Technical Field

The present invention relates to a swiveling brush for the application of fluid products, particularly for powdery, creamy, liquid or similar products.

Background Art

With particular, but not exclusive, reference to the cosmetic and fine arts sector, various types of brush are known that differ both in shape and size, to be used depending on the type of application and the aesthetic result to be achieved.

In general, all brushes have a gripping body that is particularly suitable for being grasped and held by a user.

In a first type of brush, the gripping body, usually elongated, comprises an extremity provided with a special cavity defining a housing seat adapted to house a plurality of spreading elements, generally natural or synthetic hair, constituting the application body, i.e. the part of the latter adapted to take the cosmetic product and apply it on the portions of the skin to be made up.

The housing seat can be obtained directly onto the gripping body, or alternatively assembled to the gripping body itself.

In this case the housing seat is usually called a ring nut.

The plurality of hair is partly fitted into the housing seat so that it is encircled by the extremity of the gripping body and held therein by means of glue or other bonding substances.

The portion of hair that comes out of the housing seat, depending on the shape of the latter and on the insertion method, gives the application body different conformations depending on the type of brush.

In the present case, each hair has a first extremity retained inside the housing seat and a second extremity that is free and coming out of the housing seat itself so that it can be used for taking and applying the cosmetic product.

In general, the application body is locked together with the housing seat and, therefore, with the gripping body. This way, during the movement of the gripping portion, the application body is always aligned with the latter, thus considerably limiting the brush’s manageability and the possibility of differentiating the aesthetic effects that can be obtained.

In fact, the movements of the application body and the inclinations or rotations thereof are limited and determined by the corresponding movements of the gripping portion, the application body being locked together with the gripping portion.

The use of the aforementioned type of brush determines a considerable use of the time necessary to carry out precision work, or, in case of limited time, work that is not very precise and with an unsatisfactory final effect.

In addition, in order to cope with the variability of cosmetic applications, it is necessary to use a multitude of brushes, thus complicating the application and spreading operations of the cosmetic product and increasing the time required to carry out these operations.

Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to devise a swiveling brush for the application of fluid products, particularly for powdery, creamy, liquid or similar products, which allows the application of cosmetic products to be carried out quickly and precisely, and which allows the application body to be moved according to the movements of the gripping portion in accordance with the specific users’ requirements and the conformation of the areas to be made up. One object of the present invention is to devise a swiveling brush for the application of fluid products, particularly for powdery, creamy, liquid or similar products that allows varying the rotations that can be carried out by the application body, thus facilitating the operations necessary for the application and spreading of the product.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a swiveling brush for the application of fluid products, particularly for powdery, creamy, liquid or similar products that has improved handling compared to brushes of known type, allowing the use thereof even for long periods.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a swiveling brush for the application of fluid products, particularly for powdery, creamy, liquid or similar products, which allows overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art in the ambit of a simple, rational, easy, effective to use and low cost solution. The aforementioned objects are achieved by the present swiveling brush for the application of fluid products, particularly for powdery, creamy, liquid or similar products, having the characteristics of claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more evident from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a swiveling brush for the application of fluid products, particularly for powdery, creamy, liquid or similar products, illustrated as an indication, but not limited to, in the attached tables of drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an axonometric view of a brush according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the brush according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional view along the plane III-III of Figure 1 ;

Figures 4 and 5 are schematic representations of a first embodiment of the brush according to the invention in use;

Figures 6 and 7 are schematic representations of a second embodiment of the brush according to the invention in use;

Figure 9 is a front view of the brush according to the invention in an alternative embodiment;

Figure 10 is an exploded view of the brush according to the invention in a further alternative embodiment.

Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a swiveling brush for the application of fluid products, particularly for powdery, creamy, liquid or similar products.

In this regard, it is specified that the brush 1 preferably consists, without distinction, either of a cosmetic brush or a fine art brush.

It cannot however be ruled out that the brush 1 consists of a food brush or an industrial brush. It cannot also be ruled out that the brush 1 according to the present invention can be used in the trichological and spa sectors, for body treatments, or, alternatively, to create a wall decoration.

Again, it cannot be ruled out that the brush 1 according to the present invention can be used for the application of mascara.

In addition, it is specified that, in the context of the present discussion, the expression“fluid product” relates to any substance suitable to be taken, applied and spread through the use of the brush 1, such as e.g. powders, creams and liquids in the cosmetics, art, food and industry sector.

Preferably, with reference to the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the fluid product consists of a cosmetic product.

Alternatively, the fluid product consists of a fluid product for fine arts such as e.g. tempera or watercolours.

Again, it cannot be ruled out that the fluid product may consist of a food product, of a paint or the like.

The brush 1 comprises a gripping portion 2 intended, in use, to be grasped by a hand 3 of a user 4 for the movement of the brush itself.

The gripping portion 2 has an elongated conformation comprising a first extremity 5 and a second extremity 6 opposite each other.

With reference to the particular embodiment shown in the figures, the gripping portion 2 has a substantially conical shape.

It cannot however be ruled out from the scope of the present discussion, that the gripping portion 2 has different conformations, e.g. cylindrical, or alternatively with a triangular, square or elliptical cross-section.

It should be noted that the term“user” refers to the person intended to use the brush 1 and, with reference to the cosmetic sector, does not necessarily coincide with the person to whom the fluid product is applied.

As an example, the user 4 shown in the figures coincides with the person to whom the fluid product is applied.

In order to increase the ease of handling of the brush 1 and make it easier to use, the brush 1 comprises at least one lightening hole 7 formed on the gripping portion 2.

Preferably, the brush 1 comprises a plurality of lightening holes 7 formed on the gripping portion 2 (Figure 8).

As shown in Figure 8, the lightening holes 7 are through holes.

In addition, the brush 1 comprises a housing seat 8 formed on the gripping portion 2 and intended to house an application body 9 comprising, in turn, a plurality of spreading elements 10 which are adapted to take and apply the fluid product on a work surface S.

The housing seat 8 is obtained at the point where one of either the first extremity 5 or the second extremity 6 is located.

Preferably, the first extremity 5 is positioned in the proximity of the application body 9.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the first extremity 5 is enlarged and provided with an opening defining the housing seat 8.

It cannot also be ruled out that the housing seat 8 is defined on a supporting element, of the type of a ring nut, associated with the gripping portion 2.

The spreading elements 10 have one extremity fitted and retained inside the housing seat 8, and the other extremity free and coming out of the housing seat itself so that it can be used for taking and applying the fluid product.

Advantageously, the spreading elements 10 are made of synthetic yarn, polymeric material, or other material adapted to take and spread the fluid product depending on the type thereof.

Alternative solutions cannot however be ruled out, wherein the spreading elements 10 are of the hair type.

In this regard, it should be specified that the expression“work surface” means any surface adapted to be spread, covered, or treated by the fluid product mentioned above, such as e.g. a portion of human skin, an article, a building surface, a food produce and the like.

In the present case, with particular reference to the cosmetic sector, the expression“work surface” means a portion of a person’s skin and, at the same time, the expression“fluid product” means a cosmetic product. According to the invention, the application body 9 is associated with the housing seat 8 by interposition of coupling means 11, 12 configured to allow the rotation of the application body 9 with respect to the gripping portion 2.

In detail, the coupling means 11, 12 are configured to allow the rotation of the application body 9 around at least one of the three axes of rotation X, Y, Z arranged transversely to each other.

Preferably, the axes of rotation X, Y, Z are arranged orthogonally to each other. For example, the application body 9 can rotate around just one axis of rotation X, Y, Z or around two axes of rotation X, Y, Z.

Alternatively, the application body 9 can rotate around all three axes of rotation X, Y, Z.

In this respect, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, the coupling means 11, 12 are of the type of spherical coupling means which are adapted to allow the rotation of the application body 9 with respect to the gripping portion 2 around a center C.

In other words, the coupling means 11, 12 consist of spherical coupling means.

It should be pointed out that the term“rotation” relates to a rotation with respect to the center C around the three axes of rotation X, Y, Z.

The center C represents a fixed point located at the center of an imaginary circumference tangent to the spherical coupling means 11, 12 (Figure 3).

The spherical coupling means 11, 12 comprise a first coupling element 11 and a second coupling element 12, wherein the first coupling element 11 is associated with the housing seat 8 and intended to operate in conjunction with the second coupling element 12 housing the application body 9.

As can be seen in the figures, the first coupling element 11 and the second coupling element 12 have a circular cross-section.

The first coupling element 11 has a substantially hemispherical conformation.

In addition, the first coupling element 11 has a first concave contact surface 13. In this regard, it is worth specifying that the center C is the center of a circumference having the same center and the same radius as a sphere that defines the first contact surface 13. At the same time, with reference to the particular embodiment shown in the figures, the second coupling element 12 has a second convex contact surface 14. As can be seen in the figures, the second coupling element 12 has the second contact surface 14 with a substantially annular shape and a substantially flat bottom portion 15.

It cannot however be ruled out that the second coupling element 12 has a hemispherical shape.

In other words, the first contact surface 13 and the second contact surface 14 have a spherical profile coinciding with each other and one of them, i.e. the first contact surface 13, concave and the other, i.e. the second contact surface 14, convex.

The spherical coupling thus made between the first coupling element 11 and the second coupling element 12 defines a spheroidal kinematic torque having three degrees of freedom corresponding to the spherical coordinates and adapted to allow the free movement of the application body 9.

In addition, the first coupling element 11 comprises a first convex interlocking surface 16 opposite the first contact surface 13 and adapted to abut against the housing seat 8.

The first coupling element 11 is, in fact, associated with the housing seat 8 by interlocking.

At the same time, the second coupling element 12 comprises a second concave housing surface 17 adapted to house the application body 9.

In other words, the spherical coupling is defined by the first contact surface 13 and by the second contact surface 14 which are mutually intended to operate in conjunction with each other by sliding contact.

In practice, the first coupling element 11 and the second coupling element 12 allow both static and dynamic forces to be transmitted to the application body 9. This means that the fact that the second coupling element 12 is movable with respect to the first coupling element 11 allows the application body 9 to be moved with alignment, swinging, rotating and tilting movements in several directions. In accordance with a first embodiment of the brush 1, the first contact surface 13 and the second contact surface 14 are configured to slide one on top of the other generating a friction force which is greater than the force exerted by the work surface S on the application body 9, the latter being therefore intended to maintain a predefined position with respect to the gripping portion 2 during the application of the fluid product on the work surface S (Figures 4 and 5).

It is specified that the expression“predefined position” means any position taken by the application body 9 as a result of an external force exerted by the user 4 on the application body itself before using the brush 1.

This predefined position may consist of an inclined position of the application body 9 with respect to the gripping portion 2, i.e. the application body 9 is arranged substantially transverse to the gripping portion 2.

Alternatively, the predefined position may consist of an aligned position of the application body 9 with respect to the gripping portion 2, i.e. the application body 9 and the gripping portion 2 are coaxial to each other.

In practice, before using the brush 1, the user sets the application body 9 in the predefined position suitable for the use of the brush 1 also depending on the type of application of the fluid product on the work surface S.

In an alternative embodiment, the first contact surface 13 and the second contact surface 14 are configured to slide one on top of the other generating a friction force which is lower than the force exerted by the work surface S on the application body 9, the application body 9 being freely movable due to the movement of the gripping portion 2 by the hand 3 of the user 4.

In this case, the application body 9 is freely movable during the use of the brush 1. In actual facts, since the friction force between the first contact surface 13 and the second contact surface 14 is considerably lower than the force applied by the work surface S onto the application body 9, the latter is free to move depending on the movement of the gripping portion 2 by the hand of the user 4.

In other words, the application body 9 is movable due to the movement of the gripping portion 2 by the hand 3 of the user 4 during the application of the fluid product onto the work surface S. For example, with reference to the cosmetic sector, the brush 1 can be used in spreading operations of the fluid product and massage of the skin of the user 4.

In addition, the first coupling element 11 and the second coupling element 12 are associated with each other by interposition of the connection means 21.

In detail, the connection means 21 comprise a through hole 18 formed on the first coupling element 11 and a pin element 19 inserted with clearance in the through hole 18 and associated with the second coupling element 12.

It should be pointed out that the term“clearance” means that the through hole 18 has a larger section than the section of the pin element 19.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the through hole 18 has a circular conformation and the pin element 19 also has a circular cross-section; in this case, the diameter of the through hole 18 is larger than the diameter of the pin element 19.

It cannot however be ruled out from the scope of the present discussion that the through hole 18 may have different conformations such as e.g. a quadrangular shape.

It is easy to understand how the fact that the pin element 19 is inserted with clearance in the through hole 18 allows the movement of the pin element itself and, therefore, of the application body 9.

It should be noted that with reference to the first embodiment (Figures 4 and 5), in this case when the friction force between the first contact surface 13 and the second contact surface 14 is greater than the force exerted by the work surface S onto the application body 9, the pin element 19 has a length substantially equal to the distance between the bottom portion 15 and the through hole 18.

This means that the first contact surface 13 and the second contact surface 14 are held in contact with each other, considerably increasing the friction force between them and decreasing the clearance between the through hole 18 and the pin element 19 compared to the second embodiment (Figures 6 and 7).

In this respect, in the second embodiment, the pin element 19 is longer than the distance between the bottom portion 15 and the through hole 18, making it possible to reduce the friction between the contact surfaces 13, 14 and to increase the clearance between the through hole itself and the pin element 19.

It cannot however be ruled out from the scope of the present discussion that the connection means 21 are of a different type, e.g. of the magnetic type.

As can be seen in the figures, the through hole 18 is coaxial to the gripping portion 2, allowing the application body 9 to be aligned with the gripping portion.

In other words, the pin element 19, in use, is intended to move inside the through hole 18 due to the movement of the gripping portion 2, the amplitude of the movement of the application body 9 is defined by the clearance between the pin element 19 and the through hole 18.

Preferably, the pin element 19 comprises an abutment element 20 which is intended to operate in conjunction, contacting in abutment, the edges of the through hole 18. The abutment element 20 is adapted to prevent the second coupling element 12 and, therefore, the application body 9 from coming out of the housing seat 8.

This is due to the fact that the abutment element 20 has at least one of either width or length greater than the section of the through hole 18.

In this particular case, the figures show an abutment element 20 having a circular shape; this means that the abutment element 20 has a greater diameter than the diameter of the through hole 18.

In an alternative embodiment shown in Figure 10, the connection means 21 comprise at least one joining element 22 made at least partly of either a flexible or elastic polymeric material.

Preferably, the joining element 22 is made at least partly of one of a thermoplastic, thermosetting or elastomeric polymeric material.

Preferably, the polymeric material is selected from the list comprising: vulcanised thermoplastic elastomer (TPV), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyurethane (PU), styrene-ethylene-ethylene-styrene (SEBS), polyisobutylene (PIB), ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), expanded polystyrene (EPS), acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), methyl methacrylate butadiene styrene (MBS), silicone (SI). This allows associating the first coupling element 11 with the second coupling element 12 by interlocking.

The joining element 22 is interposed between the first coupling element 11 and the second coupling element 12.

Preferably, the joining element 22 is associated with at least one of either the first contact surface 13 or the second contact surface 14.

For example, the joining element 22 is associated with the first contact surface 13 and slides on the second contact surface 14.

Alternatively, the joining element 22 is associated with the second contact surface 14 and the first contact surface 13 slides on the latter.

It cannot be ruled out from the scope of the present discussion that the connection means 21 comprise the through hole 18 made on the first coupling element 11 and the pin element 19 inserted with clearance into the through hole 18 in combination with the joining element 22.

The joining element 22 is advantageously co-molded on one of either the first contact surface 13 or the second contact surface 14.

This means that the joining element 22 is associated with one of either the first contact surface 13 or the second contact surface 14 by means, e.g., of injection molding processes.

Prior to the detailed explanation of the operation of the present invention, it should be noted that the application body 9 is associated with the housing seat 8 in a removable manner and is interchangeable with further application bodies 9. Preferably, the application body 9 is removed from the housing seat 8 together with the coupling means 11, 12 and the further application body 9 is associated with the housing seat itself already assembled with the respective coupling means 11, 12.

This means that the brush 1 is marketed with a plurality of application bodies 9 locked together with their respective coupling means 11, 12 that can be associated by interlocking with the housing seat 8 and interchangeable with each other depending on the specific needs of the users.

It cannot however be ruled out that only the application body 9 is removable from the coupling means 11, 12, in this case from the second coupling element 12, and interchangeable with further application bodies 9.

In this case, the application body 9 is associated with a supporting element that can be inserted to size into the housing seat; this means that the supporting element is directly associable with the first coupling element 11.

In this case, the coupling means 11, 12 are locked together with the housing seat 8 and the application body 9 can be removed and changed with other application bodies 9 depending on the requirements of the user 4.

Furthermore, it cannot be ruled out from the scope of the present invention that the brush 1 can be inserted into a container for fluid products, particularly for powdery, creamy, liquid or similar products, preferably cosmetic products.

In other words, it cannot be ruled out that the present invention also relates to a container for fluid products, particularly for powdery, creamy, liquid or similar products, preferably cosmetic products, wherein the brush 1 can be inserted. This container is e.g. of the type of a mascara container.

The operation of the present invention is as follows.

Through the gripping portion 2, the brush 1 is handled and brought closer to the fluid product, e.g. a cosmetic product to be taken, by placing the application body 9, i.e. the plurality of spreading elements 10, in contact with the product itself so that the desired amount of product can be captured.

In accordance with the first embodiment, the user 4 sets the application body 9 in the predefined position suitable for the use of the brush 1.

In practice, the user 4 operates the application body 9 by applying an external force thereto which determines the rotation of the second coupling element 12 with respect to the first coupling element 11 and thus the inclination of the application body 9 with respect to the gripping portion 2 (Figure 4).

The application body is then brought closer to a portion of the work surface S, e.g. a portion of the skin, and, being moved through the gripping portion 2, it maintains the predefined position unchanged (Figure 5).

At the same time, in accordance with the second embodiment, the application body is brought closer to a portion of the work surface S, e.g. a portion of the skin, and moved through the gripping portion 2.

In accordance with the embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7, the movement of the gripping portion 2 determines the free rotation of the application body 9 around the axes X, Y, Z. In other words, during the movement of the gripping portion 2, the pin element 19 moves inside the through hole 18 by transmitting, in turn, the movement to the application body 9.

At the same time, according to the embodiment shown in Figure 10, the movement of the gripping portion 2 determines the free rotation of the application body 9 around the axes X, Y, Z. In other words, during the movement of the gripping portion 2, the joining element 22 associated with one of either the first contact surface 13 or the second contact surface 14 allows the transmission of the movement of the gripping body itself to the application body 9.

This means that the application body 9 moves as a result of the movement of the user’s hand, making it possible to handle the brush 1 and modulate the portions of the application body itself that contact the work surface S, in this case the skin.

As is visible, in fact, in Figures 6 and 7, the spheroidal coupling of the first coupling element 11 to the second coupling element 12 makes it possible to move the application body 9 with swinging, rotating and tilting movements in several directions, and with alignment movements in the event of the user stopping the movement of the gripping portion 2.

Finally, if the application body 9 is dirty or unsuitable for the application of a fluid product on a work surface S, the application body 9 is removed from the housing seat 8 and replaced with a further application body 9.

For example, if the need arises to change the cosmetic product to be applied onto the skin, the user removes the application body 9 and the coupling means 11, 12 from the interlocking with the housing seat 8, and inserts a further application body 9. Also in this case, the insertion of the application body 9 into the housing seat is done by interlocking of the coupling means 11, 12.

In the event of only the application body 9 being associated in a removable manner with the housing seat 8, the application body itself is removed and replaced with a further application body 9 associated with the second coupling element 12.

It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects.

It should be noted that the special solution of using the spherical coupling means between the housing seat and the application body allows the latter to be moved depending on the movements of the gripping portion due to the movements of the user’s hand. This makes it possible to obtain considerably improved aesthetic effects compared to the known type of brushes, making it easier to handle the brush itself and apply the fluid product.

Moreover, the presence of a plurality of lightening holes makes it possible to obtain a brush of considerably lower weight compared to brushes of a known type of equal size, thus improving and facilitating the grip and movement thereof even when the brush itself is used for prolonged periods of time.

In addition, the fact that the application body can be rotated with respect to the gripping body makes it possible to extend the field of vision when taking and applying the product itself.