WIRE-CORE APPLICATOR WITH BEVELLED HOLLOW FIBER BRISTLES

Abstract

A mascara brush comprising a core made of at least two wire sections twisted with one another along a wire-core longitudinal axis and a set of bristles made of bristles formed from plastic filaments, each of said bristles being held in a clamped manner between the two wire sections and being formed on the free ends thereof with or without a wedge-shaped bristle tip, wherein the bristles, at least partially, are formed from internally hollow filaments, a solution is provided with which the mass delivery in relation to the known applicators is improved. Same is achieved in that, in particular at least, the bristles formed on the inside in a hollow manner on the radially outward free ends have an oblique cut in the form of a simple wedge and comprise a wedge-shaped bristle tip comprising at least one cut surface forming a wedge.

Claims

1. A mascara brush, comprising: an inner core of at least two wire portions twisted together; and a bristle covering of bristles formed by internally hollow filaments that are each held clamped between the two wire portions, wherein radially outward free ends of the bristles have an oblique cut like a simple wedge, so that a first side of each bristle has a maximum longitudinal extent (L.sub.MAX) and a second side diametrically opposite to the first side has a minimum longitudinal extent (L.sub.MIN).

2. A mascara brush comprising: an inner core of at least two wire portions twisted together along a longitudinal wire core axis (LD); and a bristle covering of bristles of plastic formed b filaments that are each held clamped between the two wire portions and that are configured at their free ends with a wedge-shaped or without a wedge-shaped bristle tip, wherein at least some the bristles are formed from internally hollow filaments, and the bristles formed to be internally hollow have at their radially outward free ends an oblique cut like a simple wedge, and comprise a wedge-shaped bristle tip with at least one cut face forming a wedge.

3. The mascara brush according to claim 2, wherein the cut faces of the bristles are, in part, orientated in a direction towards a brush tip and, in part towards a brush end opposite the brush tip.

4. The mascara brush according to claim 2, wherein the bristle covering has a plurality of areas, sectors or zones, which are orientated to extend, in a circumferential direction of the bristle covering, transversely to the longitudinal wire core axis (LD), or, in the circumferential direction of the bristle covering, spiral-shaped to the longitudinal wire core axis (LD), or, in a longitudinal direction of the bristle covering, alongside of the longitudinal wire core axis (LD), and which respectively comprise at least one bristle row consisting of a plurality of adjacent bristles that each have an identically configured bristle tip, or are formed by such a bristle row, and which, in the circumferential direction and/or in the longitudinal direction of the bristle covering, are respectively disposed adjacent to one area or sector or zone comprising a plurality of bristles each having a differently configured bristle tip.

5. The mascara brush according to claim 1, wherein the bristle covering has a plurality of areas, sectors or zones, which are orientated to extend, in a circumferential direction of the bristle covering, transversely to a longitudinal wire core axis (LD), or, in the circumferential direction of the bristle covering, spiral-shaped to the longitudinal wire core axis (LD), or, in a longitudinal direction of the bristle covering, alongside of the longitudinal wire core axis (LD), and which respectively comprise at least one bristle row consisting of a plurality of adjacent bristles, whose adjacent bristles each have a differently configured bristle tip.

6. The mascara brush according to claim 4, wherein the a plurality of areas, sectors or zones, in the circumferential direction, transversely or longitudinally to the longitudinal wire core axis (LD), sweep over the circumference or a partial area of the circumference of the bristle covering once.

7. The mascara brush according to claim 2, wherein the bristle covering consists of bristles or filaments with a wedge-shaped pointed portion and of further bristles or filaments without a wedge-shaped pointed portion, wherein the bristles or filaments with a wedge-shaped pointed portion form one or more sector(s) of the bristle covering and the further bristles or filaments form one or more further sector(s) the sector(s) and the further sector(s) following each other alternately in a circumferential direction.

8. The mascara brush according to claim 7, wherein between 1 and 8 sectors and between 1 and 8 further sectors are provided.

