EP2084987B1 - Small cosmetic brush with bristles arranged on a base plate - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a cosmetic brush, in particular a mascara brush or a brush for coloring hair, comprising a bristle portion having a base body and a plurality of bristles which protrude from the base body and by means of which a cosmetic can be applied.

Such a cosmetic brush is for example in the DE 25 59 273 described. In this embodiment of a cosmetic brush, the main body and all bristles are integrally connected. They consist of an elastically yielding plastic, such as a polyethylene. The main body and the bristles formed thereon are produced by means of a one-component injection molding process.

In the EP 1 507 640 B1 An improved manufacturing method is described which can also be used for cosmetic brushes. It is a two-stage process using two different plastic materials. This injection molding process is also referred to as 2K process. In one variant, the base body is first produced as a substantially hollow cylindrical structure, in order subsequently to press a further plastic material in the molten state under high pressure into the cavity of the previously produced base body in a second step. Due to the high press-in pressure, the molten second plastic material shoots through the wall of the hollow main body and extends into radially protruding bristle recesses. In this way, very advantageous cosmetic brushes can be produced in which the base body consists of a first plastic material and the bristles consist of a second plastic material. This manufacturing method has proven itself in practice. The cosmetic brushes produced with it have very good performance properties. The European patent application EP 1 665 952 A2 reveals one Applicator having a wire core from which bristles protrude. This wire core with its protruding bristles is encapsulated by a second plastic compound, projecting from the bristles. The preparation of such applicators is extremely difficult, since a wire core with protruding from him bristles is difficult to overmold with a plastic compound.

Nevertheless, the wishes and requirements of users of such cosmetic brushes are constantly increasing.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a cosmetic brush of the type described, which has further improved performance properties.

To solve this problem, a cosmetic brush according to the features of claim 1 is given. In the case of the cosmetic brush according to the invention, a part of the bristles forms first bristles, which are integrally connected to the base body, wherein the first bristles consist of the same first plastic material as the main body. Another part of the bristles forms in the cosmetic brush according to the invention second bristles, which are connected in a different manner than the first bristles with the base body. The second bristles are softer or more flexible than the first bristles. In this case, the second bristles are integrally connected to one another by means of a connecting strand running in the interior of the main body in the direction of its central longitudinal axis and the main body and the connecting strand directly adjoin one another in the region of the inner cavity of the main body. In the boundary region between the connecting strand of the second bristles and the base body, at least partially cohesive and / or adhesive bonds occur. The main body has a circumferential direction relative to the central longitudinal axis and the first and second bristles alternate in the circumferential direction. As a result, when applying the cosmetic, which usually takes place with a rotary movement of the cosmetic brush, at least in each case a section with the first bristle type and a section with the second bristle type involved.

In the cosmetic brush according to the invention thus two different types of bristles are provided. While the first bristles are in particular integrally formed on the base body, this does not apply to the second bristles. Here no integral connection with the body is provided. The first bristles and the second bristles are preferably produced in different process steps. They have different behavior. Each bristle type can be specifically optimized for one or more usage characteristics. Thus, for example, it is possible for the first bristles, which are firmly and integrally connected to the main body, to be designed for a particularly good and efficient initial treatment of the eyelashes or hair, which initially are completely disordered. In the context of this initial treatment is in particular a division of partial bundles of eyelashes or hair. By contrast, the softer second bristles are designed, for example, for a particularly good and efficient subsequent treatment of the eyelashes or hair already divided or partially bundled during the initial treatment. In the context of the subsequent treatment, in particular a further separation and separation of the eyelashes or hair and a combing of the eyelashes or hair and a application or an application of the cosmetic to the eyelashes or hair takes place. Thus, the brush according to the invention is characterized by improved performance compared to the prior art.

Advantageous embodiments of the cosmetic brush according to the invention emerge from the features of the claims dependent on claim 1.

