US20110030717A1

US20110030717A1 - Multi-Lobe, Grooved Cosmetic Applicator Brush

Info

Publication number: US20110030717A1
Application number: US12/853,186
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond P. LeGassie; Eugene Klepadlo
Original assignee: HCP Packaging USA Inc
Current assignee: HCP Packaging USA Inc
Priority date: 2009-08-07
Filing date: 2010-08-09
Publication date: 2011-02-10
Also published as: EP2461718A4; WO2011017715A3; EP2461718A2; WO2011017715A2

Abstract

A cosmetic applicator brush with a core and bristles retained by the core to form a brush head. The brush head has a cross section with first and second lobes separated by first and second feed grooves. Each feed groove has first and second legs that terminate in a base portion, and each lobe has a first and second application surfaces formed in part by legs of adjacent feed grooves and an arcuate peripheral application surface between and contiguous with the first and second application surfaces. The application surfaces of the lobes can be arcuate, and the surfaces can cooperate to define a smooth bulbous surface. The lobes can have widths of approximately 65 percent of the effective diameter between central portions of the peripheral application surfaces, and the feed grooves can be separated by a distance approximately 10.5 percent of the effective diameter of the brush head.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to brush constructions. More particularly, disclosed and protected herein is a cosmetic applicator brush with multiple lobes separated by interspersed grooves to permit the retention and application of makeup product in an efficient and advantageous manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cosmetic dispensers for mascara and other liquid or pasty cosmetics commonly are founded on two structures: a container or bottle and a cap that retains a rod or wand for being dipped into a volume of cosmetic retained within the container. A brush or other structure capable of retrieving cosmetic from the open inner volume of the bottle and applying the cosmetic to a body surface is retained at the distal end of the wand for dipping into the volume of cosmetic. Consequently, when the brush is dipped in the cosmetic, it becomes loaded with the liquid or pasty substance. The wand and brush are then withdrawn from the container, typically after passing through a wiper for removing excess cosmetic from the brush. With this, the user is able to undertake a controlled application of the cosmetic. The cosmetic dispenser can be sealed during periods of nonuse by a threaded engagement between the cap and a neck of the bottle.
In general, mascara brushes have remained fundamentally similar to the twisted wire arrangement disclosed at least as early as 1964 in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,214,782. In a typical twisted wire arrangement, a plurality of individual bristles are retained between a metal wire that is folded over and then twisted to form a helical core. The bristles are clamped between the wires and are flared radially outwardly from the core to produce a brush with a substantially round cross-section.
During application of the cosmetic, a user will typically hold the cap with one hand and the bottle in the other. By repeated dipping into the volume of cosmetic material, the brush can be employed in the successful application of the cosmetic. Mascara is commonly applied in such a manner as are other liquid, semi-liquid, pasty and other cosmetics, including, by way of example and not limitation, lip gloss, concealer, and eye shadow.
However, despite variations in the shape and material composition of the individual bristles, wire, and the contour of the brush, the cosmetic applicators of the prior art have been substantially limited in their ability to adapt to different application goals. For example, with a continuous, round cross section, the typical cosmetic applicator brush will normally be evenly loaded with cosmetic about its circumference and will present a substantially identical application surface without regard to the orientation of the brush. With this, the user cannot vary the characteristics of the brush in its application of cosmetic.
It will also be appreciated that a fundamental goal of most cosmetic applicators is to retain an increased volume of cosmetic material to minimize the number of times one must dip the wand into the volume of cosmetic to achieve a given application of makeup. Brushes with round cross sections, although able to retain cosmetic between the individual bristles, provide no location or area in which larger volumes of cosmetic material can be retained within or on a cosmetic brush to enable fewer insertions of the cosmetic brush into the container.
