EP0808587A1 - Cosmetics brush featuring a notch - Google Patents

Abstract

A mascara applicator brush consists of a core (102) implanted with radial bristles (104) forming a conical surface. The bristles are shaped to form at least one step in the conical surface, the adjoining faces (106.1,106.2) of which lie at an angle of 60 - 180 degrees to one another, and preferably 90 - 160 degrees. The core of the brush is made from two twisted strands of metal wire with the bristles trapped between them, while the step in its surface is made by trimming the bristles to the required shape. The two faces of the step can be flat or concave, and the angle between them is constant along the whole surface of the brush.

Description

The invention relates to a brush, in particular a brush for applying a cosmetic product to keratin fibers, in particular for applying mascara to the eyelashes or a dye on the hair, as well as to a makeup device comprising this brush. The latter generally comprises an elongated core formed by the helical winding of two branches of a metal wire, bristles implanted radially in this core and clamped between these wound branches, the brush comprising at least one notch, the latter being designed to store product during spinning.

Are known, in particular from documents FR-A-2 605 505 and FR-A-2 715 038, brushes for applying a cosmetic product, consisting of a core in which bristles are implanted radially, these brushes comprising at least one concave notch which stores product during spinning. The brushes of the prior art make it possible to obtain variations of make-up, more or less loaded, more or less lengthening, depending on the shape of the notches and their mode of use. However, the brushes of the prior art have only continuous surface notches.

Also known, in particular from document GB-A-2170996, brushes for applying a mascara to the eyelashes, these brushes comprising an alternation of long bristles and short bristles forming a U-shaped notch. This type brush only allows small amounts of mascara to be applied to the eyelash. In addition, combing the eyelashes and spreading the mascara on the eyelashes remains insufficient.

Although these brushes of the prior art give generally satisfactory results, it appeared desirable to have brushes allowing good penetration of the eyelashes into the brush to ensure good smoothing of the product and good separation of the eyelashes. The invention also aims to provide a brush which remains simple and economical to apply and of practical use.

The desired result is surprisingly obtained using a brush comprising an elongated core, bristles implanted radially in this core, at least one notch, this notch consisting of at least two intersecting faces, a first face called "Notch back" and a second face called "notch front", defining by their intersection a line of hollow, characterized in that the two faces are asymmetrical and form a re-entrant angle β at any point of their intersection between 60 ° and 180 °.

This brush can be used to comb and / or make up hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, etc.

The external surface of the brush is defined by the ends of the bristles of this brush.

The envelope surface of the brush is defined as the surface enveloping the ends of the longest bristles of the brush.

The central axis of the brush is the axis defined by the core of the brush.

The plane section of the brush defines the intersection of the brush with any plane perpendicular to the core of the brush.

We define the re-entrant angle β of intersection of the notch back and notch front of the same notch, for each flat section of the brush, as the angle between the tangents of the two faces of the notch at the hollow line.

Advantageously, for any flat section of the brush the re-entrant angle β is between 90 ° and 160 °, and even more preferably, between 90 ° and 120 °.

The intersection of the notch front of a notch with the envelope surface of the brush or with the notch back of a second notch, defines a crest edge and constitutes at all points of this intersection the apex of a salient angle. (α), the two sides of which define a notch.

Preferably, the core is formed by the helical winding of two branches of a metal wire and the bristles are clamped between the wound branches of the core.

Preferably, the notch back is flat or convex.

Preferably, the notch front is flat or concave.

According to the invention the brush has one or more notches. Preferably, the notch (s) are obtained by mowing the brush.

We define the height h of the notch front for each plane section of the brush as the distance between the intersection of this notch front with the envelope surface of the brush and the hollow line. h can vary along the axis of the core.

We define the height H of the notch back for each flat section of the brush as the distance between the intersection of this notch back with the envelope surface of the brush and the hollow line. H can vary along the axis of the core.

Advantageously, it is provided that in the same notch the notch front has a height less than the height of the notch back. Preferably, the notch front has a height less than 2/3 of the height of the notch back, and even more preferably ½ of the height of the notch back.

Each of the characteristics of this configuration (concavity of the faces, re-entrant angle β and height of the faces) contributes to the formation of open notches, that is to say providing access to the open and progressive hollow line, the hollow line being the area most loaded with mascara, then at the notch forehead which can take care of the eyelash over the entire height of this forehead in order to offer better spreading-combing.

