Voltage indicator and writing instrument

Claim 1

In a novel voltage indicator the combination comprising: electrically insulative elongated tubular housing means comprising first and second end sections releaseably joined in coaxial alignment and a viewing window disposed in at least one of said end sections; an electrically-conductive probe including a writing tip disposed within said first end section and reciprocatable between a position wherE said probe is fully housed within said first end section and nonavailable for establishing electrical contact with objects outside said first end section and a position where at least the writing tip of said probe is exposed exteriorly of said first end section; reciprocation means disposed within said second and section and adapted to selectively move said writing tip between its positions inside and outside said first end section; at least one electrically-conductive member associated with said reciprocation means and extending exteriorly of said housing and adapted to be electrically grounded; and voltage-indicating circuit means including at least a resistor and a lamp electrically disposed between said probe and said electrically-conductive member associated with said reciprocation means with said lamp being viewable through said window in said housing, said lamp and said resistor including electrical contact means on their respective opposite ends and being disposed in end-to-end relationship with each other with releasable electrical contact therebetween, said lamp and resistor being disposed between said probe and said electrically-conductive member associated with said reciprocation means, thereby establishing electrical continuity between said probe and said electrically-conductive member.