CA2598576C

CA2598576C - Hair braiding device

Info

Publication number: CA2598576C
Application number: CA2598576A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Patrick M. Brouillard
Original assignee: Conair Corp
Current assignee: Conair LLC
Priority date: 2007-08-16
Filing date: 2007-08-16
Publication date: 2013-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 2027-08-16
Also published as: CA2598576A1

Abstract

A hair-braiding device to braid a mass of hair into true three-stranded braids comprising a casing, motor, coordination wheel, two braiding wheels which turn in opposite directions never simultaneously, locking gears, and a push-button driven system to allow for the automatic partitioning of a mass of hair into three strands for automated braiding.

Description

DESCRIPTION

1. TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to hair braiding apparatus and more specifically to hand-held hair-braiding apparatus suitable for use in the braiding of any human and human-like hair, such as hair found on dolls, display mannequins.

2. BACKGROUND ART

- US 2005/0039769 Bousfield, February 24, 2005, describes a hair braiding device.
- US 1983/4369690 Sapkus, January 25, 1983, describes a hair braiding device.

In the above-mentioned devices, there is the need to manually insert and separate the hair into the device before beginning the braiding operation.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a new and improved hand-held hair braiding device and method which overcomes the above need to separate and insert hair strands manually into the device before the start of the braiding operation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved hair-braiding mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has as general objective to provide a device that braids hair, while remaining simple to use and that can be manufactured easily.

More precisely, the present invention consists of a device that braids hair in true three-stranded braids. The invention is comprised of two plates forming a handle and containing an opening for the insertion of hair to be braided by the actions of two braiding wheels associated with a transfer member.

In addition, the plates support a motor whose purpose is to power a gear system which in turn powers a coordination wheel which is comprised of a gearing portion permitting the alternating rotation of two locking gears as well as a locking section that immobilizes the locking gears when these are not in use. The locking gears equipped with locking sections convey the motion of the coordination wheel to the two braiding wheels. The coordination wheel contains in its superior portion geared sections which allow the rotation of a transfer locking gear, as well as a transfer locking section which serves to immobilize the transfer locking gear when it is not in use. Additionally a pin linking the transfer locking gear to the transfer member and the transfer wheel slides in a slot to constrain the back-and-forth motion of the transfer member, serving to transmit the hair strands from one braiding wheel to the other. The two braiding wheels spin each in opposite directions one at a time, alterna.ting with the movement of the transfer member, one hundred and eighty degrees per motion.

The device comprises also a push-button, which when pressed, causes, through the actions of associated springs, the movements of the fork and of the hair clasp to positions that allow for the insertion of the mass of hair into the device. Releasing the push-button causes the splitting of this mass of hair by means of the hair clasp's return to its closed position, thus forcing the hair strands into the fork, which is then returned to its starting position by the action of the associated springs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Serving to illustrate the assembly and operation of the present invention:

= Figure 1 displays an isometric view of the present invention = Figure 2 displays an exploded view of the present invention = Figure 3 displays a global view of the internal components of the present invention = Figure 4A displays an isometric view of the topside of the coordination wheel = Figure 4B displays an isometric view of the underside of the coordination wheel = Figure 5 displays a braiding wheel = Figure 6 displays an isometric view of the transfer member = Figure 7 displays an isometric view of the fork = Figure 8 displays an isometric view of a locking gear = Figures 9A, 9B, 9C display the interactions between the pushbutton, the hair clasp, and the fork = Figures l0A to l OL display the complete braiding mechanism of the invention at various stages of the displacement of the hair strands from initial insertion positions to the braiding wheels and of the first braiding cycle = Figures lOM to l OR display the complete braiding mechanism of the invention at various stages of the second and subsequent braiding cycles LIST OF NUMBERED ELEMENTS IN DESCRIPTIVE FIGURES
1. Coordination wheel 2. Braiding wheel

