FOUNTAIN PEN

Abstract

 A fountain pen having a barrel body (12) with a reservoir (14) and an open end (15). A valve (32) is disposed within the barrel body between the reservoir and the open end, the valve selectively opening and closing the open end. A feed assembly (17) includes a ferrule (18) and a nib support (34) that is slidably coupled to the ferrule. A valve opening mechanism (68) extends from one end of the nib support and the valve opening mechanism pushes the valve towards an open position in response to removal of a cap (22) from the feed assembly.

Description

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

[0001] The invention generally relates to fountain pens, and more specifically to a fountain pen having a clean ink refill system.

Related Technology

[0002] Conventional fountain pens include a free ink reservoir that is fluidly connected to a writing nib. Ink flows from the reservoir to the writing nib via capillary action. As ink leaves the reservoir, air replaces the vacated volume through an air hole located near the writing nib. When the ink reservoir is depleted, it can be refilled by dipping the air hole into an ink container. Ink from the container is then sucked up into the reservoir by an internal piston.

[0003] Conventional fountain pens suffer, in particular, from two problems. A first problem is ink leaking out of the pen during changes in external pressure. For example, when a user carries a fountain pen in an airplane and the airplane depressurizes slightly as it ascends, the pressure within the ink reservoir will eventually force ink out of the nib to equalize internal reservoir pressure with external air pressure. This can cause the ink to leak and stain, for example, a shirt pocket. Leaks of this sort can also occur with rapid changes in atmospheric pressure, such as the passage of a storm front. Similar leaks can also occur during changes in atmospheric temperature, which result relative pressure differentials between the pressure within the reservoir and outside of the reservoir.

[0004] A second problem is that refilling the fountain pen ink is a messy procedure. To refill the fountain pen, the writing nib and part of the ferrule up to the air hole must be immersed in a pool of ink, usually within an ink jar of some sort. Because the writing nib and ferrule are immersed in the pool of ink, the writing nib and ferrule become coated with an ink film that must be removed by cleaning the fountain pen after the ink refilling procedure is completed.

[0005] According an embodiment of the invention A barrel for a writing instrument, the barrel comprising: a barrel body including a first end, an orifice being formed at the first end, and a second end that is closed; an ink reservoir capable of containing ink disposed in the barrel body, the ink reservoir being in fluid communication with the orifice; a valve disposed within the barrel body proximate the orifice, the valve including a piston and a seat; and a biasing element that biases the valve to a closed position in which the piston contacts the seat to prevent fluid from flowing through the orifice, wherein the valve selectively closes and opens the orifice in response to attachment and removal of a cap that is connected to the barrel body by a feed assembly.

[0006] According to a preferred embodiment the barrel further comprises a nib support that is slidable relative to the barrel body, the nib support being adapted to contact piston to open the valve, and/or a seat cover that engages and secures the seat within the barrel body, and/or a retainer disposed proximate the orifice, the retainer being adapted to cooperate with a locking mechanism of the feed assembly to releasably secure the feed assembly to the barrel body.

[0007] Preferably the retainer includes at least one bayonet post and/or internal threads.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment the barrel comprises a piston guide disposed within the barrel body, the piston guide including an opening sized and shaped to receive a portion of the piston, the piston guide guiding longitudinal motion of the piston between an open position in which the piston is spaced apart from the seat and a closed position in which the piston contacts the seat.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment the barrel comprises a refill piston within the barrel body, the refill piston being located opposite the valve, wherein particularly the refill piston is actuated with a twisting motion of the barrel body.

[0010] According to a further embodiment of the invention which may be combined with above cited embodiment of the invention, a writing instrument is concerned that comprises a barrel particularly as mentioned above, comprising: a barrel body including a first end, an orifice being formed at the first end, and a second end that is closed; an ink reservoir disposed within the barrel body, the ink reservoir being fluidly connected with the orifice; a valve disposed within the barrel body between the ink reservoir and the orifice, the valve including a piston and a seat; a first biasing element that biases the valve towards a closed position in which the piston contacts the seat to prevent from flowing out of the reservoir through the orifice. Further the writing instrument has a feed assembly comprising: a ferrule connected to the writing nib; a nib holder slidably coupled to the ferrule; an ink feed channel extending from a first end of the feed assembly to a second end of the feed assembly; and a valve opening mechanism extending from the nib holder; and a nib operatively connected to the nib holder; wherein the nib support is longitudinally slidable relative to the ferrule, and the valve opening mechanism operates to move the valve between an open position in which the piston is spaced apart from the seat and a closed position in which the piston contacts the seat in response to attachment and removal of a cap from the feed assembly.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment the writing instrument comprises a locking device disposed on the ferrule, the locking device releasably securing the nib and feed assembly to the barrel, wherein particularly the locking device includes a slot for receiving a bayonet post.

