U.S. patent application number 10/777021 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-14 for hair accessory application device.
This patent application is currently assigned to CONAIR CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Fung, Kam Fai, Leung, Anthony Kit Lun.
Application Number | 20050076931 10/777021 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34426174 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050076931 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Leung, Anthony Kit Lun ; et
al. |
April 14, 2005 |
Hair accessory application device
Abstract
There is provided a hair accessory application device
essentially having at least two housing or body portions, a first
body or ergonomic handle portion suitable for handling by an
operator and for accommodating at least a portion of a drive
assembly and a second body or head portion suitable for
accommodating at least a portion of a threading assembly. The
threading assembly is operatively connected to the drive assembly
and suitable to allow an operator to effectively and efficiently
apply or thread one or more hair accessories over one or more
strands of hair as desired.
Inventors: |
Leung, Anthony Kit Lun;
(Hong Kong, CN) ; Fung, Kam Fai; (Hong Kong,
CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Charles N.J. Ruggiero, Esq.
Ohlandt, Greeley, Ruggiero & Perle, L.L.P.
One Landmark Square, 10th Floor
Stamford
CT
06901-2682
US
|
Assignee: |
CONAIR CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
34426174 |
Appl. No.: |
10/777021 |
Filed: |
February 11, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60510161 |
Oct 10, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
132/200 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 2002/008 20130101;
A45D 2/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/200 |
International
Class: |
A45D 024/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A hair accessory application device comprising: a housing having
a handle portion and a head portion, said handle portion
accommodating at least a portion of a drive assembly and said head
portion having an accessory guide for accommodating one or more
accessories and accommodating at least a portion of a threading
assembly, said threading assembly having at least one hair engaging
element and accessory applicator, and said accessory applicator
being operatively connected to said drive motor.
2. The hair accessory application device of claim 1, wherein said
drive assembly is bi-directional.
3. The hair accessory application device of claim 1, wherein said
drive assembly has a drive motor.
4. The hair accessory application device of claim 3, wherein said
drive assembly has a drive shaft operatively connected to said
drive motor.
5. The hair accessory application device of claim 4, wherein said
drive assembly has a power source.
6. The hair accessory application device of claim 1, wherein said
accessory guide has an accessory retaining groove.
7. The hair accessory application device of claim 6, wherein said
accessory retaining groove accommodates accessories of varying
size.
8. The hair accessory application device of claim 6, wherein said
accessory retaining groove adjustably accommodates accessories of
varying size.
9. The hair accessory application device of claim 1, wherein said
threading assembly has an accessory retaining shaft.
10. The hair accessory application device of claim 9, wherein at
least one hair engaging element is at an end of said accessory
retaining shaft.
11. The hair accessory application device of claim 1, wherein said
one or more accessories are beads with an aperture therein.
12. The hair accessory application device of claim 11, wherein said
aperture allows said one or more accessories to be received over an
accessory retaining shaft.
13. The hair accessory application device of claim 1, wherein at
least one of said one or more accessories is a crimp bead.
14. The hair accessory application device of claim 1, wherein at
least one of said one or more accessories has a fastener
operatively connected thereto.
15. A hair styling device comprising: an handle portion for
accommodating at least a portion of a drive assembly; and an
annular head portion for accommodating at least a portion of a
threading assembly, wherein said threading assembly has a curved
accessory guide for accommodating one or more accessories and an
accessory applicator operatively connected to said drive
assembly.
16. The hair styling device of claim 15, wherein said head portion
is transparent.
17. The hair styling device of claim 15, wherein said handle
portion has a control interface.
18. The hair styling device of claim 15, wherein said drive
assembly has a drive motor and a drive shaft operatively connecting
said drive motor to said accessory applicator.
19. The hair styling device of claim 15, wherein said drive
assembly operates bi-directionally.
20. A method for applying accessories to one or more strands of
hair comprising the steps of: providing a hair styling device
having a handle portion for accommodating at least a portion of a
drive assembly, and an annular head portion for accommodating at
least a portion of a threading assembly, said threading assembly
having a curved accessory guide for accommodating one or more
accessories and an accessory applicator operatively connected to
said drive assembly, said curved guide having one or more hair
engaging elements at an end thereof; introducing said one or more
accessories to said curved accessory guide; engaging one or more
strands of hair via said one or more hair engaging elements so that
said one or more strands are positioned proximate said end of said
curved guide; actuating said accessory applicator to apply said one
or more accessories to said one or more hair strands; fastening at
least one of said one or more accessories to said one or more hair
strands to prevent said one or more accessories from falling off
said one or more hair strands; and disengaging said one or more
strands of hair to leave said one or more accessories on said one
or more strands of hair.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/510,161, entitled AUTOMATIC HAIR BEADING
DEVICE, filed on Oct. 10, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to devices for automatically
applying a hair accessory, such as a bead, to hair. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a device for
automatically applying a plurality of hair accessories to one or
more strands of hair.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] It is known to provide devices that can be pre-loaded with
one or more accessories such as beads that are suitable to be
threaded over one or more strands of hair. Such known devices
typically have a rod for accommodating the accessories. The rod has
a hook extending therefrom along a longitudinal axis. The hook is
suitable to engage a hair swatch so that the accessories may be
slid over the rod and hook, and onto the hair swatch. Some of these
devices require an applied force, such as, for example, via a
user's hand or by gravity, in order to advance the accessories from
the rod and hook and onto the hair strands. Other devices have an
outer tube concentrically surrounding the hook and rod so that when
the hook and rod are retracted relative to the tube, the tube end
pushes one or more of the accessories off of the rod and hook and
onto the hair strands during the retraction.
[0006] Inherent shortcomings associated with these known devices
include the difficulty and/or awkwardness coupled with positioning
and placing the accessories onto the hair and the relatively
inefficient, error-prone application techniques associated with
using such devices. Thus, there is a need for an effective hair
accessory application device which can automatically and
efficiently move at least one, and more particularly a plurality of
accessories onto one or more strands of hair.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved hair accessory application device.
[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide and
improved hair accessory application device that automatically feeds
one or more hair accessories onto one or more strands of hair.
[0009] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide an improved hair accessory application device that
effectively and efficiently feeds one or more beads onto one or
more strands of hair.
[0010] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
an improved hair accessory application device that is ergonomically
shaped for effective and versatile handling during use.
[0011] These and other objects and advantages of the present
invention are achieved by a hair accessory application device
having a housing with at least two portions, a handle portion and a
head portion. The handle portion accommodates at least a portion of
a drive assembly and the head portion accommodates at least a
portion of threading assembly. The threading assembly includes an
accessory guide that is operatively connected to an accessory
applicator that is in turn operatively connected to the drive
assembly. Hair accessories such as beads with an aperture therein
may be threaded or received over an accessory retaining shaft of
the accessory guide and contained in an accessory retaining groove.
The accessory retaining shaft has at least one hair engagement
element that may extend beyond the accessory retaining groove. The
accessory applicator may be positioned behind the accessories and,
when activated, move along the accessory retaining shaft in order
to push or pass one or more accessories from the accessory
retaining shaft onto one or more strands of hair.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1a is a perspective view of a hair accessory
application device in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of
the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 1b is another perspective view of the hair accessory
application device of FIG. 1a, showing different illustrative
aspects thereof;
[0014] FIG. 2a is a perspective sectional view of the hair
accessory application device of FIGS. 1a and 1b, showing a portion
of a drive assembly and a threading assembly in accordance with an
illustrative embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2b is a perspective view of a portion of the threading
assembly of FIG. 2a in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective sectional view of the hair accessory
application device of FIGS. 1a and 1b, showing a portion of the
threading assembly of FIG. 2a in association with one or more hair
accessories;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a first
operational step in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of
the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a second
operational step in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of
the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a third
operational step in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of
the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a fourth
operational step in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of
the present invention; and
[0021] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a fifth
operational step in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Referring to the drawings and, in particular, FIGS. 1a and
1b, a hair accessory application device in accordance with an
illustrative embodiment of the present invention is shown and
generally represented by reference numeral 1. Device 1 essentially
has a first body or ergonomic handle portion 2 suitable for
handling by an operator and for accommodating at least a portion of
a drive assembly 4, and a second body or head portion 6 suitable
for accommodating at least a portion of a threading assembly 8
(shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3). Hair accessories 10, such as, for
example, beads may be threaded or received over one or more strands
of hair using device 1.
[0023] As shown, handle portion 2 is preferably ergonomically
shaped and/or oriented for convenient, comfortable handling and may
preferably have a control interface 12 for allowing an operator to
control the operation of device 1. Also as reflected in FIG. 1b,
control interface 12 may preferably be operatively connected to
drive assembly 4 and drive assembly 4 may preferably be operatively
connected to threading assembly 8. Control interface 12 may
preferably have any of a variety of shapes, sizes and/or
configurations. For example, as shown, control interface 12 may
have any of a variety of input selectors 14 (e.g., buttons, knobs,
dials, touch-pads or touch-screens, etc.) for starting, stopping
and/or otherwise adjusting the operation of device 1. Control
interface 12, in one or more different aspects of the present
invention, may also be provided with any of a variety of output
indicators 16, such as, for example, visual indicators (e.g.,
LED/LCD displays, etc.), audible indicators (e.g., beeps, automated
voice, etc.), or tactile indicators (e.g., vibration, heat, etc.).
Thus, control interface 12 may preferably cooperate with input
selectors 14 and/or output indicators 16 to facilitate operative
communication between the operator and device 1.
[0024] Drive assembly 4 is generally shown in phantom lines to
demonstrate that it is housed by handle portion 2 and/or head
portion 6 and to reflect that it may have any of a variety of
configurations and/or components. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2
and 3, drive assembly 4 may have a drive shaft 18 operatively
connected to a drive motor 20 for generating a bi-directional,
preferably rotational motion. In turn, drive shaft 18 may be either
directly or indirectly operatively connected to threading assembly
8 to provide the appropriate type and/or degree of motion thereto
for effectively applying or threading one or more accessories 10 to
one or more strands of hair. Other configurations and/or components
may also be used. It is noted that device 1 is preferably
electrically powered and may preferably be battery operated via one
or more internal batteries 22 as shown in FIG. 2. Alternatively,
device 1 may be run from an electric cord (not shown) connected to
an electric power source.
[0025] As shown, head portion 6 is preferably at least somewhat
annular or disk shaped with at least one accessory guide 24
extending at least substantially about the entire perimeter of a
central hub portion 26. Accessory guide 24 preferably has at least
one accessory retaining groove 28 and at least one accessory
retaining shaft 30.
[0026] Accessory retaining groove 28 preferably runs along at least
a substantial portion of accessory guide 24 and preferably opens
outwardly or way from central hub portion 26. Accessory retaining
groove 28 may preferably accommodate accessories 10 of varying size
and/or shape. Accessory retaining groove 28 may also be adjustable
to accommodate accessories 10 of notably different shapes, sizes
and/or configurations.
[0027] Accessory retaining shaft 30 is preferably in and/or
operatively connected to accessory retaining groove 28 at one or
more locations along accessory retaining groove 28. Accessory
retaining shaft 30 preferably runs along at least a substantial
portion of accessory retaining groove 28 and/or accessory guide 24.
Accessory retaining shaft 30 may preferably be at least somewhat
curved to be at least somewhat parallel to the at least somewhat
annular configuration of head portion 6. Accessory retaining shaft
30 and/or accessory retaining groove 28 preferably has an access
gap 32.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, threading assembly 8 of head
portion 6 preferably has at least one hair engaging element 34 and
at least one accessory applicator 36. As shown, hair engaging
element 34, in one aspect of the present invention, may preferably
be a wire hook operatively connected to accessory retaining shaft
30, for example. However, hair engaging element 34 may also have
any of a variety of other configurations and/or components for
safely and effectively grasping one or more strands of hair. Also
as shown, hair engaging element 34 may preferably be positioned in
access gap 32 so as to facilitate in transferring one or more
accessories 10 from accessory retaining shaft 30 and/or accessory
retaining groove 28 to one or more strands of hair.
