A brush

Abstract

A hairbrush 100 comprises a handle 102 attached to a head 104. The head includes a body 106, a frame 112, a plurality of bristles110 and a resilient carrier 108. The resilient carrier is arranged to separate each bristle from the frame and further comprises one or more retainment members 109 that are configured to retain one or more portions of the frame. Each bristle extends from the carrier and the carrier is configured to deform in response to movement of each bristle of the plurality of bristles. Bristles are separated from each other by the frame and carrier, and each bristle is arranged to pass through an opening in the frame.

Description

Background A hairbrush may comprise bristles secured to a flexible cushion. During use, the cushion flexes so that the bristles better conform to the shape of the user’s head, thereby improving comfort. However, the hairbrush is generally poor at removing tangles from the hair. In particular, when a bristle encounters a tangle, neighbouring bristles tend to gather at the tangle, making it difficult for the tangle to pass. Summary In a first aspect, there is provided a brush comprising: a frame; a plurality of bristles; and a resilient carrier. The resilient carrier being arranged to separate each bristle of the plurality of bristles from the frame, and the resilient carrier comprising one or more retainment members. The retainment members are configured to retain one or more portions of the frame. Each bristle of the plurality of bristles extends from the carrier and the carrier is configured to deform in response to movement of each bristle of the plurality of bristles. In this way, the manufacturing complexity of the brush is reduced and the durability is increased. Moreover, a greater range of resilient materials may be used for the resilient carrier, such as relatively inert materials that may otherwise present problems with adhesion. The retainment members may be configured to retain one or more portions of the frame by being shaped to retain said portions of the frame. For example the retainment member may be shaped to engage with the frame or engage with each other around the frame. Each bristle may be a projection or protrusion that extends away from the resilient carrier. The bristles may be configured to engage with a tress of hair to separate the individual strands of hair from one another. The resilient carrier is connected or attached to the frame using one or more retainment members. For example, the carrier may be held at one or more points around the frame, and / or around each bristle, using retainment members configured, or shaped, to retain portions of the frame. The frame may be relatively rigid. It may be understood that retainment members are configured to grip the frame. For example, retainment members may enclose, e.g. partially or fully, a portion of the frame. In some examples, each retainment member may retain a respective portion of the frame by shaping the retainment member to provide a friction fit and / or an interference fit with the frame. It may be understood that the carrier interacts with the frame to limit the motion, such as the pivoting motion, of each bristle relative to each other bristle or each directly adjacent bristle. That is to say, each bristle moves independently of each other bristle and / or only reacts to the pressure directly applied to that bristle. When a particular bristle pivots and the carrier around the particular bristle deforms, neighbouring bristles are substantially isolated from the deformation of the carrier around the particular bristle. Each bristle may therefore move substantially independently of other bristles, i.e. each bristle may move without causing other bristles to move. When the brush is used with hair and a bristle encounters a tangle, the bristle is able to pivot to allow the tangle to pass without neighbouring bristles gathering at the tangle. In contrast, when a bristle of a conventional hairbrush encounters a tangle, the movement of the bristle causes the cushion to flex, which in turn encourages neighbouring bristles to gather at the tangle. As a result, it is more difficult for the tangle to pass through the bristles of the conventional hairbrush. It may be understood that the resilient carrier is more flexible than the frame. The frame may be more resistant to deformation than the resilient carrier. In some examples, each bristle of the plurality of bristles extends through the frame and is separated, by the frame and / or resilient carrier, from at least one other bristle of the plurality of bristles. In this way, the bristles may move independently from at least one other bristle, such that, the number of bristles that group together when encountering a tangle can be controlled. Each bristle of the plurality of bristles may be separated, by the frame and / or resilient carrier, from at least one other directly adjacent bristle of the plurality of bristles. It may be understood that separation of each bristle by the frame and carrier from each directly adjacent bristle facilitates the provision of an independently sprung pivoting motion for each bristle of the bristles relative to each directly adjacent bristle of the bristle. Movement of the resilient carrier may be impeded by the frame between each bristle and one or more adjacent bristles, such as between each bristle and each directly adjacent bristle. That is to say, the frame may reinforce the resilient carrier to provide an impediment to the motion of the carrier around the bristle and / or provide pockets of the resilient carrier each bounded by portions of the frame. For example, the frame may substantially prevent deformation of the carrier in one pocket from causing deformation in a directly adjacent pocket. In some examples, a portion of the frame may be intermediate each pair of directly adjacent bristles and / or a portion of the resilient carrier may be intermediate each pair of directly adjacent bristles. In some examples, the retainment members interlock with one or more openings in the frame. In this way, the frame may be mechanically connected to the resilient carrier to reduce the manufacturing complexity of the brush. By removing the need for adhesive, this arrangement also broadens the range of materials that may be used for the resilient carrier, such as enabling the use of relatively inert materials. The retainment members may project from the surface of the resilient carrier and may take a form which is: looped; arcuate, bulbous; and / or ribbed. In some examples, one or more retainment members may project from a base of the resilient carrier to form a lip, wherein the frame may be disposed between the lip and the base of the resilient carrier. The retainment members may extend from a single surface of the resilient carrier. By way of example, the retainment members may be configured to interlock with the frame. For example, the retainment members may each have a base integrally formed with the bulk of the resilient carrier and may extend away from their base with an arrangement that overhangs the base. For example, at least a portion of the retainment member may project obliquely from the base of the resilient carrier. In some examples, the retainment members may be, or comprise portions that are, splayed, slanted, V-shaped, or X-shaped. The retainment members may extend from a surface of the bulk of the resilient carrier and include one or more portions that extend in a direction with a directional component at least partially parallel to the surface of the bulk of the resilient carrier. In some examples, each bristle of the plurality of bristles extends through a respective opening of the openings in the frame and the resilient carrier extends through the openings to separate each bristle from the frame. In this way, the frame is held to the resilient carrier more robustly. Moreover, better control of the forces associated with pivoting the individual bristles is provided. By including resilient material between the bristle and the frame, a greater degree of user comfort is achieved by removing hard stops between the bristle and frame that may occur when pivoting the bristle. Additionally, a greater surface area of the resilient material interacts with the bristle, such that greater control of the bristle can be achieved when varying the Shore A durometer value for the resilient carrier. In some examples, the retainment members substantially enclose one or more portions of the frame. For example, the retainment members may enclose at least 60 or 80 percent of the frame, and / or at least 60 or 80 percent of the perimeter of a portion of the frame. In some examples, the retainment members may fully enclose the frame and / or the perimeter of a portion of the frame. In this way, the retainment members can effectively hold the frame to the resilient carrier. In some examples, the bristles may be arranged in rows. Alternatively, or additionally, the retainment members may substantially enclose the frame between each adjacent row of bristles, such that each row of bristles moves substantially independently of each other row of bristles. This facilitates the independent movement between different rows of bristles on the brush to prevent the clustering of bristles from different rows in a tangled or knotted hair. It may be understood that the retainment members may substantially enclose the frame between each directly adjacent row of bristles oriented along a longest dimension of the brush and / or enclose the frame between each directly adjacent row of bristles oriented perpendicular to the longest dimension of the brush. In some examples, the bristles in each row are staggered relative to bristles in adjacent rows, and / or the bristles have a pitch of between 4 mm and 12 mm in a longest dimension of the brush, and / or a pitch perpendicular to the longest dimension of the brush of between 8 mm and 18 mm. In this way, a larger range of pivoting angles of the bristles can be supported without clashing between the bristles. Moreover, fewer tangles are met in each pass, resulting in improved operator comfort. The bristles may be arranged in rows and the bristles in each row may be staggered relative to bristles in adjacent rows. In some examples, the bristles may have a pitch perpendicular to a brushing direction of the brush of between 6 mm and 10 mm, and a pitch parallel to the brushing direction of between 10 mm and 16 mm. Having a smaller pitch perpendicular to the brushing direction allows for better alignment of the hair. Additionally, fewer passes are typically required to detangle hair. Having a larger pitch parallel to the brushing direction, on the other hand, allows for a larger range of bristle movement without clashing of the bristles. In some examples, the brushing direction refers to an intended brushing direction. The intended brushing direction may be perpendicular to the longest dimension of the brush. In some examples, retainment members are arranged to provide a region of the frame that is substantially bounded by the retainment members. It may be understood that the plurality of bristles extend through the region of the frame that is substantially bounded. In this way, the retainment members surround a group comprising the plurality of bristles to reinforce the connection between the resilient member and the frame at the perimeter of the group. This enables more vigorous brushing without delamination of the resilient carrier from the frame. By way of example, the retainment members may form a boundary around the group comprising the plurality of bristles, wherein the boundary may encircle the group. It may be understood that substantially bounded may refer to a boundary that fully or partially surrounds the region. For example, retainment members may be arranged to encircle the bristles with a continuous boundary around the region, or with a broken boundary with more than 50%, or more than 80%, of the boundary occupied by retainment members. In some examples, the retainment members may substantially enclose all of the portions of the frame that are disposed between the bristles. In this way, greater control over the pivoting motion of the bristles due to the increased volume of resilient material. The increased surface area of interaction between the resilient material and the bristles also acts to increase the control over the pivoting motion of the bristles. It may be understood that a retainment member may substantially enclose all of the portions of the frame that are disposed between the bristles. In this context, substantially may be understood to mean at least 70%, at least 80%, or at least 90% of the portions of the frame defined by the number of portions or by the total surface area of the portions. In some examples, the resilient carrier may be overmoulded to the frame to form a plurality of retaining members, said members preventing the non-destructive removal of the retaining members from the frame. In some examples, at least 50% of the frame disposed between the plurality of bristles is overmoulded. In some examples, the bristles extend parallel to one another. As a result, the bristles are better able to tackle tangles. A conventional brush will often have bristles that diverge, i.e. the bristles are splayed. As a result, when a bristle on the leading part of the brush encounters a tangle, the bristle has to move or flex through a greater angle in order for the tangle to pass. This then makes brushing through tangles more difficult. Additionally, bristles on the trailing part of the brush do not penetrate as deeply into the hair. In contrast, by having bristles that all extend in the same direction, bristles at the leading part of the brush move through a smaller angle upon encountering a tangle, making brushing easier. Additionally, bristles on the trailing part of the brush are able to penetrate more deeply into the hair. In some examples, the resilient carrier is formed of: silicone rubber; thermoplastic polyurethane; thermoplastic vulcanisates; or thermoplastic olefin. By way of example, the carrier may be formed of an elastomer or rubber. These materials are inert and, therefore, unlikely to cause any adverse reaction with the scalp of a user. Additionally, silicone rubber has a high thermal stability and a good chemical resistance. As a result, the carrier is well-suited for use in a hairbrush, which may be subjected to high temperatures during drying of the hair and / or chemicals in the form of hair products. In some examples, the carrier is formed of a material having a Shore A durometer of between 10 and 50. For example, the carrier may be formed of a material having a Shore A durometer of less than 50. As a result, the carrier is relatively soft, which permits a larger range of motion of the bristles. It may be understood that the carrier may be formed of a material having a Shore A durometer of between 10 and 30 to minimise user discomfort. Each bristle may comprise a root and a shaft (i.e. the bristle shaft) that extends away from the root. The root may comprise a flange that protrudes from the shaft. The resilient carrier may be shaped, or moulded, around the flange to limit the displacement of the flange in one or more directions. For example, the resilient carrier may have a shape that corresponds to the shape of the flange. In this way, the bristles may be firmly retained without limiting the pivoting motion of the bristles. The root of the bristle may be closer to the centre of the bristle shaft than the tip of the bristle shaft. In some examples, the root may be, or comprise, the end opposite the tip. The root, or at least a portion thereof, may be surrounded by the resilient carrier. The shaft may be a round shaft or a polygonal shaft, such that the shaft reaches further into the tangle. The root may comprise a flange that protrudes from the shaft. For example, the root may protrude substantially radially, or at least partially radially, from the shaft. The resilient carrier may be shaped around the flange, such as moulded around or to encompass the flange, to limit the displacement of the flange in one or more of the six degrees of freedom, such as by limiting the motion of the flange in five degrees of freedom. In some examples, the shaft has a length of between 15 mm and 30 mm. For example, the shaft may have a length of at least 15 mm or no more than 30 mm. In particular, the shaft may have a length of 15 mm to 22 mm. The bristles may each have the same shaft length. A length of at least 15 mm means that the bristles may penetrate more deeply into hair. By contrast, a brush having shorter bristles may require several passes of the same area of hair to remove the tangles. As the bristles of the brush move independently of one another, increases in the length of the shaft also increases the likelihood that neighbouring bristles may collide during use. Accordingly, the shaft may be limited to a length below 30 mm, such as below 22 mm to mitigate against collisions in ordinary use. In some examples, each bristle may have a diameter of at least 1.2 mm and / or the tip of each bristle may be formed as a rounded end of the shaft. A relatively thick shaft means that the bristles are stiffer and, therefore, less likely to be bent or otherwise deformed during use of the brush. For example, each bristle, or the respective shaft thereof, may be rigid. Movement of the bristles is instead provided by elastic deformation of the resilient carrier, which deforms in response to forces acting on the bristles. In some examples, the bristle may have a diameter of between 1.2 mm and 2.2 mm. Each bristle may comprise a tip formed as a rounded end of the shaft. The bristles of a conventional brush may be relatively narrow with pointed tips. Whilst bristles of this design may be effective at removing tangles, the brush is generally uncomfortable should the bristles contact the scalp. In order to improve comfort, a ball may be provided at the end of the shaft of each bristle. However, whilst this may improve comfort, the ball tends to snag on any tangles, which causes user discomfort. By providing a bristle having a relatively thick shaft and a rounded end, improved comfort may be achieved without any snagging. In particular, when a bristle encounters a tangle, the bristle may pivot against the direction of travel of the brush, allowing the tangle to slide off the end of the bristle In some examples, the brush comprises a brush body connected to the frame. The brush body may comprise a plurality of projections, otherwise known as a plurality of protrusions, oriented toward the frame. A portion of each projection of the plurality is arranged to abut an end of a respective bristle of the plurality of bristles to limit displacement of the respective bristle toward the brush body. For example, the projection may be arranged to abut the root of the respective bristle. That is, there may be at least one projection per bristle, and / or at least one bristle per projection. In this way, the bristle displacement into the brush is limited by the projections to ensure that the bristle maximises penetration depth into the hair for a given length of the shaft. This further mitigates against collision between adjacent bristles by avoiding the need for longer bristles. It may be understood that in some examples a first surface of the frame is arranged to cover a first surface of the brush body, and the frame is fixedly connected to the brush body. The first surface of the brush body may comprise a plurality of projections oriented toward the first surface of the frame. In some examples, the portion of each projection arranged to abut the end of the respective bristle has a rounded profile and / or the end of the respective bristle arranged to abut the portion of each projection of the plurality has a rounded profile. In this way, a larger range of smooth motion may be achieved for each bristle. That is to say, the bristle may rotate about the rounded surface, without rocking or displacement in an axial direction to improve user comfort. In some examples, a portion of the resilient carrier extends into a gap between the plurality of projections oriented toward the frame. The portion of the resilient carrier disposed in the gap may be arranged to contact the plurality of projections oriented toward the frame as the bristles pivot in use. In this way, the bristles can be encouraged to pivot around the projections and minimise axial motion of the shaft to improve user comfort. For example, the friction generated between the protrusions and the resilient carrier disposed therebetween may increase as any axial forces of the bristle increase. It may be understood that the portion of the resilient carrier disposed in the gap is arranged to contact the adjacent projections of the plurality of projections oriented toward the frame as the bristles in abutting said adjacent projections pivot in use. In some examples, each bristle may have a flexural modulus of at least 1 GPa or a flexural stiffness of at least 500 N / m. As a result, the bristles are less likely to be bent or otherwise deformed during use of the brush. That is to say, the bristles are rigid, or relatively stiff, (e.g. compared to the resilient carrier and / or frame) such that the bristles are more likely to pivot about their root than to bend along the shaft, which better encourages tangles to slip from the bristles. By contrast, the bristles of a conventional brush may have a much lower flexural modulus and stiffness. Rather than pivoting, the bristles bend or flex during use. However, the bristles are more likely to be damaged due to flexing beyond the elastic limit or fatigue from the repeated flexing of the bristles. Additionally, tangles caught deep within the bristles are more likely to become trapped. In some examples, each bristle may have a flexural modulus of between 1 GPa and 200 GPA, such as between 1 GPa and 110 GPa. In some examples, the bristles may be formed of metal, such as steel, stainless steel or aluminium. These bristles are relatively strong, tough and hard and are less likely to be damaged during use or in the event that the brush is inadvertently dropped. A surface profile of the carrier may be concave. Accordingly, when bristles of the same length, or same shaft length, are used, the bristles form a bed having an upper profile that is similarly concave in shape. The bristle bed may be concave in a direction normal to the brushing direction, and / or convex in a direction parallel to the brushing direction. In some examples, the bristle bed may be a hyperbolic paraboloidic. As a result of the concave shape, the bristles better conform to the shape of the user’s head, thereby improving comfort. As the brush is pulled downwards through the hair, a user will tend to roll the brush. Having a convex shape in a direction parallel to the brushing direction encourages hair to penetrate deeper into the bristles, which is of use when a user wishes to generate higher tension in the hair. Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a brush; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the brush; Figure 3 is a plan view of the brush; and Figure 4 is a section through the brush, taken along the line A-A of Figure 3. Detailed Description of the Invention The brush 100 of Figures 1 to 4 comprises a handle 102 attached a head 104. The head 104 comprises a body 106, a resilient carrier 108, a plurality of bristles 110, and a frame 112. The body 106 is formed of a rigid material, such as a thermoplastic or metal. A plurality of domed protrusions 114 are formed on an upper surface of the body 106. Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the brush 100. The brush may be constructed by overmoulding the frame 112 with the resilient carrier 108. It may be understood that the resilient carrier 108 over moulded to the frame 112 is only removable from the frame 112 destructively, for example, by destruction of the frame 112 and / or the resilient carrier 108. Figure 3 is a plan view of the brush and Figure 4 shows a section through the brush 100, taken along the line A-A of Figure 3. In particular, it is noted that a first row of bristles 110a is depicted with shading, and an adjacent row of bristles 110b is shown without shading. It may be apparent that the first row of bristles 110a (shaded) are intended to be closer to the viewer of the image than the adjacent row of bristles 110b (unshaded) The brush 100 of Figures 1 to 4 includes the carrier 108 which is formed of a resilient material, such as silicone rubber, e.g. having a Shore A durometer of around 20 to 30. Each of the bristles 110 comprises a root 116, a tip 118 and a shaft 120 that extends from the root 116 to the tip 118. The root 116 comprises a flange 122 that extends radially from the root 116. The flange 122 extends at least partially radially, such as substantially radially, outwardly from the shaft 120. The shaft 120 of each bristle has, for example, a length of 17 mm and a diameter of 1.7 mm. Optionally, each of the bristles 110 is formed of stainless steel and may be relatively stiff with a flexural modulus of around 193 GPa and a flexural stiffness of around 48 kN / m. The flexural stiffness (also referred to flexural rigidity or bending stiffness) is measured as a cantilevered deflection of the tip 118 of the bristle when fixed at the root 116. Each of the bristles 110 is held in place at least partially by the carrier 108. For example, the carrier 108 may be overmoulded onto the bristles (such as the root of the bristles). In some examples, the carrier 108 may be moulded to the shape of the root of the bristles and the bristle may be held into the mould by a respective protrusion of the plurality of domed protrusions 114, as shown in Figure 4. The carrier 108 is moulded to the root 116 of each bristle of the bristles 110 such that the shaft 120 is proud of the carrier 108. The frame 112 is formed of a rigid material, such as a thermoplastic, and comprises a plurality of holes 113. The frame 112 is concave. In some examples, the frame 112 may be a hyperbolic paraboloidic shape. In particular, the frame 112 may be concave along the length of the head 104. That is to say, the frame 112 may be concave along the length of the head or perpendicular to the brushing direction. The frame 112 is secured to the body 106 at one or more points around a perimeter of the frame 112, e.g. by one or more of mechanical fixings, adhesive or ultrasonic welding. In response to pivoting of a bristle of the bristles 110, the carrier 108 at the root 116 of the bristle deforms. Since the carrier 108 is held by the frame 112 around each bristle, neighbouring bristles are isolated from the deformation of the carrier 108. That is to say, the deformation of the carrier 108 around the root of one bristle does not cause the carrier 108 around the roots of neighbouring bristles to substantially deform or move. Accordingly, each bristle behaves as if secured to an individual elastomer portion that is isolated from adjacent elastomer portions. In this way, each bristle may be configured to pivot independently of one or more adjacent bristles, such as independently of all directly adjacent bristles. The carrier 108 protrudes beyond each opening 113 or hole 113 in the frame 112. For example, the carrier 108 may comprise retainment members 109 in the form of a plurality of protrusions, each of which interlocks with, and protrudes beyond, a respective opening 113 or hole 113 in the frame 112. By having the carrier 108 protrude beyond each opening 113 or hole 113, the pivot point for each bristle 110 is lifted out of, or away from, the body 106 and / or head 104. Additionally, the resistance to deformation of the carrier 108 is reduced. As a result, a larger range of motion may be achieved for each of the bristles 110. Each bristle extends upwardly from the carrier 108 and the frame 112 in a direction parallel to another bristle of the bristles. For example, each bristle of the bristles 110 may be parallel to each other bristle of the bristles 110. As a result, the bristles 110 neither diverge nor converge. The bristles 110 are shown arranged in rows along the length of the head 106. In some examples and, as shown, each row of bristles may be staggered relative to adjacent rows of bristles. The bristles 110 have a pitch 124 along the length of the head, perpendicular to the brushing direction, such as a pitch of between 6 mm and 10 mm, or more specifically of 6.5 mm. The bristles 110 have a pitch 126 along the width of the head, parallel to the brushing direction, such as a pitch of between 10mm and 16mm, or more specifically 13 mm. During use of the brush 100, the bristles 110 penetrate the hair of a user. As the brush 100 is pulled downwards through the hair, the bristles 110 pivot slightly rearwards. The bristles 110 are relatively stiff and any movement of the bristles 110 occurs via deformation of the resilient carrier 108. When a bristle of the bristles 110 encounters a tangle in the hair, the bristle will pivot further rearwards as the brush 100 continues to be pulled downward. The force applied by the bristle to the tangle therefore increases. If the tangle is particularly difficult and the force applied by the bristle is not sufficient to part the tangle, the bristle will eventually pivot to a point at which the tangle slips from the bristle. As a result, the brush 100 may be pulled through the hair without causing significant discomfort to the user. The brush 100 may then be used in a subsequent pass through the hair, with each pass parting more of the tangle. Importantly, with each pass of the brush 100, the bristles 110 continue to pivot rearwards and will allow the tangle to pass should the force become excessive. As a result, discomfort due to bristles pulling at a tangle may be avoided. Each bristle pivots independently of the other bristles 110. As such, when a bristle encounters a tangle, the bristle is able to pivot to allow the tangle to pass without neighbouring bristles gathering at the tangle. In contrast, with a conventional hairbrush, when a bristle encounters a tangle and pivots rearward, the movement of the bristle causes the cushion to flex, which in turn causes neighbouring bristles to gather at the tangle. This makes it more difficult for the tangle to pass through the bristles. By way of example, the carrier 108 is a concave shape. The carrier 108 may be supported by a concave frame 112. The frame and carrier may be the form of a hyperbolic paraboloidic shape. The bristles 110 may each be of substantially the same length and the tips of the bristles 110 may form a profile that is similarly concave. For example, the tips of the bristles may form a profile that is a hyperbolic paraboloidic shape. The majority of the bristles 110 may have pitches 124 and 126 of 6.5 mm and 13.0 mm respectively. The bristles 110, therefore, have a smaller pitch perpendicular to the brushing direction. As a result, good alignment of the hair may be achieved. That is to say, the bristles capture and straighten more of the hair strands. In contrast, if a larger pitch were employed, more of the hair would pass between the bristles and maintain its original, chaotic orientation. A smaller pitch perpendicular to the brushing direction means that fewer passes are typically required to detangle the hair owing to the higher bristle count. On the other hand, having a larger pitch parallel to the brushing direction allows for a larger range of bristle movement without clashing of the bristles. If a smaller pitch were used then, when a particular bristle encounters a tangle and pivots rearwards, the bristle may clash with the neighbouring bristle directly behind it. The neighbouring bristle may then hinder the tangle from slipping off the bristle. Alternative pitches for the bristles 110 are, of course, possible. However, staggered bristles having a pitch 124 perpendicular to the longest dimension of the brush of between 6 mm and 10 mm and a pitch 126 parallel to the longest dimension of the brush of between 10 mm and 16 mm have been found to provide a good balance between the desire to provide a high bristle count to improve brushing effectiveness, and the desire to avoid clashing of bristles to improve comfort. The bristles 110 extend upwardly in directions parallel to one another. As a result, the bristles 110 are better able to tackle tangles and penetrate the hair. A conventional brush will often have bristles that are splayed. As a result, when a bristle on the leading part of the brush encounters a tangle, the bristle has to pivot or flex through a greater angle in order for the tangle to pass. This then makes brushing through tangles more difficult. Additionally, bristles on the trailing part of the brush do not penetrate as deeply into the hair. In contrast, by having bristles 110 that extend in the same direction (i.e. bristles that neither diverge nor converge), the bristles 110 at the leading part of the brush 100, in use, move through a smaller angle upon encountering a tangle, whilst the bristles 110 on the trailing part of the brush 100, in use, are able to penetrate more deeply into the hair. Each bristle of the bristles 110 may have a flexural modulus of around 193 GPa. Each bristle of the bristles 110 may have a flexural stiffness of around 48 kN / m. As a result, the bristles 110 are less likely to be bent or otherwise deformed during use of the brush 100. Additionally, being relatively stiff, the bristles 110 are configured to preferentially pivot at the roots by virtue of the resilient carrier 108, which better encourages tangles to slip from the bristles 110. By contrast, the bristles of a conventional brush may have a much lower flexural stiffness. Rather than pivoting, the bristles flex or bend during normal use. However, bristles of this type are more likely to be damaged due to flexing beyond the elastic limit or fatigue from the repeated flexing of the bristles. Additionally, tangles caught deep within the bristles are more likely to become trapped. The bristles 110 of the brush 100 are formed of stainless steel, which further reduces the likelihood of damage, particularly when the bristles 110 are subjected to high temperatures during drying or chemicals from hair products. Additionally, the surface of the bristles 110 may be polished in order to reduce friction, which then helps reduce static within the hair. In spite of the aforementioned examples, bristles of alternative materials and / or flexural modulus and stiffness may be used. In particular, the bristles may be formed of other metals, such as aluminium, which continue to provide relatively high flexural modulus and stiffness. Alternatively, the bristles may be formed of glass-reinforced nylon, which sits relatively close to human hair on the triboelectric series. As the flexural modulus and stiffness of the bristles decrease, the aforementioned benefits may diminish. Accordingly, the bristles may have a flexural modulus of at least 1 GPa and / or a flexural stiffness of at least 500 N / m. The diameter of each of the bristles 110 is uniform along the length of the shaft 120. The shaft 120 of each of the bristles 110 may be between 1.2 mm and 2.5mm in diameter. This relatively large diameter is partly responsible for achieving the relatively high flexural stiffness of the bristles 110. A diameter of 1.7 mm is particularly effective. However, bristles 110 having a relatively large diameter also have further benefits. In particular, the tip 118 of each of the bristles may be formed as a rounded end of the shaft 120. In contrast, the bristles of a conventional brush may be relatively narrow with pointed tips. Whilst bristles of this type may be relatively effective at removing tangles, the brush is generally uncomfortable should the bristles contact the scalp. In order to improve comfort, a ball may be provided at the end of the shaft of each bristle. However, although this may improve comfort, the ball tends to snag on any tangles. In contrast, by having bristles 110 that comprise a relatively thick shaft and have ends that are rounded, improved comfort may be achieved without any snagging. Bristles having an alternative diameter, which may be uniform or tapered, may be used. However, by employing bristles that have a shaft diameter of at least 1.2 mm at the tip, relative comfort may be achieved without the need for a ball or other feature that might snag on the hair. The shaft 120 of each of the bristles 110 has a length of 17 mm. As a result, good penetration of the bristles 110 into the hair may be achieved, and thus fewer passes of the brush 100 through the hair are required. Again, bristles 110 having an alternative shaft length may be used. However, as the length of the shaft 120 decreases, penetration of the bristle 110 into the hair decreases. Accordingly, the shaft 120 of each of the bristles 110 may have a length of at least 15 mm. As the length of the shaft 120 increases, there is an increased likelihood that neighbouring bristles may clash during use. In particular, when a bristle encounters a tangle and pivots rearwards, the bristle may clash with a neighbouring bristle directly behind it if the bristles are excessively long. To decrease the likelihood of clashes, the shaft 120 of each bristle 110 may have a length no greater than 30 mm, such as no greater than 22 mm. The carrier 108 is formed of an elastomer. Some elastomers are relatively inert, such as silicone rubber. The use of a relatively inert elastomer makes it unlikely that the elastomer will cause an adverse reaction with the scalp of a typical user. Additionally, silicone rubber has a high thermal stability and a good chemical resistance. As a result, the carrier 108 is well-suited for use in a hairbrush, which may be subjected to high temperatures during drying of the hair and / or chemicals in the form of hair products. Silicone rubber is relatively expensive and, owing to its inertness, can be difficult to bond to the bristles 110. In some examples, such as that shown in Figure 4, the resilient carrier 108 is retained by the shape and / or specific arrangement of the resilient carrier 108. The shape or arrangement of the resilient carrier that holds the frame is otherwise known as a retainment member 109. A retainment member 109 may be a complete loop of material that surrounds a portion of the frame 112, as shown in Figure 4. More than half of the frame 112 may be overmoulded by the resilient carrier. For example, the resilient carrier 108 may be overmoulded to the frame 112. This avoids the need to provide an adhesive bond. Alternatively, or additionally, the retainment member 109 may be: arcuate, such that the frame is held inside one or more arcuate members; bulbous, such that the retainment member extends through a hole of the holes 113 in the frame and is larger than the opening of the hole in at least one dimension on both sides of the hole; and / or ribbed to increase the coefficient of friction between the resilient member 108 and the frame 112. In some examples, one or more retainment members 109 may project from a base of the resilient carrier to form a lip, wherein the frame may be disposed between the lip and the base of the resilient carrier 108. The resilient carrier 108 is formed of a relatively soft material having, for example, a Shore A durometer of around 20 to 30. As a result, a relatively large range of motion is achieved for each of the bristles 110. A material having a different Shore A durometer may nevertheless be used, and a good range of motion may still be achieved with a material having a Shore A durometer of between 10 and 50. It may be understood that materials having Shore A durometer of values below 10 may be less effective in removing tangles. The brush 100 comprises a dimple 114, otherwise known as a domed protrusion or rounded protrusion, beneath each of the bristles 110. The dimple 114 has a rounded profile. This enables each of the bristles 110 to pivot centrally about the base of the root 11, substantially without axial motion of the shaft, rather than reducing user comfort with an off-centre or eccentric style of pivoting motion about the rim of the flange 122. The carrier 108 is moulded to the bristles 110. This means that the bristles 110 are better secured to the resilient carrier 108 and are, therefore, less likely to pop free from the carrier 108 during use. This is particularly true when the carrier 108 is formed of a soft material, such as silicone rubber. Moulding the carrier 108 to the bristles 110 means that gaps, which may trap hair and / or accumulate dirt and other debris, are less likely to form between the carrier 108 and the bristles 110. In addition to the retainment members, the carrier 108 may also be moulded to the shape of the frame and / or bristles to reduce gaps therebetween. Moulding the carrier 108 in this way avoids the formation of gaps that may trap hair and / or accumulate dirt and other debris. The frame 112, although formed of a rigid material, may be relatively thin. The body 106 may increase the structural strength to the brush 100. However, if the frame 112 were thicker (e.g. stiffer), the body 106 might conceivably be omitted and the carrier 108 could then be moulded or overmoulded to the frame 112. Overmoulding facilitates retention of the frame 112. Separate retainment members 109 would be used to hold the frame 112 to the resilient carrier 108 if the carrier was merely moulded to match the profile, surface, or shape of the frame 112. Whilst particular embodiments have thus far been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. For example, although the brush described herein is a hairbrush, many of the features may be used with alternative types of brush.

Claims

1. A brush comprising:a frame;a plurality of bristles; anda resilient carrier arranged to separate each bristle of the plurality of bristles from the frame, the resilient carrier comprising one or more retainment members, wherein the retainment members are configured to retain one or more portions of the frame, wherein each bristle of the plurality of bristles extends from the carrier and the carrier is configured to deform in response to movement of each bristle of the plurality of bristles.

2. A brush as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each bristle of the plurality of bristles extends through the frame and is separated, by the frame and / or resilient carrier, from at least one other bristle of the plurality of bristles.

3. A brush as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the retainment members interlock with one or more openings in the frame.

4. A brush as claimed in claim 3, wherein each bristle of the plurality of bristles extends through a respective opening of the openings in the frame and the resilient carrier extends through the openings to separate each bristle from the frame.

5. A brush as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retainment members substantially enclose one or more portions of the frame.

6. A brush as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bristles are arranged in rows, and wherein the retainment members substantially enclose the frame between each adjacent row of bristles such that each row of bristles moves substantially independently of each other row of bristles.

7. A brush as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bristles in each row are staggered relative to bristles in adjacent rows, and / or the bristles have a pitch of between 4 mmand 12 mm in a longest dimension of the brush, and / or a pitch perpendicular to the longest dimension of the brush of between 8 mm and 18 mm.

8. A brush as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the retainment members are arranged to provide a region of the frame that is substantially bounded by the retainment members, and wherein the plurality of bristles extend through the region of the frame that is substantially bounded.

9. A brush as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retainment members substantially enclose all of the portions of the frame that are disposed between the bristles.

10. A brush as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bristles extend parallel to one another.

11. A brush as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the resilient carrier is formed of: silicone rubber; thermoplastic polyurethane; thermoplastic vulcanisates; or thermoplastic olefin.

12. A brush as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier is formed of a material having a Shore A durometer of between 10 and 50.

13. A brush as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each bristle comprises a root and a shaft that extends away from the root, and wherein the root comprises a flange that protrudes from the shaft and the resilient carrier is shaped around the flange to limit the displacement of the flange in one or more directions.

14. A brush as claimed in claim 13, wherein the shaft has a length of between 15 mm and 30 mm.

15. A brush as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each bristle has a diameter of at least 1.2 mm and comprises a tip formed as a rounded end of the shaft.

16. A brush as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the brush comprises a brush body connected to the frame, the brush body comprising a plurality of projections oriented toward the frame, and a portion of each projection of the plurality of projections is arranged to abut an end of a respective bristle of the plurality of bristles to limit displacement of the respective bristle toward the brush body.

17. A brush as claimed in claim 16, wherein the portion of each projection arranged to abut the end of the respective bristle has a rounded profile and / or the end of the respective bristle arranged to abut the portion of each projection of the plurality has a rounded profile.

18. A brush as claimed in any one of claims 16 or 17, wherein a portion of the resilient carrier extends into a gap between the plurality of projections oriented toward the frame, and wherein the portion of the resilient carrier disposed in the gap is arranged to contact the plurality of projections oriented toward the frame as the bristles pivot in use.

19. A brush as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each bristle has a flexural modulus of at least 1 GPa or a flexural stiffness of at least 500 N / m.

20. A brush as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bristles are formed of metal.

21. A brush as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a surface profile of the carrier is concave.

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