Marker holster

Abstract

A marker holster includes an elongate tubular housing and a fastening member attached to the housing for removably securing the housing to an article. The housing has an upper end defining a marker opening and an opposed end. A generally open interior space extends between the marker opening and the opposed end for receiving a capped or uncapped marker. An inner surface of the housing defines an elongate slot and a locking chamber in communication with the elongate slot for selectively retaining the marker's cap in the housing, and thereby holding the attached marker. The marker may be removed from the retained marker cap and the holster by pulling the marker upwardly. A surrogate cap is nested in the housing proximate the opposed end for selectively receiving the uncapped marker's writing tip, and thereby clutching the marker. The marker may be removed from the holster by pulling the marker upwardly.

1 . A marker holster for use with a capped or uncapped marker having a writing tip, said marker holster comprising: 
 an elongate tubular housing having an upper end defining a marker opening and an opposed end with a generally open interior space extending between said marker opening and said opposed end for receiving said capped or uncapped marker; and    a fastening member attached to said tubular housing for removably securing said tubular housing to an article.    
   
   
       2 . The marker holster as in  claim 1 , further comprising a surrogate cap nested in said tubular housing proximate said opposed end thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The marker holster as in  claim 2 , wherein said surrogate cap defines an internal channel having a configuration complementary to a configuration of said uncapped marker writing tip for selectively receiving said uncapped marker writing tip.  
   
   
       4 . The marker holster as in  claim 3 , wherein said tubular housing includes an inner surface defining an elongate slot and a locking chamber in communication with said elongate slot for selectively retaining said capped marker in said tubular housing.  
   
   
       5 . The marker holster as in  claim 2 , wherein said surrogate cap includes a continuous and generally upstanding channel wall having a generally annular configuration for selectively receiving said uncapped marker writing tip.  
   
   
       6 . The marker holster as in  claim 5 , wherein: 
 an upper end of said channel wall includes a beveled configuration for guiding said uncapped marker writing tip into an internal channel defined by said channel wall.    
   
   
       7 . The marker holster as in  claim 2 , wherein said tubular housing includes an inner surface defining an elongate slot having upper and lower ends for selectively receiving a clip member of a marker cap, said elongate slot having a generally linear configuration and extending from said marker opening generally to a point proximate said opposed end of said tubular housing.  
   
   
       8 . The marker holster as in  claim 7 , wherein said tubular housing inner surface defines a locking chamber positioned adjacent a side of said elongate slot for selectively receiving said clip member and selectively retaining said clip member in a locked position in said locking chamber such that a user may twist said clip member between a free position in said elongate slot and said locked position in said locking chamber.  
   
   
       9 . The marker holster as in  claim 8 , wherein: 
 a lower edge of said locking chamber is positioned proximate said lower end of said elongate slot; and    an upper edge of said locking chamber is offset from said upper end of said tubular housing and includes a configuration for preventing said marker cap from being removed from said tubular housing when said clip member is at said locked position.    
   
   
       10 . The marker holster as in  claim 7 , wherein said tubular housing inner surface defines a cap guide positioned at said upper end of said elongate slot for guiding said clip member into said elongate slot.  
   
   
       11 . The marker holster as in  claim 1 , further comprising a gasket positioned proximate said tubular housing upper end for preventing debris from collecting in said open interior space.  
   
   
       12 . The marker holster as in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 an inner surface of said fastening member defines a notched configuration; and    an outer surface of said tubular housing defines a notched configuration complementary to said notched configuration of said fastening member for cooperatively securing said tubular housing to said article.    
   
   
       13 . A marker holster for use with a marker having a writing tip and a selectively removable marker cap with a clip member attached thereto, said marker holster comprising: 
 an elongate tubular housing having an upper end defining a marker opening and an opposed end with a generally open interior space extending between said marker opening and said opposed end for receiving the marker; and    a fastening member attached to said tubular housing for selectively securing said tubular housing to an article.    
   
   
       14 . The marker holster as in  claim 13 , further comprising a surrogate cap nested in said tubular housing proximate said opposed end thereof, said surrogate cap defining an internal channel having a configuration complementary to a configuration of the marker writing tip for selectively receiving the marker writing tip when the marker cap is removed.  
   
   
       15 . The marker holster as in  claim 14 , wherein said tubular housing includes an inner surface defining an elongate slot having upper and lower ends and having a configuration complimentary to a configuration of the clip member for selectively receiving the clip member, said elongate slot having a generally linear configuration and extending from said marker opening to a point proximate said opposed end of said tubular housing.  
   
   
       16 . The marker holster as in  claim 15 , wherein said tubular housing inner surface defines a locking chamber positioned adjacent to and in communication with said elongate slot such that said clip member may be selectively moved between a free position along said elongate slot and a locked position in said locking chamber upon a selective twisting action applied to said clip member.  
   
   
       17 . A marker holster for use with a marker having a writing tip and a selectively removable marker cap with a clip member, said marker holster comprising: 
 an elongate tubular housing defining a marker opening for receiving the marker cap-end first and a closed end opposite said marker opening, said tubular housing having an inner surface defining an elongate slot extending between said marker opening and a point proximate said closed end;    wherein said elongate slot includes a configuration complementary to a configuration of said marker cap clip member for selectively receiving said marker cap clip member therein;    a surrogate cap nested in said tubular housing proximate said closed end thereof; and    a fastening member attached to said tubular housing for selectively securing said tubular housing to an article.    
   
   
       18 . The marker holster as in  claim 17 , wherein said tubular housing inner surface defines a retaining indention in communication with said elongate slot such that the marker cap clip member is selectively movable between a free position in said elongate slot and a locked position in said retaining indention.  
   
   
       19 . The marker holster as in  claim 18 , wherein said retaining indention includes an upper edge displaced from said marker opening, said upper edge of said retaining indention having a configuration that prevents the marker cap clip member from being removed through said marker opening when said marker cap clip member is at said locked position.  
   
   
       20 . The marker holster as in  claim 19 , wherein said tubular housing inner surface defines a cap guide positioned at an upper end of said elongate slot for guiding said marker cap clip member into said elongate slot.