Patent Application
20080112748
The present invention relates to field of a slidable spring-biased grip assembly connectible to a handheld writing implement, wherein the spring-biased grip is configured to reduce the pressing force applied to an external surface by the writing implement by absorbing part of the force via a tension member.
(Not Applicable)
When people use a handheld writing implement, they often and unavoidably use excessive force while they are pressing it down on an external surface, unable to keep an adequate magnitude of the pressing force. Therefore, it is a well-known problem for a handheld writing implement that the direct touch of its tip under such excessive force causes, frequently and undesirably, flaws or damages on the external surface it is pressed on. Such damages might occur not only on a piece of paper during conventional writing, but also on a touch panel screen if the handheld writing implement is a currently popular PDA stylus, or input pen. Further, such excessive pressure invokes reaction force of a same magnitude, directed from the surface to the handheld implement, that is again transferred to a user's hand or wrist to cause strain and fatigue thereon. It is well known that excessive strain upon the wrist can cause disorders such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and arthritis.
Although there are prior patents that attempt to resolve such a problem, each of those patents suffers from deficiencies. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,710,267 uses a spring to absorb excessive pressing force for protecting a touch panel by spring-loading the tip only for reducing deformation thereof which does not appear to provide strain relief upon the user.
Other prior art discloses use of a spring in a typical ball point pen for different purposes that all appear to provide for adjustments to pressure upon the pen refill, but not directly upon the user's fingers and suffer from the disadvantage retracting the pen tip itself which may cause shaky writing. U.S. Pat. No. 6,257,787 discloses a ball point pen where a coiled spring is interposed between the cap and a plunger connected to an ink cartridge for adjusting the firmness of writing, but nothing appears to provide strain relief for the grip. U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,232 discloses a ball point pen where a spring, while enclosed in a cap, is interposed between a control member and an ink cartridge for adjusting biasing force. U.S. Pat. No. 6,695,512 appears to disclose use of a spring in a writing instrument interposed between the pen body and a slidable sleeve surrounding the pen tip so as to bias the sleeve over the pen tip to protect the same. Such a design does not appear to provide strain relief during use.
None of the cited prior art however, discloses use of a spring biased grip slidably attached on a portion of a pen that is gripped by a user's fingers. It is desirable, therefore, to provide an invention that cannot only achieve the previously stated purpose of reducing excessive pressing force applied to an external surface for the protection thereof, but also provide a resilient finger-gripping experience during writing and even an aesthetic appeal to the appearance of a handheld writing experience.
The present invention provides a handheld writing implement that has a slidable spring-biased grip attached on a gripping portion of the handheld writing implement, wherein the spring-biased grip is configured to reduce the pressing force applied to an external surface by the writing implement, by absorbing part of it to a spring. Advantageously, the configuration of the unique slidable spring-biased grip assembly provides for direct support and strain relief upon the user's fingers so that the implement remains substantially stationary while the grip portion slides along the body of the implement. Such a design is an improvement over the prior art designs in that the implement tip may write more smoothly without retracting into the implement body since it is the grip that moves, not the tip. This design also provides for instant user-feedback where the spring is visible, and is more visually pleasing.
The spring-biased grip assembly made in accordance with the present invention includes an elongated assembly body, a tip connected to an end thereof, a gripping member to be gripped by user's fingers, which has a shape of, preferably, a tubular shell wrapped around the assembly body to be slidable axially thereon, and a tension member, preferably a coiled spring, disposed between the tip and gripping member to resiliently bias, and slidably urge, the gripping member away from the tip while preferably maintaining the assembly body stationary. The gripping member may further include a cushioned grip removably sleeved over it. The spring-grip assembly body can be detachably or integrally connected to a body of a typical handheld writing implement, and may have a cylindrical compartment axially defined therein and extended through the tip for accommodating therein a typical ink cartridge.
One of the advantages of the present invention is to provide, through the spring-biased slidable grip described above, an easy and effective means for reducing the occasional but unavoidable excessive pressing force applied by a user to an external surface the writing implement is pressed on, and thereby, an effective protection of the external surface. Another advantage is to provide for a user of the handheld writing implement a resilient and comfortable feeling in writing while holding the spring biased slidable grip. Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide a visually fresh and appealing appearance through the slidable spring-biased grip. In that respect, the handheld writing implement having such a grip would be used as an effective means for advertisement where advertising materials are imprinted on an external surface of the implement body.
The present invention generally relates to a handheld writing implement having a slidable grip biased by a spring, which is configured to reduce the pressing force, by absorbing part of it, applied to an external surface by the writing implement.
The first and second preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to figures (FIGS.) 1-12, wherein like components are designated by like reference numerals throughout the various figures. Although the invention is generally described in the context of the preferred embodiment, it should be understood that it is shown and described, only by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention, but not intended to limit in any way the spirit and scope of the invention to this particular embodiment.
With regard to means for fastening, mounting, attaching or connecting the components of the present invention to form the apparatus as a whole, unless specifically described otherwise, such means are intended to at least encompass conventional fasteners such as machine screws, machine threads, snap rings, hose clamps such as screw clamps and the like, rivets, nuts and bolts, toggles, pins and the like. Components may also be connected by friction fitting, snap fitting, adhesives, or by welding or deformation, if appropriate. Unless specifically otherwise disclosed or taught, materials for making components of the present invention are selected from appropriate materials such as metal, metallic alloys, natural or synthetic fibers, plastics and the like, and appropriate manufacturing or production methods including casting, extruding, injection molding and machining may be used.
The present invention contemplates two preferred embodiments for the spring-grip assembly 10.
The elongated assembly body 11 comprises a tip-connection section 13a formed adjacent the first assembly body end 11a to which the tip 14 is connected, a barrel-connection section 13b formed adjacent the first assembly body end 11b to which the barrel 20 of a pen 1 is connected, and a grip-sliding section 12 on which a slidable spring biased gripping member 15 and a tension member 17 are engaged. In the first and second preferred embodiments, those connections are achieved via threads respectively formed on two sections 13a, 13b as shown in
In both preferred embodiments, the elongated barrel 20 and the three sections of the elongated assembly body 11 have an overall cylindrical configuration with circular cross sections, but in other embodiments, their cross sections may have other geometric shapes, such as a square, rectangle, ellipse, or even a triangle. Further, the grip-sliding section 12 has a smaller circumferential diameter than the barrel connection section 13b, thereby forming a stopper 12a in a shape of a circular rim at the junction of the two sections 12 and 13b for stopping the gripping member 15 from further sliding. The difference in diameter between the two sections 12 and 13b is set such that when the gripping member 15 and the textured grip 16 are fitted over the grip-sliding section 12, the surface of the grip 16 may be substantially evenly aligned with the surface of the barrel 20. The barrel-connection section 13b has, again, a slightly smaller diameter than the barrel 20 so that the grip assembly body 11 may be threadably fitted in the barrel 20. Preferably, the tip 14, threadably connected to the tip-connection section 13a, has a generally tapered cylindrical, or conical shape, but may have any other shapes as well in other embodiments.
Further, if the writing implement is a ball point pen 1 as depicted in
In both preferred embodiments, the gripping member 15 is a thin, generally tubular shell having an inner cylindrical orifice of a slightly bigger diameter than the sliding section 12 so as to slidingly sleeve over it. Preferably, it has a length of approximately the first knuckle of an adult finger so as to be comfortably gripped thereby.
While the gripping member 15 is slidable on the grip-sliding section 12, it is biased by a tension member, preferably, a typical coiled spring 17, which is wound around the grip-sliding section 12 to mechanically, and resiliently communicate between the gripping member 15 and the tip 14. The coiled spring 17 is configured such that in the absence of external force acting on the gripping member 15, the coiled spring 17 is slightly compressed, exerting spring force on the gripping member 15 to slidingly urge it toward the second assembly body end 11b so that it remains engaged with the stopper 12b. When external force is applied on the gripping member 15 toward the first assembly body end 11a, the spring 17 is compressed as the gripping member 15 slides down on the grip-sliding section 12, and thereby reducing the pressure transferred to the tip 14 and providing strain relief to the user's fingers.
In the first preferred embodiment shown in
In the second preferred embodiment shown in
In both preferred embodiments, the grip-sliding section 12 may further have a guide detent 12b formed on outer surfaces thereof and the gripping member 15 may define a matching guide recess 15b thereon, where the detent 12b and the recess 15b are formed in the axial direction such that the cylindrical gripping member 15 is prevented from rotating, while permitted to axially slide, on the grip-sliding section 12. Moreover, in both preferred embodiments, a grip 16 made of a cushioned, textured material may be engaged over the gripping member 15 to provide for a user's fingers a comfortable and interesting gripping feeling. Such materials are well known in the art, including but not limited to, foam, leather, elastomeric materials such as rubber, synthetic rubbers such as polyurethane, silicone, or plastics. The grip 16 is preferably detachably and frictionally fitted over it, but may be fixedly incorporated on it by means of adhesives or other permanent attachment means known in the art.
In both preferred embodiments, the barrel 20 of the pen 1, the grip assembly body 11, the tip 14, and the gripping member 15 are manufactured from plastic. But any other suitable rigid materials recognized by one skilled in the art, such as metal, wood, or ceramic materials, may be used.
Since the visually fresh and appealing appearance, particularly, the sliding movement of the gripping member would easily attract the attention of not only a user-buyer, but also other viewers, the handheld writing implement having such a spring biased slidable grip can be an effective vehicle for advertising. Therefore, the present invention also contemplates such a method for advertising as well, wherein advertising materials 30 may be imprinted on any external surface of the writing implement, for instance, on the barrel 20 of the pen 1 as shown in
The present invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various respects apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, all without departing from the essential spirit or attributes of the invention. Therefore, it is desired that the embodiments described hereinbefore be considered in all respects only as illustrative, but not as restrictive.
