Paintbrush

Abstract

A paintbrush as claimed at claim 1 wherein the paintbrush comprises a head, a plurality of bristles arranged on the head, a handle endwise interconnected with the head, and a magnetic region for removably securing the paintbrush to a surface responsive to a magnetic field provided by the magnetic region.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to brushes and has particular application to paint brushes.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Paintbrushes for the application of coating compositions such as paint or varnish are commonly known objects. They generally include a handle interconnected to a bristle-carrying head upon which are arranged a plurality of bristles. A junction between the handle and the bristle-carrying head is commonly further secured and covered by a collar, wherein the collar is fitted around the base of the bristle-carrying head.

[0003] Coating compositions are applied by first loading the bristles of the paintbrush with coating composition and then transferring the coating composition to a surface with brush-like movements. When the user rests from their activity, the paintbrush is generally placed in an empty container to prevent the paintbrush from attracting dust and dirt, and to avoid the unintentional application of coating composition to a surface on which the hand tool is placed. Commonly, the paintbrush may be rested on an upper edge of a paint tin or a paint tin lid. Nevertheless, the paintbrush can be easily dislodged from its container, particularly in a cluttered work environment.

[0004] The present invention seeks to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Accordingly, the invention resides in a paintbrush and a magnet associated with the paintbrush, the magnet being adapted to removably secure the paintbrush to a surface responsive to the magnetic field provided by the magnet.

[0006] According to a preferred feature of the invention, the paintbrush comprises a handle and the magnet is associated with the handle.

[0007] According to a preferred feature of the invention, the paintbrush further comprises a head and the handle comprises a distal end associated with the head and a proximal end remote from the distal end, the magnet being associated with the handle proximate the proximal end.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment, the magnet comprises a magnetic member fixedly attached to the handle by attachment means.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment, the attachment means is an adhesive.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment the magnet is fixedly attached within an aperture within the handle.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the magnet and the handle are integral.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, the head comprises bristles supported by the head and a collar associated with the head to surround an end portion of the proximal end.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the magnetic region is enlarged by association with ferro-magnetic metal portion of the head.

[0014] According to a preferred feature of the invention, the paintbrush comprises a head, a plurality of bristles arranged on the head, a handle endwise interconnected with the head, and a magnetic region for removably securing the paintbrush to a surface responsive to a magnetic field provided by the magnetic region.

[0015] According to a preferred feature of the invention, the magnet is associated with a detachable magnetic device adapted for use with a paintbrush having a ferro-magnetic metallic portion, the detachable magnetic device comprising a magnetic member and a housing, the magnetic member being adapted to be secured to ferro-magnetic portion by the magnetic field of the and to removably secure the paintbrush to a surface responsive to the magnetic field provided by the magnet.

[0016] According to a further aspect, the invention also resides in a detachable magnetic device adapted for use with a paintbrush, the paintbrush having a ferro-magnetic metallic portion, the detachable magnetic device comprising a magnetic member and a housing, the magnetic member being adapted to be secured to ferro-magnetic portion by the magnetic field of the and to removably secure the paintbrush to a surface responsive to the magnetic field provided by the magnet.

[0017] The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a paintbrush in accordance with the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a side view of a detachable magnet for use with a paintbrush in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] In FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawing, there is shown a paintbrush 10. The paintbrush 10 comprises a handle member 20, a head 30, a plurality of bristles 35 arranged on the head 30, a collar member 40 and a magnetic member 50.

[0021] The handle member 20 includes a proximal and a distal end 22, 24. The distal end 24 is arranged to be interconnected with a base 26 of the head 30.

[0022] The magnetic member 50 is formed from a material which provides a permanent magnetic field. Preferably, the magnetic member 50 is formed from a rare earth permanent magnetic material, however, it is envisaged that the magnetic member 50 could be formed from other magnetic materials such as magneto ferrous materials or other materials in which a permanent magnetic field is induced. The magnetic member 50 is typically about 2-3 millimeters in thickness and approximately 1-4 cm2 in area.

[0023] The permanent magnetic field exerted by the magnetic member 50 is sufficiently strong enough to removably secure the paintbrush 10 to a surface which is responsive to the magnetic field provided by the magnetic member 50. For example, the magnetic paintbrush 10 is removably secured to metallic surfaces, such as the surface of a paint pot lid or the surface of an upper rim of the paint pot. It is envisaged that the force of the attraction between the surface and the magnetic paintbrush 10 will be such that the magnetic paintbrush 10 cannot be removed from the surface unless a greater force than the force exerted by the magnetic field of the magnetic member 50 is applied to the magnetic paintbrush 10. In this way, the magnetic paintbrush 10 is prevented from being accidentally dislodged from the surface. Thus, spillage and accidental application of the coating composition on undesirable surfaces are reduced, enabling a cleaner and less cluttered work environment to be maintained.

[0024] Despite the relatively small area of the magnetic member 50, it is envisaged that those parts of the paintbrush 10 which are made from metallic material and which are proximal the magnetic member 50 will become magnetised and form a magnetic region. Thus, the magnetic region for removably securing the paintbrush to a surface responsive to a magnetic field provided by the magnetic region may be larger in area than the area of the magnetic member 50.

[0025] The magnetic member 50 is disposed proximal to the distal end 24 of the handle member 20 and the base 26 of the head 30. As shown in FIG. 1, the magnetic member 50 is fixedly attached to an outer surface of the distal end 24 of the handle member 20 and the base 26 of the head 30 with an attachment means.

[0026] Preferably, the attachment means is a strong adhesive material. The magnetic member 50 is further secured to the magnetic paintbrush 10 with the collar member 40 which is arranged to be fitted around the distal end 24 and the base 26 of the head 30. In this way, the magnetic member 50 is disposed intermediate the outer surfaces of the base 26 of the head 30, the distal end 24 of the handle 20, and an inner surface of the collar member 40.

[0027] When the bristles 35 arranged on the head 30 are loaded with paint, the weight of the loaded bristles 35 may be up to 3-4 times more than the weight of the unloaded bristles 35. It is envisaged that the magnetic member 50 will be positioned such that the weight of the loaded bristles 35 is balanced against the weight of the handle member 20 and the base 26 of the head 30. In this way, the gravitational force acting on the loaded bristles is about equal to or less than the force exerted by the magnetic field of the magnetic member 50. Thus, the magnetic paint brush 10 is prevented from tipping into the paint pot under its own weight.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown a detachable magnetic device 100 for use with a paintbrush. The detachable magnetic device 100 comprises a magnetic member 150 and a housing 110. The magnetic member 150 has an upper surface 152 and a lower surface 154. The magnetic member 150 is formed from a material which provides a permanent magnetic field. Preferably, the magnetic member 50 is formed from a rare earth permanent magnetic material, however, it is envisaged that the magnetic member 50 could be formed from other magnetic material such as magneto ferrous materials or other materials in which a permanent magnetic field is induced.

[0029] Preferably, the housing is formed of an inert plastics material. The housing 110 has an upper surface 118 and a lower surface 116. The housing 110 is provided with a recess 112. The recess 112 has substantially the same dimensions as the magnetic member 150 such that the magnetic member 150 is a close fit in the recess 112, and the upper surface 152 of the magnetic member 150 is flush with the upper surface 118 of the housing 110. It is envisaged that the lower surface 116 of the housing 110 and the lower surface 154 of the magnetic member 150 are separated by a small distance preferably of about 0.5 mm to 2 mm.

[0030] In use, the upper surface 152 of the magnetic member and the upper surface 118 of the housing 110 is mounted contiguously on an outer surface of paintbrush. Preferably, the collar or head of the paintbrush is formed of a metallic material which is responsive to the magnetic field provided by the magnetic member 150. In this way, the paintbrush is attracted to the detachable magnet device 100.

[0031] The lower surface 116 of the housing 110 is then mounted contiguously on a surface which is responsive to the magnetic field provided by the magnetic member 50, such as the surface of a paint pot lid or the surface of an upper rim of the paint pot.

[0032] It is envisaged that the force of attraction between the paintbrush and the magnetic member 150, and the force of attraction between the surface and the magnetic member 150 will be such that the paintbrush cannot be removed from the surface unless a greater force than the force exerted by the magnetic field of the magnetic member 150 to the surface or the paintbrush is applied to the paintbrush. In this way a paintbrush can be removably secured to a surface responsive to a magnetic field provided by the detachable magnetic device 100.

[0033] The magnetic device 100 can be detached from the paintbrush by applying a force to the detachable magnetic device 100 that is greater than the force exerted by the magnetic field of the magnetic member 150 or the paintbrush.

[0034] According to a further embodiment (not shown), the magnet is integral with the handle.

[0035] Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

[0036] Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims

1. A paintbrush and a magnet associated with the paintbrush, the magnet being adapted to removably secure the paintbrush to a surface responsive to the magnetic field provided by the magnet.

2. A paintbrush as claimed at claim 1 wherein the paintbrush comprises a handle and the magnet is associated with the handle.

3. A paintbrush as claimed at claim 2 wherein the paintbrush further comprises a head and the handle comprises a distal end associated with the head and a proximal end remote from the distal end, the magnet being associated with the handle proximate the proximal end.

4. A paintbrush as claimed at claim 3 wherein the magnet comprises a magnetic member fixedly attached to the handle by attachment means.

5. A paintbrush as claimed at claim 4 wherein the attachment means is an adhesive.

6. A paintbrush as claimed at claim 5 wherein the magnet is fixedly attached within an aperture within the handle.

7. A paintbrush as claimed at claim 2 wherein the magnet and the handle are integral.

8. A paintbrush as claimed at claim 3 wherein the head comprises bristles supported by the head and a collar associated with the head to surround an end portion of the proximal end.

9. A paintbrush as claimed at claim 8 wherein the magnetic region is enlarged by association with a ferro-magnetic metal portion of the head.

10. A paintbrush as claimed at claim 1 wherein the paintbrush comprises a head, a plurality of bristles arranged on the head, a handle endwise interconnected with the head, and a magnetic region for removably securing the paintbrush to a surface responsive to a magnetic field provided by the magnetic region.

11. A paintbrush as claimed at claim 1 wherein the magnet is a detachable magnetic device adapted for use with a paintbrush having a ferromagnetic metallic portion, the detachable magnetic device comprising a magnetic member and a housing, the magnetic member being adapted to be secured to ferro-magnetic portion by the magnetic field of the and to removably secure the paintbrush to a surface responsive to the magnetic field provided by the magnet.

12. A detachable magnetic device adapted for use with a paintbrush as claimed at claim 1, the paintbrush having a ferro-magnetic metallic portion, the detachable magnetic device comprising a magnetic member and a housing, the magnetic member being adapted to be secured to ferro-magnetic portion by the magnetic field of the and to removably secure the paintbrush to a surface responsive to the magnetic field provided by the magnet.