Patent Application
20230060372
The present invention relates in general to beauty products and more particularly, to an eyelash case for false eyelashes and/or eyelash extensions.
One part of the human face to which much attention is lavished is the eyes. Throughout human history, the eyes have been the focus of much attention and decoration. The eyes are considered by many to be one of the most important symbolic sensory organs. The eyes can represent clairvoyance, omniscience, and/or a gateway into the soul. Other qualities that eyes are commonly associated with include intelligence, vigilance, moral conscience, and truth. As part of some customs, looking someone in the eye is considered a custom/indication of honesty.
A particularly important part of the eye area are the eyelashes. A lash is one of the hairs that grows at the edge of the eyelid. Eyelashes typically grow in three layers on the edge of the eyelid and comprise natural eyelashes. Eyelashes protect the eye from debris, dust and small particles and perform some of the same functions as whiskers do on a cat or a mouse in the sense that they are sensitive to being touched, thus providing a warning that an object (such as an insect, for example) is near the eye, which then typically causes the eyelid to close reflexively to protect the eye.
In this regard, there are several approaches that are utilized to enhance the appearance of the eye area, particularly the eyelashes of the eye area. In one aspect, mascara can be utilized to darken and thicken eyelashes. Mascara is typically comprised of ingredients such as pigments, for example, carbon black, iron oxide or other pigments effective to darken lashes, polymers that coat the lashes, preservatives, and thickening waxes or oils such as lanolin, mineral oil, paraffin, petrolatum, castor oil, carnauba wax, and candelilla. Mascara is typically applied to natural eyelashes utilizing a brush with bristles, the mascara being applied in a single coating or in multiple coatings.
Another method by which the appearance of the eye area can be enhanced is by the application of false eyelashes, eyelash extensions or a combination thereof. False eyelashes and eyelash extensions are not the same, although both are typically comprised of false lashes, that is, lashes that are non-native (i.e. not naturally growing out of a person's eyelid) and can be made of materials such as horsehair, mink, plastic, synthetic polymers or other fibers.
False eyelashes are temporary and are applied to the margin of an eyelid with temporary glue. They are temporary in that they are relatively easily removable, and are not designed to be worn when showering, sleeping or swimming. False eyelashes can be provided as clusters, and most commonly, in the form of false lashes attached to a false eyelash base. An false eyelash is comprised of a plurality of lashes that are attached to and emanate from a base of material. In use, the false eyelash base with its plurality of lashes are temporarily secured to an eyelid utilizing an adhesive, such as a glue, typically a glue that allows one to easily apply and remove the false eyelash base from one's eyelid.
Eyelash extensions, distinguished from false eyelashes, are often considered to be “semi-permanent” in that they can be worn for a longer period of time. Eyelash extensions can be individual lashes/hairs that are applied with an adhesive, for example, cyanoacrylate, to individual native/natural lashes. Eyelash extensions can be applied to a person's natural lashes and/or can be applied to false lashes that are emanating from a false eyelash base, as described above. Various types of cyanoacrylates including ethyl, methyl, butyl, and octyl, are available and are suitable for bonding to different surfaces. Some lash adhesives are made from methyl cyanoacrylate, which is designed to bond a smooth surface (the eyelash extension) and to a porous surface (the native/natural eyelash). It is designed to be used around the eyes and on the native/natural lashes, but not on a person's skin.
Generally, a single eyelash extension is applied to each native/natural lash. When applied properly, neither the eyelash extension nor the glue should touch the eyelid itself. As mentioned above, eyelash extensions are considered to be “semi-permanent” in that they are designed to last until the native/natural lashes fall out of their own accord, which is usually around 3 to 4 weeks. After those 3 to 4 weeks, new lash growth will need to be attended to, making lash extensions a regular monthly service if one wishes to maintain a full look.
False eyelashes and eyelash extensions are often quite delicate and are typically provided in cases in order to protect them when not being worn. Such cases should provide secure, safe and easy access for a user of the false eyelashes or eyelash extensions. Accordingly, there is a need for an eyelash case and associated methods for safe and secure storing, displaying, access and safe keeping of false eyelashes and/or eyelash extensions.
In one aspect, the present disclosure describes an eyelash case comprising a sleeve and a drawer slidably fitted within the sleeve, the case comprises a biasing mechanism that biases the drawer in the sleeve.
The sleeve may have a first end and a second end, where the first end and the second end are opposing and spaced apart from one another, a sleeve top wall and a sleeve bottom wall, the sleeve top wall and sleeve bottom wall opposing and spaced apart from one another. In an embodiment, a first sleeve side wall and a second sleeve side wall are further provided, where the first sleeve side wall and the second sleeve side wall are opposed and spaced apart from one another and substantially perpendicular to the first and second sleeve ends. The first sleeve end, second sleeve end, sleeve top wall, sleeve bottom wall, first sleeve side wall and second sleeve side wall are arranged to provide a drawer compartment into which the drawer slides and fits.
The drawer can have a first and second drawer ends opposed and spaced apart from each other, as well as a first and second drawer sides opposed and spaced apart from each other and substantially perpendicular to the first and second drawer ends and a drawer bottom. The drawer ends, drawer sides and drawer bottom bound and provide an internal drawer space. In a particular aspect, at least one eyelash mount is provided within the internal drawer space.
In another aspect, the biasing mechanism includes at least two components, a sleeve biasing element and a drawer biasing element. The sleeve biasing element is provided at the sleeve and the drawer biasing element is provided at the drawer. The drawer biasing element, as one example, is in substantial alignment with the sleeve biasing element and arranged such that upon insertion of the drawer into the drawer compartment of the sleeve, the sleeve biasing element and the drawer biasing element cause the drawer to bias into the drawer compartment. The case is configured such that the sleeve is biased into the drawer only when the drawer biasing element and the sleeve biasing element are in a proximity to one another, but not when outside such proximity.
In still other aspects, the biasing mechanism can be a magnetic biasing mechanism. In a particular embodiment, one of the sleeve biasing element and drawer biasing element is a magnet, or in another embodiment, the sleeve biasing element and drawer biasing element are both magnets, one biasing element attracting the other or each other. In still yet another aspect, the sleeve biasing element can be a magnet and is thus magnetic, and the drawer biasing element is not a magnet but contains a metal that results in attraction of the drawer biasing element to the sleeve biasing element when brought into a proximity of each other. Alternatively, and in in another embodiment, the drawer biasing element is a magnet and the sleeve biasing element contains a metal that results in attraction of the sleeve biasing element to the magnetic drawer biasing element when brought into a proximity of each other.
In particular embodiments, the eyelash case provided in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure include, for example, as part of the sleeve, a sleeve top wall that is transparent or translucent. In yet another aspect, the drawer is provided having an insert. In some embodiments, the insert itself is configured to include at least one eyelash mount. In other aspects of this embodiment, the insert itself is configured to include at least two eyelash mounts, at least four eyelash mounts, at least six eyelash mounts, at least eight eyelash mounts, at least ten eyelash mounts, or at least twelve eyelash mounts.
In still additional embodiments, the drawer includes an insert fitted an placed at a bottom of the drawer. The insert may have opposing and spaced apart first and second plateau portions. In a particular configuration, the at least one eyelash mount is located between the plateau portions. In a particular embodiment, the at least one eyelash mounts each have an eyelash mounting surface. The eyelash mounting surface may include a curved surface that arises from, and is substantially perpendicular to, a bottom channel of the insert. The insert can include a bottom channel that spans the insert and is located between the opposing and spaced apart first and second plateau portions. In one aspect, the bottom channel is juxtaposed to the drawer bottom when the insert is disposed within the internal drawer space.
In accordance with the instant disclosure, an eyelash case is disclosed that can have at least one of its first end and second ends being an open end through which the drawer passes and enters the drawer compartment. Particular embodiments can include eyelash cases having both first and second ends being open ends through which the drawer may be introduced and slide into the drawer compartment and fit therein. In such embodiments one or more biasing mechanisms as described herein may be provided at one or both ends of the eyelash case.
Additional aspects herein disclosed include an eyelash case having at least one surface that is a polychromatic surface, for example, a surface that has the appearance of, shows, or displays, a variety of or a change/changing of colors, such as is observed with mother of pearl, for example. Such surfaces can be iridescent and lustrous, showing luminous colors that seem to change when seen from different angles much like soap bubbles, butterfly wings and seashells, for example. In some embodiments, the eyelash case can have a surface, for example, a sleeve top wall that comprises iridescent or polychromatic indicia. In some embodiments, the case can a surface, for example, a top wall and/or insert, that is transparent or translucent.
In still another embodiment and in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, an eyelash case is disclosed comprising a sleeve having a first open end and a second closed end, the first open end and the second closed end being opposed and spaced apart from each other. The sleeve also has a sleeve top wall and a sleeve bottom wall, where the sleeve top wall and sleeve bottom wall are also opposed and spaced apart from each other, a sleeve side wall between the sleeve top wall and sleeve bottom wall and the first open end, second closed end, sleeve top wall, sleeve bottom wall and sleeve side wall bound and provide a drawer compartment. The drawer includes a drawer bottom and at least one drawer side where the drawer bottom and the at least one drawer side bound an internal drawer space and the drawer is sized to fit into the drawer compartment of the sleeve. At least one eyelash mount is located within this internal drawer space; and the eyelash case further includes a biasing mechanism having a sleeve biasing element and a drawer biasing element, the sleeve biasing element being provided at the sleeve and in proximity to the drawer compartment, whereas the drawer biasing element is provided at the drawer, the drawer biasing element being provided and arranged in substantial alignment with the sleeve biasing element, thus biasing the drawer into the drawer compartment when the sleeve biasing element and drawer biasing element are brought into proximity of each other. The drawer includes an insert having opposed and spaced apart first and second plateau portions elevated relative to a bottom channel running therebetween, and the bottom channel has at least one side wall and at least one eyelash mount adjacent to or protruding from the at least one side wall. The at least one eyelash mount has an eyelash mounting surface to which false eyelashes are mounted, this eyelash mounting surface being curved and arises from, and is substantially perpendicular to, the bottom channel. In particular embodiments, the sleeve top wall can be non-transparent or translucent or transparent and is provided in any combination with a non-transparent or translucent or transparent insert. In particular embodiments, the insert is translucent or transparent and is sized to friction fit with the internal drawer space.
In yet additional embodiments, the drawer and/or sleeve of the eyelash cases herein disclosed and in accordance with the teachings of the instant disclosure further include a grasping element located at the drawer and/or sleeve.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate aspects of the disclosed subject matter in at least one of its exemplary embodiments, which are further defined in detail in the following description. Features, elements, and aspects of the disclosure are referenced by numerals with like numerals in different drawings representing the same, equivalent, or similar features, elements, or aspects, in accordance with one or more embodiments. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles herein described and provided by exemplary embodiments of the invention. In such drawings:
Without wishing to be limited to any theory, the instant disclosure provides an eyelash case for storing false eyelashes and/or eyelash extensions. The eyelash case provided in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure provides way for these delicate beauty products to be safely and securely stored and accessed, as detailed below.
As best seen in
As depicted in
In some embodiment, biasing force 30 is a magnetic biasing mechanism that utilizes magnetism or magnetic force to bias drawer 300 and into sleeve compartment 2 of sleeve 200. In some embodiments, either one or both of sleeve biasing element 6 and drawer biasing element 25 are magnets. In some embodiments, sleeve biasing element 6 is a magnet and drawer biasing element 25 is composed of a material attracted to a magnet, such as a ferromagnetic material. In some embodiments, sleeve biasing element 6 is composed of a material attracted to a magnet, such as a ferromagnetic material and drawer biasing element 25 is a magnet. Non-limiting examples of a ferromagnetic material include iron, nickel, cobalt, gadolinium, neodymium and samarium and metal alloys made from these materials. In some embodiments, sleeve biasing element 6 is a magnet and drawer biasing element 25 is a magnet. If both sleeve biasing element 6 relative to drawer biasing element 25 are magnets, then these elements are obviously provided having their respective magnetic poles aligned such that they attract and not repel one another (obviously the two magnets are attracted by their opposite poles and are so accordingly configured in the eyelash case of the instant disclosure).
Biasing elements can be provided at one or more locations of eyelash case 1. In one embodiment, and as shown in
The main consideration in the location of the biasing elements is that sleeve biasing element 6 and drawer biasing element 25 are sufficiently aligned and in proximity to each other such that the elements of the biasing mechanism result in biasing force 30 that biases the drawer into the drawer compartment when the biasing elements are brought into proximity of each other. This is graphically illustrated in an exemplary embodiment shown in
Proximity, as utilized herein, means that distance between a sleeve biasing element 6 and a drawer biasing element 25 at which the biasing force is sufficiently strong enough to be first detected by a user, typically via gasping grasping portion 23. Such distances obviously vary according to the configuration, type, number and method by with a biasing mechanism is provided in accordance with the teachings of the instant disclosure to bias drawer 300 into sleeve 200, to secure it therein. Non-limiting examples of proximities where sleeve biasing element 6 and drawer biasing element 25 are brought into proximity of each other where a biasing force is initially established in order to bias the eyelash case, more particularly, biasing drawer 300 into sleeve 200, in a closed and secured state include up to 25 millimeters, up to 24 millimeters, up to 23 millimeters, up to 22 millimeters, up to 21 millimeters, up to 20 millimeters, up to 19 millimeters, up to 18 millimeters, up to 17 millimeters, up to 16 millimeters, up to 15 millimeters, up to 14 millimeters, up to 13 millimeters, up to 12 millimeters, up to 11 millimeters, up to 10 millimeters, up to 9 millimeters, up to 8 millimeters, up to 7 millimeters, up to 6 millimeters, up to 5 millimeters, up to 4 millimeters, up to 3 millimeters, up to 2 millimeters and up to 1 millimeter.
While an exemplary and preferred biasing mechanism is a magnetic biasing mechanism, other biasing mechanisms/may be utilized so long as such other biasing mechanism provides a biasing force 30 in order to bias the eyelash case, more particularly, biasing drawer 300 into sleeve 200, in a closed and secured state. Alternatively securing mechanisms can be used, for example, hook and loop fasteners and non-permanent adhesives having sufficient tackiness, for example, pressure sensitive adhesives, to secure drawer 300 into sleeve 200. Elements of such alternatively securing mechanisms may be provided at locations similar to sleeve biasing element 6 and drawer biasing element 25, or at other locations and/or one or more such alternatively securing mechanisms are contemplated.
As shown in
Eyelash case 1 can be made of any suitable material, such as from laminated paper, cardboard, plastic, paperboard, wood, metal or any suitable material or other combination of materials. In one embodiment, sleeve 200 can be comprised of a combination of different materials, such as paper or cardboard and plastic. In one example, sleeve top wall 3 with depending sides 4 can be made of a clear plastic material, whereas back closed end 10, first sleeve side wall 9 and second sleeve side wall 5 and sleeve bottom wall 7 can be made of a paper material, such as thick paperboard or multi-layered paperboard, for example. Furthermore, back closed end 10, first sleeve side wall 9 and second sleeve side wall 5 and sleeve bottom wall 7 can be further covered in an additional layer of material adhered thereto, such as to impart a particular color and/or indicium thereon. The surfaces, either internal or external and in any combination, of back closed end 10, first sleeve side wall 9 and second sleeve side wall 5 and sleeve bottom wall 7 can be provided having a surface with desired color and/or indicia. In a particular embodiment, at least one surface (either internal or external) of said first end, second end, sleeve bottom wall, first sleeve side wall and second sleeve side wall bounding said drawer compartment is an iridescent surface. In particular embodiments, transparent or translucent sleeve top wall 3 may also have iridescent surface indicia disposed thereon, such as company lettering, trademarks or logos, hashtags or any combination thereof.
In another example, sleeve top wall 3, first sleeve side wall 9 and second sleeve side wall 5 and sleeve bottom wall 7 are all made of a paper material, such as thick paperboard or multi-layered paperboard, for example. Furthermore, sleeve top wall 3, first sleeve side wall 9 and second sleeve side wall 5 and sleeve bottom wall 7 can be further covered in an additional layer of material adhered thereto, such as to impart a particular color and/or indicium thereon.
In one embodiment, insert 400 has opposing and spaced apart first plateau portion 29a and a second plateau portion 29b, the at least two eyelash mounts located therebetween. First plateau portion 29a and a second plateau portion 29b are substantially parallel to drawer bottom 28 when insert 400 is positioned into/within the internal drawer space of drawer 300. Insert 400 can be made of any suitable material such as a metal, wood or plastic or any polymer, for example. Insert 400 can be comprised of plastic, and further it may be a translucent or transparent plastic that is made utilizing any known molding techniques, such as blow or injection molding. In particular embodiments, the cross-sectional thickness of the material making up insert 400 can be approximately the same thickness of the material utilized in making sleeve top wall 3, or even be made of the same material. In particular embodiments, insert 400 and sleeve top wall 3 are both provided having cross-sectional thicknesses that are less than the cross-sectional thickness of sleeve bottom wall 7, first sleeve side wall 9, second sleeve side wall 5 and back closed end 10 for example. The thickness of insert 400 and sleeve top wall 3 can be from about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm or any number therebetween, such as, e.g., about 0.5 mm to about 1.0 mm, about 0.75 mm to about 1.0 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 1.25 mm, about 0.75 mm to about 1.25 mm, about 0.75 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 1 mm to about 1.25 mm, or about 1 mm to about 1.5 mm.
In particular embodiments, eyelash mounts 27 can each have an eyelash mounting surface 37 to which false eyelashes 500 may be removably mounted. Removable mounting of false eyelashes 500 to eyelash mounting surface 37 is typically accomplished via a non-permanent adhesive. Eyelashes 500 are typically comprised of a plurality of false lashes 31 that are secured to and emanate from a false eyelash base 34. In particular embodiments and as shown in
Turning to
While eyelash case 1 has been generally shown to have a rectangular shape, it is contemplated that eyelash case can be any preferred shape, including, but not limited to, a disc shape, a cylindrical a triangular shape, a pyramidal shape, a spherical shape, a square shape, a cubic shape or a trapezoidal shape. In addition, an exemplary shape of sleeve biasing element 6 and drawer biasing element 25 are shown having a circular shape. It is further contemplated that sleeve biasing element 6 and drawer biasing element 25 can be shaped, including and not limited to, a square, rectangular, ellipse, or triangular shape. In addition, sleeve biasing element 6 and drawer biasing element 25 are shown here in one embodiment as being centered in their respective sides of sleeve 200 and drawer 300. It is contemplated that when a plurality of sleeve biasing elements and drawer biasing elements are utilized, they may be evenly spaced apart or adjacent each other at their respective positions at sleeve 200 and drawer 300. In addition, while only one drawer 300 is shown in the figures, it is contemplated that eyeglass case 1 can have a plurality of drawers 300, as well as a plurality of pairs of false eyelashes on a plurality of pairs of eyelash mounts.
In other aspects, the present specification discloses
In closing, foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the present invention have been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is to be understood that, although aspects of the present invention are highlighted by referring to specific embodiments, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that these described embodiments are only illustrative of the principles comprising the present invention. As such, the specific embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Therefore, it should be understood that embodiments of the disclosed subject matter are in no way limited to a particular element, compound, composition, component, article, apparatus, methodology, use, protocol, step, and/or limitation described herein, unless expressly stated as such.
In addition, groupings of alternative embodiments, elements, steps and/or limitations of the present invention are not to be construed as limitations. Each such grouping may be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other groupings disclosed herein. It is anticipated that one or more alternative embodiments, elements, steps and/or limitations of a grouping may be included in, or deleted from, the grouping for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is deemed to contain the grouping as modified, thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.
Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that certain changes, modifications, permutations, alterations, additions, subtractions, and sub-combinations thereof can be made in accordance with the teachings herein without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, it is intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such changes, modifications, permutations, alterations, additions, subtractions, and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is not to be limited to that precisely as shown and described by this specification.
Certain embodiments of the present invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for conducting the invention. Of course, variations on these described embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the present invention to be practiced otherwise than specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described embodiments in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
The words, language, and terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments, elements, steps and/or limitations only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is defined solely by the claims. In addition, such words, language, and terminology are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus, if an element, step or limitation can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use in a claim must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word itself.
The definitions and meanings of the elements, steps or limitations recited in a claim set forth below are, therefore, defined in this specification to include not only the combination of elements, steps or limitations which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements, steps and/or limitations may be made for any one of the elements, steps or limitations in a claim set forth below or that a single element, step, or limitation may be substituted for two or more elements, steps and/or limitations in such a claim. Although elements, steps or limitations may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements, steps and/or limitations from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination. As such, notwithstanding the fact that the elements, steps and/or limitations of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more, or different elements, steps and/or limitations, which are disclosed in above combination even when not initially claimed in such combinations. Furthermore, insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. Accordingly, the claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the invention.
Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing a characteristic, item, quantity, parameter, property, term, and so forth used in the present specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” As used herein, the term “about” means that the characteristic, item, quantity, parameter, property, or term so qualified encompasses a range of plus or minus ten percent above and below the value of the stated characteristic, item, quantity, parameter, property, or term. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the specification and attached claims are approximations that may vary. For instance, as mass spectrometry instruments can vary slightly in determining the mass of a given analyte, the term “about” in the context of the mass of an ion or the mass/charge ratio of an ion refers to +/−0.50 atomic mass unit. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical indication should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.
Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and values setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical ranges and values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical range or value, however, inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements. Recitation of numerical ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate numerical value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value of a numerical range is incorporated into the present specification as if it were individually recited herein.
Use of the terms “may” or “can” in reference to an embodiment or aspect of an embodiment also carries with it the alternative meaning of “may not” or “cannot.” As such, if the present specification discloses that an embodiment or an aspect of an embodiment may be or can be included as part of the inventive subject matter, then the negative limitation or exclusionary proviso is also explicitly meant, meaning that an embodiment or an aspect of an embodiment may not be or cannot be included as part of the inventive subject matter. In a comparable manner, use of the term “optionally” in reference to an embodiment or aspect of an embodiment means that such embodiment or aspect of the embodiment may be included as part of the inventive subject matter or may not be included as part of the inventive subject matter. Whether such a negative limitation or exclusionary proviso applies will be based on whether the negative limitation or exclusionary proviso is recited in the claimed subject matter.
The terms “a,” “an,” “the” and similar references used in the context of describing the present invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, ordinal indicators—such as, e.g., “first,” “second,” “third,” etc.—for identified elements are used to distinguish between the elements, and do not indicate or imply a required or limited number of such elements, and do not indicate a particular position or order of such elements unless otherwise specifically stated. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein is intended merely to better illuminate the present invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the present specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.
When used in the claims, whether as filed or added per amendment, the open-ended transitional term “comprising”, variations thereof such as, e.g., “comprise” and “comprises”, and equivalent open-ended transitional phrases thereof like “including”, “containing” and “having”, encompass all the expressly recited elements, limitations, steps, integers, and/or features alone or in combination with unrecited subject matter; the named elements, limitations, steps, integers, and/or features are essential, but other unnamed elements, limitations, steps, integers, and/or features may be added and still form a construct within the scope of the claim. Specific embodiments disclosed herein may be further limited in the claims using the closed-ended transitional phrases “consisting of” or “consisting essentially of” (or variations thereof such as, e.g., “consist of”, “consists of”, “consist essentially of”, and “consists essentially of”) in lieu of or as an amendment for “comprising.” When used in the claims, whether as filed or added per amendment, the closed-ended transitional phrase “consisting of” excludes any element, limitation, step, integer, or feature not expressly recited in the claims. The closed-ended transitional phrase “consisting essentially of” limits the scope of a claim to the expressly recited elements, limitations, steps, integers, and/or features and any other elements, limitations, steps, integers, and/or features that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed subject matter. Thus, the meaning of the open-ended transitional phrase “comprising” is being defined as encompassing all the specifically recited elements, limitations, steps and/or features as well as any optional, additional unspecified ones. The meaning of the closed-ended transitional phrase “consisting of” is being defined as only including those elements, limitations, steps, integers, and/or features specifically recited in the claim, whereas the meaning of the closed-ended transitional phrase “consisting essentially of” is being defined as only including those elements, limitations, steps, integers, and/or features specifically recited in the claim and those elements, limitations, steps, integers, and/or features that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed subject matter. Therefore, the open-ended transitional phrase “comprising” (and equivalent open-ended transitional phrases thereof) includes within its meaning, as a limiting case, claimed subject matter specified by the closed-ended transitional phrases “consisting of” or “consisting essentially of.” As such, the embodiments described herein or so claimed with the phrase “comprising” expressly and unambiguously provide description, enablement, and support for the phrases “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of.”
Lastly, all patents, patent publications, and other references cited and identified in the present specification are individually and expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for the purpose of describing and disclosing, for example, the compositions and methodologies described in such publications that might be used in connection with the present invention. These publications are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge from any country. In addition, nothing in this regard is or should be construed as an admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention or for any other reason. All statements as to the date or representation as to the contents of these documents are based on the information available to the applicant and do not constitute any admission as to the correctness of the dates or contents of these documents.
This application is a continuation-in-part that claims the benefit of priority and the filing date pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/817,542, filed Mar. 12, 2020, a continuation application that claims the benefit of priority and the filing date of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/412,352, no U.S. Pat. No. 10,588,389, filed May 14, 2019, and this continuation-in-part application claims the benefit of priority and the filing date to U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/691,209, filed on May 14, 2019, the contents of each of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16412352 | May 2019 | US |
| Child | 16817542 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16817542 | Mar 2020 | US |
| Child | 17935451 | US | |
| Parent | 29691209 | May 2019 | US |
| Child | 16412352 | US |
