AU2013200465B2

AU2013200465B2 - Writing instrument system

Info

Publication number: AU2013200465B2
Application number: AU2013200465A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Andreas Papenfuss
Original assignee: Faber Castell AG
Current assignee: Faber Castell AG
Priority date: 2012-01-27
Filing date: 2013-01-25
Publication date: 2014-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 2033-01-25
Also published as: EP2620292B1; BR102013001971A2; CN103223802A; AU2013200465A1; CN103223802B; EP2620292A1

Abstract

WRITING INSTRUMENT SYSTEM Abstract Writing instrument system, comprising a plurality of writ ing, painting or drawing styluses (1) having a stylus shaft (4) and a stylus cap (5), characterised in that - a plurality of projections (2) distributed over the whole circumference project from the circumferential surface (6) of the stylus shaft (4) and/or of the circumferential surface (7) of the stylus cap (5), which projections extend in the direc tion of the central longitudinal axis (8) of the stylus (1), - in each case two projections (2) adjacent in a circumferen tial direction flank a recess (3) serving to accommodate a projection (2) of another stylus of the writing instrument system, - and in that a projection (2) of another stylus (1) is in sertable into the recess (3) in a connecting direction (9) extending at right angles to the central longitudinal axis (8) of said stylus. c174 2-12 "n.-

Description

S&F Ref: P040661 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name and Address Faber-Castell AG, of N0rnberger Str. 2, 90546, Stein, of Applicant: Germany Actual Inventor(s): Andreas Papenfuss Address for Service: Spruson & Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 35 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Invention Title: Writing instrument system The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 5845c(7074806_1) 1 WRITING INSTRUMENT SYSTEM The invention relates to a writing instrument system comprising a plurality of writing, painting or drawing styluses having a stylus shaft and a stylus cap. A stylus system known from EP 0395797 Al comprises a plurality of styluses having a gripper formed onto the side of their stylus cap, with the aid of which gripper a stylus may be attached to the stylus shaft or the stylus cap of another stylus. With this arrangement, two or even more styluses may be connected to one another, the styluses being arranged in parallel to one another and in a common plane. There is a need for a writing instrument system that is improved in respect of the arrangement of mutually connected styluses and is furthermore extendable in respect of accessory instruments which can also be connected to one another and to the styluses. It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least provide a useful alternative. There is disclosed herein a writing instrument system, comprising a plurality of writing, painting or drawing styluses having a stylus shaft and a stylus cap, wherein: - a plurality of projections distributed over the whole circumference project from a circumferential surface of the stylus shaft and/or of a circumferential surface of the stylus cap, which projections extend in the direction of a central longitudinal axis of the stylus, - in each case two projections adjacent in a circumferential direction flank a recess serving to accommodate a projection of another stylus of the writing instrument system, - and wherein a projection of another stylus is insertable into the recess in a connecting direction extending at right angles to the central longitudinal axis of said stylus, whereby the projections are moved apart laterally under elastic deformation. Preferably, due to the projections and recesses distributed over the whole circumference of stylus shaft and/or stylus cap and the resultant gear wheel-like embodiment, the styluses can be releasably fixed to one another in practically any rotational positions in respect of their central longitudinal axis, in order in this way to form a large number of formations, for example groups of two or three. It is also possible to twist two mutually connected styluses counter to one another about their central longitudinal axes. It is also especially advantageous that the connecting together of the styluses can occur in a connecting direction extending at right angles to their central axis, i.e. in a direction differing from the axially extending direction with which a 2 stylus cap is put onto the stylus shaft and removed again. This gives, for example, the advantage that, when two or more styluses are joined together, the stylus cap cannot become detached from the stylus shaft. An embodiment also makes it possible in such a way to design a large number of different accessory instruments such as, for example, stylus sharpeners, rubber erasers, rulers having projections and/or recesses, that they can be applied in any circumferential positions and also longitudinal positions of styluses or stylus groups. This results in further game variants and in particular the possibility of allocating to a stylus or stylus group a specific accessory instrument such as a sharpener or a rubber eraser, perhaps for purposes of storage or transportation.

