Abstract:
An apparatus for wrapping hair with a cord is provided and includes a housing; a main spindle operatively coupled to the housing and defining a main spindle bore for receiving cord and hair; a rotatable spool carrier and at least one spool. The spool carrier has a platform and a drive spindle operatively coupled to the main spindle so that rotation of the main spindle is translated into rotation of the platform. The drive spindle has guides for receiving cord and permitting the cord to be disposed through a bore extending through the drive spindle. The rotation of the main spindle causes cord to be dispensed through the one guide and the drive spindle bore and the main spindle bore, hair is disposed through the drive spindle bore and the main spindle bore, and the main spindle is rotated to wrap the hair with cord.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a device for wrapping hair with a cord, and more particularly, to a hand-held device that wraps hair with a cord as an adornment and includes a plurality of spools for carrying and dispensing cord. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Hair wrapping devices are known which wrap cords around locks of hair. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,759, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses a simple, compact hair wrapper that is inexpensive to build and operate. The device includes a housing; a spindle operatively joined to the housing and defining a spindle bore for receiving cord and hair. The spindle also can have a detent for receiving the cord, The apparatus has a spool defining a spool bore through which the spindle is disposed and also the spool receives and dispenses the cord. Means for rotating the spindle relative to the housing and spool is provided such that the cord is dispensed from the spool through any detent (or cord tensions) and the spindle bore, hair is disposed in the spindle bore, and the spindle is rotated to wrap the hair with cord. The spindle is rotatably mounted within a hollow spool chamber which is partially defined by a spool cover, and the spool is disposed in the hollow spool chamber such that it is rotatable around the spindle to unwind cord as needed. The dispensing cord extends from the spool upwardly and then threaded through the spindle opening that also receives the locks of hair. Thus, the spindle and spool are all self-contained within the hollow spool chamber. 
     This design is constructed for placing one spool around the spindle and therefore only one spool is used at one time during a hair wrapping procedure. Many times, it is desirable to wrap more than one cord around the locks of hair since this permits multiple colored cords to be used. Accordingly, one of the deficiencies of this type of device is that only one spool can be used at one time and thus the hair wrapping patterns are limited and also because the one spool is stored underneath the spool cover, the switching of spools requires several steps to be performed. 
     What has heretofore not been available is a hair wrapper that is configured to carry multiple spools outside of an enclosed area to permit the user to easily selectively decide the number of cords to use and/or the colors of the cords. 
     SUMMARY 
     An apparatus for wrapping hair with a cord is provided and includes a housing; a main spindle operatively coupled to the housing and defining a main spindle bore for receiving cord and hair; and a rotatable spool carrier. The spool carrier has a platform and a drive spindle operatively coupled to the main spindle so that rotation of the main spindle is translated into rotation of the platform. The drive spindle has guides for receiving cord and permitting the cord to be disposed through a bore extending through the drive spindle. 
     The apparatus further includes at least one spool releasably secured to the platform in a rotatable manner with each spool carrying cord that is fed through one guide of the drive spindle. The rotation of the main spindle causes cord to be dispensed through the one guide and the drive spindle bore and the main spindle bore, hair is disposed through the drive spindle bore and the main spindle bore, and the main spindle is rotated to wrap the hair with cord. 
     In another aspect, an apparatus for wrapping hair with a cord in accordance with the invention is provided and can include a hand-held housing; a main spindle operatively coupled to the housing and defining a main spindle bore for receiving cord and hair; a rotatable platform coupled to the main spindle so that rotation of the main spindle is translated into rotation of the platform; guides rotatable with the platform for receiving cord and permitting the cord to be disposed through a bore extending through the platform; and at least one spool releasably secured to the platform in a rotatable manner, each spool carrying cord that is fed through one of the guides, the rotation of the main spindle causing cord to be dispensed through a particular one of the guides and the main spindle bore, hair is disposed through the main spindle bore, and the main spindle is rotated to wrap the hair with cord as the hand-held housing is moved relative to the hair. 
