CONVERTIBLE IMPLEMENT
The present invention provides a implement, having an operable head connected to a handle. The first implement is removably connected to a second implement also having an operable head connected to a handle.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/789,863 filed on Apr. 25, 2007 titled “CONVERTIBLE IMPLEMENT,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to a hand-held implement and, more particularly, to a modular hand-held implement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONHand-held implements are used for numerous applications. For example, paintbrushes are utilized in the application of coating compositions, such as paint or varnish. Paintbrushes generally include a handle with an end upon which a plurality of bristles are attached. The manufacture of paintbrushes typically includes securing a ferrule to the handle for providing an open end to accept the bristles. The bristles are fitted into the open end of the ferrule and secured in place by an adhesive.
It is common practice to utilize multiple brushes of varying widths to accommodate different painting surfaces, such as walls, trellises, furniture, and sashes. This practice necessitates the purchase and transport of numerous paintbrushes by the painter, resulting in undesirable expense and inconvenience, as when the paintwork is performed on a ladder or in a remote location. Attempts have been made to provide modular paintbrushes capable of performing different types of paintwork; however, such attempts have suffered from several deficiencies. Typically, such modular paintbrushes require the attachment and/or detachment of bristle heads with a screw or more complicated device. Further, many of these paintbrushes require the painter to remove the handle and insert it into another position or bristle head before using it.
Accordingly, such paintbrushes require several additional parts and tools that make assembly and use difficult, and often result in streaky or otherwise poor application of coatings. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a modular paintbrush capable of easy assembly without additional tools. It is also desirable to provide a modular paintbrush capable of separating into at least two functional paintbrushes, without requiring the attachment or repositioning of the handle. It is also desirable to provide a modular paintbrush that is capable of applying coatings without streaks.
Additional information will be set forth in the description that follows, which will be obvious in part from the description or may be learned by practice of the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA modular paintbrush for coating a surface is provided having a first paintbrush with a first bristle head secured to a first handle. The first paintbrush is removably secured to a second paintbrush having a second bristle head secured to a second handle.
Also contemplated is a modular paintbrush for coating a surface having a first paintbrush with a first bristle head secured to a first handle. The first paintbrush is removably secured to a second paintbrush having a second bristle head removably secured to a second handle.
Also contemplated is a modular hand-held implement having a first implement with a first implement head secured to a first handle. The first implement is removably secured to a second implement having a second implement head secured to a second handle.
Operation of the invention may be better understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the following illustrations, wherein:
While the present invention is described with reference to the embodiments described herein, it should be clear that the present invention should not be limited to such embodiments. Therefore, the description of the embodiments herein is illustrative of the present invention and should not limit the scope of the invention as claimed.
Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying figures. Embodiments of a convertible implement 10 are shown in
As used herein, removably connectible may be defined as removable and separable, but not reconnectable. In one illustrative, non-limiting embodiment . . . In other embodiments, removably connectible may also be defined as removable and separable, and reconnectable. Illustrative, non-limiting examples are described in more detail below.
In one illustrative embodiment, as shown in
As shown in
The handles 12a,b may be made from any material such as wood, plastic, metal, composites, rubber, and the like, and coatings may also be applied. In addition, the handle 12 and handles 12a,b may be shaped to provide an ergonomic handgrip. As shown in
The bristle heads 16a,b may have bristles 17 comprised of any natural or synthetic material such as hog-bristles, horsehair, squirrel hair, ox hair, badger hair, camel hair, sable, dog hair, nylon, polyester, synthetic hog-bristle, and mixtures thereof. It is also understood that the bristle heads 16a,b may have any thickness and shape such as chiseled, square, angled, thin, flat, wall, and oval heads and, alternatively, may be foam rather than bristles 17. Ferrules 18a,b may also be utilized to align the bristles 17 and assist in securing the bristle heads 16a,b and handle 12a,b together. The ferrules 18a,b may be made from any material such as plastic, leather, stainless steel, copper, brass, nickel-plated steel, tin, rust-resistant materials, and the like.
In an embodiment as shown in
As shown in
However, the magnets 30, 32 should not be deemed as limited to any specific shape or position, as one or more magnets can be positioned at any point in, on, or around the handles 12a,b and/or the ferrules 18a,b. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the use of various configurations and positions for the magnets 30, 32. The magnets 30, 32 must only be positioned so that the permanent magnetic field exerted by the magnets 30, 32 is sufficiently strong to removably connected the brush portions 10a,b so as to provide streak-free painting when the paintbrushes 10a,b are combined. It is also understood that the magnets 30, 32 may be moldingly secured to or moldingly embedded in the handles 12a,b and/or the ferrules 18a,b or may be secured with an adhesive, screw, or the like.
In another embodiment as shown in
However, the paintbrushes 10a,b should not be deemed as limited to any specific configuration in order to removably connect the paintbrushes 10a,b to form the modular paintbrush 10. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the use of various configurations to removably connect the paintbrushes 10a,b. Illustrative, non-limiting examples may include Velcro, snap fasteners such as snap buttons, dovetail connections, tongue and groove connections, mortise and tenon connections, and/or a deformable collar or sleeve that may slide over the handles 12a,b.
In addition, one or more alignment guides 50 may be provided on the paintbrushes 10a,b. In one embodiment as shown in
In another embodiment as shown in
In yet another embodiment, the modular paintbrush 10 may also be capable of removably securing bristle heads 16a,b to the handles 12a,b. As shown in
In one embodiment, as best shown in
It is to be understood that either or both bristle portions 16a,b may removably connected and that, in some embodiments, the base may be provided with the tail 65a,b and the distal ends 14a,b with the groove 70. In other embodiments (not shown), the bristle heads 16a,b may be removably connected and/or aligned as described above for removably securing the handles 12a,b. However, the modular paintbrush 10 should not be deemed as limited to any specific configuration for removably securing the bristle heads 16a,b to the handles 12a,b. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the use of various configurations to removably connect the bristle heads 16a,b to the handles 12a,b.
Accordingly, the paintbrushes 10a,b may have bristle heads 16a,b of any width, standard or nonstandard. In one illustrative embodiment, the bristle head 16 may have a 3½″ width. Accordingly, paintbrush 10a may be a 1½″ bristle head 16a and paintbrush 10b may have a 2″ bristle head 16b. In another illustrative embodiment, the bristle head 16 may have a width of 4″ and the paintbrushes 10a,b may be comprised of two 2″ bristle heads 16a,b or a 2½″ bristle head 16a and a 1½″ bristle head 16b. Accordingly, it is to be understood that a painter may combine bristle heads 16a,b to form a bristle head 16 of any desired width. In some embodiments, a painter may configure the modular paintbrush 10 with bristle heads 16a,b that are capable of applying both oil and latex paints.
In another embodiment as shown in
Turning to the modular paintbrush 10, an example of how to use the modular paintbrush 10 as illustrated in
When application of a coating composition to a larger surface is desired, the paintbrushes 10a,b may be combined to form the modular paintbrush 10. This is achieved by simply placing magnets 30, 32 in close proximity to allow the magnetic field to removably connect the paintbrushes 10a,b. Proper alignment may be facilitated by an alignment guide 50, which engages the receiving member 55. In addition, the guide 50 also provides additional stability during use. Accordingly, the paintbrushes 10a,b are properly aligned to allow coating of a surface with the modular paintbrush 10 without streaking and without rotation or disengagement of the paintbrushes 10a,b. In one embodiment as shown in
Similarly, as shown in
To continue coating a larger surface, the paintbrushes 10a,b may be combined to form the relatively larger modular paintbrush 10. This is achieved by simply inserting the gripper member 40 into the receiver 45 to removably connect the paintbrushes 10a,b. The proper alignment is facilitated by the alignment guide 50, which engages the receiving member 55. However, where gripper members 40 are provided, the gripper members 40 can also serve to properly align the paintbrushes 10a,b.
The modular paintbrush 10 may also provide for the use of different bristle heads 16a,b. In the embodiment shown in
When application of a coating composition with a different bristle head 16a,b is desired, the base 60 may be quickly detached (when paintbrushes 10a,b are detached) by simply applying a force greater than the force exerted by the tail 65a,b and the groove 70a,b toward the opening in the raised perimeter 75a,b. Accordingly, another base 60a,b with a different bristle head 16a,b may be removably connected as described above.
Accordingly, the modular paintbrush 10 allows for easy attachment and detachment of the paintbrushes 10a,b to allow a painter to paint a variety of surfaces while only carrying one brush. In addition, the modular paintbrush 10 allows for such modifications without requiring additional tools or repositioning of the handle 12 or handles 12a,b. Further, the modular paintbrush 10 is capable of painting surfaces without streaking.
The lack of dependence upon additional tools is especially useful in instances when paintwork is performed while the painter is on a ladder or scaffolding. In some embodiments, the magnets 30, 32 may be strong enough to removably connect the paintbrushes 10a,b to a metal surface while not in use. In addition, the magnets 30, 32 may provide therapeutic pain-easing and healing effects to the operator. The repetitive motions used to manipulate hand-held implements, such as paintbrushes, can adversely affect muscle tissue in the hand and arm. Magnetic therapy is believed to promote healing, reduce pain, and provide a natural, drug-free method of pain management. Accordingly, magnetic flux therapy may reduce the effects of the repetitive motions transmitted through the handle of a hand-held device and to the user of the device. Therefore, the magnets 30, 32 may be configured in or on the handles 12a,b to optimize flux therapy to the user. In some embodiments, magnets 30, 32 may be arranged on the handles 12a,b to directly contact an operator's hand.
It is also understood that the handle 12 and handles 12a,b as described herein may be used with other hand-held implements. In one embodiment shown in
It is also understood that, as described above with respect to the bristle heads 16a,b, the handles 12a,b may also be configured to attach a variety of implement heads 150a,b as desired, so that only one universal handle 12 would have to be purchased. As shown in
The invention has been described above and, obviously, modifications and alternations will occur to others upon the reading and understanding of this specification. The claims as follows are intended to include all modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the claims or the equivalent thereof.
Claims
1. A convertible implement comprising:
- a first handle having a first connecting element;
- a first head connected to said first handle, said first head having an operable portion;
- a second handle having a second connecting element, said second connecting element configured to engage said first connecting element;
- a second head connected to said second handle, said second head having an operable portion;
- wherein said second handle is removably connected to said first handle by way of said first and second connection members to align said operable portion of said first head with said operable portion of said second head.
2. The convertible implement of claim 1 wherein said first connecting element is a magnet.
3. The convertible implement of claim 2 wherein said second connecting element is capable of magnetic connection with said magnet.
4. The convertible implement of claim 3 wherein said first connection member extends longitudinally along said first handle and said second connection member extends longitudinally along said second handle.
5. The convertible implement of claim 3 wherein said second connection member includes a plurality of metallic members positioned along the length of said second handle.
6. The convertible implement of claim 1 wherein said first head is removably connected to said first handle.
7. The convertible implement of claim 6 wherein said second head is removably connected to said second handle.
8. The convertible implement of claim 1 wherein said first operable portion comprises paintbrush bristles.
9. The convertible implement of claim 8 wherein said second operable portion comprises paintbrush bristles.
10. A convertible implement comprising:
- a first handle having a first operable head connected thereto, said first operable head comprising one of a bristle head, a scraper, a hairbrush, a screwdriver or a rake;
- a first connection member connected to said first handle;
- a second handle having a second operable head connected thereto, said second operable head corresponding to the first operable head;
- a second connection member connected to said second handle; and
- wherein said second handle is removably connected to said first handle.
11. The convertible implement of claim 10 further comprising a guide member extending outward from said first handle.
12. The convertible implement of claim 11 further comprising a receiving portion in said second handle.
13. The convertible implement of claim 12 wherein said guide member is a rivet.
14. The convertible implement of claim 12 wherein said guide member is a screw.
15. The convertible implement of claim 14 wherein said receiving portion is defined by a threaded cavity in said second handle.
16. The convertible implement of claim 10 wherein said first operable head is removably connected to said first handle.
17. The convertible implement of claim 16 wherein said removable connection comprises an elongated substantially trapezoidal member extending substantially perpendicularly outward from the distal end of said first handle, and a first body interconnected between said first handle and said first operable head, said first body having a groove capable of slidingly engaging said trapezoidal member.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 13, 2011
Publication Date: Jul 7, 2011
Inventor: Albert Belmonte (North Ridgeville, OH)
Application Number: 13/005,837