3 The fixing together of styluses and accessory instruments may occur purely on the basis of a frictional connection between the mutually connected parts. Preferably, however, the projec tions are held in the recesses by a form-fit connection optionally in addition to a frictional connection. In this arrangement, according to an advantageous embodiment, projec tion and recess cooperate in a type of snap connection. This is achieved in particular in that the projections are divided up into an anterior and into a posterior radial portion, wherein the anterior radial portion is widened in a circumfer ential direction as compared with the posterior radial por tion. In an especially preferred variant embodiment, provision is made for the projections-when in the connected state, i.e. when two or more styluses and/or accessory instruments are connected to one another-to be rotatable in the recesses about axis extending in parallel to the central longitudinal axis. The consequence is that, when two styluses are twisted counter to one another, a projection still remains within the recess for some time and is held therein until a projection following on in the direction of rotation at least partially engages with a recess and is held therein or has at least already come very close to said recess. The widened radial portion here acts as a pivot bearing, wherein it on the other hand acts as a form-fit element and creates the above-mentioned form-fit connection between recess and projection, or between styluses. To create the form-fit connection in question, it is advanta geous that the distance between two projections in a circum ferential direction is smaller than the width of the projec tions measured in a circumferential direction. In this way it 4 is effected that adjacent projections of a stylus engage behind the widened radial portion of the projection of another stylus. The counter-twisting is also made easier by the fact that, in the connected state, a gap is present between the projections and the surface of the recesses. When a radial portion of a projection is twisted, the latter is thus in contact, not with its whole surface, but only partially. It is also an advantage of this embodiment that, during the manufacture of stylus cap and stylus shaft, especially in an injection moulding process, no especially close tolerances need be adhered to, which would render manufacturing more expensive. Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafter, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 a stylus in side view, with a stylus cap exhibiting projections and recesses, Fig. 2 a top view of the stylus cap in the direction of the arrow II in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a stylus shaft without stylus cap, Fig. 4 two mutually connected styluses according to Fig. 1, in a top view corresponding to Fig. 1, Fig. 5 three mutually connected styluses according to Fig. 1 in perspective view, Fig. 6 a top view corresponding to Fig. 1, 5 Fig. 7 a stylus in which projections and recesses are present only on the stylus shaft, in side view, Fig. 8 a.stylus in which projections and recesses are present both on the stylus shaft and on the stylus cap, in side view, Fig. 9 a retaining band with a stylus attached thereto in perspective view, Fig. 10 a flexible retaining band that can be rolled up, Fig. 11 a file on the outside of which a retaining band of the type shown in Fig. 9 and 10 is attached, Fig. 12 a gripper in perspective view, Fig. 13 the gripper of Fig. 12 viewed in the direction of the arrow XIII, Fig. 14 a gripper attached to a retaining band, Fig. 15 a ruler equipped with a projection in perspective view, Fig. 16 the ruler of Fig. 15, connected to a stylus, Fig. 17 a sharpener on the circumferential surface of which a projection is present, in perspective view, Fig. 18 an erasing rubber, 6 Fig. 19 a retaining element equipped with eyelets, Fig. 20 in perspective view, a stylus on the stylus cap of which the retaining element of Fig. 19 is attached, Fig. 21 two different perspective views of a plate equipped with a projection, Fig. 22 in perspective view, a stylus on the stylus cap of which the plate of Fig. 20 is attached, Fig. 23 a clip in perspective view, on which a projection is arranged, Fig. 24 a connecting cord, with which styluses and accessory instruments can be connected to one another, Fig. 25 an arrangement of a plurality of styluses attached to one another with the aid of a connecting cord, in perspective view, Fig. 26 a storage container, on the outside of which two pro jections are applied. Fig. 1 shows a stylus 1 which is part of a writing instrument system and which comprises a stylus cap 5 and a stylus shaft 4. The stylus cap 5 is on the radially narrowed anterior end V of the stylus shaft 4, which end bears an applicator element A. A number of substantially rib-like projections 2 distribut ed over the whole circumference project from the circumferen tial surface of the stylus cap 5, which projections extend in the direction of the central longitudinal axis 8 of the stylus 7 1. In each case two projections 2 adjacent in the circumferen tial direction 21 in each case flank a recess 3 serving to accommodate a projection 2 of another stylus of the writing instrument system. The aforementioned elements follow a pref erably rectilinear course. Based on the embodiment described above, rows of teeth 14 extending in the circumferential di rection 21 are formed on stylus shaft 4 and stylus cap 5, stylus cap 5 or stylus shaft 4 (without anterior end V) are thus designed in the form of gear wheels. The shape of the projections 2 and the recesses 3 is selected in such a way that the projections 2 are insertable into the recesses 3 with a connecting direction 9 extending at right angles to the central longitudinal axis 8 of the stylus 1 (Figs. 2 and 4). Furthermore, the projections 2 are held in the recesses with a form-fit connection effective counter to the connecting direction 9, wherein a fiction-tight fit may additionally be present. In this arrangement, the projections 2 cooperate with the recesses in a type of snap connection. They are divided up into two portions, an anterior radial portion 15 and a posterior radial portion 16, the latter being wider than the former in the circumferential direction 21. The projections 2 are furthermore arranged in a screen of such a type that the distance 19 in the circumferential direction 21 between two projections 2 is smaller than.the width 20 of the projections 2 measured in the circumferential direction 21. Therefore when a projection 2 of a stylus 1 is introduced into a recess 3 of another stylus 1 in a connecting direction 9, the projections 2 flanking the recess 2 are first of all moved apart-under elastic deformation-laterally, or in the circum ferential direction 21 by the anterior radial portion 15 of the projection 2 to be introduced. Towards the end of