US3068840A - Pencil holder or the like - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 18, 1962 D. E. PULLINS PENCIL HOLDER OR THE LIKE Filed May 11. 1959 FIG. 3.

INVENTOR Donald E. Pal/ins FlG.l.

ATTORNEY 3,068,840 PENCIL HOLDER OR THE LIKE Donald E. Pullins, 5314 8th Road 5., Arlington 4, Va. Filed May 11, 1959, Ser. No. 812,179 2 Claims. (Cl. 12023) This invention relates to pencil holder or the like and in particular relates to a pencil holder of the pocket or receptacle type which may be attached to the end cover of a book.

In referring to a pencil holder in the course of the specification, it is to be expressly understood that pencils, pens, crayons or other writing instruments are to be embodied in the term.

It has been recognized for some time that it is desirable to have a pencil holder that may be attached in some form or other to a book. For one thing, it provides a convenient manner of carrying pencils and pens for the user who is typically a school child. Among the many advantages that may be ascribed to the use of a pencil holder and book combination include the elimination of tearing of shirts, puncturing of trouser pockets, and marking of pocketbooks.

In making a pencil holder of the type described, it is desirable to have a pencil holder that will permit advertising material to be printed, embossed, or otherwise presented on the holder to make the sponsorship or manufacturer of the pencil holder attractive to various business concerns. It would also be desirable to have the holder prepared from a single cut blank in order to facilitate rapid and economical formation of the pencil holder.

Other desirable features of a pencil holder of the type which may be attached to a book include the use of a lightweight material so as not to make it cumbersome to carry the book and to have a. compact holder which will not interfere with the opening and closing of the book. Additionally, the holder should not mar or mutilate the book.

According to the present invention, all of the foregoing advantages and desirable features are present in the pencil holder of the invention by virtue of the discovery of a unique blank that may be stamped or cut from a thin strip of plastic material and formed into a pencil holder of the pocket or receptacle type. The blank is formed from a strip of material that may be readily inserted beneath the end cover of a book and snapped in front thereof. A plurality of snaps are provided to enable the pencil holder to be used with books of various sizes.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel pencil holder or the like which may be attached to the end cover of a book and which will not require mutilation or alteration of the cover.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pencil holder or the like which may be formed from a unitary blank and which is adapted to be attached to the end cover of a book.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pencil holder or the like adapted to be attached to the end cover of books of various sizes.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novel pencil holder or the like attachable to the end cover of a book which will not interfere with the opening and closing of the book.

These and further objects and advantages of the present invention shall become more apparent upon reference to the following specification and claims and appended drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the pencil holder blank;

3,068,846 Patented Dec. 18, 1962 from a thermoplastic material having a thickness in the order of A of an inch. The blank 10 is shown to consist of a main flexible panel 12 which is adapted to overlie the end cover of a book. Main flexible panel- 12 is separated by a fold line 14 from a top panel 16. Another fold line 18 separates top panel 16 from an attaching strip 20. A fold line 22 separates the main flexible panel 12 from a long thin strap 24. The heads of a pair of snaps are indicated at 26 which are selectively engageable with a mating closure snap 28 on the main flexible panel 12. Integral with the main flexible panel 12 and positioned above and substantially in line with fold line 14 is a similar fold line 30 which connects a closure flap indicated generally at 32 with the main flexible panel 12. The closure flap 32 is further provided with a sealing portion 34 which is adapted to be folded over and sealed upon main flexible panel 12 and a flap portion 36. The latter is provided with a closure snap 38. A fold line 35 permits the flap portion 36 to be bent downwardly toward top panel 16 so that closure snap 38 may engage mating closure snap 40.

It will be noted that there is a cut-out or slotted portion 42 which separates the closure flap 32 from the top panel 16. Also the closure flap is undercut slightly at 43 to lessen the chance of the flap portion 36 tearing in the course of its use.

Reference is made to FIGURE 2 which illustrates the pencil holder attached to a book. The book is generally indicated at 46 having a front cover 48 and a back cover 59. In order to reach the position shown in FIGURE 2, the top panel 16 is folded along the fold line 14 on top of the main flexible panel 12 and attaching strip 20 is carried over and behind main flexible panel 12. The attaching strip 20 is preferably attached to the main flexible panel 12 by a heat sealing operation but, alternatively, may be attached thereto by a suitable adhesive. The top panel 16 is attached to the main flexible panel 12 by a heat sealing operation immediately above the fold line 22 to form the bottom portion of a receptacle or pocket which is indicated at 45 in FIGURE 3. In similar fashion the closure flap 32 is folded over the top of the main flexible panel 12 and the entire sealing portion 34 is heat sealed to panel 12. The flap portion 36 is shown with the closure snap 38 in engagement with the mating closure snap 40. Finally, the long thin strap 24 is slipped behind the end cover designated at 44 in FIGURE 3 and one of the snaps 26 is engaged with the mating snap 38.

Reference may be had to FIGURE 3 for a sectional view of the pencil holder.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGURE 4. Reference to that figure shows a blank 10 similar to that shown in FIGURE 1 except that the strap 24 is integral with the top panel 16 and is joined thereto along a fold line 52. Additionally, the strap 24 is provided with a tapering portion 54 which tapers down from the full width of the top panel 16 to the narrow width of the strip 24. The purpose of the tapering portion 54 is to provide a bottom closure for the pocket or receptacle 45 when the strip 24 is in the assembled position shown in FIGURE 2. Alternatively, the bottom may be formed for the blank in FIGURE 4 by a heat sealing operation in the marginal portion in the 3 main flexible panel 12 and the top panel 16 immediately abovethe fold line 52.

Since the blank from which the pencil holder is formed is of a plastic material, it may have suitable painting or embossing thereon which may carry the name or advertising of the manufacturer.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that there has been provided a novel pencil holder which may easily be attached to the end cover of'a book without mutilating or altering the cover and which may be applied to books of various sizes by virtue of the number of snaps 26 on the strap 24. In this regard, it will be appreciated that although only two of these snaps have been illustrated, additional snaps may be provided if desired. It is also advantageous to have the pencil holder formed from a single blank since the manufacture may be accomplished economically and in a minimum of time. Finally, it will be understood that by virtue of the fact that the width of the pencil holder does not exceed the width of the book on which it is to be used that the books may be stacked on a bookshelf without requiring additional space and also the book may be opened or closed without interference'from the pencil holder.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and'desired to be secured by the United States Letters Patent is:

1. A pencil holder or the like adapted to be attached to the end cover of a book comprising a stamped blank having a receptacle for pencils open at one end formed from first and second flexible panels, an attaching strip on one of said vflexible panels secured to the other of said flexible panels, a flexible strap united to said first flexible panel along a marginal edge thereof, said flexible strap adapted to be inserted behind said' end cover, closure means onsaidfirst flexible panel engageable with mating closure means on said strap, and a generally rectangular closure flap united to a'longitudinal marginal edge of said first flexible panel along a portion of one marginal edge of said closure flap, said generally rectangular closure flap having a first portion folded over and heat sealed to said first flexible panel and a second portion; folded at right angles to said first portion and provided with closure means engageable with mating closure means on said second flexible panel. 3

2. A pencil holder or the like as defined in cla'imil wherein the edge of said closure flap united to the longitudinal marginal edge of said first flexible panel is provided with a cut away portion at one end to prevent the tearing of said closure flap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 967,487 Baker Aug. 16, 1910 1,787,791 May Ian. 6, 1931 1,996,664 Walker Apr. 2, 1935

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