Patent Application
20230189966
The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for smoothing skin. In particular, some implementations may relate to a system that smooths skin by applying tension to the skin.
Wrinkles are the lines and creases that form on the skin. Some wrinkles can become more significant crevices or furrows and may be more noticeable on one's face. Facial wrinkles are a natural part of aging, and are most commonly found on sun-exposed skin areas such as the eyes, neck, mouth, and hairline. Although genetic factors primarily determine skin texture and structure, sun exposure and pollutants can also contribute to wrinkling.
Reducing the appearance of wrinkles has been attempted in a variety of manners. For example, a cosmetic facelift is a medical procedure that can create a younger appearance of the facial skin by reducing sagging or folding skin on the cheeks and jawline that otherwise develop with age. Cosmetic facelifts can be advantageous as they are typically permanent, however, they are invasive, expensive, and require serious medical attention.
Another example of a skin wrinkle reduction method is using cosmetic tape. Cosmetic tape pulls and flattens skin upon application, and although inexpensive, can be uncomfortable, visible, and difficult to install on one's face.
Systems and methods are described herein for a skin smoothing system. Such a skin smoothing system provides a quick, non-invasive, and inexpensive way to stretch the skin between and around the eyes and the hairline around the ears. The skin may be smoothed, which can reduce the appearance of wrinkles by physically pulling the skin towards the hairline, and stretching or pulling the eyes, which can change or alter eye position or shape.
The skin smoothing system comprises a strap fitted with a slider for looping the strap through the slider to permit strap length adjustment. A first hair engagement element comprises a plurality of teeth, wherein the first hair engagement element is attached to a first end of the strap. A second hair engagement element comprises a plurality of teeth, wherein the second hair engagement element is attached to a second end of the strap. The first hair engagement element and the second hair engagement element are arranged such that, when the first hair engagement element is affixed to one side of a user's head and the second hair engagement element is directed towards an opposite side of the user's head, the plurality of teeth of each of the first and second engagement elements grab tresses of hair, such that tension can be imparted simultaneously on the tresses of hair in engagement with the plurality of teeth, which produces skin tightening during use.
The technology disclosed herein, in accordance with one or more various embodiments, is described in detail with reference to the following figures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict typical or example embodiments of the disclosed technology. These drawings are provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of the disclosed technology and shall not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability thereof. It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale.
The figures are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It should be understood that the invention can be practiced with modification and alteration, and that the disclosed technology be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a skin smoothing system that provides an inexpensive, fast, and non-invasive alternative to a cosmetic facelift or cosmetic tape.
In various embodiments, the strap 102 may be constructed from a single piece of clear or transparent material of minimal thickness (e.g., a polymer) with elastomeric properties. For example, the material forming the strap 102 may be plastic, rubber, silicone, and/or a material with such similar properties. Alternatively, the material forming the strap 102 may be woven and/or absent elastomeric properties. In other embodiments, the strap 102 may be constructed from multiple pieces. Individual pieces forming the strap 102 may be interconnected. For example, multiple pieces may be connected together to form a single strap via a connector, fastener, screw, tape, and/or similar. Alternatively, individual pieces forming the strap 102 may be held by engagement element at attachment points at ends 103, 105. In other embodiments, the strap 102 may be constructed from a single or multiple pieces of opaque material of minimal height (e.g., a polymer) with elastomeric properties. In other embodiments, the strap 102 may be constructed from a single or multiple pieces of either transparent or opaque material.
In various embodiments the strap 102 may range in thickness from 1 millimeters (mm) to 100 mm. In some embodiments, the strap 102 may range in length from 5 centimeters (cm) to 50 cm. In some embodiments, the strap 102 is fitted with means 104 for adjusting a length of the strap 102 such as slider 104. Specifically, the strap 102 is looped through the slider 104 to provide a means for strap length adjustment by moving the slider 104 along the length of the strap 102 in a conventional manner. In this manner, the strap 102 can be length adjusted such that the skin smoothing system 100 fits individual heads of varying sizes and/or provides a desired amount of skin tightening and reduction of wrinkles.
In various embodiments, the shape of the strap 102 may be rectangular, comprising two longer edges and two shorter edges, wherein one shorter edge can be a first end 103 and the opposite shorter edge cam be a second end 105. In some embodiments the shorter edges may range in length from 1 mm to 10 cm. In some embodiments the long edges may range in length from 5 cm to 50 cm.
In various embodiments, the strap 102 is fed through the slider 104 by running a first end 103 through a first opening of the slider 104 and out of a second opening of the slider 104, then looping the first end 103 around a first hair engagement element 106 (described below) and returning the first end 103 to the second opening of the slider 104 and through the first opening of the slider 104 to create a suitable strap length adjustment mechanism. In particular, the slider 104 can be employed to shorten the strap 102 by pulling on the first end 103 to decrease the amount of strap 102 that extends to the first hair engagement element 106. The strap 102 can be loosened by releasing a portion of the strap 102 through the slider 104, resulting in increased strap length. In some embodiments, the second end 105 may be looped through the slider 104, as similarly described above, through a second hair engagement element 110, and back through the slider 104. In some embodiments the first end 103 and the second end 105 are interchangeable.
In various embodiments, the first end 103 of the strap 102 may be connected or attached to a first hair engagement element 106. In some embodiments, the first end 103 is attached to the first hair engagement element 106 by looping the first end 103 through an opening on the end opposite the plurality of teeth 108, and returning the first end 103 to the slider 104 to be secured. In other embodiments, the first end 103 is secured within the first hair engagement element 106 by conventional fastening means such as glue, screw, pressure, fastener, or connecter.
In various embodiments, the second end 105 of the strap 102 may be connected or attached to a second hair engagement element 110. In some embodiments, the second end 105 is attached to the second hair engagement element 110 by looping the second end 105 through an opening on the end opposite the plurality of teeth 108, and returning the second end 105 to the slider 104 to be secured. In other embodiments, the second end 105 is secured within the second hair engagement element 110 by conventional fastening means such as glue, screw, pressure, fastener, or connecter.
The first and second hair engagement elements 106, 110 each comprise a plurality of teeth 108 that connect the hair engagement elements 106, 110 to an individual's hair located at first and second sides 202, 204 of the individual's head 200. In some embodiments, the plurality of teeth 108 may be combs comprised of one or more substantially parallel elongated rods. In some embodiments, the rods are metal, plastic, silicone, or rubber. In some embodiments, the rods are 1 mm to 10 mm in length. In various embodiments, the rods are curved to help hold a hair engagement element 106, 110 to a tress of hair located on a side 202, 204 of the head 200. In some embodiments, the rods are straight. In some embodiments, each hair engagement element comprises 1 to 20 rods. In various embodiments the first and second hair engagement elements 106, 110 are made from metal, plastic, rubber, or silicone. In various embodiments, the teeth 108 are attached to an internal portion of hair engagement elements 106, 110.
As discussed above, the first engagement element 106 may comprise plurality of teeth 108 configured to attach to individual's head 200 at side 202 first before extending and attaching to the opposite side 204. An individual's head 200 will typically have sufficient hair located at sides 202, 204 for the plurality of teeth 108 to grip when run through the hair, thus creating an attachment that can be released by pulling an engagement element 106, 110 towards the face of the wearer. The hair on the individual's head 200 may be collected by the hair engagement elements 106, 110 in groupings or tresses.
In various embodiments, the first hair engagement element 106 and the second hair engagement element 110 are arranged such that, when the first hair engagement element 106 is affixed to one side of the user's head 202 and the second hair engagement element 110 affixed to an opposite side of the user's head 204, the plurality of teeth 108 of each of the first and second engagement elements 106, 110 each grab respective tresses of hair. In some embodiments, the strap 102 may then be tightened using the slider 104, such that tension can be imparted simultaneously on the tresses of hair in engagement with the plurality of teeth 108, conductive for skin tightening during use. For example, the skin smoothing system may be placed on an individual's head 200 such that and first and second hair engagement elements 106, 110 may attach to hair on opposite sides 202, 204 of the individual's head 200. Next, the strap 102 may be adjusted by the slider 104 to increase the tension on the strap, as discussed in detail below, and to stretch the skin on the individual's face, causing the wrinkles around their eyes to be reduced. In some embodiments, the stretching may alter the shape of the eyes or position of the eyes.
In various embodiments, the tension in the strap 102 is determined and adjusted by lengthening or shortening of the strap 102 by the slider 104. In some embodiments, the tension creates a pulling effect on the hair, which creates a smoothing effect on the skin disposed near the hair being pulled. In some embodiments, increasing or decreasing tension between the plurality of teeth 108 and the tresses of hair, may effectuate a skin tightening during use. In some embodiments, the skin tightening during use smooths skin, alters eye positions, and alters eye shapes. In other embodiments, the skin tightening may correct, mitigate, or alleviate asymmetry in a facial feature of the individual by placing the first and second hair engagement elements 106, 110 at different places on the head to create uneven tension on the facial skin.
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In various embodiments, once secured to the individual's head, the strap 102 may be partially or fully obscured by hair from the posterior portion of the individual's head 200. Some embodiments contemplate the a strap 102 comprising a transparent material of minimal thickness, thus allowing the strap to be easily covered by the hair once in place. Furthermore, securing the strap 102 under the hair results in the strap 102 being difficult to detect because it may be hidden by an amount of hair covering the strap. In other embodiment, the entire skin smoothing system may be hidden because the strap 102, the slider 104, and the first and second hair engagement elements 106, 110 may be covered by hair from both the posterior and anterior portions of the individual's head 200.
In some embodiments, the first and second hair engagement elements 106, 110 may be attached in symmetrical locations on either side 202, 204 of the individual's head 200. In some embodiments, the first and second hair engagement elements 106, 110 may be attached in asymmetrical locations on either side of the individual's head 200.
While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an example architectural or other configuration for the invention, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the invention. The invention is not restricted to the illustrated example architectures or configurations, but the desired features can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Indeed, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art how alternative functional, logical or physical partitioning and configurations can be implemented to implement the desired features of the present invention. Also, a multitude of different constituent module names other than those depicted herein can be applied to the various partitions. Additionally, with regard to flow diagrams, operational descriptions and method claims, the order in which the steps are presented herein shall not mandate that various embodiments be implemented to perform the recited functionality in the same order unless the context dictates otherwise.
Although the invention is described above in terms of various embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the other embodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described embodiments.
Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; the terms “a” or “an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more” or the like; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future.
The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. The use of the term “module” does not imply that the components or functionality described or claimed as part of the module are all configured in a common package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of a module, whether control logic or other components, can be combined in a single package or separately maintained and can further be distributed in multiple groupings or packages or across multiple locations.
Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described in terms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations. As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their various alternatives can be implemented without confinement to the illustrated examples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying description should not be construed as mandating a particular architecture or configuration.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/291,268, filed Dec. 17, 2021, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63291268 | Dec 2021 | US |
