Abstract:
A writing instrument with an outer element ( 20, 22 ) that extends away from a pen ( 24, 26 ) and pen receptacle ( 20 ) into a substantially flat card like base ( 22 ). Which then can be adhered to a second object or stand alone as a card like pen.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS  
       [0001]     Not Applicable  
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
       [0002]     Not Applicable  
       SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM  
       [0003]     Not Applicable  
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0004]     1. Field of Invention  
         [0005]     This invention relates to wallet sized writing instruments used as a means to display images.  
         [0006]     2. Prior Art  
         [0007]     The need for a pen which is convenient to carry on the person always and the need for an effective way of advertising are well known and recognized.  
         [0008]     Writing instruments have traditionally been round or polygonal with a clip so as to carry on your person in a pocket, on a shirt sleeve, ect., but very often one forgets to carry a traditional pen at all times. This makes them inconvenient, but necessary. Likewise the very idea of the semi-permanence and necessity of a writing instrument has sparked numerous ideas pertaining to both promotion (product, logo, slogan, business, ect.) and more convenient ways to carry a pen.  
         [0009]     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,577 issued to Abernethy in 1992 the problem of advertising to a pen is approached as a novelty with a swinging card attached to a full sized pen. The invention is not truly practical to carry on your person nor is it distinguished enough to keep on a business desk.  
         [0010]     Likewise U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,161 issued to Feng in 1988 while capable of placing on a desk, is cumbersome to carry around and doesn&#39;t sufficiently address the need of cheep efficient advertising.  
         [0011]     Also in the marketplace their are pens with advertising printed directly on the pen. These pens are convenient, but still are constricted by the constraints of the traditional ball pen, namely not being convenient to carry said pen with advertising on your person always.  
         [0012]     Also several types of portable pens have been invented. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,880 issued to Sekiguchi in 1989 pens carved out of a card lack practicality. Each pen must be snapped in and out of the card which requires consciences attention so as to take the pens out of the wallet snap them out and then when done properly fit then back into place.  
         [0013]     In U.S. Pat. Nos. D302,985 and 5,897,261 issued to Vinck in 1989 and Goetz in 1999 respectively, both pens need to be removed from a card pocket before use. Also caps conceivably must be removed and then replaced when done. And finally, all these compact pens would require something other than traditional pen dynamics, which calls for a 3/16 inch in diameter ink well which is substantially larger than an card pocket, making all these pens cumbersome and very tight fitting in use. If manufactured to fit comfortably in a wallet all would be wafer like and uncomfortable.  
       OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES  
       [0014]     Accordingly the objects and advantages of my present invention are:  
         [0015]     a) A compact wallet sized pen which can be produced using similar elements as a traditional writing instrument.  
         [0016]     b) A pen which can easily be inserted into a wallet.  
         [0017]     c) A compact pen which can be slid in and out of a wallet with relative ease and simplicity.  
         [0018]     d) A compact pen which can extend to fit any normal sized hand.  
         [0019]     e) A pen design which can be incorporated into a plastic credit card or be affixed to a card of some other substance whereby pen can become a means to display images.  
         [0020]     f) A convenient means of displaying images that will be kept because of the necessity and semi-permanence of a writing instrument.  
         [0021]     Further objects and advantages are to provide a pen which will be convenient to carry in your person always, easy to distribute, inexpensive to manufacture, and a pen that is simple and convenient to use. Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0022]     In accordance with the present invention a writing instrument comprising of an outer element which is flat on one side and has a receptacle for an inner pen. Flat surface shall extend away from the receptacle to create a base. Said flat surface shall also be thin enough to either fit in a card pocket or be adhered to another object without substantially altering the other object. 
     
    
     DRAWINGS—FIGURES  
       [0023]      FIG. 1  shows the back view of the assembled writing instrument as a one piece card.  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  shows the back view of the assembled writing instrument.  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  shows the side view of the writing instrument as a one piece card.  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  shows the side view of the writing instrument, to be adhered to a second object.  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  shows the inner writing instrument in the closed position.  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  shows the inner writing instrument in an extended or open position.  
         [0029]      FIG. 7  shows a detail of the inner pen&#39;s cover at the point where the ink well enters.  
         [0030]      FIG. 8  shows an isometric detail of the inner pen in a fully open position.  
         [0031]      FIG. 9  shows an isometric exploded parts assembly view of the writing instrument.  
         [0032]      FIG. 10  shows a front view of the writing instrument with images displayed.  
         [0033]      FIG. 11  shows a front view of the inner pen being removed by a finger from the outer element.  
         [0034]      FIG. 12  shows the assembled writing instrument inside a wallet card pocket.  
     
    
     DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS  
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               20  pen cavity (outer element)  
               22  base of outer element  
               24  ink well  
               26  ink well cover  
               28  pinched side  
               30  locking ridge  
               32  locking groove  
           
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     Preferred Embodiment—FIGS.  1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4   
       [0042]     The preferred embodiment of the present invention, wallet card writing instrument is illustrated in FIGS.  1  (back view),  2  (back view),  3  (side view), and  4  (side view with card on which to be adhered). The writing instrument consists of three parts: an inner inkwell with writing element  24 , an outer slidable cover  26  which protects the inkwell while in the wallet, and an outer element  20 ,  22  which serves as cap to the instrument.  
         [0043]     In  FIG. 1  the outer element  20 , 22  has an extended base  22  and measures the standard size of a credit card about 3.5 inches by 2 inches. Ideally it is made out of plastic, but can be made out of any suitable material. The inner writing instrument or pen  24 , 26  sits snugly inside the a cavity  20  formed within the outer element  20 , 22  itself, as further demonstrated in  FIG. 3 . Also a ridge, groove system  30 , 32  can be incorporated into the design to keep the pen  24 , 26  locked into place when not in use. The pen  24 , 26  need not be limited to the male female design, another embodiment could be a dock for a pen which snaps snugly into place.  
         [0044]      FIGS. 2 and 4  illustrate how the outer element&#39;s base  22  can be shortened so as to achieve an adhere able flat side that will not substantially alter the use or dynamics of the subject which will accept the writing instrument, such as a business card.  
         [0045]     Typically standard ink wells  24  are less than 3/16 inch in diameter and normally have two parallel pinched sides  28  to facilitate the use of a spring. The present invention incorporates this technology as more clearly illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 8 .  
       Pen Operation—FIGS.  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8   
       [0046]     The inner writing instrument or pen  24 , 26  should be manufactured so as to ease the use of the pen  24 , 26 .  FIG. 5  illustrates the pen  24 , 26  in the fully closed position (unextended). Incidentally, notice the ridge  30 , now exposed, which can lock the pen  24 , 26  into the outer element  20 , 22 .  
         [0047]      FIG. 6  is the pen  24 , 26  fully extended. It&#39;s important to notice the two pinched sides  28  that facilitate a smooth sliding system during the extension process and how they serve as a kind of lock to stop the slidable cover  26  when the pen  24 , 26  is fully extended, detailed in  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 7  is a detail of the pen cover  26  at the end where the ink well  24  enters. This end serves as both a stopper for the pinched sides  28  and as a locking mechanism for the closed inner writing instrument  24 ,  26 . This end shall be made of an sufficiently pliable material which can when slotted accept the ink well  24 , last through the sliding process and finally lock slightly over the end of the ink well  24  to hold the pen  24 , 26  closed.  
         [0048]      FIG. 9  illustrates the wallet card writing instrument broken down into its three parts. The groove  32  for the ridge on the pen cover  30  is represented by hidden lines.  
       Embodiment Views—FIGS.  10 ,  11 ,  12   
       [0049]     There are many ways in which the present invention can be used. In  FIGS. 10, 11 ,  12  some uses and operations are illustrated.  
         [0050]     In  FIG. 10  the front view of the present invention is shown. Images displayed on the front of a card is added as a possible use of the writing instrument.  FIG. 11  illustrates the slidability of the inner pen  24 ,  26 . A finger demonstrates the ease of operation of the wallet card writing instrument.  
         [0051]      FIG. 12  illustrates the wallet card writing instrument inside the card pocket of a wallet. Clearly the wallet card writing instrument takes up no more room than a standard business or credit card. It can be carried comfortably inside a wallet, and for the life of the pen it won&#39;t be discarded or forgotten not on person. Its simplicity of design and its use of traditional manufacturing standards, make it superior to the many inventions that came before it. Utility, ease of use, and affordability are the aims of the wallet card writing instrument. It is salable and effective as a means of advertisement and its uses need not stop there. The wallet card writing instrument offers assistance to all people that ever found themselves without a pen and likewise it offers help to anyone trying to reach the public with a message.  
         [0052]     Although the description above contains specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example the instrument can be adhered to a pad of paper, have other shapes, of different locking mechanisms, ect.  
         [0053]     Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than the examples given.