US2490285A

US2490285A - Hair retainer

Info

Publication number: US2490285A
Application number: US633954A
Authority: US
Inventors: Smith Roy Andrew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-12-10
Filing date: 1945-12-10
Publication date: 1949-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 1966-12-06

Description

Dec. 6, m9 R. A. SMITH 2,490,285

HAIR RETAINER Filed Dec. 10, 1945 Patented Dec. 6, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAIR RETAINER Roy Andrew Smith, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 10, 1945, Serial No. 633,954

2 Claims.

This invention relates to hair retainers and more particularly-to a hair retainer which combines'the advantageous features of a hair pin and a hair comb without the disadvantages of either-..

'1 One of the objects of this invention is to provide a hair retaining material in undefined lengths from which can be formed hair retainers ofany' desired lengths to suit the particular requirements of each individual hair style and head.

Other Objects of my invention are to provide a hair retainer which covers an extended area of the head surface, which will retain the hair in any set position, which is easy to apply and which will bend to conform to the desired curvature of the head or hairdress.

(other objects are to provide a hair retainer which eliminates the use of hair pins or other hair retaining means, which is light in weight and invisible when set in the hair and which stays in position until removed.

Another object is to provide a hair retainer which can be used as a wave maker or hair setter.

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses.

The hairpins or hair combs of the prior art or present day manufacture are all subject to the disadvantage that it requires a large number of them placed throughout the hair to set same. Such pins 'or retainers'become easily removed from the hair, are lost and the hair loses its set position. The combs are objectionable be cause of the length of the teeth and because they aren'ot pliable and do not lend themselves to the various curvatures of the head or hair. Furthermore these are readily visible. With my invention these objectionable features are eliminated and I provide a hair retainer which has greater gripping qualities than the conventional hair or bobby pin, and which will cover a substantial area of the head surface similar to a comb but which is suflleiently pliable to conform to the curvature of the head or hair and which is virtually invisible. The teeth of my retainer are of such length that it may be inserted in the hair at right angles to the head or at any other angle and may also be inserted to lie substantially flat at the sides of the head at the hair line to retain short strands of hair. My hair retainer will maintain the hair in its set position and will not be accidentally removed or lost from the hair.

Fig. 1 is a side elevatlonal view of my hair 2 retaining material showing for illustrative purposes only a few of the unlimited shapes into which it can be shaped or formed when set in the hair, and showing the teeth in actual size.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing a few of the teeth of my improved hair retainer, and

Fig. 3 shows the application of various lengths of my hair retainer as applied to one form of hair dress.

My hair retaining materially generally indicated at I0 is formed of a single continuous strand of thin flexible wire l2 preferably of a .013 gauge tempered to permit the necessary pliability, resiliency and lightness of weight. A plastic strand having the same characteristics as to pliability, resiliency and weight might be used in lieu of wire. The strand is formed to provide a plurality of equally spaced teeth M. The teeth l4 are formed by reversing the wire strand upon itself and twisting so as to provide the entwining helical strands 56 extending the major length of the tooth, with the bottom thereof forming an eyelet portion I8 and a rounded point 2i). The eyelet opening 22 of each tooth is positioned transversely to the longitudinal axis L-L of the retainer. All the teeth and the circumferences of the eyelets are in the same vertical plane with the top of the retainer. The top, adjacent each pair of teeth is arched as shown at 24.

The twisted portion l6 and the eyelets l8 both serve to keep the retainer firmly in the hair after it is inserted. The twisted portion l6 extending the major length of the tooth grips the hair, and the eyelet openings 22 tend to receive the strands of hair in them as well as grip the hair between adjacent eyelets.

When the retainer is curved or arched as shown at 26 in the lower end of Fig. l, the eyelet portions will be brought close together and also will touch each other depending on the degree of curvature. With the strands of hair in, about and between the teeth and their eyelet portions the retainer is securely positioned in the hair to hold same set position and against accidental removal.

