Brush having pillared bristles

Abstract

A brush is provided having an elongated handle with an applicator head to the handle, preferably by a ferrule. The head has a plurality: of stacked bristles with tips that define, in part, a base plane and, in part, a series of pillars projecting upwardly from the base plane. In a preferred embodiment of the brush, the applicator head has a generally cylindrical cross-section and the series of pillars is arranged in a circular pattern. The brush may be adapted for use with a stencil mask as a fabric paintbrush, an artist paintbrush or as a cosmetic brush for facial make-up.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of the present inventor's U.S. Design Application No. 29/163,393, filed Jul. 3, 2002, which stands allowed

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention generally concerns brushes, particularly those used for stenciling, fine art and fabric painting work; also, cosmetic brushes useful in applying facial makeup.

BACKGROUND

[0003] In the performance of stenciling work, the painter encounters a difference in height presented between the solid or masking portion versus the cutout portion of the stencil pattern. It is the cutout portions through which a work surface is exposed for painting. That is, the work surface being painted is slighty lower than the top surface of the masking body portion of the stencil depending upon the thickness of the stencil. Heretofore, it has been conventional to employ a brush with bristles having a generally uniform height at their tips and so the brush must be angled in order for the tips to preferentially contact the work surface rather than the masking portion. This makes it more difficult to work the paint on and into the desired painting surface, which presents a further shortcoming of the conventional approaches taken. That is, others have sought to adapt prior brushes for stenciling work rather than address the inherent, needs for a specialized brush for stenciling use. The result often obtained in such prior approaches, moreover, undesirably spreads paint into the peripheral extremities of the brush head rather than concentrating the paint centrally within the brush head.

[0004] In rendering a fine art work, it is sometimes desired to impart a texture to the painting, for example, by “dabbing” or layering paint onto the rendering to enhance the effect. Conventional brushes are presently adapted in an effort to impart such texture, with mixed results.

[0005] In applying facial make-up products for cosmetic effect, it is desirable to work the product into the skin, which is not done as well with conventional brushes that fail to concentrate the product application centrally within the brush head.

[0006] Likewise, when painting a fabric, conventional brushes do not centralize the paint application within the brush head thus not allowing paint to be worked into the fabric fiber interstices for optimum coverage.

[0007] Accordingly, there exists a need ie a stencil brush capable of concentrating paint in the center of the brush applicator head; moreover, a brush capable of working the paint “into” a surface to achieve a desired effect.

[0008] There exists a further need for a cosmetic brush that allows the user to work a desired product into the skin by concentrating the applicator forces (and hence the product being applied), within the center of the brush head.

SUMMARY

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, a brush is provided having an elongated handle with an applicator head attached to the handle, preferably by a ferrule. The head has a plurality of stacked bristles with tips tat define, in part, a base plane and in part a series of pillars projecting upwardly from the base plane.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the brush, the applicator head has a generally cylindrical cross-section and the series of pillars is arranged in a circular pattern.

[0011] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a stencil brush is provided having an elongated handle with an applicator head attached to the handle, preferably by a ferrule. The head has a plurality of stacked bristles with tips that defuse, in part, a base plane for contacting a masking surface of a stencil pattern and, in part, a series of pillars projecting upwardly from the base plane for applying paint to a work surface through the cut out portions of the pattern.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the stencil brush, the applicator head has a generally cylindrical cross-section and the series of pillars is arranged in a circular pattern.

[0013] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a cosmetic brush is provided for applying a facial make-up product to the skin, the brush having an elongated handle with an applicator head attached to the handle, preferably by a ferrule. The head has a plurality of stacked bristles with tips that define, in part, a base plane and impart a series of pillars projecting upwardly from the base plane.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment the cosmetic brush, the applicator head has a generally cylindrical cross-section and the series of pillars is arranged in a circular pattern.

[0015] According to still another aspect of the present invention, a an artist brush is provided for applying paint to a work surface, the brush having an elongated handle with an applicator head attached to the handle, preferably by a ferrule. The head has a plurality of stacked bristles with tips that define, in part, a base plane and in part a series of pillars predating upwardly from the base plane.

[0016] In preferred embodiment of the cosmetic brush, the applicator head has a generally cylindrical cross-section and the series of pillars is arranged in a circular pattern.

[0017] According to still another aspect of the present invention, a fabric brush is provided having and elongated handle with an applicator head attached to the handle, preferably by a ferrule. The head has a plurality of slacked bristles with tips that define, in part, a base plane and in part a series of pillars projecting upwardly from the base plane.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the fabric brush, the applicator head has a genes cylindrical cross-section and the series of pillars is arranged in a circular pattern.

[0019] An advantage of the present invention is a brush useful for applying artist paint, fabric paint or for facial cosmetics, with an applicator head that concentrates user-applied forces centrally within the brush head; likewise, the product being applied, i.e., paint or facial make-up, is concentrated centrally within the applicator head. This allows greater ability to work the product into the surface, particularly a textured surface such as skin or fabric.

[0020] Another advantage of the present invention is a stenciling brush that has central pillars to preferentially contact the work surface exposed through a stencil cutout, by centralizing application of paint within the pillars of bristles.

[0021] Other objects and advantages will become apparent to a reader skilled in the art, with reference to the following Figures and accompanying Detailed Description wherein textual reference characters correspond to those denoted on the Drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of stencil brush having pillared bristles of the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1; and

[0024] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing the brush of FIG. 1 engaging a stencil pattern in simulated use.

Detailed Description

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, there is provided a brush generally shown at 10, according to the present invention. Brush 10 has a handle 12 that is preferably elongated and extends along an axis 14, with a ferrule 16 probably attached to the handle 12. A plurality of stacked bristles 18 is preferably retained by ferrule 16, defining a shape having an otter dimension 20 with tips 22 of the bristles forming an applicator head that is generally shown at 24. The bristle tips 22 define, in part, a base plane 26 and, in part, a series of pillars 28 that project upwardly from the base plane across the dimension 20. Various types and colors of bristles 18 may be used, such as natural mink or boar, or synthetic fiber. Moreover, head 24 is preferably cylindrical, hence outer dimension 20 represents a diameter. Thus, the pillars 28 preferably are arrayed in a circular pattern, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, with a central pillar 29 that is generally aligned with axis 14 Other, non-circular geometric shapes and patterns may be employed, depending on the use intended. Pillars 28 concentrate the paint or other product being applied, centrally within the head 24 and allow a user of the brush to more effectively work the product into a surface, such as a canvas, paper, fabric or skin, depending on the application desired

[0026] FIG. 3 shows the brush 10 being used in an operation with a stenciling mask 30, that is, as a preferred stencil brush. Base plane 26 of head 24 contacts the top surface 32 of mask 30 and tips 22 of pillars 28 engage a work surface 34 to apply paint Work surface 34 may be, e.g, a canvas, parchment or other material Alternatively, the brush 10 of FIGS. 1-2 may be employed to apply paint to a fabric (not shown), why the pillars 28 concentrate paint within the head 24 to cover the interstices of the fabric fibers (not shown). When used for fine art renderings (not shown), brush 10 may be employed to dab paint on the rendering to create texture or other artistic effects. Another alternative use for the brush 10 is for applying a facial makeup product (not shown), wherein the pillars 28 concentrate the make-up product centrally within the head 24 and allow a user of the brush to more effectively work the product into the skin.

[0027] While one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it should be understood that various changes, adaptations and modifications might be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A brush for applying a flowable product onto a work surface, the brush comprising a handle and an applicator head attached to the handle, the head including a plurality of stacked bristles with tips that define, in part, a base plane and, in part, a series of pillars projecting upwardly from the base plane.

2. The brush of claim 1 wherein the applicator head has a generally cylindrical cross-section and the pillars are arranged in a circular pattern.

3. A stencil brush for applying paint onto a work surface through a stenciling mask, the brush having an elongated handle, a ferrule and an applicator head attached to the handle by the ferrule, the head including a plurality of stacked bristles with tips that define, in part, a base plane for contacting the mask and, in part, a series of pillars projecting upwardly from the base plane for applying paint to the wok surface through cut out portions of the mask.

4. The stencil brush of claim 3 wherein the applicator head has a generally cylindrical cross-section and the pillars are arranged in a circular pattern.

5. A cosmetic brush for applying facial makeup product to skin, the brush having a handle, a ferrule and an applicator head attached to the handle by the ferrule, the head including a plurality of stacked bristles with tips that define, in part, a base plane and in part a sees of pillars projecting upwardly from the base plane for contacting the skin.

6. The cosmetic brush of claim 5 wherein the applicator head has a generally cylindrical cross-section and the pillars are arranged in a circular pattern.

7. An artist brush for applying paint onto a work surface, the brush having an elongated handle, a ferrule and an applicator head attached to the handle by the ferrule, the head including a plurality of staked bristles with tips the define, in part, a base plane and, in part, a series of pillars projecting upwardly from the base plane.

8. The artist brush of claim 7 wherein the applicator head has a generally cylindrical cross-section and the pillars are arranged in a circular pattern.

9. A fabric brush having an elongated handle, a ferrule and an applicator head attached to the handle by the ferrule, the head including a plurality of stacked bristles with tips that define, in part, a base plane and, in part, a series of pillars projecting upwardly from the base plane for contacting fibrous interstices of the fabric.

10. The fabric brush of claim 9 wherein the applicator head has a generally cylindrical cross-section and the pillars are arranged in a circular pattern.