WO2003099585A1

WO2003099585A1 - Ring type pen

Info

Publication number: WO2003099585A1
Application number: PCT/KR2003/000999
Authority: WO
Inventors: Young-Wook Park
Original assignee: Young-Wook Park
Priority date: 2002-05-24
Filing date: 2003-05-21
Publication date: 2003-12-04
Also published as: AU2003235297A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a writing instrument combined with a ring through which a user’s middle finger can be inserted, thereby allowing the user to write with holding the writing instrument while putting his middle finger on the ring. The writing instrument has a writing instrument part (100) including a flat writing instrument body (110) and a pivot pin (240). The writing instrument also has a circular-shaped ring (210), having a pin-inserting hole, which is a hole through which the pivot pin is penetrated. The pivot pin of the flat writing instrument is coupled with the pin-inserting hole of the ring, and the ring is structured in a rotatable manner, thereby allowing a user to write with holding the writing instrument part in a nominal manner as same as in using the common writing instruments while the user’s middle finger is inserted in the ring.

Description

RING TYPE PEN

Technical Field

The present invention relates, in general, to a writing instrument combined with a ring on which a user's middle finger is put and, more particularly, to a writing instrument combined with a ring, with which a user can write by putting it on his middle finger.

Background Art

As well known to those skilled in the art, in order to use a writing instrument, a user generally holds a lower portion thereof with his thumb, index finger and middle finger and the upper part thereof is then supported by his hand

(exactly, the portion between his thumb and index finger).

However, since a considerable amount of force has to be applied to the user's fingers holding the lower portion thereof when the user is writing with this conventional writing instrument, a speed of writing becomes slow accordingly. In particular, if the user is writing for a long period of time, he may not be able to speed up his writing because of fatigue accumulated on his fingers. To increase the speed of writing, he has to apply a larger force to his fingers holding the writing instrument, thereby causing fatigues to be accumulated on the user's fingers while writing. In addition, merchants in markets, clerks in department stores and they are f equently in need of making a simple calculation or taking a note while they are doing businesses; however, they are usually working standing up in the markets or stores without a table or desk, and thus, they put their writing instruments behind their auricles or keep them in pockets of their clothes so as to use them if needed since they have no places or positions on which to put the writing instruments such as ballpoint pens. For this reason, it has become troublesome to use ballpoint pens and this has also caused obstacles in their activities. Further, they have frequently lost writing instruments in the course of actually using them.

Such losses have in particular occurred among civil affair officials, tellers working for banks, workers at ticket offices for subway stations and so on. .

Further, in case of those who use personal computers, this problem is more serious: if they need to use ballpoint pens while they are using keyboards but they forget where the ballpoint pens are, inconvenience grows in using the ballpoint pens. In order to solve this problem, not a few inventions and devices have been proposed through a long period of time.

However, conventional writing instruments used with being put on a user's finger have not been utilized in our lives. There may be several reasons for such non-utilization. Most of all, it is believed that since the ring is structured to be put on the user's index finger, the writing instruments are not held by the finger in a stable manner, thereby making it inappropriate for writing.

And, since the conventional writing instruments are complicated in structure, it is not economical to use them.

Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a writing instrument combined with a ring comprising a writing instrument whose cases are as thin as possible, receiving therein a pen core part such as a ball-point core, etc., a circular-shaped ring appropriate for putting it on a user's middle finger or index finger, being coupled to the writing instrument, wherein the ring formed on one external side of the writing instrument is coupled to the writing instrument that can be rotated, thereby allowing the writing instrument to be held as same as in holding common writing instruments. In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a writing instrument combined with a ring, with which a user can write with inserting his finger in the ring, formed together with the writing instrument and a part into which the finger can be engaged, the writing instrument comprising: a writing instrument part including: a flat writing instrument body having an inner space receiving therein a pen core part and a hole formed at one side end thereof through which a pen point of the pen core part can be exposed to the outside or move back and forth, the flat writing instrument body taking a shape of a thin and elongated box and having a space with a height as minimum as possible so as to receive therein the pen core part; and a pivot pin standing on one external side of the flat writing instrument; a circular-shaped ring, having a pin-inserting hole, which is a hole through which the pivot pin is penetrated; wherein the pivot pin formed on the flat writing instrument is coupled with the pin-inserting hole of the ring and the ring is structured in a rotatable manner, thereby allowing the user to write with holding the writing instrument part in a nominal manner as same as in using the common writing instruments while the user's middle finger is inserted in the ring.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. la is a top plan view showing a writing instrument combined with a ring according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. lb is a side view showing the writing instrument combined with a ring according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2a is a side view showing a flat writing instrument case constituting one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2b is a sectional view showing the flat writing instrument case constituting one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3a is a bottom plan view of a first case part constituting one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3b is a side view of the first case part constituting one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4a is a top plan view of a second case part constituting one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4b is a side view of the second case part constituting one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4c is a bottom plan view of the second case part constituting one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 a is a side view of a ring constituting one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5b is a bottom plan view of the ring constituting one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 c is a top plan view of the ring constituting one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6a is a side view showing a ring whose inner surface has a rectangular profile, constituting a writing instrument according to the present invention;

FIG. 6b is a side view showing a ring whose inner surface is wave- shaped profile, constituting the writing instrument according to the present invention; and

FIGs. 7a and 7b are side views showing the ring formed with an inner diameter adjusting part constituting the writing instrument according to the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reference should now be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components.

One embodiment of a writing instrument combined with a ring to accomplish the object of the present invention as described above is illustrated in FIGs. la and lb.

With reference to FIGs. la and lb, the writing instrument combined with a ring according to the present invention comprises a flat writing instrument part 100 and a circular-finger-inserting part 200.

The writing instrument 100 herein refers to such a writing instrument as a ballpoint pen, a felt pen or a mechanical pencil, etc., known to ordinary consumers. The writing instrument 100 comprises a flat writing instrument case 110 whose body is box-shaped as thinly as possible, and a pen core part 120 received in and coupled with the flat writing instrument case 110. The flat writing instrument case 110 is formed with an inner space for receiving therein the pen core part 120, and a pen-point hole on one side end thereof through which the pen-point of the pen core part 120 is exposed to the outside or moves forth or back. The flat writing instrument case 110 according to the present invention comprises a first case part 111 and a second case part 112 formed by dividing a whole body of the flat writing instrument case 110 into halves, taking the shape of a box generally oval as shown in FIG. 2a. (The terms "first case part 111" and

"second case part 112" are merely used for the sake of convenience in explaining the present invention.) Accordingly, one side of each of the first and the second case parts 111 and 112 constitutes an external side of the writing instrument part 100 and the other side each thereof constitutes an internal side of the writing instrument part 100, thereby forming a space for receiving therein the pen core part as depicted in FIG. 2b.

As illustrated in FIGs. 2a and 2b, the flat writing instrument case 110 are composed of two case parts, but it may be formed with a cylindrical structure in an integral body as another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGs. 3a and 3b, a plurality of coupling poles 11 lp, short in length, are arranged in a line on the external side of the first case part 111 in a longitudinal direction, wherein the pair of coupling poles 11 lp are spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals.

On the internal side of the second case part 112 formed symmetrically to the first case part 111 are formed pole-engaging holes 112b having cylindrical spaces, in corresponding positions to the coupling poles l l lp, into which the coupling poles 11 lp are engaged in a forced manner, as shown in FIGs. 4a and 4b. On the external side of the second case part 112 is formed a finger-inserting part 200. The coupling poles l llp and the pole-engaging holes 112b may be positioned in an alternate manner on the first and the second case parts 111 and 112.

