ES2342773T3 - DEVICE FOR HAIR HOLDING WITH ELASTIC CLOSURE OPERATION. - Google Patents

Abstract

Novel hair holding devices having first and second pivotally connected body members including hair gripping portions, and methods for improving existing such hair holding devices, in which the improvement involves providing the lust and second body members with at least one elastomeric member (136) for biasing the first and second body members into a closed position and for conforming to gathered strands of user's hair when the hair gripping portions come into contact with gathered strands of a user's hair.

Description

Device for holding hair with elastic closing operation.

Field of the Invention

The present invention is about devices for fastening and modeling hair in which a first body and a second body are connected and are pivotally operable to hold and hold an amount of hairs collected.

Background of the invention

The device for holding the hair, or hair clip as it is commonly known, is perhaps the most frequent of the devices for holding, embellishing or modeling the hair. Devices equipped with spring-loaded hinges for use in human hair are known in the art. Devices of this type have been used for many years, and Eicher, in US Patent No. 2,201,719, describes an old example. Typically, such devices comprise a pair of opposite members connected by hinges, each of which includes hair and handle holding portions. The clamping portions have the bias to adopt a closed or clamping position because of a torsion spring that exerts a closing force on the handle portions of the members. To use the device, the user compresses the portions of the handle pressable by the fingers to overcome the bias force of the spring and, thereby, separates the portions that hold the hair. While maintaining the compression force, the user places the portions that hold the hair to opposite sides of a desired amount of hair to be held by the device. Then, the user releases the handle portions and the torsion spring forces the portions that hold the hair into contact with a strand or a mat of
hair.

In addition to the hair restraint device described in U.S. Patent No. 2,201,719, several U.S. patents propose hair restraints that have bodies that are either too stiff to hold the hair effectively or have springs, whether hidden or exposed, which may be aesthetically undesirable or unacceptable for other reasons for many users. These include: Hart, et al ., U.S. Patent No. 5,520,201; Chen, U.S. Patent No. 5,642,740; Yasuda, U.S. Patent No. 5,787,905; Lee, U.S. Patent No. 5,803,096; Potut, U.S. Patent No. 5,842,482; Murphy et al ., U.S. Patent No. 5,862,815; Yang, U.S. Patent No. 5,873,377; Shu, U.S. Patent No. 5,988,184; Newlin, U.S. Patent No. 6,186,151; Strawn, U.S. Patent No. 6,325,074; Potut, U.S. Patent No. 6,354,307; Bolito, U.S. Patent No. 6,357,452; Shyu, U.S. Patent No. 6,408,859 and Potut, U.S. Patent No. 6,619,296.

Hair clamping devices mentioned above suffer from one or more of the following disadvantages They may have bodies that are too rigid to effectively hold the hair and therefore can be unable to conform optimally to the contours of the bunch of hair to hold the hair firmly. In consecuense, they tend to easily let go of the position in which they were planned to be located around the user's hair. Further, if they are equipped with springs, whether exposed or hidden, they are not particularly pleasing from the aesthetic point of view. Further, if exposed, the springs tend to catch and damage the the user's hair, as well as the user's fingers, when the User tries to release the device. In addition, to the detriment of the device lifespan, the spring is often the first device component to fail. A spring also adds weight and unwanted volume to the device, and, due to its composition metallic, is a comparatively expensive component. Also, from the manufacturing point of view, a spring adds complexity and cost to assembly procedure.

Others have sought the improvement of form and function of the hair restraint by changing the spring with alternative means of bias or bypassing the spring through an innovative design. Patents granted by Inventions of this type include: Mao, U.S. Patent No. 6,035,863; Lloyd, U.S. Patent No. 6,142,159 and Horman, U.S. Patent No. 6,311,699.

Still others have proposed the use of devices hair restraint involving the use of elastic bands along with rigid or flexible body members. Examples of such devices can be found in Takashima, patent U.S. No. 5,535,765 and Burkhart, U.S. Patent No. 1,533,380.

The Takashima device uses a couple of pivotally connected body members as a form of release and apply an elastic band to the hair to hold the hair. The rigid body members themselves do not possess any portion that holds the hair. And the elastic band does not force body members to adopt a closed position. For him on the contrary, the elastic band forces the body members to adopt an open position, and the user must overcome the force bias to close the device and place the band around a lock or a pile of hair.

Burkhart's device is a combination of an arched comb and a hair pin. The device Includes a flat arc-shaped unit comb made of Resilient material that does not include any hinge. The comb is held in the hair, in part, by elastic strands. The Comb teeth penetrate the wearer's hair, but the Comb has no hair holding portion. All the hair containment function is carried out by the strands elastic covering only a small area of the dough contained hair. The result is a device that can be handled essentially only in one way, that is, it can be used to contain thick masses of hair in bundles or collected, but cannot be used to effectively hold a single strand or Kills collected hair, like a ponytail. That is, the device of Burkhart would flatten the strand or hairline collected in solitary to a degree where the desired modeling effect is would be in danger and / or the comb would fall from the hair of the user.

