Patent GB-1308725-A (GB)
Title: Writing instrument
IPC: B43K24/16
Filed: 1971-08-27
Abstract: 1308725 Writing appliances R G VON FABER-CASTELL [trading as A W FABERCASTELL] 27 Aug 1971 [2 Sept 1970 3 Dec 1970] 40347/71 Heading B6P A writing instrument comprises a number of writing units, e.g. ball pen units containing inks of different colours, each attached to a holder, a spring-retracted sleeve at the writing end having an opening which allows the passage of one unit only, a push button by means of which all the units with their holders, and the sleeve, can be moved to an extended position, and a weight member which if the instrument is tilted engages a selected one of the holders so that when the push button is released that holder and its pen unit is caused to be retained in projected position, the remaining holders and the sleeve being spring retracted so that the point of the selected pen unit passes through the opening in the sleeve into a writing position. In one embodiment, Fig. 7, four holders 7, to which are attached ball-point units 11, are slidable upon a member 8 retained against movement in the outer casing 1. A pendulum pin 9 is suspended from the member 8 and is accommodated in a cylindrical space formed by the inner surfaces of the holders when all the holders are in the same axial position. Depression of a push button 4 causes all the holders 7 to be moved forwardly in the casing 1, a spring- retracted sleeve 3 being simultaneously projected from the casing 1 by the pressure of the units thereon. If now the instrument is tilted, the pin 9 swings sideways as shown into engagement with a ledge 7a on one 11<SP>1</SP> of the units, so that when the button 4 is released, the retraction spring 12 causes rearward movement of the sleeve 3 and all the units 11 except unit 11<SP>1</SP> the writing point of which passes through the opening in the sleeve 3 into a writing position. By holding the instrument in a vertical position and first depressing and then releasing the button 4, the pin 9 moves into its axially aligned position and all the units 11 and the sleeve 3 are retracted. In another embodiment, Fig. 37, a ball 34 is used as the weight member instead of a pendulum pin. An outer casing 25 has adjacent its rear end inwardly projecting ribs 26, 27 engaging slots 39 in a sleeve 28 which extends to the rear end of the casing and is held in a retracted position by a spring 37 extending between a push button 29 on the sleeve and the end of the ribs 27. The ribs 26, 27 also serve as guides for four carriers 31 for ball-point pen units 35 which, when the button 29 is depressed are moved to a projected position together with the sleeve 28. Each holder has a recess 32, the recesses forming a space 33 in which the ball 34 is situated. If, with the parts 28, 31 in projected position, the instrument is tilted, the ball runs into the recess 32 of one of the holders, so that when the button 29 is released, the ball abuts against the lower end of a rib 27 and prevents the return of that unit so that its point is projected through the opening 42 in the sleeve 28 as the sleeve and the other units are retracted. By again depressing the button 29 with the instrument held vertically, the ball moves into a central position, allowing all the units to be returned to their retracted positions when the button is released. In a further embodiment, Figs. 18 to 33, a ball is used as the weight member in a similar manner to that shown in Fig. 37, but the spring- retracted sleeve does not extend to the rear of the casing.