US3193863A

US3193863A - Paint brush construction

Info

Publication number: US3193863A
Application number: US306882A
Authority: US
Inventors: Myers Bernard; George L Camarero
Original assignee: American Flange and Manufacturing Co Inc
Current assignee: American Flange and Manufacturing Co Inc
Priority date: 1963-09-05
Filing date: 1963-09-05
Publication date: 1965-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 1982-07-13

Description

y 3; 1965 B. MYERS ETAL 3,193,863

PAINT BRUSH CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 5, 1963 BERNARD MU 52s and INVENTORS.

I Gt'ORGg L. CAMARERO A TTORNE Y,

and so on.

United States Patent 3,193,863 PAINT BRUSH CONSTRUCTION Bernard Myers, Surbiton, Surrey, England, and George L. Camarero, Jackson Heights, Long Island, N.Y.; said Camarero assignor to American Flange & Manufacturing Co. Inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 366,882 2 Claims. (Cl. 15-169) This invention relates to improvements in paint brushes and the like and is particularly concerned with brushes of the type used by artists.

One of the deficiencies in the common artists paint brush resides in the fact that although the handle and ferrule components thereof may last indefinitely, the actual life of the brush is severely limited by the relative frailty of the bristles themselves. Furthermore a variety of brushes is commonly required to be used by artists working on paintings. A number of factors contribute to this variation, such as, the length and texture of bristle desired, the size and shape of the bristle knot, the type of paint to be used, the surface being painted upon Where separate brushes are used for each change, this calls for a substantial amount of duplication in the handle and ferrule components employed .with the various brushes. Inasmuch as a substantial portion of the cost of a brush is consumed by the handle and ferrule components thereof, this duplication represents a substantial waste in terms of consumer economy.

Although brush designs embodying the concept of interchangeability have been proposed, none so far brought forth have been sufiiciently practical to provide a satisfactory answer to the problem. The brush of the instant invention, however, embodies a very simple and compact construction providing for interchangeability of the bristle knot as well as adjustment of the bristle length torsuit ones particular needs by an arrangement whereby the bristles may be propelled or repelled relative to the handle and ferrule. Further, the useful life of the bristle knot. itself is greatly extended through the use of the instant invention since once the worn end of the bristles is trimmed, they may be readjusted to restore their desired length.

It is accordingly a principal object of the invention to provide a new and improved paint brush.

Another object is to provide such a brush having replaceable and interchangeable bristle knots.

A further object is to provide such a brush wherein the bristles may be propelled and repelled relative to the ferrule component thereof for adjustment and replacement purposes.

A still further object is to provide a paint brush construction having adjustable and interchangeable bristles while employing a minimum number of parts.

Further and more detailed objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing proceeds:

In that drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a paint brush embodying the main features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the brush.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken through the ferrule with the bristles adjusted to an intermediate position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ferrule in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a preferred form of bristle knot in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the bristle knot taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sect-ion showing a modified connecting means between the handle and bristle knot.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the invention in its illustrated preferred embodiment seen in FIG. 1 comprises the generally indicated basic elements of a handle 1, a ferrule 2 and a bristle knot 3. Although it is presently contemplated that the handle and ferrule elements of the brush be manufactured of molded synthetic plastic material, the invention is not to be construed as limited thereto since other materials or combination of materials including wood and metal, could be employed if so desired. In the exploded showing of FIG. 2, it can be seen that the handle 1 is provided near the brush end thereof with a thread formation 4, which extends along the handle for a distance and terminates at its free end in an outwardly facing surface 4a. Extending outwardly from the surface 4a is a shaft 5 of reduced section which terminates in a bulbous portion 6.

The bristle knot 3, as here shown, is made up of relatively long bristles '7 which are embedded at their inner ends in a block of synthetic plastic resin 8. The resin 8, of which a non-limiting example is the epoxy family,

is of such characteristics that it tightly and permanently bonds the bristles into a knot. The block of resin 8 is itself formed with a hard, smooth side bearing surface 9 and a free end surface lit. The vertical cross sectional area of the resin block 8 is slightly greater than that of the bristles 7 so that a ledge 10a is formed exteriorly of the bristles where they connect with the block.

Formed interiorly of the resin block 8 is a cavity 11 which opens into the bearing surface 9 at 12 and the end surface 16 at 13. The cavity 11 is substantially the same size as the bulbous portion 6 with the opening 12 thereinto being of a corresponding dimension so that the bulbous portion 6 can be inserted in the cavity 11 assuming the position illustrated in FIG. 3. The size of the opening 13 in the end surface 10, however, is such as to snugly receive the shaft 5 but to prevent the bulbous portion 6 from being withdrawn therethrough. Thus it can be seen that the brush handle can be connected to the bristle knot simply by pressing the bulbous portion 6 laterally into the opening 12 whereby the bulbous portion 6 becomes seated within the cavity 11 with the shaft 5 extending through the reduced opening 13 in the end surface 19.

The ferrule 2 of the brush assembly, shown particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4, is provided with a cylindrical portion 14 and a flattened tubular portion 15 extending therefrom. An intermediate inwardly inclined portion 16 connects the sides of the flattened tubular portion 15 with the cylindrical portion 14. A thread formation 17 is formed on the interior surface of the cylindrical portion 14 and extends from the free end 18 thereof to the commencement at 19 of the inclined portion 16, see FIG. 4. As seen in FlG. 3 the parts of the brush are so dimensioned that the handle portion 4 threadedly engages the interior surface 17 of the ferrule whereby longitudinal movement of the handle within the ferrule can be imparted thereto by relative rotation of the handle with respect to the ferrule. The shaft 5 extends within the flattened tubular portion 15 where it remains engaged with the bristle knot 3. The block 8 fits slidably and snugly within the flattened portion 15 and is limited in its outward movement by the abutment of the ledge 10a against the inner surface of the inturned lip 20 which surrounds the opening 21.

In operation, a bristle knot is first snapped onto the handle with the bulbous portion 6 engaged within the cavity 11 as above described. The bristles are then inserted within the ferrule 2 at the end 18. The desired effective length of the bristles can then be adjusted by rotating the handle relative to the ferrule. In fully extended position,

the surface a of the block 8 will abut the inturned lip thereby limiting further outward movement, Also the V threaded portion 4 of the handle would be prevented from further outward movement upon reaching the line 19a.

it can be snapped into the cavity 26 in the block 8. Again in this arrangement the handle can be snapped into or out i of the bristle knot 13 f-orreplacement thereof'but Will remain connected duringjnormal movement Within .the ferrule 2. ,7

Althoughthe brush herein disclosediis designedprimarily as a paint brush, it is of course not necessarily limited thereto. The novel features of V the invention would apply to any brush where bristle wear is a factor and replacement or adjustability of bristle length would be desirable. The bare minimum number of parts employed plus the simplicity of the various parts themselves,

renders the brus'n'of the invention a practical solution to.

the above mentioned problems.

Since numerous variations and modifications of the M brush construction herein shown and described will readily suggest themselves to those skilled inthe art, it is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction described and shown andvarious embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the scope It is accordingly'intended that all matter conthereof. tained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described our invention what we claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A paint brush of the type having replaceable bristles comprising an elongated handle member, an integralportion of reduced cross section extending longitudinally from one end of said handle member and terminating in a free 'end, said free end having circumferentially enlarged engaging means integrally formed therewith, an external thread formation located adjacent said one end, a bristle knot including a body of bristles adhesively bound to gether at their butt ends in a hardened mass of synthetic plastic resin, said mass having laterally engageable receiving means integrally formed therein rotatably interlocked with said engaging means, said interlock preventing relaa w 4 tive longitudinal displacement of said handle and bristle knot, a one piece ferrule having an internally threaded cylindrical portion and ,a flattened tubular portion of reduced cross section extending longitudinally from said cylindrical portion, said oneend of said handle member threadedlyengaged within said cylindrical ferrule portion with said resin mass slideably and nonrotatably engaged within said flattened tubular ferrule portion so that relative rotation between said handle and ferrule causes said bristles to be propelled or retracted relative to said ferrule.

2. A paint brush of the type having replaceable bristles comprisinganfelongated handle member, an integral portion of reduced, cross section extending longitudinally from one end of said handlemember and terminating in a free end, saidfree-end having circumferentially enlarged engaging meansintegrally formed therewith, an external thread formation locatedadjacent said one end, a bristle knot including a body of bristles adhesively bound tol gether at their'butt ends inga hardened mass of synthetic plastic re'sin,'said mass having an end wall anda side wall, a cavity integrally formed within said resin mass, said cavity having interconnected openings in said end wall and said side wall respectively, said opening in said end wall-being slightly smallerthan said engaging means, said opening in said side wall being slightly larger than said engaging means, thereby allowing said handle engaging means to be inserted laterally into said resin'mass while precluding relative longitudinal displacement of said handle jand bristle knot, a one piece ferrule having an internally threaded cylindricalportion and a portion of reduced cross section extending from said cylindrical portion, said one 'end of said handle member threadedly engaged within said cylindrical ferrule portion with said side wall of said mass slideably and nonrotatably engaged within said ferrule so that relative rotation between said handle and ferrule causes said bristles to be propelled or retracted relative to ,saidferrule;

v References Cited by the Examiner UNITEDSTAT ES PATENTS CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Prim ary Examiner.

Claims

1. A PAINT BRUSH OF THE TYPE HAVING REPLACEABLE BRISTLES COMPRISING AN ELONGATED HANDLE MEMBER, AN INTEGRAL PORTION OF REDUCED CROSS SECTION EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY FROM ONE END OF SAID HANDLE MEMBER AND TERMINATING IN A FREE END, SAID FREE END HAVING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ENLARGED ENGAGING MEANS INTEGRALLY FORMED THEREWITH, AN EXTERNAL THREAD FORMATION LOCATED ADJACENT SAID ONE END, A BRISTLE KNOT INCLUDING A BODY OF BRISTLES ADHESIVELY BOUND TOGETHER AT THEIR BUTT ENDS IN A HARDENED MASS OF SYNTHETIC PLASTIC RESIN, SAID MASS HAVING LATERALLY ENGAGEABLE RECEIVING MEANS INTEGRALLY FORMED THEREIN ROTATABLY INTERLOCKED WITH SAID ENGAGING MEANS, SAID INTERLOCK PREVENTING RELATIVE LONGITUDINAL DISPLACEMENT OF SAID HANDLE AND BRISTLE KNOT, A ONE PIECE FERRULE HAVING AN INTERNALLY THREADED CYLINDRICAL PORTION AND A FLATTENED TUBULAR PORTION OF REDUCED CROSS SECTION EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY FROM SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION, SAID ONE END OF SAID HANDLE MEMBER THREADEDLY ENGAGED WITHIN SAID CYLINDRICAL FERRULE PORTION WITH SAID RESIN MASS SLIDEABLY AND NONROTATABLY ENGAGED WITHIN SAID FLATTENED TUBULAR FERRULE PORTION SO THAT RELATIVE ROTATION BETWEEN SAID HANDLE AND FERRULE CAUSES SAID BRISTLES TO BE PROPELLED OR RETRACTED RELATIVE TO SAID FERRULE.