Patent Publication Number: US-6659673-B1

Title: Writing instrument with combination pocket clip and stylus assembly

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a multi-functional writing instrument, and specifically to a pen that combines a pocket clip with a stylus for entering data into devices having touch screens, such as personal digital assistants. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The use of personal digital assistants (PDAs), has increased in popularity over recent years due to their increasing functionality. Many PDAs can function as cellular phones, address books, personal organizers, facsimile transmitters, and most recently, as devices for wireless access to the Internet. To perform such tasks or data entry functions in connection with most PDA devices, a stylus is the principal implement used. Therefore, a readily accessible stylus is of great importance to most PDA users. 
     Customarily, styli are modeled after typical writing instruments; however, they resemble thinner, shorter versions thereof, and are solely functional for engaging touch-screen input devices, such as PDAs. Small sizes are required in order for styli to engage miniscule microswitches, or contact points, beneath the surfaces of PDA screens and to fit within the commonly found storage receptacles within their case enclosures. These cases, while offering users convenient places to store their styli, must maintain the compact, travel-size design of PDAs, and thereby, only allow for small, non-ergonomic styli to fit within. 
     Additionally, due to the design of conventional styli, they are easily misplaced, commonly unreturned to their storage receptacles, and often lost by accidental dislodging from the very compartments meant to secure them. In the event of loss and absent a keyboard for data entry, a PDA user has very few options until a replacement stylus is purchased. Although PDA users without a stylus will commonly try to enter information by tapping the display screen with their fingers or pointed objects such as pen or pencil tips, fingers, not specially shaped like styli, result in inefficient data entry. Furthermore, the use of pen or pencil tips may result in scratching or other damage to the touch screen. 
     To remedy such problems associated with conventional styli, including, accidental loss, the lack of holding comfort, and the absence of a multi-functional apparatus, devices which combine both the features of a writing instrument and those of a stylus have been proposed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,850 to Nagaoka discloses a writing pen and stylus combination wherein the input tip for engaging a touch screen and the ink tip for writing are located at opposing extremities of the implement&#39;s cylindrical body. This implement includes only a single cap for use on the unused tip, resulting in one extremity being uncovered at all times. By placing the engagement tips at opposing extremities, and thereby protruding from the instrument&#39;s body, protective caps are necessary for both ends, as such areas are more likely to be damaged than other positions on the pen. 
     Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,743 to Robb discloses a pen cap stylus in combination with a conventional writing instrument having a tip mounted to the extremity of a pen cap. However, a need still exists for a device which enhances the functionality of both the typical writing instrument, and the member that serves as a stylus. Furthermore, the need for a stylus tip that does not require protective covering still remains unmet. 
     An object of the present invention is to increase the functionality of traditional writing instruments and styli, while maintaining the conventional utility of both, including the ability to attach the instrument to a user&#39;s shirt pocket. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a stylus that can be affixed to any type of writing instrument. 
     Additionally, it is an object of this invention to provide a stylus wherein the stylus is mounted other than to an extremity of a writing instrument, and thereby, not requiring a protective cap. 
     A further object of this invention is to facilitate the use of PDAs by allowing for their operation without a traditional stylus, while still providing a readily accessible instrument for performing such functions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing objects are met by the present invention which includes a multi-functional writing instrument having a combination pocket clip member and stylus for touch-input devices, such as PDAs. A preferred embodiment of the writing instrument includes a body having a cap portion, and the combination clip member and stylus having first and second ends, wherein an actuator tip is mounted to the second end and the clip member is mounted to the cap portion of the pen and slidably movable with respect thereto. 
     The clip member is slidably movable relative to the pen body between a first, or clamping, position, where the clip member is positioned against the pen cap to allow for secure attachment of the pen to a shirt pocket or to hold papers between the cap and the clip member, and a second, or stylus, position, where the actuator tip of the clip member is extended beyond one end of the pen body enabling engagement with a touch screen. The instrument allows the user to conventiently switch from writing on conventional media, for example paper, to inputting data in a personal digital assistant. 
     A preferred embodiment for the clip member may also include internally threaded apertures located at the first and second ends of the clip member, wherein the apertures can receive externally threaded bases of appropriate sized removable tips, wherein the first tip functions as an end piece to secure the clip member to the writing instrument, and the second tip is capable of engaging a touch screen. 
     Additionally, a preferred embodiment of this invention shows the clip member mounted on a stem which projects from an annular clip holder encircling the cap portion of the instrument. However, one skilled in the art would recognize that the mounting stem could, for example, be either a component of the clip holder or be formed integrally with the pen body. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred, but nonetheless, illustrative embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the invention in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along the line  3 — 3  in FIG. 2, illustrating the slidably movable clip member with respect to the body of the writing instrument. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line  4 — 4  in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line  5 — 5  in FIG. 3, depicting the inward facing side of the clip member and actuator tip. 
     FIG. 6 is a view showing the operation of the invention in its stylus position wherein the clip member has been slidably extended from its clamping position. 
     FIG. 7 is a view showing the actuator tip engaging the touch screen of a device, such as a PDA. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings, and initially FIG.  1  and FIG. 2, a pen is shown that includes a generally tubular body  10  made in two parts, an upper, cap portion  12 , and a lower, penholder portion  14  which extends into the cap portion  12  and bears a writing tip (not shown). The lower end of the cap portion  12  terminates at line  16 , which in the figures shown is perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis  18  of the pen body  10 . 
     The cap portion  12  of the body  10  bears an annular clip holder  20 . This clip holder  20  may be either slidably mounted over the pen body  10  or rigidly mounted, as detailed in FIG.  3 . The clip holder  20 , when rigidly mounted, may be constructed to join a lower  22   a  and an upper  22   b  piece of the cap portion  12  together, wherein the clip holder  20  has two opposite projections  24   a ,  24   b , which are accommodated within the corresponding pieces  22   a ,  22   b  of the pen cap  12 . The pieces  22   a ,  22   b  may be threaded or frictionally fitted to receive the opposing projections  24   a ,  24   b  of the clip holder  20 , as best illustrated in FIG.  3 . Additionally, the particular portion of the cap portion  12 , to which the clip holder  20  is affixed, may be hollow or solid depending on the particular construction of the pen and the cap portion. 
     The clip holder  20  further includes a stem  26  projecting outward in a perpendicular direction with respect to the longitudinal axis  18  of the body  10 , which can be seen in FIG.  4 . The stem  26  supports an elongated clip member  28 , having a main portion  30  and first and second ends  32 ,  34 , mounted to be frictionally fitted to the stem  26 . 
     As more specifically shown in FIG. 3, the clip member  28  is removably, slidably mounted on the stem  26  of the clip holder  20  to be movable between first and second positions. In the first position, as shown in FIG.  1  and FIG. 2, the point of attachment to the stem  26  is closer to the second end  34  of the clip member  28  and displaced from the first end  32 , such that the clip member  28  can serve as a clamp wherein the area between the clip member and the body  36 , coupled with the flexibility of the clip member  28 , allows a portion of a garment, such as a shirt or jacket pocket, to be gripped. When the clip member  28  is in the second position, as most clearly seen in FIG.  6  and in phantom in FIG. 3, the second end  34  of the clip member  28  is displaced from the point of attachment to the stem  26 , extending beyond the body  10  of the pen, the first end  32  nearing the clip member&#39;s point of attachment to the stem  26 . 
     To slide the clip member  28  between first and second positions, the preferred construction of the clip member  28  includes a T-shaped slot or raceway  38 , extending along the longitudinal axis  18  of the clip member  28  on the clip member&#39;s inward facing side  40 . In FIG. 4, it can be seen that the stem  26 , mounted to the clip holder  20 , is of a mating, elongated T-shaped construction to allow the stem  26  to be fittably received into the raceway  38  of the clip member  28 . The length of the T-shaped stem portion  26  allows the clip member  28  to move longitudinally with respect to the body  10  while preventing rotation of the clip member  28 . Appropriate stops or detents may be provided to assist in frictionally retaining the clip member  28  in one of the end positions during use. 
     The clip member  28  further includes first and second removable tips  42 ,  44 , wherein the first tip or end piece  42 , is mounted to the first end  32  of the clip member  28  and functions as an end cover for the raceway  38 , preventing the clip member  28  from detaching. As can be most clearly seen in FIG. 5, the raceway  38  extends along the main portion  30  of the clip member  28  extending to the first end  32 , but not contacting the second end  34 . Therefore, the end piece  42 , mounted to the first end  32 , prevents the clip member  28  from detaching from the stem  26  without removal of the end piece  42  by the user. 
     To detach the clip member  28  from the stem  26  of the clip holder  20 , the user can unscrew the threaded end piece  42  from an internally threaded aperture  46  at the first end  32  of the clip member  28  and subsequently move the clip member  28  into and past its second position, allowing the clip member  28  to exit through the exposed aperture  46 . 
     The second tip, or actuator tip  44 , is mounted to the second end  34  of the clip member  28  and serves to engage the screen of a PDA when the clip member  28  is in its second position. As best illustrated in FIG. 5, the actuator tip  44  includes a substantially conical head  48  and a base  50 . When the clip member  28  is moved such that the clip member&#39;s point of attachment to the stem  26  is displaced from the second end  34  and nearer to the first end  32 , the conical head  48  of the actuator tip  44  is exposed from the body  10  to engage a touch screen, as shown in FIG.  6  and FIG.  7 . To allow the actuator tip  44  to protrude beyond the body  10  of the instrument when in the second position, the length of the clip member  28  is chosen as appropriate. 
     As most easily seen in FIG. 5, to connect the actuator tip  44  to the clip member  28 , the base  50  of the actuator tip  44  is externally threaded to allow for insertion into an internally threaded aperture  52  on the second end  34  of the clip member  28 . Threaded insertion of the actuator tip  44  into the aperture  52  allows for its easy removal and replacement. 
     The actuator tip  44  further includes a narrow elongated member  54  protruding from its base  50 . The elongated member  54  is sized to fit within a miniscule aperture commonly found on PDAs (not shown) which allows the PDA to be reset upon receiving the appropriate sized member. When the actuator tip  44  is removed from the aperture  52  on the second end  34  of the clip member  28 , the elongated member  54 , is exposed and can be used to perform the function of resetting a PDA. 
     When the actuator tip  44  is mounted to the clip member  28 , and the clip member  28  is moved into the second position, the clip member  28  can be used as a stylus by pressing the actuator tip  44  against the touch screen of an input device, typically a personal digital assistant as shown in FIG.  6  and FIG.  7 . As detailed above, the raceway  38  and stem  26  projecting from the clip holder  20  are frictionally fitted to one another to allow the clip member  28  to maintain its position until repositioned by the user. Preferably, when the clip member  28  is no longer in use as a stylus, it is retracted into the clamping position by sliding the clip member  28  from the second position to the first position, protecting the actuator tip  44  from damage. Therefore, this invention permits the user to conveniently switch between using the instrument as a pen or a stylus, increases the functionality of the clip and stylus attachment, and eliminates undesirable elements which were necessary in the prior art. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be understood that many modifications or variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. For instance, although the preferred embodiment is of same or similar size as a typical writing instrument, this invention is not limited to that size, nor is it limited to any specific type of instrument. The invention relates to any writing instrument, such as a fountain pen, ballpoint pen, mechanical pencil, felt-tip pen, marker, highlighter, or similar article having a body, wherein a clip member having an actuator tip is movably mounted thereto. Additionally, the pen body need not be tubular in shape, nor the actuator tip substantially conical for this invention to operate in the same manner. It is also apparent that the “body” of a writing instrument in the context of this invention, may be either the writing instrument itself or a detachable cap. Furthermore, the clip member may be mounted on a writing implement in various ways. For aesthetic and functional purposes, it is desirable to have a clip holder that is securely affixed to the instrument&#39;s body to mount the clip thereon. However, a clip may be mounted on an unaffixed holder that merely slides over the body of the instrument. For the above reasons, the scope of this invention is to be defined by the appended claims.