JP7459302B2 - brush - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to brushes, and in particular, but not exclusively, to hairbrushes.

The brush may include bristles that are fixed to a flexible cushion. However, repeated use of the brush may cause the bristles to become loose and fall out of the cushion.

The present invention provides a brush comprising a plurality of bristles fixed to a carrier, each bristle having a through hole through which the carrier protrudes.

By providing a through hole through which the carrier protrudes, the possibility that each bristles will pop out of the carrier is reduced. This is particularly true if the carrier is made of relatively soft and/or inert materials.

The carrier can be formed into bristles. This has the advantage that the bristles are better anchored to the carrier and are therefore less likely to fly out of the carrier. Furthermore, the possibility of gaps forming between the bristles and the carrier, which could otherwise trap hair and/or accumulate dirt and other debris, is reduced.

Each bristle may include a root and a shaft extending upwardly from the root. Additionally, the root may include a base and a stem extending upwardly from the base. The base extends outwardly beyond the stem and a through hole is formed in the stem. By having the base extend outwardly beyond the stem, the base provides a surface (eg, annular) that counters upward movement of the bristles relative to the carrier. As a result, it becomes more difficult to pull the bristles out of the carrier.

The stem can include an undercut and a through hole can be formed in the undercut. As a result, the stem provides a surface that opposes the downward movement of the bristles relative to the carrier, thus making it more difficult to push the bristles out of the carrier. The diameter of the through hole may be relatively small. As a result, the part of the carrier that projects into the through-hole can form a relatively thin thread. By forming the through-hole in the undercut, the length of the through-hole and thus the length of the thread of the carrier can be reduced. As a result, the portion of the carrier that passes through the through-hole becomes more robust.

The carrier can be formed from an elastomer. More specifically, the carrier can be formed from silicone rubber. Silicone rubber has the advantage of being relatively inert and therefore less likely to have any adverse effects on the user's scalp. Furthermore, silicone rubber has high thermal stability and excellent chemical resistance. Consequently, the carrier is well suited for use in hairbrushes which may be exposed to high temperatures during hair drying and/or chemicals in the form of hair products.

The carrier may be formed from a material having a Shore A durometer of less than 50. As a result, the carrier is relatively soft, allowing a greater range of movement of the bristles.

Each bristle can include a root and a shaft extending upwardly from the root, the shaft can have a diameter of at least 1.2 mm. The diameter of the shaft may be uniform along the length of the shaft. A relatively thick shaft has the advantage that the bristles are stiffer and therefore less likely to bend or deform during use of the brush. Movement of the bristle is provided by a carrier that deforms in response to forces acting on the bristle.

Each bristle can include a tip formed as a rounded end of a shaft. The bristles of conventional brushes may be relatively thin and have pointed tips. Although this design of bristles can be effective in removing tangles, the brush is generally uncomfortable when the bristles make contact with the scalp. To improve comfort, a ball can be provided at the end of the shaft of each bristle. However, while this may improve comfort, the ball tends to get caught in any tangles. By providing bristles with relatively thick shafts and rounded ends, improved comfort can be achieved without snags. In particular, when the bristle encounters a tangle, the bristle pivots backwards, allowing the tangle to slip off the end of the bristle.

Each bristle can include a root and a shaft extending upwardly from the root. The carrier may surround the root and the shaft may have a length of at least 15 mm. This has the advantage that the bristles can penetrate deeper into the hair. In contrast, brushes with shorter bristles may need to pass over the same area of hair multiple times. As the length of the bristles increases, the likelihood of adjacent bristles colliding during use increases. Thus, the shaft can have a length of 22 mm or less.

Each bristle may have a flexural modulus of at least 1 GPa and/or a flexural stiffness of at least 500 N/m. As a result, the likelihood of the bristles becoming bent or deformed during use of the brush is reduced. Additionally, because the bristles are relatively stiff, they are more likely to pivot at the base, making it easier for tangles to slip off the bristles. In contrast, conventional brush bristles may have much lower flexural modulus and stiffness. The bristles do not pivot during use, but curve or flex. However, the bristles are more susceptible to damage due to bending beyond their elastic limits or fatigue due to repeated bending of the bristles. Additionally, tangles entangled deep within the bristles are more likely to be trapped.

The bristles can be made of metal such as stainless steel or aluminum. The bristles are therefore relatively strong, durable and stiff, reducing the possibility of damage during use or if the brush is accidentally dropped.

The brush can include a frame with a plurality of holes, and each bristles can extend through each hole in the frame. The frame can provide a rigid structure on which the carrier is held. Each bristle extending through a hole in the frame is free to pivot relative to the frame.

The frame can be hyperbolic parabolic in shape. Thus, using bristles of the same length, the bristles form a bed with an upper profile that is also hyperbolic parabolic in shape. The bristle bed may be concave in a direction perpendicular to the brushing direction and convex in a direction parallel to the brushing direction. The concave shape allows the bristles to better adapt to the shape of the user's head, thereby increasing comfort. As the brush is pulled downward through the hair, the user tends to rotate the brush. Having a convex shape in a direction parallel to the brushing direction makes it easier for the hair to penetrate deeper into the bristles, which is useful if the user wants to create higher tension in the hair.

The carrier may be molded into the frame. As a result, gaps between the carrier and the frame can be avoided, which may also trap hair and/or accumulate dirt and other debris.

The brush can include a body and the carrier can be held between the frame and the body at each bristle. That is, the carrier can be held at one or more points around each bristle. Thus, if a particular bristle pivots and the carrier around it deforms, neighboring bristles are better isolated from the deformation. Thus, each bristle can move independently of the other bristle, ie, each bristle can move without moving the other bristle. This has the advantage that when the brush is used on hair and the bristles encounter a tangle, the bristles can pivot to pass the tangle without adjacent bristles converging on the tangle. In contrast, in conventional hairbrushes, when the bristles encounter a tangle, the movement of the bristles causes the cushion to flex, which causes adjacent bristles to gather into the tangle. As a result, it becomes more difficult for tangles to pass through the bristles.

Embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a brush according to the first embodiment. It is an exploded view of a brush. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the brush. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the brush along line AA in FIG. 3; FIG. It is a figure which shows the bristle formation part of a brush. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a brush according to a second embodiment.

The brush 1 of FIGS. 1 to 5 comprises a handle 2 attached to a head 3. The brush 1 of FIGS. The head 3 comprises a body 4, a carrier 5, a plurality of bristles 6, and a frame 7.

The body 4 is formed of a rigid material, such as a thermoplastic, and has a plurality of cylindrical cavities 10 formed in the upper surface of the body 4.

The carrier 5 is made of silicone rubber with a Shore A durometer of about 20-30.

Each bristle 6 comprises a root 20, a tip 21 and a shaft 22 extending from the root 20 to the tip 21. The base 20 includes a base 25, a stem 26 extending upward from the base 25, and a through hole 27 formed in the stem 26. Base 25 extends radially outwardly beyond stem 26, which extends radially outwardly beyond shaft 22. Each bristle shaft 22 is 17 mm long and 1.7 mm in diameter. Furthermore, each bristles 6 are made of stainless steel. Consequently, each bristle 6 is relatively stiff, having a flexural modulus of approximately 193 GPa and a flexural stiffness of approximately 48 kN/m. Flexural stiffness (also called flexural rigidity or bending stiffness) is measured as the cantilever deflection of the tip 21 of the bristle 6 when fixed to the root 20.

Each bristle 6 is fixed to a carrier 5. More specifically, the carrier 5 is molded to the base 20 of each bristle 6 such that a shaft 22 extends protruding from the carrier 5.

The frame 7 is made of a rigid material, such as a thermoplastic, and is provided with a plurality of holes 11. The frame has a hyperbolic paraboloid shape. More specifically, the frame 7 is concave along the length of the head 3 (i.e. perpendicular to the brushing direction) and convex along the width of the head 3 (i.e. parallel to the brushing direction). be. The frame 7 is fixed to the body 4 at one or more points around the periphery of the frame 7, for example by snap-fitting, adhesives or ultrasonic welding.

The carrier 5 is held between the body 4 and the frame 7, with each bristle 6 extending through a respective hole 11 in the frame 7. The carrier 5 is held between the body 4 and the frame 7 such that each bristle 6 is located over a cavity 10 in the body 4. Furthermore, the carrier 5 is held between the body 4 and the frame 7 around each bristle 6.

In response to the pivoting of the bristles 6, the carrier 5 of the root 20 of the bristles 6 deforms. Since the carrier 5 is held between the body 4 and the frame 7 around each bristle 6, adjacent bristles 6 are insulated from deformation of the carrier. That is, deformation of the carrier 5 around the root of one bristle does not deform or shift the carrier 5 around the root of an adjacent bristle. Each bristle 6 thus reacts as if it were fixed to an individual elastomeric bead. In particular, each bristles 6 can pivot independently of all other bristles.

The carrier 5 projects upwardly beyond each hole 11 of the frame 7. More specifically, the carrier 5 can be considered as comprising a plurality of dome-shaped projections, each of which projects beyond a respective hole 11 in the frame 7. By protruding the carrier 5 beyond each hole 11, the pivot point of each bristle 6 is lifted upwards. Furthermore, deformation of the carrier 5 becomes easier. As a result, a larger range of movement can be achieved for each bristles 6.

The bristles 6 extend upwards from the carrier 5 and the frame 7 in mutually parallel directions. As a result, the bristles 6 are neither branched nor converged. The majority of the bristles 6, particularly those forming the central region, are arranged in rows along the length of the head 3, with the bristles 6 in each row being staggered relative to the bristles 6 in the adjacent rows. The bristles 6 have a pitch C1 of 6.5 mm along the length of the head (i.e. perpendicular to the brushing direction) and a pitch C2 of 13 mm along the width of the head (i.e. parallel to the brushing direction).

During use of the brush 1, the bristles 6 penetrate the user's hair. When the brush 1 is pulled downwardly through the hair, the bristles 6 pivot slightly backwards. The bristles 6 are relatively stiff and any movement of the bristles 6 is caused by deformation of the carrier 5. When the bristles 6 encounter a hair tangle, the bristles 6 pivot further back as the brush 1 continues to be pulled downwards. The force applied to the tangle by the bristles 6 is therefore increased. If the entanglement is particularly severe and the force applied by the bristles 6 is not sufficient to untangle, the bristles 6 will eventually pivot to the point where the entanglement slips off the bristles 6. As a result, the brush 1 can pass through the hair without causing significant discomfort to the user. Brush 1 can then be used for subsequent passes of hair, each pass detangling more tangles. Importantly, each time the brush 1 passes, the bristles 6 continue to pivot backwards, allowing the tangles to pass if the force becomes excessive. As a result, discomfort caused by tension in tangled bristles can be avoided.

Each bristle 6 pivots independently from the other bristles. This has the advantage that when the bristles encounter a tangle, they can pivot to allow the tangle to pass through without adjacent bristles converging on the tangle. In contrast, in conventional hairbrushes, when the bristles encounter a tangle and pivot backwards, the movement of the bristles causes the cushion to flex, which causes adjacent bristles to gather into the tangle. As a result, it becomes more difficult for tangles to pass through the bristles.

The frame 7 has a hyperbolic paraboloid shape. The bristles 6 of the same length form a bed with an upper profile that is also hyperbolic parabolic in shape. The bristle bed is concave along the length of the head, ie perpendicular to the brushing direction, and convex along the width of the head, ie parallel to the brushing direction. As a result of the concave shape, the bristles 6 better adapt to the shape of the user's head, thereby increasing comfort. As the brush 1 is pulled downward through the hair, the user tends to rotate the wrist and thus the brush 1. Having a convex shape in a direction parallel to the brushing direction makes it easier for the hair to penetrate deeper into the bristles 6, which is useful when the user wants to generate higher tension in the hair.

The majority of bristles 6 have pitches C1 and C2 of 6.5 mm and 13.0 mm, respectively. The bristles 6 therefore have a smaller pitch perpendicular to the brushing direction. As a result, good alignment of the hair can be achieved. That is, the bristles capture and condition more hair strands. In contrast, if a larger pitch is employed, more hairs will pass between the bristles and maintain their original disordered orientation. A smaller pitch perpendicular to the brushing direction has the additional advantage that because of the greater number of bristles, fewer passes are generally required to detangle the hair. On the other hand, having a larger pitch parallel to the brushing direction allows a wider range of bristle movement without the bristles colliding with each other. If a smaller pitch is used, if a particular bristle encounters a tangle and pivots backwards, the bristle may collide with an adjacent bristle directly behind it. In this case, adjacent bristles may prevent the tangle from slipping off the bristles. Of course, other pitches of the bristles 6 are also possible. However, staggered bristles with a vertical pitch C1 of 5 mm to 8 mm and a parallel pitch C2 of 10 mm to 16 mm are combined with the desire to provide a high bristle count to improve the brushing effect and to improve comfort. It has been found to provide a good balance between the desire to avoid bristle collisions.

The bristles 6 extend upwardly in mutually parallel directions. As a result, the ability of the bristles 6 to cope with tangles and penetrate the hair is improved. Traditional brushes often have bristles that flare outward. As a result, when the bristles at the tip of the brush encounter a tangle, the bristles must pivot or bend at a greater angle to pass the tangle. This makes brushing the tangles more difficult. Additionally, the bristles at the back of the brush do not penetrate the hair as deeply. In contrast, by having bristles 6 extending in the same direction (i.e. bristles that are neither branched nor convergent), the bristles 6 at the tip of the brush 1 will move through a smaller angle when encountering a tangle, while The rear bristles 6 of the brush 1 are able to penetrate deeper into the hair.

Each bristle 6 has a flexural modulus of approximately 193 GPa and a flexural stiffness of approximately 48 kN/m. As a result, the possibility that the bristles 6 will bend or deform during use of the brush 1 is reduced. Furthermore, because the bristles 6 are relatively stiff, they are more likely to pivot at the base, which makes it easier for tangles to slip off the bristles 6. In contrast, conventional brush bristles can have much lower bending stiffness. In normal use, the bristles do not pivot, but curve or bend. However, this type of bristles is more likely to be damaged due to bending beyond its elastic limit and fatigue due to repeated bending of the bristles. Additionally, tangles entangled deep within the bristles are more likely to be captured.

The bristles 6 of the brush 1 are made of stainless steel, which further reduces the possibility of damage, especially if the bristles 6 are exposed to high temperatures during drying or to chemicals in hair products. Furthermore, the surface of the bristles 6 may be polished to reduce friction, which helps reduce static electricity within the hair.

Despite the aforementioned advantages, bristles of other materials and/or flexural modulus and stiffness may also be used. In particular, the bristles may be formed of other metals such as aluminum, which continues to provide relatively high flexural modulus and stiffness. Alternatively, the bristles may be formed of glass-reinforced nylon, which is relatively close to human hair on the triboelectric series. As the flexural modulus and stiffness of the bristles decrease, the aforementioned benefits diminish. The bristles may therefore have a flexural modulus of at least 1 GPa and/or a flexural stiffness of at least 500 N/m.

The shaft 22 of each bristle 6 has a diameter of 1.7 mm. Furthermore, the diameter of each bristle 6 is uniform along the length of the shaft 22. This relatively large diameter is partially responsible for achieving the relatively high bending stiffness of the bristles 6. However, bristles 6 having a relatively large diameter have further advantages. In particular, the tip 21 of the bristles 6 can be formed as a rounded end of the shaft 22. The bristles of a conventional brush can be relatively thin with a pointed tip. Although this type of bristles can be relatively effective in removing tangles, such brushes are generally uncomfortable when the bristles contact the scalp. To improve comfort, the shaft of each bristle can be provided with a ball at the end. However, while this can improve comfort, the ball tends to get caught on any tangles. In contrast, by having bristles 6 that include a relatively thick shaft and have rounded ends, improved comfort can be achieved without getting caught. Bristles with other diameters can also be used, which can be uniform or tapered. However, by using bristles with a shaft diameter of at least 1.2 mm at the tip, a relatively comfortable condition can be achieved without the need for balls or other features that can get caught in the hair.

The shaft 22 of each bristle 6 has a length of 17 mm. As a result, a better penetration of the bristles 6 into the hair can be achieved and therefore fewer passages of the brush 1 through the hair are required. Again, bristles 6 with other shaft lengths can also be used. However, as the length of the shaft 22 is reduced, the penetration of the bristles 6 into the hair is reduced. The shaft 22 of each bristle 6 can thus have a length of at least 15 mm. The increased length of shaft 22 increases the likelihood that adjacent bristles will collide during use. In particular, when a seta encounters a tangle and pivots backwards, if the seta is excessively long, it can collide with an adjacent seta directly behind it, and this is due to the fact that not only the length of seta 6 , depends on the pitch of the bristles 6. However, for the pitches mentioned above, the shaft of each bristle 6 may have a length of 22 mm or less.

The carrier 5 projects upwardly beyond each hole 11 in the frame 7, which, as mentioned above, facilitates a wider movement of the bristles 6. In the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 6, the carrier 5 projects beyond the frame 7 by 0.85 mm and 5 mm, respectively. As a result of protruding beyond the frame 7, the carrier 5 necessarily comes into contact with the hair. Static electricity may be generated due to friction between the carrier 5 and the hair. Furthermore, if the carrier 5 protrudes too far beyond the frame 7, the carrier 5 may drag in hair, or worse, the carrier 5 may trap or trap hair between adjacent protrusions. there is a possibility. The carrier 5 can therefore protrude beyond each hole 11 of the frame 7 by a distance of less than 5 mm. More specifically, the carrier 5 can protrude beyond each hole 11 of the frame 7 by a distance of less than 1 mm. This has the advantage of increasing the range of movement of the bristles 6 without disadvantageously dragging or trapping hair.

The carrier 5 is made of silicone rubber. Since silicone rubber is relatively inert, it is less likely to have any adverse effects on the user's scalp. Furthermore, silicone rubber has high thermal stability and excellent chemical resistance. Consequently, the carrier 5 is suitable for use in hairbrushes which may be exposed to high temperatures during drying of the hair and/or chemicals in the form of hair products. However, silicone rubber is not without its drawbacks. For example, silicone rubber is relatively expensive and, due to its inertness, can be difficult to bond to bristles. Therefore, other materials, in particular other elastomers, can be used for the carrier 5.

The carrier 5 is made of a relatively soft material having a Shore A durometer of approximately 20-30. As a result, a relatively large range of movement is achieved for the bristles 6. However, materials with different Shore A durometers may be used, and good range of motion can be achieved even with materials having a Shore A durometer of less than 50.

The brush 1 comprises a cavity 10 located beneath each bristle 6. This has the advantage that when each bristle 6 pivots, the root 20 of the bristle 6 is free to move into the cavity 10. In contrast, if no cavity is provided, when the bristles 6 pivot, the roots 20 of the bristles 6 are lifted upwards on one side. In that case, the carrier 5 will protrude further into the hair, which may be undesirable for the reasons mentioned above.

The carrier 5 is shaped into bristles 6. This has the advantage that the bristles 6 are better fixed by the carrier 5 and are therefore less likely to fly out of the carrier 5 during use. This is especially true if the carrier 5 is made of a soft and inert material, such as silicone rubber. A further advantage of shaping the carrier 5 into bristles 6 is that gaps are formed between the carrier 5 and the bristles 6 that can trap hair and/or accumulate dirt and other debris. The point is that it is difficult. Consequently, gaps between the carrier 5 and the frame 7 can be avoided, which may also trap hair and/or accumulate dirt and other debris.

The carrier 5 is made of a relatively soft material. As a result, even if the carrier 5 is molded to the bristles 6, the bristles may pop out if they pivot too much. The bristles 6 are therefore provided with features that better secure the bristles 6 to the carrier 5. Each bristles 6 is provided with a through hole 27 through which the carrier 5 protrudes. As a result, each bristles 6 is better secured to the carrier 5. In particular, the bristles 6 can only pop out if the part of the carrier 5 that penetrates the hole 27 breaks. The root 20 of each bristles 6 is provided with a base 25 that extends outwardly beyond the stem 26. The base 25 therefore provides a surface (e.g., annular) that resists upward movement of the bristles 6 relative to the carrier 5. As a result, it is more difficult to pull the bristles 6 out of the carrier 5. The stem 26 includes an undercut and therefore provides a surface that resists downward movement of the bristles 6 relative to the carrier. The diameter of the through hole 27 is relatively small. As a result, the portion of the carrier 5 that protrudes into the through hole 27 forms a relatively thin thread. The through hole 27 is formed in an undercut of the stem 26. As a result, the length of the through hole 27, and therefore the length of the thread of the carrier 5, is reduced. As a result, the portion of the carrier 5 that passes through the hole 27 is stronger and less prone to breakage.

Although each bristle 6 is provided with a single through-hole 27, it is contemplated that the bristle 6 may be provided with a pair of orthogonally arranged holes. Thereby, the bristles 6 can be better fixed to the carrier 7. A single through hole can affect the way the bristles pivot. In particular, it may be easier to pivot the bristles in a direction perpendicular to the holes, and more difficult to pivot in a direction parallel to the holes. In this case, the provision of two orthogonal holes can provide a more uniform movement of the bristles.

Although the frame 7 is made of a rigid material, it is relatively thin and has a large open area. As a result, frame 7 is relatively flexible. The base 4 therefore needs to provide structural strength to the brush 1. However, it is contemplated that if the frame 7 is stiffer (e.g. thicker), the base 4 may be omitted. The carrier 5 is then molded or bonded to the frame 7. By gluing the carrier 5 to the frame 7 around each bristle 6, the brush 1 continues to have the advantages mentioned above. In particular, each bristle 6 will continue to pivot independently of the other bristle.

FIG. 6 shows another brush 30 which is identical in many respects to the brush 1 of FIGS. 1-5. However, the carrier 5 of the brush 30 has a different profile. In particular, the carrier 5 protrudes further beyond each hole in the frame 7. Rather than the relatively shallow projections seen in FIG. 4, the carrier 5 may include a plurality of conical projections extending upwardly beyond each hole. The protrusion resembles an elastomeric nozzle found on some showerheads. Each bristle 6 is then fixed at the apex of each protrusion. The carrier 5 continues to be held between the body 4 and the frame 7 so that each bristle 6 continues to pivot independently of the other bristle.

In the brush 1 of FIGS. 1 to 5, when the bristles 6 pivot, the carrier 5 surrounding the bristles 6 is compressed and stretched. Consequently, in order to achieve a wide range of movement of the bristles 6, a relatively soft material is required. In the brush 30 of Figure 6, when the bristles 6 pivot, the carrier 5 curves or folds at the protrusion. Therefore, the same range of movement of the bristles 6 can be achieved using a more rigid material for the carrier 5.

The bristles 6 may be secured to the carrier 5 in the same way as described above for the brushes of FIGS. 1 to 5. In particular, the carrier 5 may be shaped into bristles 6 and each bristle 6 may be provided with a through hole 27 into which the carrier 5 projects. By using a harder material for the carrier 5, there is less chance of the bristles 6 popping out during use. In fact, the bristles 6 can be well fixed to the carrier 5 without having to provide through holes 27 in the bristles 6.

By using a more rigid material for the carrier 5, the bristles 6 can be fixed to the carrier 5 in another way. For example, each bristle 6 can be pushed through the carrier 5. This simplifies the manufacture of the brush 30.

Although specific embodiments have been described, it will be appreciated that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. For example, although the brush described herein is a hairbrush, many of the features can also be used with other types of brushes.

Claims (14)

A brush comprising a plurality of bristles fixed to a carrier, each bristle being able to pivot independently of all other bristles, the carrier being such that the carrier surrounds the root of each bristle. A brush molded into said bristles, each bristle comprising a through hole, said carrier protruding into said through hole to provide additional structure for securing each bristle to said carrier. each bristle including a root and a shaft extending upwardly from the root;
the root includes a base and a stem extending upwardly from the base;
the base extends outwardly beyond the stem;
the through hole is formed in the stem;
The brush according to claim 1 . The brush according to claim 2 , wherein the stem includes an undercut in which the through hole is formed. The brush according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the carrier is made of silicone rubber. the carrier is formed from a material having a Shore A durometer of less than 50;
The brush according to any one of claims 1 to 4 . A brush according to any preceding claim, wherein each bristle includes a root and a shaft extending upwardly from the root, the shaft having a diameter of at least 1.2 mm . 7. The brush of claim 6 , wherein each bristle includes a tip formed as a rounded end of the shaft. A brush according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each bristle comprises a root and a shaft extending upwardly from the root , the shaft having a length of at least 15 mm. A brush according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein each bristle has a flexural modulus of at least 1 GPa or a flexural stiffness of at least 500 N/m. A brush according to any preceding claim, wherein the bristles are formed from metal . A brush according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the brush comprises a frame containing a plurality of holes, each bristle passing through a respective hole in the frame. 12. The brush of claim 11 , wherein the frame is hyperbolic parabolic in shape. A brush according to claim 11 or 12 , wherein the carrier is molded into the frame. A brush according to any one of claims 11 to 13 , wherein the brush comprises a body and the carrier is held at each bristle between the frame and the body.

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