Adjustable hooking device for paintbrushes of various kind

Abstract

 Adjustable hooking device for paintbrushes of various kind and shape, adapted to hung up the paintbrushes at adjustable heights in the colour containers (10), when the paintbrushes aren't utilized, whichever is the height reached by the colour contained into its container (10).
Device shaped in a manner to be applicable removably along the handle (6) of the paintbrush (5) in different adjustment positions, for being hung up in the colour container (10) in the adjustment positions required from time to time, in a manner that the bristles (7) of the paintbrush (5) are always immersed in the colour, whichever is the colour level reached in the same container. There are described by way of example three different versions of the hooking device (8), provided with a respective hook (17 ; 39' ; 43) and coupling means (31 ; 39 ; 44) with the handle (6) of the paintbrush (5) in the different adjustment positions.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an adjustable hooking device for paintbrushes of various kind, adapted to hang up paintbrushes of various kind at adjustable heights in the colour containers, under the condition in which the paintbrushes aren't utilized.

[0002] As already known, during the use of the paintbrushes for painting, the bristles thereof are repeatedly dipped in the colour contained in the relative containers, so as to paint the walls, or the other articles to be coloured, and at the end of their use such paintbrushes are at first cleaned from the colour, so as to avoid that the colour sets to dry and stays impregnated in the bristles, and thereafter are laid on or put back in the preserved positions. Generally, during the use it may happen that the paintbrushes are put back momentarily and sometimes even for long times, above all when the paintbrushes have considerable sizes, usually into the container in which the paint which is used is present, and are taken again for being subsequently utilized.

[0003] For doing this, such paintbrushes are often provided with a rough hook made of iron wire or of a folded metallic rod iron, secured to the free end portion of the handle, or they are provided with a fixed hook made of laminate or plastic material in the joint between the handle and the bristle holder, which hook is finally laid on or fixed to an edge of the above mentioned container.

[0004] Under this condition, if the bristles of the paintbrush aren't immersed in the paint, and therefore the residual colour continues to be in the same bristles, or if for the subsequent applications of the colour the bristles of the paintbrush are soaked up of colour for long times, by overlapping in this way such new colour to the residual one which is remained on to the bristles, it may happen that the colour deposited on to the bristles dries itself and requires some time for being cleaned, or even may made useless the paintbrush, and requires the use of another paintbrush for the painting operations. The object of the present invention is to provide for an adjustable hooking device for paintbrushes of various kind which, in addition to perform the functions of simple support for the paintbrush on a colour container, allows to keep the paintbrush bristles always immersed into the paint contained into the same container, whichever is the paint level, thereby avoiding the colour to be dried and the same bristles to be impregnated, and that the above mentioned drawbacks occur.

[0005] This hooking device is made with the substantially described constructive characteristics, with particular reference to the enclosed claims of the present patent.

[0006] The invention will be better understood by the following description, given by way of not-limitative example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :

• Fig. 1 shows a schematic front view of a paintbrush with an adjustable hooking device according to the invention, in a first operative position thereof ;
• Fig. 2 shows a schematic front view of a paintbrush according to the invention, in a second operative position thereof ;
• Fig. 3 shows a schematic front view of a paintbrush according to the invention, in a third operative position thereof ;
• Fig. 4 shows a perspective front view of a portion of a paintbrush according to the invention, with the adjustable hooking device, in a first embodiment thereof ;
• Fig. 5 shows a perspective back view of the portion of paintbrush of the Fig 4 ;
• Fig. 6 shows a perspective front view of a paintbrush with the adjustable hooking device according to the invention, in a second embodiment thereof ;
• Fig. 7 shows a perspective back view of two adjustable hooking devices which can be applied along the handle with parallelepiped shape of the paintbrush of Fig. 6, in a first constructive version thereof ;
• Fig. 8 shows a perspective front view of an adjustable hooking device in a second constructive version thereof, which can be applied to the paintbrush of Fig. 7, the handle of which is made of cylindrical shape.

[0007] The above Figures schematically show different examples of embodiments of an adjustable hooking device for paintbrushes of various kind, adapted to hang up each paintbrush at adjustable heights in the colour containers, under the condition in which the paintbrushes aren't utilized, in a manner that the bristles of the paintbrushes stay always immersed in the colour, whichever is the level of the same colour in the relative container.

[0008] With reference to the Figs. 1-3, shown therein is a paintbrush 5 provided with a lengthened handle 6 with bristles 7 at its lower end portion, which paintbrush is provided with the adjustable hooking device 8 according to the invention, allowing it to be removably applied along the upper edge 9 of the relative colour container 10, in which the colour is introduced with the dye respectively utilized for painting the walls or other objects of various kind to be coloured.

[0009] In the above mentioned Figures, the paintbrush 5 finds itself in the rest position, in that at this moment it isn't utilized, and with the container 10 containing the colour respectively at three decreasing levels, and in particular in the Fig. 1 with a reduced level, in the Fig. 2 with a level higher than that of the Fig. 1, and in the Fig. 3 with a level higher than that of the Fig. 2.

[0010] In each one of these conditions, the paintbrush 5 is hang up on and supported by the colour container 10 with its adjustable hooking device 8, which will be hereinafter described, in a way that for each colour level the bristles 7 of the paintbrush 5 are always immersed in the same colour.

[0011] In particular, such hooking device 8 may be displaced manually in the adjustment positions correspondent to those of the height of the colour level in the container 10 illustrated by way of example, and also in the positions intermediate to the here illustrated positions, in order that the bristles be always immersed in the colour and therefore cannot become dried with the colour impregnated thereon. With reference to the Figs. 4 and 5, shown therein is the present adjustable hooking device 8 in a first embodiment thereof, which is applied along the handle of the paintbrush 5, and is visible respectively from the back part and the front part of a portion of the handle 6 of the same paintbrush. In this case, the handle portion in which the bristles are applied isn't shown.

[0012] In particular, along both the sides of the portion of handle 6 it is provided a respective rectangular recess 11 for a limited depth, for a length shorter than the total length of the handle, and centrally to such recesses 11 it is provided a longitudinal through opening 12 with rectangular shape, almost for the entire extent of the same recesses, the purpose of which is to allow the alternate longitudinal sliding of an insert 13, which is shaped as a single body as it will be described, and performs the function of a hook for hanging up the paintbrush, which can be displaced manually into different adjustment positions thereof from an end portion to the other one of the relative recesses 11, in which positions such hook is stopped from time to time, and this for changing the hanging position of the paintbrush depending on the colour level respectively contained in the container 10.

[0013] As visible from these Figures, the insert 13 is made with a thin flat back plate 14, shaped as it will be described, and a thin flat front plate 15, both having the same shape and dimensions slightly smaller than those of the correspondent recess 11, so as to be able to slide along the same recess in the alternate longitudinal direction thereof.

[0014] In particular, the flat back plate 14 is provided with a full portion 16, in which a hook 17 projected outward is provided, in order to be hooked in the colour container 10, and a notched portion 18 defined by two narrowed side through openings 19 and 20, symmetrical to each other and provided for a part of the length of the notched portion 18 as well as shaped with a rectilinear part 21 and a curved part 22, in a way that such notched portion be shaped with a narrow central shank 23, which is joined at a side thereof with the full portion 16 and at the other side thereof with a mushroom-shaped head 24, and with two elastic side protruded parts 25 and 26, shaped with a projected curved edge 27 and 28 in their side turned toward the relative rectilinear longitudinal edge 29 and 30 of the recess 11. In turn, these rectilinear longitudinal edges 29 and 30 are provided at regular intervals with a set of respective curved hollows 31 and 32, having the same shape of the projected curved edges 27 and 28, thereby permitting the reciprocal engagement of such projected edges 27 and 28 with the respective curved hollows 31 and 32, when the back plate 14 is let to slide along the recess 11, by pushing elastically both the protruded parts 25 and 26 inwardly and releasing them when their curved edges have been displaced in correspondence of the desired curved hollows, and in this way each engagement position between the projected edges and the hollows constitutes an adjustment position, allowing to stop the slider in the same position thanks to the engagement of said two parts. In particular, in the Fig. 5 it is noted that the back plate 14 is let to slide along the recess 11 from the one to the other one of two terminal positions, both drawn for understanding facility. In turn, the flat front plate 15 (see Fig. 4) is made full and is joined to the back plate 14 by means of a thin shank 33 with parallelepiped shape, which is extended in the direction orthogonal to both the plates 14 and 15 and is slidable through the correspondent longitudinal through opening 12 of the handle 6. Advantageously, the so shaped hooking slidable insert 13 may be mounted in the handle 6, by shaping this latter in the form of two separated half-shells between which the same insert is firstly inserted, which is so enclosed therebetween, and which are then secured adequately to each other. Obviously, such mounting may be effected also in different ways, thus without departing from the protection sphere of the present invention.

[0015] Turning now to the Fig. 6, in which the present adjustable hooking device is shown in a second embodiment thereof, it is noted that also in this case such device is slidable along the handle 6 of the paintbrush 5 into different adjustment positions, however both the handle and the hooking device are shaped in a manner different than previously.

[0016] In particular, the handle 6, which in the Fig. 6 is shaped with parallelepiped form, is provided for a portion of its length with a set of semi-spherical hollows 34 or having another suitable form, which are provided in the handle central zone and spaced away from each other with identical intervals, and defining the adjustment positions in which the hooking device may be stopped from time to time. In turn, the hooking device 8 may be shaped of different forms, in such a way that to be able to slide in alternate direction along the handle 6 of the paintbrush, by displacing it from the one to the other one of the different adjustment positions.

[0017] In particular, in the present invention there are described by way of a not-limitative example two different constructive versions of the hooking device referred to, but obviously the same may be shaped also with different structural configurations thereof, thus without departing from the protection sphere of the invention. In the Fig. 7 there are shown two hooking devices 8 identical to each other, in a first constructive version thereof. In this case, each hooking device 8 is made as a single body 35, shaped with a short hollow sleeve 36 of the same shape and dimensions slightly larger than those of the paintbrush handle, in the longitudinal through hole 37 of which such handle 6 can be inserted, in a manner that the sleeve 36 is slidable along all the peripheral surface of the same handle. Furthermore, such hollow sleeve 36 is joined with its one longitudinal wall with a projection 38, in to which a central relief 39 is provided, which has the same shape of the semi-spherical hollows 34 of the paintbrush handle 6, so as to be able to adapt itself into the same hollows, and such projection 38 is folded orthogonally and doubly at its end portion, thereby defining a hook 39' adapted to be hung up along the edge 9 of the colour container 10.

[0018] In this way, the sleeve 36 is inserted in the paintbrush handle 6 through its through hole 37 and may be displaced in the different adjustment positions, depending on the height to which the paintbrush must be hung up, in each one of which the relief 39 of the sleeve 36 engages itself into a correspondent hollow 34 of the handle 6, in which it is locked in the position.

[0019] With this arrangement of the hooking device 8, the sleeve 36 thereof may be let to slide easily if a certain pressure is exerted with the hand thereon, which pressure is sufficient to unlock the coupling between the relief 39 and the relative hollow 34, so as to displace the same sleeve up to the desired adjustment position, in which it is then locked as described above.

[0020] In the Fig. 8 it is now shown a second constructive version of the hooking device 8, the structure of which is substantially identical and operates in the same manner of the device of the Fig. 7, except that in this case the sleeve 40 is shaped of cylindrical form, in a way that its cylindrical longitudinal through hole 41 may slide along the correspondent cylindrical handle (not indicated) of the relative paintbrush. Moreover, in this case the projection 42 including the hook 43 and the relief 44 is provided by means of two side slits 45 and 46, provided for a limited depth along the peripheral wall 47 of the cylindrical sleeve 40.

Claims

1. Adjustable hooking device for paintbrushes of various kind, adapted to hang up paintbrushes of various kind at adjustable heights in the colour containers, when the paintbrushes aren't utilized, wherein each paintbrush comprises a lengthened handle of different shapes and some bristles to be soaked in the colour contained in the colour container, so as to paint the walls or other objects to be coloured, characterized in that said hooking device (8) is shaped in such a manner that to be able to be applied removably along the handle (6) in different adjustment positions, so as to be hung up in the colour container (10) in the adjustment positions requested from time to time, in a manner that the bristles (7) of the paintbrush (5) are always immersed in the colour contained into said colour container (10), whichever is the colour level reached in the same container, said hooking device comprising sliding means (13 ; 36 ; 40) slidably manually along said handle (6) in the different adjustment positions, and provided with at least a hook (17 ; 39' ; 43) which can be hooked on to the colour container (10), and coupling means (31 ; 39 ; 44) with said sliding means (13 ; 36 ; 40) in each adjustment position of the hooking device (8) along said handle (6).

2. Adjustable hooking device according to claim 1, characterized in that said sliding means (13) comprise an insert (13) shaped with a first flat back plate (14) and a second flat front plate (15), slidable in the alternate longitudinal direction along a respective recess (11) provided for a determinate depth along the correspondent back and front sides of the handle (6) and for a length shorter than the total length of the same handle, as well as provided with a longitudinal through opening (12) almost for the entire extent of the same recesses, said first flat plate (14) being provided with a full portion (16) in which a hook (17) projected outward is provided, in order to be hooked in the colour container (10), and a notched portion (18) defined by two narrowed side through openings (19, 20) symmetrical to each other and provided for a part of the length of the notched portion (18), as well as shaped with a rectilinear part (21) and a curved part (22), in a way that such notched portion be shaped with a narrow central shank (23), which is joined at a side thereof with the full portion (16) and at the other side thereof with a mushroom-shaped head (24), and with two elastic side protruded parts (25, 26) shaped with a projected curved edge (27, 28) in their side turned toward the relative rectilinear longitudinal edge (29, 30) of the recess (11), said rectilinear longitudinal edges (29, 30) being provided at regular intervals with a set of respective curved hollows (31, 32), having the same shape of the projected curved edges (27, 28), thereby permitting the reciprocal engagement of such projected edges (27, 28) with the respective curved hollows (31, 32), when the back plate (14) is let to slide along the recess (11), by pushing elastically both the protruded parts (25, 26) inwardly and releasing them when their curved edges have been displaced in correspondence of the desired curved hollows, and in this way each engagement position between the projected edges and the hollows constitutes an adjustment position, allowing to stop the slider in the same position thanks to the engagement of said two parts.

3. Adjustable hooking device according to claim 2, characterized in that said second flat front plate (15) is made full and is joined to the back plate (14) by means of a thin shank (33) with parallelepiped shape, which is extended in the orthogonal direction to both the plates (14, 15) and is slidable through the correspondent longitudinal through opening (12) of the handle (6).

4. Adjustable hooking device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the paintbrush handle (6) is provided for a portion of its length with a set of semi-spherical hollows (34) or having another suitable form, which are provided in the handle central zone and spaced away from each other with identical intervals, and defining the adjustment positions in which the hooking device may be stopped from time to time.

5. Adjustable hooking device according to claim 4, characterized in that to be able to be shaped also with different forms, in such a manner that to be able to slide in the alternate direction along the paintbrush handle (6), by displacing it from the one to the other one of the different adjustment positions, and in particular in a first constructive version each hooking device (8) is made as a single body (35), shaped with a short hollow sleeve (36) of the same shape and dimensions slightly larger than those of the paintbrush handle, in the longitudinal through hole (37) of which such handle (6) may be inserted, in a manner that the sleeve (36) be slidable along all the peripheral surface of the same handle, said hollow sleeve (36) being also joined with its one longitudinal wall with a projection (38), in to which a central relief (39) is provided, which has the same shape of the semi-spherical hollows (34) of the paintbrush handle (6), so as to be able to adapt itself into the same hollows, and such projection (38) is folded orthogonally and doubly at its end portion, thereby defining a hook (39') adapted to be hung up along the edge (9) of the colour container (10), in such a way that said sleeve (36) be inserted in the paintbrush handle (6) through its through hole (37) and may be displaced in the different adjustment positions, depending on the height to which the paintbrush must be hung up, in each one of which the relief (39) of the sleeve (36) engages itself into a correspondent hollow (34) of the handle (6), in which it is locked in the position.

6. Adjustable hooking device according to claim 5, characterized in that in a second constructive version thereof said sleeve (40) is shaped in a way that its longitudinal through hole (41) may slide along the correspondent cylindrical handle (6) of the relative paintbrush, and that the projection (42) including the hook (43) and the relief (44) be provided by means of two side slits (45, 46), provided for a limited depth along the peripheral wall (47) of the cylindrical sleeve (40).

Drawing