WO2023013646A1

WO2023013646A1 - System for eyelash extension

Info

Publication number: WO2023013646A1
Application number: PCT/JP2022/029678
Authority: WO
Inventors: 肇井上
Original assignee: 株式会社ビューティージェネシス
Priority date: 2021-08-05
Filing date: 2022-08-02
Publication date: 2023-02-09
Also published as: JPWO2023013646A1

Abstract

[Problem] Provided is a system that dramatically reduces the time for applying eyelash extension, can be configured at a low price, and also protects the eyes of a person to apply an eyelash extension and the eyes of a person to be subjected to the eyelash extension. [Solution] This system for eyelash extension uses a photocurable glue and is characterized by comprising: a tweezers main body which puts aside eyelashes adjacent to the eyelash to which an artificial eyelash is bonded and includes two long thin members thinned at tip ends and merged at the base end portion side; a light source for curing the photocurable glue; a power-supply unit for driving the light source; and an optical path for emitting light from the light source from the tip end portion of at least one of the long thin members.

Description

System for eyelash extension

The present invention relates to a system for eyelash extension, and more specifically to a system including tweezers with a light irradiation function for eyelash extension using photocurable glue.

In recent years, eyelash extensions, in which artificial hair is added to each individual eyelash, have become popular as a beauty method for women. Eyelash extension is a beauty method that adheres one (or more) artificial hair to one natural eyelash with a special glue (adhesive) to make the eyelashes look longer and more clearly.

The outline of the conventional eyelash extension treatment method will be explained using FIG. Typically, the subject undergoes the treatment in a supine or reclining position, and protective tape, a mask, etc. are applied around the eyes, but these are omitted in FIG. 7 for simplicity of explanation. As shown in FIG. 7(a), with tweezers held in the dominant hand (the right hand in this example), one artificial hair 15 was picked up from a bundle of artificial hair (not shown), and its base was prepared in advance. Lightly touch glue (not shown) to adhere the glue to the root. Next, with another pair of tweezers held in the hand opposite to the dominant hand (the left hand in this example), leaving the eyelashes 20 to which the artificial hair 15 is attached, remove the left and right eyelashes to the outside to prevent unnecessary contact. As shown in FIG. 7(b), the artificial hair 15 and the eyelashes 20 are adhered so that they overlap each other by a certain length. Conventionally, eyelash extension glue uses a cyanoacrylate-based instant adhesive that hardens by reacting with moisture. After holding the state shown in FIG. In some cases, the eye is treated alternately, one eye at a time, in order to proceed to the next treatment or leave it to harden. For this reason, it took several tens of minutes to an hour or more to attach tens to hundreds of artificial hairs in one treatment.

The use of photocurable glue for eyelash extensions has been proposed in order to shorten the treatment time and reduce irritation to the person being treated (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4, etc.). In these documents, after the artificial hair is attached to the natural eyelashes using photocurable glue, the glue is cured by irradiating with ultraviolet rays or visible light. As a result, the curing speed becomes faster than the treatment using the conventional instant adhesive, and as a result, the treatment time can be shortened.

JP 2011-87658 A JP 2017-119935 A JP 2019-56095 A JP 2020-7663 A

However, all of the conventional systems using photocurable glue irradiate the eyelashes of the subject with ultraviolet light or visible light, but are structurally unable to bring the light source or the light emission port very close to the glued part of the eyelashes. However, in order to obtain the necessary polymerization reaction, it is necessary to use a strong light source. In this case, if you try to bring the light source or the light irradiation port closer to the eyelashes of the person to be treated, it will interfere with the work area of the operator, and the operator will have to frequently switch between the tweezers and the LED irradiation device, which reduces work efficiency. It gets worse. In addition, all conventional systems apply light to the eyelashes and eyelids of the person to be treated from above, and the light is directed toward the eyes of the person to be treated.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides an eyelash extension system that can dramatically shorten the time required for eyelash extension, can be constructed at a low cost, and protects the eyes of the operator and the recipient. intended to provide

The present invention is a system for eyelash extension using photocurable glue, comprising a tweezers body in which two elongated members with narrowed/thinner tips converge at the proximal end side, and the photocurable glue. It comprises a light source for curing, a power supply unit for driving the light source, and an optical path for emitting the light from the light source from the distal end portion of at least one of the elongated members.

