MASCARA BRUSH WITH MULTI-ROW DISCS

Abstract

MASCARA BRUSH WITH MULTI-ROW DISCS In a disc-type applicator brush (100b), such as those used for mascara, the discs (102a) containing bristles are created with multiple rows of bristles to minimize the number of discs needed to create tapering and more visually appealing cones. This is advantageous for both visual appeal and improved ergonomics of the brush. Thicker discs (in the axial dimension) are manufactured, with two alternating rows of bristles, but each row of bristles creates a different brush diameter. Figure for abbreviation: Figure 1B

Description

Title of the invention: MASCARA BRUSH WITH MULTI-ROW DISCS SUMMARY

[0001] In a disc-type applicator brush, such as those used for mascara, the discs containing bristles are created with multiple rows of bristles to minimize the number of discs needed to create a tapered shape and produce more visually appealing cones. This is advantageous for both visual appeal and improved ergonomics of the brush. Thicker discs (in the axial dimension) are manufactured, with two alternating rows of bristles, but each row of bristles creates a different brush diameter.

[0002] In one embodiment, a method for making an applicator brush includes assembling discs containing bristles coaxially into a brush, in which one or more of the discs containing bristles include two or more rows of bristles.

[0003] The method further comprises forming a taper in the applicator brush by assembling the discs containing bristles coaxially, wherein the discs forming the taper include two or more rows of bristles, wherein the taper is an increase in the overall diameter of the applicator brush as the applicator brush extends from the proximal direction to the distal direction.

[0004] A first disc containing hairs is adjacent to a second disc containing hairs, in which the first disc is proximal and the second disc is distal in the brush, and the first disc includes a first proximal row of hairs and a first distal row of hairs, in which the first proximal row of hairs has an overall diameter greater than the overall diameter of the first distal row of hairs.

[0005] The second disc includes a second proximal row of hairs and a second distal row of hairs, in which the second proximal row of hairs has an overall diameter greater than the overall diameter of the second distal row of hairs.

[0006] The first proximal row of hairs has an overall diameter greater than the overall diameter of the second proximal row of hairs.

[0007] The first distal row of hairs has an overall diameter greater than the overall diameter of the second distal row of hairs.

[0008] The first distal row of hairs has an overall diameter equal to or greater than the overall diameter of the second proximal row of hairs.

[0009] Two rows of hairs include a number of hairs which can be counted to make two turns around the disk.

[0010] Each of the hairs in a row is on the same plane.

[0011] A disc has a first proximal row of hairs and a distal row of hairs, in which the hairs of the distal row are staggered with respect to the hairs of the proximal row.

[0012] In one embodiment, a disc containing bristles for an applicator brush, comprises a central core having a proximal flat surface and a distal flat surface and a rounded lateral surface between the proximal and distal flat surfaces; and a plurality of bristles are arranged in at least two rows on the rounded lateral surface.

[0013] A first row of hairs is arranged on a first plane parallel to the proximal and distal flat surface, and a second row of hairs is arranged on a second plane parallel to the proximal and distal flat surface.

[0014] A first row of hairs is arranged in a single first helical or spiral turn around the rounded lateral surface, and a second row of hairs is arranged in a single second helical or spiral turn around the rounded lateral surface.

[0015] In one embodiment, an applicator brush comprises a disc with two or more rows of bristles.

[0016] In one embodiment, an applicator brush comprises a first disc containing bristles, a second disc containing bristles adjacent to the first disc containing bristles, in which the first disc is proximal and the second disc is distal in the brush, and the first disc includes a first proximal row of bristles and a first distal row of bristles, in which the first proximal row of bristles has an overall diameter greater than the overall diameter of the first distal row of bristles.

[0017] The second disc includes a second proximal row of hairs and a second distal row of hairs, in which the second proximal row of hairs has an overall diameter greater than the overall diameter of the second distal row of hairs.

[0018] The first proximal row of hairs has an overall diameter greater than the overall diameter of the second proximal row of hairs.

[0019] The first distal row of hairs has an overall diameter greater than the overall diameter of the second distal row of hairs.

[0020] The first distal row of hairs has an overall diameter equal to or greater than the overall diameter of the second proximal row of hairs.

[0021] The proximal row of hairs and the distal row of hairs include a total number of hairs that can be counted to make two turns around the disc.

[0022] Each of the hairs in a row is on the same plane.

[0023] The hairs of the distal row are staggered with respect to the hairs of the proximal row in the first disc and the second disc.

[0024] The purpose of this summary is to present a selection of concepts in a simplified form, which are described in greater detail below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. Description of the drawings

[0025] The foregoing aspects and many related advantages of the present invention will be more readily appreciated as they are better understood with reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0026] [Fig.1A] [Fig.1A] is a schematic illustration of a disc-type applicator brush;

[0027] [Fig.1B] [Fig.1B] is a schematic illustration of a disc-type applicator brush having a taper created using discs with multiple rows of bristles;

[0028] [Fig.lC] The [Fig.lC] is a schematic illustration of a disc-type applicator brush;

[0029] [Fig.1D] The [Fig.1D] is a schematic illustration of a disc-type applicator brush having a taper created using discs with multiple rows of bristles;

[0030] [Fig.2A] The [Fig.2A] is a schematic illustration of a disk having two rows of hairs;

[0031] [Fig.2B] The [Fig.2B] is a schematic illustration of a disk having two rows of hairs;

[0032] [Fig.2C] [Fig.2C] is a schematic illustration of a plan view of the disk in [Fig.2A]; and

[0033] [Fig.2D] The [Fig.2D] is a schematic illustration of a plan view of the disk of the [Fig.2C]. Detailed description

[0034] In disc-type mascara brushes, it is necessary to create a taper towards the tip of the brush so that the brush can reach corners and achieve precision during makeup touch-ups. A taper is a decrease in the overall diameter of the brush with an increase in the axial direction from the proximal to the distal end of the brush. The taper can begin at any point along the axial direction of the brush, but, generally, the taper begins at more than half the distance between the proximal and distal ends of the brush.

[0035] Achieving a taper in a disc-type brush is complex because separate tooling is required for each disc diameter, and the number of discs needed to achieve this taper increases with the length and angle of the taper. There is also a constraint on the number of discs per brush and the number of bristles per disc due to manufacturing limitations, which adds to the cost of manufacturing different tooling for each individual disc size. Controlling the degree of taper is advantageous for brush ergonomics. To create a greater taper length towards the brush, a larger number of discs with a progressively decreasing overall diameter will be required. Another issue is that the taper must have a visually pleasing appearance.

[0036] The mascara brush in the disclosure addresses the problem by including multiple rows of bristles on each disc. Larger discs in the axial dimension are created to accommodate multiple rows of bristles. Each of the multiple rows of bristles can also have a different overall diameter (i.e., the diameter measured from the tip of one bristle to the tip of an opposite bristle in the same row). The use of discs with multiple rows of bristles of different overall diameters increases production efficiency, reduces costs, and provides an attractive appearance.

[0037] With reference to Figures 100B and 100D, the mascara brush 100b,d of the disclosure is a disc-type applicator brush. The mascara applicator brush 100b,d comprises discs containing bristles 102a,b (Figures 2A, 2B), particularly in the tapered section of the brush 102b,d. The tube or central handle 110b,d of the applicator brush 100b,d and the individual discs 102a,b are formed from a polymer or plastic, such as by molding. The individual discs containing bristles may be molded from an elastomer in a monolithic piece. The mascara brush 100b,d of the disclosure includes a plurality of the discs 102a,b stacked coaxially or aligned. The largest overall diameter discs are provided at the proximal end of the 100b,d applicator brush.The cross-section of constant overall diameter of the brush 10b,d can be made with discs containing a single row of bristles, and the tapering at the distal end of the brush 100b,d is made with discs, such as the discs 102a,b which include two or more rows of bristles.

[0038] With reference to Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D, individual discs containing hairs 102a, 102b are illustrated. The discs 102a and 102b include a central core 104a, 104b, respectively, having a first diameter. The central core 104a,b has a round cross-sectional shape. However, the cross-sectional shape may be oval, a A polygon with at least 3 sides, or a combination of curves and flat sides. The central cores 104a, 104b can have a diameter of approximately 3.0 mm

[0039] The central core 104a,b includes a flat surface 116a,b on the proximal side, a The disc has a flat surface 118a,b on its distal side, and a rounded lateral surface to form a right circular cylinder. The flat surfaces 116a and 118a may be parallel to each other, and the flat surfaces 116b and 118b may be parallel to each other. The central axis of the disc 102a is perpendicular to the flat surfaces 116a, 118a, and the central axis of the disc 102b is perpendicular to the flat surfaces 116b, 118b. The axial distance between the proximal flat surface 116a or 116b and the distal flat surface 118a or 118b may be designated as the disc thickness. In one embodiment, the thickness of the disc 102a, 102b is approximately 2.0 mm.

[0040] The flat surfaces 116a,b and 118a,b may be provided with one or more openings, hollows and / or one or more bumps that help to align the discs 102 with respect to each other when the discs 102a,b are assembled coaxially and stacked. Adjacent discs 102a,b may be bonded together at the distal flat surface of one of the discs to the proximal flat surface of the adjacent disc 102a,b. In addition, or alternatively, the discs 102a,b may have one or more openings allowing the insertion of the discs onto one or more rods (not shown) protruding from the end of the axis 110. While two openings are shown in [Fig.2C], and four openings are shown in [Fig.2D], it should be understood that any number of openings may be included, including a single central opening.In some embodiments, the openings may be polygonal, organic, or oval. In some embodiments, the openings are a single central square opening.

[0041] The disk 102a includes two rows of hairs 106a1 and 106a2, wherein the overall diameter 120 of the hair row 106a1 is greater than the overall diameter 120 of the hair row 106a2. Similarly, the disk 102b includes two rows of hairs 106b1 and 106b2, wherein the overall diameter 124 of the hair row 106b1 is greater than the overall diameter 126 of the hair row 106b2. In one embodiment, the hairs 106a1, a2, b1, b2 are cones, with a base of the cone fixed to the central core 104a, b of the respective disk 102a, b such that the axial center of the cone is normal to the surface of the central core. In other words, the axial centers of the cones in each row lie on the same plane. Each row of different hairs 106al, a2, bl, b2 surrounds the central nucleus of the respective disc, making a 360-degree turn around the central nucleus, where the cones are equidistant around the central nucleus.

[0042] In one embodiment, the hairs are conical with the round base of the cone fixed to the central core of the disk. However, the hairs may have other shapes. In one embodiment, the diameter of the base of hairs 106al and 106a2 is approximately 0.45 mm, and the tip of hairs 106al and 106a2 is approximately 0.15 mm. In one embodiment, the diameter of the base of hairs 106bl and 106b2 is approximately 0.45 mm and the tip of hairs 106bl and 106b2 is approximately 0.15 mm.

[0043] In one embodiment, the proximal row of hairs 106a1 is located at approximately one-quarter of the axial distance (thickness) from the disc 102a, and the distal row of hairs 106a2 is located at approximately three-quarters of the axial distance from the disc 102a. Similarly, the proximal row of hairs 106b1 is located at approximately one-quarter of the axial distance (thickness) from the disc 102b, and the distal row of hairs 106b2 is located at approximately three-quarters of the axial distance from the disc 102b. When the thickness of the central nucleus is 2 mm, one-quarter is approximately 0.5 mm and three-quarters is approximately 1.5 mm.

[0044] In one embodiment, the overall diameter of the proximal row of hairs is greater than the overall diameter of the more distal row of hairs. In the illustrated embodiments, the hair row 106a1 has an overall diameter 120 greater than the overall diameter 122 of the hair row 106a2, and the hair row 106b1 has an overall diameter 124 greater than the overall diameter 126 of the hair row 106b2. In one embodiment, the overall diameter 122 is approximately 5.2 mm. In another embodiment, the overall diameter 120 is approximately 5.63 mm.

[0045] In one embodiment, the positioning of the hairs in the distal row is staggered with respect to the positioning of the hairs in the proximal row. Staggering the hairs in the distal row can mean that the hairs are located at different angular positions on the central nucleus of the disc relative to the angular positions of the hairs in the proximal row. Staggering can also mean that the hairs in the distal row are not aligned in the vertical plane with respect to the hairs in the proximal row. For example, in disc 102a, the hairs 106a2 of the distal row are located between two of the hairs 106al of the proximal row. Similarly, in disc 102b, the hairs 106b2 of the distal row are located between two of the hairs 106al of the proximal row.

[0046] Furthermore, disc 102b is arranged to be more proximal in the brush than disc 102a. While both discs 102a and 102b have a similar central core diameter, the proximal row of hairs 106bl of disc 102b has an overall diameter 124 greater than the overall diameter 120 of the proximal row of hairs 106al of disc 102a, and the distal row of hairs 106b2 of disc 102b has an overall diameter 126 greater than the overall diameter 122 of the distal row of hairs 106a2 of disc 102a. In one embodiment, the overall diameter 126 is approximately 6.07 mm. In another embodiment, the overall diameter 124 is approximately 6.5 mm.

[0047] In one embodiment, the disc 102b is adjacent to the disc 102a when it is arranged in the brush. The distal row of bristles 106b2 may have a larger overall diameter than the proximal row of bristles 106al in the disc 102a. In the section tapering of a brush, the central core diameter of discs 102a and 102b can be reduced as a function of increasing distance from the proximal end of the brush, so that the disc at the distal end of the brush has the smallest central core diameter as well as the smallest overall diameter.

[0048] This variation in the overall diameter of the bristles inside a disc or between adjacent discs creates the progressive tapering in the brush while providing a pleasant appearance as illustrated in Figures IB and 1D.

[0049] Furthermore, not all discs containing brush bristles need to have two or more rows of bristles per disc. However, two or more rows of bristles per disc can be used to create the tapered section of the brush.

[0050] Therefore, a method for manufacturing an applicator brush may include the steps of assembling discs containing bristles 102a, 102b coaxially in a brush, wherein one or more of the discs containing bristles 102a, 102b include two or more rows of bristles.

[0051] In particular, the method may include the formation of a taper in the applicator brush by assembling the discs containing bristles 102a, 102b coaxially, wherein the discs 102a, 102b include two or more rows of bristles 106al, 106a2, 106bl, 106b2, wherein the taper is an increase in the overall diameter of the applicator brush as the applicator brush extends from the proximal direction to the distal direction.

[0052] In the method, a first disc containing hairs 102b is adjacent to a second disc containing hairs 102b, in which the first disc 102b is proximal and the second disc 102a is distal in the brush, and the first disc 102b includes a first proximal row of hairs 106al and a first distal row of hairs 106b2, in which the first proximal row of hairs 106al has an overall diameter 124 greater than the overall diameter 126 of the first distal row of hairs 106b2.

[0053] In the process, the second disc 102a includes a second proximal row of hairs 106al and a second distal row of hairs 106a2, in which the second proximal row of hairs 106al has an overall diameter 120 greater than the overall diameter 122 of the second distal row of hairs 106a2.

[0054] In the process, the first proximal row of hairs 106b 1 has an overall diameter 124 greater than the overall diameter 120 of the second proximal row of hairs 106al.

[0055] In the process, the first distal row of hairs 106b2 has an overall diameter 126 greater than the overall diameter 122 of the second distal row of hairs 106a2.

[0056] In the process, the first distal row of hairs 106b2 has an overall diameter 126 equal to or greater than the overall diameter 120 of the second proximal row of hairs 106al.

[0057] Fig. 1A is a schematic illustration of a disc-type brush 100a containing discs 101 with a single row of bristles per disc. Fig. 1B is a schematic illustration of a disc-type brush 100b with discs containing two or more rows of bristles per disc, such as disc 102a, in the tapered section Tb of the brush 100b. In the disc-type brush 100a, while a tapered appearance can be observed, since it is made up of stacked discs 101 having only a single row of bristles, it does not have a tapered section. In contrast, the disc-type brush 100b has a tapered section Tb, and the visual appearance of the tapered section Tb of the brush 100b may be more visually appealing. By using 102a discs (or in some embodiments, 102b discs) with two or more rows of bristles, a tapered T section can be obtained.

[0058] Fig. 1C is a schematic illustration of a disc-type brush 100c containing discs 101 with a single row of bristles per disc along the entire length of the brush 100c. Fig. 1D is a schematic illustration of a disc-type brush 100d with discs containing two or more rows of bristles per disc, such as the discs 102a and 102b described herein, in the tapered section Td of the brush 100d. While the disc-type brush 100c includes enough discs 101 to create a tapered section Te, the length of the tapered section Td of the brush 100d is increased compared to the tapered section Te of the brush 100c, and is more gradual than the tapered section Te. Furthermore, the visual appearance of the tapered section Td of the brush 100d may be more visually appealing.

[0059] Although the illustrated embodiment has two rows of hairs, the discs 102a, 102b may have more than two rows. A row may include hairs lying on the same plane, such as a plane parallel to the distal and proximal sides of the central nucleus. A row may also include hairs lying on a plane inclined to the central axis of the disc. In other words, the central axes of the hairs lying on the same plane do not deviate from the plane.

[0060] A row can also be helical or spiral, such that a helical or spiral row includes the hairs that make one complete turn of the helix or spiral around the central core. A row of hairs can be defined as the number of hairs that make one complete turn around the central core, regardless of the spacing between the hairs. Two rows of hairs are defined when a number of hairs can be counted around the central core of the disk to make two turns, three rows of hairs are defined when a number of hairs can be counted around the central core of the disk to make three turns, and so on.

[0061] A disc containing bristles 102a, 102b for an applicator brush can be manufactured by molding an elastomer. The disc containing bristles 102a, 102b for an applicator brush may comprise a central core 104a, 104b having a proximal flat surface 116a, 116b and a distal flat surface 118b and a rounded lateral surface between the proximal and distal flat surfaces; and a plurality of hairs 106al, 106a2, 106bl, 106b2 are arranged in at least two rows on the rounded lateral surface.

[0062] The first row of hairs 106al, 106b 1 is arranged on a first plane parallel to the proximal and distal flat surface, and a second row of hairs 106b 1, 106b2 is arranged on a second plane parallel to the proximal and distal flat surface.

[0063] For example, to create a taper from 5.8 mm to 4.8 mm in diameter over a 6 mm brush length with one row of bristles per disc, six discs with diameters of 5.8 mm, 5.6 mm, 5.4 mm, 5.2 mm, 5.0 mm, and 4.8 mm would be required. With a process using two rows of bristles per disc, the taper is created with three discs, each with two rows of bristles, where the bristle diameters are 5.8 mm / 5.6 mm, 5.4 mm / 5.2 mm, and 5.0 mm / 4.8 mm. This reduces the cost of manufacturing three molds or allows for more discs to be used in other sections of the brush.

[0064] The performance is similar, but there is a cost benefit as well as a practical one. If the brush is limited to certain disc sizes, unnatural-looking tapers can form, as shown in [Fig. 1A]. For example, if the brush were limited to 3 discs, to obtain a taper from 5.8 mm to 4.8 mm over a length of 6 mm, discs with diameters of 4.8 mm, 4.8 mm, 5.4 mm, 5.4 mm, 5.8 mm, and 5.8 mm, respectively, would have to be used, which would resemble steps instead of a line (as shown in [Fig. 1A]). This also impacts the brush's visual appeal, as naturally tapered brushes are more attractive to consumers. Customers are drawn to more aesthetically pleasing brushes from a purely visual perspective.

[0065] Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made to them without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Method of manufacturing an applicator brush (100b), comprising: assembling discs containing bristles coaxially into a brush, wherein one or more of the discs (102a) containing bristles include two or more rows of bristles.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the formation of a taper (Tb) in the applicator brush (100b) by assembling the discs containing bristles coaxially, wherein the discs forming the taper include two or more rows of bristles.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein a first disc (102a) containing bristles is adjacent to a second disc (102b) containing bristles, wherein the first disc is proximal and the second disc is distal in the brush, and the first disc includes a first proximal row of bristles (106a1) and a first distal row of bristles (106a2), wherein the first proximal row of bristles has an overall diameter greater than the overall diameter of the first distal row of bristles.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the second disc includes a second proximal row of hairs (106b1) and a second distal row of hairs (106b2), wherein the second proximal row of hairs has an overall diameter greater than the overall diameter of the second distal row of hairs.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein the first proximal row of hairs (106al) has an overall diameter greater than the overall diameter of the second proximal row of hairs.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the first distal row of hairs (106a2) has an overall diameter greater than the overall diameter of the second distal row of hairs.

7. A method according to claim 4, wherein the first distal row of hairs (106a2) has an overall diameter equal to or greater than the overall diameter of the second proximal row of hairs.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein two rows of hairs (106al, 106a2) include a number of hairs that can be counted to make two turns around the disk; wherein each of the hairs in a row is on the same plane.

9. Method according to claim 1, wherein a disc has a first proximal row of hairs (106al) and a distal row of hairs (106a2).

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the hairs of the distal row (106a2) are staggered with respect to the hairs of the proximal row.

Images