CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION A claim for the benefit of priority to the January 23, 2015, filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/107,286, titled HAND TRAY APPARATUS FOR EYELASH EXTENSIONS AND PROCESSES FOR APPLYING EYELASH EXTENSIONS ("the '286 Provisional Application"), is hereby made. The entire disclosure of the '286 Provisional Application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to apparatuses that are used to hold eyelash extensions in place as a cosmetician applies the eyelash extensions. More specifically, this disclosure relates to apparatuses that are configured to be held on a cosmetician's hand or wrist and, in turn, hold the eyelash extensions at a location and in an orientation that makes the eyelash extensions readily accessible to the cosmetician as she applies them to an individual' s existing eyelashes.

BACKGROUND OF RELATED ART

Artificial eyelashes are used to provide an individual with the appearance of having long, thick, beautiful eyelashes. They may be used in lieu of eye make-up, such as mascara. There are two main types of artificial eyelashes— false lashes and individual eyelash extensions.

False eyelashes include a plurality of lashes that are permanently affixed to a single strip for one application, and are typically made to adhere to an individual' s eyelid, but are only supposed to remain in place on the individual's eyelid for a day or two.

Individual eyelash extensions are configured to be independently secured to an individual's existing eyelashes. There are several different colors, sizes (e.g., thicknesses, etc.) and lengths of individual eyelash extensions, and different types of individual eyelash extensions may be used in combination. Typically, a cosmetician will grasp a single eyelash extension with a pair of tweezers and dip a base end of the eyelash extension in an adhesive material, or glue. The adhesive material is typically non-toxic, strong and flexible, and made just for eyelash extensions. With the glue in place on the base end of the individual eyelash extension, it may be applied to one of the individual's natural eyelashes, where it may remain for three or four weeks or more.

Individual eyelash extensions may be packaged loosely in a small container, as shown in FIG. 1. In that arrangement, the individual eyelash extensions may be mixed together and even tangled, making it difficult for a cosmetician to grasp them one at a time. In addition, the cosmetician may have to identify the end of the eyelash extension to which adhesive material, or glue, is to be applied (e.g., the base end, or proximal end, etc.), and then properly orient the eyelash extension so that the adhesive material, or glue, is applied to the appropriate end.

Alternatively, individual eyelash extensions may be arranged in a neatly organized row on a strip, to which base ends of the individual eyelash extensions are temporarily and removably secured, as shown in FIG. 2. This type of arrangement is much more user-friendly, as it makes it much easier for a cosmetician to grasp a single eye lash extension. The strip may include an adhesive backing so that it, along with the individual eyelash extensions secured to it, may be secured to a surface.

As shown in FIG. 3B, and as mentioned above, a cosmetician may use tweezers to grasp in individual eyelash extension and to remove it from the strip, or to grasp two or more eyelash extensions and remove them from the strip in a process known as "volume lashing." While holding the individual eyelash extension(s) with the tweezers, the cosmetician may dip the base end of the eyelash extension(s) into a suitable adhesive material. With the adhesive material in place on the base end(s) of the individual eyelash extension(s), the adhesive material is placed onto a client's natural eyelash to secure the base end(s) of the individual eyelash extension(s) to the client's natural eyelash. The individual eyelash extension(s) is (are) briefly held in position with the tweezers as the adhesive material sets. The process is then repeated, one eyelash extension at a time (or one group of eyelash extensions at a time), until a desired number of eyelash extensions have been adhered to the client' s natural eyelashes (e.g., most or all of the client' s natural eyelashes have extensions adhered to them, etc.). As disclosed by U.S. Patent No. 8,701,685 to Chipman ("the '685 Patent"), it is easier to grasp an individual eyelash extension from a strip if the strip is placed across a surface having a convex curvature in an orientation that enables outer ends, or distal ends, of the individual eyelashes held by the strip to separate from one another, or to fan out, as shown in FIG. 3B. By causing the outer ends of the individual eyelash extensions to fan out, each individual eyelash extension may be more accessible from between adjacent individual eyelash extensions.

In a specific implementation of the improvements disclosed by the '685 Patent, as depicted by FIG. 4, one or more strips carrying a plurality of individual eyelash extensions may be temporarily adhered to a convexly curved surface of a support so that the outer ends of the individual eyelash extensions carried by the strip(s) are fanned out. The support may then be positioned at a location where the individual eyelash extensions are readily accessible to the cosmetician and in proximity to the customer's own eye lashes.

It takes a substantial amount of concentration for a cosmetician to isolate a person's natural lash from adjacent lashes. Substantial amounts of concentration and effort are also needed for the cosmetician to hold that individual natural lash in isolation. While holding the isolated natural lash with one hand, it is especially difficult for the cosmetician to abandon her field of focus to grasp one or more individual eyelash extensions with her other hand. While the support disclosed by the '685 Patent makes individual eyelash extensions readily accessible relative to one another, it is configured to rest upon a stable surface, such as a table or a tray, which can be positioned close to the customer's eyes. Nevertheless, the support of the '685 Patent is still spaced some distance from the customer's eyes, requiring the cosmetician to repeatedly move her hand back and forth between the support and the customer's eyes— typically, a cosmetician will apply about one hundred individual eyelash extensions in each session. Even where the support is placed upon a stable surface located close to a customer's eyes, repeated movement between the support and the person's eyelashes can distract the cosmetician, disrupting her focus and concentration each time she has to reach for another individual eyelash extension. Furthermore, since the cosmetician's movements are usually repeated so many times, the process of moving her hand may consume a significant amount of time during the session. The repetitious movement may also become tiresome and even fatiguing to the cosmetician.

In an attempt to overcome these problems, some cosmeticians have adhered strips that carry pluralities of individual eyelash extensions to the backs of their hands, minimizing the distance between the individual eyelash extensions and the customers' eyes. This approach can, however, be unsanitary and often results in dropped strips that carry individual eyelash extensions, as the adhesive material on the strips does not adhere as well to an individual' s hand as it does to a more solid surface (e.g., plastic, metal, etc.).

Furthermore, the placement of adhesive material on the cosmetician's hand can be a challenge. The adhesive cannot be placed directly on her hand, nor should the cosmetician be required to steadily hold onto a receptacle for the adhesive material over prolonged periods of time (e.g., the amount of time it typically takes a cosmetician to apply a set of individual eyelash extensions to a customer' s existing eyelashes, etc.) so that the liquid adhesive material will not spill out of the receptacle.

One effort to position adhesive material on a cosmetician's hand without requiring her to hold onto a receptacle is the so-called "glue ring," an embodiment of which is shown in FIG. 5B. While a glue ring eliminates the need for a cosmetician to hold onto a receptacle for the adhesive material, its use can be undesirably dangerous, as it will move whenever the finger or thumb on which it is placed moves, and because of the risk that some of the liquid adhesive material may spill each time the cosmetician moves her finger or thumb. In addition, glue rings are typically top-heavy— particularly when they carry adhesive material— when may cause them to unexpectedly roll on a cosmetician' s finger and to spill the liquid adhesive material that they carry. The danger of spilling the liquid adhesive material is of particular concern because glue rings are intended to enable a cosmetician to place the adhesive material close to a customer' s face and eyes— the very locations that are prone to injury if the liquid adhesive material is spilled. Thus, to be used safely, a glue ring and one or more strips that have been secured to a cosmetician' s hand must be positioned at a location to the side of a customer' s head. Another ring, such as that depicted by FIG. 5A, may be used to hold strips of individual eyelash extensions, on an individual's finger. Unfortunately, positioning individual eyelash extensions on the individual' s finger limits her ability to use that finger and, thus, the hand of which that finger is a part, for other purposes. Moreover, if the individual bends the finger that holds the individual eyelash extensions, the individual eyelash extensions may be moved from their preferred orientation, which may increase the difficulty of grasping and applying adhesive material to the base ends of the individual eyelash extensions.

SUMMARY

An apparatus that supports a plurality of individual eyelash extensions and positions the plurality of individual eyelash extensions at a location where they may be readily accessed as a cosmetician applies them to a person's natural eyelashes is disclosed, as are methods for applying individual eyelash extensions to a person' s natural eyelashes. Such a support apparatus may be configured to be carried upon the back of an individual's hand and/or wrist or on her thumb. As such, a support according to this disclosure may be referred to as both "portable" and "hand-held." A support according to this disclosure may also be configured to preserve the dexterity of the individual's hand and fingers for use in applying individual eyelash extensions while she carries the support on or adjacent to that hand.

An apparatus that supports a plurality of individual eyelash extensions includes a tray and an attachment member. The tray is configured to be positioned on the back of an individual's hand and/or wrist (e.g., a cosmetician' s hand and/or wrist, etc.), while the attachment member is configured to secure the tray in place on the back of the

individual's hand and/or wrist. Such an apparatus may enable the individual to readily access eyelash extensions at a location that is close to the natural eyelashes to which the individual eyelash extensions are to be applied.

The tray includes a surface that is configured to hold the plurality of individual eyelash extensions. The surface of the tray may be configured to cause individual eyelash extensions with base ends that are removably secured to a strip to fan out in such a way that outer ends of the eyelash extensions, which are opposite from the base ends of the individual eyelash extensions, to be spaced farther apart from one another than their corresponding base ends. In some embodiments, the surface comprises a convex surface or a convexly curved surface. Such a surface may be elongated and even have a partially cylindrical configuration (i.e., a segment of a solid consisting of two parallel planes bounded by identical closed curves, such as circles, oval, ellipses, etc., that are interconnected at every point by a set of parallel lines, which may be oriented

perpendicular or oblique to the planes). In embodiments where the plurality of individual eyelash extensions are carried by a strip, to which base ends of the individual eyelash extensions are secured and from which the base ends of the individual eyelash extensions may be removed, the strip may be temporarily secured (e.g., by way of a

pressure-sensitive adhesive material, etc.) to the surface. Positioning of the strip on the surface may cause the individual eyelash extensions that are carried by the strip to fan out, with outer ends of the individual eyelash extensions being spaced farther apart from one another than their corresponding base ends. Such an arrangement may make it easier for an individual (e.g., a cosmetician, etc.) to grasp an individual eyelash extension from a group of eyelash extensions that are arranged in close proximity to one another.

The tray may be configured in such a way that the surface is conveniently oriented when the tray is positioned on the back of an individual' s hand and/or wrist. For example, the surface may be oriented at an angle that extends toward the individual's other hand, making it easier for the individual to use her other hand to grasp individual eyelash extensions from the surface of the tray. The surface of the tray may be configured to rotate relative to a base of the tray so the individual may position the surface and the eyelash extensions carried thereby in desired orientations.

In addition to the surface, which carries eyelash extensions, the tray may also be configured to hold an adhesive material at a location that may be easily and readily accessed by the individual's other hand, and which is close to the natural eyelashes to which the individual eyelash extensions are to be applied. As a non-limiting example, the tray may include a receptacle which is configured to place adhesive material close to (e.g., directly adjacent to, etc.) the individual eyelash extensions and, depending upon the location of the tray, close to the natural eyelashes to which the individual eyelash extensions are to be applied. In some embodiments, the tray may be configured to receive a removable, replaceable receptacle that holds adhesive material.

The attachment member of the support may comprise a strap that is configured to be positioned around part or all of an individual's hand and/or wrist. The strap may be configured to hold the tray securely in place without diminishing the individual's dexterity. In some embodiments, a length of the strap may be adjustable.

