GB2197826A

GB2197826A - Writing instrument incorporating game

Info

Publication number: GB2197826A
Application number: GB08628516A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chen-Wei Lee
Original assignee: LEE CHEN WEI
Current assignee: LEE CHEN WEI
Priority date: 1986-11-28
Filing date: 1986-11-28
Publication date: 1988-06-02
Also published as: GB8628516D0

Abstract

A labyrinthic chart (20) is printed or mounted on the body (10) of a writing instrument. A toggle sleeve (30) extends around and can slide along the body. The toggle sleeve carries an indicator (31-34) which enables the user to trace a path (21) through the labyrinth on the chart. The chart may be integral with the body or may be interchangeable. <IMAGE>

Description

Writing Instrument and Game This invention relates to writing instruments, more specifically to writing instruments that include an amusing toy or game.

Conventional writing instruments have a large unused space on the pen holder, or barrel. This area could be widely exploited for a function secondary to the principal writing function of the instrument.

The present invention aims to utilise this unused space and accordingly there is provided a writing instrument including a game, comprising a labyrinthic chart on the writing instrument body, toggle means movable on the body and having means for tracing a path through the labyrinthic chart, and retaining means for retaining the toggle means on the writing instrument.

A writing instrument embodying the invention may have a very attractive appearance and also provides an amusing game in addition to the main writing function.

In a preferred embodiment the labyrinthic chart is removable so that the chart may be changed, thus providing a continued challenge to the user. The toggle means may comprise a sleeve on the body of the writing instrument which carries a position pointer enabling a user to trace a path through the labyrinth on the chart and to use his skill to determine the correct path that leads from the entrance to the exit of the labyrinth.

A better understanding of the invention and its advantages may be gained from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, given with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention described in Example 1; Figure 2 is a front view of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention described in Example II: Figure 4 is a front view of the embodiment of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention, described in Example III; Figure 7 is a front view of the embodiment of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a section on the line 808 in Figure 7; and Figures 9a-9c show different toggle designs.

A writing instrument includes a labyrinthic chart 20 which may be printed or engraved on, or wrapped around the pen holder, or barrel 10, and a toggle 30 for tracing a path through the chart. The toggle is a sleeve that can move smoothly along the pen holder. The toggle 30 and chart 20 fonna game, the object of which is to find the correct exit from the labyrinthic chart 20. For this purpose the toggle is provided with a position pointer which may be an edge finger 31, a midsection window 33 or a bulged spot 34 on its inner rim. The position pointer matches the engraved or printed path so that the player can hold the pen in one hand and manipulate the toggle with the other hand. Three examples of the invention will now be described.

Example I In Figure 1 and Figure 2 the labyrinthic chart 20 is printed or attached on the pen holder 10 and toggle 30 can move smoothly along the said holder 10.

The toggle has either a finger 31 (see Figure 9a), a notch 32 (see Figure 9b), midsection window 33 (see Figure 9c), or an attached symbol, for example an arrow head as shown in Figure 1, of a suitable size to match the path 21 through the chart 20. The player holds the pen with one hand and manipulates the toggle 30 with the other to find out the correct exit from the labyrinth 20. To prevent the toggle 30 from escaping from the pen holder 10, a sleeve or ring 11 is fixed at either end of the holder 10, the rings have a greater outer diameter than the inner diameter of toggle 30 and so provide limits to the sliding of the toggle. Additionally, the sleeves 11 make the pen more comfortable to write with.

The sleeve diameter should not exceed the diameter of the pen holder by too great an amount.

Example IT Figures 3 - 5 show the pen holder 10 as a small diameter extruded-tube or pipe 12. The pipe is encased by. the labyrinthic chart 20 which is made in a thin tubular form. The chart 20 could be made of printed paper or plastic fabric and wrapped around the holder 10.

A tube 13 of transparent material covers both chart 20 and holder 10 and is fixed by plug 14 at the end of the holder 10, the toggle 30 and rings 11 are then installed and serve the same purpose as in Example I.

Example III The game of Example III illustrated by Figures 6 - 8 is played by touch rather than by sight. The chart 20 has the possible paths engraved on it, and a pip or bulged spot 34 on the inner rim of toggle 30 and is a smaller size than the path 21 so that the pip can trace a path through the chart 20 and so play the labyrinthic game.

In the above designs, the ink refill 18 does not affect suitability of the pen holder 10 to carry the chart. The pen holder may hold the refill at both ends or the refill may merely be capped at one end of the pen holder. So long as the pen holder is used as a holding tool it is suitable for carrying the chart 20.

Toggle 30 need not be a complete sleeve, for example it may be C-shaped. Other modifications are possible without departing from the invention and will occur to the skilled reader.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A writing instrument including a game, comprising a labyrinthic chart on the writing instrument body, toggle means movable on the body and having means for tracing a path through the labyrinthic chart, and retaining means for retaining the toggle means on the writing instrument.

2. A writing instrument according to claim 1, wherein the labvrinthic chart is removable.

3. A writing instrument according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the labyrinthic chart is retained in position on the writing instrument body by a transparent tube, the tube being removable whereby the chart can be removed and replaced.

4. A writing instrument according to claim 1, wherein the labyrinthic chart is fixed on the body of the writing instrument and is unalterable.

5. A writing instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tracing means comprises a marking on the toggle means.

6. A writing instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tracing means comprises a window on the midsection of the toggle.

7. A writing instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tracing means comprises a pip on the inner surface of the toggle means for tracing a path engraved on the labyrinthic chart.

8. A writing instrument according to any preceding claim, wherein the toggle means comprises a C-shaped sleeve extending around a major part of the circumference of the writing instrument.

9. A writing instrument according to any preceding claim, wherein the retaining means comprises a pair of rings fixed one at each end of the body.

10. A writing instrument including a game substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.