GB945281A - Plunger-operated ballpoint pen - Google Patents

Abstract

945,281. Retractable ball pens. C. J. LAMY. May 16, 1962 [May 16, 1961; Feb. 24, 1962], No. 18842/62. Heading B6P. A retractable ball pen has actuating cams 15 operated by depression of a plunger 3 and which are guided in members 4, 5 slidably but non-rotatably mounted in the barrel 1 so as to allow of longitudinal movement of and cause rotation about the pen axis of the cams 15 without any locking action, the cams being associated with the pen 16 so that similar movement of the pen occurs, and at least one projection 22 on the pen first moves downwardly along a groove 21 in a collar 20 at the writing end of the pen and then moves circumferentially to engage-the lower edge of the collar or depressions in that edge to hold the pen in projected position. Near its point the pen is engaged by a strong retracting spring 16a, and fitted over its inner end is a member 14, Fig. 6, carrying the cams 15 and having recesses 19 engaging dogs on the pen to prevent relative rotation between the pen and the member 14. Depression of the plunger 3 moves the member 14, cams 15 and pen 16 downwardly. The upper guide member 4 is pressed downwardly by a spring 10 and its rotation is prevented by a rib-and-groove arrangement 6, 8 which also limits the down ward movement. Rotation of the lower guide member 5 is similarly prevented, and a spring 11 moves the member 5 into contact with the member 4. Guide grooves 12 for the cams 15 are provided in the member 4, and when the pen is retracted the cams 15 abut against the upper ends of the grooves. Cam members 13 are provided on the member 5 in alignment with the grooves 12. The number of grooves 21 in the collar 20 is half the number of the grooves 12, and each groove 21 aligns longitudinally with one of the grooves 12. During depression of the plunger 3, the cams 15 with the pen move downwardly until the cams engage the upper surface of the part 5 and the projection 22 is clear of the collar 20. During further downward movement, the cams 15 depress the part 5 until they are clear of the part 4. Thereupon the cams 15 by engagement with the cams 13 are moved circumferentially of the barrel 1 thus allowing the member 5 to move upwardly into contact with the member 4 and causing the projection 22 to be moved out of alignment with a groove 1, so that when the plunger 3 is released, the projection 22 engages the lower edge of the collar 20 and the cams 15 move partly into the slots 12. Subsequent depression of the plunger causes another stepped rotation of the parts 14, 16 so that the projection 22 is moved into alignment with a groove 21 and the spring 16a moves the pen to retracted position. The fixed collar 20 may be replaced by a circumferentially-movable one, with grooves 21 bevelled at their lower ends. The action of a projection 22 on the bevelled grooves causes the collar to be aligned for correct operation of the pen.