EP3755175A1

EP3755175A1 - Nail brush having two partially interpenetrating hair bunches, with one or more longitudinal grooves along the handle

Info

Publication number: EP3755175A1
Application number: EP18737729.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andrea SERBAN; Abramo SPIZZI; Maria Paola SPIZZI
Original assignee: SGA SNC Dei FLli Spizzi Maria Paola E Abramo & C
Current assignee: SGA SNC Dei FLli Spizzi Maria Paola E Abramo & C
Priority date: 2018-03-29
Filing date: 2018-05-10
Publication date: 2020-12-30
Also published as: IT201800004090A1; WO2019186606A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a nail brush comprising two hair bunches partially interpenetrating at the free end thereof. The hair bunches, together with the base of the handle where the latter are connected, delimit a portion of space at which an amount of substance accumulates each time the brush is dipped into a receptacle containing said substance. The brush of the invention comprises at least one groove which extends longitudinally on the handle from the aforesaid base in an intermediate position between the hair bunches. Like the aforementioned portion of space, when the brush is dipped into a receptacle containing a cosmetic substance, the groove fills with an amount of said substance. The latter adheres to the walls of the groove due to the surface tension so as to be retained by the groove when the brush is extracted from the receptacle. After dipping and extracting the brush into/from the receptacle containing a cosmetic substance, the hairs of the brush are to be slid over a nail to spread said substance over the nail. While said sliding is taking place, the cosmetic substance accommodated in the portion of space enclosed between the base of the handle and the two hair bunches is progressively transferred onto the nail, dragging therewith, due to the surface tension, the substance accommodated in the groove until the latter is empty.

Description

Nail brush having two partially interpenetrating hair bunches, with one or more longitudinal grooves along the handle

Field of application of the invention

The present invention applies to the field of cosmetics, namely to the field of devices which can be used to apply a liquid or semi-liquid cosmetic substance to a part of a human body.

In particular, such cosmetic devices of the aforesaid type, to which the present invention relates, include “nail brushes”, i.e. brushes by means of which a reasonable amount of a cosmetic substance (e.g. a nail polish) may be applied to a nail. Nail brushes differ from other brushes which can be used in the cosmetic field due to size of the profile consisting of the free end of the hairs. Indeed, said profile is to be sufficiently small so as to allow the application of a cosmetic substance to a nail so that said substance does not go beyond the edges of the ungual lamina.

Nail brushes comprise a generally rectilinear handle connected at a first end to a closure cap of a receptacle containing a cosmetic substance (liquid or semi- liquid, to be applied to nails). The handle is also connected, at a second end opposite to the first end, to a hair bunch which can be immersed into the cosmetic substance in order to take a reasonable amount thereof from the receptacle and then apply it to the nail to be treated.

Incidentally, depending on the shape of the hair bunch, the nail brushes may be “round” (if the hair bunch is almost cylindrical or is shaped as a circular truncated cone), “flat” (if the hair bunch is almost prismatic in shape with a rectangular or elliptical section) or “fan-like” (if the hair bunch is almost frustoconical in shape with an elliptical section or truncated pyramidal with a rectangular section, i.e. if the hairs diverge from the handle so as to take a configuration the shape of which recalls that of a fan). Fan brushes are usually preferred to round brushes and flat brushes, since they allow the cosmetic substance to be applied to a nail in a uniform manner and with increased accuracy as compared to other types of brushes.

In order to take an increased amount of cosmetic substance each time the brush is dipped into a receptacle containing said substance, nail brushes comprising two hair bunches have been devised. Said bunches are both connected to the aforesaid second end of the handle and are arranged so as to be placed side-by-side. The present invention particularly relates to a nail brush of this type. By way of example, an example of nail brush with two hair bunches is described in Patent Application No. PCT/IT2016/000295 (published under no. WO 2017 199269) to the same Applicant.

Overview of the prior art

Like the brushes provided with one hair bunch alone, the nail brushes with two hair bunches usually comprise a cap by means of which a receptacle containing cosmetic substance may be closed. In order to apply said substance to a nail, firstly the handle of the brush needs to be inserted into the receptacle so as to at least partially immerse both the hair bunches in the cosmetic substance. Due to the surface tension, a part of the substance contained in the receptacle adheres to the hairs of the brush. This ensures that, by extracting the brush from the receptacle, the hairs drag a reasonable amount of cosmetic substance therewith. The cosmetic substance may then be spread over the nail to be treated.

