Trim guide

A trim guide for a painter's brush having optional right and left-hand guide brackets mounted in selected biangular relation to the lengthwise brush axis for respectively supporting individual guide shoes in position to engage walls or other guide surfaces in a manner suitable to maintain the axis of the brush and bristles in predisposed angular relation and contact with a surface to be painted. The guide also performs to adjustably regulate the touch and area of bristle contact while operably guiding the brush for movement along a desired path.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In the past, the striking of trim lines with a paint brush has been largely 
a matter of the painter's freehand skill and experience, requiring a 
steady hand and touch; qualities all too often lacking in the novice 
painter. Thus, there has been a particular need for a simple, reliable and 
conveniently usable means for assisting the inexperienced painter in 
moving and guiding a paint brush along a desired path. By the same token, 
there has been a corresponding need for a simple, work-saving device to 
assist the professional painter in this painstaking task. 
So far as I am aware, all heretofore known guide means for this purpose 
have been deficient in their ability to provide conveniently usable means 
for maintaining the brush at a proper contact angle with respect to the 
painting surface while preserving the painter's touch and feel of the 
bristle contact with such surface. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to improved means for providing an 
effective solution to the above-noted problems and to the successful 
fulfillment of the heretofore unsatisfied needs of both professional and 
amateur painter alike. 
In brief, the present invention relates to the paint and decorating art, 
and more particularly is directed to an improved brush and guide tool 
combination for assisting the painter in making accurate trim lines. To 
this end, the current invention comprises anchor means associated with the 
brush handle for mounting optional left and right-hand support means 
thereon; the support means being mounted in selected biangular relation to 
the major axis of the brush and bristles and adapted to carry individual 
guide means for engaging a cooperating guide surface whereby to regulate 
the angle, area and pressure of bristle contact with a surface to be 
painted. 
Among the objects of the invention is the provision of improved trimming 
guide for a painter's brush. 
Another important object of this invention is to provide an improved guide 
means for use with a paint brush which is operably capable of regulating 
contact area and pressure between the bristles and the surface to be 
painted. 
Another important object of this invention is to provide an improved means 
for guiding a painter's brush along a designated path, while maintaining a 
predetermined angle of contact between the brush bristles and the surface 
to be painted. 
A further important object of this invention is to provide improved guide 
means as set forth in the immediately preceding objective, which preserves 
the painter's feel or touch of the brush bristles with the surface to be 
painted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Turning now to the features of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the 
accompanying drawings to demonstrate the present invention, initial 
reference is made to FIG. 1 showing a typical paint brush 20, of the type 
preferred for trimming work, in association with a single guide means or 
assembly 21 according to this invention. 
As shown in FIG. 1, brush 20 comprises a wooden or plastic handle 25 of 
convention formation having an enlarged base portion 26 surrounded by a 
metal band or ferrule 27 for holding a body of brush bristles 28 to the 
handle. In the particular illustrated instance the bristles 28 are in a 
tapered formation to provide a familiar tapered trim brush. Although it is 
fully contemplated that the guide means of the present invention may be 
formulated as an attachment for existent brushes, requiring a minor 
conversion of the latter, as will be explained hereinafter, adaptation of 
the brush for the acceptance of the guide means of this invention also may 
take place in the original manufacture of the brush. In either event, 
whether a conventional brush is converted to receive and mount the guide 
means of this invention or a brush is originally manufactured with the 
guide means thereon, the results are the same. 
Guide assembly 21 shown in FIG. 1 sets forth the features of a right-hand 
assembly which will be described in detail hereinafter; it being 
understood that a left-hand assembly comprises the same fundamental 
elements as the illustrated right-hand assembly, but of reflective reverse 
formation thereto. Specifically, assembly 21 comprises an anchor means 30 
mounted on the brush handle, support means 31 attachable to the anchor 
means, and a guide means 32 adjustably associated with the support means 
and coupled thereto by connector means 33. The specifics of each of the 
aforenoted means will now be set forth in detail: 
Anchor means 30 as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings is 
adapted to be mounted on the base portion 26 of the brush preferably 
adjacent to the operationally downwardly disposed margin or edge 34 
thereof as shown. As will be understood from FIG. 3, the illustrated 
anchor means 30 comprises a thin, metal or plastic anchor plate of general 
T-shape formation, having a planar body portion 36 and a tongue portion 37 
extending from one margin thereof. One corner of the body portion 36 is 
shown rounded or cut away so as to generally parallel the profile of the 
adjacent handle edge 34. In operation the tongue portion 37 is disposed 
beneath the ferrule band 27 of the brush. Consequently the plane of the 
tongue portion is offset from the plane of the body portion 36 by an 
offset bend portion 38 (see FIG. 8). Each of the planar body and tongue 
portions of the anchor plate 35 is formulated with a connector opening 39 
cut therethrough as by a stamping and punching operation; upsetting the 
material to provide a slight semi-conical annular rim portion 40 extending 
outwardly of the planes of such sections. These rim portions act as 
connector thread means for threaded connection with machine bolt or sheet 
metal screw mounting means 41 (see FIG. 1) in accordance with familiar 
sheet metal fastening practices. In addition to the openings 39, 39 above 
referred to, the main body portion 36 of the plate also includes a pair of 
spaced openings 42, 42 receptive of fastening nails 43 (see FIG. 1) which 
serve to secure the anchor plate to the brush handle portion 26 adjacent 
one edge 34 thereof, as previously noted (see FIGS. 1 and 2). 
As best shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings, base portion 26 of the brush 
handle is cut away under the ferrule 27 to provide a recess 44 for tongue 
portion 37 so that the latter resides beneath the brush ferrule 27 with 
its outer surface in contacting adjacency with the undersurface of that 
band. The offset body portion 36 of the anchor plate, on the other hand, 
resides over the outer surface 45 of the handle base with its outer face 
coplanar with the outer face of the ferrule. If one is adapting a 
conventional brush to the guide means of this invention, it is necessary 
for this purpose to remove the metal band 27 and undercut the recess 44 
for the anchor plate. In the original manufacture of the brush this 
operation may be carried out when making the handle and prior to the 
mounting of the ferrule band thereabout. 
Additional modification of the brush is required to accommodate the anchor 
plate and guide means of this invention, namely, the provision of a pair 
of parallel spaced transverse openings 46, 46, extending through the base 
of the brush handle and openings 47 through the ferrule 27 as needed, to 
register with the threaded openings 39. The diameter of openings 46 is 
larger than openings 39 to provide clearance for the screws 41. This 
arrangement permits the threaded mounting of the machine screws or sheet 
metal fasteners through openings 39 without interference with the 
underlying brush handle. 
It will be recognized that the anchor means 30 above described includes the 
mounting plate 35, the anchor bolts 41, and the fastener means or nails 43 
used to secure the T-shaped mounting plate in position on the opposite 
faces of the brush handle. It is to be noted that faces of the brush 
handle are each provided with an anchor plate for left and right-hand 
installations in accordance with the choice of the user, (see FIG. 8). 
Inasmuch as the two anchor means are alike, but of reverse formation, the 
description of the right-hand anchor means as set out in the drawings will 
suffice for both. 
It further is to be understood that while the anchor plate 35 is herein 
illustrated as a separate individual structure, the same may comprise an 
integral extension of the ferrule band 27, particularly if provided at 
original manufacture of the brush, so long as provision is made for the 
coupling thereto of the mounting bolts or screws 41 as will be understood 
presently. 
Turning now to the features of the support means 31, specific reference is 
made to FIGS. 1, 4-7 of the drawings illustrative of its structural 
makeup. As shown best in FIGS. 1 and 5, support means 31 comprises a 
unitary metal or rigid plastic article having a generally rectangular 
shaped support platform 50 formed with a pair of laterally spaced offset 
key hole openings 51, 51 therethrough. Each opening receives one of the 
mounting screws 41 in assembly. Extending angularly outwardly from one 
margin of the platform 50 is an integral guide arm 52 having a channel 
shaped cross-section distinguished by a pair of C-shaped channel guides or 
rails 53, 53 bordering its opposite lateral margins. The outer end of arm 
52 is cut at an angle of substantially 15.degree.-20.degree. to the arm's 
longitudinal axis and, in the particular illustrated case, the plane of 
the arm 52 lies at approximately 45.degree. with respect to the plane of 
the platform 50 for optimum strength and support. 
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 in particular, the outer or bias cut end edge 54 
of arm 52 also is chamfered rearwardly at approximately a 45.degree. angle 
to provide an alternate guide edge surface, as will appear hereinafter. 
In addition to the two laterally spaced channel guide rails 53, 53 the arm 
52 also is provided with a threaded opening 55 nears its outer end for 
threading connection with the connector means 33, as will be described 
presently. 
In operational assembly with the anchor means 30, the enlarged ends of the 
two keyhole shaped openings 51, 51 are mounted over the heads of the 
machine bolts 41, 41 which protrude outwardly of openings 39 in the anchor 
plate; the elongated portions of such keyhole openings receiving the 
threaded shanks of the anchor bolts as illustrated in FIG. 7. It will be 
noted that the two keyhole shaped openings 51, 51 are longitudinally 
offset with respect to one another so that when the anchor bolts 41, 41 
are disposed against the narrower ends of the openings 51, as shown in 
FIG. 7, the longitudinal axis of the support means is disposed along axis 
Y which lies substantially at 70.degree. with respect to the lengthwise 
axis of the brush and bristles. Variation in this angular disposition of 
the support means is available by moving either of the bolts 41 away from 
the smaller end of its respective keyhole shaped opening 51 to provide the 
range of angular adjustment schematically indicated by axes X and Z in 
FIG. 7. This range of adjustment is within approximately between 
60.degree. and 80.degree. relative to the longitudinal axis of the brush. 
It will be understood that the generally angular disposition of the 
support means is inclined toward the outer end of the brush bristles in an 
advancing relationship. Adjustment of the angular disposition of the 
support means regulates the angle of contact between the bristles and the 
surface to be painted and accordingly disposes the brush handle 25 in 
selected angles of elevation with respect to the painting surface. 
Further, it is to be noted that the mounting bolts 41 may be slidably 
disposed anywhere along the narrow part of the two keyhole shaped openings 
to provide limited longitudinal adjustment of the support means with 
respect to the brush. This effectively retracts and advances the support 
means relative to the surface to be painted and thereby partially 
regulates the flexing contact of the bristles with that surface and thus 
adjusts the touch or feel of the bristles with that surface. It will be 
understood that once the support arm is positioned as desired, the two 
fastening bolts 41 are locked in position by threading the same into 
openings 39 of the anchor plate to anchor the support means in the desired 
operating position. If both left and right-hand support means are 
employed, they are usually adjusted to like positions. 
Turning now to the guide means 32, used in association with the support 
means 31, its features will best be recognized from FIGS. 1, 9 and 10 of 
the drawings. As therein shown, guide means 32 comprises a metal or rigid 
plastic member having a generally planar body portion 60 of irregular 
trapezoidal formation, having a guide lip portion 61 folded along its one 
margin to extend outwardly of and backwardly over the plane of body 60 at 
substantially a 30.degree.-60.degree. relationship therewith. The fold 
line 62 between portions 60 and 61 forms an obtuse angle of approximately 
110 degrees transversely of the longitudinal axis of the guide means 32 to 
present a generally V-shaped cross-sectioned guide shoe for engaging 
appropriate guide surfaces when assembled with the described support means 
31. In this respect, guide edge 62 generally parallels edge 54 of the 
support arm in assembly to provide one guide surface while the outer face 
of lip portion 61 provides a second guide surface. 
Extending from the opposite margin of the body portion 60 from that which 
is distinguished by the backwardly folded lip portion 61, is a generally 
rectangular shaped mounting tongue 63, coplanar with body portion 60 and 
provided with an elongated central slot or opening 64. Slot 64 is disposed 
along the central axis of the mounting tongue and is operationally aligned 
with opening 55 in the support arm 52. It will be appreciated that the 
thickness of the tongue portion 63 is such as to fit within the spacing 
between the guide channels 53 and the opposing face of the support arm 52 
so that the guide means 32 may be slidingly fitted on the support arm. 
Sliding movement of the guide means within the channel guides 53 
accommodates longitudinal adjustment of the guide shoe along the support 
arm. This serves in addition to the previously described adjustment of the 
support means relative to the mounting bolts as additional means for 
adjustably regulating the contact pressure, touch and feel of the brush 
bristles with the surface to be painted. 
In order to lock guide means 32 in selected position on the support means, 
the threaded connector means 33 is employed to tightly clamp the mounting 
tongue 63 at selected positions along the angularly disposed support arm 
52. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 11, the illustrated connector means 
comprises a three piece assembly of a threaded machine bolt 70, having a 
screw driver slotted head 71, a threaded wing nut 72 mountable on the 
threaded shank of bolt 70 and an elongated clamp washer 73. A central 
opening 74 is provided in washer 73 to loosely receive the shank of the 
machine bolt in assembly. By mounting the assembled bolt, wing nut and 
washer over the mounting arm 63 of the guide means, so that the threaded 
shank of the mounting bolt 70 passes through the washer and the slotted 
opening 64 for threading engagement with opening 55 of the support arm 
portion 52 (see FIG. 11), a simple, but expedient system is provided for 
locking the guide means 32 in place. It will be understood that the 
machine bolt 70 is threaded into the opening 55 of the support arm 52 with 
the tongue 63 of the guide means disposed between the washer 73 and the 
adjacent face of the support arm 52. By loosening or tightening the wing 
nut 72 on the threaded shank of the bolt 70, clamping and unclamping 
action takes place to secure or release the guide means; movement of the 
guide means relative to the support arm being limited by the length of the 
elongated slotted opening 64 in the tongue portion 63. Obviously other 
known connector means may be substituted for the particular means 33 
shown. 
USE AND OPERATION 
Having described the elemental makeup of the improved trim guide of this 
invention, a brief description of its operational functioning follows, 
particular reference being had to FIG. 10 of the drawings. 
As shown in that FIGURE, a paint brush 20 is equipped with two guide means 
or assemblies, a right-hand assembly 21 and its left-hand counterpart 21a, 
according to this invention; each such assembly including the heretofore 
described elemental means 30-33. Normally the paint brush 20 would be held 
like a pen or pencil with the forefinger extended along the upper edge of 
the brush handle base to apply bristle pressure. As seen in FIG. 10, 
striking a trim line along ceiling 75 may be accomplished by utilizing the 
right-hand guide assembly 21, which has been adjusted to provide the 
desired limits for contact angle and pressure between the brush bristles 
28 and the surface of side wall 76. As shown, the guide shoe 62 of the 
right-hand guide means 32 is disposed along the intersection between the 
ceiling 75 and side wall 76, disposing the brush axis at the desirable 
operating angles relative to the planes of both walls and permitting the 
brush bristles to engage wall 76 at a desired spread, pressure and contact 
angle. So long as the guide edge 62 is maintained in contact with the wall 
76, the angle of bristle contact and the selected bristle spread and 
contact pressure will remain fixed in their selected conditions. By 
keeping the guide edge 62 at the intersection of the ceiling and the wall 
as illustrated, application of paint by the brush takes place along a 
given area and line in response to movement of the brush in accordance 
with the movement arrow indicated in that FIGURE. 
In the above-described operation, the left-hand guide assembly 21a 
optionally may be engaged with wall 76 to steady the brush against 
rotation about the guide edge 62 and thus preserve the selected bristle 
contact and operating angle for the brush. In addition the left-hand 
assembly may be used in a manner corresponding to the illustration of FIG. 
10, when drawing the brush in the opposite direction from that indicated, 
as well as in striking appropriate vertical trim lines, for instance, 
along a vertical door jamb or at the intersection of vertical side walls. 
In the particular illustrated case of FIG. 10, the deposit of paint also 
may take place along both ceiling and the side wall surfaces, if desired, 
or either of said walls as selected. This may be brought about in 
accordance with the adjusted positioning of the guide assembly so that 
deposit of the paint on the selected wall or walls is within the selected 
painting area as determined by the adjusted area of bristle contact. When 
painting a floor surface, the elongated arm portion 52 extends outwardly 
and downwardly from the brush base portion. 
It also is to be understood that one or both of the guide assemblies 21, 
21a may be utilized at the operator's option. Thus, one of the guide means 
32 may be removed from its support if only one guide shoe is involved in 
the operation. 
It is of additional importance to recognize that the width of the selected 
trim border may be adjusted by changing the pressure of contact between 
the bristles and the painting surface. This is accomplished by selectively 
moving the guide means 32 relative to its support means 31 to provide more 
or less bristle contact pressure and attendant spread of the bristle area. 
Basically the greater the bristle pressure, the wider the area of bristle 
spread to provide a wider border. Conversely the less bristle pressure, 
the narrower the trim border and area of bristle contact. 
A still further usage modification may be provided by utilizing the 
chamfered edge 54 of the support means as a guiding edge which is 
permitted by the removal of the accompanying guide shoe. This condition of 
operation may be desirable with shorter bristle brushes or in the case 
where use of the guide shoe 32 would hamper or limit desired bristle 
contact. Additional variation of this mode of operation may be brought 
about by removing one of the guide shoes, as for example the left-hand 
guide shoe, and employing only the right-hand guide shoe. In this 
condition, rocking or rotating the brush about the guide surface engaging 
edge 62 permits additional brush pressure and border width in accordance 
with the operator's feel or touch while preserving the ability to strike a 
straight trim line. 
From the foregoing description, it is believed that those familiar with the 
art readily will appreciate and understand the improved features and 
advancements of this invention and will recognize that while the same has 
been described in association with an illustrative preferred embodiment, 
the same is susceptible to variation and substitutions of equivalent 
structures without departing from the ambit of its inventive teachings, 
which are intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear 
in the following appended claims.