Abstract:
A traveling crayon holder including a three dimensional plush body. A plurality of arms extend from the body, the arms each further comprising a length of a flexible line material. A plurality of crayons are secured in individual fashion to respective ends of each of the lengths of flexible line material. An engagement portion extends from a further location of the plush body and provides for securing the body to a fixed location.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a traveling crayon holder, particularly for use by toddlers and children. More specifically, the present device is capable of being used by children traveling in a vehicle and which prevents crayons from being lost or misplaced in the vehicle seats and under the floorboards. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
   The prior art is documented with varying types of suspending cord/leash devices, as well as other examples of prior art designs, and such as generally related to toy octopuses or squids. A first example drawn from the prior art is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,677, issued to Wang, and which discloses a hanging pen including a pen cap and a pen holder. The pen cap has a blocking cover with a loop cord for carrying and an opening at the other end. 
   The penholder provides a center stick therein with a writing head of the center stick extending outwardly from a conical part at an end of the penholder. A magnetic ring is fixed in the pen cap. The conical part is made of magnet inducing material. The pen cap engages the penholder by way of the magnetic ring attracting the conical part when the conical part is inserted into the pen cap from the open end. 
   A further example is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,928, issued to Mikkelsen, and which teaches an adjustable breakaway neck noose for retaining an end of a cylindrical container comprising a flexible cord of a predetermined length having an exterior surface of a woven material and having a first end and a second end which can from a noose therebetween. A holder is incorporated for holding the end of the cylindrical container having a top surface defining a raised tab and a hole transversely defined therethrough of sufficient size to receive the first and second ends of the cord, yet frictionally engage the exterior surface of the cord. 
   The holder can be positioned along a locus of points along the length of the cord so as to change the size of the noose. A bottom surface of the holder defines a cup with interior cylindrical walls sized to receive and frictionally engage the end of a cylindrical container. A clip is incorporated for clipping the first and second ends of the cord together and frictionally holding the first and second ends of the cord. The clip releases the ends of the cords when a predetermined amount of tension above one pound is exerted between the clip and cord. 
   Also known in the art are various and decorative toy articles, such as exhibiting an octopus-like shape and these include octopus shaped build-up toy of Liu, U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,945, as well as the fishing octopus toy of Lee, U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,195. Other design patents based upon an eight-legged octopus article include Pedersen, U.S. Design Pat. No. 362,876 and Tak, U.S. Design Pat. No. 316,734. 
   SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   The present invention discloses a traveling crayon holder, particularly for use by toddlers and children. More specifically, the present device is capable of being used by children traveling in a vehicle and which prevents crayons from being lost or misplaced in the vehicle seats and under the floorboards. 
   The device includes a three dimensional plush body from which extend a plurality of arms. Each of the arms each further includes a length of a flexible line material. A plurality of crayons are each secured in individual fashion to respective ends of each of the lengths of flexible line material. In a preferred application, a plurality of hollow ended plastic plugs are provided and within which are releasably interengaged the crayons. 
   An engagement portion extending from a further location of the plush body provides a means for securing the body to a fixed location. In a first preferred embodiment, the engagement portion further includes a lanyard loop extending from the plush body, a key ring securing to the lanyard loop. A flexible cord terminates in a clip for securing to the key ring. 
   In a further application, a flexible accordian cord secures to the key ring and which allows for the body to be stretched or pulled in a given direction. A further application contemplates inter-engaging male and female connectors for securing the body to the fixed location. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an illustration of the traveling crayon holder according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an environmental view illustrating the traveling crayon holder mounted such as to a rear facing side of a vehicle seat according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a first alternate application of a clip attachment for securing the traveling crayon holder; 
       FIG. 4  is a second alternate application of an accordian type band for use with a traveling crayon holder; and 
       FIG. 5  is a third alternate application of an attachment scheme and which illustrates male to female engagement portions. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a traveling crayon holder is illustrated at  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As described previously, the focus of the present invention is on the provision of a crayon holding device capable of being used by children traveling in a vehicle and which prevents crayons from being lost or misplaced in the vehicle seats and under the floorboards. 
   The device  10  includes in the preferred embodiment a three dimensional plush body, such as a head  12 , exhibiting any desired shaping (including round, oval, etc.,) and upon which a desired stitching or indicia  14 , in the present instance including eyes, mouth, etc., is applied. In the preferred application, the portable crayon holder head  12  is in the configuration of a toy octopus and which further provides a plurality of (in the preferred illustration eight) elongate extending arms, see at  16 , in the form of extending lengths of a decorative line, such as a suitable cord, rope or ribbon-type material. 
   The lengths of line  16  terminate in a plurality of crayons  18  (or other suitable coloring or writing marker) and which are secured thereto such as by engaging the same to hollow ended plastic plugs  20 . Without limitation, it is understood that other types of engagement means (apart from the plugs  20 ) may be employed for securing the crayons  18  to the individual lines  16  and such that the crayons may be quickly replaced in the instances of them being worn down through use, broken or the like. 
   Extending from a generally top end location of the plush head  12  is a lanyard loop or the like  22 , attached to which in the illustrated version of  FIG. 1  is a key ring  24 . As will be subsequently described, it is understood that other suitable structure is provided for securing the traveling and portable crayon holder, and such as is best illustrated in the travel configuration  26  of  FIG. 2  and whereby the device  10  is secured to a cord or line  28  extending from a location  30  associated with the seatback such that it is capable of being suspended from a rear facing side of a vehicle seat back  32   
   In a preferred application, it is intended that the portable crayon holding device  10  is accessible to children seated behind the seat back  30  and in such a manner that the crayons  18  are readily accessible. Further, the secured nature of the crayons  18  prevents them from becoming lost or inaccessible, such as which might otherwise occur with them falling between the seat cushions, falling upon the floorboard and rolling under the front seat, and the like. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3-5  in succession, some examples of potential mounting applications for the crayon holder device are illustrated.  FIG. 3  is a first alternate application  34  of a clip attachment for securing the traveling crayon holder  10  and in particular by which an engaging clip  36  extends from an end of a flexible cord  38 . Although not shown, it is envisioned that the cord is attached to a fixed location, such as a seatback as shown in  FIG. 2 , and such that the crayons are easily accessible. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a second alternate application of an accordian type band for use with a traveling crayon holder is illustrated at  40 , and differing in the respect that an accordian type cord or the like  42  can be incorporated for providing a measure of stretch to the device. A ringlet is illustrated at  44  in engagement with the accordian cord  42 , however it is understood that the ringlet  44  can provided as a key ring  24  or the like and which is secured directly to the head  12  such as again by lanyard loop  22  such as in a vehicle traveling configuration. 
     FIG. 5  illustrates at  46  is a third alternate application of male  48  to female  50  engagement portions and which illustrates male to female engagement portions for providing quick connect and disconnect of the crayon holding device  10  to and from such as a fixed location to which a remote end (not shown) of a line  52  extending from connecting portion  48  may be secured. The application of  FIG. 5  can also apply in combination with any of the aforementioned embodiments. 
   Without limitation, the present invention contemplates other and additional attachment schemes for securing the crayon holder to a given location. It is further envisioned that the lengths of line  16  may be adapted, such as by being either lengthened or shortened, to suit any of a number of different applications and within the scope of the invention. 
   Having described the invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims.