Patent Application
20080008518
Embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Flexible vanes 22 are provided to enable inner cavity 18 to releasably retain writing utensils of varying cross-sectional sizes and shapes. Pencil 200 may be rotated during insertion relative to housing 14 to ease reception. In a similar manner, pencil 200 may be rotated relative to housing 14 to ease release. A clip (not shown) may be affixed to housing 14 to provide facility for a user to clip writing utensil accessory 10 to clothing or another article, in a known manner.
A paper roll 12 includes a cardboard tube 13 around which is wound a strip of paper. Cardboard tube 13 has an inner diameter that corresponds generally with the outer diameter of cylindrical body 33 of spool 32, in order that cardboard tube 13 of paper roll 12 may receive cylindrical body 33 in an interference fit so that during use as will be described paper roll 12 and spool 32 may rotate in unison.
Housing 14 further includes an outer cavity 16 defined by inner wall 20 and the perimeter wall 24 of housing 14. Outer cavity 16 is dimensioned to receive paper roll 12 on spool 32 such that spool cavity 34 receives inner wall 20 as spool 32 is received in outer cavity 16. The cross-sectional size of spool cavity 34 is sufficiently larger than the cross-section of inner wall 20 to permit relative rotation of spool 32 and housing 14, as will be described.
When received by outer cavity 16 of housing 14, ridge 40 of spool 32 snaps into groove 42 of housing 14 to releasably couple housing 14 and spool 32 but to permit their relative rotation. Knob 36 is accessible external to housing 14 to permit a user to rotate spool 32.
A slot 28 is provided through perimeter wall 24 into outer cavity 16 to provide a passage through which paper from paper roll 12 may be fed out of housing 14. A grommet 30 is received by slot 28 and has rounded edges to reduce wear on paper as it is fed and withdrawn.
It will be noted that due to housing 14 having an outer cavity 16 and an inner cavity 18, pencil 200 is generally isolated from outer cavity 16 when received by inner cavity 18. Pencil 200 therefore does not rotate when spool 32 is rotating relative to housing 14.
During use, a user feeds out a quantum of paper, releases pencil 200 from inner cavity 18, and uses pencil 200 to write a note on the paper. When finished, the user re-inserts pencil 200 into inner cavity 18 and uses knob 36 to roll up the paper thereby to withdraw the paper through slot 28. Pencil 200 may be removed prior to feeding and replaced after withdrawing as desired.
Writing utensil accessory 10 may be formed of plastic, metal, ceramic or a combination of these or any other suitable materials. It will be understood that when constructed according to the embodiment described above, that some parts may need to deform relative to each other. For example, when ridge 40 of cap 38 is to be inserted into or removed from outer cavity 16, one or more of cap 38, ridge 40 and outer cavity 16 will need to temporarily slightly deform. Also, inner wall 20 and the wall of spool cavity 34 during relative rotation causing interference will be temporarily slightly deformed. As such, the materials that work together in the manners described above should be chosen such that one or the other (or both) be deformable but resilient. The particulars of material selection for writing utensils and similar accessories are well understood in the arts of manufacturing and industrial design.
Each of spool 32 and housing 14 of writing utensil accessory 10 may respectively be formed of single pieces of plastic. Alternatively, housing 14 may be formed of metal or ceramic and spool 32 of plastic. Yet another alternative is to assemble spool 32 using several pieces, such that cap 38 and knob 36 are formed of metal, ridge 40 of rubber or plastic, and cylindrical body 33 formed of plastic. This final alternative would provide a metal exterior to writing utensil accessory 10, yet provide it with resiliently deformable parts to work as described. Other materials and ways of connecting the various parts (such as by using threading for the cap in some manner rather than a rotatable snap fit) may be contemplated.
The paper on paper roll 12 is advantageously re-usable. It is therefore preferable that the paper be made of a durable material that also supports writing and erasing of pencil and/or pen markings. Once such material is mylar. Furthermore, in practice, the mylar shape memory advantageously enables it to be shaped with a wing during manufacture or even by a user such that, should its end be fully withdrawn through slot 28, it may easily be fed again through slot 28.
While octagonal cross-sectional shapes for inner wall 20 and the wall of spool cavity 34 are described, it will be understood that alternative shapes may be employed. For example, square cross-sections may be used and sizes chosen such that there are only four (4) clicks per full rotation. Fewer and greater numbers of sides of the cross-sectional polygonal shapes may be chosen. However, preferably the polygonal shapes are regular polygons to ensure that clicks are the same rotational distance apart.
An alternative to the cooperating cross-sectional shapes is to include vanes or other protrusions within spool cavity 34 or on the outside of inner wall 20 to cooperate with like vanes on the other, or with a polygonal cross-sectional shape on the other. Various configurations for achieving the interference with ergonomically appealing effect are possible.
Spool 72 includes a short generally cylindrical body 74, a cap 80 and a knob 78 protruding from cap 80. A ridge 82 protrudes from the perimeter of cap 80 for assembly of writing utensil accessory 50 as will be described.
A button 79 receives knob 78 in snap-fit so as to permit relative rotation of button 79 and knob 78 during use of accessory 50, as will be described.
Paper roll 52 includes a cardboard tube 53 around which is wound a strip of paper. Cardboard tube 53 has an inner diameter that corresponds generally with the outer diameter of cylindrical body 74 of spool 72, in order that cardboard tube 53 of paper roll 52 may receive cylindrical body 74 in an interference fit so that during use as will be described paper roll 52 and spool 72 may rotate in unison.
Housing 54 has an inner cavity 58 into which pencil 200 is releasably received. Inner cavity 58 is defined by an inner wall 60, protruding from which into inner cavity 58 are flexible vanes 62 for facilitating a releasable interference fit with pencil 200. Pencil 200 may be rotated during insertion relative to housing 54 to ease reception. In a similar manner, pencil 200 may be rotated relative to housing 54 to ease release. A clip (not shown) may be affixed to housing 54 to provide facility for a user to clip writing utensil accessory 50 to clothing or another article, in a known manner.
Housing 54 further includes an outer cavity 56 defined by inner wall 60 and the perimeter wall 64 of housing 54. Outer cavity 56 is dimensioned to receive a spiral watch spring 86 such that one end of spiral watch spring 86 is fixed to housing 54. Outer cavity 56 also receives brake assembly 88. Brake assembly 88 includes a stationary brake member 90, and a rotatable brake member 96 that may be laterally reciprocated as will be described.
Stationary brake member 90 includes a cylindrical tube 92 having an inner dimension suitable for receiving inner wall 60 of housing 54 in an interference fit. Cylindrical tube 92 of stationary brake member 90 has an outer diameter suitable for cardboard tube 53 of paper roll 52 to receive cylindrical tube 92 in non-interference fit so as to permit relative rotation of paper roll 52 and stationary brake member 90. Stationary brake member 90 also includes stationary brake member teeth 93 on an end of cylindrical tube 92 facing rotatable brake member 96. An extension 94 protrudes from an opposite end of cylindrical tube in the direction of cap 80 to be rotatably received by cap 80 as generally an axis about which cap 80 may rotate, as will be described.
Rotatable brake member 96 includes a collar 98 having an inner dimension suitable for receiving inner wall 60 while permitting rotatable brake member 96 to rotate relative to inner wall 60. Collar 98 is affixed to the end of spiral watch spring 86 that is opposite to the end affixed to housing 54. Like cylindrical tube 92 of stationary brake member 90, collar 98 may be received by cardboard tube 53 of paper roll 52. However, a flange 100 having vanes 102 protruding from collar 97 retains paper roll 52 such that paper roll 52 and rotatable brake member 96 rotate in unison. Rotatable brake member 96 also includes rotatable brake member teeth 99 on an end of collar 98 facing stationary brake member 90. Rotatable brake member teeth 99 are sized and spaced similarly to stationary brake member teeth 93 to, when selectively coupled as will be described, prevent rotation of rotatable brake member 96 relative to stationary brake member 90.
When received by outer cavity 56 of housing 54, ridge 82 of spool 72 snaps into a wide groove 84 of housing 54 to releasably couple housing 54 and spool 72 but to permit their relative rotation. Button 79 on knob 78 is accessible external to housing 54 to permit a user to feed and withdraw spool 72 as will be described.
A slot 68 is provided through perimeter wall 64 into outer cavity 56 to provide a passage through which paper from paper roll 52 may be fed out of and withdrawn into housing 54. A grommet 70 is received by slot 68 and has rounded edges to reduce wear on paper as it is fed and withdrawn.
In order to feed paper through slot 68, a user grasps the end of the paper that is accessible external the housing, and presses on button 79. Pressure on button 79 causes spool 72 to push farther into outer cavity 56 to a maximum extent governed by the extent that ridge 82 on cap 80 may be moved laterally relative to widened groove 84. Spool 72 being pushed farther into outer cavity 56 in turn causes cardboard tube 53 of paper roll 52 to push rotatable brake member 96 away from stationary brake member 90 against the lateral bias of spiral watch spring 86. When teeth 93, 99 are pushed far enough apart, rotatable brake member 96, spool 72 and paper roll 52 can be rotated in unison so as to allow the user to pull paper out of slot 68. Button 79 being rotatable relative to knob 78 permits user to maintain pressure while allowing spool 72 to freely rotate.
Release of pressure on button 79 allows rotatable spring member 96 to move under the bias of spiral watch spring 86 into a position whereby teeth 99 of rotatable brake member 96 are again enmeshed with teeth 93 of stationary brake member 90. In this position, rotatable brake member 96 having in interference fit with spool 72 prevents feeding or withdrawing of paper from paper roll 52.
Spiral watch spring 86 performs another function in addition to the biasing of rotatable brake member 96 laterally into the locking position with stationary brake member 90. The additional function is to provide a rotational bias to rotatable brake member 96. Therefore, as rotatable brake member 96 is rotated during feeding of paper from paper roll 52, spiral watch spring 86 is biasing rotatable brake member 96 rotationally to a rest position corresponding to a position in which the paper is withdrawn back through slot 68.
When it is desired to withdraw the paper into housing 54 to store a note having been written, a user simply puts pressure on button 79 to causes spool 72 to push farther into outer cavity 56 to a maximum extent governed by the extent that ridge 82 on cap 80 may be moved laterally relative to widened groove 84. Spool 72 being pushed farther into outer cavity 56 in turn causes cardboard tube 53 of paper roll 52 to push rotatable brake member 96 away from stationary brake member 90 against the lateral bias of spiral watch spring 86. When teeth 93, 99 are pushed far enough apart, rotatable brake member 96, spool 72 and paper roll 52 can be rotated in unison so as to allow the user to pull paper out of slot 68. If the paper is not being grasped by the user or otherwise held, rotatable brake member 96 under bias by spiral watch spring 86 and released from the braking position rotates to its rest position thereby rotating spool 72 and paper roll 52 to the rest position and automatically withdrawing the paper through slot 68 back onto paper roll 52.
While teeth 93, 99 of stationary brake member 90 and rotatable brake member 99 have been described as, when enmeshed, suited to prevent rotation in either direction of rotatable brake member 99 relative to stationary brake member 90, other configurations are possible. For example, a releasable pawl/ratchet configuration or alternatively-shaped teeth could be provided whereby rotation without pressure on button 79 is permitted as the user pulls on the paper. In this case rotation would cause a “clicking” effect due to the mating ratchet/pawl combination or teeth, and rotation in the opposite direction would be prevented until button 79 was pressed.
Although embodiments have been described, those of skill in the art will appreciate that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.
