Carpenter's pencil retracting device

[0002] This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/216,168 filed Jul. 6, 2000.

[0003] Carpenters and other skilled tradesmen frequently use a pencil to mark their work. In many cases, the user is on a scaffold, a ladder, or an elevated structure. There is a tendency to occasionally drop the pencil. Consequently, carpenters usually carry several pencils. It is inconvenient and costly to lose these special pencils.

[0004] The broad purpose of the present invention is to provide a retractable device for retaining a carpenter's pencil or other writing instrument so that if the pencil is accidentally released, it does not drop to the ground. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the carpenter uses a conventional, retractable reel such as is commonly used for keys and the like. The reel has a housing with a retainer that is clipped onto the user's belt. It has a retractable spring attached to a key ring.

[0005] The carpenter's pencil is connected to the key ring in one embodiment, by a relatively stiff expandable section of tubing. The tubing has a diameter less than that of a pencil. The user inserts the pencil into the tubing, expanding the tubing to form a tight frictional engagement with the pencil end. The other end of the tubing has a plug with a hole for receiving the key ring. The arrangement is such that if the carpenter should release the pencil, it is returned to the reel.

[0006] In another embodiment of the invention, the pencil is inserted in one end of the tubing to form a tight frictional engagement between the pencil and the tubing. The sides of the other end of the tubing are pressed together and formed with a hole, reinforced with the grommets, that forms an opening for the key ring.

[0007] In still another embodiment of the invention, when the user is employing a writing instrument other than the carpenter's pencil, a section of tubing is employed that forms a frictional engagement with the end of the writing instrument. The other end of the tubing has a plug for receiving the key ring.

[0008] Still further objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains upon reference to the following detailed description.

[0009] The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views; and in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a partially sectional view illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred pencil and retainer;

[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the invention;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a view as seen along lines 4—4 of FIG. 3; and

[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates an adapter for a round as opposed to a flat pencil.

[0015] Referring to the drawings, a conventional reel type retractor 10 having a housing 11 has a belt clip 12 (retaining device) for mounting on the user's belt. Retractor 10 is a flexible member holding device. The retractor has an internal retractable reel connected to a wire 14 that can be extended two to three feet from the reel. A perforated metal plug 16 is carried on the wire end.

[0016] A key ring 18 is carried in plug 16, and has any suitable diameter such as one inch.

[0017] A conventional flat carpenter's pencil 20 is typically about seven inches s long, with an elongated cross section. A plug 22 and a plastic tube 24 (holder) connect the pencil to the key ring. Plug 22, for illustrative purposes, has a onehalf inch diameter and is about seven-eighths inches long, preferably made of plastic with a bore 26. Bore 26 has a sufficient diameter to receive key ring 18. Tube 24 is relatively stiff, but slightly stretchable or resilient with an internal diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the pencil. The relationship is such that by inserting the end of pencil 20 into the end of the tube, the tube is stretched to form a tight frictional grip on the pencil. The grip is such that the user can pull the pencil from the tube to replace the pencil. However, the grip is sufficient so that the pencil cannot be removed from the tube without a substantial removal force being applied to the pencil.

[0018] Similarly, plug 22 also has a diameter slightly greater than the internal diameter of the tube, so that when the plug is placed into the tube, it expands the tube to form a tight grip on the plug. Thus, the pencil may be removed from the tube, however, in use, the pencil is securely connected to wire 14 so that when the pencil is released, the retractor pulls the pencil up to a position adjacent the retractor housing.

[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the invention. In this case, tube 24 has one end receiving the end of the pencil as described with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 1. However, instead of employing plug 22, the sides of the tube opposite the pencil are squeezed together and formed with a pair of aligned openings 26. Preferably, grommet means 28 are mounted around the openings, for receiving key ring 18. This embodiment is somewhat simpler than the embodiment of FIG. 1 because it eliminates the need for plug 22.

[0020] In some cases, a different type of writing instrument may be used. Referring to FIG. 5, a pencil 40 has a round or cylindrical configuration. In this case, a smaller tube 42 is employed having an internal diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the pencil so that the pencil can be inserted into the end of the tube, stretching tube 42 so that the resulting frictional fit forms a secure connection to the pencil. Tube 42 and the pencil are then inserted in the end of tube 24 in the same manner as the carpenter's pencil.