U.S. patent application number 09/788749 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-29 for zoned mascara brush and package including the brush.
This patent application is currently assigned to Henlopen Manufacturing Co., Inc.. Invention is credited to Schrepf, Volker.
Application Number | 20010046406 09/788749 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26879572 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010046406 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schrepf, Volker |
November 29, 2001 |
Zoned mascara brush and package including the brush
Abstract
A twisted-in-wire mascara brush constituted of one or more zones
of mascara-absorptive material such as cotton fibers or polymeric
sponge material alternating with one or more zones of bristles or
fibers substantially nonabsorptive to mascara along the length of
the brush. A package of mascara includes a container holding a body
of mascara and an applicator brush constituted of alternating zones
of material absorptive to the mascara and bristles or fibers
nonabsorptive to the mascara.
Inventors: |
Schrepf, Volker; (East
Islip, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Christopher C. Dunham
c/o Cooper & Dunham LLP
1185 Avenue of the Americas
New York
NY
10036
US
|
Assignee: |
Henlopen Manufacturing Co.,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
26879572 |
Appl. No.: |
09/788749 |
Filed: |
February 20, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60183851 |
Feb 22, 2000 |
|
|
|
60191377 |
Mar 22, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
401/126 ; 15/207;
15/207.2; 401/118 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 3/18 20130101; A46B
2200/1053 20130101; A46B 9/021 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
401/126 ;
401/118; 15/207; 15/207.2 |
International
Class: |
A46B 011/00; A46B
001/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A brush for applying mascara, comprising an axially elongated
twisted wire core having a proximal end and a distal end and a
length therebetween, and a brush body projecting outwardly around
the core over a substantial part of the length of the core, wherein
the brush body comprises (i) at least one zone of fibers for
combing eyelashes and substantially nonabsorptive to mascara, and
(ii) at least one zone of material substantially absorptive to
mascara, said zones (i) and (ii) being disposed in alternating
succession along the length of the core.
2. A brush as defined in claim 1, wherein said one zone of
substantially nonabsorptive fibers is closer to the distal end of
the core than is any of the zones of substantially absorptive
material.
3. A brush as defined in claim 1, wherein the brush body comprises
a plurality of said zones of fibers for combing eyelashes and
substantially nonabsorptive to mascara, and a plurality of said
zones of material substantially absorptive to mascara, said
substantially nonabsorptive and substantially absorptive zones
being disposed in alternating succession along the length of the
core.
4. A brush as defined in claim 3, wherein one of the zones of
substantially nonabsorptive fibers is closer to the distal end of
the core than is any of the zones of substantially absorptive
material.
5. A brush as defined in claim 2, having three zones of said
substantially absorptive material and four zones of said
substantially nonabsorptive fibers.
6. A brush as defined in claim 1, wherein said substantially
nonabsorptive fibers are stiff hollow or solid fibers clamped in
the core and extending radially therefrom.
7. A brush as defined in claim 1, wherein said substantially
absorptive material comprises absorptive fibers clamped in the core
and extending radially therefrom.
8. A brush as defined in claim 7, wherein said absorptive fibers
are cotton fibers.
9. A brush as defined in claim 8, having three zones of said
absorptive fibers and four zones of said substantially
nonabsorptive fibers, and wherein said substantially nonabsorptive
fibers are stiff hollow or solid fibers clamped in the core and
extending radially therefrom.
10. A brush as defined in claim 1, wherein said substantially
absorptive material comprises a polymeric sponge material secured
to said core.
11. A brush as defined in claim 10, having three zones of said
polymeric sponge material and four zones of said substantially
nonabsorptive fibers, and wherein said substantially nonabsorptive
fibers are stiff hollow or solid fibers clamped in the core and
extending radially therefrom.
12. A package of mascara, comprising: (a) a container for holding
mascara and having a mouth; (b) a body of mascara disposed in the
container; (c) a cap mountable on the mouth; and (d) a brush
carried by the cap so as to be immersible in the body of mascara
within the container, said brush comprising an axially elongated
twisted wire core having a proximal end and a distal end and a
length therebetween, and a brush body projecting outwardly around
the core over a substantial part of the length of the core, wherein
the brush body comprises (i) at least one zone of fibers for
combing eyelashes and substantially nonabsorptive to the mascara in
the container, and (ii) at least one zone of material substantially
absorptive to the mascara in the container, said zones (i) and (ii)
being disposed in alternating succession along the length of the
core.
13. A package as defined in claim 12, wherein said substantially
absorptive material comprises absorptive fibers clamped in the core
and extending radially therefrom.
14. A package as defined in claim 13, wherein said absorptive
fibers are cotton fibers.
15. A package as defined in claim 14, having three zones of said
absorptive fibers and four zones of said substantially
nonabsorptive fibers, and wherein said substantially nonabsorptive
fibers are stiff hollow or solid fibers clamped in the core and
extending radially therefrom.
16. A package as defined in claim 12, wherein said substantially
absorptive material comprises a polymeric sponge material secured
to said core.
17. A package as defined in claim 16, having three zones of said
polymeric sponge material and four zones of said substantially
nonabsorptive fibers, and wherein said substantially nonabsorptive
fibers are stiff hollow or solid fibers clamped in the core and
extending radially therefrom.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit, under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119(e), of applicant's U.S. Provisional Application
No. 60/183,851, filed Feb. 22, 2000, and No. 60/191,377, filed Mar.
22, 2000, the disclosures of both of which are incorporated herein
in their entirety by this reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to brushes for applying mascara or
the like, and to packages of mascara including the brushes.
[0003] For purposes of illustration, the invention will be
described as embodied in mascara brushes of the type having an
axially elongated twisted wire core with a multiplicity of fibers
such as bristles clamped at their midpoints in the core and
extending radially outwardly therefrom. The core is constituted of
two lengths of wire, which may be initially separate or may be
opposed legs of a single U-shaped wire, twisted together into a
helix to hold the bristles between them. Such mascara brushes are
well known and widely used in the cosmetics industry.
[0004] The combination of a twisted wire core and a radiating array
of bristles clamped in the core provides a simple and effective
brush structure for uses exemplified by the application of mascara.
It is frequently found, however, that a conventional brush wherein
the constituent fibers are uniform from end to end is not wholly
satisfactory for performing the two different functions of, first,
applying (delivering and depositing) mascara onto the eyelashes,
and thereafter combing the mascara through the eyelashes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An object of the invention is to provide a mascara brush
affording, in a unitary device, superior properties for perform5
ing both of the sequential functions of applying mascara and
combing lashes. Another object is to provide a mascara package
incorporating, in combination with a contained body of mascara, a
brush affording superior properties for applying as well as combing
the mascara formulation contained in the package.
[0006] To these and other ends, the present invention, in a first
aspect, broadly contemplates the provision of a brush for applying
mascara, comprising an axially elongated twisted wire core having a
proximal end and a distal end and a length therebetween, and a
brush body projecting outwardly around the core over a substantial
part of the length of the core, wherein the brush body comprises at
least one zone of fibers for combing eyelashes and substantially
nonabsorptive to mascara, and at least one zone of material
substantially absorptive to mascara, these nonabsorptive and
absorptive zones being disposed in alternating succession along the
length of the core.
[0007] As a further feature of the invention, in particular
embodiments thereof, the zone (or one of the zones) of
substantially nonabsorptive fibers is closer to the distal end of
the core than is any of the zones of substantially absorptive
material.
[0008] In certain embodiments, the brush body comprises a plurality
of the zones of fibers for combing eyelashes and substantially
nonabsorptive to mascara, and a plurality of the zones of material
substantially absorptive to mascara, these nonabsorptive and
absorptive zones being disposed in alternating succession along the
length of the core. A currently preferred arrangement includes
three zones of the substantially absorptive material and four zones
of the substantially nonabsorptive fibers.
[0009] The substantially nonabsorptive fibers, which perform the
combing function, are conveniently or preferably stiff hollow or
solid synthetic (e.g. nylon) fibers clamped in the core and
extending radially therefrom. The substantially absorptive
material, which performs the transport and delivery function, may
comprise absorptive fibers, e.g. cotton fibers, also clamped in the
core and extending radially therefrom. Alternatively, the
substantially absorptive material may comprise a polymeric sponge
material clamped in the core in each of the plural zones of such
material.
[0010] In a second aspect, the invention embraces a package of
mascara, comprising a container for holding mascara and having a
mouth; a body of mascara disposed in the container; a cap mountable
on the mouth; and a brush carried by the cap so as to be immersible
in the body of mascara within the container, the brush being as
defined above and including a brush body which comprises a
plurality of zones of fibers for combing eyelashes and
substantially nonabsorptive to the mascara in the container, and a
plurality of zones of material substantially absorptive to the
mascara in the container, these nonabsorptive and absorptive zones
being disposed in alternating succession along the length of the
core.
[0011] Further features and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the detailed description hereinbelow set forth,
together with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0012] FIG. 1 is a side view of a brush embodying the invention in
a particular form;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic view of a mascara package
incorporating the brush of FIG. 1; and
[0014] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of another embodiment of
the brush of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The present invention will be described with reference to
FIGS. 1 and 2, for purposes of illustration, as embodied in a
mascara brush 10 comprising an axially elongated twisted wire core
11 having a proximal end 12 and a distal end 14, and a brush body
16 including a multiplicity of stiff bristles or fibers 18 clamped
in the core and extending radially therefrom to constitute a
bristle array projecting outwardly around the core over a
substantial part of the length of the core. The proximal portion of
the core extends beyond the bristle array so as to be mountable in
the stem 20 (FIG. 2) of a cap 22 of a mascara package 24.
[0016] By way of example, but without limitation, the stiff fibers
18 may be stiff hollow synthetic (e.g. nylon) fibers of the type
described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,425, or stiff solid fibers. As in
conventional brushes, the core 11 itself may be made by helically
twisting two lengths of wire (or two opposed legs of a single
U-shaped wire) while the fibers are held between the wires so as to
be clamped, ordinarily at their midpoints, between the twisted
wires of the core. The radiating free extremities of the fibers may
define a cylindrical profile, as shown, or a profile tapering
toward one or both of the distal and proximal ends of the brush,
such profile being imparted by trimming the fiber (bristle) ends
after the fibers are assembled with the core.
[0017] In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, as a
particular feature thereof, the described array of bristles or
fibers 18 is not continuous from end to end of the brush body, but
is interrupted by three discrete and evenly spaced zones of
material 26 highly absorptive to mascara. Thus, between the
proximal and distal ends of the brush body, along the length of the
core, there are disposed successive, alternating, contiguous zones
of fibers 18 and mascara-absorptive material, viz., a proximal zone
28 of fibers 18, a first zone 30 of absorptive material 26, a
second zone 32 of the fibers 18, a second zone 34 of the absorptive
material, a third zone 36 of the fibers 18, a third zone 38 of the
absorptive material, and a fourth zone 40 of the fibers 18, the
zone 40 extending to the distal extremity of the brush.
[0018] The absorptive material 26 may illustratively be soft cotton
fibers, densely aggregated together in each of the zones 30, 34 and
38 (i.e., having a substantially higher density or number of fibers
per turn of the core wire than the number of fibers 18 in the zones
28, 32, 36 and 40). Unlike the nylon fibers 18, the cotton fibers
are solid (not hollow). They may be clamped at their midpoints
between the twisted wires of the core 11, in each of the three
zones 30, 34 and 38, so that they have opposed free ends.
[0019] Alternatively, the absorptive material 26 may be a mascara
absorptive porous polymer sponge strip, clamped along its major
axis between the twisted wires of the core 11 forming a tight
spiral in surrounding relation thereto to constitute each of the
zones 30, 34 and 38 after the bristles have been mounted in the
core.
[0020] The fibers 18, in either instance, are relatively stiff so
as to be able to comb mascara (delivered to the eyelashes by the
zones of absorbent material) through the lashes. They are very
significantly more stiff than the cotton fibers, for example, when
the latter are employed to constitute the absorbent material.
[0021] In an illustrative but non-limiting specific example of a
brush according to the present invention, the bristles 18 are
hollow nylon fibers having a diameter of 0.006.+-.0.0005 inch, and
the absorptive material is constituted of (solid) cotton fibers.
The profile of the brush is cylindrical from end to end of the
brush body, with a cross-sectional diameter of 0.180 inch and a
length of 11/8 inch. The wire is stainless steel type 305 wire,
with a diameter of 0.0286 inch, and is twisted so that the brush
body occupies about 15 turns or coils, .+-.one turn. The three
zones of cotton fibers (which are trimmed to the same 0.180 inch
diameter as the zones of hollow nylon fibers) are spaced 0.270 inch
apart on midpoints; the axial dimension from the midpoint of the
third zone 38 of cotton fibers to the distal end of the core is
0.325 inch, while the distance from the proximal end of the brush
body to the midpoint of the first zone 30 of cotton fibers is 0.270
inch. The total count of hollow nylon fibers 18, from end to end of
the brush, is 640.+-.45. The proximal extremity of the core extends
for 1/4 inch beyond the brush body, and is coined, for mounting in
the stem 20 of a cap 22.
[0022] The brush exemplified by the foregoing dimensions is smaller
in diameter than a conventional mascara brush. Because the absorbed
mascara density in the cotton or sponge zones is greater than in a
conventional mascara brush, the total volume of the brush can be
reduced proportionately.
