Patent Application
20170225507
The present description relates generally to writing implements, including pens, pencils, markers, and the like.
Writing implements, such as pens, pencils, and markers, are generally known. Such writing implements may be generally customized for novelty, promotional, or other purposes by printing a name, logo, slogan, etc. on an exterior surface of the writing implement.
Known novelty and promotional writing implements can be improved upon by providing illumination to the novelty or promotional aspect of the implement. Additionally or alternatively, known novelty and promotional writing implements can be improved upon by providing one or more eye-catching symbols (e.g., logos or designs) or words (e.g., names or slogans) on an interior aspect of the writing implement, along with an external feature through which the symbol or words can be seen. For example, a housing of the writing implement may have a transparent or translucent wall through which the symbol or words are visible.
Referring to the figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to the same or similar features in the various views,
The housing 12 of the example pen 10 includes three portions: a first end portion 20, a second end portion 22, and an intermediate portion 24. Referring to
Referring again to
The writing tip 18 is provided in and supported by the second end portion 22 of the housing 12 of the exemplary pen 10. The writing tip 18 may be a ballpoint pen mechanism, fountain pen mechanism, felt-tip pen mechanism, rollerball pen mechanism, other pen mechanism, or other writing implement mechanism. Accordingly, although this disclosure will make reference to a “pen,” it should be understood that the teachings of this disclosure may find use with other writing implements, as well, including but not limited to pencils (e.g., mechanical pencils), markers, and the like.
The writing tip 18 may be selectively retractable. For example, in the illustrated exemplary pen 10, the writing tip may be retracted and exposed by twisting the second end portion 22 of the housing 12 relative to the rest of the housing 12.
An exemplary insert member 26 is disposed within the housing 12 and is visible through the intermediate portion 24 of the housing 12, in the exemplary pen 10. The exemplary insert member 26 is a band or ribbon that may be disposed in a cavity 28 of the intermediate housing portion 24. In the illustrated example, the insert member 26 is straight, that is, not looped or twisted. In other examples, the insert member 26 may be twisted or looped. The insert member 26 may be either rigid or flexible. The insert member 26 may be made from a transparent or translucent material, and the material of the insert member 26 may conduct light. For example, the insert member 26 may be made from a polymer, such as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The insert member 26 may be colored or colorless. The insert member 26 may include one or symbols or words 30, that are etched, engraved, incised, or otherwise impressed on or in the insert member 26. For example, one or more symbols or words 30 may be impressed on a first surface of the band of the insert member 26. The symbols or words 30 may be, for example only, logos, designs, names, slogans, and the like. In the illustrated exemplary pen, the symbols or words 30 are “SLIS.” Of course, this is exemplary in nature only.
As can be seen by comparing
Referring to
The second end cap 52 is coupled to the second end portion 22 of the housing 12, in the exemplary pen 10. The interior of the exemplary second end cap and the exterior of the exemplary second end portion 22 of the housing 12 have complementary threads so that the first end cap can be screwed onto the second end portion 22 of the housing 12. In another example, the first end cap may be coupled with the second end portion 22 of the housing 12 with some other attachment mechanism, such as friction-fit, adhesive, etc. In yet another example, the first end cap may be unitary with (i.e., made from the same piece of material as) the second end portion 22 of the housing 12.
The second end portion 22 of the housing 12 includes a cavity 54 in which the twist mechanism 48 may be disposed in the assembled pen 10. The second end portion 22 of the housing 12 also has a through-bore 56 that is contiguous with the cavity 54. The writing tip 18 (see
Referring again to
The intermediate portion 24 of the housing 12 includes a hollow cylindrical portion 60 having a wall 62 and a central cavity 28, in the illustrated example. The wall 62 of the hollow cylindrical portion 60 may be transparent or translucent. The exemplary intermediate housing portion 24 further includes an extension portion 64 that couples with the second end portion 22 of the housing 12, in the example pen 10. The central cavity 28 may extend into and through the extension portion, as illustrated in
The exemplary insert member support 46 includes a receiving formation 66 in which an end of the insert member 26 may be received and secured. For example, the receiving formation 66 may be a slot, aperture, or other appropriate formation. For the remainder of this disclosure, the receiving formation 66 will be referred to as a slot 66, but it should be understood that the receiving formation 66 is not necessarily limited to a slot except as expressly set forth in the claims.
The exemplary insert member support 46 may be removably coupled with the intermediate housing portion 24 and/or with the first end portion 20 of the housing 12 through friction-fit or some other mechanical coupling. When the exemplary pen 10 is assembled, the insert member support 46 may be wholly or partially disposed within the intermediate portion 24 of the housing 12 and/or the first end portion 20 of the housing 12. Accordingly, in the illustrated example, the exemplary insert member support 46 secures and disposes the insert member 26 within the intermediate housing portion 24 when the exemplary pen 10 is assembled with the insert member 26 therein.
The exemplary insert member support 46 further includes a cavity 68 configured to receive the light source 44 and to position the light source 44 so that, when provided with power, the light source 44 projects light on to the insert member 26 and/or in to the intermediate housing portion 24. In the exemplary insert member support 46, the slot 66 is contiguous with the cavity 68, so that the light source 44 may be arranged within the cavity 68 so as to project light into the slot 66 and therefore onto the insert member 26 when secured within the slot 66. In addition, in the exemplary pen 10, the cavity 68 of the insert member support 46 may be disposed within the first end portion 20 of the housing 12, with the slot 66 positioned so that the light source 44 projects light in the direction of the second end portion 22 of the housing 12.
Although shown as separate elements in the illustrated exemplary pen 10, the insert member support 46 and the first end portion 20 of the housing 12 may be a single element, in another example. In yet another example, the insert member support 46 and the intermediate portion 24 of the housing 12 may be a single element. In still another example, the slot 66 of the insert member support 46 may be provided on the intermediate portion 24 of the housing 12, and the cavity 68 of the insert member support 46 may be provided on the first end portion 20 of the housing 12. Of course, still other modifications to the exact structure of the pen may also be possible and are contemplated.
The light source 44 is configured in size and shape to be received and secured within the insert member support 68 and to project light when supplied with power. The light source 44 may include one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs), in one example. Additionally or alternatively, the light source 44 may include a laser, incandescent bulb, fluorescent bulb, high-intensity discharge bulb, or other appropriate source of light. The light source 44 may provide light at any appropriate frequency and brightness. In addition, the frequency and brightness of the light source 44 may be static, or may be adjustable. For example, the pen 10 may be provided with electronics to modulate the frequency of the light source 44 responsive to actuation of the switch 16.
The battery pack 38, electrical contacts 34, 36, and switch 16 collectively enable power to be supplied to the light source 44. In the illustrated example, the battery pack 38 includes three battery cells, electrically connected to each other in series. In other examples, the battery pack 38 may include another number or arrangement of battery cells. That is, the battery pack 38 may include one or more battery cells, and those cells may be electrically coupled with each other in parallel or in series, in various examples.
In the exemplary pen 10, the electrical contacts selectively electrically couple the light source 44 to the battery back 38 responsive to actuation of the switch 16, as known in the art. That is, a first position of the switch 16 results in an OFF state of the light source, and a second position of the switch 16 results in an ON state of the light source. Accordingly, the light source may be selectively turned ON or OFF by a user through the switch 16.
In other examples of the pen 10, the light source may be controllable with a dimmer mechanism, a programmed circuit, a type of switch 16 different from the exemplary switch 16 illustrated in the figures, or with some other control mechanism.
The first end portion 20 of the housing 12 includes a cavity 70 in which the battery pack 38 and electrical contacts 34, 36 are disposed, in the exemplary pen 10. In the exemplary pen 10, the cavity 70 is covered and/or sealed by the housing plate 40, which is coupled to the first end portion 20 of the housing 12 by the housing plate screw 42. The second end cap 32 may be coupled with the end of the first end portion 20 of the housing 12 via friction-fit, complementary threads, or some other mechanical coupling mechanism.
The housing portions 20, 22, 24 and insert member 26 may be made from plastic, in an example, using one or more of the following example techniques: injection molding, extrusion molding, vacuum forming, and/or compression molding. The housing portions 20, 22, 24 and insert member 26 may be formed from the same material through the same technique, or may be formed from different materials through different techniques.
One or more of the housing portions 20, 22, 24 and the insert member 26 may be transparent or translucent, in an example. For example, in one example, the second end portion 22 of the housing 12, the intermediate portion 24 of the housing 12, and the insert member 26 may be made from transparent or translucent plastic, and the first end portion 20 of the housing 12 may be made from opaque plastic.
In operation, the light source 44 may be selectively activated and deactivated by a user through use of the switch 16. When activated, the light source may project light into the slot 66 and into/onto the insert member 26. The insert member 26 may conduct the light so as to illuminate itself and to illuminate/highlight any symbols and/or words 30 (not shown in
Although certain embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited merely to those embodiments. The foregoing description and drawings are merely to explain and illustrate the invention and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.
