U.S. patent application number 10/370753 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-26 for paint brush for opening a can.
Invention is credited to Stafford, Scott R..
Application Number | 20040163193 10/370753 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32868217 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040163193 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stafford, Scott R. |
August 26, 2004 |
Paint brush for opening a can
Abstract
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a
paint brush is adapted for opening a paint can. The paint brush
comprises a handle having a built-in tip opposite the brush's
bristles and substantially thinner in at least one dimension normal
to the brush's axis than portions of the handle intended to be
gripped by the user. The tip is thin enough to fit in a gap between
a lip disposed along an outer circumference of a lid of the paint
can and an upper edge of a container of the paint can.
Inventors: |
Stafford, Scott R.;
(Weatherford, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MUNSCH, HARDT, KOPF & HARR, P.C.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DOCKET CLERK
1445 ROSS AVENUE, SUITE 4000
DALLAS
TX
75202-2790
US
|
Family ID: |
32868217 |
Appl. No.: |
10/370753 |
Filed: |
February 20, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/105 ; 7/105;
7/151 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 15/0055 20130101;
A46B 2200/202 20130101; A46B 15/0063 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/105 ;
007/105; 007/151 |
International
Class: |
A46B 005/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A paint brush comprising a handle having a distal end, said
distal end comprising an integrally formed tip for opening a can,
said tip being substantially thinner than a portion of the handle
intended for gripping by a hand, the tip being adapted to fit in a
gap between an upper edge of a container of said can and a lip
disposed along an outer circumference of a lid of said can.
2. The paint brush of claim 1, wherein said tip is formed by
defining at least one notch in said distal end of said handle.
3. The paint brush of claim 2, wherein the at least one notch is
defined by removing a portion of the distal end of the handle after
the handle is formed.
4. The paint brush of claim 2, wherein the at least one notch is
integrally formed during formation of the handle.
5. The paint brush of claim 1, further comprising a bristle portion
coupled to a proximal end of said handle.
6. The paint brush of claim 5, wherein a first surface of said tip
is substantially parallel to said bristle portion.
7. The paint brush of claim 5, wherein a first surface of said tip
is substantially orthogonal to said bristle portion.
8. The paint brush of claim 1, wherein said handle comprises a
channel substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of said
handle and operable to interface with an elongated tool for display
or storage of said paint brush.
9. A paint brush, comprising: a handle having a distal end with an
integrally formed tip for opening a can, said tip extending
outwardly from said distal end and sized to fit into a gap between
a top edge of a container of said can and a lip disposed along an
outer circumference of a lid of said can; and a bristle portion
coupled to a proximal end of said handle.
10. The paint brush of claim 9, wherein said tip comprises a first
surface and a second surface, said first and second surfaces
extending outwardly from said distal end and culminating into an
apex for insertion into said gap.
11. The paint brush of claim 10, wherein said first surface is
planar and said second surface is curved.
12. The paint brush of claim 10, wherein said first and second
surfaces are curved.
13. The paint brush of claim 9, wherein said tip comprises a
reinforcing plate.
14. The paint brush of claim 9, wherein said tip is formed by
defining at least one notch in said distal end of said handle.
15. The paint brush of claim 14, wherein the at least one notch is
defined by removing a portion of the distal end of the handle after
the handle is formed.
16. The paint brush of claim 14, wherein the at least one notch is
integrally formed during formation of the handle.
17. The paint brush of claim 9, wherein said tip is substantially
thinner than a portion of the handle intended for gripping by a
hand.
18. A paint brush, comprising: a handle with an integrally formed
tip extending outwardly from a distal end of said handle for
opening a paint can, said tip having a thickness less than a
thickness of a portion of said handle intended for gripping by a
hand to facilitate insertion of said tip in a gap between an upper
portion of a container of said paint can and a lip disposed along a
circumference of a lid of said paint can; and a bristle portion
coupled to a proximal end of said handle.
19. The paint brush of claim 18, wherein said tip is formed by
defining at least one notch in said distal end of said handle by
removing a portion of the distal end of the handle after the handle
is formed.
20. The paint brush of claim 18, further comprising a reinforcing
plate coupled to a surface of said tip.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of hand
tools, and more particularly to a paint brush for opening a can,
for example a paint can.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Typically a paint brush comprises a bunch of bristles
attached to a handle. In use, a user clasps the handle and
manipulates the brush as desired. Typically, the handle is made of
wood or plastic. The handle of a typical paint brush has a uniform
thickness throughout its length and is of a shape and size that is
comfortable to hold and that prevents it from breaking or bending
during painting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Cans in which interior and exterior wall and trim paint are
stored and sold typically include a container and a removable lid
that forms a secure, air-tight seal with a top edge of the
container. The lid typically includes a lip along its outer
circumference. When the paint can is shut tight, there is a gap
between the lip of the lid and the perimeter of the top edge of the
container. The gap is typically just big enough to permit a flat
end of a screw driver or a specialized tool to be inserted in the
gap.
[0004] When the user desires to open the can, the user uses the
tool to remove the lid of the paint can. The user inserts the flat
end of the tool in the gap and uses the tool as a lever and the
edge of the container as a fulcrum to impart a generally upward
force on the lip of the lid. By applying force to the end of the
tool away from the can in a generally downward direction, a
generally upward force may be applied to the lip of the lid causing
the lid to disengage from the container. However, the special tool
is easily lost or forgotten, and a screw driver is not always handy
or available when painting.
[0005] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a
paint brush is adapted for opening a paint can. In the preferred
embodiment, the paint brush comprises a handle having an integrally
formed tip opposite the brush's bristles and substantially thinner
in at least one dimension normal to the brush's axis than portions
of the handle intended to be gripped by the user. Preferably, a
distal end of the handle has at least one tip formed therein to
define an integrated tip portion thin enough to fit in the gap
between the lip of the lid and the top edge of the container.
[0006] A paint brush with a uniformly flat handle throughout its
length and thin enough to be inserted under the lip of a closed
paint can lid is not suitable as the handle may break or bend
during use. Furthermore, if the entire handle is uniformly flat
like a ruler, it would be uncomfortable to hold as the edge of the
handle may hurt the user's hand.
[0007] Other aspects and features of the invention will become
apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the
following description of specific embodiments of the invention in
conjunction with the accompanying figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] For a more complete understanding of the present invention,
the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the
following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings in which:
[0009] FIG. 1A is a front elevational view of a paint brush in
accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention and
FIG. 1B is a side elevational view of the paint brush of FIG.
1A;
[0010] FIG. 2A is a front elevational view of a paint brush in
accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention and
FIG. 2B is a side elevational view of the paint brush of FIG.
2A;
[0011] FIG. 3A is a front elevational view of a paint brush in
accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention and
FIG. 3B is a side elevational view of the paint brush of FIG. 3A;
and
[0012] FIG. 4A is a front elevational view of a paint brush in
accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention and
FIG. 4B is a side elevational view of the paint brush of FIG.
4A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The preferred embodiment of the present invention and its
advantages are best understood by referring to FIGS. 1 through 4 of
the drawings.
[0014] A conventional paint can comprises a container and a
removable lid that forms a secure, air-tight seal with an edge of
an opening in the top of the container. The lid includes a small
lip along its outer circumference. When the paint can is shut
tight, there is a gap between the lip of the lid and the edge of
the container. The gap is just wide enough to permit a flat end of
a screw driver or a specialized tool to be inserted in it.
[0015] FIG. 1A is a front elevational view of a paint brush 10
having wide bristles suitable for painting large surfaces, such as
walls and trims and FIG. 1B is a side elevational view of paint
brush 10. Paint brush 10 comprises a handle 12 having a proximal
end 16 and a distal end 18. Paint brush 10 also comprises a bristle
portion 14 coupled to proximal end 16 of handle 12. If desired,
bristle portion 14 may be removably or permanently attached with
proximal end 16 of handle 12.
[0016] As illustrated, distal end 18 of handle 12 comprises a tip
20 that is integrally formed in handle 12. Tip 20 is substantially
thinner than the remainder of handle 12 particularly the middle
part of the handle that is intended to be gripped by the user. The
tip is adapted to remove the lid from the paint can. Handle 12 has
a thickness, which is defined along a first axis (X-axis) and a
second axis (Y-axis) normal to a longitudinal axis (Z-axis) of
handle 12. The thickness of handle 12 along the first and second
axes is sufficient to prevent the handle from breaking or bending
when paint brush 10 is used to paint or when it is used to open the
paint can. Furthermore, handle 12 is sufficiently thick along the
first and second axes that it is comfortable to hold in a typical
hand. Handle 12 may be of the same or different thickness along the
first and second axes. Tip 20 is of a smaller dimension, for
example smaller thickness, than the rest of handle 12. Preferably,
the dimension of tip 20 is substantially smaller than the rest of
handle 12 in a direction normal to the Z-axis. At least a portion
of tip 20, for example an apex 22 of tip 20, is of a predetermined
thickness that allows it to be inserted in the gap between the lip
of the lid and the top edge of the container to facilitate opening
of the paint can upon application of force on handle 12.
[0017] It is desirable that tip 20 be thick enough so as to prevent
it from breaking due to application of force on handle 12.
Preferably, the thickness of tip 20 at the point of contact with
the rest of handle 12 is approximately half the thickness of the
rest of handle 12. If desired, to prevent tip 20 from breaking due
to application of force, a reinforcing plate (not shown), for
example a metal plate, may be coupled to or inserted into tip 20.
Alternatively, the reinforcing plate may be coupled to or inserted
into apex 22 only. Coupling or inserting the reinforcing plate only
into apex 22 reduces the cost of manufacturing paint brush 10
because a smaller piece of metal is needed than if the reinforcing
plate was coupled to or inserted into tip 20.
[0018] Handle 12 may be further adapted to facilitate storage or
display of paint brush 10, for example by hanging it. In the
illustrated embodiments, a channel 24 is provided in handle 12.
Preferably, channel 24 is located near distal end 18 of handle 12
and is substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of handle
12. However, if desired, channel 24 may be provided anywhere along
the length of handle 12 and may be oriented at any angle to the
longitudinal axis. Paint brush 10 may be stored or displayed by
inserting an elongated tool, for example a peg, a nail, a screw,
and/or the like, in channel 24. Handle 12 may be made of wood,
plastic, metal, and/or any other suitable material or mixture
thereof. Preferably, the entire handle 12 including tip 20 is made
of the same material.
[0019] When it is desirable to open the paint can, tip 20 is
inserted into the gap between the lip of the lid and the top edge
of the container with proximal end 16 of handle 12 facing away from
the paint can. Handle 12 acts as a lever and the top edge of the
container acts as a fulcrum. Upon application of a generally
downward force near proximal end 16 of handle 12, a generally
upward force is exerted by tip 20 on the lip of the lid causing the
lid to disengage from the container. The lid may then be removed
from the container by the user.
[0020] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1A and 1B, the orientation of tip
20 is such that a first surface 26 of tip 20 is in a plane
substantially parallel to the plane of bristle portion 14. If
desired, and as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, tip 20 may be oriented
such that first surface 26 of tip 20 is substantially orthogonal to
the plane of bristle portion 14.
[0021] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1A and 1B and FIGS. 2A and 2B,
tip 20 is shaped such that a first surface 26 of tip 20 is
substantially flat and a second surface 28 of tip 20 is curved. In
an alternative embodiment, the tip may be such that it is of a
smaller dimension than the rest of the handle and curves into an
apex so that it may be easily inserted in the gap. Thus, as
illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B and FIGS. 4A and 4B, tip 20 may be
shaped such that a first surface 26' and a second surface 28' of
tip 20 are both curved. An advantage of having first surface 26'
curved is that it makes it easier to insert tip 20 under the lid of
the can.
[0022] A technical advantage of an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention is that the user does not have to use a tool
separate from the paint brush to open a can, for example a paint
can.
[0023] While the invention has been particularly shown and
described by the foregoing detailed description, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes
in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention.
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