Devices For Applying Beauty Aids To The Person

Abstract

This invention provides a simple and effective device for assisting in the application of beauty aids such as artificial eyelashes, lipstick or eyebrow pencil to the face. The device includes a base member capable of being rested against the chest or bust of the user, a mirror mounted on the base member, an articulated arm connected to the base member in such a way that the arm may be manipulated by the user and interchangeable means at the end of the arm for applying different beauty aids.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

At present beauty aids are usually applied to the face by hand but many people including those with unsteady hands, find this difficult. Tweezers are well known as an aid in the removal of unwanted eyebrow hairs and appliances such as brushes and pencils have also been proposed but such devices have hitherto simply been held in the hand of the user and in many cases are not very effective for the purpose for which they are required.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a simple device to assist in the application of beauty aids to the face.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for assisting in applying beauty aids to the face of a user, comprising a base member which includes a mirror, an articulated arm connected to the base member and means at the end of the arm adapted to receive and to retain in operative position a removable make-up applying member. The base member preferably comprises a support and a mirror seated on the support with end retaining means and side retaining means for the mirror. Preferably the articulated arm is formed in three pivotally interconnected sections, an inner section, a middle section and an outer section. The outer section of the arm may be provided with an aperture in its outer end, the said aperture forming the means to receive the make-up applying member, which may for example, be tweezers, a make-up pencil holder attachment or a make-up brush holder attachment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and readily carried into effect reference is now directed to the accompanying drawings, given by way of example and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention in use;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 from a different angle;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 in its folded down position;

FIG. 4 is a detail view from the rear of a support for the mirror with a back plate in position;

FIG. 5 is a detail view of the back plate;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the support taken on the line A--A of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a detail view of a cosmetic pencil holder showing a rectangular opening for connection to the arm;

FIG. 8 is a detail view showing the other end of the cosmetic pencil holder with a round hole to receive a cosmetic pencil;

FIG. 9 is a detail view showing a plug for insertion into the round hole in the pencil holder to adapt the holder to receive the stem of a cosmetic brush;

FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative manner by means of which the articulated arm may be connected to the base member;

FIG. 11 illustrates the use of the device as a standing mirror;

FIG. 12 is a side view of a modification.

In the drawings the device comprises a base member or assembly including a mirror 1 seated on a support member 2 provided with end retaining means 3,4 and side retaining means 5. The base member also includes a slidable back plate 21 which may be partially pulled out of the support 2 and rested against the chest or bust of the user. The retaining means 3 is in the form of a shelf with two upright projections 6 to which an articulated arm 7 is pivotally connected.

The arm 7 is formed in three inter-connected sections, an inner section 8, a middle section 9 and an outer section 10. The inner section 8 is pivotally mounted between the projections 6 so that the inner section 8 of the arm 7 can be moved angularly towards and away from the mirror 1. The middle section 9 of the arm 7 is pivotally connected to the inner section 8 in such a way that the middle section 9 can be moved angularly relatively to the inner section 8 and can also be turned clockwise or anti-clockwise on its own axis. The first of these two movements is provided by giving the inner end of the middle section 9 a rotary connection with the inner section 8 of the arm by means of a cylindrical termination 11 on the inner end of the middle section 9 which is disposed between shaped bearers 12 at the outer end of the inner section 8. An enlarged head 13 is provided on the cylindrical termination 11 to prevent disconnection of the section 9 from the section 8. The second of the two movements is provided by pivotally connecting the cylindrical termination 11 to the main part of the middle section 9 of the arm 7, the pivotal connection being shown at 14.

The middle section 8 of the arm 7 is pivotally connected at 15 to the outer section 10 of the arm 7 and the outer section is provided at its outer end 16 with means to facilitate connection of a make-up applying member, in this case a pair of tweezers 17.

The means to facilitate the connection of the make up applying member may comprise an attachment 22 provided at one end thereof with a rectangular aperture 23 into which the outer end of the section 10 may be inserted so that the attachment 22 is secured by frictional engagement to the arm 7. The other end of the attachment 22 is provided with a round hole 24 into which a lipstick or other similar make-up applying member may be inserted. If desired the inside surface of the aperture 23 and of the round hole 24 may be roughened to increase the frictional holding effect. In the case of a make-up brush, such as a lip brush, it is usual to use a thin stem and so to reduce the size of the hole 24 a plug 25 is provided for insertion into the hole 24. In the plug 25 there is a much smaller hole 26 into which the stem of a lip brush is adapted to fit.

When not in use the device may be folded down so that the articulated arm 7 lies flat on top of the mirror 1 and the device may then easily be packed in a suitable box provided for the purpose. As shown in FIG. 3 folding is effected by arranging the inner section 8 of the arm 7 flat upon the surface of the mirror 1, then turning the section 9 so that it also lies flat upon the mirror 1 and at an angle of about 45.degree. to the inner section and pivoting the outer section relatively to the middle section so that the outer section is arranged at substantially 90.degree. to the middle section. Preferably when in this position the tweezers 17 or other make-up applying member will be removed.

In use the mirror 1 on its support 2 may be held in the flat of the left hand and one articulated arm may be manipulated so as to carry out a desired operation while the user is looking into the mirror. This is illustrated in FIG. 1. However, it is preferred that the base member shall be steadied by resting it against the chest or bust of the user in which case the position of the mirror 1 may be adjusted by the provision of the adjustable back plate 21 as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 6 particularly. In FIG. 2 it will be noted that the device is held in the left hand and the back plate 21 has been withdrawn from the support 2 until the plate 21 is resting on the upper surface of the bust of the user. For this purpose the support 2 is provided with two longitudinal guideways 18, 19 and the back plate 21 is provided with projecting lugs 20 which engage with the guideways 18 and 19 so that the back plate may be moved inwardly and outwardly in a sliding motion relatively to the support 2.

At the end to which the arm is connected the support member is provided with recesses 27 at each side so that the back plate can be removed and can be engaged with the recesses 27 at an angle to the mirror to form a rest for the mirror as illustrated in FIG. 11. In this way the back plate can be disposed at an angle to the support 2 to hold the mirror in an inclined position for normal use as a standing mirror as illustrated in FIG. 11.

As an alternative method of connecting the arm to the support there may be a ball and socket connection as illustrated in FIG. 10 in which the projecting members 6 on the retaining member 3 are curved internally at 28 and a ball member 29 provided on the inner end of the inner section 8 of the arm 7 is snapped into position. With this method of connection the inner section 8 of the arm is provided with a fixed elbow connection 30 to the middle section 9 and the previously described link and swivel pin type of connection may be omitted.

The mirror may be a normal mirror or may be a magnifying mirror as desired.

In accordance with a modification illustrated in FIG. 12 the mirror 1 is joined to the arm 7 by means of a pin 31 on which the arm 7 pivots. The arm has an inner section 8 connected by an elbow 30 to a middle section 9 which is in turn connected to an outer section 10 in the form of a coiled spring or other suitable flexible member. At the outer end of the spring 6 a socket 31 is provided to receive and hold while required one of the interchangeable make-up members; in this case the tweezers 17. As described above the socket 31 is adapted to receive any one of a plurality of interchangeable make-up members, for example, tweezers for eyelashes, a holder for eye-liner or other cosmetic brush, a holder for lipstick or eyebrow pencil and so on.

Thus, it will be seen that the articulated arm 7 forms a means for enabling the operator to move the make-up applying member in any desired direction with respect to the base member which may be maintained stationary in the hand of the operator, as is apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2.

The device may be made of metal, plastics material or any other suitable substance.

Claims

I claim:

1. A device for assisting in applying beauty aids to the face of a user, comprising a base member which includes a mirror which is stationary with respect to the base member, an articulated arm connected adjacent said mirror to the base member for free turning movement with respect thereto, said articulated arm having an end distant from said base member, and means at said end of the arm for receiving and retaining in operative position a removable make-up applying member, said articulated arm forming a means for rendering said make-up applying member freely movable in any desired direction with respect to said base member while the latter remains stationary.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the base member comprises a support and a mirror seated on the support.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the base member comprises a support, a mirror seated on the support, end retaining means for the mirror and side retaining means for the mirror.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein an inner section of the articulated arm is pivotally connected to the base member.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein the articulated arm is in three pivotally interconnected sections, an inner section, a middle section and an outer section.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein the articulated arm includes an outer section provided with an aperture in its outer end, the said aperture forming the means to receive the make-up applying member.

7. A device according to claim wherein the make-up applying member is selected from the group comprising, tweezers, a make-up pencil holder attachment and a make-up brush holder attachment.

8. A device according to claim 1 that may be folded flat when not in use.

9. A device according to claim 1 comprising an adjustable back plate in slidable engagement with the support.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein the support is provided with two longitudinal guideways and the back plate is provided with projecting lugs which engage with the guideways.

11. A device according to claim 6 wherein the outer section of the arm is in the form of a spring.