Hygienic writing instrument and method of using

• US 8,967,900 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James M. Anderson, Sanjay Agarwal
• Original Assignee: James M. Anderson, Sanjay Agarwal
• Inventors: Anderson, James M., Agarwal, Sanjay
• Primary Examiner(s): WALCZAK, DAVID J
• Application Number:
  US13/837,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20140023424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 401 9- 11, 401/195, 401/52, 401/88, 401/107, 401/108, 401/209, 401/221, 401/226, 401/248, 401/251
• US Class Current: 401/195
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 23/00 Holders or connectors for writing implements; Means for protecting the writing-points B43K27/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/00 Combinations of writing implements with other articles
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/004 with more than one object
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/18 with hand tools, e.g. erasing knives with pocket knives B26B
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 5/005 Pen barrels
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 7/005 Pen barrels
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 8/003 Pen barrels

Abstract

A hygienic modular writing utensil and method of using for eliminating or minimizing the spread of germs, bacteria and the like between a first and a second user. The utensil has an External Protective Shield with a first holding area for use by the first user and a removable Internal Writing Utensil with a second holding area for use by the second user. The External Protective Shield has an internal cleaning element and the Internal Writing Utensil has a removable cap on its outer end, whereby when the first user pulls the Internal Writing Utensil out from the External Protective Shield or reinserts the Internal Writing Utensil back into the External Protective Shield by grasping the exterior surface of the removable cap, an outer surface of the Internal Writing Utensil, including the second holding area is cleaned.

Claims

1. A modular hygienic writing instrument having a pair of separate components:

a first of the pair of components consisting of an elongated, hollow exterior protective shield having a first open end and a second open end;

a second of the pair of components consisting of an interior writing utensil having a writing tip end and a capped outer end held in the elongated, hollow exterior protective shield with the writing tip end extending out of the first open end and the outer capped end secured over the second open end;

the exterior protective shield having a first holding area thereon adjacent the first open end and the interior writing utensil having a second separate holding area thereon, adjacent the tip end;

a cleaning system secured in the interior of the elongated, hollow exterior protective shield adjacent the second open end and in contact with an exterior surface of the interior writing instrument; and

wherein the cleaning system includes a cleaning element having a sanitizing agent held therein secured in the interior of the elongated, hollow exterior protective shield by a pair of securing elements.

2. The modular hygienic pen of claim 1 wherein the pair of securing elements are snap rings.

3. The modular hygienic pen of claim 1 wherein the sanitizing agent is isopropyl alcohol.

4. The modular hygienic pen of claim 1 wherein the pair of separate components are sized and dimensioned so that when attached together an airtight seal is formed between them to prevent oxygen from entering the area there between, thus inhibiting the growth of bacteria.

5. A modular hygienic writing instrument having a pair of separate components:

a first of the pair of components consisting of an elongated, hollow exterior protective shield having a first open end and a second open end;

a second of the pair of components consisting of an interior writing utensil having a writing tip end and a capped outer end held in the elongated, hollow exterior protective shield with the writing tip end extending out of the first open end and the outer capped end secured over the second open end;

the exterior protective shield having a first holding area thereon adjacent the first open end and the interior writing utensil having a second separate holding area thereon, adjacent the tip end; and

a cleaning system secured in the interior of the elongated, hollow exterior protective shield adjacent the second open end and in contact with an exterior surface of the interior writing instrument.

6. The modular hygienic pen of claim 5 wherein the cleaning system includes a cleaning element having a sanitizing agent held therein secured in the interior of the elongated, hollow exterior protective shield by a pair of securing elements.

7. The modular hygienic pen of claim 5 wherein the pair of securing elements are snap rings and the sanitizing agent is isopropyl alcohol.

8. The modular hygienic pen of claim 7 wherein the pair of separate components are sized and dimensioned so that when attached together an airtight seal is formed between them to prevent oxygen from entering the area there between, thus inhibiting the growth of bacteria.

9. A method of using a writing utensil to eliminate the passing of germs, bacteria and the like between a first user and a second user, comprising the steps of:

providing a modular writing utensil with separate components having separate holding areas;

the first of the separate components comprising a writing utensil with a first holding area thereon;

attaching a cap to an outer end of the writing utensil;

inserting the writing utensil into a second component comprising an elongated hollow exterior protective sleeve having an open lower end, an open upper end and a second holding area on an exterior surface;

inserting the writing instrument into the elongated hollow exterior protective sleeve until a tip end extends out of the open lower end and securing the cap to the upper open end;

having the first user grip the exterior protective sleeve by the second holding area to write with the modular writing instrument;

after using, the first user grasps the cap and pulls the cap and attached writing utensil out of the elongated hollow exterior protective sleeve and hands the writing utensil to the second user whereby the second user grips the writing utensil by the first holding area to write with and then hand back to the first user for reinsertion into the elongated hollow exterior protective sleeve until the cap is secured to the open upper end and the tip end extends from the lower open end.

10. The method of claim 9, further including the step of providing a cleaning element inside of the elongated hollow exterior protective sleeve and cleaning the exterior of the writing utensil as it is inserted into or pulled from the elongated hollow exterior protective sleeve.

11. The method of claim 9, further including providing the cleaning element with a sanitizing agent.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the sanitizing agent provided is isopropyl alcohol.

13. The method of claim 9, further including the step of sizing and dimensioning the separate components so that when they are attached together an airtight seal is formed between them to prevent oxygen from entering, thus inhibiting the growth of bacteria in the interior of the writing utensil.