BRUSH HEAD ROTATING AND TILTING SYSTEM

Abstract

A brush head positioning system comprises a brush handle top portion; a brush handle bottom portion including a brush head mounted on a brush end thereof; and a mechanism for positioning the bottom portion relative to the top portion such that the bottom portion is selectively moveable between a left position and a right position relative the top portion. Preferably the brush head positioning system wherein the positioning mechanism is adapted such that the top portion and the bottom portion can be spaced apart from each other and remain connected together.

Description

The application claims priority from previously filed U.S. Provisional Application 61/014,861 filed on Dec. 19, 2007 by Ed Vaes under the title BRUSH HEAT ROTATING AND TILTING SYSTEM.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to paint brushes and more particularly relates to a system for rotating the paint brush head and also tilting the paint brush.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A brush head positioning system comprises a brush handle top portion; a brush handle bottom portion including a brush head mounted on a brush end thereof; and a means for positioning the bottom portion relative to the top portion such that the bottom portion selectively moveable between a left position and a right position relative the top portion.

Preferably the brush head positioning system wherein the positioning means adapted such that the top portion and the bottom portion can be spaced apart from each other and always remain connected together.

Preferably the brush head positioning system wherein the positioning means including a means for resiliently biasing the top portion against the bottom portion such that the handle selectively moveable between a normally retracted position and an extended position by manually urging apart the top portion from the bottom portion against the force of the resilient bias.

Preferably the brush head positioning system wherein the resilient bias means including a spring mounted on a spring retainer about which the top and bottom portions are free to rotate relative each other when the handle is in the extended position such that in the extended position the spring is placed in a compressed position and the bottom portion can be rotated relative the top portion by manually rotatably urging the bottom portion and aligning the top and bottom portions in either the left or right position prior to releasing the handle portions.

Preferably the brush head positioning system wherein the top portion and bottom portion of the handle abutting at a parting line when in the retracted position such that proximate the parting line a male protrusion on one portion of the handle cooperatively mates with a female cavity on the other portion of the handle when the handle in the retracted position thereby releasably locking the top portion to the bottom portion of the handles due to the continual urging of the spring bias in the spring rest position.

Preferably the brush head positioning system wherein the spring including a circular spring mounted on a spring retainer wherein the spring abutting a retainer head of the spring retainer at one end and a shoulder of one handle portion at the other end.

Preferably the brush head positioning system wherein the spring including a coil spring mounted on a spring retainer wherein the spring abutting a retainer head of the spring retainer at one end and a shoulder of one handle portion at the other end.

Preferably the brush head positioning system wherein the spring totally enclosed in spring housing the outside surface of which forms part of the contours of the handle.

Preferably the brush head positioning system wherein the positioning means including at least one locking finger on one portion releasably connecting with at least one locking cavities on the other portion such that by urging together the top portion and the bottom portion the finger and cavity connect the handle portions together.

Preferably the brush head positioning system wherein a male protrusion on one portion of the handle cooperatively mates with a female cavity on the other portion of the handle when the handle portions are urged together thereby maintaining the handle portions in a preselected left or right position.

Preferably the brush head positioning system wherein the positioning means including at least one male protrusion on one portion slideably engaging with at least one female groove on the other portion such that by slideably urging the top portion laterally into the bottom portion the handle portions are releasably connected together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a paint brush with a rotating mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational schematic view of the paint brush shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an elevational partial cut away schematic view of the paint brush shown in FIG. 1 revealing the positioning mechanism components.

FIG. 4 is a front partial cut away schematic view of the paint brush shown with the handle and the brush head shown in an extended position.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a top exploded perspective view of the paint brush handle and a portion of the brush head.

FIG. 8 is an exploded front elevational view of an alternate body of a paint brush.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the paint brush shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a back elevational view of the paint brush shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of yet another embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a top perspective schematic view of the paint brush with the brush head rotated 180° in comparison to FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is top perspective schematic view of a brush head used in the paint brush depicted in FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the brush head shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is an end elevational view of the brush head shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a side partial cross sectional view of a paint brush handle with a weighted tip.

FIG. 17 is a side partial cross sectional view of a paint brush handle with a weighted tip.

FIG. 18 is a side partial cross sectional view of a paint brush handle with a weighted tip.

FIG. 19 is a side elevational view of the paint brush handle with a weighted tip showing the paint brush in a tipped position.

FIG. 20 is a front elevational view of a detachable weighted tip.

FIG. 21 is a top plan view of the weighted tip shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a side elevational view of the weighted tip shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 23 is a side elevational view of a paint brush handle showing the weighted tip of FIG. 22 shown installed on the end of the handle.

FIG. 24 is a top plan view of the handle shown in FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a schematic partial cross sectional view of the handle shown in FIG. 23 together with the weighted tip.

FIG. 26 is a side elevational view of a paint brush handle showing a collar in an installed position.

FIG. 27 is a top plan view of the paint brush shown in FIG. 26.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present device a paint brush shown generally as 100 in FIGS. 1 through 7 inclusively includes a handle 102, including a top portion 144 terminating in a tip end 106 and a bottom portion 146 at the brush end 108 of handle 102. A brush head 104 is attached to a brush end 108 of handle 102. Bottom portion 146 is separated from top portion 144 at parting line 114. Handle 102 further includes a positioning mechanism 110 which enables the bottom portion 146 to be rotated relative the top portion 144 of handle 102 and place the handle 102 into a left position 115 or a right position 117. Brush head 104 includes a ferrule 120 which is normally metallic and bristles 122 projecting there from. Brush end 108 of handle 102 usually includes a tapered section 124. Paint brush 100 is shown in the retracted position 119 in FIG. 1. In retracted position 119 top portion 144 and bottom portion 146 are releasably fixed relative each other. In other words the position of top portion 144 is fixed relative to bottom portion 146 when in the retracted position 119. Top portion 144 and bottom portion 146 are also releasably rotationally fixed relative each other in the retracted position.

FIG. 3 which is a partial cut away cross sectional view of the positioning mechanism 110 shown installed in handle 102 includes a circular spring 130 installed in a spring housing 121 which totally encloses spring 130. Spring 130 is held at one end by retainer head 136 of spring retainer 132 and is abutting at the other end against shoulder 134. Circular spring 130 is shown in a spring rest position 140 in FIG. 3 in which case a top portion 144 of handle 102 is abutting against the bottom portion 146 of handle 102 along parting line 114. In spring rest position 140, spring 130 is in a partially compressed state thereby urging the handle ends together. Spring 130 may be of any suitable type including but not limited to coil springs, torsion springs, rubbery biasing materials, deflection springs, or any other means of applying biasing forces.

In FIG. 4 handle 102 is shown in an extended position 150 in which spring 130 is shown in a fully compressed position 152, such that the female cavity 156 is separated from the male protrusion 158, such that the top portion 144 of handle 102 can be rotated relative to the bottom portion 146 of handle 102. In this manner the brush head 104 can be rotated 180° such that paint brush 100 can be held by either a left handed or a right handed person depending upon how the user desires to have the handle oriented.

The reader will note that handle 102 is bent as show in FIG. 2 in particular in order to fit comfortably within a hand. Therefore, a sash brush as depicted in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 is preferably oriented in a certain direction depending upon whether or not the brush is held within the left hand or right hand. The positioning mechanism 110 allows the user to selectively determine the orientation of brush head 104 relative to handle 102.

The reader will note that male protrusion 158 fits snugly within female cavity 156 in order to prevent unintentional rotation of the top portion 144 of handle 102 relative to bottom portion 146.

Spring retainer 132 is firmly attached to the bottom portion 146 of paint brush 100 and is rigidly connected to the forward portion of male protrusion 158.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 shows an alternate embodiment namely paint brush 200 which includes handle 202 and brush head 204. Handle 202 includes a tip 206, a top portion 244 and a bottom portion 246. The positioning mechanism 210 includes locking finger 280 which grip and correspond with locking cavities 281 as well as male protrusion 272 which cooperatively and intimately fits into female cavity 270, such that an attached left position 115 or a right position 117 can be selected. The top portion 244 can be detached from bottom portion 246 by unlatching locking finger 280 from locking cavities 281. Note that male protrusion 272 which fits intimately into female cavity 270 prevents unwanted rotation of top portion 244 relative to bottom portion 246 of paint brush 200. Brush 200 also includes ferrule 220, bristles 222, and parting line 214 separating top portion 244 from bottom portion 246.

Referring now to FIGS. 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 which shows yet another embodiment paint brush 300 which includes a handle 302, a brush head 304, a top portion 306 and a bottom portion 308 and a rotating and/or locking mechanism 310 which includes a female groove 312 and a male protrusion 314 which slide ably fit into each other such that an attached left position 115 or a right position 117 can be selected. The top portion 306 from bottom portion 308 can be separated along parting line 320 by sliding them apart.

In all of these examples, that brush head 304 normally includes a ferrule shown as 340 in FIG. 12 which holds bristles shown as bristle 341 in FIG. 12.

In a normal paint brush ferrule 340 is securely attached to the bottom portion 308 of handle 102 with nails, glue and/or otherwise adhesively attached.

Now referring to FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, one can see female groove 312 which receives slide ably male protrusion 314 therein.

Referring now to FIGS. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25, all of which depict brush tilting systems.

In FIG. 16 for example, handle 402 includes a weight 404 in bedded near the tip 406 within the handle. FIG. 17 shows handle 502 includes a weighted tip 504 which can be fastened to the end of handle 502 thereby defining the tip 506.

FIG. 18 handle 602 includes a tip weight 604 which can be inserted into the tip portion 606 of handle 602.

FIG. 19 shows paint brush 702 which includes a weighted handle 704 which includes a weight 706 near the tip 708 of the handle 704. One can see that the bristles 710 of paint brush 702 are raised from a surface 720 by an amount which is the clearance 722 thereby placing paint brush 702 into a tipped position 726 as depicted in FIG. 19. Tipped position 726 is preferable when placing paint brush 702 down onto a surface 720 when there is wet paint within bristles 710. This prevents contamination of the paint by contact of a surface such as 720 for example. Shown in FIG. 19, clearance A 722 is achieved by including a weight 702 which offsets the weight of the bristles 710 of the paint brush 702.

FIG. 25 shows an alternate method of weighting the tip end of a paint brush. Weighted tip shown as 802 includes a top side 804 and a bottom side 806 and an end portion 808 along with resilient finger 810. Resilient finger 810 is inserted into the aperture 812 which is normally found the near the top end or top portion 144 for example of a handle 102 as depicted in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 23 weighted tip 802 is deployed onto the end or the tip of a paint brush as shown in FIG. 23. Resilient fingers 810 penetrate through aperture 812 and the top side 804 contacts with the top portion of handle and the bottom side 806 contacts with the bottom portion of the handle.

FIG. 25 shows in cross sectional view weighted tip 802 in the installed positioning 850. Weighted tip 802 is installed over tip 852 of handle 854.

Referring now to FIGS. 26 and 27 which depict a collar 902 which is installed over the ferrule 904 of paint brush 906. Collar 902 can either be installed over the tip end 910 of handle 912 or over the bristle end 920 of paint brush 906. FIG. 26 shows collar 902 in the installed position 940, such that the paint brush is put into a tip position 942, such that the bristles are raised off of a surface 960.

It should be apparent to persons skilled in the arts that various modifications and adaptation of this structure described above are possible without departure from the spirit of the invention the scope of which defined in the appended claim.

Claims

1. A brush head positioning system comprising:

a) a brush handle top portion;

b) a brush handle bottom portion including a brush head mounted on a brush end thereof;

c) a means for positioning the bottom portion relative to the top portion such that the bottom portion selectively moveable between a left position and a right position relative the top portion.

2. The brush head positioning system claimed in claim 1 wherein the positioning means adapted such that the top portion and the bottom portion can be spaced apart from each other and always remain connected together.

3. The brush head positioning system claimed in claim 1 wherein the positioning means including a means for resiliently biasing the top portion against the bottom portion such that the handle selectively moveable between a normally retracted position and an extended position by manually urging apart the top portion from the bottom portion against the force of the resilient bias.

4. The brush head positioning system claimed in claim 2 wherein the resilient bias means including a spring mounted on a spring retainer about which the top and bottom portions are free to rotate relative each other when the handle is in the extended position such that in the extended position the spring is placed in a compressed position and the bottom portion can be rotated relative the top portion by manually rotatably urging the bottom portion and aligning the top and bottom portions in either the left or right position prior to releasing the handle portions.

5. The brush head positioning system claimed in claim 4 wherein the top portion and bottom portion of the handle abutting at a parting line when in the retracted position such that proximate the parting line a male protrusion on one portion of the handle cooperatively mates with a female cavity on the other portion of the handle when the handle in the retracted position thereby releasably locking the top portion to the bottom portion of the handles due to the continual urging of the spring bias in the spring rest position.

6. The brush head positioning system claimed in claim 4 wherein the spring including a circular spring mounted on a spring retainer wherein the spring abutting a retainer head of the spring retainer at one end and a shoulder of one handle portion at the other end.

7. The brush head positioning system claimed in claim 4 wherein the spring including a coil spring mounted on a spring retainer wherein the spring abutting a retainer head of the spring retainer at one end and a shoulder of one handle portion at the other end.

8. The brush head positioning system claimed in claim 4 wherein the spring totally enclosed in spring housing the outside surface of which forms part of the contours of the handle.

9. The brush head positioning system claimed in claim 1 wherein the positioning means including at least one locking finger on one portion releasably connecting with at least one locking cavities on the other portion such that by urging together the top portion and the bottom portion the finger and cavity connect the handle portions together.

10. The brush head positioning system claimed in claim 9 wherein a male protrusion on one portion of the handle cooperatively mates with a female cavity on the other portion of the handle when the handle portions are urged together thereby maintaining the handle portions in a preselected left or right position.

11. The brush head positioning system claimed in claim 1 wherein the positioning means including at least one male protrusion on one portion slideably engaging with at least one female groove on the other portion such that by slideably urging the top portion laterally into the bottom portion the handle portions are releasably connected together.