[0012] Preferably the locking device includes external threads.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment the writing instrument comprises a second biasing element located within the ferrule, the second biasing element biasing the valve opening mechanism away from the valve.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment the valve opening mechanism comprises one end of the nib support, wherein the nib support extends through the seat and/or the nib support pushes a piston of the valve to an open position when the cap is removed from the feed assembly and/or the nib support is made of an elastomer and/or the nib support is guided in longitudinal motion by a guiding surface formed on the seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Further features and advantages of the invention can be gathered from the claims, the following description, and the attached diagrammatic drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an uncapped fountain pen with an internal valve in an open position;

Fig. 2 is cross-sectional view of the fountain pen of Fig. 1 with a cap disposed over the writing nib and the internal valve in a closed position;

Fig. 3 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the fountain pen of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a close-up cross-sectional view of the internal valve of the fountain pen of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a close-up cross-sectional view of the internal valve of the fountain pen of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a close-up cross-sectional view of the internal valve of the fountain pen of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the fountain pen of Fig. 1, with a ferrule assembly removed and the fountain pen connected to an ink refill bottle; and

Fig. 8 is close-up cross-sectional view of the fountain pen and ink refill bottle of Fig. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] A fountain pen 10 is exemplified in the drawings, however, other writing instruments that include free ink refillable reservoirs, including, but not limited to, markers, high-lighters, felt tip pens, and other fluid application devices including, but not limited to, correction fluid applicators and paint applicators could also be made in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure by selection of appropriate components.

[0017] Turning now to Figs. 1-3, the fountain pen 10 comprises an outer hollow barrel 11 having a barrel body 12 and an orifice at a first end 15 thereof through which ink is delivered from a reservoir 14 to a writing nib 16. As illustrated, the orifice is formed in an elastomer joint 13 that is disposed in the first end 15 of the barrel body 12. The elastomer joint 13 forms a valve seat, which will be discussed further below, that cooperates with a valve to selectively open and close the orifice. The ink reservoir 14 is capable of containing a supply of ink. The writing nib 16 is operatively connected to the barrel 12 by a feed assembly 17 that includes a ferrule 18 that is removably secured to the barrel body 12. A locking mechanism 20, such as a bayonet or a threaded connection, secures the ferrule 18 to the first end 15 of the barrel body 12. A cap 22 may be attached to the first end 15 of the barrel body 12 to cover the writing nib 16, as illustrated in Fig. 2, or removed from the barrel to expose the nib 16, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The cap 22 may be attached, more specifically, to the feed assembly 17 by a threaded connection 19.

[0018] A refill piston 24 is located within the barrel body 12 at a second end 26. The refill piston 24 is operatively connected to the reservoir 14. The refill piston 24 is movable along a longitudinal axis A of the barrel body 12. As the refill piston 24 moves towards the second end 26, a volume of the reservoir 14 is increased, causing pressure within the reservoir to decrease. When refilling the reservoir 14 with ink, this decrease in reservoir pressure results in a pressure differential between the reservoir and the external environment that forces fresh ink into the reservoir through the first end 15 of the barrel body 12. The refill piston 24 may be actuated by a refill cap 28 that is rotatably secured to the second end 26 of the barrel body 12. As the refill cap 28 is rotated, internal threads 30, which are coupled to the refill piston 24, cause the refill piston 24 to translate along the longitudinal axis A. In other embodiments, the refill piston 24 may be actuated by other elements, such as a refill lever (not shown). In yet other embodiments, the illustrated barrel body 12 may be formed as a replaceable cartridge that is covered by an outer shell.

