Hair Clip Structure

Abstract

A hair clip comprises first and second clip pieces, an elastic element, a plurality of first connecting plates pivotably connected to the first and second clip pieces, and a plurality of second connecting plates pivotably connected to the plurality of first connecting plates respectively. The first clip piece includes a first extension positioning groove and a first contraction positioning groove. The second clip piece includes a second extension positioning groove and a second contraction positioning groove. Each of the plurality of second connecting plates includes a third extension positioning groove and a third contraction positioning groove. Each of the plurality of first connecting plates includes a lower positioning member coupled with the first and second extension positioning grooves or the first and second contraction positioning grooves and an upper positioning member coupled with the third extension positioning groove or the third contraction positioning groove.

Claims

1. A hair clip structure comprising: a first clip piece and a second clip piece which are substantially symmetric to each other, wherein the first clip piece includes a first clamping portion on a lower end thereof, a first pressing portion on an upper end thereof, and a first pivotal portion, wherein the first clamping portion further includes a first positioning portion at a bottom end thereof, wherein the first positioning portion includes a first extension positioning groove and a first contraction positioning groove, wherein the second clip piece includes a second clamping portion on a lower end thereof, a second pressing portion on an upper end thereof, and a second pivotal portion, wherein the second clamping portion further includes a second positioning portion at a bottom end thereof, and wherein the second positioning portion includes a second extension positioning groove and a second contraction positioning groove; an elastic element providing a clamping force to the first clip piece and the second clip piece; a plurality of first connecting plates, wherein each of the plurality of first connecting plates is substantially rectilinear and includes a lower end pivotably connected to one of the first clip piece and the second clip piece, wherein the lower end of each of the plurality of first connecting plates includes a lower positioning member selectively coupled with one of the first extension positioning groove and the first contraction positioning groove of the first positioning portion and selectively coupled with one of the second extension positioning groove and the second contraction positioning groove of the second positioning groove, and wherein each of the plurality of first connecting plates further includes an upper positioning member; and a plurality of second connecting plates, wherein each of the plurality of second connecting plates is substantially rectilinear and includes an upper end pivotably connected to an associated one of the plurality of first connecting plates, wherein each of the plurality of second connecting plates further includes an upper end having a third positioning portion, wherein each third positioning portion includes a third extension positioning groove and a third contraction positioning groove, wherein the upper positioning member is selectively coupled with one of the third extension positioning groove and the third contraction positioning groove, and wherein a hair amount clamped by the hair clip in a state in which the upper positioning member is coupled with the third extension positioning groove and the lower positioning member is coupled with the first and second extension positioning grooves is greater than a hair amount clamped by the hair clip in another state in which the upper positioning member is coupled with the third contraction groove and the lower positioning member is coupled with the first and second contraction positioning grooves.

2. The hair clip structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first clip piece includes two first pivotal pegs respectively on left and right sides of the lower end of the first clip piece and located above the first positioning portion, wherein the second clip piece includes two second pivotal pegs respectively on left and right sides of the lower end of the second clip piece and located above the second positioning position, wherein the plurality of first connecting plates includes four connecting plates each having a first pivotal hole located above an associated lower positioning member, wherein the first pivotal holes of two of the four connecting plates are pivotably coupled with the first pivotal pegs of the first clip piece, wherein the first pivotal holes of another two of the four connecting plates are pivotably coupled with the second pivotal pegs of the second clip piece, wherein each of the four connecting plates further includes an upper end having a third pivotal peg, and wherein the plurality of second connecting plates includes four second connecting plates each having a second pivotal hole pivotably coupled with an associated one of the third pivotal pegs.

3. The hair clip structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the first, second, and third pivotal pegs includes a slit to permit flexible deformation and a top end having a protrusion.

4. The hair clip structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of first connecting plates includes a first insertion peg on the lower end thereof, wherein each of the plurality of second connecting plates includes a second insertion peg on the lower end thereof, and wherein the first insertion peg and the second insertion peg are configured to be inserted into hair of a user.

5. The hair clip structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of second connecting plates includes a curved section disposed on the upper end thereof and located above the upper positioning member of an associated one of the plurality of first connecting plates, and wherein the second pivotal hole is formed on the curved section.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a hair clip according to the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a partial, exploded, perspective view of the hair clip according to the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hair clip according to the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the hair clip according to the present invention in an extended state.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the hair clip according to the present invention in a collapsed state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Like elements having similar functions in the following embodiment of the present invention are designated by the same reference numbers. With reference to FIGS. 1-4, a hair clip according to the present invention comprises a first clip piece 1, a second clip piece 2, an elastic element 3, a plurality of first connecting plates 4, and a plurality of second connecting plates 5. The first clip piece 1 and the second clip piece 2 are substantially symmetric to each other. The first clip piece 1 includes a first clamping portion 11 on a lower end thereof, a first pressing portion 12 on an upper end thereof, and a first pivotal portion 13. The second clip piece 2 includes a second clamping portion 21 on a lower end thereof, a second pressing portion 22 on an upper end thereof, and a second pivotal portion 23.

[0025] The first clip piece 1 further includes two first pivotal pegs 14 respectively on left and right sides of the lower end of the first clip piece 1. The second clip piece 2 includes two second pivotal pegs 24 respectively on left and right sides of the lower end of the second clip piece 2. Each of the first and second pivotal pegs 14 and 24 includes a slit 141, 241 to permit flexible deformation and a top end having a protrusion 142, 242. The first clamping portion 11 further includes a first positioning portion 15 at a bottom end thereof. The first positioning portion 15 is located below the first pivotal peg 14 and includes a first extension positioning groove 151 and a first contraction positioning groove 152. The second clamping portion 21 further includes a second positioning portion 25 at a bottom end thereof. The second positioning portion 25 is located below the second pivotal peg 24 and includes a second extension positioning groove 251 and a second contraction positioning groove 252.

[0026] The elastic element 3 provides a clamping force to the first clip piece 1 and the second clip piece 2.

[0027] In the embodiment shown, the hair clip includes four substantially rectilinear connecting plates 4 each having a first pivotal hole 41 at a lower end thereof. The first pivotal holes 41 of two of the four connecting plates 4 are pivotably coupled with the first pivotal pegs 14 of the first clip piece 1. The first pivotal holes 41 of another two of the four connecting plates 4 are pivotably coupled with the second pivotal pegs 24 of the second clip piece 2. After assembly, each of the protrusions 142 on the top ends of the first and second pivotal pegs 14 and 24 abuts against an edge of the first pivotal hole 41 to provide enhanced assembly reliability. In this embodiment, although the parts of the four first connecting plates 4 are designated by the same reference numerals, the first connecting plates 4 on the left side may be symmetric to the first connecting plates 4 on the right side. Each first connecting plate 4 further includes a lower positioning member 42 located below the first pivotal hole 41. The lower positioning member 42 is selectively coupled with one of the first extension positioning groove 151 and the first contraction positioning groove 152 of the first positioning portion 15 and selectively coupled with one of the second extension positioning groove 251 and the second contraction positioning groove 252 of the second positioning groove 25. Each connecting plate 4 further includes an upper end having a third pivotal peg 43. The third pivotal peg 43 includes a slit 431 to permit flexible deformation and a top end having a protrusion 432. Each first connecting plate 4 further includes an upper positioning member 44 below the third pivotal peg 43. Each first connecting plate 4 further includes a first insertion peg 45 protruding from the lower end thereof and configured to be inserted into hair of a user.

[0028] In the embodiment shown, the hair clip includes four second connecting plates 5 each having a substantially rectilinear body and a curved section 51 on an upper end thereof. The curved section 51 of each second connecting plate 5 includes a second pivotal hole 52 for pivotal connection with the third pivotal peg 43 of an associated first connecting plate 4. In this embodiment, although the parts of the four second connecting plates 5 are designated by the same reference numerals, the second connecting plates 5 on the left side may be symmetric to the second connecting plates 5 on the right side. After assembly, the protrusion 432 on each third pivotal peg 43 abut against a top edge of an associated second pivotal hole 52 to provide enhanced assembly reliability. The space below the curved section 51 of each second connecting plate 5 may receive the upper positioning member 44 of an associated one of the plurality of first connecting plates 4 to reduce the volume of the hair clip in the contracted state. Furthermore, each second connecting plate 5 includes a third positioning portion 53 below the second pivotal hole 52. The third positioning portion 53 includes a third extension positioning groove 531 and a third contraction positioning groove 532. The upper positioning member 44 of each first connecting plate 4 is selectively coupled with one of the third extension positioning groove 531 and the third contraction positioning groove 532 of an associated second connecting plate 5.

[0029] Each of the left and right sides of each of the first and second clip pieces 1 and 2 is coupled with an associated first connecting plate 4. The lower positioning member 42 of each first connecting plate 4 is coupled with the first and second extension positioning grooves 151 and 251 for positioning purposes. Furthermore, each second connecting plate 5 is pivotably connected with an associated first connecting plate 4. The upper positioning member 44 of each first connecting plate 4 is coupled with the third extension positioning groove 531 of an associated second connecting plate 5. In this extended state, the hair clip extends to a larger range to clamp more hair of a user. Furthermore, the first insertion pegs 45 and the second insertion pegs 54 extend into the hair to enhance the hair clamping stability. Furthermore, the hair clamping width of the hair clip will not change to provide enhanced hair clamping stability, as the upper positioning member 44 of each first connecting plate 4 is securely coupled with the third extension positioning groove 531 of the associated second connecting plate 5, whereas the lower positioning member 42 of each first connecting plate 4 is securely coupled with both the associated first and second extension positioning grooves 151 and 251.

[0030] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, in a case that the hair clip according to the present invention is used to clamp a smaller amount of hair or the user intends to reduce the volume of the hair clip to permit easy carriage, the upper positioning member 44 of each first connecting plate 4 is securely coupled with the third contraction positioning groove 532 of an associated second connecting plate 5, and the lower positioning member 42 of each first connecting plate 4 is securely coupled with the associated first and second contraction positioning grooves 152 and 252. Therefore, the width of the hair clip in this state will not change to maintain the contracted state, thereby providing enhanced hair clamping stability.

[0031] When a larger force is applied to the hair clip according to the present invention, the hair clip extends to a state shown in FIG. 4. In this state, since the upper positioning member 44 of each first connecting plate 4 is securely coupled with the third extension positioning groove 531 of the associated second connecting plate 5 and since the lower positioning member 42 of each first connecting plate 4 is securely coupled with both the associated first and second extension positioning grooves 151 and 251, the hair clip will not extend to an excessive extent. Therefore, the first, second, and third positioning pegs 14, 24, and 43 can be maintained in secure engagement with the first and second pivotal holes 41 and 52, providing enhanced assembly stability.

[0032] In view of the foregoing, the hair clip according to the present invention can provide stable extension and stable contraction. The first and second connecting plates 4 and 5 according to the present invention may be provided on only a side of the first and second clip pieces 1 and 2.

[0033] The foregoing embodiments are examples of the present invention, not limitation to the present invention. All equivalent changes made in accordance with the spirit of the present invention should also fall within the scope of the present invention.