GB2101474A - Paint brush cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

A device (1) for cleaning a paint brush (22) comprises a cleaning chamber (3) in which the paint brush (22) is positioned with its bristles pointing in the opposite direction to that in which cleaning liquid flows through the chamber (3). The cleaning chamber (3) confines the liquid flow at least to the region of the bristle roots. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cleaning device for paint applicator This invention relates to a device and a method for cleaning a paint brush or other paint applicator using a supply of cleaning fluid, usually but not necessarily water from a tap, which is suitable for cleaning water-based paint, such as emulsion paint, from brushes.

For the professional painter and home decorating enthusiast alike, cleaning paint brushes after use is a laborious and unpleasant task. When cleaning brushes used with emulsion paint, these can be rinsed under a tap by holding the brush with the bristles pointing downwardly in the stream of water from the tap and working the bristles backwards and forwards by hand.

Sometimes, a scrubbing brush also needs to be applied with a vigorous scrubbing action. Despite these measures, it is almost impossible to remove every last trace of paint from the bristles. This is particularly the case in the region of the roots of the bristles. Therefore, after having been used repeatedly, even with careful cleaning, the brush bristles tend to lose their resilience and also the effective length of the bristles becomes reduced.

Therefore, in time brushes become unusable and have to be replaced at a cost which nowadays is significant.

The present invention is concerned with providing a device for cleaning a paint brush or other paint applicator using a supply of cleaning fluid which is capable of very effective cleaning with the minimum or no effort on the part of the user.

According to the invention there is provided a device for cleaning the bristles or other paint applying elements of a paint applicator, comprising means for confining a stream of cleaning liquid from a source to flow within the spaces between adjacent paint applying elements, at least in their base or root region.

By confining the flow of cleaning liquid in this manner, effective cleaning of the paint applying elements, particularly in the region of their roots, is achieved.

In a preferred arrangement, a body assembly, comprising a brush holder, defines an interval cleaning chamber whose shape is adapted to conform closely to the outline of a brush of a predetermined size, the body assembly comprising two parts which are releasably secured together to enable the brush to be cleaned to be positioned within the cleaning chamber, the body assembly having a liquid inlet for said chamber adapted for connection to said supply of cleaning liquid and also a liquid outlet for discharging used cleaning liquid from the said chamber. The cleaning chamber constrains the flow of cleaning liquid around the bristles, increases the water pressure there for better cleaning efficiency, and prevents squirting or splashing of cleaning liquid in an uncontrolled fashion.

In one embodiment, the squid outlet is coaxial with said cleaning chamber so that, in use, the tail of the brush projects through the liquid outlet. In addition, the liquid inlet can be coaxial with said cleaning chamber so as to direct cleaning liquid at the tips of the brush bristles. One of the body assembly parts can be an open-ended hollow component defining the side walls of the cleaning chamber while the other part is a cover which is releasably secured to the first body assembly part at its open end by a plurality of releasable fasteners so that the cover can be separated from the open-ended part and then secured to a further open-ended part, the shape of whose cleaning chamber walls conforms closely to the outline of a brush of a different predetermined size.

In another embodiment, one of the body assembly parts is an open-ended hollow component defining the side walls df the cleaning chamber while the other part is a cover for the open end of the first part, the cleaning device further comprising a third body assembly part which is positioned against the second end of the open-ended component and releasably clamped to the said cover so as to secure the first and second body assembly parts together. By releasing the cover from the third body assembly part, the open-ended hollow component can be exchanged for another one adapted for brushes of a different size. The third body assembly part can be in the form of a cylindrical casing inside which the openended component is positioned. Conveniently, the cover is pivotally attached to the third body assembly part and clamped thereto by a plurality of releasable clamping devices.

In the case of both embodiments, an internal ridge can be provided on the brush holder which projects inwardly, around the inside of the cleaning chamber walls, at an axial position such that, when the brush to be cleaned is in position in the cleaning device, said ridge is just a short distance along the bristles from the position at which they project from the head of the brush.

This helps to guarantee that the brush is properly cleaned in the region of the bristle roots, particularly when the ridge extends inwardly sufficiently to contact the brush bristles around their circumferential extent. The right axial positioning of the top edge of the brush head relative to the ridge is important for optimum cleaning effectiveness, and for this purpose means can be provided for adjusting the axial position of the brush relative to the internal ridge. Suitably, the adjusting means comprises an adjusting knob, which is rotatably engaged within a screw threaded bore in said body assembly, and has an axial bore therein constituting said liquid outlet, the adjusting knob having an annular seating surface on one end to enable the underside of the head of the brush to be cleaned to be seated thereagainst with the tail end of the brush extending through the axial bore.At least one sight glass, visible to a user of the cleaning device, may be provided in the side wall of the cleaning chamber at a predetermined position to facilitate adjustment of the axial position of the brush relative to the brush holder. The shape of the cleaning chamber can be such that the minimum spacing between the inside surface of the chamber and brush itself is at least in the axial region of the roots of the brush bristles. This ensures that the maximum cleaning liquid pressure is available in the cleaning chamber in the region of the bristle roots. Preferably, the cleaning chamber walls are so shaped that the spacing between the inside surface of the cleaning chamber and the head of the brush is larger than said minimum spacing, so as to minimise cleaning liquid pressure losses in the region of the head of the brush.

In accordance with a development, a plurality of inward projections distributed around the inside surface of the cleaning chamber within the brush holder are provided at at least one axial position to introduce turbulence into the flow of cleaning liquid between the brush bristles and the inside surface of said chamber.

One of the body assembly parts, which defines the side walls of the cleaning chamber, can be a thin-walled plastics component whose wall thickness decreases with increasing distance from the inlet end of the cleaning chamber. This gives some resilience to the cleaning chamber walls so that they can accommodate brushes of the same nominal size but differing slightly in shape and size according to different manufacturers.

According to the invention from another aspect there is provided a method of cleaning the bristles or other paint applying elements of a paint applicator, wherein a stream of cleaning liquid from a source is confined to flow within the spaces between adjacent paint applying elements, at least in their base or root region.

Preferably, the stream of cleaning liquid is constrained to flow through a flow chamber adjacent the base or root region of the paint applying elements.

In a preferred arrangement, the shape of the flow chamber is such that the cleaning liquid pressure is at its greatest in the region of the roots of the brush bristles.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment showing a brush holder with its cover removed and turned upwardly, Figure 2 is a front vertical sectional view of the brush cleaning device taken along the section line Il-Il of Figure 3, Figure 3 is a side vertical sectional view of the cleaning device taken along the section line Ill-Ill of Figure 2, Figures 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views taken along the lines IV--IV and V-V, respectively, in Figure 3, Figure 6 is a plan view, partly cut away to show the top of the brush holder, Figure 7 is a diagrammatic front view illustrating the cleaning device connected to a water tap for cleaning a paint brush, Figure 8 is an enlarged view, similar to Figure 2, of a part of the cleaning device, showing the path of cleaning water between the bristles in the region of their roots, Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 2 of a modified embodiment taken along section line IX-IX in Figure 10, Figure 10 is a vertical side sectional view taken along the line X-X in Figure 9, Figures 11 and 12 are cross-sections along the lines Xl-Xl and Xll-Xll in Figure 9, Figure 13 is a plan view of the cleaning device, partly cut-away to show the top of the brush holder and its surrounding casing, Figure 14 is a view, corresponding to Figure 8, indicating two possible modifications, and Figure 1 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line XV-XV in Figure 14.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6, there is shown a device 1 for cleaning paint brushes of a one particular size, which have been used with emulsion or other water soluble paint, from a water tap. The cleaning device comprises essentially a brush holder 2, in the form of a thinwalled body having an internal cleaning chamber 3, and a cover 4 which is releasably secured to a generally rectangular mounting flange portion 5 at the top of the brush holder. The brush holder and cover most suitably consist of moulded plastics material.

The brush holder body is of generally rectangular internal and external cross-section over its entire height, except at the bottom region where the wall section thickens into a bottom portion 6 of circular cross-section, having a central screw-threaded bore, which is co-axial with thinwalled body 2. Engaged within this bore is an externally screw-threaded adjusting knob 7, having a manual gripping surface 8 to enable the knob to be turned to adjust its axial height for a purpose to be explained hereinafter. A central passage 9, having a width sufficient to allow the tail of a paint brush to be inserted through the passage, extends axially through the knob 7 and has a section of reduced size at the top which forms an annular seat 27 for the underside of the head of a paint brush 22 to be cleaned when in position in the cleaning device 1.

The cover 4 is in the form of a generally rectangular plate 10, having a downwardly projecting circumferential rim portion 11, which as best shown in Figures 2 and 3 fits closely around the peripheral edge portion 12 of the mounting flange portion 5 of the brush holder, and a central boss portion 13 having a hose connector 14, in the form of a clamping sleeve 15, which is engaged internally with an external screwthreaded part of the boss 13 so that on rotatably tightening up the sleeve, the end of a length of hose 1 7 inserted in the annular gap between the sleeve 1 5 and a cylindrical end portion 1 6 is clamped between the internal surface of the sleeve and the external surface of the cylindrical end portion 1 6 which both taper in the same axial direction.

An annular sealing ring 1 8 is firmly located in a groove between the rim portion 1 1 and an annular bead 19 on the underneath surface of the cover 4.

The cover is secured tightly to the brush holder 2, with its circumferential rim portion 11 seated around the peripheral edge portion 12 of the brush holder, by two fastening hooks 20 on the cover, one at each end, which are respectively engaged beneath small protuberances 21 at opposite ends of the edge portion 12 of the mounting flange 5. In this way, the sealing ring 1 8 is clamped firmly against the top surface of the annular edge portion 12, to form a water-tight seal between the cover 4 and brush holder 2.

To position a brush 22 to be cleaned of the appropriate size within the cleaning device 1, the fasteners 20 are released to allow the cover 4 to be removed from the brush holder 2. The brush 22 can then be inserted, tail first, through the open top end of brush holder and its tail directed through the passage 9 in the adjusting knob 7 until the underside of the head of the brush 22 seats against the annular seat 27. The brush 22 is then in the axial position shown in Figures 2 and 3. The cover can then be re-secured in water-tight manner to the brush holder.

With reference to Figure 7, in use the brush 22 to be cleaned is inserted inside the brush holder 2, the cover 4 is secured in position, the cleaning device 1 conveniently is laid on its side in a sink, and the free end of the length of hose 17 connected to the sink water tap with any conventional adaptor 23. The tap is then turned on. This causes water to flow through the hose 17 and cover 4 and into the cleaning chamber 3 through which the water is constrained to flow in the opposite direction to that in which the brush bristles extend. As can be seen from Figures 2 and 3, the internal walls of the cleaning chamber 3 conform very closely to the outline of the particular brush size which this brush holder is designed to accommodate. For this reason, a very high water pressure is developed in the cleaning chamber 3 which contributes to efficient brush cleaning.

As indicated in Figure 8, the effect of the constrained high pressure flow in the cleaning chamber 3 is that a small proportion of the cleaning water flows in the space between the cleaning chamber walls and the brush bristles while a larger proportion actually flows axially between the bristles themselves and, in particular, penetrates right to the very roots of the bristles.

The used water then flows along the axial faces of the brush head and discharges from the cleaning chamber 3 through the central passage 9 in the adjusting knob 7 so as to run away to waste.

The cleaning action achieved with this constrained high pressure reverse flow of water is very much more effective than when merely holding the brush under the tap with the bristles pointing downwardly, when the water runs over the brush in the direction in which the bristles extend and does not penetrate between the bristles to any effective extent, especially in the region of the bristle roots, unless the bristles are vigorously agitated to-and-fro by hand which is laborious and unpleasant. Moreover, with the described cleaning device the cleaning efficiency can be maximised by turning on the tap to full pressure, but because the water flow is constrained within the cleaning chamber, there is no possibility of water squirting out of the sink in an uncontrolled fashion.

It will also be appreciated that nothing has to be done by the user once he has turned the tap on.

The cleaning device can simply be left unattended until the user thinks that he has allowed sufficient time for the brush to be properly cleaned. The user can usually tell fairly reliably when the brush is clean merely by inspecting whether water discharged from the cleaning device contains any paint colouring. In some cases it will be found that the brush will be cleaned more quickly if the user agitates the tail of the brush slightly to-and-fro within the cleaning device while water is running through it.

The described cleaning device is, of course, only suitable for cleaning paint brushes of a particular size. For this reason, different size brushes will usually require different size brush holders. Thus, a cleaning brush device which can clean a whole range of standard brush sizes (say 1 2 up to 3" with intermediate sizes) would be supplied complete with a set of interchangeable brush holders adapted to the different brush sizes.

In Figure 3, a brush holder for a larger size brush is indicated in outline at 21.

As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 8, preferably an internal ridge 24 is provided around the inside surface of the cleaning chamber at an axial position just a short distance along the bristles from the position from which they project from the head of the brush. Preferably, the ridge 24 extends sufficiently inwards that it contacts the brush bristles around their circumferential extent, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The ridge 24 has the effect of confining the water flow at the position of the internal ridge 24 to between the bristles, so as to increase the cleaning effectiveness in the root area of the bristles.

The selection of the exact axial spacing between the internal ridge 24 and the top edge of the brush head from which the bristles project can be fairly critical for optimum cleaning efficiency.

So that the same predetermined axial spacing can be achieved irrespective of variations in the geometry from one brush to another, sight glasses 25 can be provided in the opposite side faces of the brush holder at the appropriate axial spacing from the ridge 24. Then, any adjustment can be made using the adjusting knob 7 until the top edge of the brush head is visible centrally within the sight glasses.

Another preferred feature is that the wall thickness of the cleaning chamber 3 progressively decreases in the direction towards its discharge end as indicated in Figures 2, 3 and 8. This is advantageous in that the necessary strength near the inlet end is ensured but some resilience is imparted to the chamber walls in the central and lower regions so that slight variations in outer dimensions for brushes of the same nominal size but different manufacturers can be accommodated.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in Figures 9 to 13, this is similar to the embodiment already described and where components of the brush cleaning device perform the same or similar functions, as in the previous embodiment, the same reference numerals are used and the components concerned need not be described again.The main difference is that in this embodiment the cover 4, instead of being secured directly to the brush holder 2, is a circular component hinged, by means of a pivot connection 28, at one side to an open-topped cylindrical casing 26 inside which the brush holder is removably mounted and the cover 4 is clamped in water-tight fashion against the brush holder 2 by engagement of over-centre clip devices 20 on the cylindrical casing 26 at the 90 , 1800, and 2700 positions relative to the pivot connector 28 which are releasably engaged with the cover 4.

The advantage of this embodiment is that external shape of the cylindrical casing 26 is more convenient to handle than the more intricate external shapes of the brush holder 2 of the first embodiment and is more convenient for lying the brush cleaning device on its side in a sink. The cylindrical shape is also more aesthetically pleasing and the use of the hinged connection 28 between the cover 4 and the brush holder 2 avoids the possibility of the cover 4 being temporarily lost. The brush holder 2 can be changed for another one 2' of a different size simply by opening the cover 8 to remove the brush holder 2 from the top of the casing 26, and then inserting the new holder 2' into the brush cleaning device.

Figures 14 and 1 5 show two modifications which can be adopted in either of the two embodiments described above. The first involves so shaping the walls of the cleaning chamber in the region of the head of the brush that the internal cross-sectional area of the cleaning chamber 3 is enlarged over the axial height of the brush head (see Figure 14). The resulting enlarged annular space 29 between the brush head and the cleaning chamber walls reduces the water pressure loss in that region so as to enable as much as possible of the available supply pressure to be used for cleaning the bristles. The other modification entails providing an array of internal projections 30 on the inside surface of the cleaning chamber 3 at at least one axial position.

These introduce turbulence into the water flow in the cleaning chamber so as to improve the cleaning efficiency.

The described cleaning devices are especially suitable for cleaning brushes which have been used with emulsion or other water-based paint.

However, they would of course also be suitable for cleaning other kinds of paint (e.g. oil based paint) if a supply of suitable cleaning liquid is available.

Even if a paint brush is cleaned in the ordinary way by hand using white spirit, or other such cleaning liquid, the final traces of white spirit can be rinsed away by using a cleaning device as described above, supplied with water from a tap, possibly squirting a small amount of household detergent into the cleaning chamber before securing the cover.

Claims (28)

1. A device for cleaning the bristles or other paint applying elements of a paint applicator, comprising means for confining a stream of cleaning liquid from a source to flow within the spaces between adjacent paint applying elements, at least in their base or root region.

2. A cleaning device according to Claim 1 for use in cleaning a paint brush, wherein the cleaning device comprises a brush holder which is so constructed and arranged as to hold the brush to be cleaned in the stream of cleaning liquid from the supply with the brush bristles projecting into the stream in the opposite general direction to that in which the stream of liquid is flowing.

3. A cleaning device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the liquid flow confining means comprises a flow chamber adjacent the base or root region of the paint applying elements, the flow chamber having an inlet for the cleaning liquid.

4. A cleaning device according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 as appended to Claim 2 wherein a body assembly. comprising the brush holder, defines said flow chamber whose shape is adapted to conform closely to the outline of a brush of a predetermined size. the body assembly comprising two parts which are releasably secured together to enable the brush to be cleaned to be positioned within the flow chamber, the body assembly having a liquid outlet for discharging used cleaning liquid from said chamber.

5. A cleaning device according to Claim 4, wherein the liquid outlet is coaxial with said flow chamber so that, in use, the tail of the brush projects through the liquid outlet.

6. A cleaning device according to Claim 5, wherein one of the body assembly parts is an open-ended hollow component defining the side walls of the flow chamber while the other part is a cover which is releasably secured to the first body assembly part at its open end by a plurality of releasable fasteners so that the cover can be separated from the open-ended part and then secured to a further open-ended part, the shape of whose flow chamber walls conforms closely to the outline of a brush of a different predetermined size.

7. A cleaning device according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein one of the body assembly parts is an open-ended hollow component defining the side walls of the flow chamber while the other part is a cover for the open end of the first part, the cleaning device further comprising a third body assembly part which is positioned against the second end of the open-ended component and releasably clamped to the said cover so as to secure the first and second body assembly parts together.

8. A cleaning device according to Claim 7, wherein the third body assembly part is in the form of a cylindrical casing inside which the openended component is positioned.

9. A device according to Claims 7 or 8, wherein the cover is pivotally attached to the third body assembly part and clamped thereto by a plurality of releasable clamping devices.

10. A cleaning device according to any one of Claims 4 to 9, wherein an internal ridge on the brush holder projects inwardly, around the inside of the flow chamber walls, at an axial position such that, when the brush to be cleaned is in position in the cleaning device, said ridge is just a short distance along the bristles from the position at which they project from the head of the brush.

1 A cleaning device according to Claim 10, wherein the ridge extends inwardly sufficiently to contact the brush bristles around their circumferential extent.

12. A cleaning device according to Claim 10 or 11, wherein means are provided for adjusting the axial position of the brush relative to the internal ridge.

13. A cleaning device according to Claim 12 as appended, directly or indirectly, to Claim 5, wherein said adjusting means comprises an adjusting knob, which is rotatably engaged within a screw threaded bore in said body assembly, and has an axial bore therein constituting said liquid outlet, the adjusting knob having an annular seating surface on one end to enable the underside of the head of the brush to be cleaned to be seated thereagainst with the tail end of the brush extending through the axial bore.

14. A cleaning device according to Claim 12 or 13, wherein at least one sight glass, visible to a user of the cleaning device, is provided in the side wall of the flow chamber at a predetermined position to facilitate adjustment of the axial position of the brush relative to the brush holder.

1 5. A cleaning device according to any preceding claim, wherein the flow chamber and its inlet are coaxial with one another.

1 6. A cleaning device according to Claim 14 for use in cleaning a paint brush, wherein the flow chamber and its inlet are so arranged that their axes extend parallel to the direction in which the bristles of the paint applicator extend.

1 7. A cleaning device according to Claim 3 or any one of Claims 4 to 14 as appended to Claim 3, wherein said inlet is coaxial with said flow chamber so as to direct cleaning liquid at the tips of the brush bristles.

18. A cleaning device according to Claim 4 or any one of Claims 5 to 1 7 as appended to Claim 4, wherein the shape of the flow chamber is such that the minimum spacing between the inside surface of the chamber and brush itself is at least in the axial region of the roots of the brush bristles.

19. A cleaning device according to Claim 18, wherein the cleaning chamber walls are so shaped that the spacing between the inside surface of the flow chamber and the head of the brush is larger than said minimum spacing.

20. A cleaning device according to any preceding claim, wherein a flexible supply pipe is connected at one end to the liquid flow confining means and has a connector at its other end for connection to a water tap.

21. A cleaning device according to Claim 4 or any one of Claims 5 to 20, as appended to Claim 4, wherein a plurality of inward projections distributed around the inside surface of the flow chamber within the brush holder are provided at at least one axial position to introduce turbulence into the flow of cleaning liquid between the brush and the inside surface of said chamber.

22. A cleaning device according to Claim 4 or any one of Claims 5 to 21 as appended to Claim 4, wherein one of the body assembly parts, which defines the side walls of the flow chamber, is a thin-walled plastics component whose wall thickness decreases with increasing distance from the inlet end of the flow chamber.

23. A device for use in cleaning a paint brush with a supply of cleaning liquid, substantially as hereinbefbre described with reference to Figures 1 to 8, Figures 9 to 13, Figures 1 to 8 as modified by Figures 14 and 15, or Figures 9 to 1 3 as modified by Figures 14 and 1 5, of the accompanying drawings.

24. A method of cleaning the bristles or other paint applying elements of a paint applicator, wherein a stream of cleaning liquid from a source is confined to flow within the spaces between adjacent paint applying elements, at least in their base or rnotrngion.

25. A method according to Claim 24 for cleaning a paint brush, in which the brush is held in the stream of cleaning liquid with the brush bristles projecting into the stream in the opposite general direction to that in which the stream is flowing.

26. A method according to Claim 24 or 25, wherein the stream of cleaning liquid is constrained to flow through a flow chamber adjacent the base or root region of the paint applying elements.

27. A method according to Claims 25 and 26, wherein the shape of the flow chamber is such that the cleaning liquid pressure is at its greatest in the region of the roots of the brush bristles.

28. A method of cleaning a paint brush with a supply of cleaning liquid, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 8, Figures 9 to 13, Figures 1 to 8 as modified by Figures 14 and 15, or Figures 9 to 13 as modified by Figures 14 and 1 5, of the accompanying drawings.