EP0448916B1 - An elastic device for fastening the hair

Info

The present invention consists in an elastic clasp for hair. As it is well known, for quickly binding hair locks or for keeping the same in buns, chignons and the so called pony-tail, beyond bands and twists, also elastic clasps are used of various kind and shape.
The most used are elastic twists covered or not with fabric of various fashions, or elastic plastic tweezer or other appropriate material. These clasps have the following inconveniences:

a) difficulty in application and fitting to the various kind or quantity of hair;
b) reduction of elasticity with use.

The device for keeping hair according to the present invention shows a particular efficiency, quick and easy application and may be use as clasp for hair, due to the combination of a steel spring of particular shape, provided with a covering of an appropriate fabric or material that prevents the direct contact thereof with the hair, as well as a sufficient friction for keeping it in place.
The advantages of the clasp according to the present invention are the following:

1) the possibility of binding few as well as many hair, as in a "pony-tail";
2) quickness in application as well as in taking away, without causing tears;
3) the possibility of firmly binding the hair;
4) easiness in changing the look of the hair clasp changing the covering of the spring in the shape as well as in the combination of lines and colours, without therefore modifying the efficiency and the easiness of application.

The present invention will be described more in detail hereinbelow according to drawings, in which some embodiments are shown.

Figure 1 shows the flexion spring used for realizing the hair clasp according to the present invention, in resting position;
figure 2 shows the same spring bent in such a way as to form an eyelet;
figure 3 shows one possible covering of the spring.

The hair clasp according to the present invention consists of a flexion spring with two steel blades 1 of equal dimension, which in resting position are overlaid one upon the other and connected at the opposite ends thereof by means of two hinges 2, such that when they are subject to two opposed pressures, rotating around the hinges they get curved so as to form an eyelet.
For obtaining the flexion of the two blades in opposite sense, the transversal section x-x of the same is curved in such a way as to turn the convex sides outwardly; during the flexion the two blades rotate at the ends around the hinges 2.
For finishing up the hair clasp, the springs may be covered with an appropriate fabric or other material R as shown in figure 3; the covering has also a functional purpose, as it increases the friction between hair and hair clasp, thus providing to keep the same firmly in place.
The dimension of the springs are not determining for the realization of the hair clasp, even if it may be suggested not to use blades longer than cm 10 so as not to reduce too much the pressure on the hair, and not shorter that cm 5 for not making the insertion of the hair into the eyelet, obtained by the same spring, too difficult.

An elastic clasp for hair, particularly appropriate for binding hair for forming chignons, pony-tails and similar characterized in two steel blades (1) of equal dimensions overlaid one upon the other and connected at the opposite ends thereof by means of two hinges (2) such that when they are subject to two opposed pressures, they get curved so as to form an eyelet into which the hair lock to be bound will be inserted, said blades being covered with fabric or other appropriate material for protecting the hair from the direct contact with said blades, which covering creates friction between hair and hair clasp, keeping the clasp in place.
A hair clasp according to claim 1, characterized in that the blades get outwardly bent in opposite directions, because the transversal sections is for that purpose provided with opposite convexities and outwardly turned.
A hair clasp according to the precedent claims, characterized in that the steel blades may be covered with a material for the protection of the hair that, at the same time, is also an ornament, by means of galvanic baths, gildings and silverings.
A hair clasp according to the precedent claims, characterized in the combination of a spring and a covering (R) of fabric, rubber or other appropriate material.