US2559004A - Hair treating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

July 3, 195 H. N. BROWN ET AL HAIR TREATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1'7, 1946 .wm 5 MW 2 mwm Z I! 6 EB 7 6 Z v.5 1/ a, WNE fl 1 6 1 Mn T A5 F ME MN m a .w W N L 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1946 Z 5 f R N mwm W mz. r V35 ,7 N A [NE W mm &

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y 1951 H. N. BROWN ETAL 2,559,004

HAIR TREATING APPARATUS I INVENTORS flEEMA/V IV. BEdW/V ""q YSY Ll ESTEE 5. JO/V565}? Patented July 3, 1951 HAIR TREATING APPARATUS Herman N. Brown and Sylvester S. Jones, Sr., Cleveland, Ohio Application July 17 1946, Serial No. 684,340

27 Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for treating hair and more particularly to a hair combing machine.

The invention finds particular usefulness in hot-combin wherein heated combs are passed repeatedly through the hair to straighten it. As far as We are aware, this has always been a manual operation. The beauty parlor operator, for example, gathers the' customers hair at a portion of the scalp and combs it out, passing heated combs held in each hand over and over again through the hair until the desired effect is obtained. She then progresses to another region and repeats the performance. The entire operation is laborious and requires a great deal of time.

An object of the present invention is to provide a machine by means of which the above operation may be mechanically performed, the operator needing only to gather the hair and to start the motor, after which the combs are automatically reciprocated to perform the combing operation.

Another object is to provide such a machine in which the athered strands of hair are held extended for efiici'ent engagement by the combs, the holding mechanism automatically withdrawing as the combs pass and returning to hold the hair when the combs are beyond the held region.

Another object is to provide such a, machine which will be simple and convenient in use and safe for both the operator and the customer.

Because the machine may be operated at any desired speed, consistent with the result to be obtained, the entire operation may be accomplished in a much shorter period of time than that required by manual combing. Also, since the combing strokes are uniform and rapid, the combs may be operated at a lower temperature and still accomplish the desired effect, resulting in a saving of current and heating element replacement and preventing any possible injury to the hair.

Other objects and advantages will be made apparent by the following specification and the appended drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a hair combing machine embodying our invention as it appears in use, the near portion of the framework being removed more clearly to illustrate the mechanism; Fig. 2 is a motion diagram illustrating the path of the combs as they rise through the hair and return idly; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section takenon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 illustrating the reciprocating and telescoping arm which carries the comb; Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the hair engaging portion of the machine; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5. of Fig. 4 illustrating one of the hair holding members; Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through the comb mountings taken on the offset line 66 of Fig. 4 Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6 illustrating a comb swinging. mechanism, and Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7 illustrating the means for allowing the comb to swing to closed and hair-. engaging position.

In the drawings, we have illustrated our invention as embodied in a hair treating machine, best seen as a unit in Fig. 1. A base Ill, movably mounted on casters I l, carries a column l2 which, in turn, rigidly carries a forwardly extending bracket IS. A depending framework on the. bracket carries a head shield l4 and hair supporting devices IS.

A motor M is adapted to reciprocate a carriage l6 up and down the column and thus to raise and lower a plurality of combs I! which are carried by a telescoping arm l8 rigidly mounted on the carriage.

Asthe reciprocating carriage carries the telescoping arm from the position [8, in Fig. 1, to; the uppermost position [8 the combs I! act upon the hair, the hair holding devices l5 moving aside to allow passage of the combs, and at the top of the stroke the combs are retracted to the position l1. They remain in such retracted position to clear the holding devices while the carriage subsequently descends and then, near the lower limit of travel, are extended forwardly to their active positions.

Referring in more detail to the reciprocating carriage and the drive therefor, it will be noted that the upright column l2 comprises chiefly a pair of inwardly facing channels 2!) and that the carriage comprises a channel-shaped member having side flanges 2! provided with pairs of rollers 22 which travel in the trackways formed descends from its upper position 28" more rapidly than it is raised to uch position, thereby producing a relatively slow working stroke of the combs and a relatively fast return, idle stroke.

The extension and retraction of the comb is spring 4 I.

