A WRITING IMPLEMENT

Abstract: A writing implement comprises an elongate hollow housing (1) which carries or is associated with a member carrying a clip (8). The clip is movable to a position in which it abuts the elongate body, the combination of the body and the clip having a thickness which does not exceed the thickness of the body alone. The clip (8) is carried on an actuator member (2) which has a resilient arcuate portion (12) received within the housing, the actuator element (2) being movable from a position in which a writing mechanism (3) is extended to a position in which the writing mechanism is retracted.

Description: "A WRITING IMPLEMENT" THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a writing implement and more particularly relates to a pen or pencil. According to this invention there is provided a writing implement comprising an elongate body containing a writing mechanism, one end of the writing mechanism being in or movable to a position in which it projects beyond one end of the elongate body to be ready for use, the elongate body, or a member associated with the elongate body carrying a clip formed integrally therewith which, respectively, co-operates with the elongate body or with part of the member, the clip being movable to a position in which it abuts the elongate body or part of the member, the combination of the body and the clip or the combination of the body, the member and clip having a thickness which does not exceed the thickness of the said body of the writing implement. Preferably the clip in a first position in whic.h it does not abut the said elongate body or said part of the member defines a space between the clip and the said elongate body or said part of the member, said space terminating in a substantially circular enlargement, the material surrounding said enlargement being relatively thin to provide the clip with resilience. Advantageously the thickness of the material between the substantially circular enlargement and the adjacent end of the elongate body or member is of the same order of magnitude as the thickness of the part of the clip adjacent the said enlargement. Conveniently the clip is formed integrally with the elongate body. Advantageously a separate cap is provided to be mounted on the elongate body. Alternatively the clip is formed integrally with a cap which comprises said member. The clip may be formed integrally with an actuator element forming part of a retractor mechanism to retract the writing mechanism into said body. In another embodiment the clip is formed integrally on a member mounted on the other end of the elongate body. Preferably the member formed with the clip is adapted to receive the cap, and the said one end of the elongate body is also adapted to receive the cap. The writing mechanism may be a ball point mechanism, a pencil mechanism or a fibre-tipped mechanism. Preferably the elongate body is of substantially oval cross-section. Conveniently the elongate body has a width of approximately 12mm and a thickness of approximately 4mm. According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a writing implement comprising an elongate hollow housing, an elongate writing mechanism receivable within the housing and an actuator element connected to the writing mechanism, the actuator element having a resilient substantially arcuate portion received within the hollow housing, that arcuate portion carrying an actuator means which projects through an aperture formed in the housing, the arrangement being such that if the actuator means is moved, the activator element may move from a position in which the writing mechanism is extended to a position in which the writing mechanism is retracted. The actuator means may comprise an actuator button provided on the arcuate portion, or may simply comprise the exposed force of the arcuate portion. A writing implement in accordance with the invention comprises simply three components, namely a hollow housing, a writing mechanism, such as a standard ball point refill, and an actuator element. The actuator element may incorporate a clip. Conveniently the standard ball point refill is connected to the actuator element by means of a stake formed integrally with the actuator element inserted into the open end of the standard refill. Advantageously the stake is of cruciform section. Conveniently the arcuate portion is deformed as it is initially inserted into the body of the pen so that part of the arcuate portion are always resiliently biassed into contact with the interior of the main body of the pen. Advantageously the arcuate portion, when within the main body of the pen, may bias the writing mechanism to the retracted position. Preferably the actuator element also carries a projecting lip, the lip being adapted to engage the edge of the aperture formed in the body of the writing implement to receive the actuator means when the writing mechanism is extended. The lip may be disengaged by pressing the lip or the actuator button inwardly against the bias provided by the arcuate portion. Conveniently the actuator element additionally carries a clip. The clip may be used to clip the writing implement to a pocket, for example. Preferably the clip is such that the clip is spaced from the main body of the actuator element by means of a gap, the clip being movable into contact with the main body of the retractor element, thus closing the gap, the clip, when in this position, not extending beyond the envelope defined by the body of the writing implement. In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of one writing implement in accordance with the invention in the form of a pen; FIGURE 2 is a side view of the pen of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a vertical section view of the pen of Figure 1; FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section view of the pen of Figure 1; FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the cap and top part of the main body of the pen shown in Figure 1, showing the clip in a first position in solid lines and in a second position in phantom lines; FIGURE 6 shows the pen of Figures 1 to 5 in use as a bookmark; FIGURE 7 is a front view of an alternative form of writing implement in accordance with the invention comprising a pen with a cap exploded away from the main part of the pen; FIGURE 8 is a side elevation view of the main part of the pen of Figure 7; FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the pen of Figure 7; FIGURE 10 is a perspective exploded view showing the pen and cap of Figure 7; FIGURE 11 is an enlarged sectional view of the main part of the body of the pen of Figure 7 which carries the clip, showing the clip in a first position in solid lines and in a second position in phantom lines; FIGURE 12 is an enlarged sectional view of the opposite end of the main body of the pen of Figure 7; FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of another writing implement in accordance with the invention. comprising a ball point pen, with the writing implement in a "retracted" position, FIGURE 14 is a perspective view corresponding to Figure 13 showing the writing implement in the operative position, FIGURE 15 is a perspective view of the outer body of the writing implement of Figures 13 and 14, FIGURE 16 is a perspective view of a clip and actuating element forming part of a pen of Figures 13 and 14, FIGURE 17 is a perspective view of a standard refill for use in the writing implement of Figures 13 and 14, FIGURE 18 is an enlarged partial view illustrating how the clip of Figure 16 is connected to the refill of Figure 17, FIGURE 17 is a side top view of the writing implement when in the operative position, FIGURE 20 is a sectional view of the top part of the pen, illustrating the pen in the operative position, FIGURE 21 is a view corresponding to Figure 20 showing the pen in the retracted position, FIGURE 22 is a sectional view taken on line X-X of Figure 9, FIGURE 23 is an exploded view of another embodiment of a writing implement in accordance with the invention, with a cap, FIGURE 24 is a view, partly in phantom, of the main part of the writing implement of Figure 23, FIGURE 25 is a side view of the writing implement of Figure 23 without the cap, FIGURE 26 is a view corresponding to Figure 16 illustrating a further modified embodiment of the invention, and FIGURE 27 is a view corresponding to Figure 21 again showing the modified embodiment of the invention. Referring initially to Figures 1 to 5 it is to be appreciated that the illustrated pen in accordance with the invention comprises an elongate body 1 of hollow configuration which, as can be seen most clearly from Figure 4, is of oval cross-section. The body, as will be described hereinafter in greater detail, in such that the complete pen may easily be used as a bookmark. The body of the pen typically has a width of approximately 12mm and a thickness of approximately 4mm. The body is provided with a removable cap 2 which has formed therewith an integral clip 3. The cap 2 is adapted to snap-fit either on a projection 4 provided at one end of the main body 1 or on a projection 5 provided at the other end of the main body 1. The projections are of the same size and are adapted to be received as a friction fit within the open mouth formed at one end of the cap 2. The projection 4, as can be seen most clearly in Figure 5, is a hollow projection and supports an ink reservoir 6 which is associated with a nib assembly incorporating a ball 7, the pen thus comprising a ball point pen. The ball effectively projects beyond one end of the elongate body to be ready for use. As illustrated in Figure 1, 2 and 5 the cap may be located on the projection 4 to protect the ball 7, but when in use the cap may be removed from the projection 4 and may be mounted on the projection 5. The clip 3 that is formed integrally with the cap 2 adopts an initial position in which a space 8 is defined between the clip and an outer part of the cap. The clip comprises an elongate element which extends up to the very top region 9 of the cap where the clip is formed integrally with the rest of the cap. The substantially uniform space 8 between the clip 3 and the rest of the cap 2 terminates in a substantially circular enlargement 10 adjacent the very end of the cap. The space 8 is adapted to receive, for example, part of a pocket if the pen is to be inserted in such a pocket or may, as will be described hereinafter with reference to Figure 6, receive one or more pages of a book. It is to be observed that the clip 3 is a resilient clip, the resilience being provided primarily by the relative thinness of the material surrounding the circular enlargement 10 of the space 8. The clip may thus be pressed into the position 3' shown in phantom in Figure 5, with the clip thus contacting the exterior of the main part of the cap 2, thus closing the space 8. When the clip is in this position the overall thickness of the cap and the clip is no greater than the thickness of any of the remaining parts of the pen. Thus the clip does not jut out beyond the outer periphery of the main body of the pen. The thickness of the material between the circular enlargement 10 of the space 8 and the very end of the cap is of the same order of magnitude as the thickness of the material forming the end of the clip 3 adjacent the enlargement 10. Preferably the thickness of the material at the end of the cap is no greater than the thickness of the end part of the clip. Referring now to Figure 6 it is to be observed that the pen as illustrated in Figure 1 to 5 may be utilised as a bookmark. The pen will be slid between two open pages of a book, and one or more pages will be introduced to the gap 8 between the clip 3 and the main body of the pen. When the book is closed, because the pen is relatively thin in the transverse direction (in the described example having a thickness of 4mm) the pen does not distort the book significantly. Also, since the clip provided on the cap may move resiliently inwardly to a position in which the total thickness of the cap and the clip does not exceed the thickness of the body of the pen, the presence of the clip will not distort the book to a greater extent than the distortion provided by the presence of the pen. Because of the thickness of the material at the end of the cap, the pen can be accommodated almost entirely within the book, with only a very small terminal part of the cap protruding. Whilst Figure 1 has made reference to a writing implement in the form of a pen it is to be appreciated that the writing implement may be in the form of a pencil. The projection 5 might, in such an embodiment, comprise a depressible projection which can be depressed to actuate a propelling pencil mechanism within the main body of the pen. Whilst in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 the clip is formed integrally with a cap for the pen it is to be appreciated that in alternative embodiments the clip may be formed on the main body of the pen. Such an embodiment is illustrated in Figures 7 to 12 of the accompanying drawings. Referring now to Figures 7 to 12 of the accompanying drawings a pen is illustrated having a main body 11 which is, as can be seen from Figure 9, of oval cross-section. The pen may have a width of approximately 12mm and a thickness of approximately 4mm. The main body of the pen is associated with a cap 12 having an oval cross-section similar to that of the main body 11 of the pen, the cap 12 having a downwardly open mouth in the position illustrated in Figure 7, and having two downwardly extending hollow projections 13, 14 located respectively at the apices of the oval cross- section of the cap. The cap is adapted to engage a projection 15 provided at the upper end of the main body 11 of the pen as shown in Figure 7, that projection having a cross-section slightly smaller than the cross- section of the main body 15, the projection carrying, towards its forward edge, a clip 16 which operates with the rest of the main body of the pen. It is to be observed that when the cap 12 is located in position on the main body 11 of the pen the projections 13 and 14 extend to either side of the clip 16, snugly engaging the clip 16 in the space defined between the projections 13 and 14. The clip 16, as can be seen more clearly from Figure 11, is formed integrally with the main body 11 of the pen. The clip is of elongate form and defines a substantially parallel sided space 17 between the inner face of the clip 16 and an outer face of the terminal portion 18 of the main body 11 of the pen. The space 17 terminates with a substantially circular enlargement 19. The thickness of the material between the circular enlargement 19 and the end of the pen is substantially equal to the thickness of the material forming the end of the clip 16 adjacent the circular enlargement 19. The clip is of resilient nature and may be moved to the position illustrated in phantom at 16• , with the main part of the clip 16 urged into contact with at least part of the terminal portion 18 of the main body 11 of the pen, thus closing the space 17. When the clip is in the position in which it is in contact with the terminal portion 18 of the pen the resilience of the clip is provided primarily by the relative thickness of the material surrounding the circular enlargement 19 of the space 17 the total thickness of the terminal portion 18 of the main body 11 of the pen and the clip 16 does not exceed the dimensions of the main body 11 of the pen. At the opposite end of the pen to the projection 15 there is a similarly dimensioned projection 20 the interior of which is adapted to receive a moulding which retains the ball assembly 22 of a ballpoint pen mechanism which includes an ink reservoir 23 which is received within the hollow interior of the main body 11 of the pen. The moulding 21 is a friction fit within the open end of the main body 11 of the pen. The ball assembly 22 projects beyond one end of the main body 11 of the pen to be ready for use. The projection 20 has the same external configuration as the projection 15 and thus the cap 12, if inverted, may be mounted on the projection 20. The pen of Figures 7 to 12 may also be used as a bookmark, in the manner of the pen of Figures 1 to 5. As can be seen from Figures 13 and 14, the writing implement comprises a main housing 31 of generally cylindrical form having, at the upper end, a projecting clip member 32. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the design of the writing implement is such that the clip member may be pressed to move the writing mechanism of the writing implement from an inoperative or retracted position to an operative or protruding position, and vice-versa. Thus, the clip member can be considered to act as an actuator element. As can be seen more clearly from Figures 15 to 17 the writing implement of the invention being described comprises simply three components, namely a elongate housing 1 as shown in Figure 15, a clip member 32 as illustrated in Figure 16, and a standard ball point refill 33 as illustrated in Figure 17. The housing 1 shown in Figure 15 is of generally cylindrical form of oval cross-section, but the lower part 34 of the housing is provided with a generally pointed end having an axially extending aperture 35 through which the ball point 36 of the refill 33 may project when the pen is in the condition illustrated in Figure 14. The upper end of the housing 31 is provided with a recess 37 adapted to receive a clip part 38 of the clip member 32, and also with an elongate aperture 39 located beneath the recess 37 adapted to receive an actuator button 40 forming part of the clip member 32. The clip member 32 comprises a substantially elongate plastic element having, at an upper end, a clip part 38 spaced slightly from the main body 40 of the clip member by means of a gap 41. The main body of the clip member continues with an arcuate resiliently deformable portion 42 which carries a actuating button 43 and an engagement lip 44 as will be described hereinafter and which terminates in a lower end carrying a cruciform cross- sectioned stake 45 extending downwardly and being intended to be received as a friction fit within the open end of the standard refill, as can be seen most clearly from Figure 18. The clip member 32 is thus connected to the standard refill 33. It is to be appreciated that the pen is fabricated by inserting the stake 45 provided on the clip member 32 into the open end of the refill 33, and then inserting the refill through the top of the housing 31 until the clip part 8 is aligned with the recess 37. The clip member 32 may be moulded of a plastics material and initially will have the form illustrated in phantom 32A in Figure 20 with arcuate portion 42 in a bent or curved condition. However, as the clip member is introduced into the main body of the pen, the arcuate portion 42 is substantially straightened to have the condition illustrated in solid line in Figures 20 and 21. As the clip member is inserted into the main body of the pen, the arcuate portion is further deformed to permit the actuating button 43 and the lip 44 to move past the bottom of the recess 37 so that the actuating element and the lip may slide fully into the body of the pen. Due to the resilience of the arcuate portion 42 of the clip and retractor element as it is slid into the pen, it will occupy the condition illustrated in Figure 20 where the actuating button 43 is located at the bottom of the aperture 39 formed in the main body of the pen and the lip 44 is also engaged in aperture engaging the upper portion of the aperture. Since the arcuate portion is deformed as compared with its original condition before being inserted in the natural resistance of the arcuate portion ensures that parts of the arcuate portion are always resiliently biassed into contact with the interior of the main body of the pen. This is the condition of the pen illustrated in Figures 14, 19 and 20. When in this condition, the pen may be utilised since the ball point portion of the standard refill will project through the aperture provided at the bottom of the main body of the pen. When the pen is to be moved to the retracted condition, the actuator button 43 is pressed inwards against the bias provided by the arcuate portion 42 of the clip member 32 which serves to disengage the lip 44 from the aperture 39, and the actuator button 43 is then pushed upwardly relative to the body of the pen. Provided that the actuator button is pressed inwardly sufficiently for the lip to be fully disengaged from the periphery of the aperture formed in the body of the pen, the clip member 32 will move smoothly upwardly, thus retracting the ball point of the standard refill. The outward bias provided by the arcuate portion 42 provides an upward force which serves to assist the retraction of