the 8 connecting process, the anterior radial portions 15 move back together again due to elastic restoring forces. In the con necting end position, the anterior radial portion 15 of the projection 2 is arranged in the recess 3 and wedged in, or engaged behind, by the anterior radial portions 15 of the projections 2 flanking the recess, with creation of a form-fit acting counter to the connecting direction 9. Due to the gear wheel-like form of stylus cap and/or stylus shaft, two mutually connected styluses 1 can be twisted coun ter to one another. During this, a projection 2 resting in a recess 3, or its anterior radial portion 15, executes a rela tive rotational movement about an axis 23, following a course parallel to central longitudinal axis 8, indicated by the double arrow 22 in Fig. 4. At the end of the rotational move ment, a projection 2' following the rotating projection 2 in the circumferential direction is already shortly downstream of or already in engagement with the next recess 3', facilitating the counter rotation of two styluses. Facilitation of the rotational movement is also effected in that, in the connected position, a gap (24) is present between the projections 2 and the surface of the recesses 3. The surface of the anterior radial portion 15 of the projections 2 is rounded off, for example circular, wherein the radial portions then form a circular cylindrical portion. The wall regions of the recess 3 which, in the connected position, enclose the anterior radial portion 15 are similarly rounded, albeit in such a way that the gap 24 remains free between them and the projection. The outer diameter 25 of the stylus 5 is larger than the diam eter 16 of the stylus shaft 4, wherein the latter roughly corresponds to the core diameter 27 of the stylus cap 5. The 9 core diameter 27 corresponds to an imaginary circle which is in contact with the recesses 3 at their deepest point S (see Fig. 6). Fig. 5 and 6 show an example in which three styluses 1 form a group of three. The embodiment of the projections 2 and re cesses, and their mutual cooperation, correspond to the state ments made above, although a counter rotation of the styluses 1 is not possible. In the example embodiment according to Fig. 7, the stylus shaft 4, but not the stylus cap, is formed like a gear wheel. Here, the outer diameter 25a of the stylus cap 5 is smaller than the outer diameter 26a of the stylus shaft 4 exhibiting projections 2 and recesses 3. A variant embodiment, in which stylus shaft 4 and stylus cap 5 are formed like a gear wheel, is shown in Fig. 8. Here, stylus cap 5 and stylus shaft 4 have the same diameter 28. In the drawings, Figs. 9 to 26 show various accessory instru ments 11 and examples of their use. The accessory instruments are equipped with plug-in connector elements which are able to cooperate with the plug-in connector elements of styluses 1 but with plug-in connector elements of accessory instruments. Preferably, either a projection 2a or a row of teeth 14 are present on an accessory instrument, which row of teeth 14 comprises at least two projections enclosing between them a recess 3, so that accessory instruments can be connected to a stylus 1 and optionally to one another. An accessory instrument 11 serving for storage and filing purposes is shown in Figs. 9 to 11. This is a retaining band 10 33, one side of which, its serviceable side 34, is equipped with projections 2 and recesses 3, that is, with a row of teeth 14. The projections 2 and corresponding thereto the recesses 3 extend crosswise to the longitudinal extension of the retaining band 33. However, an arrangement is also con ceivable in which the aforementioned elements lie in parallel to the longitudinal direction. Any accessory instruments in 11 and styluses may be releasably attached to the serviceable side 34 of the retaining band 33, provided that they have at least one projection 2a. The retaining band 33 may be of a flexible design, wherein it can then be held in stock and sold rolled up to form a roll 35. To attach the retaining band 33 to an article of use, for example to the surface of a writing desk, to a wall or to the outside of a file 36 (Fig. 11), the side of the retaining band 33 facing away from the serviceable side may be designed as an adhesive surface. For the case wherein the retaining band 33 is to be attached to a textile article, attachment by sewing is an option, wherein the re taining band 33 is equipped with a narrow seam (not shown) with the aid of which it may be sewn to an article. Fig. 12 to 14 represent a gripper 37, which is provided for attachment to a retaining band 33. The gripper is U-shaped in cross-section and has two side pieces 38, 39. The outside of at least one side piece bears a row of teeth 14. Preferably, however, rows of teeth 14b, 14c are present on the outsides of both side pieces 38, 39. With the one outside, in the case of the example embodiment that of the side piece 39, the gripper 37 is attachable e.g. to a retaining band 33. Accordingly, the projections 2 of the row of teeth 14b follow a course from the base 40 of the gripper to the free ends of the side pieces 38, 39. The row of teeth 14c present on the outside of the other 11 side piece 38 can have the same orientation as the row of teeth 14b. In the embodiment shown, however, the projections 2 follow a course at right angles to the projections of the row of teeth 14b. The gripper 37 can be used to clip fast a flat material, for example a sheet of paper. A crosspiece-like end stop 43 following a course parallel to the projections 2 of the row of teeth 14c is formed on the base 40 of the gripper 37. This prevents a gripper 34 attached to a retaining band 33 from slipping down under weight loading, in so doing possibly becoming detached from the retaining band 33. A further example of an accessory instrument 11 is a ruler 44 (Figs. 15, 16). On the top surface 45 thereof, a projection 2a is arranged on which a stylus 1, for example with a stylus cap 5 designed like a gear wheel, or another accessory instrument 11 is attachable. The projection 2a is positioned centrally on the upper surface 45 of the ruler 44 and extends in the longi tudinal direction thereof. Further accessory instruments 11 to be mentioned are a sharp ener 46 (Fig. 17) and an erasing rubber 47 (Fig. 18). Both instruments are, for example, cylindrical in form, a projec tion 2a extending in the longitudinal direction of the sharp ener 46 projecting from the circumferential surface of there of. A row of teeth formed from two projections 2 and a recess 3a is formed on the circumferential surface of the erasing rubber 47. On account of this design, sharpener 46 and erasing rubber 47 may be connected both with one another, with a sty lus 1 the stylus cap 5 of which and/or the stylus shaft 4 of which is designed like a gear wheel, or with another accessory instrument 11, for example with a retaining band 33.

12 Fig. 19 shows a retaining element 48 which comprises two eye lets 49 on to which an article may be retained, for example with the aid of a thread or the like. The retaining element 48 comprises a bar 50 the end of which bear the eyelets 49. The bar 50 is dimensioned in such a way that it is insertable, with a form-fit and/or fictional connection, into a recess 3 of a stylus 1 or into the recess 3a of an accessory instrument 11, as is shown by way of example on the basis of a stylus 1 in Fig. 20. As a further accessory instrument 11, Figs. 21, 22 show a plate 51 the one side of which bears a projection 2a and the other side of which may be used for labelling with a name or the like. The plate 51 is attachable for example to a retain ing band 33 or to a stylus 1, for example on its stylus cap 5 (Fig. 22). A similar accessory instrument 11 is represented in Fig. 26. The one here is a clip 52 formed from two side piec es, one side piece being a baseplate 53, and the other side piece being a spring clip 54. The side of the baseplate 53 facing away from the spring clip 54 bears a projection 2a. The latter is insertable, with a fictional and/or form-fit connec tion, into a recess 3 for example of a stylus cap 5. Fig. 24, 25 show a connecting thread 55 as an example of an accessory instrument 11. A plurality of longitudinal portions 56 of the connecting thread 55 have a diameter 57 such that the longitudinal portions 56 are insertable fastened and/or form-fit into a recess 3 of a stylus 1 or of an accessory instrument 11. In this way accessory instruments 11 and sty luses 1 may be attached to one another secure against loss (Fig. 25). It is also conceivable that the whole connecting thread 55 has a diameter such that it is insertable with any 13 longitudinal portions into a recess 3 of a stylus 1 or of an accessory instrument 11. Fig. 26 finally shows a bag-like storage container 58. Two projections 2a are arranged on the outside thereof. The pro jections 2a are for example formed on the one side of a plate like base carrier 59. The other side of the base carrier 59 is connected, for example, by gluing to the storage container 58.

Claims

1. A writing instrument system, comprising a plurality of writing, painting or drawing styluses having a stylus shaft and a stylus cap, wherein: - a plurality of projections distributed over the whole circumference project from a circumferential surface of the stylus shaft and/or of a circumferential surface of the stylus cap, which projections extend in the direction of a central longitudinal axis of the stylus, - in each case two projections adjacent in a circumferential direction flank a recess serving to accommodate a projection of another stylus of the writing instrument system, - and wherein a projection of another stylus is insertable into the recess in a connecting direction extending at right angles to the central longitudinal axis of said stylus, whereby the projections are moved apart laterally under elastic deformation.

2. The writing instrument system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the projections are held in the recesses with a form-fit acting counter to the connecting direction.

3. The writing instrument system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the projections and the recesses cooperate in a type of snap connection.

4. The writing instrument system according to claim 3, wherein the projections are divided up into an anterior radial portion and a posterior radial portion, wherein the anterior radial portion is widened in the circumferential direction as compared with the posterior radial portion.

5. The writing instrument system according to claim 4, wherein the distance between two projections in the circumferential direction is smaller than the width of the projections measured in the circumferential direction.

6. The writing instrument system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in the connected state, the projections are rotatable in the recesses about an axis extending in parallel to the central longitudinal axis.

7. The writing instrument system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in the connected state, a gap is present between the projections and the surface of the recesses. 15

8. The writing instrument system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an accessory instrument which has at least one projection, wherein the latter is insertable into a recess of the stylus and is of a design corresponding to the projections of the stylus.

9. The writing instrument system according to claim 8, wherein the accessory instrument comprises a plurality of projections and at least one recess flanked by two projections is present, wherein the recess is formed in correspondence with the recesses on the stylus side.

10. The writing instrument system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the accessory instrument is selected from a group comprising: an eraser, a sharpener, a ruler and a stylus extender.

11. The writing instrument system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the accessory instrument is in the form of at least one retaining band which bears on one of its two flat surfaces a row of teeth formed from projections and recesses.

12. The writing instrument system according to claim 11, wherein the retaining band is a self-adhesive retaining band.

13. The writing instrument system according to claim 11, wherein the retaining band is sewable onto a backing.

14. The writing instrument system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the accessory instrument is in the form of a clip, on which at least one projection is present.

15. The writing instrument system according to claim 14, wherein the clip has two side pieces arranged in a U-shape, wherein the at least one projection is arranged on the outside of at least one side piece.

16. The writing instrument system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the accessory instrument is in the form of a plate, one side of which bears at least one projection. 16

17. The writing instrument system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the accessory instrument is in the form of a connecting thread which has counter elements spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the thread, which cooperate with a recess on the stylus side.

18. The writing instrument system according to claim 8 or 9,wherein the accessory instrument is in the form of a storage element for articles, which has at least one projection cooperating with a recess on the stylus side.

19. A writing instrument system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments as that embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings. Faber-Castell AG Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON