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Title:
BRUSH FOR APPLYING A COSMETIC COMPOSITION
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2019/042837
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The invention relates to a brush (1) designed for applying a cosmetic composition, particularly a powdered cosmetic composition, comprising: - a handle (2) extending along a first longitudinal axis (X); - an application part (3) attached to one end of the handle (2) and comprising a tuft (4) of bristles (40) extending along a second longitudinal axis (Χ') between a first end (41) secured to the handle (2) and a free second end (42) defining an application surface (43), the said brush further comprises a bristle (40) tuft (4) shaping device (5) comprising a shape-memory deformable element (50) arranged in a way that is axially fixed along the second longitudinal axis (Χ'), surrounding the said tuft (4) of bristles (40) in such a way that the cross section of the said tuft (4) of bristles (40) adopts a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the deformable element (50).

Inventors:
CABON CHLOE (FR)
THENIN AUDREY (FR)
VALCKE JULIETTE (FR)
DELATTRE CAMILLE (FR)
Application Number:
PCT/EP2018/072632
Publication Date:
March 07, 2019
Filing Date:
August 22, 2018
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
OREAL (FR)
International Classes:
A46B9/10; A45D40/26; A46B9/02
Foreign References:
JP2009247414A2009-10-29
US20140331429A12014-11-13
US20140331429A12014-11-13
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
BARTHEL, Nicolas (FR)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

1 . Brush (1 ) designed for applying a cosmetic composition, particularly a powdered cosmetic composition, comprising:

- a handle (2) extending along a first longitudinal axis (X);

- an application part (3) attached to one end of the handle (2) and comprising a tuft of bristles (4) extending along a second longitudinal axis (Χ') between a first end (41 ) secured to the handle (2) and a free second end (42) defining an application surface (43),

characterized in that it further comprises a bristle-tuft (4) shaping device (5) comprising a shape-memory deformable element (50) arranged in a way that is axially fixed along the second longitudinal axis (Χ'), surrounding the said tuft of bristles (4) in such a way that the cross section of the said tuft of bristles (4) adopts a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the deformable element (50).

2. Brush (1 ) according to Claim 1 , in which the first longitudinal axis (X) and the second longitudinal axis (Χ') are coincident.

3. Brush (1 ) according to either one of Claims 1 and 2, in which the deformable element (50) takes the form of a ring extending around the second longitudinal axis (Χ').

4. Brush (1 ) according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the deformable element (50) is made from a malleable metallic material.

5. Brush (1 ) according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the shaping device (5) further comprises a bushing (51 ) extending around the second longitudinal axis (Χ') and preferably made from an elastically deformable material. 6. Brush (1 ) according to Claim 5, in which the bushing (51 ) is overmoulded on the deformable element (50).

7. Brush (1 ) according to either one of Claims 5 and 6, in which the deformable element (50) is embedded inside the bushing (51 ).

8. Brush (1 ) according to any one of Clainns 1 to 7, in which the tuft of bristles (4) comprises successively:

- an attachment portion (44) for attachment to the handle (2);

- a shaping portion (45) around which the shaping device (5) extends, and;

- a free application portion (46), which preferably flares outwards in the radial direction.

9. Brush (1 ) according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, in which the application surface (43) of the tuft of bristles (4) is planar, and possibly chamfered, and/or domed outwards and/or comprises hollows or cavities.

10. Method for applying makeup to the face by means of a brush (1 ) according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, in which the following steps are performed:

- deforming the deformable element (50) of the brush (1 ) in order to cause the tuft of bristles (4) to adopt a given cross-sectional shape, and;

- applying a cosmetic product using the application surface (43) of the tuft of bristles (4) in the cross-sectional shape it has been given.

Description:
Brush for applying a cosmetic composition

The present invention relates to a brush designed for applying a cosmetic composition, particularly a powdered cosmetic composition but also cosmetic compositions having a texture other than that of a powder, such as creams, gels or even waxes, comprising:

- a handle extending along a first longitudinal axis;

- an application part attached to one end of the handle and comprising a tuft of bristles extending along a second longitudinal axis between a first end secured to the handle and a free second end defining an application surface.

Such brushes are notably used for picking up powdered cosmetic compositions, for example compacted or non-compacted make-up compositions, such as eyeshadows, face powders, blushers, foundations or the like, and applying them to the skin. Such brushes can also be used for picking up cosmetic care compositions and applying them to the skin.

The tuft of bristles of these brushes is generally made from a natural material, such as natural silks, or animal hairs, such as hairs from squirrel, wild boar or goat.

Recourse to natural materials from which to make these brushes considerably increases their costs of manufacture, which means that brushes have been developed in which the tuft of bristles is made from synthetic bristles which more or less reproduce the mechanical properties of brushes in which the tuft of bristles is made from natural hairs.

In such brushes, the tuft of bristles may have different shapes and/or sizes particularly suited to the nature of the cosmetic product to be applied to the skin and/or to the region of the skin, particularly of the face, to which the product is to be applied.

Thus, a brush provided with a tuft of bristles the cross section of which is relatively large, for example of the order of 300 mm 2 to 2000 mm 2 , will be particularly well-suited to the application of foundation to the face. In such brushes, by way of example, a tuft of bristles of circular cross section is particularly well-suited to the application of powdered foundation, a tuft of bristles with a flattened cross section, such as an oblong cross section, is particularly well-suited to the application of blusher, and a tuft of bristles having a triangular cross section with rounded corners, is particularly well-suited to the application of liquid foundation. Furthermore, a brush provided with a tuft of bristles the cross section of which has a relatively small surface area, for example of the order of 25 mm 2 to 150 mm 2 , will be particularly well-suited to the application of eyeshadow. In such brushes, by way of example, a tuft of bristles having a flattened cross section, such as an oblong cross section, is particularly well-suited to the application of an eyeshadow as a flat colour across the eyelid, and a tuft of bristles with a circular cross section is particularly well-suited to blending the eyeshadow in the palpebral crease or fold.

So, in order to be able to perform these various applications of cosmetic products, a user needs access to a multitude of applicator brushes, each of them being particularly intended for the aforementioned particular applications for example. In order to be able to perform the various aforementioned cosmetic product applications, the user therefore needs to have access to various brushes and to change between these at each new phase of application of cosmetic product applications, something which proves to be relatively painstaking.

Document US2014331429 discloses a brush of the aforementioned type that partially overcomes these problems.

The brush according to document US2014331429 is in fact equipped with a sleeve partially surrounding the tuft of bristles and able to move axially along the handle between a retracted position in which it leaves a first free axial length of the tuft of bristles exposed and a position pushed forward towards the free end of the tuft of bristles leaving a second free axial length of the tuft of bristles exposed, the said second free axial length being shorter than the first free axial length. Thus, moving the sleeve from the retracted position towards the forward position has the effect of closing up the tuft of bristles and causing the cross section of the tuft of bristles to pass from a first surface area to a second surface area smaller than the first.

By virtue of these arrangements, the brush according to this document US2014331429 offers the user a certain modularity so that she can use it in its large-application-area configuration to apply a cosmetic product to large areas of the face and in its reduced-application-area configuration to make more precise applications of cosmetic product, for example to areas of the face that are difficult to access.

Such a brush nevertheless has a certain number of disadvantages. In particular, the brush according to that document offers the possibility of increasing or reducing the cross-sectional area of the tuft of bristles, but not of modifying its shape in any way. Thus, a tuft of bristles that is circular in cross section when the sleeve is in the retracted position will remain of circular cross section when the sleeve is in the forward position.

Moreover, the fact that the sleeve is moved axially between its retracted and forward positions with respect to the tuft of bristles leads to a variation in the free axial length of this tuft, this variation having an influence on the firmness of the tuft of bristles. Thus, the firmness of the tuft of bristles in the reduced-application-area configuration, corresponding to the forward position of the sleeve, will necessarily be higher than the firmness of this same tuft of bristles in the large-application-area configuration corresponding to the retracted position of the sleeve. This may prove to be troublesome and uncomfortable to the user who might wish to apply a product precisely to a small-sized area of her face, with the same flexibility of bristle tuft as if she were wishing to apply makeup to a large area of the face.

Furthermore, in such a brush, providing an element capable of moving along the handle in order to adjust the dimensions of the cross section of the tuft of bristles is liable to give rise to problems regarding the operational reliability of the brush over the course of time due to phenomena of soiling with external particles, such as dust, or with the cosmetic product picked up and applied using the brush. Specifically, because the mobile sleeve is arranged near the tuft of bristles, the space there is between the handle and the mobile sleeve so as to allow the latter to move along the handle is liable to become fouled with particles of cosmetic product or with external particles, such as dust, after a certain number of uses, such fouling ultimately potentially leading to problems whereby the mobility of the sleeve along the handle becomes seized up to the extent that it becomes impossible to move this sleeve along the handle and to adjust the cross-sectional dimensions of the tuft of bristles.

In addition, with such a brush, there is a risk that the bristles of the tuft of bristles will curl outwards in the radial direction after multiple movements of the sleeve between its retracted and forward positions. This is because friction between the tuft of bristles, notably the bristles furthest towards the outside in the radial direction, and the sleeve when moved axially along the tuft of bristles between its retracted and forward positions, is liable, after of a certain number of movements, to generate a phenomenon whereby the bristles curl. Such a phenomenon leads to a deformation of the overall geometry of the tuft of bristles, and this detracts both from the quality of application of the cosmetic composition by means of the brush and also from the quality as perceived by the user.

Finally, the use of such a mobile element on a brush leads to significant additional manufacturing and assembly cost, as compared with a brush that has no such mobile element.

It is an objective of the present invention to overcome all or some of these disadvantages and the invention for that purpose proposes a brush of the aforementioned type further comprising a bristle-tuft shaping device comprising a shape-memory deformable element arranged in a way that is axially fixed along the second longitudinal axis, surrounding the said tuft of bristles in such a way that the cross section of the said tuft of bristles adopts a shape corresponding to the cross- sectional shape of the deformable element.

What is meant by a « shape-memory deformable element » is that the element can be deformed by the user by plastic deformation in order to give it a given shape, and which can maintain this shape while it is in storage or while the brush is being used, at least until the next time that the user deliberately deforms it.

The force that the user needs to apply in order to begin to deform the shape- memory deformable element may be comprised between 0.5 N and 10 N.

Thanks to this shape-memory malleability of the deformable element, the invention proposes a brush the cross-sectional shape of the tuft of bristles of which can be altered by the user at will through simple manual deformation action on the shape-memory deformable element. The cross section of the tuft of bristles can thus be adjusted to an infinite number of shapes by the user who in order to do so need to do nothing more than shape the deformable element of the shaping device into the desired shape. The cross-sectional shape of the tuft of bristles can thus be easily adjusted by the user to suit the nature of the makeup operation she wishes to perform and/or to the type of cosmetic composition she wishes to apply.

The brush according to the invention thus gives the user improved ergonomics and improved intuitiveness of use by comparison with the existing modifiable brushes.

Moreover, in the brush according to the invention, the fact of providing a shaping device comprising a deformable element arranged axially fixedly along the longitudinal axis of the tuft of bristles makes it possible to minimize the additional manufacture and assembly cost caused by the use of such a device, and makes it possible to make its operation more reliable as it does not carry the risk that operation will be impeded by a fouling phenomenon as described hereinabove.

In addition, the brush according to the invention offers the user a cost and portability advantage as she now has just one brush to purchase and carry around in order to make up her skintone for example, whereas usually several are needed.

The shaping device may be secured to the brush by being attached non- removably to the handle, directly or via an element added to the handle, such as a ferrule used to attach the tuft of bristles to the handle.

As an alternative, the shaping device may take the form of a removable element that can be added to the brush, for example by inserting the shaping device around the tuft of bristles and bringing it axially into abutment along the second longitudinal axis against the handle or against an element borne by the latter, such as a ferrule used to attach the tuft of bristles to the handle. In one such embodiment, the axial position of the shaping device along the second longitudinal axis can be maintained for example via clamping, screw-fastening, clip-fastening or any other means of removable attachment known to those skilled in the art for attaching the shaping device to the handle or to an element secured thereto.

In either one of these embodiments, the shaping device is positioned axially fixedly along the second longitudinal axis when in place on the brush so as to be able to alter the cross-sectional shape of the tuft of bristles.

According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the brush according to the invention incorporates one or more of the following features, considered in isolation or in any technically feasible combination:

- the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis are coincident;

- the shaping device is secured to the handle;

- the deformable element takes the form of a ring extending around the second longitudinal axis;

- the deformable element is made from a malleable metallic material. This malleable metallic material may be selected from the following nonlimiting list: iron, steel, copper, aluminium, zinc or any alloy of the aforementioned metals. This malleable metallic material may have a Young's modulus of between

70 000 MPa and 250 000 MPa. - the shaping device further comprises a bushing extending around the second longitudinal axis and preferably made from an elastically deformable material. The elastically deformable material from which the bushing is made may be elastically deformable, but the return force it applies is not enough to deform the shape-memory deformable element; hence, the shape given to the shape-memory deformable element by the user is at least partially adopted and retained by the bushing.

