Detachably interconnected handle and paint brush

Abstract

A paint brush assembly is provided that has a handle subassembly that is detachably engageable with a paint applicator subassembly, such as a bristle pack. The rear portion of the paint applicator assembly is provided with a handle connector and the forward end portion of the handle subassembly is provided with a tool connector. The handle connector is detachably associated with the tool connector by slidably inserting the handle connector into the tool connector. During the inserting, end portions of each one of a pair of resilient arms in the handle connector become reversibly engaged and interlocked with a different window provided in the tool connector. Manual depression of the handle connector's exposed arm end portions in the windows releases the arms from engagement with the tool connector windows, and permits slidable separation of the handle connector from the tool connector.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A paint brush comprising a handle portion and a paint applicator portion detachably engaged with said handle portion, 
 said handle portion having a tool connector, said tool connector having peripheral wall portions that define an open terminal end and a pair of opposed windows;    said paint applicator portion having a paint applicator and a handle connector, said handle connector having an outwardly extending projection portion and a pair of outwardly extending opposed resilient arms, each said arm on a different opposite side region of said projection portion, and each said arm including a terminal portion;    said handle connector being slidably receivable within, and engageable with, said tool connector by insertion of said projection portion and said arms through said open terminal end, and, when so received, each said terminal portion being reversibly engaged with a different one of said windows while regions of said projection portion abut against inside regions of said peripheral wall portions.    
     
     
         2 . The paint brush of  claim 1  wherein 
 said handle connector additionally includes a pair of upstanding opposed pedestals, each one being located in laterally outwardly spaced relationship relative to a different one of said arms,  
 said tool connector additionally includes a pair of opposed, laterally outwardly extending portico portions, each one being located on a different opposed region of said peripheral wall portions,  
 the interrelationship between said pedestal portions and said portico portions being such that, when said handle connector is so received in said tool connector, a region of each said pedestal is received within a different one of said portico portions.  
 
     
     
         3 . A paint brush comprising a handle portion and a paint applicator portion detachably engageable with said handle portion, 
 said handle portion having a tool connector at one end, said tool connector having peripheral wall portions that define an open terminal end and a pair of opposed windows;    said paint applicator portion having a paint applicator means, an applicator ferrule means mounted to said applicator means, and a handle connector connected to said applicator ferrule means, said handle connector having an outwardly extending projection portion and a pair of opposed resilient arms, each said arm extending adjacent to a different opposite side portion of said projection portion, and each said arm including an outward terminal portion;    said handle connector being slidably and nestably substantially receivable within, and engageable with, said tool connector by insertion of said projection portion and said arms through said open terminal end, and, when so received, each one of said terminal portions being reversibly engaged with a different one of said windows while regions of said projection portion abut against inside regions of said wall portions; and    said handle connector being disengageable from said tool connector when said terminal portions are inwardly depressed and thereby released from said windows.    
     
     
         4 . The paint brush of  claim 3  wherein 
 said handle connector additionally includes a pair of upstanding opposed pedestals, each one being located in laterally outwardly spaced relationship relative to a different one of said arms and in longitudinally spaced relationship relative to a different one of said windows,  
 said tool connector additionally includes a pair of opposed, laterally outwardly extending portico portions, each one being located on a different opposed outside wall region of said peripheral wall portions and adjacent to said open terminal end and in longitudinally spaced relationship relative to a different one of said windows,  
 the interrelationship between said pedestal portions and said portico portions being such that when said handle connector is so received in said tool connector, an upper region of each one of said pedestals is received within a different one of said portico portions.  
 
     
     
         5 . The paint brush of  claim 4  wherein said paint applicator portion comprises a bristle portion having a plurality of bristles mounted in a base portion, and said base portion is located at one end region of said applicator ferrule means, and said handle connector is located at an opposite end region of said applicator ferrule means.  
     
     
         6 . A paint brush comprising in combination: 
 an elongated handle that has a forward end portion and an opposite rear end portion;    a tool connector associated with said forward end portion, said tool connector having respective opposite side wall and opposite end wall portions, said walls together defining an open forward end, said side wall portions defining therein a pair of opposed windows, and each said side wall portion having a laterally outwardly extending opposed portico portion;    a brush subcombination comprising a plurality of bristles, a pack base, and a bristle ferrule means having opposite end portions, said bristles having rear end portions connected to said pack base, and said pack base being associated with one said end portion;    a handle connector associated with said other end portion, said handle connector having    an outwardly extending elongated projection structure with an enlarged terminating end region,    a pair outwardly extending, resilient, elongated, opposed arms, each said arm extending in adjacent spaced relationship to a different opposite side portion of said projection structure and having a terminal end portion; and    a pair of upstanding opposed pedestals, each said pedestal being located in laterally outwardly spaced adjacent relationship relative to a different one of said arms;    said handle connector being slidably, nestably and matingly receivable in said tool connector through said open forward end and, when so received, being detachably connectable with said tool connector with each said terminal end portion being matingly engaged with a different one of said windows, with said enlarged terminating end region abutting interior regions of said wall portions, and with said pedestal portions each being adjacent to a different one of said portico portions; and    said handle connector being disengageable from said tool connector when said terminal end portions are depressed and released from said windows.    
     
     
         7 . The paint brush of  claim 6  wherein said tool connector is so received in and engaged with said handle connector.  
     
     
         8 . The paint brush of  claim 6  wherein said bristle ferrule means comprises a brush ferrule member and a secondary ferrule member, said brush ferrule member has opposite end portions and one end portion thereof is associated with said pack base, and said other end portion thereof is open, and said secondary ferrule also has opposite end portions, and one end portion thereof is connected to said handle connector and said other end portion thereof is open and slidably engageable with said open end of said brush ferrule member.  
     
     
         9 . The paint brush of  claim 6  wherein said tool connector and said handle connector are disengaged and said paint brush is located in a package.  
     
     
         10 . A paint brush assembly comprising in combination: 
 a handle subassembly comprising a handle and a tool connector that is connected to an end portion of said handle subassembly;    said tool connector having wall portions that define an interior cavity, an open forward end, and pair of windows located in opposed relationship to each other and having a pair of opposed portico portions extending laterally outwardly from said wall portions; and    a brush subassembly comprising a bristle pack, a brush ferrule means, and a handle connector that is connected to said brush ferrule means;    said handle connector having a longitudinally outwardly extending projection, a pair of resilient arms, each arm longitudinally extending in adjacent spaced relationship along a portion of a different opposed side portion of said projection, each arm having a terminal portion, and a pair of upstanding pedestal portions, each projection positioned in laterally outwardly spaced adjacent relationship to a different one of said arms;    the interrelationship between said handle connector and said tool connector being such that said handle connector is slidably, nestably, and detachably connectable with said tool connector by inserting said handle connector substantially completely into tool connector through said open forward end so that    each said terminal portion matingly but reversibly engages and interlocks with a different one of said windows,    portions of said projection abut regions of said wall portions in said interior cavity, and    each said pedestal portion is adjacent a different one of said portico portions.    
     
     
         11 . The paint brush assembly of  claim 10  wherein said brush subassembly is so connected with said handle subassembly.  
     
     
         12 . The paint brush assembly of  claim 10  wherein said bristle ferrule means comprises a brush ferrule member and a secondary ferrule member, said brush ferrule member has opposite end portions and one end portion thereof is associated with said pack base, and said other end portion thereof is open, and said secondary ferrule also has opposite end portions, and one end portion thereof is connected to said handle connector and said other end portion thereof is open but slidably engaged with said open end of said brush ferrule member.  
     
     
         13 . The paint brush assembly of  claim 10  wherein said brush subassembly and said handle subassembly are disconnected but are together in a common package.  
     
     
         14 . The paint brush assembly of  claim 10  wherein said brush ferrule means is associated with a brush prop.  
     
     
         15 . A handle subassembly for association with a brush subassembly thereby to comprise a paint brush assembly, said handle subassembly comprising 
 a handle; and    a tool connector that is connected to an end portion of said handle;    said tool connector having side wall portions that define an interior cavity, an open forward end, and pair of windows located in opposed relationship to each other and having a pair of opposed portico portions extending laterally outwardly from said side wall portions.    
     
     
         16 . The handle subassembly of  claim 15  wherein said tool connector is connectable with a handle connector that is joined to a particular brush subassembly.  
     
     
         17 . The handle subassembly of  claim 15  wherein a rear end portion of said handle is associated with a paint can opener.  
     
     
         18 . The handle subassembly of  claim 15  wherein said handle includes a soft plastic covering.  
     
     
         19 . The brush assembly that results when said tool connector of said handle subassembly of  claim 15  is connected with the connectable handle connector of a particular brush subassembly.  
     
     
         20 . A brush subassembly for a paint brush assembly that is comprised of said brush subassembly and a handle subassembly that is connectable with said brush subassembly, said brush subassembly comprising 
 a bristle pack, a brush ferrule means, and a handle connector that is connected to said brush ferrule means; and    said handle connector having a longitudinally outwardly extending projection, a pair of resilient arms, each arm longitudinally extending in spaced adjacent relationship along a different opposed side portion of said projection, each arm having a terminal portion, and a pair of upstanding pedestal portions, each said pedestal portion being positioned in laterally outwardly spaced adjacent relationship to a different one of said arms.    
     
     
         21 . The brush subassembly of  claim 20  wherein said handle connector is connectable with the connectable tool connector of a particular handle subassembly.  
     
     
         22 . The brush assembly that results when said handle connector of said brush subassembly of  claim 20  is connected with the connectable tool connector of a particular handle subassembly.  
     
     
         23 . The brush subassembly of  claim 20  which is received in a jacket wherein said arms are each received in a different window defined in said jacket.  
     
     
         24 . A plurality of paint applicator subassemblies for a paint brush assembly that is comprised of an interconnected handle subassembly and one of said paint applicator subassemblies, each of the paint applicator subassemblies of said plurality being individually interconnectable with, and disconnectable from, said handle subassembly, said handle subassembly incorporating a handle and a tool connector that has side portions that define an interior cavity, an open forward end, and pair of windows slots located in opposed relationship to each other, each of said brush subassemblies incorporating a paint applicator means and a handle connector that comprises a bottom plate portion, an upwardly extending projection connected to said plate, and a pair of resilient arms, each arm being mounted to said plate and upwardly extending therefrom on a different opposite side of said projection, each arm including resilient means and a terminal portion, each said handle connector being slidably, nestably, and detachably connectable with tool connector by inserting said projection and said arms said open forward end, 
 whereby, at about the termination of said inserting,    each said terminal portion matingly but reversibly engages and interlocks with a different one of said windows, and also    portions of said projection abut portions of said interior cavity,    so that each said paint applicator subassembly is matingly and interlockingly connectable with said handle subassembly to comprise a paint applicator assembly.    
     
     
         25 . The plurality of paint applicator subassemblies of  claim 24  where, in each said paint applicator subassembly, said paint applicator means comprises a brush pack and an interconnected pack base.  
     
     
         26 . The plurality of paint applicator subassemblies of  claim 24  where, in at least one of said paint applicator subassemblies, said paint applicator means comprises a foam structure, and where, in at least one other of said paint applicator subassemblies, said paint applicator means comprises a brush pack and an interconnected pack base.  
     
     
         27 . A brush skirt for a paint brush, said paint brush having a bristle pack that is generally cross-sectionally rectangular and that is associated with a brush ferrule that circumscribes a rearward portion of said bristle pack, said brush skirt comprising 
 an elongated sleeve having opposite broad side paired portions and opposite narrow side paired portions, respectively, and opposite forward and rearward respective end portions, said sleeve being configured so that said side paired portions slidably extend in generally adjacent relationship over exterior side portions of said brush ferrule,    each one of said broad side paired portions adjacent to said forward end portion being forwardly tapered thereby to define a mouth at said forward end portion whose width is somewhat less than the width of each of said brush skirt and of said bristle pack forwardly of said ferrule,    each one of said narrow side paired portions having medially defined therein a longitudinally extending slit that extends from said forward end portion to a location in longitudinally spaced relationship to said forward end portion, and being resilient and elastic between said location and said rearward end portion,    whereby, when said brush skirt is so slidably engaged with said brush ferrule,    said slit in each one of said narrow side portions is dilated when said mouth overlies a portion of said brush ferrule, and    said slit in each one of said narrow side portions is in a normally closed position when said mouth overlies said bristle pack.    
     
     
         28 . The brush skirt of  claim 27  wherein, at said each said location, said slit is enlarged locally, thereby to deter material disruption of each of said narrow side portions when said slit is so dilated.  
     
     
         29 . The brush skirt of  claim 27  wherein in a region between said location and said rearward end portion each said narrow side portion includes a pattern that can function to enhance retention of said brush skirt when said brush skirt is held manually between and thumb and finger.  
     
     
         30 . The brush skirt of  claim 27  which is unitarily molded of a resilient and somewhat elastic plastic.  
     
     
         31 . The brush skirt of  claim 27  wherein said forward end portion extends angularly relative to said narrow side paired portions, thereby to adapt said brush skirt for usage with a bristle pack and an associated brush ferrule wherein the opposite ends of said bristle pack and said brush ferrule extend angularly relative to said bristle pack narrow side paired portions.  
     
     
         32 . The brush skirt of  claim 27  wherein interior surface regions of each said broad side include portions adapted to increase friction between said regions and adjacent portions of a brush ferrule.