Adjustable barrette

Abstract

A base member and a retainer member adjustably coupled to the base. The retainer and base define a receptacle for holding a bundle of hair. The retainer has at least one freeable end that can be moved between an open position separated from the base and a series of closed positions attached to the base. When the retainer is in the first closed position, the receptacle is generally flat and wide. When the retainer is in the last closed position, the receptacle is generally tall and narrow, thereby providing a more volumized look to the hair. And when the retainer is in an intermediate closed position, the receptacle has an intermediate flatness and wideness.

1 . An apparatus for adjustably holding a bundle of hair, comprising:
 a laterally elongate base member;   a laterally elongate retainer member that adjustably couples to the base member, cooperates with the base member to define a receptacle that receives the hair bundle, and includes at least one freeable end; and   a retainer adjustment mechanism including at least one first catch surface and a series of laterally spaced second catch surfaces that releasably engage the first catch surface to hold the retainer freeable end to the base member, wherein the first catch surface is defined by the retainer member or the base member, the serial second catch surfaces are defined by the other of the retainer member and the base member, a first one of the serial second catch surfaces engages the first catch surface when the retainer is in a first closed position, a last one of the serial second catch surfaces engages the first catch surface when the retainer is in a last closed position, and the receptacle has a taller and narrower profile in the last closed position relative to the first closed position.   
   
   
       2 . The hair-holding apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an intermediate one of the serial second catch surfaces engages the first catch surface when the retainer is in an intermediate closed position, the receptacle has a taller and narrower profile in the intermediate closed position relative to the first closed position, and the receptacle has a flatter and wider profile in the intermediate closed position relative to the last closed position. 
   
   
       3 . The hair-holding apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first catch surface is defined by at least one finger and the serial second catch surfaces are defined by a series of laterally spaced openings. 
   
   
       4 . The hair-holding apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the retainer adjustment mechanism further includes two sleeves that are pivotally coupled to the retainer member, with at least one of the sleeves slideable along the base member. 
   
   
       5 . The hair-holding apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one finger comprises a knob extending from the retainer member and the serial laterally spaced openings are formed in the base member and sized and shaped to receive the knob with a snap fit. 
   
   
       6 . The hair-holding apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one finger comprises two fingers extending from the retainer member and the serial laterally spaced openings comprise serial laterally spaced channels in the base member. 
   
   
       7 . The hair-holding apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein one of the fingers extends up and around a top of the base member, the other one of the fingers extends down and around a bottom of the base member, and the fingers do not extend all the way around the periphery of the base member. 
   
   
       8 . The hair-holding apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the base member is made of a resiliently deformable material and is resiliently deflectable to an inwardly compressed position where the fingers are released from engagement with the channels so that the retainer member can be moved between the first and past closed positions. 
   
   
       9 . The hair-holding apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the base member comprises a peripheral frame with top and bottom frame segments defining a laterally elongate internal opening that permits the top and bottom frame segments to be deflected to the inwardly compressed position. 
   
   
       10 . The hair-holding apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the laterally elongate internal opening has a decorative shape. 
   
   
       11 . The hair-holding apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the freeable end of the retainer is movable to an open position where it is separated from the base member. 
   
   
       12 . The hair-holding apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the freeable end of the retainer is movable to an open position where it is separated from the base member. 
   
   
       13 . The hair-holding apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer member is made of a resiliently deformable material that permits it to flex between the first closed position and the last closed position. 
   
   
       14 . The hair-holding apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer further includes at least one fixed end that is opposite the freeable end and pivotally coupled to the base member. 
   
   
       15 . An adjustable hair clip for holding a bundle of hair, comprising:
 a laterally elongate base member;   a laterally elongate retainer member that adjustably couples to the base member, cooperates with the base member to define a receptacle that receives the hair bundle, and includes at least one freeable end   a retainer adjustment mechanism including at least one first catch surface and a series of laterally spaced second catch surfaces that releasably engage the first catch surface to hold the retainer freeable end to the base member, wherein the first catch surface is defined by at least one finger extending from the retainer member, the serial second catch surfaces are defined by a series of laterally spaced channels in the base member, a first one of the serial channels engages the finger when the retainer is in a first closed position, a last one of the serial channels engages the finger when the retainer is in a last closed position, and the receptacle has a taller and narrower profile in the last closed position relative to the first closed position, the retainer member is made of a resiliently deformable material that permits it to flex between the first closed position and the last closed position, the base member is made of a resiliently deformable material that permits it to resiliently deflect to an inwardly compressed position where the fingers are released from engagement with the channels so that the retainer member can be moved between the first and past closed positions.   
   
   
       16 . The adjustable apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein an intermediate one of the serial channels engages the finger when the retainer is in an intermediate closed position, the receptacle has a taller and narrower profile in the intermediate closed position relative to the first closed position, and the receptacle has a flatter and wider profile in the intermediate closed position relative to the last closed position. 
   
   
       17 . The adjustable apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein one of the fingers extends up and around a top of the base member, the other one of the fingers extends down and around a bottom of the base member, and the fingers do not extend all the way around the periphery of the base member. 
   
   
       18 . The adjustable apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the base member comprises a peripheral frame with top and bottom frame segments defining a laterally elongate internal opening that permits the top and bottom frame segments to be deflected to the inwardly compressed position. 
   
   
       19 . The adjustable apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the freeable end of the retainer is movable to an open position where it is separated from the base member. 
   
   
       20 . The adjustable apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the retainer further includes at least one fixed end that is opposite the freeable end and pivotally coupled to the base member.