U.S. patent application number 10/879623 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-02 for wire core mascara brush.
Invention is credited to Montoli, Antonio.
Application Number | 20040237989 10/879623 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31886938 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040237989 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Montoli, Antonio |
December 2, 2004 |
Wire core mascara brush
Abstract
An improved mascara brush comprises a twisted wire core holding
a plurality of radially extending bristles forming a brush at an
end of the core. The wire of the twisted wire core has a diameter
of about 0.028 inch to about 0.040 inch, and the twisted wire core
has a pitch of about 0.140 inch to about 0.250 inch. Preferably,
the twisted wire core has a pitch of about 0.150 inch to about
0.200 inch. The bristle density of the bristles per turn of the
wire core will vary according to the diameter of the bristles,; the
full range of the bristle density is 10-80 bristles per turn.
Inventors: |
Montoli, Antonio; (Vedano
Olona - Varese, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ST. ONGE STEWARD JOHNSTON & REENS, LLC
986 BEDFORD STREET
STAMFORD
CT
06905-5619
US
|
Family ID: |
31886938 |
Appl. No.: |
10/879623 |
Filed: |
June 29, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10879623 |
Jun 29, 2004 |
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10225039 |
Aug 21, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
132/218 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 2200/1053 20130101;
A45D 34/042 20130101; A45D 40/262 20130101; A46B 3/18 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 twisted wire core being
formed of a wire having a diameter of about 0.028 inch to about
0.040 inch and a pitch of about 0.140 inch to about 0.200 inch,
said bristles being positioned in said twisted wire core at a
bristle density of about 10-80 bristles per turn.
2. A brush in accordance with claim 1, wherein said wire is formed
of brass, copper or stainless steel.
3. A brush in accordance with claim 1, wherein said wire is formed
of plastic coated metal wire.
4. 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 twisted wire core being
formed of a wire having a diameter of about 0.028 inch to about
0.040 inch and a pitch of about 0.150 inch to about 0.250 inch,
said bristles being positioned in said twisted wire core at a
bristle density of about 10-80 bristles per turn.
5. A brush in accordance with claim 4, wherein said twisted wire
core has a pitch of about 0.150 inch to about 0.200 inch
6. A brush in accordance with claim 4, wherein said wire is formed
of brass, copper or stainless steel.
7. A brush in accordance with claim 4, wherein said wire is formed
of plastic coated metal wire.
8. A brush in accordance with claim 4, wherein said bristles having
a diameter of 0.011 inch to 0.012 inch, and the brush has a bristle
density in the range of 10-18 bristles per turn.
9. A brush in accordance with claim 8, wherein said brush has a
bristle density in the range of 10-12 bristles per turn.
10. A brush in accordance with claim 4, wherein said bristles
having a diameter of 0.009 inch to 0.010 inch, and the brush has a
bristle density in the range of 12-25 bristles per turn.
11. A brush in accordance with claim 10, wherein said brush has a
bristle density in the range of 14-20 bristles per turn.
12. A brush in accordance with claim 4, wherein said bristles
having a diameter of 0.007 inch to 0.008 inch, and the brush has a
bristle density in the range of 15-40 bristles per turn.
13. A brush in accordance with claim 12, wherein said brush has a
bristle density in the range of 18-25 bristles per turn.
14. A brush in accordance with claim 4, wherein said bristles
having a diameter of 0.005 inch to 0.006 inch, and the brush has a
bristle density in the range of 20-45 bristles per turn.
15. A brush in accordance with claim 14, wherein said brush has a
bristle density in the range of 20-28 bristles per turn.
16. A brush in accordance with claim 4, wherein said bristles
having a diameter of 0.003 inch to 0.004 inch, and the brush has a
bristle density in the range of 22-60 bristles per turn.
17. A brush in accordance with claim 16, wherein said brush has a
bristle density in the range of 22-35 bristles per turn.
18. A method of fabricating a mascara brush, comprising the steps
of: placing bristle filaments in a U-shaped wire, said wire having
a diameter of about 0.028 inch to about 0.040 inch, said bristles
being positioned in said twisted wire core at a bristle density of
about 10-60 bristles per turn; twisting said U-shaped wire to form
a twisted wire core to a pitch of about 0.150 inch to about 0.250
inch.
19. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein said twisted wire
core has a pitch of about 0.150 inch to about 0.200 inch
20. 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 twisted wire
core being formed of a wire having a diameter of about 0.028 inch
to about 0.040 inch and a pitch of about 0.150 inch to about 0.200
inch, said bristles being positioned in said twisted wire core at a
bristle density of about 10-60 bristles per turn; a rod having a
diameter of about 0.100 inch to 0.250 inch, said twisted wire core
being mounted to said rod.
21. A brush in accordance with claim 20, wherein said rod has a
diameter of about 0.125 inch to 0.175 inch.
Description
PRIOR APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 10/225,039 filed Aug. 21, 2002 in the name of Antonio
Montoli and entitled "Wire Core Mascara Brush."
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a brush for applying
cosmetic products, in particular, mascara, to eyelashes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 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.
[0004] 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 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. The brush is typically affixed to a rod which is
mounted to a cap or other closure for the cosmetic container.
[0005] Typical mascara brush designs use metal wire having a
diameter of 0.024 inch to 0.028 inch. These wires, when twisted,
provide a pitch of 0.100 inch to about 0.135 inch (e.g. a
separation of 0.100 inch to about 0.135 inch per full 360.degree.
turn of a leg of the wire core). The bristles used with these wire
cores have ranged in size from very small diameter bristles, to
standard diameter bristles in the range of 0.004 to 0.006 inch, to
larger diameter bristles in the range of 0.008 to 0.013 inch.
[0006] One issue that has arisen with these know brush designs is
the diameter of the brush core limits the size of the rod to which
the brush core can be mounted. In typical mascara packaging, a
wiper assembly is provided at the mouth of the mascara container.
The wiper removes mascara from the rod as the brush is withdrawn
from the container. The wiper typically will wipe outer portions of
the brush bristles, allowing mascara product to be carried out of
the container in inner zones of the brush.
[0007] It is not possible to use a larger diameter rod with
conventional brush assemblies without an excessive amount of
product being left on the inner core of the brush when the brush is
withdrawn from a product container. The typical upper limit to a
rod diameter is 0.170 inch, and often it will be less. The typical
mascara rod diameter is in the range of 0.145-0.160 inch. A larger
diameter rod will require a wiper with a larger diameter aperture.
The larger diameter aperture of the wiper will not wipe as much of
the inner portions of the brush, leading to excessive loading of
mascara product on the brush, with subsequent messy application of
the product to the user's eyes. This limitation means that the rod
cannot be made as sturdy as it could be, and prevents use of a
design option that is desirable in some brush packaging designs,
especially when used with high viscosity mascara products.
[0008] It would be desirable to provide an alternative mascara
brush design permitting use of a larger diameter rod without the
problems of insufficient wiping associated with conventional
brushes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is an object of the invention to provide a mascara brush
design allowing use of a large diameter rod without inferior wiping
of the brush.
[0010] It is an object of the invention to provide a mascara brush
design providing a good combing and lash separating effect without
requiring use of larger diameter bristle filaments or low bristle
counts.
[0011] It is an object of the invention to provide a mascara brush
suited for use with bristle fibers with a diameter in a
conventional range, but which provides good combing and lash
separating effect.
[0012] It is an object of the invention to provide a mascara brush
having conventional bristle densities for each turn of the bristle
helix, but which provides good combing and lash separating
effect.
[0013] An improved mascara brush in accordance with the invention
comprises a twisted wire core holding a plurality of radially
extending bristles forming a brush at an end of the core. The wire
of the twisted wire core has a diameter of about 0.028 inch to
about 0.040 inch, and the twisted wire core has a pitch of about
0.140 inch to about 0.250 inch. Preferably, the twisted wire core
has a pitch of about 0.150 inch to about 0.200 inch. The wire is
preferably formed of brass, copper or stainless steel, or a plastic
coated metal wire. The invention further comprises the method of
fabricating the brush.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a mascara brush in
accordance with the invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the twisted wire core
showing the wire pitch.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] 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.
[0017] 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
having segments 18 and 19. A plurality of bristles 14 are placed
between the segments 18 and 19 of wire 16. The wire segments 18 and
19 are then twisted around each along a 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.
[0018] The wire of the twisted wire core has a diameter of about
0.028 inch to about 0.040 inch, and the twisted wire core has a
pitch of about 0.140 inch to about 0.250 inch, preferably about
0.150 to about 0.250 inch. The pitch is shown at P in FIG. 2. The
pitch is the linear distance along the axis of twisted wire core
from the center 30 of wire segment 18 to the center 32 of the wire
segment 18 after it has twisted through 360 degrees. (Note that
wire segment 19 appears between the centers 30 and 32). The wire
pitch of the wire core in the present invention is substantially
larger than conventional mascara brushes, which have a typical
pitch of 0.100 to 0.135.
[0019] The bristle density per turn may be selected from a range of
between about 10-80 bristles per turn. The preferred bristle
density will be dependent on the bristle diameter, and, to a
degree, on the hardness of the polymer used in making the
bristles.
[0020] In one exemplary embodiment, using solid cylindrical
bristles having a diameter of 0.011 inch to 0.012 inch, the bristle
density will preferably be in the range of 10-18 bristles per turn,
most preferably about 10-12 bristles per turn.
[0021] In another exemplary embodiment, using solid cylindrical
bristles having a diameter of 0.009 to 0.010 inch, the bristle
density will preferably be in the range of 12-25 bristles per turn,
most preferably about 14-20 bristles per turn.
[0022] In another exemplary embodiment, using solid cylindrical
bristles having a diameter of 0.007 to 0.008 inch, the bristle
density will preferably be in the range of 15-40 bristles per turn,
most preferably about 18-25 bristles per turn.
[0023] In another exemplary embodiment, using solid cylindrical
bristles having a diameter of 0.005 to 0.006 inch, the bristle
density will preferably be in the range of 20-45 bristles per turn,
most preferably about 20-28 bristles per turn.
[0024] In yet another embodiment, using solid cylindrical bristles
having a diameter of 0.003 to 0.004 inch, the bristle density will
preferably be in the range of 22-60 bristles per turn, most
preferably about 22-35 bristles per turn.
[0025] In the foregoing examples, the bristle diameters have been
referred to by size selected on 0.001 inch increments. This sizing
has been selected for convenience to relate the specification and
claims to the commercially used diameter designations. However it
the present invention is applicable to any and all bristle
diameters within the range of sizes between the 0.003 inch and
0.012 inch diameters described above, and for purposes of the
interpretation of the specification and claims of this application,
the bristle diameters given should be understood to encompass
diameter sizes .+-.0.0005 inch from the upper or lower end of each
range given.
[0026] 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 diving 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).
[0027] The wire is preferably formed of brass, copper or stainless
steel, or a thermoplastic coated metal wire. These different
materials behave differently when used in wire twisting machinery,
and so particular preferred ranges can be determined by using the
following guidelines.
[0028] A thermoplastic coated metal wire is effective in the
invention, as it provides a larger diameter wire, and thus a
greater pitch, without significant difference in the force/torque
needed to twist the wire, thus it can easily be adapted for use in
typical wire twist machinery.
[0029] A stainless steel wire in the larger diameter will have a
rather different behavior. The thicker steel wire will be harder to
twist, and thus this wire will have the highest pitch for a given
set of twist machinery settings. Brass or copper wires are softer
and will have relatively lower pitches at the same settings.
[0030] It is also possible to increase the pitch by providing
tension to the wire ends during the twisting step. This tension
will stretch the wires and increase the wire pitch.
[0031] 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.
[0032] 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, such as
ovals, square, rectangular, or polygons (including hexagons); or
the bristles may have voids therein, thus, the term "diameter" as
used herein to refer to "bristle diameter" is intended to mean the
maximum distance between any of the possible opposite positions on
the outer surface of a bristle filament. The bristle lengths may be
slightly longer than is usual in conventional brush designs, but
this is not a necessary requirement for effective use of the
invention.
[0033] The steps of fabricating the mascara brush 10, in essence
comprise placing bristle filaments in a U-shaped wire which has a
diameter of about 0.028 inch to about 0.040 inch and twisting the
U-shaped wire to form a twisted wire core to a pitch of about 0.140
inch to about 0.250 inch. In the preferred embodiment, the twisting
forms a wire core with a pitch of about 0.150 inch to about 0.200
inch.
[0034] The brush 10, when fabricated, is then assembled together
with a rod. The rod may have a diameter in the range of about 0.100
inch to 0.250 inch, more preferably about 0.125 inch to 0.175 inch.
These rod diameters provide a sturdy rod that will not be prone to
breakage or bending, or deformation through creep. The larger
diameter core of the brush prevents excessive loading of mascara
product on the brush 10 that would occur with a smaller diameter
wire core were matched with a rod of this size.
[0035] 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.
* * * * *