Patent Publication Number: US-7895765-B2

Title: Brow tool

Description:
This application is a continuation in part of Ser. No. 29/314,170 and claims priority from design patent application filed entitled Brow Tool to same inventor Natalie Plain filed Mar. 10, 2009 now U.S. Pat. No. D,613,455. 
    
    
     DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
     Brow styling is an ancient art requiring skill and patience. Typically, it is difficult for a novice to style brows without assistance. Because eye brows do not regrow easily, errors in brow styling can cause semi permanent cosmetic damage which is difficult to correct using cosmetics. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a brow tool allowing a user to align and measure key metrics in brow styling. The present invention is an apparatus that has a bottom joint and a pair of extending arms extending from the bottom joint. The pair of extending arms have an inside edge spaced approximately 1 inch apart from each other. The pair of extending arms swivel relative to each other and provide a guide for defining a tweezing area. 
     To use the invention, a user first closes the brow tool so that the pair of extending arms have an inside edge parallel to each other. The user aligns the inside edge vertically to extend over the inside brow area to define a start line A. The user then extends one arm of the brow tool so that the inside edge of the extended arm is aligned with the outer edge of the iris. The portion of the inside edge of the extended arm extends over the brow to define an arch line B. The user then extends the extended arm to increase the angle of the brow tool until the inside edge is aligned with the outer edge of the eye to define an end line C. The inside edge of the extended arm extends over the brow to define end line C. 
     The brow tool then fully extends to an angle greater than 90° so that an inside edge of extended arm can be placed just below the bottom of the brow, with the arm resting on the area between the user&#39;s eyes. The user draws a first line to connect the start line A with the arch line B. The extended arm inside edge then provides a guide for a second line drawn between arch line B and end line C. The user then uses the straight edge inside edge to confirm that the brows are of the same height. The user then repeats the steps on the other eye. 
     The user therefore defines a tweezing area for tweezing the area between the pair of start lines A, and the area below the first line and the second line. The first line and the second line define an angle greater than 90°. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the brow tool exterior in the closed position. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the brow tool in closed position. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the brow tool in closed position. 
         FIG. 4  is a left view of the brow tool in closed position. 
         FIG. 5  is a right view of the brow tool in closed position. 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the brow tool in closed position. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the brow tool in closed position. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram of drawing the start line. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram of drawing the arch line. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram of drawing the end line. 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram of drawing a connection between the start line and the arch line. 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram of drawing a connection between the arch line and the end line. 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram of the completed lines. 
     
    
    
     The following call out list of elements is a helpful guide for understanding the brief description of the drawings.
       40  extending arm     41  grip depression     42  hook ending     43  flat portion     45  straight edge     48  inside angle     49  abutting line     50  housing top     51  housing bottom     52  housing top joiner     53  housing bottom joiner     148  gear   A start line   B arch line   C end line   

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention as seen in  FIGS. 1-7 , is a brow tool which has a variety of features for drawing brow defining lines. A user can use the brow tool for drawing brow defining lines to define an area in which to tweeze the eyebrows. The first extending arm and the second extending arm rotate relative to each other so that they can be rotated away from each other. The first extending arm and the second extending arm are adapted to angular extension from an initial 0° angle to a 180° angle. 
     The brow tool in the best mode has a total of four parts. The first and second part are a pair of extending arms  40 . Each extending arm  40  has a grip depression  41  disposed on a surface of the extending arm  40 . The extending arm  40  also has an inside edge  45  and each inside straight edge  45  has a hook ending  42 . The extending arms  40  have an inside angle  48  which is formed as an edge which joins the inside straight edge  45  to the abutting line  49 . The abutting line  49  is comprised of a pair of surfaces in parallel abutment to each other. The parallel abutment of the abutting line  49  when oriented by inside angle  48  extends to a pair of straight edges  45  on inside surfaces of the pair of extending arms  40 . The straight edges  45  are substantially parallel to each other. The extending arm  40  terminates in a hook ending  42  having a flat tip. 
     The third and fourth part of the brow tool are housing members that cover the base portion of the brow tool. The top housing member  50  and the bottom housing member  51  each have a joining portion, namely a housing top joiner  52  and a housing bottom joiner  53 . The housing top joiner is joined to the housing bottom joiner. The housing top joiner and housing bottom joiner may join at an interface that is elongated. Alternatively, the housing top joiner and housing bottom joiner can be joined at an interface which is discontinuous. The housing top joiner joins with the housing bottom joiner at a joining line. 
     The housing retains a pair of gears in meshed configuration  148 . A pair of protrusions can extend from each housing member and act as an axle for rotation of the gears  148 . Because gears  148  are meshed together, the angle of each extending arm from the median line of symmetry is equal. The pair of extending arms  40  have a defined gap between the straight edges  45 . The gap is preferably sized and predefined to the average width of a nose. 
     The pair of meshed gears is offset from the straight edge by the dimensions of the inside angle area of the extending arms. The offset is comprised of a latitudinal component and a longitudinal component. The latitudinal offset is one half of the a gap distance in a latitudinal direction which is provided by the inside angle area. The offset has a longitudinal component which is the distance between the straight edge  45  and the axis of rotation on the gear. 
     The straight edges  45  are initially parallel, and can be turned so that they oppose each other in parallel configuration. The opposition in parallel configuration occurs when the straight edges are pulled so that they point away from each other in 180° configuration. In 180° configuration, the hook endings  42  also point away from each other. The largest angle is constricted, calibrated and produced by the abutment of the extending arm against the housing. The smallest angle is constricted, calibrated and produced by the abutment of abutment areas dispose on the first extending arm and the second extending arm. 
     The gears have a space between them. The space between the gears is predefined as a gear spacing. The gears do not have a drive ratio of 1:1 and are preferably the same dimension, size and same material. The best mode is when the distance between the axis of the gears is approximately 0.5 cm so that the diameter of a gear is also 0.5 cm. The gap distance is approximately 1 inch which is an inch with a variance of greater or lesser than an inch by about half an inch. The extending arms are preferably formed as planar elongated members of about 5 inches long. 
     The extending arms have a first position,  FIG. 1  which is a starting position and a second position  FIG. 11  which is an ending position. At the starting position, the first and second angle can be defined. A first angle is defined as the angle between a median lengthwise line and the first straight edge, and a second angle is defined as the angle between the median lengthwise line and the second straight edge. The first gear and the second gear are configured so that the first angle and the second angle remain approximately equal throughout angular extension of the first extending arm and the second extending arm. 
       FIGS. 8-13  shows usage of the brow tool. To use the invention, a user first closes the brow tool so that the pair of extending arms have an inside edge parallel to each other. The user aligns the inside edge vertically to extend over the inside brow area to define a start line A. The user then extends one arm of the brow tool so that the inside edge of the extended arm is aligned with the outer edge of the iris. The portion of the inside edge of the extended arm extends over the brow to define an arch line B. The user then extends the extended arm to increase the angle of the brow tool until the inside edge is aligned with the outer edge of the eye to define an end line C. The inside edge of the extended arm extends over the brow to define end line C. 
     The brow tool then fully extends to an angle greater than 90° so that an inside edge of extended arm can be placed just below the bottom of the brow, with the arm resting on the area between the user&#39;s eyes. The user draws a first line to connect the start line A with the arch line B. The extended arm inside edge then provides a guide for a second line drawn between arch line B and end line C. The user then uses the straight edge inside edge to confirm that the brows are of the same height. The user then repeats the steps on the other eye. 
     The user therefore defines a tweezing area for tweezing the area between the pair of start lines A, and the area below the first line and the second line. The first line and the second line define an angle greater than 90°.