The present invention relates to applicators for applying a composition to keratinous fibers, in

particular the eyelashes or the eyebrows, and more particularly, but not exclusively, it relates to mascara brushes .

A conventional mascara brush has a twisted core that is formed by two twisted metal strands that define turns between which the bristles of the brush are held. A drawback of such a brush is that it may present a screw- thread effect, i.e. the ends of the bristles are

distributed substantially helically. Such a distribution of the bristles may spoil the quality of the makeup.

It is known to use bristles having particular cross- sections so that, while the bristles are being clamped between the strands of the core, the ends of the bristles are distributed over the envelope surface of the brush in such a manner as to reduce the screw-thread effect.

Nevertheless, the reduction of that effect extends to the brush as a whole. However, it may be desired to limit the reduction of the screw-thread effect to certain portions only of the brush, e.g. at its catches or ridges. Furthermore, the use of bristles having

particular cross-sections is likely to restrict the choice of materials that can be used to make the

bristles .

Application EP 1 459 647 discloses a method of abrading the bristles of a brush that present different lengths and/or that are of different kinds, so as to modify the distribution of the bristles and so as to improve the application of a composition to keratinous fibers .

Application EP 1 462 023 discloses a nail-varnish brush or a mascara brush including a mixture of bristles that differ in their periodic patterns. US application No. 2004/0134507 discloses a mascara brush possessing sets of bristles of different diameters.

In addition, US patent No. 5 345 644 and

applications EP 2 149 314, EP 1 358 818, and FR 2 948 543 describe the possibility of having a brush that presents bristles of diameters and/or sections that are different, so as to diversify the effects of the makeup. However, organized implantation of the bristles is not suitable for all of the types of makeup that are desired.

Consequently, there exists a need to benefit from a brush having a novel distribution of the bristles, making it possible to load the eyelashes or the eyebrows with composition, to spread the composition over the eyelashes or the eyebrows, and also to extend, curl, or separate the eyelashes or the eyebrows.

There also exists a need to benefit from such a brush, without that unduly complicating its manufacture.

First exemplary embodiments of the invention thus provide a brush for applying a composition to keratinous fibers, in particular the eyelashes and/or the eyebrows, said brush comprising:

^• a core; and

^• a mixture of bristles over at least one segment of the brush, the mixture comprising at least first and second types of bristle extending from the core, the bristles of the first type having a section and/or a diameter that is/are different from the section and/or diameter of the bristles of the second type;

the brush comprising at least one deformed bristle forming part of the bristles of the first or the second type, and presenting a stamped portion at at least one point along its length, at a distance from the core, the stamped portion affecting the orientation of the bristle relative to the core.

In particular, it may be desirable to orientate the bristle or a portion of said bristle in any direction, e.g. towards the distal end or the proximal end of the brush and/or in the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction around the longitudinal axis of the brush.

The core may optionally comprise turns. Preferably, the core may be twisted and may define turns, the first and second types of bristle being held between the turns of the core.

The mixture of bristles may extend over at least half, better over at least three fourths, better still over all of the length of the brush. In particular, the brush need not have a bristle-free portion.

Stamping may create the stamped zone by removing, stretching, or flattening material. Stamping may impact the shape and/or the orientation of the bristles, in particular in different manners as a function of the diameter and/or of the section of the bristles. In particular, stamping may impart greater modification to the shape and/or the orientation of a bristle that is of smaller diameter than another bristle. In addition, the diameter and/or the section of a bristle may be such that stamping has substantially no effect on the bristle, in particular not enabling its shape and/or its orientation to be modified.

The bristles of the first type may have a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the bristles of the second type, in particular with a difference in diameter of at least 1/100 millimeter (mm) between the two types of bristle. By way of example, the two types of bristle may have diameters of 13/100 mm and 14/100 mm

respectively .

The bristles of the first type may have a section that is different from the section of the bristles of the second type.

By means of the invention, it is possible to modify the orientations of the bristles differently depending on their type, e.g. to obtain bristles of a first type that present an orientation that is different from the bristles of a second type, the stamping having different effects on the two types of bristle.

For example, by using bristles of a first type that present a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the bristles of a second type, the bristles of the first type may be more able to withstand the stamping

operation, while the bristles of the second type may be subjected to a more pronounced change in their

orientation during the stamping operation. However, it is possible for bristles of a first type to present a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the

bristles of a second type, wile being less able to withstand the stamping operation, e.g. when the bristles of the first type are hollow while the bristles of the second type are not hollow.

The bristles of the first type, presenting a

diameter that is greater than the diameter of the

bristles of the second type, may make it easier to comb the eyelashes or the eyebrows, for example, while the bristles of the second type are more suited to smoothing the composition over the eyelashes or the eyebrows.

When a bristle is of a section that is not circular, the term "diameter" of said bristle should be understood to mean the diameter of the circle that circumscribes the bristle.

The term "sections that are different" should be understood to mean sections of shapes that are different, e.g. one type of bristle being of section that is solid and the other of section that is hollow, or one of section that is circular and the other of section that is non-circular .

The diameter of the bristles of the first type and/or of the second type may lie in the range 6/100 mm to 35/100 mm. When a bristle is not circular, the term "diameter of a bristle" means the diameter of the circle that circumscribes the greatest cross-section of said bristle. Before being mounted on the brush, the diameter of a bristle may be constant.

By way of example, the diameter of the bristles of the first type may lie in the range 6/100 mm to

34/100 mm. By way of example, the diameter of the bristles of the second type may lie in the range 7/100 mm to 35/100 mm.

The brush may present an envelope surface of cross- section that is circular or non-circular.

The brush may comprise a uniform distribution of the bristles, in particular comprising a uniform mixture of the bristles, with variability in the distribution, along the brush, of the bristles of the first type that is less than 30%, in particular less than 10%, better less than 5% from one 5 mm long segment of the brush to the next 5 mm long segment.

For a type of bristle, the term "variability" concerning its distribution along the brush means the ratio |Aq/qi| , in which qi is the number of bristles of that type over a first 5 mm long segment of the brush, and Aq = qi+i - qi is the difference between the number qi+i of bristles of that type along another 5 mm long segment that is adjacent to the first, and the number qi .

For a twisted-core brush, the variability of a given type of bristle may be such that when ni is the number of bristles of a given type held in a turn, counted by turning through 180° about the core, and ni+i is the number of bristles of the same type held in the next turn on going towards the free end of the brush,

I n _i+ i-ni I /ni ≤ 0.3, better 0.2 or 0.1, or even 0.05.

The term "uniform distribution" of the bristles means that the bristles are distributed substantially uniformly along the core of the brush. In particular, almost all, better all, of the segments of bristles between two consecutive turns include substantially the same number of bristles, in particular the same number of bristles of each type. Less than 30% of all of the bristles may be distributed non-uniformly along the core of the brush. Preferably, in each unit of length equal to 5 mm along the core, the number of bristles of each type is the same to within 30%, better to within 20%, better still to within 10%. When counting bristles, whole bristles are counted, i.e. single bristles each having two free ends and each held between the turns of the core. The distribution of the bristles of each type in the mixture of bristles may be random. In particular, the bristles of the first type may be distributed between the bristles of the second type in random manner.

The proportion of bristles of each type may lie in the range 3% to 97% of all of the bristles.

The proportion of bristles of the first type may lie in the range 3% to 97% for example, and the proportion of bristles of the second type may lie in the range 3% to 97% for example. By way of example, the difference in diameter between the bristles of each type may be about 2/100 mm.

The brush may comprise from 2 to 5 different types of bristle. The brush may include several types of bristle, each type of bristle having bristles with a section and/or a diameter that is/are different from the section and/or diameter of the bristles of other types.

The core of the brush may be a twisted metal wire of diameter lying in the range 0.35 mm to 1 mm.

The stamped portion of a bristle may be closer to the core than to its free end, better may be situated in the first fourth of the length of the bristle on going from the core towards the free end of the bristle.

The bristles of one type may present a length that is different from the length of the bristles of another type .

The bristles of one type may present a color that is different from the color of the bristles of another type. At least one fourth, better at least one half, better still at least three fourths of the bristles of the first and second types may have a stamped portion.

The brush may present a distribution of bristles that is different from the distribution of bristles of conventional brushes, as a result of the presence of bristles having stamped portions, while being able to be manufactured with a twisted core and conventional

bristles, if so desired.

The presence of stamped portions of bristles enables the ends of the bristles to be distributed more uniformly by creating a tangle, and in particular makes it possible to reduce the screw-thread effect associated with the use of a twisted core.

