Patent Application
20070261188
The present invention relates generally to a artist/make-up brush device, and more specifically to a brush device that consists of a pen-type cylinder with an individual brush tip, wherein said brush tip is selectively interchangeable.
Prior brushes have tried to address the problem of both utilizing retractable bristles to address self-styling and concerns regarding interchangability with limited success. Some prior retractable bristle brushes typically utilize complicated systems of movement that increase the cost of manufacture of the brush, require two hands to operate effectively, fail due to material collected within the operating components of the brush.
One example of a retractable bristle brush is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,877 to Heneveld provides a rectangular brush wherein bristles are retracted from the topside of the brush by moving a sleeve that holds the bristles along a bottom side of the brush retracting the bristles into the brush handle.
Several prior art brushes provide a circular bristle sections that require extensive mechanical systems and movement to retract and/or extend the bristles. U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,594 to Mears discloses a circular brush having bristles mounted on rotatable axles, which are then moveably mounted on an inner mandrel with the bristles extending through slots through an outer mandrel rotatably mounted on the brush. The system requires a user to rotate the inner mandrel in relation to the outer mandrel while maintaining the brush in a styling position to retract the bristles.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,261 to Renda et al. discloses a complicated system utilizing cams and grooves and includes several control mechanisms to retract and extend the bristles. The brush as disclosed does not provide for single hand use in styling one's hair.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,567,905 to Stewart et al. discloses another version of a cam operated slidable retractable bristle brush. The bristle retraction control operates by co-action with a rotatable cylindrical mandrel having pivotal bristles.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,877 is retractable and has multiple brush tips contained within a single unit. This configuration has several drawbacks to the makeup artist. First, it has a relatively large diameter which makes it less desirable to a make up artist. Second, the multiple tips that retract into a single unit have the potential for mixture of particulates from the different brush heads.
It is thus desired to provide a retractable brush that has a streamlined body wherein the artist may rapidly utilize a quick connect to change brush tips.
The prior devices, as described above, have several problems. Some can only accommodate a single brush stick. When more than one brush stick is used selectively, the changing either cannot be accomplished rapidly, or the change results in a undesirable mixing of particulate from the various brush heads.
The subject invention solves the above problems by offering a make up brush device that consists of a pen-type cylindrical container capable of accommodating a brush head that is has a quick connect/disconnect that allow the user to quickly and easily change brush heads for particular needs or purposes.
The brush device according to the present invention consists generally of a cylindrical casing, usually in the shape of a pen.
In one embodiment, the brush device of the present invention comprises:
The brush device described may be configured for use by artists and for make up (i.e. cosmetic) applications.
The brush device of the present invention weighs less than about 10 grams. In one embodiment, the make up brush device of the present invention weighs less than about 8 grams. In a preferred embodiment, the make up brush device of the present invention weighs between about 6-8 grams.
The brush device comprises a make up brush tip mounted on the end of a mandrel. The tip and mandrel further comprise opposing quick connect/disconnect means. This allows the user to quickly and easily change make up brush tips while utilizing a single handle. In one embodiment, the quick connect/disconnect is achieved through opposing polarity magents.
The brush device cylindrical casing comprises a plurality of ridges on the surface interacting with an interlock means attached to said mandrel as a means of moving said mandrel. There is an interlock means that secures said mandrel into a fixed position.
In one embodiment, the brush device comprises a single mandrel.
The mandrel has an interlock connected thereto as a control and interlock means wherein said interlock extends from the surface of said mandrel and extends outward through the axial ridges on the surface of the cylinder whereby said interlock means contact a pair of parallel axial ridges to lock the mandrel into a fixed position.
Further contemplated is a method for applying make up comprising the steps of:
The invention also includes a brush kit comprising:
It is an object of the present invention to provide a retractable brush with easily replaceable brush tip.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a retractable brush with easily replaceable brush tip usable by artists.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a retractable brush with easily replaceable brush tip usable for application of make up.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a retractable brush with easily replaceable brush tip whereby said brush tip is changed with a quick connect/disconnect.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a retractable brush with easily replaceable brush tip whereby said quick connect/disconnect is achieved through use of opposing polarity magnets.
Those and other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the description that follows with reference to several preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present invention will be described in further detail by referring to the several preferred embodiments thereof that are shown in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that those embodiments are only shown specifically, but they are non-limitative as far as they don't depart from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.
As used herein, the term mandrel is the shaft on which the working tool, in this invention the brush tip, is mounted
In
It is contemplated that the present invention be part of a kit. Both novice and professional make up artist may use the invention. Additionally, artists will be able to exchange paintbrush tips with the present invention. The user will be able to select brush tips that will quickly and easily attach to the mandrel on the subject invention. The contemplated brush tips would include any of the make up applications commonly known.
Unlike prior attempts at multi tip brush devices, the present invention will be streamlined and will not be particularly cumbersome as devices that contain multiple attached brushes. It is known in the art that heavy brushes do not balance well in the hand of the make up artist, and do not allow for maximum detail dexterity.
The present invention provides for a pen-like make up brush device which is streamlined, lightweight, and accommodates interchangeable brush tips. The brush bristles are held in a shank. The shank, in turn, is connected to the mandrel by means of an appropriate quick connect means. The present invention is contemplated as being usable for all make up applications. These would include, but would not be limited to, lip brush, concealer, eye shading, eye liner, lash brush. Because the brush tips are easily removed and changed, the user is able to both effectively clean the various brush tips, and to customize the device for specific/personalized use.
While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
