Patent ID: 7322662

Claim:
A writing instrument comprising a substantially tubular element that extends between a first end and a second end and that is designed to be held by a user, said tubular element containing: a reservoir of liquid; a liquid spray system comprising a liquid spray head connected to the reservoir of liquid, the spray head being designed to spray the liquid onto a medium from a distance; and a processor unit serving to activate the liquid spray system so as to enable the spray head to spray the liquid onto the medium from a distance, the tubular element further containing: measurement means for acting without physical contact between the writing instrument and the medium to measure the distance between the spray head and the medium, the measurement means being connected to the processor unit; and holding detector means for detecting that the tubular element is being held by the user, the holding detector means being connected to the processor unit; and the processor unit is adapted to activate the liquid spray system when firstly the measurement means determine that the distance between the spray head and the medium is less than a predetermined maximum value, and when secondly the holding detector means detect that the user is holding the tubular element.