Patent DE-19914878-A1 (DE)
Title: Manual appliance for braiding dreadlocks gives mechanical braiding action through rotating bodies and carriers to braid the strands from bobbins into bonded pigtails to be attached to the natural hair at the scalp
Inventor: JAGST ROBERT
IPC: A45D2/00
Filed: 1999-04-01
Abstract: The hairdressing hand appliance, to braid hair strands into pigtails, gives a mechanical braiding action.  The mechanical braiding action on the hair is through rotating bodies (8,9), carriers (10-12) and bobbins (21-23) to supply the strands, together with a rotary drive mechanism. All the mechanisms are contained in a housing (1) forming a manual appliance. The strand supply bobbins (21-23) are on a continuous path for the braiding movements in an intersecting position, carried by the movements of the rotating bodies (8,9) to overlay the hair strands. The strand supply bobbins (21-23) are fitted to the carriers (10-12) by pushing into place, screwing, clamping and the like and preferably. with radial and axial movements, so that they can be mounted and removed at will. The strand supply bobbins (21-23) have a radial groove profile (27) to be gripped in a force fit by balls with a spring at the carriers (10-12). The strand supply bobbins (21-23) are divided axially, and can be opened and closed for the insertion of the strands (28-30) to be braided. Or they can be already filled for use, and are mounted in place by screw nuts at the side of the appliance away from the control. The control (39) to set the tension of the delivered strands has an upper and lower clamping half-shell, pressed together by a spring. The bobbins (21-23) are moved alternately by the rotating bodies (8,9) in opposite rotating directions, in time intervals, so that they intersect. Three carriers (10-12) each follow a continuous path. The carriers (10-12) are in a positive fit at openings in the rotating bodies (8,9) with rack teeth on the outside working with the rotating body pinion teeth meshing with the drive pinion wheels. Sealing lips are around the carrier bodies (10-12), against the rotating body housing and the rotating bodies (8,9), and sealing lips are around the rotating body housing against the rotating bodies (8,9), preferably. of felt or rubber. The carrier bodies (10-12) have one or more radial sliding bearing straps around them in grooves around them in the rotating body housing on one side and slide in recessed grooves in the rotating bodies (8,9) on the other side. Or the bearings are conventional roller or needle bearings on continuous paths. The mechanisms and components are assembled within the manual appliance housing (1), preferably. of electrically insulating and lightweight material with a high mechanical strength. The rotating bodies (8,9) have a direct or indirect motor drive, with a motor for each body (8,9). A mechanical rotary speed gearing can be between a single motor and the rotating bodies (8,9). The housing (1) is fitted with an on/off switch (47), controlled by the hairdresser. The power supply is provided by disposable or rechargeable batteries. Or the appliance can be connected to an external mains electricity supply. The drive to the rotating bodies (8,9) can be mechanical, using finger pressure on the housing (1) which operates an inner lever against a spring, to activate a rack and pinion drive action on the bodies (8,9). A slip clutch is between the mechanical drive and the bodies (8,9). The housing (1) is fitted with an opto-electronic or mechanical winding cycle display (50), visible to the user, and a display (51,52) to show the actual hair strand crossing positions. A clip to secure the braided pigtail (38) is in front of the hair strand control (39), held in a release mounting by a plug action, screw or clamps, to guide the braided pigtail (38) and bond it by crimping or winding a yearn around it. The appliance also has a cutter to sever the completed braided pigtail.