Abstract:
A cosmetic brush container has a cylindrical sidewall, a closed bottom, and an open top. A tray is carried within the container for axial movement relative to a longitudinal axis of the container from a lower storage position. A lid releasably fits over the top of the container. A rod extends between the tray and the lid. Brushes are carried in the container, with lower ends supported on the tray and bristles supported by the sidewall of the container. Lifting the lid causes the tray to move upward and the bristles of the brushes to move above the top of the container for access by a user.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application 60/490,730 filed Jul. 29, 2003. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates in general to containers for holding loose items, and in particular to a container with a pull-up tray for holding cosmetic brushes.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Often, a person will use a variety of sizes of cosmetic brushes for applying cosmetics. The brushes apply both powdered cosmetics as well as cosmetics in a liquid or paste form. One way to keep the brushes organized and neat in appearance while not in use is to place them in an open-topped container. The lower ends of the brushes are supported on the bottom of the container and the bristles extend above the top.  
         [0004]     While workable, other objects or part of the clothing of the user might contact the exposed bristles, causing residual cosmetics on the brushes to transfer to the clothing or other objects. Also, in some cases, bacteria may grow in the residual cosmetics left on the bristles.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     In this invention, an apparatus for storing articles is provided that is particularly appropriate for storing cosmetic brushes. The apparatus includes a container having a sidewall, a closed bottom, and an open top. A tray is carried within the container for axial movement relative to a longitudinal axis of the container. A rod is secured to the tray and extends upward to at least the top of the container.  
         [0006]     In use, the brushes are placed in the container with lower ends resting on the tray. When the tray is in the lower position, the bristles of the brushes are supported by the sidewalls of the container below the top. Lifting the rod pulls the tray upward and exposes the bristles of the brushes.  
         [0007]     Preferably a lid connects to the rod for movement therewith. When the tray is in a lower position, the lid will engage the top of the container. Also, preferably, the tray has an upper self-supporting position that allows the user to release the rod with the bristles of the brushes being exposed above the top of the container. In one embodiment, an upper shoulder supports the tray to provide this self-supporting position. In this example, mating guides are formed on the interior sidewall of the container and the tray. The upper ends of the guides on the sidewall terminate at the upper shoulder. While the tray is below the upper shoulder, the mating guides prevent rotation of the tray. While above, the user can rotate the tray slightly to misalign the mating guides so that the upper shoulder will support the tray.  
         [0008]     Optionally, a chemical treatment material, such as an anti-microbial agent may be located in the container. Preferably, the tray is located above the bottom a selected distance while in a lower position, defining a lower compartment. Also, the tray preferably has perforations. The chemical treatment material is located in the lower compartment and communicates with the brushes via the perforations.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a sectional view of a container constructed in accordance with this invention and shown in the open position.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the container of  FIG. 1 , shown in the closed position.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the container of  FIG. 1 , taken along the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of a portion of the container of  FIG. 1 , with the tray shown removed.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the container of  FIG. 1 , taken along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a fragmentary perspective view of a lower portion of the container of  FIG. 1 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , container  11  is particularly used for holding cosmetic brushes  13 , however, it could be used for holding other items as well. Cosmetic brushes  13  are conventional, each having a handle and a set of bristles  14 . Container  11  has a cylindrical sidewall  15  that is preferably of clear plastic material, such as acrylic. Container  11  has a bottom  17  and an open upper end  19 .  
         [0016]     A plurality of guides or splines  21  are integrally formed in the inner diameter of sidewall  15 . Each spline  21  extends longitudinally, parallel with an axis of cylindrical sidewall  15 . Each spline  21  protrudes a short distance radially inward from the inner diameter of sidewall  15  and has a narrow width. The number of splines  21  could vary and in the preferred embodiment there are four, each spaced 90° from the other, as shown in  FIG. 3 . Splines  21  could optionally extend to bottom  17 , but preferably terminate at an annular ledge  23 , shown in  FIG. 6 . Ledge  23  is located a short distance above bottom  17  and has the same radial dimension as each spline  21 . Ledge  23  extends circumferentially around the inner diameter of sidewall  15 .  
         [0017]     The upper end  25  of each spline  21 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , is preferably contained in a plane perpendicular to the axis of sidewall  15 , defining an upper shoulder. The upper ends  25  of splines  21  are positioned a selected distance below container upper end  19 , this distance being selected so that the longest brushes  13  for storage in container  11  will not fall laterally out of container  11 , rather their handles will be supported by the open upper end  19  while container  11  is in the open position. The position of the upper ends  25  of splines  21  is also selected so that the tips of the shortest brushes  13  for storage in container  11  will be above upper end  19  while container  11  is in the open position.  
         [0018]     Container  11  also includes a tray  27  that supports the lower ends of the handles of brushes  13 . Tray  27  is a circular flat disc that has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of sidewall  15 . Tray  27  could optionally have a circular wall extending upward a short distance. The outer diameter of tray  27  is larger than the distance between two of the splines  21  located  1800  apart from each other. That is, a diameter measured at the inner surfaces of splines  21  is less than the outer diameter of tray  27 . In the preferred embodiment, tray  27  has a plurality of perforations or apertures  29  ( FIG. 3 ) that are spaced throughout for ventilation. However, apertures  29  could be eliminated if desired.  
         [0019]     Tray  27  also has a plurality of guides or notches  31  formed in its outer diameter, notches  31  being 90° apart. Each notch  31  has a width slightly greater than the width of one of the splines  21  so that tray  27  will slide freely over splines  21 , when registered as shown in  FIG. 2 . When notches  31  are in registry with splines  21 , tray  27  cannot rotate relative to container  11 . Because the outer diameter of tray  27  is greater than the inner diameter of splines  21 , when tray  27  is above splines  21  and notches  31  are misaligned with splines  21 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , tray  27  can rest on upper ends  25  of splines  21 , which serve as a self-supporting shoulder.  
         [0020]     A receptacle  33  is formed on the upper side of tray  27  for securing tray  27  to the lower end of a rod  35 . Receptacle  33  is preferably threaded, but rod  35  could be fastened in other ways. Rod  35  extends substantially the length of container  11  and secures to a lid  37  at its upper end. Lid  37  fits within or over container upper end  19  to close container  11 . Lid  37  may be a variety of types and may have a knob  39  for manually grasping to lift lid  37 . When lid  37  is in the closed position of  FIG. 2 , tray  27  will be closely spaced to or contacting ledge  23  ( FIG. 6 ). While in the closed position, tray  27  is preferably spaced above container bottom  17 , leaving a space or compartment below tray  27  for depositing a chemical material such as an antimicrobial bag  41 . Antimicrobial bag  41  is a porous bag having a conventional chemical material that dissipates into the atmosphere within container  11  and retards the growth of bacteria on brushes  13 . The chemical agent of antimicrobial bag  41  communicates with bristles  14  via apertures  29 .  
         [0021]     In operation, container  11  is shown in the closed position in  FIG. 2  with brushes  13  located inside and being supported on tray  27 . Bristles  14  are below container upper end  19  and typically touching the interior of sidewall  15 . Lid  37  closes upper end  19  of container  11 . If used, anti-microbial material in bag  41  communicates with any cosmetic residue on brushes  13  via apertures  29  in tray  27 .  
         [0022]     To access brushes  13 , the user grasps knob  39  and lifts rod  35  and lid  37  upward to expose bristles  14 . The user could simply hold knob  39  while picking out one of the brushes  13 , then lowering lid  37  back on top of container  11 . Alternately, the user can place tray  27  in a self-supporting upper position, which leaves bristles  14  of brushes  13  exposed after the user releases knob  39 . To do so, the user lifts knob  39  to a point where tray  27  is above upper ends  25  of splines  21 . The user then rotates knob  39  and tray  27  an increment less than 90° to misalign tray notches  31  with splines  21 . The user then lowers tray  27  until it rests on spline upper ends  25  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Tray  27  is spaced a significant distance above container bottom  17  in this upper position. At least bristles  14  of the brushes  13  protrude above container upper end  19 . Typically the upper portions of at least some of brushes  13  will tilt laterally outward past sidewall  15 . Lid  37  remains attached to rod  35  in this embodiment and is spaced above open end  19  a distance proportional to the distance from the closed position of  FIG. 1  to the open position of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0023]     The invention has significant advantages. The container retains brushes in an attractive, neat-appearing manner. The container prevents any cosmetic residue from smearing onto other objects while the brushes are stored. The lid and lower compartment allow the use of an anti-microbial agent to retard bacteria growth in the cosmetic residue on the brushes.  
         [0024]     While the invention has been shown in only one of its forms, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is no so limited, but is susceptible to various changes without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, rather than being attached to lid  37 , rod  35  could optionally be shorter, with knob  39  located below lid  37  while in the closed position. In this alternate arrangement, the user accesses brushes  13  by first removing lid  37 , setting it aside, then grasping knob  39  to pull up rod  35  and tray  27 . Other types of retention mechanisms could be used to hold tray  27  in the upper position rather than upper ends of splines  21 . For example, a hook could extend from one side of tray  27  for hooking over container upper end  19 .