Patent Publication Number: US-2003230316-A1

Title: Battery operated hair braider

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] This invention generally relates to hair styling devices and more specifically to battery-operated hair braiders for twisting individual locks of hair into hair strands and wrapping the hair strands about each other into a braid.  
       [0003] 2. Description of Related Art  
       [0004] For many individuals braiding hair is a preferred hair styling. In braiding, locks of hair are grouped into strands and the strands are interwoven or wrapped about each other. Generally hair braiding requires the assistance of another person, particularly when braiding hair at the rear of the head.  
       [0005] A number of devices have evolved as alternatives to manual braiding. These alternatives generally braid hair mechanically. Initial devices were entirely mechanical in nature. For examples, United States Letters Patent No. 4,583,562 (1986) to Larsson discloses a hair braiding apparatus for one handed operation of a trigger. This apparatus has at least two hair clamp members, or twisters, carried by a sub-housing, or rotatable housing, on a handle. When a control switch or lever is in a first position, pumping the trigger rotates the clamp members or twisters about supporting shafts to twist locks of hair into twisted strands. When the switch or lever is in a second position, pumping the trigger causes intermittent unidirectional, angular displacement of the hair clamp members or twisters to twine the strands about each other by rotating the sub housing.  
       [0006] Although mechanically complicated, devices such as that shown in the Larsson patent, were accepted because they produced, by virtue of these independent actions, a uniform braid. The first independent function twisted individual hair locks into twisted strands about individual twisting axes, but without any wrapping of the twisted or partially twisted strands about each other. The second independent function wrapped the twisted strands about each other without any additionally twisting of the individual strands.  
       [0007] As will be apparent, these hair braiders were entirely mechanical systems. With such mechanical systems the twisting and wrapping operations do not occur at a constant speed. Both operations require repetitive squeezing motions of the hand on the trigger to produce the requisite motion of the hair twisters or the rotatable body. Moreover, these systems tend to be complicated mechanically and costly to manufacture.  
       [0008] Efforts also have been undertaken to replace mechanical action hair braiders with devices using electrical drives. European Patent Publication No. 0 538 169 (1993) to Perez et al. discloses a device for plating or braiding hair that uses an electric motor drive. In this device a handle contains a drive motor and speed reducing mechanism that rotates a rotatable body in the form of a cylindrical platform. A fixed sun gear in a cavity formed by the rotatable body engages idler gears that in turn engage planet gears attached to shafts that rotate individual hair clips or twisters. When energized, the motor rotates the rotatable body. As the rotatable body also supports the hair twisters for rotation therein, rotation of the body in one direction about the fixed sun gear causes the hair twisting elements to rotate in an opposite direction about their respective twister axes. This produces simultaneous twisting of individual locks of hair into strands and wrapping of the individual strands into a braid. It appears, however, that the process yields a braid in which the individual strands may be loosely twisted near the scalp and tightly twisted at the ends thereby producing an uneven appearance.  
       [0009] Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3,041,230 (1997) to Hashimoto, also discloses a hair twisting and braiding apparatus with an electric motor. This system couples the output of a motor to a series of clutches that control the operation of individual hair twisting elements mounted for rotation in a rotatable body. When an operating switch slides to a twisting position, the electric motor rotates a main rotary shaft through a series of clutches and also rotates a sun gear that in turn rotates planet gears connected to the hair twisting elements to twist the individual strands. When the switch slides to a braiding position, the different clutches are reoriented, so the motor rotates a clutch plate that produces a rotation of a rotary plate without rotating the hair twisters to produce a final braid. While this hair braider provides an even braiding function, it is a complicated mechanism that is costly to manufacture.  
       [0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,378 (2001) to Kennedy discloses mechanically and electrically operated hair braiders. In this device a main body in the form of a handle carries a rotator body that, in turn, carries hair twisters that receive individual locks of hair. In a mechanical configuration, pulling a cord rotates a drum and winds an elastic band thereby to store energy. Clutches associated with the drive system prevent motion of the rotator body while allowing the individual hair twisters to rotate and twist the individual locks into hair strands. On release of the cord, the elastic band reverses the direction of the drum and the clutches coact to allow the main rotator body to rotate without relative rotation of the hair twisters. In a motor-driven version, a reversible dc motor replaces the drum and elastic band to provide twisting motion in one direction and wrapping motion in the other direction of the motor. The embodiment with the reversible motor has been commercially exploited. However, the requirement for various gears and clutches provide a device that is costly to manufacture.  
