Cosmetic brush case

• US 6,398,027 B1
• Filed: 05/26/2000
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bu Kwang Ryu
• Original Assignee: Bu Kwang Ryu
• Inventors: Ryu, Bu Kwang
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, LUAN KIM
• Application Number:
  US09/580,021
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 206/235, 206/581, 206/361, 206/362, 206/15.2, 206/15.3, 206/1.7, 206/443, 206/372, 206/373, 206/349, 206/379, 211/65, 211/69, 132/313-316
• US Class Current: 206/362
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/008 Pocket toiletry etuis
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 33/00 Containers or accessories specially adapted for handling powdery toiletry or cosmetic substances
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/28 Appliances specially adapted for spreading already applied paint
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 17/04 Protective covers for the bristles

Abstract

The cosmetic brush case includes an upper cover, a lower cover, and a plurality of brush holders. The upper cover, lower cover and holders are connected by a hinge pin so that they can rotate about the pin. Each holder retains each of brushes. One of two adjacent holders has a protrusion extending toward the other of the holders. The other of the holders has an arc-shape groove for receiving the protrusion. The protrusion can move along the groove when the one of the two holders rotates. After the protrusion reaches an end of groove two adjacent holders rotates together. By the above constitution, the holders can be spread out in a fan shape when the case is opened.

Claims

1. A cosmetic brush case comprising a plurality of devices linearly arranged, each device comprising a holder for holding a cosmetic brush, each device being individually pivoted about an axis and engaged with an immediately neighboring device such that a pivotal movement of each device about an axis thereof more than a selected angle in a direction causes a pivotal movement of the immediately neighboring device thereof in the same direction.

2. The cosmetic brush case as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of the devices are arranged in a row, and the axis of each device is aligned along the row.

3. The cosmetic brush case as defined in claim 1, wherein the holder comprises a columnar hollow adapted to receive a cosmetic brush.

4. The cosmetic brush case as defined in claim 3, wherein the columnar hollow is configured to hold the cosmetic brush.

5. The cosmetic brush case as defined in claim 3, wherein the columnar hollow is configured to receive a cylindrical portion of the cosmetic brush.

6. The cosmetic brush case as defined in claim 1, wherein each device comprises a wall opposing an immediately neighboring device, and the wall comprises either a guide groove or a protrusion toward the immediately neighboring device.

7. The cosmetic brush case as defined in claim 6, wherein the guide groove is configured to receive the protrusion of the immediately neighboring device.

8. The cosmetic brush case as defined in claim 7, wherein the protrusion of the immediately neighboring device is allowed to move along the guide groove.

9. The cosmetic brush case as defined in claim 7, wherein the guide groove is arc-shaped.

10. The cosmetic brush case as defined in claim 1, wherein two devices at both distal ends of the plurality of the linearly arranged devices have only one immediately neighboring device.

11. The cosmetic brush case as defined in claim 10, further comprising:

a first body; and

a second body hinged on the first body so that the first or second body can rotate with respect to the other between first and second positions, the first position being a state where the first and second bodies are completely folded, the second position being a state where either the first body or the second body is rotated less than 360°

from the first position;

wherein the plurality of the linearly arranged devices comprise a first device located at one of the two distal ends of the linear arrangement and a second device located at the other distal end thereof; and

wherein the first device is connected to the first body, and the second device is connected to the second body, whereby a rotational movement of the first body with respect to the second body can cause pivotal movement of the plurality of the devices.

12. The cosmetic brush case as defined in claim 11, wherein at the second position, either the first body or the second body is rotated from about 170°

to about 190°

0 from the first position.

13. The cosmetic brush case as defined in claim 12, wherein at the second position, either the first body or the second body is rotated from about 180°

to about 185°

from the first position.

14. The cosmetic brush case as defined in claim 11, wherein at the first position, the first and second bodies form an enclosed space therebetween, wherein the plurality of the devices are arranged in the enclosed space.

15. The cosmetic brush case as defined in claim 11, wherein the second body is hinged on the first body by a hinge pin, and the hinge pin provides the axis of each of the plurality of the devices, whereby the plurality of the devices are rotatable about the hinge pin.

16. The cosmetic brush case as defined in claim 11, further comprising a brush having an elongated handle, wherein the plurality of devices comprises a brush holder having a columnar hollow for receiving the brush handle.

17. The cosmetic brush case as defined in claim 16, wherein the first body comprises a rib, the brush handle comprises a groove, and the brush holder comprises an opening on a wall toward the first body, wherein the rib and opening are configured so that the groove of the brush handle can be engaged with the rib of the first body via the opening when the first and the second bodies are at the first position.

18. The cosmetic brush case as defined in claim 16, wherein the handle of the brush is configured to be engaged with the first body when the first and second bodies are at the first position.

19. A method of operating the cosmetic brush case of claim 11, comprising:

rotating the first body with respect to the second body toward the second position of the first and second bodies; and

the first device connected to the first body following the rotation of the first body, thereby causing an immediately neighboring device to follow the first device when the first device rotates more than a selected angle following the first body.

20. A cosmetic brush case for retaining plural brushes, the cosmetic brush case comprising:

a first cover;

a second cover coupled to the first cover and rotatable about an axis with respect to the first cover; and

a plurality of brush holders arranged along the axis, wherein each holder is rotatably arranged about the axis, wherein each holder is coupled with one or two immediately neighboring holders such that rotation of a holder beyond a selected angle in a direction causes rotation of at least one of the immediately neighboring holders in the same direction, wherein when the case is open, the holders are spread out.

21. A cosmetic brush case for retaining plural brushes, the cosmetic brush case comprising:

a housing comprising first and second covers connected along an axis of rotation; and

a plurality of brush holders arranged along the axis, wherein two holders located at distal ends of the axis are connected with one of the first and second covers, and wherein each holder is coupled with one or two immediately neighboring holders, whereby the holders can be fanned out when the first and second covers are rotatably opened.