US20100242987A1

US20100242987A1 - Bottle cap hair clip

Info

Publication number: US20100242987A1
Application number: US12/383,597
Authority: US
Inventors: Donna Washington
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-03-26
Filing date: 2009-03-26
Publication date: 2010-09-30

Abstract

A bottle cap hair clip with a first hair dip member, a second hair dip member, a first top half panel, a second top half panel, a torsion spring and a set of first and second decorative top over panels. The first and second dip members are pivotably attached to each other by a common shaft and employ a torsion spring in a standard way. The first and second dip members each terminate at their upper edge in a hinge member. The first and second top half panels each terminate at their distal edges in a hinge portion that engages with the upper hinge members of the first and second clips. The top half panels are hingedly attached to each other at their central abutting edges. The first and second decorative top over panels are attached to the top surface of the first and second top half panels.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of hair accessories and more specifically to a bottle cap hair clip.
Hair dips for holding a person's hair in place are well known. They are typically molded from plastic in two mating halves. The bottom of each clip half includes tines that can insert themselves into the user's hair. A common shaft pivotably connects the two halves. A torsion spring causes the tines from each half to interlace. The top portion of each half usually terminates in a flared out portion that allows a person's fingers to squeeze upon each flared portion thereby causing the tines of each mating half to separate and thereby allowing a person to place a portion of hair into the space between the tines.
When the user releases the top flared portions of the hair clip, the tines move inward toward each other and enclose themselves around a portion of the person's hair. Although the standard hair clip is quite adequate in retaining a hair portion, its shape does not easily allow for the inclusion of a decorative top panel that can increase the uniqueness and novelty of the hair dip.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide a hair clip whose top surface allows for the application of a pair of decorative panels that abut each other.
Another object of the invention is to provide a hair clip whose top surface allows for the application of a pair of decorative panels that resemble a standard bottle cap that has been split into two equal halves.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed bottle cap hair clip comprising: a first hair clip member, a second hair dip member, a first top half panel, a second top half panel, a torsion spring, a first to second clip member shaft, a pair of distal first to second top panel shafts, a central first to second top panel shaft, a set of first and second decorative top over panels, said first and second clip members pivotably attached to each other by said clip member shaft in a spring biased standard way, said first and second clip members each terminating at their upper most portion in an integral hinge member, said first and second top half panels each terminating at their distal edges in a hinge portion that engages, by said pair of distal first to second top panel shafts, with said upper portion hinge members of said first and second clips, said first and second top half panels attached hingedly at their central abutting edges by said central first to second panel shaft, and said first and second decorative top over panels attached to the flat, top surface of said first and second top half panels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention in the closed position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention in the open positron.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention in the closed position with the top panel halves removed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the invention in the open position with the top panel halves removed.

FIG. 5 is a side section view or the invention in the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
Referring now to FIG. 1 we see the hair clip of the present invention 100 the bottom portion of the clip includes a first clip member 2 and a second clip member 6 that have standard interlaced tines to hold a person's hair. The top most portion of the hair clip 100 includes a set of decorative top panel halves 24, 26 that abut each other at a central seam 25 to form a standard bottle cap shape. However, other decorative top panel halves can be employed to provide a variety of unique decorative panel surfaces. The decorative panels can be fixedly attached to top panel halves 24, 26 by standard means such as adhesive, or can be removably attached by standard means such as post and hole mating or snap type mating.
FIG. 2 shows the invention 100 in its open position. To obtain this position, the user has squeezed inwardly on the opposing edges of the top panel halves 24, 26 and attached decorative top panel halves 24, 26. Interlaced hinge members 8 allow the top decorative panel halves 24, 26 to fold during the clip opening operation.
FIG. 3 shows the invention in the closed position with the decorative top panel halves 24, 26 removed. Top panel halves 14, 16 terminate at their distal ends in standard hinge member and are joined at their distal ends to first hair dip portion 2 and second hair clip portion 6 by hinge shafts 10, 12. A centrally located hinge shaft 18 joins the abutted portions of top panel halves 14, 16. Another centrally located hinge shaft joins the first hair clip member 2 to the second hair clip member 6 in a standard way. A torsion spring 36, shown in FIG. 5, surrounds shaft 4 and causes the the two clip halves 2, 6 to be spring biased in the standard way.
FIG. 4 shows the invention the open position with the decorative top panel halves 24, 26 removed. Top panel halves 14, 16 have been folded down which causes the first and second hair clip members 2, 4 to be drawn in at their top portion and to be spread apart at their bottom portion.
FIG. 5 is a side section view of the invention without the decorative top half panels 24, 26 that clearly shows standard torsion spring 36 as well as hinge pins 4, 10 and 12. Inwardly facing arrows 28, 30 indicate the direction of pushing to cause the clip halves 2, 6 to spread to the open position.
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. bottle cap hair clip comprising:

a first hair clip member;

a second hair clip member;

a first top half panel;

a second top half panel;

a torsion spring;

a first to second dip member hinge shaft;

a pair of distal first to second top panel hinge shafts;

a central first to second top panel hinge shaft;

a set of first and second decorative top over panels;

said first and second dip members pivotably attached to each other by said first to second dip member hinge shaft, and spring biased by said torsion spring in a standard way;

said first and second clip members each terminating at their upper most portion in an integral hinge portion;

said first and second top half panels each terminating at their distal edges in a hinge portion that engages, by said pair of distal first to second top panel shafts, with said upper hinge portions of said first and second clips;

said first and second top half panels attached hingedly at their central abutting edges by said central first to second panel shaft; and

said first and second decorative top over panels attached to the flat, top surface of said first and second top half panels.

2. Bottle cap hair clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein said decorative first and second decorative over panels are in the shape of a standard bottle cap.

3. Bottle cap hair clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein said decorative first and second decorative over panels are fixedly attached to said flat top surface of said first and second top half panels.

4. Bottle cap hair clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein an alternate embodiment said decorative over panels are removable and replaceable in a standard way from said flat top surface of said first and second top half panels.