The support may also include a cushioning element on a bottom surface of the tray, the cushioning element configured to be placed against the back of the individual' s hand and/or wrist and to at least partially conform to a contour of the back of the hand and/or the back of the wrist. As a surface of the cushioning element that is positioned against the back of the hand and/or the back of the wrist may conform to the shape of the back of the hand and/or the back of the wrist, and it may reduce or eliminate any spacing between the support and the back of the hand and/or the back of the wrist, it may increase the stability with which the support is secured the back of the individual's hand and/or wrist.

In another aspect, a system for applying eyelash extensions to a person' s natural eyelashes is disclosed. Such a system includes a support according to this disclosure, as well as one or more strips that carry individual eyelash extensions. In embodiments where the system includes a plurality of strips, each strip may carry the same type

(e.g., style, length, thickness, color, etc.) of individual eyelash extensions, or the system may include strips that carry different types of individual eyelash extensions from one another.

According to another aspect, this disclosure includes methods for attaching individual eyelash extensions to the natural eyelashes of a person. Such a method includes positioning a portable tray on the back of a hand and/or a wrist of an individual (e.g., a cosmetician, etc.) and placing a plurality of individual eyelash extensions on a surface of the tray so outer ends of adjacent individual eyelash extensions are spaced apart from one another. With the individual eyelash extensions in place on the tray, the individual may position the tray at a location that will be convenient and comfortable for her as she applies the individual eyelash extensions to a person's natural eyelashes. Without limitation, such a position may be adjacent to or over the person's head, directly adjacent to the person's natural eyelashes.

With the tray in position and the outer ends of the individual eyelash extensions fanned out or otherwise spaced apart from one another, the individual who applies one or more individual eyelash extensions to a person's natural eyelash may isolate the natural eyelash from adjacent eyelashes with the hand that carries, or that is associated with the wrist that carries, the tray. The individual may also grasp one or more of the individual eyelash extensions, apply glue to the base end of each individual eyelash extension and apply the individual eyelash extension(s) to the natural eyelash.

Other aspects, as well as features and advantages of various aspects, of the disclosed subject matter will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of the ensuing disclosure, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a container that holds a plurality of loose individual eyelash extensions;

FIG. 2 depicts a plurality of strips, with each strip carrying a plurality of individual eyelash extensions;

FIG. 3A illustrates the spacing between adjacent individual eyelash extensions when a strip of the type shown in FIG. 2 is secured to a flat surface;

FIG. 3B illustrates the spacing between adjacent individual eyelash extensions when a strip of the type shown in FIG. 2 is secured to a convexly curved surface, with the individual eyelash extensions fanning out and outer ends of the adjacent individual eyelash extensions being spaced father apart than base ends of the corresponding, adjacent individual eyelash extensions; FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a tray for holding strips of individual eyelash extensions, which tray is configured to be placed upon and supported by a surface, such as the surface of a table or another tray;

FIGs. 5A and 5B illustrate rings that hold eyelash extensions and adhesive material, respectively;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a support for individual eyelash extensions according to this disclosure, with the support being configured to be positioned on the back of an individual's hand and/or wrist;

FIGs. 6A and 6B are perspective views of another embodiment of a support for individual eyelash extensions according to this disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a top edge view of the embodiment of support shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 7A is a top edge view of the embodiment of support shown in FIGs. 6A and 6B;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the embodiment of support shown in FIG. 6;

FIGs. 8 A and 8B are front view of the embodiment of support shown in FIGs. 6 A and 6B;

FIG. 9 is a side edge view of the embodiment of support shown in FIG. 6;

FIGs. 9 A and 9B are, respectively, a side edge view of the embodiment of support shown in FIGs. 6A and 6B and a cross sectional view through a longitude of the embodiment of support shown in FIGs. 6 A and 6B;

FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the embodiment of support shown in FIG. 6; and

FIGs. 11-17 depict use of the embodiment of support shown in FIG. 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed apparatuses, systems and methods. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the disclosed embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. Reference in the specification to "an example" or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least that one example, but not necessarily in other examples.

The terms "cosmetician," "stylist" and "technician" are interchangeable and refer to an individual who applies eyelash extensions to the natural eyelashes of another person. The person to whom the individual eyelash extensions are applied may also be referred to herein as a "client" or as a "customer."

The terms "support" and "platform" are interchangeable and refer to a palette used to provide materials that are used to apply eyelash extensions to a cosmetician. The term "hand tray" refers to a tray for attachment to a hand and/or wrist of an individual, such as a cosmetician.

The following embodiments provide a new and useful platform for organizing eyelash extension work materials and for providing access to those work materials in close proximity to a client, while maintaining the adhesive at a safe distance from the client's eyes.

A support according to this disclosure is configured to minimize a distance between a working platform and a person's natural eyelashes, which may substantially reduce the amount of time needed to apply about one hundred (100) individual eyelash extensions per session. Minimization of the distance between the support and the natural eyelashes of the person receiving the individual eyelash extensions may also improve stability of the support and the individual eyelash extensions thereon, enable an individual (e.g., a cosmetician, etc.) who applies the individual eyelash extensions to reduce the amount of motion required to properly secure the individual eyelash extensions in place, reduce the likelihood that the individual eyelash extensions and/or adhesive material will be dropped (which may also avoid accidents and injury) and/or better enable the individual to concentrate on the person who is receiving the individual eyelash extensions.

With reference to FIGs. 6- 10, one embodiment of a support 100 is configured to ergonomically fit on the backside of the hand and/or the wrist of the individual (e.g., a cosmetician, etc.) who applies the individual eyelash extensions to another person, and could also be positioned over her thumb. The support 100 is configured to position one or more strips 212 (FIG. 3B), each carrying a plurality of individual eyelash

extensions 216 (FIG. 3B), so that the individual eyelash extensions 216 can be easily accessed by the individual who applies the individual eyelash extensions.

As shown in FIG. 11, a support 100 may be configured to fit comfortably on the back of an individual's (e.g., a cosmetician's, etc.) hand, wrist, or even on her thumb. Such a configuration may enable the individual to position the support 100 near another person's natural eyelashes to reduce the distance the individual is required to move her hand each time she applies an individual eyelash extension 216 or a group of individual eyelash extensions 216 (e.g., in a process known as "volume lashing," etc.) to a person's natural eyelash.

As illustrated by FIG. 6, the support 100 may include a tray 102 and an attachment member 104. The tray 102 of the support 100 may include a surface 110 that is configured to receive one or more strips 212 (FIG. 3B), each of which carries a plurality of individual eyelash extensions 216 (FIG. 3B). The surface 110 may be configured to cause outer ends 218 (FIG. 3B) of individual eyelash extensions 216 to spread farther apart from one another than base ends 217 (FIG. 3B) of the individual eyelash extensions 216 that are secured to the strip 212. The surface 110 may position a center portion of each strip 212 at a different position (e.g., a higher elevation, etc.) than the ends of the strip 212. As illustrated, the surface 110 of the tray 102 may be curved. The surface 110 may, in some embodiments, have a convex curvature and, more specifically, may have a partially cylindrical configuration.

Such a configuration may, as shown in FIG. 3B, cause the individual eyelash extensions 216 that are carried by a strip 212 to fan out, thereby spacing their outer ends 218 farther apart from one another than their respective base ends 217 are spaced apart from each other, as disclosed by the '685 Patent. This spreading of the outer ends 218 of the individual eyelash extensions 216 enables an individual to grasp a specific individual eyelash extension 216 with a pair of tweezers 300. The manner in which the surface 110 of the tray 102 of the support 100 fans the individual eyelash extensions 216 is also useful in volume lashing processes (in which two to six or more eyelash extensions are arranged in a fan configuration), as the base ends 217 of the individual eyelash extensions 216 are already close together, while the outer ends 218 of the individual eyelash extensions 216 are already spread apart. Thus, the shape of the surface 110 may enable the individual to grasp two or more individual eyelash extensions 216 that have already been arranged in a fan arrangement, and to maintain that arrangement as the individual eyelash extensions 216 are applied to a person' s natural eyelash.

Turning now to FIG. 7, a back side 112 of the tray 102 may be shaped in an ergonomic manner, which may enable it partially conform to, and to be comfortably held by, the back of the individual's hand, wrist or thumb. As an example, the back side 112 of the tray 102 may have a convex, partially cylindrical shape. As illustrated by FIG. The back side 112 of the tray 102 may carry a cushioning element 113. A cushioning element 113 may enable the back side 112 of the tray 102 to better conform to the shape of the back of the individual's hand and/or wrist or to the shape of her thumb, which may provide comfort and support, and may decrease movement or slippage of the tray 102 as the individual moves her hand, wrist and/or thumb. Some examples of materials from which a cushioning element 113 may be made include, but are not limited to, foam rubber (i.e., ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam), another compressible and resilient material (e.g., rubber, a synthetic rubber, etc.), a viscoelastic material (e.g., a foam, a gel, etc.) or any other suitable material.

In some embodiments, the support 100 may include a disposable liner (not shown) that covers the surface 110 and/or other surfaces of the support 100 to facilitate clean up after an eyelash extension procedure is complete.

Looking at FIG. 8, the tray 102 may include one or more receptacles 106c, 106s in the surface 110 that is configured to carry one or more strips 212 (FIG. 3B) or adjacent to that surface 110. Each receptacle 106c, 106s may be configured to receive an adhesive material (e.g., it may comprise a recess, etc.) in a location that is in close proximity to a person's natural eyelashes. By positioning each receptacle 106c, 106s close to the surface 110, an individual eyelash extension 216 (FIG. 3B) may be grasped, removed from the strip 212 (FIG. 3B), dipped into the adhesive material and adhered to the person's natural eyelash with minimal movement by the individual who applies the individual eyelash extensions 216. In addition, such a position of each

receptacle 106c, 106s, in combination with stable placement of the support 100 on the back of the individual's hand and/or wrist may minimize the risk that the adhesive material will spill onto the person's face or into her eye.

As illustrated, the tray 102 includes a central recess 106c, which is located above the surface 110 and any strips 212 that have been secured to the surface 110, as well as a side recess 106s, which is located adjacent to a side of the surface 110.

FIGs. 6A, 6B, 7A, 8A, 8B, 9A and 9B illustrate another embodiment of support 100', which includes optional features not shown in or described with reference to FIGs. 6-10.

As illustrated by the curved arrows in each of FIGs. 6A, 6B, 7A, 8A, 8B, 9A and 9B, the surface 110' of a tray 102' of a support 100' may be configured to rotate relative to a base 111 ' of the tray 102'. Such a configuration may enable an individual to rotate the surface 110' and the individual eyelash extensions 216 (FIG. 3B) carried thereby to orientations that are most convenient to the individual. As those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, a number of mechanisms may be used to enable rotation of the surface 110' of the tray 102' relative to its base 111'. Without limitation, as illustrated by FIG. 9B, a so-called "rotatable ball detent" mechanism 150 may be used. In such a mechanism, a pivot pin 152, or an axle, may secure the surface 110' to the base 111', while one or more spring 154-loaded balls 156 may engage a series of detents 158 arranged in a circle around an upper surface of the base 111'.

In another option, with continued reference to FIG. 6A, the surface 110' of a tray 102' of a support 100' according to this disclosure, whether rotatable relative to the base 111 ' or not, may be configured to be removed from and to be replaced upon a base 111 ' of the tray 102'. Such a configuration may enable an individual to assemble a surface 110' that has been pre-loaded with strips 212 (FIG. 3B) that carry individual eyelash extensions 216 (FIG. 3B) with the base 111'. Such a configuration may also enable the individual to select a surface 110' that carries a certain set of individual eyelash extensions 216 that are best suited for use with a particular person's natural eyelashes, and to assemble that tray with the base 111 '. The ability of the base 111 ' to receive a separate surface 110' may also enable an individual to select a surface 110' from a variety of configurations (e.g., shapes, widths, lengths, etc.), which may provide the individual with the ability to tailor the support 100' to her needs or desires.

As yet another option, FIGs. 6A and 8A illustrate the tray 102' as including a receptacle attachment element 107'. The receptacle attachment element 107' may be configured to removably receive a receptacle 106' that carries adhesive material (not shown), as depicted by FIGs. 6B and 8B. While the receptacle attachment element 107' may be embodied in a wide variety of ways (e.g., as an adhesive element, as a magnetic element, etc.), the receptacle attachment element 107' depicted in FIGs. 6A and 8A is shown as comprising a recess, which may be configured to receive a separate

receptacle 106', such as that shown in FIGs. 6B and 8B, by way of an interference fit. The ability of the receptacle attachment element 107' to receive a removable

receptacle 106' may facilitate the use of receptacles 106' that are pre-loaded with adhesive material, rather than requiring an individual who uses the support 100 to repeatedly clean and fill a receptacle 106 with adhesive material, which might otherwise be time consuming and messy.

Various embodiments of a support 100, 100' according to this disclosure may enable an individual to easily handle strips of individual eyelash extensions 216 and adhesive material during the process of attaching the individual eyelash extensions 216, either individually or in a volume lashing process. These embodiments may provide ready and easy access to multiple types (e.g., lengths, thicknesses, styles, colors, etc.) of individual eyelash extensions 216 organized on a surface 110, 110'.

The manner in which the surface 110, 110' may fan individual eyelash extensions 216 may be even more helpful on a support 100, 100' that is portable since access to each individual eyelash extension 216 is provided in close proximity with a natural eyelash of a person. Thus, an individual (e.g., a cosmetician, etc.) may, in one continuous action, access one or more individual eyelash extensions 216, add adhesive to a base end 217 of each individual eyelash extension 216 and apply the base end(s) 217 of the individual eyelash extension(s) 217 to the person's natural eyelash in one continuous action, without moving away from the person's natural eyelash or losing focus on the person's eye.

With reference now to FIGs. 11-17, a process is shown for using a portable support 200 {e.g., a support 100 (FIGs. 6-10), a support 100' (FIGs. 6A, 6B, 7A, 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B), etc.) that has been positioned on and secured to a cosmetician's hand or wrist 204 to apply individual eyelash extensions 216 to a persons' natural eyelashes. In FIG. 11, it can be seen that the portable support 200 includes a curved surface 210 disposed at an angle relative to the arm of a cosmetician to assist the cosmetician in accessing the eyelash extensions, as well as providing an ergonomic feel for the cosmetician when accessing one or more individual eyelash extensions 216. A small receptacle 206 is provided on the side of the portable support 200 for adhesive material.

An adjustable strap 220 enables the cosmetician to adjust the tightness of the portable support 200 on her hand or wrist 204 and to reposition the portable support 200 so that the curved surface 210 may be disposed at different angles and on a different parts of the hand or wrist 204 of the technician, according to the needs of the cosmetician. The portable support 200 may be positioned at various angles using the attachment strap 220. Alternatively, in embodiments where the curved surface 210 rotates relative to a base of the portable support 200, the cosmetician may rotate the curved surface 210 to a desired orientation.

As shown in FIGs. 11-17, multiple strips 212 that carry individual eyelash extensions 216 may be adhered by adhesive backing to the curved surface 210 of the portable support 200. Each strip 212 may be adhered to the curved surface 210 in such a way that the individual eyelash extensions 216 are directed outward away from the cosmetician's hand or wrist 204. As discussed above, this arrangement causes the outer ends 218 of the individual eyelash extensions 216 to fan out, providing easy access by the cosmetician to each individual eyelash extension 216.

During the process of applying each individual eyelash extension 216, as shown in FIGs. 11-17, individual eyelash extensions 216 are separately removed from a strip 212, dipped in an adhesive material and applied to a natural eyelash of a person, or two or more individual eyelash extensions 216 may be removed from the strip 212, dipped in adhesive material and glued to a natural eyelash together. As a strip 212 is depleted of individual eyelash extensions 216, the adhesive backing on the strip 212 may enable the strip 212 to be easily removed from the portable support 200 and replaced by a new strip 212. The strips 212 can be organized by length, thickness, and even color. This allows the stylist to have all needed individual eyelash extensions in one place on single portable support 200 instead of having multiple open containers each with only one kind of individual eyelash extension 216.

The following description assumes that the cosmetician is left-handed. If the cosmetician is right-handed, the discussion should be changed accordingly. Looking at FIG. 12, the cosmetician may position the portable support 200 on her right hand or wrist 204. The cosmetician may also have pair of tweezers 230 in her right hand 204 and another pair of tweezers 232 in her left hand 238.

Referring to FIG. 13, the cosmetician may use the tweezers 230 in her right hand 236 to isolate a natural eyelash 240 to receive an individual eyelash extension 216 (FIG. 12). Next, as seen in FIG. 14, the cosmetician may use the tweezers 232 in her left hand 238 to access an individual eyelash extension 216 from one of the strips 212 carried by the portable support 200. As shown in FIG. 15, the base end 217 (FIG. 3B) of the individual eyelash extension 216 may be dipped in adhesive material, which may be contained in a receptacle 206 of the portable support 200.

Looking at FIG. 16, the individual eyelash extension 216 may then be affixed to the natural eyelash 240, which has been isolated from adjacent eyelashes by

tweezers 230. In FIG. 17, the individual eyelash extension 216 is shown as having been attached to the natural eyelash 240. FIG. 17 also shows the portable support 200 in a location on the cosmetician's right wrist 205, farther away from the person to whom she has been applying the individual eyelash extensions 216.

The supports and related processes that have been disclosed have several advantages over existing apparatuses, systems and methods for applying individual eyelash extensions to a person's natural eyelashes. The close proximity between the support and the person's natural eyelashes enables a cosmetician to easily handle the individual eyelash extensions and adhesive material during the process of attaching the individual eyelash extensions, while quickly completing the process of applying individual eyelash extensions to a person's natural eyelashes. A surface of the support may also have a shape that spreads the outer ends of the individual eyelash extensions apart from one another for easy individual access and for a fanned arrangement, enabling a stylist to quickly and easily grasp one individual eyelash extension or more individual eyelash extensions in a pre-fanned arrangement during the application procedure. Alone or together, these features may enable an individual to achieve and maintain the substantial amounts of concentration and effort that are required for the individual to isolate a person's natural eyelash from adjacent eyelashes with one hand, to hold that individual natural eyelash in isolation and to simultaneously grasp one or more individual eyelash extensions with her other hand. More specifically, since a support according to this disclosure may be placed in close proximity to a person's natural eyelashes, the individual may simultaneously focus on both the natural eyelashes and the individual eyelash extensions. There is no need for the individual to abandon one field of focus for the other.

A support according to this disclosure may also provide an individual with ready access to multiple lengths, thicknesses and colors of individual eyelash extensions, all of which may be organized on the same surface.

Although the preceding disclosure provides many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of any of the ensuing claims. Other embodiments may be devised which do not depart from the scopes of the claims. Features from different embodiments may be employed in combination. The scope of each claim is, therefore, indicated and limited only by its plain language and the full scope of available legal equivalents to its elements.