Chalk holding device

• US 6,793,429 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2001
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bernard I. Segal
• Original Assignee: Bernard I. Segal
• Inventors: Arrison, William Q.
• Primary Examiner(s): Aryanpour, Mitra
• Application Number:
  US09/911,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20020032069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 473/1, 473/2, 473/35-39, 473/FOR-35-, D19/35, D19/36, D19/53, D19/55, D19/51, 401/6, 401/88, 401/89, 401/62, 401/92, 401/93, 401/109, 401/107, 401/84, 401/99, 401/112, 401/117, 401/53, 401/116, 33/270.1, 33/270.3
• US Class Current: 401/93
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 23/016 Holders for crayons or chalks B43K23/004 - B43K23/012, B43K23/02 take precedence

Abstract

A safety chalk holder consisting of a chalk holding member received within the bore of a housing, a closed end of the chalk holding member projecting from one end of the housing, a collet end of the holder projectable into and out of the other end of the housing, a chalk receivable into the holder having a cross section dimensioned to cooperate with the collet such that when the collet end of the holder is positioned exterior of the housing, the chalk can be freely received within the collet, spring means urging the collet to be withdrawn into the housing, the collet effective to engage the housing to reduce the dimension of the collet to grasp the chalk as the collet is drawn into the holder, the holder and housing having a locked together connection permitting limited movement of the holder with respect to the housing, but preventing withdrawal of the entirety of the holder from the housing, and a child-proof cap closing the collet projecting end of the housing.

Claims

1. Chalk holder comprising inner and outer axially movable hollow members having a plurality of stop surfaces associated therewith, at least one stop surface formed interior of the outer member, at least another stop surface on the inner member located interior of the outer member, the inner and outer member'"'"'s stop surfaces being in opposition to one another inside of the outer member, the stop surfaces effective to limit relative axial movement of the members, the inner member having chalk engaging collet fingers at one end thereof projectable beyond an end of the outer member, a spring received interior of the outer member effective to urge the fingers towards a position interior of the outer member.

2. The chalk holder of claim 1 wherein at least some of the plurality of the stop surfaces are radially overlapping.

3. The chalk holder of claim 2 wherein the stop surfaces limit axial movement in both axial directions while providing a range of axial movement between limit positions.

4. The chalk holder of claim 3 wherein the spring is interposed between at least two of the stop surfaces urging the members in one axial direction.

5. The chalk holder of claim 4 wherein at least a first of the stop surfaces includes a radially inwardly extending projection on the inner surface of the outer member which projects into an axial slot in the inner member and wherein another of the stop members compromises an axial end of the slot.

6. Chalk holder comprising inner and outer axially movable members, the outer member being hollow having an inner surface defining an interior, a stop surface positioned interior of the outer member, a stop surface on the inner member interior of the outer member, the inner and outer members stop surfaces being in opposition to one another, the stop surfaces effective to limit relative axial movement of the members, wherein the inner member terminates at one end in a plurality of projecting circumferentially spaced fingers extensible from an open end of the outer member upon movement of the inner member within the outer member within the range of movement permitted by the steps stop surfaces, a spring urging the fingers into the outer member.

7. The chalk holder of claim 6 wherein the fingers act as a collet and have an interior dimension, at their distal end, less than the outer dimension of a chalk received within the holder when the fingers are withdrawn into the interior of the outer holder and a free dimension greater than the exterior dimension of the chalk when the fingers are maximally projected from the open end of the outer member.

8. The chalk holder of claim 7 including a child-proof safety cap closing an open end of the outer member.

9. A chalk holder of claim 7 wherein the chalk is prevented by the fingers from falling out of the chalk holder when the fingers are withdrawn into the interior of the outer holder.

10. A chalk holder of claim 8 wherein the cap, holder and collets are dimensioned to prevent engagement of the cap with the holder when the collet fingers are projecting from the holder with a chalk positioned in the collet.

11. A safety chalk holder comprising inner and outer telescopic holders, the inner holder adapted to receive interior thereof a chalk and having a closed end and an open end, the open end defined by a plurality of collet fingers adapted to receive and grip the chalk, the open end of the inner holder being extensible from and retractable into an open end of the outer holder, the collet fingers having a major exterior dimension greater than an interior dimension of the open end of the outer holder when a chalk is gripped by the fingers, the chalk being storable within the inner holder at a storage position spaced from the fingers, the fingers collapsible to a second exterior dimension less than the open end of the outer member when the chalk is in the storage position, and opposed abutments on the inner and outer holders limiting telescopic movement to prevent separation of the holders.

12. The chalk holder of claim 11 wherein the opposed abutments are positioned interior of the outer holder.

13. The chalk holder of claim 11 wherein the outer holder has an open end through which the collet fingers may project, the open end being closed by a child-resistant cap.

14. A safety chalk holder comprising a housing member having an opening extending therethrough between open ends, a chalk holder received in the opening having a first closed end projecting from one open end of the housing member, the chalk holder having an internal cavity adapted to receive a chalk, a second end of the chalk holder forming a chalk engaging collet for grasping a peripheral surface of the chalk when the chalk is positioned at the second end, the collet being projectable from and withdrawable through a second of the open ends of the housing member, the second of the open ends dimensioned to cooperate with the collet to constrict the collet to a dimension less than the dimension of the chalk when the collet passes through the second open end whereby the collet may not be withdrawn into the holder when chalk is present at the collet, an abutment carried by at least one of the housing and holder interior of the housing effective to limit movement of the holder within the opening to prevent the holder from being withdrawn entirely through either open end of the housing and means urging the collet into the holder.

15. A chalk holder consisting of telescoping inner and outer cylindrical members with the innermost member having a first end terminating in a plurality of flexible fingers acting as a collet having an interior dimension less than the interior dimension of other portions of the interior member when the fingers are positioned interior of the outer member, a spring interposed between the inner and outer member urging the fingers in a direction to withdraw the fingers into the outer member, a chalk in the inner member having a dimension greater than the interior dimension of the fingers when the fingers are withdrawn into the outer member whereby the chalk cannot fall out of the holder when the holder is positioned collet end down.

16. Chalk holder comprising inner and outer axially movable members, a stop surface interior of the outer member, a stop surface on the inner member, the inner and outer members stop surfaces being in opposition to one another, the stop surfaces effective to limit relative axial movement of the members, the outer member having a radially inwardly projecting stop surface and the inner member having an axial slot receiving the inwardly projecting stop surface engageable with an axial end of the slot, the inner member comprising a receiving body for a chalk and a resilient member urging the inner member into the outer member.