US3085583A

US3085583A - Paint brush cleaning aid

Info

Publication number: US3085583A
Application number: US18661A
Authority: US
Inventors: Siek Clarence
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-03-30
Filing date: 1960-03-30
Publication date: 1963-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 1980-04-16

Description

April 16, 1963 c. SlEK PAINT BRUSH CLEANING AID Filed March 50. 1960 wii'ue s W9 United States Patent 3,085,583 PAINT BRUSH CLEANENG All) (Ilarence Sielr, 417 th St., Des Moines, Iowa Filed Mar. 30, 1960, Ser. No. 18,661 '7 Claims. (Cl. 134-109) My invention relates to a device to facilitate the cleaning of paint equipment and more particularly to a device used in combination with a spinning tool for paint brushes and paint rollers.

The cleaning of paint brushes and paint rollers has always been a burdensome task and this is particularly true when the specific painting job calls for many different types of paint. The paint cleaning art has been somewhat facilitated in recent years by a spinner tool which will spin the paint brush or paint roller into a dry condition after the brush or roller has been dipped into a proper thinning or cleaning solution. However, this spinning tool has not completely solved the painters problems because as it spins the brush, for example, the droplets of paint and thinner are scattered into the surrounding area by centrifugal force. Thus, the operator of the spinning tool and the surrounding area often become splattered with the flying paint and thinner material. Because of this condition, it is often necessary for the operator of the tool to go out of doors or away from his painting area to spin the brush dry. A further disadvantage of this spinning tool is that great quantities of cleaning material are wasted as the brushes and rollers are spun dry.

Therefore, the principal object of my invention is to provide a paint brush cleanining aid that can house a paint brush which is mounted in a spinning tool to confine the scattering of paint and cleaning fluid particles as the brush is being spun dry.

A further object of my invention is to provide a paint brush cleaning aid which will serve to salvage the cleaning fluid material as it is forced from the spinning brush by centrifugal force.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a paint brush cleaning aid that will facilitate the separation of paint particles from the cleaning fluid after the paint particles and cleaning fluid have been salvaged from the spinning brush.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a paint brush cleaning aid that is economical of manufacture, durable in use, and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination, of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my device;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of my device taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view the bottom of my device; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through my device when it is in its operating condition.

I have used the numeral 10 to designate a spinner tool which is comprised of an elongated cylinder 12 which in turn slidably receives a plunger 14 in one of its ends. Spring loaded arms 16 are mounted on the end of cylinder 12 opposite to plunger 14 and arms 16 are adapted to receive the handle of a paint brush 18. These arms 16 can also receive an elongated cylindrical paint roller if desired. The details of spinner tool 10 have not been shown since they do not comprise a part of the tray element in 3,985,583 Patented Apr. 16, 1963 ice of my invention but it should be noted that as plunger 14 is slidably moved in and out of cylinder 12, the arms 16 maintain the position shown in FIG. 4 but rotate about the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 12 and the plunger 14. When the brush 18, which is held within the arms 16, is also rotated in this manner, the paint and cleaning fluid particle-s within the brush itself are thrown laterally outwardly from the brush as it is depicted in FIG. 4.

A cylindrical pan 20 is supported on three L-shaped legs 22 which are secured to the bottom of the pan by welding or the like. The bottom 24 of pan 20 is formed in the shape of a cone as shown in FIG. 4 and a tray 26, which has the same general conical shape as the bottom 24, rests upon the bottom of the pan 20. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, tray 26 has a vertical flange 28 around its outer perimeter so that the upper surface of the tray is slightly separated from the bottom 24 of the pan 20. The upper surface of tray 26 has a plurality of small holes 30 and a larger center hole 32 is located at the apex of the tray.

A flange 34 extends around the upper perimeter of pan 20 and a cylindrical lid 35 is detachably mounted on this flange. Lid 35 has the same diameter as pan 20. The upper portion 36 of lid 35 is conically shaped and has an opening 38 at its apex which is adapted to receive the cylinder 12 of-spinner tool 10. A door opening 40 is located in the upper portion 36 of lid 35 and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, this door opening communicates with the opening 38 at the top of the upper portion of the lid. A door 42 is secured to the upper portion 36 of lid 35 adjacent the door opening 40 and is hingedly secured thereto by means of hinges 44.

Clasp elements 46, which are of conventional construction, detachably secure the lid 35 to the top of the cylindrical pan 20. Handles 48 are located on opposite sides of the cylindrical portion of lid 35 to facilitate the lifting of the unit at desired times. A hoop element 50 is pivotally secured to the upper portion 36 of lid 35 by means of brackets 52. A cap 60 which is adapted to close opening 38 in lid 35 at times is secured to the upper portion 36 of the lid by means of flexible chain 62 which in turn is secured to an eyelet 64 on the top portion of the lid.

The normal operation of my device is as follows:

When the painter desires to clean his brush 18, he may his brush against the top of wish to renrove the lid 35 from the pan 20 by actuating the conventional clasp elements 46. A quantity of cleaning fluid 66 can be placed within the bottom of pan 20 as shown in FIG. 4. The painter can then move tray 26 to urge the paint particles in his brush downwardly through the holes 30 therein. When the brush is well saturated with cleaning fluid, the painter can then remove the brush and place the lid 35 back on top of the pan 20.

