| CLAIMS 1 . A head screen comprising: a flexible frame for blocking application of a cosmetic product; an opening defined by the flexible frame, the opening being adapted to conform to a person's face upon bending the flexible frame, and allowing the application of the cosmetic product on the person's face; and bending means for facilitating bending of the flexible frame. 2. A head screen as defined in claim 1 wherein the bending means includes a slit for inducing a fold line upon bending the flexible frame. 3. A head screen as defined in claim 1 wherein the bending means include a foldable portion for inducing a fold line upon bending the flexible frame. 4. A head screen as defined in either of claims 2 or 3 wherein the fold line extends substantially in a direction of a line between the person's forehead and the person's chin. 5. A head screen as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the bending means includes a substantially sharp point along the perimeter of the opening. 6. A head screen as defined in claim 5 wherein the substantially sharp point is defined by a V-shaped portion of the opening. 7. A head screen as defined in claim 6 wherein the V-shaped portion forms an angle of approximately 20 to approximately 1 00 degrees. 8. A head screen as defined in claim 6 wherein the V-shaped portion forms an angle of approximately 40 to approximately 80 degrees. 9. A head screen as defined in claim 6 wherein the V-shaped portion forms an angle of approximately 60 degrees. 10. A head screen as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the flexible frame upon bending to conform to the person's face is adapted to bend or fold towards the opposite direction to the person faces. 1 1 . A head screen as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the flexible frame upon bending to conform to the person's face is adapted to bend or fold towards the same direction as the person faces. 12. A head screen as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the head screen further comprises a handle. 13. A head screen as defined in claim 12 wherein the handle includes a pair of gripping portions which, upon being drawn together, causes the bending of the flexible frame. 14. A head screen as defined in claim 12 wherein the pair of gripping portions are formed on opposite sides of the bending means. 15. A head screen as defined in claim 13 (when it depends on claim 2) wherein the pair of gripping portions are formed on opposite sides of the slit. 16. A head screen as defined in claim 13 (when it depends on claim 3) wherein the pair of gripping portions are formed on opposite sides of the foldable portion. 17. A head screen as defined in claim 13 (when it depends on claim 5) wherein the pair of gripping portions are formed on opposite sides of the substantially sharp point. 18. A head screen as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the flexible frame includes a resilient frame adapted to return to a natural state from a bent state. 19. A head screen as defined in claim 1 8 wherein the resilient frame in the natural state includes a substantially flat frame. 20. A head screen as defined in either of claims 1 8 or 19 wherein the resilient frame is made of polypropylene. 21 . A head screen as defined in any one of the preceding claims further comprising receiving means for receiving a frame extension for blocking the application of the cosmetic product. 22. A head screen as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the flexible frame is adapted to block the application of the cosmetic product on any one or more of the person's hair, ears, neck and clothing. 23. A head screen as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the opening is adapted to allow the application of the cosmetic product on any one or more of the person's nose, cheeks, chin, eyelids and forehead. 24. A head screen as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the cosmetic product is a spray product including any one or more of spray tan, spray makeup and spray skincare products. |
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a head screen, and particularly to a head screen for use with application of a cosmetic product.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When applying a cosmetic product such as a spray product on a person's face, it may be difficult to confine the application of the cosmetic product to only the facial area. The cosmetic product may be unintentionally applied to surrounding areas such as the person's hair. Since makeup is usually applied after the hair has been styled, the unintentional makeup may ruin the styling done on the hair.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a head screen comprising:
a flexible frame for blocking application of a cosmetic product;
an opening defined by the flexible frame, the opening being adapted to conform to a person's face upon bending the flexible frame, and allowing the application of the cosmetic product on the person's face; and
bending means for facilitating bending of the flexible frame.
Preferably the bending means includes a slit for inducing a fold line upon bending the flexible frame. Alternatively the bending means includes a foldable portion for inducing a fold line upon bending the flexible frame. More preferably the fold line extends substantially in a direction of a line between the person's forehead and the person's chin.
Preferably or additionally the bending means includes a substantially sharp point along the perimeter of the opening. More preferably the substantially sharp point is defined by a V- shaped portion of the opening. Even more preferably the V-shaped portion forms an angle of approximately 20 to approximately 100 degrees. Still more preferably the V-shaped portion forms an angle of approximately 40 to approximately 80 degrees. Even still more preferably the V-shaped portion forms an angle of approximately 60 degrees.
Preferably the flexible frame upon bending to conform to the person's face is adapted to bend or fold towards the opposite direction to the person faces. Alternatively the flexible frame upon bending to conform to the person's face is adapted to bend or fold towards the same direction as the person faces.
Preferably the head screen further comprises a handle. More preferably the handle includes a pair of gripping portions which, upon being drawn together, causes the bending of the flexible frame. Even more preferably the pair of gripping portions are formed on opposite sides of the bending means. Still more preferably the pair of gripping portions are formed on opposite sides of the slit. Alternatively the pair of gripping portions are formed on opposite sides of the foldable portion. Still alternatively or additionally the pair of gripping portions are formed on opposite sides of the substantially sharp point.
Preferably the flexible frame includes a resilient frame adapted to return to a natural state from a bent state. More preferably the resilient frame in the natural state includes a substantially flat frame. More preferably the resilient frame is made of polypropylene.
Preferably the head screen further comprises receiving means for receiving a frame extension for blocking the application of the cosmetic product.
Preferably the flexible frame is adapted to block the application of the spray product on any one or more of the person's hair, ears, neck and clothing.
Preferably the opening is adapted to allow the application of the cosmetic product on any one or more of the person's nose, cheeks, chin, eyelids and forehead.
Preferably the cosmetic product is a spray product including any one or more of spray tan, spray makeup and spray skincare products.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 Plan view of an embodiment of the head screen in a natural state.
Fig. 2 Perspective view of the embodiment of the head screen shown in Fig. 1 in a natural state.
Fig. 3 Perspective view of the embodiment of the head screen shown in Fig. 1 in a bent state.
Fig. 4 Plan view of the head screen in a natural state near a person's face.
Fig. 5 Plan view of the head screen in a bent state conforming to a person's face.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figs. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the head screen 1 0 according to the present invention. The head screen 10 may be used by, for example, a makeup artist when applying a cosmetic product on a person's facial area and avoid unintentional makeup being applied to surrounding areas. The cosmetic product may be a spray product including spray tan, spray makeup and spray skincare products. In this embodiment, the head screen 10 comprises a flexible frame 12, an opening 14 defined by the flexible frame 12, and bending means in the form of a slit 16 for facilitating bending of the flexible frame 12. The head screen 10 may include a handle 17, which may be held by the makeup artist. The head screen 10 may also include a pair of gripping portions 18a and 18b on opposite sides of the slit 1 6 or bending means. In this embodiment, the head screen 1 0 is designed in the shape of a mirror.
Fig. 3 shows the same embodiment as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but the head screen 10 is in a bent state. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the head screen 1 0 may be bent by a person holding the handle 17 and applying pressure with their thumb and index finger at the pair of gripping portions 1 8a and 1 8b to draw the gripping portions together. The head screen 10 may be made of polypropylene so that it can be resiliently bent from a natural state to the bent state with the pressure applied, and thereafter return to the natural state without the pressure. In this embodiment, the flexible frame 12 in its natural state is a flat frame.
The slit 1 6 facilitates the bending of the head screen 10 by inducing or predetermining a fold line 19 in the flexible frame 12 along the length of the slit 16 upon bending. The fold line 19 may be a line along which the flexible frame 12 curves, and is not necessarily a visible line or does not necessarily show any temporary or permanent fold marks. In this embodiment the slit 16 runs vertically (as viewed from Fig. 1 ) and the fold line (not shown) is therefore also substantially vertical.
In this embodiment, the opening 14 also includes a V-shaped portion 20 defining a substantially sharp point 22 along the perimeter of the opening 14. The sharp point 22 represents an abrupt change in the otherwise smooth perimeter of the opening 14. Upon bending the flexible frame, the frame is more likely to fold along a fold line through the sharp point 22 than through any other points on the perimeter. Therefore, the sharp point 22 also facilitates the bending of the flexible frame. In this embodiment, the V-shaped portion forms an angle of approximately 60 degrees, but the angle can vary between approximately 40 to approximately 80 degrees, or even between approximately 20 to approximately 100 degrees.
Figs. 4 and 5 show how the head screen 10 may be used. The opening 14 may be made slightly larger than an average face size of a person, as shown in Fig. 4. Upon bending the flexible frame 12, the opening may become narrowed or decrease in size, as shown in Fig. 5. In proper use, the flexible frame 12 is bent so that the opening 14 conforms to the person's face and allows application of the cosmetic product on the person's face, including nose, cheeks, chin, eyelids and forehead. The flexible frame 12 may be of a width 13, for example between 2 cm and 8 cm, so that the frame 12 can block the application of the cosmetic product on, for example, the person's hair, ears, neck or clothing. As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, the flexible frame 12 upon bending folds along the fold line 1 9 that extends substantially in a direction of a line between the person's forehead and chin. In one embodiment, the head screen may further comprise receiving means for receiving a frame extension. The frame extension is an extension to flexible frame 12 to widen the area for blocking the application of the cosmetic product. For example, the frame extension may be an enlarged version of the flexible frame 12, with an opening of the same size but with an increased width. The frame extension may include engagement means to engage the slit 16, acting as the receiving means. As another example, the receiving means may be two or more apertures or slits disposed around the flexible frame 12, into which the frame extension in the form of tissue paper or suitable fabric may be received.
In another embodiment of the head screen, the bending means may include a foldable portion (not shown) instead of a slit. For example, the foldable portion may be in the form of an elongate web of a similar size to the slit. The elongate web may be made by "closing" the slit with the same material of the flexible frame but at a reduced thickness. This way the foldable portion may be made more flexible than the rest of the flexible frame. Similar to the slit, the elongate web is therefore able to induce a fold line in the flexible frame along the length of the elongate web upon bending.
Fig. 5 shows one use of the head screen 10 where the flexible frame is bent or folded towards the opposite direction to the person faces. In other words, the person's face is brought towards the head screen in direction A as indicated in Fig. 3. In this mode of use, the flexible frame 12 may press against the person's hair. In another mode of use, the flexible frame 12 may be bent or folded towards the same direction as the person faces. In other words, the person's face is brought towards the head screen in direction B as indicated in Fig. 3. This other mode of use may be more suitable in situations where the person's hair has been styled so that the flexible frame 12 is less likely to press against the person's hair to ruin the hair styling.
Now that a preferred embodiment of the head screen has been described it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention has the following advantages:
• The head screen allows the application of cosmetic product on a person's face
without unintentionally applying the cosmetic product to other parts of the person's head, or body or clothing.
• The flexible frame allows the head screen to be bent to suit different face sizes and shapes.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. For example, the shape and/or width of the frame made be different to that shown in the figures. The head screen (in the mode of use where the flexible frame bent or folded towards the same direction as the person faces) may also be used to shield the person's face (instead of the person's hair) when applying hair spray on the person's hair (instead of applying spray makeup to the person's face). All variations and modifications are to be considered within the ambit of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.
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