AU2009101291B4 - Efficient paint brush cleaner - Google Patents

Description

APPLICANT TRISTAN GUY CAMPBELL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION EFFICIENT PAINT BRUSH CLEANER The invention is described in the following statement Page 1. FIELD OF INVENTION The following relates to an innovative step/device/invention that enables the cleaning of a paint brush. Generally to clean a paint brush the brush is held under the flow produced by a running tap.. Tap water, however, does not have by itself the ability/pressure to penetrate the overlapped layers of brush bristles, in turn making paint removal from within the brush bristles most difficult, time consuming, and not efficient water use. Furthermore, failure to remove paint from deep within the overlapped bristles substantially reduces the effective life of the brush. Prior devices known are as follows: US Pat. No. 7,383,847 B2 wherein device totally encloses paint brush and requires paint brush to be clamped or locked into position to be cleaned. US Pat. No. 4,641,673 wherein device totally encloses and requires paint brush to be either rotated very slowly or rotated numerous times due to jets being located and applied via only two manifolds at right angles. Both US Pat. No. 7,383,847 B2 and US Pat. No. 4,641,673 are relatively complex and large, in tum meaning production costs, freight costs, shelf space required and end consumer pricing may be more expensive than is required to effectively clean a paint brush. US Pat. No. 5,297,739 by design applies jetted water to brush via a circular magnified application concentrating water to a smaller circular point. US Pat. No, 5,381, 964 applies jetted water via fingers/needles that penetrate bristles on a brush Both US Pat. No. 5,297.739 and US Pat. No. 5, 81.964 do not provide a means to minimise or stop the sOianeringj of paint whiist brush is being cleaned due to increasing the water pressure and both have a imited letter water to hristcl surface contact ratin limiting device effectiveness. I tRo oCT OF ie FN To m e va It is the object of the inven-tionldevieeiino vative stenp to overcomie/reduce the above disadvantap-es Page 2. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION There is herein disclosed an invention/device/innovative step for efficiently/ cost effectively cleaning a paint brush, said device comprising: A casing, said casing having the ability/means to jet/distribute/spray water upon a paint brush's bristles when attached/connected to a garden tap, whilst also being self supportable upon said tap. Said casing would have on the inside multiple/numerous jets/small holes wherein the total of the accumulated diameters of said jets/small holes measures less than that of the means of supply, such as the garden tap diameter. Said inside of said casing in which said jets/small holes are positioned upon is moulded to closely surround/contour around and enclose said paint brush's bristles, and in turn providing a splash guard whilst said brush is being cleaned. Said casing would have an intake and means of connecting to said tap attached to said intake. Said casing would also have an internal void/vein/s allowing, water to travel from said intake to said jets /small holes. Preferably said casing would be made of/consist of plastic/steel/aluminium or the like, or any combination of the above. Preferably the diameter of each said jet/hole in said casing would be no more than 1.0 mm, enabling maximum coverage/saturation ofjetted water to said brush, by utilising maximum number ofjets, without pressure loss. DEFINITION As used herein the term jet is intended to encompass any hole/orifice or the like that is of significantly smaller diameter, (causing a restriction in water delivery), than that of the means of supply or intake diameter.

Page 3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS To assist in understanding the invention/innovative step/device reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings FIG 1. illustrates a preferred form of the invention showing the components of the invention It can be seen that the device consists of a casing/shroud (1) which has jets/holes (2) located upon the inside where the paint brush is inserted. Casing (I) has intake (3) that has tap connection (4) which has a washer/seal (5). Tap connection (4) screws onto a garden tap/tap by means of a threaded section. Water from a garden tap/tap flows through intake (3) to casing (1) which has an internal void, and is distributed upon a paint brush bristles under pressure via jets/holes (2). It can be further seen that the hollow centre of casing (I) where jets/holes (2) are located is shaped to closely contour around the outside of the inserted paint brush. FIG 2 illustrates an Xray view to enable an understanding of the principle of operation of the device It can be seen that casing (1)has intake (3) attached. Intake (3) has tap connection (4) attached. Casing (1) has multiple jets/holes (2) located upon the inside. Paint brush handle (7) is held by operator, in turn suspending paint brush bristles (6) in the middle of casing (I) surrounded by multiple jets/holes (2) and it can be further seen that water from a garden tap/tap is supplied via intake (3) to void within casing (1) to multiple jets/holes (2). It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not considered as beyond the scope of the present invention.