US3407021A - Pocket utility device including writing instrument - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 22, 1968 Av MOSCH Filed Aug. 8, 1966 d Rs 00 V/ T W L M W0 R If m 2 T 3 An I l 2 4 3 0 Y 6 N 205 0 2 8 B I A I I m mlv ffl l h vkw mw Vh l w w A iw y W m GH MU H? w \MMIFWI ZOVIII ll 3,407,021 POCKET UTILITY DEVICE INCLUDING WRITING INSTRUMENT Alfred Mosch, Jackson Heights, N.Y. (442 Poplar St., Bridgeport, Conn. 06605) Filed Aug. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 570,980 11 Claims. (Cl. 40129) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present application discloses a pocket utility device having a rigid oblong support element having a corrugated cross sectional configuration throughout substantially the length thereof and having alternate longitudinal ridges and grooves, utensils being swingably connected to said support element and resting in said grooves when not in use.

The present invention relates to a foldable writing instrument and utility device.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of a foldable writing instrument and utility device including a penholder into which the ink cartridge of a pen, for example, of the ball point type can be inserted; though the device comprises, in addition to the writing instrument, a plurality of other implements, for example a receptacle receiving at least one additional or spare ink cartridge, a knife blade, a nail file, a bottle opener and others, the device is extremely compact and easy to manufacture. The ink cartridges or reservoirs may contain in-ks of different colors.

An object of the invention is the provision of a folding writing and utility device which, although it comprises a plurality of implements or tools, is extremely rigid, the rigidity being obtained by the provision of an oblong corrugated support element having alternate ridges and grooves, the latter accommodating implements or tools forming part of the device.

In the device according to the invention a pen-holder supporting a removable and exchangeable ink cartridge with ball point pen and all implements provided in addition to the penholder and ink cartridge are swingably connected to one end of the oblong support element by a single pivot means.

A separate oblong receptacle for receiving one or a plurality of spare ink cartridges is swingably connected to the opposite end of the support element and is received in a central groove of the support element, when in rest position. The receptacle may be made in two long-itudinally aligned sections.

In a modification of the device the oblong receptacle may accommodate a refillable or exchangeable ink reservoir and writing pen attached thereto, a cap being removably connected to the ink reservoir for protecting the writing pen. This ink reservoir with writing pen is so shaped as to fit into the oblong receptacle which is swingably connected to one end of the support element. In this modification two different types of pens are available.

-A further object of the invention is the provision of a cover member covering and enclosing the writing instrument and implements of a device as described above when thewriting instrument and implements are in rest position and securely locking said instrument and implements in the operating position.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, and additional objects and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description of embodiments thereof when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

States Patent 3,407,021 Patented Oct. 22, 1968 FIG. 1 is a rear end view of a device according to the invention in closed or rest position;

FIG. 2 is a part sectional side elevation showing the writing element in operating position and the cover and receptacle for spare ink cartridges in partly open position;

FIG. 3 is a front end view of the device in rest position;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view with the writing instrument in operating position and parts broken away for exposing a spare ink cartridge and implements in rest position;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a support element according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is an end view of a modified receptacle accommodating an ink reservoir and writing pen;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the receptacle shown in FIG. 6 with a pen cap attached;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the receptacle shown in FIG. 7.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawing, numeral 1 designates an oblong support element which is longitudinally corrugated and has a cross section generally resembling the letter W as is shown more particularly in FIG. 5. Implements such as a knife blade 4 and a nail file 5 are received in the lateral grooves 2 of the element 1. Other implements such as a bottle opener or screw driver, not shown, may be provided. When in rest position, a penholder 6 supporting an exchangeable ink cartridge and ball point pen 7 is longitudinally adjacent to a central ridge formed by the support element 1. All implements and the penholder are swingably connected to a first end of the element 1 by a single pin means 8. The implements are provided with shoulders 9 which abut against the end of a portion 10 forming the bottom of a groove in the element 1 when an implement is in the operating position. The penholder 6 is provided with laterally protruding portions 9' (FIGS. 2 and 4) produced by making cuts 9" into the material forming the penholder 6 and outwardly bending the portions 9' therebetween. The portions 9' abut against the ends of the center wall portions 10' of the element 1. The lateral walls 20 of the element 1 form the sides of the pocket utility device according to the invention.

A receptacle 11 accommodating at least one additional or spare ink cartridge and pen 12 is swingably connected to the second end of the support element 1 by means of a pivot pin 13. When in rest position, the receptacle 11 is in a central groove 3 opposite the ridge longitudinally adjacent to which the penholder 6 and the pen 7 are located when in rest position. Numerals 13' designate annular spacers. Thereceptacle 11 has an open end portion 14 provided with a tongue 14' extending slightly beyond the first end of the support element 1 for forming a grip for pulling the receptacle 11 out of the groove 3 when it is desired to take a new ink cartridge out of the receptacle 11. The end portion 14 may be removable for facilitating access to the additional or spare ink cartridge. Cartridges containing inks of different colors may be provided and the receptacle 11 may be used to serve as a penholder similar to the element 6 so that pens with inks of different colors may be simultaneously available.

FIGURES 6 to 8 show a modification wherein a refillable or exchangeable ink reservoir 12' with a pen is inserted in a receptacle 11'. A cap 15 may be provided for protecting the pen point. The cap may have a tongue 14 for facilitating swinging of the receptacle out of the groove 3.

A cover 16 having a U-shaped cross sectional configuration is pivotally connected to the element 1 by the pin 13, the flanges 16' of the cover being widened at one end for this purpose. The end portions of the utensils adjoining the pin 8 are provided with recesses 18 into which fits a lip 17 provided at the free end of the cover 16, when a utensil is in the operating position and the cover is closed. In this way the utensil selected for use is locked in the operative position while the other utensiles are securely retained in the rest position. To facilitate opening of the cover a protrusion 19 is provided at each side of the cover 16.

1. A podket utility device comprising an oblong support element having a corrugated cross sectional configuration throughout substantially the length thereof and having alternate longitudinal ridges and grooves, a utensil swingably connected to the first end of said support element and resting in one of said grooves when not in use, a writing instrument comprising an ink reservoir swingablyconnected to the first end of said support element and being longitudinally adjacent a ridge of said support element when not in use, an oblong receptacle swingably connected to the second end of said support element and resting in a groove of said support element which groove is opposite the ridge whereto said writing instrument is longitudinally adjacent when not in use, and an additional writing instrument comprising an ink reservoir placed in said receptacle.

2. A pocket utility device as defined in claim 1, said ink reservoirs containing inks of different colors.

3. A pocket utility device as defined in claim 1 wherein said writing instruments are of dilferent types.

4. A pocket utility device as defined in claim 1 wherein the cross sectional configuration of said support element generally resembles a W.

5. A pocket utility device as defined in claim 1 wherein the cross sectional configuration of said support element generally resembles a W, said support element having lateral walls forming the sides of the pocket utility device.

6. A pocket utility device as defined in claim 1 wherein said receptacle has a tonguelike free end portion extending beyond the first end of said support element for Y 4 providing a grip facilitating swinging of the receptacle out of the groove wherein the receptacle rests.

7. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein a plurality of spare writing instruments are placed in said receptacle.

8. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein an oblong cover is swingablyconnected to the second end of said support element for swinging said cover into a closed position for covering said utensil and said writing instrument when said utensil and writing instrument are not in use and into an open position permitting swinging said utensil and said writing instrument into position for use, said cover being provided with lateral protrusions for providing a grip facilitating swinging of the cover out of the closed position.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein said 'cover has a lip at the free end of the cover, and said utensil and said writing instrument each have a recess receiving said lip when said cover is in the closed position and said utensil and said writing instrument are in the position for use, for locking said utensil and said writing instrument in the position for use.

10. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said support element has center wall portions, and said penholder has laterally protruding portions individually abutting against the ends of said center wall portions.

11. A device as defined in claim 1, comprising a pin connected to the second end of said support element, said receptacle being connected to said pin, an oblong cover connected to said pin for swinging said cover into closed position for covering said utensil and said writing instrument when utensil and writing instrument are not in use and into an open position permitting swinging said utensil and said writing instrument into position for use.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner.

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