Writing instrument

• US 7,401,992 B1
• Filed: 05/09/2007
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wei-Jong Lin
• Original Assignee: Wei-Jong Lin
• Inventors: Lin, Wei-Jong
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak; David J
• Application Number:
  US11/801,148
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 401/195, 401/52, 401/131
• US Class Current: 401/195
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 23/126 with clips
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 25/022 attached to a pen cap
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 25/024 detachably secured to the writing tool
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 25/026 combined with other objects
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/004 with more than one object
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/08 with measuring, computing or indicating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/10 with illuminating devices

Abstract

A writing instrument has a barrel, a connector and a clip. The barrel has a front end, a rear end and a writing tip. The writing tip is mounted on the first end. The connector is mounted on the barrel. The clip attaches to the connector and has an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end, a cavity, memory and an input and output (I/O) interface. The memory is mounted in the cavity and stores data. The I/O interface is connected electronically to the memory and protrudes from the distal end of the connector. A user can bring the writing instrument to write or store date in the memory. Therefore, storing date and writing is combined in a small volume in the writing instrument.

Claims

1. A writing instrument comprising

a barrel having

a front end;

a rear end;

an outer surface; and

a writing tip mounted on the front end;

a connector attached on the outer surface of the barrel; and

a clip being attached to the connector and having

an outer surface;

an inner surface;

a distal end;

a proximal end;

a cavity being formed longitudinally inside the clip and communicating with one end of the clip;

memory storing data and being mounted in the cavity; and

an input and output (I/O) interface being mounted in and protruding from one end of the clip and being connected electronically to the memory.

2. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the connector comprises

a base attached securely to the outer surface of the barrel and having a bottom surface;

and

a mounting recess defined in the bottom surface of the base and having

an inner surface; and

two protrusions formed on and protruding from the bottom surface flush with the inner surface of the mounting recess and parallel to each other; and

the clip has multiple detents formed respectively in the outer surface and the inner surface near the proximal end, corresponding to the protrusions in the mounting recess in the connector and selectively attaching to and holding the protrusions.

3. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 2, wherein the I/O interface is a USB plug.

4. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a laser pointer mounted on the rear end of the barrel.

5. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the connector is U-shaped and forms a mounting hole longitudinally between the connector and the barrel;

and

the clip has a mounting tab being L-shaped and resilient, being formed on the inner surface near the proximal end, extending toward the distal end and being mounted detachably through the mounting hole.

6. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 5, wherein the I/O interface is a USB plug.

7. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a laser pointer mounted on the rear end of the barrel.

8. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the connector comprises

a mounting post attached to and protruding radially out from the outer surface of the barrel and having a distal end and an outer annular surface;

and

a pivot protruding from opposite sides of the outer annular surface near the distal end of the mounting post; and

the clip has a mounting recess defined in the proximal end of the clip and mounted pivotally on the mounting post.

9. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a laser pointer mounted on the proximal end of the clip.

10. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 9, wherein the clip has

a through slot defined longitudinally in the outer surface of the clip;

and

a thumb tab mounted slidably in and protruding out of the through slot and being attached to the I/O interface.

11. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 10, wherein the I/O interface is a USB plug.

12. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the barrel has a through hole defined on the barrel adjacent to the rear end of the barrel;

the connector has

a connecting shaft selectively mounted through the through hole and having

a proximal end;

a rear end;

a pivot hole defined near the rear end; and

a circumference gap defined near the proximal end;

a lock assembly mounted in the barrel and having

a cover securely mounted on the rear end of the barrel and having

a center; and

a hole defined through the center of the cover;

a button mounted in the barrel, protruding from the hole of the cover and having

a cylindrical body having

 

a circumference;

 

a bottom;

 

atop;

 

an opening formed on the circumference; and

 

a hole formed through the bottom; and

a press key protruding from the hole of the cover and mounted on the top of the cylindrical body;

a lock pin being a cylinder, securely mounted through the hole of the cylindrical body to slide with the cylindrical body and protruding into the circumference gap to selectively fasten the connecting shaft;

a spring mounted around the lock pin; and

a fixed board securely mounted in the barrel; and

a pivot mounted in the pivot hole; and

the clip has a mounting recess defined in the proximal end of the clip and mounted pivotally on the pivot.

13. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 12, wherein the I/O interface is a USB plug.

14. A writing instrument comprising

a barrel having

a front end;

a rear end;

an outer surface; and

a writing tip mounted on the front end;

a cap selectively covering the writing tip and connecting detachably to the front end of the barrel;

a connector being attached to and protruding from the cap and having a distal end; and

a clip being attached to the connector and having

an outer surface;

an inner surface;

a distal end;

a proximal end;

a cavity being formed longitudinally inside the clip and communicating with one end of the clip; and

a memory storing data and being mounted in the cavity; and

an input and (I/O) output interface being mounted in and protruding from one end of the clip and being connected electronically to the memory.

15. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 14, wherein the clip further has a cap selectively covering the I/O interface.

16. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 15 further comprising a laser pointer mounted on the rear end of the barrel.

17. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 16, wherein the I/O interface is a USB plug.