Manual writing implement

Abstract

 A manual writing implement in which the body (1) has a lateral guide (6) within which a cover (11) is slidably engaged for movement between a position of closure and an open position of the writing point (4) whilst remaining in a plane coincident with or parallel to the plane of the guide (6).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to manual writing implements of the type including an elongate body containing a writing element whose point projects from one end of the body, and a cover for the writing point which is permanently attached to the body and movable relative thereto between a position of closure in which it forms an extension of the body at that end from which the writing point projects and an open position in which it is displaced from this end of the body.

[0002] The object of this invention is to produce a writing implement of the type specified above which has a simple and robust construction and which is very practical and convenient to use.

[0003] According to the invention, this object is achieved by means of a manual writing implement of the type defined above, characterised in that the body has a lateral guide which extends between the closed and open positions of the cover, and in that the cover is slidably engaged in the guide in such a way that it remains in a plane coincident with or parallel to the plane of the guide whilst it is moving between the closed and open positions.

[0004] Preferably this guide extends uninterruptedly along the whole perimeter of the body so that, in practice, the cover can be moved along an annular path and positioned not only at the opposite end of the body from the writing point, but also in any intermediate position along one or other side of the body.

[0005] The invention will be described in detail with reference to the appended drawings provided purely by way of non-limiting example, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a manual writing implement according to the invention with the cover in the closed position,

Figure 2 is a view analogous to Figure 1 with the cover in an open position,

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of one part of the writing implement on an enlarged scale, and

Figure 4 is a partially-sectioned, side-elevation of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale.

[0006] With reference to the drawings, the writing implement according to the invention includes an elongate body 1, normally of moulded plastics material, in which a writing element 2 is inserted. In the embodiment illustrated, the writing element is constituted by a conventional tubular ink holder 3 bearing a ball point 4 which projects from one end 1a of the body 1 under the action of a helical compression spring 5.

[0007] The body 1 has a generally-parallelepipedal shape with rounded ends 1a and 1b and two opposite principal flat faces 1c.

[0008] A sliding guide 6 is formed in the lateral wall of the body 1 and in fact consists of two parallel channels 7 defined between the principal walls 1c and an intermediate lateral rib 6 of the body 1.

[0009] The guide 6 extends uninterruptedly along the whole perimeter of the body 1 and thus also around its ends 1a and 1b.

[0010] Two parallel appendages 9 bearing respective curved shoes 10 are carried on a cover or cap 11, also normally of moulded plastics material, and are engaged in the two channels 7 of the guide 6. The cap 11, which has a shape conforming generally to that of the body 1 but a length equal to a fraction (for example 1/4) of the length of the latter, is thus guided so that it can slide along the guide 6 in such a way that it can be moved by hand along an annular path around the body 1 whilst remaining constantly parallel to a plane passing through the guide 6, or parallel to the principal walls 1c. In this way the cap 11 can be positioned over the end 1a or at the end 1b of the body 1, as illustrated respectively in Figure 1 and in continuous outline in Figure 2, or in any position intermediate these ends as illustrated with a dotted line in Figure 2.

[0011] When the cap 11 is positioned over the end 1a, it acts as a closure and protection for the writing point 4: as is clearly visible in Figure 4, in this position the writing point 4 is engaged in an internal slot 12 in the cap 11 so that it is held firmly in position under the action of the compression spring 5.

[0012] By suitable shaping of the slot 12, it is possible, due to the action of the spring 5, to achieve snap engagement of the cap 11 with the writing point 4 and its snap disengagement therefrom.

[0013] Obviously to allow the writing point 4 to be used, the cap 11 must be moved away from the end 1a and positioned, for example, at the end 1b, sliding along the guide 6. However, as has been made clear above, the cap 11 can be positioned in any position intermediate the ends 1a and 1b, which can result in the advantage of a more comfortable grip on the body 1 during use.

[0014] Naturally, the scope of the present invention extends to models which achieve equal utility by using the same innovative concept.

[0015] Thus, for example, it is clear that the guide 6 could consist of single channel 7 and furthermore that, instead of being formed along the entire perimetral wall of the body 1, it could be formed solely along one side of this body between its ends 1a and 1b.

Claims

1. A manual writing implement including an elongate body containing a writing element whose point projects from one end of the body, and a cover for the writing point permanently attached to the body and movable relative thereto between a position of closure in which it forms an extension of the body at that end from which the writing point projects and an open position in which it is displaced from this end of the body, characterised in the the body (1) has a lateral guide (6) which extends between the closed and open positions of the cover (11), and in that the cover (11) is slidably engaged in the guide (6) in such a way that it remains in a plane coincident with or parallel to the plane of the guide (6) whilst it is moving between the closed and open positions.

2. A writing implement according to Claim 1, characterised in that the guide (6) extends uninterruptedly along the whole perimeter of the body (1).

3. A writing implement according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the guide (6) is in the form of a track (7) and the cover (11) has a pair of slide appendages (9) engaged irremovably within the track (7).

4. A writing implement according to Claim 3, characterised in that the slide appendages (9) of the cover (11) have respective curved shoes (10).

5. A writing implement according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the writing point can be moved axially inwardly of the body (1) against the action of resilient biasing means (5), and in that the cover (11) has a groove (12) which is snap engageable by the writing point (4) in the position of closure under the action of the resilient biasing means (5).

Drawing