U.S. patent application number 17/283377 was filed with the patent office on 2021-11-04 for eyelash curler.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sidereus Oy. The applicant listed for this patent is Sidereus Oy. Invention is credited to Viola ARDIN.
Application Number | 20210337949 17/283377 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005765952 |
Filed Date | 2021-11-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210337949 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ARDIN; Viola |
November 4, 2021 |
EYELASH CURLER
Abstract
An eyelash curler comprises a palm part (101) having a first end
and a second end, a direction from said first end towards said
second end defining a longitudinal direction (103), and a movable
part (102) having a first end and a second end, attached to said
palm part (101) with a sliding joint that enables movement of the
movable part (102) with respect to said palm part (101) in said
longitudinal direction (103). There are a first curling surface
(104) at said first end of the palm part (101) and a second curling
surface (105) at said first end of the movable part (102),
configured to engage at least part of said first curling surface
(104) upon said movement of the movable part (102). An electric
heating element (712) is configured to heat said second curling
surface (105). The eyelash curler comprises a battery compartment
(702) for receiving a battery, and a control circuit (1801)
configured to control the flow of electric current between a
battery received in said battery compartment (702) and said
electric heating element (712). Said electric heating element
(712), said battery compartment (702), and said control circuit
(1801) are allocated in said movable part (102).
Inventors: |
ARDIN; Viola; (Espoo,
FI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sidereus Oy |
Espoo |
|
FI |
|
|
Assignee: |
Sidereus Oy
Espoo
FI
|
Family ID: |
1000005765952 |
Appl. No.: |
17/283377 |
Filed: |
October 8, 2019 |
PCT Filed: |
October 8, 2019 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FI2019/050715 |
371 Date: |
April 7, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 2200/155 20130101;
A45D 2/48 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45D 2/48 20060101
A45D002/48 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 9, 2018 |
FI |
20185843 |
Claims
1. An eyelash curler, comprising: a palm part having a first end
and a second end, a direction from said first end towards said
second end defining a longitudinal direction, a movable part having
a first end and a second end, attached to said palm part with a
sliding joint that enables movement of the movable part with
respect to said palm part in said longitudinal direction, a first
curling surface at said first end of the palm part, a second
curling surface at said first end of the movable part configured to
engage at least part of said first curling surface upon said
movement of the movable part, an electric heating element
configured to heat said second curling surface, a battery
compartment for receiving a battery, and a control circuit
configured to control the flow of electric current between a
battery received in said battery compartment and said electric
heating element; wherein said electric heating element, said
battery compartment, and said control circuit are all located in
said movable part.
2. An eyelash curler according to claim 1, wherein said palm part
and said movable part together constitute an elongated entity that
is thicker towards said second end than said first end of the palm
part, so that towards said second end said elongated entity
constitutes a handle, a diameter of which is between 15 and 40 mm
and a length of which is between 60 and 160 mm, to fit in a hand of
a human user.
3. An eyelash curler according to claim 1, wherein: said first
curling surface is a part of a first plate, directed transversally
with respect to said longitudinal direction and supported by a
first support arm as a part of said palm part, and said first
support arm attaches to a middle part of said first plate, a
transverse thickness of said first support arm being less than 10
mm at a location below said first plate in said longitudinal
direction.
4. An eyelash curler according to claim 3, wherein said second
curling surface is a part of a second plate, directed transversally
with respect to said longitudinal direction and supported by a
second support arm as a part of said movable part.
5. An eyelash curler according to claim 1, wherein towards said
second end said palm part comprises a tubular section, so that said
movement of the movable part with respect to said palm part in said
longitudinal direction involves moving a portion of said movable
part inside said tubular section.
6. An eyelash curler according to claim 1, wherein: each of said
first and second curling surfaces is limited on one side by a
concave eyelid-side edge, and at least said first curling surface
extends for more than 8 millimetres from the respective eyelid-side
edge towards a respective distal edge.
7. An eyelash curler according to claim 6, wherein at least one of
said first and second curling surfaces comprises one or more ridges
or grooves directed parallel to the respective eyelid-side
edge.
8. An eyelash curler according to claim 7, wherein at least one
ridge in one of the first and second curling surfaces is met by a
corresponding groove in the other.
9. An eyelash curler according to claim 6, wherein said first
curling surface comprises a protruding ridge parallel to the
eyelid-side edge of said first curling surface and displaced from
said eyelid-side edge by less than 3 mm.
10. An eyelash curler according to claim 1, wherein said electric
heating element is located under at least one surface layer of said
second curling surface.
11. An eyelash curler according to claim 1, wherein said second
curling surface comprises a piece of elastic material detachably
attached to a support located at said first end of said movable
part.
12. An eyelash curler according to claim 11, wherein said support
is a support box with a bottom and edges, and wherein said electric
heating element is located in said support box and separated from
said bottom by an array of protrusions in said bottom.
13. An eyelash curler according to claim 1, wherein said movable
part comprises a flex circuit that extends from said battery
compartment to said electric heating element and carries all
electric connections between discrete electric parts of the eyelash
curler.
