SE2051307A1

SE2051307A1 - A painting tool handle and a method of manufacturing a painting tool handle

Info

Publication number: SE2051307A1
Application number: SE2051307A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Fredrik Heinsjö
Original assignee: Orkla House Care Ab
Priority date: 2020-11-10
Filing date: 2020-11-10
Publication date: 2022-05-11
Also published as: WO2022101047A1; SE544483C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a painting tool handle, comprising a first end portion configured to fixate a painting tool element, an opposite second end portion, and a central grip portion configured to be gripped by a hand of a user. The central grip portion is located between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the thickness of the central grip portion is greater than the thickness of each one of the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the central grip portion is hollow, presenting a space located within and limited to the central grip portion. The invention also relates to the painting tool comprising such a painting tool handle and to a method of manufacturing a painting tool handle.

Description

A painting tool handle and a method of manufacturing a painting tool handle TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a painting tool handle. The invention also relates to a paintingtool comprising such a handle. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a painting tool handle.

BACKGROUND ART There are various types of painting tools, some examples being spreaders, brushes and rollers.Professionals who work long days, doing repetitive motions with painting tools, oftenappreciate if the painting tool is relatively light-weight. On the other hand robustness is also ofimportance. Some painting tool handles to which a tool part is attached (such as a spreaderblade or a ferrule/bristle carrier for a brush) may be formed in one solid piece of material. Forinstance, the handle may be of solid wood, plastic, etc. While a solid piece provides theadvantage of robustness, a downside is often its weight. To overcome the weight problem,there have been suggestions to make the handle from two halves that are joined together. Bymaking the two halves with a C-shaped cross section, they will, when put together, form ahollow handle. While this may solve the weight problem, the robustness may instead begreatly reduced. lf a person accidentally drops the painting tool to the ground, there is a substantial risk that the handle will split into its original two halves.

Thus, it would be desirable to provide a painting tool handle which is robust as well as light- weight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present inventive concept is to alleviate the drawbacks of the prior art. This and other objects which will become apparent in the following disclosure, is accomplished by 2a painting tool handle and by a method of manufacturing a painting tool handle, as presented in the accompanying independent claims.

The present inventive concept is based on the insight that by designing two opposite endportions of a painting tool handle thinner than a central portion, the end portions will behardened before the central portion when formed by a moulding process, and that thisdifference in time-to-harden can be used for removing material from the interior of thecentral portion without affecting the already hardened end portions. Thus, the handle can beformed such that it will present a large coherent piece (instead of two halves), therebyproviding the desired robustness, but the central portion will be hollow (instead of solid), thereby providing the desired light-weight reduction.

According to at least a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a painting tool handle,comprising - a first end portion configured to fixate a painting tool element, - an opposite second end portion, - a central grip portion configured to be gripped by a hand of a user, the central grip portionbeing located between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein thethickness of the central grip portion is greater than the thickness of each one of the first endportion and the second end portion, wherein the central grip portion is hollow, presenting a space located within and limited to the central grip portion.

Thus, from the above it can be understood that the end portions are flatter than the centralgrip portion, and that the space located within the central grip portion does not extend intothe end portions. The end portions, due to their relative thinness and their short hardeningtime, can be used as barriers when the non-hardened material in the central grip portion is displaced.

The advantageous light-weight and robust painting tool handle may suitably be formed bymoulding. The displacement ofthe non-hardened material in the central grip portion maysuitably be accomplished by means of pressurized fluid injection. Further discussion of how tomanufacture the painting tool handle of the first aspect will be discussed later in connection with the discussion ofthe second aspect ofthe invention. 3 Continuing with the discussion of the painting tool handle of the first aspect of the invention,as mentioned above, the first end portion is configured to fixate a painting tool. This may forinstance, be a spreader blade, a ferrule, etc. The second end portion, located at the oppositeend of the painting tool handle, may be formed in any suitable way. For instance, if desired, itmay be formed with a though-hole, for enabling the paining tool to suspend from a nail, screwor the like on a tool holder wall. Any such through-hole is however suitably clearly limited tothe thin second end portion. Thus, the border to the thicker central grip portion should be formed by material ofthe second end portion, rather than partly by such a through hole.

The central grip portion may suitably elongated. Different shapes are, however, conceivable,for instance depending on the tool for which the handle is designed. Some general examplesmay be Y-shape, T-shape, I-shape, however, others are also conceivable. Likewise the overallshape of the painting tool handle may have similar Y-shape, T-shape, I-shape, etc. Thus, insome exemplary embodiments, the general shape ofthe central grip portion may be a smallerversion of the general shape of the entire painting tool handle. The size and shapes of the firstand second end portions may suitably be different, although similar sizes and shapes wouldalso be conceivable. As an example of differently sized end portions, the painting tool handlemay be design to hold a spreader blade. ln such case, the first end portion may suitably be considerably larger than the second portion, in particular ifthe spreader blade is wide.

The first end portion may be provided with an attachment area. The attachment area may bedesigned in accordance with the painting tool element to be applied to the handle. ln someexemplary embodiments, the attachment area may be substantially planar. ln someexemplary embodiments, it may be provided with an indentation or groove, for instance, to receive a thin painting tool element, such as a blade.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the first end portion is made in one piecewith the second end portion. Thus, advantageously, the painting tool handle may be formedby moulding. From a practical understanding, the entire handle may in such exemplaryembodiments be regarded as formed in one piece. However, during manufacturing, if using apressurized fluid for displacing non-hardened material from the interior of the central grippingportion, then after that process there may remain a visible injection inlet opening (through which the fluid is injected) and one or more outlet openings (through which the material is 4 pushed out). Such openings may be desirable to cover, to avoid water, moisture to enter thefinished product. Thus, in addition to the moulded and hollowed-out integral piece ofmaterial, which includes the (hollowed-out) central grip portions and the first and second endportions, the paint tool handle may additionally be provided with very small cover pieces tocover said openings. Such pieces, may in practice not be noticed on the finished product.Accordingly, it should be understood, that the painting tool handle may be formed by onelarge integral piece of material which has been hollowed-out, and that additional cover minorpieces may or may not be added subsequently. This is reflected in the following exemplary embodiment.

Thus, according to at least one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a major part of thecentral grip portion is made in one piece with the first end portion and the second end portion,wherein the central grip portion comprises at least two plugs, suitably three plugs, joined tosaid major part of the central grip portion to seal the space within the central grip portion. Thefunction of the plugs is both aesthetic, to conceal the opening into the space, and practical, toavoid water entering into the space (for instance if it is raining). Water in the space of the centralgripping portion would not only risk creating unbalance, and irritation to the user, but also addweight to the product as a whole. The number of openings and plugs may depend on the typeof painting tool for which the handle is designed. For instance, for a handle designed for a paintbrush, an inlet opening and an outlet opening may suffice, and thus two plugs. For a handledesigned for a spreader or a wide filling knife, there may be one inlet opening and two outletopenings, and thus three plugs. The number of openings are not only dependent on size, butrather the shape of the handle, in particular the central grip portion of the handle. A T-shapedhandle may need one inlet opening and two outlet openings, for enabling the creation of asuitable (T-shaped) space within the central grip portion. The plugs may, for instance beprovided in the opening by means of injection moulding, hot stamping, gluing, or by any other suitable process.

A further advantage of the inventive concept is that the material that has been pushed out ofthe central grip portion to create the space may suitably be recycled/reused. For instance, thepushed out material may be mixed with more material to make more handles. lt is also conceivable to reuse the pushed out material for making plugs. Thus, the handle according to 5the inventive concept, and the method of manufacturing, is beneficial from an environmental perspective, as material does not need to be wasted unnecessarily.

The space may suitably take up approximately half of the volume ofthe central gripping portion.ln some exemplary embodiments it may even represent more than half the volume of thecentral gripping portion. According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the space extendsover at least 50% of the width of the central gripping portion, suitably at least 60%. ln thisconnection it should be understood, the dimensions length, width and thickness, have theirnormal understanding in this disclosure. Thus, they are defined as the length being larger thanthe width, and the width being large than the thickness. The space may suitably have even larger extension along the length of the gripping portion, i.e. more than 60%, suitably more than 70%.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, at least one of the first end portion and thesecond end portion forms a solid piece of material without a closed hollow interior. By providinga solid end, an appropriate barrier strength is achieved when creating the hollow space in theneighbouring central grip portion. Suitably, each one of the first end portion and the secondend portion forms a solid piece of material without a closed hollow interior. ln this connection,it should be understood that a solid piece of material may be provided with an open cut-out,groove, or the like, such as for receiving a blade. For instance, the first end portion may beprovided with an cut-out, groove, or the like. Such an open groove or cut-out does not form a closed hollow interior.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the central grip portion comprises a transitsection where the central grip portion transits into the first end portion, wherein said transitsection has a drop-shaped cross-section. Thus, a smooth transition is achieved between thecentral grip portion and the first end portion. The thinner part of the drop-shape may providethe actual border to the first end portion. The thicker part ofthe drop-shape will not harden asquickly as the thinner part and the first end portion. Non-hardened material may still bedisplaced, e.g. by injecting fluid under pressure, in order to create the space in the central gripportion. At the periphery of the central grip portion, the thicker part of the drop-shape may bea suitably location for providing a fluid injection inlet opening, or an outlet opening throughwhich displaced material and injected fluid may exit. A further advantage of a drop-shape is that does not result in much stress/strain in the material. 6According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the drop-shaped cross-section has a widthwhich is approximately double, or at least double, the width of the cross-section of the first endportion. This provides for a well-controllable manufacturing process, allowing the thinner firstend portion to harden sufficiently earlier in time than the central grip portion. lt should beunderstood that the above-mentioned width of the drop-shaped cross-section refers to a thickness ofthe central grip portion at the transition section.

As already mentioned previously, the central grip portion may suitably be substantially Y-shapedor T-shaped. ln connection to that, it should be understood that also the space located withinthe central grip portion may be substantially Y-shaped or T-shaped. By mimicking the shape ofthe central grip portion, the space makes use of the available material volume in anadvantageous manner, allowing a good weight reduction compared to ifonly a part ofthe shape of the central grip portion would have been copied interiorly for the space.

According to at least a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a painting toolcomprising a painting tool handle according to the first aspect, including any embodimentthereof. The advantages of the painting tool of the second aspect are largely analogous to the advantages of the painting tool handle of the first aspect, including any embodiment thereof. ln some exemplary embodiments of the second aspect of the invention, the painting tool maysuitably comprise a painting tool element in the form of a spreader blade fixed to the first endportion. ln other exemplary embodiments, it may comprising other components, such as a ferrule with bristles attached to the first end portion.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing apainting tool handle. The method comprises: - providing, in a mould, raw material to be hardened, the raw material being distributed in themould such that it presents a first end portion, an opposite second end portion, and a centralportion located between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein thethickness of the central portion is greater than the thickness of each one of the first end portionand the second end portion; - allowing the material of the first end portion and the second end portion to harden; and - injecting, after hardening of the first end portion and the second end portion but before hardening ofthe entire central portion, a fluid under pressure into the central portion to move 7material out ofthe central portion in order to create a space within the central portion, whereby the central portion becomes hollow.

Thus, the method ofthe third aspect ofthe invention may suitably be used when manufacturing the painting tool handle of the first aspect of the invention, including any embodiment thereof.

The material used for the painting tool handle may suitably be a plastic material, such as polypropylene. However, other materials are also conceivable. lt should be understood that a small part of the central grip portion may have hardened whenthe pressurized fluid is injected to create the space, such as for instance areas neighbouring tothe first end portion and the second end portion. However, suitably, the fluid is injected at atime before a major volume of the central grip portion has hardened, in order to allow a largespace to be created within the central grip portion. The fluid may contribute to cool downmaterial which is located adjacent to the fluid flow and which has not yet been completely hardened.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment said fluid is water. Water can easily bepressurized and is readily accessible. However, in other exemplary embodiments the fluid maybe another liquid than water. ln further exemplary embodiments, the fluid may be a pressurized gaS.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment the fluid is injected through an inlet openingin the material of the central portion and flushed out from the central portion through at leastone outlet opening, suitably two outlet openings. Non-hardened material that is moved by theinjected fluid will also exit through said at least one outlet opening. The number of outletopenings will normally depend on the shape of the painting tool handle to be manufactured,and thus the shape of the space within the central portion of the painting tool, as already explained above.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the method further comprises plugging theinlet and outlet openings to seal the created space. As previously explained, this may be desirable form both an aesthetic and functional perspective.

Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. Further features of, and 8advantages of, the present invention will become apparent when studying the appended claimsand the following description. The skilled person realizes that different features of the presentinvention may be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing from the scope ofthe present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a more detailed description of embodiments ofthe invention cited as examples. ln the drawings: Fig. 1 illustrates, in a perspective view, a painting tool comprising a painting tool handle in accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 illustrates a front view ofthe painting tool of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3a and 3b illustrates cross-sectional views of Fig. 2, taken along line A-A and line B-B, respectively.

Fig. 4 illustrates a side view of the painting tool of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 illustrates, in a front view, a painting tool handle in accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 illustrates a manufacturing of the painting tool handle of Fig. 5.

Fig. 6a and 6b are cross-sections of Fig. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which certain aspects and exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown.The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments and aspects set forth herein; rather, the embodiments are 9provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is to be understoodthat the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and illustratedin the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modificationsmay be made within the scope of the appended claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the description.

Fig. 1 illustrates, in a perspective view, a painting tool 1 comprising a painting tool handle 10 inaccordance with at least one exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention. Although thepainting tool 1 is illustrated in the form of a spreader, it should be understood that the presentinventive concept may be used for other painting tools as well. For instance, the painting toolmay be in the form of a paint brush, in which case a painting tool handle ofthe presentinventive concept may hold painting tool element in the form of a ferrule provided with bristles. ln the exemplary illustration in Fig. 1, the painting tool 1 comprises a painting tool handle 10and a painting tool element 100 in the form of a spreader blade. The painting tool element100 is attached to the painting tool handle 10. More specifically, the painting tool element 100is fixated to a first end portion 12 of the painting tool handle. The painting tool handle 10 alsocomprises an oppositely located second end portion 14. Between the first end portion 12 andthe second end portion 14, the painting tool handle 10 comprises a central grip portion 16.The central grip portion 16 is configured to be gripped by a hand of a user. Thus, from theabove, it should be understood that the first end portion 12 and the second end portion 14form borders to respective ends of the central gripping portion 16. Thus, instead of referringto a first end portion 12 and a second end portion 14, the present inventive concept may alsobe regarded as a painting tool handle 10 comprising a first bordering portion 12 configured tofixate a painting tool 100, an opposite second bordering portion 14, and a central grip portion 16 located between the first bordering portion 12 and the second bordering portion 14.

The thickness of the central grip portion 16 is greater than the thickness of each one of thefirst end portion 12 and the second end portion 14 (i.e. the first bordering portion and the second bordering portion). This is best seen in the side view of Fig. 4.

The central grip portion 16 is hollow, presenting a space located within and limited to thecentral grip portion. This will be discussed in more detail in connection with Fig. 6 which illustrates how the space may be created. ln Fig. 1 the second end portion 14 of the painting tool handle 10 is illustrated as having athrough hole 18, enabling the painting tool 1 to be hanged on a spike, a screw or similar. ltshould however be understood that in other exemplary embodiments the second end portion 14 is uninterrupted, i.e. is without a through hole 18. ln the present exemplary embodiment, the first end portion 12 is much wider than the secondend portion 14, since the first end portion 12 is configured to hold the wide spreader blade(painting tool element 100). lt should, however, be understood that other widths of the firstend portion 12 are conceivable, and suitably adapted to the particular painting tool element which is to be fixated.

The painting tool handle 10 is substantially T-shaped. The stem of the T-shape is slightlyangled from the normal relative to the roof of the T-shape. This is ergonomicallyadvantageous. lt should however, be understood that other shapes are conceivable as well,including straight T-shapes or any other suitable shape which is appropriate for the paintingtool in question. ln the illustrated exemplary embodiment the central grip portion 16 is alsosubstantially T-shaped, interfacing the exemplified substantially rectangular/tetragon shape of the first end portion 12. ln the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the first end portion 12 is provided with a groove 20in which the blade (painting tool element 100) has been received. For other painting toolelements, such as ferrules, other configurations of the first end portion may be provided for fixating the painting tool elements.

Fig. 2 illustrates a front view ofthe painting tool 1 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3a illustrates a cross-sectionalview of Fig. 2, taken along line the A-A. Fig. 3b illustrates a cross-sectional view of Fig. 2, taken along line B-B.

As can be seen in the cross-sectional view in Fig. 3a (and also in Fig. 2), the central grip portion16 comprises a transit section 22 where the central grip portion 16 transits into the first end portion 12. The transit section 22 has a drop-shaped cross-section. As clearly seen in Fig. 3a, in 11the illustrated example, the drop-shaped cross-section has a width which is approximatelydouble, or at least double, the width ofthe cross section ofthe first end portion 12. Fig. 3aalso illustrates part ofthe space 24 that has been created in the central grip portion 16. ln theillustrated example, the space 24 thus reaches all the way to the transit section 22 of the central grip portion 16.

As can be seen in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 3b, the central grip portion is hollow alsotowards the second end portion 14. Suitably, more than 50% ofthe total volume of the centralgrip portion is taken up by the space 24, or even more than 60%. The width of the space 24 atthe illustrated cross-section in Fig. 3b may be at least 50%, or at least 60% or even more, of the width ofthe central grip portion 16.

Fig. 5 illustrates, in a front view, a painting tool handle 10 in accordance with at least oneexemplary embodiment ofthe present invention. Thus, the blade (painting tool element 100) in Fig. 2 has been removed and isjust indicated by the lines.

Fig. 6 illustrates a manufacturing of the painting tool handle 10 of Fig. 5. First, raw material tobe hardened is provided in a mould. The mould is shaped like the finished painting toolhandle. Thus, the raw flowing material will be distributed in the mould such that it presents afirst end portion 12', an opposite second end portion 14', and a central portion 16' locatedbetween the first end portion 12' and the second end portion 14'. The first end portion 12' inthe mould will result in the first end portion 12 ofthe painting tool handle 10 in Fig. 5, thesecond end portion 14' will result in the second end portion 14 of the painting tool handle 10,and the central portion 16' will result in the central grip portion 16 of the finished painting toolhandle 10. The mould is dimensioned in such way that when the raw flowing material hasbeen distributed in the mould, then the thickness of the central portion 16' is greater than the thickness of each one of the first end portion 12' and the second end portion 14'.

When the raw material has been distributed in the mould, it is allowed to harden. Since thethickness of the first end portion 12' and the second end portion 14' is smaller than thethickness ofthe central portion 16', those two portions will become completely hardenedbefore the central portion 16' has become completely hardened. The outermost areas ofthecentral portion 16' may have hardened, however, the innermost areas of the central portion 16' is still not hardened. 12 At that time, when the central portion 16' is still not completely hardened, but the first endportion 12' and second end portion 14' have been completely hardened, a fluid 26 underpressure is injected into the central portion 16' to move material out of the central portion 16'in order to create the space 24 (see Fig. 3b) within the central portion 16' (central grip portion16 in the finished product), whereby the central portion 16' becomes hollow. This is illustratedin Fig. 6. The fluid 26 is injected at an inlet opening 28. The fluid 26 will push the non-hardened material, and the combined flow will be spread and guided by the already hardenedmaterial areas. Thus, the hardened first end portion 12' and second end portion 14' will formbarriers which limit the path of the flow. Also the outermost parts of the central portion 16',which may also have hardened will also form barriers. Two outlet openings 30 are made toallow the pressurized fluid 26 and the pushed non-hardened material to flow out of thecentral portion 16'. Thereafter, when the space 24 has been created, any remaining non- hardened material in the central portion 16' is allowed to harden.

The resulting painting tool handle 10 is shown in Fig. 5. ln the painting tool handle 10 the inletopening 28 and the two outlet openings 30 are visible. These may suitably be closed bysubsequently applying plugs to seal the space 24 within the central grip portion 16. By way ofexample, in the painting tool 1 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the painting tool handle 10 does nothave any visible inlet and outlet openings. Thus, plugs have already been provided in the painting tool 1 ofthe Figs. 1 and 2.

From the above described method, it is to be understood that the first end portion 12 of thepainting tool handle 10 is made in one piece with the second end portion 14, and also with amajor part ofthe central grip portion 16. The plugs for covering the inlet 28 and the outlets 30are the only pieces of material that need to be added subsequently to the central grip portion 16.

As can be seen in the cross-sectional view in Fig. 6a, which is taken along line C-C in Fig. 6, thefluid 26 creating the space 24 (see Fig. 3b) takes up a substantial part ofthe central portion16'. ln the resulting painting tool handle 10 the space 24 extends suitably over at least 50% ofthe width of the central gripping portion 16, suitably at least 60%. Fig. 6b is a sectional viewtaken along line D-D and illustrates how the fluid 26 is creating the part of the space 24 that is in the drop-shaped transition section 22 (see Fig. 3a). 13Since the material in the first end portion 12' and the second end portion 14' has completelyhardened before pressurized fluid 26 is injected, they will form solid pieces of material without a closed hollow interior.

As can be seen by the extension ofthe fluid 26 in Fig. 6, the space 24 that is created within thecentral portion 16', i.e. the central grip portion 16 of the finished painting tool handle 10 in Fig. 5, will be substantially T-shaped.

As already discussed in this disclosure, the shape, the number of inlets/outlets, etc. may be adapted depending on the type of the painting tool handle that is to be manufactured.

The fluid 26 used for displacing the non-hardened material may suitably be water, although other fluids are conceivable.

Claims

1. A painting tool handle, comprising - a first end portion configured to fixate a painting tool element, - an opposite second end portion, - a central grip portion configured to be gripped by a hand of a user, the central gripportion being located between the first end portion and the second end portion,wherein the thickness of the central grip portion is greater than the thickness of eachone ofthe first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the central grip portion is hollow, presenting a space located within and limited to the central grip portion. The painting tool handle according to claim 1, wherein the first end portion is made in one piece with the second end portion. The painting tool handle according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein a major part ofthe central grip portion is made in one piece with the first end portion and the secondend portion, wherein the central grip portion comprises at least two plugs, suitablythree plugs, joined to said major part of the central grip portion to seal the space within the central grip portion. The painting tool handle according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein said spaceextends over at least 50% of the width of the central gripping portion, suitably at least 60%. The painting tool handle according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein at least one ofthe first end portion and the second end portion forms a solid piece of material without a closed hollow interior. The painting tool handle according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the central gripportion comprises a transit section where the central grip portion transits into the first end portion, wherein said transit section has a drop-shaped cross-section.The painting tool handle according to claim 6, wherein the drop-shaped cross-sectionhas a width which is approximately double, or at least double, the width of the cross- section of the first end portion. The painting tool handle according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the space located within the central grip portion is substantially Y-shaped or T-shaped. A painting tool comprising a painting tool handle according to any one of claims 1-The painting tool according to claim 9, wherein said painting tool comprises a painting tool element in the form of a spreader blade fixed to the first end portion. A method of manufacturing a painting tool handle, comprising: - providing, in a mould, raw material to be hardened, the raw material beingdistributed in the mould such that it presents a first end portion, an opposite secondend portion, and a central portion located between the first end portion and thesecond end portion, wherein the thickness of the central portion is greater than thethickness of each one of the first end portion and the second end portion; - allowing the material ofthe first end portion and the second end portion to harden;and - injecting, after hardening of the first end portion and the second end portion butbefore hardening of the entire central portion, a fluid under pressure into the centralportion to move material out of the central portion in order to create a space within the central portion, whereby the central portion becomes hollow. The method according to claim 11, wherein said fluid is water. The method according to any one ofclaims 11-12, wherein the fluid is injected throughan inlet opening in the material ofthe central portion and flushed out from the central portion through at least one outlet opening, suitably two outlet openings. The method according to claim 13, further comprising plugging said inlet and outlet openings to seal said created space.15. The method according to any one claims 11-14 , wherein said painting tool handle is a painting tool handle according to any one of claims 1-8.