U.S. patent application number 10/175762 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-25 for paintbrush.
Invention is credited to Wolfinger, David Gary.
Application Number | 20030233719 10/175762 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32231619 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030233719 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wolfinger, David Gary |
December 25, 2003 |
Paintbrush
Abstract
A paintbrush as claimed at claim 1 wherein the paintbrush
comprises a head, a plurality of bristles arranged on the head, a
handle endwise interconnected with the head, and a magnetic region
for removably securing the paintbrush to a surface responsive to a
magnetic field provided by the magnetic region.
Inventors: |
Wolfinger, David Gary;
(Maylands, AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MERCHANT & GOULD PC
P.O. BOX 2903
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-0903
US
|
Family ID: |
32231619 |
Appl. No.: |
10/175762 |
Filed: |
June 20, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/159.1 ;
15/143.1; 15/246; 248/206.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 5/00 20130101; A46B
2200/202 20130101; A46B 15/0097 20130101; A46B 17/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/159.1 ;
15/143.1; 15/246; 248/206.5 |
International
Class: |
A46B 017/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A paintbrush and a magnet associated with the paintbrush, the
magnet being adapted to removably secure the paintbrush to a
surface responsive to the magnetic field provided by the
magnet.
2. A paintbrush as claimed at claim 1 wherein the paintbrush
comprises a handle and the magnet is associated with the
handle.
3. A paintbrush as claimed at claim 2 wherein the paintbrush
further comprises a head and the handle comprises a distal end
associated with the head and a proximal end remote from the distal
end, the magnet being associated with the handle proximate the
proximal end.
4. A paintbrush as claimed at claim 3 wherein the magnet comprises
a magnetic member fixedly attached to the handle by attachment
means.
5. A paintbrush as claimed at claim 4 wherein the attachment means
is an adhesive.
6. A paintbrush as claimed at claim 5 wherein the magnet is fixedly
attached within an aperture within the handle.
7. A paintbrush as claimed at claim 2 wherein the magnet and the
handle are integral.
8. A paintbrush as claimed at claim 3 wherein the head comprises
bristles supported by the head and a collar associated with the
head to surround an end portion of the proximal end.
9. A paintbrush as claimed at claim 8 wherein the magnetic region
is enlarged by association with a ferro-magnetic metal portion of
the head.
10. A paintbrush as claimed at claim 1 wherein the paintbrush
comprises a head, a plurality of bristles arranged on the head, a
handle endwise interconnected with the head, and a magnetic region
for removably securing the paintbrush to a surface responsive to a
magnetic field provided by the magnetic region.
11. A paintbrush as claimed at claim 1 wherein the magnet is a
detachable magnetic device adapted for use with a paintbrush having
a ferromagnetic metallic portion, the detachable magnetic device
comprising a magnetic member and a housing, the magnetic member
being adapted to be secured to ferro-magnetic portion by the
magnetic field of the and to removably secure the paintbrush to a
surface responsive to the magnetic field provided by the
magnet.
12. A detachable magnetic device adapted for use with a paintbrush
as claimed at claim 1, the paintbrush having a ferro-magnetic
metallic portion, the detachable magnetic device comprising a
magnetic member and a housing, the magnetic member being adapted to
be secured to ferro-magnetic portion by the magnetic field of the
and to removably secure the paintbrush to a surface responsive to
the magnetic field provided by the magnet.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to brushes and has particular
application to paint brushes.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Paintbrushes for the application of coating compositions
such as paint or varnish are commonly known objects. They generally
include a handle interconnected to a bristle-carrying head upon
which are arranged a plurality of bristles. A junction between the
handle and the bristle-carrying head is commonly further secured
and covered by a collar, wherein the collar is fitted around the
base of the bristle-carrying head.
[0003] Coating compositions are applied by first loading the
bristles of the paintbrush with coating composition and then
transferring the coating composition to a surface with brush-like
movements. When the user rests from their activity, the paintbrush
is generally placed in an empty container to prevent the paintbrush
from attracting dust and dirt, and to avoid the unintentional
application of coating composition to a surface on which the hand
tool is placed. Commonly, the paintbrush may be rested on an upper
edge of a paint tin or a paint tin lid. Nevertheless, the
paintbrush can be easily dislodged from its container, particularly
in a cluttered work environment.
[0004] The present invention seeks to overcome the aforementioned
disadvantages.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Accordingly, the invention resides in a paintbrush and a
magnet associated with the paintbrush, the magnet being adapted to
removably secure the paintbrush to a surface responsive to the
magnetic field provided by the magnet.
[0006] According to a preferred feature of the invention, the
paintbrush comprises a handle and the magnet is associated with the
handle.
[0007] According to a preferred feature of the invention, the
paintbrush further comprises a head and the handle comprises a
distal end associated with the head and a proximal end remote from
the distal end, the magnet being associated with the handle
proximate the proximal end.
[0008] According to a preferred embodiment, the magnet comprises a
magnetic member fixedly attached to the handle by attachment
means.
[0009] According to a preferred embodiment, the attachment means is
an adhesive.
[0010] According to a preferred embodiment the magnet is fixedly
attached within an aperture within the handle.
[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the magnet and the
handle are integral.
[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, the head comprises
bristles supported by the head and a collar associated with the
head to surround an end portion of the proximal end.
[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the magnetic region is
enlarged by association with ferro-magnetic metal portion of the
head.
[0014] According to a preferred feature of the invention, the
paintbrush comprises a head, a plurality of bristles arranged on
the head, a handle endwise interconnected with the head, and a
magnetic region for removably securing the paintbrush to a surface
responsive to a magnetic field provided by the magnetic region.
[0015] According to a preferred feature of the invention, the
magnet is associated with a detachable magnetic device adapted for
use with a paintbrush having a ferro-magnetic metallic portion, the
detachable magnetic device comprising a magnetic member and a
housing, the magnetic member being adapted to be secured to
ferro-magnetic portion by the magnetic field of the and to
removably secure the paintbrush to a surface responsive to the
magnetic field provided by the magnet.
[0016] According to a further aspect, the invention also resides in
a detachable magnetic device adapted for use with a paintbrush, the
paintbrush having a ferro-magnetic metallic portion, the detachable
magnetic device comprising a magnetic member and a housing, the
magnetic member being adapted to be secured to ferro-magnetic
portion by the magnetic field of the and to removably secure the
paintbrush to a surface responsive to the magnetic field provided
by the magnet.
[0017] The present invention will now be described, by way of
example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in
which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a paintbrush in accordance with the
present invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a side view of a detachable magnet for use with a
paintbrush in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] In FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawing, there is shown a
paintbrush 10. The paintbrush 10 comprises a handle member 20, a
head 30, a plurality of bristles 35 arranged on the head 30, a
collar member 40 and a magnetic member 50.
[0021] The handle member 20 includes a proximal and a distal end
22, 24. The distal end 24 is arranged to be interconnected with a
base 26 of the head 30.
[0022] The magnetic member 50 is formed from a material which
provides a permanent magnetic field. Preferably, the magnetic
member 50 is formed from a rare earth permanent magnetic material,
however, it is envisaged that the magnetic member 50 could be
formed from other magnetic materials such as magneto ferrous
materials or other materials in which a permanent magnetic field is
induced. The magnetic member 50 is typically about 2-3 millimeters
in thickness and approximately 1-4 cm2 in area.
[0023] The permanent magnetic field exerted by the magnetic member
50 is sufficiently strong enough to removably secure the paintbrush
10 to a surface which is responsive to the magnetic field provided
by the magnetic member 50. For example, the magnetic paintbrush 10
is removably secured to metallic surfaces, such as the surface of a
paint pot lid or the surface of an upper rim of the paint pot. It
is envisaged that the force of the attraction between the surface
and the magnetic paintbrush 10 will be such that the magnetic
paintbrush 10 cannot be removed from the surface unless a greater
force than the force exerted by the magnetic field of the magnetic
member 50 is applied to the magnetic paintbrush 10. In this way,
the magnetic paintbrush 10 is prevented from being accidentally
dislodged from the surface. Thus, spillage and accidental
application of the coating composition on undesirable surfaces are
reduced, enabling a cleaner and less cluttered work environment to
be maintained.
[0024] Despite the relatively small area of the magnetic member 50,
it is envisaged that those parts of the paintbrush 10 which are
made from metallic material and which are proximal the magnetic
member 50 will become magnetised and form a magnetic region. Thus,
the magnetic region for removably securing the paintbrush to a
surface responsive to a magnetic field provided by the magnetic
region may be larger in area than the area of the magnetic member
50.
[0025] The magnetic member 50 is disposed proximal to the distal
end 24 of the handle member 20 and the base 26 of the head 30. As
shown in FIG. 1, the magnetic member 50 is fixedly attached to an
outer surface of the distal end 24 of the handle member 20 and the
base 26 of the head 30 with an attachment means.
[0026] Preferably, the attachment means is a strong adhesive
material. The magnetic member 50 is further secured to the magnetic
paintbrush 10 with the collar member 40 which is arranged to be
fitted around the distal end 24 and the base 26 of the head 30. In
this way, the magnetic member 50 is disposed intermediate the outer
surfaces of the base 26 of the head 30, the distal end 24 of the
handle 20, and an inner surface of the collar member 40.
[0027] When the bristles 35 arranged on the head 30 are loaded with
paint, the weight of the loaded bristles 35 may be up to 3-4 times
more than the weight of the unloaded bristles 35. It is envisaged
that the magnetic member 50 will be positioned such that the weight
of the loaded bristles 35 is balanced against the weight of the
handle member 20 and the base 26 of the head 30. In this way, the
gravitational force acting on the loaded bristles is about equal to
or less than the force exerted by the magnetic field of the
magnetic member 50. Thus, the magnetic paint brush 10 is prevented
from tipping into the paint pot under its own weight.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown a detachable magnetic
device 100 for use with a paintbrush. The detachable magnetic
device 100 comprises a magnetic member 150 and a housing 110. The
magnetic member 150 has an upper surface 152 and a lower surface
154. The magnetic member 150 is formed from a material which
provides a permanent magnetic field. Preferably, the magnetic
member 50 is formed from a rare earth permanent magnetic material,
however, it is envisaged that the magnetic member 50 could be
formed from other magnetic material such as magneto ferrous
materials or other materials in which a permanent magnetic field is
induced.
[0029] Preferably, the housing is formed of an inert plastics
material. The housing 110 has an upper surface 118 and a lower
surface 116. The housing 110 is provided with a recess 112. The
recess 112 has substantially the same dimensions as the magnetic
member 150 such that the magnetic member 150 is a close fit in the
recess 112, and the upper surface 152 of the magnetic member 150 is
flush with the upper surface 118 of the housing 110. It is
envisaged that the lower surface 116 of the housing 110 and the
lower surface 154 of the magnetic member 150 are separated by a
small distance preferably of about 0.5 mm to 2 mm.
[0030] In use, the upper surface 152 of the magnetic member and the
upper surface 118 of the housing 110 is mounted contiguously on an
outer surface of paintbrush. Preferably, the collar or head of the
paintbrush is formed of a metallic material which is responsive to
the magnetic field provided by the magnetic member 150. In this
way, the paintbrush is attracted to the detachable magnet device
100.
[0031] The lower surface 116 of the housing 110 is then mounted
contiguously on a surface which is responsive to the magnetic field
provided by the magnetic member 50, such as the surface of a paint
pot lid or the surface of an upper rim of the paint pot.
[0032] It is envisaged that the force of attraction between the
paintbrush and the magnetic member 150, and the force of attraction
between the surface and the magnetic member 150 will be such that
the paintbrush cannot be removed from the surface unless a greater
force than the force exerted by the magnetic field of the magnetic
member 150 to the surface or the paintbrush is applied to the
paintbrush. In this way a paintbrush can be removably secured to a
surface responsive to a magnetic field provided by the detachable
magnetic device 100.
[0033] The magnetic device 100 can be detached from the paintbrush
by applying a force to the detachable magnetic device 100 that is
greater than the force exerted by the magnetic field of the
magnetic member 150 or the paintbrush.
[0034] According to a further embodiment (not shown), the magnet is
integral with the handle.
[0035] Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a
skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present
invention.
[0036] Throughout the specification, unless the context requires
otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or
"comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated
integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other
integer or group of integers.
* * * * *