U.S. patent application number 09/754285 was filed with the patent office on 2001-07-26 for make-up brush and method for manufacturing such a brush.
This patent application is currently assigned to L'Oreal of Paris, France. Invention is credited to Gueret, Jean-Louis H..
Application Number | 20010009629 09/754285 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 9443824 |
Filed Date | 2001-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010009629 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gueret, Jean-Louis H. |
July 26, 2001 |
Make-up brush and method for manufacturing such a brush
Abstract
The brush (1) includes a core (2) formed from a metal wire bent
into a U and the branches of which are twisted to trap radial
bristles (3) between them, the core (2) being fixed to the end of a
wand (6). The branches of the core are twisted, turning to the
left, to form turns which turn in the clockwise direction about the
axis (X) of the core when progressing from the wand towards the end
of the brush, whereas the bristles (3) of the brush form helical
layers (S) rising from left to right in the area located between
the core and an observer who holds the brush substantially vertical
in front of him/her with its tip pointing upwards.
Inventors: |
Gueret, Jean-Louis H.;
(Paris, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FINNEGAN, HENDERSON, FARABOW, GARRETT &
DUNNER LLP
1300 I STREET, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
L'Oreal of Paris, France
|
Family ID: |
9443824 |
Appl. No.: |
09/754285 |
Filed: |
January 5, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09754285 |
Jan 5, 2001 |
|
|
|
08512952 |
Aug 10, 1995 |
|
|
|
6227735 |
|
|
|
|
08512952 |
Aug 10, 1995 |
|
|
|
08179700 |
Jan 11, 1994 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
401/122 ;
401/126 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46D 3/05 20130101; A46B
2200/1053 20130101; A46B 3/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
401/122 ;
401/126 |
International
Class: |
A46B 011/00; A46B
017/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 8, 1993 |
FR |
93 01344 |
Claims
1. Make-up brush, particularly for applying mascara to the
eyelashes, including a core formed from a metal wire bent into a U
and the branches of which are twisted to trap radial bristles
between them, the core being fixed to the end of a wand,
characterized in that the branches (4, 5) of the core (2) are
twisted, turning to the left, to form turns which, viewed along the
axis (X) from that end of the core which is fixed in the wand, (6)
turn in the clockwise direction about the axis of the core when
progressing from the wand (6) towards the end of the brush, whereas
the bristles (3) of the brush form helical layers (S) rising from
left to right in the area located between the core (2) and an
observer who holds the substantially vertical brush (1) in front of
him/her with its tip pointing upwards.
2. Brush according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle of
inclination (B) of the layers of bristles (S) with respect to the
axis (X) of the brush is approximately 35.degree..
3. Brush according to claim 1 or 2, in which the wand (6) carrying
the core includes, at its other end, distant from the core, a
stopper (8) provided with a screw thread (9) for screwing onto the
neck (11) of a container (R) containing the mascara, this neck (11)
being equipped with a wringing device (12) through which the brush
passes when it is withdrawn from the container, characterized in
that the branches (4, 5) of the core (2) of the brush are twisted
to form turns turning in the same direction as the screw thread (9)
of the stopper.
4. Brush according to claim 3, for which the direction of screwing
of the stopper (8) relative to the container (11) is the clockwise
direction, characterized in that the branches (4, 5) of the core
(2) are twisted so that the turns turn in the clockwise direction
about the axis (X) of the core, when progressing from that part of
the core which is fixed in the wand towards the free end of the
core.
5. Method for manufacturing a make-up brush, particularly for
applying mascara to the eyelashes, according to which method, after
having folded a metal wire (f) over into a U and after having
placed bristles (3) between the branches (4, 5) of the U, the
branches of the U are twisted, characterized in that, to twist the
branches, the bent part of the U is turned in the anticlockwise
direction (g) relative to the free ends of the branches (4, 5).
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a make-up brush, particularly for
applying mascara to the eyelashes, of the type of those which
include a core formed from a metal wire bent into a U and the
branches of which are twisted to trap radial bristles between them,
the core being fixed at the end of a wand.
[0002] A brush of this type is shown, for example, by
FR-A-2,663,826.
[0003] When making-up, the user holds the wand of the brush forming
a non-zero angle with respect to the mean transverse line of the
two eyes. As a result, with conventional brushes known to date, the
user frequently offers up the bristles of the brush in alignment
with the eyelashes and deposits blobs of mascara, without
separating the eyelashes. The make-up effect obtained therefore
needs to be improved.
[0004] Furthermore, the brush is generally placed in a container
containing the mascara, this container being equipped with a neck
provided with a wringing device through which the brush passes. It
is desirable for it to be possible for wringing to take place with
lower resistance, giving a better smoothing of the product along
the bristles.
[0005] The object of the invention, above all, is to provide a
make-up brush, particularly for applying mascara to the eyelashes,
which no longer exhibits the drawbacks recalled above, or exhibits
then to a lesser degree.
[0006] According to the invention, a make-up brush of the sort
defined previously is characterized in that the branches of the
core are twisted, turning to the left, to form turns which, viewed
along the axis of the core from that end which is fixed in the
wand, turn in the clockwise direction about the axis of the core
when progressing from the wand towards the end of the brush,
whereas the bristles of the brush form helical layers rising from
left to right in the area located between the core and an observer
who holds the substantially vertical brush in front of him/her with
its tip pointing upwards.
[0007] Preferably, the angle of inclination of the layers of
bristles with respect to the axis is approximately 35.degree..
[0008] In general, the wand carrying the core includes, at its end
distant from the core, a stopper provided with a screw thread for
screwing onto the neck of a container containing the mascara, this
neck being equipped with a wringing device through which the brush
passes when it is withdrawn from the container; according to the
invention, the branches of the core of the brush are twisted to
form turns turning in the same direction as the screw thread of the
stopper.
[0009] In practice, the direction of screwing of the stopper
relative to the container is the clockwise direction, and the
branches of the core are twisted so that the turns turn in the
clockwise direction about the axis of the core when progressing
from that part of the core which is fixed in the wand towards the
free end of the core.
[0010] Thus, the rotational movement for unscrewing the stopper
relative to the neck takes place in the same direction as the
rotational movement which unscrews the brush relative to the
wringing device.
[0011] The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a
make-up brush, according to which method, after having folded a
metal wire over into a U, and after having placed bristles between
the branches of the U, the branches of the U are twisted by turning
the bent part of the U in the anticlockwise direction relative to
the free ends of the branches.
[0012] For shaping the bristles of the brush the direction of
rotation of the brush and the direction of rotation of a trimmer
are reversed with respect to the usual direction of rotation.
[0013] The invention consists, apart from the arrangements
expounded hereinabove, of a certain number of other arrangements
which will be dealt with more fully later with regard to
embodiments which are described with reference to the drawings
appended hereto but which are in no way limiting.
[0014] FIG. 1 of these drawings is a diagram illustrating the
making-up of the eyelashes with a brush in accordance with the
prior art.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a diagram similar to that of FIG. 1 illustrating
making-up with a brush in accordance with the invention.
[0016] FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams illustrating phases of
manufacturing the core of a brush according to the invention.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the cutting of the bristles
of the brush.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view along the line VI-VI of FIG.
5.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic section illustrating the beginning
of taking a brush according to the invention out of its mascara
container.
[0020] FIG. 8 illustrates the passage of the brush according to the
invention through the wringing device.
[0021] FIG. 9, finally, is a diagram of a variant embodiment of the
brush.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a diagram can be seen
illustrating a making-up operation using a brush 100 of the prior
art, carried by a wand 101. The eyelid P of the right eye is viewed
from above. The user holds the wand 101 in her right hand forming
an angle A between the axis of the wand and a line L parallel to
the mean transverse line of the two eyes. The angle A is, in
practice, of the order of 10 to 15.degree.. In the conventional
brush 100, the bristles 102 form layers 103 in a helix which, for
an observer holding the brush 100 vertically in front of him/her,
with its end pointing upwards, rise from right to left in the area
lying between the observer and the axis of the brush.
[0023] With such an arrangement, as visible in FIG. 1, eyelashes C
are practically aligned with the layers 103 of bristles of the
brush. As a result blobs of mascara are deposited on the eyelashes
without these being separated by brushing. The resulting make-up
effect needs to be improved.
[0024] To do that, according to the invention, a mascara brush 1
includes a core 2 formed from a metal wire f bent into a U
conventionally as illustrated in FIG. 3, the bristles 3 being
arranged between the branches 4, 5 of the U, substantially
perpendicularly to the plane of these branches 4 and 5. The said
branches 4 and 5 are then twisted by turning to the left, that is
to say in the anticlockwise direction, the bent-over end of the U
with respect to the free ends of the branches. This twisting
movement is illustrated by an arrow g in FIG. 3.
[0025] To show the turns obtained clearly, FIG. 4 represents the
branches 4, 5 twisted partially, the turns not yet being
substantially adjoining. When the core is finished, as illustrated
in FIG. 2, the turns are practically adjoining, gripping the
bristles 3 between them.
[0026] It appears from FIGS. 2 and 4 that the turns of the core 2,
viewed along the axis X from the free ends of the branches 4, 5
which are intended to be fixed in the wand, turn in the clockwise
direction about the axis X of the core when progressing from the
free end of the branches 4, 5 towards the opposite end of the core.
The bristles 3 of the brush form helical layers S rising from left
to right in an area located between the core and an observer who
holds the brush substantially vertical in front of him/her with its
tip pointing upwards. To illustrate this direction of rise of the
layers S clearly, the layers which are located to the front of the
plane of the drawing have been represented in solid line, whereas
those which are located to the rear of the plane have been
represented in dashes.
