Hair clip

Abstract

A hair clip made of plastic that has a first portion and a second portion connected by a hinge. The hair clip is circular in shape when in a closed position. Both the first and second portions each have a latch member extending from the inner surface of the hair clip at the distal or free end of each portions. The latch member of the first portion has a body with a stem and a chamfered edge that define a recess. The second latch member of the second portion engages the recess of the first latch member. The inner surfaces of both the first and second portions are provided with pairs of teeth to secure hair of the wearer.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus for styling hair. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus to securely style the hair of a wearer into a braid.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] In the process of styling an individual's hair, a number of implements are used in order to maintain the appearance of the hair. It is often desirable to group strands of hair together to create a particular style. As a result, numerous devices have been developed for use in connection with the creation and maintenance of various hair styles.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,765 is directed to a hair binder that includes an elastic hair band, a pair of frames joined at proximal ends for opening and closing relative to each other, and a first and a second engaging structure for engaging the elastic band. The first engaging structure is disposed at the distal ends of the pair of frames for engaging opposite ends of the elastic band. The second engaging structure is disposed at the proximal ends of the pair of frames for engaging intermediate portions of the elastic band when the frames are opened. The frames are opened wide about the joined proximate ends such that the elastic band extends linearly as it is engaged by the first engaging structure. The frames are then placed adjacent to the hair to be bound and closed gradually. The elastic band become V-shaped and the intermediate portions of the band engage the second engaging structure. The hair is held in the V-shaped elastic band. As the frames are closed, the elastic band becomes disengaged from the second engaging structure. The band then contracts around the hair to be bound.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,000 is directed to a method and an apparatus for styling hair. The apparatus includes a U-shaped latch member for releasably securing a hair styling device about strands of hair. The latch member interconnects first and second pivotally interconnected elongated members of the hair styling device, and includes a first latch member disposed substantially adjacent a first end of the second elongated member. The first and second latch members are adapted to be elastically deformable so as to releasably engage one another.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,655 is directed to a hair bundling core structure. The structure has an elastic cylinder made of a foamed synthetic resin with a thickness and a strength sufficient for facilitating the insertion and extraction of a hair setting U-shaped pin. The elastic cylinder and hair setting pin fix the hair in place by insertion of the pin. The core structure is cut from one end to the other to create a rift and form two side portions. The cylinder has a hole through which the hair bundle is passed.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,736 is directed to a device for producing a “hair wrap”. The device has an elongated open ended tube, and an elongated filament loosely positioned with the tube and extending from both ends of the tube. One extending end of the filament has a loop. The device is used by extending a strand of hair through the loop at a first end of the tube and pulling the filament from the opposite end of the tube so that the loop and strand of hair are drawn into the tube. The tube or decorative material at the first end of the tube is secured to the strand of hair near the scalp and the filament is withdrawn from the tube.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,240 is directed to a hair grip device that has a first decoration clamp device and a second decoration clamp device connected to the first decoration clamp device. The first decoration clamp device has a distal click flange, and two first elastic plates. The second decoration clamp device has a push plate, a click portion, and two second elastic push plates. The distal click flange of the first decoration clamp device engages with the click portion of the second decoration clamp device.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,159 is directed to a hair clasp that encircles and binds a braid of hair. The clasp is formed from a single flat strip of elastically deformable plastic and is shaped in such a manner so that the two ends of the flat strip form a circular structure when in a closed position. The ends of the flat strip have teeth such that the two ends of the flat strip mate by nesting of the teeth on one end of the strip in between the teeth on the other end of the strip when the clasp is in a closed position. The interior of the clasp is provided with a single row of teeth in order to grip the hair and prevent it from slipping through the clasp.

[0011] While prior known hair styling devices have proven to be relatively commercially successful, none are without drawbacks or inherent limitations, such as inadvertent opening of the device, and tangling of the wearer's hair within the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] It is an object of the present invention to provide a hair clip that is easy to open.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide a hair clip that cannot open inadvertently.

[0014] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a hair clip that has two substantially identical parts.

[0015] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a hair clip constructed from molded plastic.

[0016] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hair clip that will not tangle or snare human hair in its structure.

[0017] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by a hair clip made of plastic, which has a first portion and a second portion connected by a hinge. The hair clip is circular in shape when in a closed position. Both the first and second portions each have a latch member extending from the inner surface of the hair clip at the distal or free end of each portions. The latch member of the first portion has a body with a stem and a chamfered edge that define a recess. The second latch member of the second portion engages the recess of the first latch member. The second portion preferably has a tab that when pressure is applied thereto, pushes the second member away from the first member to disengage the second member from the first member. The inner surfaces of both the first and second portion are provided with pairs of teeth to secure the hair of the wearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair clip according to the present invention in its fully opened position; and

[0019] FIG. 2 is a side view of the hair clip of FIG. 1 in its closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Referring to the figures and, in particular, FIG. 1, there is provided a hair clip according to the present invention, generally represented by reference numeral 10. Hair clip 10 has a first portion 20, a second portion 120, and a hinge 70 that connects the first portion and the second portion. Hinge 70 provides a pivot so that first portion 20 and second portion 120 can be opened apart as shown in FIG. 1 or closed into a circular shape as shown in FIG. 2.

[0021] First portion 20 is semicircular in shape, and has an outer surface 22 and an inner surface 24. Inner surface 24 also has a semicircular shape. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, first portion 20 has a first end 21 connected to hinge 70 and a second, free end 23 that is adapted to mate with second portion 120 when hair clip 10 is in a closed position, shown in FIG. 2. Inner surface 24 has extending therefrom a first latch member 40. First latch member 40 extends along the width of free end 23 of first portion 20. First latch member 40 preferably has a pyramidal shape when viewed in cross section. The pyramid has an apex 42 that faces away from hinge 70. First latch member 40 has a body 44 with a stem 46 that extends virtually perpendicular from inner surface 24, and a chamfered edge 48. Free end 23 of first portion 20 has a flat top surface 50 virtually perpendicular to stem 46. Stem 46 and chamfered edge 48 form a recess 47. Recess 47 is substantially L-shaped at an approximately 135° angle with stem 46. Disposed between first latch member 40 and hinge 70 are a first pair of teeth 30. First pair of teeth 30 are positioned closer towards hinge 70 than free end 23. Each tooth of first pair of teeth 30 extend virtually perpendicular from inner surface 24 so that they are virtually parallel with stem 46.

[0022] Each tooth of first pair of teeth 30 are preferably conical in shape with a tapered shaft 32 and a rounded tip 34. In the preferred embodiment, only two teeth 30 are shown. However, three or four teeth 30 may be used provided the first teeth are in a row parallel to stem 46. Also in the preferred embodiment, the first teeth 30 are anchored to inner surface 24 by a support piece 36 to provide additional support to the first teeth 30.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, second portion 120 has a first end 121 connected to hinge 70 and a second, free end 123 that is adapted to mate with free end 23 of first portion 20 when hair clip 10 is in a closed position. As shown in FIG. 1, second portion 120 is also semicircular in shape and has an outer surface 122 and an inner surface 124. Inner surface 124 has extending therefrom a second latch member 140. Second latch member 140 extends along the width of free end 123 of second portion 120. Second latch member 140 preferably has a pyramidal shape when viewed in cross section. The pyramid has an apex 142 that faces toward hinge 70. Inner surface 124 also has a flat flange surface 150. Flange surface 150 has a nub 152. Also extending from flange surface 150 is a tab 160. Tab 160 serves as a release mechanism for releasing second latch member 140 from first latch mechanism 40. When pressure is applied to tab 160, apex 142 of second latch member 140 disengages from recess 47 of first latch member 40.

[0024] Disposed between second latch member 140 and hinge 70 are a second pair of teeth 80. Second pair of teeth 80 extend virtually perpendicular from inner surface 124 so that they are virtually parallel to apex 142 of second latch member 140.

[0025] Each tooth of second pair of teeth 80 are also preferably conical in shape with a tapered shaft 82 and a rounded tip 84. In the preferred embodiment, only two teeth 80 are shown. However, as with first teeth 30, three or four second teeth may be used provided the second teeth are aligned in a row parallel to apex 142 of second latch member 140. Also in the preferred embodiment, second teeth 80 are anchored to inner surface 124 by a support piece 86.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, first portion 20 and second portion 120 are connected by hinge 70. Hinge 70 preferably has an hourglass shape as shown in FIG. 1. When hair clip 10 is in the closed position as shown in FIG. 2, hinge 70 folds into a triangular shape. The tapered neck portion of hinge 70 facilitates closure of hair clip 10. When hair clip 10 is in a closed position shown in FIG. 2, apex 142 of second latch member 140 engages recess 47 of first latch member 40 to securely close hair clip 10 and avoid inadvertent opening of the hair clip. Flat top surface 50 rests against nub 152 of flange surface 150 to define an opening 170. The positioning of flat top surface 50 against nub 152 causes first end 21 and free end 23 of first portion 20 to not be in direct contact with first end 121 and free end 123 of second portion 120. In the closed position shown in FIG. 2, first pair of teeth 30 and second pair of teeth 80 are positioned such that rounded tip 34 of teeth 30 are adjacent to, and make contact with, rounded tip 84 of second teeth 80. First pair of teeth 30 are positioned approximately at the one-quarter point between first latch member 40 and hinge 70 and towards hinge 70. Second pair of teeth 80 are positioned approximately halfway between hinge 70 and second latch member 140 along inner surface 124. First pair of teeth 30 and second pair of teeth 80 cooperatively function to secure the hair of a wearer in place.

[0027] To use the hair clip of the present invention, a wearer positions a lock or strand of hair into opening 170. The wearer then applies pressure to outer surface 22 of first portion 20 and outer surface 122 of second portion 120 by using the fingers and thumb in order to urge first portion 20 toward second portion 120. In doing so, apex 142 of second latch member 140 engages recess 47 of first latch member 40 to lock hair clip 10 into the closed position and secure the strand of hair in place within opening 170. First pair of teeth 30 and second pair of teeth 80 grip the strand of hair to prevent it from sliding out of the closed hair clip.

[0028] Hair clip 10 is preferably made of plastic. Each component of hair clip 10 is made of the same plastic as the hair clip. However, less plastic is used to make hinge 70 to make it more flexible and faciitate closure of the hair clip 10.

[0029] The present invention having been described with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A hair clip comprising: a first portion having a first latch member extending from a first inner surface of said first portion, said first latch member having a body with a stem and a chamfered edge that define a recess, said stem extending perpendicularly from said first inner surface, said first inner surface being provided with a first pair of teeth; a second portion having a second latch member extending from a second inner surface of said second portion, said second inner surface being provided with a second pair of teeth, said second latch member being adapted to releasably engage said first latch member, said second pair of teeth positioned adjacent said first pair of teeth; and a hinge for pivotally connecting said first portion and said second portion.

2. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein said first portion has a first end connected to said hinge and a second, free end that is adapted to mate with said second portion to define an opening therebetween.

3. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein said first portion and said second portion are semicircular in shape.

4. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein said first latch member extends along said second, free end of said first portion.

5. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein said first latch member has a pyramidal shape in cross section.

6. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein said first latch member has an apex that faces away from said hinge.

7. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein said recess is substantially L-shaped at an approximately 135° angle with said stem.

8. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein said first pair of teeth extend perpendicularly from said first inner surface so that they are parallel with said stem.

9. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein said second pair of teeth extend perpendicularly from said second inner surface so that they are parallel to said second latch member.

10. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein each of said first pair of teeth and each of said second pair of teeth are conical in shape.

11. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein each of said first pair of teeth and each of said second pair of teeth have a tapered shaft and a rounded tip.

12. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein each of said first pair of teeth and each of said second pair of teeth are anchored to said first and second inner surfaces, respectively, by a support member.

13. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein said first pair of teeth and said second pair of teeth are positioned such that said rounded tip of said first pair of teeth peripherally contact said rounded tip of said second pair of teeth.

14. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein said first pair of teeth and second pair of teeth cooperatively function to secure hair of a wearer in place.

15. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein said second latch member extends along said free end of said second portion.

16. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein said second latch member has a pyramidal shape in cross section.

17. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein said second latch member has an apex that faces toward said hinge.

18. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein said inner surface of said second portion has a flange surface with a nub positioned thereon and a tab extending therefrom.

19. The hair clip of claim 18, wherein said tab is a release member for disengaging said second latch member from said first latch member.

20. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein said hinge has an hourglass shape.

21. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein said hair clip is made of plastic.