Abstract:
An eyelash measuring device having: a ruler, a substantially eye shaped opening formed by an upper arch and a lower arch, and a graticule. The ruler is on the upper arch of the substantially eye-shaped opening and allows a user to measure an eyelash, and then set the measurement via the graticule. The eye shaped opening allows a user to gaze through the device to a mirror for measuring, and the ruler is printed in reverse so that when gazing in a mirror the type appears to be correctly oriented.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a measuring device, and more particularly, an EYELASH MEASURING DEVICE. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Numerous innovations for eye-related measuring devices have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention. 
     A FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,050,860, Published/Issued on Aug. 28, 1962, to Kosh teaches an instrument for measuring the vertical and horizontal dimensions of a rectangle circumscribing a lens. 
     A SECOND EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,200,823, Published/Issued on Aug. 17, 1965, to Sebastian teaches a device for imparting a selectable curvature and uniform spacing to lash hairs of artificial eyelashes to be used in manufacturing and maintaining such artificial eyelashes. 
     A THIRD EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,517,673, Published/Issued on Jun. 30, 1970, to Kim teaches a measuring device that permits a false eyelash to be accurately sized to complement the user&#39;s eye both as to shape and length. The trimmer allows a false eyelash to be cut accurately to size and shape. The measuring device is used manually by an individual to suit the individual&#39;s taste. 
     A FOURTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,557,653, Published/Issued on Jan. 26, 1971, to Kim teaches a measuring device that permits a false eyelash to be accurately sized to compliment the user&#39;s eye both as to shape and length. The trimmer allows a false eyelash to be cut accurately to size and shape. The measuring device is used manually by an individual to suit the individual&#39;s taste. 
     It is apparent now that numerous innovations for eye-related measuring devices have been provided in the prior art that adequate for various purposes. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, accordingly, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide an EYELASH MEASURING DEVICE that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide an EYELASH MEASURING DEVICE that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. 
     STILL ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide an EYELASH MEASURING DEVICE that is simple to use. 
     BRIEFLY STATED, STILL YET ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide an EYELASH MEASURING DEVICE that allows for a compact and hand-held implementation. 
     The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The figures of the drawings are briefly described as follows: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic front perspective view illustrating a person measuring the length of an eyelash on their left eye; 
         FIG. 2  is an elevational view of an embodiment of the EYELASH MEASURING DEVICE intended for measuring the eyelash on a right eye; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view thereof, taken in the direction of arrow  3  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view, taken in the direction of arrow  4  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an elevational view of an embodiment of the EYELASH MEASURING DEVICE intended for measuring the eyelash on a left eye; 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevational view, taken in the direction of arrow  6  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view thereof, taken in the direction of arrow  7  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of the area enclosed in the dotted circle indicated by arrow  8  in  FIG. 2 , showing the sliding graticule in greater detail cooperating with a scale on an ocular window component; 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view illustrating sliding graticule per se; and 
         FIG. 10  is a cross sectional view on line  10 - 10  in  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     A MARSHALING OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING 
     
         
           10  eyelash measuring device 
           11  substantially eye-shaped member 
           12  ruler 
           14  substantially eye-shaped opening of substantially eye-shaped member  11   
           16  upper arch of substantially eye-shaped opening  14   
           18  user 
           20  reverse printing of ruler  12   
           22  sliding graticule 
           24  front side of substantially eye-shaped opening  14   
           26  back side of substantially eye-shaped opening  14   
           28  concavity of back side  26  of substantially eye-shaped opening  14   
           30  convexity of front side  24  of substantially eye-shaped opening  14   
           32  lower arch of substantially eye-shaped opening  14   
           34  handle 
           36  encompassing of upper arch by sliding graticule  22   
           38  vertical line of sliding graticule  22   
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to  FIG. 1 , disclosed is an eyelash measuring device  10  which comprises a ruler  12  and a substantially eye-shaped member  11 , which has a substantially eye-shaped opening  14 . 
     Detailed Description of the Substantially Eye-Shaped Opening  14   
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2-7 , the substantially eye-shaped member  11  comprises an upper arch  16 . The ruler  12  is printed on the upper arch  16 . This allows a user  18  to measure his or her eye by placing of the ruler  12  in proximity to that user&#39;s  18  eye so that the upper arch  16  containing the ruler  12  is proximal to the eyelash of the user  18 . 
     To further facilitate this, the ruler  12  is printed in reverse  20  on the upper arch  16 . This allows for a user  18  to measure an eyelash by gazing through the substantially eye shaped opening  14  to a mirror, where the reverse printing  20  will then appear readable in the correct direction as a mirror image. A user then utilizes a sliding graticule  22  to keep the measurement spot, which graticule  22  will be discussed in greater detail below. 
     The substantially eye-shaped opening comprises a front side  24  and a back side  26 . The ruler  12  is printed on the front side  24  of said substantially eye-shaped opening  14 . This allows that the back side  26  abuts the user&#39;s eye with the ruler visible on the front side. The back side  26  is concave  28  with respect to a user&#39;s  18 , and the front side  28  is correspondingly convex  30  with respect to the concavity  28  of the back side  26 . This allows the device to better conform to the shape of a human eye. The ruler follows the upper arch  16  along its path (which includes the concavity  28  and convexity  30 ) just described, which facilitates measurement of what would otherwise be a very difficult area, since it is not a straight line in any of the three orthogonal dimensions. 
     The substantially eye-shaped opening  14  in a preferred construction also comprises a lower arch  32 . The lower arch  32  depends from the upper arch  16  and combines with the upper arch to provide the eye-shaped opening  14 . While other shapes could be used, a lower arch  32  is by far the simplest and most direct means of completing the eye-shaped opening. 
     Additionally, the preferred construction of the device  10  further comprises a handle  34  which depends from the lower arch, to facilitate holding of the device  10  by a user  18 . 
     Detailed Description of the Sliding Graticule  22   
     To facilitate measurement and allow a user to keep a measurement made easily, a sliding graticule  22  is provided. The graticule  22  is for sliding along the upper arch  16 . It allows a user to denote a measured position on the ruler  12  on the upper arch  16 , which position would normally correspond to the end of an eyelash. To do this, the graticule  22  at least partially encompasses  36  the upper arch  16 . Thus it can slide along the upper arch  16  without falling off. 
     To further facilitate measurement, a vertical line graticule  38  is utilized to allow easy correspondence of the graticule to a particular spot on the ruler  12 . 
     Method of Using the Device  10   
     The preferred method of using the device is first placing the ruler  12  in proximity to a user&#39;s  18  eye so that the upper arch  16  is proximal to the eyelash of the user  18 . Then, second, measuring said user&#39;s  18  eyelash by said user gazing through the substantially eye shaped opening  14  to a mirror, where the reverse printing  20  will then appear readable in the correct direction as a mirror image. This facilitates using the device with any common household mirror, and lets a user  18  adjust the distance at which the ruler  12  is read, which advantages it over prior art methods, particularly for users  18  who may be sight impaired at some distances such as nearsightedness or farsightedness. This is particularly useful in the case of an eyelash measuring device  10 , since measuring an eyelash precludes the wearing of eyeglasses. 
     Accordingly a method of using an eyelash measuring device  10 , is such that said eyelash measuring device  10  comprises a substantially eye shaped member  11  having a substantially eye shaped opening  14 , which opening is formed by an upper arch  16  and a lower arch  32 , and wherein a ruler  12  with reversed printing  20  is disposed on said upper arch  16 , which method comprises the steps of:
     Step 1: placing of the ruler  12  in proximity to a user&#39;s eye so that said upper arch  16  is proximal to the eyelash of the user  18 ;   Step 2: measuring said user&#39;s eyelash by said user gazing through the substantially eye shaped opening  14  to a mirror, where the reverse printing  20  will then appear readable in the correct direction as a mirror image;   Step 3: positioning a sliding graticule  22  at an end of an eyelash; and   Step 4: recording the measurement indicated on the ruler  12  by the sliding graticule  22 .   

     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodiments of an EYELASH MEASURING DEVICE, accordingly it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.