Grooming Apparatus for Facial Hair

Abstract

An apparatus to aid in the grooming of facial hair, said apparatus comprising a symmetrical template and an alignment system consisting of several markings on the template's exterior. The template contours to fit the user's face, covering facial hair in a pre-determined pattern to prevent it from being cut or trimmed during shaving. The alignment system is positioned so that the user can rest the external markings upon the bridge of their nose and their philtrum, allowing the user to center the apparatus symmetrically on their face when in use. The apparatus can be operated by one hand, leaving the other hand free. When used in conjunction with an outlining pencil, razor trimmer, and/or similar grooming tool, the apparatus allows for the creation of neat, smooth edges along the perimeter of the user's facial hair.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The following relates to personal grooming aids.

BACKGROUND

Regularly grooming facial hair to predictable style with neat and cleanly-cut edges can prove somewhat difficult for the average person. The face is a curved surface with several irregularities in shape and contour that can cause problems while attempting to trim one's facial hair along a smooth line by sight alone. While some templates exist to assist in trimming the facial hair on one side of the face, they do not offer any means of ensuring that both sides of the facial hair will be cut symmetrically. Such templates also do not offer any means by which the user can symmetrically align the template on their face in a repeatable manner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a view from the front of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view from the rear an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a ¾ view of an embodiment of the invention from the front.

FIG. 6 is an image of an embodiment of the invention while held against a user's face during use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention is an apparatus that can be used to assist in the grooming of facial hair. In particular, the apparatus aids in symmetrically trimming facial hair to a repeatable style with neat and clean edges.

FIG. 1 depicts one possible embodiment of the apparatus, viewed from the front. The apparatus is a template for the grooming of facial hair. The template is shaped to shield the user's facial hair during tracing with an outlining pencil and subsequent trimming, aiding the user in shaving to a preset style. The exterior of the template is shown as reference 101. An external marking 102 may be present, visible to the user, to aid in centering the apparatus on the face. The template may be generally symmetrical along a vertical axis, as illustrated for the reader by the vertical symmetry line 103. An optional set of patterned tips 104 can rest against the user's face under the ears when the apparatus is in use, cushioning the skin and aiding in positioning the apparatus when in use. The apparatus may also include an optional recessed section 105 which fits the user's fingers, aiding in holding the apparatus with only one hand while in use.

FIG. 2 depicts the same embodiment of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, viewed from behind. The interior 201 of the apparatus is curved to contour to the user's face while in use. An internal raised marking 202 may be present, which can be aligned with the user's philtrum to aid in centering the apparatus on the face while in use. This area may be surrounded by a patterned pad to cushion the user's skin and prevent slipping, aiding in holding the apparatus with only one hand while in use. The template may be generally symmetrical along a vertical axis, as illustrated for the reader by the vertical symmetry line 103. The optional set of patterned tips 104 can rest against the user's face under the ears when the apparatus is in use, cushioning the skin and aiding in positioning the apparatus when in use. An optional interior set of gripping pads 205 may be included to cushion the user's skin and prevent slipping, aiding in holding the apparatus with only one hand while in use.

FIG. 3 depicts the same embodiment of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, viewed from the top. The template's exterior 101 and interior 201 are curved to contour to the user's face while in use. The internal raised marking 202 and the external marking 102 can be seen relative to one another, showing how both could be used simultaneously to align the apparatus on the face while in use. The template may be generally symmetrical along a vertical axis, as illustrated for the reader by the vertical symmetry line 103. The same optional set of patterned tips 104 can rest against the user's face under the ears when the apparatus is in use, cushioning the skin and aiding in positioning the apparatus when in use.

FIG. 4 depicts the same possible embodiment of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, viewed from the side. The template has been shaped to cover certain regions of the user's facial hair while leaving others exposed, assisting in trimming the facial hair to a corresponding style with neat and clean edges. The same optional set of patterned tips 104 can rest against the user's face under the ears when the apparatus is in use, cushioning the skin and aiding in positioning the apparatus when in use. The same optional recessed section 105 which fits the user's fingers aides in holding the apparatus with only one hand while in use.

FIG. 5 depicts the same possible embodiment of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, viewed from the front at a ¾ view. The templates' exterior 101 has been shaped to cover certain regions of the user's racial hair while leaving others exposed, assisting in trimming the facial hair to a predictable style with neat and clean edges. An external marking 102 may be present, visible to the user, to aid in centering the apparatus on the face. The interior of the apparatus' templates 201 are curved to contour to the user's face while in use. The same optional set of patterned tips 104 can rest against the user's face under the ears when the apparatus is in use, cushioning the skin and aiding in positioning the apparatus when in use. The same optional recessed section 105 which fits the user's fingers, aides in holding the apparatus with only one hand while in use.

FIG. 6 depicts the same possible embodiment of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, viewed while held against a hypothetical user's face during use. The same optional set of patterned tips 104 can rest against the user's face under the ears when the apparatus is in use, cushioning the skin and aiding in positioning the apparatus when in use. The same optional recessed section 105 which fits the user's fingers aides in holding the apparatus with only one hand while in use. The external marking 102 can be seen, showing how it can be viewed by the user to aide in centering the apparatus on the face while in use. An internal raised marking 202 can be seen aligned with the user's philtrum to aid in centering the apparatus on the face while in use.

The apparatus may be produced with various differently shaped templates, each of which allows the facial hair to be trimmed in a respective different style.

The apparatus may be constructed in such a way that its templates can be adjusted and reconfigured by the user to change the area of the face that they cover, allowing the user's facial hair to be trimmed to a multitude of styles.

The Apparatus may be constructed using a number of materials. Potential embodiments of the invention might be made using materials such as (but not limited to) metal, wood, rubber, foam, latex, and glass, or any combination of such materials.

Claims

1. An apparatus to aid in the grooming of facial hair, said apparatus comprising:

a symmetrical template; and

an alignment system that comprises a plurality of markings on the template's exterior, wherein the template is contoured to fit a user's face, covering facial hair in a pre-determined pattern to prevent the facial hair from being trimmed during shaving; and

wherein the markings of the alignment system are positioned so that the user can rest the markings upon the bridge of one or more of the user's nose and philtrum, allowing the user to center the apparatus symmetrically on the user's face when in use.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is constructed from a single piece of plastic.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is constructed from a single piece of wood.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is constructed from a single piece of metal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the markings comprise one or more visible markings.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the markings comprise one or more raised features.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the template comprises one or more grip positions configured to allow the user to securely hold the template against the face.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more grip positions each comprise a textured area configured to prevent slippage from fingertips of the user.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the template is configured to be held against the face of the user with one hand.