Patent Publication Number: US-6338406-B1

Title: Brush protection device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a brush case and more particularly pertains to a new brush protection device for preventing the bristles from becoming stiff and hard after each use. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of a brush case is known in the prior art. More specifically, a brush case heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 1,437,822; U.S. Pat. No. 1,951,576; U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,167; U.S. Pat. No. 2,051,267; U.S. Pat. No. 1,239,638; U.S. Pat. No. 2,004,320; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 350,234. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new brush protection device. The inventive device includes a first cover member having a main wall, a front end, and a back end; and also includes a second cover member having a main wall, a front end, and a back end which is pivotally attached to the back end of the first cover member; and further includes a hinge assembly including first bracket members being securely attached at the back end of the first cover member and also including second bracket members being securely attached at the back end of the second cover member; and also includes a latching assembly for latching the first and second cover members together. 
     In these respects, the brush protection device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of preventing the bristles from becoming stiff and hard after each use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of brush case now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new brush protection device construction wherein the same can be utilized for preventing the bristles from becoming stiff and hard after each use. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new brush protection device which has many of the advantages of the brush case mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new brush protection device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art brush case, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a first cover member having a main wall, a front end, and a back end; and also includes a second cover member having a main wall, a front end, and a back end which is pivotally attached to the back end of the first cover member; and further includes a hinge assembly including first bracket members being securely attached at the back end of the first cover member and also including second bracket members being securely attached at the back end of the second cover member; and also includes a latching assembly for latching the first and second cover members together. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that 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 other 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 of 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. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new brush protection device which has many of the advantages of the brush case mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new brush protection device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art brush case, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new brush protection device which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new brush protection device which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new brush protection device which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such brush protection device economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new brush protection device which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new brush protection device for preventing the bristles from becoming stiff and hard after each use. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new brush protection device which includes a first cover member having a main wall, a front end, and a back end; and also includes a second cover member having a main wall, a front end, and a back end which is pivotally attached to the back end of the first cover member; and further includes a hinge assembly including first bracket members being securely attached at the back end of the first cover member and also including second bracket members being securely attached at the back end of the second cover member; and also includes a latching assembly for latching the first and second cover members together. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new brush protection device that keeps the bristles flexible and usable. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new brush protection device that is easy and convenient to use and close about the bristles of the brush. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 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. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new brush protection device according to the present invention and shown in use. 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new brush protection device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the brush protection device  10  generally comprises a first cover member  11  having a main wall  12 , a front end  13 , and a back end  14 ; and also comprises a second cover member  17  having a main wall  20 , a front end  18 , and a back end  19  which is pivotally attached to the back end  14  of the first cover member  11 . The first cover member  11  also includes side walls  15  being tapered from the back end  14  to the front end  13  thereof, and the second cover member  17  also includes side walls  21  being tapered from the back end  19  to the front end  18  thereof with the side walls  15 , 21  of the first and second cover members  11 , 17  being in contactable relationship with one another. Each of the first and second cover members  11 , 17  has an arcuate slot  16 , 22  disposed through the back end  14 , 19  thereof with the arcuate slots  16 , 22  being aligned with one another to essentially form a hole through the back ends  14 , 19  of the first and second cover members  11 , 17 . The hole is adapted to receive a handle  35  of a brush  33  therethrough. The first and second cover members  11 , 17  are closable upon one another to essentially form a storage compartment therebetween with the storage compartment being adapted to receive and store a head portion  34  of the brush  33  including bristles of the brush  33 . 
     A hinge assembly includes first bracket members  23  being securely and conventionally attached at the back end  14  of the first cover member  11  and also includes second bracket members  24  being securely and conventionally attached at the back end  19  of the second cover member  17 . The hinge assembly further includes elongate fastening members  25 , 26  each of which is conventionally connected to a respective first and second bracket member  23 , 24 , and also includes springs  27 , 28  each of which is mounted about a respective elongate fastening member  25 , 26  for biasing the first and second cover members  11 , 17  together. 
     A latching assembly for latching the first and second cover members  11 , 17  together includes a catch member  29  being securely and conventionally attached at the front end  13  of the first cover member  11 , and also includes a hook member  31  being securely and conventionally attached at the front end  18  of the second cover member  17  and extending outwardly therefrom. The catch member  29  has a slot  30  disposed in an edge thereof, and the hook member  31  includes a stem  32  which is removably received in the slot  30  of the catch member  29  to essentially close and secure the first and second cover members  11 , 17  about the head portion  34  of the brush  33 . 
     In use, the user opens the first and second cover members  11 , 17  and extends the handle  35  of the brush  33  through the hole and closes and secures the first and second cover members  11 , 17  about the head portion  34  of the brush  33  to essentially prevent the bristles of the brush  33  from drying out after each use. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized 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. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since 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.