Strip brush

Abstract

A strip brush ( 10 ) includes a plurality of elongate bristles ( 12 ) and a spine formation ( 14 ), the bristles having first and second free ends ( 16 ) and being gripped by the spine formation ( 20 ) between said ends. The spine formation includes a length of material having first and second spaced folds and the plurality of bristles are trapped between the folds such that the first and second folds define opposing ends of said spine formation. The spine formation is formed of a single sheet of planar material which is folded and/or otherwise deformed into the required profile.

1 . A strip brush comprising:
 a plurality of elongate bristles and   a spine formation;   the bristles having first and second free ends and being gripped by the spine formation between said ends;   wherein the spine formation includes a length of material having first and second spaced folds and the plurality of bristles are trapped between the folds such that the first and second folds define opposing ends of the spine formation; and   wherein the spine formation of formed of a single sheet of planar material which is folded and deformed into a required profile.   
   
   
       2 . A strip brush according to  claim 1 , wherein the spine material forms a closed loop about the plurality of bristles, trapping the bristles within the spine formation during use. 
   
   
       3 . A strip brush according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of material has opposing ends which meet or overlap part way along the length of the strip brush once formed 
   
   
       4 . A strip brush according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second folds are substantially parallel with the bristles. 
   
   
       5 . A strip brush according to  claim 1 , wherein the spine formation has a longitudinal axis and the first and second folds are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       6 . A strip brush according to  claim 1 , wherein the spine formation includes opposing side walls extending between the folded ends and arranged to trap the bristles therebetween. 
   
   
       7 . A strip brush according to  claim 1 , wherein the spine formation is in the form of an elongate channel. 
   
   
       8 . A strip brush according to  claim 7 , wherein the channel is substantially U-shaped in section. 
   
   
       9 . A strip brush according to  claim 7 , wherein the spine formation is shaped to provide an outer wall of the channel and an inner wall of the channel, wherein the bristles are trapped between the inner and outer walls. 
   
   
       10 . A strip brush according to  claim 1 , wherein the spine formation comprises a rectangular sheet of planar material. 
   
   
       11 . A strip brush according to  claim 1 , wherein the spine formation comprises a sheet material having a central portion and outer portions protruding from opposing sides of the central portion, the outer portions being arranged to be folded inward upon formation of the strip brush. 
   
   
       12 . A strip brush according to  claim 11 , wherein the central portion has a width dimension which is greater than the width of the outer portions. 
   
   
       13 . A strip brush according to  claim 1 , wherein the bristles are held in a deformed configuration within the spine formation. 
   
   
       14 . A strip brush according to  claim 13 , wherein the bristles are deformed substantially about 180° within the spine formation. 
   
   
       15 . A strip brush according to any  claim 1 , comprising a spine support member. 
   
   
       16 . A strip brush according to  claim 15 , wherein the spine support member takes the form of an outer wall member shaped to surround the spine formation. 
   
   
       17 . A strip brush according to  claim 15 , wherein the spine formation comprises a body portion and a neck portion of reduced dimension so as to retain the spine formation within the body portion. 
   
   
       18 . A method of manufacture of a strip brush, comprising:
 arranging a plurality of bristles relative to a spine member formed of a single sheet of planar material such that first and second ends of the bristles protrude outwardly from the spine member; and   providing first and second spaced folds in the spine member such that the spine member surrounds the bristles at a location between the first and second bristle ends wherein the first and second folds define opposing ends of the spine member.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the spine member comprises a length of material having opposing first and second ends, wherein the edges meet or overlap part way along the length of the spine formation when the first and second folds are provided. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the spine member is further folded or deformed in an orientation substantially perpendicular to the first and/or second folds. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the further fold is oriented substantially along the length of the spine so as to produce a channel-shaped spine formation.