Paintbrush and Guard

Abstract

A paintbrush having at least one protuberance arranged so that when the brush is placed down upon a flat surface the bristles are maintained a distance above said surface. The paintbrush may be a cutting in brush in which the handle has a rebate so formed and positioned as to nestle the thenar space of the user's hand. The brush may have a paintbrush guard comprising front and rear casing members hinged one to the other and constructed to enclose the ferrule and bristle bundle of a paintbrush, clip means for maintaining the guard closed, and lip means formed upon the front and rear casing members constructed to engage the ferrule.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This Application claims priority to Great Britain Patent Application Serial No. 14 040 30.7, filed Mar. 7, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to paint brushes.

2. Description of the Related Art

Paint brushes are very well known. They usually comprise a handle, a bundle of bristles and a ferrule with which the bristles are mounted to the handle. An epoxy resin may be used to bind the bristles at the base thereof and to attach them to the handle, possibly also to the ferrule.

It is usual in the course of painting to need to put the brush down. Most of us will more often than not place the brush on the top of the open paint tin (where the word “tin” includes a plastic pot or any other container). This risks getting paint on the handle of the brush and also both increasing the possibility of upsetting the tin and thereby losing paint and spoiling or contaminating the brush. For the average do-it-yourself (d-i-y) user incidents of the types just mentioned are irritating. For professionals in the construction industry however they can be costly. If one considers a painter going around a building, having to move his steps when one area is complete, the risks are increased and the costs of remediation noticeable in terms of both replacement of paint and brush and time lost cleaning up mess can be considerable.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present invention provides a paintbrush with which the above stated risks are reduced.

Another aspect of the invention is a cutting-in brush, that is a brush particularly used for painting in corners and edges.

A further aspect of the invention is a paintbrush guard.

According the first aspect of the present invention there is provided a paintbrush having at least one protuberance arranged so that when the brush is placed down upon a flat surface the bristles are maintained a distance above said surface.

It may be sufficient that the distance above the surface about 3-6 mm, preferably 5 mm. Given the usual stiffness of brush bristles this distance is readily such that even paint on a loaded brush will not contact the surface and dust particles on the surface will not be picked up by the loaded brush.

The at least one protuberance may comprise two, preferably, or more dimples on at least one side of the brush and is preferably formed on the ferrule rather than the handle, and may be on one side thereof only. The dimples are particularly suitable with a curved faced brush. For a flat faced brush the protuberance may comprise a ridge. It follows that the arrangement is such that the centre of gravity of the brush will be on the opposite side of the protuberance to the bristles, even when the brush is loaded. Typically two dimples are formed which are of the order of 5 mm diameter and 3 mm in height. They may typically be located one quarter of the breadth in from the sides of the brush.

Ideally the ferrule is a butt welded or brazed sheet metal collar or an extrusion, thereby obviating any protuberance therefrom other than that for maintaining the loaded bristles away from the surface upon which the brush is laid. It may however be a traditional ferrule with an obvious seam.

Although the dimples are preferably formed on the ferrule they may comprise the heads of pin, including screw, means attaching the ferrule to the handle or even simply attachments, such as rubber or plastic stops, to the ferrule.

A traditional brush has employed hogs' hair bristles but in recent years, particularly with more and more paints being water based, synthetic bristles are employed. Typical bristles are nowadays formed from nylon or polyester material and are sold by Dupont under the trade name CHINEX® or OREL. Other bristles may be employed however. It is not unusual in the professional world for the bristles to be of the order of 7.5 cm long outside the ferrule.

According to a second aspect of the invention a cutting-in paint brush has a handle which is so rebated on one side, as distinct from a face thereof substantially continuous with the flat face of a brush which has edges narrower than the breadth thereof, the rebate being so formed and positioned as to nestle the thenar space of the hand, that is the crook of the hand between the thumb and the index finger.

Preferably the rebate is positioned so that the user's index finger will, when the thenar space is so nestled, readily and comfortably engage the ferrule. The effective length of the rebate may be about 8 cm and its depth 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm. The deepest point of the rebate may be about 8 cm to 9 cm from the base of the ferrule.

The opposite side of the handle, hereinafter called the spine, may have a slight convex curve. Where the distal end of the bristles bundle is at an oblique angle to one side of the brush then the bundle is preferably longest adjacent the spine. Thus the spine curvature, which may have a radius between 150 cm and 200 cm, gives some emphasis to the longer end of the bristle bundle. The angle may be of the order of 15° to 25°. The end face of the bristle bundle may be slightly concave.

According to a feature of this aspect of the invention the rebated brush may also incorporate a protuberance as called for in the first aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a paintbrush guard comprising: front and rear casing members hinged one to the other and constructed to enclose the ferrule and bristle bundle of a paintbrush; clip means for maintaining the guard closed; and lip means formed upon the front and rear casing members constructed to engage the ferrule.

