The present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing of a brush for applying a composition such as a cosmetic, a medicinal or a personal care composition. The composition may include a liquid, semi-liquid, creamy, paste-like or viscous material. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a brush and its method of manufacturing in which tips of bristles of the brush are split into numerous fragments.
Despite variations in the shape and material composition of a plurality of bristles, a wire, and a plurality of contours of an application head of a brush, the brushes of the prior art have been substantially limited in their adaptability to different materials and application goals. As a result, a mascara user seeking to achieve combing and separating will need to use a first type of brush, for example a brush with stiffer bristles; and then use a second type of the brush for better application of the product, for example a brush with softer bristles. Users seeking to yet further refine the application and appearance of the applied mascara will still need to use another type of the brush.
Disadvantageously, purchasing multiple separate brushes to achieve varied application goals is expensive. Furthermore, storing and transporting a plurality of brushes can be awkward and cumbersome. As a result, many cosmetic users will forgo access to the brushes that they desire in favor of convenience and reduced expense.
In many brushes, the prior art approaches have not provided a brush with a combination of all the desirable features for a mascara brush. A soft bristle feel combined with bristle stiffness, while still providing both high mascara loading as well as good combing effect.
Further, in order to ensure satisfactory making up of the eyelashes using such a brush, it is necessary not only for the eyelashes to come into contact with the make-up product on the bristles of the application head of the brush, but also for the eyelashes to be touched by the tips of the bristles so as to smooth the product along the eyelashes.
Thermoplastic polymers have long been used to form brush bristles in a wide variety of configurations. To increase the effectiveness of these brushes, the tips of such bristles have been split or “feathered” to provide a soft bristle tip. In the past, however, various difficulties have been encountered in splitting the bristle tips.
In particular, various techniques have been used to split paintbrush bristles to improve painting performance. Such procedures have been particularly suited to paintbrush bristles because long splits which propagate along a large portion (up to one inch) are particularly desirable. With certain brushes, however, only splitting of the tips is desirable. For example, the length of a typical toothbrush bristle is about (or less than) one half inch. If splitting were to occur along a large portion of a toothbrush bristle, the bristles would not be sufficiently rigid to adequately clean teeth. Accordingly, currently available splitting techniques fail to adequately address difficulties associated with splitting the tips of toothbrush bristles and other bristles (bristles of mascara brushes) in which long splits are undesirable.
There still exists a need for a brush which provides multiple performance characteristics in a single brush like soft feel, desired styling, separation/combing, volumizing, curling and lengthening of eyelashes.
Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a brush and its method of manufacturing, for applying a composition such as a cosmetic, a medicinal or a personal care composition. The composition may include a liquid, semi-liquid, creamy, paste-like or viscous material.
It is a further objective of the present disclosure to provide a brush for applying cosmetic composition such as mascara or the like, to eyelashes or eyebrows for providing multiple performance characteristics like soft feel, desired styling, separation/combing, volumizing, curling and lengthening of eyelashes.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the brush comprises a plurality of bristles mounted on a core. The core is formed from a pair of wire segments which are intertwisted. The free ends of the core are connected to a rod. The plurality of bristles are secured between the pair of intertwisted wire segments such that opposed ends of each of the plurality of bristles extend radially from the core. Further, the brush is configured to be dipped in a container filled with a composition. At least some of the plurality of bristles have their opposed ends split into a plurality of fragments. The fragments of tips are curved in shape and extend radially away from the bristle's longitudinal axis.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of bristles have a snow flake shape. However, in alternate embodiments, the plurality of bristles may have any other shape known in the art.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, after mounting the plurality of bristles on the core, the plurality of bristles are shaped such that the tips of the plurality of bristles form a cylindrical envelope that conically narrows toward the distal end of the brush opposite the rod. However, in alternate embodiments, the plurality of bristles can be shaped into any other outer envelope shape known in the art. It is possible to make the brush of the present disclosure with any shape of envelope surface, e.g., straight, curved or the like.
According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of manufacturing the brush. The method of manufacturing of the brush comprises a splitting stage followed by a spreading stage. In the splitting stage, a brush which has bristles with non-split tips is mounted on a splitting tool in order to split the tip of the plurality of bristles into a plurality of fragments. The plurality of bristles of the brush undergo a rotary splitting that acts on the tip of at least some of the plurality of bristles of the brush. The splitting tool comprises a plurality of splitting blades.
The splitting blade has a cylindrical portion and a claw shape portion. The claw shape portion comprises a curved portion with a pointed tip. However, in alternate embodiments, each of the plurality of splitting blades may be of any other shape known in the art. During the splitting stage, the claw shape portions of the plurality of the splitting blades acts on the tips of the plurality of bristles to split them into numerous fragments. The fragments on the ends of each of the plurality of bristles provide a soft feel when a mascara is applied on the eyelashes or eyebrows.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the splitting stage, the brush is rotated while the splitting tool remains stationary. The brush rotates about a longitudinal axis of the core in a first direction, for example the counterclockwise direction. The claw shape portion of each of the plurality of splitting blades acts on the tip of the plurality of bristles of the rotating brush. The action of each of the plurality of the splitting blades on the tip of the plurality of bristles leads to splitting of the tip of the plurality of bristles into numerous fragments. The speed of rotation of the brush is adjustable such that gradual splitting can be obtained, without heating up and melting the bristles, thus finely splitting the tip of the plurality of the bristles into numerous fragments.
However, in alternate embodiments, the brush may be rotated about any other axis than the longitudinal axis A-A of the core in a specific direction. In alternate embodiments, the brush may be rotated in a clockwise direction during splitting stage. However, in yet other alternate embodiments, the brush may remain stationary while the splitting tool may be rotated.
The splitting stage is then followed by a spreading stage which spreads out the split tip of the plurality of bristles by a spreading tool. The plurality of bristles of the brush undergo a rotary spreading that acts on the split tip of the plurality of bristles of the brush.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the spreading tool can exhibit the rotary motion and a linear motion.
The spreading of the split tip of each of the plurality of bristles enhances mascara holding capacity of the brush. The surface area of the plurality of bristles increases due to spread out of bristles which enhances its mascara holding capacity, better suited for combing and proper separation of the eyelashes, curling and lengthening of the eyelashes.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the splitting and the spreading are done around the entire outer surface of the brush. However, in alternate embodiments, the splitting and the spreading may be done only on certain portions of the outer surface of the brush. For example, one side of the outer surface of the brush is split and spread while the other side of the outer surface of the brush may remain unsplit and unspread.
So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the disclosure, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, after mounting the plurality of bristles 30 on the core 20, the plurality of bristles 30 are shaped. In the example of
According to present embodiment, the above mentioned shapes can be achieved by cutting. However, in alternate embodiments, the above mentioned shapes may be achieved by any other method known in the art.
With reference to
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the splitting stage, the brush 24 is rotated while the splitting tool 50 remains stationary. The brush 24 rotates about a longitudinal axis A-A′ (refer
However, in alternate embodiments, the brush 24 may be rotated about a different axis other than the longitudinal axis A-A of the core 20. In alternate embodiments, the brush 24 may also be rotated in a clockwise direction during the splitting stage. However, in yet other alternate embodiments, the brush 24 may remain stationary while the splitting tool 50 may be rotated in a specific direction around the tips of the bristles.
As noted above, the splitting parameters, such as the dimension of each of the plurality of splitting blades 60, the splitting time and splitting pressure, are chosen as a function of the type of fragments 70 which are desired to be obtained.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the splitting is applied to the tip of each of the plurality of bristles 30, the resulting brush 24 will be of a type that can be used for volumizing, but with soft bristle tips. However, in alternate embodiments, splitting may be applied to an entire length of each of the plurality of bristles 30 that extends from the core 20. The resulting brush 24 will have a softer feel as a substantial portion of each of the plurality of bristles 30 will have been split. However, the portion of each of the plurality of bristles 30 gripped by the intertwisted wire portion of the core 20 will usually remain intact and unaffected by the splitting process.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the spreading tool 80 comprises a metal brush. However, in alternate embodiments, the spreading tool 80 may comprise a non-metallic brush, an abrasive surface or any material that can cause the split tips to spread out without removal of the split tips from the ends of the bristles.
As shown in
However, in alternate embodiments, the brush 24 may be rotated about any other axis than the longitudinal axis A-A of the core 20 and/or in a different direction, for example the clockwise direction, and the spreading tool 80 may be rotated about any other axis and/or in a different direction (substantially opposite to direction of rotation of the brush 24), for example the counterclockwise direction.
Further, as shown in
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the linear motion of the spreading tool is a continuous motion for spreading out of the split tip of each of the plurality of bristles 30. In alternate embodiments, the linear motion of the spreading tool may be a non-continuous motion for spreading out of the split tip of each of the plurality of bristles 30.
According to an alternate embodiment, the brush 24 may exhibit the rotary motion and the linear motion while the spreading tool 80 may exhibit only the rotary motion.
Adjusting the speed of rotation of the brush 24 and/or of the spreading tool 80 will alter the amount of the spreading to different values. Gradual spreading can thereby be obtained, without heating up or melting the tips of the bristles, thus finely spreading the split tip of each of the plurality of bristles 30.
The spreading parameters, such as the dimension of the spreading tool 80, the spreading time and spreading pressure, are chosen as a function of the type of spread out fragments 70 which are desired to be obtained.
The spreading of the split tip of each of the plurality of bristles 30 enhances mascara holding capacity of the brush 24. The surface area of the plurality of bristles 30 increases due to spread out of bristles 30 which enhances its mascara holding capacity, better suited for combing and proper separation of the eyelashes, curling and lengthening of the eyelashes.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of bristles 30 are solid in cross-section at least at their tips. However, in alternate embodiments, the plurality of bristles 30 may be hollow in cross-section, and preferably along their entire length. In alternate embodiments, only some of bristles of the plurality of bristles 30 may be hollow in cross section while some may be solid in cross section.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of bristles 30 may or may not have longitudinal voids or grooves.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the splitting and the spreading are done around the entire outer surface of the brush 24. However, in alternate embodiments, the splitting and the spreading may be done only on some portions of the outer surface of the brush 24. For example, one side of the outer surface of the brush 24 is split and spread while the other side of the outer surface of the brush 24 may remain unsplit and unspread.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the brush 24 is driven by a continuous rotating movement about its axis A-A′. However, in alternate embodiments, the brush 24 may be driven by a non-continuous rotating movement about its axis A-A′.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the core 20 is centered. However, in alternate embodiments, the core 20 may be off-centered.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of bristles 30 of the brush 24 do not vary in properties such as material, shape, length, cross-section, diameter, thickness, length, color or likewise. However, in alternate embodiments, the plurality of bristles 30 of the brush 24 may vary in properties such as material, shape, length, cross-section, diameter, thickness, length, color or likewise.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of bristles 30 of the brush 24 have a snowflake shape. However, in alternate embodiments, the plurality of bristles 30 of the brush 24 may be of a shape selected from tubular, circular, round, oval, square, rectangular, polygonal or any another shape known in the art.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of bristles 30 of the brush 24 are rectilinear. However, in alternate embodiments, the plurality of bristles 30 of the brush 24 may have an undulating shape, or any another known shape.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the diameter of each of the plurality of bristles 30 of the brush 24 is same. However, in alternate embodiments, the plurality of bristles 30 of the brush 24 may be have varying diameters.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, thickness of each of the plurality of bristles 30 of the brush 24 may be same. However, in alternate embodiments, the plurality of bristles 30 of the brush 24 may have varying thicknesses.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the color of each of the plurality of bristles 30 of the brush 24 may be same. However, in alternate embodiments, the plurality of bristles 30 of the brush 24 may have varying colors. The colors used may be chromatic or non-chromatic. They may also be contrasting colors, without one necessarily being chromatic.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of bristles 30 of the brush 24 may be of animal origin or synthetic origin, for example made from nylon or polyester. However, in alternate embodiments, the plurality of bristles 30 may be of natural origin or may be used in a mixture with synthetic bristles.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, material of each of the plurality of bristles 30 of the brush 24 may be same. However, in alternate embodiments, the plurality of bristles 30 of the brush 24 may be made of different materials. The bristles may comprise any suitable material, e.g., thermoplastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyoxymethylene (POM), polyamide (PA), polystyrene (PS), or nylon. The material of the bristles is not limited.
Although, the present disclosure has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present disclosure. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised.
The present application claims priority to Provisional Patent Application No. 62/896,094, filed Sep. 5, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62896094 | Sep 2019 | US |