US20080142035A1

US20080142035A1 - Hair barrette

Info

Publication number: US20080142035A1
Application number: US11/642,101
Authority: US
Inventors: Wei Cheng Hsu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-12-19
Filing date: 2006-12-19
Publication date: 2008-06-19

Abstract

A hair barrette includes a decorative outer member, a basic member secured onto the outer member and having a recess formed in one side and defined by an inner peripheral shoulder, an anti-slip member made of a resilient material having a high coefficient of friction and engaged into the recess of the basic member and engaged with the inner peripheral shoulder of the basic member for stably securing the anti-slip member to the basic member and for preventing the anti-slip member from being disengaged from the basic member. A clamping arm has one end pivotally attached to the basic member and the other end for resiliently latching to the basic member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hair clasp or barrette, and more particularly to a hair clasp or barrette having an improved structure for easily attaching to the hair of the users, and for preventing the hair clasp or barrette from being moved relative to the hair of the users.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical hair clasps or hair barrettes comprise an ornamental or decorative body or member, and a clamping arm rotatably or hingely attached to the decorative body or member, for engaging into the decorative body or member, and for clasping or clamping the hair of the users between the decorative body or member and the clamping arm.
Normally, the decorative body or member is made of plastic or synthetic materials, and may be formed into various kinds of shapes or contours, and the clamping arm is made of metal materials, and is normally formed into a curved structure for allowing the clamping arm to be resiliently or springly engaged onto the decorative body or member, and thus for resiliently clasping or clamping the hair of the users between the decorative body or member and the clamping arm.
In some of the prior arts, a spongy or rubber sleeve is further made and then engaged onto the clamping arm, for increasing the frictional force against the hair of the users, and for preventing the decorative body or member and the clamping arm from slipping relative to the hair of the users.
For example, U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2004/0055617 to Brantley discloses one of the typical hair clasps or hair barrettes also comprising a tubular sleeve member made of rubber or some other resilient material having a high coefficient of friction, for engaging onto a clamping arm, and for increasing the frictional force against the hair of the users, and thus for preventing the decorative body member and the clamping arm from slipping or falling relative to the hair of the users.
However, due to the high coefficient of friction of the tubular sleeve member, the tubular sleeve member and the clamping arm may also be relatively difficult to be engaged into or through the hair of the users, before the tubular sleeve member and the clamping arm may be engaged onto the decorative body or member. In addition, due to the high coefficient of friction of the tubular sleeve member, the tubular sleeve member may not be easily engaged onto the clamping arm by the users or the manufacturers.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional hair barrettes or hair clips.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a hair barrette including an improved structure for easily attaching to the hair of the users, and for preventing the hair clasp or barrette from being moved relative to the hair of the users.
The other objective of the present invention is to provide a hair barrette including a spongy or rubber member solidly attached to the hair barrette for preventing the spongy or rubber member from being disengaged from the hair barrette.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a hair barrette comprising a decorative outer member, a basic member secured onto the outer member and including a recess formed in one side thereof and defined by an inner peripheral shoulder, an anti-slip member made of a resilient material having a high coefficient of friction, and engaged into the recess of the basic member, and engaged with the inner peripheral shoulder of the basic member, and a clamping arm including a first end pivotally attached to a first end of the basic member with a pivot axle, and a second end for selectively latching to a second end of the basic member, for clamping hair of user between the anti-slip member and the clamping arm. The anti-slip member may be stably engaged with the inner peripheral shoulder of the basic member for stably or solidly receiving and retaining and securing the anti-slip member to the basic member and for preventing the anti-slip member from being disengaged from the basic member.
The basic member includes a pair of arms extended from the first end of the basic member and each having an orifice formed therein for receiving the pivot axle of the clamping arm. The clamping arm includes a flap bent and formed in the first end of the clamping arm for engaging with the basic member and for limiting the clamping arm to rotate relative to the basic member and for preventing the clamping arm from being over rotated relative to the basic member. The pivot axle is extended from the flap of the clamping arm.
The basic member includes a pair of ears extended from the second end of the basic member and each having a finger for engaging with the second end of the clamping arm and for latching the second end of the clamping arm to the second end of the basic member. The basic member includes at least one tooth formed in each of the fingers of the ears, and the clamping arm includes an opening formed in the second end of the clamping arm and defined by at least one flange for engaging with the tooth of the basic member.
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an attachment of a hair barrette in accordance with the present invention onto a head of a user;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hair barrette as seen from a bottom portion of the hair barrette;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating the other arrangement of the hair barrette; and

FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view of the hair barrette as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side plan schematic view of the hair barrette as shown in FIGS. 3, 4; and

