Felt-tip pen or similar writing instrument and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract: A felt pen or a like writing instrument includes an elongate body (3) having a cavity defining a first chamber (15) housing a plug (14) of hydrophilic material associated with a writing tip (9) one end of which (9a) projects out of the body (3). The body (3) also includes a second chamber (25) separated from the first chamber (15) and defining a reservoir for liquid ink (26) for supplying the writing tip (9). The writing tip (9) is spaced from the second chamber (25) and can be supplied with ink directly from the plug (14) which draws ink from the reservoir through capillary supply means (24) independent of the writing tip (9) and interposed between the first and the second chambers (15, 25).

Description: The present invention relates to writing instruments having a writing tip supplied with fluid ink, such as felt pens and the like. More specifically, the invention relates to a felt pen or like writing instrument of the type indicated in the preamble of claim 1. A writing instrument of the type defined above is the subject of European Patent Application EP-516538. The writing tip of the writing instrument described in this document is long so that it passes through a significant portion of the body, having a writing end which projects externally from the body and an opposite end which extends into the second chamber, which constitutes the liquid ink reservoir. As a result of this construction of the writing tip, the liquid ink is supplied directly to the writing tip from the reservoir. A tubular plug is also associated with the writing tip, arranged in the first chamber, in an intermediate position between the writing end of the tip and the second chamber, which the tip passes through from one end to the other. The function of the plug is to absorb any excess ink from the reservoir, should the air in the reservoir heat up, causing excess pressure to build up, and to pass on this stored ink to the writing tip once normal operating conditions are restored. In practice, this tubular plug acts as a temporary ink store only when the main reservoir causes excess ink to flow to the writing tip. However, the structure of the writing instrument described in this earlier document has several disadvantages. Firstly, since in the most common arrangement the writing tip is made up of a bundle of parallel fibres extending axially with respect to the writing tip itself, these fibres act to allow ink to flow in a predominately axial direction, whereby the arrangement of a plug which surrounds radially the writing fibre is found to hamper the exchange of ink between the fibre and the plug. In practice, the ink tends preferably to flow along the writing tip even if excess pressure has built up in the liquid-ink reservoir, with the result that under such circumstances ink tends to drip from the end of the writing tip rather than accumulating temporarily in the plug. In addition, the manufacture of a rectilinear writing tip which is sufficiently long to project from the body at one end and extend into the ink reservoir at the other, and that of a tubular plug, as well as the operation involved in axially inserting the writing tip into the plug, pose technological problems which cannot be solved both reliably and inexpensively at the same time. WO-A-98/21 052 discloses a felt pen having a cavity defining two chambers separated by a partition. In one chamber a plug of absorbent material is housed, to which a writing tip is associated. The other chamber contains liquid ink to be supplied to the writing tip through capillary supply means. According to a first embodiment, the capillary supply means are constituted by the writing tip itself which pass across the plug in order to be into contact with the liquid ink. According to another embodiment, the writing tip is spaced from the chamber containing the ink and is supplied with ink from the plug the rear portion of which has a projection inserted into an opening of the partition to constitute the capillary supply means. In DE-A-42 31 978 the writing tip and the capillary supply means may constitute a unitary member. As alternative, the capillary supply means may be independent of the writing tip. In this case, the supply means are constituted by a disc element associated to the end of the plug opposite the writing tip. The disc element has a projecting cylindrical portion which is inserted into the partition of the pen in order to be into contact with the ink. In order to resolve the disadvantages described above, the object of the present invention is a pen or similar writing instrument of the type defined at the beginning of this description, having the features set forth in claim 1. As a result of this arrangement, the writing instrument of the invention is entirely reliable in operation and is simple and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. In particular, the working of the instrument is based on a different principle from that described in the first mentioned document with reference to the prior art, since the writing tip of the instrument of the present invention is always supplied with ink directly from the plug. In turn, the plug receives ink by capillary action from the reservoir constituted by the second chamber, as the ink absorbed by it is reduced through use of the writing instrument. A further object of the invention is to provide a process for manufacturing a felt pen or similar writing instrument, as indicated in the appended Claim 11. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the following detailed description, supplied purely by way of non-limitative example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a writing instrument of the invention, and Figure 2 is a sectioned side elevation of the instrument of Figure 1, in its assembled condition. With reference to the drawings, a felt pen or similar writing instrument according to the invention is generally indicated 1. The instrument 1 comprises an elongate hollow body 3, having a preferably cylindrical cavity delimited by an internal surface 4 of the body 3 which extends between a first end 3a and a second, opposite end 3b. The end 3a opens to the exterior through an aperture 5 of a shape corresponding to the cross section of the cavity of the body 3, while the end 3b has a generally narrow axial aperture 7, for housing in a known manner a writing tip 9 having a writing end 9a which projects out from the body 3. The tip 9 may be of any type, a fibre tip for example or a so-called "roller ball" or ballpoint having a ball in correspondence of its writing end. In particular, the narrow opening 7 is shaped so as to define a plurality of aeration channels 10 between itself and the tip 9, for the passage of air towards the cavity of the body 3. In addition, the exterior of the end 3b is shaped so as to engage a cap 12 of a type known per se. A cylindrical plug 14 of, for example, hydrophilic material, shorter than the length of the cavity of the body 3, the plug 14 being, for example, around half the length of the cavity, is connected to the end of the writing tip 9 opposite the writing end 9a, so as to occupy only a portion of the cavity of the body 3, near the end 3a. Preferably, between the internal surface 4 of the body 3 and the radially external surface of the plug 14, there is a space in communication with the channels 10 so as to enable air to circulate. A transverse partition 16 is arranged near the end of the plug 14 opposite the writing tip 9 for delimiting a first chamber 15 for housing the plug 14 and for constituting a transverse diaphragm which sealably closes the chamber 15 on one side and the remaining portion of the cavity of the body 3 on the other. The partition 16 is preferably cup-shaped, with a bottom 18 substantially fulfilling a role as shoulder for the corresponding end of the plug 14. In order to provide an effective seal, the partition 16 has at least one annular rib 20 projecting radially therefrom and intended to be deformed slightly as a result of radial interference with the wall 4. In order to provide a more effective seal, there could, naturally, be more ribs 20, a pair for example, slightly spaced axially along the radially outward surface of the partition 16. A central axial hole 22 is formed at the bottom 18 of the partition 16 in order to sealably insert a cylindrical element 24 of preferably fibrous capillary material, one end thereof partly penetrating inside the plug 14, with the opposite end thereof, on the other side of the partition 16, facing a second chamber 25 which extends from the partition 16. The chamber 25 is intended to store a predetermined quantity of liquid ink 26. An end closure member 27 is arranged at the end 3a of the body 3 for sealably closing the chamber 25 from the external environment. Advantageously, the member 27 is cup-shaped, exactly like the partition 16 except that there is no central aperture in this case, and is mounted the other way up from the partition 16. The member 27 also has an annular rib 29, like the rib 20 of the partition 16, in order to provide a radial seal by interference with the wall 4 of the cavity of the body 3. It is convenient if the closure member 27 has an auxiliary stopper 31 for holding the member 27 in place, as once assembled this partially protrudes outside the end 3a of the body 3. The stopper 31 has a radial collar 33 operable to bear frontally against the end 3a so as to form an end stop for the member 27 when it is inserted into the cavity of the body 3. At least part of the body 3, at the site of the chamber 25, is preferably made of a transparent material in order to enable the user to see the level of ink 26 in the said chamber. In order to manufacture a writing instrument 1, first the hollow body 3 is made and then the writing tip 9, the plug 14, the capillary element 24, the partition 16 and the end-closure member 27 are all prepared separately. When preparing the partition 16, a substantially central hole 22 is formed in the bottom 18 through which to insert the capillary element 24. The writing tip 9 is also inserted into the body 3 by the narrow end 3b. Thanks to the fact that the tip 9 is independent of the internal structure of the body 3, any writing tip which can be supplied from a plug of, for example, hydrophilic material, a thick tip, a fine tip or a roller ball, can be used with the same body structure 3, so that the structure of the writing instrument of the invention is especially versatile. The body 3 fitted with the writing tip 9 is then fed to a, preferably automatic, machine which inserts first the plug 14 and then the partition 16 and the capillary element 24 through the aperture 5 in the end 3a, by means of a pusher element, not shown in the drawings. Following this operation, the plug 14 is moved into a position in which it is partially penetrated by the end of the writing tip 9 opposite the writing end 9a, while at the opposite end it is partially penetrated by the capillary element 24 adjacent the partition 16, the shoulder 18 substantially bearing against the latter end of the plug 14. Once the partition 16 has been forced into the cavity of the body 3, the rib 20 is slightly deformed as a result of radial interference with the wall 4, thereby ensuring an optimal seal. An injector then fills the chamber 25 at the other end of the plug 14 from the partition 16 with a predetermined quantity of ink 26, a few grams of ink for example. Once the reservoir constituted by the chamber 25 has been filled, it is sealably closed by forcibly inserting into the end 3a the assembly made up of the closure member 27 and the auxiliary stopper 31 until the collar 33 bears against the end 3a. Once the manufacturing process of the instrument 1 is complete, partly as a result of the pressure built up in the chamber 25 by the insertion of the.closure member 27, the ink 26 begins to flow into the plug 14 through the capillary element 24, and from the plug 14 to the writing tip 9. While the instrument 1 is being used, the ink impregnating the plug 14 is drawn by capillary effect into the writing tip 9. When the plug 14 starts to run out of ink, it draws ink by capillary effect from the element 24. The channels defined by the fibres of the element 24 begin to empty of ink, leaving spaces for air present in the chamber 15 and in the plug 14 to pass through the element 24 into the chamber 25, thereby compensating for a pressure drop caused in the chamber 25 following the withdrawal of ink 26 by the plug 14, and perhaps causing more ink 26 to flow through the capillary element 24 to the plug 14 and thus to supply the writing tip 9.

