Field of the Invention

[0001 ] This invention relates generally to a type of eyeshadow applicator and a method of realisation thereof.

Background

[0002] An eyeshadow applicator is a type of flat shader brush used for applying a layer of eyeshadow around the eye. The eyeshadow may be powdery but may also be cream or oil paint based.

[0003] However, it is difficult to quickly apply eyeshadow uniformly in the correct shape using a handheld brush.

[0004] As such, eyeshadow stencils may be used to define an edge against which eyeshadow can be applied evenly and uniformly using the brush.

[0005] One type of eyeshadow stencil is an adhesive eyeshadow template piece is stuck to the skin around the eye to define an edge. Once the eyeshadow is applied against the edge, the eyeshadow template piece is removed and discarded.

[0006] Another type of eyeshadow stencil has a handle with a template piece at a distal end thereof. The template piece is held against the eye by the handle to define a shaped contouring edge against which eyeshadow can be quickly and easily applied with an applicator.

Summary of the Disclosure

[0007] There is provided herein an eyeshadow applicator comprising a handle and a template piece at a distal end thereof. The template piece defines a shaped contouring edge, and eye side and an exterior side.

[0008] The template piece is held against the eyelid by the handle and eyeshadow applied along the shaped contouring edge using an eyeshadow applicator, such as an eyeshadow brush or pencil.

[0009] The eye side preferably has concavity in two orthogonal axes (such as having spherical concavity) so as to more closely conform to the shape of the eye and more closely fit against the crease of the eye for more uniform and accurate application of eyeshadow.

[0010] The template piece is further preferably removably attachable to the handle. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the handle comprises at least two substantially parallel pins which insert straight into respective apertures of a proximal edge of the template piece.

[0011 ] The pins allow for quick and easy interchange of template pieces and furthermore do not substantially deform the shape of the template piece. Furthermore, the corresponding engagement apertures of the template pieces minimise intrusion into the template pieces, thereby allowing the pieces to maintain rigidity and therefore shape and furthermore allows for the low-cost manufacture of the template pieces from material such as silicon.

[0012] In embodiments, the spacing of the pins may not exactly match the spacing of the of the apertures to create an interference fit to more securely hold the template piece on the handle. In this regard, the template piece may be flexible so as to be able to stretch slightly to accommodate the unevenly spaced pins.

[0013] The handle may define a distal edge which meets a proximal edge of the template piece straight on.

[0014] Furthermore, the distal edge may have a curvature matching that of the template piece and the handle may comprise three or more pins so that the template piece cannot be attached to the pins in an incorrect opposite orientation.

[0015] The applicator may be sold in kit form comprising a plurality of template pieces each selectively attachable to the handle and each having a different shaped contouring edges. As such, a template piece may be selected and attached to the handle according to a desirous eyeshadow effect. The template piece may be provided in left and right-handed variants so that eyeshadow may be applied along mirrored contours to each eye.

[0016] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an eyeshadow applicator in accordance with an embodiment;

[0019] Figure 2 shows an exterior side perspective view of the handle of the applicator;

[0020] Figure 3 shows an eye side perspective view of the handle;

[0021] Figure 4 shows an eye side perspective view of a template piece of the applicator;

[0022] Figure 5 shows an exterior view of the template piece of Figure 4;

[0023] Figure 6 - 11 show a plurality of template pieces of the applicator having different shaped contouring edges in accordance with embodiments; and [0024] Figure 12 shows a perspective view of the applicator provided in kit form.

Description of Embodiments

[0025] Figure 1 shows an eyeshadow applicator 100 comprising a handle 101 and a template piece 102 a distal end thereof. The template piece 102 defines a shaped contouring edge 103, an eye side 104 (as best shown in Figure 4) and an exterior side 105 (best shown in Figure 5).

[0026] The eye side 104 preferably concavity in two orthogonal axes. Specifically, with reference to Figure 4, there is shown a longitudinal axis 114 (i.e. in generally in alignment with a longitudinal axis of the handle 101 and a lateral axis 115, the lateral axis 115 being generally orthogonal with respect to the longitudinal axis 114. In this regard, the eye side 104 preferably has concavity along both the longitudinal 114 axis and the lateral 115 axis. Preferably, the concavity is spherical. As such, the eye side 104 more closely conforms to the shape of the eyeball, thereby allowing the contouring edge 103 to lie more closely and conformingly to the eyelid crease for more accurate application of eyeshadow. [0027] Similarly, the exterior side 105 may have convexity in the two axes 114, 115 which may also exhibit spherical convexity. The profile of the eye side 104 and the exterior side 105 may substantially match so that the template piece 102 has substantial uniform thickness therebetween.

