away from the second position toward the first position.

[0012] In one form, the comb further comprises at least one fastening means, wherein the ejector portion is removably attached to the comb portion via the fastening means.

[0013] In one form, the at least one fastening means is at least one screw.

[0014] In one form, the casing is adapted so as to conceal the comb portion and the ejector portion in the cavity at the end of the casing so as to keep the plurality of blades, the pair of ends of the comb portion, and the edge of the ejector portion exposed along a first side of the end of the casing.

[0015] In one form, the casing further comprises an upper casing section and a lower casing section, the upper and lower casing sections being cooperative and provided with an attachment means to removably attach the upper casing section to the lower casing section.

[0016] In one form, the at least one fastening means further removably attaches the comb portion and the ejector portion to at least one of the upper or lower casing sections.

[0017] In one form, the plurality of blades is manufactured from a metal material.

[0018] In one form, the at least one notch of each blade comprises a cutting edge being defined by a sharpened curve.

[0019] In one form, the cutting edge of the at least one notch engages with hair or fur of a person or pet to be groomed, in use, and cuts said engaged hair or fur, thereby in effect thinning the hair or fur of the person or pet.

[0020] In one form, the cutting edge is at an angle a being less than 30 degrees, wherein the angle a is created between a blade surface and the cutting surface.

[0021] In one form, the comb engages with the hair or fur at a cutting angle defined by skin of the person or pet that the hair or fur extends from, whereby the angle a contributes to the cutting angle.

[0022] In one form, each blade further comprises a second notch disposed on a second side of the blade between the root and the tip of the blade, wherein the second side is transversely located to the first side of the blade, and the second notch being orientated in a direction opposite to the direction the comb moves for thinning hair or fur.

[0023] In one form, the second notch comprises a second cutting edge being defined by a second sharpened curve.

[0024] In one form, the tip of each blade is a blunt tip.

[0025] In one form, the elongate base further comprises a plurality of apertures arranged in a row between the ends of the base sized and shaped to receive the root of each blade, thereby providing a means to removably attach each blade to the base.

[0026] In one form, the edge of the ejector portion comprises a plurality of through holes arranged in a row corresponding to and in alignment with the plurality of apertures of the base, the plurality of through holes being sized and shaped to provide a through hole for each blade to pass therethrough.

[0027] In one form, the ejector portion is adapted to slidably contact the gaps between each pair of adjacent blades of the comb portion and to contact hair or fur passing through the gaps of the comb portion in a manner forcing the hair or fur out from the gaps of the comb portion as the through holes of the ejector portion move away from the first position toward the second position.

[0028] In one form, the ejector portion further comprises a user operable actuator, wherein the user operable actuator acts to provide the external force required to move the edge of the ejector portion from the first position to the second position.

[0029] In one form, the user operable actuator is exposed via a second side of the end of the casing.

[0030] In one form, the edge of the ejector portion is biased from the second position to the first position by a spring.

[0031] According to a second aspect, there is provided a comb for the thinning of hair or fur, the comb comprising: a comb portion, wherein the comb portion comprises an elongate base, a pair of ends extending from the elongate base, and a plurality of blades arranged in a row between the ends and extending in a first direction perpendicular to the base, wherein each blade comprises at least one notch disposed on a first side of the blade between a root and a tip of the blade, wherein the at least one notch is orientated in a direction consistent with the direction the comb moves for thinning hair or fur, and the row of blades providing a gap between each adjacent pair; a casing configured to conceal at least a portion of the comb portion in a cavity at an end of the casing, wherein the casing comprises a handle portion connected to the end, wherein the handle extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and an ejector portion, wherein the ejector portion comprises an edge, the edge of the ejector portion being movable between a first position and a second position relative to the comb portion, the edge of the ejector portion being biased from the second position to the first position such that an external force is required to move the edge of the ejector portion from the first position to the second position, the ejector portion being configured and adapted to permit hair or fur to pass through the gaps of the comb portion when the edge of the ejector portion is in the first position, the edge of the ejector portion being adapted to slidably contact the blades of the comb portion and to contact hair or fur passing through the gaps of the comb portion in a manner forcing the hair or fur out from the gaps of the comb portion as the ejector portion moves away from the first position toward the second position.

