Patent Publication Number: US-2004050732-A1

Title: Paint brush protective cover and method therefor

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] This invention relates to paint brushes and, more specifically, to a highly durable paint brush protective cover that protects the bristles of paint brushes from being damaged during storage or nonuse thereby extending the life of the paint brush.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0004] In the professional industry of painting, painters rely on expensive paint brushes as an industry of the trade. Professional painters desire excellent coverage from their paint brush, durability from their paint brush, greater efficiency in production, precise lines, proven results for smooth finishes and a lack of bristles or filaments left behind from the paint brush. When a paint brush no longer fulfills the above expectations of the painter, the paint brush will be discarded and a new paint brush is purchased to replace the old paint brush.  
       [0005] After a paint brush is used, the painter must clean the brush in an appropriate solution to remove all of the remaining paint that is still on the paint brush. After the paint brush has been cleaned, sometimes the bristles tend to separate and fray off in nonuniform directions. This becomes a problem when the painter needs to use the paint brush again since the edges of the brush are not uniformly aligned. If the bristles are aligned properly, the painter has control over the paint when painting around tight corners and can obtain an even distribution of paint onto a surface. However, when the bristles are not aligned properly, when the painter tries to paint on tight corners or tries to get an even distribution of paint onto a surface, the out of aligned bristles tend to scatter the paint and produce substandard results.  
       [0006] Generally, after painters clean their paint brushes with a cleaning solution, painters will store their paint brushes in the covers that the brushes were sold in or with no cover at all. Generally, the covers that the paint brushes are sold in are rather flimsy and easily tear. Thus, these types of covers do not last very long. If no protective cover is used, dust and other particles generally stick and become imbedded inside the bristles. Thus, when the brush is used to paint again, these particles will collect on the paint producing a nonuniform streaks of paint during use.  
       [0007] One prior art solution to covering paint brushes is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,453 (hereinafter &#39;453 patent). The &#39;453 patent discloses a paint brush protective cover. The paint brush protective cover comprising a flexible cover and a hard cover. The flexible cover further comprising a plurality of flaps that are wrapped around the bristles of the paint brush and secured together. The flexible cover further comprising a plurality of vent openings and a handle opening to allow a paint brush handle to be inserted therein. After the flexible cover is installed over the bristles of the paint brush, a hard cover is slipped over the flexible cover and locked in place by a top lid to complete the task.  
       [0008] The problem with the prior art paint brush cover is that it is too complex and expensive to use. First, the &#39;453 patent requires a flexible cover to be wrapped around the paint brush. The flexible cover requires that the bristles be wrapped up similar to wrapping a present up. The flexible cover does not have any type of locking means to secure the flexible cover. Thus, the flexible cover can not be used alone to securely hold the bristles in proper alignment. Second, the &#39;453 patent requires the use a second hard cover. The paint brush must first be wrapped in the flexible cover, then the brush and the flexible cover are inserted into the hard cover. The use of two covers is too complex and expensive to use. Furthermore, the use of two covers requires too much time. Professional painter prefer a simpler and easier to use protective cover than the one disclosed in the &#39;453 patent.  
       [0009] Therefore, a need existed to provide an improved paint brush protective cover. The improved paint brush cover must be simple to use. The improved brush cover must allow one to easily close and secure a paint brush within the paint brush cover. The improved paint brush cover must further be durable. The improved paint brush cover must also be inexpensive for the end user.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved paint brush protective cover.  
       [0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved paint brush cover that is simple to use.  
       [0012] It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved brush cover that allows one to easily close and secure a paint brush within the paint brush cover.  
       [0013] It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved paint brush cover that is durable.  
       [0014] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved paint brush cover that is inexpensive for the end user.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention a paint brush cover for protecting a plurality of bristles of a paint brush is disclosed. The paint brush cover has a body member having a hollow interior section. The body member has a first section and a second section wherein a first side of the first section is permanently coupled to a first side of the second section and a second side of the first section being removably coupled to a second side of the second section. A plurality of openings are located on the body member for allowing air to circulate within the cover. A central opening is formed on a bottom surface of the body member for allowing a handle of the paint brush to protrude out of the cover.  
       [0016] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a paint brush cover for protecting a plurality of bristles of a paint brush is disclosed. The paint brush cover has a body member having a hollow interior section. The body member has a first section and a second section wherein a first side of the first section is permanently coupled to a first side of the second section and a second side of the first section being removably coupled to a second side of the second section. A plurality of openings are located on the body member for allowing air to circulate within the cover. A central opening is formed on a bottom surface of the body member for allowing a handle of the paint brush to protrude out of the cover. A locking mechanism is coupled to the first section and the second section for securing the first section to the second section. The locking mechanism has a first tab member coupled to the body member and having a plurality of small notches formed thereon. A second tab member is coupled to the body member and has a plurality of small ridge members. The small ridge members will slide into the small notches of the first tab member securing the first side of the body member to the second side of the body member.  
       [0017] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0018] The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, as well as a preferred mode of use, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrated embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
     [0019]FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view of the paint brush cover of the present invention in a closed position covering the bristles of a paint brush.  
     [0020]FIG. 2 is an elevated perspective view of the paint brush cover of the present invention in an open position.  
     [0021]FIG. 3 is a side view of the paint brush cover of the present invention, the opposite side being a mirror image thereof.  
     [0022]FIG. 4 is a top view of the paint brush cover of the present invention.  
     [0023]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the locking mechanism used in the paint brush cover of the present invention taken along lines  5 - 5  in FIG. 3.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0024] Referring to the FIGS.  1 - 5 , a paint brush cover  10  (hereinafter cover  10 ) is shown. The paint brush cover  10  is comprised of a single body member  12 . The body member  12  is made from a semi-rigid material such as a semi-hard plastic. The semi-rigid material will allow the cover  10  to be more durable. Thus, the cover  10  will last longer than prior art paint brush covers.  
     [0025] The body section  12  is rectangular in shape. The body member  12  may be slightly tapered such that the bottom section of the body member  12  is slightly wider than the top section. The slight taper is due to the fact that the lower end of the paint brush  11  is slightly wider than the section of the paint brush  11  near the top end of the bristles. The slight taper of the body member  12  will further allow the cover  10  to more securely hold and align the bristles of the paint brush  11 .  
     [0026] One may open the body member  12  to expose a hollow interior section  14 . The interior section  14  is where the bristles of the paint brush will be stored. A first side  16  of the body member  12  is permanent coupled together. A second side  18  of the body member  12  is removably coupled together. Thus, by opening the second side  18 , one will expose the hollow interior section  14 . By opening the body section  12 , one can easily position the bristles of the paint brush  11  within the cover  10 .  
     [0027] The front and rear surfaces of the body section  12  will have a plurality of small openings  20 . The openings  20  will allow air to circulate within the cover  10 . The air will allow the bristles of the paint brush  11  to dry more quickly after being cleaned. The air circulation will further prevent mold and mildew from forming inside the cover  12  since the air circulation will allow the bristles to completely dry after being cleaned.  
     [0028] A plurality of small openings  22  are formed on the top and side sections of the body member  12 . The openings  22  are also used to allow the bristles of the paint brush to dry more quickly after being cleaned. The openings  22  are formed in the following manner. Each half of the body member  12  (i.e., first side  16  and second side  18 ) will have a plurality of semi-circular cut-outs located along the top section and the side sections. Thus, when the first side  16  and the second side  18  are coupled together, the semi-circular cut outs on each half of the body section  12  will align with each other to form the openings  22 .  
     [0029] On the bottom section of the body member  12 , a larger opening  24  is formed. The opening  24  is formed in a similar manner as the openings  22 . Each half of the body member  12  (i.e., first side  16  and second side  18 ) will have a semi-circular cut-out located along the a central area of the bottom section of the body member  12 . Thus, when the first side  16  and the second side  18  are coupled together, the semi-circular cut out on each half of the bottom section of the body member  12  will align with each other to form the opening  24 . The opening  24  is used to allow the handle  11 A of the paint brush  11  to protrude out of the cover  10 .  
     [0030] The cover  10  has a locking mechanism  26  located on the second side  18  of the cover  10 . The locking mechanism  26  will lock the body member  12  together in order to securely hold the paint brush  11  in the cover  10 . In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the locking member  12  is comprised of a first tab member  28  and a second tab member  30 . The first tab member  28  will have a plurality of small notches  32  formed therein. The second tab member  30  will have a plurality of small ridge members  34 . The small ridge members  34  will slide into the notches  32  securing the first side  16  to the second side  18 .  
     [0031] While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.