Mascara Brush with Varying Bristle Diameters

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing twisted-core brushes for applying cosmetic products to eyelashes or eyebrows lack optimal variability in bristle diameter and material distribution, leading to suboptimal product application and loading efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A brush design with multiple sections of bristles of varying diameters, lengths, and materials, where the diameter increases towards the distal end for improved product loading and application, and flexibility to reduce pistoning and enhance product circulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If bristles of uniform diameter are used throughout the brush, then the brush structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the product loading efficiency and application performance are suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrush structure simplicityVSAvoidproduct loading efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The brush is divided into multiple sections along its length, with each section containing bristles of a specific diameter. This segmentation allows different sections to perform different functions: distal sections with larger diameter bristles for product loading, and proximal sections with smaller diameter bristles for precise application, thereby resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and product loading efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the brush are equipped with bristles of locally optimized diameters tailored to their specific functions. The distal end features larger diameter bristles for effective product pickup, while the proximal end has smaller diameter bristles for precise application, allowing each local region to excel at its designated task and improving overall productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If bristles of varying diameters are used to improve product loading, then product circulation and flexibility improve, but the brush structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct circulationVSAvoidbrush structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The brush structure is segmented into distinct sections with progressively varying bristle diameters, creating a gradient from larger to smaller diameters along the length. This segmented approach systematically manages the complexity while achieving improved product circulation and flexibility through the varied bristle configurations in different sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If larger diameter bristles are used at the distal end for better product loading, then product pickup capability improves, but the flexibility and precision of application may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct loading capacityVSAvoidapplication precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The brush is segmented into functional zones: distal sections with larger diameter bristles optimized for product loading capacity, and proximal sections with smaller diameter bristles optimized for application precision. This segmentation allows each section to excel at its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each section of the brush is equipped with bristles of locally optimized diameter matching its functional requirements. The distal end has larger diameter bristles for maximum product pickup, while the proximal end has smaller diameter bristles for precise control during application, allowing both product loading capacity and application precision to be maximized in their respective locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2149314B1Mascara brush with various bristle diameters
Publication Date: 2015.11.11 LOREAL SA
  • EP2149314B1 patent drawingFigure 1~6
  • EP2149314B1 patent drawingFigure 7A~9B
  • EP2149314B1 patent drawingFigure 9C~2

AI summary

The present invention relates to an applicator (3) for applying a product to eyelashes or eyebrows, comprising a brush (10) with a twisted core and bristles held by the core, applicator characterized in that the brush comprises at least two sections each made up of bristles of the same diameter, the respective diameters of the bristles of said sections increasing towards the distal end of the core.