Patent Publication Number: US-2007110508-A1

Title: Convertible multi-use writing instrument

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/819,251, filed Apr. 6, 2004 entitled “Convertible Multi-Use Writing Instrument,” now U.S. Pat. No. ______. U.S. application Ser. No. 10/819,251 claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/537,607, filed Jan. 20, 2004. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates generally to writing instruments and more particularly to a convertible multi-use writing instrument.  
     BACKGROUND  
      A compact/portable pen typically has a writing pen that is very short, requires multiple operations before it is useable to write, and/or converts to a full-size pen with undesirable features such as telescoping tubular sections that look like expanded antennas or with visible signs (such as exposed parts of fasteners) that the full-size pen was converted from the compact pen. Typical full-size pens have the disadvantage of not being with the user when needed since they are not typically attached to a key ring or other object that a person would often carry with them.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      According to the present invention, disadvantages and problems associated with writing instruments may be reduced or eliminated.  
      In one embodiment, a convertible multi-use writing instrument includes a quick-use arrangement including a quick-use writing instrument and a quick-use cap for encapsulating the quick-use writing instrument. The quick-use arrangement is convertible to a full-size arrangement. The convertible multi-use writing instrument also includes the full-size arrangement. The full-size arrangement includes a full-size writing instrument that is convertible to the quick-use arrangement.  
      Particular embodiments of the present invention may provide one or more technical advantages. As an example, particular embodiments provide two writing instruments (which may collectively be referred to as a “pen system”) in one compact package that may hang from a key chain. One of these two writing instruments may be a quick-use pen readily available for use when needed for quick tasks such as writing a check or jotting down a note or a phone number. This quick-use pen may be easily converted to a full-size pen that may be used for any typical pen application. In particular embodiments, the pen system fits nicely on a key chain in a longitudinally compact state. Because people typically have their keys with them at most, if not all, times, the pen system may alleviate one or more problems a person may encounter as a result of not having a writing instrument when one is needed.  
      In particular embodiments, the pen system provides a readily available, quick-use pen for quick uses that requires no operation other than pulling the quick-use pen from its cap and placing the quick-use pen back into the cap after use. Particular embodiments provide, within one compact package, two pens: a quick-use pen and a full-size pen (after conversion). In particular embodiments, the quick-use pen readily converts to a full-size pen that has the features, look, and feel of a noncollapsible full-size pen. In particular embodiments, the full-size pen looks and feels like a high-quality pen, with no indication that it may be converted back to a quick-use pen. In particular embodiments, as a result of the quick-use pen, use of a writing instrument does not require multiple or cumbersome operations.  
      In particular embodiments, the pen system provides a collapsible, compact pen that is convertible to a full-size pen with normal pen features. In particular embodiments, the pen system may be enjoyed by a user as a gadget. The user may know how to convert the pen system from a quick-use pen to a full-size pen and back, while others may be unfamiliar with converting the pen system from a quick-use pen to a full-size pen and back. In particular embodiments, the pen system may be manufactured using different types of materials and colors of finish, which may enable a user to own multiple pen systems and interchange the parts to create unique-looking pens with multiple finishes. These embodiments may provide a marketing advantage in that users may be encouraged to purchase more than one pen for personal use. In particular embodiments, the pen system may accommodate standard-size mini ink cartridges. These embodiments may reduce costs associated with manufacturing, since a custom-size ink cartridge need not be developed for the pen system. In particular embodiments, the pen system may also accept ink cartridges having nonstandard sizes, which may be smaller or larger than standard-size ink cartridges. In particular embodiments, the pen system may use a standard-size pressurized ink refill (which may enable writing in a variety of environmental conditions and even upside down) suitable for different applications of the pen system.  
      In particular embodiments, the pen system allows a user to have a full-size, standard pen in extreme or unusual situations and locations. In particular embodiments, the pen system collapses into a compact, environment-proof enclosure that a user may take into extreme environmental conditions where a nonsealed pen without a protective housing would be damaged. A full-size pen, quick-use pen, or both may be needed at the user&#39;s destination or along the way to the user&#39;s destination. In particular embodiments, the pen system may be carried by lifeguards and others working in a marine environment. In particular embodiments, the pen system may travel in a compact state to locations where a full-size pen may be needed, but would be cumbersome to carry, such as in a pocket when the user is bicycling or running. A user may want an environmentally sealed pen system that is compact and durable for a camping or other type of trip and provides a full-size pen that could be used for extensive writing, field notes, or journaling. In particular embodiments, the pen system may include simple mechanical components and designs, which may reduce costs associated with manufacturing the pen system and provide a pen system that is easy to operate, aesthetically pleasing, substantially trouble free, and durable.  
      Certain embodiments may provide all, some, or none of these technical advantages. Certain embodiments may provide one or more other technical advantages, one or more of which may be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the figures, descriptions, and claims herein.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      To provide a more complete understanding of the present invention and the features and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a writing instrument in a collapsed state;  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a quick-use pen of the writing instrument removed from a cap;  
       FIG. 3  illustrates four components of the writing instrument;  
       FIG. 4  illustrates assembly of a full-size pen of the writing instrument from three of the components;  
       FIG. 5  illustrates the assembled full-size pen;  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a cross section of the writing instrument in the collapsed state;  
       FIG. 7  illustrates a cross section of the quick-use pen removed from the cap;  
       FIG. 8  illustrates a cross section of a key-ring holder and a tubular barrel of the writing instrument;  
       FIG. 9  illustrates a cross section of a pen tip and an end plug of the writing instrument;  
       FIG. 10  illustrates a cross section of an ink cartridge removed from the pen tip of the writing instrument; and  
       FIG. 11  illustrates a cross section of the assembled full-size pen.  
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a writing instrument in a collapsed state  11 . The writing instrument may be in collapsed state  11 , for example, on a key chain. End view  24  shows the writing instrument from one end.  FIG. 2  illustrates a quick-use pen  13  of the writing instrument removed from a cap  12 . In particular embodiments, cap  12  may be attached to a key chain. Cap  12  may be left attached to the key chain when quick use pen  13  is removed from cap  12 .  FIG. 3  illustrates four components of the writing instrument. Tubular barrel  16  may include two subcomponents.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates assembly of a full-size pen  28  of the writing instrument from three of the components illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The three components may be rearranged and aligned to assemble full-size pen  28  from the three components.  FIG. 5  illustrates assembled full-size pen  28 .  FIG. 6  illustrates a cross section of the writing instrument in collapsed state  11 .  FIG. 7  illustrates a cross section of quick-use pen  13  removed from cap  12 .  FIG. 8  illustrates a cross section of key-ring holder  14  and tubular barrel  16  of the writing instrument.  FIG. 9  illustrates a cross section of a pen tip  20  and an end plug  22  of the writing instrument.  FIG. 10  illustrates a cross section of an ink cartridge  26  removed from pen tip  20  of the writing instrument.  FIG. 11  illustrates a cross section of assembled full-size pen  28 .  
      Key ring holder  14  has a female threaded hole  30  to accept male threads  36  of tubular barrel  16 . Key ring holder  14  also has a through hole  32  that may be used to attach key ring holder  14  to a key ring or other device.  
      Tubular barrel  16 , on one end, has male threads  36  and a tapered through hole  38 . On the other end, tubular barrel  16  has a tubular opening  39  to accept a tapered end  50  of pen-tip tube  20  when inserted. The inside of tubular opening  39  includes a circumferential groove  34  for an o-ring seal with o-ring  40  on end plug  22  when end plug  22  is inserted into tubular barrel  16  through tubular opening  39  for attachment.  
      A retaining sleeve  44  is mounted on ink cartridge  26  in a position allowing a writing tip  56  to be exposed with an suitable reveal for ink cartridge  26 . An adhesive may hold retaining sleeve  44  in position on ink cartridge  26 . An o-ring bushing  42  may slip onto ink cartridge  26  adjacent and behind retaining sleeve  44  where the end of end plug  22  with male threads  46  compresses it slightly and applies a force to hold ink cartridge  26  in a correct position. An o-ring on ink cartridge  26  above retaining sleeve  44  may help to hold ink cartridge  26  in place and may have at least some give or adjustability allowing for varying tolerances during manufacturing, while still helping to hold ink cartridge  26  in place. This o-ring may also give writing tip  56  at least a small amount of cushion when writing.  
      Pen-tip tube  20  includes a female threaded hole  48  on one end. On the interior of female threaded hole  48 , a sleeve hole  54  mounted on ink cartridge  26  accepts retaining sleeve  44 . A through hole  52  runs through the entire part. A tapered end  50  is on the other end.  
      End plug  22  includes male threads  46 . End plug  22  also includes an o-ring groove  41  and an o-ring  40  that, when quick-use pen  13  is inserted into tubular barrel  16 , mates with the circumferential groove  34  and seals and attaches end plug  22  to tubular barrel  16 .  
      O-ring  40  may fasten end plug  22  to pen-tip tube  20  when arranged as quick-use pen  13 . O-ring  40  may also fasten end plug  22  to tubular barrel  16  when arranged as full-size pen  28 . O-ring  40  may also provide an environmental seal at end plug  22  when in collapsed state  11 .  
      The previously described components may be assembled into at least four configurations: (1) closed pen  11  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 ; (2) pen cap  12  as illustrated in  FIG. 7 ; (3) quick-use pen  13  as illustrated in  FIG. 7 ; and (4) full-size pen  28  as illustrated in  FIG. 11 .  
      Closed pen  11  is the state of the pen system until quick-use pen  13  is desired. In particular embodiments, quick-use pen  13  may then be easily pulled out of pen cap  12  for use and later easily inserted back into pen cap  12  after use by pressing it in by hand.  
      In particular embodiments, when a full-size pen  28  is desired: (1) quick-use pen  13  may be unplugged from pen cap  12 ; (2) pen cap  12  may be disassembled by unscrewing tubular barrel  16  from key ring holder  14 ; (3) end plug  22  may be unscrewed from pen-tip tube  20  with ink cartridge  26  remaining in pen-tip tube  20 ; (4) the end of tubular barrel  16  with male threads  36  may be screwed into the end of pen-tip tube  20  with female threaded hole  48 ; and (5) male-threaded end  46  of end plug  22  may be plugged into tubular opening  39  of tubular barrel  16  until o-ring  40  seats in circumferential groove  34  and the two parts are attached. After use or when quick-use pen  13  or closed pen  11  configuration is desired, these steps may be reversed (plugged switched with unplugged and screwed switched with unscrewed). When ink cartridge  26  needs replacement, ink cartridge  26  is pulled from pen-tip tube  20  and a replacement ink cartridge  26  (with a retaining sleeve  44 ) is inserted.  
      Although a particular writing instrument is illustrated an described, the present invention contemplates a variety of writing instruments, at least some of which are described below.  
      Other embodiments use the concept of a shorter pen that stores in its cap and uses the cap to convert to a larger pen regardless whether or not the cap is actually a functioning cap. There could also be an embodiment in which the pen converts into more than two different sizes or states.  
      The pen could have one or more different size states and also have additional functions it can convert to, or be a subcomponent of including but not limited to: a storage container (i.e. for matches, paper, or pills), a writing instrument(s) and a tool (i.e. knife, screwdriver, wrench, awl), a laser pointer, an electronic device (i.e. recorder), a flashlight (LED or incandescent), and etc. The quick-use pen could be a quick-use flashlight and convert into a pen. There could be a quick-use pen that flipped around or otherwise easily converted to a quick-use pointer (laser or telescopic) or flashlight with or without another pen conversion.  
      Different materials, sizes, and interconnections can be used for all the components and parts. The materials could vary for different results such as: manufacturing economics, availability of materials, newly developed or available materials, weight reduction, strength and durability, and visual appearance.  
      Key ring holder  14  does not need to be used for a key ring, or anything else. The hole in the part could be removed. Or the hole could be left in arid used to attach the pen to a necklace, a string, a loop on a bag or backpack, quick release mechanism, or any other object. The shape of key ring holder  14  could change to a variety of shapes including a flat section on the end with the through hole to reduce the space it takes on a key ring and make it easier to put on and remove from the key ring. A spring loaded or other quick release mechanism could be integrated with key ring holder  14  for interfacing with key chains.  
      End plug  22  could connect with threads in addition to o-ring  40  seal or just threads and no o-ring seal. The other threaded connections could also have o-rings or other type of bushings. The seals would serve as a lock washer to reduce the chance of the threads loosening when not desired and also serve as environmental seals.  
      Tubular barrel  16  could also attach to end plug  22  and the pen tip without a circumferential groove  34 . Quick-use pen  13  could attach to pen cap  12  when in closed pen  11  position with threads in addition to the o-ring, with threads and no o-ring, or with more than one o-ring and circumferential groove (or with one or no grooves).  
      All the connections could use a quick release or other type of connection instead of the threaded connections and o-ring seal. These connections could rely on compression, spring force and/or friction.  
