U.S. patent application number 10/929900 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-02 for method and system for mascara application.
Invention is credited to Sarah Vogel.
Application Number | 20060042647 10/929900 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35941308 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060042647 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vogel; Sarah |
March 2, 2006 |
Method and system for mascara application
Abstract
A mascara applicator is provided that has a handle, a rod
connected to the handle that may have a flexible portion configured
to deflect, and a head connected to the rod and having radially
extending bristles configured to hold mascara, wherein the head is
configured to rotate.
Inventors: |
Vogel; Sarah; (Menlo Park,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STEVENS LAW GROUP
P.O. BOX 1667
SAN JOSE
CA
95109
US
|
Family ID: |
35941308 |
Appl. No.: |
10/929900 |
Filed: |
August 30, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/218 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 40/265
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/218 |
International
Class: |
A45D 40/26 20060101
A45D040/26 |
Claims
1. A mascara applicator comprising: a handle configured for user
operation; a rod connected to the handle and having a flexible
portion configured to deflect; and a head connected to the rod and
having radially extending bristles configured to hold mascara,
wherein the head is configured to deflect along with the rod.
2. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein the flexible portion
is configured to deflect when a force is applied radially to the
head, as in when a user applies mascara held by the brush to lashes
.
3. An applicator according to claim 2, wherein the flexible portion
is configured to deflect proportional to the pressure applied to
the extending bristles.
4. An applicator according to claim 2, wherein a deflection of the
flexible region correlates to the pressure applied to the
bristles.
5. An applicator according to claim 2, wherein the surface is a
surface of an eyelash.
6. An applicator according to claim 1, where in the flexible
portion is able to rotate when mascara is applied to eyelashes.
7. A mascara applicator comprising: a handle; a rod connected to
the handle; and a brush connected to the rod and configured to
rotate in a controlled manner.
8. An applicator according to claim 7, wherein the head of bristles
rotates when brought into contact with eyelashes.
9. An applicator according to claim 8, wherein the rotation of the
head of bristles is in proportion to a pressure applied to
eyelashes.
10. An applicator according to claim 7, wherein the brush is
configured to rotate with resistance when pressure is applied while
applying mascara to lashes.
11. An applicator according to claim 7, wherein the brush is
configured to rotate with predetermined resistance when pressure is
applied while applying mascara to lashes.
12. An applicator according to claim 7, wherein the brush is
configured to rotate with predetermined resistance based on the
type of materials used to make the head and the spindle when
pressure is applied while applying mascara to lashes.
13. An applicator according to claim 7, wherein the brush is
configured to resistively rotate according to frictional means
between the head and the spindle when pressure is applied while a
user applies mascara to lashes.
14. A mascara applicator comprising: a handle; a rod connected to
the handle; the rod further containing a flexible region; a spindle
connected to the rod; and a rotary head of bristles positioned over
the spindle.
15. A mascara applicator according to claim 14, wherein the
flexible region deflects when brought into contact with a
surface.
16. An applicator according to claim 15, wherein a deflection of
the flexible region is in proportion to the pressure applied to the
surface.
17. An applicator according to claim 16, wherein the head of
bristles rotates when brought into contact with a surface.
18. An applicator according to claim 17, wherein the rotation of
the head of bristles is in proportion to the pressure applied to
the surface.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a method and system for applying
mascara to eyelashes and shaping the eyelashes during
application.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Consumers use mascara brushes to coat their eyelashes with
mascara. In addition to the mascara brush's ability to coat
eyelashes, certain features of the mascara brush influence the
shape and look of the eyelashes once they have been coated. In
fact, mascara brushes are designed differently to achieve a variety
of desired results in terms of shape, thickness, length and style.
These mascara brushes are in turn marketed for their ability to
produce such variably different and desirable results. Examples of
such desired results include eyelashes that look longer, thicker,
separated, curled and more defined.
[0003] In addition to the formulation of the mascara and the form
of the brush's bristles, the technique used during application also
affects the look of the eyelashes. Hence, methods of applications
have been suggested to mascara consumers. These suggestions have
come from product instructions, magazine beauty tips, and makeup
artists.
[0004] Techniques for applying mascara generally pertain to the
manner by which the eyelashes are stroked. One technique is to
start at the base of the eyelash and move the brush upward in a
zigzag pattern through the tips of the eyelashes. This motion
encourages the eyelashes to become positioned in between the
bristles in order to coat not just the front but also the sides of
each lash. This zigzag technique also establishes the friction
needed to push the lashes up, causing the eyes to appear larger and
more dramatic.
[0005] Another technique is to look down while brushing the lashes
up, again creating resistance to push lashes up. An almost closed
upper eyelid creates resistance from the base of the lash all the
way to its end.
[0006] A lessor known technique is to roll the brush in order to
apply a fresh coat of mascara to the lashes. Although cumbersome,
this technique coats the lashes evenly across the length of the
lash and allows the consumer to use pressure to roll the lashes up
and back. Basic stroking of the lashes causes the lashes to
converge, adhere and ultimately bind together, also referred to as
clumping. By rolling the brush instead, the lashes are simply
coated with mascara and left dispersed.
[0007] Traditionally, mascara is sold in a tube that comes equipped
with a standard mascara brush. The mascara brush is typically
comprised of a handle portion, a rigid rod, and a brush end portion
consisting of brush bristles. While the designs of the bristles and
the formulation of the mascara itself have evolved, minimal
improvement to the rod has been achieved with success.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,871 (1999), U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,514
(2000), U.S. Pat. No. RE37,605 (2002), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,178
(2002) Clay show mascara brushes that rotate the head of bristles
from inside the handle. This arduous design is burdensome for the
user as it calls upon the user to synchronize and properly
correlate the rate at which the bristles rotate with the time it
takes those bristles to travel across the length of the lash.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,038 (1992) to Kingsford shows a mascara
brush that can be adjusted by a user from straight to curved and
vice versa. The brush head is manipulated within the applicator
handle. This brush changes its shape by manipulation of the handle
before application, and is not designed to react or change during
application of mascara.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,603 (2003) to Vasas shows a mascara
brush that has a rod that is bent in order to collect formula from
the corners of a mascara container. The design consists of bristles
deployed for sweeping product from the sidewall of the container
and a rod that has a distal end positioned centrally with respect
to the continuous sidewall of the product reservoir. This rod is
rigid and is not designed to change its form during
application.
[0011] Current mascara brushes have three major drawbacks. First,
the rigid rod does not encourage the bristles of the brush to
become interspersed with the eyelashes. Currently, the eyelashes
tend to rest on top of the bristles. Secondly, only one side of the
brush comes into contact with the eyelashes during application.
Therefore, as the mascara is stroked onto the eyelash one side of
the brush becomes dry while the other side maintains a fresh coat
of unused mascara. Consequently, when lashes are stroked they tend
to converge, adhere and bind together. And upon reapplication of
mascara, current brushes tend to build up clumps as the user
attempts to drag fresh mascara across the length of an already
coated lash. Lastly, the rigid rod and stationary head of bristles
do not allow the user to place consistent pressure on the lash from
the base of the lash to their tips so that one might push the
length of those lashes up and back. These major drawbacks prevent
the common mascara brush from accomplishing desired results without
skilled application procedures.
[0012] Therefore, a need exists for a method and system for mascara
application that will allow the brush to become interspersed with
the eyelashes, that will apply even pressure to the lashes, and
that will roll a fresh coat of mascara onto each lash.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The invention, an improved mascara brush, has a head of
bristles and a rod with a flexible region. One end of the rod
attaches to a handle. The flexible region has a means for allowing
the brush to flex relative to the handle such that when normal
force is applied to the brush end, with the handle end being held
fixed, the brush end will deflect.
[0014] One alternative embodiment of the invention is a mascara
brush where one end of the rod is comprised of a spindle that
serves as an axis of rotation for the head of bristles.
[0015] In yet another embodiment of the invention a mascara brush
comprises both a flexible region on the rod and a spindle serving
as an axis of rotation for the head of bristles.
[0016] One function of the invention provides a means for
encouraging eyelashes to interlace between bristles without
stroking the eyelashes. This provides the ability to cause the
user's eyelashes to curl up while applying a fresh coating of
mascara to the eyelashes by simply pressing against the lashes and
stroking along the lashes. Further features and advantages of the
invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings
and description.
[0017] In one embodiment, a mascara applicator has a handle
configured for user operation, a rod connected to the handle and
having a flexible portion configured to deflect, and a head
connected to the rod and having radially extending bristles
configured to hold mascara, wherein the head is configured to
deflect along with the rod. In another embodiment, the flexible
portion is configured to deflect when a force is applied radially
to the head, as in when a user applies mascara held by the brush to
lashes. In yet another embodiment, the flexible portion may be
configured to deflect proportional to the pressure applied to the
extending bristles. Also, a deflection of the flexible region may
correlate to the pressure applied to the bristles. In addition, the
flexible portion may be able to rotate when mascara is applied to
eyelashes.
[0018] In another embodiment, a mascara applicator has a handle, a
rod connected to the handle, and a brush connected to the rod and
configured to rotate in a controlled manner. The head of bristles
may rotate when brought into contact with an eyelash. Furthermore,
the rotation of the head of bristles may be in proportion to a
pressure applied to eyelashes. Also, the brush may be configured to
rotate with resistance when pressure is applied while applying
mascara to lashes. The brush may be configured to rotate with
predetermined resistance when pressure is applied while applying
mascara to lashes. In addition, the brush may be configured to
rotate with predetermined resistance based on the type of materials
used to make the head and the spindle when pressure is applied
while applying mascara to lashes. The brush may also be configured
to resistively rotate according to frictional means between the
head and the spindle when pressure is applied while a user applies
mascara to lashes.
[0019] In another embodiment, a mascara applicator has a handle, a
rod connected to the handle, the rod further containing a flexible
region, a spindle connected to the rod, and a rotary head of
bristles positioned over the spindle. And, the flexible region may
deflect when brought into contact with a surface. Additionally, a
deflection of the flexible region may be in proportion to the
pressure applied to the surface. Furthermore, the head of bristles
may rotate when brought into contact with a surface. And, the
rotation of the head of bristles may be in proportion to the
pressure applied to the surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a mascara brush constructed in
accordance with the invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective partial view of the brush of FIG. 1
shown during use.
[0022] FIG. 3 is an illustration of another embodiment of the
mascara brush constructed in accordance with the invention.
[0023] FIGS. 4A and B are illustrations of an embodiment of the
engagement features of a removable brush component of the mascara
brush constructed in accordance with the invention.
[0024] FIGS. 5A and B are illustrations of the mascara brush in use
according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] The invention is directed to methods and systems for
applying mascara. In one embodiment, a flexible region of the rod
of a mascara brush responds to pressure by deflecting when brought
into contact with eyelashes. The flexible region provides variable
resistance slowing the brush down and encouraging the eyelashes to
position themselves between the bristles. The mascara brush
responds resiliently to pressure generated during application.
[0026] In another embodiment of the invention, the brush rotates as
a result of stroking the eyelash with the brush. As the brush
rotates a fresh coat of mascara is continuously provided to the
eyelashes. Furthermore, as the brush portion rotates it becomes
easier to follow a curved path thus facilitating the curling of the
eyelashes. The mascara brush is designed to spin as a response to
the pressure applied to the brush during application, the opposing
pressure pushes the lashes up and back.
[0027] In yet another embodiment the flexible region of the rod is
combined with a rotating brush.
[0028] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, however,
that embodiments of the invention may be implemented in other
applications where a substance is applied to a surface, without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is
defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the invention, a
mascara brush having a deflectable and/or rotating rod, is
illustrated. The mascara brush 100 includes a handle 102 for
holding the brush 100 by a user. The brush further includes a rod
104, that may include a rigid portion 106 and a flexible resilient
portion 108, (or that could be entirely flexible). A bristle brush
110 has radially extending bristles 111. In this embodiment, the
brush 110 is removably disposed onto a brush shaft 116. The brush
is prevented from spinning off the shaft by a brush stop 118, or by
a similar apparatus configured to hold the brush onto the shaft. In
operation, referring now to FIG. 2, the brush may be moved along
lashes 122 in a direction 124. The flexible portion 108 is
configured to deflect to an extent to allow the bristles 111 to
interpose themselves between the lashes 122 to coat them with
liquid form mascara (not shown) that is located on the bristles. In
one embodiment, as the brush is moved in the direction 124, the
flexible portion may also rotate in a direction 126, allowing the
bristles 111 to interpose themselves within the lashes 122 while
moving in a stroking motion along the length of the lashes.
Alternatively, there may be a separate spring device not shown that
allows the brush to rotate according to a spring constant, allowing
the bristles 111 to interpose themselves within the lashes 122
without stroking along the length of the lashes. In another
embodiment, the brush may substantially freely spin, allowing a
user to freely stroke along the length of the lashes, while the
brush turns along with the motion. In yet another embodiment, the
brush may also substantially freely spin, but with a resistance to
limit the spinning of the brush. For example, the interface between
the brush and the shaft can be configured with one of several
conventional types of friction means to control the spinning of the
brush, giving a user control of the brush position and pressure
applied.
[0030] The brush may be configured for use by a user applying
mascara to his or her own lashes, or may be configured for use by
another person, such as a makeup artist, to apply the mascara to a
client's lashes. In either case, the invention provides a means to
apply mascara to eye lashes, and to sculpt, tease, or otherwise
manipulate lashes into a position that is desirable to the user. In
one embodiment, the invention provides an improved means allow a
user to apply mascara in a manner that lightens the pressure
applied radially against the eye lashes by a person applying the
mascara onto the lashes, preventing undue pressure of the brush
onto the eyelashes and/or allowing a user to bend the brush out of
view during use and can deflect the brush at a radial angle to the
handle. As a user applies pressure, the rod is configured to
deflect to a degree, resulting in less pressure being applied by
the brush against the eye lashes. This limits the pressure that
forces the bristles against and through the eye lashes while the
mascara is applied. In addition, the invention provides the ability
for the brush to rotate in response to the movement of the brush
along the length of the eye lashes. This avoids stroking the eye
lashes with the bristles, smearing the mascara along the lashes,
which may cause the coated lashes to stick or clump together. The
invention provides these two features that, when used together or
apart, provide a means to more effectively apply mascara to eye
lashes.
[0031] A user would hold the handle 102 and stroke eyelashes with
the rotary head of bristles 111. Thus the invention, a mascara
brush with a resilient flex region and spinning head dynamically
encourages eyelashes to curl up and be coated properly without
unnecessarily arduous applications.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 3, one embodiment of the invention, a
mascara brush having a deflectable rod, is illustrated. The mascara
brush 300 includes a handle 302 for holding the brush 300 by a
user. The brush further includes a rod 304, which includes a rigid
portion 306 and a flexible resilient portion 308. A bristle brush
310 has radially extending bristles 311. In this embodiment, the
brush 310 is removably disposed onto a brush shaft 316. The brush
may be prevented from free spinning on the shaft by an optional
brush stop 318, and also optional corresponding brush end cap 320.
Those skilled in the art will understand and agree that there are
other means of holding the brush onto the shaft 316, which would
not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0033] In operation, referring again to FIG. 2, the brush may be
moved along lashes 122 in a direction 124. The flexible portion
308, FIG. 3, is configured to bend to an extent to allow the
bristles 311 to interpose themselves between the lashes 122 to coat
them with liquid form mascara (not shown) that is located on the
bristles. As the brush is moved in the direction 124, the flexible
resilient portion 308 also rotates in a direction 326, allowing the
bristles 311 to interpose themselves within the lashes 122 without
stroking along the length of the lashes. Alternatively, there may
be a separate resistive device [not shown] or other functionally
similar means that allow the brush to rotate according to a spring
constant, allowing the bristles 311 to interpose themselves within
the lashes 122 without stroking along the length of the lashes. In
practice, there will typically be a degree of friction between the
rotating brush and the rod onto which it is mounted. In practice,
the flex rod may spin to prevent dragging the brush bristles along
the length of the eyelashes. It preferably would not freely spin on
its own, because it may be difficult for a user to control, and a
user may loose the ability to use pressure to push the lashes
up.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 4A, an illustration of an embodiment of
the engagement features are shown as an alternative to keying
feature 318 (FIG. 3), where a removable brush component of the
mascara brush is constructed in accordance with the invention. FIG.
4 A shows a side cut-away view of a system 400 that is made up of
the brush head assembly 402 and a rod assembly 404. The head
assembly includes brush bristles 406 and the casing 408 where the
bristles are attached. Inside the casing, holding nubs 410 are
formed in a manner to allow a proper mating of the head assembly
and the rod assembly 404. The rod assembly 404 includes
complementary nubs 412 formed on rod 414. In practice, the head
assembly is configured to snap-fit onto rod assembly. In use, the
mascara brush may be configured so that the snap-fit configuration
allows a user to remove and clean or replace the head assembly.
Referring to FIG. 4B, a perspective and cut-away view of the rod
and brush head assembly is illustrated. This embodiment shows more
clearly the holding nubs, which are illustrated as solid rings 410
on the head assembly configured to snap-fit with complementary
rings 412 located on the rod assembly, where the rod is attached to
handle 416, and where the rod is shown separated at 418 for
illustration. The nubs 410, 412, may be configured alternatively as
semispherical nubs located on the surfaces of either the head
assembly or the rod assembly. Those skilled in the art, such as in
the ink pen industry where pen caps are snap-fitted onto the heads
of pens for protection of the pen head, will understand that
various well known configurations are possible without departing
from the invention.
[0035] Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, an illustration of one
embodiment of a mascara brush 500 configured according to the
invention is shown. Referring to FIG. 5A, a rod 502 and brush 504
assembly is illustrated, where the rod is configured to be
controlled by forces 506, 508, that are resistive to turning the
assembly in a direction 510, that may be in a direction illustrated
about the longitudinal axis or in an opposite direction. The forces
may be applied axially to the rod as shown, or in a similar manner
to control the rotation of the brush 504 when mascara is applied to
lashes as discussed above. The forces may be applied via pressure
surfaces 512, 514, where a user applies pressure against the rod in
a manner to control the rotation of the rod. Referring to FIG. 5B,
an embodiment is illustrated with a handle 516, configured to
receive forces 518, 529 against points on the handle surface 522,
524, in a manner to deflect the handle and make contact with the
rod 502 with the deflected handle material 526, 528. Those skilled
in the art will understand that other material and contact means
can be used to make contact with the rod in order to control the
rotation of the brush 504. The invention is directed to providing a
means for resisting the substantially free rotation of the brush
resulting when mascara is applied to eyelashes. In operation, a
user may hold such a mascara brush handle at points 518, 520,
applying pressure in a manner to stop, release, and generally
control the rotation speed and articulation while mascara, being on
the bristles of the brush, are applied to lashes in a manner
similar to that described in connection with FIG. 2. As a user
presses and releases the handle, the rotation of the rod, and
likewise the attached mascara brush can be controlled to allow for
a controlled rotation of the brush, and thus controlled application
of the mascara to the user's lashes.
[0036] The invention has been described in the context of a mascara
application system, where a mascara brush having a flexible handle
allows a user to control pressure and rotation of the mascara brush
against the lashes, and the controlled twisting motion of the
mascara brush allows for further control of the application
process. Those skilled in the art will understand that there are
other means in which to embody the invention that are within the
spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the
invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated,
but by the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *