US20230320478A1 - Selfcare brush - Google Patents

Abstract

A selfcare brush (10) is provided and includes a handle (12) with a connection portion (20) at one end, and first and second removeable brush heads (14, 16). Each of the brush heads (14, 16) includes a mutually engageable engagement portion (24, 26) to interconnect the first and second brush heads (14, 16) to one another, wherein interconnection of the first and second brush heads (14, 16) permits the first and second brush heads (14, 16) to connect to the connection portion (20) of the handle (12) with the handle (12) sandwiched between the first and second brush heads (14, 16).

Description

• This invention relates to a selfcare brush.
• In the beauty and cosmetics industries, there are many different types of selfcare brush products particularly for hair styling and makeup application. For hair styling, different types of brushes are used for different types of hair, different sections of hair on the same person and for achieving different styles of hair. For example, a harder bristle with larger spacing therebetween would be used on thicker hair types and to detangle the hair, whereas a finer and denser bristle would be used to shape the hair during drying. The same can be said for makeup brushes in which there are different shapes, densities and textures of bristles for different applications of make up to the face. Makeup brushes also make use of sponges to apply certain types of makeup. It will be understood that in the context of the invention, a “brush” includes a makeup sponge which effectively brushes makeup onto the face.
• According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a selfcare brush comprising:
• • a handle including a connection portion at one end; and
  • first and second removeable brush heads, the first and second brush heads each including a mutually engageable engagement portion to interconnect the first and second brush heads to one another, wherein interconnection of the first and second brush heads permits the first and second brush heads to connect to the connection portion of the handle with the handle sandwiched between the first and second brush heads.
• The ability to selectively separate the brush heads and the handle from one another allows a user to retain only one handle for use with any number of brush heads each of which may provide a different selfcare functionality.
• A user need only, therefore, swap or replace the brush heads (as opposed to the whole brush) should they become worn or damaged or if a different selfcare functionality is required. This makes it easy for the user to switch functionality of the brush as desired, as is often the case in one “sitting” of selfcare different brush types are required.
• As a result, selfcare brush suppliers need stock only a reduced number of handles together with a range of brush heads, thereby reducing the bulk and mass of selfcare components that must be transported from a manufacturer and providing a commensurate reduction in the CO2 footprint of each selfcare brush. Moreover, since a user can discard the brush head only once it is no longer in a good condition, the amount of waste from the consumer is also reduced.
• In addition to the foregoing, the handle having first and second brush heads connected thereto means that the brush can provide two different functionalities at the same time, i.e. it is a dual-brush head. The first and second brush heads interconnecting with one another and that interconnection being how the brush heads are connected to the handle provides a reliable and robust attachment of the brush heads.
• Preferably, the first brush head has a male engagement portion and the second brush head has a female engagement portion, wherein the female engagement portion receives the male engagement portion to interconnect the first and second brush heads to one another.
• Such male and female engagement portions provide a reliable and secure engagement without the need for additional components or moving parts.
• Optionally, the connection portion includes an aperture, the aperture configured to receive and retain the interconnected brush heads so as to connect the first and second brush heads to the handle.
• The interconnected brush heads being retained within the aperture of the handle provides a reliable connection between the brush heads and the handle while reducing the complexity of the brush design.
• The aperture may produce a friction fit or a snap fit between it and the interconnected brush heads, or any other suitable type of fit. Such an arrangement means no moving parts are required to connect the brush heads to the handle, which would otherwise add complexity and tend to be prone to breaking.
• Preferably, the female engagement portion is shaped and sized to fit tightly within the aperture so as to connect the first and second brush heads to the handle.
• The female engagement portion itself providing such a tight fit allows one component to provide two functionalities, i.e. it provides the engagement portion for interconnection to the other brush head and it provides the connection of the brush heads to the handle. Thus, the number of components required in the brush is reduced as is the complexity.
• Optionally, the first and second brush heads each includes a mutual locking portion to lock the brush heads into position relative to one another when the brush heads are interconnected.
• Providing such mutual locking portions further secures the brush heads to the handle to prevent unwanted disconnection of the brush heads from the handle, especially where, for example, rigorous brushing is required.
• The locking portions may form part of the male and female engagement portions.
• The locking portions forming part of the male and female engagement portions makes use of a component already provided for in the brush heads to perform another functionality. Thus, the number of components required is reduced.
• Optionally, one of the first and second brush heads includes a finger slot accessible when the first and second brush heads are connected to the handle.
• The finger slot can therefore be accessed by a user when the brush heads are connected to the handle to help grip the brush head and disconnect it from the handle to change or replace one or more of the brush heads.
• Each of the first and second brush heads may include one or more of the following: bristles, comb teeth, sponge or a blank.
• As indicated previously, these different types of brush heads are used to achieve different outcomes or on different hair/skin types. Providing a blank brush head can be used where only a single brush head type is required.
• Optionally, the end of the handle opposite the connection portion has a paddle shaped profile.
• Providing such a paddle shaped profile at the other end of the handle means that this end can be used to section hair and/or for scooping makeup or creams.
• In an embodiment of the invention, the brush further includes a stand, the stand including an opening for receiving the end of the handle opposite to the connecting portion to independently stand the brush handle in an upright manner.
• The stand provides a secure place for the brush handle to be stored. By standing the brush handle upright, it also protects the brush heads, when connected, from coming into contact with a surface, such as a floor, which may be unhygienic.
• Preferably, the stand includes a compartment for storing one or more brush heads.
• The inclusion of such a compartment provides a handy means of storing spare brush heads by keeping the brush components all together in one place.
• The compartment may be arranged internally within the stand.
• The component being arranged internally within the stand keeps the overall footprint of the stand to a minimum by making use of the internal volume of the stand to store the brush heads.
• Preferably, the stand includes a lid which reveals the compartment when the lid is in an open configuration.
• Providing such a lid protects the brush heads from environmental factors such as dust while also keeping the whole brush assembly look neat and tidy to the eye.
• Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
• FIG.1 shows a selfcare brush according to a first embodiment of the invention;
• FIGS.2ato2dshow a portion of the selfcare brush ofFIG.1 with brush heads being connected to the handle;
• FIG.3 shows the selfcare brush with a different type of brush head connected to the handle;
• FIGS.4aand4bshow the selfcare brush with a stand; and
• FIG.5 shows the selfcare brush with a protective casing.
• A selfcare brush according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown in the figures and designated generally byreference10.
• Thebrush10 includes ahandle12 and first and secondremoveable brush heads14,16. Thehandle12 has first andsecond ends18,20. At the first end18 is a connection portion21 which includes anaperture22 formed completely through thehandle12. At thesecond end20 is a flat spatula shaped profile, as can be seen inFIG.1.
• Thesecond end20 may take another form, such as a pointed profile or a cylindrical profile.
• As shown more dearly inFIGS.2aand2b, the first andsecond brush heads14,16 each include a mutually engageable engagement portion24,26. In the embodiment shown, thefirst brush head14 has a male engagement portion28 and thesecond brush head16 has a female engagement portion30. The male and female engagement portions28,30 are shaped to fit with one another such that the female engagement portion30 receives the male engagement portion28.
• In this embodiment, the male and female engagement portions28,30 are oblong in shape since they follow the perimeter profile shape of each of thebrush heads14,16.
• In other embodiments, the engagement portions28,30 may take any other shape which may or may not match the shape of thebrush head14,16. For example, thebrush heads14,16 might be round and the engagement portions28,30 may also be round or may instead be oblong, rectangular, etc. Moreover, the outward shape of the brush heads14,16 may differ from one another while their engagement portions28, match to enable interconnection of the brush heads14,16 to one another.
• As shown inFIG.2c, the female engagement portion30 of thesecond brush head16 is shaped and sized to fit tightly within theaperture22 of thehandle12. In other embodiments, there may be a separate component on either the first orsecond brush head14,16 which provides such a fit within theaperture22 of thehandle12.
• The first and second brush heads14,16 each includes a mutual locking portion32. In this embodiment, the locking portions32 take the form of abump34 and corresponding indent36. Thebump34 is formed on the male engagement portion28 while the indent36 is formed on the female engagement portion30 (seeFIG.2b), although in other embodiments this could be the other way around.
• As shown inFIG.2b, there are twobumps34 and corresponding indents36, each positioned at the top and bottom of the oblong shape of the engagement portions28,30. In other embodiments, there may be fewer or more locking portions32. Moreover, the locking portions32 may take any other suitable form, e.g. a ramped portion with a corresponding stop portion.
• The locking portions32, together with the tight fit of the female engagement portion within theaperture22, allow the interconnected brush heads14,16 to snap fit into theaperture22 of thehandle12 so as to provide a secure connection of the brush heads14,16 to the handle.
• The second brush head16 (although in other embodiments it could be the first brush head14) includes afinger slot38 which is indented into one end of the oblong shape of thebrush head16. As shown more clearly inFIG.2d, thefinger slot38 is accessible when the first and second brush heads14,16 are connected to thehandle12. Thus, a gap between thebrush head16 and thehandle12 is created. The shape and size of theslot38 in this embodiment is such to permit insertion of a finger or at least a tip of a finger into theslot38.
• The brush heads14,16 shown inFIGS.2ato2dinclude bristles40a,40bextending therefrom. The brush heads14,16 shown with these types ofbristles40a,40bare intended for haircare and styling. Diagram A inFIG.2dshows the bristle pattern42aof thefirst brush head14, which can be seen to be a dense pattern of bristles in dose proximity to one another. Whereas diagram B shows thebristle pattern42bof thesecond brush head16, which can be seen to be uniform and spaced out to allow hair to easily pass through the gaps in the bristles. Thefirst brush head14 has finer, bushier bristles40afor styling, whereas thesecond brush head16 has thicker, individual bristles40bfor combing and detangling.
• In other embodiments, the brush heads14,16 may include other types of bristles, for example softer bristles for the application of makeup. One or more of the brush heads14,16 may instead include comb teeth or a makeup sponge. In the latter regard, as indicated previously, the term “brush” and “brush head” in the context of this application extends to makeup sponges (which “brush” makeup onto the face).
• In addition, and as shown inFIG.3, a brush head (shown as thesecond brush head16 here but could equally be the first brush head14) may have a blank44, i.e. devoid of bristles, teeth or sponge. The blank44 has a flat,non-operative face46 which could be used as space for branding of thebrush10.
• In use, the male engagement portion28 of thefirst brush head14 is inserted into theaperture22 of thehandle12—as shown inFIG.2b. The female engagement portion30 of thesecond brush head16 is brought into line with the male engagement portion28 and the two brush heads14,16 are pushed together so that the female engagement portion30 receives and engages with the male engagement portion28. As shown inFIG.2c, this could be done by angling thesecond brush head16 relative to thefirst brush head14 and engaging each locking portion32 in turn. Or both locking portions32 may be engaged together by simply pushing the two brush heads14,16 together. In any event, the interconnected brush heads12,16 are snap fitted into theaperture22 of thehandle12 and the user will hear and feel a “click” of the locking portions32 so that they know the brush heads14,16 are secure.
• As shown inFIG.2d, the brush heads14,16 are interconnected with one another through theaperture22 of thehandle12 and are maintained in position by a tight fit between the interconnected brush heads14,16 and theaperture22.
• To disconnect the brush heads14,16 (e.g. to replace or store them), the user pulls the bottom end of thesecond brush head16 via thefinger slot38 to forcibly release the locking portions32 from one another and separate the brush heads14,16 from one another and thus from thehandle12.
• Moving ontoFIGS.4aand4b, thebrush10 further includes astand48. Thestand48 shown in this embodiment is substantially spherical with a flattened bottom50 to allow it to be supported by a flat surface, such as a table. The top52 of thestand48 has anopening54 shaped and sized to receive thesecond end20 of thehandle12 such that thehandle12 is supported by thestand48 to independently hold thehandle12 in an upright manner (as shown inFIG.4a).
• Thestand48 includes alid56 which is opened to reveal acompartment58 inside thestand48. Thecompartment58 is shaped and sized to receive spare brush heads14,16 and in this embodiment, there are four compartments58 (although there may be more or fewer in other embodiments). In other embodiments, there may instead be asingle compartment58 which is sized to receive multiple spare brush heads.
• In this embodiment, thestand48 is formed by two equally sized portions forming a hollow interior; wherein thelid56 is one of these portions. The other portion, abody portion60, and thelid56 are secured to one another by a threadedportion62, i.e. they screw together like a bottle cap—as shown inFIG.4b.
• As can be seen inFIG.4b, thecompartments58 are arranged in a circular manner around acentre portion64 of thestand48. Thecentre portion64 of thebody portion60 includes anaperture66 which receives anextension portion68 of thelid56. Theextension portion68 flows from theopening54 which receives thehandle12 which, in this embodiment, is open only at one end.
• In other embodiments, thelid56 may take any other form to selectively open the interior of thestand48 to reveal thecompartments58. For example, thelid56 may be hingedly fixed onto the stand or may be slidably engaged.
• In further embodiments, thestand48 may not have alid56 and instead thecompartments58 may be accessible externally from thestand48. Instead, thestand48 may not havecompartments58 at all.
• As shown inFIG.5, thebrush10 further includes aprotective case70 to secure around the brush heads14,16. Theprotective case70 in this embodiment is formed by first andsecond portions72,74 which are hingedly secured to one another via ahinge76 which is integrally formed in thecase70. Thecase70 includes engagement portions78 which are shaped and sized to push-fit onto a protruding outer surface portion of thehandle12 and/or brush heads14,16 to thus secure thecase70 in place.
• In this embodiment, the engagement portions78 include a first channel80 located at the top of thecase70 and which receives and engages with the outer top perimeter of thehandle12. The engagement portions78 further include a second channel82 located at the bottom of thecase70 and which receives and engages with the body of thehandle12 directly underneath the brush heads14,16. The first channel80 is formed by two parallel walls which extend downward from the top of thecase70 such that the first channel80 is internal to thecase70. The second channel82 is formed by a nick in the bottom surface of thecase70.
• Theprotective case70 further includes a locking portion84 in the form of an elongate raised portion86 and corresponding indent88 which receives the raised portion when thecase70 is in the closed position.
• In other embodiments, the engagement portions78 and/or locking portion84 of thecase70 may take any other suitable form.
• The components of thebrush10, e.g. thehandle12, brush heads14,16, stand48 andprotective cover70, may be made from a range of materials and may be finished by a range of different finishes. Each component may be made from different materials from one another and may be finished differently, i.e. they may or may not match in material and finish. The different materials include plastics, e.g. PP plastic, stainless steel, or a natural material such as bamboo. The finishes include chrome, glass or matte.

Claims (13)

1. A selfcare brush comprising:

a handle including a connection portion at one end; and

first and second removeable brush heads, the first and second brush heads each including a mutually engageable engagement portion to interconnect the first and second brush heads to one another, wherein interconnection of the first and second brush heads permits the first and second brush heads to connect to the connection portion of the handle with the handle sandwiched between the first and second brush heads.

2. A brush according toclaim 1 wherein the first brush head has a male engagement portion and the second brush head has a female engagement portion, wherein the female engagement portion receives the male engagement portion to interconnect the first and second brush heads to one another.

3. A brush according toclaim 2 wherein the connection portion includes an aperture, the aperture configured to receive and retain the interconnected brush heads so as to connect the first and second brush heads to the handle.

4. A brush according toclaim 3 wherein the female engagement portion is shaped and sized to fit tightly within the aperture so as to connect the first and second brush heads to the handle.

5. A brush according toclaim 1 wherein the first and second brush heads each includes a mutual locking portion to lock the brush heads into position relative to one another when the brush heads are interconnected.

6. A brush according toclaim 5 wherein the locking portions form part of the male and female engagement portions.

7. A brush according toclaim 1 wherein one of the first and second brush heads includes a finger slot accessible when the first and second brush heads are connected to the handle.

8. A brush according toclaim 1 wherein each of the first and second brush heads includes one or more of the following: bristles, comb teeth, sponge or a blank.

9. A brush according toclaim 1 wherein the end of the handle opposite the connection portion has a paddle shaped profile.

10. A brush according toclaim 1 further including a stand, the stand including an opening for receiving the end of the handle opposite to the connecting portion to independently stand the brush handle in an upright manner.

11. A brush according toclaim 10 wherein the stand includes a compartment for storing one or more brush heads.

12. A brush according toclaim 11 wherein the compartments are arranged internally within the stand.

13. A brush according toclaim 12 wherein the stand includes a lid which reveals the compartment when the lid is in an open configuration.

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