US2941510A - Writing implements - Google Patents

Writing implements Download PDF

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Publication number
US2941510A
US2941510A US555451A US55545155A US2941510A US 2941510 A US2941510 A US 2941510A US 555451 A US555451 A US 555451A US 55545155 A US55545155 A US 55545155A US 2941510 A US2941510 A US 2941510A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
latch
plunger
writing
wobbler
cartridge
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US555451A
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English (en)
Inventor
James L Marcotte
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
PAPER MATE OF PUERTO RICO Inc
Original Assignee
PAPER MATE OF PUERTO RICO Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to BE553731D priority Critical patent/BE553731A/xx
Application filed by PAPER MATE OF PUERTO RICO Inc filed Critical PAPER MATE OF PUERTO RICO Inc
Priority to US555451A priority patent/US2941510A/en
Priority to DEP17623A priority patent/DE1213298B/de
Priority to GB38668/56A priority patent/GB837676A/en
Priority to CH4098356A priority patent/CH365004A/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2941510A publication Critical patent/US2941510A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
    • B43K—IMPLEMENTS FOR WRITING OR DRAWING
    • B43K24/00—Mechanisms for selecting, projecting, retracting or locking writing units
    • B43K24/02—Mechanisms for selecting, projecting, retracting or locking writing units for locking a single writing unit in only fully projected or retracted positions
    • B43K24/08—Mechanisms for selecting, projecting, retracting or locking writing units for locking a single writing unit in only fully projected or retracted positions operated by push-buttons

Definitions

  • This invention relates to writing instruments of the type in which the tip is retractable, and is particularly concerned with an improved ball point pen of this type.
  • a principal difliculty has resided in the large number of separate parts that have generally been required in the construction of a smoothly functioning retractable tip. Because of their number and small size, these parts frequently get out of alignment, and the retracting mechanism may cease to function. Moreover, the parts often require tiny pivot mountings, or are difiicultly moldable, so that production costs have risend on a mechanism only remotely concerned with writing efliciency.
  • a further problem created primarily by the complexity of design of most prior tip-retracting mechanisms has been the large amount of space occupied by the retracting mechanism itself.
  • a particular resulting difficulty has been an inability to use in the pens, interchangeably, cartridges of normal or standard length (as used in non-retractable pens) without unduly enlarging or lengthening the pen. Accordingly, shorter cartridges have been required, necessitating manufacture, sale and distribution to the public of two styles of refill or replacement cartridges, often to the annoyance and confusion of all concerned.
  • the plunger is provided with two inclined cam faces, each capable of coaction with an uppermost or distal portion of the cam follower, here also called a thrust member, Wobbler or latch.
  • the cam follower in turn is provided with a pair of inclined or curved cam surfaces oriented for coaction with corresponding inclined stop shoulders formed in the body.
  • a lower cartridge-engaging or base portion of the cam follower is shaped, preferably as a concave surface, in such a way that depression of the plunger into contact with the follower or latch causes the uppermost portion ret na Patented June 21, 15960 of the cam follower to tilt, rock or wobble about the base portion.
  • Another object is to provide such a retracting mechanism for ball point pens which incorporates camming means associated with an operating plunger, cam follower, and body in such a way that vertical movements of the writing cartridge are facilitated without appreciable lateral movement thereof.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide in a ball point pen a projecting-retracting mechanism of simple and rugged construction which is economical to manufacture and unlikely to get out of order.
  • Another object is to provide an instrument of the type described that is composed of a minimum number of parts, which parts are of simple and sturdy design and are easy to assemble and disassemble.
  • Another object is to provide a mechanism which is easy to operate, positive and dependable in operation, inherently incapable of jamming or binding, and capable of withstanding a large number of operations without failure.
  • Fig. 1 is a longitudinal view in section and in elevation of one exemplary form of retractable writing instrument, with the tip in projected position;
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in section and in elevation of the upper body of the device of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in section and elevation along the line HI--III of Fig. 2;
  • Fig. 4 is a view in longitudinal section along the line IVIV of Fig. 2;
  • Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the position of the parts an instant after the plunger has been depressed to initiate a retracting operation;
  • Fig. 6 is a view in longitudinal section along the line VIVI of Fig. 5;
  • Fig. 7 is an enlarged View in section and elevation, similar to Fig. 2, showing the position of the parts with the tip in retracted position;
  • Fig. 8 is a view in section line *VIH-VHI of Fig. 7;
  • Fig. 9 is a view in longitudinal section along the line lX-IX-of Fig. 7;
  • Fig. 10 is a view similar. to of the parts upon depressing tip into projected position.
  • FIG. 7 showing the position the plunger to move the Fig. 11 is a view in longitudinal section along the line the exemplary writing instrument illustratedleans to one side of the axis of the instrument when the cartridge is in projected position and tilts or leans to the opposite side of the axis when the cartridge is in retracted position, thereby permitting the cartridge to remain and move in a virtually vertical direction at all times.
  • This new mode of operation is accomplished by a novel and simple means and permits the use of long, high capacity cartridges.
  • the illustrated writing instrument includes a writing cartridge 11 which is shown as a cylindrical ball point pen unit having an upper tubular ink reservoir portion 12 and a lower writing tip 13 of reduced diameter.
  • the cartridge 11 is slidably positioned in a longitudinally extending bore or chamber of a lower case 14 and an upper or rear case element 15, the latter being permanently encased in a shell 16.
  • the case 14 is provided with an opening or bore 8 to slidingly receive the writing tip 13 of the cartridge 11.
  • the cartridge is normally biased toward a retracted position and into operating engagement with a cam follower or Wobbler 17 by a retracting spring 18. As shown, the spring bears against a retaining shoulder 19 provided in the lower portion of the case 14 and a shoulder or projection 141: on the cartridge.
  • the Wobbler or latch 17 is permanently retained within the upper or rear case element by the body 20 of the retracting mechanism, which in turn is held within the case by inturned flanges 22 forming the upper terminus of the case element 15.
  • the body 20 is press set into the element 15 for rigid positioning therein.
  • the latch 17 receives upward thrust of the cartridge or writing unit 11 and can move longitudinally and tilt or rock but is restrained from rotation.
  • the latch or wobbler is forwardly of a depressible plunger 24 arranged and formed to be moved into contact with the latch in alternative relative positions to cause longitudinal movement and rocking or tilting of the latch into engagement of oppositely disposed separate surfaces carried by the latch into oppositely disposed and longitudinally displaced stationary stop shoulders of the barrel or pen.
  • Such combined longitudinal movement and rocking of the latch and en gagement with stop shoulders in succession produced by successive depressions of the plunger, causes the writing unit to be succmsively held in retracted and in projected positions, as will appear from the further description.
  • an operating plunger 24 which includes an operating button 25 extending axially of the pen through a port in the shell and an axial shank portion 26 terminating at its lower end in an adjacent pair of downwardly directedcam faces, herein referred to as a retracting-cam face 27 and a projecting cam face 28. These cam faces are oppositely'inclined and each is displaced from the longitudinal axis of the plunger.
  • the shank portion 26 is adapted for sliding movement withinan axial passage 29 formed in the body.
  • the plunger is biased upwardly by a spring 30 resting on the body 20 and is retained within the shell 16 by a stop shoulder 31 carried by the plunger and bearing against the inner surface or the shell.
  • the various operations involved in projecting and retracting the writing tip 13 are brought about by sequential operation of the plunger 24.
  • the shank'portion 26 of the plunger be slidably and nonrotatably received in the axial passage 29 of the body 20.
  • the plunger and axial passage should have corresponding configuration in cross section adapted to permit free sliding movement but to prevent relative rotation of the parts. While a square configuration has been found to be particularly advantageous, providing both desirable strength and ease of'manufacture, other regular or irregular configurations such as polygonal or rectangular, also are suitable.
  • the body 20 is suitably formed with an enlarged chamber or enclosure '32, providing room for free oscillation or pivotal movement of the Wobbler or latch 17 about the upper end 12 of the ink cartridge 11.
  • the chamber 32 is conveniently provided by a pair of recesses 34, 36 formed in opposite sides of the axial passage 29 and terminating at their upper ends in a pair of oppositely inclined stop shoulders 38 and 40.
  • These stop shoulders are preferably planar in corfiiguration with each of the shoulders being inclined to the axis of the writing instrument at an angle between about 10 and 40.
  • the opposing stop shoulders are longitudinally displaced with respect to each other; as shown, the stop shoulder 38 is at a substantially greater distance from the writing tip aperture 8 of the writing instrument than is the stop shoulder 40.
  • the cam follower, latch or Wobbler 17 is at all times in engagement with the upper end 12 of the ink cartridge and receives upward thrust therefrom but free to pivot, rock or oscillate thereabout for operative coaction, in sequence, with the stop shoulders 38 and 455 of the body and the cam faces 27 and 28 of the plunger.
  • these rocking movements are facilitated by a rounded base or pivot surface 46 provided on an enlarged base portion 44 of the Wobbler.
  • the surface 46 is concaved to slidingly receive and retain the upper end 12 of the cartridge.
  • Extending vertically of the base portion 44 of the Wobbler is an axial stem or supporter bar 48 terminating in an upwardly directed distal end 50.
  • the end 5% preferably is rounded to facilitate tilting or rocking movements of the wobbler on contact with the cam faces 27 and 28 of the plunger.
  • Adjacent the end 50 is a pair of oppositely directed, separate cam surfaces 54 and 52 having portions adapted for operative engagement with the retracting and projecting shoulders of the body chamber 32.
  • the cam surfaces 54 and 52 are provided with portions corresponding in inclination (when the Wobbler stem 48 is in a vertical position) with the inclines 38 and 40 respectively.
  • air ducts or passages 43 formed in the base 44 provide for free access of air to the ink supply in the cartridge 11 upon which the latch is seated.
  • the operating means for sequentially moving the ink cartridge between projected and retracted positions cornprise the cam faces 27 and 28 of the operating plunger, which contact in alternation opposite sides of the rounded end 51 of the movable or floating latch upon depression of the plunger into contact therewith, and the cam surfaces 54, 52 on the latch and the stop shoulders 38, 40 of the body with which the latch surfaces are successively and alternatively engaged upon rocking motion of the latch.
  • the ink cartridge 12 may be moved by successive vertical movements of the plunger 24 between a projected position shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and a retracted position shown in Figs. 7 to 10.
  • the Wobbler or latch 17 When the Writing cartridge is in a projected position,-as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the Wobbler or latch 17 is tilted in one direction and held by engagement of surface 52 with the stop shoulder 46 of the body or barrel; in this position, the writing tip is in projected position.
  • the plunger shank portion 26 moves downward to cause the retracting cam face 27 to contact a laterally displaced portion of the rounded end 541 of the Wobbler or latch device 17 and thereby urge the latch to rock or pivot to the right in Fig. 2 and also move the latch and writing unit axially downward.
  • the oscillation or pivotal movement of the Wobbler or latch indicated in Fig.
  • Movement of the upper or distal end of the Wobbler during this sequence of operations is in the direction of lines 61 and 63 in Fig. 4.
  • the latch is oscillated or rocked in such a way that its upper end 50 moves in opposite directions in succession, these rocking movements causing successive contacts and engagements of the various separate surfaces carried by the latch or wobbler and the oppositely disposed longitudinally displaced stop shoulders.
  • the present invention makes possible projection and retraction of a writing unit by means of a device occupying a minimum of axial and radial space within the pen body. Since all lateral movements necessary to the operation of the device may be transmitted into oscillatory or tilting movement of a single unit of the retracting mechanism, little, if any lateral movement need be imparted to the writing cartridge itself. As a result, it is possible to provide writing instruments of unusual slimness; the retracting mechanisms of such instruments employing simply formed, inexpensive plastic parts, all of which may be readily cast or molded from thermoplastic or other resinous materials. In particular, the Wobbler or latch 17 may be readily molded in a rugged, durable shape. More over, the resulting mechanism is easy to operate, positive and dependable in operation and consequently capable of a large number of operations without failure.
  • a project-retract mechanism for a writing instrument having a barrel and a writing unit longitudinally movable therein between projected and retracted positions and spring means normally biasing the writing unit toward retracted position, said writing unit having an upper end and a writing tip at the other end, including: a depressible plunger carried by the rear end of the barrel; a floating latch member contained within said barrel forwardly of said plunger, said latch member being rockably seated on the upper end of said writing unit and adapted to receive upward thrust of said writing unit, said latch member and barrel being cooperatively shaped to permit longitudinal sliding and rocking of the latch in opposite directions and to restrain axial rotation of the latch, said latch having a pair of separate, upwardly directed, laterally spaced surfaces and an upper end, said plunger being depressible into contact with laterally spaced portions of the upper end of the latch in alternative rocked positions thereof so that each successive depression of the plunger causes rocking of the latch in a direction opposite to that of the preceding depression and rocking of the latch; and oppositely disposed

Landscapes

  • Mechanical Pencils And Projecting And Retracting Systems Therefor, And Multi-System Writing Instruments (AREA)
US555451A 1955-12-27 1955-12-27 Writing implements Expired - Lifetime US2941510A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
BE553731D BE553731A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1955-12-27
US555451A US2941510A (en) 1955-12-27 1955-12-27 Writing implements
DEP17623A DE1213298B (de) 1955-12-27 1956-12-18 Vor- und Rueckschubmechanik fuer Druck-kugelschreiber mit einem ueber einen Mitnehmer auf die Schreibmine wirkenden Druckknopf
GB38668/56A GB837676A (en) 1955-12-27 1956-12-19 Writing instruments
CH4098356A CH365004A (fr) 1955-12-27 1956-12-21 Stylo

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US555451A US2941510A (en) 1955-12-27 1955-12-27 Writing implements

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2941510A true US2941510A (en) 1960-06-21

Family

ID=24217305

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US555451A Expired - Lifetime US2941510A (en) 1955-12-27 1955-12-27 Writing implements

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US2941510A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE553731A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH365004A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1213298B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB837676A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3183892A (en) * 1963-01-31 1965-05-18 Paper Mate Mfg Co Project-retract mechanism for a ballpoint writing instrument
US3190690A (en) * 1960-06-24 1965-06-22 Gen Steel Products Inc Reclining chair flxture

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE526642A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1953-08-17
US2253968A (en) * 1939-11-08 1941-08-26 Gen Electric Electric switch
AT162533B (de) * 1947-05-08 1949-03-10 Viktor Mali Elektrischer Druck- oder Zugschalter
CA462157A (en) * 1950-01-03 Chow Henry Writing instrument
US2584569A (en) * 1945-11-17 1952-02-05 Parker Pen Co Ball point writing instrument
US2671354A (en) * 1950-06-28 1954-03-09 Birome Sa Locking device
FR1091302A (fr) * 1954-01-11 1955-04-12 Christian Ets Stylographe à bille ou autre à embout rétractable

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA462157A (en) * 1950-01-03 Chow Henry Writing instrument
US2253968A (en) * 1939-11-08 1941-08-26 Gen Electric Electric switch
US2584569A (en) * 1945-11-17 1952-02-05 Parker Pen Co Ball point writing instrument
AT162533B (de) * 1947-05-08 1949-03-10 Viktor Mali Elektrischer Druck- oder Zugschalter
US2671354A (en) * 1950-06-28 1954-03-09 Birome Sa Locking device
BE526642A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1953-08-17
US2865331A (en) * 1953-08-17 1958-12-23 Paper Mate Of Puerto Rico Inc Cam type retractable mechanisms
FR1091302A (fr) * 1954-01-11 1955-04-12 Christian Ets Stylographe à bille ou autre à embout rétractable

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3190690A (en) * 1960-06-24 1965-06-22 Gen Steel Products Inc Reclining chair flxture
US3183892A (en) * 1963-01-31 1965-05-18 Paper Mate Mfg Co Project-retract mechanism for a ballpoint writing instrument

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE553731A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE1213298B (de) 1966-03-24
CH365004A (fr) 1962-10-15
GB837676A (en) 1960-06-15

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