Hair clip

Abstract

A hair clip adapted to firmly hold hair while preventing damage thereto is disclosed. The hair clip includes a snapping member and a pin member. The hair clip is adapted to move between opened and closed positions. The hair clip also includes a resilient flexible material covering one and only one of the snapping and pin members.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 10/161,507 “HAIR CLIP FOR FIRMLY HOLDING HAIR” filed Jun. 4, 2002, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The present application claims priority from the Ser. No. 10/161,507 application.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to improvements in hair clips and more particularly to an improved hair clip for firmly holding hair while preventing damage and facilitating securing of hair.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Hair clips are generally used for holding hair in particular positions or securing portions of a person's head of hair. A popular type of hair clip is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,082,773. The hair clip shown in the '773 patent includes a snapping member and a pin member arranged to provide locked (closed) and unlocked (open) positions. In the closed position, the snapping member and pin member are substantially adjacent to one another. In the open position, the snapping member and pin member are no longer adjacent one another but, instead, diverge from a common base. In use, with the snapping member in an open position, hair may be placed between the snapping member and the pin member. Once hair is placed between the snapping member and the pin member, the snapping member is brought toward the pin member until the snapping member snaps into a position adjacent to the pin member, thus locking the hair between the snapping member and the pin member.

Hair clips as described in the '773 patent do not include any means for preventing damage to hair held between the snapping member and the pin member. Hair may be damaged when pinned between two members, which are typically made of metallic or similar hard materials. Such damage may be in the form of hair deformation, for example. That is, when hair is placed within a finite space between two members made of metallic or otherwise hard materials and subjected to a compressive force, the hair, not the members, will tend to deform. Furthermore, the snapping and pin members of prior art hair clips include surfaces with low coefficients of friction. As a result, these types of clips are prone to hair slipping out from between the clip's members when attaching or while in use.

One type of hair clip that has been used extensively in recent years includes a bend in the pin member. The bend in the pin assists in preventing the clip from sliding off of the hair. However, the bend tends to further damage the hair when the clip is removed.

A hair clip capable of firmly holding hair between a snapping member and a pin member while preventing damage thereto makes wearing hair clips more enjoyable and less problematic.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a one-piece hair clip having a concavo-convex snapping member and a pin member. The hair clip is adapted to firmly hold hair while preventing damage thereto. The snapping member may be placed in an open position for insertion of hair and the like between the pin member and the snapping member. The snapping member may also be placed in a closed position for firmly and securely holding hair between the snapping and pin members while preventing damage thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and methodologies shown.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair clip in an open position in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hair clip in a closed position in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the top of a hair clip in an open position in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the top of a hair clip in a closed position in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the bottom of a hair clip in an open position in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the bottom of a hair clip in a closed position in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a hair clip in an open position in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of a hair clip in a closed position in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the Figures, wherein like numerals correspond to like elements throughout the several views, the hair clip, indicated generally with reference numeral 10, comprises a concavo-convex outer snapping member 12 and an inner pin member 14 each being attached at an end portion or base 16. Preferably the attachment is an integral attachment, although other forms of attachment can be used. The snapping member 12 is generally V shaped having legs 18 and 20 that originate separately at the end portion 16 and extend forward away from the end portion 16 until they join together at the tip 22. The legs 18, 20 of the snapping member are generally planar elongated legs in generally co-planar and parallel relationship.

The clip 10 has a simple positive snapping action between opened and closed positions which makes the clip 10 easy to manipulate. The outer snapping member 12 is adapted so that a snapping action occurs when the snapping member 12 is moved from one concavo-convex or closed position to an opposite concavo-convex or open position. The legs 18, 20 making up the snapping member 12 may be fabricated using a sheet metal or other suitable material in a concavo-convex shape and having a snapping action between the two opposite concavo-convex open and closed positions. In one embodiment, the legs 18, 20 of the snapping member 12 include a center opening at the end of the legs opposite the end portion 16 so that the legs 18, 20 may be fastened together at the tip 22. The ends of each leg 18, 20 opposite the end portion 16 may be formed in various configurations with or without a fastening device.

The pin member 14 is preferably a substantially straight or planar piece of metal that is attached to the end portion 16 such that it is centered between the legs 18, 20 of the snapping member 12 and extends in generally parallel relation thereto away from the end portion 16 toward the tip when the snapping member 12 is in the closed position. In the open position, the snapping member 12 and the pin member 14 diverge from one another as shown in the figures such that there is a space formed between the snapping member 12 and the pin member 14 into which hair and the like may be inserted. When the snapping member 12 is snapped into the closed position, the snapping member 12 moves toward the pin member 14 and presses hair located within the space against the pin member 14. Hair within the space is subjected to a compressive force and held firmly in place.

Referring, in particular, to FIG. 1, there is shown a hair clip 10 in an open position. In the open position, the snapping member 12 is bent upwardly and away from the pin member 14. The pin member 14 is positioned with respect to the snapping member 12 so that there is a space between them. The distal end of the pin member 14 is curved away from the snapping member 12 so as to increase the size of the space between the two members. To position the hair clip 10 in an open position, the snapping member 12 is snapped away from the pin member 14.

Once hair has been inserted into the hair clip 10, the clip 10 may be closed as shown in FIG. 2. To move the hair clip 10 into the closed position, the snapping member 12 is bent toward the pin member 14 as explained above until it snaps in place. In the closed position the pin member 14 and snapping member 12 are adjacent each other so as to hold hair between them. The curvature of the two members is preferably substantially similar.

The pin member 14 includes means for enhancing the hair clip's 10 ability to gently hold hair firmly in place. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the means for doing so, in one embodiment of the invention, comprises a rubber layer 15 disposed on at least a portion of the pin member 14. The rubber layer 15 can be formed as a coating on the pin member, can be separately adhered to the pin member 14, or can be formed as a sleeve received by the pin. Alternate embodiments may include a coating located on either the pin member or the snapping member. While rubber is the preferred material for use with this invention, other materials can be used that are softer than the underlying pin material and/or provide increased friction between the pin member 14 and the snapping member 12.

The rubber layer 15 acts to enhance the clip's ability to firmly hold hair by increasing the amount of frictional force between the pin member 14 and the hair. The pin member 14, like other elements of the hair clip 10 may be manufactured using sheet metal, spring steel or other suitable material. Typically, those materials include a smooth aesthetically pleasing outer surface. Such surfaces, in and of themselves, provide little resistance to hair slipping out from between the snapping member 12 and pin member 14. By increasing the amount of friction between the hair and the pin member 14, the clip's ability to firmly hold hair is enhanced. That is, by increasing the amount of friction between the hair and the pin member 14, the compressive force exerted on the hair is supplemented with a frictional force to counteract slippage. The friction may be increased by any other means known to those skilled in the art and is not limited to a rubber layer described above. For example, the pin member 14 or snapping member 12 may be finished with an outer surface having a higher coefficient of friction.

A sleeve made from rubber, natural or synthetic, or similar soft flexible material is preferred. A rubber layer, in addition to increasing the amount of friction also provides a barrier between hair and the clip's members. Such an arrangement is easier on the hair in that at least a portion of the compressive force and deformation caused thereby is exerted on the sleeve and not the hair.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the top of the hair clip 10 is shown in open and closed positions, respectively. The top of the hair clip 10 will be opposite a user's head when the clip 10 is employed by a user to hold a lock of hair. When the clip is in an open position, as shown in FIG. 3, the top surface of the snapping member 12 is concave while the top surface of the pin member 14 is convex. When the clip 10 is in a closed position, as shown in FIG. 4, the top surface of both the snapping member 12 and pin member 14 is convex. In FIG. 4, as in FIG. 6, the top surface of the pin member 14 is adjacent to the bottom surface of the snapping member 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the bottom of the hair clip 10 is shown in open and closed positions, respectively. The bottom of the hair clip 10 will face the user's head when the clip 10 is employed by a user to hold a lock of hair. When the clip 10 is in an open position, as shown in FIG. 5, the bottom surface of the snapping member 12 is convex while the bottom surface of the pin member 14 is concave. When the clip 10 is in a closed position, as shown in FIG. 6, the bottom surface of both the pin member 14 and snapping member 12 is concave.

As can be seen from FIGS. 3 through 6, the pin member 14 is preferably long enough so that it will not fit between the legs 18, 20 of the snapping member 12. The rubber layer 15 (frictional layer) is shown located at a particular point along the extent of the pin member 14, however, the frictional layer 15 may be positioned as desired. Likewise, the frictional layer 15 is shown having a particular length but any suitable length is well within the scope of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, a side elevation view of the hair clip 10 is shown. As explained above, the snapping member 12 may be positioned in opened and closed positions. In FIG. 7, the clip 10 is again shown in an open position. That is, the snapping member 12 is snapped into an open position by bending and snapping it away from the pin member 14. To close the hair clip 10, the snapping member is snapped toward the pin member 14 so that the two members 12, 14 are in close proximity and a compressive force is exerted on anything located between them. In FIG. 8, the clip 10 is shown in a closed position.

Although embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, and that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is defined by the attached claims.

Claims

1. A hair clip comprising a snapping member capable of movement between open and closed concavo-convex positions and an elongated pin member connected to the snapping member and adapted so that when the snapping member is in the closed position, hair may be held between the snapping member and the pin member, wherein one and only one of the snapping and pin members is covered at least in part with a resilient flexible material.

2. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein the resilient flexible material is synthetic rubber.

3. The hair clip of claim I, wherein the resilient flexible material is natural rubber.

4. A hair clip comprising:

a snapping member capable of moving between opened and closed concavo-convex positions;

an elongated pin member adapted so that when the snapping member is in a closed position, hair may be held between the snapping member and the pin member; and

means for firmly holding hair between the snapping member and the pin member while preventing damage thereto.

5. A hair clip as in claim 4 wherein the snapping member includes a pair of generally planar elongated legs in generally co-planar and parallel relationship, the legs being joined together at each of their respective distal ends and made of flexible sheet material.

6. A hair clip as in claim 4 wherein the means for firmly holding hair between the snapping member and the pin member is a resilient flexible material disposed along at least a portion of an outer surface of the pin member.

7. A hair clip as in claim 6 wherein the resilient flexible material is synthetic rubber.

8. A hair clip as in claim 6 wherein the resilient flexible material is natural rubber.

9. A hair clip as in claim 4 wherein the means for firmly holding hair between the snapping member and the pin member is a rubber sleeve disposed over a portion of the pin member.

10. A hair clip as in claim 9 wherein the pin member is substantially planar.

11. A hair clip as in claim 9 wherein the rubber sleeve is made from synthetic rubber.

12. A hair clip as in claim 9 wherein the rubber sleeve is made from natural rubber.

13. A hair clip as in claim 4 wherein at least a portion of the pin member is reversely curved with respect to the snapping member in its open position to facilitate insertion of hair between the pin member and the snapping member, and wherein the pin member is substantially parallel to the snapping member in its closed position for compressing hair therebetween.

14. A hair clip comprising:

a snapping member capable of moving between opened and closed concavo-convex positions;

an elongated pin member adapted so that when the snapping member is in a closed position, hair may be held between the snapping member and the pin member; and

the pin member having a resilient flexible material on at least a portion of the pin member.

15. A hair clip as in claim 14 wherein the resilient flexible material is synthetic rubber.

16. A hair clip as in claim 14 wherein the resilient flexible material is natural rubber.

17. A hair clip as in claim 14 wherein the pin member is substantially planar.

18. A hair clip comprising;

a snapping member capable of moving between opened and closed concavo-convex positions;

an elongated pin member adapted so that when the snapping member is in a closed position, hair may be held between the snapping member and the pin member; and

a resilient flexible material located on at least a portion of an outer surface of the pin member for firmly holding hair between the snapping member and the pin member while preventing damage thereto.

19. A hair clip as in claim 18 wherein the resilient flexible material is made from synthetic rubber.

20. A hair clip as in claim 18 wherein the resilient flexible material is made from natural rubber.