GB805835A - Improvements relating to mechanical multi-colour writing instruments - Google Patents

Abstract

805,835. Writing instruments. MORLOCK, H., MORLOCK, H., and MORLOCK, K., [trading as MORLOCK, H., [Firm of]]. April 22, 1955, No. 11723/55. Class 146(3) A multi-colour writing instrument comprises a casing 2 housing a plurality of pen or pencil units 8 which can be projected forwards against spring pres- :sure into writing position, a feed casing 3 slidably mounted on the rear end of the casing 2, and a ball 5 arranged for free movement within the jacket 2, so that, when the instrument is rotated into a selected position whilst inclined. the ball moves by gravity to lie in axial alignment with the shank of the pen or pencil unit required to be moved forward for writing. As shown, ball-point pen units 8 are individually slidable in the casing 2 from the retracted position, shown, into writing position by depression of the casing 3. The unit 8 to be projected is selected by suitably inclining the casing 2, such that the ball 5 rolls along a channel 9 under gravity, to a position at the rear of the unit to be projected. Thus, on depression of the sleeve 3, against a spring 27, the selected unit 8 is projected, against a return spring 13, by engagement of the ball 5 with a shank 7 on the unit 8. The shank 7 has a bent end 20 which is guided along a slot 21 in a sleeve 22 which slidably receives the front of a support 4; the bent end 20 also engages a slot 34 in a sleeve 33 rotatable on the sleeve 22. The slot 34, Fig. 7, has enlarged portions 36, 37 at either end, such that advance of the end 20 rotates the sleeve 33 through engagement with the slanting front edge of the portion 37, thus unlocking the end 20 of a previously projected unit 8 from engagement with the rear edge of the portion 36. Engagement of the shank end 20 of the unit 8 being projected with the forward slanting edge 35 of the slot portion 36 effects rotation of the sleeve 33 into position for retaining the projected unit 8 in writing positions. In a modification, Fig. 5 (not shown), four units are provided. In this case, the shape of a support housing the ball is square with rounded corners, the units being positioned beneath these corners. In a further modification, Fig. 9 (not shown), the casing 2 has a detachable tapered front portion permitting the exchange of pencil units through the front end of the instrument.