EP1535753B1

EP1535753B1 - Writing device having a telescopic cartridge carrier

Info

Publication number: EP1535753B1
Application number: EP03292925A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luca Acquafresca
Original assignee: OMAS Srl
Current assignee: OMAS Srl
Priority date: 2003-11-25
Filing date: 2003-11-25
Publication date: 2006-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 2023-11-25
Also published as: ES2258702T3; DE60303582D1; DE60303582T2; ATE317769T1; EP1535753A1

Abstract

Writing device (1) comprising: a hollow handle (2), a writing unit (3), a cartridge carrier (17) rigidly fixed to the writing unit (3) and having a housing (18) for a replaceable cartridge (11), said carrier (17) being slidingly mounted in the handle (2) between a closed position in which the carrier (17) is received within the handle (2) and an open position in which the carrier (17) extends at least partly outside the handle (2) so that the housing (18) can be accessed to, and an actuator (24) which is pivotally mounted on the handle (2) and threadedly engaged with the carrier (17). <IMAGE> <IMAGE>

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to writing devices.

Background of the invention

US patent No. 2,919,677 to Mansheim discloses a writing device comprising:

a hollow handle,
a writing unit,
a cartridge carrier having a housing for a replaceable cartridge, said carrier being slidingly mounted in the handle between a closed position in which the carrier is received within the handle and an open position in which the carrier extends at least partly outside the handle so that the housing can be accessed to, and
actuating means to move the carrier from one position to the other.

As can be easily understood, the closed position of the carrier corresponds to a writing configuration, while the open position is provided to allow disposal and replacement of the dry cartridge.
In the Mansheim patent, the actuating means comprise a grasping element which threadedly engages one end of the handle opposite to the writing unit. Said grasping element is rigidly attached to a plunger portion which is capable of sliding with respect of the carrier and biases the cartridge towards the writing unit.
In the known writing devices, the user must strongly press onto every new cartridge while firmly holding the writing unit in order to connect the cartridge to the writing unit, for the tapered spike of the writing unit must penetrate the cartridge through a diaphragm area provided at one end thereof.
As the writing unit is still full of ink, the users frequently get stained while grasping the writing unit.
Moreover, the users frequently cut themselves in a wrong move wile grasping the writing unit, for the pen - or the point - of the writing unit has a sharp edge or a sharp point.
Of course, in modern cartridges the diaphragm area is formed by a sealing ball which is relatively easy to push back into the cartridge tank.
However, the gesture for replacing the cartridge is the same as before, so the drawbacks listed above have not get rid of.
One advantage of a writing device of the type disclosed in the Manheim patent is that it is not necessary to press on the new cartridge to implement it onto the writing unit.
However, one disadvantage of such a writing device is that the cartridge carrier moves the cartridge away from the writing unit through an annular flange provided at one end of the carrier, thereby allowing the remaining ink to spread out from the cartridge and flow into the handle, which must therefore systematically be cleaned.
Another disadvantage of such a writing device is that the cartridge carrier is provided with a spring which urges the cartridge transversely of the carrier, thereby allowing the cartridge to leap out of the housing, so that the user might be splashed with ink.
A further disadvantage of such a writing device is that it is not possible to moderate or adjust the pressure on the cartridge. Whenever the pressure onto the cartridge is too high, the reaction of the cartridge creates a tensile stress onto the elements of the writing device. Whenever the pressure onto the cartridge is too low, a clearance may appear between the cartridge and the writing unit, thereby allowing ink to flow outside.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a writing device which is more reliable.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a writing device which is easily maneuverable.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a writing device which facilitates replacement of the cartridge.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a writing device which reduces the risk that the users cut or hurt themselves or be stained while replacing the cartridge.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a writing device which reduces the risk that the users damage the writing unit while replacing the cartridge.
The writing device according to the invention comprises

a hollow handle,
a writing unit,
a cartridge carrier having a housing for a replaceable cartridge, said carrier being slidingly mounted in the handle between a closed position in which the carrier is received within the handle and an open position in which the carrier extends at least partly outside the handle so that the housing can be accessed to, and
actuating means to move the carrier from one position to the other,

Rotation of the actuator moves the carrier and the writing unit from one position to the other to open or close the writing device, thereby decreasing the risks that the user be cut or splashed.
There is also few risks that the writing device be damaged during replacement of the cartridge.
In a preferred embodiment, the actuator comprises a screw pivotally mounted on the handle and threadedly engaged with the carrier.
For example, said screw comprises a helical groove having a variable pitch and is engaged with the carrier trough a piston fixed to the carrier.
The piston preferably has a first end fixed to the carrier, and a second end which forms a bolt threadedly engaged with said screw.
For example, the piston is slidingly mounted to the carrier with a longitudinal clearance.
In a preferred embodiment, the writing device further comprises a spring mounted between the carrier and the piston to bias the piston in a direction opposite to the screw.
The actuator preferably comprises a grasping element pivotally mounted on the handle and rigidly attached to the screw. For example, the grasping element is threadedly engaged with the handle, preferably through a connector which is rigidly attached to a back end of the handle, opposite to the writing unit.
The carrier preferably comprises a pin which projects radially and slidingly cooperates with a longitudinal groove provided in the handle, and a stop may be provided to lock said carrier in the open position. For example, the stop is formed by a bushing element fixed to the handle.
In a preferred embodiment, the cartridge housing has a cut-out to allow mounting of a cartridge and, on the side opposed to said cut-out, and a hole to allow finger pressure against the cartridge and facilitate removing the cartridge from the housing.
In order to facilitate removal of the cartridge from the housing, the writing device preferably comprises a spring mounted in the writing unit and capable of biasing the cartridge in a direction opposite to the writing unit.
The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a writing device according to the invention, in the closed position.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a writing device according to the invention, in the open position.
Figure 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a writing device according to the invention, showing the writing unit, the cartridge carrier with a cartridge thereinside and the piston, in the closed position.
Figure 4 is a side view of the elements represented in figure 3, in the same position.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cartridge carrier.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal plan view of the cartridge carrier.
Figure 7 is a transversal plan view of the cartridge carrier.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal plan view of the piston in threaded engagement with the screw.

A writing device according to the invention is indicated generally by reference number 1 in the drawings. In the illustrated example, the writing device 1 is a fountain pen, but it could be a ball-point pen or the like.
The writing device 1 comprises an elongated handle 2 which has a general longitudinal axis X, and a writing unit 3 which is mounted at a front end 4 of the handle 2.
The writing unit 3 has a barrel 5 which can be grasped by a user whenever he wants to write, and a pen 6 set on a support 7 which is plugged into the barrel 5. The pen support 7 is provided with an ink channel 8 forming, at one end opposite to the pen 6, a tapered spike 9 which projects axially in a room 10 provided for receiving a replaceable ink cartridge 11.
Cartridge 11 has a head 12 provided with an opening 13 and capable of being fit into the room 10. Cartridge 11 further comprises a sealing ball 14 which closes the opening 13. When cartridge is fitted into the room 10, the spike 9 pushes the sealing ball 14 back into the cartridge 11, thereby allowing the ink to flow towards the pen 6.
The cartridge head 12 is provided, in the vicinity of the opening 13, with a tapered shoulder 15 abutting against a compression spring 16 mounted in the room 10 and which biases the cartridge 11 in an axial direction opposite to the writing unit 3.
The writing device 1 further comprises a hollow tubular cartridge carrier 17 provided with a housing 18 for receiving the cartridge 11.
Housing 18 has a cut-out 19 provided in the lateral wall 20 of the carrier 17 to allow transversely mounting of a cartridge 11 in the housing 17. A hole 21 is provided in the bottom of the housing 18, in the lateral wall 20 thereof, to allow user to pass the finger through the hole 21 and press against the cartridge 11, thereby facilitating removal of the cartridge 11 from the housing 18.
Carrier 17 has a tubular front end 22 which is fit in the writing unit 3 to form the lateral wall of the room 10, so that the carrier 17 is rigidly fixed to the writing unit 3 (i.e. rotation or translation of the carrier 17 with respect of the writing unit 3 is impossible).
As illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the carrier 17 is telescopically and slidingly mounted in the handle 2, between a closed or retracted position in which the carrier 17 is lodged in the handle 2 (figure 1), and an open or projecting position in which the carrier 17 projects at least partially outward from the front end 4 of the handle 2 to allow access to the housing 18, so that the cartridge 11 can be easily replaced (figure 2).
The writing device 1 further comprises actuating means 23 to move the carrier 17 from one position to the other. The actuating means 23 comprise an actuator 24 which is pivotally mounted on the handle 2 and threadedly engaged with the carrier 17.
More precisely, the actuator 24 comprises a grasping element 25 forming a back end portion of the writing device 1. Grasping element 25 is pivotally mounted on the handle 2 around the axis X through a connector 26 rigidly attached to a back end 27 of the handle 2, opposite to the front end 4.
The connector 26 has a threaded bore 28. The grasping element 25 is rigidly fixed on a coupling sleeve 29 provided with a threaded portion 30 threadedly engaged with the threaded bore 28 of the connector 26, so that the grasping element 25 is screwed on the back end 27 of the handle 2.
The actuator 24 further comprises an elongated screw 31 which extends along the handle axis X and is rigidly fixed on the grasping element 25.
More precisely, the screw 31 has a cylindrical back end portion 32 which is fit in a corresponding bore 33 provided in the grasping element 25 so that rotation and sliding of the screw 31 with respect of the grasping element 25 are impossible.
As illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the screw 31 is engaged in a hole 34 provided in a back wall 35 of the coupling sleeve 29, so that the grasping element 25, the coupling sleeve 29 and the screw 31 together form a rigid actuating unit or actuator 24.
The screw 31 is threadedly engaged with the cartridge carrier 17 so that rotation of the grasping element 25 moves the carrier 17 along the axis X from one position to the other, and vice-versa.
The writing device 1 comprises a hollow tubular piston 36 which is fixed to the carrier 17 so that rotation of the piston 36 with respect of the carrier 17 is impossible.
The piston 36 has a cylindrical front end portion 37 engaged in an inner diameter 38 of a cylindrical back end portion 39 of the carrier. Front end portion 37 of the piston 36 is provided with axially projecting elastic members 40 diametrically opposite to one another.
Elastic members 40 are provided with radially outwardly projecting catches 41 which are clipped into corresponding holes 42 provided in the back end portion 39 of the carrier 17. As illustrated in figures 4 and 5, the holes 42 are axially elongated to allow small axial clearance of the piston 36 with respect of the carrier 17.
Piston 36 has an elongated cylindrical body 43 which is engaged through a circular hole 44 provided at the back end of the cartridge carrier 17. A return compression spring 45 is mounted on the piston body 43 and compressed between an annular shoulder 46, provided on the piston 36 at the junction between the body 43 and the front end portion 37, and an annular flange 47 provided at the back end of the cartridge carrier 17.
The return spring 45 biases the piston 36 towards the front end 22 of the carrier 17, i.e. towards the opposite of the actuator 24.
The piston 36 has a back end 48 provided with two cylindrical pins 49, 50 projecting radially inwardly from the body 43. Pins 49, 50 are engaged in a helical groove 51 provided in the outer surface of the screw 31, so that the back end 48 of the piston 36 forms a bolt threadedly engaged with the screw 31.
The back end portion 39 of the cartridge carrier 17 comprises a radially projecting pin 52 which slidingly cooperates with a longitudinal groove 53 provided in the inner side of the handle 2, as illustrated in figure 2.
In a preferred embodiment illustrated in figure 7, carrier 17 is provided with three pins 52 spaced 120° from one another, each one cooperating with a corresponding groove 53 provided in the handle 2, so that rotation of the carrier 17 with respect of the handle 2 is impossible.
The writing device 1 further comprises means 54 for guiding the carrier in the handle. In a preferred embodiment, the guiding means consist in a bushing element fixed to the handle 2 in the vicinity of the front end 4 thereof.
As illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the bushing element 54 consists in a cylindrical hollow member and has an inner surface 55 slidingly cooperating with a cylindrical outer surface 56 of the carrier 17. The bushing element 54 also comprises a threaded portion 57 which is screwed to a corresponding threaded portion 58 of the handle 2 so that the bushing element 54 is rigidly fixed to the handle 2.
The bushing element 54 comprises a peripheral back end surface 59 against which the pins 52 of the carrier 17 abut in the open position, so that the back end surface 59 forms a stop to lock the carrier 17 in the open position (figure 2).
In a preferred embodiment illustrated in figure 1, the writing device 1 further comprises a cap 60 which is clipped onto the writing unit 1 to protect the pen 6 and prevent ink leakage or drying.
Replacement of the cartridge 11 is now described with reference to figures 1 and 2.
In the closed position (figure 1), the grasping element 25 is completely screwed into the handle 2. An annular front surface 61 of the grasping element 25 abuts against an annular back surface 62 of the coupling sleeve 29, so that there is no clearance between the grasping element 25 and the handle 2.
The piston 36 is completely screwed onto the screw 31, i.e. the pins 49, 50 cooperate with a back end 63 of the helical groove 51. The back end 39 of the carrier 17 is situated in the vicinity of the back end 27 of the handle 2. The writing unit 3 is pulled back by the return spring 45 via the cartridge carrier 17, so that there is no clearance between the writing unit 3 and the handle 2. More precisely, the barrel 5 is provided with an annular flange 64 which abuts against the front end 4 of the handle 2.
A front end 65 of the screw 31 abuts against the cartridge 11, thereby holding it in place to maintain connection to the writing unit 3.
When the cartridge 11 is dry, the user rotates the grasping element 25 counterclockwise to unscrew it from the handle 2. Simultaneously, the screw 31, which is rigidly fixed to the grasping element 25, rotates counterclockwise to move the piston 36 longitudinally along the axis X.
The cartridge carrier 17 is pushed open by the piston 36 via the catches 41, until the carrier 17 is stopped by the bushing element 54 while the pins 49, 50 cooperate with a front end 67 of the helical groove 51. In the open position, the writing unit 3 is cantilevered with respect of the handle 2, the housing 18 being transversely accessible from the outside. As a result of the fact that the grasping element 25 has been unscrewed, there is a clearance C between the front surface 61 of the grasping element 25 and the back surface 62 of the coupling sleeve 29 (see figure 2).
Of course, the number of threads provided on the coupling sleeve 29 is upper than the number of threads provided on the screw 31, so that rotation of the screw 31 stops before the grasping element 25 is totally unscrewed from the handle 2.
Furthermore, the pitch of the treaded portion 28 on the coupling sleeve 29 is much lower than the pitch of the screw 31, so that clearance C is much lower than the distance separating the open position and the closed position of the cartridge carrier 17.
The user pushes the dry cartridge 11 transversely out with the finger through the hole 21. Simultaneously, the spring 16 pushes the dry cartridge 11 back to facilitate removal of the latter.
A full cartridge 11 is then set transversely into the housing 18. The grasping element 25 is rotated clockwise, so that the piston 36 is pulled back by rotation of the screw 31. The carrier 17, which is in turn driven by the piston 36, slides towards the closed position until the back end of the cartridge 11 abuts against the front end 65 of the screw 31.
At that moment, the user should experience a small resistance in the grasping element 25, as the spike 9 of the writing unit 3, which is pulled backwards, encounters the sealing ball 14.
After the cartridge 11 is set into the writing unit 3, rotation of the grasping element 25 goes on until the annular flange 64 of the barrel 5 abuts against the front end 4 of the handle 2, thereby stopping the backward movement of the writing unit 3 and the cartridge carrier 17.
The closed position has not been reached yet, as there is still a small clearance between the grasping element 25 and the coupling sleeve 29, and the pins 49, 50 are not yet at the back end 63 of the helical groove 51.
Further rotation of the grasping element 25 pulls the piston 36 further back (while the carrier 17 is held in position by the front end 4 of the handle 2, via the flange 64 on the barrel 5), until the grasping element 25 abuts against the coupling sleeve 29 (figure 1), thereby compressing the return spring 45.
As illustrated in figure 1, the helical groove 51 has a variable pitch, which preferably decreases from the front end 65 to the back end 32 of the screw 31, thereby increasing the screwing torque by the end of the rotation of the grasping element 25 to facilitate compression of the return compression spring 45.
As a consequence, the return spring 45 permanently biases the writing unit 3 back so that there is no clearance between the handle 2 and the writing unit 3 or between the handle 2 and the grasping element 25.
Accordingly, the spring 45 provides automatic compensation for play between the writing unit 3 and the handle 2 and prevents overstress in the moving parts of the writing device 1.
To replace the cartridge 11, the user can grab the barrel 5 with one hand and the grasping element 25 with the other one. As there is no tensile force applied onto any part of the writing device 1, there is no risk that the user be cut or stained.
The screwing movement of the actuator 24 provides easy maneuverability of the writing device 1. The hole 21 further facilitates replacement of the cartridge.

Claims

Writing device (1) comprising:
- a hollow handle (2),

- a writing unit (3),

- a cartridge carrier (17) having a housing (18) for a replaceable cartridge (11), said carrier (17) being slidingly mounted in the handle (2) between a closed position in which the carrier (17) is received within the handle (2) and an open position in which the carrier (17) extends at least partly outside the handle (2) so that the housing (18) can be accessed to, and

- actuating means (23) to move the carrier (17) from one position to the other,

characterized in that the carrier (17) is rigidly fixed to the writing unit (3), and that the actuating means (23) comprise an actuator (24) which is pivotally mounted on the handle (2) and threadedly engaged with the carrier (17).
Writing device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the actuator (24) comprises a screw (31) pivotally mounted on the handle (2) and threadedly engaged with the carrier (17).
Writing device (1) according to claim 2, wherein said screw (31) comprises a helical groove (51) having a variable pitch.
Writing device (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said screw (31) is engaged with the carrier (17) trough a piston (36) fixed to the carrier (17).
Writing device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the piston (36) has a first end (37) fixed to the carrier (17) and a second end (48) which forms a bolt threadedly engaged with said screw (31).
writing device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said piston (36) is slidingly mounted to the carrier (17) with a longitudinal clearance.
Writing device (1) according to claim 6, comprising a spring (45) mounted between the carrier (17) and the piston (36) to bias the piston (36) in a direction opposite to the screw (31).
Writing device (1) according to any of claims 1-7, wherein said actuator (24) comprises a grasping element (25) pivotally mounted on the handle and rigidly attached to the screw.
Writing device (1) according to claim 8, wherein said grasping element (25) is threadedly engaged with the handle (2).
Writing device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the grasping element (25) is threadedly engaged with the handle (2) through a connector (26) which is rigidly attached to a back end (27) of the handle (2), opposite to the writing unit (3).
Writing device (1) according to any of claims 1-10, wherein said carrier (17) comprises a pin (52) which projects radially and slidingly cooperates with a longitudinal groove (53) provided in the handle (2).
Writing device (1) according to any of claims 1-11, further comprising a stop (59) to lock said carrier (17) in the open position.
Writing device (1) according to claim 12, wherein said stop (59) is formed by a bushing element (54) fixed to the handle (2).
Writing device (1) according to any of claims 1-13, wherein said housing (18) has a cut-out (19) to allow mounting of a cartridge (11) and, on the side opposed to said cut-out (19), a hole (21) to allow finger pressure against the cartridge (11) and facilitate removing the cartridge (11) from the housing (18).
Writing device (1) according to any of claims 1-14, comprising a spring (16) mounted in the writing unit (3) and capable of biasing the cartridge (11) in a direction opposite to the writing unit (3) in order to facilitate removing the cartridge (11) from the housing (18).