US3633234A

US3633234A - Paint brush having supplemental reservoir

Info

Publication number: US3633234A
Application number: US10253A
Authority: US
Inventors: Erik Henningsen
Original assignee: EZ Paintr Corp
Current assignee: EZ Paintr Corp
Priority date: 1970-02-10
Filing date: 1970-02-10
Publication date: 1972-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 1989-01-11

Abstract

An improvement in bristle-type paint brushes with a rectangular cross section in the nature of a supplemental reservoir therefor, characterized by the provision of generally short pile fabric on a flexible or resilient backing positioned adjacent the opposite faces of the bristle bundle, with the fibrous elements of the pile normally extending transversely to the extent of the brush bristles or slightly tilted in the direction of the free end of the bristles.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Erik Henningsen Milwaukee, Wis. 10,253

Feb. 10, 1970 Jan. 11, 1972 E2 Paintr Corporation Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee PAINT BRUSH HAVING SUPPLEMENTAL RESERVOIR 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Flgs.

U.S. Cl 15/114, 15/169 Int. Cl A46b 11/00 A46b 17/04 Field of Search 15/ i 06, f

s [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,602,947 7/1952 Soss 15/247 X 2,936,473 5/1960 Karnes 15/114 X 2,961,681 11/1960 Terzian 15/247 X 3,394,423 7/1968 Bischoff I5/l 14 Primary Examiner-Daniel Blum I Attorney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord ABSTRACT: An improvement in bristle-type paint brushes with a rectangular cross section in the nature of a supplemental reservoir therefor, characterized by the provision of generally short pile fabric on a flexible or resilient backing positioned adjacent the opposite faces of the bristle bundle,

with the fibrous elements of the pile normally extending transversely to the extent of the brush bristles or slightly tilted in the direction of the free end of the bristles.

PAINT BRUSH HAVING SUPPLEMENTAL RESERVOIR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to paint applicating tools and, more particularly, to a supplemental reservoir element for use with paint brushes.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Generally speaking, most paint brushes include a handle terminating in a medial or ferrule portion with a bundle of bristles gathered in, and secured to the ferrule portion.

The characteristics and performance of paint brushes may be changed by providing bristle material of different lengths, shape and blend of bristles, or by changing the number and size of plugs, which leaves voids or pockets in the area within the bundle of bristles. However, the ability of a brush to pick up and transfer paint is rather limited compared with the now popular roller and pad applicators, and there is a need and a desire to increase these characteristics of paint brushes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to the provision of a supplemental paint-holding appliance or reservoir for use with bristle-type paint brushes.

The best mode currently contemplated by me for carrying out the invention comprises the provision of sheetlike flexible elements of short pile fabric disposed on opposite faces of the bundle of bristle with the fabric material being positioned to terminate short of the bristle tips. Furthermore, it is preferable for the fibers of the pile fabric to be oriented generally transversely to that of the bristles of the paint brush, or slightly tilted in the direction of the free end of the bristles.

Several means may be provided for the installation, adjusting and removal of the supplemental appliance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of a paint brush utilizing the supple mental appliance of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken generally along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a paint brush utilizing another form of the supplemental appliance of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a paint brush incorporating the supplemental appliance of this invention; and

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken generally along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail different embodiments therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the brush 10 includes the usual handle 12 connected to a ferrule portion 14. A bundle of bristles 16 having opposite faces 16a and 16b, and

opposite sides

16c and 16d is secured within the ferrule 14 at one end by suitable means, such as by means of a plug and epoxy. The bristle bundle terminates at a free end or a tip 18. Enveloping the opposite faces 16a and 16b of the bristles 16 is the supplementor reservoir 20 of this invention.

Supplement 20 includes a thin, planar back 22 of flexible material, with an outwardly extending pile portion 24. If preferred, material 22 may be nonabsorbent. Pile portion 24 is preferably made up of a plurality of fibers 26 which are generally short and preferably transverse in extent to the length of the bristles 16 or slightly tilted in the direction of the free end 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the fibers 26 are shown as being generally straight and substantially perpendicular relative to the length of the back 22. It is to be understood that it is intended that these fibers would be considered to be generally upright and include fibers which initially project outwardly from the backing member and may terminate in free ends which are somewhat twisted or matted.

Opposite ends

30a and 30b of the reservoir 20 preferably terminate short of the bristle bundle tip 18.

The reservoir 20 is removably connected to the brush 10 for selective use therewith, and it can be adjusted up and down in the direction of the length of longitudinal extent of the bristles 16 to expose more or less of the tip 18 of the bristles if so desired.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reservoir 20 is of a one piece construction with a medial opening 32 for receiving the handle 12 which may be impaled therethrough. The reservoir 20 is secured to the brush 10 by means of a ferrule sleeve 34 having

sides

34c and 34d and faces 34a and 34b. The

sides

34c and 34d mate snugly with adjacent areas of ferrule 14. The sleeve faces 34a and 34b closely mate with adjacent areas of ferrule 14 with but slight spacing, preferably less than the normal cross section thickness of the reservoir 20.

The reservoir 20 is placed on the brush 10 by sliding the brush handle 12 through the opening 32 of the reservoir 20. The reservoir 20 is secured to the brush by sliding the sleeve 34 over the brush handle 12 and over the reservoir 20. Adjustment of the reservoir to expose more or less of the bristle end 18 can be done by axial movement of reservoir 20 and sleeve 34 relative to ferrule 14. Removal of the reservoir 20 is done by reversely sliding the reservoir 20 and sleeve 34 back over the brush handle 12.

A modified form of this invention is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. There the brush includes a handle portion 112, a ferrule portion 114, and a bundle of bristles 116. The bristle bundle has

opposite faces

116a and 116b, opposite sides 1160 and 116d, and terminates in a free end or tip I18. There the supplement or reservoir 120 is also provided with a generally planar flexible back 122. The back is provided with a pile portion 124 composed of fibers 126 preferably being short and extending generally transverse to or slightly tilted in the direction of 118 of the longitudinal bristle I16. Again, the opposite ends a and [30b of the reservoir I20 terminate short of the tip 118 of the bristle bundle. The reservoir 120 is removably connected to the paint brush 110 for selective use therewith, and can be axially adjusted in the direction of the bristle 116 to expose more or less of the tip 118 of the bristle if so desired. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the reservoir 120 is in two

identical parts

128a and 128b, rather than being one continuous sheetlike element as shown in the embodiment of FIGS. I and 2.

In the structure shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the two

parts

128a and 128b of the reservoir 120 are secured in a hooded ferrule sleeve 130, that fits over the brush handle 112 and brush ferrule 114. The sleeve consists of a hooded portion 130a with an opening 130b for the brush handle 112. Sleeve 130 includes two sidewalls 1300 and 130d and two inner faces l30e and l30f, and is of a size and shape to snugly matingly embrace brush ferrule 114. Two outer faces 130g and 130k include two

pockets

132a and 132b in the sleeve, one for each of the

reservoir parts

128a and 12%. Openings 133 are provided in each of outer faces 1303 and 130k. Wedge

members

134a and 134b, are received in the space between outer faces 130g and 130k and inner faces 130:? and l30f, respectively to clamp the parts 128a and l28b therein. Each

wedge member

134a and 134b is provided with spaced buttons or knobs 136 of a size, shape and spacing to snugly fit in openings 133 (such as by a snap fit) when the wedges occupy the space between the inner and outer faces. Thus, ferrule sleeve I30 and reservoir 120 are an assembly which can be placed on the brush 110 by telescoping the same over the handle 112 and ferrule 114. This resultant unitary assembly may be axially adjusted relative to the ferrule 114 to expose more or less of the bristle tip 118 and may be removed by reverse telescopic movement away from ferrule 114 and back over the brush handle 112.

Another form of this invention is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. There the reservoir 220 is incorporated as part of the brush 210. The brush includes a handle portion 212, a ferrule portion 214, and a bundle of bristles 216. The bristle bundle has opposite faces 216a and 216b, opposite sides 216c and 216d and terminates in a tip 218. There the supplement or reservoir 220 is also provided with a generally planar, flexible back 222. The back is provided with a pile portion composed of fibers 226 preferably being short and generally transverse to, or slightly tilted in the direction of, the tip 218 of the bristle bundle 216. Again, the opposite ends 230a and 230!) of the reservoir 220 terminate short of the tip 218 of the bristle bundle 216. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the reservoir 220 in two parts, 228a and 228b, is permanently connected to the brush 210. Preferably, the two

parts

228a and 22% are secured to the brush ferrule 214 in the same manner and at the same time as the bristle bundle 216, which securement is usually accomplished by means of one or more plugs 230 and epoxy 232.

