JP5681857B2 - Thermochromic writing instrument - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a thermochromic writing instrument. More specifically, the present invention relates to a retractable thermochromic writing instrument in which a pen tip protrudes from the front end of a shaft cylinder.

In Patent Document 1, a writing body is accommodated in a shaft cylinder so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, an operation portion is provided on an outer surface of the shaft tube, and the pen tip of the writing body is attached to the shaft tube by operating the operation portion. It is configured to be able to appear and retract from a front end hole, accommodates thermochromic ink inside the cursive body, provides a pen tip capable of ejecting the thermochromic ink at the front end of the cursive body, on the outer surface of the shaft cylinder, There has been disclosed a thermochromic writing instrument provided with a friction portion capable of thermally changing the handwriting with frictional heat generated by rubbing the handwriting of the thermochromic ink.

When the friction part is provided in the operation part in the type in which the operation part (corresponding to the knock body of the present application) at the rear end of the shaft cylinder is pressed forward (see FIG. 12 of Patent Document 1), When the friction operation is performed using the, the operation unit is moved forward by the writing surface, and there is a possibility that a stable friction operation cannot be performed. In particular, when both a pen tip protruding operation and a pen tip immersing operation employ a retracting mechanism (so-called double knock type) that pushes the operating portion forward and a friction portion is provided in the operating portion, the pen tip protrudes. In this state, the operating body may rattle in the front-rear direction, and a stable friction operation may not be performed.

International Publication No. 2008/105227 Pamphlet

The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and to provide a thermochromic writing instrument capable of performing a stable friction operation using a friction portion of a knock body in a pen tip protruding state. . In the present invention, “front” refers to the pen tip side, and “rear” refers to the opposite side. In the present invention, the “pen nib immersive state” refers to a state in which the pen nib is immersed in the shaft cylinder, and the “pen nib protruding state” refers to a state in which the pen nib projects outward from the front end of the shaft cylinder. Say.

[1]
1st invention of this application accommodates the thermochromic ink in the inside of the writing body 7, the pen tip 71 which can discharge the said thermochromic ink is provided in the front end of the said writing body 7, and the said writing body 7 is made into a shaft. It is accommodated in the cylinder 2 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, the knock body 3 protrudes rearward from the rear end hole 22 of the shaft cylinder 2, and a release portion 6 is provided on the side surface of the shaft cylinder 2, By pushing the knock body 3 forward, the pen tip 71 is made to protrude from the front end hole 21 of the shaft tube 2, and the pen tip 71 is moved to the front end of the shaft tube 2 by operating the release portion 6 from the pen tip protruding state. The thermochromic ink is provided with a retracting mechanism that makes the shaft 2 immerse from the hole 21 and rubs the handwriting of the thermochromic ink on the outer surface of the rear end portion of the knock body 3 by frictional heat generated at that time. the handwriting form the friction portion 33 of thermochromic resilient material, nib projecting In this state, the friction portion 33 protrudes rearward from the rear end hole 22 of the shaft tube 2, and the inner diameter of the rear end hole 22 of the shaft tube 2 and the outer diameter of the friction portion 33 in the pen tip protruding state are approximately set. The requirement is to have the same diameter .

In the thermochromic writing instrument 1 of the first invention, the knock body 3 protrudes rearward from the rear end hole 22 of the shaft cylinder 2, the release portion 6 is provided on the side surface of the shaft cylinder 2, and the knock body 3 has an outer surface. The frictional portion 33 capable of thermally discoloring the handwriting of the thermochromic ink is formed by rubbing the handwriting of the thermochromic ink and the frictional heat generated at that time. The rattling is prevented, and a stable friction operation can be performed using the friction portion 33 of the knock body 3 in the pen tip protruding state. In the first invention, the operation of the release portion 6 is, for example, a radially inward pressing operation, a radially outward pulling operation, a longitudinal or circumferential sliding operation, or a rotating operation. Is mentioned.

[2] The second invention of the present application requires that in the thermochromic writing instrument 1 of the first invention, the release portion 6 is provided only at one location of the shaft tube 2.

