Grip for electronic pen and electronic pen
A cylindrical grip with an elastic inner portion and slits, securely attaches to electronic pens, addressing user preferences and ease of attachment, ensuring comfort and functionality.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024079099
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-05-15
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-28
AI Technical Summary
There is a need for an easily attachable and securely lockable grip for electronic pens, considering user preferences for gripless use and ease of attachment.
A cylindrical grip with a double structure, featuring an inner cylindrical portion made of an elastic material with axial slits and an outer cylindrical portion, which fits over the electronic pen's housing, securely attaching via elastic contraction force.
The grip is easily attachable and securely locked to the electronic pen, providing comfort and functionality without obstructing the pen's operation.
Smart Images
Figure 2025173541000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a grip for an electronic pen and an electronic pen. [Background technology]
[0002] Conventionally, some writing implements, such as stationery ballpoint pens and mechanical pencils, have been equipped with a grip made of rubber or the like on the part of the writing implement that is gripped to make it easier to hold (see, for example, Patent Document 1 (JP 2012-115772 A)).
[0003] In recent years, electronic pens that can save handwritten input as data (see Patent Document 2 (JP 2018-018149 A), etc.) have come to be used in place of writing instruments that leave handwritten marks on paper. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-115772 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-186803 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0005] As with the writing implements described above, there is a demand for this type of electronic pen to have a grip made of rubber or the like attached to the part where the electronic pen is held. In this case, considering that some users of electronic pens prefer to use them without a grip, it would be convenient if the grip could be attached to the electronic pen later, rather than providing an electronic pen with a grip. It is also important that the grip be easy to attach to the electronic pen and be securely attached and locked to the electronic pen.
[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a grip for an electronic pen that can solve the above problems. [Means for solving the problem]
[0007] To solve the above problems, A grip for an electronic pen that is fitted to cover a side surface of a cylindrical housing of an electronic pen, the electronic pen is configured as a cylindrical body, and the cross-sectional shape of the hollow portion of the cylindrical body corresponds to the outer shape of the cross-section of the housing of the electronic pen; the cylindrical body has a double structure including an inner cylindrical portion having an inner wall portion in contact with a side peripheral surface of a housing of the electronic pen, and an outer cylindrical portion covering the inner cylindrical portion; The inner cylindrical portion has an axial slit and is made of an elastic material. The present invention provides a grip for an electronic pen.
[0008] In the grip for an electronic pen having the above-described configuration, when the grip is placed over the side surface of the cylindrical housing of the electronic pen, the inner cylindrical portion is made of an elastic material and has an axial slit, which makes it easy to attach the grip to the housing of the electronic pen. Once attached, the elastic contraction force of the inner cylindrical portion made of an elastic material firmly locks the grip to the housing of the electronic pen. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0009] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating the appearance of an embodiment of an electronic pen and a grip for the electronic pen according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating an example of the configuration of an embodiment of an electronic pen and a grip for the electronic pen according to the present invention. [Figure 3] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating an example of an embodiment of a grip for an electronic pen according to the present invention. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating another example of an embodiment of the grip for an electronic pen according to the present invention. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating another example of an embodiment of the grip for an electronic pen according to the present invention. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating another example of an embodiment of the grip for an electronic pen according to the present invention. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the appearance and configuration of another example of an electronic pen according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a grip for an electronic pen according to the present invention will be described together with an embodiment of an electronic pen with reference to the drawings.
[0011] Fig. 1 shows an example of an embodiment of an electronic pen 1 according to the present invention and an example of an embodiment of a grip 2 for the electronic pen attached to the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment. Fig. 1(A) is an external perspective view of the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment, Fig. 1(B) is an external perspective view of the grip 2 for the electronic pen (hereinafter simply referred to as the grip) of this embodiment, and Fig. 1(C) is an external perspective view of the electronic pen 1 with the grip 2 attached. Also, Fig. 2(A) is an exploded perspective view of the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment.
[0012] The housing (pen housing) 10 of the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment is configured to be tubular, in this example, cylindrical. In this example, as shown in Figures 1(A) and 2(A), the housing 10 is configured by joining together in the axial direction a cylindrical first housing 11 on the pen tip side (hereinafter referred to as pen tip side housing 11) and a cylindrical second housing 12 on the rear end side opposite the pen tip side (hereinafter referred to as rear end side housing 12).
[0013] The pen tip side housing 11 has a tapered portion 11t that is gradually tapered toward one end in the axial direction, which is the pen tip side, and is configured so that the tip of the core body 13 protrudes to the outside from an opening at the tip of the tapered portion 11t. The end on the rear end side of the rear end side housing 12 is closed, although not shown.
[0014] In this example, the nib side housing 11 and the rear end side housing 12 are joined by a screw-in type joint (screw engagement). For this reason, a joining portion 11a having a diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the rear end side housing 12 is provided on the rear end side of the nib side housing 11, and a threaded portion 11b is formed on this joining portion 11a. Furthermore, a threaded portion 12b that screws into the threaded portion 11b of the joining portion 11a of the nib side housing 11 is provided on the inner wall surface of the nib side opening 12a of the rear end side housing 12.
[0015] In the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2(A), with the refill lead holder 15 stored in the rear end housing 12, the connecting portion 11a on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 11 is inserted into the hollow portion of the rear end side housing 12, and the rear end side housing 12 is screwed into the connecting portion 11a of the pen tip side housing 11, thereby connecting the pen tip side housing 11 and the rear end side housing 12.
[0016] In this case, the outer diameter of the connecting portion 11a on the rear end side of the nib side housing 11 is smaller than the outer diameter of the portion of the nib side housing 11 closer to the nib than the connecting portion 11a, so a step 11c is formed at the base of the connecting portion 11a, as shown in Figures 2(A) and 2(B). Therefore, when the rear end side housing 12 is screwed into the connecting portion 11a of the nib side housing 11, the ring-shaped end surface 12c (see Figure 2(A)) on the nib side of the rear end side housing 12 and the ring-shaped wall surface of the step 11c at the base of the connecting portion 11a come into contact, and the nib side housing 11 and the rear end side housing 12 are firmly connected.
[0017] In the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment, the outer diameters of the pen tip side housing 11 and the rear end side housing 12 are made equal. Therefore, there is no step on the peripheral side of the electronic pen 1, even at the joint between the pen tip side housing 11 and the rear end side housing 12, and the side peripheral surface of the housing 10 is configured to be flush over the entire axial direction.
[0018] 2(A), the refill lead holder 15 has holes (not shown) into which refill leads 13' are inserted so that it can hold two refill leads 13' in this example. The refill lead holder 15 also has a lead removal hole 15a on the tip end surface on the pen tip side for removing the lead 13 from the electronic pen 1. That is, when replacing the lead 13, the tip of the lead 13 protruding from the housing 10 of the electronic pen 1 is pressed into the lead removal hole 15a of the refill lead holder 15, allowing the refill lead holder 15 to hold the lead 13. While holding the lead 13, the refill lead holder 15 is pulled away from the housing 10 of the electronic pen 1 in the axial direction, allowing the lead 13 to be removed from the electronic pen 1.
[0019] Although not shown, an electronic pen main body is housed within the hollow portion of the pen tip side housing 11. When the electronic pen 1 is of an electromagnetic induction type, the electronic pen main body includes a magnetic core, such as a ferrite core, around which a coil is wound and which is disposed near the opening on the pen tip side, a circuit board on which is disposed a capacitor which forms a resonance circuit together with the coil wound around the ferrite core, and a pen pressure detection unit which detects the pressure (pen pressure) applied to the tip of the core 13. When the electronic pen 1 is of an electromagnetic induction type, the pen tip side housing 11 and the rear end side housing 12 are both made of a non-conductive resin material.
[0020] Furthermore, when the electronic pen 1 is of the capacitive coupling type, the electronic pen main body is made up of a conductive core 13, and also includes a circuit board on which is disposed a writing pressure detection unit that detects the pressure (writing pressure) applied to the tip of the core 13, and a signal transmission circuit that generates a signal that is transmitted to the position detection sensor through the core 13. When the electronic pen 1 is of the capacitive coupling type, the pen tip side housing 11 and the rear end side housing 12 may both be made of a conductive material, such as metal, or the pen tip side housing 11 may be made of a conductive metal and the rear end side housing 12 may be made of a non-conductive resin.
[0021] In this embodiment, whether the electronic pen 1 is of the electromagnetic induction type or the capacitive coupling type, the circuit board of the electronic pen main body is provided with a side switch that is turned on and off by an operating unit 14 provided on the side of the housing 10, as shown in Figure 1(A).
[0022] 1(A) and 2(A), an opening (through-hole) 11H for providing an operation unit 14 is formed on the side peripheral surface of the pen tip side housing 11 at a position above a side switch disposed on the circuit board of the electronic pen main body. The operation unit 14 includes an operation plate 14a fitted into this opening 11H, and three push buttons 14b, 14c, and 14d attached to this operation plate 14a to turn on and off the side switch disposed on the circuit board of the electronic pen main body.
[0023] In this embodiment of the electronic pen 1, the three push buttons 14b, 14c, and 14d of the operating unit 14 are exposed from an opening 11H on the side surface of the pen tip side housing 11, but their height is not higher than the side surface of the pen tip side housing 11.
[0024] 1(B) and 1(C), the grip 2 of this embodiment is configured with a cylindrical body 20 having an axial length that is approximately equal to the axial length excluding the tapered portion 11t of the pen tip side housing 11 of the electronic pen 1. In this example, the outer shape of the cylindrical body 20 that constitutes the grip 2 is configured so that the pen tip side in the axial direction is more bulging than other portions and has a tapered shape that is parallel to the tapered portion 11t.
[0025] The cross-sectional shape of the hollow portion of the cylindrical body 20 constituting the grip 2 corresponds to the outer cross-sectional shape of the housing 10 of the electronic pen 1, and in this embodiment, is circular. In this embodiment, the cylindrical body 20 constituting the grip 2 has a double structure, as shown in Figures 1(B) and 2(C), consisting of an inner cylindrical portion 21 having an inner wall portion in contact with the side peripheral surface of the housing 10 of the electronic pen 1, in this example, the pen tip side housing 11, and an outer cylindrical portion 22 covering the inner cylindrical portion 21. Note that Figure 1(B) is a view of the grip 2 as seen obliquely from the front on the pen tip side, and Figure 2(C) is a view of the grip 2 as seen obliquely from the rear on the rear end side.
[0026] 1(B) and 2(C), the grip 2 in this embodiment has an opening (through hole) 2H for enabling operation of the push buttons 14b, 14c, and 14d of the operation unit 14 of the electronic pen 1. This opening 2H is configured by aligning and overlapping an opening (through hole) 21H formed in the inner cylinder portion 21 with an opening (through hole) 22H formed in the outer cylinder portion 22. In this embodiment, the opening 2H of the grip 2, and therefore the openings 21H and 22H, have the same shape and size as the opening 11H of the pen tip side housing 11 of the electronic pen 1.
[0027] FIG. 3 shows an example of the inner tube portion 21 and outer tube portion 22 that make up the grip 2. FIG. 3(A) shows an example of the outer tube portion 22. The outer tube portion 22 has an outer shape that is cylindrical, with the pen tip side in the axial direction bulging more than the other portions, and has the opening 22H described above. The inner diameter of this outer tube portion 22 is equal to or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the inner tube portion 21. In this embodiment, the outer tube portion 22 is made of an elastic material, such as rubber.
[0028] FIG. 3(B) shows an example of the inner tube portion 21. In this embodiment, the inner tube portion 21 is configured as a cylindrical body having the above-described opening 21H and a slit 21s in the axial direction. The inner diameter of the inner tube portion 21 is equal to or approximately equal to the outer diameter of the pen tip side housing 11. The slit 21s is formed over the entire axial length of the inner tube portion 21, and in this example, as shown in FIG. 3(B), it communicates with the opening 21H. That is, in this example, the opening 21H forms a part of the slit 21s. In this embodiment, the inner tube portion 21 is made of an elastic material, in this example, an elastic hard resin.
[0029] In this embodiment, the inner cylindrical portion 21 and the outer cylindrical portion 22 are bonded together with, for example, an adhesive to prevent them from shifting in the axial direction. However, if the frictional resistance between the inner cylindrical portion 21 and the outer cylindrical portion 22 is large and the inner cylindrical portion 21 does not easily come off in the axial direction from the outside of the outer cylindrical portion 22, there is no need to bond and fix them together by adhesive or the like.
[0030] In this embodiment, a protrusion 21p is formed on the rear end of the inner cylindrical portion 21. The protrusion 21p protrudes inward of the inner cylindrical portion 21 in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the inner cylindrical portion 21, in this example, a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. In this case, the protrusion 21p is formed so as to protrude toward the center of the cross section of the hollow portion of the inner cylindrical portion 21.
[0031] This protrusion 21p is formed in a position that has a predetermined angular positional relationship with the opening 21H, in the circumferential direction centered on the axial direction of the inner cylindrical portion 21, in this example, at an angular interval of 180 degrees from the opening 21H. As a result, the protrusion 21p is configured to function as a positioning device so that when the grip 2 is attached to cover the housing 10 of the electronic pen 1, the opening 21H comes onto the operation unit 14 of the side switch of the electronic pen 1, allowing the three push buttons 14b, 14c, and 14d to be operated.
[0032] 2B, a recessed groove 11d is formed in the axial direction from the tip of the rear end side to the position of the step portion 11c at a position that is in a predetermined angular positional relationship with the opening 11H, in this example, at an angular interval of 180 degrees from the opening 11H, on the side peripheral surface of the connecting portion 11a at the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 11 of the electronic pen 1. In this case, the recessed groove 11d is also formed in the threaded portion 11b.
[0033] The protruding height of convex portion 21p at the rear end side end of inner tube portion 21 of grip 2 corresponds to the depth of recessed groove 11d. Note that, at the rear end side end of inner tube portion 21 of grip 2 in this embodiment, ring-shaped protrusion 21r is formed, which protrudes in a ring shape inside inner tube portion 21, and has a thickness equal to the axial thickness of convex portion 21p and is equal to the width of the ring-shaped wall surface of step portion 11c of nib-side housing 11 of electronic pen 1. Therefore, the size (diameter) of the opening on the rear end side of inner tube portion 21 is smaller than the size (diameter) of the opening on the nib side of inner tube portion 21.
[0034] To attach the grip 2 to the electronic pen 1 of this embodiment, first, the housing 10 of the electronic pen 1 is separated into a tip-side housing 11 and a rear-end housing 12. The grip 2 is then placed from the rear-end side of the tip-side housing 11, with the tip side of the grip 2 at the forefront, so as to cover the tip-side housing 11, and is then moved axially toward the tip side so that the grip 2 covers the entire tip-side housing 11 except for the tapered portion 11t. At this time, the position of the convex portion 21p of the grip 2 is aligned with the position of the concave groove 11d of the connecting portion 11a of the tip-side housing 11, and the grip 2 is placed over the tip-side housing 11.
[0035] In this embodiment, the inner tube portion 21 of the grip 2 has slits 21s, and is therefore expandable in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. In addition, the outer tube portion 22 is made of elastic rubber in this embodiment, and is therefore also expandable in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. Therefore, when the grip 2 is placed over the rear end of the nib side housing 11 and moved toward the nib side, it can be moved to cover the vicinity of the nib side of the nib side housing 11, while elastically deforming the inner tube portion 21 and the outer tube portion 22.
[0036] At this time, the grip 2 is in a state in which the convex portion 21p of the inner tube portion 21 is engaged with the concave groove 11d of the connecting portion 11a of the pen tip side housing 11, and the grip 2 is in a state in which its circumferential position centered on the axial direction is restricted relative to the pen tip side housing 11.
[0037] When the ring-shaped protrusion 21r of the inner tube portion 21 of the grip 2 abuts against the ring-shaped wall portion of the step portion 11c of the nib-side housing 11, the grip 2 is locked and cannot move any further in the axial direction relative to the nib-side housing 11. When the grip 2 is locked to the nib-side housing 11, the opening 2H of the grip 2 is positioned directly above the opening 11H of the nib-side housing 11 due to the circumferential position restriction imposed by the engagement of the above-mentioned protrusion 21p with the recessed groove 11d (see FIG. 1(C)). At this time, the protrusion 21p of the inner tube portion 21 of the grip 2 also abuts against the ring-shaped wall portion of the step portion 11c of the nib-side housing 11.
[0038] In this case, when the grip 2 is attached, a recess is created at the opening 2H that is equal to the thickness of the grip 2 (the sum of the thicknesses of the inner tube portion 21 and the outer tube portion 22), and the push buttons 14b, 14c, and 14d of the operating portion 14 of the side switch of the electronic pen 1 are located lower by the thickness of the grip 2, making them difficult to operate.
[0039] Taking this into consideration, the electronic pen 1 of this example is provided with an operation unit 14' of the side switch when the grip 2 is attached, which is configured so that the height of the portions of the push buttons 14b', 14c', and 14d' that are pressed takes into account the thickness of the grip 2. The electronic pen 1 of this example is configured so that this operation unit 14' is interchangeable with the operation unit 14 when the grip 2 is attached. This configuration is publicly known, as described in, for example, patent document WO2023 / 17725, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted here.
[0040] Therefore, in this example of the electronic pen 1, even when the grip 2 is attached, replacing it with the side switch operation unit 14' does not make it difficult to operate the push buttons 14b', 14c', and 14d' of the operation unit 14'.
[0041] After the grip 2 is attached to the pen tip side housing 11 in this way, the refill lead hole 15a of the lead holder 15 is inserted into the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 11, and then the rear end side housing 12 is screwed into the pen tip side housing 11. Then, the grip 2 is placed in a state where the ring-shaped protrusion 21r and the convex portion 11p at the rear end side of the inner tube portion 21 are sandwiched between the step portion 11c of the pen tip side housing 11 and the ring-shaped end surface 12c of the rear end side housing 12.
[0042] Therefore, the grip 2 is attached so as to cover the pen tip side housing 11 of the housing 10 of the electronic pen 1, and is locked so as not to move in the axial direction relative to the housing 10 of the electronic pen 1. In this state, the grip 2 tightens around the housing 10 of the electronic pen 1 due to the elastic contraction force of the inner cylindrical portion 21 having the slits 21s and the elastic force of the outer cylindrical portion 22 made of rubber, so that the grip 2 is firmly attached to the housing 10 of the electronic pen 1.
[0043] As described above, the grip 2 of the above-described embodiment has a double structure of the inner cylindrical portion 21 and the outer cylindrical portion 22, the inner cylindrical portion 21 is made of an elastic material and has axial slits 21s, and the outer cylindrical portion 22 is made of an elastic body, rubber in the above-described example, so that the grip 2 can be easily attached to the housing 10 of the electronic pen 1. Then, when attached, the grip 2 is firmly locked to the housing 10 of the electronic pen 1 by the elastic contraction force of the inner cylindrical portion 21 and the outer cylindrical portion 22, which are made of an elastic material.
[0044] Furthermore, according to the grip 2 of the above-described embodiment, the rear end side of the inner tube portion 21 is provided with a protrusion 21p for circumferential positioning centered on the axial direction, and by aligning this protrusion 21p with the recessed groove 11d of the pen tip side housing 11 of the housing 10 of the electronic pen 1, when the grip 2 is attached to the housing 10 of the electronic pen 1, the opening 11H in which the side switch operating portion 14 of the housing 10 of the electronic pen 1 is located is automatically aligned with the opening 2H of the grip 2.
[0045] Furthermore, in the grip 2 of the above-described embodiment, a ring-shaped protrusion 21r and a convex portion 21p are formed on the rear end side of the inner cylindrical portion 21, and the ring-shaped protrusion 21r and the convex portion 11p of the inner cylindrical portion 21 are configured to be sandwiched between the step portion 11c of the pen tip side housing 11 and the ring-shaped end surface 12c of the rear end side housing 12. Therefore, when the grip 2 is attached to the housing 10 of the electronic pen 1, the grip 2 is securely locked to the housing 10 without being able to move in the axial direction.
[0046] In order to restrict the movement of the grip 2 attached to the housing 10 of the electronic pen 1 in the axial direction, it is sufficient to have only the convex portion 21p, and the ring-shaped protrusion 21r does not have to be provided.
[0047] In the above embodiment, the slit 21s of the inner cylindrical portion 21 is configured to communicate with the opening 21H corresponding to the operation portion 14 of the side switch, but the present invention is not limited to this example.
[0048] FIG. 4A shows an inner cylindrical portion 21A in a grip 2A (not shown) of another example. In the grip 2A of this example, the outer cylindrical portion 22A (not shown) is configured similarly to the outer cylindrical portion 22 of the grip 2 described above and includes an opening 22AH (not shown). As shown in FIG. 4A, the inner cylindrical portion 21A of this example is provided with an opening 21AH that, together with the opening 22HA of the outer cylindrical portion 22A, forms the opening 2AH (not shown) of the grip 2A. An axial slit 21As is provided at a position on the side circumferential surface that does not communicate with the opening 21AH. Similarly to the inner cylindrical portion 21 of the above-described embodiment, the inner cylindrical portion 21A of this example also has a ring-shaped protrusion 21Ar and a convex portion 21Ap at the rear end of the inner cylindrical portion 21A.
[0049] FIG. 4B shows an inner cylindrical portion 21B in a grip 2B (not shown) of yet another example. In the grip 2B of this example, the outer cylindrical portion 22B (not shown) is configured similarly to the outer cylindrical portion 22 of the grip 2 described above and includes an opening 22BH (not shown). The inner cylindrical portion 21B of this example does not have an opening that, together with the opening 22BH of the outer cylindrical portion 22B, constitutes the opening 2BH (not shown) of the grip 2B. Instead, as shown in FIG. 4B, a slit 21Bs is provided in which the width w of the slit (the length of the slit in the circumferential direction about the axial direction) is equal to or greater than the width of the opening 22BH of the outer cylindrical portion 22B (the length of the opening 22BH in the circumferential direction about the axial direction).
[0050] In the example of Figure 4(B), there is no need to form an opening in the inner cylindrical portion 21B that has the same shape and size as the opening 22BH in the outer cylindrical portion 22B, or a slit communicating with it, as shown in Figure 3(B), which has the advantage of making it easier to process the inner cylindrical portion 21B.
[0051] As shown in Figure 4(B), the inner tube portion 21B of this example also has, at its rear end, a ring-shaped protrusion 21Br for regulating the axial position of the grip 2B when attached to the housing 10 of the electronic pen 1, and a convex portion 21Bp for aligning the operating portion 14 of the side switch with the opening 2BH, similar to the inner tube portion 21 of the above-mentioned example.
[0052] [Other embodiments] 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating another embodiment of a grip 2C for the electronic pen 1. As shown in Fig. 5A, the outer tube portion 22C of the grip 2C of this embodiment has the same shape as the outer tube portion 22 of the above-described example, and is configured to have an opening 22CH. However, the outer tube portion 22C of this embodiment is made of a non-elastic material, in this example, wood.
[0053] In the grip 2C of this embodiment, the inner tube portion 21C is divided in two in the axial direction, as shown in Fig. 5(B), and is configured to consist of a first inner tube portion 21C1 on the pen tip side and a second inner tube portion 21C2 on the rear end side. As shown in Fig. 5(B), the first inner tube portion 21C1 and the second inner tube portion 21C2 have slits 21C1s and 21C2s formed over their entire axial lengths.
[0054] In this case, the axial length of the first inner tube portion 21C1 is equal to or less than the length from the tip-side end of the opening 22CH of the outer tube portion 22C to the tip-side end of the outer tube portion 22C. Also, the axial length of the second inner tube portion 21C2 is equal to or less than the length from the rear end of the outer tube portion 22C to the rear end of the opening 22CH.
[0055] The rear end of the second inner cylindrical portion 21C2 is formed with a ring-shaped protrusion 21Cr for regulating the axial position of the grip 2C and a convex portion 21Cp for aligning the operating portion 14 of the side switch with the opening 22CH of the outer cylindrical portion 22C, similar to the inner cylindrical portion 21 of the above-mentioned embodiment.
[0056] The first inner cylindrical portion 21C1 and the second inner cylindrical portion 21C2 constituting the inner cylindrical portion 21C of the grip 2C in this embodiment are made of an elastic material, in particular a material that can be elastically deformed in the thickness direction and the circumferential direction, such as elastic rubber.
[0057] In this embodiment, first inner tube portion 21C1 is inserted and fixed between the tip end on the nib side of outer tube portion 22C and the tip end on the nib side of opening 22CH. The fixing method is such that the entire outer peripheral side surface of first inner tube portion 21C1 is not fixed to the inner wall surface on the nib side of outer tube portion 22C, but rather is fixed partially to the nib side of outer tube portion 22C so that first inner tube portion 21C1 can expand and contract in the circumferential direction centered on the axial direction.
[0058] The second inner cylindrical portion 21C2 is inserted between the rear end of the outer cylindrical portion 22C and the rear end of the opening 22CH and fixed thereto. As with the first inner cylindrical portion 21C1, the second inner cylindrical portion 21C2 is fixed to the outer cylindrical portion 22C partially rearward of the opening 22CH so that the second inner cylindrical portion 21C2 can expand and contract in the circumferential direction around the axial direction.
[0059] Therefore, in the grip 2C of this embodiment, the inner cylindrical portion 21C is not located in the portion where the opening 22CH of the outer cylindrical portion 22C is formed. That is, the inner cylindrical portion 21C does not need to have the openings 21H, 21AH, and 21BH like the inner cylindrical portions 21, 21A, and 21B of the above-described embodiments, and there is no need to align the openings between the outer cylindrical portion 22C and the inner cylindrical portion 21C.
[0060] In this case, however, the second inner cylinder portion 21C2 is inserted into and fixed to the outer cylinder portion 22C in a state in which the circumferential position of the convex portion 21Cp has a predetermined positional relationship with the opening 22CH of the outer cylinder portion 22C. As a result, when the grip 2C is attached so as to cover the rear end side of the nib-side housing 11 of the electronic pen 1, the convex portion 21Cp engages with the concave groove 11d of the coupling portion 11a of the nib-side housing 11, and the opening 22CH of the outer cylinder portion 22C of the grip 2C is automatically aligned to a position above the operating portion 14 of the side switch of the electronic pen 1.
[0061] Note that such alignment is not necessary when inserting and fixing the first inner cylindrical portion 21C1 into the outer cylindrical portion 22C. Furthermore, the slits 21C1s of the first inner cylindrical portion 21C1 and the slits 21C2 of the second inner cylindrical portion 21C2 do not need to be aligned in a straight line in the axial direction, and the positional relationship between the two slits in the circumferential direction around the axial direction may be arbitrary.
[0062] When the grip 2C of this embodiment is attached to the electronic pen 1, the first inner cylinder portion 21C1 and the second inner cylinder portion 21C2 are elastically displaced in the thickness direction and the circumferential direction, so that the grip 2C moves from the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 11 to the pen tip side and covers the pen tip side housing 11. After attachment, the grip 2C is firmly locked to the pen tip side housing 11 by the restoring force of the elastic displacement of the first inner cylinder portion 21C1 and the second inner cylinder portion 21C2.
[0063] In this embodiment, the inner tube portion 21C is configured to include a first inner tube portion 21C1 on the pen tip side of the opening 22CH of the outer tube portion 22C, and a second inner tube portion 21C2 on the rear end side, but it may also be configured to include only the second inner tube portion 21C2 on the rear end side.
[0064] [Yet another embodiment] In the above-described embodiment, the electronic pen 1 has a configuration including the side switch operation unit 14, and therefore the grips 2, 2C are configured to have an opening for exposing the side switch operation unit 14 to the outside. However, there are also electronic pens that do not have the side switch operation unit 14.
[0065] An example of such a grip 2D for an electronic pen is shown in Figure 6. Figure 6(A) shows an example of an outer tube portion 22D of the grip 2D of this example, and Figure 6(B) shows an inner tube portion 21D of the grip 2D of this example. As with the grips 2 and 2A shown in Figures 3 and 4, the outer tube portion 22D is made of rubber, and the inner tube portion 21D is made of hard resin.
[0066] As shown in FIG. 6(A), the outer cylindrical portion 22D of this example is configured similarly to the outer cylindrical portion 22 of the above-described embodiment, except that it does not have an opening for the side switch operation portion. Also, as shown in FIG. 6(B), the inner cylindrical portion 21D of this example is configured with a slit 21Ds extending along its entire axial length and does not have an opening for the side switch operation portion. Furthermore, since the inner cylindrical portion 21D of this example does not require alignment of the opening for the side switch operation portion, it does not have the protrusions 21p, 21Ap of the inner cylindrical portions 21, 21A of the grips 2, 2A of the above-described embodiment. However, the inner cylindrical portion 21D of this example is provided with a ring-shaped protrusion 21Dr for axial positioning.
[0067] In the case of an electronic pen that does not have a side switch operating part as in this example, there is no need to provide a recessed groove 11d in the connecting part 11a of the pen tip side housing 11 of the electronic pen 1 that has the above-mentioned side switch operating part 14.
[0068] In the example of FIG. 6, the grip 2D for an electronic pen without a side switch operating section has an outer tube portion 22D made of rubber and an inner tube portion 21D made of hard resin, similar to the grips 2 and 2A shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. However, the outer tube portion 22D of the grip 2D may be made of wood, similar to the outer tube portion 22C described using FIG. 5(A), and the inner tube portion 21D may be made of elastic rubber, similar to the inner tube portion 21C described using FIG. 5(B). Furthermore, the inner tube portion 21D may be configured as two separate parts, a first inner tube portion 21C1 and a second inner tube portion 21C2, as shown in FIG. 5(B), rather than as a single member as shown in FIG. 6(B).
[0069] 6, a ring-shaped protrusion 21Dr is provided at the rear end of the inner cylindrical portion 21D to regulate the axial position of the grip 2D attached to the electronic pen. However, instead of providing the ring-shaped protrusion 21Dr, protrusions similar to the protrusions 21p, 21Ap, 21Bp, 21Cp, etc. may be provided. In that case, the protrusions have the same protrusion height as the ring-shaped protrusion 21Dr. Furthermore, instead of providing one such protrusion, a plurality of such protrusions may be provided at predetermined angular intervals.
[0070] [Other embodiments or modifications] In the electronic pen 1 of the above-described embodiment, the convex portions 21p, 21Ap, 21Bp, 21Cp and ring-shaped protrusions 21r, 21Ar, 21Br, 21Cr of the grips 2, 2A, 2B, 2C are clamped between the ring-shaped end surface of the step portion 11c of the pen tip side housing 11 and the ring-shaped end surface 12c of the rear end side housing 12, thereby restricting the axial position of the grips 2, 2A, 2B, 2C after they are attached to the electronic pen 1. Therefore, the axial length of the electronic pen 1 when the grips 2, 2A, 2B, 2C are attached and when they are not attached differs by the thickness of the convex portions 21p, 21Ap, 21Bp, 21Cp and ring-shaped protrusions 21r, 21Ar, 21Br, 21Cr.
[0071] 7(A) and 7(B), when the grips 2, 2A, 2B, and 2C are not attached, the electronic pen 1 may be configured so that a decorative ring 16 having a width equal to the thickness of the convex portions 21p, 21Ap, 21Bp, and 21Cp and the ring-shaped protrusions 21r, 21Ar, 21Br, and 21Cr is sandwiched between the ring-shaped end surface of the step portion 11c of the pen tip side housing 11 and the ring-shaped end surface 12c of the rear end side housing 12. This decorative ring 16 is detached from the electronic pen 1 when the grips 2 and 2C are attached.
[0072] The example of FIG. 7 is also applicable to an electronic pen that does not have the operation unit 14 of the side switch to which the grip 2D shown in FIG. 6 is attached.
[0073] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the electronic pen 1 is connected between the pen tip side housing 11 and the rear end side housing 12 by screwing (thread engagement), but it goes without saying that the connection method is not limited to this example. For example, instead of providing the threaded portion 11b on the connecting portion 11a on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 11, a ring-shaped protrusion or recessed groove may be provided, and a ring-shaped recessed groove or protrusion that engages with the ring-shaped protrusion or recessed groove of the connecting portion 11a may be provided on the inner wall surface of the rear end side housing 12. In this case, by pushing the rear end housing 12 into the connecting portion 11a on the rear end side of the pen tip side housing 11, the ring-shaped recessed groove or protrusion on the inner wall surface of the rear end side housing 12 engages with the ring-shaped protrusion or recessed groove of the connecting portion 11a, thereby connecting the pen tip side housing 11 and the rear end side housing 12 and clamping the convex portions 21p, 21Ap, 21Bp, 21Cp and the ring-shaped protrusions 21r, 21Ar, 21Br, 21Cr of the grips 2, 2A, 2B, 2C. In this case, the electronic pen is also provided with a decorative ring 16 as shown in FIG. [Explanation of symbols]
[0074] 1...electronic pen, 2, 2C, 2D...grip, 2H...opening, 10...pen housing, 11...pen tip side housing, 11a...connecting portion, 11b...screw portion, 11c...step portion, 11d...groove, 12...rear end side housing, 12b...screw portion, 12c...ring-shaped end surface, 13...core body, 14...side switch operation portion, 16...decorative ring, 21, 21A, 21B, 21C, 21D...inner tube portion, 22, 22C, 22D...outer tube portion, 21H, 21AH, 21BH, 21CH...opening, 22H, 22AH, 22CH...opening, 21p, 21Ap, 21Bp, 21Cp...convex portion, 21r, 21Ar, 21Br, 21Cr...ring-shaped protrusion, 21s, 21As, 21Bs, 21Cs...slit
Claims
1. A grip for an electronic pen that is fitted to cover a side surface of a cylindrical housing of an electronic pen, the electronic pen is configured as a cylindrical body, and the cross-sectional shape of the hollow portion of the cylindrical body corresponds to the outer shape of the cross-section of the housing of the electronic pen; the cylindrical body has a double structure including an inner cylindrical portion having an inner wall portion in contact with a side peripheral surface of a housing of the electronic pen, and an outer cylindrical portion covering the inner cylindrical portion; The inner cylindrical portion has an axial slit and is made of an elastic material. A grip for an electronic pen.
2. The outer cylindrical portion is made of an elastic material, and the inner cylindrical portion is made of an elastic resin.
2. The grip for an electronic pen according to claim 1.
3. The outer cylinder is made of wood.
2. The grip for an electronic pen according to claim 1.
4. the electronic pen includes a side switch operating portion on a side peripheral surface of the cylindrical housing, The outer cylindrical portion and the inner cylindrical portion have openings that expose the operation portion of the side switch to the outside.
2. The grip for an electronic pen according to claim 1.
5. the inner cylindrical portion includes a protrusion that protrudes inward of the inner cylindrical portion in a direction intersecting the axial direction, The protrusion is configured to play a role in positioning so that the opening is positioned above the operating portion of the side switch when the electronic pen is attached to the housing.
5. The grip for an electronic pen according to claim 4.
6. The slit of the inner cylindrical portion communicates with the opening of the inner cylindrical portion.
5. The grip for an electronic pen according to claim 4.
7. The slits of the inner cylindrical portion are formed over the entire length of the inner cylindrical portion in the axial direction.
2. The grip for an electronic pen according to claim 1.
8. the inner cylindrical portion includes a protrusion that protrudes inward in a direction intersecting the axial direction at an end portion on the rear end side of the inner cylindrical portion, The protrusion is configured to serve as a positioning element for the electronic pen in the axial direction relative to the housing when the protrusion is attached to the housing of the electronic pen.
2. The grip for an electronic pen according to claim 1.
9. The axial length of the outer cylindrical portion is longer than the axial length of the inner cylindrical portion, and the outer cylindrical portion is configured to cover the entire inner cylindrical portion.
2. The grip for an electronic pen according to claim 1.
10. An electronic pen having a pen housing in which a first housing part including a pen tip side and a second housing part constituting a rear end side opposite to the pen tip side are detachably coupled in an axial direction, and having a grip detachably attached to the first housing part of the pen housing, The grip is the pen housing is configured as a cylindrical body, and the cross-sectional shape of the hollow portion of the cylindrical body corresponds to the outer shape of the cross-section of the first housing portion of the pen housing; The cylindrical body has a double structure including an inner cylindrical portion having an inner wall portion that contacts the side peripheral surface of the first housing portion of the pen housing, and an outer cylindrical portion that covers the inner cylindrical portion, and the inner cylindrical portion has a slit in the axial direction and is made of elastic resin. An electronic pen characterized by:
11. The inner cylindrical portion of the grip has a protrusion at an end portion on a rear end side in an axial direction, the protrusion protruding inward of the inner cylindrical portion in a direction intersecting the axial direction, When the first housing and the second housing are joined together with the grip attached to the first housing, the protrusion is sandwiched between a rear end portion of the first housing and an end portion of the second housing on the pen tip side, thereby positioning the axial direction of the grip relative to the pen housing.
11. The electronic pen according to claim 10.
12. the electronic pen includes a side switch operating portion on a side peripheral surface of the cylindrical housing, The outer cylindrical portion and the inner cylindrical portion of the grip have openings that expose the operating portion of the side switch to the outside.
11. The electronic pen according to claim 10.
13. The inner cylindrical portion of the grip has a protrusion at an end portion on the rear end side in the axial direction, the protrusion protruding inwardly of the inner cylindrical portion in a direction intersecting the axial direction at a position that has a specific positional relationship with the opening in a circumferential direction centered on the axial direction, the first housing portion includes a coupling insertion portion that is inserted into the second housing portion when the first housing portion is coupled to the second housing portion in the axial direction, a recessed groove corresponding to the protrusion is formed in the coupling insertion portion at a position that is the same as the specific positional relationship in a circumferential direction centered on the axial direction with respect to the operation portion of the side switch, When the grip is attached to the first housing, the convex portion engages with the concave groove, thereby aligning the opening so that it is positioned above the operating portion of the side switch.
13. The electronic pen according to claim 12.
14. The first housing portion and the second housing portion are joined by screwing.
14. The electronic pen according to claim 13.
15. The outer cylindrical portion of the grip is made of an elastic material, and the inner cylindrical portion is made of a hard resin.
11. The electronic pen according to claim 10.
16. The outer cylindrical portion of the grip is made of wood.
11. The electronic pen according to claim 10.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
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