The present invention relates to an eyelash curler, and more particularly to an additional member attachable to an eyelash curler for curling eyelashes.
There have heretofore been known various kinds of eyelash curlers for curling eyelashes. However, when such a conventional eyelash curler is used to curl eyelashes, eyelashes may be curled in a state in which they adhere to each other, or may be formed into a state in which they stand upright. In order to solve such drawbacks, there has been proposed an eyelash curler having eyelash arrangement means for interposing between eyelashes when the eyelashes are sandwiched by the eyelash curler and dispersing the eyelashes to align the eyelashes (see, e.g., JP-B 4119942).
However, such an eyelash curler does not align eyelashes at roots thereof, and thus suffers from a drawback that it cannot sufficiently prevent eyelashes from adhering to each other.
Embodiments of the present invention have been made in view of the above drawbacks in the prior art. Embodiments of the present invention provide an eyelash curler capable of separating eyelashes from each other at roots thereof and of beautifully curling eyelashes, and an additional member for such an eyelash curler.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an additional member for an eyelash curler that can separate eyelashes from each other at roots thereof and can beautifully curl eyelashes. The additional member for an eyelash curler is attached to an eyelash curler having a movable member operable to move in a vertical direction. The additional member for an eyelash curler has an attachment portion attachable to the movable member, a bridge portion extending from the attachment portion, and a plurality of tooth-shaped portions extending upward from the bridge portion. The plurality of tooth-shaped portions are spaced at certain intervals in a horizontal direction.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an eyelash curler capable of separating eyelashes from each other at roots thereof and of beautifully curling eyelashes. The eyelash curler has a pair of frame portions extending in a vertical direction, a movable member that is movable in the vertical direction along the pair of frame portions, a stationary member fixed above the movable member, and an elastic member placed on the movable member. The movable member connects between the pair of frame portions, and the stationary member connects between the pair of frame portions. The elastic member has a contact area that is brought into contact with the stationary member. The eyelash curler also has an operation portion operable to move the movable member upward to bring the contact area of the elastic member into contact with the stationary member and a comb member attached to the movable member. The comb member includes an attachment portion attached to the movable member, a bridge portion extending from the attachment portion to near the contact area of the elastic member, and a plurality of tooth-shaped portions extending upward from portions of the bridge portion that are located near the contact area of the elastic member. The plurality of tooth-shaped portions are spaced at certain intervals in a horizontal direction.
Thus, a plurality of tooth-shaped portions extend upward from the bridge portion. Therefore, when the eyelash curler is used, those tooth-shaped portions forcibly go into between roots of eyelashes. Thus, the eyelashes can be separated finely at the roots thereof. Accordingly, the eyelashes do not adhere to each other. As a result, the eyelashes can be curled beautifully from the roots thereof. Furthermore, since a plurality of tooth-shaped portions are spaced at certain intervals in the horizontal direction, the eyelashes can be curled into good-looking fan shapes spaced at certain intervals.
Each of the plurality of tooth-shaped portions of the comb member preferably has a contact surface that is substantially brought into contact with a front surface of the stationary member when the contact area of the elastic member is brought into contact with the stationary member. In this case, the tooth-shaped portions of the comb member are located so close to the stationary member that the contact surfaces are substantially brought into contact with the stationary member. Therefore, the tooth-shaped portions are positioned very close to roots of eyelashes when the eyelashes are sandwiched between the stationary member and the elastic member. Accordingly, the aforementioned effect of separating eyelashes at roots thereof can be exhibited more significantly.
Furthermore, each of the tooth-shaped portions preferably has an upper end curved forward. Since the upper end of each of the tooth-shaped portions is curved forward, the eyelash curler faces no risk that tips of the tooth-shaped portions stick in the user's eye when the eyelash curler is used. Additionally, when the movable member is moved upward, the stationary member is guided by curved surfaces of the upper ends of the tooth-shaped portions. Therefore, the stationary member is prevented from being caught on the tips of the tooth-shaped portions.
Moreover, the comb member may be attached to the outside of the movable member. In this case, the comb member can be seen from the outside of the eyelash curler. Thus, the advantageous effect of finely separating eyelashes can visually be appealed to users.
A tooth extension portion may be formed so as to extend continuously in a downward direction from the tooth-shaped portion by removal of part of the bridge portion of the comb member along adjacent tooth-shaped portions so as to extend a slit formed between the adjacent tooth-shaped portions in the downward direction. Furthermore, a groove may be formed in the attachment portion of the comb member so as to extend in the downward direction along an extension line of the slit. By forming such a tooth extension portion or groove only at part of the comb member, the height of root portions of the tooth-shaped portions or the thickness of the comb member can locally be adjusted. Therefore, a user can readily see between the elastic member and the stationary member (roots of eyelashes) when the eyelash curler is used.
A through hole may be formed in the attachment portion of the comb member so as to extend from a front surface of the attachment portion to a rear surface of the attachment portion. The movable member may have a hook portion that can be inserted into the through hole and held in engagement with the attachment portion of the comb member. In this manner, the hook portion of the movable member is inserted into the through hole of the attachment portion of the comb member and then held in engagement with the attachment portion. Therefore, the comb member can firmly be fixed on the movable member in a stable manner. Accordingly, the eyelash curler faces no risk that, for example, the comb member staggers such that the tooth-shaped portions or the like sticks in the user's eye when the eyelash curler is used.
According to embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of tooth-shaped portions extend upward from the bridge portion. Therefore, when the eyelash curler is used, those tooth-shaped portions forcibly go into between roots of eyelashes. Thus, the eyelashes can be separated finely at the roots thereof. Accordingly, the eyelashes do not adhere to each other. As a result, the eyelashes can be curled beautifully from the roots thereof. Furthermore, since a plurality of tooth-shaped portions are spaced at certain intervals in the horizontal direction, the eyelashes can be curled into good-looking fan shapes spaced at certain intervals.
Embodiments of an eyelash curler according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to
As shown in
As with the stationary member 50, the movable member 60 connects the two frame portions 12 and 12 to each other. The movable member 60 is configured to be slidable in a vertical direction along the frame portions 12 and 12. Specifically, the movable member 60 has insertion holes 61 and 61 formed at opposite ends of the movable member 60, and the frame portions 12 and 12 are inserted into those insertion holes 61 and 61, respectively. Thus, the movable member 60 is slidable in a vertical direction along the frame portions 12 and 12.
As shown in
In this manner, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of tooth-shaped portions 83 extend upward from a portion of the bridge portion 82 that is located near the contact area 70A of the elastic member 70. Therefore, when the eyelash curler is used, those tooth-shaped portions 83 forcibly go into between roots of eyelashes that are to be sandwiched between the contact area 70A of the elastic member 70 and the stationary member 50. Thus, the eyelashes can be separated finely at the roots thereof. Accordingly, the eyelashes do not adhere to each other. As a result, the eyelashes can be curled beautifully from the roots thereof. Furthermore, a plurality of tooth-shaped portions 83, which extend in parallel to each other, are spaced at certain intervals in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the tooth-shaped portions 83 are readily introduced into between eyelashes, so that the eyelashes can be curled into good-looking fan shapes. Moreover, the comb member 80 with such tooth-shaped portions 83 is attached to the outside of the movable member 60. Therefore, the comb member 80 can be seen from the outside of the eyelash curler 1. Thus, the advantageous effect of finely separating eyelashes can visually be appealed to users.
As shown in
When the comb member 80 is attached to the movable member 60, the hook portions 62 are first inserted into the through holes 85 of the comb member 80 (as shown by the dotted line 62A of
In this manner, the hook portions 62 of the movable member 60 are inserted into the through holes 85 of the attachment portion 81 of the comb member 80 and then held in engagement with the attachment portion 81. Therefore, the comb member 80 can firmly be fixed on the movable member 60 in a stable manner. Accordingly, the eyelash curler 1 faces no risk that, for example, the comb member 80 staggers such that the tooth-shaped portions 83 or the like sticks in the user's eye when the eyelash curler 1 is used. The numbers and positions of the recesses 84, the through holes 85, and the hook portions 62 are not limited to those in the illustrated example. It is preferable to attach the comb member 80 to the movable member 60 by a method of attaching the comb member 80 to the movable member 60 without use of the hook portions 62 or the through holes 85 if possible. Furthermore, the comb member 80 may be attached to the movable member 60 in a detachable manner.
As shown in
Furthermore, as shown in
In contrast, as shown in
Furthermore, grooves 87 are formed in the front surface 81A of the attachment portion 81 so as to extend downward along extension lines of the aforementioned slits S. Thus, in the areas where the second tooth-shaped portions 83-2 are formed, the thickness of the comb member 80 is locally reduced as compared to that in the areas where the first tooth-shaped portions 83-1 are formed (see
It is preferable to allow a user to see between the elastic member 70 and the stationary member 50 in order to confirm that eyelashes are correctly sandwiched between the elastic member 70 and the stationary member 50 when the eyelash curler 1 is used. However, a user's view may be blocked by the comb member 80 if the comb member 80 has a large thickness or if the root portions of the tooth-shaped portions 83 of the comb member 80 has a large height. Theoretically, therefore, the comb member 80 should have the smallest possible thickness, and the root portions of the tooth-shaped portions 83 should have the lowest possible height (i.e., the tooth-shaped portions 83 should have the greatest possible length). On the other hand, if the comb member 80 is excessively thin or if the height of the root portions of the tooth-shaped portions 83 is excessively low, then the strength and the stiffness of the comb member 80 may be lowered so as to cause adverse effects including difficulty in attaching or fixing the comb member 80 to the movable member 60 and readiness of breakage of the comb member 80.
From this point of view, according to the present embodiment, in the areas where the first tooth-shaped portions 83-1 are formed, no part of the bridge portion 82 is removed, or no grooves such as the grooves 87 are formed in the attachment portion 81. Accordingly, the strength and the stiffness of the comb member 80 can be enhanced. In the areas where the second tooth-shaped portions 83-2 are formed, part of the bridge portion 82 is removed to form tooth extension portions 86, and the grooves 87 are formed in the attachment portion 81. Accordingly, a user can readily see between the elastic member 70 and the stationary member 50 (roots of eyelashes) when the eyelash curler 1 is used. Specifically, since the tooth extension portions 86 or the grooves 87 are formed only at part of the comb member 80, the height or thickness of the comb member 80 can locally be adjusted. Therefore, the visibility in use can be improved while the strength and the stiffness of the comb member 80 are maintained. If the comb member 80 can be attached to the movable member 60 without use of the hook portions 62 or the through holes 85 as described above, no through holes 85 need to be formed in the attachment portion 81. Accordingly, all of the tooth-shaped portions 83 can be formed into a long shape such as the second tooth-shaped portions 83-2. In such a case, eyelashes can more readily be seen when the eyelash curler 1 is used.
In the aforementioned embodiment, the comb member 80 is attached to the front surface of the movable member 60. Nevertheless, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to this example. The comb member 80 may be attached to a rear surface of the movable member 60 or within the movable member 60.
Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. It should be understood that the present invention may be implemented in a wide variety of forms within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention.
The present invention is suitably used for an eyelash curler for curling eyelashes.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2012-249596 | Nov 2012 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2013/080003 | 11/6/2013 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2014/077161 | 5/22/2014 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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2242349 | Dailey | May 1941 | A |
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2444937 | Marcellus | Jul 1948 | A |
2569246 | Marcellus | Sep 1951 | A |
2611375 | Bablon | Sep 1952 | A |
2635611 | Marcellus | Apr 1953 | A |
3491725 | Maniscalco | Jan 1970 | A |
4212311 | del Valle | Jul 1980 | A |
20010037815 | Gueret | Nov 2001 | A1 |
20030102005 | Muraki | Jun 2003 | A1 |
20070163613 | Lee | Jul 2007 | A1 |
20120160259 | Nguyen | Jun 2012 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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714134 | Aug 1954 | GB |
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Entry |
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Translated Office Action Patent Application No. JP-2012-249596; Sep. 2, 2014. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20150122285 A1 | May 2015 | US |