Applicator brush with cylindrical ferrule and angled tip

Abstract

A brush for applying a flowable product to a work surface is provided having an elongate handle extending along a central axis and a cylindrical tuft of bristles, the bristles each having a terminal end and a base. A cylindrical ferrule is provided having a first end attached to the handle and a second end from which the tuft protrudes. The ferrule secures the handle to the base of the bristles and the ferrule and tuft cooperate with the central axis. The terminal ends of the bristles form an angled profile and define a generally elliptical plane.

1 . An applicator brush comprising: 
 an elongate handle extending along a central axis;    a cylindrical tuft of bristles, the bristles each having a proximate base end and a distal end, wherein the tuft comprises a blend of bristles of varying diameters in the range of 0.03 mm to 0.25 mm;    a cylindrical ferrule having a first end attached to the handle and a second end from which the tuft protrudes, the ferrule for enclosing the attachment of the handle to said proximate base end of the bristles; and    wherein substantially all of said distal ends terminate near a flat plane having an elliptical shaped periphery that meets the cylindrical tuft at a non-orthogonal angle.    
   
   
       2 . The brush according to  claim 1 , wherein the elliptical plane intersects the central axis at a non-orthogonal angle.  
   
   
       3 . The brush according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle of the elliptical plane with respect to the central axis is in the range of about 20° to about less than 90°.  
   
   
       4 . The brush according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle of the elliptical plane with respect to a central axis is in the range of about 40° to about 80°.  
   
   
       5 . The brush according to  claim 1 , wherein the ferrule includes an inwardly rolled flange at the second end for compressing the base of the tuft.  
   
   
       6 . The brush according to  claim 5 , wherein the flange provides an outer deflection surface for deflecting product away from the proximate base end of the bristles.  
   
   
       7 . The brush according to  claim 5 , wherein the flange comprises an end surface against which the bristles are compressed to prevent product from traveling toward the proximate base end of the bristles.  
   
   
       8 . The brush according to  claim 1 , wherein the flange compresses bristles on the order of tens of mm in diameter to a density on the order of 100's of bristles per square millimeter.  
   
   
       9 . The brush according to  claim 1 , wherein at least 95% of said bristle distal ends terminate within about 1.0 mm of the elliptical plane.  
   
   
       10 . The brush according to  claim 1 , wherein the bristles comprise antimicrobial synthetic fibers.  
   
   
       11 . The brush according to  claim 1 , wherein the bristles comprise natural fibers treated with an antimicrobial agent.  
   
   
       12 . The brush according to  claim 1 , wherein the ellipse includes a major axis and a minor axis, so that upon dragging the brush in the direction of the major axis, the bristles can spread out in the direction of the major axis without substantially spreading out in the direction of the minor axis.  
   
   
       13 . The brush according to  claim 1 , wherein the tuft comprises bristles of varying diameters in the range of about 0.07 mm to about 0.15 mm.  
   
   
       14 . The brush according to  claim 1 , wherein the longer bristles comprise a tip end of the brush, and wherein in use of the tip end provides a semi-circular contact patch.  
   
   
       15 . The brush of  claim 2 , wherein upon pivoting the brush to the non-orthogonal angle, substantially all of the distal ends form a planar contact patch.  
   
   
       16 . The brush of  claim 15 , wherein the planar contact patch is oval or elliptical.  
   
   
       17 . The brush of  claim 16 , wherein the major axis of the elliptical contact patch increases with greater bristle displacement.  
   
   
       18 . The brush according to  claim 17 , wherein the ellipse includes a major axis and a minor axis, so that upon dragging the brush in the direction of the major axis, the bristles can spread out in the direction of the major axis without substantially spreading out in the direction of the minor axis.  
   
   
       19 . The brush according to  claim 8 , wherein the flange compresses bristles of varying diameters on the order of tens of mm in diameter to a density on the order of 100's of bristles per square millimeter, wherein the non-orthogonal angle of the elliptical plane with respect to the central axis is in the range of about 40° to about 80°, and wherein upon pivoting the brush to the non-orthogonal angle, substantially all of the distal ends form a planar contact patch having an elliptical shape, and wherein substantially all of said bristles are disposed within about 1 mm of the planar contact patch.  
   
   
       20 . The brush according to  claim 1 , wherein a density of the bristles comprises at least about 150 bristles per square millimeter.