Dual use paint brush package and paint palette

A package for holding and displaying paint brushes includes one or more receptacles for holding paint. Once the paint brushes are removed from the package, empty paint receptacles formed in the cover of the package can be filled with paint and thereby serve as an artist's palette. The package can be reused over and over and thereby reduce trash.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Artist paint brushes are typically packaged in plastic containers which, once opened, are discarded as trash. It would be desirable to provide such a package which can have an additional function or use after opening so as to be more ecologically friendly or “green” by reducing such trash. In accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure, a paint brush package is constructed with an additional function such that once opened, the package may be used as a palette for holding, providing and/or mixing paint.

In the various views of the drawings, like reference numerals designate like parts.

DESCRIPTION OF A REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENT

As seen inFIG. 1, a clear transparent paint brush package or holder10is formed by a molding, stamping, hot forming or other conventional method. Blow molding is a preferred method. The package is formed with a one-piece, thin-walled clamshell design, although a two piece package can also be used. A first or front cover12is pivotally connected to a second or rear cover14(FIG. 2) with an integral homogeneously formed living hinge16. Although hinge16is shown located along the bottom of the package10, it can be located on any peripheral edge of the package.

As seen inFIGS. 1 and 2, the hinge16is formed with two parallel channels or troughs18. One channel18is formed on the edge of the front cover12and the other channel18is formed on the edge of rear cover14. Together, the channels18define a W-shaped cross section which provides greater flexibility to the hinge16to allow the front cover12to lie flat on a flat support surface when placed in an opened position as shown inFIG. 2.

An internal elongated closed compartment20(FIGS. 3 and 4) is defined between the front and rear covers12,14for holding one or more paint brushes22when the front and rear covers are pressed together as shown inFIG. 1. The pan-shaped front cover12is formed with a deep recess24which is deeper than the internal compartment20formed between the closed covers12,14. A complementary platform26(FIGS. 2 and 3) formed on the rear cover14can be inserted partially into the recess24to form a rear wall28of the compartment20and hold the covers together with a light friction fit.

The front wall30of the compartment20is formed with one or more paint receptacles32. The receptacles32can be formed as dome-shaped hollow molded projections extending outwardly or forwardly as shown, or rearwardly and inwardly, from the front wall30on the front cover12. The receptacles can be formed as portions of a sphere, or any other suitable cavity shape such as oval, rectangular, or polygonal. As described below, the receptacles can serve as a paint palette.

The front cover12and the rear cover14each are formed with a peripheral flange36,38(FIG. 2), which when pressed together as shown inFIG. 1, form a two-layered flange having a laminated top edge40, bottom edge42, left side edge44and right side edge46. The laminated or overlapping edges40,42,44, and46provide strength and rigidity to the paint brush package10. Both the rear wall28and the front wall30of compartment20are spaced forwardly from the superimposed peripheral flanges to form a rear cavity50beneath the platform26.

A side wall52surrounds the cavity50and separates and spaces the rear cavity50from the peripheral flanges. A sidewall53surrounding recess24serves as a splash guard to retain paint within the deep recess24when a painter is mixing, pouring and removing paint from the paint receptacles32. The height of side wall53is greater than the height of side wall52by an amount equal to the height of compartment20.

As further seen inFIG. 1, the paint receptacles32are arranged in a top-to-bottom zig-zag pattern, but can be arranged in any suitable pattern. The zig-zag pattern separates the paint receptacles laterally or transversely across the front wall30(between the side edges44,46) as well as longitudinally from top to bottom along the front wall30(between the top and bottom edges40,42). This spacing of the receptacles provides lateral and longitudinal stability to the front cover when it is in an open position as seen inFIG. 2.

The front or outer surfaces of the receptacles32act as stabilizing feet for the inverted or prone front cover12. In this manner, liquid paint54as seen inFIG. 4, can be mixed in the receptacles without tipping or spilling. Moreover, this stability prevents spilling of paint when a brush is dipped into one of the receptacles. In one embodiment, the receptacles can be about one and one quarter inch in diameter at their base or intersection along the flat front wall30and project upwardly about one quarter inch above the front wall30.

An opening or aperture60is formed in a top portion of the front and rear covers12,14for hanging the package10on a hook, hanger or display rack. As seen inFIG. 1, the aperture can be formed in a stepped portion62of the package10adjacent to the top edge40.

In use, a painter opens the package10by separating the front and rear covers by peeling the peripheral flanges36,38apart to gain access to the internal compartment20. One or more brushes or all of the brushes22stored in compartment20are then removed from the compartment20and the package10is then arranged on a support surface as shown inFIG. 2. Paint54is then dispensed by a painter or artist into one or more of the paint receptacles32. Additional paints of various colors can be introduced into the same paint receptacle and mixed therein, and/or additional paint can be dispensed into one or more of the other paint receptacles. A painter then dips a brush22into the paint54and paints a picture, portrait or other work.

While the paint receptacles32are typically empty when the package10with enclosed paint brushes22are displayed, marketed and sold, it is possible to provide solid or semi-solid paint in the paint receptacles32along with the paint brushes so as to provide a paint and paint brush set.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above paint palettes are merely representative of the many possible embodiments of the invention and that the scope of the invention should not be limited thereto, but instead should only be limited according to the following claims.