Abstract
In a brush cap for protecting a hair bundle of a cosmetic and/or paint or artist's brush, in order to obtain a more flexible application also for a plurality of brushes or for different brush shapes, and for the purpose of broadening the range of application of the brush cap, it is provided that a second end of the brush cap, through which a brush shaft, given proper use of the brush cap, projects, is configured such that it is radially expandable.
Claims
1. Brush cap (1) having a first open end (3) and having a second open end (4), wherein the second open end (5), given proper use of the brush cap (1), comes into contact with a brush shaft of a brush inserted in the brush cap, characterized in that the second end (4) is configured such that it is radially expandable.
2. Brush cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the brush cap (1) has a plurality of radially pliable expansion members (7).
3. Brush cap according to claim 1, characterized in that a second portion B of the brush cap (1), which forms the second end (4), has a plurality of radially pliable expansion members (7) distributed around the periphery of the brush cap (1).
4. Brush cap according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the expansion members (7) are formed by expansion fingers, which, starting from a base (9), jointly define with their free ends facing away from the base (9) a passage opening (6) at the second open end (4) of the brush cap (1).
5. Brush cap according to one of the three preceding claims, characterized in that the expansion members (7) extend radially inward, starting from the base (9), and/or are curved radially inward, starting from the base (9).
6. Brush cap according to one of the preceding four claims, characterized in that the expansion members (7) become narrower at increasing distance from the base (9).
7. Brush cap according to one of the preceding five claims, characterized in that the expansion members (7) are an integral part of the brush cap (1).
8. Brush cap according to one of the preceding six claims, characterized in that there is provided an elastic restoring means (13), which is capable of positioning the expansion members (7), when a brush is inserted in the brush cap (1), against a brush shaft.
9. Brush cap according to the preceding claim, characterized in that an expansion member (7) is connected to adjacent expansion members (7) respectively via elastic restoring means (13).
10. Brush cap according to claim 8, characterized in that a self-contained, one-piece elastic restoring means (13) is placed around the expansion members (7).
11. Brush cap according to one of the preceding nine claims, characterized in that on the expansion members (7) are provided one or more elevations (12), which, over a periphery formed by the expansion members (7), form a retaining projection or a receiving groove for an elastic restoring means (13) placed around the expansion members (7).
12. Brush cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the brush cap (1) has a closing lid (14), with which the first open end of the brush cap (1) can be closed off after the proper insertion of a brush.
13. Brush cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the brush cap (1), in addition to incisions (8) between individual expansion members and a feed-in opening (5) formed by the first end, are provided further openings (11) or notches, which are capable of promoting drainage of moisture from the brush cap (1) and ventilation of the inside of the brush cap.
14. Brush cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the outside of the brush cap (1), in a first portion A or in a second portion B, is formed by material elevations a supporting region (10), with which the brush cap (1) is capable of resting on a supplementary component (2) once the brush cap (1) is accommodated, with the second end (4) to the fore, partially in the supplementary component (2).
15. Brush cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on expansion members (7) stiffenings are provided, and/or which the expansion members, at least over a sub-region, have a T-shaped cross section.
16. Brush cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the radially expandable second end (4) is formed by an inherently elastic material.
17. Brush cap according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first open end (3) is formed by a first material portion made of a first material, and the second open end (4) is formed by a second material portion made of a second material, wherein the second material is an inherently elastic material.
18. Brush cap according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the he second portion is injection molded onto the first portion.
19. Brush cap according to one of the three preceding claims, characterized in that that material portion of the brush cap (1) which forms the radially expandable open second end (4) has a closed surface and is of tubular configuration.
20. Brush cap according to one of the four preceding claims, characterized in that that material portion of the brush cap (1) which forms the second end (4), viewed in a direction from the first end toward the second end, tapers.
21. System comprising a brush cap (1) according to one of the preceding claims and a supplementary part (2), characterized in that the brush cap (1) is assigned a supplementary part (2), into which the brush cap (1) can be placed upright with the second end (4) facing downward, wherein the supplementary part (2) forms a standing aid.