With this configuration, the first and the second case parts 111 and 112 are assembled together after their internal sides are positioned oppositely to each other. At this time, the coupling poles lllp are forcedly engaged into the pole- engaging holes 112b and the first and the second case parts 111 and 112 are assembled, thereby forming the flat writing instrument case 110. As means for assembling the first and the second case parts 111 and 112, they may be assembled by means of hooks, in addition to the coupling poles 11 lp and the pole-engaging holes 112b, which will also belong to the scope of protection covered under the present invention. The coupling poles lllp and the pole- engaging holes 112b can serve to position the pen core part 120 between them in a stable manner when the pen core part 120 is received within the first and the second case parts 111 and 112 assembled together.

The pen core part 120 is composed of an ink tube 122 and a pen point 121, having been known to the public.

To construct the flat writing instrument case 110, a cylindrical structure as an integral body can be used, instead of the cases in a type to be assembled. To specify, the pen core part 120 is inserted in the internal central part of the flat writing instrument case 110. On one side end of the flat writing instrument case 110 is formed a small hole through which the pen point 121 is exposed to the outside. The internal side thereof is formed with a cylindrical receiving space, in which the ink tube of the pen core part 120 is inserted and received. The other side end thereof may be formed with a cap covering the cylindrical receiving space by allowing the rear end of the pen core part to be close to and received in the space.

The finger-inserting part 200 attached to the writing instrument case 110 is mounted closely to the end side on which the pen point hole is formed, on the external side of the second case part 112 of the flat writing instrument case 110, as shown in FIGs. la and lb. As illustrated in FIGs. 2a and 2b, the finger- inserting part 200 comprises a circular-shaped ring 210, a upper serration part 220 exposed to the outside bottom face of the ring 210 and formed in a circle made by a band having a predetermined width, and having radial teeth-shaped serrations on the surface of the band, and a lower serration part 230 being formed with a band, making a circle, exposed with a predetermined width on the external side of the second case part 112 of the flat writing instrument case 110, being integral with the external side of the second case part 112, and a pivot pin 240 vertically standing in a fixed manner on the external side of the second case part 112 on the hole formed in the center of the lower serration part 230, being integral with the external side of the second case part 112. The reason why serrations are radially formed on the surfaces of the upper and the lower serration parts 220 and 230 is to control rotation of the ring 210 as they are assembled.

The upper serration part 220 and the lower serration part 230 may not be foπned so as to allow rotation of the finger-inserting part 210 not to be limited but rotated in a free manner: hi lieu thereof, a pivot pin 240 is only formed on one external side of the flat writing instrument case, which will be referred to as the basic embodiment of the present invention. (In this regard, the finger-inserting part in this Specification is indicated as 200 but the ring is referred to as 210 in this Specification, but they indicate the same element).

Referring to the embodiment shown in FIGs. 5a through 5c with regard to the finger-inserting part 210, a band having an inner diameter, with predetermined width and thickness appropriate for putting the user's index finger or middle finger thereon, is shaped with a ring, wherein the band is not connected so as to allow the finger to be inserted or move therein in an easier way. On the opposite position to the disconnected portion of the band constituting the finger- inserting part 210 is formed a penetrated hole-shaped with a round. The penetrated hole is a pin-inserting hole 211 through which an upper part of the pivot pin 240 is inserted and then assembled. The upper serration part 220 is formed by a band making a circle with predetermined width and height on an external side of the finger-inserting part 210 along the edge of the pin-inserting hole 211. The lower serration part 230 is formed on the external side of the second case part 112 of the flat writing instrument case 110, with the same shape as the upper serration part 220.

The pivot pin 240 is shaped with a circular cylinder, structured together with the lower serration part 230 standing with it, having wedge-shaped holes formed on the top thereof, and a projection slightly projected in a lateral direction on the circumferential face of the upper edge thereof.

Another embodiment of the finger-inserting part 200 is illustrated in FIGs. 7a and 7b, wherein the inner diameter of the finger-inserting part 200 can be adjusted in size as the user desires. The finger-inserting part 200 is comprised of two semicircular members 210-1 and 210-2. One end of each of the two semicircular members is connected to each other by a pivot. The other ends thereof are detachably connected, being formed with an inner diameter adjusting part 250 by which the inner diameter of the finger-inserting part can be adjusted in size as the user desires. The inner diameter adjusting part 250 as shown in FIG. 7a is formed with a hook 251 projected on the other side of the first semicircular member 210-1 and a plurality of fixed holes 252 in a longitudinal direction on the other side of the second semicircular member 210-2. As the hook 251 is inserted into the fixed hole 252 as selected appropriately, the two semicircular members 210-1 and 210-2 are combined, thereby forming the finger-inserting part 200 having an inner diameter as appropriate. The inner diameter adjusting part 250 shown in FIG. 7b is structured with teeth-shaped regions 253 and 254 on the faces formed by overlapping the upper side of either of the two semicircular members 210-1 and 210-2 and the bottom side of the other thereof. As the teeth of the regions 253 and 254 mutually engage, the two semicircular members 210-1 and 210-2 are combined, thereby forming the finger-inserting part 200 having an inner diameter as appropriate by adjusting the position of the teeth to be engaged.

FIGs. 6a and 6b shows another embodiment with respect to the shape of the finger-inserting part constituting the writing instrument according to the present invention. The finger-inserting part shown in FIGs. 5a to 5c has an inner surface to make a circle whereas the finger-inserting part shown in FIG. 6a has an inner surface to make a rectangle whose corners are rounded, and the finger- inserting part shown in FIG. 6b has an inner surface which is structured with wave-shaped projections. The reason why the inner surface of the finger- inserting part is shaped as shown in FIGs. 6a and 6b is to allow air to be circulated and the finger put on the ring not to be tight, by reducing the inner side of the finger-inserting part and the contacted side with the finger.

Different from FIGs. 5a to 5c, and FIGs. 7a and 7b, the finger-inserting parts shown in FIG. 6b are elliptical in shape. The inner surface thereof has an elliptical or rectangular profile since the second knuckle of the index finger is inserted into the finger-inserting part when using the writing instrument according to the present invention. However, the scope of protection under the present invention is not limited to elliptical or rectangular inner surface of the finger- inserting part but covers circular or right rectangular inner surface of the finger- inserting part. In the ring or the finger-inserting part with the inner surface structures as described, it may comprise the inner diameter adjusting part as described above.

In order to make it possible to adjust the inner diameter of the finger- inserting part in size, the finger-inserting part may be formed with an integral member, not with two semicircular members. In this case, the finger-inserting part should be made by use of flexible materials.

With this configuration, the writing instrument assembled with a ring according to the present invention is shown in FIGs. la and lb. The pen core part 120 is received within the inner space of the flat writing instrument case 110 formed when the first and the second case parts 111 and 112 are combined with each other, and the pen point part 121 of the pen core part 120 is exposed out of one end of the flat writing instrument case 110. If a pivot pin 240 integrally formed is inserted into the pin-inserting hole 211, which is a hole through which the ring 210 for assembling is allowed to penetrate, on one side of the flat writing instrument case 110 as assembled, the upper and the lower serration parts 220 and

230 are engaged in a "teethed" manner and the finger-inserting part 200 is formed on the external side of the second case 112 of the fiat writing instrument case 110.

The writing instrument combined with a ring according to the present invention, comprising a finger-inserting part 200 and a writing instrument part 100, is constructed following the processes as described above.

To use the writing instrument combined with a ring according to the present invention, the user's middle finger (or index finger) is inserted into the ring 210 of the finger-inserting part 200, for example, by the first knuckle of the finger. If the first knuckle of the finger is inserted into the ring 210, the writing instrument part 100 is naturally positioned on one side of the middle finger, thereby allowing the user to write as the thumb and the index finger are in contact.

