Patent ID: 6042290
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: B43K

Abstract:
A writing tool, comprising:a tool body;fluid storage tank in said body;a tip mounted on an end of said body, said tip having an inwardly facing edge;a rotary ball mounted in said tip;a spring, said spring biasing said rotary ball toward said inwardly facing edge, said spring having a length shorter than said tip;a tubular member, at least partially mounted in said tip between said body and said inwardly facing edge, said tubular member at least partially defining a fluid communication path between said fluid storage tank and said rotary ball and said tubular member concentrically supporting one end of said spring;said tubular member having a rod shaped section that is fixedly mounted in said tip, and having a spring support section at an end at which said spring is mounted, to thereby concentrically support said spring;a length of said spring support section being smaller than a length of said spring;an outer diameter of said spring being smaller than an inner diameter of said spring support section; andsaid tubular member having a rear portion with an outer dimension substantially identical to an inner diameter of an adjacent portion of said tip, and a forward portion with an outer diameter that is smaller that of said rear section, such that said tubular member has an outer shape of a rod with a shoulder.