Wire-Core Mascara Applicator with Multi-Material Bristles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wire core mascara applicators face challenges in achieving both high mass storage capacity and effective separation of eyelashes, with existing solutions either compromising on separation capacity or resulting in poor grinding quality of bristle tips.
Innovation Solution
The use of filaments with a harder core and softer jacket, featuring wedge-shaped pointed ends, enhances separation capacity by maintaining rigidity and allowing for precise grinding, resulting in a well-defined edge that effectively separates and coats eyelashes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If bristles are made from harder material to increase rigidity and separation capacity, then separation capacity is improved, but the quality of the ground surface edge deteriorates becoming ragged
Solution Approach 1:
The bristle is constructed as a composite structure with a hard core material (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer) providing rigidity and resistance to buckling, and a soft jacket material (polyester) providing a clean, continuous ground surface edge. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by allowing the hard core to maintain separation capacity while the soft jacket ensures high-quality ground edges for effective mascara distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the bristle have different material properties optimized for their specific functions: the core uses hard material for structural integrity and penetration between eyelashes, while the jacket uses soft material for smooth grinding and clean edge formation. This local differentiation of material quality allows simultaneous achievement of rigidity and edge quality.
2Quantity of substance
If bristles are made hollow or with non-circular cross section to increase mass storage capacity, then mass storage capacity is improved, but separation capacity deteriorates due to increased buckling susceptibility
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure with hard core and soft jacket provides enhanced buckling resistance compared to hollow or non-circular bristles. The hard core acts as a structural skeleton that maintains bristle rigidity while allowing the overall bristle to have increased diameter for greater mass storage capacity in the bristle covering.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention increases mass storage capacity by increasing the diameter of solid cylindrical bristles rather than changing their cross-sectional shape to hollow or non-circular. This dimensional approach (making bristles thicker while maintaining solid circular cross-section) preserves separation capacity while achieving the desired mass storage capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
A mascara brush having a centre made of at least two wire sections twisted together along a longitudinal axis of the wire core, and having a bristle covering made of plastic bristles formed by filaments, each of which bristles is held in a clamping manner between the two wire sections, and which bristles are formed with a wedge-shaped bristle tip or without a wedge-shaped bristle tip on their free ends. At least one portion of the bristles has a bristle coating made of a first softer material, and a bristle core that is joined to the bristle coating and made of a second harder material, and at least these bristles have a transverse cut, in the form of a simple wedge, on one side or on two sides, at least partially on their radially outward free ends, and comprise a wedge-shaped bristle tip having at least one cut surface forming a wedge.