STORAGE AND DISPLAY DEVICE FOR STORING AND DISPLAYING A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINAL HAND HELD IMPLEMENTS

Abstract

A storage and presentation device for storing and presenting a plurality of longitudinal hand held implements, the storage and presentation device presenting a plurality of supports, each support being configured to support one longitudinal hand held implement, all of the supports being mounted to be rotatable about a common axis extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal directions of the longitudinal hand held implements when they are supported by the supports. The storage and presentation device presenting a storage position in which the angle between all of the supports about the axial direction is less than 2, and a presentation position in which, for all of the supports, the angle between two adjacent supports about the axial direction is greater than or equal to 5.

Claims

1. A set comprising at least one writing instrument having a cap and a storage and presentation device for storing and presenting a plurality of writing instruments, the storage and presentation device presenting a plurality of supports, each support being configured to support one writing instrument, all of the supports being mounted to be rotatable about a common axis extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal directions of the writing instruments when they are supported by the supports, said storage and presentation device presenting a storage position in which the angle between all of the supports about the axial direction is less than 2, and a presentation position in which, for all of the supports, the angle between two adjacent supports about the axial direction is greater than or equal to 5, at least one support being configured to co-operate with the cap from the writing instrument in such a manner that the force needed for extracting the cap of the support is greater than the force needed for extracting the body of the writing instrument from the cap.

2. A set according to claim 1, wherein, when considered along the axial direction, the plurality of supports presents a first support and a last support, the first support and the last support each presenting at least one lug, said lug extending in the axial direction towards the adjacent support, while all of the other supports presents a pair of lugs, each lug of each pair of lugs extending in the axial direction away from the other lug of the pair of lugs, each lug of a support being configured to co-operate in abutment with a corresponding lug of the adjacent support, each lug being offset in azimuth relative to the corresponding lug of the adjacent support when in the storage position, the azimuth direction being defined by the rotation direction of the support so that moving a support through a predetermined angular stroke in a first rotation direction couples said support with an adjacent support in the first rotation direction by co-operation in abutment between corresponding lugs.

3. A set according to claim 2, wherein all of the supports are identical, each support having a pair of lugs, each lug of each pair of lugs extending in the axial direction away from the other lug of the pair of lugs, while being offset relative to each other in the azimuth direction.

4. A set according to claim 1, wherein all of the supports are pivotally mounted on a common rod.

5. A set according to claim 1, wherein the storage and presentation device comprises two covers forming a box, the covers being rotatably mounted relative to each other about the axial direction, the box being closed in the storage position, while the box is open in the presentation position, at least one of the covers forming a base in the presentation position.

6. A set according to claim 5, wherein all of the supports are pivotally mounted on a common rod, and wherein the covers present hinge knuckles, the common rod being engaged in the hinge knuckles, the common rod co-operating by snap-fastening with two hinge knuckles whereby the common rod is prevented from moving in translation along the axial direction.

7. A set according to claim 5, wherein, when considered in the axial direction, the plurality of supports presents a first support and a last support, a lug of the first support co operating in abutment with one of the covers, while a lug of the last support co-operates in abutment with the other cover, whereby opening the box carries the supports in rotation and passes the supports from the storage position to the presentation position.

8. A set according to claim 5, wherein the covers are fitted with complementary locking means for locking the covers together in the storage position.

9. A set according to claim 1, wherein each support forms a sleeve configured to receive and hold one end of a writing instrument.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] The invention and its advantages can be better understood on reading the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples. The description refers to the accompanying sheets of figures, in which:

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a set comprising a storage and presentation device together with as many felt-tip pens as it has supports, the set being shown in a presentation position;

[0045] FIG. 2 is a simplified exploded view of the FIG. 1 set;

[0046] FIGS. 3A and 3B show a support;

[0047] FIG. 4 is a section view on plane IV of FIG. 1;

[0048] FIGS. 5A to 5E show various steps in the kinetics of opening the box and causing the storage and presentation device as seen looking along arrow V in FIG. 1 to pass from the storage position to the presentation position; and

[0049] FIGS. 6A to 6D show different steps in the kinetics of closing the box and causing the storage and presentation device as seen looking along arrow V in FIG. 1 to pass from the presentation position to the storage position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0050] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a set 100 comprising a storage and presentation device 10 for storing and presenting a plurality of longitudinal hand held implements, in this example felt-tip pens 50. The device 10 has covers 26 and 28 forming a box 32. In FIG. 1, the device 10 is in the presentation position, with all of the supports 20 supporting a respective felt-tip pen 50. It should be observed that in this example, the covers 26 and 28 form a box 32 that is in the form of an attach case, but naturally any other form of box could be envisaged. It should also be observed that in the presentation position, the two covers 26 and 28 of the open briefcase form a base for the device 10.

[0051] More particularly, in this example, the device 10 has a plurality of supports 20 that are rotatably mounted about a common axis X (i.e. a common rotation axis for all of the supports 20) that extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal directions L of the felt-tip pens 50, with all of the supports 20 being identical. It should be observed that in this example, the covers 26 and 28 are also identical. The supports 20 are movable in rotation about the axis X in the azimuth direction Z. In this example, the axial direction X, the longitudinal direction L, and the azimuth direction Z correspond respectively to the directions defined by the height, the radius, and the angle in a cylindrical coordinate system.

[0052] FIGS. 5A and 5E show the device 10 seen looking along arrow V in FIG. 1 (i.e. along the axial direction X) respectively in the storage position and in the presentation position. As can be seen in FIG. 5A, the angle between each of the supports 20 in the storage position is less than 2, in this example the angle being substantially equal to 0 (only one support being drawn with dashed lines, all the others being masked by that support). The term angle substantially equal to is intended to leave a margin of error of 0.5. With reference to FIG. 5E, the angle between two adjacent supports 20, with this applying to any of the supports 20, is greater than 5, and in this example the angle is substantially equal to 15. As can be seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the support 20 forms a sleeve 20a. The axis A of the sleeve 20a coincides with the axial direction L of each implement and it intersects the rotation axis X. In this example, the axis A of the sleeve 20a of each support 20 forms the geometrical line used as a reference for measuring the angles between the various supports 20.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows the structure of the device 10 in greater detail, and it does not show all of the elements of FIG. 1 for reasons of greater clarity. A rod 30 extends along the axial direction X and is common to all of the supports 20 and the covers 26 and 28. Thus, the supports 20 and the covers 26 and 28 are mounted to be rotatable on this common rod 30 about the axis X.

[0054] Each cover 26 and 28 presents hinge knuckles 26a and 28a each receiving the rod 30. It should be observed that the hinge knuckles are shaped specifically to make them easier to fabricate by molding. Each support 20 presents an eyelet 20b receiving the rod 30. In this example, each support 20 presents a single eyelet 20b, but naturally the supports could present a plurality of eyelets.

[0055] Each of the hinge knuckles 26aa and 28aa belonging respectively to the covers 26 and 28 and arranged at the axial ends of the rod when the device 10 is assembled presents an internal portion in relief, in this example a respective internal annular projection 26aa1 or 28aa1. The rod 30 co-operates with these projections 26aa1 and 28aa1 of the hinge knuckles 26aa and 28aa by snap-fastening so as to prevent the rod 30 from moving in translation along the axial direction X.

[0056] Specifically, the rod 30 is a hollow rod that is capable of deforming. Thus, in order to assemble the device 10, the rod 30 is engaged in the hinge knuckle 26aa or 28aa, with the rod 30 deforming, and the rod 30 is engaged through all of the other hinge knuckles and eyelets 20b. When the rod 30 has passed right through the hinge knuckles 26aa or 28aa, it becomes disengaged from the internal projection of said hinge knuckle, it returns to its initial shape, and it co-operates axially in abutment firstly against the annular projection 26aa1 of the hinge knuckle 26aa in a first direction along the axis X, and secondly in abutment against the annular projection 28aa1 of the hinge knuckle 28aa in a second direction along the axis X, opposite to the first direction.

[0057] There follows a description of how the supports 20 co-operate with one another. Each support 20 has a pair of lugs 20c1 and 20c2, these lugs extending along the axial direction X away from each other (i.e. in opposite directions along the axis X). In other words, each support 20 presents a lug extending axially towards an adjacent support 20. Thus, each support 20 presents at least as many lugs as there are adjacent support(s).

[0058] FIG. 3A shows a support 20 seen along arrow IIIA of FIG. 2, while FIG. 3B shows the support 20 of FIG. 3A as seen along allow IIIB. As can be seen, the lugs 20c1 and 20c2 are offset from each other along the azimuth direction Z. The lugs 20c1 and 20c2 are offset in this example by an angle equal to 15. Furthermore, in this example, the lugs 20c1 and 20c2 are equidistant from the axis A, such that each lug departs from each the axis A by an angle /2=7.5. By adjusting the angle , the angle between the supports 20 in the presentation position is directly adjusted.

[0059] Each lug of each support is configured to co-operate in abutment with the corresponding lug of the adjacent support. Thus, each lug 20c1 of a support 20 is configured to co-operate in abutment with the lug 20c2 of the adjacent support, and vice versa. Thus, each support has a pair of lugs 20c1 and 20c2, and each lug 20c1 and 20c2 in each pair of lugs is configured to co-operate in abutment with the corresponding lug 20c2 and 20c1, respectively of the adjacent supports 20.

[0060] It should be observed that in the storage position, since the angle between all of the supports 20 is substantially zero, the axes A of all of the supports are arranged in parallel. It can thus be considered that in the storage position all of the supports 20 are masked by the support 20 shown in FIG. 3A, such that all of the lugs 20c1 are in alignment in the axial direction and all of the lugs 20c2 are likewise in alignment in the axial direction (i.e. perpendicularly to the plane of the figure). In general manner, it can be observed that, while in the storage position, the lug 20c1 or 20c2 of a support is offset in azimuth relative to the corresponding lug 20c2 or 20c1 respectively of the adjacent support.

[0061] Returning to FIG. 1, when considered in the axial direction X, the plurality of supports 20 includes a first support 20 that is referenced 20-1 and a last support 20 that is referenced 20-N. In this example, there are twelve supports, such that N=12, but naturally, in a variant, there could be more or fewer supports. It can also be understood that classifying the supports from first to last is entirely arbitrary, and the first support could equally well be considered as being the last, and vice versa.

[0062] In this example, the supports 20-1 and 20-N are identical to all of the other supports 20, i.e. each of them presents a pair of lugs 20c1 and 20c2. Thus, only the lug 20c2 of the support 20-1 co-operates in abutment with a corresponding lug 20c1 in of the adjacent support 20-2 (i.e. the second support in the plurality of supports 20), while only the lug 20c2 of the support 20-N co-operates with the corresponding lug 20c1 of the adjacent support 20-(N1) (i.e. the penultimate support in the plurality of supports 20), it being understood that each of the first and last supports has only one adjacent support.

[0063] In this example, each cover 26 and 28 has a respective projection 26b or 28b co-operating in abutment respectively with the lug 20c2 of the first support 20-1 and with the lug 20c1 of the last support 20-N. In other words, the lug 20c2 of the first support 20-1 co-operates in abutment with the cover 26, while the lug 20c1 of the last support 20-N co-operates in abutment with the cover 28.

[0064] FIG. 4 is a section view on section plane IV of FIG. 1. This figure shows how the lugs of a support abut against the corresponding lugs of the adjacent supports, and how the lug 20c1 of the last support 20-N co-operates with the projection 28b of the cover 28. In general manner, it may be observed that the lugs co-operate in abutment in the azimuth direction Z.

[0065] Naturally, in a variant, the first support 20-1 and the last support 20-N need not have a lug 20c2 or 20c1, respectively, so that they do not co-operate with the covers 26 and 28, respectively. Under such circumstances, the first and last supports 20-1 and 20-N are different from the other supports 20, since each of them presents only one lug extending towards the adjacent support, namely the lug 20c1 for the first support 20-1 and the lug 20c2 for the last support 20-N.

[0066] Furthermore, as can be seen in FIG. 3A, each support 20 presents an internal annular rib 20d for co-operating with the cap 52 of a writing instrument 50. Naturally, such a cap 52 forms one end of the writing instrument 50. In this example, the rib 20d co-operates with the free edge 52a of the cap 52 defining the opening of the cap 52 for inserting the body 54 of the writing instrument 50. The cap 52 also co-operates by snap-fastening with the body 54, e.g. by means of projections (not shown) on its inside surface. In well-known manner for the person skilled in the art, the projections and the rib 20d are given dimensions such that the force needed for extracting the cap 52 from the support 20 is greater than the force needed for extracting the body 50 from the cap 54. Thus, while using a writing instrument 10, its cap 52 remains with the support 20, thereby considerably reducing the risk of losing the cap 52.

[0067] With reference to FIGS. 5A to 5E, there follows a description of the kinetics for passing the device 10 from its storage position to its presentation position.

[0068] In FIG. 5A, the device is in the storage position. In this position, the box 32 is in its closed position, and the axes A of all of the supports 20 are arranged in substantially the same plane such that the angle between any two supports 20 is substantially zero. It should be observed that the covers 26 and 28 are fitted with complementary locking means 26c1, 26c2, and 28c1, 28c2. In this example, the means 26c1 and 28c1 are identical and they co-operate respectively with the means 28c2 and 26c2, which are likewise identical (see FIG. 1). The means 26c1 and 28c1 comprise a pair of resilient tongues, each having a hook, while the means 26c2 and 28c2 comprise a single tongue having hooks on each of its opposite faces for co-operating by snap-fastening with the hooks of the means 26c1 and 28c1. Naturally, any other form of complementary locking means could be envisaged. Thus, when the box 32 is in the closed position, it is locked by these complementary locking means 26c1, 26c2, 28c1, and 28c2. These means can be unlocked merely by applying force by hand, by pulling on the handles 26d and 28d of each of the covers 26 and 28.

[0069] In order to bring the device 10 from its storage position to its presentation position, the box 32 is opened. Thus, on unlocking the covers 26 and 28 from the closed position, and thus the set 10 from the closed position, the cover 28 is caused to pivot relative to the cover 26. After going through a predetermined angular stroke, in this example 7.5, i.e. the angle between the lug 20c1 of the last support 20-N and the projection 28b of the cover 28 in the storage position, the projection 28b of the cover 28 comes into abutment against the lug 20c1 of the last support 20-N and drives it in rotation. Thus, the cover 28 and the support 20-N are coupled in rotation in the direction for opening the cover 28 as from the predetermined angular stroke of the cover 28.

[0070] By continuing to rotate the cover 28, the last support 20-N carries the adjacent support 20-(N1) at the end of a predetermined angular stroke, in this example 15, i.e. the angle between the corresponding lugs 20c1 and 20c2. Thus, the adjacent lugs are in abutment and the adjacent supports are coupled to rotate together in the opening direction of the cover 28 as from the predetermined angular stroke between the adjacent supports. FIGS. 5B and 5C thus show intermediate positions in which some of the supports 20 have already been driven and deployed to form a helix while opening the cover 28.

[0071] FIG. 5E shows the presentation position of the device 10 in which the box 32 is in its open position, with all of the supports 20 being deployed in a helical shape, and all of the lugs pressing against one another with the lug 20c2 of the first support 20-1 pressing against the projection 26b of the cover 26 and the lug 20c1 of the last support 20-N pressing against the projection 28b of the cover 28. This procures particularly reliable stability in the presentation position in this example of the storage and presentation device.

[0072] Naturally, it is entirely possible to bring the device 10 from the storage position to the presentation position by opening the cover 26 instead of the cover 28, with this taking place in strictly similar manner, with the supports being deployed beginning with the first support 20-1 instead of the last support 20-N.

[0073] With reference to FIGS. 6A to 6D, there follows a description of the kinetics of passing the device 10 from its presentation position to its storage position. FIG. 6A corresponds to FIG. 5E with the device 10 in its presentation position, while FIG. 6D corresponds to FIG. 5A, with the device 10 in its storage position.

[0074] In order to bring the device from the presentation position to the storage position, the box 32 is closed. Thus, one of the covers is moved back towards the other. By moving back the cover 28, the lug 20c1 of the last support 20-N and the projection 28b are no longer in contact, while the support 20-N and/or the writing instrument 10 carried by the support 20-N come into contact with the cover 28 itself, thereby carrying the support 20-N and the writing instrument 10 towards the storage position, as shown in FIG. 6B. This figure shows an intermediate position in which a certain number of supports and/or writing instruments are bearing against the cover 28 and are being taken by the cover 28 towards the storage position.

[0075] FIG. 6D shows the final storage position, in which the supports and the writing instruments have all been taken by the cover 28, with the box 32 being closed. Naturally, it is entirely possible to bring the device 10 from the presentation position to the storage position by moving back the cover 26 instead of the cover 28, with this taking place in strictly similar manner, the supports being folded down beginning with the first support 20-1 instead of the last support 20-N.

[0076] Although the present invention is described with reference to specific embodiments, it is clear that modifications and changes could be undertaken on those embodiments without going beyond the general ambit of the invention as defined by the claims. In particular, individual characteristics of the various embodiments that are shown and/or mentioned may be combined in additional embodiments. Consequently, the description and the drawings should be considered in a sense that is illustrative rather than restrictive.