US3066685A - Hairpin - Google Patents

Description

L. T. SAWYER Dec. 4, 1962 HAIRP IN Filed June 8, 1960 mm m 0 2 m 3 3 M m F w w a q.

INVENTO'R LESTER IT SAWYER ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 1962 3,066,685 HAERPHN Lester T. Sawyer, ott Justice Hill Road, Starting, Mass. Filed June 8, 1960, Ser. No, 34,635 2 Ciaims. (Qi. 1352-52) This invention relates to a new and improved molded plastic hairpin or the like, and the principal objects of the invention reside in the provision of a light weight but strong and resilient molded plastic hairpin which is made in one piece and is adapted to grip and retain the hair, this hairpin being formed to provide a trap or tnaps for the hair, the pin being generally of U shape and preferably having a transverse curve.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of a one-piece molded plastic hairpin as above described wherein the legs of the U-shaped hairpin are in the form of channels having grooves facing outwardly in the same direction, the channels eliminating a large amount of the weight of the pin and thus providing for a less expensive but strong pin, the channel shapes providing a strong, light construction in a direction parallel to the bottom and in a direction at right angles thereto; the provision of a pin as above stated wherein the channels of said legs extend around the closed end of the pin, joining eac other to form in effect a single U-shaped channel; and the provision of a pin as above described including integrally molded resilient portions complementary to each other and forming hair-retaining members, said integrally molded portions being located between the legs of the hairpin and facing each other and being relatively thin and resilient to allow the pin to be easily slipped into the hair and at the same time retaining the hair due to the resiliency of said members.

The invention further relates to arrangement and cornbinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly set forth in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation showing the hairpin;

FIG. 2 is an edge view thereof, part being in section;

FIG. 3 is a section on line 33 of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 4 is a section similar to FIG. 3 but showing a modification.

The pin which forms the subject matter of the present invention is a hairpin which is integrally molded in a single piece as by plastic injection molding. It comprises in general a pair of legs which are generally indicated at it and 12. These legs are joined at their ends at 1 3 and thus the pin is in the shape of an elongated U. The legs iii and 12 are provided with solid points at 16, 16 and of course these points enter the hair first, the closed portion 14 forming a fingerhold for inserting the hairpin into the hair. The part at 14 may be reenforced by an enlargement at 18 but the legs ltd and 12 have a certain inherent resiliency due to the nature of the material of which they are made.

The legs 14 and 12 for the major portion of the lengths thereof are made in the form of U-shaped channels and these are indicated at Zii and 22. These channels are also joined in the closed region of the pin 14 as indicated by the reference numeral 24, so that the channels at 2%) and 22 are in effect a single channel, also in the form of a U, but these channels terminate at 26, 26 and thereafter the legs It) and 12 are solid.

Referring to FIG. 3, it will be seen that each channel 20 and 22 includes a pair of more or less parallel legs 28 and 3'9 and a connecting web or bottom member 32; and the members 23 and 30 as well as the bottom members 32 of the channels extend around in the region at 14 so that the entire channel formation is of U shape.

This construction saves an appreciable amount of plastic material which would otherwise take up the space of the channels 26) and 22, but the omission of this material does not substantially lessen the strength of the legs of the pin because of the shape of the channels which provide strength in a plane parallel to the bottom portions 32 of the channels and in planes at right angles thereto, i.e., in the planes of or parallel to the leg portions thereof at 23 and 3d. The legs 1t? and 12 are somewhat resilient so that they may be slightly spread.

integrally molded with each leg it) and 12, there is a thinner hair-retaining member which is elongated in the direction of the legs 10 and 12 and is of course integrally secured thereto at the ends thereof. These hair-retaining members are indicated in general by the reference numerals 34 and 36 and each one is elongated but integrally connected at its ends as at 37 and 38 to the interior portions of the parts 33 of the channels 20 and 22. The members 34 and 36 are complementary to each other and are formed with concave portions at 40 and 42 forming a hair trap or hair-retaining member intermediate the ends of the hairpin. By reason of the fact that the members 34 and 36 extend away from each other towards the closed end 14 of the hairpin, there is another trap at 44 and this trap of course serves to receive and retain most of the hair which is received in the pin.

The complementary portions 46 and 42 which are bowed away from each other are also however separate from the channel members 2d and 22. and this provides a certain amount of resiliency in these members, regardless of the resilience in the members it} and 12. It is to be noted that the members 34- and as are thinner than the main leg portions lid and 12 of the pin, so that in most cases a relatively small bank of hair will be retained and held by the hairpin, i.e., the hairpin will be retained to the head when used with a small hank of hair. Where a large hank of hair is to be forced between the legs of the pin, the resiliency of the legs 10 and 12 is utilized to receive an amount of hair which will fill the trap 44 and if necessary, the smaller trap indicated at 46.

It will be seen that this invention provides an extremely effective and efficient hairpin which, however, economizes on the weight and material used but at the same time the construction is such as to effectively retain the strength of the pin. Also the combination of the thinner members 34 and 36 and the legs it) and 12, etc., is such as to pro vide a very efficient hair-retaining means.

Also, the channeling may appear at both sides, see the pin 3% in MG. 4.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what 1 claim is:

1. A plastic one-piece hairpin comprising a pair of relatively Wide legs joined together at corresponding ends forming a closed end for the pin, each leg being elongated and provided with longitudinal indentations therein, said indentations forming grooves extending along said legs, said grooves appearing at at least one side of said pin, said grooves being connected together at the closed end of the pin, and corresponding and cooperating hair-retaining members integrally connected with respect to said legs at the interior portions thereof, said hair-retaining memers being relatively light-weight and resilient and allowing the hair to be easily slipped in and retained therein.

2. The plastic one-piece hairpin of claim 1 wherein the grooves appear at both sides of the pin.

(References on foliowing page) References filied in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 750,579 Bowers Jan. 26, 1904 887,885 Whitney May 19, 1908 1,085,212 Kotner Jan. 27, 1914 1,337,039 Bruder Apr. 13, 1920 41 Rhein et a1 Nov. 22, 1921 De Julio June 4, 1946 Wernette Aug. 22, 1950 FORE'EGN PATENTS Great Britain i May 7, 1903

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