EP4253078A1 - Instruments d'écriture - Google Patents

Instruments d'écriture Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4253078A1
EP4253078A1 EP22305393.5A EP22305393A EP4253078A1 EP 4253078 A1 EP4253078 A1 EP 4253078A1 EP 22305393 A EP22305393 A EP 22305393A EP 4253078 A1 EP4253078 A1 EP 4253078A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
writing
button
barrel
writing instrument
ratchet
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP22305393.5A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Georgios Katsikas
Etienne MICHENAUD
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BIC SA
BIC Violex Single Member SA
Original Assignee
BIC SA
BIC Violex Single Member SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BIC SA, BIC Violex Single Member SA filed Critical BIC SA
Priority to EP22305393.5A priority Critical patent/EP4253078A1/fr
Publication of EP4253078A1 publication Critical patent/EP4253078A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
    • B43K—IMPLEMENTS FOR WRITING OR DRAWING
    • B43K24/00—Mechanisms for selecting, projecting, retracting or locking writing units
    • B43K24/02—Mechanisms for selecting, projecting, retracting or locking writing units for locking a single writing unit in only fully projected or retracted positions
    • B43K24/08—Mechanisms for selecting, projecting, retracting or locking writing units for locking a single writing unit in only fully projected or retracted positions operated by push-buttons
    • B43K24/084—Mechanisms for selecting, projecting, retracting or locking writing units for locking a single writing unit in only fully projected or retracted positions operated by push-buttons with saw-like or analogous cams

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates generally to the field of writing instruments. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a writing instrument configured to simplify functionality and improve ease of use.
  • a typical writing instrument may include one or more writing element disposed within a tubular housing.
  • a writing element may include a ballpoint pen cartridge, a highlighter nib, a marker nib, a pencil lead, and/or the like.
  • the writing instrument may include a cap for protecting the writing element and/or a writing tip thereof, or the writing element may be mechanically displaceable, so that the writing element and/or the writing tip thereof may be moved to a position outside or inside a housing.
  • the cap may be easily misplaced, which may cause drying of the writing element and/or the writing tip thereof and, thus, a loss of functionality of the writing instrument.
  • the traditional writing instruments typically require several complex components and/or complex structures, which results in increased modes of failure and/or increased complexity and cost of manufacture.
  • the traditional writing instruments typically require a user to manually and/or actively displace the writing element out of and back into the housing, by way e.g. of a button, pusher element, and/or the like.
  • Manual and/or active displacement of the writing element by the user requires increased thought, dexterity, and the use of fine motor skills (e.g. being able to isolate and/or move fingers of the hand independent of a palm of the hand) on the part of the user.
  • a traditional writing instrument may be particularly difficult or frustrating for a toddler, a person having certain disabilities, a person wearing gloves, a person simultaneously holding an additional object, and/or the like. It is desirable to provide a writing instrument that includes structures and/or relationships configured to automatically displace a writing element of the writing instrument, so as to simplify functionality and improve ease of use of the writing instrument.
  • the present disclosure relates to a writing instrument comprising:
  • push button may be arranged in a portion of the barrel that is within 6 cm from the writing orifice.
  • the actuating system comprises at least two push buttons regularly arranged around the longitudinal axis of the barrel.
  • each button is configured so as to protrude from an outer surface of the barrel.
  • the ratchet comprises a sloped portion configured to cooperate with a sloped portion of the button so as to rotate the ratchet from the stable position to the unstable position.
  • the writing instrument comprises a tip component connected to the barrel wherein the tip component defines the writing orifice, wherein the tip component comprises slanted portions adapted to cooperate with slanted portions of the ratchet so as to engage the guiding portion of the ratchet with the guiding ramp when the writing tip extension-retraction system is moved from the second retracted rearward position to the first extended forward position.
  • the ratchet comprises a slot configured to that the button is at least partially in the slot when the button is in its engaged position.
  • the slot defines a radial portion configured to abut on a stop surface of the button when the button is at least partially in the slot, thereby maintaining the ratchet in the unstable position.
  • the button is formed in a single piece of material with the barrel.
  • the button is formed in a single piece of material with the barrel and comprises an attachment portion configured to act as a spring and to urge the button towards the released position, and a grip portion configured to protrude from the outer surface of the barrel when the button is in the released position.
  • the writing instrument comprises at least 3 buttons regularly arranged around the longitudinal axis.
  • the writing instrument comprises 4 buttons regularly arranged around the longitudinal axis.
  • the at least one button is configured so that a user exerts a pressure on the at least one button when seizing the writing instrument and moves the button from the released position to the engaged position.
  • the writing instrument comprises a clip configured to move the writing tip from the second retracted rearward position to the first retracted forward position, upon press applied by the user forwardly along the longitudinal axis.
  • the biasing member comprises a spring which presents one end that abuts on a fixed stop arranged on an inner surface of the barrel, and one opposite end that abuts on a portion of the writing tip extension-retraction system.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a writing instrument 10 in a retracted position.
  • Figure 2 is a partial view of figure 1 .
  • Figure 3 is a perspective view of a writing instrument in a writing configuration or extended position.
  • Figure 4 is a partial view of figure 3 .
  • Figures 5 to 10 illustrate details of the mechanism of the writing instrument 10.
  • the writing instrument 10 may be a marker, a felt pen, a highlighter, a ball point pen, a permanent or non-permanent marker or any other type of writing instrument with an extension and retraction mechanism for extending and retracting a writing tip of the instrument when necessary.
  • the writing instrument 10 may comprise a barrel or tubular body 12 having a longitudinal axis X.
  • the tubular body may be a unitary body, or may comprise multiple components.
  • the barrel has been withdrawn to show the internal mechanism involved in the present disclosure.
  • the writing instrument 10 may comprise at a first forward end of the instrument a tip component 14 comprising a writing orifice 14a which is located at the distal end of the tip component 14.
  • the writing instrument 10 may comprise, at a second opposed rearward end of the instrument, a clip 16 for clipping the instrument onto a support, a piece of clothes etc.
  • the clip may be actuated by a user, e.g. by pressing the latter with a finger (e.g. the thumb) forwardly along the axis X so as to cause extension of the writing tip of the instrument through the writing orifice 14a in a known manner.
  • actuating members may alternatively be used for causing writing tip extension e.g. a push button without a clip.
  • the writing instrument 10 may further comprise in the tubular body a tank for storing a writing ink used by the writing tip.
  • the writing instrument 10 may further comprise a filler cap 18 disposed between the barrel 12 and the clip 16.
  • the clip 16 may be firmly engaged around a protruding end of the filler cap 18 so as to cover the latter.
  • the barrel 12 may extend longitudinally from the tip component 14 toward the rear part of the instrument where the clip 16 is located.
  • the barrel 12 may extend longitudinally in a rearward direction so as to cover as a sheath the internal components of the writing instrument, including a forward end of the filler cap 18 while leaving the clip 16 uncovered.
  • the writing instrument 10 may comprise, within the barrel 12, a writing tip extension-retraction system or mechanism 20 that is configured to slide axially (along the longitudinal axis X) inside the barrel between a first extended forward position wherein the writing tip 20 extends outside the writing orifice 14a ( figures 3 and 4 ) and a second retracted rearward position illustrated in figures 1 and 2 in which the writing tip 22 has been retracted inside the barrel along an axial rearward direction from the first extended forward position of figures 3 and 4 .
  • a writing tip extension-retraction system or mechanism 20 that is configured to slide axially (along the longitudinal axis X) inside the barrel between a first extended forward position wherein the writing tip 20 extends outside the writing orifice 14a ( figures 3 and 4 ) and a second retracted rearward position illustrated in figures 1 and 2 in which the writing tip 22 has been retracted inside the barrel along an axial rearward direction from the first extended forward position of figures 3 and 4 .
  • the writing tip extension-retraction system 20 may further comprise other internal components such as a nib of which a first end forms the writing tip 22 and a nib holder 26 (e. g. a sleeve surrounding the nib) which may at least partly surround the nib 24 and firmly maintain the latter inside the nib holder 26.
  • the nib is fixed inside the nib holder 26 and the latter is fixed to an inner tube 28 which may contain an ink tank, e.g. through tight engagement or insertion of the second opposed end of the nib into an opened first end of the inner tube 28.
  • the inner tube 28 extends rearwardly and is configured to move in accordance with the mechanism 20 between a position that is located proximate the rear end of the barrel 12, in the first forward extended position of figures 3 and 4 , and a position located beyond the rear end of the barrel 12 in the second rearward retracted position of figures 1 and 2 .
  • the filler cap 18 may be tightly mounted inside a second opposed end of the inner tube 28, e.g. by press-fit, so as to ensure air tight and prevent ink from evaporating.
  • the clip can be used as a filler cap: thus, instead of having a filler cap and a clip, one piece may serve for both elements.
  • the writing instrument 10 may further comprise a biasing member 30 (e.g. a spring) that is longitudinally disposed in the instrument and has two opposite ends along its longitudinal dimension: one end, 30a, may rest against at least one fixed stop 32 that is arranged on an inner surface of the barrel 12 (see figure 5 ), e.g. under the form of a peripheral inner ridge, and the opposite end 30b of biasing member 30 may press against a rear part of the inner tube 28, here on an outside shoulder 28a thereof.
  • a biasing member 30 e.g. a spring
  • biasing member 30 is positioned between a fixed part 32 of the barrel and the inner tube 28 so as to exert permanent rearward pulling forces on the latter (in rearward direction R) which tend to pull rearwardly the inner tube 28, and therefore the writing tip extension-retraction system 20 toward the second retracted position of figures 1 and 2
  • the writing tip extension-retraction system 20 may further comprise a ratchet 40 coupled to the inner tube 28.
  • the ratchet 40 as presented may provide a function of a shock absorber and also of an indexing element so as to control change of configuration of the writing instrument 10.
  • the ratchet 40 may comprise a rearward portion 40b which is provided with a number of recesses 40c formed therein. These recesses 40c provide a damping function to the rearward portion 10b of the ratchet 40 so as to dampen shocks that may occur when the writing instrument 10 switches from one of the first extended forward position or the second retracted position to the other.
  • the ratchet 40 may also comprise a frontward portion 40a which is configured to control the change of position of the writing instrument 10 as it will be described hereafter.
  • the frontward portion 40a of the ratchet 40 may be provided with a plurality of slanted portions 47 configured to cooperate with slanted portions 17 of the tip component 14 so as to ensure a proper holding or release of the writing position of the writing instrument 10.
  • the ratchet 40 When the writing tip extension-retraction system 20 moves the writing instrument from the second retracted position towards the first extended forward position, i.e. when a user pushes the clip 16, the ratchet 40 is moved forward. The slanted portions 47 of the ratchet come into contact with the slanted portions 17 of the tip component 14. This will cause a rotation of the ratchet around the longitudinal axis X until the ratchet 40 abuts on a plane portion 19 of the tip component 14.
  • the biasing member 30 brings back the writing instrument towards the second retracted position. Then, the ratchet 40 cooperates with the barrel 12 to ensure a proper holding of the writing instrument 10 in the writing position.
  • the frontward portion 40a of the ratchet 40 may comprise guiding portions 44 adapted to cooperate with a guiding ramp that may be formed in the barrel 12.
  • the guiding portions 44 are formed by slanted portions that protrude radially on the outside of the ratchet 40, and that are slanted on a rearward facing surface as detailed for instance in figure 8 and figure 9 .
  • the barrel 12 may then comprise a guiding ramp 50 which can be seen for instance in figures 5 and figure 10 , which may comprise a first slanted portion 51, a plane portion 52, and a second slanted portion 53 arranged successively.
  • the guiding portions 44 will then be aligned with the first slanted portion 51, which will guide the ratchet 40 during its rearward movement resulting from the effect of the biasing member 30.
  • the displacement of the ratchet 40 will be stopped when the guiding portions 44 reach the plane portion 52, thereby maintaining the writing instrument 10 in a writing position.
  • the plate portion 52 therefore cooperates with the guiding portions 44 of the ratchet 40 to define a stable position, while the first slanted portion 51 and the second slanted portion 53 of the guiding ramp define unstable positions with the guiding portions 44 of the ratchet 40.
  • the writing instrument 10 may further comprise one or more buttons 60 arranged on the barrel 12. These buttons 60 may be formed as tabs that extend from the barrel 12, and that are made in a single piece with the barrel 12 or in a single piece with a component of the barrel 12.
  • the buttons 60 may comprise an attachment portion 61 which acts as a spring, and a grip portion 62 which may protrude radially on the outer of the barrel 12.
  • the grip portion 62 may be offset to the outer surface of the barrel. Such, arrangement may further improve the gripping of the writing instrument.
  • the buttons 60 may be arranged to be able to move, e.g. independently from each other, in a radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis X.
  • the attachment portion may enable a movement of the buttons in a radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis X.
  • the buttons 60 may therefore be qualified as push buttons.
  • the barrel 21 may be provided with one or more buttons 60.
  • the barrel may for instance be provided with 1, 2, 3 or 4 buttons, that may be arranged around the longitudinal axis X, for instance regularly around the longitudinal axis X.
  • the buttons are arranged around the axis X such that two consecutive buttons 60 around the longitudinal axis X are separated by a constant angular value.
  • Each of the buttons 60 may extend over a radial sector around the longitudinal axis X.
  • the buttons 60 may be positioned at a same distance from the writing orifice 14a, or at different distances from the writing orifice 14a.
  • the at least one button 60 as proposed is located in a front portion of the writing instrument 10, so that the user may push on at least one button 60, for example with his/her fingers, when using the writing instrument 10.
  • the at least one button 60 may for instance be closer from the writing orifice 14a than from the rearward end of the writing instrument 10, which may for instance be the rearward end of the clip 16, opposite to the writing orifice 14a.
  • the at least one button 60 may for instance be located between 0 cm and 5 cm from the writing orifice 14a, or may be located between 0.5 cm and 4 cm from the writing orifice 14a, or may be located between 0.5 cm and 4 cm from the writing orifice 14a, or may be located between 0.5 cm and 2 cm from the writing orifice 14a, such locations defining what is usually qualified as a grip distance of the writing instrument, which is the portion where the fingertips of the user seize the writing instrument.
  • the at least one button 60 may be positioned in the frontward half portion of the writing instrument 10, or in the frontward third portion of the writing instrument 10, or in the frontward quarter portion of the writing instrument 10, wherein the frontward portion is here understood as the portion of the writing instrument that is adjacent to the writing orifice 14a along the longitudinal direction X.
  • the at least one button 60 Upon actuation by the user, the at least one button 60 will be pushed towards the inner volume of the writing instrument 10. The at least one button will then engage the ratchet 40 which rests on the plane portion 52 of the guiding ramp 50.
  • Figure 6 represents a configuration in which the buttons 60 are in a rest configuration, i.e. when no effort is applied
  • Figure 7 represents a configuration in which the buttons 60 are pressed by the user and engaged in the ratchet 40. While figure 7 presents a configuration in which all the buttons 60 are pressed, we understand that pressing at least one button 60 is sufficient to engage the ratchet 40.
  • the ratchet 40 comprises a slot 46 configured to accommodate at least partially the at least one button 60.
  • a sloped portion 64 of the button 60 will cooperate with a sloped portion 48 of the ratchet 40 so as to further rotate the ratchet 40 (in a clockwise direction in figure 6 ), in order to engage the guiding portions 44 of the ratchet 40 with the second slanted portion 53 of the guiding ramp 50.
  • the button 60 will act as a stop to prevent a further rotation of the ratchet 40, and therefore a further rearward movement along the second slanted portion 53. More specifically, if we refer to figure 6 , a radial portion 45 of the ratchet 40 will abut on stop surface 65 of the button 60 opposed to the sloped portion 64.
  • the button 60 disengages the ratchet 40, which will then move along the second slanted portion 53 under the rearward effect of the biasing member 30 to bring back the writing instrument 10 to the second retracted position.
  • the writing instrument 10 as presented may therefore provide an automatic retraction effect, by providing buttons 60 arranged on a portion of the writing instrument 10 that the user seizes upon uses, which will then automatically bring back the writing instrument 10 back into a retracted position when the user releases the pressure on these buttons 60.
  • the buttons 60 define an actuating system for the writing instrument 10.
  • the writing instrument 10 as presented may therefore simplify the use of the writing instrument, while presenting a functional and reliable structure.

Landscapes

  • Mechanical Pencils And Projecting And Retracting Systems Therefor, And Multi-System Writing Instruments (AREA)
EP22305393.5A 2022-03-29 2022-03-29 Instruments d'écriture Withdrawn EP4253078A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP22305393.5A EP4253078A1 (fr) 2022-03-29 2022-03-29 Instruments d'écriture

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP22305393.5A EP4253078A1 (fr) 2022-03-29 2022-03-29 Instruments d'écriture

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4253078A1 true EP4253078A1 (fr) 2023-10-04

Family

ID=81307209

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP22305393.5A Withdrawn EP4253078A1 (fr) 2022-03-29 2022-03-29 Instruments d'écriture

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4253078A1 (fr)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3558233A (en) * 1969-04-21 1971-01-26 Nathan A Zepell Rotary actuating mechanism for writing instrument
US4381158A (en) * 1980-12-29 1983-04-26 Dino L. Garganese Writing instrument
US6095706A (en) * 1990-01-30 2000-08-01 Ancos Co., Ltd. Writing instrument operated by a finger at a holding position

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3558233A (en) * 1969-04-21 1971-01-26 Nathan A Zepell Rotary actuating mechanism for writing instrument
US4381158A (en) * 1980-12-29 1983-04-26 Dino L. Garganese Writing instrument
US6095706A (en) * 1990-01-30 2000-08-01 Ancos Co., Ltd. Writing instrument operated by a finger at a holding position

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