Abstract:
A brush assembly having one or more handles, bristles, concave wedge slots, and insertion rods is provided. The brush assembly is more efficient, applies paint, coating materials or protective agents in a more uniform fashion, reduces the number of times the brush may need to be dipped into the paint, coating material or protective agent and accumulates an extra volume of paint, coating material or protective agent when the bristles are dipped into those materials.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit under 35 USC §119 of Chinese Patent Application having Serial No. 200510030680.2 filed on Oct. 20, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a type of brush assembly. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a brush assembly that can be used as a decorating tool to efficiently apply paint, coating materials and protective agents.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     A conventional brush assembly includes a brush handle, bristles, and a fixation part. The fixation part is used to connect the brush handle and bristles. This design has several disadvantages. One disadvantage is that the amount of paint carried on the bristles is small.  
         [0006]     There is a need, therefore, for a brush assembly that can be used as a decorating tool to efficiently apply paint, coating materials and protective agents. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  depicts a partial schematic of an illustrative brush assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments described.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  depicts a cross-sectional view of the insertion rod of the brush assembly along lines A-A of  FIG. 1  in accordance with one or more embodiments described.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]     A detailed description will now be provided. Each of the appended claims defines a separate invention, which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the “invention” may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases it will be recognized that references to the “invention” will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims. Each of the inventions will now be described in greater detail below, including specific embodiments, versions and examples, but the inventions are not limited to these embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the inventions, when the information in this patent is combined with available information and technology.  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  depicts a partial schematic of an illustrative brush assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments described. The brush assembly includes a brush handle  1 , insertion rod  4 , and bristles  3 . A slotted opening or an at least partially concave wedge slot  2  can be formed at a first end of the brush handle  1 . The insertion rod  4  can at least partially be disposed within the concave wedge slot  2 . Accordingly, the insertion rod  4  and brush handle  1  can overlap with each other and can preferably overlap over a distance smaller than about 20 mm.  
         [0012]     In one or more embodiments, the concave wedge slot  2  can be formed at the first end of the brush handle  1 , and the bristles  3  can be implanted around the insertion rod  4  inside of the concave wedge slot  2  at the first end of the brush handle  1 . The bristles  3  can be dipped in paint so that the brush assembly draws paint into the concave wedge slot  2  by taking advantage of capillary action so that there is sufficient paint in the brush assembly. In one or more embodiments, the brush assembly can accumulate one or more extra volumes of paint to advantageously allow for uniform paint distribution. In one or more embodiments, up to four sides of the insertion rod  4  in the concave wedge slot  2  can be formed as sawtooth-shaped edges  5  in order to hold and fix the bristles  3 . In one or more embodiments, the brush assembly can reduce the number of brush dips into paint and increase the working efficiency of the brush assembly.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts a cross-sectional view of the insertion rod of the brush assembly along lines A-A of  FIG. 1  in accordance with one or more embodiments described. In one or more embodiments, up to four sides of said insertion rod  4  can be formed as sawtooth-shaped edges  5 . In one or more embodiments, tooth tops  6  and tooth bottoms  7  of sawtooth-shaped edges  5  can be formed on two opposite sides of the insertion rod  4 . In one or more embodiments, bristles  3  can be planted around the insertion rod  4  in the concave wedge slot  2  at a first end of the brush handle  1 .  
         [0014]     In one or more embodiments, when the brush assembly is in operation, the end of the insertion rod  4  can not exceed the working end of the brush handle  1  by more than about 20 mm in order to keep sufficient paint volume in the brush assembly. When the end of the insertion rod  4  does not exceed the working end of the brush handle  1  by more than about 20 mm, the brush assembly can accumulate a large volume of paint, coating material or protective agent when the brush assembly is dipped into the paint, coating material or protective agent. The paint, coating material or protective agent can be applied in a uniform fashion. In one or more embodiments, spray-painted surfaces can reduce the number of times the brush can be dipped. In one or more embodiments, the brush assembly provides an improved utilization rate and working efficiency.  
         [0015]     In another embodiment, the present invention relates to:  
         [0000]     1. A brush assembly including a brush handle (I) and bristles ( 3 ), wherein the bristles ( 3 ) are implanted around an insertion rod ( 4 ) in a concave slot at one end of brush handle ( 1 ).  
         [0016]     2. The brush assembly of paragraph 1, wherein a concave wedge slot ( 2 ) is formed at one end of said brush handle ( 1 ), an insertion rod ( 4 ) is arranged in concave wedge slot ( 2 ), and the end of the insertion rod ( 4 ) and brush handle ( 1 ) are engaged with each other over a distance of 20 mm.  
         [0000]     3. The brush assembly of paragraphs 1 or 2, wherein the four sides of insertion rod ( 4 ) are formed as sawtooth-shaped edges ( 5 ).  
         [0017]     In yet another embodiment, the present invention generally relate to:  
         [0000]     1. A brush assembly comprising:  
         [0018]     a handle;  
         [0019]     bristles;  
         [0020]     a concave wedge slot; and  
         [0021]     an insertion rod;  
         [0000]     and wherein the bristles are implanted around the insertion rod in the concave wedge slot formed at one end of the handle.  
         [0022]     2. The brush assembly of paragraph 1, wherein the insertion rod has four sides and is arranged in the concave wedge slot.  
         [0000]     3. The brush assembly of any of paragraphs 1, 2 or 3, wherein the ends of the insertion rod and brush handle are engaged with each other over a distance of 20 mm.  
         [0000]     4. The brush assembly of any of paragraphs 1 to 4, wherein the four sides of insertion rod are formed as sawtooth-shaped edges.  
         [0023]     Certain embodiments and features have been described using a set of numerical upper limits and a set of numerical lower limits. It should be appreciated that ranges from any lower limit to any upper limit are contemplated unless otherwise indicated. Certain lower limits, upper limits and ranges appear in one or more claims below. All numerical values are “about” or “approximately” the indicated value, and take into account experimental error and variations that would be expected by a person having ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0024]     Various terms have been defined above. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined above, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in at least one printed publication or issued patent. Furthermore, all patents, test procedures, and other documents cited in this application are fully incorporated by reference to the extent such disclosure is not inconsistent with this application and for all jurisdictions in which such incorporation is permitted.  
         [0025]     While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.