The present invention pertains generally to marking surfaces by using gravity system and marking object that is being placed in a marking tube and allowing by its gravity to touch the surface, predominantly to mark the surface. The marking tube is adjustable allowing the marking object to touch the surface accordingly; the marking tube is located on a supporting guide. Particularly, the present invention should and/or will be useful for marking any flooring surfaces and/or any other surfaces where applicable.

A utility retractor having a utility adaptor, and having a retractable tether comprised of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) material. The UHMWPE exhibits many important qualities suitable in a utility retractor, including abrasion resistance, the ability to be knotted without tangling, and it is very slippery to achieve a significant useful life. The retractor may also include an energy absorber disposed on the tether configured to prevent the danger of the utility adapter flailing indiscriminately during retraction. The energy absorber can be selectively positioned.

A writing instrument has a front body with an ergonomic grasping segment asymmetrical relative to a first longitudinal plane, and a rear body asymmetrical relative to a second longitudinal plane. The rear body is capable of rotating relative to the front body about a longitudinal axis corresponding to a line of intersection between the first longitudinal plane and the second longitudinal plane, between a position adapted to gripping with a right hand and a position adapted to gripping with a left hand. The present invention also relates to a method of using this writing instrument.

A marker storage accessory includes a main body having marker-engaging structure and writing surface engaging structure. The main body may also include cap-engaging structure or, alternatively, blocking structure. The marker-engaging structure includes a plurality of circumferentially positioned teeth adapted to be conformingly inserted into the complementarily shaped channels defined by the ribs located on the non-writing end of a writing instrument such as a dry-erase marker. The cap-engaging structure can include ribs creating a geometry adapted to conformingly receive the protruding end of a cap for the writing instrument. The blocking structure can be a protrusion adapted to prevent attachment of the marker storage accessory on the nub-end of the writing instrument while permitting attachment of a marker cap. When the marker storage accessory is attached to the writing surface, the marker self-positions to a generally nub-down orientation.

The method and apparatus described herein allows for the automatic retraction and extension of the writing element of a bistable self-retaining writing instrument. The method and apparatus consists of a writing element that is joined to the end of a flexible tube or material. These are inserted through a longitudinal channel formed along the outer surface of the writing instrument and are anchored only at the end opposite the writing element. When the bistable self-retaining writing instrument transitions from a coiled to straight configuration the writing element is automatically exposed. Conversely, when pushed into its coiled configuration the writing element slides back into the channel and is thereby protected. The flexible tube or material may also act as a reservoir for a writing substrate such as ink.

The present disclosure is directed to an object gripping apparatus that solves the above-described problems. Generally, in various embodiments, the object gripping apparatus includes a plurality of individually deformable gripping members configured to wrap around, grip, and hold the outer surface of an object. Because the gripping members are individually deformable, the object gripping apparatus may hold objects of varying shapes and sizes, such as objects having outer surfaces of varied diameters.

A self-righting handheld utensil comprises a base having a generally rounded bottom side, a weighted element disposed within the base, an elongated region extending outwardly from the base, and a use portion. The weighted element and rounded bottom of the base provide for a self-righting function for the disclosed utensil such that, when placed on a flat or substantially flat surface, it counterbalances the utensil to an upright vertical orientation without the need for user intervention or the application of any external force. The base need not become uncoupled from the elongated region and use portion before the user makes operative use of the disclosed utensil. The base may also have an aesthetic feature on an outer surface thereof.

A self-righting handheld utensil comprises a base having a generally rounded bottom side, a weighted element disposed within the base, an elongated region extending outwardly from the base, and a use portion. The weighted element and rounded bottom of the base provide for a self-righting function for the disclosed utensil such that, when placed on a flat or substantially flat surface, it counterbalances the utensil to an upright vertical orientation without the need for user intervention or the application of any external force. The base need not become uncoupled from the elongated region and use portion before the user makes operative use of the disclosed utensil. The base may also have an aesthetic feature on an outer surface thereof.

A device for connecting two objects, especially for holding a writing instrument on a notebook or the like, with a clamping body having clamping arms extending across a narrow side, for example, of the notebook, which clamping body grips one of the objects in pliers-like fashion with its clamping arms and forms a holder for holding the other object, e.g., the writing instrument, parallel to the longitudinal direction of the narrow side. Mechanisms are provided to spread open the clamping arms.

An automated writing instrument storage apparatus designed to receive, sanitize and dispense a writing instrument includes a housing member with a top face having a slot to permit the writing instrument to pass through, a support assembly disposed within the housing member and having a transparent tubular member generally aligned with the housing member slot to receive the writing instrument, an ultraviolet lamp disposed within the housing member and able to direct light generated by the lamp through the transparent tubular member to sanitize the writing instrument stored therein, and a motor assembly disposed within the housing member and operably connected to the support assembly. The motor assembly activates to permit the sanitized writing instrument to slide within the transparent tubular member and through the slot of the housing member, thereby dispensing the sanitized writing instrument to a user.