Patent Publication Number: US-7716775-B2

Title: Brush

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   This application relates to utility brushes, such as household brushes, and it has particular application to kitchen brushes, such as pastry brushes, basting brushes and the like. 
   Many previous brushes have had a uniform bristle construction which, while working well in certain applications, may have been either too stiff or too soft for other applications, thereby limiting the overall utility of the brush. 
   Also, prior brushes typically have fibrous bristles, which tend to come loose and may easily become bent or creased. 
   Further, prior brushes which have been designed for use in basting or other operations for applying liquid to a surface have been limited in their capacity for holding liquid in a relatively dripless manner. 
   While many such brushes have heretofore been provided, any such brushes have either lacked a good ergonomic design or have been characterized by relatively complicated and/or expensive construction. 
   SUMMARY 
   There is disclosed in this application an improved brush construction which has good ergonomic design so as to be relatively easy to grip and to manipulate, particularly for persons with impaired gripping ability, such as those suffering from arthritis or the like. Also, the disclosed brush has a unique molded plastic construction which is relatively economical. 
   There is also disclosed a brush construction which includes a compound bristle arrangement for improved functioning in liquid-applying applications, such as basting. In particular, there is provided a brush construction which includes a relatively hard paddle portion and a relatively soft bristle portion. 
   There is also disclosed a brush with non-fibrous bristles. 
   In an embodiment, a brush comprises a handle portion and a head portion connected to the handle portion, the head portion including an array of bristles and a paddle having a plurality of apertures formed therein. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of an embodiment of a brush; 
       FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view of the brush of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken generally along the line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged, fragmentary, front perspective view of the brush of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged, sectional view of the body of the brush of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged, perspective view of the paddle core of the brush of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the core of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged, top plan view of the paddle assembly of the brush of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  of the brush body and paddle assembly; and 
       FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 9  of the brush body and head assembly of the brush of  FIG. 3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , there is illustrated a brush, generally designated by the numeral  10  having a handle portion  11  at one end and a head portion  13  at an opposite end of a central body  15 . Referring also to  FIG. 5 , the body  15  has a relatively narrow central neck  20 , which flares outwardly toward the rear, terminating a rear end face  21 . Projecting rearwardly from the end face  21  is an elongated, hollow, tubular extension  22 , which may be oval or rectangular in transverse cross section. The body  15  flares outwardly toward its front end to a widened head end  23 , which may be oval in transverse cross section. Projecting forwardly from the head end  23 , centrally thereof, is a reduced portion  24 , which may also be generally oval in transverse cross section and cooperates with the head end  23  to define therebetween a peripheral shoulder  25 . The reduced portion  24  terminates at an end face  26 , which has projecting forwardly therefrom, centrally thereof, a short rectangular projection  27 . Formed in the projection  27  and extending into and through the reduced portion  24 , substantially centrally thereof, is a rectangular slot  28 . Extending transversely through the reduced portion  24  and intersecting the slot  28  is a circular hole  29 . 
   Referring also to FIGS.  4  and  6 - 8 , a head assembly  30  is disposed at the head end  23  of the body  15  and cooperates therewith to define the head portion  13 . The head assembly  30  includes a paddle assembly  31  (see  FIG. 8 ), which includes a relatively rigid central core  32 , which may be formed of a suitable plastic material, such as nylon, and includes a relatively short rectangular portion  33  having a circular hole  34  formed therethrough and integral along one side with a relatively long, narrow rectangular portion  35  which may be of reduced thickness. The core  32  may be molded as a one-piece construction. Compression molded over the long rectangular portion  35  is an outer body  36 , which may be relatively flexible as compared to the core  32 , and may be formed of a suitable plastic material, such as silicone. The outer body  36  extends well beyond the long rectangular portion  35  of the core  32  in a direction opposite the short rectangular portion  33  and is generally rectangular in shape. A plurality of slots  37  extend longitudinally into the outer body  36  from the distal end thereof, dividing the outer body  36  into two end groups of relatively narrow fingers  38  and a central group of relatively wide fingers  39 . In the illustrated embodiment, there are three wide fingers and two groups of five end fingers, with each wide finger having four holes  39 a therethrough, but it will be appreciated that the number of fingers and/or holes may vary. 
   In assembly, referring to  FIG. 9 , the short rectangular portion  33  of the core  32  is inserted in the slot  28  in the body  15  until the long rectangular portion  35  and outer body  36  abut the projection  27 . When thus inserted, the hole  34  in the core  32  will align with the hole  29  in the body reduced portion  24 . A pin  40 , which may be formed of a suitable plastic material, such as nylon, is inserted through these aligned holes to retain the paddle assembly  31  in place on the body  15 . 
   The head assembly  30  also includes a bristle assembly  45 , which includes a generally cup-shaped peripheral collar  46  which surrounds the reduced portion  24  of the body  15  and abuts the shoulder  25 . Projecting forwardly from the collar  46  is an array of non-fibrous bristles which includes a plurality of relatively long inner bristles  48  arranged on opposite sides of the paddle assembly  31 , and a plurality of shorter outer bristles  49  arranged just outside the inner bristles  48 , as can best be seen in  FIGS. 1-4  and  10 . 
   The bristle assembly  45  may be formed by injection molding onto the head end  23  of the body  15  and may be formed of a suitable, relatively soft plastic material, such as silicone. More specifically, the bristle assembly  45  may be molded as a one-piece unit. While both the outer body  36  of the paddle assembly  31  and the bristle assembly  45  may be formed of silicone, the former is preferably a relatively high durometer material, while the latter is preferably a relatively low durometer material. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the handle portion  11  includes a handle grip  50 , which may be mounted on the tubular extension  22  of the body  15 . In the illustrated embodiment, the grip  50  has a relatively rigid inner core  51  which may be formed of a suitable plastic, such as polypropylene, and is overmolded with an outer body  52  of flexible and resilient material which affords improved frictional gripping, such as a material of the type sold under the trademark SANTOPRENE. In assembly, the grip  50  may be press-fitted or snap-fitted onto the tubular extension  22  of the body  15 , or may be secured in place, as by suitable adhesives. Alternatively, if desired, the grip  50  may be molded onto the tubular extension  22 . Preferably, the grip  50  has a hole  55  formed therethrough adjacent to the distal end thereof to facilitate hanging of the brush  10 . The grip  50  has a relatively enlarged configuration, which may be substantially oval in transverse cross section and is designed to facilitate comfortable gripping by a user&#39;s hand. 
   The head end  23  of the body  15  may be inclined with respect to the remainder of the body  15  and the handle portion  11 , as can best be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , to facilitate access to surfaces to which the brush is to be applied. 
   In use, the holes  39 a in the paddle assembly  31  increase surface area to facilitate retention of liquid materials to be applied by the brush  10  to associated surfaces. This feature may, for example, have particular application in basting operations or the like. The fingered construction of the paddle assembly  31  facilitates flexing thereof to assist in allowing the paddle assembly to follow the contours of the surface to which the brush is being applied. If desired, the bristle assembly  45  may be slightly more flexible than the paddle assembly  31  and, if desired, the inner bristles  48  and the outer bristles  49  may have different degrees of flexibility or stiffness. 
   From the foregoing, it can be seen that there is provided an improved brush which is of simple and economical construction, which is ergonomically designed, which facilitates the retention of liquids and facilitates access to surfaces upon which the brush is to be used. 
   The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of applicants&#39; contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.