Patent Publication Number: US-2007110494-A1

Title: Writing instrument with inflatable bladders

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a writing instrument with inflatable bladders built into the barrel of the writing instrument to facilitate different sizes for a better and more comfortable gripping by a user. In particular, the present invention relates to a writing instrument where the built in bladders are inflated by pumping air into them. The writing instrument further includes a release mechanism for releasing excess air in the bladders.  
      2. The Prior Art  
      U.S. Patent Publication 2004/0136769 to Ferra relates to a cushioning element with a deformable bladder having a filling chamber of a particulate matter that is mounted on an article. The bladder is not however pumped with air.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 4,035,089 to Schwartz et al. relates a grip whose size is varied with an expander element carried by sleeve upon rotation of the sleeve. The bladder is mechanically increased rather than by pumping air.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is therefore a principle object of the invention to provide a writing instrument having bladders built into the barrel of a writing instrument which can be inflated by pumping air. In one embodiment the bladders can be inflated by clicking do on top of the writing instrument to inflate the bladders while placing one&#39;s finger over the top of the writing instrument. In another embodiment the bladders can be pumped themselves. A release button on the side of the writing instrument can be pressed to release excess air from the bladder.  
      Other objects of the invention will become clear and apparent from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a sectional view of the invention showing the clicker and pump handle;  
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view along lines A-A of  FIG. 1  showing the compression spring;  
       FIG. 3A  is another sectional view of the invention showing an air release button;  
       FIG. 3B  is a top view of  FIG. 3A ;  
       FIG. 4A  is a sectional view along lines B-B of  FIG. 3A  showing the one way valve;  
       FIG. 4B  is a view along lines C-C of  FIG. 4A  showing the air release mechanism;  
       FIG. 5A  illustrates another feature of the invention in which release mechanism releases excess air from the bladders and shows the bladders in their un-inflated state;  
       FIG. 5B  shows the invention of  FIG. 5A  with the bladders in their inflated state; and  
       FIG. 6A -D illustrates several different embodiments of bladders in their inflated states. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring now to the drawings of  FIGS. 1-6D ,  FIG. 1  shows the present invention which is comprised of a clicker and a pump handle  11 , a compression spring  12 , air way passages, a one way air valve  18 , and air expandable bladders  16  are preferably formed of either rubber-like material or rubber material that are built into the barrel of the writing instrument.  
      The clicker and pump handle apparatus  11  can be pressed down by a user&#39;s finger to compress the spring  12  and pump air from the air way into the writing instrument&#39;s bladders  16  through the one way air valve  18  shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . Thereby inflating the air expandable bladders  16  so that the bladders go from the un-inflated state in  FIG. 5A  to the inflated state in  FIG. 5B .  
      In an alternate embodiment of the invention (not shown) the pump handle is separate from the clicker for the writing instrument  10  but otherwise operates in the same fashion described  FIG. 1 . Alternatively both of these embodiments can have there bladders  16  filled with air by pressing the bladders  16  and pumping them fill with air.  
       FIG. 3 . shows a release mechanism  20  located on the side of the writing instrument  10  which when pressed and held releases air from the bladders  16  until the desired amount of air is retained within the bladders.  16 .  
      The bladders  16  can have various confirmations as shown in FIGS.  6 A-D showing these different bladder embodiments in their inflated states.  
      I do not limit myself to any particular details of construction set forth in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as the same refers to and sets forth only certain embodiments of the invention, and it is observed that the same may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.