Flexible writing instrument

Abstract

A writing instrument comprises a flexible sleeve having a tube with ink therein. The writing instrument may be molded as needed into any shape or form desired by a user thereof. The flexible writing instrument is easily formed and positioned about a hand and wrist of a user providing a convenient, readily accessible, and comfortable alternative to traditional writing instruments.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority of prior provisional Application Ser. No. 60/620,436 filed Oct. 21, 2004, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to writing instruments, and more particularly to a flexible writing instrument which may be molded and formed into various shapes and configurations.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Writing instruments including pens and pencils are used by persons of all ages and working in all industries. Airline attendants need a pen on their person for various reasons. Students need a writing instrument available at all times when in a classroom setting and must store or carry the writing instrument during class changes. Similarly, travelers often need a writing instrument and are required to either carry one or store one in a travel bag or hand bag, thereby causing an inconvenience at a later time when the writing instrument needs to be retrieved.

As is often the case, a person lays a writing instrument such as a pen down on a support surface whereupon the pen either rolls to a new location on the support surface, rolls off of the support surface, or is misplaced, or is stolen. Alternatively, a person either attaches a writing instrument to an item of clothing or stores the instrument in a pocket, bag, or other means of storage and transport thereby requiring time to store and retrieve the writing instrument.

Heretofore, solutions for convenient storage and transport of writing instruments have included pocket protectors and clips, writing instruments attached to a lanyard or string, and the like. Pocket protectors add bulk to a wearer's clothing and are susceptible to falling out of a pocket and becoming misplaced. Further, not all pocket protectors and clips provide protection against pen leakage and damage to clothing. Pens secured onto lanyards and the like are often used by airline attendants and various other service personnel. Although normally convenient, hanging pens can interfere with a wearer's activities, and in particular activities requiring the wearer to bend over or lean forward. In addition to interfering with tasks and possibly limiting mobility, lanyard pens and the like are often secured by attaching the lanyard to the cap of the pen which allows the body of the pen to become unattached and thereafter misplaced. Further, a pen simply secured onto a wearer's clothing or identification badge, etc. can often cause damage and stains to clothing.

The present invention comprises a flexible writing instrument which overcomes the foregoing and other difficulties which have long since characterized the prior art. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, a flexible writing instrument comprises a flexible sleeve having an ink tube therein. The sleeve is bendable and may be formed into various shapes.

In accordance with more specific aspects of the invention, a flexible writing instrument comprises a flexible sleeve having a distal and proximal end. An ink tube having a writing tip and point on one end thereof is received in the sleeve until the tip matingly engages the distal end of the sleeve. An outer covering is then applied around the outer surface of the sleeve thereby making the writing instrument more comfortable and easier to grip.

The writing instrument may be formed into various shapes. For example, the writing instrument may be wrapped and formed around a user's wrist user such that the tip is situated near the fingertips facilitating quick access for writing. Once the writing instrument is secured around the wrist, the user is able to perform other activities and move about without having to attend to placing and picking up the writing instrument. The writing instrument is also useful in situations where there is little room in which to write. Instead of having to manipulate the length of a traditional pen or pencil, generally about 6 inches long, the user can bend the proximal end of the writing instrument facilitating use of the writing instrument in more compact spaces without any awkward positioning or discomfort to the wrist and hand.

The writing instrument of the present invention is useful for persons of all ages and employment. Students can secure the writing instrument to their wrist and be prepared to write at all times and eliminate the need for storing the writing instrument during transport between classes. Travelers can secure the writing instrument around a wrist without having to access a bag or other storage container when the writing instrument is needed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the use of a flexible writing instrument comprising a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the writing instrument shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a top view of the writing instrument shown in FIG. 1 comprising additional components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, there is shown a flexible writing instrument 10 comprising a first embodiment of the invention formed around a hand 12 and wrist 14. The writing instrument 10 comprises a flexible sleeve 16 having a distal end and a proximal end. Received in the sleeve 16 is a tube 18 having ink 20 stored therein and a point 24 on one end thereof. The point 24 comprises a ball enabling transferring of the ink onto a writing surface. A supportive writing tip 22 mounted at the distal end of the sleeve 16 comprises an orifice enabling the point 24 to protrude therethrough. The tube 18 is received into the sleeve 16 until the tip 22 matingly engages the distal end of the sleeve 16. An outer covering 26 is secured around the sleeve 18 providing a soft surface for secure gripping and comfortable use of the writing instrument 10. The writing instrument 10 can be bended or molded into any shape or form desired by a user. As shown in FIG. 1, the writing instrument 10 is useful for positioning securely about the hand 12 and wrist 14 of a user thereby facilitating a convenient, readily accessible, comfortable alternative to traditional writing instruments.

The flexible sleeve 16 and tube 18 comprise a polymer material such as flexible polyvinyl chloride or other suitable materials known to those skilled in the art to be malleable for repeated bending and shaping while maintaining a desired form or shape. The tip 22 comprises a rigid material such as a rigid polymer and other suitable materials known to those skilled in the art of manufacturing writing instruments. The covering 26 comprises a soft material such as fabrics, foams, and other lightweight materials used for padding and coverings known to those skilled in the art.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown the writing instrument 10 comprising a grip 30 secured around the covering 26 near the tip and a decoration 32. The grip 30 provides an ergonomic cushion and support for fingers of a user and comprises a soft material such as foam or rubber known to those skilled in the art. Although the writing instrument is shown with a particular shaped decoration 32, the writing instrument may be manufactured with numerous decorations of varying shape and style.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a writing instrument 40 comprising a second embodiment of the present invention. Many of the component parts of the writing instrument 40 are substantially identical in construction and function to component parts of the writing instrument 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. Such identical component parts are designated in FIG. 4 with the same reference numerals utilized above in the description of the kiosk 10, but are differentiated therefrom by means of a prime (′) designation.

The writing instrument 40 comprises a rotating tip 42 mounted on the distal end of the tube 18′. The tip 42 has an orifice in the distal end thereof enabling a lead member 44 to pass therethrough. The tip further comprises threads on the inner surface thereof for engaging the lead member 44 housed within the tube 18′ for extraction therefrom and retraction back therein. The user of the writing instrument rotates the tip 42 in a clockwise direction to extract the lead member 44 beyond the distal end of the tip and thereafter rotates the tip 42 in a counterclockwise direction to retract the lead member 44 back within the tube 18′. The tip 42 may be fabricated from a polymer material, metals, or other suitable material known to those skilled in the art of manufacturing writing instruments.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A writing instrument comprising:

a flexible sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end;

a tube for storing ink therein;

a quantity of ink stored in the tube;

the point providing means for transferring ink from the tube onto a writing surface;

a supportive tip comprising an orifice enabling protrusion of the point therethrough;

a covering surrounding the outer surface;

wherein the tube is received into the sleeve until the supportive tip matingly engages the distal end of the sleeve.

2. The writing instrument according to claim 1 further comprising a grip secured around the covering providing cushion and support for use of the writing instrument.

3. The writing instrument according to claim 1 wherein the sleeve comprises flexible polyvinyl chloride.

4. The writing instrument according to claim 1 wherein the tube comprises flexible polyvinyl chloride.

5. The writing instrument according to claim 1 wherein the outer covering comprises fabric.

6. The writing instrument according to claim 1 wherein the outer covering comprises foam.

7. A writing instrument comprising:

a flexible sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end;

a tube for storing lead therein;

a quantity of lead stored in the tube;

a rotating tip mounted on the distal end of the tube;

the rotating tip comprising an orifice enabling protrusion of the lead therethrough;

the rotating tip comprising threads on the inner surface thereof for engaging the lead;

the rotating tip rotated in a clockwise direction to extract lead from the tube for protrusion through the orifice;

the rotating tip rotated in a counterclockwise direction to retract lead back into the tube;

a covering surrounding the outer surface; and

wherein the tube is received into the sleeve until the rotating tip matingly engages the distal end of the sleeve.

8. The writing instrument according to claim 7 further comprising a grip secured around the covering providing cushion and support for use of the writing instrument.

9. The writing instrument according to claim 7 wherein the sleeve comprises flexible polyvinyl chloride.

10. The writing instrument according to claim 7 wherein the tube comprises flexible polyvinyl chloride.

11. The writing instrument according to claim 7 wherein the outer covering comprises fabric.

12. The writing instrument according to claim 7 wherein the outer covering comprises foam.