US3727619A

US3727619A - Ultrasonic apparatus for hair joining

Info

Publication number: US3727619A
Application number: US00180423A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Kuris
Original assignee: Ultrasonic Systems Inc
Current assignee: Ultrasonic Systems Inc
Priority date: 1969-12-17
Filing date: 1971-09-14
Publication date: 1973-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 1990-04-17

Abstract

The method and apparatus for joining hair together utilizing ultrasonic vibrational energy in which the overlapping portions of the commercial hair and the live hair are maintained in fixed position to each other when the energy is introduced therein. The hair may be coated internally or externally with a thermoplastic material which acts as the bonding agent.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,727,619

Kuris 1 51 Apr. 17, 1973 ULTRASONIC APPARATUS FOR HAIR [56] References Cited JOINING UNITED STATES PATENTS [75] Invent Arthur Kuris, Riverda1e1 3,513,848 5/1970 Winston Biai ..l56/73 x m S st Inc Famin 3,578,523 5/1971 Ohse ..l56/73X [73] Asslgnee El y ems g 3,464,102 9 1969 s61 1r..... .l56/73 x 3,480,492 11/1969 Hauser ..156/73 [22] Filed: Sept. 14, 1971 1 Primary Examiner-Louis'G, Mancene [21] Appl 180423 Assistant Examiner--J. N. Eskovitz Related Us. Application Data Attorney-Leonard W. Suroff [62] Division of Ser. No. 885,830, Dec. 17, 1969, Pat. No. 57 ABSTRACT The method and apparatus for joining hair together 52 us. (:1 ..l32/56, 156/73 utilizing ultrasonic vibrational energy in which the 51 Int. Cl ..B29C 27/08 Overlapping portions of e commercial hair and the [58] Field of Search 132/56; 156/5 80, live hair are maintained in fixed Position to each other 156/73; 228/] when the energy is introduced therein. The hair may be coated internally or externally with a thermoplastic material which acts as the bonding agent.

11 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures '50 I 51 25 2, 2 22 20 37 46 45 43 40 i u 27 1,

PATEHTEUAFR 1 1 I915 3.727. 619

SHEET 2 BF 3 INVENTOR. ARTHUR KURIS ATTOR Y 7 PATENTEDAPR 1 3 3.727. 619

SHEET 3 0F 3 'VENTOR. A HUR KURIS ULTRASONIC APPARATUS FOR HAIR JOINING CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a division of application Ser. No. 885,830, filed Dec. 17, 1969 now US. Pat. No. 3,642,010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates generally to improvements in permanently attaching commercial hair to live hair and more particularly to improved methods and apparatus for joining the hair together with ultrasonic mechanical vibrational energy. Ultrasonic is defined as a general term referring to the generation and utilization of vibratory mechanical energy, usually but not necessari- 1y beyond the audible range.

Before proceeding to the details of the present invention, let us first briefly review generally known facts about hair weaving" as is generally referred to today. Two approaches to the problem are illustrated in US. Pat. Nos. 2,621,663 and 3,2955 34. Another procedure used today requires the actual tying of the hair together by forming knots, with an eventual retreatment required when the live hair grows out and the knot becomes visible. This procedure of tying knots is extremely difficult and time consuming. Knots in generally also have a tendency to slip.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It. is the general object of the present invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other difficulties of, and objections to prior art practices by-the provision of improved methods and apparatus for joining hair with ultrasonic energy.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method by which commercial human hair can be joined or attached to live hair on the human head using ultrasonic energy.

Another object of the present invention is the reduction in time required to join hair as compared to prior practices. 7

Another object of the present invention is'to provide an ultrasonic rnethodof hair joining which may easily be performed by a person without any assistance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic method of suturing which is less time consuming than procedures practiced to date.

Another object of the present invention is to provide anultrasonic method and apparatus which eliminates the tying of knots in hair thickening practices.

Other objects of the present invention will become obvious and apparent as the disclosure proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION between the overlapping segments of hair.

The ultrasonic bonding is accomplished by using 7 members or welding tips having a small area of contact,

with at least one of the welding tips being resiliently supported so that'the welding tips can be moved relatively toward each other, in a way similar to the prongs of a pair of tweezers, for suitably gripping the hairs. Positioning means are preferably provided on one of the welding elements for accurately locating and retaining segments of the hair in overlapping relationship to each other and with respect to the welding tips.

The ultrasonic energy is introduced in a proper direction through at least one of the welding tips, which take the form of supporting and vibratory means, at a suitable frequency and amplitude to cause a joining or welding together of the held hair segments.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention one or both of the hairs to be joined may be coated or impregnated externally, internally, or both, with a BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself, and the manner in which it may be made and used, may be better understood by referring to the fol- I lowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. I, is a view in side elevation of a persons head showing the manner in which hair is secured to existing hairs with ultrasonic energy;

FIG. 2, is a top longitudinal view of one form of ultrasonic system, of the type capable of being hand held and manipulated, for joining hairs in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3, isa side longitudinal view, partly in cross sec- .tion of the ultrasonic system of FIG. 2; FIG.4, is a somewhat diagrammatic view illustrating the application of a bonding agent to the human hair;

FIGS. 5-10 inclusive, are somewhat diagrammatic views on an enlarged scale showing the manner in which additional strands of natural or artificial hairs are secured to existing hairs;

FIG. 11, is a somewhat diagrammatic view on an enlarged scale showing the manner in which additional artificial or supplementary hair strands are joined to an individual hair;

FIG. 12, is a somewhat diagrammatic view on an enlarged scale showing the manner in which the bonding agent is contained within the core of the hair; and

FIGS. 13 and 14, diagrammatically illustrate the joining of a supplemental hair of a plastic material to a human hair.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION a Referring to the drawing, and particularly to FIGS. 1-3 thereof, 10 indicates the scalp-of a persons head on which it is assumed there is growing a certain amount of live hair 11. In accordance with the practice of the present invention it is desired to increase the number of hairs on the scalp 10, by the attachment of artificial or natural hair 12, to the existing live hairs 11 with an ultrasonic welding instrument 15. The added hair may be of a synthetic plastic material.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate one form of the ultrasonic system for joining together overlapping segments of the

hairs

11 and 12 to form a junction portion or zone 14. The system includes vibrator means 16 in the form ofa hand held instrument, including an ultrasonic transducer or motor 18 for effecting the high frequency vibrations of the tool member 20 terminating in a working surface 21 that extends in a plane substantially normal to the direction of mechanical vibrations illustrated by the arrow 22. The base 23 of the tool member 20 is secured to an insert portion 24. Supporting means 25 is provided to act as an anvil or clamp, so that the overlapped layers of

hair

11 and 12 may be compressed between the positioning means in the form of a groove or slot 26 on the tool 20 and slot 27 provided on said support means.

The ultrasonic motor 18, as illustrated, may be in the form of a driving memberadapted for being hand held as by an operator 30, and generally comprising a tubular housing or casing 31 into which the insert unit 24- supporting the tool member 20 may be partially telescoped. The ultrasonic motor 18 is energized by an oscillation generator 32 with a power cable 33, connecting the two together. The generator is an oscillator adapted to produce electrical energy having an ultrasonic frequency which may be in the range of 5,000 to 100,000 cycles per second, but preferably in the range of 20,000 to 60,000 cycles per second.

The ultrasonic motor 18 may be one of a variety of electromechanical types, such as electrodynamic, piezoelectric and magnetostrictive. The ultrasonic motor 18 for effecting welding procedures through hand directed tools of suitable configuration, which are readily replaceable or inter-changeable with other work performing tools in accoustically vibrated material treating devices, may be of the type well known in the art, and wherein each work tool member is rigidly joined in end-to-end relationship to a connecting body or acoustic impedance transformer and to a transducer which may form an insert unit or assembly, which is removably supported in a housing, containing a coil in surrounding relationship to the transducer and receiving alternating current for producing an alternating electromagnetic field.

