GB2118036A

GB2118036A - Hair braiding apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2118036A
Application number: GB08301489A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jurgis Sapkus
Original assignee: Mattel Inc
Current assignee: Mattel Inc
Priority date: 1982-04-12
Filing date: 1983-01-20
Publication date: 1983-10-26
Also published as: FR2524782A1; JPS58177683A; PH21183A; GB8301489D0; AU540709B2; GB2118036B; IT8348047A0; ES8403300A1; ES519764A0; DE3307794A1; AU9177682A; IT1164642B; JPH0131912B2

Abstract

A hand held, hand operated hair braiding apparatus (20) having a handle (22) with a pivotable trigger member (24), the handle (22) having affixed thereto, one end of a shaft member, the shaft member supporting a disc housing (32) configured for supporting a gear mechanism therein, the housing supporting first and second hair clamp members (16, 18) rotatable relative to the housing (32) by means of a gear mechanism. The disc housing (32) is rotatable relative to the handle (22), and the gear mechanism is such that actuation of the trigger member (24) with the housing (32) manually restrained rotates both clamp members (16, 18) and - strands of hair (12, 14) retained therein - simultaneously in one direction to twist the strands (12, 14), while actuation of the trigger member (24) with the housing (32) unrestrained interchanges the positions of the clamp members (16, 18) in a direction opposite to the twist to produce a braided effect on the so- twisted strands of hair (12, 14). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hair braiding apparatus This invention relates to hair braiding apparatus, and more particularly to hand operated hair braiding apparatus for use with human or synthetic hair.

Braiding machines have been used extensively in the textile industry. Such braiding machines are shown and described, for example, in U.S. Patents Nos. 830,137, issued September 4, 1906 to Diss; 1,398,444, issued November 1921 to Pfrunder; Rue.15,909, issued September 2, 1924 to Pfrunder; and 3,421,406 issued January 14, 1969 to Mitchell, et. al. Such braiding machines have heretofore been complicated apparatus intended to be part of an overall machine, and ordinarily employ complex mechanisms.

A braiding machine intended specifically for braiding hair is shown and described in U.S.

Patent No. 4,038,996, issued August 2, 1977 to Eronini, et al. The hair braider apparatus of this patent is a portable hair braider which is motor operated, and uses a plurality of foot members for hair parters to divide the hair over a predetermined width of the scalp, with hair grabbers then clamping the hair thus-parted and rotating the strands for weaving them together to form a braid.

It is possible by means of the present invention to provide a new and improved hair braiding apparatus which is mechanically uncomplicated and usable by a child of tender years for braiding human hair or synthetic hair, such as a doll's hair.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a hair braiding apparatus comprising: handle means configured for being hand held; trigger means pivotally coupled to said handle means, said trigger means being spring biased in one direction for manual operation against the force of the bias; shaft means coupled to said handle means; gear means on said shaft means coacting with said trigger means for rotation in response to actuation of said trigger means; housing means on said shaft means, said housing means being configured for manual gripping; clutch means on said shaft means intermediate said gear means and said housing means; first and second spaced hair clamp means supported by said housing means, said clamp means being configured for gripping first and second strands of hair; and means within said housing means coacting with said clutch means for enabling concurrent rotation of said first and second hair clamp means upon actuation of said trigger means with said housing means manually restrained for twisting the strands of hair, and for enabling interchanging of the positions of said first and second clamp means relative to said handle means upon actuation of said trigger means with said housing means unrestrained for braiding the so-twisted strands of hair.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a hair braiding apparatus having a supporting structure or handle adapted for handgripping, the handle having a trigger member pivotable relative to the handle; the trigger member has an arcuate rack portion for engaging a gear member coupled to a shaft, for rotation thereof upon actuation of the trigger member; the shaft is coupled, through a ratchet mechanism, to a disc housing, which is configured for manual restraint during operation; the housing supports a pair of rotatable clamp members in spaced relation, the outer clamp ends being adapted for gripping strands of hair with the other ends being coupled to a gear mechanism within the housing; with strands of hair secured by the clamp ends, and the trigger member repeatedly pivoted against the force of its bias spring, and with the housing restrained manually, both clamp members are rotated simultaneously in the same direction to twist the strands of hair; the gear mechanism within the housing includes a pair of pawls or dogs coacting with the main drive gear and a gear coupled to the shaft to preclude reverse rotation of the clamp members during reverse travel of the trigger member; after the desired twist is obtained, the housing is released, and the trigger member is repeatedly pumped causing rotation of the housing in one direction as the trigger is depressed, due to the shaft being locked to the handle, along with the gear carried thereby, the coaction between the gear and one of the pawls precludes reverse rotation of the housing during reverse travel of the trigger member with the housing unrestrained, thus causing interleaving of the hair in one direction to create a braid.

