US20110209722A1

US20110209722A1 - Hair clip

Info

Publication number: US20110209722A1
Application number: US12/818,356
Authority: US
Inventors: François C. Pichon
Original assignee: French Fashion (H K) Ltd
Current assignee: French Fashion (H K) Ltd
Priority date: 2010-02-26
Filing date: 2010-06-18
Publication date: 2011-09-01
Also published as: CN201624263U

Abstract

A hair clip, comprising: a lower clip body and an upper clip body pivotally connected together at one end of each; corresponding locking and fixing devices formed at the other ends of said lower clip body and upper clip body; wherein a plastic slice is formed at an end of an elastic locking clip adjacent to a wall of the locking and fixing device formed at said upper clip body and is pressed against said wall in a tilted relation. The hair clip according to the invention implements an improved locking and fixing method and produces the same locking and fixing effect as the locking and fixing method commonly used for prior art hair clips does. Moreover, since the locking and fixing devices and the plastic slice controlling their switch can be formed one-piece, manufacture of the hair clip is simplified.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to the field of ornaments, in particular, to a hair clip.
2. Prior Art
Hair clips usually seen in the market generally comprise a lower clip body and an upper clip body pivotally connected together at one end of each. Each of the lower clip body and upper clip body has a corresponding locking and fixing device at the other end to secure the hair between the lower clip body and the upper clip body. When using the hair clip, unlock the fixing device which locks the lower clip body and the upper clip body, turn the lower clip body, locate the hair to be clamped in the space between the lower clip body and the upper clip body, and then lock the device to complete the positioning
Unfortunately, the locking and fixing devices of this type of hair clips are complicated in manufacture. In addition, they are bulky, and difficult to be assembled. The Chinese patent application with publication number of CN1131525A makes some improvements to overcome the above defects. However, the provided hair clip still takes advantage of the elastic force of a spring to control the switch of a sliding pin. Since the spring cannot be formed simultaneously with the hair clip, instead, an additional procedure is needed to insert a projecting needle into the spring, and then further mount them onto the locking and fixing device, a lot of manufacture procedures are added. Therefore, there is a need for further improvement.
On the other hand, the surfaces of the lower clip body and the upper clip body of a usual hair clip are smooth surfaces. Therefore, the clip tends to slip with respect to the hair after the clip is locked and fixed, and then the hair will slide out as a result. To avoid such a case, the above application makes further improvement to the hair clip, i.e., a saw-shaped stripe is formed on the lower surface of the upper clip body (i.e., the surface used for clamping the hair). However, during practical use, the design of such a saw-shaped stripe shows rather limited function of slip resistance. Therefore, there is also a need for further improvement against it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the subject invention is to make improvements against the above defects of the above application, and thereby provide a novel hair clip to facilitate its manufacture.
To achieve such an object, a hair clip according to the invention comprises a lower clip body and an upper clip body pivotally connected together at one end of each. Corresponding locking and fixing devices are formed at the other ends of the lower clip body and the upper clip body, one of the corresponding locking and fixing devices including a locking column formed at the other end of the lower clip body, and the other including an elastic locking clip formed at the other end of the upper clip body. A plastic slice is formed at the end of the elastic locking clip adjacent to a wall of the locking and fixing device formed at the upper clip body. The plastic slice is pressed against the wall in a tilted relation.
According to the invention, the plastic slice is formed at a shoulder of the elastic locking clip.
According to the invention, the plastic slice is pressed the wall in a downward tilted relation.
According to the invention, a non-slip layer is fastened onto an upper surface of the lower clip body.
According to the invention, a saw-shaped stripe is formed on a lower surface of the upper clip body to further enhance the function of slip resistance.
According to the invention, the nonskid layer is a layer of artificial rubber, natural rubber, silicon gel, emulsoid, PVC, thermoplastic elastomer, or thermoplastic rubber.
According to the invention, the hair clip is completely made of plastic materials.
The hair clip according to the invention implements an improved locking and fixing method and produces the same locking and fixing effect as the locking and fixing method used for prior art hair clips does. Moreover, since the locking and fixing devices and the plastic slice controlling their switch can be formed one-piece, manufacture of the hair clip is simplified. In addition, since there is a non-slip layer formed on the upper surface of the lower clip body, a good function of slip resistance is achieved. On this basis, the lower surface of the upper clip body is configured as saw-shaped, and thus a better function of slip resistance is realized to clamp a variety of hair style more stably.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a structural schematic view of a hair clip of the invention, in a locked state;

FIG. 2 is a structural schematic view of the hair clip of the invention, in an unlocked state;

FIG. 3 is a structural schematic view of the locking and fixing devices of the hair clip of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The hair clip of the invention will be further described with specific embodiments in connection with the appended drawings. It is understood that the embodiments are used for explaining, instead of limiting, the scope of the invention.
As is shown in FIGS. 1-3, the hair clip of the invention comprises a lower clip body 1, and an upper clip body 2 having one end 20 pivotally connected to one end 10 of the lower clip body 1. Each of the lower clip body 1 and upper clip body 2 has a corresponding locking and fixing device at the other ends 10′ and 20′, respectively. One of the corresponding locking and fixing devices includes a locking column 13 formed at the other end 10′ of the lower clip body 1 and the other includes an elastic locking clip 23 formed at the other end 20′ of the upper clip body 2. A plastic slice 231 is formed at the end of the elastic locking clip 23 adjacent to a wall 23 a of the locking and fixing device formed at the upper clip body 2, and preferably at the shoulder of the elastic locking clip 23. The plastic slice 231 is pressed against the wall 23 a in a tilted relation, preferably in a downward tilted relation, to keep the elastic locking clip 23 in a locked state. When the locking column 13 is in a locked and fixed state by flanges 26 and 33, a pressure is generated between an edge 25 of the upper clip body 2 and the lower clip body 1. As a result, when it is required to relieve the locked and fixed state, merely press the elastic locking clip 23, then the plastic slice 231 will be pressed, and the flange 33 will be moved away from the flange 26, forming an open state. The pressure experienced by the edge 25 will push out the lower clip body 1 quickly. This design can facilitate unlocking the lower clip body 1 with one hand for the users. After the finger pressing the elastic locking clip 23 leaves, the plastic slice 231 will restore so that the elastic locking clip 23 will be locked again.
To achieve the object of effective non-slip, the hair clip of the invention has a non-slip layer fastened onto an upper surface 12 of the lower clip body 1 (not shown). Such a non-slip layer may be made of artificial rubber, natural rubber, silicon gel, emulsoid, PVC, thermoplastic elastomer, or thermoplastic rubber, etc. The hair clip of the invention may also have a saw-shaped stripe 4 formed on a lower surface of the upper clip body 2 to further enhance the function of slip resistance.
The stripe 4 may be made of the same material with the upper clip body 2, or with the non-slip layer. Preferably, the stripe 4 and the non-slip layer are made of the same material to apply a more tender pressure onto the hair while providing a good function of slip resistance.
The plastic slice 231 eliminates the use of a metallic string in hair clips which are common in the market, and thus ensures that the hair clip of the invention is completely made of plastic materials.
The hair clip according to the invention implements an improved locking and fixing method and produces the same locking and fixing effect as the locking and fixing method commonly used for prior art hair clips does. Moreover, since the locking and fixing devices and the plastic slice controlling their switch can be formed one-piece, manufacture of the hair clip is simplified. In addition, since there is a non-slip layer formed on the upper surface of the lower clip body, a good function of slip resistance is achieved. On this basis, the lower surface of the upper clip body is configured as saw-shaped, and thus a better function of slip resistance is realized to clamp a variety of hair style more stably.

Claims

1. A hair clip, comprising:

a lower clip body and an upper clip body pivotally connected together at one end of each;

corresponding locking and fixing devices formed at the other ends of said lower clip body and upper clip body, one of the corresponding locking and fixing devices including a locking column formed at the other end of said lower clip body, and the other including an elastic locking clip formed at the other end of said upper clip body;

wherein a plastic slice is formed at an end of said elastic locking clip adjacent to a wall of the locking and fixing device formed at said upper clip body and is pressed against said wall in a tilted relation.

2. The hair clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plastic slice is formed at a shoulder of said elastic locking clip.

3. The hair clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plastic slice is pressed against said wall in a downward tilted relation.

4. The hair clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein a non-slip layer is fastened onto an upper surface of said lower clip body.

5. The hair clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein a saw-shaped stripe is formed on a lower surface of said upper clip body.

6. The hair clip as claimed in claim 4, wherein said non-slip layer is a layer of artificial rubber, natural rubber, silicon gel, emulsoid, or PVC.

7. The hair clip as claimed in claim 4, wherein said non-slip layer is a layer of thermoplastic elastomer.

8. The hair clip as claimed in claim 4, wherein said non-slip layer is a layer of thermoplastic rubber.

9. The hair clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hair clip is completely made of plastic materials.

10. The hair clip as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hair clip is completely made of plastic materials.

11. The hair clip as claimed in claim 3, wherein said hair clip is completely made of plastic materials.

12. The hair clip as claimed in claim 4, wherein said hair clip is completely made of plastic materials.

13. The hair clip as claimed in claim 5, wherein said hair clip is completely made of plastic materials.

14. The hair clip as claimed in claim 6, wherein said hair clip is completely made of plastic materials.

15. The hair clip as claimed in claim 7, wherein said hair clip is completely made of plastic materials.

16. The hair clip as claimed in claim 8, wherein said hair clip is completely made of plastic materials.