DE102014011215A1 - Writing instrument with a housing and an attachable cap - Google Patents

Abstract

A writing instrument (2) has a longitudinal axis (8), an elongate housing (4) with a handle side and a writing side, which are arranged along the longitudinal axis (8) and an elongated cap (6) which can be applied to the housing (4) Recess (10) for inserting the write side of the housing (4). At least one first magnet (12) is arranged on the edge of the recess (10) of the cap (6) and at least one second magnet (16) is arranged on a circumference of the housing (4). The first magnet (12) and the second magnet (16) are each axially magnetized and have along the longitudinal axis (8) on opposite magnetic poles. The first magnet (12) and the second magnet (16) are arranged such that the cap (6) is held in a closed position in at least one predetermined relative position to the housing (4).

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to a writing instrument with a housing and an attachable cap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Writing instruments often have, in addition to the housing with writing device integrated therein, a closure cap which protects a writing tip from drying out or from damage. It is known to provide the cap and the housing with a locking mechanism through which engages the cap under the action of sufficient force and can only be released again under the action of a certain tensile force from the locked position.

For producing a desired overall optical impression of the writing instrument, in which a clip attached to the closure cap is aligned with a shape feature of the housing, either the twisting of the locked cap is required or the detent mechanism must be adjusted so that it only in a desired position a snap allows. Writing instruments with a screw-on cap define their end position through the thread in the cap.

Out JP 2013 256055 A For example, it is known to provide a cap and a circumference of a housing of a writing instrument with magnets whose magnetic poles alternate circumferentially. This is intended to enable alignment of the cap in a desired position and retention of the cap on the housing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aligning a cap of a writing instrument with features of the housing is desired for high quality writing instruments to achieve a pleasing visual appearance. While the use of ring magnets could be used to align a cap with a housing of a writing instrument, this solution is not sufficient to reliably secure the cap to the writing instrument due to a lack of force.

It is therefore an object of the invention to propose an alternative means for aligning and holding a cap on a writing instrument, which requires neither a screwing nor a manual rotation of the cap and at the same time can provide a sufficient holding force.

The object is achieved by a writing instrument with the features of independent claim 1. Further developments and advantageous embodiments are given in the dependent claims and the following description.

There is proposed a writing instrument having a longitudinal axis, an elongated housing with a handle side and a write side, which are arranged along the longitudinal axis, and an attachable to the housing elongated cap having an opening for inserting the write side of the housing. At least one first magnet is located on the edge side in a recess of the cap, while at least one second magnet is arranged on a circumference of the housing. The first magnet and the second magnet are each axially magnetized and have along the longitudinal axis on opposite magnetic poles. The first magnet and the second magnet are arranged such that the cap is held in a closed position in at least one predetermined relative rotational position to the housing.

A particular advantage of this arrangement is that the magnets are magnetized in the axial direction. This magnetization direction is typical in particular for classical, rod-shaped permanent magnets and means that a magnetization occurs along the main extension direction and thus differs significantly from the radial magnetization. This results in the inventive arrangement of the cap and housing to the fact that the field lines between the individual pole pairs predominantly in an axial direction, d. H. in this case, along the longitudinal axis, run. This results in a significant overlap with each correspondingly arranged magnet of the other component and thus a very much improved holding power in contrast to radially magnetized ring magnet whose field lines are mainly transverse to the longitudinal axis.

By appropriate arrangement of the two magnets in the writing instrument can be carried out an automatic alignment of the cap on the housing, for example, to bring two shape features in alignment with each other. Consequently, the writing instrument according to the invention is able to produce a sufficiently durable connection between the cap and housing, which is not inferior in the mechanical load capacity of a conventional latching connection and also very reliable and automatically allows the alignment of shape features to each other.

In an advantageous embodiment, at least one of the first magnet and the second magnet is designed as a ring magnet, in which magnetic poles along the circumferential direction of Alternate magnets. If a ring magnet is magnetized approximately twice axially, two axial pole pairs alternate in the circumferential direction, the orientation of which preferably remains the same in each case along 180 °, in order then to run counter to the remaining 180 °. Thus, when the cap is correctly aligned, the first magnet is attracted to the second magnet, and by rotating the cap and the housing towards each other, a position is reached in which similar poles are brought closer to each other between the first magnet and the second magnet, resulting in repulsion between the magnets Magnet and therefore between the cap and housing leads.

More preferably, the first magnet and the second magnet are designed as ring magnets. This is advantageous in terms of production since a ring magnet can be produced in one piece and glued flush in the housing or cap. Neither the assembly of individual segments to a ring magnet nor the accurate positioning of smaller, individual magnets along a circumference is necessary.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, both the first magnet and the second magnet are n-axially axially magnetized, wherein n is preferably an even number. By such an arrangement, on the one hand several, d. H. Concrete n / 2, locking positions between the cap and the housing can be realized, furthermore, the holding force is evenly distributed circumferentially.

In an advantageous embodiment, the housing has a first shoulder on which the second magnet is arranged, wherein the first magnet is arranged in the interior of the cap on a second shoulder such that the first magnet and the second magnet in the longitudinal direction in the closed state of Writing device lie on each other. This axial stratification enables a particularly reliable and firm magnetic connection. Between an edge of the cap and an adjacent shoulder of the housing should be provided for ease of rotation and to ensure the fixed magnetic connection, a narrow air gap. If the cap is a cap overlapping the housing, a narrow air gap adjoining in the radial direction should be arranged between the cap and the housing, which allows the cap to be rotated and also prevents it from becoming wedged between the cap and the housing.

It should be mentioned at this point that the magnets glued into the cap and the housing, poured or held by a positive or non-positive connection. In order to conceal the magnets visually appealing and to protect against external stresses, a protective layer of a plastic or a metallic material can be arranged on the magnet. The protective layer may also be transparent or nontransparent, and further consist of several layers, in which, for example, a further inner layer is produced galvanically, via a physical or a chemical vapor deposition from a metallic material.

The magnets are designed as permanent magnets and can be realized by ferrite magnets, neodymium magnets, AlNiCo magnets, samarium or samarium cobalt magnets, praseodymium magnets. In particular, neodymium magnets are commercially inexpensive, widespread and available in many different designs.

The invention further relates to the use of a pair of axially magnetized ring magnets for aligning and holding a cap of a writing instrument on a housing of a writing instrument.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features, advantages and applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments and the figures. All described and / or illustrated features alone and in any combination form the subject matter of the invention, regardless of their composition in the individual claims or their back references. In the figures, like reference numerals represent like or similar objects.

1 shows a writing instrument with an attached cap.

2 shows a writing instrument in several detail views.

3 shows a writing instrument with an attached cap in a semi-transparent representation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

1 shows a writing instrument 2 with an elongated housing 4 , a cap 6 and a longitudinal axis 8th , In the embodiment, the writing instrument 2 illustrated for simplicity as a cylindrical body, wherein the cap 6 in at least one predefined position to the housing 4 should be aligned when the writing instrument 2 is closed as in 1 by two arrows pointing to each other, the tips of which are in an interface 7 between cap 6 and housing 4 Touch, is marked.

According to the invention this is achieved in that the cap 6 at the edge in a recess 10 , what a 2 to recognize a first magnet 12 has, which is designed annular and is multi-pole axially magnetized. This means that the first magnet 12 is annular, wherein the ring shape is divided into a plurality of imaginary segments, which are arranged circumferentially adjacent to one another and in each case in the axial direction, that is along the longitudinal axis 8th , are magnetized. The first magnet 12 thus consists of a group of ring segment-shaped juxtaposed magnets, each having different polarities in the axial direction. The term grouping should not be understood to mean that the first magnet 12 actually consists of several composite magnets, ideally, should be the first magnet 12 For manufacturing reasons, be a single, integral component. Nevertheless, a multi-part design should not be excluded.

The housing 4 has circumferentially a second magnet 16 on, on a first paragraph 18 is arranged and also designed as an annular, multi-pole axially magnetized magnet. The shape and number of individual magnetic poles should preferably be applied to the first magnet 12 be adjusted. By inserting the cap 6 on a writing page 20 of the housing 4 which a handle side 21 is opposite, the magnets get in alignment with each other and dress in pairs.

The first magnet 12 that's on a second paragraph 26 is then preferably located on the second magnet 16 on. The cap 6 thus becomes the housing 4 pulled that one edge 22 the cap 6 to a third paragraph 24 of the housing 4 is pressed and there a narrow air gap in the interface 7 trains, leaving the cap 6 still easy to the housing 4 is rotatable. The air gap is arranged in this case in the axial direction. A cap, which with the housing 4 overlap would form a radial air gap.

The first magnet 12 By way of example, it is magnetized twice and can therefore be in a single predetermined relative position on the second magnet 16 be held or "snap". Once the cap 6 on the writing side 20 is pushed, there is a force effect of the magnets 12 and 16 holding the cap 6 force into this relative position.

Lying the first magnet 12 and the second magnet 16 on top of each other, is a relative rotation between the cap 2 and the housing 4 required, so that the same direction magnetic poles of the first magnet 12 and the second magnet 16 at least partially opposed so that the cap 6 from the case 4 is repelled.

Finally illustrated 3 in a three-dimensional view the pack of the first magnet 12 and the second magnet 16 in a closed state of the writing instrument 2 , They alternate along the longitudinal axis 8th and in the circumferential direction in each case from the magnetic poles.

In addition, it should be noted that "encompassing" does not exclude other elements or steps, and "a" or "an" does not exclude a multitude. It should also be appreciated that features or steps described with reference to any of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be considered as limiting.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• JP 2013256055 A [0004]

Claims (8)

Writing instrument ( 2 ), comprising: - a longitudinal axis ( 8th ), - an elongated housing ( 4 ) with a handle side ( 21 ) and a write page ( 20 ), along the longitudinal axis ( 8th ) are arranged and - one on the housing ( 4 ) attachable elongated cap ( 6 ) with a recess ( 10 ) for inserting the writing side ( 20 ) of the housing ( 4 ), wherein at the edge of the recess ( 10 ) of the cap ( 6 ) at least one first magnet ( 12 ) and on a circumference of the housing ( 4 ) at least one second magnet ( 16 ) are arranged, wherein the first magnet ( 12 ) and the second magnet ( 16 ) are each axially magnetized and along the longitudinal axis ( 8th ) have opposite magnetic poles and wherein the first magnet ( 12 ) and the second magnet ( 16 ) are arranged such that the cap ( 6 ) in at least one predetermined relative position to the housing ( 4 ) is held in a closed position. Writing instrument ( 2 ) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first magnet ( 12 ) and the second magnet ( 16 ) is designed as a ring magnet, in which magnetic poles along the circumferential direction of the respective magnet ( 12 . 16 ) alternate. Writing instrument ( 2 ) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first magnet ( 12 ) and the second magnet ( 16 ) are designed as ring magnets. Writing instrument ( 2 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first magnet ( 12 ) and the second magnet ( 16 ) are axially magnetized n times. Writing instrument ( 2 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing ( 4 ) a first paragraph ( 18 ), on which the second magnet ( 16 ), the first magnet ( 12 ) inside the cap ( 6 ) in a second paragraph ( 26 ) is arranged that the first magnet ( 12 ) and the second magnet ( 16 ) in the longitudinal direction in the closed state of the writing instrument ( 2 ) lie on one another. Writing instrument ( 2 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first magnet ( 12 ) and the second magnet ( 16 ) in the cap ( 6 ) or the housing ( 4 ) are glued or cast or held by a positive or non-positive connection. Writing instrument ( 2 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein on at least one of the first magnet ( 12 ) and the second magnet ( 16 ) is arranged at least one plastic protective layer. Use of a pair of axially magnetized ring magnets ( 12 . 16 ) for aligning and holding a cap ( 6 ) of a writing instrument ( 2 ) on a housing ( 4 ) of a writing instrument ( 2 ).

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