BRUSH ROLL-UP AND CLEANING AID
A cleaning apparatus and processes for storing and/or streamlining cleaning cosmetic brushes are described. The cleaning apparatus may include a sheet of flexible material that may have multiple rows of flexible flaps associated with the sheet. The flexible flaps may include openings for securing cosmetic brushes. Cosmetic brushes may be inserted into openings in flaps in a first row and openings in flaps in a second row, vertically aligned with the first row. Once inserted, the cosmetic brushes may be secured by flexible material in the openings. Heads of the cosmetic brushes may extend beyond a top edge of the sheet so that they may be exposed to cleaning solutions and water. A user may form a roll with the sheet to clean multiple cosmetic brushes at a time. The cleaning apparatus may include hanging mechanisms for hanging the cleaning apparatus to dry and/or store the cosmetic brushes.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/053,621, filed on Sep. 22, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUNDCosmetic brushes generally have a head (e.g., bristles, sponge, etc.) attached to one end of a handle. Handles may be made of various materials such as wood, metal, plastic, etc. Bacteria, oils, and other debris transmit from skin to cosmetic brush heads and handles every time cosmetic brushes are used to apply makeup, medicine, etc. Accordingly, one of the most important things cosmetic users can do to prolong the life of their cosmetic brushes may be to regularly clean their cosmetic brushes. Regular cleaning may help remove old makeup, dirt and debris, dead skin cells, bacteria, and oils from the fibers that make up the heads of cosmetic brushes and/or the handles. Additionally, regular cleaning may maintain the softness of the fibers that make up heads of cosmetic brushes. That is, regular cleaning may keep cosmetic brushes soft, supple, and free from bacteria, oils, and other debris. Generally, cosmetic brushes should be cleaned as regularly as one time per week.
Current techniques direct a cosmetic user to manually clean the fibers that make up the head of the cosmetic brush by combining a cleaner (e.g., soap, oil, specialized cleaning product, etc.) with water and massaging the fibers until the fibers feel clean. Often times, cosmetic users are limited to cleaning a single cosmetic brush at a time. Accordingly, cleaning cosmetic brushes is time consuming and there remains a need for streamlined methods and tools for cleaning cosmetic brushes.
The Detailed Description is set forth with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items.
This disclosure is directed to techniques for conveniently storing and/or streamlining cleaning cosmetic brushes. Cosmetic brushes generally have a fibrous head attached to one end of a handle. Handles may be made of various materials such as wood, metal, plastic, etc. Due to the bacteria, oils, and other debris regularly transmitted from skin of a user to cosmetic brush heads and handles, cosmetic brushes should be cleaned regularly. Current techniques direct a user to manually clean the fibers that make up the head of the cosmetic brush by combining a cleaner (e.g., soap, oil, specialized cleaning product, etc.) with water and massaging the head until the fibers feel clean. Often times, cosmetic users are limited to cleaning a single cosmetic brush at a time. Accordingly, current techniques are time consuming and inefficient.
The techniques described herein describe a cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus, a brush roll-up and cleaning aid, and processes for streamlining cleaning and storing cosmetic brushes via the brush roll-up and cleaning aid. The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus may include a sheet of material that may have multiple rows of flexible flaps attached to a front surface of the sheet. In some examples, the sheet of material may be non-absorbent and/or flexible. The flexible flaps may include openings for inserting handles of cosmetic brushes. In at least one example, handles of cosmetic brushes may be inserted into openings in flaps in a first row of flaps and openings in flaps in a second row of flaps that is substantially vertically aligned with the first row of flaps. Upon insertion, the cosmetic brushes may be secured by flexible material in the opening. Heads of the cosmetic brushes may extend beyond a top edge of the sheet so that they may be exposed to cleaning solutions and water. A user may form a roll with the sheet and secure the roll using attaching mechanisms and receiving mechanisms. The interior of the roll may include the cosmetic brushes and heads of the cosmetic brushes may be arranged at an even distance above the roll. The roll configuration enables users to clean multiple cosmetic brushes at one time, thereby streamlining the cleaning of cosmetic brushes.
The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus may also be used for efficiently and conveniently drying and/or storing cosmetic brushes. The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus may hang in an unrolled form, upside down for drying and/or storing cosmetic brushes (e.g., from a mirror or vanity, etc.). Alternatively or additionally, the cosmetic brushes may be stored in a flat form (e.g., in a drawer, on a shelf, etc.) or in a rolled form (e.g., in a bag, in a drawer, etc.).
Illustrative Cosmetic Brush Cleaning ApparatusThe sheet 102 may include a top edge 104 and a bottom edge 106 that is opposite the top edge 104. The top edge 104 and the bottom edge 106 may be substantially parallel. Additionally, the sheet 102 may include a left edge 108 and a right edge 110 that is opposite the left edge 108. The left edge 108 and the right edge 110 may be substantially perpendicular to the top edge 104 and the bottom edge 106. The sheet 102 may include a front surface 102A and a back surface 102B (not shown in
In at least one example, the sheet 102 may include at least one row of flaps, such as row 112A and/or row 112B, arranged substantially parallel to the top edge 104 of the sheet 102. The at least one row of flaps, such as row 112A and/or row 112B, may be associated with the front surface 102A of the sheet 102. Each row of flaps, such as row 112A and/or row 112B, may include one or more flaps 114 substantially aligned end on end to form the row of flaps, such as row 112A and/or row 112B. In some examples, the sheet 102 may include two or more rows of flaps 112A and 112B. In such examples, the individual rows 112A and 112B are substantially parallel with each other, the top edge 104, and bottom edge 106 of the sheet 102. Each of the rows, such as row 112A and/or row 112B, may have a same number of flaps 114 as the other rows, such as row 112A and/or row 112B, associated with the sheet 102. In some examples, all of the flaps 114 may secure one or more cosmetic brushes. In other examples, some of the flaps 114 may secure one or more cosmetic brushes and other flaps 114 may not secure any cosmetic brushes. That is, all of the flaps 114 may not be securing the one or more cosmetic brushes at a same time.
A flap 114 may represent a piece of material that may be associated with the sheet 102 on one side that hangs from the point of association with the sheet 102 and may flex away from the front surface of the sheet 102 upon receiving one or more cosmetic brushes. The flaps 114 may be made of same materials and/or materials similar to or different from the sheet 102. By way of example and not limitation, the flaps 114 may be made of neoprene, polychloroprene, silicone, other materials that may repel water and maintain flexibility, or some combination of the above. The flaps 114 may be associated with the front surface 102A of the sheet 102 by a variety of processes. For example, one edge of the flaps 114 may be attached to the sheet 102 using an adhesive (e.g., glue, cement, mucilage, paste, etc.). In other examples, one edge of the flaps 114 may be attached to the sheet 102 by stitching, welding, lacing, screwing, bolting, stapling, riveting, melting, chemical bonding, or some combination of the above. In some examples, the flaps 114 may share an edge and the edge may be associated with the front surface 102A as shown in
Each flap 114 in the rows of flaps 112 may include an opening 116 for securing one or more cosmetic brushes. The opening 116 may be circular or non-circular (e.g., oval-shaped, slit, wedge-shaped, C-shaped, etc.). The opening 116 may be filled with a flexible material that maintains its shape such as neoprene, polychloroprene, silicone, other flexible materials, or some combination of the above. The material that fills the opening 116 may be a same material and/or similar or different material than the flaps 114 and/or sheet 102. In at least one example, the material that fills the openings 116 may include a foam material configured to hold one or more cosmetic brushes. The flexible material may have one or more cutouts for securing handles of cosmetic brushes. In at least one example, the cutouts may be arranged in a star configuration for accommodating handles having various diameters, as shown in
In examples where the sheet 102 may include two or more rows of flaps, such as row 112A and row 112B, openings 116 associated with flaps in a first row 112A may vertically align with openings 116 associated with flaps in a second, or subsequent, row 112B. As a result, a handle of a cosmetic brush may be inserted into an opening 116 in the first row 112A and an opening 116 in the second row 112B and the cosmetic brush may be secured at a distance above the sheet 102, so that at least part of the handle of the cosmetic brush does not touch the sheet 102. In some examples, the openings 116 associated with flaps in a first row 112A may not vertically align with openings 116 associated with flaps in a second, or subsequent, row 112B.
The attaching mechanisms 302 may include snaps, buttons, magnets, hook and loop (e.g., Velcro®), lace or tie, other mechanisms for attaching a first edge (e.g., left 108 or right 110) of the sheet 102 to a second edge (e.g., right 110 or left 108, respectively) of the sheet 102, or some combination of the above. The receiving mechanisms 304 may include snaps, buttons, magnets, hook and loop (e.g., Velcro®), lace or tie, other mechanisms for attaching a first edge (e.g., left 108 or right 110) of the sheet 102 to a second edge (e.g., right 110 or left 108, respectively) of the sheet 102, or some combination of the above. The receiving mechanism 304 may include complimentary parts of the attaching mechanisms 302 to achieve an attachment between the first edge (e.g., right 110 or left 108) of the sheet 102 to the second edge (e.g., left 108 or right 110, respectively) of the sheet 102. For example, if the attaching mechanism 302 is a button, the receiving mechanism 304 may be a button hole. Additionally or alternatively, if the attaching mechanism 302 is a loop, the receiving mechanism 304 may be a hook. Combinations of other attaching mechanisms 302 and receiving mechanisms 304 may be available as described above.
The attaching mechanisms 302 and receiving mechanisms 304 may have a variety of uses. In at least one example, the attaching mechanisms 302 associated with one edge of the sheet 102 may be attached to the receiving mechanisms 304 associated with the opposite edge of the sheet 102 to form a roll 306, as shown in
In an additional example, the receiving mechanisms 304 associated with one edge (e.g., right edge 110) of the sheet 102 may be attached to attaching mechanisms 302 associated with an edge (e.g., left edge 108) of a second sheet, as shown in
Returning back to
Returning back to
In at least one example, the hanging mechanisms 120 may be associated with the back surface 102B of the sheet 102.
The hanging mechanisms 120 may be used for hanging the sheet 102 upside down, as shown in
The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus may be stored in a similar configuration, such as hanging from the hanging mechanisms 120 on a wall, vanity, door, etc. In some examples, the cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus may be stored in the unrolled configuration in a drawer, on a shelf, etc. In other examples, the cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus may be re-rolled and stored in the rolled configuration in a drawer, basket, etc., as described below.
Cleansing Method Using Cosmetic Brush Cleaning ApparatusBlock 602 illustrates a user inserting handles of cosmetic brushes 202 into the openings in the flaps described above. As shown in
Additionally, in at least one example, the user may fold the extension 118 away from the heads of the cosmetic brushes 202 toward the back surface of the sheet 102B. As described above, the extension 118 may fold toward the front surface 102A to protect the heads of the cosmetic brushes 202, as shown in
Block 604 illustrates rolling the sheet 102. In at least one example, rolling the sheet includes attaching the receiving mechanisms 304 associated with a first edge (e.g., right edge 110 or left edge 108) of the sheet 102 and the attaching mechanisms 302 associated with a second edge (e.g., left 108 edge or right edge 110, respectively) of the sheet 102. In at least one example, the user may attach the edges of the sheet 102 by closing loops over hooks, inserting buttons into a button holes, snapping female snap parts and male snap parts, closing pieces of Velcro®, aligning magnets, etc. In alternative examples, a user may roll the sheet 102 but may not attach the attaching mechanisms 302 with the receiving mechanism 304. As a result of the rolling, the sheet 102 may form a roll and heads of cosmetic brushes 202 protrude from one end of the roll, as shown in 604A. In this rolled configuration, the cosmetic brushes 202 may be secured in the interior of the roll.
In some examples, prior to rolling the sheet 102, a user may add a second sheet 102 to the first sheet 102 by attaching receiving mechanisms 304 associated with a first edge of the first sheet (e.g., sheet 310) and attaching mechanisms 302 associated with a first edge of the second sheet (e.g., sheet 312). Then, the user may roll the new extended sheet 102 by attaching the attaching mechanisms 302 associated with the second edge of the first sheet (e.g., sheet 310) and receiving mechanisms 304 associated with a second edge of the second sheet (e.g., sheet 312).
Block 606 illustrates applying one or more cleaning solutions to the heads of the cosmetic brushes 202 for cleaning the heads of the cosmetic brushes 202 substantially at a same time. The cleaning solutions may include soap and water, a chemical cleanser, oils, etc. The heads of the cosmetic brushes 202 may protrude from one end of the roll for receiving one or more cleaning solutions and being cleaned at substantially the same time, as shown in 606A.
Block 702 illustrates unrolling the sheet 102. After cleaning the heads of the cosmetic brushes 202, the sheet 102 may be unrolled. If the sheet 102 was rolled by attaching the receiving mechanisms 304 and the attaching mechanisms 302, the sheet 102 may be unrolled by detaching the receiving mechanisms 304 from the attaching mechanisms 302. An example unrolled sheet 102 is shown by 702A.
Block 704 illustrates hanging the sheet 102 to allow the cosmetic brushes 202 to dry. A user may unroll the sheet 102 and hang the sheet 102 upside down by hanging mechanisms 120. As described above, the hanging mechanisms 120 may be associated with the bottom edge 106 of the sheet 102 so that the sheet 102 may hang such that the heads of the cosmetic brushes 202 point toward the ground. This may allow any water retained by the fibers of the heads of the brushes to drip 504 away from the cosmetic brushes, as shown in 704A. The sheet 102 may remain in the hanging position for storage (e.g., on a wall, on a door, etc.). In some examples, the sheet 102 may remain in the unrolled configuration and be stored flat (e.g., in a drawer, on a shelf, etc.).
Block 706 illustrates re-rolling the sheet 102 for storing the cosmetic brushes 202. In at least one example, a user may desire to store the cosmetic brushes 202 in the rolled up configuration. As illustrated by 706A, the user may fold the extension 118 toward the front surface 102A of the sheet 102 before re-rolling the sheet 102 to protect the heads of the cosmetic brushes 202 for storage. Then, the user may roll the sheet 102. In some examples, the user may roll the sheet 102 by attaching the receiving mechanisms 304 associated with a first edge (e.g., right edge 110 or left edge 108) of the sheet 102 and the attaching mechanisms 302 associated with a second edge (e.g., left 108 edge or right edge 110, respectively) of the sheet 102, as described above. The user may store the resulting roll, as illustrated in 706B.
CONCLUSIONAlthough several embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the claimed subject matter.
Claims
1. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning cosmetic brushes, the cleaning apparatus comprising:
- a sheet of flexible material configured for repeated rolling and unrolling of the sheet; and
- at least two rows of flaps coupled to the sheet, the at least two rows of flaps arranged substantially parallel to each other and configured to secure handles of cosmetic brushes so that, when secured, heads of the cosmetic brushes extend beyond at least one edge of the sheet, the heads of the cosmetic brushes being coupled to ends of the handles.
2. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein each row of the at least two rows of flaps comprises a same number of individual flaps, and each of the individual flaps includes an opening for securing the handles of the cosmetic brushes.
3. The cleaning apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a flexible material disposed in the opening, the flexible material configured to secure the handles of the cosmetic brushes.
4. The cleaning apparatus of claim 2, wherein each opening in a first row of the at least two rows of flaps is substantially vertically aligned with an opening in a second row of the at least two rows of flaps.
5. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flaps comprise flexible material so that:
- when individual flaps in the at least two rows of flaps do not secure the handles of cosmetic brushes, the individual flaps lay flat against the sheet; and
- when the individual flaps secure the handles of cosmetic brushes, the individual flaps flex away from the sheet to form an acute angle between the flaps and the sheet.
6. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible material further comprises a non-absorbent material.
7. The cleaning apparatus of claim 6, wherein the non-absorbent material comprises at least one of waterproof material, water resistant material, or material that is impervious to water.
8. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an extension of the sheet that extends beyond the at least one edge, wherein the extension is configured to fold forward to rest on top of the heads of the cosmetic brushes and backward to expose the heads of the cosmetic brushes.
9. A cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus comprising:
- a sheet of non-absorbent material; and
- at least one row of flaps associated with a front surface of the sheet, the at least one row of flaps arranged substantially parallel to a top edge of the sheet, the flaps including openings for securing one or more cosmetic brushes.
10. The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of receiving mechanisms associated with a first edge of the sheet, the first edge of the sheet substantially perpendicular to the top edge of the sheet.
11. The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of attaching mechanisms for attaching to the receiving mechanisms, the plurality of attaching mechanisms associated with a second edge of the sheet, the second edge opposite the first edge and substantially perpendicular to the top edge of the sheet.
12. The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus of claim 9, further comprising at least two hanging mechanisms for hanging the sheet, the at least two hanging mechanisms located substantially along a bottom edge of the sheet, the bottom edge opposite the top edge.
13. The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus of claim 9, wherein the openings are filled with a flexible material, the flexible material including one or more cutouts for securing the one or more cosmetic brushes.
14. The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one row of flaps comprises a first row of flaps and a second row of flaps, the second row of flaps arranged substantially parallel to the first row of flaps and at a distance farther away from the top edge than the first row of flaps.
15. The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first row of flaps includes a first flap having a first opening and the second row of flaps includes a second flap having a second opening, the first flap and the first opening and the second flap and the second opening being substantially vertically aligned for securing the one or more cosmetic brushes substantially parallel to the first edge and the second edge.
16. The cosmetic brush cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top edge further comprises an extension that extends beyond the top edge of the sheet and is foldable over on the front surface of the sheet or a back surface of the sheet opposite the front surface of the sheet.
17. A method comprising:
- inserting a plurality of cosmetic brushes into respective holders coupled to a front surface of a sheet with heads of the plurality of cosmetic brushes pointing toward a top edge of the sheet and handles of the plurality of cosmetic brushes pointing toward a bottom edge of the sheet, the bottom edge opposite the top edge;
- rolling the sheet; and
- applying one or more cleaning solutions to the heads of the plurality of cosmetic brushes for cleaning the heads of the plurality of cosmetic brushes at a substantially same time.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the respective holders of the sheet comprise flaps affixed to the sheet and a plurality of the flaps are arranged in rows on the sheet.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein rolling the sheet comprises attaching a plurality of receiving mechanisms associated with a first edge of the sheet and a plurality of attaching mechanisms associated with a second edge of the sheet, the second edge opposite the first edge and substantially perpendicular to the top edge and bottom edge.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising subsequent to applying the one or more cleaning solutions:
- unrolling the sheet by detaching the plurality of receiving mechanisms from the plurality of attaching mechanisms; and
- hanging the sheet with the top edge and heads of the plurality of cosmetic brushes below the bottom edge by at least two hanging mechanisms located substantially along a bottom edge of the sheet.
21. The method of claim 20, further comprising re-rolling the sheet for storing the plurality of cosmetic brushes, the re-rolling including:
- folding an extension that extends beyond a top edge of the sheet to the front surface of the sheet to cover the heads of the plurality of cosmetic brushes; and
- attaching the plurality of receiving mechanisms associated with the first edge of the sheet and the plurality of attaching mechanisms associated with the second edge of the sheet.
22. The method of claim 17, further comprising prior to rolling the sheet, folding an extension that extends beyond the top edge of the sheet to a back surface of the sheet to expose the heads of the plurality of cosmetic brushes, the back surface opposite the front surface.
23. The method of claim 17, further comprising prior to rolling the sheet, positioning the heads of the plurality of cosmetic brushes so that the heads of the plurality of cosmetic brushes are at approximately a same distance above the top edge.
24. The method of claim 17, wherein the sheet comprises a first sheet and the method further comprises prior to rolling the sheet:
- adding a second sheet to the first sheet by attaching a plurality of receiving mechanisms associated with a first edge of the first sheet and a plurality of attaching mechanisms associated with a first edge of the second sheet; and
- rolling the first sheet and the second sheet by attaching a plurality of attaching mechanisms associated with a second edge of the first sheet opposite the first edge of the first sheet and a plurality of receiving mechanisms associated with a second edge of the second sheet opposite the first edge of the second sheet, the second edge of the second sheet opposite the second edge of the first sheet.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 6, 2014
Publication Date: Mar 24, 2016
Inventor: Cindy Sean Yuei Lim (Santa Monica, CA)
Application Number: 14/507,532