EP0149747B1 - Writing instrument - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a writing instrument with a sleeve-shaped housing and a writing element arranged in this housing, which writing element can be displaced between a ready-to-write position releasing the tip section of the writing element used for writing and a storage position retracted into the housing, the housing section consisting of segments adjacent to the tip section of the writing element there are, which are radially spread apart in the readiness for writing position and lie against each other in the storage position and close the tip side of the housing.

Such a writing instrument is e.g. Known from DE-OS 27 52 304. In this known writing instrument, the segments which are to close the tip of the writing instrument housing in the storage position of the writing element are formed in one piece with the housing of the writing instrument. The closing pressure of the segments is caused by the elasticity of the material of the housing when these segments are spread out against the elastic resistance of the housing material by a corresponding shoulder on the writing element during the transition from the storage position to the readiness to write. When the writing element is withdrawn from the ready-to-write position to the storage position, the shoulder on the writing element releases the segments again, so that they only move radially inward due to their elasticity. The purpose of this known arrangement is to protect the tip of the writing element or drawing element when not in use.

This known writing instrument has the considerable disadvantage that that although the writing tip can be protected against mechanical damage when not in use, it is not possible to allow the segments to lie so close together in the storage position that they could hermetically close the tip side to effectively prevent the writing tip of the writing element from drying out to be able to. Furthermore, in the known writing instrument, due to the fact that only the material elasticity can provide the closing pressure, the closing ability of the tip compartment of the device will deteriorate over time due to material fatigue.

Furthermore, a writing instrument is known from JP-PS 57-2797, in which the abutting side edges of the segments are each provided with a sealing element in order to seal the gap between the segments.

However, this known writing instrument has the disadvantage that the volume surrounding the writing element tip is open to the rear within the inner sleeve, so that the writing liquid can evaporate from the writing element tip and thus the writing element can dry out.

Therefore, the invention has for its object to improve the writing instrument of the known type such that effective drying protection for the writing element tip is ensured with very simple means and with a relatively simple design and handling.

This object is achieved in a writing instrument of the known type by the characterizing features of the main claim.

In this writing instrument according to the invention, the closing pressure of the closure part or the segments of the closure part is not guaranteed by the material elasticity, but by spring pressure which can be selected according to the requirements and which is converted into the closing pressure by the interaction between the closure tip and the housing of the writing instrument. The result of this is that a closing pressure sufficient for hermetic sealing can be generated and this is also maintained. In the event of fatigue, the tension spring can be replaced without any problems. In addition, a collision of the writing element tip with the closure part is effectively avoided, since only the closure part is opened and only then the writing element closure part is opened and only then is the writing element advanced.

Advantageously, projections for limiting the axial movement of the writing element can be provided on the writing instrument when it is brought into the ready-to-write position or into the storage position by its own weight, said projections cooperating with inner beads on the intermediate sleeve in order to be able to fix the writing element in the ready-to-write position. These projections can advantageously be arranged on a separate functional sleeve which can be pushed onto the front part of the writing element and which may remain in the housing when the writing element is changed.

In addition, it can be advantageous to provide the housing with an extension which engages over the closure part in the storage position and thus protects against mechanical damage.

In a writing instrument of the known type, in which the writing element is preloaded in the direction of the storage position by means of a spring which is supported on the housing and by means of a switching mechanism which can be actuated by the actuating element, against the spring pressure in the readiness to write position can be fixed relative to the housing, the object described above is advantageously achieved in that the spring biasing the writing element against the housing is supported on the inner sleeve, that the switching mechanism acts on the outer sleeve, that the restoring force of the writing element against the inner sleeve biasing spring is smaller than the spring that biases the inner sleeve against the outer sleeve, and that the inner sleeve against the outer sleeve is set in the readiness position by interaction between the segments and writing element on the one hand and the outer sleeve on the other.

Essentially, each of the known switching mechanisms can be used to move the intermediate sleeve and the writing element from the storage position into the ready-to-write position and to fix it there.

In this case, the writing element is advantageously provided with a plurality of control projections which interact with the switching mechanism in order to fix the writing element in the readiness to write position independently of the intermediate sleeve. The switching mechanism can advantageously consist of a separate switching ring which is arranged to be longitudinally displaceable between the intermediate sleeve and the outer sleeve, and interacts with guide grooves which are provided on the inner surface of the outer sleeve and with switching teeth which are provided on the actuating element.

Since the intermediate sleeve must be slotted in this case for the control projections to pass through, the actuating element is advantageously provided with recesses in which the end edge of the intermediate sleeve can be received for stabilization.

In another version, the switching mechanism can act on the inner sleeve of the housing, in which case the restoring force of the spring that biases the writing element against the inner sleeve is greater than that of the spring that biases the inner sleeve against the outer sleeve.

The springs are then advantageously dimensioned such that when the actuating element is actuated, the pressure on the two springs first affects only the spring that supports the intermediate sleeve against the housing, so that until the closure part has opened sufficiently, the writing element does not relative to the intermediate sleeve can be moved.

This securing can be additionally supported by projections provided on the inside of the segments of the closure part, which engage in a corresponding shoulder of the writing element, so that the latter cannot be displaced axially relative to the intermediate sleeve until the closure part has opened sufficiently. The spring travel of the spring supporting the intermediate sleeve against the housing can be limited by a corresponding geometric dimensioning of the spring or by a retaining projection on the intermediate sleeve, which limits the axial displacement of the intermediate sleeve and thus the spring travel.

It can be particularly advantageous if part of the switching mechanism is formed in one piece with the writing element. In this case, the intermediate sleeve can be designed as a short half-sleeve, which advantageously has a flange at the rearward end, on which the spring biasing the intermediate sleeve against the writing element is advantageously supported via slidable rings.

A further sleeve which is coaxial to it and which is biased against the intermediate sleeve instead of the writing element can advantageously be arranged in the intermediate sleeve. This intermediate sleeve can advantageously be retained against the spring pressure by suitable retention projections or beads in the intermediate sleeve. In addition, a fountain pen system can advantageously be arranged in this intermediate sleeve.

In order to enable a particularly simple change of cartridge or writing element, the intermediate sleeve can in this case be open at its rear end and the cartridge or writing element can be provided with a gripping attachment for pulling out.

To improve the hermetic sealing effect of the segments, their abutting edges can advantageously be provided with a seal and / or can be profiled complementarily to one another.

In order to significantly improve the sealing effect or the protection against drying out, sealing bead segments can advantageously be arranged on the segments on the side facing the writing element, which in the storage position lie against one another and sealingly against the writing element and thus the writing element tip section with the abutting segment edges Form the surrounding, hermetically sealed chamber.

It is sufficient and can even be advantageous if the seals provided on the segment edges only run from the segment tip to the height of the sealing bead segments. This can make it easier to manufacture the entire closure part from one part, since the seal then only has to be attached in the part of the closure part which can be expanded further.

It can be particularly advantageous if the individual segments are manufactured separately and are stored and held in an intermediate ring which is detachably attached to the intermediate sleeve. This ring can advantageously consist of elastic material in which the segments are mounted obliquely outwards to the axial direction of the intermediate ring, so that the elasticity of the intermediate ring supports the radial prestressing of the segments.

A sealing ring (23 ') or coating (71) can also be arranged at a point opposite the segments in the storage position, against which the inner surfaces of the segments come to rest and so that the sealing ring adopts the tip section of the writing element (2). Form the surrounding, hermetically sealed chamber (6).

The design of the lead tip with a sealing ring or a sealing coating has the advantage that the inside of the segment can be designed without sealing bead elements, which makes their manufacture considerably easier. In addition, this configuration according to the invention ensures that a fresh seal for the chamber surrounding the tip section of the writing element is supplied with each refill change. In addition, the sealing ring has the advantage that it can serve as a feed protection of the writing element in the storage position.

A particularly simple embodiment of the writing instrument according to the invention provides that the inner surface areas of the segments are designed to be complementary to the shape of the tip section of the writing element and, in the storage position, can come into sealing contact with the tip of the lead itself. As a result, the provision of any sealing beads has become superfluous, which further simplifies the manufacture of the writing instrument. To improve the sealing effect between the segments and the tip of the lead, the inner surface of the segments can be made rubber-elastic, or can be provided with a rubber-elastic coating. In the same way, the surface of the lead tip in the contact area can also be made rubber-elastic.

An embodiment of the writing element according to the invention which is particularly advantageous for fountain pens is characterized in that the inner sleeve (74) is formed in part-shell and in that the segment tip (8 ') is formed in one piece as a part-shell closure part which is connected to the inner part via an elastically biased transition part Sleeve is connected.

The partial-shell design of the closure part has the advantage that it can be adapted as best as possible to the contours of a fountain pen tip. In addition, the one-piece design of the closure part is considerably easier to manufacture.

The inner sleeve can advantageously be formed in one piece with the segment tip, as a result of which only one manufacturing step is necessary.

To ensure a good seal of the tip-side chamber, a sealing bead element can be arranged in the closure part, which comes to bear sealingly against the tip section of the writing element in the storage position. This sealing bead segment can also be formed in one piece with the closure part.

In the case of a closure part consisting of several segments in a writing instrument of the type mentioned above, the edges of the individual segments can advantageously be connected to one another by thin-walled, elastic segment connections which are folded inwards in the storage position. This has the advantage that, firstly, seals no longer have to be applied to the segment edges and, secondly, that absolute tightness to the side is ensured.

A writing instrument of the type mentioned can be further improved in that the inner sleeve consists of two interconnected cylinders of different diameters, one spring being arranged outside the thinner cylinder and the other spring being arranged inside the thicker cylinder. This embodiment has the considerable advantage that the radial dimensions of the writing instrument, especially the outer casing of the writing instrument, can be chosen to be smaller, as a result of which the entire writing instrument becomes slimmer and thus more visually appealing.

To simplify the change of refills in a writing instrument of the type mentioned at the outset, it is advantageous if the outer sleeve (1) is open to the rear and the inner sleeve (7) protrudes rearwards from the outer sleeve (1) in the storage position. Characterized in that the inner sleeve protrudes rearwards from the outer sleeve, the rear part of the inner sleeve, which is connected to the front part via a screw thread, can be unscrewed for a mine change without the outer sleeve having to be screwed on beforehand. This significantly simplifies mine replacement.

The sealing effect of the segments of the writing instrument according to the invention can be improved in that the outer surface of the closure part tapers backwards in two steps of different inclination to the longitudinal axis, the part with a weaker inclination facing the tip part. The two-stage incline design according to the invention ensures a two-stage closing process. When the writing instrument is closed, the free edge of the tip-side end of the outer casing first comes into contact with the strongly inclined outer surface area of the closure part. This ensures that the writing element is first completely moved into the inner sleeve before the radial locking movement then begins very quickly when the strong inclination is reached. On the other hand, the weaker inclination of the outer surface of the closure part in the second closure stage achieves a greater closing pressure of the segments against one another. This further improves the sealing effect of the segment elements according to the invention.

If the writing instrument according to the invention, specifically the closure mechanism according to the invention for capillary recorders is to be used, it is advantageously designed such that a sealing surface for the tip and the spiral exit is arranged on the inside of the segment tip, and that the actuating element acts on the inner sleeve and after a limited axial displacement of the inner sleeve comes into contact with and acts on the writing element and moves it axially. On the one hand, the provision of the sealing surface for the tip and the spiral outlet ensures that no ink or the like can escape from the capillary and the spiral outlet in the storage position of the writing instrument. On the other hand, the design of the actuating element according to the invention ensures that simple operation by means of a printing mechanism is achieved even in a pen, for example. The fact that the actuating element acts on the inner sleeve before it comes into contact with the writing element ensures that the capillary tip and the helical outlet are released from the sealing surface before the radial opening movement of the segment tip to which the sealing surface is attached starts. This effectively prevents displacement of the capillary tip. This configuration of the writing instrument according to the invention for the first time creates an ink or capillary pen, in which without any cap that could be lost, the pen is absolutely sealed.

Seven exemplary embodiments of the writing instrument are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1

einen Längsschnitt durch eine Ausführungsform des Schreibgerätes in der Verschluß-, bzw. Ruhestellung,

Fig. 1a

einen Längsschnitt durch das Schreibgerät von Fig. 1 in der Schreibstellung,

Fig. 2

einen Längsschnitt durch eine weitere Ausführungsform des Schreibgerätes in der Verschlußstellung,

Fig. 3

einen Längsschnitt durch eine weitere Ausführungsform des Schreibgerätes in der Verschlußstellung,

Fig. 3a

einen Längsschnitt durch das Schreibgerät von Fig. 3 in der Schreibstellung,

Fig. 4

einen Querschnitt durch das Schreibgerät nach Fig. 3a,

Fig. 5

einen Längsschnitt durch den hinteren Teil der Zwischenhülse (7) nach Fig. 3,

Fig. 6

einen teilweise weggebrochenen Längsschnitt durch den vorderen Teil des Betätigungselements (sowie Spann- und Schaltelement) (11) nach Fig. 3,

Fig. 7-7c

Längsschnitte durch eine weitere Ausführungsform des Schreibgerätes in verschiedenen Ruhe-, Schalt- usw. Phasen,

Fig. 8

einen Längsschnitt durch eine weitere Ausführungsform des Schreibgerätes in Ruhestellung,

Fig. 8a

einen Längsschnitt durch das Schreibgerät von Fig. 8 in Schreibstellung,

Fig. 9

einen Querschnitt durch den Spitzenabschnitt des Schreibgerätes nach Fig. 8,

Fig. 10

einen Querschnitt durch den Spitzenabschnitt des Schreibgerätes nach Fig. 8a,

Fig. 11

eine abgerollte Innenansicht der Führungsnuten (51) der Schaltmechanik von Fig. 8,

Fig. 12

eine Vorderansicht des Spitzenteils des Schreibgerätes von Fig. 8,

Fig. 13

eine Vorderansicht des Spitzenteils des Schreibgerätes von Fig. 8a,

Fig. 14

einen Längsschnitt durch eine weitere Ausführungsform des Schreibgerätes in Ruhestellung,

Fig. 14a

einen Längsschnitt durch das Schreibgerät von Fig. 14 in Schreibstellung,

Fig. 15a-h

Details (bzw. Teilquerschnitte) verschiedener Ausführungsformen des Spitzenteils des Schreibgerätes,

Fig. 16

eine Vorderansicht nach Fig. 15d,f,g,

Fig. 17

eine Vorderansicht nach Fig. 15e,h,

Fig. 18

eine Vorderansicht nach Fig. 15a,b,c,

Fig. 19

einen Teilquerschnitt durch eine Ausführungsform zur Erläuterung der hermetischen Kammer (Segmentkammer) in der Spitze des Gerätes,

Fig. 20

eine schematische Ansicht der Dichtlinien der hermetischen Segmentkammer entsprechend Fig. 19,

Fig. 21

eine teilweise weggebrochene (sowie geschnittene) perspektivische Vorderansicht der Spitze des Schreibgerätes (Mit geschnittener, hermetischer Segmentkammer), nach Fig. 19 und 20,

Fig. 22a-1

ein Kodell der Funktionsabläufe und Schubbewegungen der Ausführungsbeispiele nach den Figuren: 2, 7-7c, 8 und 8a, 14 und 14a, 23 und 23a,

Fig. 23

einen Teillängsschnitt durch eine weitere Ausführungsform des Schreibgerätes in Ruhestellung,

Fig. 23a

einen Teillängsschnitt durch das Schreibgerät nach Fig. 23 in Schreibstellung,

Fig. 24

einen Querschnitt durch Teile der Verschlußanordnung einer weiteren Ausführungsform des Schreibgerätes,

Fig. 25

eine Vorderansicht des Spitzenteils des Schreibgerätes von Fig. 23,

Fig. 26

eine Vorderansicht des Spitzenteils des Schreibgerätes von Fig. 23a,

Fig. 27

ein teilweise weggebrochenes einzelnes Aufbiegesegment (34) aus dem Verschlußteil (8) des Schreibgerätes von Fig. 23,

Fig. 28-28c

Längsschnitte durch eine Ausführungsform des Schreibgerätes in verschiedenen Ruhe-, Schalt- usw. Phasen,

Fig. 29

einen Längsschnitt durch eine weitere Ausführungsform des Schreibgerätes,

Fig. 30

einen Teillängsschnitt durch eine weitere Ausführungsform des Schreibgerätes,

Fig. 31

einen Längsschnitt durch das Verschlußteil einer weiteren Ausführungsform des Schreibgerätes,

Fig. 32

eine Vorderansicht des geschlossenen Spitzenteils einer weiteren Ausführungsform des Schreibgerätes,

Fig. 32a

eine Vorderansicht des Spitzenteils aus Fig. 5 in geöffnetem Zustand,

Fig. 33

einen Längsschnitt durch eine weitere Ausführungsform des Schreibgerätes.

Show it:

Fig. 1

2 shows a longitudinal section through an embodiment of the writing instrument in the closed or rest position,

Fig. 1a

2 shows a longitudinal section through the writing instrument of FIG. 1 in the writing position,

Fig. 2

2 shows a longitudinal section through a further embodiment of the writing instrument in the closed position,

Fig. 3

2 shows a longitudinal section through a further embodiment of the writing instrument in the closed position,

Fig. 3a

3 shows a longitudinal section through the writing instrument of FIG. 3 in the writing position,

Fig. 4

3 shows a cross section through the writing instrument according to FIG. 3a,

Fig. 5

3 shows a longitudinal section through the rear part of the intermediate sleeve (7) according to FIG. 3,

Fig. 6

3 shows a partially broken longitudinal section through the front part of the actuating element (and tensioning and switching element) according to FIG. 3,

Fig. 7-7c

Longitudinal sections through a further embodiment of the writing instrument in various rest, switching, etc. phases,

Fig. 8

2 shows a longitudinal section through a further embodiment of the writing instrument in the rest position,

Fig. 8a

8 shows a longitudinal section through the writing instrument of FIG. 8 in the writing position,

Fig. 9

8 shows a cross section through the tip section of the writing instrument according to FIG. 8,

Fig. 10

8a shows a cross section through the tip section of the writing instrument according to FIG. 8a,

Fig. 11

a rolled-up inside view of the guide grooves (51) of the Switching mechanism of Fig. 8,

Fig. 12

8 shows a front view of the tip part of the writing instrument of FIG. 8,

Fig. 13

8a shows a front view of the tip part of the writing instrument from FIG. 8a,

Fig. 14

2 shows a longitudinal section through a further embodiment of the writing instrument in the rest position,

14a

14 shows a longitudinal section through the writing instrument of FIG. 14 in the writing position,

15a-h

Details (or partial cross-sections) of different embodiments of the tip part of the writing instrument,

Fig. 16

15d, f, g,

Fig. 17

15e, h,

Fig. 18

15a, b, c,

Fig. 19

a partial cross section through an embodiment to explain the hermetic chamber (segment chamber) in the tip of the device,

Fig. 20

19 shows a schematic view of the sealing lines of the hermetic segment chamber corresponding to FIG. 19,

Fig. 21

a partially broken (and cut) perspective front view of the tip of the writing instrument (with cut, hermetic segment chamber), according to FIGS. 19 and 20,

22a-1

2 shows a code of the functional sequences and pushing movements of the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 2, 7-7c, 8 and 8a, 14 and 14a, 23 and 23a,

Fig. 23

a partial longitudinal section through a further embodiment of the writing instrument in the rest position,

Fig. 23a

23 shows a partial longitudinal section through the writing instrument according to FIG. 23 in the writing position,

Fig. 24

3 shows a cross section through parts of the closure arrangement of a further embodiment of the writing instrument,

Fig. 25

23 shows a front view of the tip part of the writing instrument of FIG. 23,

Fig. 26

23a shows a front view of the tip part of the writing instrument from FIG. 23a,

Fig. 27

a partially broken open segment (34) from the closure part (8) of the writing instrument of FIG. 23,

28-28c

Longitudinal sections through an embodiment of the writing instrument in various rest, switching, etc. phases,

Fig. 29

2 shows a longitudinal section through a further embodiment of the writing instrument,

Fig. 30

a partial longitudinal section through a further embodiment of the writing instrument,

Fig. 31

2 shows a longitudinal section through the closure part of a further embodiment of the writing instrument,

Fig. 32

2 shows a front view of the closed tip part of a further embodiment of the writing instrument,

32a

5 shows a front view of the tip part from FIG. 5 in the open state,

Fig. 33

a longitudinal section through a further embodiment of the writing instrument.

The embodiment of the writing instrument shown in Fig. 1 (or 1a) has a sleeve-shaped, preferably two-part housing 1 and 31, and an intermediate sleeve 7 arranged therein, which at its end facing the writing tip with a hermetically sealable closure part 8 and on it rear end is provided with an actuating element 15, and finally a writing element 2 located in the writing instrument with a liquid writing medium which is generally at risk of evaporation.

1, the writing element 2 is, for example, a felt-tip lead. The hermetically sealable closure part 8 consists of at least two, but preferably three to ten, radially outwardly preloaded, expandable and made of elastic material bending segments 34 which extend from the outside into the sleeve-shaped housing 1 and here, are firmly connected to one another at the end of the closure part 8 facing the tip.

The closure part 8 is mounted on the intermediate sleeve 7 via a screw, bayonet or similar connection 42. This in turn is preloaded by means of a radial projection 36 via a compression spring 9, which is supported on a shoulder 37 of the housing 1, in the opposite direction to the writing tip, as a result of which the attached, partly external, closure part 8 is pulled towards the interior of the housing.

Because the tip part 5 protruding from the housing part 1, the closure part 8 has a larger outside diameter in relation to the inside diameter of the housing opening 44, which tapers towards a smaller outside diameter in the direction of the inside of the housing, the individual bending segments 34 at this bevel from the opening 44 , at the same time, equally strong and equally compressed radially inward against their bending preload. The axial pressure acting through the compression spring 9 on the intermediate sleeve 7 or on the closure part 8, which is deflected radially inwards by means of the action of the housing opening 44 on the closure part 8, must be greater than the sum of the radially outward pressure acting on it of all bending segments 34 of the closure part 8. As a result, the bending segments 34 of the closure part 8 form a seamless segment cap, which is used for writing and serves to hermetically seal the tip 26 of the writing element 2, as is shown in more detail in further representations (for example, FIG. 21, Fig. 12, Fig. 9) together, which in turn for example to strengthen the gas density with a sealing element a lateral, elastic sealing material cover 22 (in FIG. 21) can be provided.

Furthermore, the axially compressed bending segments 34 are connected to sealing bead segments 23, which also lie seamlessly against one another, which seal tightly behind the tip 26 of the writing element 2 on a tip section 4 of the writing element 2 and thus the writing element tip 26, which is at risk of drying out, also to the interior of the housing 1, or the Seal the intermediate sleeve 7 gas-tight.

With the two sealing functions of the bending segments 34 and the associated sealing bead segments 23 to the front / outside, as well as to the rear / inside, in the illustrated closed position of the writing element 2, finally, around the writing element tip 26, which is at risk of drying out, hermetically sealed sealing chamber 6 (as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 will be seen even more clearly), any air supply slots 39, for example at the tip section 4 of the writing element 2, can also be accommodated within the hermetic sealing chamber 6 of the writing instrument.

The functions of the closure part 8, which produces the hermetic sealing chamber 6, or the bending segments 34 and the sealing bead segments 23 connected therewith, as well as the intermediate sleeve 7 can, as far as, i.e. exclusively with regard to the production of the gas-tight closed position of the writing instrument, regardless of other possible functions, in principle for all embodiments of the writing instrument as analog. In the present embodiment (FIG. 1) in the closed position, the sealing bead segments 23 also have the function of securing the writing element 2 against wobbling or slipping within the writing instrument and thus preventing damage to the writing element tip 26.

To start up the writing instrument, the actuating element 15 connected to the intermediate sleeve 7 is depressed and the writing instrument is held with the tip downward. Due to the loss of pressure in the housing opening 44 on the tip part 5 of the closure part 8, the bending segments 34 spread out in the direction of their radial preload until the sealing bead segments 23 associated therewith are sufficiently far apart radially to the writing element 2, which in turn in the Functional sleeve 43 belonging to the writing instrument is engaged to allow it to fall out of the device sleeve 1 in the direction of the writing element tip 26 due to its own weight (and that of the functional sleeve 43), the writing element 2 falling out due to the impact of a stop 16 of the functional sleeve 43 on a radial one Projection of the segment part 38 is limited. The writing element 2 emerges far enough from the housing 1 and 31 of the intermediate sleeve 7 around the writing element tip previously sealed in the hermetic sealing chamber 6 26, as well as any air supply slots 39 which ensure the flow of writing medium, at the tip section 4 of the writing element 2 for the writing process.

After the actuation element 15 has been depressed and the writing element tip 26 has stepped outward, the functional elements of the writing instrument move into the position indicated by FIG. 1a. Due to the loss of actuation pressure, the pressure of the spring 9 is again effective via the intermediate sleeve 7 and the radially inward deflection through the housing opening 44 onto the tip part 5 of the closure part 8. As a result, the bending segments 34 are pressed radially inwards again, the major part of the radial pressure now acting via the pressure shoulder 49 on the functional sleeve 43, which is related to the fact that the bending segments 34 and the writing element 2 are shaped so that the portion of the writing element 2, which comes to lie immediately parallel to the pressure shoulders 49 of the bending segments 34 after its limited emergence, together with the functional sleeve 43 has a larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of the closure part 8 in the area of the pressure shoulders 49, while relative to that, directly in the area of Pressure shoulder 49 lying section of the writing element 2 has a smaller diameter before it emerges.
A smaller part of the radial pressure can also act on the tip section 4 of the writing element via the segment tips 48.
The axial writing pressure acting in the longitudinal direction of the writing instrument against the writing element tip 26 is absorbed by a functional sleeve projection 47 against a lateral contact surface 45 of the pressure shoulder 49 of the bending segment 34, thereby preventing the writing element 2 from yielding or wobbling along the side during writing, while the laterally acting part of the writing pressure is stabilized by the radial pressure of the pressure shoulder 49 on the functional sleeve 43, and by the tight guidance of the end of the writing element 2 in the actuating element 15 and the lateral guidance of the functional sleeve 43 against the projection 38 and the stop 16 against the intermediate sleeve 7.

The intermediate sleeve 7 is in turn in the rear part of the housing 31 closely guided and can still be radially stabilized there with a resilient element.

In order to finally bring the writing instrument back into the closed position, the actuating element 15 must accordingly be pressed again and the tip of the writing instrument must point upward, the inherent weight-related falling of the writing element 2 into the writing instrument preferably being intercepted by the actuating element 15.

If it becomes necessary to replace the writing element 2, there is a) the possibility of removing the actuating element 15 and the rear part of the housing 31, and then pulling the writing element 2, on the part which now protrudes from the intermediate sleeve 7 at the rear, to the rear until the functional sleeve projection 47 strikes the radial projection 38 of the closure part 8 (which is, however, integrated into the closure part 8) and then pull the writing element 2 out of the functional sleeve 43 against the resistance of the radial snap-in projection 54. The tip section 4 of the writing element 2 is shaped in such a way that no writing material is released from the writing element tip 26 to the sealing bead segments 23 during pulling out, which can also be prevented, if necessary, by a slight depression of the intermediate sleeve 7 and corresponding radial separation of the sealing bead segments 23.

Another possibility b) of changing the writing element is obtained by removing (for example unscrewing) the closure part 8 and then pulling together with the writing element 2 out of the sleeve 1/31 and the intermediate sleeve 7, after which the bending segments 34 and the sealing bead segments 23 are already radially apart and the writing element 2 can be pulled in the manner described above from the functional sleeve 43, which is held in the closed position by the projection 47 and the projection 38 of the closure part 8.

A further possibility c) of changing the writing element is obtained in another exemplary embodiment, not shown, in which the functional sleeve 43 is an integral part of the writing element 2, the radial projection 47 being shaped such that when the writing element 2 is pulled out of the closure part 8 the projection 38 of the closure part 8 without further can happen. In this exemplary embodiment, after the actuating element 15 and the rear housing part 31 have been removed, it is only necessary to hold the writing instrument with the upward and to move the intermediate sleeve 7 briefly against the pressure of the spring 9, whereupon the bending segments 34 and the sealing bead segments 23 diverge and the writing element 2 falls out on its back due to its own weight. This shifting of the intermediate sleeve 7 is finally omitted if the sealing bead segments 23 are designed such that they lie tightly against the tip section 4 of the writing element 2, but not so firmly that they prevent an axial, weight-related slipping backwards.

A further variation d) of the writing element change finally results when the writing element 2 and the actuating element 15 are shaped relative to one another in such a way that the writing element 2 extends so far into the actuating element 15 that after removing the actuating element 15 it is already far enough out of the rear housing half 31 protrudes to provide enough surface for the rear pulling out of the writing element 2, without an additional removal of the rear housing half 31 is required.
The functional sequence of the embodiment described in FIG. 2 is described below in connection with FIG. 14.

The further embodiment of the writing instrument shown in Figures 3 to 6 has a preferably two-part housing 1 and 31, and an intermediate sleeve 7, which is provided at its end facing the writing tip with a hermetically closable closure part 8 and which at its rear end in an actuation - And switching element 11 is clamped, and finally a writing element 2 located therein with a liquid, usually evaporation-prone writing medium.

3 and 3a, the writing element 2 is, for example, a felt-tip refill. The functions of the hermetic closure part 8 or the bending segments 34 and the sealing bead segments 23, the spring 9 and the intermediate sleeve 7 of the writing instrument are related to the hermetic closure of the writing element tip 26 in the sealing chamber 6 and only in this regard essentially to the functions of the corresponding elements of the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 / 1a. The specific differences between the present exemplary embodiment and the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 / 1a arise with regard to the further functions when the writing instrument is started up. For this purpose, the rear part of the housing 31 (FIGS. 3, 3a and 4) is provided on its inner wall with guide grooves 51 for a switching mechanism 3, which are only shown schematically.

Furthermore, as can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5, the rear part of the intermediate sleeve 7 is preferably provided with three longitudinal recesses 12 which extend to the end of the intermediate sleeve 7 and thus the rear part of the intermediate sleeve 7 into three rigid slats of the same size 40 divide. These intermediate sleeve lamellae 40, as shown in FIGS. 3, 3a and 6, are fixed in corresponding clamping recesses 55 of the actuating element 11. The tensioning effect can be further stabilized by mutually corresponding grooves, grooves etc. on the intermediate sleeve lamellae 40 and in the tensioning recesses 55.

As can be seen from FIGS. 3, 3a and 4, a preferably three-part control attachment 14 is preferably attached to the end part of the writing element 2 facing away from the writing tip 26, which extends through the rear recesses 12 of the intermediate sleeve 7 in such a way that the longitudinal displaceability of the writing element 2 is limited preserved. The writing element 2 is preloaded by means of the control lug 14 by an only weakly acting further spring 10 arranged between the writing element 2 and the intermediate sleeve 7 against a further, preferably inside radial projection 46 against the intermediate sleeve 7. This only slight pressure, which preloads the writing element 2 against the intermediate sleeve 7, of the further spring 10 is transferred via the ends of the control attachment 14 outside the intermediate sleeve 7 to a switching ring 13 (belonging to the switching mechanism 3 = 13, 50 and 51) (FIG. 4 ) and passed on to the switching teeth 50 of the actuating element 11 (FIG. 3), while the sealing bead segments 23 that fix the writing element can also absorb part of this pressure, as long as the closed state shown in FIG. 3 of the writing instrument lasts. The pressure of the spring 10 (FIG. 3) is thus virtually enclosed between the projection 46 of the intermediate sleeve 7 and the switching teeth 50 of the actuating element 11 connected to the intermediate sleeve 7 in the intermediate sleeve 7.

Commissioning of the writing instrument takes place in a manner similar to that of a ballpoint pen, by pressing the actuating element 11 only once. The actuating element 11 (FIG. 3) moves the intermediate sleeve 7 anchored therein against the pressure of the spring 9, as a result of which the bending segments move 34 of the associated closure part 8 spread radially outwards, and parallel to it the writing element 2, on which the low thrust pressure required is exerted by the switching teeth 50 of the actuating element 11 via the switching ring 13 on the control shoulder 14 of the writing element 2.

To the in Dig. 3a to assume the readiness to write position shown, the actuating element 11 is now pressed so far into the housing part 31 until the switching ring 13 arrives at the level of the switching point 59 of the switching guide grooves and by means of the switching teeth 50 of the actuating element 11 into the grooves, which are only up to the detent position " outside "58 run, jumps.

As a result of the now decreasing actuation pressure, the intermediate sleeve 7 and the writing element 2 supported against the intermediate sleeve 7 via the spring 10 are pressed again in the direction of the rear housing part. The writing element 2 is supported in this backward movement from the point of the latching position "outside" 58 in the switching ring 13 (Fig. 4) supported against the housing, while the intermediate sleeve 7 moves further under the pressure of the spring 9, finally moving retract the radially spread bending segments 34 of the closure part 8 so far behind the tip 26 of the supported writing element 2 that it is released for the writing process. The intermediate sleeve 7 moves so far to the rear until the bending segments 34 are pressed radially inwards again on their beveling towards the interior of the housing from the housing opening 44.

The writing element 2 and the bending segments 34 are thus in relation to one another shaped that the writing element 2 has a larger outer diameter in relation to its tip section 4 and the part with the larger outer diameter pushes forward so far in the readiness for writing position that only the pressure shoulders 49 of the bending segments 34 press onto the writing element 2, so that the Do not rest segment tips 48 in order not to use sealing materials (not shown here, however, shown on the bending segments 34, but not shown here, cf., for example, FIGS. 12, 13, 16, 18) because of the contact pressure which may damage them. A further axial displacement of the intermediate sleeve 7 in the direction of the actuating element 11 is thus prevented here by the clamping action of the bending segments 34 between the writing element 2 and the housing opening 44.

The pressure from the further spring 10, supported on the projection 46 of the intermediate sleeve 7, on the control shoulder 14 of the writing element 2 is no longer intercepted in this position by the switching teeth 50 of the actuating element 11 and thus within the intermediate sleeve 7 itself, but via the switching ring 13 from the rear housing part 31. As a result, the low pressure of the spring 10 acts in the ready-to-write position against the spring 9, which is why the pressure of the spring 9 must be greater than the sum of the pressure of the spring 10 and the bending pressure of all bending segments 34 against the housing opening 44. The latter, additional loading of the spring 9 by the spring 10 is omitted in another (not shown) embodiment, in which the preloading of the control shoulder 14 of the writing element 2 via an outside of the intermediate sleeve 7 on the also outside ends of the Control approach 14 acting compression spring 10, which against the housing 1 or 31 is supported.

