Description MAKEUP REMOVER

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a makeup remover, and more particularly to a makeup removal apparatus capable of effectively removing eye makeup cosmetics such as mascara and eyeliner used in making up eyelashes or edges of eyes. Background Art

[2] Generally, in regard to face makeup, people feel especially particular about cosmetics for eye makeup, such as a mascara put on the eyelashes and an eyeliner put on the edges of eyes, because the eye areas are very delicate. Since most of the eye cosmetics are oil-soluble, there have been supplied dedicated eye makeup solutions capable of effectively removing the oil-soluble eye cosmetics.

[3] In case of the mascara, considering that it is oil-soluble and also hard to dissolve, the dedicated eye makeup solution needs to be applied by a sufficient amount and left for several seconds until the mascara fully soaks the eye makeup solution, in order to thoroughly dissolve and remove the mascara.

[4] So far, however, only the dedicated eye makeup solution has been supplied in the market but any tool for use with the eye makeup solution has not been supplied. Therefore, the eye makeup solution has been used merely with cotton-wool pads or swabs and accordingly several problems have been raised.

[5] For example, in case of using the cotton- wool pad, consumption of the eye makeup solution is increased too much since it soaks up lots of eye makeup solution. Also, the cotton- wool pad is insufficient to enclose all the eyelashes widely distributed at one time. Furthermore, while the cotton- wool pad is wiping the eyelashes to remove the mascara, the eye makeup solution containing a quantity of oil component may infiltrate into the skin around the eyelashes and even into the eyes, together with the mascara, thereby inducing side effects. Such wiping with the cotton- wool pad even becomes the main cause of loss of the eyelashes. Moreover, a wet napkin or additional washing is additionally required to completely wash off the eye makeup solution with remainder particles of the mascara.

[6] On the other hand, when using the swab, there is less risk of infiltration of the eye makeup solution into the skin or the eyes since the swab can be more delicately used compared to the cotton-wool pad. However, not only does it take a long time to remove the mascara with such a small cotton bud attached to the swab, but also it is hard to apply a sufficient supporting force or pressure to the swab, thereby deteriorating the makeup removal efficiency. Thus, the swab is improper as a mascara

removing tool.

[7] Meanwhile, in regard to the eyeliner, an eyeliner eraser has been supplied, which is configured by fixing an oval sponge to both ends of a stick similarly to the swab and is used by applying the eye makeup solution to the sponge, thereby efficiently removing the eyeliner. However, because the eyeliner eraser is inapplicable to removal of mascara, the user has to additionally purchase a tool dedicated for removal of mascara. This is not only cumbersome but also increases the cost since the mascara removal tool is a throwaway material. Furthermore, setting aside the cost matter, the separate use of the throwaway material causes waste of resources. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[8] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a makeup remover capable of conveniently and rapidly removing mascara from eyelashes, without causing any side effects harmful to the skin or the eye.

[9] It is another object of the present invention to provide a makeup remover capable of being also applicable to removal of eyeliner as another eye makeup cosmetic. Technical Solution

[10] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a makeup remover comprising a main body which includes an elastic supporting unit in the form of pincers, and upper and lower pinching units extended from ends of the elastic supporting unit, and sponges re- placeably connected to the pinching units of the main body. Brief Description of Drawings

[11] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[12] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a makeup remover according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[13] Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the makeup remover according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[14] Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the structure of the makeup remover;

[15] Fig. 4 is a view showing the used state of the makeup remover;

[16] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a makeup remover according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[17] Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the makeup remover according to the another embodiment of the present invention;

[18] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a makeup remover according to still another embodiment of the present invention;

[19] Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the makeup remover according to the still another embodiment of the present invention;

[20] Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing the structure of the makeup remover according to the still another embodiment of the present invention; and

[21] Fig. 10 is a view showing the used state of the makeup remover according to the still another embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

[22] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that, wherever possible, the same elements will be referred to by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings. In addition, generally known features and functions will not be explained in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.

[23] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a makeup remover according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the makeup remover of Fig.1. The makeup remover comprises a main body 10 and sponges 20 and 30 re- placeably connected to the main body 10.

[24] More specifically, the main body 10 comprises an elastic supporting unit 12 in the form of pincers formed by bending a metal plate having elasticity and coating an outside of the pincers with a synthetic resin, and upper and lower pinching units 14 and 16 extended respectively from upper and lower ends of the elastic supporting unit 12. The upper and the lower sponges 20 and 30 are replaceably connected through the upper and the lower pinching units 14 and 16, respectively.

[25] In configuring the main body 10, however, the material is not limited as explained above. That is, the elastic supporting unit 12 which also functions as a gripping part for a user may be made totally of metal or totally of a synthetic resin having elasticity. Meanwhile, exemplarily, the upper and the lower pinching units 14 and 16 may be made of metal capable of enduring strong flexure so as to exert a sufficient pinching force as integrated with the elastic supporting unit 12.

[26] The curvature of the upper and the lower pinching units 14 and 16 of the main body

10 is set to be the same as the curvature of eyelashes of ordinary people. Also, the upper and the lower pinching units 14 and 16 each have a thin plate form so that the sponges 20 and 30 connected to the upper and the lower pinching units 14 and 16 do not idly rotate. In addition, catching protrusions 14a and 16a wider than bodies of the upper and the lower pinching units 14 and 16 are respectively provided at leading ends of catching protrusions 14a and 16a to prevent the sponges 20 and 30 from easily

escaping.

[27] The sponges 20 and 30 have the same curvatures as the pinching units 14 and 16, and include insertion grooves 30a penetratingly formed from one ends thereof to receive the upper and the lower pinching units 14 and 16. Therefore, the sponges 20 and 30 can be connected to the upper and the lower pinching units 14 and 16 replaceably through the insertion grooves 30a, respectively. Here, the sponges 20 and 30 can be in any shape as long as being able to have a proper curvature by the pinching units 14 and 16.

[28] Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 show a makeup remover according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this makeup remover, upper and lower pinching units 54 and 56 of a main body 50 may have different angles from an elastic supporting unit 52.

[29] More specifically, since the upper and the lower pinching units 54 and 56 are inclined backward with respect to the elastic supporting unit 52, the angle of the elastic supporting unit 52 can be variably adjusted. When the angles of the upper and the lower pinching units 54 and 56 are varied with respect to the elastic supporting unit 52, position of the user's arm holding the elastic supporting unit 52 is accordingly adjusted. Thus, the makeup remover can be adjusted into various configurations as desired suitably to the user's convenient position.

[30] Fig. 7 through Fig. 10 show a makeup remover according to still another embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, in addition to pinching units formed at one end of an elastic supporting unit 62 of a main body 60, an eyeliner removal unit is further provided at the opposite end of the elastic supporting unit 62.

[31] The eyeliner removal unit comprises a supporting part 64 extended from the other end of the elastic supporting unit 62 of the main body 60, and an oval sponge 70 which is replaceably connected to the supporting part 64. The supporting part 64 is formed as a thin plate to prevent unwanted idle rotation of the sponge 70. In addition, a catching protrusion 64a wider than the supporting part 64 is formed at the free end of the supporting part 64 such that the sponge 70 does not easily escape.

[32] The oval sponge 70 includes an insertion groove 72 formed from one end to receive the supporting part 64. Therefore, the sponge 70 can be connected to the supporting part 64 through the insertion groove 72 replaceably.

[33] Here, since the sponges 20, 30 and 70 introduced above are throwaway materials, a plurality of sponges may be stocked and used for each corresponding part.

[34] When the makeup remover is used in removing mascara, the sponges 20 and 30 are connected to the upper and the lower pinching units 14 and 16 of the main body 10, respectively. Because the upper and the lower pinching units 14 and 16 have the thin plate form, the sponges 20 and 30 connected thereto are prevented from unwanted

rotation. Also, the catching protrusions 14a and 16a formed wider than the bodies of the upper and the lower pinching units 14 and 16 can prevent escape of the connected sponges 20 and 30.

[35] Fig. 4 shows the makeup remover according to the embodiment of the present invention in use. After the sponges 20 and 30 are connected to the main body 10, the user grips the elastic supporting unit 12 of the main body 10 with a thumb and an index finger. In this state, the sponges 20 and 30 are sufficiently soaked with the eye makeup solution and disposed to receive the user's eyelashes 40 therebetween. Then, as the user presses the elastic supporting unit 12, the eyelashes 40 are pinched by the sponges 20 and 30 by the operation of the pinching units 14 and 16. Accordingly, the eye makeup solution soaking in the sponges 20 and 30 infiltrates and dissolves the mascara applied on the eyelashes 40. When the mascara is dissolved enough for several seconds, the user wipes the eyelashes 40 outward with the sponges 20 and 30 while still pinching the eyelashes 40 by the sponges 20 and 30 by a proper pressure, thereby removing the mascara from the eyelashes 40.

[36] Here, the sponges 20 and 30 respectively connected to the upper and the lower pinching units 14 and 16 of the main body 10 have the same curvatures as the pinching units 14 and 16, and the curvature corresponds to that of the eyelash area of ordinary people. Therefore, the sponges 20 and 30 are capable of covering the whole area of the eyelashes 40 and removing all the mascara applied on the eyelashes 40 by one time of the wiping operation. Even if the mascara is not thoroughly removed at one time, two or three more times of the wiping will do.

[37] Furthermore, since the sponges 20 and 30 have the same curvature as the area of the eyelashes 40, the user is able to safely use the sponges 20 and 30 soaked with the eye makeup solution without any risk of touching the skin or the eye with the sponges 20 and 30 if taking just a little care.

[38] After removal of the mascara, the makeup remover can be reused almost permanently by simply replacing the sponges 20 and 30, more specifically, by separating the used sponges 20 and 30 from the upper and the lower pinching units 14 and 16 of the main body 10 and then connecting new sponges.

[39] Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 show the makeup remover according to the another embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the upper and lower pinching units 54 and 56 of the main body 50 are inclined backward from the elastic supporting unit 52. Accordingly, when the makeup remover removes mascara, the elastic supporting unit 52 is disposed at the front and therefore the makeup remover can be used from a different angle. That is, by varying the upper and the lower pinching units 54 and 56 with respect to the elastic supporting unit 52, the user is able to adaptively move his or her arm to use the makeup remover at convenient positions.

[40] Fig. 7 through Fig. 10 show the makeup remover according to the still another embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the supporting part 64 is protruded at the end of the elastic supporting unit 62 of the main body 60, disposed opposite to the pinching units. Therefore, by connecting the oval sponge 70 to the supporting part 64, the eyeliner removal unit can be further comprised.

[41] The user grips the elastic supporting unit 62 of the main body 60 with the oval sponge 70 soaked with the eye makeup solution and wipes out eyeliner applied around the eyes, thereby removing the eyeliner. After removal of the eyeliner, the makeup remover can be reused by easily separating the used sponge 70 from the supporting part 64 of the main body 60 and replacing a new sponge. Thus, the makeup remover according to the still another embodiment can be applied even to removal of eyeliner. Industrial Applicability

[42] As described above, a makeup remover according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a main body 10 including upper and lower pinching units 14 and 16 having a curve form, and sponges 20 and 30 replaceably connected to the main body 10. Therefore, mascara applied on eyelashes 40 can be removed by soaking the sponges 20 and 30 in a dedicated eye makeup solution. According to this structure, not only waste of the eye makeup solution can be prevented but also even the mascara, which is difficult to remove, can be conveniently and rapidly removed since the widely distributed eyelashes are all enclosed and wiped by the makeup remover. In addition, since the sponges 20 and 30 are curved in accordance with shapes of the upper and the lower pinching units 14 and 16 and thereby corresponded to the curvature of the eyelashes 40, there occurs almost no risk of infiltration of the dissolved mascara particles or such oily eye makeup solution into the user's skin or eyes. Thus, side effects can be reduced.

[43] Moreover, according to a still another embodiment, when a supporting part 64 is further provided at an end of an elastic supporting unit 62 of a main body 60, the end disposed opposite to pinching units, and then an oval sponge 70 is connected to the supporting part 64, the makeup remover can remove eyeliner as well. Accordingly, usefulness of the makeup remover can be much improved.

[44] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.