[0029] Accessory applicator 36, in a preferred aspect of the
present invention, preferably cooperates with accessory retaining
groove 28 and/or accessory retaining shaft 30. That is, accessory
applicator 36 may preferably fit in accessory retaining groove 28
so as to be able to bi-directionally slide or move therein. In
addition, accessory applicator 36 may preferably have one or more
arms 38 for interacting with accessory retaining shaft 30 and/or
one or more accessories 10 retained thereby. Arms 38 may in turn
preferably be operatively connected to drive assembly 4 so that
upon appropriate actuation of drive assembly 4, via control
interface 12, arms 38 move along accessory retaining groove 28
and/or accessory retaining shaft 30 in at least one direction.
[0030] As shown, in one aspect of the present invention, accessory
applicator 36 may preferably be operatively connected to a first
gear 40, which in turn may be operatively connected to drive
assembly 4 by one or more second gears 42. In another aspect of the
present invention (not shown), accessory guide 24 and/or accessory
retaining groove 28 may preferably have one or more slots (not
shown) through which accessory applicator 36 may be operatively
connected to drive assembly 4 via a stem 44, for example. Still
other aspects of the present invention may utilize varied and
diverse mechanisms for effectively and efficiently causing
accessory applicator 36 to traverse accessory retaining groove
28.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 4 through 8, having identified and
discussed some of the preferred aspects and/or features of the
present invention, in use, device 1 may be operated by first
loading device 1 by introducing one or more accessories 10 to
accessory guide 24 as shown in FIG. 4, for example. Each accessory
10 may preferably have at least one aperture therein and may
preferably be suitable to be placed in accessory retaining groove
28 and/or on accessory retaining shaft 30. Once device 1 has been
loaded as desired, hair engaging element 34 may be used to engage
and/or hold one or more strands of hair 11 in at least relatively
close proximity to accessory guide 24, via access gap 32 as shown
in FIG. 5, for example. Preferably, accessory applicator 36 may
then be actuated, via control interface 12 and/or drive assembly 4,
to apply or cause at least one, and preferably two or more
accessories 10 to the hair strands being held by hair engaging
element 34 as shown in FIG. 6. Thus, hair engaging element 34 and
accessory applicator 36 of threading assembly 8 preferably
cooperate to efficiently apply or thread one or more accessories 10
to strands of hair 11. After a desired number of accessories 10
have been threaded onto the engaged hair strands, preferably a hair
clamp or fastener 46 may preferably cooperate with one or more
accessories 10 and/or the engaged or selected strands of hair 11 to
prevent the threaded accessories from falling off the accessorized
strands of hair 11. For example, fastener 46, in one aspect of the
present invention, may preferably be a flexible band that is
connected to an end accessory 48 as shown in FIG. 7. The flexible
band may preferably be movable with respect to end accessory 48 so
that one or more strands of hair 11 may be engaged as shown in FIG.
8 to hold end accessory 48 as well as any other accessory 10 above
end accessory 48 in place on the engaged strands of hair 11. Thus,
once end accessory 48 has been properly secured to the engaged
strands of hair 11 by fastener 46, the strands of hair 11 may
preferably be disengaged or released from hair engaging element 34
to leave one or more accessories 10 on the strands of hair 11 to
provide a decorative allure thereto.
[0032] The present invention having been thus described with
particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be
obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein
without departing from the spirit of the present invention as
defined herein. For example, head portion 6 may be at least
partially transparent to provide the user with a view of the
internal components and/or loaded accessories prior to application.
In addition, it is contemplated that the present invention may be
used to apply a variety of articles, not limited to beads, to a
variety of string-like objects, not limited to strands of hair.
Further, the present invention device may also be purely mechanical
and human-powered, as opposed to electrically powered, using drives
and lever mechanisms of the type generally-known.
* * * * *