Patent Publication Number: US-7722271-B1

Title: Finger attachable writing apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to writing devices and more particularly pertains to a new writing device for attaching to a finger to allow a person to write without gripping a writing utensil. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The use of writing devices is known in the prior art. However, these devices have limitations, such as the angle at which they can be used and cannot be used by those persons having limited gripping abilities. Therefore, while these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that can be attached to a finger for easy use and should include an ink dispensing system that is not dependent upon the angle of the device as it is being used. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a housing that includes a top wall, a bottom wall and a peripheral wall that is attached to and extends between the top and bottom walls. The housing has a first end and a second end. A conduit is coupled to and is angled downwardly from the bottom wall. An aperture extends into a free end of the conduit and into an interior of the housing. A finger engaging member is attached to the housing and is configured to releasably attach the housing to a finger. An ink dispensing assembly is mounted in the housing. The ink dispensing assembly is positionable in a deployed position extending outwardly of the conduit or in a stored position. The ink dispensing assembly is configured to dispense ink from the conduit when in the deployed position. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a side in-use view of a finger attachable writing apparatus according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1  of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of a sleeve and ink cartridge of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a top peripheral view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a top peripheral view of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 8  thereof, a new writing device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 8 , the finger attachable writing apparatus  10  generally comprises a housing  12  that has a top wall  14 , a bottom wall  16  and a peripheral wall  18  that is attached to and extends between the top  14  and bottom  16  walls. The housing  12  has a first end  20  and a second end  22 . A conduit  24  is coupled to and is angled downwardly from the bottom wall  16 . An aperture  26  extends into a free end  28  of the conduit  24  and into an interior  30  of the housing  12 . The top wall  14  has a concave outer surface from a first lateral edge  32  to a second lateral edge  34  of the top wall  14 . 
   A finger engaging member  36  is attached to the housing  12  and is configured to releasably attach the housing  12  to a finger  8 . The finger engaging member  36  includes at least two resiliently stretchable straps that are attached to and extends between the first  32  and second  34  lateral edges. 
   An ink dispensing assembly  38  is mounted in the housing  12 . The ink dispensing assembly  38  is positionable in a deployed position extending outwardly of the conduit  24  or in a stored position. The ink dispensing assembly  38  is configured to dispense ink from the conduit  24  when in the deployed position. The ink dispensing assembly  38  includes a sleeve  40  removably extendable through an opening  42  in the second end  22  of the housing  12 . An ink cartridge  44  is mounted in the sleeve  40 . A nib  46  is fluidly coupled to the ink cartridge  44  and extends outwardly from the sleeve  40 . The nib  46  is positioned in the conduit  24  when the sleeve  40  is positioned within the housing  12 . A biasing member  48  is positioned within the housing  12  and biases the sleeve  40  away from the conduit  24 , to the stored position. The biasing member  48  preferably includes one or more springs mounted in the housing  12 . A securing member  50  is attached to the housing  12  and releasably secures the sleeve  40  in the deployed position. An urging member  52  extends into the sleeve  40  opposite of the nib  46  and is configured to urge a compressible portion of the ink cartridge  44  toward the nib  46  at selectable increments. 
   A tip  54  may be attached to a free end  28  of the conduit  24  for assisting in the formation of a uniform line. The tip  54  may comprise an absorptive material.  FIG. 8  shows a second version not including a tip  54 . 
   In use, the housing  12  is attached to a person&#39;s finger  8  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The nib  46  is deployed by pushing the sleeve  40  forward so that the nib  46  is adjacent to or protrudes from the aperture  26 . The securing member  50  includes one or more arms having catches  56  thereon which extend through the housing  12  and into notches  58  in the sleeve  40 . When little ink is being discharged, the urging member  52 , which comprises a rod  60  attached to a plate  62 , is moved toward the conduit  24  to force the ink out of the ink cartridge  44 . The urging member  52  allows the nib  46  to be used at any angle. The sleeve  40  includes internal locking teeth  64  for securing the plate  62  at a selected position. The securing member  50  may be released to allow the nib  46  to move away from the aperture  26  and for removing the sleeve  40  for replacement with a full ink cartridge  44 . 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.