Patent Publication Number: US-10328745-B2

Title: Artist&#39;s tote

Description:
PRIORITY 
     The present application is a 371 National Filing of PCT/US2015/055524, filed Oct. 14, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional application 62/064,004 filed Oct. 15, 2014. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to a container configured to hold brushes, paint tubes and other materials and implements especially for use by artists. This disclosure also relates to a combination of the container with one or more of the artist&#39;s materials or implements. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Artists, especially painters, rely upon a large variety of tools and materials to perform their craft. The volume of products and equipment necessary for a fully-prepared artist can be hard to organize and even more difficult to transport when the artist desires to move outside their usual studio, to attend a class, or to travel to the subject being painted. 
     The materials commonly used by painters can encompass a variety of sizes and shapes. Materials can vary from large jars of water, top-heavy tubes of paint in a variety of sizes, oil jars, slender charcoal sticks and rolls of tape. 
     The equipment used by painters also can encompass a variety of shapes and sizes. From long, thin brushes and rulers, to wide sponges, broad palettes, palette knives, paint erasers, as well as rags or paper towel to dry brushes. 
     Several briefcase-style boxes are found within the prior art that include compartmentalized enclosures that may or may not allow for the inclusion of an artist&#39;s palette. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,721 describes a painter&#39;s box with the lower half divided into a plurality of compartments positioned below a rectangular palette. 
     SUMMARY 
     However, while the &#39;721 patent addresses some of the artist&#39;s needs, there is a need for a more functional receptacle configured to hold the materials and equipment used by artists and painters in a more user friendly manner. The receptacle should allow for organization and transportation of tools in a highly functional manner to enhance the artistic experience by placing the necessary tools at the artist&#39;s fingertips and the palette at a more user friendly angle. At the same time, the items frequently used, should not be covered by the palette. 
     The present disclosure relates to an artist&#39;s container configured to organize and store the materials and equipment most often used by painters. Particularly, artist&#39;s containers according to embodiments of the present disclosure are specifically configured to removably hold an artist&#39;s palette, in a sloped orientation, for use on or off the container. 
     In some embodiments, the container includes posts to support the weight of the palette and walls configured to maintain the position of the palette. In some embodiments, the walls do not completely surround the palette when it rests upon the posts. In some embodiments, the palette extends beyond the footprint of the container when the palette is properly seated on the container. In other embodiments, the palette, when resting on the support posts, lies substantially entirely within the footprint of the container. 
     In some embodiments of the present disclosure the container is configured to store the artist&#39;s equipment and materials in an organized manner. The container is configured to hold a palette that may form a lid for at least a portion of the container. The palette may have markings to indicate proper orientation of the palette for placement within the container. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a container according to embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 1A  shows a perspective view of the container with representative stored items therein; 
         FIG. 2  shows a top view of the container shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows a front view of the container shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a right side view of the container shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows a rear view of the container shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows a left side view of the container shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  shows a longitudinal section view taken along line  7 - 7  shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  shows a cross section view through another portion of the container taken along line  8 - 8  shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 9  shows a bottom view of the container shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of a container according to other embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  shows a top view of the container shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description sets forth a further discussion of the figures accompanying this application. The combination of the several views will allow one skilled in the art to fully appreciate at least one embodiment of the artist&#39;s container as described below, including features and advantages beyond those expressly called out in this section. In other words, the figures are fully supportive of all that they show and enable to one of ordinary skill in the art, above and beyond any features discussed in this description. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the present disclosure relates to a container  100  for use by artists with respect to the storage, organization and transportation of the items most commonly used in the field. The container  100  may be particularly useful for painters. Painters may require a variety of consumable materials, the most obvious being paint. Other materials may include oils, water, tape, etc. Painters may require a variety of generally durable tools and equipment, such as brushes, knives, erasers, rulers and sponges.  FIG. 1A  shows the container  100  with exemplary tools and equipment therein, and a typical palette thereon in dashed lines. 
     The container  100  of the present disclosure includes a bottom wall  102  that may be adapted to rest on a surface, such as a desk or a table. The bottom wall  102  may include one or more rubber pads for limiting sliding of the container  100  relative to the surface or to help avoid damage to the container or the surface when the container rests upon the surface. The container  100  may have a peripheral wall  104  extending upward relative to the bottom wall  102 . The peripheral wall  104  can have a non-uniform wall height H ( FIG. 4 ) that varies relative to the bottom wall  102 , or the surface on which the container is resting. In other words, with the bottom wall  102  defines a reference plane. Different portions of the peripheral wall  104  extend to different heights above the reference plane for reasons to be later explained. 
     The peripheral wall  104  generally defines a footprint of the container  100  and the outermost bounds of a storage cavity of the container  100 , as viewed from the top plan view seen in  FIG. 2 . The footprint of the container  100  should be so dimensioned to provide sufficient capacity for storage and transportation of materials and tools, but not be so large as to hinder the ability for the artist to comfortably transport the container  100  or rest the container on available surface space. In one embodiment, the footprint may be approximately 13 inches by approximately 16 inches. While there is no specific upper limit to the size of the footprint, a footprint having a maximum length of about 21 inches or less is preferred. 
     As seen in the figures, the peripheral wall  104  may form a footprint having a generally rectangular shape. The rectangular footprint may have rounded corners  106 . The rounded corners  106  may provide more pleasing aesthetics, more convenience, a reduction in sharp edges, and may be better able to hold rounded or cylindrical objects, such as jars, along the rounded portions of the peripheral wall  104 . 
     The container  100  includes a plurality of interior walls  108  formed, or removably inserted, within the peripheral wall  104  to create a plurality of distinct storage compartments (labeled 1-16). The storage compartments 1-16 have a variety of lengths, widths and depths. The variety of dimensions allows the artist to store their materials and tools in an organized and easily accessed manner by positioning each item within an appropriately sized one or more of the storage compartments 1-16. 
     In a non-limiting example, Table 1 lists sample materials and tools approximately suitable for each compartment. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Compartment 
                 Suitable stored item 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 1 
                 Brush wash jar and linseed oil adapter 
               
