U.S. patent application number 11/194976 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-08 for hair decoration tool.
Invention is credited to Anthony Kit Lun Leung.
Application Number | 20070028942 11/194976 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37716535 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070028942 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Leung; Anthony Kit Lun |
February 8, 2007 |
Hair decoration tool
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 hair beading assembly. The
hair beading assembly is operatively connected to the drive
assembly and suitable to allow an operator to effectively and
efficiently apply one or more hair accessories over one or more
strands of hair as desired.
Inventors: |
Leung; Anthony Kit Lun;
(North Point, HK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STEVEN A. GARNER, ESQ.;CONAIR CORPORATION
ONE CUMMINGS POINT ROAD
STAMFORD
CT
06902
US
|
Family ID: |
37716535 |
Appl. No.: |
11/194976 |
Filed: |
August 2, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/333 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 2002/008 20130101;
A45D 2/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/333 |
International
Class: |
A45D 44/00 20060101
A45D044/00 |
Claims
1. A hair accessory application device comprising: a housing having
a handle portion and a head portion; a first member on said head
portion to hold one or more hairs; a second member on said head
portion to hold a hair accessory; an arm on said head portion
adapted to move said hair accessory toward said first member and
attach said hair accessory onto said one or more hairs; and a
button on said handle portion to control said device.
2. A hair accessory application device according to claim 1,
further comprising a drive assembly to drive said arm toward said
first member to enable said hair accessory to be attached to said
one or more hairs.
3. A hair accessory application device according to claim 2,
wherein said drive assembly has a motor.
4. A hair accessory application device according to claim 3,
wherein said drive assembly further comprises a drive shaft
operatively connected to a drive gear and an eccentric wheel.
5. A hair accessory application device according to claim 3,
wherein said motor has a power source.
6. A hair accessory application device according to claim 1,
wherein said first member is adapted to move in a direction
opposite said arm.
7. A hair accessory application device according to claim 1,
wherein said second member has a groove to retain said hair
accessory.
8. A hair accessory application device according to claim 1,
further comprising one or more contact reeds to control a circuit
to operate said device.
9. A hair accessory application device according to claim 1,
wherein said hair accessory is a bead.
10. A hair accessory application device according to claim 9,
wherein said bead comprises a first portion, a second portion and a
spring between said first portion and said second portion.
11. A hair accessory application device according to claim 10,
further comprising a plate to separate said first portion and said
second portion against the bias of said spring when said arm moves
said hair accessory toward said first member and over said
plate.
12. A hair accessory application device according to claim 11,
wherein said plate has a narrow side facing said arm and a wider
side facing said first member.
13. A hair accessory application device according to claim 1,
further comprising a selectively removable cover over said head
portion.
14. A hair accessory application device according to claim 1,
further comprising a ratchet mechanism to rotate said second member
about a central axis after said hair accessory is attached to said
one or more hairs.
15. A hair accessory application device comprising: a housing; a
hair accessory having two halves to selectively open to grasp a
tuft of hair; a member causing said two halves to open to receive
said tuft of hair.
16. A hair accessory application device according to claim 15,
wherein said housing comprises a handle portion and a head
portion.
17. A hair accessory application device according to claim 15,
further comprising a drive assembly to move said hair accessory
over said member toward said tuft of hair.
18. A hair accessory application device according to claim 15,
further comprising a hair holder to hold a tuft of hair.
19. A hair accessory application device according to claim 15,
further comprising an arm to push said hair accessory over said
member.
20. A hair accessory application device according to claim 15,
further comprising a hair accessory holder to retain said hair
accessory.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] 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.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art 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 from it 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 band or by gravity, in order to
advance the accessories from the rod and hook and onto the hair
strands.
[0004] 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 that can automatically and efficiently
move the accessories onto one or more strands of hair.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to overcome the
shortcomings of the prior art mentioned above. These and other
objects are achieved by the present invention described herein.
[0006] The present invention achieves these and other objectives by
providing 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 hair beading assembly. The hair beading assembly is
operatively connected to the drive assembly and suitable to allow
an operator to effectively and efficiently apply one or more hair
accessories over one or more strands of hair as desired.
[0007] The preferred embodiment features a hair holder within the
head portion that holds one or more strands of hair in place so
that a bead may be more easily attached to the hair. A pushing arm
is used to push the beads onto the user's hair while the hair
holder holds the one or more strands of hair. A rotating bead
holder, having a circular profile, is also located within the head
portion and can have a plurality of grooves to hold a plurality of
beads. A transparent cover can be used to keep the beads from
falling out of the device or being knocked out of a groove. The
handle portion can have a power button to allow an operator to
control the device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The present invention is more fully understood by reference
to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment
with the drawings identified below.
[0009] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a hair accessory
application device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0010] FIG. 1B is another perspective view of the hair accessory
application device of Fig. 1A, showing different illustrative
aspects thereof.
[0011] FIG. 1C is a front, partial cut-out view of the hair
accessory application device of FIGS. 1A and 1B in accordance with
a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2A is a front view of the hair accessory application
device, with the cover removed, in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2B is a rear, cross-sectional view of the hair
accessory application device of FIG. 2A in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of several aspects of the hair
accessory application device in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a partial view of the head portion, including the
pushing mechanism and hair holding mechanism in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a bead in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a front, partial cut-out view of the hair
accessory application device showing the bead refilling mechanism
in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a control circuit of the hair
accessory application device in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1A-1C, a hair accessory application
device in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present
invention is shown and generally represented by reference numeral
10. The hair accessory device 10 includes a body or handle portion
12 and a head portion 14. Hair accessories, such as beads 16, for
example, may be threaded or received over one or more strands of
hair using device 10.
[0020] The handle portion 12 may be ergonomically shaped to
comfortably and conveniently be held by an operator. Preferably,
the handle portion has a power button 18 for allowing an operator
to control the operation of the device 10. The power button 18 can
be shaped in a variety of ways and can be placed on the side of the
handle portion 12 as shown, or in any other location convenient to
an operator. In an alternative embodiment, the handle portion can
be in the form of a control interface having any of a variety of
input selectors (e.g., buttons, knobs, dials, touch-pads or
touch-screens, etc.) for starting, stopping or otherwise adjusting
the operation of the hair accessory device 10. The control
interface can also have a variety of output indicators, 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.).
[0021] Located on the head portion 14 is a rotating bead holder 20
that can hold a plurality of beads 16. Preferably, the bead holder
20 has a circular or disk-shaped profile and a plurality of grooves
22 to hold a multitude of beads 16, each bead placed within a
groove 22. Also located on the head portion 14 is a hair holder 24.
The hair holder 24 can have thin metal bars or rods that hold one
or more strands of hair in place so that a bead 16 may be more
easily attached to the hair. FIG. 2A shows a pushing arm 25, which
can be used to push the beads 16 onto the user's hair while the
hair holder 24 holds the one or more strands of hair.
[0022] In order to keep the beads 16 from falling out of the device
10 or being knocked out of a groove 22, a transparent cover 26 can
be placed over the head portion 14. The cover 26 can be made to
selectively pivot about a hinge so that it may be easily opened and
closed. This allows for the beads 16 to be easily replaced back
into the rotating bead holder 20. In a preferred embodiment, the
hinge is located near the hair holder 24. The cover 26 can be made
to open up to a certain angle, such as 90 degrees, for example, or
can be completely removed from the device 10. The transparent cover
26 can be made from plastic or any other material that would allow
an operator to see the beads 16 within the device 10 while the
beads 16 are being protected. In an alternative embodiment, the
cover 26 can also be opaque or non-transparent.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 2B, within the hair accessory device 10 is
a drive assembly 27 comprising a motor 28 with a gear box, a drive
shaft 32, a drive gear 34 and an eccentric wheel 46. Preferably,
the motor 28 is powered by batteries 30. However, the motor can be
powered by any other applicable power source. For example, in an
alternative embodiment, the hair accessory device 10 may run from
an electric cord (not shown) connected to an electric power source.
