Claims
- 1. A writing instrument comprising:
an elongated writing instrument body having a first end, a second end, and a central region encompassing a midpoint substantially equidistant from said first end and said second end; a writing nib at said first end; a gripping section arranged along said central region of said writing body and used for gripping said writing instrument during select writing uses; and an elastomeric gripping element positioned over said central region of said gripping section and extending at least over said midpoint and ending at a position spaced from said second end such that said gripping element is shorter than said writing instrument body.
- 2. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein said gripping element comprises:
an outer surface; and a plurality of elevated sections extending from said outer surface.
- 3. The writing instrument of claim 2, wherein said elevated sections are intercalated shapes.
- 4. The writing instrument of claim 2, wherein said elevated sections are raised at least about 0.1 mm above said outer surface.
- 5. The writing instrument of claim 2, wherein said elevated sections are raised at most about 3.0 mm above said outer surface.
- 6. The writing instrument of claim 2, wherein said outer surface of said gripping element is textured.
- 7. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein:
said writing instrument further comprises a front nose cone adjacent and proximal to said nib; and said gripping element extends over said front nose cone of said writing instrument.
- 8. The writing instrument of claim 7, further comprising a cap, wherein said front nose cone is configured to be selectively covered by said cap.
- 9. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein said gripping element has a textured outer surface.
- 10. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein said gripping element is formed from an anti-slip material.
- 11. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein said gripping element is formed from a resilient material.
- 12. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein said gripping element is fabricated of a thermoplastic elastomer.
- 13. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein said writing instrument is a felt tip marker.
- 14. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein a writing tip is provided at each of said first end and said second end.
- 15. An elastomeric gripping element, configured to fit over a gripping section of an article, said gripping element comprising:
a textured outer surface; and a plurality of elevated sections extending from said outer surface; wherein said elevated sections are intercalated, spaced apart shapes.
- 16. The gripping element of claim 15, wherein said elevated sections are raised at least about 0.1 mm above said outer surface.
- 17. The gripping element of claim 15, wherein said elevated sections are raised at most about 3.0 mm above said outer surface.
- 18. The gripping element of claim 15, wherein said grip element is formed from an anti-slip material.
- 19. The gripping element of claim 15, wherein said grip element is formed from a resilient material.
- 20. The gripping element of claim 15, wherein said grip element is fabricated of a thermoplastic elastomer.
- 21. The gripping element of claim 15, wherein said grip element has a Shore A hardness of at least about 50 durometer.
- 22. The gripping element of claim 15, wherein said grip element has a Shore A hardness of at most about 70 durometer.
- 23. The gripping element of claim 15, wherein said elevated sections are sufficiently spaced apart such that small particles cannot become lodged between said elevated sections and any particle large enough to become lodged between said elevated sections can be readily dislodged.
- 24. The gripping element of claim 15, wherein said elevated sections have a smooth outer surface.
- 25. A method of using a writing instrument having a gripping element, wherein said writing instrument comprises a first end, a second end, and a central region between but spaced apart from said first end and second end and encompassing a midpoint substantially equidistant from said first end and said second end, said method comprising:
grasping an elastomeric gripping element positioned over said central region of said writing instrument yet not extending to at least one of said first and second ends; and writing on a vertical or inverse-horizontal plane.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Design application Ser. Nos. 29/168,675 and 29/168,681, both of which were filed Oct. 8, 2002; which are divisional applications of U.S. Design application Ser. No. 29/153,606, which was filed Jan. 14, 2002; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Design application Ser. Nos. 29/145,139 and 29/145,136, both of which were filed Jul. 17, 2001, and issued as U.S. Design Pat. No. D461,041, and U.S. Design Pat. No. D461,500, respectively.
Divisions (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
29153606 |
Jan 2002 |
US |
Child |
29168675 |
Oct 2002 |
US |
Parent |
29153606 |
Jan 2002 |
US |
Child |
29168681 |
Oct 2002 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (6)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
29168675 |
Oct 2002 |
US |
Child |
10391179 |
Mar 2003 |
US |
Parent |
29145139 |
Jul 2001 |
US |
Child |
29153606 |
Jan 2002 |
US |
Parent |
29145136 |
Jul 2001 |
US |
Child |
29153606 |
Jan 2002 |
US |
Parent |
29168681 |
Oct 2002 |
US |
Child |
10391179 |
Mar 2003 |
US |
Parent |
29145139 |
Jul 2001 |
US |
Child |
29153606 |
Jan 2002 |
US |
Parent |
29145136 |
Jul 2001 |
US |
Child |
29153606 |
Jan 2002 |
US |