Hair extension clip

A hair extension clip having an upper jaw and a lower jaw connected by a hinged member to move between an open and a closed position to grip hair of the customer. Teeth disposed on an inner surface of the upper jaw engage through slots in the lower jaw and in the process separate hair into strands for hair extension treatments. A platform integrally formed with the lower jaw provides a working area to lift hair strands away from the customer's scalp allowing use of multiple modalities of treatment to lessen risk. The upper jaw, the lower jaw and the platform are arcuately shaped to conform to the customer's head.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hair extension clip for single strand hair extension service separating multiple sections of hair at a time. The clip is arcuate in shape to conform to the shape of the back of the head, and has opposing jaws connected by a hinged member. The jaws are opened by complimentary finger grips, and hair inserted and separated by teeth formed on the upper jaw for the extension work. A platform formed with the lower jaw provides the working area.

There are a number of different hair extensions techniques, and because of the differences in the way hair extensions are prepared, uniformity of application is a problem. Additionally, some extension techniques, such as gluing or heat fusing, pose potential harm to the customer during the extension application process. Currently many hair clips or styling tools provide rowed teeth to separate hair for work, but either do not provide multiple strands to be securely sectioned off or do not provide an appropriate working platform for ease of use and protection of the scalp of the customer during such extension service as gluing or heat fusing. For example, while United States patent application publication US2002/0129828 discloses a hair clip for extension work for multiple strands, the multiple strands of hair are not securely engaged with complimentary teeth and slots, nor is a working platform provided. Additionally, other clips separate only one section of hair at a time and do not conform to the shape of the head.

It is an object of the invention to provide a hair clip that uniformly separates and secures multiple sections of hair for single strand hair extension service, so as to row off multiple sections of hair instead of one section at a time.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a platform formed with lower jaw of the clip, so that after the strands of hair have been secured and separated, a hair dresser can attach hair extensions to the hair as the hair lies flat across the platform.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a clip that is arcuately shaped so that multiple clips can be placed around the head at one time, so as to allow a hair dresser and assistants to work continuously around a row without having to section off single sections individually.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved hair extension clip.

To attain this, the present invention comprises a clip having an upper jaw and a lower jaw connected by a resilient hinged member. The upper and lower jaws are arcuately shaped to conform to the shape of the back of the head. Upper and lower finger grip portions are formed on the upper and lower jaws, respectively. A row of teeth is disposed longitudinally on the inner surface of the upper jaw, with complimentary slots formed longitudinally in the lower jaw.

A platform is integrally formed with the lower jaw at a first end and has a lip disposed longitudinally at a second end. A raised upper edge and the lip form a groove therebetween. The raised upper edge of the platform is approximately ½ inch from the plane of the lip to allow the platform to be elevated away from the scalp of the customer. The platform also curved in shape.

The clip is opened by a user squeezing the finger grip portions. Once opened, hair is laid across the lower jaw and the platform. The finger grip portions are released and the elasticity of the hinged member returns the upper jaw to a closed position. When the clip is in the closed position, the teeth of the upper jaw are securely engaged with the slots of the lower jaw. Sections of hair are now disposed within the spacing between the teeth for hair extension service.

Since the sections of hair are positioned flat against the groove of the platform, and not near the scalp, numerous modalities of hair extension techniques can be performed without any harm to the customer's scalp. Additionally, the elevated nature of the platform allows such holding devices as bobby pins and duckbill clips to be attached and firmly hold the sections of hair in place during treatment. The lip at the second end of the platform prevents the holding devices from sliding off during treatment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring first toFIG. 1, therein is shown at10a preferred embodiment of the present invention of a hair extension clip. The preferred embodiment has an upper jaw12and a lower jaw14fixed together by a hinged member20. The upper jaw12and lower jaw14are arcuate in shape allowing conformity to the back of the head of a customer of extension services. The hinged member20is preferably a torsion spring, and provides resiliency to hold the upper jaw12and lower jaw14together. An upper finger grip portion16is formed on an end of the upper jaw12, and a lower finger grip portion18is formed on the lower jaw14, with the finger grip portions16,18to work complimentary with each other. A platform32, having an upper edge34and a lip36defining a groove38, is integrally formed on one side of the lower jaw14. The upper edge34and the lip36are disposed longitudinally, and the groove38extends downwardly from the upper edge34to the lip36.

The clip10may be made from any suitable material, such as plastic or metal, or any combination thereof.

FIG. 2illustrates the clip10in an open position. A plurality of teeth22is longitudinally disposed upon the inner surface of the upper jaw12. The teeth22extend outwardly from the inner surface of the upper jaw12and are substantially parallel to one another forming notches24therebetween. Each tooth22has a shaft portion26which extends outward from the upper jaw12to a free end28. Spacing between the teeth22defines the amount of hair selected. The ends28of the teeth22preferably form a point to accommodate hair separation into hair strands. The term “strand” is intended to mean a plurality of individual hairs.

A plurality of slots30, as illustrated inFIG. 3, is integrally formed in the lower jaw14, and is complimentary to the teeth22formed on the upper jaw12. In the closed position of the clip10the teeth22extend laterally past the lower jaw14through the slots30.

In the preferred embodiment of the clip10, the upper jaw12has a cavity defined longitudinally along its inner surface. Within the cavity a resilient strip42is mounted. The strip42is preferably made of rubber. When the clip10is in the closed position in use the strip42presses against hair and contributes to holding the hair in place during treatment.

FIG. 5illustrates the clip10holding hair for treatment. To use, the clip10is opened by depressing the upper finger grip portion16to the lower finger grip portion18, thus disengaging the upper jaw12from the lower jaw14. Hair44is laid across the upper surface of the lower jaw14and the platform32. The upper grip portion16is released and because of the resiliency of the hinged member20the upper jaw12moves towards and engages with the lower jaw14. The clip10is in a closed position. The teeth22extend laterally past the lower jaw14through the slots30of the lower jaw14. The notches24between the teeth22provide spacing for the hair44, and allow the hair44to be separated into strands46. The ends28of the teeth22are preferably pointed to facilitate the separation of hair44. The mating of the upper jaw12and the lower jaw14firmly holds the hair44and hair strands46in place, and allows extensions to be added. The strip42presses downward against the hair44to snugly hold the hair44in position.

The hair strands46are positioned within the groove38for the hair extension work. Since the hair strands46are lifted off of the scalp, and a working area is provided by the platform32, numerous modalities of extension techniques can be used which would otherwise pose a risk. The platform32is inclined and holding devices such as duckbill clips and bobby pins can attach the hair strands46firmly to the outer surface of the platform32for the hair extension treatment. The lip36prevents the holding devices from sliding off of the working area of the platform32.