Abstract:
The invention relates to a novel barrette structure useable in the manner of similar prior art structures and alternately capable of 360° rotation about the closed end thereof to facilitate styling of the hair.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to hair styling devices of the type wherein toothed members are clamped in the wearer&#39;s hair to hold the hair in a desired manner. 
     The art of styling hair has likely been practiced since before time came to be recorded and history as we know was set down. During at least a portion of this time, various devices have come into use which clamp the hair into a confined disposition on the wearer&#39;s head. One such device is known as a barrette and is typically formed of two opposed rib-like members hinged for relative movement therebetween at a first juncture of two ends thereof and releasably fastenable at the juncture of the other two ends. One or both of the rib-like members can be toothed to better retain the hair between said members. This prior art structure proves satisfactory in use with some hair styles. However, certain styling procedures are difficult to accomplish with such prior art structures due to the need to comb relatively large portions of the hair from one side of the head to the other side thereof or to the dorso lateral line extending from the top of the cranium to the base of the neck. In such situations, one rib-like member of the prior art structures is &#34;in the way&#34; and renders such styling difficult if not impossible. 
     The present invention provides an improved barrette wherein the hinged end of the barrette is allowed to swivel in effectively a 360° plane of rotation, thereby allowing use of the improved barrette in the usual fashion as well as in styling situations for which the prior art structures have proven unsuitable. In particular, one of the rib-like members of the present barrette can be swivelled out facing relation to the other of the rib-like members comprising the barrette. Thus, hair can be combed easily into engagement with the one of the rib-like members without obstruction from the other of the members, the other of the rib-like members being then swivelled back into facing relation with the first-mentioned member and locked thereto to hold the hair. 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a barrette for styling hair wherein the hinged end of the barrette can be swivelled to move one portion of the barrette out of facing relation to the other portion of the barrette, thereby to facilitate styling of the hair of the wearer. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a barrette which is easy to use both in a usual manner and in hair styling procedures not readily accomplishable by prior art barrette structures. 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent in light of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective of the present barrette in a locked or closed position; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective of the present barrette in an open position and wherein one half of the barrette structure has been swivelled out of facing relation to the other half thereof; 
     FIG. 3 is a detailed end view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a detailed elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a detailed end view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a detailed elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 5; and, 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective illustrating a typical hair style creatable through use of the present barrette. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention is seen to comprise a barrette 10 formed of opposing comb sections 12 and 14 hinged together at a closed end by a swivel hinged mechanism shown generally at 16. The barrette 10 opens in a usual fashion at the opposite end 18. The barrette 10 is further formed with comb-like teeth 20 which extend from opposing rib-like members 24 and 26 comprising the section 12 and 14 respectively. As particularly seen in FIG. 1, the barrette 10 as seen in the closed position essentially functions in the same manner as certain prior art barrettes, i.e., the rib-like members 24 and 26 are locked in oppositely facing relation with the comb-like teeth 20 intermeshed, thereby to hold hair between the members 24 and 26. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the member 24 has a slot 28 disposed in one end thereof, the member 26 having a locking member 30 formed on its oppositely facing end. The locking member 30 has a dimple 32 which snaps into a depression 34 formed in one wall of the slot 28 in said member 24. Thus, the member 24 is separable from the member 26 in a usual manner by &#34;unsnapping&#34; the locking member 30 (and dimple 32) from the slot 28 (and depression 34 into which the dimple 32 fits). 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2, 5, and 6, the swivel hinged mechanism 16 not only allows the members 24 and 26 to &#34;open&#34; relative to each other in one plane, the mechanism 16 also allows either of the members 24 and 26 to swivel in a 360° arc of rotation relative to the other member. Thus, the barrette 10 can readily assume the position shown in FIG. 2, thereby allowing a user of the barrette 10 to comb hair into engagement with the teeth 20 of only one section 24 or 26 without being obstructed by the other section. The barrette 10 is first placed completely in the hair. After it is in the hair, the hair can be styled in numerous ways, one of which is shown in FIG. 7. The swivel hinged mechanism 16 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to comprise a shaft 36 on the end of the member 26 and having a ball 38 mounted on the end of the shaft 36. The oppositely facing end of the member 24 has a slot 40 formed therein for receiving the shaft 36 and ball 38 therein, the slot 40 having aligned depressions 42 formed into the side walls defining the slot for seating the ball 38 at least partially thereinto. Thus, the ball 38 is freely rotatable within the seating depressions 42 to allow the members 24 and 26 to be moved relative to each other with virtually unlimited freedom of movement. 
     In use, the barrette 10 can be used in the fashion of a prior art barrette, i.e., the ends of the members 24 and 26 can be moved apart at the end 18 of the barrette to receive a portion of the wearers&#39; hair therebetween. The barrette 10 is further useful when one of the members 24 and 26 is swivelled away from oppositely facing relation to the other member, thereby to allow use of the barrette to receive hair combed in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof without obstruction. 
     It is to be understood that the invention can be practiced other than as indicated specifically herein, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims.