Abstract:
A carabiner-type attachment for writing instruments in which the carabiner-type attachment device is attached to the side of said writing instrument or the cap therefor. The attachment device is preferably in the form of a carabiner in which at least a portion of the carabiner body is integral with a pen or pen cap. In alternative embodiments the attachment device is removable from said writing instrument or the cap of the writing instrument.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of and incorporates by reference the entirety of each of the following U.S. Design patent applications:  
         [0002]    29/179,838 filed Apr. 15, 2003; 29/179,765 filed Apr. 15, 2003; 29/179,764 filed Apr. 15, 2003, 29/179,766 filed Apr. 15, 2003; 29/179,839 filed Apr. 15, 2003; and 29/180,486 filed Apr. 24, 2003, all entitled WRITING IMPLEMENT WITH CARABINER. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The invention relates generally to carabiner-type attachment devices adapted to use on writing instruments such as pens and caps therefor.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    Carabiners have long been in use for providing a means for attaching articles to each other. Such devices have numerous applications, such as for example enabling multiple articles to be secured to a backpack, purse, handbag, key chain or the like. U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,266 discloses a typical carabiner-type attachment device.  
           [0005]    Writing instruments are ubiquitous and in most occupations are indispensable. As such it is useful to be able to attach a writing instrument to a garment, clipboard or the like so as not to misplace the instrument. Heretofore writing instruments have been equipped with resilient clips for attachment purposes. These clips are not suitable for all applications, however. For instance, such clips are not well suited for attaching a writing instrument to a strap, belt loop or the like. United States Design Pat. No. 449,857 discloses an ornamental design for a combination pen and carabiner in which the carabiner is attached by a ring to said pen wherein the pen, when in an attached mode depending from said carabiner, can move freely in relation to the carabiner. Such a design is disadvantageous since the depending pen can swing wildly from the carabiner causing possible injury. Likewise, Fiskars has recently marketed a highlighting pen having a carabiner-like attachment co-molded to the top end of a pen or top end of a pen cap. This device has the similar disadvantage of being subject to swinging freely from an attached position. Moreover, in the embodiment wherein the carabiner is co-molded to the pen cap, the likelihood of the pen unintentionally separating and detaching from the pen cap, when the pen cap is attached by the co-molded carabiner to a strap or the like, is increased when unintended force is applied, i.e., when the depending pen swings from its point of attachment centrifugal force is applied in the precise direction employed to remove said cap for purposes of intended use.  
           [0006]    Therefore it would be a considerable advantage to be able to attach the writing instrument to other articles such as but not limited to luggage, belt loops, towel racks, wall hooks, utility belts, backpacks and the like in a manner that is safe and is less likely to result in separation of the writing instrument from the cap employed therewith.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention provides a carabiner-type attachment for writing instruments in which the carabiner-type attachment device is attached to the side of said writing instrument or the cap therefor. The attachment device is preferably in the form of a carabiner in which at least a portion of the carabiner body is integral with a pen or pen cap.  
         OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a carabiner-type attachment for a writing instrument.  
           [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a carabiner-type attachment for a cap for a writing instrument.  
           [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a carabiner-type attachment for a writing instrument wherein the carabiner-type attachment device is integral with the writing instrument.  
           [0011]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a carabiner-type attachment for a writing instrument wherein the carabiner-type attachment device is detachably connected to the writing instrument.  
           [0012]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a carabiner-type attachment for a writing instrument wherein the carabiner-type attachment device is integral with a cap for the writing instrument.  
           [0013]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a carabiner-type attachment for a writing instrument wherein the carabiner-type attachment device is detachably connected to a cap for the writing instrument.  
           [0014]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a carabiner-type attachment for a writing instrument wherein the carabiner-type attachment permits safe and secure attachment of the writing instrument to luggage, belt loops, towel racks, wall hooks, utility belts, backpacks and the like.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1C is a perspective view of a most preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a front view of the embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 2;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3A is a top sectional view of the embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 3 through the line A-A′;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3B is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4A is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the band element of FIG. 4;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 is a front view of a further embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5A is a back view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 5;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5B is a top view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 5A;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 5C is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 5A, wherein the carabiner-type attachment device is disengaged from the writing instrument;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0033]    In the following description, for purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one having ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known features may be omitted or simplified so as not to obscure the present invention. Furthermore, reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.  
         [0034]    Now referring to FIGS. 1 and 1A a preferred embodiment of the device  2  comprises essentially a writing instrument  10  and at least one attachment device  30 .  
         [0035]    Writing instrument  10  may comprise any suitable writing instrument with or without a cap  12  including but not limited to a pen, pencil, marker or the like as are well known in the art.  
         [0036]    Attachment device  30  comprises at least one body member  32  and one openable gate member  38 . Now referring to FIG. 1 in a preferred embodiment body member  32  comprises at least a first elongated section comprising a first end  34  and a second end  36  and is typically fabricated of any material suitable for attachment devices such as but not limited to bare or coated metal, wood, rubber, plastic, combinations thereof or any other suitable material as is well known in the art. In a preferred embodiment gate member  38  comprises an elongated member pivotably attached at one end to one end  34  or  36  of said body member  32 . The other end of gate member  38  contacts or is in close proximity to the other end  34  or  36  of said body member  32  when said gate  38  is in a closed position. In a preferred embodiment gate member  38  is inwardly openable. Gate member  38  is fabricated of any suitable material as recited above for body member  32 , but does not necessarily need to be of the same material as that of body member  32 . Gate member  38  may be separately molded and attached to body member  32  by means of a pin or other means well known in the art. In a preferred embodiment body member  32  is curvilinear. In a most preferred embodiment attachment device  30  is formed in the shape of a carabiner but as seen in FIGS. 6-9 other shapes are contemplated by the present invention.  
         [0037]    Now referring to FIG. 1A, in a preferred embodiment writing instrument further comprises a cap  12 . Attachment device  30  is integrally formed with said cap  12 . Now referring to FIG. 1B attachment device  30  is integral with said writing instrument  10 . Such integral embodiment may be achieved by any means known in the art appropriate for the material employed in construction of the attachment means, such as for example molding where said attachment means is fabricated of plastic.  
         [0038]    Now referring to FIG. 1B in one embodiment body member  32  is integral with said writing instrument  10  and comprises at least a first elongated section  33  and second elongated section  35 . Gate member  38  comprises an elongated member integrally extending from second elongated member  35 . Preferably the integral body  32  and gate member  38  are fabricated of a resilient material such as but not limited to rubber, plastic, or any other suitable resilient material as is well known in the art. A first end of gate member  38  contacts or is in close proximity to an end of said elongated section  33  when said gate  38  is in a closed position. In this embodiment a resilient attachment device is formed without a pivoting hinge. The gate member  38  simply deforms when pressure is applied and resiliently returns to its original position when pressure is released. In a most preferred embodiment attachment device  30  is formed in the shape of a carabiner but other shapes are contemplated by the present invention.  
         [0039]    Now referring to FIG. 1C in a most preferred embodiment attachment device  30  comprises one elongated section  33  extending from said writing instrument  10  or cap  12  (not shown). Gate member  38  is pivotably attached to said writing instrument  10  or cap  12 .  
         [0040]    Now referring to FIGS. 2-3B in an alternate preferred embodiment device  2  comprises a writing instrument  10  comprising an outer sleeve  11  having formed therein a vertical slot  13 , and an inner sleeve  14 . Now referring to FIG. 3A inner sleeve  14  comprises a peripheral profile that permits it to be engaged within outer sleeve  11 . Inner sleeve  14  further comprises attachment device  30  extending therefrom. Inner sleeve  14  is fabricated of any material suitable for use in a writing instrument such as but not limited to bare or coated metal, wood, rubber, plastic, combinations thereof or any other suitable material as is well known in the art. Now referring to FIG. 3A preferably sleeves  11  and  14  are substantially circular in cross-section. Now referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B slot  13  accommodates attachment device  30  when inner sleeve  14  is inserted within outer sleeve  11 . Inner sleeve  14  is secured within said outer sleeve  11  by any means known to one having ordinary skill in the art such as but not limited to adhesive or friction engagement. Alternatively a cap may be employed over the end of said writing instrument  10  after insertion of inner sleeve  14 . In a most preferred embodiment outer sleeve  11  further comprises an interior lip  16  and inner sleeve  14  further comprises an exterior tab  18  disposed proximal its lower edge to securely engage said inner sleeve  14  within said outer sleeve  11 . In this embodiment inner sleeve is preferably formed of a resilient material to enable the engagement of tab  18  under lip  16 .  
         [0041]    Now referring to FIGS. 4 and 4A, in an alternate embodiment the means for attaching said attachment device  30  to said writing instrument  10  or cap  12  is a band  20  from which attachment device  30  extends. Band  20  comprises any material suitable for use in conjunction with a writing instrument  10  such as but not limited to bare or coated metal, wood, rubber, plastic, combinations thereof or any other suitable material as is well known in the art. In a preferred embodiment band  20  is co-molded with said attachment device  30 . In a most preferred embodiment band  20  comprises a cross-section that is substantially similar in shape to the periphery of said writing instrument  10 . Now referring to FIG. 4 writing instrument  10  or cap  12  may further comprise a clip  15 .  
         [0042]    Now referring to FIGS. 5-5C, in an alternate embodiment the means for attaching said attachment device  30  to said writing instrument  10  is a clip  22  to which attachment device  30  is attached. Clip  22  comprises any material suitable for use in conjunction with a writing instrument such as but not limited to bare or coated metal, wood, rubber, plastic, combinations thereof or any other suitable material as is well known in the art. Clip  22  is attached to said writing instrument  10  or cap  12  by any means known to one having ordinary skill in the art including but not limited to clipping, adhesive, molding or the like. In a preferred embodiment clip  22  comprises a resilient material that permits attachment device  30  to be snapped into place. In other embodiments attachment device  30  may be slidably engaged to clip  22 . Now referring to FIG. 5C, in a most preferred embodiment attachment device  30  is removably attached to clip  22 .  
         [0043]    Now referring to FIGS. 6-9 attachment device  30  may comprise any shape.  
         [0044]    While the preferred embodiments have been described and illustrated it will be understood that changes in details and obvious undisclosed variations might be made without departing from the spirit and principle of the invention and therefore the scope of the invention is not to be construed as limited to the preferred embodiment.