The present invention relates to elongated hand-held untensiles which comprise a point or tip extending from one end, which point has to be exposed when the utensile is used, but should be covered to prevent damage or deterioration, when not in use- Examples of such utensiles are felt-tip pens and glue applicators, in which it is most desirable for the tip to be covered when the pen or applicator is not in use, so as to avoid the ink, or glue drying out.

The conventional construction for a cover of such a device is a cap which is a push-fit over the tip when in use as a cover and can be pushed temporarily onto the other end when the instrument is in use. However, the cap is quite separate from the body and can easily be lost.

It is, of course, well known in the field of plastic containers, for example detergents and shampoos, to provide a plastic cover for an outlet which is tied to the outlet by a flexible web of plastic material. Such a cover would be both impractical and aesthetically unacceptable for use in, e.g., a writing instrument.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an elongated hand-held utensile having a cover which is not discounted from the body of the utensile when removed to expose the point or tip.

It is a further object _, o provide a novel design and construction for a hand-held utensile, which meets the requirements of practice better than the prior art devices.

According to the present invention, an elongated hand-held utensile comprises a body having a working point or tip of the utensile which projects from one end of the body. A cover is provided for protecting the point or tip when the utensile is not is use. The cover is pivotally and slidably connected to the body so as to be movable from a protecting position in which it encloses the point or tip and an operative position in which the point or tip is exposed and the cover is accommodated in a recess in the body.

As illustrated by the preferred embodiment described below, the invention finds particularly advantageous application in the case of a felt-tip pen. It may, however, be applied to many other types of utensiles, such as glue applicators.

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Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, offered by way of example only, of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a writing instrument embodying the invention, showing the cover in its protecting position;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the writing instrument shown in FIGURE 1 illustrating an intermediate position of the cover;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the writing instrument of FIGURE 1 showing the cover in an operative position; FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view of an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view of a further embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view of a yet further embodiment of the invention.

Referring firstly to FIGURES 1 through 3 of the drawings, a felt-tip pen 11 embodying the invention comprises an elongated body 13 which houses in conventional manner, an ink-impregnated tow 15, which extends beyond a front end of the body 13 to provide a writing, tip 17 supported by a funnel-shaped metal boss 19. The body 13 is conveniently molded from plastic material in two pieces which, after the insertion of the tow 15 and boss 19, are joined together along the line 21 (see FIGURE 1) by any suitable of means, such as an adhesive, or by ultrasonic welding.

As seen in FIGURES 1 through 3, the body 13, which is essentially rectangular in cross-section, has a thickened mid-portion 23, off-set from the longitudinal mid-point toward the front- end, and tapers toward both ends. Viewing the body from the side, it can be seen that one longitudinal surface 25 is flat and that the change in dimension to give the thickened mid-portion 23 is provided entirely by the other longitudinal surface 27. Immediately forward of the thickest point, the body 13 has a rebated portion 29, which extends to the front end of the body 13. A first part of the rebated portion 29 has a pair of side cheeks 31 upstanding from the edges to the front end thereof.

The side cheeks 31 each include a longitudinal slot 33 which provides a means of connecting a cover 35 of the pen 11 to the body 13. The cover 35 comprises a tapered cap 37, having a hollow interior dimensioned to enable the cap 37 to fit over the tip 17 and boss 19 and an exterior shaped and dimensioned to

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conform with that of the body 13 to form an extension thereof. Extending from the one side of the hollow cap 37 is an arm 39 having at its outer end a cross-limb 41. The cross-limb 41 constitutes a pivot shaft by means of which the cover 35 is connected to the body 13. As seen best in FIGURES 2 and 3, the size and shape of the cap 37, the arm 39 and the cross-limb 41 are such that in the assembled condition of the pen the ends of the cross-limb 41 are slidably and rotatably mounted in the respective slots 33 in the side cheeks 31 and the cap 37 can be moved, by a combined rotational and sliding movement, between a first position, illustrated in FIGURE 1, in which the cap 37 covers the tip 17 and the cross-limb 41 is at the rear ends of the slots 33 and a second position, illustrated in FIGURE 3, in which the tip 17 is exposed and the cover 35 is snugly accommodated in the rebated portion 29, with the cap 37 occupying the said first part thereof and the arm 39 filling the space between the side cheeks 31. In the second position, the cross-limb 41 is at the front end of the slots 33. The cover 35 is readily connected and disconnected from the body

13 by rotation of the cap 37 about the axis of the arm 39, thus freeing the limit 41 from the slots 33. As seen in FIGURE 3, the slots 33 include restrictions 43 near their ends to provide stops for locating the cross-limb 41 in either of the two said positions. The cover 35 is advantageously molded as a single piece. Thus, it can be appreciated that the construction described above requires very few ^' parts and is simple and economical to manufacture and assemble.

If required, a clip for securing the pen in a pocket may be provided on the cover 35 or the body 13. It will be appreciated that many different configurations of the slots 33 and cover 35 can be employed within the scope of the invention. Several alternatives are shown in FIGURES 4 through S. In FIGURE 4, the arm 39 and cross-limb 41, which are essentially similar to those described above and shown in FIGURES 1 through 3, additionally include a ridge 51 upstanding from the cross-limb 41. To accommodate the ridge 51, the bottom surface of the rebated portion 29, between the side cheeks 31 is formed with a groove 53. At front end, the groove 53 is enlarged to enable rotation of the arm 39 during connection and disconnection of the cover 35 to the body 13. It will be appreciated that in normal use, the ridge 51 is engaged in the groove 53 preventing disengagement of the cover 35.

FIGURE 5 shows an alternative in which the bottom surface of the rebated portion is formed with an upstanding rib 61 which engages with a groove

63 in the middle of the cross-limb 41. The arm 39 can be snap-lifted into

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engagemeπt between the side cheeks 31 and the cover 35 is then held positively by the engagement of the rib 61 in the groove 63.

FIGURE 6 shows an alternative in which the cross-limb 41 is replaced by a ball 71 and the slots 33 and side cheeks 31 by a longitudinal slot 73 in which the ball 71 is slidably and rotatably mounted, the slot 73 being provided by a space between two curved side walls 75.

At one end the slot 73 is enlarged to form a wider opening 75 through which the ball 71 can be pushed, on deformation of the walls 75, to connect and disconnect the cover 35 to the body 13. Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been de¬ scribed in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.