Patent CA-2677618-A1 (CA)
Title: Notched paint brush and notched clip for paint brush
Inventor: MCCAUL GLENN
IPC: A46B17/00
Filed: 2009-09-04
Abstract: FIELD OF THE INVENTION     This invention relates to paint brushes and more particularly to a paint brush having a notch formed in its ferrule for hanging the paint brush to the rim of a conventional paint can. The invention also particularly relates to a clip which removably attaches to a paint brush and which has a notch for hanging the paint brush to the rim of a paint can.     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION     In the interval of time between the period that a painter is not using a paint brush, it is customary for him to place the brush on the can which contains the paint. The painter does so because the paint can is a handy place to place the brush at such times and because it is not harmed by paint which might dribble onto it. The problem with using a paint can for this purpose however is that paint can run from the can onto a surface on which it rests.  Furthermore, a brush can be too easily knocked off a paint can by a painter's carelessness.   It is known to provide paint brushes with hangers or other means to facilitate the attach-ment of the brush to a paint can. Examples of such attachment means are described in U.S.  patents no. 2,309,990 to Savi, no. 3,231,919 to MacDonald, no. 4,887,327 to Meimeteas and no.  6,244,559 B1 to Stanton. The attachment means described in these patents are suitable for attaching a paint brush to a paint can so that the brush does not easily fall off of the can but they do have a number of shortcomings, one of which is that they project outwardly from the paint brushes and can be a nuisance to a painter when he is painting in confined spaces. As well the projecting attachment means are easily damaged and, once damaged, are not reliable for attaching a paint brush to a can. A still further shortcoming of some of the above mentioned attachment means is that the paint brush is suspended outside the paint can where paint on the brush can fall onto surfaces beneath the paint can.   I have invented a paint brush and a clip for a paint brush that have none of the short-comings mentioned above. Specifically, the means by which the brush is attached to a paint can does not project outwardly from the brush when the brush is in use and, as a result, the attachment means does not interfere with the painter's use of the brush.  Furthermore the attachment means is not as susceptible to breakage as projecting attachment means such as those mentioned above. In addition, my attachment means suspends a paint brush over the mouth of a can of paint so that any paint that falls from the brush falls into the can and not outside it.     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION     Briefly, the paint brush of my invention is used use in conjunction with a paint can having an upwardly circular opening mouth defined by a continuous upwardly extending rim having upper and lower edges and, adjacent thereto and radially outwardly of the mouth, a continuous upwardly opening groove. The paint brush has a ferrule connecting a handle and bristles. The the ferrule has front and back walls and a pair of side walls which interconnect the front and back walls,. The side walls have a width which is short relative to that of the front and back walls.     The ferrule has a notch which extends inward from one of the side walls and which is defined by upper and lower edges. The upper edge has a generally horizontal upper central portion which is formed in one side wall and a pair of upper lateral portions on opposite sides of the upper central portion. Each upper lateral portion is formed in a separate front and back wall and extends upward and away from the central portion. The lower edge has a generally horizontal lower central portion which is formed in one side wall and is spaced apart from the upper central portion. The lower edge further has a pair of lower lateral portions formed in a separate front and back wall and is on opposite sides of the lower central portion.   Alternatively a notch of the same shape can be formed in a clip which removably attaches to a paint brush. The clip can be removed from the paint brush when the brush is in use and attached when the brush is not in use.   The paint brush is adapted to hang from the rim of a paint can such that the upper lateral portions of the notch rest upon the upper edge of the rim while the lower edge of the notch contacts the lower edge of the rim. When the paint brush is hanging in this way, its bristles are vertically above the mouth of the paint can.     Figure 2 is a perspective view of the paint brush;   Figure 3 is a section, in enlarged scale, of the notch formed in the ferrule of the paint brush in conjunction with a portion of the rim of the paint can; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the paint brush and a clip of the invention.   Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the description of the drawings.      DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT     With reference to Figures 1 and 3, the subject paint brush, generally 10, is shown in conjunction with a conventional paint can, generally 12. The paint can has an upwardly opening mouth 14 defined by a continuous upwardly extending rim 16. The rim has upper and lower edges 16a, 16b, respectively. Radially outwardly of the mouth is a continuous upwardly opening groove 18. The outer wall of the groove is defined by the outer wall 12a of the paint can.   With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the paint brush has a ferrule 20 connecting a handle 22 and bristles 24. The ferrule has front and back walls 26, 28 and a pair of side walls 30, 32 which interconnect the front and back walls. The side walls have a width which is short relative to that of the front and back walls. In the foregoing respects, the paint brush is conventional. However the paint brush differs from conventional brushes in the provision of a notch 36 which extends inward from side wall 30.   With reference to Figures 2 and 3, notch 36 is defined by upper and lower edges. The upper edge has a generally horizontal upper central portion 40a which is formed in the side wall