[0028] As best shown in Figure 4, the template piece 102 may narrow in thickness towards the contouring edge 103. Specifically, as is shown in Figure 4, the template piece 102 may have a proximal uniform width cross-section 1 16 and a distal diminishing width cross-section 1 17 which tapers towards the contouring edge 103. [0029] The uniform width cross-section 1 16 may further tended towards the eye side 104. In other words, the exterior side 105 may curve towards the eye side 104 so that the contouring edge 103 defines a relatively sharp edge substantially towards the eye side 104 as compared to the exterior side 105. Specifically, Figure 4 shows the contouring edge 1 13 formed by an eye side rounded edge 1 18 and an exterior side rounded edge 119 and wherein the eye side rounded edge 118 has a smaller radius than that of the exterior side rounded edge 1 19.

[0030] The template piece 102 is preferably flexible yet comprises sufficient resilience to avoid deformation of the contouring edge 103. The template piece 102 may comprise silicon, preferably food grade silicon.

[0031 ] The handle 101 may be substantially spoon shaped comprising a proximal end 106, a midsection 107 and a neck 108 which widens towards the template piece 102. [0032] As is shown in Figures 1 - 3, the handle 101 may bend at the midsection 107 so that the proximal end 106 is at a slight angle with respect to the longitudinal axis 114 of the template piece 102.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the template piece 102 is removably attachable to the handle 101.

[0034] As shown in Figure 2, the handle 101 may comprise at least two substantially parallel pins 109 which insert into respective apertures 110 (shown in Figure 4) through proximal edge 1 11 of the template piece 102. In embodiments, the pins 109 may taper slightly in cross-section towards distal ends thereof. Distal ends of the pins 109 may be rounded. [0035] The handle 101 may define a distal edge 112 which fits against the proximal edge 111 of the template piece 102 in the manner shown in Figure 1 .

[0036] In the embodiment shows, the distal edge 112 of the handle 101 and the proximal edge 111 of the template piece 102 (best shown in Figure 5) are straight with respect to the lateral axis 115. Furthermore, as is shown in Figure 3, the eye side of the neck 108 may be concave so that the distal edge 112 has curvature, i.e. with respect to a plane lying on the lateral axis 115 and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 114.

[0037] In embodiment shown, the handle 101 comprises three or more pins 109. The three or more pins 109 in conjunction with the curvature of the distal edge 112 may prevent the template piece 102 from being attached to the handle 101 in an incorrect opposite orientation.

[0038] The pins 109 may have a length of greater than 5 mm.

[0039] The pins 109 may be orientated substantially parallel with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle 101.

[0040] In embodiments, the spacing of the pins does not exactly match the spacing of the apertures 111 so that an interference fit is created by the apertures 110 adjusting (i.e. the template piece 102 stretching or compressing along the proximal edge 111 ) according to the spacing of the pins 109. The template piece 102 being flexible, such as made of silicon, may assist in the adjusting of the apertures 110 to the spacing of the pins 109.

[0041] Figure 12 shows the applicator 100 being sold in kit form 113 comprising packaging 120 having a plurality of shaped recesses 121 therein for housing a plurality of correspondingly shaped template pieces 102. Template pieces 102 may be selected from the packaging 113 by their contouring edge 103 for attachment to the handle 101.

[0042] For example, Figure 8 shows a rounded contouring edge 103 which curves in one direction. According to this contour, the template piece 102 may be shorter on a lateral edge 123 as compared to a medial edge 124. The template piece 102 shown in Figure 8 is for the left eye (as indicated by the marking 125 thereon) and therefore the medial edge 123 is placed towards the nose whereas the lateral edge 124 is placed towards the ear. A corresponding template piece 102 shown in Figure 9 is for the right eye which therefore has a configuration mirrored with respect to the longitudinal axis 114.

[0043] Figures 10 and 1 1 shows a similar rounded contouring edge 103 which curves in one direction but wherein the difference in length between the edges 123, 124 is more pronounced. Furthermore, the marking 125 shown in Figure 1 1 b indicates that the template piece 102 is for the right eye and therefore the medial and lateral edges 123, 124 are flipped with respect to the longitudinal axis 114 of the template piece 102 shown in Figure 10b.

[0044] Figure 7 shows an embodiment wherein the contouring edge 103 curves in two directions, thereby providing a wave shape contour.

[0045] Application of eyeshadow may comprise deciding on an eyeshadow effect and choosing one of the template pieces 102 having a corresponding contouring edge 103. The template piece 102 may then be attached to the handle 101 by pushing the pins 109 thereof into the corresponding apertures 110.

[0046] Thereafter, the eye side 104 of the template piece 102 may be held against the eye with the contouring edge 103 located at or near the eyelid crease. Eyeshadow may then be applied along the contouring edge 103.

[0047] The process may be repeated for the opposite eye by removing the template piece 102 and attaching the oppositely handed template piece 102 to apply a mirrored eyeshadow effect on the other eye.

[0048] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. Flowever, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.