GB2515466A

GB2515466A - Improvements in and relating to cosmetic brush cleaner

Info

Publication number: GB2515466A
Application number: GB1308862.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Temi Aboderin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-05-16
Filing date: 2013-05-16
Publication date: 2014-12-31
Also published as: GB201308862D0

Abstract

A cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus comprises a holder 100 and a cleaner 200 with the holder comprising a first elastomeric material and a first coupling portion 180 which in use engages with a second coupling portion 280 being part of the cleaner 200. At least one channel 150 extends along the length of the holder 100 and is arranged in use to retain a cosmetic brush 190 in a fixed position relative to the cleaner 200 so that bristles 195 of the cosmetic brush 190 extend beyond a first opening of the channel 155 so that they engage with an agitator 250. The agitator 250 is driven by a motor 295 and comprises at least one paddle (255, figure 5) comprising a second elastomeric material.

Description

Improvements in and relating to a Cosmetic Brush Cleaner The present invention relates to a Cosmetic Brush Cleaner wherein the cleaner provides for a holder and a cleaner so that a cosmetic brush can be held in place and cleaned when required.

There are various sizes and types of cosmetic brushes in use depending on the purpose and required properties of the cosmetic brush. For example, a wide powder brush is used for applying powder based cosmetics onto a person's face/body while a thinner eye and/or lip brushes are used to apply an eyeliner or lip gloss/colour to a person's face/lip so that a more delicate touch can be applied with the thinner brushes. Furthermore, to provide for such a delicate touch, cosmetic brushes tend to comprise bristles that are softer than standard painting brushes.

A Cosmetic Brush Cleaner should take into account such features of cosmetic brushes whilst also providing for a convenient cleaning and/or drying processes. Since the cosmetic materials applied with such a Cosmetic Brush Cleaner require a specific type of cleaning, such a Cosmetic Brush Cleaner should also provide for such specific type of cleaning and/or an appropriate drying thereof in a quick and convenient manner so that a user can promptly clean the cosmetic brushes and use/store them soon afterwards.

It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to address these and other issues

with the prior art.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus and method as set forth in the appended claims. Other features of the invention will be apparent from the dependent claims, and the description which follows.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figures lA-iC show a holder according toan embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a holder comprising a tapering channel according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a holder comprising a first portion slidably moveable in a second portion according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 shows a prospective view of a holder comprising a first portion and a second portion with a pair of cosmetic brushes retained therein wherein the holder is standing on its own according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 shows a prospective view of a cleaner comprising an agitator wherein the agitator comprises a plurality of paddles according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 shows a prospective view of the holder of Figures 3-4 being coupled to the cleaner of Figure 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the holder of Figures 3-4 coupled to the cleaner of Figure 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the coupled holder and cleaner with a lid portion attached to the holder according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 shows a prospective view of the agitator of Figure 5 in use wherein the paddles engage bristles of a cosmetic brush according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 10 shows prospective views of alternative types of agitators according to alternative embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to Figures lA-iC, a holder 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is described herein. In FIG 1A, a prospective view of the holder 100 with three cosmetic brushes 190 retained therewith is shown. In FIG 1B, a plan view of the holder 100 with openings 155 of different diameters for various sizes of channels 150 to receive parts of the cosmetic brushes 190 of different sizes are shown. In FIG 1 C, a cross-sectional view of the holder 100 comprising a plurality of channels 150 therein to receive and engage parts of the cosmetic brushes 190 are shown.

The holder 100 comprises at least one channel 150 extending along a part of a length of the holder 100. The channel 150 comprises a first opening 155 arrangeable to receive a part of a cosmetic brush 190 so that a surface on the part of the cosmetic brush 190 abuts against a part of a channel wall of the channel 150, whereby the cosmetic brush 190 is retained in a fixed position relative to the holder 100.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the channels 150 are arranged to have different diameters so that parts of different cosmetic brushes 190 of dissimilar dimensions can be received by, and retained in, the channels 150. It is understood that the channels 150 and the first openings 155 thereof are arrangeable to have a diverse range of shapes dependent on shapes of the parts of cosmetic brushes 190 they are intended to receive and/or retain therein. According to an embodiment, the channels 150 and/or the first openings 155 thereof are shaped to reciprocally match a pad of a cosmetic brush 190 to be received thereby and/or retained therein.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the holder 100 comprises a first elastomeric material. Suitably, the first elastomeric material is foam based. Preferably, the first elastomeric material is an expandable form.

