Marker holster

Abstract

A marker holster includes an elongate tubular housing and a fastening member attached to the housing for removably securing the housing to an article. The housing has an upper end defining a marker opening and an opposed end. A generally open interior space extends between the marker opening and the opposed end for receiving a capped or uncapped marker. An inner surface of the housing defines an elongate slot and a locking chamber in communication with the elongate slot for selectively retaining the marker's cap in the housing, and thereby holding the attached marker. The marker may be removed from the retained marker cap and the holster by pulling the marker upwardly. A surrogate cap is nested in the housing proximate the opposed end for selectively receiving the uncapped marker's writing tip, and thereby clutching the marker. The marker may be removed from the holster by pulling the marker upwardly.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a marker holster. In particular, the present invention relates to a holster for a capped or uncapped marker.

Markers are increasingly used in construction and the everyday office. While markers have the ability to write on more surfaces than pencils, markers must be kept capped or they will dry out and become ineffective. This usually means that either two hands must be employed to remove the cap or that the cap is removed by a combination of the user's free hand and mouth. The importance of one-handed use and the prevalence of unsanitary conditions on construction sites renders both of these methods undesirable.

A product that assists one-handed marker operation would be greatly appreciated, especially if it included additional frequently needed features and advantages. To accommodate both new markers and markers that have been recently separated from their caps, a marker holster should be able to house either a capped or an uncapped marker. Further, a marker holster should be able to attach to both thin materials (such as a shirt pocket) and thick materials (such as a leather tool belt or a waistband).

Various proposals for marker holsters are found in the art and can be generally classified into one of three groups. The first group consists of marker holsters that hold capped markers. Such holders are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,064,788 and 5,718,023; U.S. Des. Pat. No. 345,052; and U.S. Pat. Aps. 2002/0017540 and 2004/0060952. The second group consists of marker holsters that hold uncapped markers. Such holders are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,818 and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 305,777. The final group consists of marker holders with at least one embodiment directed toward holding capped markers, at least one embodiment directed toward holding uncapped markers, but no embodiment that holds either a capped or an uncapped marker. U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,461 discloses such a holster.

While assumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices do not provide a marker holster that allows a marker to be removed and replaced with one hand, can accommodate either a capped or an uncapped marker, can attach to various materials, is lightweight, is easy to use, is durable, and can be easily and inexpensively manufactured. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a marker holster having these features.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A marker holster according to the present invention includes an elongate tubular housing and a fastening member attached to the tubular housing for removably securing the tubular housing to an article. The tubular housing has an upper end defining a marker opening and an opposed end. A generally open interior space extends between the marker opening and the opposed end for receiving a capped or uncapped marker. An inner surface of the tubular housing defines an elongate slot and a locking chamber in communication with the elongate slot for selectively retaining the capped marker in the tubular housing. A surrogate cap is nested in the tubular housing proximate the opposed end for selectively receiving the uncapped marker's writing tip.

In use, an uncapped marker may be inserted tip-first into the open interior space. When the uncapped marker's writing tip reaches the surrogate cap, the surrogate cap securely receives the uncapped marker's writing tip and thereby clutches the marker. The marker may be removed from the marker holster by pulling the marker in an upward direction. When a marker cap is attached to the marker, the marker may be inserted cap-end-first into the open interior space, with the marker cap's clip (the “clip member”) traveling through the elongate slot. When the clip member reaches a lower end of the elongate slot, the clip member is in a free position. A user may then twist the marker, moving the clip member into the locking chamber where the clip member is in a locked position. The marker may then be removed from the marker cap and the marker holster by pulling the marker in an upward direction. The marker may then be reinserted into the marker cap by pushing the marker through the open interior space and into the marker cap. To withdraw the marker and the marker cap, the user twists the marker. This twisting moves the clip member into the elongate slot, where the clip member is again in the free position. The marker may then be pulled upwardly, causing the clip member to travel through the elongate slot and causing the marker and the marker cap to be removed from the marker holster.

Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a marker holster that allows a marker to be removed and replaced with one hand.

Another object of this invention is to provide a marker holster, as aforesaid, that can accommodate either a capped or an uncapped marker.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a marker holster, as aforesaid, that can attach to various materials.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a marker holster, as aforesaid, that is lightweight.

A further object of this invention is to provide a marker holster, as aforesaid, that is easy to use.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a marker holster, as aforesaid, that is durable.

An even further object of this invention is to provide a marker holster, as aforesaid, that can be easily and inexpensively manufactured.

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 marker holster according to the present invention with a marker shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the marker holster as in FIG. 1 with a marker and a marker cap shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 3a is a side view of the marker holster as in FIG. 1 with a marker and a marker cap shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 3b is a sectional view of the marker holster, marker, and marker cap taken along line 3b-3b of FIG. 3a;

FIG. 4a is a side view of the marker holster as in FIG. 1 with a marker shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 4b is a sectional view of the marker holster and marker taken along line 4b-4b of FIG. 4a;

FIG. 5a is a side view of the marker holster as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5b is a sectional view of the marker holster taken along line 5b-5b of FIG. 5a;

FIG. 6a is a side view of the marker holster as in FIG. 1 with a marker shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 6b is a sectional view of the marker holster and marker taken along line 6b-6b of FIG. 6a;

FIG. 6c is a sectional view of the marker holster and marker taken along line 6c-6c of FIG. 6a;

FIG. 7a is a side view of the marker holster as in FIG. 1 with a marker shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 7b is a sectional view of the marker holster and marker taken along line 7b-7b of FIG. 7a;

FIG. 7c is a sectional view of the marker holster and marker taken along line 7c-7c of FIG. 7a;

FIG. 8a is a perspective view of a marker holster according to another embodiment of the present invention with a marker shown in phantom lines; and

FIG. 8b is an exploded view of the marker holster as in FIG. 8a with a marker and a marker cap shown in phantom lines.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A marker holster according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 through 7c of the accompanying drawings. More particularly, a marker holster 100 includes an elongate tubular housing 110 and a fastening member 140 attached to the tubular housing 110 for removably securing the tubular housing 110 to an article (FIG. 1). The tubular housing 110 is capable of receiving a capped or uncapped marker 102 having a writing tip 103. “Marker” as used herein refers to a writing instrument, including markers, pens, and the like.

The tubular housing 110 has an upper end 110a defining a marker opening 111 and an opposed end 110b with a generally open interior space 112 extending between the marker opening 111 and the opposed end 110b for receiving the capped or uncapped marker 102 (FIG. 1). An inner surface 113 of the tubular housing 110 defines an elongate slot 114 and a locking chamber 116 (also called retaining indention 116) in communication with the elongate slot 114 for selectively retaining the capped marker 102 in the tubular housing 110 (FIG. 5b). The opposed end 110b is preferably a closed end, though this need not be the case.

The elongate slot 114 has upper and lower ends 114a, 114b and a generally linear configuration and extends from the marker opening 111 generally to a point proximate the opposed end 110b of the tubular housing 110 (FIG. 5b). The configuration of the elongate slot 114 is complimentary to a configuration of a clip member 106 of a marker cap 104 for selectively receiving the clip member 106. The tubular housing inner surface 113 defines a cap guide 118 positioned at the upper end 114a of the elongate slot 114 for guiding the clip member 106 into the elongate slot 114 (FIG. 5b).

The locking chamber 116 is positioned adjacent a side 114c of the elongate slot 114 (FIG. 5b) for selectively receiving the clip member 106 and selectively retaining the clip member 106 in a locked position 136 (FIGS. 6b and 6c) in the locking chamber 116 such that a user may twist the clip member 106 between a free position 134 (FIGS. 7b and 7c) in the elongate slot 114 and the locked position 136 in the locking chamber 116. A lower edge 116b of the locking chamber 116 is positioned proximate the lower end 114b of the elongate slot 114 (FIG. 5b). An upper edge 116a of the locking chamber 116 is offset from the upper end 110a of the tubular housing 110 and includes a configuration for preventing the marker cap 104 from being removed from the tubular housing 110 when the clip member 106 is at the locked position 136.

A surrogate cap 120 is nested in the tubular housing 110 proximate the opposed end 110b (FIG. 5b). The surrogate cap 120 includes a continuous and generally upstanding channel wall 122 having a generally annular configuration and defining an internal channel 123. The internal channel 123 has a configuration complementary to a configuration of the uncapped marker writing tip 103 for selectively receiving the uncapped marker writing tip 103. An upper end 122a of the channel wall 122 includes a beveled configuration 122b for guiding the uncapped marker writing tip 103 into the internal channel 123 and for supporting the marker cap 104.

