The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 25, 2000
Filed:
Feb. 05, 1998
Michael Greene, Sherman Oaks, CA (US);
Kenneth Tarlow, Corte Madera, CA (US);
Kirk Langman, Beverly Hills, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
An article of manufacture for causing a ball point pen cartridge and associated tip to automatically extend from its housing when an actuator switch located at the front end of the pen housing is pressed by the user's finger. The pen tip and associated cartridge automatically retract when the user releases the pen. A D.C. motor coupled to a gear reduction assembly inside the pen housing causes an attached threaded sleeve to rotate within a stationary nut within the housing thereby driving the pen assembly forward or backward depending on the polarity of the electrical supply to the motor. Limit switches within the housing cause the pen assembly to stop at the proper locations. An alternate embodiment of the design substitutes a non-moving, conductive switch that operates on skin contact instead of a moving, mechanical type actuation within a standard electrical switch.