MXPA00002926A - Writing instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

Awriting instrument (10) having an elongated barrel (12) comprised of an outer portion and an inner portion (22), rotatable relative one to the other. The point or writing tip (30) is fixed to the barrel inner portion, disposed at an angle to, and may be offset from, the centerline of the barrel outer portion. The barrel inner portion is caused to rotate relative to the barrel outer portion by pressure on the writing instrument or weights attached to the barrel inner portion to bring the point into desired alignment during the writing process.

Description

WRITING INSTRUMENT DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with an instrument having a work point that is applied to a surface and more particularly with a manually manipulated instrument where the work point is displaced axially from the center line of the instrument. body of the instrument. Several instruments that have a point that is applied to a surface are available in the market. These instruments include, but are not limited to: writing systems such as fountain pens, ballpoint pens, as well as correction fluid applicators and the like. The writing instruments, as a general rule, comprise a tip or writing point extending from the barrel containing the ink supply, the instrument is held in the hand of the user during the writing process. In most of these writing instruments, in particular pens, it is known that the writing tips work more effectively if they are held in a perpendicular position in relation to the surface on which they are written. However, in most cases the writing instrument is not applied vertically during the writing process, but is inclined to the REF .: 32851 writing surface by the user at an angle that is generally in the vicinity of 60 ° to the writing surface. In the case of a ballpoint pen, commonly applied to the writing surface at an angle of approximately 60 °, the rim surrounding the ball can be brought into contact with the writing surface and interfere with the uniform operation of the ball. There is also the danger that application at a 60 ° angle may provide wear to the ball to the extent that the ball loosens. In view of the foregoing, it has been proposed that the tip or portion bearing the ball of the ballpoint pen be oriented in such a way as to extend at an angle with respect to the axis of the barrel of the writing instrument to compensate for the inclination of the barrel during the writing process. A pen that is typical of this type of instrument is shown and described in U.S. Patent No. 5,012,663, issued to Robert L. Brown and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. However, it has been found that by using a pen of the type described above, where the point is arranged at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the barrel, the orientation of the point is often difficult and can result in poor writing quality. be produced. If the point is not oriented in such a way that it falls at right angles to the writing surface, the user will have to reorient the writing instrument or the writing will proceed on the edge of the tip. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a writing instrument wherein the point extends at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the barrel, wherein appropriate orientation of the point to the writing surface is ensured. Another object of the invention is to provide a writing instrument of the type summarized above that provides the oriented orientation of the point to the writing surface before the start of the writing process. Still another object of the invention is to provide a writing instrument of the type summarized above that is simple in construction and easily manufactured. The objects mentioned above and other objects that will become apparent as the description proceeds are carried out by providing a manually manipulated instrument comprising an elongated tubular barrel element having a longitudinal axis. A work point for application to a surface is at one end of the barrel and the point is mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the barrel. In a more detailed sense, the instrument can be a writing instrument having an elongated tubular barrel element with a longitudinal axis and a writing point mounted on one end of the barrel.The point can be arranged at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the barrel and mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis.The writing instrument can be in the form of a ballpoint pen, in which case the point comprises a writing ball. The longitudinal axis is generally arranged on the centerline of the elongate tubular barrel and the instrument may additionally include an elongate element mounted for rotation in the elongate tubular barrel, in which case the point is fixed to the elongated element for rotation with the element . The tubular barrel and the elongate element are preferably cylindrical in shape and the. The elongated element may comprise an ink cartridge when the writing element is a pen. In one embodiment of the writing instrument, the elongated element comprises a weight portion disposed on the elongated element on the side opposite the longitudinal axis thereof. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown from which its new features and advantages will be evident, where: Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing a ballpoint pen constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic view showing the pen Figure 1 and 2 during the writing process; Figures 4 and 5 are schematic representations of the pen of Figure 3, as seen from the end of the point of the pen. With reference to the drawings and in particular to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a writing instrument in the form of a ballpoint pen 10 comprising an external element or barrel 12 which is cylindrical in shape, having a longitudinal axis BC. The barrel 12 is. open at the front end and has a lid 14 provided at the rearmost end for enclosing that end of the cylindrical body.

A cylindrical rolling element 16 having a conical bearing surface 18 is mounted on the inner surface of the lid 14 and extends along the longitudinal axis BC, on which the tip of the conical surface 18 is located. A cylindrical bearing 20 having an internal bearing surface 21 is fixed to the inner portion of the barrel 12 adjacent to the forward end of the barrel.

An elongated cylindrical element 22 is mounted for rotation within the barrel 12 providing a sliding fit within the bearing surface 21 and having a conical recess or recess 24 formed in the rear surface thereof for a mating coupling with the surface of bearing 18 adjacent to the rear part of the barrel 12. At the front end of the elongated cylindrical element 22 a writing tip 26 is mounted, the tip is fixed to the external surface of the cylindrical element, but in spaced relationship to the inner surface of the barrel 12, in such a way that the tip is free to rotate with the cylindrical element 22 inside the barrel.12. A writing element in the form of a cone-shaped point 28 is mounted on the front end of the writing tip 26, the cone-shaped writing element has a central line NC arranged at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis BC of the barrel 12. In the present embodiment, of a ball-point pen, a ball 30 which can be of any type well known in the art is provided at the front end of point 28, the ball is arranged on the center line NC and separated to a distance D of longitudinal axis BC. An ink supply for the ball 30 is provided by an ink cartridge 32 which can be a replaceable element received in the elongated cylindrical element or in the case of a disposable pen, it can be integral with the cylindrical element 22. Preferably, in the construction shown in figure 1, the distance D between the ball 30 and the longitudinal axis BC is between 0.025 cm (0.01 inches) and 0.25 cm (0.10 inches), while the angle between the center line NC of the point 28 it is generally in the area of 30 °, but it can be between 20 ° and 40 °. Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 5, the pen 10 of Figure 1 is illustrated in the positions assumed during the writing process. As shown in Figure 3, the pen 10 is positioned by the user in relation to a writing surface S at an angle X of the perpendicular, as the ball 30 comes into contact with the writing surface. At the moment of contact with the writing surface or just before it, the elongated cylindrical element 22 may be in a position where the point 28 is not in its neutral position (ie, the position where the center line NC of the point conical is at right angles to the surface S) but is shifted to an angle Y. When a perpendicular writing force F is applied to the barrel 12 of the ballpoint pen 10, a restoring torque T is applied at point 28 to make counterclockwise rotate the elongated cylindrical element 22 in the direction of the angle Y and the center line NC of the point 28 is directed at the appropriate angle to the writing surface S. As a formula, the restoration torque T equals D, which is the distance of the ball 30 from the longitudinal axis BC of the barrel, multiplied by the perpendicular force F multiplied by the sine of the angle X multiplied by the sine of the angle Y; or T = D.F.SEN X.SEN Y As shown in figures 4 and 5, if the point 28 comes into contact with the surface S as shown in Fig. 5, the writing process will cause the force F to be applied to the barrel 12 and the elongated cylindrical element will rotate to move the point 28 and the ball 30 to the " neutral position ", as shown in. Figure 4. In Figure 2, an alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in which all the elements as described above are indicated by reference numbers similar to those of the modality shown in Figure 1. However, in the embodiment of Figure 2, a plurality of weights 34, 35 and 36 are fixed to the external surface of the cylindrical element 22. The weights 34, 35 and 36 are disposed on the surface of the cylindrical element 22 and positioned 180 ° "from the ball 30 around the longitudinal axis BC In the structure of figure 2 the weights 34, 35 and 36 retain the ball 30 above the longitudinal axis BC when the longitudinal axis is arranged horizontally or at an acute angle in relation to the writing surface. It should be understood that with the construction shown in Figure 2 the provision of properly locating the ball 30 on the surface S is substantially provided by using the weights 34, 35 and 36. Therefore, the In the construction shown in Figure 2 the force F will serve to cause the rotation of the point 28 and the ball 30 to the proper alignment to provide the optimum in writing quality. It will be noted that with the provision of weights 34, 35 and 36 as rotational means, it is not necessary to produce the restoring torque provided by distance D in the structure of Figure 1, as explained above.

Accordingly, the ball 30 may be located on the longitudinal centerline BC or elsewhere, as desired. While the "restoration torque" described above is a major factor in the proper orientation of the point 28 in relation to the writing surface in the structure of FIG. 1, it should be understood that a variety of moment forces of torsion may be present on a particular writing element. These torques may include, but are not limited to, moments of twisting torsion (impact due to change of direction during writing), moment of torsion of damping (impact by friction of support) and as in the structure of figure 2, moment of torsion imparted by weights. It should further be understood that while the instrument described above is a pen of the ballpoint type, the present invention is equally applicable to other instruments having a work point applied to a surface, such as rolling metal pens, ink pens gel, fountain pens or applicators for correction fluids or the like. It is noted that, in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it refers.

Claims (17)

1. CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. A writing instrument, characterized in that it comprises: an elongated barrel element having a longitudinal axis and a writing point mounted on one end of the barrel; the point is arranged at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the barrel and mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the barrel. A writing instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that the writing instrument is a ballpoint pen and such a point comprises a writing tip. 3. A writing instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal axis is arranged on the center line of the elongated barrel. A writing instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that the elongated barrel is tubular and further includes: an elongate element mounted for rotation in the elongate tubular barrel; the point is fixed to the elongated element for its rotation with the elongate element. 5. A writing instrument according to claim 4, characterized in that the tubular barrel and the elongated element are cylindrical in shape. 6. A writing instrument according to claim 4, characterized in that the elongate element comprises an ink cartridge. 7. A writing instrument according to claim 4, characterized in that it also includes means for rotating the elongated element inside the tubular barrel. A writing instrument according to claim 7, characterized in that the means for rotating the elongated element inside the tubular barrel comprise a heavy portion of the elongate element disposed on the side opposite the longitudinal axis of that of the writing point. 9. A writing instrument according to claim 2, characterized in that the writing tip is displaced from the longitudinal axis. A writing instrument according to claim 2, characterized in that the longitudinal axis is arranged in the center line of the elongate barrel element. 11. A writing instrument according to claim 10, characterized in that the elongated barrel is tubular and further includes: an elongate element mounted for rotation in the elongated tubular barrel and the writing tip is attached to the elongated element for rotation with the element elongate. 12. A writing instrument according to claim 11, characterized in that the tubular barrel and such elongated element are cylindrical in shape. 13. A writing instrument according to claim 12, characterized in that the elongate element comprises an ink cartridge. A writing instrument according to claim 13, characterized in that the elongate element comprises a heavy portion thereof disposed on the elongated element on the side opposite the longitudinal axis to that of the writing tip. 15. A writing instrument according to claim 14, characterized in that the writing ball is displaced from the longitudinal axis. 16. A manually manipulated instrument, characterized in that it comprises: an elongated barrel element having a longitudinal axis and a work point for application to a surface disposed at one end of the barrel, the point is mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis from the barrel. 17. The instrument according to claim 16, characterized in that the working point is a writing tip.