US3212146A

US3212146A - Holder for pencils, pens and similar long articles

Info

Publication number: US3212146A
Application number: US313210A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas P Morgan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-10-02
Filing date: 1963-10-02
Publication date: 1965-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 1982-10-19

Description

Oct. 19, 1965 T. P. MORGAN 3,212,146

HOLDER FOR PENCILS, PENS AND SIMILAR LONG ARTICLES Filed Oct. 2, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR moms P. Monenu ATTORNEYS Oct. 19, 1965 T. P. MORGAN 3,212,146

HOLDER FOR PENCILS, PENS AND SIMILAR LONG ARTICLES Filed 001;. 2, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR THOMAS P. MORGAN whim ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,212,146 HOLDER F012 PENQILS, PENS AN D SEMILAR LQNG ARTICLES Thomas P. Morgan, 2007 Kearny St. NE, Washington, D-C. Filed Oct. 2, 1963, Ser. No. 313,210 17 Claims. (CI. 24-10) This invention relates to improvements in holders for pencils, pens and like long bodies and is directed to a holder wherein the pencil or similar article can be easily and quickly introduced or inserted longitudinally and securely held.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel holder for a pencil or similar article which can be readily combined with other compatible articles to meet the nee-d for such a holder, supported or main tained in any one of a plurality of places or positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder for pencils and like articles, which in its fundamental form is of simple design whereby it may be readily incorporated in the structure of a number of other articles of both ornamental and functional nature or, in other words, will provide an inexpensive and practical holder which will lend its service, in one form or another, to many useful and novel arrangements.

More particularly the invention has for an object to provide a novel holder for pencils, pens and articles of a similar nature which embodies the use of an elastic band in a novel manner whereby to frictionally hold the article in position in a tubular receiver portion and wherein such elastic band or holding means, while retaining the article securely in position, will not make difficult the insertion of the article into or its removal from the tubular receiver.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder for a pencil or similar article, which embodies the use of a rubber, or other, circular band in which a portion of such band is torsionally twisted and maintained in position in a tubular passage formed in a supporting body, whereby a part of the twisted portion of the band projects radially in the tubular passage and thereby provides a frictional means for engaging a pencil or the like when it is inserted into the passage and imposes a yielding pressure thereon to hold the article in place regardless of whether the passage in which the article is maintained, is vertical or in any other position.

More specifically the invention embodies, in its fundamental form, a body of suitable material, which may be wood, plastic, glass, metal, ceramics or hard cardboard, formed as a tube, or having a tubular passage formed therein, into which the article to be supported is insertable. An elastic band is applied to the body, with a part of the band passing through the passage and wherein such part is torsionally twisted so that a portion thereof will be disposed axially or extending in an axial direction in the passage to be engaged by and moved or forced aside by a pencil or like article when the same is introduced into the passage.

Means is provided for attaching the elastic band to the body, which means is in the form of a slot leading into the passage whereby a part of the band may be placed in the tubular passage and a part, When the band is of circular form such as the conventional rubber band, placed around the outside of the body. The part of the band lying outside of the body between an end of the passage and a portion thereof lying parallel to'the passage, may then be grasped and lifted from the body and given a half turn, or turned under. This will result in a torsional twist in the portion lying in the passage, and in the portion parallel to the passage. Thus the torsionally twisted part of the elastic band forms an elastic spiral to render a wedge-like effect upon the article inserted in the passage, to hold the article snugly in position.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the invention in its fundamental form, which may be made a part of any desired carrying or supporting means, as hereinafter illustrated and described, the elastic band supporting body being here conceived as being transparent such as glass or plastic, and showing the torsional or spiral twisting of portions of the band.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a novelty application of the invention wherein two of the pencil holding bodies are mounted upon opposite sides of an animal, in simulation of packs, and wherein the elastic bands simulate and also function as pack straps for supporting the bodies.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the application of the invention to a desk calendar.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 illustrates the application of the invention to and its incorporation in a resilient holder for attachment to a sun visor or similar support.

FIG. 8 is a view in perspective of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 illustrates the application of the invention to another form of resilient clip.

FIG. 10 is a view in perspective of the form or embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 illustrates the application of the invention to a body attached to the neck of a spring pressed blade of a clipboard and wherein the elastic band also functions to hold the body in position.

FIG. 12 is a view in top plan and on an enlarged scale of the structure illustrated in perspective in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a view in perspective, on an enlarged scale, showing the form of the body for application to the clipboard blade.

FIG. 14 is a view in perspective of another clipboard and blade, wherein the invention is made as an integral part of the blade.

FIG. 15 is a sectional View on an enlarged scale taken substantially on the line 15-15 of FIG. 14.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference is made first to FIG. 1 which illustrates the basic idea and fundamental structure of the present invention. The structure illustrated in this figure is functional in the form illustrated, supported in any desired manner as, for example it is shown in FIG. 3 or it may be modified as illustrated in the succeeding figures without alteration of the essential or novel details involved.

As hereinbefore stated, the invention may be embodied in desired structures formed of any one of a large variety of materials, glass and plastic being two such materials previously named. Accordingly for illustrative and descriptive purposes the structure of FIG. 1 has been illustrated as transparent and accordingly readily displays the novel arrangement of the elastic band in the portion or portions thereof passing through the article receiving tubular passage.

In FIG. 1 the body of the holder is designated as a whole by the reference character B. This reference character will be employed in the succeeding figures for designating the holder body in whatever form it may be shown.

In this FIG. 1 the body B is illustrated as comprising a rectalngular structure having the top and

bottom surfaces

12 and 14 respectively, the opposite end surfaces 16 and side faces 18.

Formed in and extending through the body of material from the top to the bottom surfaces thereof are the tubular passages 20, here shown as being of circular cross section but which, obviously, may be of any other desired cross sectional form of contour.

Formed in the opposite end faces of the body of material 10 are the entrance slots 22 which open into the passages, each entrance slot also opening through the top and bottom surfaces of the body as illustrated.

These entrance slots provide the means for attaching the elastic band to the body with a portion of the band passing through the article receiving passage or passages.

The numeral 24 generally designates a circular elastic band such as the conventional rubber band. As illustrated this band is applied to the body, in a twisted form to have a portion of the band extend through each of the tubular passages and which portions lying in the tubular passages are spirally or torsionally twisted as indicated at 26.

At the twist 26, the band has its opposite edges lying in a plane radially of the passage. Thus, one of the edges, indicated at 28 will be located either at the diametrical center of the passage or near the diametrical center, according to the width of the band. Preferably the band has a width about the equal to, or slightly less than, the radius of the passage.

It will, of course, be apparent that the slots 22 provide the means for applying the band to the body in the manner shown by permitting portions of the band to be inserted into the passages, after which one of the portions of the band located outside of the passages, and which are shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, lying flat upon the top and bottom surfaces of the body, may be grasped and given a half turn, as hereinbefore described, to produce the twist, or spiral, in each of the passages. This is the preferred procedure, but no limitation of procedure is to be implied by this description.

It will be readily apparent from the foregoing that when a pencil or similar article is inserted into the tubular passage, the side of the article will press against the edge 28 of the torsionally twisted portion of the band and due to the resistance which will be offered by the band, there will be a relatively firm or snug frictional engagement established between the pencil and the band to thereby hold the pencil securely in the passage against the wall of the passage. Obviously, of course, the passage into which the pencil is introduced will be sufficiently greater in diameter than the over-all diameter of the pencil so that this desired frictional or wedge-like effect will result.

As hereinbefore stated the invention is applicable to a large variety of articles which may be either of a decorative character or functional.

FIG. 3 illustrates both a decorative and functional employment of the invention. In this figure of the drawings, there is illustrated an animal figure which is generally designated as 30 and which is in the form of a donkey or burro. In connection with this figure 30 there are illustrated two of the rectangular structures 10 of FIG. 1 placed on opposite sides of the animal and representing packs. Here the body structure 32 is of rectangular form similar to the structure 10 of FIG. 1 and has the spaced parallel passages 34 each of which communicates with a slot 36 which opens from the passage laterally or outwardly through the wide face of the body rather than through the end as in the first-described form.

The two body structures are illustrated with the elastic bands 38 extending from one body structure to the other rather than connecting the two passages of one body as the band has been illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus, it will be seen that the bands 38 serve as or simulate pack straps with one portion of each band crossing the back of the animal and the opposite portion of each band crossing beneath the belly of the animal.

The body structures 32 may be separate from the body of the animal but will be firmly held in position against the animals sides by the elastic bands and thus the bands serve the double function of maintaining the body structures in position as shown and of retaining the pencils or similar articles in vertical position in the passages 34.

Since each of the bands 38 has two torsionally or spirally twisted portions each of which extends through a passage 34 it will be seen that the same pencil holding action of such twisted portions will function in the described manner for holding a pencil, pen or like article in position.

The figure of the drawing shows a pencil 40 in one passage of a body structure 32 and a pencil-type typewriter eraser 42 in the other supporting body structure.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate another application of the invention. In this case the invention is shown applied or in connection with a desk calender which is generally designated C.

The reference numeral 44 designates the base of the calendar structure while the calendar leaves are generally designated 46.

The pencil holder body in this embodiment or application of the invention is in the form of an elongate plate 48. The numerals and 52 designate respectively top and bottom ends of the plate.

The material of the plate 48, adjacent to the top end thereof, has edge portions rolled inwardly, forming the cylinders 54. These cylinders form or provide the tubular passages 56 into which the pencil or similar article may be inserted.

The in-rolled edge 58 of the cylinder is spaced slightly from the surface of the plate 48, thus forming the slot 60 leading into the band receiving passage.

The cylinders 54 are in spaced parallel relation and the slots thereof are at the adjacent inner sides of the cylinders or, in other words, the slots are located inwardly of the remote sides of the cylinders.

The numeral 62 designates the elastic band which connects the cylinders 54, having each of two side portions lying within a tubular passage 56 and torsionally twisted so as to function in the passage in exactly the same manner as the spirally or torsionally twisted portions of the band 24 are illustrated and function, as first described in connection with FIG. 1 of the drawings.

FIGS. 7 to 8 illustrate two applications of the invention to clip-on bodies designed particularly for attachment to sun visors of motor vehicles or other supports which permit the application thereto of bodies formed in accordance with these figures.

In FIGS. 7 to 8 the body B of the holder is formed of a single piece or sheet of metal or other suitable material, which sheet of material is designated 64. Opposite edge portions of the sheet of material 64 are rolled inward to form the two spaced parallel cylinders 66, each of which provides the tubular passage 68 for receiving a pencil orsimilar article and for receiving the torsionally twisted portion of the elastic band which is here designated 70.

The inwardly rolled edges of the material, forming the cylinders 66, are designated 72 and these edges terminate short of the face or outer surface 74 of the sheet thereby forming the band entrance slots 76. The function of these slots will of course be at once apparent from the previous description given in connection with the structures shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The back surface 78 of the sheet of material 64 has fixed thereto one end of a spring clip finger 80. As shown this finger is generally in the form of an ogee curve and as illustrated the curve at the attached end of the finger extends outwardly while the reverse curve at the inner or free end of the finger is directed toward and engages the back surface of the sheet 64 with the end of the finger curving outwardly away from such surface. Thus it would be seen that an edge of a sun visor or other flat body can be readily forced between the free end of the finger and the back of the sheet of material 64 to hold the pencil holder firmly in place thereon as illustrated in FIG. 7. In this latter figure a motor vehicle sun visor V is illustrated, upon which the body of the pencil holder is mounted to support a pencil as indicated at 82.

Another form of the clip-on holder is illustrated in FIG. 9 where the body of the holder B is formed from a single sheet of metal or other material, designated generally by the reference character 84. In this form the sheet of material 84 is folded on itself, from one end. The folded over end portion functions as the spring finger which is designated 86, in association or cooperation with the opposing top surface 88 of the material sheet. The folded over, finger-forming portion 86 is relatively short as compared with the over-all length of the sheet 84. The opposite end portion of the sheet, from the finger 86, is rolled under toward the under face or under side 90 of the sheet to form the cylinder 92 which, in turn, provides the tubular passage 94 for receiving a pencil or similar article together with one side of the elastic band 96. The side of the elastic band which lies within the passage 94 is, of course, torsionally twisted to function in the manner hereinbefore described and, by stopping the edge 98 of the roll portion of the sheet short of the under face 90, there is provided the slot 100 by which to introduce one side of the elastic band into the tubular passage.

In this single holder the edges of the sheet at the ends of the cylinder 92 are provided with slots 102 to position the elastic band and maintain it in position.

The invention is also adaptable to use in association with a clipboard such as that illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 13 where such board is generally designated 106.

A conventional clipboard such as that illustrated comprises a fixed part 198 on the board, upon which is pivotally mounted the clip blade 110 which has the relatively narrow portion 112 at the top central part thereof as shown. From this narrow part 112 the hinge ears 114 extend for pivotal attachment to the plate 108 and an eye portion 116 also extends from the narrow portion of the clip blade.

No further details of the clipboard structure are shown or thought to be necessary since this is a conventional or well-known construction.

In the application of the pencil holder to the clipboard, the body B is in the form of an elongate block of material of metal or other material of a suitable nature and which is generally designated 118. This block of material has a bottom face or surface 120 which positions upon the top of the neck portion 112 of the clip blade and the block is of an over-all length approximately equal to the width of the neck portion upon which it is disposed.

The block of material is provided with a bore or pencil receiving passage 122 which extends throughout the length of the block and along one side of the block there is formed the entrance slot 124 for the elastic band 126.

As shown the entrance slot 124 is in the lower part of the tubular passage, being much nearer to the bottom 120 of the block than to the rounded top side thereof.

When the holder body block 118 is placed in position across the neck 112 of the clip blade, the slot 124 is disposed to open away from the blade 110.

It will be seen from the illustration of this application of the invention that the elastic band 126 is applied to encircle the neck portion 112 of the blade and to have a part pass through the passage 122 and, of course, it will be understood that the portion going through the passage 122 will be torsionally twisted as in all previously described applications of the invention. Thus in this particular application it will be seen that the holder does not interfere in any way with the handling or use of the clipboard and also the pencil is stored entirely out of the way and furthermore the rubber or elastic band not only serves the main purpose of holding the pencil but it also secures the holder itself to the clip blade.

The pencil holder also may be made as an integral part of the clip blade of the clipboard if desired, as illustrated in FIG. 14. Here it will be seen that the blade in the neck portion 130 thereof, may be rolled back at the top edge of the blade above or beyond the hinge fingers 132, to form the cylinder 134, in the tubular passage 136 of which the pencil is received and also the passage receives the torsionally twisted portion of the elastic band which is entered into the passage by way of the slot 138, the formation of which results from stopping the edge of the rolled portion of the metal of the blade, short of the surface of the blade as will be readily apparent.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the elastic band which has a portion extending through the pencil receiving passage 136, is generally designated 138. The band will, of course, be torsionally twisted within the passage so as to provide the radially directed edge for frictional engagement by a pencil inserted into the passage, as described in connection with the other illustrated embodiments of the invention.

A particular feature of novelty of the present inven tion, in addition to the other features set forth, is that it makes no difference whether the pencil, or other elongate article has a sharpened or pointed end, or whether the eraser or blunt end is inserted first into the receiving passage, the twisted, or spiral form of the band will permit such end to pass Without catching, or other difficulty.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that there is provided in the present invention a holder for pencils, pens and similar articles which may be manufactured either as a single item or in combination with other articles and which will have a wide range of appeal.

The holder is adaptable to use in any location and in any position and will be equally effective to grip and hold a pencil securely regardless of the position or any movements of the holder.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents, are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. A holder for a pencil or similar long article, comprising a body having a tubular passage therethrough for receiving such a long article, a flat elastic band having a portion in and extending longitudinally through the said passage, the said portion of the band having a torsional twist whereby a part of an edge thereof is directed radially of and lies adjacent to the axial center of the passage for engaging an article in the longitudinal direction thereof, and means facilitating application of the band to the body.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein said elastic band is in the form of an annulus and has a portion lying along the outside of the body.

3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the said means comprises a slot extending the length of and opening into the passage.

4. A holder for a pencil or similar long article, comprising a body formed to provide a pencil receiving passage having open ends, an elastic band annulus carried by the body and having a portion extending longitudinally through said passage, the said portion of the annulus having a torsional twist in a part thereof lying within the passage, and there being an entrance slot longitudinally of and leading into the passage by which to position said portion of the annulus in the passage.

5. A holder for a pencil or similar article, comprising a body formed to provide a pair of spaced juxtaposed passages open at their ends and each adapted to receive a pencil, an elastic band annulus having each of two portions thereof in and extending through a passage and having portions connecting said two portions extending between adjacent ends of the passages, each of said two portions being torsionally twisted with a part extending widthwise radially in its respective passage, and means for facilitating application of the said two portions in the passages.

6. A holder for pencils and similar long articles, comprising a support member, a body upon each of two opposite sides of said support member and each body being formed to provide a pencil receiving passage open at its two ends, an elastic band annulus encircling a part of said support member and having each of two portions extending through a pencil passage, each of said two portions of said band having a torsional twist within its passage, and slot means in each body for facilitating positioning the twisted band portion therein.

7. The invention according to claim 6, wherein said support member has supporting legs and is formed to simulate a quadruped and wherein said bodies upon the opposite sides of said support member simulate packs and said band annulus has another portion extending across the top of the support member in simulation of pack straps.

3. A holder for pencils and similar long articles, comprising a figure in simulation of a quadruped, two bodies having said figure positioned therebetween and each lying against a side of the figure in simulation of packs, each of said bodies having a pair of pencil receiving passages formed vertically therethrough and having open ends, two elastic band annuli each encircling the said figure and each having a portion extending through one of two oppositely located pencil passages of said bodies, each portion of each annulus being torsionally twisted within the passage in which it is located, each of said annuli having a portion extending transversely over and upon the top of said figure in simulation of a pack strap, and each of said bodies having a slot therein leading from an outer surface of the body into each pencil passage for facilitating the positioning of the twisted band portion therein.

9. A holder for pencils and similar articles comprising the combination of a base member and pencil holding means thereon and comprising a body secured to and extending upwardly from a back part of said base and carrying a vertically disposed cylinder having a pencil receiving passage axially therethrough, an elastic band having a portion extending through and held under tension in said passage and having a torsional twist in the passage, and means forming a slot longitudinally of and opening into the passage for facilitating positioning said band portion therein.

10. The invention according to claim 9, wherein the said body comprises an elongate sheet of material and carrying a second vertically disposed cylinder, said cylinders being located at opposite sides of the body at the top end thereof, each of said cylinders being formed by an edge portion of the sheet material turned inwardly in a roll and the inturned edge of the sheet being spaced from a face of the sheet to form said passage.

11. A holder for pencils and similar long articles, comprising a sheet of resilient material having a portion of one end folded over toward one side face of the sheet to form a resilient clip finger and having an opposite end portion turned under in the form of a cylindrical roll with an edge of the under turned portion spaced from the opposite face of the sheet to form a slot, said roll providing a tubular pencil receiving passage, and an elastic band having a portion extending longitudinally through said passage with said portion torsionally twisted within the passage and having another portion extending longitudinally of the outer side of the roll.

12. The invention according to claim 11, wherein the end edges of said roll are provided with notches in which said elastic band is engaged for maintaining its operative position.

13. A holder for pencils and similar long articles and adapted for frictional engagement with a flat body such as a motor vehicle sun visor, said holder comprising a sheet of relatively stiff material such as metal and the like, said sheet of material having portions of opposite edges rolled inwardly to form spaced parallel cylinders and each providing a tubular pencil receiving passage, the in-rolled longitudinal edges of the cylinders being spaced from a surface of the sheet to form a slot leading into the passage, an elastic band annulus stretched between said cylinders and having each of two opposite portions lying within a passage and further having the portions lying in the passages torsionally twisted, the said slots facilitating the positioning of said portions in the passages, and a resilient clip finger having an end secured to said sheet of material upon the side thereof remote from the cylinders and having a free end yieldingly positioned adjacent to said side of the sheet to facilitate introduction of an edge of a flat supporting body between the finger and the sheet.

14. A holder for pencils and similar long articles, comprising the combination of a clamp element including a pivoted clamp blade, and an elongate body carried by said clamp blade and having a pencil receiving passage longitudinally therethrough, an elastic band annulus having a portion extending through said passage and having said portion torsionally twisted within the passage, the annulus having another portion extending longitudinally of the outside of said body, and means for facilitating placement of said twisted portion in the passage.

15. The invention according to claim 14, wherein said elongate body is a separate body from said clamp blade and wherein said elastic band annulus passes around a part of the clamp blade and performs the function of holding the elongate body on the clamp blade in addition to its pencil securing function.

16. The invention according to claim 14, wherein said elongate body carried by the clamp blade consists of an integral portion of the clamp blade shaped to form a tubular cylinder, the bore of which forms said pencil receiving passage.

17. A holder for an elongate article of the nature of a pencil, comprising a body having a tubular passage open at both ends, an elastic band having a width greater than its thickness and having a portion in and extending longitudinally through said passage, the said portion of the band having a torsional twist whereby a part of an edge thereof is directed radially of the passage and substantially parallels the longitudinal axis of the passage and the band width being such with respect to the diameter of the passage as to position said part of said edge adjacent to the longitudinal center of the passage whereby it will engage the longitudinal surface of an elongate article inserted into the passage and secure the article therein by friction.

(References on following page) 9 References Cited by the Examiner 1,385,443 1,815,024 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,803,902 1/84 Covell 2481 2 7 ,022 8/96 Tollner. r 8/01 Forrester 120108 9/02 McClung. 2112%: 3/11 Fraser et a1. 7/12 Smith 24 -11 324,514 4/ 16 1 0 Gross. Foster. Shedd 40107 Kroviak 2466 X Germany.

1/30 Great Britain.

Kfiating 211-69 X 10 DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner,

Claims

1. A HOLDER FOR A PENCIL OF SIMILAR LONG ARTICLE, COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A TUBULAR PASSAGE THERETHROUGH FOR RECEIVING SUCH A LONG ARTICLE, A FLAT ELASTIC BAND HAVING A PORTION IN AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THROUGH THE SAID PASSAGE, THE SAID PORTION OF THE BAND HAVING A TORSIONAL TWIST WHEREBY A PART OF AN EDGE THEREOF IS DIRECTED RADIALLY OF THE LIES ADJACENT TO THE AXIAL CENTER OF THE PASSAGE FOR ENGAGING AN ARTICLE IN THE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION THEREOF, AND MEANS FACILITATING APPLICATION OF THE BAND TO THE BODY.