WO2007023275A1

WO2007023275A1 - A holder

Info

Publication number: WO2007023275A1
Application number: PCT/GB2006/003147
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christine Cooper
Original assignee: Christine Cooper
Priority date: 2005-08-22
Filing date: 2006-08-22
Publication date: 2007-03-01
Also published as: EP1968806A1

Abstract

There is disclosed a holder (38) for a writing or drawing instrument (17) which may be manufactured, and subsequently purchased by a user, as a specific and separate item and then attached or fixed by the user to a given book, folder, dossier or magazine, or the like (16), or to another article to which it is desirable to hold a writing or drawing instrument (e.g. a telephone, a computer, a fridge, a freezer, a door or the like) to suit the user's personal requirements.

Description

A Holder

This invention relates to holders for writing or drawing instruments.

Such holders are known in the form in which they are integral with the likes of books, folders or dossiers and are on sale only in that integrated form. However, relatively few books, folders or dossiers are produced in that form and those that are merely provide the user with a holder permanently positioned and configured, with no possibility to be adjusted or removed.

The present invention aims to provide a holder which may address these deficiencies in relation to books and other articles to which it may be desirable to have a writing or drawing instrument held.

At its most general, the present invention provides a holder of the kind under discussion which may be manufactured, and subsequently purchased by a user, as a specific and separate item and then attached or fixed by the user to a given book, folder, dossier or magazine, or the like, (hereinafter referred to as "book/s") or to another article to which it is desirable to hold a writing or drawing instrument (e.g. a telephone, a computer, a fridge, a freezer, a door or the like) to suit the user's personal requirements.

It is to be understood that the invention as described above or hereafter, in any one or more of its aspects, variants or embodiments, may, in other equivalent aspects, variants or embodiments, apply to the attachment of a writing or drawing instrument to other everyday items or articles. To this extent, references hereafter to books may be substituted with references to other articles (e.g. a telephone, a computer, a fridge, a freezer, a door or the like, or parts thereof).

The holder may be adapted to attach to a book permanently or temporarily, and may be adapted to so attach using an adhesive substance, or using a force such as a frictional force and/or a gripping (e.g. clamping) force at an interface of a book and the holder in use.

According to one aspect of the invention there may be provided a holder for a writing or drawing instrument as an independent article (e.g. a sales item) in its own right which is adapted to be attached to a book. Thus, the invention, in this aspect, may provide a holder for a writing or drawing instrument, which is separate from, and does not form a component part of, the/a writing or drawing instrument which the holder is adapted to hold in use. The holder may, for example, be structured and arranged to attach to an outer or outermost surface alone, or an inner surface alone, of a book, in use. For example, the holder may be structured and arranged to attach to solely a surface of a book outermost when the book is closed (e.g. the outer surface of a book cover), or solely to a surface of a book inwardly facing when the book is closed (e.g. within the book, such as solely to one surface/side of an internal page of a book). The holder may be structured and arranged to attach simultaneously to both such aforementioned surface parts of a book, e.g. parts inwardly facing and parts outwardly facing when the book is closed, such as opposite sides of a cover/sheet of a book.

According to another aspect of the invention there may be provided a holder for a writing or drawing instrument which includes a writing or drawing instrument support; and a pair of tabs (or panels, or arms) connected to the support, the tabs (or panels, or arms) being attachable to (e.g. adapted to attach to) a book.

Each of the tabs, panels or arms may be arranged to protrude from the instrument support, and/or the instrument support may be attached to, or formed with, one or more of (e.g. each of) the tabs, panels, or arms. The instrument support may preferably be arranged to releasably engage and support a writing or drawing instrument.

According to another aspect of the invention there may be provided a holder for a writing or drawing instrument which includes a writing or drawing instrument support for (e.g. releasably) engaging and supporting, or adapted to engage and support, a writing or drawing instrument; and attachment means whereby the holder is attachable ( e.g. releasably attachable), or adapted to attach, to a book.

The attachment means may include at least one attachment member connected to the writing or drawing instrument support, and the attachment member may have an adhesive surface whereby the holder is releasably attachable to a book.

The holder may be intended for use with a book having a spine and a pair of covers (e.g. cover boards or sheets) protruding from opposite sides of the spine, the attachment means including a pair of tabs (or panels) protruding from, or protruding from a connection to, the writing or drawing instrument support which tabs (or panels) are releasably attachable to the covers of the book so that the writing or drawing instrument support is in register with the spine of the book. The writing or drawing instrument support may comprise a loop, band, harness, holster, sleeve, pocket or tube dimensioned to receive within the volume enclosed thereby a writing or drawing instrument. The attachment means may include a single continuous sheet of flexible material to which the instrument support is connected (e.g. integrally formed). At least part of the single continuous sheet may have an adhesive surface. Preferably, the whole of one surface of the attachment means is adhesive. The instrument support is preferably connected to, attached to or integrally formed with a surface of the holder other than the adhesive surface of the attachment means (e.g. the side of the continuous sheet of flexible material opposite to, or reverse to, the adhesive side), and may be positioned substantially centrally upon the single sheet, and preferably so as to bisect the sheet. Most preferably, the instrument support is arranged upon a surface of the holder outwardly facing in use. Consequently, when the instrument support is provided independently of the manner in which the holder is adhered to a book, in this way its shape structure and dimensions are not dependent upon the latter, and the holder is easy to attach to a book without deforming or influencing the dimensions or shape of the support.

Alternatively, the attachment means may comprise a one of more (e.g. a pair) of panels or tabs connected to the instrument support (e.g. to its outer surface), at least part of each of the panels or tabs may have an adhesive surface. Each panel or tab may comprise a sheet of flexible material. The attachment means may include a pair of panels or tabs connected to the instrument support at opposite sides of the instrument support.

One side of the, or each, sheet of flexible material comprising the attachment means may be coated with an adhesive which is covered by a removable backing. When the attachment means comprises a continuous sheet of flexible material, the removable backing may be divided into two backing panels each covering, respectively, one half of the sheet of flexible material to permit the backing panel of one half of the continuous sheet to be removed to expose the adhesive whilst permitting the backing panel of the other half of the continuous sheet to remain in position. This enables careful attachment of one separate half of the backing of the attachment means separately from attachment of the other.

The holder may comprise a single sheet of flexible material having a central area or panel which has a pair of spaced apart edges and which in use forms the writing or drawing instrument support, and a pair of side panels or tabs connected to the edges of the central panel, at least part of each of the side panels having an adhesive surface.

One side of the sheet of flexible material may be coated with an adhesive which is covered by a removable backing, the backing being divided into three panels covering, respectively, the central and side panels of the sheet of flexible material to permit the backing covering the side panels to be removed to expose the adhesive whilst permitting the backing covering the central panel to remain in position.

At least one of the panels may have an ornamental form, e.g. in the form of one or more letters of the alphabet or an aesthetically appealing design.

An, or each, aforesaid sheet of material may be of a synthetic plastics material, such as vinyl. Alternatively, an/each sheet of material may comprise leather, an elastic material or substance, fabric (cotton or linen), card or paper. Preferably, an/each sheet of material is formed from a pliable, malleable or compliant material which is deformable and substantially non-friable. The instrument support may be formed from a material being stiffer, or having a lower compliance, than that of the material from which the attachment means is formed. The material of the instrument support is preferably sufficiently hard-wearing and robust to withstand repeated insertion and removal of writing or drawing instruments without acquiring visible signs of wear or of substantial wear.

The attachment means, when formed from a single sheet of material, or the holder when formed from a single sheet of material, is preferably rectangular in shape. This shape has been found to offer the greatest production efficiency in that the article in question may be one of many such articles stamped-out, in production, from a common larger sheet of material at very closely spaced positions on the larger common sheet. Irregular shapes do not permit this close spacing and lead to un- useable material in between stamped-out articles.

