EP3684629B1 - Writing instrument comprising two concentric writing tips - Google Patents

Description

Background of the invention

The present disclosure relates to a writing instrument comprising two concentric writing tips, the second writing tip being arranged around the first writing tip.

The two tips being concentric with respect to one another, the writing instrument comprises a casing having at a longitudinal end of the casing an opening allowing the writing tips to assume a configuration of use, in particular the second writing tip. The opening is wide enough to allow the second writing tip to pass through.

However, such an opening is generally large compared to the opening of a writing instrument comprising only one writing tip. Therefore, the opening can allow, when the second writing tip is not in the configuration of use, that is to say when the second writing tip is retracted into the housing of the instrument writing, the entry of foreign bodies into the housing of the writing instrument or the accelerated evaporation of certain substances which go into the composition of inks, which is not desirable.

Furthermore, when only the first writing tip is in the use configuration, that is to say when the first writing tip protrudes from the housing and the second writing tip is retracted into the housing, the opening is relatively wide compared to the first writing tip, a relatively large clearance being present between the first writing tip and the part of the housing forming the opening, which provides an unusual visual effect for the user . This unusual visual effect may disturb it or the user may find this writing instrument unpleasant visually to use or not very ergonomic, in particular when using the first writing tip.

The document WO 2005/047016 discloses a writing instrument according to the preamble of claim 1.

Purpose and summary of the invention

The present disclosure aims to remedy at least in part these drawbacks.

To this end, the present disclosure relates to a writing instrument comprising a housing extending in a longitudinal direction and having a radial direction, the writing instrument comprising a first writing tip and a second writing tip concentric, the second writing tip being disposed around the first writing tip, each writing tip being received in the casing and can take a configuration of use in which the writing tip protrudes from the casing, the casing comprising, at one longitudinal end, a nose deformable at least in the radial direction, the deformable nose comprising at least one slot extending in the longitudinal direction, the deformable nose not being deformed when only the first writing tip is in the use configuration and the deformable nose being deformed when the second writing tip is in the use configuration and the deformable nose comprising an outlet opening for the first and second writing tips, the diameter of the outlet opening being greater than the diameter of the first writing tip and less than the diameter of the second writing tip.

Thanks to the presence of a deformable nose which is not deformed when only the first writing tip is in the use configuration and which is deformed when the second writing tip is in the use configuration, the opening whereby the first writing tip protrudes in the use configuration of the first writing tip has a diameter in the radial direction less than a diameter of the second writing tip.

Since the opening has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the second writing tip, foreign bodies can enter the housing much more difficult, even when the second writing tip is retracted into the housing of the instrument. writing. It is understood that the diameter of the opening is measured when the deformable nose is in the undeformed configuration.

In addition, when using the first writing tip, the clearance between the first writing tip and the deformable nose is reduced compared to a writing instrument having two concentric writing tips and a non-rotating nose. deformable, so that the appearance for the user is substantially equivalent to the appearance of a writing instrument comprising only one writing tip and / or several non-concentric writing tips.

When the second writing tip is in the use configuration, the deformable nose is deformed thanks to the presence of the slot extending in the longitudinal direction present in the deformable nose.

In some embodiments, the first writing tip is fixed.

The first writing tip protrudes permanently from the housing and only the second writing tip is movable between the use configuration and a retracted configuration. The writing instrument therefore only comprises a mechanism for advancing and exiting the second writing tip. The writing instrument is less complex than a writing instrument comprising a mechanism for advancing and exiting each writing tip.

In some embodiments, the second writing tip is made of a porous material, for example a felt or a porous sintered material.

The second writing tip is thus better protected against foreign bodies, such as dust for example, and the second writing tip is less prone to drying. Indeed, the reduced opening of the deformable nose when the second writing tip is not in the use configuration, that is to say when the second writing tip is retracted into the housing of the instrument. writing tip, protects the second writing tip from foreign objects and reduces airflow around the second writing tip.

In some embodiments, the deformable nose comprises four slots extending in the longitudinal direction.

The presence of four slots is an advantageous embodiment of the deformable nose. The four slots define four legs in the deformable nose, the four legs being able to deform at least in the radial direction and allow a greater deformation of each leg and this, while limiting the number of slots carried by the deformable nose.

In certain embodiments, the deformable nose has a Shore hardness greater than or equal to 20 Shore A, preferably greater than or equal to 60 Shore A and less than or equal to 90 Shore A, preferably less than or equal to 80 Shore A.

In some embodiments, the deformable nose is made of thermoplastic elastomer, thermoplastic polyurethane or silicone.

In some embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer is based on SBS, SEBS and / or EPDM.

SBS is polystyrene-b-polybutadiene-b-polystyrene, SEBS is polystyrene-b-poly (ethylene-butylene) -b-polystyrene and EPDM is ethylene-propylene-diene monomer.

In certain embodiments, the writing instrument comprises a ring for assembling the deformable nose with a part of the casing, the deformable nose comprising a portion for receiving the assembly ring.

The deformable nose can be attached to the assembly ring which can itself be attached to a part of the casing in order to form the casing.

In some embodiments, the deformable nose is molded onto the assembly ring.

In certain embodiments, the deformable nose is assembled on the assembly ring by radial clamping, by screwing or by snap-fastening.

In some embodiments, the assembly ring is of a more rigid material than the material of the deformable nose.

In certain embodiments, the assembly ring is assembled to a part of the housing by radial clamping, by screwing or by snapping.

In certain embodiments, the deformable nose is overmolded on a part of the casing.

In certain embodiments, the deformable nose is assembled to a part of the casing by radial clamping, by screwing or by snap-fastening.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un instrument d'écriture selon l'exposé ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe selon le plan II-II de la figure 1 lorsque la première pointe d'écriture est en configuration d'utilisation ;
• les figures 3 et 4 sont des vues explosées de l'instrument d'écriture de la figure 1 ; et
• les figures 5 et 6 sont des vues partielles en coupe de l'instrument d'écriture de la figure 1 selon un plan de coupe similaire au plan de coupe de la figure 2 lorsque la première pointe d'écriture est en configuration d'utilisation et la deuxième pointe d'écriture est en configuration d'utilisation, respectivement.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of embodiments of the invention, given to By way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended figures, in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of a writing instrument according to the disclosure;
• the figure 2 is a sectional view along the plane II-II of the figure 1 when the first writing tip is in the use configuration;
• the figures 3 and 4 are exploded views of the writing instrument of the figure 1 ; and
• the figures 5 and 6 are partial sectional views of the writing instrument of the figure 1 according to a section plane similar to the section plane of the figure 2 when the first writing tip is in the use configuration and the second writing tip is in the use configuration, respectively.

Detailed description of the invention

The figure 1 shows a writing instrument 10 comprises a housing 12 extending in a longitudinal direction L and having a radial direction R and a cap 14 assembled on a front end of the housing 12.

In the embodiment of figures 1 to 6 , the casing 12 comprises a rear casing 12A and a front casing 12B, the rear casing 12A and the front casing 12B being assembled to one another by snap-fastening and being movable in rotation around the longitudinal direction L one by one. relation to each other.

Hereinafter, the terms “front” and “rear” will be understood with reference to these rear casings 12A and front 12B in the longitudinal direction L.

The rear casing 12A comprises at a rear end 12H of the rear casing 12A a rear orifice 12G closed by a plug 12F.

The casing 12 of the writing instrument 10 also comprises a deformable nose 16 and an assembly ring 18 of the deformable nose 16 on a part of the casing 12, in the embodiment of the figure 1 on a front end 12C of the front casing 12B. The deformable nose 16 comprises at least one slot 16A extending in the longitudinal direction L. In the embodiment of figures 1 to 6 , the deformable nose 16 has four slots 16A defining four legs 16B. The four tabs 16B extend in the longitudinal direction L from a receiving portion 16C of the deformable nose 16 with the assembly ring 18. The assembly ring 18 comprises a receiving portion 18A of the ring of. assembly 18 with the deformable nose 16, in particular of the receiving portion 16C of the deformable nose 16 and an assembly portion 18B of the assembly ring 18 on a part of the casing 12, in particular of the front end 12C of the front cover 12B.

The writing instrument 10 has two concentric writing tips, a first writing tip 20 and a second writing tip 22, the second writing tip 22 being arranged around the first writing tip 20. The first and the second writing tip 20, 22 are received in the housing 12. Each writing tip, that is to say the first writing tip 20 and the second writing tip 22, can take a configuration of use in which the writing tip projects from the housing 12, in particular from the deformable nose 16.

In the embodiment of figures 1 to 6 , the first writing tip 20 is a fixed writing tip, for example a ball writing tip mounted on an ink tank 20A and the second writing tip 22 is a tip movable between a retracted configuration shown on the figures 2 and 5 and a configuration of use illustrated on the figure 6 . For example, the second writing tip 22 may be a highlighter mounted on an ink tank 22A. In order to maintain and seal between the ink reservoir 22A and the second writing tip 22 and to reduce the evaporation area of the second writing tip 22, the writing instrument 10 comprises a retaining and sealing liner 24 disposed around the second writing tip 22 and the reservoir 22A. As shown, the second writing tip is disposed around the first writing tip 20 and the reservoir 22A of the second writing tip 22 is disposed around the reservoir 20A of the first writing tip 20.

The deformable nose 16 has an outlet orifice 16D of the first and second writing tips 20, 22, the diameter of the outlet orifice D16 being greater than the diameter D20 of the first tip. writing 20 and less than the diameter D22 of the second writing tip 22.

When the first writing tip 20 is in the use configuration, that is to say when the first writing tip 20 projects from the housing 12, in particular from the deformable nose 16, and the second tip of writing 22 is in the retracted configuration, the diameter of the outlet opening D16 being greater than the diameter D20 of the first writing tip 20, the deformable nose 16 is not deformed.

When the second writing tip 22 is in the use configuration, that is to say when the second writing tip projects from the housing 12, the diameter of the outlet opening D16 being less than the diameter D22 of the second writing tip 22, the deformable nose 16 is deformed. More specifically, the tabs 16B are deformed at least in the radial direction R in order to allow the second writing tip 22 to pass.

It will be noted that the first writing tip 20 being fixed, in the use configuration of the second writing tip 22, the second writing tip 22 protrudes from the housing 12 to a greater extent than the first writing tip. 20. Thus, the surface used for writing of the second writing tip 22 can be used on a writing medium without the first writing tip 20 being able to touch this writing medium. Also, although protruding from the housing 12, when the second writing tip 22 is in the use configuration, the first writing tip 20 is not in the use configuration.

The writing instrument 10 also includes a mechanism 26 for changing the second writing tip 22 from the retracted configuration to the configuration of use. The mechanism 26 includes a rear member 26A and a front member 26B. The front element 26B has two tabs 26C which cooperate with windows 12E disposed on a rear end 12D of the front casing 12B of the writing instrument 10 so that the front member 26B is locked in rotation with respect to the front casing 12B. The rear element 26A is fixed in rotation and in translation with respect to the rear casing 12A. For example, the rear element 26A is immobilized by clamping in the rear end 12H of the rear casing 12A. The rear member 26A includes a lug 26D which cooperates with a cam surface 26E of the front member 26B of so that a rotational movement of the front element 26B relative to the rear element 26A is transformed into a translational movement in the longitudinal direction L of the second writing tip 22. Indeed, the front element 26B comprises a bearing surface 26F of the front element 26B on the reservoir 22A of the second writing tip 22.

It is understood that the deformable nose is preferably made of a relatively flexible material, such as a material having a Shore hardness greater than or equal to 22 Shore A, preferably greater than or equal to 60 Shore A and less than or equal to 90 Shore A, preferably less than or equal to 80 Shore. For example, the deformable nose 16 can be made of thermoplastic elastomer, of thermoplastic polyurethane or of silicone. As an example of a thermoplastic elastomer, mention may be made of SBS, SEBS and / or EPDM. This list is not exhaustive.

Preferably, the assembly ring 18 is made of a material that is more rigid than the material of the deformable nose 16.

The material of the assembly ring 18 being more rigid than the material of the deformable nose 16, it is easier to assemble the assembly ring 18 on the front casing 12B than the deformable nose 16 directly on the front casing 12B. The assembly ring 18 can be assembled on the front casing 12B by radial clamping, by screwing or by snap-fastening.

The deformable nose 16 can also be directly attached to the front casing 12B.

The deformable nose 16 can be overmolded on a part of the casing or be assembled on a part of the casing by radial clamping, by screwing or by snap-fastening.

Similarly when the writing instrument 10 comprises an assembly ring 18, the deformable nose 16 can be overmolded on the assembly ring 18 or be assembled on the assembly ring 18 by radial clamping, by screwing or by snap-fastening.

When it is desired to use the second writing tip 22, the front casing 12B is pivoted with respect to the rear casing 12A. This rotation of the front casing 12B relative to the rear casing 12A causes the rotation of the front element 26B of the mechanism 26 allowing the second writing tip 22 to pass from the retracted configuration to the configuration of use, and this by cooperation of the tabs 26C of the front element 26B with the windows 12E of the front casing 12B. The rear element 26A of the mechanism 26 making it possible to pass the second writing tip 22 from the retracted configuration to the configuration of use being fixed with respect to the rear casing 12A, the lug 26D carried by the rear element 26A runs through the cam surface 26E so that the rotational movement of the front case 12B relative to the rear case 12A is transformed into a forward translational movement of the second writing tip 22.

When it is desired to use the first writing tip 20 again, the front casing 12B is rotated in the opposite direction relative to the rear casing 12A and, under the force of a return spring 26G bearing on the second tip writing 22 and on a seat 18C of the assembly ring 18 of the return spring 26G, the second writing tip assumes its retracted configuration in the housing 12. The first writing tip 20 can then be used.

In addition, when the deformable nose 16 is assembled by screwing directly or with the assembly ring 18 on a part of the casing, the front part of the casing, that is to say the deformable nose 16 or the assembly formed by the deformable nose 16 and the assembly ring 18 can be disassembled to allow the first writing tip 20 and / or the second writing tip 22 to be changed when the reservoir 20A of the first writing tip 20 and / or the reservoir 22A of the second writing tip 22 is empty. It is also thus possible to change the color of the first and / or of the second writing tip 20, 22.

Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to a specific exemplary embodiment, it is obvious that various modifications and changes can be made to these examples without departing from the general scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Therefore, the description and the drawings should be taken in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. For example, the first writing tip might not be fixed and might take a use configuration and a retracted configuration. The mechanism allowing the passage of the second writing point of the configuration retracted to use configuration is given for informational purposes. The deformable nose is presented with four slits. It might only have a slit.

Claims (10)

1. Writing instrument (10) comprising a casing (12) extending in a longitudinal direction (L) and having a radial direction (R), the writing instrument (10) comprising a first writing tip (20) and a second writing tip (22), which tips are concentric, the second writing tip (22) being arranged around the first writing tip (20), each writing tip (20, 22) being received in the casing (12) and being able to assume a use configuration in which the writing tip (20, 22) projects from the casing (12), the casing (12) comprising, at a longitudinal end, a nose (16) that is deformable at least in the radial direction (R), the deformable nose (16) comprising at least one slot (16A) extending in the longitudinal direction (L), the writing instrument being characterized in that the deformable nose (16) is not deformed when only the first writing tip (20) is in the use configuration and the deformable nose (16) is deformed when the second writing tip (22) is in the use configuration and the deformable nose (16) comprises an exit opening (16D) for the first and second writing tips (20, 22), the diameter (D16) of the exit opening (16D) being greater than the diameter (D20) of the first writing point (20) and less than the diameter (D22) of the second writing tip (22).
2. Writing instrument (10) according to claim 1, wherein the first writing tip (20) is fixed.
3. Writing instrument (10) according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the deformable nose (16) comprises four slots (16A) extending in the longitudinal direction (L).
4. Writing instrument (10) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the deformable nose (16) has a Shore hardness greater than or equal to 20 Shore A, preferably greater than or equal to 60 Shore A and less or equal to 90 Shore A, preferably less than or equal to 80 Shore A.
5. Writing instrument (10) according to claim 4, wherein the deformable nose (16) is made of thermoplastic elastomer, thermoplastic polyurethane or silicone.
6. Writing instrument (10) according to claim 5, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is based on SBS, SEBS and/or EPDM.
7. Writing instrument (10) according to any of claims 1 to 6, comprising a ring (18) for assembling the deformable nose together with a part of the casing and wherein the deformable nose (16) has a portion (16C) for receiving the assembly ring.
8. Writing instrument (10) according to claim 7, wherein the assembly ring (18) is made from a material that is more rigid than the material of the deformable nose.
9. Writing instrument (10) according to either claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the assembly ring (18) is assembled onto a part of the casing by radial clamping, by screwing or by snap-fastening.
10. Writing instrument (10) according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the deformable nose (16) is overmolded onto a part of the casing or assembled onto a part of the casing by radial clamping, by screwing or by snap-fastening.

Images