Face-lifting Apparatus

Abstract

A face-lifting apparatus comprising a plate with four aligned holes and two spaced grooves, an elastic line threaded through the holes and sufficiently slack between the center holes to form an extended loop which is wedgedly positionable in the grooves, a ring at each end of the line with strings threaded therethrough and suspended therefrom, a hook at either end of each string, and adhesive tabs removably attached to the hooks.

Description

This invention relates to a face-lifting apparatus generally, and more specifically to a multiple-point facial skin supporting apparatus for men or women which temporarily supports the facial skin, and simultaneously firms and tones various facial muscles to eliminate wrinkles in the skin.

By multiple-point face-lifting device or apparatus is meant an apparatus which lifts and/or supports the facial skin on each side of the face at more than one point. A single-point face-lifting device, on the other hand, lifts at only one point on each side of the face. Thus, a single-point device may lift at one point on one side of the face and at a second point on the other side of the face.

Face-lifting devices are well known in the art. Typical are the devices described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,524,443 by Batlin and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,154,071 by Haagen.

Batlin discloses a single-point face-lifting device locked in an adjusted position by a hinged spring wire clasp. There are inherent difficulties which arise in using this device. To begin with, the clasp is somewhat cumbersome to manipulate. The person using it must manage three items at the same time -- the spring wire retaining clip, the plate and the elastic. The elastic must be held in place while the clip is brought over the boss on the plate. This is necessary in order to maintain the tension in the elastic line.

The second drawback with Batlin's device is the difficulty involved in removing the tapes. The safety pin type holders which hook the connectors must be unclasped and then unhooked. The alternative is to remove the tapes while the safety pin holders are in place, but this is an awkward task since the entire apparatus is still positioned on the head; nor is there an easy way to obtain momentary relief from the constant tension of the device if it becomes annoying to the user. The entire device must be undone.

Haagen discloses a multiple-point face-lifting device comprising a single strand bent back on itself to form four strands with two loops at either end of the device. The lengths of the strands are adjustable, however, they are all interdependent. Thus, to adjust one strand is to readjust all. It is at best a difficult device to manipulate if more or less tension is desired. Furthermore, Haagen's device is limited to a two-point face lifter. More points could be added but only at the expense of added difficulty in manipulation and adjusting. For example, if there were six strands instead of four, it would require that much more care in moving the various strands about in order to adjust their lengths to give the desired tension. A very real problem exists in such instances for ladies with elaborate coiffures and even for women with less elaborate hairdos who merely do not want to disturb their hair.

Other devices known in the art for supporting facial skin involve comb-like teeth which cause irritation of the scalp when worn for long periods of time. These are undesirable for that very reason.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a multiple-point face-lifting apparatus having an easily manipulatable adjusting mechanism for adjusting the tension in the device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a face-lifting apparatus having easily disengageable adhesive tabs.

A further object of this invention is to provide a multiple-point face-lifting apparatus whereby the tension remains essentially constant during motion of the user's facial muscles such as when eating or laughing.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by a face-lifting apparatus comprising a plate including two spaced holes and a groove therein. A line, such as an elastic strand for example, of a thickness greater than the width of the groove is threaded through the holes. The portion of the line between the holes is sufficiently slack to form an extended loop which can be wedged in position in the groove to lock the line in an adjusted position. There is a ring at each end of the line with at least one string threaded therethrough and suspended therefrom. A hook is attached to each end of each string and an adhesive tab is removably attached to each hook, each tab having a pressure sensitive adhesive on one face.

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to one specific embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of the apparatus of the invention prior to adjustment.

FIG. 2 is a view of the apparatus of the invention after adjustment.

FIG. 3 is a view of the apparatus being worn on a human face.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a plate 2 having four aligned holes 4, 6, 8 and 10 thereon and two spaced grooves 12 and 14 therein. A line 16, preferably of an elastic material, is shown threaded through holes 4, 6, 8 and 10, respectively. The line 16 is sufficiently slack between holes 6 and 8 to form an extended loop 18. Rings 20 are attached to the ends of line 16 and strings 22 are threaded therethrough and suspended therefrom. At either end of each string 22 is a hook 24 which supports an adhesive tab 26 having an adhesive substance 28 on one face thereof.

The apparatus of FIG. 1 is adjustable to conform to the head size of the user as follows. The user determines which part of his face is to be lifted and which facial muscles are to be toned and places the adhesive tabs 26 in a manner calculated to produce the desired effect. Once the plate 2 is positioned on the head comfortably, the loop 18 is drawn to make the line 16 sufficiently taut to provide the desired tension on the tabs 26. The tension is transmitted from the line 16 to the tabs 26 via the rings 20, the strings 22 and the hooks 24. The apparatus of FIG. 1 is locked in this adjusted position by bringing the loop 18 down through groove 12 and around and up through groove 14, the portion of line 16 which forms the loop 18 thereby being wedged in place successively in grooves 12 and 14. FIG. 2 shows the apparatus of the invention in such a locked position. A few strands of the user's hair may be placed between the grooves 12 and 14 prior to wedging the loop 18 in position. This will keep the plate 2 in a fixed position on the user's head.

FIG. 3 shows a person's head in profile view with the apparatus of the invention in the process of being used. The plate 2 is seen positioned on the person's head, preferably camouflaged by the person's hair. The loop 18 is locked in the grooves 12 (not shown) and 14. The tabs 26 are applied in the vicinity of the ear, preferably behind the ear in order to be hidden from view and gently pull the facial skin and muscles to provide the desired lift under the eyes and under the jaw. The tabs 26 could be applied otherwise, as desired, to provide lift to other areas of the face as needed.

The position of the plate 2 could be easily adjusted if desired, as could the tension in the line 16 and the tabs 26. All this could be accomplished while the apparatus is being worn, i.e., it need not be removed in order for the user to make adjustments. The user need merely release the loop 18 from the grooves 12 and 14, loosen or tighten the line 16 as desired, and wedge the loop 18 back in the grooves 12 and 14. The tabs need not be removed.

The plate 2 is preferably of a smooth plastic or rubber material, but may be of metal or wood or any other suitable material. Ideally, it should have no bulges or sharp edges which might cause pressure on the user's head. It may be lightly curved to conform to the general shape of the human head. While plate 2 is shown to have four aligned holes, two holes would suffice. However, the two extra holes are preferable when it is desired to render movement of the line 16 more difficult, thereby further inhibiting the apparatus from loosening while in use. It is also possible for plate 2 to have only one groove rather than two. However, the second groove is desirable because it allows the line 16 to be locked in place more securely.

The line 16 is preferably of an elastically extensible material such as rubber, or an elastic strand for example. This is desirable in order to provide variable tension in the line 16 as the facial expressions of the user vary, as for example when he eats or laughs. The tension on the tabs 26 may thereby be maintained substantially constant throughout such activity.

The rings 20 are preferably of plastic or rubber, but may be of any material suitable to the objects and purposes of the invention. The hooks 24 are preferably of plastic or rubber or any other material which will not scratch or mar the skin of the user. Metal hooks with rubber or plastic coated tips would also be satisfactory, so long as any sharp or jagged ends are completely covered to prevent abrasing the skin.

The string 22 is preferably of a thin, strong material such as animal gut or nylon or the like. However, the string 22 may be of a thin elastic material. Indeed, if the line 16 is not of an elastically extensible material, the string 22 must be elastic in order to provide the desired variable tension in the line 16.

The tabs 26 may be any shape consistent with the objects of the invention and should be small enough to be concealable by the hair of the user when the apparatus is being worn. The adhesive side of the tab is protected by a piece of wax paper or other suitable protective paper which is removed just prior to use. The tabs 26 are disposable after each use of the apparatus and are replaceable by fresh tabs. Removal of the tabs 26 is accomplished by peeling them off the skin after use.

There has thus been shown and described a multiple-point face-lifting apparatus. Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, other variations of the embodiment shown may be made within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the invention.

Accordingly, it is intended that the foregoing disclosure and drawings shall be considered only as illustrations of the principles of this invention and are not to be construed in a limiting sense.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A face-lifting apparatus comprising:

a plate including two spaced outer holes with two spaced inner holes therebetween and aligned therewith, and at least one groove therein;

an elastically extensible line of a thickness greater than the width of said groove, said line being threaded through said holes and being sufficiently slack between said inner holes to form an extended loop wedgedly positionable in said groove to lock said line in an adjusted position, said line having a ring at both ends thereof;

at least one string threaded through each of said rings and suspended therefrom, each said string having a hook at either end thereof; and

an adhesive tab removably attached to each of said hooks and having a pressure sensitive adhesive on one face thereof.