Paintbrush with adjustable bristle width, length, angle and shape

Abstract

A paintbrush with adjustable bristle width, length, angle and/or shape that allows the user to configure the shape of the application surface as desired, thus eliminating the need for painters to utilize multiple traditional paintbrushes with different bristle configurations for different size and shaped surfaces being painted. The invention includes multiple bristle pack segments, elongated guideways, finger adjustment knobs, finger knob slide slots, and a brush slide body housing wherein the mechanisms for adjusting the length of the individual bristle pack segments are contained; is scalable, wherein different overall sizes and widths of paintbrushes can be manufactured which retain the unique adjustability of the invention; can be manufactured with or without a handle, allowing the invention to utilize a wide variety of handles of various materials, sizes and shapes which can be affixed to the bristle slide body housing; is not limited to a specific number of bristle pack segments, elongated guideways and finger knob slide slots; is not limited to specific sized bristle pack segments, elongated guideways and finger knob slide slots; is suitable for manufacturing using various materials; is siutabe for manufacturing utilizing various bristle materials (e.g., Black China, White China, Ox Hair, synthetic materials, etc.); may be modified for use with a self-feeding paint mechanism; is not limited to the purpose of applying paint; is suitable for applying coatings including paint; may be manufactured in various colors; may be manufactured using various graphics.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An adjustable paintbrush comprising:
 a brush slide body housing wherein the mechanisms for adjusting the length of the individual bristle pack segments are contained;   a brush slide body housing with; an opening at the bottom in which a handle may be attached; a plurality of hollow elongated guideways with openings at the top of the brush slide body housing; finger knob slide slot openings on the front of each elongated guideway.   The adjustable paintbrush of  claim 1  wherein a plurality individual bristle pack segments comprising a bristle pack secured to a bristle block and a finger adjustment knob affixed to the bristle pack segment through a finger knob slide slot opening on the corresponding elongated guideway within the brush slide body housing.   The adjustable paintbrush of  claim 1  wherein each bristle pack segment can be moved forward or backward within each individual bristle block segment's elongated guideway to a user selected position by movement of the finger adjustment knob.   The adjustable paintbrush of  claim 1  wherein the movement of each individual bristle pack segment is limited by the upper and lower ends of its corresponding finger knob slide slot being contacted by the bristle pack segment finger adjustment knob.   An adjustable paintbrush as in  claim 1 , wherein each bristle pack segment and its corresponding elongated guideway work together to serve as a resistive slide assembly that maintains the position of each bristle pack segment within its corresponding elongated guideway after user adjustment.   The adjustable paintbrush of  claim 1  wherein the overall shape of the application surface is accomplished by the combined user adjustments of the positions of each individual bristle pack segment to more closely match the profile of the surface to be painted.   The adjustable paintbrush of  claim 1  wherein differing methods may be utilized to maintain the user selected position of each bristle pack segment within the corresponding elongated guideway after adjustment.   The adjustable paintbrush of  claim 1  wherein one possible differing method for maintaining the user selected position of each bristle pack segment within the corresponding elongated guideway after adjustment comprises; a linear ratchet mechanism utilizing a pawl or detent affixed to each bristle pack segment and a matching linear rack within each corresponding elongated guideway.   The adjustable paintbrush of  claim 1  wherein the design is scalable, whereby different overall sized paintbrushes can be manufactured which retain the unique adjustability of the invention.   The adjustable paintbrush of  claim 1  wherein the invention may be manufactured with or without a handle, allowing the invention to utilize a wide variety of handles of various materials, sizes and shapes, which can be affixed to the bottom of the brush slide body housing   The adjustable paintbrush of  claim 1  wherein the invention may be manufactured with differing numbers of bristle pack segments, elongated guideways and finger knob slide slots.   The adjustable paintbrush of  claim 1  wherein the invention may be manufactured with different sizes and lengths of bristle pack segments, elongated guideways and finger knob slide slots.   The adjustable paintbrush of  claim 1  wherein the design is suitable for manufacturing using various materials.   The adjustable paintbrush of  claim 1  wherein the invention's design applies equally well to paintbrushes manufactured with different bristle materials (e.g., Black China, White China, Ox Hair, synthetic materials, etc.).   The adjustable paintbrush of  claim 1  wherein the design may be modified for use with a self-feeding paint mechanism.   The adjustable paintbrush of  claim 1  wherein the invention is not limited to the purpose of applying paint.   The adjustable paintbrush of  claim 1  wherein the invention is suitable for applying coatings including paint.   The adjustable paintbrush of  claim 1  wherein the invention may be manufactured in various colors.   The adjustable paintbrush of  claim 1  wherein the invention may be manufactured with various external graphics.