Novel Paintbrush

Abstract

A paintbrush features an elongated handle with an interior passage and a head with a wider interior cavity. The handle defines an inlet at its first end and an outlet at its second end, which fluidly connects to the head's inlet, forming a continuous fluid flow path to the head's outlet. The head's interior cavity includes a first longitudinal section configured as a temporary fluid retention chamber and a second longitudinal section configured as a sleeve for a plug with drainage holes. The handle may have a tapered external profile and an exterior gripping surface. An endcap may be releasably attached to the handle's first end, which may also be configured for fluid source attachment.

1 . A paintbrush, comprising:
 a handle extending longitudinally along a central axis from a proximal handle end to a distal handle end, said handle defined as an elongated hollow tube having an interior passage extending from said proximal handle end to said distal handle end, said proximal handle end defining an opening serving as an inlet and said distal handle end defining an opening serving as an outlet; and   a head extending longitudinally along said central axis from a proximal head end to a distal head end, said proximal head end depending from said distal handle end, said head defining an interior cavity extending from said proximal head end to said distal head end, said internal cavity having a wider cross-sectional dimension than said interior passage of said handle, said proximal head end defining an opening serving as an inlet and said distal head end defining an opening serving as an outlet, wherein said interior passage of said handle and said interior cavity of said head together form a continuous fluid flow path.   
     
     
         2 . The paintbrush of  claim 1 , wherein said head comprises:
 a first longitudinal section extending along said central axis from said proximal head end to a transition point, said first longitudinal section having internal surfaces defining a temporary fluid retention chamber within said interior cavity;   a second longitudinal section extending along said central axis from said transition point to said distal head end, said second longitudinal section having internal surfaces defining a sleeve within said interior cavity; and   a plug having a plurality of drainage holes extending longitudinally along said central axis from a first plug end to a second plug end, said plug configured to fit within said sleeve of said second longitudinal section;   wherein said first longitudinal section facilitates fluid flow from said interior passage of said handle to said second longitudinal section.   
     
     
         3 . The paintbrush of  claim 2 , wherein said first longitudinal section has a curved profile extending arcuately outwardly relative to said central axis and said second longitudinal section has a substantially linear profile that is substantially parallel to said central axis. 
     
     
         4 . The paintbrush of  claim 2 , wherein said plug is chemically bonded to said internal surfaces of said second longitudinal section that define said sleeve along a peripheral surface extending continuously around said plug between said first plug end and said second plug end. 
     
     
         5 . The paintbrush of  claim 2 , wherein said drainage holes are sized to accommodate the flow of water or other cleaning fluids therethrough while preventing backflow of paint from bristles embedded at said second plug end. 
     
     
         6 . The paintbrush of  claim 1 , further comprising an endcap depending from said proximal handle end, wherein said endcap is releasably coupled to said proximal handle end. 
     
     
         7 . The paintbrush of  claim 6 , wherein said proximal handle end is configured with a female-threaded member that mates with a male-threaded member of said endcap. 
     
     
         8 . The paintbrush of  claim 6 , wherein said endcap has a hook hole. 
     
     
         9 . The paintbrush of  claim 1 , wherein said handle has a cross-sectional dimension defined by an inner diameter and a wall thickness, said cross-sectional dimension of said handle changing progressively along said central axis between said proximal and distal handle ends, defining a tapered external profile. 
     
     
         10 . The paintbrush of  claim 9 , wherein said cross-sectional dimension of said handle increases in a direction from said proximal handle end to said distal handle end. 
     
     
         11 . The paintbrush of  claim 9 , wherein said cross-sectional dimension of said handle decreases in a direction from said proximal handle end to said distal handle end. 
     
     
         12 . The paintbrush of  claim 9 , wherein said change in said cross-sectional dimension of said handle is due to a variation in wall thickness, such that said inner diameter remains substantially constant along said central axis. 
     
     
         13 . The paintbrush of  claim 9 , wherein said change in said cross-sectional dimension of said handle is due to a change in said inner diameter and said wall thickness. 
     
     
         14 . The paintbrush of  claim 9 , wherein said cross-sectional dimension of said handle at said proximal handle end differs from said cross-sectional dimension of said handle at said distal handle end by between 23% and 29%. 
     
     
         15 . The paintbrush of  claim 9 , wherein said cross-sectional dimension of said handle at said proximal handle end differs from said cross-sectional dimension of said handle at said distal handle end by between 27.2% and 27.4%. 
     
     
         16 . The paintbrush of  claim 1 , wherein said handle has an exterior gripping surface that is formed of a helical wrap-around ridged surface. 
     
     
         17 . The paintbrush of  claim 1 , wherein said handle and said head are integrally formed as a unitary structure. 
     
     
         18 . The paintbrush of  claim 1 , wherein said handle and said head are fused together to form a unitary structure. 
     
     
         19 . The paintbrush of  claim 1 , wherein said proximal handle end is configured with a female-threaded member capable of releasably attaching to a fluid source. 
     
     
         20 . A paintbrush, consisting of:
 a handle extending longitudinally along a central axis from a proximal handle end to a distal handle end, said handle defined as an elongated hollow tube having an interior passage extending from said proximal handle end to said distal handle end, said proximal handle end defining an opening serving as an inlet and said distal handle end defining an opening serving as an outlet, said proximal handle end configured with a female-threaded member capable of releasably attaching to a fluid source, said handle having a cross-sectional dimension defined by an inner diameter and a wall thickness, said cross-sectional dimension of said handle changing progressively along said central axis between said proximal and distal handle ends, defining a tapered external profile, wherein said change in said cross-sectional dimension of said handle is due to a variation in wall thickness such that said inner diameter remains substantially constant along said central axis, or due to a change in said inner diameter and said wall thickness, and wherein said cross-sectional dimension of said handle at said proximal handle end differs from said cross-sectional dimension of said handle at said distal handle end by between 23% and 29%, said handle having an exterior gripping surface formed of a helical wrap-around ridged surface;   a head extending longitudinally along said central axis from a proximal head end to a distal head end, said proximal head end depending from said distal handle end, said head defining an interior cavity extending from said proximal head end to said distal head end, said internal cavity having a wider cross-sectional dimension than said interior passage of said handle, said proximal head end defining an opening serving as an inlet and said distal head end defining an opening serving as an outlet, wherein said interior cavity of said head comprises:
 a first longitudinal section extending along said central axis from said proximal head end to a transition point, said first longitudinal section having internal surfaces defining a temporary fluid retention chamber and having a curved profile extending arcuately outwardly relative to said central axis; 
 a second longitudinal section extending along said central axis from said transition point to said distal head end, said second longitudinal section having a substantially linear profile that is substantially parallel to said central axis and having internal surfaces defining a sleeve; and 
 a plug having a plurality of drainage holes extending longitudinally along said central axis from a first plug end to a second plug end, said plug configured to fit within said sleeve defined by said internal surfaces of said second longitudinal section, wherein said plug is chemically bonded to said internal surfaces of said second longitudinal section that define said sleeve along a peripheral surface extending continuously around said plug between said first plug end and said second plug end, and wherein said drainage holes are sized to accommodate the flow of water or other cleaning fluids therethrough while preventing backflow of paint from bristles embedded at said second plug end; and 
   an endcap depending from said proximal handle end, said endcap comprising a male-threaded member configured to releasably mate with said female-threaded member on said proximal handle end;   wherein said interior passage of said handle and said interior cavity of said head together form a continuous fluid flow path; and   wherein said handle and said head are integrally formed as a unitary structure.