Abstract:
A hair retaining clip includes a first claw portion, and a second claw portion pivotally connected to the first claw portion. A primary hinge may provide the pivotal connection between the first claw portion and the second claw portion, aligned along a primary hinge axis. At least one deployable handle extends from one of the first claw portion and the second claw portion, and may be movable between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to clips for retaining strands of hair, and more particularly, to claw-type hair retaining clips. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Claw clips have been developed for hair styling that grip the hair using a spring force. However, if the spring force is increased, the clip can become difficult to open. Accordingly, it is desirable to have relatively long lever arms provided by long handles, so that the clip can be easily opened by a user. One problem posed by such long handles is that they can be unsightly and therefore detract from the appearance of the clip. Another problem is that the lever arms can extend out far enough to cause the clip to bump up against objects such as, for example, a car headrest. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure a claw clip for hair styling includes at least one deployable handle that is adapted to deploy for opening the clip and also to be placed in a stowed configuration, for example, when the deployable handle is not in use. The at least one deployable handle may be pivotally connected to one of the first claw portion and the second claw portion, and may pivot about a secondary hinge axis that is substantially parallel to the primary hinge axis. Alternatively, the at least one deployable handle may be pivotally connected to one of the first claw portion and the second claw portion along a secondary hinge axis that is substantially orthogonal to the plane of the at least one deployable handle. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a hair retaining clip includes a first claw portion, a second claw portion pivotally connected to the first claw portion, a primary hinge providing the pivotal connection between the first claw portion and the second claw portion, the primary hinge aligned along a primary hinge axis, a first deployable handle extending from the first claw portion, and a second deployable handle extending from the second claw portion. Each of the first deployable handle and the second deployable handle is movable between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration. 
     By increasing the effective lever arm provided by the deployable handles, claw clips made in accordance with the disclosure may be opened easily by a user. By providing handles that can be placed in a stowed position a lower profile claw clip with better function is provided. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic perspective view of a hair retaining clip according to one embodiment of the disclosure, showing the hair retaining clip in a substantially closed configuration, with one deployable handle in a stowed position and another deployable handle in a deployed position; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the hair retaining clip of  FIG. 1 , showing the hair retaining clip in a substantially closed configuration, with both of the deployable handles in the stowed position; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view, similar to that of  FIG. 2 , showing the hair retaining clip in a closed configuration, with both of the deployable handles in the deployed position; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view similar to that of  FIG. 2 , showing the hair retaining clip in a substantially open configuration, with both of the deployable handles in the deployed position; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a hair retaining clip according to a second embodiment of the disclosure, showing a deployable handle in a stowed position; 
         FIG. 6  is front view, similar to that of  FIG. 5 , showing the hair retaining clip of  FIG. 5 , showing the deployable handle in a deployed position; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view from above showing the hair retaining clip of  FIG. 5  in a closed configuration with the deployable handles in the deployed position; and 
         FIG. 8  is a side perspective diagrammatic view of the hair retaining clip of  FIG. 5  in a substantially open configuration, showing the deployable handles in the deployed position, while being squeezed by the fingers of a user. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of inner arm portions of a hair retaining clip according to a third embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of inner arm portions of  FIG. 9  with a living hinge member joining the inner arm portions; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the inner arm portions and living hinge member of  FIG. 10  secured to outer main body members; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a fully assembled hair retaining clip according to the third embodiment of the disclosure; and 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective exploded view of portions of a hair retaining clip according to a fourth embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     While the method and device described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure and the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the legal scope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment of the invention since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention. 
     It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘——————’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term by limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph. 
     With reference initially to  FIG. 1 , a hair retaining clip  20  is shown with a first claw portion  22 , that is pivotally attached to a second claw portion  24  via a primary hinge  26 . The hair retaining clip  20  includes a first deployable handle  28 , shown in a stowed position, and a second deployable handle  30 , that is shown in a deployed position. As shown in  FIGS. 2 through 4 , the first deployable handle  28  may pivot about a first handle hinge  32 , and the second deployable handle  30  may pivot about a second handle hinge  34 . The first handle hinge  32  and the second handle hinge  34  may each have an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the primary hinge  26 . The deployable handles  28  and  30  each include a pivot end and opposite thereto a free end. The pivot ends are pivotally coupled to the respective claw portions  22  and  24 . And the free ends are free, that is, they are not coupled to each other or any other handle component. In the stowed configuration, the deployable handles  28  and  30  (in their entirety) are adjacent the respective claw portions  22  and  24  in a low-profile arrangement. And in the deployed configuration, the deployable handles  28  and  30  (in their entirety except for the pivot ends) extend away from the respective claw portions  22  and  24  in an opposing arrangement to provide increased effective lever so that the free ends can be pressed together to open the hair-retaining clip. 
