System and method for preserving paintbrush bristles

Abstract

A system and method for protecting bristles that includes a sleeve sized and shaped to be slideably received over a handle attached to the bristles, the sleeve formed of breathable material to facilitate drying of the bristles, and the sleeve formed of rigid material to support the handle and the bristles in a vertical orientation and to protect the bristles, the sleeve formed of a length sufficient to cover the bristles, and to cover at least a portion of the handle. In accordance with the method, the sleeve is slid over the proximal end of the handle and moved down the handle to a position where the sleeve covers the bristles and a first end of the sleeve extends beyond the bristles, and the handle is placed in a vertical orientation so that the first end of the sleeve bears against a supporting surface to hold the handle and the bristles in a vertical orientation.

1 . A method for preserving bristles attached to a distal end of an elongate handle, comprising: 
 providing a sleeve formed of breathable, stretchable material that returns to its shape and having a construction that includes a longitudinal axial bore sized to be slideably received over the proximal end of the handle, the sleeve having a first end configured to support the bristles and handle in an upright position on a supporting surface; and    sliding the sleeve over the proximal end of the handle and moving the sleeve down the handle to a position where the sleeve covers the bristles and the first end of the sleeve extends beyond the bristles.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising placing the handle in a vertical orientation with the first end of the sleeve bearing against a supporting surface to hold the handle in a vertical orientation.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the bristles are adjacent the supporting surface and the proximal end of the handle is oriented farthest away from the supporting surface.  
   
   
       4 . A method for preserving bristles attached to a distal end of an elongate handle having a reduced-diameter proximal end, comprising: 
 cleaning the bristles after use;    sliding a sleeve formed of breathable, stretchable material over the handle to cover the bristles with a first end of the sleeve extending beyond the bristles and a second end of the sleeve covering at least a portion of a ferrule of the paintbrush; and    placing the paintbrush in a vertical orientation so that the first end of the sleeve is bearing against a supporting surface.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the bristles are pointed downward when the paintbrush is in a vertical orientation.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the bristles are adjacent the supporting surface.  
   
   
       7 . A method for protecting bristles attached to a handle having a distal end and a proximal end, the handle having the bristles attached at the distal end, the handle formed to have an elongate shape and a circular cross-sectional configuration, the method comprising: 
 providing a stretchable sleeve sized and shaped to be slideably received over the handle and to expand and thereafter contract in diameter to accommodate different diameters of the handle, the sleeve formed of a unitary piece of stretchable material and formed of a length to at least cover the bristles and to cover at least a portion of the handle, the sleeve formed to have a tubular shape with a circular cross-sectional configuration and formed to expand over the handle and contract over the bristles to hold the bristles straight when removed therefrom and that permits air and evaporating liquid to pass therethrough in both directions, and to be rigid in order to support the handle and bristles in a vertical orientation; and    sliding the sleeve over the proximal end of the handle and down the handle to cover at least the bristles.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the sleeve is formed of a rolled tube that unrolls to expand and rolls up to contract, the method comprising sliding the rolled tube over the proximal end of the handle and allowing the tube to expand and contract as it is slid down the handle.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the sleeve is formed of a plastic-like material that expands in diameter along its entire length and conforms to the shape of the handle, the method further comprising sliding the sleeve so that a first end of the sleeve extends beyond the bristles.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising placing the handle in a vertical orientation with the proximal end up and the first end of the sleeve down to rest on a supporting surface.  
   
   
       11 . A method for protecting bristles on a handle having the bristles attached at a distal end, the handle having an elongate shape with a substantially circular cross-sectional configuration that has an increased diameter between the distal end of the handle and a midpoint of the handle, and a reduced diameter at a proximal end of the handle, comprising: 
 sliding a tubular, stretchable sleeve having a circular cross-sectional configuration over the handle to cover the bristles and at least a portion of the handle, the sleeve formed entirely of stretchable material to protect the bristles and prevent the bristles from bending and to be stretchable to expand and thereafter contract in diameter and conform to the increased and decreased diameters of the handle and to support the handle and bristles in a vertical orientation.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the sleeve is formed of material that enables air and evaporating liquid to pass therethrough in both directions, the method comprising initially cleaning the bristles and handle.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the sleeve is formed of a unitary piece of stretchable material, the method further comprising sliding the sleeve to a position on the handle where a first end of the sleeve extends beyond the bristles.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the sleeve is formed of a rolled tube that unrolls to expand and rolls up to contract, the method comprising allowing the sleeve to roll and unroll as it slides over the handle and bristles.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising placing the first end of the sleeve on a supporting surface with the handle in a vertical orientation.  
   
   
       16 . A device for protecting bristles attached to a handle having a distal end and a proximal end, the handle having the bristles attached at the distal end, the handle formed to have an elongate shape and a circular cross-sectional configuration, the device comprising: 
 a stretchable sleeve sized and shaped to be slideably received over the handle and to expand and thereafter contract in diameter to accommodate different diameters of the handle, the sleeve formed of a unitary piece of material and formed of a length to at least cover the bristles and to cover at least a portion of the handle, the sleeve formed to have a tubular shape with a circular cross-sectional configuration and formed to expand over the handle and contract over the bristles to hold the bristles straight when removed therefrom and that permits air and evaporating liquid to pass therethrough in both directions, and to be rigid in order to support the handle and bristles in a vertical orientation.    
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the sleeve is formed of a rolled tube that unrolls to expand and rolls up to contract.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the sleeve is formed of a plastic-like material that expands in diameter along its entire length and conforms to the shape of the handle.  
   
   
       19 . A system for protecting bristles, comprising: 
 a handle having the bristles attached at a distal end, the handle having an elongate shape with a substantially circular cross-sectional configuration that has an increased diameter between the distal end of the handle and a midpoint of the handle, and a reduced diameter at a proximal end of the handle; and    a tubular, stretchable sleeve having a circular cross-sectional configuration and slideably receivable over the handle to cover the bristles and at least a portion of the handle, the sleeve formed entirely of stretchable material to protect the bristles and prevent the bristles from bending and to be stretchable to expand and thereafter contract in diameter and conform to the increased and decreased diameters of the handle and to support the handle and bristles in a vertical orientation.    
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the sleeve is formed of material that enables air and evaporating liquid to pass therethrough in both directions.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the sleeve is formed of a unitary piece of stretchable material.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the sleeve is formed of a rolled tube that unrolls to expand and rolls up to contract.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the sleeve is formed from stretchable plastic.  
   
   
       24 . A system for protecting bristles associated with a handle, comprising: 
 a ferrule attached to the bristles and configured for interchangeability with the handle; and    a tubular, stretchable sleeve of circular cross-sectional configuration sized and shaped to be slideably received over the ferrule when on the handle, the sleeve formed of resilient stretchable material that expands to fit over the ferrule and conform to the shape of the ferrule and to contract over the bristles to hold the bristles straight when removed from the ferrule, the sleeve having a first end sized and shaped to support the ferrule and bristles in a vertical orientation.    
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the sleeve is sized and shaped to remain attached to the ferrule when the ferrule is detached from the handle.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the sleeve is formed of a rolled tube that unrolls to expand and rolls up to contract.  
   
   
       27 . A system for protecting bristles associated with a handle having a ferrule attached to the bristles and configured for interchangeability with the handle, comprising: 
 a tubular, stretchable sleeve sized and shaped to be slideably received over the ferrule when on the handle, the sleeve formed of a unitary piece of stretchable material that expands and contracts in diameter to fit over the ferrule and contracts over the bristles to hold the bristles straight, the sleeve sized and shaped to remain attached to the ferrule when the ferrule is detached from the handle, the sleeve adapted to support the ferrule and bristles in a vertical orientation.    
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27  wherein the sleeve has a first end sized and shaped to support the ferrule and bristles in a vertical orientation.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the sleeve is formed of a rolled tube.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the sleeve is formed of stretchable plastic material.  
   
   
       31 . A system for protecting bristles associated with a handle, comprising: 
 a ferrule attached to the bristles and configured for interchangeability with the handle; and    a stretchable sleeve sized and shaped to be slideably received over the ferrule when on the handle, the sleeve formed entirely of a unitary piece of mesh material that expands and contracts to fit over the ferrule and contracts over the bristles, the sleeve having a length to cover the bristles and at least a portion of the ferrule to hold the bristles straight when removed therefrom and to support the ferrule and bristles in a vertical orientation.