In the preferred embodiment, the motor 28 is connected to a drive
shaft 32. The drive shaft is connected to a drive gear 34. The
motor 28 causes the drive shaft 32 to rotate, which in turn, causes
the drive gear 34 to rotate about an axis that is perpendicular to
the rotation of the drive shaft 32. Upper contact reed 36 and lower
contact reed 37 are used to control the circuit that enables the
device 10 to operate. A ratchet 38 rotates the rotating bead holder
20 with beads 16 so that once a bead 16 is placed in an operator's
hair, the next bead 16 will be in position to be placed in the
hair, as will be described in further detail below.
[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the rotation of the motor 28,
drive shaft 32 and drive gear 34 causes an eccentric wheel 46 to
also rotate. This controls the horizontal movement of the hair
holder 24 and the pushing arm 25. A top circular knob 48 is located
on the top surface of the eccentric wheel 46. As the eccentric
wheel 46 rotates, the top circular knob 48 moves back and forth
within a slot 50 in the pushing arm 25, causing the pushing arm 25
to move forward and backward. On the bottom surface of the
eccentric wheel 46 is a bottom circular knob 52. This bottom
circular knob 52 fits within a groove 54 of a flat member 56. The
flat member 56 is located between the drive gear 34 and the pushing
arm and has two posts 58 located on the top surface. The hair
holder 24 has two poles 60, which are placed into the two posts 58
so that the flat member 56 and the hair holder 24 move in
conjunction with one another. As the eccentric wheel 46 rotates,
the bottom circular knob 52 moves within the groove 54 of the flat
member 56 and causes the flat member to move forward and backward,
in the opposite direction as the pushing arm 25. As the flat member
56 moves back and forth, the hair holder 24 moves in conjunction
with it, in the opposite direction as the pushing arm 25.
[0025] FIG. 4 shows the hair accessory device 10 as it proceeds
through four main stages. Stage 1 shows the beginning, where a tuft
of hair 62 is placed within the hair holder 24. A bead 16 is in
position to be pushed onto the tuft of hair by the pushing arm 25.
The bead 16 will be pushed over a slide plate 64, so that the bead
will be expanded. FIG. 5 shows a bead 16. Each bead 16 is comprised
of an upper part 40, a lower part 42 and a spring 44 in the middle.
Preferably, the slide plate 64 is generally in the shape of two
wedges, in which the narrow ends are facing the bead 16 and the
broad ends are facing the tuft of hair 62. As the bead 16 is pushed
over the slide plate 64 by the pushing arm 25, the upper part 40
and the lower part 42 are separated from one another against the
force of the spring 44. This can be seen in FIG. 4 at stage 2. When
the upper part 40 and lower part 42 are fully separated, the tuft
of hair 62 can fit between the coils of the spring 44. After the
bead 16 continues to move over the broad edge of the slide plate 64
and beyond the slide plate, the upper part 40 and lower part 42
return to their initial state of being in close contact, with the
tuft of hair 62 firmly in place between the coils of the spring 44.
This is shown at stage 3 of FIG. 4. Stage 4 shows the bead 16 on
the tuft of hair 62, with the hair holder 24 and pushing arm 25
returning to their initial states. The next bead 16 is then in
position to be placed upon another tuft of hair 62.
[0026] FIG. 6 shows the bead refilling mechanism. At stage 1, the
ratchet wheel 66 rotates counterclockwise until the circuit of the
upper contact reed 36 opens. At stage 2, the ratchet wheel 66
rotates clockwise and the ratchet 38 pushes the rotating bead
holder 20 to rotate. At stage 3, the ratchet wheel 66 continues to
rotate until making the circuit of the lower contact reed 37 to
open. The rotating bead holder 20 is then rotated one step as seen
at stage 4. A detent 68 can fix the rotating bead holder 20 into an
incremental position. FIG. 7 shows the circuit to control the
movement of the pushing arm 25, the rotating direction of the motor
28 and the bead refilling mechanism.
[0027] While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been
herein disclosed and described, it is understood that various
modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the
invention.
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