Brush cover and method

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

1. Technical Field of the Invention

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.

2. Description of the Related Art

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 detailed nature of the task, it is important for the technician to keep the bristles of the brush in proper shape so that the brush may be used multiple times. Quality nail brushes are expensive and it is important to be able to reuse the brush for as long as possible.

Nail technicians and salon owners invest in premium nail brushes to aid them in their trade and as such, brush covers are used to protect the nail brushes. The bristle portion 12 as shown in FIG. 1 of the brush is particularly susceptible to damage without proper maintenance or protection. A typical brush cover may be cylindrical in shape and sized to fit over the bristle portion of the brush and a portion of the brush handle. In this regard, the brush cover may prevent the bristles from being exposed and thus inadvertently damaged through unwanted contact with other surfaces. The open end of the brush cover is sized and configured to fit over the bristle portion 12 and complimentary to the elongate handle 16.

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. For example, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a prior art brush cover 18 is shown where it contacts the bristles 12 causing a flaying to the bristles 12. This design may increase the likelihood that a bristle or a plurality of bristles may contact the brush cover as the brush cover is fitted over the bristle portion to protect the brush. 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.

Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for an improved brush cover which addresses one or more of the above or related deficiencies.

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.

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.

The elongate sleeve is rigid cylindrical structure having a distal circular cross-section and a proximal tapered region having a decreasing circular cross section. The sleeve has an open distal end and an open proximal end. A brush is received into the open distal end by the brush handle, coming to rest with a portion of the handle stopping at the tapered region, with the bristles of the brush nested fully within the distal end of the sleeve.

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.

The elongate sleeve is defined by a first region and a second region. The first region includes a cross-section having a constant cross-section. The second tapered region of the elongate sleeve has a cross-section with decreasing circular cross-section. In this regard, the second region of the elongate sleeve is tapered. The second tapered region of the elongate sleeve has a cross-sectional diameter that decreases toward the open proximal end.

In addition, a method for covering a brush with a brush cover is provided. The brush to be covered includes a bristle portion on a distal end of the brush and an interconnected elongate handle proximate to the bristle portion. The method begins with receiving the elongate handle of the brush via an open distal end of an elongate sleeve. The method continues with the step of receivably sliding a portion of the elongate handle of the brush through an open proximal end of the elongate sleeve. The method also provides for contacting an area of the handle of the by a retention mechanism attached to the inner surface of the elongate sleeve. The retention mechanism may be positioned within the elongate sleeve to releasably secure the brush within the elongate sleeve so that the bristle portion of the brush is covered by the elongate sleeve. The method further comprises releasing the elongate handle of the brush from the brush cover. This may be accomplished by translating the elongate sleeve away from the bristle portion of the brush. The retention mechanism is attached to the inner surface of the elongate sleeve at a tapered portion so that the elongate handle of the brush is releasably secure at the tapered portion of the elongate sleeve.

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