Abstract:
A magnetic retaining device having an elongate member with helical coils at a first end thereof. The helical coils are resiliently expandable so as to hold objects therein. A magnet is attached to a second end of the elongate member to allow the retaining device to be temporarily held on a magnetic surface.

Description:
[0001]    The present application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending patent application Ser. No. 11/637,309, filed Dec. 12, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention pertains to a magnetic retaining device, and particularly, to a device for holding a writing instrument for easy access. A long standing problem encountered by most people at one time or another is having a writing instrument readily available when needed. This is frequently a problem when someone is not at a location where a writing instrument is normally readily available, for example, at a desk. 
         [0003]    A number of devices have been developed in the past and some of these will be discussed below. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,718 discloses a golf bag pencil holder in which a pencil is attached to one end of a flexible cord and the other end of the flexible cord is attached to a snap hook which engages with a ring mounted on a golf bag. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,793 discloses a suction cup assembly with a magnetic tether. This assembly has a suction cup with an integral tether on the opposite end of which a magnet is attached for holding metallic objects. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,899 discloses a carpenter&#39;s pencil retracting device. This device has a tube that holds a pencil. The tube is attached to a ring which in turn is attached to a retractable wire that can be pulled from and retracted into a housing 
         [0007]    U.S. Patent Application Publication US2001/0051068 discloses a hanging pen and cord. In this assembly a pen cap with a cord attached at one end and a magnet arranged inside the cap. A pen is held in the cap by magnetic force. 
         [0008]    U.S. Patent Application Publication US2003/0015500 discloses a combination magnetic pen holder and cap. The holder has a magnetic side which allows attachment to a metal surface and also has a cylindrical aperture in which the pen can be inserted. 
         [0009]    U.S. Patent Application Publication US2006/0196900 discloses a magnetic retaining system having a lanyard that is worn around the neck of the user and on which a magnet is suspended. The magnet then can hold any ferrous element. 
         [0010]    U.S. Design Pat. No. 254,856 discloses a pen with a chain in which a chain is attached to one end of the pen so that one end of the pen can be worn around the neck of a user. 
         [0011]    U.S. Design Pat. No. 344,288 also discloses a chain worn around the neck and at the end of which is suspended a magnet. A writing utensil with a magnet mounted at its upper end can be held by the magnet on the chain. 
         [0012]    The problem with this prior art is that it does not provide much flexibility in where and how the device can be used. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a retaining device for a writing instrument which allows the device to be used in a variety of different locations so that the writing instrument is readily available when needed. 
         [0014]    Pursuant to this object, and others which will become apparent hereafter, one aspect of the present invention resides in a magnetic retaining device having a helically wound cord or lanyard. The coils of the helical lanyard can be resiliently expanded so that a writing instrument, such as a pencil or pen, can be partially inserted and grasped by the coils of the lanyard. The lanyard also has a magnet affixed thereto. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment of the invention a chain is attached between the magnet and the helical cord. The chain can be, for example, a ball chain that is conventionally used for key chains. The chain is attached to the helical cord in a region along the length of the cord, and preferably in a region approximately mid-way along the length of the cord. 
         [0016]    The magnet allows the writing instrument to be held on a ferrous surface wherever the writing instrument might be needed. For use, all that need be done by the user is tug on the pencil to release the magnet from the ferrous surface to allow use of the pencil by the individual. 
         [0017]    In another embodiment of the invention, an attachment member is provided to which the magnet can be attached. The attachment member is intended for use in areas where a ferrous surface is not readily available, for example clothing, wood or plastic. The attachment member can, for example, be a metallic clip that can be clipped to clothing or various other objects, or it can be a metal piece mounted by an adhesive such as double sided tape or a hook and loop fastener, to a surface such as the dashboard of a car. Once this ferrous surface is present it is possible to attach the magnet together with the lanyard and writing instrument for convenient use as needed. 
         [0018]    In still another embodiment of the invention, the attachment member is a clip attached to a first end of a first chain. A first magnet is attached to the second end of the chain. The helical coil is attached to a first end of a second chain and a second magnet is attached to the second end of the second chain. It has been found beneficial to mount the first end of the second chain to a mid-region along the length of the coil. 
         [0019]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention that refers to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the retaining device  1  of the present invention. In this embodiment, the retaining device  1  includes a cord  2  with a helically coiled section which has resilient coils that can be enlarged to insert a writing instrument  3 . The coils naturally retract to securely hold the writing instrument  3  in place. The free end of the cord  2  is attached to a first end of a ball chain  4 . A magnet  5  is attached to the second end of the ball chain  4 . 
         [0023]    It is understood that instead of the ball chain  4 , any other type of cord can be used which would provide a similar function. For example, a link chain, a nylon string or an elastic member can be used. Additionally, instead of the ball chain  4 , it is possible to simply connect the magnet  5  to the free end of the cord  2 . 
         [0024]    The cord  2  can be made of any suitable material but preferably is a resilient material such as nylon or plastic. In this way the cord can be coiled near one end for holding the writing instrument and can be uncoiled at the other end to which the magnet is attached. 
         [0025]    The coiled portion of the cord  2  allows the retaining device to be used to hold a wide variety of different items, other than writing instruments. For example, the coiled portion of the cord can easily adapt to hold eyeglasses, keys, etc. 
         [0026]    The inventive retaining device can also include an attachment member  6 . The attachment member is either made of a ferrous metal or has at least a portion that is made of a ferrous metal so that the magnet  5  can be attached thereto. In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment member is a metal clip. The attachment member  6  allows the retaining device to be used on non-metallic materials such as fabric, wood or plastic. For example, the clip  6  can be attached to an article of clothing so that the magnet can be attached to the clip so that the writing instrument is always readily available to the user. The attachment member can also be a thin metal plate or bar that has an adhesive or a hook and loop fastener on one side to allow the metal plate or bar to be attached to a non-metalic surface such as an automobile dashboard. For asthetic purposes, the metal bar can of course be mounted in a housing of some type. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  shows a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the clip  6 ′ is connected to one end of a chain  4   b . A magnet  5   b  is connected to the other end of the chain  4   b . A second chain  4   a  has one end attached to the coil  2  and another end connected to a magnet  5   a . This embodiment improves functionality of the invention in that two magnets increase strength so that heavier objects can be held. Also, the magnets tend to seek each other out when in close proximity thereby making it easier to “attach” the object to the clip via the two chains. 
         [0028]    Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited but by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.