Brush with sliding collar

Abstract

A brush has a slidable collar that effectively shortens the bristles to a desired plurality of lengths. The collar preferably slides with respect to a support in a manner that effectively locks the collar in predetermined positions. The locking mechanism can be purely frictional, but preferably also used a detent, or any other suitable device that provides discrete stops. Such stops are preferably no more than 2 cm apart, and can advantageously be spaced no more than 1 cm apart. Contemplated devices can have 2, 3, 4, 5, or more stops. Collared brushes can advantageously be marketed specifically with respect to the slidable collar feature, and more specifically with respect to the applicability of such brushes to automotive use.

1 . A brush, comprising: 
 a handle, a heel form which extend a plurality of bristles, and a support piece disposed between the handle and the bristles;    a substantially flattened collar slidable along the support piece between a fully retracted position in which the bristles have an effective length, and a fully extended position that restricts the plurality of bristles in a manner that effectively shortens the bristles, the collar having a circumferentially continuous cross-section that passes through the bristles, and includes a member that cooperates with the support piece to provide a plurality of discreet stop positions between the fully retracted and fully extended positions; and    wherein the plurality of discreet stop positions are disposed on the support piece.    
   
   
       2 . The brash of  claim 1  wherein the collar restricts the bristles at least in part by surrounding the bristles.  
   
   
       3 . The brush of  claim 1  wherein the member comprises a detent.  
   
   
       4 . The brush of  claim 3  wherein at least two of the positions provide stops that are no more than 2 cm apart.  
   
   
       5 . The brush of  claim 3  wherein at least two of the positions provide stops that are no more than 1 cm apart.  
   
   
       6 . The brush of  claim 1  having at least three stops.  
   
   
       7 . The brush of  claim 1  having at least 4 stops.  
   
   
       8 . The brush of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of bristles have an average effective length of at least 6 cm when the collar is in a home position.  
   
   
       9 . The brush of  claim 1  wherein the collar can be moved to restrict the effective length of the plurality of bristles by at least 50%.  
   
   
       10 . The brush of  claim 1  wherein the collar can be moved to restrict the effective length of the plurality of bristles by at least 75%.  
   
   
       11 . The brush of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of bristles are arranged to provide an unrestricted brush width of at least 5 cm.  
   
   
       12 . The brush of  claim 11  wherein the collar serves to effectively reduce the brush width to less than 4 cm.  
   
   
       13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . The brush of  claim 1  wherein the handle includes at least one ergonomic adaptation.  
   
   
       15 . The brush of  claim 14  wherein the at least one ergonomic adaptation comprises a soft tough material.  
   
   
       16 . A method of marketing a brush having a plurality of bristles, comprising: 
 providing the brush with a slidable collar that alters a length of the bristles;    advertising the brush as being useful in caring for an automotive vehicle.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising a packaging depicting the collar as being slidable.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising including an image of a portion of the automotive vehicle on the packaging.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising depicting the slidable collar as a device for effectively altering a stiffness of the bristles.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the step of advertising includes carrying a print ad depicting the brush in an advertising medium.