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US 7,882,844 B2Granted
Barrette with elastomeric spring member
AssigneeGoody Produts, Inc.
InventorsStephen Chininis, Jose Longoria
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hair retaining clip includes an upper clip portion, and a lower clip portion joined to the upper clip portion via a hinge. At least one of the upper clip portion and the lower clip portion comprises a soft durometer elastomeric member.
Claims19
A clip for retaining a bundle of hair, comprising:
- a first clip portion;
- an elastomeric member secured to the first clip portion, wherein the elastomeric member comprises an enclosed chamber filled with and containing a fluid;
- a bulb-type pump coupled to the elastomeric member and operable to inflate and deflate the chamber with the fluid between an expanded position and a retracted position, respectively;
- a second clip portion joined to the upper clip portion via a hinge;
- and
- a clasp assembly for locking the first and second clip portions together in a closed position with the hair bundle pressure-gripped and retained between them,
- wherein when the hair-retaining clip is in the closed position and the pump operated to inflate the chamber to the expanded position, the elastomeric member is positioned closer to the second clip portion than when the hair-retaining clip is in the closed position and the chamber is in the retracted position, wherein when the hair-retaining clip is in the closed position and the pump operated to inflate the chamber to the expanded position, the elastomeric member applies additional gripping pressure to the hair bundle between the first and second clip portions.
4 more elements
A clip for retaining a bundle of hair, comprising:
- a first clip portion defining at least one aperture;
- an elastomeric member secured to the first clip portion, wherein the elastomeric member comprises a body made of a soft durometer material defining an enclosed chamber filled with and containing a fluid, wherein a portion of the elastomeric member protrudes through the at least one aperture;
- a bulb-type pump coupled to the elastomeric member and operable to inflate and deflate the chamber with the fluid between an expanded position and a retracted position, respectively, wherein the portion of the elastomeric member protruding through the at least one aperture at least partially forms the pump, wherein the portion of the elastomeric member that protrudes through the at least one aperture in the first clip portion defines an outer actuation surface for depressing to actuate the pump;
- a second clip portion joined to the upper clip portion via a hinge;
- and
- a clasp assembly for locking the first and second clip portions together in a closed position with the hair bundle pressure-gripped and retained between them,
- wherein when the hair-retaining clip is in the closed position and the pump operated to inflate the chamber to the expanded position, the elastomeric member is positioned closer to the second clip portion than when the hair-retaining clip is in the closed position and the chamber is in the retracted position, wherein when the hair-retaining clip is in the closed position and the pump operated to inflate the chamber to the expanded position, the elastomeric member applies additional gripping pressure to the hair bundle between the first and second clip portions.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.