Hair clip having a hair-receiving gap

Abstract

The invention discloses a hair claw clip having a hair-receiving gap allowing hair to emerge between two spaced apart, axially aligned pivoting joints that interconnect two cooperating clip members.

Description

HAIR CLIP HAVING A HAIR-RECEIVING GAPBACKGROUNDTechnical Field

[0001] This invention relates to hair clips and more particularly to hair claw clips having a hair-receiving gap.Background Art

[0002] Prior to the invention disclosed herein, a typical hair claw clip comprises two or more clip members coupled together by a single spring-biased hinge. Each clip member consists of a lever or handle to open the claw clip, and a multiplicity of combs or teeth to retain the hair. The spring-biased hinge both provides an axis of rotation and a spring mechanism to maintain closure. Since there is a single hinge mechanism which interrupts the central exposure of the hair, hair can only exit or be withdrawn from either end of the claw clip.SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0003] The invention discloses a hair claw clip with a plurality of pivot joints where at least two of these joints pivot about coaxially aligned axes. Levers or handles extend from clip members and are used to widen the space between the teeth or combs. When the handles are released, the hair is securely held between the teeth. The plurality of pivot joints improves functionality of the hair clip, including by retaining hair in a gap between the coaxially aligned pivot joints, if desired, and can increase the mechanical strength of the hair claw clip.

[0004] The invention disclosed herein allows for significantly more hair style and usage options than found for a conventional hair claw clip. Conventional claw clips use a single centrally disposed hinge and spring mechanism which covers the hair. Thus, hair can only exit or be withdrawn from the claw clip at either end. Enabling hair that is being controlled by a hair clip to be withdrawn through a gap is especially beneficial for bun and ponytail hair styles. It is also useful in a salon setting, as a beautician can readily separate the ends or ponytailed portions of the hair from the crown and roots. This has many benefits for cutting, dying, or treating a portioned section of the hair. To assist grabbing the hair through the center, one or more notches, holes, or gaps may be added to the clip members to assist in hair separation and apportionment.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0005] Fig. 1 is an upper perspective view of one embodiment of the disclosed invention as a hair claw clip with two axially aligned hinges.

[0006] Fig. 2 is an upper perspective view of a hair clip having a hair-receiving gap according to the invention.

[0007] Fig. 3A is a front elevational view of a second embodiment thereof showing a hair claw clip with two axially aligned hinges and two clip members with a gap between the members for receiving hair.

[0008] Fig. 3B is perspective view providing an example of how the claw clip shown in Fig. 3A may be used.

[0009] Fig. 4A is a front elevational view of a third embodiment of the disclosed invention as a hair claw clip with two axially aligned hinges and a gap allowing hair to exit.

[0010] Fig. 4B is a perspective view of the third embodiment.

[0011] Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of a fourth embodiment of the disclosed invention as a hair claw clip with two axially aligned hinges and a third axis defined by a flexible member.

[0012] Fig. 6A is a front elevational view of a fifth embodiment of the disclosed invention as a hair claw clip with two axially aligned hinges and an additional opening allowing hair to exit through the center of the claw clip.

[0013] Fig. 6B is front elevational view similar to Fig. 6A showing the hair claw clip in an open configuration about a side hinge.

[0014] Figs. 7A-7D show representative examples of how the invention disclosed herein may be applied to hair claw clips with four different types of axially aligned hinges.

[0015] Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of a sixth embodiment of the disclosed invention as a hair claw clip with one spring-biased hinge aligned axially with a loop pivot joint.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

[0016] A hair claw clip having two axially spaced pivot joints, indicated generally at 100 in Fig. 1 includes two spring hinges 110, 120. The hinges rotate clip members 130, 140 and teeth 150, 160 around pivot axes 170, 180. Handles 130, 140 act as levers that open the claw clips; spring hinges 110, 120 urge the teeth 150, 160 of the claws to close around the hair. Like the use of multiple hinges on a door, the application of two axially alignedspring hinges ensures that the clip members remain aligned and increases the strength of the claw clip.

