Hinged cleaning comb

A device for extracting lice or nits from hair or scalp, the device comprising:

• a first body member having a first handle and a first series of parallel teeth, the first series of parallel teeth including an active portion projecting away from the first handle in a direction that defines a first plane, wherein all of the teeth projecting from the first handle lie in the first plane,
• a second body member having a second handle and a second series of parallel teeth, the second series of parallel teeth including an active portion projecting away from the second handle in a direction that defines a second plane, wherein all of the teeth projecting from the second handle lie in the second plane, and
• a hinge pivotally coupling the first body member and the second body member,
• wherein in a closed position, the first series of teeth and the second series of teeth are interleaved and the first plane and second plane are coplanar so that the active portion of the first series of teeth and the active portion of the second series of teeth project in the same direction and form a comb, wherein a gap between adjacent teeth in the closed position is sized so as to capture lice or nits when the device is used to comb hair or scalp, and wherein in an open position, the first series of teeth and the second series of teeth are rotated apart so that captured lice or nits can be released.

A device for extracting lice or nits from hair or scalp, the device comprising:

• a first body member having a first handle and a first series of parallel teeth, the first series of parallel teeth including an active portion projecting away from the first handle in a direction that defines a first plane,
• a second body member having a second handle and a second series of parallel teeth, the second series of parallel teeth including an active portion projecting away from the second handle in a direction that defines a second plane, and
• a hinge pivotally coupling the first body member and the second body member, the hinge pivoting about a hinge axis,
• wherein in a closed position, the first series of teeth and the second series of teeth are interleaved and the first plane and second plane are coplanar so that the active portion of the first series of teeth and the active portion of the second series of teeth project in the same direction and form a comb, wherein in the closed position the hinge axis lies in the coplanar first plane and second plane, wherein a gap between adjacent teeth in the closed position is sized so as to capture lice or nits when the device is used to comb hair or scalp, and wherein in an open position, the first series of teeth and the second series of teeth are rotated apart so that captured lice or nits can be released.