Abstract:
A paintbrush holder for a paint can which includes a base that is removably securable to the rim of a paint can. Extending upwardly at an acute angle away from the base is a cradle. A paintbrush is to be mounted and held in position within the cradle with the bristles of the paintbrush being locatingly supported over the open mouth of the paint can.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The field of this invention relates to holders and more particularly to a holder for a paintbrush that supports the paintbrush in a position spaced from the surface of the paint and over the mouth of a paint can so that any paint that is contained within the bristles of the paintbrush is free to drip back into the internal chamber of the paint can. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Painting requires the use of a paintbrush. A typical paintbrush has a handle which is connected to bristles by a ferrule. The typical painting procedure when applying of paint to a building structure, such as an apartment, house, office garage or any other type of building structure, is to purchase the paint in gallon size paint cans. Most paint is sold in gallon size paint cans. Some paint is sold in five gallon type paint cans and in one quart size paint cans. However, most painting that is done by the general population uses gallon size paint cans. 
     A typical gallon size paint can has a pry off lid that provides access by a mouth into the internal chamber of the paint can which contains the paint. Surrounding the mouth is a rim. This rim is used to engage with the lid. The typical procedure is for one doing the painting to dip the bristles of a paintbrush through the mouth of the paint can and submerge the bristles within the paint. The paintbrush is then removed from the paint and excess paint is wiped off be using the rim and then the paintbrush is then applied using back-and-forth strokes to apply the paint to the surface to which it is to be applied. 
     When painting, there is always times when one is not using the paintbrush. There may be required to do some spackling of some area, or some sanding to an area. Also, there may be times that it is necessary to clean up spilled paint or the painter may need to take a personal break. Typically, the painter will rest the paintbrush across the rim of the paint can. The painter will then proceed to do the desired non-painting task. It is common for paint that is contained within the bristles of the paintbrush to drip, and with the paintbrush supported across the rim of the paint can, the bristles will automatically extend exteriorly of the paint can. This means that the paint will then drip onto the floor or table on which the paint can is located which therefore requires clean up. Additionally, it is common for the paintbrush to fall into the paint can with the result that most of the paintbrush ends up becoming submerged within the paint which requires that the paintbrush needs to be removed and cleaned prior to further usage. 
     It would be desirable to construct some type of a holder or attachment that could be mounted in conjunction with a paint can that would permit ease of positioning a paintbrush over the mouth of the paint can spaced from the paint contained in the can during the times that a paintbrush is not being used. This would eliminate the possibility of the paintbrush falling within the paint can and also upon the paintbrush drips paint, such would drip back into the paint can. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The first basic embodiment of the present invention is defined as a paintbrush holder for a paint can having a support member which has a first longitudinal axis. The support member has engagement means located at opposite ends of the support member and in alignment with the first longitudinal axis. The engagement means is to connect with the rim of a paint can. A latching member has a second longitudinal axis. This latching member is connected to the support member. The second longitudinal axis is located transverse to the first longitudinal axis. The latching member includes a latch with the latch to be latchingly securable with the rim of a paint can to fix into position the support member and the latching member on the paint can when the latch is in an engaged position. The latch is to be manually movable to a disengaged position to permit removal of the holder from the paint can. A cradle is mounted on the support member and extends therefrom. The cradle has a lateral restraint means for laterally restraining a paintbrush that is placed within the cradle. There is position fixing means mounted on the holder with the position fixing means to connect with the paintbrush to fix in position the paintbrush on the cradle. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the engagement means, that is located at opposite ends of the support member, being identical. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the latching member being connected to the support member at the approximate mid-point of the length of the support member. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the engagement means being defined as a pair of notches. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the latch being defined as a spring biased hook. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the cradle being mounted at an approximate thirty degree angle relative to the support member. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the cradle being defined as having a concavity with side edges with these side edges comprising the lateral restraint means. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by defining the position fixing means as being mounted on the support member. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the position fixing means being defined as comprising at least one prong. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the prong is defined as engaging with the bristles of a paintbrush. 
     A second basic embodiment of the present invention is defined as comprising a holder for a paintbrush to be attached to a paint can which comprises a base removably mountable in conjunction with a paint can rim. A cradle is attached to the base and extends therefrom at an acute angle relative to the plane of the paint can rim. The cradle is adapted to support a paintbrush. There is a means for holding the paintbrush in a set position on the cradle. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the means being defined as being mounted on the base. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the means that is mounted on the base is defined as comprising at least one prong. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the cradle being mounted at approximately a thirty degree angle relative to the plane of the paint can rim. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the cradle as being defined to include a lateral restraint for the paintbrush. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the base being defined as including a plurality of notches and a latch for engagement with the paint can rim thereby mounting the holder relative to the paint can in a fixed position relative to the paint can. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is to be made to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in the drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the paintbrush holder of the present invention showing the holder being mounted in conjunction with a paint can and a conventional paintbrush mounted in conjunction with the holder; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the paintbrush holder of the present invention showing the holder mounted in conjunction with the paint can and showing the paintbrush in phantom lines; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the paintbrush holder of the present invention showing the paintbrush holder mounted in conjunction with the paint can; and 
     FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the paintbrush holder of the present invention taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring particularly to the drawings, there is shown the paintbrush holder  10  of this invention which is shown mounted in conjunction with an annular rim  12  of a paint can  14 . The paint can  14  has an internal chamber  15  which is to contain paint, which is not shown. The rim  12  is located at the mouth  16  of the paint can  14 . The rim  12  includes an annular groove  18  which is to be used to facilitate connection to a paint can lid, which is not shown. 
     The holder  10  includes a base which is formed of a support member  20  and a latching member  22 . The support member  20  is shown in the drawings to comprise an elongated hollow tube which includes notches  24  and  26  at opposite ends thereof. The notches  24  and  26  are designed to connect with the rim  12 . The latching member  22  is shown to be integrally attached to the support member  20  and extend transversely thereto. The support member  20  has a first longitudinal axis  28  and the latching member  22  has a second longitudinal axis  30 . The second longitudinal axis  30  is located transverse to the first longitudinal axis  28  and in most instances will actually be perpendicular to the second longitudinal axis  30 . The outer end of the latching member  22  includes a cutout  32 . The rim  12  is to be located in conjunction with the cutout  32 . The outer end of the latching member  22  is actually bifurcated and the cutout  32  is formed within the legs  34  and  36  of the bifurcated end of the latching member  22 . 
     In the gap  38  formed between the legs  34  and  36 , there is located a latch  40 . Latch  40  is fixedly secured to the latching member  22 . The latch  40  terminates in a hook end  42 . The hook end  42  of the latch  40  extends some distance past the outer end of the legs  34  and  36 . Normally, the latch  40  will be constructed of a plastic material. The latch  40  has an inherent spring bias. The latch  40  can be manually grasped and manually deflected to the dotted line position  44 , shown in FIG.  4 . This is the position of the latch  40  during the time that the support member  20  is being engaged with the rim  12  which locate the hook end  42  just exteriorly of the rim bead  46  of the rim  12 , and upon release of the latch  40 , the hook end  42  will abut against the exterior surface of the rim bead  46 . The result will be the base which comprises the support member  20  and the latching member  22  will be fixedly held in position on the paint can  14  with this position clearly being shown in the drawings. 
     It is to be understood that when it is desired to remove the holder or attachment  10 , the user only needs to manually deflect the latch  40  to the dotted line position  44  at which time removal of the holder  10  will be permitted. 
     Fixedly mounted on the support member  20  is a pair of rods  48  and  50 . Instead of rods  48  and  50 , there actually could be used a solid member such as a curved plate. The rods  48  and  50  are shown parallel to each other and are located within a plane that is mounted at an acute angle A relative to the plane  52  of the rim  12 . Typically, angle A will comprise about thirty degrees. However, it is considered to be within the scope of this invention that this angle could be readily decreased somewhat and also readily increased somewhat. A thirty degree angle seems to provide the most desirable angular relationship. The outer end of the rods  48  and  50  are attached to a cradle bar  54 . Cradle bar  54  has a cradle recess or concavity  56 . The cradle bar  54  has side edge members  58  and  60 . A paintbrush  62 , which has a handle  64  which is connected by ferrule  66  to bristles  68 , is to be placed within the cradle recess or concavity  56 . The side edge members  58  and  60  will function to laterally restrain the paintbrush  62 , keep such confined in conjunction with the cradle bar  54  and located within the cradle recess or concavity  56 . 
     Some means has to be provided to prevent the paintbrush  62  from merely sliding down the rods  48  and  50  into internal chamber  15  of the paint can  14 . To this end, there is mounted on the support member  20  a pair of prongs  70  and  72 . It is the function of the prongs  70  and  72  to fix the position of the paintbrush  62 . The prongs  70  and  72  extend vertically upward at approximately a perpendicular angle relative to the plane  52 . The length of the prongs  70  and  72  is preselected so to be long enough to penetrate some distance into the bristles  68  of the paintbrush  62  but not extend exteriorly of the bristles  68 . This is desirable so that the prongs  70  and  72  will not be able to be contacted by the painter and cause injury to the painter. Also, the prongs  70  and  72  must be sufficiently long enough to extend some distance into the bristles  68  or they would not be capable of longitudinally restraining the paintbrush  62 . Typically, the length of the prongs  70  and  72  will be about one-half an inch. 
     It is thus apparent that when the bristles  68  connect with the prongs  70  and  72  that the paintbrush  62  will be supported just over the mouth  16  of the paint can  14 . Any paint that is contained on the bristles  68  will then automatically tend to drip back into the internal chamber  15  of the paint can  14 . The paintbrush  62  is positioned at a location to be readily grasped by the painter and then used.