Utility marker holster

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a utilitarian holster for a marker making one-hand accessibility and use simple. Specifically, embodiments herein provide for a holster that can hold a variety of off-the-shelf marking pens in a manner that they will not dry out and allow for one-handed sightless insertion and withdrawal.

Claims

1. A marker holster, comprising: a tubular implement having an opening at a first end and a closed tip at its second opposite end; said tubular implement further comprising a side opening disposed along a defined length beginning at said opening at said first end; said tubular implement further comprising at least two flanges disposed adjacent to and extending from the opening at said first open end; said tubular implement further comprising a smaller inner cavity, generally tubular in shape, also having a first open end and a second opposite closed end, disposed within and at or near the closed end of the tubular implement; and a clip.

2. The marker holster of claim 1, wherein it is made from plastic.

3. The marker holster of claim 1, wherein it is made from a material of a specific color, chosen from the group: black, white, red, yellow, orange, green, purple, blue, brown, and gray.

4. The marker holster of claim 1, further comprising an extended area from the opening at the first end to act as a clothing protector.

5. The marker of claim 1, wherein it is made from a material that does not absorb alcohol.

6. The marker holster of claim 1, wherein all but the clip portion is made from a non-rigid material and the clip is made from a rigid material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of the present disclosure wherein a marker of any brand (1) is placed within a configuration of the device herein described (2), having a side opening (3), a flared top opening (4), flared wings off the top opening (5) and a clip (6) to hold onto some external apparatus such as a belt or pocket (not shown).

(2) FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of the present disclosure wherein a marker of any brand (1) outside of and ready to be placed within a configuration of the device herein described (2) having a side opening (3), a flared top opening (4), flared wings off the top opening (5), the top opening itself (7) and a clip (6) to hold onto some external apparatus such as a belt or pocket (not shown).

(3) FIG. 3 depicts one embodiment of the present disclosure wherein a marker of any brand (1) as it is being guided by the design and placed within a configuration of the device herein described (2) having a side opening (3), a top opening (7), flared wings off the top opening (5) and a clip (6) to hold onto some external apparatus such as a belt or pocket (not shown).

(4) FIG. 4 depicts one embodiment of a side cutaway view of the present disclosure wherein a marker of any brand (1) fits into the cavity (16) when placed within a configuration of the device herein described (2) having an opening with inside sidewalls (9), an internal lower smaller tip cavity (10) with a top opening (11) into which a marker tip (8) fits snugly.

(5) FIG. 5 depicts one embodiment of a perspective side cutaway view of the present disclosure wherein a marker of any brand (1) fits into the cavity when placed within a configuration of the device herein described (2) having a top opening (7) with inside sidewalls (9), an internal lower smaller tip cavity (10) with a top opening (11).

(6) FIG. 6 depicts one embodiment of a side cutaway view of the present disclosure wherein a marker of any brand (1) is fit completely into the cavity when placed within a configuration of the device herein described (2) having an opening with inside sidewalls (9), an internal lower smaller tip cavity (10) with a top opening (11) and inside sidewalls (12). Additionally, in one embodiment, the marker holster provides an extended area (15) as a clothing protector such that when the marker is removed from the holster, it does not inadvertently mark the wearer's clothing.

(7) FIG. 7 depicts one embodiment of the general holster device as described herein (2) with one embodiment of a clip (6) removed to show the clip teeth (13) that provide friction to hold the clip attached to whatever object it is affixed.

(8) FIG. 8 depicts one embodiment of the general holster device as described herein (2) with one embodiment of a clip (6) removed from the clip insert (14) to show the clip teeth (13) that provide friction to hold the clip attached to whatever object it is affixed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) For clarity of disclosure, and not by way of limitation, the detailed description of the invention is divided into the following subsections that describe or illustrate certain features, embodiments or applications of the present invention.

Definitions

(10) marker holster as used herein means a device generally tubular in shape with an opening at one end and closed at its other end configured to house a general marker commonly used in the construction trades.

(11) inner small cavity as used herein means a separate smaller cavity disposed within, at or near the closed end of a marker holster configured to receive the writing means of a general marker commonly used in the construction trades and seal it off from the rest of the inner area of the holster marker to reduce air flow around said writing means thereby preventing drying out of the marker.

(12) flange as used herein means material disposed at or near the open end of a marker holster configured in an extended and/or flared manner to provide a surface against which a finger or thumb of one hand may push to exert opposite force when withdrawing a marker from a marker holster.

(13) side opening as used herein means a slit or elongated absence of material beginning at the open end of a marker holster and continuing for a partial distance down the length of the marker holster tube toward the closed end, but only disposed along approximately one-quarter of the circumference of the marker holster tube.

(14) clip as used herein means any suitable easy-on/easy-off attachment mechanism to secure a marker holster to another implement commonly present in a trades industry environment, such as, but not limited to, a belt, a tool belt, a ladder, a pail, and the like. It is flexible enough to attach to a wide variety of shapes and sizes and belt widths or pocket depths and may be removable and replaceable to allow for various configurations specific to various applications.

The System and Method of the Present Invention

(15) In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a marker holster comprising: a tubular implement having an opening at one end and a closed tip at its opposite end; a side opening disposed from the open end of the tubular implement; at least one flange disposed adjacent to and from the open end of the tubular implement; a smaller inner cavity disposed within and at or near the closed end of the tubular implement; and a clip.

(16) In one embodiment, the marker holster comprises an opening at the top configured to receive a marker wherein the opening is flared at the top and tapering smaller as it descends to act as a funnel to guide the marker into its desired resting place. In this manner, the marker does not have to be exactly insertedhitting anywhere near the opening will facilitate its insertion. In one embodiment, the marker holster further comprises a side opening that meets with the top opening and extends a portion of the way down the side of the marker holster further allowing the marker to slightly miss-the-mark and still be guided into its desired resting place. This enables sightless re-insertion of the marker into the holster.

(17) In one embodiment, the marker holster also comprises at least one flange extending from the top opening. In a desired configuration, the marker holster comprises two flanges, disposed opposite each other, one on each side of the top opening to provide places where fingers or thumbs can easily find the opening by feel and also to provide a place where the user can apply pressure in reverse in order to facilitate removal of the marker from its holster resting place. Again, the foregoing is all with sightless operation in mindboth insertion and removal.

(18) In one embodiment, the marker holster further comprises an inner small cavity disposed within the overall cavity of the tubular marker holster, within which, the writing tip of a marker will rest when the marker is in its desired resting place. In this configuration, when the inner side walls of the overall cavity catch the marker and it is guided into its desired resting position, the writing tip of the marker is housed within this inner small cavity and creating a seal whereby it will not dry out due to air flow around it.

(19) In one embodiment, the side opening has a secondary benefit. When removing the marker from its resting position, marker holsters without the side opening (all known such devices do not have this feature) require the user to lift the marker completely out of its resting place. While seemingly trivial, in actual use, where a tradesman is attempting this action without looking (often the case) and one-handed, it is easy for the tip of the marker to catch the lip of the opening and cause the marker to fall. This happening defeats the entire purpose of having a holster in the first place. By having the side opening, the user is guided and can slip the marker in and/or out tilting it into position for use and there is no opening lip for the marker tip to catch and hence, no unintended dropping of the marker.

(20) In one embodiment, the marker holster further comprises a clip wherein on one portion of the clip, it attaches to the marker holster itself and on another portion of the clip, it is configured to attach to some other implement commonly present in the industry making the marker accessible to a user. Several non-limiting examples of such a place would be a user's belt, pocket or toolbelt. Additional non-limiting examples not related to the user, would be a ladder or a workbench.

(21) In one embodiment, the marker holster further comprises an extended area of material opposite the side where the side opening is located and adjacent to the two opposite flanges which would make it the area adjacent to the clip and where the holster would be next to the wearer and the wearer's clothing. This added feature protects the wearer's clothing from getting marked when either taking the marker out of the holster or returning it to the holster.

(22) In one embodiment, the marker holster can comprise two piecesthe body of the holster and the clip (as shown in FIG. 7). In an alternative embodiment, the clip could be molded and formed together with the body and make one contiguous implement.

(23) In one embodiment, where the holster and clip are two separate pieces, the clip and the holster can be made of dissimilar materials. In a non-limiting example, the clip could be made of a non-flexible or rigid material enhancing the strength and attachment properties of the clip, while the holster could be made of a flexible or semi-flexible material aiding the holster in accepting a variety of marker circumferences.

(24) In one embodiment, any material used will not absorb alcohol which aids in marker ink retention and preventing drying out.

(25) In one embodiment, because no marker cap is needed as the holster performs all of the functions of the original marker cap, the marker could be repackaged for use with the holster with a small, temporary cap just for shipping which is removed and discarded. This will provide a significant savings to marker manufacturers.

(26) In one embodiment, the marker holster could be formed out of any suitable material that imparts desired properties, such as strength, low cost, ease of manufacture, low weight, easy to fix or replace, etc. One of skill in the art will easily identify appropriate materials. It is thought that materials of choice would include, plastic, polycarbonate, plexiglass, metal, metal alloys, and the like. In one embodiment, the chosen material is colorable and can be custom colored to coordinate with various color markers and/or coordinate with various brand colors.

(27) In one embodiment, the material chosen will have a flexible/stiffness ratio allowing the marker holster to flex a desired amountfor example, for the side opening to open slightly on removal, but remaining stiff enough to keep a secure hold on the marker when inserted. Certain plastics and polycarbonate are examples of such a material.

(28) In one embodiment, by having two flanges, one on either side, this allows for either right- or left-handed users to easily use their desired thumb in removing the marker.

(29) In one embodiment, when the clip is removable, clips of various lengths may be implemented, or various positions of the clip within its attachment to the holster may be utilized, to provide for the holster to hang at different heights from a belt, pocket or other desired clip location.

EXAMPLES

(30) The present invention is further illustrated, but not limited by, the following examples.

(31) In one embodiment, a tiler installing tile in a kitchen or bathroom will have a need to cut tiles and to label tiles for a particular order of placement. The tiler in this situation will have a need for a marker to mark tiles for cutting at a certain spot and/or for placement. Typically, the tiler will handle a single tile with one hand and have a need to mark it with the other. It would simplify this procedure to have at the ready, a marker that the marking hand could easily grab, and replace, without the need for the tile holding hand to get involved, or without the need to see the marker.

(32) In this embodiment, this tiler, using a marker holster as taught and described herein, would have sightless access with one hand to a marker whenever needed. Whether this tiler was right-handed or left-handed would not matter. Embodiments of the marker holster taught herein can be disposed on either side of the body or on some other external implement. A tiler, measuring tiles for cuts, having such a tile in one hand, could reach with the other hand and feel the end of a marker and know then, to feel for a flange and be able to then push against the flange and pull the marker up and sideways out of the holster then having the marker in the hand in a position ready for use. Once used, again without looking, the tiler would move the marker in the basic direction of where it came from and without needing to hit the mark exactly, would either find the opening, or even in the case where it was not readily obtainable, would be able to feel with other fingers for a flange, or a flared opening and then insert the marker, the marker holster then guiding the marker the rest of the way into position. The marker would remain there until next use, with the marker tip secure from drying out.

(33) Publications cited throughout this document are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Although the various aspects of the invention have been illustrated above by reference to examples and preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is defined not by the foregoing description but by the following claims properly construed under principles of patent law.

(34) Each and every feature described herein, and each and every combination of two or more of such features, is included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in such a combination are not mutually exclusive.