TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a painting tool handle. The invention also relates to a painting tool comprising such a handle. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a painting tool handle.

BACKGROUND ART

There are various types of painting tools, some examples being spreaders, brushes, and rollers. Professionals who work long days, doing repetitive motions with painting tools, often appreciate if the painting tool is relatively lightweight. On the other hand, robustness is also of importance. Some painting tool handles to which a tool part is attached (such as a spreader blade or a fe rrule/b ristle carrier for a brush) may be formed in one solid piece of material. For instance, the handle may be of solid wood, plastic, etc. While a solid piece provides the advantage of robustness, a downside is often its weight. To overcome the weight problem, there have been suggestions to make the handle from two halves that are joined together. By making the two halves with a C-shaped cross section, they will, when put together, form a hollow handle. While this may solve the weight problem, the robustness may instead be greatly reduced. If a person accidentally drops the painting tool to the ground, there is a substantial risk that the handle will split into its original two halves.

Thus, it would be desirable to provide a painting tool handle which is robust as well as lightweight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present inventive concept is to alleviate the drawbacks of the prior art. This and other objects, which will become apparent in the following disclosure, are accomplished by a painting tool handle and by a method of manufacturing a painting tool handle, as presented in the accompanying independent claims.

The present inventive concept is based on the insight that by designing two opposite end portions of a painting tool handle thinner than a central portion, the end portions will be hardened before the central portion when formed by a moulding process, and that this difference in time-to-harden can be used for removing material from the interior of the central portion without affecting the already hardened end portions. Thus, the handle can be formed such that it will present a large coherent piece (instead of two halves), thereby providing the desired robustness, but the central portion will be hollow (instead of solid), thereby providing the desired light-weight reduction.

According to at least a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a painting tool handle, comprising

- a first end portion configured to fixate a painting tool element,

- an opposite second end portion,

- a central grip portion configured to be gripped by a hand of a user, the central grip portion being located between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the thickness of the central grip portion is greater than the thickness of each one of the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the first end portion, the second end portion, and the central grip portion are mutually formed by a single piece of material, and wherein the central grip portion is hollow, presenting a space located within and limited to the central grip portion.

If not otherwise stated, it is below assumed that the painting tool handle is seen along a surface normal of the painting tool element, e.g. a spreader blade or a paint brush. Such a spreader blade may have an elongated edge. A corresponding side view thereby refers to a direction along the elongated edge of the painting tool element such that the end portions of the painting tool handle are located on opposite sides in the side view. The thickness of the painting tool element herein refers to a distance along the surface normal of the painting tool element. The skilled person appreciates, analogously, that the same applies should the painting tool element be a bristle carrier for a brush or the like. The dimensions length, width, and thickness have their normal understanding in this disclosure. By way of example, the width of the painting tool handle is normally thought of as the extension of the elongated edge of the spreader blade, and the thickness is normally thought of as the extension along the surface normal of the spreader blade. Hence, in connection with the painting tool handle (at least for use with a spreader blade), the width is normally larger than the thickness. Thus, per the above it can be understood that the end portions are flatter than the central grip portion, and that the space located within the central grip portion does not extend into the end portions. The end portions, due to their relative thinness and their short hardening time, can be used as barriers when the non-hardened material in the central grip portion is displaced. Hence, the space located within the central grip portion is understood being simply connected and located between the first and the second end portion when viewed from the side view.

The advantageous lightweight and robust painting tool handle may suitably be formed by moulding. The displacement of the non-hardened material in the central grip portion may suitably be accomplished by means of pressurized fluid injection. Further discussion of how to manufacture the painting tool handle of the first aspect will be discussed later in connection with the discussion of the third aspect of the invention.

Further, an ergonomic favourable shape of a painting tool handle often has a relatively large volume, and the advantageous lightweight and robust painting tool handle may have an ergonomic shape without increasing the weight of the painting tool handle.

By "mutually formed by a single piece of material", it is understood that the whole painting tool handle is made of a piece of material (e.g., plastic). This thereby excludes the option of the painting tool handle being made of two symmetric mutually attached halves, or that the central grip portion is subsequently attached to the first and/or the second end portion. Advantageously, the painting tool handle may be formed by moulding. The manufacturing method, disclosed below, will further emphasize these relevant structural features. The manufacturing of the painting tool handle by a single piece of material may provide a lightweight, yet robust painting tool handle. This may be advantageous when the painting tool handle is formed as a spreader blade handle, for which shear forces may be considerable during use. However, this should not exclude further material being connected/appliec to a surface of the painting tool handle, such as a surface layer to increase the friction when a user grips the painting tool handle etc. Continuing with the discussion of the painting tool handle of the first aspect of the invention, as mentioned above, the first end portion is configured to fixate a painting tool. This may for instance, be a spreader blade, a ferrule, etc. The second end portion, located at the opposite end of the painting tool handle, may be formed in any suitable way. For instance, if desired, it may be formed with a through-hole, for enabling the paining tool to suspend from, e.g. a nail or a screw on a tool holder wall. Any such through-hole is however suitably clearly limited to the thin second end portion. Thus, the border to the thicker central grip portion should be formed by material of the second end portion, rather than partly by such a through hole.

The central grip portion may suitably be elongated. Different shapes are, however, conceivable, for instance depending on the tool for which the handle is designed. Some general examples may be Y-shape, T-shape, l-shape, however, others are also conceivable. Likewise, the overall shape of the painting tool handle may have similar Y-shape, T-shape, I- shape, etc. Thus, in some exemplary embodiments, the general shape of the central grip portion may be a smaller version of the general shape of the entire painting tool handle. The size and shapes of the first and second end portions may suitably be different, although similar sizes and shapes would also be conceivable. As an example of differently sized end portions, the painting tool handle may be designed to hold a spreader blade. In such a case, the first end portion may suitably be considerably larger than the second portion, in particular if the spreader blade is wide.

The first end portion may be provided with an attachment area. The attachment area may be designed in accordance with the painting tool element to be applied to the handle. In some exemplary embodiments, the attachment area may be substantially planar. In some exemplary embodiments, it may be provided with an indentation or groove, for instance, to receive a thin painting tool element, such as a blade.

The central grip portion may comprise at least two openings. Respective opening joins the hollow interior of the painting tool handle and its surrounding. Hence, in principle, the openings may allow a fluid such as air or water to enter or leave the hollow of the painting tool handle.

During manufacturing, if, e.g. using a pressurized fluid for displacing non-hardened material from the interior of the central grip portion, then after that process there may remain a visible injection inlet opening (through which the fluid is injected) and one or more outlet openings (through which the material is pushed out). These openings correspond to the previously mentioned at least two openings. The openings may however be desirable to cover, to avoid water or moisture to enter the finished product. Thus, in addition to the moulded and hollowed-out integral piece of material, which includes the (hollowed-out) central grip portion and the first and second end portions, the painting tool handle may additionally be provided with relatively small cover pieces (also here referred to as plugs) to cover said openings. Hence, a cover piece is understood being small compared to the painting tool handle both in view of the outer area and mass. The cover pieces may in practice not be noticed on the finished product.

Thus, according to at least one exemplary embodiment of the invention the central grip portion comprises at least two plugs joined to the at least two openings of the central grip portion to seal the space within the central grip portion. The function of the plugs is both aesthetic, to conceal the opening into the space, and practical, to avoid water entering into the space (for instance if it is raining). Water in the space of the central grip portion would not only risk creating unbalance, and irritation to the user, but also add weight to the product as a whole. The number of openings and plugs may depend on the type of painting tool for which the handle is designed. For instance, for a handle designed for a paint brush, an inlet opening and an outlet opening may suffice, and thus two plugs. For a handle designed for a spreader or a wide filling knife, there may be one inlet opening and two outlet openings, and thus three plugs. The number of openings is not only dependent on size, but rather the shape of the handle, in particular the central grip portion of the handle. A T-shaped handle may need one inlet opening and two outlet openings, for enabling the creation of a suitable (T-shaped) space within the central grip portion. The plugs may, for instance be provided in the opening by means of injection moulding, hot stamping, gluing, or by any other suitable process.

A further advantage of the inventive concept is that the material that has been pushed out of the central grip portion to create the space may suitably be recycled/reused. For instance, the pushed-out material may be mixed with more material to make more handles. It is also conceivable to reuse the pushed-out material for making plugs. Thus, the handle according to the inventive concept, and the method of manufacturing, is beneficial from an environmental perspective, as unnecessary waste of material may be prevented. The space may suitably take up approximately half of the volume of the central grip portion. In some exemplary embodiments the space may even represent more than half the volume of the central grip portion. According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the space extends over at least 50% of the width of the central grip portion, suitably at least 60%. The space may suitably have even larger extension along the length of the central grip portion, i.e. more than 60%, suitably more than 70%.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the first end portion and/or the second end portion forms a solid piece of material without a closed hollow interior. By providing a solid end, an appropriate barrier strength is achieved when creating the hollow space in the neighbouring central grip portion. Suitably, each one of the first end portion and the second end portion forms a solid piece of material without a closed hollow interior. In this connection, it should be understood that a solid piece of material may be provided with an open cut-out, groove, or the like, such as for receiving a blade. For instance, the first end portion may be provided with a cut-out, groove, or the like. Such an open groove or cut-out does not form a closed hollow interior.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the border between the central grip portion and the second end portion may be formed by material of the second end portion. According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the border between the central grip portion and the first end portion may be formed by material of the first end portion.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the central grip portion comprises a transit section where the central grip portion transits into the first end portion, wherein said transit section has a drop-shaped cross-section. Thus, a smooth transition is achieved between the central grip portion and the first end portion. The thinner part of the drop-shape may provide the actual border to the first end portion. The thicker part of the drop-shape will not harden as quickly as the thinner part and the first end portion. Non-hardened material may still be displaced, e.g. by injecting fluid under pressure, in order to create the space in the central grip portion. At the periphery of the central grip portion, the thicker part of the drop-shape may be a suitable location for providing a fluid injection inlet opening, or an outlet opening through which displaced material and injected fluid may exit. A further advantage of a drop-shape is that it may prevent unnecessary stress/strain in the material. According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the drop-shaped cross-section has a width which is approximately double, or at least double, the width of the cross-section of the first end portion. This provides for a well-controllable manufacturing process, allowing the thinner first end portion to harden sufficiently earlier in time than the central grip portion. It should be understood that the above-mentioned width of the drop-shaped cross-section refers to a thickness of the central grip portion at the transition section.

As already mentioned previously, the central grip portion may suitably be substantially Y- shaped or T-shaped. In connection to that, it should be understood that also the space located within the central grip portion may be substantially Y-shaped or T-shaped. By mimicking the shape of the central grip portion, the space makes use of the available material volume in an advantageous manner, allowing a good weight reduction compared to if only a part of the shape of the central grip portion would have been copied interiorly for the space.

According to at least a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a painting tool comprising a painting tool handle according to the first aspect, including any embodiment thereof. The advantages of the painting tool of the second aspect are largely analogous to the advantages of the painting tool handle of the first aspect, including any embodiment thereof.

In some exemplary embodiments of the second aspect of the invention, the painting tool may suitably comprise a painting tool element in the form of a spreader blade fixed to the first end portion. In other exemplary embodiments, the painting tool may comprise other components, such as a ferrule with bristles attached to the first end portion, a bundle of bristles or a cassette comprising a bundle of bristles.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a painting tool handle. The method comprises:

- providing, in a mould, raw material to be hardened, the raw material being distributed in the mould such that it presents a first end portion, an opposite second end portion, and a central portion located between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the thickness of the central portion is greater than the thickness of each one of the first end portion and the second end portion;

- allowing the material of the first end portion and the second end portion to harden; and

- injecting, after hardening of the first end portion and the second end portion but before hardening of the entire central portion, a fluid under pressure into the central portion to move material out of the central portion in order to create a space within the central portion, whereby the central portion becomes hollow.

Thus, the method of the third aspect of the invention may suitably be used when manufacturing the painting tool handle of the first aspect of the invention, including any embodiment thereof.

The material used for the painting tool handle may suitably be a plastic material, such as polypropylene. However, other materials are also conceivable.

It should be understood that a small part of the central grip portion may have hardened when the pressurized fluid is injected to create the space, such as for instance areas neighbouring to the first end portion and the second end portion. However, suitably, the fluid is injected at a time before a major volume of the central grip portion has hardened, in order to allow a large space to be created within the central grip portion. The fluid may contribute to cool down material which is located adjacent to the fluid flow and which has not yet been completely hardened.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment said fluid is water. Water can easily be pressurized and is readily accessible. However, in other exemplary embodiments the fluid may be another liquid than water. In further exemplary embodiments, the fluid may be a pressurized gas.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment the fluid is injected through an inlet opening in the material of the central portion and flushed out from the central portion through at least one outlet opening, suitably two outlet openings. Non-hardened material that is moved by the injected fluid will also exit through said at least one outlet opening. The number of outlet openings will normally depend on the shape of the painting tool handle to be manufactured, and thus the shape of the space within the central portion of the painting tool, as already explained above.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the method further comprises plugging the inlet and outlet openings to seal the created space. As previously explained, this may be desirable form both an aesthetic and functional perspective. According to an aspect, the painting tool element is provided in the mould at the first end portion before the raw material to be hardened is provided in a mould. When the raw material is hardened at the first end portion, the painting tool element is fixated to the first end portion.

Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. Further features of, and advantages of, the present invention will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following description. The skilled person realizes that different features of the present invention may be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a more detailed description of embodiments of the invention cited as examples.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates, in a perspective view, a painting tool comprising a painting tool handle in accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 illustrates a front view of the painting tool of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3a and 3b illustrates cross-sectional views of Fig. 2, taken along line A-A and line B-B, respectively.

Fig. 4 illustrates a side view of the painting tool of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 illustrates, in a front view, a painting tool handle in accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 illustrates a manufacturing of the painting tool handle of Fig. 5.

Fig. 6a and 6b are cross-sections of Fig. 6.

Figs 7A-C schematically show a bristle handle for a brush. Fig. 8 schematically shows a flowchart for a method for manufacturing a painting tool handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain aspects and exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments and aspects set forth herein; rather, the embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the description.

Fig. 1 illustrates, in a perspective view, a painting tool 1 comprising a painting tool handle 10 in accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Although the painting tool 1 is illustrated in the form of a spreader, it should be understood that the present inventive concept may be used for other painting tools as well. For instance, the painting tool may be in the form of a paint brush (see Fig. 7A), in which case a painting tool handle of the present inventive concept may hold a painting tool element in the form of a ferrule provided with bristles, a bundle of bristles or a cassette comprising a bundle of bristles.

In the exemplary illustration in Fig. 1, the painting tool 1 comprises a painting tool handle 10 and a painting tool element 100 in the form of a spreader blade. The painting tool element 100 is attached to the painting tool handle 10. More specifically, the painting tool element 100 is fixated to a first end portion 12 of the painting tool handle. The painting tool handle 10 also comprises an oppositely located second end portion 14. Between the first end portion 12 and the second end portion 14, the painting tool handle 10 comprises a central grip portion 16.

The central grip portion 16 is configured to be gripped by a hand of a user. Thus, from the above, it should be understood that the first end portion 12 and the second end portion 14 form borders to respective ends of the central grip portion 16. Thus, instead of referring to a first end portion 12 and a second end portion 14, the present inventive concept may also be regarded as a painting tool handle 10 comprising a first bordering portion 12 configured to fixate a painting tool 100, an opposite second bordering portion 14, and a central grip portion 16 located between the first bordering portion 12 and the second bordering portion 14. The first end portion 12, the second end portion 14, and the central grip portion 16 are mutually formed by a single piece of material.

The thickness of the central grip portion 16 is greater than the thickness of each one of the first end portion 12 and the second end portion 14 (i.e. the first bordering portion and the second bordering portion). This is best seen in the side view of Fig. 4.

In Fig. 1, there is further shown the directions length LI, width Wl, and thickness T1 in a schematic coordinate system. These directions may be referred to as vectors below. Further, if not stated otherwise, these directions apply throughout. Hence, for instance, the "side view" of the painting tool handle shown in Fig. 4 is equivalent to a view direction perpendicular to a plane spanned by the vectors LI and Tl.

The central grip portion 16 is hollow, presenting a space 24 located within and limited to the central grip portion 16. This will be discussed in more detail in connection with Fig. 6 which illustrates how the space 24 may be created.

In Fig. 1 the second end portion 14 of the painting tool handle 10 is illustrated as having a through hole 18, enabling the painting tool 1 to be hanged on a spike, a screw or similar. It should however be understood that in other exemplary embodiments the second end portion 14 is uninterrupted, i.e. is without a through hole 18.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the first end portion 12 is much wider than the second end portion 14, since the first end portion 12 is configured to hold the wide spreader blade (painting tool element 100). It should, however, be understood that other widths of the first end portion 12 are conceivable, and suitably adapted to the particular painting tool element which is to be fixated.

The painting tool handle 10 is substantially T-shaped. The stem of the T-shape is slightly angled from the normal relative to the roof of the T-shape. This is ergonomically advantageous. It should, however, be understood that other shapes are conceivable as well, including straight T-shapes or any other suitable shape which is appropriate for the painting tool 1 in question. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the central grip portion 16 is also substantially T-shaped, interfacing the exemplified substantially rectangular/tetragon shape of the first end portion 12.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the first end portion 12 is provided with a groove 20 in which the blade (painting tool element 100) has been received. For other painting tool elements, such as ferrules, other configurations of the first end portion may be provided for fixating the painting tool elements.

According to an aspect, the border between the central grip portion 16 and the second end portion 14 is formed by material of the second end portion 14. According to an aspect, the border between the central grip portion 16 and the first end portion 12 is formed by material of the first end portion 12. According to an aspect, the border between the central grip portion 16 and the first end portion 12 is formed by material of the first end portion 12 and the painting tool element fixated to the first end portion 12. According to an aspect, the border between the central grip portion 16 and the first end portion 12 is formed by material of the first end portion 12 and the spreader blade 100 fixated to the first end portion 12.

Fig. 2 illustrates a front view of the painting tool 1 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3a illustrates a cross-sectional view of Fig. 2, taken along line the A-A, i.e. in a plane spanned by the vectors LI and Tl. Fig. 3b illustrates a cross-sectional view of Fig. 2, taken along line B-B, i.e. in a plane spanned by the vectors W1 and Tl.

As can be seen in the cross-sectional view in Fig. 3a (and also in Fig. 2), the central grip portion 16 comprises a transit section 22 where the central grip portion 16 transits into the first end portion 12. The transit section 22 has a drop-shaped cross-section. As clearly seen in Fig. 3a, in the illustrated example, the drop-shaped cross-section has a width which is approximately double, or at least double, the width of the cross section of the first end portion 12. Fig. 3a also illustrates part of the space 24 that has been created in the central grip portion 16. In the illustrated example, the space 24 thus reaches all the way to the transit section 22 of the central grip portion 16. As can be seen in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 3b, the central grip portion is hollow also towards the second end portion 14. Suitably, more than 50% of the total volume of the central grip portion is taken up by the space 24, or even more than 60%. The width of the space 24 at the illustrated cross-section in Fig. 3b may be at least 50%, or at least 60% or even more, of the width of the central grip portion 16.

Fig. 5 illustrates, in a front view, a painting tool handle 10 in accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the blade (painting tool element 100) in Fig. 2 has been removed and is just indicated by the lines.

Fig. 6 illustrates a manufacturing of the painting tool handle 10 of Fig. 5. First, raw material to be hardened is provided in a mould. The mould is shaped like the finished painting tool handle. Thus, the raw flowing material will be distributed in the mould such that it presents a first end portion 12', an opposite second end portion 14', and a central portion 16' located between the first end portion 12' and the second end portion 14'. The first end portion 12' in the mould will result in the first end portion 12 of the painting tool handle 10 in Fig. 5, the second end portion 14' will result in the second end portion 14 of the painting tool handle 10, and the central portion 16' will result in the central grip portion 16 of the finished painting tool handle 10. The mould is dimensioned in such way that when the raw flowing material has been distributed in the mould, then the thickness of the central portion 16' is greater than the thickness of each one of the first end portion 12' and the second end portion 14'.

When the raw material has been distributed in the mould, it is allowed to harden. Since the thickness of the first end portion 12' and the second end portion 14' is smaller than the thickness of the central portion 16', those two portions will become completely hardened before the central portion 16' has become completely hardened. The outermost areas of the central portion 16' may have hardened, however, the innermost areas of the central portion 16' is still not hardened.

At that time, when the central portion 16' is still not completely hardened, but the first end portion 12' and second end portion 14' have been completely hardened, a fluid 26 under pressure is injected into the central portion 16' to move material out of the central portion 16' in order to create the space 24 (see Fig. 3b) within the central portion 16' (central grip portion 16 in the finished product), whereby the central portion 16' becomes hollow. This is illustrated in Fig. 6. The fluid 26 is injected at an inlet opening 28. The fluid 26 will push the nonhardened material, and the combined flow will be spread and guided by the already hardened material areas. Thus, the hardened first end portion 12' and second end portion 14' will form barriers which limit the path of the flow. Also, the outermost parts of the central portion 16', which may also have hardened will also form barriers. Two outlet openings 30 are made to allow the pressurized fluid 26 and the pushed non-hardened material to flow out of the central portion 16'. Thereafter, when the space 24 has been created, any remaining nonhardened material in the central portion 16' is allowed to harden.

The resulting painting tool handle 10 is shown in Fig. 5. In the painting tool handle 10 the inlet opening 28 and the two outlet openings 30 are visible. These may suitably be closed by subsequently applying plugs 48, 50 to seal the space 24 within the central grip portion 16. By way of example, in the painting tool 1 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the painting tool handle 10 does not have any visible inlet and outlet openings. Thus, plugs have already been provided in the painting tool 1 of the Figs. 1 and 2.

From the above described method, it is to be understood that the first end portion 12 of the painting tool handle 10 is made in one piece with the second end portion 14, and also with a major part of the central grip portion 16. The plugs 48, 50 for covering the inlet 28 and the outlets 30 are the only pieces of material that need to be added subsequently to the central grip portion 16.

As can be seen in the cross-sectional view in Fig. 6a, which is taken along line C-C in Fig. 6, the fluid 26 creating the space 24 (see Fig. 3b) takes up a substantial part of the central portion 16'. In the resulting painting tool handle 10 the space 24 extends suitably over at least 50% of the width of the central grip portion 16, suitably at least 60%. Fig. 6b is a sectional view taken along line D-D and illustrates how the fluid 26 is creating the part of the space 24 that is in the drop-shaped transition section 22 (see Fig. 3a).

Since the material in the first end portion 12' and the second end portion 14' has completely hardened before pressurized fluid 26 is injected, they will form solid pieces of material without a closed hollow interior. As can be seen by the extension of the fluid 26 in Fig. 6, the space 24 that is created within the central portion 16', i.e. the central grip portion 16 of the finished painting tool handle 10 in Fig. 5, will be substantially T-shaped.

In connection with Figs 7A-C there is schematically shown a bristle handle for a brush, e.g. a paint brush handle. The description in connection with the painting tool handle 10 applies to the bristle handle as well. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the above where applicable. Since a first end portion 12 of a bristle handle is, in general, narrower (along LI, Fig. 7A) relative to the same end portion of the spreader blade example above, the number of outlet openings 30 may include a single outlet opening 30. This since little may be gained in terms of weight in having two outlet openings 30 for such a relatively narrow first end portion 12. The non-limiting example shown in Fig. 7A however shows two such outlet openings 30. Hence, the lower right outlet opening 30 may be omitted here with a substantially remained function.

In Fig. 7B, the bristle handle is, highly schematically, seen from a side view, i.e. along direction LI, demonstrating differences in the thickness of the bristle handle. The bristle handle has a maximal thickness T2 at the central grip portion 16. An overall thickness of the central grip portion is larger than a thickness of the first 12 and the second 14 end portion, respectively.

In Fig. 7C, a cross section of the central grip portion 16 is shown in a plane Al (being a plane spanned by W1 and Tl) indicated in Fig. 7A. Any adequate geometry of the cross section is applicable. For instance, the cross section may be substantially circular, elliptic, or oval. A combination thereof may be possible. For instance, cross sections taken at different planes along the central grip portion 16 may have different geometries. The maximal thickness Tl (along LI) of the central grip portion 16 is here shown taken along a distance corresponding to the shortest distance across the present example cross section. However, the opposite may equally well apply, i.e. should the grip portion 16 be oval in a perpendicular direction relative to what is shown in Fig. 7C.

In connection with Fig. 8, a method 200 for manufacturing the painting tool handle 10 is schematically summarized, for which description below at least partly overlaps with the description in connection with Fig. 6 above. The method 200 comprises providing 210, in a mould, raw material to be hardened, the raw material being distributed in the mould such that it presents a first end portion 12, an opposite second end portion 14, and a central portion 16 located between the first end portion 12 and the second end portion 14, wherein the thickness of the central portion 16 is greater than the thickness of each one of the first end portion 12 and the second end portion 14; allowing 220 the material of the first end portion 12 and the second end portion 14 to harden; and injecting 230, after hardening of the first end portion 12 and the second end portion 14 but before hardening of the entire central portion 16, a fluid 26 under pressure into the central portion 16 to move material out of the central portion in order to create a space 24 within the central portion 16, whereby the central portion 16 becomes hollow.

According to an aspect, the painting tool element is provided in the mould at the first end portion 12 before the raw material to be hardened is provided in the mould. When the raw material is hardened at the first end portion 12, the painting tool element is fixated to the first end portion 12.

As already discussed in this disclosure, the shape, the number of inlets/outlets, etc. may be adapted depending on the type of the painting tool handle that is to be manufactured.

The fluid 26 used for displacing the non-hardened material may suitably be water, although other fluids are conceivable.

Accordingly, and in summary, an approach for manufacturing a painting tool handle has been disclosed. The approach utilizes a pressurized fluid flowing through not yet hardened portions, a central grip portion, of the partially liquid handle while moulding in a hot mould. This allows interior material to be removed to form a hollow interior, thereby providing a lighter, yet robust handle. Further, removed material may, by this method, be recycled or reused for manufacturing another painting tool handle. The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.