EP1221383A1 - Expandable writing instrument - Google Patents

Expandable writing instrument Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1221383A1
EP1221383A1 EP02250045A EP02250045A EP1221383A1 EP 1221383 A1 EP1221383 A1 EP 1221383A1 EP 02250045 A EP02250045 A EP 02250045A EP 02250045 A EP02250045 A EP 02250045A EP 1221383 A1 EP1221383 A1 EP 1221383A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pen
writing instrument
gear
instrument according
writing
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Withdrawn
Application number
EP02250045A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Gregor Mittersinker
Scott Presbrey
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.)
ATX International Inc
Original Assignee
ATX International Inc
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
Application filed by ATX International Inc filed Critical ATX International Inc
Publication of EP1221383A1 publication Critical patent/EP1221383A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • 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
    • B43K24/023—Mechanisms for selecting, projecting, retracting or locking writing units for locking a single writing unit in only fully projected or retracted positions with a deformable barrel
    • 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

Definitions

  • a small or reduced size pen can be difficult to hold and use for many people, including the elderly, children, the infirm, and people with large fingers.
  • a pen or pencil which occupies less space is more easily carried in a pocket or purse.
  • U.S. Patent 3,709,620 teaches a ball point pen having a body which is expandable for use as a pointer.
  • the pen body is formed by a series of telescoping tubes which support and contain the ball point and ink supply.
  • the ball point may be extended or retracted from the pen body by a spring-loaded operation button at the top end of the body.
  • the button has a horizontal channel with a spring-loaded slider having a tab which is forced into an opening in the side of the upper tube when the button is depressed to hold the button and keep the pen tip extended. Pressing the top end of a clip mounted outside the upper tube over the tab pushes the tab and slider back within the button, releasing the button from the depressed position. The button spring may then force the button back upward, retracting the pen tip.
  • a folding ball point pen is disclosed by U.S. Patent 5,061,104.
  • the pen is hinged near the center of the pen and a recess is provided in the upper section, so that the lower section containing the pen point and ink reservoir may be folded flush into the side of the upper section.
  • the pen point is not retractable.
  • an expandable pen is provided with a pen barrel having a cap section which slides longitudinally from a closed position covering a middle section to an elongated use position in which the middle section is exposed.
  • the pen barrel holds a retractable pen refill cartridge. When the pen is expanded, the writing tip of the refill is extended from a retracted position inside the pen barrel to a writing position, while the barrel becomes full length for comfort when writing.
  • the pen has a front section secured to a pen body with a cap liner which slidably fits over the pen body and mates with the front section when the pen is in the compacted state.
  • a decorative cap may be placed over the cap liner to enclose the end of the pen and form a cap section.
  • the refill cartridge fits within a chamber defined by the front section, pen body and cap liner and is held at a pen point end by a coil spring.
  • a gear is mounted on the pen body and has two sets of teeth which engage a track in the cap liner and a second track on a plunger positioned over the end of the refill cartridge. When the cap section is slid backwards away from the front section, the gear rotates between the track and the scaled track.
  • the different size teeth on the gear scale the sliding movement of the cap section and translate it to a smaller movement for the plunger to force the cartridge downward and the coil spring to compress so the writing tip is exposed.
  • the writing tip on the cartridge is thus extended for use, while the length of the pen is expanded for more comfortable writing.
  • Fig. 1 shows a writing instrument according to the invention in the form of an expandable ball point pen 50.
  • the pen 50 is in an expanded, use position with writing tip 10 of pen refill 65 extended through pen point 60.
  • Pen refill 65 compresses spring 15 against the inside of the front section 20 when the writing tip 60 is extended.
  • Pen body 40 is secured to front section 20 via a threaded connection 45 at one end.
  • a cap liner 30 is slidably mounted over pen body 40 at the other end.
  • the cap liner 30 is preferably covered by a decorative cap (not shown) or formed as an integrated piece.
  • the cap liner 30 only is shown for convenience, but it should be understood that any reference to the cap liner 30 herein may refer to a unitary cap having the same features or to a combined cap and cap liner.
  • the front section 20, pen body 40, pen point 60, and cap liner 30 define a chamber for holding the refill cartridge 65.
  • the coil spring 15 supports the bottom end of the refill cartridge 65 against the upper edge of the pen point 60 inside the front section 20. The spring 15 tends to force the refill cartridge 65 away from the pen point 60 and keep it in a retracted position when the pen 50 is collapsed.
  • the cap liner 30 is slidably mounted on the pen body 40 so that the cap liner 30 can move between the closed and expanded positions without completely separating from the pen body 40.
  • a gear 70 having two sets of teeth 75, 77 with different diameters is rotatably mounted to the end of the pen body 40 between a cap track 35 and a track 95 of a plunger 90.
  • the front section 20 mates with cap liner 30 to form a compact, generally cylindrical pen 50.
  • a slide stop tab 32 on the cap liner 30 mates with corresponding stop slots 47, 48 formed in the pen body 40 to hold the cap liner 30 and cap on the pen body 40 when it is expanded and to help keep the pen 50 in a closed position when stored.
  • the slide stop tab 32 can be disengaged with either slot 47, 48 by pulling or pushing the cap section as needed.
  • the gear mechanism relies upon the interaction of gear 70 with plunger 90 and cap liner 30.
  • the plunger has track 95 extending from the opposite side of a pushing surface 97.
  • the pushing surface 97 is arranged inside the pen body to press against the end of refill cartridge 65.
  • a pair of guides 92 are provided on the sides of the plunger 90 which correspond to a pair of tracks 43 in the sides of the pen body. The guides 92 prevent the plunger from rotating and changing the position of the plunger track 95 within the pen.
  • Fig. 5 illustrates the gear 70 with a set of large diameter teeth 77 which engage the cap track 35 and a set of small diameter teeth 75 which engage the plunger track 95.
  • the two sets of teeth 75, 77 are concentric around gear axle 72.
  • the particular ratio of the diameters of the two sets of gear teeth 75, 77 is determined based on the ratio of the distance the cap section will move to reach the extended position where slide stop 32 mates in slot 48 to the distance the refill cartridge 65 must move to extend the writing tip 10 to a use position.
  • Preferred ranges for the ratio of the larger diameter to the smaller diameter are between 5:1 and 1:1, although the ratio could be greater than 5:1.
  • the gear may have a single set of gear teeth engaging both tracks.
  • the plunger pushing surface 97 could be secured to the end of the refill plunger.
  • the plunger 90 would then pull the refill cartridge 65 into the pen body 40.
  • the plunger 90 could be secured to the refill cartridge 65 by having opening 99 frictionally fit over a tapered end of a refill cartridge 65.
  • the plunger pushing surface could be secured to the end of the refill cartridge 65 using an adhesive.
  • the refill cartridge 65 can be replaced by unscrewing threaded connection 45 between the front section 20 and pen body 40, removing the spent cartridge 65 and replacing it with a new one.
  • the front section 20 and pen body 40 can be rejoined and the pen 50 used as described above.
  • a compact writing instrument can be quickly expanded to a larger writing position while simultaneously extending the pen tip 10 for use.
  • the front section 20 and pen body 40 could be fused together as a single piece, rather than connected by a threaded connection.
  • the pen point 10 could be formed integral with the front section 20 as a single piece instead of as separate components.
  • refill cartridge herein is intended to mean any self-contained disposable unit which has both a writing material supply and a marking tip for making a visible mark on paper or other material with the writing material.
  • the refill cartridge may be disposable with the pen, or removable from the pen and replaceable.

Landscapes

  • Mechanical Pencils And Projecting And Retracting Systems Therefor, And Multi-System Writing Instruments (AREA)
  • Pens And Brushes (AREA)
EP02250045A 2001-01-09 2002-01-04 Expandable writing instrument Withdrawn EP1221383A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US75715201A 2001-01-09 2001-01-09
US757152 2001-01-09

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1221383A1 true EP1221383A1 (en) 2002-07-10

Family

ID=25046578

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02250045A Withdrawn EP1221383A1 (en) 2001-01-09 2002-01-04 Expandable writing instrument

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1221383A1 (ja)
JP (1) JP2002264581A (ja)
KR (1) KR20020060087A (ja)
CN (1) CN1364700A (ja)
CA (1) CA2366276A1 (ja)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1486349A2 (de) * 2002-01-18 2004-12-15 Herlitz PBS Aktiengesellschaft, Papier-, Büro- und Schreibwaren Schreibgerät
WO2006075846A1 (en) * 2005-01-17 2006-07-20 Morris Corporation Screw-type writing instrument having expansion and contraction function
US9464655B2 (en) 2012-10-26 2016-10-11 United Technologies Corporation Push-lock pin
US9523502B2 (en) 2013-03-11 2016-12-20 United Technologies Corporation Low profile push-lock device
US9568036B2 (en) 2013-03-11 2017-02-14 United Technologies Corporation Push-lock pin connector
US9664389B2 (en) 2013-12-12 2017-05-30 United Technologies Corporation Attachment assembly for protective panel
WO2019006449A1 (en) * 2017-06-30 2019-01-03 Zephyros, Inc. PULTRUDED TELESCOPIC ARM DEVICE
CN109878245A (zh) * 2019-03-07 2019-06-14 湖北工业大学 一种可自动推出和自动收回笔芯的自动笔