3. Braiding wheei

4. Transfer member

5. Hair clasp

6. Fork

7. Pushbutton

8. Spiral bevel gear

9. Motor

10. Bevel gear

11. Top plate

12. Bottom plate

13. Gear

14. Locking section

15. Transfer locking section

16.
a. Geared section b. Geared sections

17.
a. Locking gear b. Locking gear

18. Transfer locking gear

19. Transfer wheel

20. Pin

21. Slot

22. Extension spring

23. Extension spring

24. Compression spring

25. Transfer member center of rotation

26. Shaft

27. Transfer gear

28. Transfer gear

29. Notches

30. Arms

31. Empty space

32. Gear

33. Braiding wheel body

34. Braiding wheel receiving member

35. Intermediate piece

36. Center of rotation

37. Anti-reverse member

38. Anti-reverse member

39. Gearing support

40. Spring fitting

41. Spring fitting

42. Spring fitting

43. Spring fixation shaft

44. Gear

45. Gear

46. Transfer member tip

47. Locking section

48. Hair space section DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIEMENT

In the following description, like numbers refer to identical parts in the various figures.

As illustrated in figures 1 to 10, there is described a device serving to braid hair into true three-stranded braids, device comprising two plates (11) (12) which form an ergonomic handle and which has an opening (48) to accept hair to be braided by two braiding wheels (2) (3) working in conjunction with the transfer member (4). Additionally the plates (11) (12) house a motor (9) which powers a series of gears (8) (10) (13) which cause the coordination wheel (1) to rotate with the shaft (26) as the center of rotation. The coordination wheel (1) is composed of a geared section (16A) which controls the rotations of locking gears (17A) (17B) in an alternating fashion; the coordination wheel (1) is also composed of a locking section (14) whose purpose is to immobilize the locking gears (17A) (17B) when these are not in contact with the geared section (16A).
The locking gears (17A) (17B) are equipped with a locking section (47) that interacts with the locking section (14) of the coordination wheel (1) and are equipped with two gears (44) (45). The first of these (44) interacts with the geared section (16A) and the second (45) conveys the locking gears' (17A) (17B) rotations to the gears (32) of the braiding wheels (2) (3) through the intermediate gears (27) (28). Also supported by the plates (11) (12) are anti-reverse members (38) (37) which prevent the un-synchronization of the gearing alignments through reversed rotation of the locking gears (17A) (17B) or the transfer locking gear (18). The coordination wheel (1) also contains geared sections (16B) that allow the rotation of a transfer locking gear (18), and furthermore contains transfer locking sections (15) to immobilize the transfer locking gear (18) at times when this piece is not interacting with any of the geared sections (16B). The transfer locking gear (18) rests on the gearing support (39). Additionally a pin (20) linking the transfer locking gear (18) and the transfer wheel (19) slides in a slot (21) in the transfer member (4) to constrain the motion of the transfer member (4) to a back-and-forth horizontal motion, serving to hand off the hair strands from one braiding wheel (2) (3) to the other.
The tip (46) of the transfer member (4) is flexible to allow the correct transfer of the hair strands from the notches (29) of one braiding wheel (2) or (3) to the other (see figures l0A to lOD in particular). Both braiding wheels (2) (3) are each marked by two notches (29) which extend through the gear teeth a distance into the body of the braiding wheels (33). These notches hold the hair strands tightly. The braiding wheels (2) (3) are in motion, only one at a time and in directions opposite to each other, the rotation of each alternating with the movement of the transfer member (4), each rotation lasting one hundred and eighty degrees. The shape of the braiding wheels (2) (3) create two areas of empty space (31) around each braiding wheels (2) (3) which serve to accommodate a hair strand upon initial insertion of the hair strands into the device. The braiding wheels (2) (3) each possess two arms (30) which push the hair strands upon rotation of the braiding wheels (2) (3) towards the transfer member (4). The device comprises also a push-button (7). Pressing the push-button (7) upwards exerts a force on the extension spring (23) as well as on the compression spring (24), which rests on the push-button (7), also pushing the fork (6) up from its resting position to its hair-splitting position, this being the maximal displacement position for this piece due to mechanical constraints. At this point the extension spring (23) is fully extended and continuing to press the push-button (7) extends the extension spring (22) and causes the opening (rising) motion of the hair clasp (5); also, the compression spring (24) begins to compress due to the constrained position of the fork (6). When the push-button (7) is fully pressed, the insertion of the mass of hair into the device via the opening (48) can be done, and the subsequent splitting of this mass of hair into three strands occurs when the push-button (7) is released, causing, by the associated actions of the extension springs (22) (23), first the hair clasp (5) to retract, thereby forcing the hair around and between the two spikes of the fork (6), and secondly the fork (6) to retreat as well, leaving two of the three hair strands in the waiting spaces (31) around the braiding wheels (2) (3) and the other strand of hair in the hair space section (48) between the two braiding wheels (2) (3).

