Abstract:
A holder for a writing instrument includes a body portion having at least one open end and a top portion adapted to fit on the open end. The top portion includes at least one flexible holding member positioned within a perimeter of the top portion and adapted to securely hold a writing instrument.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of devices and apparatus for holding writing or drawing materials. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Children love to draw, write, and doodle using crayons, chalk, and other writing instruments. This activity is not only enjoyable, but it plays an important role in a child&#39;s development. Children are able to express themselves, interact with other children, and learn by writing and drawing. 
     Children have some limitations in their ability to use certain writing instruments. For example, many children have small hands that are unable to effectively grip small diameter writing instruments. For example, chalk and crayons are approximately 0.25 to 0.35 inches in diameter. It can be very awkward for a child with small hands to use these writing instruments. 
     Further, many writing instruments used by children are relatively fragile. As a result, children frequently break chalk or crayons. This is inefficient and wasteful. 
     Most writing instruments used by children can be relatively messy. Some parents, for example, discourage children from using crayons or chalk in rooms or situations where the parent cannot easily clean up the mess. It would be desirable to provide a device that reduces the mess created by the use of these writing instruments. 
     Older individuals, such as people suffering from arthritis or other physical impairments, suffer from the same difficulties in the use of writing instruments. It would be desirable to provide a holder for writing instruments which overcame these problems. 
     A number of holders for writing instruments have been proposed. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,151,933 (Fleming), U.S. Pat. No. 2,205,907 (Oxley), U.S. Pat. No. 2,870,740 (Vogt), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,092 (Boyer), all described holders for writing instruments which rely on friction to hold the writing instrument in the holder. Unfortunately, each of these holders suffer in that it can be difficult and awkward, especially for a young child, to force a crayon or piece of chalk into the holder. These holders are also undesirable because they tend to break crayon or chalk when installed into the holder. It is difficult and messy to remove these small broken pieces from the holders. 
     Other holders have also been described. For example, U.S. Patent Nos. 1,861,466 (Bafetti), U.S. Pat. No. 2,591,831 (Knuff), U.S. Pat. No. 2,762,336 (Estes), U.S. Pat. No. 4,468,146 (Tabachnik), U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,989 (Stageman), Re 34,194 (Stowell et al), U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,738 (Pearce), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,381 (Muelver) all describe holders for writing instruments which require complex and expensive machining or assembly. Further, some of these holders include small or moving parts that can be dangerous to a small child. Some of these holders are relatively difficult to operate making them unsuitable for small children. 
     It would be desirable to provide a holder for writing instruments which is inexpensively manufactured, easily assembled, and safe for children or other individuals. Preferably, the holder is easily used, keeps the user clean, and provides a good surface for grasping by individuals who have a difficult time holding small objects. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide an improved holding device for holding writing instruments. 
     In one embodiment, a holder for a writing instrument has a body portion with an interior cross section larger than an exterior cross section of the writing instrument. A top portion is also provided which includes at least one flexible holding portion adapted to securely hold the writing instrument within the body portion. In one embodiment, the top portion is detachably mounted to the body portion. In another embodiment, the top portion is fixedly attached to the body portion in a manner that allows access to the interior of the holding portion, e.g., for cleaning of the holding portion. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the body portion is an elongated cylinder closed on one end and open on the other. The body portion may be made of a transparent, easily formed material such as a plastic. The top portion may also be formed of plastic. The flexible holding portion may be formed of plastic or an elastomeric material that provides a firm grip for an inserted writing instrument. 
     With these and other advantages and features of the invention that will become hereinafter apparent, the nature of the invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, the appended claims and to the several drawings attached herein. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front exploded view of a holding device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the holding device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the holding device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of a top portion of the holding device of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 5 is a front exploded view of the holding device of FIG. 1 with a writing instrument installed. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Applicant has recognized that a need exists for a holder for writing instruments which is easily and inexpensively manufactured and assembled, which also is suitable for use by children. In particular, Applicant has recognized that children (and others who have difficulties gripping small objects) require a holder which is easily used, keeps the user clean, and provides a good surface for grasping and manipulating the writing instrument. 
     Features of embodiments of the present invention will now be described by first referring to FIG. 1 which is a front exploded view of a holding device  100  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The holding device  100  includes a body  102  having an end section  104 , a flange  108 , and an open end section  109 . The body  102  may be formed of a thin, non-toxic plastic material. The body  102  may be opaque or clear. Preferably, the diameter of the body  102  is selected to provide a firm grip for children with small hands or impaired individuals. The exterior surface of the body  102  may be textured to provide an even firmer grip. 
     The holding device  100  also includes a top portion  106  which, in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, is formed separately from the body  102 . The top portion  106  is sized to mate securely over the open end section  109  and the flange  108  of the body  102 . The top portion  106  may include a plurality of serrations  110  disposed around an exterior perimeter of the top portion  106  to aid in removal of the top portion  106  from the body  102 . In one embodiment, the top portion  106  is formed of a non-toxic, elastomeric material which is sized and formed to be safe for use by children. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the top portion  106  may couple to the body  102  in any of a number of ways. For example, the top portion  106  and the body  102  may be threaded in a manner which allows the top portion  106  to screw onto the body  102 . 
     The top portion  106  further includes a number of holding portions  112 ,  114 ,  116 , and  118 . These holding portions  112 - 118  are arrayed around a perimeter of the top portion  106  in a manner which is designed to enable a writing instrument (not shown) to be inserted through the perimeter of the top portion  106  and to securely hold the writing instrument in position within the perimeter of the top portion  106 . While Applicant has found that the configuration of holding portions depicted in FIG. 1 produces desirable results, those skilled in the art will recognize that a different number of holding portions may be provided, so long as the writing instrument is securely held within the perimeter of the top portion  106 . 
     Reference is now made to FIG. 2 where a side view of the holder  100  is shown with a writing instrument  120  held within the holder  100 . As depicted, the holder  100  includes a body  102  mated with a top portion  106 . The writing instrument  120  is securely held within a perimeter of the top portion  106  so that an unused end of the writing instrument is disposed within the interior of the body  102 . This helps to ensure that messy writing instruments, such as crayons or chalk, do not accumulate on the user&#39;s hands. Further, the body  102  serves to protect the writing instrument  120  from breakage. The circumference of the body  102 , which is larger than the circumference of the writing instrument  120 , makes it easy for children with small hands or individuals with disabilities to grip and manipulate. As the writing instrument  120  wears down, the user simply needs to pull on the exposed end of the writing instrument  120  to expose more of the instrument. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, a side view of an alternative embodiment of a holder  200  is shown. In this embodiment, the holder  200  has a elongated body  202  having a closed end  204  and an open end  209 . A top portion  206  is provided which is attached to the body  202  via a strap  222 . The top portion  206  mates with the body  202  at the open end  209  by fitting over a flange  208 . Through use of the strap  222 , the top portion  206  can be kept with the body  202  and not lost. Further, attachment of the two portions helps to ensure that the smaller top portion  206  is not swallowed by a small child. 
     Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which is a front view of the top portion  106  of FIG.  1 . As shown, the top portion  106  includes several holding portions  112 - 118  which are disposed within a perimeter of the top portion  106 . In the embodiment depicted, the holding portions  112 - 118  are angularly shaped to allow a writing instrument to be inserted within the perimeter of the top portion  106  and securely held therein by friction between the writing instrument and each of the holding portions  112 - 118 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that any number of holding portions  112 - 118  may be used so long as a writing instrument may be securely held. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, a side exploded view of the holder  100  is shown. This view shows the interaction between the holding portions  112 - 118  of the top portion  102  and the writing instrument  120 . Each of the holding portions  112 - 118  impart a holding force against the writing instrument  120 , thereby holding the writing instrument securely in place. 
     The result is a holder for writing instruments which is cheaply manufactured and easily manipulated and configured. Further, the holder reduces messes and breakage associated with the use of fragile writing instruments such as crayons and chalk, and allows users with small hands or disabilities to easily grip and manipulate the holder and writing instrument. 
     Although the present invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, those skilled in the art will note that various substitutions may be made to those embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, although the body  102  has been depicted as generally cylindrical in shape, the body  102  may be formed of other shapes as well, so long as the body remains easy to hold and manipulate. Further, the top portion  106  may be fixedly attached to the body  102 .