GB2282633A

GB2282633A - An implement holding device

Info

Publication number: GB2282633A
Application number: GB9320501A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Beale
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-10-05
Filing date: 1993-10-05
Publication date: 1995-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 2013-10-05
Also published as: GB9320501D0; GB2282633B

Abstract

An implement holding device comprises two elongate members 1, 2 hinged together with a resiliently deformable hinge element 5 provided intermediate their ends biased so that two adjacent ends 1a, 2a of the elongate members are operable by operation of handle parts 1b, 2b to be clamped on either side of a clamping surface (6), and an implement holding element 3 mountable intermediate along one elongate member 1 in any one of a number of adjustment means 4, 4a. The implement holding element 3 includes means 3a to engage the element in any one of the adjustment means 4, 4a, and an opening 3b operable to hold or support an implement such as a paint brush (7). <IMAGE>

Description

IMPLEMENT HOLDING DEVICE The present invention relates to implement holding devices and, more specifically, to devices for holding implements such as paint brushes, spoons or the like in a spaced relationship relative to a clamping surface onto which the holding device clamps.

In a known implement holding device, such as that described in the applicant's own U.K. patent application, numbered GB 2146609A, there is provided a clamp, comprising two elongate members hinged together intermediate their ends and resiliently biased so that jaws at two adjacent ends of the elongate members are operable to be clamped on respective sides of a clamping surface to grip resiliently therebetween, and a brush or implement retaining element removably mounted on one of the said members. However, such a device has proved difficult and/or expensive to manufacture.

An object of the present invention is to provide a generally improved implement holding device for which the cost of production and the complexity of manufacture may be reduced.

According to the present invention, there is provided an implement holding device for supporting an implement in a preselected disposition, which device comprises two elongate members hinged together intermediate their ends and resiliently biased so that two adjacent ends of the elongate members are operable to be clamped on respective sides of a clamping surface to grip said surface resiliently therebetween, and an implement holding element, mounted on one of the elongate elements when the device is in use, for holding an implement, wherein a resiliently deformable hinge element mounted between the two elongate members serves both the function of resiliently biasing the two elongate members and the function of hinging together said elongate members.

An embodiment of the present invention can therefore provide an implement holding device of both simple and robust construction which is both cheap and easy to manufacture, and, for example, is easy to use even if paint or the like has dried on the hinge element.

Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention, in an alternative configuration; and Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention in use.

Figures 1 to 4 show an implement holding device, comprising an elongate first member 1 and an elongate second member 2, an implement holding element 3, implement holding adjustment means 4, 4a and resilient hinging means 5. The first and second members 1, 2 (Figures 1, 2 and 4) are conveniently made from a shallow channel section. Each member comprises a clamping end part la, 2a and a hand operating or handle part lb, 2b, with the clamping and operating parts of each member extending in different directions. In Figure 1, both elongate members are of substantially the same size and shape, with the clamping end part of each being about 4cm in extent and extending at an obtuse angle from the operating part which is about 10cm in extent.Depending on the particular application of the device, the clamping end parts la, 2a, may be provided with a roughened or frictional surface 10, for example, by use of an angular surface finish or a rubber coating.

The elongate members 1, 2 may, for example, comprise substantially aluminium, steel or plastics material. The resilient means 5, particularly but not essentially in the case of aluminium, steel or the like being used for the elongate members 1, 2, comprises a length of spring steel bent into a c-shape to serve both the hinging and the resilient biasing functions to bring the clamping surfaces of the clamping end parts la, 2a together. In the case of plastics material being used for the elongate members 1, 2 which may, for example, comprise a polyethylene or polypropylene material or a copolymer thereof, the first and second members and the resilient means 5 may be integrally moulded as shown in Figure 2. The thickness, or the section, of the material used of such plastics materials defines the rigidity of the component.In order to provide the required rigidity of the elongate members 1, 2, these members may be greater in thickness than the resilient means 5 or include ribs 11. In the case of a plastics material device, the resilient means 5 may conveniently comprise a flat member of either metal or plastics material linking each elongate member, rather than a particular c-shaped member. The resilient biasing from such a straight member is produced by bending of the flat member.

An implement holding element 3 is shown in Figures 1 to 4 mounted intermediate the clamping end part la and the holding part ib of the device in the first elongate member 1 in one of a number of implement holding adjustment means 4, 4a. These simply comprise holes through the first elongate member 1 which cooperate with an engaging part of the implement holding element 3. However, if desired the implement holding adjustment means 4, 4a may comprise a slot having a roughened inner surface running along the length of the first elongate member 1 of a number of keyed locations 4binto which the implement holding element 3 may be positioned as required. Figure 3 shows the implement holding device of Figure 1 in an alternative configuration, in which the implement holding element 3 is positioned in an alternative hole or slot 4, 4a.In this Figure, implements such as paint brushes and the like may be suspended with their bristles in a liquid when the holding device is used with a paint container or the like.

The implement holding element 3 comprises an engaging part 3a which fits into the hole or slot 4, 4a to secure it thereto, and an opening 3b into which an implement such as a paint brush may be inserted. If desired, the opening 3b in the implement holding element 3 may have resilient sides to clamp therebetween such an implement. However, in implements such as paint brushes and the like a reduced diameter section is usually provided between the operative or bristle end of the brush and paint brush handle, which reduced diameter section may be inserted into the opening 3b. Depending on the particular application of the device, the opening 3b may be required to be of variable size, or alternatively a range of implement holding elements 3 may be provided, each with an opening 3b of a different size. Preferably, the implement holding element 3 is irrotationally secured in the hole or slot 4, 4a, although, if desired, a rotational mounting may be provided, as is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows the implement holding device of Figure 1 in use, with the clamping end parts la, 2a of the elongate members 1, 2 placed on either side of the upper surface of a paint pot 6, and a paint brush 7 inserted into the opening 3b of the implement holding element 3. In use it is usual to place the operative or bristle end 7a of the paint brush over the open end of the paint pot 6 and the handle 7b over the hand operating or handle parts ib, 2b of the first and second elongate members. In use, the resilient means 5 presses the clamping end parts la, 2a together such that when the clamping surfaces are displaced from one another, such as that shown in Figure 4, the implement holding device is frictionally clamped onto the paint pot 6.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An implement holding device for supporting an implement in a preselected disposition, which device comprises two elongate members hinged together intermediate their ends and resiliently biased so that two adjacent ends of the elongate members are operable to be clamped on respective sides of a clamping surface to grip said surface resiliently therebetween, and an implement holding element, mounted on one of the elongate elements when the device is in use, for holding an implement, wherein a resiliently deformable hinge element mounted between the two elongate members serves both the function of resiliently biasing the two elongate members and the function of hinging together said elongate members.

2. An implement holding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the implement holding element is removably mounted on said one of the elongate members.

3. An implement holding device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the implement holding element is mountable at one or more positions along said one of the elongate members.

4. An implement holding device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the implement holding element has an opening adapted to receive part of the implement to be held.

5. An implement holding device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the said two adjacent ends of the elongate members which are operable to clamp onto the clamping surface have non-smooth surface finishes on mutually-opposed faces thereof.

6. An implement holding device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the said two adjacent ends of the elongate members which are operable to clamp onto the clamping surface include frictional resistive elements on mutually-opposed faces thereof.

7. An implement holding device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the said hinge element comprises a resilient metal.

8. An implement holding device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the said hinge element comprises plastics material.

9. An implement holding device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one or both of said elongate members are made of metal.

10. An implement holding device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein one or both of said elongate members are made of plastics material.

11. An implement holding device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the implement holding element is slidably mounted along at least part of the length of one of the elongate elements.

12. An implement holding device as claimed in claim 10 when read as appended to claim 8, wherein the device is injection moulded.

13. An implement holding device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 3 and 4, or Figures 2, 3 and 4, of the accompanying drawings.