MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR ROW OF ARTIFICIAL EYELASHES

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a row of artificial eyelashes, having at least the two following steps of: (a) knitting an assembly for forming rows of artificial eyelashes to be fixed to the edge of an eyelid, this assembly having at least two base parts, at least one of which is intended to be fixed to the edge of an eyelid, which are disposed parallel and symmetrically to one another with respect to a median plane (P), and false eyelashes, each base part having a first warp thread forming stitches, in particular a chain-stitch knitted warp thread, and (b) curving the row of artificial eyelashes and/or the base part and/or the false eyelashes by applying a mechanical load in the presence of an energy stimulus causing the material of the false eyelashes to heat up, in particular by applying ultrasound or high frequencies or by heating.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a row of artificial eyelashes, having at least the two following steps of: (a) knitting an assembly for forming rows of artificial eyelashes to be fixed to the edge of an eyelid, this assembly having at least two base parts, at least one of which is intended to be fixed to the edge of an eyelid, which are disposed parallel and symmetrically to one another with respect to a median plane (P), and false eyelashes, each base part having a first chain-stitch knitted warp thread forming stitches, the false eyelashes passing through the chain stitches without being tied thereto, and a second chain-stitch knitted warp thread forming stitches, the false eyelashes passing through the chain stitches without being tied thereto, wherein the first and second warp threads are interwoven, and (b) curving the row of artificial eyelashes and/or the base part and/or the false eyelashes by applying a mechanical load in the presence of an energy stimulus causing the material of the false eyelashes to heat up.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, in step (b), the energy stimulus involves the application of ultrasound.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in step (b), the energy stimulus involves the application of high frequencies.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in step (b), the energy stimulus involves the application of heating.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising (c) separating the two base parts (12) by cutting the weft thread (T) to form at least one row (10) of artificial eyelashes.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising (d) cutting the rows (10) of artificial eyelashes to the desired length.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a cutting tool is used to carry out separation step (c) and/or cutting step (d).

8. The method of claim 6, wherein an anvil is used to carry out separation step (c) and/or cutting step (d).

9. The method of claim 6, wherein one and the same cutting tool and/or one and the same anvil is/are used to carry out separation step (c) and/or cutting step (d).

10. A cutting tool for implementing a method for manufacturing a row of artificial eyelashes, in particular as claimed in claim 1, said cutting tool being configured to allow the application of a mechanical cut, ultrasound or high frequencies or heating to an assembly for forming rows of artificial eyelashes to be fixed to the edge of an eyelid, this assembly having at least two base parts, at least one of which is intended to be fixed to the edge of an eyelid, which are disposed parallel and symmetrically to one another with respect to a median plane (P), and false eyelashes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0127] The invention may be understood better from reading the following detailed description of nonlimiting exemplary embodiments thereof and from examining the appended drawing, in which:

[0128] FIG. 1 schematically shows a row of artificial eyelashes according to the invention.

[0129] FIG. 2a shows, in a conventional schematic manner, an assembly for forming rows of artificial eyelashes.

[0130] FIG. 2b is a view similar to FIG. 2a of an embodiment variant.

[0131] FIG. 3a is a view similar to FIG. 2a of an embodiment variant, in a conventional schematic depiction.

[0132] FIG. 3b is a view corresponding to FIG. 3a in a realistic depiction.

[0133] FIG. 3c is a view similar to FIG. 2a of an embodiment variant, in a conventional schematic depiction.

[0134] FIG. 3d is a view corresponding to FIG. 3c in a realistic depiction.

[0135] FIG. 4a is a view similar to FIG. 2a of another embodiment variant, in a conventional schematic depiction.

[0136] FIG. 4b is a view corresponding to FIG. 4a in a realistic depiction.

[0137] FIG. 5a is a view similar to FIG. 2a of another embodiment variant, in a conventional schematic depiction.

[0138] FIG. 5b is a view corresponding to FIG. 5a in a realistic depiction.

[0139] FIG. 5c is a view similar to FIG. 2a of an embodiment variant, in a conventional schematic depiction.

[0140] FIG. 5d is a view corresponding to FIG. 5c in a realistic depiction.

[0141] FIG. 6 schematically and partially illustrates a knitting machine according to the invention.

[0142] FIG. 7a is a perspective view of a curving tool according to the invention.

[0143] FIG. 7b is a view thereof in use.

[0144] FIG. 7c is a perspective view of an embodiment variant.

[0145] FIG. 8 is a schematic and partial view in cross section of the curving tool in FIGS. 7a and 7b.

[0146] FIG. 9 is a schematic and partial view in cross section of an embodiment variant of a cutting tool.

[0147] FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 3b of an embodiment variant, in a realistic depiction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0148] FIG. 1 illustrates a row 10 of artificial eyelashes that is intended to be fixed to the edge of an eyelid. This row 10 has (i) a base part 12 intended to be fixed to the edge of the eyelid, and (ii) false eyelashes 14.

[0149] The base part 12 has a first chain-stitch knitted warp thread 16, the false eyelashes 14 passing through the chain stitches without being tied thereto. The false eyelashes do not form a chain stitch. They are bent in a U shape, with the bottom of the U retained without a knot in the first warp thread 16, as illustrated.

[0150] As illustrated in FIG. 2a in a conventional schematic depiction, all the false eyelashes 14 of the row 10 are formed from a single weft thread T. Thus, only one weft thread is used to form all the false eyelashes. In a variant, there could be a plurality of weft threads, in particular in the case of threads with different colors. The base part 12 has a first chain-stitch knitted warp thread 16, the weft thread T passing through the chain stitches without being tied thereto. The weft thread T passes back and forth between two base parts 12, which extend parallel and symmetrically to one another.

[0151] FIG. 2a shows an assembly 20 for forming rows of artificial eyelashes to be fixed to the edge of an eyelid, in particular as described above. The assembly 20 has two base parts 12, at least one of which is intended to be fixed to the edge of an eyelid, which are disposed parallel and symmetrically to one another with respect to a median plane P.

[0152] The assembly 20 also has false eyelashes 14, which are formed from a single weft thread T passing back and forth between the two base parts 12.

[0153] The weft thread is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the base parts. The weft thread is intended to be cut between the two base parts, in particular in the median plane P, so as to separate the base parts 12 and thus form two rows of artificial eyelashes. The false eyelashes may be regularly distributed over the base part, being in particular disposed with a regular spacing, which is for example always identical. It is possible for the weft thread not to be cut between the two base parts in the median plane P, but close to one of the two base parts. In this case, only one row of artificial eyelashes can then be obtained.

[0154] In an embodiment variant illustrated in FIG. 2b, the assembly has three base parts 12 which are disposed parallel to one another and symmetrically with respect to a median plane P. The median plane may for example pass through a central base part, with the two other base parts being disposed on either side of the central base part, parallel and symmetrically to one another with respect to the median plane. In this case, there are two weft threads T, with a single weft thread passing back and forth between two base parts.

[0155] In this embodiment variant, the three base parts are separated in a first separation plane P′ parallel to one of the base parts, close to the latter, for example flush with said base part, and in a second separation plane P″ parallel to one of the base parts, close to the latter, for example flush with said base part. In the example illustrated, the base part in question is the central base part.

[0156] In the assembly 20 in FIG. 2a, each base part 12 has a first chain-stitch knitted warp thread 16, the weft thread T passing through the chain stitches without being tied thereto. The weft thread does not form a chain stitch. The weft thread does not form a stitch with the first warp thread.

[0157] The first warp thread 16 of the base part 12 forms closed chain stitches in the example illustrated. In a variant or additionally, the first warp thread forms open chain stitches.

[0158] In the embodiment that has just been described, the row has only one first warp thread 16.

[0159] In a variant, and as illustrated in the embodiments in FIGS. 3a to 5b, the base part 12 may have a second chain-stitch knitted warp thread 18. The false eyelashes 14 pass through the chain stitches of this second warp thread 18 without being tied thereto. In the assemblies 20 in FIGS. 3a to 5b, each base part has a second chain-stitch knitted warp thread 18, the weft thread passing through the chain stitches without being tied thereto. The first 16 and second 18 warp threads may be interwoven.

[0160] The second warp thread may form closed or open chain stitches.

[0161] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the first and second warp threads each form closed chain stitches. The closed chain stitches are disposed symmetrically with respect to one another.

[0162] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3c and 3d, the first and second warp threads each form closed chain stitches, which are all superposed, meaning that they each follow exactly the same path. Moreover, the first and second warp threads each form closed chain stitches.

[0163] In a variant, the first warp thread forms closed chain stitches and the second warp thread forms open chain stitches, as illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4b.

[0164] In a further variant, and as illustrated in FIGS. 5a and 5b, the first and second warp threads each form open chain stitches.

[0165] In the embodiments that have just been described, the row has only one weft thread. It could have for example two thereof, as illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 5c and 5d. The second weft thread T′ does not pass, in this example, through all the chain stitches of the warp threads. Moreover, the second weft thread T′ in places crosses the first weft thread T. This makes it advantageously possible to be able to form a row of eyelashes with a more natural appearance, with some false eyelashes crossing others.

[0166] The embodiment of FIG. 10 is similar to the one of FIG. 3b, with the following difference. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the base part 12 has an additional thread 24 being interwoven with the first chain-stitch knitted warp thread 16 and the second chain-stitch knitted warp thread 18. There are in particular two additional thread 24, one in each base part 12.

[0167] The assembly 20 may be obtained by means of a knitting machine 30, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The machine 30 has compound needles 32.

[0168] The compound needle 32 is formed of a body 33 and a sliding element 34. The body 33 is made up of a butt 33a, a stem 33b and a hook 33c. The sliding element 34 is made up of a butt 34a and a stem 34b. The sliding element may slide inside the stem of the body, closing and opening the hook 33c of the needle. The body of the needle and the sliding element thus move independently and in a synchronized manner.

[0169] The machine 30 does not in particular have a latch needle with a latch articulated on the stem, nor does it have a sinker.

[0170] The machine 30 has a thread guide 35 that deposits the weft thread T that is going to form the false eyelashes. This thread guide moves from right to left and from left to right above the compound needle 32.

[0171] The machine 30 also has a first guide bar 36 for feeding the first warp thread 16. This first guide bar 36 moves from right to left and from left to right, and from top to bottom and from bottom to top, in order to turn about the compound needle. The left-right movement may vary depending on whether the warp thread 16 is intended to be knitted with open or closed chain stitches.

[0172] Finally, the machine 30 has a second guide bar 38 for feeding the second warp thread 18. This second guide bar 38 moves from right to left and from left to right, and makes it possible to deposit the second warp thread in the hook 33c of the compound needle. This second warp thread 18 makes it possible to better fix the first warp thread 16, thereby making it difficult to undo the chain stitches of the base part. The knit obtained is thus unravelable.

[0173] The method for manufacturing a row of artificial eyelashes will now be described.

[0174] In a first step (a), an assembly 20 having two base parts 12, at least one of which is intended to be fixed to the edge of an eyelid, which are disposed parallel and symmetrically to one another with respect to a median plane P, and false eyelashes 14, which are formed from a single weft thread T running back and forth between the two base parts, is knitted by means of compound needles.

[0175] The knitting takes place such that each base part has a first chain-stitch knitted warp thread 16, and a second chain-stitch knitted warp thread 18, the weft thread passing through the chain stitches without being tied thereto, and the weft thread not forming a chain stitch.

[0176] The method may have the step (b) of curving the row of artificial eyelashes and/or the base part and/or the false eyelashes by applying a mechanical load in the presence of an energy stimulus causing the material of the false eyelashes to heat up, in particular by applying ultrasound or high frequencies or by heating.

[0177] The method then has the step (c) of separating the two base parts 12 by cutting the weft thread T, in particular in the median plane P, so as to form in this way at least one row of artificial eyelashes, in particular two rows of artificial eyelashes. Step (c) may occur by mechanical cutting, by application of ultrasound or high frequencies or by heating. The median plane P may be a plane of symmetry between the two base parts 12.

[0178] The method may finally then have the step (d) of cutting the rows of artificial eyelashes to the desired length. In this step (d), the rows of eyelashes are cut perpendicularly to the median plane P. The cut may be effected by mechanical cutting, by applying ultrasound or high frequencies or by heating.

[0179] Curving step (b) may take place preferably after knitting step (a). This curving step (b) may take place before, at the same time as or, in a variant, after one or more of steps (c), (d) and/or (e) mentioned above or below. Steps (b) and (c) may be at the same time or, in a variant, consecutive, preferably with step (b) taking place before step (c), or, in a variant, step (c) may take place after step (b). Step (b) may take place after step (d) or, in a variant, step (d) may take place after step (b). Separation step (c) and cutting step (d) and curving step (b) may be at the same time or in succession.

[0180] FIG. 7a shows a curving tool 39 and an anvil 50 that are used to carry out curving step (b). This curving tool is configured to allow the application of a mechanical load in the presence of an energy stimulus causing the material of the false eyelashes to heat up, in particular by applying ultrasound or high frequencies to or by heating the assembly 20, as illustrated in FIG. 7b. Heating may involve the application of steam.

[0181] The curving tool 35 and the anvil 50 may have complementary shapes, as illustrated schematically in FIG. 8.

[0182] FIG. 7c shows a cutting tool 40 and an anvil 45 that are used to carry out curving step (b) and/or separation step (c). It is possible to use the same cutting tool and/or the same anvil to carry out curving step (b) and separation step (c). This cutting tool is configured to allow the application of a mechanical cut, ultrasound or high frequencies or heating to the assembly 20.

[0183] The cutting tool and the anvil may have complementary shapes, as illustrated schematically in FIG. 9.

[0184] Moreover, the cutting tool and the anvil may have a separating edge 42, as illustrated in FIG. 9, in order to implement step (c) of separating the base parts by cutting the weft thread T.

[0185] In the embodiment variant illustrated in FIG. 7c, the anvil 45 is U-shaped. It can be used to carry out separation step (c) and/or cutting step (d). It is possible to use the same cutting tool and/or the same anvil to carry out separation step (c) and cutting step (d). The cutting tool 10 is configured to allow the application of a mechanical cut, ultrasound or high frequencies or heating.

[0186] In one embodiment variant, the weft thread is retained in the stitches of the base part without being tied thereto, thereby making it possible to block the stitches and the false eyelashes in the stitches.

[0187] To this end, the first warp thread may have a plurality of strands and/or the second warp thread may have a plurality of strands, and/or the first and second warp threads may each have a plurality of strands.

[0188] In one embodiment, at least one warp thread or warp thread strand may be thermofusible. The thermofusible thread or strand may be activated after the knitting step, in order to fix the stitches of the base part.

[0189] In these embodiments, the method has step (e) of activating the warp thread or multistrand warp thread strand which is thermofusible, in order to fix the stitches of the base part. The activation may involve heating, in particular by stoving or a heating roller or steam, for example. Next, the assembly is cleaned.

[0190] Activation step (e) may take place preferably after knitting step (a) and before one or more of steps (b), (c) and/or (d) mentioned above. This activation step (e) may take place before or, in a variant, after one or more of steps (b), (c) and/or (d) mentioned above.

[0191] Next, the assembly is cleaned.

[0192] The false eyelashes may be retained in the stitches of the base part by plastic deformation of the false eyelashes and/or of the warp thread, in particular by applying ultrasound or high frequencies or by heating. Heating may involve the application of steam.

[0193] In this embodiment, the method has step (f) of applying plastic deformation to the false eyelashes and/or the warp thread. Step (f) of applying plastic deformation may occur by application of ultrasound or high frequencies or by heating. Step (f) of applying plastic deformation may preferably take place after knitting step (a). This step (f) of applying plastic deformation may take place before or, in a variant, after one or more of steps (b), (c), (d) and/or (e) mentioned above.

[0194] Of course, the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments that have just been described.

[0195] In one embodiment of the invention, the method is carried out with the succession of the following steps of:

[0196] (a) knitting an assembly for forming rows of artificial eyelashes to be fixed to the edge of an eyelid, this assembly having at least two base parts, at least one of which is intended to be fixed to the edge of an eyelid, which are disposed parallel and symmetrically to one another with respect to a median plane, and false eyelashes, each base part having a first warp thread forming stitches, in particular a chain-stitch knitted warp thread.

[0197] (e) activating the warp thread or multistrand warp thread strand which is thermofusible, in order to fix the stitches of the base part. The activation may involve heating, in particular by stoving or a heating roller or steam, for example. Next, the assembly is cleaned.

[0198] (b) curving the row of artificial eyelashes and/or the base part and/or the false eyelashes by applying a mechanical load in the presence of an energy stimulus causing the material of the false eyelashes to heat up, in particular by applying ultrasound or high frequencies or by heating. Heating may involve the application of steam.

[0199] (c) separating the two base parts by cutting the weft thread, in particular in a median plane, so as to form in this way at least one row of artificial eyelashes, in particular two rows of artificial eyelashes, in particular by mechanical cutting, by applying ultrasound or high frequencies or by heating. The median plane may be a plane of symmetry between the two base parts.

[0200] (d) cutting the rows of artificial eyelashes to the desired length, in particular by mechanical cutting, by applying ultrasound or high frequencies or by heating. In this step (d), the rows of eyelashes are cut perpendicularly to the median plane.

[0201] (f) applying plastic deformation to the false eyelashes and/or the warp thread, in particular by applying ultrasound or high frequencies or by heating. Heating may involve the application of steam.

[0202] The expression “having a” should be understood as being synonymous with “comprising at least one”.