EP4205993A1 - Instrument d'écriture mince avec ressort de rappel décalé latéralement - Google Patents

Instrument d'écriture mince avec ressort de rappel décalé latéralement Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP4205993A1
EP4205993A1 EP21306958.6A EP21306958A EP4205993A1 EP 4205993 A1 EP4205993 A1 EP 4205993A1 EP 21306958 A EP21306958 A EP 21306958A EP 4205993 A1 EP4205993 A1 EP 4205993A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
core
elongated housing
slider
writing
writing implement
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP21306958.6A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Etienne MICHENAUD
Nikolaos Ovvadias
Panagiotis KOPELAS
Jesper Brehmer
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.)
BIC SA
BIC Violex Single Member SA
Original Assignee
BIC SA
BIC Violex Single Member SA
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 BIC SA, BIC Violex Single Member SA filed Critical BIC SA
Priority to EP21306958.6A priority Critical patent/EP4205993A1/fr
Publication of EP4205993A1 publication Critical patent/EP4205993A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

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
    • B43K24/08—Mechanisms for selecting, projecting, retracting or locking writing units for locking a single writing unit in only fully projected or retracted positions operated by push-buttons
    • B43K24/082—Mechanisms for selecting, projecting, retracting or locking writing units for locking a single writing unit in only fully projected or retracted positions operated by push-buttons placed on the side
    • 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
    • B43K24/10—Mechanisms for selecting, projecting, retracting or locking writing units for selecting, projecting and locking several writing units
    • B43K24/16—Mechanisms for selecting, projecting, retracting or locking writing units for selecting, projecting and locking several writing units operated by push-buttons
    • B43K24/163—Mechanisms for selecting, projecting, retracting or locking writing units for selecting, projecting and locking several writing units operated by push-buttons with one push-button for each writing unit

Definitions

  • the disclosure relates to writing implements.
  • Multifunctional writing implements with a plurality of individually-selectable writing tips are well-known to the skilled person, starting with the renowned Bic ® 4-colour ballpoint pen.
  • Such multifunctional writing implements have also been disclosed in e.g. US7946777B2 , JP5199013B2 , CN108608766A , JP6227902B2 , CN102248840B , FR3076253A1 , FR3076254B1 , GB992354A , US6540422B2 , and CH437050A .
  • one such multifunctional writing implement comprises an elongated housing, a plurality of writing cores, arranged alongside each other within the elongated housing, a plurality of sliders, and a plurality of return springs.
  • Each slider is coupled to a respective writing core for sliding the latter between an extended position in which a writing tip thereof extends through an orifice at a front end of the housing and a retracted position in which the writing tip of the respective writing core is held within the housing.
  • the return springs are arranged coaxially to the writing cores and return them from the extended positions to the retracted positions.
  • a common drawback of such multifunctional writing implements is their relatively large housing diameter which hampers a comfortable grip. Even when they comprise merely two writing cores side-by-side, the coaxial arrangement of the return springs imposes a relatively large diameter for each coaxial core-and-spring assembly, which diameters add together to a large maximum width in at least one transverse axis. Some users may even prefer a writing implement slimmer in at least one transverse axis than may be easily achievable with a coaxial return spring, even for a writing implement with a single retractable writing tip.
  • a first object of the disclosure is that of providing a writing implement with a space-saving cross-sectional arrangement, in particular when comprising two cores, so as to obtain a thinner profile and more comfortable grip.
  • the writing implement may comprise an elongated housing, a first core, a first slider, and a first return springs.
  • the first core may be arranged within the elongated housing.
  • the first slider may be coupled to the first core for sliding with the first core between an extended position in which a writing tip of the first core extends through an orifice at a front end of the elongated housing and a retracted position in which the writing tip of the first core is held within the elongated housing.
  • the first return spring may be laterally offset within the elongated housing with respect to the first cores.
  • the first return spring may be coupled to the first slider and core for returning the first slider and core from the extended position to the retracted position.
  • This writing implement may further comprise a rear cap at a rear end of the elongated housing.
  • the rear cap may be pivotable to allow access into the elongated housing, for instance for allowing replacement of spent cores.
  • the pivot axis may be substantially parallel to and laterally offset with respect to the first core.
  • the elongated housing may comprise a front barrel, a rear barrel and a connector interposed between the front barrel and the rear barrel.
  • the connector may support the first return spring against the first slider.
  • the first core may comprise an ink reservoir.
  • the writing tip of the first core may comprise a ball point, although other writing tip types, such as e.g. felt tips, needle points, or fountain pen nibs.
  • the first core may comprise a pencil lead or a stylus.
  • a first operating portion may protrude outside of the elongated housing.
  • the first operating portion may protrude laterally outside of the elongated housing through a slit in the elongated housing.
  • the writing implement may further comprise a second core, a second slider, and a second return spring.
  • the second core may be arranged within the elongated housing alongside the first core.
  • the second slider may be coupled to the second core for sliding with the second core between an extended position in which a tip of the second core extends through the orifice at the front end of the elongated housing and a retracted position in which the tip of the second core is held within the elongated housing, and the second return spring may be laterally offset, within the elongated housing, the second return spring with respect to the second core, and coupled to the second slider and core for returning the second slider and core from the extended position to the retracted position.
  • the first and second return springs may be arranged side-by-side, or may alternatively be arranged coaxially.
  • the present disclosure is nevertheless not limited to multifunctional writing implements with just two cores but extends to writing implements with any number of cores equal or greater than one.
  • the writing implement may further comprise a stop for holding each slider of the first and second sliders in the extended position against a respective return spring of the first and second return springs.
  • the stop may be configured to be deflected by one slider of the first and second sliders sliding from the retracted position towards the extended position to release, from the extended position, another slider of the first and second sliders. In this way, even a partial actuation of the one slider may suffice to retract, into the housing, the writing tip of the writing core coupled to the other slider.
  • the first core may comprise an ink reservoir containing a first ink
  • the tip of the second core may also be a writing tip
