Paint brush protector

Abstract

A tension-bearing clamp protects bristles, pads, rollers and other applicator elements of a paintbrush and may even reshape damaged bristles back to a fine point. The clamp comprises a first protective plate section pivotally affixed to a second protective plate section at first ends thereof. The first and second plate protective sections are biased in a top-and-bottom closed configuration, wherein the second ends of the first and second plate sections are in contact with one another. The first ends of the protective sections may include handles to allow opening and closing of the clamp. The first end of the clamp includes an opening so that the bristles of a paintbrush can be inserted therein. The bristles can be held between the first and second sections when the clamp is in a closed configuration to protect the bristles from damage and to reshape damaged bristles back to a fine point.

1 . A protective device for applicator devices that have an elongate applicator surface and a handle, the protective device having an applicator with an elongate applicator surface and a handle thereon comprising:
 a) two opposed protective plates, each protective plate having a proximal end and a distal end, and an interior surface and exterior surface;   b) a hinged joint connecting the two opposed protective plates at their proximal ends with the handle extending therethrough;   c) each of the two opposed protective plates having an extended pressure receiving element an exterior surface of each of the two opposed protective plates that extends from the exterior surface past the proximal end, the pressure receiving elements being configured such that when pressure is applied to the pressure receiving elements past the proximal ends of the two opposed protective plates, distal ends of the two opposed protective plates are moved away from each other; and   d) an opening in the hinged joint allowing the handle to extend through the opening past the proximal ends of the two opposed protective plates while the elongate applicator surface is protected between the two opposed protective plates; wherein an applicator device is present within the protective device with the handle of the applicator device extending through the opening in the hinged joint and the interior surfaces of the two opposed protective plates are flat plates that apply compressive pressure to the elongate applicator surface to straighten an end of the elongate applicator.   
     
     
         2 . The protective device of  claim 1  wherein the hinged joint provides a first separation distance between the proximal ends of the two opposed protective plates. 
     
     
         3 . The protective device of  claim 2  wherein the hinged joint maintains a tension against the distal ends of the two opposed protective plates in the absence of pressure being applied to the pressure receiving elements. 
     
     
         4 . The protective device of  claim 3  wherein the compositions of the opposed protective plates, the hinged joint and the pressure receiving elements are independently selected from the group consisting of metals, polymeric materials, composite materials and wood. 
     
     
         5 . The protective device of  claim 1  wherein the pressure receiving elements are attached by hinges to the exterior surfaces of the two opposed protective plates, and the hinges allow the pressure receiving elements to rotate away from and back towards the exterior surfaces of the two opposed protective plates. 
     
     
         6 . The protective device of  claim 2  wherein the hinged joint and pressure receiving elements are configured so that manual pressure against the pressure receiving elements can separate the distal ends of the two opposed protective plates to a second distance that is at least equal to seventy-five percent of the first separation distance. 
     
     
         7 . The protective device of  claim 2  wherein the hinged joint and pressure receiving elements are configured so that manual pressure against the pressure receiving elements can separate the distal ends of the two opposed protective plates to a second distance that is at least equal to the first separation distance. 
     
     
         8 . The protective device of  claim 2  wherein the opening has dimensions of between 2 and 15 centimeters parallel to the two opposed protective plates and between 1 and 5 centimeters perpendicular to the two opposed protective plates. 
     
     
         9 . The protective device of  claim 6  wherein the opening has dimensions of between 2 and 15 centimeters parallel to the two opposed protective plates and between 1 and 5 centimeters perpendicular to the two opposed protective plates. 
     
     
         10 . The protective device of  claim 2  wherein the interior surfaces of the two opposed protective plates are essentially flat plates. 
     
     
         11 . The protective device of  claim 2  wherein the two opposed protective plates are essentially convex plates, with the exterior surfaces of the two opposed protective plates extending away from each other to form an enlarged pocket between the two opposed protective plates when the distal ends of the two opposed protective plates are in contact with each other. 
     
     
         12 . The protective device of  claim 2  wherein the two opposed protective plates are essentially concave plates, with the exterior surfaces of the two opposed protective plates extending towards each other to form a compressive pocket between the two opposed plates when the distal ends of the two opposed protective plates are in contact with each other. 
     
     
         13 . The protective device of  claim 10  wherein the opening has dimensions of between 2 and 15 centimeters parallel to the two opposed protective plates and between 1 and 5 centimeters perpendicular to the two opposed protective plates. 
     
     
         14 . The protective device of  claim 2  wherein the applicator device comprises a used paint brush having bristles thereon and the paint brush is positioned with the bristles between the two opposed protective plates without openings in faces of the opposed protective plates so that the two opposed protective plates compress the bristles of the applicator device and a handle of the paint brush extends through the opening in the hinged joint. 
     
     
         15 . The protective device of  claim 14  wherein the interior surfaces of the two opposed protective plates apply compressive pressure to free ends of the bristles on the paint brush. 
     
     
         16 . The protective device of  claim 1  wherein the interior surfaces of the two opposed protective plates are without openings in faces of the opposed plates and comprise organic solvent resistant interior surfaces. 
     
     
         17 . The protective device of  claim 14  wherein the interior surfaces of the two opposed protective plates apply compressive pressure to foam material in the applicator devices.