In the thermochromic writing instrument 1 of the second invention, the release portion 6 is provided only at one location of the shaft tube 2 (that is, the release portion 6 is not formed in a circumferential shape on the side surface of the shaft tube 2, In addition, it is possible to avoid inadvertently operating the release portion 6 during the friction operation using the friction portion 33 by not being present at a plurality of locations on the side surface of the shaft cylinder 2.

[3] According to a third invention of the present application, in the thermochromic writing instrument 1 of the first or second invention, the locking projection 32 formed on the knock body 3 is locked to the clamping protrusion 52 of the clip 5. The nib 71 is engaged with the hole 53, the nib 71 is protruded from the front end hole 21 of the shaft cylinder 2, the release portion 6 is provided in the clip 5, and the clip 5 is expanded outward in the radial direction. It is a requirement that a retracting mechanism is provided to bring 71 into the shaft cylinder 2 from the front end hole 21 of the shaft cylinder 2.

In the thermochromic writing instrument 1 according to the third aspect of the present invention, the release portion 6 is provided on the clip 5, and the pen tip 71 is pivoted from the front end hole 21 of the shaft tube 2 by expanding the clip 5 radially outward. By providing a retracting mechanism that brings the tube 2 into an immersive state, the release portion 6 cannot be operated unless the clip 5 is actively expanded. Therefore, the release portion can be operated during the friction operation using the friction portion 33. Inadvertent operation of 6 can be avoided.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can provide a thermochromic writing instrument that enables a stable friction operation using a friction part of a knock body in a pen tip protruding state.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the pen tip immersion state of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the pen tip protrusion state of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the pen tip immersion state of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the pen tip protrusion state of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the color change behavior of a thermochromic ink.

<First Embodiment>
A first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
The thermochromic writing instrument 1 of the present embodiment includes a shaft tube 2, a writing body 7 accommodated in the shaft tube 2, and a pen tip 71 of the writing body 7 that can be projected and retracted from the front end hole 21 of the shaft tube 2. And a haunting mechanism.

Shaft cylinder The shaft cylinder 2 is a tapered cylindrical synthetic resin molded body, and is obtained by connecting one member or a plurality of cylindrical bodies. A front end hole 21 is provided in the front end of the shaft tube 2 in the front-rear direction. A rear end hole 22 is provided in the rear end of the shaft tube 2 in the front-rear direction. The outer surface of the rear side wall of the shaft cylinder 2 is provided with a hole 23 from which the release portion 6 protrudes at only one location.

Writing body The writing body 7 includes a pen tip 71, an ink storage tube 72 in which the pen tip 71 is press-fitted and fixed to the front end opening, a thermochromic ink filled in the ink storage tube 72, and It consists of a follower (for example, a high-viscosity fluid) that fills the rear end of the thermochromic ink and moves forward as the thermochromic ink is consumed.

-Thermochromic ink The thermochromic ink is preferably a reversible thermochromic ink. The reversible thermochromic ink is a heat decoloring type that decolors by heating from a colored state, a color memory retaining type that reversibly stores and retains a colored state or a decolored state in a specific temperature range, or from a decolored state Various types such as a heating coloring type that develops color by heating and returns to a decolored state by cooling from the colored state can be used alone or in combination.

The coloring material contained in the reversible thermochromic ink includes conventionally known (a) electron donating color-forming organic compounds, (b) electron-accepting compounds, and (c) color reactions of both. A reversible thermochromic pigment in which a reversible thermochromic composition containing at least the essential three components of a reaction medium for determining the occurrence temperature of the polymer is encapsulated in a microcapsule is preferably used.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the shape of the curve plotting the change in the color density due to the temperature change is higher than the color change temperature range, contrary to the case where the temperature is raised from the lower temperature side than the color change temperature range. The color changes by following a different route from the case of descending from the side, and the color develops in a low temperature region below the complete color development temperature (t ₁ ), or the color erases in a high temperature region above the complete color erase temperature (t ₄ ). A color memory retention type thermochromic ink whose state can be stored and retained in a specific temperature range [temperature range between t _{2 and} t ₃ (substantially two-phase retention temperature range)] is applied. In FIG. 5 , ΔH indicates a temperature width (ie, hysteresis width) indicating the degree of hysteresis. When the value of ΔH is small, only one of the two states before and after the color change can exist. When the value of ΔH is large, it is easy to maintain each state before and after the color change.

In the present embodiment, the color change temperature of the thermochromic ink due to the frictional heat of the friction part 33 is set to 25 ° C. to 95 ° C. (preferably 36 ° C. to 95 ° C.). That is, in the present invention, the high temperature side discoloration point [complete decoloring temperature (t ₄ )] is set in a range of 25 ° C. to 95 ° C. (preferably 36 ° C. to 90 ° C.), and the low temperature side discoloration point [ It is effective to set the complete color development temperature (t ₁ )] in the range of −30 ° C. to + 20 ° C. (preferably −30 ° C. to + 10 ° C.). Accordingly, it is possible to effectively maintain the color exhibited in the normal state (daily life temperature range), and it is possible to easily change the handwriting by the reversible thermochromic ink with the frictional heat generated by the friction portion 33.

For example, the nib 71 is composed of only a metal ballpoint pen that holds a ball rotatably at the front end, or is composed of a synthetic resin nib holder that holds the rear outer surface of the ballpoint pen tip. There may be. Further, a tail plug provided with a vent hole through which the ink containing tube 72 and the outside can be vented may be attached to the rear end opening of the ink containing tube 72.

Intrusion mechanism The intrusion mechanism is disposed in contact with the rear end of the writing body 7 and protrudes rearward from the rear end of the shaft cylinder 2, and is engaged with and disengaged from the knock body 3 and at the rear portion of the shaft cylinder 2. The locking body 4 is housed and arranged, and the elastic body 8 is housed in the shaft cylinder 2 and biases the writing body 7 backward.

-Knock body A locking projection 31 is formed at an intermediate portion of the knock body 3. The locking protrusion 31 can be locked to the front end of the locking piece 41 of the locking body 4. Further, a friction portion 33 made of an elastic material is provided on the top outer surface (rear end outer surface) of the knock body 3. The friction part 33 is formed in a convex curved surface shape. By rubbing the handwriting of the thermochromic ink using the friction part 33, the handwriting of the thermochromic ink can be discolored by frictional heat generated at that time.

Locking body The locking body 4 is a U-shaped flexible member. The locking body 4 is made of synthetic resin or metal. The integral of the locking body 4 is fixed to the inner wall of the shaft cylinder 2, and the other end of the locking body 4 can be displaced in the radial direction. At the other end of the locking body 4, a locking piece 41, a release portion 6 and a regulating portion 42 are provided.

The locking projection 31 of the knock body 3 is locked to the front end of the locking piece 41 in the pen tip protruding state. The locking protrusion 31 of the knock body 3 is locked to the restricting portion 42 in the pen tip immersion state. The restricting portion 42 is formed behind the front end of the locking piece 41. The release portion 6 protrudes outside from the hole 23 in the side wall of the shaft cylinder 2.

-When the knock body 3 is pressed forward from the pen tip immersion state against the rear urging by the bullet 8, the front end of the knock body 3 presses the rear end of the writing body 7 forward. The pen tip 71 protrudes from the front end hole 21 to the outside. At this time, the locking projection 31 of the knock body 3 is locked to the front end of the locking piece 41, whereby the pen tip protruding state is maintained.

When the release portion 6 is pressed radially inward from the pen tip protruding state, the locking piece 41 is displaced inward, and the locking state between the locking projection 31 and the front end of the locking piece 41 is released, resulting in an impact. By the back biasing by the body 8, the writing body 7 moves rearward and enters the pen tip immersion state. The locking protrusion 31 abuts on the restricting portion 42 of the locking body 4 and the pen tip immersion state is maintained.

Friction part The elastic material (soft material) constituting the friction part 33 is preferably a synthetic resin (rubber or elastomer) having elasticity, such as silicone resin, SBS resin (styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer), SEBS. Examples thereof include resins (styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene copolymers), fluorine resins, chloroprene resins, nitrile resins, polyester resins, ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM), and the like. The synthetic resin having elasticity constituting the friction part 33 is a low-abrasion elastic material that hardly generates wear debris (erasure debris) at the time of friction, rather than a high-abrasion elastic material (for example, an eraser). Preferably it consists of.

