Abstract:
A paint brush protecting cover using a series of folding flaps. The flaps are connected in such a way that, when folded, they force the bristles into the desired tapered configuration. The invention&#39;s primary advantage lies in its method of closure: Two elastic bands are affixed to one of the flaps. The user simply passes these bands around the folded device, thereby securing it to the paint brush. The elastic bands place a small compressive force on the brush and bristles, helping to keep the bristles in the proper orientation. The elastic nature of the closure method also allows the device to accommodate a wide variety of brushes.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Not Applicable  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not Applicable  
         MICROFICHE APPENDIX  
         [0003]    Not Applicable  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0005]    This invention relates to the field of paint brushes. More specifically, the invention comprises a removable cover which locks over a paint brush to properly align the paint brush bristles while the brush is not in use. The cover is designed to slightly compress the bristles and hold them in the proper orientation so that they remain in the desired shape over extended use.  
           [0006]    2. Description of the Related Art.  
           [0007]    Paint brush sleeves and holders have been in common use for decades. A simple hanging sleeve is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3 , 136 , 409  to Schuman (1964). It discloses a clear plastic sleeve which fits over a paint brush&#39;s bristle and allows the brush to be hung in an inverted position. The inverted position often accelerates bristly drying. In such a configuration, however, the bristles have a tendency to splay—since they are heaviest when wet. A similar inverted hanging sleeve is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,426,989 to Dgetluck (1969). The reader will note that both sleeves must be carefully sized to fit a particular brush. They are not adaptable to a variety of brushes.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,399 to Crouch (1976) discloses a bristle protector designed to hold a paint brush with its bristles facing downward. The Crouch device also incorporates walls which press against the bristles during the drying process, thereby tending to force the bristles into the desired shape. The device holds the bristles well, but it is quite complicated—requiring several interacting parts. It also must be carefully sized to fit a particular brush.  
           [0009]    Another type of bristle sleeve is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,939 to Derencsenyi et al. (1989). The &#39;939 device discloses a pliable sleeve intended to slip over the brush. An undercut section engages the metal stock (given the number “22” in the disclosure) to hold itself in place. As this is a sliding frictional fit, the device must be very closely sized to fit a particular brush. It would not function for an identically-sized brush made by another manufacturer—since the shape and thickness of the metal stock tends to vary from brush to brush. It also fails to compress the bristles into the desired tapered shape.  
           [0010]    Several more recent inventions have enclosed paint brushes using folding flaps. One example of this approach is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,453 to Landmeier (1995). The Landmeier device uses folding flaps secured over the bristles by a latching mechanism. Vent holes are provided to aid drying. A similar but more sophisticated design is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,973 to Shteynberg (1993). The Shteynberg design uses locking snaps to hold the bristle cover in place.  
           [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,959 to Crosby et al. (1994) discloses a bristle cover made from folding panels. The panels are secured in place using several interlocking tabs and slits (thereby eliminating the need for separate fasteners). While effective, the Crosby device is difficult to assemble, in that the user must place a minimum of three tabs in three slots to secure the device on the paint brush.  
           [0012]    A folding plastic case is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,167 to Conrad (1997). Basically a clamshell design, the Conrad device locks over a paint brush using plastic snap latches. Because it is substantially rigid, however, it has difficulty accommodating variation in paint brush widths and thicknesses.  
           [0013]    Accordingly, the prior art devices are limited in that they:  
           [0014]    1. Are cumbersome to apply to a paint brush;  
           [0015]    2. Do not accommodate variations in paint brush size; and  
           [0016]    3. Do not hold the bristles in the desired tapered configuration.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0017]    The present invention encapsulates a paint brush—including its bristles—using a series of folding flaps. The flaps are connected in such a way that, when folded, they force the bristles into the desired tapered configuration. The invention&#39;s primary advantage lies in its method of closure: Two elastic bands are affixed to one of the flaps. The user simply passes these bands around the folded device, thereby securing it to the paint brush. The elastic bands place a small compressive force on the brush and bristles, helping to keep the bristles in the proper orientation. The elastic nature of the closure method also allows the device to accommodate a wide variety of brushes.  
           [0018]    Accordingly, the present invention seeks to provide a paint brush bristle cover which:  
           [0019]    1. Is easy to apply to a paint brush;  
           [0020]    2. Can accommodate variations in paint brush size; and  
           [0021]    3. Holds the bristles in the desired tapered configuration. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 is an isometric view, showing a typical paint brush.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 is an isometric view, showing the present invention in an unfolded state.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is an isometric view, showing the present invention being applied to a paint brush.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 is an isometric view, showing the second step in attaching the present invention to a paint brush.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 is an isometric view, showing the third step in attaching the present invention to a paint brush.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6 is an isometric view, showing the fourth step in attaching the present invention to a paint brush.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 is an isometric view, showing the fifth step in attaching the present invention to a paint brush.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 8 is an isometric view, showing the addition of the elastic securing straps.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 9 is an isometric view, showing the elastic securing straps stretched over the cover. 
     
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS  
       [0031]    10 paint brush  
         [0032]    12 handle  
         [0033]    14 bristles  
         [0034]    16 shank portion  
         [0035]    18 bristle cover  
         [0036]    20 back panel  
         [0037]    22 second side panel  
         [0038]    24 first side panel  
         [0039]    26 top panel  
         [0040]    28 first lock slot  
         [0041]    30 top flap  
         [0042]    32 second front flap  
         [0043]    34 first front flap  
         [0044]    36 cover flap  
         [0045]    38 first side fold  
         [0046]    40 second side fold  
         [0047]    42 third side fold  
         [0048]    44 fourth side fold  
         [0049]    46 first top fold  
         [0050]    48 second top fold  
         [0051]    50 first bottom fold  
         [0052]    52 second bottom fold  
         [0053]    54 handle hole  
         [0054]    56 mounting hole  
         [0055]    58 first strap body  
         [0056]    60 second strap body  
         [0057]    62 first strap  
         [0058]    64 second strap  
         [0059]    66 vent  
         [0060]    68 stock  
         [0061]    70 second side  
         [0062]    72 bottom  
         [0063]    74 first side  
         [0064]    76 top  
         [0065]    78 front  
         [0066]    80 back  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0067]    [0067]FIG. 1 shows paint brush  10 . Handle  12  comprises the top portion of paint brush  10 . It terminates in shank portion  16 , which fits within stock  68 . Stock  68  is an assembly which joins bristles  14  to shank portion  16 . The combination of shank portion  16 , stock  68 , and bristles  14  makes up the lower assembly of brush  10 . The reader will note that this lower assembly is generally rectangular in shape. It has generally planar surfaces (made up of the flat faces on stock  68  and bristles  14 ). These surfaces may be referred to as front  78 , back  80  (facing away from the viewer in FIG. 1), first side  74 , second side  70 , bottom  72 , and top  76 . Of course, top  76  is not a planar surface. It consists of the upward facing and curving surfaces of shank portion  16 .  
         [0068]    Professional painters typically purchase expensive paint brushes intended to be used over long periods. The brushes are continually used, cleaned, and hung up to dry. It is very important that bristles  14  be maintained in good condition. The handle and stock portions of the brush can last indefinitely. Thus, it is the life of the bristles that determines the service life of a paint brush.  
         [0069]    [0069]FIG. 1 illustrates how the bristles are ideally set in a tapered configuration and grouped tightly together. Repeated washing and drying cycles often cause the bristles to splay, ultimately ruining the paint brush. Thus, it is very important to hold the bristles in the correct position during the drying process. The inventor has discovered that the bristles are best preserved by hanging the brush with its handle facing upwards. This results in gravity pulling the wet bristles straight down. An added element is needed, however, to prevent splaying and to provide the desired taper. The present invention adds this needed element.  
         [0070]    [0070]FIG. 2 illustrates bristle cover  18  in a flattened state. Bristle cover  18  is ideally made from thin and flexible material which can be folded into the desired shapes. It is also desirable to employ a water and solvent proof material, since it will inevitably come in contact with water, soap, and mineral spirits used to clean paint brushes. Thin plastic sheeting has been found to be particularly effective.  
         [0071]    Back panel  20  is the central element. Top panel  26  is connected to back panel  20  along first top fold  46 . It is convenient to consider these features as they are oriented in space when the device is attached to a hanging brush (hanging by its handle). Thus, top panel  26  attaches to what will be the top boundary of back panel  20  when it is placed on a hanging brush (see FIG. 3 for its orientation with respect to a brush).  
         [0072]    Top panel  26  opens into handle hole  54 . This hole is sized to allow the passage of handle  12 , but not shank portion  16 . Top flap  30  is connected to top panel  26  along second top fold  48 . Each of the folds allows the attached panels to reversibly bend with respect to one another. The folds can be created using a series of stitched cuts to weaken the thin plastic material at that point. They can also be created by placing the flat sheet in a mechanical press brake. As these processes are well understood in the prior art, they have not been illustrated.  
         [0073]    Bottom panel  28  connects to back panel  20  along first bottom fold  50 . Cover flap  36  attaches to bottom panel  28  along second bottom fold  52 . First side panel  24  attaches to back panel  20  along first side fold  38 . First front flap  34  attaches to first side panel  24  along second side fold  40 . Likewise, second side panel  22  attaches to back panel  20  along third side fold  42 . Second front flap  32  attaches to second side panel  22  along fourth side fold  44 .  
         [0074]    The folded structure of bristle cover  18  is best understood with respect to paint brush  10 . Turning now to FIG. 3, the application of bristle cover  18  to paint brush  10  will be explained. Paint brush  10  is place on bristle cover  18 , with back  80  lying in the same plane as back panel  20 . Turning now to FIG. 4, top panel  26  and top flap  30  are folded as shown, along first top fold  46  and second top fold  48 . Handle  12  is then inserted through handle hole  54 , as indicated by the arrow. FIG. 5 shows the position of paint brush  10  after shank portion  16  has arrested its further progress through handle hole  54 . At this point, the inner facing surface of top panel  26  is resting against top  76  of paint brush  10 . The inner surface of top flap  30  is likewise resting against front  78  of paint brush  10 .  
         [0075]    In FIG. 6, first side panel  24 , second side panel  22 , first front flap  34 , and second front flap  32  are folded over as shown. The two side panels rest against the sides of paint brush  10 . The two front flaps fold over top flap  30 . In FIG. 7, bottom panel  28  and cover flap  36  are folded over as shown. The lower assembly of paint brush  10  is thereby completely encapsulated. It is necessary, however, to hold the various panels in the folded condition shown. The reader will observe that cover flap  36  is pierced by two mounting holes  56 .  
         [0076]    Turning now to FIG. 8, the reader will observe that first strap body  58  and second strap body  60  are snapped into mounting holes  56  (or alternatively glued or attached by other conventional means). First strap body  58  has first strap  62  attached in a loop. First strap  62  is made of a strong and highly elastic material. A user can easily grab and stretch the loop around bristle cover  18 . Second strap  64  is identical, except that it is attached to second strap body  60 .  
         [0077]    When the user desires to secure bristle cover  18  in place, he or she grasps second strap  64  and pulls it around bristle cover  18  in a horizontal orientation (with reference to the brush being suspended in a handle-up orientation).. The user next grasps first strap  62  and pulls it around bristle cover  18  in a vertical orientation. The result is that the various panels comprising bristle cover  18  are urged tightly against the lower assembly of paint brush  10 . While a particular size of bristle cover  18 must be created to fit a general class of paint brushes (such as  2  inch,  3  inch, etc.), many different variations can be accommodated through the use of the elastic closure method.  
         [0078]    The reader will also observe in FIG. 9 that the two side panels are tapered from top to bottom. This shape results in the proper compression of the bristles. The taper in the side panels may also be readily observed in FIG. 2.  
         [0079]    Returning briefly to FIG. 1, the reader will observe a plurality of vents  66  placed in the panels. These vents speed the drying process. They are regarded as an optional feature, since some applications require that the brush remain wet (and rapid drying is therefore undesirable). Most applications, however, make rapid drying an advantage. Thus, the version with the vents is considered the preferred embodiment.  
         [0080]    Although the device has been illustrated as starting out flat, this would not be the typical method of use. The device would normally have the folds already formed. It would then be necessary for the user to unfold the device to insert a paint brush. The user would not need to unfold it to the flat state. Instead, he or she would only need to unfold it enough to insert the handle into handle hole  54  and guide the lower assembly against back panel  20 . Once the brush is inserted, the device has a natural tendency to refold itself The user need only gently push the panels in place before wrapping the elastic straps around to secure it.  
         [0081]    Accordingly, the reader will appreciate that the proposed invention provides a bundling strap which:  
         [0082]    1. Is easy to apply to a paint brush;  
         [0083]    2. Can accommodate variations in paint brush size; and  
         [0084]    3. Holds the bristles in the desired tapered configuration.  
         [0085]    Although the preceding description contains significant detail, it should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiment of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.