Cosmetic tool
10278470 ยท 2019-05-07
Assignee
Inventors
- Motoki Takata (Yokohama, JP)
- Akihito Torii (Yokohama, JP)
- Tomochika Fujioka (Tokyo, JP)
- Yusuke Okamoto (Ibaraki, JP)
- Kosuke Matsuo (Ibaraki, JP)
- Akira Tanbaji (Ibaraki, JP)
- Mayumi Nakamura (Ibaraki, JP)
- Eiji Sakata (Ibaraki, JP)
Cpc classification
A45D2200/155
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
A45D34/04
HUMAN NECESSITIES
Abstract
Provided is a mascara applicator for shaping eyelashes while heating the eyelashes and applying mascara liquid while heating the mascara liquid to a suitable temperature so that application of makeup on the eyelashes can be carried out in a short time in total. The mascara applicator includes: a container 1 for housing mascara liquid; an application body 2 to be attached to and detached from the container 1; and a shaping body 3 to be attached to and detached from the application body 2. The application body 2 includes an application rod 11 in a shape of a hollow shaft to be inserted into the container 1 and an application portion 12 provided at an end portion of the application rod 11. The shaping body 3 includes a shaping rod 21 to be housed by insertion into the application rod 11, a heating shaping portion 22, and a heater 29. The heater 29 can be switched between an OFF state and two stages of ON states. A heat generating temperature of the heater 29 in a state in which the shaping body 3 is attached to the application body 2 is set to be lower than a heat generating temperature of the heater 29 in a state in which the shaping body 3 is detached from the application body 2.
Claims
1. A cosmetic tool system comprising: a main body portion forming a proximal end of the cosmetic tool for grasping by a user; a heating rod provided at a distal end of the main body portion and extending distally away from the main body portion, the heating rod having a heating portion formed at a distal-most portion thereof, the heating portion including a heater disposed within the heating portion; at least two combing attachments having a plurality of comb teeth or bristles on an exterior surface thereof for combing and/or applying a composition to eyelashes, the at least two combing attachments being detachably coupled to the main body portion or the heating rod such that only one of the at least two combing attachments can be coupled at a time, the at least two applicator attachments include a first combing attachment and a second combing attachment, wherein: the first combing attachment is detachably coupled to the main body portion through a first connection structure such that when coupled, the first combing attachment covers the heating rod and heating portion thereof; and the second combing attachment is detachably coupled to the heating rod through a second connection structure such that when coupled, the second combing attachment covers the heating portion and a majority of the heating rod is exposed; each of the at least two combing attachments having a sensor structure at a connection portion between the respective combing attachment and the main body portion or the heating rod, the main body portion having a sensor structure at the connection portion thereof which cooperatively functions with the sensor structure of the first combing attachment to sense whether or not the first combing attachment is attached to the main body portion and the heating rod having at least one sensor structure at the connection portion thereof which cooperatively functions with the sensor structure of the second combing attachment to sense whether or not the second combing attachment is attached to the heating rod; wherein the heater is configured to set a first heating temperature of the heating rod such that the heating rod is heated at the first heating temperature when the first combing attachment is sensed to be attached to the main body portion, the heater is configured to set a second heating temperature of the heating rod such that the heating rod is heated at the second heating temperature when the second combing attachment is sensed to be attached to the heating rod, and the first heating temperature is different from the second heating temperature.
2. The cosmetic tool according to claim 1, wherein the heating portion is formed as a heating shaping portion for shaping eyelashes, the first combing attachment is formed as an application body for applying mascara liquid, the application body having: a cap to be attached to the main body portion by the first connection structure, an application rod in a shape of a hollow shaft supported by the cap, and an application portion provided at an end portion of the application rod, and an outer face of the heating shaping portion is covered with the application portion in a state in which the application body is attached to the main body portion.
3. The cosmetic tool according to claim 1, wherein the heating rod extends along a longitudinal direction thereof, having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion in the longitudinal direction wherein the proximal end portion is closer to the main body portion than the distal end portion, the heating portion is disposed at the distal end portion of the heating rod and formed as a heating shaping portion for shaping eyelashes, the second attachment is formed as an eyelash shaping body for shaping the eyelashes, the eyelash shaping body having: a comb frame that is configured to be attached to the heating shaping portion by the second connection structure and a shaping comb portion that is provided to an outer face of the comb frame to shape the eyelashes, and an outer face of the heating shaping portion is covered with the comb frame in a state in which the eyelash shaping body is attached to the heating rod.
4. The cosmetic tool according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor structure is formed by paired connection terminals provided to the main body portion and the sensor structure of the first combing attachment is a conductive terminal and the conductive terminal makes the paired connection terminals electrically continuous with each other so that an attached state of the first combing attachment is sensed in a state in which the first combing attachment is attached to the main body portion.
5. The cosmetic tool according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor structure is formed by a light sensor provided to the main body portion and the sensor structure of the first combing attachment is a light shielding body and a light receiving state of the light sensor is switched by the light shielding body so that an attached state of the first attachment is sensed in a state in which the first attachment is attached to the main body portion.
6. The cosmetic tool according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor structure is formed by a reed switch provided to the main body portion and the sensor structure of the first combing attachment is a magnet and the reed switch is switched by the magnet so that an attached state of the first attachment is sensed in a state in which the first attachment is attached to the main body portion.
7. The cosmetic tool according to claim 1, wherein the second sensor structure is formed by paired connection terminals provided to the heating rod and the sensor structure of the second combing attachment is a conductive terminal and the conductive terminal makes the paired connection terminals electrically continuous with each other so that an attached state of the second attachment is sensed in a state in which the second attachment is attached to the heating portion.
8. The cosmetic tool according to claim 1, wherein the second sensor structure is formed by a light sensor provided to the heating rod and the sensor structure of the second combing attachment is a light shielding body and a light receiving state of the light sensor is switched by the light shielding body so that an attached state of the second attachment is sensed in a state in which the second attachment is attached to the heating portion.
9. The cosmetic tool according to claim 1, wherein the second sensor structure is formed by a reed switch provided to the heating rod and the sensor structure of the second combing attachment is a magnet and the reed switch is switched by the magnet so that an attached state of the second attachment is sensed in a state in which the second attachment is attached to the heating portion.
10. The cosmetic tool according to claim 1, wherein the heater sets another heating temperature of the heating rod, which is different from any of the first and second heating temperatures, when none of the first and second attachments is sensed and while power is on to the heater.
11. The cosmetic tool according to claim 1, further comprising: a third combing attachment having a hollow frame with a plurality of comb teeth or bristles on an exterior surface thereof, the third combing attachment is detachably coupled to the heating rod through a third connection structure such that when coupled, the heating portion is disposed within the hollow frame of the third combing attachment and a remaining portion of the heating rod is exposed; and the third combing attachment having a sensor structure at the third connection portion and the heating rod having a third sensor structure to sense whether or not the third attachment is attached to the heating rod, the third connection portion being located different from the first connection portion, wherein a portion of the third connection structure on the heating rod is shared with the second connection structure, the heater is configured to set a third heating temperature of the heating rod such that the heating rod is heated at the third heating temperature when the third attachment is sensed to be attached to the heating rod, and the third heating temperature is different from the first heating temperature or the second heating temperature.
12. The cosmetic tool according to claim 11, wherein the first heating temperature for the first combing attachment is lower than the second and third heating temperatures.
13. The cosmetic tool according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of comb teeth or bristles of the second and third combing attachments are each arranged in a row extending longitudinally from a distal end portion towards a proximal direction to define second and third shaping comb portions, respectively, where the second shaping comb portion is longer than the third shaping comb portion in the longitudinal direction, and the second heating temperature for the second combing attachment is higher than the third heating temperature for the third attachment.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
(77) ( Embodiments of Cosmetic Tool according to First Invention Group)
(78)
(79) The container 1 is formed into a circular cylindrical shape and an inlet/outlet 4 for the application body 2 is open in an upper end of the container 1. A threaded shaft 5 is formed on a peripheral face of the inlet/outlet 4 and a wiper 6 for squeezing the surplus attached mascara liquid is provided on an inner face of the inlet/outlet 4. The wiper 6 is formed by a cylindrical body made of rubber or plastic material and a squeezing opening 7 is formed in a bottom wall of the cylindrical body.
(80) In
(81) The connection portion for the shaping body 3 is formed by a connection boss 54 continuous with an upper portion of the threaded cap 52 and a connection groove 55 formed in an annular shape in a peripheral face of the connection boss 54. An outer diameter of the connection boss 54 is set to be smaller than an outer diameter of the threaded cap 52 and a shoulder wall between a base end of the connection boss 54 and the threaded cap 52 functions as a restricting portion 56 of a stopper 93 (described later). By fitting and engaging a rod boss 57 provided to an upper end of the above-described application rod 11 with an inner face of the connection boss 54 with pressure, the application rod 11 is integrated with the cap 10 so as not to be detachable. As shown in
(82) The shaping body 3 is formed by a circular cylindrical shaping grip 20 serving also as a main body case of the mascara applicator, a hollow shaping rod 21 protruding downward from a lower end of the shaping grip 20, a heating shaping portion 22 provided to a lower end (protruding end) of the shaping rod 21, and the like. A battery lid 24 in a shape of a gutter is detachably provided to one side of an upper half of the shaping grip 20 and a board cover 60 in a shape of a gutter is disposed on a lower side of the battery lid 24. Inside the shaping grip 20, a battery 33, a control board 61, a switch structure, and the like are housed. A switch knob 34 for turning on and off energization of the heater 29 is provided to one side of a lower end portion of the shaping grip 20 and a positioning groove 58 for receiving the above-described positioning rib 53 is formed on the other side. A lower end of the switch knob 34 faces a contact portion between the shaping grip 20 and the cap 10.
(83) As shown in
(84) As shown in
(85) As shown in
(86) In
(87) The thermistor 75 is disposed at a central portion in the vertical direction of the heater 29 and moved and biased by a heat-resisting sponge (elastic body) 82 disposed between the inner face of the left rod body 21a and the thermistor 75 to come in close contact with an inner face of the heater 29. In order to visually recognize a state of color change of the thermochromic element 76, a visual recognition window 83 is open near a lower end of the left rod body 21a. A user can know that the temperature of the heater 29 has reached the suitable temperature by recognizing a color given by the thermochromic element 76 through the visual recognition window 83. As shown in
(88) In
(89) From a lower end of the switch knob 34, a restricting chip 96 for preventing switching of the switch knob 34 into an ON state in an unused state sticks out inward. The unused state here refers to a state in which the threaded hole 16 of the application body 2 to which the shaping body 3 is attached is completely screwed over the threaded shaft 5 of the container 1 and the restricting chip 96 in this state is received by the shoulder wall of the container 1. If the switch knob 34 has been switched into the ON state, the restricting chip 96 is pushed up by the shoulder wall of the container 1 as the application body 2 is screwed over the threaded shaft 5 and therefore the switch knob 34 is forcibly switched into an OFF state.
(90) A rectangular engagement boss 98 to be engaged with the operation lugs 94 is provided to a face of the terminal plate 89 facing the switch knob 34 and the terminal plate 89 is supported by the switch knob 34 by fitting of the paired operation lugs 94 with the engagement boss 98. In
(91) In order to respectively bring a temperature state of the heating shaping portion 22 in shaping the eyelashes by using the shaping body 3 and a temperature state of the application portion 12 in applying the mascara liquid to the eyelashes by using the application body 2 into suitable states, the switch structures can be switched among three states by use of the switch knob 34. To put it concretely, a state in
(92) In the first ON state, a heater drive signal is output from a comparator 105 shown in
(93) In the second ON state, the reference voltage is switched to a reference voltage on a high-temperature side based on which control similar to the above-described control is carried out to maintain the heat generating state of the heater 29 in a high-temperature state (70 C.). A power supply section for supplying the reference voltage on the low-temperature side and the reference voltage on the high-temperature side, the comparator 105, and the like are provided to the control board 61.
(94) In the unused state of the mascara applicator, the threaded hole 16 provided to the cap 10 is screwed over the threaded shaft 5 and the application body 2 and the container 1 are integrated with each other. The application rod 11 and the application portion 12 in this state are immersed in the mascara liquid housed in the container 1. The shaping rod 21 of the shaping body 3 is housed inside the application rod 11 of the application body 2 and the connection groove 55 provided to the connection boss 54 of the application body 2 is engaged with and caught by the elastic connection arms 68 of the connection ring 64. Because the shaping rod 21 in this state is housed inside the application rod 11 having a closed structure, the entire shaping rod 21 including the heating shaping portion 22 is not immersed in the mascara liquid. Therefore, in the unused state, the mascara liquid in the container 1 does not adhere to the shaping rod 21. In the unused state, the restricting chip 96 of the switch knob 34 is received by the shoulder wall of the container 1 and downward movement is restricted. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent an accidental switch of the switch knob 34 into the first ON state or the second ON state. Moreover, as described above, if the switch knob 34 has been switched into the ON state, the restricting chip 96 is pushed up by the shoulder wall of the container 1 as the application body 2 is screwed over the threaded shaft 5 and therefore the switch knob 34 is forcibly switched into the OFF state shown in
(95) In the use of the mascara applicator, by alternatively using the shaping body 3 and the application body 2, it is possible to carryout the operation for shaping and curling the eyelashes and the operation for applying the mascara liquid. To shape and curl the eyelashes, as shown in
(96) Next, the eyelashes are brought in contact with an outer surface of the heater 29 while the shaping rod 21 is supported horizontally with the comb teeth 28 oriented upward and the comb teeth 28 are combed through central portions of curves of the eyelashes. In this state, the eyelashes are scooped upward and the heating windows 77 are further turned toward an eyebrow to curl the eyelashes. Furthermore, by pushing the entire heating shaping portion 22 upward while heating the curled portions with the heater 29, it is possible to reliably curl the eyelashes to their tips. Similarly, it is possible to curl the eyelashes near an inner corner and an outer corner of an eye with the heating shaping portion 22. In curling the eyelashes, it is possible to restrict lateral movement of the caught eyelashes along a curling face 32 with the comb teeth 28 to thereby properly curl the group of eyelashes caught by the adjacent comb teeth 28.
(97) To apply the mascara liquid, by connecting the shaping body 3 to the application body 2 to house the heating shaping portion 22 into the application rod 11, the shaping body 3 is integrated with the application body 2 again. In this state, as shown in
(98) If the switch knob 34 it turned on in the state in which the application body 2 is detached from the container 1, the switch structure is switched into the first ON state to cause the heater 29 to generate heat to maintain the application portion 12 at a suitable temperature (40 C.). In this way, it is possible to increase a temperature of the mascara liquid adhering to the application portion 12 to adjust a state of the mascara liquid so that the mascara liquid is likely to be uniformly diffused and flow to thereby allow the mascara liquid held between the comb teeth 18 to adhere to the eyelashes. If an amount of the mascara liquid is insufficient, the application portion 12 is put into and taken out of the container 1 a few times to cause the mascara liquid to adhere to the application portion 12, the surplus mascara liquid adhering to a periphery of the application portion 12 is squeezed off by use of the wiper 6, and the mascara liquid is caused to adhere to the eyelashes again. Lastly, by combing the eyelashes a few times by using the mascara comb, it is possible to arrange the curled shapes of the eyelashes. Because the application portion 12 when it is put into and taken out of the container 1 is merely put into and taken out of the container 1 in the vertical direction, the application portion 12 is not inserted further downward after end portions of the threaded shaft 5 and the threaded hole 16 come in contact with each other and therefore the switch knob 34 is not returned to the OFF position.
(99) If an ambient temperature is low, after the shaping grip 20 is turned a few times in the loosening direction to secure such a clearance that the restricting chip 96 can move down between the threaded cap 52 and the shoulder portion of the container 1, the switch knob 34 is turned on to cause the heater 29 to generate heat to heat the application portion 12. In this case, the application portion 12 is heated to 40 C. by the heater 29 and therefore it is possible to heat the mascara liquid in the container 1 to reduce the viscosity of the mascara liquid and impart fluidity to the mascara liquid.
(100) As described above, in the state in which the switch knob 34 has been switched into the first ON state, as shown in
(101) As described above, by setting the heat generating temperature of the heater 29 in the state in which the shaping body 3 is attached to the application body 2 to the low temperature to suppress the output of the heater 29, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the application portion 12 from becoming unnecessarily high. Moreover, in the state in which the application portion 12 is immersed in the mascara liquid in the container 1, it is possible to reduce the viscosity of the mascara liquid while preventing alteration and deterioration of the mascara liquid due to wasteful evaporation of a volatile constituent such as solvent. Therefore, it is possible to cause the mascara liquid having a suitable degree of fluidity to adhere to the application portion 12 to suitably carry out the application of the mascara liquid to the eyelashes. Furthermore, by setting the heat generating temperature of the heater 29 in the state in which the shaping body 3 is detached from the application body 2 to carry out the shaping of the eyelashes to the high temperature, it is possible to increase the temperature of the heating shaping portion 22 to shape and properly curl the eyelashes while effectively heating the eyelashes.
(102) If the heat generating temperature of the heater 29 when the shaping body 3 is attached to the application body 2 is set to the same high temperature as the heat generating temperature of the heater 29 when the shaping body 3 is detached from the application body 2, a heat quantity for heating becomes excessive and the mascara liquid becomes more liable to alter and deteriorate when the application portion 12 is inserted into the container 1 and the mascara liquid is heated. To avoid this situation, an internal space of the application rod 11 may be expanded or a wall thickness of the application rod 11 may be increased, for example. In these cases, however, the application rod 11 becomes thick or increases in diameter, which impairs usability. In order to solve such problems, the heat generating temperature of the heater 29 in the state in which the shaping body 3 is attached to the application body 2 is set to the low temperature so that the output of the heater 29 can be suppressed.
(103) Although the heat generating temperature of the heater 29 is set to the low temperature by restricting the switching operation of the switch knob 34 with the restricting portion 56 when the shaping body 3 is attached to the application body 2 in the above-described embodiment, this structure is unnecessary. For example, as shown in
(104) Although the restricting portion 56 is provided to the shoulder wall of the threaded cap 52 in the above-described embodiment, this structure is unnecessary and a restricting portion 56 may be formed to protrude from a periphery of a connection boss 54. Moreover, the switch knob 34 may be formed so as to be brought into a first ON state when pushed upward from an OFF position. In this case, a restricting chip (stopper) 96 described in the above embodiment may be received by the restricting portion 56 provided to a cap 10 to restrict pushing of the switch knob 34 upward into a second ON state. The heater 29 does not necessarily have to be a sheet heater but may be formed by using a nichrome wire as a heater element. Besides the comb teeth, the application elements 18 may be bristle bunches. Besides the first and second ON states, the heat generating states of the heater 29 may be suitably set to an intermediate temperature state between the first and second ON states and a higher temperature state than the second ON state. The cosmetic tool according to the present invention may be formed by an application body 2 and a shaping body 3 without the container 1. In this case, an outer face of the application body 2 is preferably covered with a protective cap.
(105)
(106) The application body 2 is formed by a circular cylindrical application grip (cap) 10 to be attached to and detached from the inlet/outlet 4 in the container 1, an application rod 11 in a shape of a hollow shaft to be inserted into the container 1, and an application portion 12 provided to a lower end portion of the application rod 11. An inside of the application grip 10 is divided into a lower section 14 and an upper section 15 by a partition wall 13 and a threaded hole 16 corresponding to the above-described threaded shaft 5 is formed on an inner periphery of the lower section 14. A similar threaded hole 17 is formed on an inner periphery of the upper section 15. As shown in
(107) The shaping body 3 is formed by a circular cylindrical shaping grip 20, a hollow shaping rod 21 protruding downward from a lower end of the shaping grip 20, a heating shaping portion 22 provided to a lower end (protruding end) of the shaping rod 21, and the like. The shaping grip 20 is formed by a circular cylindrical grip main body 23 and a cap (battery lid) 24 for opening and closing an opening in an upper end of the grip main body 23 and a threaded shaft 25 corresponding to the above-described threaded hole 17 is formed at a lower end of the grip main body 23. The cap 24 is attached to the grip main body 23 by screwing.
(108) In
(109) By inserting the application rod 11 of the application body 2 into the container 1 from the inlet/outlet 4 and screwing the threaded hole 16 formed in the application grip 10 over the threaded shaft 5, it is possible to close the inlet/outlet 4 with the application body 2 to thereby seal the container 1. Most parts of the application portion 12 and the application rod 11 in this state are immersed in the mascara liquid housed in the container. Moreover, by inserting the heating shaping portion 22 and the shaping rod 21 of the shaping body 3 into the application rod 11 from the upper section 15 and screwing the threaded shaft 25 provided to the grip main body 23 into the threaded hole 17 formed in the application grip 10, it is possible to integrate the shaping body 3 with the application body 2.
(110) The container 1, the application body 2, and the shaping body 3 are formed to have the same sectional shapes and diameters so as to make an image of an external appearance of the mascara applicator simple in the state in which the container 1, the application body 2, and the shaping body 3 are integrated with each other as described above (see
(111) As shown in
(112) The mascara applicator formed as described above can be used to carry out shaping and curling operations of the eyelashes and an application operation of the mascara liquid. To shape and curl the eyelashes, as shown in
(113) When the shaping and curling operations of the eyelashes are completed, the mascara liquid is applied by use of the application body 2. If an ambient temperature is low at this time, as shown in
(114) Lastly, by combing the eyelashes a few times by using the mascara comb, it is possible to arrange the curled shapes of the eyelashes. As described above, the switch knob 34 is turned off when it is unnecessary to heat the application portion 12. Alternatively, it is possible to pinch the application grip 10 to apply the mascara liquid in the state in which the shaping body 3 is detached from the application body 2. In this state, it is possible to freely change a pinched attitude or inclination of the application grip 10. For example, it is possible to apply the mascara liquid to the short eyelashes positioned at the inner corner and the outer corner of the eye or to adjust an applied state of the applied mascara liquid by using tips of the bristle bunches 18 at the tip end. In this manner, the user can bring the respective grips 10, 20 into its favorite state to carry out the application of the mascara liquid with the application body 2 and the shaping of the eyelashes with the shaping body 3, which improves usability of the mascara applicator.
(115) As described above, if the shaping body 3 for carrying out the shaping of the eyelashes is disposed inside the application body 2 for applying the mascara liquid and the heating shaping portion 22 provided to the shaping body 3 is heated by the heater 29, the heating shaping portion 22 can be brought into the temperature state suitable to the shaping of the eyelashes and it is possible to suitably curl the eyelashes. Furthermore, in the state in which the application portion 12 and the heating shaping portion 22 are housed in the container 1, the mascara liquid and the application portion 12 can be indirectly heated with the heat transferred from the heating shaping portion 22. As a result, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the application portion 12 from becoming unnecessarily high and therefore it is possible to reduce the viscosity of the mascara liquid while preventing deterioration of the mascara liquid due to excessive heating. In this manner, according to the mascara applicator in which the shaping body 3 is disposed inside the application body 2, it is possible to shape and curl the eyelashes while heating the eyelashes to the suitable temperature or it is possible to reduce the viscosity while preventing the deterioration by heating the mascara liquid to the suitable temperature.