     Thus, when a user desires to open the hair retaining clip  20 , the user may flip up the first deployable handle  28  and the second deployable handle  30  into the deployed position, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the user may place the first deployable handle  28  and the second deployable handle  30  in a stowed position, for example, once the hair retaining clip  20  is in place in the user&#39;s hair (not shown). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5  thru  8 , a second embodiment of a hair retaining clip is generally indicated at  40 . The hair retaining clip  40  includes a first claw portion  42  and a second claw portion  44 , that are pivotally joined to one another via a primary hinge  46  ( FIG. 7 ). The hair retaining clip  40  includes a first deployable handle  48 , and a second deployable handle  50 . The first deployable handle may pivot about a first handle pivot pin  52 , and the second deployable handle  50  may pivot about a second handle pivot pin  54 . The first handle pivot pin  52  may provide an axis of rotation that is substantially orthogonal to the plane of the first deployable handle  48 , when the first deployable handle  48  is rotated between a stowed position, as shown in  FIG. 5 , and a deployed position, as shown in  FIGS. 6 through 8 . Similarly, the second handle pivot pin  54  may provide an axis of rotation that is substantially orthogonal to the plane of the second deployable handle  50 , when the second deployable handle  50  is rotated between a stowed position and a deployed position. The hair retaining clip  40  may include an elastic member  56  and/or a coil spring  58  ( FIG. 7 ), in order to bias the hair retaining clip  40  to a closed configuration. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 9 through 12 , a hair retaining clip  120  according to a third embodiment is shown with a first claw portion  122 , that is pivotally attached to a second claw portion  124  via a living hinge  126 . The hair retaining clip  120  includes a first deployable handle  128 , shown in a stowed position in  FIG. 12 , and a second deployable handle  130 , shown in a deployed position in  FIG. 12 . The first deployable handle  128  may pivot about a first handle hinge pin  132 , and the second deployable handle  130  may pivot about a second handle hinge pin  134 . The first handle hinge pin  132  and the second handle hinge pin  134  may each have an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the living hinge  126 . 
     As seen in isolation in  FIG. 9 , the hair retaining clip  120  may include first and second inner arm portions  136  and  138 , each having respective hinge attachment portions  140 ,  142  with a plurality of holes  144  therein. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the living hinge  126  may be over molded over the hinge attachment portions  140  and  142 , and the holes  144  may serve to anchor the living hinge  126  to the hinge attachment portions  140  and  142 . The living hinge  126  may be made from soft PVC material, and may be translucent, if desired. 
       FIG. 11  shows the inner arm portions  136  and  138  secured to first and second outer main body members  146  and  148  in order to form the first and second claw portions  122  and  124 . 
       FIG. 12  shows the hair retaining clip  120  in a fully-assembled configuration, with an elastic member  150  attached to the first and second claw portions  122  and  124  with pins  152  (only one of which is visible in  FIG. 12 ) that mate with attachment lugs  154  on each of the first and second claw portions  122  and  124 . The elastic member  150  serves to bias the hair retaining clip  120  toward a closed configuration so that it may securely grip a user&#39;s hair (not shown). 
     With reference to  FIG. 13 , portions of a hair retaining clip  220  according to a fourth embodiment, similar to that of the third embodiment, are shown. The hair retaining clip  220  includes two claw portions  222  (only one of which is shown), that are pivotally attached to one another via a living hinge  226 . Each claw portion  222  may be pivotally attached to a deployable handle  228  via a handle hinge pin  230 . 
     Raised portions  232  of an attachment tab  234  of the living hinge  226  may extend through corresponding openings  236  in the claw portion  222 , when the attachment tab  234  of the living hinge  226  is inserted into a channel-shaped attachment portion  238  of the claw portion  222  in order to provide anchoring of the claw portion  222  to the living hinge  226 . The handle hinge pin  230  may serve to further secure attachment of the claw portion  222  to the living hinge  226 , by engaging a notch  240  extending across the underside of the attachment tab  234  of the living hinge  226  when the handle hinge pin  230  is inserted through a first opening  242  in the deployable handle  228 , a first opening  244  in the claw portion  222 , the notch  240  on the living hinge  226 , a second opening (not shown) in the claw portion  222 , and finally a second opening  246  in the deployable handle  228 . 
     The raised portions  232  may also extend into corresponding indentations  248  in the underside of the deployable handle  228  in order to provide a soft latching of the deployable handle  228  to the claw portion  222  when the deployable handle  228  is in a stowed configuration. 
     While the preceding text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the legal scope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment of the invention since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention.