Patent Publication Number: US-6698585-B2

Title: Compact pouch container and organizer for pastels

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the artist&#39;s containers specifically used to transport sticks of pastels to classrooms, studios, or in the field. More specifically this invention relates to a pouch style container and system that can be used to improve transportability and minimize space requirements when in use. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A pastel artist needs to have available many sticks of pastels as they cannot be mixed to produce different colors as in oils and watercolors. 
     Therefore pastel containers must have room to accommodate the many needed pastels plus provide protection and accessibility. If the container is heavy and cumbersome it causes great difficulty for the artist, often limiting amounts of supplies that can be carried. Surface space on which to place open containers is often limited in the classroom or studio so the artist is prohibited from laying out supplies for easy accessibility. 
     A system that satisfies all the necessary needs but is light, compact, and easy to transport and use will greatly improve the artist&#39;s productivity and the quality of work. 
     DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
     The most popular containers are constructed of wood, plastic, or cardboard formed in rigid box-type shape. They are cumbersome, large, awkward, and heavy causing great difficulty in transporting. 
     When open for use, much surface space is needed to accommodate the extended rigid trays. 
     They do satisfy the following requirements: 
     a) They provide protection for the delicate pastels from water and damage. 
     b) They enable organization of pastels. 
     c) Pastels can be removed and replaced easily. 
     d) Some have a system that will clean pastels and remove pastel dust. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the problems associated with prior art by eliminating the rigid box-type style while incorporating all the previously stated requirements. 
     This is due to the unique nature of the pouch carry system in which a fleece pad holds the pastels in loops formed by bands of elastic. The pad is rolled up and inserted into the aperture of the attached pouch. It is closed and fastened with a zipper. The strap attached to the pouch can be held over the shoulder or slung over the back thereby freeing the hands to carry other art supplies. The resulting pouch system is compact, light, and easily transported. This feature can be understood by quoting the measurements, which are: 
     Closed; 
     a) Length is 18 inches 
     b) Diameter is 6 inches 
     c) Weight, complete with pastels is below 5 pounds. 
     Open for use; 
     a) Width is 18 inches 
     b) Length is 30 inches 
     Another unique feature of this design is that the pouch can be hung by means of the shoulder strap, either in the closed or open position, since the pastels are held securely by the elastic loop system. 
     In summary the pouch design solves two problems. 
     a) It affords easy transportation. 
     b) It reduces the need for large surface areas while in use. 
     The design also incorporates the important features of the prior art. 
     a) The material for the pouch and outer shell is moisture-proof. 
     b) The fleece pad, the outer shell and pouch provide protection. 
     c) A minimum of 100 sticks of pastels can be contained. 
     d) The pastels are easily organized and can be maintained with little effort. 
     e) The pastels are easily inserted and removed. 
     f) Cleaning is automatically accomplished when the pastel is inserted into a loop. 
     g) Pastel dust is collected into the fleece pad. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of the fleece pad showing elastic bands sewn into position which form loops into which pastels are inserted. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the outer shell showing the first step of construction. 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of the outer shell in open position after fleece pad and strips of velcro have been sewn into position. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of the open pouch after it has been constructed. 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the open pouch, outer shell, and fleece pad after construction has been completed. 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the outer shell flaps closed over the fleece pad prior to be rolled up and inserted into the aperture of the pouch. 
     FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the closed pouch fastened by a zipper. Also shown is the end section of the pouch showing attachment of the shoulder strap. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring to FIG. 1 is a plan view of the fleece pad  1  which has a bottom edge  2 , top edge  3 , left side edge  4 , and right side edge  5 . Four bands of elastic  6  are placed vertically on the fleece pad  1 . They are sewn into place by multiple rows of stitching  7 , which extend the full length of the bands of elastic  6 . The spaces  8  between the rows of stitching form the loops into which the pastels are placed. 
     Referring to FIG. 2 is a plan view of the first step in the construction of the outer shell  10 . A rectangular piece of fabric is hemmed on left edge  11 , right edge  12 , bottom edge  13 , and top edge  14 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating the position of the fleece pad  1  in the middle of the outer shell  10 . Stitching line  30  indicates the stitching of fleece pad  1  to outer shell  10 . The outer shell  10  extends out horizontally from both sides of the fleece pad  1  forming a left flap  31  and a right flap  32 . Directly below the top edge  3  of the fleece pad  1  is a horizontal row of stitching  33  which forms a pocket  34  into which a strip of plastic  35  is inserted to prevent the fleece pad  1  from curling. Directly above bottom edge  2  of the fleece pad  1  is a horizontal row of stitching  33  which also forms a pocket  34  into which another strip of plastic is inserted to prevent the fleece pad  1  from folding. The vertical row of stitching  36  up the middle of the fleece pad  1  anchors it to the outer shell  10 . Velcro strips  37  are sewn onto the left edge  31  and right edge  32  of the outer shell  10  for fastening together over the fleece pad  1 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4 is a plan view of the open pouch  40 , which is made of a body  41 , a border strip  42  and a zipper  43 . The body  41  is a rectangular piece of fabric around which the border strip of fabric  42  has been attached by seam  61 . At the midpoint of the long sides of the border strip  42 , slits  44  are made to create edges onto which the zipper  43  is attached continuing around all edges of the border strip. The zipper  43  clamps  45  are placed at the bottom point of the slits  44 . The bottom edge of the body  41  has rounded corners  47  for softer contour and easier handling. 
     Referring to FIG. 5 is the plan view of the assembled open pouch  40 , outer shell  10 , and fleece pad  1 . The top of the fleece pad  3  and the upper edge  14  of the outer shell  10  which backs the fleece pad  1  have been sewn into the aperture  62  of the pouch  40  by means of seam  61 . 
     Referring to FIG. 6 is a plan view demonstrating the procedure followed to close the construction. Right flap  32  is closed over fleece pad  1 , left flap  31  is then fastened over right flap  32  by means of velcro strips  37 . The bottom edge  2  of fleece pad  1  is then rolled up and inserted into aperture  62  of the pouch  40 . 
     FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the pouch  40  closed by means of the zipper  43 , 
     The ends of the shoulder strap  82  are sewn into seam  61  which extends down the side piece  63  of the pouch  40 .