(51) Int.Cl.²: A 45 D 6/14

(19) Federal Republic of Germany

[emblem]

German Patent Office

[Government Property]

(11) Offenlegungsschrift 27 48 601

[= Published Patent Application]

(21) Application number: P 27 48 601.7

(22) Filing date: October 29, 1977

(43) Disclosure date: May 3, 1979

(30) Union priority

(32) (33) (31) -

(54) Title: Spring Clip for Grasping Strands of Hair in a Hairdo

(71) Applicant: Ihne, Hans Eugen, 4000 Dusseldorf

(72) Inventor: Same as the applicant.

DE 27 48 601 A1

4.79 909 818/ 381 4/60

PATENT ATTORNEYS 4 DUSSELDORF, OCTOBER 18, 1977

WALTER KUBORN, GRAD.ENG. Dr. P./JM.-

DR. PETER FALGEN, GRAD. PHYS.

4 DUSSELDORF

MULVANYSTRASSE · TELEPHONE 83 27 37

KREISSPARKASSE [DISTRICT SAVINGS BANK] DUSSELDORF NO. 1 014 483

DEUTSCHE BANK AG, DUSSELDORF 2919207

POST OFFICE ACCOUNT: COLOGNE 1132 11 -504

Hans Eugen I h n é

in 4000 Dusseldorf

Patent Claims

1. Spring clip, which is intended for grasping strands of hair in a hairdo and which consists of two halves of a clip, said halves forming a two armed lever and being mounted so as to pivot in relation to each other in such a manner that, when both of the opposite ends of the clip halves are squeezed together against the action of a spring, the two other ends of the clip halves move away from each other; and said other ends exhibit rows of comb-like tips that are aligned with each other and run approximately parallel to the axis of rotation, the tips of the one row being offset with respect to those of the other row, characterized in that the rows of tips are arranged in close succession.

2. Spring clip, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the rows of tips are formed by combs (11, 12) with somewhat slightly conical teeth (14, 16) having a circular cross section.

PATENT ATTORNEYS 4 DUSSELDORF, OCTOBER 18, 1977

WALTER KUBORN, GRAD.ENG. Dr. P./JM.-

DR. PETER FALGEN, GRAD. PHYS.

4 DUSSELDORF

MULVANYSTRASSE · TELEPHONE 83 27 37

KREISSPARKASSE [DISTRICT SAVINGS BANK] DUSSELDORF NO. 1 014 483

DEUTSCHE BANK AG, DUSSELDORF 2919207

POST OFFICE ACCOUNT: COLOGNE 1132 11 -504

Hans Eugen I h n é

in 4000 Dusseldorf

Spring Clip for Grasping Strands of Hair in a Hairdo

The invention relates to a spring clip, which is intended for grasping strands of hair in a hairdo and which consists of two halves of a clip, said halves forming a two armed lever and being mounted so as to pivot in relation to each other in such a manner that, when both of the opposite ends of the clip halves are squeezed together against the action of a spring, the two other ends of the clip halves move away from each other; and said other ends exhibit rows of comb-like tips that are aligned with each other and run approximately parallel to the axis of rotation.

This type of spring clip is disclosed in the DT-GM [German Utility Model] 71 18 486. In this case it is used to hold securely a wave in a wet strand of hair while drying so that the drying process imparts a waveform to the strand of hair. The strand of hair is placed into a loop and is grasped from the outside below the loop by the two rows of tips which are squeezed together subject to the action of the spring.

In the state of the art design the rows of tips are situated at the same level and engage in an interleaved manner. It has turned out that sometimes this type of spring clip does not hold thin hair adequately enough and has the tendency to slip out of the strand of hair.

The object of the invention is to design a spring clip of the type described in the introductory part in such a manner that a more secure hold in the hair is guaranteed.

This object is achieved by the invention in that in the closed state of the spring clip the rows of tips are disposed in close succession.

Thus, it is achieved that the tips can be set rather tight independently of each other and that in particular the hair cannot just pass through the rows of tips and be clamped in this shape, but rather they have to wind around the rear tip in an arc because the gap in the front row of tips exhibits a tip in the rear row of tips. This bending of the hair between the front and the rear row of tips results in higher friction at the row of tips and, thus, a significantly tighter hold of the spring clip in the strand of hair.

In the preferred embodiment the rows of tips are formed by combs with slightly conical teeth having a circular cross section.

The drawings depict one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side view of the inventive spring clip, to some extent a sectional view along the line I-I in Figure 3.

Figure 2 is a view of the spring clip from Figure 1 from the left.

Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line III-III in Figure 1.

The spring clip, all of which is marked 10, consists of two halves 1 and 2 of a clip. These halves are designed as a two armed lever and are mounted on a pin 3 in the interior of its length so as to pivot in relation to each other. On the ends that project (to the right in Figure 1) from the pin 3, the clip halves 1, 2 exhibit grip attachments 4, 5, which, when squeezed together, cause those ends 6, 7 of the clip halves 1, 2 that project to the left, according to Figure 1, to move away from each other. The squeezing together procedure is done against the action of a helical spring 8, which is mounted on the pin 3.

The ends 6, 7 of the clip halves 1, 2 exhibit combs 11, 12, which are aligned with each other. The comb 11, which is attached to the end 6 of the clip half 1, exhibits a ridge 13, which extends approximately parallel to the swivel pin 3 and from which the teeth 14 of the comb project downwards.

The comb 12 exhibits a comb ridge 15, which sits on the end 7 of the clip half 2, similarly runs approximately parallel to the swivel pin 3 and from which the teeth 16 of the comb project upwards.

At this point the crucial feature is that the combs 11, 12 are disposed in close succession, as is shown very clearly in Figures 1 and 3. Therefore, the comb 11 is situated in front of the comb 12. At the same time the teeth 14, 16 of the combs 11, 12 are offset in the transverse direction (Figure 2) in relation to each other. That is, the comb teeth 16 of the rear comb are disposed in

the spaces between the comb teeth 14 of the front comb and vice versa. The result is that the hair of one strand 17 (Figure 3) has to wind around the rear teeth 16 of the comb. The result is an enhanced lateral contact of the hair strands 17 with the teeth 14, 16 of the comb, higher friction and consequently a tighter hold of the spring clip 10 in the hair.

The teeth 14, 16 of the comb are approximately cylindrical or just slightly conical. Their diameter may range from approximately 1 to 1.5 mm; the clear spacing between them is approximately 2 mm. The comb teeth 14, 16, which are disposed on the ends of the combs 11, 12, may be reinforced in order to prevent them from breaking off.

- Blank Sheet -

Number: 27 48 601

Int.Cl.²: A 45 D 6/14

Application date: October 29, 1977

Disclosure date: May 3, 1979

[SEE FIGURE]

Hans Eugen Ihné

in 4000 Dusseldorf