The German utility model No. 298 21 981 describes a folding hair clip that stays in position  closed thanks to a rubber band that acts keeping closed together the foldable portions and, at the same time, holds the hair strands in the middle of the hair clip between rubber band arms.

U.S. Patent No. 2,641,266 describes a device for holding a curler in place comprising a pair of isolated members formed of a thin metal sheet and pivotally connected by an intermediate point to their ends, the front portions of the members being formed to receive and hold a curler. The two members are maintained in an assembled relationship thanks to a rubber band, which surrounds the front portions of the members adjacent to the point of turn.

Therefore, there is an advantage to a versatile hair restraint device that improves conventional hair restraint devices providing first and second body members of media devices elastomerics to force body members to adopt a closed position and to conform to the strands collected from hair of a user when the hair holding portions come in contact with the strands collected from the hair of a user.

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Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a device hair restraint comprising first body members and second, pivotally connected, with portions for the hair restraint, and procedures for the improvement of such existing devices for holding the hair, in which the improvement involves providing the first and second body members with elastomeric members to bind the body members first and second to adopt a closed position and to conform to the strands collected from a user's hair when the hair holding portions come in contact with the strands collected from the hair of a user. Elastomeric media they can be one or more strands and / or bands permanently connected, or so that they can be removed, to the device. The threads or bands can be connected to the first and second body members in a linear, loop, envelope and / or loop configuration.

The elastomeric media play several differentiated and important functions: to force the members of device body to adopt a closed position (and thus the clamping members thereof come into clamping contact with the hair with the strands collected from the hair when you are receive between them), conform to the contours of the strands collected from the hair and push the collected hair against the interior surfaces of the hair holding portions of the device and its clamping spikes. The result is a hair holding device that holds the hair with greater firmness that conventional clamping devices of the hair, because the hair is substantially surrounded and held firmly everywhere for some portion of the device, it is say, or the means of fastening the hair of the members of body (and / or its clamping spikes) or elastomeric means. The elastomeric media can thus replace the media traditional bias, such as a torsion spring, while At the same time, they provide the device with better fixation capacity hair. The result is a less expensive device, more secure, more Reliable and / or aesthetically pleasing.

The elastomeric media can be placed in retroactively to existing devices with bias to complement its fastening characteristics.

Alternatively, elastomeric media can be placed retroactively to existing devices with torsion spring bias so that its torsion springs, whether functional or not, can be eliminated, so that devices can become devices that own only elastomeric means as means of bias of body members

According to a further embodiment, the The present invention uses elastomeric media in combination. with fulcrum members provided in at least one of the device body members to exclude a movement erratic, spasmodic or uncontrolled in another sense of the device while their bodies rotate between the closed positions and open

The elastomeric media and the device of the present invention can be marketed in the assembled state, or can be sold as a kit for the end user to assemble.

In addition, the present invention is directed to a variety of procedures and means to connect the media elastomeric to the device bodies.

Other details, objects and advantages of the The present invention will become apparent as the next one advances description of the preferred embodiments at present and in the currently preferred procedures for commissioning practice of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will become more immediately obvious from the following description of the embodiments preferred thereof shown, by way of example only, in the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional device with hinges and spring biased for hair restraint;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a device for fastening hair according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a completely position closed;

Fig. 3A is a plan view of a first realization of an elastomeric medium according to the present invention in an unstretched state;

Fig. 3B is a plan view of a first realization of an elastomeric medium according to the present invention in a stretched state;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged and exploded view of the region of Fig. 2 surrounded by a circle;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the hair holding device of Fig. 2 placed in the hair of a user;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of a hair fastener according to a further embodiment of the present invention in a position completely closed;

Fig. 6A is a cross-sectional view. taken along lines 5A-5A of Fig. 5;

Figures 7A, 7B and 7C are side elevations of a further embodiment of a device of holding the hair according to the present invention in the closed, open and holding positions with the hair;

Figures 8A and 8B are side elevations schematics that demonstrate the effects on a device holding the hair according to the present invention in which the elastomeric closing means do not come into contact with the means of fulcrum;

Figures 9A and 9B are similar to Figures 8A and 8B when demonstrating the effects on a clamping device of the hair according to the present invention in which the means elastomeric closure come into contact with the means of fulcrum;

Fig. 10 is a top perspective view of a hair holding device according to one embodiment  of the present invention in a fully position open

Fig. 11 is a bottom perspective view of the hair holding device of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is an interior perspective view of a body member of the hair restraint device according to the present invention;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a anchor member of the elastomeric means for use with the body member of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is an elevation of a member of fixing of elastomeric means in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a elastomeric medium carrying two of the fixing members of the Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a side elevation of a further embodiment of a hair restraint device in accordance with the present invention with certain elements omitted;

Fig. 17 is a side elevation of a further embodiment of a hair restraint device in accordance with the present invention with certain elements omitted;

Fig. 18 is a side elevation of a further embodiment of a hair restraint device in accordance with the present invention with certain elements omitted;

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Fig. 19 is a side elevation of a further embodiment of a hair restraint device in accordance with the present invention with certain omitted elements; Y

Figures 20A-20C are views in cross section of hair restraint devices that represent various patterns by which the means Elastomers can be connected to the device.

Detailed description of the invention

In Fig. 1 a device is disclosed typical 10 hair clamping with spring bias that comprises a pair of rigid body members 12 and 14 that are pivotally connected by a hinge pin 16 that passes through the connecting lugs 18 and 20 cooperating ported by rigid members. Members 12, 14 comprise handle portions 30 and 32 and hair retaining portions 22 and 24  ending in a plurality of teeth or teeth 26 and 28 interwoven, respectively, for hair restraint. A torsion spring 34 is arranged around pin 16 of hinge. As is known in the art, the torsion spring is prestressed after mounting device 10, so that the arms that project at opposite ends exert force against handle portions 30, 32 to force members 12, 14 to adopt the closed position illustrated. Although somewhat useful for the purposes pursued, the practical deficiencies of such Device are many, as listed above.

With reference to the drawings, Fig. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of a hair holding device constructed in accordance with the present invention and identified in general by reference number 110. Device 110 is in many senses structurally similar to device 10 shown in Fig. 1. More specifically, the device 110 comprises a pair of rigid body members 112 and 114 that are connected from pivotal manner by means of a hinge pin 116 which passes to through the connecting lugs 118 and 120 cooperating covers by the rigid members. Members 112 and 114 comprise handle portions 130 and 132 and portions 122, 122 'and 124, 124' of hair restraint ending in a plurality of spikes or interlocking teeth 126 and 128, respectively, for clamping hair related. A means 134 of bias, such as a torsion spring or similar, it is arranged around hinge pin 116. He torsion spring is prestressed after device mounting 110, such that the arms that project at their ends opposites exert force against handle portions 130, 132 to force members 112, 114 to adopt the closed position illustrated.

A significant difference between conventional hair clamping devices, such as device 10 of Fig. 1, and those of the present invention, difference that results in numerous advantages of performance and other types, is the provision of elastomeric media for the connection of the first and second body members of the device. The elastomeric means according to this invention can take a variety of forms, including, without limitation, at least one continuous elastomeric band and / or at least an elastomeric strand of finite length that has ends first and second. If it is made in the form of a strand, the medium Elastomeric may or may not have means at its ends first and / or second to connect the strand, so that it can be removed or permanently, to the first and second body members of a hair holding device, for example members 112, 114 of device 110. If it is manufactured in the form of a band continuous, the elastomeric medium may or may not have means to connect the band, so that it can be removed or permanently, to the first and second body members of a device hair restraint Instead, the body members first and second of a hair holding device can comprise means for connecting elastomeric means so that they can remove or permanently. And, whether they are shaped like a strand or a band, the elastomeric means according to the present invention can be made of any suitable natural elastic material and / or synthetic, such as natural or synthetic rubber or compounds similar to rubber, latex, neoprene, elastane or similar, which can withstand considerable elongation.

With the above in mind, the Figures 2-5 reveal that the device 110 further comprises elastomeric means 136. Elastomeric means 136 according to this embodiment manifests as a pair of elastomeric strands connected to the 122 'and 124' hair holding portions. Without However, it will be noted that members 112,114 of body first and second they can be connected by just one strand or by more than two strands, and that this or these may be connected permanently or so that they can be removed from the structure of 112,114 first and second body members in one place other than the 122 'and 124' hair holding portions. The elastomeric strands 136 may simply be tied and / or adhered to the opposing body members 112, 114 first and second or, as shown most clearly in Figures 3A, 3B  and 4, one or both of the first and second ends of the strands may include means 138 for joining the strand to the members of First and second body. As illustrated, the connecting means 138 it can take the form of an eyelet or an eyelet that defines a opening 140, although it can also be constructed as a hook or  a similar detachable clamp. The joining means 138 can be formed of the same or different material as the rest of the strand, and can be formed at the same time as the thread or built as an element differentiated that later joins the strand. Figures 1 and 4 show that the opening 140 in the connecting means 138 is sized to receive a pin, a projection, an upright or other anchoring means 142 carried by a respective portion of the 122 'and 124' portions of hair support.

Turning to Fig. 5, a device is shown for holding the hair 110 placed in the hair of a user. In that figure, it is clearly seen that the elastomeric means 136 is conforms to the contour of folded hair, in bunches, twisted, rolled, coiled, flipped and / or otherwise collected. This capacity, in addition to other functions attributable to the environment elastomeric described in greater detail in relation to Fig. 7C, results in a hair holding device that is more able to hold the hair that the conventional device of hair clip 10 of Fig. 1.