The painter can then remove the cap 60 from the opening 38 in the top of the lid 35 and open the door 42. The handle of the paint brush is then placed within the spring loaded arms 16 of spinner tool 10- and the brush 18 can then be inserted into the lid 35 through the door opening 40. The painter can then push the lower portion of the cylinder 12 downwardly through the opening 38 in the top of the lid. If the painter has not already saturated the brush 18 with cleaning fluid, he can push the brush downwardly toward the bottom of pan 20 until the brush is completely saturated with the cleaning fluid 66.

The door '42 in lid 35 is then closed and the spinner tool 10 is withdrawn from opening38 until the brush 18 is located above the level of the cleaning fluid 6 6. This position is generally shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. The spinner tool is then operated in the manner described and the rotational movement of the brush causes the particles of brush to of the lid 35 and the cylindrical pan 20. This operation is continued until the bristles in the brush 18 become dry. The door 42 in lid 35 can then be opened and the brush can be removed from the unit by simultaneously withdrawing the spinner tool 10 from the opening 38 and moving the brush 18 through the door opening 40. The particles of cleaning fluid and paint which did not land in the cleaning fluid 66 will move down- Wardy into the cleaning fluid through the effects of gravity. The particles of paint will continue to move down through the body of cleaning fluid toward the top of tray 26 and will settle through the top of the tray by passing through the holes 30, This phenomenon takes place because the particles of paint are always heavier than the customary cleaning fluid. If the painter so desires, the cap 60 can be reinserted into the opening 38 to prevent the evaporation of the cleaning fluid. The entire unit can be carried from place to place by merely grasping the hoop element 50.

Since the paint particles sometimes interfere with the separation of the lid 35 from the cylindrical pan 20, the handles 48 and the L-shaped legs 22 can be utilized to facilitate the separation of the lid from the pan. The operator can place his feet on two of the L-shaped legs 22 and by exerting an upward lifting force on handles 48, the lid can be easily separated from the cylindrical pan. Of course, this separation takes place after the clasp elements 46 have been unfastened in conventional fashion.

gently pouring the cleaning fluid from the top of the pan 20. The paint particles, having settled to the bottom of the pan, are temporarily held adjacent the bottom during the pouring operation by the tray 26. After a substantial portion of the cleaning fluid has been poured from the pan 20, the operator can remove the tray 26 from the bottom of the pan and remove the paint particles therefrom. Thus, not only can the cleaning fluid 66 be salvaged during the brush spinning operation, but the cleaning fluid can also be salvaged after repeated cleaning operations.

It is seen that my device will permit the painter to clean his brushes at any point without fear of splatter-ing the surrounding area with particles of paint and cleaning fluid. Thus, from the foregoing, it is apparent that my device will accomplish at least all of its stated objectives.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my paint brush cleaning aid Without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included Within their scope.

I claim:

1. In combination, a paint brush spinning tool having an elongated cylinder of constant diameter, holding means extending from the lower end of said cylinder for detachably securing the handle of a paint brush, means on the upper end of said cylinder and secured to said holding means for spinning said holding means, and a paint brush cleaning aid, comprising, an enclosed container having a first cylindrical opening at its top center portion, a second elongated opening in said container adjacent to and in direct communication with said first opening whereby a paint brush on said holding means can be moved directly from said second opening into said first opening, and means on said paint brush spinning tool detachably extending through said first opening into the interior of said container said paint brush spinning tool engaging said container only at the periphery of said first opening, said cylinder and said first cylindrical opening having substantially the same diameter.

2. In combination, a paint brush spinning tool having an elongated cylinder of constant diameter, holding means extending from the lower end of said cylinder for detachably securing the handle of a paint brush, means on the upper end of said cylinder and secured to said holding means for spinning said holding means, and a paint brush cleaning aid, comprising, an enclosed container having a first cylindrical opening at its top center portion, a second elongated opening in said container adjacent to and in direct communication with said first opening whereby a paint brush on said holding means can be moved directly from said second opening into said first opening, and means on said paint brush spinning tool detachably extending through said first opening into the interior of said container said paint brush spinning tool engaging said container only at the periphery of said first opening, said cylinder and said first cylindrical opening having substantially the same diameter, said container having a bottom portion and being adapted to hold a quantity of cleaning fluid, a tray on the bottom portion of said container, means on said tray to hold its upper surface in spaced relation to said bottom portion, and the upper surface of said tray having a plurality of openings.

3. In combination, a paint brush spinning tool having an elongated cylinder of constant diameter, holding means extending from the lower end of said cylinder for detachably securing the handle of a paint brush, means on the upper end of said cylinder and secured to said holding means for spinning said holding means, and a paint brush cleaning aid, comprising, a pan, a lid detachably mounted on the top of said pan, a first cylindrical opening at the top center portion of said lid, a second elongated opening in said lid adjacent to and in direct communication with said first opening, and means on said lid for selectively closing said second opening; said cylinder of said paint brush spinning tool detachably extending through said first opening into the interior of said pan; said cylinder and said first cylindrical opening having substantially the same diameter.

4. In combination, a paint brush spinning tool having an elongated cylinder of constant diameter, holding means extending from the lower end of said cylinder for detachably securing the handle of a paint brush, means on the upper end of said cylinder and secured to said holding means for spinning said holding means, and a paint brush cleaning aid, comprising, a pan, a lid detachably mounted on the top of said pan, a first cylindrical opening at the top center portion of said lid, a second elongated opening in said lid adjacent to and in direct communication with said first opening, and means on said lid for selectively closing said second opening; said cylinder of said paint brush spinning tool detchably extending through said first opening into the interior of said pan; said cylinder and said first cylindrical opening having being adapted to hold a quantity of cleaning fluid, a tray on the bottom portion of said pan, means on said tray to hold its upper surface in spaced relation to said bottom portion, and the upper surface of said tray having a plurality of openings.

5. In combination, a paintbrush spinning tool having an elongated cylinder of constant diameter, holding means extending from the lower end of said cylinder for detachably securing the handle of a paint brush, means on the upper end of said cylinder and secured to said holding means for spinning said holding means, and a paint brush cleaning aid, comprising, a pan, a lid detachably mounted on the top of said pan, means for rigidly securing said pan to said lid at times, a first cylindrical opening at the top center portion of said lid, a second elongated opening in said lid adjacent to and in direct communication with said first opening, and means on said lid for selectively closing said second opening; said cylintachably securing the handle of a paint brush, means on der of said paint brush spinning tool detachably extendthe upper end of said cylinder and secured to said holding ing through said first opening into the interior of said means for spinning said holding means, and a paint brush pan; said cylinder and said first cylindrical opening havcleaning aid, comprising, a pan, a lid detachably mounted ing substantially the same diameter. on the top of said pan, means for rigidly securing said 6. In combination, a paint brush spinning tool having pan to said lid at times, a first cylindrical opening at an elongated cylinder of. constant diameter, holding means the top center portion of said lid, a second elongated extending from the lower end of said cylinder for detachopening in said lid adjacent to and in direct communicaably securing the handle of a paint brush, means on the tion with said first opening, and means on said lid for upper end of said cylinder and secured to said holding selectively closing said second opening; said cylinder of means for spinning said holding means, and a paint brush said paint brush spinning tool detachably extending cleaning aid, comprising, a pan, a lid detachably mounted through said first opening into the interior of said pan; on the top of said pan, a first cylindrical opening at the said cylinder and said first cylindrical opening having top center portion of said lid, a second elongated opening substantially the same diameter; the upper portion of said in said lid adjacent to and in direct communication with lid assuming the shape Of an inverted 0 1 6- said first opening, and means on said lid for selectively closing said second opening; said cylinder of said paint References Cited in the file of this Patfint p p e l e a h y e g a UNITED STATES PATENTS s opening III 0 e in error 0 sai pan; sai cym er I and said first cylindrical opening having substantially the gsi g if, same diameter, said pan having a bottom portion and 1 046021 Sanbom Oct 1912 being adapted to hold a quantity of cleaning fluid, a tray 1058205 Titus A 1913 on the bottom portion of said pan, means on said tray 1606291 g g 1926 to hold its upper surface in spaced relation to said bottom 2,102,819 Ronci Dec. 21, 1937 portlon, said tray and said bottom portion having the 2822 814 Torkelson Feb 1958 shape of a cone, and the upper surface of said tray having a plurality of openings.

7. In combination, a paint brush spinning tool having FOREIGN PATENTS an elongated cylinder of constant diameter, holding means giga gz' gr Z 1 u extending from the lower end of said cylinder for de-

Claims

5. IN COMBINATION, A PAINT BRUSH SPINNING TOOL HAVING AN ELONGATED CYLINDER OF CONSTANT DIAMETER, HOLDING MEANS EXTENDING FROM THE LOWER END OF SAID CYLINDER FOR DETACHABLY SECURING THE HANDLE OF A PAINT BRUSH, MEANS ON THE UPPER END OF SAID CYLINDER AND SECURED TO SAID HOLDING MEANS FOR SPINNING SAID HOLDING MEANS, AND A PAINT BRUSH CLEANING AID, COMPRISING, A PAN, A LID DETACHABLY MOUNTED ON THE TOP OF SAID PAN, MEANS FOR RIGIDLY SECURING SAID PAN TO SAID LID AT TIMES, A FIRST CYLINDRICAL OPENING AT THE TOP CENTER PORTION OF SAID LID, A SECOND ELONGATED OPENING IN SAID LID ADJACENT TO AND IN DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH SAID FIRST OPENING, AND MEANS ON SAID LID FOR SELECTIVELY CLOSING SAID SECOND OPENING; SAID CYLINDER OF SAID PAINT BRUSH SPINNING TOOL DETACHABLY EXTENDING THROUGH SAID FIRST OPENING INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID PAN; SAID CYLINDER AND SAID FIRST CYLINDRICAL OPENING HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME DIAMETER.