GB2446132A

GB2446132A - Writing implement with slidable captive cap.

Info

Publication number: GB2446132A
Application number: GB0702019A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Baker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-02-02
Filing date: 2007-02-02
Publication date: 2008-08-06
Also published as: GB0702019D0

Abstract

A writing implement such as a ballpoint pen 10 includes a nib covering cap 40 with clip 42. The cap 40 covers the nib 20 as shown, but is also retractable (figure 6) along the body 30 of the pen to expose the nib 20 through an aperture 44 in the cap. Sliding of the cap on the body in the direction of retraction is limited by abutment of an inner surface 21 of the cap 40 with an area 22 of the body adjacent the nib. The cap 40 is held captively on the pen by means of a ramped protrusion 48 which can slide in a closed slot 24. This prevents the cap from being removed from the body 30. During assembly the cap can be forced over the tapered portion 22 so that the ramped element 48 falls resiliently into slot 24.

Description

Improvements in or relating to writing implements The invention relates

to improvements in or relating to writing implements for example, ballpoint pens.

Currently ballpoint pens that do not have retractable nibs use a removable cover cap. These caps are very easily misplaced, rendering the pens useless for carrying in pockets or handbags etc. because the uncovered nib has the potential to mark and stain various materials. Also, there is a serious safety issue concerning these removable pen cover caps. People, mainly children, have swallowed these removable pen cover caps and choked, and in some instances this has resulted in death. To alleviate this problem cover caps havl... *...S

holes on each end to allow a person to breath if the cap is swallowed. Even s, it is still possible to choke on some caps.

Pens with nibs which retract into the body of the pen require multipl..

components and are therefore relatively expensive to produce. *1**** The embodiment of the invention described herein addresses the problems mentioned above. According to the invention there is provided a writing implement comprising a body including a writing nib at one end of the body, and a nib cap for covering the nib, said cap being captively slidable along the body so as to be retractable to expose the nib for writing.

Preferred features of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

One embodiment is described below, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a writing implement according to the invention, without a cap; Figure 2 shows a cap for use with the writing implement shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a section of the cap, along the line Ill-Ill in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a section of the cap along the line IV-lV in Figure 2; Figure 5 shows a section of the writing implement along the line V-V in Figure 1; with the cap assembled and shown in section also; and Figure 6 shows a view similar to that shown in shown Figure 5, but with the cap in a different position.

Figure 1 shows a writing implement, in this instance a ballpoint pen 10.

The pen 10 is of generally standard construction known in the art, having a nth... S....

20, and a body 30, including a tapered portion 22 which tapers towards the 20. The body holds an ink reservoir (32 Fig 5). .:.

The body 30 of the pen 10 includes a slot 24 which has generally paralle..

sides and extends along part of the length of the body 30. S.

Figure 2 shows a cap for fitting to the end of the pen 10. The cap 40 is ".

generally hollow in construction and has a open end 46 and a further open (nib) end 44. The cap includes a clip 42 for fitting the writing implement to a pocket or the like.

Figure 3 shows a section of the cap along the lines Ill-Ill in Fig 2. In this view the section of the clip 42 can be seen, together with a portion of a ramped protrusion 48 which, when the cap is fitted to the body, rides in slot 24 shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a section of the cap along the line IV-lV in Fig 2. The open ends 44 and 46 are clearly shown and the ramped protrusion 48 is shown also.

Figure 5 shows the pen 10 and cap 40 in the assembled position. In this figure the cap 40 covers the nib 20 so that the nib cannot stain or mark unintentionally. The cap is prevented from being removed from the body 30 of the pen because ramped protrusion 48 is held captively within the slot 24 in the body of the pen 30. In the figure the end face of the protrusion 48 can be seen abutting one end of slot 24 preventing the cap from being pulled from the end of the pen. The position of the cap 40 shown in Figure 5 is maintained in this...

instance because the slot 24 includes a tapered portion 25 (as shown in Figure'? 1) which engages with the sides of ramped element 48 to hold the cap in a nib.

covering position.

Figure 6 shows the cap 40 in its retracted position so that the pen can be...., used for writing. In this position nib 20 protrudes from the open nib end 44 of the * cap 40 and the tapered portion 22 of the pen abuts the inner surface 41 of the cap 40 thus preventing further retraction of the cap along the body 30. In the retracted position shown in Figure 6 the cap 40 is held in position by virtue of the engagement of the cap with the tapered portion 22 of the pen.

During assembly the cap can be forced over the tapered portion 22 so that the ramped element 48 falls resiliently into the slot 24 and is held captively within the slot.

The pen and cap will be manufactured according to generally known techniques in the art. It is envisaged that the cap will be injection moulded from plastics material in one piece, thus minimising manufacturing on assembly costs.

It is envisaged that the pen body 30 would also be injection moulded from plastics material and a standard ballpoint pen refill 32 can be used as an ink reservoir 32.

One embodiment of the invention has being described herein however, it will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that various modifications and alterations will be possible within the scope of the invention. For example, the ballpoint pen described could be replaced with any writing implement including, but not limited to, a pencil, fountain pen, or so-called felt tip pen, and the use of the terms pen and nib should thus be construed broadly to include sucti....

alternatives and their components.

A slot 24 in a pen body 30 has been shown cooperating with a protrusion:.

48 in a cap. The slot could be in the cap and the protusion could be in the pen'..

body. Alternatively other means for captive sliding of the cap relative to the body...., is envisaged, from example, the pen body could have an annular recess within which is kept an annular protrusion of a nib cap such that the cap has limited travel between a nib covering and a retracted postion. Other arrangements are envisaged also.

Claims

Claims 1. A writing implement comprising a body including a writing nib

or the like at one end of the body, and comprising a nib cap for covering the nib, said cap being captively slidable along the body so as to be retractable to expose the nib for writing.
2. A writing implement as claimed in claim I wherein the cap is tubular and surrounds the body and nib in a nib covering position, and wherein, in a retracted position, the nib projects from the cap at an aperture in one end of the cap.
3. A writing implement as claimed in claim 2 wherein either the body or the cap includes a slot and the other of the body or cap includes a projection,:, complementary to the slot, such that the projection is slidable in the slot foi'' allowing the captive sliding of the cap along the body. S... *41 *
4. A writing implement as claimed in claim 3 wherein the projection is.

formed on the cap and is ramped such that the cap can be forced over the body from the nib end of the body and the projection can engage the slot, but the cap cannot be pulled off the body in the opposite direction once the projection is engaged in the slot.
5. A writing implement as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein the sliding of the cap on the body in the direction of retraction is limited by abutment of the cap with an area of the body adjacent the nib.
6. A writing implement as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the cap includes a clip for attaching the implement to various materials.
7. A writing implement as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the cap is moulded from plastics material in one piece.
8. A writing implement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the writing implement is a ballpoint pen.
9. A writing implement as claimed in claim 8 wherein the pen includes a reservoir for writing fluid.
10. A writing implement substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings. S..,. * * .5 * S * S.

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