Multi-directional brush

Abstract

A multi-directional brush includes a handle, a brush, and an angle adjuster that pivotally connects the brush to the handle. The adjuster includes a lower half portion and a upper half portion. The upper half portion includes a base and an elongate column protruded from the base, which are received in a mounting hole in the brush. The base has a shape of semi-sphere, and the elongate column has a circular shape. A blocking piece prevents rotation of the brush body with respect to the angle adjuster. The blocking piece is fastened to the angle adjuster by a fastening device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a multi-directional brush used in painting difficult and the hard-to-reach surfaces with ease. More particularly, this invention relates to a multi-directional brush that provides rigid support of the brush and flexibility of the direction of the brush together.

With previously invented and known paintbrushes, the normal method of painting is up and down or side to side with inflexible, rigid, and inflexible paint brushes. If the painter encounters surfaces with such angles that require painting by applying unconventional methods of painting strokes, the painter himself has to adjust into an unusual position to apply different directional strokes to paint the particular surface. Moreover, if the painter wants to paint in a bent crevice, then he has to use a thin brush and hope that he can paint over the entire area. This requires much unnecessary effort and time.

Often a painter encounters surfaces that are virtually impossible to reach, let alone paint with the prior art brushes. The deficiencies become such a burden that the painting operation is ineffective and much more difficult than it needs to be.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,762 to Meimeteas; U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,268 to Chu; U.S. Pat. No. 4,020,520 to Dellas; U.S. Pat. No. 3,214,778 to Mathison; U.S. Pat. No. 2,948,910 to Hulla; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,763,884 to Fritz show examples of a paint brush which is generally of one piece construction, with the brush-head, brush-neck, and handle rigidly interconnected. These prior art paint brushes are made in such a way as to only allow painting in directions in which the painter could hold and maintain the brush.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,080 to Rydzicki shows a paint brush attachment for holding a brush in different positions. This prior art attachment has to be connected and then disconnected every time it is used. Thus, the adjustable device is not permanently located on the brush handle.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,802 to Le Vere, Jr. shows a broom having a broom handle that can be adjusted to adjust and control the length of bristle on each side.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,859 to Kim shows a paintbrush that can be adjusted to have different brush angles and also to have the brush head to turn around a longitudinal axis.

While the multi-directional brushes by prior art satisfied the requirements for painting hard-to-reach surfaces, more economical and robust brushes have always been in need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages of the prior art.

An objective of the invention is to provide a multi-directional brush, which can be manufactured at low material cost.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a multi-directional brush, which is sturdy and rigid.

Still another objective of the invention is to provide a multi-directional brush that prevents wrong positioning of adjustable parts.

In order to achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a multi-directional brush that includes a handle having a first handle end and a second handle end, a brush having a plurality of bristles and a brush body that hold the bristles, and an angle adjuster that pivotally connects the brush body to the second handle end. The adjuster includes a lower half portion and a upper half portion. The upper half portion includes a base and an elongate column protruded from the base. The base and the elongate column of the upper half portion are received in a mounting hole provided in the brush body. The cross-sectional area of the base gradually increases from the point of the base, from which the elongate column protrudes.

The base has a shape of semi-sphere, and the elongate column has a circular shape. The mounting hole has a shape corresponding to the base and the elongate column so that tight fit between the upper half portion and the brush body is provided.

The upper half portion further includes a securing device that secures the upper half portion to the brush body. The securing device includes one or more spring washer fixed to the end of the elongate column. The spring washer includes a plurality of teeth that cut into the wall of the mounting hole.

The upper half portion is adapted to engage with the lower portion at a plurality of angles between the centerline of the upper half portion and the centerline of the lower half portion.

The upper half portion further includes an upper engaging body, and the lower half portion includes a lower engaging body. The upper engaging body includes a plurality of radial teeth, and the lower engaging body includes a plurality of radial teeth. The upper engaging body is pivotable with respect to the lower engaging body. The teeth of the upper engaging body engage with the teeth of the lower engaging body. The angle adjuster further includes a fastening device that fastens the lower half portion and the upper half portion.

The multi-directional brush further includes a blocking piece that prevents rotation of the brush body with respect to the angle adjuster. The blocking piece is fastened to the angle adjuster by a fastening device.

The blocking piece includes a blocking piece body and a tab that extends from the blocking piece body. The blocking piece body is attached to the upper half portion of the angle adjuster, and the tab partly covers the brush body.

The blocking piece body includes a hole, and the upper half portion includes a boss that is received by the hole of the blocking piece body. The boss includes a tapered portion. The diameter of the tapered portion decreases toward the free end of the boss, wherein the hole has a step that engages with the tapered portion of the boss so that the blocking piece does not fall out of the boss.

The tapered portion of the boss includes one or more recesses around the periphery thereof.

The lower half portion of the angle adjuster may be integrated with the handle at the second handle end.

The advantages of the present invention are: (1) the multi-directional brush is rigid and robust so that it does not fail or break under service conditions since the round base resists to external force effectively; (2) the blocking piece is effectively prevented from falling out due to the tapered portion of the boss; and (3) the blocking piece facilitates correct positioning of the brush with respect to the handle.

Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a multi-directional brush according to the present invention showing that the multi-directional brush is pivotable transversely;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the multi-directional brush showing that the multi-directional brush is rotatable around a handle of the multi-directional brush;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the multi-directional brush;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of an angle adjuster according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view a lower half portion of the adjuster;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the lower half portion;

FIG. 7 is a rear elevation view of the lower half portion;

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view a upper half portion of the adjuster;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the upper half portion;

FIG. 10 is a rear elevation view of the upper half portion;

FIG. 11 is a front elevation view of a blocking piece;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the blocking piece;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a toothed spring washer;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the upper half portion inserted into a brush body;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the blocking piece and the upper half portion;

FIG. 16 is a front elevation view of a boss protruded from the upper half portion;

FIG. 17 is a side elevation view of the boss;

FIG. 18 is an exploded elevation view of the multi-directional brush; and

FIG. 19 is an elevation view of the multi-directional brush showing that the blocking piece is rotated between a blocking position and unblocking position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1, 2, 18 and 19 show a multi-directional brush 10 according to the present invention. The multi-directional brush 10 includes a handle 12 having a first handle end 14 and a second handle end 16, a brush 18 having a plurality of bristles 20 and a brush body 22 that hold the bristles 20, and an angle adjuster 24 that pivotally connects the brush body 22 to the second handle end 16. The angle adjuster 24 includes a lower half portion 26 and an upper half portion 28. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the lower half portion 26 is integrated with the handle 12 at the second handle end 16.

Referring to FIGS. 8˜10, the upper half portion 28 includes a base 32 and an elongate column 34 protruded from the base 32. The base 32 and the elongate column 34 of the upper half portion 28 are received in a mounting hole 36 provided in the brush body 22 (refer to FIG. 14). The cross-sectional area of the base 32 gradually increases from the point 38 of the base, from which the elongate column 34 protrudes.

The base 32 has a shape of semi-sphere, and the elongate column 34 has a circular shape. The mounting hole 36 has a shape corresponding to the base 32 and the elongate column 34 so that tight fit between the upper half portion 28 and the brush body 22 is provided. In this way, the base 32 has enough dimension and strength to resist to external forces to the brush 18 or the handle 12 so that the upper half portion 28 should not be broken.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 14, the upper half portion 28 further includes a securing device 40 that secures the upper half portion 28 to the brush body 22. The securing device 40 includes one or more spring washer 42 fixed to the end of the elongate column 34. Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the spring washer 42 includes a plurality of teeth 44 that cut into the wall of the mounting hole 36. This prevents the brush 18 from falling out of the angle adjuster 24.

Referring to FIG. 3, the upper half portion 28 is adapted to engage with the lower portion 26 at a plurality of angles between the centerline of the upper half portion 28 and the centerline of the lower half portion 26. FIG. 1 shows that the brush 18 may be tilted with respect to the handle 12 at one of the plurality of angles.

Referring to FIGS. 5˜10, the upper half portion 28 further includes an upper engaging body 46, and the lower half portion 26 includes a lower engaging body 48. The upper engaging body 46 includes a plurality of radial teeth 50, and the lower engaging body includes a plurality of radial teeth 52. The upper engaging body 46 is pivotable with respect to the lower engaging body 48. The teeth 50 of the upper engaging body 46 engage with the teeth 52 of the lower engaging body 48.

FIG. 4 shows that the angle adjuster 24 further includes a fastening device 54 that fastens the lower half portion 26 and the upper half portion 28. The fastening device 54 includes a butterfly nut 70 that is engaged with a threaded rod 72 (refer to FIG. 6) that is protruded from the lower engaging body 48. The lower engaging body also includes a shaft 74 (refer to FIG. 6) around which the upper engaging body 46 rotates.

FIG. 3 shows that the multi-directional brush 10 further includes a blocking piece 30 that prevents rotation of the brush body 22 with respect to the angle adjuster 24. The blocking piece 30 is fastened to the angle adjuster 24 by the fastening device 54. FIG. 2 shows that the multi-directional brush 10 is rotatable around the handle 12 when the blocking piece 30 is in unblocking position.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the blocking piece 30 includes a blocking piece body 56 and a tab 58 that extends from the blocking piece body 56. Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 3, the blocking piece body 56 is attached to the upper half portion 28 of the angle adjuster 24, and the tab 58 partly covers the brush body 22.

The blocking piece body 56 includes a hole 60, and the upper half portion 28 includes a boss 62 (refer to FIG. 8) that is received by the hole 60 of the blocking piece body 56. Referring to FIGS. 15˜17, the boss 62 includes a tapered portion 64. The diameter of the tapered portion 64 decreases toward the free end 66 of the boss 62, and the hole 60 has a step 68 that engages with the tapered portion 64 of the boss 62 so that the blocking piece 30 does not fall out of the boss 62.

The tapered portion 64 of the boss 62 includes one or more recesses 70 around the periphery thereof. The recesses facilitate assembly of the blocking piece 30 to the upper half portion 28.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A multi-directional brush comprising:

a) a handle comprising a first handle end and a second handle end;

b) a brush comprising a plurality of bristles and a brush body that hold the bristles; and

c) an angle adjuster that pivotally connects the brush body to the second handle end;

wherein the adjuster comprises a lower half portion and a upper half portion, wherein the upper half portion comprises a base and an elongate column protruded from the base, wherein the base and the elongate column of the upper half portion are received in a mounting hole provided in the brush body, wherein the cross-sectional area of the base gradually increases from the point of the base, from which the elongate column protrudes.

2. The multi-directional brush of claim 1, wherein the upper half portion is adapted to engage with the lower portion at a plurality of angles between the centerline of the upper half portion and the centerline of the lower half portion.

3. The multi-directional brush of claim 1, wherein the base has a shape of semi-sphere.

4. The multi-directional brush of claim 3, wherein the elongate column has a circular shape.

5. The multi-directional brush of claim 4, wherein the mounting hole has a shape corresponding to the base and the elongate column whereby tight fit between the upper half portion and the brush body is provided.

6. The multi-directional brush of claim 5, wherein the upper half portion further comprises a securing device that secures the upper half portion to the brush body.

7. The multi-directional brush of claim 6, wherein the securing device comprises one or more spring washer fixed to the end of the elongate column, wherein the spring washer comprises a plurality of teeth that is adapted to cut into the wall of the mounting hole.

8. The multi-directional brush of claim 5, wherein the upper half portion is adapted to engage with the lower portion at a plurality of angles between the centerline of the upper half portion and the centerline of the lower half portion.

9. The multi-directional brush of claim 1, wherein the upper half portion further comprises an upper engaging body, wherein the lower half portion comprises a lower engaging body, wherein the upper engaging body comprises a plurality of radial teeth, wherein the lower engaging body comprises a plurality of radial teeth, wherein the upper engaging body is pivotable with respect to the lower engaging body, wherein the teeth of the upper engaging body engage with the teeth of the lower engaging body.

10. The multi-directional brush of claim 9, wherein the angle adjuster further comprises a fastening device that fastens the lower half portion and the upper half portion.

11. The multi-directional brush of claim 1, further comprising a blocking piece that prevents rotation of the brush body with respect to the angle adjuster.

12. The multi-directional brush of claim 11, wherein the blocking piece is fastened to the angle adjuster by a fastening device.

13. The multi-directional brush of claim 12, wherein the blocking piece comprises a blocking piece body and a tab that extends from the blocking piece body, wherein the blocking piece body is attached to the upper half portion of the angle adjuster, wherein the tab partly covers the brush body.

14. The multi-directional brush of claim 13, wherein the blocking piece body comprises a hole, and the upper half portion comprises a boss that is received by the hole of the blocking piece body, wherein the boss comprises a tapered portion, wherein the diameter of the tapered portion decreases toward the free end of the boss, wherein the hole has a step that engages with the tapered portion of the boss whereby the blocking piece does not fall out of the boss.

15. The multi-directional brush of claim 14, wherein the tapered portion of the boss comprises one or more recesses around the periphery thereof.

16. The multi-directional brush of claim 15, wherein the base has a shape of semi-sphere, wherein the elongate column has a circular shape, wherein the mounting hole has a shape corresponding to the base and the elongate column whereby tight fit between the upper half portion and the brush body is provided.

17. The multi-directional brush of claim 16, wherein the upper half portion further comprises a securing device that secures the upper half portion to the brush body, wherein the securing device comprises one or more spring washer fixed to the end of the elongate column, wherein the spring washer comprises a plurality of teeth that cut into the wall of the mounting hole.

18. The multi-directional brush of claim 17, wherein the upper half portion is adapted to engage with the lower portion at a plurality of angles between the centerline of the upper half portion and the centerline of the lower half portion.

19. The multi-directional brush of claim 17, wherein the lower half portion is integrated with the handle at the second handle end.