9. The mascara brush according to claim 7, wherein the bristles or filament with the wedge-shaped pointed portion are disposed in such a way, in the bristle covering that otherwise consists of further bristles or filaments that the bristles or filaments with the wedge-shaped pointed portion form a track extending in a spiral shape on a circumferential enveloping surface of the bristle covering.

10. The mascara brush according to claim 7, wherein the further bristles or filaments are made of the same material as the bristles or filaments with a wedge-shaped pointed portion.

11. The mascara brush according to claim 9, wherein chisel faces of the bristles or filaments with a wedge-shaped pointed, portion, neglecting their wedge angel, are orientated perpendicularly to a course of an imaginary longitudinal axis of the spiral-shaped track.

12. The mascara brush according to claim 4, wherein an area or a zone or a sector sweeps over an angular distance that constitutes ⅛ to 1/64 of a 360° circumference or of a 360° enveloping circle of the bristle covering.

13. The mascara brush according to claim 4, wherein an area or a sector or a zone in Which the cut faces of all bristles are orientated to point in a direction towards a brush tip, and an area or a sector or a zone in which the cut faces of all bristles are orientated to point in a direction towards a brush end opposite the brush tip, are configured respectively alternately.

14. The mascara brush according to claim 1, wherein the cut faces formed by the oblique cut each have a surface roughness (Rz) of between 0.2 μm and 6.3 μm.

15. The mascara brush according to claim 2, wherein the filaments are slit along their length or the bristles or filaments are tube-shaped and internally hollow, as well as continuously slit in a direction along their longitudinal axis.

16. The mascara brush according to claim 1, wherein an angle (α) by which a cut face formed by the oblique cut is inclined relative to a longitudinal bristle axis (L) complies with the relationship α≦55°.

17. The mascara brush according to claim 1, wherein the filaments have a non-round cross section.

18. The mascara brush according to claim 1, wherein the oblique cuts forming the simple wedge are orientated relative to a longitudinal axis (LD) of the wire core in such a way that, looking along the longitudinal axis, one looks at the oblique cuts.

19. The mascara brush according to claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of bristles with a circular configuration is ≧115 μm.

20. The mascara brush according to claim 1, wherein an outer enveloping circle of bristles configured to be non-circular has an enveloping circle diameter (9*) which is ≧100 μm, and ≦340 μm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0067] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the bristle according to the invention from the front, in a top view onto the cut face forming the desired wedge surface.

[0068] FIG. 2 shows a bristle of the invention according to FIG. 1 in a side view of its wedge surface.

[0069] FIG. 3 shows a section of FIG. 2 along the longitudinal bristle axis and loaded with mascara mass.

[0070] FIG. 4 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a bristle according to the invention from the front, i.e. in a top view onto the wedge surface.

[0071] FIG. 4a shows a section through the bristle shaft of the bristle according to FIG. 4, which is carried out underneath the wedge surface along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal bristle axis.

[0072] FIG. 5 shows a third exemplary embodiment of a bristle according to the invention from the front, i.e. in a top view onto the wedge surface.

[0073] FIG. 6 shows a section through the bristle according to FIG. 5, which is carried out along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal bristle axis.

[0074] FIG. 7 shows another modified exemplary embodiment that is closely based on the exemplary embodiment described FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0075] FIG. 8 is a complete overview of a wire core applicator equipped with the bristles according to the invention.

[0076] FIG. 9 shows the orientation of the cut face of the oblique cut, which is orientated in such a way that, looking along the longitudinal applicator axis, one looks at the cut face.

[0077] FIG. 10 once again shows the orientation of the cut face of the oblique cut, which is orientated in such a way that, looking along the longitudinal applicator axis, one looks at the cut face.

[0078] FIG. 11 shows a variant of the invention with alternately pointed and non-pointed bristles.

[0079] FIG. 12 shows an enlarged detail from FIG. 6.

[0080] FIG. 13 shows a section of the variant shown by FIG. 6, in a frontal view from the front.

[0081] FIG. 14 shows a section of an alternative embodiment of the bristle variant shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0082] Generally, such an applicator or such a mascara brush 18 as it is shown by FIG. 8 is produced by placing a plurality of, at first, mostly straight filaments between at least one wire clamp 11 with two straight wire portions 12, 13. Preferably, a portion of a continuously extruded fiber is referred to as a filament in the sense of the invention. Generally, the filaments are placed between the wire sections 12, 13 of the wire clamp 11 in such a way that they protrude to a substantially equal extent (preferably maximally +/−10%) on both sides of the wire clamp 11 or of its wire portions 12, 13.

[0083] The wire portions 12, 13 are then twisted together, whereby the filaments are distributed and then firmly clamped between the wire portions. Generally, each filament forms two bristles 1. After twisting, While the brush is rotating, the brush contour is cut by means of a milling cutter and a counter blade in such a way that the plurality of the radially protruding bristles corresponds to a predetermined brush body, exactly according to the drawing. In a next step, the bristles are then beveled according to the invention, most frequently by grinding.

[0084] Thus, it is only “different sides of the same coin” that are addressed within the context of this description when the term “filament” is used at one time and the term “bristle” at another time.

[0085] FIGS. 1 and 2 show the details of an exemplary embodiment of a bristle 1 according to the invention.

[0086] In this exemplary embodiment, the bristle has a circular cross section, and the bristle is internally hollow, preferably over its entire length up to its anchoring point at its base between the twisted wires, see FIG. 1. Thus, the bristle forms a tube whose interior is able to accommodate and store mascara mass, at least in the area close to its mouth towards the outside.

[0087] At its radially outward free end, the bristle 1 has an oblique cut 3 like a simple wedge. This means that a first side of the bristle concerned, seen in the direction along the longitudinal bristle axis L, has a maximum longitudinal extent L.sub.MAX and the second side diametrically opposite to it has a minimum longitudinal extent L.sub.MIN. Thus, one side of the bristle is longer than the side diametrically opposite to it, see FIG. 2.

[0088] In this case, the bristle is, in any case, not only “slightly” obliquely cut, but exhibits a clearly recognizable oblique cut 3. Preferably, the angle by which the cut face 4 formed by the oblique cut 3 is inclined relative to the longitudinal bristle axis L complies with the relationship α≦55°, and ideally even α≦35°. An additional grinding, with which an angle α≦20° can be obtained, has a particularly advantageous effect on the degree of slenderness of the wedge.

[0089] It is ensured in this manner that the cut face is sufficiently large to obtain the effect intended by the invention, once again see FIG. 2.

[0090] Not only because of this, the result is a very pronounced cut face 4, which preferably has such a length that it extends over at least 1/10, better yet over at least ⅙ of the total length of a bristle, hi other words, it can be said that it is particularly beneficial for many cases of application if the following relationship is complied with: L.sub.MAX≦L.sub.MIN+½×filament diameter to L.sub.MIN+2×filament diameter. With said additional grinding, this can be increased to up to L.sub.MAX≦L.sub.MIN+4×filament diameter—as can be seen in FIG. 2, which in this respect is not drawn to scale, referring to the cut face length AFL dimensioned there.

[0091] It must be noted that FIGS. 1 and 2 show an optional exemplary embodiment whose cut face 4 is substantially planar, i.e. level in itself. Another embodiment preferred even more for certain cases of application is illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0092] This embodiment corresponds fully to the embodiment shown by FIGS. 1 and 2, and differs from it only by the cut face 4 being curved convexly outward, at least in some areas, mostly predominantly. Ideally, the cut face (for example like a pocket watch glass) is convexly curved in two mutually perpendicular directions. Surprisingly, tests have shown that such a convex curvature significantly improves the discharge of the stored mascara mass and the wetting of the eyelashes sliding past even more.

[0093] The effect obtained with the invention can best be explained with reference to FIG. 3. The mascara mass, which in this case is depicted in black, enters into the hollow bristle core 5 completely or at least to some extent, and is stored there. If the bristles are moved or bent, e.g. when passing the wiper and/or during the actual application, a certain overpressure is produced in the hollow bristle core, which, in any case, presses the mascara mass stored in the area close to the mouth slightly outwards, so that the mascara mass is available for transfer to the eyelashes.

[0094] Due to the oblique cut 3 according to the invention, with its cut face 4, the surface on which mascara mass is available for transfer to the eyelashes is now significantly increased, which FIG. 3 makes clearly recognizable.

[0095] In addition, the cut face 4 is able to better (generally, longer and more intensively) come into contact with the eyelashes than a small end face extending approximately perpendicularly to the longitudinal bristle axis L. Because such a small end face is more difficult to hit by the eyelashes, and when an eyelash has placed itself on this small end face, then the further movement of the eyelash in the direction towards the inside of the covering is impeded, so that soon, a tension builds up that causes the eyelash to jump off the small end face, often even before a large part of the mascara mass available at the bristle mouth can be transferred onto it. This is different in the bristles with the configuration according to the invention. Here, the movement of the eyelashes W in the direction towards the inside of the covering is not impeded substantially. Instead, the eyelash W is able to gradually slide along the large cut face 4 in the direction towards the inside of the covering and intensively accommodate mascara mass. Thus, the loading of the eyelashes with mascara mass is improved, and at the same time, the capacity of the bristles to penetrate between the eyelashes is improved.

[0096] Turning again to FIG. 1, the outer bristle diameter 9 can be found to be drawn into it, which in the case of circular bristles should preferably be at least 115 μm, and better yet at least 215 μm.

[0097] Furthermore, the wall thickness 7 of the bristles according to the invention can be found to be drawn into FIG. 1, which should preferably be between 15 μm and 100 μm, in each case inclusive.

[0098] Looking at FIG. 2, it is to be noted that the cut face 4 preferably does not transition into the outer circumferential surface of the bristle in a sharp-edged manner, but forming a rounded portion, which of course need not be circular.

[0099] Preferably, the oblique cut is not produced by a corresponding oblique cutting during the separation of the continuous thread into individual filaments, but by grinding the radially outward ends of the bristles that are held between the wire portions already twisted together.

[0100] In this manner, given a corresponding movement and positioning of the grinding disk relative to the bristle to be ground, the preferred embodiment can be realized in which the cut faces 4 of the oblique cuts 3 are orientated in such a way that, looking along the longitudinal axis LD of the wire core or of the brush, one looks at them as a whole. This considerably improves the contact between the eyelashes and the bristles, because the cut faces 4 in that case present the maximum surface viewed in the direction in which the eyelashes move relative to the bristles.

[0101] At which angle the grinding disk has to be held and moved relative to the brush for this purpose cannot be generally defined in numbers, due to the strong dependency on the rigidity and length of the specifically used bristles; however, the person skilled, in the art is able to find out by tests common in the field of the bristles specifically used by him, once he has been instructed on what he is to achieve systematically.

[0102] FIG. 4 shows a second exemplary embodiment, which is a modification of the first exemplary embodiment. This sole difference is that the bristle according to the invention is slit in the direction of the longitudinal bristle axis in this exemplary embodiment.

[0103] Preferably, the slit is configured as illustrated by FIG. 4a. In that case, the slit is configured so as to “gape”, i.e. that the edges of the slit, do not come to rest against each other if the bristle is not under strain, that the free cross section of the slit becomes practically zero. Furthermore, the slit is preferably configured in such a way that it takes up between 7% and 21% of the total surface area of the wall cross section that an identical but unslit bristle has. These definitions for the slit also apply to bristles with a non-round cross section.

[0104] For bristles with a round cross section, it, preferably applies that the cut-out angle β describing the slit complies with the following relationship 15°≦β≦50° β.

