EP0630762A1 - A writing instrument with a push button, a clip and a spring in one piece - Google Patents
A writing instrument with a push button, a clip and a spring in one piece Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0630762A1 EP0630762A1 EP94108612A EP94108612A EP0630762A1 EP 0630762 A1 EP0630762 A1 EP 0630762A1 EP 94108612 A EP94108612 A EP 94108612A EP 94108612 A EP94108612 A EP 94108612A EP 0630762 A1 EP0630762 A1 EP 0630762A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- spring
- clip
- writing instrument
- push button
- hollow body
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
- B43K—IMPLEMENTS FOR WRITING OR DRAWING
- B43K25/00—Attaching writing implements to wearing apparel or objects involving constructional changes of the implements
- B43K25/02—Clips
- B43K25/028—Clips combined with means for propelling, projecting or retracting the writing unit
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
- B43K—IMPLEMENTS FOR WRITING OR DRAWING
- B43K24/00—Mechanisms for selecting, projecting, retracting or locking writing units
- B43K24/02—Mechanisms for selecting, projecting, retracting or locking writing units for locking a single writing unit in only fully projected or retracted positions
- B43K24/08—Mechanisms for selecting, projecting, retracting or locking writing units for locking a single writing unit in only fully projected or retracted positions operated by push-buttons
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a writing instrument, particularly a ball pen, composed by three parts only: a conventional writing tip or refill, an outer hollow body and a unit that is advantageously obtained in one piece and comprises a clip, a spring and a relevant push button.
- a writing instrument comprising a conventional writing tip, a tubular hollow body slidably accommodating a push button for extracting the writing tip and provided with a return spring, and an outer clip, characterised in that the push button, the spring and the clip are obtained in a whole piece as a unit.
- numeral 10 indicates overall a unit comprising a push button, a spring and a clip.
- the unit 10 is constituted by a single piece obtained in a plastic material, preferably through pressing.
- the unit 10 is designed to couple to a tubular hollow body 20, shown in Fig. 3, that forms the main outer body of the writing instrument.
- the latter is further provided with an interchangeable refill, if the writing instrument is a ball pen, or another writing means such as a lead, if it is a propelling pencil.
- the illustrated example refers to a ball pen in particular.
- unit 10 comprises a longitudinal elongated push button 11, the transverse cross-section of which must have a size and shape congruent with the inside of the tubular hollow body 20 in which the unit 10 is slidably accommodated.
- the upper end portion 11a of the push button 11 normally sticks out so as to be pressed by the user.
- a longitudinal rib 12 extends from the lower end portion 11b ending with a base 13 having a shape congruent with the internal cross-section of the tubular hollow body 20.
- Parallel to the first rib 12 is a second rib 14 protruding from the base 13. The second rib is folded back facing the first rib 12.
- a transverse tongue 15 projects outwardly from the upper end of the rib 14.
- the tongue 15 is joined to a substantially rectangular clip 16, at a point intermediate the ends thereof.
- the lower portion 16a of clip 16 is the part for hooking the pen to a breast-pocket, and it also has another function, as described hereinafter.
- the upper portion 16b is provided with an upper tooth 17 facing the push button 11. Tooth 17 comprises an upper transverse wall 17a and an oblique wall 17b inclined towards the top of the push button 11.
- the unit 10 further incorporates a helicoidal spring 18 longitudinally extending from the base 13 on the opposite side of ribs 12 and 14. When released, the free end of spring 18 is substantially flush with the lower end of the clip 16.
- the multi-functional unit 10 is adapted for coupling to the hollow tubular hollow body 20, the internal cross-section of which can take various shapes, it being indifferently circular, polygonal, etc..
- the internal cross-section is designed so as to accommodate the push button 11, the base 13 and the spring 18 with a slight radial clearance allowing longitudinal sliding of the unit 10.
- the hollow body 20 has an upper opening 21 through which unit 10 is inserted.
- a vertical slot 22 extends from the edge of opening 21.
- a pair of opposite protrusions 23 are provided at a mid point of slot 22, thereby dividing the slot 22 in an open upper chamber 22a and a lower closed chamber 22b.
- the protrusions 23 are spaced so as to allow the passage, with a slight interference, of the transversal tongue 15 connecting the clip 16 to the rib 14, as more clearly specified hereafter.
- Two retaining teeth 24 are provided proximate to the opening 21 and adjacent to the slot 22.
- the teeth 24 have an upper oblique surface 24a substantially parallel to the oblique wall 17b of tooth 17 on the clip, and a lower surface 24b substantially perpendicular to the direction of the relative motion (longitudinal translation) allowed by the coupling of members 10 and 20.
- Fig. 4 the unactuated or passive arrangement is shown, wherein the writing tip (not shown) of a refill 33 (dashed line) is retracted.
- the refill is located on the longitudinal axis of the hollow body 20 with its upper end abutting the base 13.
- the spring 18 has to be inserted in the opening 21 of the tubular hollow body 20, also inserting the tongue 15 in the slot 22.
- the tongue 15 By pressing down the push button 11, the tongue 15 is forced to pass through the protrusions 23.
- the slot 22 divaricates elastically, letting the tongue 15 into chamber 22b, and then narrows again.
- the spring 18 reacts on an annular projection 34 on the inside of the hollow body 20 and biases the tongue 15 against the protrusions 23 that stop the spring from extending any further.
- the tooth 17 is located immediately above the tooth 24, with the two oblique surfaces facing.
- the push button 11 should be normally pressed, compressing the spring 18 (Fig. 5) and forcing the whole unit 10 to translate downwardly along the axis of the hollow body 20. By releasing the push button, the spring 11 tends to bias the rest of the unit upwards, until the surface 17b of tooth 17 abuts the surface 24b of tooth 24. This contrast locks the writing tip in the extended writing arrangement and bears the reaction that is transmitted during operation by the writing tip.
- a tooth 40 is provided on the inner face 16a of the clip 16. In its unactuated position (Fig. 6), the tooth 40 is accommodated in a bore 41 obtained in the hollow body 20 underneath the slot 22. A retaining tooth 42 radially projecting from the hollow body 20 is located underneath the bore 41.
- the teeth 40 and 42 have the same function of the teeth 17 and 24, that are now missing, of the previously described embodiment.
- the present invention provides a writing instrument which is extremely simple and inexpensive to construct, as being formed by three units only: a spring-push button-clip unit, a tubular hollow body, and a writing tip.
- a spring-push button-clip unit alone substitutes a plurality of separate members, with all the advantages normally attained by reducing the number of components of any device.
Landscapes
- Mechanical Pencils And Projecting And Retracting Systems Therefor, And Multi-System Writing Instruments (AREA)
- Clips For Writing Implements (AREA)
Abstract
The writing instrument comprises a conventional writing tip (33), a tubular hollow body (20) slidably accommodating a push button (11) for extracting the writing tip and provided with a return spring (18) and an outer clip (16).
The push button (11), the spring (18) and the clip (16) are obtained in a whole piece as a unit (10), preferably plastic.
Description
- The present invention relates to a writing instrument, particularly a ball pen, composed by three parts only: a conventional writing tip or refill, an outer hollow body and a unit that is advantageously obtained in one piece and comprises a clip, a spring and a relevant push button.
- It is an object of the invention to cut down to a minimum the number of parts forming a writing instrument, by employing an inexpensive material, such as plastic, to form a unit capable of carrying out operations that are usually distributed to several components.
- It is another objet of the invention to provide a pen constituted by few components having a simple structure and easy to assemble.
- The above and other objects, that will be more apparent hereinafter, are attained according to the invention by a writing instrument comprising a conventional writing tip, a tubular hollow body slidably accommodating a push button for extracting the writing tip and provided with a return spring, and an outer clip, characterised in that the push button, the spring and the clip are obtained in a whole piece as a unit.
- The substantial characteristics of two preferred but not limiting embodiments of the writing instrument according to the invention are described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Fig. 1
- is a side elevation view of one of the components of a pen according to the invention;
- Fig. 2
- is a view of the component of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of arrow A of Fig. 1;
- Fig. 3
- shows the cylindrical outer body of a writing instrument which is for coupling to the component of Figs. 1 and 2;
- Figs. 4 and 5
- are two longitudinal cross section views of the writing instrument in an operative and unactuated arrangement, respectively; and
- Figs. 6 and 7
- are two longitudinal cross section views of two distinct operational arrangements of a different embodiment of a writing instrument according to the present invention.
- Referring initially to Figs. 1 and 2,
numeral 10 indicates overall a unit comprising a push button, a spring and a clip. According to the invention, theunit 10 is constituted by a single piece obtained in a plastic material, preferably through pressing. - The
unit 10 is designed to couple to a tubularhollow body 20, shown in Fig. 3, that forms the main outer body of the writing instrument. The latter is further provided with an interchangeable refill, if the writing instrument is a ball pen, or another writing means such as a lead, if it is a propelling pencil. The illustrated example refers to a ball pen in particular. - Still referring to Fig. 1,
unit 10 comprises a longitudinalelongated push button 11, the transverse cross-section of which must have a size and shape congruent with the inside of the tubularhollow body 20 in which theunit 10 is slidably accommodated. Theupper end portion 11a of thepush button 11 normally sticks out so as to be pressed by the user. Alongitudinal rib 12 extends from thelower end portion 11b ending with abase 13 having a shape congruent with the internal cross-section of the tubularhollow body 20. Parallel to thefirst rib 12 is asecond rib 14 protruding from thebase 13. The second rib is folded back facing thefirst rib 12. Atransverse tongue 15 projects outwardly from the upper end of therib 14. Thetongue 15 is joined to a substantiallyrectangular clip 16, at a point intermediate the ends thereof. Thelower portion 16a ofclip 16 is the part for hooking the pen to a breast-pocket, and it also has another function, as described hereinafter. Theupper portion 16b is provided with anupper tooth 17 facing thepush button 11.Tooth 17 comprises an uppertransverse wall 17a and anoblique wall 17b inclined towards the top of thepush button 11. - The
unit 10 further incorporates ahelicoidal spring 18 longitudinally extending from thebase 13 on the opposite side ofribs spring 18 is substantially flush with the lower end of theclip 16. - Referring now to Figs. 3 to 5, the
multi-functional unit 10 is adapted for coupling to the hollow tubularhollow body 20, the internal cross-section of which can take various shapes, it being indifferently circular, polygonal, etc.. However, the internal cross-section is designed so as to accommodate thepush button 11, thebase 13 and thespring 18 with a slight radial clearance allowing longitudinal sliding of theunit 10. - The
hollow body 20 has anupper opening 21 through whichunit 10 is inserted. Avertical slot 22 extends from the edge of opening 21. A pair ofopposite protrusions 23 are provided at a mid point ofslot 22, thereby dividing theslot 22 in an openupper chamber 22a and a lower closedchamber 22b. Theprotrusions 23 are spaced so as to allow the passage, with a slight interference, of thetransversal tongue 15 connecting theclip 16 to therib 14, as more clearly specified hereafter. - Two retaining
teeth 24 are provided proximate to the opening 21 and adjacent to theslot 22. Theteeth 24 have an upperoblique surface 24a substantially parallel to theoblique wall 17b oftooth 17 on the clip, and alower surface 24b substantially perpendicular to the direction of the relative motion (longitudinal translation) allowed by the coupling ofmembers - Referring to Fig. 4, the unactuated or passive arrangement is shown, wherein the writing tip (not shown) of a refill 33 (dashed line) is retracted. The refill is located on the longitudinal axis of the
hollow body 20 with its upper end abutting thebase 13. - To assemble the pen and reach this arrangement, the
spring 18 has to be inserted in the opening 21 of the tubularhollow body 20, also inserting thetongue 15 in theslot 22. - By pressing down the
push button 11, thetongue 15 is forced to pass through theprotrusions 23. Theslot 22 divaricates elastically, letting thetongue 15 intochamber 22b, and then narrows again. Thespring 18 reacts on anannular projection 34 on the inside of thehollow body 20 and biases thetongue 15 against theprotrusions 23 that stop the spring from extending any further. - In this arrangement, the
tooth 17 is located immediately above thetooth 24, with the two oblique surfaces facing. - To write, the
push button 11 should be normally pressed, compressing the spring 18 (Fig. 5) and forcing thewhole unit 10 to translate downwardly along the axis of thehollow body 20. By releasing the push button, thespring 11 tends to bias the rest of the unit upwards, until thesurface 17b oftooth 17 abuts thesurface 24b oftooth 24. This contrast locks the writing tip in the extended writing arrangement and bears the reaction that is transmitted during operation by the writing tip. - After writing, to retract the writing tip the
lower portion 16a ofclip 16 has to be pressed in the direction of arrow P of Fig. 5. Theteeth spring 18 pushes the rest of theunit 10 upwards, so the pen recovers its rent arrangement of Fig. 4. - Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, an alternative construction of the writing instrument according to the invention is shown.
- According to this variant, a
tooth 40 is provided on theinner face 16a of theclip 16. In its unactuated position (Fig. 6), thetooth 40 is accommodated in abore 41 obtained in thehollow body 20 underneath theslot 22. A retainingtooth 42 radially projecting from thehollow body 20 is located underneath thebore 41. - In this embodiment, the
teeth teeth - To write, from the unactuated position of Fig. 6, the
end portion 16a of theclip 16 has to be lifted as shown by arrow S in Fig. 7, to disengage the teeth and allow thespring 18 to lift theunit 10 until thetongue 15 abuts theprotrudings 23. - As it can be appreciated, the present invention provides a writing instrument which is extremely simple and inexpensive to construct, as being formed by three units only: a spring-push button-clip unit, a tubular hollow body, and a writing tip. Particularly, the above spring-push button-clip unit alone substitutes a plurality of separate members, with all the advantages normally attained by reducing the number of components of any device.
- The invention is not limited to the aforegoing description, which is to be considered purely as an illustration of the best mode of implementing the writing instrument, and which is susceptible of modification of form, size, arrangement of the parts and details of operation. The invention rather is intended to encompass all such modifications which are within its spirit and scope as defined by the claims.
Claims (6)
- A writing instrument comprising a conventional writing tip (33), a tubular hollow body (20) slidably accommodating a push button (11) for extracting the writing tip and provided with a return spring (18), and an outer clip (16), characterised in that the push button (11), the spring (18) and the clip (16) are obtained in a whole piece as a unit (10).
- A writing instrument according to claim 1, characterised in that the unit (10) is constituted by a single plastic material.
- A writing instrument according to claim 1, characterised in that a fixed seat (34) for contrasting the spring (18) is provided inside the hollow body (20).
- A writing instrument according to claim 1, characterised in that the clip (16) is connected to the rest of the unit (10) by means of a tongue (15) slidable in a seat (22) obtained in the hollow body (20) and open at one end of said hollow body.
- A writing instrument according to claims 1 and 4, characterised in that said seat (22) is provided with locking means (23) for locking the tongue (15) when the spring (18) extends.
- A writing instrument according to claim 1, characterised in that the clip (16) is provided with means (17, 40) for contrasting the release of the spring (18), said means (17, 40) being adapted to releasably secure to corresponding locking means integral with the hollow body (20).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ITTO930140U | 1993-06-22 | ||
ITTO930140 IT231418Y1 (en) | 1993-06-22 | 1993-06-22 | WRITING INSTRUMENT WITH BUTTON, SPRING AND CLIP COMBINED IN ONE PIECE. |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0630762A1 true EP0630762A1 (en) | 1994-12-28 |
Family
ID=11411205
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP94108612A Withdrawn EP0630762A1 (en) | 1993-06-22 | 1994-06-06 | A writing instrument with a push button, a clip and a spring in one piece |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0630762A1 (en) |
IT (1) | IT231418Y1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2776960A1 (en) * | 1998-04-06 | 1999-10-08 | Leendert Averink | WRITING INSTRUMENT WITH A LONGITUDINAL OPERATING DEVICE FOR PROVIDING TWO CONSECUTIVE DECORATIONS OR MESSAGES |
EP2327564A1 (en) * | 2008-07-24 | 2011-06-01 | Kotobuki & Co. Ltd. | Knock type writing instrument |
EP2532531A1 (en) * | 2010-02-03 | 2012-12-12 | The Pilot Ink Co., Ltd | Writing tool |
CN109605984A (en) * | 2018-12-27 | 2019-04-12 | 杭州简弈科技有限公司 | A kind of pressing release pen |
CN114222668A (en) * | 2019-07-25 | 2022-03-22 | 株式会社百乐 | Telescopic writing tool |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE1511333A1 (en) * | 1966-10-26 | 1969-06-19 | Rido Busse | One-piece retractable ballpoint pen |
US4717275A (en) * | 1986-06-20 | 1988-01-05 | Burkhardt Jr Dietmar | Writing instrument with a retractable clip |
EP0421937A2 (en) * | 1989-10-04 | 1991-04-10 | Kent D. Murphy | Retracting writing instrument |
EP0430387A1 (en) * | 1989-11-24 | 1991-06-05 | Kabushiki Kaisha Pilot | Clip operated retraction mechanism for a retractable tip writing instrument |
-
1993
- 1993-06-22 IT ITTO930140 patent/IT231418Y1/en active IP Right Grant
-
1994
- 1994-06-06 EP EP94108612A patent/EP0630762A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE1511333A1 (en) * | 1966-10-26 | 1969-06-19 | Rido Busse | One-piece retractable ballpoint pen |
US4717275A (en) * | 1986-06-20 | 1988-01-05 | Burkhardt Jr Dietmar | Writing instrument with a retractable clip |
EP0421937A2 (en) * | 1989-10-04 | 1991-04-10 | Kent D. Murphy | Retracting writing instrument |
EP0430387A1 (en) * | 1989-11-24 | 1991-06-05 | Kabushiki Kaisha Pilot | Clip operated retraction mechanism for a retractable tip writing instrument |
Cited By (18)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1999051447A1 (en) * | 1998-04-06 | 1999-10-14 | Leendert Averink | Retractable pen with successive displays |
FR2776960A1 (en) * | 1998-04-06 | 1999-10-08 | Leendert Averink | WRITING INSTRUMENT WITH A LONGITUDINAL OPERATING DEVICE FOR PROVIDING TWO CONSECUTIVE DECORATIONS OR MESSAGES |
US8434957B2 (en) | 2008-07-24 | 2013-05-07 | Kotobuki & Co., Ltd. | Knock-type writing instrument |
EP2327564A1 (en) * | 2008-07-24 | 2011-06-01 | Kotobuki & Co. Ltd. | Knock type writing instrument |
EP2327564A4 (en) * | 2008-07-24 | 2012-11-14 | Kotobuki & Co Ltd | Knock type writing instrument |
US9844973B2 (en) | 2010-02-03 | 2017-12-19 | Kabushiki Kaisha Pilot Corporation | Writing instrument |
EP2532531A4 (en) * | 2010-02-03 | 2013-10-16 | Pilot Ink Co Ltd | Writing tool |
US9108456B2 (en) | 2010-02-03 | 2015-08-18 | The Pilot Ink Co., Ltd. | Writing instrument |
EP2532531A1 (en) * | 2010-02-03 | 2012-12-12 | The Pilot Ink Co., Ltd | Writing tool |
US10493791B2 (en) | 2010-02-03 | 2019-12-03 | The Pilot Ink Co., Ltd. | Writing instrument |
US11179963B2 (en) | 2010-02-03 | 2021-11-23 | The Pilot Ink Co., Ltd. | Writing instrument |
US11738589B2 (en) | 2010-02-03 | 2023-08-29 | The Pilot Ink Co., Ltd. | Writing instrument |
CN109605984A (en) * | 2018-12-27 | 2019-04-12 | 杭州简弈科技有限公司 | A kind of pressing release pen |
CN109605984B (en) * | 2018-12-27 | 2020-05-22 | 温州市简系文具有限公司 | Press release pen |
CN114222668A (en) * | 2019-07-25 | 2022-03-22 | 株式会社百乐 | Telescopic writing tool |
US20220219482A1 (en) * | 2019-07-25 | 2022-07-14 | Kabushiki Kaisha Pilot Corporation (Also Trading As Pilot Corporation) | Retractable Writing Implement |
CN114222668B (en) * | 2019-07-25 | 2023-12-22 | 株式会社百乐 | Telescopic writing tool |
US12097723B2 (en) * | 2019-07-25 | 2024-09-24 | Kabushiki Kaisha Pilot Corporation | Retractable writing implement |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ITTO930140V0 (en) | 1993-06-22 |
IT231418Y1 (en) | 1999-08-03 |
ITTO930140U1 (en) | 1994-12-22 |
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Legal Events
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PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
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AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): CH DE ES FR GB IT LI PT |
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17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19950221 |
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17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19950410 |
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STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
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18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 19951021 |