FINGERPRINT FORENSICS

Abstract

The invention relates a powder brush, which includes a body having mounting means for mounting a powder cartridge thereon and a brush head assembly attachable to an operative front end of the body. The brush head assembly defines a bristle mounting means capable of retaining a plurality of circumferentially arranged bristles therein. Furthermore, the powder brush includes a powder dispensing arrangement, in use, operable selectively to dispense powder from the powder cartridge onto the plurality of bristles. The dispensing arrangement includes an agitator disposed inside the powder cartridge, which cartridge includes a biasing means operable to bias the agitator towards a closed and open position. The bristles comprise of features, in particular, ostrich feathers of which a stem portion is secured to the brush head assembly.

Claims

1. A powder brush, which includes a body having mounting means for mounting a powder cartridge thereon; and a brush head assembly attachable to an operative front end of the body, the brush head assembly defining bristle mounting means for retaining a plurality of circumferentially arranged bristles therein.

2. A powder brush as claimed in claim 1, which includes a powder dispensing arrangement, in use, operable selectively to dispense powder from the powder cartridge onto the plurality of bristles.

3. A powder brush as claimed in claim 2, in which the powder dispensing arrangement is operable to dispense measured doses of powder from the powder cartridge.

4. A powder brush as claimed in claim 1, in which the bristles are ostrich feathers.

5. A powder brush as claimed in claim 1, which includes an interchangeable, tubular powder cartridge mountable onto the body, the powder cartridge being filled with a forensic powder.

6. A powder brush as claimed in claim 1, in which the brush head assembly includes a powder dispensing aperture disposed on an operative front end thereof and a powder cartridge mounting portion on an operative rear end thereof, the brush head assembly including a duct extending between the powder cartridge mounting portion and the powder dispensing aperture, for dispensing powder from the powder cartridge onto the plurality of bristles, in use.

7. A powder brush as claimed in claim 1, which includes a dispensing arrangement operable selectively to dispense measured doses of powder from the powder cartridge.

8. A powder brush as claimed in claim 7, in which the dispensing arrangement includes an agitator disposed inside the powder cartridge.

9. A powder brush as claimed in claim 8, in which the agitator includes a closure in the form of a disk at a front end of the agitator operable to close onto a shoulder at an inside of the cartridge front end.

10. A powder brush as claimed in claim 9, in which the cartridge includes biassing means operable to bias the agitator towards a closed position onto the shoulder, the biassing means including a compression spring and an actuating mechanism, the compression spring, in use, urges the agitator from a rear portion of the cartridge forward towards a closed position onto the shoulder.

11. A powder brush as claimed in claim 10, in which the disk includes a rotational ratchet mechanism, operable to rotate the agitator when operated and at least one dispensing aperture, and the shoulder includes a matched dispensing aperture, which when both apertures are radially in register opens the inside of the cartridge onto the duct in the brush head assembly and, when both apertures are not radially in register, closes the inside of the cartridge onto the duct in the brush head assembly.

12. A powder brush as claimed in claim 11, in which the agitator includes a longitudinal planar portion operable to rotate in unison with the rotational ratchet.

13. A powder brush as claimed in claim 12, in which the disk and shoulder include two opposed cams operable to rotate the agitator when cooperating with the shoulder.

14. A powder brush as claimed in claim 5, in which the powder cartridge is factory filled with the powder and includes a breakable seal, operable to break upon insertion of the powder cartridge into the body.

15. A powder brush, which includes a body having mounting means for mounting a powder cartridge thereon; and a brush head assembly attachable to an operative front end of the body, the brush head assembly defining bristle mounting means capable of retaining a plurality of circumferentially arranged bristles therein; and a powder dispensing device, operable to dispose powder from the cartridge onto the plurality of bristles.

16. A powder brush as claimed in claim 15, in which the powder dispensing device includes an agitator removably inserted into an operative rear end of the cartridge.

17. A powder brush as claimed in claim 16, in which the agitator includes an attachment means on an operative rear end thereof, allowing the elongated member to be secured to an operative rear end of the cartridge.

18. A powder brush as claimed in claim 17, in which the attachment means is threaded and matched to a complementary thread on an operative rear end of the cartridge, allowing for screw on attachment and screw off detachment.

19. A powder brush as claimed in claim 18, which includes a light source attachable to an outer surface of the brush head assembly, which in use allows for illumination at an operative front end of the plurality of bristles.

20. A powder brush as claimed in claim 19, in which the light source comprises of light emitting diodes.

Description

FIGURE(S)

[0042] In the figure(s):

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a powder brush in an assembled formation; and

[0044] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the powder brush as shown in FIG. 1.

[0045] In the figures, like reference numerals denote like parts of the invention unless otherwise indicated.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0046] In FIG. 1 reference number (10) refers to powder brush which includes a body (12) having mounting means (not shown) for mounting a powder cartridge (20) to an operative rear end (12.1) of the body (12), a powder cartridge (20) and a brush head assembly (30) attachable to an operative front end (12.2) of the body (12), whereby the brush head assembly (30) defines a bristle mounting means (32) capable of retaining a plurality of circumferentially arranged bristles (not shown) therein.

[0047] In this example, the powder cartridge (20) is factory filled with powder and includes a breakable seal (not shown), operable to break upon insertion of an operative front end (20.1) of the powder cartridge (20) within the body (12). Furthermore, the bristles comprise of ostrich feathers.

[0048] Furthermore, the powder brush (10) includes a powder dispensing arrangement (40), as shown in FIG. 2, which in use is operable selectively to dispense measured doses of powder from the powder cartridge (20) onto the plurality of bristles.

[0049] The body (12) comprises of a tubular shape of which the operative front end (12.2) includes a cylindrical portion (14), whereafter the body (12) includes a tapered portion (16) towards the operative rear end (12.1) thereof, defining mounting means.

[0050] The brush head assembly (30) includes a powder dispensing aperture (34) disposed on an operative front end (30.1) and a powder cartridge mounting portion (36) on an operative rear end (30.2) thereof. The power dispensing aperture (34) is connected to the powder cartridge mounting portion (36) with a duct, extending therebetween. In use, the duct (34) allows for powder dispensed from the powder cartridge (20) to be move through the duct (34) and onto the bristles.

[0051] The bristle mounting means includes a flange portion (38), positioned around the duct (34), in which is defined a plurality of slits (32) radially arranged around the duct (34).

[0052] The powder cartridge mounting portion (36) includes a first threaded portion matched to a second threaded portion on an inside surface at an operative front end (20.1) of the powder cartridge (20), allowing for a screw-in connection between the brush head assembly (30) and the powder cartridge (20). During assembly, the first threaded portion is inserted from the operative front end (12.2) of the body (12) and the second threaded portion is inserted from the operative rear end (12.1) of the body (12), whereafter the two threaded portions are connected. It should be appreciated that, during the connection of the two threaded portions, the flange portion (38) will be compression fitted within the body (12) at the tapered portion (16), resulting the body (12) to be secured between the brush head assembly (30) and the powder cartridge (20).

[0053] The plurality of radially arranged slits (32) are recessed from the outer circumference of the flange portion (38) for locating the feathers on a secure manner.

[0054] In use, a stem portion (not shown) of the feathers is inserted through the slits (32), thereby securing the feathers to the brush head assembly (30) in a friction fit manner. Upon insertion of the stem portions through the slits (32), a lower portion of each stem would be exposed past a rear portion (38.1) of the flange portion (38), however, the cylindrical portion (14) of the body (12) would cover and clamp the stems, once the two threaded portions have been connected. Furthermore, the bristles would extend past the dispensing aperture (34), allowing for dispensed powder to be dispensed onto the bristles.

[0055] The powder dispensing arrangement (40) includes an agitator (42) disposed inside the powder cartridge (20).

[0056] The agitator (42) includes an elongated member, operable to rotate within the cartridge (20), which comprises of two opposing rods (42.1) connected by two transversely arranged rods (42.2) which divides the elongated member into three equal segments (42.3), thereby operable to engage with the powder within the powder cartridge (20). Furthermore, the elongated member includes two disks (44, 46) on each opposing end thereof, of which the disk (44) is used as a closure.

[0057] The cartridge (20) includes a shoulder (24) at an inside of the operative front end (20.1) of the cartridge (20), in use, operable to cooperate with the disk (44), thereby capable of selectively opening and closing the front end (20.1) of the cartridge (20).

[0058] The disk (44) includes a longitudinal axle (44.1) and two opposing dispensing apertures (44.2). Furthermore, the disk (46), includes a second longitudinal axle (46.1).

[0059] The shoulder (24) includes a guiding aperture (24.1) and a matched dispensing aperture arrangement (24.2, 24.3).

[0060] In use, the first longitudinal axle (44.1) is inserted through the guiding aperture (24.1), allowing for the dispensing apertures (44.2 and 24.2, 24.3) to be able to rotate radially relative to each other. Therefore, when the apertures (44.2 and 24.2, 24.3) are radially in register with each other, it would result in an open position and accordingly opens the inside of the cartridge (20) onto the duct (34) in the brush head assembly (30) and, when the apertures (44.2 and 24.2, 24.3) are not radially in register, resulting in a closed position, it closes the inside of the cartridge (20) onto the duct (34) in the brush head assembly (30).

[0061] Th cartridge (20) includes a biasing means operable to bias the agitator (42) from the open position towards the closed position.

[0062] The biasing means includes a compression spring (50) and an actuating mechanism (52).

[0063] The actuating means (52) comprises of a twist cap attachable to a rear portion (20.2) of the cartridge (20), by means of a complementary shaped threaded formation (52.1) on the twist cap (52) and on an inner surface on the rear portion (20.2) of the cartridge (20), allowing for a rotational movement (54) of the twist cap (52) relative to the cartridge (20). Furthermore, the twist cap (52) includes a steering aperture, shaped and dimensioned to receive the second longitudinal axle (46.1) therein, whereby the twist cap (52) is operable to rotate the agitator (42) within the cartridge (20).

[0064] In use, the compression spring (50) is placed over the second longitudinal axle (46.1), whereafter the twist cap (52) is attached to the cartridge (20).

[0065] Furthermore, the disk (44) and the shoulder (24) include two opposed cams operable to rotate the disk (44) when cooperating with the shoulder (42), resulting in a rotational rachet mechanism.

[0066] In use, the compression spring (50) urges the agitator (42) from a rear portion (20.2) of the cartridge (20) forward towards the shoulder (24), thereby retaining the dispensing apertures (44.2 and 24.2, 24.3) in either the open or closed position, whereby the rotational movement (54) of the twist cap (52) will alter the position of the dispensing apertures (44.2 and 24.2, 24.3) from either the open to close position or form the closed to open position, allowing for the dispensing of measured doses of powder from the powder cartridge (20) onto the plurality of bristles.

[0067] The inventor believes that the invention provides a novel all-in-one powder dispensing applicator brush device, aimed at simplifying the day-to-day use for a person wanting to capture a latent fingerprint.