Method of bundling bristles to be used in paint brushes, a paint brush head comprising a plurality of bristles and a paint brush comprising a plurality of bristles and/or a paint brush head

Abstract

The present invention concerns a method of bundling a plurality of monofilaments into a bundle of monofilaments by means of a laser, a paint brush head including such bundle of monofilaments and a paint brush including such paint brush head.

Claims

1. A method of bundling a plurality of monofilaments configured to be used in a paint brush comprising: gathering a predefined amount of monofilaments into a group of monofilaments so that the monofilaments are tangent to each other along their length, arranging a polymer insert in the bundle of monofilaments such that an end surface of the polymer insert and one ends of the monofilaments make up a flush end surface of monofilaments, fusing the one ends of the monofilaments-at the end surface together by means of a laser into a joined bundle of monofilaments; and fusing the one ends of the bundle of monofilaments to at least a part of the polymer insert.

2. The method of bundling a plurality of monofilaments according to claim 1, wherein the fusing by means of the laser is performed by moving the laser in a predefined-pattern that is configured to distribute the heating of the one ends of the monofilaments equally.

3. The method of bundling a plurality of monofilaments according to claim 1, wherein the fusing by means of the laser is performed by the laser being out of focus at the position of the one ends of the monofilaments.

4. A method of bundling a plurality of monofilaments according to claim 1, further comprising fusing the one ends of the bundle of monofilaments to a polymer bristle carrier.

5. The method of bundling a plurality of monofilaments according to claim 1, further comprising fusing the outer periphery of the end surface of the bundle of monofilaments to the polymer bristle carrier.

6. The method of bundling a plurality of monofilaments according to claim 4, further comprising melting extra material comprised in the polymer bristle carrier such that the extra material make up a fusing area/volume/layer covering at least partly the end surface.

7. A method of bundling a plurality of monofilaments according to claim 1, further comprising fusing the one ends of the bundle of monofilaments to at least a part of a polymer insert.

8. The method of bundling a plurality of monofilaments according to claim 7, further comprising arranging the polymer insert such that a portion of the polymer insert protrudes from the end surface and melting the protruding portion of the polymer insert such that the protruding portion of the polymer insert make up a fusing area/volume/layer covering at least partly the end surface.

9. The method of bundling a plurality of monofilaments according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of monofilaments and/or polymer bristle carrier and/or polymer insert is/are made of polyester.

10. A paint brush head comprising a bundle of monofilaments and a polymer bristle carrier obtained by the method according to claim 1.

11. The paint brush head according to claim 10, wherein the bundle of monofilaments and the polymer bristle carrier are is fused together.

12. The paint brush head according to claim 10, wherein the polymer bristle carrier is detachably attached to a paint brush handle.

13. A paint brush comprising a bundle of monofilaments obtained by the method according to claim 1.

14. The paint brush comprising a paint brush head according to claim 10.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be explained in further details with reference to the drawings showing an embodiment thereof.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a bundle of bristles/monofilaments according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 shows steps of a method of bundling a plurality of bristles/monofilaments according to the invention,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a paint brush head comprising a polymer bristle carrier and optionally being interchangeable according to the invention,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a paint brush comprising an interchangeable paint brush head according to the invention,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a bundle of bristles/monofilaments comprising a polymer insert according to the invention,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a paint brush comprising the bundle of bristles/monofilaments comprising the polymer insert according to the invention,

(8) FIG. 7a-b show a paint brush head, wherein a polymer bristle carrier comprises extra material to be melted into a fusing layer, and

(9) FIG. 8a-b show a bundle of bristles/monofilaments, wherein a protruding portion of a polymer insert is melted into a fusing layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) The invention relates to a bundle of bristles or monofilaments 20 being fused together at one end 21 of the bristles, i.e. a root end of the bristles, to be used together with a bristle carrier 31, optionally a polymer bristle carrier 31a, and a paint brush handle 41 in order to obtain a paint brush 40. The present invention also relates to a method of bundling a plurality of bristles 10 into a joined bundle 20 of bristles. Methods of mixing, forming and gathering individual bristles or monofilaments into a plurality of such ones in a bundle or tuft of bristles before connecting/fixing/attaching/joining the bristles to each other at one end are known in the art and not explained here.

(11) Referring to FIG. 1, a bristle bundle 20 according to the invention is illustrated comprising a plurality of bristles 10 gathered into a group of bristles so that the bristles 10 are tangent to each other all along their length and aligned so that one end 21 of the bristles make up a flush end surface 23. The group of bristles 10 are shaped into a shape having a predefined outer periphery 22. The bundle of bristles 20 is further obtained by fusing C the one end 21 of the bristles 10 together by means of a laser (not shown) so that the end surface 23 becomes a continuous layer of melted and joined bristles 24.

(12) The bundle 20 of bristles 10 may be configured for being attached to a paint brush handle 41 by means of a bristle carrier 31, i.e. a metal ferrule, and/or a polymer bristle carrier 31a, i.e. polymer ferrule, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6.

(13) As illustrated by FIG. 1, the plurality of bristles 10 may comprise different types of bristles having different lengths and/or diameters and/or materials. Alternatively the plurality of bristles 10 may comprise only one type of bristles having the same length, diameter and/or material.

(14) Referring to FIG. 2, the steps A-D of a method of bundling a plurality of bristles 10 according to the invention is illustrated, wherein first step A comprises gathering a predefined number of bristles 10 into a group or bundle 20 of bristles so that the bristles 10 are tangent to each other all along their length.

(15) The following step B comprises aligning the bristles 10 at one end 21 to obtain a flush end surface 23.

(16) The following step C comprises fusing the one end 21 of the bristles 10 together by means of a laser into a joined bundle 20 of bristles.

(17) Step D and E are both optional steps wherein one of them or both may be performed simultaneously with step C or after step C in any order. Step D comprises fusing the one end 21 of the bundle of bristles 20 to the polymer bristle carrier 31a. Step E comprises fusing the one end 21 of the bundle of bristles 20 to at least a part of a polymer insert 50.

(18) Referring to FIG. 3, a paint brush head 30 according to the invention is illustrated wherein the paint brush head 30 comprises a bundle of bristles 20 obtained by the method steps A-C shown in FIG. 2 and is attached to the polymer bristle carrier 31a by the method step D shown in FIG. 2. When fusing the bundle of bristles 20 to an inside surface of the polymer bristle carrier 31a a weld line 33 may be created between the two parts.

(19) The polymer bristle carrier 31a may comprise grooves, ridges or other suitable connection means 32 configured for fixing or detachable attaching the paint brush head 30 to a paint brush handle 41, as shown in FIG. 4. Hereby is provided a paint brush 40.

(20) Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a bundle 20 of bristles 10 comprising a polymer insert 50 and a paint brush 40 comprising such bundle of bristles 20 according to the invention is illustrated, wherein the polymer insert 50 is placed at the one end of the bristles 10 and extends along part of the length of the bristles 10. The polymer insert 50 is arranged such that the bristles 10 encircle the polymer insert 50. An end surface of the polymer insert 50 and the one end 21 of the bristles may together make up a flush end surface of the bundle 20 of bristles 10. When fusing the bristles 10 to for example an outer periphery of the polymer insert 50, a weld line 34 may be created between the polymer insert 50 and the adjacent bristles 10. Here, the bundle of bristles 20 forms an annular shaped volume around the insert 50 and between the polymer insert and the (polymer) bristle carrier or ferrule 31, 31a.

(21) As shown in FIG. 6 the polymer insert 50 may extend a distance along the length of the bristles 10 corresponding to the length the (polymer) bristle carrier 31, 31a extends along the length of the bristles 10.

(22) According to an aspect, the laser source is applied to heat an area evenly for a uniform fusing of the one end of the plurality of bristles/monofilaments 21.

(23) The temperature applied by the laser may preferably be sufficient to melt the one end of the plurality of bristles/monofilaments 21 together and to provide a strong and at the same time flexible or supple or soft smelt/fuse when fusing the one end of the plurality of bristles/monofilaments 21 together, whereas the temperature is kept at an optimised level as a too high temperature during the fusing may provide a porous and brittle smelt or fuse.

(24) According to an aspect the laser source is applied in one or more steps. In a first step the monofilaments are preheated, in a second step the monofilaments are starting to melt and in a third step the monofilaments are completely melted. According to one aspect the three steps are performed as one step. In one or more of the first, second and third step the lasers source is applied during a predetermined time. According to an aspect the laser source is applied in a pattern that runs back and forward over the monofilaments. According to an aspect the laser source is applied in a circular pattern over the monofilaments.

(25) Referring to FIG. 7a-b, a paint brush head 30 according to the invention is illustrated, wherein the polymer bristle carrier 31a comprises extra material 35 arranged at least partly on the inside surface or as an circumferential edge partly or fully surrounding the inside surface of the polymer bristle carrier 31a. As shown on FIG. 7a the extra material 35 may be a protruding ridge extending along the entire circumference of the inner surface. The extra material 35 may be a plurality of continuous or discontinuous, i.e. separate protruding ridges (not shown). As shown on FIG. 7b the extra material 35 may be melted by means of the laser into a fusing layer 60 covering the end surface 23 of the plurality of bristles 10.

(26) The plurality of bristles 10 and the polymer bristle carrier may hereby be fused together at once, i.e. in one method step.

(27) Referring to FIG. 8a-b, a bundle of bristles 20 according to the invention is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 8a the polymer insert 50 may be arranged such that a portion of the polymer insert 50 protrudes form the end surface 23 of the plurality of bristles 10. As shown on FIG. 8b the protruding portion of the polymer insert 50 may be melted by means of the laser into a fusing layer 70 covering the end surface 23 of the plurality of bristles 10.

(28) The plurality of bristles and the polymer insert may hereby be fused together in one method step. The protruding portion of the polymer insert 50 may be melted by means of the laser.

(29) The polymer insert 50 may be of a equilateral shape such that it is correctly orientated before and during the fusing process and does not end up askew relative to the surrounding parts making up the inventive paint brush and paint brush head.

(30) In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments. However, many variations and modifications can be made to these embodiments. Accordingly, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the embodiments being defined by the following claims.