US20130255714A1

US20130255714A1 - Retractable eyelash comb

Info

Publication number: US20130255714A1
Application number: US13/434,760
Authority: US
Inventors: Lesley A. Rollo
Original assignee: Spilo Worldwide Inc
Current assignee: Spilo Worldwide Inc
Priority date: 2012-03-29
Filing date: 2012-03-29
Publication date: 2013-10-03

Abstract

An eyelash comb is described, comprising a handle portion configured to define a hollow interior. An elongate arm is provided having a proximal end and a distal end, and a plurality of tines extending perpendicular to the arm from the distal end of the arm. The arm is slideable within the handle and is configured to have a first position in which the tines are withdrawn into the handle, and a second position in which the tines extend outside the handle.

Description

FIELD OF ART

The present invention relates to eyelash combs, and specifically to eyelash combs that require safety features.

BACKGROUND

Combs of all kinds have been used for many years, and different types of combs have been developed to meet various requirements and purposes.
In recent years, combs have been developed for the purpose of brushing human eyelashes. These combs are configured to meet the specific properties and dimensions of the human eyelash, which frequently requires a series of very stiff and narrow tines, spaced apart with a narrow separation, that have sharp points to facilitate insertion of the individual tines between individual eyelashes. In order to meet these requirements, manufacturers of such combs have resorted to configuring an eyelash comb to have a single row of closely spaced sharp-pointed tines made of a non-corrosive metal such as steel or brass, and plated with gold or other suitable metal. While this configuration satisfies the need of a comb suitable for separating and straightening eylashes, it has introduced a disadvantage in that the tines of such a comb present and number of problems. First, it presents an annoying danger to a user who may accidentally prick her fingers when inserting her hand into a handbag or vanity bag to retrieve the comb. Secondly, due to their narrow diameter and metallic composition, the tines are susceptible to being bent and/or permanently damaged when accidentally bumped or dropped by a user. Third, due to their close spacing, the tines are susceptible to collecting dirt or other debris from the atmosphere or other surrounding surfaces.
Thus there is a need in the art to provide an eyelash comb capable of overcoming problems in the prior art. The present invention overcomes these and other problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred embodiment, the invention is an eyelash comb comprising a handle portion configured to define a hollow interior portion. An elongate arm is provided having a proximal end and a distal end. A plurality of tines extends perpendicular to the arm from the distal end of the arm. The arm is slideable within the handle and is configured to have a first position in which the tines are withdrawn into the handle, and a second position in which the tines extend outside the handle.
In a preferred aspect of the invention, the handle of the eyelash comb includes a slot and the arm includes a knob, the knob being configured to extend from the slot to the exterior of the handle so that a user may apply a sliding force to the arm for extending the arm from or retracting the arm into the housing. In a further preferred aspect of the invention, the tines are formed from steel or brass, and each tine includes a pointed end sized to separate one human eyelash from another. A further aspect includes that the arm defines a receptacle and the tines are potted into a block of plastic material. The block is sized to mate with and fit into the receptacle such that the arm and the tines are rigidly connected together and move in unison in relation to the handle. Furthermore, the block and the receptacle are configured to define mating detents configured to hold the block stationary in relation to the arm.
In preferred aspects of the invention relating to the handle, the handle comprises a left side portion and a right side portion, the side portions being configured to be joined to each other to define an interior space for receiving the arm. In this configuration, at least one of the side portions defines a pair of parallel rails for guiding sliding motion of the arm in relation to the handle. Further, at least one of the side portions and the arm define mating detents for temporarily holding the arm in a stationary position when the arm is in the extended position and when the arm is in the retracted position.
These and other advantages of the invention will become apparent when read in conjunction with the drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the eyelash comb having features of the present invention showing the comb in an extended condition.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the eyelash comb of FIG. 1, showing the comb in a retracted condition.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the eyelash comb of FIG. 1, shown in an extended condition.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the eyelash comb of FIG. 1, shown in a retracted condition.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the eyelash comb of FIG. 1, shown an extended condition.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the eyelash comb of FIG. 1, shown in a retracted condition.

FIG. 7 is a disassembled view of the eyelash comb of FIG. 1, shown in an extended condition.

FIG. 8 is a disassembled view of the eyelash comb of FIG. 1, shown in a retracted condition.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged side view of the arm of the comb of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the arm of FIG. 9, shown in a partial cutaway.

FIG. 11 is a disassembled view of the arm of FIG. 9, shown in a partial cutaway.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the comb, showing advantageous features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the drawings, an eyelash comb is described having features of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, an eyelash comb, generally identified herein by the reference numeral 10, includes a handle portion 12 which is configured to define within it a hollow space which acts as a housing. The handle portion 12 is preferably formed from a left side portion 14 and a right side portion 16 (seen in separated condition in FIGS. 7 and 8) which are shaped to fit to together to provide a handle suitable for a user to securely hold onto when manipulating the eyelash comb in use. The two sides 14, 16 are preferably formed by molding from a plastic material and may be snap fit together, or glued together by a suitable adhesive, or may be joined together by heat welding. FIGS. 7 and 8 indicate, with hatching, surfaces of the left 14 and right 16 side portions that may be connected to each other when the handle 12 is assembled.
Next, an elongate retractable arm 18 having a proximal end 20 and a distal end 22 is provided for securely holding tines 24 that extend perpendicularly from the distal end of the arm. The arm is preferably formed from a single piece of molded plastic. In a preferred aspect, in order to facilitate assembly of the arm, the tines 24 may be potted into a block 26 of plastic material shaped to be just large enough to receive one end of the tines. The term “potting” will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to mean capturing the tines in plastic while the plastic is in a liquid state, then waiting for the plastic to harden around the tines. The tines, thus embedded in the block 26, are then easily collectively handled. During assembly of the comb, the block 26 with its embedded tines may be manually inserted into a recess 28 at the distal end of the arm 18. The recess is shaped to precisely receive the block. Preferably, mating detents 30, 32 are provided on the interior of the recess and on the exterior of the block respectively so that, once the block is installed in the recess, the block is held securely by the arm. An additional preferred feature of the arm is a protruding knob 34 attached to and extending upwardly from the proximal end 20 of the arm. The knob is configured to extend to the outside of the handle 12 through a slot 40 in the handle when the comb is assembled, in order to give a user detailed manual control over the arm as described more fully below.
Yet another advantageous feature of the comb is exemplified with reference to FIG. 12. The handle 12 is specially shaped to have a distal portion 50 having parallel upper and lower surfaces that are separated by a distance, shown as D1, which is preferably between 18 mm and 22 mm. The handle has a proximal portion 52 having parallel upper and lower surfaces that are separated by a distance, shown as D2, which is preferably between 9 mm and 11 mm. The step down in size between the distal portion and the proximal portion provides the user with an ergonomic shape that allows fingers of the user to comfortably fit around and grasp the handle 12 while being used for brushing eyelashes.
Assembly of the comb may take place as follows. First, the tines 24 are potted in the block 26 so that the tines extend perpendicular to the block. Next, the block is inserted in the recess 28 of the arm 18 so that the tines act in unison with the arm. Then, the arm is installed on one side portion of the handle. As seen in FIG. 8, at least one of the left side portion 14 or right side portion 16 of the handle is provided with a set of parallel linear rails 36, 37 to guide the arm and provide the arm with linear motion with respect to the handle. Once the arm is installed on one of the side portions, the other side portion is positioned so that the two side portions are mated together, whereafter the side portions are joined together to capture the arm within the handle. In this final configuration, the resulting handle defines an aperture 38 in the distal end of the handle to permit the arm to be extended from and retracted into the handle. Additionally, the handle defines an elongate slot 40 on an upper surface of the handle, to permit the user, by applying a sliding force to the knob, to slide the knob distally and proximally along the handle and thereby to extend the arm from and retract the arm into the handle. In another preferred aspect, the arm and an interior surface of a side portion include mating detents 42 and 44 a, 44 b so that the arm may be temporarily held at either the distal or proximal extremity of its travel within the handle. The detent 42 on the arm advantageously has the form of a projection that rides in an elongated groove 45 on the interior surface of at least one of the side portions, located between and parallel to the linear rails 36, 37. The groove terminates short of the mating detents 44 a, 44 b, so that positive force is required to cause the detent 42 to disengage the groove 45 and snap into one of the mating detents 44 a, 44 b to lock the arm 18 in the extended or retracted postion. The mating detents 44 a, 44 b are preferably in the form of depressions on the interior surface of the side portion.
In use of the eyelash comb, the user is able to safely extract the eyelash comb 10 from her handbag while the arm is in the retracted condition (FIGS. 2, 4 and 8), thereby avoiding the risk of accidentally pricking her finger on the sharp metal tines. Having achieved a stable grip on the handle 12, the user applies a distal sliding force to the knob 34 with a finger or thumb, thereby causing the arm and the tines to extend distally from the handle. The mating detents on the arm and inside the handle temporarily restrain the arm from sliding back into the handle. Having used the eyelash comb for its intended purpose, the user may then apply a proximal sliding force to the knob, thereby causing the arm and the tines to retract back into the handle. The mating detents on the arm and handle restrain the arm from sliding out of the handle when the comb is under typical conditions of being jostled around inside the user's handbag.
Thus there is described a new and useful eyelash comb that includes a useful safety feature and protection feature, is capable of being reduced in size to fit within the available space of a vanity bag, and which is robust and economical to manufacture. The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, while the scope of the invention is set forth in the claims that follow.

Claims

1. An eyelash comb comprising:

a handle portion configured to define a hollow interior;

an elongate arm having a proximal end and a distal end; and

a plurality of tines extending perpendicular to the arm from the distal end of the arm;

wherein the arm is slidably disposed within the handle and is configured to have a fully retracted position in which the arm and tines are withdrawn into the handle, and a fully extended position in which the arm and tines extend distally outside the handle with the tines in alignment with the handle.

2. The eyelash comb of claim 1, wherein the handle includes a slot and the arm includes a knob, the knob being configured to extend from the slot to the exterior of the handle, whereby a user may apply a sliding force to the arm for extending the arm from or retracting the arm into the housing.

3. The eyelash comb of claim 1, wherein the tines are formed from metal, and each tine includes a pointed end sized to separate one human eyelash from another.

4. The eyelash comb of claim 1, wherein the arm defines a receptacle and the tines are potted into a block of plastic material, and wherein the block is sized to mate with and fit into the receptacle such that the arm and the tines are rigidly connected together and move in unison in relation to the handle.

5. The eyelash comb of claim 4, wherein the block and the receptacle define mating detents configured to hold the block stationary in relation to the arm.

6. The eyelash comb of claim 2, wherein the handle comprises a left side portion and a right side portion, the side portions being configured to be joined to each other to define an interior space for receiving the arm.

7. The eyelash comb of claim 6, wherein at least one of the side portions defines a pair of parallel rails for guiding sliding motion of the arm in relation to the handle.

8. The eyelash comb of claim 6, wherein at least one of the side portions and the arm define mating detents for temporarily holding the arm in a stationary position when the arm is in the fully extended position and when the arm is in the fully retracted position.

9. The eyelash comb of claim 1, wherein the handle is configured to have a distal portion having parallel upper and lower surfaces that are separated by a first distance between 18 mm and 22 mm, and a proximal portion having parallel upper and lower surfaces that are separated by a second distance between 9 mm and 11 mm.

10. The eyelash comb of claim 1, wherein the handle is configured to have a proximal portion and a distal portion, with a first chamber extending through the proximal and distal portions for receiving the arm when the arm is in the fully retracted position, and a second adjacent chamber in the distal portion terminating short of the proximal portion for receiving the tines when the arm is in the fully retracted position.

11. The eyelash comb of claim 10, wherein the proximal and distal portions of handle have generally rectangular cross sectional shapes.