US2765509A

US2765509A - Pencil holding and carrying device

Info

Publication number: US2765509A
Application number: US400710A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick W Brehm
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-12-28
Filing date: 1953-12-28
Publication date: 1956-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 1973-10-09

Description

Oct. 9, 1956 F. w. BREHM PENCIL HOLDING AND CARRYING DEVICE Filed Dec. 28, 1953 IN V EN TOR.

FREDERIGK W. 'BREHM United States atent Ofihce 2,765,509 Patented Oct. 9, 1956 PENCIL HOLDING AND CARRYING DEVICE Frederick W. Brehm, Seattle, Wash. Application December 28, 1953, Serial No. 400,710 7 Claims. (CI. 24-10) My present invention relates to the general art of pencil holding and carrying devices and more particularly to means which will enable a person to easily secure a pencil, keys, or the like to a spring-clamping means which in turn can be secured to the clothing or within the hand bag of the user. This contemplates the providing of a specially formed top or clamp engaging member for a pencil or ball pen or the like and to then supply a coacting anchor means which Will provide a convenient guiding means for the engaging member so that the same can be easily secured in a resilient, gripping arrangement.

There are many people, particularly sales girls, waitresses, and others, who have reoccurring need for a pencil and who do not wish to be bothered with the same during the period of their activity when the pencil is not needed. In order to be of maximum use, the pencil carrying device must be one that can be used with one hand, which does not involve the use of a pocket and which will hold the pencil in the same position at all times so that the user may grasp the same freely with one hand without the necessity of watching the operation. In the past many devices have been produced purporting to provide this convenience. For instance, hooks have been provided that may be pinned to the outer garment and then a ring attached in the end of the pencil for engagement with the hook. This device however calls for exact engaging of the two elements and usually requires that the person carefully observe the operation and in many instances two hands are required. This defeats the effectiveness of any such arrangement. Another means which is supplied to serve this field is the cap pencil wherein a chain reel is pinned, or otherwise secured, to the garment or the handbag and a pencil is permanently secured to the end of the chain. This arrangement definitely locates the pencil conveniently for use and does not require any dexterity in those periods when the pencil is not in use. However, it has been found to make a reel which will be dependable in operation requires a reel of considerable size and bulk and this further entails considerable expense in the manufacture of the same so that the device is not readily available to the large group of persons who desire such services.

With this present invention it is believed that the majority of the objections encountered with the previous equipment is largely overcome and that a very light, ornamental anchoring means is provided which is readily adaptable to pinning on the clothing of the user or for securing on the hand bag so that the positioning of the pencil when not in use will be achieved. Provision is further made for guiding means of considerable extent so that the user can enter the pencil top into the guide means which will easily direct it into a resilient gripping channel or throat. Once the pencil is fitted in the resilient member it is held in position without regard to the possible inclinations of the anchor means due to movement of the individual or the hand bag. When the pencil is desired it can be obtained without visual aid and be very conveniently released even though the anchor be secured to very light weight clothing, for instance, as worn by saleswomen. It is therefore believed that a real advancement has been made in this field and that the present invention fully serves its intended purpose.

The principal object of my present invention therefore is to provide a pencil securing and carrying device which holds a pencil in a definite position and in a manner so that the pencil can be easily engaged in the holding position and likewise easily released from the same through the use only of one hand and without visual aid.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pencil carrying and positioning device which can be lightly constructed to the end that it may be made inexpensively from resilient materials which will give a long useful life.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pencil securing and carrying device wherein widespread guide means assist the user in placing the pencil within the resilient gripping jaws of the device without his having to observe the operation.

A further object of this operation is to provide a carrying and positioning means for pencils, pens, keys and the like, which is capable of being constructed of very light weight material, so that it can be secured to light weight clothing without endangering the same due to the weight of the device.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pencil carrying device in which the slight amount of force required to disengage the pencil will be in an upward direction so as to place no strain on the light weight material to which the device is secured.

Further objects, advantages and capabilities will be apparent from the description and disclosure in the drawings, or may be comprehended or are inherent in the device.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the pencil positioning and carrying device made after the teachings of this present invention and showing a pencil engaged in the same;

Figure 2 is a front face view of a device similar in its mechanical function to that shown in Figure l but illustrating another form of ornamentation that may be employed in the manufacture of this device;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the pencil anchor means illustrating a form of the device which may be used in a hand bag pocket or for similar application;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through a pencil securing means with a pencil being shown in fragmentary form, taken as a section along the dashed line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken along the line 55 of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure .in the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a preferred form of engaging member. This may be formed as part of pencil P or it may be supplied as a separate attachment which may be secured to a wide variety of items. The working portion of member 10 is provided with a truncated conical portion 12 with its larger end extending away from the pencil, as illustrated, and provided preferably with a cylindrical portion 14 and a convex end portion 16. It will be apparent, it is believed, from a study of the following description that certain variations may be made in this form. However, the preferred form illustrated has been found to be very smooth working in its operation and provides the maximum ease and security for engagement with a resilient gripping means.

The fixed anchor portion of the carrier consists essentially of a background plate 20 and two resilient guide members as 22 and 24. The general form required for the proper functioning of this device enables a designer to employ these principles in a wide variety of artistic arrangements, it being found that the arrangement lends itself to designs suggestive of various flowers, as for instance, a rose, or the tulip, or it may take on the general background form of a charm or luck-piece, after the showing of Figure 2, in which a four-leaf clover is used as a design motif.

The pencil anchor can be most economically made from a self-finished resilient metal. However, with the current development in plastic materials, certain of the plastics that have resilient characteristics may also be employed.

Guide members

22 and 24 are provided with inner curved surfaces as 26 and 28 which provide a widespread V so that a relatively large upper mouth is provided which will then guide the pencil downwardly into the narrower throat portion 30. The normal manner of engaging the anchor is after the showing of Figure 3 which showing is also representative of the manner in which the pencil is released. In the former instance a downward movement has been finished and in the latter an upward movement is to be commenced.

Guide members

22 and 24 are formed preferably as continuations of back plate 20. With this arrangement the convex end 16 of the pencil assembly has a limiting surface so that it will be properly positioned to engage the

curved surfaces

26, 28 of the guide members. This becomes increasingly important as the pencil nears throat 30. The curve or spacing of

guide members

22 and 24 away from back plate varies, after the showing of Figures 3 and 4, and the amount of clearance in throat bears distinct relationship to the degree of taper of the conical portion 12. A good working proportion is shown throughout the various figures in the drawings. As the pencil is brought downwardly in the act of engaging throat 30, it should present a diameter that is slightly greater than the space in between

guide members

22 and 24, so that the same will be sprung sideways after the showing of the dotted lines 32 in Figure 2. This proportion will place a gripping action upon conical portion 12 at two substantially diametrically opposed points where the curve of the cone meets the narrow edges presented by the

curved portions

26 and 28 of

members

22 and 24 respectively. Having the pencil top engaged by the guide members at diametrically opposed points provides, in effect, an easy pivot arrangement so that the pencil can readily be swung from a horizontal to a vertical position in either engaging the anchor or in being removed therefrom. By continuing the bottom of throat 30 around the

lower bends

34 and 36, the pencil top with its two points of contact can easily be led around the bottom of the slot or throat with the minimum of friction and still take advantage of the gripping action of the resilient guide members. This bottom slotting permits

members

22 and 24 to flex throughout their effective length.

During the engaging or releasing operation it is desirable that the concave end 16 be at all times in engagement with back plate 20 because that act determines at what point the guide members engage conical portion 12 and when properly proportioned, the required amount of tension can be provided without the necessity of employing any appreciable force either in engaging the pencil or disengaging it. This is a matter of considerable importance particularly when the device is secured as by safety pin to light weight wearing apparel. When the engaging member 10 has been brought to the position indicated in Figures 1, 2 and 4, it is still very desirable to maintain the constant pressure on the upper portion of top 10 and this intent can be assisted by providing a dished-out portion as 42 in back of plate 20 so that the cylindrical band 14 will, in effect, be engaged at four points. When this relationship is achieved the width of band 14, which is cylindrical, tends to hold a pencil or pen in its downward position which is the normal carrying position for it. Depression 42 also gives requisite clearance when tipping the member 10 up or down, after the showing of Figure 3, so that it in turn will function smoothly with a very lightly applied effort.

When it is wished to attach the anchor to a pocket or a securing ribbon within a handbag for instance, it is desired that a return bend member as 44 be employed which will have a clamping effect. The minimum clearance is provided at 46 and an outwardly extending end at 48 so that the same may be conveniently engaged over the beaded edge of a pocket for instance. When keys are to be secured, member 10 is extended as shown in Figure 3 and provided, preferably, with a hole 50 through which a ball chain may be passed or a conventional key ring may be accommodated.

It is believed that it will be clearly apparent from the above description and the disclosure in the drawings that the invention eomprehends a novel construction of a holding and carrying device adaptable to use with pencils, pens, keys, coinholders and the like.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A device for holding a pendent article comprising a pencil on the lapel of a garment or the like, comprising: a single strip of resilient material forming a vertical ornamental backing plate of floral outline and forming a pair of juxtaposed spaced leaf shaped guide plates continuing from the lower edge of the backing plate in a reverse bend and then upwardly to in front of and spaced from the backing plate, the adjacent edges of the guide plates forming a V with a relatively large upper mouth and a narrower lower throat and the guide plates gradually eurving toward said backing plate as they extend upwardly so as to have narrower spacing therefrom at their upper portions than at their lower portions, said pendent article having secured between said guide plates an inverted truncated conical upper end portion terminating at the base of the cone with a cylindrical portion of the same diameter topped by a slightly convex end face, said guide plates being spaced apart a distance so as to pass, by being separated slightly, said conical end portion of said article when it is brought upward substantially normal to said backing plate, the guide plates having greater resistance to passing the article when brought upward in other positions because of the greater dimensions of the article presented, and means for securing the backing plate to a supporting surface.

2. The subject matter of claim 1 in which said backing plate has a dished portion located to permit said convex end face of said article to pass in pivoting said article from a horizontal position to said depending position, the side edges of said dished portion pressing said cylindrical portion of said article in said depending position together with said adjacent edges of said guide plates providing four points of contact with said cylindrical portion to resist pivoting thereof.

3. The subject matter of claim 1 in which said article is a key holder and said securing means is a return bend extending from the upper edge of said backing plate adapted to clamp a supporting surface such as a pocket of a handbag against said backing plate.

4. A device for holding a pendent article such as a pencil on a supporting surface such as the lapel of a garment, comprising: a vertical backing plate and a pair of juxtaposed spaced resilient guide plates extending from the lower portion of the backing plate in a reverse bend and then upwardly to in front of and spaced from the backing plate, the adjacent edges of the guide plates forming a V with a relatively large upper mouth and a narrower lower throat and the guide plates gradually bending toward said backing plate as they extend upwardly so as to have narrower spacing therefrom at their upper portions than at their lower portions, said pendent article having secured between said guide plates an upper end portion which flares from a narrower diameter to a larger diameter as it extends toward the upper end; said guide plates being spaced apart a distance so as to pass,

by being separated slightly, said flaring end portion of said article when it is brought upward substantially normal to said backing plate, the guide plates having greater resistance to passing the article when brought upward in other positions because of the greater dimensions of the article presented, and means for securing the backing plate to a supporting surface.

5. The subject matter of claim 4 in which said backing plate opposite said lower throat between said guide plates has a lower portion offset farther toward the rear of the backing plate than the portion thereabove providing additional clearance for pivoting of said upper portion of said article between a depending position and a horizontal position.

6. A device for holding a pendent article such as a pencil on a supporting surface such as the lapel of a garment, comprising: a vertical backing plate and a pair of juxtaposed spaced resilient guide plates extending from the lower portion of the backing plate in a reverse bend and then upwardly to in front of and spaced from the backing plate, the adjacent edges of the guide plates forming an open throat, said pendent article having secured between said guide plates an upper end portion which flares from a narrower diameter to a larger diameter as it extends toward the upper end; said guide plates being spaced apart a distance so as to pass, by being separated slightly, said flaring end portion of said article when it is brought upward substantially normal to said backing plate, the guide plates having greater resistance to passing the article when brought upward in other positions because of the greater dimensions of the article presented, and means for securing the backing plate to a supporting surface.

7. A device for holding a pendent pencil or the like on a supporting surface such a the lapel of a garment, comprising: a vertical backing plate and a pair of juxtaposed spaced guide plates extending from the lower portion of the backing plate in a reverse bend and then upwardly to in front of and spaced from the backing plate, the adjacent edges of the guide plates forming an open throat, a pendent article having secured between said guide plates an upper end portion which widens from a narrower diameter to a larger diameter as it extends toward the upper end and said upper end portion being removable through said throat when brought upward in horizontal disposition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 208,464 Christey Oct. 1, 1878 374,715 Sullivan Dec. 13, 1887 527,793 Jaeger Oct. 23, 1894 584,907 Upson June 22, 1897 740,964 Wintsch Oct. 6, 1903 755,555 Weaver Mar. 27, 1904 884,256 Addie Apr. 7, 1908 1,120,182 Drewelow Dec. 8, 1914 1,506,207 Wahl Aug. 26, 1924