GB2386099A

GB2386099A - pen retainer for counter or desk top with retraction mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2386099A
Application number: GB0205058A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan William Stollery; Kim Marie Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-05
Filing date: 2002-03-05
Publication date: 2003-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 2022-03-05
Also published as: GB2386099B; GB0205058D0

Abstract

A support and dedicated pen assembly incorporating a varied slope stem 2, tether 10 and sliding gravity weight 6 retracting mechanism which, in combination reduces the traction applied to the pen as it is removed from the support to the writing position, whilst also delivering sufficient traction to lift and dock the dedicated pen assembly onto the formed head 3 irrespective from where or how it is released by the user. The pen comprises a pen holder 4 and pen 5, joined by a locating and locking joiner 11 to form a dedicated pen assembly. This assembly is attached to a tether 10 by a swivel 9. The tether 10 passes via the formed head 3 of the support into the varied slope stem where it passes via the loop in the swivel 7, (fixed to the sliding gravity weight 6), to swivel 8 in formed head 3, where it is attached. The combination of the swivels 7, 8 and 9 preventing the tether 10 from twisting.

Description

SUPPORT AND DEDICATED PEN ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a pen support and connected self returning dedicated pen assembly.

Pen supports, holders or retainers are known devices which are generally found secured to counters and desk tops. Some have a pen attached by a cord, wire or chain. These pen holders do not return the pen to the holder and are invariably left untidily laying on the desk un-returned. The tether also gets in the way of the writing operation. Also known are pen retainers whose pen is fixed by flexible cord to a traction unit mounted in the base. These retainers utilise a spring driven unit to retract the pen after extension by the user. The disadvantages of these units are that the spring retractor by its nature increases the traction on the pen the further the pen is withdrawn from the unit when the starting traction on extension must be sufficient to"dock"the pen onto the base unit, this increasing "pull" on the pen makes writing difficult, and also the cord or line is prone to twisting, and tangling.

An object of this invention is to provide a dedicated pen and support assembly where the traction applied to the pen is reduced as it is moved from the support to the writing position and also the tether is prevented from twisting thereby alleviating the above mentioned disadvantages of known sets.

According to the present invention there is provided a pen assembly with variable slope support and internal gravity weight retracting mechanism which reduces the traction on the pen as it is moved from the support to the writing position.

The support comprises a base unit mountable to a counter, desk, table, work surface or stand, with a formed head which will automatically seat the dedicated pen assembly in a vertical orientation when it is returned from use by the retracting mechanism. This formed head is attached to the varied slope stem of the support The pen, when connected to the pen holder by a locating and locking mechanism, forms the dedicated pen assembly. This dedicated pen assembly is connected by an attached tether, to a sliding gravity weight mechanism inside the varied slope stem of the base unit, which will return the dedicated pen assembly to rest in a vertical orientation on the formed end of the base unit irrespective of how it is released, or where it is released from, by the user. This mechanism is so designed to reduce the traction on the dedicated pen assembly as it is removed from the support unit to the writing position, whilst retaining enough traction near to the support unit, to lift and"dock"the dedicated pen assembly onto the formed end of the holder. The tether is attached at all points within the dedicated pen assembly and support by swivels which prevent the tether twisting and the mechanism jamming.

A preferred embodiment of a pen assembly and support constructed In accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of reference only, with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which.

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the dedicated pen and support assembly FIGURE 2 is a section of the assembly in figure 1 showing dedicated pen assembly"docked"on formed head of holder FIGURE 3 is a section of the assembly in figure 1 showing dedicated pen assembly just prior to lift towards seat.

FIGURE 4 is a section of the dedicated pen and pen holder assembly.

FIGURE 5 is a drawing of the dedicated pen joiner.

FIGURE 6 shows an alternative holder with curved stem.

FIGURE 7 shows a side mounting holder with a varied slope stem.

The support and dedicated pen assembly (Figure 1) comprises a base 1 formed from plastic, nylon, wood or composite material, with a flat horizontal base on which it stands when fixed to a counter, desk, table, bench, work top or unit by means of gluing, screwing or bolting. A base may also be used which affixes the pen and holder assembly to the side of a counter, desk, table, bench, work top or unit (fig 7). Into the base 1 is fitted the varied slope stem 2 of the holder unit. This is formed from plastic, nylon, composite material or metal, and is hollow to house the retracting mechanism. In the preferred example shown in Figure 1 it is circular in section but could also be square, rectangular, oval or elliptical in section. The overall dimensions of the varied slope stem 2 are not critical with the exception of the lower steeper angled section which must be of adequate length to allow the pen assembly to be picked up and docked onto the formed head 3. The example shown is designed to effect this operation in an adequate fashion.

The Formed Head 3 (Fig. 1) is manufactured in a fashion that all surfaces are convex, and in particular the area 23, underneath the tether 10 entry point into the formed head 3. This convex shaping prevents the dedicated pen assembly from jamming (irrespective of how it is released or where it is released from), as it abuts the formed head 3 when pulled towards its seat on the formed head 3 by the traction applied by the sliding gravity weight 6 via the tether 10 (fig 2). The exception to this are the concave shaping of the top and bottom semi circular grooves In to which the pen holder 4 locates in a vertical orientation when pulled fully home onto the formed head 3 by the tether 10. The circular orifice 14 (fig 2), via which the tether 10 passes through the formed head 3 provides for the smooth running of the tether 10 on extension and retraction. This formed head 3 is an interference fit inside the varied slope stem 2 and can be secured to the varied

slope stem 2 by a small screw or allen screw. The formed head when removed takes the complete sliding gravity weight 6 and operating mechanism with it from inside of the variable slope stem 2 for ease of maintenance and I or replacement.

The pen holder 4 (fig 4) is formed from plastic nylon, or composite material and has a fixed tip 21 which has a domed top to prevent jamming when the dedicated pen assembly abuts the formed head 3 as it is retracting towards the"docked" position, as in fig 1. The pen holder 4 is connected to the pen 5 by a cylindrical joiner 11 which fits exactly to the inside of pen 5 and is permanently fixed internally to the pen 5. This joiner forms an abutment to which the ink tube 13 rests. The cylindrical joiner 11 projects internally into the pen holder 4 within which it is an interference fit. The joiner has a sprung spigot 15 to which is fixed or formed a male locking peg 12 which locates exactly in a female orifice 17 in the pen holder 4, this aligns and locks the pen to the pen holder 4, forming the pen assembly, and preventing the pen being removed. The pen 5 can only be separated from the pen holder 4 by depressing the male locking peg 12 through the female orifice 17 with a tool provided with the assembly. To join the pen 5 to the pen holder 4 first the sprung spigot 15 is entered into the open end of the pen holder 4 at a slight angle forcing the sprung spigot 15 to deflect. The pen 5 is then pushed towards the pen holder 5 until the joiner 11 enters the pen holder 4. The pen 5 is then pushed fully home into the pen holder 4, the joiner 11 aligning exactly the pen 5 and pen holder 4 due to the interference fit of the joiner 11 with pen holder 4. The pen 5 is then rotated whilst holding steady the pen holder 4 until the male locking peg 12 aligns with and is forced into the matching female orifice in the wall of pen holder 4 by the action of the deflected sprung spigot 15, thus aligning, locking and forming the dedicated pen assembly. Only the pen 5 needs to be replaced when the ink runs out rather than the whole pen assembly.

The connected pen 5 and pen holder assembly 4 is fixed to the retracting tether 10, (fig 2), this tether 10 is preferably manufactured from a strong abrasion resistant nylon or kevtabraid with high torsionat resistance, but could also be manufactured from monofilament nylon, kevla 1 or composite material. This attachment is by permanent fixing of tether 10 to swivel 9 which is fitted or glued internally to the pen holder 4 (fig 4). The tether 10 (fig 2), enters the varied slope stem 2 via the orifice 14 in the head 3 (fig 2). This orifice is shaped in a convex fashion similar to a venturi to guide the tether 10 smoothly. The tether 10 threads via the inside of the varied slope stem 2 through the ring in the weight swivel 7 which is internally attached to the sliding gravity weight 6. This gravity weight may also be in the form of a roller or wheel or may be wheeled to roll down the varied slope stem 2. In the example shown and for the purpose of this description the preferred gravity weight is sliding. This sliding gravity weight 6 is manufactured from metal to maximise weight to size ratio. This sliding gravity weight 6 may also be manufactured utilising a hollow container holding liquid or solid infill. The tether 10 then passes via the inside of the varied slope stem 2 to the head swivel 8 where it is permanently secured. The combination of swivels 7,8 and 9 are necessary to prevent tether twist which would result in tangling and/or jamming of the mechanism. In the shown, preferred example, (fig 2) the combination of the tether 10 passing from the pen holder swivel 9 via the weight swivel 7 to the head swivel 8 increases the effective operating length of the tether 10 by a factor of two over a single pull tether attached directly between pen holder 4 and sliding gravity

weight. Although a single pull arrangement may be used the operating range of the dedicated pen assembly could be restrictive. With the addition of a further swivel to the sliding gravity weight 6 and threading the tether 10 through the loop in the head swivel 8 from the weight swivel 7 and returning it to attach it to an extra swivel fixed to the sliding gravity weight 6 a"treble"pull can also be arranged giving extended range of the pen, The weight of the sliding gravity weight 6 would need to be increased by a minimum factor of 50% over the shown arrangement In order to operate in the same fashion as the shown example.

Furthermore with the addition of another swivel to the head assembly 3 and further re-routing of the tether 10 a"quadruple"pull can be arranged, again a further corresponding increase in the weight of sliding gravity weight 6 would need to be made, this would further extend the pens operating range.

The lower section of the varied slope stem 2 (fig 2) has a steeper angle to the top section of the varied slope stem 2 and is designed in conjunction with the sliding gravity weight 6, tether 10 and swivels 7,8 and 9 to provide sufficient traction to lift and "dock" the dedicated pen assembly onto the formed head 3. The base of sliding weight 6 is noted to be a small distance from the lower end of the stem when the pen is fully retracted (fig 2) in order that the dedicated pen assembly is retained on the head 3 when not in use. On extension of the dedicated pen assembly by the user to the writing position, the sliding gravity weight 6 slides up the steeper angle of the lower section of the varied slope stem 2 until it reaches the transition to the lower angled top section of the varied slope stem 2. The user will write with the sliding weight 6 under the influence of the lower angle of the top section of the stem 2. The benefit of the lower angle of the top section of stem 2 is reduced traction on the pen 5 facilitating easier writing, however the tether 10 IS still held, under traction, clear of the writing surface.

When the user has finished writing the traction provided by the combination of the lower angle of the top of the varied slope stem 2 and the sliding weight and tether assembly is sufficient to drag the dedicated pen assembly 5 across the surface of the desk, table, bench, work top or unit, but is insufficient to lift and"dock"the dedicated pen assembly, it will however deliver the dedicated pen assembly to a point on the counter, desk, table, bench, work top or unit (fig3), where it IS influenced by the increased traction applied via the tether 10 from the sliding gravity weight 6 as this weight enters the steeper angle of the lower section of the varied slope stem 2 (see figure 3), where traction is increased to a sufficient level to lift and"dock the dedicated pen assembly onto the formed head 3.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A support and dedicated pen assembly with variable slope stem and internal retracting mechanism which reduces the traction on the pen as it is moved from the support to the writing position.

2. A support and dedicated pen assembly with variable slope stem as claimed in claim 1 with an internal sliding gravity weight retracting mechanism.

3. A support and dedicated pen assembly with variable slope stem as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2 in which the lower section of the variable slope stem and sliding gravity weight system exerts sufficient traction on the dedicated pen assembly to lift and dock this assembly onto the support.

4. A support and dedicated pen assembly with variable slope stem as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2 in which the upper section of the variable slope stem and sliding gravity weight system only exerts sufficient traction on the dedicated pen assembly to slide this assembly across the counter/desk to a point where the lower section of the variable slope support influences the sliding gravity weight, keeping the traction on the dedicated pen assembly at a minimum in the writing position.

5. A support and dedicated pen assembly with variable slope stem as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2 in which the tether attaching the dedicated pen assembly to the sliding gravity weight and support incorporates swivels at all fixing points to prevent twisting of the tether.

6. A support and dedicated pen assembly with variable slope stem as claimed in any of the preceding claims which incorporates a swivel attached to the formed head to which the tether is secured to prevent tether twist.

7. A support and dedicated pen assembly with variable slope stem as claimed in any of the preceding claims which incorporates a sliding gravity weight to which is fixed an eyed swivel by which it is attached to the tether, preventing tether twist.

8. A support and dedicated pen assembly with variable slope stem as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the dedicated pen and holder assembly is connected to the tether by means of a swivel, preventing tether twist.

9. A support and dedicated pen assembly with variable slope stem as claimed in any of the preceding claims with a formed head which is shaped to automatically seat the dedicated pen assembly on the formed head and prevent the dedicated pen assembly from jamming as it is returned to the support.

10 A support and dedicated pen assembly with variable slope stem as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the pen is attached to pen holder by an interference fit joiner with locating and locking peg forming the dedicated pen

<Desc/Clms Page number 6>

assembly, and enabling easy changing of the pen whilst preventing misappropriation or loss of the pen 11. A dedicated pen and support assembly with variable slope stem as claimed In any of the preceding claims where the top of the pen holder is formed In a rounded fashion to prevent jamming when returning to support.

12. A support and dedicated pen assembly with variable slope stem as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the dedicated pen assembly is connected by a single tether directly to the sliding gravity weight by a single pull arrangement.

13. A support and dedicated pen assembly with variable slope stem as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the dedicated pen assembly is connected by a tether to the support head swivel via a swivel in the sliding gravity weight in a double pull arrangement increasing the range of the pen by a factor of 2 over the arrangement in claim 13.

14. A support and dedicated pen assembly with variable slope stem as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the dedicated pen assembly is connected by a tether to the support via a swivel in the sliding gravity weight and then reconnected to the sliding gravity weight via a swivel in the head of the support in a treble pull arrangement increasing the range of the pen by a factor of 3 over the arrangement in claim 13.

15. A support and dedicated pen assembly with variable slope support as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the dedicated pen assembly is connected by a tether to the support via a swivel in the sliding gravity weight and then via a swivel in the support head to a second swivel in the sliding gravity weight then to a fixing to a second swivel in the support head reconnected to the sliding gravity weight via a swivel in the head of the support in a quadruple pull arrangement increasing the range of the pen by a factor of 4 over the arrangement in claim 13.

16. A support and dedicated pen assembly with variable slope stem as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the dedicated pen assembly is a ball point pen.

18. A support and dedicated pen assembly with variable slope stem as claimed In any of the preceding claims in which the support unit is mounted to the side of counters desks and work-tops.

19. A support and dedicated pen assembly with variable slope stem as claimed In any of the preceding claims where the stem is curved in profile.

20. A support and dedicated pen assembly with variable slope stem as claimed in any of the preceding claims where the gravity weight is a wheel, or a roller or is wheeled.

<Desc/Clms Page number 7>

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS

1. A support and dedicated pen assembly with varied slope stem and internal retracting mechanism which automatically reduces the traction on the pen as it is moved from the support to the writing position.

2. A support and dedicated pen assembly with varied slope stem as claimed in claim 1 with an internal sliding gravity weight retracting mechanism.

3. A support and dedicated pen assembly with varied slope stem as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2 in which the lower section of the varied slope stem and sliding gravity weight system exerts sufficient traction on the dedicated pen assembly to lift and dock this assembly onto the support.

4. A support and dedicated pen assembly with varied slope stem as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2 in which the upper section of the varied slope stem and sliding gravity weight system only exerts sufficient traction on the dedicated pen assembly to slide this assembly across the counter/desk to a point where the lower section of the varied slope support influences the sliding gravity weight, keeping the traction on the dedicated pen assembly at a minimum in the writing position.

5. A support and dedicated pen assembly with varied slope stem as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2 in which the tether attaching the dedicated pen assembly to the sliding gravity weight and support incorporates swivels at all fixing points to prevent twisting of the tether.

6. A support and dedicated pen assembly with varied slope stem as claimed in any of the preceding claims which incorporates a swivel attached to the formed head to which the tether is secured to prevent tether twist.

7. A support and dedicated pen assembly with varied slope stem as claimed in any of the preceding claims which incorporates a sliding gravity weight to which is fixed an eyed swivel by which it is attached to the tether, preventing tether twist.

8. A support and dedicated pen assembly with varied slope stem as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the dedicated pen and holder assembly is connected to the tether by means of a swivel, preventing tether twist.

9. A support and dedicated pen assembly with varied slope stem as claimed in any of the preceding claims with a formed head which is shaped to automatically seat the dedicated pen assembly on the formed head and prevent the dedicated pen assembly from jamming as it is returned to the support.

10 A support and dedicated pen assembly with varied slope stem as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the pen is attached to pen holder by an interference fit joiner with locating and locking peg forming the dedicated pen 6

<Desc/Clms Page number 8>

assembly, and enabling easy changing of the pen whilst preventing misappropriation or loss of the pen.

11. A dedicated pen and support assembly with varied slope stem as claimed in any of the preceding claims where the top of the pen holder is formed in a rounded fashion to prevent jamming when returning to support.

12. A support and dedicated pen assembly with varied siope stem as ciaimed in any of the preceding claims in which the dedicated pen assembly is connected by a single tether directly to the sliding gravity weight by a single pull arrangement.

13. A support and dedicated pen assembly with varied slope stem as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the dedicated pen assembly is connected by a tether to the support head swivel via a swivel in the sliding gravity weight in a double pull arrangement increasing the range of the pen by a factor of 2 over the arrangement in claim 12.

14. A support and dedicated pen assembly with varied slope stem as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the dedicated pen assembly is connected by a tether to the support via a swivel in the sliding gravity weight and then reconnected to the sliding gravity weight via a swivel in the head of the support in a treble pull arrangement increasing the range of the pen by a factor of 3 over the arrangement in claim 12.

15. A support and dedicated pen assembly with varied slope support as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the dedicated pen assembly is connected by a tether to the support via a swivel in the sliding gravity weight and then via a swivel in the support head to a second swivel in the sliding gravity weight then to a fixing to a second swivel in the support head reconnected to the sliding gravity weight via a swivel in the head of the support in a quadruple pull arrangement increasing the range of the pen by a factor of 4 over the arrangement in claim 12.

16. A support and dedicated pen assembly with varied slope stem as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the dedicated pen assembly is a ball point pen.

17. A support and dedicated pen assembly with varied slope stem as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the support unit is mounted to the side of counters desks and work-tops.

18. A support and dedicated pen assembly with varied slope stem as claimed in any of the preceding claims where the stem is curved in profile.

20. A support and dedicated pen assembly with varied slope stem as claimed in any of the preceding claims where the gravity weight is a wheel, or a roller or is wheeled.