EP1444918B1 - Brush for the application of products to the eyelashes or eyebrows - Google Patents

Abstract

In a brush for application of products to keratin materials, consisting of a core and bristles supported by the core (but not produced by injection molding together with the core), at least some of the bristles are curved inwards relative to the core. Independent claims are included for: (a) a method for production of the brush, involving curving the bristles by contact with a heated surface, preferably in motion relative to the brush; and (b) a machine for carrying out the method, comprising a support for at least one brush; a treatment device comprising a surface for contacting the bristles and a heater for the surface; and a system for displacing the support relative to the treatment device so that the orientation of the bristles is modified by contact with the surface.

Description

Brush for applying a product on eyelashes or eyebrows

The present invention relates to applicators intended for applying a product to keratinous fibers, in particular eyelashes or eyebrows, and more particularly, but not exclusively, mascara brushes.

US Patent 4,561,456 discloses a brush made by plastic injection molding with bristles having hook-shaped ends. A disadvantage of such a brush is to require a specific mold for its manufacture. In addition, the implantation of the bristles is quite different from that of a conventional brush with a twisted core.

US Pat. No. 5,161,555 relates to a mascara brush comprising deformed bristles for presenting corrugations prior to their implantation in the brush, so that after the manufacture of the brush, the bristles extend towards the outside of a brush. random way.

There is a need to benefit from an improved brush, which is relatively easy to manufacture while being able to provide a satisfactory makeup

• une âme,
• des poils supportés par l'âme et réalisés autrement que par moulage par injection avec l'âme,

la brosse comportant au moins une portion comportant des poils incurvés s'étendant de manière orientée à partir de l'âme.The subject of the invention is, according to one of its aspects among others, a brush for applying a product to keratin fibers, comprising:

• a soul,
• bristles supported by the core and made otherwise than by injection molding with the core,

the brush having at least one portion having curved bristles extending in a direction directed from the core.

By "extending in an oriented manner", it should be understood that the curved hairs extend with a general orientation which is defined during the manufacture of the brush, especially after the insertion of the bristles on the core, and not with a totally random general orientation or resulting only from the effect of the weight of the hairs.

The hairs may not lie entirely in one plane.

The curvature imparted to the bristles can be defined in at least two distinct planes, for example two non-parallel planes.

The brush may be of any type having bristles attached to the core.

A brush according to the invention has advantages related to the curvature of the bristles while being able to be manufactured for example with a conventional twisted core, which makes it possible to produce brushes with various implantations, aimed at obtaining various makeup effects, without requiring the manufacture of specific and expensive molds. In addition, a brush according to the invention is likely to retain a relatively large amount of product, which makes it possible to coat the eyelashes well.

The brush may comprise at least a portion comprising curved bristles, oriented in the same circumferential direction around the core.

When the soul is twisted, it can be twisted to the left, that is to say that the branches of the soul form turns which, when the brush is observed being vertical with its end fixed in the stem , that is to say, its proximal end, located at the bottom and its free end, that is to say the distal end, located at the top, rise from left to right. For a twisted brush on the left, the bristles can be oriented, when the brush is observed along its axis from its distal end to its proximal end, in the clockwise direction. Alternatively, the bristles could be oriented in the counterclockwise direction. With regard to the advantages resulting from a twisted core on the left, reference may be made to US Pat. No. 6,227,735. Bending the bristles as above in a brush having a twisted core on the left makes it possible to further improve eyelash care and makeup.

The invention also applies to brushes comprising a twisted core on the right and those having non-twisted cores, the bristles being for example fixed by die-forming in the core, as described in the European patent application EP-A-1. 155 637, or fixed by stapling on the soul.

The brush may comprise at least one portion comprising curved bristles oriented generally in the same axial direction, for example towards the proximal end or towards the distal end of the brush and, where appropriate, bristles oriented "obliquely" at the times in the same circumferential direction and in the same axial direction.

The portion of the brush having curved bristles extending in a direction directed from the core may match, at the limit, the entire brush. This portion may also not correspond to the entire brush and for example correspond only to a portion extending from one end of the brush on for example less than half the length thereof or to particular regions of the brush, defining for example ridges or notches.

The brush may comprise at least 20% of its bristles which are curved, or even at least 50%, for example at least 80%, and substantially all the bristles of the brush may be curved, possibly.

The brush may comprise for example between 5 and 60 bristles per turn. The number of hairs per turn corresponds to the number of hair ends counted by a fixed observer during a rotation of 180 ° of the brush around his soul.

The bristles may be of synthetic material, being made for example in a thermoplastic material.

The bristles may have a solid or hollow section, circular or not, the cross section being constant or not along the bristles, for example passing alternately through sections of large and small diameter, the bristles may optionally comprise a flocking coating.

The bristles may also comprise a filler, for example a magnetic compound, a moisture-absorbing compound, a compound intended to create on the surface of the bristle a roughness or to promote the sliding of the eyelashes on the bristles. .

The diameter of the bristles can be for example between 5/100 mm and 35/100 mm. By diameter of a hair is meant the diameter of the circle circumscribed to the largest cross section of the hair, when it is not circular.

The length of the bristles may be for example between 1 and 7 mm, in particular between 2 and 5 mm.

The brush may comprise a mixture of bristles having different lengths with respect to the core, or even different natures.

Only the longest hairs of the brush may for example have a curved shape, the others extending rectilinearly from the soul.

When the brush comprises a mixture of bristles having different natures, only for example the hairs of a certain nature can be curved. The brush may in particular comprise bristles made of materials having different glass transition temperatures, and only the bristles made in the material having the lowest glass transition temperature may be curved.

The envelope surface of the brush may have various shapes and in particular circular, oval, prismatic or other cross sections, with one or more notches or notches.

The core may or may not be centered in a cross-section of the envelope surface.

The cross section of the envelope surface may be constant over at least a portion of the length of the brush or not, and the brush may for example have a cross section passing through an extremum between its two axial ends, this extremum being for example a maximum or a minimum. The brush can thus have, in side view, a general shape of hourglass or rugby ball.

The core may be rectilinear or not, in particular be curved, with a curvature distributed over its entire length or located only in a region close to that used for fixing the brush on a rod of an applicator.

The brush may, if necessary, be curved around at least two non-coplanar axes.

The invention further relates to a packaging device and application comprising such a bush.

• incurver des poils de la brosse par contact avec une surface chaude, notamment une surface en mouvement relatif par rapport à la brosse.

Another subject of the invention, according to another of its aspects, is a method of manufacturing a brush for applying a product to the keratinous fibers, in particular the eyelashes or the eyebrows, comprising the following step:

• curving bristles of the brush by contact with a hot surface, including a surface in relative motion relative to the brush.

This surface is preferably defined by a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity, such as for example a silicone, a fluorinated polymer, especially a polytetrafluoroethylene, or a mineral other than a metal, for example graphite. The use of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity makes it possible to prevent the bristles from sticking to the hot surface during the treatment of the brush and makes it possible to avoid further melting the ends of the bristles, or even to weld them between them.

The relative movement between the brush and the hot surface may be chosen according to the general orientation that is desired to give the hair.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the brush is rotated about its axis, which can treat at least a longitudinal portion of the brush over its entire circumference.

The hot surface may be defined by a stationary treatment member or axially displaced during the treatment, for example in a single direction or with a back and forth motion.

The displacement in a single axial direction makes it possible to orient the bristles for example toward the proximal end or towards the distal end of the brush.

The rotational drive of the brush makes it possible, for example, to orient the bristles in the same circumferential direction, which may be chosen as a function of the orientation of the turns of the core, particularly in the case of a twisted core brush. .

In another particular example of implementation of the invention, the processing member is rotated, the brush being fixed or driven also in rotation, for example in the same direction of rotation or in a direction of rotation opposite. from that of the treatment organ. The brush can still be moved axially relative to the treatment member.

The hot surface may have various shapes, depending on the treatment to be performed.

The hot surface may in particular have a shape that makes the brush come to bear on it by a single sector of its circumference, or even come to bear by two disjoint sectors of its circumference, which is for example the case when the hot surface has a shape of dihedron with an angle at the summit sufficiently small so that the bristles of the brush do not reach this one.

The surface state of the treatment member may be chosen depending on the treatment that is desired. The hot surface can thus be smooth or slightly rough, for example.

• un support agencé pour supporter au moins une brosse,
• un organe de traitement d'au moins cette brosse, comportant :
  • une surface agencée pour venir au contact de poils de la brosse,
  • des moyens de chauffage pour chauffer cette surface, et
• des moyens pour produire un déplacement relatif du support et de l'organe de traitement afin de modifier d'une manière prédéfinie l'orientation des poils de la brosse venant au contact de la surface de l'organe de traitement.

Another subject of the invention, according to another of its aspects, is a machine for manufacturing a brush for applying a product to keratinous fibers, this machine being able to be used for carrying out the method defined above. , this machine comprising:

• a support arranged to support at least one brush,
• a treatment member of at least this brush, comprising:
  • a surface arranged to come into contact with the bristles of the brush,
  • heating means for heating this surface, and
• means for producing a relative movement of the support and the treatment member in order to modify in a predefined manner the orientation of the bristles of the brush coming into contact with the surface of the treatment member.

The drive means may for example comprise at least one motor for rotating the brush about its axis and / or driving the treatment member in rotation, and if necessary to drive in axial displacement the brush and / or the treatment organ. The drive means may further enable the brush to be moved closer to or away from the hot surface of the treatment member. The brush and the treatment member may be simultaneously rotated about parallel axes or not.

When the brush has a twisted core, in particular a twisted core on the left, the rotation of the brush can be rotated anti-clockwise around its axis when the brush is viewed from the front by its distal end . This gives a direction of the bristles in the circumferential direction which is favorable to good care of the eyelashes by the bristles of the brush.

The temperature at which the surface of the treatment member intended to come into contact with the bristles of the brush is heated depends on the nature of the bristles of the brush and the treatment that it is desired to give to the bristles. This temperature may for example be between 80 ° C and 220 ° C, and preferably be greater than or equal to about 150 ° C when the bristles of the brush are polyamide 6/6, 6/10, 6/12 or 11 especially.

When the brush is rotated, the rotational speed can be, for example, between 100 and 1200 rpm. This speed may be chosen depending in particular on the temperature of the treatment member, the contact pressure between the bristles and the treatment member and the shape of the latter.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en coupe axiale d'un dispositif de conditionnement et d'application comportant une brosse selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue de la brosse selon la flèche II de la figure 1, représentant de face très schématiquement l'extrémité distale de la brosse,
• la figure 3 est une vue schématique et partielle représentant des poils pris entre les branches torsadées de l'âme de la brosse de la figure 1,
• la figure 4 est une vue schématique destinée à illustrer un exemple de traitement pouvant être subi par la brosse,
• la figure 5 représente en section transversale l'organe de traitement de la figure 4,
• la figure 6 représente une variante d'organe de traitement,
• la figure 7 illustre la possibilité de ne traiter qu'une partie seulement de la longueur de la brosse,
• les figures 8, 9 et 9A représentent des variantes d'organes de traitement,
• les figures 10 à 12 illustrent différentes formes de poils susceptibles d'être obtenues, parmi d'autres,
• la figure 13 illustre la possibilité de ne traiter qu'un secteur angulaire de la brosse,
• les figures 13A et 13B illustrent la possibilité de traiter différemment au moins deux secteurs angulaires de la brosse,
• la figure 14 représente de manière schématique en coupe transversale une brosse comportant des poils rectilignes courts et des poils longs incurvés,
• la figure 15 représente de manière schématique une enveloppe de brosse de section transversale de forme sensiblement triangulaire,
• la figure 16 représente de manière très schématique en vue de face l'extrémité distale d'une brosse dont l'enveloppe présente sensiblement la section transversale correspondant à la figure 15,
• la figure 17 représente de manière schématique l'enveloppe d'une brosse de section transversale de forme générale carrée,
• la figure 18 est une vue très schématique, de face, de l'extrémité distale d'une brosse dont l'enveloppe présente sensiblement la section transversale de la figure 17,
• les figures 19 à 26 représentent de manière schématique en section transversale d'autres formes possibles pour l'enveloppe de la brosse,
• la figure 27 illustre la possibilité d'excentrer l'âme,
• les figures 28 et 29 représentent de manière schématique en vue de côté des enveloppes de brosses ayant une section transversale non constante,
• la figure 30 représente schématiquement la brosse de la figure 29 après courbure de l'âme,
• la figure 31 est un autre exemple de brosse à âme courbe,
• la figure 32 est une vue analogue à la figure 3 représentant partiellement l'âme d'une brosse torsadée à droite,
• la figure 33 est une vue analogue à la figure 3, représentant partiellement une brosse dont les poils sont incurvés à la fois dans le sens circonférentiel et dans le sens axial,
• les figures 34 à 51 représentent divers exemples de sections transversales de poils, parmi d'autres,
• les figures 52 à 55 représentent des portions d'extrémité de poils, et
• la figure 56 représente de manière schématique une âme double, les poils n'étant pas représentés.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description, non-limiting examples of implementation thereof, and on examining the appended drawing, in which:

