U.S. patent application number 10/979134 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-04 for pen with cutting function.
This patent application is currently assigned to CASE PAX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Tien-Lai Lin.
Application Number | 20060090347 10/979134 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36260162 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060090347 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin; Tien-Lai |
May 4, 2006 |
Pen with cutting function
Abstract
A pen with cutting function includes a main body having a
writing tip provided at an end thereof, and a cap fitted around the
writing tip. The cap has a closed and an open end, a wall portion
extended between the closed and the open end, at least one first
projected portion axially extended from the wall portion to project
beyond the closed end of the cap, and at least one cutting section
provided at the closed end in the vicinity of the first projected
portion. When the pen is so positioned with the first projected
portion bearing against an article to be cut open, the cutting
section at the closed end of the cap is adapted to slide along the
article and smoothly cut open wrapping of the article.
Inventors: |
Lin; Tien-Lai; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
CASE PAX INTERNATIONAL CO.,
LTD.
|
Family ID: |
36260162 |
Appl. No.: |
10/979134 |
Filed: |
November 3, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
30/162 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B43K 29/18 20130101;
B26B 27/005 20130101; B43K 23/12 20130101; B43K 29/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
030/162 |
International
Class: |
F41B 13/02 20060101
F41B013/02 |
Claims
1. A pen with cutting function, comprising a cap having a closed
end, an opposite open end, a wall portion extended between said
closed and said open end, at least one first projected portion
axially extended from said wall portion to project beyond said
closed end by a predetermined distance, and at least one cutting
section provided at said closed end to project therefrom; whereby
said cutting section is adapted to cut open an article without the
risk of easily skidding off said article.
2. The pen with cutting function as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said cutting section is projected from said closed end of said cap
by a distance smaller than a distance by which said at least one
first projected portion is projected beyond said closed end of said
cap.
3. The pen with cutting function as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said cutting section includes a cutting edge.
4. The pen with cutting function as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said wall portion of said cap is provided with a second projected
portion opposite to said at least one first projected portion.
5. The pen with cutting function as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said closed end of said cap is configured into a guide surface.
6. The pen with cutting function as claimed in claim 5, wherein
said guide surface is a smoothly curved surface.
7. The pen with cutting function as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a main body having two opposite ends, and wherein said
cap is fitted around one of said two opposite ends of said main
body.
8. A pen with cutting function, comprising a main body having a
closed first end, a second end opposite to said first end, a body
portion extended between said first and said second end, at least
one first projected portion axially extended from said body portion
to project beyond said closed first end, and at least one cutting
section provided at said closed first end to project therefrom by a
predetermined distance; whereby said cutting section is adapted to
cut open an article without the risk of easily skidding off said
article.
9. The pen with cutting function as claimed in claim 8, wherein
said cutting section is projected from said closed first end of
said main body by a distance smaller than a distance by which said
at least one first projected portion is projected beyond said
closed first end of said main body.
10. The pen with cutting function as claimed in claim 8, wherein
said cutting section includes a cutting edge.
11. The pen with cutting function as claimed in claim 8, wherein
said body portion of said main body is provided with a second
projected portion opposite to said at least one first projected
portion.
12. The pen with cutting function as claimed in claim 8, wherein
said closed first end of said main body is configured into a guide
surface.
13. The pen with cutting function as claimed in claim 12, wherein
said guide surface is a smoothly curved surface.
14. The pen with cutting function as claimed in claim 8, further
comprising a hollow cap having an open end, at where said cap is
fitted around a writing tip provided at said second end of said
main body.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a pen, and more
particularly to a pen with cutting function.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The currently available pens are normally designed for
writing only. Among others, there is a pen particularly designed
for writing or marking on a compact disk. Generally, compact disks
are protected against scratches or damages in several different
ways, a first one of which is to position each one single compact
disk in a box, which is then tightly coated with a layer of shrink
wrapping; and a second one of which is to stack a plurality of
compact disks to a predetermined volume and then package the
stacked compact disks as a whole with a layer of shrink wrapping to
prevent the compact disks from separating from one another and
being damaged. Usually, wrappings for packaging the compact disks
may be transparent or opaque.
[0003] However, to open the tight shrink wrapping of the compact
disk or disks packaged in either of the above-mentioned two ways,
an additional cutting tool, such as a pair of scissors, a blade,
etc., is usually required. It is, of course, inconvenient for most
consumers to prepare or to fetch an additional cutting tool simply
for opening the package of compact disk or disks. It is therefore
tried by the inventor to develop a pen with cutting function for a
user to conveniently cut open the package of compact disk or
disks.
[0004] Taiwanese Patent No. 554838 published on the Patent Gazette
dated Sep. 21, 2003 discloses a pen that includes an upper body and
a lower body having a reservoir tube for writing. The pen is
characterized in that the upper body is a hollow tubular member
provided with an axially extended moving slot of a predetermined
length. An inner sleeve having a long slot corresponding to the
moving slot of the upper body is inserted via an upper end of a
locating member into a lower part of the upper body by a
predetermined length. The inner sleeve fitted in the upper body is
integrally formed of a plastic material through injection molding.
The inner sleeve is provided with an open recess, to which a pair
of mini scissors and a knife are pivotally connected to move
between a folded position, in which the scissors and the knife are
received in the open recess, and an extended position, in which the
scissors and the knife are pivotally turned outward to locate above
the open recess of the inner sleeve.
[0005] The Taiwanese Patent No. 554838 also discloses a spring leaf
provided in the open recess. With an elastic force provided by the
spring leaf, the scissors and the knife could be conveniently
operated to move into the open recess or locate above the open
recess.
[0006] To cut something with the scissors and the knife, a user has
to pivotally turn the latter to locate them above the open recess.
Since there is not any supporting element provided on the pen for
bearing against and therefore applying a supporting force on the
thing to be cut, the knife sliding along the thing to be cut tends
to skid off the thing and dangerously injure the user. Moreover,
since the scissors and the knife are folded or extended through the
elastic force of the spring leaf, it is very possible the user
negligently touches the spring leaf to cause undesired ejection of
the scissors or the knife, which tends to injure the user.
[0007] It is therefore desirable to develop a pen with cutting
function that is safe for use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] A primary object of the present invention is to provide a
pen with cutting function, a cap of which is provided at a wall
portion with at least one first projected portion axially projected
beyond a closed end of the cap, and at the closed end in the
vicinity of the at least one first projected portion with a cutting
section, such that the at least one first projected portion is
adapted to bear against an article to be cut open while guiding the
cutting section to smoothly cut open the article.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a pen
with cutting function, a main body of which is provided at a body
portion with at least one first projected portion axially projected
beyond a first end of the main body, and at the first end of the
main body in the vicinity of the at least one first projected
portion with a cutting section, such that the at least one first
projected portion is adapted to bear against an article to be cut
open while guiding the cutting section to smoothly cut open the
article.
[0010] To achieve the above and other objects, the pen with cutting
function according to a first preferred embodiment of the present
invention includes a hollow main body having a first end and a
second end opposite to the first end and having a writing tip
coupled therewith, and a cap fitted around the writing tip. The cap
includes a closed and an open end, and a wall portion extended
between the closed and the open end. The pen is characterized in
that the cap is provided at the wall portion with at least one
first projected portion axially extended beyond the closed end of
the cap, and that the cap is provided at the closed end in the
vicinity of the at least one first projected portion with at least
one cutting section, such that the at least one first projected
portion is adapted to bear against an article to be cut open while
guiding the cutting section to smoothly cut open the article
without the risk of skidding off the article.
[0011] The cutting section has a cutting edge, and is projected
from the closed end of the cap by a distance smaller than a
distance by which the at least one first projected portion is
projected beyond the closed end of the cap.
[0012] In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention
similar to the first one, the wall portion of the cap is further
provided with a second projected portion opposite to the at least
one first projected portion. The first and the second projected
portion are spaced from each other by a predetermined distance for
the cap to straddle the article to be cut open.
[0013] Moreover, the closed end of the cap is configured into a
smoothly curved guide surface, which is extended from the wall
portion for contacting with the article to be cut open.
[0014] In a third preferred embodiment of the present invention,
the pen with cutting function includes a hollow main body and a
cap. The main body includes a closed first end, a second end
opposite to the first end, a body portion extended from the first
end to the second end, and a writing tip coupled with the second
end. The pen is characterized in that the body portion is provided
at an outer surface with at least one first projected portion
axially extended beyond the first end of the main body, and that at
least one cutting section is provided at and projected from the
first end of the main body in the vicinity of the at least one
first projected portion, such that the at least one first projected
portion is adapted to bear against an article to be cut open while
guiding the cutting section to smoothly cut open the article
without the risk of skidding off the article.
[0015] In the third embodiment, the cutting section also has a
cutting edge, and is projected from the closed first end of the
main body by a distance smaller than a distance by which the at
least one first projected portion is projected beyond the closed
first end of the main body.
[0016] In a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention
similar to the third one, the body portion of the main body is
further provided with a second projected portion opposite to the at
least one first projected portion. The first and the second
projected portion are spaced from each other by a predetermined
distance for the main body of the pen to straddle the article to be
cut open.
[0017] And, the closed first end of the main body is configured
into a smoothly curved guide surface, which is extended from the
body portion for contacting with the article to be cut open.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The structure and the technical means adopted by the present
invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best
understood by referring to the following detailed description of
the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a pen with cutting
function according to a first preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 1A is an enlarged view of the circled area of FIG.
1;
[0020] FIG. 2 is an assembled view of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of the circled area of FIG.
2;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a top plan view showing the use of the pen
according to the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention to cut open an article;
[0023] FIG. 3A is an enlarged view of the circled area of FIG.
3;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 3;
[0025] FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of the circled area of FIG.
4;
[0026] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a pen with cutting
function according to a second preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0027] FIG. 5A is an enlarged view of the circled area of FIG.
5;
[0028] FIG. 6 is an assembled view of FIG. 5;
[0029] FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of the circled area of FIG.
6;
[0030] FIG. 7 is a top plan view showing the use of the pen
according to the second preferred embodiment of the present
invention to cut open an article;
[0031] FIG. 7A is an enlarged view of the circled area of FIG.
7;
[0032] FIG. 8 is a side view of FIG. 7;
[0033] FIG. 8A is an enlarged view of the circled area of FIG.
8;
[0034] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a pen with cutting
function according to a third preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0035] FIG. 9A is an enlarged view of the circled area of FIG.
9;
[0036] FIG. 10 is an assembled view of FIG. 9;
[0037] FIG. 10A is an enlarged view of the circled area of FIG.
10;
[0038] FIG. 11 is a top plan view showing the use of the pen
according to the third preferred embodiment of the present
invention to cut open an article;
[0039] FIG. 11A is an enlarged view of the circled area of FIG.
11;
[0040] FIG. 12 is a side view of FIG. 11;
[0041] FIG. 12A is an enlarged view of the circled area of FIG.
12;
[0042] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a pen with
cutting function according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
[0043] FIG. 13A is an enlarged view of the circled area of FIG.
13;
[0044] FIG. 14 is an assembled view of FIG. 13;
[0045] FIG. 14A is an enlarged view of the circled area of FIG.
14;
[0046] FIG. 15 is a top plan view showing the use of the pen
according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present
invention to cut open an article;
[0047] FIG. 15A is an enlarged view of the circled area of FIG.
15;
[0048] FIG. 16 is a side view of FIG. 15; and
[0049] FIG. 16A is an enlarged view of the circled area of FIG.
16.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0050] Please refer to FIGS. 1, 1A, 2, and 2A, in which a pen with
cutting function according to a first preferred embodiment of the
present invention is shown. As shown, the pen includes a main body
11, which has a first end 111, a second end 112 opposite to the
first end and having a writing tip 114 provided thereat, and a body
portion 113 extended between the first and the second end 111, 112;
and a hollow cap 12, which has a closed end 121, an open end 122, a
wall portion 123 extended from the closed end 121 to the open end
122, at least one first projected portion 13 axially extended from
the wall portion 123 to project beyond the closed end 121, and at
least one cutting section 14 provided at the closed end 121 in the
vicinity of the at least one first projected portion 13 to project
from the closed end 121 by a predetermined distance.
[0051] The cap 12 is adapted to fit at the open end 122 around the
writing tip 114 at the second end 112 of the main body 11.
[0052] The cutting section 14 includes a cutting edge 141. A
distance by which the cutting section 14 is projected from the
closed end 121 of the cap 12 is smaller than a distance by which
the at least one first projected portion 13 is projected beyond the
closed end 121 of the cap 12. That is, the cutting section 14 has a
projected length shorter than that of the at least one projected
portion 13 relative to the closed end 121 of the cap 12. Moreover,
the closed end 121 of the cap 12 is configured into at least one
guide surface 1211, which is a smoothly curved surface integrally
extended from the wall portion 123 of the cap 12 in the first
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0053] Please also refer to FIGS. 1, 3, 3A, 4, and 4A at the same
time. When the pen with cutting function according to the first
preferred embodiment of the present invention is used to cut open
an article 15, which is fitly coated with a layer of shrink
wrapping 151, simply bear the first projected portion 13 against
the article 15 lightly, with the guide surface 1211 formed at the
closed end 121 of the cap 12 in contacting with an outer surface of
the article 15 to be cut. And then, drag the whole pen toward the
right side of the drawing while allowing the guide surface 1211 to
slide along the article 15 until the cutting edge 141 of the
cutting section 14 touches and cuts open the shrink wrapping 151
coated on the article 15. The first projected portion 13 also
protects a user from undesired injury by the cutting section 14
while dragging the pen. With the present invention, the user could
conveniently cut open an article 15 using a frequently available
pen without any other cutting tool.
