GB2470730A

GB2470730A - Telescopic writing implement with key ring attachment

Info

Publication number: GB2470730A
Application number: GB0909419A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lee Berman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-06-02
Filing date: 2009-06-02
Publication date: 2010-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 2029-06-02
Also published as: GB2470730B; GB0909419D0

Abstract

A writing instrument (1) with a telescopic barrel, constructed from hollow sleeves 6a-d of diminishing diameter, said sleeves preferably constructed in metal. Said sleeves may be formed with tapering or curved profile in order that the extending of the barrel sleeves is limited and prevented from over-extension. The writing instrument may be a ball-point pen of other commonly available pen wherein a separate insert is available. There is provided a collar 4 on the barrel sleeve of the smallest diameter to prevent loss of the insert. In addition there is provided a cap 5 with an attachment point, 3, wherewith a keychain or split ring connector 7 may be attached.

Description

A WRITING INSTRUMENT

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a writing instrument, and more particularly to a telescopic ball point ink pen with a key-ring attachment.

Background of Invention

It is often useful to an individual to have a pen about their person. However in many situations it is not practical to carry a pen. Many men in particular tend not to have any handbag to carry objects, relying frequently on wallets or the pockets of their trousers. Pens of ordinary dimensions are not practical for pockets and even small pens are bulky and/or have a chance of ink leakage.

Depending on fashion trends many women also have limited space in purses or bags, even if they are carrying a handbag of some description, as the fashion may dictate small handbags such as clutch bags or the like. On packing of a bag in addition a user often needs to remember to pack a pen or pencil.

Furthermore, pens are notoriously easy items to lose.

Prior Art

Pens have been available in reduced sizes for a long time. It is however a feature of such small and miniature pens that they are more difficult to write well with, harder to handle and a lot more fiddly, particularly to keep lids on. This all means that smaller sized pens or pencils are not favoured by many as an option. People therefore tend not to carry small pens and as a result they are generally only available in places of limited scope, and frequently for only novelty value where a pen is necessary, in situations requiring small amounts of rough writing such as at golf courses.

There are in addition small pens and pencils available that have forms of attachments to allow them to be fitted to other items, such as key-rings, bags or clothing. However these suffer from their small size as discussed and are not therefore comparable in any utilitarian sense to regular full size pens. It is undoubtedly more comfortable and easier to write with a full length pen than a short version.

Folding pens have also been available for some time but the hinged section on such pens interferes with the weighting, structural integrity, and grip on the pen and they are rarely aesthetically pleasing.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a writing instrument capable of extending in length, and adapted to receive an insert containing a writing medium; and: a barrel formed from generally hollow sleeves, an insert collar, a cap, and an attachment point.

The writing instrument may be a pen, typically a ball-point pen wherein the writing medium is ink and is provided in a conveniently replaceable insert. In this way refills can be easily sourced and produced. It may however constitute a pencil, in which case the writing medium is graphite, or other types of pen such as a felt-tip pen or roller ball or other writing instrument, and in which case the writing medium corresponds accordingly.

The generally hollow sleeves are ideally arranged to be nested so that they define a telescopic pen which is preferably constructed predominantly from metal, allowing precision engineering and a sturdy reliable action for the extending, telescopic sleeves. This metal is preferably a non-oxidising metal or metallic compound, such as stainless steel or an alloy. In further embodiments synthetic plastics materials may be used, and in yet further embodiments a combination of materials is envisaged.

Further, in the preferred embodiment the cap is constructed of the same metal or material which allows for a pleasant aesthetic when the pen is closed. This also prevents fatigue, allows for a solid, well-fitted connection and mitigates against damage to the connection between the parts.

Optionally the cap has a split ring attached to a lanyard attachment point, thus allowing attachment of the pen to a key-ring, bag or other commonly carried article.

Other embodiments may be provided with karabiner connectors attached to the attachment point, and/or easy-release clips.

In the alternative chains may be attached to the attachment point. In some embodiments this may be used as a necklace.

The lanyard attachment point is typically constructed of metal, with the result that there is less chance of loss of the pen through breakage of the attachment point and separation from the attachment means. The attachment point may also be constructed to rotate relative to the cap and pen. This may be as a function of the connection to the cap, or as a result of the construction of the attachment point itself, which may be formed from two main sections, that are capable of rotation relative to one another.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of the Figures

Figure 1 is a side view of the exterior of a telescopic pen in a closed, unextended position; Figure 2 is a side view of the exterior of the telescopic pen, in an open extended position; and Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the telescopic pen.

Detailed Description of the Figures

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a telescopic writing instrument or pen I that is a ball-point pen. Pen insert 2 is therefore disposable and can be easily replaced.

Ideally the dimensions of the insert 2 correspond to those of standard sizes, meaning replacement inserts can be readily sourced in varying colours.

The embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3 is constructed with a metallic outer comprising an attachment point 3, a collar 4, a cap 5 and telescopic barrel section 6, formed from diminishing diameter sleeves with the sleeve of the largest diameter 6a having one closed end 60. This presents a metallic capsule when closed and allows for smooth and reliable functioning of the telescopic function, wherein there is little possibility of damage to the varying sleeves 6a to 6d either through pressure damage, stress fractures or fatigue. In this manner the telescopic function, is a crucial element to the functioning of the pen 1.

Ideally the pen 1 is made from a tough, crush resistant material such as a metal, metal alloy, aluminium or other non-oxidising metal. Alternatively the metal may be stainless steel, copper or bronze or other metal chosen for economic or aesthetic purposes.

The sleeves 6a to 6d may be curved or tapered at one (open) end, typically the cap end to prevent the successive and smaller diameter sleeves from pulling through.

Alternatively or in addition rings or lips may be provided at the ends of the sleeves 6a to 6d. Excessive movement in the other direction is typically prevented by the collar 4. The collar 4 is typically wider in diameter than all but the largest of the sleeves 6a.

The attachment point 3 in the preferred embodiment shows a split ring connector 7 attached to it. In this manner the device 1 may be used as a key-ring or further connected to other articles with matching hooks, rings, cords or lanyards, such as articles including bags.

Attachment point 3 may provide an attachment point by having a centrally formed cleat allowing attachment of a lanyard, split ring, quick release clip, karabiner or other attachment means. Such attachment point 3 and means allows the user to attach the pen to such items as a key ring, chain, bag, necklace or other frequently carried item.

The cap 5 in the preferred embodiment is dimensioned to snugly accept the barrel 6.

There may be provided a portion on the exterior of the barrel 6 or in the interior of the cap 5 which is formed in a rubber or plastic compound, to allow some movement in the fit, creating a firmer connection between the parts which are formed from a harder material.

In the alternative or in addition the cap 5 may fit to the barrel 6 by way of an engaging push-fitting or screw fitting. Such a screw fitting may combine with any other form of creating a fit, and may constitute a % turn screw. In other embodiments a clip fitting may be provided.

In some embodiments the sleeve with the smallest diameter (6x) may have one closed end wherein the insert 2 will not travel beyond the sleeve length, even when the barrel 6 is extended. In further embodiments the collar 4 prevents the insert 2 from movement out of the smallest barrel sleeve 6x, and ideally prevents movement into the same, whereby the insert 2 fits tightly into an open end of the collar 4, with a lip preventing movement of the insert 2 along the length of the barrel 6 in either direction as well as at 90 degrees to the length.

In Figure 2 the pen 1 is shown fully extended with the barrel 6 detached from the cap 5. This configuration is the most practical, wherein the cap 5 is provided with the attachment point 3. This means that in use the barrel 6 may be detached from the cap 5, which may be connected via a split ring or other attachment means to another item such as a bag. The barrel 6 may then be extended and the pen (1) may be used.

In addition in this configuration the barrel 6 and cap 5 are unlikely to be permanently separated and any part of the writing instrument I lost.

The telescopic length of the barrel 6 may be determined at manufacture as it may constitute any length or number of sleeves (6a to 6x), allowing a plurality of lengths of pen 1 depending on the specifications required. In the pictured embodiments and ideally the proportion of extension varies from a closed length of approXimately 5cm to an extended length of approximately 10cm, with the diameter of the cap 5 and largest sleeve of the barrel 6a at approximately 1cm.

For example longer final extension lengths of pens may correspond to a larger diameter of the largest sleeve 6a, and therefore larger diameter of the pen 1 when not extended. This would be the case with small length sleeves also. Such embodiments may be better suited to children's stationery.

The sleeves may be configured to prevent movement when extended in some embodiments. This may be by the provision of % turn screw threads at the extended positions of the sleeves, between the sleeves, thereby allowing locking into position.

The collar 4 may be provided with a portion that is deformably flexible (not shown), in that it is constructed of a plastics or rubber material with some resilience or compliance, wherein it forms a bond or seal when the cap and/or sleeve(s) are pushed over it.

Such a seal provider may be a neoprene band or section (not shown), or the collar 4 may be provided in metal or plastic and include some form of allowance for the use of an 0' ring, band or other seal provider. This allowance may be a depression for the seating of said seal. The collar 4 would therefore be typically constructed in a lesser diameter than the cap 5 and/or greatest diameter sleeve 6a. The 0' ring or similar would enlarge the diameter of the collar 4 to just over the diameter of the largest sleeve 6a and/or cap 5, thereby forming in use a seal between the collar 5, cap 4 and/or largest diameter sleeve 6a.

The collar 4 ideally thereby prevents the movement of the cap 5 relative to the telescopic sleeves of the barrel 6. This may also be by a reversible snap-fit mechanism, push-fit mechanism, screw thread, a clip mechanism or other catch means.

As seen in Figure 3 to secure the ink insert 2 into position the collar 4 is screwed into the sleeve with the smallest diameter 6d. In other embodiments a tight joint is provided between the cap 5 and the largest sleeve 6a and hence produce a generally cylindrical tube form to the pen 1, the collar 4 must therefore be smaller in diameter to the interior of the cap 5 and equivalent to the outer diameter of the largest sleeve 6a. The advantages of this continuous exterior are that it avoids snagging and any damage to the constituent parts of the pen 1.

In alternative embodiments the collar 4 may be covered by the largest sleeve 6a. In such embodiments this configuration allows for the largest diameter sleeve 6a to connect directly to the cap 5, thereby preventing movement of the sleeves 6a to 6x in relation to the cap 5 as well as relative to one another. This connection may be formed by a push-fit or snap-fit mechanism.

Alternatively the manufacture may predispose the sleeves 6a to 6x to prevent movement. In further alternatives there is provided a screw-turn or screw thread to engage the cap 5 to the barrel 6.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the collar 4 attaches to the sleeve with the smallest diameter 6d by a screw thread 41.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A writing instrument capable of extending in length, and adapted to receive an insert containing a writing medium; and: a barrel formed from generally hollow sleeves, an insert collar, a cap, and an attachment point.
2. A writing instrument according to claim I has generally hollow sleeves, arranged to be nested so that they define a telescopic pen.
3. A writing instrument according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the barrel extends 150% of its unextended length.
4. A writing instrument according to any preceding claim wherein the barrel is formed of nested sleeves of progressive diameters.
5. A writing instrument according to claim 4 wherein the barrel sleeve with the greatest diameter attaches to the cap.
6. A writing instrument according to any preceding claim wherein there is provided a screw thread between the cap and the sleeve with the greatest diameter.
7. A writing instrument according to any preceding claim wherein the collar has a flexible, deformable portion.
8. A writing instrument according to any preceding claim wherein the cap screws to the collar.
9. A writing instrument according to any preceding claim wherein the sleeve with the greatest diameter attaches directly to the collar.
10. A writing instrument according to any preceding claim wherein the collar includes an 0-ring.
11. A writing instrument according to any preceding claim wherein there is provided more than 2 sleeves in the barrel.
12. A writing instrument according to any preceding claim wherein the sleeves are tapered and/or curved in relation to their length.
13. A writing instrument according to any preceding claim wherein there is provided a replaceable insert.
14. A writing instrument according to any preceding claim wherein the attachment point is rotatable relative to the cap.