Abstract:
Provided is a touch sensor type light-emission writing instrument such as a ball point pen or an automatic pencil, which includes an LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit which is turned on or off by a touch sensor without special illumination at dark places or at night. The touch sensor type light-emission writing instrument includes an LED unit having two light-emission portions which are embedded in a leading-end opening portion of a body accommodating a pencil lead or a ball point internal chamber filled with viscous ink, and which emit light. The negative polarity of the LED unit is directly connected to a battery through a metal plate, a spring etc., in the writing instrument, and the positive polarity thereof is linked on an integrated-circuit (IC) board between the LED unit and the battery. The LED unit is turned on or off by detection of a touch sensor. Accordingly, in comparison with the conventional light-emission writing instrument employing the mechanical switching unit, the touch sensor type light-emission writing instrument employing the touch sensor type switching unit is simple in view of the structure, to thus decrease the number of trouble occurrence, and employs the LED unit having two light-emission portions, to thus provide good brightness so that shadow does not occur as well as to thus facilitate a switching operation of the LED unit, to offer a simply manipulative light-emission writing instrument.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0017498, filed on Feb. 21, 2007, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a touch sensor type light-emission writing instrument such as a ball point pen or an automatic pencil, which includes an LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit which is turned on or off by a touch sensor without a special illumination device at dark places or at night. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    There have been a number of conventional light-emission writing instruments. However, these conventional light-emission writing instruments employ a mechanical switching unit, respectively. Thus, the conventional light-emission writing instruments have a complicated structure, respectively, and may be frequently out of order at the time of a long-term use. Further, since only one light-emission body is embedded in the LED unit of the conventional light-emission writing instrument and is installed at a position departing from the center of the LED unit, a shadow appears at the time of using the conventional light-emission writing instrument. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    To overcome inconveniences of the conventional art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a touch sensor type light-emission writing instrument including an LED unit having two light-emission portions which are embedded in a leading-end opening portion of a body accommodating a pencil lead or a ball point internal chamber filled with viscous ink, and which emit light, in which the negative polarity of the LED unit is directly connected to a battery through a metal plate, a spring etc., in the writing instrument, and the positive polarity thereof is linked on an integrated-circuit (IC) board between the LED unit and the battery, to thus turn on or off the LED unit by detection of a touch sensor. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, in comparison with the conventional light-emission writing instrument employing the mechanical switching unit, the touch sensor type light-emission writing instrument employing the touch sensor type switching unit according to the present invention, is simple in view of the structure, to thus decrease the number of trouble occurrence, and employs the LED unit having two light-emission portions, to thus provide good brightness so that a shadow does not occur as well as to thus facilitate a switching operation of the LED unit, to offer a simply manipulative light-emission writing instrument. 
         [0008]    To accomplish the above object of the present invention, there is provided a touch sensor type light-emission writing instrument comprising: a body member which contains an integrated circuit (IC) board and a battery unit for supplying electric power to the IC board; a grip member which is gripped by a user when writing and into one side of which a writing unit is inserted; a metallic connector which connects the body member and the grip member; a battery cap portion with which one side of the body member is capped so that the battery unit is not seceded from the inside of the body member; a leading-end member which is combined with the writing unit which has been inserted into the one side of the grip member; an LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit which is housed in the leading-end member and is fixed by a fixing unit, in which two light-emission portions are embedded in the LED unit; and a touch sensor which is installed on the body member and is electrically connected with the IC board by user&#39;s touch, to thus turn on or off the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit having the embedded two light-emission portions. 
         [0009]    Preferably but not necessarily, if an automatic pencil is applied as the writing unit, the negative electrode of the battery unit is connected to the negative lead pin of the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit, via an IC board spring, the IC board, a metallic cam cap, a fifth metal plate in a cam unit, a cam spring, an insulation tube cap, and a fourth metal plate which is installed in an outer groove in an insulation tube, in sequence, and the positive electrode of the battery unit which is connected to the positive lead pin of the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit, via a cap metallic element which is installed in the inner side of the battery cap portion, a first metal plate which is installed in the inner side of the body member, the IC board which is turned on or off by detection of the touch sensor, a second metal plate which is installed in the inner side of the body member, the metallic connector, and a third metal plate which is installed in the inner side of the grip member, in sequence. 
         [0010]    Preferably but not necessarily, if a ball point pen is applied as the writing unit, the negative electrode of the battery unit is connected to the negative lead pin of the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit, via an IC board spring, the IC board, an insulation tube cap, and a fourth metal plate which is installed in an outer groove in an insulation tube, in sequence, and the positive electrode of the battery unit which is connected to the positive lead pin of the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit, via a cap metallic element which is installed in the inner side of the battery cap portion, a first metal plate which is installed in the inner side of the body member, the IC board which is turned on or off by detection of the touch sensor, a second metal plate which is installed in the inner side of the body member, the metallic connector, and a third metal plate which is installed in the inner side of the grip member, in sequence. 
         [0011]    Preferably but not necessarily, the touch sensor type light-emission writing instrument further comprises a cap portion which is provided in order to cover the leading-end member. 
         [0012]    Preferably but not necessarily, the cap portion comprises a clip portion to put the writing instrument into a pocket of a shirt, dress or clothes, and a convex lens which is formed at the other side of the cap portion, so that the writing instrument can be used as an illumination unit at a state where the cap portion is fitted with the leading-end member. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The above and/or other aspects of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a touch sensor type light-emission automatic pencil according to an aspect of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a disassembly perspective view showing the touch sensor type light-emission automatic pencil of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is an electric wiring diagram of the touch sensor type light-emission automatic pencil of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a touch sensor type light-emission ball point pen according to another aspect of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  a disassembly perspective view showing the touch sensor type light-emission ball point pen of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is an electric wiring diagram of the touch sensor type light-emission ball point pen of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit which is applied in the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view cut along a line C-C of  FIGS. 3 and 6 ; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view cut along a line D-D of  FIGS. 3 and 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    Hereinbelow, a touch sensor type light-emission writing instrument such as a ball point pen or an automatic pencil according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals are assigned for like elements in the drawings. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a touch sensor type light-emission automatic pencil according to an aspect of the present invent ion, and  FIG. 2  is a disassembly perspective view showing the touch sensor type light-emission automatic pencil of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is an electric wiring diagram of the touch sensor type light-emission automatic pencil of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a touch sensor type light-emission writing instrument employing a touch sensor  1   a  according to an aspect of the present invention is applied in an automatic pencil “A.” A body member  1  contains an integrated circuit (IC) board  8  and a battery unit  9  for supplying electric power to the IC board  8 . Here, the battery unit  9  is inserted into the body member  1  through one end portion of the body member  1 . A battery cap portion  4  is screw-tightened and connected with one side of the body member  1  in order to cap the one side of the body member  1  so that the battery unit  9  is not seceded from the inside of the body member  1 . 
         [0026]    A leading-end member  5  is combined with a pencil tip portion  6   b  which has been inserted into the one side of a grip member  3 . The touch sensor  1   a  is installed on the outer side of the body member  1  and is electrically connected with the IC board  8  by user&#39;s touch, to thus turn on or off an LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b  having two light-emission portions  11   a  (of  FIG. 7 ) embedded. The LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b  is fitted through one side of the leading-end member  5 , and the pencil tip portion  6   b  is fitted through the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b.    
         [0027]    A fixing unit  5   a  is fitted into the leading-end member  5 . Accordingly, the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b  and the pencil tip portion  6   b  closely contact each other. Here, when the fixing unit  5   a  is fitted into the leading-end member  5 , lead pins  5   c  and  5   d  of the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b  are fitted into a pin hole  11   c.  A pencil unit  6  is fitted up to a stopper  6   a  at one side of an insulation tube  10  as illustrated as an enlarged diagram in a larger circle at the lower side of  FIG. 3 . The pencil unit  6  is assembled with one side of the fixing unit  5   a  which makes the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b  and the pencil tip portion  6   b  fixed on the leading-end member  5 , as illustrated as an enlarged diagram in a larger circle in the middle side of  FIG. 3 . Here, the negative polarity lead pin  5   d  of the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b  and protruded from a fixing unit groove  5   e  formed on the side surface of the fixing unit  5   a  is fitted into and assembled with a fourth metal plate  9   d  which is fitted into the outer groove of the insulation tube  10 . 
         [0028]    A grip member  3  is gripped by a user when writing and the pencil unit  6  is inserted into the insulation tube  10  and the grip member  3 . The leading-end member  5  is screw-connected with and assembled with the grip member  3 . In assembly, the positive polarity lead pin  5   c  of the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b  is fitted into and assembled with a third metal plate  9   c  which is fitted onto the inner side of the grip member  3 . 
         [0029]    An insulation tube cap  10   a  of a metallic material which plays a role of a conductor of the negative polarity is fitted into one side of the insulation tube  10  and contacts and is assembled with the fourth metal plate  9   d.  The insulation tube cap  10   a  contacts a cam spring  8   b  of a cam unit  1   c  which is housed in the body member  1 , which is used as an electrical path of the negative electrode of the battery unit  9 . A cam cap  12  which is fitted into one side of a fifth metal plate  9   f  which is fitted into the outer groove of the cam unit  1   c  contacts an IC (Integrated Circuit) board spring  8   a,  which is used as an electrical path of the negative electrode of the battery unit  9 . 
         [0030]    A metallic connector  2  screw-tightens and connects the body member  1  and the grip member  3 , and contacts the positive polarity of a third metal plate  9   c,  which is used as an electrical path of the positive electrode of the battery unit  9  The metallic connector  2  contacts a second metal plate  9   b  which is fitted into the inner side of the body member  1 , to thus contact an IC board  8 . The IC board  8  is connected with the positive electrode of the battery unit  9  through a first metal plate  9   a  which is fitted into the inner side of the body member  1  ann a cap metallic unit  4   a  which is mounted in a battery cap portion  4 . 
         [0031]    The operation of the automatic pencil “A” will follow. If a user presses a cam button  1   b  mounted on the side surface of the body member  1 , the cam unit  1   c  moves. Accordingly, a force is delivered to the pencil unit  6 , and thus a withdrawal unit  6   c  operates in the fixing unit hole  11   d  of the fixing unit  5   a  and a pencil lead  6   d  is delivered and transferred to one side of the pencil tip portion  6   b.  Accordingly, the automatic pencil “A” plays a role of a writing instrument. Here, the touch sensor  1   a  mounted on the outer surface of the body member  1  senses user&#39;s contact to thus turn on or off the IC board  8 , to then light up the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b.    
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 3  which illustrates an electric wiring diagram of the touch sensor type light-emission automatic pencil of  FIG. 1 , the negative electrode of the battery unit  9  is connected to the negative lead pin  5   d  of the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b,  via the IC board spring  8   a,  the IC board  8 , the metallic cam cap  12 , a fifth metal plate  9   f  in the cam unit  1   c,  the cam spring  8   b,  the insulation tube cap  10   a,  and the fourth metal plate  9   d  which is installed in the outer groove in the insulation tube  10 , in sequence. In addition, the positive electrode of the battery unit  9  which is connected to the positive lead pin  5   c  of the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b,  via a cap metallic element which is installed in the inner side of the battery cap portion  4 , the first metal plate  9   a  which is installed in the inner side of the body member  1 , the IC board  8  which is turned on or off by detection of the touch sensor  1   a,  the second metal plate  9   b  which is installed in the inner side of the body member  1 , the metallic connector,  2  and the third metal plate  9   c  which is installed in the inner side of the grip member  3 , in sequence. 
         [0033]    An indent portion  9   e  is formed on the metal plates  9   a,    9   b,    9   c  and  9   d,  respectively, to then be closely fixed to the body member  1 , the screw portion of the grip member  3 , and the caps  10   a  and  12 . 
         [0034]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a touch sensor type light-emission writing instrument employing a touch sensor  1   a  is applied in a ball point pen “B” will be described below. 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a touch sensor type light-emission ball point pen according to another aspect of the present invention, and  FIG. 5  a disassembly perspective view showing the touch sensor type light-emission ball point pen of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 6  is an electric wiring diagram of the touch sensor type light-emission ball point pen of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 to 6 , a body member  1  contains an integrated circuit (IC) board  8  and a battery unit  9  for supplying electric power to the IC board  8 . Here, the battery unit  9  is inserted into the body member  1  through one end portion of the body member  1 . A battery cap portion  4  is screw-tightened and connected with one side of the body member  1  in order to cap the one side of the body member  1  so that the battery unit  9  is not seceded from the inside of the body member  1 . 
         [0037]    A leading-end member  5  is combined with a grip member  3 . The touch sensor la is installed on the outer side of the body member  1  and is electrically connected with the IC board  8  by user&#39;s touch, to thus turn on or off an LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b  having two light-emission portions  11   a  (of  FIG. 7 ) embedded. The LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b  is fitted through one side of a leading-end member  5 . A fixing unit  5   a  is integrated with an insulation tube  10 . The fixing unit integrated insulation tube  10  is fitted into the leading-end member  5  into which the LED (light-emitting diode) unit  5   b  is fitted. Here, lead pins  5   c  and  5   d  of the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b  are fitted into a pin hole  11   c.    
         [0038]    Here, the negative polarity lead pin  5   d  of the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b  and protruded from a fixing unit groove  5   e  formed on the side surface of the fixing unit  5   a  is fitted into and assembled with a fourth metal plate  9   d  which is fitted into the outer groove of the insulation tube  10 . 
         [0039]    A grip member  3  is gripped by a user when writing and a ball point pen unit formed of a ball point internal chamber  10   b  and a ball point pen tip  10   c  is inserted into the insulation tube  10  and the grip member  3 . The leading-end member  5  is screw-connected with and assembled with the grip member  3 . In assembly, the positive polarity lead pin  5   c  of the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b  is fitted into and assembled with a third metal plate  9   c  which is fitted onto the inner side of the grip member  3 . 
         [0040]    As illustrated as an enlarged diagram in a larger circle at the lower side of  FIG. 3  as well as an enlarged diagram in a larger circle in the middle side of  FIG. 3 , the ball point internal chamber  10   b  is inserted into one side of the insulation tube  10 , and is capped with an insulation tube cap  10   a,  which is formed of a metallic material and which plays a role of a conductor of the negative polarity. Thus, a third plate  9   c  of the insulation tube  10  contacts the insulation tube cap  10   a  and the insulation tube cap  10   a  contacts an IC (Integrated Circuit) board spring  8   a,  which is used as an electrical path of the negative electrode of the battery unit  9 . 
         [0041]    A metallic connector  2  screw-tightens and connects the body member  1  and the grip member  3 , and contacts the positive polarity of a third metal plate  9   c,  which is used as an electrical path of the positive electrode of the battery unit  9 . The metallic connector  2  contacts a second metal plate  9   b  which is fitted into the inner side of the body member  1 , to thus contact an IC board  8 . The IC board  8  is connected with the positive electrode of the battery unit  9  through a first metal plate  9   a  which is fitted into the inner side of the body member  1  ann a cap metallic unit  4   a  which is mounted in a battery cap portion  4 . 
         [0042]    In the case of the ball point pen “B,” the screw tightened metallic connector  2  is opened, to thus open the insulation tube cap  10   a  and substitute one ball point internal chamber  10   b  with another. 
         [0043]    Here, the touch sensor  1   a  mounted on the outer surface of the body member  1  senses user&#39;s contact to thus turn on or off the IC board  8 , to then light up the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b.    
         [0044]    As shown in  FIG. 6  which illustrates an electric wiring diagram of the touch sensor type light-emission ball point pen of  FIG. 4 , the negative electrode of the battery unit  9  is connected to the negative lead pin  5   d  of the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b,  via the IC board spring  8   a,  the IC board  8 , the insulation tube cap  10   a,  and the fourth metal plate  9   d  which is installed in the outer groove in the insulation tube  10 , in sequence, and the positive electrode of the battery unit  9  is connected to the positive lead pin  5   c  of the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b,  via the cap metallic element  4   a  which is installed in the inner side of the battery cap portion  4 , the first metal plate  9   a  which is installed in the inner side of the body member  1 , the IC board  8  which is turned on or off by detection of the touch sensor  1   a,  the second metal plate  9   b  which is installed in the inner side of the body member  1 , the metallic connector  2 , and the third metal plate  9   c  which is installed in the inner side of the grip member  3 , in sequence. 
         [0045]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b  which is applied in the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b  includes a through hole  11   b  formed at the center thereof so that the pencil tip portion  6   b  or the ball point pen tip portion  10   c  can be fitted via the through hole  11   b.  Two light-emission portions  11   a  are embedded in the respective sides of the through hole  11   b  of the LED unit  5   b.  For this purpose, the lead pins  5   c  and  5   d  are connected in parallel with each other, by a connection pin  5   f,  respectively. Accordingly, when the electric power is supplied to the two light-emission portions  11   a  from the battery unit  9 , it becomes brighter in comparison with the case using only one light-emission portion and a shadow of the pencil tip portion  6   b  or the ball point pen tip portion  10   c  does not occur. 
         [0046]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view cut along a line C-C of  FIGS. 3 and 6 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the fixing unit  5   a  includes a fixing unit hole  11   d  penetrating through the center thereof, so that a pencil unit  6  and a ball point internal chamber  10   b  is inserted through the fixing unit hole  11   d.  In addition, the fixing unit  5   a  includes pin holes  11   c  through which the positive and negative lead pins  5   c  and  5   d  of the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b  are inserted. The fixing unit  5   a  fixes the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b  which is fitted into the leading-end member  5 , at one side of the fixing unit  5   a.  The other side of the fixing unit  5   a  is integrated with the insulation tube  10 . However, the fixing unit  5   a  may be alternatively fitted into and fixed to the insulation tube  10 . The fixing unit hole  11   d  plays a role of an operational space for the withdrawal unit  6   c  of the pencil unit  6  or the ball point pen tip  10   c  and the ball point pen internal chamber  10   b.  That is, the fixing unit hole  11   d  has a useful structure of substituting a ball point internal chamber  10   b  with another, or withdrawing a pencil lead. 
         [0047]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view cut along a line D-D of  FIGS. 3 and 6 . Fixing unit grooves  5   e  are provided in the fixing unit  5   a,  in order to connect lead pins  5   c  and  5   d  that pass through pin holes  11   c  of the fixing unit  5   a  with the third and fourth metal plates  9   c  and  9   d,  respectively. 
         [0048]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4 , and  5 , a cap portion  7  is provided in order to cover the leading-end member  5  to protect the pencil tip portion  6   b  or the ball point pen tip portion  10   c.  When writing, the cap portion  7  is fitted onto the battery cap portion  4 . In addition, the cap portion  7  includes a clip portion  7   a  to put the writing instrument into a pocket of a shirt, dress or clothes. In addition, if a convex lens  7   b  is formed at the other side of the cap portion  7 , the writing instrument can be used as an illumination unit at a state where the cap portion  7  is fitted with the leading-end member  5 . 
         [0049]    As described above, the present invention provides a touch sensor type light-emission writing instrument in which a touch sensor type light-emission device including an LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit, a touch sensor, an IC board, and a battery unit, is employed in a mechanical or automatic pencil or a ball point pen. Accordingly, the touch sensor type light-emission writing instrument can be conveniently used since the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit is easily turned on or off by user&#39;s touch of the touch sensor at dark places or at night, without having a separate flash device. In addition, since two light-emitting portions  11   a  are embedded in the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) unit  5   b,  shadows do not occur by the pencil tip portion  6   b  or the ball point pen tip portion  10   c.  Further, the touch sensor type light-emission writing instrument is simple in its structure, it is not frequently out of order. 
         [0050]    The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. It is apparent to one who has an ordinary skill in the art that there may be many modifications and variations within the same technical spirit of the invention.