Patent GB-840936-A (GB)
Title: Writing implement
IPC: B43K5/00
Filed: 1956-10-16
Abstract: 840,936. Reservoir pens. SHEAFFER PEN CO., W. A. Oct. 16, 1956 [Oct. 17, 1955; Sept. 11, 1956(2)], No. 31495/56. Class 146(3). A reservoir pen has a writing element, a reservoir comprising a plurality of communicating capillary passages, means for affording communication between the reservoir and an external supply of ink, and means for effecting forced transfer of ink from such a source to the reservoir. A main barrel portion 22 carries a capillary mass 42, e.g. woven gauze, to serve as a reservoir, which is closed at its rear end by a plug 36 perforated at 38, and at its forward end by a plug 40 in threaded engagement with the forward end of the barrel 22. Fixedly mounted in the plug 40 by means of a collar 46 and projecting forwards therefrom is a tubular writing element 28 terminating in a writing point 30. A filling tube 32 is mounted concentrically and slidably in the bore of the writing element and extends rearwards through the plug 40 into the capillary mass 42. An annular capillary space is left between the tubes 28, 32 down which ink is fed to the writing tip 30 from the capillary mass 42, splines 48 on the filling tube 32 enabling the ink to pass the plug 40. Nib-retracting arrangements. The writing element 28 is surrounded by a composite sleeve 26 mounted on the reduced diameter front end of the barrel 22 in telescoping relation therewith. A metal shell 60 carrying a pocket clip encases the barrel 22 and the sleeve 26 slides in an annular space between the shell and the front end of the barrel. The sleeve 26 is in two parts 54, 56 screwed together and is biased forwards to a position, Fig. 1, in which it encloses the writing point 30 by a spring 88. In this position a flexible seal 52, having a plurality of radial slits, closes the outer end of the sleeve 26. Slidably mounted on the writing element 28 is a cylindrical element 64 which is pressed into abutment with a stop 65 on the writing element by a spring 74 arranged between a collar 70 on the element 64 and a flanged stop 76 carried by the plug 40. A latching element 84, Fig. 3, is slidable on the stop 76. To expose the writing point 30 the parts 22, 26 are telescoped. During this operation the cylindrical element 64 first moves forward with the writing element'28 so that its front end forces open the flexible seal 52, and then abuts with its collar 70 against a shoulder 72 in the part 54 of the sleeve 26 so that further telescoping of the parts results in the compression of the spring 74 and the projection of the writing point 30 through the open seal 52. A ring 93 is fixed to an insert 82 mounted in the sleeve 26 and engages flexible tongues 86 on the latching element 84 so that as the parts are telescoped the ring first carries the latching element rearwards and then, as the rear end of the latching element engages the front face of the collar 46, rides up over the tongues 86 flexing them inwards, until spring detents 78 on the latching element engage in a recess 80 in the insert 82. When pressure on the parts 22, 26 is relaxed the spring 88 carries the sleeve 26 forwards slightly until the front end of the latching element 84 engages the flange at the front end of the stop 76. The sleeve is held atched at this position by the engagement of the detents 78 in the recess 80, Fig. 11. The sleeve 26 is unlatched by a further slight telescoping thereof with the barrel 22 so that the detents 78 are forced into the bore of a sleeve 92 which is slidable in the insert 82. Release of pressure on the parts 22, 26 allows the sleeve 26 to be carried forwards by the spring 88, the sleeve 92 being carried rearwards relatively thereto by reason of its frictional engagement with the detents 78 until it abuts against the rear end of the recess 80 and allows the detents 78 to ride out of its bore and to the rear of the insert 82 so that the parts reassume their Fig. 1 position. Self-filling arrangements. The filling tube 32 is fixed at its rear end to a plug 94 carried by a pin 102 slidably mounted in a plug 100 formed with apertures 114. The tube 32 has a lateral aperture 128 which is normally to the rear of the plug 36, Fig. 1a. A threaded part 104 of the pin 102 is engaged with a corresponding part 106 of a tube 108 secured to a rear end cap 110 and telescoped within the barrel 22. Rotation of the cap 110 first causes the tube 32 to be projected beyond the writing point 30, Fig. 11, and the parts 102, 94, 32 to be carried forwards by a spring 96 until the plug 94 abuts against the plug 36, and then disengages the parts 104, 106, Fig. 12, whereupon the parts 108, 110 are carried to the rear by a spring 116. The aperture 128 in the filling tube 32 is now located in the capillary mass 42 and a resilient flexible cylindrical sac 124 sealed at its ends to the plug 94 and the plug 100 respectively is partially collapsed owing to the partial vacuum caused by the sudden enlargement of the chamber to the rear of the plug 100. This partial collapse causes enlargement of a chamber 126 to the rear of the perforated plug 36 and bounded by the outer wall of the sac 124. so that air is drawn through the tube 32 and the aperture 128 into the reservoir. The forward end of the tube 32 is immersed in ink and the cap 110 reciprocated a few times to collapse and extend the sac 124 and thus fill the capillary reservoir 42 with ink After filling the cap 110 is pressed down and rotated to re-engage the threaded parts 104, 106 and retract the filling tube. Specification 840,960 is referred to.