Mascara Applicator With Polygonal Fiber Sheath
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mascara applicators with twisted fibers face challenges in achieving complex envelope structures that promote effective makeup application while maintaining simplicity in manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
A twisted mascara brush design featuring a rectilinear core with fibers that form a complex, polygonal envelope with alternating curved faces, allowing for effective eyelash lengthening and curling, and a manufacturing process involving fiber positioning, twisting, and controlled cutting to create a brush with ridges around the core.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If twisted brushes use complex fiber cutting trajectories to achieve complex envelope structures, then makeup application effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber envelope is segmented into multiple curved faces (typically 3-5 faces) that alternate around the core. Each face is formed by cutting fibers at specific angles relative to the core axis, creating distinct planar surfaces that simplify the cutting trajectory while maintaining complex overall geometry. This segmentation allows standard cutting tools to create each face independently rather than requiring continuous complex trajectories.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the fiber envelope have different geometric properties - some faces are convex, others are concave, and they alternate around the core. This local variation in geometry creates diverse interaction zones with eyelashes at different positions, improving makeup application effectiveness without requiring uniformly complex trajectories throughout the entire envelope.
2Ease of operation
If twisted brushes use high fiber density to improve makeup application, then eyelash gripping capability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Fibers are positioned and distributed along the core before the twisting operation. This preliminary arrangement allows for controlled fiber density and distribution patterns to be established in the untwisted state, where positioning is simpler. The subsequent twisting operation then maintains these relative positions while creating the complex envelope geometry, reducing the precision requirements during the actual fiber placement step.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a cosmetic product applicator (10), particularly for mascara, comprising a twisted core (12) and fibers extending from the core (12) and held by said core (12), said core (12) having a principal longitudinal extension direction, referred to as the principal axis (X), said core (12) being straight along said principal axis (X). The fibers form a sheath (E) with their free ends, said sheath (E) comprising faces (F1-F4) alternating around the principal axis (X), said faces (F1-F4) being curved, a section formed transversely to the principal axis (X), referred to as the cross-section, having a substantially polygonal shape so as to form edges between said curved faces (F1-F4). The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing such an applicator (10).