MODULAR ERGONOMIC SWIVEL HEAD PAINTBRUSH SYSTEM

Abstract

A modular paintbrush head and handle system using a plurality of lightweight ergonomic handles adjustably and detachably connected to a plurality of paintbrush heads. A complete array of brush sizes and types have standard connections that cooperate with connections on an array of handles. The connections create a pivot point such that the brush head may be pivoted about at least one axis for adjustment, and then fixedly held at the desired angle. One or more adapters can be disposed between the handle and brush head to increase the number of axes of rotation of the head in relation to the handle and thereby allowing for compound angles of the brush head relative to the handle.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The instant application claims the benefit of the filing date of United States Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/916,692, filed May, 8, 2007.

STATMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

THE NAME OR PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

In the painting trade, buildings and other structures present myriad challenges unique to the particular structure and building environment. Painters are confronted with different substrates, surface conditions and textures, to which they will apply many different types of paints formulated with different viscosities. Coating characteristics are affected by factors such as temperature and humidity, the method of paint application and even painting technique. Painters paint large flat walls, high ceilings, floors, and narrow trim. Sometimes the surfaces are easily accessed; sometimes they are in nightmarishly cramped and awkward locations.

Surprisingly, even with the myriad of circumstances and variables routinely encountered in their work environment, painters have a relatively limited selection of the kind and size of brushes that would be appropriate for each specific situation. Even more limiting are the handle sizes and designs for paintbrushes. Although paintbrushes come in various widths, when it comes to paintbrush handles, “one size fits all” is the prevailing norm.

Using a paintbrush is an inherently repetitive task involving the arms, wrists and hands of painters. Repetitive stress injury, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, bursitis, and arthritis are known conditions exacerbated by painting with brushes. The handles of paintbrushes don't “wear out” prior to the bristles and are not perceived to impact the quality of a paint job. Since they are discarded when the bristles are worn, the handle is caught up in the disposal. For this reason little expense or priority is devoted to the handle of a paintbrush.

Ergonomic handles generally, and handles with replaceable heads and/or bristles are known. Indeed, even recently issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,185,386, to Segrea, describes a paintbrush having a handle separable from a bristle head so that different bristle heads may easily be interchanged for different painting applications or used without a handle.

U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 20030217424, by Stone, teaches a painting system having a handle, a bristle head, and a mounting rod adapted for removable connection to both the handle and the bristle head. The connection may be a friction fit or a biased spring element on the slender mounting rod which will be retained in an annular groove in an aperture in the back or rear portion of the bristle head with a push-click type of connection. The mounting rod can be various lengths and various configurations, including angled and curved, to make painting easier near upper walls or the ceiling.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,510,578 to Cyr, et al, shows a paint brush having a removable bristle pack which snaps on and off a handle portion using a resilient prong mounted pin. The bristle pack includes a slot in its ferrule to receive the pin extending from the handle. To assemble, the handle is inserted into the ferrule until the pin snaps into place. The bristle pack can be removed for cleaning or changing by depressing the pin, which causes the bristle pack to be disengaged.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,749, to Chu, teaches a paintbrush with a replaceable head. It includes a handle and a bristle portion detachably secured to the handle by a removable pin.

Ergonomic handles are also known. U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,295 to Tillim teaches a handle or grip having a shape fills regions of the hand except an area over the underlying carpal tunnel. Such design method and apparatus provides for various supports and handles for use by a hand. The body of the grip includes a radial section, an ulnar section, a middle section, a distal (frontal) finger side, a proximal (back) side, a palmar side, a thumb side, and radial and ulnar sides. These portions are shaped to engage the various corresponding regions of the inner surface of the hand.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,767 to Barton discloses a hook-type grip that maintains the use's wrist in a neutral or flexed position during the performance of repetitive gripping, pulling, or lifting movements. The handle comprises a grip portion from which a fixed or adjustable support surface extends tangentially. The user's palm is engaged by the support surface preventing the hand and wrist from extending due to fatigue or slippage.

The foregoing patents reflect the current state of the art of which the present inventor is aware. Reference to, and discussion of, these patents is intended to aid in discharging Applicant's acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information that may be relevant to the examination of claims to the present invention. However, it is respectfully submitted that none of the above-indicated patents disclose, teach, suggest, show, or otherwise render obvious, either singly or when considered in combination, the invention described and claimed herein. Specifically, none teaches an ergonomic handle with a connector system for attaching a variety of brush heads (bristles), adjustable in one or more axes, such that brush motions in any direction can be made with the painter's hand maintained in a substantially neutral, unstressed position. It is to achieving this end that the present invention is directed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention greatly increases the ergonomic and special application paintbrush choices for a painter. The modular system of the present invention allows a painter to select a paintbrush handle that ergonomically fits the individual, and then allows the painter to select the proper size, shape and type of paintbrush bristles best suited for a particular paint and conditions. Additionally the handle and brush are adjustable relative to each other to further improve the ergonomics of gripping and holding the paintbrush and to facilitate the stress free application of paint.

Painters often face a compromise when needing to use a specific brush type without a preferred handle or attachment. The present invention provides a system with which professional painters can employ customized handles made of strong light weight materials that would otherwise be too expensive to produce for a typical mass-produced consumer paintbrush. It also makes it possible to use economical, disposable “one use” brush heads, since the handles of the present invention are retained after brush use and are not part of a routine disposal.

The bristles of a paintbrush head typically wear out, break down, or become unworkably encrusted with paint residue long before the handle needs replacement. Having the ability to replace brush heads independently of brush handles will result in cost savings and yet give the painter more choices and combinations to optimize the correct tool for each task. Using the system of the present invention, any and every brush head in a painter's tool box can be configured and adjusted to any handle suitably adapted for connection to the head. Using the present invention, the equipment can be adapted to the user, rather than the user having to adapt to the equipment.

It is therefore a first and principal object of the present invention to provide a new and improved combination paintbrush head adjustably and selectively attachable to an ergonomically advantageous handle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a paintbrush head and handle combination in which the brush head may be detached and disposed of independently of the handle.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a paintbrush head and handle kit having a plurality of brush heads and handles, each handle and head adapted for adjustable connection to one another so as to provide a painter with a number of brush configuration options.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a paintbrush head and handle kit having a plurality of head and handle combinations that allow a painter to adjust the head relative to the handle in at least one axis of rotation.

A still further object is to provide a paintbrush head and handle kit having a connector that may be disposed between the head and handle so as to introduce a second axis of rotation of the head in relation to the handle.

Other novel features which are characteristic of the invention, as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. The various features of novelty that characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this disclosure. The invention does not reside in any one of these features taken alone, but rather in the particular combination of all of its structures for the functions specified.

There has thus been broadly outlined the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form additional subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based readily may be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention of a paintbrush head pivotally connected to a handle to providing one axis of adjustment;

FIG. 1A is a side view in elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective of the present invention as in FIG. 1, showing an adapter disposed between the brush head and handle to provide two axes of adjustment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a sampling of the array of brush heads all having a standardized connection feature;

FIG. 4 illustrates a sampling of handle shapes of the present invention, all having a standard and complimentary connection to the brush heads of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of another adapter for use with the brush heads of FIG. 3 and a standard painters extension pole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements in the various views, there is illustrated therein a new and improved modular ergonomic paintbrush system with an adjustable head, generally denominated 10 herein.

The modular ergonomic brush and handle system of the present invention uses a large set of different brush heads 20 and different handles 30. Any one of the many brush heads 20 can be attached to any of the many handles 30 to form a workable paintbrush. Thus, the inventive system enables use of a preferred higher quality handle that can be made of expensive wood, light weight metal, carbon fiber compound, or other materials. Since the handles are not disposed as the brush heads wear out, the handles can last indefinitely. Using the present invention, professional painters will therefore be able to use handles and brush heads tailored to their individual preferences with respect to handle size, shape, finger contours and surface topography, as well as with respect to bristle size, angle, stiffness, and paint spreading characteristics. Since the brush head is separated from the handle, a more inexpensive and disposable head can be produced.

A fastener 50, is used to couple the brush head to the handle. As seen in the figures, a carriage bolt 52 and wing nut 54 form a preferred type of fastener to effect the connection. The connection allows for one (and only one) axis of movement when connecting the paintbrush directly to the handle, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 1A. An adapter 60 may be disposed between the handle and paintbrush head requiring two bolts and nut combinations with the axis of the bolts angled relative to one another so as to give rise to two axes of rotatable adjustment and numerous function fixed angle of the handle in relation to the brush head, as seen in FIG. 2.

An alternate kind of adapter 70 is shown in FIG. 5. This adapter enables a paintbrush head 20 to be installed on the end of a standard paint roller extension pole 80. The adapter has internal female threads 74 at its proximal end that threadably cooperate with external male threads 82 at the distal end of extension pole 80.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 through 2, a carriage bolt 52 and wing nut 54 are used to connect the brush heads 20 to the handles 30 and adapters 60. The brush heads include a proximal projection 22 having a through hole 24 which is aligned with a distal projection 32 having a through hole 34 on the distal end of the handles 30. Together, the approximated projections, 22 and 32, form a pivot point when the carriage bolt 52 is inserted through the aligned through holes. Referring particularly to FIG. 1A, it will be seen that a desired angle between the brush head 20 and handle 30 can be selected and maintained using the above-described connection means. The projections may include substantially smooth planar faces that easily rotate relative to one another when the fastener is loosened, though it will be appreciated that the mated surfaces of the projections could be provided with meshing teeth or other surface features to provide grip and prevent unwanted rotation during use.

Referring next to FIG. 2, it will be seen that a similar relationship exists between the proximal and distal ends, 62 and 66, respectively, and the proximal and distal through holes, 62 and 68, respectively, of adapter 60 and the proximal projection 22 of a paintbrush 20 and it through hole 24. Referring now to FIG. 5, adapter 70 includes a proximal end 76 with a hole 78 that cooperates and aligns with the proximal projection 22 of the paintbrush head and hole 24.

The flexibility and options of the brush head location relative to the handle can be seen by reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. In FIG. 2, handle 30 is oriented in the z-axis Z. When brush head 20 is used with handle 30 the brush pivots about the x-axis X. Brush head 20 can pivot about the y-axis Y when adapter 60 is installed as an intermediate connector between the handle and brush head. This allows for compound angles relative to the handle.

The flexibility of the inventive system is further shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, where a plurality of brush heads 20 and handles 30 are shown. It will be noted that the conformation of each handle is generally that of a pistol grip. It is widely accepted that a slightly angled grip portion 80 having finger contours 84 places the hand and wrist in an ergonomically advantageous neutral position, i.e., neither in palmar flexion nor extension, and neither in radial flexion nor ulnar flexion. Accordingly, a number of the preferred handles employed in the present invention use a pistol grip configuration. Other preferred handle designs employ a rifle grip configuration 90, which is more well-suited for use when a lengthy handle is called for.

The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of this invention, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction, dimensional relationships, and operation shown and described. Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may be employed, as suitable, without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms, functions, operational features or the like.

Therefore, the above description and illustrations should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A paintbrush head and handle combination, comprising:

a handle having a distal end with a through hole;

a brush head having a proximal end with a through hole;

a fastener and attachment apparatus for pivotally and removably connecting said handle and said brush head when the through holes of said handle and brush head are aligned, such that said brush head can be adjusted relative to said handle and fixed at a desired angle.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the through hole in said handle is disposed in a projection at said distal end, and wherein the through hole in said brush head is disposed in a projection at said proximal end, and wherein the through holes at said distal end of said handle and at said proximal end of said brush head are aligned for insertion of a removable fastener.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said brush head is adjustable in a single axis of rotation relative to said handle.

4. The combination of claim 3, further including an adapter removably disposed between said brush head and said handle, wherein said adapter enables adjustment of said brush head to said handle in at least two axes of rotation.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said adapter has first and second ends and pivot points at each end, and wherein said pivot points of said adapter are perpendicular to one another.

6. A paintbrush system, comprising:

an ergonomic handle having a pistol grip and a distal end with a handle pivot point;

an adapter with a proximal end and a distal end and connection apparatus with pivot points at each of said proximal and distal ends; and

a brush head having a proximal end with a pivot point adapted for adjustable pivotal connection to either said handle pivot point, or to said distal end of said adapter when said proximal end of said adapter is pivotally connected to said distal end of said handle at said handle pivot point;

wherein when said brush head is pivotally connected to said handle pivot point, said brush head is adjustable in one axis of rotation in relation to said handle, and when said adapter is disposed between, and pivotally connected to each of, said handle and said brush head, said brush head is adjustable in a plurality of axes of rotation.

7. The paintbrush system of claim 6, wherein each of said pivot points comprises a through hole and an elongate fasteners inserted through said through hole.

8. The paintbrush system of claim 7, wherein said adapter is disposed between said handle and said brush head.

9. The paintbrush system of claim 6, wherein said handle, said adapter, and said brush head are fixedly attached to each other.

10. A paintbrush head and handle kit, comprising:

a plurality of brush heads, each having a proximal end with pivotal connection structure disposed on said proximal end; and

a plurality of handles, each of said handles adapted for pivotal connection to said pivotal and adjustable connection structure on each of said brush heads.

11. The kit of claim 10, wherein when any of said brush heads is pivotally connected to any of said handles, said brush head is adjustably rotatable in a single axis of rotation in relation to said handle.

12. The kit of claim 11, further including at least one adapter for selective insertion between and pivotal connection to any combination of said brush heads and said handles.

13. The kit of claim 12, wherein each of said adapters increases the axes of rotation of said brush heads in relation to said handles from one axis of rotation to multiple axes of rotation.

14. The kit of claim 12, wherein at least one adapter has first and second ends and pivot points disposed at each of said ends, and wherein said pivot points are oriented perpendicular to one another.

15. The kit of claim 10, wherein said plurality of handles includes at least one handle with a pistol grip.

16. The kit of claim 10, wherein said plurality of handles includes at least one handle with a rifle grip.

17. The kit of claim 10, wherein said handles and said brush heads each include projections having through holes for matable alignment with one another and for insertion of a fastener when the through holes are aligned.

18. The kit of claim 17, wherein said fasteners comprise nut and bolt combinations.

19. The kit of claim 10, wherein at least one of said plurality of handles includes a distal end having a pivot point for rotation about the X axis.

20. The kit of claim 10, wherein at least one of said plurality of handles includes a distal end having a pivot point for rotation about the Y axis.