The arch-ed shapes 24 at the top between each pair of teeth will present a broken line when the retainer is inserted in the hair. This and the fact that the retainer is formed of a thin flexible wire with the top thereof in a single strand will make it virtually invisible to an observer. To more positively avoid any detection of the retainer, I color the retainer to match any shade of hair. Therefore I propose that 3 the retainers be made in various colors and shades and so marketed.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings I have shown retainers of various lengths. The retainer mark-ed A is of a greater length than those marked B or C and is positioned in this style of hair dress substantially vertically along one side of the head and in a tortuous shape. The retainer marked B of a shorter length serves in this instance to hold the-front. wave in set position land, due to the shape of the'wave assumes a fan shape. A shorter retainer marked C maintains a straight line position to hold a roll on the top of the head in set position. The retainer marked D gis positioned adjacent the hair line 30 with the teeth of the retainer lying flat adjaeent the si'de' of the head. The teeth of the retainersA iBand C will in the hairdress shown be at right angles to the head or substantially so. Thepliability and flexibility of the retainer permits it to assume substantially any shape and on. any-plane ion the; head thus very easily adjusting-itself .to ,-the;head: or thehair coifiure. It-can;be.inserted sosas to lie transversely-or longitudinally of the head or any other position to suit-the particular hair-dress.

;In Fig. 1 I have shown my hairretaining mate- .rial of an undefinedlength. Thiscan-bebroken or cut into definite lengths by the user to suit particular requirements. The shapeshown in Fig. llis .for illustrative purposes only:and it. is not intended that .when i made :in undefined lengths that such shape be assumed. ,In packaging such lengths it most likelywill be ina continuous fan shape,.similar to the. shape shown in the top of Fig.1.

In addition toga strip of undefined length, my vhair retainers can bemadeinto definite. lengths, similar to the lengths used "infFig.."3 or other lengths which will meet the greatest requirements and soldin sets. In such instances ,the "wearer would use the le ngth or leng ths to fit her style of hair dress. By provid ing retainers of different lengths it'is readilypossible to set any style of hair:and two retainers are usually sufiicient-to cover a complete head-of hair. The length of the retainer can vary. "I have found *that teeth approximately of an inch inlength are the most satisfactory.

While the retainer-wheninserted in the hair --will assume any shape depending upon the head or the wavesor rollsof-the hair, it will when :removed from the hair resume its originally .formed-'shape,whether that be in a fan shape or straight line if so originally forme'd.

- The light weight oftthe retainerwill permit it to be worn without the wearer beingconscious .of it-and the .positive set position will permit tainer, the hair can be set as long a period as desired for the retainer is invisible and the wearer gcan; make a public appearance without the disadvantages inherent in the use of present day retainers.

'j[!i e. ,i 1sepf; a f'evv of my retainers in the hair is as effective as a hairnet in retaining the hair in--its set position. The fact that each retainer covers an extended area eliminates the necessity ;of several settings -atidifferent pointslon the .head and zone.adjustment will suflice. Thechairscan .beset without the; aid ofamirrorsmndsettings .by aaprofessional hair dressersare. eliminated.

It will be understood that various changesand modifications can be made ewithout departing fromthe spirit and,scope -0f- -my invention.

"1 claim:

flexible h .xe ei eniormed-ota on l i ls eme s n h vin i l-z ra tx-p e e of substantially equal length, adjacent teeth being 'ioi e by a nn e ine r -s i s ra .bei .fine and elasticand of such fiex ibilitwthat the o n s r wi d s b ant al y i ltq s e e and bending forces while-beinginserted-in the hair .withoutgoing beyond its-elastic limitaz id having insufficient rigidity. to ade' forrn thefh air when inserted, said' retainer, being su'mciently flexible. so that it maybe ,be'ntviint any shape within and .into. anyQplaneand which-maybe i r h r n a ny an e 1X a l fli i said retainer having so little body that. wheninserted in the hair it assumes the shape ofi ithe wave or curls desired.

2. The structure of 'claiml, wherein said retainer has .an indefinite length and .is readily severable at any desired'lengthfon providing any desired retainer length unit.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileo'f this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS ou t y Date