GB2349894A

GB2349894A - Device for simulating braided hair

Info

Publication number: GB2349894A
Application number: GB9910805A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Phiwayinkosi Gift Mbuyazi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-05-10
Filing date: 1999-05-10
Publication date: 2000-11-15
Also published as: GB9910805D0

Abstract

A device which intertwines hair on a wearer's head in a manner which simulates braiding but which is easy to undo comprises arms SA1,SA2 which are driven to lay two strands S1,S2 in mutually crossing relationship and a needle N which forms chain stitches with a third strand S3 to secure together the strands S1,S2. Pressing members P1,P2 depress the strands below the needle path and when raised open the needle latch magnetically. Tensioning and guide means for the stitched strands also serve to isolate the tension forces in the device from the person's scalp.

Description

1 2349894 HAER BRAEDING MACHINE This invention relates to a braiding

machine that plaits human hair, synthetic hair, and hair-like material (the latter two usually referred to as hair extensions or just extensions for short) to create braided hairstyles of the easy-to-unravel type. The easy-to-unravel type of braids relies on the use of chains and/or stitches to secure the strands to be braided, so that in order to undo the braids, all that one has to do is to unravel the chains and/or stitches.

The braiding of hair is a well-known method of hair-styling. Extensions are usually attached and plaited manually on the head to form a braided hairstyle.

Several problems exist with this method of acquiring a braided hairstyle, but only two will be mentioned here. Firstly, the process is timeconsuming - it can take up to 12 (or more) person-hours to braid the whole head especially if the plaits are to be thin and long. Secondly, both the 'braider' and the 'braidee' experience fatigue during the braiding process: the 'braider' in the hands, and the 'braidee' on the scalp (since the 'braider' must necessarily pull on the hair/extensions for the tension required for braiding.) This invention accordingly provides a braiding machine for easy-to- unravel braids comprising moving mechanical arms which can manipulate at least two strands to be plaited, one or more needles for the creation of easy-to-undo stitches, and a tension/guide unit, A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1. 1 shows the side profile of a needle, the relative positions of movable mechanical arms, and the tension/guide unit; FIGURE 1.2 shows the front view of the first set of movable mechanical an- ns; 2 FIGURE 1.3 shows the front view of the second set of movable mechanical arms; and FIGURE 2.1 - 6.3 illustrates the sequence of steps that are typically required to create a three-strand braid.

Referring to Fig 1. 1 the braiding machine comprises a needle N (in this case a knitting machine needle) with a latch L; four independently movable mechanical (strand) arms SAI, SA2, SA3 and SA4, and a tension/guide unit T. In Fig 1.2 and Fig 1.3 the movable mechanical arms are shown from the front, they are supported by the two arm guides AG I and AG2. The mechanical arms SA 1, SA2, SA3 and SA4 all have guide hoops H 1 - H 12 through which the strands pass on their way to be plaited. Presses P 1 and P2 are located as shown in Fig 1. 1, and P2 has a magnet installed at its bottom tip.

All the moving parts, i.e. the needle N; the mechanical arms SA 1, SA2, SA3 and SA4, the tension/guide unit, as well as the presses P I and P2, are powered and driven by suitable means, for example, electric motors or similar means (not shown). The movement of these parts is in the direction of the arrows AI, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6 and A7 as shown in Fig 2.1 - Fig 2.3.

Fig 2. 1, Fig 2.2 and Fig 2.3 show all the parts in their 'home' position. Also shown in the same figures are the paths for the strands S 1, S2 and S3; these three are suitably secured, for example by a knot at K, as well as being held in place by the tension/guide unit T. S 1 and S2 are the main braiding strands while S3 also has the function of forming chains andlor stitches to secure the braid.

The operation of the machine to form a braid is as follows:

STEP 1 The needle N moves forward as shown in Fig 3. 1; in its passage, the latch L is lifted and stands upright by the action of the magnet at the bottom tip of press P2. The final 3 position of the needle N is such that strand arms SA3 and SA4 can pass freely to and fro without hindrance from the latch L and the hook of the needle.

STEP 2 Strand arm SA3 moves to the right along AG2 as shown in Fig 3.3. As it does so, it takes along with it the strand S3 which passes over the needle N between the hook and the latch L.

STEP 3 The needle N is driven back to its home position as shown in Fig 4. 1. As it goes back it takes along With it a loop of strand S3 which forms the first chain stitch CS I.

STEP 4 Once the needle is in its home position presses P 1 and P2 come down as shown in Fig 4. 1. In their down position P I and P2 press down on S3 in order to clear the way for strand arms SA l and SA2.

STEP 5 Strand arms SA 1 and SA2 are driven towards each other along AG 1 as shown in Fig 4.2. As they move toward each other their bottom tips cross over the path of the needle N and they take strands S 1 and S2 along with them. S 1 and S2 enclose strand S3 at X 1 as illustrated in Fig 4.2 and Fig 4.3.

STEP 6 The presses P 1 and P2 lift to their home position as shown in Fig 5. 1.

STEP 7 The needle N moves forward as shown in Fig 5. 1. As it moves forward, the chain stitch CS 1 pushes on the latch L - sliding on L until it gets clear. Once the chain stitch CS 1 is clear of the latch L, the latch L is drawn to the upright position by the magnet at the bottom tip of P2.

STEP 8 Strand arm SA3 is driven back to its home position as shown in Fig 5.3. As it moves back it takes strand S3 over the needle N between the hook and the latch L.

4 STEP 9 The needle N is driven back to its home position as shown in Fig 6. 1. As it goes back chain stitch CS I pushes forward on the latch L and slides over both the latch L, hook, and the new chain stitch CS2.

STEP 10 The presses P 1 and P2 come down as shown in Fig 6. 1.

STEP 11 Strand arms SAI and SA2 are driven back to their home position as shown in Fig 6.2. As they move they take strands S 1 and S2 with them. S 1 and S2 cross over and form an enclosure X2 around strand S3.

STEP 12 The presses P 1 and P2 are lifted back to their home position.

These 12 steps are repeated until the whole braid is formed. As each successive piece of braiding is accomplished, the braid passes through the braid tension/guide unit (not shown except in Figures 1. 1 and 2. 1) which, apart from preventing slack in the braid, also prevents direct pulling of hair from the scalp and thereby the discomfort people often feel when they are braided is avoided.

Claims

I A braiding machine for easy-to-unravel braids - the braids which rely on chains and/or stitches for the securing of strands to be braided comprising moving mechanical arms which can manipulate at least two braiding strands, and a needle for the creation of easy-to-undo stitches.
2 A braiding machine for easy-to-unravel braids as claimed in Claim I wherein multiple sets of mechanical arms and/or more than one needle are used in order to carry out multi-strand braiding or to create more than one braid at a time.
3 A braiding machine for easy-to-unravel braids as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2 wherein a braid tensioning and guide device is provided.
4 A braiding machine for easy-to-unravel braids as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the braiding sequence may differ from that described herein with reference to STEPS I - 12.

A braiding machine for easy-to-unravel braids as described herein with reference to Figures 1. 1 - 6.3