US-12616287-B2 - Hair locking device and method of using the same

Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to hair locking device and methods of using the same. In various embodiments, a hair locking device comprises a device body comprising a housing defining an interior housing portion and a motor assembly, an arm component attachable to the device body comprising a head element defining by an interior head channel and a hair engagement tool operatively connected to the motor assembly, wherein the hair engagement tool is configured to be moved by the motor assembly relative to the arm component, and wherein the hair engagement tool comprises a engagement feature configured for selective engagement with the hair portion, wherein the hair locking device is operable to initiate a motor-driven movement of the hair engagement tool defined by the engagement feature moving relative to the interior head channel to enable an interaction of the engagement feature with the a hair portion.

Inventors

• Chelsey Nunnery

Assignees

• Chelsey Nunnery

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230418

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A hair locking device comprising: a device body comprising: a housing defining an interior housing portion; and a motor assembly disposed within the interior housing portion of the housing; an arm component configured for attachment to the device body, the arm component comprising a head element having a tubular configuration defined at least in part by an interior head channel configured for receiving a hair portion therein; and a hair engagement tool operatively connected to the motor assembly, wherein the hair engagement tool is configured to be moved through a range of motion relative to the arm component based at least in part on a selective operation of the motor assembly, and wherein the hair engagement tool comprises an engagement feature configured for selective engagement with the hair portion; wherein the hair locking device is configured to be selectively operated to initiate a motor-drive movement of the hair engagement tool defined by the engagement feature moving relative to the interior head channel to enable a hair locking operation defined at least in part by an interaction of the engagement feature with the hair portion; and wherein the head element is arranged in an at least substantially perpendicular configuration relative to the stem element.
2. 2 . The hair locking device of claim 1 , wherein the arm component is selectively detachable from the housing of the device body.
3. 3 . The hair locking device of claim 1 , wherein the arm component comprises a stem element configured for attachment to the device body, wherein the stem element defines a stem length between a first stem end and a second stem end, and wherein the head element is arranged relative to the second stem end and an arm attachment feature of the stem element is defined at the first stem end.
4. 4 . The hair locking device of claim 3 , wherein the stem element defines an interior stem channel that is fluidly connected to the interior housing portion of the housing of the device body via a first opening defined at the first stem end of the stem element.
5. 5 . The hair locking device of claim 4 , wherein the interior stem channel of the stem element is fluidly connected to the interior head channel via a second opening defined at the second stem end of the stem element.
6. 6 . The hair locking device of claim 1 , wherein the engagement feature of the hair engagement tool defines a two-pronged engagement element.
7. 7 . The hair locking device of claim 1 , wherein the hair engagement tool further comprises an elongated stem and an attachment feature, the attachment feature being configured for engagement with at least a portion of the motor assembly to facilitate the operative connection of the hair engagement tool thereto.
8. 8 . The hair locking device of claim 7 , wherein the attachment feature is defined at a first end of the elongated stem and the engagement feature is defined on an opposing second end of the elongated stem.
9. 9 . The hair locking device of claim 1 , wherein the hair locking device is configured such that the movement of the hair engagement tool through the range of motion is defined at least in part by the engagement feature moving in one or more longitudinal directions.
10. 10 . The hair locking device of claim 1 , wherein the hair engagement tool is made of an at least substantially metallic material.
11. 11 . The hair locking device of claim 1 , wherein the head element of the arm component comprises a tool orifice fluidly connected with the interior head channel.
12. 12 . The hair locking device of claim 11 , wherein the tool orifice is at least partially aligned with a central axis of a stem element of the arm component, the stem element being disposed between the head element and the housing of the device body.
13. 13 . The hair locking device of claim 1 , wherein the motor assembly comprises a drive motor operable to drive rotation of a motor stem, and a motor wheel defining a first opening configured for engagement with the motor stem such that the motor wheel is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation defined by a central axis of the motor stem.
14. 14 . The hair locking device of claim 13 , wherein the motor wheel further defines a second opening configured to receive a fastener element therein such that an attachment feature of the hair engagement tool is secured relative to the second opening of the motor wheel, and wherein the second opening is defined at a radial distance away from the axis of rotation of the motor wheel such that the rotation of the motor stem operably causes the attachment feature of the hair engagement tool to rotate about the axis of rotation with the motor wheel.
15. 15 . The hair locking device of claim 13 , wherein the motor assembly is electronically connected to an activation button disposed about an exterior surface of the housing such that the drive motor of the motor assembly is selectively operable via one or more user interactions with the activation button.
16. 16 . A hair locking device comprising: a device body comprising: a housing defining an interior housing portion; and a motor assembly disposed within the interior housing portion of the housing; an arm component configured for attachment to the device body, the arm component comprising a head element having a tubular configuration defined at least in part by an interior head channel configured for receiving a hair portion therein; and a hair engagement tool operatively connected to the motor assembly, wherein the hair engagement tool is configured to be moved through a range of motion relative to the arm component based at least in part on a selective operation of the motor assembly, and wherein the hair engagement tool comprises an engagement feature configured for selective engagement with the hair portion; wherein: the hair locking device is configured to be selectively operated to initiate a motor-drive movement of the hair engagement tool defined by the engagement feature moving relative to the interior head channel to enable a hair locking operation defined at least in part by an interaction of the engagement feature with the hair portion; the hair locking device is configured such that the movement of the hair engagement tool through the range of motion is defined at least in part by the engagement feature moving in one or more longitudinal directions; and the hair engagement tool moving through the range of motion is defined at least in part by the engagement feature being moved between a first position defined within the interior head channel of the head element and a second position defined within an interior stem channel of a stem element defined by the arm component.
17. 17 . The hair locking device of claim 16 , wherein the arm component is selectively detachable from the housing of the device body.
18. 18 . A hair locking device comprising: a device body comprising: a housing defining an interior housing portion; and a motor assembly disposed within the interior housing portion of the housing; an arm component configured for attachment to the device body, the arm component comprising a head element having a tubular configuration defined at least in part by an interior head channel configured for receiving a hair portion therein; and a hair engagement tool operatively connected to the motor assembly, wherein the hair engagement tool is configured to be moved through a range of motion relative to the arm component based at least in part on a selective operation of the motor assembly, and wherein the hair engagement tool comprises an engagement feature configured for selective engagement with the hair portion; wherein: the hair locking device is configured to be selectively operated to initiate a motor-drive movement of the hair engagement tool defined by the engagement feature moving relative to the interior head channel to enable a hair locking operation defined at least in part by an interaction of the engagement feature with the hair portion; and the hair locking device further comprises a removeable head insert component configured to be selectively secured relative to the head element to reduce an operable cross-sectional area within which the head element is configured to receive the hair portion.
19. 19 . The hair locking device of claim 18 , wherein the removeable head insert component comprises a removeable tube insert configured to be disposed within the interior head channel of the head element, the removeable tube insert defining an interior insert channel defined by a first cross-sectional area that is at least substantially less than a second cross-sectional area defined by the interior head channel.
20. 20 . The hair locking device of claim 19 , wherein the removeable head insert component further comprises a detachable insert cap configured to selectively engage the removeable tube insert to secure the removeable tube insert in one or more directions relative to the head element.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION Various embodiments described herein relate generally to relate generally to hair styling tools, and more particularly, to a hair locking device for forming dreadlocks. BACKGROUND Applicant has identified many technical challenges and difficulties associated with conventional hair styling devices for styling hair into dreadlocks. Through applied effort, ingenuity, and innovation, Applicant has solved problems related to these hair styling devices by developing solutions embodied in the present disclosure, which are described in detail below. BRIEF SUMMARY Various embodiments are directed to a hair locking device and method of using the same. In various embodiments, a hair locking device may comprise a device body comprising: a housing defining an interior housing portion; and a motor assembly disposed within the interior housing portion of the housing; an arm component configured for attachment to the device body, the arm component comprising a head element having a tubular configuration defined at least in part by an interior head channel configured for receiving a hair portion therein; and a hair engagement tool operatively connected to the motor assembly, wherein the hair engagement tool is configured to be moved through a range of motion relative to the arm component based at least in part on a selective operation of the motor assembly, and wherein the hair engagement tool comprises a engagement feature configured for selective engagement with the hair portion; wherein the hair locking device is configured to be selectively operated to initiate a motor-drive movement of the hair engagement tool defined by the engagement feature moving relative to the interior head channel to enable a hair locking operation defined at least in part by an interaction of the engagement feature with the hair portion. In various embodiments, the arm component may be selectively detachable housing of the device body. In various embodiments, the arm component may comprise a stem element configured for attachment to the device body, wherein the stem element defines a stem length between a first stem end and a second stem end, and wherein the head component is arranged relative to the second stem end and an arm attachment feature of the stem element is defined at the first stem end. In certain embodiments, the head element may be arranged in an at least substantially perpendicular configuration relative to the stem element. In certain embodiments, the stem element may define an interior stem channel that is fluidly connected to the interior housing portion of the housing of the device body via a first opening defined at the first stem end of the stem element. In certain embodiments, the interior stem channel of the stem element may be fluidly connected to the interior head channel via a second opening defined at the second stem end of the stem element. In various embodiments, the engagement feature of the hair engagement tool may define a two-pronged engagement element. In various embodiments, the hair engagement tool may further comprise an elongated stem and an attachment feature, the attachment feature being configured for engagement with at least a portion of the motor assembly to facilitate the operative connection of the hair engagement tool thereto. In certain embodiments, the attachment feature may be defined at a first end of the elongated stem and the engagement feature is defined on an opposing second end of the elongated stem. In various embodiments, the hair locking device may be configured such that the movement of the hair engagement tool through the range of motion is defined at least in part by the engagement feature moving in one or more longitudinal directions. In certain embodiments, the hair engagement tool moving through the first range of motion may be defined at least in part by the engagement feature being moved between a first position defined within the interior head channel of the head element and a second position defined within an interior stem channel of a stem element defined by the arm component. In various embodiments, the hair engagement tool may be made of an at least substantially metallic material. In various embodiments, the head element of the arm component may comprise tool orifice fluidly connected with the interior head channel. In certain embodiments, the tool orifice may be at least partially aligned with a central axis of a stem element of the arm component, the stem element being disposed between the head element and the housing of the device body. In various embodiments, the hair locking device may further comprise a removeable head insert component configured to be selectively secured relative to the head element to reduce an operable cross-sectional area within which the head element is configured to receive the hair portion. In certain embodiments, the removeable head insert component may comprise a removeable tube insert configured to be disposed within t