Abstract:
An eye makeup application device that includes a handle and ends that are shaped to conform to the human upper and lower eyelids. The eye makeup application device is adapted to enable a farsighted user to insert the ends behind eyeglasses, obtain a desired position, and then apply the eye makeup accurately once the eyeglasses are removed. In the preferred form of the device, removable flexible pads are attached to the end and are able to more precisely conform to the shape of a specific individuals eyelid. Additionally, the ability to remove the flexible pads allows for periodic cleaning or replacement.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. provisional Pat. Application Ser. No. 60/480,791, filed Jun. 23, 2003, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND AND TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention is directed towards a device to assist in the application of eye makeup. Although the device may be used to assist application of all types of eye makeup, such as mascara or eye shadow, it is particularly adapted for use with eyeliner. Additionally, it is particularly adapted for use by individuals that are farsighted and must wear eyeglasses when applying eye makeup.  
           [0003]    In order for a farsighted individual to apply eye makeup in an accurate and aesthetically pleasing manner it is often necessary that such individuals wear their glasses while doing so. Contacts are not necessarily worn during such a process because the farsighted individual may simply not be able to wear them or may not want to risk the painful experience of getting eye makeup in their eye while wearing contacts. While numerous devices are known for use with the application of eye makeup, such as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. U.S. 2002/0124865 A1 submitted by Davis, U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,389 B1 issued to Bakken, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,142 issued to Karafilis, such devices are often intended for use only as shields to protect against unwanted smearing or dripping of eye makeup, or only for use with eye mascara, or have straight or short handles. However, many farsighted eye makeup wearers are not able to use such above existing devices, because they either do not fit well behind eyeglasses or provide a guide surface that would be suitable for use by farsighted person.  
           [0004]    The present invention overcomes such difficulties and enables the user to accurately and efficiently apply eye makeup. An eyeglass wearer is able to position the device behind their eyeglasses and onto either their upper or lower eyelid. Once the desired position is obtained, the eyeglasses can be removed and the makeup applied by using the device as a guide to stabilize a makeup applicator such as an eyeliner pencil or mascara brush. In addition, by locating the device between the face of the user and the makeup applicator, the areas above and below the eye are protected against makeup smears or drips.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention discloses an eye makeup application device with a handle and ends that conform to human eyelids. Flexible pads attached to the ends of the device provide greater conformity to the user&#39;s eyelids. The device may be inserted behind the eyeglasses of a user to enable more precise application of the makeup. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 a  is a front view of one embodiment of the eye makeup application device;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 b  is a side view of the device from the embodiment of FIG. 1 a;    
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 shows a top and side view of the upper and lower removable flexible pads from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b;    
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 a  is an enlarged view of a folding connection that may be incorporated in to the handle portion of the device of FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b;    
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 a  is a profile view of the device in use on the lower eyelid of an eyeglass wearer;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 b  is a frontal view of the device in use on the lower eyelid of an eyeglass wearer;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 c  is a profile view of the device in use on the upper eyelid of an eyeglass wearer;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 d  is a frontal view of the device in use on the upper eyelid of an eyeglass wearer;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b  are front and side views of an alternate embodiment of the device;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of an alternate embodiment of a pad of the device of the present invention; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of an alternate embodiment of the prongs of the device of the present invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]    As can be seen in FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b,  one embodiment of the eye makeup application device  11  includes a handle portion  1  and first and second ends  2  and  3 , which are connected to opposed ends of handle portion  1  by offset portions  14  and  15 . As will be more fully describe below, ends  2  and  3  form eyelid guides and together with offset portions  14  and  15  enable a farsighted person to apply makeup, for example, to their upper and lower eyelids and optionally to their eyelashes, while protecting the surrounding skin from mascara or eyeliner smears.  
         [0018]    Upper end  2  and lower end  3  are configured to conform respectively to the general shape of a human upper eyelid and a human lower eyelid so that when placed over the eyelid and against the edge of the eyelid, the respective end will substantially cover the eyelid while leaving the edge of the eyelid exposed for the application of eyeliner, for example. As best seen in FIG. 1, edge  4  of upper end  2  is radially shaped to generally follow the contour of the edge of the upper eyelid, which is typically more contoured or has a smaller radius of curvature. Similarly, edge  5  of lower end  3  is contoured to generally follow the contour of the edge of the lower eyelid, which is generally less contoured than the upper eyelid and hence has a larger radius of curvature. Additionally, upper end  2  has a larger width relative to lower end  3 .  
         [0019]    As noted above, ends  2  and  3  are offset from handle portion  1  by offset portions  14  and  15 . Offset portions  14  and  15  comprise web portions that extend generally orthogonal to handle portion  1 . In the illustrated embodiment, handle portion  1  is formed from an elongate member, such as an elongate plate, and lies in a vertical plane V (as viewed in FIG. 1 b ). In this manner, offset portions  14  and  15  offset ends  2  and  3  from plane V of handle portion  1 . In the illustrated embodiment, offset portions  14  and  15  offset ends  2  and  3  so that they lie in a common plane; however, it can be appreciated that offset portions  14  and  15  may have different horizontal dimensions (as viewed in FIG. 1 b ) to align ends  2  and  3  in spaced apart generally parallel planes to accommodate the different gaps that can occur between a user&#39;s face and the upper edge of a pair of glasses and between the user&#39;s face and the lower edge of the glasses, which is typically smaller. Alternately or in addition, offset portions  14  and  15  may form an acute or obtuse angle with respect to handle portion to tilt ends  2  and  3 . In addition, offset portions  14  and  15  may be constructed or made from a material that allows the angle of the offset portion to be adjusted and readjusted as desired by the user of device  11 .  
         [0020]    As would be understood, therefore, offset portions  14  and  15  allow the device user to individually position upper end  2  or lower end  3  behind the eyeglasses worn by the user. In addition, the offset portions  14  and  15  provide a moment arm to convert a vertical holding force, applied by the user of the device, into a compressive force or pressure against the eyelid where the makeup is to be applied while retaining a secure grip on handle portion  1 .  
         [0021]    As can be seen in FIG. 1 b,  upper end  2  and lower end  3  are formed by flanges and, further, may be formed as separate flanges  6  and  7 , respectively, which are then secured to handle portion  1 , for example, by fixed connections, such as by welds, or by releasable connections, such as a snap-fit connections. In the illustrated embodiment, flanges  6  and  7  have a generally arcuate shape with upwardly and downwardly projecting tabs  6   a  and  7   a  for connecting flanges  6  and  7  to offset portions  14  and  15 , respectively. Offset portions  14  and  15  include downwardly and upwardly extending flanges  14   a  and  15   a.  Flanges  14   a  and  15   a  for example may project into or receive tabs  6   a  and  7   a  of flanges  6  and  7  and may be releasably coupled thereto by a detent mechanism. For example, each tab  6   a  and  7   a  may have formed therein a recess with the wall of the recess having an indentation. Flanges  14   a  and  15   a  may be sized to fit into the respective recesses of the tabs and further include a projection or the like for engaging the indentation in the recess so as to provide a snap fit connection between flanges  14   a  and  15   a  and tabs  6   a  and  7   a.  Similarly, flanges  14   a  and  15   a  may have a recess formed therein, with tabs  6   a  and  7   a  sized to fit into the respective recesses of flanges  14   a  and  15   a  and further include a projection or the like for engaging an indentation formed in the recess of flanges  14   a  and  15   a  so as to provide a snap fit connection. As would be understood that the projections and indentations may be reversed. It should also be understood that other releasable connections may be used. In this manner, ends  2  and  3  may be removed for replacement or for making device  11  more compact.  
