Hair clip

Abstract

A hair clip for hair dressing and hair fashion is disclosed. In one embodiment, the hair clip has a plurality of discrete fingers, each finger having a first or tip end and a second or base end; and a tensioning means. In one embodiment, the fingers lie adjacent each other in a single plane; each finger is linked to an adjacent finger by a hinge means, which enables the tip end of the fingers to be opened or closed with respect to each other; and the tensioning means biases the tip ends of the fingers in a closed position.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A hair clip comprising: 
 (a) a plurality of fingers, each having a first tip end and a second base end, the fingers lying adjacent each other side by side in a single plane, each finger linked to an adjacent finger by a hinge means located proximate the second end of each finger, wherein the first tip ends of the fingers may be opened or closed with respect to each other; and    (b) a tensioning means located proximate the second base end, the tensioning means biases the first tip end of the fingers in a closed position.    
     
     
         2 . The hair clip according to  claim 1 , comprising two outermost fingers and a plurality of intermediate fingers.  
     
     
         3 . The hair clip according to  claim 1 , wherein the hinge means comprises an interlocking key and slot arrangement, wherein a key located in a first finger is configured to interlock with a corresponding slot located in an adjacent finger.  
     
     
         4 . The hair clip according to  claim 1 , wherein the tensioning means is chosen from a tension spring, a length of elastic material, a rubber band and a rubber bungee.  
     
     
         5 . The hair clip according to  claim 1 , wherein the tensioning means is anchored to the outermost fingers.  
     
     
         6 . The hair clip according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the intermediate fingers has an opening therethrough proximate the second end and in line with the opening in adjacent fingers, wherein the tensioning means is positioned through the adjacent openings in the intermediate fingers.  
     
     
         7 . The hair clip according to  claim 1 , wherein the tensioning means is positioned around the outside of all the fingers.  
     
     
         8 . The hair clip according to  claim 7 , wherein the underside of each finger has a recessed slot in line with the recessed slot in adjacent fingers, and the tensioning means is positioned therein.  
     
     
         9 . The hair clip according to  claim 1 , wherein the tensioning means is coated or enclosed in a tube.  
     
     
         10 . The hair clip according  claim 1 , wherein the tensioning means is positioned between the hinge and the first tip end of the fingers.  
     
     
         11 . The hair clip according to  claim 1 , wherein the tensioning means is anchored by a peg or disk inside a recess in the inner surface of each outermost finger.  
     
     
         12 . The hair clip according to  claim 1 , wherein the fingers have a shape such that at least the underside surface of the assembled clip accords to a section of the outside surface of a sphere approximating the dimensions of an adult human cranium.  
     
     
         13 . The hair clip according to  claim 1 , wherein the adjacent sides of two or more fingers include a plurality of projections and/or indents, wherein a projection on one finger interlocks with an indent on the adjacent finger.  
     
     
         14 . The hair clip according to  claim 13 , wherein there are at least two projections and/or indents on each finger.  
     
     
         15 . The hair clip according to  claim 13 , wherein the indents are openings configured to receive a correspondingly configured projection in the opposing side surface of an adjacent finger or the projections and indents are provided by undulations in the opposing side surfaces of adjacent fingers.  
     
     
         16 . The hair clip according to  claim 1 , wherein at least the outermost fingers have handles proximate the second ends of the fingers.  
     
     
         17 . The hair clip according to  claim 16 , wherein the handles extend from the second ends of at least the outermost fingers.  
     
     
         18 . The hair clip according to  claim 16 , wherein each of the fingers has a handle proximate the second end of the finger.  
     
     
         19 . The hair clip according to  claim 16 , wherein the handles are removable or detachable.  
     
     
         20 . The hair clip according  claim 16 , wherein the handles are of various colors and/or include alpha numeric characters on their surface.