(116)
(117) In a mascara applicator shown in
(118) In a mascara applicator shown in
(119) In a mascara applicator shown in
(120) Besides the above-described embodiments, a heating shaping portion 22 in a state in which a shaping body 3 is attached to an application body 2 may be disposed in the vicinity of the application portion 12 inside an application rod 11. The application portion 12 may be formed by a mixture of bristle bunches 18 and comb teeth 38. An indicating lamp which lights when the heater 29 is in an energized state, an indicating lamp which lights when an electromotive force of a battery 33 becomes smaller than or equal to a predetermined value, and the like may be provided to an outer face of a shaping grip 20. Moreover, the battery 33 may be formed by a secondary battery to form a rechargeable mascara applicator. Especially, if a contact for recharging the secondary battery is disposed at the shaping grip 20, it is possible to recharge the battery in a state in which the shaping body 3 is detached from the application body 2. In this way, it is possible to recharge the secondary battery without exposing the container 1 and the mascara liquid to an undesirable environment whether it is an undesirably high temperature environment or an undesirably low temperature environment for the mascara liquid in the container 1. Because the container 1 in this case is sealed with the application body 2, the mascara liquid does not leak out.
(121) Although the lengths of the respective rods 11 and 21 are set so that the application portion 12 of the application body 2 and the heating shaping portion 22 of the shaping body 3 can face each other in an inward-outward direction in the embodiment shown in
(122) The sectional shapes of the application rod 11 and the shaping rod 21 may be ovals or polygons. The application rod 11 may be formed by a highly water-repellent flexible resin tube made of silicon, fluorine, polypropylene, polyethylene, or the like, to which the mascara liquid is less liable to be stuck. In this case, by inserting the shaping rod 21 which has higher rigidity and is harder than the application rod 11 into the application rod 11 having flexibility, an outer shape of the application rod 11 can be corrected to be straight along the shaft direction and there is no problem with use.
(123) (Embodiments of Cosmetic Tool According to Second Invention) Group
(124) Because cosmetic tools according to the embodiments are basically the same as the embodiments of the cosmetic tool according to the first invention group, they will be described by referring to the drawings shown in the embodiments of the cosmetic tool according to the first invention group. This holds true for embodiments of cosmetic tools according to the third to fifth invention groups.
(125) A mascara applicator in
(126) The container 1 is formed into a circular cylindrical shape and an inlet/outlet 4 for the application body 2 is open in an upper end of the container 1. A threaded shaft 5 forming the first connection structure is formed on a peripheral face of the inlet/outlet 4 and a wiper 6 for squeezing the surplus attached mascara liquid is provided on an inner face of the inlet/outlet 4. The wiper 6 is formed by a cylindrical body made of rubber or plastic material and a squeezing opening 7 is formed in a bottom wall of the cylindrical body.
(127) In
(128) The connection portion forming the second connection structure is formed by a connection groove 55 formed in an annular shape in a peripheral face of a connection boss 54 continuous with an upper portion of the threaded cap 52. An outer diameter of the connection boss 54 is set to be smaller than an outer diameter of the threaded cap 52 and a shoulder wall between abase end of the connection boss 54 and the threaded cap 52 functions as a restricting portion 56 of a stopper 93 (described later). By fitting and engaging a rod boss 57 provided to an upper end of the above-described application rod 11 with an inner face of the connection boss 54 with pressure, the application rod 11 is integrated with the cap 10 so as not to be detachable from the cap 10.
(129) The shaping body 3 is formed by a circular cylindrical shaping grip 20 serving also as a grip, a hollow shaping rod 21 protruding downward from a lower portion of the shaping grip 20, a heating shaping portion 22 provided to a lower end (protruding end) of the shaping rod 21, a heater 29 disposed inside the heating shaping portion 22, and the like. As shown in
(130) As shown in
(131) As shown in
(132) In the unused state of the mascara applicator, as shown in
(133) Because the other structures of the mascara applicator and modes of use of the mascara applicator are the same as those of the mascara applicators according to the first invention group, description thereof will be omitted.
(134) In the above-described embodiment, the first connection structure for connecting the container 1 and the application body 2 is formed by the thread structure and the second connection structure for connecting the application body 2 and the shaping body 3 is formed by the pressure fitting engagement structure so that operating directions in canceling connected states of the respective connection structures are extremely different from each other. Therefore, in the case of using the application body 2, the application body 2 can be detached from the container 1 by turning the shaping grip 20 in a loosening direction. On the other hand, in the case of using the shaping body 3, the shaping body 3 can be detached from the application body 2 by pulling out the shaping grip 20. Therefore, it is impossible to detach the application body 2 or the shaping body 3 by mistake. In this way, the member to be used can be properly detached from the connection mating member as intended by a user and a series of cosmetic treatments can be deftly carried out with less work. In most cases, the shaping body 3 is used to curl eyelashes and then the application body 2 is used to apply the mascara liquid to the eyelashes. Because the shaping body 3 which is used more frequently than the application body 2 is connected to the application body 2 by the pressure fitting engagement structure, the shaping body 3 can be quickly and easily attached and detached.
(135)
(136) A cosmetic tool shown in
(137) The application body 2 is formed by a cap 10, an application rod 11 formed integrally with the cap 10, and an application portion 12 in a shape of a round shaft and fixed to a protruding end of the application rod 11 and the application portion 12 is different from the application body 2 in the above-described embodiment in that the application portion 12 is formed by a sponge-like elastic porous body. The lip shaping body 3 includes a shaping rod 21 and a heating shaping portion 22 provided to a tip end of the shaping rod 21. The heating shaping portion 22 is formed into a stick shape and a heater 29 is disposed inside the heating shaping portion 22. In order to transmit a turning operation of the shaping grip 20 to the cap 10 in a state in which the connection rib 120 is fitted with pressure and engaged with the connection groove 55, a plurality of engagement holes 122 are formed in recessed shapes in a shoulder wall of the threaded cap 52 and engagement protrusions 123 to be inserted and engaged in the engagement holes 122 are formed on an end wall of the shaping grip 20.
(138) A cosmetic tool shown in
(139) A cosmetic tool shown in
(140) A cosmetic tool shown in
(141) A cosmetic tool shown in
(142) A cosmetic tool shown in
(143) A first connection structure for connecting the protective cap 1 and the application body 2 is formed by a connection rib 141 provided on an inner face of the protective cap 1 and a connection groove 142 formed in a peripheral face of the brush holder 135. A second connection structure for connecting the application body 2 and the lip container 3 is formed by a connection groove 143 provided in an inner face of the cap 10 and connection ribs 144 formed intermittently at a plurality of positions of a peripheral face of the main body portion 137. Although both the first connection structure and the second connection structure are formed by pressure fitting engagement structures, the connection ribs 144 of the second connection structure are formed intermittently and therefore the lip container 3 can be detached from the application body 2 prior to the protective cap 1 and the application body 2. The lip brush 134 may be exposed by pulling the protective cap 1 off the application body 2 and the lip 136 may be exposed by pulling the lip container 3 out of the application body 2.
(144) A cosmetic tool shown in
(145) A first connection structure for connecting the protective cap 1 and the application body 2 is formed by a connection rib 141 provided on an inner face of the protective cap 1 and a connection groove 142 formed in a peripheral face of the brush holder 149. A second connection structure for connecting the application body 2 and the main body portion 148 is formed by a first magnet 151 embedded in a cylindrical wall of the cap 10 and a second magnet 152 embedded in a wall of the main body portion 148. In a state in which the application body 2 and the main body portion 148 are connected, the first magnet 151 and the second magnet 152 are exerting attraction with different magnetic poles directly facing each other. By detaching the application body 2 and the main body portion 148 from each other against attracting forces of both the magnets 151 and 152, it is possible to expose the shadow brush 150 prior to detachment of the protective cap 1 and the application body 2 from each other.
(146) A cosmetic tool shown in
(147) A first connection structure for connecting the protective cap 1 and the application body 2 is formed by a third magnet 157 embedded in a cylindrical wall of the protective cap 1 and a first magnet 151 embedded in a cylindrical wall of a cap 10. A second connection structure for connecting the application body 2 and the main body portion 148 is formed by the first magnet 151 embedded in the cylindrical wall of the cap 10 and a second magnet 152 embedded in a wall of the main body portion 148. In a state in which the protective cap 1 is connected to the application body 2, the third magnet 157 and the first magnet 151 are exerting attraction with different magnetic poles directly facing each other. Similarly, in a state in which the application body 2 and the main body portion 148 are connected, the first magnet 151 and the second magnet 152 are exerting attraction with different magnetic poles directly facing each other.
(148) In the present embodiment, in a state in which the protective cap 1, the application body 2, and the main body portion 148 are connected, a distance L1 between attracting faces of the third magnet 157 and the first magnet 151 is set to be shorter than a distance L2 between attracting faces of the first magnet 151 and the second magnet 152. Therefore, by pulling the main body portion 148, it is possible to detach the main body portion 148 and the eyebrow pencil 155 from the application body 2 prior to detachment of the protective cap 1 and the application body 2 from each other.
(149) A cosmetic tool shown in
(150) In
(151) The sheet holder 160 is formed by a holder main body 170 having upper and lower opposite open ends and a round cylindrical sheet cap 171 to be attached by fitting with pressure to a lower portion of the holder main body 170. The holder main body 170 is formed by a plastic molded article and has a threaded shaft 172 at its upper end and a connection groove 173 is formed in an annular shape in a peripheral face of a middle portion in the vertical direction of the holder main body 170. A sheet retaining cylinder 174 is provided to the lower portion of the holder main body 170 and a sheet retaining rib 175 is formed on a peripheral face of the sheet retaining cylinder 174. In a state in which the holder main body 170 is connected to the main body case 162, by causing a liquid impregnated sheet 176 such as a cotton sheet or gauze to cover the skin electrode 161 and the sheet retaining cylinder 174 and fitting the sheet cap 171 over the sheet retaining cylinder 174, it is possible to pinch and fix the liquid impregnated sheet 176 between the sheet retaining rib 175 and the sheet cap 171 (see
(152) A first connection structure for connecting the protective cap 1 and the sheet holder 160 is formed as a pressure fitting engagement structure including a connection rib 179 formed on an inner face of a cylindrical wall of the protective cap 1 and the connection groove 173 formed in the holder main body 170. A second connection structure for connecting the sheet holder 160 and the main body portion 148 is formed as a thread structure including the threaded shaft 172 formed on the holder main body 170 and a threaded hole 180 formed on an inner face of a lower portion of the main body case 162. In order to sense that the sheet holder 160 is connected to the main body portion 148, a reed switch 181 is embedded in the electrode holder 164 and a magnet 182 is embedded in an inner face of the holder main body 170. In a connected state of the second connection structure, the reed switch 181 is switched into an ON state by the magnet 182 and therefore a control circuit determines that the sheet holder 160 and the main body portion 148 are connected and supplies pulse current with positive polarity to the skin electrode 161.
(153) The skin cosmetic tool can be used in either one of a cleansing mode in which the tool is used while supplying positive pulse current to the skin electrode 161 and negative pulse current to the grip electrode 163 and an iontophoresis mode in which polarity of the pulse current supplied to the respective electrodes 161 and 163 is reversed. In the cleansing mode, as shown in
(154) In the iontophoresis mode, as shown in
(155) If relationships between the first member, the second member, and the third member in each of the above-described embodiments are considered from a viewpoint of weight, a weight W3 of the third member is greater than a weight W1 of the first member or a weight W2 of the second member and the relationships satisfy an expression (W3>W2>W1) or an expression (W3>W1>W2). Therefore, by forming the third member with a large weight so that it is detached prior to the other members, it is possible to improve usability of the cosmetic tool as compared with a case in which the second member and the third member connected to each other are detached from the first member prior to the third member. If the second member is used more frequently than the third member, the second member is used in the state in which the second member and the third member are connected, i.e., the state with a greater weight than when the third member is used alone and therefore the second member cannot be used lightly, which impairs usability of the cosmetic tool.
(156) If the first connection structure and the second connection structure are formed by the pressure fitting engagement structures, flat springs or wire springs may be used to maintain engaged states. In this case, by setting larger and smaller different spring forces for the flat springs or the wire springs in the respective connection structures, larger and smaller different operating forces are required to cancel connected states of the respective connection structures.
(157) (Embodiments of Cosmetic Tool According to Third Invention Group)
(158) Cosmetic tools according to the present embodiments are basically the same as the embodiments of the cosmetic tools according to the first invention group and the second invention group.
(159) A mascara applicator in the present embodiment is formed by a first member, a second member, and a third member for performing different functions similarly to the mascara applicator described by use of
(160) In
(161) The connection portion for the shaping body 3 is formed by a connection boss 54 continuous with an upper portion of the threaded cap 52 and a connection groove 55 formed in an annular shape in a peripheral face of the connection boss 54. An outer diameter of the connection boss 54 is set to be smaller than an outer diameter of the threaded cap 52 and a shoulder wall between a base end of the connection boss 54 and the threaded cap 52 functions as a restricting portion 56 of a stopper 93 (described later). By fitting and engaging a rod boss 57 provided to an upper end of the above-described application rod 11 with an inner face of the connection boss 54 with pressure, the application rod 11 is integrated with the cap 10 so as not to be detachable.
(162) The shaping body 3 is formed by a circular cylindrical shaping grip (grip) 20 serving also as a main body case of the mascara applicator, a hollow shaping rod (treatment rod) 21 protruding downward from a lower end of the shaping grip 20, a heating shaping portion (treatment portion) 22 provided to a lower end of the shaping rod 21, and the like. A battery lid 24 in a shape of a gutter is detachably provided to one side of an upper half of the shaping grip 20 and a board cover 60 in a shape of a gutter is disposed on a lower side of the battery lid 24. Inside the shaping grip 20, a battery 33, a control board 61, a switch structure, and the like are housed (see
(163) As shown in
(164) As shown in
(165) In the mascara applicator formed as described above, the three members, i.e., the container 1, the application body 2, and the shaping body 3 can be used respectively in separated states. Therefore, in the state in which the three members are separated from each other, the shaping body 3 may be inserted into the container 1 by mistake and the heating shaping portion 22 may be immersed in the mascara liquid. In order to avoid such improper use, an insertion preventing structure is provided between the shaping grip 20 and the cap 10 in the embodiment. As shown in
(166) Incidentally, if the application body 2 and the treatment body 3 connected to each other are detached from the container 1, it is not impossible to pull the treatment body 3 out of the application body 2 by gripping and holding the application rod 11. Moreover, the treatment body 3 detached from the application body 2 may be inserted into the container 1. However, the application rod 11 is thin and the mascara liquid is adhering to the application portion 12 and a surface of the rod, which makes a user to hesitate to dirty its hand to try to carry out the above-described detaching operation. Therefore, by providing the insertion preventing structure for covering an outer face of the cap 10 with the shield wall 62, it is possible to reliably prevent the treatment body 3 from being pulled out of the application body 2 to thereby prevent the treatment body 3 from being inserted into the container 1.
