CN115666325A

CN115666325A - Brush with brush head

Info

Publication number: CN115666325A
Application number: CN202180036855.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: C·万克彭
Original assignee: Dyson Technology Ltd
Current assignee: Dyson Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2020-05-21
Filing date: 2021-05-05
Publication date: 2023-01-31
Also published as: GB202007572D0; WO2021234343A1; GB2595286A; JP7459302B2; US20230180920A1; KR20230015952A; JP2023526104A

Abstract

A brush is described that includes a plurality of bristles secured to a carrier. Each bristle comprises a through hole into which the carrier protrudes.

Description

Brush with brush head

Technical Field

The present invention relates to brushes, particularly but not exclusively hair brushes.

Background

The brush may include bristles secured to a flexible pad. However, as the brush is used repeatedly, the bristles may become loose and fall off the pad.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention provides a brush comprising a plurality of bristles secured to a carrier, wherein each bristle comprises a through-hole into which the carrier protrudes.

By providing through holes into which the carriers protrude, each bristle is less likely to fall out of the carriers. This is particularly true when the carrier is formed of a relatively soft and/or inert material.

The carrier may be molded to the bristles. This has the following advantages: the bristles are better secured to the carrier and therefore are less likely to fall out of the carrier. In addition, gaps are not easily formed between the bristles and the carrier, which gaps may otherwise trap hair and/or accumulate dirt and other debris.

Each bristle may include a root and a shaft extending upwardly from the root. Further, the root may include a base and a stem extending upwardly from the base. The base extends outwardly beyond the stem and forms a through hole in the stem. By having the base portion extend outwardly beyond the stem, the base portion presents a surface (e.g., a torus) that opposes the upward movement of the bristles relative to the carrier. Thus, it is more difficult to pull the bristles from the carriers.

The stem may include an undercut, and the through-hole may be formed in the undercut. Thus, the rod presents a surface that opposes the downward movement of the bristles relative to the carrier, and thus makes it more difficult to push the bristles out of the carrier. The diameter of the through-hole may be relatively small. Thus, the parts of the carrier protruding into the through holes form relatively thin lines. By forming the via in the undercut, the length of the via and thus the length of the line of the carrier may be reduced. Thus, the portion of the carrier extending through the through hole is stronger.

The carrier may be formed of an elastomer. More specifically, the carrier may be formed of silicone rubber. Silicone rubber has the advantage that it is relatively inert and therefore less likely to cause any adverse reactions on the scalp of the user. Furthermore, silicone rubbers have a high thermal stability and good chemical resistance. Thus, the carrier is well suited for use in a hair brush that can withstand chemicals in the form of a hair product and/or high temperatures during hair drying.

The carrier may be made of a material having a shore a hardness of less than 50. Thus, the carrier is relatively flexible, allowing for a greater range of movement of the bristles.

Each bristle may comprise a root and a shaft extending upwardly from the root, and the shaft may have a diameter of at least 1.2 mm. The diameter of the shaft may be uniform along the length of the shaft. A relatively thick shaft has the following advantages: the bristles are stiffer and therefore less likely to bend or otherwise deform during use of the brush. Movement of the bristles is then provided by the carrier, which deforms in response to forces acting on the bristles.

Each bristle may include a tip formed as a rounded end of the shaft. The bristles of conventional brushes can be relatively narrow, with pointed tips. While bristles of this design are effective in removing tangles, the brush is often uncomfortable if the bristles contact the scalp. To enhance comfort, a ball may be provided at the end of the shaft of each bristle. However, while this may improve comfort, the ball tends to catch on any tangles. By providing bristles with relatively thick shafts and rounded ends, improved comfort can be achieved without any jamming. In particular, when the bristles encounter an entanglement, the bristles can pivot rearwardly, allowing the entanglement to slide out of the ends of the bristles.

Each bristle may include a root and a shaft extending upwardly from the root. The carrier may surround the root and the shaft may have a length of at least 15 mm. This has the advantage that the bristles can penetrate deeper into the hair. In contrast, a brush with shorter bristles may need to be brushed several times in the same hair region. As the length of the bristles increases, the likelihood that adjacent bristles may collide during use increases. Thus, the shaft may have a length of no more than 22 mm.

Each bristle may have a flexural modulus of at least 1GPa and/or a flexural stiffness of at least 500N/m. As a result, the bristles are less likely to bend or otherwise deform during use of the brush. Furthermore, due to the relative rigidity, the bristles are more likely to pivot at the root, which better facilitates the tangle sliding off the bristles. In contrast, the bristles of conventional brushes may have a lower flexural modulus and stiffness. During use, the bristles do not pivot, but rather bend or flex. However, bristles are more likely to be damaged by bending beyond the elastic limit or by fatigue caused by repeated bending of the bristles. In addition, tangles trapped deep within the bristles are more likely to become caught.

The bristles may be formed of metal, such as stainless steel or aluminum. As a result, the bristles are relatively strong, tough, and stiff, and are less likely to be damaged during use or in the event the brush is inadvertently dropped.

The brush may comprise a frame comprising a plurality of apertures, and each bristle may extend through a respective aperture in the frame. The frame may then provide a rigid structure against which the carrier rests. Each bristle extending through an aperture in the frame is then free to pivot relative to the frame.

The shape of the frame may be hyperbolic paraboloid shape. Thus, when using bristles of the same length, the bristles form a base having an upper profile shaped like a hyperbolic paraboloid. The bristle base may be concave in a direction perpendicular to the brushing direction and convex in a direction parallel to the brushing direction. Due to the concave shape, the bristles better conform to the shape of the user's head, thereby improving comfort. As the brush is pulled down through the hair, the user will tend to roll the brush. Having a convex shape in a direction parallel to the brushing direction promotes deeper penetration of the hair into the bristles, which is useful when the user wishes to create higher tension in the hair.

The carrier may be molded to the frame. Thus, gaps between the carrier and the frame, which may also trap hair and/or accumulate dirt and other debris, may be avoided.

The brush may include a body, and the carrier may be held between the frame and the body at each bristle. That is, the carrier can be held at one or more points around each bristle. Thus, as a particular bristle pivots and the carrier around that bristle deforms, adjacent bristles are better isolated from the deformation. Thus, each bristle can move independently of the other bristles, i.e., each bristle can move without causing the other bristles to move. This has the following advantages: when the brush is used with hair and the bristles encounter a tangle, the bristles can pivot to allow the tangle to pass without adjacent bristles collecting at the tangle. In contrast, in the case of conventional hairbrushes, when the bristles encounter an entanglement, the movement of the bristles causes the pad to bend, which in turn causes adjacent bristles to gather at the entanglement. Thus, entanglement is more difficult to pass through the bristles.

Drawings

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 shows a brush according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the brush;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the brush;

fig. 4 isbase:Sub>A cross-sectional view of the brush taken along linebase:Sub>A-base:Sub>A of fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows bristles forming part of a brush; and

fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a brush according to a second embodiment.

Detailed Description

The brush 1 of figures 1 to 5 comprises a handle 2 to which a brush head 3 is attached. The head 3 comprises a body 4, a carrier 5, a plurality of bristles 6 and a frame 7.

The body 4 is formed of a rigid material, such as a thermoplastic, and includes a plurality of cylindrical cavities 10 formed in an upper surface of the body 4.

The carrier 5 is formed of silicone rubber having a shore a hardness of about 20 to 30.

Each of the bristles 6 includes a root 20, a tip 21, and a shaft 22 extending from the root 20 to the tip 21. The root 20 includes a base 25, a stem 26 extending upward from the base 25, and a through-hole 27 formed in the stem 26. Base 25 extends radially outward beyond stem 26, and stem 26 extends radially outward beyond shaft 22. The shaft 22 of each bristle has a length of 17mm and a diameter of 1.7mm. In addition, each bristle 6 is formed of stainless steel. Thus, each bristle 6 is relatively rigid and has a flexural modulus of about 193GPa and a flexural stiffness of about 48 kN/m. The bending stiffness (also referred to as bending stiffness or buckling stiffness) is measured as the cantilevered deflection of the tip 21 of the bristle 6 when secured at the root 20.

Each bristle 6 is fixed to the carrier 5. More particularly, the carrier 5 is molded to the root 20 of each bristle 6 such that the shaft 22 extends protrudingly from the carrier 5.

The frame 7 is formed of a rigid material, such as a thermoplastic, and includes a plurality of apertures 11. The frame is in a hyperbolic paraboloid shape. More specifically, the frame 7 is concave along the length of the head 3 (i.e., perpendicular to the brushing direction) and convex along the width of the head 3 (i.e., parallel to the brushing direction). The frame 7 is secured to the body 4 at one or more points around the periphery of the frame 7 (e.g., by snap-fit, adhesive, or ultrasonic welding).

