EP0295179A1 - Writing instrument with a detachable writing block - Google Patents

Abstract

This writing instrument comprises: - a connecting part (7) able to rotate freely with respect to the body (1) and connected in translational movement to it; - an operating member (5), accessible by the user from the outside of the writing instrument and fixed to the connecting part (7); - means for so coupling the connecting part (7) with the writing block (3) that a rotation of this connecting part in a particular direction brings about a lengthwise movement of the writing block (3) also in a particular direction; and - means for providing the rotational union of the writing block (3) with, and its freedom of translational movement from, the body (1). <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to writing instruments such as stylographs with a removable writing block. It relates more particularly to means making it possible to easily assemble and disassemble the writing block, that is to say of the element on which the scripting member is fixed.

It is known that, in order to secure the three main subsets of a writing instrument, namely the body, the writing block and the cap, one of the most commonly used means consists in screwing the block d writing and the cap on the body.

This solution, which is advantageous by its ease of implementation, has the disadvantage of being able to be used only on pens whose cap is of a diameter which is considerably larger than that of the body, which, in certain cases, does not is not without posing some constraints from the point of view of aesthetics.

To overcome this drawback, it has been proposed to screw the cap onto the writing block. Indeed, it is possible to give the latter a sufficiently small diameter to compensate for the thickness of the cap and thus to produce writing instruments whose surface of the body and that of the cap are at the same level.

However, in such a configuration, it is imperative that the friction existing between the thread of the body and that corresponding to the writing block is significantly greater than that existing between the writing block and the cap, on pain of unscrewing the body. with the writing block when you want to remove the cap.

This is why it has been proposed to fix the cap on the writing block by fixing means other than screwing, such as, for example, snap-fastening.

The latter type of attachment has, however, the drawback of causing a slight shock, at the time of fitting and removing the cap. to project ink droplets on the upper side of the pen. In addition, it is known that certain caps are provided with an internal bell whose role is to maintain a constant pressure between the interior of the cap and the reservoir of the pen. However, at the time of opening, the abrupt withdrawal of the cap creates a depression causing suction of the ink contained in the writing block, which thus increases the phenomenon of projection of ink droplets mentioned above.

The present invention aims to provide a means of assembling the various elements by screwing which does not present the multiple difficulties mentioned above.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a writing instrument comprising a tubular body, a cap and a writing block equipped with a scripting member and capable of receiving an ink refill cartridge, characterized in that it includes:
- A connecting element free in rotation relative to said body and linked in translation to the latter;
- a control member accessible by the user from outside the writing instrument and integral with said connecting element;
- Means ensuring the coupling of the connecting element and the writing block so that a rotation of this connecting element in a determined direction causes a longitudinal displacement of the writing block in a direction also determined; and
- Means ensuring the rotational connection of said writing block and its freedom in translation relative to said body.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the connecting element will be an integral part of said writing block.

The integral in rotation of the writing block with the body, as well as its freedom in translation can be obtained, for example, by means of a series of grooves of complementary profiles made on these two parts.

• La figure 1 représente, en coupe longitudinale, un stylographe, capuchon ôté, pourvu d'un dispositif suivant l'invention;
• La figure 2 montre une variante d'un tel stylographe, dans laquelle l'élément de liaison fait partie intégrante de l'organe de commande;
• Les figures 3 et 4 montrent, respectivement en coupe longitudinale et transversale, un mode particulier d'accouplement entre l'organe de commande et l'élément de liaison;
• Les figures 5 et 6 montrent, respectivement en coupe longitudinale et transversale, un moyen particulier de transformation du mouvement de rotation de l'élément de liaison en un mouvement de translation du bloc d'écriture ;
• Les figures 7 et 8 montrent en coupes partielles longitudinales des moyens propres à assurer la soli­darisation en translation et la liberté en rotation de l'organe de commande avec le corps.

