GB2554839A

GB2554839A - A retainer for retaining a brush by a handle end while spinning

Info

Publication number: GB2554839A
Application number: GB1800096.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Etienne Pellereau Thomas
Original assignee: Aventom Ltd
Current assignee: Aventom Ltd
Priority date: 2017-06-28
Filing date: 2018-01-04
Publication date: 2018-04-11
Anticipated expiration: 2038-01-04
Also published as: EP3420850A1; GB201800096D0; CN108542096A; GB2554839B; US20190000224A1; AU2019264686A1; JP2019005585A; GB201710374D0; AU2018204621A1; WO2019002863A1; JP6501956B2

Abstract

A retainer 24a-h for retaining a handle end of a brush comprises an end attachable to a mount 28a-h and another end 26a-h having a collar to which the handle end of the brush can be secured. The collar includes one or more indentations (144, figure 4iv; 214, figure 11iv) and/or holes (172, figure 7iv; 204, figure 10iv) for facilitating the securing of the handle end in the collar by allowing the collar to be stretched over the handle. When the handle end is secured in the collar, spinning of the mount causes spinning of the brush about its length. The indentations may be provided on an interior or exterior surface of the collar and may consist of elongate channels or grooves extending along the length of the collar. In an alternative embodiment, protrusions (154, figure 5iv; 164, figure 6iv) may be provided on an interior surface to improve gripping of the handle within the collar.

Description

(54) Title ofthe Invention: A retainer for retaining a brush by a handle end while spinning Abstract Title: Brush cleaning and drying device (57) A retainer 24a-h for retaining a handle end of a brush comprises an end attachable to a mount 28a-h and another end 26a-h having a collar to which the handle end of the brush can be secured. The collar includes one or more indentations (144, figure 4iv; 214, figure 11 iv) and/or holes (172, figure 7iv; 204, figure 10iv) for facilitating the securing of the handle end in the collar by allowing the collar to be stretched over the handle. When the handle end is secured in the collar, spinning ofthe mount causes spinning ofthe brush about its length. The indentations may be provided on an interior or exterior surface of the collar and may consist of elongate channels or grooves extending along the length ofthe collar. In an alternative embodiment, protrusions (154, figure 5iv; 164, figure 6iv) may be provided on an interior surface to improve gripping ofthe handle within the collar.

FIG. 2A

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

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A RETAINER FOR RETAINING A BRUSH BY A HANDLE END WHILE SPINNING

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a retainer for retaining a handle of a brush, particularly a makeup brush, such that the brush can be spun by an electric motor.

Background

Used makeup brushes harbour bacteria. Such bacteria may be harmful to skin or to the general health of users of such makeup brushes, particularly as makeup brushes are typically used to apply makeup to the face, where skin is delicate.

Details of detrimental health effects due to use of dirty makeup brushes are not well known. Transmission of MRSA has been attributed to sharing of makeup brushes. In addition, the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety advises that products used around the eye should have no more than 100-200 CFU/g (colony-forming units per gram) of mesophilic microorganisms (bacteria plus yeast and mould). The inventor tested thirty-five makeup brushes from consumers, professional and beauty counters in shops. Eighteen of the brushes tested had a CFU/g count above 200. Eleven of these brushes had a CFU count exceeding 2000. Three of these brushes had a CFU count exceeding 20000.

Beauticians, makeup artists and dermatologists advocate regular cleaning of makeup brushes. However, cleaning makeup brushes is a chore that many people do not choose to do.

A makeup brush includes a fibrous end having a tightly packed bunches of bristles. Makeup and bacteria can become located between the bristles and thus to clean properly a makeup brush it is necessary to part the bristles. Also, makeup brushes are expensive and cleaning should be done carefully so as not to damage the bristles or detach them from the brush.

A common method of cleaning is to put a cleaning solution onto a tissue and then to rub the bristles against the tissue. However, this method often closes the brush up rather than opening the brush out and is not effective at cleaning the brush. The brush can also be damaged as the rubbing may permanently bend the bristles.

Another common method is to spray cleaning solution onto a brush. In this case, the spray penetrates the brush poorly and the method is thus ineffective at removing makeup from the centre of the brush.

Another common method is to wash a brush under a tap and to rub the brush between finger and thumb. This can damage the glue that binds the bristles together.

Another method involves pushing the brush against a dimpled surface. This may be effective at spreading the bristles, but a consequence may be that makeup is forced deeper into the brush, rather than being made to come out.

Brushes are difficult to dry due to the high combined surface area of the bristles, high surface tension and due to fibres being located closely together. Thus not only is washing of brushes a problem, but also drying. Drying of brushes may require 12 to 36 hours, and the brushes should not be used during this time. Heat cannot usually be used in drying of brushes since the glue that binds the fibres together softens or melts, causing fibres to separate from the brush. Heat may also damage the fibres, causing them to be bent out of shape. One possible way of addressing this is to have several of each kind of makeup brush. However, this may be expensive. Even then, makeup or beauty counters may serve hundreds of people each day. The makeup brushes used cannot easily be washed and dried after each use. A basin to wash them in may also not be available.

Brushes may be washed in alcohol. Alcohol evaporates faster than water, reducing drying time. However, alcohol may damage the fibres, causing them to break off. Odour of brushes after washing with alcohol may also be undesirable.

Brushes may also be sprayed with sanitiser to sterilise them. However, sprayed on sanitiser often does not penetrate through the end of the fibrous brush end.

A solution, which the inventor devised, that is effective at cleaning makeup brushes is to attach a handle of a makeup brush to a motorised device, which can be operated to spin the brush about its length. The fibrous end of the brush can then be spun in a cleaning liquid and then spun in air for drying. In order to attach the handle to the motorised device, the motorised device includes a mount attached to an end of a rotatable drive shaft, and a connector piece is used to couple the mount to the brush handle, such that the brush extends lengthwise with an axis of the drive shaft.

Such a device has to be able to retain and spin brushes of many different shapes and sizes. Accordingly, it is known to provide such a motorised device with several brush retainers, each configured to accommodate a brush of a different size. Each retainer can be removed from the device and replaced with another.

Unfortunately, sometimes brushes come loose from known retainers. Also, sometimes it is difficult to remove the brush from a retainer. It is an object of the present invention to address such problems.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a retainer for retaining a handle end of a brush, comprising: an end attachable to a mount; another end comprising a collar to which the handle end of the brush can be secured, wherein the collar has one or more indentations, holes and/or protrusions therein or thereon, for facilitating the securing of the handle end in the collar, wherein, when the handle end is secured in the collar, spinning of the mount causes spinning of the brush about its length.

Preferred and/or optional features of the retainer are set out in the dependent claims. There is also provided a kit comprising a plurality of such retainers. There is yet further provided a motorised device comprising such a retainer.

Brief Description of the Figures

For better understanding of the present invention, embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying Figures in which:

Figures 1A to C are respectively front side, plan and underside view of a device in accordance with embodiments;

Figure 2A to C are respectively perspective, cross-sectional and end views of brush retainers;

Figure 3 A shows diagrammatically parts of the device;

Figure 3B is a view of a bowl for retaining cleaning liquid;

Figure 4i is a view of an end of a brush retainer in accordance with an embodiment, the end being that into which an end of a makeup brush can be inserted;

Figure 4ii is a side view of the retainer, with a cross-section being indicated with broken lines;

Figure 4iii is a cross-sectional view of the retainer on a diameter of the retainer;

Figure 4iv is a perspective view of the retainer;

Figures 5i to 5iv, 6i to 6iv, 7i to 7iv, 8i to 8iv, 9i to 9iv, lOi to lOiv, 1 li to 1 liv, are 12i to 12iv are views of brush retainers in accordance with various different embodiments of the invention, where the particular views correspond respectively to those of Figures 4i to 4iv;

Figure 13i is an end view of a brush retainer in accordance with another embodiment having a concertinaed configuration, the end view being from an end in which a handle end of a brush is located;

Figure 13ii is a side view of the retainer;

Figure 13iii is a cross-sectional view of the retainer;

Figure 13iv is an end view of the brush retainer from another end thereof;

Figures 13v is a perspective view of the brush retainer; and

Figures 14i to 14v are views of another brush retainer in accordance with another embodiment having a different concertinaed configuration, where the particular views correspond respectively to those of Figures 13i to 13v.

Detailed Description of Embodiments

Embodiments of the invention relate to a retainer for retaining a handle end of a brush so that the brush can be spun by a motorised device about its length.

The device is intended for use with makeup brushes, but use of the device is not limited to such. The device may be used with paint brushes, for example. The device may be used generally for cleaning of ends of certain elongate implements or other members, particularly where spinning is beneficial.

In embodiments, the brush is retained for spinning in a cleaning liquid and then in air to dry. The cleaning liquid may be of any suitable liquid. For example, the cleaning solution may be a water based soap solution, or alcohol based.

The device may be used to clean brushes of various sizes and shapes. When attached to the device, a brush is spun about its length.

Referring to Figure 1 A, in an embodiment the device includes an elongate body 10, a user control in the form of a button 12, a first light 14, a second light 16, and a mount

18. The mount 18 is for attachment of a brush to the device using a retainer. The mount 18 comprises a base 22 and a cross-shaped mounting piece 20, as also indicated in Figure IB.

Referring to Figures 2A, several brush retainers are shown at 24a-h. A collar portion, in the form of brush grip end 26a-h, of each retainer is configured to receive and retain a handle end of a brush. Each of the retainers is sufficiently resilient and flexible in order to securely retain handle ends of a limited range of different sizes. Together the brush retainers 24a-h can retain a wide variety of shapes of brush handle ends. Each retainer 24a-h is configured to securely retain a brush handle end such that the associated brush can be spun by a motorised device.

As can be understood from Figures 2B and 2C, each retainer 24a-h has a mount end 28a-h. Each mount end 28a-h has a hole therein of the same or similar size and shape, and is for mounting on the mounting piece 20 of the mount 18. The hole of the retainers 24c-h has a square cross-section. The mount 18 and each mount end 28a are respectively shaped to cooperate so that the respective retainer can be detachably secured to the mounting piece 20. The retainers can each be pushed onto the mounting piece 20 and, due to the nature of the material from which the retainers are made and the shape of the mounting piece 20, the retainers 24a-h remain fixedly located on the mounting piece 20 during spinning of a brush. The retainers may be made from rubber. Each of the retainers 24a-h provides a generally cylindrical interior surface against which the handle of a makeup brush grips, where the interior surface has a plurality of grooves 25 therein extending lengthwise with respect to the retainer. The groove may taper from the opening of the brush grip end 26a-h, to the mount end 28a-h

As can be seen in Figures 1A and IB, the mounting piece 20 has a cross-shaped cross section. Usefully, this allows air to access the interior of an attached retainer and prevents a vacuum effect within the retainer preventing removal of the attached retainer and/or brush. The cross-shaped mounting piece 20 bulges at an end thereof remote from the body 10 of the device. In other words a diameter across the cross shaped piece tapers from a remote end thereof towards the motorised device. This helps with securing of the mounting piece 20.

The device contains a battery, which is accessible through a cap 30 in a base 32 of the device, as indicated in Figure 2C.

Referring to Figure 3 A, the device also includes a microcontroller 40, an electric motor 42 and the battery 44, all operatively coupled. The first and second lights 14, 16 and the button 12 are also operatively coupled to the microcontroller 40.

The microcontroller 40 comprises a processor 46, a memory 48, a clock 50, and input/output interfaces 52 operatively connected by a bus. Computer program codes are stored in the memory which, when executed by the processor, result in the microcontroller 40 having the functionality ascribed to it herein.

The electric motor 42 includes a drive shaft (not shown), which the electric motor 42 is configured to make rotate about an axis thereof. The body 10 has an aperture therein through which the drive shaft extends. The mount 18 is mounted on the drive shaft, and the retainers 24a-h are respectively configured so that a brush retained by a one of the retainers 24a-h is spun about its length, the length being substantially coaxial with the axis of the shaft.

The microcontroller 40 is configured to control the electric motor 42. The button 12 is operable to cause the microcontroller 40 to cause the electric motor 42 to initiate spinning of the drive shaft. The microcontroller 40 is configured to control the first light 14 and the second light 16 to indicate status to the user.

The battery 44 is coupled to the microcontroller 40 and the electric motor 42 to power the device. The battery 44 is in the form of replaceable batteries such as the AA kind, although other types of battery may be used instead. Alternatively, the device can include a charging port enabling connection of an exterior power supply to the battery 44 for charging of the battery 44. The charging port may be configured in any one of a variety of ways. For example, the device may include a micro-USB port. Preferably, such a port is covered during use of the device by an openable seal to prevent the possibility of ingress of cleaning liquid into the charging port. Alternatively, the device may lack a battery, and be connectable to a mains power supply.

The inventor has found that a preferred rate at which the brushes should be spun is between 2300 and 3300 revolutions per minute (rpm). Different brushes for cleaning using the device have different masses. To rotate a brush in this range, the electric motor 42 requires a greater supply of power to spin a heavier brush than a lighter brush. The device is operable, using the button 12, to control the microcontroller 40 to control the supply of power to the electric motor 42. The microcontroller 40 may be configured to control supply of power so that power is supplied to the electric motor 42 at at least two levels.

For example, power may be supplied at a higher level for use with heavier brushes and at a lower level for use with lighter brushes. In this case, the device is operable to select between the higher and lower levels, for example by pushing the button once to start operation of the electric motor 42 at a lower power level and by pushing the button twice in rapid succession to start operation of the electric motor 42 at the higher power level. At the higher power level, the power supplied to the electric motor may be 100% of that that the battery 44 is capable of supplying, and at the lower power level, the power supplied may be 40% thereof.

Referring to Figure 3B, a receptacle in the form of a bowl 50 retains a cleaning liquid. The bowl 50 comprises a lower portion 52, which retains the cleaning liquid, and an upper portion 54 which serves as a spray guard. The upper portion 54 defines a circular aperture through which a fibrous end of a brush is inserted to locate the fibrous end in the cleaning solution. An annular piece of plastic 56 is located around a rim to protect the upper portion 54, since the brush may hit the sides of the aperture in use. The bowl may be transparent, translucent or opaque. Other kinds of receptacle may be used to retain the cleaning liquid, and into which the fibrous end of a brush may be spun using the device.

A preferred cleaning method includes the following steps:

a) Submerging of the fibrous end in the cleaning liquid and preferably pushing the fibrous end against a base of the receptacle containing the cleaning liquid;

b) Spinning the fibrous end in the cleaning liquid;

c) Spinning the fibrous end in air, preferably in a space above the cleaning liquid and below a rim of the receptacle, so that material sprayed from the brush is blocked by the receptacle.

In use, a retainer is selected from the available retainers 24a-h that is a suitable size for a particular brush that it is desired to clean. The selected retainer is then attached to the device by pushing the mounting end of the respective retainer onto the mounting piece

20. Before or after, the handle end of the brush is attached to the handle end of the brush. The brush can then be spun using the device.

Retainers in accordance with embodiments will now be described with reference to the remaining Figures. Like with the retainers shown at 24a-h, each of the retainers has a mount end having a hole for mounting on the mounting piece 20. Also, each of the retainers has a collar portion in the form of a brush grip end. Each of the retainers further has at least one of: one or more indentations and/or one or more protrusions in the brush grip ends thereof.

Referring first to Figures 4i to 4iv, in an embodiment an interior surface 142 of a brush grip end of a retainer 140 has a plurality of spaced dimples 144 therein. These facilitate stretching of the retainer over a handle end of a brush.

Referring to Figures 5i to 5iv, in an embodiment an interior surface 152 of a brush grip end of a retainer 150 has a plurality of spaced projections 154 thereon, to facilitate gripping.

Referring to Figures 6i to 6iv, in an embodiment an interior surface 162 of a brush grip end of a retainer 160 has a plurality of spaced projections 164 thereon, to facilitate gripping. There are a greater number per unit area of the interior surface than on the retainer shown in Figures 5i to 5iv.

Referring to Figures 7i to 7iv, in an embodiment a brush grip end of a retainer 170 has a plurality of slits 172 therein. These facilitate stretching of the retainer over a handle end of a brush.

Referring to Figures 8i to 8iv, in an embodiment an interior surface 182 of a brush grip end of a retainer 180 has a plurality of spaced projections 184 thereon, to facilitate gripping. There are a lesser number per unit area of the interior surface than on the retainer shown in Figures 5i to 5iv.

Referring to Figures 9i to 9iv, in an embodiment an interior surface 194 of a brush grip end of a retainer 190 is knurled or textured, for improved gripping.

Referring to Figures lOi to lOiv, in an embodiment a brush grip end of a retainer 200 has a plurality of holes 204 therethough to facilitate stretching over a handle end of a brush.

Referring to Figures 1 li to 1 liv, in an embodiment a brush grip end of a retainer 210 has a multitude of densely packed dimples 214 therein.

Referring to Figures 12i to 12iv, in an embodiment an interior surface 224, 224a of a brush grip end of a retainer 220 is knurled or textured, for improved gripping. In this case, the knurled or textured surface is discontinuous along the length of the brush grip end.

Referring to Figures 13i to 13v and 14i to 14v, the two retainers shown have a generally concertinaed or corrugated configuration providing flexibility. To achieve the concertinaed or corrugated configuration, each retainer has a plurality of exterior ridges each with a corresponding interior channel, and a plurality of exterior channels each with a corresponding interior ridge. The ridges and channels are lengthwise with respect to the retainer, that is, from an opening of the mount end to an opening of the brush grip end.

The retainer 230 shown in Figures 13i to 13v has eight exterior ridges 232 and thus eight exterior channels 234 between the outer ridges. The retainer 240 shown in Figures 14i to 14v has six exterior ridges 242 and thus six exterior channels 244 between the outer ridges. In each case, the mount end 236, 246 of the respective retainer is configured for mounting on the mounting piece 20. The retainer 230, 240 are resiliently deformable, such that they can be stretched from an unstretched configuration to a stretched configuration in order to locate and retain a handle end of a brush.

In variant embodiments retainers may have another number of outer ridges and outer channels, for example from 4 to 12.

At an opening of the brush grip end of each of the retainers 230, 240, the interior ridge 232, 242 is bevelled, as indicated at 239, 249. This facilitates location of a brush handle end into the brush grip end of the retainer 230, 240.

A result of the concertinaed configuration is that an interior surface of each retainer 230, 240 comprises a plurality of peaks and troughs, a peak being at the apex of each ridge and a trough being at the base of each channel. As indicated at 238 and 248, in a surface between each peak and each tough, a groove is provided, which extends lengthwise parallel to the peaks and troughs. The groove extends midway between each peak and the adjacent trough. Such grooves 238, 248 have been found to improve flexibility of the retainers and help with stretching and gripping.

A kit of a plurality of retainers configured to accommodate different sizes of brush may be provided.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that various modifications are possible to the embodiments.

Embodiments of the invention are not limited to any particular way in which the device is coupled to the drive shaft so that rotational movement is transmitted to the brushes. In variant embodiments, the mounting piece 20 of the motorised device may be otherwise shaped, and the mounting portions configured to engage with the mounting piece 20.

Embodiments of the invention are also not limited to requiring rotation of the brushes. In variant embodiments, the motorised device may be configured to cause a coupled device to move with other than rotational movement, so as to cause that retained brushes to move in a manner that helps cleaning and/or drying effect of the brushes. For example, the movement may be rapid back and forth movement.

Whereas the retainers described above enable spinning of an attached brush about its length, in alternative embodiments the brush may be retained such that it is offset with respect to a spinning axis and rotation of the brush is about the spinning axis. In such case the spinning axis is the axis of the drive shaft.

The applicant hereby discloses in isolation each individual feature or step described herein and any combination of two or more such features, to the extent that such features or steps or combinations of features and/or steps are capable of being carried out based on the present specification as a whole in the light of the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the art, irrespective of whether such features or steps or combinations of features and/or steps solve any problems disclosed herein, and without limitation to the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A retainer for retaining a handle end of a brush, comprising: an end attachable to a mount;

another end comprising a collar to which the handle end of the brush can be secured, wherein the collar has one or more indentations, holes and/or protrusions therein or thereon, for facilitating the securing of the handle end in the collar, wherein, when the handle end is secured in the collar, spinning of the mount causes spinning of the brush about its length.

2. The retainer of claim 1, wherein the one or more indentations are in an interior surface of the collar and/or the one or more protrusions are from an interior surface of the collar.

3. The retainer of claim 1, wherein the one or more indentations are in an exterior surface of the collar and/or the one or more protrusions are from an exterior surface of the collar.

4. The retainer of claim 1, wherein the one or more indentations and/or one or more protrusions are in both an exterior surface and an interior surface of the collar.

5. The retainer of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more indentations comprise a plurality of grooves or dimples.

6. The retainer of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more protrusions comprise a plurality of ridges, knurls, or other projections.

7. The retainer of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more indentations and/or the one or more protrusions comprise a concertinaed configuration, wherein ridges and channels of the concertinaed configuration extend parallel with respect to a length of the collar.

8. The retainer of claim 7, wherein one or more of the ridges in an interior of the collar is bevelled towards an opening of the collar.

9. The retainer of claim 7 or claim 8, wherein one or more surfaces between a peak of a ridge and an adjacent trough of a channel have a groove therein, extending substantially parallel with respect to a length of the peak.

10. The retainer of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a diameter of the collar is between 5 mm and 30 mm.

11. A kit comprising a plurality of retainers, each in accordance with any one of the

10 preceding claims, wherein the retainers are each configured to retain one or more brush handles of different circumferences.

12. A motorised device for spinning brushes, comprising: a mount;

15 a retainer is in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the end is attached to the mount such that the spinning of the mount causes spinning of the brush about its length.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1800096.8