Paintbrush Holder

Abstract

There is provided a brush holder ( 40 ) comprises a body portion ( 42 ) fold-lined to a lower closure portion ( 45 ) adjacent a front closure portion ( 46 ), a top closure portion ( 50 ) comprising an upper web ( 51 ) having a brush handle aperture ( 54 ) formed therein and a closure tab ( 52 ). The closure tab ( 52 ) is cut at ( 55 ) to form a securing tongue ( 56 ) adapted in use to engage a securing slot ( 48 ) in the front closure portion ( 46 ). A left closure leaf ( 57 ) is adjacent a tapered left wall portion ( 60 ) hinged to the body portion ( 42 ) at ( 43 ). A right closure leaf ( 65 ) is adjacent a tapered right wall portion ( 66 ) hinged to the body portion ( 42 ) at ( 43 ). The upper edge of the left and right closure leaves ( 57, 65 ) is provided with a respective integral hanging tab ( 63, 71 ) having hanging apertures ( 64, 72 ) which are aligned in use. The lower portions of each of the left ( 60 ) and right ( 66 ) side wall portions are provided with three solvent apertures ( 74 ). In use, the handle of a brush is inserted through the aperture ( 54 ), the bristle mass is rested on the body portion ( 42 ), the left closure ( 57 ) and left side wall portion ( 60 ) are folded up, the right closure ( 65 ) and right side wall portions ( 66 ) are folded up. The lower closure portion ( 45 ) and front closure portion ( 46 ) are folded up, and the securing tongue ( 56 ) is flexed to engage the securing slot ( 48 ) and retain the apparatus in its in-use form.

1 . A brush holder including a unitary housing formed of a paint solvent-impermeable sheet material having fold lines formed thereon defining front and rear wall portions spaced at their respective side edges by side wall portions, a lower wall portion and an upper wall portion, said housing defining an open-topped cavity adapted to receive the bristle portion of a brush, said upper wall portion selectively closing said open-topped cavity, locating means associated with said upper wall portion and adapted to engage the handle of the brush, at least one aperture located at a lower portion of a side wall portion and adapted to admit a solvent, and suspension means whereby the brush holder and brush in assembly may be suspended. 
   
   
       2 . A brush holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said sheet material is a flexible material selected whereby folding provides the brush holder with form stability. 
   
   
       3 . A brush holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said material is a substantially rigid material and has self-hinge lines formed thereon to enable said blank to be foldable. 
   
   
       4 . A brush holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said location means comprises an opening in said upper wall portion through which the handle of the brush may pass. 
   
   
       5 . A brush holder according to  claim 4 , wherein said location means includes brush handle gripping means selected to secure said brush in a selected position in said housing. 
   
   
       6 . A brush holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said suspension means includes one or more tabs or the like associated with an upper portion of said housing and having formed therein a hanging hook or hanging loop. 
   
   
       7 . A brush holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said suspension means includes a pair of spaced lands about said locating means and adapted to bear on the shoulders of the brush, and wherein said brush and holder in assembly are suspended by the hanging hole of said brush. 
   
   
       8 . A brush holder formed unitarily of paint solvent-impermeable sheet material and including a body portion, a pair of lateral portions each spaced from opposite sides of said body portion by a side wall portion defined by a pair of spaced folds, at least one aperture located at a lower portion of the side wall portion and adapted to admit a solvent, a pair of closure portions each spaced from opposite ends of said body portion by an end portion defined by a pair of spaced folds thereabout, the upper of said end portions including an aperture, said lateral and closure portions being adapted to fold up about said folds to form a housing about a paint brush resting on said body portion with the handle through said aperture, the first of said lateral portions being adapted to be folded first to extent substantially over the face of the brush opposed to the face of the brush resting on the body portion, whereupon the other of said lateral portions is relieved over part of its equivalent area,
 and securing means selectively retaining said lateral and closure portions in said folded configuration.   
   
   
       9 . A brush holder according to  claim 8 , wherein said sheet material is a flexible material, and wherein the pattern and fold parameters, and the folding order and securing means are all selected whereby the housing has sufficient form stability to form a relatively rigid housing for a paintbrush. 
   
   
       10 . A brush holder according to  claim 9 , wherein said material is selected from sheet metal or plastic, coated paper material or the like. 
   
   
       11 . A brush holder according to  claim 8 , wherein said securing means includes complementary one or more pairs of tongue-and-slot, self formed or attached press stud, hook-pile fastening or the like, and associated with said pair of closure portions. 
   
   
       12 . (canceled)