FLEXIBLE SEAMLESS HAIR CLAMP

• US 20090032051A1
• Filed: 08/03/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goody Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Goody Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Hardin, Allison, Hopper, Regina, Defenbaugh, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,823,594 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 132/277
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 8/20 Hair clamps, i.e. elastic multi-part clamps, the parts of which are pivotally connected between their ends

Abstract

This invention provides a flexible seamless hair clamp. More specifically, the flexible seamless hair clamp has a contiguous body portion. The contiguous body portion has a first leg member having a unitary first distal end and opposite thereto a first lever region, and a second leg member having a unitary second distal end and opposite thereto a second lever region. A curved bridging portion is disposed between and formed integrally with the first and second leg members proximate to the first and second lever regions. The bridging portion connects the first and second leg members in a manner such that each is oppositely juxtaposed with respect to each other and arranged to bias the distal ends into proximate contact with one another. Collectively, the first leg member, curved bridging portion and second leg member define a continuous concave surface within the contiguous body.

Claims

1. A flexible seamless hair clamp, comprising:

a contiguous body portion having a first leg member having a unitary first distal end and opposite thereto a first lever region, and a second leg member having a unitary second distal end and opposite thereto a second lever region;

a curved bridging portion disposed between and formed integrally with the first and second leg members proximate to the first and second lever regions, the bridging portion connecting the first and second leg members in a manner such that each is oppositely juxtaposed with respect to each other and arranged to bias the distal ends into proximate contact with one another; and

the first leg member, curved bridging portion and second leg member defining a continuous concave surface within the contiguous body.

2. The flexible seamless hair clamp of claim 1, wherein the first leg member, the second leg member and the curved bridging portion are formed from materials selected from the group consisting of elastic resin, plastic, natural rubber, polyurethane, and or combinations thereof.

3. The flexible seamless hair clamp of claim 1, wherein the concave surface provides a plurality of raised gripping nubs.

4. The flexible seamless hair clamp of claim 1, wherein the hair clamp has a geometric shape generally of the Greek alphabet letter omega.

5. The flexible seamless hair clamp of claim 1, wherein the first distal end and the second distal end are biased into actual physical contact.

6. The flexible seamless hair clamp of claim 1, wherein the unitary hair clamp has elastic memory for an initial closed state.

7. The flexible seamless hair clamp of claim 1, wherein the hair clamp is symmetrical.

8. The flexible seamless hair clamp of claim 1, further including a plastic spring element disposed within the curved bridging portion.

9. The flexible seamless hair clamp of claim 1, wherein the hair clamp is operable to move from an initial closed state to an open state when opposing compression force is applied to the first lever region and the second lever region, the force imparting a tortional rotation of the first leg member and the second leg member about an imaginary point proximate to the center of the curved bridging portion, the rotation of the first leg member and the second leg member separating the first distal end and the second distal end from their initial proximate contact.

10. A flexible seamless hair clamp, comprising:

a curved first leg member having a unitary first distal end and opposite thereto a first lever region, the curved first leg member further having an inner surface;

a curved second leg member having a unitary second distal end and opposite thereto a second lever region, the curved second leg member further having an inner surface; and

a curved bridging portion seamlessly connecting the first leg member to the second leg member in facing opposition, the curved bridging portion disposed between the first and second leg members proximate to the first and second lever regions, the bridging portion having an inner surface and opposite thereto an outer surface, the inner surface facing the inner surface of the first leg member and the inner surface of the second leg member and providing a continuous hair-friendly concave surface from the first distal end to the second distal end, the curved bridging portion biasing the first distal end and the second distal end into close proximate contact.

11. The flexible seamless hair clamp of claim 10, wherein the hair-friendly concave surface provides a plurality of raised gripping nubs.

12. The flexible seamless hair clamp of claim 10, wherein the unitary hair clamp has elastic memory for an initial closed state.

13. The flexible seamless hair clamp of claim 10, wherein such that when the first lever region and second lever regions are forced towards one another about the curved bridging portion, the first distal end and second distal end are separated.

14. The flexible seamless hair clamp of claim 10, wherein the first distal end and the second distal end are biased into actual physical contact.

15. The flexible seamless hair clamp of claim 10, further including a plastic spring element disposed within the curved bridging portion.

16. The flexible seamless hair clamp of claim 10, wherein the hair clamp is operable to move from an initial closed state to an open state when opposing compression force is applied to the first lever region and the second lever region, the force imparting a tortional rotation of the first leg member and the second leg member about an imaginary point proximate to the center of the curved bridging portion, the rotation of the first leg member and the second leg member separating the first distal end and the second distal end from their initial proximate contact.

17. A flexible seamless hair clamp, comprising:

a hair receiving aperture defined by a first continuous concave curved surface following a longitudinal centerline extending from a unitary first distal end through a midsection to a unitary second distal end;

a continuous outer surface opposite from the first continuous concave curved surface, the continuous outer surface and the first continuous curved surfaces provided by a compliant material with initial state memory, the initial state memory biasing the first distal end and the second distal end towards one another; and

a pair of lever regions integral to the outer surface, the lever regions proximate to and on either side of the midsection opposite from the first and second distal ends.

18. The flexible seamless hair clamp of claim 17, wherein the point of biased proximate contact between the first distal end and the second distal end is symmetrically below the midsection.

19. The flexible seamless hair clamp of claim 17, wherein a region from the first distal end to the midsection defines a first curved leg member, a region from the second distal end to the midsection defines a second curved leg member, and the midsection defines a curved bridging portion adjoining the first leg member and the second leg member.

20. The flexible seamless hair clamp of claim 17, wherein the first continuous concave surface provides a plurality of raised gripping nubs.

21. The flexible seamless hair clamp of claim 17, wherein the compliant material is selected from the group consisting of elastic resin, plastic, natural rubber, polyurethane, and or combinations thereof.

22. The flexible seamless hair clamp of claim 17, wherein the first distal end and the second distal end are biased into actual physical contact.

23. The flexible seamless hair clamp of claim 17, wherein the hair clamp is symmetrical.

24. The flexible seamless hair clamp of claim 17, wherein the hair clamp is operable to move from an initial closed state to an open state when opposing compression force is applied to the first lever region and the second lever region, the force imparting a tortional rotation of the first leg member and the second leg member about an imaginary point proximate to the center of the curved bridging portion, the rotation of the first leg member and the second leg member separating the first distal end and the second distal end from their initial proximate contact.

25. The flexible seamless hair clamp of claim 17, further including a plastic spring element disposed within the curved bridging portion.