Abstract:
A brush has a handle with multiple releasable brush tips. The handle is elongated and has a larger engagement portion and a smaller engagement portion of smaller cross-sectional dimension than the larger engagement portion. The brush tips have ferrules with a hollow end and a set of bristles secured to them. The hollow end of the larger brush tip frictionally engages the larger engagement portion. The lower end of the ferrule of the smaller brush tip frictionally engages the smaller engagement portion of the handle.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM  
       [0001]     This invention claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 60/490,729, filed Jul. 29, 2003. 
     
    
     FILED OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates in general to handheld brushes particularly for use in applying cosmetics, and in particular to a handle that will accommodate a variety of sizes of brushes.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Brushes are commonly used by women for applying cosmetics. The user might use a large brush with a large set of bristles for applying rouge or face powder. The user would typically use a smaller brush with a fine tip bristle for applying eyeliner. An intermediate brush might be employed for other applications, such as eye shadow. As a result, many women have a number of different brushes they regularly use.  
         [0004]     Storing several brushes requires space, and saving space may be desirable, particularly in travel cosmetic kits. Also, maintaining a number of brushes adds expense over a single brush.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The brush of this invention has only one handle. The handle is elongated and has at least two different engagement portions, one being larger in cross-sectional dimension than the other.  
         [0006]     The brush also has two removable brush tips. Each brush tip has a ferrule with a hollow end and a set of bristles secured and extending from an opposite end of the ferrule. The hollow end of the larger brush tip is frictionally and releasably retained on the larger engagement portion of the handle. The hollow end of the smaller brush tip is frictionally and releasably retained on the smaller engagement portion of the handle. Preferably, the frictional engagement is based on a wedging action between the handle and the ferrule. The wedging action allows the user to remove the brush tip simply by withdrawing the tip.  
         [0007]     The larger engagement portion is preferably formed on an end of the handle that is opposite the end containing the smaller engagement portion. An intermediate engagement portion may be formed on the handle also. The intermediate engagement portion is preferably formed between the larger and smaller engagement portions. An intermediate brush tip having a set of bristles larger than the bristles of the smaller brush tip and smaller than the bristles of the large brush tip fits releasably on the intermediate engagement portion.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exploded side view, partly in section, of a brush having a handle and a brush tip installed on the handle.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the brush tip of  FIG. 1 , shown removed from the handle and viewed 90° from the position in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a front end view of the brush tip of  FIG. 1 , shown removed from the handle and with the bristles removed.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a medium size brush tip for use with the handle of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the brush tip of  FIG. 4 , shown installed on the handle of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of a small size brush tip installed on the handle of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a partial side view of the small end of the brush handle of  FIG. 1 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the brush has a handle  11  that is an elongated shaft. In the preferred embodiment, handle  11  has a solid construction and is formed of wood, although it could be hollow and formed of other materials. Handle  11  has a small end  13  and a large end  15 . Large end  15  is located opposite small end  13 . The cross-sectional configuration of handle  11  is circular from small end  13  to large end  15 . Small end  13  has a cross-sectional diameter smaller than large end  15 .  
         [0016]     As shown in  FIG. 7 , a small end section  17  extends along handle  11  a short distance from small end  13 . Small end section  17  is substantially cylindrical or slightly conical, having a slight increasing taper when proceeding from small end  13  toward large end  15 . A conical transition section  19  extends from small end section  17  a short distance toward large end  15 . A long central section  21  begins at transition section  19  and extends for most of the length of handle  11 . Central section  21  is conical, with an increasing taper angle in a direction toward large end  15 .  
         [0017]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , central section  21  tapers from a smaller diameter to a larger diameter at a large end section  23 . Large end section  23  is larger in diameter than small end section  17 . Large end section  23  is conical and has a decreasing taper when proceeding from central section  21  to large end  15 . Small end section  17  and large end section  23  are much shorter than central section  21 . Both ends  13 ,  15  are closed and circular when viewed in an end view.  
         [0018]     A large brush tip  25  is adapted to slide over and frictionally engage large end section  23 . Large brush tip  25  has a ferrule  27  that is preferably metal. Ferrule  27  is hollow and has a handle end portion  29 . Handle end portion  29  is conical in the embodiment shown and has an increasing taper as it proceeds from handle end portion  29  toward a crimped end  31 . Crimped end  31  is permanently deformed or flattened to retain within it a set of bristles  33 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , crimped end  31  is generally elliptical. Handle end portion  29 , however, remains circular. The smallest inner diameter of handle end portion  29  closely slides over large end section  23 . The taper of large end section  23  causes handle end portion  29  to wedge in place.  FIG. 2  shows large brush tip  25  from a side 90° from the side shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a medium brush tip  35  is sized for insertion over small end  13  into engagement with an engaging portion  21   a  of central section  21 . Medium brush tip  35  has a metal ferrule  27  with a handle end portion  39 . Handle end portion  39  is cylindrical in the embodiment shown, but it could be conical with substantially the same taper as engaging portion  21   a.  Handle end portion  39  is slightly larger in diameter than small end  13 , but smaller in diameter than at least part of handle engaging portion  21   a.  Ferrule  37  has a crimped end  41  that grasps a set of bristles  43 . The set of bristles  43  contains fewer bristles than the larger set of bristles  35 . Medium brush tip  35  is sized to pass over handle small end  13  and transition section  19  and frictionally engage engagement portion  21  a of central section  21 . This wedges medium brush  35  to handle  11 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  shows a small brush tip  45 . Small brush tip  45  has a similar construction to medium brush tip  35 . It has a ferrule  46  with a handle end  47  that is circular and a crimped end  49  that is flattened to grip a set of bristles  51 . There are fewer bristles in set  51  than bristles in sets  43  and  33 , although all of the bristles within each set could optionally be the same diameter. Also, typically, the bristles in set  33  are longer than in set  43 , and the bristles in set  43  are longer than in set  33 . Handle end  47  is preferably cylindrical and is sized slightly larger than small end  13  to frictionally grip small end portion  17 . Alternately, handle end  47  could be conical with the same slight taper as small end engagement portion  17 . Handle end  47  has a diameter smaller than central engagement portion  21   a.    
         [0021]     In operation, the user selects the desired brushes. If the user wishes to use large brush tip  25 , the user slides ferrule  27  over large end section  23 , wedging it in place. If the user wishes to use medium brush tip  35 , the user slides ferrule  37  of medium brush tip  35  over small end  13  and wedges it into place on intermediate engagement portion  21   a.  If the user wishes to utilize a small brush  45 , the user slides ferrule  46  over small end  13 , wedging it on small engagement portion  17 . Other types and sizes of brushes may also be employed and fitted on handle  11 .  
         [0022]     The invention has significant advantages. A single handle will serve for at least three different sizes of brush tips. This reduces expense over three separate brushes. It also reduces storage space, which is particularly beneficial for a travel kit.  
         [0023]     While the invention has been shown in only one of its forms, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible to various changes without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, threads could be employed between the various brush tip ferrules and the engagement portions rather than a wedging frictional fit. The intermediate portion could be located on the larger end of the handle with the larger engagement portion being located between the intermediate portion and the smaller engagement portion.