Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege
is
claimed are defined as follows:
1. A hair clip comprising:
a body portion;
jaw portions attached to said body portion; and
a jaw opening arrangement to allow said jaw portions to be opened single
handed;
wherein said jaw portions have tines and being hingedly and resiliently
connected to
said body portion to urge said tines together for gripping hair, said jaw
portions are
connected to said body portion at hinge positions defining laterally spaced
axes, said jaw
opening arrangement comprises handle portions extending from said jaw portions
away
from said tines to allow said jaw portions to be opened by urging said handle
portions
about said axes, and said body portion defines a space therein for receiving
said hair
gripped by said tines.
2. A hair clip according to claim 1, wherein said body portion has an outer
face and
said jaw portions are hingedly connected to said body portion at a position
away from
said outer face.
3. A hair clip according to claim 1, including resilient portions arranged
between
said body portion and said jaw portions to provide said resilient connection
between said
body portion and said jaw portions.
4. A hair clip according to claim 3, wherein said jaw portions are mounted to
said
body portion via pivot pins, and said resilient portions comprise spring
members
engaging said body portion and said jaw portions.
5. A hair clip according to claim 3, wherein said body portion and said jaw
portions
are formed from a single piece of material thinned at said hinge positions to
enable
relative pivoting of said jaw portions and said body portion, and said
resilient portions
comprise resilient members engaging said jaw portions and said body portion.
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6. A hair clip according to claim 3, wherein said resilient portions comprise
resilient
material connecting said jaw portions and said body portion.
7. A hair clip according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said jaw
portions are
arcuate in section to define a volume between said body portion and said jaw
portions
into which hair can be clasped in use.
8. A hair clip according to claim 1, wherein each said jaw portion comprises a
plurality of hingedly and resiliently coupled jaw sections, each axis of the
hinged
couplings lying parallel to said laterally spaced axes.
9. A hair clip according to claim 1, wherein said body portion is
substantially
arcuate in section.
10. A hair clip according to claim 9, wherein said hair clip has a
substantially
cylindrical form.
11. A hair clip according to claim 10, wherein said jaw portions are
substantially
arcuate in section.
12. A hair clip according to claim 1, wherein said hair clip has a
substantially
cylindrical form.
13. A hair clip according to claim 12, wherein said jaw portions are
substantially
arcuate in section.
14. A hair clip comprising:
a body portion;
jaw portions attached to said body portion; and
a jaw opening arrangement to allow said jaw portions to be opened single
handed;
wherein said jaw portions have tines and being hingedly and resiliently
connected to
said body portion to urge said tines together for gripping hair, said jaw
portions are
connected to said body portion at hinge positions defining laterally spaced
axes, and said
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body portion has thin section edge portions defining a large aperture between
said axes,
to allow said hair of a wearer to be seen therethrough when worn.
15. A hair clip comprising:
a body portion;
jaw portions attached to said body portion; and
a jaw opening arrangement to allow said jaw portions to be opened single
handed;
wherein said jaw portions have tines and being hingedly and resiliently
connected to
said body portion to urge said tines together for gripping hair, said jaw
portions are
connected to said body portion at hinge positions defining laterally spaced
axes, said
body portion comprises a base portion to which said jaw portions are connected
and at
least one decorative cover portion, and at least one said decorative cover
portion is
removable in use to enable different cover portions to be connected to said
base portion.
16. A hair clip comprising:
opposed jaws having teeth arranged to meet to clasp hair;
a jaw opening arrangement extending away from said jaws and for opening the
jaws
single handed; and
a mount arrangement on which said jaws are resiliently mounted at two or more
laterally spaced pivot axes;
wherein said mount arrangement defines a concave space into which said hair is
received when gripped by said jaws.
17. A hair clip comprising:
jaw means having teeth arranged to meet to grip hair;
jaw opening means extending away from said jaw means and for opening said jaw
means single handed; and
a mount means on which said jaw means are mounted so as to be resiliently
pivoted
about at least two laterally spaced axes;
wherein said mount means defines a concave space into which said hair is
received
when gripped by said jaw means.
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18. A hair clip according to claim 17, wherein said mount means comprises a
mount
body, and said jaw means comprises opposed jaw arrangements pivotably and
resiliently
mounted on said mount body.
19. A hair clip according to claim 18, wherein said mount means has an outer
face
and said jaw means are pivotably mounted on said mount means at a position
away from
said outer face.
20. A hair clip comprising:
a body portion;
jaw portions attached to said body portion; and
a jaw opening arrangement to allow said jaw portions to be opened single
handed;
wherein said jaw portions have tines and are hingedly and resiliently
connected to said
body portion to urge said tines together to a closed position for gripping
hair, said jaw
portions are connected to said body portion at hinge positions defining
laterally spaced
hinge axes, and said jaw portions and said body define an outer hair clip
surface which is
substantially cylindrical when said jaw portions are in the closed position.
21. A hair clip according to claim 20, wherein said tines are arranged to meet
substantially in a plane when said jaw portions are in the closed position.
22. A hair clip according to claim 21, wherein said tines are arranged to meet
interdigitatedly.
23. A hair clip according to any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein said jaw
portions are
hingedly connected to said body portion at a position away from said outer
face.
24. A hair clip according to any one of claims 20 to 23, wherein said jaw
opening
arrangement comprises handle portions extending from said jaw portions away
from said
tines to allow said jaw portions to be opened by urging said handle portions
about said
axes.
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25. A hair clip according to any one of claims 20 to 23, wherein said jaw
opening
arrangement comprises a jaw engagement portion arranged within said jaws
portions and
operable in a direction of said hinge axes to engage said jaw portions to urge
said jaw
portions open.
26. A hair clip according to claim 25, wherein said jaw engagement portion has
angled engagement surfaces for engagement with said jaw portions to urge said
jaw
portions open.
27. A hair clip according to claim 25 or 26, wherein said jaw engagement
portion is
carried by said body portion.
28. A hair clip according to claim 27, wherein said jaw engagement portion is
slidably attached to said body portion to allow said jaw engagement portion to
slide
relative to said body portion to engage said jaw portions.
29. A hair clip according to any one of claims 20 to 28, including resilient
portions
arranged between said body portion and said jaw portions to provide said
resilient
connection between said body portion and said jaw portions.
30. A hair clip according to claim 29, wherein said jaw portions are mounted
to said
body portion via pivot pins, and said resilient portions comprise spring
members
engaging said body portion and said jaw portions.
31. A hair clip according to claim 30, wherein said body portion and said jaw
portions are formed from a single piece of material thinned at said hinge
positions to
enable the relative pivoting of said jaw portions and said body portion, and
said resilient
portions comprise resilient members engaging said jaw portions and said body
portion.
32. A hair clip according to claim 31, wherein said resilient portions
comprise
resilient material connecting said jaw portions and said body portion.
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33. A hair clip according to claim 20, wherein said body portion comprises a
base
portion to which said jaw portions are connected, and at least one decorative
cover
portion.
34. A hair clip according to claim 33, wherein at least one said decorative
cover
portion is removable in use to enable different cover portions to be connected
to said base
portion.
35. A hair clip according to any one of claims 20 to 34, wherein said body
portion has
thin section edge portions defining a large aperture between said axes, to
allow said hair
of a wearer to be seen therethrough when worn.
36. A hair clip according to any one of claims 20 to 35, wherein said jaw
portions are
arcuate in section to define a volume between said body portion and said jaw
portions
into which said hair is clasped in use.
37. A hair clip according to claim 20, wherein each said jaw portion comprises
a
plurality of hingedly and resiliently coupled jaw sections, each axis of the
hinged
couplings lying parallel to said laterally spaced axes.
38. A hair clip comprising:
a body portion;
jaw portions attached to said body portion; and
a jaw opening arrangement to allow said jaw portions to be opened single
handed;
wherein said jaw portions have tines and are hingedly and resiliently
connected to said
body portion to urge said tines together to a closed position for gripping
hair, said jaw
portions are connected to said body portion at hinge positions defining
laterally spaced
hinge axes, and said tines are arranged to meet substantially in a plane when
said jaw
portions are in the closed position.
39. A hair clip according to claim 38, wherein said tines are arranged to meet
interdigitatedly.
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40. A hair clip comprising:
a body portion extending along an axis;
jaw portions attached to said body portion, said jaw portions having tines and
being
hingedly and resiliently connected to said body portion to urge said tines
together to a
closed position for gripping hair, and said jaw portions being connected to
said body
portion at hinge positions defining laterally spaced hinge axes parallel to
said axis;
a jaw opening arrangement to allow said jaw portions to be opened single
handed; and
cover portions extending from said jaw portions to cover at least a portion of
the gaps
between said body portion and said jaw portions and arranged to move under or
over said
body portion when said jaw portions are opened.
41. A hair clip according to claim 40, wherein said body portion has an outer
face and
said jaw portions are hingedly connected to said body portion at a position
away from
said outer face.
42. A hair clip according to claims 41, including hinge cover portions for
covering
the hinged resilient connections between said jaw portions and said body
portion and
arranged to move under or over said body portion when said jaw portions are
opened.
43. A hair clip according to claim 40 or 41, including hinge cover portions
for
covering the hinged resilient connections between said jaw portions and said
body
portion and arranged to move under or over said body portion when said jaw
portions are
opened.
44. A hair clip according to any one of claims 40 to 43, wherein said jaw
opening
arrangement comprises handle portions extending from said jaw portions away
from said
tines to allow said jaw portions to be opened by urging said handle portions
about said
axes.
45. A hair clip according to any one of claims 40 to 44, wherein said jaw
opening
arrangement comprises a jaw engagement portion arranged within said jaws
portions and
operable in a direction of said hinge axes to engage said jaw portions to urge
said jaw
portions open.
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46. A hair clip according to claim 45, wherein said jaw engagement portion has
angled engagement surfaces for engagement with said jaw portions to urge said
jaw
portions open.
47. A hair clip according to claim 45, wherein said jaw engagement portion is
by said
body portion.
48. A hair clip according to claim 45, wherein said jaw engagement portion is
slidably attached to said body portion to allow said jaw engagement portion to
slide
relative to said body portion to engage said jaw portions.
49. A hair clip according to any one of claims 40 to 48, including resilient
portions
arranged between said body portion and said jaw portions to provide said
resilient
connection between said body portion and said jaw portions.
50. A hair clip according to claim 49, wherein said jaw portions are mounted
to said
body portion via pivot pins, and said resilient portions comprise spring
members
engaging said body portion and said jaw portions.
51. A hair clip according to claim 49, wherein said body portion and said jaw
portions are formed from a single piece of material thinned at said hinge
positions to
enable the relative pivoting of said jaw portions and said body portion, and
said resilient
portions comprise resilient members engaging said jaw portions and said body
portion.
52. A hair clip according to claim 49, wherein said resilient portions
comprise
resilient material connecting said jaw portions and said body portion.
53. A hair clip according to any one of claims 40 to 52, wherein said body
portion
comprises a base portion to which said jaw portions are connected, and at
least one
decorative cover portion.
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54. A hair clip according to claim 53, wherein at least one said decorative
cover
portion is removable in use to enable different cover portions to be connected
to said base
portion.
55. A hair clip according to any one of claims 40 to 54, wherein said body
portion has
thin section edge portions defining a large aperture between said axes, to
allow said hair
of a wearer to be seen therethrough when worn.
56. A hair clip according to any one of claims 40 to 55, wherein said jaw
portions are
arcuate in section to define a volume between said body portion and said jaw
portions
into which said hair can be clasped in use.
57. A hair clip according to any one of claims 40 to 56, wherein each said jaw
portion
comprises a plurality of hingedly and resiliently coupled jaw sections, each
axis of the
hinged couplings lying parallel to said laterally spaced hinge axes.
58. A hair clip comprising:
a body portion extending along an axis;
jaw portions attached to said body portion, said jaw portions having tines and
being
hingedly and resiliently connected to said body portion to urge said tines
together to a
closed position for gripping hair, and said jaw portions being connected to
said body
portion at hinge positions defining laterally spaced hinge axes parallel to
said axis;
a jaw opening arrangement to allow said jaw portions to be opened single
handed; and
hinge cover portions for covering the hinged resilient connections between
said jaw
portions and said body portion and arranged to move under or over said body
portion
when said jaw portions are opened.
59. A hair clip according to claim 58, wherein said body portion has an outer
face and
said jaw portions are hingedly connected to said body portion at a position
away from
said outer face.
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60. A hair clip according to claim 58 or 59, wherein said jaw opening
arrangement
comprises handle portions extending from said jaw portions away from said
tines to
allow said jaws to be opened by urging said handle portions about said axes.
61. A hair clip according to claim 58 or 59, wherein said jaw opening
arrangement
comprises a jaw engagement portion arranged within said jaws portions and
operable in a
direction of said hinge axes to engage said jaw portions to urge said jaw
portions open.
62. A hair clip according to claim 61, wherein said jaw engagement portion has
angled engagement surfaces for engagement with said jaw portions to urge said
jaw
portions open.
63. A hair clip according to claim 61, wherein said jaw engagement portion is
carried
by said body portion.
64. A hair clip according to claim 63, wherein said jaw engagement portion is
slidably attached to said body portion to allow said jaw engagement portion to
slide
relative to said body portion to engage said jaw portions.
65. A hair clip according to any one of claims 58 to 64, including resilient
portions
arranged between said body portion and said jaw portions to provide said
resilient
connection between said body portion and said jaw portions.
66. A hair clip according to claim 65, wherein said jaw portions are mounted
to said
body portion via pivot pins, and said resilient portions comprise spring
members
engaging said body portion and said jaw portions.
67. A hair clip according to claim 65, wherein said body portion and said jaw
portions are formed from a single piece of material thinned at said hinge
positions to
enable the relative pivoting of said jaw portions and said body portion, and
said resilient
portions comprise resilient members engaging said jaw portions and said body
portion.
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68. A hair clip according to claim 65, wherein said resilient portions
comprise
resilient material connecting said jaw portions and said body portion.
69. A hair clip according to any one of claims 58 to 68, wherein said body
portion
comprises a base portion to which said jaw portions are connected, and at
least one
decorative cover portion.
70. A hair clip according to claim 69, wherein at least one said decorative
cover
portion is removable in use to enable different cover portions to be connected
to said base
portion.
71. A hair clip according to any one of claims 58 to 70, wherein said body
portion has
thin section edge portions defining a large aperture between said axes, to
allow said hair
of a wearer to be seen therethrough when worn.
72. A hair clip according to any one of claims 58 to 71, wherein said jaw
portions are
arcuate in section to define a volume between said body portion and said jaw
portions
into which said hair can be clasped in use.
73. A hair clip according to any one of claims 58 to 72, wherein each said jaw
portion
comprises a plurality of hingedly and resiliently coupled jaw sections, each
axis of the
hinged couplings lying parallel to said laterally spaced axes.