GB2041564A - Pen combined with slide-viewer - Google Patents

Abstract

A slide-viewer pen (1) comprises a writing element (2) in the casing (3) whereof is associated a box-like body (5) defining in its inside a cylindrical seat (11) rotatably housing a translucent material drum (20) the side surface of which is engaged a filmstrip (22). Through the side surface of the cylindrical seat (11) a viewer window (12) is formed aligned with the optical axis of an objective (7) carried by the body (5) itself. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pen structure incorporating a slide viewer This invention relates to a pen structure incorporating a slide viewer.

Known in the art are various types of pens incorporating a slide or filmstrip viewer, and more specifically a viewer for miniature size slides.

However, all such conventional pens have the disadvantage of only permitting an extremely small number of pictures to be viewed in succession, while the viewer portion of the pen is quite bulky and ill-suited for association with a writing pen.

Another drawback of known viewer-type pens is that the viewer portion is generally of very complex construction, thereby the related production costs are obviously increased.

This invention sets out to eliminate the drawbacks mentioned above by providing a pen structure, incorporating a slide viewer, which affords the possibility of storing a considerably higher number of pictures in the viewer portion of the pen for sequential observation thereof, but without implying excessive overall dimensions or dimensions unsuited to the standard size of a pen.

Within that general aim, it is possible to arrange that the pen structure according to this invention, in addition to being of much simplified construction, can be quickly and easily assembled.

It is further possible to arrange that the pen structure incorporating a slide viewer, according to the invention, can be useful as an advertizing and sales promotion item, as well as a souvenir article.

It is further possible to arrange that the pen structure of this invention can be easily assembled from elements readily available on the market and is.

of very limited cost.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pen structure incorporating a slide viewer, characterized in that it comprises a writing element with the casing whereof there is associated a box-like body defining a substantially cylindrical seat therewithin, the side surface whereof is formed with a small window aligned with the optical axis of an objective carried by said body, said cylindrical seat turnably accommodating a drum-like member made of a tianslucid material, a filmstrip being associated with the side surface of said drum-like member.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly apparent from a detailed description of a pen structure incorporating a slide viewer, with reference to the accompanying illustrative, but not limitative, drawing, where: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the pen structure according to this invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the pen structure; Figure 3 is a front elevation view of the pen structure; and Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 3.

With reference to the cited drawing figures, this pen structure incorporating a slide viewer, as generally indicated at 1, comprises a writing element including, for example, a refill 2 for ball-point pens contained within a casing 3 which has, as is custom ary, an elongated configuration.

With the end of said casing 3 which is located away from the writing end of the pen, there is associated a slide viewer, generally indicated at 4.

The cited slide viewer 4 has a box-like body 5 having a rounded configuration, wherefrom a lug 6 projects which carries an objective 7 at its end.

The box-like body 5 can be associated with said casing at the end away from the objective 7, and to this aim, the end of the casing 2 is formed with a seat 10 having a shape mating the outside surface of the box-like body 2 that fits therein.

Said box-like body 5 defines therein a substantially cylindrical seat 11 which has a small window 12 at the lug 6 in alignment with the optical axis of said objective 7.

Inside the cylindrical seat 11, there is arranged a drum-like element or member, generally indicated at 20 which has a cylindrical section 21, made of a translucid material, wherewith a filmstrip 22 can be associated, preferably in the form of a "Super 8" film section.

In order to maintain the connection between the filmstrip 22 and cylindrical section 21, there is provided at the base of the cylindrical section 21 a rim 23 which defines, in cooperation with the cylindrical section 21, an annular seat 24 wherein one edge ofthefilmstrip 22 is accommodated, preferably the perforated edge 25.

On the side of the cited rim 23, there is provided a knob 26 which projects axially from the cylindrical section 21 and can be grasped to rotate the drum-like member 20. The drum-like member 20 is prevented from sliding off the seat 11 by the walls 30 which border the seat 10 in the casing 3 interfering, at least in part, with the area occupied by the seat 11, thereby, as shown more clearly in Figure 3, after the box-like body 5 has been associated with the casing 2, the base of the drum-like member abuts against one of the walls 30 such that it cannot slide axially off the seat 11. Where it is required that the drum 20 can be slid off to replace the filmstrip, removable means are provided for axially securing the drum.The box-like body 5 of the casing 3 is preferably attached by means of an adhesive material, or any other suitable method such as hot welding, or ultrasonic welding, etc., adapted to ensure a stable association of the viewer with the casing.

It should be further added to the foregoing that the box-like body 5 is formed, at least at the portion thereof occupied by the seat 11, from a translucid material, such as to allow the passage of light to make the pictures visible.

It should be noted, moreover, that by forming the drum-like member, as well as at least a part of the box-like body 5, from a translucid material, it becomes possible to use the viewer other than back-lighted, since the light which is admitted through the cylindrical section of the drum 21 is more than adequate to provide a clear and sharp image.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the invention achieves its objects, and in particular that the provided slide viewer 4 has a very compact configuration, such that its connection to the pen comprising the casing which contains the refill 2 poses no special problems, and affords instead an easily and comfortably grasped pen. Moreover, notwithstanding its compact size, the viewer can be loaded with a high number of pictures.

In practicing the invention, the materials used -although the best results have been obtained by utilizing plastics materials -- as well as the dimensions and contingent shapes may be any ones to suit individual requirements.

Claims (6)

1 Apen structure incorporating a slide viewer, characterized in that it comprises a writing element with the casing whereof there is associated a box-like body defining a substantially cylindrical seat therewithin, the side surface whereof is formed with a small window aligned with the optical axis of an objective carried by said body, said cylindrical seat turnably accommodating a drum-like member made of a translucid material, a filmstrip being associated with the side surface of said drum-like member.

2. A pen structure incorporating a slide viewer, according to Claim 1, characterized in that said drum-like member has a cylindrical section made of a translucid material with the side surface whereof there is associated said filmstrip, at one base of said cylindrical section there being provided a rim defining in cooperation with said cylindrical section an annular seat wherein one edge of said filmstrip can be accommodated.

3. A pen structure incorporating a slide viewer, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said casing defines at one end thereof a seat matingly conforming to at least one section of said box-like body.

4. A pen structure incorporating a slide viewer, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one side edge bordering said seat partly interferes with the area occupied by said cylindrical seat to prevent said drum-like memberfrom sliding off said cylindrical seat, when said slide viewer is assembled to said casing.

5. A pen structure incorporating a slide viewer, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a knob protruding axially out of said drum-like member to rotate said drum-like member and sequentially move the pictures in said filmstrip past said small window.

6. A pen structure incorporating a slide viewer, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.