EP1535533B1

EP1535533B1 - Brush comprising a handle and a bristle-bearing head

Info

Publication number: EP1535533B1
Application number: EP03740514A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Carmen Zotti
Original assignee: Nespoli Engineering Kereskedelmi Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag known in trade as Nespoli Engineering Trade LLC
Current assignee: Nespoli Engineering Kereskedelmi Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag known in trade as Nespoli Engineering Trade LLC
Priority date: 2002-07-16
Filing date: 2003-07-14
Publication date: 2007-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 2023-07-14
Also published as: DE60315310D1; US20050257339A1; EP1535533A1; DE60315310T2; ATE368399T1; AU2003281458A1; ES2290476T3; WO2004008909A1; ITMI20021569A1

Abstract

Brush comprising a handle (6) and a bristle-bearing head (5) in which the handle (6) and the bristle-bearing head (5) are connected by means of an intermediary flexible element (3, 3a, 3b) (Fig. 1) <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a brush comprising a handle and a bristle-bearing head.
Traditionally, classic brushes have been used in which the handle is rigidly attached to the bristle-bearing head, comprising a collar (generally metal), resin (for example epoxy resin) and bristles. The join between the head and the handle can include rigid teeth joined to the handle and immersed in the resin or else tacks that attach the collar to the handle.
The disadvantages of the traditional system lies in the fact that the handle is slippery and does not allow firm grip in conditions of use in which, for example, the user has sweaty hands; and moreover the rigidity of the brush is a common cause of blister formation on the hands of said user (though this is infrequent) and in any case, it causes notable tiredness during the operation of painting. On the other hand, in cases in which there is no flexible intermediate element, as for example in the case of British patent GB 238.1189 , in relation to a "Brush", in which a brush formed by a handle adaptable to different kind of heads by incorporating in itself the means that allow its fixing is described and which adopts a certain angle in respect of the head that lifts itself when placing it over a surface, this is useful just for carrying out the joint between the handle and the head in a static way, this acts merely to provide the link between the handle and the head without allowing tipping movement and the inclination of the head during the action of painting.
Thus, the main aim of the present invention is to produce a less slippery brush that allows a more comfortable and surer hold which reduces the drawbacks in its use, such as tiredness and the formation of blisters on the skin of the occasional user and which, moreover, can be used as a multifunctional tool.
This aim, along with others that will be better clarified for the expert in the art in the detailed presentation that follows, is achieved with a brush in accordance with the technical teachings of the attached claims.
The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description that is provided merely by way of example and relates to the attached design in which:

Figures 1, 6 and 9 show a side view of a detachable brush in which the handle and head can be separated in three different embodiments;
Figures 2, 7, 10 and 12 show a side view of the brush in which the handle and head are immovably connected to one another in four different embodiments;
Figures 3, 8 and 13 show a frontal view of the bristle-bearing head in three different embodiments;
Figures 4 and 11 show a frontal view of the brush in the position of use in two different embodiments;
Figures 5a and 5b show an open side sectional view of the bristle-bearing head;
Figure 14 shows a perspective view of the handle-flexible element set in the embodiment of Figures 11, 12 and 13;
Figure 15 shows a perspective view of the flexible element 3b joined to the embodiments of Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14;
Figure 16 shows a view of the brush in position of use, lying on once side on a supporting surface.

In a first embodiment, the head 5 is formed from bristles 1, collar 2 and a flexible element 3 (Figures 1, 2 and 3) which is joined to the handle, for example by immersion of one of its ends into the epoxy resin 10 (Figure 5a), which in addition is attached to the collar itself of the bristles 1.
Alternatively, the flexible element can be attached to the collar 2 by means of tacks 14 that are introduced through the holes made for that purpose in the collar 2 and in the appendage of the flexible element 3 (Figure 5b).
The flexible element 3 is laminar and a buttonhole 12 can be made in it that facilitates the flexibility of the element itself and which lightens its structure. Its end part forms a T such that it is possible to fit the head into its corresponding niche 4 made in the end part of the handle 6 (Figure 2).
The handle 6, for its part, is formed from a grip 11 that ends in a part in the form of a ridge 8 with which the aforementioned coupling niche 4 such that the bristle-bearing head is immovably attached to the handle 6. It can be seen that the two opposite surfaces 7 of the ridged element 8 are appropriate to allow a firm grip, and as low as possible, of the brush with the fingers, and above all, to limit movement of the bristle-bearing head during use.
The opening 9 is made in the end of the handle 6 and its purpose is to allow attachment of the handle itself 6 with a generic attachment hook (Figure 4).
In a second embodiment, in contrast, the head 5 is formed of bristles 1, collar 2 and a coupling niche 4, so that the flexible element 3 is now joined to the handle 6 and with the ridged element 8 (Figures 6, 7 and 8).
In a third embodiment, the laminar element 3b is equipped, respectively, with two (Figures 14 and 15) or four (Figure 13) small ratchets 15, which fix the ridged element 8 by means of appropriate openings 16 made in the grip 11 and immediately adjacent to the base thereof (Figure 14).
The laminar element 3b presents a buttonhole 16 which lightens the structure and two appendages 17 for coupling by immersion in epoxy resin in the collar (Figure 15).
A possible variation of the first embodiment (Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4) consists of making the flexible element 3 in a serpentine form (Figures 9 and 10, where it is indicated as 3a) such that the flexibility is even greater and the action of painting is facilitated.
Another variation consists of a co-formed device in the upper end of the handle 6 which can be different on each occasion, such as for example tin-openers, scrapers, screwdrivers (see in particular Figures 11 and 12, where it is indicated as 20), corkscrews, cutters, knives, saws.
Said device can also be made separately in the different aforementioned forms and inserted into the corresponding niche of the head of the handle according to the usage needs.
In all embodiments of the brush, during its use, it can be left on its side in a safe position on a flat surface. If the immobile bristle-bearing head 5 is wider than the ridged part 8, the side parts 21 of the laminar element 3b will be flat, such that they guarantee the stability of the brush when it is left lying on a flat surface (Figures 14 and 15); if on the other hand the bristle-bearing head 5 is narrower, the stability of the brush lying on a surface is ensured by the flat form of the side part of the ridged part 8.
With the flexibility of the intermediate element 3 and the subsequent inclination with respect to the handle 6 that the bristle-bearing head may have during use of the brush, the noteworthy advantage of reducing the fatigue of the user is obtained.

Claims

Brush comprising a handle (6) and a bristle-bearing head (5) joined by an intermediate flexible and elastic element (3, 3a, 3b) forming one piece with the bristle-bearing head (5) and insertable in the corresponding groove (4) located on the handle (6), or forming one piece with this and insertable in the corresponding groove on the head, such that the handle (6) and bristle-bearing head (5) can be separated, characterized in that the intermediate flexible and elastic element (3b), of laminar form, allows the bristle-bearing head (5) to move during the action of painting, moving between two arms of a ridge (8) in which the handle (6) ends, which also act to limit the movement of said bristle-bearing head (5).
Brush comprising a handle (6) and a bristle-bearing head (5), according to the first claim, characterized in that the intermediate flexible and elastic element (3b), of laminar form, can have a hole that lightens its structure, facilitating the flexibility of the element itself.
Brush comprising a handle (6) and a bristle-bearing head (5), according to the first claim, characterized in that the intermediate flexible element (3a) may have a winding form.
Brush comprising a handle (6) and a bristle-bearing head (5), according to the first claim, characterized in that the end part of the intermediate flexible element (3) can be T-shaped, such that it is possible to fit the head into its corresponding groove (4) made in the end part of the handle (6).
Brush comprising a handle (6) and a bristle-bearing head (5), according to the first claim, characterized in that the intermediate flexible element (3b) is equipped with appendages (17) opposite the pawls (15) for coupling by immersion in the resin (10) contained in the ferrule (2).
Brush comprising a handle (6) and a bristle-bearing head (5), according to the first claim, characterized in that the side parts (21) of the intermediate flexible element (3, 3a, 3b) are flattened, such that they allow the brush to be placed on its side on a support surface during use when the bristle-bearing head (5) is wider than the element in form of a ridge (8).
Brush comprising a handle (6) and a bristle-bearing head (5), according to the first claim, characterized in that the lateral outline of the element in form of a ridge (8) is flattened such that the brush can be placed stably on its side on a support surface when the bristle-bearing head (5) is narrower than the ridge-shaped element (8).