US20220022618A1

US20220022618A1 - Bobby pin with improved grip

Info

Publication number: US20220022618A1
Application number: US16/947,151
Authority: US
Inventors: Rachel A. Wagner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-07-21
Filing date: 2020-07-21
Publication date: 2022-01-27

Abstract

A bobby pin that includes an upper leg member and a lower leg member, each leg member having a length defined by two ends. The bobby pin includes the upper leg member and the lower leg member being operably connected by a spring member, commonly a bend in the bobby pin, but it could be another spring mechanism. The bobby pin includes at least a portion of the length of at least one of the upper leg member or the lower leg member including a gripper material to improve holding performance. In one embodiment, both the upper and lower leg members may be coated with a gripper material. In another embodiment, at least a portion of the length of the upper leg member or the lower leg member may include a channel defined therein and at least a portion of the channel may be filled with a gripper material.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to improved hair pins for holding and retaining hair in place.

BACKGROUND

Bobby pins, hair pins, and other similar apparatuses are well known devices for holding hair in place. These devices use two prongs or arms that are arranged in a somewhat parallel orientation, and overlap or contact each other at one or more locations. When placed in the hair, the two prongs or arms work together to grip and hold the hair in place. These arms or prongs typically are rigid in construction. These devices may be used for multiple hairstyles, for placing and holding hair in the desired position. The traditional bobby pin has been largely unchanged since the 1920's.
Cosmetic and superficial designs and features have been implemented over time, such as adding bends, grooves, waves, ridges, or contoured points of contact on either the upper or lower member of the bobby pin. The bends, grooves, waves, ridges, or contoured points of contact assist the bobby pin in staying in place and holding the hair in the desired position by creating pinch points. However, the metal and plastic materials that are used to construct bobby pins, can be prone to slippage, allowing the bobby pin to move out of place or displace entirely. Even with the addition of ridges or grooves, these bobby pins still tend to move out of place, comprising the hold of the hair. Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved bobby pin, with improved adherence properties so as to maintain the installed position and having improved ability for holding the hair in place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward an improved bobby pin that generally includes an upper leg member operably connected to a lower leg member, and wherein at least one of the upper leg member and/or the lower leg member includes a gripper material disposed to engage a material being acted upon by the bobby pin. For example, the gripper material may be any material having one or more of the following qualities in the present bobby pin—it will be comfortable, soft, flexible, pliable, UV resistant, resistant to dust/dirt/hair, non-toxic, and resilient. In one embodiment, the gripper material may be a foam resin composed of Ethylene-Vinylacetate (EVA) which is a copolymer of Ethylene (60%-90%) and Vinyl Acetate (10%-40%). Other embodiments may include a gripper material being any polymeric material, including but not limited to open cell or closed cell polymeric foams, synthetic or natural rubbers, polyester, polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, neoprene, vinyl, PVC, or any material that provides one or more of the above listed qualities.
In one embodiment, the bobby pin includes an upper leg member having a first end and a second end that define a length of the upper leg member. The bobby pin may further include a lower leg member having a first end and a second end defining a length of the lower leg member. Generally, the second end of the upper leg member may be operably connected to the second end of the lower leg member at a closed end of the bobby pin. Further, in one embodiment, at least a portion of the length of the upper leg member and/or the lower leg member includes a gripper material disposed to engage the object or material being acted upon by the bobby pin.
Both the upper leg member and the lower leg member may be coated with a gripper material. In another embodiment, the bobby pin may include a channel defined in at least a portion of the length of one of the upper leg member or the lower leg member. This channel may be filled with the same gripper material, and the gripper material may be inserted and arranged within the channel to engage the material being acted upon by the bobby pin, typically hair. In one embodiment, the lower leg member of the bobby pin has the channel and the lower leg channel may be filled with the gripper material. Alternatively, the upper leg member may include the channel filled with the gripper material by itself or with the lower leg member. It may be preferable for both the upper leg member to have a first channel and the lower leg member to have a second channel, wherein both the first and second channels may be filled with the gripper material. Finally, it may also within the scope of the invention for the gripper material filling in the channels to have an engagement surface that includes a crown, which may be a rounded and/or raised portion of the gripper material which extends slightly higher than the channel and may be the first point of engagement between the gripper material and the object or material being acted upon by the bobby pin.
With respect to the shape of the bobby pin, in one embodiment, the upper leg member includes a plurality of ridges or undulations similar to current bobby pin designs. In this embodiment, the lower leg member may be typically straight. However, because the gripper material improves the holding ability of the pin, it may be possible for both the top and the bottom legs to be straight without losing any performance or holding capacity. Alternatively, it may also be within the scope of the present invention for both the upper leg member and the lower leg member to include ridges or undulations, which could be complimentary, in that they nest with each other, or in opposition so that the design creates a plurality of contact points with a plurality of spaces defined adjacent to the contact points.
In a typical embodiment, the bobby pin may be of unitary construction and the second end of the upper leg member may be operably connected to the second end of the lower leg member by a bend in the bobby pin. The bend acts as a spring to hold the legs in a relative position but allow for the legs to be separated for placement. In other embodiments, the second end of the upper leg member may be operably connected to the second end of the lower leg member, more generally by any known or developed spring mechanism. In one embodiment, the bobby pin may include an open end located opposite of a location where the upper leg member and the lower leg member may be operably coupled, with an opening at the open end defined by the first end of the upper leg member and the first end of the lower leg.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification, are to be read in conjunction therewith in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like or similar parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of a bobby pin having a coating over the entire surface of the bobby pin in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an expanded side view of the bobby pin of FIG. 1 viewed along the line 2-2;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the straight leg member of the bobby pin in FIG. 1 with the gripper material applied to the outer surface of the straight leg member cut along the line 3-3;

