Locking clip

Abstract

A hair clip has a first jaw and a second jaw, mutually pivotable about a hinge having a longitudinal axis, to pivot between an open position and a closed position. Each jaw respectively includes a jaw body provided with a series of teeth, and further includes resilient return means continuously returning both jaws into the open position, and releasable locking means for selectively locking the jaws in the closed position.

1 . Hair grip comprising:
 a first jaw ( 1 ) and a second jaw ( 2 ) each having a series of teeth ( 1   b ,  2   b ) and articulated to each other by an articulation with a longitudinal axis (I-I) to pivot between an open position and a closed position,   return spring means ( 4 ) urging the two jaws ( 1 ,  2 ) at all times toward the open position,   releasable locking means ( 5 ) for selectively locking the jaws ( 1 ,  2 ) in the closed position and comprising unlocking members operable by the user to unlock the jaws ( 1 ,  2 ),   wherein the locking means ( 5 ) are conformed to lock automatically when the jaws ( 1 ,  2 ) pivot toward their closed position.   
   
   
       2 . Hair grip according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking means ( 5 ) comprise clipping means ( 6 ,  7 :  11 ,  7 :  21   a ,  21   b ,  7 ) that hook onto each other automatically as soon as the jaws ( 1 ,  2 ) reach the closed position. 
   
   
       3 . Hair grip according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking means ( 5 ) are disposed on the facing interior faces of the jaws ( 1 ,  2 ) in an intermediate area of each interior face between the articulation axis (I-I) and a distal end of the jaws ( 1 ,  2 ). 
   
   
       4 . Hair grip according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the locking means ( 5 ) include at least one opening ( 6 ) formed through the jaw body ( 1   a ) of the first jaw ( 1 ),   the locking means ( 5 ) include at least one elastic prong ( 7 ) that extends from the second jaw ( 2 ) in the direction of the first jaw ( 1 ), has a hook-shaped distal end ( 7   a ), and can flex laterally and elastically,   the elastic prong ( 7 ) is adapted selectively either (a) to hold the first jaw ( 1 ) at a fixed distance (d) from the second jaw ( 2 ) in the closed position by engagement of the hook-shape distal end ( 7   a ) in said at least one opening ( 6 ) of the first jaw ( 1 ) or (b) to release the first jaw ( 1 ) by allowing the hook-shaped distal end ( 7   a ) to escape through the opening ( 6 ) on lateral flexing of the elastic prong ( 7 ) on manipulating it by pushing it laterally ( 10   a ,  10   b ;  10   c ).   
   
   
       5 . Hair grip according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the jaws ( 1 ,  2 ) are elongate in the longitudinal direction (I-I) and each has two longitudinal ends ( 1   c ,  1   d ,  2   c ,  2   d ),   the teeth of the series of teeth ( 1   b ,  2   b ) extend transversely from a distal edge ( 100   a ,  200   a ) of the jaw bodies ( 1   a ,  2   a ),   said at least one elastic prong ( 7 ) extends transversely from the distal edge ( 200   a ) of the jaw body ( 2   a ) of the second jaw ( 2 ) toward the jaw body ( 1   a ) of the first jaw ( 1 ), said elastic prong ( 7 ) preferably being situated at one of the longitudinal ends ( 2   c ,  2   d ) of the second jaw ( 2 ).   
   
   
       6 . Hair grip according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 said at least one elastic prong ( 7 ) is on the second jaw ( 2 ) near the articulation ( 3 ), preferably offset longitudinally relative to the articulation ( 3 ) in the direction of an end ( 2   c ,  2   d ) of the second jaw ( 2 ),   said at least one opening ( 6 ) is in the first jaw ( 1 ), near the articulation ( 3 ) and opposite the elastic prong ( 7 ).   
   
   
       7 . Hair grip according to  claim 4 , wherein said at least one elastic prong ( 7 ) includes a plurality of detents ( 7   b ) near its distal end ( 7   a ). 
   
   
       8 . Hair grip according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the locking means ( 5 ) include a retaining loop ( 11 ) integral with the jaw body ( 1   a ) of the first jaw ( 1 ),   the locking means ( 5 ) include an elastic prong ( 7 ) that extends from the second jaw ( 2 ) in the direction of the first jaw ( 1 ), includes a hook ( 12 ) and an operating end ( 7   c ) accessible to the user for operating it, and can flex elastically and laterally,   the elastic prong ( 7 ) is adapted selectively either (a) to hold the first jaw ( 1 ) at a fixed distance (d) from the second jaw ( 2 ) in the closed position by engagement of the hook ( 12 ) in the retaining loop ( 11 ) or (b) to release the first jaw ( 1 ) by allowing the hook ( 12 ) to escape from the loop ( 11 ) on lateral flexing of the elastic prong ( 7 ) by manipulating the operating end ( 7   c ) in the unlocking direction,   in the closed position, the operating end ( 7   c ) is offset longitudinally relative to the articulation ( 3 ) in the direction of an end ( 2   c ,  2   d ) of the second jaw ( 2 ),   to unlock the grip, the user causes the hook ( 12 ) to escape from the loop ( 11 ) on elastic lateral flexing of the prong ( 7 ) by applying to the operating end ( 7   c ) a force oriented substantially along the longitudinal axis (I-I).   
   
   
       9 . Hair grip according to  claim 8 , wherein the elastic prong ( 7 ) includes hooks ( 12 ) with a plurality of detents ( 13   a ,  13   b ,  14   a - 14   d ) and/or a plurality of successive loops ( 20   a ,  20   b ,  110   a ,  110   b ,  111   a ,  111   b ) are situated at different distances from the first jaw. 
   
   
       10 . Hair grip according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first jaw ( 1 ) includes a first transverse protection elastic blade ( 15   a ) situated beyond the locking means ( 5 ) relative to the articulation ( 3 ) and extending from the first jaw ( 1 ) in the direction of the second jaw ( 2 ),   the second jaw ( 2 ) includes a second transverse protection elastic blade ( 15   b ) situated beyond the locking means ( 5 ) relative to the articulation ( 3 ) and extending from the second jaw ( 2 ) in the direction of the first jaw ( 1 ),   the first protection elastic blade ( 15   a ) and the second protection elastic blade ( 15   b ) cooperate with each other on closing the grip to hold the hair away from the articulation ( 3 ), the return spring means ( 4 ) and the locking means ( 5 ).   
   
   
       11 . Hair grip according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the locking means ( 5 ) are locked automatically by a first relative movement toward each other of the first jaw ( 1 ) and the second jaw ( 2 ),   the locking means ( 5 ) are unlocked by a second relative movement toward each other of the first jaw ( 1 ) and the second jaw ( 2 ).   
   
   
       12 . Hair grip according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 the locking means ( 5 ) include at least one elastic prong ( 7 ) that extends from the second jaw ( 2 ) in the direction of the first jaw ( 1 ), includes a distal crossmember ( 20 ) extending over a first length (L 1 ) in an offsetting direction (II-II), and can flex elastically,   the locking means ( 5 ) include at least one hooking prong ( 21   a ,  21   b ) that extends from the first jaw ( 1 ) in the direction of the second jaw ( 2 ), has a distal section ( 210   a ,  210   b ) with transverse notch ( 211   a ,  211   b ) provided on one notched lateral face ( 22   a ,  22   b ) perpendicular to the offsetting direction (II-II), and has a proximal section ( 23   a ,  23   b ), the proximal section ( 23   a ,  23   b ) being offset by a second length (L 2 ) in the offsetting direction (II-II) away from the distal section ( 210   a ,  210   b ) and the elastic prong ( 7 ),   the second length (L 2 ) is greater than or equal to the first length (L 1 ),   on the first relative movement toward each other of the first jaw ( 1 ) and the second jaw ( 2 ), the distal crossmember ( 20 ) of the elastic prong ( 7 ) is pushed back by the notched lateral face ( 22   a ,  22   b ) and the elastic prong ( 7 ) is flexed elastically, after which continuation of the first relative movement toward each other of the first jaw ( 1 ) and the second jaw ( 2 ) enables engagement of the distal crossmember ( 20 ) in the transverse notch ( 211   a ,  211   b ) of the hooking prong ( 21   a ,  21   b ) because of the return spring action of the elastic prong ( 7 ),   on the second relative movement toward each other of the first jaw ( 1 ) and the second jaw ( 2 ), the distal crossmember ( 20 ) of the elastic prong ( 7 ) comes into corresponding relationship with the proximal section ( 23   a ,  23   b ) of the hooking prong ( 21   a ,  21   b ), which, by virtue of the return spring action of the elastic prong ( 7 ), enables displacement of the distal crossmember ( 20 ) beyond the face ( 22   a ′,  22   b ′) of the hooking prong ( 21   a ,  21   b ) opposite the notched lateral face ( 22   a ,  22   b ), and which thereafter enables relative movement away from each other of the first jaw ( 1 ) and the second jaw ( 2 ) because of the action of the return spring means ( 4 ).   
   
   
       13 . Hair grip according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first jaw ( 1 ) or the second jaw ( 2 ) includes a protection elastic blade ( 24 ) that is situated beyond the locking means ( 5 ) relative to the articulation ( 3 ) and extends from the first jaw ( 1 ) or the second jaw ( 2 ) in the direction of the opposite jaw ( 2 ,  1 ),   the protection elastic blade ( 24 ) holds the hair away from the articulation ( 3 ), the return spring means ( 4 ) and the locking means ( 5 ) on closing the grip.   
   
   
       14 . Hair grip according to  claim 1 , wherein the articulation ( 3 ) includes a hinge ( 3   a ). 
   
   
       15 . Hair grip according to  claim 1 , wherein the return spring means ( 4 ) comprise a coil spring ( 4   a ). 
   
   
       16 . Hair grip according to  claim 14 , wherein the return spring means ( 4 ) comprise at least one leaf spring ( 16 ), preferably of metal. 
   
   
       17 . Hair grip according to  claim 1 , wherein the articulation ( 3 ) and the return spring means ( 4 ) comprise at least one leaf spring ( 16 ), preferably of metal. 
   
   
       18 . Hair grip according to  claim 9 , wherein the retaining loop ( 11 ,  11   a ,  11   b ), the elastic prong ( 7 ), the articulation ( 3 ) and the return spring means ( 4 ) are produced from a single flat metal strip ( 17 ) cut and bent to shape. 
   
   
       19 . Hair grip according to  claim 10 , wherein the retaining loop ( 11 ,  11   a ,  11   b ), the elastic prong ( 7 ), the articulation ( 3 ), the return spring means ( 4 ) and the leaf springs ( 15   a ,  15   b ,  16 ) are produced from a single flat metal strip ( 17 ) cut and bent to shape. 
   
   
       20 . Hair grip according to  claim 12 , wherein the hooking prongs ( 21   a ,  21   b ), the elastic prong ( 7 ), the articulation ( 3 ) and the return spring means ( 4 ) are produced from a single flat metal strip ( 25 ) cut and bent to shape. 
   
   
       21 . Hair grip according to  claim 13 , wherein the hooking prongs ( 21   a ,  21   b ), the elastic prong ( 7 ), the articulation ( 3 ), the return spring means ( 4 ) and the protection elastic blade ( 24 ) are produced from a single flat metal strip ( 25 ) cut and bent to shape. 
   
   
       22 . Hair grip according to  claim 18 , wherein the first jaw ( 1 ) and the second jaw ( 2 ) are molded over the flat metal strip ( 17 ,  25 ) when cut and bent to shape.