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EP-3644788-B1 - BRUSH HEAD WITH RECESSED BRISTLES, BRUSH, METHOD OF MAKING AND METHOD OF USING SAME

EP3644788B1EP 3644788 B1EP3644788 B1EP 3644788B1EP-3644788-B1

Inventors

  • GODIN, SARINA
  • ALLEN, JENNIFER
  • SHOWN, JULIE

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20180501

Claims (12)

  1. A system for applying a solid material, comprising: a handle (120, 320) having a bottom; a brush head (100, 300) comprising an outer zone of bristles (130, 330) and an inner zone of recessed bristles (140, 340), defining a reservoir; wherein the inner zone of recessed bristles (140, 340) is convex in longitudinal cross section; the inner zone of recessed bristles (140, 340) is configured to retain a solid material for application to a surface; a highest point at a center of the convex bristles in the inner zone (140, 340) has a height that is from 6 mm below a highest height of the outer zone of bristles (130, 330) to 12 mm above the highest height of the outer zone of bristles (130, 330) and the inner zone of bristles (140, 340) has a greater pack density than that of the outer zone of bristles (130, 330); and a ring (310) having a first end and a second end and positioned around a circumference of the brush head (100, 300) at a lower end of the brush head to secure the bristles; and wherein the ring (310) is positioned within the handle (120, 320) in facing engagement with the handle (120, 320), and the brush head (100, 300) extends outwardly from the lower end of the brush head (100, 300) and the first end of the ring (310); wherein the ring (310) extends within the handle (120, 320) and has a length that is less than a length of the handle (120, 320), and wherein the second end of the ring (310) reaches the bottom of the handle (120, 320).
  2. The system of claim 1, wherein the inner zone of recessed bristles (140, 340) is rounded in longitudinal cross section.
  3. The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer zone of bristles (130, 330) has a flat surface defined by tips of the bristles; or, wherein the outer zone of bristles (130, 330) comprises an outwardly tapered configuration.
  4. The system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a circumferential shape of the outer zone of bristles (130, 330) in a transverse cross sectional view has a generally circular shape; optionally, wherein a circumferential shape of the inner zone of recessed bristles (140, 340) in a transverse cross sectional view has a generally circular shape.
  5. The system of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the highest point of the inner zone of recessed bristles (140, 340) is below the height of the outer zone of bristles (130, 330).
  6. The system of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the solid material is a powdered cosmetic.
  7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a weight (380) in the lower end of the handle (120, 320).
  8. A method of using a brush for applying a solid cosmetic, comprising: providing a brush head (100, 300) having an outer zone of bristles (130, 330) and an inner zone of recessed bristles (140, 340), defining a reservoir, wherein the inner zone of recessed bristles (140, 340) is convex in a longitudinal cross section; a highest point at a center of the convex bristles in the inner zone (140, 340) has a height that is from 6 mm below a highest height of the outer zone of bristles (130, 330) to 12 mm above the highest height of the outer zone of bristles (130, 330) and the inner zone of bristles (140, 340) has a greater pack density than that of the outer zone of bristles (130, 330); and having a ring (310) having a first end and a second end positioned around a circumference of the brush head (100, 300) at a lower end of the brush head to secure the bristles; and providing a handle (120, 320) having a bottom, and positioning the ring (310) within the handle (120, 320) in facing engagement with the handle (120, 320) so that the brush head (100, 300) extends outwardly from the first end of the ring (310) and the handle (120, 320), and the ring (310) extends within the handle (120, 320) and has a length that is less than a length of the handle (120, 320), and wherein the second end of the ring (310) reaches the bottom of the handle (120, 320); applying a solid cosmetic to the brush head (100, 300), such that the brush head (100, 300) retains the solid cosmetic; and transferring the solid cosmetic to a surface.
  9. The method of claim 8, wherein applying the solid cosmetic to the brush head (100, 300) comprises pressing the brush head (100, 300) into the cosmetic such that the cosmetic is held on top of and/or between the bristles of the inner zone of recessed bristles (140, 340); or, wherein transferring the cosmetic to a surface comprises pressing the brush head (100, 300) against the surface so as to place the cosmetic in contact with the surface; optionally, wherein pressing the brush head (100, 300) against a surface comprises moving the brush head (100, 300) in a circular motion or a sweeping motion on the surface.
  10. The method of claim 8 or 9, further comprising moving the outer zone of bristles (130, 330) against the surface so as to buff and/or smooth the cosmetic; or, wherein the cosmetic is a powdered cosmetic.
