Conductive brush for use with a computing device

• US 8,952,939 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2011
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nomadbrush, LLC
• Original Assignee: Nomadbrush, LLC
• Inventors: Lee, Don
• Primary Examiner(s): EURICE, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/105,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20120098798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,371 Days
• Field of Search: 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.04, 178/18.07, 178/19.01, 178/20.01, 219/216, 345/173, 345/174, 345/179, 346/139.C, 703/6
• 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 an 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 elastomer of the ferrule in electrical communication with the handle;

wherein the ferrule further comprises;

an external flexible portion; and

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

wherein the filaments have first ends and opposite second ends, the first ends extend from 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; and

wherein the flexible external portion of the ferrule comprises the elastomer, and the internal portion of the ferrule comprises a metal.

2. The conductive brush of claim 1, wherein the external portion of the ferrule has a thickness that is approximately the same as that of the handle.

3. The conductive brush of claim 1, wherein the flexible external portion at least partially covers the filaments.

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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. The conductive brush of claim 8, 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.