U.S. patent application number 10/174254 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-18 for battery operated hair braider.
Invention is credited to Glucksman, Dov Z., McGonagle, Gary P., Nickerson, Laura J..
Application Number | 20030230316 10/174254 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29733532 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030230316 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Glucksman, Dov Z. ; et
al. |
December 18, 2003 |
Battery operated hair braider
Abstract
A hair braider kit. An individual grips a handle of a hair
braider and moves a center "off" switch to a first conducting
position. An electric motor is energized and a stop engages a
rotatable body thereby to block rotation of the body and permit a
planetary gear system to rotate individual hair twisting elements
to form twisted hair strands. When the switch is moved to a second
conductive position, the blocking element is removed so the
rotatable body wraps the twisted strands over each other into a
braid without any significant motion of the twister bodies with
respect to the rotatable body. A stand supports the hair braider
and facilitates the attachment of hair strands to the hair twisting
elements.
Inventors: |
Glucksman, Dov Z.; (Wenham,
MA) ; Nickerson, Laura J.; (Andover, MA) ;
McGonagle, Gary P.; (Lynn, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
George A. Herbster, Esq.
Suite 303
40 Beach Street
Manchester
MA
01944
US
|
Family ID: |
29733532 |
Appl. No.: |
10/174254 |
Filed: |
June 18, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/212 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 2002/006 20130101;
A45D 2/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/212 |
International
Class: |
A45D 007/02 |
Claims
What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent
of the United States is:
1. A hair braider for wrapping twisted hair strands about each
other comprising: A) a hollow handle extending along a main axis,
B) an electric drive mounted in said handle that rotates an output
shaft positioned proximate one end of said handle about the main
axis in a given direction, C) a switch mounted to said handle and
connected to said electric drive and having first and second
conducting positions for energizing said electric drive to rotate
in the given direction, D) a rotatable body having a cavity and
being mounted for rotation about the main axis relative to said
handle at said one handle end, E) a plurality of hair twisting
elements mounted for rotation about individual twist axes that are
parallel to and equidistantly spaced from the main axis and
equiangularly spaced about said rotatable body, F) a planetary gear
system mounted in said rotatable body cavity and connected to said
output shaft and to said hair twisting elements, and G) a stop
member connected to said switch for blocking rotation of said
rotatable body when said switch is in the first conducting position
whereby said twisting elements rotate about their respective axes
in a direction opposite to the given direction, said rotatable body
being enabled to rotate in the given direction about the main axis
when said switch is in the second conducting position.
2. A hair braider as recited in claim 1 wherein electric drive
comprises a battery operated dc motor and said switch controls the
energization of said dc motor from said battery.
3. A hair braider as recited in claim 2 wherein said electric drive
includes a speed reducer for rotating said output shaft and having
an input shaft connected to said dc motor.
4. A hair braider as recited in claim 3 wherein said switch
comprises a center-off switch with first and second end positions
defining the first and second conducting positions.
5. A hair braider as recited in claim 4 wherein said switch
additionally includes an actuator for said stop means.
6. A hair braider as recited in claim 1 wherein said switch
comprises a center-off switch with first and second end positions
defining the first and second conducting positions.
7. A hair braider as recited in claim 6 wherein said switch
includes a switch actuator and a spring mounted on said actuator
for interaction with said handle whereby said spring returns said
switch to a center position.
8. A hair braider as recited in claim 6 wherein said switch
includes a center terminal for connection to said electric drive
and first and second spaced end terminals and a bridging conductor
with contacts that bridge said center and first end terminals in
the first conducting position and that bridges said center and
second end terminals in the second conducting position.
9. A hair braider as recited in claim 1 wherein said planetary gear
system includes a sun gear connected to said output shaft and a
planet gear attached for rotating to each of said hair twisting
elements.
10. A hair braider as recited in claim 9 wherein said switch
comprises a center-off switch with a slider for moving a bridging
contact to said first and second conducting positions.
11. A hair braider as recited in claim 10 wherein said rotatable
body includes a transverse surface with a plurality of index holes
and said slider additionally includes a stop pin for engaging one
of said index holes when said slider moves to the first conducting
position thereby to block rotation of said rotatable body when said
motor is energized.
12. A hair braider as recited in claim 1 wherein said stop member
includes first and second complementary elements mounted on said
rotatable body and said switch, respectively, said complementary
elements engaging to prevent rotation of said rotatable body when
said electric drive produces output shaft rotation.
13. A hair braider as recited in claim 12 wherein said first
complementary element comprises index holes in said rotatable body
and said second complementary element comprises a pin for fitting
in one of said index holes.
14. A hair braider as recited in claim 1 wherein said handle
includes a comb, an axially extending receptacle formed therein for
receiving said comb and a pivot interconnecting said comb and said
handle whereby said comb can pivot from a storage position in said
receptacle to a second position for use.
15. A hair braider as recited in claim 1 wherein said rotatable
body includes angularly spaced index holes formed therein and said
stop member includes a pin for fitting in one of said index holes
when said switch is in the first conducting position.
16. A hair braider as recited in claim 15 wherein said switch
includes a center terminal and a pair of end terminals, a bridge
conductor, a slider that positions said bridge conductor and a
spring attached to said slider and wherein said handle includes
tabs for engaging opposite ends of said spring thereby to center
said slider and space said bridge conductor from said contacts.
17. A hair braider as recited in claim 16 wherein said electric
drive comprises a series motor circuit with battery supply and a dc
motor with a motor output shaft, said series motor circuit being
connected between the center terminal and each of the end terminals
and wherein said slider includes a bridge conductor that completes
a circuit between said center terminal and one of said end
terminals in a first conducting position and between said center
terminal and the other of said end terminals in the second
conducting position.
18. A hair braider as recited in claim 17 wherein said electric
drive includes a speed reducer connected to said output shaft and
having an input attached to said dc motor output shaft.
19. A hair braider as recited in claim 17 wherein said planetary
gear system includes a sun gear connected said output shaft and a
planet gear attached to each of said hair twisting elements.
20. A hair braider as recited in claim 1 additionally comprising a
stand having a receptacle for receiving said hollow handle at the
end opposite said one end, said stand positioning said hair braider
in a substantially upright orientation.
21. A hair braider for wrapping twisted hair strands about each
other comprising: A) handle means extending along a main axis for
defining a first cavity, B) electrically operated means supported
by said handle means in said first cavity for producing output
shaft rotation in a given direction about the main axis proximate
one end of said handle, C) mechanically operated switch means
attached to said handle means for energizing said electrically
operated means at first and second conducting positions thereof, D)
rotatable body means mounted for rotation about the main axis on
the one end of said handle means for forming a second cavity, E) a
plurality of hair twisting means mounted on said rotatable body
means for rotation about twist axes that are parallel to and
equidistantly spaced from the handle axis and equiangularly spaced
about said rotatable body means, F) planetary gear means in said
second cavity for conveying said output shaft rotation to said hair
twisting means, and G) stop means connected to said switch means
for blocking rotation of said rotatable body means when said switch
means is in the first conducting position whereby said twisting
means rotate in a direction opposite to the given direction about
their respective axes, said rotatable body means being enabled to
rotate in the given direction about the main axis when said switch
means is in the second conducting position.
22. A hair braider as recited in claim 1 additionally comprising a
stand having a receptacle for receiving said hollow handle at the
end opposite said one end, said stand positioning said hair braider
in a substantially upright orientation.
23. A hair braider for wrapping twisted hair strands about other
comprising: A) an electrically operated hair braider with a
plurality of hair twisting elements, each having a hair clamp
extending from a rotatable body at one end of a handle, and B) a
stand with a receptacle that receives the other end of the handle
to position said hair braider in an upright orientation thereby to
facilitate the attachment of hair to the hair clamps.
24. A hair braider as recited in claim 23 wherein said stand
comprises at least one additional storage receptacle.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention generally relates to hair styling devices and
more specifically to battery-operated hair braiders for twisting
individual locks of hair into hair strands and wrapping the hair
strands about each other into a braid.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] For many individuals braiding hair is a preferred hair
styling. In braiding, locks of hair are grouped into strands and
the strands are interwoven or wrapped about each other. Generally
hair braiding requires the assistance of another person,
particularly when braiding hair at the rear of the head.
[0005] A number of devices have evolved as alternatives to manual
braiding. These alternatives generally braid hair mechanically.