The transducer in the ultrasonic motor 18 is longitudinally dimensioned so as to have lengths which are whole multiples of half-wavelengths of the compressional waves established therein at the frequency of the biassed alternating current supplied so that longitudinal loops of motion as indicated by arrow 22, occur both at the end of the insert unit 24 to which the tool member 20 is rigidly connected and the working surface 26. Thus, the optimum amplitude of longitudinal vibration and hyper-accelerations of tool member 20 is achieved, and such amplitude is determined by the relationship of the masses of the tool member 20 and insert unit 24 which may be made effective to either magnify or reduce the amplitude of the vibrations received from the transducer. The tool member 20 may be permanently attached to the end of insert unit 24, for example, by brazing, soldering or the like, or the tool may be provided with a threaded stud (not shown) adapted to be screwed into a tapped hole in the end of insert unit 24 for effecting the rigid connection of the tool to the stem.

The support means 25 and the vibratory means 16 may be separate instruments and utilized by one or more persons simultaneously, but yet individually. For convenience they may be combined in one hand held instrument, for example, as disclosed herein.

It preferred the hand held instrument disclosed in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be employed and in which the support means 25 is part of the instrument and includes a pair of legs 35 and 36 respectively, secured together at their lower end by bands 37 and provided with finger gripping means in the form of individual lugs 38 that extend outwardly from the upper end of the legs for engagement by the fingers of the surgeon or operator 30 in a manner hereinafter described. The leg 36 has a leg extension 39 that terminates in a lower extension which is a support member or arm 40 substantially at right angle to the leg extension 39, and is provided with the support surface in the groove 27 in spaced relation to the bottom of the groove 26 of the tool member 20. The positioning means in the form of the

grooves

27 and 26 may take various forms and shapes to retain the hairs l1 and 12 in relatively fixed relation to eachother during welding.

The legs 35 and 36 are in spaced relation to each other and may be contoured to conform to the cylindrical configuration of the ultrasonic transducer housing 31. The generator 32 is connected to the transducer 18 v by means of the cable 33 in a conventional manner. As

seen in FIG. 3 the cable 33mmay enter the ultrasonic motor 18 from the side so as to leave the rear end 42 free for engagement by the thumb or any other finger of the operator 30 to permit manual control of the relative displacement between the overlapping working and support surfaces.

The support means 25 is mounted for relative move ment, with respect to the ultrasonic motor by providing a pair of slots 43 on each of the legs 35 and 36, and which slots accept headed fasteners 45 which extend fromthe casing 31 through the slots 43 to permit free relative movement between the ultrasonic motor 18 and support means 25. The lower end of the casing 31 is provided with an annular shoulder 46 which is adapted to receive spring means in the form of a spring 47, which is contained within the shoulder 46 at one end thereof and in engagement with the bands 37 at the opposite end thereof. The spring 47 applies a force in the direction of arrow 48 so that the working surfaces of the support means and ultrasonic motor means are biassed away from each other, whereby the force applied by the operator is requiredto separate the overlapping working and support surfaces. The spring is' coupled to the supportland ultrasonic motor means so as to force them together with a predetermined static force which might be varied in a conventional manner not shown. In this manner once the static force is determined for the particular thickness of the hairs the resultant bonding may be obtained.

Accordingly the spring means may yieldably urge the support means 25 and transducer means 18 relative to -'form the bond.

each other to a position wherein the working and support surfaces 21 and 28 respectively, are normally in engagement with each other under a predetermined static force, so that the support and transducer means are first separated for the placement of the overlapping portions of

hairs l

1 and 12 therebetween. In contrast to this the spring means may be adjusted such that the working and support surfaces are normally maintained in spacially fixed relation to each other, so that the hair segments to be joined are positioned between the surfaces which are brought together by the operation of the hand held instrument.

In accordance with the invention the joining of the

hairs

11 and 12 may be of a permanent or semi-permanent nature, and this is accomplished by properly selecting the frequency, amplitude of ultrasonic mechanical vibrations, and area of bond, to produce an optimum bonding of the hairs in their overlapping por' tions. The amplitude of vibration may be in the range of 0.0001 to 0.10 inches.

