US20230276885A1

US20230276885A1 - Artificial eyelash extension systems having enhanced appearance

Info

Publication number: US20230276885A1
Application number: US17/687,556
Authority: US
Inventors: Jane Bang
Original assignee: Kiss Nail Products Inc
Current assignee: Kiss Nail Products Inc
Priority date: 2022-03-04
Filing date: 2022-03-04
Publication date: 2023-09-07

Abstract

An artificial eyelash extension system is described. The artificial eyelash extension system includes at least one layer of eyelash filaments and includes an appearance-enhancing additive that imparts a wet look to the eyelash extension system. Various arrangements of layers of filaments are described.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Invention Field

The field of the invention is a beauty product comprising artificial eyelash extension systems and a method of use and manufacture of the same. In some embodiments, the artificial eyelash extension systems use a liquid or gel-like additive to enhance the appearance of the eyelash extension systems.

Background

Artificial eyelash extension systems can accentuate facial features, especially if the systems can provide a distinctive look to a user's natural eyelashes. For example, one look desired by users of artificial eyelash extension systems provides artificial eyelashes that appear moist or wet.
In prior art approaches, a user typically visits a salon where a beauty technician attaches artificial eyelash filaments to the user's natural eyelashes. The technician typically treats the artificial eyelash filaments with a liquid substance that provides a wet look to the artificial eyelash filaments, such as lash bond liquid, lash detox liquid, or an adhesive. Alternatively, a user may impart a wet look by using a specialized mascara directly on the user's natural eyelashes or an artificial eyelash extension system that the user is wearing. These prior art approaches are time-consuming and/or expensive.
There exists a need for an artificial eyelash extension system which already comes with a wet look that can readily be put on a user's natural eyelashes without additional steps (e.g., applying a wet-look mascara) or visiting a salon. A need also exists for a method of using and manufacturing such artificial eyelash extension systems.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide artificial eyelash extension systems where the artificial eyelash filaments have the appearance of being wet or moist. A feature of the invention is one or more layers of eyelash filaments having an appearance-enhancing additive such as gel or aloe. An advantage of the invention is that it provides lightweight artificial eyelash extension systems with a desired wet look that are quick to apply and not expensive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, together with the above and other objects and advantages, will be best understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1A-1B depict a schematic of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2A depicts the first layer of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIGS. 2B-2C depict the first layer whose base lengths are shorter than the base length of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2D depicts the first layer of another embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 3A-3B depict the second and third layers without spaces of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A.

FIGS. 3C-3D depict the second and third layers whose base lengths are shorter than the base length of FIGS. 3A-3B.

FIGS. 3E-3F depict the second and third layers with spaces of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1B.

FIGS. 4A-4D depict various other styles of the artificial eyelash extension systems of the invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B each depict a flowchart of manufacturing embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The previous summary and the following detailed description of specific embodiments of the present invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings.
As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural said elements or steps unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property.
The phrases “lash,” “artificial eyelash,” and “eyelash,” as used herein, are interchangeable and refer to an apparatus that is not part of the wearer's body unless specifically indicated otherwise (e.g., phrases such as “natural eyelash” or “user's eyelash” refer to a part of the wearer's body).

Structure of Artificial Eyelash Extension System of the Present Invention

Turning to the figures, FIGS. 1A and 1B depict schematics of artificial eyelash extension system 10. As an overview, in FIG. 1A, the artificial eyelash extension system 10 comprises filaments 14. Filaments 14 refers to individual filaments as well as groups of individual filaments, which are combined into lines; the details are described below. Each of the filaments 14 comprises a filament tip 16 and a filament root 18. The filaments 14 are joined at the roots 18 by a support strip 17. In the extension system 10, the support strip 17 comprises a string 19 to which filaments 14 are attached. The details of the artificial eyelash extension system 10 are discussed below.
The filaments 14 of FIGS. 1A-1B are synthetic fibers made from PBT.
In the artificial extension system 10 of FIG. 1B, the eyelash filaments 14 are arranged in sets 13, where each set is separated from adjacent sets by spaces 15. One benefit of the sets 13 being separated by the spaces 15 is that the overall length of the artificial extension system 10 can be modified by the end user. Another benefit is that it creates a particular design/style that is aesthetically pleasing.
The artificial extension system 10 of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B is shown as comprised of multiple layers of eyelash filaments 14 and a support strip 17 that holds the layers together and from which the eyelash filaments 14 extend. In the figures, three layers of filaments 14 are depicted. A benefit of the three-layer design is that it creates a particularly aesthetically pleasing artificial eyelash extension system that mimics natural eyelashes.
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the string 19 is used as the support strip 17. The eyelash filaments 14 may be knotted to the string 19 when the string 19 acts as the support strip 17, or they may also be glued and/or heat fused together along the string 19 to form the support strip 17. Other embodiments may have a support strip made of a lace material instead of the string 19, as described in the applicant's U.S. Patent Application 63/298,945, filed on Jan. 12, 2022, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
As described below, an additive such as a gel is applied to the first layer whose eyelash filaments 14 are generally perpendicular to the support strip 17 to impart a wet look to the artificial eyelash extension system. The details of the layers are further described below. The arrangement and number of layers is varied (e.g., two layers, four or more layers) depending on the desired style, as described further below.
The eyelash filaments 14 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B are depicted in schematic form. As shown in the figures, the eyelash filaments 14 comprise lines of individual filaments and sets of lines of eyelash filaments. As will be described below, each line generally represents a group of eyelash filaments 14 having a similar length. A line may also comprise a single eyelash filament, as explained in more detail below. Each eyelash filament within the filaments 14 includes a tip 16 and a root 18. The eyelash filaments 14 have variable lengths and thicknesses. While the eyelash filaments 14 are shown as straight lines in the schematics of FIGS. 1A and 1B, for some artificial extension systems, the eyelash filaments 14 are curled. The eyelash filaments 14 of a given layer generally have the same or substantially the same thickness, but the thickness of the eyelash filaments 14 of the given layer can also vary depending on style. Also, the eyelash filaments 14 may be tapered at the tips 16 so that the eyelash filaments 14 become thinner toward their tips 16. As used herein, a thickness of an eyelash filament generally refers to the thickness of the eyelash filament excluding its tapered portion. In FIGS. 1A and 1B, the eyelash filaments 14 of the top layer, whose eyelash filaments extend perpendicularly from the support strip 17, have a different thickness than the other two layers. However, in artificial extension systems not shown, the eyelash filaments of different layers have substantially the same thickness.

First Layer

FIGS. 2A-2D depict the details of the first layer 22 of filaments. The first layer 22 shown in FIG. 2A is suitable as the topmost layer in the artificial extension system 10 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Depicted in FIGS. 2A-2D are eyelash filaments 24 comprising the first layer 22 that extend from a base 21 at about a 90-degree angle with respect to the base 21—the eyelash filaments of the first layer filaments 24 extend in generally a perpendicular direction with respect to the base 21. Due to manufacturing variation, some of the first layer eyelash filaments 24 are not exactly perpendicular to the base 21 and the term “perpendicular” is only being used to describe the general directional orientations of the eyelash filaments 24 of the first layer 22, the eyelash filaments 24 will be referred to as perpendicular eyelash filaments below. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, the perpendicular eyelash filaments 24 are arranged in sets 26, where each set is separated from adjacent sets by spaces 25. A set 26 is comprised of one or more lines 28, where each line 28 is comprised of one or more individual eyelash filaments to achieve a desired thickness. In FIG. 2D, the perpendicular eyelash filaments 24 are arranged in sets 26 without the spaces (such as the spaces 25 shown in FIG. 2A). As such, each set 26 is not separated by space, but instead, each set 26 is defined by a variation in the length of the filaments comprising the set.
In the first layer 22 depicted by means of an example in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2D, there are seven sets 26 per each first layer 22, five lines 28 per each set 26, and three to five perpendicular eyelash filaments 24 per each line 28. However, the individual filament fibers comprising the filaments 24 are not visible in FIG. 2D. The lengths of the perpendicular eyelash filaments 24 vary, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2D. However, they may also be substantially the same, as shown in FIG. 2B. Although FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2D show a particular arrangement of the first layer 22, depending on desired styles, the first layer 22 may have a different number of sets 26, where the sets 26 may have varying numbers of lines 28 (e.g., one line, three lines, seven lines, and so on), and the lines 28 may also have varying numbers of eyelash filaments 24 (e.g., one eyelash filament, three eyelash filaments, seven eyelash filaments, and so on). Also, while the first layer 22 of FIG. 2A has a plurality of sets 26 that are separated by spaces 25 along the support strip 17 (support strip not shown in FIG. 2A), another embodiment may have just one set 26 of lines 28 along the entire support strip 17, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C. In FIGS. 2B and 2C, the total length of the base 21 is shorter than the length of the base 21 of FIGS. 2A and 2D may be particularly useful for (but not limited to) artificial eyelash extension systems with a support strip 17 of a shorter length.
While the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-2D has three to five perpendicular eyelash filaments per each line 28, a thicker appearance that provides a heavier wet look for each line 28 can be achieved by having more eyelash filaments 24 in the line 28. Likewise, a thinner appearance can be achieved by having fewer eyelash filaments 24 in the line 28, including just a single eyelash filament. Also, each of the lines 28 within a set 26 can have a different number of perpendicular eyelash filaments 24 from other lines 28 in the same set 26 (e.g., within a set 26, one line 28 having two eyelash filaments 24 and another line 28 having seven eyelash filaments 24). The choice of such appearances depends on what particular artificial eyelash extension system style is required. In this manner, any combination or permutation of the sets, lines, and eyelash filament arrangements is possible, depending on the desired style of the artificial eyelash extension system.

Subsequent Layers

FIG. 3A depicts a schematic of the second layer 32 of filaments 34 comprising the lower levels. FIG. 3B depicts a schematic of the third layer 33 of the filaments 34. The second layer 32 and the third layer 33 are suitable for use with the artificial extension system 10 of FIG. 1A. FIGS. 3E and 3F depict a schematic of, respectively, the second layer 32 and the third layer 33 of the embodiment 10 shown in FIG. 1B. The second layer 32 is located under the first layer 22, and the third layer 33 is located under the second layer 32 in artificial extension systems such as the artificial extension system 10 of FIGS. 1A and 1B. When the three layers 22, 32, 33 are combined, the filaments 34 of the second 32 and third 33 layers are crossed with one another and also with the perpendicular eyelash filaments 24 of the first layer 22. Such a crossing arrangement is beneficial as it creates a more natural look of the artificial eyelash extension system.
The second layer 32, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3E, is comprised of a plurality of lines 38, 39. In this particular embodiment, there are repeating sets 36 of one line 38 of a generally longer length followed by two lines 39 of generally shorter lengths than the longer line 38. Unlike the first layer 22, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A, the lines 38, 39 of the second layer 32 are distributed relatively evenly along the base 31 of the lower level does not have discernable spaces between each set 36. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3E, the lines 38, 39 of the second layer 32 that are distributed fairly evenly along the base 31 may have spaces 35 between each set 36. The two shorter lines 39 may have a same length or different lengths, but both lines 39 are shorter than the longer line 38. The sets 36 repeat along the length of the base 31. However, the sets 36 may have lines of different lengths than shown in FIG. 3A, and there may not be any particular pattern (e.g., a random arrangement of lines of different lengths or an arrangement of lines of the same length).
FIGS. 3B and 3F depict the third layer 33 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The third layer 33 has the same structure as the second layer 32, but the filaments 34 of the third layer 33 are oriented in the opposite direction from the filaments 34 of the second layer 32 and lean rightward when extending from the base 31 and looking down on FIGS. 3B and 3F. Such eyelash filament orientations across the three layers 22, 32, 33 create a more natural look when the three layers 22, 32, 33 are combined to form the embodiment of FIGS. 1A and 1B. Also, like the second layer 32, the sets 36 of the third layer 33 may have lines of different lengths than shown in FIG. 3B, and there may not be any particular pattern (e.g., a random arrangement of lines of different lengths, or an arrangement of lines of the same length).
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E and 3F, each line 38, 39 is comprised of two filaments 34. In other embodiments, however, the number of eyelash filaments can vary depending on style choices. Also, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, and 3F, the filaments 34 of the second and third layers 32, 33 are oriented to lean, respectively, leftward and rightward as they extend from the base 31 when looking down on FIGS. 1A, 1B, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E and 3F. However, other embodiments may have different orientations of filaments 34 depending on style choices.
The sets 36 of the second 32 and third 33 layers may have varying numbers of lines 38, 39 (e.g., one line, three lines), and each line 38, 39 may have varying numbers of filaments 34 (e.g., one eyelash filament, three eyelash filaments). As explained above, the lines 38, 39 may also be arranged without any discernable pattern, and the lines 38, 39 may also have substantially similar lengths. Also, while the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B do not have distinct spaces separating the sets 36, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3E and 3F may have distinct spaces 35 separating the sets 36, similar to the spaces 25 separating the sets 26 of the first layer 22 in FIG. 2A. In this manner, the second and third layers 32, 33 may be comprised of any combination or permutation of the patterns, spaces, lines, and eyelash filament arrangements depending on particular styles of the artificial eyelash extension systems of this invention.
Further, while the second and third layers 32, 33 of FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3E, and 3F have base lengths that match the base length of the layer of FIGS. 2A and 2D, another embodiment may have second and third layers with shorter base lengths, as shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, that match the shorter base lengths of the first layer shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C. Any commercially reasonable base lengths are possible, and embodiments with shorter base lengths may be particularly useful for (but not limited to) embodiments with a support strip 17 of a shorter length.
The first layer 22, the second layer 32, and the third layer 33 can be combined to create the artificial extension system 10 of FIGS. 1A and 1B. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the perpendicular eyelash filaments 24 of the first layer 22 are generally thicker in diameter than the filaments 34 of the second 32 and third 33 layers, which provides a more natural look to the artificial eyelash extension system of the present invention. Similarly, the first layer 22 has lengthier eyelash filaments 24 on average, than the second 32 and third 33 layers. These arrangements can provide a more natural look when the three layers 22, 32, 33 are combined.
While the embodiment of FIGS. 1A and 1B has three layers 22, 32, 33 of filaments 24, 34, another embodiment may have four layers if a heavier look is desired. Likewise, a two-layer embodiment is also possible if a lighter look is desired. Like the three-layer embodiment of FIGS. 1A and 1B, embodiments with more than three layers may have the first layer comprised of eyelash filaments that generally extend perpendicularly from the support strip with thicknesses that are generally greater than the eyelash filaments of subsequent layers. In the same manner, other embodiments may have more than four layers (e.g., five layers, nine layers), where the top first layer is comprised of generally thicker eyelash filaments while the subsequent layers have eyelash filaments that are thinner. However, as explained above, whether to have the thickest eyelash filaments on the first layer and the choice of eyelash filament orientations on each layer will depend on one's stylistic choices, and various combinations and permutations are possible to create the desired appearance.

Imparting a Wet Appearance

To impart a wet look, an additive is applied to at least one layer of the artificial eyelash extension system during manufacturing. The additive can be a mixture of aloe, gel, glue, and/or water in any combination. In one embodiment, the additive comprises a mixture of aloe gel and hair gel in a one-to-seven ratio (one part aloe gel, seven parts hair gel). In one embodiment, the hair gel used is Gatsby brand from Mandom Corporation of Japan.
In other embodiments, the additive is comprised of one-to-one or a two-to-one mixture of hair gel and water. Such a formulation for the additive is particularly suitable for application to synthetic eyelash filaments. When the part of water (in a mixture of hair gel and water) in the additive is one, the part of hair gel (in a mixture of hair gel and water) in the additive may have a varying range between one and two depending on the degree of wet look (for example a ratio of 1.3-to-1 mixture of hair gel and water, 1.5-to-1 mixture of hair gel and water, 1.7-to-1 mixture of hair gel and water, and so on). To increase the degree of wet look for an additive comprising a mixture of hair gel and water or a mixture of aloe gel and hair gel, the relative amount of the hair gel is increased.
The additive formulations are summarized in the table below:

TABLE 1

Additive Formulations

Additive

	Aloe Gel	1 part
	Hair Gel	7 parts

Alternative Additive

	Water	1 part
	Hair Gel	1 part

Further Alternative Additive

	Water	1 part
	Hair Gel	1 part to 2 parts

Other suitable substances may also be used to create the additive, such as lash bond liquid, nano mister base, lash detox, glue, etc. Although the ratios of the hair gel to water and aloe gel to hair gel are described above, depending on the desired wet look, designs, or styles, the ratios vary. Further, while water may be an ingredient in some formulations, the gels such as the hair gel or the aloe gel contain variable amounts of water. As such, the ratios require adjustment depending on the type of hair gel or aloe gel used.
One method of imparting a wet look is to apply the additive after the three layers 22, 32, 33 are combined and a support strip 17 has been formed. Typically, the top layer 22 receives the additive by applying the additive using any suitable tools. The additive may seep down from the top to lower layers to create a natural wet look. Another method of imparting a wet look is to apply the additive while the three layers 22, 32, 33 are separated (e.g., before they are combined). That way, the additive is applied only on the target layer(s) while minimizing the chance that the additive would affect the other layers that are not intended to receive the additive.
The choice of when the additive is applied depends on one's preferences regarding designs and styles of artificial eyelash extension systems, and it also depends on manufacturing considerations. As described further below, applying the additive while the three layers 22, 32, 33 are separated generally involves additional manufacturing steps compared to applying the additive after the three layers 22, 32, 33 are combined.
In three-layer embodiments where the additive is applied while the three layers are separated, the additive is applied to the first layer 22 on the lines 28 of the perpendicular eyelash filaments 24. The first layer 22 is treated with the additive, generally by applying the additive with a brush 30, by hand, or other suitable implement or tool. However, the second 32 and third 33 layers do not receive the additive. After the additive is applied, it can optionally be allowed to dry. If it is dried, the drying can happen in a room temperature and humidity, either with or without a fan (which may be heated for faster drying time), or in a heated oven. Afterward, the three layers are placed on top of each other and a support strip 17 is formed to create an artificial eyelash extension system with a wet look. However, it is also possible that the three layers are combined while the top layer that received the additive is still wet in order to purposely smudge the additive from the first layer onto the second and/or the third layers or from the second and/or third layers to the first layer.
In a four-layer embodiment where the additive is applied while the four layers are separated, the additive can be applied to the first layer, and optionally also to either the second, third and/or fourth layer(s) (e.g., first and second layers, or first and third layers). In such embodiments with four or more layers, the additive is generally applied to the first layer, and optionally also to either the second, third and/or fourth layer(s) (e.g., first and second layers, or first and third layers). However, the application of the additive can include other combinations, such as an application to first and fourth layers, top three layers, etc.
As explained in connection with a three-layer embodiment in the preceding paragraphs, after the additive is applied (and, optionally, dried), the three layers are placed on top of each other, and a support strip 17 is formed to create an artificial eyelash extension system with a wet look.
However, like described above, in other embodiments, the additive can be applied after a support strip 17 has already been formed, and the layers are already combined. Again, personal preferences and tastes will determine a particular combination and permutation to be used.
An additive made up of a combination of aloe gel, and hair gel (in about a 1 to 7 ratio) and/or water combined with hair gel (in about a 1-to-1 or 1-to-2 ratio) is applied on the top layer after the support strip has already been formed and thus the three layers are already combined. FIGS. 4A-4D further show various other styles of the artificial eyelash extension systems of the present invention with four or five layers of eyelash filaments to which the additive is applied after the layers are combined in the same way as the ones shown in FIGS. 1A-1B. The additive shown in FIGS. 4A-4D has generally been applied over the half portion (depicted as line A2 in FIGS. 1A and 1B) of the eyelash filaments to the tip portion of the eyelash filaments (50% range of the eyelash filaments). The embodiments shown in FIGS. 4A-4D have a various number of layers. In the embodiments of FIGS. 4A-4D, the eyelash filaments are also synthetic fibers made from PBT, and am additive made up of a mixture of hair gel and water (in about a 1-to-1 or 2-to-1 ratio) is applied on the top layer after the layers are already combined.
FIGS. 4A-4D are illustrative examples, and a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the portion of the eyelash filaments described above is a portion based on the overall length of the eyelash filaments because the lengths of the eyelash filaments may vary. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, if the addictive has generally been applied over the half portion (A2 as shown in FIGS. 1A-1B) of the eyelash filaments to the tip portion of the eyelash filaments (50% range of the eyelash filaments), the length of the second layer and/or third layer (is shorter than the length of the first layer) will be applied the additive over a relatively small range compared to the first layer because the overall length of the eyelash filaments may be measured based on the first layer. The range and portion of the additive application will be therefore considered in this way above by the person of ordinary skill in the art.
The artificial eyelash extension system shown in FIG. 4A has four layers that have been applied with an additive made up of a mixture of hair gel and water in about a 1-to-1 ratio (1 part hair gel, 1 part water). The artificial eyelash extension system shown in FIG. 4B has 4 layers that have been applied with an additive made up of a mixture of hair gel and water in a 1-to-1 ratio (1 part hair gel, 1 part water). The artificial eyelash extension system shown in FIG. 4C has 4 layers that have been applied with an additive made up of a mixture of hair gel and water in a 1-to-1 ratio (1 part hair gel, 1 part water). The artificial eyelash extension system shown in FIG. 4D has 5 layers that have been applied with an additive made up of a mixture of hair gel and water in a 2-to-1 ratio (2 parts hair gel, 1 part water). In the embodiment of FIGS. 4A and 4C, there are spaces like the spaces 15 shown in FIG. 1B. On the other hand, in other embodiment of FIGS. 4B and 4D, there are no spaces shown in FIG. 1A.
The extent of the wet look depends on the range of the additive application on the eyelash filaments. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the additive may be applied to the potential additive application area A0 denoted by dashed lines. However, the range of application of the additive is varied, depending on the extent of the wet look desired to be achieved. While potential additive application area A0 is shown as a rectangle, other shapes of the application area are used, such as a crescent moon shape, an oval, or another appropriate shape (not shown).
For example, line A2 shows the approximate half portion of the total area of application. The quarter portion is shown as line A3, or from the three-quarters portion, shown as line A1. Generally, the portions refer to the lengths of the top layer of the eyelash filaments from the root to the tip.
Although FIGS. 1A and 1B show three lines, depending on the desired style, the additive application may have varying ranges (e.g., 30% range of the eyelash filaments, 45% range of the eyelash filaments, 70% range of the eyelash filaments, and so on). In the root areas of eyelash filaments to which the additive is not applied, the wet look is achieved by the additive which travels on the eyelash filaments to which the additive is applied. The additive may move up the eyelash filaments due to wicking action, for example.
In another example, the additive may be generally applied to an artificial eyelash extension system with four layers from the half portion of the eyelash filaments to the tip portion of the eyelash filaments (50% range of the eyelash filaments). The additive uses a hair gel and water in a 2-to-1 ratio (2 parts hair gel, 1 part water). The degree of wet look may be adjusted depending on the range of the additive application on the eyelash filaments. If the number of layer and/or eyelash filaments is large, the degree of wet look may be adjusted by increasing amount of the additive application, the part of hair gel (in a mixture of hair gel and water, or a mixture of aloe gel and hair gel) in the additive, combinations thereof. These are illustrative examples, and a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the portion of the eyelash filaments described above is a portion based on the overall length of the eyelash filaments because the lengths of the eyelash filaments may vary. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, if the addictive has generally been applied from the ½ portion (A2 as shown in FIGS. 1A-1B) of the eyelash filaments to the tip portion of the eyelash filaments (50% range of the eyelash filaments), the length of the second layer and/or third layer (is shorter than the length of the first layer) will be applied the additive over a relatively small range compared to the first layer because the overall length of the eyelash filaments may be measured based on the first layer. The range and portion of the additive application will be therefore considered in this way above by the person of ordinary skill in the art.

Manufacturing Process

The manufacturing process for the artificial eyelash extension systems of the present invention is described in FIGS. 5A and 5B. The manufacturing process 50, 60 may begin by creating 51, 61 filaments 24, 34. Each layer 22, 32, 33 may have different designs and patterns. Examples of such designs and patterns are shown in FIGS. 2A-3F. A double-sided tape is typically used to hold the filaments 24, 34 on the flat surface. When the filaments 24, 34 are placed and held accordingly, the individual layers 22, 32, 33 are formed, as shown in FIGS. 2A-3F.
Once the layers 22, 32, 33 are created, the layers 22, 32, 33 may be combined 53, 65 by adhesive (e.g., glue, heat fusion, or any combination thereof). The layer 22 having a different thickness than those of the other two layers 32, 33 may be placed on top of the other two layers 32, 33.
To impart a wet look, an additive may be applied 57 to the layer 22 of the cut layers 22, 32, 33 before packaging 59 as shown in FIG. 5A. In the embodiment of FIG. 5A, the combined layers 22, 32, 33 may optionally be placed on a rolling paper to impart curls to them (e.g., rolling the eyelash filaments over a pipe and placing such rolling pipes in an oven). Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5B, the additive may be applied 63 to the layer(s) of the created layers 22, 32, 33 before combining layers 65. The layer(s) which will receive the additive remain separated shown in FIG. 5B until a later combination step 65 followed by a packaging step 69.
During the application steps 57, 63, the additive is applied with a PVC film, a brush, hand or other suitable tools to the layer(s), which are then set aside to dry. The drying can occur in a room temperature setting, or by blowing air (including heated air), or by placing the wet layer in a drying heated chamber for an appropriate amount of time.
Once the layer(s) that received the additive are sufficiently dry, all layers (both the layers that received the additive and the layers that did not) are placed on top of each other and a support strip 17 is formed to combine the layers together, creating the artificial eyelash extension system of the present invention.
In another embodiment, the additive is applied before or after the layers are already combined by forming a support strip.
The above process generally describes the manufacturing process for the artificial eyelash extension system of the present invention. However, a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that there are other various steps that are typically common in artificial eyelash extension system manufacturing in general but are omitted herein.
Although exemplary implementations of the invention have been depicted and described in detail herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that various modifications, additions, substitutions, and the like can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These are therefore considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. While the dimensions and types of materials described herein are intended to define the invention parameters, they are by no means limiting but are instead exemplary embodiments. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” are used merely as labels and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are not written in means-plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph, unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function void of further structure.

Claims

1-8. (canceled)

9. An artificial eyelash extension system comprising:

a support strip;

a plurality of eyelash filaments, each eyelash filament having a tip and a root;

wherein at least some of the roots of the plurality of eyelash filaments are joined at the support strip;

an additive applied over at least a part of the plurality of eyelash filaments joined at the support strip, wherein the additive imparts a wet look to the artificial eyelash extension system.

10. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of eyelash filaments are arranged into multiple layers comprising a first layer, and at least one lower layer, wherein the first layer is a topmost layer of the multiple layers.

11. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 10, wherein the additive is applied over the first layer.

12. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 11, wherein the application of the additive is done over less than full lengths of the eyelash filaments of the first layer.

13. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 11, wherein the additive is applied only to the first layer.

14. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 9, wherein the additive comprises at least one of following ingredients: aloe gel, hair gel, glue, water, lash bond liquid, nano mister base, or lash detox solution.

15. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 14, wherein the additive comprises a mixture of at least two of the ingredients.

16. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 15, wherein the additive comprises a mixture of either water and hair gel or aloe gel and hair gel.

17. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 16, wherein the mixture comprises one part of water and one part to two parts of hair gel.

18. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 16, wherein the mixture comprises seven parts of hair gel mixed with one part of aloe gel.

19. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 14, wherein the additive comprises water, and wherein a quantity of added water is varied based on an amount of water present in another ingredient of the additive.

20. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 10, wherein the additive is applied after the layers of the plurality of eyelash filaments have been joined at the support strip.

21. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 10, wherein the additive is applied before the layers of the plurality of eyelash filaments are joined at the support strip.

22. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 10, wherein the additive is smudged from one layer to another layer after application to the plurality of eyelash filaments.

23. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 9, wherein the additive is applied over variable portions of lengths of the plurality of eyelash filaments.

24. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 23, wherein the additive is applied over a three-quarters portion or less of an average length of the eyelash filaments comprising at least a part of the plurality of the eyelash filaments.

25. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 24, wherein the additive is applied over a half portion or less of the average length.

26. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 25, wherein the additive is applied over a quarter portion or less of the average length.

27. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 10, wherein the first layer extends substantially perpendicular with respect to the support strip.

28. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 10, wherein the at least one lower layer comprises two or more lower layers, and each of the two or more lower layers has different orientations than the first layer, and the two or more lower layers have orientations that are crisscrossed with each other.

29. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 10, wherein the eyelash filaments of the first layer are thicker in diameter than the eyelash filaments of the at least one lower layer.

30. The artificial eyelash extension system of claim 10, wherein number of the eyelash filaments of the first layer is greater than number of the eyelash filaments of each of the at least one lower layer.