Patent Application
20230063591
The present disclosure relates to brushes and brush holders, and more particularly relates to a brush holder that supports brush bristles while drying.
When painting a structure such as a wall or a ceiling, a paint brush is first coated with liquid paint and then used to apply the paint to a surface of the structure. After the painting is completed, the paint brush must be cleaned so that the liquid paint on the bristles of the brush does not harden and ruin the brush's capacity to be reused.
Once the bristles have been used and subsequently cleaned, the wet bristles oftentimes become bent, and if allowed to dry in a bent position, tend to remain bent permanently. The bent bristles cause problems to the painter during reuse, making it difficult to paint straight edges.
Accordingly, there is a need for a paint brush bristle holder that maintains the bristles of a paint brush in a desired orientation (e.g., straight) when drying to avoid the bristles from becoming bent. The brush bristle assembly according to the present disclosure addresses at least some and/or all of such needs.
In an embodiment, a brush holder includes a wrap made of a flexible material having a first end and a second end. An attachment portion is coupled to the band and formed to hold a portion of the brush handle adjacent the band and at least one brush bristle that is overlaid on the band. An attachment mechanism is coupled to the wrap adjacent the first end or the second end, the attachment mechanism is configured to secure the band around the bristles of the brush. The band is further configured to wrap around the bristles and to hold the bristles in a substantially straight orientation during storage and while drying to reduce/prevent the bending of the bristles.
The drawings are of illustrative embodiments. They do not illustrate all embodiments. Other embodiments may be used in addition to or instead of those provided herein. Details that may be apparent or unnecessary to a person of ordinary skill in the art may be omitted to save space or for more effective illustration. Some embodiments may be practiced with additional components or steps and/or without all the components or steps that are illustrated. Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present disclosure will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
In general, and according to embodiments of the present disclosure, a brush bristle holder assembly is provided. In some embodiments, the brush bristle holder includes a band that wraps around the bristles of a paint brush to hold the bristles straight while drying (e.g., after the bristles have been cleaned of paint). According to the present disclosure, the bristles dry in a straight orientation and are properly preserved for reuse.
In one embodiment herein, as shown in
For the purposes of this specification, the brush bristle holder assembly 10 will be described predominantly with respect to its use with a paint brush. However, it is to be understood that the assembly 10 may be used with other types of brushes, and that the scope of the assembly 10 is not limited in any way by the type(s) of brushes that it may be used with.
In some embodiments as shown in
The band 102 includes a first end 104 (e.g., a left end as shown in
As shown in
In some embodiments, the first attachment mechanism 110 and the attachment surface 112 include corresponding hook and loop material, hooks and latches, snaps, buckles, other types of attachment mechanisms, and any combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the first attachment mechanism 110 includes hook material and the attachment surface 112 includes loop material, or vice versa.
In some embodiments, the length of the band 102 from its first end 104 to its second end 106, as shown in
In addition, the height of the band's 102's body 108 is chosen to accommodate bristles of any length, with some bristles fully covered by the body 108 and other bristles at least partially covered by the body 108.
In some embodiments as shown in
In some embodiments, such as shown in
In general, the base portion 202 preferably includes a shape and form upon which a portion of a brush's handle may be laid. For example, as shown in
In some embodiments, a brush may include a generally inverted triangular portion that extends from the handle of the brush to the bristles of the brush. Accordingly, to fit with such a brush, the base portion 202 may be formed as an inverted trapezoid as shown in
In some embodiments, the brush attachment mechanism 204 includes a loop 206 having an opening 208. As will be described in other sections, the loop 206 is designed to receive the handle of a paint brush through its opening 208 and to secure it thereto for use. The loop 206 may be constructed of fabric, elastic, string, rubber, plastic, metal, other types of loops 206 and any combinations thereof. Other types of attachment mechanisms 204 such as, without limitation, latches, clips, hooks, straps, other types of attachment mechanisms, and any combinations thereof.
Configuring a paint brush PB with the brush bristle holder assembly 10 for use will next be described in relation to
In some embodiments as shown in
Next, the body 108 of the band 102 is folded over the front of the paint brush PB from the second end 106 to the first end 104 (e.g., from right to left) in the direction of the arrow A and pulled tight (or generally tight). The result of this action is shown in
In this configuration, the body 108 of the band 102 extends across the back side of the bristles B from left to right, and across the front side of the bristles B from right to left. In addition, a portion of the attachment surface 112 on the back 113 of the band 102 is preferably exposed to the front (preferably in the area of the bristles B as shown in
Next, the body 108 of the band 102 is folded over the back of the paint brush PB from left to right in the direction of the arrow B1 and pulled tight (or generally tight). The result of this action is shown in
In this configuration, the body 108 of the band 102 extends across the back side of the bristles B from left to right a first time, across the front side of the bristles B from right to left, and across the back side of the bristles B from left to right a second time. In addition, the first attachment mechanism 110 and the attachment surface 112 are preferably exposed to the front, as shown in
Next, the body 108 of the band 102 is folded over the front of the paint brush PB from right to left in the direction of the arrow C and pulled tight (or generally tight). The result of this action is shown in
In this configuration, the body 108 of the band 102 extends across the back side of the bristles B from left to right a first time, across the front side of the bristles B from right to left a first time, across the back side of the bristles B from left to right a second time, and at least partially across the front side of the bristles B from right to left a second time. In this configuration, it is preferable that the first attachment mechanism 110 overlays a portion of the attachment surface 112 such that the first attachment mechanism 110 and the attachment surface 112 may be pressed together and mated to secure the second end 106 at the front of the paint brush PB.
As shown in
It is understood that while the actions described above show the band 102 circumscribing the bristles B approximately twice, the band 102 may be configured to circumscribe the bristles B any number of times, as necessary. For example, the band 102 may be configured to circumscribe the bristles once, once plus a fraction, two plus a fraction, and/or any other number of times. In any event, it is preferable that the band 102 wrap around the bristles B enough to fully circumscribe the bristles B at least once on all sides of the bristles B so that the entirety of the bristles B is held by the band 102. Note that in some configurations, the first attachment mechanism 110 may be mated with a portion of the attachment surface 112 on a side other than the front of the brush PB (e.g., on the back side). This may depend on the length of the band 102, and/or the width of the paint brush PB (and of the bristles B).
It is understood that the orientations of the wrap 100 and of the attachment portion 200 may be reversed (e.g., mirrored).
It also is understood that any aspect and/or element of any embodiment of the assembly 10 described herein or otherwise may be combined in any way with any other aspect and/or element of any other embodiment to form additional embodiments of the assembly 10 all of which are within the scope of the assembly 10.
Where a process is described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the process may operate without any user intervention. In another embodiment, the process includes some human intervention (e.g., a step is performed by or with the assistance of a human).
As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “at least some” means “one or more,” and includes the case of only one. Thus, e.g., the phrase “at least some ABCs” means “one or more ABCs”, and includes the case of only one ABC.
As used herein, including in the claims, term “at least one” should be understood as meaning “one or more”, and therefore includes both embodiments that include one or multiple components. Furthermore, dependent claims that refer to independent claims that describe features with “at least one” have the same meaning, both when the feature is referred to as “the” and “the at least one”.
As used in this description, the term “portion” means some or all. So, for example, “A portion of X” may include some of “X” or all of “X”. In the context of a conversation, the term “portion” means some or all of the conversation.
As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “using” means “using at least,” and is not exclusive. Thus, e.g., the phrase “using X” means “using at least X.” Unless specifically stated by use of the word “only”, the phrase “using X” does not mean “using only X.”
As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “based on” means “based in part on” or “based, at least in part, on,” and is not exclusive. Thus, e.g., the phrase “based on factor X” means “based in part on factor X” or “based, at least in part, on factor X.” Unless specifically stated by use of the word “only”, the phrase “based on X” does not mean “based only on X.”
In general, as used herein, including in the claims, unless the word “only” is specifically used in a phrase, it should not be read into that phrase.
As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “distinct” means “at least partially distinct.” Unless specifically stated, distinct does not mean fully distinct. Thus, e.g., the phrase, “X is distinct from Y” means that “X is at least partially distinct from Y,” and does not mean that “X is fully distinct from Y.” Thus, as used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “X is distinct from Y” means that X differs from Y in at least some way.
It should be appreciated that the words “first,” “second,” and so on, in the description and claims, are used to distinguish or identify, and not to show a serial or numerical limitation. Similarly, letter labels (e.g., “(A)”, “(B)”, “(C)”, and so on, or “(a)”, “(b)”, and so on) and/or numbers (e.g., “(i)”, “(ii)”, and so on) are used to assist in readability and to help distinguish and/or identify, and are not intended to be otherwise limiting or to impose or imply any serial or numerical limitations or orderings. Similarly, words such as “particular,” “specific,” “certain,” and “given,” in the description and claims, if used, are to distinguish or identify, and are not intended to be otherwise limiting.
As used herein, including in the claims, the terms “multiple” and “plurality” mean “two or more,” and include the case of “two.” Thus, e.g., the phrase “multiple ABCs,” means “two or more ABCs,” and includes “two ABCs.” Similarly, e.g., the phrase “multiple PQRs,” means “two or more PQRs,” and includes “two PQRs.”
The present disclosure also covers the exact terms, features, values and ranges, etc. in case these terms, features, values and ranges etc. are used in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally, substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e., “about 3” or “approximately 3” shall also cover exactly 3 or “substantially constant” shall also cover exactly constant).
As used herein, including in the claims, singular forms of terms are to be construed as also including the plural form and vice versa, unless the context indicates otherwise. Thus, it should be noted that as used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Throughout the description and claims, the terms “comprise”, “including”, “having”, and “contain” and their variations should be understood as meaning “including but not limited to”, and are not intended to exclude other components unless specifically so stated.
It will be appreciated that variations to the embodiments of the disclosure can be made while still falling within the scope of the disclosure. Alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose can replace features disclosed in the specification, unless stated otherwise. Thus, unless stated otherwise, each feature disclosed represents one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
The present disclosure also covers the exact terms, features, values and ranges, etc. in case these terms, features, values and ranges etc. are used in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally, substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e., “about 3” shall also cover exactly 3 or “substantially constant” shall also cover exactly constant).
Use of exemplary language, such as “for instance”, “such as”, “for example” (“e.g.,”) and the like, is merely intended to better illustrate the disclosure and does not indicate a limitation on the scope of the disclosure unless specifically so claimed.
While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
This is a Non-Provisional application claiming benefit to U.S. 63/236,872, filed on Aug. 25, 2021, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63236872 | Aug 2021 | US |