For certain joining applications a bonding agent is used that may be applied to the existing hair or added hair. For example, theadded hairs may first be coated with a bonding agent at the end to be joined. The bonding agent may be in a substantially solid state until the ultrasonic energy is applied thereto, and then it becomes sufficently softened that under the influence of the static force applied the live hair is bonded thereto. When the ultrasonic energy is interrupted or terminated then the bonding agent becomes almost immediately hardened and set. The tool member 20 and supporting means 25 may act as a heat sink so that the thermoplastic bonding agent is quickly chilled and set by the relatively cool surface of the adjoining solid structures. The bonding agent may be automatically applied at the joining zone 14 simultaneously with the welding energy being applied. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the tool member 20 may have a'channel 49 terminating at one end at the slot 26 and at its other end on aside wall of the tool member 20 which in turn is connected onto the

hairs

11 and 12 When the energyis interrupted the bonding agent becomes hardened and set to FIG. 4, illustrates the scalp in which the live hair 11 extends therefrom with the bonding agent 55 applied by applicator means 56, which may be in the form of a brush 57 as illustrated. Obviously, the bonding agent may be applied to the supplemental ,or the live hair and may be of a thickness from 0.00l to 0.060 inches. i

.FIG. 5, illustrates the invention in which the live hair Ila extending from the scalp 10a is joined to the artificial hair 120 with the bonding agent 55a extending therebetween. The bonding agent 55!; may be applied simultaneously with the welding thereof or prior thereto on the surface of one of the hairs so that it is substantially confined to the junction portion or welding zone 14a. ,The bond is formed by positioning the I overlapping segments of the hairs Ila and 12a between working surface 21a of a tool member 200 which is ultrasonically vibrated in the direction of arrow 22a is brought into direct contact with the bonding agent 55a. The bonding agent 55a is generally selected to have the property of softening under the influence of ultrasonic mechanical vibrations and quickly hardening into a solid state when the vibrations are terminated. The ultrasonic energy is applied simultaneously with a compressive force to soften the bonding agent 55a whereby a fusion of the

hairs

11a, 12a and bonding agent 55a occurs, when the energy is stopped ajunction is formed capable of withstanding the stresses applied thereto when the hair is combed, etc. Accordingly the mechanical vibrations may be applied directly to the bonding agent or through the hairs.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the invention in which the bonding agent 55b may be first applied circumferentially to both the hair 11b extending from the scalp 10b and the hair 12b. The

hairs

11b and 12b are brought together to form a junction portion 14b in which the bonding agent 55b extends between the hairs to be joined. The portions of the hairs containing the bonding agent 55b is positioned between the

respective surfaces

21b and 28b of the tool member 20b and supporting means 25b. Upon the application of the ultrasonic energy in a plane substantially normal to the axis of the hairs the mechanical energy due to acoustic softening causes a flow of the bonding agent until the formation of the junction as seen in FIG. 7. The length I of the

surface

21b and 28b may be greater than thatof the bonding agent 55b. In addition the surface may be contoured to obtain a particular configuration for the formed joint 14b.

FIGS. 8-10 illustrate the invention in which the bonding agent 55c fully encompases the hair 12c in the form of a ring at one end thereof. The bonding agent 55c may be applied when the hairs 12c are produced on an automatic process as by dipping the ends thereof. As seen in FIG. 8, the bonding agent 550' is brought into overlapping relationship in the area 14c with the hair l lc extending from the scalp 100. The junction portion 140 is positioned between the member of the supporting means 250 and tool member 20c'such that when the energy and compressive force is applied the hair He is embedded within the bonding agent 550 as seen in FIGS. 9 and 10. In this manner the bonding agent 55c essentially encapsulates respective portions of thehair to form a permanent bond.

FIG. 11, illustrates the invention in which a multiple number of hairs 12d may be joined at ajunction 14d to an existing hair 11d extending from the scalp 10d. In this manner the degree of hair thickness may be controlled. At each junction one or more hairs may be simultaneously joined together. When two hairs are joined together, and a bonding agent is used, then the hairs 12d may be provided as a separate assembly with an axial clearance hole through which the natural hair may first be threaded and then positioned at a desired distance from the scalp 10d between the supporting means 25d and tool member 20d while the latter is vibrated in the direction of arrow 22d.

FIG. 12 illustrates the invention wherein the bonding agent 55c may be applied internally to the hollow core or cavity 58e of either the hair ll-e and/or 12e. As the ultrasonic mechanical energy is applied-the bonding agent may pass through the wall of the hairs and provide a deposit therebetween to form the junction portion l4e. The hairs are positioned in overlapping relation and compressed between the tool e and supporting means e as the energy is applied in the direction of arrow 22e. The joined hair l2e may be artificial in that it is manufactured from a plastic or other material, or it may be human hair.

FlGS. 13 and 14 illustrate the invention in which the artificial hair 12f is made from a plastic material and when it is attached to the live hair 11f a certain flow thereof occurs in the junction area 14f. The vibratory energy when appliedwith the compressive force causes a flow of the hair 12f until it encompases the hair 11f and a firm bond is obtained.

CONCLUSION Accordingly, applicant has invented and disclosed herein a new and novel process and apparatus that may be used commercially, as well as in the home, for the attachment of commercial hair to live hair to obtain a thickening thereof. In addition commercial hair may be secured to commercial hair using this invention as in the manufacture of hair pieces.

Although the commercial hair has generally been illustrated as solid, it is appreciated that it may be tubular if desired and telescopically associated with a live hair and joined with ultrasonic energy to obtain the same desired end results within the scope of the inven tion.

Many other changes could be effected in the particular constructions, and in the methods of use and construction, and in specific details thereof, hereinbcfore set forth, without substantially departing from the in vention intended to be defined herein, the specific description being merely of preferred embodiments capable of illustrating certain principles of the invention.

lclaim:

l. A hand held instrument for joining together over lapping portions of supplemental hairs and existing hairs on top of the head, comprising:

a. a toolmember having a working surface for contact with one of the hairs to be joined, transducer means operative to vibrate said work ing surface of the tool member at a high frequency of at'least 5,000 cycles per second and low amplitude, c. supporting means having a support surface for contact with the opposite hair to be joined, and

means for mounting said supporting means with respect to said transducer means in a manner to permit relative displacement of said working and support surface towards and away from each other for engagement with the opposite sides of the overlapped hairs for applying a compressive force thereto, wherein the overlapped portions of hair are joined together by the combined action of the applied compressive force and ultrasonic vibrations, c. said tool member having a channel extending therein and terminating at one end of said working surface, means in communicating relation with said channel for supplying a bonding agent through said channel to one of said hairs in their area of overlap, said bonding agent becoming softened with the application of ultrasonic energy thereto and flowing from said tool onto the contacted hair, and

f. said supporting means includes means for gripping the instrument by the hand of the user to permit manual control of the relative displacement between said overlapping working and support surfaces.

2. A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 1, and further including positioning means associated with said supporting means to maintain said hairs in relatively fixed position to each other during the application of said ultrasonic vibrations.

3. A hand held instrument as claimed in'claim 2, wherein said positioning means includes a slot on said supporting means.

4. A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 1, further including spring means yieldably urging said support means and transducer means for relative movement with respect to each other.

5. A hand held instrument as in claim 4, wherein said relative movement is to a position wherein said working and support surface are normally in engagement with each other under a predetermined static force, whereby said supporting and transducer means are first separated for the placement of the hairs therebetween.

6. A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein a. said transducer means is containedin a housing,

and

b. said supporting means further includes a pair of spaced apart legs on opposite sides of said transducer. housing in fixed spaced relation to each other with said gripping means extending from one end of said legs, and one of said legs at its opposite end terminating in a support arm containing said support surfaces.

