Hair clip with improved clipping effect

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6484728
  • Patent Number
    6,484,728
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, July 19, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 26, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Wilson; John J.
    • Doan; Robyn Kieu
    Agents
    • Baxley; Charles E.
Abstract
A hair clip comprises a first clip member including a first arcuate rod and a second clip member including a second arcuate rod. The second arcuate rod includes a first end pivotally engaged with a first end of the first arcuate rod and a second end releasably engaged with the second end of the first arcuate rod. Arcuate first teeth project from the first arcuate rod and extend toward the second arcuate rod. Arcuate second teeth project from the second arcuate rod and extend toward the first arcuate rod.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a hair clip with improved clipping effect.




2. Description of the Related Art





FIG. 5

of the drawings illustrates a hair clip suit for men and women that includes a first clip member


1


′ and a second clip member


2


′. A peg


12


′ with an engaging end


13


′ is formed on a first end of the first clip member


1


′ and is pivotally connected with a pivot hole


23


′ defined in two spaced lugs


22


′ on a first end of the second clip member


2


′. Another peg


12


′ with an engaging end


13


′ is formed on a second end


12


′ of the first clip member


1


′ and is releasably engaged with a second end of the second clip member


2


′. Each clip member


1


′,


2


′ has a plurality of straight teeth


14


′,


24


′ extending inwardly from an inner side thereof. Thus, the hair clip can be moved to an open state shown in

FIG. 6

or a closed state shown in

FIG. 7

for clipping hair. However, although the hair clip is engaged on the hair by the alternately disposed teeth


14


′ and


24


′, it was found that the hair clip cannot be securely retained on the hair. It is discomfort when wearing. The hair clip tends to disengage from the hair before it is moved to the open state.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a hair clip with improved clipping effect to prevent disengagement of the hair clip from the user's hair.




A hair clip in accordance with the present invention comprises a first clip member including a first arcuate rod and a second clip member including a second arcuate rod. The second arcuate rod includes a first end pivotally engaged with a first end of the first arcuate rod and a second end releasably engaged with the second end of the first arcuate rod. A plurality of arcuate first teeth projects from the first arcuate rod and extends toward the second arcuate rod. A plurality of arcuate second teeth projects from the second arcuate rod and extends toward the first arcuate rod.




In an embodiment of the invention, the first arcuate rod includes an outer side that faces away from the second arcuate rod. The arcuate first teeth project from the outer side of the first arcuate rod and extend toward the second arcuate rod. The second arcuate rod includes an outer side that faces away from the first arcuate rod. The arcuate second teeth project from the outer side of the second arcuate rod and extend toward the first arcuate rod.




Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is an exploded perspective view of a hair clip in accordance with the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of the hair clip in accordance with the present invention in an open state.





FIG. 3

is a sectional view of the hair clip in accordance with the present invention in a closed state.





FIG. 4

is a partial schematic view illustrating use of the hair clip in accordance with the present invention.





FIG. 5

is an exploded perspective view of a conventional hair clip.





FIG. 6

is a perspective view of the conventional hair clip.





FIG. 7

is a schematic perspective view illustrating use of the conventional hair clip.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Referring to

FIGS. 1 through 4

and initially to

FIGS. 1 and 2

, a hair clip in accordance with the present invention generally includes a first clip member


1


and a second clip member


2


. The first clip member


1


includes an arcuate rod


11


that is configured to conform to the contour of a user's head. Similarly, the second clip member


2


includes an arcuate rod


21


that is configured to the contour of the user's head.




The arcuate rod


11


has a first end pivotally connected with a second end of the arcuate rod


21


. A second end of the arcuate rod


11


is releasably engaged with a second end of the arcuate rod


21


. In this embodiment, a peg


12




a


with an engaging end


121




a


is formed on the first end of the arcuate rod


21


and a peg


12




b


with an engaging end


121




b


is formed on the second end of the arcuate rod


11


. A pair of spaced lugs


22




a


is formed on the first end of the arcuate rod


11


and includes a pivot hole


221




a


for pivotally engaging with the engaging end


121




a


of the peg


12




a.


A pair of spaced lugs


22




b


is formed on the second end of the arcuate rod


21


and includes an engaging hole


221




b


for releasably engaging with the engaging end


121




b


of the peg


12




b.


Thus, the hair clip can be moved to an open state shown in

FIG. 2

or a closed state (

FIG. 4

) for clipping hair.




The arcuate rod


11


further includes an inner side


15


that faces the second clip member


2


and an outer side


14


that faces away from the arcuate rod


21


. The arcuate rod


21


further includes an inner side


25


that faces the first clip member


2


and an outer side


24


that faces away from the arcuate rod


11


. A plurality of arcuate teeth


13


projects from the outer side


14


of the arcuate rod


11


and extends toward the arcuate rod


21


. Similarly, a plurality of arcuate teeth


23


projects from the outer side


24


of the arcuate rod


21


and extends toward the arcuate rod


11


, best shown in FIG.


3


. It is noted that each tooth


13


,


23


tapers toward its distal end. Namely, each tooth


13


,


23


has a wider portion


131


,


231


having a width greater than that of the conventional hair clip. When the hair clip is in its closed state, the arcuate teeth


13


and


23


are alternately disposed, as shown in FIG.


4


. The wider portions


131


and


231


of the teeth


13


and


23


provide a better engagement with the user's hair and thus prevent disengagement of the hair clip from the user's hair.




Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.



Claims
  • 1. A hair clip, comprising:a) a first clip member; b) a second clip member; c) a plurality of arcuate first teeth; and d) a plurality of arcuate second teeth; wherein said first clip member includes a first arcuate rod; wherein said first arcuate rod of said first clip member has a first end; wherein said first arcuate rod of said first clip member has a second end; wherein said second clip member includes a second arcuate rod; wherein said second arcuate rod of said second clip member has a first end; wherein said second arcuate rod of said second clip member has a second end; wherein said first end of said second arcuate rod is pivotally engaged with said first end of said first arcuate rod; wherein said second end of said second arcuate rod is releasably engaged with said second end of said first arcuate rod; wherein said first arcuate rod has an outer side; wherein said outer side of said first arcuate rod faces away from said second arcuate rod; wherein said plurality of arcuate first teeth project from said outer side of said first arcuate rod and extend toward said second arcuate rod; wherein said second arcuate rod has an outer side; wherein said outer side of said second arcuate rod faces away from said first arcuate rod; and wherein said plurality of arcuate second teeth project from said outer side of said second arcuate rod and extend toward said first arcuate rod.
  • 2. The hair clip as defined in claim 1, wherein each tooth of said plurality of arcuate first teeth has a proximal end;wherein said proximal end of each tooth of said plurality of arcuate first teeth is coincident with said outer side of said first arcuate rod; wherein each tooth of said plurality of arcuate first teeth has a distal end; wherein said distal end of each tooth of said plurality of arcuate first teeth is free; and wherein each tooth of said plurality of arcuate first teeth tapers from said proximal end thereof to said distal end thereof.
  • 3. The hair clip as defined in claim 1, wherein each tooth of said plurality of arcuate second teeth has a proximal end;wherein said proximal end of each tooth of said plurality of arcuate second teeth is coincident with said outer side of said second arcuate rod; wherein each tooth of said plurality of arcuate second teeth has a distal end; wherein said distal end of each tooth of said plurality of arcuate second teeth is free; and wherein each tooth of said plurality of arcuate second teeth tapers from said proximal end thereof to said distal end thereof.
  • 4. A hair clip, comprising:a) a first clip member; b) a second clip member; c) a plurality of arcuate first teeth; and d) a plurality of arcuate second teeth; wherein said first clip member includes a first arcuate rod; wherein said first arcuate rod of said first clip member has a first end; wherein said first arcuate rod of said first clip member has a second end; wherein said second clip member includes a second arcuate rod; wherein said second arcuate rod of said second clip member has a first end; wherein said second arcuate rod of said second clip member has a second end; wherein said first end of said second arcuate rod is pivotally engaged with said first end of said first arcuate rod; wherein said second end of said second arcuate rod is releasably engaged with said second end of said first arcuate rod; wherein said first arcuate rod has an outer side; wherein said outer side of said first arcuate rod faces away from said second arcuate rod; wherein said plurality of arcuate first teeth project from said outer side of said first arcuate rod and extend toward said second arcuate rod; wherein each tooth of said plurality of arcuate first teeth has a proximal end; wherein each tooth of said plurality of arcuate first teeth has a distal end; wherein said proximal end of each tooth of said plurality of arcuate first teeth is coincident with said outer side of said first arcuate rod; wherein each tooth of said plurality of arcuate first teeth is entirely concave from said proximal end thereof to said distal end thereof relative to said first arcuate rod; wherein said second arcuate rod has an outer side; wherein said outer side of said second arcuate rod faces away from said first arcuate rod; and wherein said plurality of arcuate second teeth project from said outer side of said second arcuate rod and extend toward said first arcuate rod; wherein each tooth of said plurality of arcuate second teeth has a proximal end; wherein each tooth of said plurality of arcuate first second has a distal end; wherein said proximal end of each tooth of said plurality of arcuate second teeth is coincident with said outer side of said second arcuate rod; and wherein each tooth of said plurality of arcuate second teeth is entirely concave from said proximal end thereof to said distal end thereof relative to said second arcuate rod.
  • 5. The hair pin as defined in claim 4, wherein said distal end of each tooth of said plurality of arcuate first teeth is free; andwherein each tooth of said plurality of arcuate first teeth tapers from said proximal end thereof to said distal end thereof.
  • 6. The hair pin as defined in claim 4, wherein said distal end of each tooth of said plurality of arcuate second teeth is free; andwherein each tooth of said plurality of arcuate second teeth tapers from said proximal end thereof to said distal end thereof.
US Referenced Citations (12)
Number Name Date Kind
717499 Gouy Dec 1902 A
794828 Winn Jul 1905 A
1070064 Parfrey Aug 1913 A
1721837 Schurger Jul 1929 A
1929849 Noto Oct 1933 A
2604101 Helfgott Jul 1952 A
2718894 Gresham et al. Sep 1955 A
2902042 Halber Sep 1959 A
3998233 Dorr Dec 1976 A
5655550 Keating Aug 1997 A
5676166 Chang Oct 1997 A
5775343 Zarn Jul 1998 A