Adjustable length pen holder

{
  "publication_number": "US2011038659A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Adjustable length pen holder",
  "abstract": "A pen holder includes an upper housing for receiving and holding an upper end of a writing implement and a lower housing adapted to receive the writing end of the writing implement. The lower housing has a hole at its lower end that is sized to allow the writing tip of the writing implement to pass through, and the lower housing being removably coupled to the upper housing to form a chamber that at least partially encloses the writing implement. The length of the chamber, or the longitudinal position of the writing implement within the chamber, is variable to accommodate writing implements of different lengths.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A pen holder comprising: an upper housing for receiving and holding an upper end of a writing implement; a lower housing adapted to receive the writing end of the writing implement, the lower housing having a hole at its lower end sized to allow the writing tip of the writing implement to pass through, and the lower housing being removably coupled to the upper housing to form a chamber that at least partially encloses the writing implement; wherein the length of the chamber is variable to accommodate writing implements of different lengths. 2. A pen holder in accordance with claim 1, wherein the upper housing forms a tapered cavity. 3. A pen holder in accordance with claim 1, wherein the upper housing is at least partially lined with a compliant material. 4. A pen holder in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lower housing is removably coupled to the upper housing by a screw thread. 5. A pen holder in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a magnet attached to at least one of the upper and lower housings. 6. A pen holder in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a loop attached to the upper housing. 7. A pen holder in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a light generator attached to at least one of the upper and lower housings, the light generator being operable to shine light in the direction towards the lower end of the pen holder. 8. A pen holder in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a spring located in the lower housing, wherein the spring is configured to apply a bias force to the writing implement to push the writing implement in the direction towards the upper housing. 9. A pen holder in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pen holder is at least partially constructed of a fluorescent material. 10. A pen holder in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a means for retracting the writing implement into the pen holder. 11. A pen holder comprising: an upper housing that includes a notched slot, having a plurality of notches; a lower housing adapted to receive the writing end of the writing implement, the lower housing having a hole at its lower end sized to allow the writing tip of the writing implement to pass through, and the lower housing being removably coupled to the upper housing to form a chamber that at least partially encloses the writing implement; an inner housing adapted to hold the upper end of the writing implement, the inner housing having a post that extends from the inner housing through the notched slot; and a bias spring, configured to apply a bias force to the post, the bias force tending to bias the post into a notch of the plurality of notches of the notch slot; wherein the longitudinal position of the writing implement within the chamber of the pen holder may be adjusted by moving the post into a selected notch of the plurality of notches of the notched slot in the upper housing. 12. A pen holder in accordance with claim 11, wherein the post may be placed in a first notch of the plurality of notches such that the writing implement is extended from the pen holder for writing and wherein the post maybe placed in a second notch of the plurality of notches such that the writing implement is retracted within the pen holder for storage. 13. A pen holder in accordance with claim 12, further comprising: a positioning element, coupled to the exterior end of the post, wherein the positioning element may be used to position the post in a selected notch of the plurality of notches. 14. A pen holder in accordance with claim 13, further comprising a magnet coupled to the positioning element, the magnet having sufficient strength to support the weight of the pen holder and the writing implement held by the pen holder when the magnet is attached to a magnetic surface. 15. A pen holder in accordance with claim 11, wherein the lower housing is removably coupled to the upper housing by a screw thread. 16. A pen holder in accordance with claim 11, wherein the inner housing is sized to hold a stick pen and is sized to hold a pencil. 17. A method for holding an elongated writing implement having a writing end and an upper end, the method comprising: placing the upper end of the writing implement in an inner housing that is slidable within an upper housing; attaching a lower housing to the upper housing to form a chamber around the writing implement, the chamber having a hole through which the writing end of the writing implement may be extended; and adjusting the longitudinal position of the writing implement within the chamber by moving a post, coupled to the inner housing, to a selected notch within a notched slot in the upper housing. 18. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the post is held in the selected notch by a bias force provided by a bias spring. 18. A method in accordance with claim 17, further comprising: selecting the notch such that the writing end of the writing implement extends from the lower housing. 19. A method in accordance with claim 17, further comprising: selecting the notch such that the writing end of the writing implement is contained within the chamber formed by the upper and lower housings. 20. A method in accordance with claim 17, further comprising: removably coupling the upper and lower housings and the enclosed writing implement to a magnetic surface via a magnet attached to the post."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Ball point pens are available in a wide variety of types and prices, from expensive pens with replaceable cartridges to low-cost stick pens.\n\nA disadvantage of a stick pen is that its cap is easily misplaced. A further disadvantage is that its narrow width makes it less comfortable to write with than a wider pen.\n\nA disadvantage of a pen with a replaceable cartridge is that the cartridges are relatively expensive to replace. Further, since each cartridge is designed for use with a specific type of pen, the cartridges may not be widely available.\n\nThe accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.\n\nFIG. 1 is a sectional view of an exemplary pen holder in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.\n\nFIG. 2 is a sectional view of an exemplary upper housing of a pen holder in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.\n\nFIG. 3 is a sectional view of an exemplary lower housing of a pen holder in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.\n\nFIG. 4 is a further sectional view of an exemplary pen holder in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.\n\nFIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of a pen holder with an attached magnet, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.",
  "cpc": [
    "B43K 5/005",
    "B43K 21/006",
    "B43K 21/06",
    "B43K 21/08",
    "B43K 23/00",
    "B43K 24/04",
    "B43K 24/06",
    "B43K 25/00",
    "B43K 29/00",
    "B43K 29/004",
    "B43K 29/10",
    "B43K 5/16",
    "B43K 7/00",
    "B43K 7/005",
    "B43K 7/12",
    "B43K 8/003"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B43K 23/00",
    "A46B 11/00"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Scott E. Andochick"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2009-08-14",
  "publication_date": "2011-02-17",
  "priority_date": "2009-08-14",
  "application_number": "US-54153209-A",
  "family_id": "43588674",
  "cited_by_count": 14,
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}