Patent Grant
8336560
The invention relates to a cosmetic brush, in particular to a mascara brush or a hair coloring brush, comprising a bristle section having a main body and a multiplicity of bristles that project out from the main body and with which a cosmetic product can be applied.
A cosmetic brush of this type is described, for example, in DE 25 59 273. In this exemplary embodiment of a cosmetic brush the main body and all bristles are integrally connected to each other. They consist of an elastically yielding plastic material, such as e.g. a polyethylene. The main body and the bristles that are injection-molded to it are produced by means of a one-component injection molding process.
In EP 1 507 640 B1, an improved production method is described that can be used also for cosmetic brushes. It is a two-stage process, in which two different plastic materials are used. This injection molding process is also referred to as 2K method. In one variant, the main body is produced first, as a substantially hollow cylindrical structure, in order to then inject in a second step an additional plastic material in a molten state under high pressure into the hollow space of the main body that was produced first. Because of the high injection pressure, the molten second plastic material shoots through the wall of the hollow main body and extends into radially projecting bristle recesses. In this manner it is possible to produce very advantageous cosmetic brushes, in which the main body consists of a first plastic material and the bristles consist of a second plastic material. This method of production has proven effective in practice. The cosmetic brushes that are produced with it have very good performance characteristics.
Additional cosmetic brushes are known from WO 2006/130 643 A2, EP 1 070 466 A2, EP 1 475 013 A1, EP 1 602 300 A1, WO 2007/146 212 A1 and EP 0 038 524 A2.
Nonetheless, the desires and requirements of users of such cosmetic brushes continue to grow.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to specify a cosmetic brush of the type described at the beginning that has further improved performance characteristics.
To meet this object, a cosmetic brush according to the characteristics of claim 1 is specified. In the inventive cosmetic brush a portion of the bristles forms first bristles that are integrally connected to the main body, with these first bristles consisting of the same first plastic material as the main body. Another portion of the bristles in the inventive cosmetic brush forms second bristles that are connected to the main body in a different manner than the first bristles. The main body has a main body wall that is provided with through holes, and the second bristles are integrally connected to each other by means of a connecting member that is disposed on a side of the main body wall facing away from the second bristles and extend through the perforation holes, with the main body and the connecting member being disposed immediately adjacent to each other and connected to each other in an adhesive manner. The main body is designed in the form of a hollow cylinder and integrally connected to a handle extension piece. The second bristles are softer and more flexible than the first bristles. The cosmetic brush is designed as an injection-molded plastic piece.
In the inventive cosmetic brush, two different bristles types are thus provided. Whereas the first bristles are, in particular, integrally injection-molded to the main body, this does not hold true in this manner for the second bristles. Here, no provision is made for an integral connection to the main body. The first bristles and the second bristles are preferably produced in different process steps of a common injection molding process. They have different behaviors. Each bristle type can be optimized in a targeted manner toward one or a plurality of performance characteristics. It is thus possible, for example, that the first bristles, which are permanently and integrally connected to the main body, are designed for a particularly good and effective initial treatment of the eyelashes or hairs that are initially completely in disorder. Within the framework of this initial treatment, in particular a parting of eyelashes or hair into sections takes place. The softer second bristles, on the other hand, are designed, for example, for a particularly good and effective subsequent treatment of the eyelashes or hairs that were previously separated or sectioned off within the framework of the initial treatment. Within the framework of the subsequent treatment, in particular a further separation and singularization of the eyelashes or hairs takes place, as well as a combing of the eyelashes or hairs and a coating or application of the cosmetic product onto the eyelashes or hair. The inventive brush is thus characterized by improved performance characteristics over the prior art.
The second bristles are produced in particular by means of the production method that is described in the prior art in accordance with EP 1 507 640 B1. They are injected through the main body wall. This results also in a particularly good cohesion of the second bristles with each other. The inventive cosmetic brush is, therefore-even though it is composed of two component parts and preferably of two different plastic materials-a uniform injection-molded plastic piece, i.e. a component that is produced in particular within the framework of a single common process. This is apparent above all from the tight adhesive connection between the two component parts, i.e. for example, also between the main body and the connecting member.
Advantageous designs of the inventive cosmetic brush will become apparent from the characteristics of the dependent claims on claim 1.
According to a preferred embodiment, the second bristles are connected to the main body firmly bonded, or frictionally, or form-fittingly. This provides for a secure connection between the main body and the second bristles over the entire usable life of the cosmetic brush.
According to another preferred embodiment, the second bristles consist of a second plastic material that differs from the first plastic material. This second plastic material is, in particular, softer and more flexible than the first plastic material and/or it has a lower Shore hardness than the first plastic material. By selecting different materials, the properties of both bristle types can be adapted particularly effectively to the respective task, namely, e.g. an optimal sectioning effect for the first bristles on one hand, and an optimal separation, combing and application behavior for the second bristles, on the other hand. In order to be able to apply the cosmetic product as well as possible, it is advantageous if the second bristles are designed softer and more flexible than the first bristles. This can be achieved, on one hand, by an accordingly softer material, but also by means of a suitable shaping and dimensioning. The second bristles may thus e.g. preferably also be dimensioned narrower or thinner than the first bristles. The second bristles then have a softer and more flexible behavior than the first bristles also. The first bristles, therefore, are in particular hard bristles, the second bristles, on the other hand, are soft bristles. For the material of both bristle types a Shore hardness, in particular, of A 40 to A 90 or D 30 to D 80 is suitable, with the Shore hardness of the material of the first bristles preferably being greater than the Shore hardness of the material of the second bristles.
According to another preferred embodiment, the second bristles have an outwardly—i.e. particularly toward their free bristle ends—sharply tapered conical shape in each case, with a cone angle of 1° to 5°, particularly approximately 4°. This cone shape of the second bristles is advantageous on one hand for the application behavior. On the other hand, bristle geometries of this type are easier to produce with the above-described injection molding process. The cone shape of the bristles facilitates the removal from the injection mold. In an embodiment of the cosmetic brush as a mascara brush, the second bristles have a base diameter, in particular, in the range between 0.2 mm and 0.8 mm, with the base diameter being the diameter of the (second) bristles at the point of transition to the main body. In an embodiment of the cosmetic brush as a brush for hair coloring, the base diameter of the second bristles, on the other hand, is preferably in the range between 0.5 mm and 2 mm.
According to another preferred embodiment, the main body has a longitudinal axis and a circumferential direction relative to the longitudinal axis, and the first and the second bristles alternate in the circumferential direction at least in sections. In the direction of the longitudinal axis, on the other hand, preferably always only one of the two bristle types is provided at a circumferential angular position. This guarantees that, when the cosmetic product is applied, which is usually done with a rotational movement of the cosmetic brush, at least one section with the first bristle type and one section with the second bristle type participates, so that both specifically optimized properties take effect.
According to another preferred embodiment, circumferential sections are provided within which exclusively first or second bristles are disposed, with one of these circumferential sections extending in the circumferential direction over a circumferential angular span between 25° and 90°, in particular between 30° and 60°. With such an extent in the circumferential direction it is guaranteed that, during the application of the cosmetic product by means of a rotational movement of the cosmetic brush, as explained in the previous paragraph, both types of bristles participate in each case, preferably first the, in particular, harder first bristles and then the, in particular, softer second bristles.
According to another preferred embodiment, first and second bristles are disposed immediately adjacent to each other at least in parts. In particular, adjacent first and second bristles may be in contact with each other.
Additionally, there may also be an at least partial form closure between these immediately adjoining first and second bristles. This achieves that the region in which a good sectioning effect exists due to one of the two bristle types, transitions immediately into the adjoining region with the other bristle type in which a particularly good separation, combing and application behavior exists.
According to another preferred embodiment, the first bristles have the same basic geometric shape as the second bristles. Specifically optimized performance characteristics are then achieved for each of the two bristle types in each case, in particular due to a different material selection and/or due to a different dimensioning. In particular, the first bristles may also have an outwardly—i.e. particularly toward their free bristle ends—sharply tapered conical shape. For the case in which both bristle types have the same basic cone shape, the first bristles have, in particular, a base diameter that is 0.2 mm larger than that of the second bristles.
According to another preferred embodiment, the main body has a longitudinal axis and the first bristles have a lesser bristle thickness in the direction of the longitudinal axis than the second bristles. Due to the advantageous higher axial bristle thickness of the second bristles, the desired greater separation and singularization effect is attained, as compared to the first bristles, which, in particular, effect only a partial sectioning of the eye lashes or hairs. The greater axial bristle thickness of the second bristles additionally also has the effect that the cosmetic product to be applied can be applied very well and ideally onto just a single eyelash or a single hair.
According to another preferred embodiment, the first bristles have a different geometric shape than the second bristles. The geometric shape also is a parameter, as already mentioned above, whereby specific properties can be adjusted in a targeted manner.
According to another preferred embodiment, the first bristles widen outwardly in each case, i.e. in particular, a widening occurs toward their free bristle ends. The first bristles preferably have a circular ring sector shaped cross section. This achieves that the first bristles extend further out, in particular tangentially, at the outer envelope in the bristle section of the cosmetic brush than is the case with classic bristles with a cylindrical or cone-shaped geometry. This has an advantageous effect on the initial sectioning behavior, i.e. on the initial parting into sections of the eyelashes or hairs to be treated.
This applies similarly for another preferred embodiment, in which the first bristles have a rectangular cross section in each case.
Both in the embodiment that is provided with the circular ring segment shaped cross section of the first bristles and the embodiment that is provided with the rectangular cross section of the first bristles, the first bristles each have the shape of a disk that tapers off upwardly, i.e. toward the free bristle edges, in particular sharply, and whose flat side normal are [sic] oriented substantially in the axial direction. At the base, i.e. at the point of transition to the main body, these disc-shaped second bristles have an axial base width that is, in particular, in the range between 0.4 mm and 1 mm in a mascara brush and, in particular, in a range between 0.7 mm and 2.2. mm in a hair coloring brush.
Additionally, provision may also be made according to a preferred embodiment that the first bristles are outwardly—i.e. particularly toward their free bristle ends—sharply tapered at least in a plane that is defined by a longitudinal axis of the main body and by a radial direction of the main body. This achieves that the first bristles engage, during a rotational movement of the cosmetic brush, with a sharply tapered cross section profile into the hair or eyelashes being combed. This is advantageous for a good sectioning, combing and separating effect.
According to an additional preferred embodiment, the first bristles have a stepped surface in each case. In this manner, a curling effect can be effected in which the eyelashes or hairs are curled upward by pulling the cosmetic brush out in a rotational movement.
According to an additional preferred embodiment, the first bristles each have a through bore, or at their free outer edge in each case a, in particular, circular sector shaped or V-shaped edge recess. The through bore and the edge recess can then serve as a reservoir in each case for the cosmetic product to be applied, i.e. mascara or hair dye. This cosmetic product also has a certain gliding or lubricating effect and thereby enhances the parting into sections during the first treatment step.
According to an additional preferred embodiment, the first bristles differ from each other at least in parts in their geometric shape or in their geometric dimensions. This makes it possible to attain, depending on the initial positioning of the cosmetic brush as viewed in the circumferential position, to attain different performance characteristics. In particular, also an enhancement of a specific effect, for example a sectioning or separating or combing effect, can be brought about in this manner when the cosmetic brush is rotated. This effect may initially be only slightly pronounced, in order to then become more pronounced with an increasing angle of rotation of the cosmetic brush.
The above-mentioned preferred embodiments may, in particular, also be provided in any desired combination with each other as variants of the inventive cosmetic brush.
Additional characteristics, advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawing, in which:
Corresponding parts in
The first bristles 6 are integrally injection-molded in each case to the outer peripheral surface of the main body 5, i.e. integrally connected to the main body 5. They are designed as outwardly sharply tapered discs that have a circular ring sector shape in each case and alternate in the circumferential direction with one of the second bristles 7 in each case. They extend in the circumferential direction over an angle at circumference a, which, in the shown exemplary embodiment according to
The second bristles 7 are connected differently to the main body 5 than the first bristles 6. Here, an, in particular, frictional and form-fitting connection is provided that results from the two-stage injection molding process that is used for the production, which is described in EP 1 507 640 B1. The second bristles 7 extend through through-bores that are formed in the wall of the hollow cylindrical main body 5 and have a tapered cone shape that tapers off sharply or slightly rounded toward the free bristle end in each case. The second bristles 7 are integrally connected to each other due to this manufacturing process by means of a connecting strand 9 that extends in the interior of the main body 5 in the direction of the center longitudinal axis 4. The connecting strand 9 and the second bristles 7 consist of the same plastic material, which is different from that of the main body 5 and first bristles 6.
The injection-molded cosmetic brush 1 is designed within the bristle section 2 as two parts. The first component is formed by the main body 5 with the integrally molded-on first bristles 6. The second component is formed by the connecting strand 9 with the likewise integrally molded-on second bristles 7. The main body 5 and the connecting strand 9 directly adjoin each other, in particular in the region of the inner hollow space of the main body 5. In the boundary region, firmly bonded and/or adhesive connections between the two components may result, at least in parts, in particular due to the above-mentioned manufacturing process.
Due to the different materials and/or the different shaping and/or dimensioning, the first bristles 6 are less elastic than the second bristles 7. The first bristles 6 are hard bristles, the second bristles 7 are soft bristles. Due to the harder material that is, in particular, provided for the first bristles 6 and, therefore, for the main body 5, sufficient mechanical stability and load-carrying capacity of the main body 5 and cosmetic brush 1 as a whole are guaranteed at the same time.
The respective first and second bristles 6 and 7 are arranged successively in altogether four longitudinal rows in each case that extend in the direction of the center longitudinal axis 4. In the tangential direction, adjacent rows of one bristle type, i.e. either of the first bristles 6 or of the second bristles 7, are offset from each other by 90° in each case. In principle, a different number of rows, for example three rows of both bristles types in each case, is also possible, which then are also evenly distributed about the circumference, namely with a circumferential angular offset of 120° in each case (see, at least in parts,
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
In the additional exemplary embodiments that will be described below, there also are two different bristle types provided in each case that are connected to the respective main body 5 in different manners and that have different degrees of elasticity or hardness. One bristle type has an integral connection, whereas, for the second bristle type, again, a frictional and/or formfitting connection results due to the above-discussed injection molding process.
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
Further modifications of the first bristles that are integrally injection-molded to the main body 5 will become apparent from the exemplary embodiments described below in conjunction with
In the exemplary embodiment of a cosmetic brush 16 according to
The additional exemplary embodiments of respective cosmetic brushes 19 and 20 shown in
In the exemplary embodiment of an additional cosmetic brush 25 shown in
The additional exemplary embodiment of a cosmetic brush 28 shown in
The same also applies for the additional exemplary embodiment of a cosmetic brush 30 according to
The above text essentially described variants of the first bristles. For the second bristles 7 deviations from the basic cone shape are possible as well. They may, for example, have a contoured cross sectional area that is provided, in particular, with edges. Preferred, however, are variants in which the cross sectional area continues to decrease the more this cross section approaches the outer radial bristle end. These bristle geometries accordingly sharply taper off toward the free bristle end also.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08001932 | Feb 2008 | EP | regional |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6412496 | Gueret | Jul 2002 | B1 |
| 20050172439 | Weihrauch | Aug 2005 | A1 |
| 20090065020 | Butcher et al. | Mar 2009 | A1 |
| 20090114239 | Chen | May 2009 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 25 59 273 | Jul 1977 | DE |
| 0 038 524 | Oct 1981 | EP |
| 1 070 466 | Jan 2001 | EP |
| 1 475 013 | Nov 2004 | EP |
| 1 507 640 | Feb 2005 | EP |
| 1 602 300 | Dec 2005 | EP |
| 1 665 952 | Jun 2006 | EP |
| 03097324 | Nov 2003 | WO |
| 2006130643 | Dec 2006 | WO |
| 2007146212 | Dec 2007 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20090193602 A1 | Aug 2009 | US |