[0023] Three evenly spaced zones of soft (absorptive) material are
included in the above-described brush. Because eyelashes are
radially extended along a great circle from the spherical eyelid,
only tangential contact between the brush and eyelashes is
possible. The number and lengths of the zones can be selected
empirically to allow the user to select with minimum lateral motion
a convenient tangent point with which to perform either the
application or comb functions.
[0024] As best seen in FIG. 2, the cap carrying such a brush fits
threadedly on the neck 42 of a container 44 for holding a body of
liquid or flowable mascara 46 such that when the cap is threaded on
the neck, the stem projects through the container mouth defined by
the neck and into the interior of the container, and the brush is
immersed in the body of mascara 46. The container may, by way of
non-limiting example, be an axially elongated, generally
cylindrical, substantially rigid element (e.g. a unitary molded
plastic container). The mascara of the body 46 may be of low,
medium, or high viscosity. The cap, which (with its associated
stem) may also conveniently be a substantially rigid molded plastic
element, serves both to close the container when threaded on the
neck and to provide a handle for manipulation of the brush 10.
[0025] In use, the cap is grasped manually, unscrewed and withdrawn
from the neck, carrying the brush 10 out of the body of mascara and
out of the container. A quantity of mascara is picked up on the
brush, in particular by the absorbent zones 30, 34 and 38, and
transported out of the container on the latter zones of the brush
for application to the user's eyelashes. In practice, a flexible
wiper element (not shown), e.g. of conventional structure, is
mounted in the neck to engage and wipe excess mascara from the
brush as the brush is extracted outwardly therethrough.
[0026] The user, still holding the cap, next applies mascara from
the absorbent zones to the eyelashes, and then combs the applied
mascara through the lashes, using for that purpose the relatively
stiff nonabsorbent bristles or fibers of the zones 28, 32, 36 and
40. Thereafter the brush is returned to the container, either to
pick up additional mascara for application, or, if application is
complete, to close the container by threading the cap on the
neck.
[0027] The beneficial functions and advantages of the brush and
package of the invention may now be readily understood. The brush,
in various embodiments, is capable of carrying low and high
viscosity mascara formulations and having the ability to
simultaneously apply mascara to, and comb, the receiving eyelashes.
`Comb` is defined as removing excessive formula to the individual
user's taste and separating the eyelashes. This is accomplished by
zone deployment of dense high absorbency fibers or a polymeric
sponge material alternating with a relatively dispersed
nonabsorbent fibers zone. When used with a low viscosity
formulation, immersion of the brush into low viscosity mascara
formula causes the high absorbency zones to absorb the formula
while adhesion of the formula to the nonabsorbent fibers is
minimal. The zoning configuration is such that a non-absorbing zone
is located at the tip (distal) end of the brush. This is to allow
for minimal application of formula to the eyelashes adjacent to the
nasal area while allowing for lash separation. Most of the formula
is applied to the mid and outside lashes. This pattern of mascara
application is the accepted norm in the cosmetics industry.
[0028] When the brush is used with a high viscosity formula, the
absorption of formula in the high absorbency zones can be adjusted
in the manufacture by varying the density of the absorbent fibers
or varying the sponge cell structure and/or size. This adjustment
can be made so that the brush can carry a viscous mascara formula
and perform in a manner parallel to the low viscosity
application.
[0029] Thus, in short, the absorbency of the material constituting
the absorptive zones 30, 34 and 38 may be selected to have
appropriately high absorbency for the particular viscosity of the
mascara of the body 46 in the container; i.e., in the combination
of mascara, container and brush embodying the complete package of
the invention, the material of the absorptive zones is chosen to be
absorptive to mascara of the viscosity selected to fill the
container.
[0030] The mascara brush 110 in the embodiment of FIG. 3 differs
from that of FIG. 1 in having a single zone 112 of the relatively
stiff mascara-combing fibers 18 and a single zone 114 of the
mascara-absorptive material 26, disposed in succession along a
twisted-wire core 116 with the zone 112 of stiff fibers at the
distal end 118 of the brush, for the same reason (explained above)
that the distal zone of the brush of FIG. 1 is a zone of stiff,
substantially nonabsorptive fibers. The zones 112 and 114 may be
respectively the same, in structure, composition, mounting,
arrangement and function, as one of the zones of fibers 18 and one
of the zones of absorptive material 26 (which may, for example but
without limitation, be cotton fibers or a mascara absorptive porous
polymer sponge strip) in the brush of FIG. 1. The brush of FIG. 3
may be provided in place of the brush of FIG. 1, in the package of
FIG. 2, and is used in the same way.
[0031] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to
the features and embodiments hereinabove specifically set forth but
may be carried out in other ways without departure from its
spirit.
* * * * *