Makeup Brush

Abstract

The method for manufacturing a makeup brush includes: molding a ferrule and welding bristles to the ferrule. The ferrule includes a ferrule inner end; a ferrule outer end; a ferrule body; an interior; and a well. The well has a well base parallel to the ferrule outer end. The well base has an inner side and an outer side. The step of welding the bristles includes the steps of disposing the bristles in contact with the outer side of the well base and exposing the inner side of the well base to welding.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to cosmetic application technology, and in particular, to the manufacture of an improved makeup brush and makeup brush itself.BACKGROUND[0002]Brushes of varying types have almost universal utility, from industrial uses, to personal uses, to artistic endeavors, etc. The bristles of these various brushes may be made of a wide variety of materials, including hair, fur, synthetic filaments, etc. What all of these brushes have in common is that the bristles tend to fall out with use.[0003]Most brushes have a metal or plastic ferrule that hold the bristles in the brush. The bristles are glued or tied within the ferrule to hold them in place. Incomplete gluing during manufacture may cause the bristles to fall out of the brush during use. High-end brushes often maintain their bristles better because they are laid into the ferrule by hand. This requires time-consuming gluing and securing of the bristles, but does result in a better pr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]It is preferred that the material out of which the ferrule and the bristles are made is a recyclable material, such as polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), which is a thermoplastic engineering polymer. Other polymers, and especially elastomers, such as those sold under the trademarks HYTREL and GRILFLEX, may be substituted. In addition, the material should be easily cleanable, including being at least somewhat heat and chemical resistant. As the ferrule and bristle combination is preferably recyclable, another disadvantage of the prior art is overcome. Moreover, even if the ferrule does eventually become unusable or undesirable for whatever reason, the ferrule may be recycled while the handle of the makeup brush is continually reused, as the handle and the ferrule inner ends of the ferrules, which connect to the handle, are standardized so that ferrules may be easily swapped out. In this way, one piece, the ferrule, is recycled, and the other piece, the handle, is reused—no part of the makeup brush ends up cluttering a landfill. In addition, plastics, such as those preferred with respect to the present invention, are easily cleaned and may be fairly rigorously cleaned without fear of the bristles falling out. Another disadvantage of the prior art is thus overcome. All of these factors weigh toward an inexpensive product, both to purchase and to maintain.

[0022]It is a further aspect of the present invention that the ferrule and bristles be easily cleanable and that cleaning does not break down the shape or structure of the bristles.

Problems solved by technology

What all of these brushes have in common is that the bristles tend to fall out with use.

Incomplete gluing during manufacture may cause the bristles to fall out of the brush during use.

This requires time-consuming gluing and securing of the bristles, but does result in a better product in so far as bristle loss.

Even this, however, is not a complete solution, as the brush will ultimately still lose bristles.

Obviously, if the brush loses all of its bristles, it will also have lost all of its utility in that capacity.

The loss of the bristles does interfere with the purpose of the application though.

The material being applied by the brush and the surface to which the material is being applied may become contaminated with bristles lost from the ferrule.

A further disadvantage in the current design of brushes is that contamination by the glue usually make the bristles and brush non-recyclable or reusable.

Another disadvantage is inevitable bacterial contamination of the bristles over time.

All in all, the cleaning is an expensive and time-consuming process.

Moreover, the cleaning process further breaks down the shape and structure of the brush, as well as the glue holding the bristles in place within the ferrule.

This ends up exacerbating the original problem discussed above, of bristle loss.

In short, even the most expensive and carefully laid-in brush will eventually degrade to the point where it must be replaced.

Unfortunately, these unusable brushes are then deposited in landfills, as there is no way to recycle these items.

Although this disclosure may address the problem of the brush losing bristles, it includes additional features, such as a bending element that is flexible in at least one plane, which makes the brush complicated and expensive, and likely still not recyclable.

In addition, creating the molds for injection molded bristles may make this product cost prohibitive.

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