[0105] The above-described slit is the result of filaments continuously slit alone their length. Of course, the filaments are “squeezed together” in the region of their clamping area between the twisted wire portions, so that they form bristles that are slit from their radially outward end up to the clamping area between the twisted wire portions.

[0106] The slit offers the advantage that the bristles tend to become more easily deformable, so that also the small forces already occurring during the actual application can be sufficient to deform the bristles in such a way that the mascara mass first stored in their hollow bristle core 5 escapes towards the outside through the mouth at the cut face 4 and/or the slit 8 and is then available at this location to be taken up by the eyelashes.

[0107] FIG. 5 shows a third exemplary embodiment winch is a modification of the above-described exemplary embodiments in the shape of bristles with a circular cross section. The only difference is that, in this exemplary embodiment, the bristle according to the invention does not have a round cross section, but a non-round one, or preferably a polygonal or quadrilateral one, preferably a square one.

[0108] Thus, the statements made previously with respect to the other exemplary embodiments also apply to this exemplary embodiment, unless otherwise defined because of its non-round cross section.

[0109] The crucial point is that bristles with a non-round cross section are in many cases even more suitable for realizing the invention than bristles with a round cross section. Because in the case of bristles with a non-round cross section, the bristles can be given a so-called preferred direction, i.e. a direction in which the bristles have an increased bending rigidity. The preferred direction can be combined in such a way with the cut 3 that the forces that are generated at the wedge surface and tend to bend the bristles to the side are absorbed particularly well, so that the bristle does not draw aside prematurely, but remains in contact long and intensively with the eyelash resting against the cut face 4.

[0110] The statement above applies to a greater extent if the bristle is slit in the direction of the longitudinal axis, because in that case, the non-slit surfaces that are laterally adjacent to the slit surface can be dimensioned in such a way that the weakening effect of the slit can be compensated to the exact extent this appears necessary in the individual case in order to obtain an optimum application result.

[0111] Furthermore, it applies that it is particularly advantageous for a series of cases of applications—particularly in those in which slit filaments are used—if the bristle cross section is selected not only to be non-round, but polygonal, or so as to have bends. In particular, it is configured to be rectangular.

[0112] As is easy to understand by referring to FIG. 5, such a cross section, in which the wall of the bristles has bends, results in a stabilization of the bristle, similar to that obtained by beads or edges in a metal sheet. An excessive weakening of the bristle by the slit can also be avoided in this manner. This means that, on the one hand, the bristle is able to “work” or be deformed in such a way, not least under the influence of the forces occurring during application, that the mascara mass stored in the core of the bristle is discharged towards the outside, but that, on the other hand, it is reliably avoided that the bristle is regularly overloaded in such a way during application that it collapses or buckles due to the slit, and is then no longer capable of contributing meaningfully to the make-up result, but instead starts to “smear” until it has straightened up again after the overload has ended.

[0113] FIG. 6 shows some characteristic parameters of this exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 5. For example, the enveloping circle can be seen here, which is depicted with a dash-dotted line and envelops the outer circumference of the bristle profile. Preferably, the diameter of the bristle profile is selected in such a way that the following applies to the enveloping circle diameter 9*:9*≧100 μm, and better 9*≧200 μm.

[0114] For the wall thickness 7, however, the same applies as or the bristles with the circular cross section.

[0115] Finally, it is stated that the bristle covering of the applicators according to the invention preferably completely consists of hollow filaments for most cases of application. For other, most frequently more special cases of application, a mix of the hollow filaments according to the invention and massive, preferably equally ground filaments is preferred, wherein the hollow filaments most frequently form the majority.

[0116] FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 illustrate a variant of the mascara brush according to the invention, with an exceptionally advantageous application and separation action.

[0117] As can be seen, the bristle covering in this case consists of bristles la with an oblique cut formed from filaments, as described above, and of further bristles lb without an oblique cut that are also formed from filaments.

[0118] In this case, the bristle covering is configured in such a way that the bristles la with an oblique cut form several sectors 100 of the bristle covering and the further bristles 1b form another sector 101. In the example illustrated by the Figures, the sectors and the further sectors follow each other alternately, repeated in a pattern that ends flush in the circumferential direction.

[0119] The number of the sectors depends on the individual case of use and the theological properties of the cosmetic used. Preferably, between 1 and 8 sectors and between 1 and 8 further sectors are provided.

[0120] Alternatively, there is the option of the filaments or bristles with the oblique cut being disposed in such a way, in the bristle covering that otherwise consists of further filaments, that they form a track extending in a spiral shape on the circumferential enveloping surface of the bristle covering, which is not shown here in the Figures.

[0121] Ideally, the further filaments are made of the same material as the filaments with an oblique cut.

[0122] In another variant of the mascara applicator previously explained with reference to the Figures which is also inventive and therefore claimed, the covering is configured in such a way that the oblique surfaces of the filaments with an oblique cut, neglecting their wedge or beveling angle, are orientated perpendicularly to the course of the imaginary longitudinal axis of the spiral-shaped track.

[0123] FIG. 14 illustrates a variant of the mascara brush according to the invention, with an exceptionally advantageous application and separation action.

[0124] As can be seen, the bristle covering 26 in this case consists of bristles 1a, 1c with a wedge-shaped pointed portion that are formed by filaments, and of further bristles 1b without a wedge-shaped pointed portion that are also formed from filaments, with the bristles 1a, 1c only differing with regard to the orientation of their cut face 4. The cut face 4 of each of the bristles 1a points towards the brush end 16, and the cut face 4 of each of the bristles 1c points towards the brush tip 15.

[0125] In this case, the bristle covering 26 is configured in such a way that the bristles 1a with the wedge-shaped pointed portion, of which several are disposed adjacent to each other in a bristle row 17, form a sector 100 of the bristle covering 26, the bristles 1c with the wedge-shaped pointed portion, of which several are disposed adjacent to each other in a bristle row 17′, form a sector 102 of the bristle covering 26, and the further bristles 1b, disposed in a bristle row 17″, form a further sector 101 of the bristle covering 26. In the example illustrated in FIG. 14, the sectors 100 and 102 and the further sector 101 follow each other alternately in the circumferential direction. The sector 102 is followed again by a sector 101. The sequence of sectors is continued until an arc of a circle of 360° is completed over the circumference of the bristle covering 26.

[0126] The number of the sectors depends on the individual case of use and the rheological properties of the cosmetic used. Preferably, between 1 and 8 sectors 100, 102 and between 1 and 8 further sectors 101 are provided.

[0127] Alternatively, there is the option of the filaments or bristles 1a, 1c with the wedge-shaped pointed portion being disposed in such a way, in the bristle covering 26 that otherwise consists of further filaments or bristles 1, 1b, that they form a track extending in a spiral shape on the circumferential enveloping surface of the bristle covering 26, which is not shown here in the Figures.

[0128] Ideally, the further filaments or bristles 1b are made of the same material as the filaments or bristles 1a, 1c with a wedge-shaped pointed portion.

[0129] In another variant of the mascara applicator previously explained with reference to the Figures, which is also inventive and therefore claimed, the covering is configured in such a way that the chisel faces of the filaments or bristles with a wedge-shaped pointed portion, neglecting their wedge angle, are orientated perpendicularly to the course of the imaginary longitudinal axis of the spiral-shaped track.

[0130] While all the bristles 1a, 1b, 1c of a respective bristle row 17, 17′, 17″ are identically configured with regard to the configuration of the bristle tip in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 14, a bristle row ma of course also be formed of bristles that each have differently configured bristle tips. For example, it is possible that bristles 1a, 1b, 1c are formed next to one another and adjacently in a bristle row, which are disposed in a repeating pattern relative to each other, with the pattern forming a sector, an area or a zone. All logically possible combinations can be realized. Also, sectors, areas or zones may extend in a spiral shape over the circumference of the bristle covering 26 or be disposed, configured and orientated so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal wire core axis LD.