GB2117730A

GB2117730A - Brush-wiper and rest

Info

Publication number: GB2117730A
Application number: GB08304592A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Austin Hinchcliffe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-03-18
Filing date: 1983-02-18
Publication date: 1983-10-19
Also published as: GB8304592D0

Abstract

A device which when combined with a paint tin forms a rest and a wiper for a paint brush comprises an elongate member (1) for positioning in a bridging position across the open top of the tin. The device may include end portions (2) for detachable engagement with the rim of the tin and part-circular portions (3) for seating in an annular groove in the rim. Alternatively, the device may be integral with the rim within the container and beneath the upper surface of the rim. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Paint brush rest This invention relates to a device which is an aid for use in painting, varnishing and pasting by use of a brush.

The invention is particularly useful during painting and therefore all references hereinafter, for the sake of brevity, refer to painting although it should be understood that the invention has analogous uses as mentioned above.

During painting, the brush must be loaded by dipping it in a paint container. Typically the paint container is an open-top cylindrical can which is resealable using a lid which fits tightly into the rim of the can which has an annular groove into which a lever e.g. a screwdriver can be inserted to release the lid.

This is commonly referred to as a "paint tin" and such reference will be used hereinafter accordingly.

After dipping in the paint, excess paint must be removed from the brush to prevent running during application. This is normally achieved by wiping or scraping the loaded brush against the rim of the tin.

Disadvantages of this are that the paint fouls the rim of the tin and may run down the outside of the tin. The fouled rim prevents formation of a good seal when the lid is replaced and paint solvent evaporates off leaving a thick skin on the paint within a relatively short space of time.

Further the wet paint brush cannot be laid down without depositing paint and therefore it is common to lay the brush on the lid of the tin or across the top of the tin. This means that the lid becomes coated with paint or alternatively the handle of the brush is fouled with paint which then transfers to the users hand when painting is resumed.

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a rest for a paint brush comprising an elongate member in a bridging position across the open top of a paint receptacle.

Preferably the rest is adapted to be detachably engaged in the rim of the receptacle which conveniently is a cylindrical paint tin.

In a preferred construction the rest comprises an elongate member having end portions which are curved to grip the inner lip of the rim of a paint tin and which have supports adapted to seat in the rim of the paint tin.

Advantageously the end portions are angled with reference to the elongate member so as to position the elongate member below the rim of the paint tin.

Further according to the invention there is provided a device for attachment to a paint tin so as to form in combination therewith a rest for a paint brush which comprises an elongate member having end portions of curved shape so as to be able to grip-fit the rim of an open paint tin and thereby mount the elongate member in a bridging position across the tin.

Preferably the end portions have fixed thereto circular or part-circular supports for seating engagement in an annular groove in the rim of the paint tin.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a device according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1; Figure 3 shows an oblique view of the device shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 in position on a paint tin to form a rest; Figure 4 shows an oblique view of a device formed from one length of metal and joined by welds; Figure 5 shows an oblique view of a device formed from one length of metal such that clips can be used to fix the free ends; Figures 6 and 7 show oblique views of alternative devices formed from two part-circular sections and an elongate member formed to the required shape at either end; Figure 8 shows oblique views of another device formed from two part-circular sections and an elongate member with shaped ends.

Figure 9 shows a side view of another device.

Figure 10 shows a side view of the simplest form of the invention.

In a first embodiment of the invention referring to Figs. 1-3 a rest for a paint brush can be formed from a device which comprises an elongate member (1) having end portions (2) which are angled and curved so as to grip-fit the inner lip (4) of the rim (5) of a paint tin (6), and supports (3) which seat in an annular groove in the rim (5) of the tin to maintain the device in a stable position. This device could be conveniently formed from a plastics material.

The device is fitted on to a paint tin and used- to remove surplus paint by wiping the loaded brush on the elongate member (1) which bridges the open top of the tin (6).

Thus surplus paint falls back into the tin without fouling the inner sealing surfaces and therefore allows the original seal to be maintained. In addition the brush can be rested on the elongate member (1) and the rim (5) without risk of the handle being fouled by paint.

In an embodiment of the invention as shown in Fig. 4, a single length of metal e.g.

steel wire is formed into shape so as to have equivalent parts to those in the first embodiment. The free ends may be fixed by welds 7 although one of these, i.e. that completing the circular part of the device, may be omitted to allow a certain amount of 'give' or resilience.

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5 is again formed from a single length of metal.

However the free ends are formed so as to facilitate fixing at the areas 8 using clips.

The embodiments of Figs. 6 and 7 are formed from separate pieces of part-circular shape joined by welds 7 to form a support ring 3. The only difference being that the free ends of the member 1 are fashioned so as to in the former case project to one side of the member whereas in the latter case they project in opposed directions. These may be either welded or clipped in the regions indicated by the numeral 9.

Fig. 8 shows an embodiment in which the part-circular supports 3 are of very much reduced length.

Fig. 9 shows an embodiment which omits the part-circular supports and relies entirely on gripping engagement with the rim of a paint tin using the curved end portions 2.

Fig. 10 shows the simplest form of the invention which is clipped across the paint tin using the curved portions 2 to grip the outside of the rim of a paint tin.

In a further embodiment of the invention (not illustrated) the rim of a paint tin is provided with an elongate member as an integral part of the rim but which is fixed to the rim so as to be beneath the level of the rim in order to allow the lid of the paint tin to seat on the rim and form a satisfactory closure.

Claims

1. A rest for a paint brush comprising an elongate member mounted in a bridging position across the open top of a paint receptacle.

2. A rest according to claim 1 which is adapted to be detachably engaged in the rim of a cylindrical paint tin.

3. A rest according to claim 2 wherein the elongate member has end portions which are curved to grip the inner lip of the rim of a paint tin and which are provided with supports adapted to seat in an annular groove in the rim of the paint tin.

4. A rest according to claim 3 wherein the supports are circular so as to seat in the annular groove in the rim of the paint tin.

5. A rest according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the end portions are angled with reference to the elongate member so as to position the elongate member below the rim of the paint tin.

6. A rest for a paint brush substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 3.

7. A device for attachment to a paint tin so as to form in combination therewith a rest for a paint brush comprising an elongate member having end portions of curved shape so as to be able to grip-fit the rim of a paint tin and thereby mount the elongate member in a bridging position across the tin.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein the end portions have fixed thereto circular or part-circular supports for seating engagement in an annular groove in the rim of a paint tin.

9. A device according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the end portions are angled with reference to the elongate member so that when fitted to a paint tin the elongate member is positioned below the level of the rim of the paint tin.

1 0. A device for attachment to a paint tin so as to form in combination therewith a rest for a paint brush substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6, Fig. 7, Fig. 8 or Fig. 9.