DRAWING INSTRUMENT HOLDER

Abstract

The present invention provides a combination drawing instrument holder for holding a plurality of drawing instruments that comprises a support for securing the holder, and a concave receiver extending outwardly from the support wherein the concave receiver includes a plurality of arcuate receivers each of which include a central aperture that extends therethrough for frictionally receiving the drawing instruments therein.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a combination drawing instrument holder and more particularly directed towards a crayon holding apparatus for holding a plurality of crayons during use and storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In many situations it is desirable to use drawing instruments while located in an environment not primarily intended or suited for such use. Many problems can arise in such situations, especially when multiple drawing instruments are needed for the particular use. In particular, when multiple drawing instruments are needed, a user must confront the issue of what to do with the drawing instruments not then being used. Many solutions have been proposed such as simply placing the unused drawing instruments on the work surface or on the ground or into some sort of bag or container that is toted along to the drawing location. The trouble with placing the unused drawing instruments on the work surface is that not every work surface is suited for holding the unused drawing instruments, such as when drawing while sitting on a park bench or even while working at a table if that table is uneven. The trouble with placing the unused drawing instruments in the toted container requires the user to dig through the container to find the drawing instruments and then to select the proper instrument from among the group. Additionally, if the drawing instruments fall onto the ground from the work surface or from the container, they can be lost, dirtied and damaged.

For example, when dining in a restaurant with children, the children are often given a set of crayons to occupy their attention while waiting to order meals and while waiting for the meals to be prepared. Under these circumstances, the crayons are typically delivered individually or in small packages, which inevitably leads to the unused crayons being laid upon the table and then possibly rolling off and under the table. Losing crayons under the table creates the uncomfortable situation of having to search under the table, a location not generally noted for cleanliness, looking for the lost crayon before it is missed or the child's patience has expired. Even if the crayon is found, it is likely that it has been dirtied and possibly been covered in germs.

It would be beneficial for an apparatus to retain unused drawing instruments during use of another drawing instrument to prevent losing, dirtying or damaging the unused drawing instruments while maintaining ease of access to such unused drawing instruments. It would also be beneficial for such a useful apparatus to be able to include a visual indicia on the apparatus for commercial purposes, such as a restaurant logo.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a combination drawing instrument holder for holding a plurality of drawing instruments during use and storage of the instruments. The holder is wearable, for example on a wrist, and comprises a support and a concave receiver for holding the drawing instruments.

An embodiment of the invention employs the holder comprising a support having a ring formed from a flexible elongated band designed to pass over a hand and onto the wrist. The support may be made from an elastic material, such as silicone rubber, and is designed to stretch over the hand and recoil around the wrist to secure the holder in position thereon. The holder further comprises a concave receiver that extends outwardly from the support, includes a plurality of appending and depending structures and arcuate receivers for receiving the drawing instruments therein. A plurality of depending arcuate structures connects the arcuate receivers to one another. A boss surface is associated with each of the free ends of the arcuate receivers. The depending arcuate structure and the boss surfaces are designed to increase the strength and stability of the connection between the support and the concave receiver. The arcuate receivers each include a central aperture that extends therethrough, parallel to an axis of retention, for receiving and retaining the drawing instruments therein. The concave receiver may be made from an elastic material, such as silicone rubber, and is designed to stretch around the drawing instruments by increasing the diameter of the apertures receiving the drawing instruments.

The speed and efficiency of manufacture of the holder are maximized in the illustrated embodiment. The holder and the concave receiver may be formed with a unitary mold, thus the illustrated embodiment is a single device. In addition, the design of the concave receiver through the use of the arcuate receivers, the boss surfaces and the appending and depending structures, enable the holder to be manufactured with a minimum amount of material while maintaining the structural strength and stability qualities in the connection between the concave receiver and the support.

Various objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention.

The drawings constitute a part of this specification, include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a combination of a drawing instrument holder combined with a received wrist and received drawing instruments for use in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a drawing instrument holder for use in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of a drawing instrument holder for use in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of a drawing instrument holder for use in the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a drawing instrument holder for use in the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a drawing instrument holder for use in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

A combination drawing instrument holder 10 is disclosed for holding a plurality of drawing instruments 20 during use and storage of the instruments 20. The holder 10 includes a support 12 and a concave receiver 14 for holding the plurality of drawing instruments 20 during use, transport and storage.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support 12 has a complementing structure for securing the holder 10 to the wrist 22, which in the illustrated embodiment is depicted as an extendable ring designed to pass over a hand 24, for secure reception on the wrist 22.

As shown in FIG. 3, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the support 12 may include an elongated strap 52 extending in opposite directions from the concave receiver 14 with a pair of straps extending outwardly at least one of which is associated with complementary fastening structure, including a fastener 54 for fastening the pair of strap ends for secured adjustment of the support 12 during use. As shown in FIG. 4, in another alternative embodiment, one strap end may include a plurality of raised structures 56 with the opposite strap end including a plurality of complimentary receivers 58 each adapted for releasable receipt of a corresponding raised structure 56 therein.

In another alternative embodiment, the support 12 may include a partially rigid, semicircular ring that includes a spaced gap along the ring, between the pair of strap ends. The spaced gap of the support 12 is generally dimensioned to allow a narrow portion of the wrist 22 to bisect the circumference thereof while remaining secured during normal wear. During use in each of the alternative embodiments, the support 12 is secured to the wrist 22 for receipt of the drawing instruments 20 by the retainers.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the support 12 is dimensioned to provide a frictional or compressed fitting to limit undesired movement of the support 12 on the wrist 22 during use. In the illustrated embodiment, the support 12 is molded from an elastic material such as silicone rubber to provide universal fit of the support 12 as it is stretched to fit over the hand 24 when moving the support 12 onto or off of a variety of wrist 22 dimensions.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the extendable ring of the support 12 may be optionally adapted for receiving a visual indicia or other graphic of logo (collectively referred to hereafter as “visual indicia”). The visual indicia may be applied through heat, moisture or other known processes to form the visual indicia onto or into the outer circumference of the extendable ring.

Referring to FIG. 2, the concave receiver 14 is circumferentially positioned along the support 12 and extends radially, outwardly therefrom. Generally, the concave receiver 14 is designed for securely receiving the plurality of drawing instruments 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the concave receiver 14 comprises a plurality of arcuate receivers 30, each having a plurality of centralized apertures 38, the arcuate receivers 30 spaced circumferentially thereon. The arcuate receivers 30 are connected to one another by a depending arcuate structure 32 spaced therebetween. A boss surface 34 is positioned along a leading and trailing edge associated with the arcuate receivers 30. Each of the depending arcuate structure 32 and each of the boss surfaces 34 provide additional support for the arcuate receivers 30 during use.

Each of the arcuate receivers 30 includes a sidewall which presents an arcuate outer surface 36 whose center of curvature is eccentric with respect to an axis of retention 40 and concentric with the central aperture 38 therein. The axis of retention 40 is generally coaxially aligned with a supporting member 16, such as an arm, on which the support 12 is placed. Each of the arcuate receivers 30 is adapted for retaining the drawing instruments 20 therein. The illustrated arcuate receivers 30 each include central apertures 38 that extend laterally along the extendable ring and are dimensioned to have a smaller diameter than the diameter of the received drawing instruments 20 for secure receipt of the drawing instruments 20 therein.

The concave receiver 14 extends generally coaxial along the retention axis from a front face 44 to a rear face 46. In the illustrated embodiment, the front face 44 is generally coplanar to the front edge of the support 12 and the rear face is generally coplanar to the rear edge of the support 12. That is, in the illustrated embodiment, the support 12 and the concave receiver 14 generally have the same width.

In FIG. 2 the central apertures 38 extend from an opening associated with the front face 44 to an opening associated with the rear face 46 coaxially to the axis of retention 40. The sidewall of the central apertures 38 includes an inner surface 18 for frictionally receiving the drawing instruments 20 therethrough and to hold the drawing instruments 20 within the holder 10.

In one embodiment, the concave receiver 14 may be made from an elastic material, such as silicone rubber formed through a vulcanization process or through injection molding as is generally known. The elastic properties associated with the silicone rubber enable the arcuate receivers 30 to stretch and increase the diameter of the associated central aperture 38 and fit around the received drawing instrument 20. The frictional properties associated with the silicone rubber enable the inner surface 18 to frictionally hold the drawing instrument within the arcuate receiver 30.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, in another alternative embodiment of the present invention, the central apertures 38 may further include an inwardly extending membrane at each central aperture presenting a plurality of receiving membranes 42 for holding drawing instruments 20 having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the sidewall of the central aperture 38. The membranes 42 each include at least one slit opening 42 therein for frictionally receiving the drawing instruments 20 therethrough.

In another alternative embodiment of the present invention, the concave receiver 14 may optionally include a plurality of elongated straps extending circumferentially along the concave receiver 14 with at least one end attached to the support 12. In this configuration, the straps may be used for securing the drawing instruments 20 to the holder 10.

In another embodiment, the concave receiver 14 may include a plurality of straps attached to the support 12, wherein the straps include a fastener, for example a hook and loop fastener, such as Velcro®, for securing the drawing instruments 20 to the holder 10. In another embodiment, the concave receiver 14 comprises a plurality of semicircular arcuate surfaces attached to the support 12 used for securing the drawing instruments 20 to the holder 10. The semicircular arcuate surfaces of the concave receiver 14 are designed to partially encircle the midsection of the drawing instruments 20. In this configuration, the semicircular arcuate surfaces are dimensioned to clasp the drawing instruments 20 therein.

In manufacturing the holder 10 with the support 12 and the concave receiver 14 through a unitary mold in an injection molded process, the invention may be formed as a single mold, thus improving the cost and speed of manufacture. In addition, the design of the concave receiver 14 in the illustrated embodiment, with the arcuate receivers 30, the boss surfaces 34 and the depending arcuate structures 32, the holder 10 less material is wasted while providing the structural strength and stability necessary for receiving and supporting the drawing instruments 20 during use, storage and transport.

The drawing instrument 20 comprises those writing and drawing utensils generally known in the art such as crayons, highlighters, markers, pencils, pens, etc. Each of theses known drawing instruments 20 includes at least one drawing end and generally includes a blunt end located opposite the drawing end.

The illustrated embodiment of the present invention is placed in operation by first moving the holder 10 onto the supporting member 16. As depicted in FIG. 1, the holder 10 is placed in operation by moving it onto the supporting member 16, wherein the supporting member 16 is the wrist 22. The illustrated holder 10 is moved into position by stretching the support 12 over the hand 24 and moving the holder 10 to the desired position on the wrist 22. The hand passes through the stretched support 12 followed by the wrist 22. Once the support 12 is placed at the desired position on the wrist 22, the stretched support 12 is then released, thus securing the holder 10 onto the supporting member 16.

Next, the drawing instruments 20 are loaded into the holder 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the blunt end of the drawing instrument 20 is inserted through the concave receiver 14 by passing the drawing instrument 20 through the aperture opening associated with the front face 44, through the central aperture 38 and through the aperture opening associated with the rear face 46. While either end of the drawing instrument 20 could be inserted through the concave receiver 14, it is preferable to insert the blunt end because inserting the drawing end could damage the tip of the drawing instrument 20 or the concave receiver 14.

When the drawing instrument 20 loaded into the holder 10 is needed, the desired drawing instrument 20 is unloaded from the holder 10 by sliding the drawing instrument 20 either forwardly or rearwardly out of the concave receiver 14. Unlike the process of loading the drawing instrument 20 into the holder 10, when unloading the drawing instrument 20 from the holder 10 neither direction of removal is preferable. Both directions are equally effective.

It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.

Claims

1. An improved drawing instrument holder for holding a plurality of drawing instruments during use comprising: a support for securing the drawing instruments;a concave receiver having a plurality of central apertures, each having a sidewall and adapted to receive at least one of the plurality of drawing instruments; andsaid central apertures being spaced radially along said concave receiver and having an inner surface associated with said sidewall for frictional receipt of the drawing instruments.

2. The improved drawing instrument holder of claim 1 wherein said support comprises an extendable ring connectably secured to each end of said concave receiver.

3. The improved drawing instrument holder of claim 2 wherein said extending ring further includes a visual surface for display of a visual indicia.

4. The improved drawing instrument holder of claim 1 wherein each of said central apertures includes a depending and appending structure.

5. The improved drawing instrument holder of claim 4 wherein each of said depending and appending structure form a semicircular arcuate surface.

6. The improved drawing instrument holder of claim 1 wherein said concave receiver is made from an elastic material.

7. The improved drawing instrument holder of claim 1 wherein each of said central apertures includes a receiving membrane extending inwardly from said sidewall.

8. The improved drawing instrument holder of claim 7 wherein said receiving membrane is a flexible slit membrane.

9. The improved drawing instrument holder of claim 1 further comprising a pair of elongated straps each extending outwardly from said concave receiver and said elongated straps including complementary mating structure for securing the concave receiver during use.

10. The improved drawing instrument holder of claim 1 wherein said support and said concave receiver are fabricated using an injection molded process.