U.S. patent application number 11/339105 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-10 for hair pin.
This patent application is currently assigned to GOODY PRODUCTS, INC.. Invention is credited to Stan Chudzik, Christin Hartsfield, Don Vestal.
Application Number | 20060174909 11/339105 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36778689 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060174909 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vestal; Don ; et
al. |
August 10, 2006 |
Hair pin
Abstract
A hair pin includes a first leg, a second leg, and opening, and
a connecting portion connecting the first and second legs at their
respective second ends. The first leg including a first set of
undulations extending over a majority of the first leg, and the
second leg including a second set of undulations extending over a
majority of the second leg. The opening is disposed between first
ends of the first and second legs and receives strands of hair when
the hair pin is in an open position.
Inventors: |
Vestal; Don; (Columbus,
GA) ; Chudzik; Stan; (Alpharetta, GA) ;
Hartsfield; Christin; (Atlanta, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARSHALL, GERSTEIN & BORUN LLP
233 S. WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 6300
SEARS TOWER
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Assignee: |
GOODY PRODUCTS, INC.
Freeport
IL
|
Family ID: |
36778689 |
Appl. No.: |
11/339105 |
Filed: |
January 25, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60650269 |
Feb 4, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/280 ;
132/282 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 8/14 20130101; A45D
8/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/280 ;
132/282 |
International
Class: |
A45D 8/06 20060101
A45D008/06; A45D 8/02 20060101 A45D008/02 |
Claims
1. A hair pin, comprising: a first leg including a first end and a
second end, the first leg having a first set of undulations
extending over a majority of the first leg; a second leg including
a first end and a second end, the second leg having a second set of
undulations extending over a majority of the second leg; a
connecting portion disposed between the second ends of the first
and second legs for connecting the first and second legs; and an
opening disposed between the first ends of the first and second
legs for receiving strands of hair when the hair pin is in an open
position.
2. The hair pin of claim 1, wherein an area defined by the first
leg, the second leg, and the connecting portion receives the
strands of hair when the hair clip is in a closed position.
3. The hair pin of claim 1, wherein the hair pin is generally
arched throughout a length of the hair pin so as to conform to a
shape of a users head.
4. The hair pin of claim 1, further including a second connecting
portion connecting the first end of the second leg to a first end
of a third leg, the third leg being oriented generally parallel to
the first and second legs and including a handle disposed at a
second end of the third leg.
5. The hair pin of claim 1, wherein the first leg, the second leg
and the connecting portion are all constructed from a single piece
of wire.
6. The hair pin of claim 1, wherein the first and second set of
undulation correspond to each other when the hair clip is in a
closed position.
7. The hair pin of claim 1, wherein the first and second set of
undulation are off-set relative to each other when the hair clip is
in a closed position.
8. The hair pin of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and
second legs include a friction material disposed on an inner
surface of the leg such that the friction material engages strands
of hair disposed between the legs.
9. The hair pin of claim 8, wherein a majority of the least one leg
is covered with an epoxy material.
10. The hair pin of claim 1, further including an opening device
having an outer surface and an aperture, wherein the opening device
slidably engages one of the first and second legs via the aperture
such that the outer surface of the opening device abuts the other
of the first and second legs to separate the legs when the opening
device slides toward the first ends of the legs.
11. The hair pin of claim 10, wherein the opening device is
disposed near the connecting portion when the hair pin is in a
closed position.
12. The hair pin of claim 10, wherein the opening device has a
generally spherical shape.
13. A hair pin, comprising: a first leg including a first end and a
second end; a second leg including a first end and a second end,
the first and second legs being connected at their respective
second ends and biased toward one another for retaining strands of
hair between the first and second legs when the hair pin is in a
closed position; a retention device disposed on at least one of the
first ends of the first and second legs; and a cover encompassing
the retention device, wherein the retention device increases the
surface area of the at least one first end thereby providing better
retention of the cover on the at least one of the first end.
14. The hair pin of claim 13, wherein the retention device is a
rough surface at the at least one end.
15. The hair pin of claim 13, wherein the retention device includes
at least one notch disposed at the at least one end.
16. The hair pin of claim 15, wherein the retention device includes
a pair of notches disposed on opposite sides of the at least one
end.
17. The hair pin of claim 15, wherein the retention device is
integrally formed with the at least one end.
18. A hair pin, comprising: a first leg including a first end and a
second end; a second leg including a first end and a second end,
wherein the first and second legs connect at their respective
second ends via a bend and are biased toward one another for
retaining strands of hair between the first and second legs when
the hair pin is in a closed position; and a cover disposed on at
least one of the first ends of the first and second legs, wherein
the cover includes a first layer disposed around the at least one
first end and a second layer the disposed on the first layer.
19. The hair pin of claim 18, wherein the cover is constructed from
an epoxy material.
20. The hair pin of claim 19, wherein the first and second layer
are constructed from the same material.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
[0001] The present application is a non-provisional application
based on, and claiming the priority benefit of, co-pending U.S.
provisional application Ser. No. 60/650,269, which was filed on
Feb. 4, 2005, and is expressly incorporated herein by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to hair pins for
holding and retaining hair and, more particularly, to hair pins for
holding and retaining hair having a legs with undulations.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] Bobby pins or hair pins are generally known in the art and
come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
[0004] In one example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,547 to Williams
discloses a hair pin for gripping and placing the hair of a user
against the head of the user. The hair pin is constructed from a
strand of wire formed from a resilient material having a first leg
and a second leg joined together by a first bend. The first leg has
a second bend disposed near a free end of the first leg, such that
a third leg is defined between the second bend and the free end of
the first leg. A total length of the first and third legs is
generally equal to a length of the second leg. The first, second
and third legs lying generally in the same plane.
[0005] In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,905 to Adam
discloses a hair pin that provides the appearance of greater volume
and thickness of a user's hair with the use of a support member.
The support member protrudes from a side of a lower leg of the hair
pin at an acute angle and extends substantially parallel to the
legs of the hair pin. Hairs being held between the legs of the hair
pin are elevated by the support member to a position above the
upper leg of the pin and away from the scalp, thus giving the
appearance of fuller, thicker hair.
[0006] In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,194,248 to Callies
discloses a hair pin having a handle for facilitating opening of
the hair pin. The hair pin includes a first leg, a second leg and a
third leg, wherein the first, second and third legs are all
relatively parallel to each other. The first and second legs are
connected via a U-shaped member at one end of the hair pin, and the
second and third legs are connected via a second U-shaped member at
another end of the hair pin. An area defined by the first and
second legs may be opened upon movement of the handle.
[0007] In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,699,790 to Porteous
discloses spring clip used to hold a user's hair. The spring clip
includes a single length of spring metal bent to form a loop at one
end and two legs which normally lie one above the other. At least
one of the legs is provided with an outwardly projecting bow
substantially at right angles to the plane of the loop at a point
towards the loop end of the clip. The legs may include mating
corrugations. These and other hair pins have been used in the past,
but have not provided the necessary holding and retaining power
desired by users.
SUMMARY
[0008] In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a hair pin
having a first leg, a second leg, a connecting portion, and an
opening is disclosed. The first and second legs each include a set
of undulations that extend over a majority of the respective legs.
The connecting portion connects second ends of the first and second
legs together, and the opening is disposed at first ends of the
first and second legs for receiving strands of hair when the hair
pin is in an open position.
[0009] In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a hair
pin having a first leg, a second leg, a retention device, and a
cover is disclosed. The first and second legs each include first
and second ends. The first and second legs are connected at their
respective second ends via a bend and are biased toward one another
for retaining strands of hair between the first and second legs
when the hair pin is in a closed position. The retention device is
disposed on at least one of the first ends of the first and second
legs, and the cover encompassing the retention device. The
retention device increases the surface area of the at least one
first end thereby providing better retention of the cover on the at
least one of the first end.
[0010] In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a hair
pin having a first leg, a second leg, and a cover is disclosed. The
first and second legs each include first and second ends. The first
and second legs are connected at their respective second ends via a
bend and are biased toward one another for retaining strands of
hair between the first and second legs when the hair pin is in a
closed position. The cover is disposed on at least one of the first
ends of the first and second legs, and includes a first layer
disposed around the at least one first end and a second layer the
disposed on the first layer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a straight bobby pin with
off-set undulations;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a straight bobby pin with
generally corresponding undulations;
[0013] FIG. 2A is an isometric view of the bobby pin of FIG. 2 with
a friction providing coating;
[0014] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an arched bobby pin;
[0015] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a bobby pin with a bead in a
closed position;
[0016] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the bobby pin of FIG. 4 in an
open position;
[0017] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a bobby pin having a
handle;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a side view of an alternate handle for the bobby
pin FIG. 6;
[0019] FIG. 8 is side view of an another alternate handle for the
bobby pin FIG. 6;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a detailed isometric view of an end of the bobby
pin FIG. 1 without a coating;
[0021] FIG. 10 is an isometric view of an alternate end to the one
shown in FIG. 9;
[0022] FIG. 11 is an isometric view of another alternate end to the
one shown in FIG. 9;
[0023] FIG. 12 is an isometric view of another alternate end to the
one shown in FIG. 9;
[0024] FIG. 13 is an isometric view of an end of the bobby pin FIG.
1 with a double coating; and
[0025] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the end of the bobby
pin along line A-A of FIG. 13.
[0026] 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
claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] Referring now to the drawings, and with specific reference
to FIG. 1, a hair pin in accordance with the teachings of the
disclosure is generally depicted by reference numeral 20. As shown
therein, the hair pin 20 in this exemplary embodiment includes a
first leg 22 that is connected to a second leg 24 via a bend 26.
The first leg 22, the second leg 24, and the bend 26 define an area
28 for receiving stands of hair. An opening 30 to the area 28 is
disposed opposite the bend 26 on the hair pin 20, and is defined by
free ends 32, 34 of the first and second legs 22, 24, respectively.
The opening 30 allows for the insertion and retraction of the
strands of hair into the area 28.
[0028] The hair pin 20 may be constructed from a resilient or
flexible metal stock, such as wire, having a rectangular
cross-sectional area as seen in FIG. 1, but may alternatively be
constructed from a variety of materials having various
cross-sectional shapes. For example, the hair pin 20 may be
constructed from plastic, wood, composite, or a combination
thereof, and may have an oval, square, or round cross-sectional
shape. The hair pin 20 may also be manufactured in a variety of
sizes (lengths and widths) such as, for example, 1.875''
long.times.0.060'' wide, 2'' long.times.0.060'' wide, and 2.625''
long.times.0.090'' wide, and may be manufactured in various colors,
such as tortoise, black, brown, silver among others. In addition,
the hair pin 20 may also be constructed from a single piece of wire
or from one or more pieces.
[0029] As seen in FIG. 1, the first leg 22 and the second leg 24
each include undulations. The undulations, as seen in FIGS. 1 and
2, are not limited to being wave-like in appearance but may include
many other shapes and forms. For example, the undulations may
include sharp edges, comers, half arcs, rectangles, odd shapes, and
a combination thereof. The undulations of the hair pin 20, may be
generally complimentary to one another, as illustrated FIGS. 2 and
3, but may also be staggered or in opposition, as illustrated FIG.
1.
[0030] More specifically, the undulations of the first and second
legs 22, 24 may cradle each other as seen in FIG. 2. Alternatively,
the undulations may be off-set as seen in FIG. 1. The undulations
may provide more surface area for the strands of hair to be secured
and more surface area for applying grip materials like "soft touch"
paint or other friction providing coatings. For example, the first
and second legs 22, 24 may be sprayed or coated with a "soft touch"
paint, epoxy, silicone, vinyl, neoprene, sanoprene, natural rubber,
and/or other suitable materials. Specifically, the hair pin 20 as
illustrated FIG. 2A may be wholly or partially covered by the
friction providing coating, thereby proving additional gripping
power to the hair pin 20. Similarly, the undulations may also
provide more tension and holding power in retaining the strands of
hair in the hair clip 20. The hair pin 20 as seen in FIG. 3 may
also include an overall arched shape.
[0031] The hair pin 20 may be manufactured using a process wherein
the material of the hair pin 20 is pulled off a spool of raw
material, such as wire. The wire may be painted before or after it
is pulled into stamping dies for bending and crimping, thereby
applying the undulation and the overall shape of the hair pin 20.
The undulations in the hair pin 20 may be manufactured through a
two step process wherein the shape of the first and second legs 22,
24 are created separately, but may be manufactured through a one
step process wherein the shape of both the first and second legs
22, 24 are created simultaneously. Once the wire is bent to the
desired design, the hair pin's free ends 32, 34 may be dipped in an
epoxy, such as Plastisole or other similar material, to coat the
hair pin's free ends 32, 34 with a cover 39. The epoxy dip can be
cured via heat or UV light.
[0032] The above exemplary embodiments may be varied to achieve
and/or create additional or alternative features. For example, the
first and second legs 22, 24 may include texturing or deformations
on their respective inside surfaces. More specifically, the legs
22, 24 may be knurled, grooved, matted, or otherwise machined or
etched to include a non-flat, abrasive, or textured surface.
[0033] In another exemplary embodiment, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the
hair pin 20 may include an opening device 40. The opening device 40
may be utilized to aid in the separation of the opening 30 and/or
the hair retention area 28. In the illustrated example, the opening
device 40 may include a bead or other object 42 slidingly engaged
with the hair pin 20. More specifically, the bead 42 may include an
aperture 43 for treading or otherwise attaching the bead 42 to one
of the legs 22, 24. An outer surface 45 of the bead 42 then abuts
the other of the legs 22, 24 as the bead 42 slides along the leg 24
to open the hair pin 20. The hair pin 20 when in the closed
position as seen in FIG. 4, may close regardless of the bead 42, as
the bead 42 may be located near the bend 26 without abutting the
outer surface 45 against the opposing leg. The hair pin 20 may be
opened as seen in FIG. 5 by sliding the bead 42 along a length of
one of the first or second legs 22, 24, thereby causing the bead
42, and specifically the outer surface 45, to separate the first
and second legs 22, 24 and/or cause the separation of the opening
30 and/or the hair retention area 28.
[0034] The opening device 40 may allow the user to maintain the
hair pin 20 in an open position (FIG. 5) such that when the user is
ready to secure the hair pin 20, the user slides the opening device
40 toward the opening 30 and secures the hair pin 20 in the hair.
The opening device 40 can be decorative in nature so as to coincide
with current fashion and hair trends. The decorative nature of the
opening device 40 could possess jewels, cast artifacts, leather,
fabrics, and other materials as part of the device's design.
[0035] In a further alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a hair
pin 120 may further include a third leg 146 having a handle 148.
The third leg 146, may extend from an end 134 of a second leg 124
via a second bend 150 with the handle 148 disposed at the other end
of the third leg 146 opposite the second bend 150 and the opening
130 of the hair pin 120. The handle 148, as seen in FIG. 7, may
include a loop or ring constructed from the hair pin material.
Alternatively, as seen in FIG. 8, the handle 148 may include a bead
or sphere 150 or other shape easily engageable with the user's
finger to actuate the separation of an opening 130 and/or an area
128.
[0036] The handle 148 may also provide opportunities for decorative
adornment such as jewels, beads, cast artifacts, leathers, and
other fabric/soft good materials. The handle 48 could also have a
"soft" coating for comfort that could be made from silicone, vinyl,
neoprene, or soft pliable materials.
[0037] In another alternate embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9-12,
the ends 32, 34 of the hair pin 20 may be altered to include a
retention device 49 to provide additional locking power between the
cover 39 and the ends 32, 34 of the hair pin 20. More specifically,
the ends 32, 34 of the hair pin 20 may be bent, manipulated or
formed as illustrated in FIG. 9 to better adhere to the cover 39.
Similarly, the retention device 49 may include one or more notches
49a, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, and/or may include a rough
or textured surface, such as knurled, grooved, matted, or otherwise
machined or etched to include a non-flat or abrasive surface as
illustrated in FIG. 11. The retention device 49 may also include an
object 49b connected, attached or fastened to the ends 32, 34 as
illustrated in FIG. 12. In addition, the ends 32, 34 may be curved,
rounded or smooth as illustrated in FIG. 10 such that scraping or
cutting of the user's scalp is minimized if the cover 39 is
removed.
[0038] In addition to providing additional locking power, the
retention device 49 may enable the creation of larger covers 39 on
hair pins 20 with the retention device 49 than on those without the
retention device 49. More specifically, the addition of the
retention device 49 increases a surface area of the ends 32, 34,
thereby allowing for more material of the cover 39 to be gathered
in a single pass or dip to create a thicker coating for the ends
32, 34.
[0039] In another alternate embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 13-14,
a cover 139 of a hair pin 220 may be increased in size or layered
to provide a larger, more durable and more comfortable cover 139.
FIG. 1 illustrates a single layer or small cover 39, while FIG. 13
illustrates a double layer or large cover 139. The cover 139 as
illustrated in FIG. 14 includes a first layer 250 disposed adjacent
the leg 224 of the hair clip 220, and a second layer 252 disposed
adjacent the first layer 250. The layers 250, 252 may be formed
from different materials, or may be formed from the same
material.
[0040] The size of the cover 139 can vary depending on the wire
stock width used. For instance, a cover with a size range from
0.090'' (2.2 mm) to 0.110'' (2.8 mm) could be generated with a
0.058'' (1.47 mm) bobby wire width. A cover 139 with a size range
from 0.120'' (3.0 mm) to 0.175'' (4.4 mm) could be generated with a
0.087'' (2.2 mm) bobby wire width.
[0041] While the present invention has been described with
reference to specific examples, which are intended to be
illustrative only and not to be limiting of the invention, it will
be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that changes,
additions or deletions may be made to the disclosed embodiments
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *