Hair Clip

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a hair clip, particularly to a hair clip capable of holding items of decoration or the like.

2. Description of the Problems and Prior Art

A great variety of hair clips are known. One such hair clip was manufactured in Japan in 1966 by Leonka Designs Corp. in Osaka. A perspective view of this hair clip is shown in FIG. 1. The hair clip, which is designated generally by reference numeral 20, is rather simple in its construction. It consists of a plate-like base 22 having a hinge 24 on one end. The hinge serves for pivotal attachment of a U-shaped lock element 26 with springing legs 26a and 26b. Another end of base 22 has inwardly bent lugs 28a and 28b which hold corresponding legs 26a and 26b in a locked position. Base 22 has shallow grooves 27a and 27b which receive corresponding legs 26a and 26b in their locked position. In use, the portion of hair, which has to be fixed with hair clip 20, is placed onto the surface of base 22 and is fixed by squeezing legs 26a and 26b, turning them inward on hinge 24, inserting them into a space between lugs 28a and 28b, and then releasing the legs into the lugs. Under the effect of a springing force, legs 26a and 26b move apart and are locked beneath the lugs.

Although the above-described hair clip is simple in construction, it has a number of disadvantages which are the following:

Grooves 27a and 27b are shallow and cannot protect the hair clip against sliding on hair which is clamped between base 22 and legs 26a and 26b. Clamping is very awkward and inconvenient because lugs 28a and 28b are located within the outlines of the clip, and the gap between lugs 28a and 28b cannot be easily located by touch. Furthermore, the clip of this design cannot be used for attachment of alternative items of decoration to hair.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved hair clip which can be firmly fixed on hair, is convenient in use and can hold items of decoration. Other advantages and features of the hair clip of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior-art hair clip.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hair clip of the invention in an open or unlocked position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a hair clip of FIG. 2 in a locked position on the hair (for convenience of illustration of the hair clip's details, it is shown in a turned-over position; in a locked position the upper surface of the hair clip of FIG. 3 faces the scalp of the wearer).

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along line IV--IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the hair clip in its locked position.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a hair clip made in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the hair clip of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the hair clip placed on the hair with decoration attached to the clip.

FIG. 9 is an embodiment of the clamping device with two sets of engaging teeth.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view along lines X--X of FIG. 9.

30--hair clip

32--base

34--locking device

36a, 36b--pivotal connection

38a, 38b--hinges

40a, 40b--pin-like ends

41a, 41b--grooves of the omega-shaped configuration

42a, 42b--projections

44a, 44b--shoulders

46a, 46b, 48a, 48b--rod-like elements

50--fulcrum point

52--spring

54a, 54b--outer legs

70--holder

71--item of decoration

72--holding element

80--hair clip

82a, 82b--inner surface

84--base

86--locking device

88a, 88b--deep grooves

90a, 90b--bent edges of the base

92--plate

94a, 94b--rods

96a, 96b--outer legs

98a, 98b--pivotal attachment

100a, 100b--hook-like elements

102--Velcro-type holding elements

110--hair clip

112--base

114--locking mechanism

116a, 116b, 118a, 118b--projections

120--locking element

122--hinge

124--spring

126--guide slot for the holder

H--hair

G1, G2--gaps

A hair clip in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 2, which is a perspective view of a hair clip in its open and upside down position, i.e. in the working or locked position the upper surface of the clip shown in FIG. 2 will face away from the scalp of the wearer.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hair clip, which is generally designated with reference numeral 30, consists of a plate-like base 32 and a locking device 34 which is pivotally connected to plate-like base 32 at a pivotal connection 36a, 36b. As shown in FIG. 2, this pivotal connection may be formed by two hinge-like elements 38a and 38b attached to base 32, and pin-like ends 40a and 40b of locking device 34, inserted into respective hinge-like elements 38a and 38b.

On the opposite side of the hinges, the base has a head formed by two symmetrical hook-like elements 41a and 41b with a space or mouth M formed between the facing ends of the hook.

In its cross-section, plate-like base 32 has an omega-shaped configuration with grooves 41a and 41b (see FIGS. 3 and 4). While wearing the hair clip, the closed part of the omega-shaped configuration faces away from the scalp of the wearer. Projections 42a and 42b are extending radially outwardly beneath the shoulders of the omega-shaped configuration starting at the apexes of angles formed between the shoulders 44a and 44b of the omega-shaped configuration and its side elements (see FIG. 4). These projections can be formed by stamping from the material of the plate, if the clip is made of metal, or they can be formed by molding, if the clip is made of plastic.

As shown in FIG. 4, in their longitudinal direction, projections 42a and 42b are bent down and then flattened. This is necessary to keep the tips of the projections from digging into the scalp.

As shown in FIG. 5, which is a side view of the hair clip of FIG. 2, the head of base-like plate 32 is bent downward facing the scalp of the wearer. In FIG. 5 the hair clip is shown as straight, but it is understood that when the clip has a substantial length, it can be bent in a longitudinal cross section in order to accommodate the curvature of the head.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 2-5, locking element 34 is formed of two pairs of rod-like elements 46a, 46b and 48a, 48b. These pairs of elements are connected in a scissor-like fashion with a fulcrum point 50 having a spring 52 which always tends to spread outer legs 54a and 54b apart. The ends of the rods opposite to legs 54a and 54b are exactly the same as the pin-like ends (40a, 40b) which provide the pivotal connection between locking device 34 and plate-like base 32.

As has been mentioned above, each leg of the scissor like element of the clamping mechanism is formed by a pair of rods. As shown in FIG. 2, the rods of each pair are assembled so that grooves G1 and G2 are formed between the rods on each side of the clamping mechanism. As shown in FIG. 3, and as will be explained later in description of operation of the clip, these grooves will accommodate projections 42a and 42b, respectively.

The hair clip of the invention has a holder which is attached to the clip and is generally designated by reference numeral 70. The above-mentioned omega-shaped configuration formed in the body of plate-like base 32 serves as a guide for insertion and attachment of holder 70. To this end, the holder has a cross-section conforming to the above-mentioned omega-shaped configuration. This configuration is clearly shown in FIG. 4 which is a cross-section of the clip along line IV--IV on FIG. 3. Although in this drawing the holder is shown also with an omega-shaped configuration, it is understood that it may have any other suitable shape. For example, it may have a rail-like cross section shown in FIG. 4. The holder can be made of any suitable material. It can be molded of plastic, can be formed of wire, can be made of metal casting, etc.

The outer side of holder may be provided with a holding element 72. In the illustrated embodiment this holding element is formed of multiple, tiny hooks capable of attachment to the surface of the mating object sold under the trademarks Velcro or Latchlock. The Velcro element can be connected to holder 70 by means of adhesive, or by fasteners, etc. It is understood that Velcro is shown as an example only and any other holding elements can be attached to the outer side of the holder.

In order to clip to hair, the user holds the hair clip by base 32 with one hand and put the hair clip into position at which point rod-like elements 46a and 46b with corresponding outer legs 54b and 54a slide into the hair. With the other hand the user then finds the outer legs 54a and 54b and squeezes them together to the extent that they may pass through the mouth M between two symmetrical hook-like elements 41a and 41b. For locking the hair clip, locking device 34, with the outer legs being squeezed, is turned downward on pivots 36a and 36b. With the downward action of the locking device, projections 42a and 42b penetrate into the slots formed between rod-like elements 46a, 48a and 46b, 48b. When these rod-like elements reach grooves 41a and 41b of the omega-shaped configuration, the outer legs are released so that under the effect of their resiliency, they spread apart and lock the clip. Locking device 34 is fixed by a downwardly directed springing force of the rod-like elements so that they are positively held in the above-mentioned grooves. The portion of hair, which was between locking device 34 and base 32 is locked fast by the hair of the clip. In other words, the entire clip is held tightly to the hair.

Now the hair clip assumes the position shown in FIG. 3, where for the sake of clarity it is shown in an upside down position with hair designated by H.

In the clamped position of the hair clip, the hair is pressed into deep grooves 41a and 41b of the omega-shaped configuration, and is held fast between base 32 and locking locking device 34.

Apart from the hair-clipping function, the hair clip 30 can be used also for holding various items that attached to hair or garments, such as flowers, beads, toys, etc. To this end, holder 70 is used. As shown in FIG. 8, a bow 71 is attached to the hair by means of hair clip 30 of the invention. As has been mentioned above, on its other side the holder has a holding surface, which in the case of the illustrated embodiment, comprises Velcro capable of holding the above-mentioned items.

It is understood, however, that the Velcro, as well as the decoration of FIG. 8 are shown only by way of example and that any other suitable holding means and a great variety of other decorations or items can be used. In a similar manner, the hair clip can be attached not only to hair but also to garments, etc. Therefore the illustrated examples should not be construed as limitative.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 6 the hair clip is designated generally by reference numeral 80. In principle, it is the same as hair clip 30 of FIGS. 2 and 3 but differs in that it is concave in its cross-section, as is shown in FIG. 7, i.e. it is curved in longitudinal and transverse directions in order to conform with the curvature of the head of the wearer. This simplifies the structure, makes the clip more simple to manufacture and, what is most important, increases the holding power of the clip because of a larger surface of contact between a base 84 and a locking device 86.

In the case of embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the deep grooves which have been mentioned above and which constitute a distinguishing feature of the present invention are formed between the inner surfaces of upwardly bent edges 90a and 90b of base 84 and the inner surfaces of projections 82a and 82b.

In this embodiment, locking element 86 also differs in that it consists of a plate 92, which also has a concave cross-sectional configuration to conform with the shape of the base, and resilient rods 94a and 94b. These rods have the same purpose as rods 46 and 48 in the previous embodiment of the invention and likewise are provided with outer legs 96a and 96b. Rods 94a and 94b are pivotally attached to the base at 98a and 98b. Similar to the previous case, the base has a mouth M1 formed between two symmetrical hook-like elements 100a and 100b.

Hair clip 80 has a Velcro-type holding element 102 attached tp the external surface of the base. The Velcro element, or the like, can be attached to base 84 by adhesive, but it also can be constructed to be removable. For this purpose, the edges of the base can be bent as shown in FIG. 7. so that the bent portions can be used as tracks for holding pins (not shown) to attach the clip to a garments or to other objects.

Hair clip 80 is locked and used in the same manner as one described in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 2-5. Therefore the description of its operation, as well as the attachment of various items, are omitted.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 9 in the form of a hair clip 110. This hair clip has a base 112 of the same omega-shaped cross section as base 32 in hair clip 30 of FIG. 2. It differs, however, by the design of its locking mechanism 114, which consists of projections 116a and 116b formed on the base, and mating projections 118a and 118b on a locking element 120, which, by means of a hinge 122, is pivotally attached to base 112. Locking mechanism can be formed as a plate with outward projections 118a and 118b on its side edges. It is understood, however, that it can be made in the form of a frame or in any other shape, provided it has projections 118a and 118b engageable with projections 116a and 116b on the base.

Locking mechanism 114 is normally in a closed state under the effect of a leaf spring 124 which constantly urges locking element 120 downward to the base. It is understood that leaf spring 124 can be substituted by a coil spring or by spring forced developed in the locking element itself.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view along line X--X of FIG. 9. As shown, projections 118a and 118b are bent so that in a closed state (not shown) of the locking mechanism they will not touch the head of the wearer.

The same holder (70) as in the case of hair clip of FIG. 2 can be inserted into the omega-shaped guide slot (126) formed in base 112.

For attachment to hair or any other object, locking element 120 is lifted against the force of closing spring 124, the hair, cloth, etc., is inserted between locking element 120 and base 112, and the locking element is then released. In a released state, under the effect of the force developed by spring 124, the clip is locked, and projections 118a and 118b of the locking element come into spaces between projections 116a and 116b. As a result, the hair or another appropriate object to which the clip is attached appears to be positively fixed between the locking mechanism and the base of the clip.

It is obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited only to the examples shown above and that many other forms and modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the invention convered by the claims given below. For example, the whole clip can be molded from plastic or can be made of metal, or its base can be made of plastic and can be assembled with a metal locking mechnaism. The omega-shaped configuration of the guide slot also was shown as an example and other cross-sectional configurations (such as T-shape, etc.) are possible, that provided the outer surface of the guide portion forms deep grooves in cooperation with projections, and that the inner shape of the guide slot keeps the holder locked in the guide slot. The holder can be made in the form of a U-shaped corrugated wire element with corrugations being engageable with the above-described projections. It is also understood that a great variety of decoration can be attached to the holder and that, apart from clipping to the hair, the device with its various items can be used for clipping to other objects, i.e., it can be used as a flowered broach or the like. Apart from Velcro, the outer surface of the holder may have holes for sawing onto a garment or any accessory such as a hat purse, etc. The inner surface of the hair clip can have a track with a safety pin for attachment to a hat, scarf, etc.

Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.