US20050121352A1

US20050121352A1 - Multi-purpose holder having a post

Info

Publication number: US20050121352A1
Application number: US10/727,744
Authority: US
Inventors: Dae Kim; Kil Kim
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-12-05
Filing date: 2003-12-05
Publication date: 2005-06-09
Also published as: WO2005055781A1

Abstract

A multi-purpose holder comprises a container having a base and a peripheral wall, the base having an outer circumference, the peripheral wall upwardly extending from about the outer circumference of the base for at least two inches in height, where a post has a mid portion, a top end and a bottom end attached to the base to enable the mid portion of the post to prevent pens, pencils and other items inserted into the container from tangling with each other. The top end may hold thereon a decoration article.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a multi-purpose holder. More specifically,. the present invention relates to an improved multi-purpose holder having a central post to hold stationery articles and to prop decoration articles on top of the post.
A pencil case or a pencil holder is most used for keeping stationery items. Various pencil holders are in use for holding and keeping those items. However, such conventional pencil holders are inevitably exposed to tangling among pencils and pens inserted therein.
An increased demand is to ideally overcome such a tangling in the pencil holder and further satisfy a user's need. Another demand on the market is to enable the pencil holder to also prop decoration articles on top of the post. For example, those who love golf want to place a golf ball nearby for accessibility.
A further demand is to enable a pencil holder to include an article to facilitate holding and moving of the holder, preferably in form of a post that axially stands inside the holder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is contrived to overcome the conventional disadvantages. Accordingly, it is an object of a multi-purpose holder having a post according to the present invention to provide an improved multi-purpose holder having a central post to hold stationery articles and to simultaneously prop decoration articles on top of the post. Another object is to prevent tangling of pencils, pens and toothbrushes inserted therein.
To achieve these and other objects, the multi-purpose holder having a post according to the present invention comprises a container having a base and a peripheral wall. The base has an outer circumference, and the peripheral wall upwardly extends from about the outer circumference of the base for at least two inches in height.
A post having a mid portion, a top end and a bottom end is provided to have its bottom end attached to the base so as to enable the mid portion of the post to prevent pens, pencils and other items inserted into the container from tangling with each other. The top end may hold a decoration article thereon. Selectively, the bottom end may be detachably attached to the base.
In an embodiment, a plurality of protrusions radially extend from the peripheral wall toward the post to further prevent tangling of said pens, pencils, and other items. It is also preferred that the post is between about 1.0 inch and about 2.5 inches in diameter. The post is detachably attached to the base, cylindrical in shape, and taller than the peripheral wall. Also, the protrusions are formed along an upper rim of the peripheral wall, each semi-conic in shape to upwardly grow from-the outer circumference of the base, each semi-circular in shape when viewed atop, or each substantially circular in shape when viewed atop.
An advantage of the multi-purpose holder having a post according to the present invention is prevention of tangling of pencils and pens inserted therein by providing a post and protrusions along an inner periphery thereof. Another advantage is to allow the user to utilize the post as either a decoration object or a decoration tool allowing, for example, a golf ball to stay on top of the post, thereby satisfying a user's aesthetic desire associated with personal activities. In addition, the multi-purpose holder enables the post to serve as a handle that facilitates holding and moving of the holder, thereby maximizing usability and product reliability.
Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a multi-purpose holder according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the multi-purpose holder according to the present invention; and
FIG. 3 is another top plan view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-purpose holder 10 according to the present invention comprises a container 12 and a post 14. The container 12 has a base 16 and a peripheral wall 18. The base 16 has an outer circumference 20. On or near the outer circumference 20, the peripheral wall 18 extends upwardly. The container 12 can be shaped in cylindrical, polyhedral, or other known forms depending upon a user's need. Also, the peripheral wall 18 is preferred to have at least two inches in height. Here, the post 14 may be formed taller than the peripheral wall 18. In a preferred version, the post 14 serves as a decoration article, for example, shaped after an animal or a cartoon character.
The post 14 has a mid portion 22, a top end 24 and a bottom end 26. The bottom end 26 is attached to the base 16 but the mid portion 22 is not directly attached to the peripheral wall 18. In a preferred version, the bottom end 26 may be detachably attached to the base 16 using, for example, a set of bolt and nut. The middle portion 22 of the post 14 serves to separate pens 13, pencils, toothbrushes and other stationery items inserted into the container 12, thereby being useful in preventing tangling of said pens, pencils, toothbrushes and other stationery items. Further, the post 14 may serve as a handle to facilitate holding and moving of the holder 10.
The bottom end 26 of the post 14 is attached to the base 16 so as to enable the mid portion 22 of the post 14 to prevent pens, pencils and other items inserted into the container 12 from tangling with each other, whereas the top end 24 of the post 14 is formed to hold a decoration article, such as a golf ball 15, a table tennis ball, a base ball or other decoration items depending on the user's preference.
In this construction, a plurality of protrusions 28 are provided to radially extend from the peripheral wall 18 toward the post 14 to further prevent tangling of the pens, pencils, and other items. The post 14 is preferably formed between about 1.0 inch and about 2.5 inches in diameter. In a preferred version, the post 14 is cylindrical in shape. To optimize a tangling prevention, it is recommended that the protrusions 28 are formed along an upper rim 30 of the peripheral wall 16.
For a better performance, the protrusions 30 are each semi-conic in shape to upwardly grow from the outer circumference of the base 16. Selectively, the protrusions 28 are each semi-circular in shape when viewed atop, or substantially circular in shape when viewed atop.
As discussed above, advantages of the multi-purpose holder 10 according to the present invention are numerous. An advantage is to substantially prevent tangling of pencils and pens inserted therein in the container 12 by providing the protrusions 28 and the post 14, thereby improving product reliability.
Another advantage of the present invention is to satisfy a user's aesthetic and decorative desire by allowing the user to utilize the post as either a decoration object or a decoration tool. As an example, a decoration statue or ball can be mounted on the top end 24 to enhance the look and feel. In addition, the multi-purpose holder 10 enables the post 14 to serve as a handle that facilitates holding and moving of the holder 10, thereby maximizing usability and product reliability.
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible by converting the aforementioned construction. Therefore, the scope of the invention shall not be limited by the specification specified above and the appended claims.

Claims

1. A multi-purpose holder, comprising:

a) a container having a base and a peripheral wall, wherein the base has an outer circumference, wherein the peripheral wall upwardly extends from about the outer circumference of the base for at least two inches in height; and

b) a post having a top end, a mid portion and a bottom end, wherein the bottom end is attached to the base so as to enable the mid portion of the post to prevent pens, pencils and other items inserted into the container from tangling with each other, wherein the top end holds thereon a decoration article.

2. The holder of claim 1 wherein a plurality of protrusions radially extending from the peripheral wall toward the post to further prevent tangling of said pens, pencils, and other items.

3. The holder of claim 2 wherein the protrusions are formed along an upper rim of the peripheral wall.

4. The holder of claim 2 wherein the protrusions are each semi-conic in shape to upwardly grow from the outer circumference of the base.

5. The holder of claim 2 wherein the protrusions are each semi-circular in shape when viewed atop.

6. The holder of claim 2 wherein the protrusions are each substantially circular in shape when viewed atop.

7. The holder of claim 1 wherein the post serves as a handle to facilitate holding and moving of the holder.

8. A multi-purpose holder, comprising:

b) a post having a mid portion, a top end and a bottom end, wherein the bottom end is attached to the base so as to enable the mid portion of the post to prevent pens, pencils and other items inserted into the container from tangling with each other, wherein the post serves as a decoration article.

9. The holder of claim 8 wherein a plurality of protrusions radially extending from the peripheral wall toward the post to further prevent tangling of said pens, pencils, and other items.

10. The holder of claim 9 wherein the protrusions are formed along an upper rim of the peripheral wall.

11. The holder of claim 9 wherein the protrusions are each semi-conic in shape to upwardly grow from the outer circumference of the base.

12. The holder of claim 9 wherein the protrusions are each semi-circular in shape when viewed atop.

13. The holder of claim 9 wherein the protrusions are each substantially circular in shape when viewed atop.