'3 conveniently obtained by providing a telescoping arrangement for the arm l8 in which an outer tube 35 slidably carries an inner tube 36 and is itself rigidly carried by the carriage. Relative rotation of the tubes is prevented by a cross pin 31 which is carried by the tube 35 and passes through slots 38 in the inner tube 36 and by a cross pin 39 which is carried by the inner tube and passes through slots 40 in the outer tube. The front and rear ends of the slots 4!] provide limit stops for the extended and retracted positions respectively. A tension spring 4! interconnects the pins 31 and 39 and serves to extend the inner tube, as best seen in Fig. 3. r

The inner tube is retracted by means of a second spring 42. A cord or tape 43 is secured to the cross pin 39 and, passing about a sheave 44 on the carriage, is secured to the upper end of the spring. The lower end of the spring is provided with an extended rod or wire 45 which slidably passes through an anchoring bracket 46 carried by the column and terminates in an enlarged head 41. Lost motion is thus provided whereby the spring 42 does not come into play until the carriage has moved a substantial distance in its upward travel.

Latches are provided whereby the extensible inner tube is maintained in either the extended position, illustrated in Fig. 3 and by full lines in Fig. 1, or in the retracted position illustrated by broken lines in Fig. 1. To this end, a resiliently mounted latch 50 is secured to the bottom of the outer tube 35 and a similar latch is secured to the top. To release the latches at the proper times, abutments 52 and 53 are provided on the frame. The abutment 52 is engaged by the latch 50 when the carriage has nearly reached its upper limit of travel. Continued upward movement of the carriage then withdraws the pin 39 from the latch and allows the inner tube to retract. As the pin is thereby moved to the right, in the drawings, it cams aside the latch El and becomes locked behind it in the position 39 of Fig. 1.

When the carriage has nearly reached the lower limit of its travel, the latch 5| is arrested by the abutment 53 and continued downward movement of the carriage withdraws the pin from latched position and allows its movement toward the left.

The combined action of the springs and latches is as follows: Starting at the lower extended position, shown in the drawings, with the latch 50 maintaining the extension, the carriage is raised by the motor drive. The carriage raises the spring 42 and, when approximately midway in its upward'travel, causes the head 4'! to engage the anchorage 46. Continued travel of the carriage then stretches the spring 42 more and more and at the end of the upward travel the spring 42 is'suiiiciently loaded to overcome the lighter toward the right and are locked by the latch 5!. The carriage then descends and any remaining tension in the spring 42 is relieved and the head 41 passes idly from the anchorage 46. The spring 4|, which was loaded during the retraction by the spring 42, is then allowed to extend the combs when the latch 5| is released by the abutment 53. o This release takes place while the carriage is still a substantial distance from the lower limit of its travel as it is desirable to have the combs descend a short distance after they are fully extended, whereby a comb-closing opera- Thus, when the latch 50 is released by the. abutment 52, the combs are retracted tion may be performed as will later be described.

The path of travel of the combs during the operation just described is substantially as illustrated in Fig. 2. The upward working stroke 60 followed by a retraction at 6], a downward idle stroke at 62, an extension at 63, and a further slight downward movement at 64. Due to the simultaneous movement of the carriage during retraction and extension, the paths at 61 and 63 may not be exactly horizontal but such variation is immaterial to the operation.

The combs are rotatably mounted so that they may be turned, on the longitudinal axesof their handles, either to the usual combing position in which the plane of the teeth is substantially normal to the length of the gathered strand of hair, or turned through approximately a right angle to place the teeth substantially parallel to the hair. The combs are arranged in two pairs one of which, as best seen in Fig. 4, is adapted to operate upon the hair H in the region of the 7 top of the head, and the other of which is adapted to operate on the side or back hair H. The combs are intended to be electrically heated and, for this purpose, comprise enlarged hollow backs 65 into which heating elements 66 may be inserted.

Referring particularly to the side pair of combs HA and "B, it will be noted that the former may remain fixed in position while the latter is rotated from idle to active position as above described. The backs 65 of the combs are extended as hollow handles or elongated shanks 61 and, as best seen in Fig. 6, the shank of the fixed comb I 1A is clamped in a boss 68 on a carrier secured to the inner tube 36 previously described. This carrier may comprise a pair of parallel plates 69 and I0 and a separating and stififening block II therebetween. The plates and block may be welded together and to the tube 36 as indicated in the drawings.

The comb HB must swing so that it will clear the strand of hair H when projected forwardly by the spring 4] after the idle return stroke. Therefore, this comb is mounted in a hollow spindle 12 rotatable in suitable bearings in the plates 69 and 10. The spindle is provided with pinion teeth 13 so th'atit may be turned by a rack 14 formed on a vertically slidable bar 15. The bar is guided by a pair .of studs 16 and 1'! which are carried by the plate 10 and pass through an elongated slot .18 in the bar. The spindle is normally turned to a limit position, defined by the lower end of the slot 18, by a torsion spring 19 about the spindle and secured at its ends to the spindle and to the carrier plate 69.

, The comb HE is maintained in the limit position as it is carried upward during the combing stroke. Near the end of the stroke, however, and after the comb has passed the extremity of the hair, the sliding bar 15 engages a fixed abutment 66 carried by the bracket 13 of the frame. Movement of the bar is thus arrested and, as the carrier continues to rise, the pinion 13 is turned by the rack M to swing the comb to open position.

, A latch is provided to maintain the comb [1B in open position until it is again adjacent the base of the hair. The latch may be conveniently provided by an offset 8| (Fig. 8) in the bar E5 and a suitably formed edge at 83 on the carrier plate '76; The stud 11 may be elongated to car-r? a compression spring 82 which urges the bar l5 against the plate 10 Thus, when the bar has been'depressed sufiiciently, relative to the carrier, it assumesthe broken line position 15' and the torsion spring I9 is prevented from returning the bar and spindle to normal position by the engagement of the offset, at B'I and the edge 83.

The comb remains in latched hair-disengaging position during the idle downward stroke and, when near the end of such stroke, is projected forwardly adjacent the strand of hair. In the forward position it continues to descend, as indicated by the portion 04 in the motion diagram of Fig. 2, and immediately before the end of the stroke the lower end of the .bar I5 engages a beveled block 85 secured to the shield I4. As best seen in Fig. 8 the block is adapted to cam the bar forwardly to release the offset 8! from the edge 83, thus allowing the torsion spring I9 to return the bar and the comb I'IB to the full-line position shown in Fig. 4. The teeth of a comb thus penetrate the bundle of hair and are ready for the succeeding upward stroke.

In addition to its function just described, the torsion spring I9 provides a safety feature in that it allows the comb to yield to an obstruction in its upward travel. Thus, if the hair should be entangled, a pull upon the persons scalp greater than a certain amount, as predetermined by the strength of the spring, is prevented. The action of the comb in such a case is apparent to the operator, who then stops the motor drive and rectifies the condition.

The upper pair of combs I! are similar to the comb MB and are similarly mounted in the car rier. A sliding bar 88, similar to the bar 75 but carrying a double rack 89, is adapted to engage the two pinions I3 of the spindles. A fixed abutment 90 on the bracket I3 of the frame performs a function similar to that of the abutment B0 and a beveled block, not shown, is mounted on the shield I 4 to release the latch in a man ner similar to that of the block 85.

I The combs are preferably pointed and beveled at their forward extremities, as shown at 9 I, Fig. 6, so that misplaced strands of hair will not be roughly engaged during the forward extension.

The shield I 4 is rigidly carried by a framework which may conveniently comprise four rods I00 rigidly secured to the bracket I3 at IOI. The shield comprises a rigid plate curved to conform approximately to the top and side of a persons head and provides a means whereby the head may be maintained in proper position and whereby the combs may approach as closely as possible to the head so as to engage the base portion of the hair without danger of contacting the head. The shield is preferably faced with a soft and heat insulating material, such as felt. Notches 0' and 97 are provided in the shield and insulating material at the top and side of the head respectively and extend approximately half-way across the shield. Thus the operator may gather the hair from the desired region of the persons head and may slip such gathered strands through the appropriate notch. The person then raises her head to engage the shield and the hair extending through the notch is in position to be combed. The person is preferably seated in an adjustable chair which may be raised, lowered, and rotated as desired. These movements, in addition to the movability of the machine on its casters I I, allow all regions of the hair to be treated. For ex ample, the pair of combs HA and MB may operate at a persons left side or right side or rear depending upon her position relative to the machine.

