Abstract:
A silicone paint brush artist&#39;s tool includes a handle and a novel painting tip. The painting tip is made of a resilient silicone having a generally three-dimensional paint contacting working surface that has a maximum cross-sectional diameter no larger than a maximum cross-sectional diameter of the handle. The tip is preferably attached to the handle using a ferrule and expansively locking the tip into a cavity of the ferrule by insertion of an insert. The insert may be a common screw or a barbed, fluted extension of the handle. The tips may include an insert cavity and have various shapes and hardnesses and may be optionally color coded. A formation method for the tool is disclosed with simultaneous insert insertion and joining of ferrules to handles. The ferrules also may be reversibly attached to the handle, in which case a kit comprising multiple interchangeable painting tips may be provided.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of devices for paint application and manipulation of paint upon a substrate by artists. In particular, the present invention relates to applicators and manipulators having an impermeable, paint contacting surface on their working tip, as opposed to traditional brushes having a bristled tip. The present invention also relates to a method of attaching impermeable working tips to handles to form a painting device.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Since prehistoric times, artists have applied and manipulated paint on substrates. Very early artists might have used their bare hands and fingers, as do children and even artists today, but the use of tools for painting became common very early. Some of the earliest of such tools were likely mere sticks. However, bristled brushes have been known and in use for much of modern history. Traditionally, bristled brushes were formed from natural materials such as the hair of animals attached to a wooden handle. With the development of modern synthetic plastics, artificial bristles have become available also. Bristle tipped brushes are characterized by a tendency to draw or wick a supply of paint into the intersticial spaces between the bristles and subsequently release a portion of such paint when the bristles are applied to a substrate. This may be viewed as somewhat wasteful of paint and moreover results in a significant cleanup problem. Cleaning of a bristle brush in order to apply or manipulate a different paint color can slow down an artist and truly interrupt and impede the creative process. Further, failure to promptly and appropriately clean a brush after use often times renders the brush useless for any future use because the intersticial paint irreversibly dries within the body of the brush. The cost of good natural bristle brushes is generally rising and the cost of synthetic bristle substitutes, while often less costly than the natural variety, also is generally rising.  
           [0003]    As an alternative to bristled brushes, artists have also used stiff, spring-like metal spatulas for application and manipulation of paint. U.S. Pat. No. 2,861,371 to Leshik discloses some exemplary steel spatulas. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,099,030 and 2,147,310 to Morrison disclose some exemplary rubber spatulas for liquid and dry color painting, respectively. While spatula-like tools provide some advantages over traditional bristle brushes in terms of longevity and cleaning, the fact that the working portions of these tools are primarily flat, two-dimensional surface effectively limits the manner in which an artist can use these tools for applying paint to a surface to more of a trowel-like action. Consequently, artists generally regard spatula-like tools as a separate type of paint applicator with it&#39;s own limited style of marks that has a different manner in which paint is applied to a surface, rather than as a replacement for the more versatile bristle brush.  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,609,051 to Braun discloses a rotatable brush having a rotatable tip made of a porous resilient material. Using the rolling application techniques of longer, conventional paint rollers for coating walls and the like, this tool provides another alternative to a conventional bristle brush. Again, because of the different manner in which this tool applies paint to a surface, artists generally Would not regard this tool as a replacement for the more versatile bristle brushes. In addition, due to the porous nature of the rolling tip, this tool also has problems with cleaning and longevity of the tool.  
           [0005]    Although alternatives to conventional bristle brushes for artists have been developed, these tools typically have a more limited range of marks and manners of applying paint to a surface that are not as versatile as bristle brushes. Consequently, these tools have generally not been regarded by artists as replacements for a conventional bristle brush in the sense that the use of these tools would replace many of the characteristic functions of the more versatile bristle brush in terms of the marks and manner in which such marks can be made, but instead these tools have been seen as alternative types of paint applicators. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an artist&#39;s tool that has improved longevity and cleaning characteristics, but otherwise could be accepted as an effective replacement for traditional bristle brushes.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention is a silicone paint brush artist&#39;s tool that includes a handle and a novel painting tip. The painting tip is made of a resilient silicone having a generally three-dimensional paint contacting working surface that has a maximum cross-sectional diameter no larger than a maximum cross-sectional diameter of the handle. The tip is preferably attached to the handle using a ferrule and expansively locking the tip into a cavity of the ferrule by insertion of an insert. Because the painting tip has dimensional characteristics similar to those of conventional bristle brushes, the operation of the artist&#39;s tool more closely simulates that of a conventional bristle brush than does a spatula-type tool. Because the painting tip is made of a resilient, nonporous silicone, the tool is more durable and easier to clean than a conventional bristle brush. In this way, the present invention is a unique hybrid of the cleaning and longevity characteristics of spatula-type tools with the versatility and functional characteristics of a bristle-type brush.  
           [0007]    In a first embodiment, the present invention is a device for application and manipulation of paint on a substrate. Such a device offers a paint artist many useful advantages as will be discussed subsequently. The device includes three primary components: a handle, a ferrule, and a silicone tip for contacting paint. The handle has a distal end and a proximal end. The ferrule is rigid and is attached to the distal end of the handle and projects from the distal end of the handle to define a cavity adjacent the distal end of the handle. This cavity has an interior surface which carries&#39; the tip. The tip is provided with a generally three-dimensional working surface having a maximum cross-sectional diameter that is preferably no larger than the maximum diameter of the handle. The tip is formed of a resilient silicone material and, therefore, has a paint contacting portion with a nonporous surface. The tip also has a ferrule connecting portion. The ferrule connecting portion is expanded into locking contact within the interior surface of the cavity of the ferrule. Preferably, the expansion of the ferrule connecting portion results from an insert installed within the ferrule connecting portion. In one embodiment, the insert has screw threads and most preferably may be a common screw. In another embodiment, the insert includes at least one barb, preferably a plurality of barbs, interacting with the ferrule connecting portion of the tip to resist longitudinal extraction of the insert with respect to the ferrule connecting portion of the tip. In a most preferred embodiment, the insert is an extension of a plastic handle. Preferably, the tip also includes an insert cavity, longitudinally oriented within the ferrule connecting portion of the tip. In such an embodiment, the insert has a shape generally complementary to the insert cavity and transversely oversized relative to the insert cavity so as to expand the ferrule connecting portion of the tip against the interior surface of the cavity of the ferrule. Preferably, the insert, if not threaded, has a shape which resists rotation of the insert relative to the tip. In such an embodiment, it is most preferred to also have a complementary shape in the insert cavity. For example, the insert cavity and the insert may have one or more complementary longitudinally extending flutes. Four flutes are a most particularly preferred embodiment.  
           [0008]    One advantage of the device of the present invention is the ability to provide a variety of shapes to the artist wishing to apply or manipulate paint on a substrate. Examples include tapered round, flat chisels, cup chisels, angle chisels, and cup round. These shapes can also be provided in a range of sizes. Significantly, the selection of silicone tip material also offers a range of harder or softer tips, which provide distinctive effects on the paint. The durometer readings of useful tip materials range from about 20 Shore A durometer hardness to about 70 Shore A Hardness units. Tips of various hardness can be made even more useful to the artist by including a color indicia within the material prior to forming the tips. This aspect of the invention allows an artist rapid visual identification and selection of an appropriately hard or soft tip. In an alternative embodiment, a series of longitudinal slits are created in the working end of the tip to further enhance the wicking or carrying ability of the painting tip.  
           [0009]    Another embodiment of the present invention is the method of forming an artist&#39;s tool for application and manipulation of paint on a substrate. The method of the present invention includes the steps of: providing a handle, providing a ferrule which when attached to the handle defines a tip carrying cavity, and providing a tip, formed of resilient, nonporous non-metallic material. The tip is provided with a generally three-dimensional working surface having a maximum cross-sectional diameter that is preferably no larger than the maximum diameter of the handle. The tip has a paint contacting portion and a ferrule connecting portion. The tip is inserted into the ferrule with the ferrule connecting portion of the tip situated in the tip carrying cavity of the ferrule and the paint contacting portion extending distally from the-ferrule. Next, the ferrule connecting portion of the tip is expanded into locking contact within the tip carrying cavity of the ferrule by installing an insert. Finally, the method is completed by attaching the ferrule, with the tip inserted in the tip carrying cavity, to the handle.  
           [0010]    In one embodiment of the method, the insert is a screw which is reversibly advanced into the tip to lock it into the ferrule. Such an embodiment may be part of a kit, for example, in which a variety of artist&#39;s tools can be prepared using a standardized ferrule and handle in conjunction with an array of tips which vary in shape, the size of the paint contacting portion, and/or the hardness. If the attachment of the ferrule to the handle is reversible, for example a threaded attachment, then the artist may exchange tips as desired. If the attachment of the ferrule to handle is permanent, savings in production expense result yet a high quality device may still be produced.  
           [0011]    In another preferred embodiment of the method, the handle and insert are integral. Preferably, the handle and integral insert in such an embodiment are formed of plastic. In this embodiment, the installation of the insert into the tip occurs in conjunction with the attachment of the ferrule to the distal end of the handle. Specifically, placement of the ferrule onto the handle occurs simultaneously with installation of the insert. Crimping of a metal ferrule onto the handle may then occur. If the insert and the optional insert cavity include flutes, undesirable rotation is particularly avoided in the resulting device. Four flutes are a particularly preferred embodiment in such a method. One or more barbs also may be included to better resist extraction in a permanent attachment of the ferrule to the handle. In yet another version of this method, the tip may have the integral insert of a handle inserted first and the rigid ferrule installed subsequently.  
           [0012]    The advantages and uses of devices of the present invention are numerous. Principally, the design and operation of the present invention more closely replicates the characteristic functions of a traditional bristle brush then existing artist&#39;s tools, and, as a result, the devices can be used as effective replacements for, rather than alternatives to, traditional bristle brushes. The devices can be used to apply paint to a substrate in a manner similar to a bristle brush in that similar hand movements are used to manipulate the tool and that the tool can “carry” paint from one location on a surface to another merely by lifting the tool off the surface. In addition to applying paint, the present invention offers additional advantages over bristle brushes in terms of the ability to manipulate paint once appled to the surface, including, spreading paint upon a substrate, blending a multiplicity of undried paints on a substrate or on a palette, moving paint across a substrate surface (much like a “squeegee”) and even removing paint from a substrate before the paint dries and bonds to the substrate. In this sense, the present invention more closely simulates the functional characteristics of the human fingers when used to manipulate paint once it has been applied to a surface.  
           [0013]    Because paint remains on the tip surface, less paint is wasted than in bristle brushes. Because bristles are absent, stray bristle marks (i.e. marks from bristles inadvertently displaced and disoriented from the main group of bristles) are not encountered.  
           [0014]    By applying more or less pressure during paint application, an artist can acquire surprising control over the amount or depth of paint deposited upon the substrate using a device of the present invention. Surprisingly, the “touch” for adequate control of application pressure is developed quickly by a user. The appearance or “mark” left in the deposited paint can be manipulated to be similar to or different than that which is generated by a bristle brush. By employing a sharp, yet soft and flexible edged device of this invention, undried paint can be scraped off from even very soft substrates, allowing an artist&#39;s paint application errors to be corrected. If texture is desired in the marks to be created, it is possible, for example, to apply texture bumps, grooves, or the like to the paint contacting surface of the device.  
           [0015]    Another advantage of the present invention is that, while bristle brushes tend to be quite specifically designed for the particular paint types, the devices of the present invention are useful with a wide range of paints. This, in turn, reduces the number of devices an artist needs to paint effectively, thereby saving both time and expense.  
           [0016]    The properties of one aspect of tip shape warrants particular mention. A concave surface allows application of large quantities of paint to a small area of a substrate. The paint, may if desired, be applied directly from a paint tube to the concave surface, and thence applied to the substrate. Concave surfaces also are particularly useful to manipulate paint to and from a substrate surface. The peripheral, sharp, yet soft, edges assist during such a removal step.  
           [0017]    The properties of another aspect of the painting tip are also unique in that a series of longitudinal slits or grooves at the working end of the painting tip can created to further enhance the ability of the painting tip to wick and carry paint without the need for any type of shoveling action. The longitudinal slits or grooves in the working end of the painting tip can also create a unique mark.  
           [0018]    Yet another advantage is the ease of cleanup. In particular, the tip surfaces of the present invention, when formed of silicone, are easily cleaned while the paint is-still wet. Often, only a simple wiping clean of the tip surface is required. If, however, the paint dries, the flexibility of the tip, in combination with the impervious surface, tends to allow dried paint to be easily cracked and peeled off of the tip. Under similar circumstances, a bristle brush would typically be unsalvageable. The ease of cleanup has significant advantages, particularly in the case- of oil-based paints where the present invention can reduce or even eliminate the use of environmentally harmful cleaning solvents. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the paint application and manipulation device of the present invention with a flat chisel tip installed;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the device of FIG. 1 at line  2 - 2 , with a portion of the handle omitted;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the device of FIG. 1 with an angle cupped chisel tip installed;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 with a flat chisel tip installed;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the device of FIG. 1 with a taper point tip installed;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 with an angle chisel tip installed;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 with a cup round tip installed;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the device of FIG. 1 with a flat chisel tip installed;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 with a cupped chisel tip installed;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 with a cup round tip installed;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 with an angle chisel tip installed;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 with a taper point tip installed;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of an alternative embodiment;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 14 is another sectional view of the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 13; and  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 4. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0034]    Comprehension of the present invention can be gained through reference to the drawings in conjunction with a through review of the following explanation. In order to facilitate a full appreciation of the invention, an overview of the preferred embodiment is initially provided. The overview is followed by more detailed explanation and some significant alternative embodiments. By “paint” herein is meant not only oil based artist&#39;s paint but also acrylic paint, watercolor paint, ink, charcoal and graphite and other such liquid, solid, emulsions, suspensions, and thixotropic substances applied to a range of substrates for artistic expression purposes.  
         [0035]    In a first embodiment, the present invention is a device for applying and manipulating paint on a substrate. For purposes of facilitating comprehension, it may be initially thought of a substitute for the traditional well known bristle brush. However, it is easier to clean and allows novel results in use.  
         [0036]    As shown in FIG. 1, the device  20  has a handle  22  with a proximal end  24  and a distal end  26 . As will be discussed later, the handle may be formed of wood, preferably varnished or lacquered hardwood, plastic or metal.  
         [0037]    Attached to the distal end  26  of the handle  22  is a ferrule  28 . The ferrule  28  is rigid and in a preferred embodiment may be steel, brass, copper or aluminum or a “nickel” plated brass to prevent corrosion or other suitable metallic materials. Suitable ferrules could also be formed of plastic. Preferably, the ferrule  28  is attached to the distal end  26  of the handle  22  by crimping, as represented by one or more crimps  30 . The ferrule  28  preferably is tubular or barrel shaped and extends beyond the distal end  26  of the handle  22 . Most preferably, the ferrule  28  is slightly tapered and is narrower in cross section at its distal end than its proximal end. The extension  32  of ferrule  28  defines a cavity  34  bounded by inner surface  36 , as shown in FIG. 2. This cavity  34  lies adjacent to and extends from the distal end  26  of the handle  22 .  
         [0038]    A resilient silicone tip  38  is carried by the cavity  34 . More specifically, the tip  38  has a ferrule connecting portion  39  and a paint contacting portion  40 . The tip  38  is provided with a generally three-dimensional working surface  41  having a maximum cross-sectional diameter  42  that is preferably no larger than the maximum diameter of handle  22 . Because the painting tip  38  has dimensional characteristics similar to those of conventional bristle brushes in that the maximum cross-sectional diameter  42  of working surface  41  is not greater than a maximum cross-sectional diameter of handle  22 , the operation of the artist&#39;s tool  20  more closely simulates that of a conventional bristle brush than does a spatula-type tool which has a generally two-dimensional working surface and a width dimension of the working surface that is larger, and usually significantly larger, than the maximum cross-sectional diameter of the handle of the spatula-type tool. The fact that working surface  41  of painting tip  38  is a three-dimensional surface, rather than the two-dimensional surface of spatula-type tools, allows the present invention to place and manipulate the paint in a manner more similar to that of a bristle brush. The surface tension characteristics of the non-porous silicone material from which painting tip  38  is formed, when combined with the three-dimensional characteristics of working surface  41 , allow quantities of paint to be “carried by” the painting tip  38  in manner somewhat similar to the way that paint is wicked between and carried by the bristles of a bristle brush. In contrast, if an artist desires to move paint with a spatula-type tool, the paint must be scooped onto the two-dimensional working surface of a spatula.  
         [0039]    The tip  38  is formed of resilient silicone. The preferred silicone is characterized by low compression set (i.e. forming tips which do not substantially relax over time even under constant pressure, thus allowing maintenance of the locking relationship within the ferrule over time without the use of adhesives which might deteriorate in the presence of solvents); a high tear strength (Die B, ppi ASTM 624 method) of about 50-250 (i.e. forming tips which show little tendency to rip or tear when an artist is actively painting); hardness, after cure, of from about 20-70, and preferably from about 30 to 60, Shore A durometer hardness (ASTM 2240 method), with 25-40 Shore A durometer hardness used to form “softer” tips and 45-60 Shore A durometer hardness material used to form “firmer” tips. Most preferably, the catalyst use to cure the preferred silicone is platinum based (which provides greater solvent resistance). However, less expensive peroxide based catalyst systems are believed to be acceptable to form less demanding tips as might be appropriately supplied to children and beginning artists.  
         [0040]    A preferred source of such material is Medical Grade Silastic ETR TM  Elastomers Q7-4735 and Q7-4750 (an enhanced tear resistant silicone) available from Dow Corning, with Q7-4735 being used to form “softer” tips and Q7-4750 being used to form “firmer” tips. These products are supplied as two-part thermal-setting elastomers. A related product, Q7-4765 is arguably serviceable but results in too “firm” a tip for most painting purposes. These three products are also blendable to formulate intermediate hardnesses and Q7-4765 may be useful, for example, in such blends. It is expected that less costly commercial products having identical or nearly identical properties to Q7-4735 and Q7-4750 will be available from the manufacturer in the near future, as “medical grade” nature of these particular materials is somewhat expensive due to the additional quality control required to meet medical standards. The Q7-4535 and Q7-4750 products are represented by Dow Corning as consisting of dimethyl and methylvinyl siloxane copolymers and reinforcing silica. Other silicones which are serviceable in the production of tips, yet somewhat less desirable are: fluorosilicones (very solvent resistant but substantially more costly); general purpose silastics such as GP-50 and GP-30 from Dow Corning (sufficient strength but less solvent resistant which prevents extensive applications with oil based paints but does allow use with childrens&#39; paints); RTV (room temperature vulcanization types) from Dow Corning; LSR (liquid silicone rubber) such as LSR 595-HC and LSR 590 (molding may be prohibitively expensive.) A notable quality of all the serviceable materials are the surface characteristics of the molded tips. Specifically, dry or drying paint does not appear to stick to the surface which results in remarkably easy cleaning of the tool tips after use. Although an unlimited variation in tip shapes is possible, the most useful shapes include the following: taper point, as shown in FIG. 5; flat chisel, as shown in FIG. 8; cupped chisel, as shown in FIG. 9; cupped round, as shown in FIG. 10; and angle chisel as shown in FIG. 6. The cup chisel, shown in FIG. 9, and cup round, as shown in FIG. 10 both include concave surfaces which artists rapidly learn to exploit to move and manipulate fresh undried paint upon a substrate surface. The tips are preferably formed by molding, such as injection-compression modling. Alternatively, the tips may be cut from cured silicone. Of course, a combination of molding and cutting may also be employed.  
         [0041]    Referring again to FIG. 2, the ferrule connecting portion  39  is expanded within the ferrule cavity  34  to provide locking contact with the inner surface  36 . This expansion is caused by an insert  44 . In a preferred embodiment, the insert  44  may be a screw. The screw is installed by rotational advancement into the ferrule connecting portion  39  of the tip  38 . The longitudinal movement of the insert  44  results in lateral expansion of the material of the tip  38 . If the lateral expansion is sufficient, locking contact is generated between the tip  38  and the ferrule  28 . Note that the expansion of the tip  38 , within the ferrule connecting portion  39 , is slightly more pronounced near its proximal end where the installation of the insert  44  is initiated. This effect tends to further improve the locking contact within a preferred tapered ferrule  28 . Most preferably, however, a complementary taper can be provided to the ferrule connecting portion  39  of the tip  38 , during tip preparation. In a preferred embodiment, tip  38  is oversized by a range of up to 5% to enhance the fit of tip  38  within ferrule  28 . A raised ring  43  may be provided on tip  38  to assist in the assembly of tip  38  within ferrule  28  by indicating exactly where tip  38  should be positioned with respect to ferrule  28 . During assembly, ring  43  tends to push tip  38  out slightly once tip  38  is positioned within ferrule  28  at the proper position. In one embodiment, an epoxy-based adhesive is applied to the exposed end of insert  44  to create an adhesive bond between the metal of insert  44  and the metal of an inner wall of ferrule  28  as an added security to keep insert  44  locked in position.  
         [0042]    The insert  44  need not be a screw. Instead, locking contact can be caused by installing other suitable inserts such a nail or other hard insertable body. Optionally, the insert  44  may also include one or more barbs or rings, such as those found on flooring nails, or other devices to prevent undesired extraction and unintended unlocking of the tip  38  from the ferrule  28 . Most preferably the tip  38  also includes a pilot hole, optimally axially extending from the proximal end of the ferrule connecting portion  40  and terminating at the proximal end of the paint contacting portion  42 .  
         [0043]    Although ferrule  28  and insert  44  are a preferred mechanism for attaching tip  38  to handle  22 , it will be recognized that this attachment may be accomplished in other ways, such as by gluing or adhesively affixing a proximal end of tip  38  to distal end  26  of handle  22 . Alternatively, a male protrusion on distal end  26  of handle  22  could be inserted into a corresponding female cavity within tip  38 , or conversely a male protrusion on the proximal end of tip  38  could be inserted into a corresponding female cavity in the distal end  26  of handle  22 . In either case, it would be possible to provide additional mechanical or chemical mechanisms, such as barbs, flanges, latches, screw threads, glue or adhesive, to assist in securing the tip  38  to the handle  22 .  
         [0044]    Preparation of an artist tool of the present invention also constitutes another embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the method includes the initial steps of: providing a handle  22 , such as a wooden paint bristle brush handle; providing a ferrule  28 , generally such as those used on a bristle brush or a common pencil,; and providing a tip  38  or any of the variety of tip shapes and hardnesses discussed above. Next, the tip  38  is inserted into the ferrule  28  with the ferrule connecting portion  39  of the tip  38  situated in the tip carrying cavity  34  of the ferrule  28  and the paint contacting portion  40  extending distally from the ferrule  28 . Then, the ferrule connecting portion  39  of the tip  38  is expanded into locking contact within the tip carrying cavity  34  of the ferrule  28  by installing an insert  44  into the ferrule connecting portion  39  of the tip  38 . Preferably, a pilot hole is provided in the tip  38 . A preferred pilot hole or insert cavity is undersized relative to the insert  44  but served to facilitate installation. That is, screws, by way of example, have a tendency to wander during installation and a more uniform locking contact tends to be generated by installation of the insert  44  generally axially, longitudinally, and from proximally toward distally within the ferrule connecting portion  39 . If a screw is used for the insert  44 , providing driving rotation to the screw within a ferrule maybe accomplished by a nut driver or a screw driver. Finally, the ferrule  28  is attached to the handle  22 . If the device is to be permanent, a crimp  30  attachment may be employed. Crimp attachments can be improved and positively located by providing an encircling groove appropriately adjacent the distal end of the handle  22 .  
         [0045]    The present invention offers the possibility of interchangeably of the tips  38  if a reversible attachment, such as a female threaded ferrule and a male threaded handle are provided. In such an arrangement, an artist can be provided with a reduced quantity of handles and an array of tips  38 . The tips  38  may be interchanged in a reduced quantity of ferrules, or in the alternative, each tip may have a dedicated ferrule and the tips with dedicated ferrules interchanged on a reduced quantity of handles. In such systems, an array of tips may be provided for an artist, either interchangeable separate tip, tips with dedicated ferrules, or complete artist&#39;s tools. Although an artist may readily recognize the various shapes available for employment, efficiency is enhanced by providing an inert distinct color indicia to signify the different hardnesses of the available tips. Such color indicia can be mixed with the tip material prior to molding to easily achieve this result.  
         [0046]    In yet another alternative, the present invention allows for simple repair of a damaged artist&#39;s tool by replacement of either a tip or a tip and dedicated ferrule combination.  
         [0047]    In a most preferred embodiment  120  of FIG. 13, an integral insert  144  extends from and is integral with a handle  122 . Preferably, the integral insert  144  and the handle  122  are formed of molded thermoplastic plastic material, although they could be formed from metal or wood. The integral insert  144  includes a flute  145 , most preferably four radially projecting flutes  145 . These flutes  145  serve to reduce or prevent rotation of the tip  138  relative to the insert  144 . Additionally, barbs  146  are present to inhibit inadvertent separation of the tip  138  from the integral insert  144 . Elbows  147  on the flutes  145  similarly contribute to preventing expulsion of the integral insert  144 . Further, it should be pointed out that the ferrule  128  may be crimped, for example at crimps  131  to further tighten the locking of the ferrule  128  to the tip  138 .  
         [0048]    Preferably, a pilot hole or insert cavity  143  is provided in the tip  138 . The preferred insert cavity  143  is longitudinally oriented within the ferrule connecting portion  139  of the tip  138 . Most preferably, the integral insert  144  and the insert cavity  143  have shapes generally complementary to each other while the integral insert  144  is transversely oversized relative to the insert cavity  143  so as to expand the ferrule connecting portion  140  of the tip  138  against the interior surface  136  of the cavity  134  of the ferrule.  128 .  
         [0049]    The highly desirable quality of embodiment  120  maybe understood when considered as a permanent assembly with multiply redundant attachment systems between the tip  138  to the handle  122 . That is, the tip  138  is held firmly in a number of ways. First, it is locked against the inner surface of the ferrule  128  due to outward expansion, thereby preventing both separation or rotation. Second, barbs  146  and elbows  147  also prevent longitudinal movement subsequent to installation of integral insert  144  and contribute to preventing rotation. Third, the ferrule  128  is crimped to both the handle  122  and the tip  138 . Finally, flutes  145  inhibit rotation. The only remaining significant limitation of this permanent device is the structural quality of the material forming the tip  138 .  
         [0050]    The multiply redundant attachments become even more remarkable in light of another embodiment of the present invention, a method of forming an artist&#39;s tool such as that depicted in FIG. 13. The handles  122  are first provided. It is well within the skill of the art to form such handles  122  with integral inserts  144  by injection molding. Similarly, ferrules  128  can be prepared from thin metal tubing, and optionally, worked to provide a slight taper by techniques well within the skill of the art. Tips  138  of varying shapes and hardnesses can also be molded and or cut from commercial silicone materials previously mentioned. With the tip  138  inserted in the ferrule  132 , the integral insert  144  and handle  122  are longitudinally installed in the insert cavity  143  and the proximal portion  132  of the ferrule  128 , respectively. Finally, the ferrule  128  is attached to the distal end of the handle  122 . Preferably, the attachment is by crimping and most preferably may be accompanied by crimping the ferrule  128  to the tip  138  as well.  
         [0051]    In another method of this invention, the integral insert  144  can be first installed in the tip  138  and the ferrule  128  subsequently forced into place and crimped.  
         [0052]    In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 14, a series of longitudinal slits  150  can be created in tip  138  to enhance the wicking and paint carrying capability of the present invention. The depths of slits  150  can be cut entirely through tip  138 , or only part way throught tip  138 . Similarly, the length of slits  150  can be any desired length relative to the length of tip  138 . It is also possible to create a pair of complementary sets of slits, one on each side of tip  138  and leave a center, non-sliced portion therebetween. In addition to creating slits  150  by cutting or slicing tip  138 , it is also possible to remove a portion of the material of tip  138  to create each slit  150 . The paint wicking and carrying capability is enhanced due to the mechanical nature of slits  150  and due to the increased surface area of tip  138  on which the paint can be carried. Slits  150  can also be used to create a different type of mark or stroke with the present invention.  
         [0053]    In conclusion, it can be readily recognized that the present invention, in a number of embodiments provides a new artist tool, a method suitable for large scale economical production of a durable artist&#39;s tool or for interchangeable tips from an array of tips.  
         [0054]    Because numerous modifications may be made of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, the scope of the invention is not to be limited to the single embodiment illustrated and described. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined by appended claims and their equivalents.