GB945898A - Retractable ballpoint pens - Google Patents

Abstract

945,898. Writing instruments. F. T. JOHMANN. June 9, 1961 [June 16, 1960 (2)], No. 20999/61. Heading B6P. [Also in Division E2] A retractable ball-point pen comprises a casing 10, 11, a pocket clip 17, 18, 19 mounted on the upper portion of the casing and transversely movable with respect thereto between a retracted position and a projected position, means within the casing urging the clip to the retracted position, a ballpoint cartridge unit longitudinally movable within the casing between a retracted and a projected position actuating means operable upon the movement of the cartridge unit whereby the clip is moved automatically into the projected position upon retraction of the cartridge unit and the clip is moved automatically into the retracted position upon projection of the cartridge unit, and latch means to hold the cartridge unit in the retracted position with the clip projected. In the arrangement shown, the pocket clip 17, 18, 19 is movable into and out of a recess 13 in an upper barrel section 10, by a push button 30 which simultaneously projects and retracts a ball-point 26 forming part of a point and cartridge unit slidable within the casing. The clip which is biased to its retracted position in the recess 13 by a blade spring 21, is projected out of the recess by the engagement of a portion 29 of a cylindrical member 28 carrying the push button 30 with a portion 18 of the clip, as the button is depressed to retract the ball point. The member 28 which abuts the upper end of a spring loaded reservoir 22, is formed with a peripheral groove for a locking ball 32 which cooperates with a track formed by toothed latching members 33 and 34 fixed within a sleeve 35 secured within the barrel section 10. In the arrangement according to Figs. 7 and 8 (not shown) a similar mechanism for operating the clip and retracting or protracting the writing point is actuated by pressing the writing end down against a rigid surface and then lifting the pen clear of the surface. In this arrangement, the ball-point is carried within a slidable hood member which is spring-loaded against an adjacent end of the reservoir, which itself is loaded by a relatively strong compression spring located between the top of the barrel section 10 and the upper end of the portion 29.