Flat and extendable stylus

• US 20050162412A1
• Filed: 01/28/2004
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Ronkko, Antti, Kauhaniemi, Ilpo
• Application Number:
  US10/766,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20050162412A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

A stylus is presented, for physically contacting a touch-sensitive screen. The stylus includes a plurality of elements connected together by hinges or joints to form part of an accordion-style extendable instrument. The stylus also includes an additional element, connected to the rest of the accordion-style extendable instrument by at least one additional hinge or joint. The additional element has, or supports, a stylus tip for contacting the touch-sensitive screen.

Claims

1. A stylus for physically contacting a touch-sensitive screen, the stylus comprising:

a plurality of elements connected together by hinges or joints to form part of an accordion-style extendable instrument; and

an additional element, connected to the part of the accordion-style extendable instrument by at least one additional hinge or joint,

wherein the additional element has or supports a stylus tip for contacting the touch-sensitive screen.

2. The stylus of claim 1, wherein the stylus tip is at a distal end of the additional element, and is extendable away from the plurality of elements.

3. The stylus of claim 2, wherein the stylus tip has a point that is sufficiently blunt to contact the touch-sensitive screen without scratching.

4. The stylus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elements mostly have substantially equal length.

5. The stylus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elements have respective lengths so that the stylus in a folded configuration has a substantially circular perimeter.

6. The stylus of claim 1, further comprising a spring for automatically extending the stylus.

7. The stylus of claim 6, further comprising a button for activating the spring.

8. The stylus of claim 1, further comprising a touch-screen activation unit.

9. The stylus of claim 8, wherein the activation unit is a key.

10. The stylus of claim 1, having an extended configuration that is sufficiently flat so that the extended configuration has a depth less than one quarter of a standard number two pencil'"'"'s depth.

11. A mobile terminal comprising:

a touch-sensitive screen;

a stylus having an accordion style; and

an enclosure for storing the stylus in a folded configuration.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 11, further comprising a tether for tethering the stylus to the mobile terminal.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the stylus comprises a mobile terminal activation unit.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the mobile terminal activation unit is a key.

15. An extendable accordion-style stylus comprising:

a plurality of elements;

a plurality of hinges or joints connecting the plurality of elements; and

a tip for contacting at least one part of a mobile terminal.