Patent Publication Number: US-6658702-B1

Title: Writing implement holder with clip

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to pen and pencil holders and, more particularly, to a writing implement holder having a pivotal and slidable lid that is selectively attachable to another object and which does not interfere with the function of the object to which it is attached. 
     Various devices have been proposed for holding pens and pencils as well as holders that are attachable to other objects. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, existing devices do not provide a holder for multiple writing implements that may be clipped to a planar surface without impeding use of that object. For example, the existing devices are not suitable for attachment to the lip of a music stand for providing convenient access to a pencil and eraser and not interfering with the turning of music pages. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to have a writing implement holder that may be releasably attached to a planar surface. Further, it is desirable to have a writing implement holder having a lid that may be pivotally moved between open and closed configurations for use and storage, respectively. In addition, it is desirable to have a writing implement holder having its own pencil sharpener and shavings receptacle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A writing implement holder according to the present invention includes a generally rectangular case having a bottom wall, upstanding front and back walls, and case side walls extending between the front and back walls. The case defines an open top through which writing accessories may be inserted or removed. The implement holder includes a lid that is pivotally movable between a closed configuration covering the open top of the case and an open configuration exposing the open top. Side walls of the lid define channels that cooperate with guide pins on the case side walls for longitudinal movement of the lid. The guide pins also define a lateral axis about which the lid may be selectively pivoted between open and closed configurations. The lid side walls also define recesses that may selectively receive lock pins situated on the case side walls. When the lid is pivoted to an open configuration and slidably moved to a locking configuration, the locking pins are snappably received into the locking recesses. A clip member is attached to the lid for attaching the entire holder to a planar surface, such as the lip of a music stand. When the lid is positioned at the open and locked configurations and the clip member is attached to a music stand, the contents of the holder are readily accessible to a user and the use of the music stand is not impaired. 
     Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a writing implement holder that holds a variety of writing implements in conveniently accessible positions. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a writing implement holder, as aforesaid, which may be attached to another object without impeding use of that object. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide a writing implement holder, as aforesaid, having an integral pencil sharpener and removable pencil shavings receptacle. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to provide a writing implement holder, as aforesaid, having a lid which may be releasably locked in an open configuration. 
    
    
     Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a writing implement holder according to one embodiment of the present invention in use on a music stand; 
     FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the writing implement holder as in FIG. 1 in a closed configuration; 
     FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the writing implement holder as in FIG. 1 in an open configuration; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the writing implement holder as in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a clip member of a writing implement holder according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a writing implement holder according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A writing implement holder with clip attachment according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 through 6 of the accompanying drawings. A writing implement holder  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown particularly in FIGS. 1 through 4. The implement holder  10  includes a case  12  having a generally rectangular configuration including a bottom wall  14  with front  16  and back  18  walls extending upwardly therefrom with spaced apart opposed case side walls  20  connecting the front  16  and back  18  walls (FIG.  4 ). The back wall  18  includes a length that is greater than a length of the front wall  16  such that top edges of respective case side walls are downwardly sloped from the back wall  18  to the front wall  16  (FIG.  4 ). This allows writing implements stored within the interior space of the case  12  to be more easily removed from or inserted into the case  12 . 
     The walls of the case  12  define a generally hollow interior space and an open top  22 . The configuration of the interior space is best shown in FIG.  6 . The interior space is divided into a first portion that is open between the bottom wall  14  and the open top  22 , the first portion being particularly suited to hold a plurality of standard sized pencils. The second portion includes a bracket  24  having a construction capable of receiving a portion of an eraser  38  therein and supporting the eraser  38  adjacent the open top  22  of the case  12 . 
     The writing implement holder  10  includes a lid  26  that is pivotally movable between open and closed configurations so as to selectively cover or expose the open top  22 . More particularly, the lid  26  includes a face plate  28  having opposing lid side walls  30  depending from opposed longitudinal edges of the face plate  28  (FIG.  4 ). The lid  26  includes an end wall  32  extending between corresponding first ends of the lid side walls  30 . The lid  26  defines an open end between second ends of the lid side walls  30 . 
     A pair of guide pins  40  are fixedly mounted to respective case side walls  20 , each guide pin being positioned adjacent the open top and the back wall  18  of the case  12  and being generally perpendicular to its respective case side wall  20  (FIG.  4 ). In other words, each guide in  40  is positioned in the upper-rear corner of its corresponding case side wall  20 . Further, the inner surface of each lid side wall  30  defines an elongate channel  34  extending longitudinally therealong. Preferably, each channel is a groove defined by the lid side wall although it is understood that a track construction would also be suitable. The channels  34  are snappably coupled to the guide pins  40  such that the lid  26  may be slidably moved in relative back and forth motion. 
     A pair of lock pins  42  are also mounted to respective case side walls  20  (FIG.  4 ). Each lock pin  42  is situated adjacent the top edge of a respective case side wall  20  and generally adjacent a respective guide pin  40 . Correspondingly, each lid side wall  30  defines a recess  36  substantially adjacent a corresponding distal end thereof relative to the lid end wall  32 . In other words, the lock pins  42  will be releasably captured by corresponding recesses  36  when the lid  26  is slidably moved such that the guide pins  40  are situated at the channel ends opposite the lid end wall  32  (FIG.  3 ). The outer surface of each lid side wall  30  includes a grip surface  39 , such as a plurality of nubs or a rubber layer. 
     A clip member is mounted to the face plate  28  of the lid  26  (FIG.  3 ). Preferably, the clip member  44  includes a plastic construction having a first end fixedly attached to the face plate adjacent its open end and a free second end adjacent the lid end wall  32 . The clip member  44  includes a contoured configuration. The construction of the clip member  44  enables it to receive the planar surface of an external object between its free end and the outer surface of the face plate  28  such that the planar surface is held therein in a friction-fit relationship. Further, a magnet  46  may be fixedly attached to the outer surface of the face plate  28  between the face plate  28  and the clip member  44 . The magnetic attraction further inhibits movement of the writing implement holder  10  when clipped to a planar surface having a metallic construction. 
     The writing implement holder  10  further includes a pencil sharpener  48  fixedly attached to the bottom wall  14  of the case  12  (FIG.  3 ). Of course, the pencil sharpener  48  could also be mounted to another portion of the case  12 . The pencil sharpener  48  includes a conventional construction having a metal blade  50  situated therein for sharpening a pencil inserted therein. A receptacle  52  having a transparent housing is coupled to the bottom wall  14  of the case  12  in a friction-fit relationship such that it can be easily removed and replaced. The receptacle includes an open end for communication with the pencil sharpener  48  for receiving pencil shavings therein. Thus, the receptacle  52  may be selectively removed when it needs to be emptied. 
     In use, the lid  26  may be pivoted about the guide pins  40  to a closed configuration (FIG. 2) so as to cover the open top  22  of the case  12  during storage or transport. In this configuration, for example, the writing implement holder  10  may be tucked away in a musical instrument case or other bag. When use is desired, a user may manipulate the lid  26  using the finger grips  39  so as to pivot the lid to expose the open top  22  (FIG.  3 ). Once the lid  26  has been pivoted, it may then be further urged such that the lid channels  34  slide along the guide pins  40  until the lock pins  42  are captured by the lock recesses  36 . The writing implement holder  10  is now ready to be attached to a planar surface of a desired object, such as the lip of a music stand  8 . The planar surface may be inserted between the free end of the clip member  44  and frictionally held between the face plate  28  and the clip member  44  (FIG.  1 ). The magnet  46  may further stabilize the attachment if the planar surface has a metallic construction. The pencil sharpener  48  may be conveniently utilized as needed. 
     A writing implement holder according to another embodiment includes a clip member  60  that is attached to the face plate  28  with a torsion spring  62  such that the free end of the clip member  60  is spring-biased to sandwich a planar surface between the clip member  60  and the face plate 0  (FIG.  5 ). 
     A writing implement holder  70  according to yet another embodiment is shown in FIG.  6  and includes a construction that is substantially similar to the construction first described except as specifically noted below. In this embodiment, the front wall of the case  76  is in the form of a door  72  pivotally coupled to a case side wall  78  with hinges  74 . Thus, the front door  72  may be opened so as to insert or remove other writing accessories from the interior space of the case  76 . 
     It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.