Flocked wire mascara brush

Abstract

A mascara brush and a method of making a mascara brush having a twisted wire core with flocking applied to the core, and bristles retained and gripped by the twisted wires of the core. Flocking may be adhered to just the brush portion of the twisted wire or the entire twisted wire. The flocking is formed from fiber strands having a diameter of about 0.0002 inch to about 0.0020 inch; and a length of between about 0.020 inch to about 0.150 inch, preferably about 0.040 inch to about 0.080 inch, and most preferably about 0.045 inch to about 0.060 inch. A plurality of radially extending bristles is retained between the wires of the core. The bristles have a diameter of about 0.003 inch to about 0.012 inch and a bristle density of about 7 bristles per turn to about 50 bristles per turn, and more preferably, a bristle density of about 7 bristles per turn to about 25 bristles per turn.

1 . A brush for applying mascara to eyelashes, comprising: 
 a twisted wire core, said core having a brush end and a handle end, said brush end of said core having flocking adhered thereto; and    a plurality of radially extending bristles retained by said twisted wire core.    
   
   
       2 . A brush in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said flocking comprises fiber strands having a length of about 0.020 inch to about 0.150 inch.  
   
   
       3 . A brush in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said flocking comprises fiber strands having a length of about 0.040 inch to about 0.080 inch.  
   
   
       4 . A brush in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said flocking comprises fiber strands having a length of about 0.045 inch to about 0.060 inch.  
   
   
       5 . A brush in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said flocking comprises fiber strands made from a materials selected from the group of nylon, rayon, and polyester.  
   
   
       6 . A brush in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said bristles have a diameter of about 0.003 inch to about 0.012 inch.  
   
   
       7 . A brush in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said bristles have a bristle density of about 7 bristles per turn to about 50 bristles per turn.  
   
   
       8 . A brush in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said bristles have a bristle density of about 7 bristles per turn to about 25 bristles per turn.  
   
   
       9 . A brush for applying mascara to eyelashes, comprising: 
 a twisted wire core, said core having a brush end and a handle end, said brush end of said core having flocking adhered thereto, said flocking being formed from fiber strands having a length of about 0.020 inch to about 0.150 inch; and    a plurality of radially extending bristles retained by said twisted wire core, said bristles having a diameter of about 0.003 inch to about 0.012 inch and a bristle density of about 7 bristles per turn to about 50 bristles per turn.    
   
   
       10 . A brush in accordance with  claim 9  wherein said flocking comprises fiber strands having a length of about 0.040 inch to about 0.080 inch.  
   
   
       11 . A brush in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said flocking comprises fiber strands having a length of about 0.045 inch to about 0.060 inch.  
   
   
       12 . A brush in accordance with  claim 9  wherein said bristles have a bristle density of about 7 bristles per turn to about 25 bristles per turn.  
   
   
       13 . A method for making a brush for applying mascara to eyelashes, comprising: 
 applying adhesive to at least a portion of a wire;    adhering flocking to said portion of said wire by exposing the adhesive to flocking;    forming the wire into a U-shape having two leg segments;    placing a plurality of bristles between the two leg segments of the U-shape wire, at least some of said bristles being placed along said portion of said wire having flocking adhered thereto;    twisting the wire to retain the bristles in the twisted wire.    
   
   
       14 . A method in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said flocking comprises fiber strands having a length of about 0.020 inch to about 0.150 inch.  
   
   
       15 . A method in accordance with  claim 14  wherein said flocking comprises fiber strands having a length of about 0.040 inch to about 0.080 inch.  
   
   
       16 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  wherein said flocking comprises fiber strands having a length of about 0.045 inch to about 0.060 inch.  
   
   
       17 . A method in accordance with  claim 14  wherein said bristles have a diameter of about 0.003 inch to about 0.012 inch.  
   
   
       18 . A method in accordance with  claim 17  wherein said bristles have a bristle density of about 7 bristles per turn to about 50 bristles per turn.  
   
   
       19 . A method in accordance with  claim 18  wherein said bristles have a bristle density of about 7 bristles per turn to about 25 bristles per turn.  
   
   
       20 . A method in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said portion of said wire where said flocking is adhered contains all of the bristles retained in the twisted wire.  
   
   
       21 . A method in accordance with  claim 20  wherein said wire has a length, and said flocking is adhered along the entire length of said wire.  
   
   
       22 . A brush in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said bristles are solid or fully or partially hollow, and have cross sectional shapes which are circular, non-circular, oval, square, rectangular, or polygonal.  
   
   
       23 . A brush in accordance with  claim 9  wherein said bristles are solid or fully or partially hollow, and have cross sectional shapes which are circular, non-circular, oval, square, rectangular, or polygonal.