Andrea P Peters

US Patent:

63091259, Oct 30, 2001

Filed:

May 30, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/580962

Inventors:

Andrea Peters - Plano TX

International Classification:

A46B 1100

US Classification:

401127

Abstract:

A mascara applicator includes a brush attached to a wand which is preformed with a predetermined bend angle which presents the brush in an offset orientation that makes it easier and more convenient to apply mascara to eyelashes. In a first embodiment, the wand is a narrow gauge wire or tube of a shape memory alloy which is characterized by pseudo-elasticity, and the wire or tube is deformed by a predetermined longitudinal bend angle in its relaxed memory recovery state. In an alternative embodiment, the wand includes link segments of a narrow gauge rod or tube of relatively stiff plastic material. At least two of the segments are joined together by a living hinge section which permits the wand to flex preferentially at the living hinge in response to a bending force. The living hinge is also characterized by flex memory recovery in which it automatically assumes a predetermined bend angle in the absence of a bending force.