US3125993A - Writing implement - Google Patents

Description

March 24, 1964 N. A. ZEPELL WRITING IMPLEMENT Filed July 3, 1961 INVENTOR.

NA THAN ALTER ZEPELL BY A TTORNEY United States Patent 3,125,993 WRITING IMPLEMENT Nathan Alter Zepeli, Fort Madison, Iowa, assignor to W. A. Sheafier Pen Company, Fort Madison, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 3, 1961, Ser. No. 121,711 1 Claim. (Ci. 120-42.03)

This invention relates to writing implements and has special reference to a writing instrument having a writing unit which is movable between a concealed position and an exposed writing position.

More particularly, this invention relates to a writing instrument having a barrel with an open end, a unit axially displaceable within the barrel between a concealed position and an exposed position projecting through the open end, a resilient element urging the unit toward the consealed position, and an arm disposed externally of the barrel and shiftable thereon between inward and outward positions, there being means disposed on the arm for movement through an aperture in the barrel, the means engaging the unit and moving the unit to the exposed position in response to movement of the arm from the outward to the inward position.

The usual ball point pen includes a writing unit which is reciprocal within the barrel between a concealed position and an exposed writing position. Such implements normally include a manually operable push button type of mechanism for extending and locking the unit in a writing position, and a resilient element, such as a coil spring, for returning the unit to the concealed or retracted position. In such implements, there is an ever present danger that the user will forget to retract the writing point after use and insert the implement into a pocket or handbag with the point in the exposed position. And as will be understood readily, this is very likely to result in staining of a shirt or coat pocket or the interior of the handbag. Further, the point may be damaged by contact with some other implement which might be carried in the pocket or purse.

The usual pocket clip has only one function or purpose, that being, to hold the implement within a coat or shirt pocket. Thus, for those implements having a retractable point, of the type described above, separate means must be provided in order to accomplish the desired reciprocal movement of the unit. Such additional mechanismnot only complicates the construction of the device but increases the cost of manufacture and the retail price to the ultimate user.

United States Patent No. 2,881,736, dated April 14, 1959, discloses a writing instrument having a clip assembly arranged to provide substantially transverse movement of one end thereof to reciprocate a writing point assembly between exposed and concealed positions. The present invention, discloses a mechanism in the same generic class as that of United States Patent No. 2,881,- 736, but having'a reduced number of parts which may be manufactured and assembled at minimum cost.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is the provision of an improved mechanism for effecting the extension and retraction of a writing unit of a ball point pen or similar implement.

Another object of this invention is to provide an actuating mechanism which may be assembled and subsequently disassembled very readily.

, A further object of this invention is the provision of a clip having a relatively rigid arm and a resilient member which provides the flexibility necessary to permit movement of the clip upon insertion into a coat or shirt pocket.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a clip arm which is substantially transversely movable on 3,125,993 Patented Mar. 24, 1964 a writing implement holder between an inward and an outward position during periods of use and non-use, respectively.

Further and additional objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description, when taken with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a writing implement constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing a change in position of the clip arm and writing unit; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded View of the cap and mechanism portions of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, there is disclosed a writing implement having a holder or barrel 10 consisting of a forward portion 12 and a rearward portion 14. These portions may be made of any one of a number of well known plastic or metal materials pro viding the rigidity, strength and long wearing surface characteristics required in writing instruments or similar articles.

The forward portion 12 includes a rearwardly extending internally threaded section 16 which is engageable with a band portion 18 frictionally mounted on a reduced section 2t of the rearward portion 14 and provided with suitable threads in order to releasably secure the barrel parts in axial alignment.

A Writing unit 22 is mounted for reciprocal movement within the barrel 1%), the unit including a generally cylindrical reservoir section 24 which is reduced in diameter adjacent its forward end to provide an intermediate shoulder 26. Mounted on the forward end of the reduced section 28 of the unit 22 is a writing point 30 which is shown as being of the ball point type, although it will be understood that other types of points or marking tips can be utilized.

The forward barrel portion 12 is provided at its lower end with an opening 32 of smaller diameter than the interior of the barrel 10, thus creating an interior tapered surface adapted to frictionally receive a resilient element or spring 34. The spring 34 is sized so as to abut the intermediate shoulder 26 thereby normally urging the writing unit 22 in a rearward direction. As is clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this spring or resilient element 34 may comprise a coil spring formed of the usual metallic spring wire.

Disposed externally of the barrel 10 is an arm 36 which may be used as a pocket clip. While the arm may be of a type formed of plastic or a forged or die-cast metal,

' in the illustrated embodiment it is shown as being fabricated from a sheet of flat metal such a brass, or the like, and plated or otherwise finished so as to provide a pleasing and attractive appearance. Between the upper barrel portion 14 and the arm 36 is a mounting section 38. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting section is formed as an integral part of the arm adjacent its rearward end. As best seen in FIG. 3, the mounting portion 36 is formed in a box like shape to define side edges 40 which are formed integrally with the flanges 42 of the arm 36.

As can best be determined from FIG. 3, the cap or upper barrel portion 14 includes a slot 44 extending from the open end 46. The slot 44 is of a Width adapted to receive the mounting section 38 which is maintained in the slot by means of the depending tongue portion 48 of a button St). The button 50 includes an annular flange 52 which is frictionally maintained in the open end 46 of the cap 14 thereby maintaining the mounting section 38 and its asociated arm 36 in an assembled relationship with the cap 14.

The mounting section 38 preferably is slightly smaller in width than the slot 44, with its height being somewhat less than the space defined between the lower end of the tongue portion 48 and the upper end of the slot 44. Thus, the mounting section 38 is not held rigidly relative to the cap 14, but is free to move within certain limits to be described in more detail herebelow.

Disposed adjacent the forward end of the arm 36 are means 54 movable through an aperture 56 axially aligned with the slot 44 in the cap 14. 'In the disclosed embodiment, means 54 are formed as an integral part of the arm 36, and provided with an inclined surface 58 engageable with the rearward end of the writing unit 22. The lower end of the inclined surface 58 terminates in a contiguous locking offset '60 which, as will be described in more detail herebelow, is engageable also with the rearward edge of the writing unit 22.

A stop member 62 is provided internally of the cap portion 14 for the purpose of limiting rearward movement of the writing unit 22 under the influence of the coil spring 34. The stop member 62 preferably is formed of a resilient spring material and provided with a bight portion 64 adapted to abut the interior of the cap portion '14 when the arm 36- is in the outward position illustrated in FIG. "1. The upper end of the stop member 62 is assembled with the mounting section 38 by means of a plurality of clamping ears 66 as will be readily understood by those in the art.

The arm 36, mounting section 38, means 54 and stop member 62 form an actuating mechanism which is movable relative to the barrel 10 between the positions illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 1, the arm is disposed in an outward position with a majority of the means 54 being exposed. When in this position, the forward end of the arm 36 may be displaced transversely in a direction away from the barrel 10 by virtue of the resiliency of the stop member 62 so that the upper edge of a coat or shirt pocket may be positioned between the arm and the barrel. When it is desired to condition the implement for writing, the forward end of the arm 36 is manually moved inwardly toward the axis of the pen barrel, which movement causes means 54 to move transversely through aperture 56. Such movement causes the inclined surface '8 and locking offset 60 to engage the rearward end of the unit I221 whereby the unit is moved forwardly and locked in the forward position by the abutting engagement between the locking offset 60 and the rearward edge of the unit. When the arm is in the above described inward position, the writing point 30 is exposed through an opening 32 in the forward end of the barrel for writing purposes.

When the user wishes to return the unit to the retracted or concealed position, it is merely necessary to press manually on the arm 36 adjacent its rearward end in order to remove the forward end of the arm outwardly a distance sufficient to cause disengagement of the locking offset 60 from the rearward edge of the unit 22. The spring 34 will then cause the unit to retract to a concealed position within the barrel 10 and the arm 36 to move transversely to the outward position due to engagement between the unit and the inclined surface 58.

It will be understood that the stop member 62 positions the rearward edge of the unit 22 slightly forwardly of the upper terminal edge of the inclined surface 58.

Formed as a part of the mounting section 38 are offsets 68 which maintain the upper end of the clip arm 36 in a spaced relation with the cap 14 whereby the above described retraction of the unit 22 may be effected by manual pressure on the upper end of the arm.

The writing unit 22 is illustrated in the above described embodiment as being of a disposable or replaceable type, and for the purpose of replacing a depleted unit, the

4 user may unscrew the cap 14 from the forward barrel portion 12. The depleted unit is then removed and a new unit inserted in its place in a manner well understood by those in the art.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description, the present invention provides a construction which may be manufactured readily and inexpensively, but which is quite rugged and dependable in operation. Further, it will be evident that the mechanism may be util zed with various types of implements such as the illustrated ball point assembly, a retractable fountain pen, a scribing tool or other types of marking instruments in which it is desirable to reciprocate the point between a writing position and a concealed storage position. It will be understood, therefore, that the invention is not to be limited to the embodiment described above, and it is contemplated by the appended claim to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

A writing instrument of the character described, including a generally cylindrical barrel having an aperture in a side wall thereof and an open forward end, a writing unit comprising a cylindrical reservoir section and a forwardly disposed point, said reservoir section being slightly smaller in diameter than and slidingly engaging the interior wall of said barrel, said reservoir section terminating on its rearward end in a transverse surface defining a circular contact edge, said unit being axially displaced within said barrel between a concealed position.

and an exposed writing position with said point projecting through said open forward end, a resilient spring element urging said unit toward said concealed position, a clip arm disposed externally of said barrel substantially longitudinally thereof, said clip arm having a forward end portion disposed in an overlying relationship with said aperture, a mounting section formed integral with said clip arm adjacent its rearward end, said mounting section being shiftably mounted on said barrel to permit movement of said forward end portion substantially transversely relative to said barrel between inward and outward positions, a resilient stop member within said barrel depending from said mounting section, said stop member abutting the rearward end of said reservoir section to limit the movement of said unit under the influence of said resilient spring element whereby said contact edge is positioned in the region of said aperture, actuating means formed integral with said clip arm adjacent said forward end portion, said actuating means being movable with said forward end portion and through said aperture from a position disposed externally of said barrel, and an inclined surface terminating in a forwardly facing locking offset provided on said actuating means, said inclined surface and said locking offset successively engaging said contact edge and moving said unit to and releasably locking said unit in said exposed position in response to movement of said forward end portion from said outward to said inward position and conjoint movement of said actuating means through said aperture transversely toward said reservoir section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 249,230 Doyle Nov. 8, 1881 2,427,068 Randolph Sept. 9, 1947 2,881,736 Zepelovitch Apr. 14, 1959 2,986,119 Roesler et al May 30, 1961 2,988,055 Platt June 13, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,086,929 France Aug. 18, 1954 1,125,062 France July 9, 1956

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