An inner surface 143 of the fastening member 140 defines a notched configuration 143a, and an outer surface 115 of the tubular housing 110 defines a notched configuration 115a complementary to the notched configuration 143a of the fastening member 140 for cooperatively and selectively securing the tubular housing 110 to an article (FIG. 1).

In use, the marker holster 100 may hold the marker 102 having the writing tip 103 and the selectively removable marker cap 104 with the clip member 106 attached thereto. Notably, the marker holster 100 may hold the marker 102 both when the marker cap 104 is attached (FIG. 3b) and when the marker cap 104 is removed (FIG. 4b). The marker 102 is inserted cap-end-first in the marker opening 111 of the tubular housing 110. In other words, the end of the marker 102 that includes the writing tip 103 is first inserted in the marker opening 111, regardless of whether the marker cap 104 is attached or removed. The fastening member 140 may be utilized at any time to secure the tubular housing 110 to an article by placing the article between the fastening member 140 and the tubular housing 110. As the use of the marker holster 100 differs depending on the presence of the marker cap 104, however, the different uses are described separately below.

In use with the marker 102 when the marker cap 104 is attached thereto (FIG. 3b), the cap guide 118 directs the clip member 106 into the elongate slot 114. The elongate slot 114 directs the clip member 106 to the elongate slot lower end 114b, where the marker cap 104 preferably rests on the beveled configuration 122b of the channel wall 122. While in the elongate slot 114, the clip member 106 is in the free position 134 (FIGS. 7b and 7c). A user may then twist the marker 102 in a first direction, rotating the attached marker cap 104. The rotation of the marker cap 104 moves the clip member 106 into the locking chamber 116, where the clip member is in the locked position 136 (FIGS. 6b and 6c). The upper edge 116a of the locking chamber 116 prevents the clip member 106 from being removed through the marker opening 111. While the clip member 106 is in the locked position 136, the marker 102 may be removed from the marker cap 104 and the marker holster 100 by simply pulling the marker 102 in an upward direction. The marker 102 may then be returned to the marker cap 104 and the marker holster 100 by inserting the marker 102 cap-end-first in the marker opening 111 and pushing in a downward direction. To withdraw the marker 102 and the marker cap 104, the user twists the marker 102 in a second direction, rotating the attached marker cap 104. The rotation of the marker cap 104 moves the clip member 106 into the elongate slot 114, where the clip member is again in the free position 134 (FIGS. 7b and 7c). The marker 102 may then be pulled upwardly, causing the clip member to travel through the elongate slot 114 and eventually causing the marker 102 and the marker cap 104 to be removed from the marker holster 100.

In use with a marker 102 when the marker cap 104 is removed (FIG. 4b), the marker 102 is pushed through the open interior space 112 of the tubular housing 110. When the writing tip 103 reaches the surrogate cap 120, the beveled configuration 122b of the channel wall 122 guides the writing tip 103 into the internal channel 123. Once the writing tip 103 is received in the internal channel 123, the marker 102 is protected from drying out, just as it would be protected by the marker cap 104. The complementary configurations of the writing tip 103 and the internal channel 123 allow the internal channel 123 to securely receive the writing tip 103 and thereby clutch the marker 102. To separate the marker 102 from the marker holster 110, the user pulls the marker 102 in an upward direction, overcoming the interaction between the internal channel 123 and the writing tip 103 and withdrawing the marker 102 through the open interior space 112 of the tubular housing 110.

A marker holster 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 8a and 8b and includes a construction substantially similar to the construction previously described except as specifically noted below. More particularly, the marker holster 200 includes a gasket 210 positioned proximate the upper end 110a of the tubular housing 110. In use, the gasket 210 prevents debris from collecting in the open interior space 112 while allowing the marker 102 to be inserted and removed from the marker holster 100.

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.

Claims

1. A marker holster for use with a capped or uncapped marker having a writing tip, said marker holster comprising:

an elongate tubular housing having an upper end defining a marker opening and an opposed end with a generally open interior space extending between said marker opening and said opposed end for receiving said capped or uncapped marker; and

a fastening member attached to said tubular housing for removably securing said tubular housing to an article.

2. The marker holster as in claim 1, further comprising a surrogate cap nested in said tubular housing proximate said opposed end thereof.

3. The marker holster as in claim 2, wherein said surrogate cap defines an internal channel having a configuration complementary to a configuration of said uncapped marker writing tip for selectively receiving said uncapped marker writing tip.

