Paintbrush with removably connected brush-head

Abstract

Conventional paintbrushes usually consist of a handle and a permanently attached brush-head. While the brush-head often has a short lifespan due to bristle wear, the handle can last much longer. However, because of their permanent connection, both parts are typically discarded once the brush-head deteriorates. The current invention addresses this problem by featuring a paintbrush with a brush-head that is removably connected to the handle, allowing for easy attachment and detachment without requiring tools or altering either component. This invention also outlines specific techniques and mechanisms to ensure a durable yet detachable connection between the brush-head and handle, achieved cost-effectively and without significantly complicating the design of either part.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A paintbrush comprising at least two separate members, a brush-head ( 4 ) and a handle ( 9 ), said brush-head ( 4 ) having a collar ( 5 ) and connection cavity ( 6 ) adapted to receive portion ( 11 ) of the handle ( 9 ) by non-rotational sliding, whereby mere friction between side surface ( 7 ) and/or base surface ( 8 ) of the brush-head's connection cavity ( 6 ) and the surface of the proximate portion ( 11 ) of the handle ( 9 ) forms a removable connection between brush-head ( 4 ) and handle ( 9 ) when these are in a connected state, characterized by a soft friction enhancing cushioning material ( 22 ) applied onto either the surface of the proximate portion ( 11 ) of the handle ( 9 ) or the surface of the brush-head's ( 4 ) connection cavity ( 6 ) or both for increased frictional connection between brush-head ( 4 ) and handle ( 9 ). 
     
     
         2 . A paintbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the handle ( 9 ) is assembled from a first handle member ( 26 ) and a separate second handle member ( 27 ), the first handle member providing the main grip of the handle ( 9 ) and the second handle member providing the proximate portion ( 11 ) of the handle ( 9 ). 
     
     
         3 . A paintbrush according to  claim 2 , wherein the first handle member ( 26 ) is made from a hygroscopic material of low dimensional stability, such as wood, the proximate portion ( 11 ) on the second handle member ( 27 ) having at least an outer surface layer of rigid material of high dimensional stability. 
     
     
         4 . A paintbrush according to  claim 1 , the proximate portion ( 11 ) of the handle ( 9 ) having a protruding edge ( 28 ) encircling the peripheral edge of its proximate end surface ( 13 ), said edge in form of one continuous protruding element ( 28 ) or several protruding elements ( 28 ) positioned in line, said encircling element(s) extending on and protruding out from proximate side surface(s) ( 14 ) of the proximate portion ( 11 ). 
     
     
         5 . A paintbrush according to  claim 1 , its brush-head having a substantially tubular connection cavity ( 6 ) defined by an opening edge, the side surface ( 7 ) of said connection cavity ( 6 ) having at least one embossed/debossed area ( 24 ) extending from said opening edge of the connection cavity ( 6 ) and towards the base surface ( 8 ) of the connection cavity ( 6 ) to form a groove ( 24 ), said groove protruding away from the centre of the connection cavity ( 6 ), said groove interrupting also the opening edge of the connection cavity ( 6 ) to form an outward protruding section in this. 
     
     
         6 . A paintbrush according to  claim 5 , wherein the groove ( 24 ) is a cut-out section rather than an embossed/debossed section. 
     
     
         7 . A paintbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the handle ( 9 ) has at least one rib ( 25 ) on its proximate portion ( 11 ), said rib ( 25 ) protruding outwards from its directly surrounding surface of the proximate portion ( 11 ), and extending lengthwise in some distance along the length of the handle ( 9 ). 
     
     
         8 . A paintbrush according to  claim 1 , comprising a third member, the intermediate insert ( 16 ), securely fixed to the collar ( 5 ) and/or to the base portion ( 3 ) of the brush-head ( 4 ) to present the connection cavity ( 6 ) of the brush-head, said cavity ( 6 ) substantially confined within the volume surrounded by collar ( 5 ) walls. 
     
     
         9 . A paintbrush according to  claim 1 , the proximate end surface ( 13 ) of the proximate portion ( 11 ) of the handle ( 9 ) and the opening edge of the corresponding connection cavity ( 6 ) both having a primarily rectangular-like or oval-like circumference defined in length by a major axis ( 29 ) and in width by a minor axis ( 30 ), each axis with two end points, the proximate portion ( 11 ) of the handle ( 9 ) or the connection cavity ( 6 ) of the brush-head ( 4 ), or both, having soft friction enhancing cushioning material ( 22 ) applied to their surfaces in at least the areas surrounding the connection cavity's four axis-endpoints as positioned when handle ( 9 ) and brush-head ( 4 ) is in a connected state. 
     
     
         10 . Paintbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the soft friction enhancing cushioning material ( 22 ) is in form of a separate self-adhesive flat piece of material adapted in shape and size for manual application by an end-user onto the proximate portion ( 11 ) of the paintbrush handle ( 9 ) or onto the surface of the brush-head's ( 4 ) connection cavity ( 6 ) to increase frictional connection between handle ( 9 ) and brush-head ( 4 ) when these are in a connected state. 
     
     
         11 . Paintbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the handle ( 9 ) and its soft friction enhancing cushioning material ( 22 ) is manufactured in one single- or multi-shot moulding sequence, by multi-component moulding. 
     
     
         12 . Paintbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the soft friction enhancing cushioning material ( 22 ), prior and post being applied onto the proximate portion ( 11 ) of the handle ( 9 ), comprise one piece of tubular shape. 
     
     
         13 . Paintbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the proximate portion ( 11 ) of the handle ( 9 ) has a surface treated for increased frictional adhesion to any soft friction enhancing cushioning material ( 22 ) applied thereto.