7. A hand held instrument for joining together overlapping portions of supplemental hairs and existing hairs on top of the head comprising:

a. supporting means having a surface for supporting the overlapping portions thereon,

b. positioning means communicating with said supporting surface for retention of said overlapping portions in said overlapping relationship,

c. a tool member having a working surface for contact with said overlapping portions,

. transducer means operative to vibrate said working surface of the tool member at a high frequency of at least 5,000 cycles per second,

. means for mounting said supporting means with respect to said transducer means in a manner to permit relative displacement of said working and supporting surface towards and away from each other for engagement with the opposite sides of the overlapping portions for applying a compressive force thereto, and wherein said relative displacement is to a position wherein said working and support surfaces are normally in engagement with each other under a predetermined static force, whereby said supporting and transducer means are first separated for placement of the hairs therebetween,

9 10 f. said tool member having a channel extending further including spring means yieldably urging said therein and terminating at one end of said working support means and transducer means for relative movesurface, means in communicating relation with ment with respect to each other. said channel for supplying a bonding agen 10. A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 7,

through Said channel to n of Said hairs in their 5 wherein said positioning means includes a slot on said area of overlap, said bonding agent becoming sof- Supporting means tened with the application of ultrasonic energy 11. A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 7, thereto and flowing from said tool onto said hair,

wherein p f a. said transducer means is contained in a housing, g. said supporting means includes means for gripping l0 and the instrument by the hand of the user to permit manual control of the relative displacement between said overlapping working and support b. said supporting means further includes a pair of spaced apart legs on opposite sides of said trans- Surfaces ducer housing in fixed spaced relation to each 8.'A hand held instrument asclaimed in claim 7, Otherwithsaid gripping meansextendins from one wherein said vibrations are applied in a direction subend of a i one of legs at QPP F stantially parallel to the direction in which the comend termmmng Support arm w g i pressive'force is applied to said overlap ing portions, Support Suffdce- 9. A hand held-instrument as claimed in claim 7,

Claims

2. A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 1, and further including positioning means associated with said supporting means to maintain said hairs in relatively fixed position to each other during the application of said ultrasonic vibrations.
3. A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 2, wherein said positioning means includes a slot on said supporting means.
4. A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 1, further including spring means yieldably urging said support means and transducer means for relative movement with respect to each other.
5. A hand held instrument as in claim 4, wherein said relative movement is to a position wherein said working and support surface are normally in engagement with each other under a predetermined static force, whereby said supporting and transducer means are first separated for the placement of the hairs therebetween.
6. A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein a. said transducer means is contained in a housing, and b. said supporting means further includes a pair of spaced apart legs on opposite sides of said transducer housing in fixed spaced relation to each other with said gripping means extending from one end of said legs, and one of said legs at its opposite end terminating in a support arm containing said support surfaces.
7. A hand held instrument for joining together overlapping portions of supplemental hairs and existing hairs on top of the head comprising: a. supporting means having a surface for supporting the overlapping portions thereon, b. positioning means communicating with said supporting surface for retention of said overlapping portions in said overlapping relationship, c. a tool member having a working surface for contact with said overlapping portions, d. transducer means operative to vibrate said working surface of the tool member at a high frequency of at least 5,000 cycles per second, e. means for mounting said supporting means with respect to said transducer means in a manner to permit relative displacement of said working and supporting surface towards and away from each other for engagement with the opposite sides of the overlapping portions for applying a compressive force thereto, and , wherein said relative displacement is to a position wherein said working and support surfaces are normally in engagement with each other under a predetermined static force, whereby said supporting and transducer means are first separated for placement of the hairs therebetween, f. said tool member having a channel extending therein and terminating at one end of said working surface, means in communicating relation with said channel for supplying a bonding agent through said channel to one of said hairs in their area of overlap, said bonding agent becoming softened with the application of ultrasonic energy thereto and flowing from said tool onto said hair, and g. said supporting means includes means for gripping the instrument by the hand of the user to permit manual control of the relative displacement between said overlapping working and support surfaces.
8. A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 7, wherein said vibrations are applied in a direction substantially parallel to the direction in which the compressive force is applied to said overlapping portions.
9. A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 7, further including spring means yieldably urging said support means and transducer means for relative movement with respect to each other.
10. A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 7, wherein said positioning means includes a slot on said supporting means.
11. A hand held inStrument as claimed in claim 7, wherein a. said transducer means is contained in a housing, and b. said supporting means further includes a pair of spaced apart legs on opposite sides of said transducer housing in fixed spaced relation to each other with said gripping means extending from one end of said legs, and one of said legs at its opposite end terminating in a support arm containing said support surface.