The use of such an elastically deformable bushing in particular makes it possible to be able to deform the shape-memory deformable element in a way that is even over its surface. For example, when a user deforms the shape-memory deformable element in such a way as to change the cross section of the tuft of bristles from a circular shape into a triangular shape, the corners of this triangular cross section remain rounded rather than sharp. The elastically deformable bushing allows the force applied by the user from a specific point to be spread over a larger area. In this way, the shape-memory deformable element does not create any sharp corners as it deforms, and this offers the twofold advantage of not being injurious to the user and of protecting the shape-memory deformable element from breakage, since a sharp corner formed thereon is liable to create weakness in the material which could cause fatigue breakage thereof after multiple manipulations on the part of the user.

Furthermore, the use of such an elastically deformable bushing affords the brush according to the invention a level of intuitiveness and of ergonomics of use. Specifically, it will be more intuitive for a user to seek to deform an element which is elastically deformable, and therefore flexible, than a shape-memory deformable element made for example from a metallic material.

Advantageously, the elastically deformable bushing may on its exterior surface have areas of different colours and/or different textures encouraging the user to perform deformation actions.

More advantageously still, these various areas of the exterior surface of the elastically deformable bushing may be intended to indicate to the user, for example by means of writing or of a pictogram, which areas she needs to deform, or, in other words, to which areas she needs to apply force, in order to obtain this or that cross- sectional shape of the tuft of bristles which is particularly suited to the application she is intending (for example, an oblong cross-sectional shape of bristle tuft for applying product under her eyes, for contouring, etc., a triangular cross-sectional shape of bristle tuft for applying product to the wings of the nose, etc.).

This elastically deformable material may be selected from the following nonlimiting list: thermoplastic elastomers (SEBS, HYTREL ® or the like) or vulcanizing elastomers (silicone, nitrile or the like).

This elastically deformable material may have a Young's modulus of between 0.5 MPa and 10 MPa, and a hardness less than or equal to 95 Shore A, notably comprised between 5 and 80 Shore A and, in particular, between 30 and 70 Shore A.

- the bushing is overmoulded on the deformable element. Such an arrangement makes it possible to minimize the costs of manufacture of the bristle tuft shaping device, to ensure reliable attachment of the bushing and of the shape- memory deformable element, and to protect the shape-memory deformable element from breakage by distributing the forces that act upon it, in the way explained hereinabove.

- the deformable element is embedded inside the bushing. Such a feature is particularly advantageous when the shape-memory deformable element is made from a metallic material and the bushing is made from a plastic material; specifically, with such a configuration, the fact that the metallic element is embedded inside the plastic bushing makes it possible to prevent damage to the metallic element over the course of time, for example through corrosion phenomena, and also to avoid any contact between the metallic element and the cosmetic product which is liable to give rise to problems of bacteriological contamination of the cosmetic product by the metallic element. Furthermore, and as explained hereinabove, such an arrangement makes it possible to heighten the protection against breakage of the shape-memory deformable element, the bushing in which this element is embedded allowing the forces that act upon it to be distributed.

- the tuft of bristles comprises successively:

* an attachment portion for attachment to the handle;

*a shaping portion around which the shaping device extends, and;

* a free application portion, which preferably flares outwards in the radial direction. - the application surface of the tuft of bristles is planar, and possibly chamfered, and/or domed outwards and/or comprises hollows or cavities, the said hollows or cavities making it possible to create local reserves of cosmetic composition on the application surface of the tuft of bristles of the brush.

The present invention also proposes a method for applying makeup to the face, by means of a brush having one, another or any technically feasible combination of the aforementioned features, in which the following steps are performed:

- deforming the deformable element of the brush in order to cause the tuft of bristles to adopt a given cross-sectional shape, and;

- applying a cosmetic product using the application surface of the tuft of bristles in the cross-sectional shape it has been given.

In the embodiment in which the shaping device is removable and initially provided separate from the brush, the step of deforming the deformable element of the brush in the method according to the invention will be preceded by a step of fitting the shaping device to the brush, by passing the tuft of bristles through the shaping device and keeping this shaping device at a fixed axial position along the second longitudinal axis using any suitable means.

The invention may be better understood from reading the following description of nonlimiting exemplary embodiments thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 depicts perspective views of the brush according to the invention in three different configurations of the cross section of the tuft of bristles, namely a configuration in which the cross section of the tuft of bristles has a circular outline, a configuration in which the cross section of the tuft of bristles has an oblong outline, which means to say is flattened in a plane of flattening, with rounded lateral edges, and a configuration in which the cross section of the tuft of bristles has a roughly triangular outline, with rounded corners;

- Figures 2, 3 and 4 respectively illustrate face-on views of the brush according to the invention according to the three different configurations of Figure

1 ;

- Figures 2A, 3A and 4A respectively illustrate views from above of the brush according to the invention of Figures 2, 3 and 4; Figures 2B, 3B and 4B are respective views in section on the lines 11-11, Ill-Ill and IV-IV of the brush according to the invention in its configurations of Figures 2, 3 and 4.

In the remainder of the description, by convention, the distal-proximal orientation will be adopted with consideration to the fact that the proximal end of the brush corresponds to the end at which the handle is located and the distal end of the brush is the end at which the tuft of bristles is located.

Figure 1 depicts perspective views of the brush according to the invention in three different configurations of bristle tuft cross section.

In the left-most view of Figure 1 , the brush 1 adopts a first configuration in which the tuft of bristles 4 has a cross section having a circular outline. This first configuration may for example correspond to the initial condition in which the brush is sold and delivered to a user. In this configuration, the brush 1 is, for example, particularly well-suited to the application of powdered foundation to a large sized area of the face such as the cheek, when the diameter of the circular outline of the cross section of the tuft of bristles 4 at the location of the shape-memory deformable element 50 of the shaping device 5 is relatively large in size, such as of the order of 20 mm to 40 mm, or to the blending of eyeshadow in the palpebral crease or fold when the diameter of the circular outline of the cross section of the tuft of bristles 4 at the location of the shape-memory deformable element 50 of the shaping device 5 is relatively small in size, such as of the order of 4 mm to 10 mm.

In the central view of Figure 1 , the brush 1 adopts a second configuration in which the tuft of bristles 4 has a cross section of oblong outline. This second configuration may for example correspond to the condition into which the user has modified the brush 1 in its left-most first configuration of Figure 1 , by action on the shaping device 5 as will be explained in greater detail hereinafter. In this second configuration, the brush 1 is, for example, particularly well-suited to the application of blusher to a large sized area of the face, such as the cheek, when the largest dimension of the oblong outline of the cross section of the tuft of bristles 4 at the location of the shape-memory deformable element 50 of the shaping device 5 is relatively large in size, such as of the order of 25 mm to 60 mm, or to the application of eyeshadow as flat colour across the eyelid when the largest dimension of the oblong outline of the cross section of the tuft of bristles 4 at the location of the shape- memory deformable element 50 of the shaping device 5 is relatively small in size, such as of the order of 5 mm to 15 mm.

In the right-most view in Figure 1 , the brush 1 adopts a third configuration in which the tuft of bristles 4 has a cross section of triangular outline with rounded corners. This third configuration may for example correspond to the condition in which the user has modified the brush 1 in its left-most first configuration in Figure 1 or in its central second configuration in Figure 1 , by action on the shaping device 5 as will be explained in greater detail hereinafter. In this third configuration, the brush 1 is, for example, particularly well-suited to the application of liquid foundation to a large-sized area of the face, such as the cheek, but also to the precision application, by means of the rounded corners of the tuft of bristles, of foundation to smaller-sized areas of the face, such as the wings of the nose or the circle of the eye, when the largest dimension of the triangular outline with rounded edges of the cross section of the tuft of bristles 4 at the location of the shape-memory deformable element 50 of the shaping device 5 is relatively large in size, such as of the order of 10 mm to 30 mm.

As visible for example in Figure 1 , the brush 1 according to the invention comprises in the conventional way, from its proximal end towards its distal end, a handle 2 extending along a first longitudinal axis X. The handle 2 is formed of a body that is elongate along the first longitudinal axis X, for example a stem, here having the shape of a cylinder of revolution, made of wood or of plastic such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) or the like.

The stem extends along the first longitudinal axis X between a proximal end, which is ogee shaped in the exemplary embodiment illustrated, and a distal end the diameter of which is small in comparison with the rest of the stem, being separated from the main portion of the rod by a radial shoulder.

The brush 1 further comprises an application part 3 for the application of a cosmetic composition, particularly a powdered cosmetic composition, fixed to the distal end of the handle 2 by means of an attachment ferrule 6.

As visible in particular in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the application part 3 of the brush

1 comprises a tuft of bristles 4 extending along a second longitudinal axis X' between a first end 41 attached to the handle 2 and a free second end 42 defining an application surface 43. The tuft of bristles 4 has an attachment portion 44 for attachment to the handle 2, and a free application portion 46. For preference, the free application portion 46 flares outwards in the radial direction with respect to the second longitudinal axis X'.

The bond 6 is formed in the conventional way of a metal ferrule band in the form of a hollow cylinder of revolution forming a central portion that surrounds the distal end of the handle 2 so as to extend along the first longitudinal axis X between a first end 61 bearing against the radial shoulder of the handle 2 and an opposite second end 62.

The ferrule 6 traps and also grips within it the attachment portion 44 of the tuft of bristles 4 so as to secure the tuft of bristles 4 to the handle 2. To complement the clamping of the ferrule 6 to the handle 2 and the tuft of bristles 4, a coat of adhesive may be provided on the frontal surface defined by the distal end of the handle 2, against which coat the attachment portion 44 of the tuft of bristles 4 rests in order to strengthen its attachment to the handle 2 and prevent bristle loss during the life of the brush 1 .

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the first longitudinal axis X along which the handle 2 and the ferrule 6 extend and the second longitudinal axis X' along which the tuft of bristles 4 extends, are coincident.

As an alternative, provision may be made for the second longitudinal axis X' to form a non-zero angle with the first longitudinal axis X. More specifically, in this alternative form, the attachment portion 44 of the tuft of bristles 4 extends along the first longitudinal axis X and the application portion 46 of the tuft of bristles 4 extends along the second longitudinal axis X', making a non-zero angle with the attachment portion 44.

The bristles 40 that make up the tuft 4 may be natural silks or animal hairs, such as squirrel, pony or goat hairs, or alternatively synthetic bristles made for example of polymer, notably by extrusion and spinning. For example, the bristles 40 are formed of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) or of polyamide. As an alternative, the bristles 40 may also be made from another thermoplastic material or from a combination of thermoplastic materials, including polypropylene (PP), styrene, polystyrene, polyethylene (PE), ABS, PVC, polycarbonate, polyester, polyurethane, etc. In the figures, the application surface 43 of the tuft of bristles 4 is domed or convex towards the outside; however, without departing from the scope of the present invention, provision may be made for this application surface 43 to be concave towards the outside, wavy or even flat, forming or not forming a non-zero angle with the second longitudinal axis X', so as to exhibit a chamfered profile.

According to the invention and as visible in particular in Figures 1 to 4, the brush 1 according to the invention is equipped with a shaping device 5 shaping the tuft of bristles 4. This shaping device 5 comprises a shape-memory deformable element 50 fixed axially along the second longitudinal axis X' and surrounding, in other words encircling, the tuft of bristles 4 so that the cross section of the said tuft of bristles 4 adopts a shape that corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the deformable element 50.

More specifically, the tuft of bristles 4 has a shaping portion 45 situated between the attachment portion 44 for attachment to the handle 2 and the free application portion 46. The shaping device 5 of the brush 1 according to the invention extends in the region of this shaping portion 45 shaping the tuft of bristles 4.

In the alternative form of embodiment in which the second longitudinal axis X' forms a non-zero angle with the first longitudinal axis X, the attachment portion 44 for attaching the tuft of bristles 4 extends along the first longitudinal axis X and the shaping portion 45 and the application portion 46 of the tuft of bristles 4 extend along the second longitudinal axis X'.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, where the first and second longitudinal axes X, X' are coincident, the attachment portion 44, shaping portion 45 and application portion 46 of the tuft of bristles 4 all extend along the same longitudinal axis X, X'.

In this embodiment, the shaping device 5 is attached to the handle 2.

More specifically, and as visible in Figures 1 to 4, the shaping device 5 is arranged fixedly along the longitudinal axis X, X' in the vicinity of the distal end 62 of the attachment ferrule 6 that attaches the tuft of bristles 4 to the handle 2.