(167) As described above, in the unused state of the mascara applicator, the threaded hole 16 provided to the cap 10 is screwed over the threaded shaft 5 and the application body 2 is integrated with the container 1. As shown in
(168) In the unused state, the restricting chip 96 of the switch knob 34 is received by the shoulder wall of the container 1 and downward movement is restricted. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent an accidental switch of the switch knob 34 into the first ON state or the second ON state. Moreover, as described above, if the switch knob 34 has been switched into the ON state, the restricting chip 96 is pushed up by the shoulder wall of the container 1 as the application body 2 is screwed over the threaded shaft 5 and therefore the switch knob 34 is forcibly switched into the OFF state shown in
(169) Because the other structures of the mascara applicator and modes of use of the mascara applicator are the same as those of the mascara applicators according to the above-described invention groups, description thereof will be omitted.
(170)
(171)
(172)
(173)
(174) An insertion preventing structure in the present embodiment is formed by paired insertion preventing chips 310 disposed at a lower end of a shaping rod 21 and a spring 311 for biasing and displacing the insertion preventing chips 310 into an insertion preventing attitude. The insertion preventing chips 310 are supported by a pin 312 to be able to swing and can swing between the insertion preventing attitude in which the paired insertion preventing chips 310 open into an inverted V shape and an insertion allowing attitude in which the paired insertion preventing chips 310 overlap each other in a thickness direction. As shown in
(175)
(176) The insertion preventing structure in the embodiment is formed by a ring-shaped first magnet 316 disposed on an inner peripheral face of an inlet/outlet 4 of a container 1 and a second magnet 317 in a shape of a round stick and disposed at a lower end portion of a shaping rod 21. The first magnet 316 and the second magnet 317 are formed by neodymium magnets, samarium-cobalt magnets, or the like and magnetic poles of the first magnet 316 and the second magnet 317 are set to have polarities repelling each other. For example, if the polarity of the magnetic pole of a lower face side of the first magnet 316 is the N pole, the polarity of the magnetic pole of an upper face side of the second magnet 317 is the N pole so that, when a lower portion of a shaping rod 21 comes close to an opening of the inlet/outlet 4, both the magnets 316 and 317 repel each other to prevent an inserting operation of the shaping rod 21.
(177)
(178) In the above-described embodiment, the heater 29 does not necessarily have to be a sheet heater but may be formed by using a nichrome wire as a heater element. Besides comb teeth, application elements 18 may be bristle bunches. Besides the first and second ON states, a heat generating state of the heater 29 may be suitably set to an intermediate temperature state between the first and second ON states and a higher temperature state than the second ON state. The cosmetic tool according to the present invention may be formed by an application body 2 and a shaping body 3 without the container 1. In this case, an outer face of the application body 2 is preferably covered with a protective cap.
(179) (Embodiments of Cosmetic Tool According to Fourth Invention Group)
(180) Cosmetic tools according to the embodiments are basically the same as the embodiments of the cosmetic tools according to the first to third invention groups.
(181) In
(182) In
(183) An inclination angle of the inner face 188 of the housing hole 187 formed into the shape tapered from the upper end portion side toward the lower end portion side is not constant through the entire circumference. As shown in
(184) According to the above-described structure, a sectional area of a face orthogonal to the central axis O of the application rod 11 increases toward the lower end portion of the application rod 11. Therefore, a volume per unit length is larger at the treatment portion 185 than at the stem portion 186 so that the treatment portion 185 heated by a heating shaping portion (heating portion) 22 is less liable to become cold, which suppresses power consumption of a heater 29. In the embodiment, the inclination angle 1 on the back side of the inner face 188 of the housing hole 187 is set to 0.1 and the inclination angle 2 on the front side is set to 1.0. The angles are preferably set to 0 to 3.0. This is because it is difficult to mold the shaping rod 21 in the shape of the cylinder having the bottom by using a metal mold when the inner face 188 is tapered upward with the angles smaller than 0 and because a difference in wall thickness between upper and lower portions of the cylindrical wall becomes large to cause molding defects such as a sink mark when the angles exceed 3.0. The inclination angles 1 and 2 may be changed suitably depending on a length or an outer diameter of the application rod 11.
(185) As shown in
(186) The cap 10 is provided with a connection portion forming the first connection structure and a connection portion forming the second connection structure. The former connection portion is formed by a threaded cap 52 occupying a most part of the cap 10 and a threaded hole 16 corresponding to the above-described threaded shaft 5 is formed on an inner face of the threaded cap 52. On an outer face of the cap 10, a positioning rib 53 which is long in a vertical direction is formed. As described above, the first connection structure is formed as a thread structure by the threaded shaft 5 and the threaded cap 52 having the threaded hole 16.
(187) The connection portion forming the second connection structure is formed by a connection groove 55 formed in an annular shape in a peripheral face of a connection boss 54 continuous with an upper portion of the threaded cap 52. An outer diameter of the connection boss 54 is set to be smaller than an outer diameter of the threaded cap 52 and a shoulder wall between abase end of the connection boss 54 and the threaded cap 52 functions as a restricting portion 56 of a stopper 93 (described later). By fitting and engaging a rod boss 57 provided to an upper end of the above-described application rod 11 with an inner face of the connection boss 54 with pressure, the application rod 11 is integrated with the cap 10 so as not to be detachable.
(188) The shaping body 3 is formed by a circular cylindrical shaping grip (grip) 20 serving also as a grip, a hollow shaping rod (heating rod) 21 protruding downward from a lower portion of the shaping grip 20, a heating shaping portion (heating portion) 22 provided to a lower end (end portion) of the shaping rod 21, a heater 29 disposed inside the heating shaping portion 22, and the like.
(189) In
(190) As shown in
(191) As described above, the first connection structure is formed as the thread structure by the threaded shaft 5 and the threaded cap 52 having the threaded hole 16 and the second connection structure is formed as the pressure fitting engagement structure by the connection groove 55 formed in the connection boss 54 and the elastic connection arms 68 having the connection lugs 73 to be engaged in and disengaged from the groove 55. In this manner, by only disconnecting the thread structure to detach the container 1 and pulling the application body 2 off the shaping body 3, it is possible to detach the application body 2. Therefore, if the application body 2 gets broken, it can be easily replaced. If stains are stuck to the application body 2, the application body 2 can be easily washed with hot water and the like and can be used again.
(192) As shown in
(193) As shown in
(194) With the above-described structure, a periphery of the heating shaping portion 22 is covered with the treatment portion 185 and the heating shaping portion 22 can efficiently transfer the heat generated by the heating portion 22 to the treatment portion 185 to thereby swiftly heat the application portion 12. Therefore, it is possible to quickly heat cosmetic material held by the application portion 12 to heat it to a temperature suitable for application to thereby shorten a waiting time. By setting the gap G1 to a smaller dimension than the gap G2, it is possible to make transfer of the heat from the stem portion 194 of the heating rod 21 to the stem portion 186 of the application rod 11 smaller than that from the heating portion 22 to the treatment portion 185 by utilizing heat insulating effect of an air space between the respective stem portions 186 and 194. Therefore, it is possible to improve heat transfer efficiency from the heating portion 22 to the treatment portion 185 to thereby swiftly heat the application portion 12.
(195) In addition, if the shaping rod 21 is housed while bent backward and the lower end side of the shaping rod 21 is displaced backward, the heater 29 can be disposed while displaced toward the application portion side cylindrical wall 190 with respect to the central axis O of the application rod 11. Therefore, the heater 29 can be brought close to the inner face 188 of the inner face 188 to efficiently transfer the heat to the inner face 188 to thereby swiftly heat the application portion 12.
(196) Because the other structures of the mascara applicator and modes of use of the mascara applicator are the same as those of the mascara applicators according to the above-described invention groups, description thereof will be omitted.
(197) In the above-described embodiment, the shaping rod 21 need not be housed in the housing hole 187 in the bent state but may be housed without being in contact with the inner face of the housing hole 187. In this case, by disposing the heater 29 in the vicinity of a back face of the heating shaping portion 22 and bringing the heater 29 close to the inner face 188, it is possible to satisfy the above-described dimensional relationship. The sectional shape orthogonal to the central axis O of the application rod 11 may be an oval or a polygon. It is unnecessary to connect the three members, i.e., the container 1, the application body 2, and the shaping body 3 to treat the mascara applicator as a single cosmetic tool. For example, a protective cap instead of the container 1 may be connected to protect the application rod 11 in a usual state and the application rod 11 may be inserted into a separate container 1 housing the mascara liquid and the mascara liquid may be applied to eyebrows in a used state.
(198)
(199)
(200) If the outer diameter D2 of the stem portion 194 of the heating rod 21 is set to be smaller than the outer diameter D1 of the heating head 22, it is possible to suppress a heat quantity to be transferred from the heating portion 22 to a grip 20 via the stem portion 194. Therefore, most of heat of the heating head 22 can be transferred to a cylindrical wall of a treatment portion 185 to swiftly heat an application portion 12. Moreover, heat transfer between both the stem portions 186 and 194 is suppressed by the heat insulating space 51, which suppresses power consumption of the heater 29. Furthermore, if the insulating space 51 is divided into the plurality of spaces by the division walls 195, it is possible to suppress movement of heat due to convection of air to suppress heat transfer to the stem portion 186 of the application rod 11 and the grip 20 through the air. The heating head 22 can carry out a curling operation of eyelashes previous to application of mascara liquid to the eyelashes with the heater 29 generating heat and the eyelashes brought in contact with an outer surface of the heating head 22. The present embodiment is the same as the above-described embodiment in other respects.
(201)
(202)
(203) (Embodiments of Cosmetic Tool According to Fifth Invention Group)
(204)
(205) In
(206) The container 204 is formed by a circular cylindrical glass formed article and an inlet/outlet 214 for the applicator 201 is open in an upper end of the container 204. A threaded shaft 215 is formed on a peripheral face of the inlet/outlet 4 and a wiper 216 for squeezing the surplus attached mascara liquid is provided on an inner face of the inlet/outlet 214.
(207) The application body 201 is formed by the circular cylindrical cap 218 to be attached to and detached from the inlet/outlet 214 in the container 204, an application rod 219 in a shape of a hollow shaft to be inserted into the container 204, and an application portion 220 provided to a lower end portion of the application rod 219. The cap 218 is provided with a connection portion for the container 204 and a connection portion for the main body portion 200. The connection portion for the container 204 is formed by a threaded cap 221 occupying a most part of the cap 218 and a threaded hole 222 corresponding to the above-described threaded shaft 215 is formed on an inner face of the threaded cap 221.
(208) By screwing the cap 218 over the threaded shaft 215, it is possible to integrate the application body 201 with the container 204 while closing the inlet/outlet 214. On an outer face of the cap 218, a positioning rib 223 which is long in the vertical direction is formed. By engaging the positioning rib 223 in a positioning groove 224 provided to the above-described cylindrical wall 212, the application body 201 can be attached to the main body portion 200 at a constant position. The connection portion for the main body portion 200 is formed by a connection groove 226 formed in an annular shape in a peripheral face of a connection boss 225 continuous with an upper portion of the threaded cap 221. An upper end of the above-described application rod 219 is integrated with the connection boss 225.
(209) As shown in
(210) The first eyelash shaping body 202 is provided mainly for shaping of upper eyelashes and includes a comb frame 230 in a cylindrical shape having a bottom and a shaping comb portion 231 provided on one side of an outer face of the comb frame 230. An attachment hole 232 into which the entire heating shaping portion 208 can be inserted is formed inside the comb frame 230 and a connection groove 233 is formed in an annular recessed shape near an upper opening of the attachment hole 232. The shaping comb portion 231 is formed by eight comb teeth 234.
(211) The second eyelash shaping body 203 is provided mainly for shaping of lower eyelashes and includes a comb frame 237 in a cylindrical shape having a bottom and a shaping comb portion 238 provided on one side of an outer face of the comb frame 237. An attachment hole 239 into which the entire heating shaping portion 208 can be inserted is formed inside the comb frame 237 and a connection groove 240 is formed in an annular recessed shape near an upper opening of the attachment hole 239. The shaping comb portion 238 is formed by four comb teeth 241.
(212) The application body 201 is detachably attached to the main body portion 200 by a first connection structure. The first connection structure is formed as a pressure fitting engagement structure by the connection groove 226 formed in the connection boss 225 of the cap 218 and a connection rib 244 formed in an annular shape on an inner face of the cylindrical wall 212 of the main body portion 200 and can be connected and disconnected by inserting and pulling the application body 201 into and out of the cylindrical wall 212. Similarly, each of the first and second eyelash shaping bodies 202 and 203 is detachably attached to the heating shaping portion 208 by a second connection structure. Each of the second connection structures is formed as a pressure fitting engagement structure by the connection groove 233 or 240 formed on the eyelash shaping body 202 or 203 and a connection rib 245 formed in an annular shape at a position near an upper end of the heating shaping portion 208 and can be connected and disconnected by putting and pulling the eyelash shaping body 202 or 203 on and off the heating shaping portion 208.
(213) The connection portion between the main body portion 200 and the application body 201 is provided with a sensor structure for sensing whether the application body 201 is attached to the heating shaping portion 208. The sensor structure is formed by paired connection terminals 248 provided at a dead end of an inside of the cylindrical wall 212 and a conductive terminal 249 embedded in an upper end face of the connection boss 225. As shown in
(214) The connection portion between the heating shaping portion 208 and each of the eyelash shaping bodies 202 and 203 is provided with a sensor structure for sensing whether each of the eyelash shaping bodies 202 and 203 is attached to the heating shaping portion 208. The sensor structure is formed by paired connection terminals 255 for the first eyelash shaping body 202 and disposed at a lower end face of the heating rod 207, a conductive terminal 256 embedded in an upper end face of the comb frame 230, paired connection terminals 257 for the second eyelash shaping body 203, and a conductive terminal 258 embedded in an upper end face of the comb frame 237. The respective connection terminals 255 and 257 and the conductive terminals 256 and 258 are made of metal having electrical conductivity. The respective connection terminals 255 and 257 are housed in terminal recessed portions similar to those for the above-described connection terminals 248 and biased by springs to be pushed out. The respective connection terminals 255 and 257 are different from the connection terminals 248 only in that the terminal recessed portions are formed in the lower end face of the heating rod 207 and will not be described. The conductive terminals 256 and 258 are formed into partial arc shapes similarly to the above-described conductive terminal 249.
(215) The mascara applicator formed as described above can be used in four kinds of modes, i.e., a state in which the three kinds of attachments A are detached, a state in which the application body 201 is attached to the heating shaping portion 208, and states in which one of the eyelash shaping bodies 202 and 203 is attached to the heating shaping portion 208. In the four kinds of modes, a voltage to be supplied to the sheet heater 210 is adjusted by a control circuit according to the respective modes of use so that suitable temperature states for the respective modes of use can be maintained.
