Ergonomic hand held implement with retractable tip

An improved hand-held implement comprising:

• an ergonomic assembled body having:
• a first curved body panel having a first inner surface and a first outer surface, and
• a second curved body panel, having a second inner surface and a second outer surface, attached to said first body panel forming said ergonomic assembled body, a portion of the first and second inner surfaces of said assembly body defining an elongated cartridge housing therebetween, said elongated cartridge housing extends longitudinally and coaxially along a first axis of said assembled body;
• an elongated cartridge having an outboard end and an opposing inboard end, said cartridge having a tip projecting from said outboard end and a coaxial retention stopper which fits into a mating coaxial cavity defined by the cartridge housing, said cartridge being coaxially retained within said cartridge housing via the retention stopper;
• and
• a spring biased plunger positioning in another portion of the first and second inner surfaces of said assembly body and extending longitudinally and coaxially along a second axis of said assembly body, said second axis generally perpendicularly intersecting said first axis, said spring biased plunger slidably engaged with a cylindrical portion having a first end connected to the opposing inboard end of the elongated cartridge, said spring biased plunger having an inclined angled surface formed on an end thereof and biased against the cylindrical portion such that depression of the plunger engages a second opposite end of the cylindrical portion to alternately extend and retract the tip from the cartridge, said spring biased plunger further comprising a selection peg and a cam way where upon a first depression of the plunger the peg slidably engages and rests in an extension leg point of the cam way and upon a second depression of the plunger the peg slidably engages and rests in a retraction leg point of the cam way.

A method of advertising or promotion comprising the imprinting of graphical or advertising material on at least one surface of an improved hand-held implement having:

• an ergonomic assembled body having:
• a first curved body panel having a first inner surface and a first outer surface, and
• a second curved body panel, having a second inner surface and a second outer surface, attached to said first body panel forming said ergonomic assembled body, a portion of the first and second inner surfaces of said assembly body defining an elongated cartridge housing therebetween, said elongated cartridge housing extends longitudinally and coaxially along a first axis of said assembled body;
• an elongated cartridge coaxially retained within said cartridge housing, said cartridge having a tip;
• and
• a spring biased plunger positioning in another portion of the first and second inner surfaces of said assembly body and extending longitudinally and coaxially along a second axis of said assembled body, said second axis generally perpendicularly intersecting said first axis, said plunger having an inclined angled surface formed on an end thereof and biased against an end of the cartridge such that depression of the plunger alternately extends and retracts the tip of said cartridge out of or into said assembly body,
• wherein said first and second outer surfaces define:
• a bottom portion from which said elongated cartridge extends or retracts 1 and an opposed top portion,
• a forward surface extending between said bottom and top portions, said forward surface being adapted to be engaged by, and extend in a direction substantially parallel to, the index finger of a user,
• first and second opposed side surfaces extending between said bottom and top portions and rearward from said forward surface, said first side surface being adapted to engage the thumb of a user, said second side surface being adapted to engage another finger of a user, and
• a rearward surface, said first and second side surfaces extending between said forward surface and said rearward surface, said forward and rearward surfaces being contiguous and generally perpendicular to said side surfaces.

A method of advertising or promotion comprising the imprinting of graphical or advertising material on at least one surface of an improved hand-held implement having:

• an ergonomic assembled body having:
• a first curved body panel having a first inner surface and a first outer surface, and
• a second curved body panel, having a second inner surface and a second outer surface, attached to said first body panel forming said ergonomic assembled body, a portion of the first and second inner surfaces of said assembled body defining an elongated cartridge housing therebetween, said elongated housing extends longitudinally and coaxially along a first axis of said assembled body;
• an elongated cartridge having an outboard end and an opposing inboard end, said cartridge having a tip projecting from said outboard end and a coaxial retention stopper which fits into a mating coaxial cavity defined by the cartridge housing, said cartridge being coaxially retained within said cartridge housing via the retention stopper;
• and
• a spring biased plunger positioning in another portion of the first and second inner surfaces of said assembled body and extending longitudinally and coaxially along a second axis of said assembled body, said second axis generally perpendicularly intersecting said first axis, said spring biased plunger slidably engaged with a cylindrical portion having a first end connected to the opposing inboard end of the elongated cartridge, said spring biased plunger having an inclined angled surface formed on an end thereof and biased against the cylindrical portion such that depression of the plunger engages a second opposite end of the cylindrical portion to alternately extend and retract the tip from the cartridge, said spring biased plunger further comprising a selection peg and cam way where upon a first depression of the plunger the peg slidably engages and rests in an extension leg point of the cam way and upon a second depression of the plunger the peg slidably engages and rests in a retraction leg point of the cam way.