Abstract:
The present invention includes a braiding machine having three or more vessels, each vessel having an outer housing and an internal telescoping mandrel, the vessels being removably mounted on a portion of two wheel drums, the drums rotating and the direction of each vessel around the drum being altered by a toggling detent. To use the device, hair is wrapped onto an extended telescoped mandrel, the mandrel is collapsed, and a housing is placed on the mandrel to provide a vessel; three or more vessels are then mounted onto the drums and, when the device is powered, the hair on the mandrels emerges from the device as a braid.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    1. Field of Invention  
           [0002]    The instant invention relates to a braiding apparatus.  
           [0003]    2. State of the Art  
           [0004]    Hair braiding is one of the oldest forms of enhancing a person&#39;s physical appearance. More than simply pulling the hair back to reveal the attractive features of the face, braiding adds a decorative pattern that adds to the individual&#39;s natural beauty.  
           [0005]    Today, there are a number of known braiding machines. Sapkus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,690, discloses a hand-operated hair braiding machine wherein three passages through which hair is drawn are alternately rotated to braid the hair. Each of the passages is disposed in an elliptical gear. The combination of a pinion gear member with its axel disposed in a slot, and a toggling pawl, combine to effect the braiding motion of the elliptical gears.  
           [0006]    Gable et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,181, also discloses a hand-operated hair braiding machine providing three passages for hair as cylindrical filament holders, in which cranking a lever mechanically moves the holders to affect the braiding motion.  
           [0007]    Shipman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,307,737, discloses a device similar to that of Gable et al., wherein a lever in combination with an aperture is used to effect movement of the hair passage cylinders.  
           [0008]    Other patents, to Eronini, U.S. Pat. No. 4,038,996 and 4,427,017, and Mitchel, U.S. Pat. No. 3,421,406, are relevant to the extent they provide other mechanisms for braiding, including hand-held devices for braiding hair on one&#39;s head.  
           [0009]    Additionally, braiding is not limited to hair alone. Braiding is useful in the textile industry, and can even be extremely effective in the rope and cable industries. Long ago, it was found that by twisting strands of metal wire the strength of the resulting article was greater than the sum of the strengths of the individual strands. Braiding further enhances the strength of the resulting article because the individual strands are interlocked. If it were possible to find a cost effective and efficient method of braiding strands of metal wire, cables could be produced with substantially enhanced strength and weight capacities.  
         OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an effective and dependable braiding machine.  
           [0011]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a braiding machine design that is effective in braiding anything from strands of hair for enhancing a persons physical beauty to strands of metal wire for support cables.  
           [0012]    The instant invention includes a braiding machine having three or more vessels, each vessel having an outer housing and an internal telescoping mandrel, the vessels being removably mounted, preferably on a portion of two wheel drums, the drums rotating and the direction of each vessel around the drum being altered by a guide. To use the device, strands of hair, fiber, or wire are inserted into an extended telescoped mandrel, the mandrel is collapsed, and a housing is placed on the mandrel to provide a vessel; three or more vessels are then mounted onto the drums and, when the device is powered, the strands in the mandrels emerge from the device as a braid. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 depicts the braiding machine of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 depicts an exploded view of the braiding machine of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 depicts an exploded view of a vessel of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 depicts the vessel including strands to be braided;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 a  depicts the vessel in an extended position;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 b  depicts the vessel in an contracted position;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 a  is a cross-section taken along line  6 - 6  of FIG. 1 depicting a first and second wheel drum of the present invention in a first position;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 b  is a cross-section taken along line  6 - 6  of FIG. 1 depicting the first and second wheel drum in a second position; and  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 depicts a pair of forceps of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]    With reference now to the figures and, in particular, with reference to FIGS.  1 - 7 , there is depicted a representation of a braiding machine of the present invention. The braiding machine of the present invention can be utilized for braiding practically any relatively long fiber material, ranging from strands of hair for enhancing a persons physical beauty to strands of metal wire for support cables. The various changes and modifications needed for the various materials to be braided are well within the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0023]    The braiding machine (FIGS. 1 and 2) includes a motor  90 , which drives a first gear  81  that in turn drives a second gear  82 . Other devices that convey motion can be substituted for the gears, and the motor can be replaced by mechanical, pneumatic, magnetic, electrical, and other devices capable of providing the necessary motion. The first gear and second gear, rotating counter to one another, drive a drive shaft  61  and a side shaft  62 , respectively. The drive shaft and the side shaft drive a first drum  51  and a second drum  52 , respectively, which are supported within an inner casing  70 . Naturally, the drums need not be disc shaped, as depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, and  6 , but can be made in a star shape, with spokes, or any shape that can provide the necessary planetary shaft support and synchronism. In FIG. 2, an outer casing is shown including two sections  101 ,  102 , as well as a power activation switch  103  and a comb  104 . After the strands have been combed or otherwise arranged into three or more bundles, the comb is used to hold the bundles prior to insertion of the each of the bundles into the respective vessel. In the case of hair, for example only and not to be limited thereto, the hair is combed and separated into three or more bundles, each of which are placed in a separate groove of the comb  104 . The bundles are held in place, and one by one inserted into the respective vessels, to be described below.  
