Patent ID: 8091701

Claim:
An apparatus for storing and protecting a paint brush comprising: a) a first outer shell comprising: a back panel having a first side and a second side; a first lateral panel coupled to said first side of said back panel; a second lateral panel coupled to said first side of said back panel, wherein a portion of said first lateral panel and a portion of said second lateral panel are substantially parallel; a top panel coupled to said first side of said back panel and coupled to said first lateral panel and coupled to said second lateral panel, wherein said top panel has a recess portion, and wherein said top panel is substantially perpendicular to at least a portion of said first lateral panel; b) a first magnet means coupled to said back panel of said first outer shell wherein said first magnet means is substantially parallel to said top panel of said first outer shell; c) a bristle shaping flap having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein at least a portion of said bristle shaping flap is sized to movably fit between said first lateral panel and said second lateral panel; d) a first flexible coupling connecting said first outer shell to said proximal end of said bristle shaping flap, wherein said first flexible coupling allows movement of said bristle shaping flap with respect to said first outer shell to a closed position in which at least a portion of said bristle shaping flap is disposed between at least a portion of said first lateral panel and at least a portion of said second lateral panel, and, wherein said first flexible coupling allows movement of said bristle shaping flap with respect to said first outer shell to an open position in which no portion of said bristle shaping flap is disposed between said first lateral panel and said second lateral panel; e) a second outer shell having a first side, a second side, a proximal end, and a distal end; f) a second flexible coupling connecting said first lateral panel of said first outer shell to said proximal end of said second outer shell, wherein said second flexible coupling allows movement of said first outer shell with respect to said second outer shell to a closed position in which said second outer shell urges said bristle shaping flap to its closed position, and, wherein said second flexible coupling allows movement of said first outer shell with respect to said second outer shell to an open position in which said second outer shell is disposed to allow said bristle shaping flap to move between its open and closed positions; and, g) a fastener comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion of said fastener is coupled to said first outer shell and wherein said second portion of said fastener is coupled to said distal end of said second outer shell, and wherein said first portion and said second portion of said fastener are disposed to fasten to each other when said second flexible coupling is in said closed position.