Patent Publication Number: US-2006011679-A1

Title: Tool holder

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Make-up artists work in the entertainment, television, film and commercial products industries, applying make-up for actors, performers and others who make public appearances. Their work may require them to apply make-up in several shades and colors to actors in costume dramas, to create scars and wounds for actors in horror films, or to hide blemishes on or make slight changes to shape the face of a television news reporter. Make-up artists may also work in beauty salons and department stores where products are sold to the general public or in the medical profession, to hide scars and deformities that result from surgeries and injuries. To succeed in their professions, these artists must be knowledgeable about a wide variety of available eye shadows, blushes, foundations, eyebrow, eyeliner pencils and mascara, cleansing creams and other cosmetics, they must select the products that are most appropriate for the task at hand and apply them to models of both genders, all sizes, racial and ethnic backgrounds, with different facial features, skin tones and skin textures, to create a natural appearance.  
      Artists of all types use brushes to apply paint and other products to their targets. Make-up artists in particular, use brushes to apply powders and other cosmetics to human models or to mannequins. Cosmetics are often provided in individual containers and placed on a carrier, tray, palette, table or other surface that rests within a reasonable distance from the artist and model. The artist then selects the appropriate product, dips the brush into the container and contacts the model&#39;s face or other body part to apply the cosmetics. To avoid mixing the different cosmetics that are applied, the artist will use several brushes during a single make-up session. Brushes are available in a wide variety sizes and densities to allow the artist to apply the cosmetics as is required to obtain the desired visual appearance.  
      While placing brushes and other tools on a table located in the work area may be acceptable under some circumstances, it can also be inconvenient. For example, a make-up artist will often have to move very close to the model&#39;s face in order to apply make-up to his eyes, cheeks, lips, etc. In such cases, it becomes very inefficient for the artist to move away from the model to retrieve brushes, eye-liner and eye-brow pencils and other tools from a table placed at a distant location in the work area. Instead, they often store their tools in articles that can be carried, worn or transported in some other way, so they can have immediate access to their tools as they move about the work area. Available transportable devices include belts, easels, hangers, portfolios, folders and roll-up devices, all of which include pockets for storing brushes.  
      While transportable devices enable the artist to keep tools within his reach, all of the currently available devices require the artist to look into the bag or down at the belt or harness to exchange or retrieve tools. To maintain continuity in the make-up being applied and to complete the work more efficiently, it is essential for the artist to be able to keep the model in his line of sight and thus, bags, belts, harnesses and other devices that are currently are used throughout the industry available devices are usually unacceptable. Aside from requiring the artist to look away from the model, available devices are also inadequate because they often fail to secure the tools that are stored inside and because it is difficult to access the tools as they are needed.  
      Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus that enables a make-up artist to select and exchange the tools he needs while keeping the model in his line of sight. It is also desirable to provide an apparatus that provides easy access to tool handles and grips and to provide a device that properly secures the tools that are stored.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In one aspect, an armband for holding tools includes a body having at least one tool retaining portion located thereon, with the body being configured to form a tight fit with a human forearm. The armband may comprise a form fitting sleeve, with a plurality of tool retaining portions located on its exterior surface and its interior surface firmly abutting at least a portion of said forearm.  
      In another aspect, a brush holder includes a storage portion with at least one brush compartment and a mounting portion that is configured to attach the storage portion to a human extremity, such as a forearm, upper arm, leg, etc.  
      In still another aspect, a tool holder includes a shape conforming band with a plurality of tool retaining receptacles located on its surface. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  provides an example of a work area in which an operator may complete a task by maintaining sight on a subject.  
       FIG. 2  provides an example of a tool holder that has retaining pockets that rest on top of its body.  
       FIG. 3  provides an example of a tool holder with retaining pockets that that are accessed through slots in its body.  
       FIG. 4  is an illustration of a tool holder that includes a forearm fitting armband.  
       FIG. 5  shows a tool holder that has a composite construction.  
       FIG. 6  provide an example of a tool holder that has retaining portions arranged in layers.  
       FIG. 7  provides an example of a tool holder that has retaining portions arranged in tiers. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      A device for holding work pieces can be kept within the user&#39;s range of vision as he focuses on a target. More specifically, the device can be worn around an arm or other appropriate body part and used to hold tools as the user moves about the work area keeping his eyes focused on the subject of his work. Thus, not only can the device remain within the user&#39;s reach, the user can continuously select and exchange tools without having to look away from the subject. Accordingly, the user can complete the task at hand more efficiently.  
       FIG. 1  provides one example of a work area  10  that may be used by an artist  20  applying make-up to a model  30 . As shown, work area  10  is arranged such that the artist  20  can access all sides of model  30  by moving in a generally circular path in either direction as indicated by arrow  16  and/or by rotating a chair or other base that supports model  30 , as indicated by arrow  18 . While work area  10  is shown as allowing access to all sides of model  30 , it understood that access may be more limited in other work environments, and that model  30  and/or artist  20  may remain in stationary positions.  
      Artist  20  typically accesses one or more tables, stools or other substantially planar surfaces  14  to exchange the brushes, pencils and other tools  12  he needs to perform his job. Under these circumstances, artist  20  may carry one or two tools  12  with him from table  14  to the area adjacent model  30 , apply the selected make-up and return to table  14  each time he needs to exchange or retrieve tools  12 . If it is important to maintain close proximity to model  30 , artist  20  may store some of his tools  12  in a bag, belt, harness or other transportable article that can be carried or worn as he moves about work area  10 . This typically enables artist  20  to gain immediate access a larger number of tools. Rather than return to table  14  each time he needs to exchange tools, he instead looks down into the bag, belt or other article, locates the tool he needs, and retrieves it from the article.  
      Turning to  FIG. 2 , a tool holder  40  includes a flexible body  42  with one or more tool retaining portions  44  distributed across its surface. Generally speaking, retaining portions  44  will include longitudinally extending pockets, chambers, compartments or other receptacles that are capable of receiving and retaining the tools that the user needs to complete his work. However, other arrangements are possible and the disclosed device is not limited to this embodiment. For example, retaining portions  44  may include elastic bands, and tools may be inserted under the bands and held in place. It is also noted that when pockets are provided, they may be take on several forms. For example, retaining pockets  44  may be accessed on top of the body  42  as shown in  FIG. 2  and/or they may be accessed through slotted openings in the body  42  as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
       FIG. 4  provides an example of a tool holder  40  that enables an artist  20  to keep model  30  within his line of sight as he retrieves and exchanges brushes, pencils and other tools  12 . While the invention is described herein as being used by an artist  20  to store brushes, pencils and other make-up art supplies, it is understood that tool holder  40  could have many other uses. In the example shown, tool holder  40  includes a form fitting armband that fits tight around a human body part, such as a forearm. Flexible body  42  may be made from any material that can be worn comfortably by a user and that is sufficiently durable for multiple uses, including, but not limited to cotton, polyester and nylon.  
      In one such device, tool retaining portions  44  are distributed around the exterior surface of body  42 . Artist  20  can insert his forearm or other body part inside flexible body  42 , resting the interior surface of flexible body  42  against his forearm. In a device such as that illustrated in  FIG. 4 , some or all of the body  42  may be made from an expandable material that can be opened to allow entry of the artist&#39;s hand and arm and then closed when artist&#39;s forearm has been placed inside.  
      While tool holder  40  may be provided in a unitary construction, it may also have a composite construction as shown in  FIG. 5 . More specifically, tool holder  40  may include a gap region  48  that is empty, made from a different material from that of body  42  or made from the same material but otherwise distinguished form body  42 , depending upon the functionality that is desired. For example, gap region  48  may be made from a material that is more elastic than that of the body  42  in order to allow tool holder  40  to accommodate a wider variety of forearm sizes, it may be used to provide a customized fit, or it may be used to deposit markings, such as for personalization or to add artistic qualities. The tool holder  40  may be secured to the forearm using one or more fasteners  50  such as velcro strips, buttons, snaps, hooks, pins, etc. to close at least a portion of gap  48 .  
      Other portions of tool holder  40  may also be varied as required to accommodate the varying needs of its user. For example, retainers  44  may be provided in varying sizes to accommodate different brush handle and other tool sizes. Retainers  44  may also be arranged in layers as shown, for example, in  FIG. 6  or in tiers that extend radially from the body  42  as shown in  FIG. 7 , which may provide increased storage capacity.  
      While tool holder is described herein as being worn on a forearm, it is also understood that it could be worn on different parts of the body under appropriate circumstances. For example, it may also be possible for the user to keep the subject in his line of sight if it is worn on his upper arm, rather than on his forearm. For tasks that require the user to stand above a subject and look down, the device could be worn on the operator&#39;s thigh, calf or waist.  
      As stated earlier, while tool holder  40  is described as being used by an artist  20  to hold brushes, pencils and other supplies that are commonly used by make-up artists, it could easily be adapted for many other uses. For example, other artists could use the device to store paint, pens, pencils, inks, glue and other tools and supplies; a mechanic or other skilled tradesmen could use tool holder  40  to store screwdrivers, drill bits, wrenches and other tools that are required to repair and/or assemble various types of machinery; and a speaker or entertainer or other attraction could use the device to hold exhibits that will be displayed during a presentation or used during an event.  
      Accordingly, a tool holder enables a make-up artist and any other user to keep a model, easel or other subject within his line of sight as he exchanges brushes and the other tools he needs to efficiently perform his job. Rather than being stored near the user&#39;s midsection, between his legs or perhaps on a nearby surface, tools can be maintained at arm, hand, and eye level. Placing the brushes in this position provides for more efficient application of make-up to the subject. Using the disclosed tool holder, the artist can also select those tools that are required for the specific application and avoid having to tote his entire collection of tools when most of them will not be used.