As mentioned above, as compared to brushes provided with one hair bunch alone, brushes with two bunches allow taking an increased amount of cosmetic substance each time the brush is dipped into a receptacle containing said substance. For the amount of cosmetic substance taken each time the brush is dipped to be even greater, nail brushes comprising two hair bunches partially interpenetrating at the free end thereof were devised. In the brushes of this type, the hair bunches together with the base of the handle corresponding to the above-mentioned second end thereof delimit a portion of space where an amount of cosmetic substance accumulates each time the brush is dipped into a receptacle containing said substance.

Namely, when the nail brush is dipped into a receptacle containing a cosmetic substance, the latter fills the aforesaid portion of space, adhering to the hairs and the base of the handle due to the surface tension. When the brush is extracted from the receptacle, rather than falling back into the receptacle, the amount of cosmetic substance interposed between the two bunches is retained by the brush due to the partial interpenetration of the bunches. For this reason, the amount of substance taken by a brush of this type is greater (each time it is dipped into a receptacle and the number of hairs being equal) than that of brushes having two bunches which are not partially interpenetrating. An example of nail brush comprising two partially interpenetrating hair bunches is described in European Patent Application No. 00108108.2 published under no. EP 1050235.

Despite the improvement described above, the amount of cosmetic substance taken by a brush with two partially interpenetrating hair bunches each time it is dipped into a receptacle containing said substance may not be sufficient to cover the whole ungual lamina. Here, there is a need to immerse the brush into the receptacle repeatedly and to apply the cosmetic substance to the nail several times. This causes the drying of the cosmetic substance to start at various times at different areas of the ungual lamina. An uneven drying may however compromise the successful outcome of the cosmetic treatment, especially if the substance applied is of the quick-drying type.

Object of the invention

It is the object of the present invention to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks by providing a nail brush having two or more partially interpenetrating hair bunches capable of taking an increased amount of a cosmetic substance each time the brush is dipped into a receptacle containing said substance as compared to known brushes of the same type having the same number of hairs. Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to a nail brush, comprising:

• a handle;

• at least two hair bunches connected to the handle at a base thereof,

said bunches being:

- separate from each other at a respective first longitudinal stretch thereof consecutive to said base (i.e. from the latter),

and

- in contact with each other, or partially interpenetrating, at a respective second longitudinal stretch thereof consecutive to said first stretch, wherein, according to the invention, the brush comprises at least one groove which extends longitudinally in the handle from said base,

said groove penetrating said handle transversely so as to be at least partially in- terposed between said bunches at said base.

Incidentally,“longitudinal stretch” of a hair bunch means a stretch of the bunch extending in the same direction in which the handle of the brush extends.

The brush of the invention comprises a groove which originates from the aforesaid base of the handle and is partially interposed between the two hair bunches. Like the portion of space enclosed between the base of the handle and the two hair bunches, when the brush is dipped into a receptacle containing a cosmetic substance, the groove fills with an amount of said substance. The latter adheres to the walls of the groove due to the surface tension so as to be retained by the groove when the brush is extracted from the receptacle. With respect to known nail brushes with two partially interpenetrating hair bunches, the amount is therefore greater of cosmetic substance which can be taken by the brush of the invention each time it is dipped into a receptacle containing said substance.

The fact that the groove is at least partially interposed between the hair bunches at the base of the handle ensures the cosmetic substance retained by the groove is progressively conveyed into the portion of space enclosed between the aforesaid base of the handle and the two hair bunches when using the brush of the invention. In particular, after dipping and extracting the brush into/from a receptacle containing a cosmetic substance, the hairs of the brush are to be slid over a nail to spread said substance over the nail. While said sliding is taking place, the cosmetic substance accommodated in the portion of space enclosed between the base of the handle and the two hair bunches is progressively transferred onto the nail, dragging therewith, due to the surface tension, the substance accommodated in the groove until the latter is empty. Therefore, when using the brush of the invention, the groove performs a topping up action towards the portion of space enclosed between the base of the handle and the two hair bunches.

Advantageously, the increased amount of cosmetic substance taken by the brush of the invention each time it is dipped into a receptacle containing said substance ensures that there are no strips of ungual lamina not covered by the aforesaid substance (due to the lack of the latter on the hair bunches) during the sliding of the brush hairs over a nail.

Other innovative features of the present invention are illustrated in the following description and are referred to in the dependent claims.

According to one aspect of the invention, the groove is equally spaced apart from said bunches at said base.

Advantageously, among the possible“outlet positions” of the groove into the base of the handle, the one according to this aspect of the invention (i.e. at the same distance from the two hair bunches) is the best in order to optimize the transfer of cosmetic substance from the groove to the portion of space enclosed between the base of the handle and the two hair bunches (i.e. it is such whereby the topping up action performed by the groove is optimal).

According to another aspect of the invention, said groove extends over the whole length of the handle.

Advantageously, among the possible lengths possibly given to the groove, the one according to this aspect of the invention is such whereby the amount of cosmetic substance which can be accumulated inside the groove when the brush is dipped into a receptacle containing said substance, is greatest.

According to another aspect of the invention, the brush comprises two of said grooves opposite to each other. According to this aspect of the invention, due to the presence of two grooves, the amount of cosmetic substance that can be taken by the brush of the invention each time it is dipped into a receptacle containing said substance is even greater.

According to another aspect of the invention, said groove transversely crosses the handle over the whole width thereof so as to be a through groove.

Advantageously, among the possible depths possibly given to the groove, the one according to this aspect of the invention is such as the amount of cosmetic substance which can be accumulated inside the groove when the brush is dipped into a receptacle containing said substance is greatest.

Brief description of the drawings

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided below of exemplary embodiments thereof and from the accompanying drawings merely given by way of a non-limiting example, in which:

- figure 1 shows a perspective view of a nail brush according to the present invention;

- figure 2 shows a side plan view of the brush in figure 1 ;

- figure 3 shows a front plan view of the brush in figure 1 ;

- figure 4 shows a top plan view of the brush in figure 1 ;

- figure 5 shows a top plan view of a first variant of the brush in figure 1 ;

- figure 6 shows a top plan view of a second variant of the brush in figure 1.

Detailed description of some preferred embodiments of the invention

For convenience of disclosure, in the present description reference is made to embodiments of the invention in which the nail brush comprises two hair bunch- es of the fan-like type. However, the brush of the invention is not limited to the aforesaid examples. Firstly, the hair bunches may be of any type. In other words, the brush of the invention may equally comprise, by way of example, round or flat hair bunches, or also hair bunches which are different from one another, so long as the hair bunches partially interpenetrate at the free end thereof.

Secondly, there may be more than two hair bunches. In other words, the brush of the invention may equally comprise a plurality of pairs of hair bunches so long as the bunches of each pair are provided with at least one groove (according to what is said above) and they partially interpenetrate at the free end thereof.

In the continuation of the present description, a figure may also be shown with reference to elements not expressly indicated in that figure but in other figures. The scale and proportions of the different elements depicted do not necessarily correspond to the actual ones.

Figures 1 to 3 show a brush 1 comprising a preferably rectilinear handle 2 hav- ing a polygonal cross section, for example almost rectangular with rounded vertexes. Handle 2 is integrally connected, at a first base 3, to a closure cap 4 of a receptacle (not shown in the drawings) containing a liquid or semi-liquid sub- stance which may be applied to a nail. By way of example, said substance is a cosmetic or medicinal substance. Liquid or semi-liquid cosmetic substances ap- plicable to nails include nail polishes.

Handle 2 is also connected to a plurality of hairs grouped into multiple bunches 6 (shown by way of example in two bunches) at a second base 5 opposite to base 3. The hairs can be immersed into said liquid or semi-liquid substance in order to take a reasonable amount thereof from said receptacle and then apply it to a nail to be treated.

