Patent Publication Number: US-8967900-B2

Title: Hygienic writing instrument and method of using

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/741,280 filed on Jul. 17, 2012, the disclosure of the aforementioned provisional application is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to writing instruments or utensils and more specifically to a new innovative modular writing utensil and a method of using the same. The instrument or utensil has two separate and isolated holding or gripping areas on nesting components, portions or units; namely, an External or Outer Protective Layer or Shield and an Inner or Internal Writing Instrument or Utensil. Additionally, the External Protective Shield may include an internal cleaning device to help sanitize the Internal Writing Utensil. Thus, different users may use the present invention and entirely eliminate or minimize inadvertent accidental exposure and cross-contamination of genus, bacteria, or infection between them, in any setting, such as for filling out forms and/or obtaining signatures in the public or private sector. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In many situations individuals, such as doctors, other professionals and/or other persons have to get mandatory signatures as part of their normal daily duties. When doing so, they often have to allow others, such as clients, patients, or the like to use their writing utensil, such as a pen. The use of the same writing utensil by more than one person can inadvertently transfer germs and bacteria between such persons, thereby exposing them to each other&#39;s germs, bacteria and possible infection. 
     The usefulness and novelty of the present invention is that the improved writing utensil is capable of permitting a First or Primary User (“PU”) and a Second or Secondary User (“SU”) to utilize different handling, holding or gripping areas on an External Protective Shield (“EPS”) and an Inner Writing Utensil (“IWU”), without having to arbitrarily touch, hold, or contact the same area when filling out required paper work and/or fixing their respective signatures to such paper work, when using the same writing utensil. 
     The present invention has been specifically designed to eliminate accidental exposure of germs and/or bacteria between the PU and the SU. The invention accomplishes the separation/isolation of germs, etc. through the use of the two separate and differentiated handling, holding or gripping areas on these parated EPS and IWU. These separate units work in conjunction with the method in which they are interchanged during the course of use. The unique way the EPS and the IWU are connected is equally important, since this design enables the PU to eliminate all contact with the area held by the SU during or after their use. 
     The EPS is designed to be used by the PU (Professional, or the like), while the IWU is designed to be used by the SU (Client, Patient, or the like). The PU can disengage the IWU from the EPS at any time during shared use, allowing the SU to access the IWU to perform the required task. Notably the separate gripping areas of each unit continue to remain separate from each other as the writing utensil is switched back and forth between users. When the SU is finished with the IWU, the PU can simply place the IWU back into the EPS either by holding from a back or rear portion of the IWU, or allowing the SU to place the IWU on a flat surface so that the PU may scoop or pick up the IWU with the EPS and reconnect the two layers without contacting with the gripping area of the IWU, used by the SU. 
     In a hospital setting the shared use of writing instruments can transfer dangerous germs, bacteria, virus, fungus or other infections leading to what is commonly referred to in the medical community as nosocomial hospital acquired infections. Thus, there exists a need in the art for an improved writing utensil or pen that may be used by shared users without the individual users touching the same area(s) of the writing instrument, thus preventing the passing along of germs or, bacteria and avoiding possible hospital or other acquired infections. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a modular separable writing utensil that has two distinct components with separate, holding/gripping areas. The internal component or IWU has a removable back end cap that holds or houses a writing devise such as, but not limited to, any type of pen or refill, and or stylus that is gripped by the SU during use. The outer component or EPS is basically an elongated tubular element that has open front and rear ends. Therefore, a tip of the IWU may protrude or stick out of the front end and the IWU may be inserted and withdrawn through the rear end. Additionally, the EPS has a separate gripping/holding area for the PU. When a signature is required from an SU, a PU disengages the EPS from the IWU, for example, by holding the rear of the IWU (which may, have a special cap or gripping area, such as an O-ring or rubberized surface coating) with one hand, and pulling the IWU out of the EPS. The IWU may then be handed to the SU by the special gripping area for their use. The PU keeps control of the EPS during use of the IWU by the SU. After the SU completes and/or signs a document by holding the IWU by the separate holding/gripping area, the SU gives the IWU back to the PU, as described above. The PU then inserts the IWU back into the EPS, thus completing the process. 
     The EPS preferably includes an internal or built-in cleaning device or portion. This cleaning device houses a cleaning element, such as a gasket capable of holding isopropyl alcohol or other sanitizing agent. As the IWU is removed or inserted back into the EPS the outer surface of the IWU comes into contact with the cleaning element to produce a cleaning effect on the IWU to aid in sanitizing the outer surface of the IWU. Furthermore, when the EPS and IWU are sized and dimensioned so that when attached, an airtight bond or seal is formed between them to prevent oxygen from entering the area between the EPS and IWU, thus inhibiting the growth of bacteria. 
