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US 11,904,625 B1Granted
Automatically retractable writing instrument
OwnerPaul David Ellis, IIinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A writing instrument has a nib that can retract automatically upon release of a grip on the writing instrument. The writing instrument has one or more leaves that can be flexed to push the cartridge towards the front end of the writing instrument to expose the nib. A spring applies a force on the cartridge to automatically retract the nib when a grip on the writing instrument is released.
Claims21
A writing instrument, comprising:
- a housing extending along an axis and between a base at a rear end of the writing instrument and a curved front end at a front end of the writing instrument, the housing comprising a pair of spaced apart beams that extend between and connect to the base and the curved front end, a platform extending between and interconnecting the pair of spaced apart beams at a location between the rear end and curved front end;
- a cartridge extending between the rear end and the front end, a nib configured to extend from the front end of the cartridge, the cartridge configured to be disposed inside the housing, so the front end of the cartridge is extendable through an opening of the curved front end of the housing, and so an outer tubular surface of the cartridge extends through an opening in the platform, the cartridge further comprising a pair of arms that extend from opposite sides of the cartridge and generally perpendicular to a central axis of the cartridge;
- a pair of leaves coupled to the rear end of the housing and extending to the front end proximate the curved front end of the housing so that the pair of leaves extend along a majority of a length of the writing instrument, each of the leaves extending between the pair of spaced apart beams and comprising a pair of spaced apart pawls with an angled edge that tapers toward the front end, the pair of spaced apart pawls configured to slidingly engage the pair of arms, a portion of each leaf configured to flex toward the axis relative to the rear end of the leaf;
- and
- an overgrip sleeve extending over the pair of spaced apart beams and pair of leaves from the base of the housing to the curved front end of the housing,
- wherein flexing the pair of leaves toward the axis of the housing causes the pawls of the pair of leaves to engage the pair of arms to move the cartridge in a first direction relative to the curved front end so that the nib protrudes from the curved front end, and wherein releasing the pair of leaves causes the cartridge to move in a second direction opposite the first direction to retract the nib so that it does not protrude from the curved front end.
3 more elements
A writing instrument, comprising:
- a housing extending along an axis and between a base at a rear end of the writing instrument and a curved front end at a front end of the writing instrument, the housing comprising a pair of spaced apart beams that extend between and connect to the base and the curved front end, a platform extending between and interconnecting the pair of spaced apart beams at a location between the rear end and curved front end;
- a cartridge extending between the rear end and the front end, a nib configured to extend from the front end of the cartridge, the cartridge configured to be disposed inside the housing, so the front end of the cartridge is extendable through an opening of the curved front end of the housing, and so an outer tubular surface of the cartridge extends through an opening in the platform, the cartridge further comprising one or more arms that extend from opposite sides of the cartridge and generally perpendicular to a central axis of the cartridge;
- a leaf coupled to the rear end of the housing and extending to a front end proximate the curved front end of the housing so that the leaf extends along a majority of a length of the writing instrument, the leaf extending between the pair of spaced apart beams and comprising one or more pawls with angled edges that tapers toward the front end, the one or more pawls configured to slidingly engage at least a portion of the one or more arms, a portion of the leaf configured to flex toward the axis relative to the rear end of the leaf;
- and
- an overgrip sleeve extending over the pair of spaced apart beams and the leaf from the base of the housing to the curved front end of the housing,
- wherein flexing the leaf toward the axis of the housing causes the one or more pawls of the leaf to engage the one or more arms to move the cartridge in a first direction relative to the curved front end so that the nib protrudes from the curved front end, and wherein releasing the leaf causes the cartridge to move in a second direction opposite the first direction to retract the nib so that it does not protrude from the curved front end.
3 more elements
A writing instrument kit, comprising:
- a writing instrument comprising
- a housing extending along an axis and between a base at a rear end of the writing instrument and a curved front end at a front end of the writing instrument, the housing comprising a pair of spaced apart beams that extend between and connect to the base and the curved front end, a platform extending between and interconnecting the pair of spaced apart beams at a location between the rear end and curved front end;
- a cartridge extending between the rear end and the front end, a nib configured to extend from the front end of the cartridge, the cartridge configured to be disposed inside the housing, so the front end of the cartridge is extendable through an opening of the curved front end of the housing, and so an outer tubular surface of the cartridge extends through an opening in the platform, the cartridge further comprising one or more arms that extend from opposite sides of the cartridge and generally perpendicular to a central axis of the cartridge;
- a leaf coupled to the rear end of the housing and extending to a front end proximate the curved front end of the housing so that the leaf extends along a majority of a length of the writing instrument, the leaf extending between the pair of spaced apart beams and comprising one or more pawls with angled edges that tapers toward the front end, the one or more pawls configured to slidingly engage at least a portion of the one or more arms, a portion of the leaf configured to flex toward the axis relative to the rear end of the leaf;
- and
- an overgrip sleeve extending over the pair of spaced apart beams and the leaf from the base of the housing to the curved front end of the housing,
- wherein flexing the leaf toward the axis of the housing causes the one or more pawls of the leaf to engage the one or more arms to move the cartridge in a first direction relative to the curved front end so that the nib protrudes from the curved front end, and wherein releasing the leaf causes the cartridge to move in a second direction opposite the first direction to retract the nib so that it does not protrude from the curved front end;
- and
- one or more additional overgrip sleeves configured to replace the overgrip sleeve of the writing instrument.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.