Container for Artist's Crayons

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described with reference to the several figures thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a crayon storage container of the invention with a single, vertically adjustable, cover plate and provision for the retention of sixty cylindrical crayons;

FIG. 2 is a partial transverse section through the embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along section line 2--2 therein, illustrating the detailed construction of the container and the adjusting mechanism for the perforated cover;

FIG. 3 is a detail of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing, in perspective, the conformation of the adjusting cam thereof;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section in perspective of an alternative embodiment of the cover plate of the container of the invention, illustrating the use of a conical entry guide therein;

FIG. 5 is a partial, sectioned, perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the crayon receptacle of the invention, provided with a fixed cover plate and a two-level base, for the accommodation of crayons of differing lengths.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the container box and holding plate or insert of another form of crayon storage container of the invention, and showing interengaging projections and recesses utilized in selectively adjusting the height of the holder plate;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the crayon storage container of FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken at line 9--9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken at line 10--10 in FIG. 6 and in FIG. 9, showing the interengagement of projections and recesses on the respective components for supporting the holder plate;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken at line 11--11 in FIGS. 6 and 9;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at line 12--12 in FIG. 11, showing a form of detent which may be utilized with the invention; and

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, exploded perspective view of a modified form of the crayon storage container invention of FIGS. 6 through 11.

The perspective view of FIG. 1 shows a crayon container 100 whose basic elements are represented by an upwardly open box 10 and a perforated holder plate or cover 12. The cover 12 is inset into the box 10 in such a manner that the periphery of the latter forms a palisade 14 protectively surrounding the protruding ends of crayons 20 seated in orifices 22 passing through the thickness of the cover 12. Between the bottom of the box 10 and the base of the cover 12 there is a vertical space 16 into which the bases of the several crayons 20 intrude.

A transverse partial section of the container 100 is provided in FIG. 2. Typical wax crayons 20a, 20b, and 20c are shown passing through orifices 22. The embodiment of the container of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 provides for the storage of sixty crayons in a rectangular array of five rows of twelve storage locations each; the number of such locations and their spatial arrangement, as well as the platform of the container are matters of choice for a given purpose, but the preferred form of the invention will provide for at least two dozen storage locations, suitably in a rectangular array.

The orifices 22 are drilled through, or molded into, the thickness of the cover 12 which is preferably made of a translucent or opaque plastic composition, in contrast to the box 12 which is preferably of a transparent plastic, although other materials and transparencies may be of a translucent or opaque plastic composition, in contrast to the box 12 which is preferably of a transparent plastic, although other materials and transparencies may be readily utilized without departing from the teachings herein.

The orifices 22 are arranged to have a cross-section slightly larger than the corresponding external dimension of the crayons 20, so that a slip fit is developed upon the insertion of a crayon into an orifice and helps to retain the former in the container even if the latter should become inverted.

Since crayons deposit part of their physical substance in use, their length will shorten with time. The container 100 is, therefore, arranged in such a manner that as the complement of crayons stored within wears, the relative elevation of the cover 12 with respect to the base of the box 10 may be altered.

To secure such an adjustment the cover 12 is arranged to be a sliding fit in the internal contour of the box 10 and to be supported above the base thereof by means of two cam projections 34 on adjustment elements arranged at either end of the box on a line bisecting its width. The cams or projections 34 are molded integrally with an elongated cylindrical shank 36 each, with the latter secured in vertical bores passing through the cover 12. Adjusting and lifting knobs 30a and 30b are attached to the upper ends of the shanks 36 and permit the rotation of the cams 34 from above the surface of the cover plate.

Support slots or recesses, adapted to be engaged by the cams 34, are also provided in the end walls of the box 10, two such slot recesses 32a and 32b are shown in the container 100 and permit the locking of the cover plate 12 at two distinct elevations in the box 10.

FIG. 3 is a detail view, in perspective, of a typical adjusting assembly, including a knob 30, a shank 36 and cam 34.

FIG. 4 is an alternative embodiment 112 of the cover plate of the crayon organizer of the invention. The major difference with respect to the part 12, with which the cover plate 112 is fully interchangeable, is the provision of a frustro-conical entry 121 in the upper ends of the orifices 122 passing through the cover 112, to facilitate the entry of individual crayons 20 thereinto.

The sectioned perspective view of FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment 200 of the crayon container of the invention. The container 200 is particularly adapted for the use of commercial artists where the rate of wear is so high for certain commonly used colors that, with time, the user may expect a completely random mix of relatively new and relatively old crayons. Because of the difficulty of accommodating such crayons in containers which are either non-adjustable in the elevation of the cover plate or in which the adjustment of necessity involves the entire cover, the container 200 is provided with a single, non-adjustable cover 212 inset into a box 210 in such a manner that a peripheral wall 214 protrudes above the upper plane of the cover and protects the crayons from mechanical damage, once stored in one of the orifices 222 passing through the cover plate 212.

The base of the box 210 is molded in two sections 211 and 213 to such an effect that the section 213 is higher in elevation than the adjacent section 211. The cover 212 is suitably marked into two areas overlying the sections 211 and 213, respectively, so that the user is clearly directed to place long crayons into orifices 222 above section 211, and shorter crayons into similar orifices underlain by section 213.

By such means it is possible to store crayons in a safe and readily organized manner regardless of the extent of wear of any individual coloring stick.

While not specifically illustrated, it will be readily understood that embodiments analogous to container 200 may be provided with more than two levels of support base sections, and that they may be combined with compartments in which the cover is movable, in the manner of the container 100 described above.

FIGS. 6 through 11 illustrate another form of manually adjustable mechanical means for positioning the holder plate at selected heights relative to the box. A box 310 is similar to that of the form of FIGS. 1 and 2, the box having side walls 314, 316 and having a first end wall 318, a second end wall 320, and a bottom wall 321, and a holder plate 312 is generally similar to that of the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 except as hereafter described. Extending inwardly from the first box end wall 318 are relatively high rectilinear projections 322, 324 having upper edge surfaces 326, 328, respectively, and relatively lower rectilinear projections 330, 332 having respective upper edge surfaces 334, 336. Extending inwardly from the second box end wall are similar projections, but in an array which is the reverse of those extending from the first end wall, as shown. Relatively high projections 338, 340 have respective upper edge surfaces 342, 344, and relatively lower rectilinear projections 346, 348 have upper edge surfaces 350, 352, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 7, holder plate 312 has side surfaces 350, 352, a first end surface 354 and a second end surface 356. Defined in the first end surface 354 are relatively high rectilinear recesses 358, 360, having respective upper seating surfaces 362, 364, and defined in this surface are relatively lower rectilinear recesses 366, 368 having respective upper seating surfaces 370, 372.

Defined in second end surface 356 are similar recesses in reverse array from the recesses in the first end surface, as shown, these comprising relatively high recesses 374, 376 having upper seating surfaces 378, 380, and relatively lower recesses 382, 384 having upper seating surfaces 386, 388.

The projections on the box end walls and the recesses in the holder plate end surfaces are interengageable so that with the holder plate inserted in the box, as shown in FIGS. 9-11, the holder plate is supported by the seating of recess seating surfaces on the upper edge surfaces of the higher projections, it will be understood from the geometry of the parts that with the first end surface 354 of the holder plate positioned adjacent the first box end wall 318, the holder is supported in the lower position shown in phantom outline in FIGS. 10 and 11 with the upper seating surfaces 362, 364 of the respective recesses 358, 360 seating upon upper edge surfaces 326, 328, respectively, of higher projections 322, 324. As shown and as will be understood from the geometry of the parts, with the first end surface 54 of holder plate 312, with the removable holder plate 312 positioned in the reverse orientation, with its first end surface 354 adjacent the second end wall 320 of the box, the holder plate is supported in its higher position with the upper supporting seating surface 370, 372 of respective recesses 366, 368 supported on upper edge surfaces 344, 342, respectively, of the higher projections 338, 340. Thus, it will be understood from the foregoing that the holder plate may be manually positioned, by means of the mechanical adjustment means provided by the projections and the recesses, thus selectively to position the holder plate in a higher or lower position, in accordance with the length of crayons carried by the holder plate and supported on the bottom of the box.

A plurality of detent means 390 may preferably be provided between the projections and the recesses walls for the releasible retention and securement of the holder plate 312 relative to the box 310. The detent means may be of the type shown in FIG. 12, comprising a plunger element 392 in an appropriate opening and resiliently urged by a spring 394, or it may be a resilient plastic insert element or button.

A modified form of the projection-and-recess mechanical means for selectively adjusting the position of the holder plate, is shown in the fragmentary perspective view of FIG. 13. In the modified form, projections extend from the end surface of the holder plate and recesses are defined in the end walls of the box. FIG. 13 shows fragmentary portions of a box 410 including a first end wall 412, in which are defined recesses, and a portion of a holder plate 414 from a first end surface 416 of which projections extend. Longer or higher projections 418, 420 have edge surfaces 422, 424, respectively, and shorter projections 426, 428, have seating surfaces 430, 432, respectively. The opposite or second end of the plate (not shown) has similar projections in reverse array. The recesses in box wall 412 include longer recessed 434, 436 having seating surfaces 438, 440, respectively, and shorter recesses 442, 444 having seating surfaces 446, 448, which recesses are engageable with the projections of the holder plate. It will be understood from the geometry of the parts that, with the projections shown on the first end surface of the holder engaged in the recesses of the first box end wall shown, the holder will be supported in a lower position, with the end surfaces 430, 432 of projections 426, 420, respectively, seating against the seating surfaces 438, 440 of recesses 434, 436, respectively. It will be further understood that with the projections extending from the second end surface (not shown) of the holder engaged in the recesses shown in the box first end wall 412, the lower edge surfaces of the longer projections rest on the seating surfaces 446, 448 of shorter recesses 442, 444 to support the holder in its higher position.