PCT/USOl/01253

WO 01/52689

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to cause teeth 38 of each of two comb members 36 to reciprocally cross back

and forth over and between teeth 38 of the other comb member 36.
According to this embodiment of the present invention, mechanism 42
includes two arms 44 (best seen in Figure 5), each engaging directly or
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indirectly (via a connecting piece) one of two comb members 36. Each of arms
44 is rotatably engaged by housing 12 and reciprocated by an elliptic shaft 46

(shown enlarged in Figure 7), itself rotated by motor 16 and which serves for
departing two comb members 36 one from the other. To this end, each of arms
44 features an extension 50 which proximates shaft 46, such that when shaft 46

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rotates, extensions SO as well as arms 44 and comb member 36 connected

thereto depart to the greatest extent when the longer axis of the shaft's cross
section is set perpendicularly to extensions 50. When. on the other hand, the
shorter axis of the shaft's cross section is set perpendicularly to extensions 50,
then a returning spring element 48, which forms an additional part of

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mechanism 42, and is connecting between arms 46, serves for attracting two
comb members 36 towards and across one another.

Thus, the rotation of

elliptic shaft 36 forces comb members 36 away from one another m a

reciprocal fashion, while returning spring element 48 forces them back.
Figures 8-11 illustrate another hair treatment assembly which can be
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utilized by the apparatus of the present invention, and which is referred to

hereinbelow as assembly llO.
Assembly 110 includes two comb members l16.

Each of comb

members 116 features a longitudinal axis 117 (shown in Figure 11) and is
formed with teeth 118. which are set connected to. or integrally formed with, a
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base portion 120 of each of comb members 116.

As further detailed

hereinunder. each of two comb members 116 is directly or indirectly movably

engaged by housing 12.
Assembly 110 further includes a mechanism 122 which is movably
engaged by housing 12.
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Mechanism 122 serve for operatively connecting

between each of two comb members 116 and motor 114, so as to force each of
two comb members 116 to reciprocate substantially perpendicularly to its