The present device makes it possible to dismantle the writing block from the body of the stylographer, for example to replace an ink refill cartridge, without it being necessary for this to remove the cap beforehand. The latter can therefore be used by the user to hold the writing block during the disassembly operation, which will prevent, particularly in the case of small writing blocks, from getting their fingers stained when in contact of the feather. Several alternative embodiments of the invention are described below, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1 shows, in longitudinal section, a stylographer, cap removed, provided with a device according to the invention;
• Figure 2 shows a variant of such a stylographer, in which the connecting element is an integral part of the control member;
• Figures 3 and 4 show, respectively in longitudinal and transverse section, a particular mode of coupling between the control member and the connecting element;
• FIGS. 5 and 6 show, respectively in longitudinal and transverse section, a particular means for transforming the rotational movement of the connecting element into a translational movement of the writing block;
• Figures 7 and 8 show in partial longitudinal sections of the means suitable for securing in translation and freedom in rotation of the control member with the body.

In FIG. 1, the body 1 of a stylographer essentially contains a writing block 3, a control member 5 and a connecting element 7 of these two parts.

The writing block 3 is linked in rotation with the body 1 while retaining its freedom in translation relative to the latter, by means of a set of grooves 16 of complementary shapes made on these parts.

The control member 5, of cylindrical shape, is housed in a cavity 9 formed at the end of the body 1 opposite the writing block. This control member comprises a pivoting gripping ring 11, and an internal circular boss 13.

The connecting element 7 consists of a tube provided at one end with an internal thread 15 and fixed at its other end to the boss 13 of the control member 5.

It has a circular rib 17 taking place in an annular recess 19 of the body 1 and intended to ensure its connection in translation with the body 1, while leaving it free to rotate relative to the latter.

The writing block 3 consists of a cylindrical element, containing the various capillary systems necessary for the proper functioning of the writing instrument. It ends at one end with a feather 21 and at the other end with a bevel tip 23, capable of ensuring the perforation of an ink refill cartridge 24 during its installation, then the subsequent maintenance of this one. The end of the block 3 opposite the pen 21 has an externally threaded part 25, capable of receiving the internally threaded end 15 of the connecting tube 7.

With the pen in the operating position (Figure 1), to change the ink refill cartridge 24, lift the grip ring 11 and, using it, rotate it in the unscrewing direction l control member 5, which rotates the tube 7. Since the writing block 3 cannot rotate, but can move in translation relative to the body, the rotation of the tube 7 is transformed into translational movement and the block d writing moves longitudinally until its thread 25 is no longer in engagement with the thread 15 of the tube 7. It can therefore be removed from the body 1 in order to exchange the refill cartridge 24.

To reassemble the writing block 3, it will suffice to carry out the reverse operation of the previous one.

Of course, the connection in translation and the freedom in rotation, relative to the body 1, of the connecting element consisting of the tube 7 can be obtained by any other means.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 7, the body is provided on its internal wall with a circular boss 27, against one face of which the internal face of the control member 5 ′ comes to bear. The tube 7 ′ is forcibly fitted onto the internal circular boss 13 ′ of the control member 5 ′, so as to ensure total attachment of these elements.

Consequently, the control member 5 ′ and the tube 7 ′ are perfectly free to rotate relative to the body 1, but are linked to it as regards any longitudinal movement.

In FIG. 2, the writing block 3 ′ is extended inside the body 1 ′ by a tubular part 4, itself terminated by a thread 6 coming to be screwed onto a corresponding thread made on the control member 5 ′, to ensure the transformation of the rotational movement provided by this control member into the translational movement of the writing block 3 ′.

It is possible, of course, without departing from the scope of the present invention, to carry out this transformation by any other means.

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the body 1 ′ is hollowed out with a bore 31 of hexagonal shape intended to receive a part 33, of complementary shape, of the writing block 3 ′. A tube 7 ′, integral with the control member (not shown in the drawing), is hollowed out with a helical groove 34, intended to serve as a guide for a lug 35 integral with the writing block.

The device being in the position of FIG. 5, to dismantle the writing block 3, the tube 7 ′ is rotated, using the control member, in the direction of unscrewing. The writing block 3 ′ being integral in rotation with the body 1 ′, the lug 35 is forced to move in the groove 34 and the writing block gradually comes out of the body of the pen to detach itself completely done when the lug arrives at the entry 37 of the groove 33. The positioning is carried out by the reverse operation.

In order to avoid jamming of the writing block on the body and to facilitate its subsequent disassembly, it is advantageous to limit their tightening torque by fixing the control member 5 ′ with the connecting tube 7 ′ by through a torque limiter.

Thus, in FIGS. 3 and 4, the control member 5 ′ comprises a ratchet wheel 41 meshing on a part of complementary shape to the tube 7 ′. The latter will be split over a certain length in order to give it a determined elasticity.

During assembly, when the tightening torque applied by the user exceeds the resistive torque of the teeth of the pawl 41 on the tube 7 ′, the pawl escapes and enters into rotation. We cannot therefore exceed a given torque. On disassembly, the teeth of the pawl being turned in the opposite direction, the torque to be supplied before the exhaust will be much greater than the previous one. This ensures that you have a loosening torque greater than the tightening torque.

FIG. 8 represents an alternative embodiment of FIG. 2, in which the cylindrical part 8 ′ of the control member 5 ′ is always screwed into an appropriate internal thread of the tube 7 ′. In this variant, however, the external face of the part 8 ′ and the internal face of the body 1 ′ are hollowed out in positions opposite two annular grooves, respectively 46 and 47, which together define a housing intended to receive an annular ring 48, which thus ensures the joining in translation and the freedom in rotation of the control member 5 ′ with the body 1 ′. This avoids, in case of complete unscrewing of the control member 5 ', to separate it from the writing instrument.

In its various embodiments, the invention therefore provides simple means for disassembly and reassembly of the writing block.

Claims (9)

1.- Writing instrument comprising a tubular body (1), a cap (2) and a writing block (3, 3 ′) equipped with a writing element (21) and capable of receiving an ink refill cartridge (24), characterized in that it comprises:
- A connecting element (7, 7 ′), free in rotation relative to said body (1) and linked in translation with the latter;
- a control member (5, 5 ′), accessible by the user from outside the writing instrument and integral with said connecting element (7, 7 ′);
- Means ensuring the coupling of the connecting element (7, 7 ′) and the writing block (3, 3 ′) so that a rotation of this connecting element in a determined direction causes displacement longitudinal of the writing block (3, 3 ′) in a direction also determined; and
- Means ensuring the rotation connection of said writing block (3, 3 ′) and its freedom of movement in translation relative to said body (1, 1 ′). 2.- writing instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that said writing block (3) and said body (1) are linked in rotation and free in translation by means of grooves (16) of complementary shape arranged opposite. 3. A writing instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that said control member (5 ′) bears against an internal projection (27) of the body (1). 4.- writing instrument according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said control member (5 ′) and said body (1 ′) comprise annular grooves (46, 47) arranged opposite, in which a ring (48) is engaged. 5. A writing instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that said connecting element (4) is an integral part of the control member (5 ′). 6. A writing instrument according to claim 5, characterized in that said writing block (3 ′) extends inside said body (1 ′) by a tubular part (4), integral with a threaded part of said control member (5 ′). 7. A writing instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that a part of said writing block (3 ′) is locked in rotation in a bore (31) of said body (1 ′) and comprises a lug (35) engaged in a helical groove of said tube (7 ′). 8.- A writing instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that a torque limiting device is interposed between the control member (5 ′) and the connecting element (7 ′). 9. A writing instrument according to claim 8, characterized in that the torque limiting device comprises a ratchet wheel (41) meshing on a correspondingly shaped part of said tube (7 ′).

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