GB2396105A

GB2396105A - A hair plaiting machine

Info

Publication number: GB2396105A
Application number: GB0229332A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Sharpe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-12-14
Filing date: 2002-12-14
Publication date: 2004-06-16
Also published as: GB0229332D0

Abstract

A hair plaiting machine is an electrically powered hand held device driving three rotating spindles in a "figure of eight" path. Each spindle carries a shuttle onto which a selected strand of hair is wound. Operation of the device then causes the three strands of hair to be plaited.

Description

1 23961 05

HAIR PLAITING MACHINE

The invention relates to a device for plaiting or platting human hair.

The hair plaiting machine provides a means of plaiting three strands of human hair in a regular and controlled manner without the addition of any aids, such as waxing.

The device is hand held. The main body contains an electric motor which drives, through a chain of gears and guides, three spindles around a 'figure of eight' track.

These spindles in turn, carry three 'shuttles' into which the hair is enclosed and then discharged. The hair plaiting machine is mainly designed for the smaller and mini size of plait, which are laborious and time consuming to create by hand.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Drawing 'A' shows an isometric view of the machine in operation.

Drawing 'B' illustrates how the movement of the spindles through their 'figure of eight' path is achieved.

Drawing 'C' gives a sectional view of the drive mechanism.

Drawing 'D' describes the shuttle and its workings.

DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings, 'A' is an isometric view ofthe assembled parts, i.e. the main body with its built in low voltage motor and gearing, the loaded shuttles and hair being dispensed into a plait.

Dwg 'B'shows how the 'figure or eight' movement is achieved. The spindles (1) in their housings [(4) Dwg 'C'] are conveyed by the carrier bobbins (2) around the figure of eight' track, guided on their outer side by the body casing (3), on a pitch circle radius equal to that of the interlocked gears attached to the lower end of the bobbins [(5) Dwg 'C'], which rotate in opposite directions. The spindles are transferred from one bobbin to the other by means of the entry gate (4), which is operated by the spindle just entered, and the exit gate (5) which is operated by the next approaching spindle.

In Dwg'C' the spindles (1), are spring loaded (2) inside their housings (4) and held in position by the spring pressure against the dished contour on the body casing. This contour creates a rise and fall action on the spindles which assists the plaiting, in that it reduces the 'slack' at the point ofthe plait. The carrier bobbins (3) and (10) are locked to the gears (5) via the shafts (9) by the screws (8) and the drive pins (6). The chamber (7) houses the reduction gearing, reducing the motor (14) speed, which is variable, to the required output speed. The transfer gates are not shown in this drawing. Dwg 'D' explains the workings of a shuttle which clips onto a spindle [(1) Dwg'C'] and is held by its quick release spring (1). The shutter (2) is opened, the holes in the core (3) and the casing (5) aligned so that a hook (or split needle) (7) can be passed through the shuttle from the spring end. A strand of hair is hooked onto (7) and drawn completely through the shuttle which is then held, close to the scalp, by pressure generated on the shutter (2) by the rubber band (6). The casing (5) is then held and the core (3) revolved, causing the hair strand to be drawn into the shuttle and around the free turning barrel (4), thus loading the strand into the shuttle. The free revolving barrel (4) assists this operation, preventing jamming of the hair, as well as the use of PTFE in the manufacture of effecting parts. The shuttle can be dismantled for cleaning and sterilising.

When all three shuttles are loaded, they are then assembled on the spindles and held by their quick release springs. The shuttles are free to revolve.

The materials needed to construct this equipment would be mainly of plastic with some metal parts. Plus the electric components.

Claims

1. A plaiting machine is an electrically powered hand-held unit driving three shuttles in a 'figure of eight' path, and plaiting, or platting, three selected strands of hair.

2. A plaiting machine as claimed in Claim 1 is claimed to accomplish a plait

without the need of any aids for handling the hair, such as waxing.

3. A plaiting machine as claimed in Claim I and Claim 2 will drastically reduce the time to create a plait, particularly the longer type.

4. A plaiting machine as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2 and Claim 3 is claimed to quickly produce very fine, or slim plaits.

5. A plaiting machine as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2, Claim 3 and Claim 4 is claimed to be safe and easy use after a little training and practice.