4. The marker holster as in claim 3, wherein said tubular housing includes an inner surface defining an elongate slot and a locking chamber in communication with said elongate slot for selectively retaining said capped marker in said tubular housing.

5. The marker holster as in claim 2, wherein said surrogate cap includes a continuous and generally upstanding channel wall having a generally annular configuration for selectively receiving said uncapped marker writing tip.

6. The marker holster as in claim 5, wherein:

an upper end of said channel wall includes a beveled configuration for guiding said uncapped marker writing tip into an internal channel defined by said channel wall.

7. The marker holster as in claim 2, wherein said tubular housing includes an inner surface defining an elongate slot having upper and lower ends for selectively receiving a clip member of a marker cap, said elongate slot having a generally linear configuration and extending from said marker opening generally to a point proximate said opposed end of said tubular housing.

8. The marker holster as in claim 7, wherein said tubular housing inner surface defines a locking chamber positioned adjacent a side of said elongate slot for selectively receiving said clip member and selectively retaining said clip member in a locked position in said locking chamber such that a user may twist said clip member between a free position in said elongate slot and said locked position in said locking chamber.

9. The marker holster as in claim 8, wherein:

a lower edge of said locking chamber is positioned proximate said lower end of said elongate slot; and

an upper edge of said locking chamber is offset from said upper end of said tubular housing and includes a configuration for preventing said marker cap from being removed from said tubular housing when said clip member is at said locked position.

10. The marker holster as in claim 7, wherein said tubular housing inner surface defines a cap guide positioned at said upper end of said elongate slot for guiding said clip member into said elongate slot.

11. The marker holster as in claim 1, further comprising a gasket positioned proximate said tubular housing upper end for preventing debris from collecting in said open interior space.

12. The marker holster as in claim 1, wherein:

an inner surface of said fastening member defines a notched configuration; and

an outer surface of said tubular housing defines a notched configuration complementary to said notched configuration of said fastening member for cooperatively securing said tubular housing to said article.

13. A marker holster for use with a marker having a writing tip and a selectively removable marker cap with a clip member attached thereto, said marker holster comprising:

an elongate tubular housing having an upper end defining a marker opening and an opposed end with a generally open interior space extending between said marker opening and said opposed end for receiving the marker; and

a fastening member attached to said tubular housing for selectively securing said tubular housing to an article.

14. The marker holster as in claim 13, further comprising a surrogate cap nested in said tubular housing proximate said opposed end thereof, said surrogate cap defining an internal channel having a configuration complementary to a configuration of the marker writing tip for selectively receiving the marker writing tip when the marker cap is removed.

15. The marker holster as in claim 14, wherein said tubular housing includes an inner surface defining an elongate slot having upper and lower ends and having a configuration complimentary to a configuration of the clip member for selectively receiving the clip member, said elongate slot having a generally linear configuration and extending from said marker opening to a point proximate said opposed end of said tubular housing.

16. The marker holster as in claim 15, wherein said tubular housing inner surface defines a locking chamber positioned adjacent to and in communication with said elongate slot such that said clip member may be selectively moved between a free position along said elongate slot and a locked position in said locking chamber upon a selective twisting action applied to said clip member.

17. A marker holster for use with a marker having a writing tip and a selectively removable marker cap with a clip member, said marker holster comprising:

an elongate tubular housing defining a marker opening for receiving the marker cap-end first and a closed end opposite said marker opening, said tubular housing having an inner surface defining an elongate slot extending between said marker opening and a point proximate said closed end;

wherein said elongate slot includes a configuration complementary to a configuration of said marker cap clip member for selectively receiving said marker cap clip member therein;

a surrogate cap nested in said tubular housing proximate said closed end thereof; and

a fastening member attached to said tubular housing for selectively securing said tubular housing to an article.

18. The marker holster as in claim 17, wherein said tubular housing inner surface defines a retaining indention in communication with said elongate slot such that the marker cap clip member is selectively movable between a free position in said elongate slot and a locked position in said retaining indention.

19. The marker holster as in claim 18, wherein said retaining indention includes an upper edge displaced from said marker opening, said upper edge of said retaining indention having a configuration that prevents the marker cap clip member from being removed through said marker opening when said marker cap clip member is at said locked position.

20. The marker holster as in claim 19, wherein said tubular housing inner surface defines a cap guide positioned at an upper end of said elongate slot for guiding said marker cap clip member into said elongate slot.