Abstract:
A writing instrument that provides a magnification lens to view a logo or visual image from inside the barrel of the pen. The writing instrument has a cartridge, printable sleeve, magnification member and a pen barrel. The pen barrel is capable of accepting the printable sleeve and cartridge therethrough. The pen barrel has a first end and a second end. On the surface of the pen barrel between the first and second ends there is a magnification member. The magnification member is capable of magnifying the visual image on the printable sleeve. The printable sleeve is movable between successive positions to successively display one or more visual images with respect to the magnification member. The magnification member can be a clear or tinted lens for magnifying visual images such as a logo or message.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates to a writing instrument having a display window along the barrel with a clear or tinted magnifying lens which enlarges a logo or message provided inside the barrel or body member of the writing instrument, such as on the cartridge or message barrel. The lens is constructed from a synthetic material and is shaped to create magnification of the logo or message viewed. Usually writing instruments are relatively small and thus the surface area to include a message or logo would also be small. Therefore, this invention advantageously facilitates easy viewing of a message or logo inside the writing instrument. The writing instrument provides means for rotating the cartridge or surface on which message is contained, past the magnifying lens, to allow a series of material to be seen.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Writing devices are commonly used to display images or messages. Many of the writing instruments contain an opaque barrel having a covered window for displaying the logo or message. As some holes are open, some contain a transparent material covering the opening. Both constructions allow the user to see the message or logo. However, because writing instruments are relatively small, a small surface area is provided to contain a logo or message. Therefore, the ability to view and comprehend the information provided on a writing instrument is limited by the size of the writing instrument. Although the user can see the message or logo, it is usually very small and hard to see. Therefore, there is a need for a writing instrument that enhances a user&#39;s ability to see logos or advertisements inside a writing instrument.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention is a writing instrument that incorporates a clear or tinted lens for magnifying a logo or message contained in the body of the writing instrument, and is easy to operate.  
         [0004]     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the writing instrument comprises a pen barrel, advancing member, lens, a printable sleeve and a cartridge. The cartridge is generally tubular and has a first end and a second end. The first end of the cartridge has a means of writing. The printable sleeve is generally tubular. The printable sleeve has a first end and a second end. The cartridge is essentially co-axially aligned inside the printable sleeve. The printable sleeve contains a tubular surface area where multiple messages, logos or advertisements can be displayed.  
         [0005]     The pen barrel contains a first end and a second end. The pen barrel has a hollow space that is defined by its shape. The first end of the pen barrel accepts the first end of the cartridge and printable sleeve. The cartridge and printable sleeve axially align inside the pen barrel. A window or opening in the surface of the pen barrel allows a user to view a portion of the printable sleeve or cartridge. Covering the window or opening is a lens. The lens provides magnification and may be clear or tinted and preferable constructed of a synthetic material. The lens can be flat and placed in the window in the pen barrel or molded in a 360-degree fashion to become apart of the pen barrel.  
         [0006]     The writing instrument further comprises multiple advancing members. These advancing members work cooperatively to rotate the printable sleeve a predetermined degree and cause the cartridge to be in a writing or retracted position.  
         [0007]     In another embodiment of the present invention the writing instrument comprises a printable cartridge, an advancing member and a pen barrel. The printable cartridge is generally tubular. The printable cartridge has a first end and a second end. The first end of the printable cartridge has a means of writing. In one embodiment of the present invention the means for writing is a ball point pen. The printable cartridge contains a tubular surface area where messages, logos or advertisements can be displayed. In one embodiment of the present invention the surface area is triangular. The second end of the printable cartridge contains a first advancing mechanism. The advancing member has a first end and a second end. The first end of the advancing member axially accepts the second end of the printable cartridge. The second end of the advancing member may be a button. The button contains a second advancing mechanism. When the button is pressed the first advancing mechanism and second advancing mechanisms cooperatively rotate the printable cartridge a predetermined degree. When the first and second advancing mechanisms cooperatively work to rotate the printable cartridge it causes the printable cartridge to rotate ninety degrees such that the printable cartridge can have four words, messages or logos for viewing upon each rotation.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     A preferred embodiment of the present invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side cross-sectional view of the writing instrument wherein a first visual image is shown through the magnification display window and the writing element is in the writing position.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of the writing instrument of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the writing instrument of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]     With reference to the drawings, wherein the same reference number indicates the same element throughout, there is shown in  FIG. 1 a  cross-sectional side view of a lens pen  10  of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the lens pen  10  includes a pen barrel  1 , a lens  2 , a printable cartridge  4 , a spring  7 , a first advancing mechanism  40 , a second advancing mechanism  5 , and an advancing member  8 . The printable cartridge  4  contains a message area  3 , a writing end  6  and an advancing end  13 .  
