Patent
Automatically retractable writing instrument
| العنوان: | Automatically retractable writing instrument |
|---|---|
| Patent Number: | 11904,625 |
| تاريخ النشر: | February 20, 2024 |
| Appl. No: | 17/662949 |
| Application Filed: | May 11, 2022 |
| مستخلص: | A writing instrument has a nib that can retract automatically upon release of a grip on the writing instrument. The writing instrument has one or more leaves that can be flexed to push the cartridge towards the front end of the writing instrument to expose the nib. A spring applies a force on the cartridge to automatically retract the nib when a grip on the writing instrument is released. |
| Inventors: | Ellis, II, Paul David (Valley Village, CA, US) |
| Claim: | 1. A writing instrument, comprising: a housing extending along an axis and between a base at a rear end of the writing instrument and a curved front end at a front end of the writing instrument, the housing comprising a pair of spaced apart beams that extend between and connect to the base and the curved front end, a platform extending between and interconnecting the pair of spaced apart beams at a location between the rear end and curved front end; a cartridge extending between the rear end and the front end, a nib configured to extend from the front end of the cartridge, the cartridge configured to be disposed inside the housing, so the front end of the cartridge is extendable through an opening of the curved front end of the housing, and so an outer tubular surface of the cartridge extends through an opening in the platform, the cartridge further comprising a pair of arms that extend from opposite sides of the cartridge and generally perpendicular to a central axis of the cartridge; a pair of leaves coupled to the rear end of the housing and extending to the front end proximate the curved front end of the housing so that the pair of leaves extend along a majority of a length of the writing instrument, each of the leaves extending between the pair of spaced apart beams and comprising a pair of spaced apart pawls with an angled edge that tapers toward the front end, the pair of spaced apart pawls configured to slidingly engage the pair of arms, a portion of each leaf configured to flex toward the axis relative to the rear end of the leaf; and an overgrip sleeve extending over the pair of spaced apart beams and pair of leaves from the base of the housing to the curved front end of the housing, wherein flexing the pair of leaves toward the axis of the housing causes the pawls of the pair of leaves to engage the pair of arms to move the cartridge in a first direction relative to the curved front end so that the nib protrudes from the curved front end, and wherein releasing the pair of leaves causes the cartridge to move in a second direction opposite the first direction to retract the nib so that it does not protrude from the curved front end. |
| Claim: | 2. The writing instrument of claim 1 , furthering comprising a spring positioned between the platform and the base of the housing, the spring configured to be compressed when the cartridge moves in the first direction to generate a spring force, said spring force configured to cause movement of the cartridge in the second direction when the pair or leaves are released. |
| Claim: | 3. The writing instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a ridge on the outer tubular surface of the cartridge that engages the platform to stop movement of the cartridge in the second direction. |
| Claim: | 4. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the overgrip sleeve comprises flexible material. |
| Claim: | 5. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the pair of arms comprise angled surfaces that engage angled edges of the pawls. |
| Claim: | 6. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the housing is a single piece. |
| Claim: | 7. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the pawls of one leaf are offset relative to the pawls of the other leaf when connected to the housing. |
| Claim: | 8. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein rear ends of the pair of leaves couple to each other adjacent the base of the housing. |
| Claim: | 9. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the writing instrument is a marker. |
| Claim: | 10. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the pair of leaves automatically lock the nib in an extended position to allow a user to write with the writing instrument without the nib retracting back into the housing during said writing, and wherein releasing the pair of leaves automatically unlocks the nib from the extended position and allows the nib to retract into the housing. |
| Claim: | 11. A writing instrument, comprising: a housing extending along an axis and between a base at a rear end of the writing instrument and a curved front end at a front end of the writing instrument, the housing comprising a pair of spaced apart beams that extend between and connect to the base and the curved front end, a platform extending between and interconnecting the pair of spaced apart beams at a location between the rear end and curved front end; a cartridge extending between the rear end and the front end, a nib configured to extend from the front end of the cartridge, the cartridge configured to be disposed inside the housing, so the front end of the cartridge is extendable through an opening of the curved front end of the housing, and so an outer tubular surface of the cartridge extends through an opening in the platform, the cartridge further comprising one or more arms that extend from opposite sides of the cartridge and generally perpendicular to a central axis of the cartridge; a leaf coupled to the rear end of the housing and extending to a front end proximate the curved front end of the housing so that the leaf extends along a majority of a length of the writing instrument, the leaf extending between the pair of spaced apart beams and comprising one or more pawls with angled edges that tapers toward the front end, the one or more pawls configured to slidingly engage at least a portion of the one or more arms, a portion of the leaf configured to flex toward the axis relative to the rear end of the leaf; and an overgrip sleeve extending over the pair of spaced apart beams and the leaf from the base of the housing to the curved front end of the housing, wherein flexing the leaf toward the axis of the housing causes the one or more pawls of the leaf to engage the one or more arms to move the cartridge in a first direction relative to the curved front end so that the nib protrudes from the curved front end, and wherein releasing the leaf causes the cartridge to move in a second direction opposite the first direction to retract the nib so that it does not protrude from the curved front end. |
| Claim: | 12. The writing instrument of claim 11 , furthering comprising a spring positioned between the platform and the base of the housing, the spring configured to be compressed when the cartridge moves in the first direction to generate a spring force, said spring force configured to cause movement of the cartridge in the second direction when the leaf is released. |
| Claim: | 13. The writing instrument of claim 11 , further comprising a ridge on the outer tubular surface of the cartridge that engages the platform to stop movement of the cartridge in the second direction. |
| Claim: | 14. The writing instrument of claim 11 , wherein the overgrip sleeve comprises flexible material. |
| Claim: | 15. The writing instrument of claim 11 , wherein the one or more arms comprise angled surfaces that engage angled edges of the pawls. |
| Claim: | 16. The writing instrument of claim 11 , wherein the housing is a single piece. |
| Claim: | 17. The writing instrument of claim 11 , wherein the leaf is a pair of leaves coupled to each other adjacent the base of the housing. |
| Claim: | 18. The writing instrument of claim 11 , wherein the pawls of one leaf are offset relative to the pawls of the other leaf when connected to the housing. |
| Claim: | 19. The writing instrument of claim 11 , wherein the leaf automatically locks the nib in an extended position to allow a user to write with the writing instrument without the nib retracting back into the housing during said writing, and wherein releasing the leaf automatically unlocks the nib from the extended position and allows the nib to retract into the housing. |
| Claim: | 20. A writing instrument kit, comprising: a writing instrument comprising a housing extending along an axis and between a base at a rear end of the writing instrument and a curved front end at a front end of the writing instrument, the housing comprising a pair of spaced apart beams that extend between and connect to the base and the curved front end, a platform extending between and interconnecting the pair of spaced apart beams at a location between the rear end and curved front end; a cartridge extending between the rear end and the front end, a nib configured to extend from the front end of the cartridge, the cartridge configured to be disposed inside the housing, so the front end of the cartridge is extendable through an opening of the curved front end of the housing, and so an outer tubular surface of the cartridge extends through an opening in the platform, the cartridge further comprising one or more arms that extend from opposite sides of the cartridge and generally perpendicular to a central axis of the cartridge; a leaf coupled to the rear end of the housing and extending to a front end proximate the curved front end of the housing so that the leaf extends along a majority of a length of the writing instrument, the leaf extending between the pair of spaced apart beams and comprising one or more pawls with angled edges that tapers toward the front end, the one or more pawls configured to slidingly engage at least a portion of the one or more arms, a portion of the leaf configured to flex toward the axis relative to the rear end of the leaf; and an overgrip sleeve extending over the pair of spaced apart beams and the leaf from the base of the housing to the curved front end of the housing, wherein flexing the leaf toward the axis of the housing causes the one or more pawls of the leaf to engage the one or more arms to move the cartridge in a first direction relative to the curved front end so that the nib protrudes from the curved front end, and wherein releasing the leaf causes the cartridge to move in a second direction opposite the first direction to retract the nib so that it does not protrude from the curved front end; and one or more additional overgrip sleeves configured to replace the overgrip sleeve of the writing instrument. |
| Claim: | 21. The writing instrument kit of claim 20 , wherein the one or more additional overgrip sleeves have different surface textures or colors or visual indications. |
| Patent References Cited: | 2802447 August 1957 Germann 3181507 May 1965 Dannebaum 4358210 November 1982 Hashimoto et al. 4966483 October 1990 Hashimoto et al. 6273627 August 2001 Mittersinker 6817800 November 2004 Sung 6921225 July 2005 Hsu 7226229 June 2007 Register 10406849 September 2019 Al-Khulaifi 20040136772 July 2004 Sung 20050169692 August 2005 Demetz 20060062628 March 2006 Kostecki 20060216103 September 2006 Bielecki 20070172300 July 2007 Wlodarczyk 20070243007 October 2007 Chang et al. 20090232581 September 2009 Tong 20150317000 November 2015 Liu 10 2006 006456 August 2007 |
| Primary Examiner: | Jacyna, J C |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, LLP |
| رقم الانضمام: | edspgr.11904625 |
| قاعدة البيانات: | USPTO Patent Grants |
| الوصف غير متاح. |