Compact writing instrument
AssigneeThomas Aten Nielson
InventorThomas Aten Nielson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A writing instrument includes a barrel and a cap capable of being assembled with and secured to the barrel. The barrel carries a writing instrument. The cap carries a clip. A free end of the clip includes a detent that can be received by a corresponding indentation of an exterior surface of an external portion of the barrel when the cap is assembled with the barrel. The detent of the clip and the indentation of the barrel are capable of securing the cap and the barrel in their assembled relationship. The writing instrument may be compact. Methods of using a writing instrument include securing a cap of the writing instrument to a barrel of the writing instrument by causing a detent of a free end of a clip of the cap to engage a corresponding indentation of an exterior portion of the barrel.
Claims15
A writing instrument, including:
- a barrel with:
- a writing element adapted to carry a refill;
- a body including:
- a first portion defining a first end of the body and from which the writing element protrudes and telescopes to extend a length of the barrel, an exterior surface of the first portion including a cap engagement feature;
- and
- a second portion opposite from the first end;
- and
- a cap with:
- a body including a first end, an interior and a second end, the first end opening to the interior, the first end and the interior capable of receiving the writing element and the first portion of the body of the barrel to place the cap and the barrel in an assembled relationship, an interior surface of the body of the cap including a barrel engagement feature that engages the cap engagement feature of the body of the barrel;
- and
- a clip including an attachment end secured to the cap adjacent to the second end of the cap and a free end adjacent to the first end of the cap.
A method for using a writing instrument, comprising:
- disengaging a cap of the writing instrument from a barrel of the writing instrument to expose a writing element of the barrel adapted to carry a refill;
- removing the writing element of the barrel from an interior of the cap;
- extending the writing element from a body of the barrel after removing the writing element of the barrel from the interior of the cap and before using the writing element to increase a length of the barrel;
- using the writing element;
- retracting the writing element at least partially into an interior of the barrel after using the writing element and before introducing the writing element into the interior of the cap to reduce a length of the barrel;
- introducing the writing element into the interior of the cap;
- and
- causing the cap to engage the barrel.
A writing instrument, including:
- a barrel with:
- a writing element adapted to carry a refill;
- a body including:
- a first portion from which the writing element protrudes and telescopes relative to the body of the barrel to extend a length of the barrel, an exterior surface of the first portion including a cap engagement feature;
- and
- a second portion opposite from the first portion;
- and
- a cap with:
- a body including a first end, an interior and a second end, the first end opening to the interior, the first end and the interior capable of receiving the writing element and the first portion of the body of the barrel to place the cap and the barrel in an assembled relationship, an interior surface of the body of the cap including a barrel engagement feature that engages the cap engagement feature of the body of the barrel;
- and
- a clip including an attachment end secured to the cap adjacent to the second end of the cap and a free end adjacent to the first end of the cap,
- the cap and the barrel, when in the assembled relationship, having a length of about 2½ inches or less.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.