Paintbrush with handgrip

Abstract

A paintbrush has a substantially rigid handle and a substantially rigid rod extending longitudinally from the handle at one end thereof. The rod has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the handle. A handgrip is disposed about and attached to the rod. The handgrip includes a rubbery outer body and a rigid inner sleeve. The inner sleeve is bonded to the rod. A ferrule is attached to the rod at a free end thereof opposite the handle, and at least one brush head is secured to the ferrule at an end thereof opposite the handle, rod, and handgrip.

1 . A paintbrush comprising: 
 a substantially rigid handle, said handle having a transverse dimension at one end;    a substantially rigid rod extending longitudinally from said handle at said one end thereof, said rod having a diameter smaller than said transverse dimension;    a handgrip disposed about and attached to said rod, said handgrip being made at least in part of a resilient material;    a ferrule attached to said rod at a free end thereof opposite said handle; and    at least one brush head secured to said ferrule at an end thereof opposite said handle and said handgrip.    
   
   
       2 . The paintbrush defined in  claim 1  wherein said handgrip comprises 
 a substantially rigid inner sleeve; and    a tubular outer body made of a resilient elastic material, said rod traversing said sleeve, said outer body surrounding said sleeve and said rod.    
   
   
       3 . The paintbrush defined in  claim 2  wherein said sleeve is bonded to said rod.  
   
   
       4 . The paintbrush defined in  claim 3  wherein said sleeve is glued to said rod.  
   
   
       5 . The paintbrush defined in  claim 2  wherein said handgrip has a first end and a second end, said outer body having an outer surface tapering radially inwardly from said first end and said second end so that said outer surface has a minimum diameter intermediate between said first end and said second end.  
   
   
       6 . The paintbrush defined in  claim 5  wherein said outer body has a rounded contour at said first end and said second end.  
   
   
       7 . The paintbrush defined in  claim 5  wherein said outer surface has a radius of curvature at said minimum diameter.  
   
   
       8 . The paintbrush defined in  claim 2  wherein said outer body is made of a rubber material.  
   
   
       9 . The paintbrush defined in  claim 8  wherein said rubber material comprises styrene-dibutene-styrene.  
   
   
       10 . The paintbrush defined in  claim 2  wherein said sleeve and said outer body are lengthwise substantially coextensive, said rod being longer than said sleeve and said outer body.  
   
   
       11 . The paintbrush defined in  claim 10  wherein said ferrule is attached to said free end of said rod via an end cap attached to said free end of said rod.  
   
   
       12 . The paintbrush defined in  claim 11  wherein said end cap is glued to said rod and to said ferrule.  
   
   
       13 . The paintbrush defined in  claim 11  wherein said end cap is provided with at least one circumferential groove.  
   
   
       14 . The paintbrush defined in  claim 2  wherein said outer body is injection molded about said sleeve.  
   
   
       15 . The paintbrush defined in  claim 1  wherein said handgrip is made at least in part of a rubber material.  
   
   
       16 . The paintbrush defined in  claim 15  wherein said polymeric rubber material comprises styrene-dibutene-styrene.  
   
   
       17 . The paintbrush defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an end cap attached to said free end of said rod, said ferrule being attached to said rod via said end cap.  
   
   
       18 . The paintbrush defined in  claim 17  wherein said end cap is provided with at least one circumferential groove.  
   
   
       19 . The paintbrush defined in  claim 17  wherein said end cap is glued to said rod at said free end thereof.  
   
   
       20 . The paintbrush defined in  claim 17  wherein said ferrule is glued to said end cap.  
   
   
       21 . The paintbrush defined in  claim 1  wherein said handle and said rod are a unitary integral piece of material.  
   
   
       22 . The paintbrush defined in  claim 21  wherein said handle and said rod are made of an acrylic material.  
   
   
       23 . A handgrip for a paintbrush, comprising: 
 a substantially rigid inner sleeve; and    a tubular outer body made of a resilient elastic material, said outer body having a central longitudinal channel, said sleeve being disposed in said longitudinal channel.    
   
   
       24 . The handgrip defined in  claim 23  wherein said outer body has a first end and a second end, said outer body having an outer surface tapering radially inwardly from said first end and said second end so that said outer surface has a minimum diameter intermediate between said first end and said second end.  
   
   
       25 . The handgrip defined in  claim 24  wherein said body has a rounded contour at said first end and said second end.  
   
   
       26 . The handgrip defined in  claim 25  wherein said outer surface has a radius of curvature at said minimum diameter.  
   
   
       27 . The handgrip defined in  claim 26  wherein said outer body is made of a rubber material.  
   
   
       28 . The handgrip defined in  claim 27  wherein said rubber material comprises styrene-dibutene-styrene.  
   
   
       29 . The handgrip defined in  claim 26  wherein said outer surface has a first diameter at said first end and a second diameter at said second end, each of said first diameter and said second diameter being larger than said minimum diameter.  
   
   
       30 . The handgrip defined in  claim 23  wherein said sleeve and said outer body are lengthwise substantially coextensive.  
   
   
       31 . The handgrip defined in  claim 23  wherein said outer body is made of a rubber material.