GB2369081A

GB2369081A - Adjustable paint brush holder

Info

Publication number: GB2369081A
Application number: GB0028051A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Howard Peter Jolly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-11-17
Filing date: 2000-11-17
Publication date: 2002-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 2020-11-17
Also published as: GB0028051D0; GB2369081B

Abstract

An adjustable paint brush holder 1 comprises a handle 5 adjacent to a neck portion 6, the neck portion including a slot 8 for slidably receiving a clamp 7. Upon relative rotation between the neck portion 6 and handle 5 the clamp 7 is slidable axially within the slot 8 to thereby releasably secure a paint brush thereto. The free end of the neck 6 is preferably angled to more easily permit the brush to be used for painting, the paint brush holder being particularly useful for painting in cramped or awkward conditions. The clamp 7 is preferably a flattened hook having a threaded stem (9, figure 4) which extends through a smooth bore (12, figure 6) in the neck portion 6 and into a threaded bore (10, figure 5) in the handle 5.

Description

ADJUSTABLE PAINT BRUSH HOLDER

This invention relates to an adjustable paint brush holder for use during painting and similar activities.

Conventional paint brushes usually comprise an elongated handle portion on one end of which is secured a ferrule for securing the bristles of the brush. This generally linear arrangement is not ideally adapted to fit the human hand but relies instead upon the articulation of such and/or the placement of fingers around the brush handle, particularly where the brush is relatively thin and relatively delicate painting, such as artwork, or the painting of edge surfaces is to be done. Although this problem can be overcome by means of a brush having a specially shaped handle adapted to fit more easily into the hand of a person, problems then arise in terms of increased cost, storage space and when e. g. it is necessary to clean the brush and place it into a container containing a cleaning agent, such as white spirit.

Even with specially shaped brushes there is also the problem of the hand and fingers being close to the brush end and hence there is the possibility of paint getting onto the skin, particularly when painting in confined areas such as corners, in between bannister rails and so on.

The present invention is derived from the realisation that there exists a need for an interface between a convention brush and the hand by which the brush may be held at a desired angle for painting but without the hand of a person being in the immediate vicinity thereof.

According to the invention there is provided an adjustable paint brush holder comprising or including an elongated handle adjacent a neck portion rotatably mounted relative thereto on one end thereof, the neck portion including means for slidably receiving a clamp for clamping a paint brush onto the free end of the neck remote from the handle in response to relative rotation between the handle and the neck in one direction and for releasing the clamp and hence the paint brush in response to relative rotation in the opposite direction.

Conveniently the handle is generally cylindrical and has a closed end adjacent the neck portion through which end extends a threaded bore coaxial with the major axis of the handle and into which can be received a threaded end of a stem portion of the clamp, which is preferably in the form of a flattened hook, such that it is slidable towards and away from the handle in response to relative rotation between the neck and the handle. Alternatively, the clamp may comprise a curved hook dimensioned to permit various sizes of brush to be secured to the neck portion thereby.

Conveniently, the means for slidably receiving the clamp is a slot in one side of the neck portion, part of the clamp being received within the slot and hence being restrained from rotation relative thereto but being axially slidable therewithin.

Preferably, the free end of the neck is angled, typically by 30 , from normal to the plane of the movement of the clamp such that when a paint brush is clamped thereby it extends from the neck at a corresponding angle thereto, to thereby more easily permit the brush to be used for painting when the handle is gripped. This free end of the neck may be shaped to fit a correspondingly shaped part of a paint brush, such as being V-shaped or concave to allow part of the paint brush to be more easily secured by the clamp.

Conveniently, the free end of the neck portion and/or part of the clamp includes means for gripping part of a paint brush, such as by being ridged or corrugated, although it will be understood that other options could include an elastomeric collar and an oppositely disposed elastomeric sleeve on the clamp. Alternatively or in addition, that part of the clamp adapted to bear up against part of a paint brush may be coated with a suitably resilient material, such as a granulated polymer into which that part

of the clamp has been dipped whilst at a suitably high temperature to cause the polymer to melt onto the surface of the clamp and thereafter adhere thereto on cooling thereof.

Alternatively, two diametrically opposed slots may be provided in the neck portion for receiving a clamp in the form substantially of an aperture through which a paint brush may be slid and then retained against the free end of the neck portion by relative rotation with the handle, in which case the clamp may conveniently be round, curved or even rectilinear.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective side view of an adjustable paint brush holder in accordance with the invention holding a conventional paint brush; Figure 2 is a perspective front view of the adjustable paint brush holder of Figure 1 without the paint brush; Figure 3 is a side view of the handle and neck portion;

Figure 4 is a front view of the clamp ; Figure 5 is a cross section along the major axis of the handle ; and Figure 6 is a cross section along the major axis of the neck portion.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, an adjustable paint brush holder shown generally at 1 is shown holding a conventional paint brush comprising a handle 2 on one end of which is a metal ferrule 3 from the free end of which extends a bunch of bristles 4 which collectively comprise a brush for painting etc.

The adjustable paint brush holder 1 comprises a cylindrical handle 5, a correspondingly shaped neck portion 6 out of the free end of which extends a part of a clamp 7, partially slidably received within a slot 8 in the neck 6.

Operation of the paint brush holder 1 will now be described primarily with reference to Figures 2 to 6. Referring firstly to Figure 2 the clamp 7, which is in the shape of a flattened hook, is shown partially extending out of the neck portion 6, part of which clamp 7 is slidable within the slot 8 (not shown) in the directions arrowed. This is achieved by means of a threaded stem 9 (shown in Figure 4)

at the lower end of the clamp 7 being received within a threaded bore 10 (shown in Figure 5) extending through the closed end 11 of the handle 5 and a slightly larger smooth bore 12 (shown in Figure 6) extending through an otherwise closed lower end of the neck portion 6.

The closed end 11 of the handle 5 has a stepped outer periphery 13 adapted to receive a correspondingly shaped flanged recess 14 at the lower end of the neck portion 6 such that upon assembly of the adjustable paint brush holder as shown in Figures 1 and 2 rotation of the handle 5 relative to the neck portion 6 in either direction will cause the clamp 7 to slide axially towards or away from the neck 6 such that a paint brush can be releasably secured therebetween.

In order to provide that a paint brush secured by the paint brush holder is held at a desired angle the free end 15 of the neck portion 6 is sloped, typically at an angle of 300 from normal to the major plane of sliding movement of the clamp 7. As can be seen more clearly with reference to Figure 1, ridged areas 16 are provided to assist in gripping the paint brush, although other means may be used, such as a rubber collar if desired.

The invention therefore provides an easy to use means of holding a paint brush at a desired angle and distance from the hand of a user, and may find particular benefit with people who are old or infirm, such as those who suffer from arthritis and similar conditions which impede dexterity.

Claims

1. An adjustable paint brush holder comprising or including an elongated handle adjacent a neck portion rotatably mounted relative thereto on one end thereof, the neck portion including means for slidably receiving a clamp for clamping a paint brush onto the free end of the neck remote from the handle in response to relative rotation between the handle and the neck in one direction and for releasing the clamp and hence the paint brush in response to relative rotation in the opposite direction.

2. A paint brush holder according to Claim 1 in which the handle is generally cylindrical and has a closed end adjacent the neck portion, through which end extends a threaded bore coaxial with the major axis of the handle and into which can be received a threaded end of a stem portion of the clamp such that the clamp is slidable towards and away from the handle in response to relative rotation between the neck portion and the handle.

3. A paint brush holder according to Claim 2 in which the clamp is in the form of a flattened hook, which flattened portion is adapted to bear up against a paint brush to clamp it against the neck portion of the paint brush holder upon relative rotation between the neck portion and the handle in one direction.

4. A paint brush holder according to Claim 2 in which the clamp is in the form of a curved hook dimensioned to permit various sizes of brushes to be secured to the neck portion thereby.

5. A paint brush holder according to any preceding claim in which the means for slidably receiving the clamp is a slot in one side of the neck portion, part of the clamp being received within the slot and hence being restrained from rotating relative thereto but being axially slidable therewithin.

6. A paint brush holder according to any preceding claim in which the free end of the neck is angled from the plane of movement of the clamp such that when a paint brush is clamped thereby it extends from the neck at a corresponding angle thereto.

7. A paint brush holder according to any preceding claim in which the free end of the neck portion and/or part of the clamp include means for gripping part of a paint brush.

8. A. paint brush holder according to Claim 7 in which said means for gripping part of a paint brush comprise ridges or corrugations.

9. A paint brush holder according to Claim 7 in which said means for gripping part of a paint brush includes an elastomeric collar on the neck portion and/or an oppositely disposed elastomeric sleeve on the clamp.

10. A paint brush holder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.