Abstract:
A writing instrument with a clip, having a writing instrument part with a contact area on its outer surface having variable radii, and a clip engaging the contact area and being axially rotatable relative to the writing instrument part.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The invention relates to a writing instrument with clip. The writing instrument can be a fountain pen, a stylus, a roller ball pen, or a ball point pen, for example, and can also have a rotary mechanism for moving in and out a writing tip or nib or a lowerable/retractable writing tip or nib.  
         [0003]     2. Related Technology  
         [0004]     Known writing instruments are often inserted in a shirt or jacket pocket, e.g. a sports jacket pocket, and fastened with a clip. In addition, known writing instruments may also be fastened by means of the clip to a writing pad or case, or the like. Fastening takes place in such a way that the clip is forced away or lifted off and as a result an insertion opening is formed between the outer surface of the writing instrument and the clip, particularly the clip leg or head, in which can be engaged and jammed the fabric of e.g. the shirt or jacket pocket or the paper or cardboard.  
         [0005]     Since, however, the materials, such as the shirt and jacket fabric or the paper and cardboard have different thicknesses, such writing instruments can be fastened to a varyingly satisfactory extent by means of a clip to shirt and jacket pockets, etc.  
       GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The invention increases the security of the fastening of a writing instrument with clip.  
         [0007]     The invention provides a writing instrument with a clip, when the clip is axially rotatable relative to a writing instrument part, on which the clip engages, and the outer surface of the writing instrument part, at least in the clip contact area, has a radial cross-section with gradually or continuously variable radii. The relative movement results from either the clip or the writing instrument part being axially rotatable.  
         [0008]     It can in particular be provided that the writing instrument part is a first housing part. For example, the first housing part can be a head part of the writing instrument.  
         [0009]     It is also possible for the clip to be located on a second housing part. It is alternatively conceivable for the clip to be located on the rotary cap or on a rotary button.  
         [0010]     According to a further embodiment of the invention, the clip is connected to rotate on the second housing part. The second housing part can be axially rotatable. Alternatively the first housing part can be axially rotatable.  
         [0011]     It is also possible for the clip to be fastened to the second housing part.  
         [0012]     Alternatively the clip can be injection molded into the second housing part. For example, the second housing part can be produced by a plastic injection molding process, in that the metal clip is injection molded in or round by a plastics material differing from the plastics material of the second housing part.  
         [0013]     It is also possible to integrally shape the clip on the second housing part.  
         [0014]     Preferably the clip or second housing part is rotatable by preferably 90° relative to the writing instrument part or first housing part.  
         [0015]     Advantageously the clip can be locked in at least two rotation positions.  
         [0016]     It can in particular be provided that the two rotation positions are two rotation positions on the outermost ends of a rotation range. If e.g. the rotation range extends over 90°, the two rotation positions can be the 0° and 90° positions.  
         [0017]     The clip can also have a free end directed toward the writing tip or nib of the writing instrument.  
         [0018]     It is alternatively possible for the clip to have a free end directed away from the writing tip or nib of the writing instrument.  
         [0019]     Preferably the clip end is bent away from the writing instrument. This can facilitate the insertion and fastening of the shirt or jacket fabric or the paper, cardboard, etc.  
         [0020]     Advantageously the clip may be mechanically pretensioned towards the writing instrument part over at least part of its rotation range.  
         [0021]     According to another embodiment of the invention the outer surface of the writing instrument part has an oval cross-section, at least in the clip contact area.  
         [0022]     The clip can also be made from metal.  
         [0023]     Alternatively the clip can be made from plastic.  
         [0024]     Preferably the writing instrument part is made from plastic.  
         [0025]     It is alternatively possible for the writing instrument part to be made from metal.  
         [0026]     The invention is based on the surprising finding that through the axially rotatable design of the clip and the design of the outer surface of the writing instrument part, at least in the clip contact area, with a radial cross-section having gradually or continuously variable radii, the width of the insertion opening is increased in the radial direction or the clip pretension can be adjusted in planned manner, so that the writing instrument with clip can be securely fastened to materials, such as e.g. shirt or jacket fabric, etc. having different thicknesses. To this end the clip is axially rotatable in adjustable or planned manner. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0027]     Further features and advantages of the invention can be gathered from the claims and the following description relative to an embodiment and the attached diagrammatic drawings, wherein show:  
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a view of a writing instrument according to one embodiment of the invention, shown from the side.  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a view of the writing instrument of  FIG. 1 , from the right in the latter.  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a view, like  FIG. 1 , but in which a first housing part is axially rotated by 90° relative to the first housing part in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a view of the writing instrument of  FIG. 3 , from the right of the latter.  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  shows various views of a clip of the writing instrument of FIGS.  1  to  4 , in which  FIG. 5   a  is a view from the side,  FIG. 5   b  is a view from above,  FIG. 5   c  is a view from below,  FIG. 5   d  is a view from the right, and  FIG. 5   e  is a view from the left in  FIG. 5   a.    
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is an axial sectional view of the writing instrument of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view along line VII-VII in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 8  shows various views of the first housing part,  FIG. 8   a  being an axial sectional view,  FIG. 8   b  being a view from above, and  FIG. 8   c  being a sectional view along line VIII-VIII of  FIG. 8   a.    
         [0036]      FIG. 9  shows various views of a second housing part,  FIG. 9   a  being a view from the side,  FIG. 9   b  being an axial sectional view, and  FIG. 9   c  being a view from the right in  FIG. 9   a.    
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0037]     The writing instrument  10  shown in the drawings is a fountain pen, which inter alia comprises a first housing part  12  at the rear end of writing instrument  10 , a second housing part  14  connecting onto the same, a third housing part  16  connected thereto and in which is located the fountain pen nib  18 , and a cap  20  for covering the nib  18 . The first housing part  12  is in axially rotatable connection with the second housing part  14 . The second housing part  14  is connected by means of a screw connection  22  ( FIG. 6 ) to the third housing part  16 . Two ink cartridges  24  and  26  ( FIG. 6 ) can be placed in the cavity formed by the first and second housing parts  12 ,  14 .  
         [0038]     Onto the second housing part  14  is fastened a clip  28 , which comprises an almost closed ring  30  and two clip legs  32 ,  34  extending therefrom in substantially parallel manner to the central axis of the ring, said clip legs  32 ,  34  being joined at their free ends ( FIGS. 5   a  to  5   d ). The clip legs  32 ,  34  form a leg with a free end  36  bent away from the first housing part  12 . The clip leg resulting from the two clip legs  32 ,  34  is not mechanically pretensioned toward the first housing part  12  in this angular position. The insertion of a fabric e.g. forming a shirt or sports jacket pocket through an insertion opening  38  is facilitated by the bent away, free end  36 .  
         [0039]     As can be gathered from  FIG. 1 , the clip  28  or the clip leg formed by the clip legs  32 ,  34  is remote from the writing tip, in the present case the nib  18 .  
         [0040]      FIG. 2  shows an outer surface of the first housing part  12  having an oval cross-section.  
         [0041]     In  FIG. 3  the first housing part  12  is axially rotated by 90° relative to the first housing part  12  and therefore the second housing part  14  in  FIG. 1 . This can be gathered from  FIG. 4 . As a result of this rotation the insertion opening  38  has become radially narrower and the clip leg formed by clip legs  32 ,  34  has a mechanical pretension against the first housing part  12 . As a result the clip  28  can be better or more securely fastened to thinner materials.  
         [0042]     As can be gathered from  FIG. 7 , the clip leg formed from clip legs  32  and  34  with the first housing part  12  in the angular position shown in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  6  does not engage on the first housing part  12 . This only takes place when the first housing part  12  is axially rotated by 90°, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  
         [0043]     As is apparent from  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b,  the first housing part  12  is provided on an edge directed towards the second housing part  14  with a stud  40 , which moves or is guided in a substantially quadrantal groove  42  in the edge of the second housing part  14  directed toward the first housing part  12  ( FIGS. 9   b  and  9   c ). Therefore the rotation range of the first housing part  12  is limited to an angle of approximately 90°. A web  44  on stud  40  in the outermost rotation positions (0° and 90°) engages in notches  46 ,  48  respectively in the quadrantal groove  42 .  
         [0044]     As can also be gathered from  FIG. 9   a,  the outer surface of the second housing part  14  has a depression  50  such that the ring  30  of clip  28  is received therein, substantially without radially projecting over the second housing part  14 .  
         [0045]     The features of the invention disclosed in the description, drawings and claims can be individually or in random combinations essential to the implementation of the different embodiments of the invention.