Magnetically enhanced hair clip

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a hair clip. In one embodiment, the hair clip includes a first clip arm and a second clip arm. A magnet is coupled to the first clip arm, and the second clip arm includes a magnetically conductive material. The magnet causes the second clip arm to be pulled towards said first clip arm—enhancing the ability of the hair clip to secure hair. In one implementation, the clip arms are also drawn together by force from a mechanical biasing mechanism, such as a spring. In further embodiments, the surface of each clip arm includes a cover material that impedes hair slipping—further enhancing the ability of the hair clip to secure hair.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A hair clip comprising: 
 a first clip arm;    a second clip arm; and    a magnet coupled to said first clip arm, wherein said magnet causes said second clip arm to be pulled towards said first clip arm.    
     
     
         2 . The hair clip of  claim 1 , wherein said second clip arm includes a magnetically conductive material.  
     
     
         3 . The hair clip of  claim 2 , wherein said second clip arm is made of a magnetically conductive material.  
     
     
         4 . The hair clip of  claim 1 , further including: 
 a cover material on at least one of said first clip arm and said second clip arm.    
     
     
         5 . The hair clip of  claim 4 , wherein said cover material includes fabric.  
     
     
         6 . The hair clip of  claim 5 , wherein said fabric is velvet.  
     
     
         7 . The hair clip of  claim 6 , wherein said velvet is nylon.  
     
     
         8 . The hair clip of  claim 4 , wherein said cover material is on said first clip arm and said second clip arm.  
     
     
         9 . The hair clip of  claim 8 , wherein said magnet is between said cover material on said first clip arm and said first clip arm for at least a portion of said first clip arm.  
     
     
         10 . The hair clip of  claim 8 , wherein said cover material on said first clip arm is between said magnet and said first clip arm for at least a portion of said first clip arm.  
     
     
         11 . The hair clip of  claim 8 , wherein said cover material on said first clip arm and said cover material on said second clip arm are part of a single piece of material.  
     
     
         12 . The hair clip of  claim 8 , wherein said cover material on said first clip arm and said cover material on said second clip arm are not part of a single piece of material.  
     
     
         13 . The hair clip of  claim 1 , further including: 
 a second magnet coupled to said second clip arm.    
     
     
         14 . The hair clip of  claim 1 , wherein said first clip arm and said second clip arm receive a non-magnetic biasing force directing said first clip arm and said second clip arm together.  
     
     
         15 . The hair clip of  claim 1 , further including: 
 a non-magnetic biasing mechanism in communication with said first clip arm and said second clip arm.    
     
     
         16 . The hair clip of  claim 1 , further including: 
 an axel in communication with said first clip arm and said second clip arm; and    a bias spring coiled around said axel, said bias spring having a first end in communication with said first clip arm and a second end in communication with said second clip arm.    
     
     
         17 . The hair clip of  claim 16 , wherein said biasing spring applies a biasing force to said first clip arm and said second clip arm, wherein said biasing force directs said first clip arm and said second clip arm toward each other toward a closed position.  
     
     
         18 . The hair clip of  claim 17 , wherein a magnetic force associated with said magnet enhances said biasing force.  
     
     
         19 . The hair clip of  claim 1 , wherein a surface of said second clip arm includes a material that impedes hair slipping.  
     
     
         20 . The hair clip of  claim 19 , wherein said surface of said second clip arm is rubber.  
     
     
         21 . The hair clip of  claim 1 , further including an ornament.  
     
     
         22 . A hair clip comprising: 
 a spring biased clip having a first clip arm and a second clip arm; and    a magnet coupled to said first clip arm, wherein a force associated with said magnet enhances a spring biasing force associated with said spring biased clip.    
     
     
         23 . The hair clip of  claim 22 , wherein said second clip arm includes a magnetically conductive material.  
     
     
         24 . The hair clip of  claim 22 , further including: 
 a cover material on at least one of said first clip arm and said second clip arm.    
     
     
         25 . The hair clip of  claim 24 , wherein said cover material includes fabric.  
     
     
         26 . The hair clip of  claim 25 , wherein said fabric is velvet.  
     
     
         27 . The hair clip of  claim 26 , wherein said velvet is nylon.  
     
     
         28 . The hair clip of  claim 24 , wherein said cover material is on said first clip arm and said second clip arm.  
     
     
         29 . The hair clip of  claim 28 , wherein said magnet is between said cover material on said first clip arm and said first clip arm for at least a portion of said first clip arm.  
     
     
         30 . The hair clip of  claim 28 , wherein said cover material on said first clip arm is between said magnet and said first clip arm for at least a portion of said first clip arm.  
     
     
         31 . The hair clip of  claim 28 , wherein said cover material on said first clip arm and said cover material on said second clip arm are part of a single piece of material.  
     
     
         32 . The hair clip of  claim 29 , wherein said cover material on said first clip arm and said cover material on said second clip arm are not part of a single piece of material.  
     
     
         33 . The hair clip of  claim 22 , further including: 
 a second magnet coupled to said second clip arm.    
     
     
         34 . A hair clip comprising: 
 a spring biased clip having a first clip arm and a second clip arm;    a magnet coupled to said first clip arm; and    a cover material on said first clip arm and said second clip arm, wherein a force associated with said magnet enhances a biasing force associated with said spring biased clip.    
     
     
         35 . A hair clip comprising: 
 a first clip arm including a magnetic material; and    a second clip arm, wherein a force associated with said magnetic material causes said second clip arm and said first clip arm to be pulled together.    
     
     
         36 . The hair clip of  claim 35 , wherein said second clip includes a magnetically conductive material.  
     
     
         37 . The hair clip of  claim 35 , further including: 
 a cover material on at least one of said first clip arm and said second clip arm.    
     
     
         38 . The hair clip of  claim 35 , further including: 
 an axel in communication with said first clip arm and said second clip arm; and    a bias spring coiled around said axel, said bias spring having a first end in communication with said first clip arm and a second end in communication with said second clip arm, wherein said biasing spring applies a biasing force to said first clip arm and said second clip arm, wherein said biasing force directs said first clip arm and said second clip arm toward each other and said force associated with said magnetic material enhances said biasing force.