GB1022608A - Two-colour ball-point writing instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

1,022,608. Multiple retractable ball-point pens. TERMOPLASTIC S.r.l. Sept. 10, 1964 [Sept. 25, 1963; Feb. 24, 1964], No. 37140/64. Heading B6P. In a multiple retractable ball-point pen having an individual rear actuated push-button 8 or 9 for each ball-point cartridge 3 and 4, Figs. 1 to 3, two elastically deformable detents 7c are positioned in the diametral plane of the rear casing 2 of the pen. Each detent 7c is formed on an upright arm 7b of a member 7 of synthetic plastics material housed within the rear casing 2. On the flat face of each pushbutton a projection 10 is. formed having a top flat surface 10a and a bottom wedge portion 10b. The arrangement is such that with one button in the projected position with the detents 7c engaging the top flat surface 10a, when the other push-button is actuated, whether to the full projected position or only part of the way, the wedge portion 10b of the projection 10 forces the detents apart and releases the projected push-button. The pushbuttons 8 and 9 are prevented from slipping out from the rear of the pen by shoulders 2b on a dividing wall 2a of the casing 2 and by two projections 12, 13 on the semi-circular outer faces of the push-buttons which co-operate with semi-annular projections on the casing 2. In a modification, Figs. 5, 8 and 10 (not shown), the member 7 is replaced by a separating member 16, Fig. 8, which is screw-threaded into a single casing 14, Fig. 5. Each push-button 30, Fig. 10, has a projection 31 which co-operates with detents 18 and 19, and two projections 33 which slide in grooves 25, 26 formed in the separating member 16. Operation is identical with that described above. The push-buttons 30 are prevented from slipping from the rear of the pen by the end faces of the three projections 31 and 33 engaging abutments 22, 23 and 24. In a modification of the embodiment of Fig. 5, the separating member 16, instead of being screw-threaded into the casing 14, is slidingly engaged in the casing 14 with a catch 45, Figs. 12 to 14 (not shown), engaging a perforation or recess in the wall of the casing 14. In an alternative embodiment, Figs. 17 and 20 to 22 (not shown), the push-buttons are replaced by actuating members 50 which have extensions 51 protruding through longitudinal slots 47, 48 in the metal pen casing. The flat faces of the actuating members each have a projection 52 and a recess 55 and tongue 56 for engaging the rear end of a ball-point cartridge. A separating member 60, Fig. 20, has two elastically deformable detents 67 and 68 which co-operate with the projections 52 on the actuating members in a manner similar with that described above. Two radial projections 65 on the separating member 60, serve to retain the member 60 in the casing of the pen by engaging two notches 47a, 48a, Fig. 23 (not shown), formed at the top of the diametrically opposed slits 47 and 48. A metal cap 58, provided with a pocket clip 59, Fig. 15 (not shown), is forced on to the rear of the pen casing and abuts the extension 66 of the member 60.