US3392417A

US3392417A - Assembly for cleaning, packing, storing, and preserving paint applicators

Info

Publication number: US3392417A
Application number: US545440A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr William M Flook; Iii George Barnhill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: GEORGE BARNHILL
Priority date: 1966-04-26
Filing date: 1966-04-26
Publication date: 1968-07-16
Anticipated expiration: 1985-07-16

Description

y 6, 1968 w. M. FLOOK, JR. ET AL 3,392,417

ASSEMBLY FOR CLEANING, PACKING, STORING,

AND PRESERVING PAINT APPLICATORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 26, 1966 July 16, 1968 w. M. FLOOK, JR. ET AL 3,392,417

ASSEMBLY FOR CLEANING, PACKING, STORING, I AND PRESERVING PAINT APPLICATORS Filed April 26, 1966 2 SheetsSheet 2 United States Patent 01 ice 3,392,417 Patented July 16, 1968 ASSEMBLY FOR CLEANING, PACKING, STORING, AND PRESERVING PAINT APPLICATORS William M. Flook, J12, Greenspring Road, Greenville, Del. 19807, and George Barnhill III, 911 Overbrook Road, Wilmington, Del. 19807 Filed Apr. 26, 1966, Ser. No. 545,440 5 Claims. (Cl. 15-257.05)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Assembly for cleaning, packing, storing, and preserving paint applicators having a container with a bottom and side walls that extend from the bottom and define an opening in the container. A paint applicator has closeoff means to close the container opening and this means is positioned on the applicator so that the applicator is positioned a predetermined distance from the bottom of the container.

This invention relates to an assembly for cleaning, packing, storing, and preserving paint applicators. such as paint brushes, and more particularly to an assembly comprising a container adapted to hold a paint cleaning fluid and a closure for the container adapted to position the lower end of a paint applying device a predetermined distance from the container bottom.

Prior to the present invention, numerous assemblies have been proposed for cleaning, packing and storing paint applicators, such as brushes, rollers, and the like, but none have been found completely satisfactory for normal use such as home use. For the most part the heretofore available assemblies are characterized by their cumbersome and bulky nature, and are usually somewhat difficult to use since they are particularly geared to large scale cleaning operations as of the type required by professional painters.

On the other hand non-professional painters, such as the average homeowner, do not require such elaborate assemblies because their painting needs are limited to relatively few painting implements. The previous assemblies are also undesirable from an economic standpoint since they are expensive to manufacture. As a result, nonprofessional painters have resorted to makeshift arrangements which for the most part inadequately clean and store their painting devices.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, dependable, reusable, rugged and economical assembly for cleaning and preserving paint applicators.

Another object of this invention is to provide a paint applicator storing assembly which is both inexpensive and easy to use and which comprises relatively few parts.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a paint applicator storage assembly which serves as a. shipping container and counter display for new applicators.

In accordance with the present invention, an assembly is provided for packing, storing, cleaning, and preserving paint applicators comprising a container for holding cleaning solvent and a closure member adapted to close and seal the container. The container may include a substantially horizontal bottom and upright side walls'having a marginal portion which defines the container opening. The closure member cooperates with the marginal portion of the container to form a tight seal when the closure member covers the opening.

The closure may include a central aperture dimensioned to receive a paint applying implement such as a paint brush. A given portion of the implement can be secured to the closure member at the aperture so as to position the lower end of the implement a predetermined distance from the bottom of the container when the closure member is in position on the container.

The closure can be permanently attached to the handle portion of the applicator by adhesive or it can be held in place on the handle by friction. Regardless of the method of attachment, the closure is secured to the paint applicator so that the lower end portion of the applicator is spaced from the bottom of the container when the closure seals off the container. Such an arrangement permits the paint applicator to be positioned in the container of paint solvent in a manner which prevents it from contacting the sediment Which usually accumulates at the bottom of the container. This arrangement also prevents deformation of the paint brush bristles since the bristles hang freely in the container. The closure also functions to prevent loss of the cleaning solvent by evaporation and spillage should the container be inadvertently overturned. Moreover, the closure maintains the handle portion of the paint applicator free from paint, for instance when painting overhead surfaces, which might otherwise flow thereon from the paint applying portion of the applicator.

The container and closure assembly of the present invention also functions as a shipping package to store and protect a paint applicator during shipment from the manufacturer to the retailer. Thereafter, the assembly serves as a convenient counter display and reconditioning unit for cleaning and preserving paint applicators. The container may include a pair of adjacent side walls that extend beyond the opening in the upper portion of the container which side walls provide a guide surface against which the applicator may slide to facilitate insertion of the applicator into the container opening.

Novel features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts and in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of an assembly according to the present invention with the paint applicator in a position above the solvent container;

FIGURE 2 is a section of the assembly of FIGURE 1 with the various components in assembled or closed relationship;

FIGURE 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a section of another embodiment according to the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a section of another embodiment according to the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is a top view of still another embodiment according to the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of FIG- URE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective of a tray having compartments contoured to accommodate a plurality of assemblies according to this invention;

FIGURE 9 is an elevation of another embodiment of the present invention with the paint applicator in a position above the solvent container;

FIGURE 10 is an elevation of the assembly of FIG- URE 9 in assembled relationship; and

FIGURE 11 is a section taken on line 11-11 of FIG- URE 10.

While it will be appreciated that the advantages of this invention pertain to packing, cleaning, storing and preserving various types of paint applying devices, such as brushes, rollers, and the like, the invention is particularly applicable to paint brushes. Accordingly, the invention for clarity and convenience is disclosed herein with reference to the packing, cleaning and storing of paint brushes only but with the understanding that such disclosure in no way amounts to an exclusive environment for the use of this invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, generally represents an assembly for packing, cleaning, storing, and preserving a paint brush 12. The paint brush is of standard design and includes a handle portion 14 and a paint applying portion or brush bristles 16. The bristles may be secured to the handle portion by a collar or ferrule 18 constructed of metal or any suitable ,material which is simply fastened to the handle b-y tacks 20, for example, as is well known.

The assembly 10 of the present invention includes a container 22 for holding cleaning fluid such as paint solvent 24 and may be made of a transparent, solventresistant plastic to permit the color and the level of the solvent to be seen easily. The container comprises a substantially horizontal bottom 26 which may be rectangular in configuration although other configurations are also suitable. Upright side walls such as 28 are connected at their lower end portions 30 to the outer boundary of the bottom section. The side walls extend upwardly to a marginal portion 32 which defines the opening 34 of the container. The marginal portion includes a bead 36 which functions to strengthen the container side Walls and serves to seal the container, as explained more fully below.

A closure 38 having a shape corresponding to the opening 34 of the container is provided to close the container to protect the brush bristles and prevent the paint solvent 24 from evaporating or spilling. The closure includes a groove-like depression 40 adjacent the outer boundary of the member which opens downwardly and cooperates with the bead 36 to form a snap-fit between the container and the closure.

The closure 38 also includes a central aperture 42 which may be dimensioned to receive any given portion of the paint brush 12. This portion is predetermined so that the outer tips of the brush bristles 16 are positioned a sufficient distance away from the bottom 26 of the solvent container 22 when the container closure is positioned as illustrated in FIGURE 2. This enables the bristles to hang freely in the container out of contact with the container bottom and the sediment 44 which usually accumulates there when cleaning the brush. Moreover, such an arrangement prevents deformation of the brush bristles which deformation might otherwise occur if the bristles were in contact with the container. The paint brush 12 may be secured to the closure by an adhesive material 46 or other suitable means such as nail-like fasteners, for example. Moreover, the closure 38 can be integrally molded with the handle portion 14 of the paint brush it the handle portion is constructed of a molded material.

Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 4. This assembly includes a container 50 adapted to hold paint solvent 52. The container may be fabricated from transparent solvent-resistant material to enable the color and the level of solvent to be readily determined. The container comprises a bottom 54 and upright side walls 56 connected at their lower end portions to the outer boundary of the bottom section. The side walls extend upwardly to a marginal portion 58 which defines'the opening 60 of the container. An internal annular groove 62 in the marginal portion is provided to cooperate with a suitable closure to seal the container, as described below.

A closure 64 on the handle portion 66 of the paint brush 68 is adapted to cooperate with the container to seal the opening 60. The closure comprises an annular bead 70 having a shape corresponding to the opening 60 and is adapted to snap into the internal groove 62 in the marginal portion of the container. Although the illustrated closure 64 is formed on the ferrule 72 which secures the bristles 74 to the handle 66 of the applicator,

it may be formed as an integral part of the handle or constructed as a separate component secured to the handle by adhesive or friction, for example.

The closure 64 illustrated in FIG. 4 is dimensioned to receive a predetermined portion of the handle 66 so as to maintain the bristles 74 in a raised position above the bottom of the container when the closure seals the container opening. Such an arrangement protects the bristles and prevents loss of the solvent by evaporation and spillage should the container be inadvertently overturned.

A container closure configured to cooperate with a cylindrical container of cleaning fluid such as a mason jar 82 is illustrated in FIG. 5. An aperture 84 in the closure member is arranged to surround the narrow portion 86 of a paint brush handle 88 and the closure may be held in place on the handle by friction or adhesive. The closure comprises a horizontally disposed covering portion which may be fabricated from a solvent-resistant elastomer such as neoprene. In use, the covering portion 90 is positioned over the opening of the mason jar 82 and a securing ring 92 is threaded onto the jar as is well known. As with the previously described closures, the closure 80 functions to support the bristle portion of a paint brush out of contact with the bottom of a solvent container and serves to prevent loss of the solvent by evaporation and spillage.

Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7. This arrangement includes a container closure having a central aperture 102 which surrounds the handle portion 104 of a paint brush 106. The closure may be made from a solventresistant elastomer, such as neoprene, and can be secured at the aperture 102 to the handle portion by friction, adhesive or other well-known fastening arrangements so that the member supports the bristles 108 of the paint brush 106 in a position above the bottom of a container of paint solvent when the brush is inserted therein for cleaning.

The closure 100 includes a substantially planar section 110 extending laterally outward from the handle 104 adapted to cover the opening of a container of cleaning fiuid. A flange section 112 extending downwardly from the outer boundary of the planar section in the direction of the brush bristles 108 is provided to snugly engage the outer surface of a suitable solvent container. Such engagement prevents loss of the solvent by evaporation and spillage should the container be inadvertently overturned in the same manner as the arrangement described above in conjunction with the other embodiments of this invention.

Each of the container closure members of the present invention also operates to retard the flow of paint onto the handle portion of the paint brush to which it is secured. As is well known, during a portion of the paint applying stroke the bristles of a paint brush are positioned above the handle thereby causing excess paint on the bristles to flow downwardly onto the handle. This flow is especially evident when painting an overhead surface such as a ceiling. The container closures of this invention prevent excess paint on the bristles from reaching the handles since they act as barriers in the path of paint flow.

FIGURE 8 shows a tray according to the instant invention having dividers 122 which separate the tray into a series of compartments 124 contoured to accommodate a plurality of cleaning assemblies such as assembly 10 illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURES 9-11 show another embodiment of the present invention which includes a container adapted to hold paint solvent 132. The container may be fabricated from transparent solvent-resistant material such as polyethylene, for example, to enable the color and the level of solvent to be easily determined in the same manner as described above in conjunction with the other containers. The container may comprise a bottom 134 and upright side walls 136 which extend from the bottom and which define an opening 138 in the upper portion of the container. One of the side walls may be provided with a liquid level line 140 so that solvent may be filled to an appropriate level. A pair of adjacent side walls extend beyond the opening 138 at 142 to provide a guide surface for the paint applicator 144 so that the bristles 146 of the applicator can easily be inserted into the container opening. One of the extended side walls can be provided with an aperture 148 to facilitate storage of the assembled arrangement as by hanging it on an appropriately dimensioned peg or nail for example.

The paint applicator 144 includes a container closure 150 positioned on the handle portion 152 of the applicator so that the ends of the bristles 146 are spaced away from the container bottom when the applicator and container are assembled. Although other configurations are also suitable, the closure 150 has a pair of adjacent sides 154 that are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the paint applicator. As shown in FIGURE 11, the sides 154 of the closure engage the extended side walls of the container when the applicator is inserted therein. The remaining sides 156 of the closure may be beveled so that they extend laterally inward in the direction of the bristles of the applicator to enable the closure to tightly seal the opening 138 of the container when the applicator and container are assembled as in FIGURE 11 While the above described embodiments constitute the preferred mode of practicing this invention, other embodiments may be resorted to within the scope of the actual invention which is claimed as follows.

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly for cleaning, packing, storing and preserving paint applicators comprising a paint applicator and a container adapted to receive the applicator, the

container including a bottom, and side walls defining an opening in the upper portion of the container, an applicator guide surface extending upwardly from the container opening which surface extends only partially around the opening, and means on the applicator for closing off the container opening, the close-01f means being so positioned on the applicator whereby the applicator remains a predetermined distance from the bottom of the container when the means closes off the opening.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the applicator guide surface extends around approximately one-half the periphery of the container opening.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the applicator guide surface is an integral extension of the container side walls.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the applicator guide surface is disposed in two intersecting planes.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the close-01f means includes substantially planar and beveled side portions adapted to engage the container side walls.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,086,676 2/ 1914 Linscott 15-611 1,359,650 11/1920 Amis 206151 1,959,441 5/1934 Oscar 15517 2,448,603 9/1948 Kevin et al. 15-517 2,633,845 4/ 1953 Peretti 15-5 17 3,009,189 11/ 1961 Pappas 15-517 3,157,905 11/1964 Levy 15-517 598,474 2/ 1898 Daniels 15-5 17 XR CHARLES A WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT 1. SMITH, Examiner.