EP2828098A1

EP2828098A1 - Writing instrument having a movable protective sleeve

Info

Publication number: EP2828098A1
Application number: EP13715286.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Arnaud Bez
Original assignee: BIC SA
Current assignee: BIC SA
Priority date: 2012-03-20
Filing date: 2013-03-08
Publication date: 2015-01-28
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-08
Also published as: FR2988329B1; JP6058117B2; MX2014011152A; MX357037B; JP2015514025A; FR2988329A1; EP2828098B1; US20150043957A1; CN104284782A; CN104284782B; WO2013140062A1; US9539848B2

Abstract

A writing instrument having a movable protective sleeve. The writing instrument comprises a barrel extending according to a longitudinal axis and a tip mounted at the front of the barrel, and comprises a protective sleeve (2) movably mounted on the barrel (1) between a protective position in which the sleeve covers the tip and a retracted position in which it exposes the tip. The sleeve (2) comprises a helical cam engaging with a guide element of the barrel and comprises a detent element (21) capable of engaging with a retaining element (11) of the barrel so as to prevent the sleeve from being detached from the barrel. The writing instrument further comprises a locking element capable of engaging with one of said retaining element (11) and said detent element (21) so as to lock said protective position of the sleeve in rotation.

Description

Writing instrument having a movable protective sleeve

The invention relates to a writing instrument comprising a barrel extending along a longitudinal axis and a tip mounted at the front of the barrel, further comprising a sleeve for protecting the tip, said sleeve being mounted coaxially on the drum and movable in translation relative to the drum between a protective position in which it covers the tip and a retracted position in which it discovers the tip to allow writing, said sleeve having an inner wall which comprises a cooperating helical cam with a guide member formed on the barrel so that the sleeve is movable by translation combined with a rotation, said sleeve further comprising on its inner wall a latching element adapted to cooperate with a retention element formed on the barrel to prevent the sleeve from being separated from the barrel.

Such a writing instrument is known from the patent

US2941511. The barrel comprises a guide member formed by a helical thread, and the helical guide cam on the inner wall of the sleeve is formed by a helical groove in which the thread engages. The drum retention member is formed by an annular frustoconical collar, and the sleeve engaging member is formed by an annular rim projecting inwardly at the rear end of the inner wall of the sleeve. . The annular collar has an outside diameter slightly greater than the inside diameter of the annular flange, and the sleeve has a resilience adapted so that the inside diameter of the annular flange increases so as to pass the annular collar during the force-fitting of the sleeve on the annular flange. barrel. In the protection position of the tip, the helical groove of the sleeve is provided to disengage with respect to the helical thread of the barrel, so that an inner shoulder of the sleeve bears against the thread and prevents the sleeve from retracting. if you press it. The sleeve can then rotate freely without causing a translational movement, but it is necessarily expected a position in which the helical thread engages again in the helical groove to allow the screwing of the sleeve on the barrel.

This known writing instrument has the particular advantage of a reliable guide of the displacement of the sleeve on the barrel, thanks to the conventional solution of a helical thread engaged in a helical groove. These elements being designed non-flexible and rigid enough not to deform, there is virtually no risk that the thread out of the throat, especially in the case where the user continues to exert on the sleeve a effort of screwing in the retracted position of the sleeve that is to say when the tip is uncovered. In comparison, other known writing instruments with movable protective sleeves use at least one guide element consisting of a radially flexible element engaged in a helical slot closed at the ends. There may then be a risk that, due to its flexibility, a guide member will come out of the slot in the event of excessive forces exerted on the sleeve, which detaches the protective sleeve from the barrel. Furthermore, another advantage of the writing instrument known from US2941511 is not to require a slot through the wall of the sleeve, which may be advantageous for example to achieve a molded grip on the outer surface of the sleeve.

This known writing instrument nevertheless has various disadvantages. In particular, in the protective position of the tip, the sleeve is not locked securely since it can rotate freely and allows unintentional engagement of the helical thread in the helical groove with consecutively a screwing of the sleeve on the barrel . This phenomenon can occur while the instrument is stored in a pocket and subjected to random constraints. An accidental retraction of the sleeve then involves the risk of staining a garment since the tip is no longer protected. Furthermore, the sleeve is not locked in rotation in the protective position of the tip, the user does not have an impression of robustness. In addition, the intentional screwing of the sleeve from its position of protection takes time, since the user must first gently turn the sleeve to a position where the thread engages in the groove.

The object of the invention is in particular to solve the above drawbacks by proposing a firm and reliable locking of the sleeve in the protection position of the tip, while allowing a guiding of the displacement of the sleeve on the barrel without risk of disengagement of the the guide member with respect to the helical cam and also allowing not to require a slot through the wall of the sleeve.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a writing instrument as defined above, characterized in that it comprises a locking element able to cooperate with one of said retention element and said element of latching so as to lock said protective position.