According to the invention, the second bristles are non-positively or positively connected to the base body. This results in a secure connection between the main body and the second bristles over the entire service life of the cosmetic brush.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the main body has a main body wall provided with through holes, and the second bristles are integrally connected to one another by means of a connecting body arranged on a side of the main body wall facing away from the bristles and extend through the through holes. This results in a particularly good cohesion between the second bristles with each other. The second bristles are in particular by means of in the prior art according to the EP 1 507 640 B1 manufactured manufacturing process described. They shot through the body wall.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the second bristles consist of a second plastic material, which differs from the first plastic material. This second plastic material is softer or more flexible than the first plastic material and / or has a lower Shore hardness than the first plastic material. By a different choice of material, the properties of the two bristle types can be particularly efficiently to the respective task, namely z. B. an optimal separation effect for the first bristles on the one hand and an optimal separation, combing and application behavior for the second bristles on the other hand, adapt. In order to apply the cosmetic as well as possible, it is advantageous if the second bristles are made softer or more flexible than the first bristles. This can be achieved on the one hand by a correspondingly softer material, but also by a suitable shaping and dimensioning. Preferably, the second bristles so z. B. even narrower or thinner dimensions than the first bristles. Even then, the second bristles have a softer and more flexible behavior than the first bristles. The first bristles are thus in particular hard bristles, while the second bristles are soft bristles. In particular, in each case a Shore hardness of A 40 to A 90 or of D 30 to D 80 is suitable for the material of both bristle types, the Shore hardness of the material of the first bristles is preferably greater than the Shore hardness of the material of the second bristles.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the second bristles each have an outward, d. h., In particular in the direction of its free bristle end out, tapered conical shape with a cone angle of 1 ° to 5 °, in particular of about 4 °. This conical shape of the second bristles is favorable for the application behavior. On the other hand, such bristle geometries can be more easily produced by the injection molding process described above. The conical shape of the bristles facilitates removal from the injection mold. In one embodiment of the cosmetic brush as a mascara brush, the second bristles have, in particular, a base diameter in the range between 0.2 mm and 0.8 mm, the base diameter being the diameter of the (second) bristles at the transition to the main body. In one embodiment of the cosmetic brush as a brush for hair coloring the base diameter of the second bristles, however, is preferably in the range between 0.5 mm and 2 mm.

According to the invention, the base body has a central longitudinal axis and a circumferential direction relative to the central longitudinal axis and the first and second bristles alternate at least in sections in the circumferential direction. In the direction of the longitudinal axis, however, preferably only one of the two types of bristles is always present at a circumferential angle position. This ensures that during the application of the cosmetic, which usually takes place by means of a rotary movement of the cosmetic brush, at least one section with the first bristle type and a section with the second bristle type is involved, so that both specifically optimized properties come into effect.

According to a further preferred embodiment, peripheral portions are provided, within which only first or second bristles are arranged, wherein one of these peripheral portions in the circumferential direction via a Circumference angular range between 25 ° and 90 °, in particular between 30 ° and 60 °, extends. With such an extent in the circumferential direction, it is ensured that, as explained in the preceding section when applying the cosmetic by rotating the cosmetic brush both types of bristles are involved, preferably first the particular harder first bristles and then the particular softer second bristles.

According to a further preferred embodiment, first and second bristles adjoin one another at least partially directly. In particular, juxtaposed first and second bristles may touch each other. It may also come to an at least partial positive connection between these immediately adjacent first and second bristles. This ensures that the area in which there is a good compartment effect due to one of the two types of bristles, passes directly into the adjacent area with the other bristle type, in which there is a particularly good separation, combing and application behavior.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the first bristles have the same basic geometric shape as the second bristles. Then in each case specifically optimized performance properties are achieved in each case due to a different choice of material and / or due to a different dimensioning for each of the two types of bristles. In particular, the first bristles can each have an outward, d. h., In particular in the direction of their free bristle end down, have tapered conical shape. In the event that both types of bristles have the same basic conical shape, the first bristles have, in particular, a base diameter that is 0.2 mm larger than that of the second bristles.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the first bristles have a lower bristle density in the direction of the longitudinal axis than the second bristles. Due to the advantageous higher Axial bristle density of the second bristles results in the desired higher separating and separating effect compared to the first bristles, which cause in particular only a partial bundling of the eyelashes or hair. In addition, the higher axial bristle density of the second bristles also results in that the cosmetic to be applied can be applied very well and preferably only to a single eyelash or a single hair.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the first bristles have a different geometric shape than the second bristles. As already mentioned above, the geometric shape is also a parameter by means of which the specific properties can be set in a targeted manner.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the first bristles widen outwards in each case, d. h., In the direction of their free bristle end it comes in particular to a widening. Preferably, the first bristles have a circular sector-shaped cross-section. This ensures that the first bristles on the outer envelope in the bristle portion of the cosmetic brush, in particular tangentially continue to extend, as is the case with classic bristles with a cylindrical or conical geometry. This has a favorable effect on the initial compartment behavior, ie on the initial compartmentalization of partial bundles of the eyelashes or hair to be treated.

The same applies to a further preferred embodiment, in which the first bristles each have a rectangular cross-section.

Both in the embodiment provided with kreisringsektorförmigem as well as in the rectangular cross-section of the first bristles, the first bristles each have the shape of a disc which tapers upwards, ie towards the free bristle edge, in particular pointed and whose flat side normal are oriented substantially in the axial direction , At the base, ie at the transition point to the base body, these disc-shaped second bristles have a Axial base width, which is in a mascara brush, in particular in the range between 0.4 mm and 1 mm and a brush for hair dyeing in particular in the range between 0.7 mm and 2.2 mm.

Furthermore, it can also be provided according to a preferred embodiment that the first bristles, at least in a plane which is spanned by a longitudinal axis of the base body and by a radial direction of the base body, towards the outside, i. especially in the direction of their free bristle end, tapering. This ensures that the first bristles engage in a rotary movement of the cosmetic brush with a tapered cross-sectional profile in the hair or eyelashes to be combed. This is favorable for a good compartmenting, combing and separating action.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the first bristles each have a stepped surface. This can cause a curl effect, in which the eyelashes or the hair are bent by turning off the cosmetic brush upwards.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the first bristles each have a through hole or in each case at its free outer edge a particular circular sector-shaped or V-shaped edge recess. The through hole and the edge recess can then each as a reservoir for the applied cosmetic, so z. As mascara or hair dye, serve. This cosmetic also has a certain lubricating or lubricating effect and thus promotes the division of partial bundles during the first treatment step.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the first bristles differ in their geometric shape or in their geometric dimensions at least partially from each other. As a result, depending on the starting point of the cosmetic brush seen in the circumferential direction, different performance characteristics can be achieved. In particular, can be in this way in the rotation of the cosmetic brush and a Increase a certain effect, for example, bring about a compartmenting or separating or combing effect. This may initially be low, in order then to increase with increasing angle of rotation of the cosmetic brush.

The abovementioned preferred embodiments can in particular also be provided in any desired combination with one another as variants of the cosmetic brush according to the invention.

Further features, advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. It shows: Fig. 1 to 3 A first embodiment of a cosmetic brush with two different bristle types in a perspective view ( Fig. 1 ), in a cross-sectional representation ( Fig. 2 ) and a partial page view ( Fig. 3 ), where in Fig. 2 the cross section II - II according to Fig. 1 is shown 4 and 5 : a second embodiment of a cosmetic brush with two different bristle types in a plan view from the front and in a perspective view of the front part, 6 and 7 3 shows a third embodiment of a cosmetic brush with two different bristle types in a front view and in a perspective view of the front part, 8 and 9 a fourth embodiment of a cosmetic brush with two different bristle types in a plan view from the front and in a perspective view, Fig. 10 : A fifth embodiment of a cosmetic brush with two different types of bristles in a plan view from the front, Fig. 11 a sixth embodiment of a cosmetic brush with two different bristle types in a plan view from the front; FIGS. 12 and 13 A seventh embodiment of a cosmetic brush with two different bristle types in a plan view from the front and in a perspective view, FIGS. 14 and 15 : An eighth embodiment of a cosmetic brush with two different bristle types in a plan view from the front and in a perspective Partial view, and Fig. 16 : A ninth embodiment of a cosmetic brush with two different bristle types in a plan view from the front.

Corresponding parts are in the Fig. 1 to 16 provided with the same reference numerals.

In Fig. 1 to 3 an embodiment of a cosmetic brush 1 in the form of a mascara brush is shown. It is designed as a plastic injection molded part with a round cross-sectional geometry. The sprayed cosmetic brush 1 has as a main component a bristle portion 2 and an axially formed thereon stem extension 3, which both extend in the direction of a central longitudinal axis 4. On the stem approach 3 is an in Fig. 1 to 3 not shown handle part of the cosmetic brush 1 attachable. The bristle portion 2 comprises a central body 5, which is formed substantially as a hollow cylinder and in particular is integrally connected to the handle neck 3. On an outer peripheral surface of this hollow cylindrical body 5, a plurality of first and second bristles 6 and 7 are arranged. The main body 5 serves as a carrier for these first and second bristles 6 and 7, which respectively protrude radially outward from the main body 5.

The first bristles 6 are each integrally formed on the outer peripheral surface of the main body 5, that is integrally connected to the base body 5. They are designed as outwardly tapered discs, each having a circular sector-shaped shape and alternate in the circumferential direction in each case with one of the second bristles 7 from. They extend in the circumferential direction over a circumferential angle α, which in the embodiment shown according to Fig. 1 to 3 40 °. The first bristles 6 are made of the same plastic material as this main body 5. As in particular from the side view Fig. 3 it can be seen, run the first bristles 6 in a longitudinal sectional plane through the central longitudinal axis 4 and a radial direction is spanned, pointed. In a section perpendicular to the tangential direction, these bristles 6 thus have a cross-sectional area which tapers to a free bristle edge 8 of the respective first bristle 6.

The second bristles 7 are differently connected to the main body 5 as the first bristles 6. Here is a particular non-positive and positive connection is provided, which is due to the two-stage injection molding process used for the production, which in the EP 1 507 640 B1 is described results. The second bristles 7 extend through through-holes formed in the wall of the hollow cylindrical base body 5 and have a conical conical shape which is pointed to the respective free bristle end or ends with a slight rounding. The second bristles 7 are integrally connected to each other as a result of this manufacturing process by means of a connecting strand 9 extending in the interior of the main body 5 in the direction of the central longitudinal axis 4. The connecting strand 9 and the second bristles 7 are made of the same plastic material, which differs from that of the main body 5 and the first bristles 6.

The sprayed cosmetic brush 1 is made in two parts within the bristle section 2. The first component is formed by the main body 5 with the integrally formed first bristles 6. The second component is formed by the connecting strand 9 with the second bristles 7 also integrally formed thereon. The main body 5 and the connecting strand 9 directly adjoin one another, in particular in the region of the inner cavity of the main body 5. In the border region, due to the mentioned production process, at least partially cohesive and / or adhesive bonds between the two constituents will also occur.

Due to the different material and / or the different shaping and / or dimensioning, the first bristles 6 are less elastic than the second bristles 7. The first bristles 6 are hard bristles, the second bristles 7 soft bristles. Due to the harder material provided in particular for the first bristles 6 and thus the main body 5, a sufficient mechanical stability and load-bearing capacity of the main body 5 and of the cosmetic brush 1 as a whole are ensured at the same time.

The first and second bristles 6 and 7 are arranged in a total of four longitudinal rows, which extend in the direction of the central longitudinal axis 4, one behind the other. In the tangential direction, the mutually adjacent rows of a bristle type, ie either the first bristles 6 or the second bristles 7, each offset by 90 ° to each other. In principle, another row number, for example, three rows of two types of bristles, possible, which are then also distributed evenly over the circumference, ie with a circumferential angle offset of 120 °, are arranged (see at least partially Fig. 4 to 7 ).

At the in Fig. 1 to 3 In the embodiment shown, the second bristles 7 of a common row are arranged on a longitudinal web 10 extending in the direction of the central longitudinal axis 4 on the outer peripheral surface of the main body 5. Similar longitudinal webs can also be provided for the first bristles 6 (see, for example, exemplary embodiments according to FIG 4 to 13 ). These longitudinal webs 10 cause a so-called. Curl effect, ie, that the eyelashes abut during the rotary combing movement of these longitudinal webs 10 and thereby bent upwards.

In the further embodiments described below, two different types of bristles are likewise provided in each case, which are connected in different ways with the respective base body 5 and have a different elasticity or hardness. The one bristle type has a one-piece connection, whereas for the second bristle type due to the mentioned Injection molding production process again results in a positive and / or positive connection.

At the in 4 and 5 shown embodiment of a further cosmetic brush 11, the first bristles 6 similar to the cosmetic brush 1 in a cross section perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis 4 has a cross-sectional area in the form of a circular ring sector. However, in this embodiment, as already mentioned, only three circumferentially offset rows of these first bristles 6 are provided. In addition, as already mentioned, the first bristles 6 are placed on a longitudinal web 12, which produces an integral connection with the hollow-cylindrical main body 5. In contrast to the cosmetic brush 1, however, three rows of the bristles 7 are arranged between two rows of the first bristles 6 in the cosmetic brush 11. They form a peripheral portion 13, within which only second bristles 7 are provided.

In 6 and 7 an embodiment of another cosmetic brush 14 is shown. The main difference to the cosmetic brushes 1 and 11 according to Fig. 1 to 5 exists in the geometric shape of the first bristles 15. They have in the cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis 4, a rectangular cross-sectional area.

Further modifications of the integrally formed on the main body 5 first bristles emerge from the below with reference to the Fig. 8 to 16 described embodiments.

In the embodiment of a cosmetic brush 16 according to 8 and 9 are first bristles 17 are provided, which in turn have a circular sector-shaped cross-sectional area. But these first bristles 17 are additionally provided in each case with a through hole 18.

In the 10 and 11 shown further embodiments of cosmetic brushes 19 and 20 have annular sector-shaped first bristles 21 and 22, which are provided at their respective free bristle edge 8 with a recess 23 and 24 respectively. The recess 23 of the first bristles 21 of the cosmetic brush 19 are formed in a circular sector (see Fig. 10 ), whereas the recesses 24 of the first bristles 22 of the cosmetic brush 20 (see Fig. 11 ) have a V-shape.

At the in FIGS. 12 and 13 shown embodiment of another cosmetic brush 25 first bristles 26 have a stepped surface. In this embodiment, each first bristle 26 has a step 27 on each flat side. In principle, however, other embodiments are possible in which the flat sides have a plurality of such steps 27.

This in FIGS. 14 and 15 shown another embodiment of a cosmetic brush 28 differs from the previously described embodiments, characterized in that first bristles 29 are provided which extend in the circumferential direction to directly adjacent to the respective adjacent second bristles 7. Thus, each of the first bristles 29 is in direct contact with the two circumferentially adjacent second bristles 7. At the contact point, the outer geometry of the respective second bristles 7 is adapted to that of the narrow end faces of the adjacent first bristles 29. The second bristles 7 extend in the radial direction further outward than the first bristles 29.

The same applies to the further embodiment of a cosmetic brush 30 according to Fig. 16 , Here, first bristles 31 and 32 are provided, which have a different geometric extent. In particular, the first bristles 31 extend radially outward a bit farther than the first bristles 32.

In the foregoing, substantially modifications of the first bristles have been described. Deviations from the conical basic shape are also possible for the second bristles 7. You can, for example, have a contoured, in particular provided with edges cross-sectional area. But are preferred variants in which the cross-sectional area decreases, the farther this cross-section is the outer approaching radial bristle end. These bristle geometries also run out pointed towards the free bristle end.

Claims (17)

1. A cosmetic brush, in particular a mascara brush or hair colouring brush, comprising a bristle section (2) having a basic body (5) and a plurality of bristles (7, 6; 15; 17; 21; 22; 26; 29; 31, 32) that project from the basic body (5) and with which a cosmetic can be applied, wherein a part of the bristles forms first bristles (6; 15; 17; 21; 22; 26; 29; 31, 32) that are integrally connected to the basic body (5), wherein the first bristles (6; 15; 17; 21; 22; 26; 29; 31, 32) consist of the same first plastic material as the basic body (5), and another part of the bristles forms second bristles (7) that are connected to the basic body (5) in a different way from the first bristles (6; 15; 17; 21; 22; 26; 29; 31, 32), wherein the second bristles (7) are integrally connected to each other by means of a connecting member (9) extending inside the basic body (5) in the direction of the central longitudinal axis (4) thereof, and the basic body (5) and the connecting member (9) are immediately adjacent to each other in the region of the internal cavity of the basic body (5), and the second bristles (7) are softer than the first bristles (6; 15; 17; 21; 22; 26; 29; 31, 32), wherein the basic body (5) has a circumferential direction relative to the central longitudinal axis (4), and the first and second bristles alternate in the circumferential direction, so that at least one section with the first bristle type, respectively, and one section with the second bristle type, respectively, participate in the application of the cosmetic, which usually takes place by means of a rotary movement of the cosmetic brush, characterised in that, at least in part, material-bond and/or adhering connections also occur between the connecting member (9) and the basic body (5) in the border area between the connecting member (9) of the second bristles (7) and the basic body (5).
2. The cosmetic brush according to claim 1, characterised in that the second bristles (7) are connected to the basic body (5) by non-positive or positive fit.
3. The cosmetic brush according to claim 1, characterised in that the basic body (5) has a basic body wall provided with through holes, and the second bristles (7) are integrally connected to each other by means of the connecting member (9) disposed on the side of the basic body wall facing away from the second bristles (7), and extend through the through holes.
4. The cosmetic brush according to claim 1, characterised in that the second bristles (7) consist of a second plastic material that differs from the first plastic material and is, in particular, softer than the first plastic material.
5. The cosmetic brush according to claim 1, characterised in that the second bristles (7) each have an outwardly sharply tapered conical shape with a cone angle of 1° to 5°, in particular of approximately 4°.
6. The cosmetic brush according to claim 6, characterised in that circumferential sections (13) are provided, within which exclusively first or second bristles (7, 6; 15; 17; 21; 22; 26; 29; 31, 32) are disposed, wherein one of these circumferential sections (13) extends in the circumferential direction over an circumferential angle range (α) of between 25° and 90°, particularly between 30° and 60°.
7. The cosmetic brush according to claim 1, characterised in that the first and second bristles (7, 29; 31, 32) immediately adjoin each other at least in parts.
8. The cosmetic brush according to claim 1, characterised in that the first bristles (6; 15; 17; 21; 22; 26; 29; 31, 32) have a lower bristle density in the direction of the central longitudinal axis (4) than the second bristles (7).
9. The cosmetic brush according to claim 1, characterised in that the first bristles have the same basic geometric shape as the second bristles (7).
10. The cosmetic brush according to claim 1, characterised in that the first bristles (6; 15; 17; 21; 22; 26; 29; 31, 32) have a different geometric design from the second bristles (7).
11. The cosmetic brush according to claim 1, characterised in that the first bristles (6; 17; 21; 22; 26; 29; 31, 32) respectively widen towards the outside and, in particular, have a cross section in the shape of a circular ring sector.
12. The cosmetic brush according to claim 1, characterised in that the first bristles (15) each have a rectangular cross section.
13. The cosmetic brush according to claim 1, characterised in that the first bristles (6; 15; 17; 21; 22; 26; 29; 31, 32) are outwardly sharply tapered in a plane that is spanned by the central longitudinal axis (4) of the basic body (5) and a radial direction of the basic body (5).
14. The cosmetic brush according to claim 1, characterised in that the first bristles (26) each have a stepped surface.
15. The cosmetic brush according to claim 1, characterised in that the first bristles (17) each have a through bore (18).
16. The cosmetic brush according to claim 1, characterised in that the first bristles (21; 22) each have at their free outer edge (8) an, in particular, circular sector-shaped or V-shaped recess (23; 24).
17. The cosmetic brush according to claim 1, characterised in that the first bristles (31, 32) differ from each other in their geometric shapes or in their geometric dimensions at least in part.

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