Abstract: The present invention features a paper handling instrument storage unit for use with a computer. The unit, fabricated from plastic, wood, metal, or other suitable material, has a tray that is mountable to a computer monitor near a computer keyboard, or to any other vertical wall, face, or upright on, in, or near a computer workstation. The mounted tray has assigned wells located in it, for containing pencils, pens, scissors, rulers, paper clips and other desk accessories. The wells are conveniently shaped to accommodate the various office items. In one embodiment, a photocell is positioned within the unit. Found within the unit's wells are a number of light passages. The light beam is interrupted when an instrument (e.g., a pencil or pen) rests within its assigned well. Removal of the instrument from its well allows the light beam in that passage to travel through the passage and reach a photocell detector. The photodetector provides a signal to the computer that initiates a data-saving program routine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a holder device that is mountable on a support and adapted to removeably secure elongated writing implements thereto. The holder device includes a base portion adapted to mount on the support and a pair of wing portions extending away from the base portion and converging toward on another to terminate in a free wing edge so that the wing portions and the base portion define a longitudinally extending channel sized to receive an elongated writing implement. The channel has a longitudinal mouth located between the wing edges whereby the writing implement may be inserted through the mouth into the channel. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the channel has grooves therein to permit a variety of sizes of writing implements to be mounted. The invention includes alternative mounting structure, one embodiment has an adhesive layer on the base portion; another embodiment includes a clip structure for removeably mounting the device.