In the eyelash extension system of the present invention, it is preferable that the optical path is configured to emit light from the light source in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated member and inward of the tweezers body.

Further, it is preferable that the power supply unit includes a control section that blinks the light source in a predetermined cycle. Moreover, it is preferable that the distal end portion of the elongated member of the tweezers main body is replaceable.

Further, it is preferable that a transparent cover for preventing the glue from entering the optical path is provided at the light outlet at the end of the optical path.

Moreover, it is preferable that the light source is capable of switching the irradiation intensity in at least two stages, or includes two or more light sources having different irradiation intensities. Also, the power supply unit and the tweezers main body can be configured separately and connected by wiring.

Furthermore, it is preferable to provide a detachable light shield on the tweezers body in order to protect the operator's eyes during use. Furthermore, it is preferable to provide a flexible arm for holding the tray on which the artificial hair and the photocurable glue are placed near the eyelashes of the person to be treated during the treatment.

Since the eyelash extension system of the present invention is configured to cure the glue by emitting light from the tip of the tweezers, the glue is applied at a very close distance (1 to 3 mm) while the adjacent eyelashes are removed using the tweezers. Light can be emitted from Therefore, it is possible to irradiate only the adhesive part of the eyelashes with light while maintaining a strong intensity, and there is no need to replace the tweezers with a separately configured irradiation device and bring it closer to the patient's face, resulting in eyelash extension surgery. The time can be shortened dramatically.

When the system of the present invention is configured to emit light toward the inside of the tweezers body in a direction substantially perpendicular to the long axis of the elongated member, the light is emitted from above toward the subject's face and eyes. In contrast, the glue can be cured without directly exposing the person lying on his/her back to light, thus protecting the skin and eyes of the person.

In addition, if the light source is configured to automatically blink in a predetermined cycle, the glue irradiated with the blinking light is cured step by step to form a layer, and the adhesive strength can be improved. Also, for example, if you set the light to automatically turn off during the periodic period in which the practitioner picks up new artificial hair and applies glue to it to blend in with your own eyelashes, the practitioner can turn the light on and off. This eliminates the need for the operator, reduces the burden on the operator, eliminates the floating of the body due to the operation of the switch, and enables accurate and reliable treatment.

In addition, glue may stick to the tip of the tweezers and harden during the treatment, so it is necessary to configure the tip of the tweezers so that it can be replaced, or to prevent the optical path from being blocked by providing a transparent cover on the light emission port. , can extend the life of the instrument.

In addition, if the irradiation intensity of the light can be switched in at least two stages, a weak light is first irradiated to gradually cure the artificial hair while finely adjusting the direction and length of the artificial hair, and finally a strong light is irradiated to completely cure the hair. It is possible to realize a method of use such as curing to In addition, if the tweezers and the power source are configured separately and connected by wiring, the device is lighter than the power source is built into the instrument to be held in hand, and the operability can be improved.

Furthermore, if a light shield (for example, a UV-cut transparent acrylic plate) is detachably provided on the tweezers to protect the operator's eyes, it is possible to protect the operator's eyes while ensuring visibility. Furthermore, by providing a movable arm for holding the tray, it is possible to hold the tray on which the artificial hair and the photocurable glue are placed in the immediate vicinity of the eyelashes, and the range of movement of the hands of the practitioner can be minimized. can improve efficiency.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of tweezers 30 according to an embodiment of the eyelash extension system of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining how to use the eyelash extension system of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a system for eyelash extension using interchangeable quartz prisms in the tip of the tweezers. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a system for eyelash extension with a light shield for the practitioner. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the overall system according to a further embodiment of the system for eyelash extensions of the invention. Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the components of yet another embodiment of the system for eyelash extensions of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional eyelash extension treatment method.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of tweezers 30 according to an embodiment of the eyelash extension system of the present invention. As shown in this figure, the tweezers 30 of the present invention are formed by connecting the root sides of two

elongated members

31a and 31b, and when no force is applied, the tips are separated from each other, and when force is applied, the tips are separated from each other. can be moved closer together or closed. Each of the

elongated members

31a and 31b has a built-in LED light source (not shown) at its base.

Light emission openings

32a and 32b are provided at the distal end portion of the elongated member 31, more specifically, at the facing portions inside the tweezers 30 several mm before the pointed end, from which the LED light source is emitted. are emitted in directions D1 and D2 substantially toward each other.

As for the LED light source used in the eyelash extension system of the present invention, an appropriate one can be selected according to the photocurable glue to be used, but it is desirable that the LED light source has little effect on the human body. For example, one that emits ultraviolet light or visible light with a peak wavelength of 365 to 410 nm, preferably 400 nm, can be used. Light-curing glue is a light-curing resin that cures under the action of light energy, unlike heat-curing and room temperature-curing resins. It is composed of pigments and the like. By matching the peak wavelength of the LED light source with the wavelength at which the polymerization initiator of the photocurable resin is activated, the photocurable resin can be cured efficiently. Since the photocurable resin and the light source used therefor are known and described in detail in, for example, the above-mentioned prior art documents, further detailed description thereof will be omitted in this document.

As shown in FIG. 1, the light from the LED light source is configured to be emitted inwardly of the tweezers 30 (directions D1, D2) in a direction substantially orthogonal to the long axes of the

elongated members

31a, 31b. ing. The light path from the LED light source inside the elongated member 31 to the light emission port 32 may be hollow. An optical path using reflection may be used, or light may be emitted from the LED light source through the optical fiber from the light emitting port 32 with the directivity as described above. The position of the LED light source in the elongated member 31 can be appropriately determined in consideration of design items such as weight balance, and if the light path is hollow, a mirror, prism, condensing lens, or the like may be used to provide directivity to the light. can be arranged. Further, in some embodiments, a directional (i.e., non-omnidirectional) LED light source is attached directly to the inner surface of the tip of a conventional tweezers, and configured to emit light in the desired direction. good too. Moreover, when using an optical fiber, an LED light source can be arranged on the side of the power supply unit separate from the tweezers 30, and the optical fiber can be extended to the tweezers 30 from there. In yet another embodiment, the power supply unit may comprise a rechargeable battery contained within the tweezers 30, and the tweezers 30 may be stand-alone and rechargeable.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the wiring 16 of the LED light source is configured to be wired inside the tweezers 30 and extend outward from the elongate member 31a on one side. Since the tweezers 30 of this embodiment are held in the hand and applied force to narrow or loosen the tip portion, ON/OFF of the LED light source is operated by a foot switch (for example, the foot switch 58 in FIGS. 5 and 6). configured to In this case, the LED light source may be turned on while the switch is pushed down with force and turned off when the foot is released. can be Further, as will be described later, once the foot switch is depressed, the blinking may be repeated for a predetermined period.

The tweezers 30 configured in this way can be used in substantially the same way as conventional tweezers for the left hand. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the dominant hand (the right hand in this example) holds the tweezers 5, and the opposite hand (the left hand) holds the tweezers 30 according to the present invention. One (or more) artificial hairs 15 are picked up with tweezers 5 to attach glue to the root, and the left and right eyelashes of the target eyelashes 20 are removed with the tip of the tweezers 30 to secure a work space, The artificial hair 15 is adhered to the eyelashes 20. - 特許庁At this time, if the eyelashes 20 are squeezed several times at the roots of the artificial hairs 15 so that the glue is applied all around the eyelashes 20, the overall strength after curing can be increased. When the LED light source is turned on while maintaining the state shown in FIG. 7B, that is, the state in which the artificial hair 15 is adhered to the eyelashes 20, light is emitted from the

light emission ports

32a and 32b toward the eyelashes 20. Then, the photocurable glue is cured in a few seconds after the polymerization initiator is activated. By selecting an appropriate light source and corresponding glue, it is possible to fully cure the light-curing glue in just a few seconds (eg, 2-5 seconds) without having to move the hands or change the instruments during the procedure. can. Therefore, the application can be performed more quickly than in the case of using a conventional cyanoacrylate-based adhesive, and there is no need to alternately apply one eye at a time in order to secure the curing time. In this example, when the artificial hair 15 has been attached to one natural eyelash 20, the process proceeds to the operation of attaching new artificial hair to the adjacent eyelash.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the light for curing the photocurable glue is emitted inward from the tweezers 30 from a distance of several eyelashes from the target site, and does not go toward the eyes of the person being treated. Since it is oriented in such a manner, it is possible to avoid adverse effects caused by, for example, strong ultraviolet rays irradiating the eyes and skin of the subject. If desired, the light outlet 32 of the tweezers 30 may have an eaves-like protrusion that physically blocks downward light during use. Alternatively or additionally, the light outlet 32 may be provided with a condensing lens to further confine the light in the desired direction.

In this embodiment, a footswitch (e.g., footswitch 58 in FIGS. 5 and 6) turns the LED light source on and off, but in other embodiments, the tweezers 30 themselves (e.g., the side of elongated member 31) may be provided with a footswitch to turn the LED light source on and off. may be provided with a switch. Moreover, instead of the configuration in which the switch is turned on while the switch is pressed and turned off when the switch is released, the configuration may be such that ON/OFF is switched each time the switch is pressed.

In yet another embodiment, the system may cause the LED light source of the tweezers 30 to automatically blink at a predetermined cycle when the footswitch 58 or other provided switch is turned ON. In this case, when the switch is turned off, the blinking may be completed and completely extinguished, or after the switch is turned on, the blinking may be repeated for a predetermined period and then completely extinguished. The blinking cycle is, for example, repeating lighting and extinguishing for 0.5 seconds, repeating lighting for 3 seconds and extinguishing for 2 seconds, lighting for 0.4 seconds, 0.6 seconds, and 0.8 seconds, and between these lightings. It is also possible to have a blinking cycle in which the lights are turned off for 0.5 seconds each. The flashing cycle may be fixedly set in advance at the time of shipment from the factory, or the lighting and extinguishing times may be arbitrarily set by an operation panel (not shown) provided in the system. By providing a periodical light-off time in the curing cycle of the glue, it is possible to harden the glue while allowing the glue to work in slowly, to form a layer in the curing glue to increase its strength, and to prevent the glue from clumping. Also, in an embodiment in which lighting for 3 seconds and lighting for 2 seconds are repeated, new artificial eyelashes may be prepared during the lighting off period, placed on the natural eyelashes, and cured during the lighting period. With this configuration, the operator does not need to turn on/off the light for each eyelash, which reduces the burden on the operator and eliminates the shaking of the body due to the switch operation, making the hand more stable.

The tweezers of this embodiment can realize various modifications as described below.
(1) An embodiment in which light is emitted from only one side of the tweezers In the embodiment of FIGS. The optical paths may be provided and the other elongate member may omit those functions. Even in this case, the glue can be hardened by applying light from a close distance while securing a space by removing the eyelashes on both sides of the target eyelashes. In this embodiment, a reflective structure (mirror or reflective coating) is provided at a portion of the elongated member on the side opposite to the light emitting side where the light hits, and this reflection is used to illuminate the entire circumference of the eyelashes. may be configured.

(2) An example in which the irradiation intensity of the LED light source can be switched. It can be operated so that it is gradually cured at 100°C and finally cured completely by irradiating it with strong light. Alternatively, with only one footswitch left, an electronic control circuit (not shown) is built into the power supply unit so that when the footswitch is pressed, a weak light is emitted for the first predetermined seconds, and then for a predetermined number of times. It may be configured to irradiate strong light for seconds. In this case also, the irradiation may be stopped immediately when the foot switch is released. In a further modification, one of the two

elongated members

31a and 31b constituting the tweezers 30 is configured to emit strong light and the other emits weak light, so that the two can be switched to irradiate. may be configured. In this case, operation can be switched in four stages: both are OFF, only one is ON, only the other is ON, and both are ON.

(3) Example in which left and right LED light sources have different wavelengths By using an LED light source that emits ultraviolet light with a wavelength (200 to 300 nm, preferably around 222 nm), it is possible to perform treatment while sterilizing artificial hair, glue, and the treatment site.

(4) Example Using Replaceable Quartz Prism at Tip of Tweezers FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example using an replaceable quartz prism at the tip of tweezers. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the tweezers 35 according to the present embodiment includes flexible

elongated members

36a and 36b and

quartz prisms

37a and 37b axially inserted into the distal end portions of the elongated members 36. Equipped with The

quartz prisms

37a and 37b have obliquely cut tips, and can reflect incident light from the base ends by 90° and emit the reflected light toward the inner side of the tweezers.

Optical fibers

38a and 38b are introduced into the proximal ends of the

elongated members

36a and 36b, respectively, so that light can pass through substantially the entire length of the elongated member 36 and enter the proximal ends of the

quartz prisms

37a and 37b. The optical fiber 38 is connected to, for example, a light source provided inside the main unit 57 shown in FIG. Appropriate coatings and paintings can be applied to the slopes and roof surfaces of the quartz prism 37 . With such a configuration, the incident light from the optical fiber 38 can be directed to a desired target direction, and only the quartz prism 37 at the tip can be replaced when the glue is stuck due to long-term use. can.

Furthermore, the tweezers 35 of this embodiment can be used singly or separately by separating the pair of

elongated members

36a and 36b as shown in FIG. 3(b). As shown in FIG. 3(b), the inner proximal end of one elongated member 36a is provided with two engaging recesses 39 and the corresponding engaging recesses 39 provided at the proximal end of the other elongated member 36b. Both can be detachably connected by engaging with a mating projection (not shown). With this configuration, the elongated member 36 can be cut off and used alone, or, for example, when two or more people perform the treatment, one person can hold the

elongated members

36a and 36b one by one with both hands. can do. Also in this embodiment, the LED light source may be incorporated in the elongated member without using the optical fiber as described above.

(5) Embodiment with Light Shield for Practitioner FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a system for eyelash extension with a light shield for the practitioner. As shown in FIG. 4(a), the system comprises tweezers 40 and a detachable light shield 45. FIG. The tweezers 40 are an improvement over conventional metal tweezers in that holes 41 are drilled in the distal end portions of both

elongated members

40a, 40b in which optical fibers 42 are fixed facing inwards (toward each other). It is The optical fiber 42 is fixed as it is to the proximal end of the tweezers 40 by running along the side or inside of the

elongated members

40a and 40b that do not interfere with the operation, and the power supply unit (which has an LED light source) is connected from the proximal end of the tweezers 40. For example, it extends to the main unit 57) shown in FIGS. The optical fiber 42 is soft and does not hinder fine movements of the tweezers 40. - 特許庁A footswitch extends from the power supply unit (for example, footswitch 58 in FIGS. 5 and 6), and the operator can control ON/OFF of the LED light source with his/her foot.

On the other hand, the light shield 45 consists of a detachable part 47 made of elastic resin for detachably mounting to the tweezers 40 and a UV cut plate 48 made of transparent acrylic. The UV cut plate 48 is the LED light source used in this system. It is configured to absorb wavelengths of light. As shown in FIG. 4(b), the tweezers 40 are mounted at appropriate locations so that the light from the optical fibers 42 does not directly reach the operator's eyes during use. The shape of the detachable part 47 and the UV cut plate 48 can be appropriately changed according to the shape of the tweezers to be applied.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the overall system according to a further embodiment of the system for eyelash extensions of the present invention. The eyelash extension system 50 shown in this figure comprises tweezers 55 , a movable tray 56 , a main unit 57 and a foot switch 58 . The main unit 57 incorporates a power supply unit and an LED light source unit (not shown), and has sufficient weight to stably support the upwardly extending column 57a. One end of a flexible arm 59 capable of freely changing the position of the movable tray 56 is fixed to the post 57a. The flexible arm 59 is configured so that the movable tray 56 can be displaced when force is applied, but the tray 56 remains in that position when the hand is released. Since this structure itself is publicly known, detailed description is omitted in this document. The movable tray 56 is loaded with a bundle of artificial hair before attachment and a photocurable glue.

This system 50 may further include an electric reclining seat 60 commonly used in barber or dentistry, as shown in FIG. Before performing the treatment, the person to be treated is seated on the reclining seat 60 and reclined to an angle at which the operator can easily perform the treatment, and the tray 56 is arranged at a position close to the eyelashes where the treatment is easy to do. During treatment, when the foot switch 58 is pressed with a foot, LED light is emitted from a light emitting port (not shown) at the tip of the tweezers 55 . Tweezers 55 can have the same configuration or a combination of configurations as the tweezers of any of the embodiments described herein.

Using this system, the artificial hair is picked up with tweezers (conventional type, not shown) in the dominant hand while the tray 56 on which the artificial hair and photocurable glue are placed is placed at a desired position near the eyelashes. Glue is applied, tweezers 55 are held in the opposite mold, eyelashes on both sides of the target eyelashes are removed to secure a space, and the artificial hair is adhered to the eyelashes. At this time, the target adhesion site between the eyelashes and the artificial hair is still located inside the tip portion of the tweezers 55 (between both elongated members), and when the operator presses the foot switch 58 with his or her foot, The glue is cured in a few seconds by irradiating light from a close distance of 3 mm to the adhesion site. By repeating this procedure, the eyelash extension can be performed much more quickly than before.

While embodiments of the system for eyelash extension of the present invention and examples thereof have been described in detail, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as shown and described, but may be embodied in various alternatives. can be done.

The present invention can be used in the beauty field, especially in the eyelash extension industry.

30, 35, 40, 55

tweezers

31, 36, 40a, 40b elongate member 32 light outlet 15 artificial hair 16 wiring 20 eyelashes 38 optical fiber 45 light shield 56 movable tray 57 main unit 58 foot switch

Claims

A system for eyelash extension using a light curable glue, comprising:
a tweezers body in which two elongated members with narrowed/thinner tips meet at the base end side;
a light source for curing the photocurable glue;
a power supply unit that drives the light source;
and an optical path for emitting light of said light source from a distal portion of at least one said elongated member.
The system for eyelash extension according to claim 1,
A system, wherein the light path is configured to emit light from the light source in a direction generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the elongated member and inwardly of the tweezers body.
The system for eyelash extension according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said power supply unit comprises a controller for blinking said light source in a predetermined cycle.
The system for eyelash extension according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tip portion of the elongated member of the tweezers body is replaceable.
The system for eyelash extension according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light source is capable of switching irradiation intensity in at least two stages, or includes two or more light sources with different irradiation intensities.
The system for eyelash extension according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said power supply unit and said tweezers body are configured separately and connected by wiring.
A system for eyelash extension according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a light shield detachable from said tweezers body for protecting the eyes of the practitioner during use.
3. The system for eyelash extension according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a flexible arm for holding the tray on which said artificial hair and light-curing glue are placed in the vicinity of the eyelashes of the person being treated during the application. A system characterized by