Brush wiper and holder for paint can

#A need exists for a paint brush holder removably mountable atop a paint can which can be used to keep the brush and paint can together between painting jobs and which directs any excess paint the brush might hold away from the brush handle.

#The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved paint brush holder removably mountable atop a paint can with or without its paint can lid being secured thereto.

#A further object of the invention is to provide such a holder with a rest on which a paint brush can be held generally horizontally, excess paint on the brush draining back into the can when its lid is open.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the top right side of a brush wiper and holder in accordance with the present invention, a paint can and brush being shown in dashed lines for illustrative purposes only and forming no part of the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view looking up from the bottom right side of the brush wiper and holder according to FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken alone line 3—3 of FIG. 1; and

#In the drawings, a brush wiper and holder (hereinafter “brush holder”) according to the present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. The brush holder 10 comprises a lip and a short, cylindrical sidewall 11 with an inner surface 17, whose diameter is slightly larger than that of a conventional paint can 20.

#Extending generally perpendicularly to the sidewall 11, the lip includes an annular ring 13 and a promontory-like protrusion 14 joined to a short section of the ring (FIGS. 1 and 3). Except along the short section, the ring 13, which is of smaller inner diameter than the central opening in the paint can 20, is bounded by a downwardly turned rim 16 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

#The protrusion 14, which slopes downwardly from its juncture with the short section, defines an arcuate, generally convex inner edge 22, the distal ends of which intersect the rim 16 (FIGS. 1 through 3). Together the inner edge 22 and the rim 16 define an asymmetrical opening which is disposed within the annular ring 13. In use, any paint dripping on either the ring 13 or the protrusion 14 drains over the lip into the open paint can 20 and not onto the rim of the can.