HK40064644B - Device for curing hair and lash extension gel - Google Patents

Description

Device for curing hair extensions and eyelash gel.

Cross-reference

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 16/442,317, which is related to U.S. Patent Application No. 15/143,118, which in turn claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/155,902, both of which are entitled “Chemical Minimization System for Shortening the Time of Applying Eyelashes”, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

This application generally relates to segmenting and attaching extensions to hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows, and more specifically to an apparatus for curing an application gel for attaching the extensions to a target area and a method of using said apparatus.

Background of the Invention

Applying extensions to hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows is well-known. However, the use of adhesive compounds for placing such extensions presents problems, as these compounds either do not dry quickly enough or result in unsightly and unacceptable clumping. Therefore, a means for quickly and efficiently drying such compounds is desired.

Attached Figure Description

Figure 1 is a perspective view from the left front of the gel curing device.

Figure 2 is a perspective view from the right rear of the gel curing apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the gel solidification apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the gel solidification apparatus shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5A is a perspective view of the glue cap, and Figure 5B is a perspective view illustrating the molded part used in conjunction with the glue cap of Figure 5A.

Figures 6A and 6B are perspective views of the gel curing apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2, respectively, wherein the apparatus includes tweezers.

Figure 6B is a top view of the gel curing apparatus including tweezers.

Figure 7 is a flowchart of the process of using the apparatus in Figure 1 to cure the applied gel.

Figures 8A and 8B are perspective views of an alternative tweezers holding device.

Detailed Implementation

The following disclosure relates to an apparatus for curing an adhesive gel of the type used to bond extensions to hair, eyelashes, or eyebrows. The apparatus is configured to house tweezers for manipulating one or more extensions and to emit light toward a target area between the tweezer arms to cure a photoactivated gel for bonding the extensions.

For example, Figures 1 through 4 illustrate one embodiment of an apparatus 100 for curing gel-type adhesives, wherein Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of the apparatus, and Figures 3 and 4 are corresponding exploded views of the apparatus. The apparatus 100 includes several component parts, most of which may be individually formed of molding plastic or equivalent materials and then attached together using a suitable adhesive or other known methods; however, it is conceivable that some or all of the components or equivalent parts described herein may be formed as a single integrated device or a single molded part. The body 110 is a generally rectangular hollow box extending collinearly with the longitudinal axis A. A circuit housing 120 is mounted on top of the body 110 and includes an electronic circuit system and a battery. A lamp tube 130 is attached to the front of the body 110. Preferably, the lamp tube 130 is flexible to facilitate manipulation of the tube to better focus light onto a target area. A pair of wedges 140, 145, or tweezers guides are attached to the bottom of the body 110.

As best shown in the exploded views of Figures 3 and 4, the main body 110 includes a rectangular main housing 111 and a switch housing 116 attached to the main housing. The main housing portion 111 includes a tab 112 extending forward from one side of the rectangular housing; and a switch stop 113 formed on the tab to engage with a switch. For example, the switch stop 113 is formed by a U-shaped interrupter 114 to allow simple actuation of the switch stop to detect action taken to activate light. Thus, the switch is coupled to a circuit board attached to the inside of the tab within the stop/interruptor.

The switch housing 116 includes an inner portion 117 and a cover 118, the cover 118 being snapped onto the inner portion. Both the inner portion 117 and the cover 118 include corresponding hemispherical recesses 119 disposed within these parts to hold a rotating ball 131 attached to the proximal end of the lamp tube 130. The rotating ball 131, mated within the recesses 119, allows the flexible lamp tube 130 to move to a certain extent to better focus the emitted light onto a target area. The lamp tube 130 is flexible and has a hollow interior for extending wires into the LED.

The circuit housing 120 is attached to the top of the main body portion 110 and includes a base portion 121, a component housing 122, and a cap 123. The base portion 121 is attached to the main body 110 via a hollow post 124. A rechargeable battery (e.g., a button cell battery) is installed to power the circuit board, which has control wires extending from the circuit board in the component housing 122 through the post 124 into the main body 110 and then into a switch portion 116, which is then connected to a light-emitting diode 132 attached to the end of a lamp tube 130.

Figure 5A illustrates one embodiment of the cap 123. Advantageously, in this embodiment, the cap 123 is formed as shown to have at the top of the cap: a central bowl 173 for holding glue; a first water collection groove 174 surrounding the central bowl; a top ring 175 having ridges to serve as a glue reducing tube element, i.e., for pulling the attachment across the ridges of the top ring to minimize the glue on the attachment; a second water collection groove 176 surrounding the top ring; and an outer wall 177 forming the periphery of the second water collection groove.

Figure 5B illustrates the molded part 183 used in conjunction with the cap 123 as a pressing member. For example, an aluminum foil can be placed inside the molded part 183, and the pressing member 123 is used in conjunction with the feature of the molded part to cut and shape the aluminum foil for placement on top of the battery cap.

Returning to Figures 1 through 4, the first wedge 140 and the second wedge 145 are individually attached to the bottom of the main housing 111. For example, in this embodiment, the main housing 111 is formed to include a channel 190 formed in the bottom of the housing and having magnetic elements therein for attracting and holding the two wedges 140, 145. Thus, the top of each wedge includes a magnetic tab 149 configured to protrude within the channel 190 and be held magnetically, but still movable within the channel.

The first wedge 140 includes a magnet 141 embedded within a sidewall to attract and hold one of the tweezer arms in place against the sidewall and bottom edge. This allows the operator to close the tweezers using only one finger on the free tweezer arm. In another embodiment, the first wedge 140 will not have an open side but will be closed (like the second wedge), leaving an opening to receive the tweezers, the size of which limits the tweezers from being fully opened. The second wedge 145 has a closed side, wherein an opening 146 passes through the wedge to allow the rear end of the tweezers to be held in the opening. Thus, the positions of the wedges 140 and 145 can be adjusted within the channel 190 to provide operator comfort and/or to offer tweezers of different sizes.

In one possible embodiment of the scheme illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, device 100 has the following approximate dimensions: Main housing 111 is 135 mm long by 12 mm wide. Switch portion 116 is 15 mm wide. Component compartment 122 has a diameter of 29 mm, and glue cap 123 has a height of 23.5 mm. Post 124 has a height of 5 mm. Lamp tube 130, including the attached ball joint, is 35 mm long and angled at 45 degrees at its tip. The ball joint has a diameter of 8 mm and allows lamp tube 130 to rotate at least 15 degrees from the centerline of the tube. Wedges 140 and 145 have a height of 18 mm. Channel 190 has a total length of 85 mm, with an adjustment range of 65 mm from the front to the rear of the channel.

The light-emitting diode (“LED”) 132 is a preferred component that cures the applied gel via photoinitiation, and in this embodiment, the LED is attached within the lamp tube 130 to emit light from the open end of the tube. Preferably, the LED is operated using an electrical input that causes the light emission to be at or near a UV-A wavelength, said UV-A wavelength being in the general range of 315 nm to 400 nm, wherein the peak wavelength range is between approximately 395 nm and 405 nm and the average wavelength is 400 nm. In a preferred embodiment, the LED is driven at 405 nm. However, other wavelengths may be used depending on the application.

By incorporating a microprocessor as part of the LED control circuitry, the system can be programmed to drive the LED at a UV-A frequency in a driving scheme, turning it off between each energy application, and controlling the energy flow density using pulse width modulation. For example, programmed operation allows selected applications to have predetermined exposure cycles and delays, thereby eliminating the need for the operator to attempt to determine suitable exposure cycles and intervals during system operation. This programming increases operational efficiency, extends the expected LED lifetime, and reduces the likelihood of overexposure to the target area. Alternatively, the operator can manually control and adjust the duration and intensity of the applied light based on experience.

