Mascara brush

Abstract: To obtain optimal properties of transfer for the mascara liquid, individual adaptability and a characteristic appearance in a mascara brush comprising a plurality of bristles fixed in place between at least two intertwisted wire segments, the core formed by the intertwisted wire segments being bent by approximately 180°, it is provided that the core is bent to form at least one reservoir of eye-type configuration.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a mascara brush comprising a plurality of bristles fixed in place between at least two intertwisted wire segments, the core formed by the intertwisted wire segments being bent to form a reservoir for retaining and transferring mascara to the eyelashes. BACKGROUND ART A mascara brush of the generic type is known for instance from GB-A-2 174 895 and DE-A-42 05 935. In these prior art mascara brushes the bending of the core was such that the bent core sections rest directly and closely on each other, externally substantially giving the appearance of a conventional mascara brush. According to these prior art solutions, the purpose of the bending resides in that bristles project in the bent portion in prolongation of the axial direction of the core sections resting on each other, a paint-brush-like section thus being formed that ensures for instance the application of mascara to peripheral parts of the eye-lashes. Fundamentally, mascara brushes pose the problem that the arrangement of the bristles must be such as to ensure the uniform application of mascara and the separation of the individual lashes when combing the latter. To this end, it has been known per se to equip mascara brushes with bristles of differing length or differing rigidity or, respectively, to provide different sections of the brush for the application on the one hand and for the combing on the other. A further general problem with the mascara brushes of the species resides in the liquid transfer from the reservoir of a mascara unit to the eye-lashes. To this end, the mascara brush must have a receptivity and storage capacity for the liquid. On the one hand, this is accomplished on every individual fiber or bristle. To this effect it is known to design the fibers for instance as hollow fibers, as fibers with a capillary outer groove or to otherwise provide for some structuring and enlarging of the surface of the individual fibers. Moreover, storage capacity is available in the interspace between the individual fibers where mascara liquid is retained because of the surface tension. Ultimately, the distribution of the tips along the envelope curve of the brush is of some importance, too. Whereas a helical tip distribution was preferred formerly, the aim has recently been to achieve at least partially as uniform as possible a tip distribution, there being the proposal to achieve this aim by means of hollow fibers or of fibers consisting of glued fiber segments which are treated with a solvent after the production of the brush so that the fiber segments dissolve and very fine, separated fiber segments result that are uniformly distributed over the surface. Finally, for the construction of mascara brushes, it has to be taken into account that the users exhibit a high degree of individual demands and wishes resulting from differing usage and types of lashes. For individual adaptation it is even known to make applicators for applying mascara individually adaptable through adjustable axial tensions by means of a corresponding mechanism. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly the object of the invention to embody a mascara brush such that optimal properties for the transfer of the mascara are achievable, that a unique appearance is created and that ultimately, there is the possibility to adapt the brush to the individual wishes of the user. In accordance with the invention this object is attained in that the core of the mascara brush formed by the intertwisted wire segments is bent, forming at least one loop or eye-type configuration. Preferably, the ends of the bent core are united, forming a handle. The at least one loop or eye-type configuration improves the transfer properties, because as a result of the surface tension of the mascara liquid, the eye portion forms a reservoir, so that greater quantities of mascara can be transferred. As a further result of the eye, the brush has a certain deformability so that the user can adjust or correct the specific form by pressing from the outside to make it comply with her wishes. Further, as a result of such an eye-type configuration, there is as a rule a deviation from the cylindrical envelope curve, so that in combination with a corresponding scraper, zones can be realized on the brush that are moistened more or less densely with mascara. If for instance the scraper has a circular cross-section and the envelope curve of the mascara brush has an oval cross-section, then the scraping effect will be more pronounced at the stronger ends of the oval than at the less curved oval areas. The foregoing shows that the brush according to the invention ensures not only the distinct improvement of the properties of use of conventional brushes, but simultaneously helps create an unmistakeable appearance accompanied by a plurality of possible variations. The production of such a mascara brush according to the invention can be effected conventionally, the production of a brush part having a straight core simply being followed by operations of bending and connecting the free core ends with each other to form a handle. Within the scope of the invention, the at least one loop or eye-type configuration may be approximately rectangular as well as oval, drop-shaped or circular. Further, provision can favourably be made for a figure eight twisting of the brush in an elongated eye-type configuration. In keeping with a further variant, a plurality of cores of eye-type configuration are united to form a brush. This embodiment is especially suitable when wire of a particularly small diameter is used to form the cores. Preferably, a wire exhibiting a diameter of about 0.25 mm is used in this embodiment. A special structure provides for the bristles extending towards the inside of the at least one loop or eye-type configuration to be spaced apart such that an inside cavity is formed, encased by the ends of the bristles. Within the scope of the invention, the bristles may be clipped prior to the core being bent, in particular to form longitudinal or transverse grooves in the brush trimming or to form a helical envelope curve. Provision can in particular be made for the bristle trimming to be milled in the bending zone to adjust the density of the trimming. In this regard account has to be made for the strong densification of the bristles taking place in the bight of more strongly bent sections. Where desired, the provided milling can counteract such a densification of bristles. In keeping with the scope of the invention, there is the further advantageous possibility for the bristle trimming resulting after the bending of the core to be milled. This may for instance be realized in that the loop or eye-type configuration has an approximately rectangular cross-section and the resulting bristle trimming is milled such that the resulting outline is substantially cylindrical. It can further be provided that the loop or eye-type configuration has an approximately rectangular cross-section and the resulting bristle trimming is milled such that the resulting outline is substantially rotationally symmetrical such that the cores are off-center, creating portions of short fibers of greater rigidity and portions of longer and softer fibers. The wire exhibits preferably a diameter of from about 0.25 to about 1.25 mm. The count of bristles per wire twist can range from about 5 to about 60 bristles, preferably more than 50 bristles are used. The bristles may consist of natural fibers or plastic fibers having circular, noncircular and hollow cross-sections. In the case of plastic fibers, they may be polyamide, polyester or polyacrylic fibers having a diameter of about 0.05 mm to about 0.35 mm. It can be provided that the bristles are mechanically split at their ends or at least one end, respectively, by a mechanical or chemical treatment. In order to form the eye-type configuration, the core may be bent by approximately 180°. In case bristles are used, having a changing diameter or a changing diameter configuration or a noncircular diameter configuration instead of a cylindrical configuration, it is conceivable to provide a theoretical cylindrical envelope around the bristles, the diameter thus defined then ranging from about .05 mm to about .10 mm. Further details of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description of preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the drawing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional mascara brush, Fig. 2 is a view illustrating the production of a mascara brush of the species, Fig. 3 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the twists constituting the core of the mascara brush, Fig. 4 is a plan view on an enlarged scale on a bristle or a fiber, respectively, Fig. 5 to 12 show various embodiments of a mascara brush according to the invention, Fig. 13 shows an oval configuration of a mascara brush, Fig. 13a illustrating a plan view and Fig. 13b a section, Fig. 14 shows an embodiment similar to that of Fig. 13, the internal chamber however being entirely filled with bristles, Fig. 15 shows an embodiment of a substantially elongated, rectangular and eye-type configuration, and Fig. 16 shows an embodiment in which the mascara brush is formed by an overall of four intertwisted wire segments. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A conventional mascara brush shown in Fig. 1 comprises a handle 1, in which two intertwisted wire segments 2 are fixed in place. As seen in Fig. 2, fibers are placed between two wire segments and are then fixed in place by the wire segments 2 being twisted, as seen in Fig. 3. The most various fibers may be used for the bristles 4, depending on the desired properties of the finished brush. In the embodiment according to Figs. 3 and 4, so-called BICO fibers are employed, which are formed by fiber segments 4 bonded by gluing and dissolved by a solvent after the production of the brush or a brush section for the bunches of fibers 3 shown in Fig. 3 to result. The intertwisted wire segments 2 form a core 5 and, as described in the following taken in conjunction with Figs. 5 to 16, they are bent to form a loop or eye-type configuration, free handle segments 6 being connected with each other by being threaded through an eye - not shown in the drawing - approximately corresponding to the handle 1 of Fig. 1. Each of the loops or eye-type configurations shown in the drawings comprises an internal chamber or reservoir 7 entirely encased by the respective core 5 and only partially filled with bristles, as is the case with the embodiments according to Figs. 5 to 13, or entirely filled with bristles in accordance with the embodiments of Figs. 14 to 16. Figs. 5 to 12 show the envelope curve 8 of the resulting bristle surface. In the embodiment according to Fig. 5 the eye or loop has a substantially rectangular shape, while the embodiments according to Figs. 6 to 9 illustrate symmetric oval and asymmetric drop-shaped configurations. The embodiments according to Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate variants comprising two eye-type configurations resulting from the same core. In the embodiment according to Fig. 12, two eye-type configurations are realized in that the bent core 5 is twisted once again by 180° to take a figure eight shape. Fig. 13 shows the bristles 4 in the case of an oval configuration, Fig. 13a illustrating a plan view and Fig. 13b a section. In this embodiment, the bristles 4 extending into the loop or eye do not meet, thereby leaving an opening in the internal chamber or reservoir 7. An analogous embodiment is illustrated in connection with Fig. 14, the internal chamber or reservoir 7 there being however entirely filled with bristles 4. Fig. 15 shows an embodiment of a substantially elongated, rectangular eye-type configuration, the resulting envelope curve 8 of the bristles 4 being clipped along the lines 9 so that the finished brush has bristles exhibiting a cylindrical envelope curve 8. Consequently, the lateral portions 10 of a brush thus produced have short bristles suitable for combing and separating the lashes, and the lateral portions 11 have longer bristles for applying the mascara, these bristles being fed from a liquid reservoir formed by the internal chamber 7 of the eye-type configuration. Further, such a brush exhibits bristles 4 projecting in the way, known per se, of a paint brush in the vicinity of its distal end 12. Finally, Fig. 16 shows an embodiment in which the mascara brush is formed by an overall of four intertwisted wire segments 2 forming two separate looped cores, the ends of which are united to form a handle. In this embodiment use may be made of especially thin wire of a diameter of for instance about 0.25 mm. While there have been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore, aimed to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims: A mascara brush comprising a plurality of bristles (4) fixed in place between at least two intertwisted wire segments, a core (5) being formed by the intertwisted wire segments, characterized in that the core (5) is bent so that the bristles (4) form at least one reservoir (7) of eye-type configuration adapted to receive mascara for application to eyelashes. A brush according to claim 1, wherein the core (5) consists of a first end and a second end which are united to form a handle (1). A brush according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir of eye-type configuration is approximately rectangular, oval, drop-shaped or circular. A brush according to claim 1, wherein the brush has an elongated reservoir eye-type configuration and is then twisted to have a figure eight shape. A brush according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of cores (5) of an eye-type configuration are combined to form a brush. A brush according to claim 1, wherein the bristles (3) extending towards the inside of the at least one reservoir of eye-type configuration are spaced apart such that an inside cavity is formed, encased by the ends of the bristles. A brush according to claim 1, wherein the bristles (3) are clipped prior to the core (5) being bent, in particular to form longitudinal or transverse grooves in the brush surface or to form a helical envelope curve (8). A brush according to claim 7, wherein the bristle surface is milled in the bending zone to adjust the density of the surface. A brush according to claim 1, wherein the bristle surface is milled after the bending of the core (5). A brush according to claim 9, wherein the reservoir of eye-type configuration has an approximately rectangular cross-section and the resulting bristle surface is milled such that the resulting outline is substantially rotationally symmetrical such that the cores (5) are off-center, resulting in portions (10) of short fibers (4) of greater rigidity and portions (11) of longer and softer fibers (4). A brush according to claim 1, wherein the wire (2) exhibits a diameter of from about 0.25 to about 1.25 mm. A brush according to claim 1, wherein a count of about 5 to about 60, preferably more than 50, bristles (4) per wire twist is fixed in place. A brush according to claim 1, wherein the bristles (4) consist of natural fibers or plastic fibers, wherein they have circular, noncircular and hollow cross-sections having a diameter of about 0.05 mm to about 0.35 mm. A brush according to claim 1, wherein the bristles (4) are mechanically split at at least one end by a mechanical or chemical treatment. A brush according to claim 1, wherein the core is bent by approximately 180°. A brush according to claim 12, wherein the diameter or the theoretical envelope of the bristles is about .05 mm to about .10 mm. A cosmetic brush comprising: a handle (1); a wire core (5) extending from said handle; and a plurality of bristles (4) mounted to said core, characterized in that said core (5) is bent to form at least one loop; and said bristles (4) are extending towards extending towards the interior of said loop to form a reservoir (7) adapted to receive mascara or a similar pasty product for application to eyelashes. A brush according to claim 17, wherein said bristles are clipped prior to said core being bent to form longitudinal or transverse grooves in the brush surface or to form a helical envelope curve. A brush according to claim 18, wherein said bristles are milled after said core is bent to create a uniform bristle density throughout said brush. A brush according to claim 17, wherein said wire core comprises two intertwisted wire segments and said bristles are held between said twisted wire segments. A brush according to claim 20, wherein said wire segments exhibit a diameter of from about 0.25 mm to about 1.25 mm. A brush according to claim 21, wherein from about 5 to 60 bristles are held between each wire twist. A brush according to claim 22, wherein more than 50 bristles are held between each wire twist. A brush according to claim 17, wherein said bristles consist of natural or synthetic fibers of circular, noncircular or hollow cross-section, said bristles having a diameter of from about 0.05 mm to about 0.35 mm. A brush according to claim 24, wherein said bristles are synthetic fibers chosen from the group consisting of polyamide, polyester and polyacrylic. A brush according to claim 25, wherein at least one end of each said bristles is split by a mechanical or chemical treatment. A brush according to claim 24, wherein said bristles exhibit a diameter of from about 0.05 to about 0.10 mm.

Inventors: DUMLER NORBERT, LANG FRIEDRICH, DUMLER, NORBERT, LANG, FRIEDRICH
Applicants: ESTEE LAUDER INC, ESTEE LAUDER INC.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A46B3
IPC codes: A46B9, A46D1, A46B11, A45D34, A46B3, A45D40