Abstract:
An applicator for dispensing false eyelashes includes a supply wheel and a take-up wheel, the supply wheel comprising a tape having a plurality of pockets, where the pockets secure individual or clusters of false eyelashes until they are dispensed from a dispensing pivot. The spent tape is returned to the take-up wheel.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/791,606, filed Mar. 15, 2013. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing false eyelashes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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 
     The present invention relates to an applicator for dispensing false eyelashes. It includes a supply wheel and a take-up wheel, the supply wheel comprising a tape having a plurality of pockets, where the pockets secure individual or clusters of false eyelashes until they are dispensed from a dispensing pivot for application to a user&#39;s eyelid or eyelashes. The spent tape is returned to the take-up wheel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the apparatus with one second body removed. 
         FIG. 3  is a close-up and cutout view of the apparatus&#39; dispensing pivot. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the components of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the apparatus, with the second body removed. 
         FIG. 6  is a representation of the apparatus as it dispenses false eyelashes to a user. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     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 false eyelashes are delivered perpendicularly to the user&#39;s eyelid or eyelash. As such, 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 pockets on the tape, which obviate the necessity for an adhesive to hold the eyelashes onto the tape. This feature is important because adhesive residue on the surface of the eyelashes can create clumping and retain dust and debris when after the false eyelashes have been applied to the user&#39;s eyelid or eyelashes. Also, because the false eyelashes are dispensed from individual pockets rather than a single strip of false eyelashes, they can be stylized, curved, elongated, or otherwise differentiated from one another. 
     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. 
       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, 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 bodies  110 , and  120 . The opening may extend around the perimeter of the casing, or the bodies  110  and  120  may be flush around their edges, while exposing an opening at the dispensing pivot  114 . An actuating wheel  115  is generally positioned in the upper-intermediate portion of the casing and is provided to enable the dispensing motion of the tape  116 . The dispensing pivot  114  is positioned such that an eyelash is dispensed from the tape  116  as it passes over the dispensing pivot  114 . The casing is configured with an opening to facilitate dispensing at the dispensing pivot  114 . 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, for example. 
       FIG. 2  shows a side view of an embodiment of the false eyelash dispenser with the second body removed. In this embodiment, the first body  210  holds all of the components in position to facilitate the dispensing process. The actuating wheel  220  and supply wheel  235  sit on a dispensing cylinder  225 , which in turn, sits on the dispensing axle  211 . The actuating wheel  220  is provided to facilitate advancement of the tape  205  via the user&#39;s finger. The supply wheel  235  is provided to rotate, dispensing the tape  205 , as the user pushes the actuating wheel  220  with a finger. In one embodiment, the actuating wheel  220  and supply wheel  235  may be formed together as one wheel. The take-up wheel  255  is placed on the rear axle  250  and is provided to receive spent tape  205  from the dispensing pivot  214 . 
     The apparatus is operated by the user pushing the actuating wheel  220  forward. Several suitable actuation means known in the art are suitable, but most simply, the user pushes the wheel  220  forward with a finger. Through this action, the carrier tape  205  dispenses from the supply wheel  235  through a first run  230  and to the dispensing pivot  214 . The dispensing pivot  214  is preferably a wheel which sits on the dispensing axle  215 . The tape  205  bends around the dispensing pivot  214  and proceeds through a second run  240 , past the other side of the supply wheel  235  to the take-up wheel  255 . In order to guide the tape  205  through the second run  240  to the take-up wheel  255 , an axle  260  may be provided intermediately. 
       FIG. 3  shows a cut-out view of the first body  350 , showing the false eyelashes  310  being dispensed from the dispensing pivot  330 . The dispensing pivot  330  fits over a dispensing axle  345 , and it may comprise a simple curved surface for guiding the tape  340  as it is dispensed. More preferably, the dispensing pivot  330  is a wheel which provides a smooth pivot surface for the carrier tape  340 . The pockets  312  are sealed, and preferably heat-sealed, to the carrier tape  340  surface at their lateral edges  334 ,  335 . The anterior edge  333  of the carrier tape  340  may be sealed or unsealed relative to the carrier tape  340 . When the anterior edge  333  remains unsealed, longer eyelashes  310  may be provided, which are held in place by threading through the pockets  312 , and extending through the anterior edge  333 . The pockets  312  secure the false eyelashes  310  to the carrier tape  340  until they are dispensed from the dispensing pivot  330 . The false eyelash  310  is configured in the pockets  312  such that the distal end  311  of the false eyelashes  310  are directed towards the dispensing pivot  330 . During use, the distal end  311  of the false eyelash  310  is exposed from the pocket  312  as it passes over the dispensing pivot  330 . In one embodiment, the distal end  311  of the false eyelashes  310  are pretreated with an adhesive for applying the false eyelashes  310  to the user&#39;s eyelid or eyelashes. In another embodiment, the distal end  311  of the false eyelashes  310  is treated with an adhesive just before applying the false eyelashes  310  to the user&#39;s eyelid or eyelash. 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of an embodiment depicting the take-up wheel  422  and the supply wheel  424 , fitted with the tape  492  which is suitable for holding false eyelashes, extending from the supply wheel  424 , over the dispensing pivot  430 , to the take-up wheel  422 . The supply wheel  424  fits over the dispensing cylinder  474 , and the dispensing cylinder  474  fits over the center cylinder  475  of the actuating wheel  476 . The dispensing cylinder  474  is generally formed from rubber or a similar material which provides sufficient friction to effectively drive the supply wheel  424  when the actuating wheel  476  is rotated by the user. Providing the dispensing cylinder  474  allows for relatively simple replacement of the tape  492  and/or supply wheel  424  for refilling purposes. When fully assembled, the components engage with the axles  431 ,  477 ,  425 , and  423 . Specifically, the dispensing pivot  430  fits over the dispensing axle  431 , the actuating axle  477  fits inside of the center cylinder  475  of the actuating wheel  476 . The axle  425  at the rear of the first body  120 , but preceding the take-up axle  423 , is provided to assist in guiding the tape  492  to the take-up wheel  422  as the tape  492  is dispensed. The take-up wheel  422  fits over the take-up axle  423 . The take-up wheel  422  may comprise cogs  440  which intermesh with cogs  442  on the actuating wheel  476  to coordinate the dispensing and take-up action of the tape  492 . Each respective axle in the first body  120  engages a matching receptacle on the inside surface of the second body  110  to encourage structural stability of the apparatus. 
     To load the tape  492  into the apparatus, a role of tape  492  is provided on a supply wheel  424 , which is preloaded with false eyelashes. The tape is extended over the dispensing pivot  430  and rear axle  425 , then connected to the take-up wheel  422 . The tape  492  may be secured to the take-up wheel  422  by various means. Preferably, a sufficient portion of the tape  492  is pretreated with an adhesive material to effectively adhere the tape  492  to the take-up wheel  422 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a side perspective view of an embodiment of the false eyelash dispenser with the second body removed. The first body  500  is the place holder that holds all of the components in position so that the dispensing process can be performed properly. The actuating wheel  565  is placed on the actuating axle  526 . The actuating wheel  565 , is engaged with a dispensing cylinder  525 , which in turn is engaged with the supply wheel  535 . The actuating wheel  565  comprises a series of cogs  566 , which engage with complimentary cogs  536  on the take-up wheel  555 . When operated by a user, the cogs  566  on the actuating wheel  565  engage the cogs  536  on the take-up wheel  555 , causing the supply wheel  535  and take-up wheel  555  to move in concert as the tape  513  is dispensed. The eyelashes  510  are arranged such that the distal ends  511  of the false eyelashes  510  protrude from the distal side  517  of the pockets  512 . When actuated, the tape  513  moves along its first run  530 , and the distal end  511  of the lash  510  is presented over the pivot wheel  514  for a user to apply to her eyelid or eyelash. The pivot wheel  514  is preferably a wheel which rotates around a pivot axle  515 . And a rear axle  560  is provided to guide the tape  513  through a second run  540  to the take-up wheel  555 . In one embodiment, the distal end  511  of the false eyelashes  510  are treated with a user-acceptable adhesive just prior to application to the eyelid or eyelash. 
       FIG. 6  shows the apparatus  610 , in use, as a user applies a false eyelash  640  to her own eyelash  650 . As depicted, the actuating wheel  620  has been pushed along its rotational axis sufficiently to expose a false eyelash  640 . The distal end  635  of the false eyelash  640  is then applied to the user&#39;s eyelash  650 . The distal end  635  of the false eyelash  640  is pretreated with a user-acceptable adhesive to affix the false eyelash  640  to the user&#39;s eyelash  650 . Suitable eyelash adhesives are commercially available from, for example, DUO®. The adhesive may be provided commercially as a kit, with the dispensing apparatus  610 . In another embodiment, the false eyelash  640  may be blended into the user&#39;s existing natural eyelashes  650  by applying the distal end  635  of the false eyelashes  640  to the user&#39;s eyelid  630 . As the false eyelash  640  is applied to the eyelash  650  or eyelid  630 , the user is instructed to apply light pressure to the distal end  635  of the false eyelash  640  at the application site for a period of time. Once the adhesive adheres to the application site, the user should pull the apparatus  610  away from the eye  660 . The eyelash  640  will remain on the application site and slide out from the pocket  615 . This process is repeated until the desired cosmetic appearance is achieved. 
     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 ten pockets may consist of short false eyelashes, 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.