U.S. patent application number 10/632116 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-01 for mascara brush, a manufacturing method and a mascara reservoir for same.
This patent application is currently assigned to GEKA BRUSH GMBH. Invention is credited to Ma, Ying.
Application Number | 20040123876 10/632116 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 30010553 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040123876 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ma, Ying |
July 1, 2004 |
Mascara brush, a manufacturing method and a mascara reservoir for
same
Abstract
A mascara brush comprises a plurality of bristles. These are
held by a bristle carrier comprising at least two curved core
sections extending from a common handle section. In a method for
manufacturing said mascara brush, the two cores are bent jointly
between a bending plunger and a counter-plunger of a bending tool.
Said mascara brush can be used with a mascara reservoir having a
circular mascara wiping aperture. The result is a mascara brush
allowing a good predetermination of the amount of mascara to be
applied. Further, an improved combing result and a curl effect can
be achieved.
Inventors: |
Ma, Ying; (Weimar,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROWDY AND NEIMARK, P.L.L.C.
624 Ninth Street, N.W.
Washington
DC
20001
US
|
Assignee: |
GEKA BRUSH GMBH
Bechhofen-Waizendorf
DE
|
Family ID: |
30010553 |
Appl. No.: |
10/632116 |
Filed: |
August 1, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/218 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 2200/1053 20130101;
A46B 9/021 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/218 |
International
Class: |
A45D 040/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 1, 2002 |
DE |
102 35 193.7 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A mascara brush comprising a plurality of bristles held between
two intertwisted wire sections forming a core, with said core
comprising a curved core section, wherein at least two curved cores
(2, 3) extending from a common handle section (5) are provided.
2. A mascara brush according to claim 1, wherein said cores (2, 3)
have essentially the same bending radius.
3. A mascara brush according to claim 1, wherein transition
sections (6, 7) of said cores (2, 3) adjacent to said handle
section (5) have different transition angles relative to said
handle section (5).
4. A mascara brush according to claim 1, wherein said handle
section (5) is formed of bristle-free intertwisted wire sections
being extensions of said cores (2, 3).
5. A mascara brush according to claim 1, wherein said bristle-free
sections of said cores (2, 3) in the handle section (5) are
positioned in parallel and are connected with each other.
6. A mascara brush according to claim 1, wherein tangents (T.sub.2,
T.sub.3) of said cores (2, 3) intersecting in a starting point (E)
form an angle .beta. which is larger than 0.degree..
7. A mascara brush according to claim 1, wherein a bristle contour
(8, 9) of said cores (2, 3) has one of the following shapes:
cylindrical, barrel-shaped, shape of truncated cone tapering on one
or both sides, shape of truncated cone, centrally waisted centrally
waisted with a truncated cone tapering on both sides.
8. A mascara brush according to claim 1, wherein a bristle contour
(8,9) of said cores (2, 3) has one of the following cross-sectional
shapes: round, elliptical, triangular, especially with rounded
corners, rectangular, especially square-shaped, especially with
rounded corners.
9. A mascara brush according to claim 1, wherein said bristles (4)
are made of plastic fibres or natural fibres.
10. A mascara brush according to claim 1, wherein said handle
section (5) is attached in a stem section centrally or
off-centre.
11. A mascara brush according to claim 1, wherein the stem section
has a diameter ranging from 1.8 mm to 5.0 mm.
12. A mascara brush according to claim 1, wherein instead of said
curved cores (2, 3) at least one of said two cores is formed as a
straight core.
13. A method for manufacturing a mascara brush comprising a
plurality of bristles held between two intertwisted wire sections
forming a core, with said core comprising a curved core section,
including the steps of: manufacturing a raw brush having at least
two straight cores extending from a common handle section (5);
inserting said cores into a bending tool having a convex bending
plunger (12) and a concave counter-plunger (13) being essentially
complementary thereto; bending said cores, wherein said bending
plunger (12) and said counter-plunger (13) are moved towards each
other and then away from each other; taking said cores (2, 3) out
of said bending tool.
14. The use of a mascara reservoir (14) comprising a circular
mascara wiping aperture (17), through which said mascara brush (1)
is insertable into said mascara reservoir (14), for a mascara brush
(1) according to any of claims 1 through 7.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a mascara brush comprising
a plurality of bristles held between two intertwisted wire sections
forming a core, wherein said core comprises a curved core section;
a method of manufacturing a mascara brush of this type; and the use
of a mascara reservoir.
