The present disclosure relates generally to clips for retaining strands of hair, and more particularly, to claw-type hair retaining clips.
Claw clips have been developed for hair styling that grip the hair using a spring force. However, if the spring force is increased, the clip can become difficult to open. Accordingly, it is desirable to have relatively long lever arms provided by long handles, so that the clip can be easily opened by a user. One problem posed by such long handles is that they can be unsightly and therefore detract from the appearance of the clip. Another problem is that the lever arms can extend out far enough to cause the clip to bump up against objects such as, for example, a car headrest.
In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure a claw clip for hair styling includes at least one deployable handle that is adapted to deploy for opening the clip and also to be placed in a stowed configuration, for example, when the deployable handle is not in use. The at least one deployable handle may be pivotally connected to one of the first claw portion and the second claw portion, and may pivot about a secondary hinge axis that is substantially parallel to the primary hinge axis. Alternatively, the at least one deployable handle may be pivotally connected to one of the first claw portion and the second claw portion along a secondary hinge axis that is substantially orthogonal to the plane of the at least one deployable handle.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a hair retaining clip includes a first claw portion, a second claw portion pivotally connected to the first claw portion, a primary hinge providing the pivotal connection between the first claw portion and the second claw portion, the primary hinge aligned along a primary hinge axis, a first deployable handle extending from the first claw portion, and a second deployable handle extending from the second claw portion. Each of the first deployable handle and the second deployable handle is movable between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration.
By increasing the effective lever arm provided by the deployable handles, claw clips made in accordance with the disclosure may be opened easily by a user. By providing handles that can be placed in a stowed position a lower profile claw clip with better function is provided.
While the method and device described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure and the appended claims.
Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the legal scope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment of the invention since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention.
It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘______’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term by limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph.
With reference initially to
Thus, when a user desires to open the hair retaining clip 20, the user may flip up the first deployable handle 28 and the second deployable handle 30 into the deployed position, as shown in
With reference to
With reference to
As seen in isolation in
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Raised portions 232 of an attachment tab 234 of the living hinge 226 may extend through corresponding openings 236 in the claw portion 222, when the attachment tab 234 of the living hinge 226 is inserted into a channel-shaped attachment portion 238 of the claw portion 222 in order to provide anchoring of the claw portion 222 to the living hinge 226. The handle hinge pin 230 may serve to further secure attachment of the claw portion 222 to the living hinge 226, by engaging a notch 240 extending across the underside of the attachment tab 234 of the living hinge 226 when the handle hinge pin 230 is inserted through a first opening 242 in the deployable handle 228, a first opening 244 in the claw portion 222, the notch 240 on the living hinge 226, a second opening (not shown) in the claw portion 222, and finally a second opening 246 in the deployable handle 228.
The raised portions 232 may also extend into corresponding indentations 248 in the underside of the deployable handle 228 in order to provide a soft latching of the deployable handle 228 to the claw portion 222 when the deployable handle 228 is in a stowed configuration.
While the preceding text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the legal scope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment of the invention since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention.