U.S. patent application number 11/904672 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-10 for mascara brush with visibly distinct functional portions.
Invention is credited to Volker Schrepf.
Application Number | 20080083417 11/904672 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39222969 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080083417 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schrepf; Volker |
April 10, 2008 |
Mascara brush with visibly distinct functional portions
Abstract
A brush for applying mascara or the like, having a
cross-sectional bristle array with two visibly distinct portions
for respectively performing different mascara-applying and combing
functions.
Inventors: |
Schrepf; Volker; (East
Islip, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COOPER & DUNHAM, LLP
1185 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
10036
US
|
Family ID: |
39222969 |
Appl. No.: |
11/904672 |
Filed: |
September 28, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60849344 |
Oct 4, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
132/200 ;
132/218; 15/207; 15/207.2; 300/21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 9/021 20130101;
A46B 9/028 20130101; A46B 2200/1053 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/200 ;
132/218; 15/207; 15/207.2; 300/21 |
International
Class: |
A45D 24/00 20060101
A45D024/00; A45D 40/26 20060101 A45D040/26; A46B 3/18 20060101
A46B003/18; A46D 1/00 20060101 A46D001/00; A46D 3/00 20060101
A46D003/00 |
Claims
1. A mascara brush including: (a) an elongated wire core having two
runs of wire helically twisted together about a rectilinear axis
forming a succession of turns, and (b) an array of bristles
projecting outwardly around said succession of turns, said array
including, in each turn, a plurality of bristles each clamped
between the runs of wire and having opposed free tips extending
radially therefrom, the array having a proximal end and a distal
end spaced apart along the rectilinear axis and the tips of the
bristles of the array defining a notional envelope, wherein the
improvement comprises: (c) said envelope having a cross-section, in
a plane perpendicular to said rectilinear axis, which consists
essentially of a generally semicircular portion and a narrow
portion projecting from said axis in a direction opposite to the
semicircular portion.
2. A mascara brush including: (a) an elongated wire core having two
runs of wire helically twisted together about a rectilinear axis
forming a succession of turns, and (b) an array of bristles
projecting outwardly around said succession of turns, said array
including, in each turn, a plurality of bristles each clamped
between the runs of wire and having opposed free tips extending
radially therefrom, the array having a proximal end and a distal
end spaced apart along the rectilinear axis and the tips of the
bristles of the array defining a notional envelope, wherein the
improvement comprises: (c) said envelope having a shape which
consists essentially of a generally semi-cylindrical portion and a
ridge, both extending along said rectilinear axis from the proximal
end to the distal end of the array, the ridge projecting radially
with respect to the axis in a direction away from the
semi-cylindrical portion and having a width substantially smaller
than the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the semi-cylindrical
portion.
3. A mascara brush as defined in claim 2, wherein the envelope
tapers distally toward the core at least adjacent the distal end of
the array.
4. A method of applying mascara using the mascara brush of claim 2,
comprising the steps of: applying mascara to the array of bristles;
applying mascara from the semi-cylindrical portion of the array to
a user's lashes; and combing the applied mascara on the user's
lashes with the ridge of the array.
5. A method of manufacturing a mascara brush comprising the steps
of: twisting two runs of wire together to clamp a plurality of
bristles between the runs and thereby form an elongated core from
which the bristles form an outwardly projecting array, and trimming
the array of bristles to form the array into a semi-cylindrical
portion and a ridge.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the trimming step further
comprises the step of: trimming the array of bristles to form the
array into a cylindrical shape.
7. The method of claim 6 in which the cylindrical shape further
comprises a tapered portion.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/849,344 filed Oct. 4, 2006, hereby incorporated
by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to twisted-in-wire bristle brushes
for applying mascara.
[0003] The type of brush with which the invention is specifically
concerned is a mascara brush 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 to form a brush bristle array surrounding the core over a
substantial portion of the length of the core, typically to the
outer (distal) end of the core. The core is constituted of two runs
of wire, which may be initially separate but are more usually
opposed legs of a single U-shaped wire, twisted together into an
axially rectilinear helix to hold the bristles between them. This
combination of a twisted wire core and a radiating array of
bristles clamped in the core provides a simple, low-cost and
effective brush structure for application of mascara.
[0004] Such mascara brushes are well known and widely used in the
cosmetics industry. Commonly, the proximal end of the brush is
mounted within the threaded cap of a mascara container, so that the
brush projects into the container when the cap is in the
container-closing position. Upon removal of the cap, the brush
carries a quantity of mascara out of the container, and is
manipulated to deliver and apply the mascara to the user's
eyelashes, the cap serving as a handle for the brush.
[0005] In many conventional mascara brushes of the described
twisted wire and bristle construction, the overall profile of the
brush bristle array (such profile being the notional envelope
defined by the bristle extremities) is cylindrical and/or smoothly
tapering, that is with progressively shorter bristles, toward the
distal end of the brush. Other bristle array profiles have been
proposed, see for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,987, the entire
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference. As
shown in this U.S. patent, for example, to achieve these profiles
the brush fibers can be cut or trimmed after initial assembly to
produce specialized profile configurations. The bristles within the
profile may be arranged in discrete though closely spaced helical
rows corresponding to the helical turns of the wire core, or they
may be distributed substantially uniformly.
[0006] While conventional brushes of a cylindrical or tapered shape
can be used to apply mascara, achieving a satisfactory
comb-through, that is to separate the lashes either before or after
applying the mascara, can be difficult to achieve without using a
separate implement such as a small plastic comb. Since ease of use
is a primary goal, a mascara brush able to both apply a large
amount of mascara and comb-through the lashes is desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a bristle
brush, for applying cosmetic material such as mascara or the like,
combining within a single structure diverse applicator
characteristics respectively suited to the performance of
specifically different functions in the application of the cosmetic
material, and capable of being enclosed within a container of the
material when not in use.
[0008] Another object is to provide such a brush having portions
respectively adapted for: (1) delivering mascara to a user's
lashes; and/or (2) combing delivered mascara through the
lashes.
[0009] A further object is to provide such a brush enabling the
user to determine selectively the amount of mascara applied, by
using different portions of the brush, and then to comb the mascara
through the lashes.
[0010] To these and other ends, the present invention broadly
contemplates the provision of a mascara brush having an elongated
wire core having two runs of wire helically twisted together about
a rectilinear axis to form a succession of turns, and an array of
bristles projecting outwardly around the succession of turns, the
array including, in each turn, a plurality of bristles each clamped
between the runs of wire and having opposed free tips extending
radially therefrom, the array having a proximal end and a distal
end spaced apart along the rectilinear axis and the tips of the
bristles of the array defining a notional envelope, wherein, as a
particular feature of the invention, the envelope is constituted of
a generally semi-cylindrical portion extending along the core axis
and an opposed narrow ridge, the shaped combing portion, also
extending along the core axis and projecting radially therefrom in
a direction opposed to the semi-cylindrical portion, for
respectively performing different mascara-applying functions.
Typically, the proximal end of the core engages an end of a stem
having an opposite end secured within a mascara container cap.
[0011] Specifically, the invention may be embodied in a brush in
which the semi-cylindrical bristle portion may be used for
delivering mascara from a container to a user's lashes and the
shaped combing portion may be used for combing delivered mascara
through the lashes. Alternatively, the shaped combing portion may
be used to deliver a very light application of mascara.
[0012] Further, in accordance with the invention, the transverse
cross-section of the envelope is substantially uniform in
dimensions along at least a major portion of the envelope. Also,
the envelope can taper toward the distal end of the array; and the
aforesaid major portion of the envelope advantageously has extended
longitudinal edges parallel to the rectilinear axis of the
core.
[0013] The unusual shape of the brush of the present invention
offers the consumer the quick and easy application that is
demanded, yet there is no special skill or newly-learned technique
involved in using this brush. The mascara product builds up on the
semi-cylindrical portion and, to a far lesser extent, on the shaped
combing portion, which gives clearly recognizable heavily loaded
and lightly loaded application zones. Additionally, the shaped
combing portion, which is clearly identifiable as such, allows the
user to comb through the lashes to separate them without needing to
carry a separate combing device. Furthermore, because the combing
portion is stored within the mascara container, there is no risk of
damage to the comb or of contamination of other objects with
mascara.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a mascara brush
embodying the present invention in a particular form; and
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mascara brush embodying
the present invention in a particular form.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] Referring to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention
there shown is a brush 10 comprising an elongated, axially
rectilinear core 12 constituted of two helically twisted-together
runs of metal wire, and a multiplicity of fibers or bristles 14
(for example, nylon fibers) each clamped between the two runs of
wire and having opposed free tips extending radially outwardly
therefrom to form two brush bristle arrays 16 and 18 surrounding
the core over a substantial portion of the length of the core. The
manufacture and arrangement of such structures are well known in
the art, and accordingly need not be further described. The two
wire runs may be separate lengths of wire or opposed legs of a
single initially U-shaped wire. The core has a proximal end 20 and
a distal end 22 to which the bristle array extends, the proximal
end of the bristle array being spaced distally from the proximal
end of the core so as to leave an exposed proximal length of the
core for mounting in the plastic stem of a mascara container
cap.