The notch can be located over all or part of the length of the brush, preferably the two faces extend from one end of the brush to the other.

According to a variant of the invention, it can be provided that the hollow line does not extend over the entire length of the brush, for example by providing that at least one end of the brush the hollow line stops before the end of the brush, either because the faces do not extend to this end, or because they merge into a continuous surface.

According to another variant of the invention, provision may be made for the notch (s) to be of helical shape, that is to say that the corresponding hollow line and crest ridge each have the shape of a helix.

The longest bristles define the surface-envelope of the brush: The brush can have any envelope surface: cylindrical, frustoconical, in the shape of a rugby ball, pyramidal, in the form of a peanut, etc. It can be made up of several sections of different envelope surfaces, such as a cylindrical brush ending in a frustoconical end.

Thus, provision can be made for the brush to consist of at least two successive sections of different characteristics: sections of different surface-envelopes, sections comprising notches and sections not having any.

The ridges of the crest can optionally be clipped to be rounded.

The shorter bristles of the hollow line are more loaded with mascara, so when the user applies the brush to the eyelash, she can, by turning the brush between her fingers, alternate the loading of the eyelash with mascara and effective spreading of the product.

The user can also, by giving a translational movement to the brush along the eyelash, choose to accentuate the loading of the eyelash with mascara or the combing, depending on the area of the brush that she applies to the eyelash.

Such a brush makes it possible to obtain a makeup which is both charged, regular, lengthening and curling.

This brush is entirely suitable for making up the eyelashes, so the invention also relates to a makeup device comprising a mascara reservoir and a mascara applicator, characterized in that it includes such a brush.

Preferably, the brush comprises several closely spaced notches, two neighboring notches determining between themselves, by their contours, at least one crest zone of variable width (the width of a crest zone is measured in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the brush).

In addition, the bristles of the brushes according to the invention can be of any kind: bristles of different heights, of different diameters or of different section and of materials different, bristles with tapered ends, in the shape of a fork or of a pin head, or having undergone any kind of treatment known to those skilled in the art.

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

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a brush according to the invention comprising a single radiated notch. Figure 1B is an end view of the same brush.

Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views of two alternative embodiments of brushes according to the invention.

Figures 4 and 5 are end views of two variants of brushes according to the invention, along the central axis of these brushes.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are perspective views of alternative brushes according to the invention of various envelope surfaces.

Figure 9 is a sectional view of an eye makeup device according to the invention.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a variant brush according to the invention comprising a cylindrical section and a conical section.

FIG. 11 represents a variant brush according to the invention comprising a first section free of notches and a second section comprising notches.

We can see in Figure 1 a brush 101 for the application of a cosmetic product, in particular for the application of mascara on the eyelashes, comprising a core 102 (which has been represented in this figure although it is inside the brush) elongated formed by the helical winding of two branches of a metal wire 103 which has been folded into a U before the branches are twisted.

The core 102 is fixed by force fitting at the end of a rod t. Bristles 104 are implanted radially between the branches of the wire 103. When the branches of the wire 103 are twisted, the bristles are clamped and held between the helical turns of the core 102. The axis of the core 102 can be merged with the axis of the envelope surface 101.1 of the brush II, as in the figures, but these two axes could be offset. The hairs 104 may be made of natural or synthetic fibers and optionally flocked; the brush 101 may include a mixture of bristles of different types (different diameters, cross-sectional shapes).

The envelope surface 101.1 of the brush is a truncated cone of central axis II merged with the axis of the core 102 and comprising two ends which are planar sections of the brush: the crown section 105.1 at the front of the brush, and its flat base 105.2 at the rear of the brush. The brush has a notch 106 consisting of 2 intersecting faces: the notch front 106.1 and the notch back 106.2 going from one end to the other of the brush.

The face 106.1 is straight and forms a salient and constant angle α over the entire length of the brush with the envelope surface of the brush.

The two faces 106.1 and 106.2 form between them a re-entrant angle β ~ 120 °, constant from one end to the other of the brush.

The face 106.2 is convex. The entire surface of the brush (conical surface 101.1, notch front 106.1 and notch back 106.2) consists of generators converging towards a fixed point P, located on the central axis I-I of the brush.

The intersection of the two faces 106.1 and 106.2 defines a line of trough, straight, 107 also converging towards P.