Against the effect of the more axially acting writing pressure on the writing element tip 26 (FIG. 3a), the writing element 2 is supported in this position against the switching ring 13 and the rear housing part, while the fixation against the laterally acting part of the writing pressure via the radial projection 38 on Closure part 8, the projection 46 on the intermediate sleeve 7, and the radial pressure of the pressure shoulders 49 of the bending segment 34 is ensured.

To return to the closed state, only a further depressing of the actuating element 11 is required, the corresponding functions running in a corresponding sequence up to the closed position in FIG. 3.

To enable the writing element to be changed, the housing part 31 is first removed (FIG. 3). The guide grooves 51 of the switching mechanism 3 have no limits towards the housing end part 31, so that the switching, clamping and actuating element 11 guided therein can be pulled back from the intermediate sleeve plates 40 and pulled out of the guide grooves 51. By slightly depressing the intermediate sleeve 7, the sealing bead segments 23 are now lifted a little out of the sealing grooves 56 at the tip section 4 of the writing element 2, whereupon the writing element 2, which is under a slight prestress of the spring 10, together with the switching ring 13 behind it, pops out a bit from the writing instrument and finally can be exchanged.
All other, now following exemplary embodiments of the writing instrument according to FIGS. 7, 8, 14, 2 and 23 have the functions required for the purpose of getting ready to write or closing, such as holding, supporting, opening and closing functions of the closure part 8 on the one hand, and to coordinate functions of stepping out, snapping in or out, supporting or pulling in the writing element 2, an automatic control mechanism which functions according to the sequence of movements shown in FIG. 22. The above-mentioned exemplary embodiments can therefore be regarded as the same with regard to the function of their commissioning or locking, which is why after the treatment of the next exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 7 to 7c only the specific differences of the following exemplary embodiments are dealt with.

The further exemplary embodiment of the writing instrument shown in FIGS. 7-7c has a preferably two-part housing 1 and 31, as well as a two-part intermediate sleeve 7 and 60 therein, which has a hermetically closable closure part at its end facing the writing tip 8 is connected. Furthermore, a writing element 2 is located in the writing instrument, which is located essentially within the intermediate sleeve 7 (or 60) and the closure part 8 during the closed state (FIG. 7).

The writing element 2 is provided at its rear end with an actuating element 11 reaching through both sleeves and a switching mechanism 3 (= 13, 50 and 51) and here axially guided by a guide pin 35 in a switching ring 13 and in the actuating element 11. There is usually a liquid, evaporation-prone writing medium in the writing element 2 and the tip 26 of the writing element 2, which is at risk of drying out, is caused by the interaction of the intermediate sleeve 7, the spring 9, the housing 1, the closure part 8, and the sealing bead segments 23 and the housing opening 44 hermetically sealed in the same way as has already been carried out for the corresponding parts in the first embodiment of the writing instrument according to FIG. 1 and applies to all exemplary embodiments of the writing instrument.

To put the writing instrument into operation, the closure part 8 must be opened on the one hand when the pressure is actuated only once, without the writing element 2 moving relative thereto, since premature advance could damage the writing tip 26, and on the other hand the writing element 2 via a switching mechanism located in the writing instrument 3 are brought into the readiness to write position. For this purpose, it is necessary to keep the closure part 8, which is constantly under lock (pre) tension, open until the feed, switching and latching process with which the writing element 2 is brought into the ready-to-write position is completed, which is why the writing instrument is provided with a dedicated one Control mechanism is equipped. This includes that in the intermediate sleeve 7, which is preloaded against the housing 1 via a spring 9, there is a further spring 10, via which the writing element 2 in turn by means of a radial projection 17 against a radial projection 38 of the intermediate sleeve 7 (which, however is integrated in the closure part 8 for the purpose of changing the lead) is preloaded (FIG. 7). The spring 10 has a stronger compressive force than the spring 9, so that the writing element 2 against the intermediate sleeve 7/60 in the direction Actuating element 11 is preloaded as the intermediate sleeve 7/60 against the housing 1 (likewise in the direction of the actuating element 11), while on the other hand the preloading pressure on the writing element 2 from the actuating element 11 against the intermediate sleeve part 60, and the intermediate sleeve preloading from the closure part 8 against the housing opening 44 is intercepted.

The intermediate sleeve 7 furthermore has a limiting projection 52, as a result of which its axial displaceability is restricted to the relatively short distance between the limiting projection 52 and a further housing shoulder 41. Furthermore, there are guide grooves 51 for the switching mechanism 3 on the inner wall of the rear intermediate sleeve part 60, which also include the switching ring 13 and the switching teeth 50 of the actuating element 11. (Instead of the switching mechanism 3 or 51, 50 and 13 shown, other, correspondingly suitable switching mechanisms can also be used.)

To start up the writing instrument, the actuating element 11 is depressed. The “model of the functional sequences and pushing movements” in FIGS. 22a-l is also used to carry out the movement sequences which then start.

Due to the starting actuating pressure, which acts from the actuating element 11 via its switching teeth 50 on the switching ring 13 and finally on the writing element 2, both the writing element 2 and, in parallel, the intermediate sleeve 7/60 move axially in the direction of the housing opening 44 ( Fig. 7 after Fig. 7a). The writing element 2 initially remains stationary relative to the intermediate sleeve 7/60, since the pressure acting on the intermediate sleeve 7 from the writing element 2 via the strong spring 10 is almost completely applied to the weaker spring 9, on which the intermediate sleeve 7 is in turn supported against the housing 1 , is passed on. During this process, which continues until the limiting projection 52 of the intermediate sleeve 7 strikes the housing shoulder 41 (FIG. 7a), only the closure part 8 opens, ie the bending segments 34 and the sealing bead segments 23 connected therewith spread radially so far, that the writing element 2, or its tip section 4, can pass freely to the outside (see also FIG. 22a to b). In the stage of commissioning of the writing instrument shown in FIG. 7a, the further compression of the spring 9 by the spring 10 is prevented by the advance limitation of the intermediate sleeve 7/60 (and also the closure part 8), whereupon the writing element 2 finally opposes the pressure of the spring 10 moved axially forward relative to the intermediate sleeve 7/60. On the one hand, the switching ring 13 in the rear intermediate sleeve part 60, which belongs to the switching mechanism 3, pushes up to a switching point 59, and on the other hand the tip section 4 of the writing element 2 pushes through the open tip section 5 of the closure part 8 until the tip 26 of the writing element 2 moves in FIG. 7b only occupies the position shown in broken lines, which corresponds to position c in FIG. 22.

With the now decreasing actuating pressure, the writing element 2 is pushed back by the spring pressure of the spring 10 in the direction of the actuating element 11 until the switching ring 13 is locked in the latching position "outside" 58 and thus ends the rear thrust of the writing element 2 and supports it (Fig 7b and 22d). Even during this backward movement of the writing element 2, the closure part 8 remains open continuously, since the pressure transmission of the spring 10 to the spring 9 continues to be maintained. Only when the pressure of the spring 10 is supported by the switching ring 13 in the latching position "outside" 58 of the shift guide grooves 51 and the actuation pressure decreases further, does the intermediate sleeve 7/60 sit together with the writing element 2 by the pressure of the spring 9 in the Direction of the actuating element 11 in motion until finally, due to the radial pressure of the housing opening 44, the bending segments 34, the segment tips 48 come to rest on the tip section 4 of the writing element 2 (FIGS. 7c and 22e).

The exemplary embodiment of the writing instrument according to FIGS. 7 to 7c is thus brought into the ready-to-write position by one-time pressure actuation, it goes through the phases shown in FIGS. 22a-e. The point in time of the effective actuation pressure is identified here in the phases Fig. 22a-c and the decreasing or terminated actuation pressure by the phases Fig. 22c-e. The maximum feed of the closure part 8 (or the intermediate sleeve 7/60) is through the line l., The maximum Feed the Schrelbelements 2 to the switching point 59 of the switching mechanism 3 through the line j., And the level of the engaged writing element 2 with the closure open by the line k. featured.

The functional sequence which occurs when the pressure is re-closed again is finally represented by phases c-i in FIG. 22.

For the writing process, the writing element 2 (FIG. 7c) is supported by the switching ring 13 in relation to the axially acting writing pressure. The radially acting writing pressure, on the other hand, is absorbed by the guide pin 35 against the switching mechanism 3, the radial projections 17 and 38 against the intermediate sleeve 7 and the writing element 2, and by the inward radial pressure of the segment tips 48 of the bending segments 34. The writing element 2 and the bending segments 34 can be shaped to one another in the same way as in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 3a, so that not the segment tips 48 but mainly certain segment shoulders 49 rest during writing.

In order to replace the writing element 2, either the closure part 8 or the rear sleeve parts 31 and 60 can be removed.
A further exemplary embodiment of the writing instrument according to FIGS. 8 to 13 has a preferably two-part housing 1 and 31 and a short intermediate sleeve 7 located in the front housing part 1, on the end of which facing the writing tip a hermetically sealable closure part 8 is mounted. In the writing instrument there is also a writing element 2 which is guided axially in an actuating element 15 (without an additional switching function) via a guide pin 35 fastened to its rear end.

The sequence of functions and pushing movements that occur when this writing instrument is started up corresponds to the functional sequence according to FIG. 22 of the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 7-7c. Furthermore, the type of hermetic closure of the writing element tip 26 corresponds to the manner of closure in the previous exemplary embodiments of the writing instrument. Specific features of the present embodiment of the writing instrument (FIGS. 8-13) can be found in the arrangement and type of the switching mechanism 3, the writing element 2, and its preloading spring 10, the bending segments 34, and the simplified type of writing element replacement. The switching mechanism 3 of the writing instrument consists only of certain (switching) guide grooves 51 (FIG. 11) attached to the inner wall of the short intermediate sleeve 7, as well as a special switchable writing element 2, which is located on its section directly in the area of the intermediate sleeve 7 preferably three or four shift guide connector 61 (Fig. 8, 8a) is provided.

Against an end flange 18, the intermediate sleeve 7 preloaded by a spring 9, the writing element 2 is supported by a somewhat enlarged radial projection 17 with a stronger spring 10 located behind the intermediate sleeve 7.
Since the guide grooves 51 of the switching mechanism 3 (FIG. 11) for the switching guide connecting piece 61 (only one of four was shown for reasons of clarity) of the writing element 2 are axially displaceable in the direction of the actuating element 11 and the spring 10 via the writing element 2 and that Actuating element 11 is supported on the rear housing part 31 (FIG. 8a), in this embodiment the preload on the writing element 2 by the spring 10 in the closed state must be very low, or close to zero pond, since otherwise the closing part 8 is constantly against the pressure of the spring 9 would be pressed.

The switching guide connecting piece 61 (FIG. 11), which is formed in one piece with the writing element 2, is capable of all without any additional switching element due to its double end bevels in conjunction with the correspondingly bevelled end faces of the webs of the switching mechanism 3 delimiting the guide grooves 51 when the writing element 2 is actuated by pressure necessary switching functions. In FIG. 11, the position of only one shift guide connector 61 (out of four) is in the latching position "inside" 57 (corresponding to FIG. 8, FIG. 22a), in the switching point 59 (corresponding to FIG. 22c) and in the latching position "outside" 58 (corresponding to Fig. 8a, Fig. 22e).

The large pressure of the spring 10 can not be effective against the spring 9 in the writing position (Fig. 8a), since it is from the switching socket 61 of the writing element 2 is supported in the latching position "outside" 58 within the intermediate sleeve 7, as a result of which the bending segments 34 or their segment tips 48 can take over the fixing of the tip section 4 of the writing element 2 via the pressure of the spring 9 and the housing opening 44 (FIG 13). Instead of using segment tips 48, the fixing can expediently also be carried out by pressure shoulders 49 of the bending segments 34, as in the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 3a. FIG. 9 shows how, in the case of the preferably three bending segments 34 of the closure part 8, the gas density of the segment edges can be increased with a lateral, elastic sealing material coating 22. Together with the sealing bead segments 23, which rest against one another and on the tip section without a joint, a hermetic surface forms behind the writing element tip 26, which, with the tips 48 of the bending segments 34 (FIG. 12) joining one another in front of the writing element tip 26, forms the complete hermetic closure of the writing element tip 26 manufacture.

