GB1269580A - Improvements in and relating to writing instruments - Google Patents

Abstract

1,269,580. Reservoir pens. NIKKO PEN K.K. 26 Aug., 1970 [18 Sept., 1969], No. 40980/70. Heading B6P. In a writing instrument of the kind comprising two or more writing elements such as ball-point pen cartridges which can be selectively moved to writing position, repeated depression of an operating member such as push button 7 causes the writing elements to be projected in turn to the writing position. As applied to a writing instrument containing two ball-point pen units, the pens 4 are slidably mounted in diametrically opposite bores of a member 2 fixed in the barrel 1, 1a, and are retracted by springs 3. The upper end of each pen has a head 5 with a radial nib 5a extending outwardly through a groove 2b in the member 2. The upper ends of the nibs 5a bear against cam surfaces 6e ... 6h at the lower part of a member 6 rotatably mounted in the barrel. The upper part 6a of the member 6 is tubular with internal cam surfaces (6b, Fig. 3) engaged by a radial projection (7a, Fig. 2) on the spring-retracted push button 7 such that for each depression of the button the member 6 is rotated through 180 degrees. The cam surface 6e extends over 180 degrees and is joined by a notch 6f, 6g to a part 6h extending in the axial direction. A circular flange is actuated between the upper and lower parts of the member 6. With the parts situated as shown in Fig. 6 (Fig. 6B being a view from the rear of Fig. 6A) both pens are in retracted position. Upon rotation of the member 6 by depression of the button 7, the pen whose projection 5a engages the surface 6e is depressed until the projection is opposite the notch 6f, 6g whereupon, the projection enters the notch and the pen is held in projected position. If now the button is slightly depressed and released, the projection 5a moves out of the notch and the pen returns to retracted position since its projection is now situated in line with the cam part 6h, the other pen remaining in retracted position with its projection 5a engaging the flange on the member 6. If, however, the button is fully depressed, the first pen returns to retracted position but cam part 6e engages the second pen to move it to projected position. The arrangement may be adapted for an instrument containing three or more pens.