Hair clip apparatus

Abstract

A hair clip apparatus includes a tongue, a clasp and a plurality of hair engaging teeth. The clasp cooperates with the tongue to retain the hair in a desired styling effect. The hair engaging teeth are spaced from the clasp and the tongue to engage hair surrounding the clasp and the tongue. The hair clip apparatus is retained in the volume of hair by trapping the hair between the clasp and the tongue, and also via the hair engaging teeth. The hair engaging teeth also are arranged to retain and secure hair between adjacent teeth, and also trap hair between the inner surfaces of the teeth and the base and/or tongue.

1 - 11 . (Canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A hair clip apparatus, comprising:
 a base;   a tongue extending from the base and defining a longitudinal axis;   a clasp extending longitudinally from the base, the clasp and the tongue cooperatively configured to trap hair therebetween: and   one or more hair engaging teeth extending longitudinally from the base and spaced from the tongue along a vertical axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the one or more hair engaging teeth configured to engage hair.   
     
     
         13 . The hair clip apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the one or more hair engaging teeth define a longitudinal length less than respective longitudinal lengths defined by the tongue and the clasp. 
     
     
         14 . The hair clip apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the longitudinal length of the one or more hair engaging teeth is less than one-half the respective lengths of at least one of the tongue and the clasp. 
     
     
         15 . The hair clip apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the longitudinal length of the one or more hair engaging teeth is less than one-half the respective lengths of each of the tongue and the clasp. 
     
     
         16 . The hair clip apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the one or more hair engaging teeth includes a plurality of hair engaging teeth. 
     
     
         17 . The hair clip apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein adjacent hair engaging teeth are laterally spaced. 
     
     
         18 . The hair clip apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the hair engaging teeth are substantially linear. 
     
     
         19 . The hair clip apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the tongue and the clasp are configured for relative movement between a first relative position and a second relative position. 
     
     
         20 . The hair clip apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein, when in the first relative position of the tongue and the clasp, hair is permitted to enter between the tongue and the clasp and wherein, when in the second relative position of the tongue and the clasp, hair is trapped between the tongue and the clasp. 
     
     
         21 . The hair clip apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein the tongue and the clasp are normally biased toward the second relative position. 
     
     
         22 . The hair clip apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the clasp is movable between the first relative position and the second relative position. 
     
     
         23 . The hair clip apparatus according to  claim 22  wherein the clasp defines a substantially convex profile when the clasp is in the first relative position. 
     
     
         24 . The hair clip apparatus according to  claim 23  wherein the tongue and the clasp each define a substantially concave profile when the clasp is in the second relative position. 
     
     
         25 . The hair clip apparatus according to  claim 24  wherein the clasp is configured to articulate relative to the base to transition between the first relative position and the second relative position. 
     
     
         26 . The hair clip apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the clasp includes a pair of legs, the legs coupled at first longitudinal ends thereof to the base in spaced relation and coupled to each other at second longitudinal ends thereof.