The present invention relates generally to paintbrushes, and more particularly, to a paintbrush with a tuft or bristle profile designed for producing unique streaking effects such as, for example, for reproducing representations of animal hair or coats.
Artist's paint brushes are typically for the painting. However, one of the problems which challenge the artist or user is that of providing a paintbrush capable of painting efficiently, for example, natural patterns of animal hairs and coats. In addition, the painting of a person's head or beard remains challenging.
Various bristle patterns have been used in the past for artist's brushes. It should be noted that although a paintbrush is used to apply paint, brush marks are typically indentations made by brush bristles. Further, a flow pattern of paint from brush to wall or canvas or other surface to be painted reflects a profile created by tufts or groups of bristles and painted surface particularities.
Typically, brushes are of greater width than thickness to facilitate paint application. Although curved or straight line painting details are important in most applications, another typically important detail has been the ease and fast coverage of the surface to be painted. As such, conventional paint brushes characteristically include a bundle or tuft of bristles with a working end for applying the paint or other fluid-like material to the to-be-painted surface. The bristles usually extend lengthwise in relation to the ferrule as does a typical handle received in the ferrule to facilitate use of the brush. In contrast, artist brushes are typically used to selectively apply relatively small amounts of paint with a specific emphasis on details.
Paintbrush users, e.g. artists, typically require tools or instruments that are comfortable and provide the users with a comfortable and secure grip. Often, many users prefer the warmth, comfort and feel of a natural wood handle when using a paint brush, for example. However, the comfort of a wooden brush handle sometimes is offset by its slipperiness and decreased durability.
In view of the above discussed artist brush characteristics, it is advantageous to provide a brush capable of painting efficiently, for example, natural patterns of animal hairs and coats, and having a handle configuration that is comfortable and durable.
The present invention is defined by the following claims. This description summarizes some aspects of the present embodiments and should not be used to limit the claims.
A paint brush comprises a ferrule having a forward end and a backward end. An elongate handle is connected to the backward end of the ferrule, and a brush portion is secured to the forward end of the ferrule and extending outwardly therefrom. The brush portion has at least two pluralities of bristle tufts, with the pluralities of bristle tufts being spaced apart from each other by lengths of the bristle tufts. One of the pluralities of brush tufts is capable of painting a corresponding plurality of substantially distinct and adjacent marks.
In an alternate feature, at least one of the pluralities of bristle tufts is fanned outwardly from the ferrule, and at least one of the pluralities of fanned bristle tufts defines a substantially arcuate edge.
In another alternate feature, at least one of the pluralities of bristle tufts defines an edge at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the brush portion.
Further aspects and advantages of the invention are described below in conjunction with the present embodiments.
The invention, together with the advantages thereof, may be understood by reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
a is a plan view along a width of an embodiment of a paint brush in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
b is a side view of the paint brush of
a is a plan view of another embodiment of a paint brush in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
b is a side view along a width of the paint brush of
a is a plan view of another embodiment of a paint brush in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
b is a side view along a width of the paint brush of
a is a plan view of another embodiment of a paint brush in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; and
b is a side view along a width of the paint brush of
While the present invention may be embodied in many forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described some exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.
In this application, the use of the disjunctive is intended to include the conjunctive. The use of definite or indefinite articles is not intended to indicate cardinality. In particular, a reference to “the” object or “a or an” object is intended to denote also one of a possible plurality of such objects.
With reference to the drawings and initially to
The brush portion 13 has a tufted look or construction defined by a plurality of distinct groups of bristle tufts. The groups of bristle tufts are noticeably distinguishable from one another because of their correspondingly substantially dissimilar working lengths, i.e. respective lengths or longitudinal distal ends from ferrule 12, as shown in
Further, second and third groups 19 and 20 define alternating bristle tufts with substantially dissimilar respective lengths, thereby defining longitudinal grooves or gaps 21 between adjacent longer tufts of the third group 20. As such, the shorter tufts of second group 19 delimit by their corresponding widths desirable gaps 21 between the adjacent longer tufts of third group 20, along the width of ferrule 12. This construction or configuration of the second and third groups 19 and 20 facilitates a working separation of painted marks while painting. Further, this arrangement of the three groups of tufts 18, 19 and 20 advantageously provides a substantial support for the third tufted group 20 when the paintbrush is used to apply paint.
As stated above, each tuft of third group 20 is tapered toward the working ends. As such, when the paintbrush is used to pick up and hold paint, bristles of each tuft of third group 20 are brought together to substantially form a corresponding wet pointed tuft. Accordingly, when wet the working ends of all third group tufts 20 define a series of adjacent wet pointed tufts. Thus, each tuft of third group 20 contributes to the creation of a distinctive narrow mark or streaking effect. The artist or user is therefore afforded a desirable and unique control of the application of paint on a surface to be painted. This desirable control preferably results in the application of substantially distinctly narrow paint marks or selective paint applications, such as streaking marks. Hence, with one brush stroke the artist may paint or draw simultaneously a plurality of substantially distinct and spaced paint marks. The substantially distinct paint marks are preferably parallel.
First and second groups of tufts 18 and 19 may also contribute to picking and holding of a desirable amount of paint or other fluid during a painting session. In addition, a respective number of tufted bristles allocated to each of the three groups may vary, thereby determining a thickness of the individual painted marks, as well as the relative distance between adjacently painted marks. Further, a shape or geometry of the forward or distal end 12a of ferrule 12 may determine an outwardly direction of the tufts. For example, in
To secure handle 11 to ferrule 12, rearward end 12b of ferrule 12 may be crimped or glued to the front portion of the handle 11. Preferably, rearward end 12b of ferrule 12 may be of substantially cylindrical form with a slightly larger diameter than that of the thinner front portion of brush handle 11 (not shown) to fittingly engage the front portion of handle 11. Ferrule 12 may be formed of a thin sheet of metal rolled into the cylindrical form, or may already be a thin metallic cylinder. Preferably, a composition of the ferrule 12 is stainless steel in order to minimize any possibility of allergic reactions by the user. Typically, ferrule 12 may be flattened into a substantially oval or rectangular cross-sectional shape, in proximity of forward end 12a, to a thickness appropriate to securely hold desired brush portion 13. Further, all the tufted bristles may be secured and anchored as a bundle or a plurality of bundles via their root ends (not shown) in ferrule 12. These root ends may also be bonded together by a suitable adhesive, such as epoxy or other suitable adhesive, to form at least one bristle knot upon hardening of the adhesive. Once cured or hardened in ferrule 12, the adhesive is not only adhered to the tufted bristles but also to an interior surface of ferrule 12 for holding the at least one bristle knot in place. The tufted bristles may be of synthetic, natural, or a combination of materials, as dictated by painting job characteristics or by the artist preference.
As stated above, the front end portion of handle 11 is partially covered by a soft yieldable hollow (tube-like) grip 14 in a complementary manner opposite rear-end 12b of ferrule 12. Such handle cover grip 14 does not add any substantial amount of weight to handle 11 of paint brush 10 minimizing any substantial weight-related fatigue during lengthy use of the paintbrush, while still preventing any material breakdown due to frequent uses. In addition, cover grip 14 is made of materials that are durable, i.e. remain true, while being exposed regularly to diverse chemicals, such as paint, pastes and cleaning solutions. Such handle grips 14 provide a desirably comfortable grip area, i.e. grip size or width as related to a user's thumb and fingers, without being impractical for obvious reasons, such as inefficient and fatiguing gripping. Hence, such handle grips 14 are provided to comfortably fit the grip of the user and ergonomically engage the contact surfaces of the user's fingers. Handle cover grip 14 has typically an inner geometric structure provided to substantially match or conform to the corresponding geometric outer surface of the front end portion of handle 11.
Discussions and/or descriptions related to brush handle 11, cover grip 14, and to the adhesion of bristle portion 13 to ferrule 12 are similar in all of the proposed embodiments, and therefore will not be hereafter repeated.
Now referring to
Further, both tufted groups 24 and 25 are simultaneously tapered across the thickness of the tufts toward the distal end of the brush. First group tufts 24 may have substantially sharp or abrupt distal ends from forward end 22a of ferrule 22 in a transverse manner to the width of brush portion 23. Second tufted group 25 is additionally tapered across the full thickness of the tufts toward their working ends to define a substantially lesser thickness at their respective working ends. These tapered working ends may define a substantially arcuate edge which transverses the width of the distal end of the brush 23. As such, first and second tufted groups 24 and 25 may define therebetween longitudinal grooves or gaps 26. The longitudinal gaps 26 increase in depths as their respective location is closer to the middle portion of the width of brush 23.
This construction or configuration of first and second groups 24 and 25 may facilitate a separation of painted marks while painting. Thus, each tuft of second group 25 may contribute to the creation of a substantially distinctive mark. The artist or user is therefore afforded a desirable control of the application of paint on a surface to be painted. This desirable control may preferably result in the application of substantially distinct paint marks. Hence, in effect, with one brush stroke the artist can paint or draw simultaneously a plurality of substantially distinct and spaced paint marks.
Now referring to
Both the first and second tufted groups 34 and 35 have corresponding distal bristle ends that follow respective arcuate contours. Further, both tufted groups 34 and 35 have tufts of substantially equal lengths, respectively, as their respective location is tracked from one side of the width of the brush portion 33 to another side of the width of the brush 33. Both tufted groups 34 and 35 are tapered across the thickness of the tufts toward the distal end of the brush portion 33, such that the second group tufts may have a substantially lesser thickness at their working ends. The first group tufts group 34 may exhibit substantially sharp and arcuately uniform first distal ends from forward end 32a of ferrule 32.
The tapered working ends of second tufted group 35 may form a substantially fanned edge across the width of the brush portion 33. Preferably, due to their respective arcuate bristle end contours the first and second tufted group 34 and 35 may define therebetween angular grooves or gaps 36 of substantially equal depths. Further, as shown in
The corresponding construction or configuration of first and second groups 34 and 35 may facilitate a separation of painted marks while painting. Thus, each tuft of second group 35 may contribute to the creation of a substantially distinctive mark. The artist or user is therefore afforded a desirable control of the application of paint on a surface to be painted. This desirable control may preferably result in the application of substantially distinct paint marks. Hence, in effect, with one brush stroke the artist can paint or draw simultaneously a plurality of substantially distinct and spaced paint marks. Preferably, the substantially spaced paint marks are generally parallel.
Now referring to
Thus, first tufted group 44 has distal bristle ends substantially angled to a longitudinal axis B of handle 11 from forward end 42a of ferrule 42 along the width of the brush portion 43, and the tapered working ends of the second tufted group 45 also form a substantially angled edge across the width of brush portion 43. As such, first and second tufted groups 44 and 45 define substantially parallel transverse angled bristle ends. Further, first and second tufted group 44 and 45 define therebetween grooves or gaps 46 of substantially equal depths. These grooves 46 may be staggered in progressively distal positions from forward end 42a of ferrule 42 from one end to another end of the width of brush portion 43.
As shown in
Specific embodiments of a paint brush, according to the present invention, have been described for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention is used. It should be understood that the implementation of other variations and modifications of the invention and its various aspects will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and that the invention is not limited by the specific embodiments described. Therefore, it is contemplated to cover the present invention any and all modifications, variations, or equivalents that fall within the true spirit and scope of the basic underlying principles disclosed and claimed herein.
This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Patent Applications No. 29/220,864; No. 29/220,882; No. 29/220,901; and No. 29/220,905, filed on Jan. 6, 2005 and herein incorporated by reference.