GB2275657A - Writing instrument incorporating a wax signet. - Google Patents

Abstract

A writing instrument, of the kind in which a writing tip is repositionable in association with a mechanism actuated by axial movement of a removable actuator button which projects from the opposite end of the barrel to the writing tip, and which has a wax signet (or seal or stamp) concealed beneath the button, is characterised in that the stamp is fixedly located with respect to the barrel and is independent of the tip positioning mechanism, whereby inadvertent repositioning of the tip when using the signet is avoided. In one form (Figs 1 and 2) the signet is mounted on a bush (23) which is engaged on a spigot (33), said spigot (33) being provided with circumferentially spaced radially outwardly extending wings (34) which become locked to formations inside the barrel during assembly. The actuator button (15) engages a sectored collar (41) which is slidingly interdigitated between the wings (34) of the spigot (33), and the lower end (44) of the collar (41) operates the writing tip repositioning mechanism. In another form (Figs 3 and 4) the repositioning mechanism includes an apertured sliding collar, and the signet mount has axially parallel supporting arms which pass through the apertures of the collar before securement to the inside of the barrel. <IMAGE>

Description

A SEAL-EQUIPPED WRITING IMPLEMENT The present invention relates to a seal-equipped writing implement which has a writing element in the front portion thereof and a seal or signet at the rear portion thereof.

A conventionally known knocking type ball-point pen includes a knocking mechanism made up of a cam groove, a knocking rod and a rotary cam member and in the implement, the rotary cam member is caught at projected or retracted position in link with the movement of the knocking rod in the length-wise direction in such a manner that a writing tip can be projected out of or retracted into a small tip opening at the front barrel. Another known writing implement includes a signet or seal which is removably attached directly to a knocking mechanism or by way of a holder so that the seal projects out of the rear end of the barrel.

The conventional writing implement equipped with a seal, however has some inconveniences. Specifically, when a user stamps the seal by holding a rear portion of the barrel of the implement by his/her hand, the knocking mechanism is also moved by accident, so that the setting of the writing implement is changed or the writing tip is projected out of or retracted into the tip opening at the front barrel. Besides, another disadvantage is that stamping is somewhat difficult to practice, since the seal moves in the axial direction by the stamping pressure.

The present invention has been achieved to solve the problems described above, and a first aspect of the present invention resides in that a seal-equipped writing implement comprises: a cylindrical, hollow barrel composed of a barrel cap portion and a front barrel portion; a knocking mechanism portion disposed inside the hollow of the barrel cap portion; a writing element disposed in the front barrel portion and jointed to the knocking mechanism portion; a seal means fixed to the barrel cap portion of the barrel in such a position that a seal face is projected properly from the level of the rear end of the barrel cap portion; and a knock cover for covering the seal face attached in link with the knocking mechanism without contact with the seal unit, so that knocking action of the knock cover causes the writing element to be caught at positions in which the writing tip of the writing element projects out of or retracts into an opening disposed at the front end of the front barrel or causes a lead to be delivered out from the writing tip.

Further, a second aspect of the present invention is characterized by a seal-equipped writing implement having the above first configuration in which a fixed pipe is formed integrally in the inner hollow of the barrel cap; the seal means is attached at the rear end of the fixed pipe; a slider pipe is idly fit outside the fixed pipe so as to link with the knocking mechanism portion; and the knock cover is removably attached to the rear end of the slider pipe.

A third aspect of the present invention lies in that a seal-equipped writing implement comprises: a cylindrical, hollow barrel composed of a barrel cap portion and a front barrel portion jointed to the front part of the barrel cap; a knocking mechanism portion disposed in the forward portion inside the hollow of the barrel cap portion; a writing element (such as ball-point pen and the like) disposed inside the front barrel and jointed to the front part of the knocking mechanism portion; a holder fixed in the rear of the inner hollow of the barrel cap portion; a seal means fixed to the rear part of the holder in such a position that a seal face is projected properly from the level of the rear end of the barrel cap portion; a slider mounted outside the holder so as to move in only the axial direction and connected to and linked with the knocking mechanism; and a knock cover for covering the seal face attached to the slider so that axial movement of the knocking cover causes the writing element to be caught at positions in which the writing tip of the writing element projects out of or retracts into an opening disposed at the front end of the front barrel.

Since the seal-equipped writing implement according to the present invention is thus constructed, the seal can be fixed with the seal face projected out properly from the rear end of the cap and therefore if the seal face is pressed at stamping when the knock cover is removed as a matter of course, no knocking movement will occur. On the other hand, where the knock cover is attached to the slider pipe, as the rear end of the knock cover is knocked the knocking mechanism in link with the slider pipe allows the writing tip of a ball-point pen or other writing element to project out of and retracted into the opening at the front part of the front barrel. The knock cover is attached to the slider pipe while being not in contact with the seal, so that it is also possible to prevent careless slipping out of the seal upon the removal of the knock cover.

Fig.l is a sectional view of an embodiment of a sealequipped writing implement according to the present invention; Fig.2 is an exploded, perspective view of parts of the embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig.l; Fig.3 is a sectional view of another embodiment of a seal-equipped writing implement according to the present invention; and Fig.4 is an exploded, perspective view of parts of the embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig.3.

Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

At first, Figs.l and 2 are, respectively, a sectional view and an exploded, perspective view of parts showing a seal-equipped writing implement of the present invention.

Initially, a knocking mechanism of the seal-equipped writing implement will be discussed. Referring to the figures, a barrel of the implement is composed of a cap 1, an ornament ring 38 and a front barrel 14. The cap 1 is a tubular body integrally including a front tubular portion 2 with a threaded portion 2b (or resilient engaging portion) in the forward part relative to a step ic and a rear tubular portion 3 having an inner tube projecting rearwardly from the step lc in the inside hollow thereof. This inside tube is formed with a rear end portion 31, a step 32 inside the bore thereof and a cam groove 2a. The cap 1 has a clip 3c in the rear part on the side thereof with the ornament ring 38 attached thereto abutting the step lc in the rear end of the front tubular portion 2.A groove la is formed on the inner periphery in the middle of the cap 1. A knocking rod 4 is fit in so as to be movable relative to the rear tubular portion 3 in the length-wise direction while a cam portion 5 formed in the front part of the knocking rod 4 is received by the aforementioned cam groove 2a. A rotary cam member 7 with a cam portion 9 which abuts the front end of the cam portion 5 is disposed so that the cam portion 9 is also received by the cam groove 2a.

The thus constructed knocking mechanism is similar to one of those generally known knocking mechanisms. The rotary cam member 7 is provided in the rear portion thereof with a tubular shaft 8 extending rearwards and having a closed bottom at the rear end. The tubular shaft 8 is fitted into a center bore of a tubular shaft 6 that also extends rearwards in the knocking rod 4. The rotary cam member 7 is freely rotatable relative to the knocking rod 4 and can move in the axial direction relative to the knocking rod 4 within a proper range. In this fitting, the tubular shaft 8 and knocking rod 4 are formed with projections abutting each other on the outside periphery and on the inner side of the center bore, respectively so that the two elements cannot slip out from one another by a projection-to-projection engagement (not shown).

Next, in the embodiment shown in Fig.l, the inner hollow of the cap 1 constituting a part of the barrel is integrally formed with a fixed pipe 30 and provided with the knocking mechanism. A specific, structural example of the vicinity of the fixed pipe 30 is as shown in a perspective exploded view of Fig.2. Here, the fixed pipe 30 comprises two sectoral flanges 34 which define two cutout windows 35, and a fitting pipe portion 33 which extends rearwardly at the rear of the flanges 34. The fitting pipe portion 33 has a slit 36 at an appropriate position on the side thereof so as to be resiliently deformed properly in the radially inward direction to fixedly catch a seal body when it is attached thereto as described later.

A slider pipe 12 includes a partition 12b in the middle thereof, and in front of the partition a forward pipe portion 42 with two windows 44 cut out therefrom is provided. In the rear of the partition 12b, a rear pipe portion 41 having a somewhat larger diameter is provided by way of a step 45. This rear pipe portion 41 also has two windows 43 cut out. An engaging portion 46 for detachably engaging another engaging portion 12e of a knock cover 15 to be described later is formed in the periphery at the rear end of the rear pipe portion 41. Here, the windows 43 are formed in such a shape as to slidably guide the flanges 34 of the fixed pipe 30.

With the parts described above, the slider pipe 12 is inserted into the inner hollow of the cap 1 with a coil spring 10 disposed and contracted between the step 45 and the step ib inside the cap 1. Subsequently, the fixed pipe 30 is inserted into the inner hollow of the rear pipe portion 41 of the slider pipe 12 with the flanges 34 being guided along the peripheral walls of the windows 43. When the front end of the fitting pipe 33 abuts the partition 12b, the edges of flanges 34 fit into the groove la disposed on the inner bore peripheral wall so that the fixed pipe 30 is secured integrally to the cap 1. In this situation, the rear part of the tubular shaft 6 of the knocking rod 4 is fit into the bore of the forward pipe portion 42 until the rear end of the tubular shaft 6 substantially abuts the foreside of the partition 12b.Alternatively, it is also possible to mold a cap 1 integrally with a fixed pipe 30 by connecting the edges of flanges 34 with the inner hollow peripheral wall of the cap 1. In this case, the cap 1 is formed by separate parts corresponding to the front and rear tubular portions 2 and 3 to be securely joined so that the slider pipe 12 may be inserted.

Subsequently, the rear part of a writing element 24 such as a ball-point pen or the like is fit into the bore of the tubular shaft 8 of the rotary cam member 7. A return spring 27 is fit to a tube 25 of the element 24 so that the rear end of the spring abuts crimps 25a formed on the side of tube 25. The front barrel 14 with a threaded portion 14a inside the bore thereof is joined to the front tubular portion 2 of the cap 1 by engaging the threaded portion 2b with the threaded portion 14a. (Alternatively, the front barrel 14 may be joined to the front tubular portion 2 by means of resilient engagement of both elements.) In this state, the forward end of the return spring 27 abuts a riblike step 37 disposed at the forward part inside the bore of front barrel 14 so that the writing element 24 such as ball-point pen is urged rearwardly at any time.

A seal unit 20 comprises a mounting member 21, a seal body 22 mounted on the rear side of the rear tubular portion 21c of the mounting member 21 and a casing 23 covering the seal body and secured to the rear tubular portion 21c. A forward tubular portion 21a of the mounting member 21 receives by its bore the fitting pipe portion 33 of the fixed pipe by a proper frictional engagement. The seal body 22 is made of a porous material having permeative pores so as to be able to impregnate ink and has a seal face 22a on which a name or other seal is engraved. Here, the seal body 22 is mounted such that the seal face 22a is projected out properly of the rear end of the cap 1. An ink pad and a cushion may be optionally interposed, as required, between the seal body 22 and the rear end of the mounting member 21.

A knock cover 15 having an engaging portion 12e which detachably engages another engaging portion 46 disposed in the rear pipe portion 41 of the slider pipe 12, is fixed to the rear end of the cap 1 so as to cover the seal face 22a.

The engaging portions in this case also are formed by a proj ection-to-proj ection engagement. Alternatively, the engaging portions may be formed by a projection-to -recess engagement, in which the relation of the pair of engaging portions may be commuted. A transparent crown 19 is fixed at the rear end of the knock cover 15. Additionally, a display plate or the like (not shown) with a name or other imprint of the seal printed thereon is placed in a clearance 28 formed thereinside.

Next, Figs.3 and 4 are, respectively, a sectional view and an exploded, perspective view of parts showing another embodiment of the present invention, and this embodiment will be described referring to these figures.

The seal-equipped writing implement of the embodiment shown in Figs.3 and 4 has a knocking mechanism basically similar to that used in the previously described embodiment shown in Figs.1 and 2. Specifically, a cap 1 is a hollow cylindrical body which comprises a front tubular portion 2 and a rear tubular portion 3. The front tubular portion 2 has a threaded portion 2b formed in the forward part thereof and projected hooking members 2c formed on the outside periphery in the rear end thereof. Provided for the foreside of the rear tubular portion 3 are windows 3d which locate at positions facing the hooking members 2c and penetrate through to the inner hollow of the rear tubular portion 3. A cam groove 2a is formed on the inner wall in the rear part of the front tubular portion 2 and at the rear end of the cam groove 2a, a step 3b is formed. A clip 3c is provided in the rear part on the side of the rear tubular portion 3. A rib-like step 3a is formed on the peripheral wall in the forward part of the inner hollow of the rear tubular portion 3. A knocking rod 4 is fit in so as to be movable relative to the front tubular portion 2 in the length-wise direction while a cam portion 5 formed in the front part of the knocking rod 4 is received by the aforementioned cam groove 2a. A rotary cam member 7 with a cam portion 9 which abuts the front end of the cam portion 5 is disposed so that the cam portion 9 is also received by the cam groove 2a. The thus constructed knocking mechanism is similar to one of those generally known knocking mechanisms as has already been stated as to the embodiment shown in Figs.1 and 2.The rotary cam member 7 is provided in the rear portion thereof with a tubular shaft 8 extending rearward. The tubular shaft 8 is fitted into a center bore of a tubular shaft 6 that also extends rearward in the knocking rod 4. The rotary cam member 7 is freely rotatable relative to the knocking rod 4 and can move in the axial direction relative to the knocking rod 4 within a proper range. In this fitting, the tubular shaft 8 and knocking rod 4 are formed with projections abutting each other on the outside periphery and on the inner side of the center bore, respectively so that the two elements cannot slip out from one another by a projection-to-projection engagement (not shown).The reason that the projections are provided will be detailed later, but this is simply intended to prevent the rotary cam member 7 from slipping out when the writing element is drawn out after the front barrel 14 is detached from the cap 1.

Next, in the embodiment shown in Fig.3, the knocking mechanism is disposed in the front part of the inner hollow of the cap 1 while a holder 11 is fixed in the rear part of the inner hollow. Specific, structural example of the vicinity of the holder 11 is as shown in an exploded, perspective view of Fig.4. Here, the holder 11 comprises two guiding pieces ila which are elongated forward and define two guide grooves llb therebetween. Provided for each front part of the guiding pieces lla is a catching piece llc having a window-like catching member lld.

Provided in the rear part of the holder 11 is a fitting pipe portion 11e having appropriate slits so as to allow resilient deformation thereof. The holder 11 is made of integrally molded resin having a good resiliency.

A slider 12 has a tubular socket 12a in the forward central portion thereof and a partition 12b having slits 12c in the periphery of the socket. The slider 12 further includes a fitting pipe portion 12d in the rear part thereof, and the fitting pipe portion 12d is provided on the peripheral side thereof with an engaging portion 12e formed by grooves, projections or the like.

With the parts described above, the guiding pieces 11a of the holder 11 are fit into the slits 12c of the slider 12 so that the slider 12 can be moved in the axial direction. The thus assembled holder 11 and slider 12 is inserted into the inner hollow of the rear tubular portion 3 of the cap 1 with the rear end of a coil spring 10 abutting the foreside of the partition 12b. In this arrangement, the front end of the coil spring 10 is made to abut the step 3b inside the rear tubular portion 3 while the catching pieces 11c of the holder 11 are made to pass through corresponding windows 3d so that the window-like catching members lld are fit into corresponding projected hooking members 2c of the front tubular portion 2.In this stage, the holder 11 can be fixed inside the rear tubular portion 3 and the slider 12 is supported so as to make a movement only in the axial direction relative to the holder 11. In the next stage, a middle barrel 13 is fit in to cover the front tubular portion 2. This fitting of the middle barrel clamps the engaged portion so as to reinforce the fixing state of the hook-and-catch engagement between the rear tubular portion 3 and the holder 11.

In this stage in the flow of the assembling procedures, the knocking rod 4 and rotary cam member 7 are fit into the front tubular portion 2. Then, the knocking rod 4 is fit in so as to link with the slider 12. More specifically, an engaging portion 6a provided in the rear projected portion of the shaft 6 of the knocking rod 4 is engaged properly with an engaging portion (not shown) disposed in the bore of the socket 12a of the slider 12 so that the slider 12 is in link with the knocking rod 4 (therefore, with the knocking mechanism). Since the knocking rod 4 and the rotary cam member 7 are prevented from slipping out from one another by the projection-to-projection engagement, the rotary cam member 7 will not fall off, as mentioned above, when the writing element is drawn out.

Subsequently, the rear part of the writing element 24 such as a ball-point pen or the like is fit into the bore of the tubular shaft 8 of the rotary cam member 7. A return spring 27 is fit to a tube 25 of the element 24 so that the rear end of the spring abuts crimps 25a formed on the tube 25. The front barrel 14 with a threaded portion 14a inside the bore thereof is joined to the front tubular portion 2 of the cap 1 by engaging the threaded portion 2b with the threaded portion 14a. (Alternatively, the engagement may be of a resilient engagement so that both elements can be joined.) In this state, the forward end of the return spring 27 abuts a rib-like step 14c of the rib 14b disposed at the forward part inside the inner hollow of the front barrel 14 so that the writing element 24 such as ball-point pen is urged rearwardly at any time.This mechanism is similar to the pervious case described as to Figs.l and 2.

Attaching means and procedures and the like of a seal unit 20 are also basically similar to those performed as to the case shown in Figs.l and 2. Specifically, a seal unit 20 comprises a mounting member 21, a seal body 22 mounted on the side of the rear tubular portion 21c of the mounting member 21 and a casing 23 covering the seal body and secured to the rear tubular portion 21c. A forward tubular portion 21a of the mounting member 21 receives by its bore the fitting pipe portion lle of the holder 11 by a proper frictional engagement. The seal body 22 is made of a porous material having permeative pores so as to be able to impregnate ink and has a seal face 22a on which a name or other seal is engraved. Here, the seal body 22 is mounted such that the seal face 22a is projected out properly of the rear end of the cap 1.An ink pad and a cushion may be optionally interposed, as required, between the seal body 22 and the rear end of the mounting member 21.

A knock cover 15 having an engaging portion (not shown) which detachably engages another engaging portion 12e disposed in the fitting pipe portion 12d of the slider 12, is attached to the rear end of the cap 1 so as to cover the seal unit 20. The engaging portions in this case also are formed by a projection-to-projection engagement.

Alternatively, the engaging portions may be formed by a projection-to-recess engagement, in which the relation of the pair of engaging portions may be commuted. By the way, in this embodiment, in order to construct the knock cover 15, the tubular body 16 has a cutout 16b at the rear edge thereof so that a window 16a can be resiliently deformed in the radially contracting direction with the help of the cutout 16b while the crown socket 17 has a rib 17a on the bore wall thereof to be fit into the cutout 16b and a projection 17b to be engaged with the window 16a, whereby the tubular body 16 is secured to the crown socket 17.

Then, a transparent crown 19 is fixed to the crown socket 17 with a sticker 18 on which a name or other imprint can be written being disposed therebetween.

As has been described above, the embodiments of sealequipped writing implements of the present invention are thus constructed. As to either embodiment shown in Figs.l and 2 or in Figs.3 and 4, since the seal face 22a is fixed in such a position as to project out from the level of the end of the cap 1, the writing element will not be knocked if the seal face is pressed upon stamping. On the other hand, when the knock cover 15 is attached to the slider 12, the slider 12 moves when the rear end of the knock cover 15 is pressed, whereby the slider 12 is made in like with the knocking mechanism to cause a writing tip 26 of the writing element 24 to project out of or retract from the tip opening 14d of the front barrel 14.Since the knock cover 15 is attached and abutted against the slider 12 without touching the seal unit 20, it is possible to eliminate the disadvantage that the seal unit 20 would be drawn out by accident when the knock cover 15 is detached.

In the above embodiments, the knocking mechanism is so constructed that the writing tip 26 of the writing element 24 such as a ball-point pen may project out and retract at the tip opening 14d of the front barrel 14. However, when the writing element is an automatic pencil, it is possible to have the slider pipe 12 linked with, for example, a lead case provided as a knocking operative portion in the rear of the lead-delivery mechanism.

As there has been described structure and operations of the seal-equipped writing implement of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the problem of unintended projection or retraction of the writing tip due to the knocking at the time of stamping. Additionally, since the seal will not be moved by the pressure of stamping, this allows easy stamping. Another advantage is that the seal will not slip out by accident when the knocking cover is removed.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS:

1. A seal-equipped writing implement comprising: a cylindrical, hollow barrel composed of a barrel cap portion and a front barrel portion; a knocking mechanism portion disposed inside the hollow of said barrel cap portion; a writing element disposed in said front barrel portion and jointed to said knocking mechanism portion; a seal means fixed to said barrel cap portion of said barrel in such a position that a seal face is projected properly from the level of the rear end of said barrel cap portion; and a knock cover for covering said seal face attached in link with said knocking mechanism without contact with said seal unit, so that knocking action of said knock cover causes said writing element to be caught at positions in which the writing tip of said writing element projects out of or retracts into an opening disposed at the front end of said front barrel or causes a lead to be delivered out from the writing tip.

2. A seal-equipped writing implement according to claim 1, wherein a fixed pipe is formed integrally in the inner hollow of said barrel cap; said seal means is attached at the rear end of said fixed pipe; a slider pipe is idly fit outside said fixed pipe so as to link with said knocking mechanism portion; and said knock cover is removably attached to the rear end of said slider pipe.

3. A seal-equipped writing implement comprising: a cylindrical, hollow barrel composed of a barrel cap portion and a front barrel portion jointed to the front part of said barrel cap; a knocking mechanism portion disposed in the forward portion inside the hollow of said barrel cap portion; a writing element disposed inside said front barrel and jointed to the front part of said knocking mechanism portion; a holder fixed in the rear of the inner hollow of said barrel cap portion; a seal means fixed to the rear part of said holder in such a position that a seal face is projected properly from the level of the rear end of said barrel cap portion; a slider mounted outside said holder so as to.move in only the axial direction and connected to and linked with said knocking mechanism; and a knock cover for covering said seal face attached to said slider so that axial movement of said knocking cover causes said writing element to be caught at positions in which the writing tip of said writing element projects out of or retracts into an opening disposed at the front end of said front barrel.

4. A writing implement according to claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. A writing implement according to claim 3, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.