Hair Styling Mechanisms And Hair Styling Dolls

Abstract

A hair styling doll with a hair styling mechanism is disclosed. The doll includes a body with a head to which a lock of hair is coupled. The doll includes an adjustment mechanism that can be manipulated to adjust the length and shape or configuration of the lock of hair. The hair is braided and the adjustment mechanism includes an elongate member that is coupled to the different sections of the braided hair. The elongate member is coupled to the hair in an alternating configuration or pattern such that pulling the elongate member results in the braided hair coiling and forming a bun-like structure.

1 . A doll, comprising:
 a head defining an opening;   an extension of hair coupled to the head proximate to the opening, the hair being braided along at least a portion of its length;   an elongate member coupled to the hair at multiple locations, the elongate member extending into the opening of the head; and   an adjustment mechanism coupled to the elongate member such that the adjustment member can move the elongate member relative to the head, and movement of the elongate member changes the shape of the hair.   
     
     
         2 . The doll of  claim 1 , wherein the extension of hair includes three braided sections and each of the braided sections includes at least one of the multiple locations. 
     
     
         3 . The doll of  claim 1 , wherein the extension of hair includes three braided sections and the elongate member is alternately coupled to the three braided sections. 
     
     
         4 . The doll of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member is a first elongate member and the doll further comprises:
 a second elongate member coupled to the hair, the second elongate member being coupled to the adjustment mechanism and movable simultaneously with the first elongate member.   
     
     
         5 . The doll of  claim 4 , wherein the extension of hair includes three braided sections and each of the first elongate member and the second elongate member is alternately coupled to each of the three braided sections along the length of the respective elongate member. 
     
     
         6 . The doll of  claim 1 , wherein the extension of hair includes a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being located proximate to the head of the doll, the distal end being moved upwardly when the elongate member is drawn into the head of the doll. 
     
     
         7 . The doll of  claim 6 , wherein the extension of hair has curled configuration when the distal end is raised to its upper position. 
     
     
         8 . The doll of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a take-up device to which the elongate member is coupled, and rotation of the take-up device moves the elongate member relative to the head. 
     
     
         9 . A doll with adjustable hair, comprising:
 a head;   a lock of braided hair having a base end and a distal end opposite to the base end, the base end being coupled to the braided head; and   an elongate member engaged with the lock of braided hair proximate the distal end and to at least one intermediate position between the distal end and the base end, the elongate member being engaged with the lock of braided hair in a coiled configuration that causes the elongate member to move the lock of braided hair into a predetermined curled configuration when the elongate member is tensioned.   
     
     
         10 . The doll of  claim 9 , wherein the head includes a cavity with an opening, and the elongate member extends through the opening from the cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The doll of  claim 9 , wherein the elongate member is attached to the lock of braided hair proximate to the distal end, at a first intermediate position along the lock of braided hair, and at a second intermediate position along the lock of braided hair. 
     
     
         12 . The doll of  claim 11 , wherein the lock of braided hair includes a first section, a second section, and a third section, the first intermediate position being located on the first section, and the second intermediate position being located on one of the second section or the third section. 
     
     
         13 . A hair styling mechanism for a doll having a body and a head, the mechanism comprising:
 a bundle of braided hair supported by the head, the bundle of hair including a first attachment region and a second attachment region spaced from the first attachment region; and   an elongate member coupled to the first attachment region and to the second attachment region, wherein pulling the elongate member moves the first attachment region toward the second attachment region to alter the shape of the bundle of hair.   
     
     
         14 . The hair styling mechanism of  claim 13 , wherein the bundle of hair includes a first braided section and a second braided section, the first attachment region being located on the first braided section and the second attachment region being located on the second braided section. 
     
     
         15 . The hair styling mechanism of  claim 13 , wherein the head includes a cavity with an opening, and the elongate member extends through the opening from the cavity. 
     
     
         16 . The hair styling mechanism of  claim 13 , wherein the bundle of hair includes a first braided section, a second braided section, and a third braided section, the first attachment region being located on the first braided section, the second attachment region being located on the second braided section, and the bundle of hair includes a third attachment region spaced from the first attachment region and the second attachment region, the third attachment region being located on the third braided section. 
     
     
         17 . The hair styling mechanism of  claim 13 , wherein the bundle of hair includes a first braided section, a second braided section, and a third braided section, and the first attachment region and the second attachment region are located on the first braided section. 
     
     
         18 . The hair styling mechanism of  claim 13 , wherein the bundle of hair has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being located proximate to the head, the distance between the distal end and the head when the first attachment region is moved toward the second attachment region. 
     
     
         19 . The hair styling mechanism of  claim 13 , wherein the mechanism further comprises:
 a take-up mechanism, the elongate member being coupled to the take-up mechanism so that movement of the take-up mechanism adjusts the length of the bundle of hair.   
     
     
         20 . The hair styling mechanism of  claim 19 , wherein the take-up mechanism includes a spool rotatably mounted within the cavity of the body, and a release mechanism operatively coupled to the spool and configured to selectively allow rotation of the spool.