EP0556081B2 - Brush for applying nail polish or similar products - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a brush for application a product on the nails, in particular a nail polish of the kind of those comprising hairs arranged substantially parallel to each other, tufted, fixed on a support.

Brushes of this type are, for example, described in US-A-4,998,315.

The brushes offered so far allow, overall, to ensure a relatively makeup satisfactory but it is desirable to be able to improve the precision and speed of makeup, in particular the precision of the application of the varnish or similar product.

In addition, with a conventional brush, it is often necessary to plunge the brush several times into the container for making up a nail because the charge of product taken up by the brush is relatively low. Various solutions have already been proposed for remedy this drawback and to incorporate a sort of reservoir in the brush rod but these solutions complicate the manufacture and use of the brush.

It is known, moreover, from EP-A-0 239 270, a mascara brush of the spiral type in which the bristles deviate radially from each other. According to EP-A-0 239 270, bristles of different flexibility are used: less flexible bristles with the function of combing eyelashes and the most flexible to collect and deposit mascara on the lashes. The difference in flexibility can be obtained by using bristles of different diameters.

The invention aims, above all, to provide a brush which no longer has, or to a lesser degree, disadvantages mentioned above and which allows make a precise and fast makeup.

According to the invention, a brush for applying a product to the nails, in particular a nail polish, comprising hairs arranged substantially parallel to each other others, tufted, fixed on a support with a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the bristles, is characterized by the fact that the hairs are formed by a mixture bristles of small section, or small bristles, and bristles having a larger or larger cross section hairs, the proportion of large hairs being between 2 % and 95% by volume compared to the total volume of the tuft of the brush, and preferably between 10% and 90%, so that, in this brush, due to the presence large hairs, the interstices between the hairs are more large and serve as capillary reserve and small hairs have a smoothing function.

Preferably, the small hairs have an inscribed section in a circle with a diameter between 4 hundredths and 10 hundredths of a millimeter while the big ones hairs have a section inscribed in a circle of diameter between 11 hundredths and 40 hundredths of a millimeter. The coarse hair section is advantageously inscribed in a circle of diameter between 14 hundredths and 17 hundredths of a millimeter.

The length of the tuft of hair is generally between 11 and 25 millimeters and in particular between 13 and 20 millimeters. Large hairs and small ones hairs can be the same length; alternatively they may not be the same length, the difference from length then being between 0.1 and 2 mm.

Due to the presence of large hairs, it is possible to make longer tufts, greater than 13 milo limiters, which allows the application of curvatures of the brush different from those of a brush normal whose tuft length is between 11 and 13 mm; the application of the varnish is thus facilitated and more efficient.

When the bristles are made of plastic or natural, the material of the hairs is advantageously chosen from the group formed by polyamides, polyesters, polyether-block amides, polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyfluoride vinylidene, polyacetals, natural bristles, preferably animal.

When the bristles are made of a polyamide, the latter is advantageously chosen from the group polyamides 6, 6-6, 6-10, 6-12 or 11.

As the brush is intended for applying a product to the nails, in particular a viscosity nail polish low, especially at viscosity less than 0.6 Pa.s, corresponding to a liquid formula, the mixture of hairs of the brush contains approximately 90 to 95% by volume of large hairs in the tuft to ensure a reservoir effect sufficient.

In the case of a brush whose bristles are in plastic, advantageously an improving agent the characteristic of hair sliding and reducing its wettability with water and / or solvent is incorporated in the hair material, at a rate between 0.2% and 15% by weight.

This slip agent is preferably chosen in the group formed by polytetrafluoroethylene, the boron nitride and molybdenum disulfide.

At least part of the hair may have slight ripples along its length.

The hairs may have sections whose shape is chosen from the group of circular, polygonal shapes, cruciform, annular, flat or U-shaped. The hairs may include at least one capillary groove.

The end of the bristles can be arranged in the form pin head, in particular obtained by treatment thermal.

The extremity can also undergo treatment abrasive for example by grinding.

The cross section of the brush may have different shapes, including flat, circular, or shaped half-round tile to better match the bulb the nail.

