US2531854A - Hairpin - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 28, 1 G. A. L. LINDEN 2,531,854

HAIRPIN Filed June 18, 1946 Patented Nov. 28, 1950 UNITED S TAT ES EAT ENT F F 1 CE HAIRPIN Gad A. Lambert Linden, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application June 18, 1946, Serial No. 671,539

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to hair pins and more particularly to that type of hair pin which has become, known as a bobby pin.

The bobby pins hitherto known have possessed a number of disadvantages among which are a hair clamping action which is too feeble, or, if the clamping action is sufliciently strong, it has been extremely inconvenient and difficult to open the pin for insertion in the hair.

It is a general object of this invention to provide an improved form of resilient clamping bobby pin which is strong in its clamping action and is formed to provide means by which it may be quickly and readily opened for insertion or removal.

In general the novel bobby pin to be described in detail comprises a continuous resilient strip formed to provide a flared end for receiving the hair, a curved bend or loop for imposing adequate clamping force to two leg portions, and finger engageable extensions continuously engaging and cooperating With the curved bend or loop to provide leverage for easy opening. The clamping legs may be formed with opposed corrugations for the purpose of better retaining the hair.

A more specific object of the invention resides in the provision of a hair pin having features described which may be readily formed from a continuous length of resilient metal or other suitable material by machinery production methods.

These and other features of improvement will be more clearly understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and several modi fications thereof, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the preferred embodiment of the hair pin being held in open position by a persons hand;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the hair pin shown in Fig. 1 in the closed position;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the hair pin shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 shows in side elevation a modified form of hair pin in open position.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2 which show the preferred embodiment of this invention, it will be observed that the hair pin Ill which is formed of a relatively narrow, continuous strip of resilient material, preferably spring steel, comprises a pair of slender normally engaged clamping legs, designated generally as I2 and I4, having rounded ends I6, I6 which permit ready insertion in the hair and subsequent clamping between closely spread, opposed inner lengths I8 I8 which are formed adjacent. the rounded ends with opposed corrugations 20, 20 which will even more p it vely grip sma l. b ndle of hair wh n the pin. shown in Fig. r lea ed o the normally lo position of F 2..

n er le hs 8 [8' f. th elon ated; les of the hairpin IIl terminate at their head ends in a relatively small curved bend or loop 22 which is so formed as to urge the legs firmly and resiliently toward each other at all times. As illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2, the approximately circular loop 22 is considerably larger in diameter than the maximum space between the inner leg strips I8, l8 so that the sliding fulcrum contact between the outer sides of said loop and the free end portions of the outer leg lengths 24, 24 will be elemental and a large amount of clear space will be provided for easy opening action. The continuous length of material forming the hair pin I0 is bent outwardly and toward the head portion of the hair pin to provide a straight pair of outer lengths 24, 24, that are only a minor proportion of the length of the clamping leg portions and which in addition to affording a smooth surface and sliding engagement of the hair with the outside edges of the hair pin, are extended or continued a short distance so as to contact opposite sides of the loop 22 and form spaced finger tabs 26. The outer lengths 24, 24 extend substantially parallel to the inner lengths I8, I8. The function of the tabs or grips 26 can be best appreciated from a consideration of Fig. 1 in which they have been moved together about the engaged parts of loop 22 as fulcrums to lift open the two leg portions I2 and I4 against the strong contra-action of the loop 22 and the inner lengths of material I8, I8 connected therewith.

As the modified hair pin shown in Fig. 4. is generally similar to the preferred embodiment which has been described it will be sufficient to note only the principal variations. This modified hair pin IIII includes an opposed pair of identical leg portions I24, I24 and specially formed head end tabs or grips I25 which are curved toward each other and of such a length to overlap as sliding face engaging surfaces. This overlapping is at a maximum when the leg portions I24, I24 are in the open position illustrated and continuous to a much less degree when they assume a closed position. This manner of providing an expansible loop with the tab or grip portions I26 offers some advantages in that there is less likelihood of the adjacent enclamped hair becoming entangled and resisting removal of the hair pin.

While for most purposes it is preferable to make the hair pin of this invention from spring steel strip stock which is uniform in both width and thickness, it is also possible to form the hair pin from other materials having the desired properties of durability, resiliency and formability.

In the principal preferred embodiment and the modification which has been shown, it is to be observed that the hair pin in each instance has no greater overall thickness than that of the uniform width material from which it is formed, that the spring loop also has the full width and strength of this material, and that the finger grips or tabs, which continuously engage the loop, are arranged to provide maximum leverage.

While it is contemplated that the bobby pin of this invention will find particular utility in hair dressing establishments, its neat, compact and efficient attributes will also insure wide acceptance by individual users.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as novel and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A hair pin formed from a continuous, uniform strip of spring metal to provide an opposed pair of elongated, parallel leg portions having hairgripping inner lengths joined at adjacent ends by Number REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Smith Aug. 27, 1901 Brinkerhoif ,July 23, 1867 Parker Apr. 18, 1916 Walker Oct. 4, 1921 Natkiel Nov. 8, 1921 Hoffman et a1 Feb. 24, 1925 Peck July 12, 1932 V

Images