GB2368332A - Paintbrush support - Google Patents

Abstract

A paintbrush support comprises a cross-bar 12 and means 14, 16 for releasably securing the support across the aperture of a paint can 11. The support may be located 10-15mm below the rim. In a further embodiment (Figure 3), the securing means 28, 30 are shaped to fit over the rim 23 of the can 21. The support is made from soap-coated stainless steel wire.

Description

PAINTERS'AND DECORATORS'ACCESSORIES This invention relates to painters'accessories.

In particular, the invention relates to a bearing surface for a paintbrush, for removing excess paint from a paintbrush and/or for supporting a paintbrush.

Paintbrushes are used to apply paint from a paint can or tin to a surface. When not in use, the paintbrush is often rested on the paint can.

Typically, the brush is laid across the open paint can, the bristles resting on a rim of the can at one side and the handle resting on the rim at the other side.

Excess paint on the brush can drip or run from the brush onto the rim of the paint can. This dries and hardens on the rim or onto a flange extending inwardly from the rim. Subsequently, it can be difficult to replace the lid on the paint can due to the dried paint.

Alternatively, the lid may be replaced when the paint on the rim or flange is still wet. Later, the paint will dry and make the lid difficult to remove.

To open the can, a user may need to force the lid with a lever. This can distort the lid, the rim or the flange, and so impair the airtight seal between the lid and the can. Over time, this will degrade the paint contained in the can.

Resting the brush on the rim of the can may allow paint to drip down the outer perimeter surface of the paint can. This can damage a surface on which the paint can is standing. It can also obscure the details printed on the can.

To try to avoid these problems, a user may press the brush against the flange or the rim of the can to try to squeeze the excess paint from the brush. However, some of this excess paint can run onto the rim or flange to cause the same problems.

The present invention aims to ameliorate some of the problems associated with the prior art.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a painters'accessory having a bearing surface for a paintbrush, the accessory having a cross bar and releasably securable attachment means, the cross bar being releasably locatable across an aperture of a paint can via the attachment means.

A paintbrush may be pressed against the cross bar to remove excess paint from the brush by squeezing or wiping.

This paint may then drip from the cross bar directly into the can, avoiding a rim of the can. Additionally or alternatively, a paintbrush may be supported between a rim of the paint can and the cross bar so that the ends of the bristles of the brush lie over a surface of a reservoir of

paint in the paint can. Excess paint may then drip from the brush directly into the paint can, avoiding the rim.

If paint does not accumulate on the rim, another advantage is that a handle of the paintbrush does not pick up paint from the rim.

Preferably, the releasably securable attachment means include a sprung arm at each respective end of the cross bar, each sprung arm shaped so as to urge, in use, against an inner perimeter surface of the paint can. The accessory may thereby be fitted within the paint can. Preferably, the accessory may be fitted just below a flange which extends inwardly from the rim of the can. The accessory may be fitted to a paint can during production of the paint can. Alternatively, it may be retro-fitted at a later stage, for example by a user.

Alternatively, the releasably securable attachment means may include a portion at each respective end of the cross bar, shaped to fit, in use, over a rim of a paint can.

Preferably, the accessory is shaped so that, in use, the cross bar lies substantially off-diametrically across the paint can aperture. If the accessory is so shaped, and fitted to a paint can, the cross bar divides the aperture of the paint can into unequal areas. Typically, the paint can is cylindrical, so its aperture is circular, so the cross bar divides the aperture into unequal segments. This allows a paintbrush to be supported between the rim and the cross bar, across the larger of the aperture areas. This

makes it easier for a user to locate the centre of gravity of the paintbrush between the rim and the cross bar.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a paint can having an accessory according to the first aspect.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of an accessory according to a first embodiment of the invention, fitted in a paint can ; Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of an accessory according to a second embodiment of the invention, fitted on a paint can ; Fig. 3 is a schematic view along line B-B in Fig 2 ; Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view of an accessory according to a third embodiment of the invention, fitted on a paint can ; and Fig. 5 is a schematic view along line A-A in Fig 4.

Fig. 1 shows, schematically, a first embodiment of the invention. In Fig 1, the accessory 10 has a cross bar 12 and arms 14,16 fitted inside a cylindrical paint can 11.

The accessory is made from non-ferrous 2mm soap-coated stainless steel wire.

When fitted inside a paint can 11, the arms 14,16 are deformed from their rest positions with respect to the cross bar 12. The arms 14,16 then urge towards their rest positions. The support is fitted to the paint can 11 by deforming the arms from their rest positions and inserting

the support into an aperture of the paint can. When in position, the arms are released and hence urge against inner walls of the paint can. The accessory is located about 10-15mm below a rim, under a flange of the paint can, for optimum benefit.

As shown in Fig. 1, the arms 14,16 lie approximately on the circumference of a circle, the circle having its centre at point 18. The arms 14, 16 are of unequal length.

The cross bar 12 is offset from the centre of the circle.

Consequently, when the accessory is fitted to a paint can, the cross bar 12 lies off-diametrically across the opening of the paint can. This makes it easier for a user to ensure that the centre of gravity of a paintbrush is located between the cross bar and the rim of the paint can.

Excess paint on the paintbrush may be removed from the paintbrush by pressing, squeezing or wiping the brush against the cross bar. This paint will then fall directly into the paint can.

The benefit of the accessory is that its use will avoid the problems associated with excess paint dripping onto the rim and down the outer surface of the paint can.

A further benefit will be a saving of paint. These benefits are particularly useful in the case of specially mixed colours which may be difficult to replicate accurately.

An added advantage of the offset location of the cross bar is that, with the accessory in place, stirring of the paint is not impaired.

The support may be made to various dimensions to suit various paint can sizes, for example 5 litre, 2.5 litre, 1 litre and 750 millilitres paint can sizes are well known.

Figs. 2 and 3 show, schematically, a second embodiment of the invention. The support, in plan view (Fig 2) has a similar shape to the first embodiment, and has a cross bar 22 and arms 24,26. However, the support of the second embodiment is shown fitting over a rim 23 of a paint can 21. Accordingly, the accessory includes portions 28,30 between each arm 24,26 and the cross bar 22. The portions 28,30 are shaped to fit over the rim of a paint can, and the arms 24,26 springingly engage the outer surface of the paint can wall beneath the rim. Again, the cross bar is offset from being diametrical.

The accessory may be made to various dimensions to suit various paint can sizes.

Figs. 4 and 5 show, schematically, a third embodiment of the invention. This is similar to the second embodiment in that it has portions 40,42 for sitting over a rim 43 of a paint can 41. This embodiment is intended for use on larger paint cans although, of course, it could be dimensioned to fit various paint can sizes. In use, the cross bar 44 lies diametrically across the opening of the paint can.

Further embodiments of the invention and obvious modifications thereof will be apparent to the person skilled in the art.

Claims (6)

1. CLAIMS 1. A painters'accessory having a bearing surface for a paintbrush, the accessory having a cross bar and releasably securable attachment means, the cross bar being releasably locatable across an aperture of a paint can via the attachment means.
2. 2. An accessory according to claim 1, wherein the releasably securable attachment means include a sprung arm at each respective end of the cross bar, each sprung arm shaped so as to urge, in use, against an inner perimeter surface of a paint can.
3. 3. An accessory according to claim 1, wherein the releasably securable attachment means include a portion at each respective end of the cross bar, shaped to fit, in use, over a rim of a paint can.
4. 4. An accessory according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bearing surface is shaped so that, in use, the cross bar lies substantially off-diametrically cross a paint can aperture.
5. 5. A painters'accessory substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
6. 6. A paint can having an accessory according to any one of the preceding claims.