The core may be twisted as with the left hand, i.e. the branches of the core form turns rising from left to right when the brush is observed while vertical with its end that is fastened in the stem, i.e. its proximal end, being situated at the bottom, and with its end that is free, i.e. the distal end, being situated at the top.

The invention equally applies to brushes that include a core that is twisted as with the right hand.

At the stamped portion, stamping may affect only one side of the bristle.

The portion of the brush that comprises one or more bristles having stamped portions may correspond to the entire brush. Equally, this portion need not correspond to the entire brush, and by way of example, it may correspond only to a zone that extends from one axial end of the brush, e.g. over less than half of its length, and/or to particular regions of the brush that are defined angularly around the longitudinal axis of the brush, with said regions defining ridges or catches, for example .

At least 3% of the bristles of the second type of the brush may be deformed, or at least 20 or 30

than 50%, better at least 70%, e.g. at least 80%, and it is possible for substantially all of the bristles of the brush to be deformed.

By way of example, the brush may include 5 to 80 bristles per turn, and better 10 to 50 bristles per turn. The number of bristles per turn corresponds to the number of bristle ends counted by a stationary observer, while the brush turns through 180° about its core.

A given percentage, e.g. 5%, of bristles of the first type, presenting a diameter that is greater than the bristles of the second type, may result in having fewer bristles per turn on the brush than the same percentage of bristles of the second type.

The bristles may be made of synthetic or natural material, e.g. being made of a thermoplastic material.

By way of example, the bristles may be stretchable.

The section of the bristles is preferably solid and may optionally be circular. However, the brush may comprise at least one bristle that is hollow. The bristles may possibly be coated in flocking. The

bristles may comprise a capillary channel. In cross- section, the bristles may present a shape that is:

cylindrical; polygonal; flat; twisted; H-shaped;

boomerang-shaped; cross-shaped; kidney-bean shaped;

hollow, in particular a hollow cross shape; or hollow with a non-cylindrical envelope.

The bristles may comprise a filler, e.g. of a magnetic, bacteriostatic, or humidity-absorbing compound, or even of a compound for creating roughness at the surface of the bristle, or for encouraging sliding of the eyelashes over the bristles.

The length of the bristles from the core to their free ends may lie in the range 1 mm to 7 mm for example, in particular in the range 2 mm to 5 mm.

The envelope surface of the brush may present various shapes, and in particular cross-sections that are circular, oval, prismatic, or other, including one or more notches or catches. The core may optionally be centered in a cross- section of the envelope surface.

The brush may comprise at least one ridge or catch. The majority of the deformed bristles of the brush, or substantially all of the deformed bristles of the brush, may be bristles that form part of at least one ridge or that define at least one catch.

The cross-section of the envelope surface may optionally be constant over at least a fraction of the length of the brush, and by way of example, the brush may present a cross-section that passes through an extremum between its two axial ends, the extremum being a maximum or a minimum, for example. In side view, the brush may thus present a general shape of an hourglass, or else of an American football. In side view, the brush may also present a shape that is straight, cylindro-conical , or conical, a bullet shape, a buoy shape, a peanut shape, a fish shape, or the shape of a serpent.

The cross-section of the envelope surface of the brush may be cylindrical, flat, polygonal, curved, off- center .

The core may optionally be rectilinear, in

particular it may be curved, with curvature that is distributed along its entire length, or that is localized solely in a region that is close to the region that is used to fasten the brush to a stem of an applicator.

Where appropriate, the brush may be curved about at least two non-coplanar axes

The bristle (s) of the brush may be stamped using any of the methods describe in application EP 1 459 647.

The invention also provides a packaging and

applicator device comprising such a brush and a container containing the composition for application.

Such a device may include a container and a wiper member for wiping the brush while it is being removed from the receptacle. The brush may be fastened to the end of a stem that, at its opposite end, is provided with a handle that also constitutes a closure member for closing the container.

Other exemplary embodiments of the invention also provide a method of manufacturing a brush for applying a composition to keratinous fibers, in particular the eyelashes or the eyebrows, said method comprising the step consisting in:

^• performing an operation of stamping the brush, causing relative movement between at least a treatment member and bristles of the first type and/or of the second type, in such a manner that the treatment member strikes bristles of the first type and/or of the second type, and permanently modifies the orientations of at least a fraction of the bristles of the first type and/or of the second type.

In such a method, the treatment member may be used at ambient temperature, so as to deform the bristles mechanically while cold.

