Adjustable blade assembly having magnetic tensioning

1 . A magnetic blade assembly, comprising:

a stationary blade having teeth extending along a first blade edge;

a cutting blade having cutting teeth extending along a second blade edge parallel to the first blade edge, and supported relative to the stationary blade such that the cutting teeth are moveable over the stationary blade to cut hair;

a guide member including a base and a cross-portion, the cross-portion being captured between the stationary blade and the cutting blade; and

a yoke coupled to the cutting blade, the yoke comprising:

a body extending in a parallel direction to the second blade edge;

a bore defined by the body;

a magnet coupled to the body of the yoke and received within the bore; and

a metal bar coupled to the yoke and positioned within a recessed portion of the yoke;

wherein the magnet is positioned between the metal bar and the cutting blade;

wherein the magnet comprises a pair of magnets coupled to the body of the yoke and positioned below the metal bar such that a magnetic circuit is created;

wherein the yoke is plastic; and

wherein the pair of magnets generate a tensioning force between the cutting blade and the stationary blade.

2 . The magnetic blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein one of the pair of magnets includes a first end having a positive pole adjacent to the stationary blade and a second end having a negative pole adjacent to the yoke and wherein the second of the pair of magnets includes a first end having a negative pole adjacent to the stationary blade and a second end having a positive pole adjacent to the yoke.

3 . The magnetic blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the metal bar is formed from steel.

4 . The magnetic blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pair of magnets are rare earth magnets.

5 . The magnetic blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base of the guide member is substantially perpendicular to second blade edge and wherein a portion of the base extends at an angle relative to the stationary blade.

6 . The magnetic blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first blade edge and the second blade edge defines a blade gap, and wherein, when an inner section of the cross-portion of the guide member engages the cutting blade to translate the cutting blade over the stationary blade, the translation of the cutting blade controls the blade gap.

7 . A magnetic blade assembly, comprising:

a first blade having teeth extending along a first blade edge;

a second blade having teeth extending along a second blade edge parallel to the first blade edge and supported relative to the first blade;

a blade guide assembly captured between the first blade and the second blade, the blade guide assembly maintaining a relative position of the first blade edge relative to the second blade edge, the blade guide assembly comprising:

a guide member including a base and a cross-portion, the cross-portion being captured between the first blade and the second blade, the cross-portion having a first side facing the first blade and a second side facing the second blade;

a yoke coupled to the second blade, the yoke comprising a body extending in a parallel direction to the second blade edge and a bore defined by the body;

a magnet positioned between the yoke and the second blade and received within the bore; and

a metal bar coupled to the yoke, wherein the magnet is positioned below the metal bar and between the metal bar and the second blade;

wherein the magnet comprises a pair of magnets coupled to the body of the yoke and extending toward the first blade;

wherein the yoke is plastic; and

wherein the pair of magnets generate a tensioning force between the second blade and the first blade.

8 . The magnetic blade assembly of claim 7 , wherein the metal bar is positioned above the pair of magnets such that a magnetic circuit is created.

9 . The magnetic blade assembly of claim 8 , wherein one of the pair of magnets includes a first end having a positive pole adjacent to the first blade and a second end having a negative pole adjacent to the yoke and wherein the other of the pair of magnets includes a first end having a negative pole adjacent to the first blade and a second end having a positive pole adjacent to the yoke.

10 . The magnetic blade assembly of claim 7 , wherein a distance between the first blade edge and the second blade edge defines a blade gap.

11 . The magnetic blade assembly of claim 10 , wherein an inner section of the cross-portion of the guide member engages the second blade to translate the second blade over the first blade and wherein translation of the second blade controls the blade gap.

12 . A magnetic blade assembly, comprising:

a first blade having teeth extending along a first blade edge;

a second blade having teeth extending along a second blade edge parallel to the first blade edge and supported relative to the first blade;

a guide member positioned between the first blade and the second blade;

a yoke coupled to the second blade, the yoke comprising a body extending in a parallel direction to the second blade edge and a bore defined by the body; and

a magnet coupled to the yoke and received within the bore;

wherein at least a portion of the magnet extends through a second bore defined within the second blade, the second bore extending from a first surface of the second blade to a second surface of the second blade, and wherein the magnet generates a tensioning force between the second blade and the first blade; and

wherein the magnet comprises two magnets and a metal bar coupled to the yoke, the two magnets are positioned between the metal bar and the second blade, and wherein the yoke is plastic.

13 . The magnetic blade assembly of claim 12 , wherein the metal bar extends along an upward facing surface of the body of the yoke in a direction parallel to the second blade edge.

14 . The magnetic blade assembly of claim 12 , wherein a positive pole of one of the two magnets is positioned adjacent to the metal bar and wherein a negative pole of the remaining magnet is posited adjacent to the metal bar.

15 . The magnetic blade assembly of claim 12 , wherein each of the two magnets includes a lower surface that faces an upper surface of the first blade and wherein a gap is defined between the lower surface of each magnet and the upper surface of the first blade.

16 . The magnetic blade assembly of claim 15 , wherein a length of the gap is between .005 and .02 inches.

17 . The magnetic blade assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first surface of the second blade extends from the second blade edge and faces away from the first blade, and wherein the second surface of the second blade faces the first blade.