The microprocessor can connect to the wirelessly rechargeable circuitry and battery housed in component compartment 122, and can also connect to Bluetooth transmitters and receivers, as well as microcontrollers and safety shut-off relays. The use of a microprocessor also allows for a wireless operating system.

A smear gel is used to achieve bonding of the extended portion. The smear gel is formulated using a combination of monomers (e.g., ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) and photoinitiators (e.g., trimethylbenzoylphenylphosphine). In a preferred formulation, the amount of photoinitiator in the smear gel ranges from 1% to 5%. Other types of useful gel adhesives include UV and non-UV fluorescent cyanoacrylate adhesive components, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether adhesives, and epoxide groups. The smear gel holds each smeared object in place at the intended target area and can be cured from a viscous state to a hardened state by exposing the smear gel to LED emission.

In Figures 6A to 6C, the device 100 is shown as including tweezers 102. In Figure 6A, the tweezers 102 is held in place by wedges 140 and 145, and the lamp 130 is aimed at the target area between the tips of the tweezers. In Figure 6B, the rear end of the tweezers 102 is positioned through an opening 146 in the rear wedge 145, and one arm of the tweezers is held in place at the front wedge 140. The rear wedge 145 can move within a channel 190 to clamp or release the grip on the tweezers 102. The opening 146 in the rear wedge 146 can limit the extent to which the tweezers arm can open, for example, limiting the gap 103 between the tips of normal tweezers with a 10mm opening when at rest to a gap range between 2mm and 4mm.

In an alternative embodiment, the first wedge 180 may be configured to include a sensor embedded with the wedge. The sensor detects the opening and closing movements of the tweezers, and, for example, the control circuitry may be configured to initiate a programmed illumination cycle upon detecting that the tweezers have opened, closed, and then opened again, thereby indicating that the extension portion has been placed and released by the tweezers.

Figure 7 illustrates method 200 of using device 100. In step 202, an application area for use is prepared. For example, one or more protective strips may be cut and positioned to fit the contour of the application area. Any type of fabric containing synthetic materials, such as cotton, can be used as the protective strip. In one embodiment, the surface of the protective strip is coated with plastic to prevent the application gel from adhering to the protective strip.

In step 204, the desired amount of gel is placed in a convenient and suitable location. For example, the gel can be placed on a plastic adhesive tray or another protective strip, or alternatively, the gel can be placed at the attachment point. In step 206, the application area (e.g., a section of eyelash extension) is segmented near the gel. Typically, the gel and strip are placed on the same eyelash and glue tray, which is simply a flat surface made of glass, metal, or plastic.

In step 208, if not yet completed, then in step 210 the operator inserts tweezers 102 into device 100 and uses the tweezers to hold the desired number of objects to be coated, such as eyelashes or a few strands of hair. In step 212, the roots of the eyelashes or hair are dipped into the coating gel and placed at the target area, preferably less than 1/2 mm from the eyelid or scalp. If necessary, then in step 214 a brushless micro-applier is used to smooth out any coating gel that may be uneven or clumped on the object to be coated. Furthermore, if the glue bowl 123 shown in FIG. 5A is used, then the ridge 175 can be used to scrape off excess gel after dipping. The brushless applicator can be attached to the tweezers, for example, by adhering it to the rear end. Then in step 216, the object to be coated with the coating gel is placed at the desired attachment point.

In step 218, the operating device 100 supplies power to the UV light source as needed to cure the applied gel on the extension portion, thus fixing the extension portion at the desired target position. Finally, in step 220, the process can be repeated multiple times as needed to achieve the desired result.

Figures 8A and 8B illustrate alternative embodiments in which the wedge and tweezers are used independently. The first wedge 340 is O-shaped and has a magnet 341 embedded in at least one of its sidewalls to hold one arm of the tweezers in place; and an opening 342 for receiving the tweezers. The second wedge 345 is more elongated and has a magnet 346 embedded in one of its sidewalls; and a hole 347 for attaching a lanyard. The second wedge may be equipped with a rounded bottom profile to make it more comfortable for the skin when holding the tweezers.

Therefore, device 100 has numerous applications, including curing gel adhesives used in conjunction with eyelash extensions; attaching strands of hair to the scalp near the hairline; and forming a string of gels to recreate the appearance of hair at the ends of native eyelashes to increase length. Using a UV-curable gel allows the gel to be applied like mascara and cured using light. Applying the curable gel to each strand of eyelash thickens and lengthens the lashes, making them more prominent. This technique also helps maintain curled and longer lashes, for example, after perming or using an eyelash curler. The extension can be attached to the midpoint of the native lashes rather than at the root (more precisely, the root of the lash closest to the skin/eyelid) to extend length.

Finally, different types of light can be used for different applications. For example, one type of light can be used to cure the applied gel, while another type of light can be used to precisely illuminate the target area.

The foregoing is presented for illustrative and explanatory purposes only and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit this disclosure to its precise form. Many modifications and variations may be made in light of this disclosure.

Claims (16)

1. An apparatus comprising: A housing aligned about a longitudinal axis and having a front, rear, top, and bottom; A hollow tube having a proximal end attached to the front portion of the housing and extending from the housing to a distal end; An LED light is attached to the distal end of the hollow tube and is adapted to illuminate a target area near the distal end of the hollow tube. A circuit that is attached to the housing and configured and connected to drive the LED light; A first wedge, coupled to the bottom of the housing and having a first channel oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the first channel is adapted to receive at least one arm of a pair of forceps for operation of the pair of forceps in the target area; a second wedge, coupled to the bottom portion of the housing and positioned at the rear of the first wedge, the second wedge having a second channel oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis and aligned with the first channel, wherein the second channel is sized to accommodate the rear portions of the pair of forceps; and A magnet is attached to the first channel of the first wedge to magnetically hold at least one arm of the pair of tweezers in place within the first channel. 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises: A track is formed along the bottom of the housing, wherein the first wedge is movably engaged within the track. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the second wedge is movably coupled within the track. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the LED light emits ultraviolet light. 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the LED light emits ultraviolet light at a UV-A wavelength. 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the circuit further comprises: A microprocessor programmed with instructions to drive the LED lights. 7. The device of claim 1, further comprising: At least one sensor is attached to the first wedge and configured to detect the opening and closing movements of the tweezers, wherein the circuitry is configured to initiate a programmed illumination cycle based on the opening and closing movements of the tweezers. 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the programmed illumination cycle is initiated when the sensor detects that the tweezers open, then close, then open again. 9. The device of claim 1, further comprising: A compartment is attached to the housing, wherein the circuitry is housed within the compartment and connected to the LED light. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the hollow tube is flexible. 11. An apparatus comprising: case; A flexible hollow tube is attached to and extends from the front portion of the housing; LED lights are attached to the distal end of the flexible hollow tube; A circuit, which is attached to the housing and configured and connected to drive the LED light to a UV-A wavelength; A first wedge, which is attached to the bottom portion of the housing and adapted to receive and hold a pair of tweezers so that the pair of tweezers can operate in a target area near the distal end of the flexible hollow tube; and A second wedge, which is aligned with the first wedge and attached to the bottom portion of the housing, is adapted to receive and hold the rear portions of the pair of tweezers and is coupled to and movable along a track formed along the bottom portion of the housing. 12. The device as claimed in claim 11, The first wedge is connected to the track and can move along the track. 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the track includes a magnetic element and the first wedge includes a first magnetic connector, the first magnetic connector being coupled to the magnetic element of the track. 14. The device of claim 11, wherein the circuitry further comprises: A microprocessor programmed with instructions to drive the LED lights. 15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: At least one sensor is attached to the first wedge and configured to detect movement of the tweezers, wherein the circuitry is configured to initiate a programmed illumination cycle based on the movement of the tweezers. 16. The device of claim 11, wherein the circuit is configured to drive the LED to have a wavelength of 405 nm.