• FIG. 1 is a schematic view in axial section of a packaging and application device comprising a brush according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a view of the brush along the arrow II of FIG. 1, very schematically showing the distal end of the brush,
• FIG. 3 is a schematic and partial view showing bristles taken between the twisted branches of the core of the brush of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 4 is a schematic view intended to illustrate an example of treatment that can be subjected to the brush,
• FIG. 5 represents in cross-section the treatment unit of FIG. 4,
• FIG. 6 represents a variant of treatment organ,
• FIG. 7 illustrates the possibility of treating only a part of the length of the brush,
• FIGS. 8, 9 and 9A represent variants of treatment elements,
• FIGS. 10 to 12 illustrate various forms of hair that can be obtained, among others,
• FIG. 13 illustrates the possibility of treating only one angular sector of the brush,
• FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate the possibility of treating differently at least two angular sectors of the brush,
• FIG. 14 schematically represents in cross section a brush comprising short straight bristles and long curved bristles,
• FIG. 15 schematically represents a brush envelope of cross-section of substantially triangular shape,
• FIG. 16 very schematically represents a front view of the distal end of a brush whose envelope has substantially the cross section corresponding to FIG. 15,
• FIG. 17 schematically represents the envelope of a cross-section brush of generally square shape,
• FIG. 18 is a very diagrammatic view, from the front, of the distal end of a brush whose envelope has substantially the cross section of FIG. 17,
• Figures 19 to 26 schematically cross-sectional view of other possible forms for the envelope of the brush,
• FIG. 27 illustrates the possibility of off-centering the soul,
• FIGS. 28 and 29 schematically show, in side view, brush envelopes having a non-constant cross-section,
• FIG. 30 diagrammatically represents the brush of FIG. 29 after curvature of the core,
• FIG. 31 is another example of a curved core brush,
• Figure 32 is a view similar to Figure 3 partially showing the core of a brush twisted right,
• Figure 33 is a view similar to Figure 3, partially showing a brush whose bristles are curved both in the circumferential direction and in the axial direction,
• Figures 34 to 51 show various examples of cross sections of bristles, among others,
• Figures 52 to 55 show end portions of bristles, and
• Figure 56 schematically shows a double core, the bristles not being shown.

The packaging and application device 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a container 2 containing a product P to be applied to the eyelashes or eyebrows, for example mascara, and an applicator 3 comprising a rod 4 of longitudinal axis X provided with at one end 4a of a brush 5 and at the opposite end of a gripping member 6 also serving to close the container 2. The latter comprises a neck 7 which is externally threaded, so as to allow the screwing of the gripping member 6.

A wiper member 8 is fixed inside the neck 7 to dewater the rod 4 and the brush 5 at their outlet from the container. This wiper member 8 comprises a flexible lip 9 defining a circular orifice whose diameter corresponds substantially to that of the rod 4.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the use of a particular wiper member and other wiping members may be used, for example wiping members comprising a block of foam and / or defining one or more slots, flocked or not.

In the example illustrated, the rod 4 is rectilinear but it could be curved without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In addition, the rod 4 is shown as being fixed relative to the gripping member 6, but it could be movable relative to the latter, for example by means of an articulated connection, in particular a ball joint.

The brush 5 comprises a core 10 formed by two twisted metal strands, this core 10 being fixed at one end in a housing of the rod 4, for example being forcibly inserted in this housing.

The brush 5 also comprises bristles 11 which are held by clamping between the twisted strands of the core 10, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. In FIG. 3, the core is shown observed from the side with the the proximal end of the brush disposed on the left side and its distal end on the right side, the brush being said "twisted left".

According to one aspect of the invention, the brush 5 comprises at least one portion comprising non-rectilinear bristles, having a curved shape as can be seen in Figure 2 in particular. In the example considered, the bristles 11 are generally curved in the same circumferential direction, namely the counter-clockwise direction in FIG. 2. The bristles are curved, so that they are not completely rectilinear from the point where they stop. to be in contact with the soul until their free end.

The hairs are curved so as to extend from the oriented soul.

The curved hairs can extend with a general orientation defined during the manufacture of the brush. The hairs do not have a totally random general orientation or result only from the effect of the weight of the hairs.

The curvature of the bristles can be defined in at least two distinct planes. A pile may have at least a first curvature measured in a first plane and a second curvature measured in a second plane. The second plane may for example be perpendicular to the first.

A curved pile may comprise, for example, a curvilinear portion and a rectilinear portion; this rectilinear portion may extend for example on less than half, third, or quarter of the length of the portion of the hair that extends from the core to its free end.

In the case where a curved pile has a rectilinear portion it may extend towards the core from a point located for example at a distance, measured from the free end of the pile, which is less than 3/4, 2/3, or 1/2 of the length of the portion of the hair that extends from the core to its free end.

In the case where a curved pile has a rectilinear portion, the hair may present along this portion a constant cross section.

To achieve the brush of Figures 1 to 3, it can bring it as shown in Figure 4 in contact with a treatment member 20 having a surface 21 that the bristles of the brush can touch.

The hairs can already be held in the soul when treated.

It is possible, for example, to start from a surface brush with a cylindrical envelope of revolution about a Y axis, which can be confused with the abovementioned X axis, and to cause the brush to rotate about this axis Y in contact with the surface 21 The latter may have a radius of curvature substantially corresponding to the radius of the envelope surface of the brush, so that the contact between the brush 5 and the treatment member 20 is effected along an angular sector of the brush.

Before the treatment by the treatment member 20, the bristles of the brush may for example extend straightly from the core, with a constant cross section. The starting hairs can thus, for example, be hairs without ripples.

In the example of Figure 4, the processing member 20 extends parallel to the Y axis at least along the entire length of the brush.

To obtain the curvature of the bristles shown in FIG. 2, the brush is for example rotated about the Y axis in a clockwise direction when the brush is observed along its axis Y with the distal end 5a of the tooth. brush forward, as shown in Figure 4.

The treatment member 20 comprises heating means 22, for example an electrical resistance or a heat transfer fluid circulation duct, which make it possible to bring the surface 21 to a temperature sufficient to cause permanent deformation of the bristles 11 of the brush after passing them in contact with the treatment member 20.

The surface 21 is for example brought to a temperature of the order of 150 ° C for a brush comprising polyamide bristles, including polyamide 6/6.

