EP0280837A1

EP0280837A1 - A novelty holder for a writing instrument

Info

Publication number: EP0280837A1
Application number: EP87830282A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giovanni Xueref
Original assignee: SOLUTION INTERNATIONAL Srl
Current assignee: SOLUTION INTERNATIONAL Srl
Priority date: 1987-03-04
Filing date: 1987-07-17
Publication date: 1988-09-07
Also published as: IT8721014V0; IT210033Z2

Abstract

A support structure for a writing instrument comprises a substantially L-shape base (2) having a longer arm (3) extending horizontally, and a shorter arm (4) upstanding from one end. The shorter arm (4) houses a magnet (8) which acts to attract a ferromagnetic element or cooperating magnet (11) attached at one end of a writing instrument (9) the other end (15) of which is secured to a flexible line (12) having a knot (16) which can be retained in a slot (7) of a projecting peg (5) at the end of the horizontal arm (3) of the L-shape support body (2) remote from the short arm (4).

Description

The present invention relates to a novelty holder for a writing instrument such as a ball-point pen, a fountain pen, a felt tip pen, a propelling pencil or the like.
Known holders for writing instruments are generally constituted either by box-like containers of various form, or by base plates provided with sockets for receiving writing instruments; in either case the writing instrument has to be introduced, after use, into the holder in a substantially vertical or more or less inclined position. Such known holders, however, do not provide the possibility of, for example, permanently retaining the writing instrument. Very often, therefore, because of the distraction of the user, the writing instrument is not put back again into the holder after use, with the consequent possibility of being mislaid.
The present invention seeks to provide a holder or support for a writing instrument in which the instrument can be held in place without being housed within a container and on which it can be maintained, when not being used, in a horizontal "floating" position.
According to the present invention, therefore, there is provided a support structure for a writing instrument such as a ball-point pen, a fountain pen, a felt tip pen, a propelling pencil, or the like, characterised in that it comprises a support body having means for supporting and restraining one end of the writing instrument and spaced therefrom a permanent magnet positioned such as to attract a ferromagnetic element fixed to the other end of the writing instrument whereby to maintain the instrument in a substantially floating position on the support structure.
One advantage of the present invention is that of providing a holder for a writing instrument of any type, such as a ball-point pen, a fountain pen, a felt tip pen, a propelling pencil or any other type of automatic pencil or the like, in which the writing instrument is permanently connected to the support structure itself.
The writing instrument holder of the invention, because of its specific configuration, also functions as an item of furniture for a writing table, having a new and original aspect capable of acting as an incentive to the sale of the writing instrument itself.
Another advantage of the present invention is that of providing a holder for a writing instrument, which can be produced at a particularly low cost starting from materials and constituent elements which are easily available on the market.
One embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a writing instrument holder formed as a preferred embodiment of the invention; and
Figure 2 is a partially sectioned side view of the holder illustrated in Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a writing instrument holder generally indicated by the reference numeral 1. This writing instrument holder 1 comprises a support body 2 which, in the preferred embodiment shown, is of substantially L-shape configuration. The L-shape support body 2 rests with the longer arm 3 of the L horizontally, whilst the shorter arm 4 of the L extends vertically. At the free end of the longer arm 3 of the L-shape support body 2 is formed an upstanding rectangular base 5 from which rises an integral, substantially cylindrical, peg or pin element 6 having, at its upper end, a transverse slot 7.
The shorter arm 4 of the L-shape support body 2 is formed as a hollow box-like element housing within it a permanent magnet element 8 as shown in Figure 2. This magnet is, in this case, a rectangular permanent magnet extending substantially for the whole of the height of the shorter arm 4.
The holder can support any kind of writing instrument; in this case a ball-point pen 9 has been illustrated by way of non-limitative example. This latter has, close to its writing tip 10, an annular permanent magnet element 11 securely fixed by any known means, for example glueing, to the end close to the writing tip. At its other end the ball-point pen 9 is fixed to the base 5 by means of an extensible coiled cord 12 having one end secured at 13 to the base 5 and the other end fixed to the rear end 15 of the ball-point pen 9 itself, that is the end remote from the writing tip.
The extensible coiled cord 12 has, at a predetermined distance from the free end 15 of the ball-point pen 9, a knot or other engrossment 16 able to constitute, in cooperation with the slot 17, a stop element for the ball-point pen 9.
More specifically, in the stored position, the ball-point pen 9 is disposed as is shown in the drawings, that is to say substantially horizontally, with the knot 16 abutting against the slot 7 and with the tip of the instrument held at a certain distance from the arm 4 of the L-shape body by the magnetic attraction of the magnets 8 and 11. The force of attraction of the permanent magnet 8, in cooperation with the annular magnet 11 will, as will be evident, maintain the instrument 9 in a substantially horizontal position in a floating manner in the sense that the ball-point pen 9 can be subjected to slight displacements but will always return to its horizontal floating position. This same effect could be achieved in other embodiments (not shown) by using a ferromagnetic element, such as a soft iron ring, in place of the annular magnet 11.
The L-shape support body naturally can be made in any desired material, for example any suitable plastics material, and can be moulded integrally in one piece.
A support structure for writing instruments in general is thus provided which, because of its specific configuration, constitutes an attractive, new and original furnishing object for writing tables and is such as to constitute an incentive to the sale of the writing instrument itself. The writing instrument is permanently fixed to the support by means of an extensible cord and, therefore, cannot be mislaid, whilst the "floating" retention of the instrument in the stored position makes it easy to take up the instrument for use or to return it to the holder.

Claims

1. A support structure for a writing instrument such as a ball-point pen, a fountain pen, a felt tip pen, a propelling pencil, or the like, characterised in that it comprises a support body (2) having means (6, 7) for supporting and restraining one end of the writing instrument (9) and spaced therefrom a permanent magnet positioned such as to attract a ferromagnetic element (11) fixed to the other end of the writing instrument (9) whereby to maintain the instrument in a substantially floating position on the support structure.

2. A support structure for a writing instrument, according to Claim 1, characterised in that the said support body (3) has a substantially L-shape form adapted to be placed with the longer arm (3) of the L horizontally whilst the shorter arm (4) of the L is formed as a box-like container to receive the said permanent magnet means (8).

3. A support structure for a writing instrument, according to Claim 1, characterised in that the said means (6, 7) for supporting and restraining the said one end of the writing instrument (9) are located at the end of the longer arm (3) of the L-shape body (2) and comprise a vertical pin (6) rigidly connected to the longer arm (3) of the said L-shape body (2) and having at its upper end, a longitudinal slot (7), the writing instrument having a flexible line (12) fixed to one end thereof the other end of which line (12) is fixed to the free end of the longer arm (2) of the L-shape body (3).

4. A support structure for a writing instrument, according to any preceding Claim, characterised in that the said ferromagnetic element (11) fixed to the said other end of the writing instrument (9) is constituted by an annular magnet (11) non-removably fixed adjacent the writing tip thereof.

5. A support structure for a writing instrument, according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, characterised in that the said flexible line (12) has, at a predetermined position along its length, a knot (16) for cooperating with the said slot (7) when the said line is introduced thereinto, to act as a locating element for the said writing instrument (9).