Balancing holder for writing instrument

Abstract

A balancing holder or stand for a pen or other writing instrument includes a parabolic, paraboloid, or substantially parabolic bottom surface, an outer ring, an upper surface, and, optionally, an upper element extending from the upper surface and a top surface. A writing instrument may be inserted into the stand through an opening to a chamber or reservoir, which in various embodiments can be flat or slanted and may extend straight downward or at an angle downward. In various embodiments, surfaces of the upper surface, upper element, and top surface can be flat, angled, curved, or a combination thereof.

1 . A holder for a writing instrument, comprising an upper portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion including a bottom surface, and the upper portion including an upper surface extending from an outer ring, 
 the outer ring defining a junction between the bottom portion and the upper portion;    the upper portion defining an opening of a chamber;    the chamber extending downward from the opening into the holder;    a vertical cross-section of the upper portion and the bottom portion from the bottom point of the bottom surface through the center point of the outer ring having approximately a point at the junction of the upper portion and the bottom portion; and    a vertical cross-section of the bottom surface from the bottom point of the bottom surface to an outer diameter of the outer ring being continuous and substantially parabolic.    
   
   
       2 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface is a paraboloid.  
   
   
       3 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface is a curve bounded by y=x 2 /a, where a is approximately 58 mm.  
   
   
       4 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface is curved.  
   
   
       5 . The holder of  claim 4 , wherein the upper surface curves upward in a convex curve beginning at the outer ring.  
   
   
       6 . The holder of  claim 4 , wherein the curved upper surface flattens at the top.  
   
   
       7 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface is slanted.  
   
   
       8 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface changes shape.  
   
   
       9 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein an inner edge of the upper surface defines an inner ring, wherein the inner ring defines an upper boundary of a surface curved toward the bottom surface.  
   
   
       10 . The holder of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper element, the upper element extending upward from the upper surface.  
   
   
       11 . The holder of  claim 10 , wherein the upper element is approximately in the shape of the frustum of a cone.  
   
   
       12 . The holder of  claim 10 , wherein the upper element is approximately in the shape of a section of a sphere bounded by two parallel planes.  
   
   
       13 . The holder of  claim 10 , wherein the upper element has a top surface and a base, the top surface being at an angle with respect to a plane through the base of the upper element.  
   
   
       14 . The holder of  claim 10 , wherein the upper element meets the upper surface at an upper junction, and wherein the upper junction is curved.  
   
   
       15 . The holder of  claim 10 , wherein the upper element is not centered on the upper surface.  
   
   
       16 . The holder of  claim 10 , wherein the chamber extends downward from the opening into the upper element.  
   
   
       17 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion includes a top surface, the top surface being the surface furthest above the bottom surface.  
   
   
       18 . The holder of  claim 17 , wherein the top surface is slanted.  
   
   
       19 . The holder of  claim 17 , wherein the top surface defines the opening of the chamber.  
   
   
       20 . The holder of  claim 19 , wherein the opening of the chamber is slanted.  
   
   
       21 . The holder of  claim 17 , wherein the top surface is curved.  
   
   
       22 . The holder of  claim 17 , wherein the top surface is continuous with the structure below it.  
   
   
       23 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is slanted.  
   
   
       24 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is partially hollow.  
   
   
       25 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber extends at an angle downward.  
   
   
       26 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface and the bottom surface have substantially the same degree of curvature.  
   
   
       27 . A kit, comprising a writing instrument and a holder, the holder comprising an upper portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion including a bottom surface, and the upper portion including an upper surface extending from an outer ring, 
 the outer ring defining a junction between the bottom portion and the upper portion;    the upper portion defining an opening of a chamber;    the chamber extending downward from the opening into the holder;    a vertical cross-section of the upper portion and the bottom portion from the bottom point of the bottom surface through the center point of the outer ring having approximately a point at the junction of the upper portion and the bottom portion; and    a vertical cross-section of the bottom surface from the bottom point of the bottom surface to an outermost diameter of the outer ring being continuous and substantially parabolic, and    a writing instrument sized so that a portion of the instrument is removably insertable into the opening of the chamber.    
   
   
       28 . The kit of  claim 27 , wherein the holder is formed integrally with a cap for the writing instrument.  
   
   
       29 . The kit of  claim 27 , wherein the writing instrument is substantially vertical when inserted into the opening of the chamber and the bottom surface of the holder is placed on a horizontal supporting surface.  
   
   
       30 . The kit of  claim 27 , wherein the holder further comprises an upper element.  
   
   
       31 . A holder for a writing instrument, comprising a bottom surface, an upper surface, an outer ring, an upper element, and a top surface, 
 the outer ring defining a junction between the bottom surface and the upper surface;    the upper surface being a continuous curve ending at an upper junction between the upper surface and the upper element;    the upper element extending upward from the upper junction ending at a junction with the top surface,    the top surface defining an opening of a chamber for a writing instrument,    the chamber extending downward from the opening in the top surface into the holder; and    a vertical cross-section of the bottom surface from the bottom point of the bottom surface to an outer diameter of the outer ring being substantially parabolic.