22. System according to the preceding claim, characterized in that on the brush cap (1) is provided an outward facing elevation, which forms a supporting region (10) via which the brush cap, after having been placed into the supplementary part (2), is capable of resting on this same.
23. System according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the supplementary part (2) is matched to the brush cap (1) in such a way that the supplementary part (2) is mountable as a closing lid onto the first end (3) of the brush cap (1).
24. System according to one of the three preceding claims, characterized in that on the supplementary part (2) are provided openings or notches, which promote a drainage of moisture from the supplementary part (2) and/or a ventilation of the inside of the brush cap, once the supplementary part (2) is mounted as a closing lid onto the brush cap (1).
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] Further details of the invention emerge from the following description of preferred illustrative embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0028] FIG. 1 shows a brush cap and a supplementary part separate from the brush cap, in a perspective view,
[0029] FIG. 2 shows the combination, shown in FIG. 1, of brush cap and supplementary part, in which the supplementary part is used as a closure cap,
[0030] FIG. 3 shows the combination of brush cap and supplementary part which is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 and in which the supplementary part is oriented to hold upright a brush inserted in the brush cap, by accommodation of the brush cap in the supplementary part acting as a standing aid,
[0031] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the invention, which is simplified in relation to FIG. 1,
[0032] FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the invention, in which an elastic restoring means acts on expansion members,
[0033] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the invention, in which adjacent expansion members are respectively connected to one another via an elastic restoring means,
[0034] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a brush cap having a closing lid arranged pivotably on the brush cap,
[0035] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a brush cap in which the expansion members have partially a T-shaped cross section with an outward facing stiffening rib, and
[0036] FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of a brush cap in which the second end is formed by a closed, elastic expandable material portion.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0037] In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the combination of a brush cap 1 with a supplementary part 2 which can be used as a standing aid and/or closure cap is represented.
[0038] The brush cap 1 is formed in a first portion A by a cylindrical, peripherally closed main body, which—as can be seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3,—forms at a first open end 3 a feed-in opening 5. Lying opposite the open first end 3 is a second end 4 of the brush cap 1, wherein, coming from the direction of the first end 3, the first, cylindrical and peripherally closed portion A of the brush cap 1 is adjoined by a second portion B of the brush cap, which portion is peripherally interrupted by incisions 8 and tapers and the end of which finally forms the second end 4 of the brush cap 1 having a passage opening 6, through which, given proper use of the brush cap, a brush shaft is pushed in the brush feed-in direction P or over which the brush cap is slipped over the a brush shaft in the direction corresponding to the brush feed-in direction P. The brush feed-in direction P is parallel to an imaginary connecting line between the centroid of the feed-in opening 5 at the first end 3 and the centroid of the passage opening 6 at the second end 4, or even coincides with this connecting line, in particular when the brush cap 1, as shown in the figures, is configured as an axially or rotationally symmetrical component.
[0039] In the second portion B of the brush cap 1, which tapers in the direction of the second end 4, the outer wall region of the brush cap 1 is interrupted, with the formation of finger-like expansion members. These expansion fingers 7 are formed by preferredly axially oriented incisions 8e, which run toward the second end 4. The base 9 of the expansion fingers is formed by the transition from the first portion A to the second portion B of the brush cap 1.
[0040] As a result of this design of the second portion B of the brush cap, this portion is configured in a way which enables a radial expansion of the passage opening 6. The second end 4 or the effective width of the passage opening 6 is in this way capable of flexibly adapting to the periphery of a brush shaft or of a plurality of brush shafts fed through the passage opening 6, and of embracing these.
[0041] As is evident from FIGS. 1 to 3, in particular from FIG. 3,—preferredly in the region of the base of the expansion fingers or in the region of the transition from the first portion A to the second portion B—there is provided a supporting region 10 which is formed by an external elevation and which extends preferredly peripherally, albeit interrupted by the incisions 8, around the brush cap. The effective measurement of the supporting region 10 or of the material elevation forming this same, on the one, and the relevant effective measurement of the open end of the supplementary part 2 (in FIGS. 1 to 3 the corresponding effective diameters of supporting region and open end of the supplementary part) are mutually coordinated in such a way that the brush cap, with the second portion B of the brush cap to the fore, can intrude up to the supporting region 10 into the supplementary part, so that the latter acts as a standing aid. A brush which, with reference to FIG. 3, has been inserted with the brush shaft from above into the brush cap can in this way be inserted into the brush cap in a simple and, in particular, temporarily upright manner, and thus at all times again in a ready-to-hand state, and can also easily be removed again from said brush cap.
[0042] Alternatively to the use represented in FIG. 3, the supplementary part 2, given appropriate coordination of the relevant measurements of brush cap and supplementary part, can also serve as a closure cap. In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 2, it can be seen that the supplementary part 2 is slipped over the first open end 3 of the brush cap and thus serves as the closing lid of the brush cap. In this way, the hair bundle of the brush cap can be insulated from the environment.
[0043] Of course, that orientation of the combination of brush cap 1 and supplementary part 2 which is shown in FIG. 2 can also be reversed, so that the brush cap 1 is accommodated with its first open end 3 directed downward in the supplementary part 2 standing, for example, with the closed end on a support surface, so that one or more brushes inserted in the brush cap, with the hair bundle hanging downward, can be deposited on a plane surface. The closed end of the supplementary part 2, which in FIG. 2 is directed upward, then forms a standing surface. The supplementary part can hence serve simultaneously both as a closure cap and as a standing aid.
[0044] In FIG. 2, it is further apparent that, in the closed end of the supplementary parts 2, openings 11 are provided. In conjunction with the incisions 8, these openings 11 enable, on the one hand, good ventilation of the space which is enclosed by supplementary part and brush cap and accommodates the hair bundle of the brush, and thus good drying of an accommodated moist hair bundle. On the other hand, such openings enable the drainage of any moisture which might drip down from the hair bundle after washing.
[0045] In the second portion B of the brush cap 1, a further circumferential elevation 12, which serves as a retaining projection for an elastic restoring means (not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3), is additionally apparent. Its function will become clear from the description of FIG. 5 which follows further below.
[0046] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the invention which is simplified in comparison to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. Here the expansion fingers 7 are not provided with elevations which serve as a supporting region or retaining projection, nor is there provided a supplementary part which serves as a standing aid or closing lid. A brush cap of this type is a simple embodiment, which, however, nevertheless realizes the fundamental advantages of the invention and which lends itself as a variant which can be offered particularly cheaply and is simple to produce.
[0047] In the embodiment represented in FIG. 5, on the outside of the expansion fingers are provided elevations 12, which in the second portion B of the brush cap form a receiving groove which runs over the periphery and by means of which an elastic band 13 that is placed around the expansion members 7 and serves as restoring means is held in position. This elastic band 13, which preferredly consists of an elastomer or similar material and which in the simplest case is a rubber band or an O-ring, increases the clamping force which is obtainable via the expansion fingers and which, after the insertion of a brush shaft into the passage opening 6 at the second end 4 of the brush cap 1, owing to the radial expansion of the brush cap 1 at this end 4, is exerted on the brush shaft, so that one or more brushes can be securely held and the brush cap 1 does not slip in relation to the brushes.
[0048] The receiving groove which in FIG. 5 is formed by the elevations 12 fulfils the same function as the retaining projection formed in FIGS. 1 to 3 by the elevations 12, wherein the retaining projection, as a retaining means which, in contrast to a receiving groove, acts only in one direction, due to the (in the direction of the first end) expanding periphery of the brush cap, should generally be sufficient.
[0049] As an alternative to the elevations 12 provided on the outside of the expansion fingers 7, as the elastic restoring means can be provided, as illustrated by FIG. 6, also elastic band portions 13, which respectively extend from an expansion finger to an adjacent expansion finger via an incision 8 located between these expansion fingers. The effect of such an elastic restoring band which extends in some sections between adjacent expansion fingers is basically equivalent to the variant shown in FIG. 5, but has the advantage that the individual portions are fixedly connected to the expansion fingers and thus cannot get lost. Moreover, such an elastic restoring means, despite the more complex tools necessary for the manufacture (production using the 2-component injection molding process), is attachable to the brush cap in an automated manner within the production process in the same tool, in particular without tool change, and is fixedly connectable to the material of the rest of the brush cap.
[0050] FIG. 7 shows finally—in similarly simple construction as FIG. 4—a brush cap 1, on the basis of which it is intended to be illustrated that the brush cap 1 can also be assigned a closure cap 14, which, moreover, can be pivotably attached, for example, to the brush cap 1 (for example via a film hinge or other suitable measures). In the wall of the brush cap are provided openings 11, which, even with closed closure cap 14, promote a ventilation, and thus drying, of a brush accommodated in the brush cap 1. Such openings can of course—alternatively or additionally—be provided also in the closure cap 14.
[0051] FIG. 8 shows finally a further design variant of the brush cap, in which, on the outward facing side of the expansion members, additional stiffenings, in the form of reinforcing ribs 15, extending in the longitudinal direction of the expansion members is provided. These can also—differently than shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8—extend externally beyond the base 9 of the expansion members 7 in the direction of the first end of the brush cap. As a consequence of the provision of such reinforcements, the expansion members acquire, at least in part, a T-shaped basic cross section, with enhanced stiffness and increased restoring tendency.
[0052] The individual detailed features shown in the figures are not, of course, limited to the specific design variant shown in the respective figure, but can be readily transferred—where technically feasible and sensible—also to the design variants shown in other figures. Thus, for instance, that variant of an elastic restoring means which is shown in FIG. 6 can be used, of course, in the design variant shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, so that the elevations 12 serving as a retaining projection could there be dispensed with. Also the receiving groove which is formed by the elevations 12 in the embodiment according to FIG. 5 and which acts in both directions can be used in the design variant shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The supporting region 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 can naturally also be used in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, in particular together with a fitting supplementary part.
[0053] The basic idea of combining a brush cap with a further, separate supplementary part, which is tailored to the brush cap in such a way that it can be used as a standing aid, as well as the further idea of tailoring the supplementary part to the brush cap, in terms of design, such that it is capable of serving both as a standing aid and as a closing lid, are regarded, detached from the idea of configuring the second end of the brush cap such that it is radially expandable, as independent, separately claimable inventions.
[0054] Alternatively to the brush caps, with finger-like expansion members, shown in the previous figures, as are illustrated in schematic representation by FIG. 9, a second material portion 17, forming the second open end 4, of the brush cap can be formed of an inherently elastic second material, for instance an elastomer, while the first material portion 16 forming the first open end 3 of the brush cap is formed of a first material differing from the second material. The second material portion can in this way, by deformation of the material, adapt to the outside measurement of an inserted brush shaft (or a plurality hereof) and cling in a frictionally engaged manner to the outer side of the brush shaft (or brush shafts).
[0055] As can be seen from FIG. 9, the second portion has a closed surface and is of tubular configuration, wherein it tapers viewed in a direction from the first end toward the second end. As also in the other figures, the second open end preferredly forms the place with the smallest passage cross section of the brush cap.
REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST
[0056] 1 brush cap [0057] 2 supplementary part (combined standing aid/closure cap) [0058] 3 first end of the brush cap [0059] 4 second end of the brush cap [0060] 5 feed-in opening [0061] 6 passage opening [0062] 7 expansion fingers [0063] 8 incisions [0064] 9 base of the expansion fingers [0065] 10 supporting region [0066] 11 openings [0067] 12 elevations [0068] 13 elastic restoring means [0069] 14 closure cap [0070] 15 reinforcing rib [0071] 16 first material portion [0072] 17 second material portion [0073] A first portion [0074] B second portion [0075] P brush feed-in direction
