Patent GB-629089-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in writing implements
IPC: B43K24/16
Filed: 1946-04-16
Abstract: 629,089. Writing implements. SOCINA GES. April 16, 1946, No. 11680. Convention date, Sept. 1. 1945. [Class 146 (iii)] In a writing implement comprising a plurality of writing material carriers 7 mounted in eccentrically arranged separate channels 6 in a barrel 1 for endwise reciprocation, the carriers 7 are separately displaceable against the action of a resetting spring 25 to writing position and an aperture 4 is provided in the wall of the barrel I adjacent each carrier 7 through which it is operated, each carrier being rotatable about its longitudinal axis and endwise reciprocable between the writing position and a retracted positionwithin the barrel 1. The four carriers 7 shown in the drawings each comprise leadholding tube 9, a mouth tube 10 and a sliding tube 11, externally knurled, which frictionally engages tubes 9 and 10 over part of their lengths andextends under the aperture 4. The upper end of the barrel 1 is closed by a head 12 having a tubular neck 13 axially movable in the barret 1 but locked against rotation by the inner end of a spring clip 16 engaging an axial groove in the neck. The neck 13 ends downwardly in four radially resilient extensions 19 formed with springing noses 20 engaging slightly under a shoulder 21 to normally hold the neck 13 in the barrel 1 and with inwardly directed arms 19a forming an opening in the shape of a cross through the four arms of which the four carriers 7 pass to . contact the head 12 in retracted position. Each resetting spring 25 bears against a catch ring 24 on the tube 9 and ends downwardly in a socket 26. which rests on the conical surface of a fixed support 27 through which the tube 9 moves. Below the support 27, each tube 9 is formed with a collet 31 and a helical spring 32 surrounds the tube 9 between the collet 31 and the top of tube 11. The tube 9 ends in a collet 33 having lead gripping jaws 34 which are enclosed by a tapered clamping sleeve 35 the mouth tube 10 being separated from the jaws 34 by a space 10a. In use, a carrier 7 is moved downwards by the finger tips engaging the tube 11  through the aperture 4 against the action of spring 25 till the catch ring 24 engages a shoulder 41 on a bush 40 and the carrier is moved back by the spring 25 when the catch is released by pressing the lead 12, a conical surface 42 on the neck 13 contacting the tube 9 to move it towards the barrel axis. The carrier 7 will tend to rotate in the action of writing by pressure of the finger on the knurled surface of tube 11. The lead 8 is fed forward, by drawing the tube 11 backwards by the length of the space 10a against the action of the spring 32 when the tube 10, moving with the tube 11, will press the sleeve 35 upwards and the jaws 34 expand into the space 35a to release the lead 8. On releasing the tube 11, the spring 32 will push it downwards, a shoulder 43 on the tube 11 engaging the sleeve 35 to press it into clamping engagement with the jaws 34. The spring 32 exerts only light pressure on the tube 11 and the tube can be manually pushed further downwards to assist the clamping action on the lead 8. To prevent the sleeve 35 being pushed beyond the jaws 34 when no lead is between them, a stop ring 44 on the tube 9 engages a shoulder 45 on the tube 11. New leads can be inserted through the mouth tube 10 when the jaws 34 are expanded. Colour marks 39 are provided to correspond with the colour of the leads in the carriers. The tip 5 of the barrel 1 is provided with a central bore 37 in which is fitted a point 38 made of steel, hard metal or diamond for marking on hard surfaces. The point 38 may be rounded at one end and pointed at the other and is exchangeable. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 also comprises an arrangement of the head 12 in which the new leads are inserted through the head 12 instead of through the mouth tube 10. A pin may be provided to slide in the tube 9 and which will press on the lead 8 to assist the lead feeding action. One or more writing material carriers for fluid or semi-fluid material may replace one or more of the carriers 7, each such carrier comprising a supporting tube, similar to tube 9, screwing into one end of a container for the fluid having at the other end a writing point, the container corresponding to the tubes 10 and 11 combined. The supporting tube may serve as a container for spare leads for the carriers 7. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.