Patent Publication Number: US-9902191-B2

Title: Fountain pen

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This Application is a 35 USC §371 US National Stage filing of International Application No. PCT/FR2013/052740 filed on Nov. 14, 2013, and claims priority under the Paris Convention to European Patent Application No. 12306432.1 filed on Nov. 16, 2012. 
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present invention relates to a fountain pen comprising:
         an elongate hollow body defining an inner chamber designed to receive an ink reservoir, also referred to herein as an “ink container”;   a nib arranged at a first end of the hollow body; and   a connection part connecting the inner chamber and the nib and defining an ink flow passage extending along a longitudinal axis, the connection part comprising a valve for opening and closing the ink flow passage, designed to selectively open and close the ink flow passage.       

     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Because of their structure, conventional fountain pens often leak ink when subjected to changes in temperature and/or pressure. 
     A change in temperature occurs when a user is writing, as the user&#39;s hand warms the body of the fountain pen. 
     A change in pressure occurs when traveling by plane, as a result of the constant changes in altitude of the aircraft. 
     To solve this problem, a fountain pen of the aforementioned type has been developed in which a cap is provided to protect the nib when the fountain pen is not in use, the cap cooperating with the valve by means of lugs that close the ink flow passage when the cap is in place on the pen. 
     However, it has been observed that when the cap is opened there is always some ink leakage, even if minimal. 
     It has also been found that in such a fountain pen, the flow of ink through the various elements is not optimal, which can interfere with writing smoothly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present invention aims to overcome these disadvantages by proposing a fountain pen that facilitates the passage of ink when writing, while being leak-tight regardless of the conditions to which it is exposed. 
     To this end, the invention relates to a fountain pen of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the connection part comprises a striker interposed between the valve and the inner chamber and designed to engage with the ink reservoir and allow ink to flow between the ink reservoir and the nib. 
     With these arrangements, the flow of ink through the fountain pen is facilitated and the leak prevention is improved. 
     In preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more of the following arrangements may possibly be used:
         the valve comprises a tubular member defining a portion of the ink flow passage and comprising a central section that is elastically deformable between a rest position where the ink flow passage is open, and a deformed position where the ink flow passage is closed;   the fountain pen comprises a barrel that supports the nib and a pair of opposing pins mounted on the barrel, the pins being designed to deform the central section;   the pins are mounted so as to slide relative to the barrel in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;   the fountain pen comprises a protective cap for the nib, designed to be mounted onto the barrel along the longitudinal axis and to displace the pins when it is mounted onto the barrel;   the central section has a substantially square-shaped internal cross-section;   the pins are offset angularly, about the longitudinal axis, relative to a diagonal of the square internal cross-section of the central section;   the offset angle is substantially equal to 20°;   the tubular member comprises an end section arranged between the central section and the striker and defining a portion of the ink flow passage, the end section comprising an inner surface and a plurality of longitudinal grooves created on the inner surface;   the tubular member comprises a pair of opposing cuts made in the square internal cross-section of the central section where it connects to the end section;   the striker comprises a substantially cylindrical tongue delimiting a portion of the ink flow passage and having a stepped contour with two steps;   the tongue comprises an inner surface and a plurality of longitudinal grooves created on the inner surface;   the fountain pen further comprises a converter forming the ink reservoir and mounted on the striker;   the fountain pen further comprises a cartridge forming the ink reservoir and mounted on the striker, the cartridge comprising a rigid tube, a mouth arranged at one end of the tube, and a tube sealing plug inserted into the mouth; and   the mouth has an inside diameter that is greater than the outside diameter of the tongue of the striker.       

     The invention also relates to a converter forming the ink reservoir for a fountain pen as defined above, characterized in that it comprises a flexible pouch extending along a longitudinal axis and intended to be in fluid communication with the nib by means of the connection part, and a piston mounted so as to slide along the longitudinal axis and intended to deform the flexible pouch. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood by reading the following description of one embodiment of the invention, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a sectional view of a fountain pen according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the detail denoted II in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a partially cutaway perspective view of a valve of the fountain pen in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a similar view to that of  FIG. 2  in a sectional plane offset angularly by 90° with respect to the plane of  FIG. 2 , the valve being in a rest position; 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 4 , the valve being in a deformed position; and 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a striker of the fountain pen of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     In the various figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a fountain pen  10  according to the invention. 
     The fountain pen  10  comprises an elongate hollow body  12 , a nib unit  14  mounted on the hollow body  12 , and a cap  16  intended for mounting on the hollow body  12 . 
     The hollow body  12  is designed to be gripped by the user&#39;s hand during normal use of the fountain pen  10 , namely when writing. 
     The hollow body  12  has a substantially cylindrical shape extending along a longitudinal axis XX, and comprises an open first end  18  and a closed second end  20  opposite the open first end  18 . 
     Between the first and second ends  18 ,  20 , the hollow body  12  defines an inner chamber  22  adapted to receive an ink reservoir  24  as will be explained in more detail below. 
     The nib unit  14  conventionally comprises a nib  26 , a tube  28  for supplying ink to the nib  26  (generally called the “feeder” or feed), and a barrel  30  that supports the nib  26  and the feeder  28 . 
     The nib unit  14  is mounted on the first end  18  of hollow body  12 , in particular by screwing. 
     The nib unit  14  is of a type well known in the art and therefore will not be detailed below. 
     The cap  16  for protecting the nib  26  when the fountain pen  10  is not in use, is designed to be mounted onto the barrel  30  along the longitudinal axis XX and temporarily secured to the hollow body  12 , in particular by snap-fitting or screwing it into place. 
     The fountain pen  10  further comprises a connection part  32  connecting the inner chamber  22  and the nib  26 /feeder  28  assembly, and defining an ink flow passage  34  extending along the longitudinal axis XX. 
     The connection part  32  comprises a valve  36  for opening and closing the ink flow passage  34  and a striker  38  interposed between the valve  36  and the inner chamber  22 . 
     As can best be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the valve  36  comprises a tubular member  40  extending along the longitudinal axis XX and defining a portion of the ink flow passage  34 . 
     The tubular member  40  comprises a first end section  42  adapted to receive in a leak-tight manner the corresponding end of the nib  26 /feeder  28  assembly. 
     The first end section  42  comprises a first portion  44  having a substantially circular internal cross-section, and a second portion  46  adjacent to the first portion  44 . 
     The second portion  46  has a substantially circular internal cross-section which is smaller than that of the first portion  44 . 
     The valve  36  is thus suitable for nib units  14  having ends of different dimensions. 
     The tubular member  40  comprises a second end section  48  opposite the first end section  42  and designed to cooperate with the striker  38 . 
     The second end section  48  comprises a first portion  50  having a substantially circular and constant internal cross-section and a second portion  52  adjacent to the first portion  50 . 
     The second portion  52  has a substantially circular internal cross-section which widens from the first portion  50  towards the striker  38 . 
     The valve  36  comprises a plurality of longitudinal grooves  54  created on the inside surface of the second end section  48 . 
     The tubular member  40  comprises a central section  56  connecting the first and second end sections  42 ,  48 . 
     The central section  56  has a substantially square internal cross-section, each side substantially between 1 mm and 1.50 mm, preferably substantially equal to 1.35 mm. 
     This square shape optimizes the flow of ink through the valve  36 . 
     The valve  36  comprises a pair of opposing cuts  58  ( FIG. 3 ) that are substantially pyramidal in shape, made on two opposing vertices of the square internal cross-section of the central section  56 , where it joins the second end section  48 . 
     These cuts  58  facilitate the passage of ink from the ink reservoir  24  to the nib unit  14 . 
     The valve  36  further comprises a collar  60  surrounding the second portion  52  of the second end section  48  and adapted to engage with the striker  38  to form a leak-tight seal. 
     The valve  36  comprises two opposing indexing lugs  62  extending radially between the first portion  50  of the second end section  48  and the collar  60 . 
     The indexing lugs  62  are angularly offset about the longitudinal axis XX relative to the cuts  58 , and therefore relative to a diagonal of the square internal cross-section of the central section  56 , by an offset angle α (alpha). 
     The offset angle α is substantially equal to 20°. 
     The indexing lugs  62  allow optimally positioning the square internal cross-section of the central section  56  relative to the actuating pins of the valve  36  as explained below. 
     The valve  36  is adapted to selectively open and close the ink flow passage  34  by elastic deformation of the central section  56 . 
     More specifically, the central section  56  of the valve  36  is resiliently deformable between a rest position ( FIG. 4 ) wherein the ink flow passage  34  is open, and a deformed position ( FIG. 5 ) where the ink flow passage  34  is closed. 
     In particular, in the rest position, the inner surfaces of the square internal cross-section of the central section  56  are spaced apart from each other. 
     In the deformed position, the opposing inner surfaces of the internal square cross-section of the central section  56  are in contact with each other. 
     The valve  36  is, for example, made from silicone, the silicone able to receive surface treatments and/or physical treatments allowing better ink flow. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the fountain pen  10  comprises an actuator  64  for the valve  36 , suitable for deforming the central section  56  of the valve  36 . 
     The actuator  64  comprises the cap  16  and a pair of opposing pins  66  provided on the nib unit  14 . 
     The pins  66  are placed in corresponding opposing radial holes  68  formed in the barrel  30  of the nib unit  14 . 
     The pins  66  are angularly offset about the longitudinal axis XX relative to the indexing lugs  62  of the valve  36 , by an angle substantially equal to 90°. 
     Thus, the pins  66  are angularly offset about the longitudinal axis XX relative to the cuts  58  in the valve  36 , and therefore relative to a diagonal of the square internal cross-section of the central section  56  of the valve  36 . 
     This offset angle corresponds to offset angle α (alpha). 
     The pins  66  are mounted relative to the barrel  30  so as to be slidable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis XX, between an initial position and an active position where force is exerted on the central section  56  which deforms it and closes the ink flow passage  34 . 
     In the initial position of the pins  66  as shown in  FIG. 4 , the pins  66  have an end facing the central section  56  and an opposite end projecting radially from the barrel  30 . 
     In this initial position, the central portion  56  is in its rest position and not deformed. 
     To move the pins  66  towards the active position, the cap  16  is threaded onto the barrel  30  along the longitudinal axis XX, the inner surface of the cap  16  then forcing the pins  66  towards one another. 
     In the active position of the pins  66  represented in  FIG. 5 , the pins  66  exert force on the central section  56  so that the central section  56  adopts its deformed position where the ink flow passage  34  is closed. 
     An offset angle that is substantially equal to 20° between the pins  66  and a diagonal of the square internal cross-section of the central section  56  of the valve  36  ensures that the ink flow passage  34  is indeed closed. 
     The central section  56  and the pins  66  are held in their distorted and active positions as long the cap  16  is clipped or screwed onto the hollow body  12 . 
     Conversely, when the cap  16  is disengaged from the hollow body  12  and removed from the barrel  30  along the longitudinal axis XX, the central section  56  resumes its initial shape and simultaneously pushes the pins  66  outward, which opens up the ink flow passage  34 . 
     The fountain pen  10  is then ready for use. 
       FIG. 6  shows in detail the striker  38  of the connection part  32 . 
     The striker  38  is adapted to cooperate with the ink reservoir  24  and allow ink to flow between the ink reservoir  24  and the nib  26 /feeder  28  assembly. 
     The striker  38  comprises a substantially cylindrical tongue  70  extending substantially along the longitudinal axis XX and defining a portion of the ink flow passage  34 . 
     The tongue  70  has a stepped contour with two shoulders, or in other words a profile resembling stairs, which increases the supply of ink closer to the valve  36 . 
     More specifically, the tongue  70  comprises an end edge  72  having a flat portion  74  extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis XX. 
     The end edge  72  comprises, on each side of the flat portion  74 , a first portion  76  that is inclined, relative to the longitudinal axis XX, towards the opposite end  78  of the tongue  70 . 
     The end edge  72  comprises a first step or shoulder  80  formed by a second portion  82  substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis XX and extending the first portion  76  toward the opposite end  78 , and by a third portion  84  substantially perpendicular to the second portion  82 . 
     The end edge  72  comprises a second step or shoulder  86  formed by a fourth portion  88  substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis XX and extending the third portion  84  toward the opposite end  78 , and by a fifth portion  90  substantially perpendicular to the fourth portion  88 . 
     The tongue  70  comprises a plurality of longitudinal grooves  92  created on its inner surface. 
     The grooves  92  facilitate the flow of ink through the ink flow passage  34 . 
     The tongue  70  comprises, for example, 24 grooves  92  regularly distributed about the longitudinal axis XX on the inner surface of the tongue  70 . 
     The striker  38  further comprises a peripheral wall  94  surrounding the opposite end  78  of the tongue  70  and at a distance from the opposite end  78 . 
     The space between the opposite end  78  and the peripheral wall  94  is adapted to receive the ink reservoir  24  in a leak-tight manner. 
     The peripheral wall  94  has a chamfer  96  formed on the free end of its inner surface which facilitates mounting the ink reservoir  24  on the striker  38 . 
     The opposite end  78  of the tongue  72  and the peripheral wall  94  are placed in sealing contact with the second portion  52  of the second end section  48  of the valve  36  and with the collar  60 . 
     The striker  38  is attached to the barrel  30  of the nib unit  14 , for example by screwing, so that it slightly compresses the valve  36  and thus forms a seal with the valve  36  without deforming it. 
     The striker  38  is designed to work with different types of ink reservoir  24 . 
     A converter  24 A forming the ink reservoir is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The converter  24 A comprises a mouth  100  received in a fluidtight manner on the striker  38 , in the space between the tongue  70  and the peripheral wall  94 . 
     The converter  24 A comprises a flexible pouch  102  extending substantially along the longitudinal axis XX and in fluid communication with the ink flow passage  34 . 
     The flexible pouch  102  is deformable and is made for example from silicone. 
     The flexible pouch  102  has a volume of between 0.8 and 0.9 mL, preferably substantially equal to 0.85 mL. 
     The converter  24 A further comprises a piston  104  mounted to allow it to slide along the longitudinal axis XX in order to deform the flexible pouch  102 , and a piston actuator  106  mounted to allow it to rotate about the longitudinal axis XX in order to move the piston  104 . 
     The striker  38  is also designed to work with a cartridge forming the ink reservoir. 
     Such a cartridge comprises a rigid tube, a mouth arranged at one end of the tube, and a tube sealing plug inserted inside the mouth. 
     The mouth is adapted to be received in a fluidtight manner on the striker  38 , in the space between the tongue  70  and the peripheral wall  94 . 
     Thus, the mouth has an inside diameter that is greater than the outside diameter of the tongue  70  of the striker  38 . 
     For example, the inside diameter is between 6.8 mm and 7.3 mm, preferably substantially equal to 7.1 mm. 
     The tube sealing plug is forcibly inserted inside the mouth, substantially at the center of the mouth, and extends substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis XX before the cartridge is mounted on the striker  38 . 
     When the cartridge is mounted on the striker  38 , the stepped contour of the tongue  70  tilts the plug and pushes it back into the tube, where the plug is then lying substantially along the longitudinal axis XX and resting on the first shoulder  80  of the tongue  70 . 
     The inner surface of the tube may comprise longitudinal grooves for more efficiently draining the ink towards the mouth. 
     With these arrangements, a significant flow of ink can be supplied to the nib unit  14 . 
     The invention therefore provides a fountain pen that is sealed in the closed position regardless of the conditions to which it is subjected, including variations in temperature and/or pressure, which ensures optimum ink circulation from the ink reservoir to the nib. 
     Indeed, the characteristics of the valve and striker as well as their relative arrangement not only reduce the leakage of ink when the cap is opened but also improve the flow of ink within the fountain pen. 
     Furthermore, a fountain pen of the invention that has this “universal” striker can be used with various types of removable ink reservoirs, whether converters or cartridges.