Hair-shaping tool

Abstract

a hair-shaping tool including: an orbital motion-generating mechanism for supporting a hair-shaping head; a handle including a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the orbital motion-generating mechanism is disposed on the proximal end and the distal end of the handle is configured to be held in a user's hand; and a circuit for controlling operations of the orbital motion-generating mechanism, the circuit configured for receiving a power source to power a motor that mobilizes the orbital motion-generating mechanism, wherein the circuit is configured to activate the orbital motion-generating mechanism when hair-shaping is desired and to deactivate the orbital motion-generating mechanism when hair-shaping is not desired.

What is claimed herein is: 
     
         1 . A hair-shaping tool comprising:
 (a) an orbital motion-generating mechanism for supporting a hair-shaping head;   (b) a handle comprising a distal end and a proximal end, wherein said orbital motion-generating mechanism is disposed on said proximal end and said distal end of said handle is configured to be held in a user's hand; and   (c) a circuit for controlling operations of said orbital motion-generating mechanism, said circuit configured for receiving a power source to power a motor that mobilizes said orbital motion-generating mechanism, wherein said circuit is configured to activate said orbital motion-generating mechanism when hair-shaping is desired and to deactivate said orbital motion-generating mechanism when hair-shaping is not desired.   
     
     
         2 . The hair-shaping tool of  claim 1 , wherein said orbital motion-generating mechanism comprises a plate, a first gear and at least two second gears each comprising a connecting member having a first end and a second end and, said first gear is configured to receive an output of the motor to cause a rotary motion of said first gear about an axis and said first gear is configured to be rotatably coupled to said at least two second gears to cause a rotary motion in each of said at least two second gears, each said connecting member connecting, at a first end, one of said at least two second gears to said plate at a second end, wherein a rotation of said first gear causes said plate to orbit about said axis. 
     
     
         3 . The hair-shaping tool of  claim 2 , wherein said plate of said orbital motion-generating mechanism is configured to produce an orbital motion of about 200-250 revolutions/minute about said axis. 
     
     
         4 . The hair-shaping tool of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of said first end and said second end of each said connecting member is configured to allow a relative motion with respect to one of said at least two second gears and said plate. 
     
     
         5 . The hair-shaping tool of  claim 2 , wherein said handle comprises a member having a central axis substantially coaxially disposed with respect to said axis. 
     
     
         6 . The hair-shaping tool of  claim 2 , wherein said handle comprises a member having a central axis that is not coaxially disposed with respect to said axis. 
     
     
         7 . The hair-shaping tool of  claim 1 , wherein said orbital motion-generating mechanism comprises a plate and a sponge assembly removably attached to said plate. 
     
     
         8 . The hair-shaping tool of  claim 7 , wherein said sponge assembly comprises a backing and a sponge material attached to said backing. 
     
     
         9 . The hair-shaping tool of  claim 1 , wherein said orbital motion-generating mechanism comprises a plate, a sponge assembly and a hook-and-loop attachment system, wherein said sponge assembly is configured to be removably attached to said plate with said hook-and-loop attachment system. 
     
     
         10 . The hair-shaping tool of  claim 1 , wherein said orbital motion-generating mechanism comprises a plate and a wire frame assembly removably attached to said plate. 
     
     
         11 . A hair-shaping tool comprising:
 (a) an orbital motion-generating mechanism for supporting a hair-shaping head;   (b) a handle comprising a distal end and a proximal end, wherein said orbital motion-generating mechanism is disposed on said proximal end and said distal end of said handle is configured to be held in a user's hand; and   (c) a circuit for controlling operations of said orbital motion-generating mechanism, said circuit configured for receiving a power source to power a motor that mobilizes said orbital motion-generating mechanism, wherein said circuit is configured to activate said orbital motion-generating mechanism when hair-shaping is desired and to deactivate said orbital motion-generating mechanism when hair-shaping is not desired,   wherein said orbital motion-generating mechanism comprises a plate, a first gear and at least two second gears each comprising a connecting member having a first end and a second end and, said first gear is configured to receive an output of the motor to cause a rotary motion of said first gear about an axis and said first gear is configured to be rotatably coupled to said at least two second gears to cause a rotary motion in each of said at least two second gears, each said connecting member connecting, at a first end, one of said at least two second gears to said plate at a second end, wherein a rotation of said first gear causes said plate to orbit about said axis.   
     
     
         12 . The hair-shaping tool of  claim 11 , wherein said plate of said orbital motion-generating mechanism is configured to produce an orbital motion of about 200-250 revolutions/minute about said axis. 
     
     
         13 . The hair-shaping tool of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of said first end and said second end of each said connecting member is configured to allow a relative motion with respect to one of said at least two second gears and said plate. 
     
     
         14 . The hair-shaping tool of  claim 11 , wherein said handle comprises a member having a central axis substantially coaxially disposed with respect to said axis. 
     
     
         15 . The hair-shaping tool of  claim 11 , wherein said handle comprises a member having a central axis that is not coaxially disposed with respect to said axis. 
     
     
         16 . The hair-shaping tool of  claim 11 , wherein said orbital motion-generating mechanism comprises a plate and a sponge assembly removably attached to said plate. 
     
     
         17 . The hair-shaping tool of  claim 16 , wherein said sponge assembly comprises a backing and a sponge material attached to said backing. 
     
     
         18 . The hair-shaping tool of  claim 11 , wherein said orbital motion-generating mechanism comprises a plate, a sponge assembly and a hook-and-loop attachment system, wherein said sponge assembly is configured to be removably attached to said plate with said hook-and-loop attachment system. 
     
     
         19 . The hair-shaping tool of  claim 11 , wherein said orbital motion-generating mechanism comprises a plate and a wire frame assembly removably attached to said plate.