US2444003A - Writing implement - Google Patents

Description

i June 22,l 1948.

v i. cHE'sLER WRITING IMPLEMENT Filed Jan. 19, 1945- lNvEN-ron Lsaia'o;o hesef ATTORNEYS k Q .IIIIII-lllllnlulnllllllll K. [ff/[fil hema .im zz, 194s WRITING IMPLEMENT Isidor'Chesler, Oceanport, N. J.. assignor to Eagle Pencil Company, a corporation of Delaware Application January 19, 1945, serial No. 573,536

s claims. (ci. 12o-42.4)

The present invention relates generically to dispensers for applying minute quantities of liquid or paste, and in the specific and important application shown in the drawings is concerned with writing implements, more particularly with what may be correctly designated ink pencils or ball point writing pens.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a liquid or paste dispenser such as a Writing implement, of simple relatively inexpensive construction, which is substantially proof against flow stoppage on the one hand, or excessive flow, flooding or waste, on the other, regardless of the temperature, humiditycr atmospheric pressure conditions under which the implement is being used, which in the writing implement embodiment requires substantially no service or replacement, but inherently includes a suiiicient supply orf ink to last for years, even to ontlast the implement itself and which makes a line that is substantially smudge-proof and requires no blotting.

A feature of the invention is a writing implement or other applicator of the type referred to, with a ball point seated and confined in a rigid walled ball socket at the forward end of a writing tip mounted upon a rigid barrel that encompasses a reservoir which comprises a flexible wall. That flexible wall is preferably the wall of a flexible sac which is displaced by the liquid content of the reservoir fromv the position it would assume within the barrel in the absence of such liquid. The body of ink or other incompressible liquid substantially completely lis the reservoir without voids, that is it fills the entire cavity from oneface of the sac wall clear to the ball point. sustained atmospheric pressure applied by venting the barrel is exerted against the other face ,of the sac wall, to cause said wall to become displaced in direction to diminish the volumetric capacity of the reservoir as ink or other liquid is dispensed at the ball point, thereby to maintain the reservoir wall at all times in intimate engagement with the entire surface of the ink or other liquid body remaining in the device, and preventultimately the sac wall has been restored to substantially the normal or relaxed condition assumed in the absence of liquid; The wall of the sacrmay be such as to be collapsed in the normal or in relaxed condition with little or no volumetric content of the sac when empty and to be distended by the body of ink filling the same, or it may be open when relaxed and be displaced to collapsed 'position by thel ink filling the reservoir which in 2 that case extends about rather than within the sac.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a. view in longitudinal cross-section of one embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view oi an element of Fig. 1 prior to being ink filled,

Fig. 2a is a cross-section on line 2a-2a of Fig. 2,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, of an alternative embodiment, v

Fig. 4 is a view in longitudinal cross-section on a. greatly enlarged scale, showing the writing tip unit of the pen, l l

Fig. 5 is a view in transverse cross-section on a still larger scale, taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4, and

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are views in longitudinal crosssection, more or less diagrammatic, showing progressive steps in the method of ink filling the sac in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a barrel I0 vented at Il and having threaded into its mouth the plug end I2 of a conical tip I3 that has securely aillxed about its reduced rear end I4, the lip of an elongated sac I 5, preferably of rubber or synthetic rubber,

E ing the formation of voids in the reservoir, until though desirably of any exible, water-tight inkresistant sheet material, even one devoid of elasticity. The particular sac preferred will be more fully described below.

The tip I3 is preferably of two pieces, a base II and a writing tip unit I1, the latter being threaded as at I8 into the tapped socket I! in the tip base I6, and being conformed as a case 20 at its outer end confining the writing point. That writing point is preferably a hardened metal ball 2I of suitable diameter which may, if desired, be of stainless steel, in most uses about .03 to .05 inch in diameter. The ball is confined in its cage 20 by a seat formed by the inturned lip 22 of the tip which extends somewhat beyond the diameter of the ball. The ball cage affords an annular cavity 23 for accommodating the ink, constantly in contact with the ball and the ink reaches said cavity through axial bore 35 in the tip I1. That bore is preferably of diameter but little smaller-.than that of the ball and determines a narrow shoulder 2|' upon which is seated a metal disk 25 which has ink ports therethrough. These ports may be 'in the form of notches, or scallops 26 extending inward from the periphery beyond the periphery of bore I5, but

spaced substantially from the center of the disk.

The eifective area of the notches for ink now i the sac.

is preferably as large as feasible, say about onehalf the cross sectional area of the bore, for a purpose which will be more apparent in the description of the operation. hereinafter.

The sac I5 employed in the present embodiment is collapsed in the position it would assume within the barrel in the absence of ink or other liquid, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 2a and is biased to return to such collapsed limp or relaxed condition once any impulse tending to expand it is discontinued. Desirably this sac is produced by anodic deposition of rubber upon a flat or blade mandrel (not shown), so thatthe sac in its unstressed collapsed condition, as best shown in Fig. 2a, has its Walls inintimate contact with each other and is substantiallydevoid of volumetric content with substantially no `air therein. f

Sac I5 is to be opened or distended to a circular cross section by the introduction of ink to ll the same. The ink must be introduced substantially without entrapped air, as the presence of air or other gas or vapor within the reservoir or inthe ink would seriously impair the reliability of writing. To this end the method and equipment diagrammatically shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 may desirably be used. The collapsed sac assembled upon the tip base I6, but devoid of the writing tip unit |1 as shown in Fig. 2, is introduced into a cylindrical container 21 perforated at 28 and depending from a collar 29 supported in the mouth ofthe vacuum chamber 30 which is connected by tube 3| to a suitable vacuum pump (not shown).

As shown in Fig. 7, there is introduced into the tip base I6, the outlet tube 32 of an ink-containing cylinder 33. That tube may be introduced into the collapsed tube I5 as the latter begins to expand under the vacuum applied thereabout. As vacuum is applied to the chamber 30, and through perforations 28, the collapsed sac I5 Will obviously become distended to accommodate the tube 32 and to allow the ink from the cylinder 33 (preferably assisted by plunger 33'), to enter The distention is limited by the wall of the cylinder 21, which Wall is preferably of diameter slightly smaller than thatof the barrel I and limits the sac to full distention but precludes excessive tension on the material thereof.

After the sac has thus been filled with ink, substantially devoid of air bubbles, the ink supply tube 32 is removed and the tip point unit I1 is applied, while the application of suction is continued, as best shown in Fig. 8, whereupon suction is discontinued, the sac is removed from the vacuum chamber and the vented barrel I0 is threaded upon the threaded end of the tip base I to complete the assembly.

While the use of the implement may be apparent from the foregoing, it will be briefly set forth. Normally the outer surface of the sac wall I5, that is, the surface free from ink is under atmospheric pressure imparted through vent in the barrel I0. Such pressure is applied through the ink filled cavity including the solid column of ink filling the sac and the passage 34 in the tip base and bore 35 in tip unit I1 clear to theball point 2|. Under such sustained pressure, the valve cage 20 is constantly maintained filled with ink which flows through the bore 35 past the disk ball stop 25, but no ink will escape since the ball 2| is urged tightly against its seat 22 and the writing will occur only by the Pick-up of ink in the rolling of the ball within the annular ink cavity 23 in the filled cage. That implevoids in the reservoir.

ment can thus be carried in the pocket, point up I or point down.

The line written by the implement is suiilciently thin to dry almost instantly without the need lfor a. blotter and to be substantially smudgeproof. Any grade of ink, fluid or paste may be used in accordance with requirements. Since the ink in the sac is shielded from the atmosphere, even inexpensive oxidizing printers inks that form a film when exposed to the air, may be used without danger of inoperativeness of the implement due to hardening or encrusting of the ink within the barrel or sac.

As the supply of ink isl gradually reduced, the sac progressively collapses under the air pressure -so as to preclude any voids, whether of air, gas

,or empty space between the sac wall and the remaining ink and to avoid any vacuum the presence of which might-tend to draw the ink backward` away from the point and inhibit writing. Thus the sac wall will follow the ink in the reservoir, constantly remaining in intimate contact with the surface of the remaining body of ink, as ink is being withdrawn by rolling the ball point along a surface and preventing the formation of In rarefied atmosphere, as for instance in flying, the implement will n flood as is the case with ordinary pens. 'Y

Were the ball 2| to be snugly seated between the inturned lip 22 and the edge of the bore 35, then manifestly there would be no communication for the iiow of ink to the annular ink cavity 23. If such seat were notched or otherwise interrupted to permit flow of ink to the annular cavity from the restricted` bore, the seat would become depressed and worn under the writing pressure of the ball vwith the result that the lnk might flow too freely. By the arrangement shown and described, the ball 2| is snugly held between the centrally solid disk 25 and the lip 22 so that Wear at the backstop formed by said disk 25 is reduced to a minimum and looseness is avoided. Moreover, the large diameter -axial bore 35 is more easy to produce than the rather small bore required, were the ball to seat directly upon the bore edge, and furthermore such large bore permits the transmission of more pressure to the ball and enhances the seating ef- -fectiveness of the latter against the seat v22.

the barrel and the venting occurs to the interior of the sac.

In the particular embodiment shown, the tip is identical with that of Fig. 1 but the barrel 31 has a plug 38 at the rear end thereof, upon the inner reduced end 39 of which is securely mounted the rim of the normally distended sac 36. The barrel is vented, preferably through an axial bore 40 in the plug 38, which communicates with theinterior of the sac.

The lling in the embodiment of Fig. 3 will be obvious from `that of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 and need not be illustrated.. Preferably an equipment similar to that of Figs. 6, 7 and 8 is used, the suction being, however, applied directly through the vent 40 in the implement,

vwhich is4 completely assembled except forl the point unit Il of its tip. Under suction the normally distended sac is collapsed, as best shown at in Fig. 3, while the ink is admitted as in the embodiment of Figs. 6, 7 and 8 to ll all of the cavity between the sac (in this case the external surface thereof), and the mouth of the tip base I6. After filling, the writing unit I1 of the tip is applied and the assembly is thuscompleted. l

In operation of the embodiment of Fig. 3. it will be apparent that atmospheric pressure applied through vent lll to the interior of the sac I6 tends in use, to expand the sac progressively with consumption of the ink to maintain the sac in contact with the ink without any voids in the ink cavity and therefore without suction that would tend to draw the ink away from the writing point.

While the invention is by no means limited to any particular use, it nds a particularly advantageous field of application as a pocket ink pencil, which will unfailingly make an ink line that is smudge-proof and requires no blotter. It can be used in lieu of the familiar indelible or copyingl pencil since it makes an ink line and its point applies sufficient pressure t0 make excellent carbon copies. It is also very useful for check signatures.

The teachings of the present invention may be advantageously applied by way of example as a leak proof dispenser, combined with an applicator for cosmetics, such as lip rouge, mascara and perfume. Such cosmetics, preferably in viscous or pasty form, would be used within the cartridge in place of the ink in the implement above described, and the ball point would of course' be ofmuch larger diameter for ease of application without irritation to the delicate skin of the lips.

The diillculty of making a lip stick soft enough for ready application, and yet solid enough not to melt in warm weather, the need for pointing thestick and for -providing a propel and repel case would all be obviated by the present invention.

'I'he teachings of the present invention when a suitably large point is used, are also applicable to paste and mucilage dispensers, The invention has the further advantage in such application, that. the body of paste or mucilage is not exposed to the air, and so does not harden or form an obstructing iilm on the contents of the dispenser as is inherently the case with conventional squeegee and other rubber mouth mucilage tubes that operate on the principle of admitting air into the system to help feed out the paste.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A writing implement comprising a writing tip having a ball cage at the forward end thereof,

6 the atmospheric pressure exerted through said ver: as the ink is rolled out by the ball writing D0 t.

2. In a writing implement. a rigid casing having a constantly open vent, a ball writing point, a rigid-walled ball socket at the forward end of said casing snugly accommodating said ball point for free rolling movement andfsupported wholly by the rigid walls thereof, means defining an ink reservoir in said casing and leading to said ball writing point, said reservoir including a flexible wall member exposed on one face to the ink and on the other face to the' atmosphere through said vent, said flexible wall member being adapted by its flexible nature to follow and remain in contact with the ink under the atmospheric pressure exerted through said vent as the ink is rolledout from said reservoir by the ball writing point and toprevent contact of the ink with `the atmosphere in the reservoir.

3. A device of the character described comprising a barrel having a tip and a ball point roltatably seated at the outer end of the latter, a reservoir communicating with said ball point and including a exible sac wall and extending longitudinally within said barrel, a body of liquid substantially completely filling said reservoir without voids therein clear to said ball point and maintaining the sac wall displaced from the position it would assume Within the barrel in the absence of such liquid, one face of which sac wall is in contact with the liquid and the other free of such contact, said sac wall in fully distended but otherwise unstretched condition substantially filling the bore of the barrel, said barrel having a vent from the outer air to that face of the sac wall free from contact with the liquid, whereby, as liquid is withdrawn by rolling the point along a surface, the atmospheric pressure is maintained through the vent of the barrel at the surface of the sac wall free of` liquid, so that a bore substantially longitudinally through said 4 tip, a ball within said cage, said cage having a ball support through which said bore extends to afford ready communication for ink into the cage, the forward rim of said cage being inturned to afford a seat for said ball, a barrel aixed to said tip, said implement having a vent to the interior of said barrel, an elongated flexible sac within said barrel and aiixed at its rim to the rear end of said tip and communicating with said longitudinal bore, said sac being distended with ink lling the same, said sac at its exterior being exposed to the atmosphere through said vent,

said sac being adapted by its exible nature to follow and remain in contact with the ink under the sac will be land remain in intimate engagement at all times with the remaining body of liquid in the reservoir.

4. The combination recited in claim 3, in

' which the sac is aillxed at its rim to the rear end of the barrel, the vent is at the rear end of the barrel and the cavity between the barrel and the convex surface of the sac constitutes the reservoir.

5. A writing implement comprising a rigid barrel having a writing tip, presenting a rigid-walled ball socket at the forward end and a ball'writing point snugly seated in the socket for free rolling movement and supported wholly by said rigid wall, said barrel having a vented end closure, a normally distended sac mounted at its rim upon the inner end of said closure and confined in said barrel, said sac being collapsed under the pressure of ink submerging said sac within said barrel.

, 6. `The combination recited in claim 5 in which the cap endof the barrel comprises a removable plug, the inner end of which mounts the rim of the sac, said plug being axially vented.

7. A writing implement comprising a barreltube, a conical tip afxed upon the forward end thereof, said tip having a base ,and a removable forward'tip unit, a ball cage at the forward end of the latter including an inturned lip on said unit confining and seating a writing ball within said cage, an axial bore in said tip end for feeding ink into said cage, a ball stop about said bore at the inner end of said cage, a vented plug seated in the outer end of said barrel tube, a normally distended flexible sac aixed at its rim upon the e 7 inner end of said plug and conned in said barrel, said sac being collapsed by the ink filling the barrel.

8.v A writing implement comprising a rigid barrel having a writing tip presenting a, rigid-walled ball socket at the forward end and a ball point snugly seated in the socket for free rolling movement, a flexible, substantially non-elastic sac afxed at its rim to the inner part of said tip and extending longitudinally of said barrel, the exterior face of said sac :being free from contact with the ink, said barrel having a, vent from the -outer air to said latter face of the sac, said sac being adapted by its exible nature to follow and remain in contact with the ink.

' ISIDOR CHESLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Number Name Date Walker Apr. 24, 1880 Number Number 8 Name Date Cronkhite Mar.v 24, 1891 Werner Mar. 8, 1898 Dickie Dec. 9, 1902 Gallagher May 9, 1905 Kegrize Dec. 12, 1905 Sullivan Aug. 25, 1908 Johnson June 24, 1913 Crocker May 2, 1916 Loomis Mar. 27, 1928 Harris Oct. 19, 1937 Platt Feb. 8, 1938 f Sturn June 18, 1940 f Sussman May 23, 1944 i White May 23, 1944 Barlow May 15, 1945 Bro Mar. 26, 1946 Biro Jan. '7, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Switzerland 1942 Great Britain Sept. 15, 1944

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