US3330287A - Multi-prong hairpin - Google Patents

Description

July 11, 1967 E. .1. MUHS MULTI-PRONG HAIRPIN Filed June 8, 1964 FIG.

FIG. 3

FIG. 1

FIG. 6

FIG. 5

FIG. 4

IAIVENTOR. ELEANOR J. M u HS 42 BY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,330,287 MULTI-PRONG HAIRPIN Eleanor J. Muhs, 315 Ave. C, New York, N.Y. 10009 Filed June 8, 1964, Ser. No. 373,172 1 Claim. (Cl. 132-52) The present invention relates to hairpins, and more particularly to an improved type of hairpin adapted to grip the hair in a plurality of places.

Heretofore, various types of pinning devices have been employed to keep the hair, or a headdress in place. Generally these have been the forked type consisting substantially of a slender U-shaped piece of wire, or of the relatively shorter bobby-pin type. Neither of these types is particularly suitable to catch the hair in a plurality of places over a relatively large area, with the result that a notably greater number must be employed to achieve the same result. Secondly, the U-shaped type especially, frequently fall out, thereby failing in the desired purpose.

The present invention is an improved hairpin. The invention contemplates providing a novel configuration for a type of hairpin which will really grip the hair over a relatively wider area than similar devices heretofore, and by means of one or more duo-membered prongs entwined to provide a plurality of hair-receiving recesses, the hair is firmly and securely gripped in a plurality of places, thus providing a hair-gripping action heretofore unknown in the art.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide a novel type of hairpin wherein the disadvantages associated with similar devices are eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel type of hairpin, of novel configuration such that the hair, or a headdress, is firmly gripped in a plurality of places over a relatively wider area.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hairpin of the above indicated nature having bob pin means and having hair pin means which shall be relatively inexpensive and easy to manufacture, and yet positive and reliable in use.

Further objects and advantages and features will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawing wherein various embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressely understood however, that the drawings are for the purposes of illustration only, and are not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claim.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a hairpin having one configuration embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG- URE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows,

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of a hair-pin, embodying an alternate configuration of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of a hairpin embodying still another configuration of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of an additional embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the invention, having a plurality of hair-receiving prongs.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a hairpin, generally designated by the numeral 10, having a pair of parallel legs 12 and 14, respectively constructed preferably of relatively slender stock of circular section. The legs 12 and 14 extend upwardly, and thence inwardly toward one-another in U- fashion to a point of entwining contact 16 forming a hair 3,330,287 Patented July 11, 1967 pin means. Therefrom, the legs entwine about one-another for a prescribed number of turns as at 18, sufiicient to join them firmly together; a condition this, which will be readily recognizable to those skilled in the art, without further elaboration.

At a point of separation 20, the leg 14 proceeds downward, rectilinearly parallel to its self, for a distance approximately two fifths of the complete length of the hairpin 10, and terminates at a point 22. The leg 12 on the other hand, also proceeds downwards a like distance, but in a sinusoidal-like (although flatter) configuration to :form a center prong or bob pin means 23, together with the leg 14, such that the troth of each successive wave is tangent to the rectilinear leg 14, at a plurality of points, such as at point 24. In this manner, a plurality of hairreceiving recesses, or enclosures, such as 26 are formed between the legs 12 and 14, by their contours. The leg 12 then terminates at point 28 veering off at a slight angle A (FIGS. 1 and 3) from leg 14, for reasons hereinafter explained. The end points 22 and 28 are shown coated to remove the sharpness therefrom,

It should be noted that the configurations of the legs 12 and 14 could be interchanged without departing from the scope of the invention. That is to say, that if desired, the leg 12 might be made to proceed downward rectilinearly, while the leg 14 might be made to proceed downwardly in a sinusoidal-like configuration instead, with like results and effect, as shown with reference to prong 51 (FIG. 6).

Referring now to FIGURE 3 for an alternate embodiment of the invention, a hairpin 21 has legs 13 and 15, corresponding to legs 12 and 14 of FIG. 1, although they are relatively shorter. The legs 13 and 15 are in identical relationship to one-another as the legs 12 and 14 of FIG. 1, up to the point of separation 20. Thenceforth, both the legs 13 and 15 proceed downwards in a sinusoidal (although fiatter) configuration to form a center prong 30. It is to be noted that in the center prong 30', the legs 13 and 15 are tangent at a plurality of points 32 at the troth of each wave, to form a plurality of hair receiving recesses or chambers 34. The legs 13 and 15 terminate in the same slight angle A to one another as heretofore explained with reference to FIG. 1. The center prong 30 extends downwards however, a distance preferably two thirds of the entire length of the hairpin 21.

FIGURES 4 and 5 are alternate embodiments of the invention wherein hairpins 35 and 37 respectively, each embody center prong 23 as shown and described with reference to hairpin 10. The center prong 23 extends downward approximately one half the total length of the hairpin 35, while the relationship between the length of the hairpin 37 and its center prong 23 is approximately the same as in FIGURE 1 set forth above. However, the legs 38 and 39 (FIG. 4) are gently undulated in a succession of relatively flat continuously reversing curves, and are identical up to the point of contact 16, and disposed in left and right hand fashion to one another.

The legs 41 and 42 however (FIG. 5) are formed by a combination of rectilinear portions 43 and 44 respectively, together with gently reversing continuous curving portions 45 and 47. In both, FIGURES 4 and 5, the respective legs, 38 and 39, and 41 and 42, terminate veering apart from one another.

Turning now attention to FIGURE 6, we have shown an additional embodiment of the invention in the guise of a duo-pronged hairpin 50, comprising a pair of parallel rectilinear legs 52 and 54, and a central substantially U- shaped section 56. The rectilinear legs 52 and 54 veer towards one another in U-fashion and entwine with the legs 58 and 60 of the central section 56 (as at points 62 and 64) to form a firm bond therewith. Thence the legs 58 and 60 proceed downwardly in rectilinear fashion approximately two thirds of the complete length of the hairpin 50. The legs 52 and 54 extend downwards a like distance in the manner heretofore explained to form prongs 23 and 51 respectively.

In this manner a relatively wider hairpin having two center prongs or bob pin means is formed, and it follows that the number of hair receiving recesses or enclosures 26 is doubled.

In all embodiments of the invention, the ends of the center prong (or prongs) veer away from one another by the slight angle A. In use, as the hairpin is being driven through the'hair, this slight angle provides a ready entrance for the strands of hair, and facilitates their admission to the hair receiving enclosures 26.

It will now be seen that in the use of the various embodiments of the invention, the following advantages readily become apparent. The center prongs or bob pin means, acting in concert with the legs or hair pin means of each respective hairpin, provide a three point penetration into the hair, and the hairpin becomes more firmly wedged therein. In the case of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 6, a greater than three point penetration is provided.

The strands of hair are really gripped firmly in a plurality of places, since each hair receiving recess or enclosure 26 will be gripping a strand of hair and the center prong While the invention has been illustrated and described with respect to some preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claim.

What is claimed is: a

A unitary hair retaining element comprising in combination, bob pin means for firmly gripping a first portion of hair and for establishing a relatively stable part of a coifiure therewith and hair pin means for relatively loosely engaging a second portion of hair larger in quantity than.

said first portion and generally surrounding the same, said bob pin means and said hair pin means being fabricated from at least two continuous lengths of stock extending in spaced parallel relation from the free outer tips thereof and forming outer legs of said hair pin means, said legs terminating in bends extending substantially arcuately toward one another, said bends terminating in portions within which said at least two lengths of stock are first entwined and then extend to form inner legs in side by side relation between said outer legs and forming said bob pin means, said inner legs terminating in inner tips short of the plane of said outer tips, said inner tips being coated l and diverging outwardly, one of said inner legs being (or prongs) becomes firmly anchored into the hair by the side legs. I

A certain amount of elasticity inherent in the center prongs will cause flexing upwards of the prong, as it and the pin are driven through the hair, with the result that a.

counter spring action downwards towards the scalp will as frequently occurs with other types of hairpins.

Because of one or more (FIG. 6) center prongs being employed, the general configuration of the hairpins is wider, and thence gripping of the hair occurs over a larger 7 area.

V The reversing curve construction on the legs 38 and 39 and 41 and 42 (FIGS. 4 and 5) provides a more resilient pin and further hair gripping action is obtained from the recesses 40 formed as the contour of the leg reverses direction. In employing the pins shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, it will be obvious that if the legs are slightly pressed towards one another as the pin is driven through the hair,

upon releasing the legs, the resilience therein will tend to return them outwardly against the hair, thereby causing a still firmer grip.

' occur, thereby tending to hold the hair still more firmly,

. and insuring that the hairpin will not fall out of the hair The relatively slender stock preferably of circular cross section employed in the construction of the invention, may be selected with properties of greater resilience and elasticity if it is desired to increase the gripping effect achieved thereby.

formed rectilinearly, the other of said inner legs being formed along sinusoidal paths forming with said rectilinear leg a plurality of substantially small hair gripping spaces and a plurality of hair gripping points, said bob pin means and said hair pin means together also constituting means for relatively loosely engaging hair extending transversely thereof.

' References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

F. L. FRINKS, Assistant Examiner.

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