Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MAKE-UP REMOVAL DEVICE
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to a device for removing cosmetics
and,
more particularly, the present invention relates to a mascara removal device.
BaclWound of the Invention
Although there are many cosmetic devices currently on the market for the
application
of mascara, there are much fewer cosmetic devices available to the consumer
for the removal
of mascara. Mascara is commonly available in a very heavy liquid, paste or gel
form so it
does not run once it has been applied. The removal of mascara generally
requires the use of a
solvent to remoisten and soften the previously applied mascara. The solvent is
typically
supplied as a liquid to be applied to a cotton swab or tissue. Such a cosmetic
liquid may be
referred to as eye make-up remover or simply mascara remover. A common
ingredient for
mascara remover is mineral oil in combination with other ingredients such as
lanolin oil,
butylparaben, and other hypoallergenic ingredients as desired by the cosmetic
manufacturer
to enhance skin conditioning and the like, as the mascara remover often comes
in contact
with the sensitive skin around the eyes.
Currently, the common practice for the removal of mascara is to wet a cotton
swab or
make-up removal pad, such as the commercially available type, and then to
apply the
moistened swab or make-up removal pad and to rub or dab the eye area in order
to remove
the mascara. This practice is problematic for the user as the rounded shape of
the swab or
make-up removal pad makes precision removal of mascara difficult. In addition,
mascara
remover is not always available when needed, and users may need to resort to
the use of less
appropriate liquids, such as water, which may adversely affect the texture of
the skin or cause
irritation.
In other instances, it is common practice for the user to splash water on the
face,
which results in the mascara running down the face in and around the eyes.
Then the mascara
is removed by rubbing under the eye with either a cotton swab or a make-up
removal pad
with, or possibly without, mascara remover solution on it. It is well known
that the skin under
the eyes is very sensitive and should be touch as infrequently as possible,
and when
necessary, only with delicate care. The constant pulling and stretching
associated with
swabbing flushed mascara away on such sensitive skin can cause wrinkles and
other skin
damage. Such damage to the skin may result in the appearance of premature
aging, which is
generally undesirable.
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Precision removal of mascara is also not plausible using a cotton swab, or the
like, as
described above, due to the size and consistency of the cotton swabs or make-
up removal
pads. Precision removal of mascara is particularly desirable for those who
apply make-up in
time constrained situations and prefer to only touch-up the make-up that has
already been
applied, such as pertbrmers, actors, models, or urban professionals. Precision
removal of
mascara would permit such a user to avoid the necessity of showering or
washing their face
while still being able to refresh their make-up. Precision removal may also be
required to
correct mistakes that occur while applying mascara without having to begin ail
over again.
A mascara applicator and mascara removal device is disclosed by U.S. Patent
No.
5,509,742 issued April 23, 1996, to Balzarini. Balzarini describes a mascara
removal device
including a cylindrical wick fornied of coinpressed absorbent felt or cotton
material that is
snugly fitted within a hexagonal cavity. The absorbent compressed fiber or
cotton detailing
tip has a contoured end surface for detailing during mascara removal. The
absorbent
compressed fiber or cotton of the detailing tip is held in a mascara removal
reservoir in direct
fluid contact with the liquid mascara remover such that it becomes
sufficiently saturated with
mascara remover.
A swab for make-up removal is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,761,177 B 1
issued July
13, 2004, to Kedem-Shabi et al. The make-up removal swab of Kedem-Shabi et al,
includes a
handling element or "stick" with an absorbent material or "tip" attached to at
least one end.
The absorbent material can be a polymeric foam or fibrous material, such as
cotton. The tip is
impregnated with a make-up removing composition and shaped with at least one
apex. The
preferred shape of the tip is in the shape of an obtuse angle and is mounted
on the stick such
that the obtuse angle and a side of the triangle or edge of the tip are
positioned opposite the
point of connection. The swab of Kedem-Shabi et al. is used for precisely
removing make-up
with the apex of the tip which is impregnated with a make-up rernoving
composition.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have an iunproved make-up removal
device
particularly suited for the removal of mascara allowing precision removal of
the mascara in a
quick and easy manner.
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Summary of the Invention
The present invention concerns a make-up removal device including a resilient
tip
which is preferably made of foam, attached to the end of the wand. The
resilient tip is
preferably cylinder-shaped and is smooth on one side and at least one slit is
cut into the
opposite side. Preferably a plurality of slits are cut or carved into the
resilient material which
is preferably foam. The device operates by first dipping it into make-up
remover, preferably
mascara remover, then the moistened smooth portion is used to wet the
eyelashes (which bear
the make-up) and, once moistened, the opposite side of the resilient material
bearing the slits
is swept over the eyelashes. The eyelashes fall into the slits in the foam tip
that increase
friction and act to remove the moistened make-up from along the length of the
eyelashes.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 2 is a side sectional view of the U shaped tip embodiment of the
present invention.
Figure 3 is a side sectional view of the U shaped tip embodiment of the
present invention
showing a flexible wand.
Figure 4 is a plan view of the eyelash curler configuration embodiment of the
present
invention.
Figure 5 is a side sectional view of the tweezer configuration embodiment of
the present
invention.
Figure 6 is a plan view of the tweezer configuration embodiment of the present
invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 1. The
preferred embodiment includes of a stick or wand 2 made of a material selected
from among
polymeric materials or wood, preferably polymeric material. The wand 2 can be
curved or
bent, but is preferably straight. On one end of the wand 2 is provided a piece
of resilient
material which is preferably coarse sponge or foam 4. A person skilled in the
art will
appreciate that any similar type of resilient material is acceptable for the
purposes of the
present invention. The foam tip 4 is cylinder-shaped, with or without a
rounded tip, or
perhaps conical or pyramidal in shape with the apex of the cone or pyramid at
the end
opposite the end of the wand 2. The foam tip 4 is preferably permanently
fastened to the
wand 2 and the entire device is either reusable or disposable. Alternatively,
the foam tip 4
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may also be detachable from the wand 2, to be sold separately such that the
wand 2 alone is
reusable while the foam tip 4 may be disposable.
In the preferred embodiment, the foam tip 4 is smooth on one side 6, for
example
approximately 30 to 50 per cent of its circumference, while it has at least
one groove or slit
and preferably a plurality of grooves or slits 10 cut into the opposite side
8, for example
approximately 50 per cent of the circumference. Alternatively, both sides of
the foam tip 4
can be occupied by slits 10. The plurality of slits 10 are cut or carved into
the foam tip 4. If
the foam tip 4 is triangular or pyramidal, the slits 10 are cut into one edge,
while the smooth
side 6 is opposite that cut edge. The number of slits 10 or grooves may vary
as will the
distance between the slits 10 and depth of the slits 10. The number of slits
10 can vary
depending on the number of slits 10 the length of the foam tip 4 will
accommodate. The
length of the foam tip 4 can vary as well.
In the preferred embodiment, the tip 14 at the end of the wand 2 opposite the
foam tip
4 can include a second foam tip (as described above), a mascara brush 12
similar to the
commercially available type, or a brush for drying the eyelashes (not shown)
after the
mascara has been removed. Alternatively, the tip opposite 14 the foam tip 4
can include a
foam tip 4 without slits that can be used to moisten the eyelashes with
mascara remover
before using the foam tip 4 described above.
Operation of the device of the prefen=ed embodiment is accomplished by first
dipping
the foam tip 4 into a commercially available mascara remover solution. The
moistened
smooth portion 6 of the foam tip 4 is used to wet the mascara-bearing
eyelashes. Once
sufficiently moistened, the opposite side 8 of the foam tip 4 bearing the
plurality of slits 10 is
slowly swept over the eyelashes. As the foam tip 4 is swept directionally
along the length of
the eyelashes, the eyelashes enter the slits 10 cut into the foam tip 4
resulting in increased
friction and act to remove the moistened mascara from along the length of the
eyelashes.
Once the mascara has been removed, the eyelashes can be dried using the
opposite end 14 of
the wand 2 bearing the foam tip (not shown), mascara brush 12, or drying brush
(not shown).
Alternatively, another means of drying the eyelashes can be used, such as by
dabbing with
tissue or cotton swabs.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the wand 20, which may be made
of
the same material described above, includes at one end a horseshoe shaped or U
shaped tip 22
configuration as shown in Figure 2. As with the previous embodiment, the wand
20 of this
embodiment may include a wand 20 of flexible material with a bend in the wand
24 for the
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users hand to hold, as shown in Figure 3. The material that comprises the U
shaped tip 22 is
preferably made of a flexible polymeric material, but may be any similarly
flexible material,
such as wood or flexible metal. The U shaped tip 22 can be permanently
fastened to the wand
20 and the entire device can be either reusable or disposable, but preferably
the U shaped tip
22 is detachable from the wand 20, such that the wand 20 is reusable and the U
shaped tip 22
is disposable.
In this embodiment, one prong 36 of the U shaped tip 22 includes a smooth foam
material 26 on the inner surface of the prong 36, similar to the material of
the foam tip 4 of
the preferred embodiment described above. The opposite prong 38 of the U
shaped tip 22
includes a similar foam material 28 with a plurality of slits 30, similar to
those of the
preferred embodiment.
The opposite end of the wand 20 preferably includes a U shaped brush 32 in
this
embodiment. Optionally, both ends of the wand may include a U shaped tip 22 as
described
above. The U shaped brush 32 preferably includes bristles 34 on the inner
surface of both
prongs, optionally with only one prong having bristles 34. Alternatively, the
bristles 34 may
be included on all surfaces of each prong (as opposed to only on the inner
surface of the
prongs) of the U shaped brush 32. The U shaped brush tip 32 can be permanently
fastened to
the wand 20 and the entire device can be either reusable or disposable, but
preferably the U
shaped brush tip 32 is detachable from the wand 20, such that the wand 20 is
reusable and the
U shaped brush tip 32 is disposable. This U shaped brush tip 32 is preferably
for the
application of mascara, but alternatively may be a U shaped brush for drying
of the eyelashes
after mascara removal.
Operation of the device of this embodiment is accomplished by first dipping
the U
shaped tip 22 that includes the foam 26 28 into a commercially available
mascara remover
solution. The U shaped tip 22 is held by the user and brought to the eyelashes
such that the
lashes are between the prongs 36 38 of the U shaped tip 22 bearing the foam
material 26 28.
The prong 36 bearing the moistened smooth foam portion 26 is used to wet the
mascara-
bearing eyelashes. Once sufficiently moistened, the opposite prong 38 of the U
shaped tip 22
bearing the foam portion 28 with the plurality of slits 30 is slowly swept
over the eyelashes.
As the prong 38 bearing the foam 28 with the slits 30 is swept directionally
along the length
of the eyelashes, the eyelashes enter the slits 30 cut into the foam 28
resulting in increased
friction and act to remove the moistened mascara from along the length of the
eyelashes.
Alternatively, with this embodiment, the user can squeeze the prongs 36 38
together for
increased friction on the eyelashes. Once the mascara has been removed, the
eyelashes can be
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dried by the user by placing the moist eyelashes between the prongs of the
opposite end of
the wand 20 bearing the U shaped mascara brush 32 or drying brush.
Alternatively, another
means of drying the eyelashes can be used, such as by dabbing with tissue or
cotton swabs.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a commercially available
eyelash
curler configuration 40 can be used as shown in Figure 4. With a commercially
available
eyelash curler, as the user squeezes the handles 42 of the device together as
one would
squeeze a pair of scissors, the curling end of the device clamps down on the
eyelashes
bending the eyelashes to a degree as preferred by the user. In this embodiment
of the present
invention, the slit 48 bearing foam materia144 of the above embodiments is
included on at
least one side of the clamping surface 46 of the eyelash curling-type device
40. Optionally,
the other clamping surface 50 may include the non-slit bearing foam material
described in
certain embodiments above. Preferably, both clamping surfaces 46 50 of this
embodiment
bear the slit 48 bearing foam material 44. The slit 48 bearing foam material
44 of this
embodiment may be permanently attached to the clamping surfaces 46 50, but
preferably is
detachable such that the slit 48 bearing foam portions 44 are disposable. The
slit 48 bearing
foam material 44 may be attachable to the clamping surfaces 46 50 of this
device perhaps by
Velcro , or the like, or by some other means.
Operation of the device of this embodiment is accomplished by first dipping
the foam
44 bearing clamping surfaces 46 50 into a commercially available mascara
remover solution.
The device 40 is held by the user and brought to the eyelashes such that the
lashes are
between the two clamping surfaces 46 50 bearing the foam material 44. In this
embodiment,
the moistened foam 44 attached to the clamping surfaces 46 50 may be held
momentarily in
contact with the mascara-bearing eyelashes to moisten the eyelashes. Once
sufficiently
moistened, the user squeezes the handles 42 of the device 40 to clamp down
gently on the
eyelashes and the foam portion 44 with the plurality of slits 48 is slowly
swept over the
eyelashes. As the foam 44 with the slits 48 is swept directionally along the
length of the
eyelashes, the eyelashes enter the slits 48 cut into the foam 44 resulting in
increased friction
and act to remove the moistened mascara from along the length of the
eyelashes. Once the
mascara has been removed, the eyelashes can be dried by the user, such as by
dabbing with
tissue or cotton swabs.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a tweezer-like configuration
60 is
used as shown in Figure 5. In this embodiment, the device 60 includes two
prongs 62 68
attached at one end 64 such that the opposite end of the prongs 62 68 of the
device 60 can be
squeezed together by the user similar to how one would squeeze a pair of
tweezers. At the
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end of the device 60 opposite the attached end 64, at least one prong 62
includes a portion of
slit bearing foam materia166. Optionally, the inner surface of the other prong
68 may include
the non-slit bearing foam material described in certain embodiments above.
Preferably, the
inner surfaces of both prongs 62 68 of this embodiment bear the slit bearing
foam material
66. The slit bearing foam material 66 of this embodiment is preferably
permanently attached
to the inner surfaces of the prongs 62 68, but may be detachable such that the
slit bearing
foam portions 66 are disposable. The slit bearing foam material 66 may be
attachable to the
inner surfaces the prongs 62 68 of this device 60 perhaps by Velcrog, or the
like, or by some
other means.
Operation of the device of this embodiment is accomplished by first dipping
the foam
bearing end 66 of the prongs 62 68 into a commercially available mascara
remover solution.
The device 60 is held by the user and brought to the eyelashes such that the
lashes are
between the inner surfaces of the two prongs 62 68 bearing the foam
materia166. In this
embodiment, the moistened foam 66 attached to the inner surface of the prongs
62 68 may be
held momentarily in contact with the mascara-bearing eyelashes to moisten the
eyelashes.
Once sufficiently moistened, the user squeezes the prongs 62 68 of the device
60 together to
clamp down gently on the eyelashes and the foam portion with the plurality of
slits 66 is
slowly swept over the eyelashes. As the foani with the slits 66 is swept
directionally along the
length of the eyelashes, the eyelashes enter the slits cut into the foam
resulting in increased
friction and act to remove the moistened mascara from along the length of the
eyelashes.
Once the mascara has been removed, the eyelashes can be dried by the user,
such as by
dabbing with tissue or cotton swabs.
The tips 70 of the prongs of this embodiment are preferably curved as shown in
Figure 6. This allows the user to access the eyelashes at either end of the
eyelid that may be
more difficult to access if the tips 70 of the prongs are not curved as
described
Various embodiments of the present invention having been thus described in
detail by
way of example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
variations and
modifications may be made without departing from the invention. The invention
includes all
such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended
claims.
