US1994505A - Comb - Google Patents

Description

March 19, 1935. A E DOVE I 1,994,505

ooms

Filed ott. 23, 19:55

witnesses.'

Infra/wor I 7 .al1/a Eozfe Patented Mar. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES Pini-:larA OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to combs and particularly to combs for hair.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved comb having structural characteristics which permit rapid and easy cleaning of the device; to provide a sanitary comb particularly suitable for use as equipment in public wash rooms, barber shops and the like; and to provide a comb having a tooth arrangement which more readily serves to clean and exercise the hair.

A specic embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an improved comb partially broken away to show its structural arrangement.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing interlocking means for holding separable parts of the structure together.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the same taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the toothed edge of an improved comb.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the comb parts in partially interlocked position.

In the form shown in the drawing, the improved comb comprises a pair of similar comblike members arranged to be interlocked face to face in such a way that the teeth of one comb member are staggered relative to the teeth oi the other comb member. That is, the teeth of one member are positioned substantially opposite the spaces between the teeth of the other member. l

Each comb member 1 has the general appearance of an ordinary. comb for hair, having a back portion 2 and a plurality of teeth 3 projecting outwardly from the back portion. The teeth 3 are spaced apart widely as compared with the usual combs and in the form shown the spacing is about double that of the usual device, thereby providing wide spaces 4 between the teeth at their base.

One face 5 of each comb member 1 is made flat so that the two comb members, when placed face to face, will lie flatly and solidly against each other. Means for securing or clamping the comb members together are provided on the flat face to the back portion 2 of each comb member and are arranged to slidably and releasably engage each other and, lock the comb members in a proper position.

The securing means, in the form shown, comprise a pair of dove-tail-shaped lugs or tongues 16 and a pair of dove-tail grooves 7, each member 1 having a lug 6 and a groove 7 positioned adjacent opposite ends of the member. The respective lugs and grooves are positioned so that 5 -when the comb members are placed- 4face to face, a lug 6 of one member will be opposite a groove 7 of the other member.

The lug 6 of each comb member projects upwardly from the face 5 of the back portion 2 and is dove-tail-shaped in section as shown in Fig. 3, the upper surface or face of the lug being inclined downwardly toward the face 5 as it approaches the middle lportion of the back 2 as shown in Fig. 2.

The groove 7 of each comb member is formed in the back portion thereof and the bottom of the groove is inclined downwardly as it approaches the adjacent end of the comb member. This is also shown in Fig. 2. Each groove is also dove-tailed in section, as shown in Fig. 3, and the sides of the groove converge slightly at the inner end to provide a slight wedging action on the lug as it reaches the position where it becomes finally locked. Thus when the two comb members 1 are -placed face to face, with the high end of the lugs 6 positioned at the entrance to the groove 7, and slidably shifted together lengthwise, the lugs 6 will enter the grooves 7 and, because of their dove-tail shape, securely clamp and lock the two members together. y

In order to readily guide the lugs 6 into engagement with the grooves 7, a guide means is provided which comprises a longitudinal groove 8 on one member and a longitudinal tongue 9 on the other member. When locking the members 1 together the tongue 9 is rst placedin the groove 8 and then the members are slidably shifted toward each other until engaged and locked.

The respective lugs and grooves are so positioned on the back portion of each comb member that when they are engaged and locked, the teeth 3 of one comb member will be positioned opposite the spaces 4 between the teeth of the other member and thus be in alternate or staggered relation with each other. In order to pro- Vide a unitary, neat appearing article, the teeth on each member are formed and located relative to the ends of that member so that when they are in the proper alternate relationship with the teeth of the other member the outlines of the two members will coincide and the device will appear as one single unit.

In operation, the herein-described device is used as a unit in the same manner as the usual one-piece combs, the two comb members'being locked together. When it is desired to clean the device the two members are shifted longitudinally of each other and thus unlocked and separated when, due to the wide spacing of the teeth, the members can be easily cleaned with only a cloth or paper towel or the like. The wide spacing of the teeth permits the cloth or towel to readily enter the spaces 4 when it is doubled around the comb member and pressed together with the users lingers. Thus no special implements are necessary and the operation is rapidly performed.

The main advantages of the improved comb reside in the rapidity and ease with which it is cleaned. Such combs when placed in public wash rooms, Pullman trains, hotels, etc., can be cleaned by each user in only a moments time, and thus the device is kept sanitary and would be a benet to particular and careful persons.

Another advantage is that the improved comb will provide an excellent exerciser for the hair and will have a more thorough cleansing action on the hair than combs of the usual construction. Due to the staggered or alternate relationship of the comb teeth, the hair is caused to bend between the teeth as shown at 10 in Fig. 4, which not only exercises the hair but also readily cleanses it of any dirt, dust, or lint that might be adhering to it.

It is understood that improved combs such as is herein described can be made with any desired spacing between the alternate teeth of the combined structure so that fine or coarse combs may be provided.

Although but one speciiic embodiment o this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A comb of the class described comprising a pair of superposed members each comprising a back portion having a plurality of spaced projecting teeth, a dovetail tongue projecting from one face of the back portion of one of said members, the other of said members having a complementary dovetail groove in one face of its back portion, and said tongue and groove being arranged to slidably engage with each other to lock said members together in xed back to back relation with the teeth or" one member in staggered relation with the teeth of the other member.

2. A comb ofthe class described comprising a pair of superposed members each comprising a back portion having a at face and a plurality of spaced projecting teeth, a dovetail tongue on the flat face of one of said members, said tongue being disposed wholly within the margins of the back portion of said one member, and the other of said members having a complementary groove in its at face disposed wholly within the margins thereof, said tongue and groove being arranged to slidably'coact with each other to lock said members together in fixed back to back relation with the teeth of one member in staggered relation with the teeth of the other member.

3. A comb of the class described comprising a pair of superposed members each comprising a back portion having a fiat face and a. plurality of spaced projecting teeth, a dovetail tongue on the flat face of one of said members, said tongue being disposed wholly within the margins of the back portion of said one member, the other of said members having a complementary groove in its at face disposed wholly within the margins thereof, said tongue and groove being arranged to slidably coact with each other to lock said members together in xed back to back relation with the teeth of one member in staggered relation with the teeth of the other member, and another tongue on one of said members arranged to coact with another groove on the other of said members and guide the first mentioned tongue and groove into coacting relationship, said other tongue and groove extending parallel with the iirst mentioned tongue and groove.

4. A comb of the class described comprising a pair of superposed members each comprising an elongated back portion having a fiat face and a plurality of laterally projecting spaced teeth, a projecting tongue extending longitudinally on the flat face of one of said members and located wholly within the margins thereof, said tongue having side walls converging toward the face of said one member and having its top surface inclined upwardly from the face of said member in the direction of its length, and the other of said members having a complementary groove formed in its at face and located within the margins thereof, said groove having its side walls converging toward the at face of said other member and having its bottom inclined relative to the said face, said tongue and groove being arranged to slidably coact with each other to draw said members together in xed face to face position with the teeth of one member staggered relative to the teeth of the other member.

ALVA E. DOVE.

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