Improvement in Hair Pins.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1896-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Hair Pins.
I, HENRY ALONZO BELDEN of 350 Fulton Street, Brooklyn near New York,
U.S.A., Book Keeper, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide a hair pin which without the aid of flattened
ends or points will remain in position in the hair and not only hold down the
hair at the head of the pin, but also retain its place within the hair by the hold
exerted by the prongs closing in upon the latter.
Prior to this invention, so called safety hair pins have been made with con-
verging points and also hair pins with double springs at the head and in the same
plane as the prongs, and pins with convolutions to engage the hair or lap over it
upon being turned round. Pins of these constructions are often difficult to insert
and often require much longer time to remove than to insert. If made with straight
prongs their hold is too slight.
In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a plan view of the hair pin of this
invention when closed. Fig. 2 a plan view when open for insertion. Fig. 3 a side
view. Fig. 4 a perspective view.
The hair pin is made of steel wire, but tempered so as to have a good spring
in the curve at the head of the pin and firmness in the prongs.
a are the prongs, each curved towards the other so as to nearly meet at their
points b. They are also curved upward in a common plane. The head is bent
over towards the concave side of the prongs so that the spring curve c on the
same, as originally formed, will come within a short distance of, and stand approxi-
mately parallel with, the body of the prongs a, thus affording two projections or
levers d beyond this curve, which when pressed inwards with the fingers will cause
the points to open for insertion into the hair. The two hooks in the body of
the pin on the inside of the levers d caused by bending over the head, afford a sub-
stantial fastening to keep the outer hair down in place, whilst the peculiar form
of the prongs, which curve towards each other, the two together curving to conform
somewhat to the convexity of the head, affords a hold upon the hair and tends
by pressure to draw the pin in towards the head rather than to let it slip in a contrary
direction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I am aware that so called
hair pins, and safety pins for other purposes, have been made with prongs which
spring apart and are held together by a hook or loop at the end of the prongs,
and also pins with straight prongs springing together and having in the same plans
angular or straight arms to open the pin for insertion, but I do not claim any of
these features, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A hair pin constructed of a single piece of wire, consisting of two prongs a
curving in their common plane and meeting in a curved spring head c which is bent
back over and approximately parallel with the concave side of said prongs, so as to
form a hook to hold the outer hair in place, thus affording two levers or arms d
projecting beyond the hook c and by which the prongs may be separated, substantially
as described and shewn

page_text: 2. The herein described hair pin consisting of a single piece of wire comprising
two prongs a curving towards each other to hold the pin in the hair, and also curving
in a common plane and meeting in a curved spring head c bent back over the concave
side of said prongs to form a hook to hold the outer hair in position, thus providing
two arms or levers d projecting beyond the hook and by approximating which, the
other ends of the prongs may be separated, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 31st day of October 1896.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.