Brush holder apparatus

Abstract

A brush holder apparatus includes a cup portion which includes an open cup top and a closed cup bottom. An inverted U-shaped hanger portion is connected to the cup portion and extending upward above the open cup top. The cup portion can include a downwardly curved top cup edge. The hanger portion includes a front riser portion connected to the cup portion. A U-shaped bridge portion is connected to the front riser portion, and a rear descending portion is connected to the bridge portion. The bridge portion, the front riser portion, and the rear descending portion provide a fully open gap between the front riser portion and the rear descending portion. The brush holder apparatus can be hung from a belt worn by a wearer to receive a paint brush that has bristles wet with paint.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority based upon my copending Provisional Application Serial No. 60/297,004, filed Jun. 11, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to paint brush holders and, more particularly, to paint brush holders especially adapted for use on a painter's belt.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] Paint brush holders, that are worn on a painter's belt, are well known in the art. In this respect, throughout the years, a number of innovations have been developed relating to belt-worn paint brush holders, and the following U.S. patents are representative of some of those innovations: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,363,433, 4,746,042, 4,951,857, and 5,489,051.

[0006] More specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,433 discloses a painter's holster in which a belt is threaded sideways through belt loops in order to hang the holster from a painter's belt. In this respect, to install such a painter's holster on the painter's belt, the belt must be unbuckled, the holster is installed on the belt, and the belt must be rebuckled. To avoid the need to unbuckle and rebuckle the painter's belt, it would be desirable if a brush holder apparatus were provided which does not require a painter to unbuckle and rebuckle one's belt in order to install the brush holder apparatus on the painter's belt.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,746,042 discloses a belt-attached paint brush holder which includes a normally closed elastic belt clip that must be opened in order to install the paint brush holder on a painter's belt. Rather than being bothered by the need to open a normally closed belt clip onto a painter's belt, it would be desirable if a brush holder apparatus were provided which includes a normally open belt clip.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,857 discloses a paint brush carrier that includes a rearmost belt clip, an intermediate carrier plate for the belt clip, and a frontmost brush holder cup that is mounted on the intermediate carrier plate. For purposes of simplicity and economy, it would be desirable if a belt clip and a brush holder cup were integrated so that the need for an intermediate carrier plate is eliminated.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,051 discloses painter's pouch which includes a belt worn about a painter's waist, an intermediate plate attached to the belt, and a container supported on the intermediate plate. As mentioned above in relation to U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,857, it would be desirable if a belt-worn brush holder apparatus were provided that does not include an intermediate plate between the belt clip and the brush-receiving container.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 3,277,599 may also be of interest for its disclosure of a fisherman's kit which is supported on the fisherman's belt using belt loops.

[0011] Still other features would be desirable in a brush holder apparatus. For example, often a painter works with plural colors at a time. In this respect, it would be desirable if a plurality of brush holder apparatuses were provided which are color coded.

[0012] In addition, often a brush holder apparatus is displayed in a store prior to its purchase. Often the brush holder apparatus is displayed on a display hanger. In this respect, it would be desirable if a brush holder apparatus were provided that includes hanger reception channels for receiving a display hanger in a store.

[0013] Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use paint brush holders that are carried by a painter's belt, the prior art described above does not teach or suggest a brush holder apparatus which has the following combination of desirable features: (1) does not require a painter to unbuckle and rebuckle one's belt in order to install the brush holder apparatus on the painter's belt; (2) includes a normally open belt clip; (3) includes a belt clip and a brush holder cup which are integrated so that the need for an intermediate carrier plate is eliminated; (4) can provide a plurality of brush holder apparatuses which are color coded; and (5) includes hanger reception channels for receiving a display hanger in a store. The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique brush holder apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, briefly described, provides a brush holder apparatus which includes a cup portion which includes an open cup top and a closed cup bottom. An inverted U-shaped hanger portion is connected to the cup portion and extending upward above the open cup top. The cup portion can include a downwardly curved top cup edge. The hanger portion includes a front riser portion connected to the cup portion. A U-shaped bridge portion is connected to the front riser portion, and a rear descending portion is connected to the bridge portion. The bridge portion, the front riser portion, and the rear descending portion provide a fully open gap between the front riser portion and the rear descending portion. The brush holder apparatus can be hung from a belt worn by a wearer to receive a paint brush that has bristles wet with paint.

[0015] The front riser portion includes a front storage hanger reception channel, and the rear descending portion includes a rear storage hanger reception channel. The front storage hanger reception channel and the rear storage hanger reception channel are in registration with each other. A magnet member can be connected to a rear side of the cup portion.

[0016] The brush holder can be color coded. A wearer can wear a plurality of brush holder apparatuses to accommodate a plurality of paint brushes used for different color paints. The cup portion includes a front cup wall and a rear front cup wall, and the front cup wall is tilted forward of the rear front cup wall.

[0017] The front riser portion and the rear front cup wall can be coplanar. Also, the front riser portion and the rear front cup wall can be formed as a unified, integrated structure.

[0018] The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will be for the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0019] In this respect, before explaining a preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood, that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0020] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing 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.

[0021] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved brush holder apparatus which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

[0022] It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved brush holder apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

[0023] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved brush holder apparatus which is of durable and reliable construction.

[0024] An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved brush holder apparatus which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such brush holder apparatus available to the buying public.

[0025] Still yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved brush holder apparatus which does not require a painter to unbuckle and rebuckle one's belt in order to install the brush holder apparatus on the painter's belt.

[0026] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved brush holder apparatus that includes a normally open belt clip.

[0027] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved brush holder apparatus which includes a belt clip and a brush holder cup which are integrated so that the need for an intermediate carrier plate is eliminated.

[0028] Even another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved brush holder apparatus that can provide a plurality of brush holder apparatuses which are color coded.

[0029] Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved brush holder apparatus which includes hanger reception channels for receiving a display hanger in a store.

[0030] These together with still other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The invention will be better understood and the above objects as well as objects other than those set forth above will become more apparent after a study of the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawing wherein:

[0032] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the brush holder apparatus of the invention attached to a belt of a wearer and containing paint brush.

[0033] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the embodiment of the brush holder apparatus shown in FIG. 1, removed from the belt and with the paint brush removed from the apparatus.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a front view of the embodiment of the brush holder apparatus of FIG. 2.

[0035] FIG. 4 is a top view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3 taken along line 4-4 thereof.

[0036] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4 taken along line 5-5 thereof.

[0037] FIG. 6 is a rear view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0038] With reference to the drawings, a new and improved brush holder apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention will be described.

[0039] Turning to FIGS. 1-6, there is shown an exemplary embodiment of the brush holder apparatus of the invention generally designated by reference numeral 10. In its preferred form, brush holder apparatus 10 includes a cup portion 12 which includes an open cup top 16 and a closed cup bottom 18. An inverted U-shaped hanger portion 20 is connected to the cup portion 12 and extending upward above the open cup top 16.

[0040] The cup portion 12 can include a downwardly curved top cup edge 14. The hanger portion 20 includes a front riser portion 22 connected to the cup portion 12. A U-shaped bridge portion 24 is connected to the front riser portion 22, and a rear descending portion 26 is connected to the bridge portion 24. The bridge portion 24, the front riser portion 22, and the rear descending portion provide a fully open gap 28 between the front riser portion 22 and the rear descending portion 26.

[0041] The front riser portion 22 includes a front storage hanger reception channel 30, and the rear descending portion 26 includes a rear storage hanger reception channel 32. The front storage hanger reception channel 30 and the rear storage hanger reception channel 32 are in registration with each other. A magnet member 34 can be connected to a rear side of the cup portion 12.

[0042] The brush holder can be color coded. The cup portion 12 includes a front cup wall 36 and a rear front cup wall 38, and the front cup wall 36 is tilted forward of the rear front cup wall 38.

[0043] The front riser portion 22 and the rear front cup wall 38 are coplanar. Also, the front riser portion 22 and the rear front cup wall 38 are formed as a unified, integrated structure.

[0044] A painter often works with several different colors of paint out of five gallon buckets, and the painter often has no place to set the brushes down when not in use. When they are placed on the edges of the paint buckets, they often fall into the buckets. To provide a convenient apparatus for storing a wet paint brush 15, the present inventor provides the subject brush holder apparatus 10.

[0045] To use the subject brush holder apparatus 10 of the invention, the hanger portion 20 can be slipped over a belt 11 worn by a wearer 13, as shown in FIG. 1. The belt 11 is received in the gap 28 between the front riser portion 22 and the rear descending portion 26. Then, a wet paint brush 15 can be placed in the cup portion 12, with the wet bristle portion of the paint brush 15 received in the cup portion 12 and the handle portion of the paint brush 15 sticking out from the cup portion 12.

[0046] When the wet paint brush 15 is to be removed from the cup portion 12, the wet bristles can be slid up against the top cup edge 14 so that excess paint will be pushed off of the wet bristles and flow back into the cup portion 12.

[0047] A plurality of brush holder apparatuses 10 of the invention can be color coded to accommodate paint brushes used with different color paints. If desired, a painter can wear a plurality of brush holder apparatuses to accommodate the paint brushes used with different color paints. By using the brush holder apparatuses of the invention, wet bristles can be maintained in a wet condition and are prevented from drying out when not in use.

[0048] It is noted that a brush holder apparatus 10 of the invention can also be hung on a ladder or over the side of a bucket. The magnet member 34 can be used to support the brush holder apparatus 10 on a ferromagnetic surface. The front storage hanger reception channel 30 and the rear storage hanger reception channel 32 can be used to receiver a store hanger (not shown) to hold and display a brush holder apparatus 10 of the invention in a store, prior to purchase. Later, the front storage hanger reception channel 30 and the rear storage hanger reception channel 32 can be used to receive a hanger in a person's workshop.

[0049] The components of the brush holder apparatus of the invention can be made from inexpensive and durable metal and plastic materials. More specifically, the brush holder apparatus 10 of the invention can be made from molded plastic material. In this respect, the brush holder apparatus 10 can be a made as a single, unified structure.

[0050] As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention, the same is apparent from the above disclosure, and accordingly, no further discussion relative to the manner of usage and operation need be provided.

[0051] It is apparent from the above that the present invention accomplishes all of the objects set forth by providing a new and improved brush holder apparatus that is low in cost, relatively simple in design and operation, and which may advantageously be used without requiring a painter to unbuckle and rebuckle one's belt in order to install the brush holder apparatus on the painter's belt. With the invention, a brush holder apparatus is provided which includes a normally open belt clip. With the invention, a brush holder apparatus is provided which includes a belt clip and a brush holder cup which are integrated so that the need for an intermediate carrier plate is eliminated. With the invention, a brush holder apparatus is provided which can provide a plurality of brush holder apparatuses which are color coded. With the invention, a brush holder apparatus is provided which includes hanger reception channels for receiving a display hanger in a store.

[0052] Thus, while the present invention has been shown in the drawings and fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications thereof may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use.

[0053] Hence, the proper scope of the present invention should be determined only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all such modifications as well as all relationships equivalent to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification.

[0054] Finally, it will be appreciated that the purpose of the annexed Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. Accordingly, the Abstract is neither intended to define the invention or the application, which only is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

Claims

1. A brush holder apparatus, comprising:

a cup portion which includes an open cup top and a closed cup bottom, and

an inverted U-shaped hanger portion connected to said cup portion and extending upward above said open cup top, wherein said hanger portion includes a front riser portion connected to said cup portion, a U-shaped bridge portion connected to said front riser portion, and a rear descending portion connected to said bridge portion, and

wherein said bridge portion, said front riser portion, and said rear descending portion provide a fully open gap between said front riser portion and said rear descending portion of said hanger portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cup portion included downwardly curved top cup edge.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said front riser portion includes a front storage hanger reception channel,

said rear descending portion includes a rear storage hanger reception channel, and

said front storage hanger reception channel and said rear storage hanger reception channel are in registration with each other.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further including:

a magnet member connected to a rear side of said cup portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said brush holder is color coded.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said cup portion includes a front cup wall and a rear front cup wall, and

said front cup wall is tilted forward of said rear front cup wall.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said front riser portion and said rear front cup wall are coplanar.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said front riser portion and said rear front cup wall are formed as a unified, integrated structure.