Patent ID: 6695512
Filing Date: 2004-02-24
Classification: B43K

Abstract:
A writing implement comprising:a housing having an opening and a hollow interior; a writing tip and means adapted to provide said writing tip with an uninterrupted flow of marking material, with said marking material means at least substantially positioned within said housing; a sleeve having a smaller end with an opening therethrough that is slightly larger in diameter than said writing tip, said sleeve being partially positioned through said opening in said housing so as to be movable between a raised position wherein said writing tip extends through and beyond said opening in said smaller end of said sleeve and a lowered position wherein said writing tip is covered by said sleeve; lifting means connected to said sleeve adapted for moving said sleeve into said raised position; lowering means adapted for movement of said sleeve into said lowered position; engagement means exposed through said housing and adapted for activation of said lifting means; locking means adapted for preventing said sleeve from being inadvertently raised from its lowered and protective position around said writing tip until deliberately released; and stop means adapted to define the limits of movement of said sleeve between said raised position and said lowered and protective position whereby when light finger pressure is applied to said engagement means, said sleeve is temporarily raised for use of said writing tip for writing, marking, highlighting, and coloring purposes, and when use of said writing tip is concluded, cessation of the light finger pressure causes said lowering means to promptly move said sleeve into said lowered position around said writing tip where it is unavailable for further marking use until said sleeve is again raised by successively applied light finger pressure.