Cosmetic brushes have been disclosed, such as in French Patent Nos. 2,605,505 and 2,715,038, where one or more concave notches are formed in a brush head formed by bristles extending radially from a central core. The notches ostensibly hold some of the cosmetic product for application to a person's eyelashes or otherwise. Furthermore, the notches seek to enable a user to vary the application of the makeup, such as with more or less product being applied or with a greater or lesser lengthening effect. U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,994 to Gueret sought to improve over these constructions with the disclosure of a brush that has at least one notch with at least two secant faces that define a trough line. The two faces are asymmetric and form an angle at their intersection of between 60 and 180 degrees.
However, even the assertedly improved brush constructions of these patents suffer from a number of disadvantages and shortcomings. For example, the severe angles formed by the notches and secant faces would be likely to cause the application of cosmetic to vary too rapidly per degree of angular disposition of the brush head relative to the user's hair. Consequently, the application of cosmetic would in reality be difficult to control with precision. Moreover, the maintenance of the organized shape of the brush head with the sharp secant faces or severe notches may be difficult to maintain as the brush head is passed into and out of a cosmetic bottle and applied to a user's hair.
With a knowledge of the state of the art as summarized above, the present inventors have appreciated that, despite the abovedescribed and further disclosures of previous inventors, it would be advantageous to provide a cosmetic applicator that provides multiple performance characteristics in a single applicator while also retaining an enhanced volume of cosmetic material as a result of a dipping operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present inventors set forth with the fundamental object of providing a cosmetic applicator brush that provides multiple cosmetic applicator performance characteristics in a single brush.
A more particular object of embodiments of the invention is to provide a cosmetic applicator brush where performance and product application characteristics can be varied smoothly and progressively.
A further object of embodiments of the invention is to provide a cosmetic applicator brush that enables the achievement of a finished appearance expeditiously with as few introductions of the applicator brush into the mascara reservoir as possible.
A related object of the invention is to provide a cosmetic applicator brush with multiple applicator lobes separated by interspersed feed grooves whereby volumes of cosmetic material can be retained in the applicator feed grooves for subsequent application and whereby multiple, varied surfaces are presented by the applicator brush bristles.
A related object of embodiments of the invention is to provide a cosmetic applicator brush that enables the optimal application of makeup, such as to eyelashes, so that they are optimally loaded and separated.
One will appreciate that the foregoing broadly outlines certain goals of the invention to enable a better understanding of the detailed description that follows and to instill a better appreciation of the inventors' contribution to the art. These and in all likelihood further objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious not only to one who reviews the present specification and drawings but also to those who have an opportunity to make use of an embodiment of the brush construction disclosed herein. However, it will be appreciated that, although the accomplishment of each of the foregoing objects in a single embodiment of the invention may be possible and indeed preferred, not all embodiments will seek or need to accomplish each and every potential advantage and function. Nonetheless, all such embodiments should be considered within the scope of the present invention.
In carrying forth these objects, a basic embodiment of the invention essentially comprises a cosmetic applicator brush for providing multiple cosmetic applicator performance characteristics in a single brush. The brush is founded on an elongate, axially rectilinear applicator core that retains a plurality of bristles to form a brush head with a tip and a body portion. So retained, the bristles of the body portion define a brush head cross section.
In one embodiment, the brush head cross section has a first lobe and a second lobe. The first and second lobes are separated by first and second feed grooves, each feed groove with first and second legs that terminate in a base portion. The first lobe has a first application surface adjacent to the first feed groove that is formed in part by a leg of the first feed groove, a second application surface adjacent to the second feed groove that is formed in part by a leg of the second feed groove, and a peripheral application surface between and contiguous with the first and second application surfaces of the first lobe. Similarly, the second lobe has a first application surface adjacent to the first feed groove that is formed in part by a leg of the first feed groove, a second application surface adjacent to the second feed groove that is formed in part by a leg of the second feed groove, and a peripheral application surface between and contiguous with the first and second application surfaces of the second lobe.
While different types of cores are possible within the scope of the invention, embodiments of the applicator core can comprise two strands of metal wire twisted to form a helical core. In such a construction, the bristles can project radially from the core with their central portions disposed between the two strands of metal wire.
The first and second application surfaces of the first and second lobes can be arcuate at least adjacent to the respective peripheral application surfaces of the first and second lobes. Furthermore, the peripheral application surfaces of the first and second lobes can be arcuate. With this, the first application surface, the peripheral application surface, and the second application surface of each of the first and second lobes cooperate to define a smooth, substantially continuous bulbous surface. In particular constructions, the peripheral application surfaces of the first and second lobes can be substantially similar in radius and the first and second application surfaces of the first and second lobes can have portions of lesser radii of curvature than the radius of the peripheral application surfaces thereby facilitating the bulbous shape of the lobes. To permit the lobes to be used in adjusting the performance characteristics of the applicator brush smoothly and consistently, the first and second lobes can define substantially smooth cross sections devoid of sharp edges and sharp changes in direction entirely from the bases of the first and second feed grooves through the first application surfaces, to the peripheral surface portions, and through the second application surfaces. In an event, the first and second lobes can be substantially similar in cross-sectional shape and disposed in opposition with central portions disposed 180 degrees apart.
For preferred performance, the lobes can each have a width of approximately 65 percent of the effective diameter of the brush head defined as the distance between central portions of the peripheral application surfaces of the first and second lobes. Additionally, the base portions of the first and second feed grooves are disposed in general opposition and are separated by a distance approximately 10.5 percent of the effective diameter of the brush head. Still further, the base portions of the first and second feed grooves can preferably be separated by approximately 32 percent of the width of each lobe.
In other embodiments, the brush head cross section can again have multiple lobes substantially identical in cross-sectional shape. However, the lobes in such constructions can be separated by V-shaped feed grooves with each feed groove having first and second legs that terminate in a base portion. Each lobe can have a first application surface formed in part by a leg of an adjacent feed groove, a second application surface formed in part by a leg of a succeeding, adjacent feed groove, and an arcuate peripheral application surface between and contiguous with the first and second application surfaces. In one such example of the invention, there can be first, second, and third lobes 16, 18, and 52 separated by first, second, and third feed grooves 12, 14, and 54. The first, second, and third feed grooves 12, 14, and 54 and the first, second, and third lobes 16, 18, and 52 can be evenly spaced at 120 degree intervals, and the first and second application surfaces of the feed grooves 12, 14, and 54 can meet the peripheral application surfaces 28, 30, and 56 at sharp combing edges. In another example, there can be first, second, third and fourth lobes 16, 18, 52, and 58 separated by first, second, third and fourth feed grooves 12, 14, 54, and 60. The first, second, third, and fourth feed grooves 12, 14, 54, and 60 and the first, second, third, and fourth lobes 16, 18, 52, and 58 can be evenly spaced at 90 degree intervals, and the first and second application surfaces of the feed grooves 12, 14, 54, and 60 can again meet the peripheral application surfaces 28, 30, 56, and 62 at sharp combing edges.
One will appreciate that the foregoing discussion broadly outlines the more important goals and features of the invention to enable a better understanding of the detailed description that follows and to instill a better appreciation of the inventors' contribution to the art. Before any particular embodiment or aspect thereof is explained in detail, it must be made clear that the following details of construction and illustrations of inventive concepts are mere examples of the many possible manifestations of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be more completely understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of a cosmetic applicator brush according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the cosmetic applicator brush of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially sectioned view in side elevation of a cosmetic applicator brush according to the present invention retained by an applicator wand with a cosmetic bottle cap;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative cosmetic applicator brush as taught herein;

