US3503546A

US3503546A - Writing implement holder

Info

Publication number: US3503546A
Application number: US711609A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alvin W Hunt
Original assignee: ALVIN W HUNT
Current assignee: ALVIN W HUNT
Priority date: 1968-03-08
Filing date: 1968-03-08
Publication date: 1970-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 1987-03-31

Description

March 31, 1970 A. w. HUNT WRITING IMPLEMENT HOLDER Filed March 8, 1968 AL VIN W. HUNT IN VEN TOR United States Patent 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The application discloses a flexible band adapted to mount on a persons hand and means for holding a writing implement mounted on the band for limited pivotal movement about two axes whereby the writing implement can be selectively pivoted to an out-of-the-way position or to a position for writing.

The invention relates generally to holders for pens and pencils adapted to mount on the hand or wrist.

There are many occupations and situations where persons require the use of a writing implement from time to time but otherwise require the free use of both hands to manipulate files, cards, or other things. An object of the invention is to provide a novel article which mounts on the hand and serves to hold a writing implement in an out-of-the-way position, leaving the hand, including all the fingers, free and unrestricted to perform any desired or required tasks but which enables the person to manipulate the writing implement and bring it into a position of writing by simple movement.

Another object is to provide an article of the type referred to which fits comfortably around the main body of the hand between the fingers and the thumb, which does not encumber the hand, and which is easy to place in position and to remove.

Another object is to provide a device which is useful to assist persons handicapped by disease or loss of portions of the hand to hold a writing implement for use.

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawing and the following description. Referring to the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a portion of a persons hand grasping a piece of paper and showing a device embodying the invention mounted on the hand;

FIG. 2 is a view of the hand turned and with the device manipulated to bring the writing implement into writing position;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the device on a larger scale;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the upper portion of the device of FIG. 3, but on a larger scale;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but on a larger scale and showing a modification; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

More particularly describing the invention, in FIGS. 1 and 2, I show a device 11 embodying the invention mounted on a persons hand 12 which in FIG. 1 is shown grasping an object 13 which may be a sheet of paper. In FIG. 2 the hand is shown in position for writing and the writing implement, shown as a pencil designated 15, which is held by the device, is in position for writing in contrast to the out-of-the-way position of FIG. 1.

The device 11 includes a main member which will be termed a band, designated generally by 16, which is substantially C-shaped when viewed from the side and this is preferably made of a stiff, springy material of which certain plastics are suitable, although it may be made of 3,503,546 Patented Mar. 31, 1970 metal. Since the band is not continuous, it may be described as an interrupted band which is designed to fit around the main body of a persons hand between the fingers and the thumb, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. By reason of its shape, discontinuity and springy nature, the band readily can be placed on a persons hand and largely accommodates itself thereto. However, the device may be made in two or three standard sizes to more nearly fit the wide range of sizes of hands.

The writing implement 15 is supported in a writing implement receiver, designated 20, which has a longitudinally split cylindrical section 21 to receive the implement 15. Receiver 20 is mounted for pivotal movement about two axes with reference to the band 16. To accomplish this, the band is provided with a bracket 23 which is mounted at 24 on the band in any suitable manner. The bracket has a pair of laterally spaced cars 25 to pivotally support an intermediate member 26 on a pin 27. The base 28 of the receiver is attached to the lower end 26' of the intermediate member at 29 as by a rivet for limited pivotal movement. Movement is limited by the sides 28' of the base of the receiver which form abutments for the edges 30 of the lower end of the intermediate member upon relative pivotal movement of the parts. A spring 31 connected between the lower end of the intermediate member and the lower end of the receiver yieldably resists pivotal movement of the parts.

Intermediate member 26 is provided with a flat-sided cam 32, which bears against a flat spring 33 and serves to releasably hold the intermediate member in either the position shown in FIG. 4 or the position shown in broken lines in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In the use of the device it will be appasent that, normally, the writing implement is held close alongside the open side of the band 16 and inside the hand of the wearer in an out-of-t'he-way position, as shown in FIG. 1. When it is desired to write, it is only necessary to swing the implement out, causing the intermediate member to pivot about the axis 27 and then to swing the implement forward about the pivotal axis 29 to bring it into the writing position shown in FIG. 2 where it can be readily held by the fingers.

An alternate construction is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 wherein the intermediate member, designated 26A, is dimpled at 35 to engage in dimples 36 formed in the reieiver base 28A to releasably hold the device in any of the positions chosen.

I claim:

1. A writing implement holder, comprising a springy, interrupted band adapted substantially to encircle a persons hand bet-ween the fingers and the thumb, a writing implement receiver adapted to hold a writing implement, means pivotally supporting said receiver on said band for limited swinging movement of the receiver substantially in the plane of the band, and means pivotally supporting said receiver on said band for limited swinging movement of the receiver in a plane normal to the plane of said band.

2. The writing implement holder set forth in claim 1 in which spring means is provided yieldably resisting pivotal movement of the receiver in a plane normal to the plane of the band.

3. The writing implement set forth in claim 1 in which the means pivotally supporting the receiver on the band includes a bracket, an intermediate member pivotally mounted on the band for swinging movement in the plane of the band, a pivot connection between said bracket and said receiver, and an overcenter cam and spring means between said bracket and said intermediate member whereby said intermediate member is releasably held at the ends of its arc of movement.

4. The writing implement set forth in claim 3 in which spring means is provided between said receiver and said intermediate member resisting pivotal movement of the receiver.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1922 Nolte 4018 8/1928 Collen 4018 GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner 5 F. E. WERNER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.