At the stamped zone, the deformed bristles may present traces of material that has been removed, of stretching, or of flattening.

The treatment may have numerous effects on the brush that is treated.

Firstly, the treatment makes it possible to

destructure the brush by modifying the orientations of the bristles, and in particular it makes it possible to reduce the screw-thread effect when the brush that is treated presents a helical distribution of the free ends of its bristles.

The deformed bristles may also present greater flexibility and a greater damping effect, since the bristles may flex more easily after being struck at at least one point along their length, thereby creating a kind of hinge.

The treated bristles lose their radial orientation and may take up an orientation that slopes relative to the longitudinal axis of the core of the brush, possibly making it easier for the eyelashes to penetrate between the bristles of the brush.

Another advantage of the method is to make it possible to use a brush that initially presents spacing between the tufts of bristles clamped between the turns that is relatively wide, but that after treatment, presents spacing between the ends of the bristles that is narrower as a result of the orientations of the bristles being modified. This modification in orientation occurs to varying degrees depending on the type of bristle, as a result of the different behaviors of the bristles that are subjected to stamping.

The above-mentioned relative movement may be caused at least by the brush turning about it axis and/or by the treatment member turning about an axis of rotation.

However, when the brush is treated on one side only, for example, then said brush need not be turned.

Alternatively, both the brush and the treatment member may be turned. Turning may take place in the same direction as the turns, or it may take place in the opposite direction thereto.

The treatment member may present a surface that is capable of coming into contact with the bristles of the brush, and that, by way of example, extends over a length that is greater than or equal to half of the length of the portion of the brush carrying the bristles.

The relative movement and the respective positions of the brush and of the treatment member may be selected so that, at the end of treatment, only some of the bristles of the brush have come into contact with the treatment member.

The treatment may cause bends to be formed in at least some of the bristles, and all of the bends formed in this way may be positioned at a predefined distance from the core. At least some of the treated bristles may be treated at a point that is closer to the core than to their free ends.

Only a portion of the circumference of the brush need be treated, e.g. so as to form a treated portion along the brush that does not extend all the way around the core.

In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, amongst others, the above-mentioned bends may be situated at a distance from the core that is greater than the length of the shortest bristles.

The surface state of the treatment member may be selected as a function of the desired treatment. By way of example, the surface may thus be smooth or slightly rough. The surface state should be selected so that the bristles are not cut through. There is thus no need for the treatment member to have a cutting edge.

Before treatment, the bristles of the brush may present a section that is constant, e.g. circular or kidney-bean shaped. The bristles may present a capillary channel.

The brush that is treated may be a twisted-core brush, including 5 to 80 bristles per turn, preferably 10 to 50 bristles per turn.

Before treatment, the brush may present a screw- thread effect, and after treatment, it may no longer present the screw-thread effect.

When the brush is twisted as by a left hand, the relative movement between the bristles of the brush and the treatment member may comprise the brush turning about its longitudinal axis in the counter-clockwise direction, when the brush is observed along its longitudinal axis from the right to the left, and when the stem is situated on the left.

The invention can be better understood on reading the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments thereof, and on examining the accompanying drawings, in which: ^• Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view in axial section of a packaging and applicator device including a brush of the invention;

^• Figure 2 is a larger-scale diagrammatic and fragmentary view of the brush of the Figure 1 device;

^• Figure 3 is a diagram showing the bristles of a brush being processed by being stamped;

^• Figures 4 to 8 show different possibilities, amongst others, for modifying the orientation of a bristle by stamping;

^• Figures 9, 12, and 13 are diagrams showing three examples of the bristles being deformed by stamping;

^• Figures 10 and 11 are cross-sections on X-X and XI-XI respectively in Figure 9;

· Figures 14 and 15 are diagrammatic views, on the axis of the brush, showing different ways of striking the bristles ;

^• Figures 16 to 32 are cross-sections of the

envelope surfaces of various brushes that may include deformed bristles;

^• Figures 33 to 46 show various examples, amongst others, of how the cross-sections of brushes may vary;

^• Figures 47 to 60b are cross-sections showing various possible bristle shapes, amongst others;

· Figures 61 and 62 show examples of how the ends of the bristles may be treated;

^• Figures 63 and 64 show examples of the surface state of the bristles;

^• Figures 65 to 67 show the possibility of the core of the brush being connected to a flexible portion; and

^• Figures 68 and 69 are diagrammatic and fragmentary views showing two examples of a brush of the invention having bristles that have been subjected to stamping, in part .

