Mascara brush

In a mascara brush comprising a plurality of bristles retained between two intertwisted wire sections, the bristles being trimmed to define the contour of the brush, it is provided, with a view to obtaining clearly improved handling and combing properties, that the bristles are trimmed so that on the one hand, seen in a cross-section, they are asymmetric in such a way that the bristles have a shorter extension from the intertwisted wire sections towards one side while having a longer extension towards the other side, and that on the other hand, seen in a longitudinal section, the bristles are also trimmed asymmetrically in such a way that they have varying lengths.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention relates to a mascara brush comprising a plurality of bristles 
retained between two intertwisted wire sections, the bristles being 
trimmed to define the contour of the brush. 
2. Background Art 
Mascara brushes serve for the application of mascara from a reservoir onto 
the lashes. A fundamental demand on brushes of the generic type consists 
of ensuring sufficient transfer of mascara on the one hand and 
advantageous combing and care properties on the other. 
Conventionally, mascara brushes are manufactured in such a way that 
bristles are held between two intertwisted wire sections, the contour of 
the brush being shaped by trimming the bristle tips after the 
intertwisting operation. The most frequent contour is a cylindrical 
configuration, because such a symmetric cut can easily be produced by the 
brush being moved in rotation along stationary knives. 
In principle, it is also known to design the length of the bristles 
asymmetrically relative to the central longitudinal axis of the brush. To 
this end, rotating knives can be provided, having an axis of rotation out 
of the central longitudinal axis of the brush. 
In order to obtain combing properties that vary along the brush, it is 
further known, during the equipment of the brush, to provide bristles of 
varying properties, for instance varying thickness and/or rigidity. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is the object of the invention to embody a mascara brush of the type 
mentioned at the outset in such a way that owing to its configuration, it 
possesses clearly improved handling and combing properties. 
According to the invention, this object is solved by the bristles being 
trimmed so that on the one hand, seen in a cross-section, they are 
asymmetric in such a way that the bristles have a shorter extension from 
the intertwisted wire sections towards one side while having a longer 
extension towards the other side, and that on the other hand, seen in a 
longitudinal section, the bristles are also trimmed asymmetrically in such 
a way that they have varying lengths. 
In this case, it is advantageously provided that seen in a longitudinal 
section, the bristles of the front and rear end portion are shorter than 
those of the central portion. 
In keeping with an especially advantageous embodiment, provision is made 
for the contour of the bristles to be arched from the front to the rear 
end, bulging in the central portion. 
As a result of this configuration according to the invention, the longer 
bristles of the central portion, which projects from the rest of the brush 
body, ensure a precisely defined application of mascara, whereas the 
marginal bristles as well as the even shorter bristles on the opposite 
side can be used for combing the lashes. 
The asymmetric cut increases the storage of substance and helps form a 
defined combing zone. Correspondingly, application is possible without 
interruption and rotation. This facilitates the upsweeping process. 
Furthermore, excellent combing of the arch of lashes is possible. The 
tapering at the upper end serves to reduce any soiling of the bottle neck 
when the brush is returned into the reservior. 
In keeping with a preferred embodiment, the number of turns of the 
intertwisted wire sections amounts to at least 18 and the number of 
bristles per turn is at least 10, given a wire diameter of at least 0.4 mm 
and a trimming length per turn of 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm. 
Details of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description 
of a preferred exemplary embodiment, taken in conjunction with the drawing 
.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
A mascara brush 1 seen in the drawing comprises a plurality of bristles 2 
which, in a manner known per se, are retained between intertwisted wire 
sections of U-shaped bending, thus forming a handle. 
Seen in a longitudinal section (cf. FIG. 1), the bristles 2 are trimmed in 
such a way that the bristles 2a of the central portion are longer than the 
bristles 2b of the two end portions, the envelope curve 4 of the bristles 
being arched in the longitudinal direction. 
Seen in a cross-section (cf. FIG. 2), the mascara brush 1 is also trimmed 
asymmetrically relative to the central longitudinal axis 5 in as much as 
the downward bristles 2c are shorter than the upward bristles 2a, 2b.