CN112469304A

CN112469304A - Hair clip

Info

Publication number: CN112469304A
Application number: CN201980048429.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 苏菲·崔勒斯-提凡德
Original assignee: Yinbo Baobai Co
Current assignee: Yinbo Baobai Co
Priority date: 2018-08-02
Filing date: 2019-07-18
Publication date: 2021-03-09
Also published as: US20210219692A1; WO2020025334A1; TW202017503A; EP3829383A1; DE102018118860A1

Abstract

A hair clip 1 has: a first arcuate holding or clamping section 11; a second arcuate holding or clamping section 12 extending parallel to the former; and a U-shaped connecting section 13 connecting one of the end points of each of the clamping sections 11 and 12. Clamping sections 11 and 12 are connected to the ends of the "U". The device 1 is made in one piece and in one piece from plastic.

Description

Hair clip

Technical Field

The invention relates to a holding device for hair, in particular to a hair clip or a strip-shaped hair clip, which comprises: a first holding section; a second holding section; and a connecting section for connecting the first holding section and the second holding section.

Background

Many hairpins have long been known from the prior art. For example, these hair clips are used to hold or decorate hair as desired.

Conventional hair clips are comprised of two parallel metal parts connected by a connecting piece in the form of a loop to an end. The other free ends of the two components are typically coated with silicone or similar soft material, thereby protecting the hair and scalp from sharp metal ends.

A disadvantage of such hairpins is that they are made of metal, mainly for maintaining tension, which has as material some disadvantages such as breaking due to material fatigue or losing shape due to frequent use, such as bending or wear. Furthermore, metal can rust, so that such hairpins are not suitable for use in a shower or a wet environment. Furthermore, known metal hairpins are usually covered with a layer of lacquer, which can flake off over time. This not only changes the visual impression of the hair clip, but also damages the hair.

When conventional hair clips are pulled from the hair, the individual hairs are often caught in the clips, which can cause uncomfortable pulling or even tearing of the individual hairs.

Another disadvantage is that the hair clip most common worldwide, the so-called "pin clip" (bobby pin), is not properly used by most consumers. This clip is inserted into the hair near the head, but its wavy side up is a wrong usage.

Many consumers use the clip by bending it away with their teeth, which can be harmful to the teeth. Furthermore, there is a risk that pigments or metal particles enter the ports.

If the hair clip has a closure element, the closure element is usually carried out by interaction of different materials and techniques.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a holding device for hair which avoids the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art and ensures high wearing comfort, long holding capacity and hair friendliness.

Solution this object is achieved by a holding device for hair according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the object of the dependent claims.

The holding device for hair according to the invention, in particular a hair clip or an elongated hair clip, comprises: a first clamping or holding section; a second clamping or holding section; and a connecting section for connecting the first clamping or holding section and the second clamping or holding section. The first clamping or holding section, the second clamping or holding section and the connecting section are integrally formed from plastic. The hair clip according to the invention therefore consists of a single part.

The terms holding section and clamping section are used synonymously.

The feature of a single-part, one-piece or one-piece production of the holding device means that the functional parts of the holding device, i.e. in particular the first clamping section, the second clamping section and the connecting section, are made in one-part, one-piece or one-piece.

If a third holding or clamping section is present, the third holding or clamping section is also a single component, one piece, or integral with the other clamping and connecting sections. Thus, two clamping or holding sections may form the legs of the "U", with the third holding section extending generally parallel therebetween. The connecting sections are bent sections of "U" by which the retaining sections are connected to each other, or the ends (non-free ends) of the clamping/retaining sections are brought together in the bent sections.

In use, hair is clamped between the clamping sections (such as the upper and lower hair bands or the hair bands near the head), with the connecting section being stable but resiliently elastic so as to be able to compress the clamping sections with sufficient force and thus clamp and hold the hair. The term clamping section also includes embodiments in which the clamping section surrounds or traps hair therebetween in tension or without tension.

By integral design is meant a one-piece or one-piece construction of at least three segments, for example in an injection molding process, wherein a mold is used having a mold cavity which has been adapted to the final shape of three or more interconnected segments. At least three sections are produced simultaneously, for example by injecting plastic into the mold cavity. Thus, only one mold (die) is required for producing the hair clip according to the present invention. The material of the at least three sections may, but need not, be homogenous. The choice of materials and the geometry largely determine their function and ensure compliance with technical requirements, for example with regard to stability, elasticity, etc.

