Mascara applicator with fan tip

Abstract

A method and apparatus for applying mascara includes a brush formed from a twisted wire core connected to a handle, with a first plurality of bristles extending radially from the core along a substantial portion thereof. The end of the wire core is bent, in some cases, approximately one hundred and eighty degrees, such that a group of bristles fan out from the distal end of the brush, preferably along a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core. The bent portion of the core includes between one and eight, and preferably one and four, turns of the twisted wire.

1 . A mascara package, comprising:
 a container;   a mascara product contained in said container;   a cap for closing said container;   a elongated member extending from said cap, said member having a core, said core having a distal end;   a first plurality of bristles radially extending from said core; and   a second plurality of bristles fanning out from the distal end of said elongated member.   
   
   
       2 . The mascara package of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the distal end of said core has a end section that is bent over onto itself.   
   
   
       3 . The mascara package of  claim 2 , wherein the end section is bent over about one hundred and eighty degrees. 
   
   
       4 . The mascara package of  claim 3 , wherein said core comprises one or more twisted wires. 
   
   
       5 . The mascara package of  claim 4 , wherein said bent portion comprises between one and eight turns of said twisted wire. 
   
   
       6 . The mascara package of  claim 5 , wherein said bent portion comprises between one and four turns of said twisted wire. 
   
   
       7 . The mascara package of  claims 1 ,  2 , or  3 ,  claim 1 , wherein:
 said core has a longitudinal axis; and   said second plurality of bristles fan out along a plane substantially parallel to said axis.   
   
   
       8 . The mascara package of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said core has a longitudinal axis; and   said second plurality of bristles fan out along a plane extending between and including planes which extend parallel to, and perpendicular to, the said longitudinal axis.   
   
   
       9 . A mascara package, comprising:
 a container;   a mascara product contained in said container;   a cap for closing said container;   a rod extending from said cap;   a twisted wire core affixed to said rod, said twisted wire core retaining a first plurality of bristles which extend radially from said core and having a end section that is bent over; and   a second plurality of bristles fanning out from a distal end of said twisted wire core.   
   
   
       10 . The mascara package of  claim 9 , wherein:
 said twisted wire core has a longitudinal axis; and   said second plurality of bristles fan out along a plane substantially parallel to said axis.   
   
   
       11 . The mascara package of  claim 10 , wherein the end section is bent over about one hundred and eighty degrees. 
   
   
       12 . The mascara package of  claim 9 , wherein the second plurality of bristles fan out in a 180 degree arc. 
   
   
       13 . The mascara package of  claim 9 , wherein said bent portion comprises between one and eight turns of said twisted wire. 
   
   
       14 . The mascara package of  claim 13 , wherein said bent portion comprises between one and four turns of said twisted wire. 
   
   
       15 . The mascara package of  claim 9 , wherein:
 said twisted wire core has a longitudinal axis; and   said second plurality of bristles fan out along a plane extending between and including planes which extend parallel to, and perpendicular to, the said longitudinal axis.   
   
   
       16 . A method for applying mascara to eyelashes, the method comprising:
 providing a mascara container having mascara therein;   providing a mascara brush having a twisted wire core retaining a first plurality of bristles which extend radially from said core and having a end section that is bent over; and a second plurality of bristles fanning out from a distal end of said twisted wire core   inserting the mascara brush into the mascara container to load mascara on the mascara brush;   applying mascara loaded onto the first plurality of bristles to eyelashes;   applying mascara loaded onto the second plurality of bristles to eyelashes.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein:
 said twisted wire core has a longitudinal axis; and   said second plurality of bristles fan out along a plane substantially parallel to said axis.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the end section is bent over about one hundred and eighty degrees. 
   
   
       19 . The mascara package of  claim 18 , wherein the second plurality of bristles fan out in a 180 degree arc. 
   
   
       20 . The mascara package of  claim 16 , wherein said bent portion comprises between one and eight turns of said twisted wire. 
   
   
       21 . The mascara package of  claim 20 , wherein said bent portion comprises between one and four turns of said twisted wire. 
   
   
       22 . A method of manufacturing a mascara package, comprising:
 forming a wire into approximately a U-shape having two leg segments;   positioning a plurality of bristles between the two leg segments of the U-shaped wire;   twisting the wire to produce a twisted wire core having a plurality of bristles extending radially therefrom;   bending an end of the twisted wire core to produce a fan of bristles fanning out therefrom; and   mounting the twisted wire core to a rod and cap assembly;   mounting the rod and cap assembly to a mascara container.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the core has a longitudinal axis; and   the step of bending an end of the core comprises producing a fan of bristles fanning out along a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the step of bending an end of the wire core comprises bending the end approximately one hundred and eighty degrees. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the step of bending comprises bending a portion of the core comprising between one and four turns. 
   
   
       26 . The mascara package of  claim 2  wherein:
 said core has a longitudinal axis; and   said second plurality of bristles fan out along a plane substantially parallel to said axis.   
   
   
       27 . The mascara package of  claim 3  wherein:
 said core has a longitudinal axis; and   said second plurality of bristles fan out along a plane substantially parallel to said axis.   
   
   
       28 . The mascara package of  claim 2  wherein:
 said core has a longitudinal axis; and   said second plurality of bristles fan out along a plane extending between and including planes which extend parallel to, and perpendicular to, the said longitudinal axis.