Mascara brush with visibly distinct functional portions

Abstract

A brush for applying mascara or the like, having a cross-sectional bristle array with two visibly distinct portions for respectively performing different mascara-applying and combing functions.

1 . A mascara brush including:
 (a) an elongated wire core having two runs of wire helically twisted together about a rectilinear axis forming a succession of turns, and   (b) an array of bristles projecting outwardly around said succession of turns, said array including, in each turn, a plurality of bristles each clamped between the runs of wire and having opposed free tips extending radially therefrom, the array having a proximal end and a distal end spaced apart along the rectilinear axis and the tips of the bristles of the array defining a notional envelope,   wherein the improvement comprises:   (c) said envelope having a cross-section, in a plane perpendicular to said rectilinear axis, which consists essentially of a generally semicircular portion and a narrow portion projecting from said axis in a direction opposite to the semicircular portion.   
   
   
       2 . A mascara brush including:
 (a) an elongated wire core having two runs of wire helically twisted together about a rectilinear axis forming a succession of turns, and   (b) an array of bristles projecting outwardly around said succession of turns, said array including, in each turn, a plurality of bristles each clamped between the runs of wire and having opposed free tips extending radially therefrom, the array having a proximal end and a distal end spaced apart along the rectilinear axis and the tips of the bristles of the array defining a notional envelope,   wherein the improvement comprises:   (c) said envelope having a shape which consists essentially of a generally semi-cylindrical portion and a ridge, both extending along said rectilinear axis from the proximal end to the distal end of the array, the ridge projecting radially with respect to the axis in a direction away from the semi-cylindrical portion and having a width substantially smaller than the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the semi-cylindrical portion.   
   
   
       3 . A mascara brush as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the envelope tapers distally toward the core at least adjacent the distal end of the array. 
   
   
       4 . A method of applying mascara using the mascara brush of  claim 2 , comprising the steps of:
 applying mascara to the array of bristles;   applying mascara from the semi-cylindrical portion of the array to a user's lashes; and   combing the applied mascara on the user's lashes with the ridge of the array.   
   
   
       5 . A method of manufacturing a mascara brush comprising the steps of:
 twisting two runs of wire together to clamp a plurality of bristles between the runs and thereby form an elongated core from which the bristles form an outwardly projecting array, and   trimming the array of bristles to form the array into a semi-cylindrical portion and a ridge.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the trimming step further comprises the step of:
 trimming the array of bristles to form the array into a cylindrical shape.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  in which the cylindrical shape further comprises a tapered portion.