      The pen system could be modified to accommodate many different ink cartridges of varying shape, color, type, function and design including but not limited to pencil, felt tip marker and PDA (personal digital assistant) stylus.  
      The method of holding the ink cartridge in position could use a retaining sleeve  44  fitted to size without an O-ring bushing, the material would be slightly compressive. Retaining sleeve  44  could be attached to the ink cartridge with a compression fitting instead of an adhesive; this would require that the interior dimension of retaining sleeve  44  be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of ink cartridge  26 .  
      The length of the tubular sections of my pen can be made shorter or longer which would result in a shorter or longer quick-use pen  13 , full-size pen  28 , and collapsed pen  11  to accommodate different applications. Another advantage from my design related to this is that when the length of collapsed pen  11  increases by an amount, the length of full-size pen  28  increases by twice that amount which helps to optimize full-size pen  28  length and compactness of collapsed pen  11 .  
      The ornamental design of the pen could change with different patterns, varying chamfers and radii, and different colors, materials, grooves, grips, and finishes.  
      A pocket clip could be attached to end plug  22  and would work on both quick-use pen  13 , full-size pen  28  and closed pen  11 . The pocket clip could be permanent or removable.  
      The pen could be built in different inner and outer diameters to accommodate different styles and use different size ink cartridge. Or just the outer diameter of the tubular sections could remain the same and the inner diameter could be changed.  
      Tapered end  50  of pen-tip tube  20  could be a separate piece from the rest of pen-tip tube  20 . Having two separate parts could be used to: accommodate different methods to replace ink cartridge  26 ; allow the pen to use a component (e.g. tapered tip) that is made by another manufacturer; create a different aesthetic appearance that would be more similar to typical pens; create another part that could be desirable to users who enjoy taking the system apart and rebuilding it as novelty gadget; allow users to switch the components with other of version of the pen system that are made of different materials or have different finishes to create a different pen or a pen that is more interesting to the user. The tapered tip can connect to the tubular part with threads or other type of fastener mechanism, compression, or adhesive. The need for two parts could also be to reduce costs in the manufacturing process and possibly reduce the weight of my pen by using tube stock material for the nontapered part of pen-tip tube  20 .  
      Tubular barrel  16  could be manufactured out of two parts, a separate tube and an insert with male threads  36  and tapered hole. The insert could be fastened with threads, adhesive, compression or by another method.  
      The quick-use pen could be built and used with the cap and key ring holder  14  without the option to convert to full-size pen  28 .  
      The finish colors on the pen could correspond to the color of the ink cartridge. The whole pen could change color or just part of it. The user could purchase a new tip or end plug that would match the ink cartridge color, or a standard colored pen could have a colored tip or other part corresponding to the ink color. The finish colors of the pen could be made with colored anodizes, an oxidation method, a type of baked on color, paint or other method.  
      In particular embodiments, key ring holder  14  has a circumferential o-ring groove that accepts an o-ring to form a seal when male threads  36  of tubular barrel  16  are screwed into key ring holder  14 . This may seal a hole in male threads  36  that allows ink cartridge  26  to pass through when the pen is in the full-size state. It also forms the other o-ring seal in collapsed state  11  so the whole unit is completely sealed. The o-ring of key-ring holder  14  may seal key-ring holder  14  end of the writing instrument when in collapsed state  11 . This o-ring may also restraining male threads  36  from inadvertently loosening.  
      In particular embodiments, end plug  22  has radial grooves or ridges or other type of gripping surface (which may, for example, be rubber) to allow end plug  22  to be pulled out more easily when attached to the quick-use pen or acting as an end plug  22  on the full-size pen.  
      In particular embodiments, a convertible-multi use writing instrument includes tubular barrel  16  and pen tip  20  and does not have a separate plug end  22 . In these embodiments, one or more aspects of plug end  22  may be incorporated into tubular barrel  16 , pen tip  20 , or both. As an example and not by way of limitation, pen tip  20  may include a closed end opposite a writing end of pen tip  20  without female threaded hole  48 . In addition, pen tip  20  may include an o-ring providing similar functionality to o-ring  40  of end-plug  22 .  
      Although the present invention has been described with several embodiments, myriad changes, variations, alterations, transformations, and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art, and it is intended that the present invention encompass such changes, variations, alterations, transformations, and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present invention is not intended to be limited, in any way, by any statement in the specification that is not reflected in the claims.