Patent US3977335A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3977335A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automated hair implantation system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-09-25
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Granted: 1976-08-31
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Expires: 1994-09-25
Abstract
Abstract An automated system for implanting hair in a scalp base includes a hollow needle, a linkage arrangement for holding and moving the needle along an arc-like path between a first and second position, and apparatus for holding and positioning a bundle of hair in the path traversed by the needle so that the needle contacts the bundle hair ends to receive into the hollow at least one hair as the needle is moved from the first position to the second position. A shoe element is disposed at the second position for supporting the scalp base so that as the needle is moved to the second position, the needle penetrates the scalp base placed on the shoe element to thereby implant a hair carried by the needle. Also included is a projector for projecting a narrow beam of light to the shoe element to mark a spot through which the needle will pass.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert W. Bonham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:45
CPC Classifications
D; D05; D05C; D05C15/00; D05C15/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
Apparatus for implanting hair in a scalp base comprising means for holding a bundle of hairs, a needle hollowed out at least at one end thereof, and means for moving the needle generally in a first direction toward the hair ends to contact the hair ends and receive into the hollowed out end at least one hair, and then generally in a second direction different from the first direction as the needle penetrates the scalp base to implant therein the hair carried by the needle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus for implanting hair in a scalp base comprising means for holding a bundle of hairs, a needle hollowed out at least at one end thereof, and means for moving the needle generally in a first direction toward the hair ends to contact the hair ends and receive into the hollowed out end at least one hair, and then generally in a second direction different from the first direction as the needle penetrates the scalp base to implant therein the hair carried by the needle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said holding means includes means for positioning the bundle of hairs so that the hair ends to be contacted by the needle terminates substantially in a plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus for implanting hair in a scalp base comprising means for holding a bundle of hairs, a needle hollowed out at least at one end thereof, and means for moving the needle so that it contacts the hair ends and receives into the hollowed out end at least one hair, and then penetrates the scalp base to implant therein the hair carried by the needle, wherein said holding means includes a generally cylindrical spool, means for securing the hair on the exterior surface of the spool so that the hair extends beyond one end of the spool, a spindle on which the spool may be mounted, and means for causing the spindle to rotate to thereby cause the spool mounted thereon to rotate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus for implanting hair in a scalp base comprising means for holding a bundle of hairs, a needle hollowed out at least at one end thereof, and means for moving the needle so that it contacts the hair ends and receives into the hollowed out end at least one hair, and then penetrates the scalp base to implant therein the hair carried by the needle, wherein said holding means includes a generally cylindrical spool, means for securing the hair on the exterior surface of the spool so that the hair extends beyond one end of the spool, a spindle on which the spool may be mounted, and means for causing the spindle to rotate to thereby cause the spool mounted thereon to rotate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the spool has a bore extending therethrough, and wherein the spindle comprises a split pin insertable in the bore of the spool and adapted to contact the walls of the bore to hold the spool in place.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said spindle is disposed to pivot so that the hair ends of hair secured on the spool mounted on the spindle may be moved into the path traversed by the needle or out of the path traversed by the needle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 further including a support on which the spool and hair rest when mounted on the spindle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the dimensions of the hollow of the needle allow only a single hair to be received thereinto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
174 words
Apparatus for implanting hair in a scalp base comprising means for holding a bundle of hairs, a needle hollowed out at least at one end thereof, and means for moving the needle so that it contacts the hair ends and receives into the hollowed out end at least one hair, and then penetrates the scalp base to implant therein the hair carried by the needle, wherein said moving means further includes a generally upright support arm disposed to pivot about one end thereof between first and second positions, a second arm pivotally mounted on the other end of said support arm and generally perpendicular thereto for carrying the needle, and needle movement control means for enabling the second arm and needle to move generally in an arc as such support arm is pivoted from said first position a certain distance towards said second position, and for causing said second arm and the needle to move generally in a linear path as said support arm is pivoted from said certain distance to the second position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
174 words
Apparatus for implanting hair in a scalp base comprising means for holding a bundle of hairs, a needle hollowed out at least at one end thereof, and means for moving the needle so that it contacts the hair ends and receives into the hollowed out end at least one hair, and then penetrates the scalp base to implant therein the hair carried by the needle, wherein said moving means further includes a generally upright support arm disposed to pivot about one end thereof between first and second positions, a second arm pivotally mounted on the other end of said support arm and generally perpendicular thereto for carrying the needle, and needle movement control means for enabling the second arm and needle to move generally in an arc as such support arm is pivoted from said first position a certain distance towards said second position, and for causing said second arm and the needle to move generally in a linear path as said support arm is pivoted from said certain distance to the second position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
121 words
Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said needle movement control means includes a third arm carried by said support arm in a generally parallel relationship therewith, one end of said third arm being pivotally attached to said second arm at a point spaced from the point at which the second arm is mounted on the support arm, and a stop means engageable by said third arm when said support arm has pivoted from said first position a certain distance to an intermediate position between the first and second positions to cause the second arm to pivot on the support arm and move in a generally linear path as the support arm is pivoted from the intermediate position to said second position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said moving means further includes a reciprocating means attached to said support arm for causing said support arm to pivot between the first and second positions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said reciprocating means includes a rotatable drive disc, a rod connecting one edge of the disc to the support arm, and drive means for causing the disc to rotate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
129 words
Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said drive means includes a clutch comprising a first friction disc rotatably driven by a power source, a shaft coupled to said rotatable drive disc, a second friction disc coupled to said shaft to cause rotation thereof when the second disc is rotated and slideable on said shaft between a noncontact position in which the second friction disc is out of frictional engagement with said first friction disc, and a contact position in which said second friction disc is in frictional engagement with said first friction disc so that said second friction disc is rotatably driven by the rotation of said first friction disc, and means coupled to said second friction disc for moving the second disc between said noncontact and contact positions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said clutch further comprises disengagement means for selectively causing the second friction disc to disengage from the first friction disc when said support arm returns to said first position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said disc moving means includes an actuator arm, and a linkage means responsive to movement of the actuator arm from an idle position to an operate position for causing said second friction disc to move and engage said first friction disc.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus as in claim 14 wherein said disengagement means comprises a cam coupled to rotate with said second friction disc, said cam having a lobe at one location on the perimeter thereof, and a contact member mounted on said linkage means controllably engageable by the lobe of said cam to cause the linkage means to contact and disengage the second friction disc from the first friction disc.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as in claim 15 wherein the lobe of said cam is arranged to engage said contact member when the linkage means is expanded and the actuator arm is in the idle position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 further including a shoe positioned at the end of the path traversed by the needle as it moves to the second position, for supporting the scalp base into which hair is to be implanted.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as in claim 17 wherein said shoe includes means defining a slot into which the needle extends when the needle is moved to the second position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as in claim 17 wherein said shoe includes means defining a generally circular opening into which the needle extends when the needle is moved to the second position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as in claim 17 wherein said shoe includes a turret, a slot defining means formed on the turret, and a ring formed on the turret, said turret being rotatable to selectively position either the slot defining means or the ring so that the needle extends therethrough when moved to the second position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 further including light projecting means for projecting a narrow beam of light through a point at the end of the path traversed by the needle as it moves to the second position, to thereby mark the location through which the needle will pass.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
92 words
Apparatus for implanting hair in a scalp base comprising a frame, a needle having a generally cylindrical hollow extending longitudinally within the shank of the needle, means mounted on the frame for moving the needle generally in an arc-like path between first and second positions, and means mounted on the frame for positioning a plurality of hairs between the first and second positions so that as the needle is moved from the first position toward the second position, it contacts the hair ends and receives into the hollow at least one hair.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
92 words
Apparatus for implanting hair in a scalp base comprising a frame, a needle having a generally cylindrical hollow extending longitudinally within the shank of the needle, means mounted on the frame for moving the needle generally in an arc-like path between first and second positions, and means mounted on the frame for positioning a plurality of hairs between the first and second positions so that as the needle is moved from the first position toward the second position, it contacts the hair ends and receives into the hollow at least one hair.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus as in claim 22 further including a shoe element mounted on the frame for supporting the scalp base, said shoe element being positioned so that when the scalp base is placed thereon, the needle will penetrate the scalp base as the needle moves to the second position, to thereby implant a hair carried by the needle.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as in claim 23 further including means mounted on the frame for projecting a beam of light to the shoe element at a location through which the needle travels.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as in claim 23 wherein said hollow needle is beveled at one end thereof.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as in claim 23 wherein said hair positioning means includes a spool, means for securing the hair on the exterior surface of the spool so that the hair extends beyond one end thereof, a spindle mounted on the frame on which the spool may be mounted, and means for causing the spindle to rotate to thereby cause the spool mounted thereon to rotate.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as in claim 23 wherein said moving means includes means for causing the needle to move generally in an arc to contact the hair ends and then generally along a linear path as the needle is moved to the shoe element to implant the hair in the scalp base supported by the shoe element.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as in claim 23 wherein said shoe element includes a turret, means integral with the turret for defining a slot, and means integral with the turret for defining a generally round opening, said turret being rotatable to position either the slot defining means for the opening defining means in the path traversed by the needle.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as in claim 22 wherein said moving means includes drive means actuatable to cause said needle to move between the first and second positions, and means for deactuating the drive means so that the needle comes to rest in the first position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-31 | 1980-03-01 | 1980-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-31 | 1984-03-01 | 1984-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-31 | 1988-03-01 | 1988-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |