Fold-out pencil cup

Abstract

An instrument storage device comprises a first housing member, a second housing member, and at least one compartment. The second housing member is pivotally connected to the first housing member and adapted to be displaced between a closed position in close proximity to the first housing member and an open position spaced from the first housing member. The compartment is disposed between the first and second housing members and includes a flexible material such that the compartment is disposed in a collapsed state when the second housing member is in the closed position, and an expanded state when the second housing member is in the open position. The compartment comprises a continuous sidewall that defines a cavity for receiving and storing one or more instruments when in the expanded state.

1 . An instrument storage device, comprising:
 a first housing member;   a second housing member pivotally connected to the first housing member and adapted to be displaced between a closed position in close proximity to the first housing member and an open position spaced from the first housing member;   at least one compartment disposed between the first and second housing members, the compartment including a flexible material and comprising a continuous sidewall that defines a cavity for receiving and storing one or more instruments, the compartment disposed in a collapsed state when the second housing member is in the closed position, and an expanded state when the second housing member is in the open position.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity of the at least one compartment comprises a first volume when the at least one compartment occupies the collapsed state and a second volume when the at least one compartment occupies the expanded state, the second volume greater than the first volume. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one compartment further comprises at least one support member spanning a portion of the cavity and attached to the sidewall. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one compartment further comprises a support web spanning the cavity and attached to the sidewall, the support web defining a plurality of apertures, each aperture adapted to receive and store one or more instruments when the compartment is in the expanded state. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of apertures have varying dimensions. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the volume of the plurality of apertures increases with increased distance from an axis about which the second housing member pivots relative to the first housing member. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one compartment comprises a plurality of compartments circumferentially spaced between the first and second housing members. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material of the at least one compartment further comprises a resilient material such that the at least one compartment is biased into the expanded state when the second housing member is in the open position. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one compartment is constructed of at least one of a rubber material and a silicon material. 
   
   
       10 . An instrument storage device, comprising:
 a first housing member;   a second housing member pivotally connected to the first housing member and adapted for displacement between a closed position in close proximity to the first housing member and an open position spaced from the first housing member;   at least one compartment, each compartment including a flexible material and comprising at least one continuous sidewall defining a containment cavity, the at least one compartment fixed between the first and second housing members of the housing such that the containment cavity has a first volume when the second housing member is in the closed position, and a second volume that is greater than the first volume when the second housing member is in the open position.   
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one compartment further comprises at least one support member spanning a portion of the containment cavity and attached to the sidewall. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one compartment further comprises a support web spanning the containment cavity and attached to the sidewall, the support web defining a plurality of apertures, each aperture adapted to receive and store one or more instruments when the second housing member is in the open position. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of apertures have varying dimensions. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the volume of the plurality of apertures increases with increased distance from an axis about which the second housing member pivots relative to the first housing member. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one compartment comprises a plurality of compartments circumferentially spaced between the first and second housing members. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible material of the at least one compartment further comprises a resilient material such that the sidewall is biased to define the containment cavity as having the second volume when the second housing member is in the open position. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one compartment is constructed of at least one of a rubber material and a silicon material. 
   
   
       18 . An instrument storage device, comprising:
 a first housing member;   a second housing member pivotally connected to the first housing member and adapted for displacement between a closed position in close proximity to the first housing member and an open position spaced from the first housing member;   a plurality of compartments circumferentially spaced between the first and second housing members, each compartment constructed of a flexible material and comprising:
 a continuous sidewall defining a containment cavity, and 
 a support web spanning the containment cavity and attached to the continuous sidewall, the support web defining a plurality of apertures, each aperture for receiving and storing one or more instruments. 
   
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the support web comprises a plurality of intersecting support members. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of apertures have varying dimensions. 
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein each compartment is disposed in a collapsed state when the second housing member is in the closed position and an expanded state when the second housing member is in the open position. 
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein each containment cavity define a first volume when the compartments are disposed in the collapsed state, and a second volume that is greater than the first volume when the compartments are disposed in the expanded state. 
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the flexible material of each compartment further comprises a resilient material such that each compartment is biased into the expanded state. 
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein each compartment is constructed of at least one of a rubber material and a silicon material.