The invention will be described by way of example with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements in the several views. In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hair braiding apparatus embodying the invention illustrating the operation thereof while twisting the strands of hair; Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 depicting the operation of the apparatus intertwining the twisted strands; Figure 3 is a plan view of the hair braiding apparatus of Figure 1, partially in cross-section, and partially broken away; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the apparatus of Figure 3, as viewed generally along line 4 4 thereof; Figure 5 is a cross-sectionai view of a portion of the mechanism of Figure 4, as viewed generally along line 5-5 thereof; and Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 3, as viewed generally along line 6-6 thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a head 10 of a human or doll, with first and second strands 12 and 14 of hair received within first and second clamp members 16 and 18 of the hair braiding apparatus, generally designated by the reference numeral 20.

The hair braiding apparatus 20 is configured for being hand held and hand operated, with the apparatus including a supporting structure or handle 22, pivotally receiving an actuating member or trigger 24 positioned for holding and actuating by one hand of the operator. As will hereinafter be described, the trigger 24, during operation, is repeatedly "pumped" against the force of a spring 26 abutting against the handle 22 and the trigger member 24. The portion of the trigger member 24 away from the pivot is configured to form an arcuate rack 28 which coacts with a gear member to rotate a shaft coupled through a one way clutch or ratchet mechanism 30 to selectively rotate a disc housing 32 to ultimately provide the required movement of the hair clamp members 16 and 18.

Prior to a detailed description of the hair braiding apparatus 20, a description of the operation will be provided with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

Structurally, the hair clamp members 16 and 1 8 (in the form of "alligator clips") have generally parallel shaft projections 36 and 38 which are coupled to gear members of a gear mechanism within the housing 32, thus enabling the clamp members 1 6 and 1 8 to be rotated relative to each other and relative to the housing 32. With the housing being rotatable relative to the handle 22, the positions of the clamp members 16 and 18 are interchangeable. By reference to Figure 1, the strands of hair 12 and 14 are clamped at the ends thereof within the clip portions of the clamp members 16 and 18, respectively. The operator then grasps the housing 32 with one hand 40 to restrain the housing 32 against rotation.Then, with the other hand (not shown), the operator grasps the handle 22 and trigger member 24 and squeezes to pivot the trigger member 24 toward the handle 22 against the force of the spring 26, with the clamp members 1 6 and 18 rotating simultaneously in the same direction (as indicated by the arrows encircling the shafts 36 and 38, respectively). With the disc housing stationary, the clamp members thus rotate relative to the housing 32. This motion imparts a twisting to the individual strands 12 and 14 of the hair. With the trigger member 24 released to return under force of the spring 26 (and with the housing 32 restrained), the ratchet mechanism 30 disengages to permit this reverse travel of the trigger member 24. The trigger member 24 is then repeatedly squeezed until the desired twist of the strands 12 and 14 is obtained.

Referring now to Figure 2, after the desired twist is obtained, the housing 32 is released and is now free to rotate relative to the handle 22. When the trigger member 24 is pivoted relative to the handle 22, the housing 32 then rotates in a direction opposite to the direction of twisting (as indicated by the arrow encircling the clamp members) to interchange the positions of the clamp members 1 6 and 18 relative to the handle 22. As shown in Figure 2, depression of the trigger member 24 in the direction of the arrow adjacent thereto causes rotation of the housing 32 in a clockwise direction (see also Figure 4).Upon release of the trigger member 24 to operate to its normal position under force of the spring 26, as will be hereafter described, the housing 32 remains stationary without assistance, causing a unidirectional braiding of the twisted strands of hair 12 and 14. This effect comes as a result of incorporation within the gear mechanism inside the housing 32 of pawls or dogs and springs to prevent untwisting of the strands 1 2 and 14 during operation of the apparatus 20.

By reference to Figures 3 to 6, the overall construction of the hair-braiding apparatus 20 will now be described. The handle 22 is generally hollow and includes an integrally formed stub 42 encircled by the coiled portion 25 of the spring member 26 which has one free end restrained by the inner wall of the handle 22 and the other free end urging against a ridge or shoulder portion of the trigger member 24. The opposite end of the handle 22 is configured for receiving a shaft 44 having one end thereof locked in aperture 46 of a web 48 formed transversely within the handle 22.

The other end of the shaft 44 has a gear member 50 secured thereto. Intermediate the ends of the shaft 44, there are (from left to right as viewed in Figure 3) a compression spring 52 encircling the shaft 44; a unitary member 56 mounted for rotation relative to the shaft 44, the unitary member 56 having a driven gear portion 56a and a ratchet portion 56b; a second unitary member 58 rotatably mounted on shaft 44, the second unitary member 58 having a ratchet portion 58a and a gear portion 58b, with these parts being retained on shaft 44 between the ends of the shaft gear 50 and a keeper 60 on the opposite end.

Within the housing 32, the shaft projections 36 and 38 of the clamp members 1 6 and 18 have secured to the ends thereof first and second gear members 66 and 68, respectively. The gear members 66 and 68 meshingly engage the main drive gear portion 58b of the second unitary member 58 (see also Figure 4). The gear members 66 and 68 have the shaft projections 36 and 38, respectively, extending therethrough for providing bearing support connections to the housing 32.

Functionally, thetcompression spring 52 urges the ratchet portions 56b and 58a into coaction during rotation of the driven gear portion 56a for concurrent movement, while permitting separation of the ratchet portions during counterrotation of the driven gear portion 56a (with the housing 32 restrained). For reasons which will become obvious, both the first and second unitary members 56 and 58 are mounted for rotation on the shaft 44 and only the shaft gear 50 is secured to the shaft 44. As illustrated in Figure 4, the interior of the housing 32 is generally cup-shaped with a circular cross-section.First and second leaf spring members are radially mounted within the housing 32, the leaf spring members 70 and 72 having the first ends thereof secured to the interior wall of the housing 32, and extending inwardly to abuttingly engage the first and second pawl or dog members 74 and 76, respectively. Each of the dogs 74 and 76 is generally identically configured and pivotally mounted between the opposing top and bottom walls of the housing 32. The dog 74 is pivoted and urged into engagement with the shaft gear 50 by the leaf spring member 70, while the dog 76 is pivoted and urged into engagement with the drive gear portion 58b of the second unitary member 58 by the leaf spring member 72.

As viewed in Figure 4, with the housing 32 unrestrained, and with drive gear 58b rotating in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow adjacent thereto, the housing 32 will likewise rotate in a clockwise direction (as indicated by the arrow adjacent thereto). Since shaft 44, and shaft gear 50, are fixed relative to the handle 22, during this clockwise rotation of housing 32, the dog 74 will ride over the teeth of gear 50. With the trigger member 24 released, and with housing 32 unrestrained, the housing rotation in the reverse direction will be inhibited by coaction of the dog 74 with the shaft gear 50, the position of which is fixed relative to the handle 22 and not the housing 32.With the housing 32 restrained, and drive gear 58b rotating clockwise, the clamp member gears 66 and 68 are rotated simultaneously counterclockwise (as shown by the arrows thereon), this occurring when the "twisting operation" is being effected. This operation and the reason will become apparent hereafter during explanation of the use of the apparatus.

The relative axial positions of the dogs 74 and 76 is better illustrated in Figures 3 and 5 wherein it can be seen that the dogs 74 and 76 are positioned to be in aiignment with the respective shaft gear 50 and drive gear portion 58b. As shown in Figures 3 and 5 the rack 28 coacts with the driven gear portion 56a of the first unitary structure 56.

For purpose of explanation of the use and operation of the apparatus 20, the operation will be described first with reference to the "twisting" of the strands of hair 12 and 14 (as previously discussed with reference to Figure 1), and then with respect to the "braiding" of the so-twisted strands (as previously discussed with reference to Figure 2).

Referring now to Figures 1 and 3, with the hair strands 1 2 and 14 secured within clamp members 1 6 and 18, and the housing 32 manually restrained from operation (as shown in Figure 1), the trigger member 24 is then pivoted against the force of the spring 26. During this movement of the trigger member 24, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, the rack 28 drives the first unitary member 56 in a clockwise direction (as shown in Figure 4) which rotation is imparted to the second unitary member 58 through the ratchet mechanism 30 (consisting of parts 56b and 58a) to rotate the main drive gear portion 58b in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4. During this rotation, the dog 76 rides over the teeth of the drive gear portion 58b while the dog 74 engages the teeth of the shaft gear 50.The gears 66 and 68 both rotate in the counter-clockwise direction simultaneously to twist the strands of hair 12 and 14 (as illustrated in Figure 1). Upon release of the trigger member 24, and with the housing 32 restrained the drive gear portion 58b wants to rotate counter-clockwise, but this action is inhibited by virtue of the dog 76 detenting within the gear teeth thereof, thus maintaining the gear portion 58b stationary, along with gears 66 and 68. Upon the next pivoting of the trigger member 24, this action is repeated until the strands 12 and 14 have the desired amount of twisting. During reverse travel of the trigger member 24, the portion 56b of the ratchet mechanism 30 is axially displaced against the force of the compression spring 52 to permit movement of the rack 28 without corresponding movement of the drive gear portion 58b.

Once the desired amount of twist is effected with the individual strands of hair 12 and 14, the braiding operation may be commenced. During this operation, the housing 32 is released, and the trigger member 24 is repeatedly pumped to effect interleaving or "braiding" of the strands 12 and 1 4. By reference to Figure 4, with the housing 32 released, and the trigger member 24 depressed, the main drive gear portion 58b will rotate clockwise, thus causing the housing 32 to rotate clockwise (as shown by the arrows). Since shaft gear 50 is fixed in position, the dog 74 rides over the teeth thereof, and the positions of gears 66 and 68 along with the strands of hair are interchanged.During this movement, there may be some tendency of the gears 66 and 68 to rotate, but this tendency will be resisted by the tension of the hair strands contained by clamp members 1 6 and 18. In the particular configuration there is less friction involved in rotating the entire housing 32, than there is in rotating the two small gears 66 and 68.

As the trigger member 24 is released, the drive gear portion 58b wants to rotate counterclockwise, but dog 76 engages the teeth thereof to inhibit reverse rotation. Correspondingly, shaft gear 50 being fixed in position, the housing 32 remains in the rotated position without reverse movement, and again the ratchet mechanism 30 permits reverse travel of the trigger member 24.

Likewise during this reverse travel, since neither gear portion 58b nor shaft gear 50 is moving, gear members 66 and 68 remain stationary.

As a result, by repeatedly pumping the trigger member 24 with the housing 32 released and unrestrained, braiding of the hair 12 and 14 is effected (see also Figure 2).

With the action thus described, the hair strands 12 and 14 are twisted in a first direction individually, with the braiding of the so-twisted strands taking place in the opposite direction of rotation. This counter-action assists in maintaining the braid in piace with the apparatus removed after the braiding is accomplished. Additionally, this counter-action assists in maintaining some of the parts in position without unduly complicating the mechanism from an operational standpoint.

This invention is related, in subject matter, to an invention the subject of U.S. Patent Application, Serial No. 303,336, filed September 1 8, 1 981, entitled "Hair Braiding Apparatus", by Jurgis Sapkus, and assigned to Mattel, Inc., the applicants of the instant application.

Claims

1. A hair braiding apparatus comprising: handle means configured for being hand held; trigger means pivotally coupled to said handle means, said trigger means being spring biased in one direction for manual operation against the force of the bias; shaft means coupled to said handle means; gear means on said shaft means coacting with said trigger means for rotation in response to actuation of said trigger means; housing means on said shaft means, said housing means being configured for manua gripping; clutch means on said shaft means intermediate said gear means and said housing means; first and second spaced hair clamp means supported by said housing means, said clamp means being configured for gripping first and second strands of hair; and means within said housing means coacting with said clutch means for enabling concurrent rotation of said first and second hair clamp means upon actuation of said trigger means with said housing means manually restrained for twisting the strands of hair, and for enabling interchanging of the positions of said first and second clamp means relative to said handle means upon actuation of said trigger means with said housing means unrestrained for braiding the so-twisted strands of hair.

2. A hair braiding apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said clutch means is a ratchet mechanism.

3. A hair braiding apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein said trigger means is a trigger member having a rack portion engaging said gear means on said shaft means.

4. A hair braiding apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein said first and second clamp means include first and second shaft projections extending into said housing means, and said means within said housing means includes gear members coupled to said first and second shaft projections.

5. A hair braiding apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein said apparatus includes first and second unitary members rotatably received on said shaft means, said first unitary member having said gear means as a first portion thereof and a part of said ratchet mechanism as a second portion thereof, and said second unitary member having another part of the ratchet mechanism as a first portion thereof, and said second unitary member having another part of the ratchet mechanism as a first portion thereof and a drive gear member as a second portion thereof, said drive gear member being part of the means within said housing.

6. A hair braiding apparatus according to Claim 5 wherein said shaft means is a shaft member having an encircling spring abutting between a portion of said handle means and said first unitary member for urging the parts of the ratchet mechanism into engagement while permitting separation of the parts.

7. A hair braiding apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein said shaft member has one end thereof fixedly coupled to said handle, and said means within said housing means includes a gear member fixedly coupled to the other end of said shaft member and dog means pivotally coupled to said housing means and resiliently urged into engagement with said shaft gear member for maintaining said housing means in a fixed position relative to said shaft gear member with said trigger means moving in said one direction under force of its bias.

8. A hair braiding apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein said gear members coupled to said first and second shaft projections meshingly engage said drive gear member for simultaneous rotation in the same direction of said clamp means, and said means within said housing means further includes second dog means pivotally coupled to said housing means and resiliently urged into engagement with said drive gear member for permitting rotation of said drive gear member with said housing means restrained while inhibiting counter-rotation of said drive gear member with said trigger means moving in said one direction under force of its bias.

9. A hair braiding apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said means within said housing means includes drive gear means operable through said clutch means and other gear means coacting with said drive gear means for rotating said first and second clamp means simultaneously in the same direction.

10. A hair braiding apparatus according to Claim 9 wherein said shaft means is a shaft member having one end fixedly secured to said handle means and said means within said housing means includes a shaft gear member fixedly coupled to the other end of said shaft member, and said drive gear means is a drive gear member rotatably received on said shaft member.

11. A hair braiding apparatus according to Claim 10 wherein said means within said housing means further includes first dog means coacting with said housing means and said shaft gear member, and second dog means coacting with said housing means and said drive gear member.

12. A hair braiding apparatus according to Claim 11 wherein said first dog means maintains said housing means in a fixed position relative to said shaft gear member with said housing means unrestrained and with said trigger means moving in said one direction under force of its bias.

1 3. A hair braiding apparatus according to Claim 12 wherein said second dog means permits rotation of said drive gear mechanism with said housing restrained while inhibiting counterrotation of said drive gear member with said trigger means moving in said one direction under force of its bias.

14. A hair braiding apparatus according to Claim 1 3 wherein said clutch means is a ratchet mechanism.

1 5. A hair braiding apparatus according to Claim 9 wherein said first and second clamp means includes first and second shaft projections extending into said housing means and said other gear means includes first and second gear members secured to said shaft projections.

1 6. A hair braiding apparatus according to Claim 1 5 wherein said clutch means is a ratchet mechanism.