Hair Retaining Clip with Elastic Biasing Member

Abstract

The invention is directed to a hair retaining clip having a first clip member including a handle portion and a claw portion, a second clip member including a handle portion and a claw portion, and a hinge pivotally connecting the first and second clip members such that the first and second clip members are rotatable between a normal closed position and an open position. The hair retaining clip further includes an elastic member disposed between and attached to the claw portions of the first and second clip members. The elastic member biases the first and second clip members toward the normal closed position and retains the first and second clip members in the normal closed position.

1 . A hair retaining clip, comprising: 
 a first clip member including a handle portion and a claw portion;    a second clip member including a handle portion and a claw portion;    a hinge pivotally connecting the first and second clip members such that the first and second clip members are rotatable between a normal closed position and an open position; and    an elastic member disposed between and attached to the claw portions of the first and second clip members, wherein the elastic member biases the first and second clip members toward the normal closed position and retains the first and second clip members in the normal closed position.    
   
   
       2 . A hair retaining clip in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the elastic member comprises an elastic band having first and second ends, a first end stop connected to the first end of the elastic band, and a second end stop connected to the second end of the elastic band, wherein the first end stop is connected to the claw portion of the first clip member and the second end stop is connected to the claw portion of the second clip member.  
   
   
       3 . A hair retaining clip in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the claw portions of the first and second clip members each comprise an opening extending therethrough, and wherein each of the end stops partially extends through the opening through the corresponding claw portion and engages the outer surface of the corresponding claw portion to prevent the end stop from passing through the opening.  
   
   
       4 . A hair retaining clip in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein each end stop comprises a connection portion connected to the corresponding end of the elastic band, and outwardly extending tabs, wherein the connection portion of each end stop is disposed in the opening of the corresponding claw portion to prevent the end stop from passing through the opening.  
   
   
       5 . A hair retaining clip in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein each end stop comprises an elongated rod and a body having outwardly extending wings, wherein the wings of the end stop are folded around and engage the corresponding end of the elastic band to connect the end stop to the end of the elastic band, and wherein the length of the rod is greater than the length of the corresponding opening such that the ends of the rod engage the outer surface of the claw portion beyond the ends of the opening.  
   
   
       6 . A hair retaining clip in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the elastic member comprises a rubber thread stitched through the elastic band such that portions of the rubber thread are exposed through the top and bottom surfaces of the elastic band, and wherein the rubber thread has a greater coefficient of friction than the surfaces of the elastic band.  
   
   
       7 . A hair retaining clip in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the hinge of the hair retaining clip is a living hinge.  
   
   
       8 . A hair retaining clip in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first and second clip members and the hinge are integrally molded from the same material as a single unitary component.  
   
   
       9 . A hair retaining clip in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the elastic member comprises an elastic band having first and second ends, a first end loop connected to the first end of the elastic band, and a second end loop connected to the second end of the elastic bands wherein the first end loop is disposed around the claw portion of the first clip member and the second end loop is disposed around the claw portion of the second clip member.  
   
   
       10 . A hair retaining clip in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each of the claw portions comprises hooks extending inwardly from an inner surface of the claw portion, and wherein the elastic member is attached to the hooks on the inner surfaces of the claw portions.  
   
   
       11 . A clip for retaining an elongated article, comprising: 
 a first clip member having a handle portion, a body and teeth extending outwardly from the body;    a second clip member having a handle portion, a body and teeth extending outwardly from the body;    a hinge pivotally connecting the first and second clip members such that the first and second clip members are rotatable between a normal closed position with the teeth interlocked and an open position with the bodies and the teeth separated; and    an elastic member comprising: 
 an elastic band having first and second ends,  
 a first end stop connected to the first end of the elastic band, and  
 a second end stop connected to the second end of the elastic band,  
   wherein the first end stop is connected to the body of the first clip member and the second end stop is connected to the body of the second clip member, and the elastic band biases the first and second clip members toward the normal closed position and retains the first and second clip members in the normal closed position.    
   
   
       12 . A clip in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the bodies of the first and second clip members each comprise an opening extending therethrough, and wherein each of the end stops partially extends through the opening through the corresponding body and engages the outer surface of the corresponding body to prevent the end stop from passing through the opening.  
   
   
       13 . A clip in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein each end stop comprises a connection portion connected to the corresponding end of the elastic band, and outwardly extending tabs, wherein the connection portion of each end stop is disposed in the opening of the corresponding body to prevent the end stop from passing through the opening.  
   
   
       14 . A clip in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein each end stop comprises an elongated rod and a body having outwardly extending wings, wherein the wings of the end stop are folded around and engage the corresponding end of the elastic band to connect the end stop to the end of the elastic band, and wherein the length of the rod is greater than the length of the corresponding opening such that the ends of the rod engage the outer surface of the body beyond the ends of the opening.  
   
   
       15 . A clip in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the elastic member comprises a rubber thread stitched through the elastic band such that portions of the rubber thread are exposed through the top and bottom surfaces of the elastic band, and wherein the rubber thread has a greater coefficient of friction than the surfaces of the elastic band.  
   
   
       16 . A clip in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the hinge of the clip is a living hinge.  
   
   
       17 . A clip in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the first and second clip members and the hinge are integrally molded from the same material as a single unitary component.  
   
   
       18 . A clip in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the first end stop comprises a first end loop connected to the first end of the elastic band, and a second end loop connected to the second end of the elastic band, wherein the first end loop is disposed around the body of the first clip member and the second end loop is disposed around the body of the second clip member.  
   
   
       19 . A clip in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein each of the bodies comprises hooks extending inwardly from an inner surface of the body, and wherein the first end stop is connected to the hooks on the inner surface of the body of the first clip member and the second end stop is connected to the hooks on the inner surface of the body of the second clip member.