Abstract:
A writing instrument with an input member for pressure-sensitive handwriting at one end, and a removable writing pen on the opposite end of a cylindrical body. A single cap of a diameter smaller than that of the cylindrical body may cover either the writing pen or the input member. The diameter of the cap is smaller that the diameter of the cylindrical body to lessen the chance of it being inadvertently dislodged.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an input pen with attached writing implement which is used in a pressure-sensitive handwriting input device. 
     An input pen with attached writing implement is known in the prior art wherein a writing implement is provided in a rear portion of the input pen and a cap of a diameter slightly larger than that of the cylindrical body is provided to cover this writing implement. 
     However, since the cap of this input pen with attached writing implement is removed when the writing implement is used, the cap can easily become lost. It is also likely that the cap will come into contact with other objects while it is being carried, and be removed thereby. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An objective of the present invention is to provide an input pen with attached writing implement that solves the above-described problems. 
     In accordance with the present invention, an input member is affixed in a front portion of a cylindrical body and a tip portion of this input member protrudes from a front end of the cylindrical body. A fixing member is affixed within a rear portion of the cylindrical body and a writing implement such as a ball-point pen is removably mounted in this fixing member. A tip portion of the writing implement protrudes a suitable amount from a rear end of the cylindrical body. A cap of a diameter smaller than that of the cylindrical body removably engages with the writing implement or the inside of the rear portion of the cylindrical body, with the configuration being such that this cap can also engage with the input member or the inside of the front portion of the cylindrical body. 
     When the input pen is being used, the cap is engaged with the writing implement or the inside of the rear portion of the cylindrical body to cover the writing implement, and when the writing implement is being used, the cap is engaged with the input member or the inside of the front portion of the cylindrical body to cover the input member. Thus there is no likelihood of the cap becoming lost. 
     In addition, since the cap is formed to have a diameter smaller than that of the cylindrical body, there is no need to worry about it coming into contact with other objects and being removed thereby. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an input pen with attached writing implement of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of an input member of the input pen with attached writing implement of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III--III of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a cap of the input pen with attached writing implement of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the main components of a clip of the input pen with attached writing implement of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the input pen with attached writing implement of FIG. 1, showing a state in which a ball-point pen is used; 
     FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a is a sectional view of a cap of the input pen with attached writing implement of FIG. 7; and 
     FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the input pen with attached writing implement of FIG. 7, showing a state in which a ball-point pen is used. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. This embodiment has a cylindrical body 1 formed in a pipe shape and of a metal such as stainless steel. An input member 2 made of a plastic material such as nylon is pushed into and affixed to a front portion of the cylindrical body 1. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, four protruding ridges 2A extending longitudinally along a rear portion of the input member 2 are formed equidistantly in the circular peripheral direction thereof. A front portion 2B of the input member 2 has an input tip 2C, and a connecting flange 2D is formed in a central portion of the input member 2. The rear portion of the input member 2 is inserted through the front end of the cylindrical body 1 so that the protruding ridges 2A are pushed against the inner surface of the cylindrical body 1, and the input member 2 is fixed in a state wherein the flange 2D thereof is in contact with the front end of the cylindrical body 1. The input tip 2C of the input member 2 is formed in an approximate cone shape with a partially spherical surface of a radius of 0.75 mm formed at the tip thereof. Setting the radius of this spherical surface formed at the tip of the input member 2 to approximately 0.75 mm is optimal for ensuring that the pressure-sensitive device is not damaged, while still enabling detailed input operations. 
     A circular cylindrical fixing member 3 made of a plastic or metal material is pushed into and affixed to a rearward inner portion of the cylindrical body 1, and a base portion of a ball-point pen 4 is removably mounted in the fixing member 3. A writing portion 4A of this ball-point pen 4 protrudes by a suitable amount from the rear end of the cylindrical body 1. A cap 5 of a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical body 1 is engaged with an engagement portion 4B of the ball-point pen 4 so that the writing portion 4A of the ball-point pen 4 is covered thereby. The cap 5 is formed with a protrusion 5A protruding from an inner side thereof, as shown in FIG. 4, and this protrusion 5A comes into contact and engages with a peripheral surface of the engagement portion 4B of the ball-point pen 4. As shown in FIG. 6, an annular indented space 8 is formed between the inner surface of the rear end of the cylindrical body 1 and the engagement portion 4B. 