The tip of the brush can be flat or rounded.

The bristles are attached to the rod with a staple either with a circular section of diameter between 0.5 and 1.5 mm, i.e. 1.5 x 0.2 mm rectangular section.

The end of the stem on which the tuft is fixed bristles may have a cone-shaped edge for allow the hairs to spread.

The invention consists, apart from the provisions set out above, in a number of other provisions which will be more explicitly discussed below about exemplary embodiments described with reference to the attached drawing, but which are in no way limiting.

Figure 1 of this drawing is a simplified view in elevation of a brush according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross section, more large scale, simplified, along line II-II in figure 1.

Figures 3 to 7 show, on a large scale, various possible shapes for cross sections brush pods.

Figures 8, 9 and 10 illustrate various possible shapes of the cross section of the brush tuft.

Figures 11 and 12 show in elevation, at large scale, two possible forms for the end of the brush.

Figure 13 shows, on a large scale, one end of hair at the head of a pin.

Figure 14, finally, shows a hair having a slight ripple.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing, one can see a brush 1 for applying nail polish comprising bristles 2 a , 2 b arranged substantially parallel to each other, in a tuft, fixed on a support constituted by a rod 3. The tuft of bristles 2 a , 2 b is fixed to the lower end of the rod 3, the axis of which is substantially parallel to the hairs of the tuft. The rod 3 is secured, at its other end, to a cylindrical sleeve 4 serving as a member for operating the brush and as a plug intended, for example, to be screwed, thanks to an internal thread not visible in FIG. 1, on the neck of a bottle of varnish.

The brush shown shows bristles 2 a , 2 b oriented in the longitudinal direction of the support constituted by the rod 3.

According to the invention, the bristles of the brush consist of a mixture of bristles 2 a of small section or small bristles and of bristles 2 b having a larger cross section or large bristles, the proportion of large bristles being between 2% and 95% by volume relative to the total volume of the tuft T of the brush. The mixture of bristles 2 a , 2 b can be random, or according to a predetermined geometric arrangement of the bristles 2 b , distributed for example in a crown.

Generally, the cross sections of the small bristles 2 a are inscribed in a circle with a diameter between 4 hundredths and 10 hundredths of a millimeter, while the sections of the large bristles 2 b are inscribed in a circle with a diameter between 11 hundredths and 40 hundredths of a millimeter. Preferably, the sections of the large bristles are inscribed in a circle with a diameter between 14 hundredths and 17 hundredths of a millimeter.

The sections of the bristles 2 a , 2 b can have variable shapes. They can be solid circular, as illustrated in Figure 3 or hollow circular as illustrated in Figure 4, or polygonal, in particular square, as illustrated in Figure 5, or cruciform (Figure 6), circular with a capillary groove 5 as illustrated in FIG. 7 or in the form of a U. The useful length 1 of the tuft of bristles T is between 11 and 25 millimeters, and preferably between 13 and 20 millimeters. The large hairs 2 b have the same length as the small hairs 2 a .

Due to the presence of large hairs 2 b , as visible in FIG. 2, the interstices i between the hairs are larger and serve as a capillary reserve for the product to be applied. This makes it possible to obtain a brush 1 more loaded with product, in its tuft T, when this tuft has been immersed in the reservoir of liquid product. The tiny hairs have 2 has a function of "smoothed" left for the finish.

Depending on the viscosity of the liquid product to be applied, the reservoir effect of the tuft T of brush bristles can be adjusted by modifying the proportion of coarse bristles 2 b . For example, with a liquid nail polish formula. of relatively low viscosity, for example of the order of 0.2 Pa.s, the tuft T will contain large hairs 2b at around 90 to 95% by volume of the tuft.

Brush 1, at its tuft T, may have different cross-section shapes. Living room Figure 8, the cross section SI of the tuft T is flat, substantially rectangular in shape. According to figure 9, section S2 is circular as in figure 2. According to FIG. 10, the tuft T has a section cross S3 in the shape of a half-round tile for better marry the bulb of the nail.

The tip 6 of the tuft T may be flat, that is to say rectilinear transversely, as illustrated in FIG. 11 or be rounded as illustrated by the tip 6 a in FIG. 12. Alternatively, the tip of the brush may be tapered by abrasion.

The ends of the bristles, in particular of the large bristles 2a, may have the form of a bulge 7 in pinhead, as illustrated in Figure 13, obtained for example by heat treatment.

As illustrated in FIG. 14 for a large bristle 2b , the small or large bristles may not be straight over their entire length and present, at least over part of their length, slight undulations 8.

The bristles 2 a , 2 b can be made of plastic material advantageously chosen from the group formed by polyamides. polyesters, polyether-block amides, polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyacetates.

When the hair consists of a polyamide, we can use, in particular, polyamides 6, 6-6, 6-10, 6-12 or 11.

An improving agent can be incorporated into these materials. the characteristic of hair sliding and reducing its wettability with water and / or solvent, at a rate between 0.2 and 15% by weight. The slip agent is advantageously chosen from the group formed by polytetrafluoroethylene, boron nitride and molybdenum disulfide.

• poils à sections inscrites dans des cercles de différents diamètres, réalisés dans la même matière ;
• poils à sections inscrites dans des cercles de différents diamètres, réalisés avec une même forme de section transversale ;
• poils à sections inscrites dans des cercles de différents diamètres, réalisés avec des formes de sections transversales différentes ;
• poils à sections inscrites dans des cercles de différents diamètres, réalisés dans des matières différentes ;
• poils avec des formes de sections différentes, réalisés dans des matières différentes. Il est bien entendu que la réalisation du pinceau conforme à l'invention n'est pas limitée au mélange de deux types de poils différents ; on peut envisager d'utiliser un mélange de trois ou quatre ou cinq types de poils différents parmi ceux cités ci-dessus.Les pinceaux comportent en général entre 100 et 600 poils.Des exemples de réalisation de pinceaux selon l'invention sont donnés ci-après.

The mixture of the small hairs 2 a and the large hairs 2 b , of section inscribed in circles of different diameters, can be organized in different ways, namely:

• bristles with sections inscribed in circles of different diameters, made of the same material;
• bristles with sections inscribed in circles of different diameters, made with the same shape of cross section;
• bristles with sections inscribed in circles of different diameters, made with shapes of different cross sections;
• bristles with sections inscribed in circles of different diameters, made of different materials;
• bristles with shapes of different sections, made of different materials. It is understood that the production of the brush according to the invention is not limited to the mixture of two different types of bristles; we can consider using a mixture of three or four or five different types of bristles among those mentioned above. The brushes generally comprise between 100 and 600 bristles. Examples of embodiments of brushes according to the invention are given below. after.

Example 1 : Brush with apparent length 18 mm

• 50% polyamide 11 cylindrical bristles (known under the trade name of RILSAN), 15/100 mm, loaded with approximately 5% molybdenum disulfide 54 hairs.
• 50% 6-12 polyamide cylindrical bristles (known under the trade name of Nylon TYNEX sold by the company DUPONT DE NEMOURS), 8/100 mm, the end of the bristles being ground, about 230 fur.

Example 2 : Brush with apparent length 18 mm

• 10% cylindrical bristles in polyamide 11 (RILSAN), 15/100 mm, loaded with 5% molybdenum disulphide, about 18 hairs.
• 90% cylindrical bristles in polyamide 6-12 (Nylon TYNEX), 8/100 mm, the end of the bristles being ground, about 340 hairs.

Example 3 : Brush with apparent length 18 mm

• 90% cylindrical bristles made of polyamide 11 (RILSAN), 15/100 mm, loaded with 5% molybdenum disulphide, about 110 hairs.
• 10% cylindrical bristles in polyamide 6-12 (Nylon TYNEX), 8/100 mm, about 46 bristles.

Example 4 : Brush with apparent length 18 mm

• 50% cylindrical bristles with a capillary groove made of polyamide 11 (RILSAN), 17/100 mm, loaded at 5% molybdenum disulfide, about 15 hairs.
• 50% cylindrical bristles in polyamide 6-12 (Nylon TYNEX), 8/100 mm, about 95 hairs.

Example 5: Brush of apparent length 17 mm

• 50% cylindrical bristles in polyamide 11 (RILSAN), 15/100 mm, loaded with 5% molybdenum disulphide, about 54 hairs.
• 50% cylindrical bristles in polyamide 6-12 (Nylon TYNEX), 4/100 mm, ground ends, approx. 400 hairs.

Example 6 : Brush with apparent length 16 mm

• 50% polyamide 6-12 cylindrical bristles (TYNEX nylon), 10/100 mm, about 180 pile.
• 50% cylindrical bristles in polyamide 6-12 (Nylon TYNEX), 6/100 mm, about 320 hairs.

A brush according to the invention, thanks to the bristles larger diameter, better fits the shape of the bulb of the nail and, because it is not too soft, allows a support significantly increasing the precision of the application.

The test results are surprising: observes with a brush according to the invention a extreme ease of use, high precision, and a net increase in coverage and autonomy, thanks to the reservoir effect due to the large hairs.

Claims (15)

1. Brush for the application of nail varnish, or of a similar product, to the nails, comprising bristles which are arranged substantially parallel to one another, in a tuft, and fixed to a support (3) with a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the bristles, characterized in that the bristles consist of a mixture of bristles (2a) of small section, or small bristles, and of bristles (2b) having a larger cross section, or large bristles, the proportion of large bristles being between 2% and 95% by volume in relation to the total volume of the tuft (T) of the brush, so that, in this brush, because of the presence of the large bristles, the interstices (i) between the bristles are larger and serve as a capillary reserve while the small bristles have a smoothing function.
2. Brush according to Claim 1, characterized in that the difference between the diameter of the circle circumscribing the bristles of large section and the diameter of the circle circumscribing the bristles of small section is at least 4/100 mm.
3. Brush according to Claim 2, characterized in that the proportion of large bristles is between 10% and 90% by volume in relation to the total volume of the tuft (T) of the brush.
4. Brush according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the small bristles have a section lying within a circle having a diameter of between 4 hundredths and 10 hundredths of a millimetre while the large bristles have a section lying within a circle having a diameter of between 11 hundredths and 40 hundredths of a millimetre.
5. Brush according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the section of the large bristles lies within a circle having a diameter of between 14 hundredths and 17 hundredths of a millimetre.
6. Brush according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the length of the tuft of bristles is between 11 and 25 millimetres, in particular between 13 and 20 millimetres.
7. Brush according to one of the preceding claims, in which the bristles are made of plastic, characterized in that the material of which the bristles are made is selected from the group formed by polyamides, polyesters, polyether-block-amides, polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride and polyacetals.
8. Brush according to Claim 7, in which the bristles consist of a polyamide, characterized in that the polyamide is selected from the group of polyamides nylon-6, nylon-6,6, nylon-6,10, nylon-6,12 and nylon-11.
9. Brush according to one of the preceding claims for the application of a nail varnish or of a similar product having a low viscosity, corresponding to a liquid formulation, characterized in that the mixture of bristles includes approximately 90 to 95% by volume of large bristles in the tuft.
10. Brush according to Claim 8, characterized in that an agent improving the slip characteristic of the bristle and reducing its wettability with respect to water and/or solvent is incorporated into the material of the bristles in an amount of between 0.2% and 15% by weight.
11. Brush according to Claim 10, characterized in that the slip agent is selected from the group formed by polytetrafluoroethylene, boron nitride and molybdenum disulphide.
12. Brush according to one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the bristles are made of natural material, characterized in that the material of which the bristles are made is a natural silk.
13. Brush according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one part at least of the bristles has slight undulations (8) over its length.
14. Brush according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bristles (2a, 2b) have sections whose shape is selected from the group of circular, polygonal, cruciform, annular, flat or U-configured shapes.
15. Brush according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross section (S1, S2, S3) of the brush has a flat or circular shape or is in the form of a half-round tile.

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