Pen tray
The pen tray with a magnetic attachment and V-shaped design with an inclined rising region stabilizes pens and ensures easy access, addressing the challenges of attachment and visibility in tilted configurations.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- KOKUYO CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-26
AI Technical Summary
Existing pen trays for whiteboards are cumbersome to attach and detach, and pens are prone to sliding or falling when the tray is tilted, compromising usability and visibility.
A pen tray with a magnetically attachable mounting substrate and a pen receiving plate that extends from the substrate, featuring a V-shaped design with a central lower portion and smoothly curved halves, and an inclined rising region, ensuring pens remain stable and visible even when tilted.
The pen tray allows easy attachment and detachment, prevents pens from falling, and maintains visibility, enhancing user-friendliness and usability.
Smart Images
Figure 2026105136000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a pen tray used by being attached to a display board such as a whiteboard.
Background Art
[0002] As a pen tray that can be detachably attached to a whiteboard or the like, for example, the one disclosed in the following Non-Patent Document 1 is known. This pen tray is a box-shaped tray in which an openable lid (cover) is attached to a pen receiving plate extending in the left-right direction, and a plurality of pens and tools such as lasers can be placed on the pen receiving plate. When the lid is closed, these pens and the like can be stably held and stored.
[0003] However, since such a tray is openable and closable and has a box shape, there is a desire for the appearance of a product that is simpler and pursues better visibility of pens and easier attachment and detachment, etc., from users who are forced to quickly take out pens and frequently change the attachment position.
[0004] As a pen tray that attempts to meet such requirements, for example, an angled one including a rectangular mounting substrate that can be detachably attached to the surface of a whiteboard and a pen receiving plate that extends from the lower edge of this mounting substrate in the direction away from the whiteboard can be considered.
[0005] However, such a configuration has a problem in usability that if it is attached to the surface of a whiteboard in a slightly tilted state, the pen is likely to fall to the side because both left and right ends are open.
[0006] That is, in such a configuration, if it is attached in a posture tilted to the left or right on the board surface, there is a concern that the placed pens or the like will slide or roll and fall to the side from the pen receiving plate. Therefore, when attaching the pen tray to the board surface or changing the attachment position of the pen tray (especially when moving it with pens or the like placed on it), it must be adjusted so that the pen tray is surely in a horizontal posture, which is cumbersome and not user-friendly in this regard. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]
[0007] [Non-Patent Document 1] "Whiteboard-related products: Marker trays," KOKUYO General Catalog 2018, Furniture Edition, KOKUYO Co., Ltd., published December 2017, p. 503. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]
[0008] The present invention aims to provide a user-friendly pen tray that can be easily attached to and detached from a display board, and that makes it easy to see and remove pens and other tools placed on it. [Means for solving the problem]
[0009] The pen tray according to claim 1 is detachably attached to the surface of a display board and comprises a mounting substrate that can be magnetically attracted to the display board and a pen receiving plate extending from the mounting substrate in the direction away from the display board, wherein the pen receiving plate has a shape in which, in a basic position where the left and right ends are at the same height, the central part in the left-right direction is lower than the left and right ends.
[0010] The pen tray according to claim 2 has the pen receiving plate extending from the lower edge of the mounting substrate.
[0011] The pen tray according to claim 3 has a form in which the pen receiving plate is made up of a left half and a right half connected by a smoothly curved central portion.
[0012] The pen tray according to claim 4 has an intersection angle between the left half and the right half set to 120 to 160 degrees. The reason for setting this angle range is that if the intersection angle is set to a value less than 120 degrees, pens and the like placed on the left or right half of the pen holder are likely to fall to the side, and if the intersection angle is set to a value greater than 160 degrees, pens and the like placed on the pen holder will stand up instead of lying down, making them more likely to tip forward or reducing the number of pens that can be stored.
[0013] The pen tray according to claim 5 comprises a pen receiving plate having a base region extending from the mounting substrate in the direction away from the display board, and an inclined rising region extending from the extended end of the base region in the direction away from the display board while gradually rising.
[0014] The pen tray according to claim 6 has the angle of intersection of the inclined raised area with respect to the base area set to 140 to 170 degrees. The reason for setting this angle range is that if the intersection angle is set to a value less than 140 degrees, pens and the like placed on the pen holder plate are more likely to fall forward, and if the intersection angle is set to a value greater than 170 degrees, it becomes difficult for the user (especially a user seated in a chair) to see the pens and the like placed on the pen holder plate.
[0015] The pen tray according to claim 7 is configured such that the inclined rising region of the pen receiving plate, when the mounting substrate is attached to the display board, gradually rises toward the opposite direction from the display board.
[0016] The pen tray according to claim 8 is mounted on a rearward-tilting display board, and the relative angle between the mounting substrate and the pen receiving plate is set to an obtuse angle. [Effects of the Invention]
[0017] According to the present invention, a user-friendly pen tray can be easily attached to and detached from a display board, making it easy to see and remove pens and other tools placed on it. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0018] [Figure 1] Perspective view showing a pentray according to an embodiment of the present invention and a display board to which the pentray is attached. [Figure 2] Side view showing the pentray and the display board of the embodiment. [Figure 3] Front view of the pentray of the embodiment. [Figure 4] Rear view of the pentray of the embodiment. [Figure 5] Side view of the pentray of the embodiment. [Figure 6] Plan view of the pentray of the embodiment. [Figure 7] Bottom view of the pentray of the embodiment. [Figure 8] Cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 3 of the pentray of the embodiment. [Figure 9] Front view of the pentray of the embodiment with the mounting substrate standing vertically. [Figure 10] Cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 9 of the pentray of the embodiment. [Figure 11] Perspective view showing an example of use of the pentray of the embodiment. [Figure 12] Cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 10 showing another embodiment of the present invention.
Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention
[0019] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pentray 1 of this embodiment is mainly for placing a pen 5 such as a marker pen, and is detachably attached to a display board 4 typified by a whiteboard. Note that the pentray 1 of this embodiment is provided with a configuration for attaching to a display board 4 used in a reclined posture.
[0020] Generally, the surface of the display board 4 is made of metal. On the surface of the display board 4, writing can be done using a pen 5, the written content can be erased using an eraser, and sheets of paper can be attached or stuck using magnets. In this embodiment, a magnet 21 is embedded in the pen tray 1, and its magnetic force allows the pen tray 1 to be attracted and attached to any position on the surface of the display board 4. Furthermore, it is easy to move the pen tray 1 on the surface while a pen 5 or the like is placed on it.
[0021] The display board 4 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is tilted backward (approximately 30 degrees from vertical in the illustrated example). Figures 3 to 8 show the pen tray 1 tilted backward to match the angle of the display board 4. Figures 9 and 10 show the pen tray 1 upright and vertically without tilting backward.
[0022] The pen tray 1 of this embodiment comprises a mounting base plate 2 that can be magnetically attached to the surface of the display board 4, and a pen receiving plate 3 that extends from the lower edge of the mounting base plate 2 in the direction away from the display board, in other words, towards the user. As shown in Figure 11, a tool such as a pen 5 can be placed on the pen receiving plate 3. As shown in Figures 4, 7, 8, and 10, a magnet 21 that generates magnetic force is provided on the back of the mounting base plate 2 facing the surface of the display board 4.
[0023] As shown in Figures 3, 5 to 11, the pen holder plate 3 has a roughly V-shape when viewed from the front, with its left and right ends 31 and 35 at the same height in its basic orientation, and its central part 33 in the left-right direction being lower than the left and right ends 31 and 35. The left half 32 and the right half 34 of the pen holder plate 3 are continuous and smoothly curved at the central part 33 where they intersect. As shown in Figure 9, when viewed from a direction directly facing the mounting substrate 2, the intersection angle θ1 of the left half 32 and the right half 34 is set to a value between 120 and 160 degrees, preferably around 142 degrees. This causes the pens 5 and the like placed on the pen holder plate 3 to gather towards the central part 33, and also prevents the placed pens 5 and the like from falling off the sides of the pen holder plate 3 even if the pen tray 1 attached to the surface of the display board 4 is tilted slightly to the left or right. Incidentally, the front view shape of the mounting board 2 is also roughly V-shaped to match the pen holder plate 3.
