U.S. patent application number 12/086388 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-09 for eyelash curler.
This patent application is currently assigned to KOJI HONPO CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Koji Otsuka, Koji Shirakawa.
Application Number | 20100224207 12/086388 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39943335 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100224207 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Otsuka; Koji ; et
al. |
September 9, 2010 |
Eyelash Curler
Abstract
[Subject] To provide an eyelash curler capable of curling the
entire eyelashes easily and beautifully in an ideally radial state
by using the eyelash curler once. [Solving Means] An eyelash curler
according to the present invention is provided with a pair of
supporting columns 10, a movable member 14 in a curved shape
capable of moving in the up and down direction along supporting
column upper parts 10a in a linear shape of a pair of the
supporting columns, an elastic body 16 attached to the movable
member, a fixing member 12 in a curved shape fixed to the upper
parts 10a of a pair of the supporting column and handles 18 and 22
for moving the movable member 14 in the up and down direction, a
curvature radius R.sub.3 of a lower edge 12a of the fixing member
12 (excluding the vicinities of both ends) in a front view is set
to 16.5 to 22.5 mm, and a curvature radius R.sub.1 of the lower
edge 12a of the fixing member 12 (excluding the vicinities of the
both ends) in a plan view is set to 18.5 to 24.5 mm.
Inventors: |
Otsuka; Koji; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Shirakawa; Koji; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE, FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314-1176
US
|
Assignee: |
KOJI HONPO CO., LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
39943335 |
Appl. No.: |
12/086388 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
March 14, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2008/054723 |
371 Date: |
June 12, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/217 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 2/48 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/217 |
International
Class: |
A45D 2/48 20060101
A45D002/48 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 2, 2007 |
JP |
2007-121757 |
Claims
1. An eyelash curler, comprising a pair of supporting columns, a
movable member in a curved shape capable of moving in the up and
down direction along supporting column upper parts in a linear
shape of a pair of the supporting columns, an elastic body attached
to the movable member, a fixing member in a curved shape fixed to
the upper parts of a pair of the supporting columns, and operation
means for moving the movable member in the up and down direction,
wherein the movable member is raised by the operation means in a
state that eyelashes are sandwiched between the fixing member and
the movable member and pressed onto the fixing member so as to make
the eyelashes curl, and in a front view where the two supporting
columns are seen on the left and right sides respectively, a
curvature radius R.sub.3 of a lower edge of the fixing member
(excluding the vicinities of both ends) is set to 16.5 to 22.5
mm.
2. The eyelash curler according to claim 1, wherein in a plan view
seen from a vertical line in the axial direction of the supporting
column upper parts, a curvature radius R.sub.1 of the lower edge of
the fixing member (excluding the vicinities of the both ends) is
set to 18.5 to 24.5 mm.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an eyelash curler for
curling eyelashes.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] There is a conventionally well-known eyelash curler for
making the entire eyelashes curl by operating a handle portion as
if using scissors in a state that the entire eyelashes are
sandwiched in the up and down direction. In recent years, various
improvements have been made for this eyelash curler. For example as
in Patent Literature 1, an eyelash curler in which an effort is
made for easily and properly curling the eyelashes is
disclosed.
[Patent Literature 1] Japanese Patent No. 3143410 (FIG. 1)
[0003] A description will be given to such a conventional eyelash
curler on the basis of FIG. 7.
[0004] The conventional eyelash curler is comprised of a pair of
left and right supporting columns 50, a fixing member 52 in a
curved shape fixed to upper ends of a pair of the supporting
columns, link arms 62 moved in the up and down direction by an
operation of handle portions 58 and 60, a movable member 54 in a
curved shape fixed to the link arms 62 and capable of moving in the
up and down direction along a pair of the supporting columns 50,
and an elastic body 56 attached on the movable member 54.
[0005] Therefore, in the case where this eyelash curler is used,
the supporting columns 50 are put onto both left and right outer
ends of an eye, eyelashes are sandwiched between the fixing member
52 and the movable member 54, the handle portions 58 and 60 are
operated by placing fingers thereon, and then the eyelashes are
pressed onto the fixing member 52 side by an upper surface of the
elastic body 56 so as to make the eyelashes curl.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0006] In the conventional eyelash curler, as shown in FIG. 7(b),
an angle .theta..sub.2 formed by the supporting column 50 and a
lower edge of the fixing member 52 in a side view is substantially
a right angle. That is, as shown in FIG. 7(a), in a front view, the
lower edge of the fixing member 52 and the elastic body 56 are set
in a substantially horizontal state. In such a conventional eyelash
curler, as shown in FIG. 8(a), a line 60 on which the lower edge of
the fixing member 52 and the elastic body 56 mesh with each other
so as to make the eyelashes curl is off the eyelashes partly due to
short length of the eyelashes in the vicinity of inner and outer
corner of the eye, and hence there is a disadvantage that the
eyelash curler does not effectively function. Therefore, it is not
possible to make the entire eyelashes curl by using the eyelash
curler once, and there is a need for changing positions thereof
many times for parts of the eyelashes to be curled such as the
center of the eye and the inner and outer corner of the eye, and
then operating the handles.
[0007] As shown in FIG. 6(b), curls of the eyelashes essentially
look the most beautiful in a state that the entire eyelashes are
curled in a radial state in a front view. However, in the
conventional eyelash curler, as shown in FIG. 8(b), the eyelashes
are curled in an almost vertical state, and hence it is difficult
to beautifully curl the eyelashes in a radial state.
[0008] The present invention is achieved in consideration to the
above point. An object of the present invention is to provide an
eyelash curler capable of easily and beautifully curling eyelashes
in a radial state by using the eyelash curler once.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention
provides an eyelash curler comprising a pair of supporting columns,
a movable member in a curved shape capable of moving in the up and
down direction along supporting column upper parts in a linear
shape of a pair of the supporting columns, an elastic body attached
to the movable member, a fixing member in a curved shape fixed to
the upper parts of a pair of the supporting columns, and operation
means for moving the movable member in the up and down direction,
wherein the movable member is raised by the operation means in a
state that eyelashes are sandwiched between the fixing member and
the movable member and pressed onto the fixing member so as to make
the eyelashes curl, and in a front view where the two supporting
columns are seen on the left and right sides respectively, a
curvature radius R.sub.3 of a lower edge of the fixing member
(excluding the vicinities of both ends) is set to 16.5 to 22.5 mm.
In the present invention, in a plan view seen from a vertical line
in the axial direction of the supporting column upper parts, a
curvature radius R.sub.1 of the lower edge of the fixing member
(excluding the vicinities of the both ends) is set to 18.5 to 24.5
mm.
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
[0010] According to the eyelash curler of the present invention, a
curved shape of the members for sandwiching the eyelashes in the up
and down direction is set so as to exactly fit with a curve of the
eye around root parts of the eyelashes in a front view. Therefore,
there is no need for using the eyelash curler many times for the
parts of the eyelashes to be curled such as the center of the eye
and the inner and outer corner of the eye, and it is possible to
curl the entire eyelashes easily and beautifully in an ideally
radial state by using the eyelash curler once.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0011] Next, a description will be given to the present invention
on the basis of the drawings. FIG. 1(a) is a front view of an
eyelash curler according to the present invention, FIG. 1(b) is a
right side view thereof, and FIG. 2 is a view showing an operation
state of the eyelash curler according to the present invention.
[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the eyelash curler is comprised
of a pair of left and right supporting columns 10, a fixing member
12 in a curved shape fixed to upper ends of a pair of the
supporting columns, link arms 26 moved in the up and down direction
by an operation of handle portions 18 and 22 serving as operation
means, a movable member 14 in a curved shape fixed to the link arms
26 and capable of moving in the up and down direction along a pair
of the supporting column upper parts 10a, and an elastic body 16
attached on the movable member 14.
[0013] To the upper ends of a pair of the left and right supporting
columns 10, the fixing member 12 in a curved shape is attached.
This is a part to be pressed onto an eyelid when curling the
eyelashes. A lower edge of the fixing member 12 is a part of
meshing with the elastic body 16 so as to make the eyelashes
curl.
[0014] A pair of the left and right supporting columns 10 form the
supporting column upper parts 10a serving as parts for slidingly
supporting the movable member 14, and a supporting, column lower
parts 10b continuing thereto. Further, on the lower side thereof, a
first lever 20 is formed, and further on the lower side of the
first lever 20, the first handle 18 to be operated by placing a
finger thereon is formed. A pair of the left and right supporting
columns 10 are made by bending one linear material, and hence
formed integrally with the supporting column upper parts 10a, the
supporting column lower parts 10b, the first lever 20 and the first
handle 18.
[0015] A pin 28 inserted into between the supporting column lower
parts 10b and the first lever 20. Through this pin 28, a second
lever 24 and the second handle 22 made by bending one linear
material are rotatably attached.
[0016] In an upper end of the second lever 24, an insertion hole 30
to which the link arms 26 are inserted is formed. The link arms 26
made by bending one linear material into a V shape are inserted
into the insertion hole 30, and an upper ends thereof are fixed to
a lower surface of the movable member 14 in a curved shape. The
movable member 14 is formed so as to be capable of moving in the up
and down direction along the supporting column upper parts 10a.
Therefore, when the first handle 18 and the second handle 22 are
operated by placing the fingers thereon as if using scissors, the
link arms 26 are moved in the up and down direction following this
operation, and the movable member 14 moves in the up and down
direction with the link arms 26.
[0017] It should be noted that FIG. 2 shows a state that space
between the movable member 14 and the fixing member 12 is expanded
to the maximum by opening the first handle 18 and the second handle
22 so as to pull the link arms 26 and the movable member 14 to the
lower side.
[0018] The fixing member 12 fixed so as to lie over the upper parts
10a of a pair of the left and right supporting columns is curved in
an arc shape in a plan view seen from a vertical line in the axial
direction of the supporting column upper parts 10a (in the arrow Y
direction in FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 3, a curvature radius
R.sub.1 of a lower edge 12a of the fixing member 12 is preferably
about 18.5 to 24.5 mm, more preferably about 20.5 mm. It should be
noted that the curvature radius R.sub.1 of the lower edge 12a of
the fixing member 12 excludes the vicinities of both ends of the
lower edge 12a. This is because there is sometimes a case where the
vicinities of the both ends of the lower edge 12a are slightly
expanded to the outside or slightly narrowed to the inside in
relation to attachment to the supporting column upper parts 10a.
That is, there is sometimes a case where the entire lower edge 12a
of the fixing member 12 is not a fine arc shape. In such a case, at
least the curvature radius R.sub.1 at a point P substantially in
the vicinity of the arc center of the lower edge 12a may be about
18.5 to 24.5 mm as mentioned above.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 1(b), such a fixing member 12 is attached
to the supporting column upper parts 10a so that an angle
.theta..sub.1 formed by the lower edge 12a of the fixing member 12
and the supporting column upper parts 10a is preferably 40 to 60
degrees, more preferably about 45 to 50 degrees in a side view
where the two supporting columns 10 look as one member by exactly
overlapping with each other.
[0020] The movable member 14 moving in the up and down direction
along the supporting column upper parts 10a is made by curving a
frame body in a housing shape having a U shape section as shown in
FIG. 4(a) serving as a sectional view by line A-A of FIG. 2, and
FIG. 4(b) serving as a sectional view by line B-B of FIG. 4(a). The
elastic body 16 such as rubber is fitted in a state that an upper
part thereof partly protrudes in space of the frame body in a
housing shape.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 4(a), the entire shape of the movable
member 14 to which this elastic body 16 is fitted is curved in an
arc shape in a plan view seen from a vertical line in the axial
direction of the supporting column upper parts 10a (in the arrow Y
direction in FIG. 2). A curvature radius R.sub.2 of an arc part
thereof is preferably about 18.5 to 24.5 mm, more preferably about
20.5 mm. It should be noted that a center line 34 in a section of
the elastic body 16 in FIG. 4(a) is a part on which the lower edge
12a of the fixing member 12 and the elastic body 16 mesh with each
other (a part of sandwiching the eyelashes). That is, a value of
the curvature radius R.sub.2 of the elastic body 16 and the movable
member 14 corresponds to a value of the curvature radius R.sub.1 of
the lower edge 12a of the fixing member 12 mentioned above.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 4(a), rings 32 are integrally formed in
both left and right ends of the movable member 14, and the
supporting column upper parts 10a are inserted into the inside of
the left and right rings respectively. Therefore, the entire
movable member 14 is capable of moving in the up and down direction
along the supporting column upper parts 10a.
[0023] The fixing member 12 fixed so as to lie over the supporting
column upper parts 10a and the movable member 14 to which the
elastic body 16 is fitted form an arc shape as shown in FIG. 1(a)
in a front view where the two supporting columns are seen on the
left and right sides respectively and seen in the direction
perpendicular to the supporting column upper parts 10a (in the
arrow X direction in FIG. 1(b)). An enlarged view of the fixing
member 12, the elastic body 16 and the movable member 14 in this
front view is shown in FIG. 5. A curvature radius R.sub.3 of an arc
part of the lower edge 12a of the fixing member 12 is preferably
about 16.5 to 22.5 mm, more preferably about 18.5 mm. It should be
noted that the curvature radius R.sub.3 of the lower edge 12a of
the fixing member 12 excludes the vicinities of the both ends of
the lower edge 12a as well as the above.
[0024] In such an eyelash curler according to the present
invention, the handle portions 18 and 22 are firstly opened by
placing the fingers thereon as if using the scissors (FIG. 2) and
the space between the fixing member 12 and the movable member 14 is
opened. Next, the supporting column upper parts 10a is put onto
both left and right outer ends of the eye. After pressing the
fixing member 12 onto the eyelid so as to stabilize a main body of
the eyelash curler, the eyelashes are sandwiched between the fixing
member 12 and the movable member 14. The handle portions 18 and 22
are operated and closed by placing the fingers thereon, and then
the eyelashes are strongly pressed onto the fixing member 12 side
by an upper surface of the elastic body 16 attached to the movable
member 14. Then, the lower edge 12a of the fixing member 12
seemingly bites into the elastic body 16 so as to properly make the
eyelashes curl.
[0025] According to the eyelash curler of the present invention, as
shown in FIG. 6(a), the line 34 on which the lower edge 12a of the
fixing member 12 and the elastic body 16 mesh with each other so as
to sandwich the eyelashes is set to exactly fit with a curve of the
eye around root parts of the eyelashes. Therefore, it is possible
to easily and properly curl the eyelashes by using the eyelash
curler once. As understood from FIG. 6(a), the lower edge 12a of
the fixing member 12 and the elastic body 16 mesh with each other
even in the vicinity of inner and outer corner of the eye.
Therefore, even in a part of short eyelashes in the vicinity of the
inner and outer corner of the eye, it is possible to properly curl
the eyelashes from the roots thereof. It is also possible to curl
the eyelashes beautifully in an ideally radial state as curls of
the eyelashes as shown in FIG. 6(b), by using the eyelash curler
once.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1(a) is a front view of an eyelash curler according to
the present invention; and FIG. 1(b) is a right side view
thereof.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a view showing an operation state of the eyelash
curler according to the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a partly enlarged plan view of the eyelash curler
according to the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 4(a) is a sectional view by line A-A of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4(b) is a sectional view by line B-B of FIG. 4(a).
[0030] FIG. 5 is a partly enlarged front view of the eyelash curler
according to the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 6(a) is a view showing a state that eyelashes are
sandwiched by the eyelash curler according to the present
invention; and FIG. 6(b) is a view showing a curling state of the
eyelashes at the time.
[0032] FIG. 7(a) is a front view of a conventional eyelash curler;
and FIG. 7(b) is a right side view thereof.
[0033] FIG. 8(a) is a view showing a state that the eyelashes are
sandwiched by the eyelash curler according to the conventional
invention; and FIG. 8(b) is a view showing a curling state of the
eyelashes at the time.
EXPLANATION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0034] 10: Supporting column [0035] 10a: Supporting column upper
part [0036] 12: Fixing member [0037] 14: Movable member [0038] 16:
Elastic body [0039] 18: First handle [0040] 20: First lever [0041]
22: Second handle [0042] 24: Second lever [0043] 26: Link arm
[0044] 32: Ring
* * * * *