AU715818B2 - Paint brush - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT PAINT BRUSH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS A FULL DESCRIPTION OF THIS INVENTION, INCLUDING THE BEST METHOD OF PERFORMING IT KNOWN TO ME:- The invention relates to a paint brush having a supply of paint or other liquid stored in the brush, which can be released by a user into the bristles of the brush as required. This provides a convenient self 5 contained paint supply and applicator which may be utilised in paint sample packs and or provides a convenient self-contained painting tool for the handyman or professional painter.

A paint brush in accordance with the invention includes a handle forming a reservoir suitable for containing a liquid, for example paint, a body having bristles and adapted to allow flow of the liquid from the reservoir to the bristles, and a user operated 15 regulating means such as a lever operated ball valve for stopping or controlling the flow. Preferably the brush also includes resilient means biasing the regulating means to a preferred state.

Preferably the handle is made of resilient material and may be hand squeezed.

Advantageously at least one filter may be inserted in the path of flow to filter unwanted particle matter out of the liquid for example by interposing a filter between the handle and body. Preferably two filters -2are used, each in separate locations.

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Optionally a sealing means such as a rubber diaphragm or cap may be fitted in between the handle and the body to seal off the liquid reservoir for storage or transportation.

Preferably a union couples the handle to the body of the brush, and the regulating means is mounted within the union and on a portion of the body.

Additionally the handle may include a non return air bleed valve to allow atmospheric air to be admitted into the reservoir when the pressure inside the handle is below the external atmospheric pressure.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings.

Figure 1 is a partially exploded view of a paint brush in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of a valve seat suitable for use in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 3 is an elevation view of the valve seat of Figure 4a Figure 4b Figure 2; is an elevation view of the valve seat of Figure 2 with a valve ball in an open position; is an elevation view of the valve seat of Figure 2 with a valve ball in a closed position; is an elevation view of a valve ball assembly suitable for use with the valve seat of Figure 2; is a plan view of the valve ball assembly; is a disassembled view of the valve ball Figure 5a Figure Figure -3assembly; Figure 6 is a partial cross sectional view of some of the components of the paint brush of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a plan view of the bristle end of the body of the paint brush of Figure 1 and Figure 6 with the bristles not shown; Figure 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a valve seat suitable for use in the invention; Figure 9 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of valve seat suitable for use in the invention; Figure 10a is a front view of a portion of an output tube suitable for use in the invention; Figure 10b is a side view of the tube in Figure Figure 11 is perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a portion of the invention, •showing some hidden detail; S 20 Figure 12 is another perspective view of an the embodiment in Figure 11, showing some S* hidden detail; and Figure 13 is a schematic view of an alternative :2 embodiment of a portion of the body suitable for use in the invention.

Figure 1 illustrates a paint brush 11 in accordance with the invention and includes a hollow handle 1 which forms a container, preferably the handle 1 is made of resilient material and may be hand squeezed, the handle having a threaded portion 2 at a first end, a union 3 coupling a first end 5 of a body 8 to the handle 1.

The union 3 and the body 8 house a ball valve assembly (described below) operated by a lever 6 through a lever groove 62 in the first end 5 of the body. The lever groove 62 is formed in a shoulder portion of the body 8 to allow a wiping action of the lever 6 as it is actuated by the user. Bristles 7 are attached to or mounted on a second end 9 of the body 8.

A filter 4 is held in position partially within the handle 1 by the union 3 when coupled to the handle 1.

Optionally a rubber cap 10 may be used to seal off the handle 1 by partially inserting the rubber cap inside the handle 1 and coupling the union 3 to the handle 1.

S. A lever operated ball valve assembly suitable for use 15 in the paint brush 11 of Figure 1 is illustrated in Figures 2, 3, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b and The assembly includes a valve seat 20 having a flow .oo.

orifice 21 with filter bars 13 (not shown in Figures 3, 4a, 4b), a post orifice 22, a tapered groove 23, and mounting holes 24 suitable for attaching means S. 55 such as self tapping screws (25 shown in Figure a valve ball 40 coupled to a post 41 by a resilient axle 42 and actuated by the lever 6, and a biasing means 25 such as a spring 50. The post 41 is inserted through the post orifice 22 and may be rotated to move the valve ball 40 along the tapered groove 23 between a valve closed position as illustrated in Figure 4b where the valve ball 40 is biased by the resilient axle 42 into the flow orifice 21 of the valve seat such that the flow orifice 21 is substantially sealed, and a valve open position as illustrated in Figure 4a where the valve ball 40 is moved out of the flow orifice 21 along the tapered groove 23. In use, the post 41 is rotated by lever 6 operated by a user (not shown).

The union 3 is coupled to the first end 5 of the body 8 in Figures 1 and 6 by the valve seat 20 being fixed by fixing screws 25 to the first end 5 of the body.

The valve seat 20 is positioned prior to fixing it to the first end 5 of the body 8 so that the flow orifice 21 and post orifice 22 abut and coincide respectively with body inlet orifice 63 and post cavity 61 in the body. The second filter, bars 13 (shown in Figure 2 only), provide a filter action for the body inlet orifice 63. The body inlet orifice 63 is in communication with two body outlet orifices 64a and 64b by means of flow conduits 60, and the post cavity

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1561 is in communication with lever groove 62.

The body outlet orifices 64a and 64b shown in Figures S" 6 and 7 may be of any required shape and may be positioned at any convenient or required location on the second end 9 of the body 8. Preferably the body S 20 outlet orifices 64a and 64b are positioned outside bristle region 70 of the body second end 9. A single body outlet orifice 64a or 64b and associated flow conduit 60, or more than two of each can be provided if desired.

The ball valve assembly illustrated in Figures 5a and would be added to the valve seat 20 fixed to the body 8 by first inserting the post 41 into the post orifice 22 and post cavity 61, then inserting the lever 6 into post 41 through the lever groove 62 and the post cavity 61. The lever 6 includes a spring shown in Figures 5a, 5b and 5c, which biases the lever 6 in a selected position when it is inserted in the lever groove 62. The ball valve assembly would be arranged so that the valve ball 40 is biased preferably in the valve closed position illustrated in Figure 4b.

-6- In use the handle 1 of Figure 1 would be filled with paint, and provided the seal 10 is not fitted, paint will flow to the body outlet orifices 64a and 64b illustrated in Figure 6 and Figure 7, and onto and into the bristles 7 of Figure 6 when the lever 6 is operated to move the valve ball 40 out of the flow orifice 21.

Preferably the handle 1 is made of resilient material and the operator squeezes the handle 1 when operating the lever 6 thereby encouraging the paint to flow with the pressure resulting from the squeezed handle 1.

Preferably the coupling 3 is sized and threaded 15 complementary to a garden tap having a threaded outlet. Conveniently this allows the paint brush 8 without the handle 1 and filter 4, to be cleaned by .ee, water at mains water pressure by coupling the paint brush 8 to the garden tap.

It is to be understood the paint brush illustrated is only one embodiment of the invention and that other embodiments may be employed. For example, the handle 1 (Figure 1) may be of any shape or size in accordance with the requirements of the different applications, and there is no reason why the regulating means may not be a lever operated butterfly valve, or some other valve type.

Alternative valve ball assemblies and valve seats may be adapted to replace the valve arrangement illustrated in Figures 2, 3, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, and and such an alternative valve ball assembly 43 and two different corresponding valve seats 20a and 20b are illustrated in Figures 8, 9, 11 and 12. The alternative valve ball assembly 43 includes a valve ball 40 fixed on an integrated arm 46,post 47 and lever 48 wherein a portion of the post 47 and lever 48 are contained within a hollow portion of the body 8.

If valve seat 20a (Figure 8) is utilised then the valve ball assembly is provided with a spring 49 arranged about the post 47 and fixed to the lever 48 to bias the valve ball 40 onto the valve seat 20a to prevent flow of paint through the valve seat, as illustrated in Figure 11.

If valve seat 20b (Figure 9) is utilised then the arm 46 and post 47 is required to be comprised of resilient material and arranged to resiliently urge the valve ball 40 on to the valve seat 20b to prevent flow of paint through the valve seat 20b doing away :o oI with the need for spring 49 on the post 47. In this case the operator operates the valve ball assembly 43 by the lever 48 against the resilience of the arm 46 acting on the valve seat Similarly, alternate means of delivering paint to the bristles may be adapted to replace the arrangement shown in Figures 6 and 7 for example the tube 25 arrangement 44 illustrated in Figures 10a, 10b, 11 and 12. The tube arrangement 44 includes a tube portion fixed to the valve seat 20a or 20b and contained within a hollow portion of the body 8 and a tube portion 45b external to the body 8 and adjacent to the bristles 7 so that paint passing through the valve seat 20a and 20b is communicated to the bristles 7.

The tube portion 45b preferably has an adjustable sliding coupling arrangement (not shown) with the portion 45a. For example portion 45b may partially envelope portion 45b. Advantageously the end of the tube portion 45b may be adjustably located by the operator along the length of the bristles. Preferably -8the end of the tube portion 45b is shaped to assist the dispersal of paint on the bristles 7.

An alternate embodiment of the body of the brush is illustrated in Figure 13 where the body 8 may be conveniently made in separate portions 8a, 8b and 8c.

The central portion 8a containing the internal passageways and hollows is manufactured in a cylindrical form separately from the shoulder portions 8b and 8c allowing the body 8 to then be assembled at the time the bristle portion of the brush is fixed onto the body 8.

9*l S"Advantageously the valve seat 20a or 20b (not shown in S* 15 Figure 13) may be integrated with the central portion ~8a during manufacture with a suitable shoulder formation 51 at the first end 5 of the central portion 8a. The coupling 3 in Figures i, 6 and 11 in that case would be positioned on the central portion 8a from the second end 9 of the central portion 8a prior to the assembly of the body 8. The shoulder formation *9 ~51 at the first end 5 will limit the position of the coupling 3 (not shown in Figure 13) on the central portion 8a. Advantageously the central portion 8a may 25 be made of plastics material or some other inexpensive material.

Claims (9)

1. A paint brush including a hollow handle which forms a reservoir for containing paint and is made of resilient material that may be hand squeezed pressurizing the reservoir, coupled to a body including a bristle portion comprising a plurality of bristles, means allowing flow of paint from the reservoir to the bristles and hand operated valve means having a closed position in which the flow of paint from said reservoir to said bristles is prevented.

2. A paint brush in accordance with claim 1 wherein said valve means is biased to said closed position.

3. A paint brush in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein the flow means includes outlet means inside the body and includes at least one outlet orifice on the body adjacent to the bristle portion.

4. A paint brush in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein the flow means includes •outlet means partially outside the body and includes a tube having an outlet end adjacent to the bristle portion.

A paint brush in accordance with claim 4 wherein the portion of the outlet *means outside the body is adjustable so the outlet end may be adjustably located along the length of the bristle portion.

6. A paint brush in accordance with any preceding claim wherein the handle includes an air non return valve allowing communication of air from the outside of the handle to the reservoir when the pressure inside the handle is below the external atmospheric pressure.

7. A paint brush in accordance with claims 1 or 2 wherein the hand operated valve includes an actuation lever located adjacent to the body and orientated normal to .4 the handle to assist actuation of the valve while executing a painting action as a single handed operation.

8. A paint brush substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A paint brush substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 8, 10b, 11 and 12 or the Figures as modified by Figure 9 or Figure 13 of the accompanying drawings. Dated this 25th day of November 1999 RAMON RIYAD BESHAY By his Patent Attorneys Halford Co o« 9 S e