The present disclosure relates to the field of school and office supply safety, and more particularly to a writing utensil sheath that prevents harm that may be caused by accidental exposure to the writing utensil point.
The writing end of a pen or pencil is hazardous and can cause injury to person or property. During use, the exposed writing end presents a stabbing hazard. If the writing end becomes exposed when a writing utensil is in a bag or pocket, the writing end can stick or snag during transport. The problem of accidentally snagging or stabbing is solved by a writing utensil sheath.
The Writing Utensil Safety Sheath securely stores a writing utensil in a retracted position for storage or transport. Then, a user may extend the writing end or an opposite end out of an open end of the Sheath for use. However, when a force more than a predetermined force is applied to an extended writing end, the writing end will slide back into the Sheath without harm to the object that applied the force.
In one embodiment, the writing utensil safety sheath has a body having a first open end and an internal channel. The internal channel is sized to retain at least a portion of a writing utensil in both a first extended position and a retracted position. The sheath also has a grip affixed to and extending beyond the first open end of the body. The grip contacts a writing end of the writing utensil when the writing utensil is in the first extended position thus retaining the writing utensil in the first extended position while writing. The grip allows the writing end of the writing utensil to retract back within the first open end of the body when a force applied to the writing end exceeds a predetermined amount.
In another embodiment, the writing utensil safety sheath has a slot on the body exposing at least a portion of the writing utensil within the internal channel. The slot allows a user to manipulate the writing utensil within the body.
In another embodiment, the writing utensil safety has an O-ring affixed around the body. The O-ring applies compressive force to the body thus further retaining the writing utensil within the body.
In another embodiment, the writing utensil safety sheath has a notch in the body to receive the O-ring thus allowing the O-ring to contact the writing utensil and apply additional compressive force.
In another embodiment, the writing utensil safety sheath has a second open end and a second grip. The second grip is affixed to and extends beyond the second open end of the body. The second grip contacts an opposite end of the writing utensil when the writing utensil is in a second extended position thus retaining the writing utensil in the second extended position during use.
In another embodiment, the internal channel is sized to retain both the writing end and an opposite end of the writing utensil in the retracted position.
In yet another embodiment, a writing utensil safety sheath includes a body having a first open end and an internal channel. The internal channel is sized to retain at least a portion of a writing utensil in both a first extended position and a retracted position. The writing utensil safety sheath also includes an O-ring affixed to the body and applying a compressive force on the body to secure the writing utensil in either the first extended position or the retracted position. The O-ring allows a writing end of the writing utensil to retract back within the first open end of the body when a force applied to the writing end exceeds a predetermined amount.
Referring to
In some embodiments of the Sheath 1, a second end 14 is closed or includes an eraser 16. The eraser 16 may be interchangeable or replaceable. In other embodiments, second end 14 could also be open.
In a retracted position, the writing utensil may be completely concealed within the body 2, as shown in
In one exemplary embodiment of the Writing Utensil Safety Sheath 1, the diameter of the internal channel 12 is sized to accommodate the writing utensil 10 such that the utensil 10 cannot slide freely without some force applied by a user. By way of example, to accommodate a standard pencil, the internal channel 12 may have a diameter of 21/64 inches.
In one exemplary embodiment of the Writing Utensil Safety Sheath 1, the body 2 may be made of a substantially rigid material strong enough to withstand normal use; for example, plastic, metal, wood, rubber, or other similar material.
In one exemplary embodiment, the grip 6 is malleable such that a user can squeeze, bend, or deform the grip 6. The grip 6 may be made of a foam, rubber, or any soft, plastic, gripping material.
The slot 8 is located on the body 2 and exposes the internal channel 12. When a writing utensil 10 is in the Sheath 1, a user can slide the writing utensil 10 within the channel 12 by directly contacting and pushing or manipulating the writing utensil 10 via the slot 8.
In one exemplary embodiment (not shown), the Writing Utensil Safety Sheath 1 includes two or more slots 8. One slot 8 is centered on the body 2 with a length of about 2⅜ inches and, for example, a second, smaller slot 8 located closer to the second end 14. In one non-limiting embodiment, the slot 8 may have a width of about 0.25 inches.
Referring to
The writing utensil 10 is retained through a combination of compressive force which is applied by the grip 6 having an internal diameter sized to hold the writing utensil 10. Friction is also applied by the grip 6 directly contacting the writing utensil 10. By varying material or internal diameter of the grip 6, the grip 6 can be configured to resist a range forces applied to the writing end 18 from 0.5 N and up. In one non-limiting embodiment, the predetermined force may be 1.5 N. Thus, the grip 6 may be sized to compress the writing utensil 10 and resist sliding back into the body 2 until a force greater than 1.5 N is applied to the writing end 18, for example, during a fall or stabbing motion, the writing end 18 of the utensil 10 will slide back into the body 2 of the Sheath 1.
In some embodiments of the Sheath 1, the grip 6 may be configured to prevent the writing utensil 10 from sliding out of the open end 4 unless a force is applied by a user to the writing utensil 10 via the slot 8. In some embodiments, the required force to be applied by the user is as little as 0.01 N.
In some embodiments, the Writing Utensil Safety Sheath 1 includes an O-ring 20 or other similar type of gasket. The O-ring 20 is configured to maintain the writing utensil 10 in either the extended position or the retracted position by applying compression to the writing utensil 10. In one exemplary embodiment, when the O-ring 12 is affixed to the body 2, the O-ring 20 applies a compressive force to the body 2. The compressive force is then transferred through the body 2 and acts on the writing utensil 10 within the channel 12.
In some embodiments, there is at least one notch 22 (shown in
In one non-limiting embodiment, an O-ring 20 may be located approximately 1 5/16 inches from the first end 4. The O-ring 20 may be affixed to the body and seated in a notch 22 (or slit or hole) in the body 2. Thus, the O-ring 20 provides the compressive force around the body 2 as well as friction directly to the writing utensil 10 through the notch 22.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The second grip 26 may be configured to prevent the writing utensil 10 from sliding out unless a force is applied by a user to the writing utensil 10 via the slot 8. In these embodiments, the second grip 26 is also configured to allow the opposite end 28 to slide back into the second open end 24 when a force greater than a predetermined amount is applied to the opposite end 28.
Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein are not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings.
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 62/770,501, filed on Nov. 21, 2018, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20200156401 A1 | May 2020 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62770501 | Nov 2018 | US |