Hair pin

Abstract

A hair pin includes a first leg, a second leg, and opening, and a connecting portion connecting the first and second legs at their respective second ends. The first leg including a first set of undulations extending over a majority of the first leg, and the second leg including a second set of undulations extending over a majority of the second leg. The opening is disposed between first ends of the first and second legs and receives strands of hair when the hair pin is in an open position.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

The present application is a non-provisional application based on, and claiming the priority benefit of, co-pending U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/650,269, which was filed on Feb. 4, 2005, and is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to hair pins for holding and retaining hair and, more particularly, to hair pins for holding and retaining hair having a legs with undulations.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Bobby pins or hair pins are generally known in the art and come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

In one example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,547 to Williams discloses a hair pin for gripping and placing the hair of a user against the head of the user. The hair pin is constructed from a strand of wire formed from a resilient material having a first leg and a second leg joined together by a first bend. The first leg has a second bend disposed near a free end of the first leg, such that a third leg is defined between the second bend and the free end of the first leg. A total length of the first and third legs is generally equal to a length of the second leg. The first, second and third legs lying generally in the same plane.

In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,905 to Adam discloses a hair pin that provides the appearance of greater volume and thickness of a user's hair with the use of a support member. The support member protrudes from a side of a lower leg of the hair pin at an acute angle and extends substantially parallel to the legs of the hair pin. Hairs being held between the legs of the hair pin are elevated by the support member to a position above the upper leg of the pin and away from the scalp, thus giving the appearance of fuller, thicker hair.

In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,194,248 to Callies discloses a hair pin having a handle for facilitating opening of the hair pin. The hair pin includes a first leg, a second leg and a third leg, wherein the first, second and third legs are all relatively parallel to each other. The first and second legs are connected via a U-shaped member at one end of the hair pin, and the second and third legs are connected via a second U-shaped member at another end of the hair pin. An area defined by the first and second legs may be opened upon movement of the handle.

In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,699,790 to Porteous discloses spring clip used to hold a user's hair. The spring clip includes a single length of spring metal bent to form a loop at one end and two legs which normally lie one above the other. At least one of the legs is provided with an outwardly projecting bow substantially at right angles to the plane of the loop at a point towards the loop end of the clip. The legs may include mating corrugations. These and other hair pins have been used in the past, but have not provided the necessary holding and retaining power desired by users.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a hair pin having a first leg, a second leg, a connecting portion, and an opening is disclosed. The first and second legs each include a set of undulations that extend over a majority of the respective legs. The connecting portion connects second ends of the first and second legs together, and the opening is disposed at first ends of the first and second legs for receiving strands of hair when the hair pin is in an open position.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a hair pin having a first leg, a second leg, a retention device, and a cover is disclosed. The first and second legs each include first and second ends. The first and second legs are connected at their respective second ends via a bend and are biased toward one another for retaining strands of hair between the first and second legs when the hair pin is in a closed position. The retention device is disposed on at least one of the first ends of the first and second legs, and the cover encompassing the retention device. The retention device increases the surface area of the at least one first end thereby providing better retention of the cover on the at least one of the first end.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a hair pin having a first leg, a second leg, and a cover is disclosed. The first and second legs each include first and second ends. The first and second legs are connected at their respective second ends via a bend and are biased toward one another for retaining strands of hair between the first and second legs when the hair pin is in a closed position. The cover is disposed on at least one of the first ends of the first and second legs, and includes a first layer disposed around the at least one first end and a second layer the disposed on the first layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a straight bobby pin with off-set undulations;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a straight bobby pin with generally corresponding undulations;

FIG. 2A is an isometric view of the bobby pin of FIG. 2 with a friction providing coating;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an arched bobby pin;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a bobby pin with a bead in a closed position;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the bobby pin of FIG. 4 in an open position;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a bobby pin having a handle;

FIG. 7 is a side view of an alternate handle for the bobby pin FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is side view of an another alternate handle for the bobby pin FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a detailed isometric view of an end of the bobby pin FIG. 1 without a coating;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of an alternate end to the one shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of another alternate end to the one shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of another alternate end to the one shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of an end of the bobby pin FIG. 1 with a double coating; and

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the end of the bobby pin along line A-A of FIG. 13.

While the method and device described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure and the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, and with specific reference to FIG. 1, a hair pin in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure is generally depicted by reference numeral 20. As shown therein, the hair pin 20 in this exemplary embodiment includes a first leg 22 that is connected to a second leg 24 via a bend 26. The first leg 22, the second leg 24, and the bend 26 define an area 28 for receiving stands of hair. An opening 30 to the area 28 is disposed opposite the bend 26 on the hair pin 20, and is defined by free ends 32, 34 of the first and second legs 22, 24, respectively. The opening 30 allows for the insertion and retraction of the strands of hair into the area 28.

The hair pin 20 may be constructed from a resilient or flexible metal stock, such as wire, having a rectangular cross-sectional area as seen in FIG. 1, but may alternatively be constructed from a variety of materials having various cross-sectional shapes. For example, the hair pin 20 may be constructed from plastic, wood, composite, or a combination thereof, and may have an oval, square, or round cross-sectional shape. The hair pin 20 may also be manufactured in a variety of sizes (lengths and widths) such as, for example, 1.875″ long×0.060″ wide, 2″ long×0.060″ wide, and 2.625″ long×0.090″ wide, and may be manufactured in various colors, such as tortoise, black, brown, silver among others. In addition, the hair pin 20 may also be constructed from a single piece of wire or from one or more pieces.

As seen in FIG. 1, the first leg 22 and the second leg 24 each include undulations. The undulations, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, are not limited to being wave-like in appearance but may include many other shapes and forms. For example, the undulations may include sharp edges, comers, half arcs, rectangles, odd shapes, and a combination thereof. The undulations of the hair pin 20, may be generally complimentary to one another, as illustrated FIGS. 2 and 3, but may also be staggered or in opposition, as illustrated FIG. 1.

More specifically, the undulations of the first and second legs 22, 24 may cradle each other as seen in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the undulations may be off-set as seen in FIG. 1. The undulations may provide more surface area for the strands of hair to be secured and more surface area for applying grip materials like “soft touch” paint or other friction providing coatings. For example, the first and second legs 22, 24 may be sprayed or coated with a “soft touch” paint, epoxy, silicone, vinyl, neoprene, sanoprene, natural rubber, and/or other suitable materials. Specifically, the hair pin 20 as illustrated FIG. 2A may be wholly or partially covered by the friction providing coating, thereby proving additional gripping power to the hair pin 20. Similarly, the undulations may also provide more tension and holding power in retaining the strands of hair in the hair clip 20. The hair pin 20 as seen in FIG. 3 may also include an overall arched shape.

The hair pin 20 may be manufactured using a process wherein the material of the hair pin 20 is pulled off a spool of raw material, such as wire. The wire may be painted before or after it is pulled into stamping dies for bending and crimping, thereby applying the undulation and the overall shape of the hair pin 20. The undulations in the hair pin 20 may be manufactured through a two step process wherein the shape of the first and second legs 22, 24 are created separately, but may be manufactured through a one step process wherein the shape of both the first and second legs 22, 24 are created simultaneously. Once the wire is bent to the desired design, the hair pin's free ends 32, 34 may be dipped in an epoxy, such as Plastisole or other similar material, to coat the hair pin's free ends 32, 34 with a cover 39. The epoxy dip can be cured via heat or UV light.

The above exemplary embodiments may be varied to achieve and/or create additional or alternative features. For example, the first and second legs 22, 24 may include texturing or deformations on their respective inside surfaces. More specifically, the legs 22, 24 may be knurled, grooved, matted, or otherwise machined or etched to include a non-flat, abrasive, or textured surface.

In another exemplary embodiment, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the hair pin 20 may include an opening device 40. The opening device 40 may be utilized to aid in the separation of the opening 30 and/or the hair retention area 28. In the illustrated example, the opening device 40 may include a bead or other object 42 slidingly engaged with the hair pin 20. More specifically, the bead 42 may include an aperture 43 for treading or otherwise attaching the bead 42 to one of the legs 22, 24. An outer surface 45 of the bead 42 then abuts the other of the legs 22, 24 as the bead 42 slides along the leg 24 to open the hair pin 20. The hair pin 20 when in the closed position as seen in FIG. 4, may close regardless of the bead 42, as the bead 42 may be located near the bend 26 without abutting the outer surface 45 against the opposing leg. The hair pin 20 may be opened as seen in FIG. 5 by sliding the bead 42 along a length of one of the first or second legs 22, 24, thereby causing the bead 42, and specifically the outer surface 45, to separate the first and second legs 22, 24 and/or cause the separation of the opening 30 and/or the hair retention area 28.

The opening device 40 may allow the user to maintain the hair pin 20 in an open position (FIG. 5) such that when the user is ready to secure the hair pin 20, the user slides the opening device 40 toward the opening 30 and secures the hair pin 20 in the hair. The opening device 40 can be decorative in nature so as to coincide with current fashion and hair trends. The decorative nature of the opening device 40 could possess jewels, cast artifacts, leather, fabrics, and other materials as part of the device's design.

In a further alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a hair pin 120 may further include a third leg 146 having a handle 148. The third leg 146, may extend from an end 134 of a second leg 124 via a second bend 150 with the handle 148 disposed at the other end of the third leg 146 opposite the second bend 150 and the opening 130 of the hair pin 120. The handle 148, as seen in FIG. 7, may include a loop or ring constructed from the hair pin material. Alternatively, as seen in FIG. 8, the handle 148 may include a bead or sphere 150 or other shape easily engageable with the user's finger to actuate the separation of an opening 130 and/or an area 128.

The handle 148 may also provide opportunities for decorative adornment such as jewels, beads, cast artifacts, leathers, and other fabric/soft good materials. The handle 48 could also have a “soft” coating for comfort that could be made from silicone, vinyl, neoprene, or soft pliable materials.

In another alternate embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9-12, the ends 32, 34 of the hair pin 20 may be altered to include a retention device 49 to provide additional locking power between the cover 39 and the ends 32, 34 of the hair pin 20. More specifically, the ends 32, 34 of the hair pin 20 may be bent, manipulated or formed as illustrated in FIG. 9 to better adhere to the cover 39. Similarly, the retention device 49 may include one or more notches 49a, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, and/or may include a rough or textured surface, such as knurled, grooved, matted, or otherwise machined or etched to include a non-flat or abrasive surface as illustrated in FIG. 11. The retention device 49 may also include an object 49b connected, attached or fastened to the ends 32, 34 as illustrated in FIG. 12. In addition, the ends 32, 34 may be curved, rounded or smooth as illustrated in FIG. 10 such that scraping or cutting of the user's scalp is minimized if the cover 39 is removed.

In addition to providing additional locking power, the retention device 49 may enable the creation of larger covers 39 on hair pins 20 with the retention device 49 than on those without the retention device 49. More specifically, the addition of the retention device 49 increases a surface area of the ends 32, 34, thereby allowing for more material of the cover 39 to be gathered in a single pass or dip to create a thicker coating for the ends 32, 34.

In another alternate embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 13-14, a cover 139 of a hair pin 220 may be increased in size or layered to provide a larger, more durable and more comfortable cover 139. FIG. 1 illustrates a single layer or small cover 39, while FIG. 13 illustrates a double layer or large cover 139. The cover 139 as illustrated in FIG. 14 includes a first layer 250 disposed adjacent the leg 224 of the hair clip 220, and a second layer 252 disposed adjacent the first layer 250. The layers 250, 252 may be formed from different materials, or may be formed from the same material.

The size of the cover 139 can vary depending on the wire stock width used. For instance, a cover with a size range from 0.090″ (2.2 mm) to 0.110″ (2.8 mm) could be generated with a 0.058″ (1.47 mm) bobby wire width. A cover 139 with a size range from 0.120″ (3.0 mm) to 0.175″ (4.4 mm) could be generated with a 0.087″ (2.2 mm) bobby wire width.

While the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, which are intended to be illustrative only and not to be limiting of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that changes, additions or deletions may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A hair pin, comprising:

a first leg including a first end and a second end, the first leg having a first set of undulations extending over a majority of the first leg;

a second leg including a first end and a second end, the second leg having a second set of undulations extending over a majority of the second leg;

a connecting portion disposed between the second ends of the first and second legs for connecting the first and second legs; and

an opening disposed between the first ends of the first and second legs for receiving strands of hair when the hair pin is in an open position.

2. The hair pin of claim 1, wherein an area defined by the first leg, the second leg, and the connecting portion receives the strands of hair when the hair clip is in a closed position.

3. The hair pin of claim 1, wherein the hair pin is generally arched throughout a length of the hair pin so as to conform to a shape of a users head.

4. The hair pin of claim 1, further including a second connecting portion connecting the first end of the second leg to a first end of a third leg, the third leg being oriented generally parallel to the first and second legs and including a handle disposed at a second end of the third leg.

5. The hair pin of claim 1, wherein the first leg, the second leg and the connecting portion are all constructed from a single piece of wire.

6. The hair pin of claim 1, wherein the first and second set of undulation correspond to each other when the hair clip is in a closed position.

7. The hair pin of claim 1, wherein the first and second set of undulation are off-set relative to each other when the hair clip is in a closed position.

8. The hair pin of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second legs include a friction material disposed on an inner surface of the leg such that the friction material engages strands of hair disposed between the legs.

9. The hair pin of claim 8, wherein a majority of the least one leg is covered with an epoxy material.

10. The hair pin of claim 1, further including an opening device having an outer surface and an aperture, wherein the opening device slidably engages one of the first and second legs via the aperture such that the outer surface of the opening device abuts the other of the first and second legs to separate the legs when the opening device slides toward the first ends of the legs.

11. The hair pin of claim 10, wherein the opening device is disposed near the connecting portion when the hair pin is in a closed position.

12. The hair pin of claim 10, wherein the opening device has a generally spherical shape.

13. A hair pin, comprising:

a first leg including a first end and a second end;

a second leg including a first end and a second end, the first and second legs being connected at their respective second ends and biased toward one another for retaining strands of hair between the first and second legs when the hair pin is in a closed position;

a retention device disposed on at least one of the first ends of the first and second legs; and

a cover encompassing the retention device, wherein the retention device increases the surface area of the at least one first end thereby providing better retention of the cover on the at least one of the first end.

14. The hair pin of claim 13, wherein the retention device is a rough surface at the at least one end.

15. The hair pin of claim 13, wherein the retention device includes at least one notch disposed at the at least one end.

16. The hair pin of claim 15, wherein the retention device includes a pair of notches disposed on opposite sides of the at least one end.

17. The hair pin of claim 15, wherein the retention device is integrally formed with the at least one end.

18. A hair pin, comprising:

a first leg including a first end and a second end;

a second leg including a first end and a second end, wherein the first and second legs connect at their respective second ends via a bend and are biased toward one another for retaining strands of hair between the first and second legs when the hair pin is in a closed position; and

a cover disposed on at least one of the first ends of the first and second legs, wherein the cover includes a first layer disposed around the at least one first end and a second layer the disposed on the first layer.

19. The hair pin of claim 18, wherein the cover is constructed from an epoxy material.

20. The hair pin of claim 19, wherein the first and second layer are constructed from the same material.