Cosmetic applicator

Abstract

An applicator for applying a composition such as a cosmetic, a medicinal or a personal care composition. The applicator comprising an applicator head comprising at least two types of bristles distributed along a longitudinal axis of a core in a manner that density of at least one type of bristles decreases gradually from one end to another end of the core to provide a gradual change in color/tone from one end to another end of the core and/or to create multiple bristle zones for enabling multiple performance characteristics like separation/combing, volumising, curling and lengthening of eyelashes to be achieved with the cosmetic applicator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cosmetic applicator comprising:
 an applicator head;   wherein the applicator head comprises a twisted wire core with a proximal end and a distal end;   wherein the twisted wire core carries at least a first bristle type and a second bristle type;   wherein a bristle density of the first bristle type decreases from the proximal end towards the distal end of the twisted wire core and a bristle density of the second bristle type decreases from the distal end towards the proximal end of the twisted wire core;   wherein a number of the first bristle type reduces after every successive “n” turn(s) of the twisted wire core from the proximal end towards the distal end of the twisted wire core;   wherein a number of the second bristle type reduces after every successive “n” turn(s) of the twisted wire core from the distal end towards the proximal end of the twisted wire core; and   wherein the “n” designates number of turns of the twisted wire core and 1≦“n”≦3.   
     
     
         2 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the first bristle type extends up to at least 60% of a length of the twisted wire core of the applicator head from the proximal end towards the distal end; and wherein the second bristle type extends up to at least 60% of the length of the twisted wire core of the applicator head from the distal end towards the proximal end. 
     
     
         3 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the first bristle type and the second bristle type form a first bristle zone, a second bristle zone and a third bristle zone along a longitudinal axis of the twisted wire core; and wherein the first bristle zone comprises the first bristle type only, the second bristle zone comprises a combination of the first bristle type and the second bristle type, and the third bristle zone comprises the second bristle type only. 
     
     
         4 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the first bristle type vary from the second bristle type in color. 
     
     
         5 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the second bristle type is of a darker shade as compared to a shade of the first bristle type and wherein the applicator head has an overall effect of gradual change in color, from the darker shade to a lighter shade from the distal end to the proximal end of the twisted wire core. 
     
     
         6 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the second bristle type is of a lighter shade as compared to a shade of the first bristle type and wherein the applicator head has an overall effect of gradual change in color, from the lighter shade to a darker shade from the distal end to the proximal end of the twisted wire core. 
     
     
         7 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the first bristle type and the second bristle type vary in one or more properties selected from a group consisting of material, shape, length, cross-section, diameter, thickness, length, color and hardness. 
     
     
         8 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first bristle type and the second bristle type comprises hollow fibers. 
     
     
         9 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first bristle type and the second bristle type comprises solid fibers. 
     
     
         10 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the applicator head is attached to a distal end of a stem and a cap or a gripping member is attached to a proximal end of the stem. 
     
     
         11 . A cosmetic applicator comprising:
 an applicator head and a stem;   the applicator head is attached to a distal end of the stem;   wherein the applicator head comprises a core with a proximal end and a distal end;   wherein the core carries at least a first bristle type and a second bristle type;   wherein the first bristle type extends throughout a length of the core between the proximal end and the distal end of the core such that a density of the first bristle type remains fixed throughout the length of the core; and   wherein a density of the second bristle type progressively decreases at least up to 60% of the length of the core either from the distal end towards the proximal end or from the proximal end towards the distal end core of the applicator head.   
     
     
         12 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 11 , wherein the core is a molded core. 
     
     
         13 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 11 , wherein the core is a twisted wire core. 
     
     
         14 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 11 , wherein the first bristle type vary from the second bristle type in color and wherein the applicator head has an overall effect of gradual change in color, from darker to lighter from the distal end to the proximal end or from the proximal end to the distal end of the core. 
     
     
         15 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 11 , wherein the first bristle type and the second bristle type form a first bristle zone, a second bristle zone and a third bristle zone along a longitudinal axis of the core; and wherein the density of the first bristle type and the second bristle type is substantially equal in the second bristle zone; the density of the first bristle type is more as compared to the density of the second bristle type in one of the first bristle zone or the third bristle zone. 
     
     
         16 . A cosmetic applicator comprising:
 an applicator head;   wherein the applicator head comprises a core carrying at least a first bristle type and a second bristle type;   wherein a segment of the core comprising the first bristle type and the second bristle type extends at least 50% of a length of the core; and   wherein a bristle density of the first bristle type decreases from a proximal end towards a distal end of the segment of the core and a bristle density of the second bristle type decreases from the distal end towards the proximal end of the segment of the core.   
     
     
         17 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 16  wherein the first bristle type and the second bristle type form a first bristle zone, a second bristle zone and a third bristle zone along a longitudinal axis of the core; and wherein the density of the second bristle type is more as compared to the density of the first bristle type in the first bristle zone, the density of the first bristle type and the second bristle type is substantially equal in the second bristle zone, and the density of the first bristle type is significantly more as compared to the density of the second bristle type in the third bristle zone. 
     
     
         18 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 17  wherein the first bristle type vary from the second bristle type in color. 
     
     
         19 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 18  wherein the segment has an overall effect of gradual change in color, from a darker shade to a lighter shade from the distal end to the proximal end or from the proximal end to the distal end. 
     
     
         20 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 16  wherein the core is a molded core or a twisted wire core.