Synthetic goat hair brush

Abstract

A blended cosmetic brush head may include a first plurality of fibers each having a first diameter, a second plurality of fibers each having a second diameter, and a third plurality of fibers each having a third diameter, where the first, second, and third diameters are different. The brush may be adapted to simulate a natural hair brush, more particularly, goat hair.

Description

BACKGROUND

Numerous types of brushes with natural and synthetic animal hair are available for applying cosmetic products. New and alternative approaches to such brushes are desired.

SUMMARY

This disclosure provides designs, material, manufacturing methods, and use alternatives for cosmetic packaging.

According to one example of the present disclosure, a blended cosmetic brush head comprises a first plurality of fibers each having a first diameter, a second plurality of fibers each having a second diameter, and a third plurality of fibers each having a third diameter, where the first, second, and third diameters are different.

Alternatively, or additionally, in another example, second diameter is larger than the first diameter and the third diameter is larger than the second diameter.

Alternatively, or additionally, in another example, the second diameter is 0.01 mm larger than the first diameter and the third diameter is 0.01 mm larger than the second diameter.

Alternatively, or additionally, in another example, the first diameter is 0.05 mm, the second diameter is 0.06 mm, and the third diameter is 0.07 mm.

Alternatively, or additionally, in another example, the first and second plurality of fibers are present in a first amount, and the third plurality of fibers is present in a second amount that is three times the first amount.

Alternatively, or additionally, in another example, at least one of the first, second, and third plurality of fibers includes synthetic fibers.

Alternatively, or additionally, in another example, all of the plurality of fibers includes synthetic fibers.

Alternatively, or additionally, in another example, at least some of the first, second, or third plurality of fibers include fibers made of Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT).

Alternatively, or additionally, in another example, all of the plurality of fibers include fibers made of Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT).

Alternatively, or additionally, in another example, at least some of the first, second, or third plurality of fibers include fibers that are crimped.

Alternatively, or additionally, in another example, all of the plurality of fibers include fibers that are crimped.

Alternatively, or additionally, in another example, all of the fibers from the first, second, and third plurality of fibers are mixed together.

According to another example, a blended cosmetic brush head comprises a first plurality of fibers each having a diameter of 0.05 mm, a second plurality of fibers each having a diameter of 0.06 mm, and a third plurality of fibers each having a diameter of 0.07 mm, wherein the first, second, and third plurality of fibers are blended in a ratio of 20% first plurality of fibers, 20% second plurality of fibers, and 60% third plurality of fibers.

Alternatively, or additionally, in another example, at least one of the first, second, and third plurality of fibers includes synthetic fibers.

Alternatively, or additionally, in another example, all of the plurality of fibers includes synthetic fibers.

Alternatively, or additionally, in another example, at least some of the first, second, or third plurality of fibers include fibers made of Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT).

Alternatively, or additionally, in another example, all of the plurality of fibers include fibers made of Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT).

Alternatively, or additionally, in another example, at least some of the first, second, or third plurality of fibers include fibers that are crimped.

Alternatively, or additionally, in another example, all of the plurality of fibers include fibers that are crimped.

Alternatively, or additionally, in another example, all of the fibers from the first, second, and third plurality of fibers are mixed together.

The above summary of some example embodiments is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the present disclosure. The Figures, and Detailed Description, which follow, more particularly exemplify these embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other aspects of the present invention are best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document.

Included in the drawings are the following Figures:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an illustrative brush;

FIG. 2 shows a wavy outer surface shape for a synthetic fiber; and

FIG. 3 shows three exemplary synthetic fibers having differing diameters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description should be read with reference to the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views. The description and drawings show several embodiments which are meant to be illustrative in nature.

For convenience, the present disclosure may be described using relative terms including, for example, left, right, top, bottom, front, back, upper, lower, up, and down, as well as others. It is to be understood that these terms are merely used for illustrative purposes and are not meant to be limiting in any manner.

In the following description, a brush is described for applying a cosmetic material. While the application describes the fibers for use in a cosmetic brush, it will be understood that the synthetic fibers according to this application are usable in other applications such as, for example, mascara brush, tooth brushes, hair brushes, etc.

Cosmetic brushes may be formed using many types of natural and/or synthetic fibers. Brushes may include natural (e.g., sable hair, squirrel hair, goat hair, etc.) and/or synthetic (e.g., nylon, taklon, polyester, silicone, etc.) fibers.

Natural fibers have long been used due to their softness. Goat hair brushes, for example, are very soft, resilient and durable, and goat hair excels at creating depth of color by picking up the desired amount of product. Goat hair fibers may be used in brushes for powder, blush, highlighter and eye shadow.

Goat hair is one of the most commonly used natural hair type in making cosmetic brushes as they are the least costly of the natural hair brushes to make due to the wide availability of goat hair. Natural hair fibers have cuticles, which provide good product pick-up and blending properties. The cuticle helps lift and absorb powdered pigment along with the skin's oils and blend them across the skin, creating a natural, blended look. Natural hair fibers are porous, however, and absorb liquid and cream products, which may lead to clumping and waste of the product.

Synthetic fiber brushes have an advantage in that each fiber may be made to precise size and shape specifications, and may provide a more precise, streak-free application of the cosmetic product, especially for liquid, gel, and cream products. Synthetic fibers may be cut to provide a more precise angle for small detail brushes, as compared to natural hair brushes. Synthetic fibers may be made with a smooth surface devoid of pores or with pores of a desired size to control the amount of liquid, gel, or cream product the brush absorbs.

Examples of synthetic materials that may be used to form the brush fibers include, without limitation, taklon, nylon, Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), polyester and/or Polypropylene (PP).

In view of the various challenges and drawbacks of using natural goat hair in cosmetics brushes, the inventors have developed a synthetic goat hair brush. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example brush 100 having a handle 102, a brush head 104, and a ferrule 110. In some examples, the handle 102 may be made of a metal material (e.g., steel, stainless steel, nickel, aluminum, magnesium, copper, brass, chrome, titanium, alloys thereof, etc.), plastic material (e.g., acrylic, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, etc.), wood material, glass, stone, ceramic material, graphite material, composite material (e.g., fiberglass, carbon fiber, etc.), combinations of the foregoing, etc. The handle 102 may have a variety of cross-sectional shapes, sizes, cross-sectional areas, and/or lengths. In some examples, the handle 102 may have a cross section perpendicular to a longitudinal axis having a circular shape, a triangular shape, a rectangular shape, an ovular shape, a hexagonal shape, an abstract shape, etc.

The brush head 104 may include a plurality of fibers 120. As shown, the brush head 104 has a wide face with a rounded or curved, edge. However, it will be understood that the specific function of the brush may dictate its exact shape. The brush may be of virtually any shape such as flat and rectangular, trapezoidal or angled with relatively straight edges. The size and shape of the brush may depend on the product to be applied, the location to which the product is to be applied and/or the method in which the product is to be applied. For example, a brush for applying blush may have fibers arranged in a circular shape with a dome head contour. In contrast, a brush for applying foundation may have brush fibers arranged to create a flat brush head with an at least partially semi-circular head contour. A brush for applying powder or creams to the eyebrows may have brush fibers arranged to create a flat, stiff brush head.

The brush head 104 may include a mixture or blend of different fibers 120. The blend of fibers may include fibers made of different materials such as a blend of natural and synthetic fibers. The ratio of natural to synthetic fibers may be altered based on the desired characteristics of the brush. In other examples, all of the fibers in the brush head may be synthetic. The fibers 120 in the brush head 104 may all be made of the same type of synthetic material. Alternatively, the individual fibers 120 may be made of different materials. At least some of the fibers may be made of Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT). In other examples, all of the fibers in the brush head may be made of PBT.

The fibers 120 in the brush head 104 may be cylindrical in shape, with a straight, smooth outer surface. In other examples, the fibers may have a wavy outer surface shape, such as that shown in FIG. 2. The artificial fibers may be crimped to provide the wavy shape. In some examples, all of the fibers in the brush head have the same shape. In other examples, a mixture of straight and crimped fibers may be provided. When fibers of different material, size, and/or shape are used in a single brush head, the fibers may be arranged with similar fibers clustered together. Alternatively, the fibers may be blended into a substantially random arrangement of the different materials, size, and/or shape.

The fibers 120 in the brush head 104 may be made of a mixture of natural and synthetic materials. In other examples, the fibers may be made of different synthetic materials or the fibers may all be made of the same synthetic material. In one example, all of the fibers may be made of Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) but the fibers may have different diameters. The fibers may have differing diameters. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a first plurality of fibers 220 may each have a first diameter, a second plurality of fibers 320 may each have a second diameter, and a third plurality of fibers 420 may each have a third diameter, with the first, second, and third diameters being different. The second diameter may be larger than the first diameter and the third diameter may be larger than the second diameter. In some examples, the first, second, and third diameters differ by 0.01 mm, with the second diameter being 0.01 mm larger than the first diameter and the third diameter being 0.01 mm larger than the second diameter. In one example, the first plurality of fibers 220 may include fibers each having a diameter of 0.05 mm, the second plurality of fibers 320 may include fibers each having a diameter of 0.06 mm, and the third plurality of fibers 420 may include fibers each having a diameter of 0.07 mm.

The first, second, and third plurality of fibers may be blended in various ratios. The three groups of fibers may be blended in equal ratios. In another example, the first and second plurality of fibers may be present in the same amount, and the third plurality of fibers may be present in an amount three times the amounts of the first and second plurality of fibers. In another example, the first, second, and third plurality of fibers may be blended in a ratio of 20% of the first plurality of fibers, 20% of the second plurality of fibers, and 60% of the third plurality of fibers.

Although the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous changes and modifications may be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention and that such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the appended claims be construed to cover all such equivalent variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A blended cosmetic brush head comprising: a first plurality of fibers each having a diameter of 0.05 mm;a second plurality of fibers each having a diameter of 0.06 mm; anda third plurality of fibers each having a diameter of 0.07 mm;wherein the first, second, and third plurality of fibers are blended in a ratio of 20% first plurality of fibers, 20% second plurality of fibers, and 60% third plurality of fibers.

2. The blended cosmetic brush head of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second, and third plurality of fibers includes synthetic fibers.

3. The blended cosmetic brush head of claim 2, wherein all of the plurality of fibers includes synthetic fibers.

4. The blended cosmetic brush head of claim 1, wherein at least some of the first, second, or third plurality of fibers include fibers made of Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT).

5. The blended cosmetic brush head of claim 1, wherein all of the plurality of fibers include fibers made of Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT).

6. The blended cosmetic brush head of claim 1, wherein at least some of the first, second, or third plurality of fibers include fibers that are crimped.

7. The blended cosmetic brush head of claim 1, wherein all of the plurality of fibers include fibers that are crimped.

8. The blended cosmetic brush head of claim 1, wherein all of the fibers from the first, second, and third plurality of fibers are mixed together.