Figures 6 and 6A illustrate a procedure and alternative means for joining strand elastomeric means 136 to the opposite portions of a device's hair clip pivoted hair restraint, hair restraint portions which are identified by reference numbers 122 '' and 124 ''. In this embodiment, the joining means 138 at the ends opposite of the elastomeric means 136 are fixed to means 142 'of anchor provided on the inner faces of the portions 122``, 124 '' hair support. As depicted with maximum clarity in Fig. 6A, the medium 142 'is a shaped member upright fixed to the opposite clamping portions of the hair. To fix the elastomeric medium 136 to the portions 122``, 124 '' of hair restraint, the openings 140 of the joining means 138 simply slide over the means 142 'anchor. To enhance retention of means 138 of binding, it is preferred that the anchoring means 142 'have substantially C-shaped, as reflected in Fig. 6A. A of the construction shown in Figures 6 and 6A with respect to the of Figures 2-4 is that, being arranged the anchoring means on the inner face and not on the outside of the hair restraint means, a more pleasant design is achieved aesthetically.

Figures 7A-7C reveal a further embodiment of a hair restraint device in accordance with the present invention and the general principles of operation of all hair fasteners incorporating the elastic closure means described in the present document In these figures a device of hair restraint, generally identified by the number of reference 210. The device 210 is in many ways structurally similar to the device 10 of Fig. 1 and the device 110 of Figures 2-5. Plus specifically, device 210 comprises a pair of members 212 and 214 rigid body which are pivotally connected by means of a hinge pin 216 that passes through the connecting lugs 218 and 220 cooperators carried by members rigid. The connecting lugs 218 and 220 act as members of fulcrum for the elastomeric medium 236, whose benefit is presented later in this document. The members 212, 214 comprise portions 230 and 232 of handle and portions 222 and 224 of hair restraint ending in a plurality of spikes or interlocking teeth 226 and 228, respectively, for clamping hair related. Unlike the other embodiments of this invention described so far, device 210 does not have a torsion spring to force the device to adopt a closed position That function, as will be described below, the performs exclusively the elastomeric medium 236. In addition, given that other figures in this document describe several elastomeric media and connectors that can be used in the device 210, and since the graphic representation of its structural details would detract from the principles of operation depicted in Figures 7A-7C, such details have been omitted in Figures 7A-7C for the sake of clarity of illustration.

Fig. 7A shows the device 210 forced to adopt a closed position by the tensile force generated by the elastomeric medium 236 connected to members 212 and 214 of body. Fig. 7B shows the device 210 in an open position such how it would appear when a user applied a compressive force against the outer surfaces of the handle portions 230, 232 enough to overcome the tensile strength of the elastomeric medium 236. As the device moves from the position shown in the Fig. 7A to that of Fig. 7B, elastomeric means 236 expands and it is elevated by body members 212, 214 in one direction toward the hinge pin 216 and the connecting lugs 218, 220. Thus deployed the elastomeric means 236, the device 210 is ready to accept the user's hair. Fig. 7C is a view of the device 210 in the hair holding position in which the user has placed the holding portions 222, 224 of the hair and its barbs 226, 228 on both sides of a mass "H" of collected hair and has released the handle portions 230, 232.

As the device 210 moves from the position shown in Fig. 7B to the position shown in Fig. 7C, elastomeric medium 236 contracts and descends, entering contact with the hair H. In doing so, the elastomeric medium 236 performs several differentiated and important functions: force the 212, 214 body members of the device to adopt a position closed (and therefore to the holding portions 222, 224 of the hair and spikes 226, 228 associated with them to enter hair holding contact with the strands collected from the hair of the user), conform to the hair contour of the user and push the collected hair H against the surfaces interiors of the device's hair holding portions and against its clamping spikes. The result is a device of hair restraint that holds the hair more firmly than conventional hair restraint devices, because the hair is substantially surrounded and held firmly by all parts, or substantially all, of any portion of the device, that is, or the hair holding portions (and / or its clamping spikes) or the elastomeric medium itself. In consequently, the elastomeric medium 236 can thus replace the traditional means of bias, such as a torsion spring, while which, at the same time, imparts to the hair holding device better hair fixing ability. The result is a device Less expensive, safer, more reliable and / or aesthetically pleasing.

Figures 8A and 8B represent schematic a hypothetical hair restraint device 210 ' constructed in accordance with the present invention in which the means elastomeric closure do not come into contact with the means of fulcrum as presented by connecting lugs 218, 220 of Figures 7A-7C connecting the medium elastomeric 236 in its displacement path from its state contracted bottom, shown in Fig. 7A, until its state expanded top, shown in Fig. 7B. The following exhibition it is not relevant for the realization of the invention represented in Figures 2-6, that is, for device 110, because the distance from the hinge pin shaft 116 to the 122 ', 124' portions of hair support is considerable and, therefore, any danger of the environment being avoided elastomeric pass the described "transition point" later.

With reference to Figures 8A and 8B, only essential components of the device 210 'are included for the sake of the clarity of the illustration and the simplicity and brevity of the description. Taking it into account, the device 210 'comprises 212 ', 214' first and second body members connected so pivoting by means of a hinge pin 216 '. The middle 236 'elastomeric forces first and second body members to get together The arrows "A" represent the movement of the 212 ', 214' first and second body members when they pass from a closed position to an open position. Remember that, as that the first and second body members open, expand and raise the elastomeric means in a direction towards the pin of hinge. D-D dashed lines in the Figures 8A and 8B represent a reference plane in which it is located the hinge shaft of the hinge pin 216 '.

In the supposed case that the elastomeric medium 236 'cross the reference plane defined by the line D-D, that is, the "transition point", the elastomeric medium would then drive members 212 ', 214' of body in the direction of the arrows "B" of Fig. 8B until a fully open position limited by contact between body members or their handle portions. When the medium arrives elastomeric 236 'to the reference plane, it is in its most elongated and, therefore, has its greatest potential energy. In Consequently, if no fulcrum means are present, the device goes through the transition point with an acceleration and a sudden deceleration, which the user perceives as a jerky and erratic movement. This abrupt movement can be so pronounced and violent that the user can lose her hold of the hair clamping device, and possibly release it, while trying to open or close it.

With reference to Figures 9A and 9B, show schematic views of a clamping device of the hair 210 constructed in accordance with the Figures 7A-7C. Again, only the components are included essentials of the device 210 for the sake of clarity of the illustration and the simplicity and brevity of the description. He elastomeric medium 236 forces the body members first and Second to get together. Again, the arrows "A" represent the movement of members 212, 214 of first and second body when they move from a closed position to an open position. TO as the first and second body members open, it expand and raise the elastomeric means 236 in a direction towards the hinge pin 216. And, again, the dashed lines D-D of Figures 9A and 9B represent a plane of reference on which the pin hinge axis is located 216 hinge.

The distal ends of the connecting lugs 218 and 220 are separated from the reference plane D-D and define fulcrum or fulcrum means. He elastomeric medium 236 comes into contact with the fulcrum medium when the device 210 goes into its open position shown in the Fig. 9B, thereby preventing the elastomeric medium from passing through the transition point and that the device 210 reaches the position fully open shown in Fig. 8B.

The distance between the elastomeric medium 236 and the fulcrums defined by the lugs 218, 220 may be referred to as fulcrum distance The present inventors have observed that if fulcrum distance is comparatively small, medium The elastomer is brought into contact with the fulcrum medium during a substantial transition period of the clamping device of the hair from its closed position to its open position. In that case, a handle understanding force is essentially required homogeneous and constant to open the device. However, if the fulcrum distance is comparatively large, the middle elastomer comes into contact with the fulcrum means somewhat belatedly in the transition of the device from its position closed to its open position. Under these circumstances, it will require a relatively greater understanding force in great part of the transition, followed by rapid acceleration to a relatively minor force at the end of the transition (similar to the transition experienced when pulling a bowstring  compound in archery). The abrupt change in strength required to open the device and the rapid concomitant change in opening speed they produce a sensation in the user similar to what the user would experience when the device 210 'crosses the transition point explained in relation to the Fig. 8B, which can cause the user to lose control of the device. The fulcrum distance can be reduced by increasing the distance from the D-D reference plane to the distal ends of connecting lugs 218, 220 or installing elastomeric means 236 closer to the lugs.

In addition, although it is shown that they are defined by the lugs that connect the first and second members, the suitable fulcrum means may be any one or more protrusions or other structural features ported by either one or both of the first and second body members that are extend from the hinge shaft to the elastomeric medium and they affect the elastomeric environment when the device passes from the closed position to open. The fulcrum means may be same material, or different, than body members to which are united According to an embodiment currently preferred, fulcrum means are formed at the same time as its member associated body, for example, during a procedure of injection, vacuum or other molding.

So far, all the illustrated embodiments of the present invention show a hinge means constituted by a hinge pin that is received in cooperating connecting lugs carried by the cooperating body members of the hair securing device. It is also contemplated that the body members may be selected from suitable plastic materials and that they can be joined together during a plastic molding process to produce a flexible joint between them that is commonly referred to as "flexible hinge." In that case, any suitable fulcrum member can also be formed concurrently with the device. An example of such a device is shown in Figures 10 and 11, and it is generally identified with the reference number
310.

Preferably, the device 310 comprises a pair of rigid body members 312 and 314 that are connected from pivoting manner by means of a hinge pin 316. The members 312, 314 comprise handle portions 330 and 332 and portions 322 and 324 for securing hair that end in a plurality of spikes or 326 and 328 teeth interlocked, respectively, for clamping hair related.

The hair holding device 310 includes anchors 350 for elastomeric means in the form of a plurality of grooves provided on the side edges external portions 322, 324 of hair support. The anchor grooves 350 are adapted to receive means elastomeric 336 (shown with dashed lines in the Figures 10 and 11) to force members 312, 314 of body to adopt A closed position. As shown, the elastomeric medium 336 according to this embodiment is a continuous elastomeric band threading between the grooves that cross the outer surfaces of each of the hair retaining portions 322, 324 (Fig. 10) and the internal surfaces of the clamping portions of the hair (Fig. 11). Although not illustrated in Fig. 11, the internal surfaces of the hair holding portions they may be provided with one or more fulcrum members, as it has been described above that may affect the media elastomeric 336 to impart a homogeneous movement to the device when the user presses portions 330, 332 of handle to open the device 310 from its closed position until the fully open position shown in Figures 10 and 11.

Fig. 12 is an interior perspective view of a body member 414 of a further embodiment of a hair holding device in accordance with this invention. Body member 414 comprises connecting lugs 420 to cooperate with one or more connecting lugs of a member of matching body but not illustrated. Member 414 comprises a handle portion 432 and a hair retaining portion 424 that it ends in a plurality of barbs or teeth 428 for securing the hair. Preferably, the body member comprises a groove or another opening 450 to receive, as described below, of releasable or permanent way, a middle anchor elastomeric

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a anchor 452 of an elastomeric medium suitable for use with the body member 414 of Fig. 12. Anchor 452 may be made of the same or different material as the member of body of the device in which it resides. The anchor includes a base portion 454 that is configured to substantially marry with the opening 450 of the body member 414, and a portion 456 of union with the elastomeric medium to which the medium can be attached elastomeric according to the invention. Preferably, base 454 of the anchor has a circumferential wall 458 tapered upwards to marry a tapered circumferential wall in line with the opening 450 of the body member 414. In addition, it is desirable that a pair of fastening means 460 reside on top of the base in opposite ends of it. By pushing the anchor from the outer surface of body member 414 through the opening 450, the clamping means 460 bends inwards until the flanks 462 thereof, which project outwards, they pass the inner surface of the body member, at which time the clamping means jump out and fix the anchor 452 to the 414 body member. The rigidity of the fastening means 460 determines if the anchor is essentially permanently connectable or releasable to the body member.

Anchor 452 is just one of the number almost unlimited embodiments of elastomeric media anchors that can be deployed in the hair holding devices of the present invention Anchors can be an integral part or not of its associated body members. They can be of any size or form, depending on what may be required to achieve successfully the objectives of forcing the means of fastening the hair to get together, retaining the hair within the confines of the device for holding the hair, connecting the anchors to the structure of the hair holding device and / or of making Anchors are harmless to the hair and less visible. As it shown in later figures, the anchors may also include one or more holes through which means may be threaded elastomeric Described further later in the this document, the anchors can also include hooks placed anywhere on the body member to those who can join the elastomeric media.

In addition, there are a multitude of possible physical locations in the body member of a device hair support in which the anchors can be placed. There are also a multitude of different ways in which they can the anchors be constructed on or from the body member of a hair holding device For example, the anchors could be manufactured integral with the interior surfaces and / or exteriors of the handle portions, of the clamping portions of the hair, of the portions of the spring, of the portions of the ears, of the shaft portions and / or of the clamping teeth of the hair of a body member, or being able to separate from same.

Fig. 14 is an elevation of a member 538 of bonding of elastomeric media according to the present invention. Preferably, the connecting member 538 is constructed as a unitary member that includes at one end a buttonhole 539 that defines an opening 540 and, at the opposite end, a hook 541. The member 538 binding is particularly useful for connecting members elastomeric continuous band type to the body members of a hair holding device according to the invention. He elastomeric continuous band member is simply inserted to through a space 547 in the buttonhole 539 and, hereafter, is retained by the buttonhole.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a 536 elastomeric continuous band medium that carries two of the joining members 538 of Fig. 14. Once members 538 of union are connected to the elastomeric medium 536, one of the hooks can be connected to an anchor in one of the members of First and second body. Next, the elastomeric medium of continuous band can be fixed to the body members first and second of a hair restraint device in any type of desired pattern. To complete the installation, the other hook is connect to an anchor in any of the body members first and second as appropriate.

The combination of elastomeric media combined and joining means of Fig. 15 is especially useful,  although not exclusively, to be placed retroactively in a conventional device for fastening the hair of the technique above, because you can connect to the device without disassembling First the device. That is, a first hook 541 can engage or communicate with an advantageous anchor component, such as  a hinge pin, a spring or an ear of a device hair restraint In turn, the elastomeric medium 536 can communicate, be intertwined and / or wrapped with advantage with one or more means of fastening the hair or with other parts of one or both bodies to allow the elastomeric medium to predispose to the members or facilitate their predisposition to face one towards the another to allow the elastomeric medium to improve the fixation of the hair between body members conforming to the contour of the hair and containing it. Similar to the first hook, the second hook 541, if present, can also contact  an advantageous anchoring component of the device.

Figures 16-19 illustrate several additional embodiments of fasteners of the hair of the present invention certain elements being omitted thereof, such as connecting lugs, hinge pins and fulcrum means, for the sake of clarity of illustration.

The device 610 of Fig. 16 comprises members 612, 614 of first and second body and at least one strand elastomeric 636 to force the body members first and second to adopt a closed position. A means of 680 eyelet-shaped guide on opposite internal surfaces of each one of the members 612, 614 body. An end 638 of the middle elastomeric 636 passes through each eyelet and is fixed to an anchor 650.

The device 710 of Fig. 17 comprises members 712, 714 of first and second body and at least one strand elastomeric 736 to force the body members first and second to adopt a closed position. A means of 780 hook-shaped guide on opposite internal surfaces of each one of the members 712, 714 body. An end 738 of the middle elastomeric 736 passes through each hook and is fixed to a 750 anchor.

The device 810 of Fig. 18 comprises members 812, 814 of first and second body and at least one strand elastomeric 836 to force the body members first and second to adopt a closed position. On the outer surface of the clamping teeth of the members 812, 814 first and second body guide means are provided in the form of incoming or groove 880 around which an end 838 of the elastomeric medium 836. Each end 838 is fixed to an anchor 850. Preferably, the grooves 880 are deep enough so that the elastomeric medium 836 is embedded below or flush with the outer surface of the teeth.

The device 910 of Fig. 19 comprises members 912, 914 of first and second body and at least one strand elastomeric 936 to force the body members first and second to adopt a closed position. On the inner surface of each of the body members 912, 914 means are provided of guide in the form of snap hook or eyelet 980 through the which passes one end 938 of the elastomeric medium 936. Each end 938 is fixed to an anchor 950. Preferably, the means 980 of guide fit firmly and permanently on the walls of the members 912, 914 body.

Preferably, the means 680, 780, 880 and 980 Guides are manufactured with the greatest possible miniaturization for avoid interference with the ability of the clamping device The hair. The anchors 650, 750, 850 and 950 can comprise any of the elastomeric member anchors described in foregoing. Alternatively, anchors 650, 750, 850 and 950 they can be any structure inherent in a device hair restraint that can be used as an anchoring means, by example, a portion of the handle, a connecting lug, a tooth for hair restraint, a bias arm of a torsion spring, etc.

Figures 20A-20F are views in cross section obtained from the bottom of others hair holding devices in accordance with this invention representing some of an almost infinite variety of patterns by which the elastomeric medium 1036 can connect to devices Those devices, identified in general with reference number 1010, comprise members 1012, 1014 of first and second body provided with portions 1022 and 1024 for fastening the hair ending in a plurality of spikes or teeth 1026 and 1028 entwined, respectively.

Figures 20A-20C illustrate various ways by which an elastomeric means 1036 of band Single continuous or finite strand can be connected to the device. Fig. 20A shows the elastomeric medium in contact with the members 1012, 1014 of first and second body in a configuration in loop. Fig. 20B shows the elastomeric medium in contact with members 1012, 1014 of first and second body in a partially loop configuration. Fig. 20C shows the medium elastomer in contact with body members 1012, 1014 first and second in a loop configuration.

Figures 20D-20F illustrate several ways by which an elastomeric medium 1036 of two Continuous bands or finite strands can be connected to the device. Fig. 20D shows the elastomeric means in contact with members 1012, 1014 of first and second body in parallel configurations in loop. Fig. 20E shows the means elastomerics in contact with body members 1012, 1014 first and second in a cross loop configuration. Fig. 20C shows the elastomeric medium in contact with members 1012,  First and second body 1014 in a loop configuration.

Although it is shown wrapped around mainly from the outer surfaces of the teeth 1026, 1028 of the 1012, 1014 hair holding portions, are you will appreciate that the elastomeric medium 1036 may be in contact only with interior surfaces, only with exterior surfaces or with a combination of surfaces interior and exterior of the first and second body members. In addition, the types and number of elastomeric media used in hair restraint devices constructed in accordance with the present invention, its lengths, elasticities and materials they remain at the discretion of the assembler, provided that the benefits of elastomeric media listed above in the present document. In addition, elastomeric media can be permanently attached, or in a way that can be separated, to body members at the time of their formation (i.e. during the molding process) or after it.

A major inconvenience of the devices of the prior art, with means for holding the hair forced to join by a torsion spring, is the tendency to Your tension spring to fail. And the torsion springs of those devices are not manufactured for removal or replacement for the consumers. Therefore, after spring failure of torque, prior art devices are useless, ceasing to be viable for hair support. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the elastomeric medium is manufactured for extraction and / or replacement. Therefore, the medium elastomeric, perhaps after losing some degree of elasticity or fail for other causes, it can be extracted and replaced by the user with a new elastomeric medium. This is very beneficial. for users of hair restraint devices, because The lifespan of your hair restraint devices can now extend simply by removing and replacing the component that more likely to fail, that is, the means of bias. Instead of buy a new hair restraint device every time the bias means fail, consumers need to install only a replacement of the elastomeric medium according to this invention that can be placed retroactively in its Device exists for hair restraint.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a hair holding device and elastomeric means in kit form can be packaged and / or sold together, whereby the end user can subsequently attach the elastomeric means to the hair holding device. The package may include descriptive and / or illustrative instructions that suggest how the elastomeric means may be contacted with the device to improve the ability of the device to hold the hair. Alternatively, the end user can install the elastomeric means in the device in a manner chosen by the user.

Although the invention has been described in detail facing his illustration, it should be understood that such detail is only for that purpose and that persons skilled in the art they can perform in the same variations without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed herein. document.

Claims (20)

1. A device (110, 210, 310, 610, 710, 810, 1010) for holding the hair comprising

a first member (112, 212, 312, 612, 712, 812, 1012) of body and a second body member (114, 214, 314, 614, 714, 814, 1014), said first and second portion body members comprising (122, 122 ', 124, 124', 222, 224, 322, 324, 1022, 1024) of hair that have a plurality of interlocking spikes (126, 128, 226, 228, 326, 328) that hold the hair;

media (116, 216, 316) hinge for pivotally connecting said first body members (112, 212, 312, 612, 712, 812, 1012) and second (114, 214, 314, 614, 714, 814, 1014); Y

members elastomeric (136, 236, 336, 636, 736, 836, 936, 1036) in contact with said first and second body members;

characterized in that said elastomeric members are to force said first and second body members to adopt a closed position and to conform to hairs collected from a user's hair when said portions (122, 122 ', 124, 124', 222, 224 , 322, 324, 1022, 1024) of hair restraint come into contact with the hairs collected from the hair of a user. 2. The device (110, 210) for clamping of the hair of claim 1 wherein said means elastomeric (136, 236) comprise at least one elastomeric strand of finite length that has first and second ends. 3. The device (110) for securing the hair of claim 2 further comprising means (138) in said first and second ends to connect said at least one elastomeric strand with said first body members (112) and second (114). 4. The device (110) for securing the hair of claim 2 further comprising means for permanently connect said at least one elastomeric strand with said first and second body members. 5. The device (110) for securing the hair of claim 2 further comprising means for connect so that said at least one strand can be separated elastomeric with said first and second body members. 6. The device (310) for securing the hair of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric means  they comprise at least one continuous elastomeric band (336). 7. The device (310) for securing the hair of claim 6 further comprising means for permanently connect said at least one elastomeric band (336) with said first and second body members. 8. The device (310) for securing the hair of claim 6 further comprising means for connect so that at least one band can be separated elastomeric (336) with said body members first and second. 9. The device (310) for securing the hair of claim 6 wherein said at least one band elastomeric (336) is in contact with said body members First and second with a loop configuration. 10. The device (310) for securing the hair of claim 6 wherein said at least one band elastomeric (336) is in contact with said body members First and second with a loop configuration. 11. The device (110) for securing the hair of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric medium (136) is permanently connected with said body members first and second. 12. The device (110) for securing the hair of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric medium is connected so that it can be released with said members of First and second body. 13. The device (110) for securing the hair of claim 1 further comprising means additional to force such body members first and second adopt a closed position. 14. The device (110) for securing the hair of claim 13 wherein said additional means to force the closure comprise a torsion spring (134) that has a first end in contact with said first member (112) of body and a second end in contact with said second member (114) body. 15. The device (110) for securing the hair of claim 14 wherein said body members first and second further comprise handle portions (130, 132) that are compressible by a user to separate said portions of holding the hair of said first and second body members, and wherein said first end of said torsion spring (134) is in contact with said handle portion of said first member of body and said second end of said torsion spring is in contact with said handle portion of said second member of body. 16. The device (110) for securing the hair of claim 1 wherein said body members first and second further comprise handle portions (130, 132) that are compressible by a user to separate said portions of holding the hair of said body members first and second. 17. The device (210) for securing the hair of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second body members further comprise means (218, 220) of fulcrum for contacting said elastomeric means (236) and to facilitate the opening and closing of said device when said first and second body members move between The closed and open positions. 18. The device (210) for securing the hair of claim 17 wherein the fulcrum means they comprise at least one projection extending from the axis of the hinge of said means (216) of hinge towards said means elastomeric 19. The device (210) for securing the hair of claim 18 wherein said at least one projection  it is at least one connecting lug (218, 220) of said means of hinge. 20. A capacity improvement procedure for securing the hair of a device for securing the hair, said procedure comprising the steps of:

select a device (110, 210, 310, 610, 710, 810, 1010) for clamping of the hair comprising first and second body members pivotally connected, said body means comprising  first and second hair holding portions that have a plurality of interlocking spikes (126, 128, 226, 228, 326, 328) that hold the hair; Y

endow said first and second body members of elastomeric means (136, 236, 336, 636, 736, 836, 936, 1036) to force said first and second body members adopt a closed position and to conform to hairs collected from a user's hair when said hair holding portions come into contact with hairs collected from the hair of a user.