BACKGROUND

This invention relates to a brush and, in particular, a brush for removing lint and similar substances from fabric.

Brushes comprising bristles or fabric surfaces are well-known for the removing of lint, hair or other substances from fabric and/or to tidy the grain of the material. Less known are brushes using an abrasive surface such as a surface covered in a fine grade sandpaper or other abrasive material which can also perform the same function. However, such brushes can be perceived to be too harsh on some fabrics and also grip to the fabric to such an extent as to make them difficult to pull across the face of the fabric and possibly cause damage.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a brush which overcomes some of the disadvantages of the prior art and/or at least provide the public with a useful choice.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention consists in a brush comprising:-

a handle portion adapted to be held by a user's hand during operation of the brush;

a brush surface comprising or containing an abrasive, serrated or cutting surface; and,

at least one bearing region in or about said brush surface to reduce the pressure between the fabric and the brush surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings in which:-

Figure 1: is an end elevation of a brush in accordance with one embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2: is a side elevation of the brush of Figure 1;

Figure 3; is a plan view of the abrasive surface of the brush of Figure 1; Figure 4; is a cross-section through the base portion of the brush of Figure 1; and. Figure 5; is a perspective view of the brush of

Figure 1; Figures 6 to 11: are plan views of alternative brush surfaces of a variety of embodiments of this invention; Figure 12: is a plan view of a further alternative brush surface; and Figure 13: an elevation of the embodiment of Figure

12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention comprises a brush 1 having a handle portion 2 adapted for holding by a user to operate the brush 1.

The brush 1 also contains a brush surface 3 comprising or containing an abrasive serrated or cutting surface. In the preferred form of this invention, the brush surface is an abrasive material comprising a fine grade sandpaper such as a 280 grade sandpaper, however, other abrasive materials could be used including a

variety of sandpapers, a rough metal surface similar to that on a fine file or other such surfaces such as sandstone, etc. This may also include an abrasive composition applied to the base of the brush. Further, a serrated surface or even a cutting surface such as those provided on a wood plane using a blade such as a razor blade could be used.

The brush surface 3 containing or comprising the abrasive serrated or cutting surface has at least one region 4 or 5 projecting from or about the surface 3 which take some or all of the pressure between the brush surface 3 and the fabric as the brush 1 is drawn over the fabric.

The bearing regions 4 and 5 may comprise any convenient area, however, in the preferred form the region may comprise at least one peripheral area 5 about the periphery of the brush surface 3 and/or a region 4 surrounded by the brush surface 3.

In this preferred form, the peripheral region 5 extends around the entire periphery of the brush surface 3, however, this could be a discontinuous series of regions about the periphery or regions on two opposed sides of a rectangular region 3.

Similarly, any area 4 enclosed by the brush surface 3 may be a central island as in the preferred example or may be a series of strips or other areas which will reduce the pressure between the brush surface 3 and the fabric and yet leave sufficient area of brush surface 3 to adequately pick up any lint or other unwanted debris from the fabric.

The handle portion 2 as shown in the preferred form comprises a handle running longitudinally of the rectangular brush surface 3 and supported adjacent its ends from a base 6 on which the brush surface 3 is mounted. It is intended that in use, the handle portion

2 will fit in the palm of a user's hands with the user's finger curling around the handle 2 to a position beneath the handle 2 within open space 7. However, any other convenient handle shape could be used in conjunction with the base 6 and brush surface 3. Also, the handle portion 2 could be continuous with the base 6 on which the brush surface 3 is mounted.

As shown in Figure 4, it is desired that the bearing regions 4 and 5 actually space the brush surface

3 from the fabric on which it used although only very slightly. In the preferred form, the brush surface 3 will be essentially planar and the substantially planar between surfaces 4 or 5 will be preferably parallel with

the plane of the brush surface 3. Furthermore, the preferred spacing is of a distance of less than 2 mm and, more preferably, less then 1 mm.

Alternatively, the bearing regions could be slightly beneath the plane of the brush surface 3 if the surface 3 is composed of compressible material or if the depth of the abrasion supplied by the surface varies over a slight depth. For example, a sandpaper abrasive material could have bearing regions on a plane intermediate of the plane of the largest projecting particles on the sandpaper and the deepest cavity between the particles. In this instance the bearing surface may reduce the friction between the sandpaper abrasive and the fabric.

.An alternative cross section through the base of the brush as shown in Figure 4A. In this cross section, the bearing regions 9, 10 and 11 are provided with different configurations as examples of the variety of cross sections which may be used on the bearing regions. In this particular example a taper is shown on bearing section 9, a rounded cross section is shown for bearing portion 10 and chamfers 12 are shown on the edges of bearing portion 11. Any one or more of these alternatives could be used in a single brush to remove any sharp edges from the bearing pads 4 and 5 which may

catch on fabric. In a most preferred form, chamfers 12 are provided on all of the edges of the bearing regions 4 and 5 with a slight radius to remove any sharp edges off the chaufer edges.

The type of abrasive material 3, and in the preferred case of sandpaper, the grade of the abrasive surface 3 will vary according to the brushes intended preferred use. In the case of clothes, a very fine grade abrasive may be used and the spacing between the fabric and the abrasive surface created by the spaces 4 and 5 will be a minimal spacing as a result. In contrast, a brush specifically designed for use in coarse fabrics such as carpets, may use a much heavier grade of sandpaper or an alternative abrasive and may require the bearing portions to provide a larger spacing from the fabric to accommodate the coarser material.

As mentioned previously, any variety of configurations of peripheral bearing regions 5 or bearing regions 4 surrounded by the brush surface 3 could be used on the surface of the brush. Figures 6 through to 10 of the drawings show a variety of configurations which may be used on rectangular or oval based brushes. Figure 11 shows a tear drop shaped brush surface again incorporating a peripheral region 5 and an enclosed bearing region 4.

Figures 12 and 13 shows an alternative embodiment in which razor blades 14 are incorporated between bearing regions 4 and 5. In this embodiment in the preferred form, the blades 14 are held slightly off the fabric by the bearing regions. Also, in this instance, the bearing regions may assist in direction the brush such that the edge of a blade 14 is substantially transverse to direction of motion of the brush through the regions 4 and 5 themselves having a principal elongate direction transverse to the blades 14. In such an example, the regions 4 and 5 may be thin or tapered to an edge to act as a runner to assist in stopping slippage of the brush in the direction of the edge of the blade 14.

As shown in Figure 13, the brush surface 3 may have some curvature from the leading edge 15 to the trailing edge 16 and the blades 14 may be inclined to provide an edge facing leading edge 15. Multiple bearing regions 4 and 5 are incorporated running from the leading edge 15 to the trailing edge 16 in this preferred example.

A multiplicity of blades 14 could be used as shown in this example or a single blade if desired.

Alternative cutting edges other than razor blades could be used in the same manner.

In use, the brush 1 is drawn across the fabric and the lint or other undesirable elements on the fabric will be caught by the abrasive serrated or cutting surface 3 and removed. The bearing regions 4 and 5 provide an easier draw of the brush 1 across the fabric and, in a preferred form, space the abrasive material slightly therefrom. Of course, the bearing regions 4 and 5 may be made with a smooth finish to reduce the friction between the fabric and the bearing regions 4 and 5 to provide an easier pull of the brush 1 across the fabric and reduce the likelihood of damage.

Thus it can be seen that a brush is provided which overcomes some of the disadvantages of the prior art.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to specific components or integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof it is to be understood that modifications or

improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.