Patent Publication Number: US-10787024-B2

Title: Writing utensil stand

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/721,068 filed on Aug. 22, 2018. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to writing instrument holders. More specifically, the present invention provides a writing utensil stand having a plurality of bore holes adapted to receive said utensils wherein at least one viewing window extending from a front side through a rear side of the base allows a writing utensil inserted through one of the plurality of bore holes to be visible. There is also at least one bore hole disposed adjacent to the viewing window such that a writing utensil inserted therein is obscured from view. Alternate embodiments allow for multiple viewing windows and bore hole positions. 
     People are often searching for a pencil or pen to jot down ideas and items, take notes, and write various other things. Unfortunately, many people frequently store utensils in a draw or other object only to later forget where they placed there writing utensil. The problem of locating the writing utensils is exacerbated when people place their writing utensils without much deliberation or organization. Further, even when writing utensils are clustered in one location, an individual may have trouble distinguishing between a pen or pencil. Accordingly, a device that is configured to store writing utensils such that a user of said device may easily locate and identify a desired writing utensil is desired. Therefore, there is a need in the prior art for a convenient means for storing and easily identifying writing utensils and the like. 
     Devices have been disclosed in the known art that relate to writing utensil stands. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These devices generally relate to writing utensil stands that allow the contents thereof to be viewed from the exterior. One known art device provides a stand made of a ceramic material for holding writing instruments in rows of holes in a rectangular shape. Other devices in the known art generally relate to writing utensil holders that are adhesive to a backpack or automobile dashboard. These devices, however, fail to disclose a writing utensil stand including at least one viewing aperture extending from a front side through a rear side of the base that allows a writing utensil to be inserted through one of a plurality of bore holes to be visible, as well as at least one bore hole disposed adjacent the aperture, such that a writing utensil inserted therein is obscured from view. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of writing utensil stands now present in the known art, the present invention provides a writing utensil stand with both concealed and visible compartments wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when storing and choosing writing utensils. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved writing utensil stand that has all of the advantages of the known art and none of the disadvantages. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a base having a planar bottom configured to be supported on a flat surface, and a top surface including a plurality of bore holes that are adapted to receive a writing utensil therethrough. The base also includes a front surface and a back surface wherein at least one viewing aperture extends from the front surface through the back surface. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a writing utensil stand wherein the bore holes disposed through the top surface of the base include an indentation around the opening and are of varying diameters to better receive writing utensils of varying dimensions therein. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a writing utensil stand wherein the base is made of a rigid material such as wood or plastic and clear windows enclose the view apertures between the front and back surfaces. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a writing utensil star wherein geometric inserts conforming to the dimensions of the view hole having corresponding bore holes are removably insertable within the base such that writing utensils may be inserted concurrently through the base and the insert. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the writing utensil stand. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the writing utensil stand with writing utensils removably installed. 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the writing utensil stand with geometric insert and writing utensils removably installed. 
         FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the writing utensil stand with geometric insert installed. 
         FIG. 5  shows a deconstructed cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the writing utensil stand with geometric insert removed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the writing utensil stand. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for storing and displaying writing utensils in a plurality of bore holes and viewing apertures. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , there is shown perspective views of embodiments of the writing utensil stand. The writing utensil stand  11  comprises a base  12  having a planar lower surface  13  configured to be supported on a flat, horizontal surface. In the illustrated embodiment, the planar lower surface  13  of the base  12  comprises a rectangular shape, however, alternate embodiments may comprise a planar lower surface  13  of any suitable shape, such as a trapezoid or oval. The device further includes a front surface  14 , a back surface  15 , and an upper surface  16 . A plurality of bore holes  17  are disposed in the upper surface  16  of the device  11  and descend vertically through the base  12  and terminate in a lower portion thereof. The plurality of bore holes  17  are adapted to receive a writing utensil therethrough and, in the illustrated embodiment, are comprised of a cylindrical dimension. In alternate embodiments, the plurality of bore holes  17  may comprise different dimensions and diameters as to receive writing utensils are varying sizes and shapes. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the writing utensil stand with writing utensils removably installed, and a perspective view of an embodiment of the writing utensil stand with geometric insert  19  and writing utensils removably installed, respectively. At least one viewing aperture  18  is disposed in the base  12  and extends from the front  14  surface through the back surface  15 , creating a void through the base  12 . At least one of the plurality of bore holes  17  extends through a viewing aperture  18  and terminates in the lower portion of the base  12 , near the planar lower surface  13  while at least one other bore hole  17  extends through the base  12  without passing through a viewing aperture  18 . In practice, writing utensils may either be installed in bore holes  17  that pass through a viewing aperture  18  or one that does not. Writing utensils that pass through a viewing aperture  18  may be seen by a user without having to remove the writing utensil from the bore hole  17  itself. A writing utensil installed in a bore hole  17  that extends through a viewing aperture  18  also allows a user to properly identify what type of utensil is contained therein and also whether the utensil has sufficient ink or fluid. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , there is shown a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the writing utensil stand with geometric insert installed and a deconstructed cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the writing utensil stand with geometric insert removed, respectively. The writing utensil stand  11  may include geometric inserts  19  that correspond with the shape of the viewing aperture  18  disposed through the base  12 . Bore holes  17  disposed on the geometric inserts  19  also correspond with the bore hole  17  disposed through the upper surface  16  of the base  12  allowing writing utensils installed in the bore holes  17  to pass through the geometric insert  19  and terminate in the lower portion of the base  12 , near the planar lower surface  13 . The device  11  may be used with or without the geometric inserts  19  installed as a user so desires. To install the geometric inserts  19  within the base  12 , a user may slide the geometric insert  19  into the corresponding viewing aperture  18  which is dimensioned to receive the geometric insert  19  through the front surface  14  or back surface  15  of the base  12 . The geometric insert  19  is configured to selectively obscure a portion of the writing utensil which passes therein while providing an improved aesthetic feature to the base  12  of the device  11 . 
     It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.