US-20260124774-A1 - Hair Clipper with Linear Actuator

Abstract

A linear actuator or motor for oscillating a blade is provided. The linear actuator replaces an eccentric drive and yoke, resulting in a linear powered drive to oscillate the blade linearly. This operation facilitates the formation of a smaller and/or lighter hair clipper. The linear actuator uses alternating current to oscillate a permanent against a biasing force produced by a set of springs. The permanent magnet is located opposite a stator with an electromagnetic coil that generates an electromagnetic force to oscillate the permanent magnet.

Inventors

• Richard J. Tringali
• Jeffrey D. Gross

Assignees

• ANDIS COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251229

Claims (8)

1. 1 . A hair cutter comprising a linear actuator, the linear actuator comprising: a shaft; a permanent magnet coupled to the shaft and extending along an axial axis; a spring coupled to the permanent magnet, the spring biasing the permanent magnet along the axial axis; a linear stator opposite the permanent magnet, the linear stator comprising an electromagnet that generates an electromagnetic force that causes the permanent magnet and the shaft to oscillate linearly along the axial axis; and a blade coupled to the shaft.
2. 2 . The hair cutter of claim 1 , further comprising a yoke coupled to an inner blade, wherein the inner blade oscillates over an outer blade when the shaft couples to the yoke to oscillate the inner blade in a direction that is parallel to the axial axis of the permanent magnet.
3. 3 . The hair cutter of claim 1 , further comprising two or more electromagnetics opposite two or more permanent magnets, wherein the two or more permanent magnets are parallel and aligned about the axial axis.
4. 4 . The hair cutter of claim 1 , further comprising a linear laminate within the electromagnet to generate the electromagnetic force.
5. 5 . The hair cutter of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnet is an electric coil.
6. 6 . The hair cutter of claim 1 , wherein the axial axis of the permanent magnet forms a non-zero angle with a longitudinal axis extending along the spring.
7. 7 . The hair cutter of claim 1 , wherein a non-zero angle is formed between the spring and the axial axis when current passes through the linear stator, and wherein a right angle is formed between the spring and the axial axis when zero current passes through the linear stator.
8. 8 . The hair cutter of claim 1 , further comprising an electric charge separator between two or more electromagnets in the linear stator.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS The present application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/063,247, filed Dec. 8, 2022, which is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US 2021/036762, filed Jun. 10, 2021, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/037,734, filed on Jun. 11, 2020, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of hair clippers or a hair cutting apparatus. The present invention relates specifically to a linear actuator or motor configured to drive a reciprocating blade on a blade assembly of the hair cutters. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One embodiment of the invention relates to a linear motor for a hair cutting device. The linear actuator includes a shaft, a generally U-shaped bracket, a permanent magnet, a pair of flat-bar springs, and a stator. The shaft extends along a longitudinal axis through the U-shaped bracket that has 2 parallel legs joined by a support rail that has an opening. The permanent magnet extends along an axial axis and is coupled to the shaft. The shaft passes through the opening of the bracket. The pair of flat-bar springs are coupled to the permanent magnet and the support rail. The springs each extend along a longitudinal axis. A non-zero angle is formed between the longitudinal axis of the shaft and the longitudinal axes of the springs. The stator is located opposite the permanent magnet and includes an electromagnetic coil. When an alternating current passes through the electromagnetic coil, the shaft oscillates. Another embodiment of the invention relates to a hair cutter comprising a linear actuator. The linear actuator includes a shaft, a permanent magnet, a spring, and a liner motor. The permanent magnet is coupled to the shaft and extends along an axial axis. The spring is coupled to the permanent magnet and biases the permanent magnet along the axial axis. The linear stator is located opposite the permanent magnet and includes an electromagnet that generates an electromagnetic force that causes the permanent magnet and the shaft to oscillate linearly along the axial axis. The linear motor is coupled to the shaft that drives a blade of the hair cutter. Another embodiment of the invention relates to a linear motor for a hair cutting device. The linear motor includes a bracket, a frame, a permanent magnet, a spring, and a linear stator. The frame is removably coupled to the bracket. The permanent magnet extends along an axial axis and is coupled to a shaft passing through an opening of the bracket. The spring is coupled to and located between the permanent magnet and the bracket. The spring extends along a longitudinal axis. A non-zero angle is formed between the axial axis of the permanent magnet and the longitudinal axis of the spring. The linear stator is coupled to the frame opposite the permanent magnet and includes an electromagnetic coil. When a current passes through the electromagnetic coil, an electromagnetic force causes the permanent magnet to oscillate linearly along the axial axis and a tip of the shaft to oscillate linearly in a direction parallel to the axial axis. Alternative exemplary embodiments relate to other features and combinations of features as may be generally recited in the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This application will become more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair cutting device with a linear actuator, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a linear actuator, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the linear actuator of FIG. 2 with the bracket removed, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of the linear actuator of FIG. 2, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 5 is a top exploded perspective view of the linear actuator of FIG. 2 with the bracket removed, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 6 is a bottom exploded perspective view of the linear actuator of FIG. 2 with the bracket removed, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 7 is an exploded orthogonal side view of the linear actuator of FIG. 2, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 8 is an exploded orthogonal side view of the linear actuator of FIG. 7 with the bracket removed, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 9 is a top orthogonal side view of the linear actuator of FIG. 2, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 10 is a front isometric view of the linear actuator of FIG. 2, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 11 is a rear isometric view of the linear actuator of FIG. 2, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a first side of the linear actuat