Abstract: The present invention includes a combination of various designs for a writing implement with an illumination source and a rechargeable battery, and various designs for a docking station/battery charger combination for those writing implements to recharge the battery within the writing implement when the writing implement is in the docking station. The battery charger system of the present invention can be any of a variety of battery chargers that are currently available and can utilize many of the features that are available in such battery charger designs. A variety of battery chargers are available and any of them could be used with the various embodiments of the writing implements of the present invention. The simplest charger is one that is manually activated by the user when it is noticed that the light from the writing implement is growing dim.

Abstract: Provided in a first embodiment of the invention is a writing implement having built-in illumination which includes a tubular pen body dimensioned to contain a small battery in contact with a terminal lightbulb. The lightbulb is held in place axially in the pen body typically by a corrugated metal bulb holder and by a translucent spacer extending to the end of the pen body where a marking element is located and opposite the end disposed to contain the battery. A metal spring-clip having a sliding portion mounted externally to the pen body is attached through the pen body wall and is disposed to make electrical contact with the battery therein. The sliding portion is free to slide down the exterior of the pen body wall and to make contact with the bulb holder through a hole in the pen body wall, thereby completing the circuit between the bulb and the battery using the length of the spring-clip as a primary conductive element in the system.