# US 11,439,221 B2 · Stabilized, precision, dual-brush eyelash application apparatus and method

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- Number: US 11,439,221 B2
- Document ID: US11439221B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/598,376
- Filed: 2019-10-10
- Published: 2020-05-21
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2012-10-04
- Assignees: Lash Duet, LLC
- Applicants: Lash Duet, LLC
- Inventors: Lisa Hatch; Gerald Zinnbauer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439221B2

## CPC

- A45D 40/262: {using a brush or the like}
- A45D 34/042: {using a brush or the like}
- A45D 40/24: Casings for two or more cosmetics
- A45D 40/265: {connected to the cap of the container}
- A45D 40/267: {comprising a wiper}
- A46B 5/0012: {Brushes with two or more heads on the same end of a handle for simultaneous use, e.g. cooperating with each-other}
- A46B 2200/1053: Cosmetics applicator specifically for mascara
- A45D: HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT (wigs, toupees or the like A41G3/00, A41G5/00; hairdressers' chairs A47C1/04; hair cutting appliances, razors B26B); EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
- A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G)

## Abstract

A mascara application system includes two brushes on arms or wands. A manufacturing approach is included. Wands are biased together, requiring force to separate brushes to place brushes on opposite sides (surfaces, top and bottom) of an eyelash. Upon release of the force brushes remain in contact with no affirmative force required to keep them together. During application of mascara, a user's fingers remain free to manipulate the position and movement of the brushes by holding, rolling, drawing, or otherwise controlling the handle to which the wands anchor. Brushes may be the same or different sizes, on simple, cantilevered arms or in a crossed (reverse tweezers) configuration. A reservoir of mascara product may receive, and seal by means of engaging, the applicator without relative rotation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus operable as an eyelash maintenance appliance, the apparatus comprising:
a handle, defining axial (longitudinal), radial, and circumferential directions, mutually orthogonal;
arms passing axially through and extending from the handle, the arms being effectively parallel along a majority of a length thereof, each having a proximal end, a distal end, and connected to deflect toward one another absent force applied thereto by a user;
heads secured to each of the distal ends, respectively;
a bias member urging at least one of the distal ends toward the other; and
a first pressure point in the handle, operable by a user by a force and movement radially counteracting the bias member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a second pressure point positioned opposite the first pressure point configured to be urged toward the first pressure point by the force and movement.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heads are each selected from a brush and a sponge capable of receiving between the heads an eyelash contacted by both heads.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:
a container containing a product, formulated to adhere to the heads; and
a tool fitted to the container and comprising squeegees corresponding to the arms and sized to remove from the heads excess quantities of the product picked up by the heads.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the heads comprise bristles and the squeegees are sized to extrude the product from between the bristles by bending them.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:
the squeegees are fitted to the container and the arms to seal the container when the handle is in a closed position with respect to the container; and
the product is selected from a liquid and a paste accessible by the heads prior to removal of the heads from the container through the squeegees.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the product is mascara.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the handle and the container are selectively securable to one another by a collar.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the arms and squeegees render the container airtight in response to the collar in a closed configuration.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the bias member is homogeneously formed with and as an extension of the arms as a single piece.

### Claim 11

A method executable as a cosmetic process, the method comprising:
obtaining an apparatus, comprising a container capable of holding a product, a handle, defining axial (longitudinal), radial, and circumferential directions, mutually orthogonal to one another, arms passing approximately parallel to one another along a majority of their length (inside the handle and extending therefrom), including heads, each fixed to and collinear with the arms corresponding thereto, and a bias member urging at least one of the arms radially inward toward the other;
disengaging the handle from being constrained axially by the container;
redistributing the product in the heads by drawing the bristles through squeegees corresponding thereto and closing a proximal end of the container;
separating the heads with their respective arms by urging at least one of the arms exclusively radially outward from the other in response to a force exclusively radially inward applied by a user proximate the handle;
engaging an eyelash between the heads by removing the force; and
drawing the heads along the eyelash and away from a user.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, comprising manipulating the heads by rotating the handle circumferentially.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 wherein the force is applied on two pressure points on opposite sides of the handle.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein drawing comprises translating and rotating the handle after capturing the eyelash between the heads.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the heads comprise bristles and the method comprises loading a product onto the bristles.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the product comprises at least one of a liquid and a paste.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the product is mascara.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the bias member is homogeneously formed with and of a same material as the arms.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the arms and squeegees are sized to seal the container when the arms are within the corresponding squeegees.

### Claim 20

A method of eyelash care comprising:
obtaining an apparatus, comprising a handle, defining axial (longitudinal), radial, and circumferential directions, mutually orthogonal to one another, arms extending from a proximal end in the handle to a distal end fixed collinearly to a head extending therefrom, a bias member operably connected to urge the arms toward one another, and a pinch point at which a force may be selectively applied by a user to urge the arms exclusively radially apart by counteracting the bias member;
separating the heads from one another exclusively in a substantially radial directing by applying a force substantially exclusively radially to the pinch point;
positioning the heads opposite one another with an eyelash therebetween;
contacting the eyelash by and between the heads by removing the force;
drawing the heads along the eyelash away from a user.