U.S. patent application number 12/192538 was filed with the patent office on 2009-11-19 for hair braiding device.
Invention is credited to PATRICK BROUILLARD.
Application Number | 20090283108 12/192538 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40378546 |
Filed Date | 2009-11-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090283108 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BROUILLARD; PATRICK |
November 19, 2009 |
HAIR BRAIDING DEVICE
Abstract
A hair braiding device (49) comprises two plates (11, 12)
forming a handle and including an opening (48) for inserting hair
to be braided by the actions of two braiding wheels (2, 3) in
coordination with a transfer mechanism (4) adapted to
intermittently move one of three stands that the hair is
automatically divided into such that each strand is intermittently
received in a slot (29) in each of the braiding wheels (2, 3).
Alternate, coordinated movement of the braiding wheels (2, 3)
causes the three strands to be braided. A motor (9) is supported by
the plates (11, 12) for powering a gear system which causes the two
braiding wheels (2, 3) to rotate in opposite directions, in an
alternating pattern.
Inventors: |
BROUILLARD; PATRICK;
(Sainte-Foy, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Lawrence Cruz;Conair Corporation
One Cummings Point Road
STAMFORD
CT
06902
US
|
Family ID: |
40378546 |
Appl. No.: |
12/192538 |
Filed: |
August 15, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60965489 |
Aug 21, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
132/212 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 7/00 20130101; A45D
8/34 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/212 |
International
Class: |
A45D 44/00 20060101
A45D044/00 |
Claims
1. A hair braiding device for braiding a tuft of hair into a
braided pattern comprising three stands of hair woven into a single
braid, said device comprising a body housing an electric motor; a
first driven braiding wheel adapted to be intermittently
rotationally driven by said motor in a first direction; a pair of
first notches on said first driven braiding wheel, each adapted to
receive a strand of hair and move it with said first driven
braiding wheel as said first driven braiding wheel rotates; a
second driven braiding wheel adapted to be intermittently
rotationally driven by said motor in a second direction; a pair of
second notches on said second driven braiding wheel, each adapted
to receive a strand of hair and move it with said second driven
braiding wheel as said second driven braiding wheel rotates; a
transfer member comprising a body mounted to be intermittently
driven in both of said first and second directions; and a hair
engaging tip on said transfer member adapted to intermittently
engage said strands of hair, one at a time, and cause them,
respectively, to be moved into engagement with one of said first
and second driven braiding wheels.
2. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a
spring-loaded clasp movably mounted to said housing and adapted to
selectively open and close a hair space opening for introducing a
tuft of hair into said device.
3. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a first pair
of arms adjacent to said first pair of notches adapted to engage
and advance one of said strands of hair with rotation of said first
driven braiding wheel; and a second pair of arms adjacent to said
second pair of notches adapted to engage and advance one of said
strands of hair with rotation of said second driven braiding
wheel.
4. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a handle
section formed on said housing.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application relates to and claims priority from
previously filed U.S. Provisional No. 60/965,489, filed on 21 Aug.
2007, titled "HAIR BRAIDING DEVICE".
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to hair styling appliances
and, more particularly, to appliances for creating braids in hair
of a person, animal or doll.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Various known devices exist in the prior art for creating
braids in human hair. Such devices may be manually powered or
electrically powered. Certain electrically powered devices provide
an advantage over manually powered devices because they do not
require the user to move his or her hands to cause the hair to be
braided. This can be advantageous where timing and synchronization
of a braiding method are critical since a mechanized system of
moving members is more easily and precisely synchronized than a
system relying on human performance. It is difficult, however, to
provide a well-executed system that is engineered for ease of use,
durability, economy, automatic operation, and synchronized movement
of parts.
OBJECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a hair
braiding device that is superior to known devices in the areas of
for ease of use, durability, economy, automatic operation, and
synchronized movement of parts. It is a further object to provide a
hair braiding device that braids hair in a true, three-stranded
braid rather than, for example a mere twisting of a tuft of hair or
a two-stranded braid.
[0007] These an other objects are achieved by the present invention
disclosed herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] According to the present invention, a hair braiding device
comprises two plates forming a handle and including an opening for
inserting hair to be braided by the actions of two braiding wheels
in coordination with a transfer mechanism. A motor is supported by
the plates for powering a gear system which causes a pair of gears
to alternately rotate in synchronized fashion. A gear locking
system selectively immobilizes certain portions of the gear system.
The arrangement of the gears permits the two braiding wheels to
rotate in opposite directions, in an alternating pattern, in order
to perform a braiding action on hair inserted into the wheels.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 is an isometric, partial view of the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 4A is an isometric view of a first side of a component
of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 4B is an isometric view of a second side of the
component of the present invention shown in FIG. 4A.
[0014] FIG. 5A is an isometric view of a component of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 5B is a top, partial view of the component of the
present invention shown in FIG. 5A.
[0016] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a component of the present
invention.
[0017] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a component of the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a component of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 9A is a partial, top view of the present invention
shown in a first operating position.
[0020] FIG. 9B is a partial, top view of the present invention
shown in a second operating position.
[0021] FIG. 9C is a partial, top view of the present invention
shown in a third operating position.
[0022] FIG. 10A is a top view of the present invention shown in a
first operating mode.
[0023] FIG. 10B is a top view of the present invention shown in a
second operating position.
[0024] FIG. 10C is a top view of the present invention shown in a
third operating position.
[0025] FIG. 10D is a top view of the present invention shown in a
fourth operating position.
[0026] FIG. 10E is a top view of the present invention shown in a
fifth operating position.
[0027] FIG. 10F is a top view of the present invention shown in a
sixth operating position.
[0028] FIG. 10G is a top view of the present invention shown in a
seventh operating mode.
[0029] FIG. 10H is a top view of the present invention shown in an
eighth operating position.
[0030] FIG. 10I is a top view of the present invention shown in a
ninth operating position.
[0031] FIG. 10J is a top view of the present invention shown in a
tenth operating position.
[0032] FIG. 10K is a top view of the present invention shown in an
eleventh operating position.
[0033] FIG. 10L is a top view of the present invention shown in a
twelfth operating position.
[0034] FIG. 10M is a top view of the present invention shown in a
thirteenth operating mode.
[0035] FIG. 10N is a top view of the present invention shown in a
fourteenth operating position.
[0036] FIG. 10O is a top view of the present invention shown in a
fifteenth operating position.
[0037] FIG. 10P is a top view of the present invention shown in a
sixteenth operating position.
[0038] FIG. 10Q is a top view of the present invention shown in a
seventeenth operating position.
[0039] FIG. 10R is a top view of the present invention shown in an
eighteenth operating position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT
INVENTION
[0040] Referring to the drawing Figures, a hair braiding device 49,
according to the present invention comprises: a coordination wheel
1, a first braiding wheel 2, a second braiding wheel 3, a transfer
member 4, a hair clasp 5, a fork 6, a pushbutton 7, a spiral bevel
gear 8, a motor 9, a bevel gear 10, a top plate 11, a bottom plate
12, a gear 13, a locking section 14, a transfer locking section 15,
a geared section 16a, a geared section 16b, a locking gear 17a, a
locking gear 17b, a transfer locking gear 18, a transfer wheel 19,
a pin 20, a slot 21, an extension spring 22, an extension spring
23, a compression spring 24, a transfer member center of rotation
25, a shaft 26, a transfer gear 27, a transfer gear 28, notches 29,
arms 30, and empty space 31, a gear 32, a braiding wheel body 33, a
braiding wheel receiving member 34, an intermediate piece 35, a
center of rotation 36, an anti-reverse member 37, and anti-reverse
member 38, a gearing support 39, a spring fitting 40, a spring
fitting 41, a spring fitting 42, a spring fixation shaft 43, a gar
44, a gear 45, a transfer member tip 46, a locking section 47, and
a hair space opening 48.
[0041] The present invention hair braiding device 49 is adapted to
braid hair into three-stranded braids. Two plates 11, 12 form a
handle having finger impressions 51 to facilitate gripping and
having a proximal end 52. The opening 48 is provided to receive a
user's hair to be braided. The two braiding wheels 2, 3 cooperate
with the transfer member 4. A motor 9 is housed between the plates
11, 12 and powers a series of gears 8, 10, 13 to cause the
coordination wheel 1 to rotate with the shaft 26 as the center of
rotation. The coordination wheel 1 comprises a geared section 16A
which controls the rotation of gears 17A, 17B in an alternating
manner. The coordination wheel 1 also comprises a locking section
14 that immobilizes the locking gears 17A, 17B when they are moved
to a position out of contact with the geared section 16A. The
locking gears 17A, 17B each include a locking section 47, as shown
in FIG. 8, where only gear 17A is illustrated, rather than both
gears 17A and 17B, because gears 17A and 17B are identical. Each
locking section 47 interacts with the locking section 14 of the
coordination wheel, and each locking section 47 is provided with an
inner gear 44 and an outer gear 45. Each inner gear 44 cooperates
with the geared section 16A and each outer gear 45 transmits
rotational motion from the locking gears 17A, 17B to the gear 32 of
each braiding wheel 2, 3. Since braiding wheels 2, 3 are identical
to each other only one of them, wheel 2, is illustrated in detail
in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Transmission of rotation to each of the
braiding wheels 2, 3 is achieved through the intermediate gears 27,
28.
[0042] The electric motor 9 may be powered by conventional means
(not shown) such as a disposable battery, a rechargeable battery,
or an external power source.
[0043] Anti-reverse members 37, 38 prevent the gearing system from
losing synchronization through reversed direction rotation of the
locking gears 17A, 17B or the transfer locking gear 18. The
coordination wheel 1 contains geared sections 16B that permit
rotation of the transfer locking gear 18 and that contain the
transfer locking sections 15 to immobilize the transfer locking
gear 18 at times when it is not interacting with the geared
sections 16B. The transfer locking gear 18 rests on the gearing
support 39. A pin 20 links the transfer locking gear 18 and the
transfer wheel 19 slides in a slot 21 in the transfer member 4.
