Hair Braiding Device

Abstract

A hair braiding device for automatically braiding hair includes a housing which defines an orifice that extends into the housing. A motor is mounted in the housing and is operable to rotate an output shaft of the motor alternately in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction opposite from the first rotational direction. A braiding mechanism is operably coupled to the output shaft of the motor and is mounted in the orifice of the housing. The braiding mechanism comprises a plurality of hair couplers which are configured to move along a figure-eight path when the motor is activated.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A hair braiding device comprising:
 a housing, the housing defining an orifice which extends into the housing;   a motor mounted in the housing, the motor being operable to rotate an output shaft of the motor alternately in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction opposite from the first rotational direction; and   a braiding mechanism being operably coupled to the output shaft of the motor, the braiding mechanism being mounted in the orifice of the housing, the braiding mechanism comprising a plurality of hair couplers being configured to move along a figure-eight path when the motor is activated, each hair coupler of the plurality of hair couplers being configured to attach to a tuft of hair.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the braiding mechanism further comprises:
 an input shaft being coupled to and being axially aligned with the output shaft wherein the output shaft urges the input shaft to rotate with respect to the housing when the output shaft rotates;   a drivetrain being operatively coupled to the input shaft, the drivetrain including a pair of output gears, the pair of output gears being equal in size and having axes which are oriented parallel to each other, the pair of output gears being enmeshed with each other such that the pair of output gears rotate in opposite directions from each other, a front side of each output gear of the pair of output gears facing outwardly away from the housing, each output gear of the pair of output gears defining a plurality of cavities in the front side of the output gear, the plurality of cavities of each output gear of the pair of output gears being radially arranged with respect to the output gear, each cavity of the plurality of cavities being open at a perimeter of the output gear;   wherein each hair coupler of the plurality of hair couplers is positioned in one of the cavities of the plurality of cavities of one of the output gears of the pair of output gears; and   a track being spaced forwardly of the pair of output gears, the track engaging the plurality of hair couplers, the track being shaped to guide the plurality of hair couplers along the figure-eight path, the track guiding the plurality of hair couplers to be passed between the pair of output gears.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein each hair coupler further comprises:
 a rod positioned in the one cavity and protruding out of the one cavity beyond the front side of the one output gear;   a track engagement member being coupled to the rod opposite the one output gear, the track engagement member comprising:
 a cam, the cam being elongated in an elongation direction which is perpendicular to the rod; and 
 a pair of shoulders being coupled to the cam, the pair of shoulders being positioned opposite each other across the cam; 
   wherein the track defines a groove having a figure-eight shape, the plurality of hair couplers being slidable along the groove, the track guiding each hair coupler of the plurality of hair couplers to move from the one cavity of the one output gear to another cavity of another gear when the hair coupler crosses through a central portion of the figure-eight shape, the cam of the track engagement member of each hair coupler of the plurality of hair couplers being positioned in the groove, the pair of shoulders of the track engagement member of each hair coupler of the plurality of hair couplers being positioned opposite each other across the track.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the cam has an elliptical outer surface with a major axis extending in the elongation direction. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the braiding mechanism is removable from the housing and the output shaft, further comprising a connector being coupled to the output shaft of the motor and the input shaft of the braiding mechanism, the connector comprising a first interlocking member coupled to the output shaft and a second interlocking member coupled to the input shaft, the first interlocking member and the second interlocking member mating with each other to couple the output shaft to the input shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the first interlocking member having internal teeth which mesh with external teeth of the second interlocking member to couple the output shaft to the input shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is elongated between a first end and a second end, the orifice being positioned on the first end of the housing, further comprising a grip being coupled to and extending away from the housing, the grip being oriented perpendicularly to the housing, the grip being positioned adjacent to a second end of the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a processor being operatively coupled to the motor;   an activation switch being operatively coupled to the processor, the activation switch being actuatable to selectively activate the motor to rotate the output shaft in the first rotational direction or the second rotational direction; and   a speed control being operatively coupled to the processor, the speed control being actuatable to select a speed of rotation of the motor.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising a power cord being electrically coupled to the processor, the power cord being configured to electrically couple to an electrical power source. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each hair coupler of said plurality of hair couplers comprises a hook which is coupled to the track engagement member opposite the rod. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the hook is biased toward the track engagement member in a clamping fashion. 
     
