Abstract:
A storage and carrying system in which paint brushes that are wet from recent cleaning are held in such a manner as to facilitate drying, and can be stored and moved from place to place while so disposed. The brushes are placed in holsters which are inserted into openings in the top panel of a case. The holsters have drain holes which allow liquid held in the bristle portions of the brushes to drip into the interior of the case. A drawer having a reservoir is positioned in the interior of the case beneath the holsters to collect the liquid dripping from the holsters.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 USC 119(e) of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/979,219, filed Oct. 11, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This application relates a storage and carrying system in which paint brushes that are wet from recent cleaning are held in such a manner as to facilitate drying, and can be stored and moved from place to place while so disposed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    It is well known that paint brushes must be cleaned after every use in order to maintain them in a serviceable condition. To effectively clean brushes with paint in their bristles, they must be treated with an appropriate cleaning fluid that acts as a paint solvent. In the invention disclosed herein, each freshly cleaned brush is placed in a shaped holster which is supported in a storage and carrying case in such a manner as to allow the brushes to drip dry while maintaining the desired shape of the bristles. The brushes can be stored in the case in serviceable condition ready for immediate re-use. Moreover, the brushes can be moved to another location in the same case in which they are being allowed to dry. 
         [0004]    In particular, this application discloses a storage and carrying system for a paint brush having a handle portion and a bristle portion. The system comprises a case having a top panel, a bottom panel, first and second side panels, a back panel, and a front panel, which together define a case interior. A holster receiving opening is located in the top panel in communication with the case interior. A paint brush holster insertable in the holster receiving opening has a chamber for holding the bristle portion of a paint brush and an open top for receiving the bristle portion. The holster also has outwardly extending flange means along the periphery of the open top. The flange means is engageable with the top panel for supporting the holster on the top panel when the holster is inserted into the holster receiving opening. The holster further has a drain opening for allowing liquid to drain from the holster into the case interior. A liquid outlet is provided in the case for allowing liquid in the case interior to be removed therefrom. A carrying handle is attached to the case. Liquid can drain from the bristle portion of the paint brush downwardly through the drain opening of the holster into the case interior, and the case, the holsters and the paint brushes can be carried from place to place by means of the handle. 
         [0005]    This application also discloses a storage and carrying system for a plurality of paint brushes, each having a handle and a bristle portion. The system comprises a case having a top panel, a bottom panel, first and second side panels, a back panel, and a front panel, which together define a substantially rectangular case interior. A plurality of paint brush holster receiving openings are located in the top panel in communication with the case interior. The system further comprises a plurality of holsters for holding a plurality of paint brushes, each holster being insertable in a paint brush holster receiving opening and having a holster chamber with an open top for receiving the bristle portion of a paint brush. Each holster further comprises an outwardly extending flange surrounding the open top and engageable with the top panel for supporting the holster on the top panel when the holster is inserted into a holster receiving opening. A plurality of drain openings are provided in the holster for allowing liquid to drain from the holster into the case interior. An elongated slot is located in the front panel of the case. Slideably mounted in the slot is a liquid collection tray having upstanding walls defining a reservoir. The liquid collection tray is movable from a first position within the case interior beneath the paint brush holster receiving openings and a second position substantially outside the case wherein liquid collected therein can be removed from the case interior. A handle is attached to the end panels of the case for carrying the case. Thus, liquid can drain from the bristle portions of the paint brushes downwardly through the drain openings in the holsters and into said interior of the case, and the case, the holsters and the paint brushes can be carried from place to place by means of the handle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The drawings, when considered in conjunction with the following description, are presented for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention sought to be protected. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the storage and carrying case of the invention with a corner broken away. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the paint brush holster used in this invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the holster of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a front view, partially in section along line  5 - 5 , of the holster of  FIG. 3  with a paint brush positioned therein. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a front view, partially in section, of a variation of the holster of  FIG. 3 , in which the bottom surface is angled, with a paint brush positioned therein. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the paint brush holster in which the side panels define a V-shaped holster compartment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is an end view, partially in section along line  8 - 8 , of the holster of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a front view of a variation of the holster of  FIG. 7  in which the bottom edge is angled. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a side view, partially in section, of another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is an end view of the embodiment of  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
       [0018]    While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements. 
       DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    The paint brush storage and carrying system disclosed herein comprises a storage and carrying case, paint brush holsters for supporting the paint brushes in the case, and a liquid collection tray mounted inside the case beneath the holsters to collect liquid dripping from the paint brushes in the holsters. Paint brushes are available with bristles arrayed in a multitude of cross-sections, shapes and sizes, including rectangular and circular. Sizes typically range from ¼ to 1 inch in width and 1 to 4 inches in length for rectangular arrays, and ½ to 1 inch in diameter for circular arrays. Bristle lengths can be in the range of 1 to 4 inches, and the array can be straight or tapered at its end. It is within the scope of the inventive system disclosed herein to accommodate such variables, and the embodiments described below are not to be considered as limiting. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the paint brush storage and carrying case  1  of this system comprises a top panel  2 , a bottom panel  3 , a front panel  4 , first and second side panels  5  and  6 , and a back panel  7 . Case  1  can be made of any suitable material, such as wood, metal or plastic. Case  1  is shown and described here as being of rectangular shape, however, the invention is not limited to such a configuration. Top panel  2  is provided with a plurality of spaced holster receiving openings  8 , which are shown as being rectangular, but do not need to be so limited. A pivotable carrying handle  10  is installed on side panels  4  and  5  by means of screws  11 . An elongated slot  13  is present in front panel  4 , and a fluid collection tray  14  with a handle  15  is slidably mounted therein. Tray  14  can rest on the inside of bottom  3 , or it can be mounted on brackets attached to the inside of panels  4  and  5 . Tray  14  has upstanding sides  16  and is so sized as to lie beneath all of the openings  13 . The capacity of tray  14  is sufficient to contain liquid dripping from the holsters. 