     A clip 6 formed of bent wire is attached by spot-welding to a rear portion of the cylindrical body 1, as shown in FIG. 5. To use the ball-point pen 4, the user removes the cap 5 from the engagement portion 4B of the ball-point pen 4 and places it on the front portion 2B of the input member 2, as shown in FIG. 6. 
     With the above-described input pen with attached writing implement, an end surface 5B of the cap 5 enters the indented space 8 at a rear end 1A of the cylindrical body 1 and thus is inserted further inward than the rear end of the cylindrical body, so that the end surface 5B of the cap 5 does not come into contact with other objects and thus there is absolutely no need to worry about it being removed thereby. In addition, since the cap 5 can engage with either the input member 2 or the ball-point pen 4, there is no necessity to provide a step or protrusion for engaging the cap 5 in a forward outer peripheral surface 1B or a rearward outer peripheral surface 1C of the cylindrical body 1, and therefore the user finds the pen easy to hold when holding either the forward outer peripheral surface 1B or the rearward outer peripheral surface 1C of the cylindrical body 1 in order to use the input pen or the ball-point pen 4. Fabricating the cylindrical body 1 of stainless steel and in a pipe form, and making the diameter of the cap 5 smaller than that of the cylindrical body 1, has the advantage of providing a portable, conveniently slim-bodied input pen with attached writing implement. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 7, an input member 12 made of a plastic such as nylon is pushed into and affixed to a front portion of a cylindrical body 1 formed in a pipe shape and of a metal such as stainless steel. A front portion of the input member 12 has an input tip 12C and protrudes by a suitable amount from the front end of the cylindrical body 1, and a suitably-sized indented or recessed space 7 for allowing the engagement of a cap 15 is formed between a forward inner peripheral surface 1D of the cylindrical body 1 and the input member 12. A fixing member 3 made of a plastic or metal material is pushed into and affixed to a rearward inner peripheral surface 1E of the cylindrical body 1, and a base portion of a ball-point pen 4 is removably mounted in the fixing member 3. A writing portion 4A of this ball-point pen 4 protrudes by a suitable amount from a rear end 1A of the cylindrical body 1. The cap 15 of a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical body 1 is engaged with the rearward inner peripheral surface 1E of the cylindrical body 1 so that the writing portion 4A of the ball-point pen 4 is covered thereby. The cap 15 is formed with a protrusion 15A protruding outward from an outer peripheral surface of an inner portion thereof, as shown in FIG. 8, and this protrusion 15A engages with the rearward inner peripheral surface 1E of the cylindrical body 1. When the ball-point pen 4 is in use, the front portion of the cap 15 engages with the forward inner peripheral surface 1D of the cylindrical body 1. 
     Mention of a clip was omitted from the description of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, in order to simplify it, but it should be obvious to those skilled in the art that various different types of clip that are provided for prior-art writing implements can be affixed thereto. 
     Since the cap 15 of above-described input pen with attached writing implement of FIG. 7 engages with either the rearward inner peripheral surface 1E or the forward inner peripheral surface 1D of the cylindrical body 1, there is no need to provide a step or protrusion for the engagement of the cap on the forward outer peripheral surface 1B and rearward outer peripheral surface 1C of the cylindrical body 1, and thus the pen has the advantage of being easy to hold when the cylindrical body 1 is held so that either the input pen or the ball-point pen 4 is used. 
     In addition, since the cap 15 engages with the cylindrical body 1, there is a further advantage that, when the cap 15 is removed, it is separated from the ball-point pen 4 and there is absolutely no liklihood of the input member 12 being damaged thereby when the cap 15 is fitted on the input member 12. 
     With the above described input pen with attached writing implement of the present invention, the cap can be attached when either the input pen is used or the writing implement is used, so that there is absolutely no likelihood of the cap becoming lost. 
     In addition, since the cap is formed to have a diameter smaller than that of the cylindrical body, there is no need to worry about it coming into contact with other objects and being removed thereby. 
     Since the cap does not engage with the outer surface of the cylindrical body, there is no need to provide a step or protrusion for the engagement of the cap on the outside of the cylindrical body, making the cylindrical body easy to hold when either the input pen or the ball-point pen is being used.