Patent Application
20130255714
The present invention relates to eyelash combs, and specifically to eyelash combs that require safety features.
Combs of all kinds have been used for many years, and different types of combs have been developed to meet various requirements and purposes.
In recent years, combs have been developed for the purpose of brushing human eyelashes. These combs are configured to meet the specific properties and dimensions of the human eyelash, which frequently requires a series of very stiff and narrow tines, spaced apart with a narrow separation, that have sharp points to facilitate insertion of the individual tines between individual eyelashes. In order to meet these requirements, manufacturers of such combs have resorted to configuring an eyelash comb to have a single row of closely spaced sharp-pointed tines made of a non-corrosive metal such as steel or brass, and plated with gold or other suitable metal. While this configuration satisfies the need of a comb suitable for separating and straightening eylashes, it has introduced a disadvantage in that the tines of such a comb present and number of problems. First, it presents an annoying danger to a user who may accidentally prick her fingers when inserting her hand into a handbag or vanity bag to retrieve the comb. Secondly, due to their narrow diameter and metallic composition, the tines are susceptible to being bent and/or permanently damaged when accidentally bumped or dropped by a user. Third, due to their close spacing, the tines are susceptible to collecting dirt or other debris from the atmosphere or other surrounding surfaces.
Thus there is a need in the art to provide an eyelash comb capable of overcoming problems in the prior art. The present invention overcomes these and other problems.
In a preferred embodiment, the invention is an eyelash comb comprising a handle portion configured to define a hollow interior portion. An elongate arm is provided having a proximal end and a distal end. A plurality of tines extends perpendicular to the arm from the distal end of the arm. The arm is slideable within the handle and is configured to have a first position in which the tines are withdrawn into the handle, and a second position in which the tines extend outside the handle.
In a preferred aspect of the invention, the handle of the eyelash comb includes a slot and the arm includes a knob, the knob being configured to extend from the slot to the exterior of the handle so that a user may apply a sliding force to the arm for extending the arm from or retracting the arm into the housing. In a further preferred aspect of the invention, the tines are formed from steel or brass, and each tine includes a pointed end sized to separate one human eyelash from another. A further aspect includes that the arm defines a receptacle and the tines are potted into a block of plastic material. The block is sized to mate with and fit into the receptacle such that the arm and the tines are rigidly connected together and move in unison in relation to the handle. Furthermore, the block and the receptacle are configured to define mating detents configured to hold the block stationary in relation to the arm.
In preferred aspects of the invention relating to the handle, the handle comprises a left side portion and a right side portion, the side portions being configured to be joined to each other to define an interior space for receiving the arm. In this configuration, at least one of the side portions defines a pair of parallel rails for guiding sliding motion of the arm in relation to the handle. Further, at least one of the side portions and the arm define mating detents for temporarily holding the arm in a stationary position when the arm is in the extended position and when the arm is in the retracted position.
These and other advantages of the invention will become apparent when read in conjunction with the drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
With reference to the drawings, an eyelash comb is described having features of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, an eyelash comb, generally identified herein by the reference numeral 10, includes a handle portion 12 which is configured to define within it a hollow space which acts as a housing. The handle portion 12 is preferably formed from a left side portion 14 and a right side portion 16 (seen in separated condition in
Next, an elongate retractable arm 18 having a proximal end 20 and a distal end 22 is provided for securely holding tines 24 that extend perpendicularly from the distal end of the arm. The arm is preferably formed from a single piece of molded plastic. In a preferred aspect, in order to facilitate assembly of the arm, the tines 24 may be potted into a block 26 of plastic material shaped to be just large enough to receive one end of the tines. The term “potting” will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to mean capturing the tines in plastic while the plastic is in a liquid state, then waiting for the plastic to harden around the tines. The tines, thus embedded in the block 26, are then easily collectively handled. During assembly of the comb, the block 26 with its embedded tines may be manually inserted into a recess 28 at the distal end of the arm 18. The recess is shaped to precisely receive the block. Preferably, mating detents 30, 32 are provided on the interior of the recess and on the exterior of the block respectively so that, once the block is installed in the recess, the block is held securely by the arm. An additional preferred feature of the arm is a protruding knob 34 attached to and extending upwardly from the proximal end 20 of the arm. The knob is configured to extend to the outside of the handle 12 through a slot 40 in the handle when the comb is assembled, in order to give a user detailed manual control over the arm as described more fully below.
Yet another advantageous feature of the comb is exemplified with reference to
Assembly of the comb may take place as follows. First, the tines 24 are potted in the block 26 so that the tines extend perpendicular to the block. Next, the block is inserted in the recess 28 of the arm 18 so that the tines act in unison with the arm. Then, the arm is installed on one side portion of the handle. As seen in
In use of the eyelash comb, the user is able to safely extract the eyelash comb 10 from her handbag while the arm is in the retracted condition (
Thus there is described a new and useful eyelash comb that includes a useful safety feature and protection feature, is capable of being reduced in size to fit within the available space of a vanity bag, and which is robust and economical to manufacture. The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, while the scope of the invention is set forth in the claims that follow.
