Patent Application
20210127821
The present invention relates to a cosmetic brush. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cosmetic brush having at least a partial spiral or helical arrangement of bristles. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a cosmetic brush with bristles for improved volumizing effect.
Cosmetic brushes for applying a cosmetic composition to hair include, as examples, mascara brushes and hair coloring brushes. In general, there are three types of mascara brushes—volumizing, curling, and lengthening. Out of these, volumizing mascara brushes are the most in demand. Long bristles with large overall brush diameter and bristles oriented in random directions hold the most bulk which is needed to make the lashes look thick and voluminous. Traditional twisted nylon mascara brushes were previously the best choice for volumizing mascaras because of their randomness and no limitation on the brush diameter. However, the drawback of this brush is that the randomness in the brush is too random, which leads to a great deal of clumping of the bulk with clumps of bulk applied on the eyelashes. In order to solve the clumping issue, the industry developed molded mascara brushes which have bristles aligned in a consistent manner so that the clumping is reduced. However, due to technical limitations, bristles had to be arranged in an orderly fashion leading to less volume effect. Therefore, a need exists for volumizing mascara brushes that also provide reduced clumping of mascara.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,188,194 discloses a cosmetic brush that includes a plurality of polymer bristles that extend from a polymer core in a radial direction, where at least a portion of the core is twisted and bristles in the twisted portion are arranged in one or more columns disposed in one or more spiral paths that extend along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the core. The cross-sectional shape of the conventional molded bristles is circular and is tapered toward their ends.
However, while a cosmetic brush disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,188,194 solves the above problem, there is an urgent need for improvement of the cosmetic brush disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,188,194 for users who want to have better volumizing effect.
There is provided in accordance with various embodiments a cosmetic brush that includes a plurality of polymer bristles that extend from a polymer core in a radial direction, wherein at least a portion of the core is twisted and bristles in the twisted portion are arranged in one or more columns disposed in one or more spiral or helical paths that extend about at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the core. In an embodiment, the configuration of the spiral or helical path is maintained without external means.
In at least one embodiment, the polymer bristles are integrally molded with the polymer core.
In at least one embodiment, each column on the core is disposed in a separate spiral or helical path that extends about at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the core. In at least one embodiment, none of the column paths intersect.
In at least one embodiment, the cosmetic brush further includes one or more columns of bristles disposed in one or more straight paths that extend parallel to at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the core. In at least one embodiment, none of the column paths intersect.
In at least one embodiment, the molded polymer core is twisted with a plurality of twist angles such that the plurality of polymer bristles have an organized randomness.
In at least one embodiment, an upper most bristle in the twisted portion is offset from a lower most bristle in the twisted portion by one of the plurality of twist angles, and the twist angles are angles between two bristles in different rows within the twisted portion.
In at least one embodiment, the polymer bristles have a plurality of grooves on their surfaces for holding cosmetic liquid for the cosmetic brush.
In at least one embodiment, the polymer bristles have cross-sectional shapes of any regular or irregular polygons.
In at least one embodiment, shapes and dimensions of an inner most portion of the bristles and an outermost portion of the bristles are different, the inner most portion of the bristles is a portion that is closest to the core, and the outer most portion of the bristles is a portion that is farthest to the core.
In at least one embodiment, the polymer bristles have a plurality of projections on their surfaces for holding the cosmetic liquid for the cosmetic brush.
In at least one embodiment, the polymer bristles further comprise a plurality of branches of any shapes and dimensions.
In at least one embodiment, the polymer bristles are formed with a regular and alternative arrangement of thick bristles and thin bristles throughout the core.
In at least one embodiment, the polymer bristles are formed with an irregular arrangement of thick bristles and thin bristles throughout the core.
In at least one embodiment, the polymer bristles have curvy or zigzag lines/shapes such that they have a shape like ramen noodles regardless of their thickness.
The present disclosure provides polymer cosmetic brushes having randomized bristles. Cosmetic brushes according to the present disclosure provide an improved degree of volumization over standard thermoplastic brushes and also reduce clumping that is associated with traditional nylon and wire brushes.
As used in this document, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. As used in this document, the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to.”
As used herein, the term “cosmetic brush” includes, but is not limited to, mascara brushes and hair coloring brushes. Cosmetic brushes disclosed herein include a core member with at least one twist angle greater than zero degrees. In general, the twist angle is measured between two bristles in different rows, namely the bristles in the upper most and lower most rows within the twisted portion. In an untwisted arrangement, the twist angle between the two bristles is zero, i.e. the bristle column is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the core. In a twisted arrangement, the twist angle between the same two bristles is greater than zero. In one embodiment, the twist angle is from about 1 degree to about 360 degrees. Any specific angle within this range is suitable (e.g., 2 degrees, 3 degrees, 4 degrees, 5 degrees, 10 degrees, 20 degrees, 30 degrees, 40 degrees, etc.). It is further contemplated that the twist angle may be greater than 360 degrees. It is contemplated that the entire core possesses at least one twist angle, however, it is also possible that a portion of the core is twisted while another portion is not. It is further contemplated that the core may include more than one twist angle such that a portion of the bristles extend at a first twist angle and another portion of the bristles extend at a second, distinct twist angle.
The core member extends along a longitudinal axis XX′ and may have any suitable cross-sectional shape. Exemplary shapes for the core member includes, but are not limited to, circular, oval, triangular, square, trapezoidal, hexagonal, and the like.
The bristles can also have any suitable cross-sectional shape (e.g. circular, oval, triangular, square, trapezoidal, hexagonal, etc.). That is, the bristles have cross-sectional shapes of any polygons (both regular polygons and irregular polygons). The bristles can also be round or flat. The bristles can also have a regular or an irregular shape. It is also possible that the shapes and dimensions of an inner most portion of the bristles (portion that is closest to the core with respect to the longitudinal axis of the core) and an outer most portion of the bristles (portion that is farthest from the core with respect to the longitudinal axis of the core) are different or the same. The bristles can also have a groove or grooves (an indent or indents) on any of their surfaces so that mascara (i.e., liquid) can be contained in the bristles, thereby increasing volumizing effect. Alternatively, the bristles can also have a projection or projections on any of their surfaces. Here, the groove (projection) or grooves (projections) on the surfaces of the bristles can have any suitable shape. It is also possible that the bristles have a branch or branches for having various overall shapes of the bristles. Here, the branch or branches include various types/shapes/sizes of the bristles. It is also possible that the bristles have various thicknesses and that the bristles can be formed with various arrangement of the bristles of different thickness throughout the core. For example, the bristles can be formed with a regular and alternative arrangement of thick bristles and thin bristles throughout the core. Alternatively, the bristles can be formed with an irregular arrangement of thick bristles and thin bristles throughout the core. It is also possible that the bristles have curvy or zigzag lines (shapes) such that they have a shape similar to ramen noodles regardless of their thickness.
The cosmetic brushes are manufactured from a polymer material, which may include synthetic or semi-synthetic materials. Preferably, both the core and the bristles are manufactured from a thermoplastic material; however, the invention is not limited to such. One or both of the core and bristles may be manufactured from a different material. Additionally, the core and bristles are preferably manufactured from the same material; however, the may be manufactured from different materials from one another.
The cosmetic brushes according to the invention can be fabricated according to any suitable method. In one exemplary method, a thermoplastic brush is initially molded (e.g. via injection molding, extrusion, or the like) with the bristles formed integrally with the core in parallel, non-twisted columns. At least a portion of the molded core is then twisted via an application of force, heat, wind, chemicals, or a combination thereof, that results in a permanent deformation (e.g. twisting) of the core with the bristles in the twisted area extending in spiral or helical columns. For example, the molded core is twisted with a plurality of twist angles via an application of heat such that polymer bristles have an organized randomness. The upper most bristle in the twisted portion is offset from the lower most bristle in the twisted portion by one of twisted angles, where the twist angles are angles between two bristles in different rows within the twisted portion. Also, it is possible that the molded core is twisted with twist angles throughout the entire twisted portion. Here, twisted angles could be distinct from each other.
Referring to
In the illustrated embodiment, the core 30 also includes an untwisted portion 40 in which the core 30 is not twisted and the bristles 20 are disposed in multiple straight paths that extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis XX′ of the core 30. The opposite end of the core 30 may optionally include a stem 70. The stem 70 facilitates connection of the cosmetic brush to a handle or the like (not shown).
The view presented in
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In the illustrated embodiment, the core 30′ also includes an untwisted portion 40 in which the core 30′ is not twisted and the bristles 20 are disposed in multiple straight paths that extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis XX′ of the core 30′. The opposite end of the core 30′ may optionally include a stem 70. The stem 70 facilitates connection of the cosmetic brush to a handle or the like (not shown).
The view presented in
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In the illustrated embodiment, the core 30″ also includes an untwisted portion 40 in which the core 30″ is not twisted and the bristles 20 are disposed in multiple straight paths that extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis XX′ of the core 30″. The opposite end of the core 30″ may optionally include a stem 70. The stem 70 facilitates connection of the cosmetic brush to a handle or the like (not shown).
The view presented in
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In the illustrated embodiment, the core 30′″ also includes an untwisted portion 40 in which the core 30′″ is not twisted and the bristles 20 are disposed in multiple straight paths that extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis XX′ of the core 30′″. The opposite end of the core 30′″ may optionally include a stem 70. The stem 70 facilitates connection of the cosmetic brush to a handle or the like (not shown).
The view presented in
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While this invention has been described with an emphasis upon preferred embodiments, it will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art that variations in the preferred compositions and methods can be used and that it is intended that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims that follow.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/929,213, “TWISTED COSMETIC BRUSH,” filed Nov. 1, 2019, which application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62929213 | Nov 2019 | US |