The intersection of the notch front 106.1 with the envelope surface of the brush 101.1 defines a ridge edge, straight, 108.1 converging towards P.

The notch 106.2 of the brush 101 shown in Figures 1A and 1B is rounded, its radius is adjusted so that the notch 106.2 is tangent to the envelope surface 101.1 of the brush, but according to a variant, it is possible to choose that 106.2 and 101.1 are intersecting and define a second ridge edge.

The notch front 106.1 is of a height h and the notch back of a height H, variable along the core. According to each plane section of the brush, we check the relation h <1/2 H.

The notch 106 is obtained by clipping the brush 101, that is to say by cutting the bristles 104 of this brush with a clipper. This notch 106 is located on the same side of the brush, it is therefore not cut by the core 102.

The brush 111 represented in FIG. 10 differs from that represented in FIG. 1 by the fact that it comprises two distinct sections, one Si of envelope surface 111.11 cylindrical, the other S ₂ of envelope surface 111.12 conical, conforming with the brush described in Figure 1, these two sections being assembled by their bases of the same diameter. The notch front 116.1 and the notch back 116.2 extend over the two sections. Their respective heights h and H are constant over the entire cylindrical section Si then decreasing along the conical section S ₂ . The angle β between the notch front 116.1 and the notch back 116.2 is constant along the axis of the brush. The hollow line consists of two fragments on the right: the fragment on the right 117.1, in the cylindrical section, which is parallel to the axis of the core, and the fragment on the right 117.2, in the conical section, which converges towards a point located on the axis of the soul. Such a brush makes it possible to obtain interesting makeup variations.

The brush 201 shown in FIG. 2 differs from those shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B by the fact that it has 4 identical notches. Each notch occupies an angular sector of 90 ° from the surface of the brush. The crest edges of two successive notches are confused.

The right notch front 206.1 of a notch and the rounded notch back 206.2 of the previous notch together define a notch 210 and a crest line 208.1. The surface of the brush 201 has 4 protruding notches, separated by four hollow lines 206, these notches being deduced from each other by rotation of 90 ° around the central axis of the brush ll-ll. The observer who places himself at the end of the brush on the side of the rod sees a succession of notches oriented to the right: in the same notch 210, the right notch front 206.1 is placed to the right of the rounded notch back 206.2. So the step of the brush is on the right. According to a variant of the invention, it is also possible to provide that the pitch is on the left. It can also be provided that the brush has two successive sections: one with a step to the left and the other with a step to the right. Preferably, the pitch is the same over the entire length of the brush.

The brush 301 shown in Figure 3 differs from the brush of Figure 2 in that it includes 3 notches 310 each occupying an angular sector of 120 °.

The brushes shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are notches (notches) brought together regularly (close together, regular), that is to say that the cone is divided into an integer number of angular sectors (number equal to the number of notches and notches), equal, each of these angular sectors having as limit 2 crest edges or 2 hollow edges of two successive notches, the notches being deduced from each other by rotation of the brush around its central axis. However, it can be foreseen that the notches are irregular: non-equal angular sectors, notches of different characteristics.

We see for example in Figure 4 a brush 401 according to the invention which differs from that shown in Figure 2 by the fact that 2 successive notches are not of the same depth or the same angular width: at each flat section of the brush, we measure the depth of the notch as the distance from the hollow line to the envelope surface. The angular width of a notch is the angle between the ridge lines delimiting this notch.

$$\text{δa > δb}$$

The notches are irregular: A notch 406.a of depth da (variable along the axis of the core) of angular width δa, alternates with a notch 406b of depth db (variable along the axis of the core) of angular width δb with: $$\text{da> db}$$

$$\text{δa> δb}$$

It can also be provided that the notches are spaced and not close together, which results in the fact that at the surface of the brush, non-cut spaces or crest areas, of the envelope surface are left between two successive notches. This possibility is illustrated by FIG. 5 in which a brush 501 according to the invention is represented, comprising alternately peak regions 509 and notches 506.

The brush 601 shown in Figure 6 differs from that shown in Figure 2 by the fact that it has a surface with parallel generatrices (point of convergence P placed at infinity) and that the notches 606.2 are planar. The hollow lines 606 are parallel to the generatrices of the brush. This brush can be obtained from a cylindrical brush from which are cut straight faces. The angle β between the notch back 606.2 and the notch front 606.1 checks: 90 ° <β <120 °.

