Patent Publication Number: US-6220252-B1

Title: Eyelash curling apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention pertains to personal grooming devices, in particular, to an eyelash curling apparatus for use by individuals to permit the curling of their eyelashes without pinching or crimping the eyelash. 
     There are a number of devices on the market that are designed to curl lashes. Most of them however accomplish this by crimping the lash which can be painful, pull the lash and the eyelid and result in an eyelash that has an angle crimped into it. This is because the current curling bar is a flat unit that crimps lashes at a ninety degree angle. The mechanism can entrap the eyelid and pinch it this action can tear the makeup that is already applied as well as causing pain. The current apparatus is large, bulky and consumes a large percentage of the cosmetic bag. Also, it has an negative appearance and is not something that one likes to appear with in public. Prior art typically describes a scissors like device which uses indirect force, causing the user to use considerable force while crimping the lashes. 
     What is needed is an eyelash curling apparatus that uses a curve in the shape of the eye&#39;s natural shape. It is the object of this invention to teach an eyelash curling apparatus which avoids the disadvantages and limitations, recited above in previous eyelash curling devices. It is the object of this invention is provide an apparatus that is inexpensive to manufacture, can be easily used and set up by the user and, at the same time, accurate and highly effective. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Particularly, it is the object of this invention to teach an eyelash curling apparatus, for use by individuals in order to provide a curled eyelash without the necessity of using indirect force or crimping to get the desired results, comprising a housing; said housing having two sections, an upper unit and a lower unit; said upper unit and said lower units of said housing comprising units of concave design for positioning of said housing on the eyeball; said upper unit of said housing having an arcuate rod positioned horizontally across the base edge of said upper unit; said housing having spring loaded connection means for attaching said upper unit and said lower unit; and said lower unit having receiving means for receiving said arcuate rod in said upper unit. 
     It is also the object of this invention to teach an eyelash curling apparatus, for use by individuals in order to provide a curled eyelash without the necessity of using indirect force or crimping to get the desired results, comprising in combination a housing having a primary and a secondary unit, said primary unit and said secondary unit of said housing comprising units of concave design for positioning of said housing on the eyeball, said primary unit of said housing having an arcuate rod positioned horizontally across the base edge; said housing having spring loaded connection means for attaching said primary and said secondary units; and said secondary unit having receiving means for receiving said arcuate rod in said primary unit. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further objects and features of this invention will become more apparent by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the following figures, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the novel eyelash curling apparatus; 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof; and 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the novel eyelash curling apparatus taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in the figures, the novel eyelash curling apparatus  10  comprises a unit with an upper housing  11  and a lower housing  12 . The upper and the lower housings have a concave surface design in order to accommodate the placement of the device over the eyeball. The housing  11  and  12  are constructed of lightweight plastic. A metal rod  13  is implanted in the upper housing  11 , but is designed to fit into a groove  14  in the lower housing  12 . The metal rod is heated to a desired level and acts as the curling iron when the two housings are squeezed together. The upper and lower housings  11  and  12  are held in a single element by means of two pins  15  and  15   a  that are located in apertures  16 ,  16   a,    16   b  and  16   c  in the upper and lower housing  11  and  12 . Each of the pins  15  and  15   a  are spring loaded  17  and  17   a  in order to provide a resilient force to the apparatus. 
     In operation, the individual using the eyelash curling apparatus will heat the metal rod that is located within the upper housing which acts as the curling iron. When it is heated to the desired level, the eyelashes are placed between the upper and lower housings. The apparatus is positioned using the thumb and forefinger of one hand. Squeezing the upper and lower housings together closes the mechanism. When the lower housing meets the upper housing, the metal rod in the upper housing is encased in the groove of the lower housing in the shape of a capital C. This action forces the eyelashes against the metal rod and keeping the eyelashes in position during the time it takes to curl the eyelash. The small, lightweight design of the apparatus allows the user to actually clearly see the application of the device in the mirror. Many of the earlier devices were large enough to obscure the view of the user. The heat for the metal rod can be acquired by using a blow dryer or immersing the upper housing in hot water. 
     While I have described my invention in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it is clearly to be understood that this is done only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of my invention as set forth in the objects thereof and in the appended claims.