U.S. patent application number 10/134584 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-30 for mascara brush with small diameter bristle fibers.
Invention is credited to LeGassie, Raymond P., Montoli, Antonio.
Application Number | 20030200979 10/134584 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29249261 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030200979 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Montoli, Antonio ; et
al. |
October 30, 2003 |
Mascara brush with small diameter bristle fibers
Abstract
A mascara brush for a low viscosity mascara product has a
typical twisted wire core containing bristles having a relatively
small diameter and relatively high bristle density. The bristles
have a diameter of from 0.0001 inch to about 0.004 inch, preferably
0.0005 inch to 0.003 inch, and most preferably 0.001 to 0.003 inch.
The bristle density is in the range of 18-175 bristles per turn;
depending on the bristle diameter.
Inventors: |
Montoli, Antonio;
(Brookfield, CT) ; LeGassie, Raymond P.; (Laconia,
NH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ST. ONGE STEWARD JOHNSTON & REENS, LLC
986 BEDFORD STREET
STAMFORD
CT
06905-5619
US
|
Family ID: |
29249261 |
Appl. No.: |
10/134584 |
Filed: |
April 29, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/218 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 40/262
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/218 |
International
Class: |
A45D 040/26 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A brush for applying mascara to eyelashes, comprising: a twisted
wire core holding a plurality of radially extending bristles to
form a brush at an end of the core, said bristles having a diameter
of between about 0.0001 inch to about 0.004 inch, said bristles
being provided at a bristle density of between about 18 to about
175 bristles per turn.
2. A brush in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bristles have a
diameter of about 0.0005 inch to 0.003 inch.
3. A brush in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bristles have a
diameter of about preferably 0.001 inch to 0.003 inch.
4. A brush in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bristles have a
diameter of about 0.0001 inch to 0.00049 inch and a bristle density
of 200-60 bristles per turn.
5. A brush in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bristles have a
diameter of about 0.0005 inch to 0.00099 inch and a bristle density
of 180-40 bristles per turn.
6. A brush in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bristles have a
diameter of about 0.001 inch to 0.001 9 inch and a bristle density
of 175-30 bristles per turn.
7. A brush in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bristles have a
diameter of about 0.002 inch to 0.0029 inch and a bristle density
of 120-22 bristles per turn.
8. A brush in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bristles have a
diameter of about 0.003 inch to 0.004 inch and a bristle density of
60-18 bristles per turn.
9. A brush for applying mascara to eyelashes, comprising: a twisted
wire core holding a plurality of radially extending bristles to
form a brush at an end of the core, said bristles having a diameter
of between about 0.0001 inch to 0.00049 inch and a bristle density
of 200-60 bristles per turn.
10. A brush for applying mascara to eyelashes, comprising: a
twisted wire core holding a plurality of radially extending
bristles to form a brush at an end of the core, said bristles
having a diameter of between about 0.0005 inch to 0.00099 inch and
a bristle density of 180-40 bristles per turn.
11. A brush for applying mascara to eyelashes, comprising: a
twisted wire core holding a plurality of radially extending
bristles to form a brush at an end of the core, said bristles
having a diameter of between about 0.001 inch to 0.0019 inch and a
bristle density of 175-30 bristles per turn.
12. A brush for applying mascara to eyelashes, comprising: a
twisted wire core holding a plurality of radially extending
bristles to form a brush at an end of the core, said bristles
having a diameter of between about 0.002 inch to 0.0029 inch and a
bristle density of 120-22 bristles per turn.
13. A brush for applying mascara to eyelashes, comprising: a
twisted wire core holding a plurality of radially extending
bristles to form a brush at an end of the core, said bristles
having a diameter of between about 0.003 inch to 0.004 inch and a
bristle density of 60-18 bristles per turn.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a brush for applying
cosmetic products, in particular, mascara, to eyelashes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Twisted wire brushes for application of liquid-type
cosmetics, such as for application of mascara to the eyelashes, are
well known in the art. The brushes are designed to pick up and hold
a supply of mascara from the cosmetic container, and then deliver
the mascara to the eyelashes as the brush is combed through the
lashes by the user.
[0003] Twisted wire brushes conventionally are manufactured by
disposing a plurality of individual lengths of bristles transverse
to and between substantially parallel, slightly spaced-apart thin
metal wire lengths, such that the wire lengths generally bisect the
filament lengths at their midpoints. Most typically, the parallel
wire lengths comprise the two substantially equal leg lengths
formed from bending a single length of wire into a U-shaped
configuration. The wire lengths are then twisted together to form a
helical core, causing the bristles disposed between the wires to be
clamped therebetween at about their midpoints. In the twisting and
clamping, the segments of the bristles on either side of the
clamped midpoint are caused to flare radially outward from the core
and so form an elongate bristle brush portion of generally circular
cross-section. The brush is generally provided with a handle which
can comprise, or be affixed to, a cap or other closure for the
cosmetic container.
[0004] It is known in the art that this helical wire twisting
method for forming cosmetic applicator brushes typically leads to a
brush configuration in which the bristles tend generally to follow
the helical pattern of the twisted wire core, i.e., whereby the
tips of the bristles define a helix. The degree of axial spacing
between turns of the helix varies depending on the number, type and
thickness of bristles employed, the wire thickness employed, the
number of helical twists used in forming the wire core, and other
like factors. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,622 to Gueret,
and U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,425 to Hartel et al.
[0005] The bristles are usually comprised of nylon filaments. The
bristles serve the function of collecting mascara from a reservoir
and holding the mascara until it is applied to the user's
eyelashes. Standard mascara brush designs of the 1960s and 1970s
used filaments used smaller diameter bristles in fairly large
numbers of bristles per turn (typically, 0.005 inch (5 mil)
diameter filaments with a bristle counts in the range of 50
bristles per turn).
[0006] The state of the art then evolved to a somewhat larger
diameter bristle, as defined in U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,622 entitled
"Brush for the Application of Mascara to the Eyelashes." The patent
discloses a mascara brush having a reduced number of bristles, said
to be 35% to 80% less than in conventional mascara brushes,
ostensibly of larger diameter, than the bristles employed in
conventional mascara brushes at the time. This was believed to
provide a better application of mascara and separation of lashes.
The patent specifies mascara brushes having a bristle diameter from
about 0.10 to 0.25 mm (e.g. about 0.004 to 0.010 inch) (4 mil to 10
mil) and with from approximately 10 to 40 bristles per turn of the
helix.
[0007] The concept of a mascara brush having larger diameter fibers
was further discussed in a recent PCT application no.
PCT/US01/04555. This application is directed towards mascara
brushes made from filaments that are relatively large but soft.
Specifically, the application describes mascara brushes having
preferably having 7-14 bristles per turn. The bristle filaments are
defined as preferably being from 0.010 inch to 0.013 inch (10 mil
to 13 mil). Most critically, the bristles are defined as being
relatively soft being made of a thermoplastic elastomer having a
durometer of between 62 Shore D and 82 Shore D, but most preferably
about 72 Shore D. PCT application PCT/US01/04555 essentially
defines a mascara brush made with a duPont Filaments filament sold
under the trademark "Supersoft." The "Supersoft" filaments have a
durometer of 72 Shore D and are available as solid filaments or as
triocular filaments having three hollow voids.
[0008] The state of the art then has been moving in the direction
of large diameter bristle fibers, mainly to accommodate high
viscosity modern mascara formulations. The viscous mascara
formulations have been favored because they provide a thicker
application of mascara with fewer strokes. Mascara, which is
typically highly viscous, tends to clump when applied to eyelashes.
The clumps of mascara are typically combed out as a finishing step
to the application process. Stiffer bristles are thought to be
better suited for combing out clumps and properly separating
lashes. However, the combing and separating functions are thought
to be better accomplished with brushes a having relatively open
bristle envelope or brush surface, i.e., an envelope or surface
that has numerous or wide clearances or spaces between bristles to
make the brushes more `comb-like`. This function is not well served
by traditional mascara brush designs having smaller diameter
bristles with higher bristle density.
[0009] Very recently, there has been a new trend in mascara
formulations, towards a more fluid product. This product requires a
completely different mascara brush than the types of brushes which
have proposed in the past decade. The present invention proposes a
new brush providing a desirable fast application and coating of a
consumer's eyelashes with mascara using a less viscous, more fluid
mascara product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] An improved mascara brush has a typical twisted wire core
containing bristles having a relatively small diameter and
relatively high bristle density. The bristles have a diameter of
from 0.0001 inch to about 0.004 inch, preferably 0.0005 inch to
0.003 inch, and most preferably 0.001 to 0.003 inch. The bristle
density is in the range of 18-175 bristles per turn; depending on
the bristle diameter.
[0011] The combined decrease in diameter and increase in bristle
density, used with a low viscosity mascara product yields a brush
suited for rapid application of a mascara product.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a mascara brush in
accordance with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Referring now to FIG. 1, a mascara applicator brush,
designated generally by reference numeral 10, is shown. The brush
is intended for use in a typical mascara bottle (not shown) with an
opening into which the brush 10 is inserted.
[0014] The brush 10 is comprised of a central twisted wire core 12
containing bristles 14. The core 12 is a twisted wire core
typically made by forming a soft metal wire 16 into a "U" shape. A
plurality of bristles 14 are placed between the segments 18 of wire
16. The wire segments 18 are then twisted about the longitudinal
axis to clamp bristles 14 at approximately a midpoints of the
bristles 14. The bristle ends extend radially from the twisted wire
core 12. Core 12 has a lower end 20 connected to a shaft, and an
upper end 24 opposite the lower end 20. The lower end 20 of the
core 12 is connected to a handle by way of the shaft, however, the
lower end 20 of the core 12 could alternatively be attached to
another structure such as a bottle cap.
[0015] After the bristles 14 are mounted to the wire core 12 the
brush 10 can be trimmed to have any desired shape, for example,
cylindrical, tapered, conical, curved, etc.; or if desired, the
bristle ends may be processed by grinding, heating, or other
techniques.
[0016] The bristles have a diameter of from 0.0001 inch to about
0.004 inch (0.1 mil to 4 mil), preferably 0.005 inch to 0.003 inch
(0.5 mil to 3 mil), and most preferably 0.001 to 0.003 inch (1 mil
to 3 mil).
[0017] Bristles 14 are preferably made by cutting short segments
from spools of filaments. The filaments are preferably formed from
nylon or polyester, or another suitable material. The filaments
will typically be circular solids in cross-section, but
alternatively may have non-circular cross-sectional shapes, or may
have voids therein, thus, the term "diameter" as used herein is
intended to mean the maximum distance between any of the possible
opposite positions on the outer surface of a bristle filament.
[0018] The bristle density is in the range of 18-175 bristles per
turn; depending on the bristle diameter and the viscosity of the
mascara product. The bristle density and the bristle diameter are
inversely related, in that as bristle diameter increases, the
related bristle density will decrease.
[0019] Typical preferred combinations of a bristle diameter range
and a bristle density range will be as follows:
1 Diameter (Inches) Density (Bristles/turn) .0001 to .00049 200-60
.0005 to .00099 180-40 .001 to .0019 175-30 .002 to .0029 120-22
.003 to .004 60-18
[0020] The number of bristles per turn can be determined by several
methods. One method involves counting bristle ends in one 360
degree turn of the brush and dividing by two to arrive at a count
of bristles per turn. Another method involves counting the total
number of 360 degree turns of the bristles of the brush along the
length of the brush, then counting the total number of bristles,
and dividing the total bristle count by the total turn count, to
determine an average of bristles per turn. It is contemplated that
in a basic brush, there will be a substantially constant bristle
density along the length of the brush, with a small variations
depending on manufacturing precision. However, it is also possible
that the bristle densities are an average bristle density, with
greater variation in the bristle density between different zones
(such as the ends versus the middle zones of the brush). As used
herein, "bristle density" encompasses both definitions.
[0021] In combination, the smaller diameter and the higher bristle
densities yields a brush that is excellent in fast and effective
application of lower viscosity mascaras to the eyelashes. The
mascara brush of the invention provides uniform coating of lower
viscosity mascaras on eyelashes.
[0022] While the invention has been described and illustrated as
embodied in preferred forms of construction, it will be understood
that various modifications may be made in the structure and
arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and the
scope of the invention recited in the following claims.
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