Angle-adjustable, gravity flow ink refill and pen

Abstract

An angle-adjustable, gravity flow ink refill and pen, each comprising of at least one bendable portion along its length. The bendable portion acts as a concertina-type hinge to allow both the pen and refill to bend to an angle and maintain the bend imparted to it. In a preferred embodiment, the refill is flexible in structure (full or partial) and the pen having a crimped corrugated bendable portion. In an alternate embodiment, intertwined helical wires form the bendable portion for the pen, the refill or both to maintain the angle bent. Alternatively a flexible gooseneck tube is used for the bendable portion of the pen. The pen writes normally on flat surfaces and on inclined surfaces, the rear end of the pen is bent forward such that the rear is pointed upwards towards the sky. This allows ink to flow towards the tip via gravity and facilitate consistent delivery of ink at multiple writing angles.

Claims

1. A bendable, gravity flow writing tool, capable of writing at multiple angles, having a body and an ink refill contained therein; said body having an open tip end and a bendable section configured so as to maintain any given bend imparted to it; said bendable section of said body comprised of a concertina-type hinge including a plurality of pleats which allow said section to maintain a given bend until a manual or external force is applied to it to rebend and readjust the angle of the bend; said ink refill being generally elongated, and having a nib at one end, and a flexible, bendable segment located above said nib and aligned with said bendable section of said body; said ink refill and said body allowing uninterrupted flow of ink to its nib when held at any angles between 0 wherein the tip is pointed downwards and 140 wherein said nib is pointed upwards while said writing tool parts starting from a bendable segment part onward is pointing upwards; said uninterrupted flow when nib is pointed upwards being possible until a quantity of ink contained in said ink refill rearward of said bendable segment is equal or less than the quantity of ink held forward of said bendable segment.

2. The bendable, gravity flow writing tool as in claim 1 wherein said body consists of a cylinder having a tapering open tip at one end, and an opening at its opposite end through which an ink refill is inserted inside said body.

3. The bendable, gravity flow writing tool as in claim 1 wherein said bendable section of said body consists of a stay put tubing.

4. The bendable, gravity flow writing tool as in claim 1 wherein said bendable section of said body consists of a flexible bellow structure wherein said body held in position by way of said ink refill, and wherein said ink refill having intertwined helical metal wires such that the intertwined helical wires allow said body to be bent, adjusted and held at varying angles until manually readjusted.

5. The bendable, gravity flow writing tool as in claim 1 wherein said ink refill is comprised of a concertina-type hinge section aligned with said bendable section of said body and including a plurality of pleats capable of bending and being able to maintain a given bend imparted to it.

6. The bendable, gravity flow writing tool as in claim 1 wherein said ink refill being wrapped in an intertwining helical pattern of at least two metal wires allowing said ink refill to bend and able to maintain a bend imparted to it.

7. The bendable, gravity flow writing tool as in claim 1 wherein said ink refill being flexible along its length and said bendable section of body comprising an intertwining helical pattern of at least two metal wires allowing said body to bend and able to maintain a bend imparted to it.

8. The bendable, gravity flow writing tool as in claim 1 wherein said nib type is selected from the group comprised of ball point tip, fountain pen, roller-ball, micro tip, gel tip and felt tip.

9. The bendable, gravity flow writing tool as in claim 1 wherein said bendable ink refill consists of crimped ridges and grooves.

10. The bendable, gravity flow writing tool as in claim 5 wherein said bendable casing consists of crimped ridges and grooves.

11. The bendable, gravity flow writing tool as in claim 1 wherein said body being made of flexible plastic, metal, rubber or polypropylene.

12. The bendable, gravity flow writing tool as in claim 1 wherein said body has its bendable section being approximately 2 cm to 5 cm in length and located between 3 and 7 cm above said nib.

13. The bendable, gravity flow writing tool as in claim 1 wherein said refill has its bendable section being approximately 2 cm to 5 cm in length and located between 3 and 7 cm above said nib.

14. The bendable, gravity flow writing tool as in claim 5 wherein said body has its bendable section being approximately 2 cm to 5 cm in length and located between 3 cm and 7 cm above said open tip end.

15. The bendable, gravity flow writing tool as in claim 1 wherein said body having multiple segments that are bendable so as to provide a plurality of shapes.

16. The bendable, gravity flow writing tool as in claim 1 wherein bendable section of said body comprises of a stay-put gooseneck tube.

17. The bendable, gravity flow writing tool as in claim 16 wherein said ink refill being flexible along its length.

18. The bendable, gravity flow writing tool as in claim 16 wherein said ink refill is comprised of a concertina-type hinge section aligned with said bendable section of said body and including a plurality of pleats capable of bending and being able to maintain a given bend imparted to it.

