EP0739276B1

EP0739276B1 - A writing implement

Info

Publication number: EP0739276B1
Application number: EP95904664A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Cornel Chu
Original assignee: Grippa International Ltd
Current assignee: Grippa International Ltd
Priority date: 1994-01-10
Filing date: 1995-01-09
Publication date: 1998-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 2015-01-09
Also published as: JPH09511188A; CA2178510A1; CN1138311A; CN1051500C; WO1995018719A1; DE69503115T2; EP0739276A1; AU1325595A; DE69503115D1

Description

THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a writing implement and more particularly relates to a pen or pencil.

US-A-4,717,275 relates to a writing instrument having a casing of generally elongate cylindrical form which contains a writing mechanism. A moulded clip member is provided which can be activated from the exterior of the pen to cause the writing mechanism to move from a retracted position to an extended position and vice versa. The clip includes resilient arms which become formed when the clip is depressed.

According to this invention there is provided a writing implement comprising an elongate hollow housing, an elongate writing mechanism receivable within the housing and an actuator element connected to the writing mechanism, the actuator element having a resilient substantially arcuate portion received within the hollow housing, that arcuate portion carrying an actuator means which projects through an aperture formed in the housing, the resilient arcuate portion being such that if the actuator means is depressed, the arcuate portion is deformed against an outward bias, the actuator element then being movable from a position in which the writing mechanism is extended to a position in which the writing mechanism is retracted, the outward bias of the resilient arcuate portion providing an upward force as a result of the engagement of the arcuate portion with the housing, the upward force assisting the retraction of the writing mechanism into the housing.

A writing implement in accordance with the invention comprises simply three components, namely a hollow housing, a writing mechanism, such as a standard ball point refill, and an actuator element. The actuator element may incorporate a clip.

Conveniently the standard ball point refill is connected to the actuator element by means of a stake formed integrally with the actuator element inserted into the open end of the standard refill.

Advantageously the stake is of cruciform section.

Conveniently the arcuate portion is deformed as it is initially inserted into the housing of the writing implement so that part of the arcuate portion are always resiliently biassed into contact with the interior of the main housing of the writing implement.

Advantageously the arcuate portion, when within the main housing of the writing implement, may bias the writing mechanism to the retracted position.

Preferably the actuator element also carries a projecting lip, the lip being adapted to engage the edge of the aperture formed in the housing of the writing implement to receive the actuator means when the writing mechanism is extended. The lip may be disengaged by pressing the lip or the actuator button inwardly against the bias provided by the arcuate portion.

Conveniently the actuator element additionally carries a clip. The clip may be used to clip the writing implement to a pocket, for example.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the clip is such that the clip is spaced from the main body of the actuator element by means of a gap, the clip being movable into contact with the main body of the retractor element, thus closing the gap, the clip, when in this position, not extending beyond the envelope defined by the body of the writing implement 1.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a writing implement in accordance with the invention, comprising a ball point pen, with the writing implement in a "retracted" position,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view corresponding to Figure 1 showing the writing implement in the operative position,

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the outer body of the writing implement of Figures 1 and 2,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a clip and actuating element forming part of a pen of Figures 1 and 2,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a standard refill for use in the writing implement of Figures 1 and 2,

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged partial view illustrating how the clip of Figure 4 is connected to the refill of Figure 5,

FIGURE 7 is a side top view of the writing implement when in the operative position,

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view of the top part of the writing implement, illustrating the implement in the operative position,

FIGURE 9 is a view corresponding to Figure 8 showing the pen in the retracted position,

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken on line X-X of Figure 9,

FIGURE 11 is a view corresponding to Figure 4 illustrating a further modified embodiment of the invention, and

FIGURE 12 is a view corresponding to Figure 9 again showing the modified embodiment of the invention.