the writing mechanism into the housing. Thus, there is no need for a separate compression spring, as often found in retracting writing implements. If, once the clip member is moving, the inward pressure applied to the actuator button 43 is released, the actuator button will be biassed outwardly and will engage the upper periphery of the aperture 39, as shown in Figure 21, when the refill is fully retracted. The pen may then be clipped in a pocket or in a book. It is to be observed that although the clip portion 38 of the clip member 32 is separated from the main body 40 by a gap 41, if an inward pressure is provided to the terminal portion of the clip, that gap will close, with the clip part 38 then abutting against the main body of the clip member 32 and retractor element. When in this condition the free end of the clip part 38 does not project beyond the envelope defined by the main body of the pen. Thus the pen may be used, for example, as a bookmark, bearing in mind the oval nature of the cross-section of the pen. When the pen is again to be brought to the operative state, a downward pressure is applied to the top of the clip member 32, which causes the terminal portion of the lip 44 to ride past the lower edge of the recess 37 formed in the top of the main body 31 of the pen, so that continued downward movement of the clip member 32 returns the pen to the operative position as illustrated in Figures 14, 19 and 20. Also, while in the embodiment of Figures 13 to 22 an actuator button on the arcuate portion of the clip member extends through the aperture in the main body, the button may be omitted, with part of the surface of the arcuate portion of the clip member being accessible through the aperture. Manual pressure may then be applied directly to the arcuate portion to operate the pen. Whilst the invention has been described above with specific reference to a ball point pen, and whilst reference has been made to an embodiment in the form of a pencil, reference will now be made to Figures 23 to 25 which illustrate an embodiment broadly similar to that of Figures 8 to 10 but in the form of a fibre-tipped pen. Referring to Figures 23 to 25 a further embodiment of a writing implement in accordance with the invention comprises an elongate body 50 which is, as in the previous embodiments, of oval external cross-section. The body 50 defines an axially extending passage 51. The body 50 may be formed as an injection moulding or as an extrusion which is cut to length. The passage 51 contains a fibrous ink cartridge 52 which acts as a reservoir of ink for the described writing implement. At the lower end of the body 50 a tip holder 53 is provided which is an injection moulded element having a spigot 54 which is received as a friction fit within the lower end of the passage 51. The tip holder, has extending through it, a fibrous or felt-tip having a protruding upper end 55 which is in contact with the cartridge 52 within the passage 51, and a projecting lower end 56 which forms the writing tip for the implement. Received within the upper end of the body 50 is a clip element 57 formed as an integrally moulded element having a spigot 58 adapted to be received as a friction fit within the upper end of the passage 51 and having a main body portion 59 which carries a clip portion 60 adapted to co-operate with the main body portion. As can be seen, when the clip is in a retracted or pressed in position, the total width of the main body portion 59 and the clip 60 does not extend beyond the envelope of the body 50, thus the thickness of the member and the clip does not exceed the thickness of the body of the writing implement. A cap 61 is provided, as shown in Figure 23. The cap may be formed as a moulding and is adapted to be received either on the tip holder 53 or on the clip 57 provided at the other end of the main body. It is to be noted that the cap of the embodiment of Figures 23 to 25 is similar in overall appearance to the cap of the embodiment of Figures 8 to 10, the cap having an open mouth and two extending hollow projections located at the apices of the overall cross-section of the cap. The cap 61 may be provided with a vent hole 62 but may include, within the cap a substantially air-tight pocket or recess 63 adapted to receive and seal the tip 56 of the fibre- tipped writing mechanism incorporated in the writing implement being described. Referring to Figures 26 and 27, a modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated which corresponds to that described with reference to Figures 13 to 22, save that the design of the clip member has been modified. The clip member 70 has an arcuate resiliently formable portion 71, which corresponds to the deformable portion 42. The portion 71 carries three forwardly extending projections, 72, 73 and 74. The projection 72 effectively forms an actuating button corresponding to the actuating button 43. The projection 73 performs the same function as the lip 44. The third projection 74 is located adjacent the free end of a clip part 75 thus helping to ensure that the clip part 75 securely grips any material introduced into the gap 76 existing between the clip part 75 and the main body 77 of the illustrated clip member.