The packaging and applicator device 1 shown in

Figure 1 comprises: a container 2 containing a

composition P for application to the eyelashes or the eyebrows, e.g. mascara; and an applicator 3 comprising a stem 4 of longitudinal axis X, provided at one end 4a with a brush 5 and at the opposite end with a handle 6 that also serves to close the container 6. The container includes a neck 7 that is externally threaded, so as to enable the handle 6 to be screw-fastened thereon.

A wiper member 8 is fastened to the inside of the neck 7 so as to wipe the stem 4 and the brush 5 while they are being removed from the container 2. The wiper member 8 includes a flexible lip 9 that defines a

circular orifice, having a diameter that corresponds substantially to the diameter of the stem 4.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to using a particular wiper member, and other wiper members may be used, e.g. wiper members having undulations, rigid cylindrical wiper members, wiper members including a block of foam, and/or wiper members defining one or more optionally-flocked slots.

In the embodiment shown, the stem 4 is rectilinear, but it could be curved without going beyond the ambit of the present invention.

Furthermore, the stem 4 is shown as being fixed in stationary manner relative to the handle 6, but it could be movable relative to said handle, e.g. by means of a hinged connection piece, in particular a ball joint.

In the embodiment under consideration, the brush 5 includes a core 10 that, in conventional manner, is formed by two twisted metal strands, the core 10 being fastened at one end in a housing of the stem 4, e.g.

being force-fitted in the housing.

The brush 5 includes two types of bristle 11a and lib that are held by being clamped between the twisted strands of the core 10, as can be seen in Figure 2. In accordance with the invention, the brush 5 includes deformed bristles 12, in particular at least a fraction of the bristles lib of the second type are deformed bristles 12. The bristles 11a of the first type present a

diameter and/or a section that is/are different from the bristles lib of the second type. As a result, the effect of the treatment of the bristles 11a and lib produces results that are different. For example, following a stamping operation, the orientations of the bristles 11a are not modified as much as the orientations of the bristles lib, when said bristles lib are of smaller diameter .

The bristles 11a and lib may optionally form a uniform mixture of bristles. In particular, the bristles 11a and lib may be distributed in uniform manner along the core of the brush.

The bristles 11a and lib may present diameters that are different, the diameter of the bristles 11a being greater than the diameter of the bristles lib. The bristles 11a and lib may also present sections that are different. The bristles may optionally be of the same material and/or of the same length.

The bristles 11a and lib may present a difference in diameter lying in the range 1/100 mm to 29/100 mm.

Following a stamping operation, and by way of example, a deformed bristle 12 may include two

rectilinear portions, namely a proximal portion 12a that is connected to the core, and a distal portion 12b, the two portions 12a and 12b being interconnected via a bend 12c.

The bend 12c is the result of a stamped portion, obtained by deforming the cross-section of the bristle 12, and the bend 12c may behave like a kind of hinge.

The distal portions 12b may extend in random

directions .

At least two deformed bristles 12 may be held between two adjacent turns 10a and 10b of the core 10, which turns define the pitch p of the core 10, as can be seen in Figure 2. In the brush 5, at least 50%, better at least 70%, better at least 90%, better still all of bristles lib of the second type may be of diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the bristles 11a, which bristles lib of the second type are deformed bristles 12.

In order to make a brush with deformed bristles 12, a treatment member 20, shown diagrammatically in

Figure 3, may be used, for example, the treatment member 20 being arranged to strike the bristles 11a and/or lib of the brush so as to deform their cross-section locally, at at least one point along their length.

By way of example, the treatment member 20 may include at least one blade 21, e.g. three blades 21 in Figure 3, the blades 21 being rotated about an axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the brush, in the example in Figure 3.

By striking the bristles 11a and/or lib of the brush, the blades 21 generate deformed bristles 12.

By selecting the distance between the axis of the brush 5 and the axis of the treatment member 20, the bristles 11a and/or lib of the brush may be treated in such a manner that the bends 12c are situated at a predefined distance from the core.

Depending on the speed with which the treatment member 20 impacts the bristles, it is possible to damage the bristles to a greater or lesser extent, and to obtain a greater or lesser number of deformed bristles 12.

However, the speed of the impact is small enough not to cut through all of the bristles.

When the bristles are struck very close to the core, it is possible to modify the orientation of said bristles so as to make them pass from a radial orientation, shown by dashed lines in Figure 4, to an orientation that extends obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis of the core, e.g. towards the proximal end or towards the distal end of the brush. In the examples in Figures 5 to 7, the bristles of the brush are struck at respective increasing distances from the core.

As can be seen in Figure 5, the distance h of a deformed bristle 12, between the core 10 and said at least one point along its length at which there is a stamped portion, may be greater than or equal to one third of the length of the bristle, or greater than or equal to one half of the length of the bristle.

In the example in Figure 8, the bristle has been deformed at two locations along its length, thereby forming two bends having different angles, oi _l and a2 respectively .

The action of the treatment member 20 on a bristle may result in a flattening, as shown in Figures 9 to 11. In Figure 10, it can be seen that, away from the deformed portion, the bristle may present a circular section. In Figure 11, it can be seen that, at the deformed portion, the material has been subjected to creep, and that deformation has taken place essentially on one side of the bristle, namely the side that has been struck by the treatment member.

The action of the treatment member 20 may also result in a removal of material, as shown in Figures 12 or 13. In Figure 12, the removal of material is in the form of a notch 12d that is formed in the bristle. In Figure 13, the removal of material is in the form of destructuring the fiber of the bristle, e.g. said fiber has lost a portion 12 of its thickness, the fiber having a portion of its length planed away, so to speak.

The action of the treatment member may also result in stretching material, e.g. when the bristles of the brush are stretchable.

In the example in Figure 3, only the treatment member 20 is rotated, but it would not be beyond the ambit of the present invention for both the treatment member 20 and the brush 5 to be rotated, as shown in Figures 14 and 15.

In Figure 14, it can be seen that the brush 5 and the treatment member 20 may turn in opposite directions, and in Figure 15, it can be seen that the treatment member and the brush may turn in the same direction.

The brush may present an envelope surface E, as defined by the free ends of the bristles, that is of cross-section that is circular or non-circular.

By way of example, Figures 16 to 26 show various example cross-sections.

Before or after treatment by the treatment member 20, the brush may present a cross-section of shape that is substantially polygonal, as shown in Figures 16 to 19.

In Figure 16, it can be seen that the brush may include at least one portion of its length that presents an envelope surface E of cross-section that is

substantially triangular, or square as shown in

Figure 17, or even pentagonal as shown in Figure 18, or octagonal as shown in Figure 19.

Alternatively, over at least a portion of its length, the brush may be made in such a manner as to present an envelope surface E of cross-section that is oblong, as shown in Figure 20.

Alternatively, over a portion of its length, the brush may be made with at least one notch 41, as shown in Figure 21 or Figure 22.

Where appropriate, the notch 41 may present a depth and/or a width that varies along the brush. In

particular, the brush may include at least one notch 41 having a depth that passes through a single extremum between its ends.

Alternatively, and as shown in Figure 23, the brush may be made with at least one facet 42 that is

substantially plane.

Alternatively, the brush may be made with one or more catches, as shown in Figures 24 to 26. In particular, the bristles of the brush that are present in the catch (es) may have been subjected to a stamping treatment, and they may be deformed bristles 12.

The brush is shown with three catches 43 in

Figure 24, with two catches 43 in Figures 25 and 26, with a single catch 43 in Figure 27, and with four catches 43 in Figure 28.

The core 10 of the brush 5 may optionally be

centered relative to the envelope surface.

Figure 29 shows a brush having a core 10 that is off-center .

Alternatively, the brush 5 may present an envelope surface E of cross-section that is substantially

rectangular, as shown in Figure 30, rectangular with two opposite sides that are concave, as shown in Figure 31, or even triangular with three concave sides, as shown in Figure 32.

The cross-section of the brush may vary along the brush, and in particular it may pass through an extremum, as shown in Figure 33.

In this figure, and by way of example, it can be seen that the envelope surface E of the brush may define two truncated cones that are joined together via their bases in a region 45 of greatest diameter of the brush.

The brush may also present a core that is not rectilinear .

In this configuration, when the core is straightened and made rectilinear for the purpose of observation, as shown in Figure 34, the brush may present a cross-section that passes through an extremum that may be a maximum or a minimum.

In the example in Figure 34, the brush presents a cross-section that passes both through a maximum 46 and through a minimum 47.

By way of example, the core may be curved in such a manner as to straighten one edge 48 of the brush, as shown in Figures 34 and 35. As shown in Figure 36, the brush 5 may also include a bend 49 in the proximity of the distal end 4a of the stem, the portion of the core carrying the bristles being rectilinear or curved.

Alternatively, the envelope surface E of the brush may present a general shape that is: cylindrical, as shown in Figure 37; spherical, as shown in Figure 38; oval, as shown in Figure 39; semi-oval, as shown in

Figure 40; a spherical portion and a rectilinear portion, as shown in Figure 41; peanut shaped, as shown in

Figure 42; serpent shaped, as shown in Figures 43a and 43b; bullet shaped, as shown in Figure 44; rectangular with a concave side, as shown in Figure 45; or off- center, as shown in Figure 46.

Preferably, the bristles that are used present a cross-section that is solid, but alternatively the bristles may be hollow.

Figures 47 to 60b show various example bristle cross-sections, amongst others.

At least one type of bristle that is used may, in section, have a general shape that is: a cross with four branches, as shown in Figure 47 or with three branches, as shown in Figure 48; L-shaped, as shown in Figure 49; a bow-tie that is straight, as shown in Figure 50, or sloping, as shown in Figure 51; H-shaped, as shown in Figure 52; or rectangular, as shown in Figure 53.

The bristle shown in Figure 54 presents a general shape that is horse-shoe shaped, defining a capillary channel 60.

In Figure 56, it can be seen that the bristles may include a flat.

Alternatively, the bristles may include a cross- section that is polygonal, e.g. square, as shown in

Figure 55, hexagonal, as shown in Figure 57, or

triangular, as shown in Figure 58.

Alternatively, the bristles may present a cross- section that is oblong, as shown in Figure 59, or hollow, as shown in Figures 60a and 60b. Figure 60b shows the possibility of having a bristle of cross-section that is hollow and an envelope that is non-cylindrical.

Before and/or after striking the bristles by means of the treatment member 20, said bristles may be

subjected to a treatment that seeks to impart particular properties to their free ends, e.g. so as to form beads 61, as shown in Figure 61, or forks 62, as shown in

Figure 62. Such forks 62 may be obtained by bringing the ends of the bristles into contact with an abrasive member .

The bristles may be flocked, as shown in Figure 63, or they may include a filler of particles 63, as shown in Figure 64.

By way of example, the particles may be particles of a compound for imparting microrelief to the surface of the bristles, or for imparting magnetic, bacteriological, or other properties thereto, in particular properties favoring sliding.

The bristles may be made out of synthetic or natural materials (such as cotton) , in particular synthetic materials selected, for example, from: polyethylene;

polypropylene; polyethylene terephthalate ; polyamides, in particular PA6, PA6/6, PA6/10, or PA6/12; PA11, in particular RILSAN®; a Hytrel®-PEBAX® polymer; an acrylic or vinyl polymer; polyurethane ; Teflon®; a silicone rubber; and still other thermoplastic polymers.

The bristles may be stretchable.

The bristles of the brush may optionally be

magnetized.

The core of the brush 5 may be connected to a flexible support 30, as shown in Figures 65 to 67, so as to provide increased bending during application to keratinous materials. By way of example, the flexible support 30 may be made of an elastomer material such as those describe above, for example. In longitudinal cross-section, the flexible support 30 may present a general shape that is: H-shaped, as shown in Figure 65; with a thin portion 31, as shown in Figure 66; or with recesses in the form of notches 32, as shown in

Figure 67.

Figures 68 and 69 are diagrammatic and fragmentary perspective views showing that the brush 5 may have only some of its bristles stamped.

In Figure 68, the bristles 11a and lib of the brush 5 have been subjected to stamping over a fraction 34 of the length of the brush 5 along its core 10, as shown hatched in Figure 68.

In Figure 69, the bristles 11a and lib of the brush 5 have been subjected to stamping, only in a portion 35 that extends along the core while occupying a

circumferential sector of less than 360°, as shown hatched in Figure 69.

By way of example, for a brush that is not

circularly symmetrical, the user may identify the treated portion 35 of the brush 5 by means of a visible mark that is formed on the brush 5, e.g. on the handle.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the examples described above.

The core could be made of metal strands that are of section that is optionally circular, and that are

optionally sheathed.

The characteristics of the various embodiments described above may be combined together within variants that are not shown.

The expression "comprising a" should be understood as being synonymous with "comprising at least one" unless specified to the contrary.