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the writing implement is in the form of a ball point pen and comprises a main housing 31 of generally cylindrical form having, at the upper end, a projecting clip member 32. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the design of the writing implement is such that the clip member may be pressed to move the writing mechanism of the writing implement from an inoperative or retracted position to an operative or protruding position, and vice-versa. Thus, the clip member can be considered to act as an actuator element.

As can be seen more clearly from Figures 3 to 5 the writing implement of the invention being described comprises simply three components, namely a elongate housing 1 as shown in Figure 3, a clip member 32 as illustrated in Figure 4, and a standard ball point refill 33 as illustrated in Figure 5.

The housing 31 shown in Figure 3 is of generally cylindrical form of oval cross-section, but the lower part 34 of the housing is provided with a generally pointed end having an axially extending aperture 35 through which the ball point 36 of the refill 33 may project when the pen is in the condition illustrated in Figure 2.

The upper end of the housing 31 is provided with a recess 37 adapted to receive a clip part 38 of the clip member 32, and also with an elongate aperture 39 located beneath the recess 37 adapted to receive an actuator button 43 forming part of the clip member 32. The clip member 32 comprises a substantially elongate plastic element having, at an upper end, a clip part 38 spaced slightly from the main body 40 of the clip member by means of a gap 41. The main body of the clip member continues with an arcuate resiliently deformable portion 42 which carries a actuating button 43 and an engagement lip 44 as will be described hereinafter and which terminates in a lower end carrying a cruciform cross-sectioned stake 45 extending downwardly and being intended to be received as a friction fit within the open end of the standard refill, as can be seen most clearly from Figure 6. The clip member 32 is thus connected to the standard refill 33.

It is to be appreciated that the pen is fabricated by inserting the stake 45 provided on the clip member 32 into the open end of the refill 33, and then inserting the refill through the top of the housing 31 until the clip part 8 is aligned with the recess 37.

The clip member 32 may be moulded of a plastics material and initially will have the form illustrated in phantom 32A in Figure 8 with arcuate portion 42 in a bent or curved condition. However, as the clip member is introduced into the main body of the pen, the arcuate portion 42 is substantially straightened to have the condition illustrated in solid line in Figures 8 and 9. As the clip member is inserted into the main body of the pen, the arcuate portion is further deformed to permit the actuating button 43 and the lip 44 to move past the bottom of the recess 37 so that the actuating element and the lip may slide fully into the body of the pen. Due to the resilience of the arcuate portion 42 of the clip and retractor element as it is slid into the pen, it will occupy the condition illustrated in Figure 8 where the actuating button 43 is located at the bottom of the aperture 39 formed in the main body of the pen and the lip 44 is also engaged in aperture engaging the upper portion of the aperture. Since the arcuate portion is deformed as compared with its original condition before being inserted into the housing, the natural resilience of the arcuate portion ensures that parts of the arcuate portion are always resiliently biassed into contact with the interior of the main body of the pen.

This is the condition of the pen illustrated in Figures 2, 7 and 8. When in this condition, the pen may be utilised since the ball point portion of the standard refill will project through the aperture provided at the bottom of the main body of the pen.

When the pen is to be moved to the retracted condition, the actuator button 43 is pressed inwards against the outward bias provided by the arcuate portion 42 of the clip member 32 which serves to disengage the lip 44 from the aperture 39, and the actuator button 43 is then pushed upwardly relative to the body of the pen. Provided that the actuator button is pressed inwardly sufficiently for the lip to be fully disengaged from the periphery of the aperture formed in the body of the pen, the clip member 32 will move smoothly upwardly, thus retracting the ball point of the standard refill. The outward bias provided by the arcuate portion 42 and the engagement of the arcuate portion with the housing 31 provides an upward force which serves to assist the retraction of the writing mechanism into the housing. Thus, there is no need for a separate compression spring, as often found in retracting writing implements.

If, once the clip member is moving, the inward pressure applied to the actuator button 43 is released, the actuator button will be biassed outwardly and will engage the upper periphery of the aperture 39, as shown in Figure 9, when the refill is fully retracted.

The pen may then be clipped in a pocket or in a book. It is to be observed that although the clip portion 38 of the clip member 32 is separated from the main body 40 by a gap 41, if an inward pressure is provided to the terminal portion of the clip, that gap will close, with the clip part 38 then abutting against the main housing of the clip member 32 and retractor element. When in this condition the free end of the clip part 38 does not project beyond the envelope defined by the main body of the pen. Thus the pen may be used, for example, as a bookmark, bearing in mind the oval nature of the cross-section of the pen.

When the pen is again to be brought to the operative state, a downward pressure is applied to the top of the clip member 32, which causes the terminal portion of the lip 44 to ride past the lower edge of the recess 37 formed in the top of the main housing 31 of the pen, so that continued downward movement of the clip member 32 returns the pen to the operative position as illustrated in Figures 2, 7 and 8.

Also, while in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 10 an actuator button on the arcuate portion of the clip member extends through the aperture in the main housing, the button may be omitted, with part of the surface of the arcuate portion of the clip member being accessible through the aperture. Manual pressure may then be applied directly to the arcuate portion to operate the pen.

Referring to Figures 11 and 12, a modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated which corresponds to that described with reference to Figures 1 to 10, save that the design of the clip member has been modified. The clip member 70 has an arcuate resiliently deformable portion 71, which corresponds to the deformable portion 42. The portion 71 carries three forwardly extending projections, 72, 73 and 74. The projection 72 effectively forms an actuating button corresponding to the actuating button 43. The projection 73 performs the same function as the lip 44. The third projection 74 is located adjacent the free end of a clip part 75 thus helping to ensure that the clip part 75 securely grips any material introduced into the gap 76 existing between the clip part 75 and the main body 77 of the illustrated clip member.

Claims

A writing implement comprising an elongate hollow housing(31), an elongate writing mechanism(33) receivable within the housing and an actuator element(32) connected to the writing mechanism, the actuator element having a resilient substantially arcuate portion(42) received within the hollow housing, that arcuate portion carrying an actuator means(43) which projects through an aperture(39) formed in the housing, the resilient arcuate portion(42) being such that if the actuator means(43) is depressed, the arcuate portion(42) is deformed against an outward bias, the actuator element(32) then being movable from a position in which the writing mechanism(33) is extended to a position in which the writing mechanism is retracted, the outward bias of the resilient arcuate portion(42) providing an upward force as a result of the engagement of the arcuate portion(42) with the housing(31), the upward force assisting the retraction of the writing mechanism(33) into the housing(31).
A writing implement according to Claim 1 wherein the writing mechanism(33) comprises a standard ball point refill.
A writing mechanism according to Claim 2 wherein the standard ball point refill(33) is connected to the actuator element(32) by means of a stake(45) formed integrally with the actuator element inserted into the open end of the standard refill(33).
A writing implement according to Claim 3 wherein the stake(45) is of cruciform section.
A writing implement according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the arcuate portion(42) is deformed as it is initially inserted into the housing(31) of the writing implement so that parts of the arcuate portion(42) are always resiliently biassed into contact with the interior of the main housing of the writing implement.
A writing implement according to Claim 5 wherein the arcuate portion(42), when within the main housing(31) of the writing implement, biases the writing mechanism(33) to the retracted position.
A writing mechanism according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the actuator element(32) also carries a projecting lip(44), the lip(44) being adapted to engage the edge of the aperture(39) formed in the housing(31) of the writing implement to receive the actuator means(43) when the writing mechanism is extended.
A writing implement according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the actuator element(42) additionally carries a clip(38).
A writing implement according to Claim 8 wherein the clip(38) is such that the clip is spaced from the main body(40) of the actuator element(42) by means of a gap(41), the clip being movable into contact with the main body of the actuator element, thus closing the gap, the clip, when in this position, not extending beyond the envelope defined by the housing(31) of the writing implement.