Palm Pen

Abstract

Disclosed is a writing pen, referred to herein as a palm pen because the body of the pen fits in the palm of a human hand. The palm pen may include a bulbous body and an ink delivery system. The ink delivery system may include a tip portion having an end coupled to the body and an opposite end including a nib, an ink conduit having an end coupled to the nib in the tip portion and an opposite end extending into the body, and a first ink cartridge fluidly coupled to the opposite end of the ink conduit and housed within the body. The ink delivery system may further include a cartridge holder having an active cartridge slot for the first ink cartridge and a cartridge storage slot for housing an additional ink cartridge.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is an international patent application, which claims priority to U.S. Nonprovisional Patent Application No. 17 / 648,533, filed January 20, 2022, entitled "PALM PEN." [Technical field]

[0002] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates generally to writing instruments, and more particularly to pens. [Background technology]

[0003] Pens are used ubiquitously as writing implements by holding the pen between the fingers of the hand. Pens are usually cylindrical, and ink is transferred from the nib to a substrate (e.g., a piece of paper) by using the hand to contact the nib of the pen with the substrate. Slight pressure by the hand is typically applied to transfer the ink from the nib to the substrate. Prolonged use of a pen can cause discomfort or injury, such as writer's cramp, inflammation of the tendons in the hand and wrist, inflammation of the ligaments in the hand and wrist, and aggravation of pre-existing conditions such as arthritis of the hand.

[0004] An ergonomically designed pen addresses issues related to discomfort and injury caused by prolonged pen use. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Disclosed herein is a writing pen, referred to herein as a palm pen, because the body of the pen fits in the palm of a human hand. The palm pen includes a bulbous body and an ink delivery system. The ink delivery system may include a tip portion having an end coupled to the body and an opposite end consisting of a nib, an ink conduit having an end coupled to the nib in the tip portion and an opposite end extending into the body, and a first ink cartridge fluidly coupled to the opposite end of the ink conduit and housed within the body. The ink delivery system may further include a cartridge holder having an active cartridge slot for the first ink cartridge and a cartridge storage slot for housing an additional ink cartridge. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] Other technical features will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions and claims.

[0007] For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 shows a perspective view of the disclosed palm pen. [Diagram 2] A side view of the spherical body and tip of a palm pen is shown. [Diagram 3] 1 shows a perspective view of a cap of a palm pen. [Figure 4] 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of an ink delivery system for a palm pen. [Diagram 5] 13 shows a side view of another embodiment of the palm pen ink delivery system. FIG. [Figure 6] 1 illustrates a side perspective view of an embodiment of an ink cartridge. [Figure 7] 13 shows a side perspective view of another embodiment of the ink cartridge. [Figure 8A] 7 shows a side view of the ink supply system of FIG. 5 further including the ink cartridge of FIG. 6. [Figure 8B] 8B shows a cross-sectional view of the ink supply system of FIG. 8A taken along line 8-8. [Figure 9] FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the cartridge holder. [Figure 11] A bottom view of the cartridge holder is shown. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 shows a cutaway side view of a palm pen with the ink supply system housed within the hollow interior of the spherical body and no ink cartridge. [Figure 13]1 shows a cutaway side view of a palm pen with an ink supply system housed within the hollow interior of the spherical body and an ink cartridge placed in a cartridge holder. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] The present disclosure is a writing pen, referred to herein as a palm pen, because the body of the pen is shaped to fit in the palm of a human hand, rather than between the fingers as in a conventional pen. The palm pen includes a spherical body and an ink supply system. The ink supply system can include a tip portion having an end coupled to the body and an opposite end including a nib, an ink conduit having an end coupled to the nib within the tip portion and an opposite end extending into the body, and a first ink cartridge fluidly coupled to the opposite end of the ink conduit and housed within the body. The ink supply system can further include a cartridge holder having an active cartridge slot for the first ink cartridge and a cartridge storage slot for housing an additional ink cartridge. The spherical body can have at least two sections, one section removably attached to the other section for quick access to the ink supply system. The ink cartridge in the active cartridge slot (engaged with the ink supply system to supply ink to the pen tip) can be swapped or replaced with one of the ink cartridges stored in the cartridge receiving slots of the cartridge holder to replenish the supply of ink to the ink supply system or to change the color of the ink. The embodiments also contemplate that each ink cartridge can have multiple compartments, thereby allowing a single ink cartridge to be disengaged and reengaged to change the color of the ink or to provide a greater color choice among all ink cartridges having multiple ink compartments. The palm pen disclosed herein thus has the ability to hold multiple ink cartridges, greatly increasing the selection of ink colors, and providing an ergonomic alternative to traditional pens with less strain on the hand, easily allowing for extended periods of writing and / or the use of different ink colors.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disclosed palm pen 100. The palm pen 100 includes a spherical body 101 and, optionally, a cap 102. In an embodiment, the cap 102 can have a spherical shape. The diameter of the spherically shaped body 101 is larger than the diameter of the spherically shaped cap 102 of FIG. 1, but it is contemplated that the diameter of the spherically shaped body 101 can be equal to or smaller than the diameter of the spherically shaped cap 102. In an embodiment, the diameter of the spherically shaped body 101 can be about 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, or 10 inches. In an embodiment, the diameter of the cap 102 can be about 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, or 3 inches. The spherical body 101 and the cap 102 can be made of any material, such as a plastic (eg, a polymer or copolymer of ethylene or propylene or a combination thereof) or a metal (eg, aluminum, titanium, or both).

[0011] The spherical body 101 is an ergonomic design of the palm pen 100 that can reduce pressure and stress on the joints and muscles of the hand and wrist. The spherical shape distributes the stress from the fingers to the palm, thus reducing pressure and stress.

[0012] The spherical body 101 has a hollow interior, for example, the spherical body 101 is a spherical shell. In an embodiment, the spherically shaped body 101 (e.g., shell) can be formed of two hollow hemispheres that can be connected together and separated, for example, to access an ink supply system (embodiments described in more detail below) located in the hollow interior of the spherically shaped body 101.

[0013] In embodiments, the spherical body 101, the cap 102, or both, can be coated with a layer of elastomeric material. A user can squeeze the elastomeric material and further use the spherical body 101, the cap 102, or both, as a stress ball. Additionally, the palm pen 100 can function simultaneously as a writing instrument and a stress ball in these embodiments.

[0014] In some embodiments of the palm pen 100, a fidget device, such as a fidget spinner, can be connected to the palm pen 100 for use for anxiety relief.

[0015] 2 shows a side view of the spherical body 101 and tip 104 of the palm pen 100. The tip 104 has an end 105 connected to the body 101 and an opposite end 106 that defines a nib 107. The tip 104 may have a threaded section 108 proximate the end 105 of the tip 104. The tip 104 generally tapers from the end 105 to the opposite end 106. A spacer 109 can be seen that holds the nib 107 within the opposite end 106 of the tip 104.

[0016] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the cap 102 of the palm pen. In an embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, the cap 102 is a spherical cap. The cap 102 can have a hole 110 formed therein configured to receive the tip 104 of the ink delivery system 103. In an embodiment, the hole 110 can have a threaded surface 111, and the threaded surface 111 of the cap 102 can be disposed over the threaded portion 108 of the tip 104 to releasably attach and connect the cap 102 to the tip 104 of the palm pen 100. Alternate embodiments contemplate that the cap 102 and tip 104 can be releasably attached by other techniques known in the art with the aid of this disclosure, such as snap-fit ​​or friction-fit techniques.

[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of an ink delivery system 103 of a palm pen 100. The ink delivery system 103 of FIG. 4 has a tip portion 104 having an end 105 that defines a nib 107 and an opposite end 106. A threaded portion 108 of the tip portion 104 is proximate the end 105, and a second threaded portion 112 of the tip portion 104 is on the end 105. The second threaded portion 112 releasably attaches the tip portion 104 of the ink delivery system 103 to the spherically shaped body 101 of the palm pen 100. The ink delivery system 103 of FIG. 4 also includes an ink conduit 113 having an end 114 coupled to the nib 107 in the tip portion 104 and an opposite end 115 configured to extend into the spherically shaped body 101 of the palm pen 100. 4, the ink conduit 113 is an ink cartridge, in that it contains ink and is part of an ink supply system 103 that is coupled to the nib 107. Ink contained within the ink conduit 113 (which in this embodiment is also an ink cartridge) flows out an end 114 of the ink conduit 113 and into the nib 107, and the ink then flows out of the nib 107 onto an end 106 opposite the tip 104 for deposition on a substrate, such as a piece of paper.

