Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
  • B43K—IMPLEMENTS FOR WRITING OR DRAWING
  • B43K5/00—Pens with ink reservoirs in holders, e.g. fountain-pens
  • B43K5/02—Ink reservoirs
  • B43K5/14—Exchangeable ink cartridges
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
  • B43K—IMPLEMENTS FOR WRITING OR DRAWING
  • B43K7/00—Ball-point pens
  • B43K7/02—Ink reservoirs; Ink cartridges

Definitions

• the present invention is directed to an improvement to writing instruments, wherein the writing instrument is easily and inexpensively capable of accepting ink cartridges of longer or shorter than normal length.
• the improvement includes a resilient spacing element which decreases the nominal length of the cartridge chamber, but allows compressible contact with a cartridge longer than that nomina1 length.
• Ink writing instruments are well known in the art and are available in both disposable and non-disposable forms.
• Non-disposable forms typically utilize replaceable ink cartridges that are inserted into a chamber within the instrument. When one replaceable ink cartridge is exhausted, a user simply removes it and inserts a new one.
• non-disposable writing instruments consist of two or more separable sections which, when joined, create the cartridge chamber and envelope the ink cartridge.
• the writing instrument may, by not completely screwing the portions together, be capable of enclosing a cartridge that is too long. This remains unsatisfactory to the user, however, as the instrument then has a tendency to unscrew further, to the point of disassembly.
• the incomplete union of the instrument segments is likely to feel uncomfortable within the user's grasp.
• a conventional non- disposable writing instrument includes a main cylindrical portion which encloses a chamber in which resides an ink cartridge, an upper end from which protrudes the writing point of the ink cartridge, and a lower end. Connected to the lower end of the writing instrument by a support member is an O-ring shaped spacing element.
• the spacing element When the chamber is empty, the spacing element reduces the longitudinal length of the ink cartridge chamber, thus allowing relatively short ink cartridges to be inserted and snugly ensconced therein. Relatively long cartridges may also be inserted, in which event the spacing element is compressed, thereby lengthening the ink cartridge chamber.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a writing instrument according to the present invention
• FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a writing instrument employing one embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a writing instrument according to the present invention, with an ink cartridge installed.
• FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 depict an illustrative embodiment of a writing instrument employing the present invention.
• the body of writing instrument 10 is comprised of upper portion 12 and lower portion 14 which rotatably join to form chamber 16 in which resides ink cartridge 18 (shown in FIG. 3) .
• Button 26 attaches to lower portion 14 and forms one end of writing instrument 10.
• cap 14 encloses the opposite, writing, end.
• FIG. 3 in normal operation upper portion 12 is fully joined with lower portion 14, and cartridge 18 substantially fills the longitudinal length of chamber 16.
• Point 20 of cartridge 18 extends through bore 22 of upper portion 12, and spacing element 32 meets the lower end of cartridge 18.
• button 26 can be seen to support spacing element 32 for yieldable interaction with cartridge 18.
• Spacing element 32 compresses as necessary to allow writing instrument 10 to accept cartridges having a range of lengths.
• Post 30, cylindrical in this illustrative embodiment, extends from surface 28 of button 26, preferably at a ninety degree angle, to support spacing element 32.
• the circumference of the opposite end of post 30 is surrounded by an annular flange and, as described below, cooperates with the lower end of cartridge 18.
• the outer diameter of the annular flange surrounding the upper end of post 30 is larger than the inner diameter of spacing element 32, thereby ensuring a secure fit of spacing element 32 to post 30.
• Cartridge 18 includes a bore extending inward from its lower end, opposite button 26, of slightly greater diameter than the annular flange surrounding the upper end of post 30. Upon insertion of a relatively long ink cartridge, the bore receives post 30 as spacing element 32 is compressed. In an alternative embodiment, not pictured, instead of being encircled by a flange, the upper end of post 30 is chamfered. When an ink cartridge is exhausted, the user unscrews the main body of the writing instrument, removes the exhausted cartridge and inserts a new one, typically by first inserting the tip into upper portion 12 and then screwing lower portion 14 onto upper portion 12. The present invention allows the user to insert a cartridge that does not extend all the way to surface 28 of button 26 when upper portion 12 and lower portion 14 are screwed together.
• Spacing element 32 fills the gap that would otherwise exist between cartridge 18 and button 26, thus preventing cartridge 18 from sliding around within chamber 16.
• spacing element 32 is compressible, the user can insert cartridges that are longer than the distance from bore 22 to spacing element 32. Instead of being limited to using such a cartridge with the upper and lower portions of the writing instrument partially unscrewed, spacing element 32 will be compressed by the extended cartridge, and post 30 will extend into the bore situated in the corresponding end of cartridge 18, with no adverse effect upon or difference in appearance of the writing instrument.
• spacing element 32 is a deformable O-ring with a thickness of 0.076 inches; illustrative materials for its construction include various synthetic rubber materials such as nitrile, silicone, and polyurethane. Depending upon the material used, maximum compressibility of this embodiment is 0.018 inches.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Pens And Brushes (AREA)
• Coating Apparatus (AREA)

Priority Applications (7)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=25522188

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (12)

Families Citing this family (5)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 1997
  • 1997-11-19 US US08/974,566 patent/US5915870A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1998
  • 1998-11-16 WO PCT/US1998/024437 patent/WO1999025218A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1998-11-16 AU AU14611/99A patent/AU732235B2/en not_active Expired
  • 1998-11-16 CA CA002309752A patent/CA2309752C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-11-16 CN CN98813200.1A patent/CN1112998C/zh not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-11-16 EP EP98958604A patent/EP1032289B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-11-16 BR BR9814235-6A patent/BR9814235A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1998-11-16 DE DE69839019T patent/DE69839019T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-11-16 JP JP2000520665A patent/JP2001522746A/ja active Pending
  • 1998-11-16 ES ES98958604T patent/ES2297903T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-11-19 TW TW087119152A patent/TW377321B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1998-11-19 AR ARP980105877A patent/AR013770A1/es active IP Right Grant

Patent Citations (3)

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