Cosmetic brush unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a cosmetic brush unit ( 1 ) comprising a bristle carrier ( 2 ) in the form of at least two twisted wires ( 3 ) holding a plurality of filaments ( 4 ) clamped so that each filament ( 4 ) forms outwardly extending bristles ( 4 ) constituting a brush, characterised in that the bristles ( 4 ) preferably have a diameter in the range 0.076 mm to 0.3556 mm and wherein the bristles ( 4 ) are divided into several preferably at least four bristle fingers ( 5 ) in the region of their free distal ends.

1 . A cosmetic brush unit ( 1 ) comprising a bristle carrier ( 2 ) in the form of at least two twisted wires ( 3 ) holding a plurality of filaments ( 4 ) clamped so that each filament ( 4 ) forms outwardly extending bristles ( 4 ) constituting a brush, characterised in that the bristles ( 4 ) preferably have a diameter in the range 0.076 mm to 0.3556 mm and wherein the bristles ( 4 ) are divided into several preferably at least four bristle fingers ( 5 ) in the region of their free distal ends. 
     
     
         2 . Cosmetic brush unit ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the said several bristle fingers ( 5 ) represent at least 10%, preferably at least 20%, of the total length of the bristle ( 4 ) to which they belong. 
     
     
         3 . Cosmetic brush unit ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 or 2 , characterised in that the at least four bristle fingers ( 5 ) above their root ( 7 ), separated from each other by substantially V-shaped gaps ( 11 ), extend side by side in diverging direc-tions. 
     
     
         4 . Cosmetic brush unit ( 1 ) according to  one of the preceding claims , characterised in that the bristle fingers ( 5 ) are grouped around a free central space ( 6 ), the cross-section of which increases continuously in the direction of the distal end. 
     
     
         5 . Cosmetic brush unit ( 1 ) according to  any one of the preceding claims , characterised in that each bristle finger ( 5 ) is stiff enough to substantially return to its initial position after being deflected by a more than insignificant load. 
     
     
         6 . A cosmetic brush unit ( 1 ) according to  any one of the preceding claims , characterised in that each bristle finger ( 5 ) carries at its distal end a beard ( 8 ) of a plurality of essentially slack strands. 
     
     
         7 . Cosmetic brush unit ( 1 ) according to  any one of the preceding claims , characterised in that each bristle finger ( 5 ) has a substantially rounded, mostly continuously convex in circumferential direction, mantle surface portion ( 9 ) and two substantially non-circular, preferably substantially straight, mantle surface portions ( 10 ) which meet along a line and diverge towards the substantially rounded mantle surface portion ( 9 ), said mantle surface portions ( 9 ,  10 ) preferably together forming the entire mantle surface. 
     
     
         8 . Cosmetic brush unit ( 1 ) according to  one of the preceding claims , characterised in that the bristles ( 4 ) consist of or contain a polymeric material, ideally polyamide. 
     
     
         9 . Cosmetic brush unit ( 1 ) according to  one of the preceding claims , characterised in that the bristles ( 4 ) have a Shore D hardness in the range from 55 to 85 and more preferred in the range from 70 to 85. 
     
     
         10 . A cosmetic brush unit ( 1 ) according to  any one of the preceding claims , characterised in that said at least two twisted wires ( 3 ) are made of stainless steel and wherein each of said at least two twisted wires ( 3 ) has a diameter in the range of 0.40 mm to 0.90 mm. 
     
     
         11 . Cosmetic applicator with a handle and a cosmetic brush unit ( 1 ) according to  one of the preceding claims , characterised in that the handle is preferably adjoined by a grip, usually in the form of a closure cap for a cosmetic storage container. 
     
     
         12 . A method of manufacturing the cosmetic brush unit ( 1 ) according to any one of  claims 1 to 10 , comprising the steps of: a) arranging the bristles ( 4 ) between at least two wires ( 3 ), b) twisting the at least two wires ( 3 ) so that a part of the bristles ( 4 ) is held between the at least two twisted wires ( 3 ), c) cutting the tips of the bristles ( 4 )  10  with a knife so that each tip of the bristles ( 4 ) is di-vided into at least four cross-sectional segments separated from each other in the region of their free ends and forming at least four bristle fingers ( 5 ).