US2566965A - Comb - Google Patents

Description

sept. 4, 1951 H. F. SHAW 2,566,965

2 Sheets-Shee4 l Filed Aug. 1o, 1946 sept. 4, 1951 H. F. SHAW 2,566,965

COMB

Filed Aug. 10, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,1:1- /26 e 6 v *195 VT Mmmm 328 je/326 f G26 i ,f

` l l l' i, WH" 'HILU'M F' .12. F .13 F19ll .19426 26 nj I.' 448 b445 20 45o 20 428 I 488 Ego Eea lla I HUGH/E021 Iaro/dlsuzw Patented Sept. 4, 1.951

Y .Y QCM;.

Harold F. Shaw, Leominster, Mass. Y Application August l0, 1948,'SierialhNo.7689,7742V 1 3 claims. 1

i This invention relates to combs 'of the type used by women for holding the hair in place after the coiffure is suitably arranged. The'objectis to provide a hair positioning or retaining device of this nature having teeth which, after they have been inserted in the hair, may be brought closer together more firmly to grip the hair and which will be locked in this position, the comb then becoming a part of the hair arrangement, either inconspicuous or conspicuous and ornamental as the case may be. The combfwill then not fall out or easily become displaced and the coiffure will not become disarranged.

My invention will be well understood by ref--V erence to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, wherein I have shown various constructions illustrative of .the invention and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan of a comb with its parts in the position which they occupy when in use in the hair;

' Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in the open position which they will occupy prior to the insertion of the teeth in the hair;

Fig. E3 is a rear view of Fig. 2, the teeth being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view of the upper portion of a comb of modified construction, the parts being in the open position;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a diierent modification; the teeth of the comb are also of a different form;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7;' Fig..9.is a view similar to Figs. 5 and 7 showing a different modiiication;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of the central portion of Fig. 9 showing the parts in positions into which they move when the comb is closed or locked;

Fig. 11 is a view of the upper portion of another modiiied form of comb in thelopen position and viewed from the rear;

Fig. l2 is a fragmentary section on the' line i2-l2 of Fig. 1l; and 1 Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig.

12 showing the parts in the closed or locked posi-v tion.

Usually combs of the kind shown v.are curved in a plane perpendicular to the paper in the drawing, but I have not attempted to illustrate this with accuracy in the drawing as it would complicate the drawing and not contribute to an Yunderstanding of the invention. In the following description I shall speak offthe devices illustrated as if flat in the plane of the paper.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the comb there shown comprises a unitary body corresponding in general in its form to a complete comb of the conventional kind and whichl may conveniently be molded from suitable plastic mai-....1 ...ma s nvmvviin and comprises a back.

20ffrorn which projects a row of teeth 22. Hereinithe teeth 22 are shown with projections 24 staggered in adjacent teeth, these illustrating by way-of vexample teeth having a formation intended to resist their withdrawal from the hair, a function which they more efficiently perform in a construction embodying the present invention, as will hereafter appear. The back 20 is` resiliently `flexible and may be flexed in the plane of the paper and normally when not constrained would'occupy such a position as seen in Figs. 2 and 3 wherein it extends substantially straight.

` In'the modification of Figs. 1 to 4, a bar 2B is associated with the back 20 of the comb, herein being mounted'thereon a central pivot 28. It may be made of like plastic material and in the example shown is of simple form and appears, when the comb is in the position of use shown in Fig. 1, much like an ordinary back portion of the usual unornamented side comb or the like. While this bar 2B may iiex somewhat in practice, itis relatively heavy and it will be convenient here to consider it as rigid in the plane of the paper although it may be resiliently ilexible transversely to that plane. rHerein the .bar vhas a generally curved form and has overhanging shoulders 30 (see Figs. 3 and 4) preferably with recurvedhooklike ends as seen -in the latter figure which are offset downwardlyfrom the pivot 28 and adapted in the closed position of Fig. 1 to engage the end portions of the back 20 which maybe provided with suitable seats 32 to receive the same. The pivot 2B and the'points of engagement of the shoulders 3l!V lie on a curve of greater curvature than the back 20 when the lever is in the position shown in Fig. 1. The comb with the parts in the position in Fig. 2 is inserted in the hair. Theback 20 and the bar 26 remain exposed at theoutside of the hair. The fingers may then swing the bar 2B counterclockwise, viewing Fig. 2, andthe shoulderllat the left will come to rest onVV seat '32 while that at the right is snapped over the seat 32 at the right-hand end of the back 20. By this action the back of the comb is fixed torcer-respond with the curve of the three engaging points and therefore the teeth 22 are thrown into their converging positions, illustrated in Fig. 1, locking them to the hair. Thus if wev assume the back 20 to be perfectly horizontal in Fig. 2, the teeth 22 might be considered as perpendicular thereto and parallel. Then if the back is bent to the arc of a circle, the teeth assume the position of radii converging toward the center. This may be considered a schematic description of.

the principle of action.

When it is desired to withdraw the comb, one end of the bar 26 may be stressed slightly to be sprung aside to disengage its shoulder 30 from seat 32 and permit the bar to swing to the position of Figs. 2 and 3. The body of the comb then springs backto its normal unstrained position or Fig. 2. If the back 20 of the comb is normally substantially straight. it is flexed in use to a.

back might be concaved upwardly, and this curva#A ture would then be flattened.

If we consider the parts in the open position i of Fig. 2, it will be plain that the. distance. be;- v.

tween the two terminal engaging seats 32.. of they back 20 is substantially the same as the distance between the shoulders 3U measured along thej baron the curve through the pivot 28. The distance between the shoulders 30 on the bar 26, measured in. a straight line, is less, the chord being shorter than the arc. When the device is closed tothe position of Fig. 1, the seats 32 on the back are pressed nearer together to correspond to the straight line spacing of the shoulders 30 with resultant flexure of the back 20, causing the ends of the teeth to move closer together.

The description of the principle of action which has just been given is particularly useful in considering the construction of Fig. 5. Herein the bar |26 is associated with the back 20 by being pivoted thereto at one end only and at the other end it isv recurved to form a hook |30 which embracesY the right-hand end of the back when closed, coming to rest against a shoulder 13,2. The .parts are so proportioned that the hook can be Vengaged, only if the back 20 is sprung or flexed to increase its curvature andV throw the teeth to morel converging positions.

bar 326. If the lever is swung counterclockwise from the position` of Fig. a9, the central .portion of the back r20 Will be drawnr up into the concave of the bar 326, being bent to the form of the arc,

1 'and the teeth will be caused to converge.

The link 340 is desirably somewhat longer than the distance between the points 338 and 344 and may move slightly beyond center to the position vshown in Fig. 1,0 and will be self-maintaining in vthat position. The mechanism isone form of teggle joint. In this instance the mere manipulation of the lever in itself tends to move the teeth to the desired convergent positions. and holds them' there until released by a suitable reversemanipulation. y

In Fig. 9,. I have indicated by dotted lines 348r the outline of an ornamental pinece which might be mounted on the, bar 323 and which 'would efv` fectually 'conceal the operating mechanism when the combl was Worn.

In the modification shown in Fig. 11, a bar 423 f ofv arc-shaped formv 'and of generally channel'-v In the modification of Figs. 'l and f8, the bar n 22j@ is associated with the back by being pivoted thereto. centrally at the point r228` and at the left at point. 22-9 while the right-,hand free en d carries ahook-like latch 230'which is adapted to v be engaged, over the upper edge of the back 2,0

of ,the comb. at itsrrightfhand end. The points defined by the two pivots 228 and 229 andthe latch 23D, dene a curve more abrupt thanv the normal` curvature of the back 20, and when the latch isv engaged the back is ex'ed to throw the teeth into more convergent positions. Y

In this construction the right-hand Y end of the comb back and of thebar 226 may be pressed apart corresponding to a swinging movement of thebar clockwise. part of the back between the points 2,284 and 229 flexing to accommodate it to such movement, to spread the ends of the teeth before they are inserted in the hair. They will resil-iently regain their normal position when the bar is released and when the bar is latched will move beyond the same to more convergent positions as in the other constructions.-

In Fig. '7 and likewise in Figs..9 and 11 the teeth 222 are differentl from the teeth illustrated in l, '2, '3 and 5, being substantially of theijorm Shown in the patent to Sawyer No. 1,684,362, the teeth having elongated openings throughout the major portion of their length dening resiliently bowed sides which in a construction as described will be pressed together and mutually compress one another when the comb is brought to the closed position.

Referring to Fig. 9, kthe comb body, whichis generally like those previously described, carries on its back a curved bar 323 connected to the back 2D adiacent the ends of the latter by pivot pins 32B, the bar 326 and the back- 20 being related one to another in substantially the manner of an arc and its chord. A finger lever 336 is associated Y ,Y in Figs, 12 and 13, is as,- sociated with the back 20 of the comb by being kseshaped section, as seen cured to the ends of the back 20 at points 423. I n

the open position of Figs. ll. and 12, the back 29 is related to the bar 742,6 in thev manner of a chord to its arc. The central portion of the bar 2,0, may be drawnl up into the channel and flexed to the curvature thereof to cause the teeth of the comb to converge.l To retain it, a locking member 448 is providedV the 'upper end Qf which is hinged to the, back bar at the central portion of the latter, andr which has a lioQk-slfiapedv lower end 453 which may be swung in under the lower edge of the back 29 to the position shown in Fig. 13, the resiliency ofthe iiexed backY holding the latch engaged.k As in the othei1 cases, the teeth of the comb are pressed in the hair with the parts in the position of Figs, 1l and l2. The back is thenY flexed and locked'1l-ihat, position by the engagement of the hook 459 with the lower edge of the back.

I have, referred to lthe part 26, |26, andl so on, as a bar, but vvit obviously might take various forms, Ornamental. if. desired 0r. 0f a Considerable area, provided engaging parts are present properly related to perform the functions described. Ornamental extensions could be formed separately and mounted on such a bar, as above sug-` gested in connection with Fig. 9, and wide varieties of ornamental forms could be providedv by assembling' dierent tops with, a Simple bar. of the type, for instance, that 'shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 3, which then would not only serve as a latch for securing' the teeth in their locked or convergent position but provide a support for the ornamental projecting portion of the comb. Thus back combs frequently have extended` projecting portions of an ornamental character andV their weight and 'size permit them to be relatively easily displaced. When constructed in accordance with the invention they are rmly secured in position until it is desired voluntarily to withdraw them.

In a back comb such as has just been referred to, the ornamental function is perhaps more important than the hair-retaining function. It is in, effect a head ornament mounted to the hair by means `of comb teeth. Similarly a bow of ribbon, a flower or the like may be mounted on a comb body to be used as an ornament. 'The constructions here described are most effective forV such uses and reference to them as hair-retaining devices is not to be understood as excluding their adaptation to such purposes.

am aware thatthe. inventgn. may be @mf bodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, as is in fact clear in several matters from the description itself. Reference is to be had to the appended claims to indicate those principles of the invention exemplified by the particular embodiment described and which I desire to secure by Letters Patent.

I claim:

1. A comb comprising a back and teeth formed as an integral unit of resilient material and a manipulable locking device associated with the back to be accessible for manipulation when the teeth have entered the hair and operating on portions of the unit to alter their relative position with resultant resilient deformation of the unit when brought to locked position serving to hold the unit in such deformed position with the points of the teeth more closely approximated than when the unit is in its normal unstressed state.

2. A comb of the class described comprising a flexible back having projecting teeth. a bar cooperating with the back to engage the same at three spaced points along the fbar, the engagement being releasable at at least one of said points, the points defining a curve of greater curvature than the normal contour of the back, whereby when engagement is effected at all the points the teeth are forced into and secured in a coverging position.

3. A comb of the class described comprising a flexibley back having projecting teeth, a bar pivoted to the back between the ends thereof and having adjacent its ends catches for releasably engaging the comb adjacent its ends, the said catches and pivot defining a curve of greater curvature than the normal contour of the back, whereby when engagement is effected at all the points the teeth are forced into and secured in a converging position.

`4. A comb of the class described comprising a flexible back having projecting teeth, a bar pivotally connected to the back at points respectively between its ends and adjacent one end and having adjacent the other end a catch for releasably engaging the back, the said catch and points defining a curve of greater curvature than the normal contour of the back, whereby when engagement is effected at all the points the teeth are forced into and secured in a converging position.

5. A comb of the class described comprising a flexible back having projecting teeth, a bar pivotally connected to the back adjacent one end thereof and having a catch adjacent its other end for engaging the comb adjacent its other end, the distance between the pivot and catch being less than the normal distance along the unfiexed back between the pivot and the point of engagement of the catch, whereby when the two ends of the back are both engaged with the bar the teeth are forced into and secured in a converging position.

6. A comb of the kind described comprising a flexible yback having projecting teeth, a bar associated with the back having `a different curvature than the back in the normal form of the latter and means for locking the back to said bar to bring and maintain the former to flexed position with the teeth in more converging positions.

'1. A comb of the kind described comprising a bendable back having projecting teeth, a bar as- VVVsociated with the back having a different curvature than the back in the normal form of the latter and means for bending the back to the curve of the bar and holding it thereto to bring the teeth to and maintain them in more con- V,verging positions.

" 8. A comb of the kind described comprising a iiexible back having projecting teeth, a bar pivoted to the back of the comb having means for engaging the ends of the comb which means are closer together than the normal spacing of said ends, whereby when the bar is swung on its pivot to engage said means with Iboth ends of the comb the latter is flexed and the teeth forced into and secured in converging positions.

9. A comb of the class described comprising a flexible back having teeth projecting therefrom, a bar having a greater curvature than the back connected to the ends thereof, and a device carried by one of the parts for latching the central portion of the back in flexed position to the central portion of the bar with the teeth forced into and secured in converging positions.

10. A comb of the class described comprising a flexible back having teeth projecting therefrom, a bar having a greater curvature than the back connected to the ends thereof, and a device carried by one of the parts for drawing and latching the central portion of the back into the concave defined by the lbar with the teeth forced into and secured in converging positions.

11. A comb of the class described comprising a flexible back having teeth projecting therefrom, a bar having a greater curvature than the back connected to the ends thereof, and a lever device mounted between the central portions of the bar and back for drawing the same together said device moving to a self-maintaining position when they are so drawn together with the teeth forced into and secured in converging positions.

12. A comb of the class described comprising a flexible back having teeth projecting therefrom, a bar movably mounted on the back of a curvature different from the back and having provision for releasably engaging the back to hold the same flexed to a curvature at least more nearly approximating that of the bar with the ends of the teeth closer together than when the back is in its normal unstressed position.

13. A comb of the kind described comprising a unitary flexible back having integral teeth projecting therefrom and a device associated with the back manipulable into engagement with a portion of the back for locking the back in a flexed form of increased curvature with the teeth forced into Ypositions of increased convergence.

HAROLD F. SHAW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Y file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,573 Huppert Dec..5, 1944 621,705 Rasnick Mar. 21, 1899 842,524 Cartwright Jan. 29, 1907 931,841 Bridges Aug. 24, 1909 1,684,362 Sawyer Sept. 11, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 11,026 Great Britain May 21, 1908 96,573 Germany -Mar. 16, 1898

Images