FIG. 4 is a first side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the bobby pin including an inner channel insert in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a portion of the inner channel insert of the bobby pin in FIG. 4 viewed along the line 5-5; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional front view of the inner channel insert of the bobby pin in FIG. 4 cut along the line 6-6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristics of the present invention, proportional relationships of the elements have not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures. It will be appreciated that any dimensions included in the drawing figures are simply provided as examples and dimensions other than those provided therein are also within the scope of the invention.
The following detailed description of the invention references specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The present invention is defined by the appended claims and the description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense and shall not limit the scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
The present invention generally relates to an improved bobby pin, utilizing a gripping material for improved stability and increased duration of keeping the bobby pin in place in the hair. The bobby pin of the present invention improves the stability and staying ability by incorporating the use of a gripping material coating, which may entirely cover the bobby pin, or may be applied to channels or parts of the bobby pin, depending on the embodiment.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the present invention is a bobby pin 10. Bobby pin 10 may utilize a variety of designs using any of the known bobby pin designs or configurations that are currently available, and constructed from any commonly known materials, such as metal, aluminum, plastic, or polymer material. By way of non-limiting example, bobby pin 10 may utilize a lower straight leg member 12 as the lower member, with a ridged leg member 14 as the upper member. However, it will be appreciated that bobby pin 10 could also utilize ridged, bent, curved, or other design for one or both of the upper and lower members. Even further, it will be appreciated that bobby pin 10 could use the same design for the top leg member and the lower leg member, depending on the embodiment of the invention.
As presently designed, and illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, one embodiment of bobby pin 10 comprises a straight lower leg member 12. Straight leg member 12 may further comprise straight leg member tip 16 near a first end 34 that is a terminal point for straight leg member 12. Straight leg member 12 may further include straight leg member cover 20 to cover straight leg member tip 16. It will be appreciated that straight leg member cover 20 could be a rubber cap, plastic cap, or other cap of the gripper material, or other material or design that is sufficiently designed to cover straight leg member tip 16 to prevent the first end 34 of the lower leg 12 of bobby pin 10 from scratching a user and/or provide a smoother surface to engage the hair as the bobby pin 10 is inserted. It will be further appreciated that straight leg member cover 20 can serve an additional function of providing an additional point of contact and friction, providing additional stability and staying paying for bobby pin 10 while secured to hair. Straight lower leg member 12 then transitions into a bend 24 at a second end 36 of the straight lower leg member 12.
Bobby pin 10 further comprises ridged leg member 14, which functions as a top leg member to bobby pin 10. As illustrated in FIG. 1, ridged leg member 14 comprises a plurality of ridges, bends, or trenches, in a generally zig-zag configuration, for multiple points of contact with the hair when bobby pin 10 is in place. It will be appreciated that the plurality of ridges in ridged leg member 14 can vary, and that this is not a limiting feature of bobby pin 10. Bobby pin 10 may utilize any sufficient number of ridges for properly securing bobby pin 10 in place. In alternate embodiments of bobby pin 10, a top leg member may comprise a smooth leg member comprising no ridges. Ridged leg member 14 further comprises ridged leg member tip 18 located at a first end 38 of ridged leg member 14 and that provides a terminal point of ridged leg member 14. Ridged leg member 14 also includes a second end 40 proximate bend 24. Ridged leg member 14 further includes ridged leg member cover 22 to cover ridged leg member tip 18. Ridged leg member cover 22 could be a rubber cap, plastic cap, or other cap of the gripper material, or other material or design that is sufficiently designed to cover ridged leg member tip 18 and/or prevent scratching a user and/or provide a smoother surface to engage the hair as the bobby pin 10 is inserted. Ridged leg member cover 22 may further serve an additional function of providing an additional friction point of contact with the hair while bobby pin 10 is in place, and/or may prevent the first end 38 of the upper leg 14 of bobby pin 10 from scratching a user and/or provide a smoother surface to engage the hair as the bobby pin 10 is inserted.
Straight leg member 12 and ridged leg member 14 may be connected together at a second end 26 through use of a bend 24. Bend 24 may be a generally U shape, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4. In one embodiment, bend 24 will be a continuation of the one-piece construction of a bobby pin 10 and be made from the same material as the rest of bobby pin 10, such as metal, aluminum, polymer, or other materials, providing the shape of bend 24 that acts as a spring to allow for displacement of straight leg member 12 and ridged member 14 away from each other for placement and removal, but return to and maintain an original orientation during storage and use. However, in alternate embodiments, bend 24 could alternatively be a mechanical spring or similar apparatus for allowing for storage and use in a closed or operating position and allowing displacement of straight leg member 12 and ridged leg member 14 in an open position for inserting and then clamping bobby pin 10. It will be appreciated the bend 24 can store potential energy for holding bobby pin 10 in place. At the opposite end from second end 26, bobby pin 10 may further comprise an opening 28, providing an opening for placing bobby pin 10 in the hair for placement.