The carrier 5 is held between the body 4 and the frame 7 with each bristle 6 extending through a respective aperture 11 in the frame 7. The carrier 5 is held between the body 4 and the frame 7 such that each bristle 6 is located above a cavity 10 in the body 4. Further, a carrier 5 is held around each bristle 6 between the body 4 and the frame 7.

The carrier 5 at the root 20 of the bristles 6 deforms in response to the pivoting of the bristles 6. Since the carrier 5 is held around each bristle 6 between the body 4 and the frame 7, adjacent bristles 6 are isolated from deformation of the carrier. That is, deformation of the carrier 5 around the root of one bristle does not cause the carrier 5 around the root of an adjacent bristle to deform or otherwise move. Each bristle 6 thus behaves as if fastened to a single elastomeric ball. In particular, each bristle 6 can pivot independently of all the other bristles.

The carrier 5 protrudes upwards beyond each hole 11 in the frame 7. More specifically, the carrier 5 may be considered to comprise a plurality of dome-shaped protrusions, each protrusion protruding beyond a respective hole 11 in the frame 7. By having the carrier 5 protrude beyond each aperture 11, the pivot point of each bristle 6 is lifted upwards. In addition, deformation of the carrier 5 becomes easier. Thus, a greater range of motion can be achieved for each bristle 6.

The bristles 6 extend upwardly from the carrier 5 and the frame 7 in directions parallel to each other. Thus, the bristles 6 neither diverge nor converge. Most of the bristles 6, particularly those bristles 6 forming the central region, are arranged in rows along the length of the head 3, with the bristles 6 in each row being staggered relative to the bristles 6 in adjacent rows. The bristles 6 have a pitch C1 of 6.5mm along the length of the head (i.e. perpendicular to the brushing direction) and a pitch C2 of 13mm along the width of the head (i.e. parallel to the brushing direction).

During use of the brush 1, the bristles 6 penetrate the hair of the user. When the brush 1 is pulled down through the hair, the brush 6 is pivoted slightly backwards. The bristles 6 are relatively rigid and any movement of the bristles 6 occurs via deformation of the carrier 5. As the bristles 6 encounter a tangle in the hair, the bristles 6 will pivot further rearwardly as the bristles 1 continue to be pulled downwardly. Thus, the force applied to the tangle by the bristles 6 is increased. If the tangle is particularly difficult and the force exerted by the bristles 6 is insufficient to separate the tangles, the bristles 6 will eventually pivot to the point where the tangles slide from the bristles 6. As a result, the brush 1 can be pulled through the hair without causing significant discomfort to the user. The brush 1 can then be used to subsequently pass through the hair, with each pass separating more tangles. It is important that the bristles 6 continue to pivot rearwardly with each pass of the brush 1 and allow the tangle to pass if the force becomes excessive. Therefore, discomfort due to the bristles pulling at the tangles can be avoided.

Each bristle 6 pivots independently of the other bristles. This has the following advantages: when a bristle encounters a tangle, the bristle can pivot to allow the tangle to pass through without adjacent bristles collecting at the tangle. In contrast, in the case of conventional hairbrushes, as the bristles encounter a tangle and pivot rearwardly, the movement of the bristles causes the pad to bend, which in turn causes adjacent bristles to gather at the tangle. Thus, entanglement is more difficult to penetrate the bristles.

The frame 7 has a hyperbolic paraboloid shape. Bristles 6 of the same length form a base with an upper profile similar in shape to a hyperbolic paraboloid. The bristle base is concave along the length of the head, i.e. in a direction perpendicular to the brushing direction, and convex along the width of the head, i.e. in a direction parallel to the brushing direction. Due to the concave shape, the bristles 6 better conform to the shape of the user's head, thereby improving comfort. When the brush 1 is pulled down through the hair, the user will tend to roll their wrist and thus the brush 1. Having a convex shape in a direction parallel to the brushing direction promotes deeper penetration of the hair into the bristles 6, which is useful when the user wishes to create higher tension in the hair.

