Abstract:
The hybrid paintbrush is a paintbrush with characteristics ideal for trim work. The hybrid cross-sectional shape creates a narrow trailing edge, resulting in a fine line for working close to corners and other edges. The wide leading edge acts as a storage location for paint due to its large quantity of bristles. The synergistic result is a paintbrush that has the narrow trailing line of a trim brush, but with the paint-carrying capacity of a larger brush. This allows the novice, who lacks the ability to control the large number of bristles in a larger brush, to effectively cut in a room in a short period of time, minimizing the quantity of times he must reload the brush with paint, or wipe off areas unintentionally painted.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/904,386, filed May 29, 2013, which in turn was a (1) continuation-in-part of U.S. design patent application No. 29/452,394, filed Apr. 16, 2013, and (2) claimed priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/753,366, filed Jan. 16, 2013. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to the field of paintbrushes. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The time consuming and complex part of painting lies in the detail work. Such work includes corners, trim, molding, windows, utility connections, and so forth. When confronted with such numerous items to paint around, a novice will reach for painter&#39;s tape. But applying tape to every surface adjacent to the area to be painted is time-consuming and wasteful. 
         [0004]    Thus, a painter may wish to “cut in” the room first. Cutting in is the process of painting around the joints of the wall and the edges where the wall meets the ceiling or the moldings. A novice, lacking the steady hand of a professional, has to choose between two types of imperfect brushes. He can use an angled sash brush/peacock brush, but given the lack of fine control he is likely to accidently apply paint to adjoining surfaces. Or he can use a trim angle sash brush/rattail brush, but its small size results in many trips back to the paint bucket, negating the time benefit of skipping the tape. 
         [0005]    What is needed is a paintbrush that provides the fine control and forgiveness of a small brush, but the paint-carrying capacity of a large brush. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The hybrid paintbrush is a paintbrush with characteristics ideal for trim work. The hybrid cross-sectional shape creates a narrow trailing edge, resulting in a fine line for working close to corners and other edges. The wide leading edge creates internal storage for paint by virtue of a larger quantity of bristles. The synergistic result is a paintbrush that has the narrow trailing line of a trim brush, but with the paint-carrying capacity of a larger brush. This allows the novice, who lacks the ability to control the large number of bristles in a larger brush, to effectively cut in a room in a short period of time, minimizing the quantity of times he must reload the brush with paint or wipe off areas unintentionally painted. 
         [0007]    Existing paintbrushes each have certain restrictions. A peacock brush includes a thick handle, not intended to be rotated in the user&#39;s hand. Its large size allows it to holds a large amount of paint. But that same large size prevents it from creating a fine line because the brush flattens during use, and with great breadth the bristles spread out. The result is a brush a novice has trouble using with any degree of control. 
         [0008]    A rattail brush is long and round, intended to be turned in the hand of the user. It is ideal for fine lines around door jambs, etc. and often used by those who are less skilled, and thus need a brush with more control. Given that it has fewer bristles, it does not widen under pressure as much as the peacock brush. But it also holds less paint. 
         [0009]    Put simply, the hybrid paintbrush is a brush having a head with a substantially trapezoidal cross-section. The result is a brush head that has a leading edge and a trailing edge, the leading edge being of greater width/length than the trailing edge. The leading edge and trailing edge are connected by intermediate edges. The filaments that make up the brush fill the area bounded by these edges. 
         [0010]    Alternatively, the hybrid paintbrush comprises only a few elements of a handle and a brush head made of a ferrule and a multiplicity of filaments, the brush head having a narrow side and a broad side. The result is a number of potential cross-sectional shapes, including a trapezoid and a triangle. The intersections of the lines forming such shapes can be either pointed, rounded, or cropped (i.e., a point replaced with a straight line). 
       Terminology 
       [0011]    As used herein, a brush is any collection of filaments or bristles joined to a handle, used to transfer paint to a surface. For example, a brush can be a paint brush that can transfer paint, lacquer, varnish, stain, water sealant, and the like from a container to a surface. 
         [0012]    Filament refers to any fiber, strand, or string-like element that, when collected together with other filaments, forms the brush head. A filament can be a natural fiber (e.g., animal hair) or a synthetic fiber (e.g., nylon, polybutylene). 
         [0013]    A plug may be placed between the bristles to spread the bristles outward toward the sleeve so that the bristles are wedged between the plug and the sleeve. 
         [0014]    The bristles and plug are often adhered together by adhesive, such as epoxy resins. Together the bristles, the plug, and the adhesive form a “knot” that retains the bristles in the sleeve. 
         [0015]    Filaments are attached to the handle by way of a sleeve or ferrule that circumscribes an end of the bristles and a mating end of the handle. 
         [0016]    The ferrule is affixed to the handle by small nails, known as brad nails, by simple compression, adhesive, or other known attachment methods. 
         [0017]    The handle itself can be of a multiplicity of shapes, including rat tail, beaver tail, and a handle often shorter than the filaments, known as a short handle. The handle can be of many materials, such as wood, rubber, plastic, and others. 
       How a Paintbrush Holds Paint 
       [0018]    During use, the filaments of a paint brush are dipped into the paint, coating the filaments with paint. The paint is then transferred from the filaments to a surface through physical contact. When nearly all of the coating has been transferred from the filaments to the surface, the process is repeated. 
         [0019]    Natural-bristle/filament brushes made with animal hairs are used for applying oil base paints, varnishes, shellac, polyurethane and other oil base finishes. The natural “flagging” (splitting or fuzzy tips) of these brushes creates split ends in the bristles that hold more paint and help assure a smooth paint release and finish. 
         [0020]    Blended nylon/polyester brushes are easy to clean and work well with all types of latex paints. Synthetic fibers are more durable than natural fibers. Thus, with proper care, nylon/polyester brushes should last for years. 
         [0021]    Polyester brushes are best for latex paints. These brushes hold their shape and stiffness in any paint and apply paint smoothly and evenly. 
       How Paintbrushes Apply Paint to a Surface 
       [0022]    When applying paint, the head of the paintbrush is pulled, rather than pushed. While each part of the brush plays a part in the application of paint to the surface, the line that results from the passage of the bristles/filaments across the surface is defined by its trailing side. 
         [0023]    The head of the hybrid brush has multiple parts involved in the application of paint. The leading edge of the hybrid brush is the wider portion of the head, and the first section of the brush to contact unpainted surface. Given its width, it is associated with the section of the brush that holds the majority of the paint. 
         [0024]    The trailing edge of the hybrid brush is narrower than the leading edge. The tapering of the sides of the brush as it transitions from the wide leading edge to the narrower trailing edge acts to route the flow of paint. 
         [0025]    Within the hybrid brush, there are multiple paths for the flow of paint from the wide section associated with the leading edge and the narrow section associated with the trailing edge. The first is by contact with the surface. The leading edge contacts the surface first, depositing paint. This deposited paint remains on the surface, being moved by the trailing edge. 
         [0026]    The second path is internal to the brush. The filaments are all in either direct or indirect contact with each other. The same wicking, or capillary action, that acts to draw paint upwards to fill the spaces between the filaments also works horizontally. This horizontal action fills the spaces between adjacent filaments. The leading edge of the hybrid paintbrush is part of a larger tail section of the brush, which with its many filaments act to hold a substantial amount of paint. This substantial amount of paint is then shared with the other parts of the brush, specifically the tip, which forms the trailing edge. The narrower profile of the tip holds less paint, but the availability of paint from the wider section of the brush prevents the tip from running dry. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]    The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0028]      FIG. 1  illustrates the hybrid paintbrush use, showing application. 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  illustrates an isometric view of the hybrid paintbrush, showing its tail. 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  illustrates an isometric view of the hybrid paintbrush, showing its tip. 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom view of the hybrid paintbrush. 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top view of the hybrid paintbrush, showing its bristles. 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of the hybrid paintbrush, showing the angle of the bristles. 
           [0034]      FIG. 7  illustrates an opposite side view of the hybrid paintbrush, showing the angle of the bristles. 
           [0035]      FIG. 8  illustrates a view of the trailing edge of the hybrid paintbrush. 
           [0036]      FIG. 9  illustrates a view of the leading edge of the hybrid paintbrush. 
