# US 10,864,645 B2 · Hair cutting device

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- Number: US 10,864,645 B2
- Document ID: US10864645B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/542,760
- Filed: 2015-12-31
- Published: 2017-12-21
- Granted: 2020-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2015-01-15
- Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- Applicants: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- Inventors: Gaetano Fabio Magrone
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864645B2

## CPC

- B26B 19/44: Suction means for collecting severed hairs or for the skin to be shaved
- B26B 19/06: involving co-operating cutting elements both of which have shearing teeth
- B26B 19/388: {Sensors; Control}
- B26B 19/3886: {Actuating members, e.g. switches or control knobs}
- B26B: HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (for harvesting A01D; for horticulture, for forestry A01G; for butchering or meat treatment A22; for manufactering or repairing footwear A43D; nail clippers or cutters A45D29/02; kitchen equipment A47J; {vegetable slicers, julienne cutters and similar devices and holders therefor, B26D3/28}; for surgical purposes A61B; for metal B23D; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; plier-like tools with cutting edges B25B7/22; pincers B25C11/02; handles for hand implements, in general B25G; guillotine-type cutters B26D; {perforating by non-mechanical means, e.g. by fluid jet, B26F1/26}; for erasing B43L19/00; for textile materials D06H)

## Abstract

A device for cutting hair includes a housing, a cutting unit arranged at one end of said housing and having a cutting element. The device includes an electrode, and a voltage source connected to the electrode. The voltage source is configured to provide the electrode with an electrostatic charge so that the electrode is configured to attract charges naturally present in hair cut by the cutting unit without actively charging the cut hair and to consequently draw and/or hold the cut hair away from the cutting element. The hair cutting device also has a sensor, which is arranged to detect a condition relating to the use of the device. The voltage source is activated or deactivated depending on said detected condition.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for cutting hair comprising:
a housing;
a cutting unit arranged at a distal end of the housing and comprising a cutting element;
a cutting head comprising a cutting face disposed at the distal end of the housing, the cutting head having a first side extending from the cutting face, and the cutting head having a second side extending from the cutting face, the first and second sides being spaced apart and facing each other;
a first electrode disposed on the first side, and a second electrode disposed on the second side;
a voltage source connected to the first and second electrodes;
a controller, wherein the voltage source is configured to provide the first and second electrodes with an electrostatic charge so that the first and second electrodes are configured to attract charges naturally present in hair cut by the cutting unit without actively charging the hair cut by the cutting unit, and to consequently draw and/or hold the hair cut by the cutting unit away from the cutting element; and
a proximity sensor adapted to detect a position of the device relative to skin of a user, wherein the controller is configured, based on an input from the proximity sensor, to activate or deactivate the voltage source when the cutting unit is in a vicinity of the skin of the user.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to activate the voltage source when the cutting unit is located less than 4 mm from the skin of the user.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to activate the voltage source when the cutting unit is in contact with the skin of the user.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, comprising a motion sensor configured to detect whether the hair cutting device is in motion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A device according the claim 4, wherein the motion sensor is connected to the controller.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A device according the claim 1, comprising a receptacle for collecting the hair cut by the cutting unit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are located in the cutting head proximate to the cutting unit.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

A device according the claim 6, wherein the voltage source is configured to provide the first and second electrodes with the electrostatic charge so that the first and second electrodes are configured to hold the hair cut by the cutting unit in the receptacle.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A device according to claim 8, wherein the first and second electrodes are located in the receptacle.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

A device according to claim 6, comprising a suction unit arranged within the housing, wherein the suction unit is suitable for drawing the hair cut by the cutting unit into the receptacle.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein the voltage source is configured to provide the first and second electrodes with a voltage ranging between −6 kV and −2.5 kV.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein the voltage source comprises an ionizer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein the voltage source comprises a network of diodes and capacitors.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second electrodes has parallel sides.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a third electrode disposed along the cutting face.