Hair clip without coil spring

Abstract

A hair clip includes two jaws each having a hand grip extended from one end, and a coupling device having a spring member engaged with the hand grips of the jaws for coupling the jaws and the coupling device together and for allowing the jaws to be forced away from each other and to engage with a hair of a user when the hand grips are forced and depressed toward each other by the user. The spring member is preferably a curved spring member, and the coupling device includes two brackets formed on the ends of the spring member and each having a channel for receiving and engaging with the hand grips. A block is formed in each jaw for reinforcing the jaws and the hand grips.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hair clip, and more particularly to a hair clip including two spring-biased jaws resiliently coupled together with a resilient coupling device without a torsional spring or a coil spring for preventing the hair of the user from being entangled by the jaws and the torsional spring or the coil spring.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical hair clips or hair styling devices comprise a horizontal base or lower member and an upper resilient member or two rings pivotally connected together, and a coil spring is required to be provided and engaged between the two rings for biasing the rings toward each other and for clasping or holding the hair or for styling the hair of the user.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,601,858 to Ackerman discloses one of the typical hair tonic and curling fluid dispensing bomb comprising two rings pivotally connected together with a hinge pin, and a coil spring engaged between the two rings for biasing the rings toward each other and for clasping or holding the hair or for styling the hair of the user.

However, the hair of the user may have a good chance to be entangled by or with the pivotal connection between the two rings and with the torsional spring or the coil spring.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,184 to Shu discloses another typical hair clip or hair styling device comprising two clasp plates hinged together with a pivot shaft, and a coil spring is also required to be provided and engaged between the two clasp plates for biasing the clasp plates toward each other and for clasping or holding the hair or for styling the hair of the user.

However, similarly, it also may have a good chance for the hair of the user to be entangled by or with the pivot shaft and/or with the pivotal connection between the two clasp plates and with the torsional spring or the coil spring.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional hair clips or hair styling devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a hair clip including two spring-biased jaws resiliently coupled together with a resilient coupling device without a torsional spring or a coil spring for preventing the hair of the user from being entangled by the jaws and the torsional spring or the coil spring.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a hair clip comprising two jaws each including a first end and a second end, and a hand grip extended from the second end of each of the jaws, and an adjacent portion formed between the jaw and the hand grip respectively, and a coupling device including a spring member having two ends engaged with the hand grips of the jaws for coupling the jaws and the coupling device together, and for allowing the jaws to be forced away from each other and to engage with a hair of a user when the hand grips are forced and depressed toward each other by the user.

The spring member is preferably a curved spring member. The coupling device includes two brackets provided on the ends of the spring member and each bracket having a channel formed therein for receiving and engaging with the hand grips.

The jaws each include a block provided on the second end and the adjacent portion between the jaw and the hand grip for reinforcing the jaws and the hand grips and for engaging with the brackets.

The brackets each include a recess formed therein for engaging with the block and for anchoring the jaws and the hand grips to the coupling device. The jaws each include at least one tooth formed in the first end for engaging with the hair of the user.

The brackets each include at least one catch extended therefrom for engaging with the block and for anchoring the jaws and the hand grips to the coupling device.

The spring member includes at least one latch extended therefrom for engaging with the jaws and for anchoring the jaws and the hand grips to the coupling device.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a hair clip in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hair clip;

FIG. 3 is a top plan schematic view of the hair clip;

FIG. 4 is a side plan schematic view of the hair clip;

FIG. 5 is a side plan schematic view similar to FIG. 4, illustrating the operation of the hair clip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a hair clip 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises two jaws 10, 20 resiliently and pivotally connected or coupled together with a resilient coupling device 30 without a torsional spring or a coil spring for preventing the hair of the user from being entangled by the jaws 10, 20 and the torsional spring or the coil spring. The jaws 10, 20 each include one end portion 11, 21 having a number of teeth 12, 22 formed in the end portion 11, 21 for engaging with the hair of the user and for styling the hair of the user, and each include a hand grip 13, 23 formed integral with the jaws 10, 20 and extended from the other end portion 14, 24 of the jaws 10, 20 and inclined relative to jaws 10, 20, best shown in FIG. 4.

It is preferable that the jaws 10, 20 each include a block 15, 25 formed or provided on the other end portion 14, 24 of the jaws 10, 20 or formed or provided on the adjacent or conjunction portions 16, 26 between the jaws 10, 20 and the hand grips 13, 23 and formed integral with the jaws 10, 20 and the hand grips 13, 23 for reinforcing the jaws 10, 20 and the hand grips 13, 23 and for increasing the resilience and/or the bending strength of the jaws 10, 20 and the hand grips 13, 23, and each include an opening 17, 27 formed in the hand grip 13, 23 or in the jaw 10, 20, or in the adjacent or conjunction portions 16, 26 between the jaws 10, 20 and the hand grips 13, 23.

The resilient coupling device 30 includes a curved and middle or intermediate spring blade or member 31, and two ends or two casings or brackets 32, 33 formed or provided on the ends of the curved spring member 31 and engaged with the block 15, 25 and each having a channel 34, 35 formed in the brackets 32, 33 for receiving or engaging with the hand grips 13, 23 and for coupling the jaws 10, 20 and the coupling device 30 together, and includes two or more latches 36 extended from the curved spring member 31 for engaging with the jaws 10, 20 and/or the hand grips 13, 23 (FIGS. 2-5) and for latching or anchoring or securing the jaws 10, 20 and the hand grips 13, 23 to the coupling device 30 and for resiliently and pivotally coupling the jaws 10, 20 and the coupling device 30 together.

The brackets 32, 33 each include a recess 37 formed therein for receiving or engaging with the block 15, 25 of the jaw 10, 20 (FIGS. 2, 4-5) and for further anchoring or securing the jaws 10, 20 and the hand grips 13, 23 to the coupling device 30, and each include one or more projections or catches 38 extended from the bracket 32, 33 and/or extended into the recess 37 of the bracket 32, 33 for engaging with the block 15, 25 of the jaw 10, 20 and for further stably anchoring or securing the jaws 10, 20 and the hand grips 13, 23 to the coupling device 30 and for preventing the jaws 10, 20 and the hand grips 13, 23 from being disengaged from the coupling device 30. The ends of the spring member 31 may be seated or anchored in the opening 17, 27 of the hand grip 13, 23 or of the jaw 10, 20.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 4-5, the hand grips 13, 23 may be forced or depressed toward each other by the user to force the end portions 11, 21 and the teeth 12, 22 of the jaws 10, 20 away from each other (FIG. 5) and to allow the hair of the user to be easily and quickly engaged with the jaws 10, 20 and to allow the hair of the user to be solidly and resiliently retained in the jaws 10, 20. It is to be noted that no torsional springs or coil springs are provided and attached or engaged into the hair clip 1 such that the hair of the user will not be entangled by the torsional springs or the coil springs. The jaws 10, 20 and the hand grips 13, 23 and the coupling device 30 may be made of metal, plastic, rubber, or other synthetic materials.

Accordingly, the hair clip in accordance with the present invention includes two spring-biased jaws resiliently coupled together with a resilient coupling device without a torsional spring or a coil spring for preventing the hair of the user from being entangled by the jaws and the torsional spring or the coil spring.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A hair clip comprising:

two jaws each including a first end and a second end, and a hand grip extended from said second end of each of said jaws, and an adjacent portion formed between said jaw and said hand grip respectively, and

a coupling device including a spring member having two ends engaged with said hand grips of said jaws for coupling said jaws and said coupling device together, and for allowing said jaws to be forced away from each other and to engage with a hair of a user when said hand grips are forced and depressed toward each other by the user.

2. The hair clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spring member is a curved spring member.

3. The hair clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coupling device includes two brackets provided on said ends of said spring member and each bracket having a channel formed therein for receiving and engaging with said hand grips.

4. The hair clip as claimed in claim 3, wherein said jaws each include a block provided on said second end and said adjacent portion between said jaw and said hand grip for reinforcing said jaws and said hand grips and for engaging with said brackets.

5. The hair clip as claimed in claim 4, wherein said brackets each include a recess formed therein for engaging with said block and for anchoring said jaws and said hand grips to said coupling device.

6. The hair clip as claimed in claim 4, wherein said brackets each include at least one catch extended therefrom for engaging with said block and for anchoring said jaws and said hand grips to said coupling device.

7. The hair clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spring member includes at least one latch extended therefrom for engaging with said jaws and for anchoring said jaws and said hand grips to said coupling device.

8. The hair clip as claimed in claim 2, wherein said jaws each include at least one tooth formed in said first end for engaging with the hair of the user.