Thanks to these provisions, the protective position is locked in such a way that the sleeve is immobilized in translation and rotation relative to the barrel without the risk of accidentally leaving its position. In addition, since the locking element cooperates with one of the retention element and the latching element which in turn ensure that the sleeve is snapped onto the barrel during assembly, this implies that the element The locking element or the detent element provides both a latching function of the sleeve and a locking function of the protective position. It is therefore not necessary to provide a separate specific element of the retention element and the latching element to cooperate with the locking element, which simplifies the molding of the sleeve or barrel.

In preferred embodiments of a writing instrument according to the invention, use is made, in particular, of one or the other of the following arrangements possibly taken in combination:

The locking element is formed on the inner wall of the sleeve, preferably in the immediate vicinity of the detent element, and is adapted to cooperate with the retention element;

The locking element is formed on the barrel, preferably in the immediate vicinity of the retention element, and is adapted to cooperate with the latching element;

the detent element extends in a circumferential direction of the sleeve forming a ratchet tooth having an apex and a first face and a second face disposed on either side of said apex, said first face extending substantially perpendicular locally to a cylindrical surface of the inner wall of the sleeve and forming a ratchet toothing which cooperates with the retention member in said protective position; which facilitates the mounting of the sleeve snap on the barrel by allowing an elastic deformation of the sleeve in the radial direction is located mainly at the ratchet tooth and further allows an irreversible snap without compromising the ease of assembly, unlike the known device of US 2941511 in which the sleeve must be deformed radially over its entire circumference to be snapped onto the barrel;

the retention member extends in a circumferential direction of the barrel forming a retention tooth which has an apex and a first face and a second face disposed on either side of said vertex, said first face extending substantially perpendicular locally to an outer cylindrical surface of the shank and forming a stop which cooperates with said ratchet toothing in said protective position; which makes snapping even more solidly irreversible;

the barrel guide member is formed by a helical rib extending circumferentially with respect to the axis of the barrel at an angle of less than 170 °, and the helical cam of the sleeve comprises a helical groove in which said helical rib is engaged; this facilitates in particular the integral molding of the guide element with the barrel;

said circumferential extension angle of the helical rib is between 60 ° and 120 °, and said helical rib forms with the axis of the barrel a pitch angle of between 20 ° and 50 °; this allows a rotation of the sleeve of less than half a turn and preferably about a quarter turn is sufficient to move the sleeve from the protective position to the retracted position, and thus facilitates the grip by the user;

the retention member has an angular position with respect to the axis of the barrel substantially opposite to an average angular position of the guide member, and has an axial position offset towards the rear of the barrel relative to said guiding element;

the inner wall of the sleeve comprises a first wall portion in which at least a portion of the helical cam is formed and generally having a first diameter, and comprises a second wall portion generally having a second diameter greater than said first diameter; which is advantageous for providing a sufficiently high guiding element for the strength of the guide, as well as a sleeve of relatively small diameter while having a generally sufficiently thick wall for the overall rigidity of the sleeve;

the locking member is formed on said second wall portion in the immediate vicinity of the latching member; this facilitates the local radial deformation of the sleeve at the latching element and the locking element and thus facilitates cooperation with the retention element;

the guide member and the retention member are formed on a front portion of the barrel generally forming a cylindrical tube of outer diameter substantially equal to said first diameter, and the guide member has an outer radius almost equal to half of said second diameter; which is advantageous for ensuring good axial alignment of the sleeve with the barrel;

a second locking member is formed by a second boss disposed on said second wall portion and arranged to lock the retracted position of the sleeve; which prevents the sleeve from leaving its retracted position while the user writes;

each of said first and second bosses has a truncated cylindrical shape in its axial direction, said axial direction being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve; which facilitates the release of the sleeve during manufacture.

Other features and advantages are apparent from the following description of non-limiting examples of embodiments, with reference to the figures in which:

FIG. 1 schematically shows a side view of a writing instrument according to the invention, in the protective position of the sleeve to protect the writing tip.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a side view of the writing instrument of FIG. 1, in the retracted position of the sleeve to allow writing.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a partial side view of a front portion of the barrel of a first embodiment of the writing instrument of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a partial perspective view of the front portion of the barrel shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 schematically shows another side view of the front portion of the barrel shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 schematically shows a front view, in the axial direction of the writing instrument, of the front portion of the barrel shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 schematically shows a perspective view of the protective sleeve of the first embodiment of the writing instrument of FIG. 1. FIG. 8 schematically represents another perspective view of the protective sleeve of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 schematically shows a broken view in perspective of the protective sleeve of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 schematically shows another view torn in perspective of the protective sleeve of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 schematically shows a partial perspective view of the first embodiment of the writing instrument of FIG. 1, in a mounting position of the protective sleeve.

FIG. 12 schematically shows a partial perspective view of the first embodiment of the writing instrument of FIG. 1, in the protective position of the sleeve.

FIG. 13 schematically shows a partial broken view in perspective of the first embodiment of the writing instrument of FIG. 1, in the protective position of the sleeve.

FIG. 14 schematically shows a partial broken view in perspective of the first embodiment of the writing instrument of FIG. 1, in the retracted position of the sleeve.

FIG. 15 schematically shows a longitudinal sectional view of the first embodiment of the writing instrument in the retracted position of the sleeve as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the protective sleeve of a second embodiment of the writing instrument of FIG. 1.

FIG. 17 schematically shows a partial perspective view of the front portion of the barrel of the second embodiment of the writing instrument.

FIG. 18 schematically shows a front view, in the axial direction of the writing instrument, of the front portion of the barrel shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 schematically represents a view torn off Partial perspective view of the second embodiment of the writing instrument, in the protective position of the sleeve.

The writing instrument shown in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2 has a shank 1 which extends along a longitudinal axis A. The shank 1 comprises a front portion 1A generally forming a cylindrical tube, and a cylindrical main portion 1B cylindrical larger outer diameter than the front portion 1A, which meet forming an annular shoulder 1E. A protective sleeve 2, visible in detail in FIGS. 7 to 10, is mounted in a helical motion on the front portion 1A of the barrel, coaxially with the barrel 1. The sleeve 2 can be moved between a protective position ( FIG.l) in which it covers a writing tip 7 to protect it and a retracted position (FIG.2) in which it discovers the tip 7 to allow writing.

In its retracted position, the sleeve 2 abuts against the annular shoulder 1E of the barrel. Advantageously, the sleeve 2 has a rear end edge 2E forming a flat surface which comes into full contact with the annular shoulder 1E, which also forms a flat surface. In addition, the sleeve 2 has an outer diameter equal to that of the main portion 1B of the barrel. In this way, in the retracted position of the sleeve, the sleeve and the barrel form a surface continuity without gaps at their junction, which is aesthetically advantageous and also allows the user to comfortably hold the instrument during writing .

In a not shown embodiment of the writing instrument according to the invention, it is possible to provide an overmolded grip on the outer surface of the sleeve 2. This grip can also cover the flat surface of the rear end edge 2E of the sleeve. 2, and thus come into contact with the annular shoulder 1E of the barrel in the retracted position of the sleeve 2.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, in a first embodiment of the writing instrument of FIG. 1, the front portion 1A of the barrel 1 has an outer diameter D1A smaller than the outer diameter of the main portion 1B of the barrel (FIG.5), and comprises on its outer surface a guide member 10 and a retention element 11. The guide member 10 is formed by a helical rib extending circumferentially with respect to the longitudinal axis A of the barrel at an angle of, for example, about 90 ° between a front end 10F and a rear end 10R of the rib (FIG 6).

Advantageously, the angle α is less than 170 °, which facilitates the molding of the outer surface of the barrel 1 by a mold comprising two half-shells, the helical rib 10 then being formed by a single half-shell. Even more advantageously, the angle α is between 60 ° and 120 °. The helical rib 10 forms with the longitudinal axis A of the barrel a pitch angle β of between 20 ° and 50 ° (FIG 3), so that a rotation of the sleeve 2 for example of about 90 ° suffices. to move the sleeve over its entire translation travel between the protective position and the retracted position. This arrangement facilitates handling by the user, since the passage of the sleeve from one position to another can be done in one quick movement.

The retention element 11 extends in a circumferential direction of the barrel 1 forming a retention tooth which has a top 11C and a first face 11A and a second face 11B disposed on either side of the top (FIG. 6). The first face 11A forms an abrupt side of the tooth, and preferably extends substantially perpendicular locally to an outer cylindrical surface of the front portion 1A of the barrel on which the tooth protrudes. By direction perpendicular locally to a cylindrical surface is meant a direction perpendicular to a plane which is tangent to the cylindrical surface at the level of the locally considered zone.

For example, this first face 11A extends along a radial plane of said outer cylindrical surface, that is to say a plane which contains the longitudinal axis A of the barrel, which is the case in the embodiment mode shown. Nevertheless, the plane of extension of the first face 11A is not necessarily radial, and in a not shown embodiment can be provided a certain inclination of the plane relative to the longitudinal axis A of the drum while remaining substantially perpendicular locally to a said outer cylindrical surface of the barrel.

