Patent ID: 8177448

Claim:
A writing instrument comprising: a barrel having a front end, a fluid reservoir compartment, and a longitudinal axis; a head disposed at a front end of the barrel, the head having a front part with an opening and at least one internal longitudinal rib extending rewards from the opening; a capillary connector having a front portion, a main portion having a diameter, a rear portion having a diameter, and a radial shoulder, wherein the capillary connector extends from the front part of the head to the fluid reservoir compartment, the at least one internal longitudinal rib designed to radially hold the capillary connector; and a ring substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis and disposed at a distance from the opening in the front part of the head, the ring surrounding and contacting a part of the rear portion of the capillary connector, wherein at least one air passage is formed between the ring and the barrel, the ring having a front longitudinal face and a rear longitudinal face; wherein the at least one internal longitudinal rib extends in a radial direction between the ring and the barrel and extends longitudinally to the rear longitudinal face of the ring.