Writing Utensil Stand

Abstract

A writing utensil stand including a base having a planar lower side configured to be supported on a horizontal surface such as a table or countertop. The writing utensil stand includes a plurality of cylindrical bores which are disposed on an upper side of the device, wherein each bore includes an opening that is sized to receive a writing instrument, such as a pen or pencil, therethrough. At least one viewing aperture is disposed on the base and extends from a front side of the base through a rear side thereof. At least one of the bores extends through the viewing aperture and terminates at the lower side of the base, such that the viewing aperture allows individuals to observe a lower portion of the writing instrument for proper identification when stored.

Claims

1) A writing utensil stand, comprising: a base having a planar bottom surface adapted to be laid flush on a flat and level surface, a top surface, a front surface, and a back surface; at least one viewing aperture extending from said front surface of said base through said back surface; a plurality of cylindrical bore holes disposed through said top surface of said base configured to receive a writing utensil therethrough, wherein at least one of said bore holes extends through at least one of said viewing apertures and terminates at a lower side of said base, and wherein and at least one of said bore holes is enclosed along a length thereof within said base.

2) The writing utensil stand of claim 1, wherein the base is composed of a rigid construction material such as wood, metal, or plastic.

3) The writing utensil stand of claim 1, wherein said plurality of bore holes includes individual bore holes of varying diameter disposed through the top surface of the base so as to allow for writing utensils of different sizes to be stored within the device.

4) The writing utensil stand of claim 1, wherein the at least one viewing aperture is enclosed with a transparent window on the front and back surfaces of the base.

5) The writing utensil stand of claim 1, wherein the bore holes disposed through the top surface of the base are of a rectangular shape.

6) The writing utensil stand of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the base includes a layer of friction increasing material to prevent slipping.

7) The writing utensil stand of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of geometric inserts configured to conform to the dimensions of the at least one viewing aperture, wherein each geometric insert includes corresponding bore holes and is removably insertable within the base such that writing utensils may be inserted concurrently through the base and the insert.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the writing utensil stand.

[0014] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the writing utensil stand with writing utensils removably installed.

[0015] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the writing utensil stand with geometric insert and writing utensils removably installed.

[0016] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the writing utensil stand with geometric insert installed.

[0017] FIG. 5 shows a deconstructed cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the writing utensil stand with geometric insert removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the writing utensil stand. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for storing and displaying writing utensils in a plurality of bore holes and viewing apertures. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

[0019] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the writing utensil stand. The writing utensil stand 11 comprises a base having a planar lower surface configured to be supported on a flat, horizontal surface. In the illustrated embodiment, the planar lower surface of the base comprises a rectangular shape, however, alternate embodiments may comprise a lower surface of any suitable shape, such as a trapezoid or oval. The device further includes a front surface, a back surface, and an upper surface. A plurality of bore holes are disposed in the upper surface of the device and descend vertically through the base and terminate in a lower portion thereof. The plurality of bore holes are adapted to receive a writing utensil therethrough and, in the illustrated embodiment, are comprised of a cylindrical dimension. In alternate embodiments, the plurality of bore holes may comprise different dimensions and diameters as to receive writing utensils are varying sizes and shapes.

[0020] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the writing utensil stand with writing utensils removably installed, and a perspective view of an embodiment of the writing utensil stand with geometric insert and writing utensils removably installed, respectively. At least one viewing aperture is disposed in the base and extends form the front surface through the back surface, creating a void through the base. At least one of the plurality of bore holes extends through a viewing aperture and terminates in the lower portion of the base while at least one other bore hole extends through the base without passing through a viewing aperture. In practice, writing utensils may either be installed in bore holes that pass through a viewing aperture or one that does not. Writing utensils that pass through a viewing aperture may be seen by a user without having to remove the writing utensil from the bore hole itself. A writing utensil installed in a bore hole that extends through a viewing aperture also allows a user to properly identify what type of utensil is contained therein and also whether the utensil has sufficient ink or fluid.

[0021] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown a cross-section view of an embodiment of the writing utensil stand with geometric insert installed and a deconstructed cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the writing utensil stand with geometric insert removed, respectively. The writing utensil stand may include geometric inserts that correspond with the shape of the viewing aperture disposed through the base. Bore holes disposed on the geometric inserts also correspond with the bore hole disposed through the base allowing writing utensils installed in the bore holes to pass through the geometric insert and terminate in the lower portion of the base. The device may be used with or without the geometric inserts installed as a user so desires. To install the geometric inserts within the base, a user may slide the geometric insert into the corresponding viewing aperture which is dimensioned to receive the geometric insert through the front or back surface of the base. The geometric insert is configured to selectively obscure a portion of the writing utensil which passes therein while providing an improved aesthetic feature to the base of the device.

[0022] It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0023] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.