Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Particular handle
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-05
2001-03-06
Jones, Deborah (Department: 1775)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Particular handle
C015S159100, C016S431000, C016S430000, C016S441000, C264S243000, C264S245000, C264S247000, C264S260000, C264S275000, C264S279000, C264S328800
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195830
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention refers to a multi-colored paintbrush handle, of the type having an axis, a first and a second extremity crossed by said axis, and an external grip surface placed between said extremities and having at least two different colors.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
As it is known, paintbrush handles used in normal painting operations are manufactured with two or more colors. Higher quality paintbrushes have three-colored handles: one color for the tip of the handle, where there usually is a hole that is used to hang the brush; a second color for the body or main part of the handle, which extends to the operative part of the brush or to the band that holds the brush bristles; and a third color for a ring or similar part that separates the handle tip from the handle body. The colors (which include also black and white) have a decorative function, to attract potential buyers when the brushes are hanging on display in a store, as well as an important identification role.
That is, they enable someone to identify one paintbrush from another at a glance, and, above all, to distinguish between different types of paintbrushes, which could have different manufacturer, size, bristle type, and type of paint the brushes are best suited for. Thus, brushes produced by the same manufacturer and having the same size, for instance, could have tips of special colors according to the type of bristle or most suitable paint to be used.
As well, the aforementioned body or “main part” of the paintbrush handle often contains writing or symbols, such as trademarks, information on the manufacturer, paintbrush features, and quality certification.
All of these features, colors and writings or symbols are the source of a variety of technical problems.
The colors and writings must retain their brightness and legibility over time; they must remain like new, without undergoing fading or damage, notwithstanding intense use of the paintbrush and despite the fact the brushes come into contact with solvents and a variety of chemical substances. Furthermore, the quality of the materials and surface finish used must be satisfactory, if a number of important ergonomic requirements are to be met.
A paintbrush is often used for considerable amounts of time, meaning that it will often remain in contact with the hand holding it for long periods. If the materials used to make the handle and to finish its surface are not of the highest quality, they could cause localized skin irritation, which could impact negatively on both the work in progress and the future purchase of similar paintbrushes.
From an ergonomic point of view, it is important that the colored surfaces not be slippery. Otherwise, one will be forced to expend more physical and mental energy to handle the brush, so as to avoid dropping it accidentally.
Finally, long-lasting brush colors, as well as good ergonomic quality levels, relative to the type of finish used on surfaces that come into contact with human hands, must be obtained at relatively low cost, both for obvious reasons of market competitiveness and to fairly balance the costs of the paintbrush's separate parts. In other words, the handle is only one part of the paintbrush, and significant costs must already be incurred to produce the operative portion of the brush with bristles.
Up until now, multi-colored paintbrush handles have primarily been manufactured using special paint techniques, which involve applying a base coat to specially shaped holders and then painting the different parts by means of a graduated dipping of the handle in different paints.
The disadvantages of this process are that it is slow, expensive, inaccurate, limited in the styling or design options available, and potentially polluting because of the use of paint. Furthermore, the paints used often fade or get damaged (chipped, for example).
These drawbacks can, in part, be overcome by using molding techniques to make handles of colored plastic material. In any case, though, in order to produce multi-colored handles, one must make each piece separately with its own color and then assemble the pieces in order along an assembly line.
All of the above involves considerable overall costs. Furthermore, the assembly must be completely reliable and stable, in order to ensure the solidity of the handle and avoid the risk over time that it breaks or separates into its individual pieces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The technical aim underlying the present invention is to realize a multi-colored paintbrush handle able to substantially overcome the cited drawbacks.
This technical aim is substantially achieved by a multi-colored paintbrush handle having an axis, a first and a second extremity crossed by said axis, an external grip surface placed between said extremities, and including: a core substantially parallel to said axis, at least one colored raised part emerging from said core and defining at least one shaped section of said grip surface, and at least a first layer of colored plastic material molded onto said core, said first layer defining a main section of said grip surface and having a different color than that of said raised part.
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Browdy and Neimark
John Palmer Corp.
Jones Deborah
McNeil Jennifer
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