[0019] A valve 32 is disposed within the barrel body 12 at the first end 15. The valve 32 selectively opens and closes the orifice to allow ink to pass through the orifice, either from the reservoir 14 to the writing nib 16, or from an ink supply to the reservoir 14 during a refilling operation.

[0020] Turning now to Figs. 4-6, the feed assembly 17 includes the ferrule 18, the locking mechanism 20, and a nib support 34 that secures the nib 16 to the ferrule 18. An ink feed channel 36 extends through the nib support 34, fluidly connecting the reservoir 14 to the writing nib 16 when the valve 32 is open. The nib support 34 is slidably attached to the ferrule 18 so that the nib support 34 and the nib 16 are movable along the longitudinal axis A.

[0021] The locking mechanism 20 is threadedly secured to the ferrule at a first end 40 and releasably secured to the barrel body 12 proximate a second end 42 by a bayonet connection 44. In other embodiments, a second threaded connection (not shown) may be substituted for the bayonet connection 44. The bayonet connection 44 comprises a slot 46 disposed in the locking device, and a bayonet 48 disposed on a retainer 50. A retainer cover 52 secures the retainer 50 to the barrel body 12. The bayonet connection 44 allows a user to quickly and easily remove the feed assembly 17 from the barrel body 12 so that the reservoir 14 may be refilled when depleted of ink.

[0022] The valve 32 comprises a piston 60 that is longitudinally translatable within the barrel body along the longitudinal axis A, a seat 62 disposed within the orifice at the first end 15 of the barrel body 12, and a first biasing element 64 that biases the piston 60 towards the seat 62. The seat 62 is attached to the barrel body 12 by a seat cover 63. The piston 60 may be made of an elastomer, such as a thermoplastic elastomer. A piston guide 70 may optionally retain the piston 60 within the barrel body 12, and guide movement of the piston 60 along longitudinal axis A.

[0023] During use, the piston 60 may be opened by a valve opening mechanism 68 when the cap is removed from the feed assembly 17. More specifically, as discussed above, the writing nib 16 is slidably secured to the ferrule 18 by the nib support 34 so that the writing nib 16 and nib support 34 may slide along the longitudinal axis A. The nib support 34 may be guided in longitudinal movement by an inner surface of the seat 62. A second biasing element 74 biases the nib support 34 and the nib 16 towards the valve 32. When the cap 22 is removed from the feed assembly 17, the nib support 34 is biased by the second biasing element 74 towards the piston 60, which pushes the piston 60 away from the seat 62 to open the valve 32. The valve opening mechanism 68, comprises an ink feed tube 76 that extends towards one end of the nib support 34. As the nib support 34 moves towards the valve 32, one end of the nib support 34a pushes against the piston 60, thereby causing the piston 60 to move away from the seat 62. Once the piston 60 is spaced apart from the seat 62, ink may flow through the seat 62, through the ink feed tube 76 and into the ink feed channel 36 to the writing nib 16.

[0024] When the cap 22 is attached to the feed assembly 17 by the threaded connection 19, the threaded connection 19 draws the nib support 34 and the writing nib 16 away from the valve 32. As the nib support 34 moves away from the valve 32, the nib support 34 allows the piston 60 to move towards the seat 62 under the biasing force produced by the first biasing element 64. Eventually, the piston 60 makes contact with the seat 62 (Fig. 5), which closes the orifice, thus preventing ink from flowing out of, or into, the reservoir 14 through the orifice. As a result, when the cap is attached to the feed assembly 17, the valve 32 prevents ink from leaking out of the reservoir 14.

[0025] Similarly, when the feed assembly 17 is removed from the barrel body 12, the piston 60 remains pressed against the seat 62 by the biasing force from the first biasing element 64, as illustrated in Fig. 6. Once the feed assembly 17 is removed from the barrel body 12, the reservoir 14 may be replenished with ink, as discussed below.

[0026] Once the feed assembly 17 is removed from the barrel body 12, the barrel body 12 may be releasably connected to an ink supply, such as an ink bottle 100, as illustrated in Fig. 7. The ink bottle 100 may include a bottle body 102 having an opening 104 at a first end 106. The bottle body 102 may comprise an ink refill reservoir 108. The ink refill reservoir 108 may contain a supply of ink 110. A cap 112 may cover the opening 104 to prevent ink from spilling out of the opening 104. The cap 112 may include an air hole 113 to relieve negative pressure within the ink refill reservoir during ink refill operations for the barrel 11. A gas permeable barrier 121 may be disposed between liquid in the ink refill reservoir 108 and the air hole 113. The gas permeable barrier 121 allows gas to pass through the air hole 113 to equalize pressure while preventing liquid from passing through the air hole 113 to prevent liquid leaks. In other embodiments, the cap 112 may be integrally formed with the bottle body 102.

[0027] The barrel body 12 may be releasably coupled to the cap 112 by a refill adapter 114. The refill adapter 114 comprises a central orifice 115 (Fig. 8). A refill tube 116 may comprise a refill channel 118, through which ink may flow from the ink refill reservoir 108 to the reservoir 14. The refill tube 116 may extend partially into the central orifice 115. A refill tube extender 122 may be attached to one end of the refill tube 116, the refill tube extender 122 extending through the central orifice 115. In other embodiments, the refill tube extender 122 may be integrally formed with the refill tube 116.

[0028] The refill adapter 114 may comprise a locking device 120 having a bayonet slot 146, similar to the bayonet slot 46 in the locking mechanism 20 of Figs. 1-5. The locking device 120 releasably secures the barrel body 12 to the refill adapter 114. The bayonet slot 146 in the locking device 120 receives the bayonet 48 on the retainer 50 of the barrel 11. As the barrel body 12 is secured to the refill adapter 114, the piston 60 is pushed away from the seat 62 by the refill tube extender 122. Once the piston 60 is spaced apart from the seat 62, the reservoir 14 is fluidly connected with the ink refill reservoir 108 by the ink refill tube 116.

[0029] After the barrel body 12 is connected to the refill adapter 114, the refill piston 24 may be actuated. As the refill piston 24 moves away from the seat 62 volume of the reservoir 14 increases. This increase in volume decreases pressure within the reservoir 14 relative to the ink refill reservoir 108 and atmospheric pressure above the ink supply 110 pushes ink from the ink supply 110, through the refill tube 116, through the seat 62, and into the reservoir 14 to replenish the reservoir 14 with ink.

[0030] After the refill operation is complete, the barrel body 12 may be removed from the refill adapter 114 by releasing the bayonet 48 from the bayonet slot 146. As the barrel body 12 is moved away from the refill tube extender 122, force from the first biasing element 64 moves the piston 60 towards the seat 62 until the piston 60 contacts the seat 62 and closes the valve 32, thereby preventing any ink from spilling out of the reservoir 14. Additionally, because the feed assembly 17 is removed from the barrel body 12 during the refill operation, the writing nib 16 and ferrule 18 are kept out of the ink supply and thus remain clean and dry.

[0031] In other embodiments, the piston 60 may be replaced by a ball. In yet other embodiments, the valve may be actuated by mechanical movement of the barrel body, such as by twisting the barrel body, instead of being biased by a biasing element.

[0032] The disclosure is not limited to a fountain pen. The disclosure could be applied to virtually any writing instrument. The features of the invention disclosed in the description, drawings and claims can be individually or in various combinations for the implementation of the different embodiments of the invention.

List of Reference numerals

[0033] 

10

fountain pen

11

outer hollow barrel

12

barrel body

13

elastomer joint

14

ink reservoir

15

first end

16

writing nib

17

feed assembly

18

ferrule

19

threaded connection

20

locking mechanism

22

cap

24

refill piston

26

second end

28

refill cap

30

internal threads

32

valve

34

nib support

34a

one end of the nib support

36

ink feed channel

40

first end

42

second end

44

bayonet connection

46

slot

48

bayonet

50

retainer

52

retainer cover

60

piston

62

seat

63

seat cover

64

first biasing element

68

valve opening mechanism

70

piston guide

74

second biasing element

76

ink feed tube

100

ink bottle

102

bottle body

104

opening

106

first end

108

refill reservoir

110

ink supply

112

cap

113

air hole

114

refill adapter

115

central orifice

116

refill tube

118

refill channel

120

locking device

121

gas permeable barrier

122

refill tube extender

146

bayonet slot

Claims

1. A barrel (11) for a writing instrument, the barrel (11) comprising:

a barrel body (12) including a first end (15), an orifice being formed at the first end (15), and a second end (26) that is closed;

an ink reservoir (14) capable of containing ink disposed in the barrel body (12), the ink reservoir (14) being in fluid communication with the orifice;

a valve (32) disposed within the barrel body (12) proximate the orifice, the valve (32) including a piston (60) and a seat (62); and

a biasing element (64) that biases the valve (32) to a closed position in which the piston (60) contacts the seat (62) to prevent fluid from flowing through the orifice,

wherein the valve (32) selectively closes and opens the orifice in response to attachment and removal of a cap (22) that is connected to the barrel body (12) by a feed assembly (17).

2. The barrel (11) of claim 1, further comprising a nib support (34) that is slidable relative to the barrel body (12), the nib support (34) being adapted to contact piston (60) to open the valve (32).

3. The barrel (11) of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a seat cover (63) that erlgages and secures the seat (62) within the barrel body (12).

4. The barrel (11) of one of the preceding claims, further comprising a retainer (50) disposed proximate the orifice, the retainer (50) being adapted to cooperate with a locking mechanism (20) of the feed assembly (17) to releasably secure the feed assembly (17) to the barrel body (12), wherein particularly the retainer (50) includes at least one bayonet post and/or the retainer (50) includes internal threads (30).

5. The barrel (11) of one of the preceding claims, further comprising a piston guide (70) disposed within the barrel body (12), the piston guide (70) including an opening sized and shaped to receive a portion of the piston (60), the piston guide (70) guiding longitudinal motion of the piston (60) between an open position in which the piston (60) is spaced apart from the seat (62) and a closed position in which the piston (60) contacts the seat (62).

6. The barrel (11) of one of the preceding claims, further comprising a refill piston (24) within the barrel body (12), the refill piston (24) being located opposite the valve (32), wherein particularly the refill piston (24) is actuated with a twisting motion of the barrel body (12).

7. A writing instrument comprising
a barrel (11) particularly according to one of the preceding claims comprising:

a barrel body (12) including a first end (15), an orifice being formed at the first end (15), and a second end (26) that is closed;

an ink reservoir (14) disposed within the barrel body (12), the ink reservoir (14) being fluidly connected with the orifice;

a valve (32) disposed within the barrel body (12) between the ink reservoir (14) and the orifice, the valve (32) including a piston (60) and a seat (62);

a first biasing element (64) that biases the valve (32) towards a closed position in which the piston (60) contacts the seat (62) to prevent from flowing out of the reservoir through the orifice;

a feed assembly (17) comprising:

a ferrule (18) connected to the writing nib (16);

a nib holder slidably coupled to the ferrule (18);

an ink feed channel (36) extending from a first end of the feed assembly (17) to a second end of the feed assembly (17); and

a valve opening mechanism (68) extending from the nib holder; and

a nib operatively connected to the nib holder;
wherein a nib support (34) is longitudinally slidable relative to the ferrule (18), and the valve opening mechanism (68) operates to move the valve (32) between an open position in which the piston (60) is spaced apart from the seat (62) and a closed position in which the piston (60) contacts the seat (62) in response to attachment and removal of a cap (22) from the feed assembly (17).

8. The writing instrument of claim 7, further comprising a locking device (120) disposed on the ferrule (18), the locking device (120) releasably securing the nib and feed assembly (17) to the barrel (11), wherein particularly the locking device (120) includes a slot (146) for receiving a bayonet post and/or the locking device (120) includes external threads.

9. The writing instrument of one of the claims 7 to 8, further comprising a second biasing element (74) located within the ferrule (18), the second biasing element (74) biasing the valve opening mechanism (68) away from the valve (32).

10. The writing instrument of one of the claims 7 to 9, wherein the valve opening mechanism (68) comprises one end of the nib support (34).

11. The writing instrument of one of the claims 7 to 10, wherein the nib support (34) extends through the seat (62).

12. The writing instrument of one of the claims 7 to 11, wherein the nib support (34) pushes a piston (60) of the valve (32) to an open position when the cap (22) is removed from the feed assembly (17).

13. The writing instrument of one of the claims 7 to 12, wherein the nib support (34) is made of an elastomer.

14. The writing instrument of one of the claims 7 to 13, wherein the nib support (34) is guided in longitudinal motion by a guiding surface formed on the seat (62).

Drawing