[0054] Please refer to FIGS. 5, 5A, 6, 6A, 7, 7A, 8, and 8A, in
which a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is
shown. The second embodiment is structurally and functionally
similar to the first embodiment, except that the wall portion 123
of the cap 12 is provided with a second projected portion 16
identical to but opposite to the at least one first projected
portion 13. The first and the second projected portion 13, 16 are
spaced from each other by a distance equal to or slightly larger
than a thickness of one side of the article 15 to be cut open, so
that the cap 12 straddles the side of the article 15 to be cut
while the pen is dragged along the article 15, bringing the guide
surface 1211 to slide along the article 15. Since the side of the
article 15 to be cut open is confined to the space between the
first and the second projected portion 13, 16, the shrink wrapping
151 tightly coated on the outer surface of the article 15 could be
naturally and smoothly cut open by the cutting section 14 that is
located at the closed end 121 of the cap 12 between the two
projected portions 13, 16. The properly determined space between
the first and the second projected portion 13, 16 also prevents the
cutting section 14 from skidding off the article 15 when the cap 12
of the pen is quickly slid, and therefore protects the user against
injury due to negligent contact with the cutting section 14.
[0055] Please now refer to FIGS. 9, 9a, 10, and 10A, in which a pen
with cutting function according to a third preferred embodiment of
the present invention is shown. As shown, the pen of the present
invention in the third embodiment includes a main body 21, which
has a closed first end 211, a second end 212 opposite to the first
end and having a writing tip 214 provided thereat, a body portion
213 extended between the first and the second end 211, 212, at
least one first projected portion 23 axially extended from the body
portion 213 to project beyond the closed first end 211, and at
least one cutting section 24 provided at the closed first end 211
in the vicinity of the at least one first projected portion 23 to
project from the closed first end 211 by a predetermined distance;
and a hollow cap 22, which has a closed end 221, an open end 222, a
wall portion 223 extended from the closed end 221 to the open end
222.
[0056] The cap 22 is adapted to fit at the open end 222 around the
writing tip 214 at the second end 212 of the main body 21.
[0057] The cutting section 24 includes a cutting edge 241. A
distance by which the cutting section 24 is projected from the
closed first end 211 of the main body 21 is smaller than a distance
by which the at least one first projected portion 23 is projected
beyond the closed first end 211 of the main body 21. That is, the
cutting section 24 has a projected length shorter than that of the
at least one projected portion 23 relative to the closed first end
211 of the main body 21. Moreover, the closed first end 211 of the
main body 21 is configured into at least one guide surface 2111,
which is a smoothly curved surface integrally extended from the
body portion 213 of the main body 21 in the third preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0058] Please also refer to FIGS. 9, 11, 11A, 12, and 12A at the
same time. When the pen with cutting function according to the
third preferred embodiment of the present invention is used to cut
open an article 25, which is fitly coated with a layer of shrink
wrapping 251, simply bear the first projected portion 23 against
the article 25 lightly, with the guide surface 2111 formed at the
closed first end 211 of the main body 21 in contacting with an
outer surface of the article 25 to be cut. And then, drag the whole
pen toward the right side of the drawing while allowing the guide
surface 2111 to slide along the article 25 until the cutting edge
241 of the cutting section 24 touches and cuts open the shrink
wrapping 251 coated on the article 25. The first projected portion
23 also protects a user from undesired injury by the cutting
section 24 while dragging the pen. With the present invention, the
user could conveniently cut open an article 25 using a frequently
available pen without any other cutting tool.
[0059] Please refer to FIGS. 13, 13A, 14, 14A, 15, 15A, 16, and
16A, in which a pen with cutting function according to a fourth
preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The fourth
embodiment is structurally and functionally similar to the third
embodiment, except that the body portion 213 of the main body 21 is
provided with a second projected portion 26 identical to but
opposite to the at least one first projected portion 23. The first
and the second projected portion 23, 26 are spaced from each other
by a distance equal to or slightly larger than a thickness of one
side of the article 25 to be cut open, so that the main body 21
straddles the side of the article 25 to be cut while the pen is
dragged along the article 25, bringing the guide surface 2111 to
slide along the article 25. Since the side of the article 25 to be
cut is confined to the space between the first and the second
projected portion 23, 26, the shrink wrapping 251 tightly coated on
the outer surface of the article 25 could be naturally and smoothly
cut open by the cutting section 24 that is located at the closed
first end 211 of the main body 21 between the two projected
portions 23,26. The properly determined space between the first and
the second projected portion 23, 26 also prevents the cutting
section 24 from skidding off the article 25 when the main body 21
of the pen is quickly slid, and therefore protects the user against
injury due to negligent contact with the cutting section 24.
[0060] The present invention has been described with some preferred
embodiments thereof and it is understood that many changes and
modifications in the described embodiments can be carried out
without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention
that is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.
* * * * *