According to an embodiment, the holder 100 comprises a channel 150 shaped in a portion of the holder 100 made from the fist elastomeric material. It is understood that according to this embodiment, the channel 150 and a first opening 155 thereof are arrangeable to have a diverse range of shapes which are capable of receiving and/or retaining different shapes of pads of cosmetic brushes 190 without having to closely match the shapes and/or dimensions of the parts of the cosmetic brushes 190.

The channel 150 and/or the first opening 155 having a different shape to, or a smaller cross-sectional breadth than a maximum cross-sectional breadth of, the part of the cosmetic brush 190 to be received thereby and/or retained therein provides for abutment between a surface on the part of the cosmetic brush 190 and a part of a channel wall of the channel 150 with a greater frictional force therebetween, whereby the cosmetic brush 190 is retained in a fixed position with a greater force. The elastomeric/expandable property of the holder 100, and therefore of the portion of the holder 100 comprising the channel 150, enables the part of the cosmetic brush 190 to be slid in and/or out through the first opening 155 into the channel 150 even if the first opening 155 has a breadth smaller than a maximum cross-sectional breadth of the cosmetic brush. The elastomeric property of the holder 100 also enables the expanded channel wall to contract towards the central axis of the channel 150, whereby the channel wall engages and/or abuts against the surface of the pad of the cosmetic brush 190 with a greater force.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the channel 150 is arranged, in use, to retain the cosmetic brush 190 in a fixed position so that bristles 195 of the cosmetic brush 190 extends beyond the first opening 155 of the channel 150 so that an agitator 250 of a cleaner 200 can contact the bristles 195 and the contact therebetween provides mechanical agitation for the cleaning of the bristles 195 of the cosmetic brush 190. In this embodiment, the portion of the cosmetic brush 190 to be received by the first opening 155 and retained in the channel 150 is a handle portion of the cosmetic brush 190 so that the bristles 195 do not engage the channel wall. This reduces any chance of bristle damage from such engagement during a cosmetic brush loading process of the holder 100.

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a holder 100 comprising a tapering channel 150 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The channel 150 tapers along at least a part of a length of the channel 150 to, in use, assist in retaining the cosmetic brush 190 in a fixed position. The tapering provides for a part of the channel 150 with a narrower breadth, so that a channel wall near on a part of the channel with the narrower breadth abuts against a surface on a part of the cosmetic brush 190 with a greater force, whereby the cosmetic brush 190 is retained in the fixed position.

It is understood that according to alternative embodiments, different shapes of the channel 150 and/or ways of shaping the holder 100 can be used to introduce such narrower parts to the channel 150 to achieve the same effect. An example of such alternative embodiment might be a channel with a ridged channel wall wherein the ridged channel wall provides for the part with the narrower breadth to abut against the surface of the part of the cosmetic brush 190.

It is also understood that according to alternative embodiments, the tapering of the channel can take a plurality of different forms such as: taping from a first end of the channel to a second end of the channel 150 along the length of the channel; or tapering from a first and/or second end of the channel 150 to a section of the channel located between the first and second ends of the channel 150.

Figure 3 shows a holder 100 comprising a first portion 110 slidably moveable in a second portion 120 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The first portion 110 comprises a first elastomeric material and a channel 150; and the second portion 120 comprises a rigid material and is arranged, in use, to engage the first portion 110 whereby a rigid support for the first portion 110 is provided. Suitably, the first elastomeric material is foam based material and/or a polyethylene based polymer and the rigid material comprises a metallic and/or plastic material.

It is understood that any description made in relation to the holder 100 with reference to FIG 1 and/or 2 also describes the first portion 110 according to this embodiment.

