Apparatus for cleaning and drying cosmetic brushes

Abstract

Apparatus for cleaning and drying at least one plural cosmetic brush having a handle from which a plurality of bristles projects outward is provided. The apparatus includes a housing, a support member, a fan, and a wiping member. The support member is configured for supporting the handle of at least one cosmetic brush with the bristles of the brush located within a drying space into which a stream of air from the fan is directed. The wiping member sweeps across the bristles to cause them to separate, whereupon the air stream reaches between them blow any debris on the bristles off of the bristles and to dry any moisture or wetness on the bristles if there is any such moisture or wetness on the bristles.

We claim: 
     
         1 . Apparatus for cleaning a cosmetic brush, the cosmetic brush including a handle from which a brush-head, comprising a plurality of bristles projects outward, the bristles having a free end, said apparatus comprising:
 a housing comprising a drying space   a support member configured for supporting the handle of at least one cosmetic brush therein, whereupon the bristles of the brush are located within said drying space;   a fan configured for introducing a stream of air into said drying space; and   a wiping member, said wiping member and said support member being configured to move with respect to each other to cause said wiping member to sweep across the bristles of the brush to cause the bristles to separate, whereupon air from said fan can reach between the bristles to blow any debris off of the bristles and to dry any moisture or wetness on the bristles if there is any such moisture or wetness on the bristles.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said wiping member comprises an oscillating member located adjacent said drying space and configured for sweeping across the bristles of the brush. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said wiping member comprises plural blades separated from one another by respective air gaps between said blades. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said wiping member is located within said stream of air. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said fan comprises a rotating member having plural vanes, said rotating member being mounted for rotation about an axis within a shroud to produce the stream of air. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said shroud includes an outlet opening through which said stream of air passes and wherein said wiping member is located over said outlet opening, whereupon said stream of air can flow through said air gaps between said blades. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said shroud is stationarily mounted within said housing and wherein said wiping member is mounted for movement with respect to said shroud, said wiping member being configured to be reciprocated by a motor to cause said wiping member to sweep said blades across the bristles of the brush. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said support member comprises plural openings, each of which is configured to receive and support a respective cosmetic brush therein. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said support member is pivotable from a loading/unloading position to a cleaning position and vice versa, said support member when in said loading/unloading position being oriented such that the handles of the brushes received within said plural openings extend parallel to said wiping member, said support member when in said cleaning position being oriented such that the handles of the brushes extend at an angle to said wiping member with the bristles of the brushes in engagement with said wiping member. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein each of said plural openings includes a periphery and a plurality of resilient fingers extending inward from said periphery. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus additionally comprising an openable/closable cover configured for extending over and covering said support member and said drying space. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said cover comprises a pair of cover sections, each of which is pivotably connected to said housing. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , additionally an actuator for initiating the operation of the apparatus to cause said fan and said wiping member to begin operation, and a timer for automatically turning off said fan and wiping member after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , additionally comprising a visual display member configured to provide an indication of the amount of time remaining before said time turns said fan and said wiping member off. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said housing includes a tray including a ridged member configured to receive a cleaning solution on said ridged member, whereupon the bristles of said brush may be wetted with the cleaning solution and rubbed across said ridged member to loosen any debris on said bristles, whereupon said brush can thereafter be mounted on said support member of said apparatus for cleaning. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said ridged member comprises a plurality of undulating ridges spaced adjacent one another. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said ridged member comprises a silicone pad.