FIG. 5 is a view in front elevation of the cosmetic applicator brush of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view in side elevation of the cosmetic applicator brush of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another cosmetic applicator pursuant to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a view in front elevation of the cosmetic applicator brush of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a view in side elevation of the cosmetic applicator brush of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The cosmetic applicator brush disclosed herein can pursue a variety of embodiments within the scope of the invention. However, to ensure that one skilled in the art will be able to understand and, in appropriate cases, practice the invention, certain preferred embodiments of the broader invention revealed herein are described below and shown in the accompanying drawing figures.
In carrying forth the foregoing objects, an embodiment of a cosmetic applicator brush pursuant to the present invention is indicated generally at 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the depicted embodiment, the cosmetic applicator brush 10 is founded on two strands of metal wire that are twisted to form a helical, axially rectilinear core 34. The two strands of metal wire may be separate or formed by folding over a single strand of wire. Bristles 32 are retained to project radially from the helical core 34, such as by having central portions thereof disposed between the longitudinally communicating wire core 34. First and second end portions of the bristles 32 are flared generally radially or laterally therefrom. The bristles 32 are disposed from adjacent to a tip 50 of the cosmetic applicator brush 10 to a given position along the wire core 34 over a length of the cosmetic applicator brush 10. With this, the brush head is formed.
In practice, the wire core 34 and thus the bristles 32 forming the brush head will typically be retained by a wand 44 as shown in FIG. 3 for enabling a dipping into a cosmetic container (not shown) and for enabling the application of retained cosmetic to a desired location, such as to the eyelashes or eyebrows of a user. The base portion of the wire core 34 can be inserted into the distal end of the wand 44 and retained by any suitable method, such as by adhesive, heat welding, mechanical fasteners, molding, crimping, a combination thereof, or any other effective arrangement. The proximal end of the wand 44 has a threaded base cup 48 fixed thereto, such as by being integrally formed therewith. A cylindrical cap 46 matingly receives and retains the base cup 48. The threaded base cup 48 can threadedly engage a threaded neck of a cosmetic bottle (not shown) to seal the contents thereof.
The bristles 32 are disposed in a cross-sectional pattern having first and second bulbous lobes 16 and 18 separated by first and second feed grooves 12 and 14. More particularly, the first feed groove 12 is disposed between a first application surface 20 of the first lobe 16 and a first application surface 22 of the second lobe 18. The second feed groove 14 is disposed between a second application surface 24 of the first lobe 16 and a second application surface 26 of the second lobe 18. As best perceived by reference to FIG. 2, the bristles 32 of the brush head taper longitudinally toward the brush tip 50 in a frusto-conical manner.
In this case, the first and second feed grooves 12 and 14 and the first and second lobes 16 and 18 are substantially straight and communicate in parallel over substantially the entire length of the brush head of the cosmetic applicator brush 10. The first and second feed grooves 12 and 14 are evenly spaced 180 degrees apart and are substantially similar in cross-sectional shape but are disposed in opposition. Likewise, the first and second lobes 16 and 18 are evenly spaced at 180 degrees apart. The lobes 16 and 18 are substantially similar in cross-sectional shape while being disposed in opposition.
In this embodiment, the first and second feed grooves 12 and 14 are generally V-shaped or U-shaped with the legs of each feed groove 12 and 14 forming a portion of the first and second application surfaces 20, 22, 24, and 26 of the first and second lobes 16 and 18. The first and second lobes 16 and 18 have bulbous cross sections. The first and second lobes 16 and 18 thus have arcuate first application surfaces 20 and 22 to a first side thereof and arcuate second application surfaces 24 and 26 to a second side thereof. The first and second lobes 16 and 18 have peripheral surface portions 28 and 30 disposed in opposition. The peripheral surface portions 28 and 30 are substantially similar in radius such that they form portions of a hypothetical circumference. The first and second lobes 16 and 18 thus present substantially smooth profiles devoid of edges and sharp changes in direction from the bases of the first and second feed grooves 12 and 14 through the first application surfaces 20 and 22, to the peripheral surface portions 28 and 30, and through the second application surfaces 24 and 26.
The first and second application surfaces 20, 22, 24, and 26 are disposed inside of the hypothetical circumference to the bases of the first and second feed grooves 12 and 14. Particularly where the first and second feed grooves 12 and 14 are U-shaped, a reverse curve can be considered to be defined by a base of each groove 12 and 14 in combination each adjacent arcuate application surface 20, 22, 24, and 26.
The relative dimensions, orientations, and configurations of the first and second feed grooves 12 and 14 and the first and second lobes 16 and 18 could be varied within the scope of the invention except as it may be expressly limited to achieve desired performance goals. For example, the number of feed grooves 12 and 14 and lobes 16 and 18 could be varied as could the shape of each. Furthermore, the spacing of the feed grooves 12 and 14 and the lobes 16 and 18 could be other than even. Still further, the relative depths of the feed grooves 12 and 14 could be adjusted based on numerous factors, including the cosmetic substrate and to achieve desired performance characteristics. Even further still, the first feed groove 12 could differ in shape, depth, or otherwise from the second feed groove 14, and the first lobe 16 could differ in shape, size, and otherwise from the second lobe 18.
For optimal material retention and application, the first and second lobes 16 and 18 in the present embodiment have a width of approximately 65 percent of the diameter of the circumference along which the peripheral surface portions 28 and 30 are disposed. The base of the first and second feed grooves 12 and 14 each dips to approximately 10.5 percent of the diameter established by the circumference. The bases of the first and second feed grooves 12 and 14 are separated by approximately 32 percent of the width of the lobes 16 and 18.
The bristles 32 of the cosmetic applicator brush 10 can be formed from any suitable material or variety of materials and can have any cross-sectional configuration and end treatment, if any. For example, bristles 32 could be filamentary. Bristles 32 could have solid round cross sections, hollow cross sections, or non-round cross sections. Bristles 32 could be of any color or combination of colors, which could correlate or not correlate to the configuration and application purpose of the bristles 32. The feed grooves 12 and 14 and the first and second lobes 16 and 18 can be formed and shaped in any appropriate manner, including by one or more cutting processes, by initial formation, or by any other effective method or combination thereof.
Under this arrangement, the brush head of the cosmetic applicator brush 10 can be dipped into cosmetic material, which may be retained within a cosmetic bottle (not shown). With that, a volume of cosmetic will be retained on the bristles 32 of the brush head. Excess material is wiped from the bristles 32 by a wiper disposed within or adjacent to the neck of the bottle. Cosmetic material remaining on the bristles 32 of the brush head is thus removed from the open inner volume of the bottle for application to a desired location, such as to the eyelashes or eyebrows of a user.
Advantageously, by providing the separate and readily distinguished first and second application surfaces 20, 22, 24, and 26 and peripheral surface portions 28 and 30, the brush head of the cosmetic applicator provides multiple performance benefits. The surfaces and surface portions 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30 can be successively employed or employed in a desired sequence. Each surface and surface portion 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30 provides a fresh application surface and, potentially, a different material application characteristic. By way of example, the peripheral surface portions 28 and 30 could be used for the initial application of product, and the first and second application surfaces 20, 22, 24, and 26 of the lobes 16 and 18 could be employed to lift and curl a user's eyelashes.
By providing first and second feed grooves 12 and 14, a residual volume of cosmetic material can be retained therein for replenishing the first and second application surfaces 20, 22, 24, and 26 and, to a lesser extent, the peripheral surface portions 28 and 30. The improved loading thus provided by the first and second feed grooves 12 and 14 thereby enables improved product payoff on the user's eyelashes or elsewhere. With this, the cosmetic applicator brush 10 can permit enhanced volumizing and profile building as a result of the added product retained by the feed grooves 12 and 14. Furthermore, the unique application characteristics of the arcuate surfaces and surface portions 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30 can be employed in achieving combing and lengthening of a user's eyelashes or other desired location.
The arcuate edges presented by the lobes 16 and 18 is designed to produce a grabbing of the eyelashes or other hair as the hair is coated with cosmetic product. Residual product is supplied as necessary from the feed grooves 12 and 14, and the hair is ideally lengthened by frictional engagement with the bristles 32 forming the first and second lobes 16 and 18. The transitions between the first and second application surfaces 20, 22, 24, and 26 and the peripheral surface portions 28 and 30 is smooth, continuous, and devoid of sharp angles. With that, smooth and substantially continuous variations in product application characteristics can be achieved by an adjustment in angular orientation of the brush head relative to a user's hair. Similarly, the smooth transitions between the first and second application surfaces 20, 22, 24, and 26 and the peripheral surface portions 28 and 30 permit progressive access to additional cosmetic product disposed in the feed grooves 12 and 14. This is believed to represent an improvement over the severe angles presented by cosmetic brushes of the prior art.
Accordingly, the cosmetic applicator brush 10 thus described may be considered to be particularly advantageous for a plurality of reasons. However, as noted above, it is contemplated within the scope of the invention for the lobes and feed grooves to differ in number, in shape, and in relative disposition. One alternative example of the mascara applicator brush 10 is depicted in FIGS. 4 through 6. There, the cosmetic applicator brush 10 has first, second, and third lobes 16, 18, and 52 that are separated by first, second, and third feed grooves 12, 14, and 54.
The first, second, and third feed grooves 12, 14, and 54 in this embodiment are V-shaped and are defined by first and second application surfaces to opposed sides of the base of the V shape. The first and second application surfaces of the feed grooves 12, 14, and 54 are substantially straight surfaces when viewed in cross section as shown in FIG. 5. The first, second, and third feed grooves 12, 14, and 54 and the first, second, and third lobes 16, 18, and 52 are evenly spaced at 120 degree intervals and communicate longitudinally along the brush head in a substantially straight and parallel manner.
The first, second, and third lobes 16, 18, and 52 have arcuate peripheral surface portions 28, 30, and 56 that form portions of a hypothetical circumference, and the first and second application surfaces of the feed grooves 12, 14, and 54 project at a given angle inwardly of the circumference to a maximum depth of the feed grooves 12, 14, and 54. It will be noted that the width and depth of the feed grooves 12, 14, and 54 and the angles of the first and second application surfaces of the feed grooves 12, 14, and 54 can be varied based on, for example, the substrate employed and desired material application characteristics.
In the depicted embodiment, the first and second application surfaces of the feed grooves 12, 14, and 54 meet the peripheral surface portions 28, 30, and 56 at sharp combing edges. The sharp combing edges can thus provide additional material application characteristics. For example, the sharp combing edges can be used to define the user's hair and to smooth out and potentially remove any clumped cosmetic material.
A further embodiment of the mascara applicator brush 10 is shown in FIGS. 7 through 9. In this alternative mascara applicator brush 10, there are first, second, third and fourth lobes 16, 18, 52, and 58. The lobes 16, 18, 52, and 58 are separated by first, second, third and fourth feed grooves 12, 14, 54, and 60.
The first, second, third, and fourth feed grooves 12, 14, 54, and 60 are again V-shaped. Each has first and second legs that form first and second application surfaces to opposed sides of the base of the V shape. The first and second application surfaces of the feed grooves 12, 14, 54, and 60 present substantially straight surfaces when viewed in cross section as shown in FIG. 8. The first, second, third, and fourth feed grooves 12, 14, 54, and 60 and the first, second, third, and fourth lobes 16, 18, 52, and 58 are evenly spaced at 90 degree intervals and communicate longitudinally along the brush head in a substantially straight and parallel manner.
The first, second, third, and fourth lobes 16, 18, 52, and 58 have peripheral surface portions 28, 30, 56, and 62 that form arcuate portions of a hypothetical circumference. The first and second application surfaces of the feed grooves 12, 14, 54, and 60 project at a given angle inwardly of the circumference to a maximum depth of the feed grooves 12, 14, 54, and 60. Again, the width and depth of the feed grooves 12, 14, 54, and 60 and the angles of the first and second application surfaces of the feed grooves 12, 14, 54, and 60 can be varied based on, for example, the substrate employed and desired material application characteristics. The first and second application surfaces of the feed grooves 12, 14, 54, and 60 again meet the peripheral surface portions 28, 30, 56, and 62 at sharp combing edges thereby permitting additional material application characteristics as described hereinabove.
Various construction details and variations are depicted of the cosmetic applicator brush 10 are disclosed and depicted herein. It will be appreciated that any dimensions and angles shown in the various drawings, although potentially advantageous individually and in combination, are merely exemplary. Alternative constructions are possible and within the scope of the present invention.
With certain details and embodiments of the present invention for a cosmetic applicator brush disclosed, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that changes and additions could be made thereto without deviating from the spirit or scope thereof. This is particularly true when one bears in mind that the presently preferred embodiments merely exemplify the broader invention revealed herein. Accordingly, it will be clear that those with certain major features of the claimed invention in mind could craft embodiments that incorporate those major features while not incorporating all of the features included in the preferred embodiments.
Therefore, the following claims are intended to define the scope of protection to be afforded to the inventors. Those claims shall be deemed to include equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. It must be further noted that a plurality of the following claims may express certain elements as means for performing a specific function, at times without the recital of structure or material. As the law demands, these claims shall be construed to cover not only the corresponding structure and material expressly described in this specification but also all equivalents thereof that might be now known or hereafter discovered.

Claims

1. A cosmetic applicator brush for providing multiple cosmetic applicator performance characteristics in a single brush, the cosmetic applicator brush comprising:

an elongate, axially rectilinear applicator core;

a plurality of bristles retained by the applicator core wherein the applicator core and the plurality of bristles together form a brush head with a tip and a body portion and wherein the bristles of the body portion define a brush head cross section;

wherein the brush head cross section has a first lobe and a second lobe, wherein the first and second lobes are separated by first and second feed grooves, wherein each feed groove has first and second legs that terminate in a base portion, wherein the first lobe has a first application surface adjacent to the first feed groove and formed in part by a leg of the first feed groove, a second application surface adjacent to the second feed groove and formed in part by a leg of the second feed groove, and a peripheral application surface between and contiguous with the first and second application surfaces of the first lobe, and wherein the second lobe has a first application surface adjacent to the first feed groove and formed in part by a leg of the first feed groove, a second application surface adjacent to the second feed groove and formed in part by a leg of the second feed groove, and a peripheral application surface between and contiguous with the first and second application surfaces of the second lobe.

2. The cosmetic applicator of claim 1 wherein the applicator core comprises two strands of metal wire twisted to form a helical core.

3. The cosmetic applicator of claim 2 wherein the bristles project radially from the core and have central portions disposed between the two strands of metal wire.

4. The cosmetic applicator of claim 3 wherein the first and second application surfaces of the first and second lobes are arcuate at least adjacent to the respective peripheral application surfaces of the first and second lobes and wherein the peripheral application surfaces of the first and second lobes are arcuate.

5. The cosmetic applicator of claim 4 wherein the first and second lobes are disposed in opposition with central portions disposed 180 degrees apart.

6. The cosmetic applicator of claim 4 wherein the first application surface, the peripheral application surface, and the second application surface of each of the first and second lobes cooperate to define a smooth, substantially continuous bulbous surface.

7. The cosmetic applicator of claim 6 wherein the peripheral application surfaces of the first and second lobes are substantially similar in radius and wherein the first and second application surfaces of the first and second lobes have portions of lesser radii of curvature than the radius of the peripheral application surfaces.

8. The cosmetic applicator of claim 6 wherein the first and second lobes define substantially smooth cross sections devoid of sharp edges and sharp changes in direction from the bases of the first and second feed grooves through the first application surfaces, to the peripheral surface portions, and through the second application surfaces.

9. The cosmetic applicator of claim 1 wherein the first and second lobes are substantially similar in cross-sectional shape and wherein the first and second lobes are disposed in general opposition.

10. The cosmetic applicator of claim 9 wherein the brush head has an effective diameter between central portions of the peripheral application surfaces of the first and second lobes and wherein each lobe has a width of approximately 65 percent of the effective diameter.

11. The cosmetic applicator of claim 10 wherein the base portions of the first and second feed grooves are disposed in general opposition and are separated by a distance approximately 10.5 percent of the effective diameter of the brush head.

12. The cosmetic applicator of claim 10 wherein the base portions of the first and second feed grooves are separated by approximately 32 percent of the width of each lobe.

13. A cosmetic applicator brush for providing multiple cosmetic applicator performance characteristics in a single brush, the cosmetic applicator brush comprising:

an elongate, axially rectilinear applicator core;

a plurality of bristles retained by the applicator core whereby the applicator core and the plurality of bristles together form a brush head with a tip and a body portion wherein the bristles of the body portion define a brush head cross section;

wherein the brush head cross section has at least first and second lobes substantially identical in cross-sectional shape, wherein the first and second lobes are disposed in opposition and are separated by first and second feed grooves, wherein each feed groove has first and second legs that terminate in a base portion, wherein the first lobe has a first application surface adjacent to the first feed groove and formed in part by a leg of the first feed groove, a second application surface adjacent to the second feed groove and formed in part by a leg of the second feed groove, and an arcuate peripheral application surface between and contiguous with the first and second application surfaces of the first lobe, wherein the second lobe has a first application surface adjacent to the first feed groove and formed in part by a leg of the first feed groove, a second application surface adjacent to the second feed groove and formed in part by a leg of the second feed groove, and an arcuate peripheral application surface between and contiguous with the first and second application surfaces of the second lobe, and wherein the first and second application surfaces of the first and second lobes are arcuate adjacent to the respective peripheral application surfaces of the first and second lobes.

14. The cosmetic applicator of claim 13 wherein the first application surface, the peripheral application surface, and the second application surface of each of the first and second lobes cooperate to define a smooth, substantially continuous bulbous surface.

15. The cosmetic applicator of claim 13 wherein the first and second lobes define substantially smooth cross sections devoid of sharp edges and sharp changes in direction from the bases of the first and second feed grooves through the first application surfaces, to the peripheral surface portions, and through the second application surfaces.

16. The cosmetic applicator of claim 13 wherein the brush head has an effective diameter between central portions of the peripheral application surfaces of the first and second lobes and wherein each lobe has a width of approximately 65 percent of the effective diameter.

17. The cosmetic applicator of claim 13 wherein the brush head has an effective diameter between central portions of the peripheral application surfaces of the first and second lobes and wherein the base portions of the first and second feed grooves are disposed in general opposition and are separated by a distance approximately 10.5 percent of the effective diameter of the brush head and approximately 32 percent of a width of each lobe.

18. A cosmetic applicator brush for providing multiple cosmetic applicator performance characteristics in a single brush, the cosmetic applicator brush comprising:

an elongate, axially rectilinear applicator core;

wherein the brush head cross section has multiple lobes substantially identical in cross-sectional shape, wherein the lobes are separated by V-shaped feed grooves, wherein each feed groove has first and second legs that terminate in a base portion, wherein each lobe has a first application surface formed in part by a leg of an adjacent feed groove, a second application surface formed in part by a leg of a succeeding, adjacent feed groove, and an arcuate peripheral application surface between and contiguous with the first and second application surfaces.

19. The cosmetic applicator of claim 18 wherein there are first, second, and third lobes separated by first, second, and third feed grooves, wherein the first, second, and third feed grooves and the first, second, and third lobes are evenly spaced at 120 degree intervals, and wherein the first and second application surfaces of the feed grooves meet the peripheral application surfaces at sharp combing edges.

20. The cosmetic applicator of claim 18 wherein there are first, second, third and fourth lobes separated by first, second, third and fourth feed grooves, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth feed grooves and the first, second, third, and fourth lobes are evenly spaced at 90 degree intervals, and wherein the first and second application surfaces of the feed grooves meet the peripheral application surfaces at sharp combing edges.