EP1339552B1 - Writing implement - Google Patents

Abstract

A writing implement comprising a housing (2), a writing cartridge (4) arranged in the housing in a movable manner, and a control unit that displaces the writing cartridge between a first position in which the cartridge tip (6) protrudes from the housing for writing, and a second position in which the cartridge is retracted into the housing. In the first position the writing implement has a total length suitable for writing, and in the second position the writing implement is contracted. The writing implement exhibits improved handling without major structural modification, so that the writing implement can be brought into the writing position and also extended in a single hand movement. To achieve this the implement is provided with a depressor (8) which is configured as an extension of the housing and can be actuated to move the writing cartridge between the first and second positions, and which in the first position extends out from the rear end of the housing.

Description

The invention relates to a writing instrument according to the features specified in the preamble of claim 1.

Such a writing instrument is known from EP 0 402 588 A. The prior art writing instrument includes a housing, designed as an extension of the housing handle and a control unit with a first switching curve, by means of which the writing mine in the first position for writing out and further movable into the second pushed back position into the housing. The control unit further includes a cooperating with the pusher second switching curve. To push the writing lead out of the housing in the second position, the pusher is to pull out of the case to the rear, this "pulling movement" for moving the writing lead forward in the writing position difficult handling, especially since this movement of the desired forward movement of the write mine from the Housing is directed forward. In the writing position, the writing lead is secured against being pressed into the housing by means of the bolt, which engages in a rearwardly directed part of the first curve. To shorten the writing instrument and to move the writing lead in the second retracted position is on the pusher, namely against the said "Pulling movement", pressed towards the case. In the pushed-together short position no determination of the pusher with respect to the housing, so that, for example, when removing the writing instrument from a holder, the pusher is unintentionally pulled backwards and this the write mine is pushed forward out of the housing. The handling of the writing instrument is difficult insofar as to adjust the writing position a user must hold the housing with one hand in order to be able to pull the pusher back out of the housing with the second hand.

Further, from EP 0 968 843 A a variable writing instrument is known, the rear housing part including a pusher with the front housing part is coupled via a geared connection with racks and an engaging gear. To extend the shortened writing instrument and push out the writing lead, the pusher with the rear housing part is pulled out of the front housing part.

Furthermore, US Pat. No. 2,627,843 A discloses a writing instrument whose housing consists of two telescopically telescoping parts. In the front part of a writing lead is arranged, which is axially displaceable by means of a control unit, that protrudes in a first position, the lead tip for writing from the front part and in a second position, the lead tip is pushed back into the front part. The control unit includes an axially displaceable and partially rotatably arranged first sleeve into which the writing lead is clamped and from which the writing lead can be removed if necessary after removal of a housing tip. In a short spiral groove in the outer surface of the rotatable control sleeve engages a pin of the front part, so that the first sleeve is axially displaced during rotation and thus the writing lead is moved to the first or second position. The housing rear part contains on the inside a further sleeve with an axial slot in which engages a projection provided at the rear end of the front part. Furthermore, the further sleeve of the rear part contains an axially inwardly directed further projection which engages in a long second spiral groove of the control sleeve of the front part. When pushing together the front part and the rear part is by means of the long Spiralnut the first sleeve engaging projection of rotatably arranged in the rear part further sleeve, the first sleeve rotated accordingly, wherein in cooperation with the front short spiral groove, the first sleeve pushed axially backwards and thus the lead tip is retracted into the housing in the second position. In this second position, the two housing parts are telescoped into each other and the housing has a total of a short overall length. In order to bring the writing lead or the writing tip into the first position or the writing position, the housing front part and the housing rear part are axially pulled apart, wherein the above-described functions take place in opposite directions and the first sleeve including writing lead axially displaced forward and the lead tip the housing is pushed to the first position or writing position. After complete pulling apart of the two housing parts, the writing instrument has its maximum length. The handling of the writing instrument is difficult insofar as to set the writing position, the two housing parts are to be pulled apart with both hands and to adjust the second position with an opposite movement, the two housing parts are to slide into each other. Furthermore, there is no mutual locking of the two housing parts either in the writing position or in the second position. By unintentional relative movements of the two housing parts can thus be impaired on the one hand, the proper letter or on the other hand, the lead tip are moved out of the second position, whereby the risk of soiling of garments or the like is given by the writing means.

Proceeding from this, the invention has the object, the writing instrument with little design effort to further develop that handling is improved. With a one-time handle the writing lead should be put into function or in the writing position and the writing instrument itself be extended. The writing instrument should be operated in the usual way with one hand and be extended in particular to the size suitable for writing with the same movement as for shortening and retracting the writing lead in the rest position. Furthermore, a reliable specification of the two positions of the writing mine should be ensured and undesired operations should be avoided with high reliability.

The solution of this task is carried out according to the features specified in claim 1.

The writing instrument according to the invention is characterized by a functionally reliable construction and easy handling, wherein the actuation and specification of the two positions takes place exclusively by pressure movement. The writing instrument includes a controllable by a pusher control unit, by means of which the writing lead is selectively brought into the writing position or in the retracted position, wherein synchronously with the respective operation, the extension of the writing instrument for the size suitable for writing or the shortening of the writing instrument for stowing or Storage is performed. It is thus created a small writing instrument, which is suitable for storage and storage in small containers, bags, especially trouser pockets, notepads, small pocket calendars, small-sized scheduler or the like. The control unit includes a curve part with two preferably successively arranged switching curves, that by means of the first switching curve, the writing lead can be brought into the writing position or the retracted position and the second switching curve, extending as an extension pusher extends from the housing or moves back to the short position. The first switching curve for the writing lead is designed in a preferred manner and in particular as a heart curve, that in the two possible positions a functionally reliable locking of the writing lead is guaranteed. The switching curve for the pusher is preferably designed as an unlocking cam, wherein the pusher, starting from the locked position with shortened writing instrument after unlocking, in particular extended under the action of a spring force in the extended position. Conveniently, the cam member is rotatably and axially slidably disposed in the housing and can prevent depending on the position the retraction of the pusher or release this and unlock.

Further developments and special embodiments of the invention are specified in the following description and the dependent claims.

Fig. 1

das Schreibgerät in einem axialen Schnitt in der Schreibposition,

Fig. 2

eine Ansicht des Schreibgerätes gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

das Schreibgerät in einem axialen Schnitt in der zusammengeschobenen zweiten Position,

Fig. 4

eine Ansicht des Schreibgerätes gemäß. Fig. 3,

Fig. 5-7

Schnitte und eine Ansicht des Kurventeils,

Fig. 8-10

Ansichten und einen Schnitt der Schalthülse.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a particular embodiment, without being limited in this respect. Show it:

Fig. 1

the writing instrument in an axial section in the writing position,

Fig. 2

a view of the writing instrument of FIG. 1,

Fig. 3

the writing instrument in an axial section in the collapsed second position,

Fig. 4

a view of the writing instrument according to. 3,

Fig. 5-7

Sections and a view of the curve section,

Fig. 8-10

Views and a section of the shift sleeve.

Fig. 1 shows an axial section through the writing instrument with a housing 2, wherein a writing lead 4 assumes the first position or writing position in which a tip 6 of the writing lead 4 is pushed out of the front end of the housing 2 for writing. At the rear end of the housing 2, a pusher 8 is provided, which is moved out of the housing 2 in this position at the rear end and forms an extension of the housing. Thus, a proper hold of the writing instrument is made possible during writing. Advantageously, the lead tip 6 is guided in a telescopic element 10, which protrudes partially in the illustrated writing position from the front end of the housing 2. By means of a spring 12, which is designed as a compression spring and is referred to as a telescopic spring, the telescopic element 10 and thus the writing lead 4 is pressed in the direction of the longitudinal axis 14 to the rear. Alternatively, the telescopic element can be omitted, wherein the spring acts in a known manner directly on the writing lead. The housing 2 contains an upper part 16, which is designed in particular as a substantially cylindrical sleeve, preferably made of metal, and a threaded sleeve 18 at the front end thereof, a fixed and, if necessary, detachable connection, in particular by means of interlocking threads 20, 21 being provided. The threaded sleeve 18 is surrounded on the outside by a cap 22 provided at the front end with an opening.

In the interior of the housing 2 and the upper part 16, a switching sleeve 24 is arranged. The switching sleeve 24 is annular and fixed in the housing 2 and secured in particular in the axial direction. For this purpose, a latching connection is preferably provided, which advantageously has a radially inwardly directed projection 26 of the upper part 16. This projection 26 is advantageously annular and engages in an associated recess 28 of the switching sleeve 24, wherein this recess 28 is expediently also annular. Alternatively, this connection can have a radially outwardly directed projection of the switching sleeve, while the housing 2 or the upper part 16 has a corresponding recess. Further, an element 30 is connected to the housing 2, which projects beyond the outer surface of the upper part 16 and advantageous as roll protection of the writing instrument is used. The shift sleeve 24 includes a directed towards the rear end extension 32 with locking means 34 for connection with corresponding locking means of said element 30, wherein the locking means pass through an opening of the housing upper part 16 inwardly. By means of the element 30, an anti-rotation of the shift sleeve 24 is thus achieved.

The axially secured in the housing 2 and against rotation switching sleeve 24 is just like a cam member 36 part of the aforementioned control unit. The cam member 36 is formed as a sleeve and includes a front cavity 38 and a rear cavity 40, which are separated by a partition 42. In the front cavity 38 - apart from the lead tip 6 - the write lead 4 is arranged, while in the rear cavity 38 at least partially acting on the pusher 8 compression spring 44 is provided. The writing lead 4 is supported on its rear end or a stopper arranged there at the front of the intermediate wall 42. The curve part 36 has on its outer surface a first switching curve 46, which is designed in particular as a heart curve. The switching sleeve 24 cooperates via a coupling element 48 with the switching cam 46. Preferably engages as a coupling element 48 in the switching or heart cam 46 and is connected to the switching sleeve 24 and radially inwardly directed pin 48. The cam member 36 is axially movable in the housing 2 and further rotatably arranged. By axial actuation of the pusher 8, and always in the same pressure direction according to arrow 50, the writing lead 4 is selectively in the first writing position or in the second, retracted by means of the control unit in the interaction of the fixed housing 2 in the switching sleeve 24 and the movable cam member 36 Rest position moves.

Alternatively, in the context of the invention, the retraction of the pusher without spring force by manually pulling out the pusher from the rear end of the housing, but previously took place to push out the tip of the writing lead from the front end of the housing by pressure actuation of the pusher. Also, a geared connection can be provided, which moves out after pressing the pusher on the one hand, the lead tip from the front end and on the other hand, the pusher from the rear end of the housing. In a preferred manner locking elements are further provided, by means of which the pusher is secured in the extended position with respect to the housing.

The curve part 36 preferably has axially behind the first switching curve 46, a second switching curve 52, via which the control and positioning of the pusher 8 takes place. The pusher 8 includes a guide sleeve 54 and this surrounding at least at the rear end push button cap 56, wherein the guide sleeve 54 and the push button cap 56 are firmly and permanently connected to each other in particular by means of locking elements. Alternatively, in the context of the invention, the pusher 8 may also be formed in one piece. As can be seen, within the pusher 8, the compression spring 44 is arranged to drive the pusher 8 in the illustrated extended position and to hold there. The pusher or guide sleeve 54 includes a radially inwardly directed element 58, which is associated with another, namely radially outwardly directed stop member 60 such that the pusher is fixed in the extended position at the rear end of the writing instrument. The stop element 60 is formed in a particularly advantageous manner as a resilient tongue at the rear end of the cam member 36. Alternatively, within the scope of the invention, the housing 2 and the pusher 8 may have stop elements corresponding to one another in order to limit the axial, rearwardly directed movement of the pusher 8.

Further, preferably formed as a radially inwardly directed projection member 58 engages the second switching cam 52 of the cam member 36 a. The second switching cam 52 is formed as a T-curve and includes at its front end at least one circumferentially extending groove portion 62. If the pusher 8 pushed in the direction of arrow 50 forward into the housing 2, the element 58 passes into the groove part 62, whereby a lock of the pusher 8 is predetermined in the retracted position as a result of rotation of the cam member 36. The above-mentioned extension 32 of the secured against rotation in the housing 2 shift sleeve 24 corresponds to a arranged in the inner surface of the pusher 8 axial groove such that a rotation of the pusher 8 is ensured.

Fig. 2 shows a view of the writing instrument in the writing position, wherein the extension of the pusher 8 is moved out of the housing 2. Furthermore, the tip 6 and partially also the telescopic element 10 is moved out of the front end of the housing 2 or the cap 22 of the housing 2 arranged there. In this writing position, the writing lead is fixed in the housing 2 by means of the control unit explained above, and in particular the first switching cam formed as a heart cam and the associated switching sleeve, against being axially pushed back.

Fig. 3 shows in an axial section of the writing instrument in the second position, wherein now the pusher 8 is largely inserted after the execution of a pressure movement in the direction of arrow 50 in the housing 2. As a result of the pressure movement on the pusher 8 which can be carried out with one hand, the cam member 36 is rotated about the longitudinal axis 14 in cooperation with the shift sleeve 24, the coupling element or pin 48 and the first shift cam 46 such that the radially inwardly directed element 58 of the pusher 8 or the guide sleeve 54 engages in the above-explained and extending in the circumferential direction of the groove part of the second switching cam 52. Thus, the pusher 8, on which the inner compression spring 44 counteracts the direction of the arrow 50, secured against unwanted retraction. Since the pusher 8 is further secured against rotation with respect to the housing 2, the pusher 8 remains functionally reliable in the illustrated second position as well as the retracted into the housing 2 tip 6 of the write mine. 4

The writing instrument is shown in Fig. 4 in the collapsed, short second position in a side view. In order to convert the writing instrument back into the writing position explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a user takes the housing 2 in his hand in such a way that a pressure movement in the direction of the arrow 50 can be carried out in particular by means of the thumb on the pusher 8. As a result of this pressure movement of the pusher 8 is pushed even slightly deeper into the rear end of the housing 2, wherein by means of the control unit and in particular in cooperation of the shift sleeve with the first switching cam, the cam member is rotated such that the second switching cam the pusher 8 to an axial movement 50 releases against the direction of the arrow and the pusher 8 is moved out of the housing 2 by means of the inner compression spring until it occupies the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for safe guidance of the writing instrument when writing.

Fig. 5 to 7 shows the cam member 36 is cut or in a side view, in Fig. 5 for the sake of simplicity, the first switching cam 46 is not shown. According to FIG. 6, the first switching curve is designed as a heart curve and contains a curve part 66 for fixing the writing lead in the retracted writing position. The second switching cam 52 is preferably formed as a T-curve and has at the front end the at least one circumferentially extending groove portion 62 to hold the pusher in the second inserted into the housing position.

8 to 10 show the shift sleeve 24, wherein according to FIG. 9, the locking means 34 is clearly visible on the extension 32. Furthermore, the switching sleeve 24 includes a substantially radial opening or bore 68 for receiving the coupling element or pin 48, which engages in the first switching curve of the cam part.

reference numeral

2

casing

4

writing lead

6

Tip of 4

8th

handle

10

telescopic element

12

Spring / telescopic spring

14

longitudinal axis

16

top

18

threaded sleeve

20.21

thread

22

cap

24

switching sleeve

26

radial projection of 16

28

Recess in 24

30

Element / roll protection

32

Extension of 24

34

latching means

36

curve part

38

front cavity in 36

40

rear cavity in 36

42

partition

44

compression spring

46

first switching curve

48

Coupling element / pin of 24

50

arrow

52

second switching curve

54

guide sleeve

56

Pushbutton cap

58

Element of 54

60

Stop element / tongue

62

Groove part of 52

66

curve part

68

Opening / bore

Claims (9)

1. Writing implement comprising a housing (2), a writing cartridge (4) movably arranged in said housing, a depressor (8) configured as an extension of the housing (2), and a control unit having a first switching cam (46) for displacing the writing cartridge (4) between a first position in which the cartridge tip (6) is extended out of the housing (2) for writing, and a second position in which the writing cartridge (4) is retracted within the housing (2), wherein the writing implement in the first position has an overall length suitable for writing and in the second position is shortened and wherein the control unit has a second switching cam (52) which interacts with the depressor (8), characterised in that the depressor (8) can be actuated in the same pressing direction (50) to displace the writing cartridge both into the first position and into the second position, in that the second switching cam (52) is configured to fix the depressor (8) in the second, telescoped and shortened position, and in that the second switching cam (52) is configured in such a way that, starting from the telescoped position, the depressor (8) is unlocked when the depressor (8) is actuated in the pressing direction (50) and can be extended out of the trailing end of the housing (2) into the first position.
2. Writing implement according to claim 1, characterised in that the depressor (8) is arranged so that it can be extended out of the trailing end of the housing (2) using a spring (44) which is configured, in particular, as a compression spring and/or is arranged at least partially inside the depressor (8).
3. Writing implement according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the control unit comprises a switching sleeve (24) connected with the housing (2) and an axially displaceable cam element (36) that also is rotatable about a longitudinal axis (14).
4. Writing implement according to claim 3, characterised in that the switching sleeve (24) inside the housing (2) is secured in an axial direction and against rotation about a longitudinal axis (14).
5. Writing implement according to either claim 3 or claim 4, characterised in that the switching sleeve (24) has a coupling element (48) that engages a first switching cam (46) of the cam element (36) and is configured, in particular, as a radially inwardly pointing pin.
6. Writing implement according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the cam element (36) has a front cavity (38) for at least partly receiving the writing cartridge (4) and also a rear cavity (40) for at least partly receiving the spring (44) and/or in that the cam element (36) comprises a partition (42) against which the writing cartridge (4) is supported on the one side and the spring (44) on the other side.
7. Writing implement according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterised in that the cam element (36) comprises both the first switching cam (46) and the second switching cam (52).
8. Writing implement according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the first switching cam (46) defines and locks the first position and the second position and, in particular, is a heart-shaped cam.
9. Writing implement according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the second switching cam (52) is a T-cam and/or comprises a cam element (62) extending in a substantially circumferential direction.

Images