The invention relates to a paintbrush holder for storing one or more paintbrushes after use. The paintbrush holder contains a quantity of water in which the tuft of paintbrush bristles is immersed, as a result of which the paint residues and the like still present in the tuft are prevented from drying out.

As a result of legislation relating to working conditions and environment, water-based paint is being used to an increasing extent. Such a type of paint dissolves in the quantity of water and ultimately collects in the form of a layer on the bottom of the container. This contrasts with paint based on chemical solvents, which does not dissolve in the water and consequently does not form a layer on the bottom.

Since the tuft of paintbrush bristles rests on the bottom of the container, the tip of said tuft in any case likewise rests in the layer which has collected on the bottom of the container. This means that the paintbrush becomes badly soiled and is no longer suitable for use.

A further problem occurring here is that environmentally friendly processing of the container with the layer of paint which has collected in it is not a simple matter. In practice, the containers are thrown away with paint and all, which is, of course, very undesirable. Moreover, attempts are made to clean the paintbrushes by holding them under a running tap, which is likewise bad for the environment.

The object of the invention is to provide a paintbrush holder which does not have these problems in the case of water-based paint. That object is achieved by a false bottom which is supported at a distance above the bottom of the container and is provided with passage openings, on which false bottom each paintbrush can be supported.

The tuft of paintbrush bristles of each paintbrush is now supported on a porous false bottom. The paint residues coming out of the tuft can sink through the false bottom and collect at a distance from the latter on the bottom of the container. The tuft of paintbrush bristles consequently remains immersed in clean water and does not come into contact with the layer of paint on the bottom of the container.

For the purpose of fully removing the layer of paint from the bottom of the container in an environmentally friendly way, a filter bag can also be provided, extending from the top of the container to the bottom of said container, in which filter bag the false bottom is situated.

As soon as a layer of paint of a certain thickness has collected on the bottom, said layer of paint can be removed fully and in a simple manner from the container by means of the bag. If it is desirable to do so, the false bottom can also be removed at the same time. The bag is sealed off at the top and can be taken away with contents and all and processed in the usual manner.

The false bottom can be supported in various ways in the container, for example on a recessed wall part thereof. It is, however, preferable for a spacer to be provided in the bag below the false bottom, by means of which spacer the false bottom is supported on the bottom of the container. This spacer may also be thrown away with the contents of the bag, if desired.

The spacer may be annular and comprise a supporting ring, one edge of which rests on the bottom of the container, and the other edge of which has an annular collar on which the false bottom rests.

The spacer may also have moulded-on lips, situated at some distance above the collar, the false bottom being accommodated between the collar and the lips.

The invention also relates to an assembly of a paintbrush holder of the type described above, comprising a filter bag, a false bottom and a spacer. This assembly can be placed in its entirety in a standard paintbrush holder.

The invention will be explained in greater detail below with reference to a paintbrush holder according to the invention illustrated in the figures.

Fig. 1 shows a partial view, in section, of a paintbrush holder according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a view of a filter bag with spacer and false bottom, and a quantity of paint, ready to be thrown away.

Fig. 3 shows a top view in perspective of the spacer.

Fig. 4 shows a bottom view in perspective of the spacer.

The paintbrush holder according to the invention shown in Fig. 1 comprises a container 1, in the form of a metal can. The container 1 contains a filter bag 2, which at the top is passed over the beaded edge 3 of the container 1, and which runs to the bottom 4 of the container.

An annular spacer 5, bearing a porous false bottom 6 provided with passage openings, is situated on the bottom 4 and in the filter bag 2. Said false bottom 6 can be composed of, for example, a piece of gauze of any desired material, for example plastic.

The rigidity of this piece of gauze 6 is such that the tuft of paintbrush bristles 7 of the paintbrush 8 can be supported on it. The rigidity of the false bottom 6 must, of course, be sufficient to enable it to support several of such paintbrushes 8.

The container also contains a quantity of water 9, the surface level of which is such that the tuft of paintbrush bristles 7 is largely immersed in it.

If the paintbrush 8 has been used for applying water-based paint, residues of said paint still remain in the tuft of paintbrush bristles 7. These paint residues dissolve in the water 9 and ultimately collect as a layer of sludge 10 on the bottom 4 of the container 1, in the filter bag 2.

If after some time the layer of sludge 10 has reached a certain thickness, it must be removed from the container 1. For this purpose, after the paintbrushes 8 have been removed, the filter bag 2 is pulled out of the container 1 and tied together at the top by means of a cord 11 or the like, as shown in Fig. 2. The whole unit, consisting of the tied bag 2, the spacer 5 and the false bottom 6, can now be thrown away together with the sludge 10, after it has dried up or shrunk.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the spacer 5 has two supporting rings 12, 13, which are connected to each other by means of the collar 14. Lips 15, which ensure that the false bottom (not shown in Figs. 3 and 4) can be held clamped between the collar 14 and the lips 15, are also present.

The spacer 5 is preferably made of plastic material.