Self-righting Instrument Cap Device

Abstract

A writing instrument and cooperating cap therefore wherein the writing instrument has a cap receiving portion and the cap has an instrument receiving well, a specifically located center of gravity, and an outer curved surface.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a writing instrument and cooperating cap for covering and protecting the marking point of the instrument. Ordinarily, a writing instrument such as a felt tip pen is provided with a cap to protect the tip from drying out or to preclude other damage and prevent the pen from making unwanted marks.

When such a pen is to be used, the cap therefor is removed and placed horizontally some place out of the way, among or under the papers or other adjacent materials on the writing surface or desk; or possibly, the cap is held in one hand while the pen is used. When it is ultimately desired to replace the cap, the cap may be lost in the papers or adjacent material on the desk and very difficult, if not impossible, to find. This, of course, often results in leaving the cap off of the pen, causing the undesirable result of damage to the pen.

If the cap is found after completion of use of the pen, and the pen and cap are reassembled, the procedure comprises holding the cap in the fingers of one hand while the pen is replaced therein by the other hand. If the assembler is in a hurry or if for some other reason, the pen and cap do not register exactly, the pen will miss the cap and mark on the assembler's fingers to produce further undesirable results. Also, a stationary desk pen well is not adequate for the usual portable use of pens inasmuch as it requires that the pen remain on the stationary well on the desk to obtain the benefits thereof.

In view of the above referred to problems, among others of related and similar nature, the inventor has conceived the present cooperating pen and cap invention wherein the pen is provided with a cap receiving portion and the cap is provided with a convex external surface extending away from a pen receiving well thereof and with a center of gravity positioned within the convex surface. Thus, a writing instrument is provided with a cap cooperating with a pen wherein the cap can be discarded casually from the instrument to a surface while the instrument is in use, and a cap which will thereby also always provide a readily accessible upright well for receiving the instrument without requiring specific holding or other manipulation of the cap to preserve the availability of the cap and to provide a readily accessible and fully portable instrument well.

Other advantages and/or novel aspects of the invention will become apparent upon examination of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the following attached drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 discloses the writing instrument or pen and cap of this invention with the cap thereof placed on the writing instrument to cover and protect the writing portion thereof;

FIG. 2 illustrates the use of the writing instrument on paper or the like with the cap shown as casually discarded and self-righted for readily receiving the partially illustrated instrument after use thereof; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial view of this invention with the cap sectioned and shown in place on the writing instrument.

A writing instrument and cap device, generally represented by the numeral 10, is disclosed in the figures for the purpose of illustrating and describing an embodiment of this invention. The device 10 is provided with a cap 11 and a cooperating writing instrument 12 such as a felt pen. The pen 12 has a body 13, a cap sealing portion 14, a cap positioning shoulder 15 and a writing tip 16.

The cap 11 generally includes a longitudinal portion 18 made of plastic or the like, an end portion 19 and a pen receiving well 20. The well 20 in the longitudinal portion 18 is adapted to frictionally receive the cap sealing body portion 14 with the tip 16 within the well 20 and with a cap well edge 21 adjacent or in engagement with shoulder 15 to limit the longitudinal position of cap 11 on sealing portion 14.

Cap end portion 19 may be provided with an outer plastic shell 23 and has a convex outer surface 24 having a flat chordal surface or spot 25 on the longitudinal extreme thereof. The flat surface 25 may be coated or otherwise provided with a friction surface. Dense material 26, such as lead, is provided in end portion 19 so that cap 11 will have a center of gravity 27 (FIG. 3) within the volume defined by the convex surface 24.

In operation, cap 11 is frictionally removed from pen 12 and is casually discarded in any convenient horizontal surface as shown by the broken lines (FIG. 2). The center of gravity 27 of cap 11 will cause the cap to rock on the convex surface 24 until the cap establishes an upright position as shown (FIG. 2). The flat surface 25 provides a stable base for the upright position to allow cap 11 to attain upright equilibrium. Further, the friction material which may be placed on the flat surface 25 will provide a more reactive basis for supporting the cap 11 for receiving the writing instrument in the well thereof.

The cap 11 thus positioned provides an upwardly opening pen well, supported on the horizontal surface to frictionally receive the sealing portion 14 of the pen 12 with the tip 16 in cap well 20. Thus, a pen 12 is provided with a cooperating cap 11 which provides a protective pen well 20 that is readily accessible regardless of how casually the cap 11 is discarded or treated. Further, if the pen 12 missed the cap 11 upon attempted reassembly therebetween, the pen 12 will not mark the user. Also, after reassembly, the cap 11 will automatically be attached to the pen for portable protection thereof notwithstanding the fact that the cap is as accessible and readily usable for assembly with the pen as a stationary desk pen well would be.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, as it will be understood to those skilled in the art that certain changes may be made without departing from the principles of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A writing instrument comprising an instrument body having a marking end portion adapted for insertion in an instrument well, and a separate cap body having an instrument well with an opening positioned therein for protectively receiving and retaining said instrument marking end portion, said cap body having a convex external surface portion opposite the opening of said well and a center of gravity located within said convex portion, whereby said cap will tend to rock when detached from said body and placed on a horizontal surface and thereby bring the protective opening of said well to an upright instrument receiving and retaining position for protectively receiving and retaining said marking end portion by rocking on said convex portion under the effect of gravity, and said convex external surface having a flattened supporting surface portion on the extremity thereof away from the well opening for resisting rocking movement of said cap over and beyond said surface to retard reciprocating rocking motion of said cap on said surface and to provide a basis for equilibrium support of said cap in the instrument receiving and retaining position.

2. A writing instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said surface portion is provided with a high friction surface to provide a friction reaction basis for equilibrium support of said cap in the instrument receiving and retaining position.