[0003] 2. Background Art
[0004] Mascara brushes of this type are known from DE 198 47 733
A1. The use of such mascara brushes often entails the problem that
too much mascara is applied onto the eyelashes because the mascara
brushes are overloaded with mascara. Further, such mascara brushes
often have an unsatisfactory combing function. Especially in the
case of upper eyelashes extending straight downward towards the
lower eyelid, the known mascara brushes in addition have an
unsatisfactory function of bending the eyelashes, i.e. an
insufficient curl effect. This problem occurs in particular with
women of Asian origin.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
further develop a mascara brush of this type in such a way that it
allows the user in a simple manner to predetermine the amount of
mascara to be transferred on to the eyelashes and in particular to
avoid the application of too much mascara. Further, the combing
result and the curl effect should be improved.
[0006] According to the invention, this object is achieved in that
at least two curved cores are provided, extending from a common
handle section.
[0007] According to the invention, it was found that a mascara
brush having two cores allows a better distribution of the mascara
picked up by the mascara brush. Therefore, the amount of mascara to
be applied on to the eyelashes can be determined better. Two curved
cores, if arranged in parallel with one another, also improve the
combing result during the makeup process, Even the use of a mascara
brush in which at least one of the cores is straight can bring
about an improvement with respect to the application and
distribution of mascara. Particularly the use of a mascara brush
having two cores makes possible an asymmetrical loading of the
mascara brush with mascara due to the cross-sectional geometry of
its brush section which is not rotationally symmetrical. In this
case, the convex upper side of the curved cores is loaded less and
can therefore be used to correct the makeup, particularly to remove
excess mascara. If both cores are used in parallel during the
application, a comparatively thick mascara layer is applied. The
concave lower sides of the two cores allow the achievement of a
better curl effect.
[0008] A mascara brush with the cores having essentially the same
bending radius is easy to manufacture.
[0009] Different transition angles result in a splitting of the
cores which in turn results in a variation of the brush area along
the brush axis to be used for loading, combing or cleaning. Also,
this variation may be used for the fine regulation of the makeup
process.
[0010] A handle section which is formed of bristle-free
intertwisted wire sections being extensions of said cores is easy
to manufacture.
[0011] Cores being separated starting from said handle section make
possible a mascara brush which provides an enlarged application
area even near said handle section.
[0012] When tangents of said cores intersecting in a starting point
form an angle .beta. which is larger than 0.degree., these cores
have proved to be particularly favourable with respect to the
application of mascara.
[0013] This also applies to the specific geometric shape of the
bristle contour as well as to the fibre materials.
[0014] The attachment variants according to which said handle
section is attached in a stem section centrally or off-centre allow
the determination of an offset between a handle of the mascara
brush and the cores which in particular simplifies handling during
the application of mascara.
[0015] Stem section diameters ranging from 1.8 mm to 5.0 mm provide
a good compromise between stability and ease of handling.
[0016] It is another object of this invention to indicate a
manufacturing method for a mascara brush having at least two curved
cores.
[0017] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a
manufacturing method that comprises the steps of manufacturing a
raw brush having at least two straight cores extending from a
common handle section; inserting said cores into a bending tool
having a convex bending plunger and a concave counter-plunger being
essentially complementary thereto; bending said cores, wherein said
bending plunger and said counter-plunger are moved towards each
other and then away from each other; taking said cores out of said
bending tool.
[0018] Such a manufacturing method allows simultaneous bending of
the cores resulting in a reduction of the number of manufacturing
steps.
[0019] It is a further object of the present invention to indicate
a mascara reservoir to be used with a mascara brush according to
the invention.
[0020] According to the invention, this object is achieved by using
a mascara reservoir which comprises a circular mascara wiping
aperture, through which said mascara brush is insertable into said
mascara reservoir.
[0021] According to the invention, it was found that appropriately
dimensioned known mascara reservoirs having a circular mascara
wiping aperture can be used because the co-operation between the
circular mascara wiping aperture and the bristle section normally
having a rotationally asymmetrical cross-section of the mascara
brush according to the invention provides a desired asymmetrical
loading of the mascara brush with mascara, on which brush the
convex sides of the bristle contour are loaded less than the
concave sides.
[0022] An example embodiment of the present invention will
hereinafter be described with reference to the attached
drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a mascara brush according to the
invention between the intimated plungers of a bending tool;
[0024] FIG. 2 shows another side view of the mascara brush shown in
FIG. 1;
[0025] FIGS. 3 and 4 show side views corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 2
of a single core of the mascara brush shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0026] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section through a mascara
reservoir to be used with a mascara brush shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
and
[0027] FIG. 6 shows a plan view of a front side comprising a
mascara wiping aperture of the mascara reservoir shown in FIG.
5.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0028] In FIG. 1, a mascara brush generally denoted by the
reference numeral 1 comprises two cores 2, 3 having a typical
diameter between 0.6 mm and 2.0 mm each of which comprises a
plurality of bristles 4 for applying mascara on to eyelashes. Each
of said cores 2, 3 comprises two intertwisted wire sections between
which said bristles 4 are held in a known manner. These
intertwisted wire sections having a wire thickness between 0.4 mm
and 1.0 mm are not individually shown in the drawing. Said bristles
4 have essentially the same length along said cores 2, 3. Typical
bristle lengths range from 2.5 mm and 8 mm. Said bristles 4 are
plastic fibre bristles but may alternatively also be natural fibre
bristles. Also, there is no difference between said cores 2, 3 with
regard to the bristle length. In a variant (not shown) of the
mascara brush, different bristle lengths along the cores and/or
cores having bristles of different lengths may be provided.
[0029] Said two cores 2, 3 are, as suggested in FIGS. 1 and 2,
intertwisted in a handle section 5 not comprising any bristles.
This handle section extends to the right in FIG. 1 and forms a
handle (not shown) for said mascara brush 1. Here, said handle
section 5 is centrally connected with a stem section not shown in
the drawing. Alternatively, this connection can also be provided
away from the centre of said handle section 5. The stem section has
a diameter of 2.8 mm. In alternative embodiments of the mascara
brush, the stem section may have a diameter between 1.8 mm and 5.0
mm.
[0030] Between transition sections 6, 7 of said cores 2, 3 which
are adjacent to said handle section 5 and their ends facing away
from said handle section 5 said cores 2, 3 are bent at a bending
radius of approximately 30 mm around axes being parallel relative
to each other and perpendicular relative to the longitudinal axis
of said handle section 5 in such a way that said two cores 2, 3
resemble the horns of a capricorn. Due to this bending, bristle
contours 8, 9 of said bristles 4 of said cores 2, 3 comprise
concave sides 10 and convex sides 11. The bending around axes being
parallel relative to each other results in the fact that said
bristle contours 8, 9 in the side view shown in FIG. 2 are flush
with each other when viewed at perpendicularly to the bending axes
and at the same time perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of
said handle section 5.
[0031] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 4, said cores 2, 3 in a
stretched state have cylindrical bristle contours 8, 9 as said
bristles 4 along said cores 2, 3 have essentially the same length.
In other variants (not shown) of the mascara brush, the bristle
contour may have the following alternative shapes in a stretched
state of the core: cylindrical, barrel-shaped, truncated cone
tapering on one or both sides, truncated cone, centrally waisted,
centrally waisted with a truncated cone tapering on one or both
sides.
[0032] Said mascara brush 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 comprises bristle
contours 8, 9 having a circular cross-section. In alternative
variants (not shown) of the mascara brush, the bristle contour
cross-section may have the following shapes: elliptical,
triangular, especially with rounded corners, rectangular,
especially square-shaped, especially with rounded corners.
[0033] Typically, said cores 2, 3 have the same length between said
transition sections 6, 7 and the ends facing away from said handle
section 5. Said transition sections 6, 7 of said cores 2, 3 which
are adjacent to said handle section 5 are positioned at different
transition angles relative to the longitudinal axis of said handle
section 5. The transition angle a of said transition section 6
relative to said handle section 5 typically ranges between 10 and
20.degree.. The transition angle between said transition section 7
and said handle section 5 is 0.degree..
[0034] On said handle section 5, a starting point E can be defined
on which a portion of said handle section 5 ends and in which said
two cores 2, 3 are intertwisted. From said starting point E in FIG.
1 towards the left, said two cores 2, 3 start to separate from each
other. From said starting point E, two tangents T.sub.2, T.sub.3
may be drawn along the curved central axes of said cores 2, 3. The
angle .beta. between said tangents T.sub.2, T.sub.3 is about
10.degree. in the example embodiment shown in FIG. 1. In other
embodiments (not shown) of the mascara brush, said angle .beta. may
assume other values such as 20.degree. or 0.degree..
[0035] In the example embodiment of the mascara brush shown in the
drawing, both cores 2, 3 are curved. Alternatively, at least one of
the two cores may be formed straight.
[0036] A mascara brush 1 is manufactured as follows:
[0037] At first, a raw brush having straight cores 2, 3 is
manufactured. Here, individual straight cores are manufactured in a
known manner by intertwisting two wire sections between which the
bristles 4 are held. Then, the two straight cores are preferably
intertwisted in said handle section 5 so that the transition angles
described above between said transition sections 6, 7 and the
longitudinal axis of said handle section 5 are formed. At this
manufacturing stage, said two straight cores 2, 3 have, together
with said handle section 5, preferably the shape of the letter
Y.
[0038] Then, the straight cores of the raw brush are inserted into
a bending tool. A convex bending plunger 12 and a concave bending
counter-plunger 13 are schematically illustrated in part in FIG. 1.
The bending radii of said bending plunger 12 and said
counter-plunger 13 amount to approximately 10 mm. Here, the bending
radius of the convex bending plunger 12 is slightly smaller than
that of said counter-plunger 13. Said bending plunger 12 and said
counter-plunger 13 are moved towards each other and then away from
each other, so that the originally straight cores 2, 3 are bent to
assume their shape as shown in FIG. 1.
[0039] Finally, said mascara brush 1 is taken out of the bending
tool.
[0040] Depending upon the desired final configuration of said cores
2, 3, the raw brush may be appropriately turned around the
longitudinal axis of said handle section 5 when being inserted into
the bending tool so that the flush arrangement of straight sides of
said bristle contour 8, 9 results, or so that, as not shown in the
drawing, said concave sides 10 and said convex sides 11 of said
bristle contour 8, 9 are flush with each other. A mascara brush
according to this second variant would in a side view as in FIG. 1
with a viewing direction parallel to the bending axes of said cores
2, 3 look like said single core 2 shown in FIG. 3. In a view
perpendicular to this view and to the longitudinal axis of said
handle section 5, such a mascara brush would preferably have the
shape of the letter Y with said cores 2, 3 being straight in this
view. In another variant (also not shown) of the mascara brush, the
two cores are arranged so that they extend at an essentially
constant distance between each other parallel to each other in the
view described immediately before. In this case, the bristle-free
sections of said cores 2, 3 are also attached to and connected with
said handle section 5 in parallel.
[0041] FIGS. 5 and 6 show a mascara reservoir 14 to be used with
said mascara brush 1. The scale of FIGS. 5 and 6 differs from that
of FIGS. 1 to 4. Said mascara reservoir 14 has an elongated,
essentially cylindrical basic shape comprising on its front side a
formed threaded section 15 on to which a closing cap (not shown)
may be screwed. The inner diameter of said threaded section 15 is
2.8 mm. In other variants (not shown) of said mascara reservoir,
the diameter of said threaded section may range between 1.8 and 5
mm. Said threaded section 15 receives a wiping sleeve 16 which is
connected to said threaded section 15 in a known manner. Said
wiping sleeve 16 is preferably made of an elastic material or soft
plastic such as LDPE. It is tapered towards the interior of said
mascara reservoir 14 up to a circular mascara wiping aperture 17
which is defined by a peripheral wiping edge section 18. The
diameter of the mascara wiping aperture 17 is 2.6 mm. In the other
variants of the mascara reservoir, this diameter may range from 1.8
to 5.0 mm.
[0042] In the aforementioned variants of the mascara brush having a
non-circular cross-section of the bristle contour, the
cross-section of said wiping sleeve 16 and said mascara wiping
aperture 17 is adapted to match the respective cross-section of the
bristle contour.
* * * * *