The present invention relates to a paint brush incorporating a squeezable container for the paint or other material to be applied with the brush.

When a building is decorated, there is often the need to paint the woodwork, such as skirting boards, window and door frames. Additionally, coatings other than a paint finish may be desired, for example clear or tinted varnishes.

Conventional devices used for these puposes are the combination of a brush, or foam pad, and a tin or a roller and a paint tray. Rollers are very effective for coating large flat surfaces. However, they are less suitable for surfaces having other than a flat profile. Furthermore, in use they have a tendency to spray the user with droplets of paint.

The use of a brush and a tin has a number of disadvantages. Firstly, there is the need to ensure that the correct amount of paint has been taken up by the bristles of the brush. In practice, an excess of paint is usually taken up and must be removed by drawing the bristles over the rim of the tin. This results in both a build up of congealed paint, which makes it difficult to reseal the tin, and also dribbles down the outside of the tin resulting in unwanted mess. Secondly, there are occasions when it is necessary to work in locations where there is no suitable resting place for the tin but where it is advisable that the painter steady himself with one hand, e.g. on a ladder. The need to hold the tin in such situations can result in serious accidents.

It is an aim of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art. Nevertheless, it is not intended that the invention be restricted to brushes for use in applying any particular medium although paint is the preferred medium.

According to the present invention, there is provided a paint brush comprising a bundle of fibres whose base is mounted in a coupling attachable to a squeezable container for the paint, conduit means in the coupling placing the interior of the container in communication with the interior of the base of the bundle of fibres and terminating closely adjacent the base of said bundle, the arrangement being such that, in use, paint can be supplied to the interior of the base of said bundle of fibres when the container is squeezed.

Advantageously, the container is sqeezably resilient such that deformation of the container causes paint to move through the conduit means from the container to the bundle of fibres and relaxation of the container causes excess paint to be drawn away from said bundle towards the container. Suitable containers can be formed from plastic resin material.

Surprising benefits may be obtained if the conduit means is arranged such that the its cross-sectional area adjacent the fibre bundle is less than its cross-sectional area adjacent the container. This may be achieved either

by providing a step in the passageway or by tapering the passageway. Such an arrangement improves the flow characteristics of paint from the container to the fibre bundle.

Preferably, the coupling is adapted to be screw fitted onto the container. However, other arrangements could be used and it is envisaged that, in some circumstances, it will be desirable to permanently affix the coupling to the container.

The novel paint brush of the invention is ideally suited for the application of water based paints or other covering mediums. It can however be used with oil based paints.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a paint brush of the present invention, and

Figure 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, along the line X-X in Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, flowable medium, preferably a water based paint, is stored in a sqeezably resilient bottle 1, formed from plastic resin material. The type of plastic resin material used for the bottle would be determined in part by the nature of the flowable medium to be stored in the bottle. An applicator including spreading means supported in a coupling 2 which is substantially in the form of a solid truncated cone. The coupling 2 threadably engages the bottle 1, such that the wider end of the cone covers an opening 3 at one end of the bottle 1.

Conveniently, the spreading means is in the form of a brush head 4, and comprises a plurality of parallel natural or synthetic bristles shaped to form a cylinder supported within and extending beyond the narrower end of the cone 2. A through-passage 5 extends through the coupling 2, to provide a path for flowable medium between the opening 3 in the bottle 1 and the brush head 4. The through-passage 5 comprises a first portion 5a, extending

part way into the coupling 2 towards the brush head 4 and having a first diameter, e.g. 6.4mm, and a second portion 5b, narrower than the first portion 5a, e.g. 3.2mm in diameter, extending from the brush head 4 to a point where it meets the first portion 5a. The stated dimensions are given by way of example only and may be altered depending on the medium to be dispensed from the bottle 1.

In use, the bottle 1 is filled with a quantity of the flowable medium to be dispensed and the applicator is then secured thereto. The brush head 4 is charged with flowable medium by sqeezing the bottle 1 which causes the medium to pass through the passage 5 in the coupling 2. The device is then manipulated in the manner of a paint brush to coat a surface with the flowable medium contained therein.

During pauses in, and at the end of, the coating procedure, the bottle 1 will regain its original shape, when the pressure on the bottle 1 is released, thereby sucking excess flowable medium away from the brush head 4 through the passage 5. As a result the device is virtually drip-free when being used which is a

substantial advantage of the present invention over prior art devices.

It is envisaged that the shape of the brush head 4 will be varied to suit the task to which the device is to be applied. Furthermore, the dimensions of the through-passage 5 will be changed in dependence on the qualities of the flowable medium stored in the bottle 1 and the required flow rates.