Flat eyelash curler

Abstract

To provide an eyelash curl device that is easily carried.SOLUTION: A curl device 1 includes: a lower plate 10 having a proximal end and a distal end, including a pair of lower raised parts 110a, 110b in the proximal end, and further including a resilient pad 190 for receiving eyelashes, in which the pad is arranged in a groove 120 between the raised parts 110a, 110b; and an upper plate 20 having a proximal end and a distal end, including an upper raised part 210 in the proximal end, in which the raised part 210 is capable of pinching the eyelashes in cooperation with the pad. The upper and lower plates are connected, and are brought into a non-use or a use standby position. In the non-use position, the upper plate adheres with the lower plate, and the former is connected to the latter so as not to be pivoted. In the standby position, the pad and the raised part are made to face each other, and the upper plate is connected to the lower plate for pinching the eyelashes between the pad and the raised part so as to be pivoted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an eyelash curler, which is a type of beauty treatment tool, and more particularly to a flat-type eyelash curler. [Background technology]

[0002] Currently, many women use eyelash curlers on a daily or occasional basis for cosmetic purposes. As is well known, eyelash curlers are configured to curl upward the natural eyelashes on the upper eyelid, or to curl upward the false eyelashes attached to the natural eyelashes together with the natural eyelashes. It is desirable that such curling of eyelashes can be performed not only at home, but also in various places and on the go. Therefore, various types of eyelash curlers are designed to be portable.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 describes an eyelash curler that includes a main body, a connecting body rotatably connected to the periphery of the main body, a first eyebrow gripper including a first contact body, a second eyebrow gripper attached to one end of the main body, and a third eyebrow gripper attached to the other end of the main body.

[0004] Patent Document 2 describes an eyelash curler including a shell, a pull piece, a movable clamping piece, and a spring acting on the movable clamping piece. The pull piece is arranged on the shell in a pivoting mode, and the movable clamping piece is assembled in the shell in a sliding mode. The shell is provided with a fixed clamping piece that is mated with an end portion of the movable clamping piece. The movable clamping piece clamps the fixed clamping piece under the influence of the pull piece.

[0005] US Patent No. 5,399,633 describes an eyelash curler that includes two sandwiching surfaces that can be moved toward and away from each other. The eyelashes can be clamped between these two sandwiching surfaces. The sandwiching surfaces are shaped to match the actual state of the eyelashes.

[0006] Patent Document 4 describes an eyelash curler that includes a receiving member provided with a first clamping portion for clamping one side of the eyelashes, a sliding member provided with a second clamping portion for clamping the other side of the eyelashes, and an operating member for moving the sliding member so that the sliding member can be pressed against the receiving member.

[0007] Patent Document 5 describes an eyelash curling device that includes an upper pressing part that presses the eyelashes from above and a lower pressing part that presses the eyelashes from below. Each pressing part has a pinching part. An eyelid pad having a friction coefficient larger than that of the upper pressing part is attached to at least a part of the front surface of the upper pressing part that comes into contact with the eyelid when the eyelash curling device is used.

[0008] Patent Document 6 describes an eyelash curling device that includes a pair of upper and lower pressing parts for pressing the eyelashes. Each of the pair of pressing parts has a number of ridges extending in the length direction. These ridges function as pressing parts for pressing the eyelashes.

[0009] Patent Document 7 describes an eyelash curling device including a main body having an upper pressing part for pressing the eyelashes from above, and a sliding member having a lower pressing part for pressing the eyelashes from below. The sliding member is attached to the main body so as to be vertically slidable over a certain sliding range. A guide means for guiding the sliding member is placed between the sliding member and the main body. The guide means are not present at either end of the lower pressing part, but are present below the lower pressing part.

[0010] Such known eyelash curlers generally tend to be relatively bulky due to their complex structure, resulting in taking up a large amount of space when carried, and therefore are not said to be portable. Further improvements are needed to make the eyelash curler easier to carry. In addition to portability, there is also a need to reduce the manufacturing cost of the eyelash curler by simplifying its structure. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent Application Publication No. 20130003164 [Patent Document 2] China Patent Application Publication No. 203314330 [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 5324932 [Patent Document 4] Patent No. 4559263 [Patent Document 5] Patent No. 4473641 [Patent Document 6] Patent No. 4226924 [Patent Document 7] JP 2001-204535 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0012] The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of existing eyelash curlers. More specifically, the object of the present invention is to provide a novel eyelash curler that is easy to carry, in other words, an eyelash curler that takes up little space when carried. Specifically, the object of the present invention is to provide a novel eyelash curler that is easy to carry but has good operability when used. A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel eyelash curler that is simple in structure and therefore can be manufactured at low cost. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an eyelash curler for use in curling eyelashes, the eyelash curler comprising: a lower plate having a central axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, the lower plate having a pair of lower ridges at the proximal end extending in a direction intersecting the central axis of the lower plate, and further comprising an elastic pad for receiving the eyelashes to be curled, the elastic pad being disposed in a groove defined between the lower ridges; and an upper plate having a central axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, the upper ridges at the proximal end extending in a direction intersecting the central axis of the upper plate, the upper ridges cooperating with the elastic pad to clamp the eyelashes to be curled. and an upper plate configured to be capable of being pressed against the lower plate, the lower plate and the upper plate being configured to be capable of being coupled to each other to be in either an unused position or a standby position for use, in which in the unused position the upper plate is in close contact with the lower plate and the lower plate and the upper plate are coupled to each other such that the upper plate cannot pivot relative to the lower plate, and in the standby position for use the lower plate and the upper plate are coupled to each other such that the elastic pad and the upper raised portion face each other and the upper plate can pivot relative to the lower plate to pinch the eyelashes to be curled between the elastic pad and the upper raised portion.

[0014] In the present invention, the eyelashes curled by the eyelash curler may be natural eyelashes, tufted false eyelashes already attached or to be attached to natural eyelashes, or both natural eyelashes and tufted false eyelashes.

[0015] According to the present invention, when not in use for beauty treatment, the lower plate and the upper plate of the eyelash curler can be coupled to each other such that the upper plate is in close contact with the lower plate. In other words, in this non-use position, the eyelash curler according to the present invention can assume a flat shape with a minimum bulk and requires only a small space when carried. In this way, the ease of carrying or portability is significantly increased compared to conventional eyelash curlers with a relatively large bulk. On the other hand, when coupled to a standby position for use, the eyelash curler according to the present invention can exhibit excellent operability for beauty treatment. That is, with the eyelash curler according to the present invention, eyelashes can be safely curled by a simple operation, and the eyelashes to be curled are sandwiched between the elastic pad of the lower plate and the upper ridge of the upper plate, and then the upper plate is pivoted relative to the lower plate. In addition to this, according to the present invention, the eyelash curler essentially consists of only two plates, namely the upper plate and the lower plate. Therefore, the eyelash curler according to the present invention is significantly simple in structure and can therefore be manufactured at a low cost compared to existing eyelash curlers.

[0016] According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the orientation of the upper plate relative to the lower plate in the non-use position may be opposite to the orientation of the upper plate relative to the lower plate in the use standby position.

[0017] According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, specifically when the orientation of the upper plate in the non-use position is opposite to that in the ready-to-use position, the lower plate may further comprise a slot at the proximal end, into which the upper protuberance of the upper plate can enter when the lower plate and the upper plate are coupled together to the non-use position. This aspect is particularly advantageous for making the eyelash curler flat and compact in the non-use position.

[0018] According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the lower plate may further comprise an opening at the distal end, which extends in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the lower plate. In this case, the distal end of the upper plate may have a width smaller than the width of the opening of the lower plate. Furthermore, in this case, in the standby position for use, the lower plate and the upper plate may be coupled to each other such that the distal end of the upper plate passes through the opening of the lower plate. This preferred aspect advantageously allows a kind of scissor mechanism, realizing excellent maneuverability during the curling process. That is, according to this preferred aspect, the curler can be easily manipulated, for example, like a clothespin. According to a more preferred aspect of the present invention, in the standby position for use, the lower plate and the upper plate may be in contact with each other along a straight line. In this case, the line along which the lower plate and the upper plate contact each other in the standby position for use may define a virtual pivot axis, about which the upper plate pivots relative to the lower plate.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the distal end of the upper plate may be offset from the main surface area of ​​the upper plate in a direction perpendicular to the main surface area of ​​the upper plate. Specifically, the distal end of the upper plate may be offset in the same direction as the upper protuberance. Furthermore, when the distal end of the upper plate is offset, a portion of the lower plate located distal to the opening may be at least partially offset from the main surface area of ​​the lower plate in a direction perpendicular to the main surface area of ​​the lower plate. Specifically, the portion of the lower plate may be offset in the opposite direction to the lower protuberance. In addition, the cavity formed by offsetting the portion of the lower plate may be able to accommodate the offset distal end of the upper plate. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the orientation of the upper plate relative to the lower plate in the non-use position is opposite to the orientation of the upper plate relative to the lower plate in the use waiting position. This is because it realizes a non-use position (i.e., a state in which the lower plate and the upper plate are firmly bonded) in which unintentional separation of the lower plate and the upper plate does not easily occur.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a window may be formed in the lower plate and a corresponding window may be formed in the upper plate. In this case, the window in the lower plate and the window in the upper plate may at least partially overlap each other at least in the non-use position. Furthermore, according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the window in the lower plate and the window in the upper plate may have different sizes and / or shapes from each other. According to this preferred embodiment, the user can visually check a part of the user's face reflected in the mirror through one of the windows, in particular the area around the user's eyes and the user's eyelashes. Moreover, when the two windows have different sizes and / or shapes from each other, when separating the two plates, one plate can be pushed out with a fingertip through the window formed in the other plate. As a result, it is possible for the user to more easily switch from the non-use position to the use standby position.

[0021] According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, both the lower ridge of the lower plate and the upper ridge of the upper plate may be curved so as to be convex toward their distal ends. The curvature of the lower and upper ridges may be, for example, a circle, an ellipse, a parabola, a hyperbola, or any other curve. Furthermore, the lower and upper ridges may include partially straight portions.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the eyelash curler may further include a locking mechanism. In this case, the locking mechanism may be configured to prevent the upper plate from unintentionally separating from the lower plate when the lower and upper plates are coupled to each other in the non-use position. According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the locking mechanism may include at least one boss protruding from an inner peripheral surface of the slot of the lower plate into the slot (if the slot is present). In this case, the boss may be configured to retract when the upper ridge of the upper plate enters the slot and apply a pressing force to the upper ridge of the upper plate. This embodiment is also advantageous for realizing a non-use position (i.e., a state in which the lower and upper plates are firmly coupled) in which unintentional separation of the lower and upper plates does not easily occur.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the upper plate and the lower plate may be made of a non-metallic material selected from the group consisting of plastic materials, wood, and bamboo. Specifically, at least one of the upper plate and the lower plate, more preferably both, may be made of a plastic material. Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the lower plate and the upper plate, more preferably both, may be made of a transparent or translucent plastic material. When both the lower plate and the upper plate are made of a transparent plastic material, it is possible for a user to visually check a part of the user's face reflected in the mirror through the plate, particularly the area around the user's eyes and the user's eyelashes.

[0024] Non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an eyelash curler according to one embodiment of the present invention, with the eyelash curler in a flat, non-use position. [Diagram 2] 2 is a perspective view of the eyelash curler shown in FIG. 1, the eyelash curler being in a ready-to-use position. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lower plate of the eyelash curler shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the lower plate portion of the eyelash curler shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. [Diagram 5] 1 and 2 , taken along line X3-X3 in FIG. 4 . [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the upper plate of the eyelash curler shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. [Figure 7] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the upper plate of the eyelash curler shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. [Figure 8]8 is a cross-sectional view of the upper plate of the eyelash curler shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 taken along line X4-X4 in FIG. 7. FIG. [Figure 9] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the eyelash curler shown in FIG. 1 taken along line X1-X1 in FIG. 1. [Figure 10] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the eyelash curler shown in FIG. 2 taken along line X2-X2 in FIG. 2. [Figure 11] 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the process of recoupling the eyelash curler shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 from a flat, non-use position to a ready-to-use position. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the steps a user takes to curl their eyelashes using the eyelash curler shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. [Figure 13] 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the process of recoupling the eyelash curler shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 from a ready-to-use position to a flat, non-use position. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Some exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 13. In the figures, the width, length, height, diameter, etc. of each element may not be drawn to scale. It should be noted that in some figures, some elements or features are drawn larger or smaller than they actually are for emphasis.

[0027] As used herein, directional terms such as "above," "below," "up," "down," "upper," "lower," "top," "bottom," "right," "left," and the like, should be understood in relation to the orientation of the curler in the figures, which may or may not correspond to its actual orientation when in use. Furthermore, as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, the term "distal" as used herein means the side that is away from a user's eyelashes when the user is using the curler to curl their eyelashes, whereas the term "proximal" means the side that is closer to a user's eyelashes when the user is using the curler to curl their eyelashes.

[0028] Figures 1 and 2 show diagrammatically an eyelash curler 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, used to curl eyelashes, indicated in some figures by the reference numeral "F". In particular, Figure 1 shows the eyelash curler 1 in a completely flat "non-use" position, as will be explained in more detail below. Figure 2 shows diagrammatically the same eyelash curler 1 in a "ready to use" position, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0029] As can be seen from FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the eyelash curler 1 includes a lower plate 10 and an upper plate 20. In this embodiment, both the upper plate 10 and the lower plate 20 are made of a plastic material, specifically a transparent plastic material (except for the elastic pad described later). The lower plate 10 and the upper plate 20 may be formed, for example, by an injection molding process. Both the lower plate 10 and the upper plate 20 need to be flexible and rigid. For example, PCTA (polycyclohexane dimethylene terephthalate), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), PETG (polyethylene terephthalate copolymer), and PP (polypropylene) may be used as the plastic material for forming both plates 10 and 20. However, in another embodiment, only one of the lower plate 10 and the upper plate 20 may be made of a plastic material. Furthermore, in yet another embodiment, only one of the lower plate 10 and the upper plate 20 may be made of a transparent plastic material. Alternatively, one or both of the lower plate 10 and the upper plate 20 may be made of a translucent plastic material. Either or both of the lower plate 10 and the upper plate 20 may be made of other non-metallic materials, such as wood and / or bamboo.

[0030] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the lower plate 10 has a central axis (i.e., a vertical axis) A1, a proximal end 100a, a distal end 100b, and a main surface area 100c extending between the proximal end 100a and the distal end 100b. Figures 3 to 5 show the lower plate 10 viewed from various directions. That is, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lower plate 10, Figure 4 is a plan view of the lower plate 10, and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the lower plate 10 taken along line X3-X3 in Figure 4. As shown, the proximal end 100a of the lower plate 10 has a curved recess 102 that is convex toward the distal end 100b. The curvature of the recess 102 is appropriately selected according to the facial anatomical characteristics of the race of the area or region to which this product (eyelash curler) is supplied. For example, the radius of curvature of the eyelid contour of a Caucasian race generally has a smaller value than that of an Asian race. This anatomical knowledge may be used to determine the curvature (radius of curvature) of the recess 102 .

[0031] Along the curved recess 102, the lower plate 10 includes a pair of lower ridges 110a, 110b at the proximal end 100a. These lower ridges 110a, 110b extend in a direction intersecting the central axis A1 of the lower plate 10. The lower plate 10 further includes an elastic pad 190 for receiving eyelashes to be curled during use. The pair of lower ridges 110a, 110b cooperate to define a groove 120 therebetween. The elastic pad 190 is disposed in the groove 120 defined between the lower ridges 110a, 110b. The elastic pad 190 extends into the groove 120 over the same extension range as the lower ridges 110a, 110b. In this embodiment, the rounded upper end of the elastic pad 190 protrudes slightly from the opening of the groove 120. Also, in this embodiment, both lower ridges 110a, 110b are curved, for example, along a circular contour having a given radius of curvature (which may vary), such that they are convex toward the distal end 100b. Further, in this embodiment, the elastic pad 190 is made, for example, of silicone rubber, but may be constructed using other suitable elastic materials.

[0032] On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 6 to Fig. 8, the upper plate 20 has a central axis (i.e., a vertical axis) A2, a proximal end 200a, a distal end 200b, and a main surface area 200c extending between the proximal end 200a and the distal end 200b. Fig. 6 to Fig. 8 show the upper plate 20 viewed from various directions. That is, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the upper plate 20, Fig. 7 is a plan view of the upper plate 20, and Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the upper plate 20 taken along line X4-X4 in Fig. 7. As shown, the proximal end 200a of the upper plate 20 has a recess 202 that is convex toward the distal end 200b. The curvature of the recess 202 is also appropriately selected as described above.

[0033] Along the curved recess 202, the upper plate 20 includes an upper ridge 210 at the proximal end 200a. The upper ridge 210 extends in a direction intersecting with the central axis A2 of the upper plate 20. As will be described in detail below, the upper ridge 210 is configured to cooperate with the elastic pad 190 of the lower plate 10 to pinch the eyelashes to be curled. In this embodiment, the upper ridge 210 is also curved corresponding to the curvature of the lower ridges 110a, 110b so as to be convex toward the distal end 200b.

[0034] The ridges 110a, 110b of the lower plate 10 and the ridge 210 of the upper plate 20 may have various cross sections. In this embodiment, an elongated rectangle with rounded ends is adopted as the cross-sectional shape of these ridges. However, the cross-sectional shape of the ridges may be a trapezoid (or an inverted trapezoid) or any other suitable shape.

[0035] 1 and 2, the lower plate 10 and the upper plate 20 are configured to be coupled to each other to be in a non-use position or a standby position. Specifically, in this embodiment, the orientation of the upper plate 20 relative to the lower plate 10 in the non-use position is opposite to the orientation of the upper plate 20 relative to the lower plate 10 in the standby position. As can be seen from FIG. 9, which is a cross section of the eyelash curler 1 shown in FIG. 1 along line X1-X1 in FIG. 1 in the non-use position, the lower plate 10 and the upper plate 20 are coupled to each other such that the upper plate 20 is in close contact with the lower plate 10. In this close contact state, the upper plate 20 cannot pivot relative to the lower plate 10. Therefore, the eyelash curler 1 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 can be called a "flat eyelash curler".

[0036] On the other hand, in the standby position, the lower plate 10 and the upper plate 20 are coupled to each other so that the elastic pad 190 and the upper protuberance 210 face each other. In such a coupled state, the upper plate 20 can function as a lever arm. That is, the upper plate 20 can pivot relative to the lower plate 10 to pinch the eyelashes to be curled between the elastic pad 190 and the upper protuberance 210 (using an appropriate elastic deformation of the upper plate 20, if necessary or in some cases). As can be seen from FIG. 10, which is a cross section of the eyelash curler 1 shown in FIG. 2 along the line X2-X2 in FIG. 2 in the standby position, the lower plate 10 and the upper plate 20 are in contact with each other along a straight line. The straight line along which the lower plate 10 and the upper plate 20 are in contact with each other in the standby position defines a virtual pivot axis B, about which the upper plate 20 pivots relative to the lower plate 10.

[0037] 3 to 5, the lower plate 10 further includes a slot 130 at its proximal end 100a. When the lower plate 10 and the upper plate 20 are coupled to each other to the non-use position, the upper protuberance 210 of the upper plate 20 can enter this slot 130. In addition, the lower plate 10 also includes an opening 140 at its distal end 100b, which extends in a direction perpendicular to the central axis A1 of the lower plate 10. The distal end 200b of the upper plate 20 has a width W2 smaller than the width W1 of the opening 140 (see FIGS. 4 and 7). Thus, in the use standby position, the lower plate 10 and the upper plate 20 are coupled to each other such that the distal end 200b of the upper plate 20 passes through the opening 140 of the lower plate 10.

[0038] In this embodiment, the eyelash curler 1 further includes a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is configured to prevent the upper plate 20 from unintentionally separating from the lower plate 10 when the lower plate 10 and the upper plate 20 are coupled together in the unused position. More specifically, the locking mechanism includes a boss 160 that protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the slot 130 of the lower plate 10 into the slot 130. As best shown in FIG. 4, a slot 170 having a width slightly larger than the width of the boss 160 is formed behind the boss 160 of the lower plate 10, i.e., between the boss 160 and the ridge 110a. This allows the boss 160 to retract slightly when the upper ridge 210 of the upper plate 20 enters the slot 130 as shown in FIG. 1. In this retracted state, the boss 160 can apply a pressing force to the upper ridge 210 of the upper plate 20. Although an embodiment having a single boss has been described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there may be multiple bosses.

[0039] As can be seen from FIG. 8, the distal end 200b of the upper plate 20 is offset from the main surface area 200c of the upper plate 20 in a direction perpendicular to the main surface area 200c. Similarly, as can be seen from FIG. 5, a portion of the distal end 100b of the lower plate 10 located distal to the opening 140 is partially offset from the main surface area 100c of the lower plate 10 in a direction perpendicular to the main surface area 100c. As described above, in the non-use position, the orientation of the upper plate 20 relative to the lower plate 10 is opposite to the orientation of the upper plate 20 relative to the lower plate 10 in the use waiting position. Thus, as shown in FIG. 9, in the flat non-use position, the distal end 200b of the upper plate 20 can fit snugly within the cavity 180 (see FIGS. 3 to 5) formed by offsetting a portion of the distal end 100b of the lower plate 10. This, combined with the further anti-separation effect provided by the engagement of the upper ridges 210 with the slots 130 of the lower plate 10, effectively prevents unintentional separation of the lower plate 10 and the upper plate 20.

[0040] Referring again to FIG. 4, the lower plate 10 is formed with a window 150. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 7, the upper plate 20 is formed with a window 250. The window 150 of the lower plate 10 and the window 250 of the upper plate 20 are configured to overlap each other partially in both the unused position and the standby position. That is, the window 150 of the lower plate 10 and the window 250 of the upper plate 20 have different sizes and shapes from each other. In this embodiment, the window 150 is a rectangle (slightly trapezoidal rectangle) with one side curved, and the window 250 is a square (slightly trapezoidal square) with one side curved. However, the windows 150 and 250 may have any other shape. For example, polygonal shapes, semicircular shapes, circular shapes, elliptical shapes, etc. other than square shapes and rectangular shapes may be adopted for the windows 150 and 250. In another embodiment, the window may be provided in only one of the lower plate 10 and the upper plate 20. In yet another embodiment, both plates 10 and 20 may not have a window. By providing the window 250, the user can visually check a part of the user's face reflected in the mirror through the window 250, in particular the area around the user's eyes and the user's eyelashes. In addition, since the two windows 150, 250 have different sizes and shapes from each other, the two plates 10, 20 can be easily separated when changing the eyelash curler 1 from the non-use position to the use waiting position. To do this, the user only needs to push out with the user's fingertip a portion of the main surface 200c of the upper plate 20 (the mesh pattern part in FIG. 7) that is in (or visible through) the window 150 of the lower plate 10.

[0041] In the following, a method for curling natural eyelashes using the eyelash curler 1 described above will be described. However, the eyelashes to be curled may be tufts of false eyelashes attached to natural eyelashes, or both natural and false eyelashes. For reference, false eyelashes generally comprise a number of individual eyelash fibers and a baseline that connects or joins the eyelash fibers substantially parallel to each other. The eyelash fibers may be synthetic or natural fibers. For example, the eyelash fibers may be silk fibers, cotton fibers, wool fibers, flax fibers, cellulose fibers, rayon fibers, polyamide (Nylon®) fibers, viscose fibers, acetate fibers, acrylic polymer fibers, polyolefin fibers, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) fibers, glass fibers, silica fibers, carbon fibers, polytetrafluoroethylene (such as Teflon®) fibers, insoluble collagen fibers, polyester fibers, polyvinyl chloride or polyvinylidene chloride fibers, polyvinyl alcohol fibers, polyacrylonitrile fibers, chitosan fibers, polyurethane fibers, polyethylene phthalate fibers, human hair, or fibers formed from a mixture of polymers such as the above-mentioned polymers, e.g. polyamide / polyester fibers.

[0042] Before being used for curling, the eyelash curler 1 is changed into a standby position for use. That is, the lower plate 10 and the upper plate 20 are reconnected from the non-use position to the standby position for use. For this purpose, the upper plate 20 is first separated from the lower plate 10 (see FIG. 11(a)). This can be easily done, for example, by pressing the main surface area 200c of the upper plate 20 with a fingertip through the window 150 of the lower plate 10. The upper plate 20 is then once again connected to the lower plate 10 in an orientation opposite to that of the non-use position. This can be easily done by first turning the upper plate 20 upside down and then inserting the distal end 200b of this inverted upper plate 20 into the opening 140 of the lower plate 10 (see FIGS. 11(b) and (c)). As a result, the eyelash curler 1 is now in a standby position for use (see FIG. 11(d)).

[0043] The process of curling the eyelashes using the eyelash curler 1 changed from the unused position to the standby position may be performed as follows. First, the user places the eyelash curler 1 in front of the face so that the eyelashes F are located between the upper raised portion 210 of the curler 1 and the elastic pad 190 (see FIG. 12(a)). After that, the user pivots the upper plate 20 relative to the lower plate 10 by applying a force from above and below with the fingertips to the proximal ends 100a, 200a of the lower plate 10 and the upper plate 20 so that they approach each other. This makes the elastic pad 190 and the upper raised portion 210 work together to curl the eyelashes F upward (see FIG. 12(b)). In this state, the upper end of the elastic pad 190 is elastically crushed by the upper raised portion 210 and becomes concave. As described above, the pivoting of the upper plate 20 may be accompanied by a moderate elastic deformation thereof.

[0044] Once the eyelashes F are compressed, the user pivots the upper plate 20 in the opposite direction relative to the lower plate 10 so that their proximal ends 100a, 200a are spaced apart from each other (see FIG. 12(c)). This can be easily done by applying force from above and below with fingertips to the distal ends 100b, 200b of the lower and upper plates 10, 20. The above process is typically repeated multiple times as necessary, with the position where the eyelashes F are pinched being shifted slightly towards the tip of the eyelashes F. As a result, the eyelashes F are now curled upwards as a whole.

[0045] After the curling process of the eyelashes F is completed, the curler is turned to a completely flat non-use position for transport or storage. That is, the lower plate 10 and the upper plate 20 are recombined from the use standby position to the non-use position. For this purpose, the upper plate 20 is once again separated from the lower plate 10 (see FIG. 13(a)). This can be easily done by pulling out the distal end 200b of the upper plate 20 from the opening 140 of the lower plate 10. The upper plate 20 is then once again combined with the lower plate 10 in an orientation opposite to that of the use standby position. This can be easily done by first turning the lower plate 10 over and then once again inserting the distal end 200b of the upper plate 20 into the opening 140 of the inverted lower plate 10 (see FIGS. 13(b) and (c)). Finally, the upper ridge 210 of the upper plate 20 is inserted into the slot 130 of the lower plate 10 by overcoming the resistance of the locking mechanism as described above. As a result, the eyelash curler 1 is now in a completely flat, non-use position which is convenient to carry around (see FIG. 13(d)).

[0046] As described above, when not in use for beauty treatment, the lower plate 10 and the upper plate 20 of the eyelash curler 1 can be coupled to each other so that the upper plate 20 is in close contact with the lower plate 10. That is, in the non-use position, the eyelash curler 1 can assume a completely flat shape with a minimum bulk, and only requires a small space for carrying and storing. Therefore, compared with the conventional eyelash curler having a relatively large bulk, the ease of carrying or portability is significantly increased. Meanwhile, when coupled to the standby position for use, the eyelash curler 1 exhibits excellent operability for beauty treatment. That is, using the eyelash curler 1, the eyelashes F can be curled safely by a simple operation, the eyelashes F to be curled are sandwiched between the elastic pad 190 and the upper ridge 210, and then the upper plate 20 is pivoted relative to the lower plate 10. In addition to this, since the eyelash curler 1 essentially consists of only two plates, namely the lower plate 10 and the upper plate 20, obtained for example by an injection process, the eyelash curler 1 is simple in structure and can therefore be manufactured at low cost compared to existing eyelash curlers.

[0047] Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention, and such modifications and changes are also included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1 Eyelash curler 10 Lower Plate 20 Upper Plate 100a Proximal end 100b Distal end 100c Main surface area 102 curved recess 110a lower ridge 110b Lower ridge 120 Groove 130 Slot 140 Aperture 150 Windows 160 Boss 170 Slot 180 Cavity 190 Elastic Pad 200a proximal end 200b Distal end 200c Main surface area 210 Upper ridge 250 Windows

Claims

1. An eyelash curling device (1) used to curl eyelashes (F), comprising: Center axis (A 1 ), a proximal end (100a), and a distal end (100b), the proximal end (100a) being provided with the central axis (A) of the lower plate (10). 1 a lower plate (10) having a pair of lower ridges (110a, 110b) extending in a direction intersecting the lower ridges (110a, 110b) and further comprising an elastic pad (190) for receiving the eyelashes (F) to be curled, the elastic pad (190) being disposed in a groove (120) defined between the lower ridges (110a, 110b); Center axis (A 2 ), a proximal end (200a), and a distal end (200b), the proximal end (200a) being provided with the central axis (A) of the upper plate (20). 2 an upper plate (20) having an upper protuberance (210) extending in a direction intersecting with the elastic pad (190), the upper protuberance (210) being configured to cooperate with the elastic pad (190) to pinch the eyelashes (F) to be curled; Equipped with The lower plate (10) and the upper plate (20) are configured so that they can be coupled to each other to either a non-use position or a use standby position; In the non-use position, the lower plate (10) and the upper plate (20) are coupled to each other such that the upper plate (20) is in intimate contact with the lower plate (10) and the upper plate (20) cannot pivot relative to the lower plate (10); In the standby position, the elastic pad (190) and the upper protuberance (210) face each other, and the lower plate (10) and the upper plate (20) are coupled to each other such that the upper plate (20) can pivot relative to the lower plate (10) to pinch the eyelashes (F) to be curled between the elastic pad (190) and the upper protuberance (210); an orientation of the upper plate (20) relative to the lower plate (10) in the unused position is opposite to an orientation of the upper plate (20) relative to the lower plate (10) in the standby position; The eyelash curler (1), wherein the lower plate (10) further comprises a slot (130) at the proximal end (100a), and when the lower plate (10) and the upper plate (20) are coupled together to be in the non-use position, the upper ridge (210) of the upper plate (20) can enter the slot (130).

2. The lower plate (10) has a distal end (100b) on which the central axis (A 1 ), and the distal end (200b) of the upper plate (20) has an opening (140) extending in a direction perpendicular to the width (W 1 ) smaller than the width (W 2 2. The eyelash curler (1) of claim 1, wherein in the standby position, the lower plate (10) and the upper plate (20) are coupled to each other such that the distal end (200b) of the upper plate (20) passes through the opening (140) of the lower plate (10).

3. 3. The eyelash curler (1) according to claim 2, wherein in the standby position, the lower plate (10) and the upper plate (20) are in contact with each other along a straight line, and the straight line along which the lower plate (10) and the upper plate (20) are in contact with each other in the standby position defines a virtual pivot axis (B) around which the upper plate (20) pivots relative to the lower plate (10).

4. 4. The eyelash curler (1) of claim 2 or 3, wherein the distal end (200b) of the upper plate (20) is offset from the main surface area (200c) of the upper plate (20) in a direction perpendicular to the main surface area (200c) of the upper plate (20), and a portion of the lower plate (10) distal to the opening (140) is at least partially offset from the main surface area (100c) of the lower plate (10) in a direction perpendicular to the main surface area (100c) of the lower plate (10).

5. 5. The eyelash curler (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a window (150) is formed in the lower plate (10) and a window (250) is formed in the upper plate (20), and the window (150) of the lower plate (10) and the window (250) of the upper plate (20) at least partially overlap each other, at least in the non-use position.

6. 6. The eyelash curler (1) according to claim 5, wherein the window (150) of the lower plate (10) and the window (250) of the upper plate (20) have different sizes and / or shapes from each other.

7. 7. The eyelash curler (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein both the lower ridges (110a, 110b) of the lower plate (10) and the upper ridges (210) of the upper plate (20) are curved so as to be convex towards their distal ends.

8. 8. The eyelash curler (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to prevent the upper plate (20) from unintentionally separating from the lower plate (10) when the lower plate (10) and the upper plate (20) are coupled together to the non-use position.

9. 9. The eyelash curler (1) according to claim 8, wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least one boss (160) protruding into the slot (130) from an inner peripheral surface of the slot (130) of the lower plate (10).

10. 10. The eyelash curler (1) of claim 9, wherein the boss (160) is configured to retract and apply a pressing force to the upper ridge (210) of the upper plate (20) when the upper ridge (210) of the upper plate (20) enters the slot (130).

11. The eyelash curler (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein at least one of the lower plate (10) and the upper plate (20) is made of a non-metallic material selected from the group consisting of plastic materials, wood, and bamboo.

12. The eyelash curler (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the lower plate (10) and the upper plate (20) is made of a plastic material.

13. The eyelash curler (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein at least one of the lower plate (10) and the upper plate (20) is made of a transparent or translucent plastic material.

Images