Writing instrument with display window
AssigneeBIC Corporation
InventorsKevin S. Burden, Arthur R. Hamilton, Jr., Edwin L. James, Christopher K. Nelson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A writing instrument having a display window for displaying images from inside the barrel or body member of the writing instrument. The display window is formed by applying a wrap element having a hole therethrough to a transparent portion of the body member. A writing instrument having a locating mark thereon for facilitating accurate, efficient assembly of a writing instrument. More particularly, the locating mark may be disposed on a wrap element according to a predetermined positional relationship with respect to at least one feature or component of the writing instrument.
Claims33
A writing instrument comprising:
- a body member having a first end and a second end, at least part of said body member between said first end and said second end being transparent, said body member being configured to receive a writing element inside said body member;
- and
- a wrap element having an opening therethrough;
- wherein said wrap element is formed as a sheet of material fixedly wrapped around said body member such that said opening and said transparent part of said body member define a windowed portion of said writing instrument.
A writing instrument comprising:
- more than one component;
- and
- a wrap element formed as a sheet of material fixedly wrapped around a first component of said writing instrument;
- wherein:
- a locating mark is defined by removing material from said wrap element;
- and
- a second component of said writing instrument is coupled to said first component according to a predetermined positional relationship with respect to said locating mark.
A method for forming a writing instrument comprising a plurality of components including a body member, a windowed portion on said body member, and a first component within said body member, said first component or a visual image provided on said first component being viewable through said windowed portion, said method comprising:
- aligning said first component with respect to a second component of said writing instrument according to a predetermined positional relationship between said first component and said second component, and fixedly coupling at least a portion of said second component with respect to said windowed portion according to a predetermined positional relationship between said second component and said windowed portion such that said windowed portion and said first component are aligned with respect to each other.
A method for aligning a display member having at least one visual image thereon within a writing instrument body member and with respect to a windowed portion on said writing instrument body member, said method comprising:
- coupling said display member to a writing instrument component so that said visual image is aligned with respect to said writing instrument component according to a predetermined positional relationship between said visual image and said writing instrument component;
- inserting said display member in said body member;
- and
- fixedly coupling a portion of said writing instrument component with respect to said windowed portion according to a predetermined positional relationship between said writing instrument component and said windowed portion so that said visual image is aligned to show through said windowed portion so that said display member is aligned with said windowed portion to allow said visual image to show through said windowed portion.
A method for forming a windowed portion on a writing instrument, said writing instrument comprising a body member having a first end and a second end, at least part of said body member between said first end and said second end being transparent, said method comprising:
- forming an opening in a sheet of wrap material;
- and
- fixedly wrapping said sheet of wrap material around said body member so that said opening and said transparent part of said body member define a windowed portion on said writing instrument.
A method for forming a writing instrument comprising a plurality of components including a body member, a windowed portion on said body member, and a first component within said body member, said first component or a visual image provided on said first component being viewable through said windowed portion, with at least one of said windowed portion and said first component being formed as a sheet of material, said sheet of material having a locating mark thereon, said method comprising:
- aligning said first component with respect to a second component of said writing instrument according to a predetermined positional relationship between said first component and said second component;
- aligning said second component with respect to said windowed portion according to a predetermined positional relationship between said second component and said windowed portion such that said windowed portion and said first component are aligned with respect to each other;
- and
- using said locating mark to align said one of said windowed portion and said first component with respect to said second component of said writing instrument.
A method for aligning a display member within a writing instrument body member and with respect to a windowed portion on said writing instrument body member, said display member having at least one visual image thereon and a display locating mark, said method comprising:
- coupling said display member to a writing instrument component so that said visual image is aligned with respect to said writing instrument component according to a predetermined positional relationship between said visual image and said writing instrument component;
- inserting said display member in said body member;
- aligning said writing instrument component with respect to said windowed portion according to a predetermined positional relationship between said writing instrument component and said windowed portion so that said visual image is aligned to show through said windowed portion;
- and
- aligning said visual image with respect to said display locating mark such that upon said coupling of said display member with said writing instrument component and upon aligning said writing instrument component with said windowed portion, said visual image is aligned with respect to said windowed portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.