A Tiny Travel Tool for Crossword Fans: 123Invent Unveils the MHO-629 Pocket Puzzle Holder

Small gadget, simple promise: a neater way to do crosswords anywhere

123Invent introduced a compact crossword accessory called the MHO-629 in a press release this week. The announcement, distributed through PR Newswire on the day of the launch, describes the MHO-629 as a pocket-sized holder that keeps puzzle pages secure and provides a tidy surface for writing while traveling. “We built the MHO-629 because we wanted to make crosswords easier to enjoy outside the house,” the release quoted the inventor as saying. “It’s light, durable and fits in a jacket pocket or a small bag—so puzzles stop being messy and start being fun again.”

The news is aimed at puzzle fans, frequent travelers and people who like small, useful gifts. The product is presented as a low-cost, low-tech answer to a simple problem: how to keep a loose newspaper or magazine open and writable while you’re on a bus, in a café, or waiting at an airport gate.

How the MHO-629 looks and works

The MHO-629 is described as a slim, folding board roughly the size of a paperback book when closed. It uses a soft, grippy clip system along one edge to hold a single sheet or a thin booklet in place. The published description highlights three practical design choices: a hard but lightweight back panel to create a steady writing surface, a low-profile elastic clip to keep pages from slipping, and rounded corners so it slides into bags easily.

Materials named in the release include a recycled plastic back for strength and a fabric-covered interior to protect ink and paper. The device folds flat for storage, and a small elastic loop holds a pencil or slim pen. The pitch is simple: you get a steady, no-fuss surface for writing without adding bulk or weight to your luggage. The MHO-629 is meant to work with standard newspaper broadsheets folded in half, puzzle booklets and loose single-page crosswords.

What sets it apart, according to the release, is the focus on portability and minimalism. It’s not a fancy clipboard or an electronic gadget—its appeal is that it does one job well and disappears into your bag when you don’t need it.

The person who made it and why

The inventor behind the MHO-629 is identified in the release as the founder of 123Invent, a small product design company. The piece describes a straightforward backstory: long train commutes and crowded cafe tables led to frustration with floppy newspapers and smudged ink, so the inventor sketched a simple folding board and built a prototype in a local workshop. “I wanted something I could keep in my coat pocket and pull out whenever a crossword caught my eye,” the release quotes the inventor saying, adding that the prototype was refined after feedback from friends and a few test runs on trips.

The company says the design is patent pending and that early prototypes were tested for comfort and durability. The release frames the MHO-629 as the kind of small invention that begins as a personal fix and then becomes a product for other people with the same tiny annoyance.

Who might buy the MHO-629 and where it fits on shelves

The MHO-629 is aimed squarely at a few clear groups: crossword and puzzle fans, commuters and travelers who like to keep their hands busy, and shoppers hunting for affordable stocking-stuffer gifts. Retail channels mentioned in the release include online marketplaces, independent bookstores and specialty gift shops—places that already sell puzzles, stationery and travel accessories.

Compared with bulkier travel writing boards or dedicated puzzle books with hardbacks, the MHO-629 tries to win on price and convenience. The release suggests a modest retail price, positioning the product as an impulse buy rather than a serious investment. That makes sense: the market for novelty but useful tools is crowded, and the MHO-629’s chance of standing out depends on simple usability and in-store visibility more than on dramatic tech or features.

When you can get one and what comes next

According to the release, the MHO-629 will be available for pre-order directly from 123Invent’s website and through selected retailers later this month, with wider shipping to follow. The company plans to show the product at a few regional gift and stationery trade shows in the coming season and says it is open to licensing conversations with larger distributors.

The press material includes contact information for orders and press inquiries, and it invites retailers to request bulk pricing. For buyers, the simplest takeaway is this: if you like small, practical travel items and enjoy puzzles, the MHO-629 looks like a modest, sensible add-on for your bag. It won’t replace a full puzzle desk, but it might save you from wrestling with paper while you wait.

Sources

• prnewswire.com