The friction part 33 is configured by a member separate from the knock body 3, and is provided on the knock body 3 by press-fitting, fitting, engaging, screwing, bonding, welding, or integral molding by two-color molding, or the knock body The whole 3 may be made of a material (synthetic resin) common to the friction portion 33.

In the thermochromic writing instrument 1 of the present embodiment, the knock body 3 protrudes rearward from the rear end hole 22 of the shaft tube 2, the release portion 6 is provided on the side surface of the shaft tube 2, and the outer surface of the knock body 3 is By forming the friction portion 33 capable of thermally discoloring the handwriting of the thermochromic ink with the frictional heat generated by rubbing the handwriting of the thermochromic ink, the knock body 3 in the front-rear direction of the knock body 3 is projected. The rattling is prevented, and a stable friction operation can be performed using the friction portion 33 of the knock body 3 in the pen tip protruding state.

In the thermochromic writing instrument 1 of the present embodiment, the release portion 6 is provided only at one location of the shaft tube 2 (that is, the release portion 6 is not formed in a circumferential shape on the side surface of the shaft tube 2 and In other words, the release portion 6 can be prevented from being inadvertently operated during the friction operation using the friction portion 33.

<Second Embodiment>
A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
The thermochromic writing instrument 1 of the present embodiment includes a shaft tube 2, a writing body 7 accommodated in the shaft tube 2, and a pen tip 71 of the writing body 7 that can be projected and retracted from the front end hole 21 of the shaft tube 2. And a haunting mechanism.

Shaft cylinder The shaft cylinder 2 is a tapered cylindrical synthetic resin molded body, and is obtained by connecting one member or a plurality of cylindrical bodies. A front end hole 21 is provided in the front end of the shaft tube 2 in the front-rear direction. A rear end hole 22 is provided in the rear end of the shaft tube 2 in the front-rear direction. On the outer surface of the rear side wall of the shaft cylinder 2, the clip 5 is provided at only one place. The holding protrusion 52 of the clip 5 is provided with a locking hole 53. A slide hole 24 from which the locking projection 32 protrudes is provided on the outer surface of the side wall of the axial tube 2 radially inward of the clamping projection 52 of the clip 5.

Writing body The writing body 7 includes a pen tip 71, an ink storage tube 72 in which the pen tip 71 is press-fitted and fixed to the front end opening, a thermochromic ink filled in the ink storage tube 72, and It consists of a follower (for example, a high-viscosity fluid) that fills the rear end of the thermochromic ink and moves forward as the thermochromic ink is consumed.

-Thermochromic ink The thermochromic ink is preferably a reversible thermochromic ink. The reversible thermochromic ink is a heat decoloring type that decolors by heating from a colored state, a color memory retaining type that reversibly stores and retains a colored state or a decolored state in a specific temperature range, or from a decolored state Various types such as a heating coloring type that develops color by heating and returns to a decolored state by cooling from the colored state can be used alone or in combination.

The coloring material contained in the reversible thermochromic ink includes conventionally known (a) electron donating color-forming organic compounds, (b) electron-accepting compounds, and (c) color reactions of both. A reversible thermochromic pigment in which a reversible thermochromic composition containing at least the essential three components of a reaction medium for determining the occurrence temperature of the polymer is encapsulated in a microcapsule is preferably used.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the shape of the curve plotting the change in the color density due to the temperature change is higher than the color change temperature range, contrary to the case where the temperature is raised from the lower temperature side than the color change temperature range. The color changes by following a different route from the case of descending from the side, and the color develops in a low temperature region below the complete color development temperature (t ₁ ), or the color erases in a high temperature region above the complete color erase temperature (t ₄ ). A color memory retention type thermochromic ink whose state can be stored and retained in a specific temperature range [temperature range between t _{2 and} t ₃ (substantially two-phase retention temperature range)] is applied. In FIG. 5 , ΔH indicates a temperature width (ie, hysteresis width) indicating the degree of hysteresis. When the value of ΔH is small, only one of the two states before and after the color change can exist. When the value of ΔH is large, it is easy to maintain each state before and after the color change.

In the present embodiment, the color change temperature of the thermochromic ink due to the frictional heat of the friction part 33 is set to 25 ° C. to 95 ° C. (preferably 36 ° C. to 95 ° C.). That is, in the present invention, the high temperature side discoloration point [complete decoloring temperature (t ₄ )] is set in a range of 25 ° C. to 95 ° C. (preferably 36 ° C. to 90 ° C.), and the low temperature side discoloration point [ It is effective to set the complete color development temperature (t ₁ )] in the range of −30 ° C. to + 20 ° C. (preferably −30 ° C. to + 10 ° C.). Accordingly, it is possible to effectively maintain the color exhibited in the normal state (daily life temperature range), and it is possible to easily change the handwriting by the reversible thermochromic ink with the frictional heat generated by the friction portion 33.

For example, the nib 71 is composed of only a metal ballpoint pen that holds a ball rotatably at the front end, or is composed of a synthetic resin nib holder that holds the rear outer surface of the ballpoint pen tip. There may be. Further, a tail plug provided with a vent hole through which the ink containing tube 72 and the outside can be vented may be attached to the rear end opening of the ink containing tube 72.

Intrusion mechanism The intrusion mechanism is disposed in contact with the rear end of the writing body 7 and protrudes rearward from the rear end of the shaft cylinder 2, and the rear side wall of the shaft cylinder 2 is engaged with and disengaged from the knock body 3. And a projecting body 8 that is accommodated in the shaft cylinder 2 and biases the writing body 7 backward.

-Knock body The front end of the knock body 3 is formed with a locking projection 32 projecting radially outward. The locking projection 32 protrudes radially outward from the slide hole 24 on the side wall of the shaft cylinder 2. The locking projection 32 is movable in the front-rear direction along the slide hole 24 on the side wall of the shaft cylinder 2. The locking protrusion 32 can be locked in the locking hole 53 of the clamping protrusion 52 of the clip 5. Further, a friction portion 33 made of an elastic material is provided on the outer surface of the rear end portion of the knock body 3. The top part (rear end part) of the friction part 33 is formed in a convex curved surface shape. By rubbing the handwriting of the thermochromic ink using the friction part 33, the handwriting of the thermochromic ink can be discolored by frictional heat generated at that time.

・ Clip 5
The clip 5 includes a clip main body 51, a sandwiching protrusion 52 protruding radially inward of the front end of the clip main body 51, a base 54 connecting the clip main body 51 and the rear end side wall of the shaft cylinder 2, The release portion 6 protrudes rearward from the base portion 54 and is provided at the rear end portion of the clip body 51. The clip 5 is made of synthetic resin or metal. When the release portion 6 is pressed inward in the radial direction, the clip main body 51 is expanded and deformed, and the sandwiching protrusion 52 is displaced outward in the radial direction.

-When the knock body 3 is pressed forward from the pen tip immersion state against the rear urging by the bullet 8, the front end of the knock body 3 presses the rear end of the writing body 7 forward. The locking projection 32 of the knock body 3 moves forward along the slide hole 24, and the pen tip 71 projects outside from the front end hole 21. At this time, the locking protrusion 32 of the knock body 3 is locked in the locking hole 53 of the clamping protrusion 52 of the clip 5, so that the pen tip protruding state is maintained.

When the release portion 6 is pressed inward in the radial direction from the pen tip protruding state, the clamping protrusion 52 is displaced radially outward, and the locked state between the locking hole 53 and the locking convex portion 32 is released, By the back biasing by the bullet 8, the writing body 7 moves rearward and enters the pen tip immersive state. The locking projection 32 moves rearward along the slide hole 24, contacts the rear end of the slide hole 24, and maintains the pen tip immersion state.

Friction part The elastic material (soft material) constituting the friction part 33 is preferably a synthetic resin (rubber or elastomer) having elasticity, such as silicone resin, SBS resin (styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer), SEBS. Examples thereof include resins (styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene copolymers), fluorine resins, chloroprene resins, nitrile resins, polyester resins, ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM), and the like. The synthetic resin having elasticity constituting the friction part 33 is a low-abrasion elastic material that hardly generates wear debris (erasure debris) at the time of friction, rather than a high-abrasion elastic material (for example, an eraser). Preferably it consists of.

The friction part 33 is configured by a member separate from the knock body 3, and is provided on the knock body 3 by press-fitting, fitting, engaging, screwing, bonding, welding, or integral molding by two-color molding, or the knock body The whole 3 may be made of a material (synthetic resin) common to the friction portion 33.

In the thermochromic writing instrument 1 of the present embodiment, the knock body 3 protrudes rearward from the rear end hole 22 of the shaft tube 2, the release portion 6 is provided on the side surface of the shaft tube 2, and the outer surface of the knock body 3 is By forming the friction portion 33 capable of thermally discoloring the handwriting of the thermochromic ink with the frictional heat generated by rubbing the handwriting of the thermochromic ink, the knock body 3 in the front-rear direction of the knock body 3 is projected. The rattling is prevented, and a stable friction operation can be performed using the friction portion 33 of the knock body 3 in the pen tip protruding state.

In the thermochromic writing instrument 1 of the present embodiment, the release portion 6 is provided only at one location of the shaft tube 2 (that is, the release portion 6 is not formed in a circumferential shape on the side surface of the shaft tube 2 and In other words, the release portion 6 can be prevented from being inadvertently operated during the friction operation using the friction portion 33.

In the thermochromic writing instrument 1 of the present embodiment, the release portion 6 is provided in the clip 5, and the pen tip 71 is moved from the front end hole 21 of the shaft tube 2 by expanding the clip 5 radially outward. 2 is provided with a retracting mechanism for bringing the clip 5 into an immersive state, so that the release portion 6 cannot be operated unless the clip 5 is actively expanded. Therefore, the release portion 6 can be operated during the friction operation using the friction portion 33. Can be avoided.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thermochromic writing instrument 2 Shaft cylinder 21 Front end hole 22 Rear end hole 23 Hole 24 Slide hole 3 Knock body 31 Locking protrusion 32 Locking convex part 33 Friction part 4 Locking body 41 Locking piece 42 Control part 5 Clip 51 Clip Main body 52 Clamping protrusion 53 Locking hole 54 Base 6 Release part 7 Writing body 71 Pen tip 72 Ink containing tube 8 Blast

Claims (3)

A thermochromic ink is accommodated inside the cursive body, a pen tip capable of ejecting the thermochromic ink is provided at the front end of the cursive body, and the cursive body is accommodated in the shaft cylinder so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. A knock body protrudes rearward from the rear end hole of the shaft cylinder, a release portion is provided on a side surface of the shaft cylinder, and the pen tip is pushed from the front end hole of the shaft cylinder by pressing the knock body forward from the pen tip immersion state. In the projecting state, it is provided with a retracting mechanism that makes the pen tip immerse into the shaft cylinder from the front end hole of the shaft cylinder by operating the release portion from the pen tip protruding state, on the outer surface of the rear end portion of the knock body, the handwriting of the thermochromic ink forms a friction part made of a thermochromic resilient material frictional heat generated when the rubbing handwriting of the thermochromic ink, the pen tip protruding state, the said friction portion Projecting backward from the rear end hole of the shaft tube, and Thermochromic writing instrument, characterized in that the outer diameter of the friction portion in inside diameter and nib protruding state of the rear holes substantially the same diameter of the cylinder. The thermochromic writing instrument according to claim 1, wherein the release portion is provided only at one location of the shaft cylinder. The locking projection formed on the knock body is locked to the locking hole of the clip holding protrusion, the pen tip is projected from the front end hole of the shaft tube, the release portion is provided on the clip, and the clip is The thermochromic writing instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a retracting mechanism that causes the pen tip to be immersed in the shaft tube from the front end hole of the shaft tube by performing a radially outward expansion operation.

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