BRAID REMOVAL TOOL AND ASSOCIATED METHOD

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/716,473 under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) which was filed Sep. 13, 2005.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of removing hair braids. More specifically, the invention relates to a new debraiding tool.

2. Description of the Related Art

The incorporation of braids into hair has long been practiced. Recently, however, braiding has become a much more common practice and the trend has been to incorporate numerous small braids into the hair (e.g., microbraids). Typical hairstyles will include hundreds and in some cases over a thousand braids.

This makes the removal of these braids, or in other words, “taking down” a plurality of braids an arduous task. Two processes are necessary to do this. For one, the stitching must be removed. Stitching is threaded and cinched to the bottom of a weave strand. Thus, before debraiding, this stitching must be taken off in some manner. Conventionally this can be done by snipping the stitching with scissors or snagging it with a comb.

Once the stitching has been removed from a particular strand, that strand can be debraided. The prior art methods include using something to penetrate the braid such as a fork or fingernail. These techniques, however, have proven to be extremely time-consuming—taking from 4-6 hours for an experienced beautician. Others have used combs, but combs have proved unsatisfactory because they tend to cause excessive pulling on the scalp causing discomfort. These conventional processes are also extremely taxing on the fingers and hands of the person taking out the braids.

Thus, there is a need in the art for a debraiding tool and technique which does not have the disadvantages discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for removing braids. The tool is elongated and has functional features at both ends. On one end, the tool has an axially extending substantially conical debraiding point. The debraiding end is formed to create a relatively sharp point. At the other end, a hook exists which can be used to remove stitching.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the debraiding tool of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the tool.

FIG. 3 is a back view of the tool.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the tool.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the tool.

FIG. 6 is a magnified view of the conical end of the tool.

FIG. 7 is a magnified view of the hooked end of the tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The braid tool and associated methods of the present invention presents numerous advantages over the conventional tools and techniques. For one, it provides a substantially conical end which is used to puncture and spread a braid from above at an acute angle to vertical. The conical end is tapered and terminates in a relatively sharp point. This enables the user to speedily and painlessly remove the braids, enabling a user to remove a full head of braids in half the time possible using the prior art methods.

The other end of the tool includes a prong that is shaped like a cone which is bent around past perpendicular to form a hook having a sharpened point. The hook is ideal for removing stitching.

The tool is approximately 5-inches long, which makes it unique in that it is more easily manipulated than longer devices. This also makes it inexpensive to produce and easily handled by the user. This size and the overall shape of the tool enable an individual to self-remove braids without the help of a beautician.

In the preferred embodiment, it is formed by injection molding a thermoplastic. More specifically, it is an injection-molded thermoplastic polymer. Polypropylene is used in the preferred embodiment. But other materials or means of manufacture could be used and still fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, metals, wood, ceramics or other materials could be used as well.

The tool also has a unique feature which enables indicia to be displayed on a face defined by a removed portion of the pick.

A preferred embodiment of the tool may be seen in FIGS. 1-7. Referring first to FIG. 1, it may be seen that a tool 10 has a first debraiding end 12 and a second hooked end 14 which exist on an elongated body 16.

Debraiding end 12 is substantially conical. Thus, it is tapered inward from body 16 until it reaches a sharp point 20. Point 20 is used to pierce a braid, and then a tapered portion 24 is used to spread it so that the braid is removed while creating very little downward force on the particular strand, making the process painless. Though end 12 is substantially conical, its point 20 is slightly axially offset from the center axis of the tool.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the end 12 is substantially axial, however, an upper taper 26 is less extreme than a lower taper 28, which moves upward (looking in cross section) to a greater extent than the upper taper 26 drops. Thus, the location of sharp tip 20 is slightly above the central longitudinal axis of the tool body 16. These advantages will be discussed in more detail later.

Though the preferred embodiment of the tool discloses a first end 12 as having a substantially conical, axially offset tip shape, other similarly functioning shapes would also fall within the scope of the invention. For example, biconical, elliptical, conical-eliptical hybrid, and other shapes might be employed to accomplish the same functional objectives. Further, the tip could be offset to a greater extent than shown in FIG. 2 or not offset at all. Thus, the present invention should not be considered as limited to any particular shape unless specifically claimed to be so.

A second hooked end 14 having a tip 22 is also shown. This is the end which is used to remove stitching by snaring it. The snaring is accomplished by hooking tip 22 underneath the stitching and then pulling it out. At hooked end 14, the cross-sectional area of the tool, has a laterally restricted portion 18 even though uniform thickness is maintained (see FIGS. 2 and 4). From the side, hook tip 22 can be seen as having a bent conical shape terminating in a sharp point. Instead of its tip extending in a substantially axial direction (like tip 20), it curves away and around so that its axial direction is at an acute angle to the center axis of body 16. This maximizes the tip's hooking abilities. Further, because (like with end 12) it flares away from the tip, it is easily inserted between the stitching and surrounding hair, and when the tool is pulled by the user, a spreading effect causes the stitching to be easily separated from the strand it was securing.

Elongated body 16 of the tool, in the preferred embodiment, is approximately 5-inches long and has a substantially uniform thickness 34 (see FIG. 2). Because of its size, the tool is easily handled by the user but is still large enough to be effective. A middle portion of body 16 includes a removed portion 30. Removed portion 30 defines a planer face 32 in a front 36 of the tool which can be used to display indicia, e.g., a trade name, or other information.

Before detangling a braid on a person with a weave (a “client”) using tool 10, the user (e.g., beautician) first snares the stitching and removes it by pulling down on the tool as described above. Once the stitching has been removed, the debraiding can begin. Unlike the conventional techniques which require working from below or even with the braid, and then working the braid loose, tool 10 is adapted so that the user can pierce the knot from above, and then push down on the tool. To do this, the tool is grasped in the fingers of one hand, and oriented with hooked end 14 up, hook tip 22 out (so that a top surface 40 is facing the user) and end 12 down where it is to be inserted into the braid. Body 16, because of its size and shape, makes it easily handled by the user. Next, the user grasps the strand with his or her other hand so that it is secure. Then, the user pierces the bottom braid in the strand at its center with sharp tip 20. End 12 from its hooked end 14 should be an acute angle to the strand that is hanging down vertically from the clients head, preferably at an angle less than 45 degrees upward from the strand. From this position, pushing the tool downward causes the tapered portion to spread the braid and easily remove it.

The process is then repeated braid after braid in the strand until that strand is completely debraided. Then the user moves on to another stand, destitches it, and debraids it. This process is repeated over and over until all the client's braids have been removed.

Once the user masters the technique (which takes little time), braids can be removed one after another in a repeated motion which is kind of like a downward stabbing action. Because the process is so efficient, it typically takes about half the time to debraid a weave as was required using conventional tools and techniques.

The tool and process also provide tremendous ergonomic benefits. There is no fighting gravity or contorted finger positioning like with the prior art methods.

Because the present invention is so inexpensive, easy to use, and makes the process so much more efficient, it is ideal for lay consumers in addition to professionals.

As can be seen, the present invention and its equivalents are well adapted to provide a new and useful debraiding device and associated method. Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The present invention has been described in relation to a particular embodiment, which is intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. Many alternative embodiments exist but are not included because of the nature of this invention. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in the order described.