Twisted cosmetic brush

Abstract

A cosmetic brush that includes a plurality of polymer bristles that extend from a polymer core in a radial direction, wherein at least a portion of the core is twisted and bristles in the twisted portion are arranged in one or more columns disposed in one or more spiral paths that extend along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the core is presented.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cosmetic brush comprising:
 a polymer core extending along a longitudinal axis;   a plurality of polymer bristles extending from the polymer core in a radial direction, wherein at least a portion of the core is twisted about the longitudinal axis to define a twisted portion and wherein bristles in the twisted portion are arranged in one or more columns disposed in one or more spiral or helical paths about at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the core.   
     
     
         2 . The cosmetic brush of  claim 1  wherein the twist of the core is permanently fixed. 
     
     
         3 . The cosmetic brush of  claim 2  wherein the configuration of each spiral or helical path is permanently fixed. 
     
     
         4 . The cosmetic brush of  claim 1  wherein the polymer bristles are integrally molded with the polymer core. 
     
     
         5 . The cosmetic brush of  claim 1  wherein each column of bristles in the twisted portion of the core is disposed in a separate spiral or helical path that extends about at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the core. 
     
     
         6 . The cosmetic brush of  claim 5  wherein none of the spiral or helical paths intersect with one another. 
     
     
         7 . The cosmetic brush of  claim 1  wherein the core is twisted at a twist angle between 1 and 360 degrees such that a lower most bristle along each spiral or helical path is offset by the twist angle from an upper most bristle of the respective spiral or helical path. 
     
     
         8 . The cosmetic brush of  claim 7  wherein the twist angle is 90 degrees 
     
     
         9 . The cosmetic brush of  claim 7  wherein the twist angle is 180 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The cosmetic brush of  claim 7  wherein the twist angle is 270 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The cosmetic brush of  claim 1  further comprising one or more columns of bristles disposed in one or more straight paths that extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core. 
     
     
         12 . The cosmetic brush of  claim 11  wherein none of the straight paths intersect. 
     
     
         13 . The cosmetic brush of  claim 1  wherein one end of the core defines a stem. 
     
     
         14 . The cosmetic brush of  claim 13  wherein the stem is configured for connection to a handle. 
     
     
         15 . The cosmetic brush of  claim 1  wherein the bristles are manufacturing from a thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         16 . The cosmetic brush of  claim 1  wherein the bristles and the core are manufactured from the same material. 
     
     
         17 . The cosmetic brush of  claim 1  wherein the brush is configured for use as a mascara brush. 
     
     
         18 . The cosmetic brush of  claim 1  wherein the brush is configured for use as a hair coloring brush. 
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing a cosmetic brush comprising the steps of:
 defining a polymer core extending along a longitudinal axis;   defining a plurality of polymer bristles extending from the polymer core in a radial direction and arranged in a plurality of columns extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; and   twisting at least a portion of the core about the longitudinal axis such that each column of bristles along the twisted portion of the core extends along a spiral or helical path about the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the twisting step permanently deforms the core such that the spiral or helical paths are fixed.