Patent Publication Number: US-11647821-B2

Title: Locking clip for hair

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     A claim for priority is hereby made pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to the Jul. 23, 2019 filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/877,733, titled LOCKING CLIP FOR HAIR (“the &#39;733 Provisional Application”). The entire disclosure of the &#39;733 Provisional Application is hereby incorporated herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to clips and, more specifically, to claw type clips. Even more specifically, this disclosure relates to clips that may be used in an individual&#39;s hair. A clip according to this disclosure may include a locking feature that prevents two sides of the clip from opening further. A clip according to this disclosure may including a ratcheting mechanism that enables the two sides of the clip to be pushed together even when the locking feature is locked. 
     RELATED ART 
     Claw type hair clips typically include two sides with claws that engage hair. A hinge couples the two sides and enables the two sides to pivot between a closed arrangement and an open arrangement. A spring forces the two sides into the closed arrangement. Handles on the two sides, adjacent to the hinge, can be grasped and squeezed together between a thumb and finger of an individual&#39;s hand to overcome the force of the spring to move the two sides into their open arrangement. 
     In use, an individual grasps and squeezes the handles together to open the two sides of a claw type hair clip, positions the claws of the open clip over her hair, and releases the handles to enable the spring to force the two sides of the clip together and the claws of the two sides of the clip to engage the hair. Although the springs of claw type hair clips typically hold the two sides securely in the closed arrangement, movement of an individual&#39;s head and/or hair sometimes overcomes the force of the spring, undesirably allowing the clip to open and to be moved out of place. 
     SUMMARY 
     A hair clip according to this disclosure, which may be referred to as a “clip” for the sake of simplicity, may include a first side and a second side that pivot relative to one another. The first side and the second side of the clip may pivot between an open arrangement and a closed arrangement. When in the closed arrangement, claws of the first side may be interleaved, or mesh, with claws of the second side; thus, the claws may grasp or otherwise engage hair while the clip is in the closed arrangement. When in the open arrangement, the claws of the first side and the claws of the second side may be moved away from each other, with a gap being formed between ends of the claws of the first side and ends of the claws of the second side. 
     A lock may at least partially secure, or lock, the first side and the second side into position relative to one another. As an example, the first side and the second side of the clip may be prevented from opening (or re-opening) beyond a certain point. Although a lock may limit the extent to which the first side and the second side of the clip may open, the clip may be capable of closing further. In some embodiments where the first side and the second side of the clip may be closed relative to each other, they may be prevented from opening any further. A clip that locks in any of the foregoing ways may include a release that enables an individual to selectively unlock the clip, enabling the first and second sides to pivot to a more open position. 
     Such a clip may include a spring that forces the first side and the second side apart from one another. Thus, when the lock is disengaged, the first side of the clip and the second side of the clip are forced into their open arrangement. The force of the spring may be overcome as the first side and the second side of the clip are forced together (e.g., manually, with an individual&#39;s hand; etc.). 
     As the first side and the second side are forced together, the lock may automatically engage in a manner that prevents the first side and the second side from re-opening relative to one another, securing, or locking, the first side and the second side into place relative to each other. Such locking may be continuous or intermittent (e.g., by way of or in a manner similar to a ratcheting mechanism, etc.). 
     When re-opening of the clip is desired, for example, to remove the clip from an individual&#39;s hair, the lock may be released and the first side and second side of the clip may be placed in their open arrangement. In embodiments where the spring forces the first side and the second side of the clip into their open arrangement, releasing the lock may enable the spring to force the first side and second side of the clip into their open arrangement, which may facilitate removal of the clip from hair or another object or group of objects. 
     Other aspects of the disclosed subject matter, as well as features and advantages of various aspects of the disclosed subject matter, should become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective assembly view of an embodiment of a clip according to this disclosure, with a first side and a second side of the clip in a closed arrangement relative to one another; 
         FIG.  2    is a top view of the clip shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a side view of the clip shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a front view of the clip shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a bottom view of the clip shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of a bottom of the clip shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of a top of the clip shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of the clip of  FIG.  1    with the first side and the second side of the clip in an open arrangement; 
         FIG.  9    is a top view of the clip in the open arrangement illustrated by  FIG.  8   ; 
         FIG.  10    is a side view of the clip in the open arrangement illustrated by  FIG.  8   ; and 
         FIG.  11    is a bottom view of the clip in the open arrangement illustrated by  FIG.  8   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS.  1 - 11    illustrate an embodiment of a hair clip  10 , which may also be referred to as a “clip  10 ” for the sake of simplicity. As illustrated, the clip  10  may have the configuration of a so-called “octopus” clip. Alternatively, a clip according to this disclosure may be configured as a more conventional “claw” clip. 
     The clip  10  includes a first side  20  and a second side  30  that are pivotally coupled to one another. The first side  20  and the second side  30  may be pivotally coupled to one another by way of a hinge pin  40 ; i.e., they may pivot over the hinge pin  40 .  FIGS.  1 - 8    show the first side  20  and the second side  30  in a closed arrangement.  FIGS.  9 - 11    show the first side  20  and the second side  30  in an open arrangement. Any number of intermediate (i.e., partially opened, partially closed) arrangements are also possible. The clip  10  may also include one or more springs  50  associated with the first side  20 , the second side  30 , and the hinge  40 . In addition, the clip  10  includes a lock  60  that prevents the clip  10  from unintentionally opening; i.e., the lock  60  may prevent the first side  20  and the second side  30  from undesirably moving apart from each other. Such a clip  10  may be used in an individual&#39;s hair, for example, in an up-do. The ability of such a clip  10  to lock may secure the clip  10  in an individual&#39;s hair until removal of the clip  10  is desired. Selectively releasing the lock  60  may enable the individual to remove the clip  10  from his or her hair or from another individual&#39;s hair. 
     As illustrated by  FIG.  1   , the first side  20  of the clip  10  includes a top portion  21  from which a plurality of tines  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c ,  22   d  (collectively, tines  22 ), or claws, extend in divergent directions. The tines  22  are spaced apart from one another, curve outwardly and downwardly from the top portion  21 , and then curve downwardly and inwardly. Ends  23  of the tines  22  define a bottom  24  of the first side  20  of the clip  10 . 
     The second side  30  of the clip  10  includes a top portion  31  from which a plurality of tines  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c ,  32   d  (collectively, tines  32 ), or claws, extend in divergent directions. The tines  32  are spaced apart from one another, curve outwardly and downwardly from the top portion  31 , and then curve downwardly and inwardly. Ends  33  of the tines  32  define a bottom  34  of the second side  30  of the clip  10 . 
     The tines  22  may define a first grasping portion on a first side  20  of the clip  10 , while the tines  32  may define a second grasping portion on a second side  30  of the clip  10 . In embodiments where the clip  10  has a configuration that enables it to be used to hold an individual&#39;s hair (and in other uses of the clip  10 ), at least portions of the tines  22  and at least portions of the tines  32  may be interleaved with each other when the first side  20  and the second side  20  of the clip  10  are forced together. The shapes of the tines  22  and  32  may at least partially impart the clip  10  with a particular configuration, such as a claw configuration or an octopus configuration. 
     The first side  20  may also include a first hinge portion  25 , which may protrude inwardly from the top portion  21  of the first side  20 . The second side  30  may include a second hinge portion  35 , which may protrude inwardly from the top portion  31  of the second side  30 . The first hinge portion  25  may include two or more hinge members  26   a  and  26   b  that are spaced apart from each other. The second hinge portion  35  may likewise include two or more hinge members  36   a  and  36   b  that are spaced apart from each other. The spacing between the hinge members  26   a  and  26   b  of the first hinge portion  25  may be the same as the spacing between the hinge members  36   a  and  36   b  of the second hinge portion  35 . 
     At least one hinge member  26   a ,  26   b  of the first hinge portion  25  may include a first engagement feature  27   a ,  27   b . At least one hinge member  36   a ,  36   b  of the second hinge portion  35  may include a second engagement feature  37   a ,  37   b . The first engagement feature(s)  27   a ,  27   b  and the second engagement feature(s)  37   a ,  37   b , which may be complementary to each other, may be on opposed surfaces of corresponding hinge members  26   a  and  36   a ,  26   b  and  36   b  of the first hinge portion  25  and the second hinge portion  35 , respectively. Such an arrangement may enable the first engagement features  27   a ,  27   b  to engage their corresponding second engagement features  37   a ,  37   b.    
     Each complementary pair of engagement features, which includes a first engagement feature  27   a ,  27   b  and a second engagement feature  37   a ,  37   b , may have a configuration that prevents the first side  20  and the second side  30  of the clip  10  from being opened, or pivoting, relative to one another beyond a certain extent, or point. In some embodiments, each complementary pair of engagement features  27   a  and  37   a ,  27   b  and  37   b  may enable the first side  20  and the second side  30  to close further, while preventing the first side  20  and the second side  30  from re-opening relative to each other. In a specific embodiment, each of first engagement feature  27   a ,  27   b  may comprise a series of teeth  28  arranged in a circle, with each tooth  28  including a side edge  28   s  and a tapered top  28   t . Each second engagement feature  37   a ,  37   b  may likewise include a series of teeth  38  arranged in a circle, with each tooth  38  also including a side edge  38   s  and a tapered top  38   t , but arranged in the opposite direction as the side edge  28   s  and tapered top  28   t  of each tooth  28  to enable adjacent teeth  28  and  38  to engage one another. 
     The side edge  28   s  of each tooth  28  may, when the tooth  28  is engaged between teeth  38  of the second engagement feature  37   a ,  37   b , prevent movement of its corresponding hinge member  26   a ,  26   b  of its corresponding hinge portion  25  in a first direction (e.g., counterclockwise, when viewed from the side of the hinge member  26   a ,  26   b  that carries the teeth  28 ), in which the first side  20  and the second side  30  would otherwise pivot away from each other, or open. The tapered top  28   t  of each tooth  28  may, when the tooth  28  is engaged between teeth  38  of the second engagement feature  37   a ,  37   b , enable movement of its corresponding hinge member  26   a ,  26   b  of its corresponding hinge portion  25  in a second direction, opposite from the first direction (e.g., clockwise, when viewed from the side of the hinge member  26   a ,  26   b  that carries the teeth  28 ), enable the first side  20  and the second side  30  of the clip  10  to pivot towards one another, or close. 
     The hinge pin  40  may extend through an aperture of each hinge member  26   a ,  26   b  of the first hinge portion  25  of the first side  20  of the clip  10  while engaging at least one hinge member  36   a ,  36   b  of the second hinge portion  35  of the second side  30  of the clip  10  (e.g., hinge member  36   b  in the embodiment illustrated by  FIG.  1   , etc.). Thus, the hinge pin  40  may be moved longitudinally in such a way that each hinge member  26   a ,  26   b  of the first hinge portion  25  may remain in place or substantially in place while at least one hinge member  36   a ,  36   b  of the second hinge portion  35  is carried with the hinge pin  40 . Thus, each hinge member  36   a ,  36   b  of the second hinge portion  35  may be moved away from its corresponding hinge member  26   a ,  26   b  of the first hinge portion  25 , enabling the second engagement feature  37   a ,  37   b  to disengage the first engagement feature  27   a ,  27   b , and thus, unlocking the pivotal positions of the first side  20  and the second side  30  of the clip  10 . 
     In a specific embodiment, the hinge pin  40  may include a head  41  at one end and include a fastener  42  at the other end. The fastener  42  may comprise a helical thread that engages a hinge member (e.g., hinge member  36   b  in the embodiment illustrated by  FIG.  1   , etc.), a bolt that engages threads on the hinge pin  40 , an aperture and a cotter pin, a bent portion of the end of the hinge pin  40 , or any other feature that will hold the hinge pin  40  in place. Such an arrangement may enable the head  41  of the hinge pin  40  to engage an adjacent, outermost hinge member (e.g., hinge member  26   a  in the embodiment illustrated by  FIG.  1   ) and the fastener  42  to engage an adjacent, outermost hinge member (e.g., hinge member  36   b  in the embodiment illustrated by  FIG.  1   ). 
     The clip  10  may include a hinge spring  45 . The hinge spring  45  may be associated with the hinge pin  40 . For example, the hinge spring  45  may comprise a coiled compression spring positioned around the hinge pin  40  and located between the head  41  of the hinge pin  40  and the hinge member adjacent to the head  41  of the hinge pin  40  (e.g., hinge member  26   a  in the embodiment illustrated by  FIG.  1   ). Thus, the hinge spring  45  may force the hinge pin  40  in a direction that causes the fastener  42  of the hinge pin  40  to engage the adjacent hinge member (e.g., hinge member  36   b  in the embodiment illustrated by  FIG.  1   ) and to pull that hinge member and the remainder of the side of clip  10  (e.g., the second side  30  in the embodiment illustrated by  FIG.  1   ) in the same direction the head  41  is forced. As the side of the clip  10  moves, each corresponding pair of engagement features  27   a  and  37   a ,  27   b  and  37   b . As the corresponding engagement features  27   a  and  37   a ,  27   b  and  37   b  engage one another, the positions of the first side  20  and the second side  30  of the clip  10  may be at least partially locked into position relative to one another (e.g., prevented from opening further relative to each other). Additionally, the engagement of the corresponding engagement features  27   a  and  37   a ,  27   b  and  37   b  may enable the first side  20  and the second side  30  to be moved closer to one another in a manner that locks the positions of the first side  20  and the second side  30  in progressively closer arrangements. 