In this figure, the heights h and H respectively of the faces 606.1 and 602.2 are constant over the entire length of the brush. According to a variant of the invention, h and H can be varied along the central axis of the brush. The projecting angles a and returning β are constant over the entire length of the brush.

The brush 701 shown in Figure 7 differs from that shown in Figure 2 in that it has an envelope surface 701. 1 having the shape of a peanut. It has 3 regular close notches 706. The notch fronts 706.1 are flat and of constant height h all along the central axis of the brush. Notches 706.2 are rounded. The height of the notches back H, variable along the central axis of the brush checks according to any cross section of the brush: H> 2h The angle β between the notch back 706.2 and the notch front 706.1 is constant the along the axis of the soul and checks: 900 <β <160 °.

The brush 801 shown in Figure 8 differs from that shown in Figure 2 in that it has an envelope surface in the form of two truncated cones joined by their bases of the same diameter. It has 4 regular close-together 806 notches, each consisting of a plane notch front 806.1 and a rounded notch back 806.2. The hollow line 807 is a straight line parallel to the central axis of the brush. The angle β between the notch back 806.2 and the notch front 806.1 is constant along the axis of the core and checks: 900 <β <160 °.

The brush 1101 according to the invention represented in FIG. 11 differs from those represented in FIGS. 1 to 8 by the fact that it comprises two successive distinct sections S1 and S2: throughout the section S1 the brush has a shape cylindrical and has no notches. Along section S2, the envelope surface of the brush is cylindrical, of the same axis merging with the central axis of the brush and likewise diameter than the cylinder of S1. Over the entire length of S2 were cut notches 1106 regular close together having hollow lines 1107 straight, parallel to the central axis of the brush, and forming regular notches close together 1110. The straight section s is placed at the intersection of S1 and S2. The hollow lines 1107 are fragments of straight lines which, like the notches 1106 and the notches 1110, are interrupted at s.

The device for making up the eyes shown in FIG. 9 comprises a cylindrical reservoir 920, which comprises a neck 924, threaded, surmounted by a seal 926 and which is filled with a mascara 915. The reservoir 920 comprises in its neck a wiper 921, the wiper being kept in position in the neck being ensured by means of a bead 926 which cooperates with the shoulder separating the neck from the tank 920 proper. The wiper 921 is made, in known manner, of a flexible and elastic material. An applicator is intended to cooperate with the reservoir 920. This applicator consists of a gripping means 923 which supports the applicator member 930, comprising a rod 922 and a brush 901, identical to that shown in FIG. 1. The gripping means 923 has the shape of a cap and comprises a thread 923a which cooperates with the thread 924a of the neck of the reservoir. The sealed closure of the reservoir 920 is obtained by screwing the gripping means 923 onto the neck 924 of the reservoir provided with its seal 926.

When the applicator member 930 is extracted from the reservoir, the brush loaded with mascara passes through the wringer 921. This wrings the long bristles from the ridges much more significantly than the short bristles (around of the hollow line) of the notch.

When applied to the eyelash, the notch takes care of the eyelash by the notch front, in particular by its crest edge like a comb, it separates and combs the hairs of the eyelash, then the back of the notch supports the eyelash up to the hollow line by loading the base of the eyelash hairs (in mascara) which a second notch spreads out.

Compared to the notched brushes known from the prior art, the brush according to the invention offers the advantage of allowing support by the notches, for styling and bending the eyelash bristles, which is more effective than by from brushes to concave rounded notches. In addition, the open character of the notches allows better access to the product stored around the hollow line.

Claims (30)

Brush (101, 201, 301, 401, 501, 601, 701, 801, 901, 111, 1101) comprising an elongated core (102) defining the central axis of the brush, bristles (104) implanted radially in this core , the ends of these bristles defining the external surface of this brush and the ends of the longest bristles defining its envelope surface (101.1, 111.11, 111.12), this brush comprising at least one notch (106, 206, 406.a, 406 .b, 506, 706, 806) consisting of at least two intersecting faces, a first face (106.2, 206.2, 116.2, 606.2, 706.2, 806.2) called notch back, of height H variable along the central axis , and a second face (106.1, 206.1, 116.1, 606.1, 706.1, 806.1) called notch front, of height h variable along the axis of the core, defining by their intersection a hollow line (107, 607 , 117.1, 117.2, 807, 1107), the intersection of the notch front of a notch (106.1, 206.1, 116.1, 606.1, 706.1, 806.1) with the envelope surface of the brush (101.1, 111 .11, 111.12) or with the notch back (206.2, 606.2) of a second notch, defining a crest edge (108.1) and constituting at all points of this intersection the apex of a salient angle (a), of which the two sides define a notch (210, 310, 1110), characterized in that the two faces are asymmetrical and form a re-entrant angle (β) at any point of their intersection between 60 ° and 180 °. Brush (101, 201, 301, 401, 501, 601, 701, 801, 901, 111, 1101) according to claim 1, characterized in that the core (102) is formed by the helical winding of two branches of a metal wire (103) and the bristles (104) are clamped between the wound branches of the core. Brush (101, 201, 301, 401, 501, 601, 701, 801, 901, 111, 1101) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the notch is obtained by mowing the brush. Brush (101, 201, 301, 401, 501, 601, 701, 801, 901, 111) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two faces extend from one end of the brush to the 'other. Brush according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the angle of intersection of the two faces of the notch is between 90 ° and 160 °. Brush (101, 201, 301, 401, 501, 601, 701, 801, 901, 111, 1101) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the notch back (106.2, 206.2, 116.2, 606.2, 706.2, 806.2) is planar or convex Brush (101, 201, 301, 401, 501, 601, 701, 801, 901, 111, 1101) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the notch front (106.1, 206.1, 116.1, 606.1, 706.1, 806.1) is flat or concave. Brush (101, 201, 301, 401, 501, 601, 701, 801, 901, 111, 1101) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the same notch the height h of the notch front (106.1 , 206.1, 116.1, 606.1, 706.1, 806.1) is less than the height H of the notch back (106.2, 206.2, 116.2, 606.2, 706.2, 806.2). Brush (101, 201, 301, 401, 501, 601, 701, 801, 901, 111, 1101) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that in the same notch the height h of the notch front (106.1, 206.1, 116.1 , 606.1, 706.1, 806.1) is less than 2/3 of the height H of the notch (106.2, 206.2, 116.2, 606.2, 706.2, 806.2). Brush (101, 201, 301, 401, 501) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the envelope surface (101.1) of the brush is a truncated cone. Brush (101, 201, 301, 401, 501, 601, 701, 801, 901, 111, 1101) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the notch back and the front of notch (106.1, 206.1, 116.1, 606.1, 706.1, 806.1) is straight. Brush (101) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the projecting angle (α) is constant over the entire length of the brush. Brush (101, 601) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the re-entrant angle (β) is constant from one end to the other of the brush. Brush (101, 201) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the entire external surface of the brush consists of generators converging towards a fixed point (P). Brush according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hollow line (107, 607, 807, 117.1, 117.2, 1107) is straight. Brush according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the hollow line (107, 117.2) converges towards the same point (P) as the generatrices of the surface of the brush. Brush (101) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the crest edge (108.1) is straight. Brush according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the crest edge (108.1) converges towards the same point (P) as the generatrices of the surface of the brush. Brush according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the notch back (106.2) is rounded and its radius is adjusted so that this face (106.2) is tangent to the envelope surface (101.1) of the brush. Brush (201, 301, 401, 501, 701, 801, 1106) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises several notches (206, 406.a, 406.b, 506, 706, 806, 1106). Brush (201, 301, 401) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has notches (206, 406.a, 406.b) close together. Brush (201, 301, 510) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has regular notches (206, 506). Brush (601, 1101) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its envelope surface has parallel generatrices. Brush (601, 801) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hollow line (607, 807) is a straight line parallel to the central axis of the brush. Brush (1101) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hollow line (1107) extends over only part of the length of the brush. Brush (101) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axis of the core (102) coincides with the axis of the envelope surface (101.1) of the brush. Brush (101, 201, 301, 401, 501, 601, 701, 801, 901, 111, 1101) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pitch defined by the notches is the same over the entire length of the brush. Brush according to any one of claims 1 to 10, 12 to 14, 19 to 23 and 25 to 27, characterized in that the notch or notches are of helical shape. Make-up device comprising a mascara reservoir (920), a wringer (921) and a mascara applicator (930), characterized in that it comprises a brush (901) according to any one of the preceding claims. Use of a brush according to any one of the preceding claims for obtaining a charged and / or regular makeup and / or lengthening and / or curling eyelashes.

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