  • the second core may comprise an ink reservoir containing a second ink with a different composition than the first ink.
  • the tip of the second core could be an erasing and/or color-changing tip and in particular an erasing tip configured to erase and/or change the color of an inscription by the writing tip of the first core.
  • the first core could comprise an ink reservoir containing thermochromic ink and the erasing and/or color-changing tip of the second core could comprise a friction element.
  • first and second operating portions for respectively operating the first and second sliders from the retracted position to the extended position, may protrude outside of the elongated housing.
  • each operating portion of the first and second operating portions may protrude laterally outside of the elongated housing through a respective slit in the elongated housing.
  • the writing implement may comprise an articulation between each slider of the first and second sliders and the respective writing core among the first and second writing cores.
  • a multifunctional writing implement 100 may comprise first and second cores 10, 20, and corresponding first and second sliders 30, 40 and return springs 50, 60, all held together within an elongated housing 70, as illustrated on Fig. 1 .
  • the illustrated embodiment comprises two cores, any number of cores may be alternatively envisaged.
  • Each core 10, 20 may be a writing core, and in particular a ballpoint pen core comprising an ink reservoir 11, 21 and a writing tip 12, 22 in the form of a ball point, as illustrated on Fig. 1 .
  • other forms of tips such as e.g. felt tips, needle points, or fountain pen nibs, may be envisaged alternatively or in combination to a ball point.
  • the ink reservoirs 11, 21 may contain inks with different compositions, so that the multifunctional writing implement 100 may for instance allow the user to select between different colours for writing.
  • the cores 10, 20 may differ in other aspects, such as e.g. the type or size of writing tip. As illustrated on Fig.
  • the ink reservoirs 11, 21 may be formed as hollow tubes, open at the end opposite to the corresponding writing tip 12, 22, containing a viscous ballpoint pen ink.
  • ink-free writing cores such as e.g. a pencil core or a stylus, may be envisaged alternatively to or in combination with ink-containing pen cores. It may even be envisaged for at least one of the cores to have an erasing and/or color-changing tip, rather than a writing tip.
  • At least one of the cores may have an ink reservoir containing a thermochromic ink
  • at least another one of the cores may have an erasing and/or color changing tip with a friction element configured to erase and/or change the color of the thermochromic ink on a writing substrate by heat generated by rubbing against the writing substrate.
  • Each one of the sliders 30, 40 may comprise a main body 31,41, an operating portion 32,42, a core engagement portion 33,43 and a return spring engagement portion 34, 44.
  • the main body 31, 41 and operating portion 32, 42 may engage corresponding guiding surfaces of the elongated housing 70 so as to guide the sliders 30, 40 in a sliding movement substantially parallel to a main axis X of the elongated housing 70.
  • the operating portion 32, 42 of each slider 30, 40 may protrude outside of the elongated housing 70, through a corresponding slit 71,72 in the elongated housing 70, so as to allow outside operation of the slider 30, 40 in this sliding movement, as illustrated in Figs. 1 , 2A , 2 and 4A-4C .
  • each slider 30, 40 may engage a corresponding core 10, 20 and be shaped so as to form an articulation allowing at least a limited angular movement range between the slider 30, 40 and the corresponding core 10, 20 while coupling them in said sliding movement between an extended position, in which the tip 12, 22 of the corresponding core 10, 20 extends through an orifice 73 at a front end of the elongated housing 70, and a retracted position, in which the tip 12, 22 of the corresponding core 10, 20 is retracted back into the elongated housing 70.
  • each core engagement portion 33, 43 may comprise an at least partially spherical end press-fit into the open end of the ink reservoir 11, 21 of the corresponding core 10, 20, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4A to 4C .
  • the return spring engagement portion 34, 44 of each slider 30, 40 may be formed as a substantially cylindrical protrusion inserted into an end of the corresponding return spring 50, 60, which may be shaped as a helical compression spring, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4A-4C , so that the return spring engagement portion 34, 44 remains reliably aligned with the corresponding return spring 50, 60, while transmitting a return force from the corresponding return spring 50, 60 back towards the retracted position of the slider 30, 40 and corresponding writing core 10, 20.
  • the elongated housing 70 may comprise a front barrel 74, a rear barrel 75, a connector 76, and a rear cap 77.
  • the front barrel 74 may be formed as a hollow barrel extending from the orifice 73 at the front end of the elongated housing 70 to a rear opening where a front side of the connector 76 may be press-fit or screwed, and may include interior ramps for guiding the writing tips 12, 22 towards the orifice 73 during the sliding movement of the writing cores 10, 20 towards the extended position.
  • the rear barrel 75 may extend from a front opening, where a rear side of the connector 76 may be press-fit, to a rear opening at the rear end of the elongated housing 70.
  • the rear barrel 75 may also comprise, adjacent to said rear opening at the rear end of the elongated housing 70, a pivot 78 connected to the rear cap 77, so that the rear cap 77 may be flipped around a pivot axis P substantially parallel to the main axis X of the elongated housing 70 to open and close access to the inside of the elongated housing.
  • the pivot 78 may be formed, as illustrated in Fig. 1 , as a protruding nipple inserted into a corresponding cavity in the rear cap.
  • the slits 71, 72 may be formed in the rear barrel 75 and extend from the rear opening of the rear barrel 75.
  • the rear barrel may further comprise an inwardly protruding lip 79 forming a stop for holding each slider 30, 40 in the extended position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4A-4C .
  • the inwardly protruding lip 79 may be formed at the end of a resilient tongue and comprise an inclined rear surface so as to be deflected out of engagement with one of the sliders 30, 40 held in the extended position, releasing it from this extended position, when the other slider 40, 30 slides from the retracted position towards the extended position.
  • the connector 76 may comprise through-holes 80,90 receiving the writing cores 10, 20 for guiding each one of the writing cores 10, 20 in their sliding movement between the retracted and extended positions.
  • the connector 76 may further comprise return spring engagement portions 76a, 76b opposite to the return spring engagement portions 34, 44 of the sliders 30, 40, so as to support the return springs 50,60 against the sliders 30, 40.
  • the return spring engagement portions 76a, 76b may be formed as substantially cylindrical protrusion inserted into corresponding ends of the return springs 50, 60, as shown in Figs. 1 , 4A-4C and 5 .
  • the return springs 50, 60 may be permanently attached to the return spring engagement portions 76a, 76b of the connector 76a, 76b.
  • the sliders 30, 40 and connector 76 may be shaped so that, within the elongated housing 70, the return springs 50, 60 are laterally offset with respect to the writing cores 10, 20.
  • "Laterally offset”, within the context of the present disclosure, may be understood as meaning offset in a direction substantially orthogonal to the main axis X of the elongated housing.
  • the writing cores 10, 20, being arranged alongside each other may be laterally offset with respect each other in a first direction
  • each return spring 50, 60 may be laterally offset with respect to the corresponding writing core in a direction substantially different from the first direction.
  • the writing cores 10, 20 and return springs 50, 60 are arranged in a particularly space-efficient non-coaxial manner, so that the elongated housing 70 may have a comparatively slim, easy-to-grip profile.
  • the return springs 50, 60 are permanently attached to the return spring engagement portions 76a, 76b of the connector 76a, 76b, this configuration allows replacement of the cores without risk of losing the return springs 50, 60.
  • each slider 30, 40 may be selectively slid from the retracted position to the extended position, together with the corresponding writing core 10, 20, by actuating the operating portion 32, 42 of the slider 30, 40 towards the front end of the elongated housing 70, so as to extend the corresponding writing tip 12, 22 through the orifice 73 for use.
  • the slider 30, 40 may be held by the inwardly protruding lip 79 in the extended position, together with the corresponding writing core 10, 20, until the other slider 40, 30 is operated towards the extended position, deflecting the inwardly protruding lip 79 out of engagement with the slider 30, 40 so that the latter may be returned back towards the retracted position, together with the corresponding writing core 10, 20, by the corresponding return spring 50, 60.
  • the rear cap 77 By pivoting around pivot axis P, the rear cap 77 may be flipped open, as shown in Fig. 4C , allowing access to the inside of the elongated housing 70, and in particular to the sliders 30, 40 and writing cores 10, 20, so that the latter may be exchanged, for example to replace a spent writing core 10, 20, having an empty ink reservoir 11, 21, with a new writing core 10, 20, having a full ink reservoir 11, 21, or to replace a writing core 10, 20 with another writing core 10, 20 of a different type.
  • the rear cap 77 may be flipped closed, by pivoting it back around pivot axis P, to close access to the rear end of the elongated housing 70.
  • the first and second return springs 50, 60 may be arranged alongside each other, alternative arrangements may be considered and further contribute to a more compact configuration.
  • the first and second return springs 50, 60 may be arranged coaxially to each other. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 6 , the first return spring 50 may be arranged behind the second return spring 60 in the direction of the main axis X.
  • the elongated housing 70 may comprise a single barrel 79 and a rear cap 77.
  • the barrel 79 may be formed as a hollow barrel extending from the orifice 73 at the front end of the elongated housing 70 to a rear opening at the rear end of the elongated housing 70, and may include interior ramps for guiding the writing tips 12, 22 towards the orifice 73 during the sliding movement of the writing cores 10, 20 towards the extended position.
  • the slits 71, 72 may be formed in the barrel 79 and extend from the rear opening of the rear barrel 75.
  • a frame 90 may hold the first and second return springs 50, 60 and the first and second sliders 30, 40 and may be arranged within the barrel 79.
  • the frame 90 may also include the pivot 78, which may be formed, as shown in Fig.

Landscapes

  • Mechanical Pencils And Projecting And Retracting Systems Therefor, And Multi-System Writing Instruments (AREA)
EP21306958.6A 2021-12-30 2021-12-30 Instrument d'écriture mince avec ressort de rappel décalé latéralement Withdrawn EP4205993A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21306958.6A EP4205993A1 (fr) 2021-12-30 2021-12-30 Instrument d'écriture mince avec ressort de rappel décalé latéralement

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21306958.6A EP4205993A1 (fr) 2021-12-30 2021-12-30 Instrument d'écriture mince avec ressort de rappel décalé latéralement

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4205993A1 true EP4205993A1 (fr) 2023-07-05

Family

ID=79831239

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP21306958.6A Withdrawn EP4205993A1 (fr) 2021-12-30 2021-12-30 Instrument d'écriture mince avec ressort de rappel décalé latéralement

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4205993A1 (fr)

Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE807776C (de) * 1948-10-02 1951-07-05 Bernhard Naegele Jun Wechselbleistift mit gemeinsamer Rueckzugsfeder fuer saemtliche Farbminen
DE879659C (de) * 1942-11-28 1953-06-15 Georg Meier Jun Wechselschreibstift
DE1099392B (de) * 1958-02-05 1961-02-09 Welt Pen G M B H Mehrfachkugelschreiber
GB992354A (en) 1963-03-11 1965-05-19 Roll Tip England Ltd Improvements in or relating to writing instruments
DE1233747B (de) * 1961-02-28 1967-02-02 Raimund Naegele Wechselschreibstift
CH437050A (de) 1963-08-28 1967-05-31 Faber Castell A W Zweifarben-Wechselschreibgerät
JPS6227902B2 (fr) 1979-10-06 1987-06-17 Toyota Motor Co Ltd
US6540422B2 (en) 2001-05-22 2003-04-01 Gsp Institute Co., Ltd. Push-out-type writing implement
US7946777B2 (en) 2005-03-29 2011-05-24 The Pilot Ink Co., Ltd. Multi-refill writing instrument
CN102248840A (zh) 2010-05-17 2011-11-23 株式会社寿 多芯书写工具
JP5199013B2 (ja) 2008-10-07 2013-05-15 パイロットインキ株式会社 多芯筆記具
CN108608766A (zh) 2016-12-13 2018-10-02 宋晓艳 一种笔
FR3076253A1 (fr) 2017-12-28 2019-07-05 Societe Bic Instrument d'ecriture rechargeable
FR3076254B1 (fr) 2017-12-28 2020-01-10 Societe Bic Instrument d'ecriture rechargeable

Patent Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE879659C (de) * 1942-11-28 1953-06-15 Georg Meier Jun Wechselschreibstift
DE807776C (de) * 1948-10-02 1951-07-05 Bernhard Naegele Jun Wechselbleistift mit gemeinsamer Rueckzugsfeder fuer saemtliche Farbminen
DE1099392B (de) * 1958-02-05 1961-02-09 Welt Pen G M B H Mehrfachkugelschreiber
DE1233747B (de) * 1961-02-28 1967-02-02 Raimund Naegele Wechselschreibstift
GB992354A (en) 1963-03-11 1965-05-19 Roll Tip England Ltd Improvements in or relating to writing instruments
CH437050A (de) 1963-08-28 1967-05-31 Faber Castell A W Zweifarben-Wechselschreibgerät
JPS6227902B2 (fr) 1979-10-06 1987-06-17 Toyota Motor Co Ltd
US6540422B2 (en) 2001-05-22 2003-04-01 Gsp Institute Co., Ltd. Push-out-type writing implement
US7946777B2 (en) 2005-03-29 2011-05-24 The Pilot Ink Co., Ltd. Multi-refill writing instrument
JP5199013B2 (ja) 2008-10-07 2013-05-15 パイロットインキ株式会社 多芯筆記具
CN102248840A (zh) 2010-05-17 2011-11-23 株式会社寿 多芯书写工具
CN108608766A (zh) 2016-12-13 2018-10-02 宋晓艳 一种笔
FR3076253A1 (fr) 2017-12-28 2019-07-05 Societe Bic Instrument d'ecriture rechargeable
FR3076254B1 (fr) 2017-12-28 2020-01-10 Societe Bic Instrument d'ecriture rechargeable

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6412998B1 (en) Multi-function writing instrument
US8104983B2 (en) Combination writing instrument
JP5196481B2 (ja) 複式筆記具
US4551035A (en) Marking instrument
US20030215279A1 (en) Writing instrument
JP5750307B2 (ja) スライド式の多芯筆記具
EP4205993A1 (fr) Instrument d'écriture mince avec ressort de rappel décalé latéralement
CN111148640B (zh) 一种多功能书写工具
JP5593646B2 (ja) 筆記具
JP2001341492A (ja) ノック式筆記具
JP3014076B2 (ja) 多色筆記具
CN113597375A (zh) 用于书写工具的可伸缩元件
JP2009202363A (ja) 筆記具
JP6713293B2 (ja) 複式筆記具
JP4634167B2 (ja) 複式筆記具
US5909975A (en) Multiplex writing implement
JP5125014B2 (ja) 出没式筆記具
JP2002205493A (ja) 複式筆記具
US11813888B2 (en) Writing instrument
CN217145451U (zh) 一种中性笔
JP3893477B2 (ja) 複式筆記具
JP2003063186A (ja) 筆記具
JP2023007853A (ja) ノック式筆記具
JP6044233B2 (ja) 多芯筆記具
JP5495751B2 (ja) スライド式の多芯筆記具

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20240106