US3071113A

US3071113A - Retractable fountain pen

Info

Publication number: US3071113A
Application number: US85848A
Authority: US
Inventors: Winchell Paul
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-01-30
Filing date: 1961-01-30
Publication date: 1963-01-01
Anticipated expiration: 1980-01-01

Description

Jan. l, 1963 P. wlNcHELL RETRACTABLE FOUNTAIN PEN 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 50 1961 JNVENToR. PAUL Wl NCHELL Jan. 1, 1963 P. wlNcHELL 3,071,113

RETRACTABLE FOUNTAIN PEN Filed Jan. so, 1961 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. PAUL WINCHELL United dtates Patent Patented Jian. l, ldt

3,071,113 RETE/MJT FQUNTAEN PEN Paul Winehell, EL-h 166th St., Whitestone, NY. filled dan. Eil, i961, Ser. No. 35,843 3 maints. (El. Mou-42.03)

This invention concerns an improved fountain pen and more particularly a fountain pen having a retractable pen point.

According to the invention there is provided a fountain pen having a cylindrical barrel in which is slidably disposed a hollow cylindrical tube. In the tube is fitted a pen point and inl; feeding stern. An ink filled cartridge is removably disposed in the Atube and held there by a screw cap. The cap has an axially extending push button on its end extending beyond the barrel when the pen point is retracted into the barrel. A coil spring in the barrel biases the pen carrying tube to a retracted position. ln order to hold the point extended, there is provided a latch element formed on a spring clip. rfhis element engages in a hole in the tube to hold the tube in a forward position. The clip is normally dis posed in a recess in the barrel so that the outerside of the clip is liush with the exterior of the barrel. When the clip is lifted, the latch element is disengaged from the tube and the pen point retracts into the barrel, while the push button becomes extended. Upon pushing the push button inwardly into the barrel, the pen point extends and the latch element engages the tubes at the same time that the spring clip retracts into the recess in the barrel. The tube containing the ink cartridge is provided with a prong at its inner end which pierces the inl; cartridge to open a hole in one end `and establish an inl; supply to the ink; feeding stein. When the screw cap is tightened on the tube initially after insertion of the ink cartridge, the prong at the inner end of the 'tube pierces the closed end of the ink cartridge.

it is therefore one object of the invention to provide a fountain pen having a retractable pen point fed with ink by an inl; cartridge.

it is another object to provide a fountain pen of the character described, wherein a spring clip is instrumental in locking the pen point in extended wri position.

A further object is to provide a Vfountain pen of the retractable point type, in which a spring clip is recessed when the point is extended in writing position.

A still further object is to provide a retractable 'type of fountain pen or simplified structure which can be manufactured and assembled at low cost, which is durable, and whose several parts can be easily repaired or replaced when worn.

For further comprehension of the invention, d of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particuarly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming i material part of this disclosure:

FIG. l is a side View of a fountain pen embodying the invention, with ti e pen point extended.

FIG. 2 is another' side view showing the pen rotated 90 from the position of FlG. l.

F G. 3 is a lonvitudinal sectional view taken on line 3-3of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional View similar to PEG. 3 slowing the pen point in retracted position, with spring clip and push button extended, parts being shown in elevation.

FG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the unassem- .bled pen, showing essential internal components thereof.

FiG. 6 is a View similar to FIG. 4 but showing a modified forni of the invention.

FiG. 7 is view similar to FIG. 6, showing another modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a hollow cylindrical barrel l@ including a forward tubular portion l2 having a tapered forward open end l5. rhe rear end of the tubular portion l2 is formed with an internal thread ld, see FGS. 3 and 5. An annular flange in is integrally formed with the tubular portion l2 as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. A. coil spring ld seats on this flange. The barrel has a rear, tubular portion 17 formed with a tapered open rear end Ztl. The forward end of the tubular portion if] has a threaded nipple 22 which engages with thread ld in the forward tubular portion l?. to corn-plete the barrel. An elongated, longitudinally extending recess 2d is formed in the outer side of barrel portion Il". A spring clip is secured at one end by rivet in the recess. A notch 28 formed in the recess 24 at the free end thereof permits the user to insert a ngernail under the end E@ of the spring clip to lift that end outwardly. Clip Z5 is formed with a pin 3@ which serves as a latch clement in the pen. This pin fits into a hole 32 formed in the side of a tube 3d slidable inside the pen barrel.

Tube 34 has a tapered forward end 35 inwhich lits a pen points and inlr feed stem 3S. The stern has a groove to guide ink 42 from cartridge 44 to the pen point. The ink cartridge is removably disposed in tube 3d. This cartridge includes a closed plastic casing having a frangible forward wall iid. A prong ES is seated in the forward end of the tube 3d to pierce the wall 46 and form opening when the cartridge is fully seated in the tube. An internally threaded cap 5? screws on the thrcadefJ end 52 of the tube to force the cylindrical cartridge into fully seated position in the tube. rihe cap has a cylindrical rod-like extension whose end appears as a push button when the extension partially projects out of the barrel as shown in lGS. 4 and 5. A diaphrarn or mass of fibrous material dit may be disposed in space 6l between the end of tubular portion l?. and flange le or in front of the flange in order to wipe the pen point 31E and seal the opening in the barrel when the pen poil is retracted.

ln the writing position of the pen shown in FIGS. l-3, pin 3@ is seated in hole 32. The clip 25 is retracted into recess flush with the outer surface of the barrel lli. Extension Eid is retracted and the end of the point 36 is extended. Spring l is compressed. When the free end 29 of the clip 25 is lifted at the notch end of recess 2d, pin is lifted out of hole L and the spring l retracts the tube and pen point to the positions shown in FIG. 4. Pin Sil then bears on the outer wall of tube 3d under tension of clip 25.

The extended clip can be employed to hold the barrel of the pen with the pen point upright, upon the rirn of a garment pocket. rhere will be no danger of soiling the garment since the pen point is fully retracted into the barrel. The push button end of extension 5ft projects outwardly in order to extend the pen point, it will only be necessary to push the extension 5d inwardly into the barrel. Pin Eil will then engage in hole 32 and the clip 2S will retract into recess 2d. Accidental retraction or extension of the pen point is not possible since the tube 34tmust be moved against spring tension to extend the pen point; and the clip must be lifted against spring tension to release the pin 3i) from tube 34.

The modified form of fountain pen shown in FIG. 6 differs from the form. of HG. l in that the barrel is sectional having a front section liti', an intermediate section o5 and a rear section 2d constituting a cap. The front section lil' is formed with a reduced end having amalis l external threads 65 to receive the internal threads 68 on the adjacent end of the immediate section 65. The intermediate section 65 is formed with an external threaded extension 69 to receive the internal threads 71 on the adjacent end of the cap iti'.

in this modified form of pen, the tube 3d' extends to the tip l5 with a pen wiper device 60 disposed around the tip end thereof. The pen point 36 is shown in extended position and is shown held in extended position by means of a round lug 72 formed on the inner surface of the cap engaging in an annular groove formed on the extension 54 on the tube 3d. An ordinary rubber sac or bladder d4 filled with ink is housed in the tube 3d', and is provided with a finger pump 75 for pumping init through the feeding stem 3S to the pen point 36.

The extension 54 is provided with a collar 7e. fastened thereon by means of a pin 78. The collar serves as a seat for one end of the compression spring 18', the other end of the spring iinpinging against an annular ledge S3 on the inner surface of the intermediate section 65. The outer extremity of the extension is formed with a round knob 32 and with an inner head 8d spaced inwardly thereof. A slight lateral urge and an outward pull on 'the knob 82 will release the lug 72 from the groove 74 to permit retraction of the pen point, the passage 86 being suiiciently wide to permit this operation.

There has thus been provided a positive acting extension and retraction mechanism for a fountain pen including a replaceable inlt cartridge and pen point fed by ink drawn from the cartridge.

Referring now to the modification shown in FIG. 7, in this form of the invention, a fountain pen of ordinary construction having a barrel 92, enclosing an inl; bladder (not shown). A pen point 9d is normally concealed in a tubular casing or barrel 9d provided with a cap 9S threaded onto a threaded extension 160 on the end of the case or barrel 9e. The case 96 is formed with an inner annular flange 02 intermediate its ends and with a second inner annular fiange ltld adjacent its front end. A mass life of fibrous material is packed in the front of the case between the annular flange ltld and the front thereof, which mass of material serves as a wiper for the pen point 94 and also seals the opening at the front from air so as to prevent the ink from drying.

The fountain pen 9o is formed with an outer annular fiange 167 intermediate its ends and sleeved around the barrel 92 of the fountain pen there is a coil spring ltl having one end seated on the annular ange 102 and its other end impinging against the annular iiange 107 on the 'i' fountain pen so as to urge the fountain pen inwardly in order to retract the pen point 94. The Vfountain pen is provided with the usual metal plate lo@ operatively connected to the ink sac for pumping ink from the sack to the pen point.

An extension ffl is formed on the rear end of the fountain pen and extends through a hole lf3 formed in the end of the cap 98. The extension has a semi-round knob or finger piece M5 for sliding the fountain pen and is formed with an annular bead iid inwardly of the knob that serves to limit the inward sliding movement of the fountain pen in the outer case 96. 'Ihe extension lll is formed with a reduced end lilo thereby forming an annular groove lf3 between the flat end of the fountain pen and the body of the extension lill. An annular flange 12h is formed on the inner surface of the cap 9S adjacent its rear end.

The fountain pen 9o is adapted to be slid inwardly of the case 96 against the action of the spring llti in order to move the pen point 94 outwardly for writing purposes. ln order to hold the pen in this outwardly operative position, the pen is moved inwardly by means of the knob H5' and the pen is then tilted sidewise so as to move the annular groove M8 over and into interlocking relationship with the annular flange 12.0. The hole il?? in the cap 93 is sufiiciently wide to permit this operation. When the flange is in the groove li it abuts against the shoulders provided by the fiat end of the fountain pen 9d and the flat end of the extension ill. ln order to retract the fountain pen, the extension 11i is tilted in the opposite direction in order to release the ange from the groove, whereupon the spring ltl forces the fountain pen inwardly carrying the pen point inside the case 96.

-/hile i have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having tous described :my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent l, A fountain pen, comprising a cylindrical barrel, a tubular body axially disposed in the barrel and slidable therein, said body `h-.tving a lateral hole near one end thereof, a cylindrical cartridge containing ink axially disposed in said body, said cartridge having a frangible end wall, a pen point and ink feeding stem inserted in said one end of said body and slidable therewith to extend out of one end of the barrel and to retract within said one end of the barrel in two different positions of said body in the barrel, a rod-like member coaxial with said body and movable to project one end thereof out of the other end of the barrel in one position of the body while the pen point is retracted inside the barrel, a coil spring in the barrel coaxial with :said body and bearing on said one end thereof, said spring biasing said body to said one position thereof for retracting the pen point and extendin g the rod-like member, an elongated spring clip secured at one end thereof near said one end of the barrel, said clip having a catch pin near said one end thereof engageable in the hole in said body for holding the body in the other of said two positions with the pen point extended from the barrel )and with said one end of the rod-like member retracted into the barrel, said barrel having an annular frange near the other end thereof providing a seat for said spring, said barrel having an external, lateral, longitudinally extending recess, said clip having a free other end disposed in said recess so that the clip lies fiush with the exterior of the barrel when the pen point is extended in writting position, said free other end of the clip extending toward the other end of the barrel, a prong carried by said body interiorly thereof and piercing the Afrangible end wall of the cartridge to form an opening therein, said stem having an ink feeding groove corn.- municating with the opening in the end wall of the cartridge, and a cap detachably secured to the other end of said body applying pressure axially to the cartridge to force said end wall against said prong and maintain said opening in communication with said groove, said rod-like mem-ber being integral with said cap and extending axially therefrom, whereby lifting the free end of the spring clip ou-t of said recess removes the catch pin from `said hole while the body slides axially and retracts the pen point, said catch pin then bearing on the body and holding the free end of the spring clip extended laterally outwardly of the body and toward the other end of the barrel to serve as a hook-like support for the pen.

2. A fountain pen according to claim l, wherein the barrel includes two portions detachably joined together, opposite free ends of said portions being tapered, said flange being located in one of said portions of the barrel, said recess being located in the other portion of the barrel.

3. A fountain pen according to claim 2, further comprising a sealing and wiping means disposed at the other end of the barrel in said one portion thereof adjacent :said flange, for wiping `the pen point and for excluding air to keep the ink from ev-aporating While the pen point is retracted in the barrel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 6 Zepeiovitch Apr. 21, 1959 M-ansheim Ian. 5, 1960 Martin et a1. Aug. 23, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Dec. `l, 1948 Switzerland Feb. 16, 1951 France Aug. 13, 1956 France June 22, 1959

Claims

1. A FOUNTAIN PEN, COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL BARREL, A TUBULAR BODY AXIALLY DISPOSED IN THE BARREL AND SLIDABLE THEREIN, SAID BODY HAVING A LATERAL HOLE NEAR ONE END THEREOF, A CYLINDRICAL CARTRIDGE CONTAINING INK AXIALLY DISPOSED IN SAID BODY, SAID CARTRIDGE HAVING A FRANGIBLE END WALL, A PEN POINT AND INK FEEDING STEM INSERTED IN SAID ONE END OF SAID BODY AND SLIDABLE THEREWITH TO EXTEND OUT OF ONE END OF THE BARREL AND TO RETRACT WITHIN SAID ONE END OF THE BARREL IN TWO DIFFERENT POSITIONS OF SAID BODY IN THE BARREL, A ROD-LIKE MEMBER COAXIAL WITH SAID BODY AND MOVABLE TO PROJECT ONE END THEREOF OUT OF THE OTHER END OF THE BARREL IN ONE POSITION OF THE BODY WHILE THE PEN POINT IS RETRACTED INSIDE THE BARREL, A COIL SPRING IN THE BARREL COAXIAL WITH SAID BODY AND BEARING ON SAID ONE END THEREOF, SAID SPRING BIASING SAID BODY TO SAID ONE POSITION THEREOF RETRACTING THE PEN POINT AND EXTENDING THE ROD-LIKE MEMBER, AN ELONGATED SPRING CLIP SECURED AT ONE END THEREOF NEAR SAID ONE END OF THE BARREL, SAID CLIP HAVING A CATCH PIN NEAR SAID ONE END THEREOF ENGAGEABLE IN THE HOLE IN SAID BODY FOR HOLDING THE BODY IN THE OTHER OF SAID TWO POSITIONS WITH THE PEN POINT EXTENDED FROM THE BARREL AND WITH SAID ONE END OF THE ROD-LIKE MEMBER RETRACTED INTO THE BARREL, SAID BARREL HAVING AN ANNULAR FLANGE NEAR THE OTHER END THEREOF PROVIDING A SEAT FOR SAID SPRING, SAID BARREL HAVING AN EXTERNAL, LATERAL, LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING RECESS, SAID CLIP HAVING A FREE OTHER END DISPOSED IN SAID RECESS SO THAT THE CLIP LIES FLUSH WITH THE EXTERIOR OF THE BARREL WHEN THE PEN POINT IS EXTENDED IN WRITING POSITION, SAID FREE OTHER END OF THE CLIP EXTENDING TOWARD THE OTHER END OF THE BARREL, A PRONG CARRIED BY SAID BODY INTERIORLY THEREOF AND PIERCING THE FRANGIBLE END WALL OF THE CARTRIDGE TO FORM AN OPENING THEREIN, SAID STEM HAVING AN INK FEEDING GROOVE COMMUNICATING WITH THE OPENING IN THE END WALL OF THE CARTRIDGE, AND A CAP DETACHABLY SECURED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID BODY APPLYING PRESSURE AXIALLY TO THE CARTRIDGE TO FORCE SAID END WALL AGAINST SAID PRONG AND MAINTAIN SAID OPENING IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID GROOVE, SAID ROD-LIKE MEMBER BEING INTEGRAL WITH SAID CAP AND EXTENDING AXIALLY THEREFROM, WHEREBY LIFTING THE FREE END OF THE SPRING CLIP OUT OF SAID RECESS REMOVES THE CATCH PIN FROM SAID HOLE WHILE THE BODY SLIDES AXIALLY AND RETRACTS THE PEN POINT, SAID CATCH PIN THEN BEARING ON THE BODY AND HOLDING THE FREE END OF THE SPRING CLIP EXTENDED LATERALLY OUTWARDLY OF THE BODY AND TOWARD THE OTHER END OF THE BARREL TO SERVE AS A HOOK-LIKE SUPPORT FOR THE PEN.