Patent Application
20100078088
The present invention is in the field of cosmetic materials and the education and demonstration of their proper use. More specifically, the present invention relates personal grooming and artificial eyelashes adapted for attachment on hair growing from an eyelid, and apparatuses and methods specifically adapted for use in the application of artificial eyelash extensions to individual natural eyelashes.
Applying individual eyelash extensions is a labor-intensive procedure that requires a high level of manual dexterity. An eyelash extensions consist of one or more hairs attached to a person's individual natural eyelash. The lash extension itself may be of human, animal, or synthetic origin. To apply the lash extensions, beauticians and cosmetologists commonly use surgical instruments (such as tweezer forceps), and the application process requires precision as well as manual dexterity in the use of these instruments, typically using the index finger and thumb of the “favored hand.”
The beautician will first select an individual eyelash extension from a cache of extensions, then apply an adhesive near the base of an eyelash extension, next apply the eyelash extension, with adhesive, to an individual eyelash that has been individually selected and isolated from surrounding eyelashes. An adhesive is utilized to attach the lash extension to one of the user's natural eyelash. The adhesive consists of a fluid that sets over a short but variable period of time, which typically is in the order of 60 seconds or more. A significant amount of the time incurred during the application process consists of waiting for the adhesive to cure. Further, the beautician must separate the particular eyelash receiving the extension from surrounding eyelashes, as spoils from the adhesive can cause adjoining eyelashes to bond together or unsightly and painful clumps of cured adhesive. Finally, working in close proximity to customer's eye with instruments requires slow and methodical movements of the beautician's hands, further increasing the time required to apply a full set of extensions. A typical application of a complete set of extensions can take an experience beautician between 45 minutes to 2 hours. Beauticians with less dexterity or experience typically take longer.
An object of the present invention is to provide a means for separating individual eyelashes from surrounding eyelashes utilizing an airflow. Another object of the present invention is to provide a source of a low pressure, directable and variable airflow for use to accelerates the setting time of the adhesive. A further and highly useful object of the present invention is to provide a substantially “hands-free” low pressure, directable air flow source, that allows application of lash extensions without having to put down the instruments being used to operate and direct the air flow source. A feature of the present invention is that useful additives to the airflow for functional or aesthetic benefits.
Referring now to the drawings, the details of preferred embodiments of the present invention are graphically and schematically illustrated. Like elements in the drawings are represented by like numbers, and any similar elements are represented by like numbers with a different lower case letter suffix.
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method specifically adapted for use in the application of artificial eyelash extensions to a person's individual natural eyelashes. The apparatus is a remotely controllable, hands-free, low-pressure air source having a directable airflow nozzle. The method relates to the use of the remotely controllable, hands-free, low-pressure air source for cosmetology use to substantially reduce the time previously required to apply a full set of individual eyelash extensions to a person's natural lashes. The combination of the apparatus and method of the present invention substantially reduces the amount of time to apply a full set of such individual lash extensions relative to what is currently required in the industry. Note that although the apparatus and method may be described herein for a right-handed user, it is intended and anticipated that the appropriate reverse-handed description is easily inferred from the teachings as applicable for a left-hand user.
As illustrated in
The low pressure air flow source 14 provides gas (air) at a pressure and flow rate appropriate for use in the vicinity of a person's eyes. A typical air-brush compressor 14a has proved satisfactory for this purpose. See for example, US Pat. No. 5,088,903. Alternatively, any other source of low pressure air at an appropriate flow rate may be by one of skill in the art for practice in the present invention, such as a house air-line, or a compressed gas bottle 14b (see
A remote control unit 20 is in communication with the air flow source 14. The remote control unit 20 is a mechanism which controls the flow of air passing or supplied from air flow source 14 to the output air-line 46. In
In the embodiment illustrated in
In
In the preferred embodiments shown, the barrel 50 of the air dispenser 18 comprised a hollow cylindrical tube that attached to a finger of the user' hand, typically the index finger. The barrel 50 of the air dispenser 18 is attached to the user's finger by any of a number of mounting means known to and selectable by one of ordinary skill in the art for practice in the present invention. For example, In
In the preferred embodiments, the exterior diameter D of the barrel 50 is not larger than the width of the finger joint 74 on which it is mounted, see
The barrel 50 portion of the air dispenser 18 typically will be at least semi-rigid in view of its intended use and alignment with the finger joint. The material configuration of the barrel 50 should allow it to facilitate accurate directional control of the airflow by the user pointing the finger to which it is mounted. The nozzle fitting 66 preferably should be soft to the touch (or covered with a soft material) in view of its use proximate a person's eye. An acceptable material for this purpose is foam rubber. However, the nozzle fitting 66 must be rigid enough to maintain directional control of the airflow. The final positioning of the barrel mount 40 on the finger, the air dispenser 18 on the mount 40 and the air flow port 68 of the nozzle fitting 66 is adjustable by the user to satisfy the user's individual dexterity, and comfort. For example, there can be a gap 76 between the end of the user's finger and the air flow port 68 of the of the nozzle fitting 66, such that the tip of the air flow port 68 extends beyond the user's finger tip. The purpose of the gap 76 is to limit any interference in the airflow by the user's finger tip. A typical gap 76 can be between one-quarter inch and one half inches.
In use of the preferred embodiments, the assembled, the air source 14 provides an appropriate steady stream of air flow at the nozzle port 68 of the air dispenser 18. Control of the air flow is accomplished using the remote control unit 20. The preferred control unit 20 illustrated comprises a foot pedal and is operated by pressure transmitted to the unit's graduated pressure switch or valve by the user's foot. Use of a foot pedal control unit enables the hands-free operation of the present low pressure air source 10. The graduated pressure switch/valve is normally biased off/closed, so that removing the user's foot from the control unit 20 turns off the flow of air. Also, preferably the pressure switch/valve is adapted so that increasing the pressure on the switch causes an increase in the pressure and/or flow of air from the nozzle port 68.
As shown in
To use the present low pressure air source 10, the user attaches the barrel 50 of the air dispenser 18 to a finger joint 74, as illustrated herein. Air lines 46 connect the air dispenser 18 to the air source 14. The air line 46 proximate the air dispenser 18 may be attached to the user's wrist to prevent interference of the air line 46 with the user's hand operations. Airflow is adjusted to provide light air pressure at the nozzle port 68 of the nozzle fitting 66.
Then, the index finger and the thumb of the user's first hand 72 are able to grasp a forcipes or other instrument as may be used in the process. Airflow is directed by the finger lengthwise down an eyelash. The airflow separates the individual eyelashes from each other. Using a forcipes held in the other hand, the user pinches the isolated eyelash against a support patch precluding further movement of that isolated eyelash. Using the first hand, the user selects an extension from a cache, and dips the end of the extension into an adhesive. The user then takes the extension and applies it to the isolated individual eyelash. Once the adhesive sets, usually within a few seconds, the user directs a burst of airflow over the adhesive to more fully cure the adhesive. The airflow accelerates the curing of the adhesive and decreases the time required for the application of a complete set of extensions.
A further benefit to the device is that a smooth and constant application of the extensions can occur without the user having to set down the instruments or to change hands holding the instruments to use the air source 10. The smooth and constant application of extensions significantly decreases the time required for a complete set of extensions.
While the above description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of one or another preferred embodiment thereof. Many other variations are possible, which would be obvious to one skilled in the art. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined by the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents, and not just by the embodiments.
