Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for dispensing false eyelashes from an apparatus, said method comprising the steps of a user advancing tape, said tape carrying a plurality of false eyelashes in a direction toward the dispensing tip of said apparatus, said apparatus comprising an upper and lower clamp, and said lower clamp being in an open position as said tape is advanced; said user halting advancement of said tape when one of said false eyelashes is sufficiently exposed for application by a user; said user positioning said lower clamp into a closed position which holds said false eyelash in a substantially fixed position for application to said user&#39;s eyelid; and said user applying said false eyelash to said user&#39;s eyelid.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a method for dispensing false eyelashes. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    False eyelashes must be purchased and applied for all types of eyelid shapes, sizes, eyelash colors, and a host of other factors. This level of customization has led to eyelashes that are quite expensive, and which are stored in bulky containers which are expensive to ship. 
         [0003]    Another problem encountered with applying false eyelashes is handling and applying false eyelashes can be cumbersome, messy, and inaccurate. With current available products, applying false eyelashes takes skill and practice. One must use glue to adhere the false eyelashes to the eyelids. One must let the glue get the correct amount of “tackiness” and then apply without gumming up the eyelashes and ruining the product, or worse, damaging the eye itself. Although there are false eyelashes available with self-adhesive glue already on the lashes, these leave the glue residue on the real eyelashes and can result in removing the person&#39;s own lashes along with the false eyelashes. 
         [0004]    Previous attempts to address these issues include false eyelash strips, which may include predetermined doses of adhesive. The strips are generally provided in predetermined lengths, which may not match the length of the eyelid to which they are applied. Also, the base of the strip of false lashes is readily visible, which reduces their natural appearance. False eyelash dispensers have been employed, which may include a cutting means for obtaining a more accurate length for application to the eyelid. But again, the base of the strip, or backbone, remains visible, and the device requires some skill on the part of the user to properly measure the strip before application. This creates a large margin for user error and does not overcome limits to the natural appearance of the false lashes. 
         [0005]    To be applied effectively, and with a natural appearance, a false eyelash needs to be delivered to an eyelash or eyelid as individual lashes or lash clusters. The invention herein provides such lashes in a form-factor which enables easy application. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention relates to a method for dispensing false eyelashes from an apparatus, said method comprising the steps of a user advancing tape, said tape carrying a plurality of false eyelashes in a direction toward the dispensing tip of said apparatus, said apparatus comprising an upper and lower clamp, and said lower clamp being in an open position as said tape is advanced; said user halting advancement of said tape when one of said false eyelashes is sufficiently exposed for application by a user; said user positioning said lower clamp into a closed position which holds said false eyelash in a substantially fixed position for application to said user&#39;s eyelid; and said user applying said false eyelash to said user&#39;s eyelid. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the apparatus. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2A  is a side view of the apparatus with its lower clamp in the open position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2B  is a close up view of the dispensing end of the apparatus, in the open position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2C  is a side view of the apparatus with its lower clamp in the closed position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2D  is a close up view of the dispensing end of the apparatus, in the closed position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3A  is side cutaway view of the apparatus, showing its internal components, and the lower clamp being in the closed position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3B  is side cutaway view of the apparatus, showing its internal components, and the lower clamp being in the closed position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows an exploded view of the apparatus herein. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  show a side, close up view, of the locking mechanism of the apparatus. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6A  shows a plan view of the tape, suitable for the apparatus herein. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6B  is a close up plan view of the bottom of the apparatus. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6C  is a plan view of the bottom of the apparatus. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is an isometric cutaway view of the side of the apparatus, loaded with false eyelashes. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the apparatus just prior to application to a user&#39;s eyelid. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The apparatus stores and delivers false eyelashes (“lashes on tape”) conveniently in a manner that allows for easy and accurate application of false eyelashes that are dispensed individually or in false eyelash clusters. The invention comprises false eyelashes that are dispensed from tape perpendicularly to the dispensing edge of the tape. The false eyelashes are dispensed from individual patches of adhesive on the tape. Because the false eyelashes are dispensed individually, rather than a single strip of false eyelashes, they can be stylized, curved, elongated, or otherwise differentiated from one another. 
         [0022]    Common eyelash types include human hairs, synthetic hairs, nylon, fibers, threads, or even fiber optics. The tape is preferably medical-grade, fabric-covered tape. However, other types of tapes are functional equivalents, such as plastics. The false eyelashes should be treated, or pretreated, with an adhesive at their distal ends to facilitate application to a human eyelid or eyelash. Suitable adhesives include medical grade such as Elastoplast®, and are sufficiently tacky to secure the false eyelashes to the user&#39;s eyelashes or eyelid, but not so tacky as to harm the user. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an apparatus  100  for dispensing false eyelashes. The apparatus  100  includes a casing defined by a first body  110  and a second body  120 . The first and second bodies  110  and  120  are fastened to one another via any practical means such as screws, clips, bolts, pins, and the like. To form a more consumer-acceptable casing, fasteners such as rivets, magnets, or other more easily-removable connections may be employed. The casing may include an opening between the first and second bodies  110 , and  120 . The opening may extend around the perimeter of the casing, or the first and second bodies  110  and  120  may be flush around their edges, while exposing an opening at its distal end, forming a lower and upper clamp  114 ,  118 . An actuating wheel  115  is generally positioned in the lower-intermediate portion of the casing and is provided to enable the dispensing of false eyelashes. The actuating wheel  115  may be formed with a textured surface such as cogs  113  to provide a surface for actuation by a user&#39;s finger. Preferably, adjacent to the actuation wheel  115 , is a first and second button  125 ,  130  for opening and closing the lower clamp  114 . In one embodiment, the first and second buttons  125 ,  130  comprise a tactile surface or otherwise protrude from the apparatus  100 . Exemplary tactile surfaces include bumps, grooves, a rubber or polymeric gripping surface, and the like. As the apparatus  100  may be used with the user&#39;s attention being drawn to the application process, a tactile surface may assist the user to locate the first and second buttons  125 ,  130  without having to visually locate their positions. The tactile surfaces of the first and second buttons  125 ,  130  may be the same or different from one another. In one embodiment, the tactile surfaces comprise different materials. The tactile difference may indicate to the user whether the respective surface operates to open or close the lower clamp  114 . The clamping mechanism facilitates improved control over accurate dispensing of the false eyelashes herein. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2A  shows a side-view of an embodiment of the false eyelash dispenser  200  with the lower clamp  214  in an open position. The opening  222  created by the open lower clamp  214  enables false eyelashes to be dispensed from the opening  222 . The opening  222  is provided when the first button  215  is activated by the user. In one embodiment, activation of the first button  215  also disengages the second button  230 .  FIG. 2B  provides a close-up view of the lower and upper clamps  214 ,  218  and opening  222 . Also visible is the dispensing edge  241 , which facilitates a pivot point for the dispensing tape (not shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B ) to dispense false eyelashes through the opening  222 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 2C  shows a side-view of an embodiment of the false eyelash dispenser  200  with the lower clamp  214  in a closed position.  FIG. 2E  provides a close-up view of the lower clamp  214  in a closed position and holding false eyelashes  210  in place. Clamping the false eyelashes  210  provides the user with greater control and dexterity for accurate application of the false eyelashes  210  to the user&#39;s eyelid. The false eyelashes  210  may be treated with a cosmetically acceptable adhesive or glue to be fixed to a user&#39;s eyelid or existing eyelashes. Closing the lower clamp  214  as the user applies the false eyelashes  210  to her own eyelashes or eyelid enables the user to press the false eyelashes  210  into place with sufficient force to firmly fix them in place. In the absence of such a closure, as is provided by the lower and upper clamps  214 ,  218 , the false eyelashes  210  are easily displaced from the dispensing device, making it very difficult to accurately apply the false eyelashes  210 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 3A  shows a side view of the internal components of the dispenser, as the components are configured against the second body  302 . The second body  302  is molded with a tape-supporting molded surface  305  provided to support and guide the path of the dispensing tape  350  from the supply wheel  330  to its dispensing tip  341 . The supply wheel  330  is preloaded with false eyelashes and sits on a supply axle  335 . As the dispensing tape advances over the dispensing tip  341 , it returns over a guide-wheel  325 , which directs the dispensing tape  350  to a take-up wheel  320 . The take-up wheel  320  sits on a take-up axle  311  to facilitate rotation. The take-up wheel  320  is in communication with the actuating wheel, shown in  FIGS. 1, 4, and 7 .  FIG. 3A  shows the opening  340  in a closed position, where the lower and upper clamps  314 ,  318  are compressed towards one another. The closed position is enabled by the user pushing a first button  316 . The pushing force pivots the lower clamp  314  into its closed position. And the pivot action is facilitated by the first and second buttons  316 ,  315  being in communication with a pivot point  321  and pivot fulcrum  322 . The base of the second button  315  is in communication with a locking arm  333  which is formed with a locking feature, designed to match a first and second locking position  331 ,  332 , creating a locking mechanism  342 . The locking mechanism  342  operates in tandem with the open and closed position of the lower and upper clamps  314 ,  318 . As shown, when the lower clamp  314  is in the closed position, the locking arm  333  is locked in the first locking position  331 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3B  shows the lower clamp  314  in the open position due to a push force being applied to the second button  315 . The push force moves the locking arm  333  into the second locking position  332 , and an opening  340  is created which facilitates advancement of the dispensing tape  350  for dispensing false eyelashes. In turn, the locking arm  333  is also moved into its second locking position  332 , which fixes the lower clamp  314  in its open position. While the lower clamp  314  is in the open position, the user can advance the dispensing tape  350  to dispense the false eyelashes. 
         [0028]    The take-up wheel  320  is configured to draw the dispensing tape  350  from the supply wheel  330 , which facilitates dispensing of the false eyelashes. The movement of the take-up wheel  320  may be facilitated by any suitable actuation means known in the art. For example, the supply wheel  330  may be coupled to a trigger, button, gear, wheel, or other means for advancing rotation of the take-up wheel  320 . As the dispensing tape  350  advances from the supply wheel  330 , it passes over the molded surface  305  to the dispensing tip  341 , then it returns over the guide-wheel  325  and is ultimately wound into the spool of the take-up wheel  320 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the apparatus, showing the first and second bodies  414 ,  412 , which house all of the internal components. The dispensing wheel  430  sits on its axle  435 . And the take-up wheel  420  sits on its axle  411 . The take-up wheel  420  is also in communication with the actuating wheel  415 , which, in this embodiment, protrudes through the bottom of the apparatus  400 , providing the user with an actuating means for advancing the tape. The tape is further supported by a guide-wheel  425 , which sits on its axle  427 . Also shown is the pivot arm  405  which includes the lower clamp  441 , the pivot point  421  pivot fulcrum  422 , and the locking arm  433 .  FIG. 4 , also shows an embodiment including a protruding locking peg  434  and an eyelet  442 , each of which are discussed hereinafter. Also shown is an anti-rollback means  445 , which engages the take-up wheel  420  to prevent the take-up wheel  420  from being rolled contrary to its dispensing direction. Such a feature is helpful to prevent a user from erroneously unwinding the dispensing tape  350  from the take-up wheel  420 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 5A  shows a close-up, cutaway, side-view of the locking mechanism  541 . The locking arm  533  is engaged with the second locking position  532  via the locking peg  534 . In order to facilitate a smooth transition from the second locking position  532  to the first locking position  531 , the locking peg  534  may be designed with a slanted surface  535 , which enables the locking peg  534  to slide from the second locking position  532  to the first locking position  531 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 5B  shows a close-up, cutaway, side-view of the locking mechanism  541 . The locking arm  533  is engaged with the first locking position  531  via the locking peg  534 . In order to facilitate a smooth transition from the first locking position  531  to the second locking position  532 , the first locking position  531  may be designed with a slanted or contoured surface  542 , which enables the locking peg  534  to slide from the first locking position  531  to the second locking position  532 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 6A  shows a plan view of a portion of tape  600 , suitable for use in the apparatus of the present invention. In one embodiment, the tape  600  comprises a transparent or translucent surface  620 . In another embodiment, the tape surface  620  is visually distinct from intermittent lines  610  on the tape  600 . When the tape  600  is loaded into the apparatus of the present invention, the tape  600  is visible through the eyelet  642  as is shown in  FIGS. 6B and 6C . The eyelet  642  comprises a window  643 , through which the tape  600  is visible. When the false eyelashes  650  are advanced to an appropriate position for application to a user&#39;s eyelid or eyelash, a line  610  aligns with an alignment indicia  641 , which prompts the user to depress the second button  630 , activating the lower clamp  614 . After the false eyelashes  650  are applied to the user&#39;s eyelid or eyelash, the user depresses the first button  625 , and is free to advance the tape  600  with the actuating wheel  615 . The distal ends  655  of the false eyelashes  650  are applied to a user&#39;s eyelash. The distal end  655  of the false eyelashes  650  may be pretreated with a user-acceptable adhesive to affix the false eyelashes  650  to the user&#39;s eyelash. Suitable eyelash adhesives are commercially available from, for example, DUO®. 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  shows the apparatus  700 , as false eyelashes  750  are dispensed on the tape  752  from the supply wheel  735 . The actuating wheel  715  rotates forward, advancing false eyelashes  750  towards the dispensing tip  741 , and dispensing the false eyelashes  640  through the opening  740 . As has been previously discussed, the opening  740  is provided by locking the lower clamp  714  into the open position by depressing the first button  725 . As the false eyelashes are dispensed through the opening  740 , the user closes the lower clamp  714  by depressing the second button  730 . With the false eyelashes  750  secured between the closed lower clamp  714  and upper clamp  718 , the false eyelashes  750  are stabilized and secured, which provides improved accuracy and control as the false eyelashes  750  are applied to a user&#39;s eyelid or eyelash. As the false eyelash  750  is applied to the user&#39;s eyelash or eyelid, the user applies light pressure to the false eyelash  750  at the application site for a period of time. Once the adhesive adheres to the application site, the user unlocks the lower clamp  714 , releasing the applied false eyelash  750 , and pulls the apparatus  700  away from the eye. This process is repeated until the desired cosmetic appearance is achieved. The false eyelashes  750  are secured to the tape  752  by a cosmetically acceptable adhesive. And therefore, the adhesive applied to the false eyelashes  750  to fix the false eyelashes  750  to the eyelid or eyelash of a user must provide a sufficient tension force to release the false eyelashes  750  from the tape  752  after the false eyelashes  750  are applied to a user&#39;s eyelid or eyelash. 
         [0034]    The apparatus herein may be preloaded with false eyelashes of varying lengths, shapes, and orientations to achieve a variety of cosmetic effects. In one embodiment, the apparatus is preloaded with a predetermined number of short, medium, and long false eyelashes. The apparatus may also include instructions or depict a template for applying the false eyelashes of varying lengths to achieve a particular cosmetic effect. Preloading the apparatus with such false eyelashes, and providing instructions for their application, improves the overall user experience as compared to currently known approaches for applying false eyelashes. Specifically, the predetermined assortment of lashes in each apparatus allows the user to select a particular apparatus based on a specifically desired cosmetic appearance at the point of sale. For example, the first false eyelashes may consist of short false eyelashes, and the next ten may consist of medium eyelashes, and the next ten may consist of long eyelashes. Of course, any predetermined ratio of short, medium, and long eyelashes may be employed. 
         [0035]      FIG. 8  shows a side view of the apparatus  800  just prior to application of false eyelashes  820  to a user&#39;s eyelid  852 . It has been found that minimizing the size of distance “x”, as shown in  FIG. 8 , measured from the upper clamp  825  to the lower clamp  814 , and against the outer edge of the apparatus  800 , is advantages for application of false eyelashes  820  to the user&#39;s eyelid  852 . Therefore, the distance “x” should be less than about 1 cm, preferably less than about 0.5 cm, and most preferably, less than about 0.3 cm in length. Most preferably, the upper clamp  825  and lower clamp  814  should meet at a point, with a minimal distance between the two features. Minimizing distance “x” allows the user to apply the false eyelashes  820  to a user&#39;s eyelid  852  with an increased range of motion. If the distance “x” is too large, the user is much more likely to contact the user&#39;s eye  851  with the lower clamp  814  as the false eyelashes  820 , are applied to the user&#39;s eyelid  852 .