The second portion 120 comprises a hollow portion; a part of the first portion 110 is arranged, in use, to be inserted into the hollow portion whereby a breadth/dimension of the inserted part of the first portion 110 is restricted by the hollow portion; and a breadth/diameter of the channel 150 in the inserted part of the first portion 110 is reduced so that a channel wall therein abuts against a part 199 of the cosmetic brush 190 retained herein with an increased force.

The first elastomeric material forms part of the first portion 110 so that a part thereof extending beyond an opening of the second portion 120 expands beyond a breadth of the opening of the second portion 120 as shown in FIG 3. The elastomeric and/or expandable property of the first portion 110 provides for a part 199 of the cosmetic brush 190, such as a handle portion, to be slotted into the channel 150 of the first portion 110 with relative ease. The expanded part of the first portion 110 takes on a less dense form due to the expansion thereof which also makes a first opening 155 of the channel 150 to expand, whereby the part 199 of the cosmetic brush 190 can be inserted through the first opening 155 with relative ease. A subsequent sliding in of the elastomeric and/or expandable first portion 110, with the part 199 of the cosmetic brush 190 retained in the channel 150 thereof, into the second portion 120 via the opening contracts/squeezes the first portion 110 in, whereby the first portion 110 takes a denser form so that a breadth/diameter of the channel 150 is reduced. This reduction of the channel 150 breadth/diameter causes a channel wall to abut against a surface of the part 199 of the cosmetic brush 190 with a greater force so that the cosmetic brush 190 is retained in a fixed position relative to the first portion 110 and/or the second portion 120.

According to an alternative embodiment, the second portion 120 comprises an outer channel and the first portion 110 is arrangeable to be slidably moveable therein so that the first portion 110 is arrangeable to retain and/or hold a part 199 of a cosmetic brush 190 in the channel 150 of the first portion 110. In this embodiment, the outer channel can be shaped to have a standardised size/breadth/diameter whilst the first portion's channel 150 is arranged to have varying sizes/breadths/diameters suitable for each of cosmetic brush sizes. According to an embodiment, the second portion 120 comprises more than one outer channel and the first portion 110 comprises an elastomeric insert for each of the outer channels of the second portion 120.

According to a yet another embodiment, when in use, the second portion 120 provides for a rigid core arrangeable to be inserted into a central axis of the first portion 110 whereby it provides fora rigid support for the holder 100.

Figure 4 shows the holder 100 described with reference to FIGs 1A-3 comprising a first portion 110 and a second portion 120 with a pair of cosmetic brushes 190 retained therein, wherein the holder 100 is standing on its own according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The holder 100 comprises a planar surface or a flat edge 170 located on a surface of the holder 100, the first portion 110 and/or the second portion 120, away from a first opening of the holder 100, whereby the holder 100 is arrangeable to stand on its own with the bristles 195 extending away from the planar surface or the flat edge 170. The planar surface or the flat edge 170, when in use, contacts another surface 175 to enable the holder 100 to be rested and/or balanced on the surface 175. This enables the holder 100 to be rested on a surface 175 of a table or any other medium once a cleaning process has been completed. If the cleaning process comprises use of cleaning agent, this also enables the holder 100 to stand own so that the bristles 195 can be dried of the cleaning agent and/or any liquid without any contact to the surface 175. This reduces any deformation of, and/or damage to, the bristles 195 during the drying process.

Figure 5 shows a cleaner 200 comprising an agitator 250 wherein the agitator comprises a plurality of paddles 255 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Suitably, the paddles 255 comprise a second elastomeric material. Preferably, the second elastomeric material is a silicone based material.

The elastomeric property of the paddle 255 ensures the paddles 255 is arrangeable to deform when the agitator is rotating and/or the paddle 255 is in contact with bristles 195 of a cosmetic brush 190 so that any chance of a damage to and/or a deformation of the bristles from an excess contact force exerted by the paddle 255 is reduced.

According to an embodiment, the cleaner 200 comprises a motor 295 having a rotor; the agitator 250 comprises at least one paddle 255; and the rotor is operable to rotate the agitator 250 to provide mechanical agitation. The agitator 250 of FIG S comprises four paddles 255 which, in use, are arrangeable to contact bristles 195 of a cosmetic brush 190 to provide mechanical agitation, which in turn cleans and/or removes the bristles 195 of any undesired material such as remaining make-up material or skin cells. The agitator 250 further comprises a button and/or switch 290 arranged to control a power supply to the motor whereby the motor is operable to be switched on/off or be switched on with a range of speeds of rotor rotation.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the cleaner 200 further comprises a cleaning chamber 210; and the cleaning chamber 210 is arrangeable to at least partially be filled with a cleaning agent. Suitably, the cleaning agent is isopropyl based alcohol or a standard cleaning liquid, shampoo, washing liquid or any agent capable of cleaning/removing undesired material from the bristles 195 of the cosmetic brush 190.

It is understood that the agitator 250 may also agitate the cleaning agent whereby an engagement between the cleaning agent and the bristles 195 provides the mechanical agitation for the cleaning of the cosmetic brush 190. It is also understood that a number of paddles 255 of the agitator 250 can be varied depending on properties of the cosmetic brush to be cleaned and/or configurations used in the implementations of the present invention.

Figure 6 shows the holder 100 of FIGs 1A-4 being coupled to the cleaner 200 of FIG 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The holder 100 comprises a first coupling portion 180 and the first coupling portion 180 is arranged, in use, to engage the cleaner 200 so that the holder 100 can be coupled to the cleaner 200. The cleaner 200 comprises a second coupling portion 280 and the first coupling portion 180 is arranged, in use, to engage the second coupling portion 280 whereby the holder 100 is coupled to the cleaner 200. Since a cosmetic brush 190 is retained in a fixed position by a channel 150 of the holder 100, this coupling between the holder 100 and the cleaner 200 provides for the cosmetic brush to be retained in a fixed position relative to the cleaner 200 as well so that bristles 195 of the cosmetic brush 190 extending beyond a first opening 155 of the channel 150 can, in use, be in contact with the agitator 250 to provide mechanical agitation.

Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the holder of Figures 3-4 coupled to the cleaner of Figure 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When the first coupling portion 180 engages the second coupling portion 280 to couple the holder 100 to the cleaner 200, the channel 150 is arranged to retain a cosmetic brush 190 in a fixed position relative to the cleaner 200 so that bristles 195 of the cosmetic brush 190 extends beyond a first opening 155 of the channel 150 so that the agitator 250 can contact the bristles 195. This contact between the agitator 250 and the bristles 195 provides mechanical agitation for cleaning the bristles 195.

The cosmetic brush 190 is retained/held in the fixed position by an engagement between a surface of a part 199 of the cosmetic brush 190 and a channel wall of the channel 150. The surface of the part 199 of the cosmetic brush, such as a handle portion of the cosmetic brush 190, engages and/or abuts against the channel wall so that a force, such as friction, therebetween retains/holds the cosmetic brush 190 in place relative to the channel 150, the holder 100 and/or the cleaner 200 even when mechanical agitation between the bristles 195 and the agitator 250 makes it difficult to retain/hold the cosmetic brush 190 in the fixed position.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the cleaner 200 further comprises a cleaning chamber 210. The agitator 250 is located in the cleaning chamber 210 and, when in use, at least a part of the bristles 195 is introduced into the cleaning chamber 210 and held in place inside the cleaning chamber 210 by the holder 100 so that the agitator 250 can engage/contact the bristles 195 to provide mechanical agitation. It is understood that the cleaning chamber 210 may also be arrangeable to at least partially be filled with a cleaning agent such as an isopropyl based alcohol or standard cleaning liquid/shampoo/washing liquid.

According to an embodiment, the agitator 250 agitates the cleaning agent in the cleaning chamber 210 and the agitated cleaning agent engages the bristles 195 to provide for mechanical agitation for cleaning the bristles 195.

