US2865332A - Operating mechanism for a writing instrument - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 23, 1958 L. c. HANSEN OPERATING MECHANISM FOR A WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed June 2z', 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 iil' Dec. 23, 1958 L. c. HANSEN OPERATING MECHANISM FOR A WRITING 1N Filed June 23, 1954 STRUMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States OPERATING `lVIECHANISlVI FOR yA WRITING INSTRUMENT Lewis CfHansen, Fort Madison, Iowa, assignor to W. A.

Sheaifer Pen Company, Fort Wladimir, `Iowa, a cor- .poration of Delaware .Application Jne'zs, 1954, Serial No. 438,663 Claims. (Cl. `nos-42.03)

of-the instrument.

It is an important Object of this invention to pro-vide an improved operating mechanism fora writing instrument utilizing a single manually engageable means to eect both extension and retraction of-the writing unit.

Many oper-ating mechanisms for expelling and retracting a writing unitihave `heretofore .been pro-poed. Many of the devices `previously `proposed haveutilized a `plurality 0f actuating'buttons, one customarily functioning to lextend the writing 4unit and a second functioning to release the writing unitfor retraction into .the barrel of theiristrument. Suchfa device using a plurality `of buttons is.generallyinconvenient and confusing to the user. Preferably a-devicelutilizing a single push button for both extending and retracting the writing unitis employed.

Devices heretofore proposed utilizing a` single push button have generally employed various mechanical elements such as toggles or levers, some of which rely uponthe gravitational effect for operation. Such devices utilizing pivotal parts, gravitational'force and the like have generally proven unreliable and expensive to manufacture.

"Still other devices have `been proposed heretofore using asingle push button in which thedegree .of depression determines the mode of operation; that is, if the push button is fully depressed the mechanism functions to retract the writing unit, while, if the push button is only partially depressedthe writing unit is expelled fo-rwardly into the writing position. For positive and'easy operation of an actuating mechanism it is vdesirable that a single psh button function `to extend and retract the writing unit on alternate depressions of the push button irrespective ofthe degree of motion thereof.

AIt is therefore a further object of this invention tozprovide an improved operating -mechanism for a writing instrument utilizing a single push button for both extenLion and retraction of a`writing unit.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved mechanism for writing instruments in which a single push button may be fullydepressed to effect alternate extensions and retractions of an associated writing unit.

"It is still another object ofthis invention to provide an improved mechanism v'for writing instrumentshaving no pivoted or rotatably mounted parts subjectto wear but utilizing only flat spring members and slidingparts.

It`is still another object 0f this invention to provide an improved operating mechanism for alternately moving an element between two "predetermined positions, said mechanism being completely self-contained permitting utilization lwith any associated instrument irrespective of the natureJ thereof.

jIt is ^a^f`rther *object of this invention to 'provide an improvedoperating-lmechanism'A utilizing a^'flat yoke spring atent the'writing unit includng a ballftype-writing ud applicator,

areservoir communicating therewith-and a plunger 'mechanism having amanually engageable rearwardly i extended.

free end for effecting movement of the writing unitlwithin the barrel. A coilispring disposed between thereserv'oir and the barrelnorm'allyiurges the writing unit to thefretrac-ted position. The i plunger unit has an operating mechanism `associated therewith which `includesa formed spring of flat material normally carried in tixed relationship tothe reservoir and having a yoke-like portion, one leg-of-which isdixed `with respect tothe axis of the reservoir and the other leg of which is formed `withahook member normally Aurged voutwardly into engagement with the barrel. `An annular lip or shoulder is formed on the inner surface of the barrelffor engagement by the hook member tomaintainthe writing unit in theextendedwriting position. The spring yoke and operating plunger are soorientedithatthe plungerengages the'bight portion of the .spring on alternatefdepressions of the plungerwhereby the free leg of the yoke and the associated hoolcmernber are Vurged inwardlytoward the=axis of thewriting unit andoutof engagement withthe annular shoulder formed inzthebarrel. `rl`h'us,asucc`essive depressionsof the operating plunger cause alternate extensions-and `retractions of the writingunit.

For amore complete understanding of this invention referencewill now bemade to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 isanillustratio-nin longitudinal section of one embodimentiof this invention with the writing unit in the retracted position;

`Fig. 2 illustrates the embodimentof Fig. l1 with the writing unit'inthe` extended or writingposition;

Fig. 3 `illustrates :the embodiment of Fig. `1 with `the Writing unit in an overextended position which the unit normally 4assumes immediately Yprior to being1placedvin thewriting position ofFig. 2;

iFig. 4 illustrates the embodimentof Fig. v1 with Athe Writing lunit in the overextended position which it assumes during a retractingcycle` of operation;

Fig/5 ris latransverse sectional View taken alongthe line S-Sof Fig. 1, showingthe disposition of the elements'in the retractedposition;

Fign is a'transversesectional view taken along-the line 6--6 of Fig. 2 showing the elementsin the writing position;

Fig. 7 isa top plan view of the plunger and actuator portion of the embodiment of Fig. l;

Fig 8 is a bottom plan view` of the plunger and actuator -portionof the embodiment ofFig. 1; and

rFig. 9 is an` exploded view of the plunger and actuator mechanism showingthe various parts thereof in disassembled and aligned relationship.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig.l1, a writing instrument li() is illustrated comprising generally a barrel 12 and a writing unit `14 slidably mounted therein and urged rearwardly into said barrel by a coil spring 16. The writing unit 14 includes a reservorl and a feed tube 20 terminating in a.;ball applicator 22. VHowever,writing .units of various `designs maybe incorporated in a writing instrumentv constructed in accordance with `this invention.

"Thecoil spring1`6 is compressed between a shoulder Q 24 formed in the barrel 12 and the forward end 26 of the reservoir. The rearward end of the reservoir 18 abuts against an actuating mechanism 28 in such a manner that the reservoir may be removed from the barrel with ease without the removal of the actuator or any of the associated elements. The actuating mechanism 28 includes a plunger 30 having a hollow cylindrical portion 32 Vinto which an apertured plug 34 fits. The plug 34 is continuously urged forwardly out of the cylindrical opening 32 by a coil spring 36. For reasons which will become obvious from the description to follow, the coil spring 36 must be less stiff than the spring 16 so that the pressure of the plunger 30 will first compress the spring 36 before producing axialv motion of the writing unit 14. A shaped spring 38 formed from at sheet spring material has a portion thereof secured in an aperture 40 in the plug 34. As shown in Fig. l and also in Fig. 9, the spring 38 has an N shape and one linee or bight portion 42 of the N spring is secured in the aperture 40. One end of the spring 38 has a right angle bend 44 formed therein and engageable in an aperture 46 formed in the plunger 30. This prevents free motion and specially rotation of the spring 38 with respect to the plunger 30. The other free end of the N spring 38 is formed with a hook-like member 48 which is normally urged outwardly into engagement with the inner surface of a rearward portion 50 of the barrel 12. The rearward portion 50 of the barrel 12 is threadably engaged with the body portion 52 thereof whereby the parts may be readily disassembled for easy replacement of the writing unit. The rearward portion 50 of the instrument may be enclosed in a metal sheath 56 having a pocket clip S8 secured thereto in a conventional manner.

Upon depressing the plunger 30 the hook 48 will engage a shoulder 54 on the inner surface of the rear portion 50 of barrel 12 and will thus lock the writing unit in the extended position.

The operation of this device will be clear from a consideration of the sequence of operations illustrated in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4. In Fig. l the writing instrument is' shown in the retracted position in which the hook 48 is in sliding engagement with the inner surface of the barrel portion 50 and the ball point 22 is retracted inside of the barrel portion 52. As shown in Fig. 3, upon corni pletely depressing the plunger 30 the hook 48 slides along the inner surface of barrel portion 50 a distance sufficient to permit the hook to extend beyond the shoulder 54. In this position the ball point 22 is overextended beyond the forward end of barrel portion 52 and a shoulder 60 on the fluid feed may engage the corresponding shoulder 62 in the barrel portion 52. The latter engagement is not required, however, for operation of the mechanism. During the extension of the writing unit the coil spring 36 will be completely compressed as a result of its less stiff character as compared to coil spring 16. Thus, the plug 34 will be moved into the cylindrical opening 32 and the forward end 64 of the plunger 30 will abu the rearward end of the reservoir 18.

Upon release of plunger 30 the parts will assume the positions illustrated in Fig.' 2. Therein it can be seen that the ball point unit 22 has retracted somewhat` from the position illustrated in Fig. 3 to assume a lnormal writing position. In so doing the hook 48 has engaged the annular shoulder 54 to lock the N spring 38 against any further rearward movement. As the knee 42 of the N spring is in engagement with the rearward'end of reservoir 18 and the N spring 38 has suicient longitudinal rigidity to withstand the rearward force of spring 16, the reservoir and consequently the entire writing unit 14 are restrained against further rearward motion. However, because of the lateral resiliency of the N spring 38 and the compression of the coil spring 16, a bow is formed in the center leg 66 of N spring 3 8 causing the free bight portion 68 of N spring 38 to move outwardly toward the inner surface of barrel portion 50. When mand ual pressure is completely relieved on plunger 30, the rearward bight portion 68 of spring 38 is free to move outwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 2. As clear from a comparison of Figs. 3 and 4, the distortion of leg 66 also results in an effective rotation of the bight portion 68. Consequently, the direction in which the outer leg of spring 38 extends is shifted toward the axis of the writing instrument, Depending upon the exact design of the unit and the proportional stiffness between the various springs, the reservoir 18 may move rearwardly a suiicient distance so that the rear end thereof will engage the hook portion 48 of spring 38. This engagement produces a rigid lock to prevent further rearward movement. However, the apparatus of this invention will functionsatisfactorily whether or not this abutting relationship exists provided only that sufficient travel is produced so that the center leg 66 is bowed and the l bight portion 68 moved outwardly a predetermined amount. n

The purpose of the outward shifting of the bight por-V tion 68 will be clear from a consideration of Fig. 4. In' Fig. 4 the plunger 30 has been depressed to overextend the ball point 22 in a manner similar to that described with respect to Fig. 3, However, as shown in Fig. 4 the immediate history of the unit shows that the unit wasA in the writing or extended position and the bight 68 0fl spring 38 shifted outwardly and effectively rotated. Thus, upon depressing plunger 30 a detent portion 70 thereof engages the bight 68, frictonally locking it in the outwardly shifted and rotated position whereby the hook 48 is urged inwardly away from the shoulder 54 formed inv the barrel portion S0. Upon release of hook 48 the en-l tire internal portion of the writing instrument is free.

" to move rearwardly relative to the barrel 12 under thev influence of coil spring 16. Coil spring 16 will effect rearward movement of the writing unit and plunger to a lposition in which the hook 48 is disposed rearwardly of annular shoulder 54. Upon further rearward motion of plu-nger 30 the right angle iiange 44 on the free leg of N spring 38 engages rear shoulder 45 of the rear-y ward portion S0 of barrel 12 stopping the rearward rnove-V ment of the writing unit, Plug 34 carried by the writingl unit also stops, permitting coil spring 36 to expand causing additional rearward motion of plunger 30, moving the detent 70 rearwardly relative to spring 38 and permitting the bight portion 68 to move inwardly and count-V er-rotate, once again assuming the position shown in Fig. l. This will permit the hook portion 48 of N spring 38 to move outwardly into engagement with the inner surface of barrel portion 50. The unit is now in the retracted condition initially described with respect to Fig. l and is prepared for subsequent actuation to the writing posi? tion by a complete depression of plunger 30. Thus, successive depressions of plunger 30 will cause the hook member 48 to alternately engage and disengage the shou1-' der 54 and likewise said successive depressions of plunger 30 will produce alternate disengagements and engage-` ments of the bight portion 68 of N spring 38 with thel forward detent portion 70 of the plunger 30.

The motion of the hook 48 is clearly shown in Figs. 54 and 6. In Fig. 5 the hook 48 is shown frictionally en-` gaging the inner surface of rearward portion 50 of barrel, 12. In Fig. 6 the writing unit is in the extended posi-vl tion and the hook 48 is in engagement with the shoulder 54 formed on the inner surface of barrel portion 50.. The assembly and construction of the various elementsr of the plunger unit are clearly shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. Therein it can be seen that the plunger 30 has a longitudinal diametric groove 72 cut in the forward portion thereof to receive the N spring 38. The forward end of, the plunger 30 also has a cylindrical bore 32 to receive plug 34 which is apertured to receive the knee portion. 42 of the N spring 38. The hook 48 extends outwardly from the longitudinal groove 72 to engage the inner surface of the barrel (not shown), jIhe coil 36is comt pressed between theforward end `of `the central portion of plunger 30 and the rear end of plug 34 normally urging plug 34 outwardly `from the cylindrical bore 32. However, a `right angle flange 44 is formed on the free leg of N spring 38 to engage the aperture 46 in the plunger to limit the relative motion between the plunger and the plug and N spring,

While various modifications will be manifest to one skilled in the writing `instrument art, it is believed clear that applicant hereby teaches a novel means for actuating a writing unit in which a single push button may be successively depressed to produce alternate extensions and retractions of the writing unit in an associated barrel. Moreover, a novel system of actuation is disclosed which is positive in operation, inexpensive to construct and possesses along useful life.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the character of my `invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily `adapt the same for use under varying conditions of service, while retaining certain features which may properly be said to constitute the essential items of novelty involved, which items are intended `to be defined and secured to me by the following claims:

I claim:

l. In a writing instrument having a barrel portion and a writing unit therein axially movable between a forward writing position and a retracted position, means for alternately maintaining said unit in each of said positions comprising resilient means urging said unit to the retracted position, an axially and manually shiftable operating element rearwardly of said unit within said barrel portion, yoke spring means within said barrel having a bight portion disposed rearwardly therein and operatively engageable with said operating element and two forwardly extending longitudinally rigid laterally yieldable legs, hook means formed in one of said legs and normally urged outwardly toward said barrel portion, the other of said legs being operatively associated with said unit and restrained against substantial lateral movement, and shoulder means disposed in said barrel portion to receive said hook means when said operating element and said unit are manually moved to said forward position and released whereby the force of said resilient means on said other leg moves said bight portion outwardly and urges said hook means inwardly when said hook means is in engagement with said shoulder means, said hook means being held against inward movement by engagement with said shoulder means said operating element, when subsequently manually depressed, engaging said bight portion in the outward position to maintain said bight portion in the outward position and release said hook means from said shoulder means to permit inward movement thereof.

2. In a writing instrument having a barrel portion and a writing unit therein axially movable between a forward writing position and a retracted position, means for alternately maintaining said unit in each of said positions comprising resilient means urging said unit to the retracted position, an axially and manually shiftable operating element rearwardly of said unit within said barrel portion, yoke spring means within said barrel having a bight portion disposed rearwardly therein and operatively engageable with said operating element and two forwardly extending longitudinally rigid laterally yieldable legs, hook means formed in one of said legs and normally urged outwardly toward said barrel portion, the other of said legs being operatively associated with said unit and restrained against substantial lateral movement, shoulder means disposed in said barrel portion to receive said hook means when said operating element and said unit are manually moved to said forward position and released, and a resilient member urging said operating element and said unit apart and having less stiffness than said resilient means, the force of said resilient means on said other leg moving said bight portion outwardly and urging said hook means inwardly when said hook means is in engagement with said shoulder means, said hook means being held against inward movement by engagement with said shoulder means, said operating element when subsequently manually depressed, engaging said bight portion inthe outwardposition to maintain said bight portion in the outward position and release `said hook means from said shoulder means to permit inward movement thereof.

3. In a writing instrument having a barrel portion, a writing unit therein axially movable between a forward writing position and a retracted position and resilient means urging said unit to said retracted position, said unit including a fluid dispenser and a reservoir in axial alignment, an actuating mechanism contained in `said barrel portion and in free abutting relationship with said reservoir comprising an operating element operatively aligned with said unit within said barrel portion, said operating element having a manually engageable portion extending from the rearward end of said barrel portion and a forward portion operatively engageable with said unit, spring means in said barrel portion having a `transversely yieldable longitudinally extending leg portion having its forward end operatively engaging said unit, said leg portion extending between said unit and said operating element, said spring means further having a transversely movable portion extending from the rearward end of said leg and normally urged outwardly toward said barrel portion, shoulder means formed in said barrel portion to receive said transversely movable portion when said unit is moved to the forward position whereby said unit is maintained in said forward position, said longitudinally extending leg portion being distorted transversely by the force of said resilient means, said distortion urging said transversely movable portion inwardly from said shoulder whenever said transversely movable portion is in engagement with said shoulder, said transversely movable portion being lheld against inward movement by engagement with said shoulder means, said operating element having a formed portion adjacent the rearward end of said leg portion and engageable with the rearward end of said leg portion to maintain said longitudinally extending leg portion so distorted when so distorted upon subsequent forward and substantial rearward movement of said operating element, said transversely movable portion being free for inward movement from said shoulder upon said subsequent forward movement.

4. In a writing instrument having a barrel portion, a writing unit therein axially movable between a forward writing position and a retracted position and resilient means urging said unit to said retracted position, said unit including a fluid dispenser and a reservoir in axial alignment, an actuating m'echanism contained in said barrel portion and in free abutting relationship with said reservoir comprising yoke spring means within said barrel having a bight portion disposed rearwardly therein and operatively engageable with said operating element and two forwardly extending longitudinally rigid laterally vyieldable legs, hook means formed in one of said legs and normally urged outwardly toward said barrel portion, the other of said legs being operatively engageable with said unit in abutting end to end relationship and restrained against substantial lateral movement, and shoulder means formed in said barrel portion to receive said hook means when said operating element and said unit are manually moved to said forward position and released whereby the force of said resilient means on said other leg moves said bight portion outwardly and urges said hook means inwardly when said hook means is in engagement with said shoulder means, said hook means being held against inward movement by engagement with said shoulder means, said operating element when subsequently manually depressed, engaging said bight por tion in the outward position to maintain said bight portion in the outward position and release said hook means from said shoulder means to permit inward movement thereof.

5. In a writing instrument having a barrel portion, a writing unit therein axially movable between a forward writing position and a retracted position and resilient means urging said unit to said retracted position, said unit including a uid dispenser and a reservoir in axial alignment, an actuating mechanism contained in said barrel portion and in free abutting relationship with said reservoir comprising yoke spring means within said barrel having a bight portion disposed rearwardly therein and operatively `engageable with said operating element and two forwardly extending longitudinally rigid laterally yieldable legs, hook means formed in one of said legs and normally urged outwardly toward said barrel portion, the other of said legs being operatively engageable with said unit in abutting end to endl relationship and restrained against substantial lateral movement, and shoulder means formed in said barrel portion to receive said hook means when said operating element and said unit are manually moved to said forward position and released, plug means abutting the rearward end of said reservoir and apertured to frictionally receive said other 8 v leg', and a resilient member between said' element and said plug means of less stiffness than said resilient means whereby initial forward movement of said operating element compresses said resilient member, the force of said resilient means on said other leg moving said bight portion outwardly and urging said hook means inwardly when said hook means is in engagement with said shoul der means, said hook means being held against inward movement by engagement with said shoulder means, said operating element, when subsequently manually de-v pressed, engaging said bight portion in the outward posi tion to maintain said bight portion in the outward posi'-` tion and release said hook means from said shouldermeans to permit inward movement thereof.

References Cited in the le of this patent t UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 378,897 Myers Mar. 6, ,1888 2,398,548 Moore Apr. 16, 1946.' 2,584,569 Frentzel Feb. 5, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS v 809,514 Germany July 30, 1951v

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