Abstract:
A paint brush protective cover for a paint brush includes a jacket which provides for wet media storage and safe transportation.

Description:
This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/832,749 filed Jul. 8, 2010 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,157,091 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/390,095 filed Feb. 20, 2009 now abandoned and claims the benefit thereof which claims benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 61/128,839 filed May 27, 2008. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to paint brushes and, more particularly, to a paint brush protective cover that protects the bristles of paint brushes from being damaged during wet or dry storage or nonuse thereby extending the life of the paint brush. 
     2. Related Art 
     In cases where a purchaser opts to purchase a paint brush to perform a painting job, there is a choice of brush shape, size and different filament materials. A professional painter can own many brushes, each with its own use. Typically each project can require several brushes, for large areas a 3 or 4 inch is used for general cutting in large pieces or general use whereas and for trim a 1½ inch works well. On a professional site there may be a crew of painters each using several brushes. 
     Fine paint brushes are expensive however they are required for a professional job as they apply a smoother finish with less brush strokes and paint faster and with less effort. If properly cleaned and stored they will last for years and conversely if not will have a short life. Inexpensive paint brushes can shed bristles into the finish and are difficult to work with, producing an inferior finish. 
     Paint brushes are categorized according to the type of coating being applied; water based paints and primers, such as latex or acrylic paints and primer plus water based epoxy; oil based paints and primers, such as alkyd paints and primers plus oil based epoxies; solvent thinned paints and primers; water based clear wood finishes and stains, such as acrylic urethane, water based polyurethane and its variants plus water based wood stains; oil based clear wood finishes and stains; this includes the common varnish and polyurethane plus oil based wood stains; all solvent thinned clear finishes and wood stains; shellac primers and clear finishes, such as tinted and clear shellac is thinned with denatured alcohol. 
     Each of these “types” of coatings or stains has a specific type of brush that is used. Type of paint brush refers to the filaments used in its construction. These filaments can be synthetic, natural, or a combination of the two. Synthetic refers to different types of plastics used to make the filaments, nylon and polyester or blends of the two. Natural refers to animal hair that is used in the brushes construction, this type of filaments are called bristles. Filaments are designed for specific solvents and will be damaged if used in the wrong solvent or improperly stored. 
     Synthetic brushes loose there shape in oil base paints and primers, an oil paint brush must be stiff enough to hold its shape and soft enough not to leave to many brush marks. Brush manufactures use a blend of different natural bristles to change the softness and stiffness for performing a job, for example, one having the stiffness for cutting in a straight line and thicker hair for holding more paint or one suited for varnishes, polyurethane and stains or one&#39;s for clear wood finishes require a very soft brush for the best results. 
     Bristle brushes cannot be used with latex paints or be cleaned with water this will ruin the brush. Natural bristle paint brushes absorb water and loose their shape, becoming impossible to control. However, cleaning the brush after every use is not desirable as it takes time and use of costly solvents. 
     It is desirable to leave the brush wet. Some painters leave the brush in a zip lock bag or in a bucket of paint. While this prevents cleanup, it often results in the disfigurement of the bristles. This is particularly problematic with cut-in brushes which come in a variety of shapes such as angular, flat, and oval, and size ranges from 1-6 inches wide and if disfigured become useless. 
     Fine paint brushes typically are expensive. User&#39;s of fine paint brushes, such as professionals, require excellent coverage from their paint brush, durability from their paint brush, greater efficiency in production, precise lines, proven results for smooth finishes and a lack of bristles or filaments left behind from the paint brush. When a paint brush no longer is capable of producing, the paint brush will be discarded and a new paint brush is purchased to replace the old paint brush. 
     After a job is finished, the brush must be cleaned in an appropriate solution to remove all of the remaining paint. Sometimes the bristles tend to separate and fray off in non-uniform directions and become a problem for the next usage so care must be taken to store the brush in a manner wherein the bristles can be maintained aligned. 
     Covers that the paint brushes are sold in are made of paper and are rather flimsy and easily tear and do not last very long. If no protective cover is used, in addition to the above described disfigurement occurring, dust and other particles generally stick and become imbedded inside the bristles. These particles will collect on the paint producing non-uniform streaks of paint during use. 
     Prior attempts to cover paint brushes include conventional paper or plastic covers which substantially fold about the bristles to maintain the filament shape. Some cases provide for air holes so that the filaments can dry after cleaning is performed. 
     The problem which is not addressed is that of wet media storage. Painters need a simple and easy cover for both dry and wet storage of the brushes which protects the filaments. There is also a need for quick, safe and easy transportation of brushes. Therefore, a need exists to provide an improved paint brush protective cover. The improved paint brush cover must be simple to use, allow for wet and dry storage, easy cleanup and durability and be inexpensive. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object to improve paint brush covers. 
     It is a further object to provide a wet/dry paint brush cover. 
     It is another object to provide an improved paint brush protective cover that is simple to use. 
     Yet another object is to provide an improved paint brush protective cover that is durable. 
     It is another object to provide an improved paint brush protective cover that is inexpensive. 
     Still another object is to provide safe and easy transport of a paint brush. 
     A further object is to provide a user with a productivity guide for the brush. 
     Another object is to enable storage of a brush in wet media. 
     Accordingly, one embodiment of the invention is directed to a paint brush protective cover for a paint brush having filaments, a collar retaining the filaments and handle. The brush cover which includes a jacket having a hollow interior section, wherein the jacket has a first panel and a second panel removably connectable to the first panel in a manner to be maintained in a predetermined spaced relation to receive the paint brush therebetween, wherein each panel has an upper end and a lower end and are configured to be complementary connected in a manner with the upper ends adjacent one another and the lower ends adjacent one another, wherein the jacket is of a length greater than a combined length of filaments and at least the collar and the upper ends are configured to retain about the collar and said lower ends are configured to retain about the filaments, and wherein the jacket includes at least one lower opening adjacent a terminal part of the lower ends to readily permit drainage from said jacket by virtue of gravity when upper ends are further displaced from a gravitational surface than the lower ends; and wherein each the panel includes at least one panel opening which extends lengthwise from each the upper end into the lower end terminating at a predetermined distance from a lower end edge and is defined by top edge, bottom edge and side edges, and at least one productivity guide and wear bar which extends transversely through the panel opening and interconnecting the side edges to retain filaments of the brush and serves as a visual productivity guide and wear indicator for filament length. The panels are further equipped with transverse ribs which extend across the upper ends. Side ribs are also provided which extend lengthwise along outer edges of each panel. The lower ends are connected by a junction panel which includes spaced openings to provide drainage yet maintain rigidity and structure. 
     Another embodiment is directed to a paint brush protective cover for a paint brush having filaments, a collar or ferrule retaining the filaments, which includes a jacket having a hollow interior section, wherein the jacket has a first panel and a second panel removably connectable to the first panel in a manner to be maintained in a predetermined spaced relation to receive the paint brush therebetween, wherein each the panel has an upper end and a lower end and are configured to be complementary connected in a manner with the upper ends adjacent one another and the lower ends adjacent one another, preferably by living hinge, wherein the jacket is of a length greater than a combined length of filaments and at least the collar and the upper ends are configured to retain about the collar and the lower ends are configured to retain about the filaments, and wherein the jacket includes at least one lower opening adjacent a terminal part of the lower ends to readily permit drainage from the jacket by virtue of gravity when upper ends are further displaced from a gravitational surface than the lower ends; and wherein each panel includes at least one panel opening which extends lengthwise from each the upper end into the lower end terminating at a predetermined distance from a lower end edge and is defined by top edge, bottom edge and side edges, and at least one productivity guide and wear bar which extends transversely through the panel opening and interconnecting the side edges to retain filaments of the brush and serves as a visual productivity guide and wear indicator for filament length. 
     Still another embodiment is directed to a paint brush protective cover for a paint brush having filaments, a collar retaining the filaments and handle. The cover includes a jacket having a hollow interior section, wherein the jacket has a first panel having lateral connecting surfaces and a second panel having lateral connecting surfaces configured to receive the lateral connecting surfaces of said first panel in a manner to removably connect the first panel and the second panel in a manner to be maintained in a predetermined spaced relation to receive the paint brush therebetween. Each panel has an upper end and a lower end and are configured to be complementary connected in a manner with the upper ends adjacent one another and the lower ends adjacent one another, wherein the jacket is of a length greater than a combined length of filaments and at least the collar and the upper ends are configured to retain about the collar and the lower ends are configured to retain about the filaments, and wherein the jacket includes at least one lower opening adjacent a terminal part of the lower ends to readily permit drainage from the jacket by virtue of gravity when upper ends are further displaced from a gravitational surface than the lower ends; and wherein each the panel includes at least one panel opening which extends lengthwise from each the upper end into the lower end terminating at a predetermined distance from a lower end edge and is defined by top edge, bottom edge and side edges, and at least one productivity guide and wear bar which extends transversely through the panel opening and interconnecting the side edges to retain filaments of the brush and serves as a visual productivity guide and wear indicator for filament length. The lower openings on the jacket allow fluid such as paint and solvent to drain adequately and the openings allow air to circulate within the protective cover and about the filaments of the brush. 
     The invention provides a protective measure for the filaments as well as productivity guide and wear indicator of for the filaments. This deters the filaments from becoming disfigured. Also, the productivity guide and wear bar aids in showing the amount of usage left on the brush. 
     A handle opening is formed in end surface of the jacket adjacent the upper ends of the panels allowing the handle of the paint brush to protrude out of the jacket. The handle opening is formed between laterally extending connecting surfaces of each of the first and second panels which provide connection of the panels as well as the panels all of which serve to retain about the handle. The first panel&#39;s lateral connecting surfaces can be configured to be received inside of the second panel&#39;s lateral connecting surfaces and can include a detent surface or other friction fit surface to maintain connection therebetween. A laterally extending tab can be provided on the first panel to aid in separating the panels once connected. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, and description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, as well as a preferred mode of use, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrated embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is an elevated perspective view of the paint brush protective cover of the present invention in a closed position covering the bristles of a paint brush disposed within a paint container with wet media (paint) therein for wet media storage. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevated perspective view of the paint brush protective cover of the present invention in a closed position. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the paint brush protective cover of the present invention in an open position showing an interior thereof. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the paint brush protective cover of the present invention in an open position showing an exterior thereof. 
         FIG. 5  is a back outside plan view of the paint brush protective cover of the present invention in an open position. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the paint brush protective cover of the present invention in an open position. 
         FIG. 7  is an end view of the paint brush protective cover of the present invention in an open position. 
         FIG. 8  is a front inside plan view of the paint brush protective cover of the present invention in an open position. 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of a living hinge portion of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of another portion of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 12  is a plan back view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 13  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is an enlarged view of another portion of  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, a paint brush protective cover is generally designated by the numeral  10 . The paint brush protective cover  10  includes a single jacket  12  made from an anti-stick polymer plastic, such as polystyrene, so that paint will not readily adhere to the jacket  12 . This will aid in the wet storage aspect of the invention. 
     The jacket  12  can be rectangular in shape and it is contemplated that the jacket  12  can be configured with various shapes and sizes so long as the objectives of the invention can be maintained. The jacket  12  should be sufficient enough size to contain a lower end  13  of the paint brush  14  and at least part of an upper end  15  of the paint brush  14 . By way of example, the jacket  12  is configured for a 2″ brush  14 . 
     The jacket  12  has a hollow interior section  16  which is defined by a first panel  18  and a second panel  20  of the jacket  12  which are removably connectable to one another in a manner to be maintained in a predetermined spaced relation. Each panel  18  and  20  has an upper end  22  and  24 , respectively, and a lower end  26  and  28 , respectively, which are configured to be complementary connected in a manner with the upper ends  22  and  24  adjacent one another and the lower ends  26  and  28  adjacent one another. Each panel  18  and  20  have transverse exterior ribs  21  and  23  respectively which here are shown as rectangular ribs across upper ends  22  and  24  respectively. 
     The first panel  18  includes lateral connecting surfaces  30 A and  30 B and can be configured to be received inside of the second panel  20  lateral connecting surfaces  32 A and  32 B. The end  24  includes a retaining member  25  which together with connecting surfaces  32 A and  32 B provide a receiving area for connecting surfaces  30 A and  30 B. By way of example, lateral connecting surfaces  30 A and  30 B fit within retaining members  25  and surfaces  31 A and  31 B or other friction fit surface to improve connection with connecting surfaces  32 A and  32 B. A laterally extending tab  34  can be provided on the first panel  18  to aid in separating the panels  18  and  20  once connected. 
     The jacket panels  18  and  20  are of a length greater than a combined length of filaments and at least a collar part of the paint brush retaining the filaments and preferably a greater than a combined length of filaments (herein referred to as lower end  13  of the brush  14 ), and collar part of the paint brush retaining the filaments and part of the handle (herein referred to as upper part  15  of the brush  14 ). 
     Upper ends  22  and  24  are configured to retain about the upper part  15  of the brush  14  and lower ends  26  and  26  are configured to retain about lower end  13  of the brush  15 . Each panel  18  and  20  can include a plurality of laterally spaced elongated openings  36  and  38 , respectively, which extend from respective upper ends  22  and  24 , respectively, and into the lower ends  26  and  28 , respectively, terminating at a predetermined distance “X” short of an edge  40  and  42  of each panel  18  and  20 , respectively. In this regard, it is important to note that the openings  36  and  38  can preferably not extend to a point beyond the length “L” of the filaments of the brush when stored within the jacket as this could permit the filaments to become disfigured by protruding outside of the openings  36  or  38 . 
     Productivity guide and wear bars  27  and  29  are provided. Openings  36  and  38  extend lengthwise from each the respective upper ends  22  and  24  into the lower ends  26  and  28  respectively terminating at a predetermined distance from a lower end edge  40  and  42 , respectively, and are defined by top edge  60  and  62 , bottom edge  64  and  66 , respectively, and side edges  68  and  70 , respectively. Productivity guide and wear bars  27  and  29  extend across the respective panels  18  and  20  transversely through the panel openings  36  and  38 , respectively, and interconnect the side edges to retain filaments of the brush and serves as a visual productivity guide and wear indicator for filament length as well as lend rigidity and strength to the cover  10 . 
     The productivity guide and wear bars  27  and  29  aid in retaining the filaments  13  of the brush  14 . The productivity guide and wear bars  27  and  29  can preferably include a curved rib cross section which aid in guiding the filaments  13 , broken and unbroken, into the jacket  12 . The productivity guide and wear bars  27  and  29  provide a good visual indication of the productivity remaining of the brush  14  and aid in retaining filaments  13  within the jacket  12 . 
     Accordingly, each lower end  26  and  28  of each panel  18  and  20 , respectively, there remains a continuous transverse section to retain the filaments and into which the openings  36  and  38  do not extend. The plurality of openings  36  and  38  are thus located on the jacket  12  for allowing fluid such as paint, solvent, or air to circulate within the protective cover and about the filaments of the brush  14 . 
     A handle opening  44  is formed in end surface  23  of the jacket  12  adjacent the upper ends  22  and  24  of the panels  18  and  20  allowing the handle H of the paint brush to protrude out of the jacket  12 . The handle opening  44  is formed between laterally extending connecting surfaces  30 A,  30 B and  32 A,  32 B and ends  22  and  24  of each of the first and second panels  18  and  20  all of which serve to retain about the handle H. Sides  32 A and  32 B do not extend the panel  20  to permit flow of paint out of the end of the jacket  12  when closed. 
     One may open the jacket  12  to expose a hollow interior section  16 . The interior section  16  is where the bristles of the paint brush  14  will be stored in wet or dry manner. The first panel  18  is connected together the second panel by a junction panel  50  and is characterized as a living hinge which is a special type of connector style that is bent while the plastic piece is still warm right out of the mold. Junction panel  50  includes a plurality of lower spaced openings  41  to readily permit drainage and which are separated by transverse portions  43  of panel  50 . Opening the jacket  12  will expose the hollow interior section  16  enabling positioning the paint brush  14  within the jacket  12  and when closed protect the bristle or filament  13  configuration of the brush  14 . 
     The openings  36  and  38  provide for retention of the bristles while being stored in paint in the case of the jacket  12  being submerged into paint with the brush  14  therein as seen in  FIG. 1 . Upon removal, these openings  36  and  38  provide for quick drainage of paint from the jacket  12  so that the jacket  12  can be readily opened without causing a paint spill. After removal of the brush  14  from the jacket  12 , any remaining paint on the jacket  12  should easily drip off. After a job, the brush  14  is cleaned and disposed back in the jacket  12  where the openings  36  and  38  will allow air to circulate therein. The air will allow the bristles of the paint brush  14  dry quickly after being cleaned and prevent mold and mildew from forming inside the jacket  12 . 
     The protective cover  10  can be preferably be molded such as by injection for example. In this way, the components herein described are integrally formed. While the application has made mention of a preferred use with professional paint brushes, it is conceived that the invention can be employed with various sized brushes, such as artist brushes or the like, wherein the protective cover  10  would be reduced in size to accomplish the intended goal of the invention. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.