EP0765769B1 - Writing instrument, especially a fountain pen - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a writing instrument, in particular fountain pens, with an ink or other writing fluid fillable storeroom, which is connected by a through a lockable in its basic position Connection channel with a flow regulator and one Writing tip communicates with the pantry one accessible from the outside by an automatic closing valve has a closed refill opening which is provided with means for keeping the valve open Refill container is tightly connectable.

In a writing device known from US-A-2 938 499 specified type, a float is arranged in the storage room, the one when filling the with the writing tip up held, connected to the refill container Writing instrument closes the isolation valve when the pantry is filled. The writing instrument is in Writing position with the writing tip down, so opens the float the isolation valve so that the writing fluid through the connecting channel to the writing tip can.

The CH-A-255 993 is a refill container known as remove it to the storage room with the help of a filling pipe a fountain pen of the type mentioned can be connected to refill it with writing fluid. The Filling tube is axially movable against the force of a spring in front of the container opening closed by a valve plate attached, from which a hose to the tank bottom leads. There is also a valve plate in the Refill opening of the fountain pen. With the help of a The refill container can be a rubber balloon formed air pump to be put under pressure. For refilling it will be Writing instrument with its refill opening on the filling tube put on and down against the refill container pressed, the filling tube penetrating both valve plates and thereby the hose with the storage space of the Fountain pen connects. Through the in the refill container generated overpressure against the outside air pressure the liquid through the hose and the filling pipe into the Storage space of the fountain pen pressed, the in this Air is at the top of the ventilation duct Fountain pen escapes. After filling, the fountain pen deducted from the fill tube, the openings in the Close the valve plate again automatically.

From GB-A-6570 a fountain pen is known whose shaft contains a pantry and a spare room that through a wall in which a refill valve is located from each other are separated. A separating valve is also provided, through that from the store to the writing tip leading connecting channel can be closed in the tip part is. The closure elements of both valves are by a plunger with a screw Knob connected to the rear end of the fountain pen is arranged. If the ink in the storage room is used up, So, by turning the rotary knob, that is first Refill valve open and then when the refill valve the isolating valve has reached its maximum opening position closed. Then the fountain pen with the Nib held down and shaken to the Transport ink from the reserve room to the store room. Here, the closed isolating valve Avoid ink leakage at the nib. The Fountain pen is made by unscrewing its tip part and thus also the seat of the separating valve from the stem filled with ink. The isolating valve is thus when filling open.

A refillable writing instrument is known from US Pat. No. 2,646,777 known, in which the storage room on the pen opposite end is provided with a piston pump, through a suction pipe protruding from the storage room can be actuated. To refill the storage room, this will be Suction tube dipped in an ink tank and opened and closed Moving down the writing instrument actuated the piston pump. The disadvantage here is that when refilling the increasing pressure in the ink regulator in the storage room Ink emerges from the writing tip, so that the Outside of the writing instrument and the operator's fingers can be stained with ink. It can also be easy to overfill the pantry and ink chambers come in the ink regulator, causing the typeface gets messy when writing. Finally is the handling of the known writing instrument cumbersome and the suction pipe protruding from the storage room does that Arrangement of an additional protective sleeve required.

The invention has for its object a writing instrument the type mentioned in such a way that it repeats filled with ink or writing fluid can, without overfilling is possible and that it is Do not refill the reservoir to excessive ink supply can come at the top of the order.

This object is achieved in that the Isolation valve by an actuator with a push button is connected and by pressing the push button in reaches its closed position and that when connecting the Refill the push button at the refill opening pushable through the refill container and opening the automatically closing valve only in the closed position of the isolating valve is possible.

In the writing instrument according to the invention is the renewed Fill the storage space with ink through the isolation valve always from the writing tip and the flow regulator Cut. The writing instrument can therefore be filled again only take up as much ink as the storage room can hold can. An overfilling with the result that ink on the Pen tip is not possible. One versus that Atmospheric pressure increased pressure in the storage room, what for can come when refilling with ink not too much ink at the tip and the capillary system of the flow controller. Since the Stockroom easily refilled with ink can be in its size the pressure equalization capacity the flow controller can be optimally adjusted.

The actuation of the isolating valve can easily done by that the closure element of the isolation valve on one Plunger is attached. Here, the closure element of the Separating valve to be axially movable relative to the plunger, thus differences between the closing path of the closure element and the actuation path of the ram balanced become.

A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the isolating valve has a closure element which is of an elastic deformable tube is formed the one with his free end to a valve seat at the inlet end of the connecting channel is pressable. This configuration of the Isolation valve is mainly characterized by a low Manufacturing and assembly costs and due to a low susceptibility to wear out.

Another embodiment of the invention provides that Isolation valve a valve seat with one by one Has cylindrical bore formed seat in the the closure element is insertable and such Length has that the closure element in its closed position is limited axially movable.

The ink flow through the open isolation valve can thereby improved be that at the valve seat itself in the flow direction extending ribs adjoin that of the surface tension counteract and stick individual drops in the area prevent the passage opening of the valve.

The pushbutton for actuating the isolating valve closes preferably the end opposite the writing tip of the pantry. The push button can be on a compression spring be supported by being in a basic position is held in which the isolating valve is open.

According to a further proposal of the invention can continue the refill opening accessible from the outside through a central, hole connected to the storage room in the Push button formed, which is the self-closing Valve takes up.

According to the invention, the automatically closing valve can continue the refill opening from a wall or membrane made of elastomeric material and a pre-punched have an automatically closing opening through which a hollow needle a refill can be pierced from the outside. As a result, tight connection is achieved with simple means a refill container to the storage room enables without the pantry by loosening a Lid or a comparable closure opened must become. Refilling the storage room is therefore on a simple and clean way possible. Through the hollow needle can alternately press ink into the pantry and Air is sucked out of the storage room. Furthermore can the area containing the self-closing valve is one for Have valve concentric guide surface that for orientation of a guide element for refilling the intended refill container. To protect the Valve and to avoid its touch still the valve sunk in a hole be arranged, the diameter of the outer diameter of the Hollow needle of the refill container only slightly exceeds.

The invention further relates to a combination of such a writing instrument and a refill container for filling the writing instrument.

Figur 1

einen Längsschnitt durch den Vorratsraum und die angrenzenden Abschnitte eines erfindungsgemäßen Füllhalters,

Figur 2

einen Längsschnitt durch das der Schreibspitze entgegengesetzte Ende des Füllhalters gemäß Figur 1,

Figur 3

einen Querschnitt durch einen Nachfüllbehälter zum Füllen eines Füllhalters gemäß den Figuren 1 und 2 mit Tinte.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the drawing. Show it

Figure 1

2 shows a longitudinal section through the storage space and the adjacent sections of a fountain pen according to the invention,

Figure 2

2 shows a longitudinal section through the end of the fountain pen according to FIG. 1 opposite the writing tip,

Figure 3

a cross section through a refill container for filling a fountain pen according to Figures 1 and 2 with ink.

The fountain pen shown has a tubular shaft 1, which contains a pantry 2. At the end 5 of the Shaft 1 is a writing tip 6, not shown attached which have a capillary channels and equalization chambers having ink regulator 7, which has an application member, e.g. a pen with the storage room 2 connects. The Ink regulator 7 is connected to reservoir 2 via a bore 8 connected, which can be closed by a separating valve 9 is. The isolation valve 9 is through a tubular closure element 10 made of elastomeric material and one to the Bore 8 adjacent, tapered seat 11 formed which the closure element 10 can be pressed. The closure element 10 surrounds what protrudes into the storage room 2 End 12 of a plunger 13. For holding the closure element 10, the end 12 has a bead 15, which the Closure element 10 encompasses elastically. In the axial direction is the closure element 10 in addition supported. The seat 11 are within the Pantry 2 ribs 35 adjacent to the flow of Feed ink through the open isolation valve.

The closing element 10 opposite end 19 of the Tappet 13 is attached to a push button 20 which on the the writing tip 6 opposite end of the shaft 1 in a sleeve-shaped support element 21 axially movable is. The push button 20 has a longitudinal bore 22, into which the cross-shaped end 19 intervenes. In the axial direction, the end 19 is by projections 23 held in undercut slots in the wall of the push button 20 are engaged. In a recess 24 in the outer surface of the push button 20 is one Compression spring 25 arranged. The compression spring 25 is with a End on the push button 20 and the other end on the Supported element 21 and thereby holds the push button 20 in the position shown, in which it out of the carrier element 21 protrudes and with a recess 24 delimiting stop surface 26 on a in the recess 24 protruding collar 27 of the support member 21 abuts. The carrier element 21 has a cylindrical bore 28 in which the end of the push button facing the store room 20 is sealed with a mechanical seal 29.

The carrier element 21 is in the open end of the shaft 1 used and opposite the shaft 1 with a sealing ring 30 sealed. For attachment in the shaft 1 are on the Carrier element 21 spring tongues 31 formed with projections at their ends in recesses 32 in the wall of the Shaft 1 are engaged.

To refill the storage space 2 is in the longitudinal bore 22 of the push button 20 a wall 33 made of elastomeric material arranged accessible from the outside through a narrow bore 34 is and a pre-pierced, by the contraction behavior of material 55 is kept closed Has. Through the hole 34, the opening 55 of the wall 33 pierced with a hollow needle of a refill container and then fill in ink through the hollow needle. The air displaced when new ink is filled by constantly changing the pressure in the refill container aspirated intermittently via the hollow needle. The wall 33 seals the hollow needle when refilling and behaves like an automatically closing valve. She pulls up immediately after pulling out the hollow needle firmly together that the opening 55 and the pantry 2nd are immediately sealed again. Around the hollow needle Align the refill container exactly with hole 34 can, the push button 20 is concentric Provide annular groove 37 into which a surrounding the hollow needle Guide tube of the refill container can be inserted.

To close the isolation valve 9 when refilling To ensure writing fluid through the opening in wall 33 it is recommended that the refill device is so form that the hollow needle only pierce the wall 33 can, after pressing the push button 20, the isolation valve 9 has reached its closed position. This can can be achieved, for example, in that the Ring groove 37 engaging guide tube of the refill container slidable relative to this and supported on a compression spring is, the spring force of this compression spring is greater is than that of the compression spring 25 on the push button 20th

The refill container shown in Figure 3 is for filling a fountain pen according to Figures 1 and 2 provided. she consists of a container 61 made of an elastically deformable Hollow body 62 and a rigid shell body 63 is composed. The hollow body 62 has a cylindrical Wall 64, a slightly curved floor 65 and a frusto-conical lid 66 to which an cylindrical neck 67 connects. The neck 67 is on his Provide 68 on the outside. The coat body 63 has a frustoconical wall 69 and one Cap 70 with internal thread 71, which is screwed onto the neck 67 and seals it tightly. The wall 69 corresponds in its inclination to the cover 66 and lies with her outer edge firmly on the edge of the cover 66.

The bottom 72 of the cap 70 is provided with a protruding into the neck 67, formed by cylindrical wall sections Countersink 73 provided. In a bore 74 of the depression 73, a sleeve-shaped insert 75 is attached, the one Valve 76 and a filling tube 77 designed as a hollow needle contains. The valve 76 consists of a cylindrical Disc-shaped wall 78 to which a sleeve-shaped Approach 79 is formed. Is along their cylinder axis pierced wall 78 with a needle, causing a automatically closing valve bore is formed. The Wall 78 is held in the insert 75 by a ring 80. The filling pipe 77 is on the inside of the container 61 opposite side of the wall 78 and arranged with one end performed in the bore of the approach 79. In the middle is the filling tube 77 connected to a spring plate 81, the a collar 82 of the insert 75 can be put on and with a cylindrical guide section is guided in this. Between the spring plate 81 and the wall 78 is a compression spring 83 arranged. The outer end of the insert 75 forms a guide sleeve 84 which is the outer end of the fill tube 77 surrounds at a distance.

The lower half of the illustration in FIG. 3 shows this Filling tube 77 in its basic position, in which the valve 76 closed is. In this position, the filling tube 77 by the prestressed compression spring 83 with the spring plate 81 held in contact with the collar 82.

Fountain pen to be filled with ink from the container 61 the container 61 with the guide sleeve 84 on the push button 20 at the end of the fountain pen and moved in the longitudinal direction of the filling tube 77, the Guide sleeve 84 engages in the annular groove 37 and that outer end protruding from the spring plate 81 Filler tube 77, the bore 34 and the opening 55 of the wall 33 penetrates. The frictional force to be overcome is determined by the preloaded compression spring 83 added. Once the Spring plate 81 with its outer end on the end face of the push button 20, the force of the compression spring 83 overcome, so that the filling tube 77 now also the wall 78th pierces and into the in the upper half of Figure 3 shown position. The interior of the container 1 is now through the filling pipe 77 with the storage space 2nd connected. By intermittently pressing in the elastic deformable bottom 65 can now ink from the container 61st in the storage room 2 and air from the storage room 2 in the Container 61 are promoted. After the filling process the container 61 is pulled off the fountain pen. Here, the compression spring 83 causes the outer end of the Filling tubes 77 are only pulled out of the wall 78 can, if the spring plate 81 abuts the collar 82 and thus the valve 76 formed by the wall 78 already closed is.

Claims (11)

1. A writing instrument, in particular a fountain pen, with a reservoir (2) which is adapted to be filled with ink or another writing fluid and communicates with a flow equalizer (7) and a writing tip (6) through a communication channel (8) which is adapted to be closed by a shutoff valve (9) open in its home position, said reservoir (2) having an externally accessible refill opening (22, 34) closed by an automatically closing valve (33), to which opening a refill container provided with a mechanism for keeping the valve (33) open is attachable tightly, characterized in that the shutoff valve (9) is connected with a push-button (20) via an actuating member (12) and reaches its closed position by depression of the push-button (20), and that on connection of the refill container to the refill opening (22, 34) the push-button (20) is adapted to be depressed by the refill container, and opening of the automatically closing valve (33) is not possible until the shutoff valve (9) is in the closed position.
2. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the push-button (20) closes the reservoir (2) at the reservoir's end remote from the writing tip (6).
3. The writing instrument as claimed in any one of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the push-button (20) bears against a compression spring (25) causing the push-button to be held in a home position in which the shutoff valve (9) is open.
4. The writing instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shutoff valve (9) includes a closure element (10) which is made of an elastically deformable hose having a free end adapted to be urged into engagement with a valve seat (11) at the entrance end of the communication channel (8).
5. The writing instrument as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the shutoff valve (9) includes a closure element and a valve seat with a seating surface formed by a cylindrical bore into which the closure element is insertable and in which the closure element is axially movable within limits.
6. The writing instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the refill opening is formed by a central bore (22) in the push-button (20), said bore accommodating the automatically closing valve (33).
7. The writing instrument as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the automatically closing valve (33) of the refill opening (22, 34) comprises a wall or a diaphragm of an elastomeric material and has a prior perforated, automatically closing aperture (55) through which a hollow needle is insertable from outside.
8. The writing instrument as claimed in any one of the claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the automatically closing valve (33) is embedded within a bore (34) of a diameter exceeding the outside diameter of the hollow needle of the refill container only a small amount.
9. The writing instrument as claimed in any one of the claims 6 to 8, characterized in that a guiding surface (37) is provided which is arranged concentrically with the automatically closing valve (33) and serves for orientation of a guide element (84) of the refill container (61).
10. A combination of a writing instrument according to any one of the preceding claims and a refill container for refilling the reservoir (3) of the writing instrument with a writing fluid, wherein the refill container comprises a container (61) with a filler tube (77) through which the interior of the container (61) is connectable with the reservoir (2) to be filled and which is closed by an automatically closing valve (76) which on connection of the filler tube (77) to the reservoir (2) is movable into its open position by an actuating member (81) adapted to bear thereagainst, and wherein the container (61) includes a mechanism (65) for alternately raising and lowering the pressure in its interior.
11. The combination as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that provision is made for a guide element (84) displaceable relative to the container (61) and bearing against a compression spring, with the force of the compression spring exceeding the force of the compression spring (25) against which the push-button (20) of the writing instrument bears.

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