       [0011] What is needed is a low-cost, battery-operated hair braider. Further, what is needed is such a hair braider that provides independent or sequential twisting and wrapping operations that are independent of each other.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0012] Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide a hair braider that provides mutually independent and sequential twisting and wrapping operations.  
       [0013] It is another object of this invention to provide a hair braider that provides mutually independent and sequential twisting and wrapping operations that is easy to use.  
       [0014] Still another object of this invention is to provide a hair braider that provides mutually independent and sequential twisting and wrapping operations that utilize a minimum number of parts.  
       [0015] Yet another object of this invention is to provide a hair braider that provides mutually independent and sequential twisting and wrapping operations that can be manufactured with reduced costs.  
       [0016] Still yet another object of this invention is to provide a battery-operated, electrical hair braider that provides mutually independent and sequential twisting and wrapping operations, that is easy to use and can be manufactured at minimum costs.  
       [0017] Yet still another object of this invention is to provide a hair braider kit with a battery-operated hair braider and a stand that facilitates the attachment of hair strands to hair twisting elements on the hair braider.  
       [0018] In accordance with this invention a hair braider wraps twisted hair strands about each other and comprises a hollow handle extending along a main axis. An electric drive in the handle rotates an output shaft proximate one end of the handle about the main axis in a given direction. A switch on the handle connects to the electric drive and has first and second conducting positions for energizing the electric drive to rotate in the given direction. A rotatable body defines a cavity and can rotate about the main axis relative to the handle. Hair twisting elements mount for rotation about individual twist axes that are parallel to and equidistantly spaced from the main axis and equiangularly spaced about the rotatable body. A planetary gear system mounts in the rotatable body cavity and connects to the output shaft and to the hair twisting elements. A stop member connects to the switch blocks rotation of the rotatable body when the switch is in the first conducting position whereby the twisting elements rotate about their respective axes in a direction opposite to the given direction to twist locks of hair into twisted strands. When the switch is moved to the second conducting position the rotatable body rotates about the main axis in the given direction to wrap the twisted strands about each other into a braid.  
       [0019] In accordance with another aspect of this invention, a hair braider kit includes an electrically operated hair braider with a plurality of hair twisting elements. Each hair twisting element has a hair clamp and extends from a rotatable body at one end of the handle. A stand has a receptacle that receives the other end of the handle to position the hair braider in an upright orientation. This facilitates the attachment of hair to the hair clamps by an individual who requires both hands to perform the operation. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0020] The appended claims particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of this invention. The various objects, advantages and novel features of this invention will be more fully apparent from a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:  
     [0021]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair braider kit with a hair braider and a stand constructed in accordance with this invention;  
     [0022]FIGS. 2 and 3 are two plan views of the hair braider shown in FIG. 1;  
     [0023]FIG. 4 is a section view taken along lines  4 - 4  in FIG. 2;  
     [0024]FIGS. 5 and 6 depict two exploded views of the rotatable body and twisters taken from different perspectives;  
     [0025]FIG. 7 is a section view taken along lines  7 - 7  in FIG. 4;  
     [0026]FIG. 8 is a detailed perspective view of a switch shown in FIGS. 1 through 4; and  
     [0027]FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the electrical connections utilized in the hair braider shown in FIGS. 1 through 5. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS  
     [0028] As shown in each of FIGS. 1 through 3, a hair braider  10  includes a handle  11  that extends along a main axis  12 . The handle  11  may be tapered or otherwise formed with an end portion that constitutes a comfortable hand grip  13 . As specifically shown in FIG. 3, a snap cover  14  in the hand grip  13  provides access to a battery container. A central portion  15  of the handle  11  carries a switch  16  shown in center position. As will become more apparent later, a finger grip in the switch  16  can move vertically upward to a first position or vertically downward to a second position.  
     [0029] The upper end part  17  of the handle  11  carries a rotatable body  20  for rotation about the handle  11 . In turn the rotatable body  20  carries hair twisting elements  21  for rotation relative to the rotatable body. FIGS. 2 and 3 depict these individual hair twisting elements  21 A,  21 B and  21 C that rotate about axes  22 A,  22 B and  22 C, respectively.  
