BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This relates in general to containers for writing implements, and more particularly, to a pocket device constructed to serve as a receptacle, multiple cap, and table stand for supporting writing implements in a position accessible to the user. There have been numerous pen/pencil carrying and display cases in the prior art; but one combines a convenient carrying case with a device which is adapted to perform the multiple functions of providing a receptacle which serves to cap the enclosed writing implements, and which is adapted, when capped, to be carried in the pocket or purse, notebook or carrying case and otherwise, provides a support resting on a flat surface for holding the writing implements in a position accessible to the user and safe for children. A particular disadvantage of prior-type supports for writing implements is that they are designed to loosely engage the writing implements, wherein the inks or writing fluids tend to dry out.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide a device which is capable of performing all of the aforesaid functions.

These and other objects are realized in accordance with the present invention which comprises, in preferred form, a rectangular pocket-sized caddy constructed to accommodate a plurality of writing implements in side-by-side parallel relation, the writing ends of which are snapped into sockets in the caddy which serves simultaneously to support and to securely cap each of the writing implements, eliminating loose caps which

children may choke on.

The multicap caddy in accordance with the present invention comprises a hollow body of flexible plastic, which is integrally molded to include a plurality of aligned sockets into which the writing ends of the writing implements are each accommodated in a snap-fit.

In one embodiment, the caddy is structured to accommodate conventional marking devices equipped with caps, and retain the caps of individual writing implements in the sockets upon removal of the marking devices from the caddy.

A particular feature of this embodiment is that the inner profile of the caddy socket is so shaped that once the capped marking device is forceably interposed into the interior of the socket, the cap is secured in place, and is not readily removed, when the marking device is removed.

In another embodiment, the caddy is formed with sockets which are designed to and function as multicaps for writing instruments.

In accordance with another modification, the caddies of the present invention are designed with interlocking modular attachments so that a plurality of caddies can be arranged in stacked relation on a desk or other working surface to accommodate a plurality of marking devices of different sizes and shapes.

As a further feature, a patch of self-gripping fastening material known by the trademark VELCRO may be applied to the rear wall of individual caddies, so that they can be fastened together, or removed from the work surface and secured to the page or cover of a three-ring notebook, or the interior of a carrying case.

It will be apparent that a pocket container designed in accordance with the present invention has many advantages over prior art writing implement containers, in that it is easy and convenient to carry and use, avoiding the loss or misplacements of caps, and is readily

manufactured and assembled by simply snapping writing implements of various sizes into place in the caddy.

These, and other objects, features and advantages will be better understood from a study of the specification hereinafter with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a caddy in accordance with the present invention which is constructed to receive and capture the caps of conventional marking devices inserted therein. The marking devices are in the process of being inserted in the caddy.

FIG. 2 shows a view of the top of the caddy of FIG. 1 before the caps are inserted.

FIG. 3 is a sectional showing through the vertical plane marked by the arrows 3-3 of one of the sockets in the caddy of FIG. 1 before any pen bearing a cap has been inserted.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the caddy of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a section through the vertical plane 5- 5 of FIG. 1 showing a pen snap-fitted into the caddy.

FIG. 5A shows in enlarged, fragmentary detail a part of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a view of the caddy of FIG. 1 with three marking devices in place, and with one of the marking devices being removed, while its cap is retained in the caddy.

FIG. 7 is a view of the top of the caddy of FIG. 6, showing the marking devices removed and the caps retained after the marking devices have been removed. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the caddy of FIG.

5 along a vertical plane indicated by the arrows 7-7 indicating the profile of one of the slots in which the cap has been retained.

FIG. 9 shows a modification of the invention of FIGS. 1-7 in which the caddy provides stationary caps for any marking devices or writing implements inserted therein. FIG. 10 is a top view of the caddy of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view along the vertical plane 11-11 of one of the retainer sockets of FIGS. 9 and 10 with a pen inserted.

FIG. 12 shows in perspective another modification including an array of caddies of the previous figures in which several caddies are stacked together in a modular standard to provide a desk array.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the array of FIG. 12. FIG. 14 is a sectional view through the vertical plane of the modular standard indicated by the arrows 14-14 of FIG. 13.

FIGS. 14A, 14B and 14C show in perspective components of the standard shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 15 shows a further modification of the caddy shown in FIGS. 1 et seq. in which a patch of VELCRO or similar self-gripping material is applied to the rear surface of the caddy.

FIG. 16 shows a notebook or carrying case in accordance with the present invention in which one or more caddies carrying different types of marking devices is secured by VELCRO (brand) fastening material to the inside cover of the carrying case or notebook for optimum access by a child or student for use in coloring activities. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring in detail to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown, in perspective, a pocket caddy (1) for writing implements, in accordance with the present invention, for use in the pocket or purse, or on the desk. In the present illustrative embodiment, this comprises a hollow rectangular container (1) formed of a flexible plastic material, such as, for example, polypropylene, or some other flexible or elastomeric material.

It will be understood that the caddy of the present invention may be designed to accommodate markers and writing implements of many different sizes and shapes.

The caddy (1) , which is shown by way of example in FIG. 1, is designed to accommodate jumbo marking pens

(4) , say, 15 centimeters in overall length including the cap (4b) . The body (4a) of each has a diameter not exceeding about 1 centimeter. The upper body portion is about 9 centimeters in axial length, and is stepped back about 1 millimeter in radial width forming a cylindrical holder (4d) approximately 8 millimeters in diameter, extending an additional 2 centimeters in axial length to an end cylinder (4f) about 1/2 centimeter in diameter which extends about 6 millimeters beyond the end of the cylindrical holder (4d) . The latter supports a marking tip (4c) , extending a few millimeters beyond the end of holder (4f) . A cap (4b) , 1 centimeter in internal diameter and about 1.1 centimeters in outer diameter, encloses the marking tip (4c) . The cap (4b) is about 4 centimeters in axial length, and is just accommodated on the holder (4d) . The cap (4b) has at its upper end an upwardly extending annular collar (4e) which mates in sealed relation with a flange on the lower annular surface of the body (4a) .

FIG. 1 shows four jumbo pens (4) , one being interposed into a semi-cylindrical socket (2) of the caddy (1) .

In the present illustrative embodiment, the caddy (1) is designed to accommodate marking devices (4) , which may be either jumbo size, as shown, or a more conventional smaller size. In the present embodiment, the caddy (1) is approximately 65 millimeters across the top, 45 millimeters deep and 15 millimeters wide. It has four semi-cylindrical sockets which accommodate the jumbo marking devices (4) initially closed by their caps (4b) . The semi-cylindrical sockets (2) extend about 4-

1/2 centimeters vertically at a slight inward taper, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The diameter of the semi- cylindrical sockets (2) at the top is about 1.1 centimeters across, narrowing down to about 8 millimeters across at the bottom.

FIG. 7 shows the top of the caddy (1) . The semi- cylindrical sockets (2) are aligned with their centers

spaced apart about 1.5 centimeters, the semi-cylindrical sockets (2) being interconnected by straight-walled openings (2a) about 8 millimeters wide from internal front to back wall. These form a cut comprising sockets (2) separated by openings (2a) which extend about 4-1/2 centimeters deep, and terminates at opposite lateral ends in a pair of slits (2f) extending down about 1 centimeter from the top, so that the width of the cut in the caddy (1) expands flexibly. The wall of the semi-cylindrical sockets (2) terminates at the lower end in an opening (2c) of smaller diameter, which narrows into circular openings (2d) which is designed to accommodate the flanges (4h) on the caps (4) in a slight recess (2e) on the bottom of the caddy (1) . (See FIG. 4) .

FIG. 5 shows in partial section one of the marking devices (4) , together with its cap (4b) initially snap-fitted into one of the semi-circular sockets 2.

In accordance with a unique feature of the present invention, a cam-shaped flange (2g) extends inwardly from the upper edge of each of the semi- cylindrical sockets (2) , as shown in fragment in the detailed FIG. 5A. As shown in vertical section in FIG. 5A, the semi-annular flange (2g) forms an angle of 30 degrees with the axis of 2, as measured from above, the horizontal plane, and an angle of 60 degrees as measured from below the horizontal plane.

When the marker (4) is snapped into place in one of the semi-cylindrical openings (2) , as shown in FIG. 5, the lip (4e) on cap (4b) overrides the flange (2g) , and snaps into place, so that the annular lip (4e) is captured beneath the flange (2g) . Thus, when the marking device (4) is removed from the caddy (1), as shown in FIG. 6, the cap

(4b) remains captive as shown in section in FIG. 8 with the lip (4e) abutting the lower surface of the cam-like flange

(2g) . FIG. 7 shows the top of the caddy (1) with the marking devices removed, but the caps (4b) remaining in

place beneath the cam-like flange (2g) . thus, the caddy (1) now functions as a multicap, placed on the desk or carried in the pocket, for accommodating the marking devices (4) whenever they are placed in the caddy. A modification of the invention is shown in FIGS.

9, 10 and 11 in which the caddy (11) is designed to function as a multicap for a plurality of writing implements of conventional form which are purchased without caps. FIG. 9 shows a marking device (14) being interposed into the modified caddy (11) . The body portion (14a) of the marking device is about 12 centimeters long, terminating at its lower end in a frusto-conical holder (14c) having a writing nib (14d) , which extends about one centimeter from the end of the body portion (14a) . The diameter of the body (14a) is about 6 millimeters.

The caddy (11) , which is shown in perspective in FIG. 9 and plan view in FIG. 11, in the present embodiment is about 65 millimeters across the width, 45 millimeters deep, and 1-1/2 centimeters across at the top, being stepped back to a width of about 13 millimeters across the bottom (lib) .

The present embodiment has six cylindrical sockets (12) , each about 6 millimeters in diameter. Mounted in coaxial flush relation with each of the sockets (12) is a collar (12a) which projects about 3 millimeters above the surface, having a wall thickness of about 1 millimeter. The six sockets (12) and collars (12a) are centered about one centimeter apart on the surface (11a) of caddy (11) . The sockets (12) and the collars (12a) just exceed about 6 millimeters in inner diameter. Thus, the caddy (11) functions as a multicap for a plurality of marking devices (14) , which are snap-fitted in place in closed sealed relation with the sockets (12) , the bodies (14a) sealing against the internal surface of (12) , each forming a substantially air-tight chamber for the ink- bearing nibs (14d) .

Let us refer to another embodiment of the invention shown in perspective in FIG. 12, in plan view in FIG. 13, and in cross-section in FIG. 14. The detailed modules are shown in perspective in FIGS. 14A, 14B and 14C. Assuming several caddies for different types of marking devices are acquired at once, it is desirable to provide a stand for stacking the caddies together on the writing surface, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

In accordance with the present invention, this is achieved by assembling in interlocked relation a series of modules (25) of wood or plastic as shown in section in FIG. 14, and in elongated perspective in FIGS. 14A (module 25c), 14B (module 25d) and 14C (module 25d) , each of which is about 15 centimeters long. When the module (25c) and the two modules (25d) are hooked together by interposing the hook (25e) on the front of each of the modules into the recess (25f) at the rear of each of the modules, as shown in sectional view in FIG. 14, a stand is created as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. This provides a pair of elongated slots (25a) just in excess of 1-1/2 centimeters wide which accommodate the caddies (21, 51 in one slot; 31, 41 in a parallel slot) in upright position, making a convenient depository for marking devices of many different sizes. Such a combination can be assembled or disassembled readily, according to the convenience of the user, depending on how many pens or writing devices he wishes to have available for use.

Another modification is shown in FIG. 15 in which a caddy (61) of the general type described with reference to FIGS. 1-7 accommodates a plurality of marking devices

(64) , and to which a patch (65a) of a self-gripping fastening material such as, for example, that sold under the registered trademark VELCRO (brand) by Velcro, U.S.A., Inc. of Manchester, New Hampshire, is applied. This patch may be, for example, centered on one of the major sidewalls of the caddy (61) , and may be 2 centimeters in a vertical

direction and 3 centimeters in a width direction.

This enables the caddy (61) to be removed from the desk and secured to the inside top cover (70b) of a conventional carrying case (70) of any of the types well- known in the art. To further secure the caddy (61) , or a similar caddy (74) to the top inner cover of carrying case (70) , the inner surface (70b) of the carrying case (70) may have a matching patch (65b) centered in one or more positions. The latter case may be used to carry a school- child's coloring pages (72), or artists' supplies. As an alternative to the carrying case (70) , the caddies (61, 71) may be secured in a similar manner to the inner cover of a ring-binder or notebook.

A particular advantage of the multicap of the present invention is that it eliminates individual pen caps, preventing children from swallowing them.

The invention is not limited to any of the particular forms or materials disclosed herein by way of example but only by the scope of the appended claims. For example, the caddies (1, 11, 21, 31, 41, 51) may be designed to accommodate pens, pencils and marking devices of all different sizes and shapes, which are snapped into place in sealed relation to the sockets in the multicap formed by the caddy. The material of which the caddies are formed may be any solid resilient, flexible or elastomeric material, such as polypropylene, or other similar plastics, hard rubber or the like.