MXPA98004758A - Marc instruments - Google Patents

Abstract

A marking instrument comprises a marking tip (2) which is located at the end of the tubular member (1) which surrounds a channel for driving the marking fluid to the tip (2), where the tip has a rear terminal section (3) attached to the tubular member so that the tip is fixed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member, and in a connection plane where the tip and the tubular member meet, the tubular member and the tubular section have complementary profiles of substantially the same way. Preferably the complementary profiles are in a circular shape to the connection plane, which avoids the need to rotationally orient the components when it is brought together to join

Description

raaTO8MTOS DI MERCADO This invention relates to the field of marking instruments, especially, but not necessarily exclusively, to writing instruments, in which a marking fluid is released to a marking tip from a reservoir.

Many writing instruments have marking tips projecting axially out of the cylinder of the instrument in which the reserve chamber is housed and by means of which writing instrument is held in the hand in use. In addition, many marking tips, such as spherical point pens, have tips that work more effectively if the tip is held substantially perpendicular to the surface that is written, but most writers keep the writing instruments slanted at an angle to the writing surface. paper, typically at approximately 30 ° apart from the perpendicular. It has been proposed to incline the tip of the marker to the main axis of the writing instrument to obtain a better orientation of the tip towards the paper, but a satisfactory tip construction suitable for production on scale production has eluded as soon as those who have tried produce such writing tips.

REP: 27726 The present invention provides a simple and inexpensive solution to the above problem and in accordance with the invention a marking instrument is provided which contains a marking tip carried on the end of a tubular member surrounding a channel for driving the marking fluid towards the tip, wherein the tip has a tubular rear end section attached to the tubular member, so that the tip is fixed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member, and in a connection plane where the tip and the tubular member meet, the tubular member and the tubular section have complementary profiles of substantially the same shape.

Preferably, the complementary profiles are circular in the connection plane, which avoids the need to rotationally orient the components when they are brought together to join. The tubular member could be of constant cross-sectional tube. In a preferred construction, a tube of elliptical cross section is used. The tubular section of the tip is preferably circular in cross section, which simplifies the construction of the tip, particularly in the case of a spherical tip in which a spherical ball is retained. The tubular member can be made from a hollow component formed initially, such as for sausage, with a spherical end portion. The removal of a section from the end of the part Spherical along a plane inclined to the longitudinal axis leaves an edge of the circular profile for the union of the tip. The hollow component could have substantially a cylindrical shape, or it can vary in cross section along its length if desired.

According to the point at which the tip fits a surface is compensated from the longitudinal axis of the tubular member, in use, the forces can be experienced tending to rotate the tubular member. Conveniently the rotation of the tubular member is resisted by adjusting a non-circular portion of this member, e.g. ex. one end of the elliptical tube or a flange with a non-circular periphery, in a nozzle of the complementary cross-section formed in a body of the instrument. In the case of a spherical tip pen, for example, the body could be the forward end of the pen cylinder, or it could be the body of a filler that fits replaceably in the pen cylinder.

The tip and the tubular member can be fixedly joined by any suitable technique, but laser welding has been found to be particularly effective and efficient.

A complete understanding of the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments will be obtained, refers to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross section through a tubular component used in a marking tip according to the invention; Figure 2 is an axial section through the tubular component taken on the line x-x in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows the tubular profile on the front end face; Figure 4 shows the tubular component and a spherical tip that is assembled together; Figure 5 is a view of the forward end of the tip; Figure 6 is an axial cross-sectional view through the tip and tube attached and illustrating the assembly with the body part; Figure 7 is a side elevation of the tip and tube attached and welded together Figure 8 is an axial section through a hollow sausage component used in the manufacture of a marking tip according to the invention; Figure 9 is an elevation of the rear end of the component shown in Figure 8; Figures 10 and 11 are views corresponding to Figures 8 and 9, respectively, showing the hollow component after removal of a section of the closed end thereof; Figures 12 and 13 are an axial section and a rear elevation, respectively, of a complete marking tip assembled with a spherical tip attached to the hollow component; Figure 14 is an elevation view of a hollow alternative sausage component; Figure 15 is a plane of the component of Figure 14; Figure 16 is a front elevation of the hollow component; Figure 17 is a cross section taken along line C-C of Figure 14; Figure 18 is a side elevation of the component of Figure 14 after removal of a section of the closed end thereof; Figure 19 is a longitudinal section through the component of Figure 18 with a spherical tip attached thereto; Figure 20 is a front elevation of the tip assembly of Figure 19; Figure 21 is a front end elevation of another sausage component; Figure 22 is an axial section through the sausage component of Figure 21; Figure 23 shows in frontal elevation the component of Figures 21 and 22 after the removal of the final section ready for the union of the spherical tip; Figure 24 is an axial section through the component after the union of the spherical tip; Y Figure 25 shows the finished marking tip assembled with a pen body.

It is illustrated in Figs. 1-3 a tubular member of a marking instrument, this member being a tube 1, the cross section which is an ellipse of 30 °. The front end of this tube is cut so that the final face falls in a plane of 60 ° to the axis of the tube and the profile of the final face is circular. The marking tip 2 is a spherical writing tip as shown in the exemplary embodiment in at least one tubular rear section 3 which is cylindrical and has a final face with a circular profile complementary to the end of the tube 1. The complementary circular profiles means that the tube and tip can be easily joined together with their respective end faces in the ready-to-weld support, as rotational alignment is not required. The tip and the tube are joined together surely in the assembly condition by laser welding, their final support faces defining a connecting plane that slopes so that the tip 2 extends 30 ° to the axis of the tube. It is compensated according to the point at which the ball 5 of the tip will contact the paper in use of the pen, there is a tendency for the forces exerted on the tip to rotate the tube. To prevent such rotation from occurring, the tube is inserted into a nozzle 10 of complementary elliptical cross-section formed in the body 12. The body can cover the tube over most of its length below the joint welded to the tip, or It could even extend beyond this meeting if required.

It is not essential to use a 30 ° ellipse for the cross section of the tube and other sections may be used if different tip angles are required. For a writing instrumentHowever, a tip angle in the range of 25 ° to 35 ° is probably appropriate for most users. Also, there are other ways to carry the profiles of the end face of the tube and the tip to match in the connection plane, p. ex. to make the section of the rear end of the elliptical tip and to come out at an angle, but this is likely to complicate the elaboration of the tip component, especially a spherical balloon is incorporated. In addition the rear section of the tip and the tube could be cylindrical and have their end faces cut at the same angle so that complementary elliptical end faces are obtained, but this would require that the rotationally aligned components be accurately welded beforehand.

Although the tubular member to which the tip is attached is referred to as a tube, it may include additional features, such as an external flange that could be raised with the body of the pen to help resist rotation of the marking tip.

Figures 8 to 13 show an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the spherical tip 2 is laser-welded to a tubular member in the form of a hollow component 21 initially formed by sausage. As illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, the component 21 is embossed by including a cylindrical portion 22 of the cross section closed at the front end by a spherical, in particular substantially hemispherical, part of the end wall 23. An outer flange 24 is provided at the end open rear of the component 21, and the flange has a non-circular periphery, due to the portion of the flat edge 25, for the orientation of the component at the front end of the boom body and for raising the component against rotation relative to the body of the pen. The stuffing component 21 has an end section of spherical part of the wall removed, such as by support along a plane at 60 ° to the component axis, as shown in Figure 10 and 11, so that it is formed an opening 26 surrounded by a circular edge of the diameter substantially equal to that of the tubular rear section 3 of the tip 2. The rear section of the tip is attached to this circular edge so that the tip 2 is fixed to the component 21 with its axis at 30 ° to the component axis as shown in Figs. 13 and 14. It is essential that the front end of the sausage component be closed and could break during the sausage process, provided that the end wall which is formed is sufficient to allow it to rest to form an annular edge to equalize to the rear end of the tubular section 3 of the tip 2.

By using sausage to form an initial hollow component in the production of the tubular member, various shapes for such a member are possible. Figures 14 to 20 illustrate for example a mode in which the component tapers and forms to replicate the appearance of a conventional fountain pen. The component is formed in the drawing process to have a flat upper surface portion extending along the part 22 of the component between the flanged rear end and the part of the spherical wall 23 at the front end. This part includes a short cylindrical section 27 adjacent the flange 24 followed by a narrow section 28 in which the cross section is essentially circular, and furthermore a narrow section 29 in which the cross section has the shape of a triangle with round vertices. Thus, the constriction of the hollow member is asymmetric so that the front end portion of the component has a longitudinal axis equivalent to the rear end, and the flat surface has a smooth transition with the spherical part of the end wall. A section of the final wall is supported on a plane at 60 ° to the longitudinal axis and a spherical tip 2 is laser-welded to the circular edge provided by the grinding process, as described in relation to the embodiment of Figures 8 to 13 , to provide a writing tip similar to a conventional fountain pen but having a ball point point.

Figures 21 to 25 show another embodiment in which a hollow component 30 is formed by embossing. To facilitate the stuffing process the component has a cross section that is gradually reduced along the axis of the drive shaft. For purposes that will be explained later, the rear end of the component is formed with an outer peripheral flange 31 that falls in an inclined plane at an angle of 5 to 10 :, p. ex. approximately 8o to a plane perpendicular to the drive shaft. The flange includes a flat part 32 for the purpose of rotational orientation. The component 30 is formed at the guide end with a spherical part of the end wall and as in the embodiments a section of this end wall is removed by grinding to define a circular edge 33, in this case in a plane at an angle of approximately 50 ° to the longitudinal axis, for the joining of the spherical tip 2 by laser welding. The tip of the completed marker is assembled in a pen body 35 as illustrated in Figure 25, with the flange 31 concentric with the axis of the body and in a plane perpendicular to this axis. As a consequence, the axis of the stuffing tip component 30 is inclined to the longitudinal axis of the boom body and the end point of the tip, e.g. ex. the surface of the ball contacting the paper during writing, locates a space positioned above the axis of the pen body, which has been found to be desirable in a writing instrument with an inclined tip. The flat section 32 of the flange 31 lifts with the boom body to prevent rotation of the marking tip relative to the boom body. There are, of course, other ways to ensure the inclined orientation of the marking tip with respect to the axis of the marking instrument.

With a writing instrument modeling the invention it can be ensured that the tip will be substantially perpendicular to the paper when it is used. This means that the edge of the tip that surrounds the ball stays more easily clear of the paper, and allows a small ball to be able to draw fine lines to be used.

While it is apparent that the modifications and changes may be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention, it is our intention, however, only to be limited by the appended claims.

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 relates.

Having described the invention as above, the content of the following is claimed as property.

Claims (15)

1. A marking instrument comprising a marking tip which is located at the end of the tubular member that surrounds a channel for driving the marking fluid to the tip, characterized in that the tip has a rear end section attached to the tubular member so that the tip it is fixed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member, and in a connection plane where the tip and the tubular member meet, the tubular member and the tubular section have complementary profiles of substantially the same shape.

2. A marking instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that the profiles are in a circular shape to the connection plane.

3. A marking instrument according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tubular member is a tube of elliptical cross section, and the tubular section of the tip is circular in cross section.

4. A marking instrument according to claim 3, characterized in that a portion of the elliptical tube is fitted in a nozzle of the complementary cross section formed in a body of the instrument.

5. A marking instrument according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tubular member contains a hollow component formed by embossing.

6. A marking instrument according to claim 1, 2 or 5, characterized in that the tubular member contains a hollow component formed with a spherical part of the end wall, and a section of the end wall is removed to define the connection plane.

. A marking instrument according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the hollow component has an external flange at the rear end thereof, and the flange has a non-circular periphery.

8. A marking instrument according to claim 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that the hollow component is substantially cylindrical between the ends thereof.

9. A marking instrument according to claim 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that the component tapers from the rear end towards the front end thereof.

10. A marking instrument according to claim 9, characterized in that the hollow member narrows asymmetrically, the longitudinal axis at the front end which is aligned on the horizontal axis at the rear end.

11. A marking instrument according to claim 10, characterized in that the hollow member is formed to replicate the appearance of the writing point of a conventional fountain pen.

12. A marking instrument according to claim 5, 6, 7 or 9, characterized in that the tubular component is well connected to a body of the marking instrument that the axis of the tubular component is inclined to the longitudinal axis of the body, and this end point of the tip is spaced from the body axis.

13. A marking instrument according to claim 12, characterized in that the tubular component is formed with a rear end in a plane inclined to the axis of the tubular component.

14. A marking instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the The tip is fixed to the tubular member by welding.

15. A marking instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the tip is a spherical tip.