US20040231692A1

US20040231692A1 - Hair clip having no extending hand grips

Info

Publication number: US20040231692A1
Application number: US10/441,746
Authority: US
Inventors: Shyh Shyu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-05-19
Filing date: 2003-05-19
Publication date: 2004-11-25

Abstract

A hair clip includes two clamping members each having two ears extended from the inner portion and pivotally secured together with a shaft. Each of the clamping members includes a number of comb teeth extended from the lower portion for engaging with hair of users. A coil spring is engaged onto the shaft for biasing the comb teeth of the clamping members toward each other. The comb teeth may be forced away from each other by forcing the upper portions of the clamping members toward each other. Each of the clamping members includes an outer recess to form as a hand grip, and to be effectively actuated by the users.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hair clip, and more particularly to a hair clip having no outwardly extending handles or hand grips.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The applicant has developed various kinds of typical hair clips which comprise a pair of clamping members pivotally or rotatably coupled together with a shaft and one or more spring members.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,639 B1 to Shyu, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,859 B1 to Shyu disclose two of the typical hair clips which also comprise a pair of clamping members pivotally or rotatably coupled together with a shaft and a spring member.

One of the clamping members includes a pair of seats to support the shaft. The spring member is engaged onto the shaft and includes two ends to engage with the clamping members respectively.

However, for most of the typical hair clips, the hair clips should comprise two handles or hand grips extended from the clamping members respectively, for allowing the users to force the clamping members away from each other against the spring members. However, the extension of the handles or hand grips from the clamping members may spoil the outer appearance of the hair clips.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional hair clips.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a hair clip including no extending handles or hand grips, and including two clamping members each having a portion to be formed as the handles or hand grips, without having additional handles or hand grips extended therefrom, and thus without spoiling the outer appearance of the hair clip.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a hair clip comprising two clamping members each including an upper portion and a lower portion, and each including an inner portion having two ears extended therefrom, each of the ears includes an orifice formed therein. Each of the clamping members includes a plurality of comb teeth extended from the lower portion thereof, for engaging with hair of users. A shaft is engaged through the orifices of the ears of the clamping members, to pivotally secure the clamping members together. A coil spring is engaged onto the shaft, and includes two ends engaged with the clamping members respectively, for biasing the comb teeth of the clamping members toward each other. The ears are arranged between the comb teeth and the upper portion of the clamping members respectively, for allowing the comb teeth to be forced away from each other when forcing or depressing the upper portions of the clamping members toward each other. Each of the clamping members includes an outer portion having a recess formed therein to form as a hand grip, and to be comfortably and effectively actuated by the users.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a hair clip in accordance with the present invention; [0012]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hair clip; [0013]
FIG. 3 is an end view of the hair clip, in which a portion of the hair clip has been cut off; [0014]
FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional view of the hair clip, taken along lines [0015] 4-4 of FIG. 2; and
FIGS. 5, 6 are end views similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the operation of the hair clip.[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a hair clip in accordance with the present invention comprises a pair of [0017] clamping members 1, 2 each including an inner portion 10 having two ears 12, 22 extended therefrom, such as extended from the middle or lower portion thereof. Each of the ears 12, 22 includes an orifice 13, 23 formed therein.
Each of the [0018] clamping members 1, 2 further includes a number of longitudinal and/or curved comb extensions or comb teeth 14, 24 extended downwardly from the bottom or lower portion thereof, for engaging with hair of users.
A [0019] shaft 3 is engaged through the orifices 13, 23 of the ears 12, 22 and secured to the ears 23, so as to pivotally or rotatably secure the clamping members 1, 2 together.
A [0020] coil spring 4 is engaged onto the shaft 3 and includes two ends 41, 42 extended therefrom and engaged with the clamping members 1, 2 respectively, for biasing the comb teeth 14, 24 of the clamping members 1, 2 toward each other, and to engage with the hair of the users.
As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, [0021] 6, the ears 12, 22 are preferably extended from the middle or the lower portion of the inner portion 10 thereof, or located closer to the lower portion thereof and distal to the upper portion 11, 21 thereof, or arranged between the bottom comb teeth 14, 24 and the upper portion 11 of the clamping members 1, 2 respectively, for allowing the comb teeth 14, 24 to be forced away from each other by depressing or forcing the upper portion 11 of the clamping members 1, 2 toward each other (FIG. 6).
Each of the [0022] clamping members 1, 2 further includes a curved or concave recess 17, 27 formed in the outer portion 18, 28 thereof, opposite to the ears 12, 22 thereof, so as to be formed as a handle or hand grip for allowing the concave outer portions 18, 28 of the clamping members 1, 2 to be comfortably and effectively held and forced and actuated by the users (FIGS. 5, 6).
Accordingly, the hair clip in accordance with the present invention includes two clamping members each having a portion to be formed as the handles or hand grips, without having additional handles or hand grips extended therefrom, and thus without spoiling the outer appearance of the hair clip. [0023]
Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. [0024]

Claims

I claim:

1. A hair clip comprising:

two clamping members each including an upper portion and a lower portion, and each including an inner portion having two ears extended therefrom, said ears each including an orifice formed therein,

each of said clamping members including a plurality of comb teeth extended from said lower portion thereof, for engaging with hair of users,

a shaft engaged through said orifices of said ears of said clamping members, to pivotally secure said clamping members together,

a coil spring engaged onto said shaft, and including two ends engaged with said clamping members respectively, for biasing said comb teeth of said clamping members toward each other,

said ears being arranged between said comb teeth and said upper portion of said clamping members respectively, for allowing said comb teeth to be forced away from each other when forcing or depressing said upper portions of said clamping members toward each other, and

said clamping members each including an outer portion having a recess formed therein to form as a hand grip, and to be actuated by the users.