Bobby pin with improved grip

Abstract

A bobby pin that includes an upper leg member and a lower leg member, each leg member having a length defined by two ends. The bobby pin includes the upper leg member and the lower leg member being operably connected by a spring member, commonly a bend in the bobby pin, but it could be another spring mechanism. The bobby pin includes at least a portion of the length of at least one of the upper leg member or the lower leg member including a gripper material to improve holding performance. In one embodiment, both the upper and lower leg members may be coated with a gripper material. In another embodiment, at least a portion of the length of the upper leg member or the lower leg member may include a channel defined therein and at least a portion of the channel may be filled with a gripper material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bobby pin comprising:
 an upper leg member having a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end of the upper leg member defining a length of the upper leg member;   a lower leg member having a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end of the lower leg member defining a length of the lower leg member;   wherein the second end of said upper leg member is operably connected to the second end of said lower leg member at a closed end; and   wherein at least a portion of the length of at least one of the upper leg member or the lower leg member includes a gripper material disposed to engage a material being acted upon by said bobby pin.   
     
     
         2 . The bobby pin of  claim 1 , wherein the upper leg member and the lower leg member are coated with the gripper material to form an encapsulating coating. 
     
     
         3 . The bobby pin of  claim 1 , wherein said upper leg member includes a plurality of ridges. 
     
     
         4 . The bobby pin of  claim 1 , wherein said lower leg member is straight. 
     
     
         5 . The bobby pin of  claim 1 , wherein the bobby pin is of unitary construction and the second end of said upper leg member is operably connected to the second end of said lower leg member by a bend in the bobby pin. 
     
     
         6 . The bobby pin of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of said upper leg member is operably connected to the second end of said lower leg member by a spring. 
     
     
         7 . The bobby pin of  claim 1  further comprising an open end located opposite of a location where the upper leg member and the lower leg member are operably coupled, the first end of the upper leg member and the first end of the lower leg member are disposed to define an opening therebetween at the open end. 
     
     
         8 . The bobby pin of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the length of at least one of the upper leg member or the lower leg member has a channel defined therein and wherein at least a portion of said channel is filled with the gripper material, the gripper material being disposed to engage a material being acted upon by said bobby pin. 
     
     
         9 . The bobby pin of  claim 8 , wherein said lower leg member has the channel defined along at least a portion of the length thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The bobby pin of  claim 8 , wherein said upper leg member has a first channel defined along at least a portion of the length thereof and wherein at least a portion of the first channel of the upper leg member is filled with the gripper material. 
     
     
         11 . The bobby pin of  claim 10 , wherein said lower leg member includes a second channel defined along at least a portion of the length thereof and wherein a least a portion of said second channel is filled with the gripper material. 
     
     
         12 . The bobby pin of  claim 8 , wherein an engagement surface of the gripper material disposed within the channel includes a crown.