Combined writing and signaling instrument

• US 4,763,355 A
• Filed: 03/24/1987
• Issued: 08/09/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 411 Incorporated
• Original Assignee: James A. Cox
• Inventors: Cox, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHREYER, STAFFORD
• Application Number:
  US07/029,856
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 379/355, 379/356, 379/359, 379/361, 379/110, 379/418, 379/444, 340/384 E, 340/825.25
• US Class Current: 379/357.03
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/275 implemented by means of portable electronic directories

Abstract

The present invention provides a pen or mechanical pencil capable of producing telephonic sound tones. A housing is equipped with either ink and ink dispensing means or pencil lead and lead dispensing means. An electronic memory/logic circuit is placed within the housing and is connected to a speaker which generates and transmits audible tones. A battery or batteries within the housing provides power and a switch completes the circuit and actuates tone generation.

Claims

1. A writing instrument capable of producing and transmitting telephonic sound tones comprising:

(a) elongated housing means having a writing end and a sound transmitting end;

(b) inscribing means including a writing point carried by said housing at the writing end thereof;

(c) electronic memory means spaced from said inscribing means and also carried by said housing for storing numbers therein;

(d) a sound transducer adjacent an end of said housing remote from said inscribing means and connected to said electronic memory means for producing and transmitting sound tones corresponding to said stored numbers;

(e) a battery carried by said housing and connected to supply power to said memory means and said transducer; and

(f) switch means connected to said electronic memory means and to said transducer to actuate transmission of said sound tones.

2. An instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said elongated housing means comprises:

(a) an upper housing section containing said memory means, said transducer, said battery and said switch means; and

(b) a lower barrel containing said inscribing means.

3. An instrument as defined in claim 2 wherein said upper housing section rotates relative to said lower barrel, which rotation causes said inscribing means to slide longitudinally relative to said lower barrel and into writing or non-writing positions.

4. An instrument as defined in claim 2 wherein said transcribing means is fixed to an end portion of said upper housing section, said upper housing section longitudinally slidable in relation to said lower barrel, whereby sliding movement of said upper housing section causes said inscribing means to longitudinally slide relative to said lower barrel and into writing or non-writing positions.

5. An instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing means comprises:

(a) a barrel containing said memory means, said transducer, said battery and said inscribing means; and

(b) a removable housing cover having said switch means, which cover removably surrounds an upper portion of said lower barrel.

6. An instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said switch means comprises a pocket clip, said pocket clip having a first end portion fixed to said housing means and a second end portion suspended over a hole in said housing means, whereupon pressure thereon depresses said second end portion through said hole and into contact with said memory means, thereby actuating the production and transmission of said sound tones.

7. An instrument as defined in claim 6 wherein said second end must remain depressed to produce and transmit all tones desired.

8. An instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said switch means comprises a slidable button, whereby sliding said button actuates production and transmission of said sound tones.

9. An instrument as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

(a) a set button connected to said memory means for entering numbers therein; and

(b) a store button connected to said memory means for storing entered numbers therein.

10. An instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said inscribing means comprises:

(a) ink;

(b) an ink container; and

(c) ink dispensing means.

11. An instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said inscribing means comprises:

(a) pencil lead; and

(b) pencil lead dispensing means.

12. An instrument as defined in claim 8 further comprising a rotatable ring mounted on said housing and having a marker to delineate positions relative to said housing, said ring rotating through a multiplicity of points around said housing, each point connecting said memory means and said speaker when said marker and a point are aligned, thereby permitting the production and transmission of different sets of tones by realigning said marker with different points.

13. An instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said battery comprises:

(a) a first portion connected to supply power to said memory means; and

(b) a second portion connected to supply power to said transducer.

15. An instrument as defined in claim 6 further comprising a multiple level selector connected to said memory means which accesses varying sets of stored numbers within said memory means.

14. An ink pen producing sounds for transmission over telephones comprising:

(a) a generally cylindrically shaped barrel

(b) an ink container positioned within a lower portion of said barrel;

(c) ink dispensing and writing means located in a lower portion of said barrel;

(d) electronic logic means contained within said barrel;

(e) a speaker fixed to said barrel and connected to said logic means;

(f) power supply means connected to said logic means and said speaker; and

(g) switch means connected to actuate production and transmission of telephonic sound tones corresponding to numerical digits through said speaker by way of said logic means.