Initial devices were entirely mechanical in nature. For examples,
United States Letters Patent No. 4,583,562 (1986) to Larsson
discloses a hair braiding apparatus for one handed operation of a
trigger. This apparatus has at least two hair clamp members, or
twisters, carried by a sub-housing, or rotatable housing, on a
handle. When a control switch or lever is in a first position,
pumping the trigger rotates the clamp members or twisters about
supporting shafts to twist locks of hair into twisted strands. When
the switch or lever is in a second position, pumping the trigger
causes intermittent unidirectional, angular displacement of the
hair clamp members or twisters to twine the strands about each
other by rotating the sub housing.
[0006] Although mechanically complicated, devices such as that
shown in the Larsson patent, were accepted because they produced,
by virtue of these independent actions, a uniform braid. The first
independent function twisted individual hair locks into twisted
strands about individual twisting axes, but without any wrapping of
the twisted or partially twisted strands about each other. The
second independent function wrapped the twisted strands about each
other without any additionally twisting of the individual
strands.
[0007] As will be apparent, these hair braiders were entirely
mechanical systems. With such mechanical systems the twisting and
wrapping operations do not occur at a constant speed. Both
operations require repetitive squeezing motions of the hand on the
trigger to produce the requisite motion of the hair twisters or the
rotatable body. Moreover, these systems tend to be complicated
mechanically and costly to manufacture.
[0008] Efforts also have been undertaken to replace mechanical
action hair braiders with devices using electrical drives. European
Patent Publication No. 0 538 169 (1993) to Perez et al. discloses a
device for plating or braiding hair that uses an electric motor
drive. In this device a handle contains a drive motor and speed
reducing mechanism that rotates a rotatable body in the form of a
cylindrical platform. A fixed sun gear in a cavity formed by the
rotatable body engages idler gears that in turn engage planet gears
attached to shafts that rotate individual hair clips or twisters.
When energized, the motor rotates the rotatable body. As the
rotatable body also supports the hair twisters for rotation
therein, rotation of the body in one direction about the fixed sun
gear causes the hair twisting elements to rotate in an opposite
direction about their respective twister axes. This produces
simultaneous twisting of individual locks of hair into strands and
wrapping of the individual strands into a braid. It appears,
however, that the process yields a braid in which the individual
strands may be loosely twisted near the scalp and tightly twisted
at the ends thereby producing an uneven appearance.
[0009] Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3,041,230 (1997) to
Hashimoto, also discloses a hair twisting and braiding apparatus
with an electric motor. This system couples the output of a motor
to a series of clutches that control the operation of individual
hair twisting elements mounted for rotation in a rotatable body.
When an operating switch slides to a twisting position, the
electric motor rotates a main rotary shaft through a series of
clutches and also rotates a sun gear that in turn rotates planet
gears connected to the hair twisting elements to twist the
individual strands. When the switch slides to a braiding position,
the different clutches are reoriented, so the motor rotates a
clutch plate that produces a rotation of a rotary plate without
rotating the hair twisters to produce a final braid. While this
hair braider provides an even braiding function, it is a
complicated mechanism that is costly to manufacture.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,378 (2001) to Kennedy discloses
mechanically and electrically operated hair braiders. In this
device a main body in the form of a handle carries a rotator body
that, in turn, carries hair twisters that receive individual locks
of hair. In a mechanical configuration, pulling a cord rotates a
drum and winds an elastic band thereby to store energy. Clutches
associated with the drive system prevent motion of the rotator body
while allowing the individual hair twisters to rotate and twist the
individual locks into hair strands. On release of the cord, the
elastic band reverses the direction of the drum and the clutches
coact to allow the main rotator body to rotate without relative
rotation of the hair twisters. In a motor-driven version, a
reversible dc motor replaces the drum and elastic band to provide
twisting motion in one direction and wrapping motion in the other
direction of the motor. The embodiment with the reversible motor
has been commercially exploited. However, the requirement for
various gears and clutches provide a device that is costly to
manufacture.
[0011] What is needed is a low-cost, battery-operated hair braider.
Further, what is needed is such a hair braider that provides
independent or sequential twisting and wrapping operations that are
independent of each other.
SUMMARY
[0012] Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide a
hair braider that provides mutually independent and sequential
twisting and wrapping operations.
[0013] It is another object of this invention to provide a hair
braider that provides mutually independent and sequential twisting
and wrapping operations that is easy to use.
[0014] Still another object of this invention is to provide a hair
braider that provides mutually independent and sequential twisting
and wrapping operations that utilize a minimum number of parts.
[0015] Yet another object of this invention is to provide a hair
braider that provides mutually independent and sequential twisting
and wrapping operations that can be manufactured with reduced
costs.
[0016] Still yet another object of this invention is to provide a
battery-operated, electrical hair braider that provides mutually
independent and sequential twisting and wrapping operations, that
is easy to use and can be manufactured at minimum costs.
[0017] Yet still another object of this invention is to provide a
hair braider kit with a battery-operated hair braider and a stand
that facilitates the attachment of hair strands to hair twisting
elements on the hair braider.
[0018] In accordance with this invention a hair braider wraps
twisted hair strands about each other and comprises a hollow handle
extending along a main axis. An electric drive in the handle
rotates an output shaft proximate one end of the handle about the
main axis in a given direction. A switch on the handle connects to
the electric drive and has first and second conducting positions
for energizing the electric drive to rotate in the given direction.
A rotatable body defines a cavity and can rotate about the main
axis relative to the handle. Hair twisting elements mount for
rotation about individual twist axes that are parallel to and
equidistantly spaced from the main axis and equiangularly spaced
about the rotatable body. A planetary gear system mounts in the
rotatable body cavity and connects to the output shaft and to the
hair twisting elements. A stop member connects to the switch blocks
rotation of the rotatable body when the switch is in the first
conducting position whereby the twisting elements rotate about
their respective axes in a direction opposite to the given
direction to twist locks of hair into twisted strands. When the
switch is moved to the second conducting position the rotatable
body rotates about the main axis in the given direction to wrap the
twisted strands about each other into a braid.
[0019] In accordance with another aspect of this invention, a hair
braider kit includes an electrically operated hair braider with a
plurality of hair twisting elements. Each hair twisting element has
a hair clamp and extends from a rotatable body at one end of the
handle. A stand has a receptacle that receives the other end of the
handle to position the hair braider in an upright orientation. This
facilitates the attachment of hair to the hair clamps by an
individual who requires both hands to perform the operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The appended claims particularly point out and distinctly
claim the subject matter of this invention. The various objects,
advantages and novel features of this invention will be more fully
apparent from a reading of the following detailed description in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference
numerals refer to like parts, and in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair braider kit with a
hair braider and a stand constructed in accordance with this
invention;
[0022] FIGS. 2 and 3 are two plan views of the hair braider shown
in FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a section view taken along lines 4-4 in FIG.
2;
[0024] FIGS. 5 and 6 depict two exploded views of the rotatable
body and twisters taken from different perspectives;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a section view taken along lines 7-7 in FIG.
4;
[0026] FIG. 8 is a detailed perspective view of a switch shown in
FIGS. 1 through 4; and
[0027] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the electrical connections
utilized in the hair braider shown in FIGS. 1 through 5.
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0028] As shown in each of FIGS. 1 through 3, a hair braider 10
includes a handle 11 that extends along a main axis 12. The handle
11 may be tapered or otherwise formed with an end portion that
constitutes a comfortable hand grip 13. As specifically shown in
FIG. 3, a snap cover 14 in the hand grip 13 provides access to a
battery container. A central portion 15 of the handle 11 carries a
switch 16 shown in center position. As will become more apparent
later, a finger grip in the switch 16 can move vertically upward to
a first position or vertically downward to a second position.
[0029] The upper end part 17 of the handle 11 carries a rotatable
body 20 for rotation about the handle 11. In turn the rotatable
body 20 carries hair twisting elements 21 for rotation relative to
the rotatable body. FIGS. 2 and 3 depict these individual hair
twisting elements 21A, 21B and 21C that rotate about axes 22A, 22B
and 22C, respectively.
[0030] Braiding the hair generally is proceeded by combing to
assist in obtaining individual locks of hair. As one option, the
hand grip 13 can be formed with an extended longitudinal slot 23
for receiving a comb 24. The bottom of the handle in FIG. 3 is
shown broken away to depict a pivot 25 that is affixed to the
handle, that spans the slot 23 and that allows the comb 24 to
rotate into the slot 23 for storage or out of the receptacle for
use.
[0031] FIG. 1 also depicts a stand 26 with a receptacle 27 that
receives and supports the handle 11 in a substantially upright
position to form a hair braider kit. This stand 26 also contains
storage receptacles 28 for different accessories, such as
decorative clips or other elastic elements.
[0032] However, the stand 26 also can be used to simplify the
attachment of hair strands or locks to the hair twisting elements
21. As previously described, the process of attaching individual
locks of hair to the hair twisting elements 21 without the stand 26
is a complex two-handed operation. That is, an individual must
position the hair braider 10 proximate the ends of the locks to be
twisted and actuate clamping devices in each of the hair twisting
elements 21, all with one hand. The individual uses the other hand
to gather and position the hair at the hair twisting element. With
the stand 26, the hair braider 10 is upright. An individual can
position the stand 26 and hair braider 10 on a table, counter or
other supporting surface and position his or her head near the hair
braider 10. Then while holding up the end of a hair strand or lock
in one hand, the other hand need only manipulate the hair clamping
structure at the end of each hair twisting element, greatly
simplifying the attachment of hair to the hair braider 10.
[0033] When the switch 16 moves to an upper position, the
individual hair twisting elements 21 rotate about their respective
axes 22 and twist the locks into twisted strands. During twisting
the rotatable body 20 remains stationary so no wrapping occurs.
When the strands are tight, the switch 16 is moved to a lower
position. Now the rotatable body 20 rotates about the main axis 12
with respect to the handle 15 without any significant relative
motion of the hair twisting elements 21 with respect to the
rotatable body 20. This operation then wraps the individual twisted
strands over each other to form a braid that then can be completed
by the application of decorative clips or elastic elements as known
in the art.
[0034] Now referring specifically to FIG. 4, the handle 11 is a
hollow handle that extends along the main axis 12. The handle 11
receives a dc motor 30 and speed reducer 31 with an output shaft 32
in a handle cavity 33. The dc motor 30, speed reducer 31, battery
holder 34 and batteries 35 constitute an electric drive that mounts
in the handle and rotates the output shaft 32 about the main axis
12. As will be apparent from FIG. 4, the output shaft 32 is
positioned proximate a top end plate 17 of the handle 11 and
extends into the rotator body 20.
[0035] More specifically, the dc motor 30 has an output shaft 36
that drives the speed reducer 31 with the output shaft 32
constituting the output of the speed reducer 31. As will become
more apparent later, the switch 16 controls the energization of the
dc motor 30 from the batteries 35.
[0036] FIGS. 5 and 6 depict the construction of the rotatable body
22 and hair twisters to depict a simplified construction that this
invention makes possible. Specifically the rotatable body 20 has a
base 40 with cylindrical shoulders 41, 42 and 43 having a first
diameter and ports 44, 45 and 46 extending through the bottom of
the base 40 and centered on the shoulders 41, 42 and 43. The base
40 also has a central collar 47 with a through hole 48 that extends
through the base 40. On the bottom of the base 40, a well 50
surrounds the through hole 48 as shown in FIG. 6.
[0037] Still referring to FIG. 6, a plurality of equiangularly
spaced index depressions or holes 51 surround the well 50 to form
an index ring. This index ring forms one component of a stop member
that controls rotation of the rotatable body 20 relative to the
handle 11.
[0038] A top cover 52 attaches to the base 40 and includes three
ports 53, 54 and 55 that align with the shoulders 41, 42 and 43.
The top cover 52 also includes a central hollow post 56 that aligns
with the through hole 48.
[0039] When the base 40 and the cover 52 are attached, they define
an internal cavity 57 in FIG. 4 that contains the remaining
elements including the hair twisting elements 21. More
specifically, the cavity 57 houses a sun gear 58 with an end
bearing 59 positioned at the collar 47 for rotation with respect to
the base 40.
[0040] Each of the hair twisting elements 21A, 21B and 21C has an
identical construction so only the hair twisting element 21A is
described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the hair twisting
element 21A has an elongated hollow tubular body 60 that terminates
with a square base 61. A planet gear 62 has a corresponding square
fitting or receptacle 63. A central pin 64 with an upper hook
portion 65 provides a structure for clamping individual locks or
strands of hair to the body 60. A push rod 66 with a head 67 forms
a unit for pushing or moving the central pin 64 and the hook
portion 65 to an extended position for receiving a hair lock. A
spring 68 provides bias for returning the central pin 64 and push
rod 66 to a locked position against the tubular body 60.
[0041] Referring specifically to FIGS. 4 through 6, in assembly the
push rods 66 are inserted through the shoulders 41 and ports 44 and
the head 67 interferes with the base 40. The hollow tubular body 60
is inserted through the center of a planet gear 62 with the square
base 61 interfitting with the square fitting 63. The pin 64 is
loaded through the hollow tubular body 60 and extends through the
planet gear 62 to engage the head 67 by any means known in the art.
The spring 68 is concentric with the lower end portion of the
central pin 64 and resides in the shoulder 41 to bias the push rod
66 in a downward position.
[0042] Referring again to FIG. 4 and to FIG. 7 the output shaft 32
rotates within the rotatable body 20, but is affixed to the sun
gear 58. Each of the planet gears 62 associated with the hair
twisting elements 21A and 21C shown in FIG. 4, engage the sun gear
58.
[0043] If the rotatable body 20 is maintained in a stationary
position, rotation of the sun gear 58 in a clockwise position
produces counterclockwise rotation of each planet gear 62. This
produces the strand twisting operation. However, if the planet
gears 62 are fixed with respect to the rotatable body 20, rotation
of the sun gear 58 in a clockwise direction rotates the entire
rotatable body 20 in a clockwise direction to wrap the twisted
strands about each other.
[0044] FIGS. 4 and 8 depict the mechanism that provides the
sequential operations and that includes switch 16. The switch
includes a slider 70 and a finger grip 71 that extends radially
from the slider 70. The slider 70 allows longitudinal displacement
of the finger grip 71 through a limited range of motion by lying in
a set of ways not shown in FIG. 8, but known to those of ordinary
skill in the art. Motion limit may be imposed by interference
between the finger grip 71 and the handle 11 or by internal stop
mechanisms.
[0045] FIG. 8 depicts finger grip 71 in a center position. The
finger grip 71 and the slider 70 can move vertically up or down
from that center position. In the following discussion the upper
position is called the first conducting position and the lower
position is the second conducting position. The center position is
an "off" position.
[0046] The slider 70 also carries a parallel and vertically
extending arm 72 proximate the finger grip portion 71. The arm 72
carries a bridging conductor 73 with an upper contact portion 74
and a lower contact portion 75 in the orientation shown in FIG. 8.
These contacts selectively engage a central terminal 76 and one of
a first or upper terminal 77 and of a second or lower terminal 78.
A printed circuit board 79 or like device supports the terminals
76, 77 and 78.
[0047] In the upper or first conducting position of the finger grip
portion 71, the contacts 74 and 75 contact the upper end terminal
77 and the central terminal 76, respectively. In the lower or
second conducting position the upper and lower contacts 74 and 75
contact the central terminal 76 and lower end terminal 78,
respectively. In the center position, the contacts 74 and 75 only
contact insulating material.
[0048] The arm 72 also includes, at a position spaced from the
bridging conductor 73 and in this case above the slider 71, a
spring 80 and a spring supporting structure 81. The exact structure
is not important to an understanding of this invention. The arm 72
also slides between upper and lower guides on either side of and at
each edge of the arm 72. An upper guide 82 and lower guide 83 are
shown in FIG. 8 by way of example. The upper and lower guides, such
as the guides 82 and 83, are positioned to engage the ends of the
spring 80 when the finger grip 70 is in a center position shown in
FIG. 8. When the finger grip 71 moves upward to the first
conductive position, the spring 81 is carried by the arm 72 and
compresses against the guide 82. Thus when the finger grip 71 is
released, the spring 80 relaxes and moves the arm 72 and the
bridging conductor 73 to the central position. Similarly, when the
finger grip portion is moved to the second conducting position the
spring 80 compresses against the guide 83. When the finger grip 71
is released, the spring 80 returns the bridging conductor 73 and
the finger grip 71 to the central position, i.e., a center "off"
position.