The attachment means, when formed from a single sheet of material, or the holder when formed from a single sheet of material may have a length, as measured along its long axis, of between about 2cm to about 20cm. Preferably, the length is between about 5cm and 20cm, or more preferably between about 10cm and 20cm, e.g. for use with thicker books and folders. For use with thinner books (magazines etc) the length may be between about 2cm and 10cm or between about 2cm and 5cm. The central panel of the holder when formed form a single sheet, may have rectangular or square dimensions about 2cm to about 7cm or to about 10cm between opposite sides to which tabs are connected, and may have dimensions of about 2cm to about 4cm, 5cm or 6cm along those sides. Dimensions selected from these ranges permit the holder to be attached to books of varying spinal thickness, such as are commonly encountered in daily life, ranging from magazines, to thin books, to books of medium thickness, or small folders, through to thick books (e.g. dictionaries) and large folders. The dimensions are preferably selected such that the attachment means may be attached to a book with the instrument support in register with the spine of the book (thereby enabling the book to be inserted between books on a shelf without impeding the support) and with the attachment means (e.g. adhesive surface(s) thereof) attached to the covers of the book which extend from the edge of the spine of the book. When the book is in an closed position, with opposite (e.g. front and back) book covers approximately parallel, forces acting upon a writing or drawing instrument within the instrument support to pull the instrument away from the spine, are generally parallel to the plane of the book covers, directed away from the book, and are ineffective at pealing the attachment means from the book covers. The holder is rendered more secure when it is of a size sufficient to attach to opposite sides of a book. These considerations, and preferable ranges of dimensions apply to all embodiments of the invention, including as the following.

The instrument support may serve the substantially dedicated function of providing a means for supporting the writing or drawing instrument, while the attachment means (e.g. tabs, panels or arms or other attachment members) may serve at least the function of attaching the holder to a book. The attachment means (e.g. any one, or more, of the tabs, panels or arms) may serve a dual purpose of itself providing a further support for a writing or drawing instrument, and/or may include or incorporate a pocket or the like (e.g. accessible when the holder is attached to a book) for receiving items/inserts such as a label or card or the like. Thus, e.g. a tab-mounted pocket may serve to enable a user to insert a card or label containing or displaying information specific to the user (e.g. the identity of the user, the contents of the book etc). The pocket may be at least in part transparent thereby to render visible items inserted within it. The attachment means may include a plurality of attachment members adapted to act together to releaseably clamp or clip the holder to a book. Each of the plurality of attachment members is preferably connected to the instrument support such that the plurality of attachment members collectively define a clamp, peg or clip attachable, by a clamping, clipping or gripping action, to a book. One or each of the plurality of attachment members may be connected (e.g. attached) to a separate other attachment member (and/or to the writing or drawing instrument support) to urge towards the separate other attachment member when in a quiescent state and/or when displaced from that state. In this way two or more of the attachment members may collectively define a ciamp or clip which is urged to a closed and/or quiescent position/state in which attachment members are resiliently pushed or drawn together to a collectively closed, or closely separated, position from which they are resiliently displaceable (e.g. by splaying apart) to accommodate between them a part of a book. Displaced attachment members may clamp to the accommodated part of the book when urging towards other displaced attachment members in reaction to the splaying force produced by the book separating them.

One or more (e.g. each) of the attachment members may be integrally formed with, or fixed or attached to, the instrument support via a resiliently deformable join, the resilience of which urges respective attachment members to their quiescent state/position relative to the instrument support and/or other attachment members. The resiliently deformable connection or join may be formed from a resilient plastics material, or wood or a resilient metal (e.g. steel), and may be provided in the form of a fold, bend or crease formed in the resiliently deformable material in question, thereby serving the function of a hinge. The holder may take the form of a peg, the opposing limbs of which define the attachment means resiliently connected or joined to, or at, the instrument support of to each other. The peg limbs are preferably rigid but sufficiently resilient at their respective connected ends to permit the splaying apart of their opposed free ends to an extend sufficient to admit a part of a book.

Two or more of the plurality of attachment members may be pivotably connected (e.g. at one or more hinges) to the instrument support and/or to each other. The holder may include an urging member, such as a spring(s) or a strip(s) or portion(s) of other resiliently deformable material, arranged to urge separate attachment members towards each other. Pivotably connected attachment members may be arranged so as to displaceably urge towards each other by action of the urging member.

The plurality of attachment members may comprise two tabs, panels or arms each one of which is arranged to face, or extend across, the other in substantially opposing overlap thereof. The two opposing tabs, panels or arms may each be separated from the other at a side, end or edge thereof nearmost the hinge, and may each be urged into separable contact (or proximity) with the other at the side, end or edge thereof further, or furthest, from the hinge. In this way, the two opposing tabs, panels or arms may provide an attachment means in the form of a clamp, jaw or clip openable at one side/end to receive a part (e.g. a spine) of a book and to grip, clamp- to or clasp the received book part by action of the same urging force which acts to urge the attachment means closed.

The holder may include displacer means structured and arranged for use in separating or displacing away from each other parts of two or more opposed, or opposable, attachment members. The displacer means may comprise a plurality of displacer members (e.g. tabs, panels, handles or limbs) each one of which is connected to (e.g. attached, rigidly fixed, formed with, or continuing from) a respective one of the plurality of attachment members. The displacer members associated with opposing attachment members preferably also at least in part oppose, face or extend over one another. Opposing displacer members are preferably arranged to draw apart the opposing respective attachment members to which they are connected, when the former are pushed or displaced towards each other. This enables opposing displacer members to serve as levers, or the like, with which to apply a torque or turning force to associated opposing attachment members which opposes the force applied thereto by the urging means urging the attachment members towards each other. Using the displacer members, opposing attachment members, or opposing parts of them, may thereby be splayed, separated or further separated to an extent sufficient to allow a part of a book (e.g. a spine) to be received between them.

The instrument support may include a harness or holster connected to the attachment means and structured and arranged to accept and support a drawing or writing instrument. The harness may be shaped in the form of a sleeve, strap or band of either rigid (e.g. steel, plastic) material or of malleable material (e.g. leather, vinyl, fabric or elastic) connected to the attachment means to define a volume or space dimensioned to receive a drawing or writing instrument. The harness may be circumferentially closed in shape defining a cylinder, tube, ring or closed loop/band the inner free diameter of which is dimensioned to receive a writing or drawing instrument.

The instrument support may include a plurality of support members, one or each of the plurality of support members being connected to another of the plurality of support members to urge towards the other support member. The instrument support may comprise a plurality (e.g. a pair) of support members moveable relative to each other to vary the volume of space between them within which a writing or drawing instrument is receivable. Pairs of the support members may be spaced, opposing, or opposable. This enables the adjustment and variation of the volume of space between opposing (or opposable) parts of the support members thereby to vary the volume of drawing or writing instruments which the instrument support is able to receive within the volume of space in question. One or each support member may be pivotably moveable relative to the other support member of the pair. One or each support member may be connected to a pivotable attachment member thereby to be itself pivotable.

Each attachment member may also comprise a series of spaced adjacent finger portions each of which extends from a common edge of the attachment member generally away from the support means.

Each support member of the pair of support members may comprise a series of spaced adjacent finger portions each of which extends from a common edge of the support member generally away from the attachment means. The two series of finger portions are preferably arranged in, or moveable to a position of, offset mutual opposition such that a finger portion of one support member opposes, or is opposable with, a gap between adjacent finger portions of the other support member. Preferably, the offset mutual opposition is such that the series of finger portions of one support member of the pair is positioned relative to the series of finger portions of the other support member so as to permit the two series of finger portions to mutually interdigitate when one support member is displaced towards the other. This enables the finger portions of opposed support members to clasp around a writing or drawing instrument received between them. Preferably, opposing or opposable support members (e.g. finger portions in offset opposition) may be shaped so as to present to each other a generally concave surface or general shape when opposed. This enables a greater space of volume to be defined between opposed support members.

One or each of the pair of opposing support members may be arranged to urge towards the other support member of the pair in a direction which reduces the volume of space therebetween. Support urging means, such as a spring or a resiliency deformable strip, band or tab of resilient material, may be included in the holder, being structured and arranged to apply a force to one or each support member to urge it towards the other. By action of the support urging means, the opposing parts of the support members may grip or clamp to a drawing or writing instrument located in the space between them.

The holder as described above may be formed from a resilient metal or alloy such as steel, aluminium, pewter, silver or gold or the like. The support members may be integrally formed with, or rigidly connected to the attachment means (e.g. an attachment member thereof), or may be pivotably connected thereto by a hinge or the like, or by a resiliency deformable fold, crease or join.

The holder is preferably structured and arranged to hold one or more of the following writing or drawing instruments, at least, from the following non-exhaustive list: pen, pencil, crayon, chalk, graphite, pastel, charcoal stick, quill, scribe, ruler, compass, brush, or the like. The invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a holder for a writing or drawing instrument in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional view of another holder for a writing or drawing instrument in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 shows the holder of Figure 2 attached to a book; and

Figure 4 shows a three-dimensional view of yet another holder for a writing or drawing instrument in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 shows a side view of a holder according to another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the holder shown in figure 5;

Figure 7 shows a plan view of the holder of figures 5 and 6;

Figure 8 shows a side view of a holder according to a further embodiment of the invention;

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the holder shown in figure 8. In Figure 1 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a holder for a writing or drawing instrument in accordance with the invention. The holder 10 includes a writing or drawing instrument support generally indicated by reference numeral 12 and attachment means, generally indicated by reference numeral 14 whereby the holder 10 is releasably attachable to a book.

The holder 10 is formed from a single sheet of flexible material typically a synthetic plastics material. It will be appreciated however, that other materials could be used. The sheet 22 has a central panel 24 having a pair of parallel side edges 26 ends of which are interconnected by top and bottom edges 28, 30 respectively. The sheet 22 further includes a pair of side panels or tabs 32 connected to the side edges 26 of the central panel 24.

One surface of the sheet of flexible material 22, i.e. an operatively inner surface thereof, is coated with an adhesive and covered by a removable backing 33. The backing is divided into three panels covering, respectively, the central and side panels 24, 32 of the sheet of flexible material 22 to permit the backing covering the side panels 32 to be removed to expose the adhesive whilst permitting the backing covering the central panel 24 to remain in position. This arrangement will enable the holder 10 to be manufactured from a standard sheet of material having an adhesive surface by providing cut lines in the backing sheet dividing it into the three panels and thereby permitting the backing covering the side panels 32 to be removed independently. Alternatively, adhesive may be applied only to the operatively inner surfaces of the side panels 32 which are then covered by removable backing. Reference is now made to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, in which reference numeral 38 refers to another holder in accordance with the invention and, unless otherwise indicated, the same reference numerals used above are used to designate similar parts. In this embodiment of the invention one of the panels 32 is in the form of the letter "A". It will be appreciated that the panel could be in the form of another character or indeed any aesthetically appealing design as shown by the holder 40 in Figure 4 of the drawings.

In use, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the holder 38 is intended for use with a book 16 of conventional form having a generally rectangular spine 18 and a pair of covers 20 connected to and protruding from the long sides of the spine 18.

The width W of the central panel 24 is selected to be approximately the same or slightly larger than the width of the spine 18 of the book 16 with which the holder 38 is intended to be used. The backing covering the side panels 32 is removed and the holder 38 is attached to the book 16 such that the central panel 24 is in register with the spine 18 and the side panels 32 are bonded adhesively to the covers 20. In this regard, the adhesive may be of the type which permits the holder 38 to be removed from the book 16 and, if desired, re-used.

The central panel 24 and spine 18 forms a sleeve within which a writing instrument 17 can be received and held captive.

The holders 10, 40 will be used in substantially the identical fashion to the holder 38 described above. Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate views of a holder 49 according to another embodiment of the invention. The holder includes a writing or drawing instrument support in the form of a cylindrical sleeve 50 of compliant material, such as vinyl, connected centrally to one surface a single continuous sheet (54, 56) of deformable material, such as vinyl. The inner diametric dimension of the sleeve 50 is such as to enable a drawing or writing instrument to be received within the space enveloped by the enclosing inner sleeve surface 52, to be supported thereby. The sleeve 50 is integrally formed with the continuous sheet (54, 56) to which it is connected, but may be otherwise formed and attached (e.g. adhered) to the latter.

The continuous sheet includes two attachment tabs (54, 56) in the form of equal separate halves of the same sheet symmetrically disposed contiguously at opposite sides of the line 55 along which the support sleeve is connected to the opposite surface of the sheet. An adhesive is coated to the surface 57 of the sheet opposite to the surface to which the support sleeve is connected to the sheet. Two cover panels (58, 59) are attached to respective adhesive surfaces of the sheet, being separated, or rendered separate, by a cut 55 coinciding with the line halving bisecting that surface of the sheet and defining the two tabs.

The adhesive surface to which either cover panel is attached is revealed by pealing the cover panel from the respective attachment tab, thereby permitting the attachment tab to be attached, by adhesion, to a book. Both attachment tabs may be attached to a book in this way without influencing the shape and structure of the support sleeve 50. The material of the support sleeve is preferably sufficiently compliant to permit it to be at least partially or totally flattened (i.e. squashed flat) thereby enabling the holder to be attached to an inner surface of a book or folder and to deform to permit the book or folder to close around it without obstructing that closure.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate views of a holder 60 according to a further embodiment of the invention. The holder 60 comprises a sprung clip including two separate, opposed and overlapping attachment panels (61 , 62) pivotably connected to a common hinge 63, and collectively defining an attachment means dimensioned to removably attach to a book. Opposite ends of a helical spring 66 are mounted upon respective opposite attachment panels via mounting slots or hooks (67, 68) formed upon opposite inwardly presented panel surfaces and through each of which slots or hooks a respective terminal end of the helical spring is passed or hooked. The helical body of the spring is equidistant from each mounting slot or hook and is adjacent the common hinge. Via each of its mounted opposite ends, the helical spring exerts upon each attachment panel a force F₁ which urges the opposed attachment panels towards a quiescent closed position (not shown) in which opposing ends of the attachment panels furthest from the common hinge are pressed into contact.

Two displacement arms (72, 73) are mounted, one each, upon the outwardly presented surface of a respective one of the two attachment panels at a location between the common hinge and the end of the panel furthest from the hinge. Each displacement arm extends in a direction generally away from the end of the attachment panel furthest from the common hinge, passing over and beyond the common hinge in that direction. Consequently, a squeezing force F₃ applied to the terminal ends of both displacement arms and directed to urge those terminal ends towards each other, may act to move those terminal ends towards each other by pivoting about the common hinge when the squeezing force is sufficient to overcome the resisting force F₁ of the helical spring 66. As a result, a separation (shown in figures 8 and 9) of the outermost ends of the attachment panels (61 , 62) occurs which splays open the holder 60.

The holder includes a sprung writing or drawing instrument support comprising a sleeve formed from two separate, opposed sand overlapping support panels (81 , 82) each separately mounted pivotably to the common hinge 63 to which the two attachment panels are also connected.

Opposite ends of a second helical spring 69 are mounted upon respective opposite support panels via mounting slots or hooks (70, 71) formed upon opposite inwardly presented support panel surfaces and through each of which slots or hooks a respective terminal end of the second helical spring is passed or hooked. The helical body of the second helical spring is equidistant from each mounting slot or hook and is adjacent the common hinge 63. Via each of its mounted opposite ends, the second helical spring exerts upon each support panel a force F₂ which urges the opposed support panels towards a quiescent closed position (as shown in figures 8 and 9) in which opposing ends of the support panels furthest from the common hinge are brought into close proximity to effectively enclose a space or volume dimensioned to accept a drawing or writing instrument.

In this way, the sprung instrument support may, by urging action of the helical spring via which it is sprung, engage, grip or clasp a writing of drawing instrument between the two opposed support panels defining the support.

The terminal edge of each support panel furthest from the common hinge is castellated, crenulated or digitated, possessing a series of outwardly extending finger members (64, 65). The series of finger members 64 arrayed along the terminal edge of one of the two support panels 81 of the instrument support is arranged in offset opposition the series of finger members arrayed along the terminal edge of the other of the two support panels such that, when drawn together by action of the second helical spring 69, the two series of fingers interdigitate, or mesh together. As such, the space between successive finger members in one series is at least as great as the width of the finger member of the other series opposing that space. In being structured and shaped to permit such interdigitation, the support panels are able to close together sufficiently closely to engage relatively narrow writing or drawing instruments. The support panels may be splayed apart, as required, by simply applying sufficient opposite splaying forces to the outermost terminal ends of the support panels to overcome the closing force applied by the second helical spring.

In alternative embodiments, the second helical spring may be absent. The support panels may be formed from a pliable and/or resilient material (plastic or metal) and the support may comprise a sleeve or holster e.g. of the shape generally illustrated in figures 5 and 6.

It will be noted that each attachment panel of the pair of attachment panels is substantially identical to the other in shape and structure, and that each panel of the pair of support panels are identical save for the digitated terminal edges thereof. Each attachment panel presents to the other of the pair a generally concave surface dimensioned to define, collectively, a volume or space sufficient to receive a book part (e.g. a cover board or a spine). Similarly, each support panel presents to the other of the pair a generally concave surface dimensioned to define, collectively, a volume or space sufficient to receive a writing or drawing instrument. In alternative embodiments, the common hinge may be replaced by a simple common spine portion to which the two attachment panels are firmly, but resiliently, fixed to define a peg. In this variant, the resilience with which each attachment panel is fixed to the common spine permits the extreme free ends of the panels to be splayed to admit a book part, while exerting an urging force urging the panels to clasp the book part. In further variants, the support panels (81 , 82) may be replaced by a single sleeve, e.g. of a shape such as illustrated as sleeve 50 in figures 5 and 6, which may be rigid, deformable or compliant.

The inventor believes that a holder 10, 38, 40, 49, 60 in accordance with embodiments of the invention will provide a relatively inexpensive and convenient manner of retaining a writing or drawing instrument together with a book 16. Naturally, the holder 10, 38, 40, 49, 60 could be used with other items such as folders or the like.

Variants of, and modifications to, the non-limiting examples described above such as would be readily apparent to the skilled person are encompassed within this invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A holder for a writing or drawing instrument which includes: a writing or drawing instrument support for supporting a writing or drawing instrument; and attachment means whereby the holder is attachable to a book.

2. A holder according to any preceding claim wherein the writing or drawing instrument support is adapted for releasably engaging and/or supporting a writing or drawing instrument.

3. A holder according to any preceding claim in which the holder is releasably attachable to a book via the attachment means.

4. A holder according to any preceding claim in which the attachment means includes at least one attachment member connected to the writing or drawing instrument support.

5. A holder according to claim 4 in which the attachment means includes a pair of tabs connected to the writing or drawing instrument support, the tabs being adapted to attach to a book.

6. A holder according to claim 4 or 5 in which the or each attachment member has an adhesive surface whereby the holder is releasably attachable to a book.

7. A holder according to any preceding claim adapted for use with a book having a spine and a pair of covers protruding from opposite sides of the spine, wherein the attachment means includes a pair of tabs or panels protruding from the writing or drawing instrument support which tabs or panels are releasably attachable to the covers of the book so that the writing or drawing instrument support is in register with the spine of the book.

8. A holder according to any preceding claim in which the attachment means comprises a single sheet of flexible material to which the instrument support is connected.

9. A holder according to claim 8 in which at least a part of the single sheet of flexible material has an adhesive surface.

10. A holder according to claims 8 and 9 in which the instrument support is connected to a side of the single sheet of flexible material opposite to, or reverse to, the side thereof bearing the adhesive surface.

11. A holder according to any preceding claim comprising a single sheet of flexible material having a central panel which has a pair of spaced apart edges and which in use forms the writing or drawing instrument support, and a pair of side panels or tabs connected to the edges of the central panel, at least part of each of the side panels having an adhesive surface.

12. A holder according to any of claims 8 to 11 in which one side of the sheet of flexible material is coated with an adhesive which is covered by a removable backing.

13. A holder according to claim 12 in which the backing is divided into two panels covering respective halves of the said one adhesive side.

14. A holder according to claim 1 1 in which one side of each side panel is coated with an adhesive which is covered by a removable backing and the backing is divided into two panels covering respective side panels of the sheet of flexible material to permit the backing covering the side panels to be removed to expose the adhesive.

15. A holder according to claim 14 in which one side of the central panel is not coated with an adhesive which is not covered by a backing.

16. A holder according to any preceding claim in which the attachment means comprises a pair of panels and at least one of the panels has a pocket for an insert.

17. A holder according to any preceding claim in which the sheet of material is of a synthetic plastics material.

18. A holder according to any preceding claim in which the attachment means includes a plurality of attachment members adapted to collectively define a clip attachable to a book by gripping thereto.

19. A holder according to claim 18 in which one or each of the plurality of attachment members is connected to another of the plurality of attachment members to urge towards the other attachment member.

20. A holder according to claim 18 in which the instrument support includes a plurality of support members, one or each of the plurality of support members being connected to another of the plurality of support members to urge towards the other support member.

21. A holder according to any preceding claim in which the instrument support is integrally formed with the attachment means.