The natural stiffness and cohesion of the hair and the added adhesive effect of the ointment 6 usually applied during the hot-combing process cause the extended bundle of hair to be very nearly self-supporting. To insure its remaining in proper position, however, it is desirable to provide supporting devices I5. A preferred form of such device is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 in which the bundle of hair is gripped between two resiliently mounted rotary units. Each unit comprises a hub I05 to which is secured a plurality of approximately radially extending arms I0'6. The arms are provided with rounded ends at I0"! to prevent injury to the hair and are curved throughout their length to provide spring tension and a proper coaction with the passing combs, as Will later be described.

The units are yieldably restrained in those positions in which a pair of arms are at the nearest approach to each other, such restraint being conveniently obtained by means of a depression I08 in the hub I05 and a rounded pin I09, the pin being secured in the arm IIO which carries the stud III on which the unit rotates. A suitably positioned depression I08 is provided for each of the arms and the unit is urged against the pin I09 by a light compression spring II2 surrounding the stud.

The arms I I0 which support the unit are preferably pivoted at I I3 on a bracket I I4 and are urged by a spring II5 against fixed stops H6 on the bracket. The bracket I I4 is slidably mounted on the two rods I I0 at one side of the shield and may be clamped in adjusted position, relative to the persons head, by means of a thumb nut I H to accommodate various lengths of hair. The spring II5 allows the operator to place the bundle of hair between the unit at the start of the operation and also allows the units to spread apart slightly should the combs engage their hubs.

As the combs move upwardly along the hair they engage the present hair-engaging arms and swing them upwardly and outwardly from the hair as the combs continue their advance. The form and number of arms are such that the pair engaged by the combs are moved apart sufficiently to rotate the succeeding pair into place behind the combs, where they are then retained by the detent.

Reference has been made particularly to the hair holding units at the left of Fig. 4, but it will be apparent that a similar arrangement may be used at the right. Where the distance across the two combs is small, as in the case of the right hand pair, a greater number of arms are required on the holding units because less rotation is imparted by the passing combs to bring the succeeding pair into position. In this case, also, it will. be noticed that the comb I'iA, being higher than the other, engages its respective holding unit prior to such action by the comb H3. The end result, however, is the same as in the former case inasmuch as the combs, when in the position shown in broken lines at I20, have rotated both units sufiiciently to bring the succeeding arms into hair-holding position. The bracket I2I which supports the right-hand holding units may conveniently be adjustable along the pair of rods I00 which support the right hand end of the shield I4.

The operation of the machine is at all times under full control of the operator, the current to the comb-heating element being regulated as by a manually adjustable rh'eostat I25, indicated in Fig. 1, and the starting, stopping, and speedy regulation of the motor being controlled by a switch pedal I26 in any well-known manner.

Alternatively, any well-known heat regulating thermostat means may be incorporated with the heating elements to maintain the combs at a predetermined temperature, and the operator may carry about with her a flexible, electric cordconnected unit for controlling the motor.

While we have shown and described a specific embodiment, it will be apparent that numerous changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

We claim:

1. In a hair combing device, a vertical support, a horizontal member, means for reciprocating the horizontal member vertically on the support, an extensible member carried by the horizontal member, a comb carried by the extensible member, a spring between the extensible member and the horizontal support tending to extend the extensible member, a second spring tending to retract the extensible member, means for loading the second spring consequent upon the reciprocation of the horizontal support toward one limit of its travel whereby the second spring is enabled to overcome the first spring, holding means to maintain the extensible member extended}, means to release said holding means at the said one limit of reciprocating travel, second holding means for maintaining the extensible member retracted, and means for releasing said second holding means at the other end of the reciprocating travel.

2. In a hair combing device, a frame, ashield supported by the frame containing heat resistant material, said shield being curved to conform to the top and side of a persons head, notches at the top and at the side of the shield allowing gathered strands of hair to be extended therethrough, a support vertically reciprocable on the frame, a comb movable on the support and carried by the support in-a vertical path over each of said notches from adjacent the shield to beyond the extremity of the hair, means for moving the combs to hair engaging position on the support when adjacent the shield, and means for moving the combs to hair disengaging position on the support when most distant from the shield. 3. In a device for combing a gathered strand of a persons hair, a frame, a pair of resilient gripping members on the frame,'a comb, a support for the comb reciprocable upon the frame to move the comb from a point adjacent the persons head to beyond the extremity of the hair, said resilient members being adapted to be disengaged from the hair when engaged by the comb and adapted to reengage the hair after passage of the comb, and means for shifting the comb on the support to clear the resilient means as the comb returns toward the persons head.

4. In a device for combing a gathered strand of a persons hair, a frame, a pair of rotatable members, pivots for the members adjustably positionable on the frame relative to the persons head, a plurality of substantially radially extending arms on each member, detent means on each member formed to yieldably restrain the members in those rotational positions wherein a pair of arms respectively on the two members extend toward each other, a support reciprocable on the frame in a direction normal to the plane of the pivot axes, combing means shiftable on the support from a point adjacent the persons head to a point beyond the extremity of the hair, said combing means being guided to engage the present hair engaging arms as it passes the members to cause the members to be rotated to engage and support the hair by a succeeding pair of arms, and means for shifting the combing means on the support to clear the members as the combing means is returned toward the persons head;

5. In a hair combing machine, the combination of a movable comb, means defining a path for the movement of said comb, mechanism'for moving said comb along said defined path, mechanism for then moving it out of said path and returning it by a difierent path to the starting point.

6. In a hair combing machine, the combination of a comb, means for heating the comb, mechanism for moving the heated comb along a defined path, mechanism for then moving it laterally out of said path, mechanism for then moving it in substantially opposite direction to the first movement, mechanism for then returning it to initial position.

7. In a hair combing machine, the combination of a pair of opposed combs positioned to enter a group of hairs from opposite sides, means for moving said pair of combs along the hairs, and means for thereafter returning the pair of combs to original position.

8. In a hair combing machine, the combina-' tion of a comb, mechanism for moving the comb upwardly in a substantially vertical path, mechanism for then moving it substantially horizontally out of such path and then moving it downwardly in a substantially vertical path and then in substantially the opposite direction to its horizontal movement to original position.

9. In a hair combing device, a comb, a movable support, an extension on the comb rotatably mounted in the support, and means for rotating the extension, to swing the comb to hair-engag-' ing position near the base of the hair, means for moving the support carrying the comb to a region beyond the extremity of the hair, and means for then swinging the comb to hair-disengaging position and returning by the support to the base of the hair.

10. In a hair combing device, an extensible support reciprocable in a plane normal to the direction of its extension movement, a comb carried by the support and having one positionin: which the comb teeth lie in a plane normal to the direction of reciprocation and another position in which the teeth lie in a plane'substan tially parallel to such direction, means for turning the comb from one position to the other, means for reciprocating the support and comb; means for extending the support when it is in its lowermost position, and means for retracting the support when it is in its uppermost position.

11. In a hair combing device, a vertical support, a horizontal member reciprocable vertically on the support, an extensible member carried by the horizontal member, a comb carried by the extensible member, a holding latch coacting with the extensible member when it is in extended position, means for releasing the holding latch at one limit of the reciprocation, a second latch adapted to coact with the extensible member in retracted position, means for releasing the second latch at the other limit of reciprocation, and resilient means tending to retract the extensible member in the region of the said firstlimit and resilient means tending to extend the extensible member in the region of the said other limit.

12. In a hair combing device, a support, means for reciprocating the support, a comb rotatably carried by the support, resilient means between the comb and support urging the comb teeth into a plane substantially normal to the direction of reciprocation, to enable the comb to yieldably rotate if obstructed in its passage.

13. In a hair combing device, a support, means for reciprocating the support along a path, a comb rotatably carried by the support, means for maintaining the comb hot during the movement, resilient means between the comb and support urging the comb teeth into a position transverse of said path and allowing it to yield if obstructed in its passage along said path.

14. In a hair combing device, a support, means for reciprocating the support along a path, a comb rotatably mounted on the support and having teeth lying substantially in a plane, resilient means between the comb and support urging the plane of the teeth to a limit position substantially normal to said path, means for rotating the comb out of its active position when it has been reciprocated a predetermined distance, means for latching the comb in disengaging position, and means for releasing the latching means when the comb is returned to initial position.

15. In a hair combing machine, the combination of a frame, displaceable means carried by the frame for holding a wisp of hair, a comb carried by the frame, and means for moving the comb through the hair and past the holding device, and displacing the holding device.

16. In a hair combing machine, the combination of a frame, means carried thereby for combing the hair, a clamp for the hair comprising a pair of rotary members having projecting arms, and means for causing the corresponding arms of the two members to successively engage a Wisp of hair between them, and means for moving the combing means through the hair be-' tween the wearers head and said clamp.

17. In a hair combing machine, the combination of a frame, a pair of combs each rotatively mounted on an axis longitudinal of the comb, mechanism for swinging said combs into position with their tines substantially aligning with each other to engage opposite sides of a wisp of hair and means for moving the combs as a unit when in this position.

18. In a hair combing machine, the combination of a clamp for holding a wisp of hair, a movable member, a comb rotatively carried thereby, means for turning the comb on its axis to present the tines to hair to be combed, and means for moving the member to move the comb along the hair when the tines are thus presented.

19. In a hair combing machine, the combination of a frame, two pairs of combs movably carried thereby, means for causing the combs of one pair to stand with their teeth substantially parallel and thereafter substantially aligned and means for causing the combs of the other pair to stand with their teeth substantially at right angles to each other.

20. In a hair combing machine, the combination of a frame, a movable member carried thereby, two pairs of combs mounted on the movable member, means for turning both combs of one pair on their axes to cause their teeth to face each other, means for turning one comb of the other pair to cause it to stand at approximately right angles to the other comb of that 10 pair, and means for moving the movable member to move the four combs as a unit.

21. In a hair combing machine, the combination with a frame, a bracket movably carried thereby, a pair of combs with at least one of the combs rotatable on the bracket, a hair clamping device comprising a pair of rotatable members with projecting arms to engage opposite sides of a wisp of hair, and mechanism for moving the combs toward the clamping device.

22. The combination of a frame, a movable bracket reciprocable in an up-and-down direction on the frame, a lateral arm carried by the bracket, a spring tending to press the arm away from the frame, a comb carried by the arm, a latch for the arm and means for releasing the latch to enable the spring to shift the comb away from the frame.

23. In a hair combing device, the combination of a frame, a reciprocable member carried thereby, a laterally movable comb mounted on the member, a spring tending to project the comb, a latch adapted to hold the comb against projecting movement, means for releasing the latch at one end of the reciprocation of the member to allow the comb to project, and means for retracting the comb at the other end of the reciprocating movement.

24. In a hair combing machine, the combination of a frame, a head shield carried thereby and having an opening'for the passage of hair through said shield and a combing device beyond the head shield positioned to coact with hair passing through the head shield, and means for operating the combing device.

25. In a hair combing machine, the combination of a head shield of a shape to engage the users head and a hair clamp above the head shield, a frame carrying the head shield and hair clamp, a combing device carried by the frame to engage the hair between the head and shield and clamp, and mechanism carried by the frame for moving the comb along the engaged hair.

26. In a hair combing machine, the combination with a frame of a head shield carried thereby, a pair of combs rotatably mounted carried by the frame, means for swinging the combs bringing their tines facing each other to engage hair beyond the head shield, and means for moving the comb through the hair.

27. In a hair combing machine, the combination of a frame, a shield carried thereby and formed to engage the head of the user without interfering with the passage of hair to be combed, a movable bracket carried by the frame, two pairs of combs carried by the bracket, two hair clamping devices carried by the frame beyond the combs, and means for reciprocating the bracket.

HERMAN N. BROWN. SYLVESTER S. JONES, SR.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Howe Apr. 29, 1947 Number

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