US3384742A - Ballpoint penlight - Google Patents

Description

S. G. DELLIGATTI BALLPOINT PENLIGHT May 21, 1968 Filed Feb. 4, 1966 /A/VfNro/a l S.G. DELLIGATTI United States Patent Oiiice 3,384,742 Patented May 21, 1968 3,384,742 BALLPOINT PENLIGHT Susie G. Delligatti, 11-24 46th Ave., Long Island City, N.Y. 11101 Filed Feb. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 525,046 3 Claims. (Cl. 240-6.46)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The ballpoint pen has a self contained light source comprising a hollow plastic cylindrical barrel having first and second parallel bores. rThe first bore houses a ballpoint pen cartridge wherein the portion defining the opening yfor the point is transparent. The second bore houses battenes and a light bulb. A slanted flat lens plate closes the opening of the second bore adjacent the point of the pen. A reflector is employed to the rear of the bulb to reflect the light thereof through the lens and transparent portion about the point.

My invention is directed toward ballpoint pens having self contained light sources which can be turned on or off to provide illumination when desired.

It is an object of my invention to provide a new and improved ballpoint penlight of the character indicated which can be used either as a flashlight or as a pen and in addition can be -used simultaneously both as a pen and as a light source whereby the user can write `in what would otherwise be darkness.

Another object is to provide a new and improved ballpoint penlight of the character indicated wherein the light not only illuminates the surrounding area but also illuminates the ballpoint as well.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved ballpoint penlight of the character indicated which can be manufactured easily and inexpensively.

All of the kforegoing and still Vfurther objects and advantages of my invention will now be explained with reference -both to this specification and to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a cross sectional view of one form of my invention; and

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of another form of my invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an elongated hollow plastic cylindrical barrel has a removable end cap 12 at one end thereof and a lower section 11 which can be engaged therewith or disengaged therefrom by snap action. Barrel 10 and section 11 have first and second parallel hollow bores 14 and 16 within which the cartridge and batteries a-re received. The snap joint then allows for replacement of parts whenever necessary.

Bores 14 and 16 extend parallel to the axis of the barrel. The first bore 14 is narrow and accommodates a ball point cartridge 18 havin-g a conventional spring 20 and having a lower opening at the other end of the barrel through which the point can be extended in writing position or withdrawn under the conventional control of conventional slide clip 21. The portion 22 of the barrel defining this lower opening is transparent. The lower end of bore 16 is scaled by a slanted transparent magnifying lens plate 24 connected with portion 22. Bore 16 is lined with metal at 26 and contains two dry cells positioned end to en-d as shown at 28 and 30. The far end of cell 28 bears against spring 32. The opposite end of cell 30 bears against socket 34 supporting bulb 36 which is positioned adjacent plate 24. Clip 38 on barrel 10 has an upper position at which lever 40' connected to clip 38 holds cells 28 and 30 out of contact with each other whereby the bulb is dark. When the clip 38 is pushed downward the pressure of lever 40 or cell 28 is released, and spring 32 pushes cell 28 in contact with cell 30 to light the bulb.

FIG. 2 shows the same arrangement but in addition incorporating a reflector 40` mounted on socket 34 and housing bulb 36. Reflector 40 has a hole 42 through which the cartridge 18 passes.

ln either case, my invention can be operated either as a pen or as a flashlight or in combination as a penlight. Portion 22 and plate 24 interact as light transmission means whereby both the bottom end of the pen and the surrounding area are illuminated when the bulb is lit. Reflector 40 provides a more confined light distribution.

While I have described my invention with particular reference to the drawings, my protection is to be limited only by the terms of the claims which follow.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A ballpoint penlight comprising a hollow plastic cylindrical barrel having first and second bores extending downward in said barrel parallel to the axis of the barrel, an end cap detachably secured to one end of the barrel, the other end of said barrel having an opening for said first bore, a slanted dat lens plate connected to said opening and sealing one end of said second bore, a ballpoint pen cartridge mounted in said first bore, and light producing means positioned in said second bore, said means including a bulb positioned adjacent said plate, a portion of said barrel adjacent said one end of said first bore being transparent, and a reflector coupled to said bulb to direct light upon said plate.

2. A penlight as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means includes an on-off switch.

3. A penlight as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means also includes two dry cells.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,181,061 4/ 1916 Bettencourt 240-6.46 2,052,501 8/ 1936 Thornton 24o-6.46 2,964,614 12/ 1960 Buschle 240-6.46

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

D. L. IACOBSON, JOSEPH F. PETERS, IR.,

Assistant Examiners.

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