Patent Grant
7384207
The present invention is directed to a small implement to be held in one's hand, as might be typically used for writing, with a readily removable cartridge. Examples of such implements include writing implements such a pens and pencils, cutting implements such as knives, awls and scribes, and other hand-held implements such as brushes, cosmetics applicators, soldering devices and computer styluses.
In the past, traditional hand-held implements, such as those commonly used for writing, have generally been provided with a cylindrical shaft which is manipulated by the thumb and index finger of the user acting in conjunction with each other to control the tip of the device so as to accomplish a specified task. Additionally, the users of such traditional cylindrical shaft implements may often utilize the arch as a lever against the working thumb and index finger as a fulcrum, in order to manipulate the implement. Examples of such traditional single tip hand-held implements are writing instruments such as pens and pencils, cutting instruments such as knives and awls, tools such as soldering devices and scribes, painting instruments such as brushes, cosmetics application equipment and digitalizing contacting devices such as computer styluses. During their use, the surface of such traditional implements contacts a relatively small surface area of the user's skin.
Historically, improvements to such traditional hand-held implements concerned the mechanical aspects of the implements, such as new inks, ink flow mechanisms and delivery of the ink to the writing surface. A fundamental disadvantage of traditional implements is that they have only a single rigidly mounted working tip and the ubiquitous cylindrical shaft does not conform well to the surfaces of the user's fingers, palm or closed inner hand.
One of the least developed areas of hand-held implement design is the relationship between the grasping shape of the implement and the natural shape of the user's hand. This has a significant effect on the user's comfort and ability to control and manipulate the implement, particularly when the implement is to be used for a prolonged period of time. Conventional implements contact a relatively small proportion of the surface area of the user's fingers, leaving a large area of the thumb and fingers unused. Further, the bulk of the user's hand is not used to dissipate the physical stress that accompanies the use of the hand-held implement. This situation eventually leads to discomfort for the user over a period of use, as the rigid surfaces of the implement exert pressure (in the form of negative leverage) and friction on the user's fingers. Thus, it is advantageous that a larger percentage of the surface area of the hand and fingers which work with a hand-held implement should contribute to controlling the hand-held implement.
Prior attempts were made to modify hand-held implements to reduce discomfort and fatigue. For example, implements have been produced which have soft rubber coating materials. However, such materials tend to reduce the control of the implement in the hand and easily become soiled. Also, it has been proposed to provide hand-held implements with different concave surfaces. However, these concave surfaces have not overcome the basic problems arising from the basic idea of a cylindrical shaft oriented to extend in a direction between the thumb and index finger of the user and out away from the hand.
Rubin, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,443, described a handheld writing instrument with a similar body shape. However, Rubin's design lacks any mechanism for variably extending the implement tip from the main body and retracting the implement tip into the main body. This inability is a major disadvantage, for example, preventing a pen from being stored in a pocket without risking damage to clothing and preventing the inadvertent marking on surfaces other than the target area.
The present invention is directed to providing an ergonomic hand-held implement with a removable cartridge and a retractable tip implement.
Another object of the invention is to provide a ergonomic hand-held implement which can be held with a high degree of comfort for long periods of time with reduced fatigue of the hand. The present invention will provide an ergonomic hand-held implement which provides less friction and pressure on the contacting surfaces of the hand, thereby reducing the development of blisters or calluses on the fingers or hand, for example, along the third finger which result from friction and pressure during extended use.
Another object of the invention is to provide an ergonomic hand-held implement which allows for performing manual activity with a high degree of precision. The present invention provides an ergonomic hand-held implement of smaller dimensions, but which provides a greater proportion of it's surface in contact with the hand, thus enabling a greater degree of control and manipulation while simultaneously providing for greatly increased comfort.