[0032] According to a further aspect, there is provided a comb for the thinning of hair or fur, the comb comprising: a comb portion, wherein the comb portion comprises an elongate base, a pair of ends extending from the elongate base, and a plurality of blades arranged in a row between the ends and extending in a first direction perpendicular to the base, wherein each blade comprises at least one notch disposed on a first side of the blade between a root and a tip of the blade, wherein the at least one notch is orientated in a direction consistent with the direction the comb moves for thinning hair or fur, and the row of blades providing a gap between each adjacent pair, and wherein the at least one notch comprises a cutting edge being defined by a sharpened curve, whereby the sharpened curve, in use, engages with the hair or fur; and a casing configured to conceal at least a portion of the comb portion in a cavity at an end of the casing, wherein the casing comprises a handle portion connected to the end, wherein the handle extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0033] Embodiments of the present invention will be discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0034] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a hair or fur thinning comb;

[0035] Figure 2 is a schematic, plan view of the comb of Figure 1 , with an edge of the ejector portion in a first position and an upper casing section removed;

[0036] Figure 3 is a schematic, alternative view of the comb of Figure 2 with the edge of the ejector portion of the comb in a second position and the upper casing section removed;

[0037] Figure 4 is an exploded view of the comb of Figure 1; [0038] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a comb portion of Figure 1 ;

[0039] Figure 6 is an alternative embodiment of the comb portion of Figure 5, wherein a base of the comb portion comprising a plurality of apertures sized and shaped to removably attach each blade to the base;

[0040] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a blade comprising a pair of notches of any one of the combs disclosed in the above Figures;

[0041] Figure 8 is an alternate perspective view of the blade of Figure 7;

[0042] Figure 9 is a plan view of the blade of any one of Figures 7 or 8; and [0043] Figure 10 is a sectional view along liens A-A of Figure 9.

[0044] In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the figures.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0045] Figure 1 illustrates a comb 100, according to an embodiment, for thinning hair or fur of a person or a pet. The comb 100 may be particularly designed, such that in use, the comb 100 thins either the hair of the person or the fur of the pet by a simple combing motion, and without the need for any additional cutting surfaces or devices to thin the desired sections of hair or fur. Furthermore, the comb 100 may be used for the person or pet whose hair or fur is knotted, and allows for the thinning of said hair or fur without the application of excessive combing force to overcome knots in the hair or fur.

[0046] Referring to the Figures, the comb 100 comprises a comb portion 10. The comb portion 10 comprises an elongate base 11, a pair of ends 12 extending from the elongate base 11, and a plurality of blades 20 arranged in a row between the ends 12 and extending in a first direction (I) perpendicular to the base 11. Each blade 20 may comprise at least one notch 21 disposed on a first side 22 of the blade 20 between a root 23 and a tip 24 of the blade 20. The at least one notch 21 may be orientated in a direction consistent with a direction the comb 100 moves, in use, for thinning hair or fur. The row of blades 20 may also provide for a gap between each adjacent pair. Furthermore, the comb 100 may comprise a casing 30 sized, shaped and configured so as to conceal at least a portion of the comb portion 10 in a cavity 31 at an end 32 of the casing 30. The casing 30 may further comprise a handle portion 33 connected to the end 32. The handle 33 may extend in a second direction (IT) perpendicular to the first direction (I). [0047] In one embodiment, the first direction (I) may be interpreted as being along an x-axis (or a horizontal axis). In this way, the second direction (II), being perpendicular to the first direction (I), may be interpreted as being along a y-axis (or a vertical axis). In this embodiment, the direction the comb 100 moves for thinning hair or fur, may be interpreted as being along a z-axis (i.e. in a third dimension, not illustrated in the Figures). In this way, the at least one notch 21 may be orientated in a direction along the z-axis in relation to the first (I) and second (II) directions of the comb 100.

[0048] Referring now to Figures 4 and 6, in one embodiment, the elongate base 11 may comprise a plurality of apertures 13. The apertures 13 may be arranged in a row between the pair of ends 12, and may be sized and shaped to receive the root 23 of each blade 20 therein. The row of apertures 13 may be spaced apart, such that the space between a pair of apertures 13 provides for the gap between each adjacent pair of blades 20. In this embodiment, it will be appreciated that the apertures 13 of the elongate base 11 provide a means to removably attach each blade 20 to the base 11.