Bobby pin 10 further utilizes the use of gripper material 30 to assist in keeping bobby pin 10 in place. The gripper material may be any material having one or more of the following qualities in the present bobby pin—it will be comfortable, soft, flexible, pliable, UV resistant, resistant to dust/dirt/hair, non-toxic, and resilient. In one embodiment, the gripper material may be a foam resin composed of Ethylene-Vinylacetate (EVA) which is a copolymer of Ethylene (60%-90%) and Vinyl Acetate (10%-40%). Other embodiments may include a gripper material being any polymeric material, including but not limited to open cell or closed cell polymeric foams, synthetic or natural rubbers, polyester, polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, neoprene, vinyl, PVC, or any material that provides one or more of the above listed qualities. The gripper material could be textured to improve engagement with hair. Such textures may include ribs, raised nubs, waffle patterns and such textures may be set up to be complementary with textured surface to nest with or align with the opposing leg members
In one embodiment of bobby pin 10, gripper material 30 may be applied directly to the surface of bobby pin 10 and can substantially or completely coat the entire surface of bobby pin 10, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. In this embodiment, gripper material 30 may completely surround bobby pin 10 to provide an encapsulating coating 32. Coating 32 may be applied to bobby pin 10 during or after construction of bobby pin 10. Gripper material 30 may be adhered to bobby pin 10 through the use of adhesives, but it will be appreciated that gripper material 30 may comprise an inherent adhesive nature, such that when applied to bobby pin 10, no other adhesive material is needed and gripper material 30 may adhere to bobby pin 10.
For example, FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-section of straight leg member 12, with coating 32 completely surrounding straight leg member 12. It will be appreciated that in this embodiment, with gripper material 30 completely surrounding bobby pin 10 creating coating 32 and that the hair will only come in contact with coating 32.
It will be appreciated that in alternate embodiments, gripper material 30 may be partially applied to bobby pin 10. In an embodiment of bobby pin 10 with a partial coating, it will be appreciated that gripper material 30 may be applied to one or more portions of bobby pin 10. As such, when placed in hair, the hair will come in contact with both gripper material 30 and the material that constructs bobby pin 10. By way of non-limiting example, if bobby pin 10 is constructed from aluminum, and there is only partial covering of gripper material 30, hair will be in contact with both the aluminum and gripper material 30.
As illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, an alternate embodiment of bobby pin 10 may comprise an inner channel 204 which has at least a portion of the channel including the gripper material 30. In this alternate embodiment, inner channel 204 can be placed in an alternate straight leg member 202. Alternate straight leg member 202 may be partially hollowed as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, or otherwise include an opening such that gripper material 30 may be applied in inner channel 204. While FIGS. 4-6 illustrate alternate straight leg member 202 with inner channel 204, it will be appreciated that the top leg member 206 may also include inner channel 204 along a portion of its length. It will be further appreciated that in an exemplary embodiment, an inner channel 204 may be found in both the upper leg member 206 and the lower leg member 202.
Inner channel 204 may be located on the interior surface of alternate straight leg member 202, such that when bobby pin 10 is placed in hair, gripper material 30 in inner channel 204 is in contact with the hair. As shown in FIG. 6, a crown 42 of gripper material may be present and raised above the channel 204 so as to ensure the gripper material 30 is first to engage the hair when in operation. As such, when placed in hair, the hair will be in contact with the gripper material 30 and, in some embodiments, the surface of bobby pin 10. As described in the previous embodiment, gripper material 30 may be self-adhering such that no additional adhesive is needed to secure gripper material 30 within inner channel 204, or alternately, may require an adhesive to place gripper material 30 in inner channel 204.
In all embodiments of bobby pin 10 as illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, gripper material is used to keep bobby pin 10 in place and prevent slippage or otherwise misplacement of bobby pin 10 while in the hair. The consistency of gripper material 30 increases friction and keeps bobby pin 10 in place. In addition, the nature of gripper material 30 may also provide an engagement surface and/or a texture such that hair, dirt, and debris will not adhere to it. In some embodiments, the gripper material may be anti-microbial. As such, bobby pin 10 may be used for longer periods of time and stay in place for longer periods of time without continuous or frequent adjusting or replacement. Further, gripper material 30 improves the stability of bobby pin 10 itself, such that bobby pin 10 may be used multiple times without losing effectiveness. It will be appreciated that these goals can be achieved through all embodiments as discussed hereto.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are inherent to the structure and method. It will be understood that certain features and sub combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Since many possible embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is also to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting.
The constructions described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts and principles of the present invention. Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a novel invention. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including”, and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required”. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A bobby pin comprising:

an upper leg member having a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end of the upper leg member defining a length of the upper leg member;

a lower leg member having a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end of the lower leg member defining a length of the lower leg member;

wherein the second end of said upper leg member is operably connected to the second end of said lower leg member at a closed end; and

wherein at least a portion of the length of at least one of the upper leg member or the lower leg member includes a gripper material disposed to engage a material being acted upon by said bobby pin.

2. The bobby pin of claim 1, wherein the upper leg member and the lower leg member are coated with the gripper material to form an encapsulating coating.

3. The bobby pin of claim 1, wherein said upper leg member includes a plurality of ridges.

4. The bobby pin of claim 1, wherein said lower leg member is straight.

5. The bobby pin of claim 1, wherein the bobby pin is of unitary construction and the second end of said upper leg member is operably connected to the second end of said lower leg member by a bend in the bobby pin.

6. The bobby pin of claim 1, wherein the second end of said upper leg member is operably connected to the second end of said lower leg member by a spring.

7. The bobby pin of claim 1 further comprising an open end located opposite of a location where the upper leg member and the lower leg member are operably coupled, the first end of the upper leg member and the first end of the lower leg member are disposed to define an opening therebetween at the open end.

8. The bobby pin of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the length of at least one of the upper leg member or the lower leg member has a channel defined therein and wherein at least a portion of said channel is filled with the gripper material, the gripper material being disposed to engage a material being acted upon by said bobby pin.

9. The bobby pin of claim 8, wherein said lower leg member has the channel defined along at least a portion of the length thereof.

10. The bobby pin of claim 8, wherein said upper leg member has a first channel defined along at least a portion of the length thereof and wherein at least a portion of the first channel of the upper leg member is filled with the gripper material.

11. The bobby pin of claim 10, wherein said lower leg member includes a second channel defined along at least a portion of the length thereof and wherein a least a portion of said second channel is filled with the gripper material.

12. The bobby pin of claim 8, wherein an engagement surface of the gripper material disposed within the channel includes a crown.