They Invented What? (No. 158)

U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,281:  Writing implement attachment.

What is claimed is:

1. A premanufactured accessory for a premanufactured writing implement, the premanufactured writing implement comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of a complete pen having a casing handle, an ink supply and an ink-providing tip, and a complete pencil having a lead and a handle casing around the lead, the premanufactured writing implement having a longitudinal length, said premanufactured accessory comprising:

          a premanufactured body comprising a substantially two-dimensional surface;

          said surface comprising at least one dimension selected from the group consisting of a diameter, a length, and a width, said dimension being at least one-half the longitudinal length of the premanufactured writing implement; and

          an attachment for attaching said premanufactured body to the premanufactured writing implement on the upper portion of the premanufactured writing implement.

2. The premanufactured accessory of claim 1 wherein said attachment comprises an adhesive.

3. The premanufactured accessory of claim 2 wherein said premanufactured body comprises a back surface and a front surface and an adhesive for adhesively disposing a non-writing portion of the premanufactured writing implement between said front surface and said back surface.

4. The premanufactured accessory of claim 1 wherein said surface dimension is at least equal to the length of the longitudinal length of the premanufactured writing implement.

5. The premanufactured accessory of claim 1 wherein said surface dimension is at least equal to three quarters the length of the premanufactured writing implement.

6. The premanufactured accessory of claim 1 further comprising indicia on said surface.

7. The premanufactured accessory of claim 6 wherein said indicia comprises at least one form selected from the group consisting of a joke, affirmation, poem, rhyme, valentine, alphabet, periodic table, menu, recipe, schedule, directions, and map.

8. The premanufactured accessory of claim 1 wherein said attachment attaches said premanufactured body to an upper portion of the premanufactured writing implement in an area selected from the group consisting of a top and a side of the premanufactured writing implement.

9. The premanufactured accessory of claim 1 wherein said premanufactured body further comprises a channel in which the premanufactured writing implement is disposed.

10. The premanufactured accessory of claim 1 further wherein said attachment comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a wire, tape, slot, cap, and slit.