Handle 2 comprises a cavity 7 for each of the bunches 6, which cavity is longitudinally made in handle 2 from base 5. The hairs are connected to handle 2 at the cavities 7. By way of example, the method for connecting the hairs to handle 2 is the same which is described in Patent Application No. PCT/IT2014/000061 (published under no. WO 2015 121879) assigned to the same Applicant. For increased clarity, said connection method is briefly summarized hereinbelow. Each hair is folded in half on itself, so as to preferably take a“V” configuration. The hairs thus folded are grouped into bunches 6 so that the vertices of the Vs of each bunch 6 are at a same end of the bunch, and the free ends of the Vs are at the opposite end. Each bunch 6 is astride a“IP- shaped bracket, i.e. the latter is inserted into bunch 6 so that each hair is arranged astride the bracket. The vertices of the Vs are at the base of the U and the concavity of the U is opposite to the concavities of the Vs. The bunches 6, together with the brackets and therefrom, are inserted into the cavities 7 at a portion 8 thereof, respectively. The arms of the brackets are longitudinally driven into handle 2 so as to push the vertices of the Vs against the bases of the cavities 7. This integrally connects the hairs of each bunch 6 to handle 2. The hairs are accommodated in the cavities 7 so that the Vs are arranged side- by-side or one inside the other, with the concavities facing the openings of the cavities 7 (i.e. upward in figures 2 and 3). The cavities 7 have a cross section preferably such as to tighten the hairs against one another.

Each of the cavities 7 preferably has a tapered shape from the base 5 of handle 2 toward cap 4. By way of example, each of the cavities 7 has an almost straight, truncated pyramidal shape with a rectangular base, with the long sides of the rectangular base arranged parallel to the long sides of the rectangle of the cross section of handle 2. Preferably, the cavities 7 mirror one another, with each cavity 7 having for example two isosceles trapezoids as side walls at the long sides of the rectangular base, and two rectangles as side walls at the short sides of the rectangular base. The axis of each truncated pyramid and said isosceles trapezoid-shaped side walls are preferably arranged longitudinally, i.e. in the same direction in which handle 2 extends.

In an alternative embodiment of brush 1 (not shown in the drawings), the longitudinal cavities have an almost straight, frustoconical shape with an elliptical base, with the major axis of the elliptical base arranged parallel to the long sides of the rectangle of the cross section of handle 2. The longitudinal cavities also preferably mirror one another in said alternative embodiment, with the axis of each truncated cone arranged longitudinally.

Since the hairs are pressed against one another at the portions 8 of the bunches 6 (inside the cavities 7), the shape of the latter causes the shape of the bunches 6. In particular, since each cavity 7 is tapered from the base 5 of handle 2 toward cap 4, the portion 9 of each bunch 6 protruding from handle 2 has a cross section of increasing size from base 5. Preferably, the size of the cross section of each bunch 6 preferably increases only at an initial stretch 10 of the external portion 9 from base 5. Even more preferably, in the remaining end stretch 1 1 of portion 9, the size of the cross section decreases so that each bunch 6 takes an almost drop-shaped appearance (clearly shown in figure 3), with the drop tip inserted into cavity 7. In light of what is said, the bunches 6 preferably are of the fan-like type. Since the cavities 7 preferably mirror one another, the bunches 6 also preferably mirror one another, with each bunch 6 having - with reference to portion 8 and to the stretch 10 of portion 9 - two isosceles trapezoids as side walls at the long sides of the rectangular base.

With reference to figure 2, it may be noted that since the cavities 7 are at a given distance from one another, the bunches 6 are mutually separate at a respective first longitudinal stretch thereof consecutive to base 5 (i.e. from the latter). However, since the hairs are pressed against one another at the portions 8 of the bunches 6 (inside the cavities 7), exiting from the latter, the hairs take a slightly divergent orientation. The bunches 6 come into contact with one another due to said divergence, possibly partially interpenetrating, at a respective second longitudinal stretch thereof consecutive to the aforesaid first stretch. This results in the bunches 6, together with base 5, delimiting a portion of space 12 where an amount of cosmetic substance accumulates each time brush 1 is dipped into a receptacle containing said substance. Incidentally, the portion of space 12 may equally be obtained by making the cavities 7 so as to converge the bunches 6 toward one another.

Brush 1 comprises a groove 13 which extends longitudinally in handle 2 from base 5. Groove 13 preferably, but not necessarily, extends over the whole length of handle 2, i.e. up to base 3 of the latter. Figure 4 shows a top plan view of brush 1 without the bunches 6 to allow a better view of base 5. As it may be noted in this drawing, groove 13 is shaped so as to be at least partially interposed between the cavities 7 (and accordingly between the bunches 6 at base 5). In other words, groove 13 transversely extends in handle 2 from the side wall of the latter, at least at base 5, so as to penetrate between the cavities 7 (and accordingly between the bunches 6). Groove 13 preferably has a constant depth along handle 2 and preferably is equally spaced apart from the bunches 6 at base 5. As specified above, like portion 12, each time brush 1 is dipped into a receptacle containing a cosmetic substance, groove 13 fills with an amount of said substance. The latter adheres to the walls of groove 13 due to the surface tension so as to be retained by groove 13 when brush 1 is extracted from the receptacle. The fact that groove 13 is at least partially interposed between the bunches 6 at base 5 ensures the cosmetic substance retained by groove 13 is progressively conveyed into portion 12 when using brush 1.

After dipping and extracting brush 1 into/from a receptacle containing a cosmetic substance, the hairs of brush 1 are to be slid over a nail to spread said substance over the nail. While said sliding is taking place, the cosmetic substance accommodated in portion 12 is progressively transferred onto the nail, dragging therewith, due to the surface tension, the substance accommodated in groove 13 until the latter is empty. Therefore, when using brush 1 , groove 13 performs a topping up action towards portion 12.

Handle 2 and cap 4 are preferably made of a polymeric material, and even more preferably of low density polyethylene (LDPE) or high density polyethylene (HDPE). The hairs are preferably made of nylon, and even more preferably of Tynex®. Groove 13 preferably has a width between 0.1 mm and 1 mm, preferably a depth between 0.3 mm and 1 mm, and preferably a length not less than one tenth of the length of handle 2, more preferably not less than one fifth of the length of handle 2, and even more preferably not less than half the length of handle 2. Groove 13 transversely penetrates handle 2 preferably for at least one third of the width of handle 2.

In an alternative embodiment of brush 1 (not shown in the drawings), the hairs of one bunch 6 are different (e.g. in material and/or thickness) from the hairs of the other bunch 6. Thereby, brush 1 may advantageously be used by brushing first one bunch 6 on the nail, then the other bunch 6, or by selecting bunch 6 to be used according to the features of the substance to be applied.

Figure 5 shows a top plan view of a brush 15 which differs from brush 1 in that it comprises a second groove 16 opposite to groove 13 and preferably mirroring the latter. In particular, like groove 13, groove 16 extends longitudinally in handle 2 from base 5 and preferably up to base 3. Groove 16 is deep enough to be at least partially interposed between the cavities 7 and more preferably, it is equally spaced apart from the bunches 6 at base 5. Overall, the grooves 13 and 16 transversely penetrate handle 2 preferably for at least two thirds of the width of handle 2.

Figure 6 shows a top plan view of a brush 20 which differs from brush 1 in that groove 13 is a through groove, i.e. it transversely crosses handle 2 over the whole width thereof.

To avoid any misunderstanding, like brush 1 in figure 4, also the brushes 15 and 20 are shown respectively in figures 5 and 6 without the bunches 6 only to allow an improved view of base 5.

According to the description provided for a preferred exemplary embodiment, it is obvious that some changes can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1 . A nail brush (1 , 15, 20), comprising:

• a handle (2);

• at least two hair bunches (2) connected to said handle (2) at a base (5) thereof,

said bunches (6) being:

- separate from each other at a respective first longitudinal stretch thereof consecutive to said base (5),

and

- in contact with each other, or partially interpenetrating, at a respective second longitudinal stretch (6) thereof consecutive to said first stretch, said brush (1 , 15, 20) being characterized in that it comprises at least one groove (13, 16) which extends longitudinally in said handle (2) from said base (5),

said groove (13, 16) penetrating said handle (2) transversely so as to be at least partially interposed between said bunches (6) at said base (5).

2. A brush (1 , 15, 20) according to claim 1 , characterized in that said groove (13, 16) is equally spaced apart from said bunches (6) at said base (5).

3. A brush (1 , 15, 20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said groove (13, 16) extends over the whole length of said handle (2).

4. A brush (15) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two of said grooves (13, 16) opposite to each other.

5. A brush (20) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said groove (13) crosses said handle (2) transversely over the whole width thereof.