     [0030] Braiding the hair generally is proceeded by combing to assist in obtaining individual locks of hair. As one option, the hand grip  13  can be formed with an extended longitudinal slot  23  for receiving a comb  24 . The bottom of the handle in FIG. 3 is shown broken away to depict a pivot  25  that is affixed to the handle, that spans the slot  23  and that allows the comb  24  to rotate into the slot  23  for storage or out of the receptacle for use.  
     [0031]FIG. 1 also depicts a stand  26  with a receptacle  27  that receives and supports the handle  11  in a substantially upright position to form a hair braider kit. This stand  26  also contains storage receptacles  28  for different accessories, such as decorative clips or other elastic elements.  
     [0032] However, the stand  26  also can be used to simplify the attachment of hair strands or locks to the hair twisting elements  21 . As previously described, the process of attaching individual locks of hair to the hair twisting elements  21  without the stand  26  is a complex two-handed operation. That is, an individual must position the hair braider  10  proximate the ends of the locks to be twisted and actuate clamping devices in each of the hair twisting elements  21 , all with one hand. The individual uses the other hand to gather and position the hair at the hair twisting element. With the stand  26 , the hair braider  10  is upright. An individual can position the stand  26  and hair braider  10  on a table, counter or other supporting surface and position his or her head near the hair braider  10 . Then while holding up the end of a hair strand or lock in one hand, the other hand need only manipulate the hair clamping structure at the end of each hair twisting element, greatly simplifying the attachment of hair to the hair braider  10 .  
     [0033] When the switch  16  moves to an upper position, the individual hair twisting elements  21  rotate about their respective axes  22  and twist the locks into twisted strands. During twisting the rotatable body  20  remains stationary so no wrapping occurs. When the strands are tight, the switch  16  is moved to a lower position. Now the rotatable body  20  rotates about the main axis  12  with respect to the handle  15  without any significant relative motion of the hair twisting elements  21  with respect to the rotatable body  20 . This operation then wraps the individual twisted strands over each other to form a braid that then can be completed by the application of decorative clips or elastic elements as known in the art.  
     [0034] Now referring specifically to FIG. 4, the handle  11  is a hollow handle that extends along the main axis  12 . The handle  11  receives a dc motor  30  and speed reducer  31  with an output shaft  32  in a handle cavity  33 . The dc motor  30 , speed reducer  31 , battery holder  34  and batteries  35  constitute an electric drive that mounts in the handle and rotates the output shaft  32  about the main axis  12 . As will be apparent from FIG. 4, the output shaft  32  is positioned proximate a top end plate  17  of the handle  11  and extends into the rotator body  20 .  
     [0035] More specifically, the dc motor  30  has an output shaft  36  that drives the speed reducer  31  with the output shaft  32  constituting the output of the speed reducer  31 . As will become more apparent later, the switch  16  controls the energization of the dc motor  30  from the batteries  35 .  
     [0036]FIGS. 5 and 6 depict the construction of the rotatable body  22  and hair twisters to depict a simplified construction that this invention makes possible. Specifically the rotatable body  20  has a base  40  with cylindrical shoulders  41 ,  42  and  43  having a first diameter and ports  44 ,  45  and  46  extending through the bottom of the base  40  and centered on the shoulders  41 ,  42  and  43 . The base  40  also has a central collar  47  with a through hole  48  that extends through the base  40 . On the bottom of the base  40 , a well  50  surrounds the through hole  48  as shown in FIG. 6.  
     [0037] Still referring to FIG. 6, a plurality of equiangularly spaced index depressions or holes  51  surround the well  50  to form an index ring. This index ring forms one component of a stop member that controls rotation of the rotatable body  20  relative to the handle  11 .  
     [0038] A top cover  52  attaches to the base  40  and includes three ports  53 ,  54  and  55  that align with the shoulders  41 ,  42  and  43 . The top cover  52  also includes a central hollow post  56  that aligns with the through hole  48 .  
     [0039] When the base  40  and the cover  52  are attached, they define an internal cavity  57  in FIG. 4 that contains the remaining elements including the hair twisting elements  21 . More specifically, the cavity  57  houses a sun gear  58  with an end bearing  59  positioned at the collar  47  for rotation with respect to the base  40 .  
     [0040] Each of the hair twisting elements  21 A,  21 B and  21 C has an identical construction so only the hair twisting element  21 A is described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the hair twisting element  21 A has an elongated hollow tubular body  60  that terminates with a square base  61 . A planet gear  62  has a corresponding square fitting or receptacle  63 . A central pin  64  with an upper hook portion  65  provides a structure for clamping individual locks or strands of hair to the body  60 . A push rod  66  with a head  67  forms a unit for pushing or moving the central pin  64  and the hook portion  65  to an extended position for receiving a hair lock. A spring  68  provides bias for returning the central pin  64  and push rod  66  to a locked position against the tubular body  60 .  
     [0041] Referring specifically to FIGS. 4 through 6, in assembly the push rods  66  are inserted through the shoulders  41  and ports  44  and the head  67  interferes with the base  40 . The hollow tubular body  60  is inserted through the center of a planet gear  62  with the square base  61  interfitting with the square fitting  63 . The pin  64  is loaded through the hollow tubular body  60  and extends through the planet gear  62  to engage the head  67  by any means known in the art. The spring  68  is concentric with the lower end portion of the central pin  64  and resides in the shoulder  41  to bias the push rod  66  in a downward position.  
     [0042] Referring again to FIG. 4 and to FIG. 7 the output shaft  32  rotates within the rotatable body  20 , but is affixed to the sun gear  58 . Each of the planet gears  62  associated with the hair twisting elements  21 A and  21 C shown in FIG. 4, engage the sun gear  58 .  
     [0043] If the rotatable body  20  is maintained in a stationary position, rotation of the sun gear  58  in a clockwise position produces counterclockwise rotation of each planet gear  62 . This produces the strand twisting operation. However, if the planet gears  62  are fixed with respect to the rotatable body  20 , rotation of the sun gear  58  in a clockwise direction rotates the entire rotatable body  20  in a clockwise direction to wrap the twisted strands about each other.  
     [0044]FIGS. 4 and 8 depict the mechanism that provides the sequential operations and that includes switch  16 . The switch includes a slider  70  and a finger grip  71  that extends radially from the slider  70 . The slider  70  allows longitudinal displacement of the finger grip  71  through a limited range of motion by lying in a set of ways not shown in FIG. 8, but known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Motion limit may be imposed by interference between the finger grip  71  and the handle  11  or by internal stop mechanisms.  
     [0045]FIG. 8 depicts finger grip  71  in a center position. The finger grip  71  and the slider  70  can move vertically up or down from that center position. In the following discussion the upper position is called the first conducting position and the lower position is the second conducting position. The center position is an “off” position.  
     [0046] The slider  70  also carries a parallel and vertically extending arm  72  proximate the finger grip portion  71 . The arm  72  carries a bridging conductor  73  with an upper contact portion  74  and a lower contact portion  75  in the orientation shown in FIG. 8. These contacts selectively engage a central terminal  76  and one of a first or upper terminal  77  and of a second or lower terminal  78 . A printed circuit board  79  or like device supports the terminals  76 ,  77  and  78 .  
     [0047] In the upper or first conducting position of the finger grip portion  71 , the contacts  74  and  75  contact the upper end terminal  77  and the central terminal  76 , respectively. In the lower or second conducting position the upper and lower contacts  74  and  75  contact the central terminal  76  and lower end terminal  78 , respectively. In the center position, the contacts  74  and  75  only contact insulating material.  
     [0048] The arm  72  also includes, at a position spaced from the bridging conductor  73  and in this case above the slider  71 , a spring  80  and a spring supporting structure  81 . The exact structure is not important to an understanding of this invention. The arm  72  also slides between upper and lower guides on either side of and at each edge of the arm  72 . An upper guide  82  and lower guide  83  are shown in FIG. 8 by way of example. The upper and lower guides, such as the guides  82  and  83 , are positioned to engage the ends of the spring  80  when the finger grip  70  is in a center position shown in FIG. 8. When the finger grip  71  moves upward to the first conductive position, the spring  81  is carried by the arm  72  and compresses against the guide  82 . Thus when the finger grip  71  is released, the spring  80  relaxes and moves the arm  72  and the bridging conductor  73  to the central position. Similarly, when the finger grip portion is moved to the second conducting position the spring  80  compresses against the guide  83 . When the finger grip  71  is released, the spring  80  returns the bridging conductor  73  and the finger grip  71  to the central position, i.e., a center “off” position.  