(216) To put it concretely, in the state in which all the attachments A are detached from the heating shaping portion 208 when the power switch 206 is in the ON state (state shown in
(217) Next, as shown in
(218) When shaping of the upper eyelashes is completed, the second eyelash shaping body 203 in place of the first eyelash shaping body 202 is attached to the heating shaping portion 208 to be combed through lower eyelashes or eyelashes at inner and outer corners of an eye. In this mode of use, the paired connection terminals 257 are brought into conduction by the conductive terminal 258 provided to the comb frame 237. Therefore, the control circuit determines that the second eyelash shaping body 203 is attached and maintains the sheet heater 210 in a temperature state (75 C.) suitable for use of the second eyelash shaping body 203. The second eyelash shaping body 203 is combed downward through the eyelashes or combed through the respective eyelashes at the inner and outer corners of the eye similarly to the first eyelash shaping body 202. The temperature state of the first eyelash shaping body 202 is set to be slightly higher than the temperature state of the second eyelash shaping body 203, because the number of comb teeth 234 of the first eyelash shaping body 202 is greater than that of the comb teeth 241 of the second eyelash shaping body 203 and a heat radiation amount of the first eyelash shaping body 202 is large.
(219) When shaping of the eyelashes is completed in the above manner, the second eyelash shaping body 203 is detached from the heating shaping portion 208. Then, the main body portion 200 is connected to the application body 201 with the positioning rib 223 and the positioning groove 224 engaged with each other and the connection groove 226 and the connection rib 244 are engaged with each other. By turning the main body portion 200 in this state, the application body 201 is turned together and can be detached from the container 204 as shown in
(220) Because the paired connection terminals 248 are made electrically continuous with each other by the conductive terminal 249 provided to the connection boss 225 in this mode of use, the control circuit determines that the application body 201 is attached and maintains the sheet heater 210 in a temperature state (40 C.) suitable for use of the application body 201. In the state in which the application body 201 is attached to the heating shaping portion 208, an inner wall of the application portion 220 is in close contact with the heating shaping portion 208 and therefore the heat of the sheet heater 210 can be transferred to the comb teeth 227 via the cylindrical wall of the application portion 220.
(221) Next, by putting and taking the application rod 219 of the application body 201 into and out of the container 204 to cause the mascara liquid to adhere to the application portion 220, squeezing off the surplus mascara liquid by use of the wiper 216, and combing the comb teeth 227 through the eyelashes, it is possible to cause the mascara liquid held between the comb teeth 227 to adhere to the eyelashes. The mascara liquid held between the comb teeth 227 is heated by the heat of the heating shaping portion 208 and adjusted into a state in which the mascara liquid is uniformly diffused and likely to flow. Therefore, it is possible to apply just the right amount of mascara liquid to the eyelashes. Lastly, by combing the eyelashes a few times by using the mascara comb, it is possible to arrange curled shapes of the eyelashes.
(222) With the mascara applicator having the above-described structure, it is possible to carryout shaping of the eyelashes and application of the mascara liquid in the four modes, i.e., the state in which the three kinds of attachments A are detached from the heating shaping portion 208 and the states in each of which one of the three kinds of attachments A is attached to the heating shaping portion 208. Therefore, by replacing the attachment A depending on the cosmetic treatments carried out in an orderly sequence, it is possible to deftly carry out the series of cosmetic treatments. Moreover, because the attachment A attached to the main body portion 200 or the heating shaping portion 208 is identified by the sensor structure and the temperature of each of the attachments A is controlled to be the temperature suitable to the treatment of the eyelashes, it is possible to properly and suitably carry out the treatment of the eyelashes by using each of the attachments A. Moreover, because the attachment A attached to the main body portion 200 or the heating shaping portion 208 can be identified by the sensor structure, it is only necessary for a user to attach each of the attachments A in a predetermined attitude into a predetermined position to heat each of the attachments A to a suitable temperature without the necessity of carrying out complicated operations such as switching of a switch.
(223)
(224) In the sensor structure in the present embodiment, in the state in which the first eyelash shaping body 202 is detached from the heating shaping portion 208, the light receiving signal is output from the light sensor 261. Therefore, the control circuit determines that the first eyelash shaping body 202 is not attached to the heating shaping portion 208 and maintains a sheet heater 210 in a temperature state (70 C.) suitable for use of the heating shaping portion 208. In the state in which the first eyelash shaping body 202 is attached to the heating shaping portion 208, the light receiving signal is not output from the light sensor 261. Therefore, the control circuit determines that the first eyelash shaping body 202 is attached to the heating shaping portion 208 and maintains the sheet heater 210 in a temperature state (80 C.) suitable for use of the first eyelash shaping body 202. Because the other structures are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, the same members are provided with the same reference signs and will not be described. This holds true for the following embodiments.
(225)
(226) The third application body 265 integrally includes an application frame 271 in a cylindrical shape having a bottom and an application comb portion 272 provided on one side of an outer face of the application frame 271. An attachment hole 273 into which the entire heating head 208 can be inserted is formed inside the application frame 271 and a connection groove 274 is formed in an annular recessed shape near an upper opening of the attachment hole 273. The application comb portion 272 is formed by eight comb teeth 275. A light shielding wall (light shielding body) 262 is formed to protrude from an upper end face of the application frame 271. A sensor structure is formed by a light emitting portion 277 and a light receiving portion 278 disposed on opposite sides of a slit 276 formed in a lower portion of the heating rod 207 and the light shielding wall 262 to be inserted into the slit 276 to intercept a light path between the light sensors.
(227) Each of the second application body 264 and the third application body 265 is used while attached to the heating head 208 and inserted into a mascara container so that the bristles 267 are soaked with mascara liquid or the comb teeth 275 of the application comb portion 272 are soaked with the mascara liquid. In a state in which the second application body 264 is attached to the heating head 208, a sensor light emitted from the light emitting portion 277 is received by the light receiving portion 278 and a light receiving signal is output to a control circuit. Therefore, the control circuit determines that the second application body 264 is attached to the heating head 208 and maintains a sheet heater 210 in a temperature state (45 C.) suitable for use of the second application body 264. In a state in which the third application body 265 is attached to the heating head 208, the sensor light emitted from the light emitting portion 277 is intercepted by the light shielding wall 262 and therefore the light receiving signal is not output to the control circuit. Therefore, the control circuit determines that the third application body 265 is attached to the heating head 208 and maintains the sheet heater 210 in a temperature state (40 C.) suitable for use of the third application body 265. The temperature state of the second application body 264 is set to be slightly higher than the temperature state of the third application body 265, because comb teeth 275 have larger surface areas than the bristles 267 and heat radiation amounts of the bristles 267 are large.
(228)
(229) The sensor structure is formed by a reed switch 281 disposed below the heating head 208 and a magnet 282 for switching the reed switch 281 into an ON state and the magnet 282 is embedded in an upper end of a comb frame 230 of the first eyelash shaping body 202. In a state in which the first eyelash shaping body 202 is attached to the heating head 208, the reed switch 281 is switched into the ON state by magnetism of the magnet 282 and an ON signal is output to a control circuit. Therefore, the control circuit determines that the first eyelash shaping body 202 is attached to the heating head 208 and maintains a sheet heater 210 in a temperature state (80 C.) suitable for use of the first eyelash shaping body 202. Moreover, in a state in which the second eyelash shaping body 203 is attached to the heating head 208, the reed switch 281 remains in an OFF state and therefore the control circuit determines that the second eyelash shaping body 203 is attached to the heating head 208 and maintains the sheet heater 210 in a temperature state (75 C.) suitable for use of the second eyelash shaping body 203.
(230) Although the temperature states of the respective attachments A and the heating shaping portion 208 are described as examples in the above embodiments, the temperature states of the respective attachments A and the heating shaping portion 208 may be suitably set according to structures and functions of the respective members.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SIGNS
(231) 1 Container 2 Application body 3 Shaping body 10 Cap 11 Application rod 12 Application portion 20 Shaping grip 21 Shaping rod 22 Heating shaping portion 29 Heater 33 Battery 34 Switch knob 52 Threaded cap 54 Connection boss 55 Connection groove 56 Restricting portion 64 Connection ring 92 Knob seat 93 Stopper 110 Sensor switch