Notched paint brush

Abstract

A paint brush is attached to the rim of the mouth of a paint can such that the brush bristles are vertically above the mouth and are oriented at an angle between about 0 and about 90° from the vertical. A notch is formed on the side of the mid portion of the brush between the handle and the bristles. The notch has an upper face oriented toward the brush handle and a lower face oriented toward the bristles. The upper face, the lower face and the space there between are all dimensioned such that when the brush is attached to the rim of the paint can, the rim bears against the notch at a point adjacent to its upper face while the lower face of the notch bears against the rim sufficiently to position the brush at an angle from the vertical of less than about 90°.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A paint brush for use in conjunction with a paint can having a mouth defined by a continuous upwardly extending rim having upper and lower ends, said paint brush having a longitudinal axis and having a handle, a mid section and paint applying member and a notch defined by upper and lower faces, said upper face being inclined at an oblique angle relative to said longitudinal axis and having an upper central portion and a pair of upper lateral portions on opposite sides of said upper central portion, each said upper lateral portion extending toward said handle, said lower edge having a lower central portion and a pair of lower lateral portions, said paint brush being adapted to hang from said rim when said upper face rests upon said upper end while said lower face contacts said lower end, said paint applying member when said paint brush is so hanging being oriented relative to said mouth such that any paint on said paint brush falls into said paint can. 
     
     
         2 . The paint brush of  claim 1  wherein said notch is formed in said mid section. 
     
     
         3 . The paint brush of  claim 1  further including a ferrule in said mid section, said notch being formed in said ferrule. 
     
     
         4 . The paint brush of  claim 1  wherein said paint brush has a longitudinal axis, said lower face being inclined normal to said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . A paint brush for use with a paint can having an opening circumscribed by a perimeter, said perimeter having a U shaped profile with an outer rim, a transverse portion and an upwardly extending inner rim having upper and lower ends, said paint brush comprising: a mid portion connecting a handle to a paint applying member; a notch provided on a side of the mid portion between the handle and the paint applying member for attaching the brush to the inner rim, the notch defined by an upper face oriented towards the handle, a lower face oriented towards the paint applying member and an opening separating the upper and lower faces; the opening, upper face and lower face being dimensioned such that when the brush is attached to the perimeter, the perimeter bears against the notch at a point adjacent to the upper face while the lower face bears against the inner rim sufficiently to position the brush at an angle from the vertical of less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The paint brush as defined in  claim 5  wherein the notch is formed on a ferrule located at the mid point of the brush, the notch further comprising a back face, the back face being separated from the opening by a depth, the opening, depth, upper face and lower face all being dimensioned to hold the upper end of the rim within the notch while the lower face of the ferrule bears against the rim at a point on the rim between the upper and lower ends when the paint brush is hung from the rim. 
     
     
         7 . The paint brush as defined in  claim 5  wherein the notch further comprises a back face, the back face being separated from the opening by a depth, the opening, depth upper face and lower face all being dimensioned and configured to hold the upper end of the rim within the notch while the lower face of the ferrule bears against the rim at a point on the rim between the upper and lower ends when the paint brush is hung from the rim. 
     
     
         8 . The paint brush as defined in  claim 5  wherein the notch is formed on a ferrule on the paint brush and wherein the ferrule further comprises a back face, the back face being separated from the opening by a depth, the opening, depth, upper face and lower face all being dimensioned and configured to hold the upper end of the rim within the notch while the lower face of the ferrule bears against the rim at a point on the rim between the upper and lower ends when the paint brush is hung from the rim. 
     
     
         9 . The paint brush as defined in  claim 5  wherein the notch further comprises a back face, the back face being separated from the opening by a depth, the opening, depth, upper face and lower face all being dimensioned and configured such as to hold the rim within the notch while the lower face of the ferrule bears against the rim at a point on the rim between the upper and lower ends when the paint brush is hung from the rim. 
     
     
         10 . The paint brush as defined in  claim 5  wherein the transverse portion of the perimeter has a curved shape and wherein the lower face of the notch has a curved shape, the curved shape of the lower face closely matching the curved shape of the transverse portion such that the lower face can be laid closely against the transverse portion. 
     
     
         11 . A paint brush for use with a paint can having a bottom wall, side walls which extend upwardly and terminate at an opening circumscribed by a perimeter, said perimeter having a U shaped profile with an outer rim, a transverse portion and an upwardly extending inner rim having upper and lower ends, said brush having a notch for attaching the brush to the inner rim, the notch defined by an upper face, a lower face and an opening separating the upper and lower faces; the opening, upper face and lower face being dimensioned such that when the brush is attached to the perimeter of the paint can while the bottom wall is resting on a level surface, the upper face is inclined at an oblique angle the perimeter bears against the upper face while the lower face bears against the inner rim sufficiently to lock the brush onto the perimeter by virtue of a torque which is applied to the brush by its weight and to position the brush at an angle from the vertical of less that 90 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The paint brush as defined in  claim 11  wherein said notch further comprises a back face, the back face being separated from the opening by a depth, the opening, depth, upper face and lower face all being dimensioned to hold the upper end of the rim within the notch while the lower face of the notch bears against the rim at a point on the rim between the upper and lower ends when the brush is hung from the rim. 
     
     
         13 . The paint brush as defined in  claim 11  wherein said notch further comprises a back face, the back face being separated from the opening by a depth, the opening, depth, upper face and lower face all being dimensioned and configured in order to hold the rim within the notch while the lower face of the notch bears against the rim at a point on the rim between the upper and lower ends when the brush is hung from the rim. 
     
     
         14 . The paint brush as defined in  claim 11  wherein the transverse portion of the perimeter has a curved shape and wherein the lower face of the notch has a curved shape, the curved shape of the lower face closely matching the curved shape of the transverse portion such that the lower face can be laid closely against the transverse portion.