19. The bendable, gravity flow writing tool as in claim 16 wherein said ink refill being wrapped in an intertwining helical pattern of at least two metal wires allowing said ink refill to bend and able to maintain a bend imparted to it.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIGS. 1a-b-c Isometric view of a refill with a single bendable segment in a straight position, zoom view of bendable segment of the refill and isometric view of the bendable refill in an angular position

(2) FIGS. 2a-b Isometric view of the bendable refill and pen in a straight position and isometric view of the bendable refill and pen in a bent position

(3) FIGS. 3a-b-c Zoom view of flexible gooseneck bendable section, isometric view of pen in an alternate embodiment and side view of pen in an alternate embodiment in an upright writing position with top portion bent forward at an angle

(4) FIG. 4 Isometric view of the pen in use on a writing surface that is 90 degrees to the earth's horizontal plane

(5) FIG. 5 Side view of an alternate embodiment of the refill having a narrow diameter flexible delivery spout and a wider diameter rigid barrel

(6) FIG. 6 Isometric view of an ink fountain pen with bendable segment

(7) FIG. 7 Top view of a flexible refill embodiment

(8) FIGS. 8a-b-c Isometric view of a flexible corrugated hose, isometric view of pen with bendable segment comprising intertwined helical wires and side view of a flexible refill encased in intertwined helical wires

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) An angle-adjustable, gravity flow refill and pen (10) having bendable corrugated portions (14) and (20) respectively. The ink refill (12) containing an ink fluid or gel (13) within is composed of a long cylindrical casing (15) with a writing nib (16) at one end, a bendable corrugated portion (14) positioned nearer the nib (16) and an open or partially open end (17) in one embodiment. In an alternate embodiment (see FIG. 5), an ink refill (12) having a flexible delivery spout (33) with a narrow diameter and a more rigid main body (35) having a wider diameter. In yet another embodiment (see FIG. 7), an ink refill (12) that is flexible in structure and is able to bend at any point along its length. In a further embodiment (see FIG. 8c), a flexible ink refill (12) encased in intertwined helical wires (29) allowing the ink refill (12) to bend and maintain any given bend applied to it. The bendable corrugated portions (14) and (20) comprise of multiple parallel folds (21) that form ridges (not shown) and grooves (not shown) allowing the corrugated portions (14) and (20) to bend much the same as a concertina-type hinge (not shown). The invention (10) (FIGS. 2a and 2b) in a preferred embodiment has a pen cap (22) having a clip (24) and an opening (26) at one end.

(10) The invention (10), in a preferred embodiment comprises of a hollow cylindrical casing (18) having a crimped bendable corrugated portion (20) and closed at the rear end (31) with a cap (not shown) after the ink refill (12, 12 or 12) is inserted into the hollow cylindrical casing (18).

(11) Alternatively, the invention (10) in an alternate embodiment (see FIG. 8b) comprises of a bendable segment (20) on the hollow cylindrical casing (18) composed of intertwined helical wires (29) that bend and maintain a given bend and having a flexible refill (12) contained within the cylindrical casing (18). The bendable segment (20) comprising intertwined helical wires (29) is encased in a flexible corrugated hose (38). In yet another alternate embodiment of the invention (10) (See FIGS. 3b and 3c), the cylindrical casing (18) is comprised of a main barrel (39) attached to a bendable gooseneck segment (23) at one end which in turn is attached to a tapered head segment (25). The main barrel (39) is attached at the other end to a screw-type head (34) having a clip (30) provided on it. The cylindrical casing (18) can also comprise of one or more coupling rings (27) and a logo (32) embossed, engraved or imprinted on it. Ink refills (12, 12 or 12) may be contained within the cylindrical casing (18).

(12) The invention (10) can also exist as a fountain pen (42) embodiment (see FIG. 6) where the ink chamber (not shown) is in the form of a sealed receptacle or pouch (not shown) contained within the pen (42).

(13) The bendable refills (12, 12, 12), inside cylindrical casings (18, 18) and the ink pen (42) can be used much the same as any normal pen (not shown) when writing on a flat surface (not shown). When a user (36) wishes to use the invention (10) on an inclined writing surface (41) such as against a refrigerator (40) (see FIG. 4), the bendable segments (20, 20) or the bendable gooseneck portion (23) of the invention (10) is bent forward such that the rear end (31) of the invention (10) points upwards allowing gravity to push the flow of ink (13) contained within the refills (12, 12, 12) or fountain pen (42) towards the nib (16) for an uninterrupted writing experience.

(14) With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

(15) Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.