Lice Comb

Abstract

A lice comb (10) comprising a housing (12) having a planar lower wall portion (14), an upper wall portion (16) and a side wall portion (18). A comb unit (20) comprising a blade (22) having a plurality of teeth (24) is moveable from a retracted position, in which the blade (22) is parallel to the lower wall portion (14), and an extended position, in which the blade (22) extends at an angle away from the lower wall portion (14). A fan unit is provided within the housing (12) such that the fan unit operates to draw air inwardly through an opening (30) in the lower wall portion (14) adjacent the comb unit (20). When the blade (20) is in the extended position, the housing (12) may be moved to draw the teeth (24) through hair such that lice captured by the teeth (24) are drawn in through the opening (30).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A lice comb comprising:
 a housing having a planar lower wall portion, an upper wall portion and a side wall portion extending between the upper and lower wall portions;   a comb unit comprising a blade having a plurality of teeth, the blade being moveable from a retracted position, in which the blade is parallel to the lower wall portion, and an extended position, in which the blade extends at an angle away from the lower wall portion; and   a fan unit within the housing such that the fan unit operates to draw air inwardly through an opening in the lower wall portion adjacent the comb unit;   wherein when the blade is in the extended position, the housing may be moved to draw the teeth through hair such that lice captured by the teeth are drawn in through the opening.   
     
     
         24 . The lice comb in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein the lower and upper wall portions are oval in shape and the side wall portion tapers inwardly from the periphery of the lower wall portion to the periphery of the upper wall portion such that the housing comprises a generally flat base and a domed upper side extending from the base. 
     
     
         25 . The lice comb in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the opening is provided between a midpoint of the lower wall portion and a first end of the housing and comprises an elongate opening extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the housing. 
     
     
         26 . The lice comb in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein the comb unit comprises a base from which the blade extends, the base comprising an elongate member pivotally mounted across the opening. 
     
     
         27 . The lice comb in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the lower wall portion is provided with an elongate lip extending along a first side of the opening adjacent the first end, the elongate lip being arcuate in shape and extending over a portion of the opening such that the base of the comb unit is pivotally mounted adjacent an inner surface of the elongate lip. 
     
     
         28 . The lice comb in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein when the comb unit is in the extended position, an arcuate lower surface of the base engages against the inner surface of the elongate lip and air may flow inwardly through the opening between an upper surface of the base and a second side of the opening and when the comb unit is in the retracted position, an upper surface of the base engages with the second side of the opening to close off the opening. 
     
     
         29 . The lice comb in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein the lower wall portion of the housing is provided with a recess extending from the opening towards the second end to receive the blade of the comb unit when the comb unit is in the retracted position. 
     
     
         30 . The lice comb in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein a filter holder is provided to receive a filter receptacle to capture lice drawn through the opening, the filter holder being moveable between a retracted position for use, and an extended position in which the filter receptacle can be engaged with or removed from the filter holder. 
     
     
         31 . The lice comb in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein the filter holder is moved between the retracted and extended positions by sliding. 
     
     
         32 . The lice comb in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein the filter holder is provided within a recessed portion adjacent the first end of the housing such that the filter holder can slide outwardly away from the first end to the extended position. 
     
     
         33 . The lice comb in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein the recessed portion is provided within the upper wall portion and the side wall portion at the first end of the housing. 
     
     
         34 . The lice comb in accordance with  claim 33 , wherein the recessed portion of the housing is defined by an inner wall including a first wall portion extending from the upper wall portion towards the lower wall portion, and a second wall portion extending parallel to the lower wall portion from the first end of the housing. 
     
     
         35 . The lice comb in accordance with  claim 34 , wherein the filter holder includes a chamber defined by an outer wall portion and an inner wall portion, the inner wall portion being complementary in shape to the inner wall of the housing such that the inner wall portion rests against the inner wall of the housing and the outer wall portion of the filter holder following the shape of the upper wall portion and side wall portion of the housing. 
     
     
         36 . The lice comb in accordance with  claim 35 , wherein the filter receptacle comprises a flexible bag having a ring around the open end thereof to be received into a complementary shaped recess provided around the periphery of an aperture in a lower side of the filter holder. 
     
     
         37 . The lice comb in accordance with  claim 36 , wherein the filter receptacle includes a cover pivotable between a closed and an open position, the cover having an outer lug on an outer surface thereof such that when the filter receptacle is received within the filter holder and the filter holder is moved to the retracted position, the outer lug engages with the inner wall of the housing to move the cover to the open position. 
     
     
         38 . The lice comb in accordance with  claim 37 , wherein the cover includes one or more internal lugs on an inner side thereof provided to engage with an inner surface of the bag to hold the bag in an open position when in use. 
     
     
         39 . The lice comb in accordance with  claim 37 , wherein the housing includes a first internal cavity in connection with the opening in the lower wall and a second internal cavity in which the fan unit is located, wherein air is drawn inwardly through the opening into the first internal cavity, through a hole in the inner wall of the housing into the filter receptacle and outwardly from the chamber in the filter holder into the second internal cavity. 
     
     
         40 . The lice comb in accordance with  claim 34 , wherein the filter holder includes a projection extending inwardly through a slot in the first wall portion of the inner wall of the housing such that the filter holder can slide inwardly or outwardly relative to the first wall portion. 
     
     
         41 . The lice comb in accordance with  claim 39 , wherein the projection is tubular and in communication with the chamber of the filter holder such that air drawn into the chamber exits outwardly through the tubular projection into the second internal cavity. 
     
     
         42 . The lice comb in accordance with  claim 39 , wherein the fan unit comprises a motor and an impeller provided in the second internal cavity of the housing. 
     
     
         43 . The lice comb in accordance with  claim 39 , wherein the second internal cavity of the housing includes also one or more outlets such that air drawn inwardly from the chamber may exit the second internal cavity via the outlets. 
     
     
         44 . The lice comb in accordance with  claim 43 , wherein the outlets comprise a plurality of slots provided around the junction between the lower wall portion and the side wall portion at the second end of the housing.