US5178169A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device and method for selecting cosmetics
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-12-09
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Granted: 1993-01-12
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Expires: 2011-12-09
Abstract
Abstract A cosmetics selecting device comprising a flexible strip having major face divided longitudinally into a series of comparison zones, each zone being marked in at least one of the different color, shade and tone of cosmetic product from an adjacent zone and a corresponding cosmetic identifying indicia, opposite ends of the strip having respective finger-pieces such that the strip can be manually flexed against the skin to bring a plurality of adjacent zones into juxtaposition therewith for precise comparison purposes. The indicia may be mirror images of letters or numerals enabling instant recognition of a mirror reflection. The finger-piece portion is not marked by cosmetic product to avoid soiling a user's hand.
Inventors
- 👤 Stewart Lamle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:14
CPC Classifications
A; A45; A45D; A45D44/00; A45D44/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A cosmetics selecting device comprising an elongate, imperforate flexible strip having a major face divided longitudinally into a series of adjoining comparison zones, each zone being completely marked in at least one of a different color, shade and tone of cosmetic product from an adjacent zone and extending to the longitudinal edges of the strip and with a correspondingly different cosmetic identifying indicia, opposite ends of the strip having respective finger-pieces by which the strip can be manually flexed against a user's skin by engaging such portions to bring a plurality of adjacent said zones into juxtaposition with the skin for precise comparison matching purposes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A cosmetics selecting device comprising an elongate, imperforate flexible strip having a major face divided longitudinally into a series of adjoining comparison zones, each zone being completely marked in at least one of a different color, shade and tone of cosmetic product from an adjacent zone and extending to the longitudinal edges of the strip and with a correspondingly different cosmetic identifying indicia, opposite ends of the strip having respective finger-pieces by which the strip can be manually flexed against a user's skin by engaging such portions to bring a plurality of adjacent said zones into juxtaposition with the skin for precise comparison matching purposes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A cosmetics selecting device according to claim 1 in which the indicia comprise mirror images of one of letters and numerals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cosmetics selecting device according to claim 2 in which a finger-piece is not marked with a cosmetic product.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cosmetics selecting device according to claim 1 in which the marking is the cosmetic product itself.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of selecting a cosmetic precisely matching a user's skin surface by providing an elongate, imperforate flexible strip having a major face divided longitudinally into a series of adjoining comparison zones, each zone being completely marked in at least one of a different color, shade and tone of cosmetic product from an adjacent zone and extending to the longitudinal edges of the strip and with a correspondingly different cosmetic identifying indicia, opposite ends of the strip having respective finger-pieces, grasping a finger-piece and moving the strip longitudinally adjacent the skin surface to obtain an approximate comparison, flexing the strip against the skin surface to bring at least the approximately matching zones into juxtaposed, substantially coplanar relation with the skin surface to obtain a precise comparison and noting the indicia identifying the corresponding cosmetic product.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of selecting a cosmetic precisely matching a user's skin surface by providing an elongate, imperforate flexible strip having a major face divided longitudinally into a series of adjoining comparison zones, each zone being completely marked in at least one of a different color, shade and tone of cosmetic product from an adjacent zone and extending to the longitudinal edges of the strip and with a correspondingly different cosmetic identifying indicia, opposite ends of the strip having respective finger-pieces, grasping a finger-piece and moving the strip longitudinally adjacent the skin surface to obtain an approximate comparison, flexing the strip against the skin surface to bring at least the approximately matching zones into juxtaposed, substantially coplanar relation with the skin surface to obtain a precise comparison and noting the indicia identifying the corresponding cosmetic product.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 5 including the step of viewing a mirror reflection of the zones and the skin during the comparison.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of selecting a cosmetic precisely matching a user's skin surface by providing an elongate, imperforate, flexible strip having a major face divided longitudinally into a series of adjoining comparison zones and at least one finger-piece at at least one end, completely marking respective zones with cosmetic products of at least one of a different color, shade and tone from an adjacent zone and extending to the longitudinal edges of the strip and with a correspondingly different cosmetic identifying indicia, grasping a finger-piece and moving the strip longitudinally adjacent the skin surface to obtain an approximate match between said zones and the skin surface, flexing the strip against the skin surface to bring at least the approximately matching zones into juxtaposed, substantially coplanar relation with the skin surface to obtain a precise match and noting the indicia identifying the corresponding cosmetic product.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of selecting a cosmetic precisely matching a user's skin surface by providing an elongate, imperforate, flexible strip having a major face divided longitudinally into a series of adjoining comparison zones and at least one finger-piece at at least one end, completely marking respective zones with cosmetic products of at least one of a different color, shade and tone from an adjacent zone and extending to the longitudinal edges of the strip and with a correspondingly different cosmetic identifying indicia, grasping a finger-piece and moving the strip longitudinally adjacent the skin surface to obtain an approximate match between said zones and the skin surface, flexing the strip against the skin surface to bring at least the approximately matching zones into juxtaposed, substantially coplanar relation with the skin surface to obtain a precise match and noting the indicia identifying the corresponding cosmetic product.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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FR1011743A
Cited
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Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-01-12 | 1996-07-13 | 1997-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-01-12 | 2000-07-13 | 2001-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-01-12 | 2004-07-13 | 2005-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |