WO2005110774A1

WO2005110774A1 - Writing accessory

Info

Publication number: WO2005110774A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2004/000133
Authority: WO
Inventors: Barend Daniel De Beer
Original assignee: Barend Daniel De Beer
Priority date: 2004-01-15
Filing date: 2004-11-02
Publication date: 2005-11-24
Also published as: ZA200403643B

Abstract

The invention provides a pen 10 which has an ink reservoir portion 12 located in a cup like chamber 14 which is annular over a portion 16 of its extent and which has an opening 18 distal the writing end 20 thereof sized and dimensioned to snugly receive the tip of a finger 22 of a user.

Description

WRITING ACCESSORY

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to writing accessories such as pens and cartridges for pens.

Background of the Invention

The inventor has identified a need for a pen as well as for a cartridge for a pen which would permit the pen to be worn on the finger of a user.

Further, the inventor is aware of previous attempts to provide a pen which could be attached to the finger of a user such as that disclosed in WO2004/12946, BE1013136, JP2001315486, US5405206, WO2000/7829, WO03/99584, FR2801245 and US552415, all of which have an attachment means for attaching a pen to a finger, however, the pen is of conventional type in that the ink supply is from an ink supply tube similar to that of an ordinary ball point pen, but much shorter.

It is believed that one problem with the prior art pens is that the ink supply is very limited if the pen is to be worn comfortably.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an ink reservoir for a pen, said reservoir having an ink storage chamber at least a portion of which is annular having an opening sized and dimensioned to receive a tip of a finger therein.

The reservoir may be made of a resiliently deformable material. The reservoir may be substantially conical. Typically the reservoir will taper from the finger tip receiving opening towards a writing end.

The reservoir may have at one end an attachment means configured for attachment to a writing device such as a ball point, a fountain pen, a felt tip or the like.

There reservoir may have a pocket clip moulded integrally therewith

The writing device may be moulded integrally with the reservoir thereby forming a writing instrument.

The reservoir may be provided with a breather to facilitate ink flow, if required.

The cross-section of the annular portion may be circular, oval, triangular, polygonal, crinkled, or any other desired shape.

The pocket clip may be moulded separately and attached to the reservoir at any time.

The writing device may be manufactured separately and attached to the reservoir for use.

The ink reservoir may be configured to receive an outer cover, which cover may be decorative and/or functional, for example, to indicate the colour of the ink, decorate the outside, provide advertising space, and the like.

The outer cover may be frusto-conical having an inner opening sized and dimensioned complementarily with the outer dimension of the ink reservoir.

An end zone of the cover adjacent the writing end may be configured to receive a cap which, in-use, covers the writing device. The invention extends to a pen for attachment to the finger of a user, said pen having an ink reservoir, the ink chamber of which is annular over at least a portion of its extent and which has an opening distal the writing end thereof sized and dimensioned to snugly receive the tip of a finger of a user.

- The pen may be reusable in that the reservoir may be replaced or refilled.

The invention extends to a writing instrument including a substantially cup shaped finger receiving portion for snugly receiving at least an end portion of a finger therein and an ink reservoir at least a portion of which is located in the vicinity of the apex of the closed end thereof. The cup shaped chamber may be made from a resiliently deformable material.

The reservoir portion may be selected from a refill for a ball point pen, a roller ball, a felt tip, a highlighter, or a fountain pen, and optionally includes a writing tip.

Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described, by way of illustration only, and without limiting the scope of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings which form an integral part of the disclosure of the invention. In the drawings,

Figure 1 shows, in cross section, a first example of a writing instrument of the invention;

Figure 2 shows, in cross section, a second example of a writing instrument of the invention;

Figure 3 shows, in cross sectional side view, a third example of a writing instrument of the invention; and Figure 4 shows, in exploded view, the writing instrument of Figure 3.

In Figures 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a pen designed for attachment to the finger of a user.

The pen 10 has an ink reservoir portion 12, the ink chamber 14 of which is annular over at a portion 16 of its extent and which has an opening 18 distal the writing end 20 thereof sized and dimensioned to snugly receive the tip of a finger 22 of a user.

The pen 10 is reusable in that the reservoir may be replaced or refilled.

The reservoir 12 is made of a resiliently deformable plastics material and is substantially conical tapering from the finger tip receiving opening 18 towards the writing end 20.

The reservoir 12 has an attachment means 24 configured for attachment to a writing device 28, such as a ball point, and a pocket clip 26 moulded integrally therewith.

In some embodiments, the writing device 28 is moulded integrally with the reservoir 12 thereby forming a writing instrument.

The reservoir 12 is provided with a breather 30 to facilitate ink flow, if required.

In some embodiments, the ink reservoir 12 is configured to receive an outer cover 32, which cover may be decorative and/or functional, for example, to indicate the colour of the ink, decorate the outside, provide advertising space, and the like.

The outer cover 32 is frusto-conical having an inner opening 34 sized and dimensioned complementarily with the outer dimension of the ink reservoir 12. An end zone 36 of the cover 32 adjacent the writing end may be configured to receive a cap 38 which, in-use, covers the writing device.

In Figures 3 and 4, reference numeral 40 generally indicates a finger tip pen broadly in accordance with the invention.

The pen 40 includes a cup shaped chamber 42 for receiving the finger tip of a user (not shown). The chamber is made from a resiliently deformable material to enable a snug fit to the finger of a user.

A ball pen 44 is inserted into an outer portion of the chamber 42 and is used for writing when the user directs it towards a surface and applies a writing pressure.

A cap 46 is provided which attaches to the chamber 42 by a screw thread to protect the ball pen 44 when not in use.

Claims

1. An ink reservoir for a pen, said reservoir having an ink storage chamber at least a portion of which is annular having an opening sized and dimensioned to receive a tip of a finger therein.

2. An ink reservoir as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is made of a resiliently deformable material.

3. An ink reservoir as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the reservoir is tapers from the finger tip receiving opening towards a writing end.

4. An ink reservoir as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the reservoir has at one end an attachment means configured for attachment to a writing device such as a ball point, a fountain pen, or a felt tip.

5. An ink reservoir as claimed in claim 4, wherein the reservoir has a pocket clip moulded integrally therewith

6. An ink reservoir as claimed in claim 4, wherein the writing device is moulded integrally with the reservoir thereby forming a writing instrument.

7. An ink reservoir as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the reservoir is provided with a breather to facilitate ink flow, if required.

8. An ink reservoir as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the cross-section of the annular portion is circular, oval, triangular, polygonal, crinkled, or any other desired shape.

9. An ink reservoir as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the pocket clip is moulded separately and attached to the reservoir at any time.

10. An ink reservoir as claimed in claim 4, wherein the writing device is manufactured separately and attached to the reservoir for use.

11. A pen for attachment to the finger of a user, said pen having an ink reservoir as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, and which has an opening distal the writing end thereof sized and dimensioned to snugly receive the tip of a finger of a user.

12. A writing instrument including a substantially cup shaped finger receiving portion for snugly receiving at least an end portion of a finger therein and an ink reservoir at least a portion of which is located in the vicinity of the apex of the closed end thereof.

13. A writing instrument as claimed in claim 12, wherein the reservoir portion is selected from a refill for a ball point pen, a roller ball, a felt tip, a highlighter, or a fountain pen, and optionally includes a writing tip.

14. An ink reservoir as claimed in claim 1 , substantially as herein described and illustrated.

15. A writing instrument as claimed in claim 1 or a pen as claimed in claim 13, substantially as herein described and illustrated.

16. A new writing instrument, a new ink reservoir or a new pen substantially as herein described.