EYE MAKEUP DEVICE
An eye makeup device including a covering that can be placed near or over the eyes of a person to guide application of eye color to the upper eyelids of the person. The covering has an inner side for facing the person's skin and an outer side. The inner side is formed from a material that is sufficiently flexible to follow the surface topology of the person's face around the eye region and also sufficiently tacky to stay in place on the person's skin.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/037,733, filed on Aug. 20, 2014 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and is commonly owned by And. B LLC of New York, N.Y.
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to an eye makeup device and, more particularly, to an eye makeup device that includes one more coverings or stencils to assist in quick, yet precise, eye makeup application, and especially eye shadow application.
Applying eye shadow correctly can be intimidating to most people, because they are not sure where to apply, how to apply evenly, and how to apply to get the most flattering look. Also, it can be challenging to apply eye shadow without extra residue falling underneath the eye area and ruining the foundation and/or powder that may have been applied to the face.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, an eye makeup device is provided that can help guide a person to apply eye makeup, and more particularly to help a person apply color to the eye area to achieve the look they want.
In one embodiment, the makeup device includes a covering that can be placed near or around the eyes to guide application of eye color to the upper eyelids. Thus, the covering shields at least underneath the eye and/or outside the desired area, leaving the upper eyelids uncovered where eye color is to be applied.
In one aspect, the covering is configured as a mask, which extends over both eyes and eyebrows. The mask includes openings for each eye that are sized to leave at least part of the upper eyelid exposed.
In another aspect, the covering is configured as a patch, which covers at least a portion of the area beneath the eye, i.e. the lower eye lid, leaving the upper eyelid exposed where eye color is to be applied. Optionally, the patch may also cover the side of the face, including adjacent the eye, for example, the temple area.
In any of the above coverings, the covering may be formed from a single ply of flexible and tacky material so that the covering will adhere to the person's skin leaving both hands of the person free to apply makeup so the single ply of material forms both the inner facing side of the covering and outer facing side of the covering.
For example, the material may comprise a material that is sufficiently flexible and tacky to allow the covering to follow the surface topology of the person's skin and adhere to the person's skin but that can be removed by pulling on the covering but without the material significantly tugging on the person's skin.
In any of the above coverings, the covering may have multi plies of material, with at least one ply that forms the inner facing side of the covering being formed from a flexible and tacky material so that the covering will adhere to the person's skin leaving both hands of the person free to apply makeup.
The second ply may also be a flexible, tacky material but with different properties than the first ply. For example, in some embodiments the first ply may be formed from a silicone gel, silica gel, or hydrogel material that absorbs moisture and gently adheres to the skin.
For example, the material may comprise a material that is sufficiently flexible and tacky to allow the covering to follow the surface topology of the person's skin and adhere to the person's skin and that can be removed by pulling on the covering but without the material significantly tugging on the person's skin.
For example, a suitable thickness of the covering may be in a range of 1/16 to ½ of an inch or in a range of ⅛ to 7/16 of an inch or in a range of 3/16 to 5/16 of an inch.
In another form, the covering maybe formed from a material that provides a less tacky material—e.g. a material that will softly or gently adhere to the skin but will not support the weight of the covering. In which case, the covering may include ear straps to maintain the mask while color is applied.
In another embodiment, a shield tool includes a handle, which supports a shield body that is configured to at least partially cover a person's eyelid.
Optionally, the shield body may be solid or may have a foraminous (with a plurality of holes) region, which forms a filter allowing some of the makeup to pass through at least a portion of the shield body to create a lighter application of makeup over the skin beneath the shield body. Further, the density of the holes may vary, again to vary the amount of applied makeup.
In one form a method of applying makeup includes, applying a flexible, tacky covering over a portion of the person's face to cover at least the under eye region, closing the eyelid, and spraying the makeup onto the closed eyelid, with the covering masking at least the under eye region.
In one embodiment, the covering masks the under eye region and above the brow area (the eyebrow area).
To use a palette of colors, the method further includes masking a portion of the eyelid to block application of the makeup to one portion of the eyelid so that a separate color may be applied to one portion of the eyelid, for example, to the crease of the eyelid to create drama and definition. Optionally, the applied makeup may be filtered, by masking a portion of the eyelid with a screen, so that amount of spray makeup is filtered over a selected area of the eyelid, for example, the crease area, for better blending.
Alternatively, color may be applied using the invention with regular manually applied eye shadow. The covering, therefore, can still act as a shield, and one or both shield tools may act as a guide or guides for application of makeup within the area left exposed by the covering.
The coverings (mask and/or patches) and shield tools when combined with an eye shadow spray allow people to forgo dealing with brushes and their high maintenance and messy eye shadow powder. The eye shadow spray can deliver consistent color to the eyelid to ensure a flawless look. The coverings and optional shield tools ensure the color is applied to the correct location and minimizes excess color muddying the overall look.
Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of operation or to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention may be implemented in various other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in alternative ways not expressly disclosed herein. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. Further, enumeration may be used in the description of various embodiments. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the use of enumeration should not be construed as limiting the invention to any specific order or number of components. Nor should the use of enumeration be construed as excluding from the scope of the invention any additional steps or components that might be combined with or into the enumerated steps or components.
Referring to
For example, a suitable material for forming covering 12 includes silicone or a silicone based material or a gel or gel based material, such as a silicone gel, silica gel, or hydrogel. One suitable gel for use in this embodiment of the invention is commercially available under the name ELASTO-GEL hydrogel, which is available from Southwest Technologies, Inc. in North Kansas City, Mo. or under the name AQUAFLOW from Kendall Healthcare.
In one embodiment, the composition comprises silica particles, e.g. silica nanoparticles. As understood in the art, silica generally comprises silicon dioxide (SiO2), or Q siloxy units (SiO412). In one embodiment, the silica comprises a silica gel, which is generally formed via the sol-gel process from sodium silicate. During the sol-gel process to prepare the silica gel, parameters associated with the silica gel may be controlled as desired, for example to modify surface area, particle size, porosity, etc. Alternatively, the silica may comprise other forms of silica, e.g. precipitated silica and/or fumed silica. Silica has a much higher crosslink density than silicone resins or polymers. The silica may optionally be in the form of a colloidal dispersion. The silica may be dispersed in a polar solvent such as methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol (IPA), ketones such as methyl isobutyl ketone, water, acetic acid, diols and trials such as propylene glycol, 2-methyl-1,3-propane diol HOCH2CH(CH3)CH2OH, 1,2-hexanediol CH3(CH2)3CH(OH)CH2OH, and glycerol; glycerol esters such as glyceryl triacetate (triacetin), glyceryl tripropionate (tripropionin), and glyceryl tributyrate (tributyrin); and polyglycols such as polyethylene glycols and polypropylene glycols, among which are PPG-14 butyl ether C4H9(OCH(CH3)CH2)14OH. Alternatively, the silica may be dispersed in a non-polar solvent such as toluene, benzene, xylene, etc.
In certain embodiments, the silica has an average particle size of from 1 to 1000, alternatively from 1 to 100, or alternatively from 5 to 30 nm. The silica can be a single type of silica or a mixture comprising at least two different types of silica. Silica may comprise pure silicon dioxide, or silica may comprise a certain level of impurities such as Al2O3, ZnO, and/or cations such as Na+, K++, Ca++, Mg++, etc.
The shape of covering 12 may vary. Referring to
Additionally, mask 14 may include upper and lower arcuate portions 18 and 20, which align between the eyebrows and with the bridge of the nose. However, it should be understood that the mask may extend straight across the face with either one or both arcuate portions eliminated. In this manner, when the mask is applied to the face, the eyelids and the brow region beneath the eyebrows are exposed for makeup application.
As noted above, covering 12 is preferably sufficiently flexible, for example, with its gel-like consistency, which allows it to conform to the surface contours of the person's face. For example, covering 12 may have a thickness in a range of about 1/16 of an inch to about ½ an inch. A suitable thickness of the covering may also be in a range of ⅛ to 7/16 of an inch or in a range of 3/16 to 5/16 of an inch.
In this manner, depending on the material, the covering may form a seal against the skin to expose a defined region of skin. Further as noted above, covering 12 may be formed from a silicone material or a gel material, for example, in the form of a panel or sheet of the silicone or gel material that includes an inwardly facing side 12a and an outwardly facing side 12b, with the inwardly facing side forming the tacky side for adhering covering 12 to the face of a person. In other words, the silicon or gel forming covering 12 may not include any intermediary layer or coating between it and the face of the person to which it is applied.
Optionally, the outwardly facing side of covering 12 may also be free of any overlying layer or coating so the covering may be a single ply of material or a layer of a single material. Alternately, the covering may have multiple plies.
In one example, the covering includes multiple plies of the same material, namely the flexible, tacky material, such as silicone or hydrogel.
In another example, the covering may have multiple plies, with one layer being the flexible, tacky material, such as the silicone or hydrogel, and the other layer having different properties. For example, the outwardly facing side of covering 12 may be formed from an outer layer or coating, including a film, such a layer of soft plastic to form a flexible, but impermeable layer, or a thin layer of a paper-based material to form a flexible, but semi-impermeable layer, which can at least partially block the absorption of the applied makeup into the covering and/or may be washable and/or cleanable. In this manner, covering 12 may comprise a 2 or more ply covering.
When made from a single ply or multiple plies of hydrogel, covering 12 may provide an air permeable barrier so the skin beneath the covering is not deprived of oxygen. Further, because hydrogels can absorb or desorb moisture, the covering can also prevent moisture build up or moisture deprivation in the underlying skin. The moisture absorbing and desorbing properties of the gel can create a moisture equilibrium between the gel, the skin, and the atmosphere, thus avoiding the potential of the sensitive skin around the eye from becoming dehydrated, overhydrated, or deprived of oxygen.
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In either embodiment, the shield body may be rigid, semi-rigid or flexible. For example, the shield body (24 or 34) may be formed from a plastic to form a rigid shield body or maybe formed from a silicone or hydrogel to provide a flexible shield body and optionally greater thickness than covering 12 to provide additional stiffness to the shield body.
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For example, the width Y of patch 214 may be in a range of 2″ to 3″, or 2¼″ to 2¾″, or about 2½″. The center dimension Z of patch 214 (as measured from the inner edge of the patch to the axis which should be aligned with the pupil of the person wearing the patch) may be in a range of ¾″ to 1¼″, or ⅞″ to 1⅛″ or about F. The height X of patch 214 as measured through the center of the patch may be in a range of 1 3/16″ to 1 7/16″ or 1¼″ to 1⅜″ or about 1 5/16″. The differential height of the outer, longer lobe 214d as measured between the upper edge of the inner lobe and outer lobe may be in a range ¼″ to ½″ or ⅜″ to 7/16″ or about 5/16″. Patches 314 may have similar dimensions to patches 214 but have a differential height in a range of ½″ to ¾″ or 9/16″ to 11/16″ or about ⅝″.
Optionally, any of the mask 14 or patches 114, 214, or 314 may include a region of excess material 14a, 114a, 214a, or 314a, such as shown in
Alternately, the mask 14 or patches 114, 214, or 314 may include a thinned region at the region of the lower eyelashes so that the mask or patch may be stretched over the upper and lower eyelashes when the eyelid is closed to thereby help close the eyelid.
In another embodiment, the covering may be formed from a material that provides a less tacky material—e.g. a material that will softly adhere to the skin but will not support the weight of the covering. In which case, the covering may include ear straps on either side to maintain the mask while color is applied. For example, the covering may include loops of flexible elastic strands secured to the opposed sides of the covering, which are sufficiently long to reach and wrap around the persons ears.
To use the coverings to apply makeup, the flexible, tacky covering is gently placed on the person's skin to cover at least the under eye region. The person then closes their eyes either with or without the assistance of the covering, as described above. Once the eye lids are closed, the person can then either manually apply eye shadow or spray the eye shadow onto the closed eyelid, with the covering masking at least the under eye region.
In one embodiment, the covering is adhered to also cover above the brow area (the eyebrow area).
To use a palette of colors, the method further includes masking a portion of the eyelid to block application of the makeup to one portion of the eyelid so that a separate color may be applied to one portion of the eyelid, for example, to the crease of the eyelid to create drama and definition. Optionally, the applied makeup may be filtered, by masking a portion of the eyelid with a screen, so that amount of spray makeup is filtered over a selected area of the eyelid, for example, the crease area, for better blending.
Alternatively, color may be applied using the invention with regular manually applied eye shadow. The covering, therefore, can still act as a guide, and with one or both shield tools acting as a guide or guides for application of makeup within the area left exposed by the covering.
The coverings (mask and/or patches) and shield tools combined with an eye shadow spray allow people to forgo dealing with brushes and their high maintenance and messy eye shadow powder. The eye shadow spray can deliver consistent color to the eyelid to ensure a flawless look. The coverings and optional shield tools ensure the color is applied to the correct location and minimizes excess color muddying the overall look.
The coverings of the present invention, therefore, may be reusable material which can be washed, or disposable for one time use. Also, because of the thin and flexible nature of the covering, whether in the form of the mask or patch, the covering may be cut to suit so that it can be tailored for each person's individual eye size and spacing.
While several forms of the inventions have been shown and described, the above description is that of current embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. This disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limit the scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated or described in connection with these embodiments. This includes, for example, presently known alternative elements, such as those that might be currently known to one skilled in the art, and alternative elements that may be developed in the future, such as those that one skilled in the art might, upon development, recognize as an alternative. Further, the disclosed embodiments include a plurality of features that are described in concert but which can be used independently and/or combined with other features. The present invention is not limited to only those embodiments that include all of these features or that provide all of the stated benefits, except to the extent otherwise expressly set forth in the issued claims. For example, any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular. Additionally, directional terms used in the specification, such as “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “inner,” “inwardly,” “outer” and “outwardly,” are used to assist in describing the invention based on the orientation of the embodiments shown in the illustrations. The use of directional terms should not be interpreted to limit the invention to any specific orientation(s).
Therefore, it will be understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is defined by the claims which follow as interpreted under the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.
Claims
1. An eye makeup device comprising:
- a covering that can be placed near or over the eyes of a person to guide application of eye color to the upper eyelids of the person; and
- the covering having an inner side for facing the person's skin and an outer side, at least the inner side being formed from a material that is sufficiently flexible to follow the surface topology of the person's face around the eye region and also sufficiently tacky to stay in place on the person's skin.
2. The eye makeup device according to claim 1, wherein the covering is configured as a mask for extending over both eyes and eyebrows, the mask including openings for aligning with each eye, and the openings being sized to leave at least part of the upper eyelid exposed when the mask is applied to the person's face.
3. The eye makeup device according to claim 1, wherein the covering is configured as a patch, the patch for covering at least a portion of the area beneath the eye and for leaving the upper eyelid exposed where eye color can be applied.
4. The eye makeup device according to claim 1, wherein the covering is formed from a single ply of flexible and tacky material so that the covering can adhere to the person's skin leaving both hands of the person free to apply makeup, and the single ply of material forming both the inner facing side of the covering and outer facing side of the covering.
5. The eye makeup device according to claim 1, wherein the covering is formed from a ply of flexible and tacky material so that the covering can adhere to the person's skin leaving both hands of the person free to apply makeup, and the ply of material forming the inner facing side of the covering.
6. The eye makeup device according to claim 1, wherein the material forming the covering may comprise a material that is sufficiently flexible and tacky to allow the covering to follow the surface topology of the person's skin and adhere to the person's skin but that can be removed by pulling on the covering but without the material significantly tugging on the person's skin.
7. The eye makeup device according to claim 1, wherein the covering includes at least a first ply and a second ply of material.
8. The eye makeup device according to claim 7, wherein the first ply forms the inner facing side of the covering and being formed from a flexible and tacky material so that the covering will adhere to the person's skin leaving both hands of the person free to apply makeup, and the second ply comprising a flexible, tacky material but with different properties than the first ply.
9. The eye makeup device according to claim 1, wherein the covering comprises a silicone or hydrogel material.
10. The eye makeup device according to claim 9, wherein the covering has a thickness in a range of 1/16 to ½ inch or in a range of ⅛ to 7/16 of an inch or in a range of 3/16 to 5/16 of an inch.
11. The eye makeup device according to claim 1, wherein the covering maybe formed from a material that provides sufficient tackiness to support itself on a person's face.
12. The eye makeup device according to claim 1, wherein the covering includes ear straps to support the covering from a person's ears.
13. A shield tool comprising:
- a handle; and
- a shield body supported by the handle, the shield body being is configured to at least partially cover a person's eyelid.
14. The shield tool according to claim 13, wherein the shield body is solid.
15. The shield tool according to claim 13, wherein the shield body is foraminous with a plurality of spaced through holes.
16. The shield tool according to claim 13, wherein the density of the holes may vary across the shield body.
17. A method of applying makeup comprises:
- applying a flexible, tacky covering over a portion of the person's face to mask at least the under eye region and leaving at least the upper eyelid exposed;
- closing the upper eyelid; and
- applying the makeup onto the closed upper eyelid.
18. The method of applying makeup according to claim 17, further comprising applying the covering to mask the under eye region and above the brow area below the eyebrow.
19. The method of applying makeup according to claim 18, further wherein the applying includes applying the flexible, tacky covering over both eyes to mask the under eye regions and the brow areas below the eyebrows.
20. The method of applying makeup according to claim 17, further comprising masking a portion of the exposed eyelid to block application of the makeup to the one exposed portion of the eyelid.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 20, 2015
Publication Date: Feb 25, 2016
Inventors: Andrea Abraham (New York, NY), Bobbie Grund (New York, NY)
Application Number: 14/831,098