Patent Publication Number: US-6663305-B2

Title: Multiple marker holder

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention pertains to the general field of writing implements and more particularly to a holder designed to retain a plurality of writing implements. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Most professions, especially trade groups such as carpentry, utilize distinct tools that are designed to accomplish the unique work required in the trade. It has been discovered, that certain tools or items can be used with equal effectiveness by different trade groups. One such item is a construction marker, which is commonly referred to as a keel or a lumber crayon. The keel, which is best described an an oversized oil crayon is a very effective means by which an item, such as lumber may be marked. 
     The “marks” can include measurements, identifications, instructions or any other written indication that facilitates a construction job. The reason keels are so widely used is that they are better than a conventional pen or pencil for use in a construction environment, where the markings are often exposed to inclement weather, walked/scuffed on, or many other occurrences that would erase or damage a pen or a pencil mark. 
     Keel are especially popular with carpenters and masons, both of whom must mark any number of individual components, such as pieces of lumber or blocks, that are being used. It has been found to be even more effective to use different colored keels for various identification purposes. For example, all lumber that will be used to frame bedroom windows, during a house construction, are marked with a yellow keel. This has proven to be such a common practice that there are now established colors for particular construction tasks. 
     One drawback to using keels, especially different colors, is that the keels must be carried at almost all times. Most construction workers use a belt having multiple bags or pouches that are attached, which can carry tools, nails, or any other required item(s). Many workers have tried to carry a few individual keels in their bags, along with other items since it is not practical to have a single keel-only bag. Unfortunately, the keels can get lost or severely damaged by coming in contact with the other tools/item. Also, it requires time to search through the bags for other correct color keel when needed. 
     Obviously, if there were some way by which multiple keels could be kept and carried together during a construction job, it would save time and allow for easier use. Additionally, by including multiple colored keels in one unit, the benefits would be substantial. It would also help to include other writing implements, such as a lumber crayon, together with a keel or keels, in that way, any marking or writing job could be accomplished quickly and easily, with minimum effort. 
     A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention, however the following U.S. patents are considered related: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 U.S. pat. No. 
                 INVENTOR 
                 ISSUED 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 6,269,960 
                 Harp 
                  7 Aug. 2001 
               
               
                   
                 5,791,798 
                 Yu 
                 11 Aug. 1998 
               
               
                   
                 D319,261 
                 Lee 
                 20 Aug. 1991 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,960 patent discloses a felt tip marker holder which includes a flexible base having a top base end and a bottom base end. A plurality of felt tip receivers are attached to the bottom base end and a flexible flap is connected to the top base end. A first locking member is connected to the flexible flap, and a second locking member is connected to the base. The felt tip receivers include a reception well which is complimentary to a tip portion of the felt tip marker. 
     The U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,798 patent discloses a multi-purpose writing instrument having a series of writing tips for various uses. The instrument includes a hollow tubular mounting section having a mounting wall surrounding a hole. The upper end of the mounting wall forms a mounting step with inner threads, and a lower section of the mounting wall extends downward to form a straight section having a tip hole. The outer surface of the lower section of the mounting wall forms an insert surface and an insert step, which is joined to outer threads before extending to a tapered end. The outer diameter of the insert surface corresponds to the diameter of the mounting hole. The size of the writing tip matches the tip hole so that it fits firmly into the tip hole. 
     The U.S. Pat. No. D319,261 design patent discloses a combined plural crayon storage housing. The housing includes a center housing, a front crayon holder and a rear crayon holder. The center housing is dimensioned to receive, at each end, one end of a sharpened crayon. Over each of the held crayons is then inserted the front and rear crayon holder that allows the point of the crayons to be exposed for use. 
     For background purposes and as indicative of the art to which the invention is related, reference may be made to the remaining cited patents. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 U.S. pat. No. 
                 INVENTOR 
                 ISSUED 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 6,276,854 
                 Mullins 
                 21 Aug. 2001 
               
               
                   
                 6,241,410 
                 Hager 
                  5 Jun. 2001 
               
               
                   
                 5,839,712 
                 Wang 
                 24 Nov. 1998 
               
               
                   
                 5,779,381 
                 Muelver 
                 14 Jul. 1998 
               
               
                   
                 5,662,423 
                 Walden 
                  2 Sep. 1997 
               
               
                   
                 5,468,083 
                 Chesar 
                 21 Nov. 1995 
               
               
                   
                 4,290,707 
                 Ariga 
                 22 Sep. 1981 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     The multiple marker holder in its basic design is comprised of a plurality of spaced tubes where in each tube includes a means for frictionally retaining a marker. The marker comprises a flat carpenter&#39;s pencil and a set of lumber crayons which are also known as “keel”. 
     The preferred design, which is constructed of a rigid plastic, is comprised of four equidistant tubes, that are spaced 90-degrees of form an equidistant Greek cross. Within each tube is a set of support tabs that extend longitudinally and function to frictionally retain the pencil or crayon. The support tabs are relatively thin to allow flexure when the pencil or crayon is inserted into the respective tube openings. 
     To enhance the utility of the multiple marker holder, a cap, which is dimensioned to fit over the tube opening that retains the carpenter&#39;s pencil, may be employed. The external wall of the marker holder can also have attached a spring clip that allows the holder to be attached to a belt. And finally, the sides of the holder can be molded to include a gripping surface consisting of dimples or a set of thin protrusions. 
     In view of the above disclosure, the primary object of the invention is to produce a multiple marker holder having means for holding up to four markers which include a flat carpenter&#39;s pencil and three lumber crayons. 
     In addition to the primary object of the invention, it is also an object of the invention to produce a multiple marker holder that: 
     can be produced in a transparent plastic to show the wear of a particular marker, or can be produced in a variety of colors, 
     is designed to facilitate removing used markers and inserting new markers. 
     can be used by several trades such as carpenters, plumbers, masons and the like, 
     is conductive for use as a premium item, 
     is easy to carry in a pouch or in a pocket, 
     is easy to manipulate the holder to a specific colored marker, and 
     is cost effective from both a manufacturers and consumer points of view. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multiple marker holder having a rectangular vertical tube with a pair of rectangular horizontal tubes attached to form a substantial Greek cross. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the rectangular marker holder of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the upper edge of the vertical tube showing a flat carpenter&#39;s pencil retained within the opening. 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the lower edge of the vertical tube shown a lumber crayon retained within the opening. 
     FIG. 5 is a left side elevational view of the left horizontal tube showing a lumber crayon retained within the opening. 
     FIG. 6 is a right side elevational view of the right horizontal tube showing a lumber crayon retained within the opening. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a multiple marker holder having a circular vertical tube with a pair of horizontal tubes attached to form a substantial Greek cross. 
     FIG. 8 is an end view of a tube illustrating the various configurations available for a marker support tab. 
     FIG. 9 is a partial elevational view of a vertical section designed to accept a marker protective cap. 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of a preferred embodiment for a multiple marker holder  10 . The marker holder  10  is designed to be comfortably held and to include a plurality of markers that are used by various trades and especially carpenters, to place a mark that designates a particular task or measurement. The preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1-9, is preferably comprised of an integral structure consisting of a vertical tube  12  having attached a right horizontal tube  28  and a left horizontal tube  44 . The multiple marker holder  10 , as shown in FIG. 2, substantially has the shape of a Greek cross. 
     The vertical tube  18 , as shown in FIGS. 1-4, includes an upper edge  14 , a lower edge  16 , a right wall  18 , a left wall  20 , a front wall  22  and a rear wall  24 . 
     The right horizontal tube  28 , as shown in FIGS. 1,  2  and  6 , includes an outer edge  30 , an inner edge  32 , an upper wall  34 , a lower wall  36 , a front wall  38  and a rear wall  40 . The inner edge  32  is substantially centered and attached, by an attachment means  41 , to the right wall  18  of the vertical tube  12 . 
     The left horizontal tube  44 , as shown in FIGS. 1,  2  and  5 , includes an outer edge  46 , an inner edge  48 , an upper wall  50 , a lower wall  52 , a front wall  54  and a rear wall  56 . The inner edge  48  of the left horizontal tube  44  is substantially centered and attached, by the attachment means, to the left wall  20  of the vertical tube  12 . 
     The attachment means is preferably achieved by a molding process that integrally attaches the right and left horizontal tubes  28 ,  44  to the right wall  18 , and left wall  20  respectively of the vertical tube  12 . However, the vertical tube  12  and the right and left horizontal tubes  28 ,  44  can also consist of individual structures. In this design, the horizontal tubes are attached to the sides of the vertical tube  12  by an attachment means  41  consisting of an adhesive  43  as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     The vertical tubes  12  and the right and left horizontal tubes  28 ,  44  can be produced with a rectangular cross-section as shown in FIGS. 1-4, or a circular/elliptical cross-section as shown in FIG.  7 . 
     In either case, the multiple marker holder  10  is preferably molded of a rigid plastic, however, a resilient plastic, a metal or a wood can also be used. Additionally, the plastic can be transparent in which case the amount of marker  90  remaining in a tube can be determined or the plastic can be molded in a color that corresponds to or is favored by a particular trade group. 
     The vertical tube  12  and the right and left horizontal tubes  28 ,  44  whether they have a rectangular shape, as shown in FIG. 1, or a circular/elliptical shape, as shown in FIG. 7, include within their respective openings a means for frictionally retaining a marker consisting of a carpenter&#39;s flat pencil  92  or a set of lumber crayons  94 . 
     The marker retaining means as shown in FIGS. 1-8, is comprised of a set of marker support tabs  62  that extend longitudinally along the tube openings of the spaced tubes  12 ,  28 ,  44 . 
     In a preferred marker support tab  62  configuration there are at least a pair of substantially centered marker support tabs  62  that extend longitudinally from the upper edge  14  of the front and rear wall  22 ,  24  to the substantial center of the vertical tube  12 , as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3; at least one substantially centered support tab  62  that extends longitudinally from the upper edge  14  to the lower edge  16  of the right and left walls  18 ,  20  of the vertical tube  12 , as also shown in FIGS. 2 and 3; at least a pair of substantially centered support tabs  62  that extend longitudinally from the outer edges  30 ,  46  of the upper wall  34  and lower wall  52  of the right horizontal tube  28  and the left horizontal tube  44  as shown in FIGS. 2,  5  and  6 . 
     The marker support tabs  62  can be made in several cross-section designs. For example, a rectangular cross-section as shown on the upper surface of FIG. 8; a square cross-section, as shown on the lower surface of FIG. 8; a radiused cross-section, as shown on the left surface of FIG. 8; and a triangular cross-section, as shown on the right surface of FIG.  8 . One set of support tabs  62  on one side of the vertical tube  12  is dimensioned to retain the flat carpenter&#39;s pencil  92  as shown by the broken lines in FIG.  3 . The opposite side of the vertical tube  12  and the right and left horizontal tubes  28 ,  44  have support tabs  62  that are dimensioned to frictionally retain the lumber crayon  94 , which typically has a hexagon shape as shown by the broken lines in FIGS. 4,  5  and  6 . 
     The carpenter&#39;s pencil  92  and the color of the lumber crayons  94  are selected to identify a particular task. For example, in the carpentry trade, a blue crayon is typically used to mark King stud locations; a black crayon is typically used to mark the location of normal studs, center marks and other detailing sites; and a red crayon is typically used to mark various construction channels. 
     To further increase the utility, the multiple marker holder  10  can be designed to include a marker protective cap  74 , as shown in FIG.  9 . The cap  74  is dimensioned to fit and be releasably attached over the tube opening that retains the flat carpenter&#39;s pencil  92 . A spring clip  76  can also be attached to the front or rear wall on the marker holder  10 , as shown in FIG.  1 . The clip  76  allows the holder  10  to be clipped to a belt or a pouch. As also shown in FIG. 1, to the external wall(s) of the marker holder  10  can be included at least one dimple  78  or a set of thin, elongated protrusions  80 . The dimple(s) or protrusions function as a finger gripping surface. And finally, as shown in FIG. 2, through the front wall  22  and the rear wall  24  of the vertical tube  12  can be located a rod bore  82  that is longitudinally and laterally centered. Through the bore  82  is frictionally inserted and attached a support rod  84  that functions to support the lower end of the flat carpenter&#39;s pencil  92  or lumber crayon  94 . 
     While the invention has been described in complete detail and pictorially shown in the accompanying drawings it is not to be limited to such details, since many changes and modifications may be made in the invention. For example, the multiple marker holder  10  can have walls that are radiused or that are molded in other geometric designs. Also, the marking implements can also consist of fluid markers, chalk or other forms of marking implements. Hence, it is described to cover any and all modifications and from which may come within the language and scope of the appended claims.