CONDUCTIVE BRUSH FOR USE WITH A COMPUTING DEVICE

• US 20120098798A1
• Filed: 05/11/2011
• Published: 04/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nomadbrush, LLC
• Original Assignee: Nomadbrush, LLC
• Inventors: LEE, Don
• Granted Patent: US 8,952,939 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: B44F 11/02 Imitation of pictures, e.g. oil paintings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

A conductive brush, or stylus, for use with touch screen computing devices. The bristles or filaments are attached to an electrically conductive ferrule, so that even when the brush is pressed against the tablet to make the bristles splay apart, the conductive ferrule itself maintains electrical communication with the tablet. The brush thus allows users to conduct paint operations in an uninterrupted manner, even when its bristles spread apart. Further, this ferrule can be made removable so that users can swap out different brush heads quickly and easily. Additionally, the ferrule has at least a portion that is flexible, deforming visibly upon application of pressures commonly achieved during a typical painting operation. This deformation at least partially absorbs stresses on the filaments, preventing them from splaying apart excessively during painting, and thus helping to prevent loss of detection by the tablet and/or undesired visual effects.

Claims

1. A conductive brush for use with a computing device, the brush comprising:

a ferrule comprising a conductive elastomer and having a first end and an opposite second end;

electrically conductive filaments; and

an electrically conductive handle;

wherein the electrically conductive filaments are attached to the first end of the ferrule, and the second end of the ferrule is coupled to the handle, so as to place the electrically conductive filaments and the conductive elastomer of the ferrule in electrical communication with the handle.

2. The conductive brush of claim 1, wherein the ferrule further comprises:

a flexible external portion; and

a conductive internal portion having a handle end for electrical coupling to the handle, and an opposite filament end for attachment to the filaments;

wherein the filaments have first ends and opposite second ends, the first ends are attached to the filament end of the internal portion, and the flexible external portion extends to a position between the filament end of the internal portion and the second ends of the filaments.

3. The conductive brush of claim 2, wherein the external portion of the ferrule comprises a conductive elastomer, and the internal portion of the ferrule comprises a metal.

4. The conductive brush of claim 2, wherein the external portion of the ferrule has a thickness that is approximately the same as that of the handle.

5. The conductive brush of claim 2, wherein the flexible external portion at least partially covers the filaments.

6. The conductive brush of claim 1, wherein the second end of the ferrule is removably attachable to the handle.

7. The conductive brush of claim 1, wherein the ferrule further comprises:

a first portion surrounding a first set of the filaments; and

a second portion having a second set of the filaments attached thereto, the second set of filaments surrounding the first portion of the ferrule and the first set of the filaments.

8. The conductive brush of claim 1, wherein the handle further comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a first end and an opposite second end, the first end of the first portion configured for attachment to the second end of the ferrule, and the second end of the first portion configured for attachment to the second portion, so as to place the first and second portions of the handle in electrical communication with the filaments.

9. The conductive brush of claim 1, wherein the handle has a first end configured for attachment to the second end of the ferrule, and a second end having an electrically conductive tip.

10. The conductive brush of claim 9, wherein the electrically conductive tip has a first surface proximate to the second end and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and wherein a plurality of bristles extends from the second end of the bristles through the electrically conductive tip, so as to extend beyond the second surface of the electrically conductive tip.

11. The conductive brush of claim 1, wherein approximately half of the filaments are acrylic fibers coated with copper sulfide, and a remainder of the filaments are animal hairs.

12. A stylus for use with a computing device, the stylus comprising:

an electrically conductive handle; and

a ferrule having a first end and an opposite second end, wherein at least a portion of the ferrule is flexible and electrically conductive;

wherein electrically conductive filaments are attached to the first end and the second end is coupled to the handle, so as to place the filaments in electrical communication with the handle.

13. The stylus of claim 12, wherein the ferrule comprises a conductive elastomer.

14. The stylus of claim 12, wherein the ferrule further comprises:

a flexible external portion; and

a conductive internal portion having a first end and an opposite second end;

wherein the filaments are attached to the first end of the conductive internal portion so as to be in electrical communication with the conductive internal portion;

wherein the second end of the conductive internal portion is removably attachable to the handle so as to be placeable in electrical communication with the handle; and

wherein the flexible external portion extends beyond the first end of the conductive internal portion so as to at least partially cover the filaments.

15. The stylus of claim 14, wherein the external portion of the ferrule comprises an elastomer, and the internal portion of the ferrule comprises a metal.

16. The stylus of claim 14, wherein the external portion of the ferrule has a thickness that is approximately the same as that of the handle.

17. The stylus of claim 12, wherein the ferrule further comprises:

a first portion surrounding a first set of the filaments; and

a second portion having a second set of the filaments attached thereto, the second set of filaments surrounding the first portion of the ferrule and the first set of the filaments.

18. The stylus of claim 12, wherein the handle further comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a first end and an opposite second end, the first end of the first portion configured for attachment to the second end of the ferrule, and the second end of the first portion configured for attachment to the second portion, so as to place the first and second portions of the handle in electrical communication with the filaments.

19. The stylus of claim 12, wherein the handle has a first end configured for attachment to the second end of the ferrule, and a second end having an electrically conductive tip.

20. The conductive brush of claim 19, wherein the electrically conductive tip has a first surface proximate to the second end and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and wherein a plurality of bristles extends from the second end of the bristles through the electrically conductive tip, so as to extend beyond the second surface of the electrically conductive tip.

21. The stylus of claim 12, wherein approximately half of the filaments are acrylic fibers coated with copper sulfide, and a remainder of the filaments are animal hairs.

22. A conductive brush for use with a computing device, the brush comprising:

an electrically conductive handle having a first end and an opposite second end; and

filaments coupled to the handle so as to be placed in electrical communication therewith, the filaments comprising conductive fibers and animal hairs.