The change of the writing element 2 is done by pulling it backwards out of the writing instrument after removing the rear housing part 31 against the low resistance of the sealing bead segments 23. The writing element tip 26 is designed in such a way that it cannot deliver any writing material to the sealing bead segments 23 during this process, e.g. by having a slightly smaller maximum outer diameter than the tip section 4 (seen in Fig. 13).

Another exemplary embodiment of the writing instrument shown in FIGS. 14 and 14a, which is likewise put into operation according to FIGS. 22 a-e and deactivated according to FIG. 22e-i, is preferably a cartridge fountain pen, which e.g. can also be designed as a piston fountain pen or tube or capillary pen.

The writing instrument consists of a preferably two-part housing 1 and 31, as well as a generally one-piece intermediate sleeve 7 at the end of the writing side of which a hermetic closure part 8 is attached. In the front part of the housing 1, or the intermediate sleeve 7 and within the closure part 8 (Fig. 14) there is also a filler element 28 normally remaining in the writing instrument with a cartridge receiving sleeve 63 and a tip-side writing spring 27.

Furthermore, a special switch cartridge 65, which is provided with writing means and is fixed in the filler element 28 and the cartridge receiving sleeve 63 for writing purposes, is arranged in the writing instrument. The switching cartridge 65, which is held at its rear end via a guide 62 in a switching ring 13 and the switching and actuating element 11, is designed so that it withstands the actuation pressure required for switching purposes without deformation. In order to replace the switching cartridge 65, it is only necessary to detach the rear housing half 31 from the front 1 in the idle state of the writing instrument (FIG. 14) and then pull it backwards from the writing instrument with the switching and actuating element 11 supported against it, the Guide grooves 51 of the switching mechanism 3 are designed to be 'open' to the rear. The switching cartridge 65 can then be pulled out of its fixation on the filler element 28 by means of a handle 64 attached to its guide 62, as a result of which the switching ring 13 can also be pulled through the guide grooves 51 which are open towards the rear (which therefore do not have a latching position "inside" 57 in the actual sense , but have a "not engaged inner layer" 57) is pulled out. Since the bias pressure of the spring 10 acts in the closed state of the writing instrument (FIG. 14) on the filler element 28 and can thus act via the switching cartridge 65 on the switching ring 13 and finally the actuating element 11 through the open guide grooves 51 against the housing part 31 it is necessary to intercept this prestressing pressure on the filler element 28 by a limiting projection 53 in order to avoid that the intermediate sleeve 7 or the closure part 8 is kept open continuously in the closed state.

The spring 10 and also the filler element 28 are axially supported in the latching position "outside" 58 during the writing state (FIG. 14a), which enables the radial support of the filler element 28 by the segment tips 48 of the bending segments 34.

The sealing bead segments 23 are held on the bending segments 34 in the writing instrument via snap-in profile strips 24 and engage accordingly during the closed state (FIG. 14) molded sealing grooves 56 on the tip portion 4 of the filler element 28.

In another, preferred, but not shown embodiment of the writing instrument, the snap-in profile strips 24 are shaped such that, in the closed state of the writing instrument, they also engage in the sealing grooves 56 in addition to the sealing bead segments 23 or in other grooves additionally worked into the filler element 28, e.g. To safely intercept the pressure of a cartridge that snaps into the fixation (apart from the strong compression spring 10), provided that this cartridge pressure is counteracted by pressing on the closure part 8 from the outside. In addition, these locking profile strips 24 of the bending segments 34, which are anchored in the filler element 28 during the closure state, are shaped in such a way that they only release themselves from their anchoring in the filler element 28 when the printing device is started up when the bending segments 34 are directed radially outwards due to their material-related Have bent preload far enough to release the anchorage and allow the filler element 28 and the nib 27 to emerge unhindered. In addition to the spring 10, profiled strips designed in this way (which can also be used in principle in all other exemplary embodiments) thus provide additional security that the filler element 28 and the mostly expensive and sensitive pen nib 27 do not appear prematurely (for example when the pressure is actuated extremely quickly or a Functional failure of the spring 10) move against the still closed closure part 8 and can thereby be damaged, and at the same time for the fact that, for example, sealing bead segments 23 made of particularly soft, elastic material, with similar loads, do not slide through sealing grooves 56 or the like. to be damaged.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the writing instrument according to FIG. 2, in which is essentially identical to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 14 / 14a of the writing instrument, instead of a filler element 28 there is a tip section sleeve 19 in the front housing part 1, in which a switching cartridge 65 is inserted instead of a switching cartridge Writing element 2 is guided, the tip 26 within the hermetic Chamber 6 is sealed airtight and its tip section 4 is additionally sealed to the interior of the housing via a seal 23 located within the end of the tip section sleeve 19.

Compared to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 7-7c, the present writing device designed according to FIG. 2 firstly offers the possibility of the simplest changing of writing elements when using very simply designed writing elements (except for the guide pin 35 provided with a handle). Since the sealing bead segments 23 do not engage directly on the writing element 2, the writing element 2 is already pulled out on the handle of the guide pin 35 without further precautions after the rear housing part 31 and the actuating element 11 have been removed. In addition, there is the possibility in the manufacture of such a writing instrument to fit the sealing bead segments 23 and the sealing grooves 56 at the front end of the tip section sleeve 19 particularly precisely, since the sleeve remains in the writing instrument, whereby the hermetic chamber 6 can possibly be sealed even more tightly.
Different exemplary embodiments of the closure part 8 are shown in FIGS. FIGS. 15a-h each show cross sections through two bending segments 34 of different embodiments of the closure part 8 (preferably four bending segments 34), different combinations of the profiling of the segment edges 21 and the use of sealing material coatings 22 being shown. In the case of sealing material covers 22 which are only attached on one side, the segment edge profiles can be designed, for example, according to FIGS. 15a, b, c and e, in the case of two-sided ones approximately according to FIGS. 15d, f, g and without a cover according to FIG. 15h.

The front view of a closed closure part 8 supported on the housing 1 with sealing material covers 22 attached to the segment edges 21 on two sides is shown in FIG. 16; with segment edges 21 provided with sealing material on one side this is shown in FIG. 18 (except for a segment edge profiling according to FIG. 15e). Without a segment edge covering (and for example in FIG. 15e), the closed closure part usually appears as in FIG. 17.

The closure elements of one embodiment of the writing instrument are shown in detail in FIGS. 19 to 21.

As partially shown in FIG. 19, the present closure part 8 belongs to an embodiment of the writing instrument, which is also equipped with a control mechanism that controls the start-up or reclosure according to the functional sequence shown in FIG. 22. In this type of mechanism, the closure part 8 is preloaded via a spring 9 which is weaker in relation to the spring 10 of the writing element 2 (apart from the material-dependent, radially outward preloading of its bending segments 34). If the total required actuation pressure, which must also overcome the pressure de stronger spring 10, should not become too high, a somewhat lower radially inward closing pressure of the housing opening 44 is connected against the bending segments 34. Therefore, in embodiments of the writing instrument with such a control mechanism, it is generally recommended. the use of a lateral sealing material covering 22 for the bending segments 34, as can be seen in a tip section of the writing instrument from FIG. 21 which is shown in more detail. Furthermore, it is clear in FIG. 21 how the (in this case preferably four) individual bending segments 34 are supported against one another seamlessly up to the segment tip 48 and in the process together with their sealing bead segments 23, which are equally seamless against one another and at the same time at the tip section 4 of the writing element 2 create the hermetic sealing chamber 6 around the writing element tip 26 which is at risk of drying out. The writing element tip 26 is shaped in such a way that it has a slightly smaller maximum outer diameter than the tip section 4 of the writing element 2 (which is naturally easiest to carry out, for example, in capillary pens), so that the writing element 2 can be pulled out backwards for replacement without its tip 26 dispenses writing means to the sealing bead segments 23 and without the closure part 8 having to be stopped by the pressure on the intermediate sleeve 7.

The seal shown in FIG. 21, produced by the individual bending segments 34 and acting in all directions, is obtained primarily from the sealing line 68 shown in FIG. 20 the hermetic segment chamber 6 (in connection with the tip section 4 of the writing element 2) around the writing element tip 26 clearly.

The elastic sealing material covering 22 shown in FIG. 21, which additionally seals the segment edges 21, preferably extends only shortly before the area where the bending segments 34 touch the housing opening 44 in the closed state (FIG. 21) in order to make sliding contact between the elastic material to avoid the bending segments 34 and the housing opening 44 during opening of the closure part 8. However, this can also be achieved by segment edge profiling and a sealing material covering according to FIG. 15e.

FIG. 18, mentioned above, shows the circular front view of the closure part 8 of the present exemplary embodiment supported on the housing 1.

In other exemplary embodiments of the writing instrument, not shown, the front view of the housing 1 or of the closed closure part 8 can also have other shapes, such as polygons on the straight or curved side and the like.

In a further, not shown embodiment of the closure part 8, the sealing bead segments 23 are designed so that they are both as e.g. in ig. 19 behind the writing element tip 26 on the tip section 4, as well as in front of the tip 26, so that the sealing bead segments 23 alone create a hermetic chamber 6 around the writing element tip 26 and thus also on a lateral sealing material coating 22 even in the case of writing materials which are at high risk of evaporation can be dispensed with for the bending segments 34.

In another embodiment of the closure part 8, which is also not shown, and which can be used in writing elements 2 with writing means which are only at very low risk of drying out, the sealing bead segments 23 sealing towards the interior of the housing are completely omitted and the lateral sealing material coating 22 of the segment edges 21 (preferably according to FIG. 15e) configured) to the rear end of the bending segments 34 continued or likewise omitted.
In a further embodiment of the writing instrument, not shown, the shape of the functionally constant closure part 8 is designed without a tip part 5 or flat on the tip side. The bending segments 34 thus extend directly radially to the housing axis after the maximum outer diameter of the closed closure part 8 lying outside the housing opening 44, the hermetic sealing chamber 6 and the writing element tip 26 located therein accordingly having to be accommodated deeper within the housing 1. Such a design of the closure part 8 offers the advantage that the segment tips 48, which only taper flat, are relatively well protected even in the event of a strong frontal impact of the writing instrument or other impact, etc. loads.

FIGS. 23, 23a and 25 to 27 show a further preferred embodiment of the writing instrument, which relates in particular to the design of the closure elements. With the exception of the regulating mechanism controlling parts of FIGS. 23 and 23a shown in FIG. 22, this closure design can be applied to all embodiments of the writing instrument. As a special feature, the present writing instrument initially has a housing extension 29 which can be fastened to the tip-side end of the housing part 1 by means of a bayonet, screw-plug, etc. connection. The housing extension 29 makes it possible to protect the tip part 5 of the closure part 8, which as a rule forms the hermetic segment chamber 6, and in particular also the (possibly shock-sensitive) segment tips 48 against impacts, impacts, etc. As a result of the housing extension 29, on the one hand the hermetic segment chamber 6, which is formed by the bending segments 34, is sunk and protected in the writing instrument during the closed state (FIGS. 23 and 25). On the other hand, the bending segments 34 are supported here by a clamping shoulder 30 in the closed state (FIGS. 23 and 25) and by the opening of the housing extension 29 in the ready-to-write state (FIGS. 23a and 26).