Hair clips according to the invention are characterized by high wearing comfort, durability and hair friendliness.

The general idea underlying the present invention is to create a novel hair clip which is not only relatively easy to wear on the hair, but also provides a hair style fixation which is maintained over time without loosening, for example, supporting a long wearing time and a taking off from the hair without causing uncomfortable tangles, and thereby achieving even longer hair clip durability.

The hair clip according to the invention consists of at least two sections made of solid material, which extend substantially parallel to one another, meet at one end of the device and are connected at the other end, wherein the lower part (close to the head) is constructed such that it fits ergonomically to the head shape and the upper part (far from the head) is constructed such that it can have a wave structure, for example a helical rotation structure. The helical structure of the taller (i.e., away from the head) clamping section of the hair clip is designed to provide better hair retention than hair clips with only smooth surfaces. Furthermore, the helical structure is advantageous in that it evenly distributes the pressure on the hair, leaving no pressure marks on the hair. This feature of the present hair clip provides hair protection.

Hair clips (elongated clips, etc.) are also designed to be intuitive for the user to use in the correct orientation.

The hair clip is composed in particular of a single part, which is made of solid plastic. Plastic has been shown to be a more suitable material for the hair clip than metal because plastic is gentle to both the hair and hands and still maintains sufficient tension and is sufficiently non-slip.

The hair clip according to the invention also has a significantly longer life expectancy than previously known hair clips, which is achieved by using plastic. When plastic is used as the material, material fatigue or material deformation after a long time use can be avoided. By using plastic it is a further advantage that no color loss can be expected, i.e. the product always remains visually the same as when purchased. Furthermore, plastics are water-resistant and therefore do not rust, so that they do not cause disadvantages for the hair or for the service life of the clip when used in wet hair or in the shower.

Since plastic is used as the material of the hair clip according to the present invention, the hair clip has a closed surface which can prevent dirt or adsorption or attachment of bacteria, and thus also provides a high hygienic standard. Furthermore, the plastic is resistant to water and perspiration, so that the hair clip according to the invention can also be used without any doubt in sports, which can prove advantageous, in particular under heavy load. In particular, this means that despite the firm holding of the hair by the clip, no indentations remain after wear, which is achieved on the one hand by using plastic as material and on the other hand by the wavy or spiral structure of one of the holding sections of the clip. The hair clip according to the present invention can be cleaned with almost all soap or household detergent and thus can be easily cleaned even after heavy soiling.

Since the hair clip according to the present invention is made of plastic, it will not cause damage to teeth when used with teeth, and there is no paint or material that peels off from the hair clip.

Preferably, the plastic is elastic and/or the holding means can resiliently take the shape it has in the unloaded state when no external force is applied.

The plastic may be a thermoplastic.

The plastic may be transparent, translucent or opaque. It was not previously possible to use metal as a material to make a clear hairpin. A development of the hair clip according to the invention, i.e. a completely transparent device, is the transparent hair clip proposed for the first time.

The hair clip according to the present invention is safer than the conventional hair clip because it is composed of one component and plastic is a safer material for hair than metal. For example, the scalp and hair are not scratched by the hair clip and injured.

The hair clip will also be less likely to break because the plastic material is not brittle, it has high toughness and high strength. Before the hairpin breaks (always in place), a large amount of force must be applied. Thus, in certain embodiments, it has been shown that the hairpin can be bent by about 75% before breaking. This explains the long service life of the hair clip according to the invention.

The plastic material is also resistant to water, mineral acids, oils, greases and oxidants.

The use of plastic for hairpins is exceptionally mild to the hair for a number of reasons. First, hair clips consist of a single component, so no hair can get caught in other components or clamping mechanisms. In particular, the comprehensive abandonment of metal improves the friendliness to hair. The one-piece integral production without using metal or holding devices made of plastic means in particular an assembly, a one-piece or an integral production with one piece and metal-free technical and functional components. On the other hand, the structure of the holding device without metal does not mean: for example, decorative elements such as metals cannot be fastened to the holding device. Such variations are also considered to be metal-free holding means in the point of view of the hair clip according to the invention, since in this point of view decorative elements are not considered to belong to holding means.

Furthermore, the hair clip can be easily removed from the hair, again due to the use of a smooth but stiff material of plastic. Further, as described above, individual hairs are not entangled in the hair clip, and since the hair clip is composed of plastic and designed as a single member, no individual hair is pulled or damaged when the hair clip is pulled from the hair. This also means that the hair clip according to the invention can be shaped without leaving marks, since the hair clip neither leaves an impression nor damages the hair.

