Special receptacle or package – For a tool – Desk-clerical – drafting or engineering type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-03
2001-03-06
Fidei, David T. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
For a tool
Desk-clerical, drafting or engineering type
C206S214000, C211S069800, C211S069900
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196388
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a holder comprising at least one clamping member for holding elongated articles such as pens.
2. Description of the Related Art
The known holder has a number of functions. On the one hand, the holder serves to protect the article, while the holder can be arranged in a box-shaped casing for further protection. Together with that box-shaped casing, the holder may then form a gift packing. On the other hand, the holder may serve as a support surface on which the article can for instance be presented in an attractive manner to a potential buyer in a shop.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This holder is useful in particular, but not exclusively, for presenting pens, more in particular a fountain pen, and for that reason, the present invention will hereinafter be described for such practical example. However, is emphasized that the present invention can also be used in connection with other articles.
The known holder is designed to have a number of characteristic features. The clamping members retain a received pen firmly, without damaging that pen. From an aesthetic point of view, the holder has an attractive appearance, in the presence as well as in the absence of a pen. Without requiring modifications, the holder is suitable for receiving pens of different diameters; in particular, pens having a transverse dimension in the range of 6-18 mm can be retained firmly. The holder is suitable for accommodating several pens, but unoccupied seats are not visibly recognizable as such.
In the known holder, this is accomplished in that the holder has a bottom to which a clamping member is pivotally attached, and an elastic and flexible membrane stretched above the clamping member. In a rest condition, i.e. in the absence of a pen, the clamping member is entirely free from the membrane, so that the membrane stretched over this clamping member gives an observer the impression of a support table where no clamping member is present. In a clamping condition, i.e. in the presence of a pen, clamping arms of the clamping member have pivoted upwards, and the flexible membrane is pressed, together with the pen, between those clamping arms.
Although the known holder is highly satisfactory, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improvement to the known holder.
In the known holder, the flexible membrane is stretched tightly above the clamping members. When a pen is being fitted, the membrane is pressed between the clamping arms of the clamping member, which involves the membrane exerting an upward force on the pen, and the clamping arms, for retaining the pen, exerting a downward force, while the clamping arms of the clamping member are pivoted upwards. For removing a pen, the clamping arms of the clamping member are pulled up first; however, the clamping member resumes its rest position under the influence of the downward tensile force exerted by the membrane, possible aided by gravity. This means that the membrane of the known holder does not only have an aesthetic function, but also a technical function, viz. exerting a force. Hence, for the membrane of the known holder, a material must be used that is elastically stretchable, and the membrane of the known holder must be stretched tightly.
It is an important object of the present invention to provide a holder in which the membrane need not necessarily be stretched tightly, but may for instance be draped in pleats, which has a particular aesthetic effect. It is another important object of the present invention to provide a holder whose membrane need not necessarily be elastically stretchable, so that there is a wider choice of materials for the membrane.
More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to design a clamping member for such holder in such a manner that the clamping action thereof does not depend on the membrane.
According to the present invention, this object is realized in that each clamping member comprises a resilient member which exerts a bias force on the relevant clamping member. Preferably, the clamping member and the resilient member are formed as an integrated unit.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1763488 (1930-06-01), Titcomb
patent: 5186320 (1993-02-01), Aida
patent: 5495938 (1996-03-01), Bedford et al.
patent: 6029816 (2000-02-01), Goodwin et al.
patent: 0 444 746 A1 (1991-09-01), None
patent: 870056 (1961-06-01), None
patent: 9000453 (1991-09-01), None
Bednarek Michael D.
Fidei David T.
Pittman Shaw
Rosti (Incase) B.V.
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