Claims: CLAIMS : 1. A writing implement comprising an elongate body containing a writing mechanism, one end of the writing mechanism being in or movable to a position in which it projects beyond one end of the elongate body to be ready for use, the elongate body, or a member associated with the elongate body carrying a clip formed integrally therewith which, respectively, co-operates with the elongate body or with part of the member, the clip being movable to a position in which it abuts the elongate body or part of the member, the combination of the body and the clip or the combination of the body, the member and clip having a thickness which does not exceed the thickness of the said body of the writing implement. 2. A writing implement according to Claim 1 wherein the clip in a first position in which it does not abut the said elongate body or said part of the member defines a space between the clip and the said elongate body or said part of the member, said space terminating in a substantially circular enlargement, the material surrounding said enlargement being relatively thin to provide the clip with resilience. 3. A writing implement according to Claim 2 wherein the thickness of the material between the substantially circular enlargement and the adjacent end of the elongate body or member is of the same order of magnitude as the thickness of the part of the clip adjacent the said enlargement. 4. A writing implement according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the clip is formed integrally with the elongate body. 5. A writing implement according to Claim 3 wherein a separate cap is provided to be mounted on the elongate body. 6. A writing implement according to any one of Claims l to 3 wherein the clip is formed integrally with a cap which comprises said member. 7. A writing implement according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the clip is formed integrally with an actuator element forming part of a retractor mechanism to retract the writing mechanism into said body. 8. A writing implement according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the clip is formed integrally on a member mounted on the other end of the elongate body. 9. A writing implement according to Claim 8 in combination with a cap wherein the member formed with the clip is adapted to receive the cap, and the said one end of the elongate body is also adapted to receive the cap. 10. A writing implement according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the writing mechanism is a ball point mechanism. 11. A writing implement according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 wherein the writing mechanism is a pencil mechanism. 12. A writing implement according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 wherein the writing mechanism is a fibre- tipped mechanism. 13. A writing implement according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the elongate body is of substantially oval cross-section. 14. A writing implement according to Claim 13 wherein the elongate body has a width of approximately 12mm and a thickness of approximately 4mm. 15. A writing implement comprising an elongate hollow housing, an elongate writing mechanism receivable within the housing and an actuator element connected to the writing mechanism, the actuator element having a resilient substantially arcuate portion received within the hollow housing, that arcuate portion carrying an actuator means which projects through an aperture formed in the housing, the arrangement being such that if the actuator means is depressed, the actuator element may move from a position in which the writing mechanism is extended to a position in which the writing mechanism is retracted. 16. A writing implement according to Claim 15 wherein the writing mechanism comprises a standard ball point refill. 17. A writing mechanism according to Claim 16 wherein the standard ball point refill is connected to the actuator element by means of a stake formed integrally with the actuator element inserted into the open end of the standard refill. 18. A writing implement according to Claim 17 wherein the stake is of cruciform section. 19. A writing implement according to any one of Claims 15 to 18 wherein the arcuate portion is deformed as it is initially inserted into the body of the pen so that parts of the arcuate portion are always resiliently biassed into contact with the interior of the main body of the pen. 20. A writing implement according to Claim 19 wherein the arcuate portion, when within the main body of the pen, biases the writing mechanism to the retracted position. 21. A writing mechanism according to any one of Claims 15 to 20 wherein the actuator element also carries a projecting lip, the lip being adapted to engage the edge of the aperture formed in the body of the writing implement to receive the actuator means when the writing mechanism is extended. 22. A writing implement according to any one of Claims 15 to 21 wherein the actuator element additionally carries a clip. 23. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 15 to 22 wherein the clip is such that the clip is spaced from the main body of the actuator element by means of a gap, the clip being movable into contact with the main body of the retractor element, thus closing the gap, the clip, when in this position, not extending beyond the envelope defined by the body of the writing implement.

Inventors: CHU CORNEL, CHU, CORNEL
Applicants: GRIPPA INTERNATIONAL LTD, GRIPPA INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B43K25
IPC codes: B43K24, B43K25