EYELASH APPLICATION TOOL
Systems and methods here may include a two armed, spring biased applicator tool. In some examples, the arms may include an approximately 90 degree offset arm with silicone pads to aid in application of false eyelashes. In some examples, the system may include a locking mechanism to hold the two arms together for storage or application.
This application relates to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/116,738 filed on Nov. 20, 2020, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThis application relates to the field of systems and methods of application of cosmetic fake or false eyelashes.
BACKGROUNDApplication of fake eyelashes is difficult to do by hand. Often, fake eyelashes are applied with fingers, tweezers or other tools. To apply a fake lash, one must apply one lash at a time, simplified in an 5 step process, 1: removing the lash from its container, 2: applying a line of glue on the lash line, 3: waiting for the glue to dry, 4: adhering the lash along the eyeline, 5: adjusting the lash position to fall exactly where desired. Challenges with the process are: Step 1: It is difficult to remove a lash from a container without ripping, stretching or otherwise damaging the lash. Step 2: Once removed, it is again logistically challenging to apply glue to the lash. Whether using fingers or existing tools, you must be able to get the glue on the lash while the lash is being held in your hands, either using your fingers or another tool. Step 3: While awaiting the glue to dry (typically 10-60 secs), one must continue to hold the lash, or place it down, risking getting the glue dirty, which could lead to an unsanitary environment or weaken the adhesion. Step 4: Once the glue is dry, one must apply the lash to one's eye using fingers or another device, often with a limited line of sight. Additionally, difficulty is presented to place a lash on both eyes, as one eye is usually easier given hand-dominance and line of sight. Steph 5: In finalizing application, one must adjust the lash, either by picking it up and placing it down again, or by tamping the lash edges. To do this, people typically use a variety of tools or their fingers. If a tool was used to place the lash on the eye (for example, a tweezer), this tool would be too dangerous or sharp to also be used to tamp.
SUMMARYMethods and systems here may include a top arm with a hinge knuckle at a first end and an angled applicator arm at a second end, a bottom arm with a hinge knuckle at a first end and an angled applicator arm at a second end, where the first arm hinge knuckle and second arm hinge knuckle are arranged with a hinge pin connecting them a compression spring arranged between the top arm and bottom arm configured to exert a bias force against the two arms, a lock on the bottom arm with a hook, configured to move into a first position to engage with a hook on the top arm and move into a second position to disengage the hook on the top arm.
For a better understanding of the embodiments described in this application, reference should be made to the Detailed Description below, in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the figures.
Systems described here may be used to apply fake or false eyelashes to an eyelid of a human user, resulting in methods of such application.
Also shown in
Further still,
In use, the user may utilize the sliding lock arm 340 to hold the top arm 304 and bottom arm 306 together and thereby compress the compression spring 344. Such a lock may be useful in adhering the false lash to the user eye lid and/or lash in examples where a glue or adhesive takes time to set, gel, or dry. In some examples, it may be beneficial to store the system in a closed and locked position. In so locking the top arm 304 and bottom arm 306 in the pinched, closed, or compressed position, the user may not have to exert constant pressure, and the lock system 340 may take that load. To unlock the lock 340, the user may slide the lock hook in the opposite direction to disengage a hook on the top arm 304 and allow the top arm 304 and bottom arm 306 to pivot away from one another about the hinge 308.
In some examples, the top arm 304 and bottom arm 306 may be made of and/or include zinc. In some examples, they may be made of any one or combination of, aluminum alloys, iron, steel, brass, bronze, ferrous and non-ferrous metals. In some examples, they may be made of plastic, ceramics, and/or wood, and/or any combination of the above or different materials.
Example Hinged ArrangementThe hinged arrangement allows for the top arm 404 and bottom arm 406 to pivot relative to one another around the pivot hinge pin 408. In some examples, a spring system is arranged between the two arms in order to supply a bias force between the arms and exert a force to push them away from one another when in rest. In such examples, a spring 444 may be set between the two arms 404, 406 and held in place by a spring housing 446, 448 which may be arranged in the form of a wall, circular wall, semi-circular wall, or other arrangement in order to allow the spring 444 to exert pressure but stay in place. In some examples, one of the spring wall housings 446 is generally circularly shaped with a diameter smaller than that of the other spring housing wall 448. In such examples, when compressed, the smaller wall 446 may be nested into and/or fit inside the larger circular wall 448 when force is applied to counteract the spring 444 which is biased to pushing the top arm 404 and bottom arm 406 away from one another.
In some examples, guide ribs 462, 460 may be arranged on the two arms 406, 404 in order to help keep the arms aligned properly when opening and closing. In such examples, one set of guide ribs 462 may include more than one rib generally running down the length of the arm 406 and the guide ribs 460 on the other arm 404 may be arranged parallel to the other guide ribs 462 but be singular and fit between the two guide ribs 462. In such a way, the single guide rib 460 may slide between the two guide ribs 462 on the other arm when the system is closed and the arms are pushed together. In some examples, a second set of guide ribs 464, 468 may be arranged on the arms in order to further facilitate the alignment of the system in opening and closing in the same or similar way, with one guide rib 464 arranged to slide between two guide ribs 468 on the other arm 406 when in a closed position. In the example of
In some examples, the spring 404 may not be a coiled metal spring as shown, but may be a compressible silicone block that could deform and deflect during opening and closing of the system. In some examples, a leaf spring may be used. In some examples, a washer spring or compressed media such as rubber may be used. In some examples, a combination of these materials may be used, such as a wire spring embedded in a silicone block and/or any other combination to create a pushing bias force against the two arms to force the system into the open position.
In 5A, the hinge pin 508 is arranged approximately 10 mm from the end of the two arms 504, 506. In such examples, the system may open, when the spring (not shown) biases the two arms apart, a total of around 7 degrees when measured at the applicator ends 510, 512. In such examples, the system may be pushed closed as described back to 0 degrees by user force.
In the example of
5C shows a hinge pin 508C at approximately 12 mm from the end allowing for about 5 degrees maximum opening angle. 5D shows a hinge pin 508D at approximately 3 mm from the end allowing for about a 17.5 degrees maximum opening angle. Many various arrangements of hinge pin placement, arm shape and/or other geometries may be arranged to allow for different maximum opening angles of the two arms 504, 508, the examples in
In some examples, a tip, bulb, nub, and/or other bulbous feature 731, 733 may be located at the end of the curved applicator arms 710, 712 for protection to the user.
The example of
In some examples, the slider lock 940 may be adjusted to add more friction by increasing interference with the slider or adding materials that are more grippy, tacky, bumpy, sticky, and/or textured, or any combination of the above.
In some examples, the hook arm 941 may not necessarily be located on the bottom arm 906 but may be located on the top arm 904. In some examples, the lock system may not be a slider lock, but a rotating lock as described below.
Either along, in combination, or alternatively or additionally to the examples described herein,
In the cutaway example of the top and bottom arms of the system, the distance between the top applicator end/end effector and bottom applicator end/end effector when in an open position 1120 is 5.61 mm. In some examples, the distance between the top applicator end/end effector and bottom applicator end/end effector when in an open position 1120 is between 5 and 6 mm. The angle 1122 between the bottom arm and the top angled arm is shown at 49.8 degrees. In some examples, this angle 1122 is between 45 and 55 degrees. The angle 1124 between the bottom arm and angled portion of the bottom arm is 48.8 degrees. In some examples, this angle 1124 is between 45 degrees and 55 degrees.
The example shows a width distance 1126 of the applicator end/end effector itself at 2.88 mm. In some examples, this width 1126 is between 2 and 3.5 mm. The example in
In the
The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the embodiments and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in a sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “hereunder,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. When the word “or” is used in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in the list.
Although certain presently preferred implementations of the embodiments have been specifically described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the embodiments pertain that variations and modifications of the various implementations shown and described herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments. Accordingly, it is intended that the embodiments be limited only to the extent required by the applicable rules of law.
Claims
1. A system comprising:
- a top arm with a hinge knuckle at a first end and an angled applicator arm at a second end;
- a bottom arm with a hinge knuckle at a first end and an angled applicator arm at a second end,
- wherein the first arm hinge knuckle and second arm hinge knuckle are arranged with a hinge pin connecting the first arm hinge knuckle and second arm hinge knuckle;
- a compression spring arranged between the top arm and bottom arm configured to exert a bias force against the two arms and force them into an open position unless a counter closing force is exerted on the top arm and bottom arm to counteract the compression spring and force the top arm and bottom arm into a closed position; and
- a bottom lock on the bottom arm, the bottom lock including a bottom hook configured to move into a first position to engage with a top hook on the top arm and move into a second position to disengage the top hook on the top arm.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a top silicone pad on the top arm angled applicator arm and a bottom silicone pad on the bottom arm angled applicator arm.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the angled applicator arm of the top arm and the angled applicator arm of the bottom arm are arranged generally 90 degrees from the top arm and bottom arm.
4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a spring housing wall on the top arm and a spring housing wall on the bottom arm, the spring housing wall on the top arm being generally circular and the spring housing wall on the bottom arm being generally circular.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein a diameter of the generally circular spring housing wall on the top arm is smaller than a diameter of the generally circular spring housing wall on the bottom arm.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the hinge pin is arranged approximately 10 mm from an end of the first arm and the second arm, and wherein the first arm and second arm may pivot open to a maximum open angle of approximately 7 degrees.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the hinge pin is arranged approximately 5 mm from an end of the first arm and the second arm, and wherein the first arm and second arm may pivot open to a maximum open angle of approximately 11 degrees.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the hinge pin is arranged approximately 12 mm from an end of the first arm and the second arm, and wherein the first arm and second arm may pivot open to a maximum open angle of approximately 5 degrees.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the hinge pin is arranged approximately 3 mm from an end of the first arm and the second arm, and wherein the first arm and second arm may pivot open to a maximum open angle of approximately 17.5 degrees.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein the movable lock is slidable.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein the movable lock is rotatable.
12. A system comprising:
- a top arm with a first end and a second end, the top arm first end having a hinge component and the top arm second end having a top arm angled applicator arm;
- a bottom arm with a first end and a second end, the bottom arm first end having a hinge component and the bottom arm second end having a bottom end angled applicator arm, wherein the top arm hinge component is in communication with the bottom arm hinge component, the top arm hinge component and bottom arm hinge component configured to allow the top arm and bottom arm to pivot in relation to each other;
- a spring arranged between the top arm and bottom arm configured to push the top arm and bottom arm away from one another, the spring configured on the arms between the hinge components and the angled applicator arms; and
- a lock configured to lock the top arm and bottom arm together, the lock arranged between the arm hinge components and the arm angled applicator arms.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the movable lock is slidable.
14. The system of claim 12 wherein the movable lock is rotatable.
15. The system of claim 12 further comprising a top silicone pad on the top arm angled applicator arm and a bottom silicone pad on the bottom arm angled applicator arm, wherein the angled applicator arm of the top arm and the angled applicator arm of the bottom arm are arranged generally 90 degrees from the top arm and bottom arm.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein the top arm and bottom arm each include a circular recess and the spring is configured between the top arm circular recess and the bottom arm circular recess.
17. The system of claim 12 wherein the top arm includes at least one top guide rib along at least a part of a length of the top arm, and wherein the bottom arm includes at least one bottom guide rib along at least a part of the bottom arm, the top arm at least one top rib and the bottom arm at least one bottom rib configured to aid alignment of the top arm and bottom arm when the top arm and bottom arm are in a closed configuration.
18. The system of claim 15 wherein the top applicator arm and bottom applicator arm are each curved and include a silicone nub at a terminal end of each respective applicator arm.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 19, 2021
Publication Date: May 26, 2022
Inventors: Jenna LYONS (Santa Monica, CA), Brett BOUTTIER (Santa Monica, CA), Kyle DEFORD (Santa Monica, CA), Lauralynn DRURY (Santa Monica, CA), Garret MCGREGOR (Santa Monica, CA), Adam PASKOW (Santa Monica, CA), David SUTTON (Santa Monica, CA)
Application Number: 17/531,664