MAKEUP BRUSH CLEANER AND SANITIZER

The present invention generally relates to a makeup brush cleaner and sanitizer. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus configured to hold multiple cosmetics or other makeup type brushes in specifically designed retention means such that only the brush tips/bristles of the brushes are subject to the sanitation area of the apparatus. Certain embodiments of the present apparatus provide the sanitation area of the apparatus to clean the brush tips/bristles of the retained brushes via one or more of a cleaning solution, water, ultra-violet cleaning source, ultrasonic cleaning source, gentle agitation, or any combination thereof.

DETAILED SPECIFICATION

The present invention generally relates to a makeup brush cleaner and sanitizer. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus configured to hold multiple cosmetics or other makeup type brushes in specifically designed retention means such that only the brush tips/bristles of the brushes are subject to the sanitation area of the apparatus. Certain embodiments of the present apparatus provide the sanitation area of the apparatus to clean the brush tips/bristles of the retained brushes via one or more of a cleaning solution, water, ultra-violet cleaning source, ultrasonic cleaning source, gentle agitation, or any combination thereof.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the makeup brush cleaner and sanitizer is comprised of a base portion including a sanitation area and one or more brush retention means for securing makeup brushes. Certain embodiments of the present invention may further be comprised of a sanitation control means, a lid component, one or more storage compartments, a power source, a handle or any combination thereof. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate there are multiple configurations that could be utilized with various embodiments of the present invention and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any combination of the aforementioned components.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sanitation area of the base portion is comprised of one or more brush head cleansing means. Brush head cleansing means include, but are not limited to, one or more cleaning fluid basins, ultraviolet light cleaning means, ultrasonic cleaning means, one or more agitators, or any combination thereof. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous types of cleansing means that may be utilized with embodiments of the present invention, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any type of cleansing means.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sanitation area may be comprised of a cleaning fluid basin that is configured such that only the brush head portions of the makeup brushes are submerged in a cleaning fluid. In certain embodiments, the basin is further configured with an ultraviolet light source configured to work in conjunction with, or independently of, the cleaning fluids to sanitize the makeup brushes.

In an alternative embodiment, the sanitation area may be comprised of multiple cleaning fluid basins, one basin for each brush. In this configuration, a user can choose which cleaning fluid to use on various brushes, or even allow for certain brushes to be cleansed only by non-liquid means (e.g., ultraviolet light). Additionally, in an alternative embodiment, the brushes may be clipped into the device in an alternative manner, wherein the device may have a central spine which runs vertically from the top of the lid component and has a number of clips which extend out from it to hold the brushes, but so as to accomplish the same goal.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a cleaning fluid is use in the cleaning fluid basin in order to loosen and remove buildup from the brush head portion of the makeup brush. In certain embodiments, the cleaning fluid is water alone. In other embodiments, the cleaning fluid is a cleaning solution. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are a variety of cleaning solutions that would be suitably used as a cleaning fluid in the cleaning fluid basin, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any such cleaning solution.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the brush head cleansing means may be an ultraviolet light cleaning means. In a preferred embodiment, the ultraviolet light cleaning means is an ultraviolet light that sanitizes the brush head portion of a makeup brush. In the preferred embodiment, there may be one or more ultraviolet lights sources within the sanitation area of the base portion of the makeup brush cleaner and sanitizer. By having more than one ultraviolet light source, a user may have greater flexibility in choosing which makeup brushes to expose to the ultraviolet light while keeping other brushes out of the ultraviolet light. Such an arrangement would allow a user to clean multiple different makeup brushes at the same time with different cleaning methods.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the brush head cleansing means may be an ultrasonic cleaning means. In a preferred embodiment, the ultrasonic cleaning means is an ultrasonic sound source that applies ultrasonic sound waves to a cleaning fluid in the one or more cleaning fluid basins. By applying an ultrasonic frequency to the cleaning fluid, the liquid of the cleaning fluid is gently agitated thereby causing the cleaning fluid to more efficiently remove buildup from the makeup brush.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the brush head cleansing means may be one or more agitators. In certain embodiments, the agitator may be air jets or similar pneumatically acting agitators. In alternate embodiments, the agitator may be one or more rotating brushes or similar agitator that physically interacts with the bristles of the makeup brush (or physical agitator). One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous agitators that could effectively clean a makeup brush, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any such agitator or any combination thereof.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the one or more brush retention means of the base portion are configured to be situated and retained above or otherwise near, but not in contact with, the sanitation area of the base portion. The one or more brush retention means are configured to retain one or more makeup brushes in a manner such that only the head or tip of the makeup brushes are inserted into the sanitation area of the makeup brush cleaner and sanitizer apparatus. Advantageously, this allows only the bristles/brush head portion to be subjected to the sanitizing process, thereby preventing damage or other wear on the handle and clip portions of the makeup brushes.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, retention means may include, but are not limited to, clips, friction fit rings, reusable adhesive surfaces, magnetic surfaces, reusable ties, or any combination thereof. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous types of retention means that could be utilize with embodiments of the present invention, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any type of retention means. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the makeup brush cleaner and sanitizer is comprised of a plurality of clips each configured with a protective covering. The protective covering is designed to help retain the handle of a makeup brush in place via a non-abrasive and non-damaging friction fit (e.g., silicon padding on the clips).

In certain embodiments, the one or more brush retention means may be raised and lowered via a height adjustment mechanism. The height adjustment mechanism may allow for the retained brushes to be lowered into and raised out of sanitation area so that only the brush head portions are inserted into the sanitation area. In certain embodiments, the height adjustment mechanism can be further utilized to raise the brush head portions out of the sanitation area after the completion of a sanitation cycle. In this manner, the brush head portions will be allowed to dry quicker, where cleaning fluids are utilized.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus may be further comprised of a brush drying means, configured to dry the brushes and/or the bristles of the brushes. In a preferred embodiment, a blow dryer, fan or other air circulating means may be utilized as the brush drying means, such air circulating means being incorporated into the apparatus and controlled by the control means such that the air circulating means is engaged after the completion of a cleaning cycle. In certain embodiments, a moisture sensor can be utilized to detect the amount of moisture remaining and shutoff the air circulating means when the brushes are sufficiently dry. In other embodiments, the air circulating means may be on a timed dry cycle.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the base portion may further include a sanitation control means. In a preferred embodiment, the sanitation control means is configured with a variety of settings that operate various sanitation cycles of the makeup brush cleaner and sanitizer apparatus. Each of the various sanitation cycles work by selectively engaging one or more of the brush head cleaning means. Setting for the sanitation cycles include, but are not limited to, cleaning type (e.g., selection of one or more sanitizing means—UV only, cleaning fluid only, cleaning fluid+UV, agitation only, agitation+cleaning fluid, agitation+cleaning fluid+UV), sanitation cycle duration, pre-defined start time, pre-defined end time (either in relation to current time or elapsed time), or any combination thereof. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous types of settings that could be used with a sanitation control means in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any type of settings.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the makeup brush cleaner and sanitizer may be further comprised of a lid component. In certain embodiments, the makeup brush cleaner and sanitizer apparatus may be configured such that a sanitation cycle may not be run without having the lid component affixed to the base portion in order to prevent a user from removing one or more makeup brushes during a sanitation cycle. In certain embodiments, the lid component may be removably attached to the base portion via a lid component connection means. Lid component connection means may include, but are not limited to, friction fits, twist and lock/unlock mechanisms, screw threads, suction means or any combination thereof. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous lid component connection means that may be utilized with embodiments of the present invention, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any type of lid component connection means.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the makeup brush cleaner and sanitizer may be further comprised of one or more storage compartments. In certain embodiments, these storage compartments are attached, potentially integrally, to the base portion of the makeup brush cleaner and sanitizer apparatus. The one or more storage compartments are configured to retain parts, solutions or other components for the makeup brush sanitizer. For instance, one or more storage compartments may be configured to retain additional cleaning fluid for the sanitation area(s) or to retain clean and dirty water. Additionally, the makeup brush cleaner and sanitizer could be configured with one or more separate storage compartments for clean makeup brushes and/or dirty make makeup brushes. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that the makeup brush cleaner and sanitizer could be configured with any variety of storage compartments, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any such storage compartment.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the makeup brush cleaner and sanitizer may be further comprised of a power source that supplies power to one or more of the brush head cleansing means. Power sources may include, but are not limited to, one or more batteries, one or more rechargeable batteries, AC adapters, power cords or any combination thereof. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous types of power sources that could be utilized with embodiments of the present invention, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any type of power source.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the makeup brush cleaner and sanitizer may be further comprised of a handle to allow for ease of portability. The handle may be attached to one or more components on either the lid component or the base portion and provide stability and support for transportation of the apparatus. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the handle would be integrally formed into or on the lid component of the apparatus and allow for easy pickup and carrying of the apparatus. Having the handle on the lid component also allows for improving the ease with which the lid can be removed or attached by providing an area that can be gripped while the lid is being inserted onto or removed from the base portion of the apparatus. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous locations and types of handles that could be utilized with embodiments of the present invention, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any type and placement of a handle.

Exemplary Embodiment

Turning now toFIG. 1, a perspective view of a makeup brush cleaner and sanitizer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the makeup brush cleaner and sanitizer100is comprised of a base portion102and a lid114. In a preferred embodiment, the base portion100is configured to clean and/or sanitize the brush head portion110of a makeup brush108.

Turning now toFIG. 2, a perspective view of a makeup brush cleaner and sanitizer with the lid removed, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the lid114is removed from the base portion102of the makeup brush cleaner and sanitizer. Within the base portion102there is a sanitation area104and a plurality of retention means106that are configured to hold makeup brushes108. In a preferred embodiment, each retention means106is configured to hold a makeup brush108within a cleaning fluid basin112such that only the brush head portion110of the makeup brush108is in contact with the cleaning fluid in the cleaning fluid basin112. The base portion102of the makeup brush cleaner and sanitizer may be further configured with a sanitation control means116and a plurality of storage compartments118.

Turning now toFIG. 3, a cross-sectional view of a makeup brush cleaner and sanitizer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the sanitation area104of the base portion102is clearly shown to be filled with a cleaning fluid. In a preferred embodiment, each retention means106is configured to hold a makeup brush108within a cleaning fluid basin112such that only the brush head portion110of the makeup brush108is in contact with the cleaning fluid in the cleaning fluid basin112. The base portion102of the makeup brush cleaner and sanitizer may be further configured with a plurality of storage compartments118for storing excess cleaning fluid or other items.

Turning now toFIG. 4, a close-up view of a makeup brush in cleaning fluid. In this view, the brush head portion110of a makeup brush108is shown being held by a retention means106. In a preferred embodiment, the retention means106secures the makeup brush108such that only the brush head portion110of the makeup brush108is in contact with the cleaning fluid in the cleaning fluid basin112.

Turning now toFIG. 5, a close-up view of a makeup brush secured by a retention means. In a this view, the makeup brush108is being securely held by the retention means106such that the makeup brush is securely held within the cleaning fluid basin112. In a preferred embodiment, the retention means106is a clip that firmly holds the make-up brush108without causing any damage to the handle of the makeup brush.

It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments.