US2588829A - Writing instrument - Google Patents

Description

March 1l, 1952 R. GRElsT WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed Jan. I9, 194e f INVENTOR.- @mond L 6,2?65 l B Y MMMJf/W/ N wg I II MMI

Patented Mar. 11, 1952 WRITING INSTRUMENT Raymond L. Greist, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Eversharp, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application January 19, 1946, Serial No. 642,158

3 Claims. 1 This invention has to do with writing instruments of the type in which a thick ink is trans- -ferred to the paper or other surface by a small ball which is rotatably mounted in the tip of the instrument.

The principal object of the invention is to provide, in a writing instrument of the type described, new and improved means for causing the ink in the reservoir of the instrument to feed forwardly to the writing ball under a certain predetermined amount of pressure as long, and only as long, as the instrument is held in a writing position.

Other more specific objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of the construction, arrangement and operation of the novel means for applying the pressure to the ink.

Three different forms of the invention are presented herein by way of exemplncation but vin the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged longitudinal section through a ball point writing instrument of the replaceable ink cartridge type in which the cartridge is provided with pressure applying means constructed in accordance with the in- Vention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section, taken on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged longitudinal sections through two modied ink cartridges, showing other ways of applying the invention.

The writing instrument shown in Fig. 1 includes a forwardly tapering casing Ill and an ink cartridge I I. The casing Il) is hollow from end to end and is provided in its front end with a short ink feeding duct I2, which duct opens into a socket I3 in which a writing ball I4 is rotatably mounted. The casing I is constructed in two sections I5 and I6, which sections are adapted to be separated by unscrewing at I'! to permit insertion of the cartridge II.

The cartridge I I, which constitutes the ink reservoir, is located within the casing IIJ and is provided with a long slender nipple I 8, which nipple extends forwardly from the cartridge into abutment with the inner wall I9 of the front end of the casing. The nipple I8 contains an ink feeding passage 20, which passage is progressively reduced in diameter from its rear end to its front end and registers at its frontend (Cl. 1Z0-42.4)

- spring 3 I.

2 .y with the duct I2. The nipple I8 is provided with threads 2| which are adapted to engage .with threads 22 on the inside of the casing,

whereby to permit the cartridge to be screwed tightly into a position in which'the front end oi the passage 20 is placed in fluid tight engagement with the rear end of the duct I2. y

The cartridge II includes a tube 23 which is secured at its front end to the nipple I8 and is provided at its rear end with an inturnedvange 24, which flange forms a circular openingA 25 of smaller diameter than the tube. The -ink used in' the writing'instrument is preferably of a thick semi-fluid consistency and a quantity of the same is contained within a readily collapsible sack-like container 26. The container 26 is made of thin soft flexible material and is secured at its front end to the rear end of the nipple I8 by a clamping ring 21. The rear'end 28 of the container is closed. The container 26 may be of any suitable formation but is shown as being constructed after the fashion of an accordion, whereby to facilitate endwise-collapsing under slight pressure without appreciable resistance. The rear end 28 of the containerZI is located some distance forwardly of the rear end of the tube 23, and a weight member 29-is positioned in the tube 23 behind and in engagement with the rear end of the container.

The weight member 29 `fits loosely within the tube 23 and is slidable freely therein in a forward direction. The member 29 is preferably Ymade of metal, and is also preferably provided with longitudinally extending Ypassages 30 for permitting the escape of air past the same from the front end of the tube 23 into the rear end of the latter as the member 29 moves forwardly under gravity in collapsing the ink sack 26.'

The member 29 may be advantageously provided with a one-way clutch device which, in the form shown, consists of a small exible leaf This device prevents any rearward movement of the member 29 without interfering with its forward movement. The spring 3I is securedto the rear face of the member 29 by a rivet 32 and is bowed rearwardly, with its ends in one-way frictional engagement with opposite sides of the inner surface 33 of the tube.

From the foregoing it will be understood that when the writing instrument is held in normal writing position the weight member 29 will be acted on by gravity and will constantly exert a predetermined amount of pressure on the ink in the container 26, which pressure will remain uniform irrespective of the extent to which the container is collapsed, and that, when the instrument is placed in any other position, such pressure Will be relieved, With the weight member still maintained substantially in engagement with the container. When the instrument is placed with its writing end up the spring 3| will clutch the tube 23 and prevent the weight member 29 ronr droppingf'back toward the' rear end of the tube; thus maintaining' a" uniform distribution of weight in the instrument and preventing the noise which would otherwise occurJ were the weight member permitted toislide'freely' back and forth in the tube.

In the modication shownlinFig;y 3` the-ink con' tainer 34 is shown in the forrnof a long tube' ofv soft flexible material folded back and forth in loops upon itself. In this embodiment airvents 35 are provided in the front end of the tube 36, making urinnecessary the provision of/anyair passages in the weight member 31. In other re spectsltheiconstruction is substantially the same.

Inthe-imodicationlshown in `Fig. -4 the ink is placed directly inth'e tubef38, ratherthanina collapsible container, and gravitational pressure is -eicerte'dfonfl theI ink by'. a weight -member 39 o itedfin'I anyway -to the use oi a separateV cartridge and that Ythe reservoir maybe constructed if desiredfasa' more or less permanent part of the Writinginstiument;

vWhen the writing instrument is in use the gravitational Feifect of the weight member on the' ink will assist atmosphericpressure to cause ink 'to' feed' continuously and uniformly. Should the feed':becomesluggish, with the result that not enoughof-'the ink is reaching-the-writing ball,

thep`ressure"on theink can be easily increased:

Atoanyudesired extent by'merely shaking or jarring'the instrument in thehand, in the same manner as is commonly done with an ordinary fountain" pen', which flirting movement will cause 'th abruptly stopped forward momentum of the Weightmember to react effectively against the inkin'the containertoreestablish the desired owl 1." An ink reservoir for a pocket type Writing instrument which' is adapted to be held with its writng`tip'down when in use and With its writingtip"'up"when' being carried in a pocket and wh'ich hasa rotatably mounted ball as the Writing'tip" and an ink` feeding "duct opening into a socket in'which the ball vis mounted, said reservoir comprising a tubular housing, a collapsible ink container in the housing, which container is closed at its rear end and is connected at its front end with the duct leading to said socket, a Weight member which is freely slidable in the housing in a forward direction in engagement with the rear end of the ink container for collapsing the latter, and one-way clutch means acting between the' weight member and 'the'h'o'using'for preventing the weight member from moving rearwardly in the housing away from the container when the housing is placed with its rear end down.

2. An ink receptacle for a pocket type Writing instrument whichisadapted to be held with its writingtipdown when in use and with its writing tip up'when being carried in a pocket and which has'a'rotatably mounted ball as the Writing tip. and an ink feeding duct opening into a socket inwhich the ball is mounted, said receptacle being connected at its front end with said duct, a'mcvablefweight vmember whichA inv its movement exerts'pressure on Athe ink inthe receptacleV when theV receptacle is held with its front end down, and one-Way clutch means for preventing the Weight member from moving]l in the opposite directionwhen the position 'of the receptacle is reversed.

3. An ink reservoir for a pocket type writing instrument which is adapted to beheld with its 'Writing tipdown when in '-use and with its writingtip upwhen being carried' in a pocket and which has a rotatably mounted ball as'the writing tip and an ink feeding duct opening into a socket in which the ball is mounted, said reservoir comprising a tubular housingia collapsible ink container in the housing, which container is closed at its rear end and is connected lat its frontend with said duct, a weight member which is actuated solely by gravity and'is freely slidable in the housing in a forward direction under the influenceof' gravity alonein engagement with the rear end of the ink container for collapsing the latter when the instrument is held tip down, and oneway clutch' means movable with the weight member in engagement with the housing for preventing the Weight member from moving in the opposite direction.

RAYMOND L. GREIST.

REFERENCE-S CITED The following references are of recordin the ille of thisl patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 605,657 Toquet June 14, 1893 613,453 Lippincott Nov. l, 1898 797,258 Bl'ynt Aug. 15, 1905 797,674 Fisher Aug. 22, 1905 799,297 Betzler Sept. 12, 1905 982,922 Ashley Jan. 1l, 1911 2,192,479 Nissen, Jr Mar. 5, 1940 2,438,786- Moore Mai'. 30, 1948 2,444,003 Chesler June 22, 1948 2,444,004 Chesler June 22, 1948

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