               
                 2 
                 Paint eraser 
               
               
                 3 
                 Paint brushes 
               
               
                 4 
                 Paint brushes 
               
               
                 5 
                 Paint brushes and miscellaneous 
               
               
                 6 
                 Palette knives 
               
               
                 7 
                 Large white paint tube and miscellaneous 
               
               
                 8 
                 Sponge and spring load clip 
               
               
                 9 
                 Large paint brushes and rules 
               
               
                 10 
                 Small paint tubes 
               
               
                 11 
                 Color wheel and roll of masking tape 
               
               
                 12 
                 Compressed charcoal sticks 
               
               
                 13 
                 Linseed oil jar 
               
               
                 14 
                 Paint tubes 
               
               
                 15 
                 Paint tubes 
               
               
                 16 
                 Paint tubes 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The illustrated number and layout of storage compartments 1-16, with the proposed use of each compartment, has been found to provide a generally weight-balanced container when loaded with a typical amount of the proposed materials and tools. 
     Compartment 2 may store paint erasers in a generally vertically elongated compartment. 
     Compartments 3-6 may store paint brushes, palette knives or other generally long, thin items in a vertical fashion in such a manner as to be accessible to the artist when the palette is resting on the container  100 . Compartments 3-6 may be suitable for holding long items, because these compartments 3-6 have the greatest depth due to the relatively tall portions of the peripheral wall  104  and relatively tall interior walls  108 . 
     Compartments 7-9 may store a variety of items in a generally horizontal fashion. For example, compartment 8 may hold a sponge, and compartment 9 may be of sufficient length to accommodate a standard 12-inch ruler. When transporting the container  100 , longer items, such as brushes, may be removed from compartments 3-6 and laid within compartment 9. In one embodiment, see  FIG. 11 , compartment 9 extends the full width of the container  200  to maximize the length of brushes which may lie in the container  200 , such as a 15 inch long brush. By removing the items extending from compartments 3-6 during transportation, a cover, such as palette  110  ( FIG. 2 ) may be provided snugly over the top of the container  100 . 
     Compartments 10-13 are all of smaller dimensions to hold various smaller material or equipment items such as oil jars, small charcoal sticks, rolls of tape, etc. In one embodiment, the bottom of one of the compartments (e.g. compartment 11) may have a small groove  112  ( FIG. 2 ) formed in the upper surface of the bottom wall  102  to position and support a color wheel in an upright fashion. 
     Compartments 14-16 are useful for holding paint tubes. Particularly, applicants have found that the color within each paint tube can be most easily identified, and the tubes accessed, when stored in an upright position. Therefore, it has been found to be beneficial to include one or more storage compartments, in this case compartments 14-16, having each dimension less than about 5.75 inches and greater than about 1.75 inches to accommodate one or more tubes of paint only in an upright position. The designated compartment should not be deeper than the paint tube at full length. 
     One commonly used piece of equipment is the painter&#39;s palette  110  (see  FIGS. 1A and 2 ). The container  100  of the present disclosure has been specifically created with the placement of a palette  110  in mind. Palettes  110  are most commonly available in two basic shapes: rectangular and oval. These basic shapes may be modified with various finger holes, cutouts, or indentions for convenience of the user. Palettes are also available in a variety of sizes. 
     The container  100  has at least one dimension specifically selected so that the container is able to securely support a palette  110  of predetermined size and shape. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 1-9 , several dimensions have been specifically selected, within reasonable tolerances, such that the container  100  will securely support a generally oval-shaped palette  110  having approximate dimensions of 12 inches by 16 inches. The exemplary palette  110  is made by Master&#39;s Touch, and may be available from retailers such as Hobby Lobby. 
     In another embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a custom palette  210  has been created to reversibly engage with a container  200  having a peripheral wall  204  having a second configuration. 
     The containers  100 ,  200  may be configured to support the respective palettes  110 ,  210  at an incline relative to the reference surface or the bottom wall  102 . As best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 11 , the container  100 ,  200  includes a plurality of support posts (labeled  115 - 119 ). The tops of each support post  115 - 119  collectively define a support plane S. In one embodiment, the plurality of support posts  115 - 119  extend to different heights relative to the bottom wall  102 . Depending upon the relative position of the support posts  115 - 119  each post may or may not have the same relative height. In the case of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-9 , each support post  115 - 119  has a unique height. 
     While each support post  115 - 119  may have a unique height relative to the bottom wall  102 , the height of each post should be selected with respect to the other points in order to enable the top of each post to lie within the support plane S (see  FIG. 6 ). Further, in at least one embodiment, the varied heights of the support posts define the support plane S such that the support plane is inclined relative to the bottom wall  102  (i.e., the reference plane). The support plane S may be inclined by between about 5 degrees and about 20 degrees relative to the bottom wall  102 . Preferably, the support plane S may be inclined by about 9 degrees relative to the bottom wall  102 . The preferred angle of inclination generally mimics the angle a palette naturally assumes when in-use within the hand/arm of many painters. As should be understood, a palette  110 ,  210  resting upon the plurality of support posts  115 - 119  is a palette lying in a plane generally corresponding to the support plane S, such that the palette held by the container  100 ,  200  will be provided at an angle relative to the bottom wall  102 , which can be assumed to be horizontally supported. 
     Again, the support posts  115 - 119  are configured to support a predetermined palette  110 ,  210 . In some embodiments, all of the support posts  115 - 119  will be in-use when the palette  110 ,  210  is placed within the container  100 ,  200 . In other embodiments, less than all of the support posts  115 - 119  may be in-use when the predetermined palette is supported within the container. For example, a support post may not be in use, because its position corresponds to a cutout  122 ,  222  ( FIGS. 2 and 11 ) in the oval shape of the palette  110 ,  210 . Preferably, the support posts  115 - 119  and the container  100 ,  200  are configured so that the palette  110 ,  210  may be reversibly supported within the container  100 ,  200 . In the case of reversibly supporting the palette, an unused support post may become an in-use support post depending on the side of the palette being supported. By being capable of supporting the palette  110 ,  210  with each side facing upward, the painter may be able to place the palette wet-paint-side down when they are finished painting. Placing the palette  110 ,  210  wet-paint-side down can keep the exposed surface of the palette clear, can help protect against accidental paint soiling and can facilitate the intact transport of in-use paint mixes for later frozen storage or disposal. 
     In some embodiments, the support posts  115 - 119  are positioned relative to the footprint of the container so that at least some of the support posts are positioned to support the palette near the edges thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the support posts  115 - 119  is positioned adjacent to an edge of the palette  110 ,  210  in the seated orientation shown. 
     While the support posts  115 - 119  are configured to be under the palette  110 ,  210  to support its weight, the container  100 ,  200  also may be configured to substantially prevent motion of palette  110 ,  210  along, or parallel to, the support plane S. Restraint of the palette  110 ,  210  in directions along the support plane S may be provided by portions of the peripheral wall  104 ,  204 , portions of the one or more interior walls  108 , or both, that extend to heights above the top of a respective support post. As seen in  FIG. 5 , a portion of the peripheral wall  104  extends slightly above the top of the support post  115  by a first distance D 1  to form palette retention steps. The first distance in the example is 0.1875 inches. This first distance D can be between one and three times the thickness of the palette  110 . In other words, the first distance D 1  may be approximately equal to the thickness of the palette or the first distance may be a few times thicker than the palette  110 . Having the first distance D 1  less than the thickness of the palette  110  may limit the security of the seating of the palette within the container  100 . If the first distance D 1  is too short, the palette  110  may be able to ride up and jump out of the adjacent portion of the peripheral wall  104  or the interior wall  108  when a force is applied to slide the palette. If the first distance D 1  is greater than three times the thickness of the palette, the respective portions of the peripheral wall  104  or the interior walls  108  may limit the painter&#39;s ability to remove the palette  110  from the container  100 , or may produce undesired obstructions to the painter&#39;s ability to make use of the palette while held by the container. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the container  100 ,  200  is configured to hold and retain the palette  110 ,  210  with portions of the peripheral wall  104 ,  204  and portions of a plurality of interior walls  108 . When supported on each of the support posts  115 - 119  (i.e., fully seated), portions of the palette  110  may extend beyond the footprint of the container  100  as shown in  FIG. 2 . As such, in some embodiments, it should be understood that when fully seated, the palette  110  is not completely surrounded by portions of the peripheral wall  104  or the one or more interior walls  108 , but is restrained from lateral movement. In other embodiments, the palette  210  may rest substantially entirely within the footprint of the container  200  as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     In some embodiments, one or more portions of the peripheral wall  104  may have their upper edges lying substantially within the support plane S so that a seated palette  110  may be supported by the support posts  115 - 119 , as well as the top edge of select portions of the peripheral wall  104 . In some embodiments, one or more portions of the peripheral wall  104  may have their upper edges  124  ( FIG. 6 ) spaced below the support plane S to form a gap  126  between the upper edge  124  of the respective portions of the peripheral wall  104  and a seated palette  110 . The gap  126  provides the artist with a slot into which they may place their hand to pick up the palette from the seated position. 
     When seated, the palette  110 ,  210  may function as a partial lid or cover for the container  100 ,  200 . The seated palette may at least partially cover several of the storage compartments (see compartments 7-16 in  FIGS. 2 and 11 ). The palette  110 ,  210  may leave several other storage compartments uncovered (see compartments 1-6 in  FIGS. 2 and 11 ), particularly those disposed around portions of the periphery of the seated palette. Having one or more uncovered compartment when the palette  110 ,  210  is seated on the container  100 ,  200  provides access to those items the artist may need to access most often while painting. The interior walls  108  forming the covered storage compartments may terminate at heights well below the support plane S. In this configuration, there is extra space below the palette  110 ,  210  that may be used to store the items from the uncovered compartments during transportation of the container  100 ,  200  or during extended periods of non-use. Having a margin between the interior walls of the covered compartments and the support surface also will allow the palette to be seated wet-paint-side down without having the palette becoming stuck to the interior walls  108  as the paint dries. 
     The illustrated container  100 ,  200  includes a pair of external recesses  128  ( FIGS. 1 and 10 ), for potential use as hand grips. The hand grips may be located on opposite sides of the container&#39;s footprint. The hand grips may be formed generally on the bottom of the container  100 ,  200  at the intersection of the bottom wall  102  and portions of the peripheral wall  104 ,  204 . 
     While not illustrated in the accompanying figures, the container  100 ,  200  may include a neck strap. The ends of the neck strap may be so configured to be removably engageable with at least a portion of a respective hand-grip recess  128 . In some embodiments, the length of the neck strap may be adjustable to support the container at a comfortable carrying height. The neck strap would then assist with the transportation of the container  100 ,  200 . 
     The container  100 ,  200  according to the present disclosure may be made from any suitable material. Preferred materials include rigid polymers that are sufficiently strong to hold the artist&#39;s materials and tools without requiring an overly thick bottom wall  102  or an overly thick peripheral wall  104 ,  204 . It is expected that the container  100 ,  200  should be configured to hold at least 10 lbs. of materials and equipment, but the container itself should be as light weight as possible. Structural ribs  130  may be included along portions of the peripheral wall  104 ,  204  or the bottom wall  102  to add stability to the container  100 ,  200 . Any known method may be used to create the containers of the present disclosure. Common methods that may be suitable include molding or additive manufacturing (3D printing). 
     While not illustrated, the container  100 ,  200  according to the present disclosure may include a separate cover. The cover may be separable from the remainder of the container or may be attached along at least one side of the container by a hinge or other joint mechanism. When closed, the cover may present a top surface parallel with the bottom wall. Alternatively, when closed, the cover may present a top surface inclined relative to the bottom wall. 
     The container  200  of the present disclosure may form one element in an artist&#39;s kit. The kit may include a palette  210  of predetermined size and shape to fit securely within the container as discussed above. The palette  210  may be specially adapted for use with the container  200 . Particularly, the palette  210  may include specially positioned markings or notches  232  that could align with one or more of the support posts  115 - 119  when the palette  210  is seated within the container  200 . The markings may be etched indicia, grooves, tape or other similar markings. The notches  232  may assist the painter with the placement of the palette  210  into the container  210  by providing an indication of the proper orientation of the palette relative to the footprint. The palette  210  shown in  FIG. 11  includes two notches  232 . When the palette  210  is seated in the container  200  one of the notches  232  engages the support post  115 . If the palette  210  is flipped over to have the opposite side facing upward, the other of the two notches  232  would be aligned to meet with the support notch  115 . The kit according to the present disclosure may include one or more other materials or tools commonly used by artists, such as paint and brushes. 
     In other embodiments, the kit may include a towel and a fastener. The fastener may be used to removably couple the towel to a front portion of the peripheral wall, along the top edge thereof. The fastener may be a spring-load clip. When fastened to the container, the towel may hang down below the front of the container for convenient access by the artist for drying their brushes. 
     Although the above disclosure has been presented in the context of exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.