Patent Publication Number: US-2015072317-A1

Title: Mannequin head container for use in makeup practice and storage of cosmetic tools

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/698,694 filed on Sep. 9, 2012, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the study of cosmetology and specifically is an aid for the application of cosmetics and for the storage of cosmetic tools. 
     Mannequin heads for practice purposes are known. Aids have been used to teach cosmetology in the past and are necessary in order to allow students to practice their craft prior to implementing their talents on actual human faces. 
     There is a significant problem with such cosmetic aids because they do not allow for storage of makeup and related tools, leaving open the possibility that users will misplace items or have to carry the mannequin and the tools separately, creating an unnecessary nuisance. 
     There is also a significant problem with mannequin heads for cosmetic practice as they relate to eyelash cosmetology, in that artificial eyelashes are generally simulated by a single strip of eyelashes, rather than by multiple rows of eyelashes. Since human eyelashes grow naturally in multiple rows, prior art fails to provide a fully accurate simulation for an esthetician or cosmetologist in-training. 
     Thus, a need exists for improvements in the design of the mannequins, especially for practical storage purposes, and more accurate simulations of the eyelash features of the human face. The integration of a storage area inside the mannequin head cures those deficiencies and allows users of the invention the practical advantage of having a mannequin with which they may practice and store all tools necessary for successful cosmetological learning. The inclusion in the mannequin head system of attachable eyelash strips that accurately simulate multiple rows of lashes further improves on the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a mannequin head, with a hollow inside that acts as a storage container, for use in the application of eyelash extensions with removable sponges shaped like eyelids that resemble the human eyelid for a more practical and authentic extension application practice tool for cosmetology students. 
     A more specific objective of the invention is to overcome the difficulty that eyelash extension students have in practicing the application of eyelashes to a mannequin. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a mannequin head with storage space for the various tools that are used in make-up practice as it relates to the application of eyelash extensions. 
     The prior art generally fails to provide the appropriate angle that a human head would be positioned in when eyelash extensions are applied. Additionally, the prior art generally fails to provide the correct shape or consistency that the lid of a human eyelash would have in terms of applying a lash to a lid. Furthermore, the prior art fails to include removable artificial eyelashes to practice the accurate application of eyelash extensions. Finally, the prior art fails to include removable artificial eyelashes that are arranged in multiple rows accurately simulated the natural growth of human eyelashes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective of a preferred embodiment of the mannequin head fully-assembled, with the top face section and bottom base portion of the mannequin head container fit together; 
         FIG. 2  is the side perspective of the eyelid patch attached to the top of the eye cavity of the facial configuration portion of the mannequin head, with eyelash strip attached to the eyelid patch; 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the mannequin head completely assembled, with the facial configuration portion and back surface portion of the mannequin head container fit together, and showing the eyelid patches and eyelash strips attached to the mannequin head. 
         FIG. 4  is a side perspective of a preferred embodiment of the mannequin head showing how the back surface portion and face portion fit together; 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective of the back surface portion of the mannequin head container, which in its preferred embodiment includes a raised keeper to hold a compact disc in place, and is a kit that holds a compact disc and notebook. 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective of the back surface portion of the mannequin head container, which in its preferred embodiment is a kit that holds a notebook on top of a compact disc. 
         FIG. 7  is a front and a side perspective of the eyelid patch and eyelash strip assembly, showing how lower and upper configurations of the eyelash strip may be attached to the eyelid patch, and showing how the eyelid patch may be folded and unfolded to approximate the size and shape of both an open and closed human eyelid. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the mannequin head container approximates the size and shape of a human female head, including an oval human facial configuration whose shape resembles that of a human female, and which is made of plastic or other similarly rigid material. In one embodiment the plastic mannequin head is of a color and shade of that of human skin. 
     In further detail, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the mannequin head container also includes a back surface portion that has a moderate depth of approximately one inch. The back surface portion includes a protrusion portion, shown be reference number  25 , protruding a sufficient distance of approximately one-half inch from the base that would allow the entire mannequin unit to sit angularly upward when said back surface portion is set on a horizontal surface. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , said mannequin head includes a top portion, shown by reference number  10 , and said back surface portion, showing by reference number  20 , which are selectively attachable and detachable from one another. An eyelid patch and eyelash strip assembly, shown by reference number  15 , may be affixed by an adhesive to said mannequin head on or around the eye cavity of said facial configuration portion. Said eyelid patch may be made of latex or other sufficiently comprised latex free materials. The components of the eyelash strips may be made of synthetic eyelash materials, fabric, or other sufficiently flexible materials. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 2 , said mannequin head container includes said back surface portion that may be made of plastic or any of other sufficiently rigid and strong materials. Said protrusion shown by reference number  25  comprises part of said back surface portion. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 2 , an eyebrow piece, shown by reference number  30 , may be attached to said facial configuration to more accurately simulate a human female face. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , said eyelid patch and eyelash strip assembly, shown by reference number  15 , may be attached to said facial configuration portion of said mannequin head. An eyebrow piece of various shapes and sizes approximating different styles of human eyebrows, shown by reference number  30 , may be attached to said facial configuration portion of said mannequin head. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , said mannequin head and said back surface portion of the mannequin fit together, where in the preferred embodiment said mannequin head has a rim slightly larger in width than the width of the back surface portion, allowing the mannequin head and back surface portion to snap together. 
     The construction details of the invention as shown in  FIG. 4  are that the inside of said mannequin head is a hollow cavity, and that removal of said back surface portion from said mannequin head allows access to said hollow cavity, where in the preferred embodiment items comprising a cosmetic kit, including cosmetic tools and products, may be placed and stored. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the bottom base portion of the mannequin head container has the properties as described in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the mannequin head contains a back surface portion that has a depth that would lay flat horizontally on a surface. The inside portion of the back surface portion has a raised keeper to hold a compact disc, shown by reference number  40 , in place. In the preferred embodiment a notebook, shown by reference number  50 , may be placed over the compact disc and stored within the mannequin head. 
     In broad embodiment, the present invention is a mannequin head that serves as both a practice head for the application of make-up and the storage of cosmetology tools. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , in the preferred embodiment said mannequin head has a back surface portion, the inside of which may contain a notebook which, when said back surface portion is attached to said mannequin head, said notebook will be enclosed and stored. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , said eyelid patch and eyelash strip assembly, shown by reference number  15 , may be attached to one another. Said eyelid patch and said eyelash strips are selectively detachable. Said eyelash strip may be configured as an upper eyelash strip, shown by reference number  15   a,  or a lower eyelash strip, shown by reference number  15   b.  Said eyelash strips may be directly affixed to the top and bottom of said eyelid patch, shown by reference number  15   c.  A side perspective of the eyelid patch and eyelash strip assembly, fully assembled, is shown by reference number  15   d.    
     In the preferred embodiment, said eyelid patch may be folded in half, simulating a closed eyelid, as shown by reference number  15   e.  The fully assembled, bifolded eyelid patch and eyelash strip assembly is shown by reference number  15   f.    
     Said eyelash strip is comprised of a strip of material and multiple single rows of synthetic eyelashes. The multiple rows of eyelashes, as shown in side perspective by reference number  15   d,  and in front perspective by reference numbers  15   a  and  15   b,  approximate the size and shape that eyelashes grow on a human eyelid. 
     While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.