BACKGROUND

[0001] The embodiments of the present invention relate to a structure and components for a container to hold brushes and other contents. For example, the container may be used to hold makeup brushes, paint brushes, and any type of brushes and similarly structured tools where a user may want to carry and store an assortment of several and to be able to display the assortment and select one at a time.

[0002] Various devices have been developed for similar purposes: soft-sided structures, such as bags or pouches, folding sleeves or envelopes, or, alternatively hard-shelled canisters. The soft-sided carriers typically lack any convenient capability for displaying the tools in an upright position, and also tend to wrap around the working ends of the tools causing contact that is disadvantageous both in terms of damage to the tools and discoloration of the carrier. The soft-sided carriers also have the disadvantages of not protecting well against damage or moisture and of requiring a large flat surface area for display and use of the brushes.

[0003] The hard-shell canister might provide for upright display of the tools but has other disadvantages. The canister-style structure is typically two cylinders, each closed on one end, and one of the cylinders is a bottom container to hold the tools and the other is a top cover. The cylinders fit or snap together and they may be secured with side straps. The canister-style device does not transition well, however, from the display configuration to the storage configuration because when the cap is replaced over the tools, the cap tends to bump into the working ends of the tool, potentially causing damage. To prevent damage, the user must carefully fit the tools inside the cap as it is installed. To facilitate fitting the tools inside the cap on installation, the canister-style containers are typically sized larger and heavier relative to the tools than would otherwise be necessary. BRIEF SUMMARY

[0004] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a container may be provided for carrying one or more elongate items. The container may also be configured to be placed on a flat surface and to present the items for selection and use. The container may comprise a sheath, defining a first open end, a second open end, and a channel extending between the ends. Typically the sheath is longer than the longest of the elongate items. The container may also include a cup configured to hold the elongate items. The cup may include an open end to receive the elongate items and a base opposite the open end configured to support the cup on the flat surface.

[0005] Typically, the cup is shorter than the sheath and the elongate items. The cup and the sheath may be releasably couplable to carry the elongate items within the cup and sheath, and the cup, with the sheath removed, is configured to present the items for selection and use. The cup's length may be selected relative to the elongate items so that, when presented or displayed in the cup, the elongate items splay outwardly for convenient individual selection and grasping by the user's hand. As one example, the cup length may be selected to be less than about half the length of the longest elongate item. Preferably the cup is not so short as to allow the elongate items to fall out of the cup in the display configuration.

[0006] The container may also include first and second caps, with each cap having a first open end configured to fit over one of the open ends of the sheath to maintain the coupling of the cup and sheath. Such cap may be provided with a transparent or translucent panel, or mesh or other openings in its structure to allow the user to see or otherwise to determine the location of the cup and/or elongate items inside the sheath.

[0007] The sheath, cup, and caps are preferably constructed with the same cross-sectional shape, i.e., all circular or all rectangular or all square or all hexagonal cross-sections, etc. The description herein is generally directed toward the cylindrical, i.e., circular cross-section, shape with the understanding that similar concepts apply for other cross-sections. Alternatively, the sheath, cup, and caps may be constructed with differing cross-sectional shapes but preferably still consonant with the concepts described herein for fitting the sheath, cup, and caps together. The container may include additional structure surrounding the sheath and caps, which may be used for decorative purposes. [0008] Typically, the cup has an outer diameter that is sized relative to the inner diameter of the sheath to fit inside the channel of the sheath with a close enough tolerance for a frictional or sliding fit that promotes the cup's remaining coupled to the sheath unless and until the user decouples them.

[0009] The caps may include a retaining structure releasably connecting the caps to the sheath, such as a friction fit or a detent and ring structure or a screw thread.

[0010] The outer surface and/or structure of the sheath, cup, and/or caps may be provided with decorative features.

[001 1] The container is typically structured so that the cup, with the elongate items displayed therewithin, may be returned to the sheath by dropping the cup into the sheath at the top of the sheath.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1 is an exploded side view of the components of an embodiment of the container described herein.

[0013] Figure 2 is a side view of a sheath, cup, and caps in a storage configuration with brushes stored therewithin.

[0014] Figure 3 is a side view of the sheath and the upper cap being removed from the cup and lower cap for access to the brushes.

[0015] Figure 4 is a side view of the cup in the display configuration with brushes presented in the cup for the user's selection.

[0016] Figure 5 is a side view of the sheath and what had been the upper cap, now on the bottom ready for reinsertion of the cup with the brushes.

[0017] Figure 6 is a side view of the cup and brushes being inserted into the sheath from the top, with what had been the upper cap in place on the sheath.

[0018] Figure 7 is a side view of the sheath with the cup and brushes inside and what had been the upper cap on the bottom, with what had been the lower cap being reinstalled on top. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] As may be seen in Figs. 1 -7, an embodiment of a container 10 may carry one or more elongate items T and include a cup 12 for presenting on a flat surface S the items T for selection and use. Elongate items T may be, for example, brushes, such as makeup brushes, which define a length LT of the longest brush of those stored and displayed in cup 12.

[0020] Container 10 typically includes a sheath 14 defining a first open end 16, a second open end 18, and a channel 20 extending between ends 16 and 18. Sheath 14 defines a length LS that ordinarily is greater than the length LT of the longest elongate item T.

[0021] Cup 12 may be configured to hold elongate items T and to include an open end 22 to receive the elongate items and a base 24 opposite open end 22. Base 24 may be configured to support cup 12 on flat surface S. Cup 12 defines a length LC that typically is less than sheath length LS and less than maximum tool length LT. Preferably cup length LC is about half the max tool length LT or less than about half of LT, although other lengths may be used depending on the desired presentation of the tools, the variation of the length of the tools, and/or the cooperation of the cup with the sheath for storage and for transition to display.

[0022] Cup 12 and sheath 14 may be releasably couplable to carry tools T within the cup and sheath. For example, Fig. 2 shows the cup, sheath, and tools in a carrying or storage configuration with cup 12 inside of sheath 14. Any releasable coupling mechanism between cup and sheath may be used as suited to a particular application for the container, such as a friction fit or a detent and ring structure or a screw thread. Alternatively, cup 12 may fit inside sheath 14 without any coupling mechanism.

[0023] Container 10 may include one or more caps, such as first and second end caps 26 and 28. Typically each of caps 26 and 28 defines a first open end, 30 and 32, respectively, configured to fit over one of open ends 16 and 18 of sheath 14. Caps 26, 28 may provide for maintaining the coupling of cup 12 and sheath 14 in the storage configuration. For example, one or both of caps 26, 28 may include a retaining structure releasably connecting the caps to the sheath, such as a friction fit or a detent and ring structure or a screw thread.

[0024] Cup 12 defines an outer diameter that preferably is smaller than an inner diameter of sheath 14 so that cup 12 fits inside channel 20 of sheath 14. Caps 26, 28 define inner diameters that are preferably greater than an outer diameter of sheath 14 so that caps 26, 28 fit over the ends of sheath 14. These dimensions may be varied to provide variations between tight and loose fittings of the cup, sheath, and caps.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 4, cup 12, with sheath 14 removed, is configured to present items T for selection and use. Sizing of an inner diameter of cup 12, as well as length LC of cup 12, relative to the size and number of tools T allows for variation on the display of tools T. Preferably cup length LS is less than, or about equal to, about half the length LT of the longest tool. Alternatively, the function of the cup in holding the brushes for use and display may be handled by one or both of the end caps, and the cup not used with the container.

[0026] Cup 12 in its transitioning from display to storage and back to display configurations may be oriented in either direction relative to sheath 14. That is, base 24 of cup 12 may be at either end 16 or 18 of sheath 14. Caps 26, 28 preferably allow the user to determine at which end of sheath 14 the base 24 of cup 12 is adjacent. For example, caps 26, 28 may be provided with a transparent or translucent panel, or mesh or other openings in one or both of their structures to allow the user to see or otherwise to determine the location of the cup and/or elongate items inside the sheath. The see-through portion on the caps or other means allows the user to determine, with the container standing up, which end holds the handle of the brushes because the cup and the brushes are visible through the caps.

[0027] It will be understood that each time the user takes the cup and brushes out of sheath 14 and then returns them to sheath 14 by the method of dropping the cup and the brushes into the top end of the sheath, the direction of the cup relative to the sheath is reversed. Thus, in Figs. 5-7, what had been the upper cap 26 is on the bottom end of sheath 14, and, in Fig. 7, what had been the lower cap 28 is being installed on the top of sheath 14.

[0028] The operation and reconfiguration of the container are shown in the Figs. 2-7. The storage configuration is best seen in Fig. 2, where tools T are in cup 12 inside sheath 14 with caps 26, 28 in place. Typically transition toward the display configuration begins with removal of sheath 14 and upper cap 26 as indicated in the arrows in Fig. 3. Also shown in Fig. 3 are arrows indicating the removal of cup 12 with tools T from lower cap 28. Cup 12 with tools T may then be placed on surface S for display and selection of the tools by the user as shown in Fig. 4 and alternatively cup 12 may remain in the lower cap for display and selection.

[0029] It will be understood that cup 12 may alternatively remain in cap 28 (or cap 26) during display and use. Cup 12, with or without one of the caps, holds the brushes generally upright for selection and use while the cup rests on an efficiently sized footprint relative to the number of brushes being held. The cup can be placed in a small, restricted area for convenient selection and use of the brushes.

[0030] For transition back to the storage configuration, sheath 14, with what had been the upper cap 26 can be placed on a surface or held in the hand with the cap on the bottom, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. As best seen in Fig. 6, with cup 12 removed from what had been lower cap 28, cup 12 and brushes T may be reinserted into sheath 14 and cap 26. The caps 26 and 28 are typically interchangeable so the user may switch the direction for each reconfiguration. Alternatively the caps may be specialized as an upper and a lower cap and/or for other reasons maintained in that orientation through reconfigurations.

[0031] In any case, a cap is typically placed on the bottom of sheath 14 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Arrows in Fig. 6 show insertion of sheath 14 into cap 26 and the insertion of cup 12 into sheath 14. It will be understood that the insertion of cup 12 with brushes T in a downward direction into sheath 14 tends to eliminate damage to the brushes, particularly to the bristles, as compared to installing a cap over the brushes. Reinstallation of cap 28 on the top of sheath 14, as shown in Fig. 7, completes transition to the storage configuration.

[0032] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0033] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in any claims are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.