Paintbrush with adjustable ferrule

Abstract

A paintbrush (1) having adjustable control of bristle length comprises a handle (2), a plurality of bristles (3), an inner ferrule (4) and an outer ferrule (7) mounted on the inner ferrule (4). The outer ferrule (7) comprises at least one moveable portion (8) arranged to surround the bristles (3), the at least one moveable portion (8) being moveable from a retracted position along the bristles (3) to an extended position wherein the at least one moveable portion (8) surrounds the bristles (3) along at least a portion of the length of the bristles, the extended position being selected to provide a desired amount of bristle length beyond the distal end of the moveable portion or to extend beyond the length of the bristles.

1 . A paintbrush having adjustable control of bristle length, the paintbrush comprising:
 a handle;   a plurality of bristles;   an inner ferrule for mounting the bristles to the handle, the inner ferrule having a proximal end adjacent the handle and a distal end adjacent the bristles   
       characterized in that the paintbrush further comprises an outer ferrule mounted on the inner ferrule, 
       wherein the outer ferrule comprises at least one moveable portion having proximal and distal ends, the at least one moveable portion comprising two independent plates: a front plate and a rear plate; 
       the at least one moveable portion is arranged to surround the bristles; and 
       the at least one moveable portion has a retracted position wherein it is positioned over the inner ferrule with the distal end of the at least one moveable portion positioned adjacent the distal end of the inner ferrule;
 and wherein the at least one moveable portion can be moved from the retracted position along the bristles to an extended position wherein the at least one moveable portion surrounds the bristles along at least a portion of the length of the bristles, the extended position being selected to provide a desired amount of bristle length beyond the distal end of the moveable portion or to extend beyond the length of the bristles. 
 
     
     
         2 - 4 . canceled 
     
     
         5 . A paintbrush according to  claim 1  wherein the proximal ends of the front plate and the rear plate are moved apart to rotate the distal ends of the plates together to compress bristles at the distal ends of the plates as the at least one moveable portion is moved towards an extended position. 
     
     
         6 . A paintbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner ferrule comprises at least one pair of grooves, the grooves converging towards the distal end of the inner ferrule, and the front plate comprises at least one tab that engages with one of the pair of grooves and the rear plate comprises at least one tab that engages with the other of the pair of grooves. 
     
     
         7 . A paintbrush according to  claim 5 , wherein the inner ferrule comprises a wedge, the wedge shaped to assist in forcing the distal ends of the plates together as the plates are moved to an extended position. 
     
     
         8 . A paintbrush according to  claim 1  wherein the front plate and the rear plate are connected by a hinge portion and are arranged to rotate from a position where the plates are parallel to one another to a position where the distal ends of the plates are moved closer to each other. 
     
     
         9 . A paintbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the front plate and the rear plate are different lengths. 
     
     
         10 . A paintbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one moveable portion is retained in set positions by means of corresponding dimples and bumps on an outer surface of the inner ferrule and an inner surface of the at least one moveable portion. 
     
     
         11 . A paintbrush according to  claim 1 , further comprising a releasable catch mechanism mounted on one or both of the inner ferrule and the at least one movable portion, the catch mechanism being released to allow at least one moveable portion to move. 
     
     
         12 . A paintbrush according to  claim 11  wherein the catch mechanism is operable at set positions to retain the at least one moveable portion in preselected positions over the bristles. 
     
     
         13 . A paintbrush according to  claim 11 , wherein the catch mechanism comprises at least one resilient tab on the at least one moveable portion and at least one corresponding slot on the inner ferrule. 
     
     
         14 . A paintbrush according to  claim 13  wherein the slots are arranged at set positions to retain the at least one moveable portion in preselected positions relative to the length of the bristles. 
     
     
         15 . A paintbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one moveable portion can be moved to an extended position that completely encloses the bristles. 
     
     
         16 . A paintbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one moveable portion is arranged to compress the bristles as the at least one moveable portion is moved towards the end of the bristles. 
     
     
         17 . A paintbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the bristles have a left side and a right side and the at least one moveable portion is longer at one of the left or right sides than the other of the sides such that the distal end of the at least one moveable portion is positioned diagonally with respect to the distal end of the inner ferrule. 
     
     
         18 . A paintbrush according to  claim 5 , wherein the inner ferrule comprises at least one pair of grooves, the grooves converging towards the distal end of the inner ferrule, and the front plate comprises at least one tab that engages with one of the pair of grooves and the rear plate comprises at least one tab that engages with the other of the pair of grooves. 
     
     
         19 . A paintbrush according to  claim 6 , wherein the inner ferrule comprises a wedge, the wedge shaped to assist in forcing the distal ends of the plates together as the plates are moved to an extended position. 
     
     
         20 . A paintbrush according to  claim 5 , wherein the front plate and the rear plate are connected by a hinge portion and are arranged to rotate from a position where the plates are parallel to one another to a position where the distal ends of the plates are moved closer to each other. 
     
     
         21 . A paintbrush according to  claim 5 , wherein the front plate and the rear plate are different lengths. 
     
     
         22 . A paintbrush according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one moveable portion is retained in set positions by means of corresponding dimples and bumps on an outer surface of the inner ferrule and an inner surface of the at least one moveable portion. 
     
     
         23 . A paintbrush according to  claim 5 , further comprising a releasable catch mechanism mounted on one or both of the inner ferrule and the at least one movable portion, the catch mechanism being released to allow at least one moveable portion to move.