Paint Applicator

Abstract

A paint applicator includes a hollow handle defining a paint-entry passage, and a housing connected to the handle and having a first wall, and a second wall cooperating with the first wall to define a paint chamber that communicates fluidly with the paint-entry passage. The second wall has a plurality of first paint exit holes communicating fluidly with the paint chamber. A non-permeable resilient body covers the second wall, and includes a plurality of second paint exit holes aligned respectively with the first paint exit holes. A permeable foamed body covers the non-permeable resilient body. A brush layer is attached to the permeable foamed body, and is composed of a plurality of bristles.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application Nos. 097219220 and 098205662, filed on Oct. 28, 2008 and Apr. 8, 2009, respectively.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a paint applicator, more particularly to a paint applicator that moves stably and that paints uniformly.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional paint applicator 1 is shown to comprise a hollow handle 11, a main body 12, and a brush layer 13. The hollow handle 11 defines a paint-entry passage 111 extending along the length thereof. The main body 12 defines a paint chamber 121 communicating fluidly with the paint-entry passage 111. The brush layer 13 is provided on a bottom side of the main body 12, and is composed of a plurality of bristles 131. In use, paint (not shown) is poured into the paint-entry passage 111, and flows into the paint chamber 121. From the paint chamber 121, the paint flows out of the brush layer 13, and is coated onto a particular surface of an object. However, because the paint flows directly from the paint chamber 121 to the brush layer 13, uneven distribution of the paint coated onto the surface of the object usually occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a paint applicator that is capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

According to this invention, a paint applicator comprises a hollow handle, a housing, a non-permeable resilient body, a permeable foamed body, and a brush layer. The hollow handle defines a paint-entry passage. The housing is connected to the handle, and has a first wall, and a second wall cooperating with the first wall to define a paint chamber that communicates fluidly with the paint-entry passage. The second wall has a plurality of first paint exit holes communicating fluidly with the paint chamber. The non-permeable resilient body covers the second wall, and includes a plurality of second paint exit holes aligned respectively with the first paint exit holes. The permeable foamed body covers the non-permeable resilient body. The brush layer is attached to the permeable foamed body, and is composed of a plurality of bristles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional paint applicator;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a paint applicator according to the first preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a paint applicator according to the second preferred embodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that the same reference numerals have been used to denote like elements throughout the specification.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a paint applicator 200 according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown to comprise a hollow handle 20, a housing 30, a non-permeable resilient body 5, a permeable foamed body 6, and a brush layer 7.

The hollow handle 20 defines a paint-entry passage 21 that extends along the length thereof.

The housing 30 is connected to an end of the handle 2, and includes a first rectangular housing half 3 having a first wall 31, and a second rectangular housing half 4 having a second wall 41 that is connected detachably to a bottom side of the first wall 31 and that cooperates with the first wall 31 to define a paint chamber 400. The first wall 31, in this embodiment, is formed with a through hole 311 communicating fluidly with the paint-entry passage 21 and the paint chamber 400. The second wall 41 is formed with a plurality of first paint exit holes 411 communicating fluidly with the paint chamber 400.

The non-permeable resilient body 5 is disposed on a bottom side of the second wall 41 and covers the same, and includes a plurality of second paint exit holes 51 aligned respectively with the first paint exit holes 411. In this embodiment, the non-permeable resilient body 5 is a foamed body, but may be made of other resilient materials, and is not limited thereto.

The permeable foamed body 6 is disposed on a bottom side of the non-permeable resilient body 5 and covers the same.

The brush layer 7 is attached to a bottom side of the permeable foamed body 6, and is composed of a plurality of bristles 71.

In use, paint is poured into the paint-entry passage 21, and flows into the paint chamber 400. From the paint chamber 400, the paint flows down through the first paint exit holes 411, the second paint exit holes 51, the permeable foamed body 6, and into the brush layer 7, so that the paint can be coated onto an outer surface of a particular object (not shown).

Through the presence of the first and second paint exit holes 411, 51, the paint is first accumulated inside the paint chamber 400 until the internal pressure thereof is higher than the external pressure thereof, only then will the paint flow out from the paint chamber 400, so that uniform flow of the paint can be realized. Further, through the presence of the permeable foamed body 6, forces acting between the paint applicator 200 and the particular object can be effectively absorbed by the permeable foamed body 6 during painting, so that smooth use of the paint applicator 200 can be achieved.

Referring to FIG. 4, a paint applicator 200′ according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown to be similar to the first preferred embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the first and second walls 31′, 41′ of the respective first and second housing halves 3′, 4′ of the housing 30′ are tubular, and the first wall 31′ is formed with a plurality of the through holes 311 communicating fluidly with the paint-entry passage 21 and the paint chamber 400. Hence, the second wall 41′ extends around the first wall 31′, the non-permeable resilient body 5′ surrounds the second wall 41′, the permeable foamed body 6′ surrounds the non-permeable resilient body 5′, and the brush layer 7′ extends around the permeable foamed body 6′. In this embodiment, the paint applicator 200′ is configured as a roller paint applicator.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A paint applicator comprising:

a hollow handle defining a paint-entry passage;

a housing connected to said handle and having a first wall, and a second wall cooperating with said first wall to define a paint chamber that communicates fluidly with said paint-entry passage, said second wall having a plurality of first paint exit holes communicating fluidly with said paint chamber;

a non-permeable resilient body covering said second wall and including a plurality of second paint exit holes aligned respectively with said first paint exit holes;

a permeable foamed body covering said non-permeable resilient body; and

a brush layer attached to said permeable foamed body and composed of a plurality of bristles.

2. The paint applicator of claim 1, wherein said housing is connected to said handle, and has at least one through hole formed in said first wall and communicating fluidly with said paint-entry passage and said paint chamber.

3. The paint applicator of claim 1, wherein said first and second walls are tubular, said second wall extending around said first wall, said first wall having a plurality of through holes communicating fluidly with said paint-entry passage and said paint chamber, said non-permeable resilient body surrounding said second wall, said permeable foamed body surrounding said non-permeable resilient body, said brush layer extending around said permeable foamed body.