US3292594A

US3292594A - Writing implements

Info

Publication number: US3292594A
Application number: US511808A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ghislanzoni Luigi
Original assignee: LEANDRO SCHELLINO
Current assignee: LEANDRO SCHELLINO
Priority date: 1964-12-11
Filing date: 1965-12-06
Publication date: 1966-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 1983-12-20
Also published as: DE1933520U; FR1454772A

Description

United Statesv Patent 3,292,594 WRITING IMPLEMENTS Luigi Ghislanzoni, Setfimo Torinese, Italy, assignor to Leandro Schellino, Settimo Torinese, Italy Filed Dec. 6, 1965, Set. No. 511,808 Claims priority, application Italy, Dec. 11, 1964,

2 Claims. (Cl. 120-4213) The present invention relates to ball point pens having a barrel which contains twoor more tubular reservoirs for inks of various colors. The ink-reservoirs, as it is well known, are provided with a ball-point writing extremity and are contained within the barrel of the pen, ready to be axially and individually forced to protrude through an axial opening provided at one terminus of the barrel.

The device of the present invention is substantially characterized in that the controlling element for the sliding of the reservoirs or refills axially along the barrel consists of a single axial member, longitudinally mounted on the terminus of the barrel opposite to the writing terminus.

Another characteristic feature of the device of the present invention is the axial and elastic connection obtained between the pushbutton and the catch of the device, this connection resulting from the employment of a cylindrical spring of helically wound steel thread. This feature is used in conjunction with the conventional tripping mechanism of the pen for the longitudinal sliding of the refill and its arrest in writing position. The tripping mecha-' nism is the result of a coaxially mounted pushbutton operating in conjunction with a catch positioned within and relative to an inner cap, said catch being capable of resting in one of two positions, one of which is axially more advanced and corresponds to the advancement of one of the refills relative to the writing extremity of the barrel.

A further characteristic feature of thepresent device resides in the fact that there are provided externally and peripherally to the barrel reference signs or indicators for the desired selection of the colored inks and, consequently, of the corresponding refills. Each indicator is located diametrically opposite to the corresponding refill, which is caused to protrude from the barrel by holding the pen in an inclined position, preferably about 45 degrees, maintaining the selected indicator along the optical axis of the writer and pressing the pushbutton to cause a force to be transmitted to the catch. The catch is centrally connected to a selective pendular member which, due to the inclined position of the barrel, by gravity engages its free terminal with the resting or bearing end member of one of the refills positioned radially within the barrel.

These and other characteristics of the device of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments thereof and from the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial, sectional view of the device, seen axially;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the guiding element for the refills;

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the element of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective representation of the terminal member of a refill;

FIGURE 5 is a partial view of the correct positioning of the barrel during operation; and

FIGURE 6 shows a variance in some control elements of the device.

Referring now to FIGURES 1-5, the pen comprises a barrel with two removable and mutually connected members 10 and 11. In the upper member 10, also called the "ice cap, there is positioned the mechanism for the longitudinal movement of the various refills 12, each of which travels longitudinally the inner barrel 13. The projection 13a of the inner barrel 13, due to its height, separates each refill from the others. In the embodiment illustrated, being there four refills, the projection 13a is crossshaped (see FIGURE 2). This configuration is, obviously, subject to modifications, depending on the number of refills contained in the barrel.

Surrounding each refill 12 there is mounted a cylindrical spring 14 acting between the upper surface of the cylindrical inner barrel 13 and the upper arrestor with which every refill is provided. The arrestor consists of a member sector-like shaped 15 and of a pyramid-shaped stem 15a which sits in the upper portion of the respective refill. The various sectors 15, when assembled, are illustrated in FIGURE 3 and are seated in the openings of the cross 13a, while retaining possibility of longitudinal movement.

On the peripheral edge of the sectors 15 (FIGURE 1) rests the circular edge of bell 16. Bell 16 has an inner mantle longitudinally grooved and an unobstructed upper base, through which longitudinally travels the body of the cylinder 17. Cylinder 17 is prevented from exiting upwardly by its toothed ridge 17a. The cylinder 17 is of two different inner diameters and is tapered toward its upper extremity. Within the larger cross-section of the cylinder is located the catch 18, the apron 18a of which defines the degree of and the seating position with in the cylinder 17.

Elements

17, 18 and 16 are, of course, conventional and their relative position and use are known.

The apron of the ridge 17a and the apron18a are so shaped that they engage the inner channelling of bell 16 and, when the two cylinders or barrel are axially pushed in a downwardly direction (see FIGURE 1), the catch 18 (in cooperation with apron 18a and

elements

17 and 17a) assumes a position as shown in solid lines in FIG- URE 1, or conversely, a position shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1. In the latter case, the catch 18 is arrested against border 16a formed by the extremity of the grooves or channels 16. The operation, per se, is known. What is novel is the axial non-rigid connection existing between said

elements

17 and 18 through the cylindrical spring 19. Spring 19 is connected at one end to boss 20, rotatable at the base of element 18, and at the opposite end to the base of element 17. The extremity of the cylinder 17 is fixedly joined within the axial cavity of the pushbutton 21 with flange 21a. The helicoidal truncoconical spring 22 operates between flange 21a of the pushbutton and the upper edge of bell 16.

To the catch 18 is connected, frictionally, the collar 23 which supports the pendular member 24. The spherical or spheroidical head 24a of the member 24 has sufiicient play between the base of the boss 20 and the coller 23. One portion 24b of the pendular member, is substantially cylindrical and has a lesser diameter than the rest of the member, so as to permit the maximum angular oscillation on the arc of 360.

structurally, therefore, the catch member 18 consists of a cylindrical body positioned inside the larger diameter portion of the cylinder 17. This cylindrical body has at the upper terminal a rotatable boss 20 (which in turn is connected by spring 19 to the upper terminal of the cylinder 17); at the lower terminal a flared apron 18a contacting the toothed ridge 17a and capable of sliding along the grooves of bell 16 and of being retained by the borders of the grooves; and in its midsection, frictionally contained therein; a collar 23 through which is inserted the pendular organ 24.

The operation of the device of the invention is as follows:

Preferably at the extremity of the cap 10 (see A, B, C in FIGURE are indicated either in relief or inlaid the colors corresponding to the refills. However, any given color is located diametrically opposite to the corresponding refill. To select the desired refill, the pin is handled in an inclined position (see FIGURE 5) with the selected indicator A, B, or C positioned upwardly. The push- 'button 21 is pressed and the extremity of the pendulum 24 is gravitationally directed to the platelet or sector 15 of the refill. The action of the bush-button 21, a force transmitted to

members

17 and 18, causes the sector 15 of the proper refill to be engaged and, overcoming the reaction of the corresponding spring 12, the refill to slide axially so as to protrude from the barrel with its ballpoint extremity. The force exerted by pushbutton 21 has compressed also the spring 22, wherein, while the catch 18 and its related element 18a are engaged in the position shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1, the pushbutton 21 together with barrel 17 are returned to the indicated position. Thusly, the spring 19 is under tension which continues until the refill is in writing position.

Pressing against the pushbutton 21, the barrel 17 and its related element 17a slide toward the catch 18 (and 18a respectively) and release it from the assumed position, whereby, when the pushbutton is released, the original conditions of operation are re-established, the spring 14 causing the refill to re-enter the barrel of the device. The walls or partitions 13a of the support 13 prevent radial movements of the pendulum 24.

In the variance shown in FIGURE 6, the catch 18 (and element 18a) is provided with a hollow, cylindrical projection 18b which serves as a guide for the truncoconical spring 30 (replaces spring 19 of FIGURE 1). The refills 12 are arrested, against the reaction of the relative springs 14, by the annular flanges 12c located at the base of the support 13. All other movements and elements of the device are identical or similar to those hereinbefore described with respect to FIGURES 1-5.

What is claimed is:

1. In a multicolor ball-point pen, an ink-cartridge selecting and propulsion mechanism which comprises in combination: a spring-loaded, flanged and retractable pushbutton protruding from one terminus of said ball-point pen; a cylinder having an upper portion tapered and connected to said push-button and a lower portion of larger diameter and terminating with a toothed, flared ridge, said cylinder being slidable within the barrel of said pen; a bell-shaped element enclosing with its upper having an upper substantially spherical terminus, a oentr al rod-like section and a lower TOdrllk section of larger diameter than said central section; a rotatable 'boss positioned as integral part at the upper extremity of said catch and spaced from said upper terminus of said pendulum, said boss being connected to said tapered upper said bell-shaped element and having a cylindrical lower portion with apertures therethrough for said cartridges and a multi-pointed star-shaped upper portion with guiding, longitudinal rib-like sperators for said cartridges, each of said cartridges having an upper platelet terminal for engaging said pendulum and being spring-loaded about its longitudinal axis from said platelet to said-lower portion of said inner barrel.

2. The writing implement of claim 1, in which said flared apron of said catch is connected therebeneath to a cylindrical protruding member, said member serving as a guide to an inverted trunco-conical spring surrounding said member, said spring replacing said rotatable boss and respective spring.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS r 3,164,132 1/1965 Ganz -42.1-3 3,225,747 12/1965 Schmidt l20-42.13

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,023,101 12/1952 France.

937,964 9/ 1963' Great Britain.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A MULTICOLOR BALL-POINT PEN, AN INK-CARTRIDGE SELECTING AND PROPULSION MECHANSIM WHICH COMPRISES IN COMBINATION: A SPRING-LOADED, FLANGED AND RETRACTABLE PUSHBUTTON PROTRUDING FROM ONE TERMINUS OF SAID BALL-POINT PEN; A CYLINDER HAVING AN UPPER PORTION TAPERED AND CONNECTED TO SAID PUSH-BUTTON AND A LOWER PORTION OF LARGER DIAMETER AND TERMINATING WITH A TOOTHED, FLARED RIDGE, SAID CYLINDER BEING SLIDABLE WITHIN THE BARREL OF SAID PEN; A BELL-SHAPED ELEMENT ENCLOSING WITH ITS UPPER TERMINAL SAID TOOTHED FLARED RIDGE OF SAID CYLINDER AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINAL GROOVES ON THE INNER SURFACE THEREOF FOR GUIDING AND RETAINING PURPOSES; A CYLINDRICAL CATCH POSITIONED INSIDE SAID LOWER PORION OF SAID CYLINDER AND HAVING AT ITS LOWER EXTREMITY A FLARE APRON IN CONTACT WITH SAID TOOTHED FLARED RIDGE AND SLIDABLY RETAINABLE WITHIN SAID GROOVES OF SAID BELL-SHAPED ELEMENT; A COLLAR FRICTIONALLY POSITIONED WITH SAID CATCH AND CONTAINING THERETHROUGH A PENDULUM, SAID PENDULUM HAVING AN UPPER SUBSTANTIALLY SPHERICLA TERMINUS, A CENRAL ROD-LIKE SECTION AND A LOWER ROD-LIKE SECTION OF LARGER DIAMETER THAN SAID CENTRAL SECTION; A ROTATABLE BOSS POSITIONED AS INTEGRAL PART AT THE UPPER EXTREMITY OF SAID CATCH AND SPACED FROM SAID UPPER TERMINUS OF SAID PENDULUM, SAID BOSS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID TAPERED UPPER PORTION OF SAID CYLINDER BY MEANS OF A SPRING; AN INNER BARREL FOR SUPPORTING THE INK-CARTRIDGES, A LOCATED BENEATH SAID BELL-SHAPED ELEMENT AND HAVING A CYLINDRICAL LOWER PORTION WITH APERTURES THERETHROUGH FOR SAID CARTRIDGES AND A MULTI-POINTED STAR-SHAPED UPPER PORTION WITH GUIDING, LONGITUDINAL RIB-LIKE SEPARATORS FOR SAID CARTRIDGES, EACH OF SAID CARTRIDGES HAVING AN UPPER PLATELET TERMINAL FOR ENGAGING SAID PENDULUM AND BEING SPRING-LOADED ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS FROM SAID PLATELET TO SAID LOWER PORTION OF SAID INNER BARREL.