Abstract:
The present invention provides a cosmetic holder apparatus for holding a lipstick tube and either a lip liner, a lip brush, or both in a common protected container to prevent damage to the smaller items when carried in a purse or handbag and to allow them to be conveniently accessed with one retrieval operation. The cosmetic holder apparatus is comprised of a base and cover that contain a lipstick tube and at least one lip liner or lip brush. The lipstick tube is contained in a first portion of the base and the lip liner or lip brush is contained in a second portion of the base. The cover encloses the cosmetic items and frictionally engages the base to contain the items therein.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This patent application claims priority based upon the following provisional patent application: No. 60/326,448, filed on Oct. 3, 2001, of the same or similar title. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is concerned with the field of cosmetic containers and holders. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a cosmetic holder apparatus comprised of a base and cover that contain a lipstick tube and at least one lip liner or lip brush. 
   Cosmetic articles and makeup are among the personal items that women use to enhance the appearance of certain parts or features of their faces. The cosmetic articles are designed for specific parts of the face and typically consist of lipstick tubes, eyeliner pencils or applicators, mascara brushes, powder puffs or applicators for the nose, cheeks and adjacent facial areas, and the like. Since makeup must be reapplied or touched up over the course of the day or evening, the wearer must have ready access to makeup and means of application. With lip makeup, i.e. lipstick, the makeup and applicator thereof consist of a tube of lipstick of the appropriate color and a lip liner or lipstick brush for a more precise application or delineation of the lipstick. 
   The lipstick brush and lip liner are usually stored and transported by the user within a pocketbook or similar carrying article or case. Pocketbooks are concerned with a main holding area for miscellaneous items, such as individual articles of makeup, pens, hair clips, and the like, and it is common for a lip liner or lipstick brush to be placed therein. In such a location, a lipstick brush and lip liner become mixed with the other items and are frequently difficult to find and retrieve and possibly damaged over time as they are subject to being jostled around, being struck, or impacted by other items within the interior of the pocketbook, purse, or carrying case. The tip of the lip liner is especially vulnerable to breakage. 
   What is needed to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of storing and transporting lipstick tubes and lip liners or lip brushes is the provision of a cosmetic holder apparatus that is designed to receive, store, and dispense a lipstick tube and at least one lip liner, the holder consisting of a base into which the lipstick tube and lip liner are inserted and the lipstick tube is rotatably dispensed. A cover should enclose at least the lipstick tube and optionally the lip liner, the cover fitting over the base preferably in a manner that avoids disassociation with the base from being pried loose by other objects within its storage location. 
   Numerous designs for cosmetic containers have been proposed by others. Even though these designs may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as such designs are generally elaborate and cumbersome to use within the confining area of a pocketbook, purse, or carrying case. These designs are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,692, Containers for Cosmetics, issued to Davey on Jul. 14, 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,940, Lipstick-Pill Box Container, issued to Hillelson on Dec. 20, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,153, Lipstick and Container System, issued to Lahaye on Aug. 15, 1995; U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,865, Cosmetic Holder Assembly, issued to Krieger on Mar. 14, 2000; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,515, Multi-Color Lipstick Case, issued to Wu on Nov. 14, 2000. 
   As such, it may be appreciated that there is a continuing need for a new and improved cosmetic holder apparatus for storage of a lipstick tube and a lip liner that permits these cosmetic items to be kept in close proximity for quick and convenient retrieval for use and protected from damage when placed within a pocketbook or carrying article, and that dispenses the lipstick from its stored position. In these respects, the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus that substantially fulfills this need. Additionally, the prior patents and commercial techniques do not suggest the present inventive combination of component elements arranged and configured as disclosed herein. 
   The present invention achieves its intended purposes, objects, and advantages through a new, useful, and unobvious combination of method steps and component elements, with the use of a minimum number of functioning parts, at a reasonable cost to manufacture, and by employing only readily available materials. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention, which will be described in greater detail hereinafter, is concerned with a cosmetic holder apparatus comprised of a base and cover that contain a lipstick tube and at least one lip liner or lip brush. The lipstick tube is contained in a first portion of the base and the lip liner or lip brush is contained in a second portion of the base. The invention overcomes all of the shortcomings listed previously, in addition to novel aspects that will be described in detail hereinafter. 
   In a first embodiment of the invention, a cosmetic holder apparatus is comprised of a base and a cover, the cover fabricated for releasable attachment to the base. The base is comprised of a rectangular portion and a cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion being attached to or formed into one corner of the base. An aperture, located centrally into the rectangular portion, is designed for receipt of a lipstick tube, and an aperture formed into the cylindrical portion is designed for receipt of a lip liner or brush. The base and the lipstick tube are disposed so that opposing rotation of the base with respect to the tube will elevate the lipstick to a desired level determined by the user. The cover may be constructed with a rectangular portion and a cylindrical portion, so that it fits in snug arrangement to a corresponding rectangular portion and cylindrical portion of the base. When the cover is affixed to the base with lipstick tube and lip liner inserted therein, the cover encloses said lipstick tube and optionally encloses the lip liner. 
   In a second embodiment of the invention, a cosmetic holder apparatus is comprised of a base that is further comprised of a rectangular portion and a protuberance affixed to or fashioned into a sidewall of the base. An aperture for a lipstick tube is formed into the base, and two apertures for lip liners are fashioned into the protuberance. The base and the lipstick tube are disposed so that opposed rotation by either the base or the tube with respect to the tube or the base, respectively, will elevate the lipstick to a desired level determined by a user of the apparatus. The cover may consist of a rectangular portion and a protuberance, which attaches in snug engagement to the corresponding rectangular portion and protuberance. The cover encloses the lipstick tube and may optionally enclose the lip liners. 
   In a third embodiment of the invention, a cosmetic holder apparatus is comprised of a base that is further comprised solely of a rectangular portion with an aperture for receipt of a lipstick tube. The base and the lipstick tube are disposed so that rotation of one with respect to the other will elevate the lipstick to a user&#39;s desired level. The cover, which attaches to the base in snug arrangement, may be constructed on one sidewall thereof with two clips that receive and hold the lip liner or lip brush so that it is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the cover. 
   The invention, therefore, resides not in any one of these features per se, but rather in the particular combination of all of these embodiments herein disclosed. It is distinguished from the prior art in this particular combination of all of its structures for the functions specified. 
   In order that the detailed description of the invention may be better understood and that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated, additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the disclosed specific methods and structures may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent methods and structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
   In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of the embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
   As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. Further, this abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a low-cost, easy-to-manufacture, and easy-to-market cosmetic holder apparatus. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide an easy-to-use and versatile cosmetic holder apparatus. 
   A significant object of the invention is to provide a cosmetic holder apparatus that consists of a base fabricated with a first aperture designed for receipt of a lipstick tube and at least a second aperture into which a lip liner can be inserted and further consisting of a cover, which is releasably attached to the base to enclose said lipstick tube and optionally the lip liner inserted into the base. 
   A final but very significant object of the invention is to permit the lipstick tube and lip liner to be quickly and easily retrieved from within a pocket book or carrying article by first locating said cosmetic holder apparatus and to provide a cosmetic holder apparatus into which a lipstick tube and a lip liner can be placed for storage and transport without incurring damage during said storage and transport. 
   For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent feature and applications of the present invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or by modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments in addition to the scope of the invention illustrated by the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more fully understood from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is perspective view of a first embodiment of a cosmetic holder apparatus in accordance with the present invention illustrating cosmetic articles aligned for placement into said apparatus. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a cosmetic holder apparatus in accordance with the present invention illustrating cosmetic articles aligned for placement into said apparatus. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a cosmetic holder apparatus in accordance with the present invention illustrating cosmetic articles aligned for placement into said apparatus. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a cosmetic holder apparatus in accordance with the present invention with cosmetic articles positioned within the holder apparatus. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a cosmetic holder apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings and, in particular, to  FIG. 1  wherein there is illustrated a typical embodiment of the cosmetic holder apparatus  10 . An embodiment  10  of the present invention is comprised of a base  12  and a cover  14 , the cover  14  designed for releasable attachment to the base  12  in frictional or snug engagement. The base  12  consists of a lower rectangular portion  16  and a lower cylindrical portion  18 , with the lower cylindrical portion  18  being attached or affixed to one corner of the lower rectangular portion  16 . An upper rectangular portion  20  having a lesser perimeter than the lower rectangular portion  16  is attached to or otherwise extends above the lower rectangular portion  16 . Similarly, an upper cylindrical portion  22  comprising a lesser diameter than the lower cylindrical portion  18  is attached to or otherwise extends above the lower rectangular portion  16 . The point at which the lower rectangular  16  and cylindrical  18  portions and the upper rectangular  20  and cylindrical  22  portions meet the upper rectangular  20  and cylindrical  22  portions is defined by a lip  24  that surrounds or traverses the perimeter of the base  12 . A first aperture  26  is located on and into the top side of the upper rectangular portion  20 , and a second aperture  28  is situated on and into the top side of the upper cylindrical portion  22 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the cover  14  consists of a rectangular portion  30  and a cylindrical portion  32 , the cylindrical portion  32  being attached or affixed to one corner of the rectangular portion  30 . The rectangular portion  30  is fabricated of four lateral sidewalls  34  and a top sidewall  36 . As illustrated, the cover  14  is aligned over the base  12  with the bottom of the cover  14  designed to be fitted in snug engagement to the base  12 , specifically the lower sections of the inside surfaces of the rectangular  30  and cylindrical portions  32  of cover  14  engaging the upper rectangular  20  and cylindrical portions  22  of the base  12 , respectively, until a bottom edge  38  of the cover  14  makes eye contact with the lip  24  of the base  12 . In this manner, a smooth, continuous aspect of the exterior of base  12  and cover  14  is achieved when they are so engaged, so that the engaged cosmetic holder apparatus does not catch on other objects when inserted into a lady&#39;s handbag or purse that might separate cover  14  from base  12 . 
   A lipstick tube  40  is aligned over the base  12  for insertion into the aperture  26  of the upper rectangular portion  20 , and a lip liner brush  42  is aligned over the aperture  28  of the upper cylindrical portion  22 . As displayed in  FIG. 2 , the lipstick tube  40  and lip liner brush  42  are fully inserted into respective apertures  26 ,  28  of the base  12 . The base  12  and the lipstick tube  40  are disposed in such a manner that the opposing rotation of one with respect to the other elevates the lipstick to a level desired by a user of the cosmetic holder apparatus  10 . The mechanism by which the rotation elevates the lipstick is well known to those skilled in the art, as exemplified in the following: U.S. Pat. No. 2,333,889, Lipstick Receptacle, issued to Ruekberg; U.S. Pat. No. 2,444,376, Lipstick Container, issued to Seaver; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,840,229, Cosmetic Container issued to Hopgood. This art is incorporated by reference for the purposes of illustrating the kinds of lipstick tube mechanisms that may be used with the invention. 
   Certain variations of this embodiment are contemplated to be within the scope of the invention. Optionally, cover  14  may be fabricated without the cylindrical portion  32  so that it encloses only the lipstick tube  40 , leaving lip liner brush  42  exposed. Furthermore, the length of lip liner  42  may be such that it does not extend further beyond base  12  than does lipstick tube  40 , so that the cosmetic holder apparatus  10  is kept compact and small for advantageous insertion and transportation in a user&#39;s purse. It should also be noted that when the lip liner  42  is inserted tip side down into the base  46 , base  46  acts as a protective cover for the lip liner  42 . Finally, although the cosmetic articles lipstick tube  40  and lip liner  42  were used illustratively in describing this embodiment, the base  46  may receive cosmetic articles of other variations, such as lip gloss, lip ink, eyeliner applicators, mascara brushes, or any other cosmetic item generally known in the arts. 
   In  FIG. 3 , a second embodiment  44  of the cosmetic holder apparatus is illustrated and is comprised of a base  46  and a cover  48 . The base  46  consists of a lower rectangular portion  50 , lower protuberance  52 , upper rectangular portion  54 , and upper protuberance  56 . The upper rectangular portion  54  and upper protuberance  56  are fabricated with a perimeter less than that of the lower rectangular portion  50  and lower protuberance  52  so that a lip  58  is formed that surrounds or traverses the base  46  at the junction of the upper and lower portions. An aperture  60  is located at the top side of the upper rectangular portion  54 , and two apertures  62  are situated at the top side of the upper protuberance  56 . 
   The cover  48  consists of a rectangular portion  64  and a protuberance  66  attached to or formed into the rectangular portion  64 . The rectangular portion  64  is further comprised of three lateral sidewalls  68  and a top sidewall  70 . A bottom edge  72  is located at the end of the cover  48  opposite to that of the top sidewall  70 . The cover  48  is releasably attached in the snug engagement to the base  46  by positioning the lower portion of the cover  48  over the upper rectangular portion  54  and upper protuberance  56  until the bottom edge  72  makes contact with the lip  58 . 
   A lipstick tube  40  is aligned over the base  46  for insertion into the aperture  60  of the upper rectangular portion  54 , and two lip liner brushes  42  are aligned over apertures  62  of the upper protuberance  56 . Note that although two lip liner brushes  42  are illustrated, the concept of the invention does not limit the number of brushes so contained. Provision for more or less lip liner brushes  42  may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, provided that sufficient accommodation is made within cover  46  and the size of base  48 . In  FIG. 4 , the lipstick tube  40  and lip liner brushes  42  are illustrated as fully inserted into their respective apertures  60 ,  62 . The base  46  and the lipstick tube  40  are disposed in such a manner that the opposed rotation of one with respect to the other elevates the lipstick to a level desired by a user of the cosmetic holder apparatus  44 . The mechanism by which the rotation elevates the lipstick tube is well known to those skilled in the art, as cited previously. 
   Certain variations of this embodiment are also contemplated to be within the scope of the invention. Optionally, cover  48  may be fabricated without the protuberance  66  so that it encloses only the lipstick tube  40 , leaving lip liner brush  42  exposed. Furthermore, the length of lip liner  42  may be such that it does not extend further beyond base  46  than does lipstick tube  40 , so that the cosmetic holder apparatus  44  is kept compact and small for advantageous insertion and transportation in a user&#39;s purse. It should also be noted that when the lip liner  42  is inserted tip side down into the base  46 , base  46  acts as a protective cover for the lip liner  42 . Finally, although the cosmetic articles lipstick tube  40  and lip liner  42  were used illustratively in describing this embodiment, the base  46  may receive cosmetic articles of other variations, such as lip gloss, lip ink, eyeliner applicators, mascara brushes, or any other cosmetic item generally known in the arts. 
   A third embodiment  74  of the cosmetic holder apparatus, displayed in  FIG. 5 , consists of rectangular base  76  and a rectangular cover  78 . The base  76  is fabricated of a lower rectangular portion  80  and an upper rectangular portion  82  with a lip  84  surrounding the base  76  at the junction of the lower  80  and upper  82  rectangular portions. An aperture  86  is formed into the upper rectangular portion  82  for receipt of a lipstick tube  40 . The base  76  and the lipstick tube  40  are again disposed in so that the opposed rotation of one with respect to the other elevates the lipstick to a level desired by a user of the cosmetic holder apparatus  74 . The cover  78  consists of four lateral sidewalls  88  and a top sidewall  90 . Two clips  92  are attached to one of the four lateral sidewalls  88  and retain in firm engagement a lip liner brush  42  once inserted therein. Although two clips are shown by way of illustration, the invention is not confined to a particular number of such clips  92 . A single clip  42  extending a longitudinal distance may also be used without departing from the scope of the invention, and more than two clips  42  could be similarly used. A bottom edge  94  is located at the end of the cover  78  opposite to that of the top sidewall  90 . The cover  78  is attached to the base  76  with the inside surface of the lower portion of the cover  78  enclosing and making contact with the upper rectangular portion  82  until the bottom edge  94  thereof meets the lip  84  of the base  76 . 
   It should be understood that in the foregoing description, a reference to the lip liner brush could be replaced in the description with a reference to a lip liner pencil without departing from the intention or the scope of the invention. 
   While the invention has been illustrated by disclosing a number of embodiments herein and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It should be understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. With respect to the above description, it should be further understood that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, additional variations and modifications in those embodiments may occur to those skilled in the art once they learn of the basic inventive concepts. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims shall be construed to include both the preferred embodiment and all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
   From the foregoing, it will be understood by persons skilled in the art that an improved cosmetic holder apparatus has been provided. The invention is relatively simple and easy to manufacture, yet affords a variety of uses. While the description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of the preferred embodiments thereof. The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, because numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and numerous changes in the details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.