US2772662A

US2772662A - Crayon holder

Info

Publication number: US2772662A
Application number: US459723A
Authority: US
Inventors: Anthony N Tamalunas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-10-01
Filing date: 1954-10-01
Publication date: 1956-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1973-12-04

Description

1956 A." N. TAMAIiUNAS 2,772,662

Canon HOLDER- Filed Oct. 1. 1954 l /V VE N TOR. ANTHONY N. TAMAL'UNAS,

his Attorney.

United States Patent This invention relates to a holder for a crayon such as is used for marking objects.

It is an object of my invention to provide a crayon holder that is reliable in operation and which is simple, durable and inexpensive in construction.

Another object is to provide such a holder having simple means for feeding the crayon and holding it in adjusted position.

Still another object is to provide such a holder that will firmly grasp and feed crayons which are over and under size.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the crayon holder with a crayon therein; and

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line II-II of Figure 1 with the crayon removed.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a round tubular member for receiving the crayon C. The inside diameter of the tubular member 2 is constant for the majority of its length but its forward end portion 4 is slightly reduced in diameter and a recessed portion 6 is provided adjacent thereto. The reduced diameter of portion 4 is just sufficient to receive the largest diameter crayon that will be used while the remaining portion is of such diameter to loosely receive the crayon. A longitudinal slot 8 is provided in the member 2 and extends from a point adjacent the rearward end to a point adjacent the forward end. The inner surface of the tubular member 2 has a plurality of transverse notches 10 therein adjacent each side of the slot 8 for a purpose which will appear later. The notches 10 are preferably triangular in shape as shown. A spring-like gripping member 12 is placed in the recessed portion 6 at the forward end of the member 2. The member 12 is made of suitable spring-like metal and in its flat form has a solid portion 13 and a plurality of fingers 14 extending therefrom. The ends of the fingers are bent upwardly at 16. In assembly, the member 12 is bent into a substantially circular shape and is placed in the recessed portion 6 where it is held against axial movement by the shoulders of the recess with the fingers 14 facing forwardly. The recessed portion 6 is slightly longer than the member 12 to allow for axial expansion when a crayon is inserted therein. The bent up portions 16 contacting the inner wall of the tubular member 2 will cause the spring member 12 to have a normally reduced diameter portion so that it will firmly grasp under sized crayons. Crayons of larger diameter will force the fingers 14 outwardly while still retaining a grasp on the crayon. A generally U- shaped spring member 18 is placed in the tubular member 2 with its base 20 facing forwardly. One leg 22 of the U-shaped member 18 has a bent up portion 24 at its end for a purpose which will appear later. A diagonal brace 25 is preferably soldered to the under side of the top leg 22 to prevent distortion of the spring 18. A button 26 having a rectangular shank 28 which is received in the slot 8 and a stem 30 which is passed through a hole in the leg 22 adjacent the bent up portion 24 is attached to the member 18 by flaring the end of stem 30 tight against the leg 22 after assembly in the slot 8. The head 32 of the button is on the outside of the tubular member 2.

The operation of my device is as follows:

With the parts assembled as shown, a crayon C is moved into .he tubular member 2 from its forward end until it abuts the U-shaped spring 18. Head 32 of the screw is normally spaced from the wall of the tubular member 2 as shown but it can be readily depressed by pushing thereon. In order to lock the spring member 18 in place it is only necessary that the bent portion 24 be received in one of the notches 10. This will prevent pressure on the crayon from moving the member 18 rearwardly while at the same time the front end of the crayon will be firmly grasped by the spring 12. When the crayon becomes worn it is only necessary to depress the button 26 by pressure on the head 32 and at the same time pushing the head 32 forwardly until the bent up portion 24springs into another notch 10. It will be seen that the various parts can easily be fabricated and assembled. There is no necessity for the hand to touch the crayon once it is in place in the crayon holder because it can be readily fed in the manner described above and the crayon can be retracted by depressing the screw 26 and moving it rearwardly and pressing the front end of the crayon against any surface. Thus the crayon can be carried in the pocket of a workman without danger of the crayon breaking or marking any object carried by the workman.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A holder for crayons comprising a tubular member I for receiving the crayon, the inside diameter of said tubular member being constant for the major portion of its length and slightly greater than the diameter of the largest crayon to be carried thereby, the inside diameter of said tubular member being reduced at its forward end so as to grip the largest crayon to be carried, said tubular member having an annular recess in its forward inner surface with a shoulder at each end, a resilient gripping member disposed in said recess, said gripping member being made of a sheet of spring-like metal having a solid rearward portion and a plurality of spaced fingers extending forwardly therefrom, said fingers being bent inwardly adjacent their ends to an inside diameter substantially the same as the smallest crayon to be carried, whereby said inside diameter is adjustable to the size of the largest crayon to be carried when the ends of said gripping member contact said shoulders, said tubular member having a slot therein extending from a point adjacent its rearward end to a point adjacent its forward end, a generally U-shaped spring member disposed in said tubular member adjacent its rearward end with the base of the U-shaped member facing forwardly, and a member attached to the end of one of the legs of the U-shaped member and extending through said slot to the outside of said tubular member.

2. A holder for crayons comprising a tubular member for receiving the crayon, the inside diameter of said tubular member being constant for the major portion of its length and slightly greater than the diameter of the largest crayon to be carried thereby, the inside diameter of said tubular member being reduced at its forward end so as to grip the largest crayon to be carried, said tubular member having an annular recess in its forward inner surface with a shoulder at each end, a resilient gripping member disposed in said recess, said gripping member being made of a sheet of spring-like metal having a solid rearward portion and a plurality of spaced fingers extending tor- Wardly therefrom, said fingers being bent inwardly adjacent their ends to an inside diameter substantially the same as the smallest crayon to be carried, whereby said inside diameter is adjustable to the size of the largest crayon to be carried when the end of said gripping memher contact said shoulders, said tubular member having a slot therein extending from a point adjacent its rearward end to a point adjacent its forward end, the inner surface of said tubular member having a plurality of transverse notches therein adjacent said slot, a generally U- shaped spring member disposed in said tubular member adjacent its rearward end with the base of the U-shaped member facing forwardly, said spring member having a bent up portion at one end of one leg adapted to be received in said notches, a brace fastened to one leg of said U-shaped member and extending diagonally to a point adjacent the base of said U-shaped member, and a member attached to the end of one of the legs of'the U-shaped member and extending through said slot to the outside of said tubular member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 272,931 Adams Feb. 27, 1883 300,693 Collard June 17, 1884 605,657 Toquet June 14, 1898 613,452 Lippincott Nov. 1, 1898 1,136,592 Ferrari Apr. 20, 1915 2,228,685 Benjamin June 14, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 435,531 Italy May 18, 1948 70,798 Denmark Mar. 27, 1950