         [0021]    Holster receiving openings  8  are so sized and shaped as to accommodate removable paint brush holsters  17 , in which the paint brushes are positioned. For example, rectangular as well as circular openings and holsters can be provided to accommodate brushes having various bristle arrays. 
         [0022]    A first embodiment of paint brush holster  17  is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5 . In this embodiment, holster  17  comprises side walls  18 ,  19 ,  20  and  21 , and a bottom wall  22 , which define a rectangular holster chamber. Encircling the upper edges of side walls  18 ,  19 ,  20  and  21  is an outwardly extending flange  23 , which seats on the upper surface of top panel  2  to suspend holster  17  in holster receiving openings  8 . As best shown in  FIG. 4 , bottom wall  22  is provided with a plurality of drain holes  24 . Holsters  17  can be made of any suitable material, such as metal or clear plastic. The overall configuration of holsters  17  is such as to receive and support a paint brush  26  with its handle  27  oriented upwardly and its bristle portion  28  inside the holster. Thus, with holster  17  installed in a holster receiving opening  8  in top panel  6 , gravity will cause any liquid present in bristle portion  28  to drain downwardly out of holster  17  through drain holes  24  and drip into fluid collection tray  14 . 
         [0023]    The brushes are supported in an upright position in holsters  17  by bristle portion  28 , which rests upon the bottom in each holster  17 . Advantageously, each holster  17  will be so specifically sized and shaped as to closely envelop the bristle portion  28  of a brush  26 . For example, it would be preferred to place a bristle portion that is  3  inches wide and terminates in an edge that is perpendicular to the direction of the bristles in a holster that is slightly wider than  3  inches and has a flat bottom wall. Likewise, a bristle portion that terminates in an inclined edge would best be placed in a holster having an inclined bottom wall. However, bristle portion  28  need not be an exact fit in a holster  17 , so long as the fit is such that the bristle portions do not become unduly deformed.  FIG. 6  shows a holster that will accommodate a bristle portion  28  having a tapered edge. 
         [0024]      FIG. 7  shows another embodiment of the holster having inclined side walls  30  and  31  attached to V-shaped end walls  32  and  33 , which creates a V-shaped holster chamber terminating in an edge  34  perpendicular to the direction of the bristles. There is no bottom wall in this holster, and drain holes  36  are located in the lowermost portions of one or both of converging side walls  30  and  31 . As was the case with the other illustrated embodiment of the holster, edge  32  also can be inclined, as in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0025]    In the holsters illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 9 , the walls are integrally attached to one another, such as by one piece molding, or by attaching separate components together by fusion or gluing. However, other methods of forming the holsters are within the scope of this invention. For example,  FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate an embodiment of the invention wherein holster  17  comprises a first holster portion  43  and a second holster portion  44 , which are attached together to form a completed holster chamber. Holster portions  43  and  44  each are provided with side flanges  45 , into which are formed the cooperating elements of a snap fastening system. As shown in  FIG. 10 , male fastener buttons  47  are located on portion  43  and interlocking female buttons  48  are located on portion  44 . Portions  43  and  44  can be snapped together prior to inserting a paint brush into the holster chamber thus created, or they can be snapped together around a paint brush. In the latter case, proper selection of the size and configuration of portions  43  and  44  can result in the creation of a holster chamber that tightly confines the bristle portion of the paint brush, thereby insuring that the bristle portion cannot be deformed. Holster portions  43  and  44  also can be joined at a fold line and then folded into position and attached together with the same snap fastener arrangement as was described with regard to  FIGS. 10 and 11 . Other types of fasteners and fastening systems also can be used. 
         [0026]    The partially cut away side view of the inventive device shown in  FIG. 2  illustrates the operation of the system. A paint brush  26  having handle  27  and bristle portion  28  is cleaned with liquid. It then is placed in a suitably sized and shaped holster  17 . At this point holster  17  may already be installed in a holster receiving opening  8  in top panel  6  or, alternatively, it can be so installed after paint brush  26  has been placed in a holster  17 . Once installed in case  1 , any liquid that remains captured in the bristle portion drains through holes  36  and then as droplets  40  fall into collection tray  14 . The paint brushes can be stored in case  1  until needed again, or can be carried to another site while situated in the case. At some point collection tray  14  can be removed from case  1  and the collected liquid discarded. Also, a holster  17  with paint brush  26  therein can be removed from case  1  and stored separately, with holster  17  protecting paint brush  26  from damage. 
         [0027]    While the present disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various modifications and arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.