     The hinge members  26   a ,  26   b ,  36   a ,  36   b , their respective engagement features  27   a ,  27   b ,  37   a ,  37   b , the hinge pin  40 , and the hinge spring  45  comprise a lock  60  of the clip  10 . In addition, the lock  60  may comprise tabs  62  and  63  that protrude from the top portions  21  and  31  of the first side  20  and second side  30 , respectively, of the clip  10 . The tabs  62  and  63  may be oriented generally parallel to one another and positioned such that, when they are forced together (e.g., while being pressed together by an individual&#39;s thumb and index finger, etc.), overcome the force of the hinge spring  45  to cause corresponding pairs of engagement features  27   a  and  37   a ,  27   b  and  37   b  to disengage each other, releasing the lock  60 , enabling the first side  20  and the second side  30  of the clip  10  to move away from one another and, thus, enabling opening of the clip  10 . 
     Another spring  50  may also reside on the hinge pin  40 . That spring  50  may have a configuration that forces the first side  20  and the second side  30  of the clip  10  to pivot away from each other, into their open arrangement. The spring  50  may comprise a helical torsion spring with legs  52  and  53  that are oriented transverse to (e.g., substantially perpendicular to, etc.) a length of the coiled portion  51  of the spring  50 . The legs  52  and  53  may extend in somewhat opposite directions from one another. A first leg  52  may extend over an interior surface of the upper top  21  of the first side  20  of the clip  10 , while a second leg  53  may extend over an interior surface of the upper top  31  of the second side  30  of the clip  10 . As the first side  20  and the second side  30  move pivotally towards each other, the spring  50  stores energy, which is exerted against the first side  20  and the second side  30  of the clip. While the lock  60  is engaged, the spring  50  stores the torque. When the lock  60  is released, the torque is released from the spring  50  in a manner that causes the first side  20  and the second side  30  of the clip  10  to pivot away from each other. 
     A clip  10  according to this disclosure may also include a first handle  29  associated with the first side  20  and a second handle  39  associated with the second side  30 . The first handle  29  and the second handle  39  may be oriented to move the tines  22  that define the first grasping portion of the first side  20  and the tines  32  that define the second grasping portion of the second side  30  apart from each other as the first handle  29  and the second handle  39  are pushed (e.g., squeezed, etc.) together. 
     In use, the tabs  62  and  63  of a clip  10 , which may be positioned adjacent to opposite ends of a hinge pin  40  of the clip  10 , may be pressed together (e.g., between an index finger and a thumb on the same hand, etc.) to overcome the force of the hinge spring  45 , thereby enabling the corresponding engagement features  27   a  and  37   a ,  27   b  and  37   b  to disengage one another and releasing the lock  60  of the clip  10 . With the lock  60  released, the spring  50  of the clip  10  may force the first side  20  and the second side  30  of the clip  10  to pivot apart from one another into an open arrangement. With the first side  20  and the second side  30  and, thus, the clip  10  in the open arrangement, the tabs  62  and  63  may be released, enabling the hinge spring  45  on the hinge pin  40  to move, or force, the hinge pin  40  in a direction that will cause corresponding engagement features  27   a  and  37   a ,  27   b  and  37   b  to engage each other. 
     While the clip  10  is in the open arrangement, it may be positioned over an object that is to be grasped, such as a tuft of hair. Once the clip  10  has been positioned as desired, the first side  20  and the second side  30  of the clip  10  may then be pressed, or forced, together until they grasp, or engage, the object. As the first side  20  and the second side  30  pivot toward one another, the corresponding engagement features  27   a  and  37   a ,  27   b  and  37   b  progressively (e.g., continuously, incrementally, etc.) fix corresponding hinge members  26   a  and  36   a ,  26   b  and  36   b  into increasingly closed rotational positions that prevent the corresponding hinge members  26   a  and  36   a ,  26   b  and  36   b  from rotating in the opposite direction, into more open positions as long as the corresponding engagement features  27   a  and  37   a ,  27   b  and  37   b  remain engaged. 
     When removal of the clip  10  from the object is desired, the tabs  62  and  63  may again be pressed together to release the lock  60  and to enable the spring  50  to move the first side  20  and the second side  30  into their open arrangement. With the clip  10  in the open arrangement, it may then be pulled away from the object. 
     Although this disclosure provides many specifics, the specifics should not be construed as limiting the scope of any appended claim, but merely as providing information pertinent to some specific embodiments that may fall within the scopes of the appended claims. Features from different embodiments may be employed in combination. In addition, the scope of each appended claim may encompass other, undisclosed embodiments. All additions to, deletions from, and modifications of the disclosed subject matter that fall within the scopes of the claims are to be embraced by the claims.