  11. A method of making a brush , comprising: providing bristles; arranging the bristles into an inner zone of recessed bristles (140, 340) and an outer zone of bristles (130, 330); forming a brush head (100, 300) comprising an outer zone of bristles (130, 330) and an inner zone of recessed bristles (140, 340), defining a reservoir, wherein the inner zone of recessed bristles (140, 340) is convex in longitudinal cross section; a highest point at a center of the convex bristles in the inner zone (140, 340) has a height that is from 6 mm below a highest height of the outer zone of bristles (130, 330) to 12 mm above the highest height of the outer zone of bristles (130, 330) and the inner zone of bristles (140, 340) has a greater pack density than that of the outer zone of bristles (130, 330); securing the bristles within a ring (310) having a first end and a second end and positioned around a circumference of the brush head (100, 300) at a lower end of the brush head (100, 300) to secure the bristles; providing a handle (120, 320) having a bottom; positioning the ring (310) within the handle (120, 320) in facing engagement with the handle (120, 320) so that the brush head (100, 300) extends outwardly from the handle (120, 320) and the first end of the ring (310), wherein the ring (310) extends within the handle (120, 320) and has a length that is less than a length of the handle (120, 320), and wherein the second end of the ring (310) reaches the bottom of the handle (120, 320).
  12. The method of claim 11, further comprising attaching the brush head (100, 300) to the handle (120, 320).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a Continuation-in-Part application of United States Patent Application No. 14/447,974, filed on July 31, 2014 entitled "Brush Head with Recessed Bristles, Brush, Method of Making and Method of Using Same," which is a Continuation-in-Part of United States Design Patent Application Serial No. 29/485,705, filed March 21, 2014; and the present application is also a Continuation-in-Part of United States Design Patent Application Serial No. 29/568,752, filed June 21, 2016, entitled "Brush Head Skirt" which is a continuation of United States Design Patent Application No. 29/517,382, filed February 12, 2015, entitled "Brush Head With Recessed Convex Bristles," which is a Continuation-in-Part of United States Patent Application No. 14/447,974, filed on July 31, 2014 entitled "Brush Head with Recessed Bristles, Brush, Method of Making and Method of Using Same," which is a Continuation-in-Part of United States Design Patent Application Serial No. 29/485,705, filed March 21, 2014, entitled "Brush Head with Recessed Bristles". BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention generally relates to the fields of brush heads, brushes, and methods of making and using the same. A wide variety of brush heads and brushes are used for a variety of purposes, inclusive of cleaning and application of materials to surfaces for industry, hobby, artistic and cosmetic purposes, to name a few. Although the number and type of brushes are varied, none have the attributes of the brush heads and brushes of the present invention, being a brush head and brush with a section of recessed bristles. None are known to have the physical and material application characteristics of the present invention. For example, US Patent No. D663,957 S, issued July 24, 2012 to Garcia, refers to a brush with an apparent gap in the central portion of the brush, wherein the brush is evidently used for hobby and fine art purposes. The central gap is apparently too small to accept a material, and if it were able to accept a material, the intent of the brush is apparently to smear or streak a material when applied to a surface for an artistic effect when in use for painting surfaces for a craft project or fine art projects, such as, for example, cups, plates, figurines, and paintings on canvas. A common problem with traditional brushes is the uneven application of makeup or other substance which may result in smears, streaks or an unnatural or undesirable look or appearance, particularly, but not limited, to the instance of the application of cosmetics. The present invention, however, is directed more towards preventing or reducing the appearance of such smears or streaks, but that need not be the case. Further, another problem with traditional brushes is the difficulty in retaining and applying solid materials, such as powdered cosmetics, among others. U.S. Patent No. 1,120,476, issued to Hansen, discloses a shaving brush with an outer and inner group of bristles, providing a spreading member and a powder retaining member. Hansen provides that the outer extremities of the inner bristles are disposed in the same general plan and parallel to the spreading extremities of the outer bristles. Other brushes provide only a single tuft or zone of bristles, such as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0089949 of Mink et al., which provides a shaving brush having synthetic bristles that are arranged in a tuft, having the appearance, texture and feel of badger fur and having antimicrobial properties. Further, U.S. Patent No. 5,195,546 issued to Cansler discloses a cosmetic brush for applying powder made from synthetic bristles with a gentle random and irregular wavy configuration along the lengths of the bristles. Cosmetic brushes are also known from the U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0265039. A system for applying a solid material in accordance with the preamble of claim 1 is shown in the following commercial video QVCtv: "bareMinerals Deluxe Original SPF 15 Foundation w/ Brush on QVC",, 21 November 2016 (2016-11-21), page 1, XP054980507,Retrieved from the Internet:URL:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIxBOcow6Sw Traditional brushes may not readily pick-up and hold a solid or powdered material, such as a powdered cosmetic. As a result, the solid material may fall from the brush head during transfer of the solid material to a surface, creating a mess and inhibiting application of the solid material to the surface. Additionally, traditional brushes, including cosmetic brushes, may not be well adapted for applying a solid material, such as a powdered cosmetic, to a large surface area, such as a person's neck or shoulders. As a result, it may be time consuming to fully apply the solid material to the desired surface and the user may be required to repeatedly collect solid cosmetic on the brush and then apply the cosmetic to the surface in order to fully cover the surface. BRIE