Patent Publication Number: US-8540450-B1

Title: Pen cap attachment mechanism

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 61/260,174, filed on Nov. 11, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     This disclosure relates to the field of desk pens with removable cap assemblies wherein the cap assemblies attach to the main pen body by way of a tension bayonet mount. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Disclosed herein is a writing implement assembly, comprising a pen body having a writing end and a pen cap having an open end operatively configured to fit over a portion of the writing end of the pen body. A plurality of voids are disposed thorough the open end of the pen cap, and a rigid ball is fixedly set within each void disposed through the open end of the pen cap. A plurality of receiving channels is provided on the writing end of the pen body, and the receiving channels are operatively configured to receive a portion of the balls. 
     In one form, the writing implement assembly described above is arranged so that the balls are spherical, although spheroid balls may also work. The receiving channels in the pen body are non-linear from a side view to facilitate a locking arrangement, such as a standard, bayonet-style mechanism. The writing implement assembly may be configured wherein the receiving channels are substantially c-shaped from a side view, although other shapes may work equally well. The balls may be press fit into the voids disposed thorough the open end of the pen cap, or they may be welded, adhered, or otherwise affixed. The writing implement assembly may be arranged wherein the writing end of the pen body comprises a fountain pen writing tip or a rolling style writing tip. 
     In one embodiment of the assembly, the pen cap further comprises a compression spring, which is operatively configured to engage the writing end of the pen body and is operatively configured to bias the pen cap away from the pen body, wherein each of the receiving channels comprises at least one entry portion and at least one locking portion, and wherein the compression spring biases the balls within the locking portion of the receiving channels. 
     The writing implement described herein may further comprise a cap receiver portion provided on the pen body at the longitudinal end opposite the writing end, a plurality of receiving channels provided on the writing end of the pen body, wherein the receiving channels are operatively configured to receive a portion of the balls of the pen cap. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an assembled pen, in one form. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a disassembled pen body, in one form. 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the interior components of a fountain pen, in one form. 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric, exploded view of a pen cap, in one form. 
         FIG. 5  is a cutaway view of a fountain pen taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cutaway view of a roller pen taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a locking collar, in one form. 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view of another locking collar, in one form. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In general, this disclosure relates to a pen housing mechanism, comprising at least one locking collar provided on a pen body configured to receive a pen cap, specifically a pen cap having a plurality of inset “balls” that engage channels within the locking collar. In one form, the “balls” are fit into voids drilled or otherwise provided in a portion of the pen cap and press fit, or otherwise attached, thereto wherein they provide a functional purpose on the inner portion of the pen cap, and provide a decorative element outside the cap. The balls may be made of metals, ceramics, polymers, or equivalent materials. In one form, a compression spring is provided, which biases the “balls” into a locking portion of the channel. 
     Before beginning a detailed description of the embodiments, an axis system  10  is shown in  FIG. 1 , comprising a longitudinal axis  12  and a radial axis  14 . As the pen  18  will ordinarily be substantially a cylinder, the longitudinal axis  12  aligns with the center of this cylinder, and the radial axis  14  extends outward therefrom. These axes are intended to be used for description only and are not intended to be limiting. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , as with most pens, the novel mechanism disclosed herein comprises a pen cap  20 , which is removably attached to a pen body  22 . Each of these portions has novel features. The pen cap  20  comprises an open end  24  which fits over a portion of the pen body  22 , as will be discussed. Near the open end  24  are a plurality of surfaces defining voids or holes  26 , into which are attached a plurality of rigid balls  28 . The balls  28  may be press fit into the voids  26 , or they may be adhered, welded, soldered, heat fit, or otherwise attached thereto, thus becoming a rigid and attached portion of the pen  18 . Also shown is a clip slot  30  which may be incorporated where a pocket clip, not shown, is attached using known methods. The pen body  22  in one form also comprises a cap receiver portion  32 , configured to receive the open end  24  of the pen cap  20  when the pen  18  is in use. Looking to  FIG. 2 , the pen body  22  is shown in one embodiment, disassembled to show the interoperating portions thereof. The writing tip and ink housing are removed and not shown for clarity. In one form, the pen body  22  comprises a writing end  34  and a body cap end  36 . 
     In one form, an accent ring  38  is provided, which has functionality described later on and also increases the aesthetic value of the pen  18 . The accent ring  38 , in one form, attaches to an inset shoulder  40  on a finger grip  42 . The finger grip  42  is coupled to a grip retainer  44  by press fitting thereto or other methods. The grip retainer  44 , in one form, is attached to a writing end receiver  46  in one form by way of male threads  48 , disposed on the grip retainer  44 , and female threads  50 , provided within the writing end receiver  46 . The writing end receiver  46 , in one form, comprises the receiving channels  52  previously discussed. These receiving channels  52  will be discussed in much more detail. In one form, the writing end receiver  46  comprises a shoulder  60 , which engages an interior portion  54  of an overlay  56  and is press fit or otherwise attached thereto. The overlay  56  comprises a substantially hollow tube or equivalent structure, which may be formed of metal, plastic, wood, or a combination thereof. These overlays  56  are well known in the art in many different varieties. In one form, a body cap end receiver (overlay retainer)  58  is included, which comprises the cap receiver portion  32  previously discussed. Once again, the body cap end receiver  58  may comprise a shoulder  61 , which engages the interior portion  54  of the overlay  56  and is press fit or otherwise attached thereto. A body cap  62  may also be provided, including male threads  64  which engage female threads within the body cap end receiver  58  to attach the body cap  62  thereto. In a desk-style pen, wherein the pen cap is left on the desk and is not attached to the body cap end  36 , the body cap end receiver  58  may be omitted, wherein the body cap  62  is directly attached to the overlay  56 , or the body cap end receiver  58  does not include channels to engage the pen cap. In one form, a decorative end cap  66  may be provided, including threads  68 , which engage threads within the body cap  62 . In another form, the end cap  66  and body cap  62  are a unitary structure. Additionally, the body cap  62  and body cap end receiver  58  may be a unitary structure. 
     Looking to  FIG. 3 , the internal components of a fountain pen  70  are shown, including a fountain body  72 , which may include an ink cartridge and a fountain tip  74 , as is commonly known in the art. These internal components  76  are shown also within the pen  18  in  FIG. 5 . 
     Looking to  FIG. 4 , the pen cap  20  is shown in one form. A tube-like cap overlay  78  is shown, which will normally be complementary to the overlay  56  of the pen body  22 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . In one form, a spring sleeve  80  is press fit or otherwise attached to the cap overlay  78 . A shoulder  82  may be provided in one end of the spring sleeve  80  to align and position a compression spring  84 . A cap plug  86  may also engage the spring  84 , and when engaged upon the tube  78 , the spring will bias the spring sleeve  80  toward the open end  24 . As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , as the spring sleeve  80  is allowed to slide within a portion of the cap overlay  78  until a shoulder  77  engages an internal shoulder  79  within the cap overlay  78  (shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ), the engagement end  88  of the spring sleeve  80  engages a portion of the pen body  22 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . In one form, the engagement end  88  will come into contact with the accent ring  38 . A clip screw  90  may also be provided, which is attached to the cap plug  86  by way of a threaded portion or other methods, or it may be formed as a unitary structure therewith. In one form, the clip screw  90  retains a pocket clip (not shown) within the clip slot  30  previously described. 
     Attached to the cap overlay  78 , on an opposite end from the clip screw  90  is a ball retainer  92 , which comprises a shoulder  94 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , to allow the ball retainer  92  to be press fit or otherwise attached to the interior portion of the cap overlay  78 . A ring or cap accent  96  may be attached between the ball retainer  92  and cap overlay  78 . 
     Looking to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a detailed view of the writing end receiver  46  is shown. This figure shows the receiving channels  52  in more detail. While alternative embodiments can be envisioned, a C-shaped receiving channel, as shown in  FIG. 7 , comprises a single entry portion  98  and a locking portion  100  in each of the receiving channels  52 . Each of the receiving channel  52  is configured to receive the interior portion  99  (see  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 ) of the balls  28  within the ball retainer  92 . As the balls  28  are fit within voids  26 , the interior portion  99  of the balls  28  will extend into the interior portion of the ball retainer  92 . It is this interior portion  99  of the balls  28  that engages the receiving channels  52 . As the balls  28  slide through the entry portion  98 , the spring  84  within the pen cap  20  compresses, and as the interior portion of the balls  28  slides past the sear point  102  and into the locking portion  100 , the spring  84  biases, maintaining placement of the pen cap  20  upon the pen body  22 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , there are a plurality of entry portions  98   a  and  98   b , which come together at a merging portion  104  into a single locking portion  106  and a single seer point  108 . Thus, is much quicker and easier to engage the pen cap  20  against the pen body  22 , as the user need only align the interior portion of the balls  28  with either the entry portion  98   a  or the entry portion  98   b . This doubles the number of entry portions around the circumference of the writing end receiver  46   b  with the same number of locking portions  106 . 
     While the present invention is illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments are described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications within the scope of the appended claims will readily appear to those sufficed in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicants&#39; general concept.