         [0024]    The rotation of the drums is translated, via a plurality of planet shafts  20  held in a plurality of grooves  54  on the drums, to at least three vessels  1   a,    2   a,    3   a.  Naturally, in order to provide unhindered rotational movement of the various components, bearings are included as well. With reference to FIG. 3, the vessels of the present invention are generally comprised of a cylinder  11  and a sheath  18 , which include a tape spring  14  (telescoping mandrel) having an outer surface  14   a,  which is frictionally and releasably engaged with the inner surface of the cylinder, and an inner core  14   b,  which is attached to the sheath. In this way, the tape spring can be extended in order to enlarge the interior volume, depending on the length of the strands to be braided (FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b ). Brush cylinder  12  is attached to the sheath through the inner core of the tape spring. A brush  13  is positioned within the brush cylinder for gently and releasably holding the bundle of strands inserted into the vessel during the braiding process.  
         [0025]    In order to permit release of the cylinder from its position within the sheath, a locking lever  16 ′ is provided. Locking and unlocking is a simple matter of applying a small force to the lever which applies or releases pressure on the lower part of the cylinder. This mechanism can alternatively be in the form of a frictional engagement, spring loaded, or any device or arrangement that would permit releaseable engagement of the cylinder  11  within the sheath  18 .  
         [0026]    [0026]FIGS. 6 a  and  6   b  are a cross-section taken along line  6 - 6  of FIG. 1 showing, for example only and not to be limited thereto, three vessels  1   a,    2   a,    3   a,  and accordingly three planetary shafts  20   a,    20   b,    20   c  (FIG. 2). Each wheel drum  51 ,  52  includes three grooves  54  positioned at 120° intervals for receiving the planetary shafts. As the drums rotate, a planetary shaft  20   b  approaches a position directly between the two drums, at which point a guide  30  directs and positions the planetary shaft on the other drum. The guide, for example only, may be in the form of a toggling detent. As the planetary shaft continues past the switch off point, it engages a flange like portion  30   a  so as to position the guide for the next planetary shaft. Additionally, in order to provide for an efficient and dependable mechanism, control bars  31 ,  33  are positioned so as to limit the movement of the guide.  
         [0027]    As shown in FIG. 7, specialized forceps  200  may be utilized for the insertion of individual bundles into the vessel, while it is understood that a skilled artisan in the art may utilize other methods and tools. The specialized forceps of the present invention include a first and second gripping handles  201 ,  202 , with a first and second extension  205 ,  206 , respectively. A spring  203  positioned between the gripping handles is adapted for biasing the first and second extensions together, and hence in a closed position. When the handles are gripped loosely, the extensions are in a closed position, and when the handles are gripped firmly, or squeezed, the extensions are in an open position, or separated. In order to facilitate additional control a guide ring  204  and a bar or control spring  207  are provided. The guide ring is slidable along the length of the extensions, and provides additional control in varying the relative position of the extensions to one another. The control spring is advantageous in stabilizing the extensions and prevent their twisting.  
         [0028]    In operation (FIG. 4), the strands are combed or properly arranged and divided into three or more bundles. Each bundle is placed within a notch of the comb  104 , and while being held in position, the ends of each of the bundles are consecutively grasped by the forceps  200  between the first and second extensions  205 ,  206 . Using the forceps, each bundle end is inserted through a cylinder  11 , and into the brush cylinder  12  within the core of the tape spring. The bundle ends are caught and held in place by the brush  13 , which allows the tape spring to be extended until the cylinder reaches the roots, when working with hair for example only. Pulling up the cylinder to the roots of the bundles, the tape spring is to be extended, providing the enlarged space in which all hairs of the bundle are to be put. By bringing up the body of the brainding machine to the cylinder and collapsing the extended tape string, the cylinder is to be put in the sheath again, and all hairs of the bundles are thus contained in the cylinder. Once this is accomplished, the switch is actuated, the braiding process begins, and all the of hair bundles are braided to their ends. The braided bundles then can be gently pulled out of the brush core, and the process is complete.  
         [0029]    As implied from the background section, while the present invention has been described with respect to the braiding of human hair, the general mechanism is suitable for braiding wire, natural and/or synthetic fibers, and combinations thereof. In such cases, preferably those fibers and/or wires are provided on a spool. In addition, whether hair, wire, or fiber, more than three vessels can be used to braid.  
         [0030]    The forgoing description is meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes, modifications, and additions may become apparent to the skilled artisan upon perusal of this specification, and such are meant to be within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.