Abstract:
An improved hair clip employs a pair of cooperating main members that are pivotally connected and biased into a hair engaging orientation. Each of the main members is contoured and includes a first end spaced apart from a second end by a middle portion. The first end of each main member acts as an articulation tab that allows an individual to apply leverage necessary to place the clip in a hair engaging orientation. Attachment sleeves are removably attached to the main member middle portions with a centrally located articulation storage sleeve. Each storage sleeve may be capped for storage of loose items or may accept one of several interchangeable accessory tubes. A depending cover member is provided for positioning of a mirror for use in cosmetics application.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to hair accessories and, in particular, to a hair clip having storage capabilities. This invention is related to and an improvement upon U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,542, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Hair accessories of many types have been developed to help women maintain a variety of hairstyles. Some hair accessories, like bobby pins, are almost purely functional. Other such accessories, including ornate combs and barrettes, can be as decorative as they are functional. 
     Still other hair accessories are designed accomplish a single task in operation. Elastic bands enclosed in fabric, so-called “scrunchies,” are one simple device often used for holding hair in a ponytail-type arrangement. Another relatively-simple hair accessory is known simply as a “hair clip.” Hair clips typically involve spring biased elements that cooperatively hold hair in a desired position. This type of device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,873,377 and 5,862,815. 
     Some hair accessories have been designed not only to hold hair, but to perform secondary functions, as well. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,533 discloses a foldable hair clip that includes a comb to allow hairstyle retouching during use. U.S. Des. Pat. No. 378,817 discloses a hair clip adapted to hold a scarf in a decorative manner. 
     While each of the known hair accessories may address a particular set of needs, there is still room for improvement. For example, many individuals who wear hair accessories are active women who wish to keep their hair tidy while engaged in various activities. A hair accessory that would not only keep hair in place, but that would also provide a way of carrying cosmetics or other relatively-small items would prove beneficial. Such a device would be especially useful for women engaged in sports, workouts, attending social, sporting events, or other times when carrying a purse might prove cumbersome such as a trip to the beach. The known hair accessories do not address this need, nor do they provide this type of enhanced functionality. This type of device would represent a step forward in this field and would allow an individual to carry a variety of items, while largely eliminating the need to carry such items in a purse. 
     Applicant&#39;s previous U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,542 addressed many of the aforementioned needs but it has been found that a sleeve can be positioned along an upper side surface and the use of concealment covers and enhance the ornamental shape and be used to house reflective mirrors. The hair accessory continues to keep hair tidy while providing a way of carrying cosmetics or other relatively-small items. The accessory provides enhanced storage capacity in a manner that is attractive and in a format that is easy to use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention is an improved multipurpose hair clip accessory capable of storing cosmetics and other small items, while keeping hair in a preset position and largely eliminating the need to carry a purse. The hair clip includes a pair of pivotally-connected main members that are spring biased to cooperatively adopt a hair-holding orientation. The pivot is formed from an articulation sleeve that is receptive to a cosmetic related item. Each of the main members is essentially “S” shaped and includes a first end spaced apart from a second end by a middle portion. The first end of each main member includes an articulation tab that facilitates selective movement of the main members from a hair engaging orientation to a hair releasing orientation. Removably attached storage sleeves accommodate a variety of interchangeable accessory tubes. The storage sleeves may also be used without accessory tubes and may be capped to hold loose items. A cosmetics case and a mirror can be removably secured to the main member first ends. Alternatively, a contoured cover member can be attached beneath each main member for concealing of storage sleeves as well as to position a reflective mirror for use in applying of the cosmetics. 
     It is an objective of the instant invention to provide an improved multipurpose hair accessory that keeps hair tidy while providing a way of carrying cosmetics such as lipstick, lip gloss, chap stick, lip liner, perfume, mascara, sun screen, nail polish, mouth spray (BINACA), mouthwash, or other relatively-small items such as paper money, make-up brushes, hair pins, safety pins, writing pens, and the like. 
     An additional objective of the instant invention is to provide a hair accessory that relies upon an enlarged articulation point for placement of a cosmetic item. 
     Yet another objective of the instant invention is to provide a hair accessory that is modular in design to accommodate several interchangeable components as desired. The handles may include detachable mirrors wherein the mirrors may couple together to form an enlarged viewing surface. Alternatively the placement of mirrors can be performed within the inner surface of the contoured members. 
     Still a further objective of the instant invention is to provide a hair accessory that provides enhanced storage capacity in a manner that is attractive and in a format that is easy to use. 
     Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the hair clip of the present invention illustrating the articulation sleeve and a lipstick accessory tube removed; 
         FIG. 2A  is an end elevation of the hair clip of  FIG. 1 , showing storage sleeves attached with a post-and-aperture arrangement; 
         FIG. 2B  is an end elevation of the hair clip of  FIG. 1 , showing storage sleeves attached with hook-and-loop fastening material and a depending cover member cover; 
         FIG. 2C  is an end elevation of the hair clip of  FIG. 1 , showing the storage sleeves attached with a magnetic attachment arrangement with depending member covers; 
         FIG. 3A  is an elevation view of a nail polish accessory tube used in the present invention; 
         FIG. 3B  is an elevation view of a perfume accessory tube used in the present invention; 
         FIG. 3C  is an elevation view of a mascara accessory tube used in the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the hair clip shown in  FIG. 1  illustrating a folding cosmetics case, a removable mirror; and a eyeliner brush accessory removed from the articulation sleeve member; 
         FIG. 5  is an end elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the sleeve attachment arrangement and a depending cover member in an open position; 
         FIG. 6A  is a side elevation view depicting a two prong hair clip with a compartment within each member; 
         FIG. 6C  is a side elevation view depicting the depending cover member detached from the apparatus; 
         FIG. 6B  is an end view of  FIG. 6A ; 
         FIG. 7A  is a side elevation view depicting a two prong hair clip with a compartment with each member; and 
         FIG. 7B  is an end view of  FIG. 7A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification. 
     Now with reference to  FIG. 1 , the hair clip  10  of the present invention is shown. By way of overview, the hair clip  10  of the present invention includes a pair of pivotally-connected main members  12 ,  14 , one of which includes an articulation sleeve member  15  that is biased by a spring assembly  16  into a hair engaging orientation. 
     The articulation sleeve member includes a first end opening  17  forming a chamber  19  for receipt of a cosmetic item such as an eyeliner brush. Each of the main members is contoured and includes a first end  18 ,  20  spaced apart from a second end  22 ,  24  by a middle portion  26 ,  28 . As will be described more fully below, the first main member first end  18  may include a mounting location for a mirror  30 , and the second main member first end  20  may include a mounting location for a cosmetics case  32 , such as a foldable compact. The middle portion  26 ,  28  of each main member  12 ,  14  provides a mounting location for a corresponding storage sleeve  34 ,  36 , also described more fully below. Interchangeable accessory tubes  38 , 40 , 42 , 44 , seen with additional reference to  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  3 C, may be selectively secured within the storage sleeves  36 ,  36 , as desired. A sleeve cover  35  can be placed over the storage sleeve providing both an ornamental improvement to the hair clip but further providing an area for holding of a mirror that can be used in applying of a cosmetic. The hair clip  10  of the present invention also includes an alarm assembly that will indicate unwanted attempts to remove the device. The invention will now be described in detail. 
     As seen with combined reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A,  2 B, and  2 C, each main member  12 ,  14  of the present invention  10  has an essentially S-shaped cross section. As mentioned above, each main member  12 ,  14  is characterized by first end  18 ,  20  spaced apart by a second end  22 ,  24  by a middle portion  26 ,  28 . The main members  12 ,  14  are pivotally connected via a hinge construction  48  that extends between the main member middle portions  26 ,  28 . The hinge construction is formed from an articulation sleeve member  15  that has a first end opening  17  and a closed second end forming a chamber  19  for receipt of a cosmetic item such as an eyeliner brush. The articulation sleeve member  15  can be molded into the upper surface of main member  14  with attachment tabs  21  molded into the upper surface of main member  12  allowing each of construction. It should be noted that the spring placement  16  is for illustration purposes and the actual spring may be concealed within the chamber  19  or a cover may be employed, not shown, that would allow an ornamental shape without viewing of the biasing spring  16 . The spring assembly  16  associated with the hinge construction  48  includes leverage fingers  50 , 52  that engage the main member first ends  18 , 20  to urge the main members  12 , 14  into a hair engaging orientation. The second end  22 , 24  of each main member  12 , 14  includes a row of teeth  54  which cooperate to releasably engage a selected portion of an individual&#39;s hair, not shown, thereby keeping the hair tidy and the clip  10  removably secured in place. The clip  10  may be removed by squeezing the main member first ends  18 ,  20  towards one-another to temporarily overcome the spring constant of the spring assembly  16 , thereby forcing the second ends  22 ,  24  apart and placing the clip  10  in a hair releasing orientation. 
     The first ends  18 , 20  not only serve as articulation tabs that aid in opening and closing the present clip  10 , the first ends also serve as mounting locations for an optional mirror  30  and a cosmetics case  32 , respectively. More particularly, and with additional reference to  FIG. 4 , the first end  18  of the first main member  12  includes a contoured channel  56  sized and shaped to engage the leading edge  58  of a mirror removably inserted therein. The first end  20  of the second main member  14  includes a pair of post apertures  60  sized and shaped to releasably engage corresponding case mounting posts  62  that extend from the exterior of the included cosmetics case  32 , thereby securing the case  32  to the second main member  14 . It is noted that the relative position of the posts  62  and apertures  60  may be reversed without adverse affect. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the articulation sleeve member  15  is sized to receive a cosmetic item such as a eyeliner applicator  100  providing utility to the device should the additional storage sleeves not be employed. The storage sleeves  34 ,  36  will now be described. Each storage sleeve  34 ,  36  resembles a hollow tube having a circular cross section. Each sleeve has an open end  64 ,  66 , shown in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C, that allows an accessory tube  38 , 40 , 42 , 44  to be placed therein. The accessory tubes  38 , 40 , 42 , 44  are interchangeable and each tube includes a different type of product.  FIG. 1  shows a lipstick accessory tube  38 ;  FIG. 3A  shows a nail polish accessory tube  40 ;  FIG. 3B  shows a perfume accessory tube  42 ; and  FIG. 3C  shows a mascara accessory tube  44 . It is noted that the accessory tubes may contain other items as desired such as lipstick, lip gloss, chap stick, lip liner, sun screen, mouth spray (BINACA), mouthwash, or other relatively-small items such as paper money, make-up brushes, hair pins, safety pins, writing pens, and the like. 
     In keeping with the objectives of the present invention, the storage sleeves  34 ,  36  need not be used with accessory tubes, at all. The storage sleeves  34 ,  36  may be used to store loose items, such as change or rolled-up bills, not shown. For use without an accessory tube, the storage sleeves  34 , 36  may simply be closed via a removable end cap  68  sized and shaped to selectively seal the sleeve open ends  64 , 66 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     It is also noted that while the storage sleeves  34 ,  36  may be made from a variety of materials, a preferred material is plastic. If the storage sleeves  34 ,  36  are translucent or transparent, a chemiluminescent light source, not shown, may be placed therein to provide a decorative glow of light. In particular, the articulation sleeve member  15  provides distinctive light positioning. 
     Although the storage sleeves  34 ,  36  may be permanently attached to the main members  12 ,  14 , the storage sleeves are preferably detachable. To this end, several methods of releasable attachment arrangements may be used, as exemplified in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B, and  2 C. Referring to  FIG. 2A , the storage sleeves  34 , 36  may be attached to corresponding main member middle portions  26 , 28  via a post-and-aperture arrangement More specifically, sleeve mounting posts  70 , 72  extend orthogonally from each sleeve  34 , 36  and each main member first end  18 , 20  includes mounting post apertures  74 , 76  disposed therein. Each of the sleeve mounting posts  70 ,  72  is sized and positioned to frictionally engage a corresponding mounting post aperture  74 ,  76 . With this arrangement, the storage sleeves  34 ,  36  may each be releasably attached to a corresponding main member  12 ,  14 . The number of posts  70 ,  72  and apertures  74 ,  76  is dependent upon the length of the sleeves  34 ,  36 . In a preferred embodiment, each sleeve  34 ,  36  employs two posts  70 ,  72 . It is also noted that the relative position of the posts  70 ,  72  and apertures  74 ,  76  may be reversed if desired. 
     Now with respect to  FIG. 2B , the storage sleeves  34 , 36  are shown to be releasably attached to corresponding main member  12 , 14  via hook-and-loop type fastening material  78 , 80 , such as that available under the trademark VELCRO. More particularly, first portions  78  of hook-and-loop fastening material are disposed on the storage sleeves  34 ,  36 , and corresponding second portions  80  of hook-and-loop fastening material are disposed on the main member middle portions  26 ,  28 . With this arrangement, the storage sleeves  34 ,  36  may be releasably attached to the main members  12 ,  14  by pressing the corresponding portions  78 ,  80  of fastening material together. 
     With respect to  FIG. 2C , the storage sleeves  34 ,  36  may be releasably attached to the main members via a magnet-and-plate arrangement. In this embodiment, magnets  82  are affixed to the storage sleeves  34 ,  36  and corresponding magnet-attractive plates  84  are affixed to the main member middle portions  26 ,  28 . With this arrangement the storage sleeves  34 ,  36  may be releasably attached to the main members  12 ,  14  by placing the magnets  82  against the magnet-attractive plates  84 . It is noted that the position of the plates  84  and magnets  82  may be reversed if desired. The plates  84 ′ may alternatively be formed from resiliently-deformable plastic and shaped with a C-shaped cross section. In this manner, the plates  84 ′ will act as clips to hold a variety of cylindrical items placed therein, including the sleeves  34 ,  36 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6C , the contoured depending cover member  35  is further defined by an outer surface  37  and an inner surface  39  with an insertion end  41  available to engage receptacle  43  for maintaining the cover in a closed position. While in the closed position, the cover provides an ornamental shape to enhance the hairclip as well as conceal the storage member positioned beneath the main member. To place the cover in an open position, it is rotated along hinge points  51  and  53  ( FIG. 6C ) wherein the inner surface  39  may house a reflective member, namely a mirror  55 . The mirror can be a flat surface to provide an exact reflection or it can be convex or concave to either enlarge or reduce the viewing reflection. When two covers are employed, a flat mirror may be used on one side a separate viewing mirror on the other side allowing the user with a choice of reflective image size. 
     In keeping with the objectives of the present invention, the present hair clip  10  includes an alarm assembly  46  that indicates unwanted attempts to remove the device. In a preferred embodiment, the alarm assembly  46  includes a pair of electrical contacts  86 ,  88  that, when brought together, cause an included battery-operated speaker  90  to emit an audible tone. As seen in  FIG. 5 , the contacts  86 , 88  are positioned to touch as the main member first ends  18 , 20  are brought together to release the clip  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , set forth is another embodiment of the invention comprising a contoured first member  100  having a first end  102  spaced apart from a second end  104  by a middle portion  106 . The second end  104  includes a storage sleeve  108  for receipt of a cosmetic item  110 . A contoured second member  112  has a first end  114  spaced apart from a second end  115  by a middle portion  116 . The middle portion  116  of the second member  112  is pivotally attached to the middle portion  106  of the first member  100  by a pin axle  118 . It should be noted that the hair clip is shown in its biased condition with the first ends  102  and  114  in a normally closed position. 
     A spring  120  is attached to the pin axle  118  and the middle portions  106  and  116  in a similar manner to the above mentioned springs for urging the first end  102  of said first member  100  and the first end  114  of the second member  112  into a hair-securing orientation. In a first embodiment, the storage sleeve  108  is formed by placement of an aperture within the second end  104  of the first member. Additionally, a storage sleeve  122  may be placed with the second end  115  of the second member  112  for additionally receiving of a cosmetic item  124 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , set forth is another embodiment of the invention comprising a contoured first member  150  having a first end  152  spaced apart from a second end  154  by a middle portion  156 . The second end  154  includes a storage sleeve  158  removably attached to the end by Velcro  155  receipt of a cosmetic item  160 . A contoured second member  162  has a first end  164  spaced apart from a second end  165  by a middle portion  166 . The middle portion  166  of the second member  162  is pivotally attached to the middle portion  156  of the first member  150  by a pin axle  159 . It should be noted that the hair clip is shown in its compressed condition with the first ends  152  and  164  in an open position. 
     A spring  170  is attached to the pin axle  159  and the middle portions  156  and  166  in a similar manner to the above mentioned springs for urging the first end  152  of said first member  150  and the first end  164  of the second member  162  into a hair-securing orientation. Additionally, a storage sleeve may be placed with the end  154  and/or end  165  for additionally receiving of cosmetic items. 
     The storage sleeve  158  is releasably mounted to the first member  150  by hook-and-loop fastener material  155  disposed on an exterior of the first member  150  and a corresponding second portion of hook-and-loop fastener material disposed on the storage sleeve  158 . 
     Although the invention has been described in terms of a specific embodiment, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art that various modifications, rearrangements and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.