While there has been shown and described what is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

The achievements of the invention, on the subject of which an exclusive right of property or privilege is asserted, are defined as follows:

1. A device having for purpose the braiding of hair into true three-stranded braids comprising two plates forming a handle and containing an opening for the purpose of receiving a mass of hair;
a motor which powers a series of gears;
a coordination wheel transforming the continuous rotational movement of the motor into a series of discontinuous movements;
two braiding wheels that accept hair strands through notches and are rotated to perform the hair-braiding sequence;

two locking gears that manage the braiding wheels, preventing the motion of the braiding wheels at key times;

one transfer locking gear that manages one transfer member, which serves to transfer the hair strands from one braiding wheel to the other braiding wheel;
one push-button;
one fork and hair clasp;
three springs;

wherein the motor through the action of the series of gears powers the coordination wheel which by its movements powers the oppositely rotational movements of the braiding wheels through additional gears and also the horizontal back-and-forth motion of the transfer member through the action of the transfer locking gear;

wherein when the push-button is pressed, and through the actions of the associated springs, the fork and the hair clasp move to positions that allow for the insertion of the mass of hair into the device.

2. A hair-braiding device according to claim 1, wherein the coordination wheel contains a geared section which comes into contact with each locking gear at each complete rotation of the coordination wheel, which itself has a locking section that prevents the rotation of the locking gears when these are not in contact with the geared section.

3. A hair-braiding device according to claim 1, wherein the coordination wheel contains a plurality of geared sections which come into contact with the transfer locking gear at each half-rotation of the coordination wheel, which itself has a plurality of locking sections that prevent the rotation of the transfer locking gear when it is not in contact with the geared sections.

4. A hair-braiding device according to claim 1, wherein the locking gears are composed of two layers of gears separated by a locking section which interacts with the associated locking section of the coordination wheel, each of the layers of the locking gears being rigidly connected.

5. A hair-braiding device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer locking gear is composed of a gear and a locking section which interacts with the associated locking sections of the coordination wheel, each of the layers of the transfer locking gear being rigidly connected.

6. A hair-braiding device according to claim 1, wherein each braiding wheel are characterized by two notches traversing the body of the braiding wheels depth-wise and which extend through the gear teeth a distance into the body of the braiding wheels.

7. A hair-braiding device according to claim 1, wherein the braiding wheels spin in directions opposite to each other, one hundred and eighty degrees at a time and where only a single braiding wheel is in motion at any one time.

8. A hair-braiding device according to claim 1, wherein the braiding wheels each possess two radially protruding arms, on one of the outside walls of each being the extension of one of the walls of the notches, which push the hair strands upon rotation of the braiding wheels.

9. A hair-braiding device according to claim 1, wherein the braiding wheels are in motion in an alternating fashion, with the movement of the transfer member.

10. A hair-braiding device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer member has for extremity a flexible tip which can flex to the left and to the right and which displaces the hair strands from the notch of one braiding wheel to the notch of another braiding wheel.

11. A hair-braiding device according to claim 1, wherein anti-reverse members prevent any reverse rotation of the locking gears and of the transfer locking gear.

12. A hair-braiding device according to claim 1, wherein a pin linking the transfer locking gear and the transfer wheel slides in a slot to constrain the motion of the transfer member to a back-and-forth horizontal motion.

13. A hair-braiding device according to claim 1, wherein the fork section that separates the hair is composed of two elongated members in a general shape suggesting a narrow U .

14. A hair-braiding device according to claim 1, wherein the push-button, when pressed, and through the action of a system of springs, in two separate and successive steps, firstly raises the fork and secondly raises the hair clasp, permitting the introduction of hair into the hair space section of the device, and when the push-button is released, in two separate and successive steps again, the same system of springs firstly lowers the hair clasp, pushing the hair mass between the elongated members of the fork and separating this mass into three similarly-sized strands, and secondly lowering the fork.