US3023735A

US3023735A - Multiple unit writing instrument

Info

Publication number: US3023735A
Application number: US829562A
Authority: US
Inventors: Andonov Christ
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-07-27
Filing date: 1959-07-27
Publication date: 1962-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 1979-03-06

Description

March 6, 1962 c. ANDONOV MULTIPLE UNIT WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed July 27, 1959 INV EN TOR United States Patent 9 3,023,735 MULTIPLE UNIT WRITING INSTRUMENT Christ Andonov, 3560 Johnson St., Gary, Ind. Filed July 27, 1959, Ser. No. 829,562 4 Claims. (Cl. 120-4213) The present invention relates to an improved writing instrument and is, more particularly, concerned with the provision of an extremely simple, yet highly efiicient, multiple unit writing instrument in which one of several writing units may selectively be positioned for writing use.

I am, of course, aware that many multiple unit writing instruments have been disclosed in the prior art. However, an almost universal characteristic of these prior art multiple unit writing instruments have been disclosed in the prior art. However, an almost universal characteristic of these prior art multiple unit writing instruments is complexity. This complexity leads to diflicult service problems, makes the writing instrument bulky, and even more important, has made the ordinary prior art multiple unit writing instruments quite expensive.

In accordance with the present invention, the advantages of a writing instrument having a plurality of selectively usable writing units are achieved in an extremely simple manner. Preferably, the individual writing unit comprises a ball point pen type cartridge of generally conventional configuration. A plurality of these units are reciprocably carried by a cage member which is, in turn, positioned within a generally hollow cylindrical housing of a shape commonly employed in writing implements. The inside surface of the housing is tapered toward the writing end of the instrument and the individual writing units are spring-biased in a direction away from the writing end of the instrument by a simple spring co-operation between the individual unit and the supporting cage. A selector member is reciprocably and rotatably mounted in the end of the writing instrument opposite from its writing end and may be indexed by the operator to select an individual writing unit. Upon selection of such unit, the selector member is reciprocated in a direction toward the writing end of the instrument, carrying with it the selected writing unit. A simple latching device is provided for retaining the selector member and selected writing unit in the writing position. By providing the tapered interior surface of the housing, no special guide means or other complicated structure is required in association with the cage member for controlling the movement of the individual writing unit since the tapered surface automatically guides the selected writing unit out through the aperture at the writing end of the instrument.

Whereas in prior art mechanisms of the multiple unit type, a complex selector mechanism was required, in the present instance the selector unit comprises a single part. Further, the latching mechanism preferably employed in the device of the present invention has no moving parts and operates, at the same time, as an indicating means for identifying the particular writing unit in use at any given time.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a simple, yet highly eificient, multiple unit writing instrument.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multiple unit writing instrument employing ball point pen units and permitting simple indexing and selection of the individual units.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved and greatly simplified multiple unit selector mechanism and latching device for selecting the writing unit desired and maintaining that unit in its operative writing position.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of 3,023,735 Patented Mar. 6, 1962 ice 2 simple means for guiding a selected writing unit into operative writing condition.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a simple multiple writing unit carrying cage capable of ready disassembly for replacement of writing units and at the same time designed to provide positioning of the respective units.

Yet other and further objects and features of the present invention will *at once become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the attached drawings in which one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example only, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side-elevational view of the multiple unit writing instrument of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the writing instrument taken generally along the line II-I-I of FIG- URE 1;

FlGURE 3 is a side-elevational view of the cage and writing unit construction provided in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a cross'sectional view of the assembled mechanism taken along the line IV-IV of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is an end-elevational view of the multiple unit writing instrument of the present invention in one indexed position.

As shown on the drawings:

As may be seen from a consideration of the figures, the multiple unit writing instrument generally indicated at 10 comprises a main housing formed by body portion 11 and cap portion 12. The body portion of the housing is provided with an end 13 having a small aperture 14 therein. As shown in FIGURE 2, a plurality of writing units 15 are mounted within the housing and are slidably mounted in a cage 16.

As is clearly shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, the cage 16 is provided with a plurality of generally radial slots 17 in the end wall 18 facing toward the apertured end 13 of the housing. These slots 17 have a width slightly larger than the diameter of the writing units 15 back and forth therethrough without restriction. The cage 16 is provided with relieved cavity portions 26 behind each of the slots 17, as indicated in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4. This enlargement permits the seating of a compression spring 21 around each of the writing units 15. Each of the springs 21 is of a diameter greater than the slot 17 so that it is trapped behind the end wall 18 in its respective cavity 20.

Each of the writing units 15 is provided, at its end opposite the writing end, with a collar 25. In assembly of the device, the spring 21 is slid along the individual writing unit 15 from its writing end until it abuts against the respective collar 25. The spring 21 is then compressed and the individual writing unit, with the spring therein, is fitted radially into the cage 16 in the position shown in FIGURE 3.

The cage 16 is provided with openings 26 in the end wall 27 thereof. The openings 26 are axially aligned with the slots 17 and permit the passage of a selector mechanism for engagement with individual writing units 15. The selector mechanism is generally indicated at 30 and comprises an eccentrically positioned selector finger 31 carried by a shaft 32. The shaft 32 is reciprocably slidably mounted in an aperture 33 in the housing cap portion 12 and is mildly biased toward the aperture end 13 by a weak spring 34. The purpose of the spring 34 is to prevent rattling and accordingly the spring 34 is much weaker than the springs 21. The shaft 32 is provided with a notch 35 forming a latching ledge 36 which co-operates with the edge of the aperture 33 when the selector 30 is tilted transversely after being reciprocated downwardly, as viewed in FIGURE 2, to depress a writing unit 15 into operative position with its writing end a passing out through the aperture 14. By releasing the latching surface 36 from the edge of the aperture 33 and pulling upwardly on the shaft 32 on the eccentric member 31 may be rotated to engage any selected one of the openings 26.

In order to simplify the selection of individual writing units 1 5, the selector is preferably provided with an arrow-shaped surface 37 and the cap portion 12 provided with indicia numbers or letters, such as R, G, B, as indicated in FIGURE 5, suggesting, for example, red, green and blue. The cage 16 is preferably secured in the cap portion 12, such as, for example, by fixed abutment 40 sliding in slot 41 so that the indicia R, G, B retain their positions relative to the cage 16 and relative to the individual writing units 15. The cage is positioned against axial movement, for example, by abutment 42 in the cap 12 and abutment 43 at the end of the body portion 11. This permits ready disassembly of the cage 16 from the cap portion 12 to thereby permit ready disassembly and reassembly of the writing instrument with new writing units 15. It will be noted that in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the units 15 comprise ball point pen units. It is contemplated, however, that other writing units may be employed, if desired.

It will, accordingly, be seen that I have provided an extremely simple multiple unit writing instrument having an absolute minimum number of parts and yet retaining all of the advantages of selectivity afforded by multiple unit type writing instruments. It will be apparent that variations may be made in the structure illustrated without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention, and accordingly, it is my intention that the scope of the present invention be limited solely by that of the hereinafter appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination in a multiple unit writing instrument, a hollow housing having a generally pointed end with an aperture therein, a cage assembly, means securing said cage assembly in said housing, a plurality of generally cylindrical Writing units mounted in said cage for selective reciprocation in individual compartments therein, said cage having an end wall facing said aperture with the outer periphery thereof closely fitting said housing, said end wall having a plurality of generally radial slots therein each extending to the periphery of said cage and having a width permitting longitudinal passage of a writing unit and lateral assembly therewith prior to a sembly of said cage into said housing, a collar carried by each said Writing unit at a point thereof on the side of said end wall remote from said aperture, said cage having a second end Wall spaced from said first end wall and positioned on the side thereof remote from said aperture, said second end wall having guide apertures there- !through respectively aligned with the individual writing units and smaller than the respective collars, compression spring means between said collar and said end wall for biasing each said unit away from said aperture and resiliently urging said collar of each said unit against the second end wall, reciprocal selector means having an abutment thereon selectively engageable with one only of said units through a respective guide aperture in said second end wall to project said unit through said aperture into writing position against said spring means, and latch means on said housing for retaining said selector in position to hold said unit in writing position in which it projects from said aperture.

2. In combination in a multiple unit writing instrument, a hollow housing having a generally pointed end with an aperture therein, a cage assembly, means securing said cage assembly in said housing, a plurality of gen- .erally cylindrical writing units mounted in said cage for selective reciprocation in individual compartments therein, .said cage having an .end wall facing said aperture with the outer periphery thereof closely fitting said housing, said end wall having a plurality of generally radial slots therein each extending to the periphery of said cage and having a width permitting longitudinal passage of a writing unit and lateral assembly therewith prior to assembly of said cage into said housing, a collar carried by each said writing unit at a point thereof on the side of said end wall remote from said aperture, said cage having a second end wall spaced from said first end wall and positioned on the side thereof remote from said aperture, said second end wall having guide apertures therethrough respectively aligned with the individual writing units and smaller than the respective collars, compression spring means between said collar and said end Wall for biasing each said unit away from said aperture and resiliently urging said collar of each said unit against the second end wall, reciprocal selector means having an abutment there on selectively engageable with one only of said units through a respective guide aperture in said second end wall to project said unit through said aperture into writing position against said spring means, latch means on said housing for retaining said selector in position to hold said unit in writing position in which it projects from said aperture, and retaining means positively locking said cage against rotation relative to said housing and against reciprocation therein.

3. In combination in a multiple unit writing instrument, a hollow housing having a generally pointed end with an aperture therein, a cage assembly, means securing said cage assembly in said housing, a plurality of generally cylindrical writing'units mounted in said cage for selective reciprocation in individual compartments therein, said cage having an end wall facing said aperture with the outer periphery thereof closely fitting said housing, said end wall having a plurality of generally radial slots therein each extending to the periphery of said cage and having a width permitting longitudinal passage of a Writing unit and lateral assembly therewith prior to as sembly of said cage into said housing, a collar carried by each said writing unit at a point thereof on the side of said end Wall remote from said aperture, said cage having a second end wall spaced from said first end wall and positioned on the side thereof remote from said aperture, said second end wall having guide apertures therethrough respectively aligned with the individual writing units and smaller than the respective collars, compression spring means between said collar and said end wall for biasing each said unit away from said aperture and resiliently urging said collar of each said unit against the second end wall, reciprocal selector means having an abutment thereon selectively engageable with one only of said units through a respective guide aperture in said second end wall to project said unit through said aperture into Writing position against said spring means, and latch means on said housing for retaining said selector in position to hold said unit in writing position in which it projects from said aperture, the inside of said housing tapering toward said aperture whereby the ends of respective writing units are deflected through said aperture when the respective units are reciprocated by said selector means toward said aperture.

4. In combination in a multiple unit writing instrument, a hollow housing having a generally pointed end with an aperture therein, a cage assembly, means securing said cage assembly in said housing, a plurality of generally cylindrical writing units mounted in said cage for selective reciprocation in individual compartments therein, said cage having an end wall'facing said aperture with the outer periphery thereof closely fitting said housing, said end wall having a plurality of generallyradial slots therein each extending to the periphery of said cage and having a width permitting longitudinal passage of a writing unit and lateral assembly therewith prior to assembly of said cage into said housing, a collar carried by each said writing unit at a point thereof on the side of said end wall remote from said aperture, said cage having a second end wall spaced from said first end wall and positioned on the side thereof remote from said aperture, said second end wall having guide apertures therethrough respectively aligned with the individual Writing units and smaller than the respective collars, compression spring means between said collar and said end wall for biasing each said unit away from said aperture and resiliently urging said collar of each said unit against the second end wall, reciprocal selector means having an abutment thereon selectively engageable with one only of said units through a respective guide aperture in said second end wall to project said unit through said aperture into writing position against said spring means, and latch means on said housing for retaining said selector in position to hold said unit in writing position in which it projects from said aperture, said latch means comprising a 15 notch in said selector and a co-operating abutment edge on said housing positioned for co-operative engagement when said selector is reciprocated into position extending a selected writing unit into writing position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Meier Mar. 14, 1944 Morris Nov. 29, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 809,390 Germany July 30, 1951 817,412 Germany Oct. 18, 1951 753,184 Germany Oct. 6, 1952