As an alternative, provision may be made for the brush 1 to have no attachment ferrule 6 and for it to be the shaping device 5 directly that attaches the tuft of bristles 4 to the handle 2. In that case, the attachment portion 44 and the shaping portion 45 of the tuft of bristles would be coincident. According to one advantageous arrangement of the invention, the shaping device 5 may be arranged fixedly and nonremovably along the longitudinal axis X, X', using any appropriate means known to those skilled in the art; for example, the shaping device 5 may be bonded, welded or the like to the distal end 62 of the attachment ferrule 6 or directly to the distal end of the handle 2, for example when it is the shaping device 5 that also provides the securing of the tuft of bristles 4 to the handle 2.

As an alternative, the shaping device 5 may take the form of a removable element attached around the tuft of bristles 4 and fixed in an axial position along the longitudinal axis X, X' by any releasable means of attachment known to those skilled in the art; for example, the shaping device 5 may be clip-fastened, screw-fastened, assembled by clamping or the like to the distal end 62 of the attachment ferrule 6 or directly to the distal end of the handle 2, for example when the shaping device 5 also provides the securing of the tuft of bristles 4 to the handle 2.

Whatever the embodiment considered, the shaping device 5 is positioned axially fixedly along the second longitudinal axis X' when it is in place on the brush 1 so as to be able to alter the cross-sectional shape of the tuft of bristles 4.

As can be seen in particular in Figures 1 to 4, the shaping device 5 comprises a shape-memory deformable element in the form of a ring 50 extending right around the longitudinal axis X, X' and surrounding the shaping portion 45 of the tuft of bristles 4.

This ring 50 is advantageously made of a malleable metallic material such as iron, steel, copper, aluminium, zinc or any alloy of the aforementioned metals. This malleable metallic material may have a Young's modulus of between 70 000 MPa and 250 000 MPa.

Advantageously, the force that the user needs to apply in order to begin to deform the shape-memory ring 50 may be comprised between 0.5 N and 10 N.

A person skilled in the art will know how to dimension this ring according to the material chosen from which to make it so that it can be plastically deformed by applying a force comprised within this range to it.

Furthermore, the shaping device 5 comprises a bushing 51 extending around the longitudinal axis X, X'.

This bushing 51 is preferably made of an elastically deformable or flexible material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer (SEBS, HYTREL ® or the like), a vulcanizing elastomer (silicone, nitrile or the like) or the like. This elastically deformable material may have a Young's modulus of between 0.5 MPa and 10 MPa, and a hardness less than or equal to 95 Shore A, notably comprised between 5 and 80 Shore A and, in particular, between 30 and 70 Shore A.

Advantageously, and as visible in Figures 2 to 4 and 2B to 4B, in the embodiment illustrated, the deformable ring 50 is embedded inside the bushing 51 so that it is not directly exposed to moisture or to the cosmetic product picked up and applied by means of the brush 1 according to the invention, the purpose of this being to avoid any impairment of the ring 50 or any bacterial contamination of the cosmetic composition by the ring 50.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the elastically deformable bushing 51 is made from a material that is at least partially translucent so that the deformable ring 50 (illustrated in dotted line in the figures), which constitutes the element that the user needs to deform in order to give the cross section of the tuft of bristles 4 the desired shape, is visible from the outside.

For preference, the bushing 51 is overmoulded on the ring 50.

The material from which the bushing 51 is made may be elastically deformable, but the return force it applies is not enough to deform the shape- memory deformable ring. Thus, the ring 50 may remain in the shape given to it by the user, despite the elastically deformable nature of the material from which the bushing 51 is made.

Thus, and according to the invention, a user can very easily and intuitively make the tuft of bristles 4 of the brush 1 adopt a cross section of the desired outline by manually deforming the ring 50 of the shaping device 5 and causing it to adopt the desired shape for the cross section of the tuft of bristles 4.

The user can therefore very easily modify her brush from one configuration to another, from among those illustrated in Figure 1 or any other possible configuration by deforming the ring 50, in order to adapt the cross-sectional shape of the tuft of bristles 4 to the desired application of product, and can do so using the one same modifiable brush according to the invention.

Of course the present invention is not restricted to the three configurations of bristle tuft illustrated in the figures, but covers any shape of cross-sectional outline of the tuft of bristles 4 that the user can conceive of, by the action on the shape- memory deformable ring 50.