GB2290264A

GB2290264A - Projecting and retracting mechanism for writing instruments.

Info

Publication number: GB2290264A
Application number: GB9412118A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cornel Chu
Original assignee: GRIPPA INTERNATIONAL Ltd
Current assignee: GRIPPA INTERNATIONAL Ltd
Priority date: 1994-06-16
Filing date: 1994-06-16
Publication date: 1995-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 2014-06-16
Also published as: GB9412118D0; GB2290264B; HK1001893A1

Abstract

As described, a writing instrument comprises a hollow barrel 1 and a resilient component 2 which functions both as part of the projection-and-retraction mechanism of the writing element and as a pocket clip. The clip component comprises a bowed spring portion 12 which slides within (and engages opposed inner wall portions of) the barrel. An actuating knob 13 extends further from the spring portion 12 than a detent 14 and (in the assembled instrument) always projects through an aperture 9 in the barrel wall. Depression of the actuating knob 13 against the resilience of the bowed portion 12 allows the detent 14 to be selectively engaged with either the bottom of a slot 7 (retracted condition of the writing element) or with the upper edge of the aperture 9 (projected condition). The writing element (not shown) is engaged over spigot 15 on the clip portion 2. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A WRITING IMPLEMENT THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a writing implement, and more particularly relates to a retractable writing implement in the form of, for example, a ball point pen.

The invention seeks to provide a writing implement made from a minimum number of components, so as to minimise manufacturing costs.

According to this invention there is provided a writing implement comprising an elongate hollow housing, an elongate writing mechanism receivable within the housing and an actuator element connected to the writing mechanism, the actuator element having a resilient substantially arcuate portion received within the hollow housing, that arcuate portion carrying an actuator means which projects through an aperture formed in the housing, the arrangement being such that if the actuator means is r.oved, the retractor element may move from a position in which the writing mechanism is extended to a position in which the writing mechanism is retracted.

The actuator means may comprise an actuator button provided on the arcuate portion, or may simply comprise the exposed force of the arcuate portion.

A writing implement in accordance with the invention comprises simply three components, namely a hollow housing, a writing mechanism, such as a standard ball point refill, and an actuator element. The actuator element may incorporate a clip.

Conveniently the standard ball point refill is connected to the actuator element by means of a stake formed integrally with the actuator element inserted into the open end of the standard refill.

Advantageously the stake is of cruciform section.

Conveniently the arcuate portion is deformed as it is initially inserted into the body of the pen so that part of the arcuate portion are always resiliently biassed into contact with the interior of the main body of the pen.

Advantageously the arcuate portion, when within the main body of the pen, may bias the writing mechanism to the retracted position.

Preferably the actuator element also carries a projecting lip, the lip being adapted to engage the edge of the aperture formed in the body of the writing implement to receive the actuator means when the writing mechanism is extended. The lip may be disengaged by pressing the lip or the actuator button inwardly against the bias provided by the arcuate portion.

Conveniently the actuator element additionally carries a clip. The clip may be used to clip the writing implement to a pocket, for example.

Preferably the clip is such that the clip is spaced from the main body of the actuator element by means of a gap, the clip being movable into contact with the main body of the retractor element, thus closing the gap, the clip, when in this position, not extending beyond the envelope defined by the body of the writing implement.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a writing implement in accordance with the invention, comprising a ball point pen, with the writing implement in a "retracted" position, FIGURE 2 is a perspective view corresponding to Figure 1 showing the writing implement in the operative position, FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the outer body of the writing implement of Figures 1 and 2, FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a clip and actuating element forming part of a pen of Figures 1 and 2, FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a standard refill for use in the writing implement of Figures 1 and 2, FIGURE 6 is an enlarged partial view illustrating how the clip of Figure 4 is connected to the refill of Figure 5, FIGURE 7 is a side top view of the writing implement when in the operative position, FIGURE 8 is a sectional view of the top part of the pen, illustrating the pen in the operative position, FIGURE 9 is a view corresponding to Figure 8 showing the pen in the retracted position, and FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken on line X-X of Figure 9.

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the writing implement comprises a main housing 1 of generally cylindrical form having, at the upper end, a projecting clip member 2. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the design of the writing implement is such that the clip member may be pressed to move the writing mechanism of the writing implement from an inoperative or retracted position to an operative or protruding position, and vice-versa. Thus, the clip member can be considered to act as an actuator element.

As can be seen more clearly from Figures 3 to 5 the writing implement of the invention being described comprises simply three components, namely a elongate housing 1 as shown in Figure 3, a clip member 2 as illustrated in Figure 4, and a standard ball point refill 3 as illustrated in Figure 5.

The housing 1 shown in Figure 3 is of generally cylindrical form of oval cross-section, but the lower part 4 of the housing is provided with a generally pointed end having an axially extending aperture 5 through which the ball point 6 of the refill 3 may project when the pen is in the condition illustrated in Figure 2.

The upper end of the housing 1 is provided with a recess 7 adapted to receive a clip part 8 of the clip member 2, and also with an elongate aperture 9 located beneath the recess 7 adapted to receive an actuator button 10 forming part of the clip member 2. The clip member 2 comprises a substantially elongate plastic element having, at an upper end, a clip part 8 spaced slightly from the main body 10 of the clip member by means of a gap 11.

The main body of the clip member continues with an arcuate resiliently deformable portion 12 which carries a actuating button 13 and an engagement lip 14 as will be described hereinafter and which terminates in a lower end carrying a cruciform cross-sectioned stake 15 extending downwardly and being intended to be received as a friction fit within the open end of the standard refill, as can be seen most clearly from Figure 6. The clip member 2 is thus connected to the standard refill 3.

It is to be appreciated that the pen is fabricated by inserting the stake 15 provided on the clip member 2 into the open end of the refill 3, and then inserting the refill through the top of the housing 1 until the clip part 8 is aligned with the recess 7.

The clip member 2 may be moulded of a plastics material and initially will have the form illustrated in phantom 2A in Figure 8 with arcuate portion 12 in a bent or curved condition. However, as the clip member is introduced into the main body of the pen, the arcuate portion 12 is substantially straightened to have the condition illustrated in solid line in Figures 8 and 9. As the clip member is inserted into the main body of the pen, the arcuate portion is further deformed to permit the actuating button 13 and the lip 14 to move past the bottom of the recess 7 so that the actuating element and the lip may slide fully into the body of the pen.Due to the resilience of the arcuate portion 12 of the clip and retractor element as it is slid into the pen, it will occupy the condition illustrated in Figure 8 where the actuating button 13 is located at the bottom of the aperture 9 formed in the main body of the pen and the lip 14 is also engaged in aperture engaging the upper portion of the aperture. Since the arcuate portion is deformed as compared with its original condition before being inserted in the natural resistance of the arcuate portion ensures that parts of the arcuate portion are always resiliently biassed into contact with the interior of the main body of the pen.

This is the condition of the pen illustrated in Figures 2, 7 and 8. When in this condition, the pen may be utilised since the ball point portion of the standard refill will project through the aperture provided at the bottom of the main body of the pen.

When the pen is to be moved to the retracted condition, the actuator button 13 is pressed inwards against the bias provided by the arcuate portion 12 of the clip member 2 which serves to disengage the lip 14 from the aperture 9, and the actuator button 13 is then pushed upwardly relative to the body of the pen. Provided that the actuator button is pressed inwardly sufficiently for the lip to be fully disengaged from the periphery of the aperture formed in the body of the pen, the clip member 2 will move smoothly upwardly, thus retracting the ball point of the standard refill. The outward bias provided by the arcuate portion 12 provides an upward force which serves to assist the retraction of the writing mechanism into the housing. Thus, there is no need for a separate compression spring, as often found in retracting writing implements.

If, once the clip member is moving, the inward pressure applied to the actuator button 13 is released, the actuator button will be biassed outwardly and will engage the upper periphery of the aperture 9, as shown in Figure 9, when the refill is fully retracted.

The pen may then be clipped in a pocket or in a book. It is to be observed that although the clip portion 8 of the clip member 2 is separated from the main body 10 by a gap 11, if an inward pressure is provided to the terminal portion of the clip, that gap will close, with the clip part 8 then abutting against the main body of the clip member 2 and retractor element. When in this condition the free end of the clip part 8 does not project beyond the envelope defined by the main body of the pen.

Thus the pen may be used, for example, as a bookmark, bearing in mind the oval nature of the cross-section of the pen.

When the pen is again to be brought to the operative state, a downward pressure is applied to the top of the clip member 2, which causes the terminal portion of the lip 14 to ride past the lower edge of the recess 7 formed in the top of the main body 1 of the pen, so that continued downward movement of the clip member 2 returns the pen to the operative position as illustrated in Figures 2, 7 and 8.

While the invention has been described with specific reference to a ball point pen, the writing implement may take other forms, such as a fibre-tipped pen or a pencil. Also, while in the described embodiment an actuator button on the arcuate portion of the clip member extends through the aperture in the main body, the button may be omitted, with part of the surface of the arcuate portion of the clip member being accessible through the aperture. Manual pressure may then be applied directly to the arcuate portion to operate the pen.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A writing implement comprising an elongate hollow housing, an elongate writing mechanism receivable within the housing and an actuator element connected to the writing mechanism, the actuator element having a resilient substantially arcuate portion received within the hollow housing, that arcuate portion carrying an actuator means which projects through an aperture formed in the housing, the arrangement being such that if the actuator means is depressed, the retractor element may move from a position in which the writing mechanism is extended to a position in which the writing mechanism is retracted.

2. A writing implement according to Claim 1 wherein the writing mechanism comprises a standard ball point refill.

3. A writing mechanism according to Claim 2 wherein the standard ball point refill is connected to the actuator element by means of a stake formed integrally with the actuator element inserted into the open end of the standard refill.

4. A writing implement according to Claim 3 wherein the stake is of cruciform section.

5. A writing implement according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the arcuate portion is deformed as it is initially inserted into the body of the pen so that parts of the arcuate portion are always resiliently biassed into contact with the interior of the main body of the pen.

6. A writing implement according to Claim 5 wherein the arcuate portion, when within the main body of the pen, biases the writing mechanism to the retracted position.

7. A writing mechanism according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the actuator element also carries a projecting lip, the lip being adapted to engage the edge of the aperture formed in the body of the writing implement to receive the actuator means when the writing mechanism is extended.

8. A writing implement according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the actuator element additionally carries a clip.

9. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the clip is such that the clip is spaced from the main body of the actuator element by means of a gap, the clip being movable into contact with the main body of the retractor element, thus closing the gap, the clip, when in this position, not extending beyond the envelope defined by the body of the writing implement.

10. A writing implement substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

11. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.