US2566782A - Hairpin - Google Patents

Description

P 1951 M. c. TOWNS, JR 2,566,782

HAIRPIN Filed March 21, 1949 71 766) 5. ,2 16 M c W INVENMR.

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fiatenteci Sept. 4, 195i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAIRPIN MirabeauC. Towns, Jr., Sparta, N. J. I Application March 21, 1949, Serial No. 82,661

2 Claims. (Cl.13250) This invention relates generally to hairpins,

and more particularly to an improved hairpin 'of the bobby pin type which may be readily used with either hand alone and which cannot turn in the hair nor tear the hairs.

In the past, many attempts have been made to provide hairpins of various sorts which would be susceptible of re dymanipulation' during the process of pinningup the hair. However, the known hairpin devices of the bobby pin type are generally characterized by a number of real disadvantages which make them impractical in use and hence, unpopular with the trade.

. Among the above disadvantages are: a difficulty in separating the legs of the hairpin preparatory to its insertion in the hair resulting in invention is to provide anirnproved hairpin which obviates the aforementioned disadvantages of prior art structures. I e

Another important object of the invention is to provide a hairpin which may be readily manipulated with only one hand by a person of ordinary finger dexterity or less; A further important object ofthe invention is to provide a hairpin which is so constructed as to prevent its turning after being placed in the hair and which will indicate by touch to the user whether the hairpin is right side up or not so as to enable its ready use without visual inspection or even in the dark.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide an unusually efficient hairpin of the bobby pin type in which the cooperating legs are so shaped as to prevent tearing of the individual hairs and yet permit the hairpin to be withdrawn from the hair by simply pullin the hairpin therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hairpin which is of simple though rugged construction, neat in appearance, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings, I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing;

Figure l is a perspective view of the invention illustrating its ready manipulation with a single hand;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the invention;

Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4- 4 of Figure 2, parts being shown in plan; 10

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view to an enlarged scale, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional View. to an enlarged scale of the invention, taken on the line 5-6 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the invention com,-

prises a long strip of resilient stock material,

preferably metal, bent to form a loop l0 and a pair of legsl2 and H. The upper leg I2 is of greater length and bent upwardly and outwardly as at 5 to facilitate the insertion'of the hairpin in the hair as will become apparent.

An important feature, of the invention residesin the fact that the stock from which the hair'- pin is formed is slightly convex on the inner surface and slightly concave on the outer. As 'seen l8, so as to completely eliminate all sharp edges so that the hairpin is incapable of tearing individual hairs during itsinsertion or removal.

' It is to benoted that the convexity of the inner surfaces of the legs l2 and I4 is such that while a maximum of clamping action is obtained at the crowns or central portions, the remaining portions of the surfaces also function in this manner although to a slightly lesser degree. Accordingly, the clamping function is fully maintained by the hairpin while it is unable to tear or injure the individual hairs.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a widened portion in the lower leg M at its outer end. This widened leg portion comprises a pair of oppositely projecting wings 2D and 22 which are preferably integral with the leg H to enable the hairpin as a whole to be readily formed from the same sheet of stock.

The wing 2|] has the same lateral dimension but is longer than the wing 22 in order that the. user may instantly determine by comparative touch whether the hairpin is right side up or not. This is extremely advantageous to women,

wings 20 and 22 have a stabilizing effect and prevent any tendency of the hairpin to turniin the hair and thus prevents accidental misplacement of set curls, etc. 1 I Y 'It will now be readily apparentthatthe hair- 'pin comprising the present invention maybe readily manipulated and requires but ordinary, or less, dexterity of the-fingers. ins atthe s rce f s ply, h use ma h a u with o n and reach .foran as y grasp'a hairpin by its wings 20 and 22 with the other hand. I

If using the right hand, the thumb should engage the side of the shorter wing 22, while the se on fi er e a s he s o he Wine If the hairpin not picked up in this position, the fact will be readily'apparent to the touch by the difference in length of the wings and the hairpin isthereupon turned right side up.

Holding the hairpin in the described position, the loop [.0 will engage the palm of the hand. The index finger is'nowv extended to engage the end l6 of the upper leg and by exerting pressure away from the thumpv and second finger, the legs l2 and I4 are readily separated and placed in position in the hair. The hairpin is removed from, the hair by simply. pulling it therefrom without danger of pulling or injuring the individual hairs duefto the rounded surfaces and corners of the invention. 7

It is tobe noted that-this important featur the provision of a practical hairpin which re- Without look tion which also indicates, without the presently required inspection, whether it is right side up or not. Moreover, the wings ensure the coiifure intended by preventing turning of the hairpin in the hair with an ensuing loosing or misplacement of curls, etc. Injury to the hair by the hairpin therein or bein removed therefrom is prevented by the mating convex surfaces and their rounded edges. t

It is to rb'e understood :that theiform .of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departure trgm; the spirit of the invention or the .sco pf he bi m claims- 1 A-hairpin comprising a strip of resilient material bent to form a long leg and a short leg in ceme t g en age t sa d sho g. in of substantially greater width than said long leg adjacent its end to for na pair of finger engagms wine t fa ili ate e h 'flm ni t ip s hairpin, one of said wings being of reat r len th than the other. to indicate the relative vertical position of said legs; 7

A Q -ha d dh rpin cqm r s ea tr iof resilient material bent .to forrn ;a long leg and a short leg in contacting engagement andmeans e aeee by ehum and ec nd nger o effecting a se arat o o saidj e sw n r finger urges the end of the long leg away from said short leg comprising a pair of laterally proj t in wi fo m d o s i lo erv e i e' n quires the use of only 'onehand, is accomplished in a hairpin of conventional-size except for the wings. The latter are of minimum sizeto avoid a space problem in marketing but of sufiicient size to, enable the hairpin torbe readily graspe for the purposes stated. Thus the hairpin comprising the present invention is especially ,suitablefor putting up the hair with one hand without damagin the finger nails, their Polisher the teeth as the legs are so readilyrsepara'ble due to the wing construcits end one ofjsaidwings being ofgreaterlength than the other to indicate the; relative vertical position of saidlegs. r MIRABEAU o. TOWNS, JR.

REFERENCES CITE-D The following references are of recordin the file of this patent: V 7

UNITED' STATES PATENTS Great Britain Jan. 28, 1932

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