WO2005068217A1

WO2005068217A1 - Groove writing instrument

Info

Publication number: WO2005068217A1
Application number: PCT/US2004/000169
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mitch Junkins
Original assignee: CDM Co
Current assignee: CDM Co
Priority date: 2004-01-05
Filing date: 2004-01-05
Publication date: 2005-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 2006-07-05

Abstract

The inventive subject matter is directed toward a writing instrument having a barrel that defines a groove. The groove is adapted to receive a plurality of user interchangeable pieces that remain in a fixed sequence which has been determined by a user of the writing instrument.

Description

GROOVE WRITING INSTRUMENT

Field of The Invention The field of the invention is writing instruments.

Background of The Invention Writing instruments and pens in particular have evolved over the years and while many of the changes have been directed toward improving penmanship or comfort, some have been directed toward providing additional functionality and/or entertainment value.

There are, for example, writing instruments that have characters, pictures, calendars, and other items attached to them.

Attachment of such items can be done by sliding the item over a body of the writing instrument or over a shaft running through or extending from the body of the instrument. German Patent No. 417005 issued in 1925, for example, shows a writing instrument in which dice have been slipped over a shaft. U.S. Patent No. 6,612,766 also shows a writing mstrument in which items have been slipped over a shaft. In the two patents previously mentioned, the items slipped over the shaft are free to rotate about the shaft thereby providing an entertainment value. Another such patent is U.S. Patent No. 4,928,416. The '416 patent teaches letters or symbols, each having an aperture through which an elongated body is inserted. Another way in which items have been attached to a writing instrument is through use of individual holes in the pen body that are constructed to receive individual items. This type of attachment is depicted particularly well in the figures associated with U.S. Patent Nos. 6,190,076 and 5,158,384. The '384 specification also teaches a "notch" that holds a small roll of paper within the body of the writing instrument. It should be noted, however, that in order to get the paper into the "notch", the top of the pen must be removed and therefore the "notch" is not externally available. Another writing instrument teaching an area of storage that is not externally available is U.S. Patent No. 5,328,172. The '172 patent concerns a writing instrument having a receptacle storing a plurality of objects that fall into a tube in a random sequence. hi some cases, the items being attached to the writing instrument form the body of the writing instrument. One such example is taught in U.S. Patent No. 4,983,062. The '062 patent shows a pen having blocks that are fit together to form the pen's body. Each block has a "groove" within which a plurality of sliding "pieces" are manipulated. A distinguishing factor of the '062 patent is that the blocks can be rotated so that the sequence of the "pieces" can be changed. Another distinguishing factor is that the "pieces" are not inserted into the groove by a user of the pen.

There remains a need for a writing instrument in which a user can insert items into a groove in a fixed sequence and those items will remain in that fixed sequence so long as they are within the groove.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a writing instrument having an externally available groove defined by a barrel. The groove is adapted to receive a plurality of user interchangeable pieces that remain in a fixed sequence when they are in the groove. In alternative classes of embodiments, either the entire piece is received in the groove or a peg extending from the piece is received in the groove. There are various configurations of grooves contemplated including a longitudinal groove, a radial groove, and a spiral or helix groove, hi some cases, the pieces can slide or move within the groove however provided that they remain in a fixed sequence. It is contemplated that pieces can bear indicia such as a symbol, a word, a letter, a character, and a color. Additionally, a piece can comprise a battery and/or an light emitting diode (LED) and thus pieces can emit light.

Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.

Brief Description of The Drawings Fig. 1 is a top down view of a writing instrument. Fig. 2 is a side view of a writing instrument.

Fig. 2a is a side view of a piece having a peg.

Fig. 3 is a top down view of a writing instrument having both stationary and slideable pieces. Fig. 4 is a top down view of a writing instrument having areas of varying width.

Fig. 5 is side view of a writing instrument having a groove that extends to an end of the writing instrument.

Fig. 6a is a cross sectional view of a groove.

Fig. 6b is a cross sectional view of a groove. Fig. 7 is a top down view of a writing instrument having a spiral groove.

Fig. 8 is a top down view of a writing instrument having a longitudinal groove and two radial grooves.

Fig. 9 is a side view of a writing instrument having stackable pieces.

Fig. 10 is a side view of a writing instrument have stackable pieces with detents. Fig. 11 shows a plurality of interchangeable pieces on a plurality of objects.

Detailed Description In Fig. 1, a writing instrument 100 generally comprises a barrel 110, a groove 120, and pieces 130. It should be clear that in the embodiment depicted by Fig. 1, the pieces are all substantially within the groove (i.e. none of the pieces 130 have a height that is greater than the depth of the groove). In fact, in most cases the pieces 130 will have a height approximately equal to the depth of the groove, though this is not a requirement of the inventive subject matter.

It can be observed that the pieces are in a sequence determined by the user that can be interpreted as "I love you". While these pieces 130 are user interchangeable and slideable within the groove, they remain in a fixed sequence when they are in the groove. "Remain in a fixed sequence" means that the pieces do not vary in their order while in the groove; the order depicted in Fig. 1 could not be changed to "You love I" without removing pieces. The size of the pieces, particularly the groove receiving portion, in relation to the size of the groove is what keeps the pieces in a fixed sequence. A general rule in this regard is: the width of the groove is less than twice the width of the groove receiving portion of any two adjacent pieces.

"Interchangeable" as referred to herein means that pieces received in a groove can be removed from that groove and replaced with other pieces. Thus, a user interchangeable piece is one that can be readily removed and replaced by a user. Further to this concept, a piece can be interchangeable between a writing instrument and a second object selected from a picture frame, a cup or mug, a binder, a computer screen border, a mouse pad, a watch band, a watch face, a pair of glasses, a CD or DVD case, a purse, a bag, a tote, a wallet, a key ring, a flashlight, a box, a pair of book ends, a necklace, and a bracelet. Additionally, pieces can be interchangeable between any two or more of the second objects. For example, pieces can be user interchangeable between a cup and picture frame, a binder and cup, a computer screen border and a picture frame, a purse and a wallet, and so on. Another aspect of a second item is that it can have an externally available groove adapted to receive a plurality of pieces. It is contemplated that pieces can bear an indicia such as a symbol, a word, a letter, a color, a texture, and a character likeness. Pieces can be sold with or without indicia and users can determine, create, and replace indicia. For example, a writing instrument can be sold with blank pieces and a sheet of small stickers. A user can determine which sticker or stickers to place on a particular piece. Users can create their own indicia by downloading and printing them on their own printer. In replacing indicia, a user can either peel off the previous sticker or simply place a new sticker right over the previous sticker. Additionally, indicia can be removable, and in this respect it is contemplated that magnets or a hook and loop material can be used to hold indicia to a piece. "Externally available" as used herein means that the groove is accessible for insertion of a piece. That is, in the assembled configuration of a writing instrument, there is no deterrent to insertion of piece in a groove (except another piece). In other words, the writing instrument does not have to be taken apart in order for a piece to be received in the groove.

Fig. 2 shows a writing instrument 200 having a barrel 210 that defines a groove 220. In the groove are pegged pieces 240 and non-pegged pieces 230.

A piece is preferably made from a thermo-plastic, however other suitable material will suffice, hi some embodiments, a piece can comprise a precious or semi-precious material such as diamond, gold, garnet, and platinum. A piece may be made up of component parts and may have electrical circuitry, a battery, moving parts, a light emitting diode and so on.

The size and shape of a piece can vary considerably so long as a substantial portion of the piece is received in the groove. The portion of the piece that is received in the groove is called the groove receiving portion. The groove receiving portion is preferred to have a length of at least 2 mm. A more preferred embodiment has a groove receiving length of 3 to 6 mm. An important aspect of a groove receiving portion is that its dimensions should be sufficient to hold the piece in the groove such that gravity will not make it drop out. Moreover, because pieces can vary in size and shape, the contour of the pen over the length of the barrel can be between substantially undisturbed (smooth) to substantially disturbed (not smooth).

Fig. 2a shows a piece having a groove receiving area 242 that may be described as a peg. The groove receiving area 242 extends from the body 244 of the piece. The groove receiving area 242 may be almost any shape, but it is preferable that the groove receiving area approximate the groove in dimension so that the piece does not drop out of the groove when the pen is subjected to gravity.

Now, drawing your attention to Fig. 3, a writing instrument 300 generally comprises a barrel 310, a groove 320, and pieces 330 - 390. Pieces 330 and 340 are fixed placement pieces while pieces 350 - 390 are slideable. As can be seen, groove 320 has a variable width and is specifically sized and dimensioned to order to accommodate fixed placement pieces 330 and 340.

Pieces 350 and 390 have pegs while pieces 360-380 are non-pegged pieces (i.e. the piece is surrounded on 3 sides by barrel surfaces that form the groove). Piece 380 comprises a battery having a connection 385 to piece 390. Piece 390 has an LED that causes the piece to give off a red light near the top of the piece. It should be understood that other electrical to optical converters may be used in a piece including simple incandescent bulbs, h a related embodiment, electrical power may be supplied to every piece in the groove by disposing a low voltage electrical track in a wall of the groove. The tracks or strip can carry current that is received by the piece upon insertion into the groove.

Focusing on Fig. 4, a writing instrument 400 has a variable width barrel 410 having two distinct sections. Groove section 412 has a greater width than groove section 414. Therefore, only certain pieces are appropriate for insertion into each groove section depending on the size of the piece's groove receiving portion. Section 412 is sized to accommodate 3 pieces which, in this example, represent the initials of the user of the writing instrument. It is contemplated, and it may be desirable, that pieces inserted into the initial section are permanently affixed using an adhesive. Thus, section 412 can be used to identify the owner of the writing instrument. It should be noted that while two separate sections are depicted in Fig. 4, it may be desirable to have more than two separate portions of the groove sectioned off.

Methods for holding an interchangeable piece within a groove can vary. Fig. 5 depicts a writing instrument 500 in which a groove 510 extends to an end 520 of the writing instrument. In extending the groove to the end of the writing instrument, pieces can be slid into a groove such as that shown in Fig. 6a. A piece can therefore be held in the groove by ridges 610. Another option for holding a piece in a groove is shown in Fig. 6b. A small ridge 620 can extend along walls 625. The ridge can cooperate with an indentation on a piece to hold the piece in the groove. Pieces can also be held in the groove using other know methods such as magnets, hook and loop material, detents, and so on. A single writing instrument can have more than one groove and the grooves can vary in size and shape. In Fig. 7, a writing instrument 700 has a spiral groove 710. As mentioned above, a groove is not necessarily longitudinal and can have almost any shape and width so long as the groove meets the requirements set forth herein. Drawing your attention to Fig. 8, a writing instrument 800 has three distinct grooves, a longitudinal groove 810, and two radial grooves 815 and 820.

Figs. 9 and 10 show embodiments of a writing instrument having stackable pieces. In some cases, the pieces are stacked three high, but it is contemplated that they can go even higher. It should be appreciated that pieces having either holes or grooves can be stackable on top of each other. Piece 910, for example, is a piece that has its own groove 912. Additional user interchangeable pieces 915 and 920 can be placed in sequence in the groove 912. Just as pieces can be held to a groove using a variety of methods, so too can pieces be held to each other using a variety of methods. Piece 1010 has two male sides, each side having a set of spring fingers (i.e. a detent type mechanism) that cooperate with a hole or groove in another piece or in the barrel of the writing instrument. Female piece 1020 has a hole that accepts upper spring fingers 1015 thereby holding the pieces together as indicated by a snap or click.

Fig. 11 shows a plurality of pieces 1110 that can be used interchangeably on a writing instrument 1120, a frame 1130, and a cup 1140. Frame 1130 has a groove 1135 which receives pieces and it also has holes 1132 that receive pieces. Cup 1140 also has a groove 1145 and holes 1142 for pieces.

Thus, specific embodiments and applications of a groove writing instrument have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive mamier, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A writing instrument, comprising: a barrel that defines an externally available groove adapted to receive a plurality of user interchangeable pieces such that the pieces remain in a fixed sequence determined by the user.

2. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein each piece has a groove receiving portion having a length of at least 2 mm.

3. The writing instrument of claim 2, wherein the groove receiving portion is a peg extending from an underside of the piece.

4. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the pieces are slideable within the groove.

5. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the groove has a variable width.

6. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the groove extends to an end of the writing instrument.

7. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the groove extends longitudinally.

8. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the groove extends radially.

9. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the groove extends spirally.

10. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein at least one piece bears an indicia.

11. The writing instrument of claim 10, wherein the indicia comprises at least one of a symbol, a word, a letter, a character likeness, and a color.

12. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein at least one piece comprises a battery.

13. The writing instrument of claim 12, wherein a second piece uses electrical power from the piece comprising the battery.

14. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the piece comprises a precious stone.

15. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the piece has a distinctive shape.

16. The writing instrument of claim 15, wherein the distinctive shape is the Eiffel Tower.

17. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein one of the pieces has a groove for receiving an additional piece.

18. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein one of the pieces has a hole for receiving an additional piece.

19. The writing instrument of claim 18, wherein the. additional piece has a detent that cooperates with the hole in the one piece to hold the additional piece to the one piece.

20. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the pieces are further interchangeable between the writing instrument and a second object selected from a picture frame, a binder, a computer screen border, and a cup.

21. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the second obj ect comprises an externally available groove adapted to receive a plurality of the pieces.