FR2718081A1 - Pen body or cap with flexible arm retaining coin or token - Google Patents

Abstract

The pen is formed with a projecting flexible arm (2) which cooperates with the surface of the pen body (1) or cap to define a clip. The clip has an open channel (4) on at least one of its principal inner faces, shaped and dimensioned to receive a coin or token (3). The clip is slightly deformable to allow insertion or removal of the coin and hold it securely within the channel when not deformed, and extends around more than half the circumference of the coin. The arm forming the clip may be formed of a plastics material with shape memory properties.

Description

PEN FOR STORING A PETON OR OBJECT CLIP
SIMILAR
The present invention relates to a new type of ballpoint pen in particular, which makes it possible to ensure the storage of a coin, token or similar object.

 In the following description, the invention will be described for a ballpoint pen with retractable tip, the body of which is equipped with a clamp-forming system making it possible to store it in a pocket, bag, etc. It is obvious that this is not limiting and that the invention could also be applied to pens comprising a removable cap, the latter then being produced in accordance with the invention so as to be able to also allow a coin or token to be stored.

 In many areas, such as for example in big box stores, the user is offered carts to ensure the transport of goods. To avoid theft and damage, it has been proposed to combine these carts with anti-theft systems bringing together a plurality of carts to one another in a storage area, the user releasing the security mechanism by means of a piece of change or a token which is automatically returned to him when he returns the carriage to its place.

 Very often, users do not have a part of the type corresponding to the model of cart on hand and must obtain it, which leads to loss of time or non-use.

 In addition, when a person makes purchases in a large area, very often, he uses a pen to check the products on a list previously prepared as and when they are acquired and / or to complete and sign a check during the regulation.

 However, we have found, and this is what is the subject of the present invention, a simple, aesthetic pen, easy to manufacture, which also makes it possible to store a coin or token making it possible to release the security mechanism which joins the carriages. to each other in a storage area.

 In general, the pen according to the invention is of the type comprising a flexible branch forming a clamp with the body or the cap of said pen, and it is characterized in that said branch forms an open cage on at least one of its main faces, allowing the retention by the periphery of a coin or token, said cage being able to be deformed to allow the positioning and the extraction of the coin or token which it may contain.

 According to a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention, the flexible branch which the pen comprises comprises in its median part, a cage open laterally whose internal diameter corresponds to that of the part which it must contain and which surrounds the latter on more than half of the periphery and the two extreme edges of which can be separated from one another by a value corresponding to the diameter of said piece.

 The flexible branch of the pen according to the invention is produced by molding, in one piece, and this from a plastic material having a memory effect, such as for example polyoxymethylene (P.O.M).

The invention and the advantages which it brings will however be better understood thanks to the example of embodiment given below by way of indication and not limitation, and which is illustrated by the appended diagrams in which
- Figure 1 is a general perspective view of a pen made according to the invention;
- Figures 2, 3 and 4 are elevational, side and top views of the flexible branch that includes such a pen;
- Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment of a flexible branch of a pen according to the invention.

 If reference is made to the appended FIG. 1, the pen according to the invention, for example of the retractable tip type, essentially consists of a body (1) to the upper part of which is fixed a flexible branch designated by the general reference (2) and which, in cooperation with the surface of said body (1), makes it possible to form a clamp making it possible to hang said pen, for example on the edge of a pocket.

 According to the invention, this flexible branch (2) is designed so as to be able to allow the storage of a coin or token (3). To do this, said branch (2) is designed so as to form a cage open on at least one of its main faces and which allows the retention by its periphery of the coin or token, this cage (4) being able to be deformed to ensure placing or extracting the coin or token (3).

 In the first embodiment illustrated in Figures 2, 3 or 4, this flexible branch has at one of its ends (5) a base (6) which can be secured to the body (1) of the pen, for example embedded inside a recess of a shape complementary to said base.

 The other end (7) constitutes the free end of the flexible branch forming a clamp. Between its two ends (5,7), in the middle part, the branch forms a cage (4) open laterally, whose diameter at the bottom of the groove corresponds to that of the part (3) that it must contain. This cage (4) extends over a length greater than more than half of the periphery of the part (3). The extreme edge (9) can either be under the action of a traction exerted on the part when it is desired to extract it from the cage, or under the action of a push when it is desired, on the contrary, to put it back, move away from the edge (8) connected to the base (5) so as to allow the passage of said part (3).

 Such a flexible branch (4) is produced by molding in a single piece of a plastic material with memory effect, such as for example polyoxymethylene (P.O.M).

 In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the cage (4) is open on its two main faces, but it is obvious that other embodiments are possible.

 Thus, it could be envisaged to produce a clamp as illustrated in FIG. 5 comprising a solid bottom (10) and a peripheral cage (4) whose upper edge (4a) would also cover the edge of the part over more than the half of its periphery, but which would have the characteristic of being flexible under the action of pressure or traction.

 Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, it may cover all the variants produced in the same spirit.

Claims (3)

 1 / Pen comprising a flexible branch (2) forming a clamp with the body (1) (or the cap), characterized in that said branch (2) forms an open cage (4) on at least one of its main faces, allowing maintaining by the periphery of a coin or token (3), said cage (4) being able to be deformed to allow the positioning and extraction of the coin or token which it may contain.  2 / pen according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible branch (2) comprises, in its middle part, a cage (4) open laterally, the internal diameter of which corresponds to that of the part which it must contain, and which surrounds the latter over more than half of its periphery and whose two end edges (9,8) can be spaced from each other by a value corresponding to the diameter of said piece (3).  3 / Pen according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that its flexible branch (2) is produced by molding in one piece from a plastic material having a memory effect, such as for example polyoxymethylene ( POM).