According to an embodiment, the first coupling portion 180 comprises an edge of the holder 100 (either first or second portion 110, 120) arrangeable to extend beyond the first opening 155 when in use and the second coupling portion 280 comprises an opening to a cavity of the cleaner 200. The opening is shaped to receive the edge of the holder 100 so that an outer surface of the edge is arrangeable, in use, to engage a sidewall of the cavity whereby the outer wall of the edge abuts against the sidewall of the cavity. This abutment between the outer wall of the edge and the sidewall of the cavity provides for a force to couple the holder with the cleaner 200.

It is understood that the cavity may be the cleaning chamber 210 or a separate cavity on the cleaner 200 depending on a specific embodiment of the present invention. It is also understood that according to an alternative embodiment, other means of coupling such as a clip, a slot or others may be put on the first coupling portion 180 and/or the second coupling portion 280 to detachably couple the holder 100 to the cleaner 200.

FigureS shows the cross-sectional view of the coupled holder 100 and cleaner 200 with a lid portion 300 attached to the holder 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

According to this embodiment, the holder 100 further comprises a lid portion 300 arranged, in use, to detachably attach to an end of the holder 100 away from the first opening 155. The lid portion 300 comprises a planar surface 370 shaped, in use, to face away from the first opening 155 so that the holder 100, once detached/decoupled from the cleaner 200, can stand on its own with the bristles 195 extending away from the planar surface 370 of the lid portion 300 in a similar orientation to that shown in FIG 4. This provides for the washed brushes 190 to be held/retained upside down and dried after the cleaning has taken place.

According to an embodiment, the lid portion 300 also comprises an inner lid portion 310.

The inner lid portion 310 comprises an elastomeric material to receive and abut against an end 198 of the cosmetic brush 190 when in use so that the abutment between the inner lid portion 310 and the end 198 of the cosmetic brush 190, and the abutment between the channel wall of the channel 150 and the surface of the part 199 of the cosmetic brush 190 retained in the channel 150, retain/hold the cosmetic brush 190 in the fixed position relative to the holder 100, the cleaner 200 and/or the lid portion 300.

Figure 9 shows the agitator 250 of Figure 5 in use wherein the paddles 255 engage the bristles 195 of the cosmetic brush 190 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As described with reference to Figure 5, according to an embodiment, the paddles 255 are made from an elastomeric material so that when engaging and/or in contact with soft bristles 195, the paddles 255 deform to reduce the risk of any damage or deformation to the soft bristles 195. Further, the first portion 110 of the holder 100 comprises an elastomeric material so that the elastomeric material can, in use, absorb any vibrations from mechanical agitation being applied to the bristles 195 by the paddles 255. This provides for a restricted displacement of the cosmetic brushes 190 during the cleaning process whereby the cosmetic brushes 190 are retained/held in the fixed position.

Figure 10 shows alternative types of agitators 251, 259 according to alternative embodiments of the present invention.

A frist agitator 251 comprises a first wheel 252A, a second wheel 252B and a loop 253.

The loop 253 comprises a plurality of ridges 254 and the loop 253 is looped around the first wheel 252A and the second wheel 252B so that a rotation of the first wheel 252A and/or the second wheel 252B runs the loop 253 around thereon. As the loop 253 is run, the ridges 254 thereon contact the bristles 195 to provide the mechanical agitation.

According to an alternative embodiment, a first agitator 251 comprises a first wheel 252A, a second wheel 252B and a belt 253. The first wheel 252A and the second wheel 252B are pivoted on a parallel plane about parallel axes and a rotor of a motor 295 is adaptable to rotate the first wheel 252A and/or the second wheel 252B. The belt 253 comprises a plurality of ridges 254 and a engagement/contact between the ridges 254 and the bristles 195 provide the mechanical agitation for cleaning. According to this embodiment, the belt 253 is wrapped around arc segments of circumferences of the first wheel 252A and/or the second wheel 252B whereby a rotary motion of the first wheel 252A and/or the second wheel 252B run the belt so that the ridges 254 can engage and/or contact the bristles 195.

According to an embodiment, a second agitator 259 comprises a plurality of bristles 258 and the mechanical agitation is provided by an engagement/contact between the bristles 258 of the second agitator 259 and the bristles 195 of the cosmetic brush 190.

It is understood that according to an embodiment of the present invention, the agitator 250, the first agitator 251 and/or the second agitator 259 agitates a cleaning agent whereby an engagement between the agitated cleaning agent and the bristles 195 provides the mechanical agitation for cleaning. It is also understood that according to an embodiment of the present invention the cleaner 200 comprises more than one agitator wherein the agitators can be either the same type or different type depending on a specific implementation of the embodiment.

It is understood that depending on the exact implementation of an embodiment, the cosmetic brush 190 may undergo some displacement around the fixed position. However, as long as such displacement does not lead to loss of mechanical agitation on the bristles 195 the cosmetic brush 190 is still considered to be retained/held in the fixed position. Therefore until the bristles 195 is disengaged from the agitator 250 or the paddles 255, i.e. the contact therebetween is lost, the cosmetic brush 190 is considered to be still retained/held in the fixed position.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or siniilar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus comprising a holder and a cleaner wherein: the holder comprises a first elastomeric material and comprises a first coupling portion and at least one channel extending along a part of a length of the holder; the cleaner comprises a second coupling portion and an agitator; the first coupling portion is arranged, in use, to engage the second coupling portion; and the channel is arranged, in use, to retain a cosmetic brush in a fixed position relative to the cleaner so that bristles of the cosmetic brush extends beyond a first opening of the channel so that the agitator can contact the bristles.
2. The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the cleaner comprises a motor having a rotor; the agitator comprises at least one paddle; the rotor is operable to rotate the agitator to provide mechanical agitation; and the contact between the agitator and the bristles provides the mechanical agitation.
3. The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the paddle comprises a second elastomeric material.
4. The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus of any preceding claim wherein the channel tapers along at least a part of a length of the channel to, in use, assist in retaining the cosmetic brush in the fixed position.
5. The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus of any preceding claim wherein: the holder comprises a first portion and a second portion; the first portion comprises the first elastomeric material and the channel; and the second portion comprises a rigid material and is arranged, in use, to engage the first portion whereby a rigid support for the first portion is provided.
6. The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus of claim 5 wherein: the second portion comprises a hollow portion; a part of the first portion is arranged, in use, to be inserted into the hollow portion whereby a dimension of the inserted part of the first portion is restricted by the hollow portion; and a diameter of the channel in the inserted part of the first portion is reduced so that a channel wall therein abuts against a part of the cosmetic brush retained therein with an increased force.
7. The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus of any preceding claim wherein the holder comprises a planar surface or a flat edge located on a surface away from the first opening whereby the holder is arrangeable to stand on its own with the bristles extending away from the planar surface or the flat edge.
8. The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus of any preceding claim wherein: the holder further comprises a lid portion arranged, in use, to detachably attach to an end of the holder away from the first opening; and the lid portion comprises a planar surface shaped, in use, to face away from the first opening, whereby the holder is arrangeable to stand on its own with the bristles extending away from the planar surface of the lid portion.
9. The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus of claim 8 wherein: the lid portion comprises an inner lid portion; and the inner lid portion comprises an elastomeric material to receive and abut against an end of the cosmetic brush when in use.
10. The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus of any preceding claim wherein the agitator comprises a plurality of bristles and mechanical agitation is provided by a contact between the bristles of the agitator and the bristles of the cosmetic brush.
11. The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus of any preceding claim wherein: the agitator comprises a first wheel, a second wheel and a loop; the loop comprises a plurality of ridges; the loop is looped around the first wheel and the second wheel; a rotation of the first wheel and the second wheel runs the loop around thereon; and the ridges contact the bristles to provide mechanical agitation.
12. The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus of any preceding claim wherein: the cleaner further comprises a cleaning chamber; the agitator is located in the cleaning chamber; when in use, at least a part of the bristles is introduced into the cleaning chamber and held in place inside the cleaning chamber by the holder; and the cleaning chamber is arrangeable to at least partially be filled with a cleaning agent.
13. The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the agitator agitates the cleaning agent whereby an engagement between the cleaning agent and the bristles provides mechanical agitation.
14. The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus of any preceding claim wherein the first elastomeric material is foam based.
15. A cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.