BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, which makes reference to the appended Figs. in which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded assembly view of a hair clip in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The connecting means of the finger and guide loop along with the concavity portion formed at the bottom of the upper clip piece are illustrated.
FIG. 1
a is a partial exploded assembly view of the connecting means of the finger in accordance with another exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 1
b is a partial exploded assembly view of the connecting means of the finger in accordance with another exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hair clip in accordance with one exemplary embodiment in which the finger is connected with the upper clip piece and the guide loop is inserted through a hold eye formed in the upper clip piece.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the hair clip in accordance with one exemplary embodiment in which the guide loop is connected to the rear end portion of the finger and positioned exterior to the brackets of the hair clip.
FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the hair clip illustrating the clipping of the hair of a user in a gathered state.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the hair clip in another exemplary embodiment that shows the connecting portion of the guide loop, which is formed in an integral form at the rear end portion of the finger, in a waved and curved form to provide flexibility.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the hair clip in another exemplary embodiment that shows the connecting portion of the guide loop, which is formed in an integral form at the rear end portion of the finger, in a straight form.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the hair clip in another exemplary embodiment that shows a tip, which is formed at the guide loop connected to the rear end of the finger, connected to a sliding groove.
FIG. 8 is a partial exploded assembly view of the guide loop and the sliding groove of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 7.
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a third embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations.
It is to be understood that the ranges mentioned herein include all ranges located within the prescribed range. As such, all ranges mentioned herein include all sub-ranges included in the mentioned ranges. For instance, a range from 100-200 also includes ranges from 110-150, 170-190, and 153-162. Further, all limits mentioned herein include all other limits included in the mentioned limits. For instance, a limit of up to 7 also includes a limit of up to 5, up to 3, and up to 4.5.
FIG. 1, shows a hair clip (1) comprising a pair of clip pieces (2, 3) facing each other, a pressing plate (2a, 3a) formed integrally with each of said clip pieces (2, 3), brackets (2b, 3b) formed at edges of the pressing plates (2a, 3a), and a hinge pin (1p) to be inserted into pin holes (2h, 3h) of the brackets (2b, 3b) for connecting the clip pieces together. The hair clip (1) also has a coil spring (1s) inserted into the hinge pin (1p) to provide elastic force for the clip pieces (2, 3) for opening and closing. The aforementioned construction represents a basic construction of a hair clip in general.
In addition to the above known construction, the hair clip (1) of the present invention may include a finger (4) connected to the free end (2e) of the upper clip piece (2). The length of the upper clip piece (2) is shortened by the length of the finger (4) compared with the length of the lower clip piece (3). The finger (4) is connected to the upper clip piece (2) by insertion of a pin (2p) with a coil spring (2s) into the pin holes (2h′) of the brackets (2d) formed at the free end (2e) portion of the upper clip piece (2) and into the pin holes (4h) formed in the finger (4). The finger (4) is therefore pivoted with respect to the upper clip piece (2). At a Y-shaped diverging rear end portion (4b) of the finger (4) is a guide loop (5) connected by a connecting means to prevent the hair from entering the gap in the joint portion (L) of the finger (4). The rear end (5b) of the square-bent guide loop (5) is supported when arranged in certain positions in the hair clip (1). Further, teeth (4t) in a wave form are formed at the edges on both sides of the bottom portion of the finger (4) for use in holding hair.
The upper clip piece (2) has a laterally extending hold eye (2g) on the side of upper clip piece (2) close to the brackets (2b) for insertion of the guide loop (5). A concavity portion (2c) is formed at the bottom of the upper clip piece (2) to secure a hair clipping space. The remainder of the bottom portion has teeth (2t) in a wave form to hold the hair of the user.
The lower clip piece (3) is in a narrow, long form, and slightly curves in the longitudinal direction. The lower clip piece (3) is brought into contact with the end (4a) of the finger (4) at its fore end portion.
As a means to connect the guide loop (5) to the rear end portion (4b) of the finger (4), partially cut-open pin holes (4g) are provided. As shown in FIG. 1, the partially cut-open pin holes (4g) are at the Y-shape diverging rear end portion (4b) of the finger (4). At the connecting portion (5a) on either side of the guide loop (5) is a U-shaped indent (5u) into which the rear end portion (4b) of the finger (4) is inserted. A pin (5p) is provided in the indent (5u) in an integral form. The pins (5p) are pushed into the pin holes (4g) at the rear end portion (4b) of the finger (4) through the cut-open portion of the pin holes (4g). In this manner, the pins (5p) are connected smoothly with the pin holes (4g) by the elasticity of the material of the finger (4). After the connection, the connecting portions (5a) of the guide loop (5) do not fall off the rear end portion (4b) of the finger (4) unless manual force is applied to separate them.
The rear end portion (5b) of the guide loop (5), as shown in FIG. 2, is inserted through the hold eye (2g) provided in the form of a laterally extending hole in the upper clip piece (2). Therefore, without falling off the upper clip piece (2), the guide loop (5) moves flexibly in the hold eye (2g) according to the joint action of the finger (4). The guide loop (5) plays the role of preventing the hair from entering the gap between the joint portion (L) of the finger (4) and the upper clip piece (2). The guide loop (5) can be assembled to the hair clip (1) easily and conveniently by inserting the rear end portion (5b) of the guide loop (5) through the hold eye (2g) of the upper clip piece (2) using its connecting means.
The square bent rear end portion (5b) of the guide loop (5) connected to the rear end portion (4b) of the finger (4) may be positioned either at the A location in the interior or at the B location in the exterior of the brackets (2b, 3b) of the hair clip (1), as shown in FIG. 3. In either case, the guiding action of the guide loop (5) acts to prevent the hair from entering the joint portion (L) of the finger (4) in a similar manner.
Another example of a connecting means of the finger (4) in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1A. Here, a coil spring housing (2f) is formed at the free end (2e) of the upper clip piece (2) to house a coil spring (2s) therein in order to operate the finger (4) in an elastic manner. Connecting protrusions (2p) are formed on both sides of the free end (2e) of the upper clip piece (2) in such a way that the protrusions (2p) each protrude toward the exterior of the free end (2e) so that the connecting protrusions (2p) may be inserted into the connecting holes (4h) of the finger (4) enabling a joint action of the finger (4). In this manner, the finger (4) can be assembled to the free end (2e) of the upper clip piece (2) of the hair clip (1) through a simpler process thus making it possible to produce the hair clip in a more efficient manner.
A further example of a connecting means of the finger (4) in accordance with the present invention is explained as shown in FIG. 1B. Here, a plate spring (2r) extends from the center of the free end (2e) of the upper clip piece (2) for elastic operation of the finger (4). Connecting protrusions (2p) are formed on both sides of the free end (2e) of the upper clip piece (2) in such a way that the connecting protrusions (2) may protrude toward the exterior of the free end (2e). The connecting protrusions (2p) are inserted into the pin holes (4h) of the finger (4) to enable a joint action of the finger (4). In this embodiment, the plate spring (2r) replaces the coil spring (2s) in operating the finger (4) in an elastic manner. This arrangement acts to reduce the number of component parts, making it possible to assemble the finger (4) in a simpler manner for a more efficient assembly and production of the hair clip (1).
Another exemplary embodiment of the connecting means of the guide loop (5) is shown in FIG. 5. The guide loop (5) is formed integrally at the rear end portion (4b) of the finger (4) which is connected with the free end (2e) of the upper clip piece (2) of the hair clip (1). The connecting portion (5a) is formed in a waved, curved form to impart flexibility. The rear end (5b) of the guide loop (5) is positioned either in an A position in the interior of or in a B position in the exterior of the brackets (2b, 3b) of the hair clip when the finger (4) is assembled as previously mentioned with respect to FIG. 3. Positioning of the rear end (5b) of the guide loop (5) in either of these two alternative positions (A position or B position) brings forth the same smooth guide action for preventing the hair from entering the joint portion (L) of the finger (4). The flexibility provided by the wave and curve formation of the connecting portion (5a) of the guide loop (5) results in free variation of the length of the guide loop (5) from the joint action of the finger (4). This action helps preclude interference of the guide loop (5) in the operation of the finger (4).
FIG. 6 shows another exemplary embodiment of the connecting means of the guide loop (5) in accordance with the present invention. Here, the guide loop (5), which is formed integrally with the rear end portion (4b) of the finger (4), is straight in form at its connection portion (5a). The rear end portion (5b) of the guide loop (5) is positioned either in an A position in the interior of or in a B position in the exterior of the brackets (2b, 3b) of the hair clip (1) at the time when the finger (4) is assembled. Positioning of the rear end (5b) of the guide loop (5) in either of these two alternative positions (A position or B position) brings forth the same smooth guide action of preventing hair from entering the joint portion (L) of the finger (4).
The hair clip (1) of the present invention with its aforesaid construction opens, as shown in FIG. 2, when the pressing plates (2a, 3a) are manually pressed by hand. Here, the upper and the lower clip pieces (2, 3) together with the finger (4) open with the hinge pin (1p) as a supporting point. The lower clip piece (3) is then inserted into the hair of the user to hold the hair to be clipped between the upper and the lower clip pieces (2, 3). If the pressing plates (2a, 3a) are released, the upper and the lower clip pieces (2, 3) clip the hair (h) by pressing against each other by the elasticity of the coil spring (1s), as shown in FIG. 4. At the same time, the finger (4) performs an inward bent joint action at the free end (2e) of the upper clip piece (2) by the elasticity of the coil spring (2s). This arrangement holds the hair (h) in a gathered state as the end (4a) of the finger (4) is brought into contact with the fore end of the lower clip piece (3). As the bottom portion of the upper clip piece (2) is formed with a concavity portion (2c), the hair clipping space is expanded so as to hold the hair (h) in a gathered or bundled form easily.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, another exemplary embodiment of the connecting means of the guide loop (5) is provided. At a portion above the brackets (2b) of the upper clip piece (2), a connecting portion (2q) is formed with a sliding groove (2k) provided on either side of the connecting portion (2q). Connected to connecting portion (2q) is a tip (5t) formed at the rear end of a V-shaped guide loop (5) which is connected with the finger (4). The connection between the finger (4) and the guide loop (5) is made as previously described in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1. As mentioned, an arrangement to connect the guide loop (5) to the rear end portion (4b) of the finger (4) includes partially cut-open pin holes (4g) at the Y-shape diverging rear end portion (4b) of the finger (4), as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. At the connecting portion (5a) on either side of the guide loop (5) is a U-shaped indent (5u) into which the rear end portion (4b) of the finger (4) is inserted. Pins (5p) are provided in the indent (5u) in an integral form so that if the pins (5p) are pushed into the pin holes (4g) at the rear end portion (4b) of the finger (4) through the cut-open portion of the pin holes (4g), the pins (5p) are connected smoothly with the pin holes (4g) by the elasticity of the material of the finger (4).
Construction of this exemplary embodiment of the invention, with its simple and convenient process of assembling the guide loop (5), enables the hair clip (1) to be assembled and manufactured efficiently. As the tip (5t) at the rear end of the guide loop (5) is in sliding connection in the sliding groove (2k), the guide loop (5) moves flexibly during the operation of the finger (4). This arrangement leads to smooth operation of the finger (4), preventing the hair from entering the joint portion (L) of the finger (4).
As the hair is clipped firmly by the combination of the original clipping force of the upper and the lower clip pieces (2, 3) of the hair clip (1) and the reinforced clipping force of the finger (4), the hair clip (1) does not fall off the hair even by a sudden, rapid movement of the head, enabling the hair to maintain a beautiful style. Furthermore, the guide loop (5) does not interfere with the joint action of the finger (4) but performs the role of guidance preventing the hair clipped between the clip pieces (2, 3) from entering the joint portion (L) of the finger (4).
The hair clip (1) presently described can clip the hair of the user in more desired styles, maintain the clipped hair more firmly, and consequently provide a way to use the hair clip for various hair beauty purposes.
While the present invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the subject matter encompassed by way of the present invention is not to be limited to those specific embodiments: On the contrary, it is intended for the subject matter of the invention to include all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the following claims.
Patent Application
20080060670
