Brush cover and method

Abstract

A brush cover is provided with a retention mechanism for releasably securing a brush having a bristle portion on a distal end and an interconnected elongate handle proximal to the bristle portion. The brush cover includes an elongate sleeve having an outer surface, an inner surface, an open proximal end and an open distal end for receiving and withdrawing the brush relative to the elongated sleeve. The elongate sleeve of the brush cover also includes a retention mechanism. The retention mechanism is attached to the inner surface of the elongate sleeve and positioned within the elongate sleeve to intermittently contact an area of the elongate handle. The intermittent contact between the handle of the brush and the retention mechanism allows for the brush to be releasably secured within the elongate sleeve. The bristle portion of the brush is covered by the distal end of the elongate sleeve.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not ApplicableSTATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH / DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableBACKGROUND[0003]1. Technical Field of the Invention[0004]The present invention relates to a brush cover and, more particularly, a brush cover configured to slidably receive a brush and releasably secure the brush while reducing the likelihood of damage to any bristle associated with the bristle portion of the brush. The invention additionally includes a method of protecting a brush with a cover.[0005]2. Description of the Related Art[0006]Nail brushes are used extensively in the cosmetic nail care industry by nail technicians to apply acrylic to fingernails. Although the nail brush may take different forms, the most common type of brush is shown in FIG. 1 with a handle portion 16 and a bristle portion 12. The technician dips the bristles into a solution, and then into a powder to form an acrylic to be applied to the nails. Due to the skilled and detail...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]The present invention is a brush cover to be used with a brush, where the brush has bristles and a handle. The brush cover is an elongate sleeve with open ends on both sides. One of the ends is tapered, and the non-tapered end is sized to receive the brush handle. Instead of the brush cover being placed over the bristles as shown in the prior art, the handle is drawn into sleeve at the non-tapered end in the direction of the brush handle, with the brush coming to rest at the tapered end of the sleeve in a position that allows the bristles to be covered by the non-tapered end of the sleeve, and the bottom of brush handle protruding from the open tapered end. As such, the bristles are protected without subjecting the bristles to the lip edge of a brush cover which can damage the bristles.

[0011]The elongate sleeve has an outer and an inner surface. The elongate sleeve of the brush cover also has an open proximal end and an open distal end for receiving and withdrawing the brush. The open distal end of the elongate sleeve may be sized and configured to receive the elongate handle of the brush. As the elongate handle of the brush is placed adjacent the inner surface of the elongate sleeve, the brush may be slidably received therein so that the bristle portion of the brush may also be received by the open distal end. The elongate sleeve of the brush cover also includes a retention mechanism. The retention mechanism is attached to the inner surface of the elongate sleeve. The position of the retention mechanism within the elongate sleeve allows for the retention mechanism to intermittently contact an area of the elongate handle of the brush. The intermittent contact between the handle of the brush and the retention mechanism allows for the brush to be releasably secure within the elongate sleeve. The bristle portion of the brush is covered by the distal end of the elongate sleeve. A portion of the elongate handle extends through the open proximal end of the elongate sleeve.

[0013]A retention mechanism is arranged within the tapered end of the cover configured to generate friction with the elongate handle of the brush at a plurality of non-continuous contact points. As the elongate handle is slidably received within the elongate sleeve via the open distal end, the retention mechanism contacts the elongate handle at the various non-continuous contact points to provide a releasably secure grip. The retention mechanism includes flexion members positioned axially within the sleeve between two rings in contact with the inner surface of the sleeve. The flexion members are configured to separate the elongate handle of the brush from the inner surface of the elongate sleeve to prevent sticking of the handle within the sleeve cover.

Problems solved by technology

The bristle portion 12 as shown in FIG. 1 of the brush is particularly susceptible to damage without proper maintenance or protection.

In this regard, the brush cover may prevent the bristles from being exposed and thus inadvertently damaged through unwanted contact with other surfaces.

Although brush covers are regularly used to protect the bristles of the nail brush, the brush covers themselves may also be a source of damage to the bristles.

Although the diameter of the brush covers are sized to receive the bristles into the cover, if the brush cover is placed over the bristles at an off angle, or if the bristles are slightly flayed, the cover can damage the bristles.

Contact with the bristle portion may cause unwanted splaying of individual bristles or a group of bristles.

The bending or splaying of the bristles may cause permanent damage and minimize the effectiveness and longevity of the brush.

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