Abstract:
A spirit clip for hair that comprises a clip body that includes a pair of hinged-together clip elements having at least one tine for securing the clip body to a portion of hair. The spirit clip also includes a plurality of colored strands that are connected with the clip body. The colored strands may extend downwardly a predetermined distance from the clip body.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Technical Field  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to hair clips and more particularly, to a spirit clip that includes a plurality of colored strands that may be made from a material in a color to match the school or team that the person wearing it supports.  
         [0003]     2. Related Art  
         [0004]     Fans of athletic teams or schools often like to wear items that show support for their respective teams to different types of sporting events. Some traditional items that may be worn to sporting events include hats, shirts, pants, buttons and so forth. In addition, some fans like to take banners, signs, flags and other items to sporting events to show their support. More ambitious fans may even paint emblems or symbols on various parts of their body. At the present time, a device does not exist that will allow a fan to attach an article that shows support for a team to a portion of their hair.  
         [0005]     A traditional hair clip generally includes a plurality of tines that are opened to attach the hair clip to a portion of hair by using fingers to open the tines. The hair clip is generally provided with a spring that is used to force the tines to remain in a closed position so that when opened, the spring forces the tines back toward the closed position. This allows the tines to securely grip the portion of hair that the hair clip is attached to. A need exists for a spirit clip that will allow a fan to attach strands of material formed in a school color to a portion of hair.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention discloses a spirit clip that includes a clip body and a plurality of colored strands. The colored strands are preferentially connected with a lower portion of the clip body. The clip body may include a first clip element and a second clip element that may be held together with a pin. The pin may fit within apertures located in the first and second clip elements. The first and second clip elements, together with the pin, create a hinge that allows the clip body to move between an open and closed position. A spring may be included that is held in place by the pin. The spring may include an aperture that is sized to receive the pin. The spring secures the clip body to a portion of hair of the person wearing the spirit clip.  
         [0007]     The spring may include engagement members that are placed in contact with a first handling portion and a second handling portion of the clip body. The engagement members of the spring force the spirit clip to remain in a closed position until force is applied to the first and second handling portions. When force is applied to the first and second handling portions, the clip body will move to an open position that allows at least one tine or tongue of the clip body to be placed around the portion of hair of the person who wears the spirit clip.  
         [0008]     Once placed around the portion of hair, the first and second handling portions may be released which will cause the clip body to attempt to fully return to the closed position, thereby securing the clip body to the portion of hair. To remove the clip body from the portion of hair, force may be applied to the first and second handling portions, which will cause the clip body to move to the open position, thereby releasing the portion of hair that the tines were secured to. As such, the clip body may be secured to and removed from the portion of hair by applying force to the first and second handling portions.  
         [0009]     Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective side view of the spirit clip.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the spirit clip.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a back view of the spirit clip.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the spirit clip.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the spirit clip.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective back view of the spirit clip. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]     Referring collectively to  FIGS. 1-6 , the present invention discloses a spirit clip  10  that may be used by fans when attending sporting events as well as for any other suitable occasion. The spirit clip  10  includes a clip body  12  and a plurality of colored strands  14 . As illustrated throughout the various figures, the colored strands  14  are preferentially connected with a lower portion of the clip body  12 . The colored strands  14  may be connected with the clip body  12  using various connection mechanisms or adhesives such as glue, epoxy and so forth. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the colored strands  14  may be formed as part of or within the clip body  12  during the injection molding process in which the clip body  12  is formed.  
         [0018]     The clip body  12  may include a first clip element  16  and a second clip element  18  that are held together with a pin  20 . Although not clearly illustrated, the pin  20  fits within apertures located on the first clip element  16  and the second clip element  18 . As such, the first and second clip elements  16 ,  18 , together with the pin  20 , create a hinge that allows the spirit clip  10  to be opened and closed. A spring  22  may be included that is held in place by the pin  20 . The spring  22  may include an aperture that is sized to receive the pin  20 . The spring  22  secures the clip body  12  to a portion of hair of the person wearing the spirit clip  10 .  
         [0019]     The spring  22  may include engagement members that are placed in contact with a first handling portion  24  and a second handling portion  26  of the clip body  12 . The engagement members of the spring  22  force the spirit clip  10  to remain in a closed position until force is applied to the first and second handling portions  24 ,  26 . When force is applied to the first and second handling portions  24 ,  26 , the clip body  12  will move to an open position that allows at least one tine or tongue  28  of the clip body  12  to be placed around the portion of hair of the person who will be wearing the spirit clip  10 .  
         [0020]     Once placed around the portion of hair, the first and second handling portions  24 ,  26  may be released which will cause the clip body  12  to attempt to fully return to the closed position, thereby securing the clip body  12  to the portion of hair. To remove the clip body  12  from the portion of hair, force may be applied to the first and second handling portions  24 ,  26 , which will cause the clip body  12  to move to the open position, thereby releasing the portion of hair that the tines  28  were secured to. As such, the clip body  12  may be secured to the portion of hair by applying force to the first and second handling portions  24 ,  26 .  
         [0021]     As set forth above, the preferred embodiment of the present invention discloses a fashion hair accessory that includes a claw type hair clip body  12  that is formed by hinged-together clip elements  16 ,  18  with interleaved tines  28 . Numerous colored strands  14  are connected to the hair clip  12 . The colored strands  14  may be made from several types of suitable material such as tinsel, tissue paper, plastic, cloth and so forth. The colored strands  14  may be attached to one end or the middle of the clip elements  16 ,  18  of the hair clip  12 . In addition, the colored strands  14  may be attached to the inside or outside walls of the clip elements  16 ,  18  or both the inside and outside walls.  
         [0022]     The clip elements  16 ,  18  may be joined at a hinged axis and may have gripping elements or tines  28  that are used to secure the hair clip  12  to the portion of hair. The colored strands  14  may be any length and may be guided over external surfaces of the clip elements  16 ,  18 . The colored strands  14  may converge to a common point of connection on the clip elements  16 ,  18  of the hair clip  12 . The colored strands  14  may be made from a material that has been colored to match the colors of a given school or team. In addition, various symbols, designs or words may also be added to the colored strands  14  to further indicate a team, school, saying, slogan and so forth. Although not specifically illustrated, charms, feathers, beads or any other suitable decorative piece may also be added as an attachment. These items may be connected to the colored strands  14  or the hair clip body  12 .  
         [0023]     While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.