HAIR CLIP
A hair clip includes first and second coupling members. An engaging member and a guide member are provided on an inner face of the second clamping member. A spacing between the guide member and the first section of the engaging member is equal to a width of a coupling portion on an end of the first clamping member. The guide member includes an inclined surface having increasing spacings to the engaging member toward a top of the guide member. When the first clamping member is moved to a closed position, a lateral side of the coupling portion abuts against and slides along the inclined surface into a space defined by the engaging member, and the coupling portion is received between the engaging member and the guide member.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hair clip and, more particularly, to a hair clip providing improved engaging effect and improved hair clamping stability while allowing easy removal of the hair clip.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typical hair clips can be opened to receive hair of a user and then closed to clamp the hair. Some hair clips include a spring to provide enhanced hair clamping effect by the resiliency of the spring. However, the spring results an increase in the costs and is liable to rust and to be damaged.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a hair clip providing improved engaging effect and improved hair clamping stability while allowing easy removal of the hair clip.
A hair clip according to the preferred teachings of the present invention includes a first clamping member having first and second ends. The second end of the first clamping member includes first and second lateral sides. The first end of the first clamping member is coupled to a second clamping member and movable between an open position and a closed position. An engaging member and a guide member are provided on an inner face of the second clamping member. The engaging member includes a first section extending from the inner face of the second clamping member and a second section extending transversely to the first section, defining a space between the first and second sections. A spacing between the guide member and the first section of the engaging member is equal to a width between the first and second lateral sides of the coupling portion. The guide member includes a top having an inclined surface. The inclined surface has increasing spacings to the engaging member toward the top of the guide member. When the first clamping member is moved from the open position to the closed position, the second lateral side of the coupling portion abuts against and slides along the inclined surface into the space, and the coupling portion is received between the first section of the engaging member and the guide member.
In a most preferred form, the first end of the first clamping member is integrally formed with the second clamping member as a single continuous monolithic piece. The first end of the first clamping member includes a bendable portion with a smaller thickness smaller than the remaining portion of the first end of the first clamping member. The bendable portion is bendable to move the first clamping member between the open position and the closed position. Furthermore, the first end of the first clamping member further includes an outer face having a groove. The second section includes an end distant to the first section and having a hook extending downward into the space. The hook is engaged in the groove when the first clamping member is in the closed position.
The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of this invention described in connection with the drawings.
A hair clip according to the preferred teachings of the present invention is shown in
The first clamping member 1 further includes a coupling portion 11 on a second end thereof. The second end of the coupling portion 11 includes a groove 12 (
The second clamping member 2 includes an engaging member 21 and a guiding member 22 on an inner face thereof. The engaging member 21 is substantially L-shaped and includes a first section 211 extending from the inner face of the second clamping member 2 and a second section 212 extending transversely to the first section 211, defining a space 213 between the first and second sections 211 and 212 for receiving the first lateral side 111 of the coupling portion 11. The second section 212 includes an end distant to the first section 212 and having a hook 214 extending downward into the space 213. A spacing between the guide member 22 and the first section 211 of the engaging member 21 is generally equal to a width between the first and second lateral sides 111 and 112 of the coupling portion 11. The guide member 22 includes a top having an inclined surface 221. The inclined surface 221 has increasing spacings to the engaging member 21 toward the top of the guide member 22. A plurality of teeth 23 are formed on the inner face of the second clamping member 2.
In use, the first clamping member 1 is moved to the open position, so that the hair of a user can be placed between the first and second clamping members 1 and 2. Then, the first clamping member 1 is moved toward the second clamping member 2 with the second lateral side 112 of the coupling portion 11 abutting against and sliding along the inclined surface 221 into the space 213, as shown in
With reference to
Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.
Claims
1. A hair clip comprising:
- a first clamping member including a first end and a second end, with the second end of the first clamping member including first and second lateral sides;
- a second clamping member including an inner face, with the first end of the first clamping member coupled to the second clamping member and movable between an open position and a closed position, with an engaging member and a guide member provided on the inner face of the second clamping member, with the engaging member including a first section extending from the inner face of the second clamping member and a second section extending transversely to the first section, defining a space between the first and second sections, with a spacing between the guide member and the first section of the engaging member equal to a width between the first and second lateral sides of the coupling portion, with the guide member including a top having an inclined surface, with the inclined surface having increasing spacings to the engaging member toward the top of the guide member,
- wherein when the first clamping member is moved from the open position to the closed position, the second lateral side of the coupling portion abuts against and slides along the inclined surface into the space, and the coupling portion is received between the first section of the engaging member and the guide member.
2. The hair clip as claimed in claim 1, with the first end of the first clamping member integrally formed with the second clamping member as a single continuous monolithic piece, with the first end of the first clamping member including a bendable portion with a thickness smaller than a remaining portion of the first end of the first clamping member, and with the bendable portion being bendable to move the first clamping member between the open position and the closed position.
3. The hair clip as claimed in claim 1, with the first end of the first clamping member further including an outer face having a groove, with the second section including an end distant to the first section and having a hook extending downward into the space, and with the hook engaged in the groove when the first clamping member is in the closed position.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 15, 2009
Publication Date: Jul 15, 2010
Inventor: Shih Ling Hsu (Tainan City)
Application Number: 12/354,667
International Classification: A45D 8/20 (20060101);