     In one aspect of the present invention, the design, angle, look, dimensions of the EPS can be changed in a number of ways, which has more to do with design elements, rather than spirit/scope of the invention that allows separate users to keep the two separate gripping/holding areas of the EPS and IWU separated. For example the EPS design may closely follow the IWU design characteristics. This variable is a function contingent on what type of writing instrument is used for the IWU and overall look, as well as what final manufacturing decisions are made. 
     Broadly, the present invention includes a method of using and a writing device that prevents the transfer of germs, bacteria, etc., when the writing device is used by more than one individual. 
     Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components. 
     The following discussion provides many example embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements and the method of using the same. Thus if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D and their respective use, even if not explicitly disclosed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the improved and novel writing instrument of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the writing instrument of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the writing instrument of  FIG. 1 . And 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the internal writing utensil having an outer end cap secured thereto, removed from the external shield portion. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in the drawings, the improved and novel writing instrument of the present invention comprises a writing instrument  10 , such as a pen, pencil, or the like, having a first or front end  12  and a second or rear end  14 . The writing instrument  10  includes an elongated, hollow external or outer protective shield  16  referred to as an EPS, and an inner writing utensil or IWU  18 . Both the EPS  16  and the IWU  18  have separate, gripping/holding areas indicated by  20 ,  22 . These holding areas  20 ,  22  are held by the different users during use of the writing instrument  10 , for example, during the signing of a document, filling out of a form, making a drawing or a sketch, etc. 
     Furthermore, the rear end  14  is preferably formed as a cap releasably held on an outer end of the IWU  18 . The cap  14  includes an outer end  24  that holds or secures the IWU  18  in place. The cap  14  may include one or more O-rings  26 , or other type of resilient material on the exterior thereof, for aid in gripping and removing the IWU from the EPS and/or for use in turning a page of a multi-page document. 
     The front end  12  of the hollow, elongated EPS  16  has an opening  28  so that a tip  30  of the IWU  18  protrudes or sticks out of the front end when the EPS and IWU are secured together. A Primary User (PU) may therefore, write with the instrument  10  when gripping it by the area  20 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , an outer end  32  of the EPS  16  has an opening  34  through which the IWU  18  is inserted and withdrawn by the PU. When a signature is required from a Secondary User (SU), the PU disengages the EPS  16  from the IWU  18 , as by holding the rear end cap  14  of the IWU, for example, over the O-rings  26  with the fingers of one hand, and pulling the IWU out of the EPS. The IWU may then be handed to the SU by the cap  14  for use. by the SU. After the SU completes and/or signs a document when holding the IWU  18  by the separate holding/gripping area  22 , the SU gives the IWU back to the PU or places it on a flat surface so that the PU may insert the IWU back into the EPS until internal grooves or teeth  36  on the interior of the rear end  14  mesh with exterior grooves or teeth  38  on the EPS  16 , thus re-securing the writing instrument  10  together. It is to be understood that the cap  14  when secured to the outer end of the EPS, is removably held on the outer end  32  of the EPS  16  by any known means, including, but not limited to threading on, force fit, friction, magnetic attraction, etc. 
     As also shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the EPS  16  includes an internal or built-in cleaning device or system having a cleaning element  40 , such as felt or gasket held in place by snap rings  42 ,  44 , or other types of securing means. The cleaning element  40  is impregnated with or holds isopropyl alcohol or another sanitizing agent, so that when the IWU  18  is removed or inserted back into the EPS  16  the outer surface of the IWU comes into contact with the cleaning element to aid in cleaning the outer surface of the IWU, and in particular the gripping/holding area  22 . Furthermore, the IWU  18  and the EPS  16  are sized and dimensioned so that when attached, an airtight bond or seal is formed between them to prevent oxygen from entering the area between them. These substantially airtight seals are formed at the outer surface on the inner and outer ends of the IWU  18  where they meet the interior surface of the EPS  16 , to limit or prevent oxygen from entering between the EPS and IWU, thus inhibiting the growth of bacteria. 
     It can be seen that steps of removing and reinserting of the separate components  16 ,  18  of the writing instrument  10  of the present invention allows a Primary User and a Secondary User to separately grasp different gripping/holding areas to limit or entirely eliminate the passing of germs, bacteria, etc. between the users. 
     It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.