The brush is for example rotated at a speed of the order of 1000 revolutions / minute in the case of polyamide bristles, in particular polyamide 6/6, for a surface temperature 21 of the order of 150 ° C. , by means of a support 30 coupled to a motor and having a jaw 31 for gripping the core of the brush.

The treatment member 20 comprises a body 23, defining the surface 21, made of a material having a relatively poor thermal conductivity, for example silicone, which makes it easier for the bristles coming into contact with the surface 21 not to adhere. to the latter and especially to the ends of the hairs of no not to melt or to weld together. Only a surface coating of the treatment member could still be made in such a material.

Is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 the possibility of the treatment member 20 do not extend over the entire length of the brush, in order for example to treat only a portion of the or "only celle- ci, the portion l ', respectively l " extending for example from the distal end of the brush, respectively its proximal end, over plus or minus half the total length of the brush.

FIG. 6 also illustrates the possibility of having a relative movement in the direction of the Y axis of the brush between the latter and the treatment member 20, for example to orient the bristles toward the proximal end or towards the the distal end in addition to a possible orientation in the circumferential direction.

FIG. 8 illustrates the possibility for the treatment member 20 to present a surface 21 whose radius of curvature is, for example, greater than the radius of the envelope cylinder of the brush. As a function of the radius of curvature of the surface 21, it is understood that it is possible to act on the contact time between the bristles of the brush and the surface 21, for a given speed of rotation of the brush around its axis Y.

The surface 21 may have various shapes and for example a non-cylindrical shape of revolution, as illustrated in FIG. 9.

In this figure, the surface 21 comprises two flat portions 21a and 21b forming a dihedral, and the bristles of the brush 5 can come into contact with these portions 21a and 21b, while the bristles of the brush located between these portions 21a and 21 b do not come into contact with the surface 21.

The treatment member 20 may comprise, as the case may be, as illustrated in FIG. 9A, at least two disjoint parts 20a and 20b, defining respective hot surfaces 21a and 21b with which the bristles of the brush may come into contact.

As a function of the contact time with the heated surface 21, as well as in particular the speed of rotation of the brush, the contact pressure of the bristles on this surface 21, the friction forces between the bristles and the surface 21, as well as the nature of the bristles of the brush, it is possible to modify more or less the initial rectilinear shape of the bristles and in particular to obtain more or less curved shapes, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 12.

In the examples of FIGS. 4, 6, 8, 9 and 9A, the brush may be rotated about the Y axis and the treatment member 20 may not be rotatable.

Alternatively, it is for example the processing member 20 which can be rotated and the brush 5 which is fixed, in order to treat only part of the circumference of the brush, which can thus present as illustrated in FIG. 13 a set of curved bristles over a portion of its circumference and a set of straight bristles over the remainder of its circumference.

For example, it is still possible to treat the bristles in a certain way on a sector s' of the circumference of the brush and in another way on a sector which is different, for example, the bristles can be treated on the sector. s' so as to orient them clockwise and treat them in the sector s "so as to steer them in the opposite direction.

In the case of a brush whose envelope has a non-circular shape in cross-section, it is possible, for example, to treat the sides of the brush differently. For example, in the case of the brush of FIG. 13B, the sides of the brush can be treated so as to orient all the hairs on the same side in the same direction, the orientation of the bristles reversing when the we go from one side to the next.

The brush can be made with a mixture of long bristles 11a and short bristles 11b and be treated so that only the long bristles 11a come into contact with the heated surface 21 so as to take a curved shape, the short hairs 11b not being heated and remaining straight, as shown in Figure 14.

The brush may have an envelope surface, defined by the free ends of the bristles, of non-circular cross section.

By way of example, FIG. 15 shows an envelope surface of substantially prismatic cross section, for example substantially triangular. For such a brush, by rotating the brush around its axis Y in contact with a heated surface, it is possible to obtain a curved shape of the bristles, for example in the counterclockwise direction, as illustrated in FIG.

There is shown in Figure 17 a substantially square cross-sectional envelope surface.

For such a brush, one can obtain for example a curved shape of the bristles as shown in Figure 18, the bristles being for example oriented in the counterclockwise direction as seen in this figure.

Figures 19 to 26 show further possible shapes of cross-sections for the envelope surface of the brush, among others.

FIG. 19 thus represents a substantially pentagonal cross section and FIG. 20 is substantially hexagonal in shape.

Figure 21 shows a cross section of substantially oval shape.

Figure 22 illustrates the possibility of making the brush with at least one notch 41, which can be concave outwards as illustrated, this notch having a constant cross section or not when moving along the brush.

Figure 23 illustrates the possibility of making at least one facet 42 substantially flat on the brush.

FIG. 24 illustrates the possibility of producing the brush with at least one notch 43, in this case three.

FIG. 25 shows an alternative embodiment of a brush comprising two notches 43 and FIG. 26 corresponds to an embodiment variant having only one.

The core 10 may be centered or not with respect to the contour of the envelope surface, when the brush is observed in cross section.

By way of illustration, there is shown in Figure 27 a brush whose core is eccentric.

The brush may have a constant cross section or not, and a rectilinear core or not.

When the core is rectilinear, either because the final brush has a rectilinear core, or because the core has been straightened and made straightforward for the purpose of observation, the brush may have a cross-section passing through an extremum. as shown in Figure 27, which can be a maximum or a minimum.

The brush may also have, as illustrated in Figure 29, a cross section passing through a maximum 46 and a minimum 47.

The core may be curved such as to straighten an edge 48 of the brush, as shown in Figures 29 and 30.

The brush 5 may also comprise a core which has a bend 49 near the distal end 4a of the rod 4, as shown in Figure 31, the portion of the core carrying the bristles may be straight.

In all of the above examples, the brush can be further twisted to the right as shown in FIG.

FIG. 33 shows bristles oriented both circumferentially and in the axial direction, along the arrow of this figure.

The bristles used may have various cross sections, other than circular.

In particular, it is possible to use bristles having, in cross section, one of the shapes shown in FIGS. 34 to 51 in a schematic manner, for example a circular shape with a flat as illustrated in FIG. 34, flattened as illustrated in FIG. 35, with stars, for example in the form of a cross as illustrated in FIG. 36 or with three branches as illustrated in FIG. 37, of U as represented in FIG. 38, of H as represented in FIG. 39, of T as represented in FIG. 40, of V as shown in Figure 41, a recessed shape, for example circular as shown in Figure 42 or prismatic, including square as shown in Figure 43, forming branches, for example in the form of a snowflake as shown in FIG. FIG. 44, a prismatic section for example triangular as illustrated in FIG. 45, square as shown in FIG. 46 or hexagonal as represented in FIG. 47, or a forearm oblong, particularly lenticular as shown in Figure 48 or hourglass-shaped as shown in Figure 49.

It is also possible to use bristles having articulated portions relative to one another as shown in FIG. 50. It is also possible to use bristles having at least one capillary groove 60 as illustrated in FIG. 51. The bristles may, if appropriate , before being curved, undergo a treatment intended to form at their end a ball 61 as illustrated in Figure 52 or forks 62 as shown in Figure 53.

It is also possible to use flocked bristles as illustrated in FIG. 54, or else bristles made by extrusion of a plastic material having a charge of particles 63, in order to impart a micro-relief to the surface of the bristles as illustrated in FIG. 54 or to impart to them magnetic or other properties.

The bristles can still be made with a material having properties promoting sliding.

The bristles may be made of synthetic materials selected for example from polyethylene, polyamides including PA6, PA6 / 6, PA6 / 10 or PA6 / 12, PA11, including RILSAN ^®, a polymer HYTREL ^® -PEBAX ^® and other polymers thermoplastics.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described.

In particular, the core can be made differently, for example using a double core, formed by two elementary cores 10 'and 10 "twisted together as illustrated in FIG. 56. Each elementary core 10', 10" of this figure comprises two strands. twisted together and clasping hair.

It is possible to use for making the core metal strands of circular section or not, sheathed or not.

The characteristics of the different embodiments that have just been described can be combined with one another.

Throughout the description, including the claims, the phrase "having one" should be understood as being synonymous with "having at least one", unless the opposite is specified.

Claims (26)

1. A brush (5) for applying a substance onto keratinous fibers, the brush comprising:

   i. a core (10); and

   ii. bristles (11) supported by the core and made other than by being injection molded together with the core;

   characterized by the fact that the brush comprises at least one portion (1', 1'') having bristles that are curved so as to extend from the core in an oriented and curved manner toward a free end in a same circumferential direction about the core.
2. A brush according to claim 1, wherein the curved bristles are deprived of undulations.
3. A brush according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the core is twisted to the left.
4. A brush according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the brush comprises an axis, a distal end and a proximal end, and characterized by the fact that the bristles are oriented in the clockwise direction when the brush is observed along the axis from the distal end towards the proximal end.
5. A brush according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the brush comprises an axis, a distal end and a proximal end, and characterized by the fact that the bristles are oriented in the counterclockwise direction when the brush is observed along the axis from the distal end towards the proximal end.
6. A brush according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the brush includes at least one portion carrying curved bristles that are oriented generally in the same axial direction.
7. A brush according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that at least 20% of the bristles are curved.
8. A brush according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that at least 50% of the bristles are curved.
9. A brush according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that at least 80% of the bristles are curved.
10. A brush according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the core is a twisted wire core and as turns and carries 5 to 60 bristles per turn.
11. A brush according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the bristles are made of a thermoplastic material.
12. A brush according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the diameter of the bristles lies in the range 5/100 mm to 35/100 mm.
13. A brush according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the bristles are of a length lying in the range 1 mm to 7 mm, in particular in the range 2 mm to 5 mm.
14. A brush according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that it carries a mixture of bristles of different lengths.
15. A brush according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that it carries bristles of kinds that are different.
16. A brush according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that only the longest bristles (11a) of the brush present a shape that is curved, the other bristles (11b) extending from the core in rectilinear manner.
17. A brush according to claim 14, characterized by the fact that it carries bristles made of materials having vitreous transition temperatures that are different, with only those bristles that are made of the material having the lowest vitreous transition temperature being curved.
18. A brush according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that a curvature of the bristles are curved along at least two distinct planes.
19. A method of manufacturing a brush for applying a substance onto keratinous fibers, in particular the eyelashes or the eyebrows, the method comprising:

    - curving the bristles of the brush by putting them into contact with a hot surface (21) after their insertion on the core of the brush.
20. A method according to claim 19, characterized by the fact that the surface is moving relative to the brush.
21. A method according to any one of the two preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the surface (21) is preferably defined by a material presenting relatively low thermal conductivity, in particular a silicone, a fluorine-containing polymer, a polytetrafluoroethylene, an inorganic material other than a metal, graphite.
22. A method according to any one of claims 19 to 21, characterized by the fact that the brush is rotated about its own axis (Y).
23. A method according to any one of claims 19 to 22, characterized by the fact that the hot surface (21) is defined by a treatment member (20).
24. A method according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the treatment member (20) is rotated, the brush being held stationary.
25. A method according to any one of claims 19 to 24, characterized by the fact that the hot surface (21) is moved axially during treatment.
26. A machine for manufacturing a brush for applying a substance onto keratinous fibers, said machine serving to implement the method defined in any one of claims 19 to 25, the machine comprising:

    i. a support (30, 31) arranged to support at least one brush (5); and

    ii. a treatment member (20) for treating at least said brush and comprising:

    - a surface (21) arranged to come into contact with the bristles of the brush;

    - heater means (22) for heating said surface; and

    iii. means for imparting relative displacement between the support and the treatment member so as to modify, in predefined manner, the orientation of the bristles of the brush that come into contact with the surface (21) of the treatment member (20).

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