Curved longitudinal profile mascara brush

• US 6,237,609 B1
• Filed: 09/24/1999
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HCP Packaging USA Inc. (HCP Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bridgeport Metal Goods Manufacturing Co. (HCP Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vasas, Martin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Doan, Robyn Kieu
• Application Number:
  US09/404,894
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 132/218, 132/313, 132/320, 132/216, 132/217, 132/317, 401/126, 401/122, 15/167.1, 15/206
• US Class Current: 132/218
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/046 comprising a wiper
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1053 Cosmetics applicator specifically for mascara
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 3/18 the bristles being fixed on or between belts or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/021 arranged like in cosmetics brushes, e.g. mascara, nail polish, eye shadow

Abstract

A mascara brush has a wire core securing bristles extending radially therefrom. The bristles are trimmed to define applicator bristles and bristles extending in a longitudinal profile comb deployed along the core, the profile comb being longer than the applicator bristles. The core is curved in a plane passing through the profile comb whereby bristles extending from the convex side of the curved core diverge and bristles extending from the concave side of the curved core converge. The profile comb has a flat comb surface extending across its width, and the comb surface longitudinally curves to generally conform to eyelashes. For applying quick drying building or curling mascara, the profile comb extends from the concave side of the curved core. For applying heavier defining mascaras, the profile comb extends from the convex side of the core. The brush has bristles along one inch of its length, the bristles being secured in approximately sixteen turns of the brush at a density of 45 to 65 bristles per turn. The bristles are a 0.005 inch diameter hollow tubular bristle with three lobes on the exterior. The bristles defining the profile comb are approximately two times the length of the applicator bristles.

Claims

1. A mascara brush comprising:

A) a twisted wire core securing bristles extending generally radially therefrom;

B) the bristles trimmed to define applicator bristles and bristles extending in an asymmetric longitudinal profile comb deployed along the core, the applicator bristles having a substantially uniform length and bristles defining the profile comb having a different, longer substantially uniform length; and

C) the core curved in a plane passing through the profile comb,

whereby bristles extending from the convex side of the curved core diverge and separate toward their ends and bristles extending from the concave side of the curved core converge and close together toward their tips.

2. A mascara brush as defined in claim 1 wherein the profile comb extends from the concave side of the curved twisted wire core.

3. A mascara brush as defined in claim 2 wherein the profile comb defines a flat comb surface across its width.

4. A mascara brush as defined in claim 3 wherein the bristles defining the profile comb have a length approximately two times the length of the applicator bristles.

5. A mascara brush as defined in claim 4 wherein the profile comb tapers inwardly toward its flat comb surface.

6. A cosmetics brush as defined in claim 5 wherein the flat comb surface has a width approximately equal to the length of applicator bristles.

7. A mascara brush as defined in claim 5 wherein the twisted wire core has a distal end, and the bristles defining the profile comb are further trimmed adjacent the distal end to define a detail pad descending angularly from the flat comb surface toward the distal end of the twisted core.

8. A mascara brush as defined in claim 5 wherein the bristles extend from the twisted wire core along a length of approximately one inch, and the curve of the twisted wire core has a radius of approximately one inch.

9. A mascara brush as defined in claim 8 wherein the twisted wire core has approximately sixteen turns per inch and the applicator bristles and bristles defining the longitudinal profile comb are formed of single strands passing through the twisted wire core at a bristle strand count in the range of 45 to 65 bristle strands per turn.

10. A mascara brush as defined in claim 9 wherein the bristles are hollow tubular bristles having a plurality of longitudinal ribs on their exterior surface, and having a diameter of approximately 0.005 inches.

11. A mascara brush as defined in claim 10 wherein the bristles have three longitudinal ribs.

12. A mascara brush as defined in claim 4 wherein the profile comb taper outwardly toward its flat comb surface.

13. A mascara brush as defined in claim 1 wherein the bristles defining a profile comb have a length of approximately two times the length of the applicator bristles.

14. A mascara brush as defined in claim 1 wherein the profile comb taper outwardly toward a flat comb surface defined across its width.

15. A mascara brush as defined in claim 1 wherein the profile comb extends from the convex side of the twisted wire core.

16. A mascara brush as defined in claim 15 wherein the profile comb defines a flat comb surface across its width.

17. A mascara brush as defined in claim 16 wherein the profile comb tapers inwardly toward its flat comb surface.

18. A mascara brush as defined in claim 16 wherein the profile comb tapers outwardly toward its flat comb surface.

19. A mascara brush as defined in claim 16 wherein the bristles extend from the twisted wire core along a length of approximately one inch and the twisted wire core has a radius of curvature of approximately one inch.

20. A mascara container comprising:

A) a body defining an elongated product cavity, the body including a threaded neck;

B) a wiper mounted in the neck, the wiper defining a wiper orifice providing entry to the elongated product cavity;

C) a cap with internal thread for removably securing the cap on the threaded neck of the body;

D) an applicator rod mounted to the cap and extending into the product cavity when the cap is on the body; and

E) a mascara brush secured to the end of the applicator rod, the applicator brush having a curved core securing bristles extending radially therefrom, said bristles including shorter applicator bristles and longer bristles extending generally oppositely from the applicator bristles to define an asymmetric longitudinal profile comb, said profile comb encompassing a plane passing through the curved core.

21. A mascara container as defined in claim 20 wherein the twisted wire core has a shank at one end thereof secured to the applicator rod, and has a distal tip spaced from the shank, the distal tip and the shank being positioned generally along the axis of the applicator rod.

22. A mascara container as defined in claim 20 wherein the wiper is in the shape of a cone descending from the threaded neck of the body into the product cavity, said cone being truncated to define the wiper orifice.

23. A mascara container as defined in claim 22 wherein the bristles defining the profile comb have a length approximately two times the length of the applicator bristles.

24. A mascara container as defined in claim 23 wherein the wiper orifice has a diameter of approximately one-half the combined length of the applicator bristles and the bristles defining the profile comb.

25. A mascara brush as defined in claim 23 wherein the mascara brush is generally self-centered in the wiper orifice as it passes therethrough.

26. A mascara container as defined in claim 21 wherein the profile comb extends from the concave side of the twisted wire brush.

27. A mascara brush as defined in claim 26 wherein the profile comb tapers inwardly toward a flat comb surface extending across its width.

28. A mascara brush as defined in claim 27 wherein the twisted wire core has a distal end, and the bristles defining the profile comb are further trimmed adjacent the distal end to define a detail pad descending angularly from the flat comb surface toward the distal end of the twisted core.

29. A mascara container as defined in claim 27 wherein the bristles extend from the twisted wire core along a length of approximately one inch and the curve of the twisted wire core has a radius of approximately one inch.

30. A mascara brush as defined in claim 20 wherein the twisted wire core has approximately sixteen turns per inch and the applicator bristles and bristles defining the longitudinal profile comb are single filaments passing through the twisted wire core at a bristle count in the range of 45 to 65 bristles per turn.

31. A mascara brush as defined in claim 30 wherein the bristles are hollow tubular bristles having a plurality of lobes on their exterior surface, and having a diameter of approximately 0.005 inches.

32. A mascara brush as defined in claim 31 wherein the bristles have three longitudinal ribs.

33. A mascara container as defined in claim 26 wherein the profile comb tapers outwardly toward a flat comb surface extending across its width.

34. A mascara container as defined in claim 21 wherein the profile comb extends from the convex side of the twisted wire core.

35. A mascara container as defined in claim 34 wherein the profile comb tapers inwardly toward a flat comb surface extending across its width.

36. A mascara container as defined in claim 34 wherein the profile comb tapers outwardly toward a flat comb surface extending across its width.