     [0049] Now referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 in this embodiment, the motor  30  and battery  35  connect in series and constitute a series motor circuit. One terminal of the series motor circuit, in this case one of the terminals on the battery  35 , connects to the center terminal  76 . Each of the end terminals  77  and  78  connect to the other side of the series motor circuit terminal, namely a terminal on the motor  30 . Thus contact must be made between the center terminal  76  and one of the end terminals  77  or  78  to be energized to complete the series motor circuit and energize the motor  30 . As will now be apparent, when the finger grip  71  moves the switch contacts  74  and  75  to the first conducting position, they provide a conductive path between the end terminal  77  and the center terminal  76 , respectively and the series motor circuit is energized. Similarly, when the finger grip  71  moves the switch contacts  74  and  75  to the lower position, the contacts  74  and  75  contact the center terminal  76  and the lower end terminal  78 , respectively, thereby to complete to the series motor circuit through this path. As will also be apparent, the dc motor  30  only operates in one direction because of the polarity of the energizing voltage remains the same in either of the conducting positions for the switch  16 .  
     [0050] As previously indicated, the planetary gear system comprising the sun gear  58  and planet gears  62  operates differently if either the base  40  is held stationary with respect to the handle  11  or if the hair twisting elements  21  with their attached planet gears  62  are held stationary relative to the base  40 . FIG. 8 depicts the structure for providing these different operations. More specifically, the arm  72  additionally includes a vertical extension that terminates in a pin  84  through an opening in a top end wall  85  of the handle  11 . In the center position shown in FIG. 8, the pin  84  is proximately flush with the top end wall  85 . However, as the finger grip  71  moves vertically upward to the first conducting position, the arm  72  displaces the pin  84  upward past the end plate  85  and into one of the index holes  51 . In this position as previously indicated the switch  16  also energizes the dc motor. Consequently as the motor shaft  32  in FIG. 4 rotates in a given direction, the rotatable body  20  is in a stationary condition. This produces the independent rotation of the individual hair twisting elements  21  to twist a lock of hair into a twisted strand with rotation in a direction opposite to the given direction of the sun gear  58 .  
     [0051] This twisting operation continues until the strands are fully twisted. With proper selection of components, the torque produced by any twisting of the individual hair strands can produce either a marked loading of the dc motor or stalling of the dc motor  30  when appropriate twisting has been achieved.  
     [0052] When the twisting is complete, the finger grip  71  is moved to the lower position thereby reenergizing the dc motor  30  to turn in the same given direction and initiate a next operation in sequence. Specifically, the tension or torque placed on the individual hair twisting elements  21  by the twisted strands is sufficient to prevent rotation of the twisters relative to the base  40 . Consequently in the second conducting position the rotatable body  20  rotates about the handle  11  and main axis  12  in the same direction as the sun gear  58  and wraps the individual twisted strands about each other into a braid.  
     [0053] These differences in operation are effected by the pin  84  and index holes  51  that constitute complementary structures on the switch  16  and rotatable body  20  that engage to prevent rotation of the rotatable body  20  when the switch  16  moves to the first conducting position. The arm  72  and extension acts as an actuator for the stop member in the form of the pin  84 .  
     [0054] Therefore in accordance with one of the objectives of this invention, a hair braider  10 , in one operating mode, twists locks of hair into individual strands independently of any motion of the rotating body  20 . When the switch moves to the second conducting position, the rotating body  20  rotates and wraps the twisted hair strands without any significant additional twisting of the hair strands. Further in accordance with the objectives of this invention, a hair braider constructed in accordance with this invention minimizes the required number of parts and reduces manufacturing costs. Further the parts are not subject to excessive wear so the product should be reliable over time.  
     [0055] The hair braider has been disclosed in one specific embodiment. A number of variations of individual elements are possible within the scope of this invention. For example, a specific structure has been shown for the switch and stop member. Alternate configurations that would perform similar functions are possible. Different switching arrangements could be used to provide the function of the bridging conductor and terminals for energizing the motor in combination with the implementation of the blocking function. The hair braider could be made with or without the comb and receptacle. Different configurations of the electric motor drive including the motor and speed reducer could also be provided.  
     [0056] This invention has been disclosed in terms of certain embodiments. It will be apparent that many modifications can be made to the disclosed apparatus without departing from the invention. Therefore, it is the intent of the appended claims to cover all such variations and modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of this invention.