The guard may be formed of a rubberized material so that it is slightly flexible. Typically a polypropylene containing an elastomer, for example thermoplastic rubber, may be used. This can be formed as a one part injection moulding with a live hinge, that is a fine, flexible web of the material, to lie along one side of the brush. Clip means can likewise be formed in the material to mate at the other side of the brush. The lip means is preferably constructed to engage the ferrule sealingly. It will be appreciated that the guard is preferably arranged to seal the bristles, which at the time of enclosure by the guard, may carry some paint the drying of which can thus be impeded.

The interior of the guard may be arranged to have a high gloss so that, with the flexibility of the guard, it will be quite easy to remove paint dried thereon.

The guard may be formed with a recess to receive the protuberance means of the paintbrush of the first aspect of the invention.

The guard is preferably further formed to engage around the brush handle where the latter forms a shoulder adjacent the ferrule. Thus the guard and the brush will not readily separate unless the guard is undone.

The guard may incorporate brush hanging means, for example a slot at an end thereof. Preferably this is arranged to be isolated from the bristle bundle or, if not, a removable sealing cap may be provided, this hinged to the guard. Enclosing the brush bristles as this guard may be arranged completely to do upon closure can reduce the extent to which paint on the brush dries between painting operations.

The guard may be opaque, translucent or transparent.

It will be appreciated that the guard can be expected to have the primary function of constituting point of sale packaging. However a guard in accordance with this aspect of the invention can be retained to permanently accompany the associated brush and act to inhibit bristle distortion as well as to enable a wet brush to be stored for a period and then use, with the same paint, recommenced. The brush can simply be wiped, for example on the paint tin edge, put away in its guard for the night, and use recommenced in the morning.

Brushes and guards in accordance with these aspects of the invention are particularly suitable for use with single pack water-based paints.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a face view of a paintbrush incorporating the first aspect of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the paintbrush of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view at the handle end of the brush of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a face view of a flat faced brush incorporating the first aspect of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a view at the handle end of the brush of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a face view of a cutting-in brush according to the second aspect of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the brush of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an open paint brush guard.

FIG. 9 is a face view of a guard mounted upon a brush.

FIG. 10 is a view of a loaded brush resting on a surfaced.

FIG. 11 demonstrates a cutting in brush in a user's hand.

DETAIL DISCUSSION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The paintbrush shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 comprises a handle 10 having faces 10a and sides 10b, a bundle of bristles 11 and a ferrule 12. The bristles 11 are mounted to the handle 10 and within the ferrule 12 via an epoxy resin. This particular brush has convex faces 10a and the ferrule 12 has formed thereon on one face a pair of dimples 13. The dimples 13 are about 5 mm in diameter and protrude from the ferrule about 3 mm. The dimples 13 are spaced apart, each one being about one quarter of the ferrule breadth in from the ferrule side.

In this particular embodiment the handle is waisted but its distal portion is narrower in both breadth and depth than it is at the ferrule 12. As a consequence, with a handle more than twice as long as the bristles, if the brush is laid on a flat surface with the dimples 13 downward, as shown in FIG. 4, the configuration will be such that the bristles are held some 5 mm above the surface.

The bristles are formed from nylon or polyester material. They may be those sold by Dupont under the trade name CHINEX® or OREL. On a brush 6.25 cm broad the bristles are of the order of 7.5 cm long outside the ferrule.

The paintbrush shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is similar to that shown in FIGS. 1-4 and comprises a handle 40, a bundle of bristles 41, and a ferrule 42. The faces of the brush are flat. The protuberance in that embodiment is a ridge 43 which is about 5 mm broad, 3 mm deep and extends from about one quarter breadth to the other one quarter breadth.

The brush shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 is a cutting-in paintbrush comprising a handle 60, a ferrule 61 and a bristle bundle 62. The bristle bundle end slants 22° from square overall, the end face being slightly concave.

The brush handle 60 is about 18 cm long and has a rebate 63 about 3 cm deep measured from a ferrule edge with its maximum depth sited 8.6 cm from the ferrule base. The overall length of the rebate 63 is 8 cm. The handle 60 has a spine 64 with a convex curvature of radius 180 cm. For a brush about 26 cm long overall the handle 60 tapers from about 6 mm thick at the distal end to about 3 cm at the ferrule 61. At the ferrule 61 the radius of curvature of a face is about 11 cm. On the ferrule 61 are a pair of dimples 65 each 5 mm in diameter and 3 mm high each dimple 65 about one quarter of the breadth in from the side thereof.

The brush guard shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 comprises front and rear casing members 80, 81 hinged one to the other and constructed to enclose the ferrule and bristle bundle of a paintbrush, clip means 82 for maintaining the guard closed, and lips 83 formed upon the front 80 and rear 81 casing members constructed to engage the ferrule sealingly.

The guard is formed by injection moulding polypropylene containing thermoplastic rubber. It is formed with a live hinge 84, that is a fine, flexible web of the material, to lie along one side of the brush. Clip means 82 are likewise formed in the material to mate at the other side of the brush.

The interior of the guard is arranged to have a high gloss so that, with the flexibility of the guard, it will be quite easy to remove paint dried thereon.

The guard is formed with a recess 86 to receive the protuberance means of the paintbrush of the first aspect of the invention.

The guard further formed to engage around the brush handle where the latter forms a shoulder adjacent the ferrule. Thus the guard and the brush will not readily separate unless the guard is undone.

The guard incorporates brush hanging means 87 in the form of a slot at an end thereof. This is arranged to be isolated from the bristle bundle by webs 88.

Claims

1. A paintbrush having at least one protuberance arranged so that when the brush is placed down upon a flat surface the bristles are maintained a distance above said surface.

2. A paintbrush as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the distance above the surface is about 3-6 mm.

3. A paintbrush as claimed in claim 2 and wherein the distance above the surface is about 5 mm.

4. A paintbrush as claimed in claim 1 and comprising a handle, a ferrule and a bristle bundle, the ferrule being intermediate the handle and the bristle bundle and wherein the protuberance is located on the ferrule.

5. A paintbrush as claimed in claim 4 and wherein the protuberance is formed on the ferrule.

6. A paintbrush as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one protuberance comprises two dimples on at least one side of the brush.

7. A paintbrush as claimed in claim 6 and wherein the dimples are of the order of 5 mm diameter and 3 mm in height.

8. A paintbrush as claimed in claim 1, which is flat faced and wherein the protuberance comprises a ridge.

9. A paintbrush as claimed in claim 1 wherein the protuberance commences one quarter of the breadth in from the sides of the brush.

10. A paintbrush as claimed in claim 4, wherein the ferrule is a butt welded or brazed sheet metal collar.

11. A paintbrush as claimed in claim 4, wherein the ferrule is an extrusion.

12. A cutting-in paint brush comprising a handle, a ferrule and a bristle bundle, the handle having a rebate so formed and positioned as to nestle the thenar space of the hand, that is the crook of the hand between the thumb and the index finger.

13. A paintbrush as claimed in claim 1 and constituting a cutting-in paint brush comprising a handle, a ferrule and a bristle bundle, the handle having a rebate so formed and positioned as to nestle the thenar space of the hand, that is the crook of the hand between the thumb and the index finger.

14. A paint brush as claimed in claim 13, wherein the rebate is positioned so that the user's index finger will, when the thenar space is so nestled, readily and comfortably engage the ferrule.

15. A paintbrush as claimed in claim 13 wherein the effective length of the rebate is about 8 cm and its depth 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm.

16. A paintbrush as claimed in claim 13, wherein the deepest point of the rebate is about 8 cm to 9 cm from the base of the ferrule.

17. A paintbrush as claimed in claim 13, wherein the spine of the handle has a slight convex curve.

18. A paintbrush as claimed in claim 17, wherein the spine curvature has a radius between 150 cm and 200 cm.

19. A paintbrush guard comprising:

front and rear casing members hinged one to the other and constructed to enclose the ferrule and bristle bundle of a paintbrush;

clip means for maintaining the guard closed; and lip means formed upon the front and rear casing members constructed to engage the ferrule.

20. A paintbrush as claimed in claim 1 and having a paintbrush guard comprising:

front and rear casing members hinged one to the other and constructed to enclose the ferrule and bristle bundle of a paintbrush;

clip means for maintaining the guard closed; and lip means formed upon the front and rear casing members constructed to engage the ferrule.

21. A guard according to claim 20 and formed of a polypropylene containing an elastomer whereby it is slightly flexible.

22. A guard according to claim 20, and formed as a one part injection moulding with a live hinge lying along one side of the brush and clip means at the other side of the brush.

23. A guard according to claim 20 wherein the lip means is constructed to engage the brush ferrule sealingly.

24. A guard according to claim 20, wherein the interior of the guard is arranged to have a high gloss.

25. A guard according to claim 20, and formed with a recess to receive protuberance means on the paintbrush.

26. A guard according to claim 20, and formed to engage around the brush handle where the latter forms a shoulder adjacent the ferrule.

27. A guard according to claim 20 and incorporating brush hanging means.

28. A guard according to claim 20 which is translucent or transparent.