Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body that extends longitudinally between a top end and a bottom end, an elongate slot disposed in an outer surface of the body and having first and second spaced-apart detents, and a cap disposed coaxially around the body and having a cut therein that defines an elongate arm. The elongate arm has an inwardly-oriented protrusion configured to engage the detents of the slot. The cap is slidable along the body such that the inwardly-oriented protrusion slides along the slot until it detachably engages a detent, thereby retaining the cap in either a closed position that covers the bottom end or an open position in which the bottom end is exposed.
Abstract: A lamp pen includes a pen body, a refill, a conductive rotating slide, a lamp, and a cartridge holding a battery. The rotating slide is electrically connected to the battery. A conductive bar on a surface of the slide abuts an end of the cartridge, which comprises a helical surface forming higher and auxiliary higher slots disposed at a highest point of the surface. A first lead of the lamp is connected to the battery, and a second lead is affixed within the higher slot. Rotating the slide causes the conductive bar to engage either the higher slot or auxiliary higher slot, pushing the cartridge downward so that the refill extends out of the pen tip. When the higher slot is engaged, the second lead of the lamp connects to the conductive bar, the electric circuit completes, and the lamp illuminates.
Abstract: A biodegradable polylactic acid material being suitable for the manufacture of articles, such as pens, is the heated mixed product of the following components, 93% by weight to 96% by weight polylactic acid, 0.8% by weight to 1.2% by weight of a chain extender, 0.6% by weight to 1.0% by weight of a nucleating agent, and 2.5% by weight to 5.0% by weight of a filler.
Abstract: A writing instrument comprises a substantially tubular body extending between a top and a writing end, and an elongate slot disposed in an outer surface of the body and having a detents defined at each end of the slot, and a tubular open-ended cap disposed coaxially around the body and having a cut defining an elongate arm connected to the cap at one end and having an inwardly-oriented protrusion at another end and sized to engage the detents of the slot. The cap is slidable along the body such that the inwardly-oriented protrusion slides along the slot until it engages a detent at an end of the slot thereby arresting the cap either in a closed position, in which the cap covers the writing end, or in an open position in which the writing end is exposed.
Abstract: A lifting device generally includes a handle portion having first and second ends and a support portion having first and second ends. The first end of the support portion is pivotably coupled to the first end of the handle portion and the second end of the support portion is releasably engageable with the second end of the handle portion, such that the lifting device may be positioned in at least a closed position and an open position.