     
         12 . A hair braiding device comprising:
 a housing, the housing defining an orifice which extends into the housing, the housing being elongated between a first end and a second end, the orifice being positioned on the first end of the housing;   a motor mounted in the housing, the motor being operable to rotate an output shaft of the motor alternately in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction opposite from the first rotational direction;   a braiding mechanism being operably coupled to the output shaft of the motor, the braiding mechanism being mounted in the orifice of the housing, the braiding mechanism being removable from the housing and the output shaft, the braiding mechanism comprising:
 an input shaft being coupled to and being axially aligned with the output shaft wherein the output shaft urges the input shaft to rotate with respect to the housing when the output shaft rotates; 
 a drivetrain being operatively coupled to the input shaft, the drivetrain including a pair of output gears, the pair of output gears being equal in size and having axes which are oriented parallel to each other, the pair of output gears being enmeshed with each other such that the pair of output gears rotate in opposite directions from each other, a front side of each output gear of the pair of output gears facing outwardly away from the housing, each output gear of the pair of output gears defining a plurality of cavities in the front side of the output gear, the plurality of cavities of each output gear of the pair of output gears being radially arranged with respect to the output gear, each cavity of the plurality of cavities being open at a perimeter of the output gear; 
 a plurality of hair couplers, each hair coupler of the plurality of hair couplers being positioned in one of the cavities of the plurality of cavities of one of the output gears of the pair of output gears, each hair coupler comprising:
 a rod positioned in the one cavity and protruding out of the one cavity beyond the front side of the one output gear; 
 a track engagement member being coupled to the rod opposite the one output gear, the track engagement member comprising:
 a cam, the cam being elongated in an elongation direction which is perpendicular to the rod, the cam having an elliptical outer surface with a major axis extending in the elongation direction; and 
 a pair of shoulders being coupled to the cam, the pair of shoulders being positioned opposite each other across the cam; and 
 
 a hook being coupled to the track engagement member opposite the rod, the hook being biased toward the track engagement member in a clamping fashion; and 
 
 a track being spaced forwardly of the pair of output gears, the track engaging the plurality of hair couplers, the track defining a groove having a figure-eight shape, the plurality of hair couplers being slidable along the groove, the track guiding each hair coupler of the plurality of hair couplers to move from the one cavity of the one output gear to another cavity of another gear when the hair coupler crosses through a central portion of the figure-eight shape, the cam of the track engagement member of each hair coupler of the plurality of hair couplers being positioned in the groove, the pair of shoulders of the track engagement member of each hair coupler of the plurality of hair couplers being positioned opposite each other across the track; 
   a connector being coupled to the output shaft of the motor and the input shaft of the braiding mechanism, the connector comprising a first interlocking member coupled to the output shaft and a second interlocking member coupled to the input shaft, the first interlocking member having internal teeth which mesh with external teeth of the second interlocking member to couple the output shaft to the input shaft;   a grip being coupled to and extending away from the housing, the grip being oriented perpendicularly to the housing, the grip being positioned adjacent to a second end of the housing;   a processor being operatively coupled to the motor;   an activation switch being operatively coupled to the processor, the activation switch being actuatable to selectively activate the motor to rotate the output shaft in the first rotational direction or the second rotational direction, the activation switch comprising a trigger positioned on the grip;   a speed control being operatively coupled to the processor, the speed control being actuatable to select a speed of rotation of the motor, the speed control being mounted to the grip; and   a power cord being electrically coupled to the processor, the power cord being configured to electrically couple to an electrical power source.