Toilet – Hair device – Eyelash or eyebrow
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-21
2001-07-17
Wilson, John J. (Department: 3732)
Toilet
Hair device
Eyelash or eyebrow
C132S320000, C401S129000, C401S122000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260558
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a brush-type applicator with fibers extending from a core. More particularly, the invention concerns a brush-type cosmetic applicator with a core made from stacked annular members, each annular member having fibers extending from a surface, and method of making the applicator.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
The conventional purpose of a mascara brush is to apply mascara to a user's eyelashes, preferably in a uniform manner in as few steps as possible. To this end, the application portion of a typical mascara brush may be constructed to accomplish more than one function. For example, a desirable brush would be capable of picking up and transporting a supply of mascara from a reservoir and depositing it on a user's eyelashes. Bristles that are more flexible are thought to be better suited for the purposes of transport and application. A desirable brush would also be capable of combing out clumps of excess mascara and separating lashes so that the need for a separate combing tool and a separate combing step are eliminated. Stiffer bristles are thought to be better suited for the purposes of combing and separating.
Brushes capable of accomplishing to a degree both application and combing have been achieved by mixing bristles having different characteristics in a single bristle head, or, in a brush having one bristle type throughout the bristle head, by compromising the characteristics of individual bristles. An example of a brush that is said to provide improved application and combing characteristics with mixed bristles is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,179 to Schrepf et al., which discloses a brush having a combination of soft bristles and stiff bristles. An example of a brush said to provide improved application and combing characteristics with uniform bristles throughout the bristle head is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,011 to Gueret, which discloses bristles of what is said to be a larger than typical diameter made of what is said to be a softer than typical material (shore hardness of 20A to 40D). Each of the foregoing examples is of a brush of typical twisted wire construction.
It is believed that further improved results in mascara application can be achieved by forming applicators with clustered bristle characteristics, i.e., bristle characteristics that vary at regular intervals along the length of the brush. Preferably, groups of bristles, each group suited for a particular purpose or purposes, can be arranged in alternating or consecutive order along the length of the brush. For example, a brush could be formed with groups of two types of bristles, e.g., one type for application and one type for combing, the two groups alternating along the length of the brush. The arrangement would yield a brush with alternating sections, each capable of maximum performance for a particular function, thus improving the overall performance of the brush.
A typical mascara brush is comprised of a core formed from a single metallic wire folded in a generally u-shaped configuration to provide a pair of parallel wire segments. Bristles (also referred to as filaments or fibers), usually comprised of strands of nylon, are disposed between a portion of a length of the wire segments. The wire segments are then twisted, or rotated, about each other to form a helical core (also known as a twisted wire core) which holds the filaments substantially at their midpoints so as to clamp them. In this way, a bristle portion or bristle head is formed with radially extending bristles secured in the twisted wire core in a helical or spiral manner. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,622 to Gueret, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,425 to Hartel et al. This construction method is well suited to forming a typical bristle type of applicator (i.e., a twisted wire core brush) having uniform bristle characteristics along the length of the brush. However, it is not well suited for consistently forming brushes with bristle characteristics that vary at regular intervals along the length of the brush.
A mascara applicator having one or more beads secured to a central axis is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,728 to Nardollilo et al. A mascara applicator having an array of disk-like rings is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,282 to Wavering. However, neither reference discloses bristles or fibers extending from an applicator surface. In addition, the Wavering reference appears to disclose an array that is formed as a single unit, not as individual annular members formed separately from one another.
Flocked applicators are also known. For example, an applicator having bristles secured to and extending from a ribbed flexer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,527,575 and 4,404,977 to Vasas. Each rib of the flexer is said to be in the form of an annular disk, however, like the array disclosed by Wavering, the flexer disclosed by Vasas appears to be formed as a single unit, not as separate disks or annular members. U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,235 to Kingsford discloses a cosmetic applicator having a plurality of axially spaced coating surfaces treated with flocked fibers. The plurality of axially spaced coating surfaces appears to be formed as a single unit. One limitation common to the manufacture of flocked items is that, without great care or great expense, a single item cannot readily be flocked with adjacent sections of fibers, each section having fibers with different characteristics. Thus, the applicators disclosed in the Wavering, Vasas and Kingsford references would not be readily adaptable to have adjacent sections of bristles with different characteristics, or to have bristle characteristics that vary at regular intervals along the length of the applicator. Accordingly, there is a need for a mascara applicator that has varying bristle characteristics, and in particular a flocked applicator with bristle characteristics that vary at regular intervals along the length of the applicator.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a brush-type cosmetics applicator is provided that has bristles (also referred to herein as fibers or filaments) arranged such that application characteristics vary at regular intervals along the length of the applicator. A plurality of annular members (e.g., disks, sleeves, rings, beads, etc.) are each individually formed by, for example, molding. Each annular member has a central bore. At least some of the plurality of annual members (i.e., a first group of the annular members) is flocked, preferably on an outwardly directed surface, with fibers (i.e., bristles) of a desired diameter, hardness (as measured, for example, with a durometer), flexibility, length and composition (material). Each of a second group of the annular members is flocked with fibers having one or more characteristics different from the fibers used on the first group, e.g., a different diameter, hardness, flexibility, length or composition, or a combination thereof. Alternatively, each annular member of the second group may not be flocked, or may be flocked on a surface different from the surface flocked on each annular member of the first group (e.g., an axially directed surface). As another alternative, each annular member of the second group, whether flocked with the same fibers or different fibers, or not flocked, may have a radial or axial dimension that is different from the annular members of the first group. Annular members from each group are then arranged consecutively (i.e., “stacked”) by way of the bore in each annular member on a shaft or pin to form the applicator portion of an applicator. The annular members are arranged in sequences that yield the desired applicator characteristics. For example, annular members from the first group provided with long bristles can be alternated with annular members from the second group provided with shorter bristles to form a brush-type applicator with improved coating and combing abilities.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3896823 (1975-07-01), Spatz
patent: 3998235 (1976-12-01), Kingsford
patent: 4404977 (198
Color Access Inc.
Doan Robyn Kieu
Kenyon & Kenyon
Wilson John J.
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