US3389708A - Power-driven semi-automatic hair curler - Google Patents

Description

June 25, 1968 R, M, REYES PovJER-DRIVEN SEMI-AUTOMATIC HAIR cuRLER Filed April 4, 1966 United States Patent O Mice 3,389,708 POWER-DRIVEN SEMI-AUTUMATIC HAIR CURLER Robert M. Reyes, 614 Forest Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90033 Filed Apr. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 540,011 12 Claims. (Cl. 132-34) This invention relates to hair curling devices and more particularly to an improved self-contained power driven hair curler of lightweight construction adapted to be easily manipulated in the hand of the user and effective to curl strands of hair on a cylindrical roller and thereafter to lock the hair in place Ithereon with a power-set hairpin.

The task of curling strands of hair tightly on roller devices and holding it in place while the hair takes a set is a time consuming and laborious one. In recognition of this and of the tiring effort involved, designers have made proposals for a variety of mechanical devices intended -to minimize the effort and time involved. However, prior devices provided for this purpose are subject to many disadvantages and leave much to be desired.

For example, these are not self-contained and require power units supported outside the curler proper and connected thereto through flexible power transmission means. Another shortcoming has been the lack of a power-driven curler adapted to support conventional type curler rolls and capable of being driven in either direction at the users option.

Another failing has been the lack of provision for storing and setting hairpins while the curling roller is still mounted on the curling appliance to maintain the hair stored firmly on the roller.

Itis, therefore, a primary objective of the present invention to provide a compact, lightweight, fully self-contained powered hair curler avoiding the foregoing and other shortcomings of prior curling devices.

The invention curler has a main frame provided with a pistol grip at one end featuring an ON-OFF control, a reversing control and a third control for activating the hairpin setter using the power of the device under controlled conditions to set the pin. The curling roller itself is frictionally retained on a power-driven chucking device at the forward end of a main body with the curler rim positioned in alignment with lthe next hairpin presented by the hairpin magazine. A single pin is discharged from the magazine and astride the rim of the roller and the hair stored thereon by iirst shifting a selectable clutch mechanism of the device and then activating the motor to eject the pin at a desired rate. The pin ejecting plunger is returned to its retracted position as spring-pressed -indexing mechanism rotates the magazine to its next pinsetting position. As the operator relaxes her hold on clutch shifting mechanism, a spring restores the clutch to its normal setting in readiness to rotate the next roller in a direction controlled by a reversing switch for the motor. The three controls for the device are mounted in a convenient position to be operated by the users index finger and thumb while maintaining a grasp of the hair curl'er handgrip.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a self-contained unitary hand-held power-driven hair curler having a two-phase operating cycle in the rst of which the motor is -utilized to store hair on a roller and in the second of which the motor is used to set a hairpin thereby securing the hair in stored position on the roller.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a' lightweight hand-held hair curler having a hairpin magazine and power means for setting hairpins in succession 3,389,708 Patented June 25, 19,68

astride the rim of a roller after a strand of hair has been stored thereon.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a power-drive hand-held hair curler having a pair of sequentially operating clutch devices in one position of which the motor is operable to drive a hair roller and in the second position of which the motor is operable to set a hairpin to secure the hair wrapped about the roller.

These and other more specic objects will appear'upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention hair curler with portions of the device cut away along broken lines to show constructional details;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along line 2 2 on FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along lbroken line 3 3 and FIGURE 4 is an elevational view looking at the righthand end face of the driven spur gear.

Referring to FIGURE l, there is shown a preferred ernbodiment of the invention hair curler, designated generally 10, having a main body 11 provided with a pistol type handgrip 12, a hairpin magazine 13 and a collet-type chucking device 14 at its forward end frictionally supporting a curling roller 15. Suitably secured within the rearward end of the main body and downwardly into handle 12 is a main frame 16 formed of strip metal and to which the reversible electric motor 17 is mounted by means of a bracket 1,8. This motor preferably includes a slip clutch device 19 driving a shaft 20 to which a spur gear 21 is secured. This gear meshes with the teeth of a driven gear 22 having a loose t with main shaft 23 of the curler. This shaft is carried in bearings mounted along the length of the main body with its forward end keyed to hub 24 of chucking device 14.

Chucking device 14 is sized to readily receive the thinwalled cylindrical rollers 15. Hub 24 is provided with a plurality of slots 2'5 about its periphery each loosely seating a chucking vane 26 provided at its opposite ends with trunnions 2'7 having a loose sliding fit in slots 28. These slots are formed in end discs 29 held assembled to the hubs, as by screws 30. The inner edges of the vanes 26 are provided with a flat leaf spring 32 having curved ends bearing against the bottom of slots 25. These springs urge the vanes outwardly into firm frictional gripping contact with the interior surface of rollers 15. The vanes may be formed of resilient material to provide an even firmer gripping contact with the rollers. Also the leading ends of the vanes are contoured, as in FIGURE l, to facilitate ypiloting the roller onto the chucking device and in depressing the gripping vanes during the assembly operation.

