GB2146588A

GB2146588A - Ink cartridge sign pen

Info

Publication number: GB2146588A
Application number: GB08324636A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Genius Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-09-14
Filing date: 1983-09-14
Publication date: 1985-04-24
Also published as: GB8324636D0

Abstract

A sign pen having a replaceable ink cartridge and in which the ink feed is controllable comprises a casing (10) and an ink cartridge (40) disposed therein, the ink cartridge (40) is provided with a spring-loaded valve mechanism (44) in the feed end, which will open when a nib 20 exerts an axial force against the bias of the spring (43). The forward end of the cartridge abuts against a shoulder portion (112) formed within the outer casing (10). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ink cartridge replaceable sign pen This invention relates to a sign pen and particularly to an ink cartridge replaceable sign pen.

The color sign pen are widely adopted owing to its convenience and other advantages. However, it is a drawback existing in its structure that the fibrous rod retain only an limited amount of ink, even more, a portion of the limited amount of ink is absorbed by the fibrous rod itself and which can not be utilized, therefore, the conventional sign pen can last only a short period. This disadvantage is especially noteworthy on the condition that when they are used frequently or continuously. Besides, in case that the pen socket is removed and the nib exposing to air, the ink will exhaust soon because the capillarity is still proceeding. Because the casing cost of a sign pen is the major cost in manufacture, the conventional color sign pen orthe like is uneconomic to manufacture.Viewing the above, effort to contrive an improvement is made by the inventor, which leading the ink cartridge replaceable and ink feed controllable sign pen as an outcome.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an ink cartridge replaceable sign pen.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sign pen the ink feed of which can be controlled.

According to the invention it is achieved that a sign pen or other similar writing instrument in which the ink is fed by a specialized ink cartridge which comprises a first tubular member for receiving the ink having a closed end and an open end; a spring-loaded valve means provided on said open end, including a second tubular member provided with a seat plate therewithin to separate the inner space of said tubular member into a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber adapted to receive a nib and the second chamber communicatingwith the inner space of said ink cartridge, the heat plate provided with a through hole which including a divergent section of said rod member and being confined in the second chamber.

According to another aspect of the invention; the casing of a sign pen or the like is formed with an inner shoulder portion near the forward end thereof to which the ink cartridge rested, and a gripping portion disposed in front of the shoulder portion for gripping a soaking nib, which is also an actuating member of the valve means and will open the valve when being exerted and an axial force to move it relative to the valve.

In the attached drawings which illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention: Figure 1 is an exploded longitudinal section view of an ink cartridge replaceable sign pen made in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view of an ink cartridge replaceable sign pen made in accordance with the invention showing the ink feed valve means in a close position; Figure 3 is a schematic view of an ink cartridge replaceable sign pen made in accordance with the invention showing the ink feed valve means in an open position; Figure 4 is a longitudinal section view of an ink cartridge applied in the embodiment according to the invention showing in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the ink cartridge according to the invention.

Referring now to Figure 1,the ink cartridge replaceable sign pen constituting the present invention is shown therein, which includes a tapering cylindrical casing 10, the casing 10 is provided with an interior threaded portion 120 in its rear end for screwing with a cap 30 having exterior threaded portion 31.

A shoulder portion 112 is formed in the forward end of the casing 10 to act as a stop for ink cartridge assembly. An additional shoulder portion 113 is further provided ahead of the shoulder 112 and formed with a diameter slightly less than which of a nib 20 so as to tightly grip the nib 20 therein.

The ink cartridge indicated by numeral 40 generally includes two parts, a tube 41 for reserving the ink and a valve mechanism for controlling the flow of ink that being feeded to the nib 20.

Referring to Figure 2, the valve mechanism is provided on the open end of tube 41, which comprises a seat member 42 with a central hole 422 disposed therein for communicating with the internal space of the tube 41, the seat member 42 shaped substantially as a tumbler which being stepped between two ends thereof to form inner shoulder portion 424 and outer shoulder portion 423, the outer shoulder portion 423 seating around the circular top surface of the tube 41. A holding member 45 is formed with circumferential flange 453 provided on one end thereof, and being fitted within the front half chamber 425 of seat member 42, and seating against the inner shoulder portion 424 with the end other than the flanged end, the flange 453 is engaged against the circular top surface of the seat member 42.

The holding member provided with a cavity 452 which extending from the flanged end and continuing an appropriate length for receiving the nib 20 and a portion of a plug 44 which will be described more detailedly hereinafter.

Athrough hole 451 communicated with the unfilled rear half chamber 426 which disposing adjacent the front half chamber 425, includes a divergent section toward the rear half chamber 426.

Plug 44 applied in this invention includes a rod 442 and a skirt portion 441 between two ends of the rod 442 and spaced apart a proper distance therewith.

The skirt portion 441 engages with the divergent section of the through hole 451 and a portion of the rod 442 extending in front of the skirt portion 441 passes through the through hole 451 to insert into the cavity 452 and abut against an obtuse end of the nib 20.

To bias the skirt portion 441 of plug 44 sealingly engaged with the divergent section of the through hole 451, a coil spring 43 is disposed around the rod 442 and confined within the rear half chamber 426 of the seat member 42 so as to constantly exert a push on the bottom of skirt portion 441, in such arrange ment, the communication of the ink contained in the ink tube 41 and the nib 20 will normally be obstructed unles a force applied against the bias of the coil spring 43 to break the sealing established by the plug 44, as shown in Figure 3.

Because the rod 442 does not seal up the central hole 422 of the rear half chamber 426, the ink contained in tube 41 will seep to the rear half chamber 426. Such that, when the nib 20 is pushed inward, which accompanied with the breaking of sealing established by the plug 44, the nib 20 thus will soak the ink in rear half chamber 426 and being moistened, after a while, the push force can be released and the sign pen is in ready.

In the preferred embodiment, nib 21 is encircled by a washer 27 disposed between the inner shoulder portion 115 and the ink cartridge 40.

When the ink contained in the nib 20 is used up, the sign pen can be pushed against the paper or other things again for another moistening; Preferably, a ring member 23 is mounted on or formed integrally with the nib 21, which holds the nib 20 more firm in the holding member 45.

An alternative embodiment of the ink cartridge of the improved sign pen according to this invention is shown in Figure 5, the end opposite to that feed end is sealed by a cork 46, when the ink is exhausted, the ink cartridge can be replenished by feeding ink from the openable end.

Claims

1. An ink cartridge replaceable writing instrument comprising: an outer tubular member having an opened forward end, and an inner shoulder portion formed near the forward end thereof; an ink cartridge received in said outer tubular member, having an open end resting against said shoulder, the open end provided with a springloaded valve means which capable of being opened to permit the inkthrough when an axial force is exerted on said valve means against a bias of the spring; a soaking nib inserted through said open end, having a writing end and an obtuse end axially abutting against said valve means, and capable of transmitting said axial force to move said valve means out of a closed position to capillarily conducting the ink to said nib for writing or painting.

2. An ink cartridge replaceable writing instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said valve means comprising a tubular member provided with a seat plate therewithin to separate the inner space of said tubular member into a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber receiving said nib and the second chamber communicating with the inner space of said ink cartridge, the seat plate having a through hole which including a divergent section adjacent to said second chamber; a plug member having a skirt portion disposed between two ends thereof, said skirt portion having a corresponding divergent surface for sealing-sealingly engaging against said divergent section of said through hole under the bias of the spring which mounting around said rod member and being confined in said second chamber.

3. An ink cartridge replaceable writing instrument as claimed in claim 3, wherein said nib fixedly mounted with a surrounded ring member which being limited the movement between said additional shoulder portion and said valve means, such that when the nib being exerted an axial force thereto, which retracting only a distance defined by the rear limit of the movement of said ring member.

4. An ink cartridge comprising: a first tubular member for receiving the ink having an open end; a spring-loaded valve means provided on said open end, including a second tubular member provided with a seat plate therewithin to separate the inner space of said tubular member into a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber adapted to receive a nib of a writing instrument and the second chamber communicating with the inner space of said ink cartridge, the seat plate provided a through hole which including a divergent section adjacent to aid second chamber; a plug member having a skirt portion disposed between two ends thereof, the skirt portion having a corresponding divergent surface for sealingly engaging against said divergent section of said through hole under the bias of the spring which mounted around said rod member and being confined in said second chamber.