GB2132475A

GB2132475A - Apparatus for holding and drying an applicator for paint or the like

Info

Publication number: GB2132475A
Application number: GB08236498A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Furnish
Original assignee: Hamilton & Co
Current assignee: Hamilton & Co
Priority date: 1982-12-22
Filing date: 1982-12-22
Publication date: 1984-07-11

Abstract

Apparatus 1 for holding and drying an applicator for paint such as a paint brush 2, the whole of the paint brush head being held in the apparatus which closely conforms to the shape of the head and maintains that shape, the apparatus 1 including a surface layer which is in contact with and which absorbs moisture from the brush head after use of the brush. The apparatus is re-usable. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for holding-an applicator for paint or the like Technical Field of the Invention The invention relates to apparatus for holding an applicator for paint or the like.

Background Art Applicators for paint and the like such as paint brushes are usually re-usable after each use, but have to be cleaned before they are re-used. Often they are cleaned and then stored by being left to stand in a container of water. This has the disadvantages that the brush is wet when it comes to be used again, so affecting the consistency of the paint or the like and thus adversely affecting the finish desired. Also, the brush can become mis-shapen. If alternatively the cleaned brush is hung up to dry, its bristles can become stiff and mis-shapen, so adversely affecting its ability to apply paint or the like subsequently.

Disclosure of Invention It is among the objects of the invention to seek to mitigate these disadvantages ofthe prior art.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for holding an applicator for paint or the like, of the kind which is dipped in the paint or the like prior to application to a surface, in which at least a paint receiving part of the applicator can be held and wherein there is moisture absorbing means for drying the paint receiving part after use and cleaning of the applicator.

It will be understood that the expression "paint or the like" used herein is intended to mean paint, including oil - and water -- based paint, cellulose paints, varnish, and paste such as that used for hanging wall paper.

It will also be understood that the expression "an applicator" used herein is intended to include both brushes and roller applicators.

The moisture absorbing means may be an absorbent part which contacts the paint receiving part when the apparatus is holding the applicator.

This provides for a relatively simple construction.

The absorbent part may be an internal surface of the apparatus and the external surface layer thereof may be relatively impermeable to moisture. This construction is again relatively simple yet efficient, and provides a laminate kind of construction.

The respective layers may each comprise paper or card. Paper or card is relatively easily laminated to provide a simple yet efficient apparatus.

The external surface of the external layer may be covered with a plastics or silicone film whereby that layer may be rendered relatively impermeable to moisture. This construction is to keep the moisture internally of the apparatus in use and to maintain its physical integrity.

The apparatus may have an internal shape which closely conforms to the shape of the paint receiving part of the applicator whereby in use the apparatus maintains that part iii a desired shape.

The apparatus may be adapted to hold the paint receiving part of the applicator, and may include a hole through which a handle part of the applicator can pass so that the handle may be exposed and may project from the apparatus in use.

The apparatus may include a suspension device. This construction provides for hanging of the device in use, which facilitates storage and/or display at point of sale.

The apparatus may be made from a blank of foldable material which can be folded to define a volume in which a paint receiving part comprising a paint brush head part can be held.

The blank may comprise a main panel, a first pair of opposite side panels and a second pair of opposite side panels, and the first and second pairs of opposite side panels may be joined with respective opposite pairs of sides of the main panel by crease lines, one side panel of the second pair of opposite side panels may have a slot through which the free end of the other side panel can pass and the other side panel of the second pair of opposite side panels may have a slit in which the free end of the one side panel can be received when both side panels of the second pair of opposite side panels are folded about their respective crease lines with the one side panel overlapping the other side panel, and the other side panel may have the hole through which the handle projects.

Each side panel of the first pair of opposite side panels may have a crease line which may converge toward the crease lines by which it is connected with the main panel, and the converging crease line of each panel intersect opposite edges of the respective panel intermediate the length thereof whereby the blank can be folded to provide a prismatic interior volume of the formed apparatus for holding the brush head. This construction provides for snug fitting of the brush head inside the folded apparatus.

The other panel of the second pair of opposite side panels may have a flap at its free end including a transverse crease line by which the flap can be folded over on itself to provide the suspension device. This construction thus provides a simple unitary blank in which the suspension device is an integral feature.

The flap may have a hole through it for suspending the apparatus from a support.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a blank of relatively rigid foldable material including moisture absorbent means on one surface and which can be folded to provide apparatus for holding an applicator for paint or the like.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided an assembly comprising apparatus as hereinbefore defined and a paint applicator held thereby.

Apparatus embodying the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of Drawings Figs. 1 A, B and C are respectively perspective views from one side, the opposite side, and an elevational of the one side of an assembly including apparatus according to the invention and a paint brush held thereby; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a blank from which the apparatus of Figs. 1 A, B and C is assembled; and Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the blank of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown reusable apparatus 1 (Figs. 1 A, B, C) for holding an applicator such as a paint brush 2 the handle 3 of which is shown, a paint receiving part in the form of the bristle head (not shown) being held in the apparatus 1, which has moisture absorbing means in the form of an internal (in use) surface layer 4 which dries the part particularly the bristles after use and cleaning of the brush 3.

The apparatus 1 is made from a blank 5 (Figs. 2 and 3) of relatively rigid foldable material such as stiff paper or card. The inner moisture absorbing layer 4 may be laminated to an outer (as considered in use) layer 6 which itself may have an outer moisture repellant surface layer which prevents the whole apparatus 1 from disintegrating when it becomes wet in use.

The interior shape of the apparatus 1 conforms closely to that of the head so that the apparatus 1 tapers upwardly (as viewed). This ensures that the bristles are in contact with the absorbent layer 4 so that they are dried and also maintains them in the correct shape so that they dry in the shape intended. Thus the original shape of the brush head bristles is maintained.

The handle 3 of the brush projects through a hole 7 in the apparatus 1, which apparatus 1 has a suspension device 8 in the form of a flap or tab with a hole 9 through it so that the assembly of the apparatus 1 and brush 2 can be suspended from a hook or elongate support apparatus at a point of sale, and can also be suspended from say a nail after use for drying, shaping and keeping of the brush 2.

The blank 5 comprises a main panel 10 to opposite pairs of sides of which are connected by respective crease lines 11 and 12 and 13 and 14 first and second pairs of opposite side panels 1 5 and 16 and 17 and 18.

One side panel 17 of the second pair of opposite side panels has a slot 1 9 through which the free end of the other side panel 1 8 of the second pair of opposite side panels can pass and the other side panel 1 8 itself has a slit 20 in which the free end of the one panel 1 7 can be received.

The other side panel 1 8 also has the hole 7 for receiving the handle.

The slot 1 9 is formed adjacent a transverse additional crease line 21 parallel to the crease line 13 and the hole 7 is formed in a part 22 of the other panel 1 8 defined between the crease line 14 and a respective further crease line 23 parallel thereto and extending transversely of the other panel 18.

Each of the side panels 1 5 and 1 6 of the first pair of opposite side panels has a crease line 24 which converges towards the crease line 11 or 12 by which that panel 1 5 or 1 6 is connected to the main panel 10, as considered in the upwards direction in looking at Fig. 2. The converging crease lines 24 intersect opposite edges 25 and 26 of the respective panels 1 5 and 1 6 intermediate the length of those edges 25 and 26.

The free end of the other panel 1 8 of the second pair of opposite side panels comprises the flap 8 which is connected with this other panel by a crease line 27, and has two further parallel crease lines 28 and through holes 9a and 9b one of which is a mirror image of the other.

The free end of the one panel 17 of the second pair of opposite panels comprises a projecting tongue 29.

Each panel 1 5 and 1 6 of the first pair of opposite panels has a flap 30 hinged to it by 3 crease line 31, each flap being separate by a slit from an adjacent edge of the other panel 1 8 of the second pair of opposite panels.

In order to form the assembly of Figs. 1 A, B and C, with the blank opened out as in Fig. 2, the brush handle 3 is passed through the hole 7 after raising the other panel 18 slightly out of the plane of Fig. 2 and folding it about crease lines 1 4 and 23 so that the part 22 with the hole 7 lies at an angle to the plane of the blank. The brush 3 handle is passed through the hole 7 until the base of the head rests against the part 22, the bristles then resting on the main panel 10 in contact with the absorbent layer 4.The side panels 1 5 and 1 6 of the first pair of opposite side panels are then folded upwardly (out of the plane of the Fig. 2 towards the viewer as viewed), about the respective crease lines 24 and the respective flaps 30 are folded up in a similar manner about the crease lines 31. The panels 1 5 and 16 are then folded about the respective crease lines 11 and 12 so that one overlaps the other and both lie over the brush head. Thus if the panel 1 5 is folded up first it becomes the inner one, its absorbent layer contacting the bristles, opposite the main panel 10.

The other panel 1 8 of the second pair of opposite side panels is then folded up about the crease line 14 and folded about the crease line 23 so that it overlies the panel 1 6 which is the outermost panel of the panels 1 5 and 1 6 in the embodiment described, the tab 8 being passed through the slot 1 9 and pulled outwardly to lie behind the panel 17. The panel 17 itself is then raised out of the plane of Fig. 2 by folding about crease line 13 and is folded over the panel 1 8 by folding about the crease line 21 so that the tongue 29 can be inserted in the slit 20, the one panel 17 then overlying the other panel 1 8. The whole of the tab 8 projects through the slot 1 9. It is now folded back on itself so that the holes 9a and 9b are aligned, the free end being inserted in the slot 19 behind the part shown to form the hole 9 as shown in Figs. IA and Fig. 1 B. The whole assembly 1 and 2 can then be suspended by slipping the tab 8 over say a suspension hook and the whole assembly is suspended.Because the tab 8 is on panel 18, this member 1 8 is effectively pulled upwards because of the weight of the assembly bearing downwardly from the suspension device via the tab 8. This tension ensures that the panel 1 8 maintains the panels 1 5 and 1 6 in position and that the whole apparatus 1 engages all sides of the bristles, so keeping the bristles in the required shape and disposition.

It will be understood that the flaps 30 are folded inwardly with the panel members 1 5 and 1 6 to form a support for the shoulders of the brush head, just within the part 22 of the panel 1 8.

However, the flaps 30 may be dispensed with.

It will also be understood that the assembly as shown in Figs. 1 A, B and C can be sold at a point of sale, hanging from a hook. The user can then reuse the apparatus 1 by folding and unfolding the blank 5 as desired after each use. The absorbent layer 4 absorbs moisture from the brush so drying the bristles and keeps the brush head in the correct shape. The assembly can be hung up in a suitable place, tidily, until the brush is next used.

This is of great advantage, particularly in D-l-Y.

It will be understood that instructions for use may be carried by the outer surface of the outside (as considered in use) of the apparatus 1.

The apparatus 1 above described and shown with reference to the drawings may be modified.

For example the tab 8 may be of such a design that it is not required to be folded back on itself.

Also, the hole(s) 9a and 9b through it may have any shape other than that shown. In every embodiment the tab 8 provides the self-hanging, self-locking ability described above, in other words the weight of the assembly maintains the clpsely packed state when the apparatus 1 is hanging up with a brush inside.

The crease lines 21,23 and 24 may not be present. However, when they are, they provide a definite prismatic interior shape, in the case shown that of a truncated pyramidal prism, in which to receive the brush head and to accommodate its tapering shape while ensuring that its whole surface area is in contact with the absorbent layer 4. The crease lines 24 provide the closed planar sides 31 of the apparatus.

There may be different sizes of blanks 5 each one of which accommodates a particular size of brush of a range of brushes.

Claims

1. Apparatus for holding an applicator for paint or the like, of the kind which is dipped in the paint or the like prior to application to a surface, in which at least a paint receiving part of the applicator can be held and wherein there is moisture absorbing means for drying the paint receiving part after use and cleaning of the applicator.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, the moisture absorbing means being an absorbent part which contacts the paint receiving part when the apparatus is holding the applicator.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, the absorbent part being an internal surface of the apparatus the external surface layer thereof being relatively impermeable to moisture.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, the respective layers each comprising paper or card.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, the external surface of the external layer being covered with a plastics or silicone film whereby that layer is rendered relatively impermeable to moisture.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, having an internal shape which closely conforms to the shape of the paint receiving part of the applicator whereby in use the apparatus maintains that part in a desired shape.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, adapted to hold the paint receiving part of the applicator, and including a hole through which a handle part of the applicator can pass so that the handle is exposed and projects from the apparatus in use.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, including a suspension device.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claims, made from a blank of foldabie material which can be folded to define a volume in which a paint receiving part comprising paint brush head part can be held.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, the blank comprising a main panel, a first pair of opposite side panels and a second pair of opposite side panels, the first and second pairs of opposite side panels being joined with respective opposite pairs of sides of the main panel by crease lines, one side panel of the second pair of opposite side panels having a slot through which the free end of the other side panel can pass and the other side panel of the second pair of opposite side panels having a slit in which the free end of the one side panel can be received when both side panels of the second pair of opposite side panels are folded about their respective crease lines with the one side panel overlapping the other side panel, the other side panel having the hole through which the handle projects.

11. Apparatus according to Claim 10, each side panel of the first pair of opposite side panels having a crease line which converges toward the crease lines by which it is connected with the main panel, the converging crease line of each panel intersecting opposite edges of the respective panel intermediate the length thereof whereby the blank can be folded to provide a prismatic interior volume of the formed apparatus for holding the brush head.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 10 or Claim 11, the other panel of the second pair of opposite side panels having a flap at its free end including a transverse crease line by which the flap can be folded over on itself to provide the suspension device.

13. Apparatus according to Claim 12, the flap having a hole through it for suspending the apparatus from a support.

14. Apparatus for holding an applicator for paint or the like, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

1 5. A blank of relatively rigid foldable material including moisture absorbent means on one surface and which can be folded to provide apparatus for holding an applicator for paint or the like.

16. An assembly comprising apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 14 and a paint applicator held thereby.

17. An assembly according to Claim 16, the applicator being a paint brush.

18. An assembly according to Claim 17, the paint brush head being held in the apparatus, the handle projecting through the hole and the assembly being suspended from a support by the flap.

1 9. A blank, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs.

2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

20. An assembly, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs.

1 A, B and C of the accompanying drawings.