US20030002913A1

US20030002913A1 - Automatic applicator brush

Info

Publication number: US20030002913A1
Application number: US10/170,222
Authority: US
Inventors: Noah Amit
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-13
Filing date: 2002-06-13
Publication date: 2003-01-02

Abstract

A brush for automatic application of a personal care product. The brush is ergonomically shaped and has bristles of length, texture and arrangement appropriate for the particular application purpose. The product is contained in a reservoir within the casing of the brush and dispensed onto the bristles by a dispensing system positioned within the reservoir. The dispensing system may be a pump and ejection device, or a spring-operated stopper device. The reservoir may be supplied pre-filled or may be fillable from an external ampoule or standard commercial container in conjunction with a special adaptor.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to brushes for personal care, and more particularly to brushes incorporating a fluid dispenser.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Brushes of various kinds are used for purposes of hygiene and for aesthetic purposes. These include application of personal care products to the face, the hair and the nails.

Brushes designed for use on the skin of the face are used to ensure thorough cleaning to remove surface oils and accumulated debris, and are frequently recommended for use in preventing blocked pores, blackheads, acne and similar skin eruptions. Brushing is carried out after application of an appropriate skin cleanser or medicated lotion.

Individuals frequently need to clean beneath the fingernails. This is especially true in certain professions, in which either high levels of hygiene are required, such as the medical or catering professions, or in which the workers hands and nails are constantly brought into contact with dirt, such as gardening, garage work etc.

Simply washing the hands with water and detergent is not sufficient and the fingernails, and the area beneath the fingernails, which traps considerable amounts of dirt, must be cleaned separately. The simplest and most economical way to clean beneath the fingernails is by use of a detergent and suitably sized brush.

Brushes have a wide variety of uses in applying products to the hair, enabling even distribution of the product over not only the outer layers of the hair, but also the lower layers and the roots. Hair products which may be applied by use of a brush include dyes, medicated shampoos for prevention of dandruff and preparations for prevention of hair loss.

A small brush may also be used to apply polish remover to the fingernails.

In all of the above applications, a fluid must be first placed on the brush before the treatment process can begin, which is time consuming. An excessive amount of fluid may be inadvertently transferred to the brush, making the process uneconomical.

In addition, a container for the fluid is required and is either stored with the brush, which is space-consuming and contributes to a cluttered appearance of the area in which the brush and fluid are stored, or is stored elsewhere, in which case it must be located when required.

Furthermore, conventional brushes are frequently uncomfortable to hold and manipulate.

In the case of the conventional brush and detergent method for cleaning the nails, an additional disadvantage is that frequent washing with standard detergents causes drying of the nails and the skin beneath the nails, which contributes to flaking and breaking of the nail, and to irritation of the skin of the fingertips.

Therefore it would be desirable to provide a simple and economical brush for automatic application of a fluid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and provide a brush for automatic application of a personal care product.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an ergonomically-shaped, automatic applicator brush for use in applying a variety of personal care fluids. The bristles of the brush have a degree of stiffness, texture and length appropriate to the purpose for which the brush is intended to be used. The fluid is contained in a reservoir within the brush. A dispensing mechanism within the reservoir enables the fluid to be dispensed from the reservoir onto the bristles via an outlet on the lower casing of the brush.

According to a preferred embodiment, there is provided a device comprising an automatic applicator brush for applying a personal care fluid, wherein the brush comprises an ergonomically shaped outer casing; an outlet provided within a lower surface of said outer casing; a plurality of bristles positioned on an outer surface of said outer casing, surrounding said outlet; a dispensing system situated within said outer casing for dispensing said fluid onto said bristles through said outlet; and a reservoir for containing said fluid prior to dispensing onto said bristles by said dispensing system.

A feature of the present invention is that the device provides a quick, simple and economical method for application of a personal care product.

An advantage of the present invention is that the device is adaptable for use with all standard personal care product containers.

A further advantage of the present invention is that the device prevents wastage or spillage of the personal care product.

A further advantage of the present invention is that the device occupies minimum space.

A further advantage of the present invention is that the device is ergonomically shaped.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following drawings and description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention with regard to the embodiments thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals designate corresponding sections or elements throughout and in which: [0022]
FIG. 1 shows a side view of the cosmetic brush of the present invention; [0023]
FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the cosmetic brush; [0024]
FIG. 3 shows a top view of the cosmetic brush; [0025]
FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of an alternative embodiment of the cosmetic brush of the present invention; [0026]
FIG. 5 shows a front view of an adaptor for use with the cosmetic brush of FIG. 4; [0027]
FIG. 6 shows a side view of an additional alternative embodiment of the brush of the present invention; [0028]
FIG. 7 shows an exploded cross-sectional view of the brush of FIG. 6; [0029]
FIG. 8[0030] a shows a bottom view of the upper section of the housing of the of FIG. 6; and
FIG. 8[0031] b shows a side view of the lower section of the housing of FIG. 8a

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is now made to FIGS. [0032] 1 to 3, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of an automatic applicator brush 10, constructed and operated in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, [0033] brush 10 is provided with a housing 12, a plurality of bristles 14, an ampoule 16 containing a personal care fluid 18, and a dispensing mechanism 19.
[0034] Fluid 18 may be selected from a wide variety of products, such as liquid soap, facial cleanser, acne treatment fluid, shampoo, hair dye, nail varnish remover etc.
[0035] Housing 12 is formed wit a treaded hole 20 on one side. Neck 22 of ampoule 16 is formed with a complementary threaded opening, such that ampoule 16 may be firmly screwed into housing 12.
An [0036] inlet device 24 is positioned within housing 12, connecting to hole 20 such that fluid 18 is allowed to flow into housing 12 from ampoule 16 until a maximum level is reached.
[0037] Dispensing mechanism 19 comprises a button 26, which activates a pump 28 and ejection device 30. When button 26 is depressed, fluid 18 is drawn into ejection device 30 by the action of pump 28. Ejection device 30 is simultaneously pushed downwards and becomes inserted within nozzle 32 from which fluid 18 is forced outwards onto the lower surface of housing 12 and bristles 14.
[0038] Fluid 18 may then be applied to the appropriate skin, hair, or nail surface by appropriate brushing motions, which may, for instance, be circular motions in the case of skin surfaces, or stroke movements for application of fluid to the hair.
[0039] Bristles 14 are of an appropriate length and material for the particular personal care process for which the brush is intended. A brush for use on the skin of the face will have relatively soft bristles, while a brush for use on the hair will contain stiffer, longer, bristles. Various combinations of bristle may be used in brushes intended for specific purposes. For example, an facial care brush may include one or more outer rows of stiff bristles for treatment of problem areas, combined with softer inner rows for even application of the applied fluid.
FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment [0040] 40 of an automatic applicator brush. In this embodiment, bristles are arranged in a small number of rows concentric with the casing of the brush, while the central region is occupied by a sponge 42. Sponge 42 may be regularly removed and replaced with a fresh sponge in order to maintain a high standard of hygiene.
A further use of the automatic applicator brush is intended for application of fluids to the hair. These may include hair dyes, anti-dandruff preparations or preparations for the prevention of hair loss. In all of these products, it is desirable that application be uniform along the entire length of the hair shaft, including the roots. The brush comprises two or more sets of bristles of different lengths of enable parting of the hair and simultaneous application of the product to the outer layers of the hair and to the roots. [0041]
As an alternative to ampoule [0042] 16, fluid 18 may be used directly from the bottle in which it is supplied (not shown). Inlet mechanism 24 may be used in conjunction with any standard, commercially available bottle or container by use of an appropriate detachable adaptor. A range of adaptors in various sizes is available.
FIG. 5 shows an example of an [0043] adaptor 44. Adaptor 44 has one open threaded end 46 of dimensions appropriate for screwing into threaded hole 20, and a second open end suitable for attachment to the opening of a standard, commercial bottle.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show an additional [0044] alternative embodiment 50 of an automatic applicator brush, comprising an upper housing 52 a and a lower housing 52 b, a plurality of bristles 14, a sponge 56, a spring-loaded liquid dispenser 58 and a reservoir 60 containing fluid 18.
[0045] Lower casing 12 b is provided with a central opening 65, beneath which sponge 56 is fixedly attached.
[0046] Dispenser 58 comprises an upper section 66 and a lower section 64, connected by a compression spring 68. Lower section 64 comprises an essentially cylindrical body 70, tapering at its lower end 72 and ending in a narrow cylindrical structure 74, which forms a stopper which fits into opening 65 of lower casing 12 b, preventing fluid 18 from flowing out of reservoir 60. A circular rim 76 of diameter greater than that of body 70, and equal to the inner diameter of reservoir 60, is positioned on body 70 directly above tapering end 72.
[0047] Upper dispenser section 66 comprises a cylindrical section 78 provided with an upper cap 80, which fits within an appropriate depression in upper housing 12 a.
When using [0048] device 50, casing 12 is held in the palm of the hand with sponge 56 positioned on the upper surface of the nail. Upon exertion of pressure on sponge 56, stopper 74 is pushed upwards, unsealing opening 65 and allowing fluid 18 to flow out of reservoir 60 onto sponge 56.
Upon cessation of pressure on [0049] sponge 56, spring 68 serves to return lower dispenser section 64, together with stopper 74 to its position within opening 65, thus resealing reservoir 60.
[0050] Sponge 56 therefore serves to dispense fluid 18 and may be used to further rub fluid 18 over a desired surface.
After dispensing of [0051] fluid 18 onto the desired surface, the surface may be further scrubbed using bristles 14.
As an example of use of [0052] device 50, may be used with a cleanser 82 in order to clean under the tips of fingernails. Device 50 is positioned such that bristles 14 are inserted under the nail, and pressure exerted on sponge 56 such that cleanser 82 is dispensed as described above.
Cleanser [0053] 82 comprises a herbal-based solution which is able to dissolve oils and other organic materials, thus assisting in removing dirt and other foreign debris from under the fingernails and from the surface of the fingernails.
Cleanser [0054] 82 also contains an addition of vitamin E, which serves to protect and nourish the nails and skin.
The combination of cleanser and rubbing or brushing action serves to thoroughly clean the upper surface of the fingernails and the area beneath the tips of the fingernails. [0055]
FIGS. 8[0056] a and 8 b further illustrate the outer casing 12 of device 50. Lower casing 12 b is provided with an upwardly-facing cylindrical reservoir 60 for receiving fluid 18. Upper casing 12 a is formed with a depression 84 of diameter equal to that of reservoir 60, such that upper rim of reservoir 60 may be fitted into depression 84, thus sealing upper casing 12 a and lower casing 12 b together.
Having described the invention with regard to certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the description is not meant as a limitation, since further modifications will now suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims. [0057]

Claims

I claim:

1. An device comprising an automatic applicator brush for applying a personal care fluid, wherein the brush comprises:

an ergonomically shaped outer casing;

an outlet provided within a lower surface of said outer casing;

a plurality of bristles positioned on an outer surface of said outer casing, surrounding said outlet;

a dispensing system situated within said outer casing for dispensing said fluid onto said bristles through said outlet; and

a reservoir for containing said fluid prior to dispensing onto said bristles by said dispensing system.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said dispensing system comprises a pump and ejection device such that upon activation of said dispensing system, said fluid is drawn into said ejection device by said pump and said ejection device is forced downwards into said outlet such that said fluid is ejected from said ejection device via said outlet.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein a nozzle is provided within said outlet.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said pump and said ejection device are operated by a push-button situated on an upper outer surface of said outer casing.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said reservoir is provided pre-filled with said fluid.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said reservoir is filled with said fluid from an external container via an inlet provided in said outer casing.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said inlet comprises a threaded hole for insertion therein of a portion of said external container.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said external container comprises an ampoule provided with a threaded neck complementary to said threaded hole, such that said ampoule may be screwed into said inlet.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said external container comprises a standard commercial container and an adaptor formed with two open ends, such that an opening of said container is engagable within a first of said open ends of said adaptor, and where a second of said open ends of said adaptor is screwable within said treaded hole.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising a sponge positioned over said outlet on said outer surface.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said dispensing system comprises a stopper retained within said reservoir, said stopper being formed with a lower end having horizontal dimensions equal to that of said opening, and insertable within said opening so as to contact with said sponge, such that exertion of pressure on said sponge causes said stopper to be displaced from said opening allowing said cleaning fluid to flow out of said reservoir via said opening.

12. The device of claim 11 further comprising an upper dispensing system section and a spring flexibly connected to said upper dispensing system section and said stopper, such that upon exertion of pressure on said sponge and said stopper, said spring becomes contracted against said upper dispensing system section and upon removal of said pressure, said spring causes said stopper to be replaced within said opening such that said cleaning fluid is prevented from flowing out of said opening.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said upper dispensing system section is cylindrical and is retained within a depression formed on the inner surface of the upper portion of said outer casing.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein said stopper comprises a cylindrical portion formed wit a tapered lower edge, terminating in a narrow downwardly-pointing segment insertable within said opening.

15. The device of claim 1 for use as a nail brush.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein said cleaning fluid contains vitamin E to protect and nourish the nails.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein said bristles are of different lengths.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein said bristles are of varying degrees of stiffness so as to be specifically adapted for application of the particular personal care fluid.

19. A system for applying a personal care fluid, said system comprising:

an automatic applicator brush comprising an ergonomically shaped outer casing, an outlet provided within a lower surface of said outer casing, and a plurality of bristles positioned on an outer surface of said outer casing, surrounding said outlet;