Writing instrument with magnetic features and quick refill capability

• US 10,532,601 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2017
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scribe Technical Consulting, LLC
• Original Assignee: Scribe Technical Consulting, LLC
• Inventors: Davies-Smith, Leighton
• Primary Examiner(s): Durand, Paul R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gruby, Randall A
• Application Number:
  US16/068,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20190023057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,101 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 1/08 with ball points; Balls or ball beds B43M11/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 23/002 with a fixed base
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 23/02 with means for preventing rolling B43K23/004 - B43K23/012 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 24/02 for locking a single writing unit in only fully projected or retracted positions
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 24/026 with a sleeve sliding on the forward end of the lead
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 25/00 Attaching writing implements to wearing apparel or objects involving constructional changes of the implements protecting means, e.g. caps B43K23/08; garment-holding devices A44B99/00; fastening articles to wearing apparel A45F5/02
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/00 Combinations of writing implements with other articles
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/12 with memorandum appliances with book covers B42D
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 5/00 Pens with ink reservoirs in holders, e.g. fountain-pens nibs or writing-points with ink reservoirs B43K1/01; ball-point pens B43K7/00; pens with writing-points other than nibs or balls B43K8/00; multiple-point writing implements B43K27/00
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 7/005 Pen barrels
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 7/12 with retractable ball points mechanisms for retracting or locking ball points B43K24/00

Abstract

A writing instrument assembly has a writing instrument with a body and a working tip extended or extendable from the body. A holder has a landing spot for the writing instrument. The writing instrument is magnetically and detachably retained at the landing spot when attached to the holder. The working tip is sheathed or covered automatically when the writing instrument is attached to the holder and is unsheathed or uncovered when detached from the holder.

Claims

1. A writing instrument assembly comprising:

a writing instrument having a body and a working tip extended from the body and a sheath slidably positioned in the body; and

a holder providing a landing spot for the writing instrument,

wherein the writing instrument is magnetically and detachably retained at the landing spot when attached to the holder,

wherein the working tip is covered by the sheath automatically when the writing instrument is retained at the landing spot, and

wherein the working tip is exposed from the sheath automatically when the writing instrument is separated from the landing spot.

2. A writing instrument assembly according to claim 1, wherein the holder includes one or more magnets.

3. A writing instrument assembly according to claim 2, wherein the writing instrument includes one or more magnetically attractive elements positioned to engage or interact with the one or more magnets.

4. A writing instrument assembly according to claim 3, wherein the magnetically attractive elements are steel bodies within the body of the writing instrument.

5. A writing instrument assembly according to claim 4, wherein the steel bodies are ring or cylinder shaped.

6. A writing instrument assembly according to claim 1, wherein the holder further comprises a steel backing plate rendering the holder magnetically attachable to another surface or object.

7. A writing instrument assembly according to claim 1, wherein the holder is part of an ID badge.

8. A writing instrument assembly according to claim 1, wherein the holder is formed as an integral monolithic part of another object.

9. A writing instrument assembly according to claim 1, wherein the holder is a separate part that is attached to or attachable to another object.

10. A writing instrument according to claim 1, wherein the body is formed of a copper or a copper-based alloy.

11. A writing instrument assembly according to claim 1, wherein one or more magnets are provided on the holder or on the writing instrument, and wherein one or more attractive elements are provided on the other of the holder or the writing instruments, the one or more attractive elements positioned to magnetically engage or interact with the one or more magnets when the writing instrument is attached to the holder.

12. A writing instrument assembly according to claim 1, wherein the working tip always protrudes from the body and the sheath moves relative to the working tip.

13. A writing instrument assembly according to claim 1, wherein the body is formed of copper or a copper-based alloy material and the sheath is formed of copper or a copper-based alloy material that is different from the copper or copper-based alloy material of the body.

14. A writing instrument according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism includes a spring configured to bias the sheath to a position not covering the working tip.