CA2588310C

CA2588310C - Make-up removal device

Info

Publication number: CA2588310C
Application number: CA2588310A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Robyn Mumford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-05-11
Filing date: 2007-05-11
Publication date: 2015-03-24
Anticipated expiration: 2027-05-11
Also published as: CA2588310A1

Abstract

The present invention concerns a mascara removal device including a foam tip attached to the end of the wand. The foam tip is preferably cylinder-shaped and is smooth on one side and has slits cut into the opposite side. The slits are cut or carved into the foam. The device operates by first dipping it into mascara remover, then the moistened smooth portion is used to wet the eyelashes (which bear the mascara) and, once moistened, the opposite side of the foam 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 mascara from along the length of the eyelashes.

Description

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.

-2-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.

-3-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

-4-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

-5-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

-6-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

-7-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.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A make-up removal device for eyelashes comprising, a handling means, an applicator attached to the handling means, the applicator including an eyelash make-up removal surface, the make-up removal surface defining at least one slit formed therein for frictionally engaging and removing make-up from an eyelash surface.

2. The make-up removal device of claim 1, wherein the applicator is formed of a resilient material.

3. The make-up removal device of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the handling means has a first end and a second end, the applicator being in the form of a tip attached to the first end of the handling means.

4. The make-up removal device of claim 3, wherein the applicator is removably attached to the first end.

5. The make-up removal device of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the applicator comprises an absorbent material.

6. The make-up removal device of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the handling means is elongate defining a longitudinal axis, the at least one slit being formed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handling means.

7. The make-up removal device of claim 6, wherein the applicator is cylindrical in shape defining a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handling means.

8. The make-up removal device of claim 6, wherein the applicator is conical in shape defining a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handling means.

9. The make-up removal device of claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the at least one slit defines a length and the applicator defines a perimeter, the length of the at least one slit being less than the perimeter of the applicator.

10. The make-up removal device of any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a second applicator attached to the second end of the handling means.

11. The make-up removal device of claim 10, wherein the second applicator comprises a plurality of bristles.

12. The make-up removal device of claim 10, wherein the second applicator comprises a resilient material.

13. The make-up removal device of claim 12, wherein the second applicator comprises an absorbent material.

14. The make-up removal device of claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the second applicator comprises an eyelash make-up removal surface, the eyelash make-up removal surface defining at least one slit formed therein for frictionally engaging and removing make-up from the eyelash surface.

15. The make-up removal device of claim 1, wherein the applicator is U shaped defining a first prong and a second prong, at least one of the first and second prongs comprising the eyelash make-up removal surface.

16. The make-up removal device of claim 1, wherein the handling means comprises first and second elongate members each having first and second ends, the elongate members being connected at first ends thereof in the form of a tweezer mechanism, the first elongate member comprising the applicator attached to the second end thereof, the second elongate member comprising a second applicator attached to the second end thereof.

17. The make-up removal device of claim 1, wherein the applicator further comprises a second eyelash make-up removal surface that is smooth.

18. The make-up removal device of claim 17, wherein the applicator is U shaped defining a first prong and a second prong, the first prong comprising the eyelash make-up removal surface, the second prong comprising the second eyelash make-up removal surface.

19. The make-up removal device of claim 17, wherein the eyelash make-up removal surface is located on a first side of the applicator, the second eyelash make-up removal surface being located on a second side of side applicator, the second side being opposite to the first side.