[0018] FIG. 5 shows a side view of another embodiment of an ink delivery system 203 of a palm pen 100. The ink delivery system 203 of FIG. 5 has a tip portion 104 having an end 105 forming a nib 107 and an opposite end 106. A threaded portion 108 of the tip portion 104 is proximate the end 105 and a second threaded portion 112 of the tip portion 104 is on the end 105. The second threaded portion 112 releasably attaches the tip portion 104 of the ink delivery system 203 to the spherically shaped body 101 of the palm pen 100. The ink delivery system 203 of FIG. 5 also includes an ink conduit 213 having an end 214 coupled to the nib 107 in the tip portion 104 and an opposite end 215 configured to extend into the interior of the spherically shaped body 101 of the palm pen 100. The ink supply system 203 of Figure 5 also includes an ink cartridge (shown in Figures 8A and 8B) fluidly coupled to the opposing end 215 of the ink conduit 213 and housed within the spherical body 101. An embodiment of the ink cartridge is shown in Figures 6 and 7 and described in more detail herein.

[0019] In an embodiment, the ink conduit 213 in the ink supply system 203 may have one or more protrusions 216 extending radially outward from the ink conduit 213. The protrusions 216 may be located proximate an opposite end 215 of the ink conduit 213. The protrusions 216 are configured to engage with corresponding recesses in the ink cartridge to i) form a snap-fit ​​connection between the ink supply system 203 and the ink cartridge, and ii) provide a sealing boundary between the ink supply system 203 and the ink cartridge that prevents ink from passing through a sealing boundary formed between the protrusions 216 and the recesses. The recesses on the ink cartridge are described in more detail with respect to FIG. 8B.

[0020] In an embodiment, the ink supply system 203 includes an ink supply 217 attached to the opposite end 215 of the ink conduit 213. The protrusion 216 described above can be located proximate to the ink supply 217. The ink supply 217 can have any shape for supplying ink from the interior of the ink cartridge to the opposite end 215 of the ink conduit 213. In FIG. 5, the ink supply 217 has a top 218, a middle section 219, and a bottom 220. The top 218 and bottom 220 have a diameter greater than the diameter of the middle section 219. The top 218 can be angled or tapered from the top 221 of the ink supply 217 toward the middle section 219. The top 218 is configured to be inserted into the valve and base sections (described in more detail herein) of the disclosed ink cartridge embodiments. The middle section 219 can have a hole 222 formed therein through which ink from the interior of the ink cartridge passes into the interior of the ink supply 217. Ink can enter the hole 222 in the middle section 219, through the bottom section 220, and into the opposite end 215 of the ink conduit 213. The hole 222 can have any shape, and in FIG. 5 , the hole 222 has an oval shape. In an embodiment, the hole 222 can be sized such that a portion of the hole 222 extends into the top 218 of the ink supply 217, into the bottom 220 of the ink supply 217, or into both the top 218 and the bottom 220 of the ink supply 217.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of an ink cartridge 600. The ink cartridge 600 has a disk shape, although cartridges of other shapes, such as oval, triangular, square, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, or irregular shapes, can be used within the scope of the present disclosure. The ink cartridge 600 has walls 601, 602, and 603 that form an ink compartment that holds ink. In FIG. 6, the walls are a top 601 (e.g., a circular wall), a bottom 602 (e.g., a circular wall), and a side wall 603 (e.g., a cylindrical wall) that form a disk shape. The ink cartridge 600 also has a base portion 604 that is connected to and inside the walls 601, 602, and 603. The ink cartridge 600 also has a valve 605 disposed in the base portion 604. The valve 605 is configured to move from a closed position to an open position when the opposite end 215 of the ink conduit 213 is coupled to the ink cartridge 600. Ink cartridge 600 has a single ink reservoir. In an embodiment, valve 605 is a self-closing valve configured to open when coupled to opposite end 215 of ink conduit 213 and close when not coupled to opposite end 215 of ink conduit 213. In an embodiment, ink cartridge 600 is refillable through valve 605.

[0022] FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of another embodiment of an ink cartridge 700. The ink cartridge 700 has a disk shape, although cartridges of other shapes can be used within the scope of this disclosure, such as oval, triangular, square, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, or irregular shapes. The ink cartridge 700 has walls 701, 702, 703, 704, 705 that form multiple ink compartments that hold ink. In the ink cartridge 700 of FIG. 7, the walls 701, 702, 703, 704, 705 form four ink compartments 706a, 706b, 706c, 706d. In Fig. 7, the walls are a top 701 (e.g., a circular wall), a bottom 702 (e.g., a circular wall), and a side wall 703 (e.g., a cylindrical wall) that form a disk shape with an internal partition wall 704 and an internal partition wall 705 that divide the interior of the ink cartridge 700 into four ink compartments 706a, 706b, 706c, and 706d. The ink cartridge 700 also has a base portion (e.g., base portions 708a and 708b) of each ink compartment 706a, 706b, 706c, and 706d. Each ink compartment 706a, 706b, 706c, and 706d has a valve (e.g., valves 707a and 707b are visible in Fig. 7) disposed in the base portion (e.g., base portions 708a and 708b) of the ink cartridge 700. Each base portion (e.g., base portions 708a and 708b) is connected to and disposed within walls 701, 702, and 703. Each of ink compartments 706a, 706b, 706c, and 706d contains ink that is isolated from ink contained in any of the other ink compartments 706a, 706b, 706c, and 706d by partition walls 704 and 705. In an embodiment, the valve of each ink compartment 706a, 706b, 706c, and 706d is a self-closing valve configured to open when coupled to the opposite end 215 of the ink conduit 213 and close when not coupled to the opposite end 215 of the ink conduit 213. In an embodiment, the ink cartridge 700 is refillable via the valve of any of the ink compartments 706a, 706b, 706c, and 706d (e.g., valves 705a and 705b).In an embodiment, each of the ink compartments 706a, 706b, 706c, and 706d can have a color of ink contained therein that is different from the color of ink contained in the other ink compartments 706a, 706b, 706c, and 706d.

[0023] FIG. 8A shows a side view of the ink supply system 203 of FIG. 5 further including the ink cartridge 600 of FIG. 6. FIG. 8B shows a cross-sectional view of the ink supply system 203 of FIG. 8A taken along line 8-8. The interior 607 of the ink cartridge 600 can be seen as defined by the walls 601, 602, and 603 and the base portion 604 of the ink cartridge 600. The ink supply 217 can be seen as attached to the opposite end 215 of the ink conduit 213, and the ink supply 217 can be seen as inserted through the valve 605 and the base portion 604 of the ink cartridge 600. The ink supply 217 can also be seen as extending into the interior 607 of the ink cartridge 600 when the ink cartridge 600 is fluidly coupled to the opposite end 215 of the ink conduit 213. The protrusions 216 of the ink delivery system 203 mate with corresponding recesses 606 formed in the base portion 604 of the ink cartridge 600 to form a snap-fit ​​connection and ink seal between the ink cartridge 600 and the ink delivery system 203 .

[0024] In Figure 8B, parts 801 and 802 show the parts of the combined ink supply system 203 and ink cartridge 600 housed together with the spherical body 101 of the palm pen 100 (see Figure 1). Part 803 is the part of the combined ink supply system 203 and ink cartridge 600 that is outside the spherically shaped body 101 of the palm pen 100.

[0025] In FIG. 8B, the valve 605 (eg, a self-closing valve) of the ink cartridge 600 is in an open position while the ink supply 217 extends into the interior 607 of the ink cartridge 600 .

[0026] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a cartridge holder 900. The embodiments and aspects of the present disclosure contemplate that the ink supply system 203 further includes a cartridge holder 900. The cartridge holder 900 may be accommodated within the spherical body 101 of the palm pen 100. The cartridge holder 900 may include a cartridge storage slot 901 and an active cartridge slot 902. The active cartridge slot 902 is configured to hold a first ink cartridge (e.g., ink cartridge 600 or 700) of the ink supply system 203 such that the ink cartridge (e.g., ink cartridge 600 or 700) is fluidly coupled with the opposite end 215 of the ink conduit 213 via the cartridge holder 900. One of the cartridge storage slots 901 is configured to store a second ink cartridge (e.g., another of the ink cartridges 600 or 700). The other cartridge slot 901 may be configured to hold an additional ink cartridge (e.g., another ink cartridge 600 or 700) for storage. During storage, the valves of the ink cartridge in the cartridge receiving slot 901 are in a closed position. When in the active cartridge slot 902, the valves of the ink cartridge are in an open position. In embodiments where the ink cartridge 700 is in the active cartridge slot 902 and the valve 705a is coupled to the ink conduit 213, the valves of the uncoupled ink compartments 706b, 706c, 706d are in a closed position.

[0027] In an embodiment, the first set 903 of cartridge storage slots 901 is located on a side 904 of the active cartridge slot 902, and the second set 905 of cartridge storage slots 901 is located on a second side 906 (e.g., opposite side) of the active cartridge slot 902. At least one of the cartridge storage slots 901 is between the active cartridge slot 902 and others of the cartridge storage slots 901 of the corresponding set. For example, one of the cartridge storage slots 901 of the first set 903 can be between the active cartridge slot 902 and others of the plurality of cartridge storage slots 901 of the first set 903. Similarly, one of the cartridge storage slots 901 of the second set 905 can be between the active cartridge slot 902 and others of the cartridge storage slots 901 of the second set 905.

[0028] The cartridge holder 900 can have a front surface 907, a back surface 908, a side surface 909, and an opposing side surface 910. In an embodiment, a height H1 of the front surface 907 is less than a height H2 of the back surface 908 such that a top 911 of the cartridge holder 900 is angled downward from the back surface 908 toward the front surface 907.

[0029] 9, a cartridge holder 900 has a slot portion 912 and a base portion 913 below the slot portion 912. The slot portion 912 includes a cartridge storage slot 901 and an active storage slot 902.

[0030] 10 shows a top view of the cartridge holder 900. An ink supply passage 1001 is seen opening into the bottom 914 of the active cartridge slot 902. The ink supply passage 1001 is configured to allow the ink supply 217 and ink conduit 213 of the ink delivery system 203 to pass through the ink supply passage 1001 such that the ink supply 217 can mate with an ink cartridge held in the active cartridge slot 902. In such an embodiment, the opposite end 215 of the ink conduit 213 can extend into or within the active cartridge slot 902 via the ink supply passage 1001.

[0031] Figure 11 shows a bottom view of the cartridge holder 900. The front side 907, back side 908, side 909, and opposite side 910 can be seen to define the bottom view. The bottom view also shows a seating portion 913 for the slot portion 912 of the cartridge holder 900. The ink supply passage 1001 can be seen to open into the bottom 915 of the cartridge holder 900, and in particular into the bottom 915 of the seating portion 913 in the embodiment of Figure 11.

[0032] In an embodiment, the ink supply passage 1001 is formed only in the base portion 913; alternatively, the ink supply passage 1001 is formed in the base portion 913 and extends partially through the slot portion 912 to the bottom 914 of the active cartridge slot 902.

[0033] FIG. 12 shows a cutaway side view of the palm pen 100 with the ink supply system 203 housed in the hollow interior 1201 of the spherical body 101 and without the ink cartridges (for clarity). The spherical body 101 can be made from a first section 1202 that is removable from a second section 1203 to access the ink cartridges housed in the cartridge receiving slots 901 and active cartridge slots 902 of the cartridge holder 900 of the ink supply system 203. In FIG. 12, the first section 1202 has a hollow hemispherical shape and the second section 1203 has a hollow hemispherical shape, but it is contemplated that the spherical body 101 can be divided into sections 1202 and 1203 at other cuts of the spherical body 101.

[0034] The ink supply system 203 can be attached to the spherically shaped body 101 by a second screw portion 112 that screws into a screw hole 1204 formed in a second section 1203 of the spherically shaped body 101.

[0035] 13 shows a cutaway side view of the palm pen 100 with the ink supply system 203 housed in the hollow interior 1201 of the spherical body 101 and the ink cartridges 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305, 1306, and 1307 disposed in the cartridge holder 900. The ink cartridges 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305, 1306, and 1307 are embodied as the ink cartridges 600 shown in FIG. 6, however, it is contemplated that the ink cartridges 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305, 1306, and 1307 may have any embodiment or combination of embodiments. Ink cartridges 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305, and 1306 are located in cartridge storage slot 901, and ink cartridge 1307 is located in active cartridge slot 902. In an embodiment, ink cartridges 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305, 1306, and 1307 are all part of ink supply system 203, although ink cartridge 1307 is the only ink cartridge that engages for ink delivery to nib 107. Ink cartridges 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305, and 1306 are stored in cartridge storage slot 901. All valves of the ink cartridges 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305, 1306 are in a closed position while the ink cartridges 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305, 1306 are stored.

[0036] Portions of the ink supply system 203 (e.g., a portion of the ink cartridge 1307, the ink supply 217, and the opposite ends 215 of the ink conduits 213) that are housed behind the front face 907 of the cartridge holder 900 are shown in dashed lines in Figure 13. Insertion of the ink supply 217 and the opposite ends 215 of the ink conduits 213 into the interior 1308 of the ink cartridge 1307 while the ink cartridge 1307 is in the active cartridge slot 902 of the cartridge holder 900 can be seen in Figure 13. The ink cartridge 1307 engages with the opposite end 215 of the ink conduit 213 in the same manner as described for the ink cartridge 600 of Figures 8A and 8B (e.g., a protrusion on the ink conduit 213 fits with a recess formed in the base portion 1309 of the ink cartridge 1307; the ink supply portion 217 and the opposite end 215 of the ink conduit 213 are inserted into the interior 1308 of the ink cartridge 1307 via a valve that is in an open position due to the presence of the ink conduit 213 in the base portion 1309).

[0037] 13, a portion 213a of the ink conduit 213 is exposed to the hollow interior 1201 of the spherical body 101. In some embodiments, the seat 913 of the cartridge holder 900 can be sized to accommodate the portion 213a of the ink conduit 213 within the ink supply passage 1001, providing additional structural strength to the ink supply system 203 in the hollow interior 1201 of the spherically shaped body 101. In such embodiments, the bottom 915 of the seat 913 of the cartridge holder 900 is adjacent the end 105 of the tip 104 of the ink supply system 203.

[0038] 8B and the portions 801, 802, and 803 in the view of FIG. 13, embodiments contemplate that at least a portion or all of the portion 801 of the ink supply system 203 is received in an active cartridge slot 902 of the cartridge holder 900, and at least a portion or all of the portion 802 of the ink supply system 203 is received in a seating portion 913 of the cartridge holder 900. In embodiments in which a portion of the portion 801 is received in the active cartridge slot 902, another portion of the portion 801 can be received in the seating portion 913 of the cartridge holder 900. In embodiments in which a portion of the portion 802 is included in the seating portion 913 of the cartridge holder 900, another portion of the portion 802 can extend outside the cartridge holder 900 between the cartridge holder 900 and the tip portion 104.

[0039] In an embodiment, the ink cartridges 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305, and 1306 can be friction-fitted with each corresponding cartridge storage slot 901. For example, a portion of at least one wall of the ink cartridges 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305, and 1306 (e.g., exemplified as the side wall 603 of the ink cartridge 600 and the side wall 703 of the ink cartridge 700) can friction-fit against a corresponding wall of the corresponding cartridge storage slot 901. The friction-fitted arrangement or connection retains the ink cartridges 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305, and 1306 in the cartridge storage slot 901 when the palm pen 100 is moved in different directions, for example, by use or transportation in a bag.

[0040] When the ink in the ink cartridge 1307 is depleted, the user of the palm pen 100 can remove the first section 1202 of the spherical body 101 from the second section 1203 to expose the ink supply system 203. The depleted ink cartridge 1307 can be replaced by pulling the ink cartridge 1307 in the direction of arrow A, which breaks the snap-fit ​​connection between the base portion 1309 of the ink cartridge 1307 and the opposite end 215 of the ink conduit 213. When the ink cartridge 1307 is pulled in the direction of arrow A, the ink supply portion 217 and the opposite end 215 of the ink conduit 213 move out of the ink cartridge 1307, closing the valve in the base portion 1309 upon removal of the ink supply portion 217. Closing the valve prevents remaining ink from dripping out of the ink cartridge 1307 during cartridge replacement. The ink cartridge 1307 can be removed from the active cartridge slot 902 by pulling on it. The replacement ink cartridge 1301 (e.g., any of the ink cartridges 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305, or 1306 could be used, and the ink cartridge 1301 is used as an example in this discussion) can be pulled in the direction of arrow A to remove the replacement ink cartridge 1301 from its respective cartridge receiving slot 901. The replacement ink cartridge 1301 can be inserted into the active cartridge slot 902 in the direction opposite to arrow A such that the valve of the replacement ink cartridge 1301 is aligned with the ink supply 217 and the ink supply 217 and the opposite end 215 of the ink conduit 213 are inserted into the interior of the replacement ink cartridge 1301. The replacement ink cartridge 1301 is moved in the direction opposite to arrow A until the protrusion and recess engage in a snap-fit ​​connection. The depleted ink cartridge 1307 can be placed in the open cartridge storage slot 901 where the replacement ink cartridge 1301 was stored.After replacing the ink cartridge, the first section 1202 of the spherical body 101 can be connected to the second section 1203 for further use of the palm pen 100, with the replacement ink cartridge 1301 being part of the ink supply system 203 and supplying ink.

[0041] Keeping multiple ink cartridges replaceable can prevent the palm pen 100 from being discarded after one ink cartridge is depleted. Furthermore, the separability of the spherical body 101 into at least two sections 1202 and 1203 allows the ink cartridges to be replaced when all ink cartridges 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305, 1306, and 1307 are depleted, and the ink cartridge set can be replaced with a new ink cartridge set full of ink, further preventing the palm pen 100 from being discarded.

[0042] In an embodiment, the color of the ink can be changed if the ink cartridges 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305, 1306, 1307 contain different colors of ink. If another color of ink other than the color of ink in the ink cartridge 1307 is desired, the user of the palm pen 100 can remove the first section 1202 of the spherical body 101 from the second section 1203 to expose the ink supply system 203. The first color of ink in the ink cartridge 1307 can be replaced by pulling the ink cartridge 1307 in the direction of arrow A, which breaks the snap-fit ​​connection between the base portion 1309 of the ink cartridge 1307 and the opposite end 215 of the ink conduit 213. When the ink cartridge 1307 is pulled in the direction of arrow A, the ink supply 217 and the opposite end 215 of the ink conduit 213 move out of the ink cartridge 1307 and the valve in the base portion 1309 closes upon removal of the ink supply 217. The closing of the valve prevents remaining first color ink from dripping out of the ink cartridge 1307 during cartridge replacement. When the ink cartridge 1307 is pulled, the ink cartridge 1307 can be removed from the active cartridge slot 902. When the ink cartridge 1301 is pulled in the direction of arrow A, the second color ink of the ink cartridge 1301 (e.g., any of the ink cartridges 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305, or 1306 may be used with any other color ink, but the ink cartridge 1301 is used as an example in this discussion) can be pulled to remove the ink cartridge 1301 from its respective cartridge receiving slot 901. The ink cartridge 1301 can be inserted into the active cartridge slot 902 in the direction opposite to arrow A with the valve of the ink cartridge 1301 aligned with the ink supply 217 to insert the ink supply 217 and the opposite end 215 of the ink conduit 213 inside the ink cartridge 1301. The ink cartridge 1301 is moved in the direction opposite to arrow A until the protrusion and recess engage in a snap-fit ​​connection.The previously used ink cartridge 1307 can be placed in the open cartridge storage slot 901 where the ink cartridge 1301 having the second ink color was stored. After ink cartridge exchange, the first section 1202 of the spherical body 101 can be connected to the second section 1203 for further use of the palm pen 100, with the ink cartridge 1301 being part of the ink delivery system 203 and delivering ink of the second color.

[0043] In embodiments where any of the ink cartridges 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305, 1306, and 1307 includes multiple ink compartments, such as ink cartridge 700 of FIG. 7, the other ink compartments can optionally be used in the single ink cartridge before replacement. Disengagement of one ink compartment and engagement of another ink compartment in the same ink cartridge is performed in a similar manner as described for replacing ink cartridge 1307 with ink cartridge 1301, except that the ink cartridge in the active cartridge slot 902 is temporarily removed, rotated so that the valve corresponding to the other ink compartment is aligned with the ink supply 217, and the valve of the other ink compartment is re-engaged with the ink supply 217 and the opposite end 215 of the ink conduit 213.

[0044] In embodiments in which any of the ink cartridges 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305, 1306, and 1307 are embodied with multiple ink compartments, such as ink cartridge 700 of FIG. 7, the other ink compartments may optionally have different color inks. Disengagement of one ink compartment and engagement of another ink compartment in the same ink cartridge is performed in a similar manner as described for replacing ink cartridge 1307 with ink cartridge 1301, except that the ink cartridge in the active cartridge slot 902 is temporarily removed, a valve corresponding to another color ink of another ink compartment is rotated into alignment with the ink supply 217, and the valve of the other ink compartment is re-engaged with the ink supply 217 and the opposite end 215 of the ink conduit 213. Alternatively, for an ink color contained in an ink compartment of another ink cartridge also having one or more ink compartments, ink cartridge replacement can be performed similarly to that described for replacing ink cartridge 1307 with ink cartridge 1301, except that the desired ink compartment containing the desired ink color can be aligned with ink supply 217 and engaged with the opposite end 215 of ink supply 217 and ink conduit 213.

[0045] Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods and steps described herein. As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, any currently existing or later developed process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, method or step that performs substantially the same function or achieves substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiment described herein may be utilized in accordance with the present disclosure. Thus, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods or steps.

Claims

1. A spherical body; and 1. An ink supply system comprising: a tip having an end connected to the body and an opposite end including a nib; an ink conduit having an end connected to the nib within the tip and an opposite end extending into the body; and a first ink cartridge fluidly coupled to an opposite end of the ink conduit and contained within the body; Including pen.

2. 10. The pen of claim 1, further comprising a spherical cap having a hole formed therein, the hole being configured to receive the tip.

3. 3. The pen of claim 2, wherein the bore has a threaded surface and the tip has a threaded portion adjacent an end of the tip, the threaded surface being disposed over the threaded portion for connecting the cap to the tip.

4. The ink supply system is 2. The pen of claim 1, further comprising a cartridge holder housed within the body and including a plurality of cartridge receiving slots, an active cartridge slot, and an ink supply passageway opening to a bottom of the active cartridge slot and to a bottom of the cartridge holder.

5. 5. The pen of claim 4, wherein the active cartridge slot is configured to hold a first ink cartridge of the ink supply system, the first ink cartridge being fluidly coupled to an opposite end of the ink conduit via the cartridge holder.

6. 6. The pen of claim 5, wherein one of the plurality of cartridge receiving slots is between the active cartridge slot and another of the plurality of cartridge receiving slots.

7. 6. The pen of claim 5, wherein the plurality of cartridge receiving slots includes a first set and a second set, one of the plurality of cartridge receiving slots in the first set being between the active cartridge slot and another of the plurality of cartridge receiving slots in the first set, and one of the plurality of cartridge receiving slots in the second set being between the active cartridge slot and another of the plurality of cartridge receiving slots in the second set.

8. 6. The pen of claim 5, wherein an opposite end of the ink conduit extends through an ink supply passage into the active cartridge slot.

9. 6. The pen of claim 5, wherein the ink delivery system further includes an ink supply attached to an opposite end of the ink conduit, the ink supply extending into an interior of the first ink cartridge when the first ink cartridge is fluidly coupled to the opposite end of the ink conduit.

10. 10. The pen of claim 9, wherein the first ink cartridge includes a self-closing valve, the self-closing valve being in an open position while the ink supply extends into the interior of the first ink cartridge.

11. 5. The pen of claim 4, wherein the cartridge holder further includes a seat below the slot, the plurality of cartridge receiving slots being formed in the slot, and the ink supply passages being formed in the seat.

12. 5. The pen of claim 4, wherein a first set of the plurality of cartridge receiving slots is disposed in the cartridge holder on a side of the active cartridge slot, and a second set of the plurality of cartridge receiving slots is disposed in the cartridge holder on a second side of the active cartridge slot.

13. 5. The pen of claim 4, wherein the cartridge holder has a front face and a rear face, the first height of the front face being less than the second height of the rear face.

14. 5. The pen of claim 4, further comprising a second ink cartridge, the cartridge holder being configured to hold the second ink cartridge in a stored state in one of the plurality of cartridge storage slots, and the first ink cartridge being disposed in the active cartridge slot.

15. 15. The pen of claim 14, wherein the first ink cartridge includes a first valve and the second ink cartridge includes a second valve, the first valve being in an open position and the second valve being in a closed position.

16. 2. The pen of claim 1, wherein the first ink cartridge includes a wall defining an ink compartment, a base portion coupled to the wall, and a valve disposed in the base portion, the valve configured to move from a closed position to an open position when an opposite end of the ink conduit is coupled to the first ink cartridge.

17. 2. The pen of claim 1, wherein the first ink cartridge includes a plurality of ink compartments, each of the plurality of ink compartments containing ink that is isolated from ink contained in any other of the plurality of ink compartments.

18. 20. The pen of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of ink compartments has a self-closing valve configured to open when coupled to an opposing end of the ink conduit.

19. 20. The pen of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of ink compartments has a color of ink contained therein that is different from the colors of ink contained in the other plurality of ink compartments.

20. 2. The pen of claim 1, wherein the first ink cartridge has a disk shape, the first ink cartridge including: i) two circular walls and a cylindrical wall forming the disk shape; and ii) a valve provided in the cylindrical wall, the valve being configured to move from a closed position to an open position when the opposite end of the ink conduit is inserted into the valve and coupled with the first ink cartridge.

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