         [0015]     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the lens pen  10  of the present invention has a pen barrel  1  containing a lens  2  which magnifies a message on the message area  3  on an internal printable cartridge  4  and allows it to be viewed therethrough. The pen barrel  1  may be constructed from various types of material including plastic. The pen barrel  1  has a circular cross section, but can have a non-circular cross section. The pen barrel may have a square, triangle, hexagon or octagon shape cross section. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the pen barrel  1  has an outside diameter B and an inside diameter A, defining the depth of the pen barrel  1 . The pen barrel  1  has a first end  11  and a second end  12 . In between the first end  11  and the second end  12  of the pen barrel  1  is a window that is capable of accepting the lens  2 . The lens  2  can contain a flange. The flange allows the lens  2  to snap into the window of the pen barrel  1 . The flange may have a rectangular or square cross section. The flange may be molded in a three hundred and sixty degree (360°) fashion to fit within the pen barrel  1 . The spring  7  is concentrically nested inside the first end  11  of the pen barrel  1 . The first end of the pen barrel  11  has an aperture that accepts the writing end  6  of the printable cartridge  4  therethrough. The second end of the pen barrel  12  has an aperture, capable of allowing the printable cartridge  4  therethrough. The writing end  6  of the printable cartridge  4  is axially placed into the second end of the pen barrel  12 . The printable cartridge  4  is placed axially inside the pen barrel  1  until the writing end of the printable cartridge  6  axially engages the spring  7 . The writing end  6  of the printable cartridge  4  extends through the spring  7  and the aperture of the first end of the pen barrel  1 . The second end  13  of the printable cartridge contains a first advancing mechanism  40 . The advancing member  8  has a first end  14  and a second end  15 . The first end  14  of the advancing member  8  axially accepts the second end  13  of the printable cartridge. The second end  15  of the advancing member  8  may be a button or a cap. The second end  15  of the advancing member  8  contains a second advancing mechanism  5 . When the button or cap is pressed the first advancing mechanism and second advancing mechanism  5  cooperatively rotate the printable cartridge  4  a predetermined degree. In one embodiment of the present invention the second end  13  of the printable cartridge  4  contains longitudinal ribs to correspond to longitudinal depressions in the advancing member  8 .  
         [0016]     The second advancing mechanism  5  rotates the printable cartridge  4  forty-five (45) degrees with each predetermined rotation and activation of the advancing member  8 . The second advancing mechanism  5  can rotate the printable cartridge  4  sixty (60) degrees with each predetermined rotation and activation of the advancing member  8 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the printable cartridge  4  has a circular cross section C. The printable cartridge  4  can have a triangular, square or other shaped cross section (not shown).  
         [0017]     The printable cartridge  4  has a message area  3  between the writing end  6  and the advancing end  13 . A message or logo can be written directly on the printable cartridge  4 . The printable cartridge  4  may contain four (4) or more messages or logos. The message area  3  can be externally viewed through the lens  2 .  
         [0018]     The lens  2  is shown to be clear. The lens  2  may also be tinted. The lens  2  can be constructed of a synthetic material. The lens  2  may be shaped in a manner known to one skilled in the art to create magnification. When viewed externally, the lens  2  magnifies the message of the printable cartridge  4 . The lens  2  can be added to an existing pen barrels by providing an opening on the pen barrel  1 . The lens can be molded in a three hundred sixty degree (360°) fashion to become part of the pen barrel  1  such that an individual lens is unnecessary.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of another embodiment of the present invention. The writing instrument shown comprises a pen barrel  1 , a lens  2 , a spring  7 , a printable cartridge  4  and advancing member  8 . The writing instrument of  FIG. 4  is similar to the writing instrument of  FIGS. 1-3  except that it has a button as an advancing member  8 .  
         [0020]     In another embodiment of the present invention the writing instrument comprises a printable sleeve similar to  26  of  FIG. 5 . The printable sleeve is capable of axially accepting the printable cartridge  4 . The printable sleeve has a first end and a second end. A message area is in between the first and second end. A message or logo can be written on the printable sleeve. The message area can be externally viewed through the lens.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The writing instrument shown in  FIG. 5  has a writing tip  21 , finger pad  22 , base member  23 , first spring  24 , cartridge  25 , printable sleeve  26 , lens  27 , pen barrel  28 , first advancing member  29 , second advancing member  30 , third advancing member  31 , clip  32 , second spring  33 , pen top  34  and cap  35 . The writing tip  21  has a first end, a second end and a hole therethrough to accept the cartridge  25 . The second end of the writing tip  21  is internally threaded. The base member  23  has a first end and a second end. The first end is externally threaded to cooperatively engage the second end of the writing tip  21 . The base member  23  is concentrically nested inside the finger pad  22 . The cartridge has a first end and a second end. The first end of the cartridge has a writing means and concentrically nests within the first spring  24  and the base member  23 . The pen barrel  28  has a first end and second end. The pen barrel  28  has a window between the first end and second end. The lens  27  has a flange that is capable of snapping into the window of the pen barrel  28 . The first end of the pen barrel  28  is sized to receive and engage the second end of the base member  23 . The second end of the pen barrel  28  axially accepts the printable sleeve  26  which encircles the cartridge  25 . The printable sleeve  26  contains a message area  3 . A message or logo can be written directly on the printable sleeve  26 . The printable sleeve  26  has a first end and a second end. The second end of the printable sleeve  26  has an internal protrusion. The first end of the first advancing member  29  abuts the non-writing end of the cartridge  25  and has grooves that correspond to the internal protrusion of the printable sleeve  26 . The second end of the first advancing member  29  has teeth. The first end of the second advancing member  30  has teeth that correspond to the teeth of the second end of the first advancing member  29 . The third advancing member  31  has a first end and a second end. The first end of the third advancing member  31  has a larger radius than the second end. The second end of the third advancing member  31  has internal protrusions to correspond to the teeth of the first end of the second advancing member  30 . The internal protrusions accept the teeth of the second end of the first advancing member  29 . The first end of the third advancing member  31  axially engages the clip  32 . The second spring  33  is sized so as fit axially within the first end of the third advancing member. The pen top  34  has a first end and a second end. The second end fits axially within the second end of the third advancing member  31 . The cap  35  fits axially over the first end of the pen top  34 . When pressure is applied to the cap  35  it causes the second spring  33  to be pressed down. This activates the second advancing member  30  which turns the first advancing member  29 . When the first advancing member  29  is turned it rotates the printable sleeve  26  a predetermined degree and causes the cartridge to be activated.