Abstract:
The invention comprises an artificial eylash, the artificial eyelash comprising an attachment portion wherein the attachment portion is elongate and flexible and comprises a first aspect and a second aspect, the first aspect for, in use attaching the artificial eyelash to a subject&#39;s eyelid, the eyelash further comprising a plurality of elongate lash portions, each lash portion comprising a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the lash portions are attached to the second aspect of the attachment portion and wherein the attachment portion is homogeneously composed of an adhesive substance. The invention also comprises an artificial eyelash manufactured in according with a method comprising the following steps: providing a holder to hold the eyelash, said holder having one or more holding grooves along the outer circumference surface, applying adhesive to the holding grooves of the holder, whilst simultaneously rotating the holder, demounting the holder from the rotation means for further processing, and attaching one or more artificial eyelashes to the adhesive applied to the holding grooves.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention is in the field of artificial eyelashes, in particular, the invention is in the field of disposable artificial eyelashes, in particular, the invention is in the field of single-use artificial eyelashes. 
       BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    There is a wide variety of artificial eyelashes available to the public, many of which are pre-glued for immediate application to a subject&#39;s eyelid. 
         [0003]    An example of the prior art can be seen in the pre-glued eyelash range made by Ennio Products incorporated at U.S. Pat. No. 6,308617. Here, there is a pre-glued eyelash with an adhesive attachment portion, wherein this portion comprises one or more central filaments, onto or around which is applied an adhesive, which can be pre-glued or applied by the user. The filaments have been a necessary component of the eyelid in that they have ensured that the eyelash attachment portion stays in a specific shape commensurate with the general shape of a user&#39;s eyelid. The filaments are used to add structure and rigidity to the eylid contacting portion of the eyelash, such that it retains a regular, defined crescent shape, but in so doing, they vitiate the possibilities of custom fitting the attachment portion to the user&#39;s eyelid. 
         [0004]    From a manufacturing point of view, the production of an eyelash with an attachment portion comprising one or more filaments is imbued with a degree of complication which is not present in non-preglued eyelashes—you have to make the filaments, arrange the filaments in a desired formation, provide means of retaining the filaments in that formation, and then and then coat the filaments in either an adhesive material or a wrap which may then itself be coated in liquid adhesive. 
         [0005]    There is a real need to reduce the complication inherent in in production and in so doing reduce the energy required to produce the eyelashes and therefore also the environmental impact of their production. 
         [0006]    The product itself can be problematic for the user; filamented eyelashes are naturally only adhesive in part and that adhesive is often patchy in coverage—this can lead to eyelash displacement and eyelash loss at worst, but more generally leads to a short lifespan for the eyelash, which will in many cases be unsatisfactory. 
         [0007]    Initial searching revealed the following further prior art documents: 
         [0008]    US20110232666 comprises an attachment portion or mounting portion in two parts, with a bonding member  11  and a bendable portion  13 . But with no filament—the bonding member itself is homogeneous in structure. The bonding member however does not have any intrinsic adhesive properties; at para 0044, the application mentions that the “adhesive means can be a glue or double-sided adhesive”—the adhesive is therefore dearly quite separate to portions  11  and  13 . 
         [0009]    WO2013/109102 comprises a series of integrally formed, single piece false eyelashes in which the false eyelash part and the attachment part are integrally formed by injection moulding. 
         [0010]    At TW201306763 there is shown a single band attachment portion which is described as a “single band”. There is no mention of the band being intrinsically of adhesive in this document—instead, the band is coated with a “maintenance solution”—some form of skincare product. 
         [0011]    At TW201313154 there is shown an attachment portion which is a single filament portion inside a sheath. The eyelashes are hot melted onto the attachment portion. There is no mention of any intrinsic adhesive property of the attachment portion. 
         [0012]    None of the documents above addresses properly the issues pertaining to the well established single or multi-filament design. 
         [0013]    It is to the problems described above that the invention attempts a solution. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    In a first broad, independent aspect, the invention comprises an artificial eyelash, the artificial eyelash comprising an attachment portion wherein the attachment portion is elongate and flexible and comprises a first aspect and a second aspect, the first aspect for, in use attaching the artificial eyelash to a subject&#39;s eyelid, the eyelash further comprising a plurality of elongate lash portions, each lash portion comprising a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the lash portions are attached to the second aspect of the attachment portion and wherein the attachment portion is homogeneously composed of an adhesive substance. 
         [0015]    An artificial eyelash with a homogeneous attachment portion is easier to customise because it is more flexible. By making the attachment portion itself out of adhesive, it simplifies the process of production and reduces the energy in production. Use of an adhesive substance without filaments cuts out several steps of manufacturing. 
         [0016]    By providing an attachment portion of adhesive, problems of longevity, as well as the shifting or dropping off of the eyelashes, are substantially neutralised—the complete surface area of the attachment portion and in particular any given area of the attachment portion which is brought into contact with the user&#39;s eyelid are made of an adhesive material. This ensures a maximised surface area of adhesive contact with a user&#39;s eyelid. 
         [0017]    Further, because the entire eyelash is made of adhesive and not just the surface coating, it does not lose its adhesive properties so readily. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the lash portions are directly attached to the attachment portion. 
         [0019]    More preferably, the lash portions are attached to the attachment portion via an elongate thread, and wherein the lash portions are substantially perpendicularly disposed to both the elongate thread and the attachment portion. 
         [0020]    The provision of a thread allows the thread and lash portion to be detached from the adhesive portion. The adhesive portion is therefore replaceable. 
         [0021]    Even more preferably, the proximal end of each lash portion comprises an eyelet and wherein the elongate thread runs through the eyelets. 
         [0022]    This feature ensures that the lashes can be kept together, even when removed from contact with the adhesive portion. 
         [0023]    Preferably, the attachment portion is ductile. 
         [0024]    The ability to stretch the attachment portion into a longer string is useful in that it enables the user with a longer eyelid and may further allow for flexion into different steepnesses of curve—thus allowing for a variety of eyelid types to be matched and a variety of styles relative to the eyelids to be embellished. 
         [0025]    Preferably, the attachment portion is made of adhesive gel. 
         [0026]    The provision of a get provides the appropriate properties of flexion and deformability. 
         [0027]    Preferably, the attachment portion is rounded in cross-section. 
         [0028]    The rounded cross section is advantageous in that, in combination with the deformability of the attachment portion, it allows the user to easily define the size of the contact surface by deforming it onto the eyelid. 
         [0029]    Preferably, the attachment portion is between 15 and 30 mm long. 
         [0030]    This provides an appropriate range of lengths required by users. 
         [0031]    The invention also comprises an artificial eyelash, substantially as described herein, with reference to and as illustrated by any appropriate combination of the text and/or drawings. In a second broad, independent aspect, the invention comprises and artificial eyelash in accord with any of the foregoing paragraphs, manufactured in according with a method comprising the following steps; providing a holder to hold the eyelash, said holder having one or more holding grooves along the outer circumference surface, applying adhesive to the holding grooves of the holder, whilst simultaneously rotating the holder, demounting the holder from the rotation means for further processing, and attaching one or more artificial eyelashes to the adhesive applied to the holding grooves. 
         [0032]    Preferably, there are two holding grooves formed along the outer circumference of each holder and wherein a first holding groove is located relative to the supply of adhesive and then adhesive is applied to the first holding groove and then the second holding groove is located relative to the supply of adhesive and then adhesive is applied to the second holding groove and wherein location of each of the two grooves is accomplished via the rotation of the holder. 
         [0033]    Preferably, there are two holders and wherein each holder comprises an upper holder and a lower holder, the upper and the lower holder comprising a holding groove and means for attachment to one another and wherein the upper holder and the lower holder form a circle when they are attached to one another and wherein adhesive is applied to the holding groove of each respective holder in the following order, the first upper holder, first lower holder, second upper holder; and second lower holder. 
         [0034]    The methods described above provide an energy efficient means of manufacturing the eyelash. 
         [0035]    The invention also comprises an eyelash manufactured in accord with a method substantially described herein and as illustrated by any appropriate combination of the text and/or drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0036]    The invention will now be described in detail, with reference to the drawings, of which: 
           [0037]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a first eyelash of the invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 2  is a further diagrammatic side elevational view of a first eyelash of the invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 3  is a further diagrammatic side elevational view of a second eyelash of the invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of an eyelash of the invention; 
           [0041]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a second eyelash of the invention; 
           [0042]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the artificial eyelash adhesive applying device of the invention; 
           [0043]      FIG. 7  is a further side elevational view of the artificial eyelash adhesive applying device of the invention; 
           [0044]      FIG. 8  is a further side elevational view of the artificial eyelash adhesive applying device of the invention; 
           [0045]      FIGS. 8 a  and 8 b    are cross-sectional side views of the artificial eyelash adhesive applying device of the invention; 
           [0046]      FIGS. 9-9   k  a series of side elevational and cross-sectional side views of the jig and the sprayed adhesive of the invention; 
           [0047]      FIG. 10  illustrates the sequence of the adhesive applying method of the invention; 
           [0048]      FIG. 11  illustrates an additional stage of attaching the artificial eyelashes to the adhesive in the adhesive applying method of the invention; 
           [0049]      FIG. 12  illustrates the sequence of the adhesive applying stage of the invention; and 
           [0050]      FIG. 13  illustrates the sequences of the 1 st  and the 2 nd  applying stages of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0051]    At  FIG. 1 , there is shown an artificial eyelash, indicated generally at  2 . The eyelash comprises a plurality of lash portions. The lash portions  3  may, as in  FIG. 4 , comprise an elongate portion  4  and an eyelet  6  or may, as in  FIG. 5 , solely comprise elongate portion  4 . 
         [0052]    At  FIG. 4 , eyelet  6  is shown surrounding thread  8 —a plurality of lash portions  3  are threaded linearly along the thread  8 . Thread  8  may then be attached to adhesive portion  10 . Thread  8  is flexible and made of a textile material such as cotton or nylon, Likewise, lash portions  2  are made of a textile or plastics material. In preferred embodiments, a combination of thread  8  and eyelet  6  are stuck to the adhesive portion  10 . These parts are retained in place by the adhesion properties of adhesive portion  10  itself. As such the thread  8  and Lash portions  3  may be demounted from the adhesive attachment portion  10  by being pulled apart. The adhesive of attachment portion  10  is pressure sensitive. 
         [0053]    In alternative embodiments, such as the one shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , there is no thread portion and the lash portions  3  are attached directly onto or into adhesive portion  10 . 
         [0054]    At  FIGS. 4 and 5 , it can be seen that the attachment portion  10  is 10-15 mm long and has a rounded cross-sectional profile. In preferred embodiments, it is made of an adhesive gel. The attachment portion has at Least two aspects, a first aspect  12  for attachment to the eyelid and a second aspect  14  for attachment to the lash portions. Because the attachment portion  10  is deformable, other aspects may be defined by the user. In particular, the attachment portion  10  may be extended longitudinally—the attachment portion  10  is notably ductile. The attachment portion  10  may come pre-moulded in a crescent shape, with the thread  8  arranged along its length. In this embodiment, adhesive portion  10  is resiliently deformable, but the resilience may be relatively easily overcome. 
         [0055]    A kit of spare attachment portions may be provided, wherein there is a multiplicity of attachment portions. A thread  8  which is demounted from the adhesive portion  10  may be remounted on another attachment portion. 
         [0056]    In all embodiments, adhesive portion is made solely, homogeneously of a single adhesive substance or compound. It has no threads running through it, comprising as it does appropriate properties of plasticity such that it can be stretched out to a different length to that which it is moulded originally—it is ductile. 
         [0057]    A desirable implementation example of this invention is described below with reference to the attached diagrams. 
         [0058]    This example does not restrict the scope of the rights of this invention but is presented simply as an example and can be modified in various ways within the criteria not deviating from its major technical specifications. 
         [0059]    As illustrated at  FIG. 6  the diagrams, the artificial eyelashes adhesive applying device  10  consists of a base frame  100 , a moulding frame  200 , a jig  300 , a damp  400 , a motor  500 , an adhesive supplying unit  600  and a controller  700 . 
         [0060]    The moulding frame  200  is mounted on the base frame  100 , for example on top of the base frame  100 . 
         [0061]    The jig  300  is located in front of the moulding frame  200  for the holders  20 , formed with seat-base grooves  30  along the fan-shape outer circumference surface, to be fitted. 
         [0062]    The clamp  400  is mounted on the moulding frame  200  to be rotated and to attach/detach the jig  300 . 
         [0063]    The motor  500  is mounted on the moulding frame  200  to rotate the damp  400  and it can generate the rotating power to turn the damp  400  in one direction or in both directions, and it is desirable to convey the rotating power through a reducer  510 . 
         [0064]    The adhesive supplying unit  600  is fitted to spray and apply the adhesive  400  to the seat-base grooves  30  of the holders  20 . 
         [0065]    The controller  700  controls the motor  500  to rotate the jig  300  and the holder  20 , and simultaneously controls the adhesive supplying unit  600  to apply the adhesive  40  to the seat-base grooves  30  of the holders  20 . 
         [0066]    The base frame  100  can be fixed in one place or easily moved by the wheels  900 , and it goes without saying that the wheels  900  have brakes not illustrated to prevent the device from moving when the adhesive  40  is being applied. 
         [0067]    The adhesive supplying unit  600  applies the adhesive  40  with round section along the seat-base grooves  30  of the holders  20 , and since the adhesive  40  has no core within, it is glued to the arc-shaped artificial eyelashes in the same arc shape, thereby resolving the problem of the conventional adhesive with core which changes the shape of the arc-shaped artificial eyelashes by flattening them. 
         [0068]    In addition, since the conventional core is not used, the cost is saved as a matter of course. 
         [0069]    This adhesive supplying unit  600  is formed with a tank  610 , a nozzle  620  and a supply hose  630 . 
         [0070]    The tank  610  is provided to mix and store the adhesive  40 , including the adhesive  40  mixed in a separate mixer. 
         [0071]    The nozzle  620  is located above the seat-base grooves  30  of the holders  20  to spray the adhesive  40 , and the supply hose  630  is provided to supply the adhesive  40  from the tank  610  to the nozzle  620 . 
         [0072]    The adhesive supplying unit  600  supplies, by the controller  700 , the adhesive  40  stored in the tank  610  through the supply hose  630  to the nozzle  620  for spraying. 
         [0073]    A pump not illustrated is provided to spray the adhesive  40 , stored in the tank  610 , through the supply hose  630  and the nozzle  620 , and this pump is also controlled by the controller  700 . 
         [0074]    As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , two seat-base grooves  30  are formed along the outer circumference of the holders  20 , and these two seat-base grooves  30  are called the 1 st  seat-base groove  32  and the 2 nd  seat-base groove  34 . 
         [0075]    The moulding frame  200  has a carrier  800  that can move along the base frame  100 . 
         [0076]    This carrier  800  is formed with a guide rail  810 , guide blocks  820  and a revolving cylinder  830 . 
         [0077]    The guide rail  810  is mounted on the base frame  100  and the guide blocks  820  are attached to the moulding frame  200  to move along the guide rail  810 . 
         [0078]    The revolving cylinder  830  is mounted on the base frame  100  to move the moulding frame  200  so that each seat-base groove  30  is moved to the tower section of the adhesive supplying unit  600 . 
         [0079]    It goes without saying that the revolving cylinder  830  is also controlled by the controller  700 . 
         [0080]    The 1st seat-base groove  32  and the 2nd seat-base groove  34  are moved one by one to the lower section of the adhesive supplying unit  600  by the carrier  800  to apply the adhesive  40 . 
         [0081]    Two lines of adhesive  40  are applied to one holder  20 , and one of the adhesives  40  is attached to the artificial eyelashes and the other adhesive  40  can be used to for the is artificial eyelashes from which the glued adhesive  40  has been removed. 
         [0082]    As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the jig  300  is attached/detached by two holders  20 , and the two holders  20  are attached to the jig  300 , with their outer circumferences formed in a circle. 
         [0083]    The adhesive supplying unit  600  applies the adhesive  40  only to the seat-base groove  30  of each holder  20  by the controller  700 . 
         [0084]    As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the adhesive applying method using this artificial eyelashes adhesive applying device  10  consists of the holder mounting stage S 100 , the jig attaching stage S 200 , the adhesive applying stage S 300  and the jig detaching stage S 400 . 
         [0085]    The holder mounting stage S 100  is provided to hold the artificial eyelashes, and the holders  20  with the holding groove  30  along the outer circumference surface are fitted to the jig  300 . 
         [0086]    In the jig attaching stage S 200 , the jig  300  mounted with the holder  20  is attached to the clamp  400  that is provided on the moulding frame  200  to be rotated by the motor  500 . 
         [0087]    In the adhesive applying stage S 300 , the controller  700  rotates the jig  300  which in turn rotates the holder  20 , and simultaneously controls the adhesive supplying unit  600  to apply the adhesive  40  to the seat-base grooves  30  of the holders  20 . 
         [0088]    In the jig detaching stage S 400 , the jig  300  mounted with the holders  20  applied with the adhesive  40  is detached from the damp  400 , which completes the application of the adhesive  40 . 
         [0089]    Of course, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the artificial eyelashes attaching stage S 500  can be added, wherein the artificial eyelashes  50  are attached to the adhesive  40  applied to the seat-base grooves  30  of the holders after the jig detaching stage S 400 . 
         [0090]    In this stage, if the adhesive  40  applied to the holders  20  is to be used for refilling, the artificial eyelashes attaching stage S 500  may be omitted, but if it is to be sold together with the artificial eyelashes  50 , the artificial eyelashes attaching stage S 500  can be included. 
         [0091]    As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the adhesive applying stage S 300  consists of the 1st location setting stage S 310 , the 1st applying stage S 320 , the 2nd location setting stage S 330  and the 2nd applying stage S 340 . 
         [0092]    First, two seat-base grooves  30  are formed along the outer circumference of each holder  20  and a carrier  800  is provided to move the moulding frame  200  mounted with the damp  400  and the motor  500 . 
         [0093]    In the 1st location setting stage S 310 , the controller  700  controls the carrier  800  to move one of the seat-base grooves  30  of the holders  20  to the lower section of the adhesive supplying unit  600 . 
         [0094]    In the 1st applying stage S 320 , the motor  500  rotates the damp  400  and the jig  300 , which in turn rotate the holder  20 , and simultaneously applies the adhesive  40  to the relevant seat-base groove  30  from the adhesive supplying unit  600 . 
         [0095]    In the 2nd location setting stage S 330 , the controller  700  controls the carrier  800  to move the other seat-base groove  30  of the holders  20  to the lower section of the adhesive supplying unit  600 . 
         [0096]    In the 2nd applying stage S 340 , the motor  500  rotates the damp  400  and the jig  300 , which in turn rotate the holder  20 , and simultaneously applies the adhesive  40  to the relevant seat-base groove  30  from the adhesive supplying unit  600 . 
         [0097]    Here, the holders  20  in the  1 st applying stage S 320  and the  2 nd applying stage S 340  are rotated in the opposite direction of each other. 
         [0098]    Meanwhile, as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the 1st applying stage S 320  consists of the 1st upper holder applying stage S 321  and the 1st lower holder applying stage S 322  while the  2 nd applying stage S 340  consists of the 2nd upper holder applying stage S 341  and the 2nd lower holder applying stage S 342 . 
         [0099]    First, the jig  300  is attached/detached with the holders  20 , and the upper holder  22  and the lower holder  24  are attached and mounted on the jig  300 , in a way that their outer circumference forms a circle. 
         [0100]    In the 1st upper holder applying stage S 321  of the 1st applying stage S 320 , the adhesive  40  is applied to one of the seat-base grooves  30  in the upper holder  22  from the adhesive supplying unit  600 . 
         [0101]    In the 1st lower holder applying stage S 322  of the 1st applying stage S 320 , the adhesive  410  is applied to one of the seat-base grooves  30  in the lower holder  24  from the adhesive supplying unit  600 . 
         [0102]    In the 2nd upper holder applying stage S 341  of the 2nd applying stage S 340 , the adhesive  410  is applied to the other seat-base groove  30  in the upper holder  22  from the adhesive supplying unit  600 . 
         [0103]    In the 2nd lower holder applying stage S 340  of the 2nd applying stage S 340 , the adhesive  410  is applied to the other seat-base groove  30  in the lower holder  24  from the adhesive supplying unit  600 . 
         [0104]    Therefore, the adhesive  40  can be applied successively to the two seat-base grooves  30  formed in the two holders  22 ,  24  respectively.