GB2467775A

GB2467775A - Writing instrument

Info

Publication number: GB2467775A
Application number: GB0902432A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Colin Thomas Allan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-02-13
Filing date: 2009-02-13
Publication date: 2010-08-18
Also published as: WO2010092388A1; GB0902432D0

Abstract

Writing instrument (100) having a main body with an upper (110) and a lower (112) portion and a pen refill (134) having a pen nib (114) located within the upper and lower portions. The upper portion is capable of being pulled back by the hand of a user and if this occasion arises the upper portion automatically returns to its initial position and the nib of the pen is exposed when the users hand let go. In a preferred embodiment the function of the writing instrument is ensured by a rod (116) interconnecting the upper and lower portions wherein the upper portion is capable of moving along the rod, a first spring (118) located at a first end of the rod, a second spring (120) located at a second end of the rod and a collar (117) located on the rod and situated between the first and second springs.

Description

WRITING INSTRUMENT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a writing instrument. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved pen such as a ball-point pen and an improved mechanism for activating and/or deactivating the pen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Although there are many pens on the market, many of these pens suffer from disadvantages such as unintentional activation and deactivation, complicated and unreliable mechanisms and unpleasing aesthetics. Typically, pens comprise an outer casing containing a pen refill and a removal cap attached to the lower portion of the pen to cover the pen nib. Others are the commonly known push button and twist type pen. In the first category of pen mentioned, the cap is easily lost, is small and is awkward to use. When pens of the second type (push button) are carried in a pocket its button may be unintentionally pushed to * activate the pen. This may result in staining of the pocket with ink. Pens of the third type (twist), have attempted to alleviate these problems, however, the pen nib is again often exposed unintentionally. The user will commonly only partially *: 20 close the pen leaving part of the nib exposed. An added problem with the twist I..

pen is that they typically cannot withstand sustained pressure on the pen nib *. without retracting into the lower portion of the pen. There is a final type of telescopic pen that has tried to alleviate the above problems. However, these * ** *. * * * S pens have complex and relatively expensive mechanisms involving materials such as magnets which also tend to impact on their durability. Additionally, although these pens prevent unintentional activation of the pen, they do not adequately prevent unintentional deactivation as the upper portion of the pen can easily and unintentionally be pushed down having the effect of retracting the pen nib into the lower portion of the pen. The mechanisms of each type of pen mentioned above, with the exception of the twist pen, impact on the pleasing aesthetics of the pen. The design of each of these pens prevents a sleek and smooth outer appearance.

It is an object of at least one aspect of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one or more of the aforementioned problems.

It is a further object of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide an improved pen.

It is a further object of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide a pen with an improved mechanism for intentionally activating and/or intentionally deactivating a pen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a :::: 20 writing instrument comprising: * a main body comprising an upper portion and a lower portion; a pen refill comprising a pen nib located within the upper and lower portions; * ** * ***.*

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wherein the upper portion of the pen is capable of being pulled back whereupon on releasing the upper portion, the upper portion returns to its resting position and the pen nib of the pen is exposed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a writing instrument comprising: a main body comprising an upper portion and a lower portion; a pen refill including a pen nib located within the upper and lower portions; a rod interconnecting said upper and lower portions wherein the upper portion is capable of moving along the rod; a first spring located at a first end of the rod; a second spring located at a second end of the rod; a collar located on the rod and situated between the first and second springs; wherein the upper portion of the pen is capable of being pulled back and compressing the first and second springs whereupon on releasing the upper portion the pen nib of the pen is capable of being exposed.

The present invention therefore relates to a new operating mechanism for actuating a pen such as a ball-point pen.

Typically, the upper and lower portions may be substantially cylindrical and may be shaped and/or adapted to be easily held by a user. The upper and lower portions may be substantially hollow in form and may form an outer casing for the pen. A mechanism for operating the pen may be located within the upper S...

and lower portions. * *5 5.555

The pen may have an inactivated state where the pen refill is fully located within the upper and lower portions of the pen. The pen may also have an activated state wherein the pen refill may be extended from within the upper and lower portions of the pen and the pen nib therefore being exposed from the lower portion ready to be used for writing by a user. The pen may be activated and inactivated as many times as necessary (e.g. a plurality of times) by the operating mechanism of the pen.

