Mascara brush with curving bristle portion

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 as well as for curling eyelashes.

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 the succession of turns, the 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) the envelope having a cross-section, in a plane perpendicular to the rectilinear axis, which comprises at least one planar region and at least one concave region forming a point between the at least one planar region and the at least one concave region.   
   
   
       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 the succession of turns, the 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) the envelope comprising a generally parallelogram-like shape with two opposing planar slopes and two opposing concave slopes, each of the slopes extending along the rectilinear axis from the proximal end to the distal end of the array such that a narrow ridge is formed where each planar region meets a concave region at an acute angle.   
   
   
       3 . A mascara brush as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the envelope tapers distally toward the core at least adjacent the distal end of the array. 
   
   
       4 . A mascara brush comprising:
 (a) a core;   (b) an array of bristles attached to and extending along the core, each bristle having a free tip, such that the array defines at least two slopes, the at least two slopes meeting along a ridge, wherein the at least two slopes form an angle of less than 60 degrees along the ridge.   
   
   
       5 . The mascara brush of  claim 4  wherein the at least two slopes forming an angle of less than 60 degrees along the ridge comprise a planar slope and a concave slope. 
   
   
       6 . A method of applying mascara to a user's lashes wherein the user:
 (a) applies mascara to a mascara brush,   (b) selects a planar slope or a concave slope of the mascara brush, and   (c) runs the selected slope of the mascara brush through the user's lashes.   
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein the user selects a concave slope of the mascara brush to apply a heavy load of mascara to the user's lashes. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein the user selects a planar slope of the mascara brush to apply a light load of mascara to the user's lashes. 
   
   
       9 . A method of combing a user's lashes wherein the user runs a narrow ridge of a mascara brush through the user's lashes so as to separate the user's lashes. 
   
   
       10 . A method of curling a user's lashes wherein the user pushes a concave slope of a mascara brush against the lashes such that the lashes are bent to approximately follow the contour of the mascara brush's concave slope.