JP2024069849A - Side-knock type multi-color, multi-function writing instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a multi-color, multi-function writing instrument capable of improving writing feeling by devising arrangement of refills in a cylindrical case such that one refill is arranged at the center of the cylindrical case and thus protrudes from a tip of the cylindrical case onto a central axis.SOLUTION: Provided is a multi-color, multi-function writing instrument with a plurality of refills in a cylindrical case. A slider is attached to each of the plurality of refills. One of the plurality of refills is arranged at the center of the cylindrical case.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a multi-color writing instrument that can be used by selectively selecting one ballpoint pen refill from a plurality of colored ballpoint pen refills, and a multi-function writing instrument that can be used by selectively selecting one refill from a plurality of types of refills, such as a ballpoint pen or a felt-tip pen.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in multi-color writing instruments or multi-function writing instruments (hereinafter collectively referred to as "multi-color/multi-function writing instruments"), all refills are evenly arranged within a cylindrical case.
(See Patent Document 1 (Figures 6 to 8) and Patent Document 2 (Figure 5))

JP 2011-25616 A JP 2018-47615 A

In conventional multi-color, multi-function writing instruments, all refills are evenly arranged inside the cylindrical case, so when one of the refills protrudes from the tip opening located on the central axis of the cylindrical case, the tip of the refill protrudes at an angle to the central axis of the cylindrical case. This results in a poor writing feel.

Therefore, the objective of the present invention is to provide a multi-color, multi-function writing instrument that can improve the writing feel by arranging the refills in the cylindrical case in such a way that one refill is placed in the center of the cylindrical case, causing the refill to protrude from the tip of the cylindrical case on the central axis.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration.
A multi-color, multi-function writing instrument having a plurality of refills in a cylindrical case,
A slider is attached to each of the plurality of refills,
A multi-color, multi-function writing instrument, wherein one of said plurality of refills is disposed at the center of said cylindrical case.

The multi-color, multi-function writing instrument of the present invention has a single refill located in the center of the cylindrical case, improving the writing feel when writing with that single refill.

1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a multi-color writing instrument 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a multi-color writing instrument 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, taken along line II-II in FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the multi-color writing instrument 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, taken along line III-III in FIG. 1 is a diagram of a slider of a multi-color writing instrument 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a multi-color writing instrument 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention when writing with a first ballpoint pen refill 3. FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of a conventional multi-color writing implement, and FIG. 1B is a view showing the contact state of three sliders.

[Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a multi-color writing instrument 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In the following description, the same reference numerals in different drawings indicate parts having the same functions, and duplicated descriptions in each drawing will be omitted as appropriate.

[overall structure]
1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a multi-color writing instrument 1 according to this embodiment, showing a state in which none of a first ballpoint pen refill 3, a second ballpoint pen refill 4, and a third ballpoint pen refill 5 protrudes from the tip of a cylindrical case 2. (However, the third ballpoint pen refill 5 is omitted.)
The multi-color writing instrument 1 includes a cylindrical case 2, a first ballpoint pen refill 3, a second ballpoint pen refill 4, a third ballpoint pen refill 5, a clip 6, and the like.
The cylindrical case 2 is divided into two members, a front case 21 and a rear case 22, near the center in the long axis direction. The front case 21 and the rear case 22 are detachably joined by screws. Hereinafter, the long axis direction of the cylindrical case 2 will be simply referred to as the "axial direction." Also, a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the rear case 22 will be simply referred to as the "cross section," and the center of the cross section will be simply referred to as the "center."
The cylindrical case 2 may be divided into three or more members. As a means for connecting and separating a plurality of members, any other engaging means, fitting means, etc. may be used in addition to screws.

A first ballpoint pen refill 3, a second ballpoint pen refill 4, and a third ballpoint pen refill 5 are housed in the cylindrical case 2 in a replaceable manner.
A penetrating support member 221 having three through portions that respectively penetrate the first ballpoint pen refill 3, the second ballpoint pen refill 4, and the third ballpoint pen refill 5 is provided within the rear case 22, and the first ballpoint pen refill 3, the second ballpoint pen refill 4, and the third ballpoint pen refill 5 are supported by the penetrating support member 221 so as to maintain a spaced-apart state from each other.
The first ballpoint pen refill 3, the second ballpoint pen refill 4, and the third ballpoint pen refill 5 protrude from the tip opening 211 by sliding the first slider 31, the second slider 41, and the third slider 51, which serve as side knocks, respectively, toward the axial tip side.
Then, by slightly sliding the first ballpoint pen refill 3, the second ballpoint pen refill 4 or the third ballpoint pen refill 5 that does not protrude from the tip opening 211 toward the axial tip side and then releasing it relative to the first ballpoint pen refill 3, the second ballpoint pen refill 4 or the third ballpoint pen refill 5 that protrudes from the tip opening 211, the first ballpoint pen refill 3, the second ballpoint pen refill 4 or the third ballpoint pen refill 5 that protruded from the tip opening 211 retracts from the tip opening 211. The first ballpoint pen refill 3 may also be configured to retract by opening the clip 6.

In this embodiment, a multi-color writing instrument 1 is used as an example, but it may also be a multi-function writing instrument having a ballpoint pen refill and a mechanical pencil refill, and the refills used in the multi-color/multi-function writing instrument may be ballpoint pen refills of various colors, mechanical pencil refills, other writing instruments such as felt-tip pens and markers, or input means for electronic devices such as touch pens and electronic pens.
In addition, in this embodiment, the multicolor writing instrument 1 has three refills, but it may also be a multicolor/multifunction writing instrument having two refills, or a multicolor/multifunction writing instrument having four or more refills.

[Ballpoint pen refills]
The rear end of the first ballpoint pen refill 3 is attached to a first slider 31 serving as a side knock (see FIG. 1).
Similarly, the rear ends of the second ballpoint pen refill 4 and the third ballpoint pen refill 5 are attached to the second slider 41 and the third slider 51, respectively.

[Slider]
FIG. 4 is a diagram of the first slider 31 of the multi-color writing instrument 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The first slider 31 has a first slider abutment portion 312. The clip 6 is attached to the rear end portion of the first slider 31 so as to be swingable about a swing shaft (see FIG. 1).
Similarly, the second slider 41 and the third slider 51 also include a second slider abutment portion 412 and a third slider abutment portion 512, respectively. Note that the second slider 41 and the third slider 51 are different from the first slider 31 in the shapes of the portions to be operated.
In addition, in this embodiment, the first ballpoint pen refill 3 is configured to be operated by a first slider 31 connected to a clip with a binder function having a spring such as clip 6, but this is not limited to this, and it may be configured to be operated by a slider integrated with a clip without a binder function, a slider similar to that of the second ballpoint pen refill 4, etc.

The tip side of the first slider 31 is provided with a first slider refill protrusion 313 and a first slider coil spring protrusion 314. The first ballpoint pen refill 3 is attached to the first slider 31 by inserting the first slider refill protrusion 313 into the rear end of the first ballpoint pen refill 3. In addition, the first slider coil spring protrusion 314 is engaged with the first ballpoint pen coil spring 222.
Similarly, the second ballpoint pen refill 4 and the third ballpoint pen refill 5 are each provided with a refill protrusion and a coil spring protrusion. The rear end of the second ballpoint pen refill 4 and the third ballpoint pen refill 5 are inserted into the respective refill protrusions, and the second ballpoint pen coil spring 223 and the third ballpoint pen coil spring 224 are engaged with the respective coil spring protrusions.

It should be noted that the means of attaching the first slider 31, the second slider 41, and the third slider 51 to the first ballpoint pen refill 3, the second ballpoint pen refill 4, and the third ballpoint pen refill 5 is not limited to this, and other attachment means may be used, such as attaching the first ballpoint pen refill 3, the second ballpoint pen refill 4, and the third ballpoint pen refill 5 by inserting the rear ends thereof into insertion holes formed in the first slider 31, the second slider 41, and the third slider 51.
Similarly, other mounting means may be adopted for the mounting means of the first slider 31, the second slider 41, the third slider 51, the first ballpoint pen coil spring 222, the second ballpoint pen coil spring 223, and the third ballpoint pen coil spring 224.

[Refill selection mechanism]
The first ballpoint pen refill 3, the second ballpoint pen refill 4, and the third ballpoint pen refill 5 are selectively caused to protrude from the tip opening 211 by a refill selection mechanism.
The refill selection mechanism includes a first slider 31, a second slider 41, a third slider 51, a first ballpoint pen coil spring 222, a second ballpoint pen coil spring 223, and a third ballpoint pen coil spring 224.
One end of the first ballpoint pen coil spring 222 is engaged with the first slider coil spring protrusion 314 of the first slider 31, and the other end is inserted into the first insertion hole 2211 formed in the penetrating support member 221. As a result, the first slider 31 and the penetrating support member 221 are biased in directions away from each other.
Similarly, one end of the second ballpoint pen coil spring 223 and the third ballpoint pen coil spring 224 is engaged with the coil spring protrusion, and the other end is inserted into an insertion hole formed in the penetrating support member 221. As a result, the second slider 41, the third slider 51 and the penetrating support member 221 are biased in directions away from each other.
As with conventional multi-color writing instruments, one of the three refills is selectively caused to protrude and retract from the tip opening 211 by the first slider abutment portion 312, the second slider abutment portion 412, the third slider abutment portion 512, the first ballpoint pen coil spring 222, the second ballpoint pen coil spring 223, and the third ballpoint pen coil spring 224.
In addition, each coil spring projection may be formed to a length sufficient to support the entire length of each coil spring, and the tip of each coil spring projection may be inserted into a hole provided in the penetrating support member 221.
Alternatively, each coil spring may be a tension spring that biases each ballpoint refill in a direction that pulls the ballpoint refill toward the cylindrical case 2 , thereby causing each ballpoint refill to retract from the tip opening 211 .

[Refill placement]
In a conventional multi-color, multi-function writing instrument, the refills are arranged approximately evenly with respect to the center, and the distance between each refill and the center is approximately equal (see FIG. 6(a)). Also, the contact surfaces of the three sliders are arranged approximately in the center (see FIG. 6(b)).
In contrast, in this embodiment, the first ballpoint pen refill 3 is disposed at the center of the cylindrical case 2. The second ballpoint pen refill 4 and the third ballpoint pen refill 5 are disposed at positions shifted from the center to the opposite side of the clip 6 (see FIG. 2).
The contact surfaces of the first slider contact portion 312, the second slider contact portion 412, and the third slider contact portion 512 are also disposed at positions offset from the center, more specifically, at positions offset in a direction away from the clip 6 side. The second slider contact portion 412 and the third slider contact portion 512 are formed at positions offset in a direction away from the clip 6 side from the second slider center line 411 of the second slider 41 and the third slider center line 511 of the third slider 51, respectively. The second slider center line 411 and the third slider center line 511 are lines that divide the second slider 41 and the third slider 51 into two in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical case 2, respectively, when viewed from the rear end side of the multi-color writing instrument 1. (See FIG. 3)

In addition, the first ballpoint pen refill 3, the second ballpoint pen refill 4, the third ballpoint pen refill 5, and the first ballpoint pen coil spring 222, the second ballpoint pen coil spring 223, and the third ballpoint pen coil spring 224 are each positioned at an offset position (not concentrically arranged), and the first ballpoint pen refill 3, the second ballpoint pen refill 4, and the third ballpoint pen refill 5 can be positioned closer to each other than conventional ballpoint pen refills and coil springs arranged concentrically.

[Writing feel]
FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the first ballpoint pen refill 3 of the multi-color writing instrument 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention during writing.
The first ballpoint pen refill 3 is disposed at the center of the cylindrical case 2 , so that when it is protruded from the tip opening 211 by the first slider 31 , it protrudes straight along the central axis of the cylindrical case 2 .
Therefore, although it is a multi-color writing instrument, it can be written with the same feeling as a single-function writing instrument.
In addition, by arranging the refill and the coil spring in different positions, the distance between the refills can be reduced, so that even though one refill is arranged in the center, the amount of deviation from the center of the other refills is about the same as that of a conventional multi-color writing instrument, and the writing feel is not inferior to that of a conventional multi-color writing instrument.

The above describes in detail the multi-color writing instrument 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention includes design changes and the like that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention.
Furthermore, the above-described embodiments can be combined by utilizing each other's technologies, so long as there are no particular contradictions or problems in the purpose, configuration, and the like.

1 Multi-color writing instrument 2 Cylindrical case 21 Front case 211 Tip opening 22 Rear case 221 Through support member 2211 First insertion hole 222 First ballpoint pen coil spring 223 Second ballpoint pen coil spring 224 Third ballpoint pen coil spring 3 First ballpoint pen refill 31 First slider 312 First slider abutment portion 313 First slider refill protrusion 314 First slider coil spring protrusion 4 Second ballpoint pen refill 41 Second slider 411 Second slider center line 412 Second slider abutment portion 5 Third ballpoint pen refill 51 Third slider 511 Third slider center line 512 Third slider abutment portion 6 Clip

Claims (4)

A multi-color, multi-function writing instrument having a plurality of refills in a cylindrical case,
A slider is attached to each of the plurality of refills,
A multi-color, multi-function writing instrument, wherein one of said plurality of refills is disposed at the center of said cylindrical case. Each of the sliders includes an abutment portion that abuts against another slider,
2. The multi-color, multi-function writing implement according to claim 1, wherein the contact surface of the contact portion is offset from the center of the cylindrical case. The multi-color, multi-function writing instrument described in claim 2, characterized in that at least one of the abutment portions is formed at a position offset from the center line of the slider. Each of the refills is provided with a spring that biases the refill in a direction of retracting from a tip of the cylindrical case,
4. The multi-color, multi-function writing instrument according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said springs is not disposed concentrically with said refill.

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