Claims: A felt pen or like writing instrument comprising an elongate body (3) with a cavity defining a first chamber (15) for housing a plug (14) of absorbent material with an associated writing tip (9) having one end (9a) projecting out of the body (3), and a second chamber (25) separated from the first chamber (15) and constituting a reservoir for liquid ink (26) for supplying the writing tip (9), in which the writing tip (9) is spaced from the second chamber (25') and is intended to be supplied with ink directly from the plug (14), the ink being drawn into the plug (14) by capillary supply means (24) independent both from the writing tip (9) and from the plug (14) and interposed between the first chamber (15) and the second chamber (25), characterised in that the capillary supply means are made by a cylindrical element (24) made of capillary material, having one end at least partly penetrating inside the plug (14) and the opposite end facing the second chamber (25) of the elongate body (3). A felt pen or like writing instrument according to claim 1, characterised in that aeration channels (10) are arranged between the writing tip (9) and the elongate body (3), adapted to allow to be exchanged between the capillary supply means (24) and the interior of the reservoir (25) of liquid ink (26) in the event of a variation in the pressure inside the reservoir (25) with respect to that of the outside environment. A felt pen or like writing instrument according to claim 2, characterised in that the capillary supply means is constituted by a cylindrical element (24) of fibrous capillary material. A felt pen or like writing instrument according to Claim 3, characterised in that the said cylindrical element (24) is sealably inserted through a partition (16) separating the first chamber (15) from the second chamber (25). A felt pen or like writing instrument according to Claim 4, characterised in that the partition (16) has at least one radially-outer annular sealing rib (20), deformable by radial interference with the internal wall (4) delimiting the cavity of the elongate body (3). A felt pen or like writing instrument according to Claim 5, characterised in that the partition (16) is constituted by a cup-shaped element, with a bottom portion (18) adapted to form a shoulder for one end of the plug (14). A felt pen or like writing instrument according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that it includes an end closure member (27) for sealably closing the second chamber (25) at the opposite end thereof with respect to the first chamber (15). A felt pen or like writing instrument according to Claim 7, characterised in that the end closure member (27) includes an element having substantially the same shape as the said partition (16). A felt pen or like writing instrument according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, characterised in that the end closure member (27) has an associated auxiliary stopper (31) which projects out of the elongate body (3) at the opposite end (3a) thereof with respect to the writing tip (9) and has a radial collar (33) for bearing against the bottom end (3a) of the elongate body. A felt pen or like writing instrument according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that at least the site of the second chamber (25) of the elongate body (3) is made of a transparent material in order to allow the user to view the level of ink (26) present in the reservoir. A process for the manufacture of a felt pen or like writing instrument, comprising the following operations: providing an elongate body (3) which defines a cylindrical cavity open axially at a first end (3a) and a second end (3b) having a narrow opening (7), providing a plug (14) of absorbent material, shaped so as to be housed in the cavity of the body (3) and of an axial length shorter than the length of the cavity, providing a transverse partition (16) for the cavity of the body (3) and an end closure member (27), both shaped to match the cross section of the cavity of the body (3), the partition (16) having an element (24) of capillary material passing through it, providing a writing tip (9) adapted to be connected to the body (3) at the narrow opening (7) thereof, fitting the writing tip (9) at the narrow opening (7) in the second end (3b) of the body (3), inserting the plug (14) and the partition (16) with its associated capillary element (24) axially through the first end (3a) of the body (3) so that they are sealably coupled by radial interference between an outer rib (20) of the partition (16) and the inner wall (4) of the body (3) so as to define a first chamber (15) containing the plug (14) between the partition (16) and the second end (3b) of the body (3) and a second chamber (25), separated from the first chamber (15) on the other side of the partition (16) with respect to the plug (14), feeding a predetermined quantity of liquid ink (26) into the second chamber (25), and inserting the end closure member (27) axially into the first end (3a) of the body (3) thereby sealably closing the second chamber (25).

Inventors: QUERCIOLI ENRICO, QUERCIOLI, ENRICO
Applicants: UNIVERSAL S P A, UNIVERSAL S.P.A.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B43K8
IPC codes: B43K8