US3179088A

US3179088A - Writing instrument

Info

Publication number: US3179088A
Application number: US151315A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank T Johmann
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-11-09
Filing date: 1961-11-09
Publication date: 1965-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 1982-04-20

Description

April 20, 1965 F. 1'. JoHMANN WRITING INSTRUMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet i Filed Nov. 9, 1961 INVENTOR April 20, 1965 Y F. T. JoHMANN WRITING INSTRUMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 9, 1961 FIG. I5

FIG.- IO

FISQ-9 FIG-I3 FIG.- I4

INVENTOR United States Patent i 3,179,683 WFillIlNG .INSTRUR'EFN'I Frank T.. lehmann, i9 Hampton Drive, Berkeley Heights, N..ll. Filed Nov. 9, i961, Ser. No. l5l,3ll5 8 Claims. (Cl. 12d- 42.il3)

This invention relates to a writing instrument having a retractable writing point. Particularly, this invention relates to a ballpoint pen having a side actuated retractionprotraction mechanism, e.g. a clip-actuated mechanism whereby depressing and releasing the clip retracts and protracts the ballpoint.

Recently several clip actuated writing instruments have become known, where the clip both retracts and protracts the point, e.g. US. Patents 2,881,736 and 2,988,955. in the rst of these patents, the clip is pivotally mounted on the instrument casing so that it can rock. By depressing the lower portion of the clip into the casing, the Writing point is projected, while depressing the upper portion of the clip into the casing retracts the writing point. Thus, this device requires application of pressure at different points on the clip to retract and protract. The second patent describes a clip, wherein pressure is applied to move the clip as a whole, into the casing to protect or retract the writing point. However, this latter device requires careful control by the user in manipulation of the clip in order to achieve the desired result and therefore is not positively operating.

The present invention `includes a clip-actuated device which is positively operating and can be actuated by pressing the clip into the casing until it meetsa fixed stop. Pressure can always be applied to the same part of the clip to both retract and project the point. This eliminates possibility of confusion or necessity for remembering what portion of the clip needs to be pressed, since the same portion can always be pressed. ln this Way, it is not necessary to press different portions of the clip to retract or project the point. Furthermore, no particular manipulation of the clip is required other than depressing it into the casing and then releasing it.

In addition to the above advantages, the clip-actuated mechanism of the invention can be readily combined with a tip-actuated mechanism, as well as still other types oi action mechanisms such as a conventional pushbutton action. The aforesaid tip-actuated mechanisms have recently become known and operate by pressing the writing tip end of the instrument into contact with a rigid surface, and then releasing from said contact to thereby either retract or protract the writing point. These tipactuated instruments are very convenient to operate and can generally be operated while holding the instrument in the hand in a writing position. In addition, tip-action instruments generally have a spring loaded writing point which tends to cushion the Writing point for easier writing.` However, there are slight disadvantages with tipaction instruments. For example, they generally require a rigid surface for operation, which may not always be readily available. Also, they frequently result in the formation of dots during their actuation, which may sometimes be objectionable. By combining the previous described side or clip action with a tip-action, a single instrument can be provided which has the advantages of both types of action and satises individual preferences for these types of action in a single writing instrument. In other words, some consumers may prefer a tip-action mechanism, while others may prefer a side clip action. By combining both types of actions in a single instrument, both types of consumers can be satisiiedwith a single model. One main advantage of both tip-action and clipaction mechanisms is that a more streamlined appearance lid'iildi Patented 2Q, i955 ICC can be given to the writing instrument since no pushbutton need project through the top of the instrument. However, as will be later demonstrated, the clip-action of the invention can also be readily combined with a top pushbutton action.

T he above and other advantages and aspects of the invention will be further understood by the. following descriptions and drawings which include a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a longitudinal view, partly in section of a combined clip and tip-actuated ballpoint pen having its point in a point retracted position.

FFGURE 2 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, of the instrument ot FIGURE l, showing the clip in a depressed position during actuation of the retraction-protraction mechanism.

FlGURE 3 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, of the instrument of FiGURES l and 2 showing the instrument in a point protracted position ready for writing.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken Valong the lines of FIGURE l. i

FIGURE 5 is a schematic diagram, illustrating the operation of the retraction-protraction mechanism and wherein the tubular latching members of said mechanism have been developed into a single plane.

FJURE 6 is a longitudinal View, partly in section, of another embodiment of the invention where the clip is pivoted at its upper end.

FEGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines "-J of FGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines l-tl of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 9 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, of another embodiment of my invention which is clip-actuated and pushbutton actuated.

Fi-GURE l0 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, of the embodiment of FIGURE 9 in a point protracted position.

FIGURE ll is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines lllll of FIGURE 9.

FEGURE l2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines it-l2 of FIGURE 9.

FGURE 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the latch eceiving means of the embodiment of FIGURES 9 to ,2.

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the latch means of the embodiment of FIGURES 9 to l2.

FIGURE 15 is a longitudinal view, `:aartly in section of a modiiication of the instrument of FIGURES 9 to 15, which has no pushbutton and wherein the clip remains partsy recessed within the casing when the Writing point is projected.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional View talten along line li-i6 of FIG. l5.

Reference is now made lto the embodiment of FIG- URES l to 5. Here, the casing includes the main upper and lower tubular barrel sections Ztl and 2l., respectively, joined together by threaded engagement with the threaded tubular plug ZL. The bore passing through the tubular section Zi is reduced in cross-section at 23 to thereby form the interior annular lip 24. A tubular hood 25, mounted for longitudinal movement within said reduced bore 23, is formed with an annular flange Z6 at its inner end, while its outer portion Z7 is tapered inwardly. The tubular hood 2:3', is formed internally with an annular lip A point and cartridge unit 29, includes the iiange or flattened portion Tati, and has the short terminal feed tube 3l. which denes the annular shoulder 32. A Writing ball 33 is carried at the outer end of said tube Ztl. Carried by the unit 29, is a tubular sleeve unit Tsd, whose upper end forms an interior annular shoulder 35. The

shoulder 35 is in abutting engagement with the upper end of said cartridge unit Z9, while the air vent 47 admits air to the interior of said cartridge unit. The tubular sleeve unit '3d is externally formed with an annular groove 36 which carries a locking ball or pawl 37. Longitudinally movable within the upper barrel section Ztl is the tubular sleeve 3b having a closed upper end 39. Projecting upwardly from said end 39, and integral therewith is the actuating member liti having a beveled edge 4l proximate its upper end 412. Fixed within said tubular sleeve 38 are the tubular latch or ratchet members 43 and dil, which together deine an annular cam surface. A relatively strong coil compression spring d5 has its upper end seating against the lower latch member dd while its lower end seats atop the annular flange d6 deiined by the lower end of the member 34. A second coil compression spring 67 is disposed between flanges 25 and Sil. The spring 67v urges the cartridge unit Z9 upwardly into engagement against the shoulder 3S, while urging the hood Z5 downwardly so that its iiange 26 normally seats against the lip 24.

The upper tubular latch member d3 is formed with the downwardly projecting

teeth

43 and 49, while the lower tubular latch member lid is formed with the upwardly projecting teeth Sil and 5l (see FIGURE 5). rl`he latch ball 37 is movable 4within said groove around the longitudinal axis of the instrument, being retained between the cylinder 3d and the sleeve 355, while its longitudinal movement is limited by engagement with said teeth r3 to 51, inclusive.

The upper enid of the instrument is closed by the cap` 52 having the'closed end 53, and the downwardly extending cylindrical portion 54 which defines the annular flange 55. The cap 52 is fixed, as by cementing to the casing section 2.6. A slot 69 extends through one side of said `cylindrical portion 54. A pocket clip is transversely movable within said slot et). Said clip has a springy leg portion 57, the lower cloth gripping end 5S, and terminates at its upperend in the guide portion 59 which extends through the slot et* dened by said cap 52` and the slotted upper end of the barrel member Ztl. The inner portion 6l, 0i said guide portion 59, is longer than the length of said slot di?, to thereby form a flange which limits the outward movement of said clip unit in the assembled position of FIGURE 1. The upper edge 62 ot the portion 6i is ilat and rides against the flat underside 63 of said cap 52. The lower edge d4, of said portion 6l, is beveled for sliding engagement against the complementary beveled edge 4l.

The protraction-retraction mechanism operates upon relative longitudinal movement of the pawl or ball 37 and the ratchet latch members 43 and Kid. This longitudinal movement can be obtained by depression of the clip into the casing and then releasing said clip, or by pressing the Writing tip end of the instrument into contact with a rigid surface, followed by releasing said tip end from said contact. V

The operation of the instrument will now be described, including reference to the schematic diagram of FEG- URE 5.v In FIGURE 5, the latch members 43 and d have been enlarged and developed into a single plane. The small circles enclosing numerals represent the various positions of the latch ball 37 relative to said latc members d3 and 3i/i at various stages of the retraction-protraction cycle.

Position 1 of FGURE .5, i.e. the circle enclosing the numeral i, represents the location of the latch ball 37 relative to the latch members d3 and 4d when the instrument is in the point retracted position of FIGURE 1. To project the writing pointA 33 from its retracted position of FIGURE 1 by tip-action, the lower writing portion of the instrument is pressed downwardly against a rigid surface 66 to force the hood 2S, and then the point 33, inwardly relative to the casing against the pressure springs i5 and 67. This inward rn vement of the point 33 carries upwardly the member 34- with its latch ball 37. The latch members #tl-3 and dd, meanwhile, cannot move upwardly because of the engagement of the end 42 against the inner wall 63 of the cap 52. The ball 37 will therefore come into enga-gement with the side of tooth 41S, position 2 of FIGURE 5, and then move to position 3. Then, the writing tip end of the instrument is lifted from contact with said rigid surface d6. The hood 25 will return to its outwardly extending position under iniluence of spring d'7, while the locking ball 37 will move to position d and then to position 5 under influence of spring d5. The main strong spring d5 will now be in an expanded position forcing the cartridge unit 29 to a point projected position against the weaker pressure of spring o7. Thef entire instrument will then assume the position of FlG- URE 3. To retract the point 33 from its position of FGURE 3 by tip-action, the point and then the hood are again pressed downwardly into contact with a rigid surface. By this action, the cartridge unit 29, with its sleeve 3d and the locking ball 37, will be moved upwardly relative to the barrel and members i3 and 4d. Upon this relative upward movement, the ball 37 will move to position 6 where it engages a side of tooth 49, and. will then roll to position 7. Upon lifting the writing instrument from the contacting rigid surface, the ballpoint cartridge 29, the sleeve 34 and latch ball 37, will all move downwardly relative to the casing under influence of coil spring da'. As this downward movement continues, the ball 37 will soon engage the side of tooth Sli (positionV d) and will then roll to the position ll of the schematic diagram of FGURE 5. The position l' is the same as position 1l. The hood 25, will in the meantime be returned to its outwardly extending position and the entire instrument will again assume the position of FIG- URE 1.

Protraction and retraction of the writing ballpoint 33 can also be obtained by pressing and releasing the clip. Thus, starting from FIGURE 1, the clip unit is pressed directly into the casing as far as it will go as illustrated by FIGURE 2. By this inward movement, the beveled edge 64 of the clip unit will exert a wedging action on the beveled edge 41 of the member lill. Because of this wedging action, the member iti is driven downwardly relative to the casing. The sleeve 33, integral with the member di), and said sleeves fixed latch members 43 and d4 are thus forced downwardly relative to the casing and cartridge unit 29, against the pressure of

springs

45 and 67. The cartridge unit 29, along with the member 34, also initially moves downwardly with the sleeve 33, but then becomes longitudinally stationary (although the ball 34 can rotate) when the cartridge shoulder 32 seats against the lip 28 of the hood 25 whose flange 26 in turn seats against lip 24. As the sleeve 33, and

latch members

43 and 44 continue their downward movement, the member id drops out of contact with ball 37. Next, the tapered side of tooth 43 of member 43 will engage ball 37 and exert a wedging force on said ball to thereby move said ball into engagement against the side of tooth 439. inward pressure on the clip is then released. The springs l5 and 67 will return the sleeve 38 and its iixed members 43 and 44E- to their original positions of FiGURE l. As this happens, the ball 37 will be wedged to a position relative to the members d3 and [i4 corresponding to position 5 of FiGURE 5. The spring 67 will always maintain the cartridge unit 29 in engagement with the shoulder 35 of said sleeve 34;. As the sleeve 33 moves to its original position of F iGURE l, its integral upwardly extending member iu will wedge the clip unit to its original position due to the sliding engagement of beveled surfaces di and d4. The entire instrument will thus assume the point protracted writing position of FIGURE 3.

Upon again depressing the clip unit into the casing as far as it will move, the member d@ will again be driven downwardly. rthe latch members d3 and lid will thereby 'envases again move downwardly relative to the cartridge unit 29 and the locking ball 37. rlfhe locking ball 37 will be wedged by Contact with the beveled edge of tooth 419 (FIGURE to a relative position corresponding to position 7 of FlGURE 5. Pressure is then released from the clip whereupon the clip will move to its outwardly xtending position, as the members ed, 3d, 43 and i4 all move upwardly under pressure of spring d5. During this upward movement, the latch ball 37 will be engaged by the tapered side of tooth 51 and nally wedged to a position corresponding to 1' of FIGURE 5. This position 1 is the same as position 1 so the entire instrument is now back in the position of FIGURE l.

-`The embodiment of FIGURES l to 5 is readily assembled. While the assembly of the instrument is believed clear, there are several areas that might be further clariiied. F or example, the spring #i5 is placed over the sleeve 34 so that the lower end of said spring rests on the iiange do. Then, the latch member 4dis placed around the sleeve 3d and pressed down, so as to compress the spring l5 and expose the groove 36. The latch ball 37 is then placed in the groove 3e whereupon the latch member 4d can be released. The spring t5 will then expand sufhciently so as to maintain the latch ball 37 against a side of a tooth of the member 44. The

members

43 and 44 can then be fixed, e.g. by cementing, within sleeve 35.

Another embodiment of my invention is illustrated by FGURES 6 to 8. Here, the clip 7l? is a single integral member having the outer portion '71, and the inner portion 72 terminating in the beveled end 73. The cap 741 includes the downwardly extending tubular portion 75 fixed within the upper barrel section 7 6. A slot 77 extends through one side of said portion 7S and said barrel section 76. The clip 7l) is pivotally held in position by the arcuate lip '7d extending downwardly from the cap 74 into the notch 79 formed in the clip 7l), and the arcuate portion 8o of the upper barrel portion 76 which abuts the lower side S1 of said clip.

The writing unit 29 abuts the lower end 82 of the tubular sleeve member S3. An aperture tldvents said writing unit 2%. Fixed within said sleeve member 83, are the tubular ratchet latch elements flfi and 43. Longitudinally movable within said tubular elements fifi and d3 is the actuating cylinder 35 defining annular groove de carrying the latch ball 37. The upper end of cylinder d5 is integral with the larger diameter cylinder 87 which is formed to deiine a wedge shaped surface 88. A groove di, in said surface d'5, receives the lower beveled inner end 73 of the clip 7d. The cylinder 37 includes the upwardly `extending member gli, which normally abuts the lower edge of tubular portion 75.

A relatively strong coil compression spring 91 is disposed between the cylinder 37 and the latch element 44 and sleeve 83.

ln clip actuated operation, the lower portion 92 oi the clip is pushed into the adjacent aperture 92 formed in the barrel section 76. This will pivot the clip 7? about the pivot point 73 and will force the beveled end 73 along the groove E9. This, in turn, will drive the cylinder 87 downwardly due to the wedging action of clip end 73. As the cylinder d'7 moves downwardly, it will compress spring 91 and also carry the latch ball 37 downwardly relative to latch members 4d and d3', and into Contact with said member 43', to thereby radially shift said ball in its groove Release of inwardly directed pressure on clip portion 92 will allow member S7 to move upwardly again under the pressure of coil compression spring 91. Upward movement of member 87 will move upwardly the latch ball 37 relative to members 4d and 43'; and into contact with member ed and into recess 93. At the same time, upward movement of member 37 will wedge the beveled end 73 outwardly and return the clip to the projecting position shown in FlGUlE 6. With the latch ball 37 now seated in recess 93, spring 91 will be in a compressed condition and the distance from the lower end of the cylinder S7 to the upper end of the sleeve S3 will now be shorter than before. The lower spring 67' will then raise the cartridge unit 29 upwardly so as to obtain the writing point 33f in a concealed position within hood 25. A subsequent depression and release of the clip will project the writing point 33 and return the instrument to the position of FZGURE 6. It will be apparent from the foregoing and a comparison of FG- URE 6 with the embodiment of Fl-URES 1 to 5, that the latch system 43', de and 37 of FIGURE 6 is essentially the same as the

system

43, 44 and 37 or FIGURES l to 5 turned upside down. Also, FIGURE 6, like the embodiment of FIGURES l to 5, converts a transverse movement of the clip into a longitudinal movement to either move the ratchet toothed members relative to the locking ball (as in FIGURES l to 5 or move the locking ball relative to the ratchet toothed members (as in FIG- URE 6). ln either case, the operation is similar.

It will also be clear from the foregoing that `the embodiment'of FGURES 6 to 8 can be tip-actuated in a manner similar to the tip-actuation or" the embodiment of FlGURES 1 to 5.

FIGURES 9 to 14 represent still another embodiment of the invention, which can be clip-actuated or pushbutton actuated, and which also illustrates another type of latch mechanism. ln this embodiment, tubular barrel sections lil@ and 191 are joined by threaded connection with tubular connector 1132. A cap 1113 is lxed to the upper barrel section 1li@ and denes an aperture 164 through which extends the pushbutton 1tl5. A clip 1116 extends through the slot 1W? defined in the side of said cap 1113 and barrel section 16d. A flat spring 1138 has` i its upper hood end 169 embedded in cap 103, while its lower end 11i) is bifurcated and bears against flange 111 defined by clip lilo. The spring 103 urges said clip outwardly to an extended position where said llange 111 seats against the sides of barrel section 1d@ adjacent said slot 167. integral with stern 1%, is the-cylinder 112 wedge surface 113 and the iiat surface 11d. The foot 115, of said cylinder, has a transverse semi-circular groove 116, which vents the ballpoint cartridge unit 117. Tl e coil compression spring 11o` maintains cartridge unit 117 in abutting engagement with foot 115. A semi-cylindrical latch receiver 119 is xed to the sleeve 121i, which in turn is iixed to tubular barrel section 1%. The sleeve 121@ also encompasses the semi-cylindrical portion of cylinder 112 defined by iiat surface 114, and maintains the dat face 121 of latch receiver 119 in abutting engagement with the flat face 111i. A heat shaped cam is detlned by a groove 122 in iiat face 121, which is shown in detail in Fil-SURE i3. A transversely extending groove 123, of semi-circular cross-section, is deiined in face 114, and a locking ball 124 is carried within said grooves 12?. and 123. Heart shaped cams are known per se, and have been described in various patents, eg. U.S. Patents 2,671,354 and 2,972,980. Y y

FlGURE 9 shows the `writing instrument in a point retracted position with writing point 125 within the lower barrel section 101, and pushbutton stem fully extended. The clip lilo can be pressed inwardly into the casing section ltltl, against the pressure of flat spring 1118. The wedge 126, dened at the inner end of said clip, will thereby slide against the wedge surface 113 to wedge the cylinder 112 downwardly against pressure of coil compression spring 11d. This downward movement of cylinder 112 will carry the latch ball 124 from the position indicated by a in FlGURE 13 to position b indicated by the dotted circle in said FIGURE 13. Upon release of inwardly directed manual pressure on clip 106, said clip will be returned to its outwardly projecting position by spring 1198 and will disengage from wedge surface 113. This will allow cylinder 112 to move upwardly under the force of spring 11S transmitted through the cartridge 117 to the cylinder foot 11S. This upward movement will carry ball 124 to a position c of FIGURE atrapan 7 13, and the instrument will assume the point projected position of FIGURE 10.

It will be apparent that upon again depressing the clip 105 into the casing, that wedging contact of said clip inner end 126 will again be made with wedge surface 113 to again drive the cylinder 112 downwardly. This downward movement will shift the latch ball 124 to position d. Release of this downward pressure, will allow the latch ball 124 to return to position a and again achieve the point retracted position of FIGURE 9.-

From the foregoing it will be clear that the writing point can also be retracted and projected by depression and release of the pushbutton 105 since this also imparts longitudinal movement to cylinder 112 to thereby actuate the heart shaped cam mechanism in the aforesaid manner.

Still another embodiment of my invention is illustrated by FIGURES 15 and 16. This embodiment is a modification of that of FIGURES 9 to 14, with the following main differences: elimination of the'pushbutton, a spring to urge the clip inwardly instead of outwardly, and changed proportions of several of the elements to permit use of a longer ballpoint cartridge. Specifically, the spring 108 bears inwardly against ange 111 to urge the clip 106 inwardly to always maintain wedge 126 in contact with wedge surface 113. The cylinder 112 is formed with a bore 127 and air vent 123 for reception of the cartridge unit 117. The abutting at faces 11d and 121 are displaced closer to the clip side of the casing section 120 to thereby make room for said bore 127. The width of the

grooves

122 and 123 in the embodiment of FIGURES l5 and 16 is somewhat more narrow than the corresponding grooves 122 and 12S in the embodiment of FIGURES 9 to 14.

Pressing the clip 106 into the casing as far as it will go, and then releasing said clip 106', will retract the writing point from its projected position of FIGURE 15 in the same manner described with regard to FIGURES 9 to 14. As the writing point is retracted, the cylinder 112' will be forced upwardly and will wedge the clip 1%' outwardly against the pressure of spring 108. The clip 166 will be therebywedged to its fully extended clipping positionV where it can be passed over a shirt pocket. A subsequent depression and release of said clip 106 will return the writing point to its point projected position of FIGURE 15 and the clip 1% will remain partially within the casing in a non-clipping position. This insures against a user clipping the instrument in a pocket with its point projected, since the clip will not function as a pocket clip until the point is retracted. Another advantage of this construction is that with the point projected, the instrument wil have a better balance since the clip is partially retracted within the casing.

In sum, the operation of the instrument of FIGURES 15 and 16 is similar to that of FIGURES 9 to 14 except for the above noted changes.

In conclusion, the present invention relates to a writing instrument having a side projection which can be depressed into the casing and then released to actuate the point. This side projection is preferably the pocket clip, although it will be apparent that a more simple pushbutton can be used for this purpose. This side projection is positively acting, that is the projection can always be pressed into the casing as far as it will go and then be released, and the writing point will be either retracted or projected. Thus, no control of pressure is required, instead just a simple pushing and release is all that is necessary. Also, the same location on the projection or clip can represent the pressing point both for retraction and projection.

This application is a continuation-impart of my Serial Number 841,243, tiled September 2l, 1959, entitled Writing Instrument, and now issued as US. Patent 3,051,132.

I claim:

1. A writing instrument comprising a tubular casing having a closed upper end and an open lower end; a ballpoint cartridge longitudinally movable within said casing between a point projected position and a point retracted position; a spring urging said ballpoint cartridge to a point retracted position; a clip unit extending through said casing proximate said upper end including a clipping portion disposed outside said casing and a wedge portion inside said casing; an actuator defining a wedge surface proximate its upper end for sliding wedging engagement with said wedge portion of said clip whereby transverse movement of said clip wedge portieri is converted into longitudinal movement of said actuator; a ratchet latch receiver element having ratchet teeth dening a deep longitudinally extending recess and a shallow longitudinally extending recess; a latching pawl element, one of said elements being carried by said cartridge and the other of said elements being carried by said actuator, said latching pawl element being engageable with said ratchet teeth and shiftable back and forth between a position within said deep recess and a position within said shallow recess upon relative longitudinal movement of said latching pawl element and said latch receiver element obtained upon said longitudinal movement of said actuator, said latching pawl element when within one of said deep and shallow recesses being operable to obtain said cartridge in a point projected position against the pressure of said spring, said latching pawl element when within the other of said deep and said shallow recesses being operable to allov said cartridge to move to its point retracted position under the influence of said spring.

2. A writing instrument according to claim 1, wherein a sleeve within said casing engages said cartridge for conjoint longitudinal movement therewith, said sleeve deining an external annular groove, said pawl element being a latch ball carried within said groove, and said latch receiver element being carried by said actuator.

3. A writing instrument according to claim -2, wherein said casing includes a barrel and a hood, said hood defining the lower end of said casing and being longitudinally movable relative to said barrel whereby said relative longitudinal movement of said latching pawl element and said latch receiver element can also be obtained upon longitudinal movement or" said cartridge upon the application and release of rctractive force to said lower end of said casing.

4. A writing instrument according to claim l, wherein said actuator includes a lower cylindrical portion deiining an external annular groove, said pawl being a latch hall carried by said groove, and said latch receiver element is carried by said cartridge.

5. A writing instrument having a clip-actuated retractable writing point comprising: a casing having upper and lower ends; a writing unit including a writing point, said unit being mounted within said easing for longitudinal movement between a point projected position and a point retracted position; a clip unit extending through said casing having a clipping portion Voutside of said casing and an actuating portion inside said casing, said unit being mounted on said casing for substantially transverse movement of said actuating portion; a retraction-protraction mechanism engaging said writing unit including a latch element including a pawl and latch receiving element including ratchet teeth defining a deep longitudinally extending recess and a shallow longitudinally extending recess, said elements being shiftable relative one another between a first position wherein said pawl is within one of said deep and shallow recesses and a second position wherein said pawl is within the other of said deep and shallow recesses in response to longitudinal movement of one of said elements relative to the other of said elements, said elements when in said rst position being operable to obtain said writing point in said point projected position, said elements when in said second position being operable to obtain said writing point in said point retracted position; and 4an actuator carrying one of said elements for conjoint longitudinal movement, the other of said elements beingcarried by said writing unit, at least one of said actuator and said actuating portion of said clip unit dening a wedge surface, said actuator being in camming sliding engagement at said wedge surface with said actuating portion of said clip unit whereby transverse movement of said clip unit is converted into longitudinal movement of said actuator and element carried therewith to thereby shift said elements between said positions.

6. A writing instrument according to claim 5, wherein said casing comprises a tubular barrel having a lower end, and a tubular hood having upper and lower ends, said A`--`Ahood being carried by said barrel; and a spring within said barrel urging said hood to an extended position whereby the lower end of said hood extends through the lower end of said barrel, said writing unit when in said `point projected position having its Writing point extended through said hood lower end, said writing unit when in said point retracted position having its writing point re- 10 said clip unit has an upper end pivotally mounted on said barrel.

8. A writing instrument according to claim 5, wherein said casing is provided with two transversely extending, longitudinally spaced slots, said clip unit having an upper portion extending through the uppermost of said slots and a lower end extendable into the lowermost of said slots, said slots serving as guides to insure the substantially transverse movement of said clip into said casing.

Preferences Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 88,655 9/96 Harpfer 120-42.03 2,881,736 4/59 Zepelovitch 1Z0-42.03 2,899,931 8/59 Bross 1Z0-42.03 2,972,980 2/61 MacDonald 1Z0-42.03 3,084,671 4/63 Dottlinger 1Z0-42.03

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,013,542 8/57 Germany. 219,729 1/59 Australia.

1,086,929 8/54 France.

JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE A. NINAS, IR., LAWRENCE CHARLES,

Examiners.

Claims

1. A WRITING INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A TUBULAR CASING HAVING A CLOSED UPPER END AND AN OPEN LOWER END; A BALLPOINT CARTRIDGE LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE WITHIN SAID CASING BETWEEN A POINT PROJECTED POSITION AND A POINT RETRACTED POSITION; A SPRING URGING SAID BALLPOINT CARTRIDGE TO A POINT RETRACTED POSITION; A CLIP UNIT EXTENDING THROUGH SAID CASING PROXIMATE SAID UPPER END INCLUDING A CLIPPING PORTION DISPOSED OUTSIDE SAID CASING AND A WEDGE PORTION INSIDE SAID CASING; AN ACTUATOR DEFINING A WEDGE SURFACE PROXIMATE ITS UPPER END FOR SLIDING WEDGING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID WEDGE PORTION OF SAID CLIP WHEREBY TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT OF SAID CLIP WEDGE PORTION IS CONVERTED INTO LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATOR; A RATCHET LATCH RECEIVING ELEMENT HAVING RATCHET TEETH DEFINING A DEEP LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING RECESS AND A SHALLOW LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING RECESS; A LATCHING PAWL ELEMENT, ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS BEING CARRIED BY SAID ACTUATOR, SAID LATCHING SAID ELEMENTS BEING CARRIED BY SAID ACTUATOR, SAID LATCHING PAWL ELEMENT BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID RATCHET TEETH AND SHIFTABLE BACK AND FOURTH BETWEEN A POSITION WITHIN SAID DEEP RECESS AND A POSITION WITHIN SAID SHALLOW RECESS UPON RELATIVE LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID LATCHING PAWL ELEMENT AND SAID LATCH RECEIVER ELEMENT OBTAINED UPON SAID LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATOR, SAID LATCHING PAWL ELEMENT WHEN WITHIN ONE OF SAID DEEP AND SHALLOW RECESSES BEING OPERABLE TO OBTAIN SAID CARTRIDGE IN A POINT PROJECTED POSITION AGAINST THE PRESSURE OF SAID SPRING, SAID LATCHING PAWL ELEMENT WHEN WITHIN THE OTHER OF SAID DEEP AND SAID SHALLOW RECESSES BEING OPERABLE TO ALLOW SAID CARTRIDGE TO MOVE TO ITS POINT RETRACTED POSITION UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF SAID SPRING.