Most of the bristles 6 have pitches C1 and C2 of 6.5mm and 13.0mm, respectively. The bristles 6 thus have a smaller pitch perpendicular to the brushing direction. Thus, good alignment of the hair can be achieved. That is, the bristles catch and straighten more hair strands. In contrast, if a larger pitch is used, more hair will pass between the bristles and retain its original, disorganized orientation. A smaller pitch perpendicular to the brushing direction has the additional advantage that due to the higher number of bristles, fewer passes are typically required to detangle the hair. On the other hand, having a larger pitch parallel to the brushing direction allows a larger range of bristle movement without bristle clashing. If a smaller pitch is used, the bristle can collide with the adjacent bristle directly behind it as that particular bristle encounters an entanglement and pivots rearwardly. The adjacent bristles may hinder the tangle from sliding past the bristles. Of course, alternative pitches of the bristles 6 are possible. However, it has been found that interlaced bristles having a vertical pitch C1 of between 5mm and 8mm and a parallel pitch C2 of between 10mm and 16mm provide a good balance between the desire for a high bristle count to improve brushing efficiency and the desire to avoid bristle collisions for improved comfort.

The bristles 6 extend upward in directions parallel to each other. Thus, the bristles 6 are better able to resolve tangles and penetrate the hair. Conventional brushes typically have bristles that are spread apart. Thus, when the bristles on the front of the brush encounter an entanglement, the bristles must pivot or bend through a greater angle in order to entangle through. This makes brushing through the tangles more difficult. Furthermore, the bristles on the rear of the brush do not penetrate deeply into the hair. In contrast, by having bristles 6 extending in the same direction (i.e. bristles that are neither diverging nor converging), the bristles 6 at the front of the bristles 1 move through a smaller angle when encountering a tangle, while the bristles 6 on the rear of the bristles 1 are able to penetrate deeper into the hair.

Each bristle 6 has a flexural modulus of about 193GPa and a flexural stiffness of about 48 kN/m. Thus, the bristles 6 are less likely to bend or otherwise deform during use of the brush 1. Furthermore, due to the relative rigidity, the bristles 6 are more likely to pivot at the root, which better promotes the entanglement from sliding off the bristles. In contrast, the bristles of conventional brushes may have a lower bending stiffness. During use, the bristles do not pivot, but rather bend or flex. However, such bristles are more likely to be damaged by bending beyond the elastic limit or by fatigue caused by repeated bending of the bristles. In addition, tangles trapped deep within the bristles are more likely to become caught.

The bristles 6 of the brush 1 are formed of stainless steel, which further reduces the likelihood of damage, particularly when the bristles 6 are subjected to chemicals from the hair product or high temperatures during drying. In addition, the surface of the bristles 6 may be polished so as to reduce friction, which then helps to reduce static electricity in the hair.

Despite the advantages described above, alternative materials and/or bristles of flexural modulus and stiffness may be used. In particular, the bristles may be formed from other metals, such as aluminum, which continue to provide relatively high flexural modulus and stiffness. Alternatively, the bristles may be formed of glass reinforced nylon, which is relatively close to human hair in a triboelectric series. The above advantages are diminished as the flexural modulus and stiffness of the bristles are reduced. Thus, the bristles may have a flexural modulus of at least 1GPa and/or a flexural stiffness of at least 500N/m.

The diameter of the shaft 22 of each bristle 6 is 1.7mm. In addition, the diameter of each bristle 6 is uniform along the length of the shaft 22. This relatively large diameter results in part in achieving a relatively high bending stiffness of the bristles 6. However, bristles 6 having a relatively large diameter have additional advantages. Specifically, the tips 21 of the bristles 6 may be formed as rounded ends of the shaft 22. The bristles of conventional brushes can be relatively narrow, with pointed tips. While this type of bristle can be relatively effective in removing tangles, the brush is often uncomfortable if the bristles contact the scalp. To enhance comfort, a ball may be provided at the end of the shaft of each bristle. However, while this may improve comfort, the ball tends to catch on any tangles. In contrast, by including bristles 6 that are relatively thick shafts and have rounded ends, improved comfort may be achieved without any jamming. Bristles of alternative diameters may be used, and the bristles may be uniform or tapered. However, by employing bristles having a shaft diameter of at least 1.2mm at the tip, relative comfort can be achieved without the need for balls or other features that may catch on hair.

The shaft 22 of each bristle 6 has a length of 17 mm. Thus, a good penetration of the bristles 6 into the hair can be achieved and thus a smaller number of passes of the brush 1 through the hair is required. Further, bristles 6 having alternative shaft lengths may be used. However, as the length of the shaft 22 decreases, the penetration of the bristles 6 into the hair decreases. Thus, the shaft 22 of each bristle 6 may have a length of at least 15 mm. As the length of the shaft 22 increases, the likelihood that adjacent bristles may collide during use increases. Specifically, as a bristle encounters an entanglement and pivots rearward, if the bristle is too long, it can collide with the adjacent bristle directly behind it; this will depend on the pitch of the bristles 6 and the length of the bristles 6. However, for the above pitch, the shaft of each bristle 6 may have a length of not more than 22 mm.

The carrier 5 projects upwardly beyond each aperture 11 in the frame 7, which facilitates a greater range of movement of the bristles 6, as described above. In the embodiments shown in fig. 4 and 6, the carrier 5 protrudes beyond the frame 7 by 0.85mm and 5mm, respectively. By projecting beyond the frame 7, the carrier 5 will inevitably come into contact with the hair. The friction between the carrier and the hair can generate static electricity. In addition, if the carrier 5 protrudes excessively beyond the frame 7, the carrier 5 may pull hair, or worse, the carrier 5 may catch or pinch hair between adjacent protrusions. Thus, the carrier 5 may protrude beyond each hole 11 in the frame 7 by a distance of no more than 5mm. More particularly, the carrier 5 may protrude beyond each hole 11 in the frame 7 by a distance of no more than 1 mm. This has the advantage of providing a greater range of movement for the bristles 6 without inadvertently dragging or pinching the hair.

The carrier 5 is formed of silicone rubber. Silicone rubber is relatively inert and therefore less likely to cause any adverse reactions on the scalp of the user. In addition, silicone rubbers have high thermal stability and good chemical resistance. Thus, the carrier 5 is well suited for use in a hairbrush that can withstand the chemicals in the form of a hair product and/or the elevated temperatures experienced during hair drying. However, silicone rubber is not without its drawbacks. For example, silicone rubber is relatively expensive and, due to its inertness, may be difficult to bond to the bristles. Therefore, alternative materials, in particular alternative elastomers, may be used for the carrier 5.

The carrier 5 is formed of a relatively soft material having a shore a hardness of about 20 to 30. Thus, a relatively large range of motion is achieved for the bristles 6. Nevertheless, materials with different shore a hardness may be used, and a good range of motion may still be achieved with materials having a shore a hardness of less than 50.

The brush 1 comprises a cavity 10 below each bristle 6. This has the following advantages: as each bristle 6 pivots, the root 20 of the bristle 6 is free to move into the cavity 10. In contrast, if no cavity is provided, the roots 20 of the bristles 6 will lift up on one side when the bristles 6 pivot. The carrier 5 will then protrude further into the hair, which may be undesirable for the reasons mentioned above.

Carrier 5 may be molded to bristles 6. This has the following advantages: the bristles 6 are better secured to the carrier 5 and are therefore less likely to fall off the carrier 5 during use. This is particularly the case when the carrier 5 is formed from a soft and inert material, such as silicone rubber. Another advantage of molding the carrier 5 to the bristles 6 is that gaps that may trap hair and/or accumulate dirt and other debris are less likely to form between the carrier 5 and the bristles 6. The carrier 5 may also be moulded to the frame 7. Thus, gaps between the carrier 5 and the frame 7, which may also trap hair and/or accumulate dirt and other debris, may be avoided.

The carrier 5 is formed from a relatively soft material. Thus, even when the carrier 5 is molded to the bristles 6, the bristles may fall off if the bristles pivot excessively. The bristles 6 thus include features that better anchor the bristles 6 to the carrier 5. Each bristle 6 comprises a through hole 27, the carrier 5 protruding into the through hole 27. Thus, each bristle 6 is better secured to the carrier 5. In particular, the bristles 6 can only fall out if the part of the carrier 5 extending through the aperture 27 fails. The root 20 of each bristle 6 includes a base 25 that extends outwardly beyond the stem 26. Thus, the base 25 presents a surface (e.g., a torus) that opposes the upward movement of the bristles 6 relative to the carrier 5. Therefore, it is more difficult to pull the bristles 6 from the carriers 5. The stem 26 comprises an undercut and therefore presents a surface which opposes the downward movement of the bristles 6 relative to the carrier. The diameter of the through hole 27 is relatively small. Thus, the portions of the carrier 5 protruding into the through holes 27 form relatively thin lines. A through hole 27 is formed in the undercut of the stem 26. Thus, the length of the through-hole 27 and thus the length of the wires of the carrier 5 is shortened. Thus, the portion of the carrier 5 extending through the aperture 27 is more robust and less likely to fail.

Although each bristle 6 includes a single through hole 27, it is envisioned that the bristle 6 may include a pair of holes arranged orthogonally. This may result in a better fixation of the bristles 6 to the carrier 7. A single through hole may affect the manner in which the bristles pivot. In particular, the bristles are more easily pivoted in a direction perpendicular to the aperture and more difficult to pivot in a direction parallel to the aperture. In this case, providing two orthogonal apertures may result in a more uniform motion of the bristles.

The frame 7 is formed of a rigid material, but is relatively thin and has a large opening area. Thus, the frame 7 is relatively flexible. Thus, the base 4 is required to provide structural strength to the brush 1. However, if the frame 7 is stiffer (e.g., thicker), it is conceivable to omit the base 4. The carrier 5 is then molded or otherwise bonded to the frame 7. By coupling the carrier 5 to the frame 7 around each bristle 6, the brush 1 will continue to have the benefits described above. In particular, each bristle 6 will continue to pivot independently of the other bristles.

Fig. 6 shows an alternative brush 30 which is in many respects identical to the brush 1 of fig. 1 to 5. However, the carrier 5 of the brush 30 has a different profile. In particular, the carrier 5 protrudes further than each hole in the frame 7. The carrier 5 may comprise a plurality of conical protrusions extending upwardly beyond each hole, in contrast to the relatively shallow protrusions seen in fig. 4. The protrusions are similar to the elastomeric nozzles found on some showerheads. Each bristle 6 is then fixed at the apex of each protrusion. The carrier 5 continues to be held between the body 4 and the frame 7 and thus each bristle 6 continues to pivot independently of the other bristles.

In the brush 1 of fig. 1 to 5, the carrier 5 surrounding the bristles 6 is compressed and stretched when the bristles 6 pivot. Therefore, in order to achieve a wide range of movement of the bristles 6, a relatively soft material is required. In the case of the brush 30 of fig. 6, the carrier 5 bends or folds at the protrusions when the bristles 6 pivot. Thus, the same range of movement of the bristles 6 can be achieved by using a stiffer material for the carrier 5.

The bristles 6 may be secured to the carrier 5 in the same manner as described above for the brushes of figures 1 to 5. In particular, the carrier 5 may be molded to the bristles 6, and each bristle 6 may include a through hole 27 into which the carrier 5 protrudes 27. By using a harder material for the carrier 5, the bristles 6 are less likely to fall off during use. In fact, a good fixation of the bristles 6 to the carrier 5 can be achieved without the need to provide through holes 27 in the bristles 6.

The bristles 6 may be secured to the carrier 5 in an alternative manner by using a stiffer material for the carrier 5. For example, each of the bristles 6 may be pushed through the carrier 5. This simplifies the manufacture of the brush 30.

While particular embodiments have been described so far, it should be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. For example, although the brushes described herein are hair brushes, many features may be used with alternative types of brushes.

Claims

1. A brush comprising a plurality of bristles fixed to a carrier, wherein each bristle comprises a through hole into which the carrier protrudes.

2. A brush according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is moulded to the bristles.

3. The brush of claim 1 or 2,

each bristle comprising a root and a shaft extending upwardly from the root;

the root includes a base and a stem extending upwardly from the base;

the base extends outwardly beyond the stem; and

the through-hole is formed in the rod.

4. The brush of claim 3, wherein the stem includes an undercut in which the through-hole is formed.

5. Brush according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier is made of silicone rubber.

6. Brush according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier is formed from a material having a shore a hardness of less than 50.

7. A brush according to any preceding claim, wherein each bristle comprises a root and an axis extending upwardly from the root, and the axis has a diameter of at least 1.2 mm.

8. A brush according to claim 7, wherein each bristle comprises a tip formed as a rounded end of the shaft.

9. A brush according to any preceding claim, wherein each bristle comprises a root and an axle extending upwardly from the root, the carrier surrounds the root, and the axle has a length of at least 15 mm.

10. Brush according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each bristle has a flexural modulus of at least 1GPa or a flexural stiffness of at least 500N/m.

11. A brush according to any preceding claim, wherein the bristles are formed from metal.

12. A brush according to any preceding claim, comprising a frame comprising a plurality of apertures, and each bristle extends through a respective aperture in the frame.

13. The brush of claim 12, wherein the frame is hyperbolic paraboloid shape.

14. A brush according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the carrier is moulded onto the frame.

15. A brush according to any of claims 12 to 14, wherein the brush comprises a body and the carrier is retained between the frame and the body at each bristle.