Furthermore, the bending segments 34 of the writing instrument (FIGS. 25, 26, 27) covered with a sealing material 22 are shaped such that the segment tips formed from sealing material 22 are not 48 in the ready-to-write state (FIG. 26), press on the tip section 4, but rather pressure shoulders 49 incorporated into the bending segments, thereby avoiding any permanent or short-term deformation of the elastic segment tips 48 caused by the contact pressure. The tip section 4 of the writing element 2 is also provided with a radial sealing projection 69 which, in the stored state (FIG. 23), engages in corresponding depressions in the sealing bead segments 23 (FIG. 27).

24 shows a last exemplary embodiment of a bending segment 34, which is in a state that is not influenced by springs, housing openings, etc. and is only bent due to the material. In this embodiment, the bending segment 34 is worked individually and is held in an intermediate ring 66 by means of a snap-in projection 67 and firmly clamped. This embodiment makes it possible to facilitate certain operations, which may be necessary in the production of bending segments 34 of a corresponding closure part 8, such as the working out of the locking profile strips 24 of the pressure shoulders 49 etc. or the fastening of the sealing bead segments 23, since a single bending segment 34 is more directly accessible for such work.

The embodiment of the writing instrument shown in FIGS. 28-28c has a preferably one-piece, sleeve-shaped housing 1, and a preferably two-part intermediate sleeve 7 'and 7''arranged therein, the front part 7' of which at its end facing the writing tip has a hermetically sealable closure part 8 and at its rear end via a screw etc. connection 70 to the rear intermediate sleeve part 7 ″, which has a larger diameter than 7 ′. In other embodiments, the closure part 8 can also be integrally connected to the front intermediate sleeve part 7 ', the resulting overall part, for example, consisting of two half-shells which are welded together. Furthermore, it is also possible to equip the front intermediate sleeve part 7 'with the larger and the rear 7''with the smaller diameter to place the springs 9 and 10 differently, respectively. In the rear intermediate sleeve part 7 ″, which protrudes rearward from the sleeve-shaped housing 1 and which is thus accessible from the outside, there is also any switching mechanism 3 which is connected to an actuating element 11 reaching outwards.

Furthermore, in the writing instrument there is a writing element 2 which, during the closed state (FIG. 28), is located essentially within the intermediate sleeve 7 'and 7' ', as well as the closing part 8 and its writing tip 26 inside the hermetic chamber 6 in the closing part 8 can be sealed gastight. Furthermore, the switching mechanism 3 or the actuating element 11 can act on the rear end of this writing element 2.

The illustrated embodiment (Fig. 28-28c) is essentially the same in its functions as the embodiment in Fig. 7-7c, but it represents a substantial and fundamental improvement of that embodiment of the writing instrument in terms of manufacturing costs and practical use.

The advantages of the exemplary embodiment of the writing instrument shown here in FIGS. 28-28c are, first of all, the substantially simplified and less expensive sealing of the interior of the housing. As in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 7-7c, this is achieved by the interaction of the bending segments 34 with the appropriately adapted tip section 4 of the writing element 2, but here the complicated and costly attachment of the individual sealing bead segments 23 to the bending segments 34.

Rather, in this exemplary embodiment, the individual sealing bead segments 23 are joined to form a sealing bead ring 23 'and fastened exactly at the location of the writing element tip section 4, where, in the exemplary embodiment (FIGS. 7-7c) of the earlier application, during the closed state (FIG. 7) the bending segments 34 are guided onto the tip section 4 of the writing element 2.

This preferably elastic sealing bead ring 23 'is shaped so that it remains when the closure part 8 is closed fills the peripheral space between the bending segments 34 and the writing element tip section 4 in a completely sealing manner, just as was previously done by the sealing bead segments 23. Here, together with the tip-side ends of the bending segments 34, the smallest possible, completely hermetic chamber 6 is created at a spacing around the writing tip 26 at a distance excluding the capillary forces, in which the air supply slots 39 of the writing fluid system (not shown) of the writing element 2 (not shown) that preferably emerge outside the writing tip 26 can be accommodated. Furthermore, such a sealing bead ring 23 'can serve as an additional safeguard against the premature advancement of the writing element 2, since this can only emerge from the closure part 8 after the bending-up segments 34 have been fully bent open, thus causing an injury to the writing tip 26, e.g. possible failure of the thrust transfer from the compression spring 10 to the compression spring 9 is reliably avoided.

Instead of an elastic sealing bead ring 23 'and only bending-on elastic, radially outwardly biased bending segments 34, the bending segments 34 on the inside can also be made densely elastic, i.e. they are e.g. provided with a sealing material coating 22 and for this purpose the sealing bead ring 23 'can be made inelastic.

In the case of increased sealing requirements, both the sealing bead ring 23 'and the inside of the bending segments 34 can also be designed to be densely elastic or, in the opposite case, both not be elastically elastic and only well matched to one another.

To attach such an elastic or inelastic sealing bead ring 23 'to the writing element tip section 4 generally requires. significantly less effort than is necessary to attach the individual sealing bead segments 23 to the bending segments 34. Likewise, a sealing bead ring 23 'compared to sealing bead segments 23 offers the possibility of reducing the sealing surface, provided that the number of bending segments 34 is greater than 2, that is to say from seven segments.

Since densely elastic materials mostly have the property To become brittle over time and to lose their elasticity, it is also advantageous in the present exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 28-28c that the sealing bead ring 23 'is renewed each time the writing element 2 is changed, as a result of which it again has its optimal sealing properties is equipped, which can only be achieved in the above exemplary embodiments by completely changing the closure part 8 with the sealing bead segments 23 located therein.

Another significant advantage of the present exemplary embodiment is that the intermediate sleeve 7 'and 7' 'here, as it were, with a "kink", i.e. a diameter change is formed, whereby the accommodation of the two for the shift-push-etc. Coordination necessary compression springs 9 and 10 takes place in a space-saving manner, which makes it possible either to make the writing element 2 substantially more voluminous, as shown here (Fig. 28-28c) or the writing instrument as a whole, namely by a spring wire thickness x 2 thinner and thus easier to handle. Likewise, this eliminates the additional radial projections 36 and 38 from the earlier application, which result here (Fig. 28-28c) through the front end 82 of the intermediate sleeve part 7 '' and through the rear end 83 of the intermediate sleeve part 7 '.

A fourth advantage to be mentioned of the present embodiment lies in the likewise simplified refill change compared to the previous exemplary embodiments (FIGS. 7-7c, FIG. 14, FIG. 2). Due to the open design of the sleeve-shaped housing 1 and connected to it by the rearward protrusion of a part of the rear intermediate sleeve 7 ″, it is possible to screw it on directly, without prior, partial removal of the housing 1 or certain parts of the switching mechanism 3. Here, under the biasing pressure of the spring 10, the writing element 2 pushes a bit backwards and out of possible anchoring within the closure part 8 and can now be pulled out with the rear intermediate sleeve part 7 ″ at the same time and easily replaced. If the prestressing pressure of the spring 10 should not be sufficient for pushing the writing element 2 out of possible anchoring within the closure part 8, it is also possible, after loosening, for example as a screw closure Intermediate sleeve connection 70 again in the direction of the writing tip to press on the rear intermediate sleeve part 7 ″, as a result of which the closure part 8 opens briefly and the writing element 2 would snap backwards by a length of the (screw) connection 70.

FIG. 29 shows a further, particularly advantageously designed embodiment of the writing instrument, which essentially also corresponds to the embodiment of FIGS. 7-7c with regard to its sealing and switching functions.

The specifically designed writing element 2 makes it possible here to produce the closure part 8 in a much simpler and more cost-effective manner, and also to reduce the overall diameter of the writing instrument by a further one.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the tip section 4 of the writing element 2 has been lengthened in a manner which makes it possible to stop the thickened main part of the writing element 2 during the entire switching or feed operation of the writing element 2 triggered by simply depressing the actuating element 11 to get to the closure part 8. This results in completely different conditions with regard to the size requirements of the closure part 8, since its minimum inside diameter is no longer larger than the maximum outside diameter of the writing element 2, but only has to be larger than the outside diameter of the thinner writing element tip section 4. It is now possible to make the closure part 8 considerably smaller, up to about a quarter of the original mass, which makes a number of improvements possible.

Such a small closure part 8 initially requires less effort for its production, since on the one hand it uses less material and on the other hand it can be equipped with fewer bending segments 34, since with the decrease in the diameter of a tube divided lengthways (e.g. into quarters) the bending elasticity of its pipe segments usually increases.

Furthermore, there are the technical advantages that such small closure parts 8, which are also composed of fewer bending segments 34, first of all significantly less have to be sealed surface and are therefore easier to seal, and secondly to generate an equal closing pressure per square mm as with a large closure part, less axial thrust or tensile pressure by the spring 9 or by a similarly acting resilient element of any type.

As a result, both the spring 9 (or the resilient element 9) provided for generating the closing pressure can ultimately be smaller, as well as the further spring 10, which is stronger relative to it and which, apart from its function for the switching mechanism 3, also the other spring 9 must control or set in a limited movement, the pressure drop between these springs 9 and 10 ultimately remaining, but moving at a lower level.

The smaller springs 9 and 10 which are possible in this exemplary embodiment (FIG. 29) thus require less space and the spring 9 can be accommodated in a peripheral space which remains around the smaller closure part 8. The stronger, further spring 10, in turn, can be accommodated in another peripheral space which arises around the extended tip section 4 of the writing element 2 which extends into the intermediate sleeve 7.

Due to the fact that the compression springs 9 and 10 in the present writing instrument with their space-saving, tip-side accommodation disappear from the actual main area of the writing element 2, the writing instrument can be made even slimmer by a spring wire thickness x 2 than in the already reduced-diameter exemplary embodiment according to 28-28c is the case.

Another advantage of this exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 29 lies in the further improvement and simplification of the sealing of the writing tip 26, as well as any air supply slots 39, towards the rear towards the interior of the intermediate sleeve 7. Since the bending segments 34 of that reduced closure part 8 are already very close to the tip section 4 of the writing element 2 behind the writing tip 26, it is only necessary for the rearward sealing to seal the very small peripheral space between the writing element tip section 4 and the bending segments 34, which is the case in this case unlike in Fig. 28 already by an elastic, very thin and annular sealing material coating 71 around the tip section 4 of the writing element 2.

In another, not shown embodiment of the writing instrument, it is also possible to bring the bending segments 34 in the area of the sealing material cover 71 not only very close during the closed state, but also to bear against the writing element tip section 4 (and against one another), as a result of which the rear seal of the Writing tip 26 by the specially shaped bending segments 34 themselves, without additional seals to be attached.

A last improvement of the present exemplary embodiment to be mentioned is that the successive movement of the individual switching etc. movements, as shown in FIGS. 22a-i, is supported here by two securing facts, with a premature advance of the writing element 2, or its tip section 4 is avoided by the sealing material coating ring 71 attached to it, which keeps the writing element 2 immovable when the closure part 8 is closed.

On the other hand, during the pushbutton movement which causes the writing instrument to be hermetically sealed (see also FIGS. 22e-i), the closure part 8 closes before the writing element 2 is completely retracted into the intermediate sleeve 7 and the closure part 8, except by the pressure transfer which is still active the spring 10 on the spring 9, additionally prevented by an additional bevel 72, which is located in the region of the outside of the closure part 8 coming into contact with the housing opening 44 during opening / closing. This additional bevel 72 causes the closure part 8 to rest against the housing opening 44 at a large angle (closer to 90 ^° from the axis) when it is pulled in, which initially makes the closing process more difficult.

By further easing of the push of a button, the writing element 2 with the tip section 4 and the writing tip 26 then pulls completely into the writing instrument, after which, due to the increasing pressure of the spring 9 associated therewith, the closure part 8 past the additional bevel 72 with its normal Bevel, which has a smaller angle (closer to 0 ^o to the axis), comes to rest on the housing opening 44. The small-angled normal bevel now brings about the accelerated closing of the bending segments 34 at the housing opening 44 due to the increased deflection of the pressure of the spring 9 into a radially inward closing pressure until the closure part 8 also extends completely into the writing instrument and finally at the clamping shoulder 30 of the Housing 1 comes to rest, the writing tip 26 now rests gas-tight in the hermetic chamber 6 within the closure part 8. The very small closure part 8 thus also enables a construction which realizes the complete retraction of the closure 8 into the writing instrument, as is already provided in FIGS. 23 / 23a, in the smallest space, here in FIG. 29 the housing extension 29 in one piece is formed with the housing 1.

The lead is changed in principle as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 28, with the rear intermediate sleeve closure 60 being removed instead of the rear intermediate sleeve part 7 ″.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the writing instrument (FIG. 30), which also works according to the switching principle of FIG. 22, the closure is achieved in a likewise simplified but strongly modified manner.

The writing instrument consists of a sleeve-shaped housing 1 which is beveled towards the writing tip 26. Furthermore, there is a half-shell closure part 8 ', which is preferably equipped with only 1-3 bending segments 34, which are under pre-tension pointing away from the tip section 4' of the writing element 2, and which at its rear end is preferably made in one piece with a part-shell (e.g. half-shell) intermediate sleeve part 74 or a functionally identical shift linkage or the like is connected. The bending segments 34 are in turn provided in one piece with protrusions 73 which seal backwards and which, under certain circumstances. provided with a sealing material coating 22, which can take over the function of a sealing bead segment 23.

There is also a non-rotationally symmetrical one in the writing instrument Writing element 2 ', the tip section 4' of which is laterally offset such that it can be pushed out of the obliquely closed tip area of the housing 1 after the spreading apart of the bending segments 34 into the readiness for writing position.

The hermetic closure of the writing tip 26 is achieved here by first of all the tip-side edge region of the bending segments 34 of the e.g. half-shell closure part 8 'strikes a sealing portion 75 of the housing 1 and thus causes the outside closure.

The rear seal is achieved here, on the one hand, by the sealing projections 73 on the bending segments 34 striking a sealing section 76, which is located on the writing element tip section 4 ', while the other, remaining part of the rear seal is attached by a, in the sleeve-shaped housing 1 , semicircular projection 77 is reached.

Such a writing instrument, in which the bending segments 34, or part-shell closure part 8 ', rear sealing projection 73 on the bending segments 34, and a part-shell intermediate sleeve 74, can consist of a single part. can be produced in an even more cost-effective manner, such as the exemplary embodiments according to FIG. 28 or 29.

Furthermore, the present exemplary embodiment (Fig. 30) of the writing instrument can be used particularly advantageously for the closure of a filler element (not shown), since a e.g. half-shell opening of the closure tip, very accommodating to the usual shape of a fountain pen and thus advantageously minimizes the closure part 8 'for this.

A final simplification is the replacement of the previous compression springs 9 and 10 by any functionally identical resilient elements 79 and 80, which control the switching and thrust coordination in the same way.

In the closure part 8 of a further exemplary embodiment of the writing instrument shown in FIG. 31, the attachment becomes more possible Sealing bead segments 23 simplified by a two-part and attachable construction.

While the closure part 8 is only made up to the contact surface 78, the otherwise difficult to access tip parts 34 'of the bending segments 34 can be manufactured individually and relatively easily with sealing bead segments 23 and the like. provided, and then attached to the corresponding segment stumps. A further simplification is possible here, in that the sealing bead segments 23, like the sealing projections 73 from FIG. 30, are formed in one piece with the bending segments 34 and, if necessary, are provided with a sealing material coating 22 in order to maintain their complete sealing function.

In the closure part 84 of a further embodiment of the writing instrument shown in FIG. 32 / 32a, the lateral sealing between the bending segments 34 is no longer achieved by applying sealing material 22 or by producing the bending segments 34 with a precise fit (see FIG. 17), but instead between the Very thin-walled segment connections 81 located on bending segments, which in the closed state (FIG. 32) either contract elastically or fold inwards and are then not visible from the outside.

During the writing state (FIG. 32a), the segment connections 81 stretch or fold, similar to an umbrella, to the extent required for the tip-side opening of the bending segments 34 of the closure part 84 to allow the writing element 2 to pass freely (FIG. 32a ). Such a closure part 84 can be produced with relatively little effort, for example by in the open state and in one piece with the segment connections 81, is made from a suitable plastic by injection molding.

Another embodiment of the writing instrument, which is shown in Fig. 33, is specially equipped for the closure of capillary or tube recorders.

The push and shift coordination is not here, as in the exemplary embodiments which worked according to FIGS. 22 and 7-7c, achieved, but according to Fig. 3-6 and is slightly modified for the embodiment described below (Fig 33).

The present exemplary embodiment generally consists of a two-part, sleeve-shaped housing 1 'and 31, as well as a rotationally asymmetrical capillary writing element 88 arranged therein with ink cartridge 90, writing tube 86 and spiral outlet 89, which is equipped with a switching mechanism 3' mounted on the side (e.g. a heart cam circuit with switching ball).

Furthermore, there is a partial-shell (for example, third-shell) intermediate sleeve 92 in the writing instrument, on the writing-side end of which a partial-shell closure part 8 ', which preferably consists of a single bending segment 95, is arranged and at the rear end of which there is an actuating projection 91, which over a Actuator 94, which extends from the rear part of the housing 31 to the outside, can be operated.

The capillary writing element 88 is closed in two ways via the bending segment 95 of the part-shell closure part 8 '. On the one hand, there is a rubber-elastic sealing element 85 on the inner end face of the bending segment 95, which is provided for the closure of the writing tube 86. On the other hand, the bending segment 95 is provided with a (possibly partly rubber-elastic) sealing projection 87 which, when closed, comes to lie precisely over the exit of the ink coil 89.

Insofar as the tip end of the bending segment 95 is still outside the front housing part 1 ', for example when the intermediate sleeve 92 is actuated, the axial pressure of the resilient element 80 acting on the bending segment 95 is deflected radially inwards via the half-side housing opening 44'. However, as soon as the tip part of the bending segment 95 has completely drawn into the front housing part 1 'via the half-sided housing opening 44' (for example due to decreasing actuation pressure) and comes to rest there on the axially parallel sliding surface 96, the radial pressure deflection of the axial spring pressure has ended and the bending segment 95 is now moved exactly axially in the direction of the capillary writing element 88. As a result, the sealing element 85 is axially against the tip-side opening of the Writing tube 86, and the sealing projection 87 pressed against the spiral exit 89, the bending segment 95 being additionally guided through the fixing shoulder 93 here.

To achieve the writing state, simple actuation of the pressure takes place, either of the actuating element 94 or, when the rear housing part 31 is unscrewed (screwed in, for example, into a compass), the actuating projection 91 of the partial-shell intermediate sleeve 92.

Here, the closure member 95 first slides axially in the direction of the writing side. The sealing element 85 detaches from the writing tube 86 without bending it, since the axially parallel sliding surface 96 initially prevents lateral displacement of the bending segment 95, while the capillary writing element 88 does not move, since this is caused by the pressure of the resilient element 79 (or the compression spring 9), which extends by a corresponding amount, is prevented. Meanwhile, the sealing projection 87 of the bending segment 95 also detaches from the spiral outlet 89. The axial advance movement of the intermediate sleeve shoulder 98 reaches the limiting projection 97 of the capillary writing element 88 after a short distance, which is sufficient to enable the opening of the writing tube 86 and the spiral outlet 89, whereby this is now pulled along.

From this point in time, the closure part 8 'moves together with the capillary writing element 88 in the axial, writing-side direction, the tip part of the bending segment 95 sliding past the half-sided housing opening 44' out of the front housing part 1 'and thereby radially through it outward bias moved from the axial area to a laterally offset position. This feed movement continues until the lateral switching mechanism 3 'of the capillary writing element 88 switches over. With this switching, the feed is ended by the pressure actuation and the pressure decreases. With the decreasing actuation pressure, the capillary writing element 88 now engages on the outside in the advanced writing position by means of its switching mechanism 3 '.

Now the new pressure of the strong resilient element 80, the part-shell intermediate sleeve 92 with the part-shell closure part 8 'attached to it, or the bending segment 95, which has meanwhile been bent away laterally in its tip part, is pulled back in the direction of the housing interior.

In the meantime, on the one hand, the weaker resilient element 79, which is supported with its rear end against the capillary writing element 88 which is engaged on the outside, is pressed together by the stronger resilient element 80 via the intermediate sleeve shoulder 98. On the other hand, the laterally bent bending-up segment 95 and its tip part are pulled sideways past the writing tube 86 and the tip of the capillary writing element 88, which is engaged on the outside, in the rearward direction, the complete writing tip of the capillary writing element 88 being completely exposed.

With the finally occurring, radially inward pressure, which occurs through the half-sided housing opening 44 'on the bending segment 95, this is finally pulled back laterally against the capillary writing element 88, the pressure of the resilient element 80 between the half-sided housing opening 44' and the tip of the bending segment 95, which laterally presses on the capillary writing element 88, is supported, which additionally contributes to its stable fixation. When the pressure is actuated, which causes the writing instrument to be closed, the movement, pushing and switching sequences described take place in the reverse order.

Claims (53)

1. Writing implement comprising a sleeve-shaped housing (1, 7) and a writing element (2) which is disposed in said housing and which is displaceable between a writing readiness position freeing the tip portion (4) of the writing element serving for writing and a storage position retracted into the housing, the housing portion adjacent the tip portion (4) of the writing element consisting of segments (34) which in the writing readiness position are radially spread apart and in the storage position bear on each other and forming a closure position (8) for the tip, the housing consisting of an outer sleeve (1) and an inner sleeve (7) which is disposed substantially within the outer sleeve relatively displaceable with respect to the latter in the axial direction to a limited extend, and
   the segments (34) forming the closure portion (8) of the housing being mounted on the inner sleeve, projecting radially outwardly under pretension and lying partially outside the outer sleeve (1), where having
   a greater external diameter than the internal diameter of the tip-side or nib end (44) of the outer sleeve (1), and
   the inner sleeve being biassed via a spring (9) bearing on the outer sleeve in the direction towards the storage position and being exially displaceable against the pressure of the spring (9) by means of an actuating element (11, 15) and the segment edges (21) abutting on each other being provided with a sealing element (22), characterized in that sealing bead segments (23) are positioned at the segments (34) on the side facing the writing element (2) which are abutting on each other and sealingly on the writing element in the storage position via soft-elastical sealing faces and thereby forming, together with the segment edges (21) abutting on each other, a hermetically sealed chamber (6) surrounding the tip portion (4) of the writing element (2).
2. Writing implement according to claim 1, characterized in that on the writing element (2) at least one radially outwardly projecting projection or bead (16) is provided which cooperates with a limit projection (38) provided at the inner sleeve (7) for retaining the writing element (2) in the inner sleeve (7).
3. Writing implement according to claim 1, characterized in that on the writing element (2) at least one radially outwardly projecting projection or bead (47) is provided which cooperates with at least one pressure shoulder (49) disposed on the inside of the segments and engages behind said shoulder in the writing readiness position to take up the axial writing pressure and fix the writing element (2) in the writing readiness position.
4. Writing implement according to claim 3, characterized in that the faces of the projection and of the pressure shoulder (49) facing each other in the writing readiness position are bevelled in matching manner.
5. Writing implement according to claim 1, characterized in that a separate function sleeve (43) is provided which is adapted to be pushed onto the front portion of the writing element (2).
6. Writing implement according to claim 5, characterized in that the projections (16) and/or the projections (47) are disposed on the function sleeve (43).
7. Writing implement according to claim 6, characterized in that the projection or bead (47) in the storage position of the writing element (2) lies in front of the limit projection (38) and has a greater diameter than the internal width of the limit projection (38) so that the function sleeve (43) when the writing element is changed remains in the inner sleeve (7).
8. Writing implement according to claim 1, characterized in that at the tip-side end (45) of the outer housing (1) a housing extension (29) is secured and that the radial closure pressure is generated at an inwardly projecting clamping shoulder (30) disposed at the opening (44) of the housing (1).
9. Writing implement according to claim 1 in which the writing element (2) is biassed by means of a spring (10) bearing on the housing in the direction towards the storage position and by means of a shift mechanism (3) actuable by the actuating element (11, 15) is adapted to be fixed against the spring pressure in the writing readiness position relatively to the housing (1, 7), characterized in that the spring (10) biassing the writing element (2) against the housing bears on the inner sleeve (7), that the shift mechanism (3) engages on the outer sleeve (1, 31), that the return force of the spring (10) biassing the writing element (2) against the inner sleeve (7) is smaller than that of the spring (9) biassing the inner sleeve (7) against the outer sleeve (1), and that the inner sleeve (7) is fixed against the outer sleeve (1) in the writing readiness position by interaction between the segments (34) and writing element on the one hand and the segments (34) and outer sleeve (1) on the other hand.
10. Writing implement according to claim 9, characterized in that the writing element (2) is provided with a plurality of control projections (14) which cooperate under the action of the spring (10) with the shift mechanism and extend radially outwardly through longitudinal recesses (12) of the inner sleeve (7).
11. Writing implement according to claim 9, characterized in that the shift mechanism (3) consists of a shift ring (13) which is disposed longitudinally displaceable between the intermediate sleeve (7) and the outer sleeve (1) and cooperates with guide grooves (51) which are provided on the inner surface of the outer sleeve (1) and with shift teeth (50) which are provided on the actuating element (11).
12. Writing implement according to claim 10, characterized in that the actuating element (11) comprises on its end face directed to the writing agent interior at least one recess (55) for stabilizing reception of the rearwardly directed end edge of the inner sleeve (7).
13. Writing implement according to claim 1 in which the writing agent element is biassed by means of a spring bearing on the housing in the direction of the storage position and by means of a shift mechanism (3) actuable by the actuating element is adapted to be fixed against the spring pressure in the writing readiness position relatively to the housing, characterized in that the spring (10) biassing the writing element (2) against the housing bears on the inner sleeve (7), that the shift mechanism (3) engages on the inner sleeve (7), that the return force of the spring (10) biassing the writing element (2) against the inner sleeve (7) is greater than that of the spring (9) biassing in the inner sleeve (7) against the outer sleeve (1) and that the inner sleeve (7) is fixed with respect to the outer sleeve (1) in the writing readiness position by interaction between the segments (34) and the writing element (2) on the one hand and the segments (34) and the outer sleeve (1) on the other hand.
14. Writing implement according to claim 13, characterized in that the return force of the springs (9, 10) is so dimensioned that with simultaneous force action on both springs (9, 10) by the actuating element (11) it compresses only the spring (9) until the segments (34) have been spread apart enough for the passage of the tip portion (4) of the writing element (2).
15. Writing implement according to claim 13, characterized in that the spring (9) is so dimensioned that it is completely compressed and thereby prevents a further displacement of the inner sleeve (7) in the direction towards the writing readiness position when the segments (34) have spread apart enough for the passage of the tip portion (4) of the writing element.
16. Writing implement according to claim 13, characterized in that on the inner sleeve (7) a retaining bead (52) is provided which by bearing on a corresponding shoulder (41) in the outer sleeve (1) prevents a further displacement of the intermediate sleeve in the direction towards the writing readiness position when the segments (34) have spread apart enough for the passage of the tip portion (4) of the writing element (2).
17. Writing implement according to claim 13, characterized in that at the inner sides of the segments (34) projections are provided which cooperate with a corresponding shoulder of the writing element (2) for holding the writing element (2) axially indisplaceable relatively to the inner sleeve (7) in the writing readiness position until the segments (34) have spread apart enough for the passage of the tip portion (4) of the writing element (2).
18. Writing implement according to claim 13, characterized in that the closure portion (8) is detachably secured to the inner sleeve (7) and that the abutment (38) for the spring (10) on the inner sleeve (7) is formed integrally with the closure portion (8) or its connection (42) to the inner sleeve (7).
19. Writing implement according to claim 13, characterized in that a portion (13, 61) of the shift mechanism (3) is made integrally with the writing element (2) and the other portion (51) of the shift mechanism (3) cooperating therewith is formed in the inner sleeve (7).
20. Writing implement according to any one of claims 13 or 19, characterized in that the spring (10) is supported at the writing element (2) and/or the inner sleeve (7) at the projections or beads (18, 38) via a slidable ring to facilitate rotation of the writing element (2) relatively to the inner sleeve (7).
21. Writing implement according to claim 13, characterized in that the inner sleeve (7) is formed as a short sleeve which contains the one part (51) of the shift mechanism (3) and which at its end directed towards the actuating element (11) comprises a flange (18) on which the spring (10) bears.
22. Writing implement according to claim 21, characterized in that the spring (9) bears on the other side of the flange (18).
23. Writing implement according to claim 13, characterized in that in the inner sleeve (7) a further sleeve (19) is disposed which is coaxial therewith and which by the spring (10) bearing on a radially outwardly projecting bead (20) of the sleeve (19) is biassed in the direction towards the actuating element (11), the axial displacement of the sleeve (9) being effected by transfer of the force exerted on the actuating element (11) by means of a shoulder of a writing element (2) inserted into the sleeve (19) to said sleeve (19).
24. Writing implement according to claim 23, characterized in that the sleeve (19) is retained against the spring force of the spring (10) in the inner sleeve (7) by the cooperation of a retaining bead (38) at the intermediate sleeve (7) with a limit projection (53) disposed at the sleeve (19) in front of the retaining bead (38).
25. Writing implement according to claim 23, characterized in that the sleeve (19) comprises at its tip-side end a seal (33) which sealingly encloses the portion of the writing element disposed behind the tip portion (4).
26. Writing implement according to claim 23, characterized in that in the further sleeve (19) a fountain pen system (27, 28) is provided with cartridge receiving means (63), the cartridge (65) of which under the action of the actuating element (11) can displace the sleeve axially relatively to the inner sleeve (7).
27. Writing implement according to claim 23, characterized in that the inner sleeve (7) and a portion of the guide grooves (51) of the shift mechanism (3) is open at its end directed towards the actuating element (11) to permit change of the cartridge or writing element.
28. Writing implement according to claim 27, characterized in that at the rear end of the cartridge (65) or of the writing element (2) an extension (64) engaging through the shift mechanism (3) is provided for extraction of the cartridge (64) or of the writing element (2) from the inner sleeve (7) and/or the sleeve (19).
29. Writing implement according to one of claims 1 to 28, characterized in that the segment edges (21) bearing on each other are profiled complementary to each other.
30. Writing implement according to one of claims 1 to 29, characterized in that the sealing bead segments (23) are held at the segments (34) via detent profile strips (24).
31. Writing implement according to one of claims 1 to 30, characterized in that the seals (22) provided at the segment edges (21) extend only from the segment tip (48) to the sealing bead segments (23).
32. Writing implement according to one of claims 1 to 31, characterized in that the sealing bead segments (23) are disposed in the closure portion (8) between the writing implement tip and the tapering portion of the closure portion (8).
33. Writing implement according to any one of claims 1 to 32, characterized in that the segments (34) have radially inwardly directed shoulders (49) which in the writing readiness position come to bear on a portion (25) thickened relatively to the writing element tip portion (4) so that the segment tips (48) and the sealing bead segments (23) in the writing readiness position do not contact the writing element (2) or contact the latter only under a slight pressure.
34. Writing implement according to any one of claims 1 to 33, characterized in that the segments (34) are mounted in an intermediate ring (66) secured detachably to the inner sleeve ( 7) and held by means of detent projections (67).
35. Writing implement according to claim 34, characterized in that the intermediate ring (66) consists of elastic material in which the segments (34) are mounted inclined outwardly to the axial direction of the intermediate ring (66) so that the elasticity of the intermediate ring (66) supports the radial biassing of the segments (34).
36. Writing implement according to any one of claims 1 to 35, characterized in that the writing element tip portion (4) tapers towards the nib (26) to prevent a contact between the sealing bead segments (23) and the nib (26) when the writing element is changed.
37. Writing implement according to any one of claims 1 to 36, characterized in that the cross-section of the closure portion (8) in the region of the co-operation with the housing opening (44) and said housing opening (44) are substantially circular.
38. Writing implement according to any one of claims 1 to 36, characterized in that the cross-section of the closure portion (8) in the region of the co-operation with the housing opening (44) and said housing opening (44) has substantially the form of a rectilinear or arcuate polygon.
39. Writing implement according to claim 38, characterized in that the polygon is a triangle or a 3n polygon, n being a whole number.
40. Writing implement according to one of claims 1 to 39, characterized in that the sealing bead segments (23) of the individual segments (34) have extensions which extend on the inner side of the segments in the direction towards the writing implement tip, come to bear against each other in the storage position and are so formed that in the storage position they form a hermetically sealed chamber (6) surrounding the writing element tip portion (4).
41. Writing implement according to claim 39, characterized in that the sealing bead segments (23) and their extensions project beyond the edges (21) of the segments (34) so that the closure pressure acts on the side faces of the sealing bead segments (23) and their extensions.
42. Writing implement according to any one of claims 1 to 41, characterized in that on the tip portion (4) of the writing element (2) at a point opposite the segments in the storage position a sealing ring (23') or coating (71) is disposed on which the segment inner faces come to bear and thus form with the sealing ring a hermetically sealed chamber (6) surrounding the tip portion of the writing element (2).
43. Writing implement according to claim 42, characterized in that the inner surface region of the segments (34) opposite the refill tip in the storage position comes to bear sealingly on the refill tip itself.
44. Writing implement according to claim 42 or 43, characterized in that the inner surface region of the segments (34) coming to bear sealingly in the storage position on the sealing ring or the tip portion (4) of the writing element (2) is made rubber elastic.
45. Writing implement according to any one of claims 1 to 41, characterized in that the inner sleeve (74) is made in part-shell form and that the segment tip (8') is integrally formed as part-shell closure portion which is connected via a resiliently outwardly biassed transition portion to the inner sleeve.
46. Writing implement according to claim 45, characterized in that the inner sleeve is formed integrally with the segment tip (8').
47. Writing implement according to claim 45, characterized in that in the part-shell closure portion (8') a sealing bead element (73) is disposed which in the storage position comes to bear sealingly on the tip portion (4) of the writing element.
48. Writing implement according to claim 47, characterized in that the sealing bead element (73) is made integral with the closure portion (8').
49. Writing implement according to any one of claims 1 to 41, characterized in that the segment edges are connected together by thin-walled resilient segment connections (81) which in the storage position are inwardly folded.
50. Writing implement according to any one of claims 1 to 41, characterized in that the inner sleeve consists of two cylinders of different diameter connected together, the one spring being disposed outside the thinner cylinder and the other spring inside the thicker cylinder.
51. Writing implement according to any one of claims 1 to 41, characterized in that the outer sleeve (1) is open rearwardly and the inner sleeve (7) in the storage position projects rearwardly out of the outer sleeve (1).
52. Writing implement according to any one of claims 1 to 41, characterized in that the outer surface of the closure portion tapers rearwardly in two steps of different inclination to the longitudinal axis, the portion of lesser inclination facing the tip portion.
53. Writing implement according to any one of claims 1 to 41, preferably capillary pen, characterized in that on the inner side of the segment tip a sealing face for the tip and the helix exit is disposed and that the actuating element acts on the inner sleeve and after a limited axial displacement of the inner sleeve comes into contact with the writing element and acts on the latter to displace it axially.

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