The paint holding supplement or reservoir of this invention may be used with existing paint brush structures by means of the telescoping sleeve arrangement for retaining the same as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, or improved paint brush structures especially suited for utilizing this supplement as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In either case, it permits the use of a well known and suitable tool common to the knowledge of many users, namely, a paint brush. When doing small areas of work or minor touchup, it might not be necessary to utilize the reservoir or supplement of this invention. However, when covering substantial areas, the use of the supplement or reservoir of this invention is desirable.

it has been found that when the paint supplement or reservoir of this invention is assembled with ordinary paint brushes, the paint pickup and transfer qualities are in many cases increased to at least double that with the brush without the reservoir. The brush is used in the ordinary fashion. it is dipped into a paint holding container, such as the typical paint can, to a point approximately halfway up the bristles or so. The ordinary paint applying stroke, namely a to and fro motion, is utilized to spread the paint. The short transverse fibers of the reservoir, while holding a relatively large quantity of paint, in no way interfere with the normal spreading process and it is believed by some that the presence of this reservoir actually makes spreading or application strokes easier. By having the bottom or free ends of the supplement terminate short of the tip of the bristle bundle, it permits the paint brush to continue to possess the high quality finishing characteristics that the bristle tips impart to the painting action. While it is believed that the flexible backing member might not be necessary, it is thought that it is advantageous in that it affords a stability to the fibers so as to increase the longevity of the supplement and make it easier to handle, to remove and clean. Also, the supplement or reservoir may be relatively inexpensively manufactured so that it could be substantially disposable after each use, ifdesired, to avoid the cleaning operation.

In the illustrated embodiment, the supplement ofthis invention has been shown as connected over both faces of the bundle of bristles of the paint brush. However, it is to be understood that improved paint holding and transferring characteristics are obtained in those instances where the supplement covers only one face of the bristle bundle. While the performance is not totally as good as obtained when both faces of the bristles are covered, there still exists improved paint holding and transferring characteristics over that found with an ordinary brush.

Thus, with the supplement or reservoir of this invention, the desirable qualities of a paint brush are retained, namely, its versatility in picking up paint from a diverse number of types of containers and versatility in being able to apply paint in many different surface co nfi urations, and yet the advantages of roller or pad-type applica ors, namely that of being able to pick up and transfer increased quantities of paint are added to the brush.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

lclaim:

1. In combination with a paint brush having a handle, a ferrule portion and a bundle of bristles connected to the ferrule portion and dependent therefrom and terminating in a tip, a supplemental paint reservoir comprising a backing member for connection to the ferrule portion of a paint brush in dependency therefrom adjacent the opposite faces of the bristle bundle with the free ends of the backing member terminating short of the tip of the bristle bundle, the reservoir including a paint holding pile of projecting fibers extending generally transversely to the length of the bristles of the bristle bundle; and means on the ferrule portion for connecting the reservoir to the ferrule portion of the paint brush.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the means for connecting the reservoir to the ferrule portion includes a movable clamping member on the ferrule portion.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the movable clamping member comprises a sleevelike element telescopically related to the ferrule portion.

4. The combination of claim 8 wherein the sleevelike member has portions which generally matingly embrace the ferrule portion of the brush and pocket portions for snugly receiving the paint reservoir.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the means for releasably connecting the reservoir to the ferrule portion includes a sleeve of a size and shape to fit over the ferrule, with the sleeve having openings therein and wedge members of a size and shape to fit within the sleeve openings.

6. The combination of claim 9 wherein the pocket portions of the sleevelike member have wedge members therein for clamping the reservoir.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the reservoir is fixedly secured to the ferrule portion of the brush.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 633 234 Dated Januarv 11; 1972 Inventofls) Erik Hennincrsen It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim4, line 1, delete "8" and substitute -3-;

Claim 6, line 1, delete "9" and substitute -4.

Claim 7, line 1, delete "6" and substitute --l.

' Signed and sealed this 27th day of' June 1972.

(SEAL) Attest: I

EDWARD M.FLETCHER, JE. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer 7 Comissioner of Patents FORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 1 US GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I969 0-366-334