SLIM WRITING IMPLEMENT WITH LATERALLY OFFSET RETURN SPRING

Abstract

 The present invention concerns a writing implement (100) comprising an elongated housing (70), and at least a first core (10), slider (30), and return spring (50). The first core (10) is arranged within the elongated housing (70). The first slider (30) is coupled to the first core (10) for sliding with it between an extended position in which a writing tip (12) of the first core (10) extends through an orifice (73) at a front end of the elongated housing (70) and a retracted position in which the writing tip (12,22) is held within the elongated housing (70). The return spring (50) is laterally offset within the elongated housing (70) with respect to the first core (10). The first return spring (50) is coupled to the first slider (30) and core (10) for returning them from the extended position to the retracted position.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The disclosure relates to writing implements.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Multifunctional writing implements with a plurality of individually-selectable writing tips are well-known to the skilled person, starting with the renowned Bic^® 4-colour ballpoint pen. Such multifunctional writing implements have also been disclosed in e.g. US7946777B2, JP5199013B2, CN108608766A, JP6227902B2, CN102248840B, FR3076253A1, FR3076254B1, GB992354A, US6540422B2, and CH437050A. Typically, one such multifunctional writing implement comprises an elongated housing, a plurality of writing cores, arranged alongside each other within the elongated housing, a plurality of sliders, and a plurality of return springs. Each slider is coupled to a respective writing core for sliding the latter between an extended position in which a writing tip thereof extends through an orifice at a front end of the housing and a retracted position in which the writing tip of the respective writing core is held within the housing. The return springs are arranged coaxially to the writing cores and return them from the extended positions to the retracted positions.

[0003] A common drawback of such multifunctional writing implements is their relatively large housing diameter which hampers a comfortable grip. Even when they comprise merely two writing cores side-by-side, the coaxial arrangement of the return springs imposes a relatively large diameter for each coaxial core-and-spring assembly, which diameters add together to a large maximum width in at least one transverse axis. Some users may even prefer a writing implement slimmer in at least one transverse axis than may be easily achievable with a coaxial return spring, even for a writing implement with a single retractable writing tip.

SUMMARY

[0004] A first object of the disclosure is that of providing a writing implement with a space-saving cross-sectional arrangement, in particular when comprising two cores, so as to obtain a thinner profile and more comfortable grip.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the disclosure, the writing implement may comprise an elongated housing, a first core, a first slider, and a first return springs. The first core may be arranged within the elongated housing. The first slider may be coupled to the first core for sliding with the first core between an extended position in which a writing tip of the first core extends through an orifice at a front end of the elongated housing and a retracted position in which the writing tip of the first core is held within the elongated housing. The first return spring may be laterally offset within the elongated housing with respect to the first cores. The first return spring may be coupled to the first slider and core for returning the first slider and core from the extended position to the retracted position.

[0006] By laterally offsetting the first return spring with respect to the first cores, it is possible to allow use of a housing that is slimmer in one transversal direction, so as to offer a more comfortable grip.

[0007] This writing implement may further comprise a rear cap at a rear end of the elongated housing. In particular, the rear cap may be pivotable to allow access into the elongated housing, for instance for allowing replacement of spent cores. For a particularly compact arrangement, the pivot axis may be substantially parallel to and laterally offset with respect to the first core.

[0008] To facilitate assembly of the writing implement, the elongated housing may comprise a front barrel, a rear barrel and a connector interposed between the front barrel and the rear barrel. The connector may support the first return spring against the first slider.

[0009] In order to provide the writing implement with a pen function, the first core may comprise an ink reservoir. In this case, the writing tip of the first core may comprise a ball point, although other writing tip types, such as e.g. felt tips, needle points, or fountain pen nibs. Alternatively to an ink reservoir, however, the first core may comprise a pencil lead or a stylus.

[0010] In order to facilitate operation of the first slider from the retracted position into the extended position, a first operating portion may protrude outside of the elongated housing. In particular, the first operating portion may protrude laterally outside of the elongated housing through a slit in the elongated housing.

[0011] In order to offer multiple functions with a space-saving arrangement allowing a slimmer housing, the writing implement may further comprise a second core, a second slider, and a second return spring. The second core may be arranged within the elongated housing alongside the first core. Analogously to the first slider and return spring, the second slider may be coupled to the second core for sliding with the second core between an extended position in which a tip of the second core extends through the orifice at the front end of the elongated housing and a retracted position in which the tip of the second core is held within the elongated housing, and the second return spring may be laterally offset, within the elongated housing, the second return spring with respect to the second core, and coupled to the second slider and core for returning the second slider and core from the extended position to the retracted position. The first and second return springs may be arranged side-by-side, or may alternatively be arranged coaxially. The present disclosure is nevertheless not limited to multifunctional writing implements with just two cores but extends to writing implements with any number of cores equal or greater than one.

[0012] The writing implement may further comprise a stop for holding each slider of the first and second sliders in the extended position against a respective return spring of the first and second return springs. To facilitate operation of the writing instrument, the stop may be configured to be deflected by one slider of the first and second sliders sliding from the retracted position towards the extended position to release, from the extended position, another slider of the first and second sliders. In this way, even a partial actuation of the one slider may suffice to retract, into the housing, the writing tip of the writing core coupled to the other slider.

[0013] In order to provide the writing implement with e.g. a multi-colour pen functionality, the first core may comprise an ink reservoir containing a first ink, the tip of the second core may also be a writing tip, and the second core may comprise an ink reservoir containing a second ink with a different composition than the first ink. Alternatively, however, the tip of the second core could be an erasing and/or color-changing tip and in particular an erasing tip configured to erase and/or change the color of an inscription by the writing tip of the first core. For example, the first core could comprise an ink reservoir containing thermochromic ink and the erasing and/or color-changing tip of the second core could comprise a friction element.

[0014] In order to facilitate core selection, first and second operating portions, for respectively operating the first and second sliders from the retracted position to the extended position, may protrude outside of the elongated housing. In particular, each operating portion of the first and second operating portions may protrude laterally outside of the elongated housing through a respective slit in the elongated housing.

[0015] To facilitate the extension of the tip of each one of the first and second cores outside of the elongated housing, in particular through a single common front opening, the writing implement may comprise an articulation between each slider of the first and second sliders and the respective writing core among the first and second writing cores.

[0016] The above summary of some example embodiments is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the invention. In particular, selected features of any illustrative embodiment within this specification may be incorporated into an additional embodiment unless clearly stated to the contrary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which :

• FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a multifunctional writing implement according to a first embodiment;
• FIGS. 2A and 2B are side views of the multifunctional writing implement of FIG. 1 from opposite sides;
• FIG. 3 is a cut view of the multifunctional writing implement along transversal plane III-III of FIG. 2A;
• FIG. 4A is a cut view of the multifunctional writing implement along longitudinal plane IV-IV of FIG. 3, with a writing core and slider in a retracted position ;
• FIG. 4B is a longitudinally cut view of the multifunctional writing implement along longitudinal plane IV-IV of FIG. 3, with the writing core and slider in an extended position ;
• FIG. 4C is a cut view of the multifunctional writing implement along longitudinal plane IV-IV of FIG. 3, with the rear cap flipped open for access to the inside of the elongated housing; and
• FIG. 5 is a rear view of a connector within the multifunctional writing implement of FIG. 1; and
• FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a multifunctional writing instrument according to a second embodiment.

[0018] While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit aspects of the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] For the following defined terms, these definitions shall be applied, unless a different definition is given in the claims or elsewhere in this specification.

[0020] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term "or" is generally employed in its sense including "and/or" unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

[0021] The following detailed description should be read with reference to the drawings in which similar elements in different drawings are numbered the same. The detailed description and the drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, depict illustrative embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The illustrative embodiments depicted are intended only as exemplary.

[0022] A multifunctional writing implement 100 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure may comprise first and second cores 10, 20, and corresponding first and second sliders 30, 40 and return springs 50, 60, all held together within an elongated housing 70, as illustrated on Fig. 1. Although the illustrated embodiment comprises two cores, any number of cores may be alternatively envisaged.

[0023] Each core 10, 20 may be a writing core, and in particular a ballpoint pen core comprising an ink reservoir 11, 21 and a writing tip 12, 22 in the form of a ball point, as illustrated on Fig. 1. However, other forms of tips, such as e.g. felt tips, needle points, or fountain pen nibs, may be envisaged alternatively or in combination to a ball point. The ink reservoirs 11, 21 may contain inks with different compositions, so that the multifunctional writing implement 100 may for instance allow the user to select between different colours for writing. However, alternatively or in combination to containing different inks, the cores 10, 20 may differ in other aspects, such as e.g. the type or size of writing tip. As illustrated on Fig. 1, the ink reservoirs 11, 21 may be formed as hollow tubes, open at the end opposite to the corresponding writing tip 12, 22, containing a viscous ballpoint pen ink. Even ink-free writing cores, such as e.g. a pencil core or a stylus, may be envisaged alternatively to or in combination with ink-containing pen cores. It may even be envisaged for at least one of the cores to have an erasing and/or color-changing tip, rather than a writing tip. For instance, at least one of the cores may have an ink reservoir containing a thermochromic ink, and at least another one of the cores may have an erasing and/or color changing tip with a friction element configured to erase and/or change the color of the thermochromic ink on a writing substrate by heat generated by rubbing against the writing substrate.

[0024] Each one of the sliders 30, 40 may comprise a main body 31,41, an operating portion 32,42, a core engagement portion 33,43 and a return spring engagement portion 34, 44. In each of the sliders 30, 40, the main body 31, 41 and operating portion 32, 42 may engage corresponding guiding surfaces of the elongated housing 70 so as to guide the sliders 30, 40 in a sliding movement substantially parallel to a main axis X of the elongated housing 70. The operating portion 32, 42 of each slider 30, 40 may protrude outside of the elongated housing 70, through a corresponding slit 71,72 in the elongated housing 70, so as to allow outside operation of the slider 30, 40 in this sliding movement, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2A, 2 and 4A-4C.

[0025] The core engagement portion 33, 43 of each slider 30, 40 may engage a corresponding core 10, 20 and be shaped so as to form an articulation allowing at least a limited angular movement range between the slider 30, 40 and the corresponding core 10, 20 while coupling them in said sliding movement between an extended position, in which the tip 12, 22 of the corresponding core 10, 20 extends through an orifice 73 at a front end of the elongated housing 70, and a retracted position, in which the tip 12, 22 of the corresponding core 10, 20 is retracted back into the elongated housing 70. For this, each core engagement portion 33, 43 may comprise an at least partially spherical end press-fit into the open end of the ink reservoir 11, 21 of the corresponding core 10, 20, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4A to 4C.

[0026] The return spring engagement portion 34, 44 of each slider 30, 40 may be formed as a substantially cylindrical protrusion inserted into an end of the corresponding return spring 50, 60, which may be shaped as a helical compression spring, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4A-4C, so that the return spring engagement portion 34, 44 remains reliably aligned with the corresponding return spring 50, 60, while transmitting a return force from the corresponding return spring 50, 60 back towards the retracted position of the slider 30, 40 and corresponding writing core 10, 20.

[0027] As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2A and 2B, the elongated housing 70 may comprise a front barrel 74, a rear barrel 75, a connector 76, and a rear cap 77. The front barrel 74 may be formed as a hollow barrel extending from the orifice 73 at the front end of the elongated housing 70 to a rear opening where a front side of the connector 76 may be press-fit or screwed, and may include interior ramps for guiding the writing tips 12, 22 towards the orifice 73 during the sliding movement of the writing cores 10, 20 towards the extended position.

[0028] The rear barrel 75 may extend from a front opening, where a rear side of the connector 76 may be press-fit, to a rear opening at the rear end of the elongated housing 70. As shown in Fig. 1, the rear barrel 75 may also comprise, adjacent to said rear opening at the rear end of the elongated housing 70, a pivot 78 connected to the rear cap 77, so that the rear cap 77 may be flipped around a pivot axis P substantially parallel to the main axis X of the elongated housing 70 to open and close access to the inside of the elongated housing. The pivot 78 may be formed, as illustrated in Fig. 1, as a protruding nipple inserted into a corresponding cavity in the rear cap. The slits 71, 72 may be formed in the rear barrel 75 and extend from the rear opening of the rear barrel 75. The rear barrel may further comprise an inwardly protruding lip 79 forming a stop for holding each slider 30, 40 in the extended position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4A-4C. The inwardly protruding lip 79 may be formed at the end of a resilient tongue and comprise an inclined rear surface so as to be deflected out of engagement with one of the sliders 30, 40 held in the extended position, releasing it from this extended position, when the other slider 40, 30 slides from the retracted position towards the extended position.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 5, the connector 76 may comprise through-holes 80,90 receiving the writing cores 10, 20 for guiding each one of the writing cores 10, 20 in their sliding movement between the retracted and extended positions. The connector 76 may further comprise return spring engagement portions 76a, 76b opposite to the return spring engagement portions 34, 44 of the sliders 30, 40, so as to support the return springs 50,60 against the sliders 30, 40. For this purpose, like the return spring engagement portions 34, 44 of the sliders 30, 40, the return spring engagement portions 76a, 76b may be formed as substantially cylindrical protrusion inserted into corresponding ends of the return springs 50, 60, as shown in Figs. 1, 4A-4C and 5. The return springs 50, 60 may be permanently attached to the return spring engagement portions 76a, 76b of the connector 76a, 76b.

[0030] The sliders 30, 40 and connector 76 may be shaped so that, within the elongated housing 70, the return springs 50, 60 are laterally offset with respect to the writing cores 10, 20. "Laterally offset", within the context of the present disclosure, may be understood as meaning offset in a direction substantially orthogonal to the main axis X of the elongated housing. In particular, the writing cores 10, 20, being arranged alongside each other, may be laterally offset with respect each other in a first direction, and each return spring 50, 60 may be laterally offset with respect to the corresponding writing core in a direction substantially different from the first direction. In this manner, it is possibly to arrange the writing cores 10, 20 and return springs 50, 60 in a particularly space-efficient non-coaxial manner, so that the elongated housing 70 may have a comparatively slim, easy-to-grip profile. Moreover, if the return springs 50, 60 are permanently attached to the return spring engagement portions 76a, 76b of the connector 76a, 76b, this configuration allows replacement of the cores without risk of losing the return springs 50, 60.

[0031] In use, each slider 30, 40 may be selectively slid from the retracted position to the extended position, together with the corresponding writing core 10, 20, by actuating the operating portion 32, 42 of the slider 30, 40 towards the front end of the elongated housing 70, so as to extend the corresponding writing tip 12, 22 through the orifice 73 for use. Once in the extended position, the slider 30, 40 may be held by the inwardly protruding lip 79 in the extended position, together with the corresponding writing core 10, 20, until the other slider 40, 30 is operated towards the extended position, deflecting the inwardly protruding lip 79 out of engagement with the slider 30, 40 so that the latter may be returned back towards the retracted position, together with the corresponding writing core 10, 20, by the corresponding return spring 50, 60.

[0032] By pivoting around pivot axis P, the rear cap 77 may be flipped open, as shown in Fig. 4C, allowing access to the inside of the elongated housing 70, and in particular to the sliders 30, 40 and writing cores 10, 20, so that the latter may be exchanged, for example to replace a spent writing core 10, 20, having an empty ink reservoir 11, 21, with a new writing core 10, 20, having a full ink reservoir 11, 21, or to replace a writing core 10, 20 with another writing core 10, 20 of a different type. After this replacement, the rear cap 77 may be flipped closed, by pivoting it back around pivot axis P, to close access to the rear end of the elongated housing 70.

[0033] Although, in the writing implement according to the first embodiment, as illustrated on Fig. 1, the first and second return springs 50, 60 may be arranged alongside each other, alternative arrangements may be considered and further contribute to a more compact configuration. For instance, as illustrated on Fig. 6, the first and second return springs 50, 60 may be arranged coaxially to each other. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 6, the first return spring 50 may be arranged behind the second return spring 60 in the direction of the main axis X. Furthermore, as also shown in Fig. 6, the elongated housing 70 may comprise a single barrel 79 and a rear cap 77. The barrel 79 may be formed as a hollow barrel extending from the orifice 73 at the front end of the elongated housing 70 to a rear opening at the rear end of the elongated housing 70, and may include interior ramps for guiding the writing tips 12, 22 towards the orifice 73 during the sliding movement of the writing cores 10, 20 towards the extended position. The slits 71, 72 may be formed in the barrel 79 and extend from the rear opening of the rear barrel 75. A frame 90 may hold the first and second return springs 50, 60 and the first and second sliders 30, 40 and may be arranged within the barrel 79. The frame 90 may also include the pivot 78, which may be formed, as shown in Fig. 6, as a cavity receiving a corresponding protruding nipple formed in the rear cap 77, in a configuration inverted with respect to that of the first embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1. The remaining elements, such as the writing cores 10, 20, with their ink reservoirs 11, 21 and writing tips 12, 22, and the operating portions 31, 32, may be broadly analogous to those of the first embodiment and consequently receive the same reference numbers in the second embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6.

[0034] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention may be manifested in a variety of forms other than the specific embodiments described and contemplated herein. Accordingly, departure in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as described in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A writing implement (100) comprising :

an elongated housing (70) ;

a first core (10), arranged within the elongated housing (70) ;

a first slider (30) coupled to the first core (10) for sliding with the first core (10) between an extended position in which a writing tip (12) of the first core (10) extends through an orifice (73) at a front end of the elongated housing (70) and a retracted position in which the writing tip (12) of the first core (20) is held within the elongated housing ; and

a first return spring (50) within the elongated housing (70), the first return spring (50) being laterally offset with respect to the first core (10), and coupled to the first slider (30) and core (10) for returning the first slider (30) and core (10) from the extended position to the retracted position.

2. The writing implement (100) according to claim 1, further comprising a rear cap (77) at a rear end of the elongated housing (70).

3. The writing implement (100) according to claim 2, wherein the rear cap (77) is pivotable around a pivot axis (P) to allow access into the elongated housing (70).

4. The writing implement (100) according to claim 3, wherein the pivot axis (P) is substantially parallel and laterally offset with respect to the first core (10).

5. The writing implement (100) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the elongated housing (70) comprises a front barrel (74), a rear barrel (75) and a connector (76) interposed between the front barrel (74) and the rear barrel (75).

6. The writing implement (100) according to claim 5, wherein the connector (76) supports the first return spring (50) against the first slider (30).

7. The writing implement (100) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the first core (10) comprises an ink reservoir (11).

8. The writing implement (100) according to claim 7, wherein the writing tip (12) of the first core (10) comprises a ball point.

9. The writing implement (100) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein a first operating portion (31), for operating the first slider (30) from the retracted position into the extended position, protrudes outside of the elongated housing (70).

10. The writing implement (100) according to claim 9, wherein the first operating portion (31) protrudes laterally outside of the elongated housing (70) through a slit (71) in the elongated housing (70).

11. The writing implement (100) according to any one of the previous claims, further comprising:

a second core (20), arranged within the elongated housing (70) alongside the first core (10) ;

a second slider (40) coupled to the second core (20) for sliding with the second core (20) between an extended position in which a tip (22) of the second core (20) extends through the orifice (73) at the front end of the elongated housing (70) and a retracted position in which the tip (22) of the second core (20) is held within the elongated housing (70) ; and

a second return spring (60) within the elongated housing (70), the second return spring (60) being laterally offset with respect to the second core (20), and coupled to the second slider (40) and core (20) for returning the second slider (40) and core (20) from the extended position to the retracted position.

12. The writing implement (100) according to claim 11, further comprising a stop (79) for holding each slider (30,40) of the first and second sliders (30,40) in the extended position against a respective return spring (50,60) of the first and second return springs (50,60).

13. The writing implement (100) according to claim 12, wherein the stop (79) is configured to be deflected by one slider (30,40) of the first and second sliders (30,40) sliding from the retracted position towards the extended position to release, from the extended position, another slider (40,30) of the first and second sliders (30,40).

14. The writing implement (100) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the tip (22) of the second core (20) is an erasing and/or color-changing tip.

15. The writing implement (100) according to any one of the previous claims, comprising an articulation between each slider (30,40) of the first and second sliders (30,40) and a respective core (10,20) of the first and second core (10,20).

Drawing