Advantageously, this retention tooth 11 is located with respect to the longitudinal axis A in an angular position substantially opposite to an average angular position of the helical rib 10, as visible in FIG. 6, and has an axial position offset rearward of the barrel relative to the rib 10, as visible in FIG. 5 in which the axial offset is represented by the distance L1.

In addition, the retention tooth 11 is at a distance

L2 of the annular shoulder 1E of the barrel, which distance L2 is advantageously equal to the translation travel of the sleeve 2 between the protective position and the retracted position. The helical rib 10 has an outer radius R10. Advantageously, the retention tooth 11 has the same height as the rib 10, that is to say that its vertex lies on a circle of radius equal to RIO (FIG.6).

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, in the first embodiment of the writing instrument of FIG. 1, the protective sleeve 2 has an inner wall 21 which comprises a helicoidal cam 20. This helicoidal cam 20 comprises in particular a helical groove 20A formed in a first wall portion 8 of the inner wall 21 of the sleeve (FIG. FIG 10). The helical rib 10 of the barrel is adapted to engage the helical groove 20A, so that the translation of the sleeve is combined with a rotation of the latter.

The sleeve 2 further comprises on its inner wall 21 a snap-in element 21 adapted to pass over an element of retaining the barrel so as to snap the sleeve onto the barrel during assembly to prevent the sleeve from being separated from the barrel. The passage of the two elements one over the other is allowed thanks to the ability of the sleeve to undergo a certain elastic deformation in the radial direction. The plastic material used for the sleeve, as well as the structure and the thickness of the walls of the sleeve, are parameters to be taken into account in order to obtain an adequate elastic deformation of the sleeve with a view to the desired snap-fastening.

Advantageously, the latching element 21 extends in a circumferential direction of the sleeve 2 by forming a detent tooth. This arrangement allows that when the ratchet tooth 21 passes over the retention tooth 11 of the drum during assembly, the elastic deformation undergone by the sleeve in the radial direction is located mainly at the ratchet tooth, which facilitates mounting the sleeve by snapping on the barrel. Even more advantageously, the ratchet tooth 21 has an apex 21C and a first face 21A and a second face 21B disposed on either side of the apex. The first face 21A forms an abrupt side of the tooth, and preferably extends substantially perpendicular locally to a cylindrical surface of the inner wall 21 of the sleeve.

This first face 21A forms a stop of the ratchet tooth 21 which in the protective position of the sleeve cooperates with the stop formed by the first face 11A of the retention element 11. For example, this first face 21A extends in a radial plane of said cylindrical surface of the inner wall 21, i.e. a plane which contains the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, which is the case in the embodiment shown. Nevertheless, the plane of extension of the first face 21A is not necessarily radial, and in a not shown embodiment can be provided a certain inclination of the plane relative to the longitudinal axis.

The second face 11B of the retention tooth 11 and the second face 21B of the detent tooth do not form steep sides of the teeth, but inclined sides for example at an angle of less than 45 ° locally relative to a cylindrical surface of the front portion 1A of the barrel or the inner wall of the sleeve. In this way, the second face 21B of the detent tooth 21 is designed to come to exert during assembly a pressure on the second face 11B of the retention tooth 11 to radially deform the sleeve and / or the barrel, until the ratchet tooth 21 passes the retention tooth 11 to snap the sleeve 2 onto the barrel 1 in the protective position of the sleeve, as explained further with reference to FIG. 12 and FIG. 13.

The first wall portion 8 of the inner wall 21 of the sleeve, in which the groove 20A is formed, generally has a first diameter D1 that is almost equal to the outside diameter DIA of the front portion 1A of the barrel 1, so that the sleeve 2 can slide coaxially on the front portion 1A of the barrel. Given manufacturing tolerances, in practice Dl will be slightly higher than DIA. The inner wall 21 of the sleeve comprises a second wall portion 9 generally having a second diameter D2 greater than the first diameter D1 (FIG.9). This second wall portion 9 allows in particular to come to position the helical rib 10 of the barrel in the sleeve 2 during assembly, since the second diameter D2 is provided slightly greater than twice the outer radius RIO of the helical rib 10. In addition , the least radial thickness of this wall portion 9 allows to provide areas of the sleeve for which an elastic deformation in the radial direction is facilitated.

A first locking member 22 is formed on the second wall portion 9 of the sleeve and is located in the immediate vicinity of the latching member 21, being adapted to cooperate with the retention member 11 so as to lock the position. protection. The position lock can be provided more or less firm, so as to avoid accidental retraction of the sleeve 2 without making it difficult to manipulation of the sleeve by the user to discover the tip 7. It will be understood that the shape and height of the first locking member 22 affect the firmness of the locking of the protective position.

The first locking element 22 is for example formed by a first boss which has a cylindrical shape truncated in its axial direction, for example a half-cylinder shape. The axial direction of the boss is provided parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the sleeve. The rounded shape of the boss is advantageous for the boss can pass on the retention element 11 of the barrel in both directions of rotation of the sleeve 2 and in excessive strength. The first boss 22 is arranged to come into contact with the second face 11B of the retention tooth 11 in the protective position of the sleeve, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 13. In this way, the locking of the protective position of the sleeve can be provided relatively firmly, that is to say that the displacement by screwing the sleeve from its protective position initially implies a screwing force sufficient to deform elastically the sleeve and / or the barrel so that the first boss 22 passes the retention element 11.

Advantageously, a second locking element 23 is formed by a second boss disposed on the second wall portion 9 of the sleeve, so as to lock the retracted position of the sleeve. The second boss 23 has for example a cylindrical shape truncated similarly to that of the first boss 22, to cooperate similarly with the retention element 11. This cylindrical shape also extends advantageously in an axial direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve. These arrangements facilitate the manufacture by molding of the sleeve. It will be understood in particular that in particular the two bosses 22 and 23 and the ratchet tooth 21 can be formed from the same central pin that is removed along the longitudinal axis of the sleeve during demolding. The second boss 23 is located towards the front of the sleeve by relative to the first boss 22, on the helical path that follows the retention element 11 relative to the wall portion 9 of the sleeve.

Other solutions for locking the retracted position of the sleeve are conceivable without providing such a second boss 23. For example, the first boss 22 could be extended in its axial direction somewhat beyond the rear end edge 2E of the sleeve, so as to form a projection adapted to cooperate with a corresponding detent notch formed on the barrel at the annular shoulder 1E of the barrel.

The first wall portion 8 and the second wall portion 9 of the sleeve meet to form a straight shoulder zone 24 which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the sleeve, as well as a helical shoulder zone 20B situated in the extension of the helical groove 20A and which forms a ramp portion of the helical cam 20. The helical shoulder zone 20B is arranged to serve for the positioning of the helical rib 10 which comes into contact with said zone 20B in a mounting position of the sleeve (FIG.11), such that the front end 10F of the helical rib faces an inlet 20AB of the helical groove 20A (FIG.10). The rectilinear shoulder zone 24 also serves to guide the front end 10F of the helical rib to the inlet 20AB of the groove.

Advantageously, the second face 21B of the detent tooth 21 joins at its base an end portion 9E of the second wall portion 9 of the sleeve (FIG 7). This arrangement improves the elastic deformation of the sleeve 2 at the ratchet tooth 21, thereby facilitating 1 snap of the sleeve on the barrel during assembly.

As shown in FIG. 11, in the mounting position of the sleeve, the retention element 11 of the barrel is arranged to be positioned substantially in the same angular position as the end portion 9E of the second wall portion 9 above. As mentioned above, the helical rib 10 is then positioned in contact with the ramp portion 20B of the helical cam 20 and is ready to be engaged in the helical groove 20A. In this way, a pressure exerted on the front of the sleeve 2 causes the engagement of the front 10F of the helical rib 10 in the inlet 20AB of the helical groove 20A, which causes in a first time the screwing of the sleeve on the barrel almost without resistance until the latching element 21 comes into contact with the retention element 11. A greater force is then required to snap the sleeve on the barrel, that is to say to cause the latching member 21 to pass the retention member 11 to bring the sleeve into its protective position as shown in FIG. 12 and in FIG. 13.

It appears clearly in particular in FIG. 13 that the steep side of the ratchet tooth 21, ie the first face 21A visible in FIG. 8, forms a snap stop that cooperates with the steep side of the retention tooth 11 to make irreversible 1 snap of the sleeve on the barrel. Indeed, the first faces of the two teeth each extend in a radial plane of the sleeve, which plane comprises the longitudinal axis A of the barrel. A mutual pressure between the first faces of the teeth therefore produces stresses exerted solely in the circumferential direction of the sleeve, which does not cause radial deformation of the sleeve. As a result, the user is not likely to separate the sleeve from the barrel by unscrewing the sleeve to protect the tip. The unscrewing effort that would be required to break the snap is expected unattainable in the context of normal use of the writing instrument.

As visible in particular in FIG. 13, the immediate vicinity of the locking member 22 with respect to the latching element 21 allows the retention tooth 11 to be in contact with each of the above-mentioned elements 21 and 22 in the protective position of the sleeve, in order to to avoid a game of movement to thereby stabilize the protective position. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 12 and in FIG. 13, the retention tooth 11 has a rear face provided to form a surface continuity with the rear end plane edge 2E of the sleeve 2 in the protective position of the sleeve, which is particularly advantageous in terms of aesthetics.

In the protective position of the sleeve, the helical rib 10 is partially engaged in the helical groove 20A. If the user rotates the sleeve 2, for example in the conventional direction of a screwing for the illustrated embodiment and with sufficient effort for the first locking member 22 to pass the retention tooth 11, the sleeve advances towards the until the second locking element 23 comes into contact with the inclined side of the retention tooth 11, that is to say the second face of the tooth, which makes the user feel a certain resistance screwing. The rear end edge 2E of the sleeve is then very close to the annular shoulder 1E of the barrel. The continuation of the screwing with sufficient effort allows the second locking element 23 to pass the retention tooth 11, which can be provided to coincide with the coming into contact of the rear end edge 2E of the sleeve against the annular shoulder 1E of the drum.

As shown in FIG. 14, the sleeve is then in its retracted position. Advantageously, the second locking element 23 remains in contact with the retention tooth 11, in order to reinforce the stability of the retracted position. The locking firmness achieved in this position is provided so that the position can not be unlocked when the user writes by exerting normal pressure on the writing tip 7. Indeed, if the user writes while holding the instrument only by the sleeve 2, it may occur an unlocking of the retracted position of the sleeve if excessive pressure outside the scope of normal use is exerted on the tip. Such an unlocking causes a displacement relative of the tip to enter the sleeve.

As shown in FIG. 15, in the embodiment of the writing instrument described in the foregoing, the writing tip 7 is provided fixed being mounted at the front of an ink reservoir tube 3 held fixed in the barrel 1. In particular, the reservoir tube 3 is mounted in abutment against a conical end portion of the front portion 1A of the barrel. Advantageously, a rear screw cap 5 is mounted at the rear of the barrel, and a spacer support 4 is mounted in the barrel between the rear cap 5 and the rear of the reservoir tube 3 to fix the tube. The replacement of the cartridge formed by the reservoir tube 3 with the tip 7 is thus possible by removing the rear cap 5 and taking out the spacer support 4.

In a second embodiment with reference to Figures 16 to 19, the locking member is formed on the shaft and not on the sleeve. As shown in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, the locking element may be formed by a boss 12 located in the immediate vicinity of a tooth 11 constituting the retention element. In this second embodiment, the shaft shown is distinguished from the shaft 1 described above with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6 only by the addition of the boss 12.

Advantageously, the locking boss 12 has a generally rounded shape, for example half-cylinder. It is located opposite the steep side of the retention tooth 11, in the circumferential direction, and its height is preferably lower than the height of the tooth 11. In this way, the boss 12 is able to pass over the element of snap 21 of the sleeve 2 'shown in FIG. 16, in both directions of rotation of the sleeve, unlike the retention tooth 11 which in the same way as in the first embodiment can not iron on the latching element 21 once the assembly is carried out.

The locking boss 12 cooperates with the ratchet tooth 21 so as to lock the protective position as shown in FIG. 19. Indeed, in this position, the ratchet tooth 21 is disposed between the retention tooth 11 and the locking boss 12 and preferably remains in contact with these projecting elements 11 and 12 in order to stabilize the position. To unlock this protection position, the user must initiate a rotation of the sleeve with sufficient effort so that the locking boss 12 passes over the ratchet tooth 21. It is understood from the foregoing that the locking boss 12 is functionally equivalent to the first locking boss 22 in the first embodiment, and thus provides an identical locking function in the same protective position of the sleeve.

Therefore, a first locking member 22 is not necessarily useful in the protective sleeve 2 'of the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 16, the sleeve 2 'comprises a single locking boss 23, for example identical to the second locking element 23 of the first embodiment so as to lock the retracted position of the sleeve. In this retracted position, it can be provided that the locking boss 23 is held between the retention tooth 11 and the locking boss 12. In the embodiment shown, the sleeve 2 'differs from the sleeve 2 described above with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 7 to 10 only by deleting the first locking element 22.

It is understood, however, that the sleeve 2 'can remain identical to the sleeve 2 described above, that is to say that it can retain the first locking element 22, without incompatibility with the second embodiment described above. This variant of the above-mentioned second embodiment of the invention may be useful if it is desired to further strengthen the locking of the sleeve in the protective position. Indeed, from the representation of FIG. 19, it is understood that the addition of a locking boss 22 as visible in FIG. 13 has the effect of increasing the effort the user must provide to turn the sleeve, so that not only the locking boss 12 formed on the barrel passes over the ratchet tooth 21 formed on the sleeve but also that the locking boss 22 formed on the sleeve passes over the retention tooth 11 formed on the shaft.

The two locking bosses 12 and 22 may advantageously be designed so that they do not or hardly come into contact with each other when moving the sleeve between its protective position and its retracted position. For example, the height of each locking boss 12 or 22 in the radial direction may be provided equal to or less than half the height of the tooth 11 in the radial direction. In this way, a boss 12 or 22 does not pass on the other boss 12 or 22 during a rotation of the sleeve, or only scratches the other boss, which does not generate an additional point of resistance to pass that would correspond to a support of the boss 12 on the boss 22. The user turning the sleeve to lock it to its protective position thus perceives a single point of resistance to pass at the end of rotation to complete the lock of the sleeve.

In a not shown embodiment of the writing instrument according to the invention, which is compatible with all the embodiments described herein, a stationary writing tip can be provided which is able to move back a little inwards towards the inside. during writing, thanks to a damping device allowing for example a small displacement of the cartridge in the barrel under the effect of the pressure exerted on the tip. The damping device may for example be made by a spring mounted between a movable spacer support and the rear cap 5.

Furthermore, in the foregoing, there has been described a retention element 11 and a latching element 21 formed by teeth that are intrinsically not radially flexible, that is to say that the snapping of these teeth is made possible thanks to the local elastic deformation, in the direction radial, wall of the sleeve and / or barrel at a tooth. Alternatively or cumulatively, it is possible to provide that at least one of these teeth is intrinsically elastically deformable radially in order to less stress in radial deformation of the sleeve and / or the barrel during assembly.

For example, a recess in the form of a notch in the circumferential direction at the base of the steep side of a tooth may be provided for molding by molding so that the tooth forms a flexible tab having a certain elasticity in the direction radial. Slots, for example longitudinal slots in the wall of the front portion of the barrel on either side of the retention element 11 may also be provided, so as to locally obtain more flexibility of the wall at this element.

The invention also relates to a kit for producing the writing instrument according to the invention, said kit comprising the barrel (1) and the protective sleeve (2) to be mounted on the barrel, wherein the inner wall Sleeve (21) comprises a first wall portion (8) in which at least a portion (20A) of the helical cam (20) is formed and generally having a first diameter (D1), and comprises a second wall portion ( 9) generally having a second diameter (D2) greater than the first diameter (D1), the guide element (10) of the shaft being arranged facing said second wall portion (9) in a mounting position of the sleeve in which the sleeve is engaged on the barrel and ready to be snapped onto it.

In preferred embodiments of a kit according to the invention, use is made in particular of one or the other of the following provisions possibly taken in combination:

the barrel guide member (10) is formed by a helical rib, the helical cam (20) of the sleeve comprises a helical groove in which said helical rib is adapted to engage, said first and second wall portions (8). , 9) come together forming at least one zone shoulder (20B) constituting a ramp portion of the helical cam with which the helical rib comes into contact, such that a front end (10F) of the helical rib is facing an inlet (20AB) of said helical groove in said sleeve mounting position; the sleeve is thus already guided in displacement on the barrel before 1 snap-in, which facilitates 1 snap-fastening;

the helical cam (20) of the sleeve cooperates with the barrel guide element (10) so as to obtain a helical displacement of the sleeve relative to the barrel between said mounting position and the protective position of the sleeve;

the barrel retainer (11) and the snap-in member (21) of the sleeve exert on each other a pressure adapted to deform in a radial direction at least one of the barrel and the sleeve between said mounting position and the protective position of the sleeve, so as to engage the sleeve on the barrel.

Claims

Resells! Cations

1 / Writing instrument comprising a shaft (1) extending along a longitudinal axis (A) and a tip (7) mounted at the front of the shaft, further comprising a sleeve (2) for protecting the tip ( 7), said sleeve (2) being mounted coaxially on the shaft (1) and movable relative to the shaft between a protective position in which it covers the tip and a retracted position in which it discovers the tip to allow the writing, said sleeve (2) having an inner wall (21) which comprises a helical cam (20) cooperating with a guide member (10) formed on the barrel so that the sleeve is movable by translation combined with a rotation said sleeve (2) further comprising on its inner wall a latching element (21) adapted to cooperate with a retention element (11) formed on the barrel so as to prevent the sleeve from being separated from the barrel,

characterized in that it comprises a locking element (22; 12) adapted to cooperate with one of said retention element (11) and said detent element (21) so as to lock in rotation said protective position of the sleeve.

2 / Writing instrument according to claim 1, wherein said locking member (22) is formed on the inner wall (21) of the sleeve and is adapted to cooperate with said retention member (11).

3 / Writing instrument according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said locking member (12) is formed on the shaft (1) and is adapted to cooperate with said detent element (21).

4 / writing instrument according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the detent element (21) extends in a circumferential direction of the sleeve (2) forming a tooth latching mechanism (21) having an apex (21C) and a first face (21A) and a second face (21B) disposed on either side of said apex (21C), said first face (21A) being extending substantially perpendicular locally to a cylindrical surface of the inner wall (21) of the sleeve (2) and forming a ratchet tooth stop which cooperates with the retention member (11) in said protective position.

The writing implement of claim 4, wherein the retention member (11) extends in a circumferential direction of the shank (1) to form a retention tooth which has an apex (11C) and a first face (11A) and a second face (11B) disposed on either side of said apex (11C), said first face (HA) extending substantially perpendicular locally to an outer cylindrical surface of the shank (1) and forming a stop which cooperates with said detent tooth stop (21A) in said protective position.

6 / writing instrument according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the guide member (10) of the barrel is formed by a helical rib extending circumferentially relative to the axis (A) of the barrel on an angle (a) less than 170 °, and the helical cam (20) of the sleeve comprises a helical groove (20A) in which said helical rib (10) is engaged.

7 / Writing instrument according to claim 6, wherein said angle (a) is between 60 ° and 120 °, and said helical rib forms with the axis (A) of the barrel a pitch angle (β) between 20 ° and 50 °.

8 / Writing instrument according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the retention element (11) has relative to the axis (A) of the barrel an angular position substantially opposite to a position mean angular of the guide member (10), and has an axial position offset rearwardly of the barrel relative to said guide member. 9 / Writing instrument according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the inner wall (21) of the sleeve comprises a first wall portion (8) in which is formed at least a portion (20A) of the helical cam (20) and generally having a first diameter (D1), and comprises a second wall portion (9) generally having a second diameter (D2) greater than said first diameter. Writing instrument according to claim 9, wherein the locking element (22) is formed on said second wall portion (9) in the immediate vicinity of the detent element (21). 11 / Writing instrument according to one of the claims

9 and 10, wherein the guide member (10) and the retention member (11) are formed on a front portion (1A) of the barrel generally forming a cylindrical tube of outer diameter (D1A) substantially equal to said first diameter (D1), and the guide member (10) has an outer radius (R10) substantially equal to half said second diameter (D2).

12 / Kit comprising a barrel (1) and a protective sleeve (2) to be mounted on the barrel for assembling a writing instrument which comprises a tip (7) mounted at the front of the barrel, the sleeve (2) being able to protect the tip (7) and provided to be mounted coaxially on the shaft (1) and movable relative to the shaft between a protective position in which it covers the tip and a retracted position in which it discovers the tip to allow writing, said sleeve (2) having an inner wall (21) which comprises a helical cam (20) cooperating with a guide member (10) formed on the barrel so that the sleeve once mounted is movable by translation combined with a rotation, said sleeve (2) further comprising on its inner wall a latching element (21) adapted to cooperate with a retention element (11) formed on the barrel so as to prevent the sleeve from being separated from the barrel, the writing instrument comprising at least one locking element (22; 12) adapted to cooperate with one of the retention (11) and the detent element (21) to lock in rotation said sleeve protection position, the inner wall (21) of the sleeve including a first wall portion (8) in which at least one a portion (20A) of the helical cam (20) and generally having a first diameter (D1) and further comprising a second wall portion (9) generally having a second diameter (D2) greater than the first diameter (D1), guiding element (10) of the barrel being disposed opposite said second wall portion (9) in a mounting position of the sleeve wherein the sleeve is engaged on the barrel and ready to be snapped onto it.

13 / Kit according to claim 12, wherein the guide member (10) of the barrel is formed by a helical rib, the helical cam (20) of the sleeve comprises a helical groove in which said helical rib is adapted to engage said first and second wall portions (8, 9) join together forming at least one shoulder region (20B) constituting a ramp portion of the helical cam with which the helical rib comes into contact, such that a front end (10F) of said helical rib faces an inlet (20AB) of said helical groove in the sleeve mounting position.

14 / Kit according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the helical cam (20) of the sleeve cooperates with the guide member (10) of the barrel so as to obtain a helical movement of the sleeve relative to the barrel between said mounting position and the protective position of the sleeve.

15 / Kit according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the retention element (11) of the barrel and the detent element (21) of the sleeve exert on each other a pressure adapted to deform in radial direction at least one of the barrel and the sleeve between said mounting position and the protective position of the sleeve, so as to snap the sleeve onto the barrel.