Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D33/00—Containers or accessories specially adapted for handling powdery toiletry or cosmetic substances
  • A45D33/26—Containers or accessories specially adapted for handling powdery toiletry or cosmetic substances combined with other objects
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A46—BRUSHWARE
  • A46B—BRUSHES
  • A46B9/00—Arrangements of the bristles in the brush body
  • A46B9/02—Position or arrangement of bristles in relation to surface of the brush body, e.g. inclined, in rows, in groups
  • A46B9/028—Bristle profile, the end of the bristle defining a surface other than a single plane or deviating from a simple geometric form, e.g. cylinder, sphere or cone
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D34/00—Containers or accessories specially adapted for handling liquid toiletry or cosmetic substances, e.g. perfumes
  • A45D34/04—Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball
  • A45D34/042—Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball using a brush or the like
  • A45D34/045—Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball using a brush or the like connected to the cap of the container
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D40/00—Casings or accessories specially adapted for storing or handling solid or pasty toiletry or cosmetic substances, e.g. shaving soaps or lipsticks
  • A45D40/26—Appliances specially adapted for applying pasty paint, e.g. using roller, using a ball
  • A45D40/262—Appliances specially adapted for applying pasty paint, e.g. using roller, using a ball using a brush or the like
  • A45D40/265—Appliances specially adapted for applying pasty paint, e.g. using roller, using a ball using a brush or the like connected to the cap of the container
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A46—BRUSHWARE
  • A46B—BRUSHES
  • A46B3/00—Brushes characterised by the way in which the bristles are fixed or joined in or on the brush body or carrier
  • A46B3/18—Brushes characterised by the way in which the bristles are fixed or joined in or on the brush body or carrier the bristles being fixed on or between belts or wires
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A46—BRUSHWARE
  • A46B—BRUSHES
  • A46B9/00—Arrangements of the bristles in the brush body
  • A46B9/02—Position or arrangement of bristles in relation to surface of the brush body, e.g. inclined, in rows, in groups
  • A46B9/021—Position or arrangement of bristles in relation to surface of the brush body, e.g. inclined, in rows, in groups arranged like in cosmetics brushes, e.g. mascara, nail polish, eye shadow
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D33/00—Containers or accessories specially adapted for handling powdery toiletry or cosmetic substances
  • A45D2033/001—Accessories
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D34/00—Containers or accessories specially adapted for handling liquid toiletry or cosmetic substances, e.g. perfumes
  • A45D2034/002—Accessories
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D40/00—Casings or accessories specially adapted for storing or handling solid or pasty toiletry or cosmetic substances, e.g. shaving soaps or lipsticks
  • A45D2040/0006—Accessories
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A46—BRUSHWARE
  • A46B—BRUSHES
  • A46B2200/00—Brushes characterized by their functions, uses or applications
  • A46B2200/10—For human or animal care
  • A46B2200/1046—Brush used for applying cosmetics
  • A46B2200/1053—Cosmetics applicator specifically for mascara
  • A46B2200/106—Cosmetics applicator specifically for mascara including comb like element

Definitions

• the invention is in the field of cosmetic applicators, specifically hair product applicators that combine a non-molded fiber brush and a molded brush for making up the eyelashes.
• Cosmetic applicators for the hair of the head must perform two broad functions, which we call loading and grooming.
• Loading means that the applicator takes up a dose of product and deposits it onto an application surface, such as eyelashes. Thereafter, it is typical for the same cosmetic applicator to be used for grooming the eyelashes.
• the first step, loading creates a volumizing effect
• the second step, grooming may include smoothing the product evenly over the lashes, separating the individual lashes, curling the lashes, and/or creating a lengthening effect. Because the function of loading product is different from the function of grooming the hair, a single cosmetic applicator may not perform both functions satisfactorily.
• an applicator that has an applicator head that comprises at least two different types of bristles, one type being relatively soft and flexible, the other type being less soft and less flexible. Sometimes multiple types of bristles have been mixed together throughout the applicator head in the hope of getting the best of both. Alternatively, it is also known to divide an applicator head into zones, each zone having one type of bristle.
• U.S. patent 7,231 ,926 discloses a mascara applicator that comprises an application brush part and an arrangement brush part. We will discuss U.S. 7,231 ,926, which we consider to be the closest prior art.
• the applicator of U.S. 7,231 ,926 comprises a grip (6), a rod (2) extending form the grip, and a "fixing stand” (40) that depends from the rod (2).
• the arrangement brush part (or comb, 4) is implemented as one or more columns of injection molded teeth that radiate from the fixing stand (40).
• the application brush part (3) may be comprise an application portion (7) of bristles that radiate from a twisted wire rod (21 ), and occupy the space between the "fitting hole” (42) and the "fitting recess” (43).
• the application brush part In order for the application brush part to fit into the space between the "fitting hole” and the “fitting recess", the application brush part is provided with an angular section (31 ) of 30° - 120° that is devoid of bristles (see figure 3).
• the size of this gap should be at least as large as the radius of the fiber brush.
• the gap should be a minimum 4mm
• the gap should be a minimum of 5mm.
• the bristles of the application portion (7) must be relatively flexible. Fiber bristles may be sufficiently flexible, but even that is no guarantee that the bristles will not be damaged when they are crushed together to pass through the fitting hole.
• the application brush part (3) is provided with an angular section (31 ) of 30° - 120° that is devoid of bristles (see figure 3).
• the angular size of the arrangement brush part (4) is limited to 30° - 120°.
• the molded brush portion fills an angular sector of 180° - 200°, which is significantly greater than the 30° - 120° of the arrangement brush part (4) of US patent 7,231 ,926.
• the non-molded brush portion fills an angular sector of 160° - 180°.
• the snap fit assembly method of the non-molded brush portion into the molded brush portion eliminates the need for a gap between the two brushes, along with any unwanted play, so that the non-molded brush portion cannot slide back and forth with respect to the molded brush portion.
• Figures 1 -3 depict a prior art applicator disclosed in US patent 7,231 ,926.
• Figures 6A and 6B depict one embodiment of a non-molded brush portion of an
• the molded brush portion (14) comprises a stem (14a) and a main body (14f).
• the stem may be formed as a generally cylindrical member having proximal (14b) and distal (14c) ends, and a hollow space (14d) that opens onto the distal end of the stem, and onto the side wall (14e) of the stem.
• the side wall of the stem is devoid of bristles or other grooming features, and is generally smooth, so that the stem is able to join to the distal end (12a) of the rod (12), as described above.
• the semi-cylindrical member of the main body (14f) has 9 columns of bristles extending longitudinally along the semi-cylindrical member.
• bristles (141) of the semi-cylindrical member are regularly arranged in rows, each row lying on a circumference of the semi-cylindrical member, in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main body.
• the bristles (141) of the semi-cylindrical member (14g) of the main body (14f) typically extend radially from the longitudinal axis of the main body, and all of the bristles in a single column are parallel to each other.
• the bristles of the distal end (14i) of the main body extend in various directions.
• the bristles may comprise flat and/or rounded portions, and the horizontal cross section of the bristles may be any conceivable shape, only limited by the ability to mold the main body. Preferred, however, are bristles that have a horizontal cross section that is shaped as a circular segment that has an arc that ranges from about 160° to no more than 180°, and whose radius decreases as you move from base to tip.
• Such bristles have a semi- conical profile comprised of a flat face and a curved face.
• the bristles would have a rounded tip.
• the remainder of each bristle may be shaped to have one or more depressions, one or more protrusions, or both on the curved face of the semi- conical bristle, while the flat face has no such features.
• each semi-conical bristle has at least two depressions and/or protrusions located on its curved surface.
• a bristle may have one or more perforations that pass through the bristle from the flat face to the curved face.
• the manufacture of such bristles was described in US 9,326,584 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
• the molded bristles of the molded brush portion (14) do not have to be all the same height.
• Exemplary materials that can be used in the present invention to create the molded brush portion (14) include, but are not limited to: silicone elastomers, thermoplastic elastomers (such as, for example, styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer - SEBS), vinyl elastomers (EVA), thermoplastic polyester elastomers (Hytrel® from Dupont de Nemours), thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers
• Non-Molded Brush Portion (Pellethane® from Dow Plastic), Nitrile, and EPDM. Hardness of the chosen material preferably ranges from about 35 MPa (35 shore D Hytrel® from Dupont de Nemours) to about 1 180 MPa (82 shore D Hytrel®). In general, harder, less flexible materials will be more suitable for the molded brush portion (14), which is intended to spread and declump a thick mascara product, and separate and lengthen the eyelashes.
• the non-molded brush portion (15) comprises a twisted wire core (15a) that supports a multitude of fiber bristles (15e) in a
• the proximal (15b) and a distal (15c) ends of the twisted wire core are devoid of bristles.
• the length of the distal end that is devoid of bristles is, preferably, about 2 - 5 mm.
• the length of the proximal end of the twisted worn core that is devoid of bristles is, preferably, about 3 - 6 mm.
• the multitude of bristles define an approximately semi-cylindrical bristle envelope that occupies an angular space of approximately 160° - 180°.
• the non-molded brush portion may be fashioned in the usual manner of twisted wire core brushes, but thereafter, all of the bristles filling an angle of 180° - 200° are cropped close to the wire core.
• the wire core (15a) may be fashioned from stainless steel having a diameter from 0.5 to 1 mm.
• the bristles (15e) of the non-molded brush portion (15) may be nylon, hollow or solid, and typically from 0.1 to 0.5 mm.
• the number of fiber bristles may vary, but will typically be between 250 and 500.
• the bristles of the non-molded brush portion do not have to be all the same height.
• the molded (14) and non-molded (15) brush portions are fashioned separately, and subsequently assembled.
• the proximal end (15b) and distal end (15c) of the wire core (15a) are devoid of bristles (15e).
• the first step in assembling the non-molded brush portion (15) to the molded brush portion (14) is to insert the distal end (15c) of the non-molded brush portion into the groove (14k) of the molded brush portion, the length of the groove being at least as long as the distal end (15c) of the wire core (i.e. 2 - 5 mm).
• the hollow space (14d) of the stem (14a) may be provided with one or more flexible (14m) tabs that allow the proximal end (15b) of the non-molded brush portion (15) to be forced into the hollow space of the stem, but that prevent accidental removal therefrom.
• the longitudinal axis (A-A) of the molded brush portion (14) is parallel to the longitudinal axis (B-B) of the non-molded brush portion (15).
• the molded brush portion and the non-molded brush portion fill and angular sector of 360°.
• the molded brush portion fills an angular sector of 180° - 200°, which is significantly greater than the 30° - 120° of the arrangement brush portion (4) in US patent 7,231 ,926.
• the greater angular size of the comb portion provides better grooming of the lashes, especially curling.
• the distal end (14i) of the assembled applicator is covered with the bristles to facilitate making-up those eyelashes that are near the inner canthus of the eye. This feature is missing from the applicator of US patent 7,231 ,926, which has no bristles on its distal end.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Geometry (AREA)
• Brushes (AREA)
• Coating Apparatus (AREA)

Priority Applications (6)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=60482483

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (6)

Citations (10)

Family Cites Families (18)

• 2016
  • 2016-06-07 US US15/175,271 patent/US20170347776A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2017
  • 2017-06-05 KR KR1020187035367A patent/KR20180133547A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2017-06-05 WO PCT/US2017/035938 patent/WO2017214029A1/en unknown
  • 2017-06-05 CN CN201780035301.XA patent/CN109219366A/zh active Pending
  • 2017-06-05 CA CA3026632A patent/CA3026632A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2017-06-05 AU AU2017278129A patent/AU2017278129A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2017-06-05 JP JP2018563875A patent/JP2019517351A/ja active Pending
  • 2017-06-05 EP EP17810783.5A patent/EP3462977B1/en active Active

Patent Citations (10)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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