False eyelashes

Abstract

False eyelashes for attachment to the edge of an eyelid. The false eyelashes include a plurality of lashes arranged in a curved state; and an attachment section formed by applying an adhesive to one end of the lashes, the attachment section being formed such that the lashes are not knotted together at the attachment section. A plurality of the false eyelashes are applied to the edge of an eyelid of each eye.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Utility Model Application No. 20-2003-0030216 filed on Sep. 24, 2003 and No. 20-2004-0000163 filed on Jan. 5, 2004 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by references.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] (a) Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to false eyelashes, and more particularly, to false eyelashes that look natural, and that are easily and securely applied.

[0004] (b) Description of the Related Art

[0005] Artificial or false eyelashes are used as a beauty makeup accessory by many women. False eyelashes are applied to accentuate the beauty of the eyes, and in addition to preference by some women to frequently utilize this beauty tool, find widespread use by stage actresses and for special occasions such as weddings.

[0006] With reference to FIG. 12, conventional false eyelashes 1 are typically formed as a single assembly shaped roughly corresponding to the natural shape of eyelashes. To apply the false eyelashes 1, a lash line segment 12 from which eyelash material 10 projects is attached to the edge of an eyelid. A special adhesive provided on the lash line segment 12 is used to facilitate application of the false eyelashes 1.

[0007] The adhesive provided on the lash line segment 12 is in the form of a tape strip attached along the lash line segment 12, or a paste applied on the lash line segment 12. A thread adhesive that is formed to a length roughly corresponding to that of the lash line segment 12 and provided on the same is also used. The thread adhesive is first attached to the lash line segment 12, then the false eyelashes 1 are applied by the user to the edge of an eyelid.

[0008] The overall structure of the false eyelashes 1 and the method of providing an adhesive thereto are such that the false eyelashes 1 appear unnatural when applied. Further, it is difficult to attach the lash line segment 12 precisely on the edge of an eyelid. Another common problem is that the false eyelashes 1 easily become unattached.

[0009] In the case where a tape strip is provided on the lash line segment 12, the tension applied to the lash line segment 12 as a result of attaching the entire tape strip to the natural line is such that the false eyelashes 1 appear even more unnatural. When the thread adhesive is used, it becomes easily detached from the lash line segment 12, thereby making such a configuration unsuitable for when the false eyelashes 1 are worn for long periods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there are provided false eyelashes that accentuate the beauty of eyes, and that are easily and securely attached.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, false eyelashes for attachment to the edge of an eyelid include a plurality of lashes arranged in a curved state, and an attachment section formed by applying an adhesive to one end of the lashes, the attachment section being formed such that the lashes are not knotted together at the attachment section. A plurality of the false eyelashes are applied to the edge of an eyelid of each eye.

[0012] The lashes are formed into a plurality of segments starting at the attachment section. The plurality of the segments is provided such that one of the segments is provided in a center of the remaining segments, long axes of the lashes of the other segments being formed approximately at a predetermined angle to long axes of the lashes of the center segment. The plurality of the segments is formed such that the lashes included therein are substantially parallel to one another.

[0013] Lengths of the lashes of the plurality of the segments are different from each other, and the segment with the lashes of the longest length is placed in a center of the false eyelashes and the remaining segments are placed to both sides of this center segment and symmetrical about the same.

[0014] In another exemplary embodiment, the lashes include distal ends opposite from where the lashes form the attachment section, and the distal ends substantially form an arc extending inwardly in a direction toward the attachment section.

[0015] In yet another exemplary embodiment, each of the segments of the lashes is formed substantially in the same configuration with the lashes having differing lengths, and the segments are provided adjacent to one another in a repeated pattern.

[0016] In still yet another exemplary embodiment, long axes of the lashes of the plurality of the segments are formed at a predetermined angle to one another such that the lashes intersect at the attachment section between the different segments.

[0017] In still yet another exemplary embodiment, each of the segments includes lashes having long axes that are substantially parallel to one another, and the segments include first and second segments, the long axes of the lashes of each of the first segments being substantially parallel to the long axes of the lashes of the other first segments, and the long axes of the lashes of the second segments being formed at a predetermined angle to the long axes of the lashes of the first segments.

[0018] In still yet another exemplary embodiment, furthermost ends of the lashes where the lashes are attached form substantially a straight line, and an attachment thread is attached approximately in the area of the attachment section in a direction substantially parallel to the straight line. The attachment thread may be mounted in a state perpendicular to a direction the lashes are placed.

[0019] A width of the attachment section is 2.about.10 mm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The accompanying drawings, which together with the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of false eyelashes according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the false eyelashes of FIG. 1 shown in a state of application.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of false eyelashes according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic views used to illustrate attachment of the false eyelashes of FIGS. 1 and 3.

[0025] FIGS. 6A, 6B, 7, 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 9C, 10A, and 10B are perspective views of false eyelashes according to various modified examples of the present invention.

[0026] FIGS. 11A-11F are schematic views used to describe manufacture of false eyelashes according to the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of conventional false eyelashes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of false eyelashes 20 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the false eyelashes 20 shown in a state of application.

[0030] With reference to the drawings, a plurality of sets of the false eyelashes 20 of the present invention are applied to a edge of an eyelid 22 of a user, rather than attaching a single assembly to the edge of an eyelid 22 of each eyelid as in the prior art. The false eyelashes 20 are applied by the user herself, or by another person such as a beautician.

[0031] Each set of the false eyelashes 20 includes a plurality of lashes 20a. Each of the lashes 20a is formed in a shape similar to that of natural lashes. That is, each of the lashes 20a is formed with one end thereof (hereinafter referred to as a free end) curved upwardly. A plurality of the lashes 20a are arranged such that opposite ends (hereinafter referred to as attachment ends) are merged to form an attachment section 20b. The attachment section 20b is applied with an adhesive for attachment to the edge of an eyelid 22. The attachment ends of the lashes 20a are formed substantially along a straight line, and not in a knotted configuration, and are interconnected using another adhesive.

[0032] A width (w) of the attachment section 20b is preferably approximately 2.about.10 mm. However, the present invention is not limited to this dimension and the width (w) may be made larger or smaller as needed.

[0033] In another exemplary embodiment, with reference to FIG. 3, an attachment thread 20f is provided along the attachment ends of the lashes 20a along the substantially straight line of the attachment ends. The attachment thread 20f acts as a reference line for the attachment ends of the lashes 20a, and also strengthens the connection between the attachment ends. One or a plurality of the attachment threads 20f may be provided for each set of the false eyelashes 20.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the lashes 20a of the exemplary embodiments may be grouped into a plurality of segments 20c, 20d, and 20e to comprise one set of the false eyelashes 10. The segments 20c, 20d, and 20e may be formed such that one of the segments 20d is interposed between the other two segments 20c and 20e, with long axes of the lashes 20a of the other two segments 20c and 20e formed at a predetermined angle to long axes of the lashes of the segment 20d therebetween.

[0035] It has been found using numerous test samples that the most natural and dramatic effect can be achieved by having the number of the lashes 20a of the segments 20c and 20e roughly equal and greater than the number of the lashes 20a of the segment 20d formed therebetween. However, the present invention is not limited to such a distribution of the lashes 20a, and various other configurations may be used.

[0036] The false eyelashes 20 of the present invention described above are applied one at a time to the edge of an eyelid (i.e., a plurality of sets of the false eyelashes 20 are applied one at a time). With reference to FIG. 4, application is best performed using an instrument such as a pair of tweezers 24, which are used to grasp one set of the false eyelashes 20. A predetermined amount of an adhesive 26 is then applied to the attachment section 20b through a number of possible methods such as the user using her fingers to apply the adhesive 26 to the attachment section 20b, by directly applying the adhesive 26 onto the attachment section 20b using the container from which the adhesive is applied, and by disposing a small portion of the adhesive 26 on another surface then running the attachment section 20b through the adhesive 26 using the tweezers 24.

[0037] Subsequently, with reference to FIG. 5, the user attaches the false eyelashes 20 one set at a time to the edge of an eyelid 22 and at desired locations of the same. Since a sufficient area of the attachment section 20b may be ensured as a result of forming the attachment section 20b by merging a plurality of the lashes 20a without knotting of the same and in otherwise a substantially flat configuration, a sufficient amount of the adhesive 26 may be applied to the attachment section 20b, and the attachment section 20b is not easily and inadvertently removed from the edge of an eyelid 22 following attachment thereto.

[0038] FIG. 2 illustrates an eyelid following attachment of a plurality of sets of the false eyelashes 20 to the edge of an eyelid 22.

[0039] Various modified examples of the present invention will now be described.

[0040] Referring first to FIGS. 6A.about.8B, a set of false eyelashes 30 may be formed by providing a plurality of lashes that are substantially parallel to one another.

[0041] With reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B, each segment of the lashes is formed roughly in the same configuration, with the segment having the longest lashes placed in the center of the set of the false eyelashes 30, and the remaining segments placed to both sides of this center segment and symmetrical about the same.

[0042] With reference to FIG. 7, the lashes of the set of the false eyelashes 30 may be formed such that free ends of the lashes form an arc, with the shortest lashes in the center of the arc.

[0043] With reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B, each segment of lashes is formed in roughly the same configuration with the lashes within each segment having differing lengths. The segments are provided adjacent to one another in a repeated pattern.

[0044] With reference to FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C, a set of false eyelashes 40 is formed by providing segments of lashes that are formed substantially the same with the lashes forming each of the segments substantially parallel to one another. However, long axes of the lashes of adjacent segments are formed at a predetermined angle to one another. The angle is such that areas in proximity to attachment ends of the lashes (i.e., at an attachment section 40a) intersect between the different segments.

[0045] With reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B, a set of false eyelashes 50 is formed by providing a combination of differently mounted segments. That is, each of the segments includes lashes of differing lengths provided parallel to one another, and attachment ends of the lashes of all the segments form a straight line. Further, a predetermined number of the segments include lashes with long axes substantially normal to the straight line, while the remaining segments include lashes with long axes formed at a predetermined angle to the straight line.

[0046] In the modified examples described above, a width of the attachment sections may be formed to 2.about.10 mm as in the exemplary embodiments.

[0047] FIGS. 11A.about.11F are schematic views used to describe the manufacture of the false eyelashes according to the present invention. As an example, there will be described the manufacture of false eyelashes including attachment threads.

[0048] Referring first to FIG. 11A, an attachment thread 60 is first prepared, then an adhesive 62 is applied to the attachment thread 60. Next, lashes are attached to the attachment thread 60 to complete a set of false eyelashes 64 as shown in FIG. 11B. The lashes may be applied using any of the patterns as described above with reference to the exemplary embodiments and modified examples. An attachment section 64a is formed by applying the lashes to the attachment thread 60.

[0049] As an alternative, the lashes may be maintained in a predetermined pattern on an attachment thread, then an adhesive applied to the attachment section.

[0050] With reference again to FIG. 11B, by repeating the above processes a number of times, a plurality of sets of the false eyelashes 64 are provided on the attachment thread 60. As shown in FIG. 11C, an additional attachment thread 60' may be subsequently applied to the attachment sections 64a of the plurality of sets of the false eyelashes 64, in which case an adhesive 62' is applied to the additional attachment thread 60' to thereby realize an integral formation with the existing attachment thread 60 and the sets of the false eyelashes 64. This integral formation completes an assembly 66.

[0051] With reference to FIG. 11D, the assembly 66 is placed on a permanent wave paper 68, then the assembly 66 and the permanent wave paper 68 are wound around a cylindrical unit 70. This is performed to realize a curved formation of the lashes comprising the sets of the false eyelashes 64.

[0052] Next, with reference to FIG. 11E, the cylindrical unit 70 with the assembly 66 and the permanent wave paper 68 wound around thereon is heated. As an example, the cylindrical unit 70 and the assembly 66 are placed for a predetermined time in an oven that is set to a predetermined temperature, thereby heat treating the assembly 66.

[0053] The assembly 66 and the permanent wave paper 68 are then unrolled from the cylindrical unit 70, and the permanent wave paper 68 is removed from the assembly 66 to thereby form completed sets of the false eyelashes 64 on the attachment threads 60 and 60' as shown in FIG. 11F. An approximately center area between each adjacent pair of the individual sets of the false eyelashes 64 is cut using, for example, scissors to thereby fully complete the formation of a plurality of different sets of the false eyelashes 64.

[0054] It is to be noted that the present invention is not limited to the manufacturing method set forth above. For example, rather than forming the assembly 66, each set of the false eyelashes 64 may be individually formed. The lashes may also be provided on a mold of a predetermined shape then an adhesive applied thereto for completing the sets of the false eyelashes 64.

[0055] In the present invention described above, since individual sets of the false eyelashes are applied to the edge of an eyelid, rather than attaching a single assembly made for each eye as in the prior art, a more natural and attractive look is achieved.

[0056] Furthermore, since a sufficiently large area of the attachment section is formed for each set of the false eyelashes, the sets of the false eyelashes are easily attached by the user herself or by another person. This also enables the false eyelashes to be securely attached to the edge of an eyelid, thereby ensuring that they stay on for long periods without being easily removed.

[0057] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove in connection with certain exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary is intended to cover various modifications and/or equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. False eyelashes for attachment to the edge of an eyelid, comprising: a plurality of lashes arranged in a curved state; and an attachment section formed by applying an adhesive to one end of the lashes, the attachment section being formed such that the lashes are not knotted together at the attachment section, wherein a plurality of the false eyelashes are applied to the edge of an eyelid of each eye.

2. The false eyelashes of claim 1, wherein the lashes are formed into a plurality of segments starting at the attachment section.

3. The false eyelashes of claim 2, wherein the plurality of the segments is provided such that one of the segments is provided in a center of the remaining segments, long axes of the lashes of the other segments being formed approximately at a predetermined angle to long axes of the lashes of the center segment.

4. The false eyelashes of claim 2, wherein the plurality of the segments is formed such that the lashes included therein are substantially parallel to one another.

5. The false eyelashes of claim 4, wherein lengths of the lashes of the plurality of the segments are different from each other, and the segment with the lashes of the longest length is placed in a center of the false eyelashes and the remaining segments are placed to both sides of this center segment and symmetrical about the same.

6. The false eyelashes of claim 4, wherein the lashes include distal ends opposite from where the lashes form the attachment section, and the distal ends substantially form an arc extending inwardly in a direction toward the attachment section.

7. The false eyelashes of claim 4, wherein each of the segments of the lashes is formed substantially in the same configuration with the lashes having differing lengths, and the segments are provided adjacent to one another in a repeated pattern.

8. The false eyelashes of claim 2, wherein long axes of the lashes of the plurality of the segments are formed at a predetermined angle to one another such that the lashes intersect at the attachment section between the different segments.

9. The false eyelashes of claim 2, wherein each of the segments includes lashes having long axes that are substantially parallel to one another, and the segments include first and second segments, the long axes of the lashes of each of the first segments being substantially parallel to the long axes of the lashes of the other first segments, and the long axes of the lashes of the second segments being formed at a predetermined angle to the long axes of the lashes of the first segments.

10. The false eyelashes of claim 1, wherein a width of the attachment section is 2.about.10 mm.

11. The false eyelashes of claim 1, wherein furthermost ends of the lashes where the lashes are attached form substantially a straight line, and an attachment thread is attached approximately in the area of the attachment section in a direction substantially parallel to the straight line.

12. The false eyelashes of claim 11, wherein an attachment thread is mounted in a state perpendicular to a direction the lashes are placed.