Pen cap stylus for use with touch screens
OwnerKarl A. Robbinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pen cap stylus (or screen operator) is useful in combination with a conventional writing implement, such as a pencil or an ink pen. The manner in which the pen cap stylus screen operator engages to an end of a writing implement is analogous to how a pen cap engages either end of the pen for which it was designed. To form a hybrid instrument for use both as a computer stylus and as a writing instrument, the pen cap stylus is placed on the end of the writing instrument opposite the writing element. The pen cap stylus has a pointy tip for engaging a touch screen of a computer device to selectively actuate microswitches therein. The writing element disposed at the other end of the writing instrument maintains its conventional utility.
Claims14
A cap for use with a writing instrument to operate a touch screen having microswitches, the cap comprising:
- an elongated barrel that is open at a first end thereof, and
- an operating tip connected to a second end of said elongated barrel;
- wherein said operating tip is dimensioned so as to be sufficiently small to reliably actuate the microswitches via contact with the touch screen and so as to be sufficiently large to reliably prevent such contact from damaging the touch screen;
- and
- wherein said operating tip has a shape selected from the group consisting of:
- frustoconical, and generally conical with a rounded tip.
A combination for use in operating a touch screen having microswitches, the combination comprising:
- a cap, and
- an elongated writing instrument;
- wherein said cap comprises:
- an elongated barrel having an open first end thereof, and
- an operating tip connected to a second end of said elongated barrel;
- and
- wherein said writing instrument is engaged with the cap by being partially inserted into said open first end of said elongated barrel, and
- wherein said operating tip is dimensioned so as to be sufficiently small to reliably actuate the microswitches via contact with the touch screen and so as to be sufficiently large to reliably prevent such contact from damaging the touch screen.
A pen cap having an open end and a closed end, further comprising an operating tip,
- wherein the operating tip is cone-shaped, with a narrow ending tip having a width of about 2 mm, and wherein the operating tip extends about 5 mm from the closed end of the pen cap;
- and
- wherein the operating tip is dimensioned so as to be sufficiently small to reliably actuate the microswitches via contact with the touch screen and so as to be sufficiently large to reliably prevent such contact from damaging the touch screen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.