US3729158A - Paint can brush holder - Google Patents

Abstract

A paint brush elevating, positioning and holding device for use atop a paint can. It is preferably but not necessarily made from a length of flat-faced strap metal whose lower end is L-shaped and fashioned into a readily applicable bracket or clamp. The upper end is reduced to provide a tang and a shoulder and is equipped with upper and lower plates or cleats having a permanent magnet sandwiched therebetween and adapted to attract and hold the usual magnetizable metal band of the paint brush in a readyto-use position.

Description

United States Patent m y 451 Apr. 24, 1973 a [22] Filed:

[ PAINT CAN BRUSH HOLDER [76] Inventor: David Nagy, 1252 Davenport Road,

Toronto, Ontario, Canada June 14, 1971 [21] Appl. No.2 152,685

[52] US. Cl ..248/110, 248/206 A, 248/226 A,

v 248/309 [51] Int. Cl. ..B44d 3/14 [58] FieldofSearch ..248/l10, 111,112, 248/113, 206 A, 226 A, 226 B, 309; 21 I/DIG. 1

I [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,531,073 9/1970 Cortina ..248/l13 3,229,820 1/1966 Hentzl et a1. ....248/206 A 2,487,516 11/1949 Braswell r i ..248/1 10 2,807,431 9/1957 MCHale 248/1 13 2,315,269 3/1943 Morgillo ..248/1 10 3,536,285 10/1970 Vaughn ..248/206 A 3,512,741 5/1970 Goldstein ..46/32 X Primary Examiner-William H. Schultz AtmrneyClarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson 57 ABSTRACT A paint brush elevating, positioning and holding device for use atop a paint can. It is preferably but not necessarily made from a length of flat-faced strap metal whose lower end is L-shaped and fashioned into a readily applicable bracket or clamp. The upper end is reduced to provide a tang and a shoulder and is equipped with upper and lower plates or cleats having a permanent magnet sandwiched therebetween and adapted to attract and hold the usual magnetizable metal band of the paint brush in a ready-to-use position. 1

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures I PAINT CAN BRUSH HOLDER This invention relates to a simple and economical attachment which lends itself to feasible use atop a conventional rim-equipped paint can and has to do with an adaptation having a bracketing clamp. at the lower end and novelly constructed permanent magnet means on its upper end which constitutes a readily accessible holder when the brush is not being used.

The broad concept of supporting a readily attachable and detachable paint brush from the upper open end of a rim-equipped can through the medium ofa bracket or an equivalent attachment is old and well known. A number of prior patents exemplifying the state of the art to which the invention relates could be set forth here. It is believed, however, that several prior patents will enable the reader to ascertain and evaluate, broadly stated, the field of invention herein under advisement. An early brush holder for example is that shown in a patent to George Linder US. Pat. No. 2,184,460 which shows a bucket or can clamp held by a setscrew, arm means, and mounting means therefor. An adaptation which serves to elevate, support and position the bristles of a brush over and in alignment with the receptacle portion of the can is shown in a patent to Constantine A. Morgillo US. Pat. No. 2,315,269. Because it shows magnet means, which is featured in the instant invention, reference can also be made to the patent issued to James P. Vaughn U.S. Pat. No. 3,536,285 which embodies clamping means for the paint brush applicable to the rim of a can or bucket.

- An object of the present invention is to advance the art and, in so doing, to provide a simple, practical and economical self-contained attachment wherein the lower end of an upstanding arm or leg is provided with a novel can clamp and wherein the upper shouldered end is provided with structurally and functionally novel permanent magnet means.

Although the holder herein disclosed lends itself to use for articles and objects such as tools and thelike it is expressly well designed and reliably usable on a rimequipped paint can and, more particularly, because of the fact that it retentively suspends the paint brush with the bristles over the receptacle portion of the can in a manner to retrieve dripping paint.

Briefly, the concept herein revealed pertains to a paint brush positioning, elevating and holding device, that is, an adaptation which is set forth as an attachment in that it is designed and adapted to be located and detachably clamped on the upper open rim-equipped end of a paint can. It comprises a single length of bendable flat-faced metal or an equivalent strap the major portion of which is fashioned into an upstanding arm or leg. The lower end of the leg is bent upon itself and is approximately L-shaped in edge elevation and embodies a horizontal long limb capable of resting for support atop a lid-mounting-rim' at the upper end of said paint can and, in addition, a depending vertical short limb. The horizontal limb is provided with a struck-out depending leg positioning and retaining tongue. The depending short limb is provided with an accessible setscrew which is oriented and cooperable with the tongue and constitutes a fastener. Means is provided on the upper end of the leg for attaching a brush thereto and is preferably an adaptation which embodies a novelly constructed and arranged permanent magnet.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing a fragmentary portion of a paint can with the lid removed and with the novel paint can brush attachment or bracket applied, the paint brush being supportively hung above the paint in the can.

FIG. 2 is a central vertical sectional view with parts in elevation taken approximately on the plane of the irregular section line 2-2 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the indicating arrows.

FIG. 3 is a view on a smaller scale of the attachment by itself.

And FIG. 4 is a section taken approximately on the plane of the section line 44 of FIG. 3.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 the paint bucket or can is denoted by the numeral 6 and is conventional, the upper end thereof being provided with an endless channeled turned-in rim 8 which in actual practice accommodates an attachable and detachable cover or lid (not shown). The paint brush is conventional and is denoted at 10 and comprises a handle 12 having a head 14 carrying bristles 16 partly held in place by the usual metal or equivalent collar or band 18. The fact that the band 18 is of magnetizable material gave rise to the underlying idea of the instant invention which is to provide a permanent magnet for attachment and supportive retention of the paint brush in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Broadly the attachment comprises a vertically elongated leg with attaching means at the lower end applicable to the bucket or can, and with permanent magnet means on the upper end with which the metal band is detachably cooperable.

More specifically the attachment is denoted, generally stated, by the numeral 20 and is preferably, but not necessarily, constructed from a suitable length of flat-faced strap metal. This strap is bent upon itself between its ends as at 22 to provide an upstanding vertically disposable leg 24 and an adapter bracket 26. More specifically the lower end portion is fashioned into a simple clamp 28 which is L-shaped, that is, includes a horizontal long limb and a depending relatively short limb 30. The horizontal long limb has a portion struck out to provide a depending positioning and retaining tongue 32 which performs as best shown in FIG. 2. The short leg is provided with a screw threaded hole to accommodate the shank of a setscrew and more particularly a thumb screw 33. The shank 34 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is arranged so that it can be clampingly engaged with the wall 36 of the can. The leg 28 rests atop the rim 8 as brought out in FIG. 2 so that the hook-like tongue 32 can be retentively applied and held in place in the manner shown. The upper end portion of the leg 24 is reduced to provide a tang 38 and a shoulder 39. This shoulder serves to accommodate a washer 40 which in turn serves to accommodate upper and lower square or rectangular cleats or plates 42 and 44. These plates are centrally apertured and fitted non-rotatably over the tang 38 and the upper end of the tang is laterally bent and retentively clenched over and atop the associatively cooperable plate 42, as at 46. These two plates serve to sandwich the centrally apertured permanent magnet '48 therebetween in such a manner that the edge porthe attachment was evolved and produced.

The manner in which the attachment is constructed is shown to advantage in the views of the drawing and also the manner in which it is applied and used is adequately illustrated. Accordingly, a more extended description is deemed to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications .and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. What is claimed as new is as follows: 1. A paint brush positioning, elevating and holding attachment designed and adapted to be located and detachably clamped on the upper open rim-equipped end of a paint can comprising a length of bendable strap metal fashioned into an upstanding leg having upper and lower ends, said lower end being bent upon itself and being L-shaped in edge elevation and embodying (l) a horizontal long limb capable of resting for support atop a lid-mounting-rim at the upper end of said paint can and (2) a depending vertical short limb, said horizontal limb being provided with a struck-out depending positioning and retaining tongue, said depending short limb being provided with an accessible setscrew which is oriented and cooperable with said tongue and constitutes a fastener, said upper end being reduced in dimension and defining a shoulder and a centralized tang projecting above the level of said shoulder, a pair of like spaced parallel upper and lower cleats centrally apertured and fitted over said tang, the lower cleat being positioned and supported atop said shoulder, and a centrally apertured permanent magnet retentively fitted over said tang and interposed and cooperatively sandwiched between said cleats and fitted over and retentively assembled on said tang.

2. The attachment defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said cleats are structurally and functionally alike and have corresponding marginal edges projecting beyond and corresponding marginal edges of said magnet.

3. The attachment defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein a washer is provided, said washer being also fitted over said tang, underlying said lower cleat and resting and supported directly on said shoulder.

4. The attachment defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said tang has an upper free end extending through and beyond the aperture in said upper cleat, said upper free end being bent laterally and clenched firmly and retentively atop said upper cleat.

Claims (4)

1. A paint brush positioning, elevating and holding attachment designed and adapted to be located and detachably clamped on the upper open rim-equipped end of a paint can comprising a length of bendable strap metal fashioned into an upstanding leg having upper and lower ends, said lower end being bent upon itself and being L-shaped in edge elevation and embodying (1) a horizontal long limb capable of resting for support atop a lid-mounting-rim at the upper end of said paint can and (2) a depending vertical short limb, said horizontal limb being provided with a struck-out depending positioning and retaining tongue, said depending short limb being provided with an accessible setscrew which is oriented and cooperable with said tongue and constitutes a fastener, said upper end being reduced in dimension and defining a shoulder and a centralized tang projecting above the level of said shoulder, a pair of like spaced parallel upper and lower cleats centrally apertured and fitted over said tang, the lower cleat being positioned and supported atop said shoulder, and a centrally apertured permanent magnet retentively fitted over said tang and interposed and cooperatively sandwiched between said cleats and fitted over and retentively assembled on said tang.

2. The attachment defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said cleats are structurally and functionally alike and have corresponding marginal edges projecting beyond and corresponding marginal edges of said magnet.

3. The attachment defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein a washer is provided, said washer being also fitted over said tang, underlying said lower cleat and resting and supported directly on said shoulder.

4. The attachment defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said tang has an upper free end extending through and beyond the aperture in said upper cleat, said upper free end being bent laterally and clenched firmly and retentively atop said upper cleat.

Images