[0027] The mean angle of inclination B of the layers S with respect
to the axis of the core 2 depends on the pitch of the turns of the
core 2.
[0028] With a brush 1 in accordance with the invention, in which
the turns are reversed with respect to a conventional brush, during
making-up, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the eyelashes C are offered up
transversely to the layers S of bristles, which has the effect of
depositing the make-up product more homogeneously, and above all,
of separating the eyelashes C right from the start. With the same
angle A of approximately 15.degree., the eyelashes C are at
substantially 70.degree. across the layers S for an angle B of
approximately 35.degree..
[0029] The bristles 3, when they are placed between the branches 4,
5 of the U, as illustrated in FIG. 3, generally have the same
length and their ends are aligned, the middle of the bristles being
substantially on the axis of the core. As a result, after twisting
the branches 4, 5, the envelope surface of the ends of the bristles
is a cylindrical surface, axisymmetric about the axis X of the
core. In general, the brush 1 is given a shape which is different
from the cylindrical shape, for example a frustoconical shape
tapered towards that end which is distant from the wand.
[0030] To do that, a trimmer 7 is used, for example of
frustoconical shape, of axis parallel to that of the core, but
pointing in the opposite direction. During the cutting operation,
the brush 1 and the trimmer 7 are made to turn about their
respective axis. Owing to the reversal of the direction of the
turns, with respect to a conventional brush, the brush and the
trimmer are made to rotate in a direction which is the reverse of
that adopted for cutting a conventional brush.
[0031] The brush 1 generally includes, at that end of the wand 6
which is remote from the core 2, a stopper 8 (see FIGS. 7 and 8)
equipped with an internal screw thread 9 for screwing onto the
external screw thread 10 of the neck 11 of a container R containing
the mascara. This neck 11 is provided, internally, with a wringing
device 12 generally consisting of a sort of washer made from a
flexible material, particularly from an elastomeric material; the
diameter of the internal orifice of the wringing device 12 is only
slighly greater than that of the wand 6, so that passing through
this wringing device 12 takes place with a certain resistance
developed by the bristles 3, which must fold at least
partially.
[0032] According to the invention, the turns of the core 2 of the
brush and the layers S of bristles turn about the axis of the wand
6 in the same direction as the internal screw thread 9 of the
stopper 8 and as the external screw thread 10 of the neck 11.
[0033] When the brush 1 is extracted from the container R, the user
first of all exerts a rotational movement on the stopper 8 to
unscrew it from the neck 11. This rotational movement takes place
in an anticlockwise direction. When the stopper 8 is unscrewed, the
user terminates the extraction by exerting a translational
movement. In practice, this translational movement is accompanied
by a rotational movement in the same direction as the one which
caused the unscrewing of the stopper 8.
[0034] Owing to the fact that the layers S of the brush 1 turn in
the same direction as the screw thread 9, the negotiation of the
wringing device 12 by the layers S, which are given a rotational
movement in the anticlockwise direction, corresponds to unscrewing
the brush 1 with respect to the wringing device 12, which reduces
the resistance offered by the bristles 3 when passing through the
wringing device 12.
[0035] The bristles 3 of the brush, resisting the wringing device
to a lesser extent, create less of a partial vacuum, and therefore
less of a pressure effect during extraction. The product is better
distributed along the bristles, and these smooth the product better
along the eyelashes C.
[0036] The pitch of the turns of the core 2 may be chosen to be
different from the pitch of the screw thread 9, to modulate the
wringing through the wringing device 12.
[0037] Numerous variant embodiments of the brush 1 are possible.
FIG. 9 illustrates a slightly different form of brush produced with
bristles of larger cross-section and where a smaller number per
turn is used. The brush may include an off-centred core.
[0038] The brush could include a mixture of bristles of different
cross-sections. The bristles may include longitudinal capillary
slits or grooves. The bristles may be tubular.
[0039] The transverse section of the bristles 3 may have different
shapes: circular, oval, multilobed, rectangular, flat, etc.
[0040] The ends of the bristles may be jagged or include a bulge.
The bristles may be formed from a mixture of relatively rigid
bristles and more flexible bristles.
[0041] In the case of a mixture of bristles of different diameter,
the bristles of large diameter may be longer or shorter than those
of smaller diameter. The bristles are made of a conventional
thermoplastic material such as polyamides, polyesters,
polyether-block-amides or polytetrafluoroethylene. These
thermoplastic materials may contain additives changing the
wettability of these bristles or their slip characteristics. These
additives are chosen from among molybdenum sulphide, boron nitride,
or the product marketed under the trade name "Teflon", fullerenes,
graphite, talc or similar materials.
* * * * *