Furthermore, the hair clip may be formed to have a dull appearance, rather than a shiny appearance, whereby a better, more secure hold in the hair may be achieved, as a rougher surface holds the hair better. It is therefore preferred that the device has a structured or rough surface, in particular at the clamping sections or at mutually facing sides of the clamping sections. This can be produced by injection molding or post-treatment, such as roughening.

In particular, the first clamping section and the second clamping section each have a free end point. The clamping sections of hair clips according to the present invention may be constructed such that they are thinner at the front end point (free end point) than the back end point where the clamping sections are joined or joined into a connecting section. This optimizes the force distribution and results in less tension being prevalent at the front end point (which makes the hair clip easier to open) and more tension being prevalent at the rear end point (which results in the desired retention). Furthermore, the hair clip is not indented on the hair due to the helical structure of the hair clip under the interaction of the optimized force distribution and the optimized pressure distribution, resulting in a so-called "no mark".

The device may form a closure or be devoid of a closure. If closure is provided, the first clamping section and/or the second clamping section may have a hook-like structure for interconnecting the free end points of the clamping sections. For example, a hook formed at the free end of the first clamping section can be pushed or rotated under the second clamping section for closing. In particular, the clip/elongate clip made of plastic can have a closure option which is integrally formed with at least three sections.

The hair clip may be constructed to have a closure. The hair clip can also be constructed without a closure. The closure may be designed to operate with a simple clamping mechanism. Here, the rotating upper half of the hair clip is guided by a slight rotational movement of the finger under the lower half of the hair clip, and is clamped under the lower half of the hair clip by the hook-shaped end point of the upper half. Thus, a firm closure of the hair clip is provided by a simple mechanical movement which holds the hair therein. The closing mechanism thus acts in the hair clip according to the invention by purely mechanical and not laborious (i.e. by just a simple rotational movement). The hair clip according to the invention therefore preferably consists of one component and of one single material (plastic) and can have a closure. The fact that the hair clip consists of a single plastic component makes it exceptionally gentle to hair, since it is not necessary to use metal components.

The connecting sections can be formed in a U-shape, with the clamping sections each being connected at one end of one leg of the U-shape.

The first clamping section and/or the second clamping section may have a curved shape, for example, to match the shape of the head.

The clamping or holding sections each have one side (inner side) for holding hair or clamping hair and one side (outer side) facing away from the inner side.

In particular, the inner side does not have sharp edges. Instead, all edges at or near the medial side and the lateral side are rounded to protect the hair.

The first clamping section and/or the second clamping section may have a wavy shape and/or a helical shape. The wavy shape serves to better hold and protect the hair during use, since the wavy shape of the pressure on the hair is evenly distributed and no indentations are left on the hair.

In the context of the present invention, a wave shape is considered to be any profile having a repetitive rise and fall. In the context of the present invention, the wave shape should be formed on at least the inner side of at least one of the clamping or holding sections. It does not exert pressure on a surface on the hair, but the raised area exerts a stronger pressure on the hair near the inside of the holding portion than the lowered area. Thus, there is a locally varying pressure distribution on the hair along the inside of the holding section. A better pressure distribution is achieved and the hair is less prone to seizing. The amplitude of the waves can extend parallel to a plane defined by the clamping section and/or perpendicular to the plane. However, any structure of repeated ascent and descent disposed on the inner side is conceivable within the scope of the present invention. In particular, the wave shape is formed in one or more clamping or holding sections facing away from the head. The wave shape can also be shaped in the shape of a letter profile on the inside surface of the clamping section. For example, the upper half of the hair clip of the present invention (the first clamping section) may be constructed in the form of a 3D helically shaped closure.

For example, in another embodiment, the upper half (first clamping section) of the hair clip according to the present invention may be constructed in a 2D wave shape.

However, all combinations of wave shapes with or without closure elements are intended to be within the scope of the present invention.

In an alternative embodiment, the first clamping section or holding section may extend along a first circular or helical path and the second clamping section may extend along a second circular or helical path. The connecting section of this embodiment can be formed in an S shape, in which each of the holding sections is connected to one of the ends of "S". Overall, the holding device or holding section has a conical spiral profile or conical spiral profile. This means that the sections extend substantially over the conical (frusto-conical) shell section. In this case, the profile has a fixed or varying pitch, so that the profile is substantially helical or spiral-shaped at least in sections. The endpoints of the holding sections are spaced along the height (pitch) or along the axis of the virtual cone (distance or height H). The holding device as a whole tapers from the first holding section or clamping section to the second holding section or clamping section.

This alternative embodiment is a hair clip that acts without tension, meaning that the hair is held only by mechanical means. For this purpose, a bun is integrated with the hair on the head, and then the S-shaped hair clip is screwed into the bun near the head. In this case, the section of the conical tip located more closely is first rotated into the hair. The hair then takes a helical shape as it wraps around the holding device. When taking a spiral shape. By taking a spiral shape, the section or portion of the holding device near the end of the conical tip is located in the area of the hair deep in the bun and below the bun. Thus, the hair does not lose its shape without applying pressure to the hair.

Furthermore, in this embodiment no edges are present, i.e. the entire transition is rounded.

In summary, the following advantages can be achieved by a hair clip according to the invention, in particular in comparison with conventional hair clips or elongated hair clips:

protection of hair;

leave no impressions/traces on the hair after wearing;

water and sweat resistance and thus can be used in almost all living situations;

ensuring a significantly longer life expectancy;

avoiding knots and tearing of hair;

the hair clip is made of plastic that maintains tension;

no loss of tension due to material fatigue;

does not rust or break;

no loss of color;

optimizing the "pressure distribution" on the hair;

easy to use, correct to wear intuitively;

enabling special closure techniques.

The device can be produced in particular by injection molding. The injection mold has a mold cavity that enables the simultaneous manufacture of at least three functional sections (clamping section and connecting section) as a component/unitary device.

It is to be understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the particular given combination but also in other combinations of features without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is important that no metal is provided to the functional parts of the holding device, which fulfils the functionality related to holding hair. The holding section and the connecting section holding the holding sections together and, in some embodiments, exerting a restoring force on the holding sections that are pulled away from each other, are therefore manufactured in plastic without metal. The material is preferably homogeneous.

Furthermore, the invention makes it possible to manufacture a completely transparent or translucent holding device for hair. This is not possible when the metal component is arranged in or outside the component of the holding device.

Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the invention are depicted in the drawings and described in more detail below, wherein like reference numerals indicate identical or similar or functionally identical elements.

The drawings show that:

fig. 1, a perspective view of a first embodiment of a hair clip according to the present invention;

FIG. 2, a side view of the hair clip according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, an upper plan view of the hair clip according to FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a hair clip according to the present invention;

FIG. 5, a side view of the hair clip according to FIG. 4;

FIG. 6, an upper plan view of the hair clip according to FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a hair clip according to the present invention;

FIG. 8, an upper plan view of the hair clip according to FIG. 7; and

fig. 9, a side view of the hair clip according to fig. 7 and 8.

Detailed Description

The

devices

1, 2 and 3 according to the invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings of the specification.

A first embodiment of a hair clip 1 according to the invention is shown in figures 1 to 3. The hair clip 1 has a first arcuate holding or clamping section 11, a second arcuate holding or clamping section 12 extending parallel to the first arcuate holding or clamping section 11, and a U-shaped connecting section 13 connecting one of the ends of the clamping

sections

11 and 12. The clamping

sections

11 and 12 are connected to both ends of the U.

The lower clamping section 11 near the user's head is slightly curved and engages the head surface. The upper head-facing clamping section 12 has a wave-like structure 120 with peaks and valleys. As can be seen in fig. 2 and 3, the wave shape is two-dimensional, i.e. the amplitude (peak and valley, indicated by way of example by the double arrow a) extends on the plane defined by the clamping

sections

11 and 12.

Fig. 4 to 6 show a second embodiment of a hair clip 2 according to the invention, which, like the first embodiment, has clamping

sections

21, 22 and a connecting section 23. This embodiment 2 differs from the first embodiment 1 in one respect in that the second clamping section 22 has a hook 221 formed at its free end point. The hook acts as a closure for the clip 2. If the hook 221 is placed under the end section 210 of the first clamping section (e.g. by slight rotation of the second clamping section 22), the clamping

sections

21, 22 are thus hooked to each other and the hair clip 2 is firmly closed. Opening is also as simple as closing.

On the other hand, the wave shape 220 of the second clamping section 22 is three-dimensional, i.e. the amplitude a or B (as shown in the side view of fig. 5) extends on the one hand on the plane defined by the clamping

sections

21 and 22 and on the other hand (as can be seen in the plan view of fig. 6) on a plane perpendicular thereto. The superposition of the amplitudes a and B produces a three-dimensional wave shape 220.

In principle, other two-dimensional or three-dimensional curved profiles are conceivable.

Fig. 7 to 9 show a further embodiment of the invention in the form of a spiral hairpin 3, the spiral hairpin 3 having a first holding section 31, a second holding section 32, and a connecting section 33 arranged therebetween. The holding

sections

31, 32 each have a

free end point

310, 320, the free end points being offset from each other (distance D is shown in plan view).

The holding

sections

31, 32 extend substantially over the (imaginary) conical (base) outer surface. The device thus has a narrow, tapered

first end

32, 320 and a

second end

31, 310, which extend with a larger radius. The first, narrower end point is typically rotated into the hair strand first. The profile of the device is helical or spiral in nature or at least in sections (radius increases or decreases along the height H).

As can be seen in particular in fig. 8, the

sections

31 and 32 extend in each case approximately over a circular or spiral path, wherein the circular/spiral path of the second clamping or holding section 32 is offset inwardly (in the direction of the imaginary center point) with respect to the first clamping or holding section (see top view of fig. 7) such that the second clamping section 32 extends in a circular path defined by the first clamping section 31. The radius may be about the same, but may also vary or vary with the path. The curvatures of the

sections

31 and 32 have the same sign, i.e. the circular paths projected to the plane according to fig. 8 run substantially parallel over the sections.

The connecting section 33 is formed in an S shape. Clamping

sections

31, 32 are each connected to the ends of the "S" shape.

The

sections

31 and 32 are offset with respect to each other along the height H of the device 3 (see fig. 9), or the

end points

310 and 320 have a distance H.

In general, in this embodiment, as with the other embodiments, retention is not caused by elastic clamping, but rather primarily or solely by screwing the double helix into the hair. This functionality is similar to that of a screw.

The

devices

1, 2 and 3 are each made of plastic in one piece, in one piece. The plastic may be transparent, translucent or opaque. The color is arbitrary. The surface may be contoured, for example, rough, at least on the surface that holds/contacts the hair.

The connecting

sections

13, 23, 33 may exert a force or torque on the clamping sections that are pressed away from each other by the application of an external force, which elastically and resiliently presses the clamping sections together so that hair between the clamping sections may be held.

Claims

1. Holding device (1, 2, 3) for hair, in particular hair clips or elongated hair clips, comprising:

a first holding section (11, 21, 31);

a second holding section (12, 22, 32); and

a connecting section (13, 23, 33) for connecting the first holding section (11, 21, 31) to the second holding section (12, 22, 32);

it is characterized in that

The first holding section (11, 21, 31), the second holding section (12, 22, 32) and the connecting section (13, 23, 33) are integrally formed in plastic.

2. Holding device (1, 2, 3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the plastic is elastic and/or the holding device can resiliently assume the same shape when no external forces are exerted on the device.

3. Holding device (1, 2, 3) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plastic is or comprises a thermoplastic.

4. Holding device (1, 2, 3) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the plastic is transparent, translucent or opaque.

5. Holding device (1, 2, 3) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first holding section (11, 21, 31) and the second holding section (12, 22, 32) each have a free end.

6. Holding device (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that the first holding section (21) and/or the second holding section (22) has a hook-like structure (221) for interconnecting free end points of the plurality of holding sections (21, 22).

7. Holding device (1, 2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first holding section (11, 1) is arranged substantially parallel to the second holding section (12, 22).

8. Holding device (1, 2) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the connecting section (13, 23) is shaped in a U, wherein the holding sections (11, 12; 21, 22) are connected to the ends of the U, respectively.

9. Holding device (1, 2) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first holding section (11, 21) and/or the second holding section (12, 22) has a curved shape.

10. Holding device (1, 2) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the first holding section (11, 21) and/or the second holding section (12, 22) has an undulating shape and/or a spiral shape.

11. Holding device (3) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first holding section (31) extends over a first circular or spiral path and the second holding section (32) extends over a second circular or spiral path.

12. Holding device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 6 and 11, characterized in that the connecting section (33) is shaped as an S, wherein the plurality of holding sections (31, 32) are each connected to an end of the "S".