[0017] A hair claw clip having a gap for receiving hair, indicated generally at 200 in Fig. 2, shows a first embodiment of the invention having two spaced apart clip members 230, 240 interconnected by resilient components 210, 220 that pivot around a common axis. Each clip member includes handles 250 and teeth 260. Like the disclosure in Fig. 1 , handles 230, 240 act as levers that open the teeth 260 of the claw clips ; the resilient components 210, 220 urge the teeth 260 of the claw clips to close around the hair.

[0020] Inner edges 225 of each clip member 230, 240 are formed at the intersection of the handles 270, 280 and arrays of teeth 260 of each clip member and extend from the top end 226 to the bottom end 227 of each clip member. The inner edges 225 of the clip members 230, 240 are spaced apart such that a hair-receiving gap, notch, or hole 290 is defined and bounded by inner edges 225 and the resilient components 210, 220 of the two clip members 230, 240. The gap provides a path for hair to exit through the center of the hair clip in addition to at either end as in a conventional claw clip. While the hair clip illustrated in Fig. 2 shows the inner edges 225 between the resilient components 210, 220 extending in parallel disposition, it will be understood that the inner edges 225 may form a hair-receiving gap having the cat’s eye shape shown in Figs. 6A-6B, the circular, rectangular or heart shapes shown in Figs. 7A-7D, or any arbitrary shape.

[0021] With reference now to Figs. 3A-3B, in a second embodiment 300 of the invention the claw clip has two axially aligned, spaced apart spring hinges 310, 320 interconnecting two clip members 330, 340. The clip members 330, 340 include handles 350, teeth 360 and inner edges 325 between the handles 350 and teeth 360. Like the disclosure in Fig. 1 , handles 330, 340 act as levers that open the teeth 360 of the claw clips; spring hinges 310, 320 urge the teeth 360 of the claws to close around the hair.

[0024] Each of the spring hinges 310, 320 includes a first pair of arms 370 attached to and extending inwardly from the first clip member 330 and a second pair of arms 372 that is attached to and extends inwardly from the second clip member 340. As seen, the second pair of arms 372 nests inside the first pair of arms 370, pivot pins 376 are received in apertures 374 in the free ends of the arms and a coiled spring 378 is disposed around each pivot pin 376 the ends 380 of which are engaged with each of the clip members 330,

[0025] As in the first embodiment, inner edges 325 of each clip member 330, 340 are formed at the intersection of the handles 350 and teeth 360 and extend from the top end 326 to the bottom end 327 of the clip members. The inner edges 325 of the clip members 330, 340 are spaced apart such that a hair-receiving gap, notch, or hole 390 is defined by the inner edges 325 with and between the spring hinges 310, 320 that provides a path for hair away from and through the center of the claw clip in addition to at either end as in a conventional claw clip. An example of hair extending through the middle of the claw clip is shown in Fig. 3B. Similar to the embodiment shown in Figs. 2, while the hair clip illustrated in Figs. 3A-3B shows inner edges between the hinges 310, 320 extending in parallel disposition, it will be understood that the inner edges 325 may form a hairreceiving gap having the cat’s eye shape shown in Figs. 6A-6B, the circular, rectangular or heart shapes shown in Figs. 7A-7D, or any arbitrary shape.

[0026] With reference now to Figs. 3A-3B, in a second embodiment 300 of the invention the claw clip has two axially aligned spring hinges 310, 320 connected to two clip members 330, 340 which include handles 350 and teeth 360. Like the disclosure in Fig. 1 , handles 330, 340 act as levers that open the teeth 360 of the claw clips; spring hinges 310, 320 urge the teeth 360 of the claws to close around the hair. A gap, notch, or hole 390 between the two clip members 330, 340 which allows hair to exit the claw clip through the center of the claw clip in addition to at either end as in a conventional claw clip. This opening can be of any arbitrary shape. An example of hair extending through the middle of the claw clip is shown in Fig. 3B.

[0027] Figs. 4A-4B show a third embodiment 400 of the invention. In this embodiment, the claw clip has two axially aligned spring hinges 410, 420 connected to two clip members 430, 440 that include handles 435, 445A, 445B, and teeth 450. The spring hinges 410, 420 rotate about coaxial pivot axes formed by pivot pins 415, 425. Handles 435, 445A, 445B, open the teeth 450 of the claw clips; spring hinges 410, 420 urge the teeth 450 of the claw clips to close around the hair. In this embodiment, clip member 440 is separated into two half-clips 441 and 442 defining between them a gap 445 which allows hair to exit the claw clip from the middle and / or side of the claw clip in addition to at the ends. This opening can be of any arbitrary shape. The two half-clips 441 and 442of clip member 440 can be moved independently of each other providing additional functionality.

[0028] Fig. 5 shows a fourth embodiment 500 of the invention. In this embodiment, the claw clip has two axially aligned spring hinges 510, 520 connected to two clip members 530, 540 which include handles 550 and teeth 560. The clip members 530, 540 are separated into two parts separated by one or more flexible components 535, 545 providing an additional axis of rotation oriented approximately perpendicular to that defined by the two axially aligned spring hinges 510, 520. Flexible components 535, 545 allow the clip members 530, 540 to flex when the hair clip is pressed against a hard surface, increasing the comfort of the claw clip. Spring hinges 510, 520 urge the teeth 570 to close the claws such as around hair. Flexibility of the teeth 570 can further increase the comfort to the user. Alternatively, both clip members of the claw clip may be made from one or more semi-rigid materials. The required flexibility may be developed by, for example, changing the thickness of the material at different points along the clip members.

[0029] Figs. 6A-6B shows a fifth 600 embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the claw clip has two axially aligned spring hinges 610 and 620 connected to two clip members 630 and 640 that include handles 650, 660 and teeth 670. Handles 650, 660 open the claw clips; spring hinges 610 and 620 urge the teeth 670 of the claws around the hair. In this embodiment clip members 630 and 640 are separated into two pieces 630A, 630B, and 640A and 640B, respectively. As seen hinge 680 allows the hair clip to open on an axis oriented approximately perpendicular to the pivot axes of the two aligned spring hinges 610, 620 thus allowing the user to move hair more easily into the central opening 690 in the claw clip. Optional catch 695 may be a magnetic catch, a clasp, or any mechanism suitable to hold components 630A, 630B, 640A, 640B closed. By design, the hinge 680 may be a spring hinge sufficiently strong to hold the hair claw clip closed, making the addition of catch 695 redundant. This embodiment of the invention allows hair to exit the claw clip near the center of the claw clip in addition to around either end.

[0030] The invention disclosed herein is applicable to hair claw clips of all hinge styles. Figs. 7A-7D show additional examples of how the invention may be applied to four representative styles of hair claw clips with four different types of hinges. Fig. 7A is aperspective view of an ornamental circle-shaped hair claw clip with two clip members 700 and two hinges 710 raised above the plane of the claw clip. The hinge style is like that found on a conventional claw clip. Torsion springs to ensure closure are not shown for clarity.

[0031] Fig. 7B is a perspective view of an ornamental rectangular-shaped hair claw clip with two clip members 720 and two hinges 730. The hinges are piano-style hinges in the plane of the claw clip. Torsion springs to ensure closure, which are not shown for clarity, may be in the plane of the hinge.

[0032] Fig. 7C is a perspective view of a heart-shaped claw clip with two clip members 740 and two hinges 750. The hinges in this example are living or integral hinges fabricated from either the same or different material from the body of the claw clip. The hinge is designed such that no additional springs are required for closure.

[0033] Fig. 7D is a perspective view of an ornamental flower-shaped hair claw clip with two clip members 760 and two hinge mechanisms 770. Each of the two hinge mechanisms contains two parallel hinges pins and springs to ensure closure are enclosed within the hinge mechanism.

[0034] Fig. 8 shows a seventh embodiment 800 of the disclosed invention. In this embodiment, the claw clip has one axially aligned spring hinge 810 and two linked jump rings 820 providing a second point of rotation. Hinge 810 and jump rings 820 are axially aligned. In this example the jump rings 820 are connected to two clip members 830 and 840 which include handles 850 and teeth 860. Like the embodiments described above, handles 830, 840 act as levers that open the claw clips; spring hinges 810, 820 urge teeth 860 of the clip members to close around the hair. In this embodiment there is a gap, notch, or hole 890 between the two clip members 830 and 840 which allows hair to exit the claw clip near the center of the claw clip in addition to around either end. This opening can be of any arbitrary shape. By way of example, hair extending through the middle of the claw clip is again shown in Fig. 3B.

