Patent Publication Number: US-2005138737-A1

Title: Combined pen and knife implement

Description:
The present invention relates to an implement in the form of a combined pen or pencil and knife.  
      There are various situations where use of both a pen or pencil and a knife are required: typically in such situations use is made of separate implements. A number of combined pen-and-knife implements have been proposed hitherto, but these have been of relatively complicated construction, often incorporating other devices also, and/or have been difficult to use.  
      We have now devised a combined pen-and-knife or pencil-and-knife implement which is of simple and inexpensive construction and also easy and convenient to use, without risk of the user cutting himself or herself with the knife whilst using the pen or pencil.  
      In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an implement in the form of a combined pen or pencil and knife, the implement comprising an elongate, tubular body, a mount disposed within said tubular body, a pen or pencil projecting in one direction from said mount and a knife projecting in the opposite direction from said mount, the mount being displaceable in said one direction to extend the tip of said pen or pencil from one end of said body, and in said opposite direction to extend said knife from the opposite end of said body.  
      In use therefore, either the pen (or pencil) or the knife may be extended for use. When the pen or pencil is extended, the knife is disposed within the tubular body and is therefore safely out of harm&#39;s way. Similarly, when the knife is extended, the pen or pencil is disposed within the tubular body. Preferably the mount may be moved to an intermediate position, in which both the pen (or pencil) tip and the knife are disposed within the tubular body.  
      Preferably an element extends from the mount and through an elongate opening in the side of the tubular body, to enable the user to move the mount longitudinally within the body. Preferably this element includes an elongate clip, extending alongside the tubular body, for retaining the implement in the pocket of a shirt, jacket or other garment.  
      Preferably means are provided for retaining the mount in each of the positions to which it is moved. For this purpose, preferably the elongate opening in the side of the tubular body is formed with serrations along at least one edge thereof, for engagement by at least one tooth provided on the element extending through this opening. Preferably this element is displaceable inwardly, against a spring bias, to disengage its tooth or teeth from the serrations of the elongate opening, to permit longitudinal displacement of the mount. 
    
    
      An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a combined pen-and-knife implement in accordance with the invention, the pen tip being shown in full lines in its extended position and the knife blade shown in dotted lines in its extended position;  
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the implement shown in  FIG. 1 ; and  
       FIG. 3  is a longitudinal sectional view of the implement shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
    
    
      Referring to the drawings, there is shown an implement in the form of a combined pen and knife. The implement comprises an elongate, tubular body  10  housing an elongate mount  12  for a ball-point pen  20  and a flat knife blade  30 , which project in opposite directions from the mount. The mount  12  is arranged for sliding movement longitudinally within the tubular body  10 . The body  10  tapers towards a forward end  11 , where it is formed with a small, circular opening  14  for the pen tip  22  to pass through. At its opposite or top end  13 , the body  10  is formed with a rectangular opening for the knife blade  30  to pass through.  
      An elongate opening  16  is formed in the side of the body  10 , adjacent its top end  13 , the opposite longitudinal edges of this opening being formed with serrations  17 . The implement further comprises a clip  18  which extends alongside the body  10 , directed towards the forward end  11  of the implement: at its top end, the clip  18  has a support  19  which passes through the opening  16  and is fixed to the sliding mount  12 . Opposite sides of the clip support  19  are formed with teeth (not shown) for engaging the serrations  17  of the opening  16 .  
      In use, the clip  18  is used to move the mount  12  either in a forward direction to extend the pen tip  22  out of the forward end  11  of the body  10 , or in the opposite direction to extend the knife blade  30  out of the top end of the body  10 . Normally the clip  18 , and hence the mount  12 , are held against movement in either direction, by engagement of the teeth of the clip support  19  with the serrations  17  of the opening  16 : in order to release this engagement, the top end of the clip  18  is pressed inwardly to bring a narrower, outer-end section of the clip support into the plane of the opening  16 . Once the clip  18  and mount  12  have been moved to the desired position and the inward pressure on the clip is released, then the clip  18  moves outwardly again (to re-engage the teeth on the clip support with the serrations  17  of the opening  16 ) under the action of a spring finger  15  which is provided on the mount  12  and acts against the opposite inner side of the body  10 .  
      When use of the implement is not required, the clip  18  and mount  12  may be moved to an intermediate position in which the pen tip  22  and knife blade  30  are both disposed within the tubular body  10 . The implement may then be carried in a pocket, using the clip  18  to hold it to the pocket: the outward pressure which this now applies to the clip  18  ensures that the teeth on its support  19  will engage with the serrations  17  of the opening  16 , and so ensure that both the pen and the knife will remain within the body  10 .  
      Whilst the implement has been described as including a ball-point pen  20 , it may instead include a pen of any alternative type, or a pencil.