This constrains the motion of the transfer member 4 to a
back-and-forth horizontal motion, serving to transfer the hair
strands from one braiding wheel 2, 3 to the other in an alternating
manner.
[0044] The tip 46 of the transfer member 4 is flexible to allow the
correct transfer of the hair strands from the notches 29 of one
braiding wheel 2, 3 to the other (see FIGS. 10A to 10D). Both
braiding wheels 2, 3 are each marked by two notches 29 which extend
through the gear teeth a distance into the body 33 of the braiding
wheels 2, 3. These notches 29 hold the hair strands tightly. The
braiding wheels 2, 3 move alternately, one at a time, and in
directions opposite to each other. The movement of each braiding
wheel 2, 3 is one-hundred and eighty degrees and is coordinated
with the movement of the transfer member 4.
[0045] The shape of the braiding wheels 2, 3 creates two areas of
empty space 31 around each braiding wheel 2, 3 to accommodate a
hair strand upon initial insertion into the device 49. The braiding
wheels 2, 3 each possess two arms 30 which push the hair strands
upon rotation of the braiding wheels 2, 3 toward the transfer
member 4. The device 49 also comprises a push-button 7 which, when
activated, exerts a force on the extension spring 23 and the
compression spring 24 to push the fork 6 up from a resting position
to a hair-splitting position. At this position, the extension
spring 23 is fully extended and further pressing the bush-button 7
extends the extension spring 22 and causes the hair clasp 5 to
open. The position of the fork 6 causes the compression spring 24
to compress. When the push-button 7 is fully depressed, insertion
of the hair 53 into the opening 48 is facilitated. The hair 53 is
split into three strands 50, 51, 52 when the push-button 7 is
released due to the actions of the extension springs 22, 23 causing
the hair clasp 5 to retract, thus forcing the hair around between
the two teeth of the fork 6 (see FIGS. 9A and 9B). When the fork 6
retreats it leaves two of the three hair strands in the spaces 31
around the braiding wheels 2, 3 and the third strand is positioned
in the space 48 between the two braiding wheels 2, 3.
[0046] FIGS. 10A-10R illustrate the sequential movement of a hair
strand being braided in accordance with the device described above.
After the hair strand is placed in the opening 48, as described
above, it is divided into three separate strands, as described
above, and those three strands are shown in FIGS. 10A-10R
referenced as first hair strand 50, second hair strand 51, and
third hair strand 52.
[0047] As can be seen in FIG. 10A, the transfer member 4 is
initially positioned so that its tip 46 is adjacent to the second
braiding wheel 3, and the tip 46 is positioned just to the right
hand side of the third hair strand 52, which is generally
positioned in the middle between the first and second braiding
wheels 2, 3. As the gear arrangement operates as described above,
the transfer member 4 pivots counter-clockwise about axis 26 so
that the tip 46 moves to the left, toward the first braiding wheel
2, while moving the third hair strand 52 to the left, engaging the
third hair strand 52 with the first braiding wheel 1, as shown in
FIG. 10B. Continued movement of the transfer member 4 in the same
direction results in flexing of the tip 46 as shown in FIG. 10C,
ensuring that the third hair strand 52 gets seated in the notch 29
of the first braiding wheel 2. Referring to FIGS. 10D and 10E,
while the transfer member 4 is stationary, the first braiding wheel
2 rotates clockwise causing the third hair strand 52 to travel with
it in a clockwise direction.
[0048] Continued clockwise movement of the first braiding wheel 2
causes the arm 30 of the first braiding wheel 2 to engage and move
the first hair strand 50 from its initial position (see FIGS.
10A-10E) to the position shown in FIG. 10F. At the same time, the
continued movement of the first braiding wheel 2 causes third hair
strand 52 to move to the position shown in FIG. 10F. As shown in
FIG. 10G, the movement of the first braiding wheel 2 stops and the
transfer member 4 now begins to move in a clockwise direction so
that the tip 46 engages the left side of the first hair strand 50.
As shown in FIGS. 10H-101, the continued movement of the transfer
member 4 sweeps the first hair strand 50 to the right so it engages
the second braiding wheel 3. As shown in FIGS. 10J-10L, the second
braiding wheel 3 moves counter-clockwise thereby causing both the
first hair strand 50 and the second hair strand 51 to travel
counter-clockwise in engagement with the second braiding wheel 3
until it stops in the position shown in FIG. 10L. Referring to
FIGS. 10M-10R, the transfer member 4 again switches direction and
the cycle described above repeats itself.
[0049] The above process continues until a desired length of hair
is braided into a three-strand braid. After a desired length of
braided hair is created, the device 49 is drawn away from the
user's head and the three strands' remaining lengths of unbraided
hair slide out of the device. A user may then fasten, tie or clamp
the end of the braided hair in any one of known ways.
[0050] While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has
been disclosed herein, it is understood that various modification
can be made without departing from the scope of the presently
claimed invention.
* * * * *