           [0037]      FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary cross section the hybrid paintbrush, showing a pointed tip and flat intermediate edges. 
           [0038]      FIG. 11  illustrates an exemplary cross section the hybrid paintbrush, showing a pointed tip and rounded intermediate edges. 
           [0039]      FIG. 12  illustrates an exemplary cross section the hybrid paintbrush, showing a rounded tip and flat intermediate edges. 
           [0040]      FIG. 13  illustrates an exemplary cross section the hybrid paintbrush, showing a flat trailing edge and flat intermediate edges. 
           [0041]      FIG. 14  illustrates an exemplary cross section the hybrid paintbrush, showing a flat trailing edge and rounded intermediate edges. 
           [0042]      FIG. 15  illustrates an exemplary cross section the hybrid paintbrush, showing a rounded tip and rounded intermediate edges. 
           [0043]      FIG. 16  shows an exemplary hybrid brush with the cross-sectional shape of a pentagon. 
           [0044]      FIG. 17  shows an exemplary hybrid brush with the cross-sectional shape of a hexagon. 
           [0045]      FIG. 18  shows an exemplary hybrid brush with the cross-sectional shape combining a rectangle and a triangle. 
           [0046]      FIG. 19  shows an exemplary hybrid brush with the cross-sectional shape of a trapezium. 
           [0047]      FIG. 20  shows an exemplary hybrid brush with the cross-sectional shape of a rhombus. 
           [0048]      FIGS. 21 and 22  show an exemplary hybrid brush with the cross-sectional shape of a kite. 
           [0049]      FIG. 23  shows an exemplary hybrid brush with the cross-sectional shape of a trapezium with rounded tips. 
           [0050]      FIG. 24  shows an exemplary hybrid brush with a five-sided cross-sectional shape. 
           [0051]      FIG. 25  shows an exemplary hybrid brush with a four-sided cross-sectional shape of a rhombus. 
           [0052]      FIG. 26  shows the hybrid brush with a push-chisel base. 
           [0053]      FIGS. 27 and 28  show a standard base and a push-chisel base. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0054]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the hybrid paintbrush  1  is shown in use. The hybrid paintbrush  1  is shown being used to paint a surface  100  along a corner  102 , depositing paint  104 . The direction of travel  80  is from the leading edge  36 , the wider section of the hybrid paintbrush  1 , to the trailing edge  38 , or the narrower section of the hybrid paintbrush  1 . As discussed, the brush is pulled, not pushed. The narrow trailing edge of the brush  1  allows paint  104  to be applied to the surface  100  very close to the corner  102 , without contacting the adjoining vertical surface. 
         [0056]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the components of the hybrid paintbrush  1  will be described. The hybrid paintbrush  1  includes a handle  10  with optional tapered grip  12 . The filaments  30  are held to the handle  10  by the ferrule  14 . In turn, the ferrule  14  is held to the handle by the ferrule fasteners  16 . What results is the brush head  18 . 
         [0057]    The brush head  18  has a tip  32 , or narrow section, and a tail  34 , or wider section. The base of the tail  34  is the leading edge  36 , and the base of the tip  32  is the trailing edge  38 . The ends of the filaments are the filament tips  40 , which collectively form the base  41 . 
         [0058]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the base of the hybrid paintbrush is shown. The filament tips  40  are shown, forming the base  41 . The hybrid shape of the brush  1  can be seen, with the tail  34  and the trailing edge  38 . 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the top of the hybrid paintbrush is shown. 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , side views of the hybrid paintbrush are shown. The filament tip angle  42  is shown, the angle between horizontal and the angle of the base  41 . For example, if the base  41  is perpendicular to the length of the filaments  30 , the filament tip angle  42  is 90 degrees. 
         [0061]    The filament tip angle  42  works in conjunction with the pulling actions of the brush  1  to result in smooth painting. When the brush  1  is being used, it is held against a surface  100  such that both the tip  32  and tail  34  contact the surface. The result is that the handle  10  of the brush is held at an angle roughly that of the filament tip angle  42 . 
         [0062]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a view of the trailing edge  38  of the hybrid paintbrush is shown. 
         [0063]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , a view of the leading edge  36  of the hybrid paintbrush is shown. 
         [0064]    Referring to  FIGS. 10-15 , exemplary cross-sections of the hybrid paintbrush are shown. 
         [0065]      FIG. 10  shows a pointed tip  60  and flat sides  66 , a cross-sectional shape of the brush head that is a triangle. The tip angle  76  is shown, or the angle between the two flat sides  66 . Tail angle  78  is also shown, or the angle between one of the flat sides  66  and the flat leading edge  70 . The overall cross-section has a length  74  and a width  72 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 11  shows an exemplary cross-section with pointed tip  60  and rounded intermediate edges  68 . Here the tip angle  76  is shown, or the angle between the two rounded intermediate edges  68 . Tail angle  78  is also shown, or the angle between one of the rounded intermediate edges  68  and the flat leading edge  70 . It is appreciated that two curved lines do not meet at an angle in the same way as two straight lines. 
         [0067]    Instead, the angle between a straight line and a curved line is known as a mixed angle, and the angle between two intersecting curved lines is known as a curvilinear angle. Such angles are measured as the angle between the tangents at the point of intersection. 
         [0068]      FIG. 12  shows an exemplary cross-section with a rounded tip  62  and straight intermediate edges  66 . 
         [0069]      FIG. 13  shows an exemplary cross-section with a flat tip  64  and straight intermediate edges  66 , or the shape of a trapezoid with two parallel sides. 
         [0070]      FIG. 14  shows an exemplary cross section with a flat trailing edge and rounded intermediate edges, or the shape of a trapezoid with rounded sides, and two parallel sides. 
         [0071]      FIG. 15  illustrates an exemplary cross section with a rounded tip and rounded intermediate edges, or the shape of a trapezoid with rounded sides and rounded tip. 
         [0072]    Referring to  FIGS. 10-15  generally, certain characteristics are to be noted. The relationship between the tip angle  76  and tail angle  78  alters the shape of the brush, and thus its characteristics. A tip angle  76  equal to a tail angle  78  results in an equilateral triangle, with angles  76 / 78  of 60 degrees. The resulting shape does not have sufficient length  74  with respect to width  74 , and thus does not realize the benefits of a properly proportioned hybrid paintbrush  1 . 
         [0073]    The embodiment shown in the figures has a tail angle  78  of approximately 88 degrees, and a tip angle of approximately 20 degrees (the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures has curved sides, which results in the total of the angles being greater than 180 degrees). 
         [0074]    It is anticipated that the most effective embodiments of the hybrid paintbrush have a tail angle  78  of at least two times greater than the tip angle. 
         [0075]    The different tips result in different brush characteristics. While a brush  1  with a pointed tip  60  will provide the majority of the advantages of the hybrid paintbrush, the pointed tip  60  is easily damaged due to the very small number of filaments  30  present at the tip  32 , and is less effective at holding a line due to the small number of filaments  30  at the pointed tip  60  to spread the paint  104 . 
         [0076]    The rounded tip  62  is superior to the pointed tip  60 , having a greater number of filaments  30  to avoid being easily damaged, and a slightly wider shape to distribute paint  104 . 
         [0077]    The flat tip  64  is the shape with the best characteristics. Less easily damaged than the other shapes, the flat tip  64  has the cleanest paint delivery characteristics. 
         [0078]    Rounded intermediate edges  68  are advantageous over straight intermediate edges  66  because rounded intermediate edges  68  increase the cross-sectional area of the brush head  18 , in turn increasing its internal volume, without detrimentally affecting its performance. 
         [0079]    Referring to  FIGS. 16-25 , additional exemplary cross-sections of the hybrid paintbrush are shown.  FIGS. 16-25  are intended to illustrate that the hybrid paintbrush need not have a particular shape in work as intended. Brush shapes that include narrow trailing edges for a fine line, combined with a wider section for storing paint, will perform substantially as intended. 
         [0080]      FIG. 16  shows an exemplary hybrid brush with the cross-sectional shape of a pentagon. A pointed tip  60 , flat leading edge  70 , and straight intermediate edges  66  are shown. This brush shape works with a preferred stroke direction that leaves the pointed tip  60  as the final part of the hybrid brush to contact the painted surface. This preferred direction of travel is shown as  80 . 
         [0081]      FIG. 17  shows an exemplary hybrid brush with the cross-sectional shape of a hexagon. A flat trailing edge  64 , flat leading edge  70 , and straight intermediate edges  66  are shown. In  FIG. 17  the flat trailing edge  64  and flat leading edge  70  are of approximately equal length, thus there is no preferred stroke direction. The possible stroke directions are shown as  82 . 
         [0082]      FIG. 18  shows an exemplary hybrid brush with the cross-sectional shape combining a rectangle and a triangle. A flat trailing edge  64 , flat leading edge  70 , and straight intermediate edges  66  are shown. In  FIG. 18  the flat trailing edge  64  and flat leading edge  70  are of approximately equal length, thus there is no preferred stroke direction. If the flat trailing edge  64  was shorter, the preferred stroke direction would be toward the flat leading edge  70 . The possible stroke directions are shown as  82 . 
         [0083]      FIG. 19  shows an exemplary hybrid brush with the cross-sectional shape of a trapezium. A flat trailing edge  64 , flat leading edge  70 , and straight intermediate edges  66  are shown. This brush shape works with a preferred stroke direction that leaves the flat trailing edge  64  as the final part of the hybrid brush to contact the painted surface. The preferred direction of travel is shown as  80 . 
         [0084]      FIG. 20  shows an exemplary hybrid brush with the cross-sectional shape of a rhombus. The shape in  FIG. 20  does not have a preferred stroke direction because it is approximately symmetrical. The possible stroke directions are shown as  82 . Straight intermediate edges  66  are shown, as well as portions that can act as a pointed tip  60  or pointed leading edge  90 , depending on the direction of the stroke. 
         [0085]      FIGS. 21 and 22  show an exemplary hybrid brush with the cross-sectional shape of a kite. The shapes in  FIGS. 21 and 22  do not have preferred stroke directions because of the approximate symmetry. The possible stroke directions are shown as  82 . Straight intermediate edges  66  are shown. The shape can have pointed tips  60 , rounded tips  62 , pointed leading edges  90 , or rounded leading edges  92 , in any combination. 
         [0086]      FIG. 23  shows an exemplary hybrid brush with the cross-sectional shape of a trapezium with rounded tips. This shape is shown with rounded tips  62 , rounded leading edge  92  and straight intermediate edges  66 . 
         [0087]      FIG. 24  shows an exemplary hybrid brush with a five-sided cross-sectional shape. The shape is shown with a rounded tip  62 , flat trailing edge  64 , straight intermediate edges  66 , and rounded intermediate edge  68 . This preferred direction of travel is shown as  80 . 
         [0088]      FIG. 25  shows an exemplary hybrid brush with a four-sided cross-sectional shape of a rhombus with straight intermediate edges  66  and rounded intermediate edges  68 . The possible stroke directions are shown as  82 . 
         [0089]      FIG. 26  shows the hybrid brush  1  with a push-chisel base  95 . The shape of a push-chisel base  95  is created by filaments that protrude further from the ferrule in the center than along the edges. 
         [0090]      FIG. 27  shows a standard base  94 , and  FIG. 28  shows the push-chisel base  95 . Filaments stack against each other when pressure is applied from the side during a paint stroke, the pressure shown here by  96 . 
         [0091]      FIG. 27  shows that when pressure  96  is applied, to a standard base  94 , the filaments create a narrower base, but the tip  32  is still the width of all the filaments  30  added together. 
         [0092]      FIG. 28  shows the same pressure applied against the push-chisel base  95 . In the push-chisel base  95  the filaments  30  are shorter on the edges, and thus do not stack against the tip  32  of the filaments  30  in the center of the hybrid brush  1 . Thus, rather than the tip  32  being wide under pressure  96 , the push-chisel base  95  creates a thin tip  32  under pressure, further improving the performance of the hybrid brush  1 . 
         [0093]    The result, as shown in  FIG. 1 , is a hybrid brush  1  that when filled with paint  104  and pulled along a corner  102 , holds an even finer line. 
         [0094]    Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
         [0095]    It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.