Patent Publication Number: US-6033139-A

Title: Multiple pen holder and drawing aid

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to devices used to draw or write multiple lines on paper, display boards and the like. The present invention provides a simple holder to retain multiple drawing pens, pencils and other instruments for use in drawing parallel lines on the selected drawing medium. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     There are various devices currently used for drawing parallel lines with the most commonly known being the aids used by draftspersons. Many plastic templets exist which have apertures formed therein for use in inserting the drawing point of a pen or pencil which device must be held by the user. Using such templets usually requires moving a pen from aperture to aperture for purposes of parallel line drawing and use of a ruler or straight edge to keep each line parallel when drawing. 
     Multiple tip pens have been designed which may be used to draw two parallel lines. The pin tips and ink are contained in a single casing which may be held in the hand. Such pens may contain pen tips having different spacing depending on the drawn line spacing desired. Extending or expanding such a system as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,338 may be feasible, but beyond the two pen tip design would be complicated to manufacture and maintain. A multi-pen version of a drawing device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,338. However, by its design it is limited to small drawing instruments such as ball point pen refill elements as illustrated in the figures. This expanding problem would be particularly true if wide spacing of lines is desired such as used for a wall mounted drawing or chalk board. 
     The present invention is preferably a holder formed of two half casings which close together to retain a drawing instrument such as a dry erase marker. The aid is generally rectangular with provision to hold multiple drawing instruments for drawing the desired number of parallel lines. By using existing drawing instruments it is easy to replace pens and thereby pen tips when they are not working properly. Also the structure of the aid is simple to manufacture as no ink or other lining component is required to be stored directly in the aid. With multiple pens installed the drawing aid may be held in the hand and the multiple tips of the pens moved across a writing surface to create parallel lines. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One object of the present invention is provision for retaining multiple drawing instruments in a drawing aid to facilitate drawing of multiple parallel lines. Another object is to allow storage of the drawing aid with drawing instruments installed. 
     In accordance with the description presented herein, other objectives of this invention will become apparent when the description and drawings are reviewed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a top plan view of the drawing aid. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a side elevation view of the drawing aid partially opened for insertion and removal of drawing instruments. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a partial elevation view of a second alternate embodiment retainer. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a partial elevation view of the friction retainer for the drawing instrument. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a partial elevation view of an alternate embodiment retainer. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a side elevation view of the drawing aid closed with alternate location of hinge and hatch. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a side elevation view of the alternate embodiment partially opened for insertion and removal of drawing instruments. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a top plan view of the alternate embodiment fully opened. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The multiple pen holder and drawing aid is a generally rectangular casing or box comprised of two half casings joined together. The two half casings are hinged together on one adjacent side and have a latching mechanism on the opposite adjacent side. Apertures are formed in the front side such that the drawing instruments protrude from the drawing aid. Retaining members are positioned in one or both half casings to retain the drawing instruments in the drawing aid. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, the multiple pen holder and drawing aid (1) is generally rectangular in shape having a top casing (2) and a bottom casing (3). In the preferred embodiment the casing (4) from back side (5) to front side (6) has a gradual taper relative to the top side (7) and bottom side (8) to aid in gripping the drawing aid (1) for use in drawing lines. The casing (4) from back side (5) to front side (6) may also have a gradual taper to provide a slight incline downward if the drawing aid is stored on a side (9,10). The incline position with markers (11), pens or the like causes flow of ink toward the tip end (12) to retard tip drying. 
     The casing (4) has a hinge (13) attaching adjacent side (9) edges of the top casing (2) and bottom casing (3). On the opposite adjacent side (10) edges a latch (14) allows for opening and closing of the casing (4). The front side (6) has multiple apertures (15) spaced apart to provide the desired distance between the parallel lines to be drawn on a drawing or writing surface. The apertures (15) are formed as approximately semicircular or elliptic slots (26) in the front side (6) of the top casing (2) and bottom casing (3). The apertures (15) may be shaped to securely hold the drawing instruments (16) are may be relatively open to accommodate a variety of sizes of drawing instruments (16). It has been found that a casing (4) size which captures approximately one third of the drawing instrument (16) and has two thirds protruding from the casing (4) works well. 
     Two retaining members (17) are attached in the bottom casing (3) to hold the drawing instruments (16). As illustrated in FIG. 4 the preferred retaining members (17) are friction fit devices. The drawing instruments (16) are forced between prongs (25) to be held in retaining member (17). 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5 alternate retaining members (18,19) illustrate forms which may accommodate more variability in the diameter of a drawing instrument (16). In alternate retaining member (18) there is a first retaining element (20) attached in the bottom casing (3) and a second retaining element (21) in the top casing (2). The retainer slots (22) are approximately semicircular in shape and have flexible tabs (23) which allow variable size drawing instruments (16). The second alternate retaining member (19) is similarly constructed, but substitutes an elastic insert element (24) in place of tabs (23). The retaining members illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 5 may be used in various combinations in the drawing aid (1) depending on the drawing instrument (16) to be retained. 
     With multiple drawing instruments (16) in the drawing aid (1), as illustrated in FIG. 1, the drawing aid (1) may be held in one hand and the drawing instruments (16) moved across a drawing surface to create multiple parallel lines. The drawing aid (1) may be stored with dry erase markers (11) installed as illustrated in FIG. 1 such that the drawing aid (1) rests on a side (9 or 10). This position provides flow of ink to the tip end (12) of the markers (11). The drawing aid (1) may also have a magnet (27) attached to or formed in the casing (4). By this means the drawing aid (1) may be stored by magnetic attachment to a metal based marking board (not shown) or other magnetic attracting structures. 
     While the preferred embodiment has been illustrated with five positions for drawing instruments (16) it is obvious more or less positions may be provided in a particular drawing aid (1). 
     Referring to FIGS. 6 through 8, an alternate embodiment is illustrated with the casing (4) hinged at the front side (6) and latched at the back side (5). The overall shape is the same for this embodiment. However, adjustments in the apertures (15) may be necessary to accommodate the insertion and removal of drawing instruments (16). obviously the casing may be hinged at the back side (5) and latched at the front side (6). 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to the illustrated and preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.