IP Library Granted Patent US 9,304,610
Granted Patent B2
US 9,304,610 · App. 13/897,617 · Granted Apr 5, 2016

Expanding pen for information handling device

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,304,610
App. No.
13/897,617
Granted
Apr 5, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An aspect provides an expandable pen, including: an internal portion; an external portion that is flexible; and a biased component that is flexible and positioned between the internal portion and the external portion; the biased component applying force to the external portion to flex it away from the internal portion. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Claims (45)

1. An expandable pen, comprising:

an internal portion;

a circumferential external portion that is flexible;

a plurality of biased components that are flexible and positioned between the internal portion and the external portion;

each said biased component being associated with a shuttle, wherein each shuttle repositions responsive to a force applied to a biased component; and

a spring that applies a biasing force to each of the plurality of biased components via each shuttle;

the plurality of biased components forcing the external portion to flex away from the internal portion.

2. The expandable pen of claim 1 , wherein, the plurality of biased components and the external portion collapse responsive to an insertion force.

3. The expandable pen of claim 1 , wherein each shuttle is forced, by the spring, proximate to a tip of the expandable pen in rest position.

4. The expandable pen of claim 1 , wherein each shuttle is forced, by application of the insertion force, distal to the tip of the expandable pen in a collapsed position.

5. The expandable pen of claim 4 , wherein the collapsed position corresponds to an insertion condition wherein said expandable pen is inserted into a housing of an information handling device.

6. The expandable pen of claim 1 , further comprising one or more electronic components.

7. The expandable pen of claim 6 , wherein the one or more electronic components include passive components for interfacing with a pen input surface of an information handling device.

8. The expandable pen of claim 6 , further comprising one or more batteries, wherein:

the one or more electronic components comprise active electronic components for interfacing with the pen input surface of the information handling device; and

wherein the one or more batteries supply power to the active electronic components.

9. A system, comprising:

an information handling device, comprising:

a housing including:

a pen input surface operatively coupled to one or more processors that process pen input;

said housing further comprising a cavity therein for housing a pen; and

an expandable pen, comprising:

an internal portion;

a circumferential external portion that is flexible; and

a plurality of biased components that are flexible and positioned between the internal portion and the external portion;

each said biased component being associated with a shuttle, wherein each shuttle repositions responsive to a force applied to a biased component;

a spring that applies a biasing force to each of the plurality of biased components via each shuttle;

the plurality of biased components forcing the external portion to flex away from the internal portion.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein, the plurality of biased components and the external portion collapse responsive to an insertion force.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein:

each shuttle is forced, by the spring, proximate to a tip of the expandable pen in rest position; and

each shuttle is forced, by application of the insertion force, distal to the tip of the expandable pen in a collapsed position.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the expandable pen further comprises one or more electronic components disposed within said expandable pen.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more electronic components include passive components for interfacing with the pen input surface.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the expandable pen further comprises one or more batteries, wherein:

the one or more electronic components comprise active electronic components for interfacing with the pen input surface; and

wherein the one or more batteries supply power to the active electronic components.

15. An expandable pen, comprising:

a internal portion terminating in a tip;

a circumferential external portion that is flexible and disposed proximate to the tip; and

a plurality of biased components that are flexible and positioned between the internal portion and the circumferential external portion;

each said biased component being associated with a shuttle, wherein said shuttle repositions responsive to a force applied to a biased component;

a spring that applies a biasing force to each of the plurality of biased components via each shuttle;

the plurality of biased components forcing the circumferential external portion to flex away from the internal portion.

16. The expandable pen of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of biased components and the circumferential external portion collapse responsive to an external force.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 069870/0670 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2019
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 049688/0741 →