Multi-Lobe, Grooved Cosmetic Applicator Brush

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.

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;   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 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.