GB2133736A

GB2133736A - Paint brushes

Info

Publication number: GB2133736A
Application number: GB08400495A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Chungman Chu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-01-12
Filing date: 1984-01-10
Publication date: 1984-08-01
Also published as: GB8400495D0

Abstract

A bristle portion (2) is detachably secured to the handle (1). The bristle portion consists of bristles (5) fixedly mounted in a retaining member (4) which is received in a hollow portion (II) of the handle. A pair of resilient arms (6) are provided on the retaining member and are formed with projections (8) which engage in the hollow portion of the handle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to paint brushes This invention relates to improvements in or relating to paint brushes.

During the lifetime of a conventional paint brush, the bristles may become damaged and render the brush unusable. Such a situation may occur through wear or if the bristles become clogged with paint which cannot be removed as a result, for example, of the brush not having been cleaned immediately after use or having been improperly cleaned.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved paint brush and accordingly the invention provides a paint brush comprising a handle and a bristle portion detachably secured to the handle.

Preferably, the bristle of a brush constructed in accordance with the invention is removably mounted in the handle.

In a preferred embodiment, the bristles of the bristle portion are fixedly mounted in a retaining member which is removably mounted in a hollow portion of the handle. Conveniently, the retaining member is formed with a pair of resilient arms extending away from and outwardly of the bristles such that, when the bristle portion is mounted in the handle, each arm engages in a respective aperture formed through the wall of the hollow portion of the handle.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1A is a front view of a handle of a paint brush embodying the invention; Figure 1B is a side view of the handle of Figure 1A; Figure 1C is a front view of a bristle portion of a paint brush embodying the invention; Figure 1D is a side view of the bristle portiqn of Figure 1C; Figure 2A is a cross-sectional view of the handle of Figures 1A and 1B taken along line B-B of Figure 1 B; Figure 2B is a cross-sectional view of the handle of Figures 1A and 1 B taken along line A-A of Figure 1A;; Figure 3A is a cross-sectional view of the handle similar to Figure 2A showing the mounting of the bristle portion in the handle; Figure 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D of Figure 3A of the handle and bristle portion; Figure 4A is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 2A of an alternative handle suitable for use with a larger bristle portion than the handle of Figure 2A; Figure 4B is a cross-section view of the alternative handle of Figure 4A taken along line E-E of Figure 4A.

Figure 5A is a cross-sectional view of an alternative handle similar two the alternative handle of Figure 4A but completely hollow; Figure 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line F-F of Figure 5A of the handle of Figure 5A; Figure 6A is a cross-sectional view of the handle of Figure 5A which is similar to Figure 5A and shows the mounting of the bristle portion in the handle; Figure 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along line G-G of Figure 6A showing the mounting of the bristle portion in the handle of Figure 6A.

Figure 7A is a cross-sectional view of an alternative handle simiiar to the handle of Figure 2A but completely hollow; and Figure 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along line H-H of Figure 7A of the handle of Figure 7A.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure it to 3B, show a paint brush embodying the invention.

The paint brush comprises a handle 1, preferably moulded from a plastics material or a light metal, and a bristle portion 2 which is removably mounted in a hollow portion 3 of the handle as can be seen from Figures 4A and 4B.

The bristle portion 2 comprises a retaining member 4 preferably also made of a plastic material in which the bristles 5 which may be made of a natural or synthetic material are fixedly mounted.

The retaining member 4 is in the form of a tubular open body of generally rectangular cross-section in which the bristles 5 are fixed by adhesive means 18 such as glue provided at the inner end. A pair of resilient arms 6 extend from the elongate surfaces 7 of the retaining member 4 away from the bristles.

Each resilient arm 6 is generally triangular in shape and is formed with a projection 8 at the free end thereof. As can be seen from Figure 1D the arms 6 diverge outwardly from the retaining member 4.

As shown in Figures 2A and 2B, the handle 1 is formed by an elongate buibous portion 9 connected via a relatively narrow neck 10 to an enlarged hollow portion 11 in which the bristle portion is removably mounted.Apertures 12 are formed in opposing portions of the wall of the hollow portion 11 to receive the projections 8 on the arms 6 of the retaining member so that, when the retaining member is mounted within the hollow portion 11, a flange 13 formed on the retaining member abuts the free edge 14 of the hollow portion 11.

An aperture 15 may be formed through the free end of the elongate bulbous portion of the handle to allow the handle and any bristle portion mounted thereon to be hung on, for example, a hook in a storage cupboard.

Figures 4A and 4B show a handle for a larger paint brush, for example a 3"(7.6cm) or larger paint brush.

The handle shown in Figures 4A and 4B is substantially similar to that described above, except that strengthening ribs 16 extend into the hollow portion of the handle in which the bristle portion is to be mounted.

Flgures 5A to 6B show an alternative construction of the handle of Figures 4A and 4B, wherein substantially the whole of the handle is hollow to reduce weight and manufacturing costs. Figures 7A and 7B show an alternative construction of the handle of Figures 2A and 2B in which substantially the whole of the handle is again hollow to reduce weight and manufacturing costs.

The bristle portion of the larger paint brush is substantially identical to that shown in Figures 1C and 1D but is of course of larger dimensions so as to fit the larger handle.

In order to remove the bristle portion 2 from the handle 1 of a paint brush embodying the invention, pressure is applied to the projections 8 of the resilient arms 6 through the apertuies 12 to force the projections 8 out of engagement with the apertures and the bristle portion 2 is pulled away from the handle using the flange 13. To insert a new bristle portion, the resilient legs 6 are first squeezed together to enable the projections 8 to enter the hollow bristle portion receiving part of the handle and then the bristle portion is forced unpwardly into the handle by applying pressure on the flange 13 until the projections 8 reach the apertures 12, whereupon the arms 6 spring outwardly to engage the projections 8 in the apertures 12. Accordingly, a damaged or permanently soiled bristle portion may be simply removed and replaced by a new bristle portion and thus the whole paint brush need not be discarded when the bristle portion is no longer fit for use. Further, provided that the retaining member is of the correct shape to fit inside the handle, any number of different bristle portions having different ly shaped bristle arrangements may be used in conjunction with a single handle, the particular bristle portion chosen depending upon the particular qualities required of the paint brush in the work to be performed.

Claims

1. A paint brush comprising a handle and a bristle portion detachably secured to the handle.

2. A paint brush according to claim 1, wherein the bristle portion is removably mounted in the handle.

3. A paint brush according to claim 2, wherein the bristles of the bristle portion are fixedly mounted in a retaining member which is removably mounted in a hollow portion of the handie.

4. A paint brush according to claim 3, wherein the retaining member is formed with a pair of resilient arms extending away from and outwardly of the bristles such that, when the bristle portion is mounted in the handle, each arm engages in a respective aperture formed through the wall of the hollow portion of the handle.

5. A paint brush substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

6. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.