         [0022]    As best understood from FIG. 2, upper and lower ends  2  and  3  preferably include upper and lower flexible pads  9  and  10 . Such flexible pads  9 ,  10  provide a softer and conformable surface for positioning against the user&#39;s eyelids, thereby enabling more comfortable and accurate application of the eye makeup. In the illustrated embodiment, pads  9  and  10  are frictionally secured to upper end  2  and lower end  3  respectively. Upper and lower flexible pads  9  and  10  are similarly shaped to conform to the general shape of human upper and lower eyelids, respectively. Therefore, edge  12  of upper flexible pad  9  is more contoured or concave than edge  13  of lower flexible pad  10 .  
         [0023]    Although FIGS. 1 a,    1   b,  and  2  show the upper and lower flexible pads  9 ,  10  as removable, such pads may be fixedly secured to the upper and lower ends  2 ,  3  without affecting the functionality of the device. Furthermore, upper and lower pads  9  and  10  may form the ends of the device of the present invention, as will be more fully described below.  
         [0024]    As shown in FIGS. 1 b  and  2 , a raised support nub  8  is included on both the upper and lower flexible pads  9 ,  10 . Raised support nub  8  protrudes in a direction generally parallel to the direction of the offset provided by offset portions  14  and  15  and in a direction opposite from that of which the handle portion  1  is offset by offset portions  14  and  15 . The raised support nub  8  provides a contact location to be placed against either the user&#39;s cheekbone when the device is used to apply makeup to the lower eyelid or above the user&#39;s eye when the device is used to apply makeup to the upper eyelid. The raised support nub  8  serves to enhance stability and thereby provides more accurate eye makeup application. Alternatively, the raised support nub  8  may be integrated directly to the upper and lower ends  2 ,  3 , with pads  9  and  10  bulging or deflecting at the nub location to create generally the same effect.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 3 a,    3   b,    3   c,  and  3   d  show the device in use by an eyeglass wearer. Offset portion  15  enables lower end  3  to be positioned behind and below the eyeglasses  16  of the user and onto the user&#39;s lower eyelid as in FIG. 3 a.  Offset portion  14  enables upper end  2  to be positioned behind and above the eyeglasses  16  of the user and onto the user&#39;s upper eyelid as in FIG. 3 c.  FIG. 3 b  shows lower end  3  and lower flexible pad  10  below the user&#39;s eye and positioned such that eye makeup may be applied to the lower eyelid using flexible pad  10  as a guide. FIG. 3 d  shows upper end  2  and upper flexible pad  9  above the user&#39;s eye and positioned such that eye makeup may be applied to the upper eyelid using flexible pad  9  as a guide.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b  show an alternative embodiment of the eye makeup application device. In this embodiment upper flexible pad  25  and lower flexible pad  24  are adapted to be retained by upper prongs  23  and lower prongs  22  respectively, which are actuated to release the pads by actuation of knobs  21   b  and  21   a,  respectively. Therefore, pads  124  and  125  form the ends of the device. For ease of description reference will be made to lower prongs  22  and knob  21   a.  When locking mechanism knob  21   a  is depressed, lower prongs  22  are released such that lower flexible pad  24  may be slidably removed from the device. The flexible pad may then either be cleaned or replaced. When the clean or new lower flexible pad  24  is slid back into position and the locking mechanism knob  21   a  is released lower prongs  22  securely retain lower flexible pad  24  on device  11 .  
         [0027]    It is contemplated that device  11  may be formed from a plastic material, with the flexible pads being formed from a softer resilient material, such as a foamed polymer or foamed plastic, similar to the material used in eyelash curlers. However, it should be understood that device  11  may be formed from one or more metal or composite material components.  
         [0028]    In addition, device  11  may be adapted to fold for storage. For example, referring to FIG. 2 a,  handle portion  1  may include a hinge  35  and a position locking device at its medial portion, such as a detent mechanism, which couples the two halves of the handle portion together and further locks the two handle portions in linear alignment when the two portions are in their operative or linearly aligned position but releases when sufficient pressure is applied, for example, to overcome the friction between the detent mechanism components. For example, lower end of upper half  1   a  of handle portion  1  may include a downwardly projecting tab  36  on one side, for example, on the left side as viewed in FIG. 2 a.  The upper end of the lower half  1   b  of handle portion  1  may include an upwardly projecting tab  38 , for example on the right side, that mates with downwardly depending tab  36  of upper half la of handle portion  1 . On their facing surfaces  36   a,    38   a,  projecting tabs  36 ,  38  may include a detent mechanism  40  so that when the upper and lower halves of handle portion  1  are linearly aligned in their operative position, detent mechanism  40  releasably fixes the alignment of the upper and lower halves  1   a  and  1   b  of the handle portion. For example, detent mechanism  40  may include a projection  40   a,  such as a knob, on tab  36 , while tab  38  includes a recess  40   b  that cooperates with the projection  40   a  to lock the halves of the handle portion in position when aligned in their operative position. As would be understood, detent mechanism  40  requires that the two halves of handle portion  1  be urged into engagement in order for the detent mechanism to function, as will be described below.  
         [0029]    Hinge  35  is formed or provided at or near tabs  36 ,  38 , such as by a pin  42 , that extends between tabs  36  and  38 . Furthermore, pin  42  extends through tabs  36  and  38  and includes enlarged distal ends  42   a  and  42   b  to provide a lateral restraint between the two tabs. Optionally, pin  42  may have a spring washer or the like that generates an axial compressive force on the two tabs to generate friction between tabs  36  and  38  so that when aligned the upper and lower halves will remain aligned until a force of sufficient magnitude is applied to the upper half and/or lower half to overcome the friction generated between the detent mechanism components. In this manner, when a sufficient moment is applied to the two halves about the hinge or about the pin, projection  40   a  will disengage from recess  40   b  but hinge  35  will maintain the connection between two halves so that one of the halves can be pivoted with respect to the other half to thereby fold device  11 .  
         [0030]    Referring to FIG. 5, the numeral  109  refers to another embodiment of the pad of the present invention. Though only one of the pads is illustrated, it should be understood that the same principals may be applied to the second pad. Pad  109  is formed from a soft polymer as noted above, such as a foamed polymer. In addition, pad  109  incorporates a reinforcement member  112 , such as a plastic strip, which provides local stiffness to pad  109  and facilitates mounting of pad  109  onto the release mechanism of the device of the present invention. In addition, pad  109  includes internal pockets  114  and  116 , which are formed on the opposed ends of pad  109  to receive the respective prongs of the release mechanism, and a central opening  118  through the prongs may be initially inserted to mount pad  109  onto the handle portion of the device.  
         [0031]    As best seen in FIG. 6, release mechanism  120  includes a generally V-shaped member mounted to the end of the handle portion of the device of the present invention. The V-shaped member is preferably formed from a metal material and, most preferable, from a metal material that exhibits spring properties or characteristics, for example spring steel. Each arm  122  and  124  includes a protecting tang or prong  122   a  and  124   a  for inserting into the respective pockets of pad  109 . Arms  122  and  124  are compressible so that when substantially fully compressed, prongs  122   a  and  124   a  are moved inwardly so that they are either overlapping or adjacent so that they can be inserted into pad  109  through central opening  118 . Once inserted, arms  122  and  124  may be released in which case prongs  122   a  and  124   a  will separate and extend laterally and, further, will insert into pockets  114  and  116  to thereby releasably couple pad  109  to the handle portion of the device. To release and remove pad  109  from the device, arms  122  and  124  may be again compressed, which will withdraw the prongs from pockets  114  and  116  so that they can be retracted or extracted from pad  109  through central opening  118 .  
         [0032]    While several forms of the invention have been shown and described, it will become apparent to those skilled in the art that other changes and modification can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims that follow. For example, the device of the present invention may be assembled with only one eyelid guide. These and other variations may be made.