Abstract:
A device for cleaning a paint brush includes a manifold having a plurality of substantially equally spaced nozzles extending therefrom. A manifold housing is connected to a supply of pressurized water by a hose. Alternatively, the housing is connected to a ball valve assembly, which is in turn connected to the supply of pressurized water. Preferably, the ball valve assembly includes a two-piece valve body.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/815,776 filed Jun. 22, 2006. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for cleaning and, in particular, to an apparatus for cleaning paint brushes.  
         [0003]     The following patents provide background in the field of cleaning devices:  
         [0004]     The U.S. Pat. No. 734,887 entitled “Broom Attachment”.  
         [0005]     The U.S. Pat. No. 1,233,147 entitled “Nozzle”.  
         [0006]     The U.S. Pat. No. 2,709,112 entitled “Lawn Sprinkling Nozzles”.  
         [0007]     The U.S. Pat. No. 3,754,557 entitled “Liquids and Fluids Dispensing Applicator Assembly”.  
         [0008]     The U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,382 entitled “Surface Cleaning Device”.  
         [0009]     The U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,746 entitled “Self-Supported Water Sweeper”.  
         [0010]     The U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,424 entitled “Paint Brush Cleaning Funnel”.  
         [0011]     The U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,188 entitled “Paint Brush Cleaning Assembly”.  
         [0012]     The U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,706 entitled “Water Broom”.  
         [0013]     The U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,964 entitled “Water Jet Spray Nozzle for Cleaning a Paintbrush”.  
         [0014]     The U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,967 entitled “Paint Brush Cleaning Device”.  
         [0015]     The U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,865 entitled “Tongue Cleaning Device”.  
         [0016]     The U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,273 entitled “Water Comb”.  
         [0017]     The U.S. Pat. No. 6,779,535 entitled “Paint Brush Cleaning Device”.  
         [0018]     The U.S. Pat. No. D425,678 entitled “Paintbrush Cleaning Wand”.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     The present invention concerns a paint brush cleaning device that includes a manifold having a plurality of substantially equally spaced nozzles extending therefrom. The housing is connected to a supply of pressurized water by a hose. Alternatively, the housing is connected to a ball valve assembly, which is in turn connected to the supply of pressurized water. Preferably, the ball valve assembly includes a two-piece valve body. Advantageously, the device may be utilized to clean objects other than paint brushes. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     The above, as well as other, advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a cleaning device in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a cleaning device in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0023]     U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/815,776 filed Jun. 22, 2006 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0024]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a paint brush cleaning device in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally at  10 . The device  10  includes a hollow housing or manifold  12  that defines an interior cavity  14  between a first end  16  and a second end  18  thereof. Preferably, the manifold  12  is manufactured from a plastic material including, but not limited to, Delrin® acetal resin available from the E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or another material having similar material properties. A plurality of elongated nozzles  20  extend from the first end  16  of the manifold  12  and are in fluid communication with the cavity  14 . The nozzles  20  are preferably equally spaced along the first end  16  of the manifold  12 . A supply conduit  22  extends from the second end  18  of the manifold  12  opposite the nozzles  16 . The supply conduit  22  is in fluid communication with the interior cavity  14  and has an open end  24  that is adapted to be connected to a hose  26 . The hose  26  includes a first end  28  adapted to be connected to the open end  24  of the manifold and a second end  30  that is adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized water, such as a hose bib (not shown), a sink faucet, (not shown) or the like. A gasket  32  is provided to assist in create a seal between the ends  24  and  28  and/or between the end  30  and the source of pressurized water. The connections between the device  10  and the hose  26  and between the hose  26  and the water source are preferably threaded type connections or similar releasable connections while remaining within the scope of the present invention, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.  
         [0025]     In operation, the end  28  of the hose  26  is connected to the end  24  of the manifold  12  and the end  30  of the hose  26  is connected to the pressurized water source. When pressurized water from the water source is introduced to the end  30  of the hose  26 , the water travels through the hose  26 , into the conduit  22  and into the cavity  14 . The high pressure water then is forced into the nozzles  20 , whereby the velocity of the water increases and it exits the open ends of the respective nozzles  20 . A user of the device  10  then preferably directs the high velocity water exiting from the nozzles  20  at the object to be cleaned, such as a paint brush (not shown) or the like. The spacing of the nozzles  20  is preferably optimized for a typical sized paint brush in order to efficiently remove paint from the bristles of the paint brush. Advantageously, the device  10  may be utilized to clean objects other than paint brushes, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.  
         [0026]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an alternative embodiment of a paint brush cleaning device in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally at  40 . The device  40  includes a hollow housing or manifold  42  that defines an interior cavity  44  between a first end  46  and a second end  48  thereof. A plurality of elongated nozzles  50  extend from the first end  46  of the manifold  42  and are in fluid communication with the cavity  44 . The nozzles  50  are preferably equally spaced along the first end  46  of the manifold  42 . A valve assembly  52  is adapted to be attached to the second end  48  of the manifold  42 . The valve assembly  52  has a valve seat  54  that is adapted to be disposed between a first body half  56  and a second body half  58 . A handwheel  60  is connected to the valve seat  54 . Preferably, the body halves  56  and  58  are ultrasonically welded together or are attached by a similar robust attachment method, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The first body half  56  is in fluid communication with the interior cavity  44  and includes a flange  62  extending outwardly therefrom that is sized to cooperate with the second end  48  of the manifold  42 . The flange  62  is adapted to be attached to the second end  48  by a plurality of fasteners  64 , such as screws or the like. A gasket  66  is provided to assist in create a seal between the flange  62  and the second end  48 . The second body half  58  is adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized water, such as the hose  26  shown in  FIG. 1 , a hose bib (not shown), a sink faucet, (not shown) or the like. The connections between the device  40  and the water source are preferably threaded type connections or similar releasable connections while remaining within the scope of the present invention, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.  
         [0027]     In operation, the flange  62  of the first body half  56  of the valve assembly  52  is connected to the end  44  of the manifold  12  with the gasket  66  placed therebetween and the second body half  58  of the valve assembly  52  is connected to the pressurized water source. When the user of the device  40  turns the handwheel  60 , high pressure water flows from the water source and travels through the valve assembly  52 , into the manifold  42  and into the cavity  44 . The high pressure water then is forced into the nozzles  50 , whereby the velocity of the water increases and it exits the open ends of the respective nozzles  50 . A user of the device  40  then preferably directs the high velocity water exiting from the nozzles  50  at the object to be cleaned, such as a paint brush (not shown) or the like. The spacing of the nozzles  50  is preferably optimized for a typical sized paint brush in order to efficiently remove paint from the bristles of the paint brush. Advantageously, the device  40  may be utilized to clean objects other than paint brushes, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.  
         [0028]     When utilized to clean a paint brush, the device  10  or  40  in accordance with the present invention often allows a user to clean a paint brush in a minute or less. This advantageously increases the life, usefulness, and utility of a single brush, as the device  10  or  40  may be utilized to clean a brush of a previously used color paint, which will allow the brush to be used again for a different color, increasing the efficiency of the painting process.  
         [0029]     The paint brush cleaning device  10  or  40  in accordance with the present invention may be advantageously used inside or outside, provides thoroughly cleaned brushes in as little as one minute, permits one paint brush to be used for different colors with no residual bleeding and eliminates the damaging effects caused by soaking paint brushes.  
         [0030]     In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.