Patent Application
20210137237
The present disclosure is directed to a hair clip. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a double paddle hair clip.
Generally, 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.
Accordingly, there is a need for a clip that does not result in indentations in the hair.
The 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 flat, relatively wide paddles.
An embodiment of the hair clip of the present disclosure includes a first paddle and a second paddle. The first paddle extends from a first tab and has at least a portion with a width that is greater than a width of the first tab. The second paddle extends from a second tab and 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, and a biasing element is disposed between the first tab and the second tab. The biasing element applies a biasing force to both the first and second paddles so that in a rest position, the first and second paddles are in a closed position. 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.
A hair clip 100 according to the present disclosure is shown in
Hair clip 100 has a first member 102 and a second member 202. First member 102 has a first tab 130 and a first body portion 140 that extends from first tab 130. First tab 130 is at an angle 113 that is less than 180 degrees relative to first body portion 140. First body portion 140 is connected to a first paddle 120. First paddle 120 is connected to first body portion 140, for example, by molding. This molding can be achieved by portions of material 122 of first body portion 140 passing through apertures 142 through first body portion 140 so that portions of material 122 have a size greater than apertures 142 thereby preventing disconnection of first paddle 120 from first body portion 140. A first exterior surface 160 of first paddle 120 has portions 121 and 123 that extend on opposite sides of first body portion 140 so that first paddle 120 has a substantially greater surface area than first body portion 140. First body portion 140 is in a depression in first exterior surface 160 of first paddle 120. Alternatively, first paddle 120 can connect directly to first tab 130 so hair clip 100 has no first body portion 140. Another alternative is first paddle 120 and first tab 130 being a single one-piece structure so that hair clip 100 has no first body portion 140.
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.
Referring to
Referring to
Likewise, referring back to
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
Referring to
Second paddle 220 has a second exterior surface 260 opposite a second interior surface 270. Second paddle 220 forms a second proximal edge 282 opposite a second distal edge 288 and two second side edges 284, 286 opposite one another between second exterior surface 260 and second interior surface 270. The two second side edges 284, 286 each extend between second proximal edge 282 and second distal edge 288. Second interior surface 270 is flat and faces first interior surface 170.
Referring to
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 conventionally 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. Further, the “surfboard” shape shown in
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.