The rod may be a push rod and may allow the upper portion to be pulled back from its resting position and away from the lower portion. During this process the rod may be exposed. On release of the upper portion, the upper portion may spring back towards the lower portion and ultimately to its resting position against the lower portion and the pen nib may become exposed.

The rod may extend from and be connected to the lower portion. Mounted around the lower end of the rod there may be a first centrally mounted spring which extends around the push rod. The spring may be mounted between an upper engagement means such as an annular rim and a lower engagement means such as a further annular rim which may be formed by a bottom face of the upper portion.

Typically, towards the upper end of the push rod, there may be a further centrally mounted spring which again extends around the rod. At the top of the rod there may be a mechanical stop such as a cap.

Located between the mechanical stop (e.g. the cap) and the first spring there may be a collar situated around the rod. The collar may be akin to a block * ** ** * *.*** * * * which may extend around the rod. In particular embodiments, the cap may be located at the top of the rod and may abut and/or engage against a top end of the upper portion of the pen.

Typically, the writing instrument may comprise a further annular rim which may extend around the rod and may be located in the region between the two springs. This further annular rim may be used as a stop against the collar during the activation/deactivation of the pen.

To activate the pen, the upper portion of the pen may be pulled back which may have the effect of compressing the first spring between the upper annular rim and the lower annular rim. Also during this process, the second centrally mounted spring may become compressed between the cap and the collar. The pen may therefore contain stored energy to activate the pen. During this process when the upper portion may be pulled back, the collar may be unlocked from the rod. On release of the upper portion, the upper portion may spring back to its resting position and, at the same time, as the second spring decompresses it may push the collar down the rod until it rests on the further * annular rim. At this point the collar may again lock onto the rod. This action may activate the pen by pushing the pen refill down the interior of the main body of the pen and out of the lower portion of the pen. At this point the pen may be *: 20 described as activated as the pen nib may become exposed.

To deactivate the pen, the upper portion of the pen may be pulled back ** which may have the effect of compressing the first spring between the upper annular rim and the lower annular rim. Also during this process, the second * .* *S * **S* *S**SS * centrally mounted spring may become compressed between the cap and the collar. During this process when the upper portion may be pulled back, the collar may be pulled up the rod by the further annular rim. The collar may at a specific point lock onto the rod. On release of the upper portion, the upper portion may spring back to its resting position. This action may deactivate the pen by pulling the pen refill up the interior of the main body of the pen and into the lower portion of the pen. At this point the pen may be described as deactivated as the pen nib may no longer be exposed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for activating and/or deactivating a writing instrument, said method comprising: providing a main body comprising an upper portion and a lower portion; providing a pen refill including a pen nib located within the upper and lower portions; providing a rod interconnecting said upper and lower portions wherein the upper portion is capable of moving along the rod; * providing a first spring located at a first end of the rod; providing a second spring located at a second end of the rod; providing a collar located on the rod and situated between the first and second springs; S. wherein the upper portion of the pen is capable of being pulled back and compressing the first and second springs whereupon on releasing the upper portion the pen nib of the pen is capable of being exposed. * .* *0 * * * *

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided use of a writing instrument according to the first aspect in performing writing operations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a representation of a pen according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a representation of the pen shown in Figure 1 with a pen nib exposed; Figure 3 is a representation of the pen shown in Figures 1 and 2 with a rear section pulled back; Figure 4 is a part sectional view of the pen shown in Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 is a part sectional view of the pen shown in Figures 1 to 4 with a rear section pulled back; * Figure 6 is a part sectional view of the pen shown in Figures 1 to 5 with a pen nib exposed; Figure 7 is a full sectional view of the pen shown in Figures 1 to 6; and *: 20 Figure 8 is a full sectional view of the pen shown in Figures 1 to 7 with a * pen nib exposed. * * . * ** * * * ** S. S

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Generally speaking, the present invention resides in the provision of a new mechanism for actuating a pen such as a ball-point pen.

Figure 1 is a side view of a pen according to the present invention, generally designated 100. The pen comprises an upper portion 110 and a lower portion 112. As shown in Figure 1 the upper and lower portions 110,112 are substantially cylindrical. The mechanism of the pen 100 along with a pen refill is located within the upper and lower portions 110,112.

Figure 2 shows the pen 100 in an activated state with a pen nib 114 activated and ready to be used for writing by a user.

Figure 3 shows the initial activation of the pen 100 wherein the upper portion 110 is pulled back from the lower portion 112 exposing a central push rod 116. The central push rod 116 is part of the lower portion 112 and extends through an opening on a bottom face 130 of the upper portion 110. The central push rod 116 connects the upper portion 110 and the lower portion 112. On release of the upper portion 110, the upper portion 110 springs back and the pen S mechanism activates and the pen nib 114 becomes exposed. This mechanism is discussed in more detail below. As shown in Figure 3, the upper portion 110 may extend in a substantially longitudinally direction along the length of the pen 100 :::: 20 as shown by the direction along A -B. Figure 4 is a part sectional view of the pen 100 which shows the inner working components of the pen 100. As shown in Figure 4, the push rod 116 * extends from the lower portion 112 into the upper portion 110. The push rod 116 * ** ** * * * * is a substantially cylindrical member around which the working components of the pen 100 may be located. Mounted around the lower end of the push rod 116 there is a first centrally mounted spring 118 which extends around the push rod 116. The spring 118 is mounted between an upper annular rim 128 and a bottom face 130 of the upper portion 110. In Figure 4, the spring 118 is shown in an extended state (i.e. uncompressed state). Towards the upper end of the push rod 116, there is a further centrally mounted spring 120 which again extends around the push rod 116 and is mounted between a cap 122 located at the top of the push rod 116 and a collar 117. The collar 117 is a type of block which extends around the push rod 116. The cap 122 located at the top of the push rod 116 abuts and engages against a top end 124 of the upper portion 110 of the pen 100. Figure 4 also shows that there is a further annular rim 126 extending around the push rod 116 and located in the region between the two springs 118,120. As will be shown below, this further annular rim 126 is used as a stop against the collar 117.

Figure 5 is a representation of the initial activation of the pen 100. As * shown in Figure 3, the upper portion 110 of the pen 100 is pulled back which has the effect of compressing the spring 118 between the upper annular rim 128 and the bottom face 130. Also during this process, the second centrally mounted *: 20 spring 120 becomes compressed between the cap 122 and the collar 117. The pen 100 as a whole therefore contains energy to activate the pen 100. During this process when the upper portion 110 is pulled back, the collar 117 is unlocked a...

from the push rod 116. On release of the upper portion 110, the upper portion * .* S.... a

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springs back to its resting position and as the second centrally mounted spring 120 expands it pushes the collar 117 down the push rod 116. The collar 117 rests on the further annular rim 126. The collar 117 at a specific point locks onto the push rod 116. This action activates the pen 100 by pushing a pen refill 134 down the interior of the main body of the pen 100 and out of the lower portion 112 of the pen 100. At this point the pen 100 is described as activated as the pen nib 114 becomes exposed.

Figure 6 is a further representation of the pen 100 and shows the pen 100 in an activated state with the pen nib 114 exposed and ready to be used for writing by a user. It should be noted that in the activated state of the pen 100 shown in Figure 6, the second spring 120 is in an extended state and is therefore capable of retracting the pen nib 114 within the lower portion 112 of the pen 100.

To deactivate the pen 100, the upper portion 110 of the pen 100 is pulled back which has the effect of compressing the spring 118 between the upper annular rim 128 and the bottom face 130. Also during this process, the second centrally mounted spring 120 becomes compressed between the cap 122 and the collar * 117. During this process when the upper portion 110 is pulled back, the collar 117 is pulled up the push rod 116 by the further annular rim 126. The collar 117 at a specific point locks onto the push rod 116. On release of the upper portion *: 20 110, the upper portion 110 springs back to its resting position. This action * deactivates the pen 100 by pulling the pen refill 134 up the interior of the main body of the pen 100 and into the lower portion 112 of the pen 100. At this point S...

the pen 100 is described as deactivated as the pen nib 114 is no longer exposed. * .. *. S *,. * * S,*S*

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Figures 7 and 8 are complete sectional views of the pen 100 as shown in Figures 4 and 5. However, in the representations shown in Figures 7 and 8, the pen refill 134 is completely shown. In Figure 7, the pen refill 134 is in a stored state whereas in Figure 8, the pen refill 134 is in an exposed state and is ready to be used by a user. Figures 7 and 8 show that the pen refill 134 is mounted within the collar 117 and also extends within the push rod 116.

Whilst specific embodiments of the present invention have been described * above, it will be appreciated that departures from the described embodiments may still fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, (1) any suitable type of mechanism may be used to activate and deactivate the pen by way of a pulling motion and thereafter an automatic retraction of a portion or portions of the pen to a resting position; or (2) any suitable type of mechanism may be used to activate and deactivate the springs in the mechanism. The pen may also be of any appropriate shape and may be made of any appropriate material.

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Claims

CLAIMS1. A writing instrument comprising: a main body comprising an upper portion and a lower portion; a pen refill comprising a pen nib located within the upper and lower portions; wherein the upper portion of the pen is capable of being pulled back whereupon on releasing the upper portion, the upper portion returns to its resting position and the pen nib of the pen is exposed.
2. A writing instrument according to claim 1, wherein the writing instrument further comprises: a rod interconnecting said upper and lower portions wherein the upper portion is capable of moving along the rod; a first spring located at a first end of the rod; a second spring located at a second end of the rod; a collar located on the rod and situated between the first and second * springs; wherein the upper portion of the pen is capable of being pulled back and compressing the first and second springs whereupon on releasing the upper portion the pen nib of the pen is capable of being exposed. S... * *
3. A writing instrument according to any of claims 1 or 2, wherein the writing ***.S....' instrument is a ball-point pen. * S.S 5SI
4. A writing instrument according to any preceding claim, wherein the upper and lower portions are substantially cylindrical and are be shaped and/or adapted to be easily held by a user.
5. A writing instrument according to any preceding claim, wherein the upper and lower portions are substantially hollow in form and form an outer casing for the pen.
6. A writing instrument according to any preceding claim, wherein a mechanism for operating the pen is located within the upper and lower portions.
7. A writing instrument according to any preceding claim, wherein the pen has an inactivated state where the pen refill is fully located within the upper and lower portions of the pen.
8. A writing instrument according to any preceding claim, wherein the pen * also has an activated state wherein the pen refill is extendable from within the upper and lower portions of the pen and the pen nib therefore being exposed from the lower portion ready to be used for writing by a user.
9. A writing instrument according to any preceding claim, wherein the pen is capable of being activated and inactivated as many times as necessary by the ::.:: operating mechanism of the pen. * ** ** * S....S.....
10. A writing instrument according to any of claims 2 to 9, wherein the rod is a push rod and is capable of allowing the upper portion to be pulled back from its resting position and away from the lower portion and on release of the upper portion, the upper portion is capable of springing back towards the lower portion and ultimately to its resting position against the lower portion and the pen nib becomes exposed.
11. A writing instrument according to any of claims 2 to 9, wherein the rod extends from and is connected to the lower portion.
12. A writing instrument according to any of claims 2 to 9, wherein mounted around the lower end of the rod there is the first centrally mounted spring which extends around the push rod.
13. A writing instrument according to any of claim 12, wherein the first centrally mounted spring is mounted between an upper engagement means and I a lower engagement means which is formed by a bottom face of the upper portion.
14. A writing instrument according to any of claims 2 to 9, wherein towards the S...upper end of the push rod, there is the second spring which extends around the rod. S. S * * S * *. S... * . ** * S. *5 e *..SSS * .
15. A writing instrument according to any of claims to 2 to 9, wherein a collar is located around the rod.
16. Use of a writing instrument according to any of claims I to 15 in performing writing operations.
17. A writing instrument as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in Figures lto8. * . * * . * * ** * * * * * ** S.. o 5 * ** S. S .5..S