EP0630761A2 - Cap for writing instruments containing ink - Google Patents

Cap for writing instruments containing ink Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0630761A2
EP0630761A2 EP94113647A EP94113647A EP0630761A2 EP 0630761 A2 EP0630761 A2 EP 0630761A2 EP 94113647 A EP94113647 A EP 94113647A EP 94113647 A EP94113647 A EP 94113647A EP 0630761 A2 EP0630761 A2 EP 0630761A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cap
axial
ventilation
ventilation path
grooves
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP94113647A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0630761B1 (en
EP0630761A3 (en
Inventor
Kazunori Katami
Kazuhiko Suzuki
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tombow Pencil Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Tombow Pencil Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP1324901A external-priority patent/JPH0825353B2/en
Priority claimed from JP1325960A external-priority patent/JP2539275B2/en
Priority claimed from JP1989144989U external-priority patent/JP2512711Y2/en
Application filed by Tombow Pencil Co Ltd filed Critical Tombow Pencil Co Ltd
Publication of EP0630761A2 publication Critical patent/EP0630761A2/en
Publication of EP0630761A3 publication Critical patent/EP0630761A3/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0630761B1 publication Critical patent/EP0630761B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
    • B43K—IMPLEMENTS FOR WRITING OR DRAWING
    • B43K23/00—Holders or connectors for writing implements; Means for protecting the writing-points
    • B43K23/08—Protecting means, e.g. caps
    • B43K23/12—Protecting means, e.g. caps for pens
    • B43K23/122—Protecting means, e.g. caps for pens with means for preventing choking
    • B43K23/124—Protecting means, e.g. caps for pens with means for preventing choking comprising an air passage
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
    • B43K—IMPLEMENTS FOR WRITING OR DRAWING
    • B43K23/00—Holders or connectors for writing implements; Means for protecting the writing-points
    • B43K23/08—Protecting means, e.g. caps
    • B43K23/12—Protecting means, e.g. caps for pens
    • B43K23/126—Protecting means, e.g. caps for pens with clips

Definitions

  • the invention relates generally to an improvement to caps for writing instruments containing ink and in particular to a cap with a safety ventilation device in order to facilitate an air flow along the cap, if the latter has lodged in a person's windpipe, for example of a child, when swallowed accidentally.
  • a safety cap which has also an axially extending ventilation path on the outside of the cap underneath a clip which is connected to the cap in a rigid, non-resilient manner.
  • a ventilation path is defined by a number of grooves axially extending on the outside of the cap along an axial cap portion, which communicate with the interior of the cap. Accordingly the interior of the cap, except for the insertion end, is not hermetically closed as it would be desirable from the view point of an effective protection of the writing part of a writing instrument against drying up. Further the design of the grooves of the prior cap is such that the safety function of the cap is doubtful.
  • a cap for writing instruments containing ink having a safety ventilation meams enabling an air flow along the cap, if the cap has lodged in a person's windpipe when swallowed accidentally
  • said safety ventilation means comprising at least one axial ventilation path on the outside of the cap, which along at least part of its axial extension has an open cross-sectional configuration, whereby when a covering is placed around the cap, a cross-sectional area for ventilation in each radial plane is defined having a throughflow capacity corresponding to the air requirement of a person, in which the cap being closed on all sides with the exception of an insertion end, and in which said ventilation path in combination being formed by a) a plurality of axial indentations or grooves formed in the outer surface of the cap and spaced apart peripherally, and b) a substantially plate-like retaining clip provided between an adjacent pair of axial indentations or grooves.
  • a cap according to the present invention has a high sealing function resulting from the fact that the caps are closed on all sides, i.e. there are no perforations leading into the inside of the caps.
  • the caps therefore correspond in their sealing function to conventional caps used in writing instruments without a safety ventilation device.
  • Existing caps can therefore readily be replaced by safety caps according to the invention.
  • the construction of the safety ventilation device according to the invention has advantages both as regards manufacturing techniques, since it is not necessary to form cavities or perforations in the cap body which are not easily accessible, as well as an improved safety function, in that the portions of the caps, which are critical, can readily be checked at a glance as regards their functional state.
  • the reference numeral 206 relates to a number of indentations or grooves formed in the outer surface of the cap 201, which extend along the cap from its top end to the insertion end 204 and are distributed peripherally at a suitable distance from each other.
  • the free end of the retaining clip 2 may terminate at a distance m from the insertion end 204, which distance should be not more than 2 mm.
  • a covering H placed around the cap 201 is indicated by the broken line in Figure 4.
  • the covering H corresponds substantially to a windpipe in the region of a swallowed cap 201.
  • axial air paths are formed between the covering H and the grooves or indentations 206, through which air for breathing can flow, because at these portions a direct contact of the covering H or the windpipe with the surface of the cap 201 is prevented.
  • a pair of indentations or grooves 206 is provided adjacent the retaining clip 202 laterally.
  • the area 206 defined by the retaining clip 202, the surface of the cap 201 and the covering H provides an enlarged air passage near the retaining clip 202 for ventilation.
  • the cross-sectional area available as a whole for the ventilation in a radial plane of the cap needs to be the same along the cap between the axial ends thereof. It is important, howver, that a cross-sectional area for the ventilation is available at each axial position of the cap which has a throughflow capacity coreresponding at least to the minimum air requirement of a person. Experiments have shown that a minimum cross-sectional area would be 3.4 mm2, preferably 6.8 mm2. Furthermore it is important that the axial air paths on the outside of the cap have axial open ends which cannot be clogged by a covering H placed around them, respectively by the the windpipe of a person.

Abstract

A cap for writing instruments containing ink, has a safety ventilation function in that it enables an air flow along the cap (201), if the cap has lodged in a person's windpipe when swallowed accidentally. The cap (201) is closed on all sides with the exception of its insertion end (204). At least one axial ventilation path is formed by a plurality of axial indentations or grooves (206) formed in the outer surface of the cap and spaced apart peripherally, and a substantially plate-like retaining clip (202) provided between an adjacent pair of axial indentations or grooves (206). Accordingly the ventilation path along its axial extension has an open cross-sectional configuration, whereby when a covering is placed around the cap, a cross-sectional area for ventilation in each radial plane is defined having a throughflow capacity corresponding to the air requirement of a person.

Description

  • The invention relates generally to an improvement to caps for writing instruments containing ink and in particular to a cap with a safety ventilation device in order to facilitate an air flow along the cap, if the latter has lodged in a person's windpipe, for example of a child, when swallowed accidentally.
  • In writing instruments which contain no ink, such as pencils and the like, hitherto in order to prevent asphyxiation as a result of accidental swallowing, an opening may be provided in the top of the cap covering the point of the pencil, so that if the cap has lodged in a child's windpipe, air for breathing may continue to flow through the cap, until medical assistance is given (see for example JP-A-39592/1986 and 118038/1977). A transfer of this prinicple to a cap for writing instruments containing ink, in which an evaporation of the ink must be prevented and the writing tip must be kept continuously moist, is not readily possible, since due to this the function of the writing instrument is jeopardised. In caps which serve to seal the writing tip of writing instruments containing ink with respect to atmospheric air, the risk of asphyxiation therefore exists in the case of accidental swallowing, such as is to be feared in particular with children. Inter alia this risk has been expressed in a specification of the "British Standard Institution", which is under preparation and dated June 23rd 1989, document No. 89/38201.
  • It has already been proposed (see EP-A-0204252, JP-A-11016/1986), to provide an airway in the cap, which however is sealed hermetically when the cap is fitted to the writing instrument. It is typical of this type of safety caps that one or more perforations are provided at one or more axial or peripheral points of the cap wall, which perforations thus facilitate an exchange of air between the outside and inside of the cap. One drawback of this solution is the complicated arrangement for achieving a sufficiently tight encapsulation of the tip of the writing instrument, when the cap is fitted. It is also known (DE-A-3728896), to provide a separate tubular air passage with open axial ends and a cross-section closed peripherally all round, on the outside of the cap, in order to separate the safety function from the sealing function. This solution is not solely disadvantageous as regards the manufacturing difficulties connected therewith, but in addition conceals the risk that in the course of time the air passage is easily blocked by foreign bodies which have penetrated, such as food residues, dirt deposits and the like and therefore the safety function can be lost. According to EP-A-395 797 the ventilation path can be formed by a pair of axial ribs on the outside of the cap, which are in a distance from each other which is greater than the diameter of the cap body. In these circumstances there is a risk that the ventilation channel between the ribs is clogged by drawn in portions of skin of the windpipe. From EP-A-319 311 a safety cap is known which has also an axially extending ventilation path on the outside of the cap underneath a clip which is connected to the cap in a rigid, non-resilient manner. Finally from GB-A-2174374 a cap is known in which a ventilation path is defined by a number of grooves axially extending on the outside of the cap along an axial cap portion, which communicate with the interior of the cap. Accordingly the interior of the cap, except for the insertion end, is not hermetically closed as it would be desirable from the view point of an effective protection of the writing part of a writing instrument against drying up. Further the design of the grooves of the prior cap is such that the safety function of the cap is doubtful.
  • It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved safety cap having a simple construction, which prevents drying up of the writing part of writing instruments containing ink in an effective manner, and has improved safety properties to guarantee sufficient air for breathing to flow along the cap.
  • According to the invention this problem is solved by a cap for writing instruments containing ink, having a safety ventilation meams enabling an air flow along the cap, if the cap has lodged in a person's windpipe when swallowed accidentally, said safety ventilation means comprising at least one axial ventilation path on the outside of the cap, which along at least part of its axial extension has an open cross-sectional configuration, whereby when a covering is placed around the cap, a cross-sectional area for ventilation in each radial plane is defined having a throughflow capacity corresponding to the air requirement of a person, in which the cap being closed on all sides with the exception of an insertion end, and in which said ventilation path in combination being formed by a) a plurality of axial indentations or grooves formed in the outer surface of the cap and spaced apart peripherally, and b) a substantially plate-like retaining clip provided between an adjacent pair of axial indentations or grooves.
  • A cap according to the present invention has a high sealing function resulting from the fact that the caps are closed on all sides, i.e. there are no perforations leading into the inside of the caps. The caps therefore correspond in their sealing function to conventional caps used in writing instruments without a safety ventilation device. Existing caps can therefore readily be replaced by safety caps according to the invention. The construction of the safety ventilation device according to the invention has advantages both as regards manufacturing techniques, since it is not necessary to form cavities or perforations in the cap body which are not easily accessible, as well as an improved safety function, in that the portions of the caps, which are critical, can readily be checked at a glance as regards their functional state.
  • The invention will be described in detail hereafter with reference to an embodiment and the drawings. In the drawings:
    • Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a safety cap according to an embodiment of the invention, and
    • Figures 2, 3 and 4 show the safety cap according to Figure 1 in general view, plan view and view from the left,
       In Figures 1 to 4 the reference numeral 201 relates to a substantially cylindrical cap with a closed axial top end and an open insertion end bearing the reference numeral 204. The outer diameter of the cap 201 normally amounts to no more than 16 mm. Attached close to the top end of the cap 201 is a retaining clip 202, which is held by way of a projection 207 formed on the surface of the cap 201, at a suitable distance from the surface of the cap 201. Thus the writing part of a writing instrument (not shown) if inserted through the insertion end 204 in the interior of the cap 201 can be hermetically sealed against the outside. If desired, there may be provided within the cap 201 an additional inner cap for receiving the front part of the writing instrument.
  • The reference numeral 206 relates to a number of indentations or grooves formed in the outer surface of the cap 201, which extend along the cap from its top end to the insertion end 204 and are distributed peripherally at a suitable distance from each other. The free end of the retaining clip 2 may terminate at a distance m from the insertion end 204, which distance should be not more than 2 mm.
  • A covering H placed around the cap 201 is indicated by the broken line in Figure 4. The covering H corresponds substantially to a windpipe in the region of a swallowed cap 201. As shown in Figure 4, axial air paths are formed between the covering H and the grooves or indentations 206, through which air for breathing can flow, because at these portions a direct contact of the covering H or the windpipe with the surface of the cap 201 is prevented. A pair of indentations or grooves 206 is provided adjacent the retaining clip 202 laterally. The area 206 defined by the retaining clip 202, the surface of the cap 201 and the covering H provides an enlarged air passage near the retaining clip 202 for ventilation.
  • The cross-sectional area available as a whole for the ventilation in a radial plane of the cap needs to be the same along the cap between the axial ends thereof. It is important, howver, that a cross-sectional area for the ventilation is available at each axial position of the cap which has a throughflow capacity coreresponding at least to the minimum air requirement of a person. Experiments have shown that a minimum cross-sectional area would be 3.4 mm², preferably 6.8 mm². Furthermore it is important that the axial air paths on the outside of the cap have axial open ends which cannot be clogged by a covering H placed around them, respectively by the the windpipe of a person.

Claims (3)

  1. A cap for writing instruments containing ink, having a safety ventilation means enabling an air flow along the cap, if the cap has lodged in a person's windpipe when swallowed accidentally, said safety ventilation means comprising at least one axial ventilation path on the outside of the cap, which along at least part of its axial extension has an open cross-sectional configuration, whereby when a covering is placed around the cap, a cross-sectionl area for ventilation in each radial plane is defined having a throughflow capacity corresponding to the air requirement of a person, characterized in that the cap (201) being closed on all sides with the exception of its insertion end, and that said ventilation path being formed by a plurality of axial indentations or grooves (206) formed in the outer surface of the cap and spaced apart peripherally, and a substantially plate-like retaining clip (202) provided between an adjacent pair of axial indentations or grooves (206).
  2. A cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the cross-sectional area of the ventilation path at any axial position of the cap (201) is greater than or equal to 3.4 mm².
  3. A cap according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ventilation path terminates at a distance less than or equal to 2 mm from the insertion end (204) of the cap (201).
EP94113647A 1989-12-16 1990-03-12 Cap for writing instruments containing ink Expired - Lifetime EP0630761B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP324901/89 1989-12-16
JP1324901A JPH0825353B2 (en) 1989-12-16 1989-12-16 Writing instrument cap with built-in ink
JP144989/89 1989-12-18
JP1325960A JP2539275B2 (en) 1989-12-18 1989-12-18 Ink built-in writing instrument cap
JP1989144989U JP2512711Y2 (en) 1989-12-18 1989-12-18 Writing instrument cap with built-in ink
JP325960/89 1989-12-18
EP19900104659 EP0433532B1 (en) 1989-12-16 1990-03-12 Cap for writing instruments containing ink

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP90104659.9 Division 1990-03-12

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0630761A2 true EP0630761A2 (en) 1994-12-28
EP0630761A3 EP0630761A3 (en) 1995-02-01
EP0630761B1 EP0630761B1 (en) 1997-11-19

Family

ID=27318920

Family Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94113647A Expired - Lifetime EP0630761B1 (en) 1989-12-16 1990-03-12 Cap for writing instruments containing ink
EP19900104659 Expired - Lifetime EP0433532B1 (en) 1989-12-16 1990-03-12 Cap for writing instruments containing ink
EP95103513A Expired - Lifetime EP0679538B1 (en) 1989-12-16 1990-03-12 Cap for writing instruments containing ink

Family Applications After (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19900104659 Expired - Lifetime EP0433532B1 (en) 1989-12-16 1990-03-12 Cap for writing instruments containing ink
EP95103513A Expired - Lifetime EP0679538B1 (en) 1989-12-16 1990-03-12 Cap for writing instruments containing ink

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (3) EP0630761B1 (en)
DE (3) DE69027657T2 (en)
ES (3) ES2105796T3 (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR930008091Y1 (en) * 1990-10-17 1993-12-08 가부시끼가이샤 돔보 엔삐쯔 Safety pen cap
DE9115124U1 (en) * 1991-12-05 1992-04-02 Pelikan Ag, 3000 Hannover, De
US5316402A (en) * 1991-12-13 1994-05-31 Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd. Penholder cap
US5632565A (en) * 1995-09-07 1997-05-27 Colleague Iowa, Inc. Removable cap with fluid passage

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0319311A1 (en) * 1987-12-04 1989-06-07 Douglas E.J. Ashpole Caps for writing instruments
DE8908065U1 (en) * 1989-07-01 1989-09-14 J. S. Staedtler Gmbh & Co, 8500 Nuernberg, De

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2174374B (en) * 1985-04-12 1989-04-19 Platignum Plc Closure cap
JPH01169386U (en) * 1988-05-21 1989-11-29
DE3914290C1 (en) * 1989-04-29 1991-02-14 A. W. Faber-Castell Gmbh & Co, 8504 Stein, De
DE3920463C1 (en) * 1989-06-22 1991-01-31 J. S. Staedtler Gmbh & Co, 8500 Nuernberg, De Suffocation preventer for pen cap - consists of sleeve or ring with air passage

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0319311A1 (en) * 1987-12-04 1989-06-07 Douglas E.J. Ashpole Caps for writing instruments
DE8908065U1 (en) * 1989-07-01 1989-09-14 J. S. Staedtler Gmbh & Co, 8500 Nuernberg, De

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0679538A1 (en) 1995-11-02
DE69031741D1 (en) 1998-01-02
EP0433532B1 (en) 1996-07-03
DE69031741T2 (en) 1998-04-09
EP0630761B1 (en) 1997-11-19
EP0679538B1 (en) 1997-07-30
ES2088912T3 (en) 1996-10-01
DE69031182T2 (en) 1998-01-08
ES2111222T3 (en) 1998-03-01
DE69027657D1 (en) 1996-08-08
DE69027657T2 (en) 1996-10-31
ES2105796T3 (en) 1997-10-16
EP0630761A3 (en) 1995-02-01
DE69031182D1 (en) 1997-09-04
EP0433532A1 (en) 1991-06-26

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