Brush Holder for a Paint Can

Abstract

The present invention relates to a temporary paint brush storage device. The device is designed to hold a paint brush in an upright position within a paint can. The storage device is in the shape of inverted “J” and is coated with a protective material. The storage device is supported by the rim of a paint can and magnetically attaches to a metal ferrule of a paint brush. The storage device may further comprise one or more additional attachment points to store additional paint brushes or painting accessories on the exterior of a paint can.

Claims

1. A painting accessory comprising: a connector; a first leg having a first length; a second leg having a second length and that connected to the first leg by the connector such that the first and second legs are spaced apart from one another by a length of the connector; and a magnet positioned along the second leg, wherein the first length is different than the second length, and further wherein each of the first and second lengths are longer than the length of the connector.

2. The painting accessory as recited in claim 1, wherein the second length is greater than the first length.

3. The painting accessory as recited in claim 1, wherein the magnet is either integrated into the second leg or placed on a surface of the second leg.

4. The painting accessory as recited in claim 3, wherein the magnet is one of a neodymium iron boron magnet, a samarium cobalt magnet, an aluminum nickel cobalt magnet and a ferrite magnet.

5. The painting accessory as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second leg are disposed perpendicularly to the connector.

6. The painting accessory as recited in claim 1, wherein the first leg, the second leg and the connector form an inverted “J” shape.

7. The painting accessory as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the first leg, the second leg and the connector are comprised of a rigid material.

8. The painting accessory as recited in claim 7, wherein the rigid material is one of a stainless steel, a galvanized steel, an aluminum or a plastic.

9. The painting accessory as recited in claim 7, wherein the rigid material is covered with a plastic, a silicone, a rubberized material or an anti-corrosive coating.

10. The painting accessory as recited in claim 1, wherein the second leg comprises an extension leg.

11. The painting accessory as recited in claim 1 further comprising a hook positioned on an exterior surface of the first leg, and wherein the second leg is comprised of a plurality of apertures.

12. A brush holder and paint can combination comprising: a paint can comprised of a wall, a base and a rim forming an interior; a brush holder comprised of a first leg having a first length, a second leg having a second length that is different than the first length, and a top portion having a third length that is different than each of the first length and the second length; and a magnet positioned along and extending outwardly from a surface of the second leg, wherein the top portion is positioned on the rim of the paint can, the second leg is positioned within the interior of the paint can and the first leg is positioned adjacent to an exterior wall of the wall of the paint can.

13. The brush holder and paint can combination as recited in claim 12 further comprising a paint brush having a ferrule, wherein the ferrule is attached to the magnet.

14. The brush holder and paint can combination as recited in claim 12, wherein each of the first and second legs extend perpendicularly away from the top portion in the direction of the base and adjacent to the wall, and further wherein each of the first and second legs are spaced apart from one another by the third distance.

15. The brush holder and paint can combination as recited in claim 12, wherein the second length is greater than the first length.

16. The brush holder and paint can combination as recited in claim 12, wherein the third length is more than a width of the rim of the paint can.

17. The brush holder and paint can combination as recited in claim 12, wherein the magnet is one of a neodymium iron boron magnet, a samarium cobalt magnet, an aluminum nickel cobalt magnet and a ferrite magnet.

18. The brush holder and paint can combination, as recited in claim 12, wherein the magnet is either integrated with the second leg or disposed on a surface of the second leg.

19. A brush holder comprising: a first leg having a first length of between 1.0 and 2.5 inches; a second leg having a second length of between 3.0 and 4.5 inches; a connector extending between the first leg and the second leg and having a length of about 0.5 to about 1.5 inches, wherein the first and second legs extend perpendicularly from the connector and remain spaced from one another by the length of the connector; a magnet positioned on the second leg, wherein a width of the first leg is between 1.0 and 3.0 inches and a width of the second leg is between 1.0 and 4.0 inches; and an accessory hook positioned on an exterior surface of the first leg.

20. The brush holder as recited in claim 19, wherein the brush holder is comprised of a rigid material and is covered with one of a plastic, a rubber, a silicone material or an anti-corrosive coating.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the paint brush storage device of the present invention being used to temporarily store a paint brush in a vertical orientation in an interior of a paint can in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of various orientations of one potential embodiment of the paint brush storage device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the paint brush storage device of the present invention with a paint brush being attached to the magnet of the interior leg in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the paint brush storage device of the present invention with a focus on the positioning of the long leg and the short leg in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0029] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the paint brush storage device of the present invention with a focus on the magnet's ability to hold different size brushes in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0030] FIG. 6A illustrates a side perspective view of one potential embodiment of the paint brush storage device of the present invention with an extensible member in each of an extended position and a retracted position in accordance with the disclosed architecture; and

[0031] FIG. 6B illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the paint brush storage device of the present invention having a plurality of apertures or openings in the interior leg in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0032] The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

[0033] Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a magnetic paint brush hook that provides users with a place to temporarily store a paint brush in an upright position in an interior of a paint can. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a paint brush storage device that holds the brush in a way that prevents the bristles of the brush from splaying out of alignment and from becoming bent or damaged, thereby maintaining the toe or tip of the brush in an original condition. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for a paint brush holder device that helps painters be more organized in the workplace and safer while using a ladder. Moreover, there is a long-felt need in the art for a device that has an additional hook on the front or exterior surface of the paint can, to permit the storage of additional accessories. Finally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a paint brush storage device that will reduce the amount of paint that is wasted after the use of the brush.

[0034] The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a magnetic paint brush storage device or holder. The device is a painting accessory that is designed specifically to hold paint brushes in an upright position and at the ready for use by a painter. The device is preferably comprised of a clip-like device for placement over the rim of a paint can and a magnet positioned on an interior leg of the device for securing a paint can in a desired orientation in an interior of a paint can. More specifically, the ferrule of the paint brush will magnetically and removably attach to the magnet of the holder device such that the paint brush is positioned in a generally vertical orientation with the brush bristles slightly above the remaining level of paint in the paint can.

[0035] The magnet is strong enough so that it can hold a variety of different size paint brushes, and may be one of neodymium iron boron magnets, samarium cobalt magnets, aluminum nickel cobalt magnets and ferrite permanent magnets. In a further embodiment, the holder device further comprises a second attachment point on the exterior leg for supporting additional paint brushes or other painting accessories on an exterior of the paint can but in close proximity to the user for easy access. Such painting accessories may include, but are not limited to, a drip rag, putty knife, scraper, paint can opener, as well as non-painting accessories such as, a cell phone which may be placed within a holder or pocket and then suspended from the hook.

[0036] A method of securing a paint brush safely in a vertical position for storage is also described herein. The method comprises the steps of providing a paint brush holder device having a magnetic attractive force and installing the same on a paint can. The method further comprises the steps of aligning the metal centerpiece of the paint brush with the magnet on the interior leg of the hook in the interior of the can, and then attaching the metal centerpiece of the paint brush to the magnet to store the paint brush in a secure way that will not damage the bristles and that will permit any remaining paint on the brush to drip down into the paint can. Finally, the paint brush can be easily removed from the device by pulling the metal centerpiece or ferrule of the paint brush away from the magnet, in turn releasing the brush from the magnetic pull of the magnet.

[0037] Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the paint brush storage device 100 of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the paint brush storage device 100 is an improved paint brush storage device that provides users with a place to momentarily and conveniently store their paint brushes in an upright position. The device 100 is specifically designed to allow any user to store a paint brush in a manner that will not bend or damage the bristles 36 of the brush and thus maintain the tip or toe of the brush in a desired configuration.

[0038] More specifically, the device 100 includes a first leg 102 having a first length, a connector or top portion 104, and a second leg 106 having a length different than that of the first leg. The top or connector portion 104 has a third length which is different than either of the first and second legs, and shorter than both of the first and second legs. Each of the first leg 102 and second leg 106 extend perpendicularly downward from the top portion 104 when positioned on a paint can, and the first and second legs are generally parallel to one another and spaced apart by a distance equal to the third length. The second leg 106 is the leg on the interior 18 of the paint can 10 in which the magnet 108 is housed and the ferrule of the brush is attached. The magnet 108 is preferably of a suitable strength to support a wide variety of sizes of brushes 30 securely to the brush hook 100.

[0039] The brush hook 100 is mounted on to a paint can 10 to safely store a paint brush 30. A paint can 10 has four main parts: a base 12, a can handle 14, an exterior side wall 16 and an interior wall 18. Paint 20 or other spreadable materials, such as a stain, varnish, primer or the like, is typically stored in the interior of the can paint 10 and is, in turn, spread by the paint brush 30. A paint brush 30 is generally comprised of a brush handle 32, a metal connector or ferrule 34 and a plurality of bristles 36 extending outwardly from the ferrule 34 in a direction opposite that of the handle 32 and culminating in a brush tip or toe.

[0040] Referring again to FIG. 1, the painting accessory brush hook 100 is used to secure a paint brush 30 in place. The paint brush 30 is being held in place vertically adjacent to the interior wall 18 of the paint can 10, wherein the plurality of bristles 36 are facing downward towards the remaining paint 20 in the can, and the brush handle 32 extends outwardly from the open can for easy retrieval by a user. The metal connector or ferrule 34 in the middle of the brush is magnetically attached to the magnet 108 that is housed on the second leg 106 of the brush hook 100. The magnet 108 preferably extends outwardly from the second leg 106 by a distance of up to 0.25 inches to hold the paint brush in a slightly spaced apart relationship to the surface of the second leg 106 to prevent paint from transferring to the handle of the paint brush.

[0041] By way of background, most standard one-gallon paint cans 10 have a height of 7.5 inches and a diameter of 6.5 inches, wherein the rim that runs along the top of the paint can 10 usually has a width of about 0.5 inch. Therefore, the brush holder 100 of the present invention should be designed to accommodate these particular dimensions, though it is contemplated that the brush holder 100 may also be sized and configured accommodate any other suitable size or shape as it is known in the art, depending on the needs and/or wants of the user.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 2 the device 100 is hook shaped and has three main parts. The first leg 102 is the shorter of the two legs. The connector or top portion 104 holds the first leg 102 and the second leg 106 together and maintains the spacing of the first and second legs apart. Each of the first and second legs is disposed perpendicularly to the top portion 104. The second leg is the longer of the two legs and is the leg that houses the magnet 108. The first leg 102 supports a small hook or other attachment element 110 that is designed to hold painting accessories such as, but not limited to, a drip rag, scraper, opener, putty knife or other items that an individual using the invention may require.

[0043] In one embodiment, the hook shaped painting accessory or brush holder 100 has dimensions that are designed in accordance with the dimensions of a one-gallon paint can 10. The painting accessory may have an inverted “J” shape. The first leg 102 is designed to be 1.0 to about 2.5 inches long so that it covers about one-third of the total height of the paint can. The second leg 106 is designed to be 3 to about 4.5 inches long so that it is a little longer than half of the total height of the can and almost twice as long as the first leg. The connector 104 between the two legs is designed to be about 0.5 to about 1.5 inches so that it is slightly larger than the rim of the can. The first and second legs remain separated from one another equal to the distance of the top portion. The width of the first leg is between 1 inch and 3 inches and the width of the second leg is between 1 inch and 4 inches. The first and second legs do not have to have the same width or thickness. Generally, the device 100 can be configured in any other suitable shape as is known in the art, and it can be configured in other suitable size or shape as is known in the art, depending on the needs and/or wants of a user.

[0044] In one embodiment, the hook shaped painting accessory or brush holder 100 has two types of materials: metal and plastic. The base skeletal structure of the hook is designed to be made out of a metal such as, aluminum, galvanized steel, stainless steel or other rigid non-rusting material. In other embodiments, the hook may be made from a rigid plastic in order to reduce the cost of the invention. The hook may be protected with a plastic covering. This plastic covering will be made of manufactured Polyethylene Terephthalate, High-Density Polyethylene, Low-Density Polyethylene, silicone, or rubber material. The thickness of the protective coating ranges from about 0.25 mils to 2 mils with about 1 mil being preferred. The paint brush storage device can be configured from a plurality of material combinations as is known in the art, depending on the needs and/or wants of a user.

[0045] Further, the second leg 106 of the brush hook includes a magnet 108 that holds the paint brush in place. This magnet 108 is relatively small compared to the objects that it is going to be responsible for securing, so it is important that this is a strong magnet. The second leg 106 of the paint brush holder 100 is designed to house a plurality of strong magnets 108 such as, ceramic, alnico, and neodymium magnets. The paint brush storage device's magnet 108 can be configured from a plurality of different types of magnets known in the art, such as ceramic, alnico, or neodymium magnets, depending on the needs and/or wants of the user. The shape is also configurable. The magnet can come in the shape of a circle, as shown, or it can come in a plurality of other different shapes such as, a square, rectangle, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, etc. The magnet can be configured in a variety of different shapes as known in the art, depending on the needs and wants of the user. In one embodiment, the width of the magnet is less than the width of the ferrule.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 3, the process to attach the paint brush 30 to the magnet 108 on the second leg 106 of the paint brush hook 100 is relatively simple. In order to secure the brush, the user must hold the brush in a way that the metal connector or ferrule 34 of the paint brush 30 is directly in line with the magnet 108 so as to create a magnetic attraction. Once the metal connector 34 is close enough to the magnetic field produced by the magnet 108, the paint brush will be brought into direct contact with the magnet 108. This secure magnetic connection will hold the paint brush 30 in an upright position so that the handle 32 is facing directly upward and the plurality of bristles 36 is facing directly toward the base of the paint can 12 to maintain the desired configuration of the brush tip. The way that the paint can will be stored will allow any excess paint to drip back into the remaining paint in the can, and it will prevent the bristles of the paint brush 30 from getting bent or permanently damaged.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 4, both the first leg 102 and the second leg 106 house features of the paint brush storage hook. The first leg rests on the exterior side wall 16 of the paint can 10 and supports the first leg hook 110. The first leg hook 110 allows the user to carry extra painting accessories such as, a drip rag, scraper, opener, putty knife or other items that the painter or individual using the tool may find helpful. The second leg runs along the interior of the paint can 10 and includes the magnet 108. The magnet may be provided in an opening of the second leg or may be provided on the surface of the second leg. The magnet secures the paint brushes 30 so that the bristles 36 do not splay out of alignment or become permanently damaged such as when they are not stored properly. FIG. 4 also shows how the connector or top portion 104 sits along the rim of the can so that the hook is not resting at an angle and remains in its inserted position. The connector or top portion 104 sits flat along the rim so that the hook remains balanced on top of the can rim and does not tip.

[0048] As seen in FIG. 5, the paint brush holder 100 is capable of storing a variety of different shapes and sizes of paint brushes 30. The two paint brushes 30 in this figure are both different sizes and in turn different shapes, but the paint brush holder 100 is still capable of storing both brushes. This is achieved mostly by the strength of the magnets 108 that are used in this device. This device uses ceramic, alnico, or neodymium magnets as known in the art, depending on the needs and/or wants of the user. The strength of these magnets 108 allows the magnet 108 to hold the brush 30 in an upright position so the bristles 36 are not bent or damaged.

[0049] FIG. 6A illustrates a side perspective view of one potential embodiment of the paint brush storage device 600 of the present invention with an extensible member in each of an extended position and a retracted position in accordance with the disclosed architecture. More specifically, the device 600 is comprised of a first leg 602, a second leg 604, a top portion 606, and an extensible leg 608 that can be extended or retracted to accommodate different depths of paint cans or other receptacles. A spacer element 609 may also be inserted between the first and second legs 602 and 604 if the can has been recently opened and the material is near the top of the can. In this way, the spacer 609 raises up the level of the hook 610 so that when the brush is attached to the second hook, it is not fully submerged in the paint or other material.

[0050] FIG. 6B illustrates a front perspective view of one potential embodiment of the second leg 604 and extension portion 608 of the paint brush storage device 600 of the present invention, wherein each of the second leg 604 and the extension portion 608 further comprise a plurality of openings or apertures 607 sized between ⅛″ and ¼″ to allow paint and other material in the can to flow through the second leg 604 and the extension portion 608. FIG. 6B also illustrates that the extension portion 608 preferably has a smaller width than the second leg 604 so that the extension portion 609 may slide within the second leg 604. In a preferred embodiment, the width of the extension portion 608 is between 80 and 95 percent of the width of the second leg 604.

[0051] Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different users may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “paint brush storage device”, “paint brush hook”, and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the fireworks safety device 100 of the present invention.

[0052] Notwithstanding the foregoing, the paint brush storage device 100 of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the paint brush storage device 100 as shown in FIGS. 1-6B are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the paint brush storage device 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the paint brush storage 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the paint brush storage device 100 may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.

[0053] Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

[0054] What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such a term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.