BRUSH CARE SYSTEM

Abstract

A brush care system is provided for cleaning, washing and drying brushes in beautification or painting. The system includes a washing part, a cleaning part and a drying part. The washing part and the cleaning part fit together for convenient storage while the cleaning part resides inside the system. The system may be sized to accommodate one or more brushes. The washing part may hold water, soap, liquid, or solution. The cleaning part allows water to be drained off and allows brush bristles to be rubbed against it to remove paint, dirt, cosmetics, and other material. The drying part functions as a stand for drying the cleaned brushes and is perforated to allow air circulation. The bottom of the drying part may be sealed so that a lower portion of it may hold clean water for rinsing. The washing part may be configured with more than one partition.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Brushes for fine arts and for cosmetics come in many shapes and sizes; they are valued and valuable tools. Often much of a user's time—time she would rather spend in beautification or painting or other activities—gets taken up by caring for and managing her brushes. It is important for people using any kind of cosmetics or paint to take care of brushes. For cosmetics, dirty brushes can cause skin irritation or infection and can carry impurities to the face and back into the cosmetic product. For paint, improper care will cause rapid deterioration, necessitating replacement. Good quality brushes are expensive, so brush preservation is important.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A brush care system is provided that has two parts which fit together for convenient storage. One part is a washing cup and is sized to accommodate a tablet of soap or other cleaning materials in the bottom of the cup. Tablet herein refers to a compacted form, such as a bar of soap (in contrast to a powder solid), and does not refer to a specific shape. A tablet can be any compacted shape. Water can be added to moisten (or immerse) the soap, while a cleaning screen retains the soap and allows a brush to be rubbed on the soap through the cleaning screen. The cleaning screen allows for gentle agitation of the brush bristles to more efficiently remove paint, dirt, cosmetics, and other material from the brush bristles. The cleaning screen also allows water or other fluid to be drained off while retaining the soap. The washing cup may be configured with more than one partition.

A second part functions as a stand for drying the cleaned brushes. This stand is perforated to allow air circulation. The stand may be a drying glass. The bottom of the drying glass may be sealed so that a lower portion of the drying glass may hold clean water for rinsing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a brush care system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a brush care system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention more particularly depicting a system for drying a paint brush.

FIG. 3 shows a brush care system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, more particularly depicting an embodiment of a washing cup and some alternative embodiments of a cleaning screen that can be used in the system.

FIG. 4 shows a brush care system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, more particularly depicting the assembled system.

FIG. 5 shows a brush care system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, more particularly depicting partitions of a washing cup.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A brush care system 100 includes a drying glass 102 including a bottom 101, a wall or walls 103 and apertures 104a-104f, a brush cleaner 106 including a cleaning screen 108 including a removal handle 110, and a washing cup 112, as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 also shows a surfactant tablet 114 for use with an embodiment of the present system. In a preferred embodiment, all components except for surfactant tablet 114 are manufactured from plastic. In alternative embodiments, the relevant components can be manufactured from ceramic, glass, or any materials that enable functionality. The system is configured to be lightweight and portable. It is particularly contemplated that the system be sized to accommodate plural brushes of varying sizes and shapes, although smaller and larger systems are also provided for.

In one embodiment, apertures may be in the bottom 101 in the drying glass 102 for better ventilation when drying brushes. In another embodiment, the bottom 101 in the drying glass 102 may be sealed so clean water can be held in the lower portion 204 for rinsing the brushes, as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 shows a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in use with a brush 202. As generally depicted in FIG. 2, washing cup 112 holds water and a surfactant tablet 114, such as a tablet of soap, compressed detergent, or other solid cleaner. Brush cleaner 106 is positioned inside washing cup so as to retain surfactant tablet 114. The water level in washing cup 112 can be above or below the level of cleaning screen 108 of brush cleaner 106. (In alternative embodiments, washing cup 112 can hold plain water or another cleaning liquid, such as a chemical cleaner, or can hold a solution as for example detergent powder, detergent liquid, or liquid, powder, or solid soap in water. No surfactant tablet need be used.) Handle 110 allows for easy removal and replacement of brush cleaner 106.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a dynamic cleaning system in which brush cleaner 106 rests atop surfactant tablet 114 and lowers within washing cup 112 over time as surfactant tablet 114 dissolves. In many uses, tablet 114 is a cake of soap or other soluble material, and cleaner 106 will lower very gradually as it dissolves, over many uses, so long as washing cup 112 is drained of water after each use.

The system is also hygienic because it provides for air-drying and air circulation, which minimizes the transfer of pollutants on cloth. The washing cup also enables proper disposal of cleaning materials and cleaned detritus.

A user takes brush 202 and scrapes, rubs, or agitates the bristles (not shown) against cleaning screen 108 to remove impurities, old cosmetics, detritus, and/or paint. A representative brush showing bristles or other brush fibers is depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 7,140,061 FIGS. 1A and 1B; other brushes and bristle and fiber configurations are well known to those skilled in the art and are contemplated within the scope of the invention. Brush fibers and bristles are not used by way of limitation, but rather to describe generally longitudinal hairs, bristles, fibers, brush, or in some cases, a pad that is used to hold and apply paint, varnish, tint, or cosmetics to a surface.

Cleaning screen 108 can comprise apertures defined by a grid (so that square or any other shaped apertures are defined), or can comprise another configuration of aperture and material, such as bars and spaces or pegs, so that a rough or differentiated surface is created that allows for friction and agitation of bristles.

Different configurations of apertures are provided for within the scope of the invention. Two different kinds of apertures are possible, which could be roughly characterized as asymmetric or symmetric. To distinguish the two, consider any aperture with respect to arbitrarily oriented perpendicular axes x and y within the plane of the (substantially flat) screen. Any aperture has a unique minimally enclosing rectangle with sides parallel to those axes. Consider the x dimension and the y dimension of that rectangle. If the ratio of these dimensions is outside of the range [0.67, 1.5], call the aperture asymmetric. For example, apertures formed as the gaps between parallel wires connecting two sides of a square aperture defined in the cleaner (screen or grid) would generally be asymmetric. If an aperture's ratio of x and y dimensions falls *within* [0.67, 1.5], call it symmetric. For example, roughly square apertures formed by a fine grid of parallel wire pieces with similar x and y pitch, would be symmetric. Of course, the apparatus can include a combination of different apertures, including both symmetric and asymmetric. The scope of the present invention encompasses both symmetric and asymmetric apertures as herein defined.

Clean water can be retained in a water-retaining portion 204 of drying glass 102 for rinsing. Then the clean water can be emptied and the user can place the brush in the stand bristles down, for drying. In an alternative, a notch or retainer is provided in drying glass 102 so as to retain brush 202 in an upright position. Apertures 104a-104f allow for air circulation. Before placing a brush bristles down, a user preferably places a protective sleeve or other covering over the bristles. One example of such a protective sleeve is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,140,061 to Baker et al., the contents and all aspects of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. In alternatives, other covers, sleeves, or cups can be placed over the bristles before the brush is placed bristles-down in the drying glass.

FIG. 3 shows washing cup 112 with some alternative embodiments 302 and 304 of the cleaning screen 108 of brush cleaner 106. As depicted in FIG. 1 and succeeding drawings, brush cleaner 106 is generally shaped like a flat disk with parallel apertures and bars, in order to provide a rough surface to rub the brush bristles against. Many alternatives are contemplated, such as those depicted at 302 and 304. The brush cleaner need not be a circle; it can be any shape, such as a half circle, triangle, or square that fits into the washing cup. The rough surface on the brush cleaner can be provided by square, rectangle, or triangle apertures (as, for example, in a screen), by round holes, or even by bumps or protrusions on the upper surface of the cleaner. In alternatives, a blotting cloth is provided

FIG. 4 shows an assembled drying, cleaning and washing apparatus 400. In a preferred embodiment, drying glass 102 snaps securely into washing cup 112. In other alternatives, drying glass 102 and washing cup 112 can be threaded so as to screw together, or can attach by any known means that preserves functionality. In either alternative, brush cleaner 106 resides inside the assembled apparatus.

In one embodiment, the washing cup 112 is configured as having one receptacle for liquid or cleaner, as shown in FIG. 1. The one and only receptacle is the entire interior of the washing cup.

In other embodiments, it is possible to have more than one receptacle in the washing cup 112, which can be defined by a partition or an enclosure or separated area in the washing cup. The advantage is to individually contain more than one kind of water, liquid or solution in one washing cup. One partition may contain a solution for cleaning while another may contain clean water for rinsing. When there are two or more receptacles, the receptacles may or may not have the same shape as the washing cup. In one embodiment, a washing cup is round and includes two partitions configured as two half circles. In one embodiment, a round washing cup with plural receptacles may be configured as two circles with different diameters that are concentric or non-concentric. Partitions are enabled by a divider or dividers in-between which are either as high as or lower than the washing cup. The dividers may be made of the same material as the washing cup. With larger systems for plural brushes, more receptacles may be needed.

FIG. 5 shows top views of the washing cup 112 with embodied partitions. Top view 502 is for the washing cup 112 when there is only one receptacle. Top view 504 is for the washing cup 112 when the partitions are two half circles with divider 514. Top view 506 is for the washing cup 112 when the partitions are two concentric circles with divider 516. Top view 508 is for the washing cup 112 when the partitions are two non-concentric circles with divider 518.

In the preceding specification various embodiments and aspects of the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense. These and other variations upon and modifications to illustrated embodiments are provided for by the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A brush care system comprising: means for containing liquid for cleaning brushes, said brushes including brush fibers;means for providing friction, said means for providing friction being positioned with respect to said liquid such that a brush can be wetted and rubbed against it, so as to agitate the brush fibers and remove material adhering to them.

2. A brush care system as recited in claim 1, wherein said liquid comprises a solution including surfactant.

3. A brush care system as recited in claim 2, wherein said surfactant is included in a soluble solid that dissolves to release surfactant in said liquid.

4. A brush care system as recited in claim 1 wherein said liquid is water.

5. A brush care system as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for providing friction is immersed in said liquid.

6. A brush care system as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for friction comprises a screen defining plural apertures.

7. An apparatus for providing care for one or more brushes comprising: a drying glass, said drying glass providing a receptacle for drying brushes, including at least one wall;a cleaner, said cleaner providing a friction-producing surface against which a brush can be agitated;a cup for retaining liquid for washing said brushes, said cup being further capable of retaining cleaning material chosen from the set of solid, liquid, and particulate cleaning material;said drying glass further including one or more apertures in said wall of said drying glass, said apertures providing airflow to aid in drying.

8. A brush care apparatus as recited in claim 7 further comprising: at least one partition in said cup, said at least one partition dividing said cup into plural receptacles, said plural receptacles being capable of retaining liquid.

9. A brush care apparatus as recited in claim 7 further including a securing mechanism that combines said glass, said cleaner and said cup into an assembly.

10. A brush care apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said securing mechanism snaps together or screws together via threading said glass and said cup, said cleaner residing within said assembly.

11. A brush care apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said drying glass includes at least one wall and a bottom connected to each other.

12. A brush care apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said drying glass further includes apertures in said bottom of said glass.

13. A brush care apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said glass has a sealed bottom that defines a water-retaining portion.

14. A brush care apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said cleaner comprises a cleaning screen, said cleaning screen having a rough surface.

15. A brush care apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said cleaner is substantially flat.

16. A brush care apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said cleaner further comprises a removal handle connected to said cleaning screen.

17. A brush care apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said rough surface in said cleaning screen is provided by at least one aperture, a minimal enclosing rectangle for said aperture having an x dimension and a y dimension of that rectangle, the ratio of the x dimension and the y dimension being outside of the range [0.67, 1.5].

18. A brush care apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said rough surface in said cleaning screen is provided by at least one aperture, a minimal enclosing rectangle for said at least one aperture having an x dimension and a y dimension of that rectangle, the ratio of the x dimension and the y span being within the range [0.67, 1.5].

19. A brush care apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said rough surface in said cleaning screen is provided by bumps or protrusions.

20. A brush care apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said cup includes two partitions, said cup being shaped as a circle and said two partitions being configured as two circles with different diameters and being concentric or non-concentric.

21. A brush care apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said glass, said cleaner and said cup are made of one or more materials chosen from the set of plastic, ceramic, and glass.

22. A brush care system as recited in claim 3 wherein said soluble surfactant is in a tablet form.

23. A brush care system as recited in claim 3 wherein said means for providing friction dynamically lowers within the washing cup over time as the surfactant dissolves.