[0017] As thus far described, the brush array 10 may be generally
conventional. A conventional brush, however, would typically have a
continuous, smoothly cylindrical and/or tapering bristle array
profile. It will be understood that when the bristles are initially
mounted in the twisted wire core, their free ends project for
somewhat randomly unequal distances therefrom, and accordingly the
brush is subjected to a trimming step. To produce brushes of
conventional round (cylindrical and/or tapering conical) profile,
the brushes are rotated through trimmer heads.
[0018] In contrast, in accordance with the present invention, the
bristles are trimmed away in two regions 17 after initial assembly
with the wire core so that their cut free ends define a notional
envelope which has a semi-circular transverse cross-sectional
profile or semi-circular region 16 in a plane perpendicular to the
rectilinear axis of the wire core 12 and a narrow transverse cross
sectional profile or narrow region 18. The notional envelope of
bristles extends for at least a major, proximal portion 24a of the
length of the brush, although the envelope may taper distally, as
shown at 24b. In other words, from a three-dimensional perspective,
as shown in FIG. 2, the brush 10 has a semi-cylindrical portion 19
and a ridge portion or ridge 21.
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates the transverse profile of the notional
envelope of at least the (proximally disposed) major portion of the
brush array of the invention. In this case, the major portion of
the bristle array has an envelope with a semi-circular region 16
that extends for approximately 180 degrees around the wire core 12
and a narrow region 18 located opposite of the semi-circular region
16. The narrow region 18 has a radial portion 26 which extends
outward from the wire core 12 and is approximately equal to the
length 27 of the bristles that form semi-circular region 16, and an
outward facing portion 28, which is perpendicular to radial portion
26. Outward facing portion 28 is generally, but need not be,
narrower than radial portion 26. The outward facing portion 28 can
define any type of face but, in one embodiment, the face is flat.
In other embodiments, this surface can be rounded, angled,
saw-toothed etcetera.
[0020] In one embodiment, radial portion 26 is approximately 3.45
millimeters (0.136 inches) and outward facing portion 28 is
approximately 3.17 millimeters (0.125 inches). In another
embodiment, radial portion 26 is approximately 3.78 millimeters
(0.149 inches) and outward facing portion 28 is approximately 0.79
millimeters (0.031 inches). To achieve the described
cross-sectional profile, the newly assembled brush (rather than
being rotated past trimmer heads) is passed through a shaper that
forms the described semi-circular region 16 and the narrow region
18.
[0021] A particular advantage of the brush of the present invention
is ease of control over the amount of mascara applied to the
lashes. When the brush has been withdrawn from the container for
transport of mascara to a user's lashes, the semi-cylindrical
portion 19 bears a heavy load of mascara whereas the ridge 21 bears
a comparatively smaller load of mascara because fewer bristles are
available to hold mascara. The shape of the outward facing portion
28 can also affect the amount of mascara borne by the ridge 21.
Thus the user can selectively apply a small or large amount of
mascara to one's lashes by using respectively either the ridge 21
or the semi-cylindrical portion 19 to apply mascara to the
lashes.
[0022] Further, the ridge 21 because of its narrow size has few
bristles along its width, and therefore can act as a comb. Thus,
when delivery/application of the mascara to the lashes is complete,
the user can employ the combing portion or ridge 21 of the brush to
comb the delivered mascara through the lashes. The long bristles of
the narrow region 18 provide effective combing action and, because
this region does not carry a large amount of mascara, the combing
operation does not overload the lashes with mascara.
[0023] In addition, the difference in shape between the
semi-circular region 16 and the narrow region 18 clearly indicates
to the user which region of the brush is to be employed for each
function, that is application of large amounts of mascara
(semi-cylindrical portion 19) and application of small amounts of
mascara or combing (ridge 21).
[0024] In another embodiment, more than one partially circular
region 16 and/or narrow region 18 can be provided. Thus, for
example, two narrow regions 18 of different widths could be
provided allowing for an intermediate level of mascara to be
applied.
[0025] This 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.
* * * * *