HANDS-FREE, GROOMING AND COSMETIC APPLICATION DEVICE THAT ASSISTS A USER IN SHAPING AND GROOMING THEIR EYEBROWS

Abstract

A hands-free eyebrow grooming and cosmetic application device that assists a user in shaping and grooming their eyebrows. One embodiment of the invention might include a first flat planar member having at least one substantially arc shaped aperture and at least one male securing tab and a second flat planar member having at least one substantially arc shaped aperture and at least one female receiving aperture sized and configured to receive a male securing tab from the first flat planar member and a securing strap, sized and configured to engage the first flat planar member and the second flat planar member such that when the first flat planar body member is engaged to the second flat planar member and the securing strap is engaged with the first flat planar body member and the second flat planar member, an elastically adjustable eyebrow shaping mask is formed.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

(Not Applicable).

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

(Not Applicable).

REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING,” A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC AND AN INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF THE MATERIAL ON THE COMPACT DISC

(Not Applicable).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to the field of grooming and cosmetic application devices, specifically, a hands-free, eyebrow grooming and cosmetic application device that assists a user in shaping and grooming their eyebrows.

It is believed that the custom of eyebrow grooming and shaping dates back at least as early as the early Egyptians. The famous bust of Nefertiti (1345 BC) shows the pharaoh's wife with dark, arced brows that historians believe were the result of eyebrow grooming and shaping. According to first-hand accounts from Greek historian Herodotus, when a cat died in a private home in Egypt, all inhabitants of the house would shave their eyebrows.

It is believed that the Ancient Greeks had their own strange eyebrow rituals as well. According to historians, women used powdered minerals or soot to paint their brows black, and appeared to have preferred a unibrow. Historical evidence suggests that eyebrows were also part of the Romans' elaborate beauty rituals, and like the Greeks, they favored a unibrow. References to women donning false brows to enhance their looks can be found literary works by writers and poets of both Greek and Roman lineage. Historical evidence suggests that the false brows referred to were made of dyed goat's hair and attached with tree resin.

Each culture has its own style for grooming ones eyebrows and each culture's style has evolved over time. The turn of the twentieth century brought commercially made cosmetics, including a whole subset of products specifically for eyebrow grooming, for example, eyebrow fillers. Historians account that a man named T. L. Williams created his “Lash-Brow-Ine”, in 1919, inspired by his sister Mabel's habit of applying Vaseline mixed with coal dust to emphasize her eyebrows and lashes. Mr. Williams' eyebrow grooming product was a product that would later be christened Maybelline, now the cosmetic company largely regarded as the gold standard for American companies focusing on commercially accessible cosmetic products.

Mr. Williams may well have been a trailblazer in the eyebrow grooming market, but since he blazed the trail, many have followed in his footsteps over the last ninety five years.

The physiological placement of the eyebrows, i.e. on the face and above the eyes, provides for a situation that requires at least a minimum level of hand eye coordination if one desires to engage in fine motor skill activity on one's own face, i.e. groom or apply cosmetics to one's own eyebrows.

Many attempts have been made to make eyebrow grooming or application of cosmetics to the eyebrow a more “dummy proof” experience; however, unfortunately, none of any such attempts have enjoyed significant commercial success, although the use of a pre-cut stencil apparatus to shape and groom one's eyebrows appears to have had the most success of the recent attempts.

The pre-cut stencil apparatus comprises essentially of a flat planar member that defines a substantially arc shaped aperture and said substantially shaped aperture is used as the guide from which a user marks the contours of the desired eyebrow shape and then removes the unwanted individual hairs until only the desired shape remains In operation, this is a deceptively difficult undertaking as one has to use one hand to hold the pre-cut stencil against the user's forehead while grooming or applying cosmetics to the eyebrow with the other hand, all the time while looking at a mirror and moving in opposite direction as that seen in the mirror.

Such an awkward and cumbersome method of using one hand to hold the pre-cut stencil while the other hand applies the cosmetic or grooms the user's eyebrow lends itself to a high margin of error. Particularly the risk of unevenly grooming both eyebrows as the stencil for the right eyebrow is not connected to stencil for the left eyebrow.

In order to address the problem of the awkward and cumbersome method of using one hand to hold the pre-cut stencil against the user's forehead while grooming or applying cosmetics to the eyebrow with the other hand, all the time while looking at a mirror and moving in opposite direction as that seen in the mirror, the inventors have invented the present invention, specifically, a hands-free, eyebrow grooming and cosmetic application device that assists a user in shaping and grooming their eyebrows.

The present invention also might serve as a tool to determine the ideal distance between a user's eyebrows, using predetermined indicia on the device as an alignment tool with the edges of the user's nose.

Said hands-free, eyebrow grooming and cosmetic application device comprises essentially of a first flat planar body member, defining at least one strap mounting aperture, at least one substantially arc shaped aperture, and a plurality of male securing tabs; a second flat planar body member defining at least one strap mounting aperture, at least on substantially arc shaped aperture, and a plurality of female receiving apertures, wherein each female receiving aperture is sized and configured to receive and engage a male securing tab from the first flat planar body member; and a securing strap sized and configured to engage the at least one strap mounting aperture on the first flat planar body member and the at least one strap mounting aperture on the second flat planar member such that when the first flat planar body member is engaged to the second flat planar member and the securing strap is engaged with the first flat planar body member and the second flat planar member, an elastically adjustable eyebrow shaping mask is formed.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a hands-free, eyebrow grooming and cosmetic application device that assists a user in shaping and grooming their eyebrows.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a hands-free, eyebrow grooming and cosmetic application device that allows a user to have both hands free to groom or apply cosmetics to their eyebrows.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a hands-free, eyebrow grooming and cosmetic application device that comes in a variety of pre-determined eyebrow shapes.

Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a hands-free, eyebrow grooming and cosmetic application device that comprises of a first flat planar member having at least one male securing tab and a second flat planar member having at least one female receiving aperture sized and configured to receive a male securing tab from the first flat planar member and a securing strap sized and configured to engage the first flat planar member and the second flat planar member such that when the first flat planar body member is engaged to the second flat planar member and the securing strap is engaged with the first flat planar body member and the second flat planar member, an elastically adjustable eyebrow shaping mask is formed.

Information relevant to attempts to address these objectives can easily be found on the internet using any available free internet search engine (such as, for example, Google® or Yahoo®), Applicant has included herewith a printout of one such attempt, specifically a brow stencil kit sold under the trade name of a “Paula Dorf Brow Stencil Kit”. The “Paula Dorf Brow Stencil Kit”, as well as other similar pre-cut stencil brow kits, suffer from one or more of the following disadvantages: (1) the referenced device does not allow for the user to use both of their hands as one hand must be used to hold the pre-cut stencil in place and (2) as the pre-cut stencils are separate, there is nothing securing the left and right stencil in place to ensure balanced grooming or cosmetic application to the eyebrow.

In light of the above, it would be beneficial to have the present invention, a hands-free, eyebrow grooming and cosmetic application device that assists a user in shaping and grooming their eyebrows, available to consumers in the market.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed towards the field of grooming and cosmetic application devices, specifically, hands-free, eyebrow grooming and cosmetic application devices that assists a user in shaping and grooming their eyebrows. One embodiment of the present invention can include a first flat planar member having at least one male securing tab and a second flat planar member having at least one female receiving aperture sized and configured to receive a male securing tab from the first flat planar member and a securing strap, having a first end and a second end, sized and configured to engage the first flat planar member and the second flat planar member such that when the first flat planar body member is engaged with the second flat planar member and the securing strap is engaged with the first flat planar body member and the second flat planar member, an elastically adjustable eyebrow shaping mask is formed.

In one embodiment it is also envisioned that the device might include a single flat planar body member defining both a left substantially arc shaped aperture and a right substantially arc shaped aperture such that when a securing strap is engaged thereto, an elastically adjustable eyebrow shaping mask is formed.

In operation, the user first selects the desired eyebrow shape from the plurality of sets of flat planar members defining a variety of differently shaped apertures corresponding to differently shaped eyebrows. Once the user has selected the desired eyebrow shape and the user has obtained the first and second flat planar member with corresponding identifiers, the user engages the male securing tab of the first flat planar member with the female receiving aperture of the second flat planar member and then secures said securing tab using, for example, a securing tab receiving aperture located on the first flat planar member. The user then engages the first end of the securing strap with the at least one strap mounting aperture on the first flat planar body member and the second end of the securing strap with the at least one strap mounting aperture on the second flat planar member such that when the first flat planar body member is engaged to the second flat planar member and the first end of the securing strap is engaged with the first flat planar body member and the second end of the securing strap is engaged with the second flat planar member, an elastically adjustable eyebrow shaping mask is formed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Presently preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the device in an assembled configuration removably engaged to a user's head.

FIG. 2 depicts the left side portion of an exploded view of one embodiment of the device illustrating how the first flat planar member engages the second flat planar member and how the securing strap engages the first and second flat planar members.

FIG. 3 depicts the right side portion of an exploded view of one embodiment of the device illustrating how the first flat planar member engages the second flat planar member and how the securing strap engages the first and second flat planar members.

FIG. 4 depicts a top plan view of one embodiment of the device illustrating the first flat planar member engaging the second flat planar member.

FIG. 5 depicts a side elevation view of one embodiment of the device illustrating the first flat planar member engaging the second flat planar member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the description in conjunction with the drawings. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the inventive arrangements in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.

For purposes of this description, the terms “upper,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the device 10 in its assembled position ready for use, which is useful for understanding the inventive concepts described herein. As shown, the device 10, according to one embodiment, can include a first flat planar body member 100, a second flat planar body member 200, and a securing strap 300.

As described in greater detail in FIG. 2, the first flat planar body member 100, may be substantially rectangular in shape with a plurality of horizontally extending fingers (securing tabs 106). The first flat planar body member 100 defines at least one strap mounting aperture 102, at least one substantially arc shaped aperture 104, and a plurality of male securing tabs 106. While the dimensions of the first flat planar body member 100 are not critical, in the preferred embodiment, the first flat planar body member 100 can have a length about its horizontal axis of about two and one half (2.5) inches with the horizontally extending male securing tabs 106 having an additional length of about two (2) inches, and a length about its vertical axis of about one (1) inch. Of course any number of shapes and dimensions are also contemplated.

It is envisioned that one embodiment of the device 10 might further include a first flat planar body member 100 that further defines at least one securing aperture 108 for each of the plurality of male securing tabs 106.

In one embodiment, it is envisioned that the first flat planar body member 100 may be composed of a plastic material, although one skilled in the art would recognize that other semi-rigid sheet materials may also be used. It is envisioned that the first flat planar body member 100 might be composed of a transparent plastic sheet material; however, it is also contemplated that the first flat planar body member 100 might be composed of a clear or colored, translucent or opaque material as well. In certain embodiments of the device 10, it is contemplated that the first flat planar body member 100 might further comprise markings or other indicia. In some embodiments, said indicia might correspond to predetermined units of measure. In other embodiments, said indicia might assist the user in assembling the device 10 by assisting the user to align the various pieces of the unassembled device 10 in the proper configuration, such that, the various pieces of the unassembled device 10, when aligned using the indicia, allow for the user to easily assemble the various pieces to form the assembled device 10 ready for use.

Although FIGS. 1 and 2 show the substantially arc shaped aperture 104 of the first flat planar body member 100 with a gradual arc shaped aperture, any number of variations of the degree of the arc are also contemplated. Alternate embodiments of the device 10 might include a first flat planar body member 100 that defines a plurality of substantially arc shaped apertures 104 on a single first flat planar body member 100, such that one first flat planar member 100 might contain several substantially arc shaped apertures 104 thereon.

As described in greater detail in FIG. 3, the second flat planar body member 200, may be substantially rectangular in shape. The second flat planar body member 200 defines at least one strap mounting aperture 202, at least one substantially arc shaped aperture 204, and a plurality of female receiving apertures 206, wherein each female receiving aperture 206 is sized and configured to receive and engage a male securing tab 106 from the first flat planar body member 100. While the dimensions of the second flat planar body member 200 are not critical, in the preferred embodiment, the second flat planar body member 200 can have a length about its horizontal axis of about two and one half (2.5) inches and a length about its vertical axis of about one (1) inch. Of course any number of shapes and dimensions are also contemplated. In one embodiment, it is envisioned that the second flat planar body member 200 may be composed of a plastic material, although one skilled in the art would recognize that other semi-rigid materials may also be used.

It is envisioned that the second flat planar body member 200 might be composed of a transparent plastic sheet material; however, it is also contemplated that the second flat planar body member 200 might be composed of a clear or colored, translucent or opaque material as well. In certain embodiments of the device 10, it is contemplated that the second flat planar body member 200 might further comprise markings or other indicia. In some embodiments, said indicia might correspond to predetermined units of measure. In other embodiments, said indicia might assist the user in assembling the device 10 by assisting the user to align the various pieces of the unassembled device 10 in the proper configuration, such that, the various pieces of the unassembled device 10, when aligned using the indicia, allow for the user to easily assemble the various pieces to form the assembled device 10 ready for use.

Although FIGS. 1 and 3 show the substantially arc shaped aperture 204 of the second flat planar body member 200 with a gradual arc shaped aperture, any number of variations of the degree of the arc are also contemplated. Alternate embodiments of the device 10 might include a second flat planar body member 200 that defines a plurality of substantially arc shaped apertures 204 on a single second flat planar body member 200, such that one second flat planar member 200 might contain several substantially arc shaped apertures 204 thereon.

It is contemplated that alternative embodiments of the device 10 might include a single flat planar body member (not pictured) defining both a left substantially arc shaped aperture and a right substantially a shaped aperture such that when a securing strap is engaged thereto, an elastically adjustable eyebrow shaping mask is formed without the need of first, securing a first flat planar body member 100 with a first substantially arced shaped aperture 104 with a second flat planar body member 200 with a second substantially arced shaped aperture 204, prior to using the device 10.

The securing strap 300 has a first end 302 and a second end 304, a first securing end 306 and a second securing end 308, sized and configured to engage the at least one strap mounting aperture 102 on the first flat planar body member 100 and the at least one strap mounting aperture 202 on the second flat planar body member 200 such that when the first flat planar body member 100 is engaged to the second flat planar body member 200 and the first end 302 of the securing strap 300 is engaged with the first flat planar body member 100 and the second end of the securing strap is engaged with the second flat planar body member 200, an elastically adjustable eyebrow shaping mask is formed. While the dimensions of the securing strap 300 are not critical, in the preferred embodiment, the securing strap 300 can have a length of about nine (9) inches, such that the assembled device 10 can comfortably fit around a user's head. Of course any number of lengths are also contemplated. In one embodiment, it is envisioned that the securing strap 300 may be composed of an elastic rubber material, although one skilled in the art would recognize that other elastic materials may also be used.

In operation, the user first selects the desired eyebrow shape from the plurality of sets of flat planar members defining a variety of differently shaped apertures. Once the user has selected the desired eyebrow shape and the user has obtained the first flat planar body member 100 and the corresponding second flat planar body member 200 having the corresponding identifying indicia, the user engages the male securing tab 106 of the first flat planar body member 100 with the female receiving aperture 206 of the second flat planar body member 200 and then secures said securing tab 106 using, for example, a securing tab receiving aperture 108 located on the first flat planar body member 100. One skilled in the art would recognize that there are alternative methods to secure the first flat planar body member 100 with the second flat planar body member 200, including for example, using a joining adhesive,

The user then engages the first end 302 of the securing strap 300, with the at least one strap mounting aperture 102 on the first flat planar body member 100 and the second end 304 of the securing strap 300 with the at least one strap mounting aperture 202 on the second flat planar body member 200 such that when the first flat planar body member 100 is engaged to the second flat planar member 200 and the first end 302 of the securing strap 300 is engaged with the first flat planar body member 100 and the second end 304 of the securing strap 300 is engaged with the second flat planar member 200, an elastically adjustable eyebrow shaping mask is formed.

As to a further description of the manner and use of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

1. A hands-free, grooming and cosmetic application device that assists a user in shaping and grooming their eyebrows, said device comprising:

a first flat planar body member, said first flat planar body member defining at least one strap mounting aperture, at least one substantially arc shaped aperture, and a plurality of male securing tabs;

a second flat planar body member, said second flat planar body member defining at least one strap mounting aperture, at least on substantially arc shaped aperture, and a plurality of female receiving apertures, wherein each female receiving aperture is sized and configured to receive and engage a male securing tab from the first flat planar body member; and

a securing strap, having a first end and second end, sized and configured to engage the at least one strap mounting aperture on the first flat planar body member and the at least one strap mounting aperture on the second flat planar member such that when the first flat planar body member is engaged to the second flat planar member and the first end of the securing strap is engaged with the first flat planar body member and the second end of the securing strap is engaged with the second flat planar member, an elastically adjustable eyebrow shaping mask is formed.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the substantially arc shaped apertures on the first and second flat planar body members comprise of a plurality of substantially arc shaped apertures, each aperture having a unique curvature, that corresponds to differently shaped eyebrow shapes, wherein each first flat planar body member has a corresponding second flat planar body member having a mirror image of the substantially arc shaped aperture of the first flat planar body member such that a pair of symmetric substantially arc shaped apertures are formed when the first flat planar body member is engaged with the second flat planar body member.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first flat planar body member further defines at least one securing aperture for each of the plurality of male securing tabs.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein each male securing tab further comprises of a plurality of markings that correspond to predetermined units of measure that correspond to a plurality of distances between a user's right eye and a user's left eye.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first flat planar body member further comprises of an indicia used to align the first flat planar body member with the second flat planar body member prior to using the device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the second flat planar body member further comprises of an indicia used to align the second flat planar body member with the first flat planar body member prior to using the device.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second flat planar body members further comprises of an indicia used to determine the ideal spacing of a user's eyebrows.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said indicia is used to align the device with the edge of a user's nose.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the securing strap sized and configured to engage the at least one strap mounting aperture on the first flat planar body member and the at least one strap mounting aperture on the second flat planar member is composed of an elastic material such that the device forms a substantially ring like shape when the securing strap is engaged with the at least one strap mounting aperture of the first flat planar body member and the at least one strap mounting aperture of the second flat planar body member and the first flat planar body member is engaged with the second flat planar body member.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the first flat planar body member and second flat planar body member are composed of a plastic sheet material.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the first flat planar body member and second flat planar body member are composed of a transparent material.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the first flat planar body member and second flat planar body member are composed of a translucent material.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the first flat planar body member and second flat planar body member are composed of an opaque material.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the securing strap is adjustable to accommodate a plurality of head sizes.

15. A hands-free, grooming and cosmetic application device that assists a user in shaping and grooming their eyebrows, said device comprising:

a flat planar body member, said first flat planar body member having a first end and a second end and defining

at least two strap mounting apertures, a first strap mounting aperture located at the first end of the flat planar body member and a second strap mounting aperture located at the second end of the flat planar body member,

at least two substantially arc shaped apertures positioned horizontally adjacent to each other as mirror images of each other; and

a securing strap, having a first end and second end, sized and configured to engage the strap mounting apertures of the flat planar body member such that when the first end of the securing strap is engaged to the strap mounting aperture located on the first end of the flat planar body member and the second end of the securing strap is engaged to the strap mounting aperture located on the second end of the flat planar body member, an elastically adjustable eyebrow shaping and grooming mask is formed.