[0049] Also in this particular embodiment, each blade 20 may be removed from its corresponding aperture 13 of the base 11 by a force applied in a direction perpendicular to the base 11. In this way, each of the blades 20 may be removed from the base 11 by applying a force in the first direction (I) away from the base 11. It will be appreciated that in the reverse, the blades 20 may be installed in the base 11 by applying a force in the first direction (I) towards the base 11. The force required to remove or install the blades 20 from the base 11 may be applied with a variety of tools such as tweezers or pliers. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that an advantage of these particular embodiments are that the blades 20 may be individually replaced or sharpened as required (for example if they are dulled or damaged), also advantageously by being individually removable/replaceable, this may reduce time and costs of manufacturing the comb 100 by having such modular features.

[0050] In one embodiment, the elongate base 11 may be manufactured from a durable plastic. In this embodiment, the pair of ends 12 may also be manufactured of the durable plastic. In this way, it will be appreciated that the pair of ends 12 protects the blades 20 disposed between the ends 12 from any side impact that may bend or misshape the blades 20, and also guides a user of the comb 100 to use the comb 100 in the intended direction for thinning hair or fur along the z-axis. Additionally, it will also be appreciated that the pair of ends 12 may protect the person or the pet that the comb 100 is being used on, such that any damage or injury by side impact of the comb 100 on the person or pet is minimised or mitigated by the pair of ends 12 being a barrier from the blades 20.

[0051] In an alternative embodiment, the elongate base 11 may be manufactured from a metal.

[0052] In one embodiment, the elongate base 1 1 of the comb portion 10 may comprise at least one aperture 14 disposed on a body 15 of the base 11. [0053] In an alternative embodiment, the base 11 may comprise one or more flange 16, the one or more flange 16 extending along the first direction (I), opposite in direction to the blades 20. In this particular embodiment, the at least one aperture 14 may be disposed on the one or more flanges 16.

[0054] Referring now to Figures 1 and 4 to 6, in one embodiment the blades 20 may be configured as a linear blade. Each linear blade 20 may extend in a first direction (I).

[0055] In one embodiment, each blade 20 may be manufactured from a metal, thereby providing each blade 20 with rigidity and strength for combing the hair or fur of the person or pet. It will be appreciated that the metal from which each blade 20 is manufactured may be the same as or different to the metal used to manufacture the elongate base 11.

[0056] In one embodiment, each blade 20 may be leaf shaped as in Figures 4 to 6.

[0057] In one embodiment, the at least one notch 21 of each blade 20 may comprise a cutting edge 25. The cutting edge 25 of each blade 20 may be defined by a sharpened curve (as illustrated in any one of the Figures). The cutting edge 25, in this embodiment, may be orientated in the direction consistent with the direction the comb 100 moves for thinning hair or fur. In this way, the cutting edge 25 of the at least one notch 21 may engage with the hair or fur of the person or pet to be groomed, and in use, cuts said engaged hair or fur, thereby in effect thinning the hair or fur of the person or pet. The cut hair or fur of the person or pet may then be captured in the gap produced by the adjacent pair of blades 20.

Advantageously, as direction of orientation of the cutting edge 25 is consistent with the orientation of the blade 20, and similarly being the same as the combing direction along the z-axis, knotted hair or fur of the person or pet may be easily thinned or cut by the comb 100 without the application of excessive force. Hair or fur that is most often referred to as knotted, or in a knot, is when more than two strands of hair or fur are connected together.

[0058] In this particular embodiment, referring to Figure 7, the sharpened curve of the cutting edge 25 may be at an angle a, whereby the angle a may be less than or equal to 30 degrees. The angle a is created between a blade surface 28 and the cutting edge 25 of the blade 20. Advantageously, in use, the cutting edge 25 being at angle a further aids the comb 100 being used for thinning hair or fur that is knotted without the application of excessive force.

[0059] Additionally, in this particular embodiment, it will be appreciated that in use the comb 100 may engage with the hair or fur of the person or pet to be groomed at a cutting angle (not shown) defined by the skin of the person or pet that the hair or fur extends from and the angle a of the sharpened curve of the cutting edge 25 (that is, the angle a contributes to the cutting angle). This may be defined as a cutting angle, whereby the cutting angle further contributes to the advantage of using the comb 100 with hair or fur that is knotted without the application of excessive force. In contradistinction, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that prior art combs (not shown) engage with the hair or fur of the person or pet to be groomed at an angle entirely defined by the blades or teeth and the skin of the person or pet (i.e. prior art combs do not define a further angle, such as the angle a in the body of the blade or teeth).

[0060] In an alternative embodiment, each blade 20 may further comprise a second notch 26 disposed on a second side 27 of the blade 20. The second notch 26 may be disposed between the root 23 and the tip 24 of the blade 20. The second notch 26 may also comprise a second cutting edge 25 being defined by a second sharpened curve.

[0061] In this particular embodiment, the second side 27 may be transversely located to the first side 22 of the blade 20. The second notch 26, and the corresponding second cutting edge 25, may be orientated in a direction opposite with the direction the comb 100 moves for thinning hair or fur. That is, the orientation of the second notch 26 is opposite to the orientation of the at least one notch 21. In this way, the comb 100 may be advantageously used to thin hair or fur by a user that is either left or right handed, the comb 100 may additionally advantageously be moved in either direction along the z-axis and still in effect engage with the hair or fur of the person or pet to be groomed thereby thinning the hair or fur of the person or pet.

[0062] In one embodiment, the tip 24 of blade 20 may be a blunt tip. In this way, the blade 20 may be safely used without injuring the person or pet being groomed. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that the blunt tip 24 of the blade 20 if contacting the person or pet whilst the comb 100 is used in the combing direction (along the z-axis), advantageously will not cause pain or discomfort to the person or pet by virtue of being blunt.

[0063] Referring now to Figures 1 to 4, in one embodiment, the comb 100 may further comprise an ejector portion 40. The ejector portion 40 may comprise an edge 41. The edge 41 may span a length corresponding to the length between the pair of ends 12 of the elongate base 11. The edge 41 of the ejector portion 40 may, in use, be movable between a first position (illustrated in Figure 2) and a second position (illustrated in Figure 3) relative to the comb portion 10. The edge 41 of the ejector portion 40 may be biased from the second position to the first position such that an external force is required to move the edge 41 of the ejector portion 40 from the first position to the second position.

[0064] In this embodiment, referring now to Figure 2, the ejector portion 40 may be configured and adapted to permit hair or fur to pass through the gaps of the comb portion 10 when the edge 41 of the ejector portion 40 is in the first position. [0065] In this embodiment, referring now to Figure 3, the edge 41 of the ejector portion 40 may be adapted to slidably contact the blades 20 of the comb portion 10 and to contact hair or fur passing through the gaps of the comb portion 10 in a manner forcing the hair or fur out from the gaps of the comb portion 10 as the ejector portion 40 moves away from the first position toward the second position.

[0066] In one embodiment, the ejector portion 40 may comprise a resilient member 44. The resilient member 44 being disposed in the ejector portion 40 in communication with the edge 41. In this way, the resilient member 44 may bias the edge 41 of the ejector portion 40 away from the second position towards the first position.

[0067] In one embodiment, the resilient member 44 is a spring 44. In this way, the edge 41 of the ejector portion 40 may be biased from the second position to the first position by virtue of the spring 44.

[0068] Referring now to Figure 4, in one embodiment, the edge 41 of the ejector portion 40 may comprise a plurality of through holes 45 arranged in a row corresponding to and in alignment with the plurality of apertures 13 of the elongate base 11. The plurality of through holes 45 may be sized and shaped to provide through holes 45 for each blade 20 to pass there through. In this embodiment, the ejector portion 40 may be adapted so as to slidably contact the gaps between each pair of adjacent blades 20 of the comb portion 10 and to contact hair or fur passing through the gaps of the comb portion 10 in a manner forcing the hair or fur out from the gaps of the comb portion 10 as the through holes 45 of the ejector portion 40 move away from the first position toward the second position.

[0069] Referring now to Figures 2 to 4, in one embodiment, the comb 100 may further comprise at least one fastening means 17. In this embodiment, the ejector portion 40 is removably attached to the comb portion 10 via the at least one fastening means 17.

[0070] In one embodiment, referring to Figure 4, the at least one fastening means 17 may be at least one screw.

[0071] Referring now to Figures 1 to 4, in one embodiment, the casing 30 may be adapted so as to conceal the comb portion 10 and the ejector portion 40 in the cavity 31 at the end 32 of the casing 30, so as to keep the plurality of blades 20, the pair of ends 12 of the comb portion 10, and the edge 41 of the ejector portion 40 exposed along a first side 34 of the end 32 of the casing 30. It will be appreciated that in this way, the casing 30 advantageously houses internal components of the comb 100 (such as the at least one fastening means 17), so as to prevent tampering with these internal components and protect them whilst the come 100 is in use. Additionally, by housing the internal components of the comb 100, the casing 30 also advantageously prevents the loss of any internal components, whereby provided that an internal component is to become loose (such as the at least one fastening means 17), it may be retained by the casing 30 and not be lost or swallowed by the person or the pet.