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN112590424B (zh) * 2020-12-17 2021-09-10 杭州简弈科技有限公司 一种机械齿轮笔
CN114987084A (zh) * 2021-03-01 2022-09-02 许可欣 一种可适应各种笔芯长度的笔
CN116512794B (zh) * 2023-01-14 2024-04-26 温州市蓝图文具有限公司 笔芯可伸缩的笔

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB613722A (en) * 1946-06-28 1948-12-02 Stephen Arnold Marples Improvements in holders for writing implements, erasers, knife blades or other articles
US3174461A (en) 1963-05-02 1965-03-23 Joseph B Pompa Miniaturized extensible and retractable pen
US3709620A (en) 1970-04-16 1973-01-09 N Miyamoto Ball-point pen convertible for use as a pointer
US3989392A (en) * 1975-01-21 1976-11-02 Revlon, Inc. Dispensing device
US4549827A (en) * 1983-01-20 1985-10-29 Wolfgang Mack Writing implement with two retractable cartridges
DE9006572U1 (ja) * 1990-06-11 1990-11-15 Wilhelm Mack "Siwak System-Werbung, Herstellung, Gross- Und Einzelhandel, Im- Und Export Von Werbe- Und Geschenkartikeln Sowie Handelswaren", 6492 Sinntal, De
US5061104A (en) 1989-02-17 1991-10-29 Peter Florjancic Foldable flat ball point pen
DE4237536A1 (de) * 1992-11-06 1994-05-11 Thomas Ophardt Schreib- oder Applikationsgerät
EP0968843A1 (en) * 1998-06-29 2000-01-05 Soo Choi Man Length-variable type pencil

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB613722A (en) * 1946-06-28 1948-12-02 Stephen Arnold Marples Improvements in holders for writing implements, erasers, knife blades or other articles
US3174461A (en) 1963-05-02 1965-03-23 Joseph B Pompa Miniaturized extensible and retractable pen
US3709620A (en) 1970-04-16 1973-01-09 N Miyamoto Ball-point pen convertible for use as a pointer
US3989392A (en) * 1975-01-21 1976-11-02 Revlon, Inc. Dispensing device
US4549827A (en) * 1983-01-20 1985-10-29 Wolfgang Mack Writing implement with two retractable cartridges
US5061104A (en) 1989-02-17 1991-10-29 Peter Florjancic Foldable flat ball point pen
DE9006572U1 (ja) * 1990-06-11 1990-11-15 Wilhelm Mack "Siwak System-Werbung, Herstellung, Gross- Und Einzelhandel, Im- Und Export Von Werbe- Und Geschenkartikeln Sowie Handelswaren", 6492 Sinntal, De
DE4237536A1 (de) * 1992-11-06 1994-05-11 Thomas Ophardt Schreib- oder Applikationsgerät
EP0968843A1 (en) * 1998-06-29 2000-01-05 Soo Choi Man Length-variable type pencil

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1486349A2 (de) * 2002-01-18 2004-12-15 Herlitz PBS Aktiengesellschaft, Papier-, Büro- und Schreibwaren Schreibgerät
EP1486349A3 (de) * 2002-01-18 2004-12-29 Herlitz PBS Aktiengesellschaft, Papier-, Büro- und Schreibwaren Schreibgerät
WO2006075846A1 (en) * 2005-01-17 2006-07-20 Morris Corporation Screw-type writing instrument having expansion and contraction function
US9464655B2 (en) 2012-10-26 2016-10-11 United Technologies Corporation Push-lock pin
US9523502B2 (en) 2013-03-11 2016-12-20 United Technologies Corporation Low profile push-lock device
US9568036B2 (en) 2013-03-11 2017-02-14 United Technologies Corporation Push-lock pin connector
US9664389B2 (en) 2013-12-12 2017-05-30 United Technologies Corporation Attachment assembly for protective panel
WO2019006449A1 (en) * 2017-06-30 2019-01-03 Zephyros, Inc. PULTRUDED TELESCOPIC ARM DEVICE
US11795983B2 (en) 2017-06-30 2023-10-24 Zephyros, Inc. Pultruded telescoping arm device
CN109878245A (zh) * 2019-03-07 2019-06-14 湖北工业大学 一种可自动推出和自动收回笔芯的自动笔

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2366276A1 (en) 2002-07-09
KR20020060087A (ko) 2002-07-16
JP2002264581A (ja) 2002-09-18
CN1364700A (zh) 2002-08-21

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