GB2079597A

GB2079597A - Improvements in hair clips

Info

Publication number: GB2079597A
Application number: GB8116175A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-06-27
Filing date: 1981-05-27
Publication date: 1982-01-27
Also published as: GB2079597B; FR2485347A1; FR2485347B3; IT1167542B; PT73182A; ES251978U; IT8122448A0; PT73182B; DE3119912A1

Abstract

A hair pin comprises a substantially U-shaped support-spring (1) having convergent arms (1a) and slots 2 in its base in the regions adjacent to said arms, and a pair of legs (3) extending through the slots in the support spring (1). Each of the legs (3) has an enlarged area 4 bearing against the support-spring (1) and a transverse projection 8 against which is resiliently applied the forward edge of the respective slot in the support-spring (1) to ensure the assembly of the legs (3). Each enlarged area (4) has a pressing ring (5) for engagement by the fingertips and each leg (3) is reinforced by a longitudinal rib (7).

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in hair pins This invention relates to hair pins.

As is well known, hitherto existing hair pins generally comprise a helical or leaf spring placed between the legs at its pivoting area, said spring by its eresence entailing a complication and its assembly requiring very accurate machining operations which raise the industrial cost of the hair pins.

The present invention aims to provide a hair pin which is easy and cheap to assemble and manufacture and which avoids the disadvantages of the known pins.

According to the invention, there is provided a hair pin comprising a substantially U-shaped supportspring having convergent arms and slots in its base in the regions adjacent to said arms, and a pair of legs extending through the slots in said support spring, each of said legs having an enlarged area bearing against the support-spring and a transverse projection against which is resiliently applied the forward edge of the respective slot in said supportspring to ensure the assembly of said legs.

In the hair pin according to the invention, the spring concurrently performs the functions of a support as well as a spring for the legs and is easierto assemble manually without requiring tools or machiner. Moreover, in the pin according to the invention, the support-spring is more powerful than the springs conventionally used with the known pins, whereby the hair fastening effect is improved.

Preferably, the forward edge of the slots in the support-spring have a cut-out in which the respective legs are engaged to prevent lateral movement of the latter.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of one embodiment of a hair pin according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the pin shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line Ill-Ill in Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, the hair pin according to the invention comprises a support-spring 1 made up with a U-section laminar component of convergent and narrowed arms la, which U-shaped component having in its base, in the regions adjasent the arms la, respective lateral slots 2 through which are inserted legs 3 which make up the pin. The legs 3 comprise respective rear enlargements 4 performing as stops against the support-spring 1 and are used for the handling of said legs being aided in this by a ring pressing 5 which defines a depression for the seating of the fingertips. Said pressing is linked to a pressed portion 6 which, with the ring pressing 5, serves to provide a suitable reinforcement of the associated enlargements 4. The legs 3 are reinforced by respective longitudinal pressings 7 linked to the pressed portions 6 of the enlargements 4.The legs 3 have, at the contiguous area of said enlargements, respective projections 8 against which are elastically applied the forward edges of respective small fins obtained by respective cut-outs of the slots 2 of the support-spring 1 whereby said support-spring remains duly retained on the legs 3 and lateral movements of the latter are thus prevented. Said legs, as can readily be seen from Fig. 1, contact one another at their ends in the pin closed position because of the effect of the action of the arms la of the support-spring 1. By means ofthe elasticity of the spring 1, a suitable fastening effect of hair arranged between said legs 3 is brought about.

To open the hair pin, the legs are forced apart by means of adequate pressure exerted with the fingers over the enlargements 4 against the action of the support-spring 1.

The invention is not restricted to the abovedescribed embodiment but modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended

claims.

CLAIMS 1. A hair pin comprising a substantially U-shaped support-spring having convergent arms and slots in its base in the regions adjacent to said arms, and a pair of legs extending through the slots in said support-spring, each of said legs having an enlarged area bearing against the support-spring and a transverse projection against which is resiliently applied the forward edge of the respective slot in said support-spring to ensure the assembly of said legs.

2. A hair pin according to claim 1, wherein the forward edge of the slots in the support-spring have a cut-out in which the respective legs are engaged to prevent lateral movement of the latter.

3. A hair pin according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each of the enlarged areas is provided with a pressing ring for engagement of the hair pin by the fingertips.

4. A hair pin according to any preceding claim, wherein each of the legs is reinforced by a longitudinal rib.

5. A hair pin substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in hair pins This invention relates to hair pins. As is well known, hitherto existing hair pins generally comprise a helical or leaf spring placed between the legs at its pivoting area, said spring by its eresence entailing a complication and its assembly requiring very accurate machining operations which raise the industrial cost of the hair pins. The present invention aims to provide a hair pin which is easy and cheap to assemble and manufacture and which avoids the disadvantages of the known pins. According to the invention, there is provided a hair pin comprising a substantially U-shaped supportspring having convergent arms and slots in its base in the regions adjacent to said arms, and a pair of legs extending through the slots in said support spring, each of said legs having an enlarged area bearing against the support-spring and a transverse projection against which is resiliently applied the forward edge of the respective slot in said supportspring to ensure the assembly of said legs. In the hair pin according to the invention, the spring concurrently performs the functions of a support as well as a spring for the legs and is easierto assemble manually without requiring tools or machiner. Moreover, in the pin according to the invention, the support-spring is more powerful than the springs conventionally used with the known pins, whereby the hair fastening effect is improved. Preferably, the forward edge of the slots in the support-spring have a cut-out in which the respective legs are engaged to prevent lateral movement of the latter. The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of one embodiment of a hair pin according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the pin shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line Ill-Ill in Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows. Referring to the drawings, the hair pin according to the invention comprises a support-spring 1 made up with a U-section laminar component of convergent and narrowed arms la, which U-shaped component having in its base, in the regions adjasent the arms la, respective lateral slots 2 through which are inserted legs 3 which make up the pin. The legs 3 comprise respective rear enlargements 4 performing as stops against the support-spring 1 and are used for the handling of said legs being aided in this by a ring pressing 5 which defines a depression for the seating of the fingertips. Said pressing is linked to a pressed portion 6 which, with the ring pressing 5, serves to provide a suitable reinforcement of the associated enlargements 4. The legs 3 are reinforced by respective longitudinal pressings 7 linked to the pressed portions 6 of the enlargements 4.The legs 3 have, at the contiguous area of said enlargements, respective projections 8 against which are elastically applied the forward edges of respective small fins obtained by respective cut-outs of the slots 2 of the support-spring 1 whereby said support-spring remains duly retained on the legs 3 and lateral movements of the latter are thus prevented. Said legs, as can readily be seen from Fig. 1, contact one another at their ends in the pin closed position because of the effect of the action of the arms la of the support-spring 1. By means ofthe elasticity of the spring 1, a suitable fastening effect of hair arranged between said legs 3 is brought about. To open the hair pin, the legs are forced apart by means of adequate pressure exerted with the fingers over the enlargements 4 against the action of the support-spring 1. The invention is not restricted to the abovedescribed embodiment but modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. CLAIMS

1. A hair pin comprising a substantially U-shaped support-spring having convergent arms and slots in its base in the regions adjacent to said arms, and a pair of legs extending through the slots in said support-spring, each of said legs having an enlarged area bearing against the support-spring and a transverse projection against which is resiliently applied the forward edge of the respective slot in said support-spring to ensure the assembly of said legs.

5. A hair pin substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.