[0072] In one embodiment, the casing 30 may further comprise an upper casing section 35 and a lower casing section 36. The upper 35 and lower 36 casing sections may be identically sized and shaped, and cooperative. The upper 35 and lower 36 casing sections may further comprise an attachment means 37, such as a snap in locking mechanism (not shown) to removably attach the upper casing section 35 to the lower casing section 36. In this way, it will be appreciated that the internal components of the comb (such as the at least one fastening means 17) may be readily accessible by removing the upper casing section 35 from the lower casing section 36 via the attachment means 37.

[0073] In one embodiment, the cavity 31 of the casing 30 may comprise at least one aperture 38 for receiving the at least one fastening means 17. In this particular embodiment, the at least one fastening means 17 may further removably attach the comb portion 10 and the ejector portion 40 to at least one of the upper 35 or lower 36 casing sections via the at least one aperture 38.

[0074] In this particular embodiment, the at least one aperture 38 may be in cooperative alignment with the apertures 14 of the comb portion 10 on their respective flanges 16.

[0075] Referring to Figure 4, in this particular embodiment, the comb portion 10 and the ejector portion 40 may be removably attached to the lower casing section 36 by a pair of screws 17.

[0076] In one embodiment, the upper casing section 35 and or the lower casing section 36 may comprise a limiting wall 39 disposed in the cavity 31 of the casing 30. The limiting wall 39 may be sized, shaped and positioned in the cavity 31 so as to abut against the spring 44, thereby causing the spring 44 into compression when an external force is applied to move the edge 41 of the ejector portion 40 from the first position to the second position. In this way, when the external force is removed, the spring 44 becomes uncompressed, one end of the spring 44 abutting against the limiting wall 39 of the casing 30, and the opposite end of the spring 44 against a seat 46 of the edge 41 , thereby biasing the edge 41 of the ejector portion 40 from the second position to the first position.

[0077] In one embodiment, referring to Figures 2 to 4, the ejector portion 40 may further comprise a user operable actuator 47. The user operable actuator 47 may act to provide the external force required to move the edge 41 of the ejector portion 40 from the first position to the second position. In this way, the user operable actuator 47 overcomes the resilient member 44.

[0078] In this particular embodiment, the user operable actuator 47 may be connected to a push rod 48. The push rod 48 may be coupled to one or more cams 49. The cams 49 may abut an interface wall 60 of the edge 41. In this way, the user operable actuator 47 transmits the external force in order to move the edge 41 from the first position to the second position, via the push rod 48 which operates the one or more cams 49, which in turn abuts against the interface wall 60 of the edge 41 overcoming the bias of the resilient member 44.

[0079] Referring now to Figure 4, in one embodiment, the user operable actuator 47 may be exposed or accessible via a second side 50 of the end 32 of the casing 30. In this way, the casing 30 may be adapted so as to conceal the comb portion 10 and the ejector portion 40 in the cavity 31 at the end 32 of the casing 30 so as to keep the plurality of blades 20, the pair of ends 12 of the comb portion 10, and the edge 41 of the ejector portion 40 exposed along the first side 34 of the end 32, in addition to keeping the user operable actuator 47 exposed along the second side 50 of the end 32 of the casing 30.

[0080] In this particular embodiment, it will be appreciated that the user operable actuator 47 may take alternative forms, such as a button (not shown), a trigger (not shown) or a lever (not shown), and may be comprised in the ejector portion 40 as described in the above embodiments.

[0081] An inherent advantage of the comb 100, in use with long hair or fur, the comb 100 may be used to shave off excess length from the hair or fur of the person or pet. As an example, a person with long hair may use the comb 100 to shave off unwanted excess length of their hair by combing the hair in the direction along the z-axis. In this way, either one of the at least one notch 21 or the second notch 26 (depending on the direction along the z-axis the comb 100 is used), engages with the long hair at a point (not shown) where the excess is to be shaved and in effect thins the hair at that point. In a similar way, this example may be for a pet with long fur.

[0082] Throughout the specification and the claims that follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the words“comprise” and“include” and variations such as“comprising” and“including” will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers, but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

[0083] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement of any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

[0084] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted in its use to the particular application described. Neither is the present invention restricted in its preferred embodiment with regard to the particular elements and/or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims.