ARTIFICIAL EYELASH EXTENSION SYSTEMS HAVING ENHANCED APPEARANCE
An artificial eyelash extension system is described. The artificial eyelash extension system includes at least one layer of eyelash filaments and includes an appearance-enhancing additive that imparts a wet look to the eyelash extension system. Various arrangements of layers of filaments are described.
The field of the invention is a beauty product comprising artificial eyelash extension systems and a method of use and manufacture of the same. In some embodiments, the artificial eyelash extension systems use a liquid or gel-like additive to enhance the appearance of the eyelash extension systems.
BackgroundArtificial eyelash extension systems can accentuate facial features, especially if the systems can provide a distinctive look to a user's natural eyelashes. For example, one look desired by users of artificial eyelash extension systems provides artificial eyelashes that appear moist or wet.
In prior art approaches, a user typically visits a salon where a beauty technician attaches artificial eyelash filaments to the user's natural eyelashes. The technician typically treats the artificial eyelash filaments with a liquid substance that provides a wet look to the artificial eyelash filaments, such as lash bond liquid, lash detox liquid, or an adhesive. Alternatively, a user may impart a wet look by using a specialized mascara directly on the user's natural eyelashes or an artificial eyelash extension system that the user is wearing. These prior art approaches are time-consuming and/or expensive.
There exists a need for an artificial eyelash extension system which already comes with a wet look that can readily be put on a user's natural eyelashes without additional steps (e.g., applying a wet-look mascara) or visiting a salon. A need also exists for a method of using and manufacturing such artificial eyelash extension systems.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONAn object of the invention is to provide artificial eyelash extension systems where the artificial eyelash filaments have the appearance of being wet or moist. A feature of the invention is one or more layers of eyelash filaments having an appearance-enhancing additive such as gel or aloe. An advantage of the invention is that it provides lightweight artificial eyelash extension systems with a desired wet look that are quick to apply and not expensive.
The invention, together with the above and other objects and advantages, will be best understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The previous summary and the following detailed description of specific embodiments of the present invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings.
As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural said elements or steps unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property.
The phrases “lash,” “artificial eyelash,” and “eyelash,” as used herein, are interchangeable and refer to an apparatus that is not part of the wearer's body unless specifically indicated otherwise (e.g., phrases such as “natural eyelash” or “user's eyelash” refer to a part of the wearer's body).
Structure of Artificial Eyelash Extension System of the Present InventionTurning to the figures,
The filaments 14 of
In the artificial extension system 10 of
The artificial extension system 10 of
As shown in
As described below, an additive such as a gel is applied to the first layer whose eyelash filaments 14 are generally perpendicular to the support strip 17 to impart a wet look to the artificial eyelash extension system. The details of the layers are further described below. The arrangement and number of layers is varied (e.g., two layers, four or more layers) depending on the desired style, as described further below.
The eyelash filaments 14 shown in
In the first layer 22 depicted by means of an example in
While the embodiment shown in
The second layer 32, as shown in
In the embodiment shown in
The sets 36 of the second 32 and third 33 layers may have varying numbers of lines 38, 39 (e.g., one line, three lines), and each line 38, 39 may have varying numbers of filaments 34 (e.g., one eyelash filament, three eyelash filaments). As explained above, the lines 38, 39 may also be arranged without any discernable pattern, and the lines 38, 39 may also have substantially similar lengths. Also, while the embodiment shown in
Further, while the second and third layers 32, 33 of
The first layer 22, the second layer 32, and the third layer 33 can be combined to create the artificial extension system 10 of
While the embodiment of
To impart a wet look, an additive is applied to at least one layer of the artificial eyelash extension system during manufacturing. The additive can be a mixture of aloe, gel, glue, and/or water in any combination. In one embodiment, the additive comprises a mixture of aloe gel and hair gel in a one-to-seven ratio (one part aloe gel, seven parts hair gel). In one embodiment, the hair gel used is Gatsby brand from Mandom Corporation of Japan.
In other embodiments, the additive is comprised of one-to-one or a two-to-one mixture of hair gel and water. Such a formulation for the additive is particularly suitable for application to synthetic eyelash filaments. When the part of water (in a mixture of hair gel and water) in the additive is one, the part of hair gel (in a mixture of hair gel and water) in the additive may have a varying range between one and two depending on the degree of wet look (for example a ratio of 1.3-to-1 mixture of hair gel and water, 1.5-to-1 mixture of hair gel and water, 1.7-to-1 mixture of hair gel and water, and so on). To increase the degree of wet look for an additive comprising a mixture of hair gel and water or a mixture of aloe gel and hair gel, the relative amount of the hair gel is increased.
The additive formulations are summarized in the table below:
Other suitable substances may also be used to create the additive, such as lash bond liquid, nano mister base, lash detox, glue, etc. Although the ratios of the hair gel to water and aloe gel to hair gel are described above, depending on the desired wet look, designs, or styles, the ratios vary. Further, while water may be an ingredient in some formulations, the gels such as the hair gel or the aloe gel contain variable amounts of water. As such, the ratios require adjustment depending on the type of hair gel or aloe gel used.
One method of imparting a wet look is to apply the additive after the three layers 22, 32, 33 are combined and a support strip 17 has been formed. Typically, the top layer 22 receives the additive by applying the additive using any suitable tools. The additive may seep down from the top to lower layers to create a natural wet look. Another method of imparting a wet look is to apply the additive while the three layers 22, 32, 33 are separated (e.g., before they are combined). That way, the additive is applied only on the target layer(s) while minimizing the chance that the additive would affect the other layers that are not intended to receive the additive.
The choice of when the additive is applied depends on one's preferences regarding designs and styles of artificial eyelash extension systems, and it also depends on manufacturing considerations. As described further below, applying the additive while the three layers 22, 32, 33 are separated generally involves additional manufacturing steps compared to applying the additive after the three layers 22, 32, 33 are combined.
In three-layer embodiments where the additive is applied while the three layers are separated, the additive is applied to the first layer 22 on the lines 28 of the perpendicular eyelash filaments 24. The first layer 22 is treated with the additive, generally by applying the additive with a brush 30, by hand, or other suitable implement or tool. However, the second 32 and third 33 layers do not receive the additive. After the additive is applied, it can optionally be allowed to dry. If it is dried, the drying can happen in a room temperature and humidity, either with or without a fan (which may be heated for faster drying time), or in a heated oven. Afterward, the three layers are placed on top of each other and a support strip 17 is formed to create an artificial eyelash extension system with a wet look. However, it is also possible that the three layers are combined while the top layer that received the additive is still wet in order to purposely smudge the additive from the first layer onto the second and/or the third layers or from the second and/or third layers to the first layer.
In a four-layer embodiment where the additive is applied while the four layers are separated, the additive can be applied to the first layer, and optionally also to either the second, third and/or fourth layer(s) (e.g., first and second layers, or first and third layers). In such embodiments with four or more layers, the additive is generally applied to the first layer, and optionally also to either the second, third and/or fourth layer(s) (e.g., first and second layers, or first and third layers). However, the application of the additive can include other combinations, such as an application to first and fourth layers, top three layers, etc.
As explained in connection with a three-layer embodiment in the preceding paragraphs, after the additive is applied (and, optionally, dried), the three layers are placed on top of each other, and a support strip 17 is formed to create an artificial eyelash extension system with a wet look.
However, like described above, in other embodiments, the additive can be applied after a support strip 17 has already been formed, and the layers are already combined. Again, personal preferences and tastes will determine a particular combination and permutation to be used.
An additive made up of a combination of aloe gel, and hair gel (in about a 1 to 7 ratio) and/or water combined with hair gel (in about a 1-to-1 or 1-to-2 ratio) is applied on the top layer after the support strip has already been formed and thus the three layers are already combined.
The artificial eyelash extension system shown in
The extent of the wet look depends on the range of the additive application on the eyelash filaments. As shown in
For example, line A2 shows the approximate half portion of the total area of application. The quarter portion is shown as line A3, or from the three-quarters portion, shown as line A1. Generally, the portions refer to the lengths of the top layer of the eyelash filaments from the root to the tip.
Although
In another example, the additive may be generally applied to an artificial eyelash extension system with four layers from the half portion of the eyelash filaments to the tip portion of the eyelash filaments (50% range of the eyelash filaments). The additive uses a hair gel and water in a 2-to-1 ratio (2 parts hair gel, 1 part water). The degree of wet look may be adjusted depending on the range of the additive application on the eyelash filaments. If the number of layer and/or eyelash filaments is large, the degree of wet look may be adjusted by increasing amount of the additive application, the part of hair gel (in a mixture of hair gel and water, or a mixture of aloe gel and hair gel) in the additive, combinations thereof. These are illustrative examples, and a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the portion of the eyelash filaments described above is a portion based on the overall length of the eyelash filaments because the lengths of the eyelash filaments may vary. For example, as shown in
The manufacturing process for the artificial eyelash extension systems of the present invention is described in
Once the layers 22, 32, 33 are created, the layers 22, 32, 33 may be combined 53, 65 by adhesive (e.g., glue, heat fusion, or any combination thereof). The layer 22 having a different thickness than those of the other two layers 32, 33 may be placed on top of the other two layers 32, 33.
To impart a wet look, an additive may be applied 57 to the layer 22 of the cut layers 22, 32, 33 before packaging 59 as shown in
During the application steps 57, 63, the additive is applied with a PVC film, a brush, hand or other suitable tools to the layer(s), which are then set aside to dry. The drying can occur in a room temperature setting, or by blowing air (including heated air), or by placing the wet layer in a drying heated chamber for an appropriate amount of time.
Once the layer(s) that received the additive are sufficiently dry, all layers (both the layers that received the additive and the layers that did not) are placed on top of each other and a support strip 17 is formed to combine the layers together, creating the artificial eyelash extension system of the present invention.
In another embodiment, the additive is applied before or after the layers are already combined by forming a support strip.
The above process generally describes the manufacturing process for the artificial eyelash extension system of the present invention. However, a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that there are other various steps that are typically common in artificial eyelash extension system manufacturing in general but are omitted herein.
Although exemplary implementations of the invention have been depicted and described in detail herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that various modifications, additions, substitutions, and the like can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These are therefore considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. While the dimensions and types of materials described herein are intended to define the invention parameters, they are by no means limiting but are instead exemplary embodiments. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” are used merely as labels and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are not written in means-plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph, unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function void of further structure.
Claims
1-8. (canceled)
9. An artificial eyelash extension system comprising:
- a support strip;
- a plurality of eyelash filaments, each eyelash filament having a tip and a root;
- wherein at least some of the roots of the plurality of eyelash filaments are joined at the support strip;
- an additive applied over at least a part of the plurality of eyelash filaments joined at the support strip, wherein the additive imparts a wet look to the artificial eyelash extension system.
10. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of eyelash filaments are arranged into multiple layers comprising a first layer, and at least one lower layer, wherein the first layer is a topmost layer of the multiple layers.
11. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 10, wherein the additive is applied over the first layer.
12. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 11, wherein the application of the additive is done over less than full lengths of the eyelash filaments of the first layer.
13. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 11, wherein the additive is applied only to the first layer.
14. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 9, wherein the additive comprises at least one of following ingredients: aloe gel, hair gel, glue, water, lash bond liquid, nano mister base, or lash detox solution.
15. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 14, wherein the additive comprises a mixture of at least two of the ingredients.
16. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 15, wherein the additive comprises a mixture of either water and hair gel or aloe gel and hair gel.
17. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 16, wherein the mixture comprises one part of water and one part to two parts of hair gel.
18. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 16, wherein the mixture comprises seven parts of hair gel mixed with one part of aloe gel.
19. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 14, wherein the additive comprises water, and wherein a quantity of added water is varied based on an amount of water present in another ingredient of the additive.
20. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 10, wherein the additive is applied after the layers of the plurality of eyelash filaments have been joined at the support strip.
21. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 10, wherein the additive is applied before the layers of the plurality of eyelash filaments are joined at the support strip.
22. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 10, wherein the additive is smudged from one layer to another layer after application to the plurality of eyelash filaments.
23. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 9, wherein the additive is applied over variable portions of lengths of the plurality of eyelash filaments.
24. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 23, wherein the additive is applied over a three-quarters portion or less of an average length of the eyelash filaments comprising at least a part of the plurality of the eyelash filaments.
25. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 24, wherein the additive is applied over a half portion or less of the average length.
26. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 25, wherein the additive is applied over a quarter portion or less of the average length.
27. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 10, wherein the first layer extends substantially perpendicular with respect to the support strip.
28. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 10, wherein the at least one lower layer comprises two or more lower layers, and each of the two or more lower layers has different orientations than the first layer, and the two or more lower layers have orientations that are crisscrossed with each other.
29. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 10, wherein the eyelash filaments of the first layer are thicker in diameter than the eyelash filaments of the at least one lower layer.
30. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 10, wherein number of the eyelash filaments of the first layer is greater than number of the eyelash filaments of each of the at least one lower layer.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 4, 2022
Publication Date: Sep 7, 2023
Inventor: Jane Bang (Bayside, NY)
Application Number: 17/687,556