1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the general art of writing instruments, and to the particular field of customizable decorative writing instruments.
2. General Background and State of the Art
Humans have used instruments to communicate written messages for thousands of years, dating back to the first paintings sketched on cave walls. The advent of paper necessitated devices that would allow permanent ink to be controllably etched. Ancient Egyptians used reeds with tips sharpened into a nib. With advances in paper technology, finer tips could be utilized, starting with quills and culminating in the eponymous ballpoint, an instrument that is a self-contained writing unit with the nib and ink well contained in a single body.
The progress in writing technology has corresponded with similar progress in artistic endeavors. Communication can take the form of explicitly worded messages, but also manifest in visual elements and decorations. Thus, the same cave drawings could be decorative or communicative depending on the intent of the originator and the understanding of the viewer. In this manner humankind has been influencing a customization of the physical components of the world.
Even utilitarian tools and articles have received this treatment of decorative customization. For instance, Native Americans and other indigenous people have used beads for decorative purposes on clothing, shoes, and as works of art. Beads are considered to be among the oldest types of jewelry. These beads, small and usually round objects, were made of glass, wood, ceramics, precious metals, gems, stone, plastic, or the like, and have a hole through the center in order to be threaded or strung with other objects. This allows these items to be customized for identification or just pure decoration.
Pens are often the source of decoration, but pens themselves are viewed exclusively as utilitarian items, removed from accessorization. They are manufactured en masse, and received by the user as-is. This allows very little opportunity for the user to natively change the appearance of the pen. This can be necessitated for any number of reasons: a sports fan that wants to display the emblem of their favorite team for each changing season, a business owner that wants a unique way to advertise multiple and differing phrases, or a schoolchild that wants to share a special daily message with a friend across the room.
The above-discussed disadvantages in the prior art are overcome by the present invention, which is related to a writing instrument that is customizable by the user, comprising of a pen body with an insertable writing element and beads. The writing element, which is comprised of a tube filled with one of the many known marking means, such as ink or pencil lead, has an exterior diameter that acts as a central axis for the beads, which are slid onto the writing element in an order and number decided by the user. The writing element is then attached to the pen body, which is comprised of a clear barrel with an inner diameter that matches the outer diameter of the beads. If there is a need to change the beads, the user may detach the writing element, change the beads, and reinsert the writing element into the elongated barrel. If the writing medium is exhausted and can be replaced, the beads can be mounted on the replacement element in similar fashion.
Beads may be clear or of various colors, and may display symbols, letters, pictures, etc. For example, if the user is a fan of a sports team, he/she may customize the writing instrument to display the name or logo of the team. Another example would be to customize the instrument to state the name of the user or a loved one.
Certain beads may have characters that can be combined with other beads within the barrel to produce a cohesive statement. For these beads, the coherence of the message is determined by the axial alignment, i.e., the same face of all of the beads must be facing in the same direction at once for the message to be properly read. The present invention can also contain an anti-rotation system, compromised of an extrusion on the bead that slides into a congruent groove in the barrel, locking the beads against axial rotation against the central axis. This allows certain beads to rotate freely while restricting the rotation of beads with the extrusion. A reversal of features is also contemplated for the anti-rotation system. A tongue or extrusion can be formed on the inner surface of the barrel. This structure mates with a groove or slot that is formed on one side of each of the beads. It yet another alternative, some (or all) of he beads can omit the locking structure, thereby permitting them to rotate freely around the central axis inside the barrel. This may be desirable to the user of the device from an functional or aesthetic viewpoint.
The novel features which are characteristic of the invention, both as to structure and method of operation thereof, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be understood from the following description, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and they are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.
These and other features of this invention will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the present embodiment, the writing element is a tube and is filled with ink 20. The writing element may have different shapes and may be filled with one of many known marking means such as ink-based elements, fluid based elements, pigment, crayon, etc.
The writing element also functions as an axis for the beads 16. A bead has a hole 22 through it. The writing element is inserted through the hole 22 so that it will function as an axis for the beads. Beads 16 may be made of glass, wood, stone, plastic or the like. Beads 16 may be clear or of various colors, may display symbols, letters, pictures, etc.
While the specification describes particular embodiments of the present invention, those of ordinary skill can devise variations of the present invention without departing from the inventive concept.
The present application claims prior of U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 62/010,416, which was filed on Jun. 10, 2014.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62010416 | Jun 2014 | US | |
62010419 | Jun 2014 | US |