GB2319993A

GB2319993A - Writing tip with fluid applicator sides of different width

Info

Publication number: GB2319993A
Application number: GB9625095A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ming-Hua Yen; Tro-Kung Ku
Original assignee: Mcaide Enterprise Co Ltd
Current assignee: Mcaide Enterprise Co Ltd
Priority date: 1996-12-03
Filing date: 1996-12-03
Publication date: 1998-06-10
Also published as: DE29700366U1; FR2758496A3; GB9625095D0

Abstract

A writing instrument has a tip 5 with a wide curved portion 56 and a narrow side 57 so that ink, paint or correction fluid may be applied in either a wide or narrow line (Figures 18, 19). A needle with head 42 and fitted with a spring (3, Figure 3) is displaced inwardly to allow the fluid to flow from a container to the required wide or narrow contact portion of the tip. A recessed plane 53 on the tip body allows for the reduction of the thickness of the tip. The wide curved portion 56 may be provided with guide holes (561, Figure 20) to check the flow of fluid to the sides. The tip may be configured so that a user holds the writing instrument at an angle to apply the fluid (Figure 12).

Description

WRITING INSTRUMENT WITH A NOVEL TIP STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of the Invention: The present invention relates generally to a writing instrument with a novel tip structure, and more particularly to a writing instrument with a tip structure having two applicator sides of different width for achieving a wide or a narrow written or applied area.

(b) Description of the Prior Art: With conventional instruments for applying a fluid, such as the correction pen, it is necessary to press the writing instrument and move in a circular motion in order that the fluid may flow out via a tip to a specific spot. In this manner of application, the tip of the writing instrument is provided with a steel ball having a circular section. It is therefore necessary to press the writing instrument to rotate the steel ball so that the correction fluid may flow out smoothly to the desired spot. Due to the size of the steel ball, when the writing instrument is used to apply the correction fluid to a larger area or spot, since the steel ball has to be moved in a circular motion repeatedly to allow the fluid to flow out, the applied fluid will be relatively thick. Hence it is not easy for the corrected spot to get dry fast and there may be uneven distribution of fluid. Besides, the wet fluid may stain the hands. In another kind of such conventional instruments for applying a fluid, a steel needle is provided in the tip.

When the steel needle is pressed, the fluid will flow out. However, there is also the problem that the steel needle has to be pressed and moved in circles when the instrument is used to apply the fluid to a larger area, the applied fluid will also become thick and cannot easily get dry, thus likely to stain the hands.

Besides, the wet fluid on a document may stain the photocopier.

Furthermore, with conventional correction pens, for instance, when it is desired to apply the fluid to a large area, the user has to move the correction pen all over the area since the tip of the correction pen is narrow or small, which is very inconvenient indeed.

There has been a long felt need for a writing instrument which may be used to apply a fluid which may be applied in a uniform distribution and may get dry quickly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of the present invention is to provide a writing instrument with a novel tip structure having a wide curved portion at one side and a narrow side curve at the other so that the user may selectively use either side in writing or applying a fluid so as to obtain a wide or narrow written or applied area with facile, the fluid being applied in a uniform consistency so that it may dry up in an instant, thus eliminating the drawbacks with the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a writing instrument with a novel tip structure with two applicator sides of different width, which may be used in writing or applying a fluid, or used as a needle point pen in drawing.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a writing instrument with a novel tip structure with two applicator sides of different width, in which a wide curved portion of a contact portion of a front end portion of the tip body may be provided with a plurality of guide holes. If the wide curved portion is configured to be a wide oblique curved portion, the wide oblique curved portion may also be provided with a plurality of guide holes. By means of this arrangement, when the tip body is formed by plastics injection molding, the guide holes may prevent the tip body from becoming deformed during formation. If the tip body is formed of materials other than plastics, it may not be necessary to provide the guide holes. When the solution or fluid follows a curved surface of the wide curved portion or the wide oblique curved portion to apply onto a certain spot or area, the fluid will flow along the wide curved portion or the wide oblique curved portion into the guide holes which may, on the one hand, store the fluid and, on the other hand, levelling the sheet of paper on which the fluid is to be applied.

Besides, the guide holes may check the flow of the fluid to the sides. Thus, by using the curved surface of the wide curved portion and the guide holes or the narrow side curve of the contact portion, the fluid may be evenly applied to a specific spot or area.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, the writing instrument according to the present invention essentially comprises a container body, a container mount, a tip body, a needle element and a spring. The container body contains any suitable fluid or solution such as a correction fluid, a fluorescent fluid, a painting fluid and ink. The tip body is provided with a wide curved portion at one side and a narrow side curve at the other side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which, Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an elevational exploded view of the present invention; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view in part, showing the tip body assembled to the container mount; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view in part, showing the spring, the needle element, and the tip body in an assembled state; Fig. 5 an enlarged schematic view in part, illustrating the inward displacement of the needle tip of the needle element; Fig. 6 is an enlarged schematic view in part, illustrating the path of the fluid along the needle tip to the wide curved portion; Fig. 7 is an enlarged schematic view in part, illustrating the narrow side curve and the inward displacement of the needle tip; Fig. 8 is an enlarged schematic view in part, illustrating the path of the fluid along the need tip to the narrow side curve; Fig. 9 is an elevational assembled view of the tip body and the needle element; Figs. 10A, 10B and 10C are respectively a side view a front view and a bottom view of the tip body and the needle element as assembled; Fig. 11 is an elevational view of the oblique curved wide portion of the tip body after the needle element is assembled to the tip body; Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the oblique curved wide portion of the tip body after the needle element is assembled to the tip body; Figs. 13A, 13B and 13C are respectively a front view, a side view and a bottom view of the oblique curved wide portion of the tip body after the needle element is assembled to the tip body; Fig. 14 is a schematic view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which the container body is cylindrical and the tip body has a wide curved portion; Fig. 15 is a partially enlarged schematic view illustrating use of the wide curved portion of the tip body; Fig. 16 is a schematic view illustrating the preferred embodiment of the present invention in which the cylindrical container and the tip body with a narrow side curve; Fig. 17 is a partially enlarged schematic view illustrating use of the narrow side curve of the tip body; Fig. 18 is a partially enlarged schematic view illustrating use of the wide curved portion in applying the fluid to a wider area; Fig. 19 is a partially enlarged schematic view illustrating use of the narrow side curve in applying the fluid to a narrower area; Fig. 20 is an elevational view showing another preferred embodiment of the tip body of the present invention; Fig. 21 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the tip body of the present invention; Fig. 22 is an elevational view showing still another preferred embodiment of the tip body in which the wide curved portion thereof has an oblique angle; and Fig. 23A, 23B and 23C are respectively a front view, a side view and a bottom view of the still another preferred embodiment of the tip body in which the wide curved portion thereof has an oblique angle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to Figs. 1-3, the writing instrument according to the present invention essentially comprises a container body 1, a container mount 2, a spring 3, a needle element 4, and a tip body 5.

The container body 1 is provided with a stepped portion 11. The container mount 2 is provided with an insert portion 21 having an internal hollow hole 22 for passage of a fluid. The container mount 2 may be fitted onto the stepped portion 11 of the container body 1. The tip body 5 is provided with a groove 52 which may fit into and be secured in a corresponding groove 24 at a front end portion 23 of the container mount 2. The tip body 5 has a hole inside. After the needle element 4 has its outer periphery fitted with the spring 3, an end portion 41 of the needle element 4 is disposed in a tapered hole 26 in the container mount 2.

