GB2219741A

GB2219741A - Hair toggle

Info

Publication number: GB2219741A
Application number: GB8913925A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerald Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-06-17
Filing date: 1989-06-16
Publication date: 1989-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 2009-06-16
Also published as: GB8913925D0; GB2219741B; GB8814526D0

Abstract

A decorative toggle (1) or other similar device for maintaining hair in a desired configuration, comprises openable and closable means (2,3) arranged to receive hair in the open position and to maintain the so-received hair in a desired configuration in the closed position, wherein said means is releasably retainable in the closed position and defines an aperture (7) in which hair is maintained in the desired configuration in such closed position. <IMAGE>

Description

HAIR TOGGLE DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a toggle or other similar device which is arranged to maintain hair, such as, a portion of hair of a horse's mane, in a desired configuration, for instance, and in the case of human hair, in a so-called "bunch".

In the case of a horse's mane, it is widely known to plait discrete portions thereof and then to roll or fold such plaited portions which are maintained is such configuration by means of elastic or rubber bands.

This practice is commonly used in show jumping, eventing and other displays, exhibitions or the like involving horses which are groomed and decorated to look attractive. However, the use of elastic or rubber bands for rolled or folded mane plaits does not provide an attractive appearance or provide a sufficiently secure method of maintaining the plaits in the desired configuration, in that, the bands tend to break after not unduly prolonged usage.

It is an object of the invention to provide a toggle or similar device for maintaining hair in a desired configuration, which eliminates, .or at least substantially reduces, the disadvantages associated with the somewhat crude and inelegant elastic or rubber band method known previously.

Accordingly, the invention provides a toggle or other similar device for maintaining hair in a desired configuration, comprising openable and closable means arranged to receive hair in the open position and to maintain the so-received hair in a desired configuration in the closed position, wherein said means is releasably retainable in the closed position and defines an aperture, such as, a bore in which hair is maintained in the desired configuration in such position.

Preferably, the toggle or other similar device comprises two hinged parts which constitute said means in the form of a tube, when in the closed position. In such a case, the two parts may be releasably retained in the closed position by any suitable arrangement, for instance, a simple locking device, cooperating pieces of Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) material or a male/female coupling.

Alternatively, the two parts may be hinged together by an over-centre, bi-stable hinge, usually made of a resilient plastics material.

Alternatively, the toggle may be formed as a unitary article made from a bendable or resilient material, such as, a resilient plastics material, so that it is retained in its open position by its inherent resilience and can be moved into its closed position against such resilience, or viceversa. Again, the so-called "jaws" can be retained in the closed position of the toggle by any suitable means, such as, those discussed above.

The toggle or other similar device in accordance with the invention is preferably made of a plastics material which can be of any desired colour to add to its attractiveness when used with horses' manes.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, preferred embodiments in accordance therewith will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is an end view of a toggle in its open position; Figure 2 is an end view of the toggle shown in Figure 1 but in its closed position; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the toggle shown in Figures 1 and 2, also in its closed position; and Figures 4 and 5 are respective perspeczive and end views of another toggle in partial closed position.

Referring firstly to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, a toggle for maintaining a plaited portion of horse mane in a folded configuration is indicated generally at 1 and comprises two elongate halves 2,3 which are pivotally attached to each other by a "stiff" hinge 4. The free ends 5,6 of the respective toggle halves 2,3 are shaped to provide complementary engageable parts, such that, when the toggle 1 is in its closed position, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the two halves 2,3 are releasably retained together, with a so-defined, hair receiving bore 7 passing axially through the toggle 1.

In use of the toggle 1, a folded and plaited portion of horse mane is received between the two halves 2,3 in their open position, as shown in Figure 1. Then, the so-received portion of plaited horse mane is maintained in its desired plaited and folded configuration within the bore 7 when the two halves 2,3 are pivoted into their closed position about the stiff hinge 4.

The shaped, free ends 5,6 of the two toggle halves 2,3 may be provided with any suitable means for retaining them releasably together in the closed position of the toggle 1. For instance, an over-centre, bi-stable hinge may be employed or a Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) coupling may be used. Alternatively, a releasable male/female coupling may be provided.

Another embodiment of toggle, as indicated generally at 21, is shown in Figure 4 and 5. Here, the toggle 1 is a one-piece moulding of a resilient plastics material in any desired colour. Again, the toggle 21 is generally tubular, although, in this case, it is urged into its open position against its inherent resilience. Also, this second embodiment of toggle 21 is provided with an axially extending male/female (25,26) snap fitting at its "jaws", which releasably retain the toggle 21 in its closed position.

Further, the toggle 21 has radially inwardly extending protrusions 29 associated with its tubular portion 27 at one end thereof. Such protrusions may be provided in the form of ribs extending axially along the inner wall of that portion 27.

The illustrated protrusions 29, or other equivalent components, assist in maintaining the the plaited and folded portion of horse mane therein in the desired configuration.

The toggles 1,21 can be made from any suitably coloured plastics material depending upon their application, to provide an attractive decoration for a horse with whose mane they are used. However, other materials for the toggles 1,21 should not be ruled out.

Also, it is to be appreciated that the inventive toggle is much easier to handle than the previously known elastic or rubber band method of maintaining plaited and folded horse manes in desired configurations for any length of time, as well as its providing a reliable product which is inexpensive and easy to manufacture.

Further, it is to be appreciated also that the inventive toggle, or other similar device, may be more ring-shaped than the tubular embodiments described above in relation to the drawings and, moreover, that it can be formed from two or more seperable parts which are releasably secured together when hair is received therebetween, rather than the hinged, two-part version or unitary resiliently flexible version described above.

Claims

1. A toggle or other similar device for maintaining hair in a desired configuration, comprising openable and closable means arranged to receive hair in the open position and to maintain the so-received hair in a desired configuration in the closed position, wherein said means is releasably retainable in the closed position and defines an aperture in which hair is maintained in the desired configuration in such closed position.

2. A toggle or other similar device according to claim 1, wherein the apertured defined by said means is a bore.

3. A toggle or other similar device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said means is constituted by two hinged parts which form a tube, when in the closed position of the toggle or device.

4. A toggle or other similar device according to claim 1 or 2 made of a resilient material, whereby said means is movable into the open or closed position of the toggle or device against the inherent resilience of the material.

5. A toggle or other similar device according to any preceding claim, wherein said openable and closable means is releasably retainable in the closed position by locking means.

6. A toggle or other similar device according to claim 5, wherein said locking means comprises a male/female coupling.

7. A toggle or other similar device according to any preceding claim moulded from a plastics material.

8. A toggle or other similar device according to claim 7, wherein the plastics material is a resilient plastics material.

9. A toggle or other similar device according to claim 2 or any preceding claim dependent upon claim 2 including protrusion means extending radially inwardly of the bore.

10. A toggle for a horse mane, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.