Where the user is in need of using his finger for a different job while he is writing (for example, using a keyboard for a PC), he first disconnects his thumb and index finger. Then, if the user rotates the writing instrument part 100 so that the writing instrument part 100 is laid on the upper face of the finger horizontally, with putting the ring on the middle finger (or index finger), he can move his fingers such as middle finger, etc. in a free manner, while his finger is putting on

Where one end of the writing instrument part is directed inappropriately while he is writing with putting his finger on the ring 210, he can rotate the ring 210 of the finger-inserting part 200 as he desires.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present invention provides a writing instrument combined with a ring, wherein the writing instrument is shaped with thin and flat pipes, thereby removing any inconvenience caused in writing as much as possible, because the writing instrument can be held with a finger in a stable manner. The method of holding the writing instrument according to the present invention is not different from the conventional writing instruments in holding them, and thus, the writing operation with the use of the writing instrument according to the present invention is so easy and stable. While the writing instrument is not used for writing, the writing instrument part 100 is rotated so as to be positioned on the upper side of the finger, thereby the middle finger or index finger put on the ring of the finger-inserting part can move freely. The writing instrument according to the present invention is very convenient in using it in such places having no proper spaces for putting the writing instrument (e.g., stores, shops, etc.). In addition, when tellers working at the banks are doing their jobs with their personal computers, they have no need to search about for the writing instrument.

The writing instrument part 100 and the finger-inserting part 200 constituting the writing instrument according to the present invention are able to rotate, for which it can be applied for a variety of persons having a variety of customs. Especially, it may serve to cultivate good writing habits for children who are not accustomed to a method of holding the writing instrument. This may also stimulate curiosity of children, teenagers or students who are learning how to write letters, thereby inducing their desires to write letters and being so useful in study of students. In particular, since the inner surface of the finger-inserting part 200 is shaped with a rectangle whose corners are rounded or wedged projections, the tightness of the finger put on the finger-inserting part can be relieved. Also, since the inner diameter of the finger-inserting part can be adjusted in size as the user desires, the writing instrument according to the present invention can be applied to a variety of fingers in size.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A writing instrument combined with a ring, with which a user can write with inserting his finger in the ring, formed together with the writing instrument and a part into which the finger can be engaged, the writing instrument comprising: a writing instrument part including: a flat writing instrument body having an inner space receiving therein a pen core part and a hole formed at one side end thereof through which a pen point of the pen core part can be exposed to the outside or move back and forth, the flat writing instrument body taking a shape of a thin and elongated box and having a space with a height as minimum as possible so as to receive therein the pen core part; and a pivot pin standing on one external side of the flat writing instrument; a circular-shaped ring, having a pin-inserting hole, which is a hole through which the pivot pin is penetrated; wherein the pivot pin formed on the flat writing instrument is coupled with the pin-inserting hole of the ring and the ring is structured in a rotatable manner, thereby allowing the user to write with holding the writing instrument part in a nominal manner as same as in using the common writing instruments while the user's middle finger is inserted in the ring.

2. The writing instrument combined with a ring as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flat writing instrument body comprises a first case part and a second case part having internal sides formed with receiving spaces; a plurality of coupling poles, being short in length, for assembling the first and second case parts are arranged in a line while being spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals on the internal side of the first case part in a longitudinal direction; and pole-engaging holes taking a shape of a pipe and having a cylindrical space are formed on the internal side of the second case part at positions corresponding to coupling poles, through which the coupling poles are inserted therein in a forced manner.

3. The writing instrument combined with a ring as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the ring may be shaped with a rectangle whose corners are rounded, or formed with wave-shaped projections on an inner surface thereof, thereby reducing an area where the inner surface of the ring is contacted with the finger so as to allow air to be circulated.

4. The writing instrument combined with a ring as claimed in claim 1 or 3, wherein the ring comprises two semicircular members, one ends of which are connected pivotally and the others of which are connected detachably, so as to allow an inner diameter of the ring to be adjusted in size as the user desires.