With reference to Fig. 4, when the writing instrument of the present invention is used in writing or applying a fluid, the needle element 4 inside the tip body 5 is caused to displace inwardly so that the fluid 6 inside the container body 1 flows to the spot where the fluid is to be applied to with the user's manipulation of the contact portion 55 of the front end portion 51 of the tip body 5. Referring to Figs. 9, 10A, lOB and 10C, the tip body 5 is provided with a recessed plane 53. Such a configuration allows for the reduction of the thickness of the tip body 5 at one side. The recessed plane 53 is connected to the front end portion 51. Since the contact portion 55 of the front end portion 51 is provided with the wide curved portion 56 (see Fig. 5), when the needle element 4 displaces inwardly due to a pressure C (see Fig. 6), the fluid 6 will follow the curved surface D of the wide curved portion 56 of the contact portion 55 of the front end portion 51 of the tip body 5 to the desired spot or area in a uniform consistency (see Fig. 18). Besides, due to the arrangement of the needle tip 42 of the need structure 4 and the wide curved portion 56 of the tip body 5, the fluid 6 thus applied is in a thin layer, so that it may dry in an instant. The problems of uneven distribution of fluid and staining with the prior art are therefore eliminated. Additionally, since the wide curved portion 56 of the contact portion 55 of the front end portion 51 of the tip body 5 has the curved surface D, when the user selects to use the curved wide portion 56 in writing or applying the fluid 6, a relatively wide area A may be obtained. Furthermore, as the two ends of the curved wide portion 56 have respective curvatures 58, the applied spot will not be scratched. When the user wishes to write a thinner liner or apply a narrower line of fluid, he/she needs only to turn the contact portion 55 to another angle so that the narrow side curve 57 with the curved surface E is in contact with the desired spot, by pressing the writing instrument of the invention so that the needle tip 42 of the needle element displaces inwardly, the fluid 6 in the container body 1 will flow to the narrow side curve 57 of the contact portion 55 via the needle tip 42 to achieve a thinner line of applied fluid (see Fig. 19).

With references to Figs. 11, 12, 13A, 13B and 13C which show another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the wide curved portion 56 of the contact portion of the front end portion 51 of the tip body 5 may be configured to be a wide oblique curved portion 59 so that the user may hold the writing instrument at an angle to write to apply the fluid 6 with ease. Besides, since the oblique curved wide portion 59 has a wide curved surface (see Fig. 12), when the user selects to use the curved wide surface in writing or applying the fluid 6, a wide area may be obtained. And since the oblique curved wide portion 59 are provided with two respective curvatures 58 at its two ends, the applied spot will not be scratched. If the user wishes to write a thinner line or apply a thinner strip of fluid, he/she only needs to turn the contact portion 55 of the front end portion 51 of the tip body 5 to another angle and utilize the narrow side curve 57 of the contact portion 55. Upon the exertion of a suitable pressure, the needle tip 42 of the needle element will displace inwardly so that the fluid 6 in the container body 1 will flow to the narrow side curve 57 via the needle tip 42 to achieve a thinner line of applied fluid.

The fluid 6 stored in the container body 1 may be any solution or fluid, and the container body 1 may have any shape. The fluid 6 may be a correction fluid, a fluorescent fluid, a painting fluid, ink, or other suitable fluids. For instance, the container body 1 may be a cylindrical body (see Fig. 14) to facilitate gripping. As the fluid 6 applied using the curved wide portion 56 of the contact portion 55 of the tip body 5 and the needle tip 42 of the needle element 4 may be used to draw a line of a width A' (see Fig. 15), the applied fluid 6 may be uniform in consistency and may dry in an instant, without the problem of staining.

When it is desired to draw a thinner line or apply a thinner line of fluid 6, it is only necessary to turn the contact portion 55 of the front end portion 51 of the tip body to another angle (see Fig. 16) to utilize the narrow side curve 57. The needle tip 42 of the needle element 4 will displace inwardly upon a suitable pressure so that the fluid 6 inside the container body 1 flows to the narrow side curve 57 to achieve a line of a width B' (see Fig. 17). Since the writing instrument according to the present invention employs the spring 3, the needle element 4, and the tip body 5, it may also be adapted as a needle point pen for drawing purposes.

With reference to Figs. 20 and 21, which show another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the wide curved portion 56 of the contact portion 55 of the front end portion of the tip body 5 may be provided with a plurality of guide holes 561. If the wide curved portion 56 is configured to be a wide oblique curved portion 59, referring to Figs. 22, 23A, 23B and 23C, the wide oblique curved portion 59 may also be provided with a plurality of guide holes. By means of this arrangement, when the tip body 5 is formed by plastics injection molding, the guide holes 561 may prevent the tip body 5 from becoming deformed during formation. If the tip body 5 is formed of materials other than plastics, it may not be necessary to provide the guide holes 561. When the solution or fluid 6 follows the curved surface D of the wide curved portion 56 or the wide oblique curved portion 59 to apply onto a certain spot or area, the fluid 6 will flow along the wide curved portion 56 or the wide oblique curved portion 59 into the guide holes 561 which may, on the one hand, store the fluid 6 and, on the other hand, levelling the sheet of paper on which the fluid 6 is to be applied. Besides, the guide holes 561 may check the flow of the fluid 6 to the sides. Thus, by using the curved surface D of the wide curved portion 56 and the guide holes 561 or the narrow side curve 57 of the contact portion 55, the fluid 6 may be evenly applied to a specific spot or area.

The container body 1 of the invention may be provided with a cap of a suitable shape, and the cap may be provided with specially designed objects such as cartoon figures or floral decorations to enhance the appearance thereof. The container body 1 may also accommodate therein a suitably sized mixing ball or rod to stir the solution or fluid inside. The abovementioned cap may further be provided with a clip for attaching the writing instrument of the invention to the user's pocket or the like.

The tip body 4 may be configured to have a curved blade shape or an obliquely curved blade shape with two curved ends so that it may not scratch the spot where the fluid 6 is to be applied.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it should be understood that it is in no way limited to the details of such embodiment but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A writing instrument with a tip structure having two applicator sides of different widths, said writing instrument comprising: a container body having a front end provided with a stepped portion; a fluid contained inside said container body; a container mount having an insert portion with a hollow hole, said container mount being fitted onto said stepped portion of said container body; a tip body provided with a groove for fitting into and securing in a corresponding groove at a front end portion of said container mount, said tip body having a hole internally and a recessed plane externally, said recessed plane being connected to a front end portion of said tip body which is in turn connected to a contact portion, said contact portion having a curved wide portion at one side and a narrow side curve at the other side; a needle element having one end forming a needle tip and the other end fitted into a tapered hole of said container mount; and a spring fitted onto the outer periphery of said needle element; wherein said wide curved portion of said contact portion of said tip body has two ends each of which is a curvature, and, with the user's selecting said wide curved portion or said narrow side curve of said contact portion of said tip body, the fluid inside said container body may be applied to a desired spot or area to obtain a relative wide or narrow written or applied area.

2. A writing instrument as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said wide curved portion of said contact portion of said tip body is a wide oblique curved portion to facilitate writing or application of said fluid.

3. A writing instrument as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said container body may be provided with ornamental elements.

4. A writing instrument as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said fluid is a correction fluid.

5. A writing instrument as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said fluid is a fluorescent fluid.

6. A writing instrument as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said fluid is a painting fluid.

7. A writing instrument as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said fluid is a writing ink.

8. A writing instrument as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said container mount may be fitted with a cap of a matching shape.

9. A writing instrument as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said container mount may be fitted with a cap of a matching shape, which may be provided with ornamental elements.

10. A writing instrument as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said container body may have a mixing element disposed therein for stirring said fluid.

11. A writing instrument as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said container mount may be fitted with a cap of a matching shape, which may be provided with a clip for attaching said instrument to the user s pocket.

12. A writing instrument as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said container body may be used as a needle point pen.

13. A writing instrument as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said tip body is configured to have a curved blade shape with two curved ends so that it may not scratch the spot where said fluid is to be applied.

14. A writing instrument as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said tip body is configured to have an obliquely curved blade shape with two curved ends so that it may not scratch the spot wherein said fluid is to be applied.

15. A writing instrument as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said wide curved portion of said contact portion of said front end portion of said tip body is provided with a plurality of guide holes thereon.

16. A writing instrument as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said wide oblique curved portion is provided with a plurality of guide holes thereon.

17. Writing instruments as claimed in claim 1, as herein described.

18. Writing instruments as herein described and illustated in the accompanying drawings.