This invention relates generally to cosmetic applicator brushes, and more particularly to brushes of a type wherein the bristles of the brush are movable between advanced and retracted positions in a holder or casing, so as to enable different brushing characteristics to be realizable, as a consequence of configuring the bristles to achieve a specific, desired brushing capability or result.
In the existing cosmetic field, typical applicator devices known as blush brushes have become widely accepted in dealing with efforts toward improving one's facial appearance. The issues of concern include hiding skin imperfections, and/or altering the glow or hue presented by the cheeks of the user's face. Some of the devices utilize simple push-pull mechanisms to position the brush, whereas others utilized brushes mounted on sliding carrier cups in order to effect the desired brush movements. Although several known brushes provide a flare capability to the bristles when fully advanced, none are believed to offer vernier-quality variation in both the brush size and the characteristic shape.
It is considered that there thus is a need for a cosmetic brush of the type noted, which offers improved flexibility in the brushing operation, such as variation of the brush size, alteration in the degree of flare, and/or adjustment of the stiffness characteristics of the brush bristles.
Prior to going into the summary and advantages of the invention, applicant wishes to make of record, the following references which are believed to relate to the technical field to which the present invention pertains:
Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 3,309,728 shows a retractable brush applicator that utilizes an elevator cup similar to those found in many twist-to-open lipsticks. A projecting pin on an elevator cup slides linearly inside an outer casing, and the cup is driven by a spiral track on a sleeve inside the outer casing. The brush shape is round thereby restricting its usefulness to situations where a single size, round brush is all that is needed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,828 broadly discloses a retractable brush that is carried by a slidable, oval bushing in a casing of complementary oval cross section. The movement of the bushing and brush bristles is linear, and manually operated by sliding a projecting key in a longitudinal slot in the casing. The drawing on the face page gives the general idea. The text suggests the usage of the disclosed device as a dust-removing brush.
Several of the other listed patents show similar brush configurations. U.S. Pat. No. 3,420,134,
In the case of Publication No. 2005/0145092,
The remaining references relate to linear movements of slidably carried brushes inside handles of one type or another. One example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,543.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,132,285 utilizes a series of magnetically secured, removable and replaceable cosmetic brushes. U.S. Pat. No. 3,739,789 utilizes brushes confined by multiple nozzles having different shapes.
Patent Publication No. 2010/0186771 illustrates an application for a dusting tool, in which oval shaped bristles are formed by passing them through a shaped bushing. Flaring of the bristles occurs only as a consequence of centripetal force when an on-board motor spins the brush, as in
Strictly speaking, no patent shows the exact arrangement of the invention; specifically, the keying of an elevator which carries a fine bristle brush, through a flaring nozzle, and wherein the degree of exposure of the brush can be varied to provide different degrees of flattening, for achieving different brushing effects. For example, with the brush fully advanced, a flared, wide array of brush stock is exposed, for application of product to large or expansive areas of the face. On the other hand, where it is desired to maintain a more precise, narrow application, the brush can be retraced by virtually any amount so as to provide the user with precise control over the degree of flare of the bristles. Such is useful for applying powder to the small areas of the face, particularly around the eyes, and in front of the nasal passages, as well as around the lips, and at the hairline of the user's forehead
Summarizing, while the cited patents show both old and more recent cosmetic container applicators, it is believed that heretofore, no particular item stands out as having met with a large degree of success. This could perhaps be a result of unacceptable operation, promotional difficulties, financial considerations and the like. Accordingly it is considered that there still exists a need for a viable, reliable and workable adjustable, flared brush applicator, especially considering the needs that some cosmetic products demand, namely precise control of the size of the brush, depending on what part of the face is being treated.
It is considered that the present invention fulfills at least some of the following objects:
To provide a novel and improved cosmetic applicator brush which is simple in construction, and which eliminates the need for carrying multiple brushes.
To provide an improved cosmetic applicator brush as above, which in operation, features a simple twist-to-adjust manual movement that is readily comprehended by the user, without his having to read lengthy instructions on proper use, or for obtaining optimal results.
To provide an improved cosmetic applicator brush in accordance with the foregoing, which can be readily manufactured in plastic, using straightforward mold cavities.
To provide an improved cosmetic applicator brush of the type noted, which features long life, and high resistance against breakage or other malfunction.
In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a cosmetic brush, comprising in combination an elongate handle member and a ferrule thereon, said ferrule having a flare shaped opening at its end remote from the handle member, bearing means mounting the ferrule for turning on the handle member while restraining the ferrule against axial movement thereon, said handle member having a bore and an open end, an elevator member in the handle member bore, and cooperable threads in the bore and on the elevator member, for advancing the latter through the open end of the handle member in response to relative turning of the elevator and handle members, said ferrule and elevator member having cooperable keying means, restraining relative turning movement between the elevator member and ferrule such that they rotate together, and a multi-bristle brush having a plug at one end, said brush plug being mounted to the elevator member and being movable therewith, said brush having at its other end, multiple resilient, flaring bristles whose flare is restricted by their engagement with the inner wall of the flare shaped opening of the ferrule, whereby as the brush is advanced in the ferrule, the flare of the brush increases as enabled by the shape of the ferrule's inner wall, as a consequence of the resilience of the brush bristles.
Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.
In the drawings, illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention:
Essentially the invention comprises a cosmetic applicator brush having the capability of providing a bunch or bundle of fine bristle elements which, in effect, duplicate the structure and functional capabilities of a plurality of separate brushes of variable size and shape. Accordingly there is eliminated the need for a consumer to carry multiple different sized brushes in order to more uniformly and easily apply face powder or other cosmetic substance.
As is well known, cosmetic powder is widely utilized in order to hide imperfections on the skin, absorb perspiration, conceal shine, as well as imparting a smooth appearance to skin and/or change the hue or glow of light reflected from otherwise untreated skin.
The cosmetic brush of the present invention is shown generally in
The individual parts of the assembled brush are identified in
In
The brush 16 per se will be described first. Essentially it consists of a large number of fine bristle elements which, in the absence of confinement, flare out at their free ends by an extent which is similar to the showing of
Turning now to the elevator mechanism 18 per se, this is illustrated in detail in
Turning next to the handle, reference is made to
Midway of the ends of the insert member are external shoulders 34 the top of which becomes aligned with the edge of the opening of the outer piece as shown in
Referring again to
Referring again to the insert member 14,
The uppermost surface of the shoulder of the insert member is indicated at 34, and adds thickness to the existing shoulder of the cover part 12, such that the ferrule, indicated 20, has a seat against which it can turnably move. Slightly above this location are two additional shoulders, 50 and 52, one on the insert member and the other on the ferrule 20. These operate to retain the ferrule against accidental removal, while still enabling the ferrule to be manually turned. For purposes of clarification, the items in
Referring again to this figure, there is directly opposite the single helical thread segment 40, an abutment 54 which backs up the required engagement of the thread segment with the engagement of the elevator member threads 26. The arrangement avoids inadvertent stripping of the thread segment with the elevator member threads.
In operation, the user can advance or retract the brush by grasping the cover part 12 with the fingers of one hand, and twisting the ferrule 20. As the ferrule is twisted, and due to the keying feature noted above in connection with
Another embodiment of the invention is shown in
From the above it can be seen that I have provided novel and improved applicator brushes which are straightforward in their construction, and which substantially eliminate the need for a consumer to carry a larger number of separate smaller brushes, while still retaining the flexibility of the smaller units.
The applicator brushes are thus seen to represent a distinct advance and improvement in the cosmetic field.
Each and every one of the appended claims represents an aspect of the invention which is separate and distinct from all others, and accordingly it is intended that each claim be treated as such when examined in the light of the prior art devices in any determination of novelty or validity.
Variations and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.
The present application claims Convention priority of my Provisional Application entitled, “Adjustable cosmetic brush”, U.S. Ser. No. 61/986,482 filed Apr. 30, 2014.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1005924 | Bladwin | Oct 1911 | A |
1048350 | Rush | Dec 1912 | A |
1090829 | Baldwin | Mar 1914 | A |
1151364 | Kaiser | Aug 1915 | A |
1563031 | Jones | Nov 1925 | A |
1749052 | Watt | Mar 1930 | A |
3309728 | Seaver | Mar 1967 | A |
5339483 | Byun | Aug 1994 | A |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
193307 | Oct 1937 | CH |
199951 | Sep 1938 | CH |
1071538 | Sep 1954 | FR |
498910 | Jan 1939 | GB |
2272632 | May 1994 | GB |
2015065609 | May 2015 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61986482 | Apr 2014 | US |