[0049] Now referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 in this embodiment, the motor
30 and battery 35 connect in series and constitute a series motor
circuit. One terminal of the series motor circuit, in this case one
of the terminals on the battery 35, connects to the center terminal
76. Each of the end terminals 77 and 78 connect to the other side
of the series motor circuit terminal, namely a terminal on the
motor 30. Thus contact must be made between the center terminal 76
and one of the end terminals 77 or 78 to be energized to complete
the series motor circuit and energize the motor 30. As will now be
apparent, when the finger grip 71 moves the switch contacts 74 and
75 to the first conducting position, they provide a conductive path
between the end terminal 77 and the center terminal 76,
respectively and the series motor circuit is energized. Similarly,
when the finger grip 71 moves the switch contacts 74 and 75 to the
lower position, the contacts 74 and 75 contact the center terminal
76 and the lower end terminal 78, respectively, thereby to complete
to the series motor circuit through this path. As will also be
apparent, the dc motor 30 only operates in one direction because of
the polarity of the energizing voltage remains the same in either
of the conducting positions for the switch 16.
[0050] As previously indicated, the planetary gear system
comprising the sun gear 58 and planet gears 62 operates differently
if either the base 40 is held stationary with respect to the handle
11 or if the hair twisting elements 21 with their attached planet
gears 62 are held stationary relative to the base 40. FIG. 8
depicts the structure for providing these different operations.
More specifically, the arm 72 additionally includes a vertical
extension that terminates in a pin 84 through an opening in a top
end wall 85 of the handle 11. In the center position shown in FIG.
8, the pin 84 is proximately flush with the top end wall 85.
However, as the finger grip 71 moves vertically upward to the first
conducting position, the arm 72 displaces the pin 84 upward past
the end plate 85 and into one of the index holes 51. In this
position as previously indicated the switch 16 also energizes the
dc motor. Consequently as the motor shaft 32 in FIG. 4 rotates in a
given direction, the rotatable body 20 is in a stationary
condition. This produces the independent rotation of the individual
hair twisting elements 21 to twist a lock of hair into a twisted
strand with rotation in a direction opposite to the given direction
of the sun gear 58.
[0051] This twisting operation continues until the strands are
fully twisted. With proper selection of components, the torque
produced by any twisting of the individual hair strands can produce
either a marked loading of the dc motor or stalling of the dc motor
30 when appropriate twisting has been achieved.
[0052] When the twisting is complete, the finger grip 71 is moved
to the lower position thereby reenergizing the dc motor 30 to turn
in the same given direction and initiate a next operation in
sequence. Specifically, the tension or torque placed on the
individual hair twisting elements 21 by the twisted strands is
sufficient to prevent rotation of the twisters relative to the base
40. Consequently in the second conducting position the rotatable
body 20 rotates about the handle 11 and main axis 12 in the same
direction as the sun gear 58 and wraps the individual twisted
strands about each other into a braid.
[0053] These differences in operation are effected by the pin 84
and index holes 51 that constitute complementary structures on the
switch 16 and rotatable body 20 that engage to prevent rotation of
the rotatable body 20 when the switch 16 moves to the first
conducting position. The arm 72 and extension acts as an actuator
for the stop member in the form of the pin 84.
[0054] Therefore in accordance with one of the objectives of this
invention, a hair braider 10, in one operating mode, twists locks
of hair into individual strands independently of any motion of the
rotating body 20. When the switch moves to the second conducting
position, the rotating body 20 rotates and wraps the twisted hair
strands without any significant additional twisting of the hair
strands. Further in accordance with the objectives of this
invention, a hair braider constructed in accordance with this
invention minimizes the required number of parts and reduces
manufacturing costs. Further the parts are not subject to excessive
wear so the product should be reliable over time.
[0055] The hair braider has been disclosed in one specific
embodiment. A number of variations of individual elements are
possible within the scope of this invention. For example, a
specific structure has been shown for the switch and stop member.
Alternate configurations that would perform similar functions are
possible. Different switching arrangements could be used to provide
the function of the bridging conductor and terminals for energizing
the motor in combination with the implementation of the blocking
function. The hair braider could be made with or without the comb
and receptacle. Different configurations of the electric motor
drive including the motor and speed reducer could also be
provided.
[0056] This invention has been disclosed in terms of certain
embodiments. It will be apparent that many modifications can be
made to the disclosed apparatus without departing from the
invention. Therefore, it is the intent of the appended claims to
cover all such variations and modifications as come within the true
spirit and scope of this invention.
* * * * *