Writing instrument with inflatable bladders

Abstract

A writing instrument with inflatable bladders built into the barrel of the writing instrument to facilitate better and more comfortable gripping of the writing instrument by a user. The built in bladders are inflated by pumping air into them. The writing instrument further includes a release mechanism for releasing excess air in the bladders.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a writing instrument with inflatable bladders built into the barrel of the writing instrument to facilitate different sizes for a better and more comfortable gripping by a user. In particular, the present invention relates to a writing instrument where the built in bladders are inflated by pumping air into them. The writing instrument further includes a release mechanism for releasing excess air in the bladders.

[0003] 2. The Prior Art

[0004] U.S. Patent Publication 2004/0136769 to Ferra relates to a cushioning element with a deformable bladder having a filling chamber of a particulate matter that is mounted on an article. The bladder is not however pumped with air.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,035,089 to Schwartz et al. relates a grip whose size is varied with an expander element carried by sleeve upon rotation of the sleeve. The bladder is mechanically increased rather than by pumping air.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is therefore a principle object of the invention to provide a writing instrument having bladders built into the barrel of a writing instrument which can be inflated by pumping air. In one embodiment the bladders can be inflated by clicking do on top of the writing instrument to inflate the bladders while placing one's finger over the top of the writing instrument. In another embodiment the bladders can be pumped themselves. A release button on the side of the writing instrument can be pressed to release excess air from the bladder.

[0007] Other objects of the invention will become clear and apparent from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the invention showing the clicker and pump handle;

[0009] FIG. 2 is a sectional view along lines A-A of FIG. 1 showing the compression spring;

[0010] FIG. 3A is another sectional view of the invention showing an air release button;

[0011] FIG. 3B is a top view of FIG. 3A;

[0012] FIG. 4A is a sectional view along lines B-B of FIG. 3A showing the one way valve;

[0013] FIG. 4B is a view along lines C-C of FIG. 4A showing the air release mechanism;

[0014] FIG. 5A illustrates another feature of the invention in which release mechanism releases excess air from the bladders and shows the bladders in their un-inflated state;

[0015] FIG. 5B shows the invention of FIG. 5A with the bladders in their inflated state; and

[0016] FIG. 6A-D illustrates several different embodiments of bladders in their inflated states.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Referring now to the drawings of FIGS. 1-6D, FIG. 1 shows the present invention which is comprised of a clicker and a pump handle 11, a compression spring 12, air way passages, a one way air valve 18, and air expandable bladders 16 are preferably formed of either rubber-like material or rubber material that are built into the barrel of the writing instrument.

[0018] The clicker and pump handle apparatus 11 can be pressed down by a user's finger to compress the spring 12 and pump air from the air way into the writing instrument's bladders 16 through the one way air valve 18 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Thereby inflating the air expandable bladders 16 so that the bladders go from the un-inflated state in FIG. 5A to the inflated state in FIG. 5B.

[0019] In an alternate embodiment of the invention (not shown) the pump handle is separate from the clicker for the writing instrument 10 but otherwise operates in the same fashion described FIG. 1. Alternatively both of these embodiments can have there bladders 16 filled with air by pressing the bladders 16 and pumping them fill with air.

[0020] FIG. 3. shows a release mechanism 20 located on the side of the writing instrument 10 which when pressed and held releases air from the bladders 16 until the desired amount of air is retained within the bladders. 16.

[0021] The bladders 16 can have various confirmations as shown in FIGS. 6A-D showing these different bladder embodiments in their inflated states.

[0022] I do not limit myself to any particular details of construction set forth in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as the same refers to and sets forth only certain embodiments of the invention, and it is observed that the same may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.

Claims

1-7. (canceled)

8. A writing instrument, comprising: a barrel; said barrel having bladders built in to said barrel; and a pumping mechanism for pumping air into said bladders, said pumping mechanism including an airway passage and a one way air valve for air to enter from said pumping mechanism into said bladders.

9. The writing instrument of claim 8 wherein said pumping mechanism includes an integrated clicker and a pump handle.

10. The writing instrument of claim 8 wherein said pumping mechanism includes a pump handle that is separate from a clicker for said writing instrument.

11. The writing instrument of claim 8 wherein said bladders are formed of rubber-like material.

12. The writing instrument of claim 8 wherein said bladders are formed of rubber material.

13. The writing instrument of claim 8 further comprising a release mechanism located on the side of the writing instrument for releasing excess air.

14. The writing instrument of claim 13 wherein said release mechanism includes a clip that when pressed and held into place against the side of the writing instrument presses a release button at the side of the writing instrument to release said excess air from said bladders.

15. The writing instrument of claim 8 wherein said bladders can be manually pumped by a user pressing and releasing said bladders to inflate said bladders with air.

16. The writing instrument of claim 11 wherein said bladders can be manually pumped by a user pressing and releasing said bladders to inflate said bladders with air.