14. An eyelash curler according to claim 13, wherein said electric
heating element consists of resistors attached to that end of the
flex circuit that extends to the first end of the movable part.
15. An eyelash curler according to claim 1, wherein said movable
part comprises a push pad formed of a surface oriented at least
partially obliquely or transversally with respect to said
longitudinal direction for enabling a human user to push said
movable part in said longitudinal direction.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention concerns the technology of cosmetic eye care.
In particular the invention concerns an apparatus for curling
eyelashes in an easy and safe way with long-lasting effects.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Most mechanical eyelash curlers on the consumer market
follow the commonly used scissors-like structural principle, in
which a simple lever joint between two arms transforms the swinging
movement of the loop-formed handles into a reciprocal movement of
the proximal edges of a pair of curved blades. A band of silicone
rubber or the like on one of the edges forms a groove, into which
the other edge presses, causing eyelashes therebetween to assume a
curved shape. While the structural solution is relatively simple
and the devices consequently robust and inexpensive to manufacture,
these known eyelash curlers involve a number of drawbacks. For
example, each eyelash is only bent at one point, or at most at a
very short length around the point that gets pressed between the
blades. This may damage the delicate structure of the eyelash, and
does not lead to an optimal result in all cases. Also, the result
may not be very long-lasting.
[0003] It is known to apply heat to the eyelashes while curling
them, in order to obtain more permanent results. A patent
publication JP4569993 and the corresponding published application
JP2001340128 disclose an eyelash curler in which a resistive wire
has been embedded in the elastic material that constitutes one of
the pressing surfaces. A battery inside the handle of the device
acts as a source of electric energy, so that an electric current
can be made to flow through said resistive wire, causing it to warm
up and deliver heat to that point of the eyelash that was caught
between the pressing surfaces. However, the suggested structure
involves a number of drawbacks, including difficult cleaning and
relatively complicated mechanics for producing the movement of the
pressing surfaces.
[0004] Another prior art document GB 2516622 A suggests a different
mechanical approach, in which the eyelash curler is brought to the
eye horizontally from the front direction and not from below. The
user pinches the distal ends of two arms together with her thumb
and forefinger against a spring, forcing the pressing surfaces at
the proximal end of the device apart. Closer to the eye the user
releases her grab, so that the spring causes the pressing surfaces
press against each other, catching the eyelashes therebetween and
making them bend. Also here a battery-powered heating resistor can
be used to enhance the curling effect. Also this structural
approach involves drawbacks, at least some of which are related to
the position of use. In order to bring the device into the correct
operating position the user must push her elbow forwards, which
makes the position unstable and tiring. Keeping the device hygienic
during prolonged use may also prove problematic.
SUMMARY
[0005] It is an objective of the invention to present an eyelash
curler that is easy and safe to use, produces long-lasting effects,
and has a pleasing outer appearance.
[0006] The objectives of the invention are achieved with an eyelash
curler that combines a linear movement, advantageously designed
pressing surfaces, and heating.
[0007] According to an aspect, an eyelash curler is provided. The
eyelash curler comprises a palm part having a first end and a
second end, a direction from said first end towards said second end
defining a longitudinal direction. The eyelash curler comprises a
movable part having a first end and a second end, attached to said
palm part with a sliding joint that enables movement of the movable
part with respect to said palm part in said longitudinal direction.
There is a first curling surface at said first end of the palm
part, and a second curling surface at said first end of the movable
part, configured to engage at least part of said first curling
surface upon said movement of the movable part. The eyelash curler
comprises an electric heating element configured to heat said
second curling surface, a battery compartment for receiving a
battery, and a control circuit configured to control the flow of
electric current between a battery received in said battery
compartment and said electric heating element. Said electric
heating element, said battery compartment, and said control circuit
are all located in said movable part.
[0008] In an embodiment of the eyelash curler said palm part and
said movable part together constitute an elongated entity that is
thicker towards said second end than said first end of the palm
part, so that towards said second end said elongated entity
constitutes a handle, a diameter of which is between 15 and 40 mm
and a length of which is between 60 and 160 mm, to fit in a hand of
a human user. This involves the advantage that the overall outer
appearance of the eyelash curler automatically prompts the user to
take a convenient and ergonomic grip of the device and hold it in
an effective operating position.
[0009] In an embodiment of the eyelash curler said first curling
surface is a part of a first plate, directed transversally with
respect to said longitudinal direction and supported by a first
support arm as a part of said palm part. Said first support arm may
attach to a middle part of said first plate, and a transverse
thickness of said first support arm may be less than 10 mm at a
location below said first plate in said longitudinal direction.
This involves the advantage that the user gets a good and
unobstructed view of her face if a mirror is placed in front of
her.
[0010] In an embodiment of the eyelash curler said second curling
surface is a part of a second plate, directed transversally with
respect to said longitudinal direction and supported by a second
support arm as a part of said movable part. This involves the
advantage that making the curling surfaces at least partly engage
upon said longitudinal movement is mechanically simple.
[0011] In an embodiment of the eyelash curler said palm part
comprises, towards said second end, a tubular section so that said
movement of the movable part with respect to said palm part in said
longitudinal direction involves moving a portion of said movable
part inside said tubular section. This involves the advantage that
the sliding movement can be mechanically robust, and a nice and
convenient grip can be offered to the user.
[0012] In an embodiment of the eyelash curler each of said first
and second curling surfaces is limited on one side by a concave
eyelid-side edge, and at least said first curling surface extends
for more than 8 millimetres from the respective eyelid-side edge
towards a respective distal edge. This involves the advantage that
the eyelashes of the user can be treated for their whole
length.
[0013] In an embodiment of the eyelash curler at least one of said
first and second curling surfaces comprises one or more ridges or
grooves directed parallel to the respective eyelid-side edge. This
involves the advantage that the desired curled form of the
eyelashes can be achieved.
[0014] In an embodiment of the eyelash curler at least one ridge in
one of the first and second curling surfaces is met by a
corresponding groove in the other. This involves the advantage that
very exact control of the resulting curled form of the eyelashes
can be obtained.
[0015] In an embodiment of the eyelash curler said first curling
surface comprises a protruding ridge parallel to the eyelid-side
edge of said first curling surface and displaced from said
eyelid-side edge by less than 3 mm. This involves the advantage of
producing a bend near the base of each eyelash, which helps to
achieve the desired curled form.
[0016] In an embodiment of the eyelash curler said electric heating
element is located under at least one surface layer of said second
curling surface. This involves the advantage that the electric
heating element may remain well protected, while one or more
surface layers of the second curling surface can be made easily
replaceable.
[0017] In an embodiment of the eyelash curler said second curling
surface comprises a piece of elastic material detachably attached
to a support located at said first end of said movable part. This
involves the advantage that smooth and careful curling of the
eyelashes can be combined with a high level of hygiene and easy
cleaning of the eyelash curler.
[0018] In an embodiment of the eyelash curler said support is a
support box with a bottom and edges, so that said electric heating
element is located in said support box and separated from said
bottom by an array of protrusions in said bottom. This involves the
advantage that the heat generated by the electric heating element
can be effectively directed to just those areas where it is needed,
without wasting energy.
[0019] In an embodiment of the eyelash curler said movable part
comprises a flex circuit that extends from said battery compartment
to said electric heating element and carries all electric
connections between discrete electric parts of the eyelash curler.
This involves the advantage that reliable and safe electric
operation can be combined with advantages in manufacturing and
assembling.
[0020] In an embodiment of the eyelash curler said electric heating
element consists of resistors attacked to that end of the flex
circuit that extends to the first end of the movable part. This
involves the advantage that the electric heating element can be
made structurally simple, while having accurate control about its
electrical properties.
[0021] In an embodiment of the eyelash curler said movable part
comprises a push pad formed of a surface oriented at least
partially obliquely or transversally with respect to said
longitudinal direction for enabling a human user to push said
movable part in said longitudinal direction. This involves the
advantage that it is easy and intuitive for the user to take the
most appropriate grab of the eyelash curler and to effect the
appropriate longitudinal movement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and constitute a part of
this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and
together with the description help to explain the principles of the
invention. In the drawings:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a side view of an eyelash curler,
[0024] FIG. 2 is a front view of the eyelash curler of FIG. 1,
[0025] FIG. 3 is a side view of the eyelash curler of FIG. 1 with
the curling surfaces pressed together,
[0026] FIG. 4 is a front view of the eyelash curler of FIG. 3,
[0027] FIG. 5 is a side view of a palm part of an eyelash
curler,
[0028] FIG. 6 is a front view of the palm part of FIG. 5,
[0029] FIG. 7 is a side view of a movable part of an eyelash
curler,
[0030] FIG. 8 is a front view of the movable part of FIG. 7,
[0031] FIG. 9 is a side view of a detail of an eyelash curler,
[0032] FIG. 10 is a front view of the detail of FIG. 9,
[0033] FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a detail of an eyelash
curler,
[0034] FIG. 12 is a front view of the exploded view of FIG. 11,
[0035] FIG. 13 is a cut-out view of two engaging curling
surfaces,
[0036] FIG. 14 is a cut-out view of two engaging curling surfaces
in another embodiment,
[0037] FIG. 15 is a cut-out view of a first curling surface in
another embodiment,
[0038] FIG. 16 is a side view of an eyelash curler with the curling
surfaces open,
[0039] FIG. 17 is a side view of the eyelash curler of FIG. 16 with
the curling surfaces pressed together, and
[0040] FIG. 18 is a circuit diagram of the electric parts of an
eyelash curler.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0041] FIG. 1 is a side view of an eyelash curler that comprises
two basic structural parts: a palm part 101 and a movable part 102.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the same eyelash curler. The palm part
101 is so called because it is meant to rest in the user's palm in
the normal operating position. The palm part 101 is generally
elongated in form, having a first end (the upper end in FIGS. 1 and
2) and a second end (the lower end in FIGS. 1 and 2). The direction
from said first end towards said second end, i.e. the vertical
direction in FIGS. 1 and 2, can be said to define a longitudinal
direction 103. Also the movable part 102 has a first end and a
second end, and these are directed similarly: the first end of the
movable part 102 is its upper end, and the second end of the
movable part 102 is its lower end in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0042] The movable part 102 is attached to the palm part 101 with a
sliding joint that enables movement of the movable part 102 with
respect to the palm part 101 in the longitudinal direction 103.
FIGS. 3 and 4 are side and front views, respectively, of the same
eyelash curler when the movable part 102 has been moved upwards
(with respect to the directions shown in the drawings) by a
distance of several millimetres, like 10 to 20 millimetres. The
significance of the distance will be considered in more detail
later.
[0043] The exact way in which the sliding joint between the palm
part 101 and the movable part 102 is implemented is outside the
scope of this description.
[0044] Sliding joints between two structural parts are known as
such, and any suitable mechanical means can be used, including but
not being limited to mating pairs of rails and grooves; mutually
engaging slider surfaces; or the like.
[0045] A first curling surface 104 is provided at the first end of
the palm part 101, and a second curling surface 105 is provided at
the first end of the movable part 102. The first and second curling
surfaces face each other, so that the second curling surface 105 is
configured to engage at least part of the first curling surface 104
upon a suitable longitudinal movement of the movable part 102 with
respect to the palm part 101. This happens in FIGS. 3 and 4: the
movable part 102 has been moved upwards (with respect to the
directions shown in the drawings) far enough to make the first and
second curling surfaces engage. In order to make this possible, the
mechanical means that implement the sliding joint between the palm
part 101 and the movable part 102 must be designed so that the
sliding, longitudinal movement of the movable part 102 takes place
in exactly that direction in which the first curling surface 104 is
located, seen from the second curling surface 105, before the
longitudinal movement. Likewise, the first and second curling
surfaces must be sufficiently parallel to each other (or the
sliding, longitudinal movement of the movable part 102 must bring
them sufficiently parallel to each other) so that at the end of the
movement they press against each other across the whole surface
area that is to act as a curling surface.
[0046] Above it was pointed out that in the normal operating
position the eyelash curler should be placed so that the palm part
101 rests in the palm of the user. The operating position of the
eyelash curler is generally upright: when doing it right, the user
should see the eyelash curler approaching her face in the position
shown in FIG. 2. In order to offer a comfortable grab to the user,
the palm part 101 and the movable part 102 together constitute an
elongated entity that is generally thicker towards the second end
than the first end. In the drawings the second end points
downwards, and it is seen how towards the second end said elongated
entity constitutes a handle for the user to grab. Taken the
dimensions of a normal human hand, the diameter 106 of the handle
should be between 15 and 40 mm, and the length 107 of the handle
should be between 60 and 160 mm, to comfortably fit in a hand of a
human user.
[0047] The upright operating position of the eyelash curler is
advantageous, because the user will experience it as ergonomic and
intuitive. Lifting the eyelash curler in the correct operating
position close to the face does not require pushing the elbow
forward, but the whole arm can be kept close to the body, which
helps to avoid tiring. The same upright operating position can be
used regardless of which hand the user keeps the eyelash curler in,
which is advantageous because right-handed and left-handed users of
the eyelash curler will notice no difference in its comfort of
use.
[0048] The first curling surface 104 is a part of a first
plate-like part, or a first plate 108 for short. The first plate
108 is directed transversally with respect to the longitudinal
direction 103, and supported by a first support arm 109 as a part
of the palm part 101. The first support arm 109 has generally the
shape of an inverted J or inverted L, and attaches to the middle
part of the first plate 108, so that the whole arrangement of the
first plate 108 and first support arm 109 is essentially
symmetrical in the front view of FIGS. 2 and 4. This kind of
symmetricity is another factor of ergonomics in use: the user can
treat both eyes just as easily, without having to change the
operating position. The symmetricity is also a factor in making the
eyelash curler just as easy to use for both right-handed and
left-handed users.
[0049] A transverse thickness 110 of the first support arm 109 is
less than 10 mm at a location below the first plate 108 (considered
in the longitudinal direction 103). This is another factor of
additional ergonomics, because this is the part where the user is
looking through, typically at her image in a mirror, when bringing
the eyelash curler close to her eye for use. A narrow transverse
thickness 110 of the first support arm 109 means very little
obstruction in the field of view of the user. The "inverted-J" or
"inverted-L" shape of the first support arm 109 serves the same
function, because it enables supporting the first plate 108 from
above the eye of the user, even if the main body of the eyelash
curler is well below the eye, on the level of the user's cheek.
[0050] The second curling surface 105 is a part of a second
plate-like part, or a second plate 111 for short. Like the first
plate 108, the second plate 111 is directed transversally with
respect to the longitudinal direction 103. It is supported by a
second support arm 112 as a part of the movable part 102. It is
advantageous to make the transverse thickness of also the second
support arm 112 narrow, although it is not as much in the field of
view of the user in the operating position and consequently its
thickness does not have as much meaning to ergonomics of use.
[0051] An example of the general structure of the palm part 101 is
seen well in FIGS. 5 and 6, in which the movable part has been
omitted. Towards its second end (lower end in the drawings) the
palm part 101 comprises a tubular section 501, so that the
previously described movement of the movable part 102 with respect
to the palm part 101 in said longitudinal direction 103 involves
moving a portion of the movable part 102 inside said tubular
section 501. Although not the only possible structural approach,
this involves a number of advantages. It enables making the visible
and touchable surface of the "handle" portion consist almost
exclusively of the surface of the palm part 101, so that the user
gets a firm and comfortable grip of the eyelash curler, and good
support is offered for the user's hand for moving the movable part
102. It also enables making the mechanical structure of the palm
part 101 thin and lightweight, with obvious advantageous
consequences in manufacturing and ergonomics of use. Further, it
enables making the sliding mechanism accurate, mechanically stable,
and resistant to wear, yet structurally simple.
[0052] An opening 502 is provided in a first end (here: upper end)
of the tubular section 501. As seen in FIGS. 1 to 4, the first end
of the movable part 102 protrudes out of the opening 502 towards
the first curling surface 104. A dent 503 or some other exception
from the otherwise smooth surface may be provided on the other side
of the palm part 101 approximately on the same level in the
longitudinal direction 103 as the opening 502. Thus the user will
intuitively hold the palm part 101 in her palm to that her thumb is
at the location of the opening 502 and her index finger and/or
middle finger rests at the dent 503 or the like. The symmetry of
the design ensures that this position of the eyelash curler in the
stronger hand of the user is the same, and equally intuitive,
irrespective of whether the user is right-handed or
left-handed.
[0053] Another opening 504 is provided at the second end (here: the
lower end) of the tubular section 501. Through this other opening
504 the user may access the second end of the movable part, at
which the lid of a battery compartment is advantageously provided,
as will be described in more detail later.
[0054] An example of the general structure of the movable part 102
is seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, in which the palm part has been omitted.
This example of a movable part 102 has been designed to fit
together with a palm part 101 like that in FIGS. 5 and 6, so the
lower portion 701 of the movable part 102 has an essentially
constant cross section, designed and dimensioned to fit and slide
inside the tubular section 501 in the palm part 101. A battery
compartment 702 is provided in the lower portion 701 of the movable
part 102 for receiving the battery from which the electric power
will be taken for the heating function and possible other
electronic functions. The battery compartment 702 may be
dimensioned to receive for example one "AA" type battery, the
standardized dimensions of which are 14.5 mm in diameter and 50.5
mm in length. The battery compartment 702 could be dimensioned also
for one or more batteries of some other kind, including
rechargeable batteries.
[0055] If the eyelash curler is to be run with a user-replaceable
battery (or a rechargeable battery that should be taken out for
recharging), it is advantageous to have a removably attached
battery compartment cover 703 at some accessible location of the
movable part 102. In the example shown here the battery compartment
cover 703 is at the second end of the movable part 102, so that
when the movable part 102 is in position within the palm part 101,
the user may access the battery compartment cover 703 through the
opening 504 at the lower end of the tubular section 501. If the
eyelash curler comprises a built-in rechargeable battery, a charger
interface may be provided in place of the battery compartment cover
703. It is also possible to provide both a charger interface and a
battery compartment cover, if the eyelash curler is to be run with
an exchangeable rechargeable battery.
[0056] It is advantageous to make the movable part 102 comprise a
push pad 704 for making it easier for the user to effect the
longitudinal movement mentioned above. For this reason it is
advantageous if the push pad 704 is located at the region where the
user's thumb will intuitively be in the normal operating position.
Comparing FIGS. 7 and 8 to FIGS. 1-2 and 5-6 it is easy to see how
the push pad 704 protrudes partly out of the opening 502. In this
embodiment the push pad 704 is formed of a surface that is oriented
at least partly obliquely or transversally with respect to the
longitudinal direction 103, for enabling a human user to push the
movable part 102 in the longitudinal direction 103 with her thumb.
Alternatively or additionally, the push pad 704 could comprise a
piece of material that creates a lot of friction, like soft rubber,
and/or a matrix of ridges or hatch patterns for the same
purpose.
[0057] Since the movable part 102 comprises electric parts, means
are needed for conducting electric currents and signals between its
various parts. Structural simplicity and ease of manufacturing can
be achieved by making the movable part 102 comprise a flex circuit
705 that extends from (at least close to) the battery compartment
702 as far as to the first end of the movable part 102, where the
electric heating element 712 is located. A single flex circuit 705
can be made to carry all electric connections between discrete
electric parts of the eyelash curler. The flex circuit 705 is seen
from the side in FIG. 7, and in front view in FIG. 8, although
drawn with dashed lines in both because it is located inside the
movable part 102.
[0058] Examples of places where the flex circuit 705 can be
advantageously used for electric connections are shown with marked
ovals in FIG. 7. At locations 706 and 707, electric connections can
be made to the negative and positive terminals respectively of a
battery received in the battery compartment 702. Battery connectors
soldered onto contact pads on the flex circuit 705 can be used for
this purpose, or a part of the flex circuit 705 itself can be bent
to make convection with one or more poles of the battery. At
location 708 control electronics can be built and connected to the
flex circuit 705. Examples of control electronics include--but are
not limited to--power converters, timers, and processing circuits.
Control electronics can be directly soldered onto contact pads on
the flex circuit 705, and/or pieces of wires can be used to make
the connections. At location 709 connections can be made to one or
more operating switches, and example of which is the operating
switch 801 shown in FIG. 8. An operating switch could also be
located within the area of the push pad 704. At location 710
connections can be made to one or more other user interface
elements, like the indicator LEDs 802 and 803 shown in FIG. 8 as
examples. At location 711 connections can be made to one or more
electric heating elements, examples of which are described in more
detail later.
[0059] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the upper end of the flex circuit
705 is embedded, in one way or the other, in the second plate 111
located at the first end of the movable part 102. FIGS. 9 and 10
show an example of how said upper end of the flex circuit 705 may
look like. A narrow neck 901 of the flex circuit 705 extends
through the second arm 112 that supports the second plate 111.
Inside the second plate 111 the flex circuit branches into two
petals 1001 and 1002, each of which extends into the respective end
of the second plate 111. Conductive tracks on the flex circuit 705
are not separately shown in the drawings, but they follow the
generally branching form of the flex circuit, providing electric
connections to resistors 902 that together with this part of the
flex circuit 705 constitute the electric heating element 712. The
resistors 902 may be discrete, preferably surface-mounted
components on the flex circuit 705, or they may consist at least
partly of portions of conductive tracks on the flex circuit 705
that have been specifically designed to make their electric
resistance higher than the resistance of regular conductive tracks
on the flex circuit.
[0060] FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate certain exemplary advantageous
features of a structure of the second plate 111, of which the
electric heating element 712 is a part. The parts are shown in
exploded view in FIGS. 11 and 12, so that in the actual product
they would be placed tightly on top of each other in the vertical
direction. It is advantageous to place the electric heating element
712 not directly visible and accessible, but under at least one
surface layer of the second curling surface 105, because this way
the electric heating element 712 will remain more protected. In the
arrangement of FIGS. 11 and 12 such surface layer(s) comprise(s) a
piece of elastic material 1101 that is detachably attached to a
support 1102 located at the first end of the movable part. Using
elastic material involves the advantage that a very soft and
delicate pressing effect can be obtained for the eyelashes that get
caught between the curling surfaces. Making the piece of elastic
material 1101 detachable involves the advantage that the user may
easily detach and replace it regularly, on order to maintain high
standards of hygiene during long-term use of the eyelash curler or
when another user borrows the eyelash curler.
[0061] At the same time of being elastic, the material of the piece
of elastic material 1101 should be a reasonably good conductor of
heat. Suitable materials can be found among silicone rubbers, for
example, and their heat conducting properties may be tuned, if
needed, with additives mixed with the base material during
manufacture.
[0062] In the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12 the support 1102 is a
support box with a bottom 1103 and edges 1104. The detachable
attachment of the piece of elastic materials 1101 in the support
1102 may be as simple as pushing the piece of elastic materials
1101 into place in the support 1102, so that its elasticity and the
friction between it and the walls 1104 of the support keep it in
place.
[0063] The electric heating element 712 is of the same kind in
FIGS. 11 and 12 as in FIGS. 9 and 10 above. The narrow neck 901 of
the flex circuit goes through an opening 1201 in the support 1102,
which leads to a conduit inside the second support arm 112. Thus in
the assembled configuration the electric heating element 712 is
located in the support box, in the space delimited by the walls
1104. In order to reduce wasted heat that would be conducted to
other parts of the structure than the second curling surface, the
electric heating element 712 may be separated from the bottom 1103
of the support 1102 by an array of protrusions 1202 in said bottom.
The form and distribution of the protrusions is not important, as
long as they fulfil the heat insulation function; instead of the
dot-like protrusions there could be for example parallel ribs or
the like.
[0064] An additional protective layer 1105 may be provided between
the piece of elastic material 1101 and the electric heating element
712. The protective layer 1105 may be for example a piece of
adhesive tape, and its purpose is to keep the resistors of the
electric heating element 712 covered and protected when the user
replaces the piece of elastic material 1101.
[0065] The dimensions and design of the curling surfaces may be
considered next with reference to mainly FIGS. 13 to 15. The
dimensioning of the curling surfaces must take into account the
fact that people have differently sized eyes.
[0066] In a kind of an optimal case the dimensioning of the curling
surfaces would be such that if the whole array of eyelashes in one
eye is considered as a two-dimensional area, this whole area could
be conveniently covered (i.e. caught between the curling surfaces)
in one go. In other words, in the direction that follows the
horizontal width of an eyelid the curling surfaces should extend
exactly as far as there are eyelashes in the user's eye, and the
curvature of the proximal edge of the curling surfaces should
closely follow the outer edge of the eyelid. In practice this would
lead to a requirement that eyelid curlers with curling surfaces of
different width and curvature should be manufactured for different
users.
[0067] A more practical approach is to make the curling surfaces
slightly narrower in the horizontal direction than the mean
horizontal width of a typical human eyelid. This way a user with
small eyes may cover the whole array of eyelashes in each one eye
in one go, without getting the feeling that the eyelash curler
would be too wide or clumsy for her. A user with larger eyes may
need to curl the eyelashes of each eye with two consecutive presses
side-by-side, but this is not a serious drawback, because at the
same time she may utilize the transversal movement of the eyelash
curler between the presses to neatly match the curvature of just
her eye.
[0068] In the longitudinal direction of an individual eyelash, at
least some part of the curling surfaces should extend far enough so
that even the longest naturally encountered human eyelashes will
remain between the curling surfaces for their whole length. Here
the differences in eyelash length between various users is not a
problem, because shorter eyelashes will just reach to some distance
between the curling surfaces, without the further-reaching length
of the curling surfaces causing any inconvenience.
[0069] As seen in FIG. 12 for the part of the second curling
surface, each of the first and second curling surfaces is limited
on one side by a concave eyelid-side edge. In the cross section of
FIG. 13 this is the edge 1301 for the first curling surface and
edge 1302 for the second curling surface. Each of the first and
second curling surfaces extends for more than 8 millimetres from
the respective eyelid-side edge towards a respective distal edge,
which is edge 1303 for the first curling surface and edge 1304 for
the second curling surface in FIG. 13. This dimension is to
preferably accommodate the whole length of any naturally occurring
individual human eyelash. A double-headed arrow illustrates the
more than 8 millimetres distance in FIG. 13.
[0070] Between the eyelid-side edge 1301 or 1302 and the respective
distal edge 1303 or 1304 said first and second curling surfaces
comprise one or more ridges or grooves directed parallel to the
respective eyelid-side edge, at least one ridge in one of the first
and second curling surfaces being met by a corresponding groove in
the other. In the example of FIG. 13 all ridges in one of the
curling surfaces are met by a corresponding groove in the other,
except for a narrow zone closest to the eyelid-side edge. The upper
bevel 1305 in the first curling surface faces a corresponding but
differently directed lower bevel 1306 in the second curling
surface. The upper and lower bevels 1305 and 1306 are there to keep
the sensitive outer edge of the eyelid of the user from being
caught between the curling surfaces.
[0071] Immediately next to the upper bevel 1305, the first curling
surface comprises a protruding ridge 1307 that is parallel to the
eyelid-side edge 1301 of the first curling surface and displaced
from it by less than 3 mm. This ridge 1307 is generally V-shaped,
and met by a corresponding groove in the second curling surface. A
prominent ridge of this kind at a location where it will come close
to the base of each individual eyelash has been found to be very
efficient in creating a nice, long-lasting curled form for the
eyelashes.
[0072] FIG. 14 illustrates a cross section of the curling surfaces
in one alternative embodiment. Features common with the embodiment
of FIG. 13 are the existence of the eyelid-side edges 1301 and 1302
and the corresponding distal edges 1303 and 1304, as well as the
more-than-8-millimetres distance therebetween. Also in the
embodiment of FIG. 14 the first curling surface comprises the
prominent V-shaped protruding ridge 1307 parallel to the
eyelid-side edge 1301 of the first curling surface and displaced
from it by less than 3 mm. As a difference to the embodiment of
FIG. 13 the second curling surface does not exactly match the form
of the first curling surface, but just follows generally its
outline between the eyelid-side edge 1301 and the distal edge 1303.
In FIG. 14 the cross section of the second curling surface is
concavely curved, but it could be flat or convex, and/or it could
comprise differently directed facets.
[0073] When a not-exactly-matching second curling surface like that
in FIG. 14 is pressed against the corresponding first curling
surface, it is advantageous (although not mandatory) that the
second curling surface is made of elastic material, because that
ensures that it will be the design of the first curling surface
that has the most influence on the final curled form of the
eyelashes. Thus when it is said that the curling surfaces engage at
least partly upon the longitudinal movement of the movable part,
this engaging may be approximate, and it may at least partly
involve an elastic deformation of one of the curling surfaces.
[0074] The curling surfaces of the embodiment of FIG. 14 do not
exhibit similar upper and lower bevels as those marked with the
reference designators 1305 and 1306 in FIG. 13. The aim of keeping
the sensitive outer edge of the eyelid of the user from being
caught between the curling surfaces is nevertheless achieved,
because closest to the eyelid-side edges 1301 and 1302 the curling
surfaces are not exact counterparts of each other. Pressing these
curling surfaces together leaves a wedge-shaped protective gap
between the eyelid-side edges also in this embodiment.
[0075] FIG. 15 illustrates a cross section of the first curling
surface in another alternative embodiment. Features common with the
embodiments of FIGS. 13 and 14 are the existence of the eyelid-side
edge, seen at point A in FIG. 15, and the corresponding distal
edge, seen at point G, as well as the more-than-8-millimetres
distance therebetween. Also in the embodiment of FIG. 15 the first
curling surface comprises the prominent V-shaped protruding ridge
parallel to the eyelid-side edge of the first curling surface and
displaced from it by less than 3 mm. The tip of the V-shaped
protruding ridge is seen as point B in FIG. 15.
[0076] If the location of the eyelid-side edge--seen at point A in
the cross section of FIG. 15--is taken as the origin, examples of
the Cartesian coordinates of the marked points in FIG. 15 are:
A(0.0,0.0); B(1.3,-0.6); C(1.7,1.0); D(1.0,2.6); E(1.0,3.7);
F(0.2,5.0); G(5.5,6.3). Since the horizontal coordinate of point C
is larger than that of points D, E, and F, it is not possible to
make a second curling surface that would exactly match the first
curling surface of FIG. 15 and available for completely engaging
with it through a direct vertical movement from below. The second
curling surface may nevertheless engage at least most of the area
between the edges illustrated by points A, B, and C in FIG. 15, and
a suitably elastically deformable second curling surface may be
made to engage even further parts of the first curling surface. Yet
another possibility is to form the sliding joint between the palm
part and the movable part so that at the upper end of the movement
the upper end of the movable part tilts outwards, so that this
tilting movement makes the second curling surface engage an even
larger portion of the first curling surface of the kind shown in
FIG. 15.
[0077] FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate an example of how it is by no
means mandatory to have a tubular section at one end of the palm
part. In the embodiments of FIGS. 16 and 17 the lower end of the
palm part 101 comprise a cradle-formed section 1601, in which the
movable part 101 is configured to execute its longitudinal
movement. At the same time it may be noted that the designations
"palm part" and "movable part" are just names that are used in this
text to refer to the two main mechanical parts of the eyelash
curler in a consistent and concise way. These names are not meant
to limit the way in which the user holds the eyelash curler in her
hand.
[0078] FIG. 18 shows an example of how the electric parts of the
eyelash curler may look like in a circuit diagram. A control
circuit 1801 is the central functional part, and it can be realized
as an integrated circuit for example. A battery 1802 that is
received in the battery compartment of the eyelash curler provides
the operating power, and an operating switch 1803 together with one
or more indicator lights 1804 and 1805 constitute a simple user
interface. The electric heating element is represented by a
resistor 1806, and a thermal sensor 1807 is provided for enabling
the control circuit 1801 to get a feedback measurement from the
temperature of the electric heating element.
[0079] The control circuit 1801 is advantageously configured to
direct, as a response to the user pressing the operating switch
1803, a regulated current from the battery 1802 to the electric
heating element 1806. If a battery of a voltage 1.5 volts is used
and the magnitude of the regulated current is about 1 A, the
electric power that heats up the electric heating element is about
1.5 W. It has been found that a resistance value close to one ohm
may be suitable to enable heating the second curling surface to a
temperature of about 60 degrees centigrade in about one minute.
Concerning battery life, an alkaline battery of the AA size may be
considered as an example. At the time of writing this text an AA
alkaline battery may have the capacity of about 2800 mAh for
example. Drawing a current of 1 A for one minute will consume about
17 mAh, so the battery could last for about 165 times of use.
[0080] The control circuit 1801 may use the indicator lights 1804
and 1805 to inform the user about the proceeding of the heating,
for example so that a first signal given with the indicator lights
1804 and 1805 is an acknowledgement that the pressing of the switch
1803 has been noticed and that the heating is going on. A second,
different kind of a signal with the indicator lights 1804 and 1805
may be a ready-signal, telling the user that the desired
temperature has been reached so that actual use of the eyelash
curler can begin.
[0081] Other kinds of signals can be given with the indicator
lights 1804 and 1805, for example to inform the user that the
battery is running low, or that a timed switch-off of the heating
is imminent. In general it is advantageous that the operating
switch 1803 functions as a toggle switch, so that a press on the
switch 1803 switches the device on if it was off, and vice versa.
It is also advisable to equip the control circuit 1801 with a timer
that it can use to switch off the heating if the user has not used
the device for a certain period of time.
[0082] It is possible to equip the control circuit 1801 with a
short-distance wireless transceiver that implements a
short-distance wireless communications standard, like the
Bluetooth, ZigBee, or NFC standard for example. Such a control
circuit would enable expanding the user interface of the eyelash
curler to another electronic device nearby, like a smartphone for
example. Such another electronic device could be used to implement
extended user interface functions, like setting the values of
configuration parameters; keeping a log of use; downloading updated
software; sorting out possible problems in use; or the like.
[0083] It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that with the
advancement of technology, the basic idea of the invention may be
implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are
thus not limited to the examples described above, instead they may
vary within the scope of the claims.
* * * * *