PAINT BRUSH BRISTLE HOLDER

Abstract: This invention pertains to a paint brush bristle holder which facilitates cleaning after use, and prevents dried paint bristle buildup, and bristle spread. The holder (8) comprises: removable means (10, 12) for fitting over the bristles (6) of the paint brush (2) at the location where the bristles (6) meet the base of the holder (8) and handle (4) of the paint brush (2), said means preventing the migration of paint into the bristles covered by the removable (10, 12) means.

Description: PAINT BRUSH BRISTLE HOLDER FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to a paint brush bristle holder which facilitates cleaning after use, and prevents dried paint bristle buildup and bristle spread, both of which occur after paint brushes have been used and re-used for a period of time. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A longstanding problem with paint brushes that are used for industrial and domestic painting applications is that with time and repeated use paint tends to build up within the bristles at the end of the bristles that is joined to the paint brush handle and base. The bristles are typically held in place with rigid urethane glue which is bonded to a ferrule connected to the brush handle. The paint which collects in that area of the bristles is difficult to clean away. Thus, usually, some paint is left in the bristles in that region of the brush even after the used brush has been cleaned. The dried paint collects and builds up over time with repeated use of the paint brush. This causes the bristles of the brush to spread and reduces the efficiency of the brush. Also, the dried paint build up tends to cause the bristles to wear and break at the location of the dried paint. This reduces the life of the paint brush. Proper cleaning of a paint brush requires a considerable amount of solvent, if the person cleaning the brush is meticulous. This often represents a waste of costly solvent, and represents an environmental pollutant. Thus, most commercial painters will balance the cost of the solvent with the cost of the paint brush. It may be economic, for instance, to only expect a paint brush to be used a half-dozen times before it must be discarded, rather than waste a considerable amount of solvent attempting to meticulously clean the brush after each use. The time required to clean conventional brushes is also an important factor for commercial painters. In some instances it can be more economic for commercial painters to discard brushes after each use rather than spend the time to clean them properly. This also results in unnecessary wastage. With conventional paint brushes solvent tends to accumulate in a cavity between the glued end of the bristles and the end of the brush handle within the fer- rule. Accordingly, when the brush is subsequently used, solvent tends to escape from the cavity and run down the brush handle, especially when the brush is used to paint overhead ceilings and the like. Additionally, if the brush was previously used to apply paint of another colour, migration of solvent from the aforesaid cavity may result in mistinting of the paint. It would be advantageous if some means could be developed which would minimize or eliminate the build up of paint in the location where the bristles are set or meet the paint brush handle. It would also be advantageous if a mechanism could be developed to reduce the amount of solvent which is required to clean a paint brush. It would also be useful if a mechanism could be developed which would reduce or eliminate bristle flare as it occurs over time when a paint brush is used a number of times. U.S. patent No. 4,129,918, granted December 19, 1978, to Robert Lee, discloses an adjustable sleeve for an artist's paint brush adapted to adjust the effective length of the bristles of the brush. The adjustable sleeve is tubular at its tip to contain the hair or bristles. The sleeve is split above the tip to provide a spring biased grip upon the brush ferrule. The adjustable sleeve is tapered in substantial conformity with the taper of the ferrule and it is longitudinally adjustable relative to the ferrule to vary the effective length of the hair or bris¬ tles. The sleeve is designed for use with an artist's brush, which has bristles arranged in a taper column form. The sleeve does not fit over the base of the brush at the location where the bristles meet the base. U.S. patent No. 4,237,579, issued December 9, 1980, to Johnathan H. Salmon, discloses a tool for applying a liquid stain to a flat surface to impart a timber grain effect to the surface. The tool comprises a paint brush, a bristle retaining slidable plate on one side of the brush and a slidable comb plate on the other side of the brush. Both of the plates have an elongated slot which engages a bolt which passes through the paint brush. The comb adjustably separates the brush bristles into discrete bunches to permit the application of stain to impart a wood grain pattern to the surface. This tool does not disclose a holder which fits on both sides of the paint brush base where the bristles are secured to the base. The tool is not designed to prevent paint from migrating down the bristles in the direction of the base. U.S. patent No. 4,339,837, granted July 20, 1982, to Christiaan Reeberg, discloses a sliding box-like girdle which can be fit over a paint brush to confine the bris¬ tles. The girdle acts as a hanger so that the paint brush can be hung on a wall. The girdle also protects the brush bristles while on display, or during storage. Further, the girdle is used to control the effective length of the bristle ends for specific painting jobs. The girdle also serves to squeeze excess paint from the bristles after each dip into a can of paint. The girdle does not serve to encircle the base of the paint brush, where the bristles meet the paint base, and thereby prevent paint from migrating along the bristles to the base, and thereby collecting at the base-bristle ended face. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A bristle holder adapted for use with a paint brush handle and base with bristles at one end comprising: (a) a girdle adapted to releasably encircle the base of the paint brush handle and the base of the bristles; (b) a pair of releasable members secured to each side of the girdle, the members being capable of abutting the bristles when moved to a first position, and being removed from the bristles when moved to a second position. A bristle holder with a member suitable for releasably fixing over the bristles of a paint brush which comprises: (a) removable means which fit over and surround the bristles of the brush at the location where the bris- ties meet the base and handle of the brush, said means preventing the migration of paint into the bristles which are surrounded and held by the removable means; and (b) releasable means for enabling the removable means to be affixed over the bristles or removed from the bristles. A bristle holder wherein the removable means may be secured to the base of the paint brush by at least one hinge means which is connected to the base of the paint brush. The releasable means may be a spring which is hingedly secured to the base of the paint brush. The holder may be constructed of four components which can be removably secured to one another around the bristles at the location where the bristles are received in the base of the paint brush. The four components may be adapted to snap together to thereby form a unitary clamp means. Two of the components may be releasably secured to the other two components by means of springs, which snap into place against the other component. DRAWINGS In the drawings which represent a detailed illustration of specific embodiments of the invention, but which should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any way: Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of the paint brush bristle holder installed on a paint brush. Figure 2 illustrates a side view of a paint brush with the bristle holder. Figure 3 illustrates an end section view of the bristle holder with the side gripping plates hinged away from the bristles. Figure 4 illustrates an end section view of the bristle holder with the side gripping plates hinged against the bristles. Figure 5 illustrates an end section view of the holder clamped against the bristles. Figure 6 illustrates a front elevation view of a paint brush with an alternative style clamp secured in place on the paint brush; Figure 7 represents a side elevation view of a paint brush with the alternative clamp secured in place on the paint brush; Figure 8 illustrates a perspective view of a paint brush adapted to receive the alternative paint brush clamp; Figure 9 illustrates a side elevation view of the main component of the alternative paint brush clamp; Figure 10 illustrates a perspective view of the removable element of the alternative paint brush clamp; Figure 11 illustrates a side section elevation view of a paint brush, with the two alternative clamp members in a position ready for clamping on the paint brush; and Figure 12 illustrates a side section view of the two alternative elements of the clamp ^ clamped injplace on the bristles of the paint brush where the bristles are set into the paint brush handle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings. Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of a paint brush tool, with handle 4, and bristle 6, equipped with a bristle holder 8. The bristle holder 8 has on each side, a hinged panel 10, which extends laterally along the wide side of the holder 8. The edge of each hinged panel 10, removed from the bristle 6, as thereon a respective reinforcing clip 12, reinforcing clip 12, is usually formed of stainless steel, and served to provide dimensional stability to the hinged panel 10, when the hinged panel 10 is hinged upwardly so that it abuts the bristle 6. Figures 2 and 3 show the hinged panel 10 abutting the bristle 6. The bristle holder 8 is a clip with a pair of securing clips 14, which in Figure 1, are shown hinged downwardly, to thereby enable the pair of panels 10 to be moved away from the bristle 6. A screw 16 fits in the narrow side of the holder 8, and holds a bristle separator 20 (not visible in Figure 1) which extends laterally across the interior of the holder 8. The bristle separator 20 forms a space 21 between one group of bristles on one side of the holder, and another group of bristle 6 on the other side of the holder 8. Figure 2 illustrates a front view of the paint brush 2, with handle 4 and bristle 6. As seen in Figure 2, hinged panel 10 has been moved so that it abuts the bristle 6, and is held in place by the pair of securing clips 14 being snugged into position to hold the panel 10 against the bristles 6. Figure 2 also illustrates how the rein¬ forcing clip 12, constructed of harden steel, strengthens the edge of the panel 10, and thereby ensures that a firm force is applied against the bristle 6 along the entire edge of the panel 10. Figure 2 also illustrates holder end piece 18, which extends along the narrow side of each side of holder 8. Figure 3 illustrates an ended view of the paint brush 2, with handle 4 and bristle 6. As seen previously in Figure 2, Figure 3 also illustrates the pair of hinged panels 10 move into position so that they abut the bristle 6, and are held in place by securing clips 14. Holder end piece 18 is fully visible in Figure 3. Screw 16, which extends the length of holder 8, holds the two holder end pieces 18 together, as well as bristle separator 20, which is not visible in Figure 3. The bristle separator 20, creates a space 21, between one group of bristle 6 and the opposite group of bristle 6. Figure 4 illustrates a section view showing how the bristle 6 are arranged in two groups and fit into the interior of holder 8. As seen in Figure 4, the pair of hinged panels 10 are hinged away from the bristle 6. Bristle separator 20, which is held in place by screw 16, separates the bristles into two groups, leaving space 21 between the two groups. Clips 14 have been swung away so that panels 10 can be moved away from the bristle 6. The orientation depicted in Figure 4 is ideal for enabling the bristles to be fully clamped. By moving the two hinged panels 10 away from the bristles, bristles which have not been coated with paint, are exposed to the sol¬ vent. The solvent can be either a petroleum distil sol- vent, used for removing oil base paint, or water, which can be used to remove latex-base paint. Figure 5 illustrates a section view of the interior of the brush, with the two hinged panels 10 hinged so that they abut the respective sides of the bristle 6. The pair of reinforcing clips 10, which are formed of harden steel, ensure that the two panels 10, when abutting the sides of the bristles, squeeze the bristles 6 tightly against bristle separator 20, thereby discouraging paint from migrating along the bristles 6 pass the point where the pair of reinforcing clips 12 abut the bristles. The combination of the reinforcing clips 12, and the bristles separator 20, also serve to hold the two groups of bristles snugly, for painting purposes. Then, once the paint job has been completed, all the painter wishes to stop painting for the day, the painter merely removes the pair of clips 14 away from the pair of panels 10, the hinged panels 10 are then moved away from the bristles, to the position seen in Figure 4, and the bristles are then fully exposed for ready cleaning. Tests conducted with the paint brush holder 8, indicated that the bristles 6 can be fully clamped using only about 10 percent of the amount of solvent normally used. Further more, it has been found that because the paint is not allowed to travel to the junctions where the bristle meet the brush handle, flex points of weakness are not created, and hence the bristles last much longer than the conventional paint brush designs. Bristle holder 8, and hinged panels 10, and holder end pieces 18, can be formed of a suitable plastic such as medium density polyetherlyn, polyproperlene, or some other flexible plastic. The joint between the panels 10 and the bristle holder 8, using such plastic materials, can be flexed millions of times. Therefore, a separate hinge is not required. Referring to Figures 6 and 7, which illustrate respectively front and side elevation views of a paint brush, with the paint brush clamp secured in place, it can be seen that the paint brush clamp 22 is positioned on the paint brush 24 over the bristles 26 in the area where the bristles are set or clamped in the base of the paint brush 24. The clamp 22 has a pair of wing grips 28 which fit onto the sides of the base of the paint brush 24. Referring to Figure 8, it can be seen that the base 25 of the paint brush 24 is adapted to have grip slots 30 formed on each side. Each grip slot 30 has a grip prong 32 constructed at the top end of the respective grip slot 30. Referring to Figure 9, which illustrates the main component of the clamp 22, it can be seen that the clamp 22 has the respective wing grips 28 constructed at each side of the clamp 22. Prong holes 34 are constructed at the top region of each of the wing grips 28. Prong holes 34 respectively receive the two grip prongs 32, which are constructed in the top regions of the two grip slots 30 on each side of the base 35. As can be seen in Figure 10, removable clamp piece 36, is constructed so that it has a pair of clamp grips 38 formed as each end of the clamp piece 36. These clamp grips 38 are formed to mate with a respective pair of clamp grip slots 40 which are constructed in the interior surfaces of the two sides of the clamp 22. Each clamp grip 38 has a clamp grip prong 42, formed on the outer side of each clamp grip 38. These prongs 42 are adapted to be received within and held by a pair of clamp prong holes 44, which are formed in the outer sides of the respective clamp grip slots 40 in clamp 22. Thus, removable clamp piece 36 can be snapped into place in conjunction with clamp 22 by inserting the respective clamp grips 38 into the respective clamp grip slots 40 and having the prongs 42 snap into place within respective prong holes 44. The clamp 22 is first secured to the base 25 of the paint brush 24 by sliding respective wing grips 28 into respective side grip slots 30 as formed on the sides of the base 25. The wing grips 28 are slid along the slots, in an upwardly direction, commencing at the base of each slot 30, until a point is reached where grip prongs 32 snap into position in respective prong holes 34. Then, once clamp 22 is in place, and in effect encloses three sides of the bristles 6, removable clamp piece 36 is put into place by inserting the respective clamp grips 38 into respective slots 40 of the clamp 22, until a point is reached where the respective prongs 42 snap into place within the re¬ spective prong holes 44. Once these procedures have been completed, then the clamp 22, with clamp piece 36 in place, is securely fastened onto the base 25 of paint brush 24. Figures 11 and 12 illustrate by section views the manner in which the clamp 22 and the removable clamp 36 fit securely over the top end of bristles 26, and immediately below base 25 of paint brush 24. With clamp piece 36 in place, clamp 22 by being securely fixed at the top region of bristles 26, prevents wet paint from migrating by capillary action upwardly between the bristles that are held under the clamp 22 - clamp piece 36 combination. As can be seen in Figures 11 and 12 with the clamp in place, ample bristle 26 length remains to enable the paint brush to be used for painting. Once the user is through with the paintbrush for the day, the painter merely removes the combination of clamp 22 - piece 36 from the brush and then using solvent cleans away unused paint from the bristles 26. Because the wet paint has not been permitted to migrate to the very top ends of the bristles 26, the paint is much more easily cleaned away from that area. The effect of this is that any clogged paint at the top region of the bristle is easily cleaned away by the solvent. The clamp 22 - piece 36 combination has a number of advantages. Once the clamp has been removed, less time is required to clean the bristles of unused wet paint. Moreover, the bristles are easier to clean since the paint is located in the region of the paint bristles removed from the base 25. Because the clamp 22 - piece 36 combination prevents the build up of paint in the region where the bristle 6 are set into the base 25, bristle flair is prevented and bristles last longer, thereby prolonging the life of the paint brush. Furthermore, less solvent is required to clean the paint brush, thereby representing a savings in solvent cost. The use of the clamp 22 - piece 36 combination, also causes the performance of the paint brush to be more consistent over a longer period of time. A longstanding problem with conventional paint brushes is that the performance of the paint brush is proportionally reduced with the build up of clogged dry paint at the base regions of the bristles. This does not occur when the clamp 22 - piece 36 combination is used. The clamp 22 - piece 36 combination can be constructed of lightweight materials such as a strong plastic, aluminum, or some other suitable material, and thus, the weight and size of the paint brush is not appreciably affected. The clamp 22 - piece 36 combination can be manufactured in different sizes, shapes, and of different materials, to accommodate different sizes of paint brushes, e.g. 1 1/2 inch, 2 inch, 3 inch, 4 inch, and other commercial sizes. The clamp 2 - clamp piece 16 combination can be used on any type of paint brush, including pig's bristle paint brushes, nylon paint brushes, and others available on the market- place. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A bristle holder adapted for use with a paint brush handle and base with bristles at one end comprising: (a) a girdle adapted to releasably encircle the base of the paint brush handle and the base of the bris¬ tles; (b) a pair of releasable members secured to each side of the girdle, the members being capable of abutting the bristles when moved to a first position, and being removed from the bristles when moved to a second position. 2. A holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein the releasable members are hinged to the girdle. 3. A holder as claimed in claim 2 wherein the edges of the members removed from the girdle, are reinforced. 4. A holder as claimed in claim 3 wherein the hinged members are panels held in position against the bristles by disengageable holders. 5. A holder as claimed in claim 4 wherein the holder has a central bar which extends from one end of the holder to the other end of the holder, and separates the bristles into two groups. 6. A holder as claimed in claim 5 wherein the holder has a rectangular configuration, the pair of panels extend along the longitudinal sides of the rectangular girdle, the securing holders are clips which are hingedly attached to the holder edge at each of the longitudinal sides of the holder, and the central bar, extends along the longitudinal interior length of the holder, and provides a space between the two separated groups of bristles. 7. A clamp suitable for releasably fixing over the bristles of a paint brush which comprises: (a) removable means which fit over and surround the bristles of the brush at the location where the bris- ties meet the base and handle of the brush, said means preventing the migration of paint into the bristles which are surrounded and held by the removable means; and (b) releasable means for enabling the removable means to be affixed over the bristles or removed from the bristles. 8. A clamp as defined in claim 7 wherein the remov¬ able means is secured to the base of the paint brush by at least one extension means which are received in a propor- tionate number of extension receptor means constructed in the base of the paint brush. 9. A clamp as defined in claim 8 wherein the exten¬ sion means is secured to the base of the paint brush by at least one prong which snaps into place in a respective prong receiving means constructed in the base of the clamp means. 10. A clamp as defined in claim 9 wherein the exten- sion means is elongated and fits in a respective slot formed on the base of the paint brush. 11. A clamp as defined in claim 9 wherein the clamp is constructed of two components which can be removably secured to one another around the bristles at the location where the bristles are received in the base of the paint brush, the two components being adapted to snap together to thereby form a unitary clamp means. 12. A clamp as defined in claim 11 wherein one of the components is secured to the other component by means of protrusions in one component which snap into place in protrusion receiving receptacles formed in the other component.

Inventors: LEDINGHAM BLAKE ANDREW, LEDINGHAM, BLAKE, ANDREW
Applicants: LEDINGHAM BLAKE ANDREW, LEDINGHAM, BLAKE, ANDREW
Application year: 1991
Main classification: A46B9
IPC codes: A46B9, B05C17