U.S. patent application number 15/204135 was filed with the patent office on 2017-01-12 for device for dispensing artificial eyelashes comprising an element for holding the eyelashes.
The applicant listed for this patent is Albea Services. Invention is credited to Osvaldo Uresti.
Application Number | 20170006947 15/204135 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55025134 |
Filed Date | 2017-01-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170006947 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Uresti; Osvaldo |
January 12, 2017 |
Device for Dispensing Artificial Eyelashes Comprising an Element
for Holding the Eyelashes
Abstract
A device 1 for dispensing artificial eyelashes has a holding
element 123 and a housing 10. The housing 10 is provided with a
dispensing opening 11 which allows artificial eyelashes 41 to be
output to an external space of the housing 10. The holding element
123 has a flexible material and is designed to be arranged in the
region of the dispensing opening 11 so as to facilitate holding the
eyelashes 41.
Inventors: |
Uresti; Osvaldo; (Paris,
FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Albea Services |
Gennevilliers Cedex |
|
FR |
|
|
Family ID: |
55025134 |
Appl. No.: |
15/204135 |
Filed: |
July 7, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41G 5/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A41G 5/02 20060101
A41G005/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 9, 2015 |
FR |
1556539 |
Claims
1. A device for dispensing artificial eyelashes, comprising a
holding element and a housing, said housing being provided with a
dispensing opening which allows artificial eyelashes to be output
to an external space of the housing, the holding element comprising
a flexible material and being designed to be arranged in the region
of the dispensing opening so as to facilitate holding the
eyelashes.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the walls of the
housing which are located on either side of the dispensing opening
are designed to be able to be clamped against one another, in the
manner of tweezers, so as to hold one or more of said eyelashes
between said walls.
3. The device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the
walls is equipped with said holding element, said holding element
being intended to be in contact with said eyelashes during the
clamping of the walls against one another.
4. The device according to claim 3, wherein said holding element is
located at a free end of said wall.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said holding element is
a strip of material.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said holding element
comprises an elastically deformable material.
7. The device according to claim 1, wherein said holding element
comprises a spongy material.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the housing (10) and
the holding element are produced from different materials.
9. The device according to claim 1, comprising a movement mechanism
which can be actuated in order to cause the artificial eyelashes to
be fed to an external space of the housing.
10. The device according to claim 1, comprising a carrier strip to
which the artificial eyelashes are fixed.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to French Patent
Application No. 1556539 filed Jul. 9, 2015. The present application
claims priority to and the benefit the above-identified
application, which is incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety.
FIELD
[0002] The invention relates to the technical field of artificial
eyelashes dispensers. The invention relates in particular to a
device for dispensing artificial eyelashes comprising an element
for holding the eyelashes.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Artificial eyelashes dispensers are known which comprise a
housing and a movement mechanism allowing artificial eyelashes to
be output through a dispensing opening of the housing. Some of
these dispensers are equipped with walls which can be clamped
against one another in the manner of tweezers. This clamping makes
it possible to hold the eyelashes, and this facilitates the use of
the device when applying artificial eyelashes.
[0004] During this clamping, the eyelashes are sometimes held in an
insufficient manner or in a position and/or orientation which is
inadequate for applying these artificial eyelashes. There is thus a
need to improve these devices for dispensing artificial eyelashes.
One of the objects of the invention is to propose such an
improvement.
SUMMARY
[0005] A device for dispensing artificial eyelashes, comprising a
holding element and a housing, said housing being provided with a
dispensing opening which allows artificial eyelashes to be output
to an external space of the housing, the holding element comprising
a flexible material and being designed to be arranged in the region
of the dispensing opening so as to facilitate holding the
eyelashes.
[0006] In this way, the flexible material that the holding element
is made of makes it easier to hold the eyelashes whilst preventing
any deterioration or deformation of the artificial eyelashes. The
comfort and the ease of use of the device are thus improved.
[0007] According to different embodiments, which can be taken
together or separately: [0008] walls of the housing which are
located on either side of the dispensing opening are designed to be
able to be clamped against one another, in the manner of tweezers,
so as to hold one or more of said eyelashes between said walls,
[0009] at least one of the walls is equipped with said holding
element, said holding element being intended to be in contact with
said eyelashes during the clamping of the walls against one
another, [0010] said holding element is located at a free end of
said wall, [0011] said holding element is a strip of material,
[0012] said holding element comprises an elastically deformable
material, [0013] said holding element comprises a spongy material,
[0014] the housing and the holding element are produced from
different materials, [0015] the device comprises a movement
mechanism which can be actuated in order to cause the artificial
eyelashes to be fed to an external space of the housing, [0016] the
device comprises a carrier strip to which the artificial eyelashes
are fixed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Other features, aims and advantages of the invention will
become clearer from the following description, which is given by
way of purely illustrative and non-limiting example, and which must
be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a front view of a device for dispensing artificial
eyelashes according to one embodiment of the invention,
[0019] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device from
FIG. 1,
[0020] FIG. 3 is a front view of a device for dispensing artificial
eyelashes according to another embodiment of the invention, shown
with the tweezers thereof in the closed position.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a front view of the device from FIG. 3, shown with
the tweezers thereof in the open position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, aspects of the invention relates to a
device for dispensing artificial eyelashes.
[0023] Said device 1 comprises a housing 10, preferably made of
plastics material such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE),
acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), styrene acrylonitrile (SAN)
or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene terephthalate
glycol (PETG), Surlyn.RTM. resin or polyoxymethylene (POM). The
housing can also be made of metal, such as aluminium, Zamak,
etc.
[0024] Said housing 10 can be opaque or, on the contrary,
transparent so that the elements that it contains are visible, in
particular at least partially according to one embodiment which
will be elaborated on below.
[0025] According to one embodiment, the housing 10 consists of a
peripheral contour 350 and two side walls 310, 320 delimiting an
interior of the housing 10. Said peripheral contour 350 connects
the two side walls 310, 320 which are substantially planar, the
same shape and in parallel with one another. One of the side walls,
referred to as the base 310, and the peripheral contour 350 are
advantageously made of material, said peripheral contour 350 being
arranged along a periphery of said base 310. The other of the side
walls, referred to as the cover 320, can be used as a cover for the
rest of the housing 10.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 10 is provided with a
dispensing opening 11, through which the eyelashes 41 are output to
be used by an individual. Said device also comprises, inside the
housing 10, a carrier strip 30, which is shown as a dotted line, to
which the eyelashes 41 are fixed, and a movement mechanism which
can be actuated to cause a movement of the strip 30 in order to
feed the eyelashes 41 towards the dispensing opening 11. Said
device is thus designed to facilitate the output of the artificial
eyelashes 41 through the dispensing opening 11, as a result of the
movement of the strip 30.
[0027] On the strip 30, the eyelashes are preferably grouped in the
form of units 40 of eyelashes, which can be seen in FIG. 3.
[0028] The units are preferably fixed to the strip 30 by an
adhesive coating on the strip, the coating having properties which
are suitable for allowing detachment from the dispensing units 40
without damaging the eyelashes 41.
[0029] Each unit 40 of eyelashes can comprise a fringe of eyelashes
41 and a connecting strip 42. The eyelashes are interconnected at
one end, preferably the base thereof, by the connecting strip 42,
the other end being free.
[0030] The artificial eyelashes 41 and the connecting strip 42 are
produced from synthetic fibres, which are typically made of
polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and PVC, and are rigidly connected
to the connecting strip 42 by any known method, for example they
can be adhered to or integrally formed with the connecting strip.
They can also be sewn to the connecting strip or welded
thereto.
[0031] Advantageously, the strip 30 has a plurality of separated
adhesive regions, said regions being for example covered by an
adhesive coating, the rest of the strip not being adhesive.
[0032] The dispensing units 40 are advantageously adhered to said
regions, in the region of the middle of the eyelashes in the
direction of the length thereof, so as to adhere neither the ends
of the eyelashes nor the connecting strip, the artificial eyelashes
having in this case, like natural eyelashes, an intrinsic
curvature. For example, if the eyelashes have a length of 10 mm,
the units of eyelashes can be adhesively applied to a strip of 5 mm
which is centred on half of the length of the eyelashes.
[0033] This has multiple advantages: the ends of the eyelashes are
held separately from one another in such a way that the appearance
of the eyelashes is not impaired once they are in place on a user.
The adhesive residue on the units of eyelashes is reduced with
respect to complete application of adhesive to the eyelashes, and
in particular, each free eyelash end is not adhered to the adjacent
eyelash. The aesthetics of the units of eyelashes is thus
preserved.
[0034] Lastly, due to the eyelashes being held on the strip by the
middle of the length thereof, the ends of said eyelashes protrude
less than one end would if the eyelashes were fixed to the strip at
the other end thereof.
[0035] In other words, there is a height H between the end of the
eyelashes of a unit and the strip 30 which is reduced with respect
to the same height H' if the units of eyelashes were adhered to the
strip 30 in the region of the connecting strip.
[0036] As a result, the ends of the eyelashes are not in contact
with a wall of a housing 10 when the eyelashes are moved in the
dispenser, and said eyelashes can thus be moved freely in the
dispenser.
[0037] The units 40 of eyelashes are preferably fixed to the
carrier strip 30 in such a way that the eyelashes are oriented in
parallel with the longitudinal direction of the carrier strip 30,
the connecting strip 42 then being transverse to said direction. In
a variant, the eyelashes can be oriented in a transverse, in
particular orthogonal manner.
[0038] Furthermore, the units 40 of eyelashes are preferably
distributed regularly over the carrier strip 30, in such a way that
they are spaced by a constant interval between two consecutive
units. Typically, this interval can be between 5 and 20 mm.
[0039] Typically, the eyelashes 41 have a length L of between 8 and
15 mm, preferably equal to 10 mm.
[0040] With regard to the units 40 of eyelashes, they have a width
w of between 3 and 10 mm, preferably of between 4 and 5 mm. This
width is narrower than the units of eyelashes which are
traditionally sold on the market. It is thus necessary to apply a
plurality of units 40 of eyelashes to the eyelid to cover the total
width of the user's eyelid.
[0041] In the case of eyelashes which are oriented in parallel with
the strip 30, the reduction of the width w of the units 40 of
eyelashes makes it possible to reduce the width of the carrier
strip 30 to which the units are fixed, and consequently the volume
occupied by the dispensing device 1.
[0042] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the movement mechanism comprises a
reel 20, which is mounted so as to be able to rotate in relation to
the housing 10. A first longitudinal end of the carrier strip 30 is
fixed to the reel, and a portion 31 of the strip, to which the
units of artificial eyelashes to be dispensed are fixed, is wound
around the reel. The reel 20 is thus positioned upstream of the
dispensing opening 11, and can even form the start of the route of
the strip.
[0043] The portion 31 of strip which is wound around the reel forms
a stock of units of eyelashes 40. More particularly, the size of
the device 1 can make it possible to wind several metres of carrier
strip 30, for example between 0.5 and 2 metres of strips, and this
makes it possible to store between 20 and 180 units of artificial
eyelashes. This allows a user to have approximately 10 to 30 days'
worth of artificial eyelashes.
[0044] The length of strip to be wound around the reel and the
diameter of the circular cross section thereof have to be adapted
so that the winding of the strip around the reel does not impair
the curvature radius of the eyelashes, once they have been
dispensed, too significantly. For example, if the diameter of the
circular cross section of the reel is too small, the eyelashes
which are located on the strip portion which is closest to the
outer surface of the reel will have too large a curvature
radius.
[0045] Thus, the diameter of the circular cross section of the reel
is between 5 and 12 mm. Furthermore, the winding of the strip forms
a cylinder around the reel, the diameter of which increases
progressively with the length of wound strip. If the length of
wound strip is too large, the diameter of the cylinder thus formed
will be large, and the curvature radius of the eyelashes which are
fixed to the strip at the periphery of the winding will be too
small.
[0046] The length of strip winding indicated above takes this
effect into account. The diameter of the cross section of the
cylinder which is formed by the strip wound around the reel can
have a diameter of 30 mm at most. The dispensing device 1 thus
makes it possible to store a considerable number of units of
artificial eyelashes, unlike in conventional housings, and to store
them in a very compact manner, by winding the strip around the
reel.
[0047] The reel 20 takes the form of a cylinder having a circular
cross section, the cylinder being able to move in rotation about
the axis of revolution thereof, and having a length which is
greater than or equal to the width of the carrier strip 30. This
makes it possible for the carrier strip 30 to bear against the
outer surface of the cylinder 20.
[0048] The reel can be made of the same material as the housing
10.
[0049] The movement system of the carrier strip 30 further
comprises a spool 21, which is mounted so as to be able to rotate
in relation to the housing 10. The spool 21 is located downstream
in relation to the dispensing opening 11 over the route of the
strip.
[0050] The second longitudinal end of the carrier strip 30 which is
not fixed to the reel is fixed to the spool 21, and a portion 33 of
the strip, from which the units of eyelashes have been removed, is
wound around the spool.
[0051] In a similar manner to the reel 20, the spool 21 takes the
form of a cylinder having a circular cross section, the cylinder
being able to move in rotation about the axis of revolution
thereof, and having a length which is greater than or equal to the
width of the carrier strip 30. This makes it possible for the
carrier strip 30 to bear against the outer surface of the spool
21.
[0052] The spool 21 can be made of the same material as the housing
10.
[0053] The reel 20 and/or the spool 21 can comprise lateral flanges
which make it possible to guide said strip 30.
[0054] Hinge pins 360, 361 of the reel 20 and of the spool 21
respectively stem from the base 310. In particular, the reel 20 and
the spool 21 are mounted so as to be able to rotate about the
respective hinge pins thereof, inside the housing 10.
[0055] An intermediate portion 32 of the carrier strip 30, which is
located between the portion 31 which is wound around the reel 20,
and the portion 33 which is wound around the spool 21, passes close
to the dispensing opening 11.
[0056] Said portion 32 rests against a return element 24, in this
case in the form of an end of a rib 25 for guiding said strip 30.
Said return element 24 is arranged close to the dispensing opening
11, that is to say at a distance from the dispensing opening which
is less than the length of an eyelash. In FIG. 2, a single unit of
eyelashes has been shown so as not to overcomplicate the
drawing.
[0057] The carrier strip 30 is held by the return element, and
moves around said element whilst changing direction in the route
thereof between the reel 20 and the spool 21.
[0058] The position of the return element 24 and the diameter
thereof are adapted so that, whilst the carrier strip 30 moves
around the element 24, the unit 40 of eyelashes partially detaches
from the carrier strip 30 and is output from the device 1 through
the dispensing opening.
[0059] For example, a direction of the carrier strip which is
upstream of the return element and a direction of the carrier strip
which is downstream of the return element are selected so as to
promote this detachment.
[0060] The radius of the return element 24 is selected in such a
way that the outer surface thereof has a curvature radius of
between 0.5 and 40 mm, so that when the strip moves around the
return element whilst resting against said outer surface, it takes
on the same curvature radius.
[0061] Furthermore, the units 40 of eyelashes are arranged on the
strip in such a way that the natural curvature of the eyelashes are
the opposite of the curvature taken on by the carrier strip 30 when
said strip moves around the return element 24.
[0062] Thus, when the strip reaches the return element and changes
direction by pivoting about said element, the end of the unit 40
which is located downstream detaches from the strip 30, and is
output through the dispensing opening 11.
[0063] The dispensing units 40 are preferably arranged on the
carrier strip in such a way that, during the movement of the
carrier strip towards the dispensing opening, the connecting strips
42 of the eyelashes 41 are fed first towards the dispensing
opening.
[0064] As a result, it is the connecting strip 42 which is detached
from the carrier strip 30 and which is output from the device
through the dispensing opening 11. By contrast, the free end of the
eyelashes remains adhered to the strip.
[0065] When the strip is in this position, the user can apply
adhesive to the connecting strip 42 before manually removing the
unit from the device 1. During this step of applying adhesive, the
unit 40 is thus held on the carrier strip 30 by the free end of the
eyelashes, and the user does not have to hold the eyelashes by
hand. As a result, there is a reduced risk of damaging the
artificial eyelashes when applying adhesive.
[0066] Furthermore, in order to facilitate the handling of the unit
40 of eyelashes for the purpose of the application of adhesive to
and the placement of said eyelashes, the edges of the dispensing
opening 11 provided in the housing 10 are preferably in the shape
of tweezers, as will be elaborated on below.
[0067] Furthermore, the position of the reel 20 in relation to the
dispensing opening 11 can be defined in a non-limiting manner in
such a way that the length of the carrier strip 30 between the reel
20 and the dispensing opening 11 comprises enough units of
eyelashes 40 to cover an eye or both eyes so that the units of
eyelashes 40 placed on the same eye or both eyes have the same
curvature.
[0068] By way of non-limiting example, the following parameters are
considered: [0069] on the carrier strip 30, there is a spacing of 5
mm between two consecutive units of eyelashes 40, [0070] the units
of eyelashes 40 have a width w of 5 mm, in such a way that three
units of artificial eyelashes are required to cover an eyelid,
[0071] the eyelashes have a length L which is equal to 10 mm.
[0072] In this case, in order for the portion of the carrier strip
30 which is held between the reel and the dispensing opening 11 to
comprise enough units of eyelashes 40 for both eyes, i.e. six units
of eyelashes, the distance between the reel and the return element
must be greater than or equal to 90 mm. This distance is reduced to
45 mm so that said portion of the carrier strip 30 comprises enough
units of eyelashes for a single eye.
[0073] In operation, the portion of the carrier strip 30 which is
located downstream of the return element 24 no longer supports
units of eyelashes because said units have been removed through the
dispensing opening. Said carrier strip portion is fed as far as the
spool 21.
[0074] In this case, the mechanism for moving the carrier strip 30
further comprises a means 23 for moving the spool 21 in rotation,
which makes it possible to wind the carrier strip 30 around the
spool 21, the winding of the carrier strip 30 around the spool 21
causing, as mentioned previously, the movement of the carrier strip
30 in order to dispense the eyelashes 41.
[0075] Advantageously, the housing 10 comprises an opening 12, and
the actuating means 23 comprises an adjustment wheel which can be
operated through the opening 12.
[0076] Said device is designed so that manual operation of the
adjustment wheel 23 in one direction towards the dispensing opening
11 from an opposite portion 100 of the housing 10 causes the
movement of the carrier strip 30 in order to dispense the eyelashes
41. In other words, in FIG. 2, in which the dispensing opening 11
is located on the left, the adjustment wheel 23 must be operated in
the clockwise direction in order to allow the strip 30 to be
unwound. The unwinding thus takes place as a result of a movement
which corresponds to a movement of pressing on the eyelashes, which
is intuitive to the user.
[0077] The adjustment wheel 23 can comprise a knurled wheel which
protrudes from the housing 10 through the opening 12. The spool 21
is, for example, coaxial with and rigidly connected to said
adjustment wheel 23. In this way, it is possible to move the strip
30 forwards by rotating the adjustment wheel.
[0078] The knurled wheel of the adjustment wheel 23 advantageously
has an outer peripheral surface which is provided with ridges. Said
peripheral surface is intended to be handled by the user in order
to operate the adjustment wheel 23. As mentioned previously, the
knurled wheel is arranged so as to protrude from the housing 10
through the opening 11, in particular when the tweezers are open.
As a result, the user can move the eyelashes 41 forwards towards
the dispensing opening 11 by handling the adjustment wheel 23.
[0079] More specifically, the rotation of the adjustment wheel 23
causes the rotation of the spool 21 and the winding of the carrier
strip 30 around the spool. This winding causes the movement of the
portion of carrier strip 30 extending between the reel 20 and the
spool 21, and as a result, the feeding of the units of eyelashes 40
towards the dispensing opening, accompanied by the phenomenon of
the detachment of the eyelashes in the region of the dispensing
opening mentioned above. This movement causes the unwinding of the
carrier strip from the reel 20.
[0080] It is further possible to provide a mechanism for locking
the adjustment wheel 23 in one direction of rotation, in such a way
that the user cannot rotate said wheel in the direction for
unwinding the spool 21.
[0081] Said device can further comprise a rotary bearing 106 for
guiding the strip. Said bearing 106 can rotate freely, for example,
about a finger which is rigidly connected to, in particular is
moulded to, the base 310.
[0082] As has already been indicated, walls 120, 122 of the housing
which are located on either side of the dispensing opening 11 can
be designed to be able to be clamped against one another in the
manner of tweezers, so as to hold one or more of said eyelashes 41
between said walls 120, 122.
[0083] One 120 of said walls is stationary, and the other 122,
referred to as the movable arm of the tweezers, is hinged, in
particular in such a way that it can pivot about an pin 125, in
relation to the rest of the housing 10.
[0084] In this case, the stationary wall 120 is formed from a
portion of the peripheral contour 350, and the movable arm 122 is
located in an opening in the housing 10 which is located in a
portion of the peripheral contour 350 which is opposite the fixed
wall 120. In other words, the stationary wall 120 and the movable
arm 122 are substantially opposite one another. In other words
again, in order to fix the eyelashes 41 in place, the user operates
the movable arm 122 so as to pin the eyelashes against the
stationary wall 120.
[0085] Each of the stationary 120 and movable 122 walls is provided
with a distal end. The distal ends of said walls are opposite one
another in the region of the dispensing opening 11.
[0086] According to one aspect of the invention, which is shown in
FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, said movable arm 122 is provided at the distal
end thereof with a holding element 123 which allows plane-to-plane
contact on the stationary wall 120 so as to improve holding and
clamping of the eyelashes 41.
[0087] Said holding element 123 is intended to be in contact with
said eyelashes 41 during the clamping of the walls 120, 122 against
one another. In particular, the holding element 123 is designed to
be in contact with said eyelashes 41 when the movable arm 122 and
the stationary wall 120 are clamped against one another.
[0088] The holding element 123 is advantageously a strip of
material which extends orthogonally to a direction in which the
eyelashes 41 are output through the dispensing opening 11.
[0089] Alternatively, in one embodiment which is not shown in the
drawings, said holding element 123 can be arranged not on the
movable arm 122, but under the stationary wall 120, at a free end
thereof. In other words, the stationary wall 120 can be equipped
with said holding element 123. Advantageously, in this embodiment,
said holding element 123 can be arranged in contact with the
stationary wall 120 in the region of the dispensing opening 11, so
as to be opposite the distal end of the movable arm 122.
[0090] Alternatively again, in one embodiment which is not shown in
the drawings, the dispensing device 1 comprises two holding
elements 123, each of the stationary 120 and movable 122 walls
being equipped with one of the two holding elements 123.
[0091] According to an aspect of the invention, the holding element
123 is made of a flexible material, the flexibility of said
material facilitating the holding of the eyelashes 41. In other
words, the holding element 123 is a compressible or elastically
deformable material. Said holding element 123 will be for example,
in a non-limiting manner, made of a spongy-type material, in
particular a sponge. Alternatively, said holding element 123 can be
made of rubber or latex, or else any other material having similar
properties in terms of flexibility and resilience.
[0092] Advantageously, said holding element 123 and said housing 10
are elements which are separate from one another. In particular,
said holding element 123 and the housing 10 are made of materials
having different properties. In particular, said holding element
123 and the housing 10 can differ from one another in terms of the
flexibility thereof. Advantageously, the material of which the
holding element 123 is made is more flexible than the material of
which the housing 10 is made.
[0093] Said holding element 123 can be rigidly connected to the
housing 10, in particular to the movable arm 122, by adhesion. Said
holding element 123 will advantageously be arranged at the free end
of the movable arm 122 so as to from an extension thereof and/or
protrude therefrom.
[0094] Alternatively, the holding element 123 can be overmoulded on
the housing 10. Alternatively again, said holding element 123 can
be rigidly connected to either the movable arm 122 or the
stationary wall 120 by means of a snap-in connection and/or by any
other suitable fixing means.
[0095] It will be noted that the holding element 123 can
advantageously be in the form of and act as a lip, i.e. as a flat
edge which is intended to hold the eyelashes 41 by pressing said
eyelashes against the other of the two walls 120, 122.
[0096] More generally, said holding element 123 comprises a
flexible material and is designed to be arranged in the region of
the dispensing opening 11 so as to facilitate holding the eyelashes
41.
[0097] It will also be noted that the holding element 123 makes it
possible to improve the alignment of the artificial eyelashes 41
with respect to one another and/or relative to a direction in which
the eyelashes 41 are output through the dispensing opening 11.
[0098] Advantageously, as shown in FIG. 3, the movable arm 122 can
be designed to block the feeding of the eyelashes 41 towards the
dispensing opening 11 when the tweezers are closed. For this
purpose, when the movable arm 122 is in the closed position, the
portion of the movable arm 122 which is located between the pin 125
and the lug 130 can be designed to hide a side of the knurled
wheel. Said side of the knurled wheel and a portion of the movable
arm 122 are thus opposite one another. In this design, the
adjustment wheel 23 is thus difficult to operate because the ridges
in the knurled wheel, which are used for the handling thereof, are
then less accessible.
[0099] In other words, in the closed position, the movable arm 122
laterally covers a side of the adjustment wheel 23 in such a way
that the knurled wheel no longer protrudes from the housing 10. It
thus becomes difficult for the user to handle the knurled wheel 23.
In particular, the handling of the outer peripheral surface, in the
region of which the ridges of the knurled wheel are located, is
impaired by the presence, nearby, of a portion of the movable arm
122.
[0100] Conversely, as shown in FIG. 4, in the open position, the
same portion of the movable arm 122 is retracted into the housing
10.
[0101] In this way, the movable arm 122 is designed, in the closed
position, to prevent the eyelashes 41 from being fed towards the
dispensing opening 11 by handling the adjustment wheel 23.
[0102] In order to allow the movable arm 122 to be hinged, the
device comprises, for example, a hinge pin which is rigidly
connected to the housing.
[0103] Said device can further comprise a spring leaf 126 which
exerts a force on said movable arm 122 so as to hold it in an open
position of the tweezers. Said spring leaf 126 exerts the force
thereof, for example, on a portion of the movable arm 122 which is
located between the pivot pin 125 thereof and the distal end
thereof.
[0104] Said movable arm 122 can further be designed to be held by
means of a snap-in connection on the housing 10 in a closed
position of said tweezers. In this case, said movable arm 122
comprises for this purpose one or more flexible lugs 130, which are
intended to cooperate with a complementary shape 132 which is
rigidly connected to the housing 10. Said flexible lugs are located
at an end of the movable arm 122 which is opposite the end on which
said spring leaf acts. In order to unlock the tweezers, so as to
allow them to return to the open position, the user acts on the
movable arm 122, on the portion thereof which is located between
said hinge pin 125 and said flexible lugs 130.
[0105] Said housing 10 can comprise a stop for positioning 170 said
flexible lugs 130 in the open position of the tweezers. Said
positioning stop can comprise a portion, in particular an end of
the guide rib 25 which is opposite the end which is located in the
vicinity of the dispensing opening 11.
[0106] Said spool 21 can be located in the housing 10 to the right
of the portion of said movable arm 122 which is located between the
pivot pin 125 thereof and the end which is opposite the distal end
123, i.e., in this case, the end comprising the flexible snap-in
lugs 130.
[0107] Said movable arm 122 can further comprise a handling
protrusion 134 for passing from the open position to the closed
position. In this case, said protrusion is located between the
pivot pin 125 of said movable arm and the distal end 123 thereof,
in particular between said pivot pin 125 of said movable arm and an
actuation region of said spring leaf 126.
[0108] As mentioned above, it will be noted that the passage from
the closed position to the open position of the tweezers is caused
by the user acting on the portion of the movable arm 122 which is
located between the pin 125 and the flexible lug 130. The rotation
in the opposite direction of the movable arm 122, from an open
position to a closed position is, itself, caused by the user acting
on the portion of the movable arm 122 which is located between the
pin 125 and the holding element 123.
[0109] The carrier strip 30 can, alternatively, be a thread.
* * * * *