HAIR CLIP
A hair clip includes a first paddle extending from a first tab. The first paddle has at least a portion with a width that is greater than a width of the first tab. The first paddle has a first curved shape. A second paddle extends from a second tab. The second paddle has at least a portion with a width that is greater than a width of the second tab. The second tab is connected to the first tab. The second paddle has a second curved shape. The second paddle overlapping the first paddle. A biasing element is disposed between the first tab and the second tab. The biasing element applies a biasing force to the first and second paddles so that in a rest position, the first and second paddles are in a closed position, and, in a use position, a first force is applied to the first tab and a second force is applied to the second tab so that the first tab and second tab are moved closer to one another and the first and second paddles are moved further apart from one another than in the rest position.
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This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 29/796,640 filed Jun, 25, 2021, the entire contents are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 1. Field of the DisclosureThe present disclosure is directed to a hair clip. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a double paddle hair clip.
2. Description of the Related ArtGenerally, clips are used during hair styling to hold certain tufts of hair out of the way, or to hold a styled section of hair in place for a predetermined time during styling or post-styling of hair. Such conventional clips have metal frames on one or both sides of an alligator type clip so that a user squeezes distal or lever ends to open jaws of the clip and releases the ends to allow a spring force to close the jaws together. On some types of hair, the metal frame of the clip undesirably results in indentations in the hair from the metal pressing directly against the hair. Moreover, these conventional clips fail to provide any additional desirable styling capability.
Accordingly, there is a continuing need for a clip that overcomes, alleviates, and/or mitigates one or more of the aforementioned and other deleterious effects of prior clips.
SUMMARYThe present disclosure provides a single hair clip that has a substantially greater surface area that results in lower localized stress concentrations (and thus less likelihood of leaving indentation/damage to hair) and simultaneously can hold a larger tuft of hair (i.e., more individual hairs).
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a hair clip is provided having a pair of curved, relatively wide paddles.
An embodiment of the hair clip of the present disclosure includes a first paddle extending from a first tab. The first paddle has at least a portion with a width that is greater than a width of the first tab. The first paddle has a first curved shape. A second paddle extends from a second tab. The second paddle has at least a portion with a width that is greater than a width of the second tab. The second tab is connected to the first tab. The second paddle has a second curved shape. The second paddle overlaps the first paddle. A biasing element is disposed between the first tab and the second tab. The biasing element applies a biasing force to the first and second paddles so that in a rest position, the first and second paddles are in a closed position, and, in a use position, a first force is applied to the first tab and a second force is applied to the second tab so that the first tab and second tab are moved closer to one another and the first and second paddles are moved further apart from one another than in the rest position.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, drawings, and accompanying claims. As shown throughout the drawings, like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts.
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First paddle 120 is made of a material that is more flexible than a material of first member 102. First paddle 120 is a medium to medium-soft hardness plastic material with some ability to deform (thereby decreasing stress concentrations/indentations). However, first paddle 120 can be made of any one of a variety of materials. First member 102 is made of metal or other supportive material.
Referring to
Analogous to first paddle 120, second paddle 220 is made of a material that is more flexible than the material of second member 202. Second paddle 220 is a medium to medium-soft hardness plastic material with some ability to deform (thereby decreasing stress concentrations/indentations), but can be any one of a variety of materials. Second member 202 is metal or other supportive material.
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First paddle 120 and second paddle 220 can be the same shape. Further, first paddle 120 and second paddle 220 can each have a portion that are the same shape as one another, or each have a different shape. First paddle 120 and second paddle 220 shown in
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Hair clip 100 is relatively large so that in use, the curve of paddles 120, 220 facilitates a user's ability to either align the inner concave side to follow the curve of the head so that the clip engages hair approximately equidistant from the scalp at all points of engagement, and the user can reverse the orientation so that the convex side faces the user and imparts a curl-like wave in the hair (due to its curvature).
First paddle 120 and second paddle 220 minimize or prevent indentations in hair from metal frames found in conventional hair clips that press directly against the hair. In particular, first paddle 120 and second paddle 220 of the present clip 100 minimize or prevent metal-to-hair contact that would normally be applied if a hair clip, like conventional hair clips, does not have a pair of analogous mating paddles. For example, if hair clip 100 only had one paddle, on some types of hair, the side of hair clip without a paddle (the paddle-less side) would result in indentations in the hair from the metal of the body, while the side of hair clip with the paddle (the paddled side) would have no indentations.
Clip 100 with first paddle 120 and second paddle 220 prevent metal-to-hair contact. Further, the flat, wide shape of first paddle 120 and second paddle 220 have a substantially greater surface area (than the paddle-less side of conventional clips) resulting in lower localized stress concentrations (and thus less likelihood of leaving indentation/damage to hair) and yet holds a larger tuft of hair (i.e., more individual hairs) in a single clip.
As stated previously, the material of first paddle 120 and second paddle 220, respectively, is preferably a medium to medium-soft hardness plastic material with some ability to deform (thereby decreasing stress concentrations/indentations), but can be any one of a variety of materials.
While the present disclosure has been described with reference to one or more exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, that various changes can be made, and equivalents can be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure will not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed herein, but that the disclosure will include all aspects falling within the scope of a fair reading of appended claims.
Claims
1. A hair clip comprising:
- a first paddle extending from a first tab and supported by a first body portion extending from the first tab, the first paddle having at least a portion with a width that is greater than a width of the first tab and a tapered profile in a first plane forming an apex at a distal edge, and the first paddle having a generally curved shape with respect to a second plane generally orthogonal to the first plane such that an exterior surface of the first paddle is generally concave and an opposite, interior surface of the first paddle is generally convex;
- a second paddle extending from a second tab and supported by a second body portion extending from the second tab, the second paddle having at least a portion with a width that is greater than a width of the second tab and a tapered profile in a first plane forming an apex at a distal edge, and the second paddle having a generally curved shape with respect to a second plane generally orthogonal to the first plane so that an exterior surface of the second paddle is generally convex and an opposite, interior surface of the second paddle is generally concave;
- a hinge pivotally connecting the first paddle and the second paddle; and
- a biasing element disposed between the first tab and the second tab, the biasing element applying a biasing force to the first and second paddles so that in a rest position the first and second paddles are in a closed position.
2. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein the first and second paddles are made of a material that is more flexible than material of the first and second body portions.
3. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein the first paddle and the second paddle are the same shape.
4. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein the first body portion has a curvature that is the same as the first paddle.
5. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein the second body portion has a curvature that is the same as the second paddle.
6. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein the first paddle is symmetrical about a first axis.
7. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein the second paddle is symmetrical about a second axis.
8. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein the first paddle is connected to the first body portion by portions of material of first paddle passing through a plurality of apertures through the first body portion, and wherein the plurality of apertures are a line of circular holes along a center of the first body portion that receive the portions of the first paddle to hold the first paddle.
9. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein the second paddle is connected to the second body portion by portions of material of second paddle passing through a plurality of apertures through the second body portion, and wherein the plurality of apertures are a line of circular holes along a center of the second body portion that receive the portions of the second paddle to hold the second paddle.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 21, 2021
Publication Date: Dec 29, 2022
Applicant: CONAIR LLC (Stamford, CT)
Inventor: Kristen L. Hinds (Cos Cob, CT)
Application Number: 17/507,306