The present invention mainly relates to a method for cutting a brush intended for the application of a product for cosmetic use, in particular a pasty product such as mascara to be applied to the eyelashes or eyebrows; it also relates to the guide tube and to the cutting machine for implementing the method, and to the brush cut according to said method and to the applicator system having such a brush, the stem on which it is mounted, and the wiper on which it is wiped.
In general, mascara is packaged in a bottle whose opening is restricted by a wiper, and the brush is mounted at the end of a stem secured to a cap screwed onto the bottle.
In the storage condition, the brush is immersed in the pasty formula of the product and is therefore loaded, that is to say the interstices between the bristles are filled with the paste.
The amount of paste present on the brush is controlled, on coming out of the bottle, by the wiper whose wiping lip, located around its orifice, scrapes off any excess. This orifice is generally circular, with a diameter close to the diameter of the stem and less than the diameter of the brush.
The applicator system has a dual function: to apply the paste and to comb the eyelashes or eyebrows. The control of the amount of paste is determining for the performance of the application system: too small an amount on the brush will not apply enough paste to the eyelashes, giving an insubstantial and inefficient makeup, while too high an amount will not allow the eyelashes and eyebrows to be correctly combed and separated. In the latter case, the makeup will be coarse and inaccurate.
For a given paste formula, it is known from the prior art that the proper amount of paste will be determined by a combination of appropriate diameters for the stem, the brush and the orifice of the wiper. The diameter of the stem is matched to the diameter of the wiper, so as to allow sliding with zero or moderate friction, while preventing the heavy loading of the stem which would be caused by an excessive clearance.
A small-diameter brush passes easily through the orifice of the wiper and keeps a high load of paste since only the ends are of the bristles are wiped. However, such a solution is not efficient for combing.
In contrast, a large-diameter brush, that is to say having long bristles, carries too little product after wiping, since the bristles, which are bent back sharply when passing through the orifice, lose a large part of their load.
In addition to the respective dimensioning of the elements of the applicator system, the nature of the fibers used for the brush, and their cross section, their rigidity, their number, etc., are also to be taken into account depending on the texture and the viscosity of the formula in order to improve the performance.
Since the number of parameters linked together is high, designing a wiping system generally leads to a situation of compromise between the various desired qualities: thick coating (volume), separation of the eyelashes (combing), lengthening effect, curving effect, etc.
This comprise is especially difficult to achieve because some parameters change over time:
A known method for increasing the performance of an application system consists in using bristles of different lengths on the same brush: the short bristles and the presence of interstices between these bristles make it possible to store the product to be applied to the user's eyelashes, and the long bristles make it possible to properly comb and efficiently separate the eyelashes.
To produce these two types of bristles for the same brush, document U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,520 provides alternating rows formed from long and short bristles, respectively. However, the envelope diameter of the short bristles is substantially greater than the diameter of the stem and of the wiper. They are therefore also wiped when passing through the wiper and then no longer contain enough material during the application.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,198 describes bristle sizes having lengths graduated within a given range. Such a distribution of bristle lengths does not allow the two distinct functions mentioned above for use on applicators to be carried out correctly.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,583 describes methods consisting in twisting the wire in two phases, before and after a sizing operation, so as to mix the short bristles with the long bristles. This method is relatively expensive, and does not allow the two distinct functions mentioned above to be carried out correctly, since the short bristles dispersed between the long bristles are curved by the bending of the latter on passing through the orifice of the wiper.
Thus, none of these documents describe a cutting method. Furthermore, none of the existing cutting methods makes it possible to obtain bristles as short as desired. This is because the known methods use a back plate cutting tool of the “trimmer” type, and the back plate entails a distance between the cutting element and the metal core of the brush at least equal to its thickness. Furthermore, a safe distance between the blade and the metal core is needed so as not to damage the cutting tool.
The invention aims to alleviate the drawbacks mentioned above by making it possible to apply a large amount of mascara in a single application, in order to give volume to the eyelashes, and to comb, separate and curve the eyelashes. It is also an aim of the present invention to provide a mascara brush at a moderate cost price.
To achieve these aims, the invention proposes carrying out a selective and clean cut of the bristles by masking some bristles which are not to be cut.
More specifically, the subject of the invention is a method of cutting bristles of an applicator brush for a cosmetic product consisting, based on a brush having a twisted core in which are trapped bristles whose envelope is an axisymmetric surface about the core, produced according to a commonly used method, in separating the bristles of the brush into angular sectors along the core, the bristles intended to be cut are brought together in a line in first cutting sectors, while the bristles of second sectors complementary to the first are folded substantially parallel to the core in order to be left untouched, and in then carrying out an operation of cutting the aligned bristles. After this operation, the folded bristles are released and stand up again due to their own elasticity, in order to form rows of long bristles along the core of the brush.
According to particular embodiments:
The invention also relates to a hollow module for guiding brush bristles into which the brush is inserted, comprising a head for selecting the bristles to be cut and to be left untouched, extended along the same axis by a tubular element with longitudinal slots in order to expose the ends of bristles to be cut. The external dimension of the tubular element determines the cutting length.
The selection head has an inlet orifice having a diameter less than the envelope diameter of the brush and of the longitudinal cutting grooves which select the bristles intended to be cut. The grooves may be radial through grooves in order to form slots, or else remain blind.
The tubular element has a central channel with a diameter less than the envelope diameter of the brush and slots continuing on from the cutting grooves. The tubular element has a thickness which determines the length of the bristles emerging from the slots and intended to be cut by at least one cutting tool. This associated cutting tool, which may be a grinding wheel or a milling cutter, with a blade or disk, bears on the tubular element or in the immediate proximity. The cut bristles are advantageously collected by means of a suction device. The cutting tool makes it possible to chop the bristles emerging from the slots corresponding to the cutting of at least one angular cutting sector. The cutting tool may also be a laser beam, a high pressure water jet, an ultrasound device or the equivalent.
According to particular embodiments:
Advantageously, the brush is self-centering in the guiding module because of the statistically even distribution of the bristles around the core of the brush, which therefore positions itself automatically on the axis of the guiding module.
The invention also relates to a cutting machine equipped with such a module, bristle cutting means associated with the cutting slots, motor means for rotating the tube and/or the cutting tools, at a speed of up to 30 000 rpm, preferably between 5 and 20 000 rpm, it being possible for the tube to be mounted on support bearings, and loading and centering means and means for rotating the in-going brushes before they are inserted into the cutting tube.
According to particular embodiments, flat or annular cutting means, especially in the form of a straight or circular blade, are placed around the tube and associated with the cutting slots.
The invention also relates a brush cut according to the method above, and to the applicator system comprising such a brush, a stem for supporting a cylindrical brush, having a diameter of between 3 and 5 mm, and a wiper made of a flexible thermoplastic, elastomer or thermoplastic elastomer material, provided with an orifice having a diameter of between 2 and 6 mm.
According to a preferred embodiment, the brush of the applicator system comprises longitudinal rows of bristles of different lengths, the bristles of at least one of these rows having a length such that the bristle ends are inscribed within the envelope profile of the stem, itself substantially equal to the profile of the opening of the wiper, by adjustment to higher or lower values.
The invention also relates to the cosmetic product having such an applicator system associated with a corresponding cosmetic formula.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the description below and the appended figures, given as nonlimiting examples, and which show respectively:
a to 2c, schematic end views of brushes cut by the method according to the present invention;
a to 3c, front and rear isometric views and lateral sections of an exemplary brush according to the invention;
a to 13c, perspective views of the second embodiment of the cutting tube according to the present invention;
a and 14b, sectional and side views of two annular rings for clamping the guide head according to
a and 15b, a sectional view with partial enlargement of a cutting machine according to the present invention.
In all the figures, identical reference signs denote identical or similar elements.
As is apparent in the sectional view of
According to a common method, the mascara brush 4 is produced from a metal wire 7 forming the linear central core of the brush. Fibers, for example made of polyamide or from synthetic or natural, hollow or solid materials, are distributed between two branches previously curved into a U shape. The plastically deformable wire is twisted in order to entrap the fibers in the form of bristles 8 distributed regularly along a helix. The ends of the bristles are evened out in the shape of an axisymmetric (cylindrical, conical, frustoconical, etc.) envelope by means of a cutting operation. In the example illustrated in
After operations of assembling and filling with mascara, the cap is screwed on to the bottle, and the bristles 8 are immersed in the mascara 20. At that moment, the brush 4 is heavily loaded with mascara. Removing it from the bottle makes the bristles 8 pass through the middle of the circular lip 6a of the wiper 6 which removes excess product.
In order to distribute the mascara in an advantageous manner over the brush, the method according to the present invention cuts off some bristles located in predetermined angular sectors along the twisted core. The cut reduced the length of the bristles, the bristles cut in this way are subsequently called short bristles. The ends of the short bristles are inscribed within an envelope of diameter “d” which is substantially equal to the diameter of the stem, and substantially equal to the diameter of the circular lip 6a, for example to within ±0.2 mm. Under these conditions, the mascara trapped between the bristles is not removed from the brush 4 when this brush passes through the lip 6a of the wiper 6.
As emerges from
The sectors 10 (
In the example illustrated in
Alternatively, the brushes have sectors which are not evenly distributed angularly, together with sectors having different angles for bristles of the same length.
One of the brushes according to one of
As the brush 4 passes through the lip 6a, the latter closes on the long bristles 8 of the sectors 10 which are wiped, while keeping a considerable amount of mascara in the sectors 11 provided with short bristles 9. The stem, the brush and the wiper form an applicator system according to the invention. In this assembly, the stem, the brush and the opening of the wiper have substantially identical dimensions of the envelope profile.
A brush according to the invention, as illustrated in the front and rear isometric views and in lateral section in
The brush is trimmed in the sectors 11, with a shape which is initially conical from the end 12, then cylindrical. Similarly, the long bristles 8 have a conical shape at the end 12, so as to obtain a slender profile.
In
In
Annular, and especially circular, rotating blades other than linear blades moving with a flat alternating movement, as shown in
To obtain a meticulous cut, a hollow tube 29 made of treated Z38 steel is used in order to form a guiding module consisting of a head and of a tubular body for guiding the bristles. This tube is used in cooperation with cutting means, as illustrated in
The tube 29 has a central channel 31 for receiving the brush 4. The brush (not shown) is inserted through the inlet orifice 31a of the channel 31 in the direction of the arrow 33. The orifice 31a has a diameter less than the envelope diameter of the brush.
In the example illustrated, the tube 29 has as an end piece, after machining, the conical receiving head 29a extended by a cylindrical body 29b. The straight channel 31 extends over the entire length of the tube and corresponds substantially to its longitudinal axis 35. The channel 31 has longitudinal slots 37, only one of which is shown in
In the example illustrated in
In the example illustrated, each region 39 is formed from a notch, of flat shape (
The channel 31 also has guiding grooves 45 located on the bisector of two consecutive slots 37. These grooves, of semicylindrical shape, form indentations 45a at the end of the channel 31. These indentations and the grooves provide fine, therefore improved, selection, and strict guiding of bristles protected from cutting. Since the distance between the bottom of the grooves and the axis of the channel 31 is less than the height of the bristles selected, these bristles are curved and no part projects out of the slot 37. This accurate selection of the bristles not to be cut causes accurate selection of the bristles to be cut.
In the example illustrated, an automatic means, such as a pusher with linear alternating movements (shown below), introduces the brushes into the channel 31 in the direction of the arrow 33. The bristles that it is desired to cut are positioned continuously and automatically in the slots 37 and poke out in the cutting regions 39. The movement of the brush with respect to the guiding device 29 ensures the bristles are cut in the V-shaped region 43 of the blade 41. Furthermore, the blade 41 may undego a sideways or vibratory movement in order to facilitate the cutting of the bristles. The blade may undergo a vibratory movement in the direction of the axis 35. Such a movement combined with a curved shape of the cutting slot makes it possible to cut with a variable and matched height.
The brush is then recovered at the exit from the channel 31, then is assembled onto a stem.
In the exemplary embodiment, the channel 31 is obtained by a central drilling having a diameter of 2 mm, from which extend semicylindrical grooves 45 having a diameter of 0.8 mm. The diameter of a circle passing through the outer ends of the grooves 45 extends radially to a distance of 2.8 mm. The slots 37 have a width of 0.4 mm and a height of 4 mm from the axis 35 passing through the center of the channel 31. The slots 37 open out into the cutting region 39 at a distance from the axis 35 of approximately between 1 and 2 mm.
According to another exemplary embodiment illustrated in
In the example illustrated, the tube 49 is provided, after machining, with a cylindro-conical head 49a, extended by a cylindrical body 49b having a smaller diameter. The channel 51 has six longitudinal slots 57 which select and orient the bristles to be cut. These slots are evenly distributed, forming six equal angular sectors for selecting the bristles to be cut. Each slot 57 has a width which decreases linearly over the conical part of the end piece 49a, then remains constant over the cylindrical parts of the head 49a and of the body 49b of the tube. A cutting region 59 is made on the surface of the device 49 where an annular blade 61 severs the bristles which pass through.
As illustrated in
In the exemplary embodiments illustrated in
As illustrated in
The first cutting grooves 70 are formed by parallel walls and a cylindrical bottom. These grooves are deep enough not to curve the bristles. These grooves 70 form indentations 70a on the end piece 69a and extend into the body of the tube 69c in order to form the cutting slots 57. The second guiding grooves 45 are semicylindrical, inscribed within an envelope having a diameter equal to 3 mm, so as to curve the selected bristles. These grooves also form indentations 45a on the end piece 69a.
The end piece 69a has a bi-frustoconical shape at the end, the outer truncated cone 69e converges toward the axis 35 of the tube when moving away from the tubular body 69c, while the inner truncated cone 69i diverges in this same direction. Under these conditions, the indentations 70a of the selecting and cutting grooves 70 are formed on the outer truncated cone, while the indentations 45a of the guiding grooves 45 are cut into the inner truncated cone. The body of the tube 69c is extended, away from the guiding head 69a, by a holding and rotationally driving end piece 69d.
As illustrated by the sectional and perspective views of
An example of a cutting machine according to the invention is illustrated by the views in longitudinal section of
The cutting machine 90 is equipped with a base 90a on which are set: a cutting tube such as the tube 69, a cutting blade such as the blade 41 mounted on the tube against the cutting slots, a driving pulley 91 for rotating the cutting tube at the speed of 20 000 rpm, the tube being mounted on roller bearings 92a and 92b. A thrust rod 93 successively brings, by an alternating movement, the brushes 4 into a centering tube 94 from a loading region 96. In this region, a loading trough 95 is provided.
Before entering the end piece 69a, the brush is made to rotate in a rotating tube 96 also mounted on the bearing 92b. A centering chuck 97 is also provided in order to couple the tube 69 to the drive pulley 91.
The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments attached and shown. It is for example possible, after having carried out the trimming, to curve the twisted wire so as to obtain an improved application. Moreover, other trimming methods can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the present invention: for example, the regularly split conical or cylindrical guiding device undergoes an alternating or rotating movement while the cutting blades are fixed or also moveable.
Moreover, the blades may be formed by linear or circular cutting strips. Furthermore, the grooves may have different shapes: conical, cylindrical, V, etc.
The present invention is mainly, but not exclusively, applicable to the cosmetic industry.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
02 02381 | Feb 2002 | FR | national |
This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/925,868, filed Aug. 25, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,201,454, which application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) of International Application No. PCT/EP03/02000 filed Feb. 13, 2003 and published in English as WO 03/070051 A1 on Aug. 28, 2003, which claimed priority from French Patent Application No. 0202381 filed Feb. 25, 2002, which applications and publication are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1693263 | Veen et al. | Nov 1928 | A |
3095240 | Theodore | Jun 1963 | A |
4586520 | Brittain | May 1986 | A |
5020551 | Guerret | Jun 1991 | A |
5472263 | Gerspacher | Dec 1995 | A |
6289902 | Mathiez | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6651675 | Mathiez | Nov 2003 | B2 |
20050081874 | Mathiez | Apr 2005 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
4141372 | Jun 1993 | DE |
925741 | Dec 1998 | EP |
2793121 | May 1999 | FR |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20080023018 A1 | Jan 2008 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 10925868 | Aug 2004 | US |
Child | 11675485 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | PCT/EP03/02000 | Feb 2003 | US |
Child | 10925868 | US |