[0035] While torsion springs are used in most of the examples shown above, one skilled in the art will understand that these are just for illustrative purposes and all types of springs including, but not limited to, torsion springs, extension springs, sheet or tape springs, clock springs, elastomeric materials, etc. may be employed.

[0036] There have thus been described and illustrated certain embodiments of a hair clip having a hair-receiving gap according to the invention. Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it should be clearly understood that the disclosure is illustrative only and is not to be taken as limiting, the spirit and scope of the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMSWe claim:1 . A hair clip having a hair-receiving gap comprising: two clip members, each having a handle and an array of teeth, two or more pivoting joints each connecting the two clip members between the handle and the array of teeth, the two or more pivoting joints hingedly interconnecting the two clip members, each of the two or more pivoting joints rotatable about a common axis, at least one of the two or more pivoting joints including a resilient component, and a portion of one or both of the two clip members spaced apart between the two pivot joints forming a gap between the pivot joints for receiving hair, such that the clip members are pivotable between open and closed positions by manipulating the handles, in the open position the arrays of teeth of the two clip members spaced apart, and in the closed position the arrays of teeth of the two clip members interwoven.

2. The hair clip of claim 1 further comprising the gap disposed between the clip members.

3. The hair clip of claim 1 further comprising one of the two or more pivoting joints comprising two interlinked loops, each of the loops connected to one of the two clip members.

4. A hair clip having a hair-receiving gap comprising: first and second clip members, the first clip member having a handle and an array of teeth, the second clip member separated into two half-clips, each half-clip having a handle and an array of teeth, and two or more pivoting joints each connecting the first clip member and one of the two half-clips of the second clip member between the handle and the array of teeth of the first clip member and between the handle and array of teeth of one of the two half- clips, each of the two or more pivoting joints hingedly interconnecting the first clip member with one of the two half-clips of the second clip member, each of the two or more pivoting joints rotatable about a common axis, each of the two half-clips of the second clip member movable independently of the other, the two half-clips of the second clip member spaced apart along said common axis defining therebetween a gap for receiving hair,such that each one of the two half-clips of the second clip member is pivotable relative to the first clip member between open and closed positions by the manipulating the handle of the half-clip and the handle of the first clip member, in the open position of one of the two half-clips the array of teeth thereof is spaced apart from the array of teeth of the first clip member, and in the closed position the array of teeth of said half-clip is interwoven with the array of teeth of the first clip member.

5. The hair clip of claim 4 further comprising: each of the two or more pivoting joints include a resilient component for biasing the first clip member and the two half-clips toward the closed position.

6. A hair clip having a hair-receiving gap comprising: two clip members, each having a handle and an array of teeth, each of the two clip members having a flexible middle portion, two or more pivoting joints each connecting the two clip members between the handle and the array of teeth, the two or more pivoting joints hingedly interconnecting the two clip members, each of the two or more pivoting joints rotatable about a common axis, at least one of the two or more pivoting joints including a resilient component, a portion of one or both of the two clip members spaced apart between the two pivot joints forming a gap between the pivot joints for receiving hair, and such that the clip members are pivotable between open and closed positions by manipulating the handles, in the open position the array of teeth on each of the two clip members spaced apart from the array of teeth on the other of the two clip members, and in the closed position the arrays of teeth on each of the two clip members interwoven.

7. The hair clip of claim 6 further comprising: the gap disposed between the clip members.

8. A hair clip having a hair-receiving gap comprising: two clip members, each having a handle, an array of teeth, an upper half, a lower half and a side, two or more pivoting joints each connecting the two clip members between the handle and the array of teeth, the two or more pivoting joints hingedly interconnecting the two clip members, each of the two or more pivoting joints rotatable about a commonaxis, at least one of the two or more pivoting joints including a resilient component, and the upper halves of the two clip members interconnected by one of the two or more pivoting joints, the lower halves of the two clip members interconnected by one of the two or more pivoting joints, a side hinge disposed on the side of one of the two clip members hingedly connecting the upper and lower halves of the two clip members, the side hinge pivotable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the common axis of the pivoting joint, and a fastener disposed on the side of the other one of the two clip members for fastening together the upper and lower halves of the two clip members, so that the upper and lower halves are movable between separate and fastened positions, in the separated position the upper and lower halves of the two clip members are separated, and in the fastened position the upper and lower halves of the two clip members are abutting, such that the clip members are pivotable between open and closed positions by manipulating the handles, in the open position the array of teeth on each of the two clip members spaced apart from the array of teeth on the other of the two clip members, and in the closed position the arrays of teeth on each of the two clip members are interwoven.

9. The hair clip of claim 8 further comprising: a portion of the two clip members spaced apart between the two pivot joints forming a gap between the clip members and the pivot joints for receiving hair.

10. A hair clip having a hair-receiving gap comprising: two clip members, each having a handle, an array of teeth and an inner edge between the handle and the teeth, and two or more pivoting joints, each of the two or more pivoting joints connected to each of said two clip members, at least two of the two or more pivoting joints spaced apart and rotatable about a common axis, at least one of the two or more pivoting joints including a resilient component, the handle of each of the two clip members extending from said inner edge between two of the two or more pivoting joints, the inner edges of said two clip members and the at least two of the two or morepivoting joints collectively defining the hair-receiving gap, said resilient component not disposed in said gap, and the clip members pivotable between open and closed positions by manipulating the handles, in the open position the arrays of teeth of the two clip members spaced apart, and in the closed position the arrays of teeth of the two clip members interwoven for holding hair received in the gap.11 . The hair clip having a hair-receiving gap of claim 0 wherein the resilient component urges the clip members toward the closed position.

12. The hair clip having a hair-receiving gap of claim 11 wherein the resilient member comprises a coiled spring.

13. The hair clip having a hair-receiving gap of claim 0 wherein each of the two or more pivoting joints is connected to the handle of each of the two clip members.

14. The hair clip having a hair-receiving gap of claim 0 wherein each of the two clip members having opposite clip ends, the inner edges extending continuously between said clip ends at a uniform clip member separation distance.

15. The hair clip having a hair-receiving gap of claim 10 wherein said at least two pivoting joints and said inner edges bound the hair-receiving gap.

16. The hair clip having a hair-receiving gap of claim 0 wherein at least one of the pivoting joints has a first pair of inwardly extending arms attached to one of the two clip members, a second pair of inwardly extending arms attached to the other of the two clip members, each arm of said first and second pairs of arms having an aperture, and a pivot pin received in the aperture of each arm of said first and second pairs of arms, thereby interconnecting the two clip members and forming the common pivot axis about which said two clip members rotate.

17. The hair clip having a hair-receiving gap of claim 16 wherein the pivot pins of at least two of said two or more pivoting joints form said common pivot axis.

18. A hair clip having a hair-receiving gap comprising. two clip members each having a handle and an array of teeth, the clip membersspaced apart, two or more pivoting joints, each of the two or more pivoting joints connected to each of said two clip members, at least two of the two or more pivoting joints spaced apart, at least one of the pivoting joints having a first pair of inwardly extending arms attached to one of the two clip members, a second pair of inwardly extending arms attached to the other of the two clip members, each arm of said first and second pairs of arms having a pin-receiving aperture, a pivot pin received in the aperture of each arm of said first and second pairs of arms, the pivot pins interconnecting the two clip members and forming a common pivot access about which said two clip members rotate, a spring urging the two clip members toward a closed position, and the handle of each of the two clip members extending from said inner edge between two of the two or more pivoting joints, the clip members and the at least two pivoting joints bounding a hair-receiving gap the clip members pivotable between an open position and said closed position by manipulating the handles, in the open position the arrays of teeth of the two clip members spaced apart, and in the closed position the arrays of teeth of the two clip members interwoven for holding hair received in the gap.

19. The hair clip having a hair-receiving gap of claim 18 further comprising: each of the two clip members having an inner edge disposed between the handle and the teeth, said inner edges extending between the at least two pivot joints, said the inner edges and said at least two of the two or more pivoting joints bounding the hairreceiving gap.

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