# US 10,306,976 B2 · Brush cleaner and method of use

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- Number: US 10,306,976 B2
- Document ID: US10306976B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/559,493
- Filed: 2017-06-16
- Published: 2018-07-26
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-06-16
- Applicants: Michael J Ranucci
- Inventors: Michael J Ranucci
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10306976B2

## CPC

- A46B 17/06: Devices for cleaning brushes after use
- A46B 17/00: Accessories for brushes
- A46B 17/08: Other accessories, e.g. scrapers, rubber buffers for preventing damage to furniture
- B44D 3/006: {Devices for cleaning paint-applying hand tools after use (removing dry paint from surfaces B44D3/16; apparatus for dissolving dry paints B44D3/24; devices for cleaning brushes A46B17/06; cleaning in general B08B)}
- A46B 2200/205: Artist paint brush, e.g. paint brushes that as a rule come to a point for fine work
- B08B 3/08: the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect
- A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G)
- B44D: PAINTING OR ARTISTIC DRAWING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PRESERVING PAINTINGS; SURFACE TREATMENT TO OBTAIN SPECIAL ARTISTIC SURFACE EFFECTS OR FINISHES (surface treatment in general, see the relevant places, e.g. applying liquids or other fluent materials B05)
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL

## Abstract

The present invention is directed to a brush cleaning device that thoroughly and efficiently cleans brushes. The brush cleaning device comprises a main body having a base, wherein the interior of the base is substantially bowl-shaped; an insert, have a gross agitation surface and a fine agitation surface, wherein the insert fits within the base in a manner that forms a plurality of cleaning solution wells, each cleaning well substantially isolated from one another; and a lid, wherein the interior of the lid is substantially bowl-shaped and wherein the lid may be secured to the base in a manner that prevents the leakage of any cleaning fluid held within the base.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A brush cleaning device comprising:
a. a concave base having a curved inner surface;
b. a removable insert disposed within the base, the removable insert comprising an upper portion and a lower portion extending below the upper portion,
i. wherein the lower portion of the removable insert comprises a gross agitation surface and a plurality of dividers, at least one of the plurality of dividers directly contacting the upper portion,
ii. wherein each of the plurality of dividers comprises a base contact edge that substantially mirrors the inner surface of the base and a wall portion extending from the base contact edge toward the upper portion,
iii. wherein the base contact edge of each of the plurality of dividers is in substantial contact with the inner surface of the base to define a plurality of cleaning solution wells such that fluid in each cleaning solution well is in direct contact with at least one divider and the inner surface of the base,
iv. wherein the plurality of cleaning solution wells includes at least:
A. a gross agitation well extending directly below the gross agitation surface,
B. a fine agitation well extending directly below a fine agitation surface, and
C. one additional cleaning solution well,
v. wherein the gross agitation surface contacts the at least one divider defining the gross agitation well, is angled toward the gross agitation well, and includes an edge disposed in or disposed directly above the gross agitation well such that paint and cleaning solution expelled from a brush on the gross agitation surface is directed into the gross agitation well,
vi. wherein the upper portion of the removable insert includes the fine agitation surface, the fine agitation surface including one or more textured surfaces comprising protrusions and being sloped from an upper edge toward the lower portion and terminating at a lower edge, and wherein the entirety of the lower edge is disposed with respect to the fine agitation well such that paint and cleaning solution expelled from a brush on the fine agitation surface is directed into the fine agitation well, and
vii. wherein the dividers defining the plurality of cleaning solution wells contact the inner surface of the base along a sufficient length of their respective base contact edges to substantially isolate each of the plurality of cleaning solution wells such that paint released from a brush into any of the plurality of cleaning solution wells is substantially prevented from contaminating any of the other of the plurality of cleaning solution wells; and
c. a lid, wherein the lid and the base are configured to create a seal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The brush cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the protrusions include raised dimples.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The brush cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the protrusions include ridges.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The brush cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the protrusions include a combination of ridges and raised dimples.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The brush cleaning device of claim 1 further comprising one or more securing devices wherein the one or more securing devices secure the lid to the base to maintain the seal.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The brush cleaning device of claim 5 wherein the one or more securing devices are one or more clips.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The brush cleaning device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of feet.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The brush cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the lid has a substantially bowl-shaped inner surface and is removably secured to the base.

### Claim 9

A method for cleaning a brush comprising:
a. providing a brush cleaning device comprising:
i. a concave base having a curved inner surface;
ii. a removable insert disposed within the base, the removable insert comprising an upper portion and a lower portion extending below the upper portion,
A. wherein the lower portion of the removable insert comprises a gross agitation surface and a plurality of dividers, at least one of the plurality of dividers directly contacting the upper portion,
B. wherein each of the plurality of dividers comprises a base contact edge that substantially mirrors the inner surface of the base and a wall portion extending from the base contact edge toward the upper portion,
C. wherein the base contact edge of each of the plurality of dividers is in substantial contact with the inner surface of the base to define a plurality of cleaning solution wells such that fluid in each cleaning solution well is in direct contact with at least one divider and the inner surface of the base,
D. wherein the plurality of cleaning solution wells includes at least:
1. a gross agitation well extending directly below the gross agitation surface,
2. a fine agitation well extending directly below a fine agitation surface, and
3. one additional cleaning solution well,
E. wherein the gross agitation surface contacts the at least one divider defining the gross agitation well, is angled toward the gross agitation well, and includes an edge disposed in or disposed directly above the gross agitation well such that paint and cleaning solution expelled from a brush on the gross agitation surface is directed into the gross agitation well,
F. wherein the upper portion of the removable insert includes the fine agitation surface, the fine agitation surface including one or more textured surfaces comprising protrusions and being sloped from an upper edge toward the lower portion and terminating at a lower edge, and wherein the entirety of the lower edge is disposed with respect to the fine agitation well such that paint and cleaning solution expelled from a brush on the fine agitation surface is directed into the fine agitation well, and
G. wherein the dividers defining the plurality of cleaning solution wells contact the inner surface of the base along a sufficient length of their respective base contact edges to substantially isolate each of the plurality of cleaning solution wells such that paint released from a brush into any of the plurality of cleaning solution wells is substantially prevented from contaminating any of the other of the plurality of cleaning solution wells; and
iii. a lid, wherein the lid and the base are configured to create a seal;
b. adding a brush cleaning solution to each of the plurality of cleaning solution wells;
c. dipping a brush, which contains paint, in the cleaning solution contained within the gross agitation well;
d. agitating the brush on the gross agitation surface;
e. repeating steps c and d until a substantial amount of the paint is removed from the brush;
f. dipping the brush in the cleaning solution contained within the fine agitation well;
g. agitating a brush on the fine agitation surface; and
h. repeating steps f and g until substantially all of the paint is removed from the brush.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the protrusions include raised dimples.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the protrusions include ridges.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the protrusions include a combination of ridges and raised dimples.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the brush cleaning device further comprises one or more securing devices and wherein the one or more securing devices secure the lid to the base to maintain the seal.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein the one or more securing devices are one or more clips.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the brush cleaning device further comprises a plurality of feet.