     In a further aspect, an apparatus for wrapping hair with a cord in accordance with the invention is provided and can include a hand-held housing; a gear mesh within the housing; a main spindle operatively coupled to the housing by the gear mesh and defining a main spindle bore for receiving cord and hair; a motor having a rotating shaft that is coupled to the gear mesh for transmitting rotation of the rotating shaft to the main spindle; a switch connected to selectively activate the motor; a rotatable platform coupled to the main spindle so that rotation of the main spindle is translated into rotation of the platform; a plurality of retaining posts extending outwardly from the platform; a plurality of guides rotatable with the platform for receiving a cord and permitting the cord to be disposed through a bore extending through the platform; at least two spools releasably secured in a rotatable manner on respective ones of the plurality of retaining posts, each spool carrying the cord and having the cord receivable in one of the plurality of guides; and a plurality of biased surfaces, each biased surface being positioned to provide frictional contact against a respective one of the at least two spools while the spools are disposed on respective ones of the retaining posts and to still permit the spool to freely rotate on each respective retaining post. 
    
    
     The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present device will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a hair wrapper device with a rotatable spool carrier and a plurality of spools securely and rotatably coupled to the spool carrier according to a first embodiment; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the rotatable spool carrier with the spools being coupled thereto; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of a portion of the rotatable spool carrier of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a section of the rotatable spool carrier illustrating tangs of a base section of the spool carrier engaging and interlocking with detents of a housing of the hair wrapper device; 
     FIG. 6 is cross-sectional view of a section of a retaining post and a biased mechanism for securing a spool to the retaining post; 
     FIG. 7 is cross-sectional view of the retaining post and a biased mechanism according to another embodiment for securing a spool to the retaining post; 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a retaining post and a mechanism for securely retaining the cord within a detent formed as part of a drive spindle; 
     FIG. 9A is an enlarged sectional view of the mechanism of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 9B is an enlarged sectional view of the mechanism of FIG. 8 with the cord being inserted into a guide; 
     FIG. 10 is a cut-away perspective view of the hair wrapper device illustrating an exemplary drive mechanism; and 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a bifurcated tool for feeding hair through the hair wrapping device of FIGS. 1 and 10 and for cutting the cord. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a hair wrapper assembly  10  according to a first embodiment. The hair wrapper assembly  110  includes a hair wrapper device  100  and a rotatable spool carrier  200  and a plurality of rotatable spools  300 . The hair wrapper device  100  has a number of similarities with the hair wrapping device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,759, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The hair wrapping device  100  includes a handle portion  110  and a spindle base section  120  formed at a distal end  112  of the handle portion  110 . Preferably, the spindle base section  120  is integrally formed with the handle portion  110  at distal end  112  and has dimensions (e.g., width) slightly greater than the handle portion  110 . For example, the handle portion  110  can taper outwardly at the distal end  112  to form the spindle base section  120  which has an arcuate shape and defines a distal end  102  of the hair wrapping device  100 . 
     Much of the handle portion  110  and the spindle base section  120  is hollow and defines an interior compartment (indicated at  106  in FIG. 10) that stores many of the working components of the hair wrapping device  100 . As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the spindle base section  120  has a recessed floor  122  that is preferably planar with a peripheral rim  124  extending completely around the floor  122  at an outer peripheral edge thereof. Preferably, the peripheral rim  124  is integrally formed as part of the spindle base section  120  such the distal end  112  of the handle portion  110  flows smoothly into the spindle base section  120 . According to one exemplary embodiment, the peripheral rim  124  is generally annular in shape. The recessed floor  122  has an opening  126  formed in a central portion thereof and as a result, the recessed floor  122  generally has a ring-like shape with the peripheral rim  124  at an outer peripheral edge thereof and the opening  126  defining a peripheral inner edge thereof. The opening  126  provides access to an inner chamber of the spindle base section  120 . 
     As best shown in FIGS. 1,  3  and  5 , the spindle base section  120  also includes a locking mechanism, generally indicated at  210 , to releasably lock a base section  220  of the rotatable spool carrier  200  to the spindle base section  120 . The locking mechanism  210  can comprise any number of traditional locking mechanisms that are suitable for use in the spindle base section  120  to releasable lock the base section  220  thereto. For example, one exemplary locking mechanism  210  includes a male snap element  212  that is associated with the cartridge base section  220  that is shaped to engage a female snap element  214  formed in the spindle base section  120 . One exemplary male snap element  212  is a tang having a locking feature  216  formed therealong for engaging a detent  214  (i.e., the female snap element) formed in the spindle base section  120  in a releasably locking manner. More specifically, the detent  214  is a shaped cut-out formed in the spindle base section  120  and extending downward from a top edge of the peripheral rim  124  and terminating in a ledge  127 . Formed within the detent  214  is an opening or slot  215  that forms an entrance into the interior chamber that is defined underneath the floor  122 . The opening  215  is formed slightly above the ledge  127  and has a complementary shape so that the locking feature  216  of the tang  212  is received therein in the locked position. The locking feature  216  is not formed at a distal end of the tang  212  but rather is formed proximate thereto so that when the locking feature  216  engages and is received within the opening  215 , the distal end of the tang  212  extends below the opening  215  but preferably does not extend all the way to the ledge  127 . By providing a gap between the distal end of the tang  212  and the ledge  127 , the user can grasp the distal end of the tang  212  even when the tang  212  is in the locked position (i.e., the locking feature  216  is disposed within the opening  215 ). 
     According to one embodiment, the locking feature  216  is a protrusion, rib, beveled member or the like that is shaped to be received within the opening  215 . The tang  212  is a resilient member and therefore has some flexibility and is naturally biased inward so that when the tang  212  is received in the detent  214 , the locking feature  216  will seat against the inner surface of the detent  214 , resulting in the tang  212  flexing slightly outwardly. As the tang  212  travels within the detent  214  toward the ledge  127 , the locking feature  216  becomes aligned with the opening  215  and is received therein to effectuate a releasably interlocking fit (e.g., snap fit) between the tang  212  and the detent  214 . The natural bias force of the tang  212  is in an inward direction and therefore the locking feature  216  is biased into the opening  215  to further locate and lock the base section  220  of the rotatable spool carrier  200  relative to the hair wrapper device  100 . 
     Now referring to FIGS. 1 and 10 which illustrates the interior compartment  106  that houses most of the working components of the hair wrapper device  100 . The handle portion  110  defines a hollow space  111  that forms the part of the interior compartment  106  that is located within the handle portion  110 . The hollow space  111  contains two AA size batteries  130  integrated into an electrical circuit by a positive contact  132 , a negative contact  134  and a jumper contact  136 . A wire lead  138  is joined to one positive contact and to a motor  140 . Another wire lead  142  is connected to the motor  140  and to a button switch  144  made of resilient electrically conductive material. In the normal condition, the button switch  144  is up and spaced apart from a stationary contact  146  so that the circuit is open and the motor  140  is not energized. The stationary contact  148  is connected to the negative contact  134 . 
     The button switch  144  can be pushed down by the button  150  which is preferably made of an insulating material and molded integrally with a pivot member  152  that rests in bearings  154 . The button  150  is biased upward by the resilient button contact (switch)  144  in the normal condition. When pushed, the button  150  urges the resilient button contact  144  downward into electrical contact with the stationary contact  148  to close the circuit and energize the motor  140 . The button  150  is accessible through a hole  156  formed in an upper surface  158  of the handle portion  110 , preferably near the front of the handle portion  110  for easy access by a thumb. 
     The motor  140  can be Mabuchi model FA-260RA, RE-260RA, RE-140RA, or FA-130RA, or other suitable model. Further, the motor  140  can be powered by one or more batteries, or it can be powered interchangeably by one and two batteries to provide variable speed in the wrapping operation. A rocker switch can be used to dictate which of the two battery-powered modes will be used. 
     The motor  140  includes a shaft  160  that rotates when the motor  140  is energized. Fixed to the shaft  160  for rotation therewith is a worm gear  162 . Meshed with worm gear  162  is a worm gear follower  164  that spins on a gear shaft  166  that is rotatably fitted into a lower bearing  168  that is located in a lower housing half of the handle portion  110 . The upper end of the gear shaft  166  rides in an upper bearing  170  molded integrally into a plate  172  that also includes the bearings  154  for the button pivot member  152 . Two downwardly extending pins  174  (only one is illustrated) hold the plate  172  securely in place by nesting is sockets  176  or the like. For example, the handle portion  110  can be formed of a housing upper half and a housing lower half that are secured to one another and define the chamber  111 . 
     Referring back to the gear shaft  166 , there also is a spur gear  178  fixed to the shaft  166  beneath the worm gear follower  164  for rotational movement therewith. An idler gear  180  is meshed with the spur gear  178  and rotationally mounted in the housing using a shaft  182  and bearings (not illustrated). Meshed to the idler gear  180 , is a drum gear  184  that is rotatably mounted to the lower housing half and molded integrally with a drum  186 . Alternative gear mesh arrangements could be used to transmit the rotary motion from the motor to the spindle, which one skilled in the art will appreciate. Further, a gear mesh can be used which incorporates a belt-drive which can reduce vibration, reduce noise, and provide a clutching mechanism which will slip when the spindle is restrained from rotating. 
     Molded integrally with and extending upward from the drum gear  184  is a reduced portion or spindle  190 . The spindle  190  defines a bore  192  that extends between the top and bottom of the hollow chamber that is formed underneath the floor  122 . The spindle  190  has an upper section  194  that extends above the planar upper surface of the floor  122 . In other words, the spindle  190  extends through the opening  126  formed in the floor  122  such that a portion of the spindle  190  extends above the planar upper surface of the floor  122 . The upper section  194  includes a plurality of detents  196  formed therein and separated by a plurality of flats  197 . 
     The number of detents  196  can be varied; however, the detents  196  are preferably evenly spaced apart from one another such that a distance between any two adjacent detents  196  is the same. Each detent  196  is a slot or cut-out  197  formed in the upper section  194  from a top section thereof. For example, each detent  196  can have a generally rectangular shape with an upper end being open. 
     The relative height between the upper section  194  that extends above the floor  122  and the peripheral rim  124  can be varied; however, in one exemplary embodiment, the top of the spindle  190  does not extend above the peripheral rim  124 . Preferably, the heights are approximately the same such that the top of the spindle  190  and the top of the peripheral rim  124  lie within the same plane. Preferably, the bottom of each detent  196  is located above the floor  122  so that the detent  196  does not extend within the opening  126  formed in the floor  122 . 
     Because the spindle  190  forms a part of the drum gear  184  which is driven by the motor  140 , the spindle  190  is likewise driven by the motor  140  in a rotating manner. By pushing the button  150 , the electrical circuit is closed and the motor  140  is energized to rotate the spindle  190  through the gear mesh. When the spindle  190  rotates, the detents  196  will necessarily rotate since the detents  196  are formed in the spindle  190  itself. 
     As illustrated in FIGS.  1  and  3 - 5 , the rotatable spool carrier  200  includes several sections including the base section  220 , a rotatable drive spindle  230 , and a rotating platform  240 . As best shown in FIGS. 4-5, the base section  220  is configured to provide a base that releasably interlocks with the spindle base section  120 . More specifically, the base section  220  includes a planar lower wall  222  that has an opening  224  formed in a central portion thereof. According to one exemplary embodiment, the planar lower wall  222  is in the form of a disk  222  and the opening  224  is a circular shaped opening. The disk  222  has an outer peripheral edge  226  and the diameter of the disk  222  is approximately equal to the diameter of the peripheral rim  124  so that the outer peripheral edge  226  aligns with the peripheral rim  124 . 
     One or more tangs  212  are formed as part of the disk  222  and extend outwardly therefrom. More specifically, two tangs  212  extend downwardly from the disk  222  at the outer peripheral edge  226  thereof In one embodiment, the tangs  212  are disposed about 180° apart from one another. The tangs  212  thus supply the means for securely but releasably locking the disk  222  to the spindle base section  120 . 
     The spool carrier  200  also includes the rotatable drive spindle  230  which is the drive means for causing rotation of the spool platform  240 . The drive spindle  230  is formed of several sections, namely a first section  232  above the platform  240  and a second section  234  formed below the platform  240 . The second section  234  is the section that mates with the spindle  190  of the hair wrapper device  100  so that rotation of the spindle  190  is translated into rotation of the rotatable drive spindle  230 , which in turn is translated into rotation of the platform  240  as will be described hereinafter. 
     The drive spindle  230  is a hollow member and therefore both the first section  232  and the second section  234  have bores that extend therethrough. Accordingly, each of the first and second sections  232 ,  234  can be thought of as a tubular-like structure. The second section  234  has an annular base section  236  that terminates in a distal end  237 . At the distal end  237 , teeth  238  are formed to mate with and intimately intermesh with the detents  196  formed in the spindle  190 . Each tooth  238  is therefore sized and shaped to be received within one detent  196 . In the exemplary embodiment, each tooth  238  has a generally rectangular shape to permit reception in and mating with the rectangular detent  196 . According to one exemplary embodiment, there are four teeth  238  that are evenly spaced around the annular base section  236  at the distal end  237  thereof. Preferably, the drive spindle  230  is an integral structure and is formed as a unitary plastic piece. 
     The annular base section  236  has an annular groove  239  formed therein between the distal end  237  and the platform  240 . The annular groove  239  has a thickness that is slightly greater than a thickness of the disk  222  so as to permit the drive spindle  230  to be received within and through the opening  224  of the disk  222 . An edge of the disk  222  that defines the opening  224  is received within the annular groove  239  to securely couple the drive spindle  230  to the disk  222  (i.e., the base section  220 ), while at the same time, the drive spindle  230  is rotable relative to the disk  222  of the base section  220 . The base section  220  is stationary since it is interlocked to the spindle base section  120  by means of the tangs  212  interlocking with the detents  214  and therefore the annular groove  239  is configured to permit the drive spindle  230  to freely rotate relative to the disk  222 . 
     The platform  240  is preferably integrally formed with the drive spindle  230  and extends radially outward therefrom. According to one exemplary embodiment, the platform  240  is a disk that has an inner face  241  facing the hair wrapper device  100  and an outer face  242  that faces in the opposite direction. Because the drive spindle  230  extends through the platform (or thought of otherwise, the platform  240  is formed around the drive spindle  230 ), the platform  240  has a central opening  244  formed therein to accommodate the drive spindle  230 . The opening  244  is axially aligned with the bore formed through the drive spindle  230  so that cord  400  and hair can be disposed completely therethrough as will be described hereinafter. 
     As best shown in FIG. 1, the first section  232  of the drive spindle  230  extends above the platform  240 . The first section  232  terminates in a distal end  233  that has one or more and preferably a plurality of detents  250  formed therein. The detents  250  are spaced apart from one another (e.g., equally spaced apart), with flats  252  being formed between the detents  250  at the distal end  233 . In one exemplary embodiment, the detents  250  are rectangular shaped; however, a number of other types of shapes can be u used so long as each detent  250  is configured to sufficiently hold and retain the cord  400  during an application. 
     The platform  240  has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the disk  222  and thus the platform  240  overlies both the peripheral edge  226  of the disk  222  and the peripheral edge  124  of the spindle base section  120 , as best shown in FIG.  4 . The size of the platform  240  can be varied depending upon how much surface area is desired for holding the spools  300 . In other words, the surface area of the platform  240  can be increased if more spools  300  are to be held thereon. The exemplary platform  240  shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1 is configured to hold four rotatable spools  300 ; however, it will be appreciated that the platform  240  can be constructed to hold less than four spools  300  (e.g., two spools  300 ) or greater than four spools  300  (e.g., five spools  300 ). 
     The spools  300  are of a replaceable type and are constructed to dispense cord  400 . Each replaceable spool  300  defines a spool bore  302  sized so that it can receive a retaining post  260  for securely holding the spool  300  in place. According to this embodiment, the spools  300  are positioned along the upper face  242  of the platform  240  by disposing the spools  300  on the retaining posts  260  that are spaced along the upper face  242 . Each retaining post  260  includes a retaining feature for securely holding one respective spool  300 . 
     For example, a retaining feature  500  according to a first embodiment is generally shown in FIGS. 1-2,  3  and  6 . In this embodiment, the retaining feature  500  is a biased clip for releasably engaging and holding the spool  300  in place. The retaining feature  500  includes a first end  502  that is secured to the retaining post  260  and a second free end  504  that extends above the retaining post  260  so that the user can grasp the retaining feature  500  and manipulate it to engage and lock the spool  300  in place. Between the first and second ends  502 ,  504 , the biased clip  500  is bent in one or more spots. More specifically, the biased clip  500  includes at least a first bent portion  510  that is constructed to engage an upper face  520  of the spool  300 . For example, the first bent portion  510  is a generally U-shaped bent portion formed near the second free end  504 . 