[0024] In Figures 8 and 10, the left side shows cross-sectional views of the pen tray 1 along lines AA and BB, respectively, while the right side schematically shows the inclination angles of the mounting substrate 2 and the base region 36 and inclined rise region 37 of the pen receiving plate 3 of the pen tray 1 with thick lines. Figure 8 is a side cross-sectional view obtained by cutting the pen tray 1, which has a symmetrical shape, in half at its central portion 33, and Figure 10 is a side cross-sectional view obtained by cutting at a cross section perpendicular to the direction of expansion of the left half 32 (or the right half 34, which extends upward and to the right from the central portion 33) that extends upward and to the left from the central portion 33. In the side cross-sectional view shown in Figure 8 or Figure 10, the relative angle θ3 at which the vertically extending mounting substrate 2 and the base region 36 of the pen receiving plate 3, which is connected to it and extends forward from there, intersect is set to an obtuse angle greater than 90 degrees, preferably approximately 118 degrees. However, the schematic diagram shown by the thick line on the right side of Figure 8, as mentioned above, shows the framework of pen tray 1 without filleting (rounding), and shares the same reference numerals as the cross-sectional view on the left side.
[0025] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the pen holder plate 3 includes a base region 36 extending from the mounting substrate 2 in the direction away from the display board, i.e., forward, and an inclined rising region 37 extending in the direction away from the display board while gradually rising from the extended end, i.e., the front end, of the base region 36. In the side cross-sectional view shown in Figure 10, the intersection angle θ2 between the rear part of the base region 36 extending forward from the mounting substrate 2 and the front part of the inclined rising region 37 extending forward and upward from the base region 36 is set to a value between 140 and 170 degrees, preferably approximately 140 degrees. The angles θ2 and θ3 described above are determined to prevent the pen 5, etc., placed on the pen holder plate 3 from falling forward, and to allow the pen 5, etc., placed on the pen holder plate 3 to be easily visible to a user in front of the display board 4 (especially a user seated in a chair). However, the schematic diagram shown by the thick line on the right side of Figure 10, as mentioned above, shows the framework of the pen tray 1 without filleting (rounding), and shares the same reference numerals as the cross-sectional view on the left side.
[0026] In this embodiment, the pen tray 1 is detachably attached to the surface of the display board 4 and comprises a mounting substrate 2 that can be magnetically attracted to the display board 4 and a pen receiving plate 3 that extends from the mounting substrate 2 in the direction away from the display board, wherein the pen receiving plate 3 has a configuration in which, in a basic position where the left and right ends 31 and 35 are at the same height, the central part 33 in the left-right direction is lower than the left and right ends 31 and 35.
[0027] Therefore, according to this embodiment, a user-friendly pen tray 1 can be easily attached to and detached from the display board 4, and the pens 5 and other items placed on it can be easily seen and removed.
[0028] In particular, with this pen tray 1, as long as the pen tray is in a position from the left-leaning limit position where the left end 31 of the pen receiving plate 3 is at the same height as the central part 33, to the right-leaning limit position where the right end 35 of the pen receiving plate 3 is at the same height as the central part 33, there is no risk of the pen 5, etc., on the pen receiving plate 2 falling to the side due to gravity. Therefore, even if the pen tray 1 is tilted slightly to the left or right, the pen 5, etc. placed on it will not fall off the side of the pen receiving plate 3.
[0029] The pen holder plate 3 has a shape in which the left half 32 and the right half 34 are continuous via a smoothly curved central portion 33, and the intersection angle θ1 between the left half 32 and the right half 34 is set to 120 to 160 degrees. As a result, pens 5 and the like placed on the pen holder plate 3 are less likely to fall off to the side, while still allowing a large number of pens 5 and the like to be placed and stored on the pen holder plate 3.
[0030] The pen holder plate 3 comprises a base region 36 extending from the mounting substrate 2 in the direction away from the display board, and an inclined rising region 37 extending from the extended end of the base region 36 in the direction away from the display board while gradually rising, with the intersection angle θ2 of the inclined rising region 37 with respect to the base region 36 set to 140 to 170 degrees. As a result, when the mounting substrate 2 is mounted on the display board 4 which is tilted backward, the inclined rising region 37 of the pen holder plate 3 gradually rises in the direction away from the display board. Therefore, the pen 5 or the like placed on the pen holder plate 3 is less likely to fall forward, yet the user can easily see the pen 5 or the like. The fact that the relative angle θ3 between the mounting substrate 2 and the pen holder plate 3 is set to an obtuse angle also contributes to the above-mentioned visibility.
[0031] Furthermore, the points where the mounting substrate 2 and the base region 36 of the pen receiving plate 3 intersect, and where the base region 36 extending forward from the mounting substrate 2 intersects with the inclined raised region 37, are smoothly curved and continuous, so that the pen 5 or the like placed on it can be smoothly removed without getting caught while pressing it against the base region 36 with your fingers.
[0032] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from its spirit.
[0033] For example, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 11, the relative angle θ3 between the mounting substrate 2 and the pen receiving plate 3 was set to an obtuse angle. However, as in the other embodiment shown in Figure 12, the relative angle θ3 between the mounting substrate 2 and the pen receiving plate 3 may be set to an acute angle of 90 degrees or less.
[0034] Here, Figure 12 corresponds to Figure 10 and is a side cross-sectional view taken at a cross-section perpendicular to the direction of expansion of the left half 32 that extends upward and to the left from the central part 33 of the pen receiving plate 3. The pen tray 1 of the other embodiment shown in Figure 12 differs from the pen tray 1 of one embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 11 only in the relative angle θ3 between the mounting substrate 2 and the pen receiving plate 3, and the same reference numerals are used for the part corresponding to the pen tray 1 of one embodiment, and their description is omitted.
[0035] However, as another embodiment of the present invention, the pen tray 1 shown in Figure 12 is suitable for use attached to the surface of a display board that is upright and not tilted backward.
[0036] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the pen receiving plate 3 extended from the lower edge of the mounting substrate 2 in the direction away from the display board, but the pen receiving plate 3 may also extend from a part other than the lower edge of the mounting substrate 2, for example, from the middle part or the upper edge in the vertical direction. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0037] 1…Pen tray 2…Mounting board 21…Magnet 3...Pen holder 31...Left end 32...Left half 33...Central part 34...Right half 35...Right end 36...Base region 37…Sloping rise area 4…Display board 5... Pen θ1…Angle of intersection between the left and right halves θ2…Angle of intersection between the base region and the inclined rising region θ3…Relative angle between the mounting base plate and the pen holder plate
Claims
1. A pen tray that can be detachably attached to the surface of a display board, The device comprises a mounting substrate that can be magnetically attached to the display board, and a pen holder extending from the mounting substrate in the direction away from the display board. A pen tray in which, in a basic orientation where the left and right ends of the pen holder are at the same height, the central part in the left-right direction is lower than the left and right ends.
2. The pen tray according to claim 1, wherein the pen receiving plate extends from the lower edge of the mounting substrate.
3. The pen tray according to claim 1, wherein the pen receiving plate has a form in which the left half and the right half are continuous via a smoothly curved central portion.
4. The pen tray according to claim 3, wherein the intersection angle between the left half and the right half is set to 120 degrees to 160 degrees.
5. The pen tray according to claim 1, wherein the pen receiving plate comprises a base region extending from the mounting substrate in the direction away from the display board, and an inclined rising region extending from the extended end of the base region in the direction away from the display board while gradually rising.
6. The pen tray according to claim 5, wherein the intersection angle of the inclined rising region with respect to the base region is set to 140 degrees to 170 degrees.
7. The pen tray according to claim 5, wherein the inclined rising region of the pen receiving plate is set to gradually rise toward the opposite direction of the display board when the mounting substrate is attached to the display board.
8. The pen tray according to claim 7, wherein the display board is tilted backward, and the relative angle between the mounting substrate and the pen receiving plate is set to an obtuse angle.