Method and device for crimping hair

Abstract

A hair crimper may include a carriage, a roller and a retaining member. The carriage may include a plurality of ribs and may be adapted to open on at least one end. The roller may include a plurality of grooves adapted to receive the plurality of ribs, and the retaining member may be adapted to lock the carriage.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hair crimper comprising: 
 a carriage having a first end and a second end, and a plurality of ribs, the carriage being adapted to open on at least one end;    a roller having a first end and a second, and a plurality of grooves, the roller being adapted to engage with the carriage, the plurality of grooves being adapted to receive the plurality of ribs; and    a retaining member adapted to lock the carriage.    
     
     
         2 . The hair crimper of  claim 1  wherein the roller includes a shell, a body and a core.  
     
     
         3 . The hair crimper of  claim 1  wherein the roller is adapted to compress.  
     
     
         4 . The hair crimper of  claim 1  wherein the retaining member includes a frustoconical surface adapted to engage with the ribs.  
     
     
         5 . The hair crimper of  claim 1  wherein the carriage includes at least one stop member adapted to secure the retaining member.  
     
     
         6 . A method for crimping hair comprising: 
 providing a carriage having a plurality of ribs, a roller having a plurality of grooves, and a retaining member;    winding strands of hair around the roller;    forcing the strands of hair into the plurality of grooves with the plurality of ribs; and    locking the carriage with the retaining member.    
     
     
         7 . The hair crimper of  claim 6  further including opening the carriage.  
     
     
         8 . The hair crimper of  claim 6  further including pivot the ribs on a pivot member.  
     
     
         9 . A hair crimper comprising: 
 a carriage having a first and second ends, including a housing at the first end, an engagement member slidably received by the housing, a pivot member fixed to the housing, and a plurality of ribs having first ends coupled to the housing and second ends located at the carriage second end, the rib engaging the engagement member at the first end and an intermediate portion of each rib engaging the pivot member, wherein movement of the engagement member toward the carriage pivots the rib about the pivot member, thereby moving the ribs second ends radially outward to open the carriage second end;    a roller having a first end and a second end, and a plurality of grooves, the roller being adapted for releasable attachment to the carriage with the plurality of grooves positioned to receive the plurality of ribs; and    a retaining member wherein the retaining member removably abuts the ribs second end thereby locking the carriage.