Mascara brush with antibacterial bristle fibers

Abstract

An improved mascara brush has core containing bristles having an antibacterial agent. The antibacterial agent will preferably be elemental or ionic silver; alternatively, the antibacterial agent is another form of silver or a chemical antibacterial agent. The mascara brush may be fabricated with all or only a portion of its bristles being of antibacterial character.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A brush for applying mascara to eyelashes, comprising: 
 a twisted wire core holding a plurality of radially extending bristles to form a brush at an end of the core, at least some of said bristles being provided with an antibacterial agent.    
     
     
         2 . A brush in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the antibacterial agent comprises silver.  
     
     
         3 . A brush in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the silver is provided in elemental or ionic form.  
     
     
         4 . A brush in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the silver is coated onto an entire exterior surface of said bristles or a portion of said exterior surface of said bristles.  
     
     
         5 . A brush in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the silver is embedded in an entire body of said bristles or a portion of said body of said bristles.  
     
     
         6 . A brush in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the silver comprises an inorganic ceramic filled with silver ions.  
     
     
         7 . A brush in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the silver comprises elemental silver.  
     
     
         8 . A brush in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the silver comprises a silver compound.  
     
     
         9 . A brush in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the antibacterial agent comprises a chemical antibacterial compound.  
     
     
         10 . A brush in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the antibacterial agent is coated onto an entire exterior surface of said bristles or a portion of said exterior surface of said bristles.  
     
     
         11 . A brush in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the antibacterial agent is embedded in an entire body of said bristles or a portion of said body of said bristles.  
     
     
         12 . A brush for applying mascara to eyelashes, comprising: 
 a bristle holding core holding a plurality of radially extending bristles to form a brush at an end of the core, at least some of said bristles being provided with an antibacterial agent.    
     
     
         13 . A brush in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the antibacterial agent comprises silver.  
     
     
         14 . A brush in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the silver is provided in elemental or ionic form.  
     
     
         15 . A brush in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the antibacterial agent is coated onto an entire exterior surface of said bristles or a portion of said exterior surface of said bristles.  
     
     
         16 . A brush in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the antibacterial agent is embedded in an entire body of said bristles or a portion of said body of said bristles.  
     
     
         17 . A brush in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the silver comprises an inorganic ceramic filled with silver ions.  
     
     
         18 . A brush in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the silver comprises elemental silver.  
     
     
         19 . A brush in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the silver comprises a silver compound.  
     
     
         20 . A brush in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the antibacterial agent comprises a chemical antibacterial compound.  
     
     
         21 . A brush for applying mascara to eyelashes, comprising: 
 a twisted wire core holding a plurality of radially extending bristles to form a brush at an end of the core, at least some of said bristles being provided with an elemental or ionic silver.    
     
     
         22 . A brush in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the silver is coated onto an entire exterior surface of said bristles or a portion of said exterior surface of said bristles.  
     
     
         23 . A brush in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the silver is embedded in an entire body of said bristles or a portion of said body of said bristles.  
     
     
         24 . A brush in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the silver comprises an inorganic ceramic filled with silver ions.