Fine Tip Stylus and Pen with Aperture for Coaxial, Retraction and Placement

Abstract

A writing instrument for alternating between a active stylus tip and an ink pen tip which is retractable from and displaceable through an annular opening at one end of the writing instrument is disclosed.

Claims

1. A combination active, tip stylus and ink pen comprising: a) A cylinder defining an annulus, the cylinder having a first end and a second end; b) A battery and a main PCB circuit proximate the first end of the cylinder for powering the stylus; c) An active stylus tip disposed at the second end of the cylinder, the stylus tip defining a second annulus coaxial with the annulus of the cylinder; and d) At least one ink pen tip retractable and extendable through the second annulus; Whereby a user can select between the stylus tip and the at least one ink pen tip for application from the second end of the cylinder.

2. A combination active stylus and ink pen comprising: a) A cylinder defining an annulus, the cylinder having a first end and a second end; b) A battery and a power PCB circuit proximate the first end of the cylinder for powering the stylus; c) An active stylus having a stylus tip and an ink pen tip disposed at the second end of the cylinder, the active stylus and ink pen tip parallel with one another, the active stylus further being in electrical communication with a control board proximate the second end of the cylinder, the control board enabling the translation of movement by the stylus tip to an electronic touch screen in communication with the stylus tip; and d) At stylus power activation mechanism for selectively coupling the power PCB circuit and the control circuit upon the extension of the stylus tip through the second end of the cylinder; whereby a user can select between the stylus tip and the at least one ink pen tip for application from the second end of the cylinder.

3. The combination active stylus and ink pen of claim 2, wherein the control board has a fixed relationship with at least the second end of the cylinder, and the control board had a moving relationship with the stylus tip during actuation of the stylus tip.

4. The combination active, fine tip stylus and ink pen of claim 2, wherein the stylus power activation mechanism comprises a first end portion of the cylinder and a second end portion of the cylinder, wherein the first end portion may be rotated to enable electrical communication between the power PCB and the control circuit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0022] FIGS. 1a and 1b show existing stylus pen layouts as known in the art.

[0023] FIGS. 2a and 2b show front and side views, respectively, of a retractable pen tip in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIGS. 3a and 3b show front and side views, respectively, of a retractable fine stylus tip in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of a retractable stylus and pen tips in accord with another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Set forth below is a description of what is currently believed to be the preferred embodiment or best examples of the invention claimed. Future and present alternatives and modifications to this preferred embodiment are contemplated. Any alternatives or modifications which make insubstantial changes in function, in purpose, in structure or in result are intended to be covered by the claims in this patent.

[0027] FIGS. 1a and 1b show standard, known elements of a stylus pen cylinder 10, including a main PCB 20, a battery 30, a tip PCB 40 and a stylus tip 50.

[0028] FIGS. 2a and 2b, by comparison, show a first preferred embodiment of a combination ink pen and stylus pen cylinder 110 comprising a main PCB 120, a battery 130, a tip PCB 140 and a stylus tip 150. In addition, the cylinder 110 houses a pen comprised of the top portion 134, the bottom portion 136, a replaceable ink cartridge 139, a mechanism 132 for extending and retracting the pen, and an electrical connection 138 to separate the top 134 and bottom 136 portions and to allow the top to rotate such that the pen tip 154 extends and retracts. In addition the stylus tip 150 of this embodiment defines a hole or annulus that allows the pen tip to extend and retract therethrough, with the pen tip 154 preferably being a ceramic or similar material so as to prevent electrical interference with the fine stylus tip 150.

[0029] FIGS. 3a and 3b, by comparison, show a similar but different embodiment cylinder 210 comprising a main PCB 220, a battery 230, a tip PCB 240 and a stylus tip 250. This embodiment is very similar to the first embodiment, with the exception that the mechanism 232 for extending and retracting the tip instead enables retraction and extension of the stylus tip 250 so as to enable the user to feel that a truer pen operation in practice. Of course, those of skill in the art will appreciate that that the above described two embodiments need not operate exclusive of one another. That is, the present invention is intended to disclose and teach a writing instrument wherein the ink pen and/or the stylus pen are retractable and extendable for operation.

[0030] Another alternative embodiment is disclosed in FIG. 4. As with the other embodiments, the device includes cylinder 310 made up of a barrel portion 336 at the second end, a cap portion 337 at the first end with a cap sleeve 338 extending therefrom to slidingly engage the barrel portion 336.

[0031] In the cap portion is contained a main or power PCB 320, a battery 330, and cap connectors 346 on the cap sleeve 338 for the cap assembly 337 to deliver power from the battery. Optionally, the cap portion 337 can also include a power port insulator 370 for housing a USB connector (not shown) for recharging the battery 330.

[0032] In the barrel portion 336 is located a front or tip PCB 340 and a barrel insert 360 for holding a stylus tip 250 and a pen insert 352 for user selection. User selection enables extension and retraction of the stylus tip 350 or pen 352, as desired, through the tip 354 connected to the barrel portion 336, the tip 354 defining an annular opening. The barrel portion 336 further has connected thereto barrel connectors 344 for selectively receiving power to be provided to the tip PCB 340 by the battery 330. The user can manually rotate the cap portion 337 in either a clockwise or counterclockwise rotation to select either the stylus 250 or pen 252 in a manner known to those of skill in the art. However, in the event the user rotates cap portion 337 in a direction to actuate the stylus tip 350 through the tip 354, such rotation will at the same time cause the cap connectors 346 to contact the barrel connectors 344, thus delivering power from battery 330 to the front or tip PCB 340, which creates an active charge in the stylus tip 350 such that the tip can communicate with sensors in the screen of an electronic touch screen while extended, while disconnecting or powering down the stylus tip 350 upon retraction through the tip.

[0033] In at least some preferred embodiments, the use of a non-metallic tip 354, whether plastic or ceramic or a comparable material may be desirable to avoid interfering with the capacitive functioning of the stylus tip 350 while engaged. Similarly, the selection of conductive materials for the barrel portion 336 and the cap portion 337 can likewise be important to enable the electrical grounding of the front PCB 340 and the back PCB 320 via ground wires (not shown). Further, it should be noted that this embodiment enables the fixed placement of the tip PCB 340 in the barrel portion 336 such that the actuation of the stylus tip 350 causes movement of the stylus tip relative to the tip PCB 340. However, people of skill in the art having the present teaching could enable the movement of the tip PCB 340 and the stylus tip 350 in tandem with one another, if desired. Similarly, people of skill having the present disclosure will understand that the mechanism for selecting between the stylus 350 and the pen 352 can be not just the twisting mechanism described above, but also sliding or depressing buttons on the cap portion 337 such as found with multipen devices known in the art.

[0034] The above description is not intended to limit the meaning of the words used in the following claims that define the invention. Rather, it is contemplated that future modifications in structure, function or result will exist that are not substantial changes and that all such insubstantial changes in what is claimed are intended to be covered by the claims. For instance, the specific pen extension and retraction mechanisms used in the examples of the preferred embodiments of present invention is for illustrative purposes with reference to the example drawings only. Also, while the certain preferred embodiment deals with active stylus pens having a fine tip, the invention may be applicable to other forms of stylus, too. Similarly, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, additions, omissions, and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be covered by the following claims.