     The clip  500  is biased outwardly as best shown in FIG.  6  and can be directed inwardly upon applying a force to the clip  500  to move the clip  500  to the position shown in phantom. In order for the spool  300  to be fitted over the retaining post  260 , a force is applied against the clip  500  that overcomes the biasing force and thus results in the clip  500  moving to the position shown in phantom in FIG.  6 . Once the clip  500  is retracted to the phantom position, the spool  300  can be inserted over the retaining post  260  and can be moved therealong. As soon as the clip  500  clears the upper face  520  of the spool  300 , the clip  500  is released and the bent portion  510  engages the upper face  520 . Because the clip  500  is naturally biased outwardly, the bent portion  510  applies a force to the upper face  520  of the spool  300  so as to hold the spool  300  downward, thereby securely holding the spool  300  on the retaining post  260 . 
     To disengage the spool  300  from the retaining post  260 , the user simply applies a force to the free second end  504  in a direction toward a central axis of the retaining post  260  until the bent portion  510  clears the upper face  520  of the spool  300 . Once the bent portion  510  clears the upper face  520 , the spool  300  can then be removed by simply lifting the spool  300  up so that the spool  300  clears the entire retaining post  260 . 
     According to another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, each retaining post  260  can include a retaining feature in the form of a biased ball bearing  262  that is disposed within an opening formed in the post  260 . The ball bearing  262  is naturally biased in an outward direction so that a portion of the ball bearing  262  protrudes beyond the post  260 . When the spool  300  is disposed on the post  260  by inserting the post  260  within the spool bore  302 , the ball bearing  262  is slightly retracted within its opening; however, the ball bearing  262  is biased against the spool  300 . The biasing action of the ball bearing  262  against the spool  300  ensures that the spool  300  remains held in place on the retaining post  260  during use of the hair wrapping device  100 . During normal use, the hair wrapping device  100  may be held at different angles and therefore it is desirable for the spools  300  to remain securely held along the upper face  242 . The ball bearing  262  thus provides enough frictional contact against the spool  300  to hold it; however, the spool  300  is still permitted to freely rotate on the retaining post  260  to unwind dispensing cord  400  as needed. If the ball bearing  262  is not provided, the spool  300  will freely rotate on the retaining post  260  without any significant resistance and in the embodiment where the ball bearing  262  is provided, the spool  300  is friction fit over the retaining post  260  so that a greater degree of tension in the cord  400  is necessary to spin the spool  300 . 
     FIGS. 8-9B illustrate a mechanism  600  for retaining the cord  400  within the guide  250 . The exemplary mechanism  600  is a wire clip having a first end  610  that is attached to the first section  232  and an opposing second end  620  that is disposed within the guide  250 . Between the two ends  610 ,  620 , the wire  600  is bent at a section  630  to assume a shape such that it extends substantially across the width of the guide  250 . One exemplary shape is a U-shape. The wire  600  is a resilient member and enjoys a degree of flexing to permit the cord  400  to be disposed between the section  630  and the wall of the guide  250 , as best shown in FIG.  9 B. Once the cord  400  clears the section  630 , it is securely within the guide  250  underneath the bent section  630 . During use, the bent section  630  prevents the cord  400  from being displaced laterally out of the guide  250 . 
     The cord  400  is of a type that is commonly used with these type of hair wrapper devices. For example, the cord  400  can be formed of a synthetic material, such as a nylon thread, or the it can be formed of a natural material, such as a cotton thread. The cord  400  is wrapped around a base section  303  of the spool  300  and has a first end that is attached to the base section  303  using conventional techniques, such an adhesive or by a mechanical fit between the cord end and the base section  303  and an opposing second end  305  that is a free cord end. 
     Because the spools  300  are disposed on top of the upper face  242  of the platform  240 , the user can visually see what types and how many cords  400  are available for use. For example, the color and texture of the cord  400  can readily be determined by looking at the second end  305 . 
     The coupling of one spool carrier  200  to the hair wrapper device  100  and the dispensing of cord(s)  400  will now be described. The spool carrier  200  is preferably first releasably interlocked with the hair wrapper device  100  by inserting the tangs  212  into detents  214  such that the locking features  216  of the tangs  212  engage and interlock with the openings or slots  215  formed in the detents  214 . Concurrently, the drive spindle  230  of the spool carrier  200  is orientated so that the teeth  238  thereof mesh with and releasably interlock with the detents  196  of the spindle  190 . The teeth  238  are received within the detents  196  in such away (e.g., frictional/mechanical fit) that results in the two parts being securely mated to one another. Because of this type of interlocking fit, the driving of the spindle  190  is directly translated into the drive spindle  230  being driven without the drive spindle  230  excessively losing transferred energy due to slippage or the like. 
     If the spools  300  are not already disposed on the retaining posts  260 , the user completes this task in the manner described above. For purpose of illustration, the exemplary application will be described in terms of using a plurality of spools  300 ; however, it will be appreciated that only one spool  300  can be used for a given application. 
     The cord  400  of one spool  300  is inserted through the detent  240  and is then inserted into the bore formed in the first section  232  of the drive spindle  230 . The cord  400  extends completely through the bore of the drive spindle  230  and the cord  400  is disposed through the spindle bore  192  of the spindle  190  and then ultimately through the opening  126  formed in the spindle base section  120  such that the cord  400  extends below the hair wrapper device  100 . Tension can applied to the cord  400  to assist the user in this task. In other words, the cord  400  can be drawn (i.e., pulled) through the spindle bores until a predetermined length extends below a lower face of the hair wrapper device  100 . 
     If it is desired to wrap more than one cord  400  around the hair, the user simply disposes more than one spool  300  on the platform  240  and then feeds a free end of one cord  400  through one detent  250  and each of the other cords  400  is fed into another detent  250 . After being fed through respective detents  250 , the cords  400  are then disposed into and through the bores of the drive spindle  230  and spindle  190  as described above. 
     After the cords  400  are fed through the spindle bores, a lock of hair to be wrapped is inserted in the slot  56  on the bifurcated hair feeding tool  54 . The tool  54  is then pushed down through the spindle bore of the drive spindle  230  and the spindle bore  192  along side the cords  400 . By simply sliding the hair out of the slot  56 , the tool  54  can be withdrawn from the spindle bores. 
     By pushing the button  150 , the electrical circuit is closed and the motor  140  is energized to rotate the spindle  190  through the gear mesh. Because the spool carrier  200  is directly coupled to the spindle  190 , the rotation of the spindle  190  is translated into direct rotation of the drive spindle  230  of the spool carrier  200 . As the drive spindle  230  rotates, the detents  250  of the drive spindle  230  rotate, as well, to dispense the cord  400  from the spool  300  and wrap the hair with the cords  400 . The platform  240  on which the spools  300  are disposed rotates because of its integral connection to the rotating drive spindle  230  and the spools  300  are themselves rotatable relative to the rotating platform  240  since the spools  300  are rotatably mounted on retaining posts  260 . 
     As the cords  400  are being wrapped around the hair, it is desirable to pull the hair out the spindle bore  192  slowly so that the hair is wrapped along the desired length. Further slow pulling will result in a closer wrap than a quicker pull. 
     When the hair is wrapped to the desired amount and appearance, the hair is pulled out of the spindle bore  192  completely and the cords  400  are cut with scissors or by sliding the cords  400  into the cutting device&#39;s tapered guides  48  against the razor  50 . The ends of the cords  400  can be tied, clipped, or beaded together to ornamentally secure the wrapping or another color or texture of cord can be wrapped on and tied to the previously wrapped cords  400 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the floor  122  and peripheral rim  123  are omitted and instead the rotatable rotating platform  240 ′ is affixed directly to the spindle  190 ′ and includes the retaining posts  260  for holding spindles. In this embodiment, there is no need for the base section  220  or the spool carrier  200 , or for the second section  234  of the rotatable drive spindle  230 . The first section  232 ′ above the rotating platform  240 ′ continues to provide a drive for further platforms or cartridges of the type described in co-pending U.S. Patent Application Serial. No. To Be Assigned, filed Aug. 7, 2002, and entitled “HAIR WRAPPER WITH STACKABLE CARTRIDGES AND CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAME”. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.