EP1884374A1 - Schreibgerät mit Formgedächtnisbetätigungsmittel - Google Patents

Schreibgerät mit Formgedächtnisbetätigungsmittel Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1884374A1
EP1884374A1 EP06425454A EP06425454A EP1884374A1 EP 1884374 A1 EP1884374 A1 EP 1884374A1 EP 06425454 A EP06425454 A EP 06425454A EP 06425454 A EP06425454 A EP 06425454A EP 1884374 A1 EP1884374 A1 EP 1884374A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tip
writing instrument
writing
shape memory
condition
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP06425454A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1884374B1 (de
Inventor
Stefano Alacqua
Marco Biasiotto
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.)
Centro Ricerche Fiat SCpA
Original Assignee
Centro Ricerche Fiat SCpA
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 Centro Ricerche Fiat SCpA filed Critical Centro Ricerche Fiat SCpA
Priority to AT06425454T priority Critical patent/ATE398535T1/de
Priority to EP06425454A priority patent/EP1884374B1/de
Priority to DE602006001521T priority patent/DE602006001521D1/de
Priority to CN200710127319A priority patent/CN100594138C/zh
Publication of EP1884374A1 publication Critical patent/EP1884374A1/de
Priority to HK08106380.7A priority patent/HK1115995A1/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1884374B1 publication Critical patent/EP1884374B1/de
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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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
    • B43K24/026—Mechanisms for selecting, projecting, retracting or locking writing units for locking a single writing unit in only fully projected or retracted positions with a sleeve sliding on the forward end of the lead
    • 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
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
    • B43K—IMPLEMENTS FOR WRITING OR DRAWING
    • B43K7/00—Ball-point pens
    • B43K7/12—Ball-point pens with retractable ball points

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to writing instruments, such as pens or pencils, in particular ball point pens, of the kind comprising a body bearing a writing tip and actuating means to control switching between an operative condition and an inoperative condition of the writing tip.
  • the object of the present invention is to obtain a writing instrument of the type indicated above which is provided with innovative actuating means, having advantages both from the viewpoint of efficiency and reliability, and from the viewpoint of constructive simplicity and cost reduction, as well as from the viewpoint of convenience of use.
  • the invention relates to a writing instrument of the kind indicated above, characterised in that the aforesaid actuating means comprise at least one shape memory element.
  • Shape memory metal alloys have long been known and applied in several fields. Such materials have the characteristic of passing from a martensitic structure to an austenitic structure above a predetermined transition temperature, thereby being subject to a contraction when their temperature exceeds this transition value.
  • the same Applicant is the holder of several patents on different applications of shape memory actuators.
  • the heating necessary to activate the shape memory element is often obtained by making an electric current flow through the shape memory element, thereby heating it by Joule effect. In other applications, heating is obtained in another manner, e.g. even simply by sensing the temperature of the environment in which the shape memory element is positioned.
  • the idea constituting the basis of the present invention is fundamentally to apply shape memory actuating means to control switching between the inoperative condition and the operative condition of the writing tip of a writing instrument.
  • the shape memory element when activated causes switching from the inoperative condition of the writing tip to the operative condition.
  • engaging means are provided to maintain the operative condition of the writing tip even after a deactivation of the shape memory element.
  • the engaging means are magnetic means.
  • the writing instrument comprises releasing means, to cause a disengagement of the engaging means, and spring means that return the device to the inoperative condition of the writing tip when the releasing means are activated.
  • the releasing means comprise at least one additional shape memory element. Therefore, in the preferred embodiment, at least two shape memory elements are provided, one able to be activated to control switching of the device from the inoperative condition to the operative condition of the writing tip, which is then maintained by the aforesaid engaging means even after the deactivation of the first shape memory element, and the other shape memory element being able to be activated to release the engaging means, in order to allow the device to return to the inoperative condition of the writing tip, under the effect of the aforesaid spring means.
  • the writing tip is preferably supported in a fixed position in the body of the writing instrument, and it is surrounded by a tip-covering element which is slidably mounted in the body between a position where it covers the writing tip, corresponding to the inoperative condition thereof, and a position where it uncovers the writing tip, corresponding to the operative condition thereof.
  • the first shape memory element causes the displacement of the tip-covering element from the covering position to the uncovering position of the writing tip, where the tip-covering element is maintained by magnetic means.
  • these magnetic means are permanent magnets carried by a magnet-holding member which is slidably mounted in the body of the writing instrument and biassed to a resting position by spring means.
  • the second shape memory element is connected to the magnet-holding element and can be activated to move it to a position in which the tip-covering element is forced to become disengaged from the magnets so as to return to its tip-covering position under the effect of the respective spring means.
  • the writing instrument of the invention can be additionally provided with a device for mechanical switching between the operative condition and the inoperative condition of the writing tip, which can be used alternatively to the shape memory control system.
  • each shape memory element is controlled by electric power supply means which comprise a battery included in the body of the writing instrument and a switch, e.g. of the kind which can be activated by a light touch, positioned on the body of the writing instrument and connected to the shape memory elements by means of an electronic control unit, which can be housed, for example, within the usual clip on the outside the body of the writing instrument.
  • electric power supply means comprise a battery included in the body of the writing instrument and a switch, e.g. of the kind which can be activated by a light touch, positioned on the body of the writing instrument and connected to the shape memory elements by means of an electronic control unit, which can be housed, for example, within the usual clip on the outside the body of the writing instrument.
  • the electronic control means can be arranged such that each successive activation of the touch switch causes the activation of the first or of the second shape memory element, in order to cause on each occasion the switching from the inoperative condition of the writing tip to the operative condition, or vice versa.
  • the writing instrument of the invention is efficient and reliable in operation whilst having an extremely simple structure, with a relatively low cost of production.
  • Use of the writing instrument is particularly convenient because the user does not have to perform any mechanical action to cause the writing tip to switch between the operative and inoperative conditions.
  • numeral 1 generally designates a ball point pen, comprising a tubular body 2 made of plastic material. On one end of the tubular body 2, a tubular end element 3 is snap-fitted, also made of plastic material and provided at its base with a circumferential series of elastically deformable fins.
  • a cylindrical sleeve 4 which can be made for instance of plastic material, which has a front end, oriented towards the end element 3, bearing a plurality (four, in the illustrated example - see Figure 2) of permanent magnets 5.
  • a tubular element 7 having a portion whose diameter is dimensioned to be slidably guided inside the sleeve 4, and tapering in a front portion 7a of reduced diameter, which is slidably guided inside the front hole 6.
  • a helical spring 10 is mounted around a front portion of reduced diameter of the refill 9, and is axially interposed between the main portion of greater diameter of the body of the refill 9 and an abutment surface defined on the inner surface of the tip-covering element 7.
  • a closing element 11 is positioned against which a unit 12 constituted by one or more electric power supply batteries is located.
  • the unit 12 is held in position inside the rear end of the tubular body 2 by means of a closing element (not shown in the drawings) of any known kind, mounted on the rear end of the tubular body 2 and preferably incorporating on its outer surface a clip of any known type. Therefore, as a result of mounting the unit 12 at the rear end of the tubular body 2, the refill 9 is held in position against the spring 10 and is therefore stationary inside the body of the pen.
  • a helical spring 13 is axially interposed between the rear end of the magnet-holding sleeve 4 and a ring 14 integral with the closing element 11.
  • the helical spring 10 tends to maintain the tip-covering element 7 in the position shown in Figure 1, corresponding to an inoperative condition of the writing tip, in which the tip is completely covered and made unusable by the frontal portion 7a of the tip-covering element 7.
  • the tip-covering element 7 can be moved, by actuating means that will be described in detail below, rightwards (with reference to the drawings), against the action of the spring 10, to a position, shown in Figure 5a, in which the terminal portion 7a of the tip-covering element is retracted inside the end element 3, so that the writing tip 8 is in an operative condition.
  • the movement of the tip-covering element 7 from the position covering the tip 8 to the position uncovering the tip is actuated by one or more shape memory elements.
  • the tip-covering element 7 remains in this position even after the deactivation of the shape memory means, because in this condition a metal ring 15, fitted over the tip-covering element 7, is held by the magnets 5 carried by the magnet-holding element 4.
  • the actuating means to cause the tip-covering element 7 to move towards the position uncovering the writing tip 8 and the actuating means to cause the magnets 5 to move away from the ring 15, are shape memory actuating means.
  • the actuating means that control the movement of the tip-covering element 7 comprise two shape memory wires 16 that are arranged longitudinally along the outer surface of the tip-covering element 7 and of the refill 9 and inside the magnet-holding sleeve 4, at diametrically opposite positions.
  • the ends of the shape memory wires 16 situated at the rear end of the pen are electrically connected to the battery 6, whilst the front ends are electrically connected to each other by a metal ring 17 mounted on the tip-cover 7 ( Figure 3) or by any other electrical connection element.
  • the two shape memory wires 16 are then mutually connected in series and an electric current flows through them when the electrical connection with the battery 6 is established. This connection is controlled by on/off switching means of any known type (not shown) which the user can activate.
  • these switching means can be constituted by a capacitive touch sensor, positioned on the outer surface of the pen, able to establish the supply of current to the shape memory wires 16 every time the user touches the surface of the sensor with his/her fingers and the pen is in the inoperative condition.
  • the electrical connection between battery and shape memory elements is also controlled by a controlling electronic unit, which can be positioned in any point of the body of the pen, or for example in the clip of the pen.
  • the electronic unit deactivates the electrical power supply to the shape memory elements 16 after their activation, e.g. after a predetermined time which assures that the tip-covering element 7 has reached the retracted condition where it uncovers the writing tip. Once this position is reached, as stated, the electrical power supply can be deactivated, because the tip-covering element 7 is held by the magnets 5 in the position enabling use of the writing tip 8.
  • the arrangement of a pen in which switching between the inoperative condition and the operative condition of the writing tip is obtained by an axial movement of a tip-covering element, rather than a movement of the tip, provides the advantage of a reduced energy consumption, because the mass of the tip-covering element is markedly smaller than that of the entire body of the refill 9. Moreover, with this solution, switching can be obtained by a shorter axial stroke than that which would be necessary if the entire refill had to be actuated, which, among other advantages, improves the efficiency of the device in terms of rapidity of activation and deactivation. Additionally, a fixed refill assures a better writing quality.
  • the displacement of the magnet-holding sleeve 4 to disengage the magnets 5 from the ring 15, to allow the return of the tip-covering element 7 in the condition covering the writing tip 8, is obtained by shape memory actuating means.
  • shape memory actuating means In particular, in the example show, two shape memory wires 17 are provided (see Figure 2) which are arranged longitudinally inside the sleeve 4 and on the exterior of the refill.
  • each successive activation of the touch sensor alternatively causes the activation of the wires 16 and the wires 17, to obtain in each case the passage of the pen from the inoperative condition to the operative condition and vice versa.
  • a bi-stable control is obtained, able to cause switching from one condition to the other at each successive intervention, the condition reached each time being maintained until a new intervention is made on the device.
  • the pen in addition to the shape memory actuating means, also comprises a mechanical device for actuating switching between the operative condition and the inoperative condition.
  • a mechanical device for actuating switching between the operative condition and the inoperative condition for example a cursor slidably mounted on the outside of the pen and rigidly connected through a slit formed in the body of the pen to the tip-covering element 7.
  • the tip-covering element 7 By pushing the cursor in the direction away from the tip of the pin, the tip-covering element 7 can be brought to the condition where it uncovers the writing tip 8, in contact with the magnets 5. From this condition, pushing the cursor towards the tip of the pen with a sufficient force to overcome the attraction of the magnets 5, the tip-covering element is returned to the condition where it disables the writing tip 8.
  • the tip according to the invention in any case assures the possibility of use even if, for any reason, electrical power should not be available.
  • the means for maintaining the tip-covering element 7 in the position where it uncovers the tip 7 could also be mechanical latching means, instead of magnetic means, in which case the shape memory wires 17 would be arranged to disengage these latching means.
  • the passage of the pen between the operative condition and the inoperative condition could be obtained through a displacement of the refill 9.
  • the electrical power supply means could also be different from those which have been illustrated. For example they could be constituted by one or more photovoltaic cells. The arrangement of the shape memory elements could also be entirely different from that illustrated purely by way of example herein.

Landscapes

  • Mechanical Pencils And Projecting And Retracting Systems Therefor, And Multi-System Writing Instruments (AREA)
  • Pens And Brushes (AREA)
EP06425454A 2006-06-30 2006-06-30 Schreibgerät mit Formgedächtnisbetätigungsmittel Not-in-force EP1884374B1 (de)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT06425454T ATE398535T1 (de) 2006-06-30 2006-06-30 Schreibgerät mit formgedächtnisbetätigungsmittel
EP06425454A EP1884374B1 (de) 2006-06-30 2006-06-30 Schreibgerät mit Formgedächtnisbetätigungsmittel
DE602006001521T DE602006001521D1 (de) 2006-06-30 2006-06-30 Schreibgerät mit Formgedächtnisbetätigungsmittel
CN200710127319A CN100594138C (zh) 2006-06-30 2007-07-02 带有形状记忆致动装置的书写工具
HK08106380.7A HK1115995A1 (en) 2006-06-30 2008-06-10 Writing instrument with shape memory actuating means

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP06425454A EP1884374B1 (de) 2006-06-30 2006-06-30 Schreibgerät mit Formgedächtnisbetätigungsmittel

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1884374A1 true EP1884374A1 (de) 2008-02-06
EP1884374B1 EP1884374B1 (de) 2008-06-18

Family

ID=37434117

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06425454A Not-in-force EP1884374B1 (de) 2006-06-30 2006-06-30 Schreibgerät mit Formgedächtnisbetätigungsmittel

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1884374B1 (de)
CN (1) CN100594138C (de)
AT (1) ATE398535T1 (de)
DE (1) DE602006001521D1 (de)
HK (1) HK1115995A1 (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013101557A1 (en) * 2011-12-29 2013-07-04 Parker Pen Products Magnetic-mechanical connection assembly and writing instrument comprising same
EP2921316A1 (de) * 2014-03-18 2015-09-23 Montres Jaquet Droz SA Aus- und einziehbares tragbares Schreibgerät
WO2022230918A1 (ja) * 2021-04-30 2022-11-03 株式会社パイロットコーポレーション ボールペン

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104972797A (zh) * 2015-06-19 2015-10-14 广西大学 一种电子感应笔

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2151990A (en) * 1983-12-27 1985-07-31 Katoh Kinzoku Kogyo Ball-point pen
US6213661B1 (en) * 1997-09-03 2001-04-10 George Coon Retractable felt-tipped pen
DE10059569A1 (de) * 2000-11-30 2001-05-17 Pfeiffer Jakob Schreibseitiger Minenfreigabemechanismus für Kugelschreiber
JP2005193583A (ja) * 2004-01-09 2005-07-21 Pilot Precision Co Ltd シャープペンシル
JP2005254602A (ja) * 2004-03-11 2005-09-22 Mitsubishi Pencil Co Ltd 筆記具

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2151990A (en) * 1983-12-27 1985-07-31 Katoh Kinzoku Kogyo Ball-point pen
US6213661B1 (en) * 1997-09-03 2001-04-10 George Coon Retractable felt-tipped pen
DE10059569A1 (de) * 2000-11-30 2001-05-17 Pfeiffer Jakob Schreibseitiger Minenfreigabemechanismus für Kugelschreiber
JP2005193583A (ja) * 2004-01-09 2005-07-21 Pilot Precision Co Ltd シャープペンシル
JP2005254602A (ja) * 2004-03-11 2005-09-22 Mitsubishi Pencil Co Ltd 筆記具

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013101557A1 (en) * 2011-12-29 2013-07-04 Parker Pen Products Magnetic-mechanical connection assembly and writing instrument comprising same
EP2921316A1 (de) * 2014-03-18 2015-09-23 Montres Jaquet Droz SA Aus- und einziehbares tragbares Schreibgerät
WO2015139787A1 (fr) * 2014-03-18 2015-09-24 Montres Jaquet Droz Sa Dispositif portable d'écriture déployable et rétractable
WO2022230918A1 (ja) * 2021-04-30 2022-11-03 株式会社パイロットコーポレーション ボールペン

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
HK1115995A1 (en) 2008-12-12
CN101096161A (zh) 2008-01-02
DE602006001521D1 (de) 2008-07-31
EP1884374B1 (de) 2008-06-18
ATE398535T1 (de) 2008-07-15
CN100594138C (zh) 2010-03-17

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