Hairpin magazine 13 comprises a generally ring shaped main body 34 held loosely and rotatably assembled on a stationary hub 35 forming a part of the curlers main body. Magazine ring 34 is held in assembled position on the hub, as by a bushing ring 36 having threads mating with a threaded well in the forward end of hub 35 and is pro vided with a series of rectangular passages or storage cells 38 each loosely accommodating a single hairpin 39. It will be understood that bushing 3'6 is provided with`a single opening 38 in alignment with that cell 38 of the magazine always aligned with the pin setting plunger to be described more -fully presently. As is made clear by FIGURE 1, the discharge port 38 for the pin storage assafzos Y 3 cells is so positioned as to. guide the ,inner longer leg of the hairpin along the interior surface of curler roller and the shorter leg outwardly over the camming rim edge of the roller, thereby spreading the pin legs while guiding them over the hair 41 curled on the roller.

Magazine 34 is held in a proper pin setting position by a anged ball detent 43 slidably supported in a shouldered well 44 and urged toward its extended position Iby a spring 45 so that its forward rounded end seats in one of a ring of depressions 46 (FIGURE 2) formed between storage cells 38. The means for indexing the magazine ring into its successive pin setting positions will be described below.

Referring now to the right-hand end of FIGURE 1, it Will be understood that the driven spur gear 22 mounted loosely on shaft 23 is arranged to be selectively clutched either to shaft 23 or to a cable storing reel 49 mounted loosely on shaft 23..Spur gear 22 and reel 49 are held against movement along the shaft in any suitable way as by the split ring keepers 50, 50 seated in grooves formed in the shaft. A first clutching device comprises a grooved collar 52 slidable along the shaft and along a key -53 fixed to the shaft. Clutch collar 52 has at least one pin 54, and preferably a pair of diametrically-spaced pins, extending axially therefrom and loosely into wells 5S ln the adjacent face of spur gear 22. For simplicity of illustration, only one pin is shown in FIGURE 1 but it will be understood that a pair of pins is preferably present and spaced 180 degrees apart as best indicated in FIGURE 4. The inlets to wells 55 are preferably provided with sloping arcuate camming depressions serving to guide the ends of pins 54 into the wells.

A second clutching collar 58 is loosely supported on shaft 23 to the right of cable reel 49 and is provided with at least one pin and preferably a pair of pins 59. This pin is substantially longer than pin 54 and its forward end is continuously and loosely seated in a bore 60 through reel 49. Bore 60 is arranged to align with a well 61 opening through the right-hand face of driven spur gear 22 when pin 55 is aligned with its seating well in this Same gear. When clutch pin 59 is seated in well `61, the motor is effective to rotate cable reel 49.

A common control for operating clutch collars 52 and 58 in out-of-phase relation comprises a plunger button 64 secured to a slider `65 held reciprocably supported against the underside of main frame member 16 by guide tabs 66 (FIGURE 3) formed from main frame 16. Slider includes a pair of downturned tangs 67, 68 having bifurcated lower ends respectively seated loosely in the grooved clutch collars 52, 5S. A compression spring 69 surrounding the shank of plunger 64 holds this plunger normally in its extended position shown in FIGURE 1 wherein the first clutch 52 is engaged with driven gear 22 and clutch 58 is disengaged therefrom. However, when the operator depresses plunger 64 clutch 52, 54 is disengaged from gear 22 as the second clutch 58, 59 shifts to its alternate position clutching cable reel 49 to gear 22. The two clutches are so arranged that it is not possible for both to be engaged at the same time.

The plunger-operated slider 65 includes a cam member 72 at its forward end position for indexing the hairpin magazine 34 one cell following each complete pin s etting operation. This indexing means is best shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2 and includes a slide member 73 having an integral boss 74 freely slidable along a pin 75 and urged toward its upper limit by a compression spring 76. This spring also maintain-s a pin 77 fixed in the front face of slider 73 in contact with cam 72. An indexing dog 78 pivotally supported on a pin 79 is urged counterclock- Wise against a stop pin 80 by a tension spring 81. The free end of this dog extends into a hairpin storage cell 38 as the slider moves upwardly under the action of spring 76 during the extension movement of plunger 64 at the end of a hairpin setting operation. In this way the next hairpin is indexed into setting position relative to maga- 4 zine outlet port38 as the operator relaxes the pressure on plunger 64 at the end of a pin setting operation.

The pin setting means comprises a plunger loosely supported in a hollow housing 86 secured to the top of frame 16. This housing is provided with a slot 87 extending along substantially the full length of its opposite sides to accommodate a cross-pin 88. The left-hand end of cross-pin 88 as viewed in FIGURE 3 is notched to seat the upper end 89 of a torsion spring 90, The other end 91 of this spring is anchored to the main frame, as by clip 92 (FIGURE 2) the torsion spring being effective at all times to urge plunger 85 to its retracted position shown in FIGURE 1.

The right-hand end of cross-pin 88 as viewed in FIG- URE 3 is connected to one end of a strong flexible cable 94 extending along the top side of frame 16, around pulley 95, then over pulleys 96 and 97 to a pin 98 anchored across the bottom of cable reel 49. Pulley 95 is mounted on a pivot pin carried by main frame 16 whereas pulleys 96 and 97 are supported on a bracket 98 along the side of frame 16 as best shown in FIGURE l. It will be understood that cable 94 is maintained under tension at all times by torsion spring 90 and that each of the pulleys is sutciently deeply grooved to prevent the cable from becoming displaced therefrom.

Additional features of the curler device include a motor reversing switch 100 secured to the main frame 16 and having a two position control button 101 projecting through the side wall of handle 12 in a convenient position to be manipulated by the users thumb while grasping the handle. The main motor switch comprises a trigger 103 pivotally supported on a pin 104 and urged clockwise against stop pin 105 by a torsion spring 106. When trigger 103 is pivoted clockwise, contact 107 closes against stationary contact 108 to close the power circuit the motor then operating in a direction determined by the position of reversing switch button 101.

It should also be pointed out that the magazine indexing slider 73 is preferably normally concealed by a cover 110 (FIGURE 2) pivoted to the side of the main frame on a pin 111. As shown in FIGURE 2, this cover is closed across the ends of certain of the hairpin storage cells 38. When the cover is swung to its open position, the rear ends of these cells are exposed for reloading, the magazine drum being rotated from position to position as the cells are lledl Although not so shown, it will be understood that the right-hand side of the main frame may be provided with a similar cover providing access to a larger number of cells 38 for convenience in loading.

The operation of the described hair curler will be quite apparent from the foregoing detailed description of its construction and the functional relationship of the parts to one another. Assuming that the magazine has been charged with pins in the manner described immediately above and that a curler roller 15 is in place on chucking device 14, the device is in readiness for use. The operator connects the electric service cord for the motor to any suitable power supply and then grasps handle 12 in the right hand with the index finger embracing trigger 103. The free end of a strand of hair is then held pressed against the side of the roller in the usual manner following which trigger 103 is depressed to energize motor 17. The motor then drives spur gears 21, 22 through slip clutch 19. Clutch collar 52 then being engaged with driven gear 22, shaft 23, chucking device 14 and roller 15 are slowly rotated to wind hair 41 on roller 15 as the operator manipulates the curler in a manner to maintain the hair strand under light tension. When the hair has been fully stored on the roller, trigger 103 is released following which the pin setting control plunger 64 is depressed. This declutches clutch collar 52 from gear 22 and simultaneously shifts clutch collai 58 to the left to clutch cable reel 49 to gear 22. The operator now depresses trigger 103 to energize the motor and Wind one end of cable 94 upon reel 49. As this occurs, the cable extends pin setting plunger 8S to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 1 and into the aligned cell 38 to displace hairpin 39 through port 38' and to drive it astride the cammed rim edge 40 of roller 15. During this operation, the operator may open and close trigger 103 as often and as necessary to avoid risk of injury to herself or too rapid setting of the hairpin over the roller. When properly fully set, the rounded head of the pin closely embraces rim 42 of the roller so as to be held firmly in set position thereon.

During the depression of plunger 64 to set the hairpin, cam `72 on the foremost end of member 65 acts through pin 77 to index slider 73 downwardly. During this operation, indexing pawl 73 pivots clockwise about pin 79 and becomes disengaged from one hairpin cell and cornes to rest within the end of the next lower cell. Accordingly, upon release of plunger 64 and return of this plunger to its normal position, spring 76 projects indexing slider 73 upwardly as dog 78 indexes hairpin magazine 34 by one cell. As the magazine finally reaches its new position, ball detent 43 seats in recess 46 and secures the magazine firmly in place.

It is also pointed out that rotation of chucking device 14 during the pin setting operation is safeguarded against in any suitable manner. For example, a brake for shaft 23 may comprise a spring 117 secured to the underside of main frame 16 with its free end positi-oned to bear against the rim edges of clutch collar 52 when the latter is shifted to its disengaged position. For greater holding power, spring 117 may be corrugated crosswise of its free e-nd and the rim of clutch collar 52 may be complementally corrugated to seat these corrugations.

As: soon as the hair has been clamped in place on the roller by a hairpin, the operator replaces the roller with another and the curler is again used in the same manner described above to wrap another strand of hair thereon.

If the operator should wish to wrap the hair in the reverse direction, this is easily done by shifting motor reversing button 101 to its alternate position. The motor then operates to drive the roller in the opposite direction but the reverse rotation of the motor -does not interfere in any way with the operation of the pin setting mechanism since the cable reel is operable in either direction through the described pulley arrangement to store the cable for reasons made apparent by FIGURE 3.

While the particular power-driven semi-automatic hair curler herein shown and disclosed in det-ail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A self-contained power-driven hair curler having an elongated main body with an electric motor carried in the handle end thereof, a hairpin magazine, a rotary roller chucking device projecting axially forwardly of said magazine, a hollow roller adapted to be telescopically mounted over said chucking device, power-driven means for transferring a hairpin from said magazine lengthwise of said hollow roller and so that the hairpin embraces the adjacent rim edge of the hollow roller, means operatively connecting said electric motor to said chucking device and operator-controlled means for selectively driving said chucking device and sa-id hairpin transfer means from said motor at the operators selection.

2. A hair curler as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said motor is reversible and operable to rotate said roller in opposite directions, and said means for transferring hairpins being operable to set hairpins in the same direction over the adjacent rim edge of a roller irrespective of the direction of rotation of said motor.

3. A hair curler as defined in claim 2 characterized in the provision of manual control means carried on said handle end for controlling the direction of rotation of said reversible electric motor.

4. A hair curler as defined in claim 2 characterized in that said operator-controlled means includes spring means operable to hold the last-mentioned means in one of two normal operating positions wherein said motor is effective to drive said roller chucking device.

5. A hair curler as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of means operatively associated with said hairpin magazine and effective to position successive ones of a supply of hairpins stored therein in position for one only thereof to be transferred over the edge of a hair roller during a given hairpin transfer operating cycle of said hair curler.

6. A hair curler as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said handle end includes a pistoltype handgrip projecting at an angle from the main axis of said hair curler and enclosing said electric motor.

7. A hair curler as delned in lclaim 1 characterized in that said hairpin magazine is arranged for rotation about an axis extending lengthwise of said main housing, and indexing means Ioperably connected to operator-controlled means and effective to index another hairpin into transfer position during each -operating cycle thereof.

8. A hair curler as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said selectively operable means for driving said chucking device and said hairpin transfer means .includes first and second clutch means, and common coordinating means for disengaging either clutch as the other clutch is engaged while shifting said selectively operable means between the two normal positions thereof.

9. A hair curler as defined in clai-m `8 characterized in that said operator-controlled means includes plunger means having an exposed end exteriorly of said main body .md positioned to be shifted by a component of lthe operators hand while grasping said handle end to change the operating conditions of said first and second clutch means.

10. A hair curler as defined in claim 8 characterized in the provision of a finger-operated control switch for said motor and arranged to be opened and closed while the operator maintains a firm grasp of said handle end, and said curler device being further characterized in that said operator-controlled means is positioned to be manipulated by the hand while grasping said handle end.

11. A hair curler as defined in claim 8 characterized in the provision of brake means engageable by that one of said clutch means operable to drive said chucking device 'when disengaged thereby to prevent rotation of the chucking device and the roller thereon while said electric motor is in use to drive said hairpin transfer means.

12. A hair curler as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said hair curler includes a roller having -a flanged rim at either end thereof, each of said flanged rims being bevelled to cooperate with the forward pronged end of a hairpin in spreading the prongs apart as the hairpin is advanced axially of said roller and astride one of said flanged rims.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,159,131 5/1939 Burns 132-34 2,226,351 12/ 1940 Spreckels 132-34 2,596,017 5/ 1952 Filak 1'312-34 2,935,070 5/ 1960 Auz 132-34 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

R. PESHOCK, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A SELF-CONTAINED POWER-DRIVEN HAIR CURLER HAVING AN ELONGATED MAIN BODY WITH AN ELECTRIC MOTOR CARRIED IN THE HANDLE END THEREOF, A HAIRPIN MAGAZINE, A ROTARY ROLLER CHUCKING DEVICE PROJECTING AXIALLY FORWARDLY OF SAID MAGAZINE, A HOLLOW ROLLER ADAPTED TO BE TELESCOPICALLY MOUNTED OVER SAID CHUCKING DEVICE, POWER-DRIVEN MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING A HAIRPIN FROM SAID MAGAZINE LENGTHWISE OF SAID HOLLOW ROLLER AND SO THAT THE HAIRPIN EMBRACES THE ADJACENT RIM EDGE OF THE HOLLOW ROLLER, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID ELECTRIC MOTOR TO SAID CHUCKING DEVICE AND OPERATOR-CONTROLLED MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY DRIVING SAID CHUCKING DEVICE AND SAID HAIRPIN TRANSFER MEANS FROM SAID MOTOR AT THE OPERATOR''S SELECTION.

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