FIGS. 6, 7 are side plan schematic views similar to FIG. 5, illustrating the operation of the hair barrette.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a hair barrette 10 in accordance with the present invention comprises an ornamental or decorative body or outer member 11 which may also be made of plastic or synthetic materials, and which may also be formed into various kinds of colors, shapes or contours for ornamental or decorative use, and which may be applied with various graphs, patterns, trade marks or other decorative members or information.
As shown in FIGS. 2-5, a basic member 20 is to be secured onto the inner portion of the body or outer member 11 with such as fasteners or latches (not shown), or adhesive materials, or by welding processes, and may be made of plastic or synthetic or metallic materials, and includes a compartment or recess 21 formed in one side or the upper portion 22 thereof and defined by an inner peripheral wall or shoulder 23 for stably or solidly receiving an anti-slip member 24 which may be engaged with the inner peripheral wall or shoulder 23 of the basic member 20 and which may be made of plastic or rubber or synthetic materials and which may also be applied with various graphs, patterns, trade marks or other decorative members or information (FIG. 2).
It is preferable that the anti-slip member 24 is made of rubber or some other resilient material having a high coefficient of friction, for engaging onto and for increasing the frictional force against the hair of the users, and for preventing the hair barrette 10 from slipping relative to the hair of the users. It is to be noted that the anti-slip member 24 may be safely and stably received and retained within the recess 21 of the basic member 20 by the inner peripheral wall or shoulder 23 of the basic member 20 for allowing the anti-slip member 24 to be stably and solidly received and retained within the basic member 20 and for preventing the anti-slip member 24 from being disengaged from the basic member 20.
The basic member 20 includes a pair of C or L-shaped arms 25 extended from one end or first end 26 of the basic member 20 and each having an orifice 27 formed therein, and a pair of C or L-shaped ears 28 extended from the other end or the second end 29 of the basic member 20 and each having a C or L-shaped finger 30 extended from the free end portion thereof, and one or more teeth 31 formed or provided in each of the fingers 31 of the ears 28, the arms 25 and the ears 28 are provided for attaching or coupling or securing a clamping arm 40 to the basic member 20.
The clamping arm 40 of the hair barrette 10 includes a first end or one end 41 for pivotally or hingely attached to the one end or first end 26 of the basic member 20 with a pivot axle 42 for allowing the clamping arm 40 to be pivoted or rotated relative to the basic member 20. It is preferable that the clamping arm 40 includes a bent flap 43 bent or formed in the one end or first end 41 of the clamping arm 40 for engaging with the basic member 20 and for limiting the clamping arm 40 to rotate relative to the basic member 20 and for preventing the clamping arm 40 from being over rotated relative to the basic member 20. The pivot axle 42 may be extended from the flap 43 or the one end or first end 41 of the clamping arm 40.
The clamping arm 40 is also preferably formed into a resilient and curved structure, for engaging onto the hair of the users and the anti-slip member 24, and for stably clamping the hair of the users between the anti-slip member 24 and the clamping arm 40. It is to be noted that, in operation, the clamping arm 40 which has no resilient or rubber or spongy anti-slip member 24 engaged thereon may be easily engaged into or engaged through the hair of the users for allowing the hair barrette 10 to be easily engaged and attached onto the hair of the users.
The clamping arm 40 includes one or more (such as two) stops 44 extended laterally and outwardly from the first end or one end 41 thereof for engaging with the arms 25 of the basic member 20 (FIGS. 3 and 5-7) and for suitably spacing the other end or the second end 46 of the clamping arm 40 from the other end or the second end 29 of the basic member 20 and allowing the other end or the second end 46 of the clamping arm 40 and the other end or the second end 29 of the basic member 20 to be resiliently forced toward each other (FIGS. 5, 6). The clamping arm 40 includes an opening 45 formed in the other end or the second end 46 of the clamping arm 40 and defined by or between one or more flanges 47.
In operation, the fingers 30 of the basic member 20 may be engaged into the opening 45 of the clamping arm 40 and the teeth 31 of the fingers 31 of the ears 28 and of the basic member 20 may be engaged with the flanges 47 of the clamping arm 40 for selectively latching or anchoring the other end or the second end 46 of the clamping arm 40 and the other end or the second end 29 of the basic member 20 together. For example, the clamping arm 40 may include a strap 48 punched or cut and hammered from the clamping arm 40 for forming the opening 45 and the flanges 47 of the clamping arm 40.
Accordingly, the hair barrette in accordance with the present invention includes an improved structure for easily attaching to the hair of the users, and for preventing the hair clasp or barrette from being moved relative to the hair of the users.
Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A hair barrette comprising:

a decorative outer member,

a basic member secured onto said outer member and including a recess formed in one side thereof and defined by an inner peripheral shoulder,

an anti-slip member made of a resilient material having a high coefficient of friction, and engaged into said recess of said basic member, and engaged with said inner peripheral shoulder of said basic member, and

a clamping arm including a first end pivotally attached to a first end of said basic member with a pivot axle, and a second end for selectively latching to a second end of said basic member, for clamping hair of user between said anti-slip member and said clamping arm.

2. The hair barrette as claimed in claim 1, wherein said basic member includes a pair of arms extended from said first end of said basic member and each having an orifice formed therein for receiving said pivot axle of said clamping arm.

3. The hair barrette as claimed in claim 2, wherein said clamping arm includes a flap bent and formed in said first end of said clamping arm for engaging with said basic member and for limiting said clamping arm to rotate relative to said basic member and for preventing said clamping arm from being over rotated relative to said basic member.

4. The hair barrette as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pivot axle is extended from said flap of said clamping arm.

5. The hair barrette as claimed in claim 1, wherein said basic member includes a pair of ears extended from said second end of said basic member and each having a finger for engaging with said second end of said clamping arm and for latching said second end of said clamping arm to said second end of said basic member.

6. The hair barrette as claimed in claim 5, wherein said basic member includes at least one tooth formed in each of said fingers of said ears, and said clamping arm includes an opening formed in said second end of said clamping arm and defined by at least one flange for engaging with said at least one tooth of said basic member.