Patent GB-896349-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to ball-point pens
IPC: B43K29/10
Filed: 1959-12-18
Abstract: 896,349. Writing instruments combined with electric torches. WEBER, S., and WEBER, J., [trading as WEBER KOMM.-GES., CHRISTIAN], Dec.18, 1959 [Dec. 20, 1958], No. 43149/59. Class 146(3) [Also in Group XI] In a retractable ball-point pen provided with an electric bulb so that the pen can be used as a small pocket lamp, a switch for the electric bulb is operable independently of displacement of the writing unit. The pen barrel comprises a transparent tip 14 formed of "Plexiglass" (Registered Trade Mark), two metal casing parts 19, 12 and a threaded metal bush 10 by which the parts 12, 14, 19 are held together. The writing unit 23 is of metal and is slidably disposed in an axial bore of the tip 14, being biased rearwards by a spring 29. A lateral groove 22 in the tip 14 penetrates at its front end to the axial bore in the tip and in this groove is housed a clamp 24 formed with two parallel bores. One bore ofthe clamp is coaxial with the bore in the tip 14 and embraces the writing unit 23, while the other bore accommodates a bulb 27. A contact strip 31 connects the end terminal of the bulb 27 with an externally threaded metal sleeve pushed on to the rear end of the tip 14 and engaging internal threads on the bush 10. To the rear of the writing unit is mounted a battery 11 including a carbon rod 13 which bears against a cap 28 on the rear end of the writing unit. The projecting mechanism for the writing unit includes a plunger 36 slidable in a sleeve 38 at the rear end of the barrel. The plunger is connected to a stepped member 39, also slidable in the sleeve 38, by means of a pin 44 the rear end of which is frictionally engaged in an axial hole in the plunger. The pin 44 passes through a bore in the member 39 and a spring 47 surrounding the pin biases the front face of the plunger into contact with the rear face of the member 39. Spring arms 37 on the sleeve 38 co-operate with spaced steps on the outer surface of the member 39 to retain the writing unit in projected and retracted positions. An insulating washer 41 on the front end of the member 39 bears on the rear end of the battery 11. When as a result of pressure on the plunger 36 the arms 37 engage the rear step on the member 39, Fig. 1, the writing unit is in projected position. Pressure on the plunger 36 in the Fig. 1 position causes disengagement of the arms 37 from the rear step by means of a displacement sleeve 40 slidable on the rear part of the member 39; the arms can then ride over the rear shoulder and assume the Fig. 2 position in which the writing unit is retracted. A lateral pin 50 secured to the member 39 engages longitudinal slots in the sleeves 38, 40 and thereby prevents rotation of the member. The front face of the plunger 36 is formed with a cam 46 and the rear face of the member 39 is formed with two diametral grooves 49 of different depth and arranged at right angles to each other. When the cam 46 is lodged in the shallow groove 49, as shown in full line in Fig. 2, the front end of the pin 44 is out of contact with the rear end of the battery. In order to switch on the light the plunger is rotated until the cam 46 engages in the deeper groove 49 whereby the pin 44 assumes the dotted line position of Fig. 2 and engages the rear end of the battery. A circuit between the battery and the bulb is thus completed via the metal writing unit 10, the clamp 24, the contact strip 31, the threaded sleeve on the tip 14, the bush 10, the casing part 12, the sleeve 38, the spring arms 37, the cam 46, the pin 44 and the button 45. The light may be switched on or off in either position of the writing unit and the unit can be shifted whether the light is on or off.