The present invention accomplishes these and other objectives by providing a hand-held implement which has a cartridge and cartridge housing from which a working tool extends and retracts, for example, a pen or pencil point, independent of the structural mounting requirements of the working tip. Thus, the implement can then be provided with an ergonomically shaped body, with the body preferably having a forward surface and an opposing rearward surfaces, and contiguous and generally perpendicular thereto, first and second side surfaces. The forward, rearward, and two side surfaces define a round bulb-shaped top portion and a contiguous narrower bottom portion. The top portion is ergonomically contoured so as to be fitted within the palm of a user. One of the side surface is adapted to engage the thumb of a user and the other is adapted to engage the middle finger of the user. The forward surface is adapted to be engaged by the index finger of the user, and the surfaces are oriented so that in use the implement extends in a direction which is no further toward the user's thumb than the user's index finger. The implement is of sufficient size so that the implement fits comfortably in the palm and does not extend outside the palm of the user, such that the instrument provides a greater conformation with the contours of the thumb, second and third fingers of the hand, and the closed palm, when the implement is in the position in which the device is used. In so doing, a relatively large contact area exists between the hand and the instrument. The increased area of contact decreases the pressure at any given point of contact, and the increased area of contact also allows for greater control of the instrument. The instrument of the present invention may be advantageously used in multiple manually performed activities utilizing hand-held instruments, including for example, writing, painting, cutting, soldering, surgery, and cosmetics application by simple replacement of the cartridge.
The present invention will satisfy the above described needs yet it is an improved design over previous ergonomic designs because it incorporates a retractable tip mechanism. In the present invention, a spring loaded plunger incorporating a dual position chevron shaped cam way is advanced upon the press of a button so as to apply an axial force upon the spring loaded cartridge and thereby alternatively extend or retract the implement tip. Having the capability to retract the tip provides the user with the ability to safety and cleanly carry the implement in a pocket or other clothing article. With the tip retracted, ink would not leak onto clothing or cause inadvertent marking of clean surfaces. Moreover, if the implement is configured as a cutting tool, stylus point or other sharp pointed article, the user would now be able to retract the point to have a safe implement for transport storage or other use when exposure of the sharp tip is not required.
Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be more readily appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following detailed description as drawings.
These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The purpose of the improved hand-held implement described by the present invention is to present a working tip for the user. In the illustrated embodiments, an ink tip 13 is shown as a working tip incorporated in a pen cartridge. However, the working tip can include any one of a number of devices which require precise manual control. Examples include other writing implements such as pencils and fountain pens, the blade for a cutting implement, a brush for painting, a brush or puff for cosmetic application, a soldering tip or a contacting device such as a computer stylus.
In a preferred embodiment, as shown in
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the width of the implement is thin enough so as to facilitate storage of the implement in a pocket of the user's clothing.
In this preferred embodiment, the surfaces 5, 5a and 5b are oriented so that the implement in use will extend in a direction which is preferably essentially parallel to the user's index finger, but in any event, a direction which is no further toward the thumb of the user than the index finger. This relationship can also be conceptualized by considering the tip 9 as defining a longitudinal axis, which is preferably substantially parallel to the index finger of the user.
Referring to
Referring to
The coaxial retention stopper 10 of the cartridge 8 is located at a particular distance from the outward end of the cartridge 8 and tip 9. In the assembled body 1, the stopper 8, shown in the preferred embodiment as a circular shoulder, fits into the coaxial cavity 7 to locate and retain the cartridge 8 in the cartridge housing 6. The predetermined length of the cartridge 8 and location of the stopper 10 with respect thereto defines the desired extension distance of the tip 9, and in the preferred embodiment, of the ink tip 13. The stopper 10 and cavity 7 may be of any cross sectional geometry and size appropriate to mate such that they function in unison to locate and retain the cartridge 8.
Referring to
In the invention, whatever type of extending tip is incorporated in the cartridge is alternatively extendable and retractable. In the preferred embodiment, the ink tip 13 may be extended from or retracted into the tip 9. This is accomplished by the use of spring loaded mechanisms. First, the cylindrical portion 12 of the cartridge 8 is spring biased against the cartridge housing 6. Compression of the cartridge spring 11a is accomplished through the controlled length of the cartridge housing 6, which includes the length from the coaxial cavity to the innermost end 6a of the cartridge housing 6, upon which a shoulder 12a of the cylindrical portion 12 is biased. Thus, in a relaxed state whereby the shoulder 12a is in contact with the innermost end 6a, the ink tip 13 is retracted into the cartridge. Again, regardless of the extending tip configuration, it would be retracted in this position. This would be particularly useful toward safety if the tip were a stylus, knife point or other sharp or pointed tip.
The preferred embodiment accomplishes the extension of the ink tip 13 by means of a spring biased plunger mechanism, which includes a button, 23, a spring 14, a plunger body 15, a selection peg 16, a cam way 17, and a top plate 18, which is attached to the inner surface 4 of the second body panel 3 by means of multiple attachment points 19. The button 23 in the preferred embodiment is generally cylindrical with an oblong cross section. Its inboard end includes outward extending tabs 23a, on two opposing sides to permit the button 23 to extend outward from the assembled body 1 but still be retained within the body by the tabs 23a. Inside the button 23 resides a button spring 23b, which exerts an inward axial force upon the flat plate 20 of the plunger body 15. The plunger body 15 may be configured of any cross sectional shape but is shown in the preferred embodiment as an elongated piece having a square cross section. On its outboard end, the plunger body 15 has a flat plate 20 with a locator pin 21 centered on the outer facing surface of the flat plate 20. The locator pin 21 locates and guides the force of the button spring 23b on the flat plate 20. The inner end of the plunger body 15 is configured with an inclined angled surface 22 as its end point. The selection pin 16 is generally “U” shaped and the outer leg fits into the slide groove 21 of the plunger body 15, with the inner leg inserted into the cam way 17 of the plunger body 15. The selection pin 16 is inserted through the top plate 18 and is held in place by the spring 14, which warps around the selection pin 16 as well as around the plunger body 15. As the user depresses the button 23, the button spring 23b applies an axial inward force upon the flat plate 20. This force displaces the plunger body 15 axially inward, thus moving the cam way 17 inward. The selection pin 16 is not displaced axially, as it is retained through the center hole 18a in the top plate 18 as well as the inward radial force upon the selection pin 16 resulting from the wrapped coils of the spring 14. The outer leg of the selection pin 16 thus is confined to ride in the slide groove 21 of the plunger body 15. The inner leg of the selection peg 16 follows the elongated chevron shape of the cam way 17, as the cam way 17 moves laterally with the spring controlled movement of the plunger body 15. Referring to
This movement of the cam way 17 and plunger body 15 is locked in the above described extension and retraction positions by the location of the selection pin 16 in either the outer “V” portion of the cam way 17 (See
The improved hand-held implement can be of any suitable dimensions consistent with the above relationships. The implement can be scaled up or down so as to provide different implements of different sizes which can thereby accommodate users with different size hands. The implement of the present invention can be made of any material suitable for the intended purpose of the implement. Examples include various polymeric materials, metal, wood and glass. It should also be noted that the outer surfaces 5, of the body 1 of the device provide a relatively smooth flat surface which is well-suited for application of art work, logos and advertising.
While there is shown and described herein certain specific structures embodying this invention for the purpose of clarity of understanding, the same is to be considered as illustrative in character, it being understood that only preferred embodiments have been shown and described. It will be manifest to those skilled in the art that certain changes, various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated in the scope of the claims.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2031839 | Limbach | Feb 1936 | A |
| 3994605 | McKnight | Nov 1976 | A |
| 4227823 | Kitzerow | Oct 1980 | A |
| D292297 | Bingham | Oct 1987 | S |
| 4906119 | Hartford et al. | Mar 1990 | A |
| D359508 | Debbas | Jun 1995 | S |
| 5527124 | Kolaric | Jun 1996 | A |
| 5564849 | Greer, Jr. | Oct 1996 | A |
| 5785443 | Rubin | Jul 1998 | A |
| 6328494 | Moxon | Dec 2001 | B1 |
| 6428231 | Shamitoff | Aug 2002 | B1 |
| 6795057 | Gordon | Sep 2004 | B2 |
| 7044668 | Shamitoff | May 2006 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20060127160 A1 | Jun 2006 | US |
