Abstract:
A brush for automatic application of a personal care product. The brush is ergonomically shaped and has bristles of length, texture and arrangement appropriate for the particular application purpose. The product is contained in a reservoir within the casing of the brush and dispensed onto the bristles by a dispensing system positioned within the reservoir. The dispensing system may be a pump and ejection device, or a spring-operated stopper device. The reservoir may be supplied pre-filled or may be fillable from an external ampoule or standard commercial container in conjunction with a special adaptor.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to brushes for personal care, and more particularly to brushes incorporating a fluid dispenser.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Brushes of various kinds are used for purposes of hygiene and for aesthetic purposes. These include application of personal care products to the face, the hair and the nails.  
           [0003]    Brushes designed for use on the skin of the face are used to ensure thorough cleaning to remove surface oils and accumulated debris, and are frequently recommended for use in preventing blocked pores, blackheads, acne and similar skin eruptions. Brushing is carried out after application of an appropriate skin cleanser or medicated lotion.  
           [0004]    Individuals frequently need to clean beneath the fingernails. This is especially true in certain professions, in which either high levels of hygiene are required, such as the medical or catering professions, or in which the workers hands and nails are constantly brought into contact with dirt, such as gardening, garage work etc.  
           [0005]    Simply washing the hands with water and detergent is not sufficient and the fingernails, and the area beneath the fingernails, which traps considerable amounts of dirt, must be cleaned separately. The simplest and most economical way to clean beneath the fingernails is by use of a detergent and suitably sized brush.  
           [0006]    Brushes have a wide variety of uses in applying products to the hair, enabling even distribution of the product over not only the outer layers of the hair, but also the lower layers and the roots. Hair products which may be applied by use of a brush include dyes, medicated shampoos for prevention of dandruff and preparations for prevention of hair loss.  
           [0007]    A small brush may also be used to apply polish remover to the fingernails.  
           [0008]    In all of the above applications, a fluid must be first placed on the brush before the treatment process can begin, which is time consuming. An excessive amount of fluid may be inadvertently transferred to the brush, making the process uneconomical.  
           [0009]    In addition, a container for the fluid is required and is either stored with the brush, which is space-consuming and contributes to a cluttered appearance of the area in which the brush and fluid are stored, or is stored elsewhere, in which case it must be located when required.  
           [0010]    Furthermore, conventional brushes are frequently uncomfortable to hold and manipulate.  
           [0011]    In the case of the conventional brush and detergent method for cleaning the nails, an additional disadvantage is that frequent washing with standard detergents causes drying of the nails and the skin beneath the nails, which contributes to flaking and breaking of the nail, and to irritation of the skin of the fingertips.  
           [0012]    Therefore it would be desirable to provide a simple and economical brush for automatic application of a fluid.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and provide a brush for automatic application of a personal care product.  
           [0014]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an ergonomically-shaped, automatic applicator brush for use in applying a variety of personal care fluids. The bristles of the brush have a degree of stiffness, texture and length appropriate to the purpose for which the brush is intended to be used. The fluid is contained in a reservoir within the brush. A dispensing mechanism within the reservoir enables the fluid to be dispensed from the reservoir onto the bristles via an outlet on the lower casing of the brush.  
           [0015]    According to a preferred embodiment, there is provided a device comprising an automatic applicator brush for applying a personal care fluid, wherein the brush comprises an ergonomically shaped outer casing; an outlet provided within a lower surface of said outer casing; a plurality of bristles positioned on an outer surface of said outer casing, surrounding said outlet; a dispensing system situated within said outer casing for dispensing said fluid onto said bristles through said outlet; and a reservoir for containing said fluid prior to dispensing onto said bristles by said dispensing system.  
           [0016]    A feature of the present invention is that the device provides a quick, simple and economical method for application of a personal care product.  
           [0017]    An advantage of the present invention is that the device is adaptable for use with all standard personal care product containers.  
           [0018]    A further advantage of the present invention is that the device prevents wastage or spillage of the personal care product.  
           [0019]    A further advantage of the present invention is that the device occupies minimum space.  
           [0020]    A further advantage of the present invention is that the device is ergonomically shaped.  
           [0021]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following drawings and description. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    For a better understanding of the invention with regard to the embodiments thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals designate corresponding sections or elements throughout and in which:  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 shows a side view of the cosmetic brush of the present invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the cosmetic brush;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 shows a top view of the cosmetic brush;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of an alternative embodiment of the cosmetic brush of the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 shows a front view of an adaptor for use with the cosmetic brush of FIG. 4;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 shows a side view of an additional alternative embodiment of the brush of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 shows an exploded cross-sectional view of the brush of FIG. 6;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 8 a  shows a bottom view of the upper section of the housing of the of FIG. 6; and  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 8 b  shows a side view of the lower section of the housing of FIG. 8 a    
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0032]    Reference is now made to FIGS.  1  to  3 , which illustrate a preferred embodiment of an automatic applicator brush  10 , constructed and operated in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
         [0033]    In accordance with the principles of the present invention, brush  10  is provided with a housing  12 , a plurality of bristles  14 , an ampoule  16  containing a personal care fluid  18 , and a dispensing mechanism  19 .  
         [0034]    Fluid  18  may be selected from a wide variety of products, such as liquid soap, facial cleanser, acne treatment fluid, shampoo, hair dye, nail varnish remover etc.  
         [0035]    Housing  12  is formed wit a treaded hole  20  on one side. Neck  22  of ampoule  16  is formed with a complementary threaded opening, such that ampoule  16  may be firmly screwed into housing  12 .  
         [0036]    An inlet device  24  is positioned within housing  12 , connecting to hole  20  such that fluid  18  is allowed to flow into housing  12  from ampoule  16  until a maximum level is reached.  
         [0037]    Dispensing mechanism  19  comprises a button  26 , which activates a pump  28  and ejection device  30 . When button  26  is depressed, fluid  18  is drawn into ejection device  30  by the action of pump  28 . Ejection device  30  is simultaneously pushed downwards and becomes inserted within nozzle  32  from which fluid  18  is forced outwards onto the lower surface of housing  12  and bristles  14 .  
         [0038]    Fluid  18  may then be applied to the appropriate skin, hair, or nail surface by appropriate brushing motions, which may, for instance, be circular motions in the case of skin surfaces, or stroke movements for application of fluid to the hair.  
         [0039]    Bristles  14  are of an appropriate length and material for the particular personal care process for which the brush is intended. A brush for use on the skin of the face will have relatively soft bristles, while a brush for use on the hair will contain stiffer, longer, bristles. Various combinations of bristle may be used in brushes intended for specific purposes. For example, an facial care brush may include one or more outer rows of stiff bristles for treatment of problem areas, combined with softer inner rows for even application of the applied fluid.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment  40  of an automatic applicator brush. In this embodiment, bristles are arranged in a small number of rows concentric with the casing of the brush, while the central region is occupied by a sponge  42 . Sponge  42  may be regularly removed and replaced with a fresh sponge in order to maintain a high standard of hygiene.  
         [0041]    A further use of the automatic applicator brush is intended for application of fluids to the hair. These may include hair dyes, anti-dandruff preparations or preparations for the prevention of hair loss. In all of these products, it is desirable that application be uniform along the entire length of the hair shaft, including the roots. The brush comprises two or more sets of bristles of different lengths of enable parting of the hair and simultaneous application of the product to the outer layers of the hair and to the roots.  
         [0042]    As an alternative to ampoule  16 , fluid  18  may be used directly from the bottle in which it is supplied (not shown). Inlet mechanism  24  may be used in conjunction with any standard, commercially available bottle or container by use of an appropriate detachable adaptor. A range of adaptors in various sizes is available.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 5 shows an example of an adaptor  44 . Adaptor  44  has one open threaded end  46  of dimensions appropriate for screwing into threaded hole  20 , and a second open end suitable for attachment to the opening of a standard, commercial bottle.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIGS. 6 and 7 show an additional alternative embodiment  50  of an automatic applicator brush, comprising an upper housing  52   a  and a lower housing  52   b , a plurality of bristles  14 , a sponge  56 , a spring-loaded liquid dispenser  58  and a reservoir  60  containing fluid  18 .  
         [0045]    Lower casing  12   b  is provided with a central opening  65 , beneath which sponge  56  is fixedly attached.  
         [0046]    Dispenser  58  comprises an upper section  66  and a lower section  64 , connected by a compression spring  68 . Lower section  64  comprises an essentially cylindrical body  70 , tapering at its lower end  72  and ending in a narrow cylindrical structure  74 , which forms a stopper which fits into opening  65  of lower casing  12   b , preventing fluid  18  from flowing out of reservoir  60 . A circular rim  76  of diameter greater than that of body  70 , and equal to the inner diameter of reservoir  60 , is positioned on body  70  directly above tapering end  72 .  
         [0047]    Upper dispenser section  66  comprises a cylindrical section  78  provided with an upper cap  80 , which fits within an appropriate depression in upper housing  12   a.    
         [0048]    When using device  50 , casing  12  is held in the palm of the hand with sponge  56  positioned on the upper surface of the nail. Upon exertion of pressure on sponge  56 , stopper  74  is pushed upwards, unsealing opening  65  and allowing fluid  18  to flow out of reservoir  60  onto sponge  56 .  
         [0049]    Upon cessation of pressure on sponge  56 , spring  68  serves to return lower dispenser section  64 , together with stopper  74  to its position within opening  65 , thus resealing reservoir  60 .  
         [0050]    Sponge  56  therefore serves to dispense fluid  18  and may be used to further rub fluid  18  over a desired surface.  
         [0051]    After dispensing of fluid  18  onto the desired surface, the surface may be further scrubbed using bristles  14 .  
         [0052]    As an example of use of device  50 , may be used with a cleanser  82  in order to clean under the tips of fingernails. Device  50  is positioned such that bristles  14  are inserted under the nail, and pressure exerted on sponge  56  such that cleanser  82  is dispensed as described above.  
         [0053]    Cleanser  82  comprises a herbal-based solution which is able to dissolve oils and other organic materials, thus assisting in removing dirt and other foreign debris from under the fingernails and from the surface of the fingernails.  
         [0054]    Cleanser  82  also contains an addition of vitamin E, which serves to protect and nourish the nails and skin.  
         [0055]    The combination of cleanser and rubbing or brushing action serves to thoroughly clean the upper surface of the fingernails and the area beneath the tips of the fingernails.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIGS. 8 a  and  8   b  further illustrate the outer casing  12  of device  50 . Lower casing  12   b  is provided with an upwardly-facing cylindrical reservoir  60  for receiving fluid  18 . Upper casing  12   a  is formed with a depression  84  of diameter equal to that of reservoir  60 , such that upper rim of reservoir  60  may be fitted into depression  84 , thus sealing upper casing  12   a  and lower casing  12   b  together.  
         [0057]    Having described the invention with regard to certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the description is not meant as a limitation, since further modifications will now suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.