WO1990001424A1

WO1990001424A1 - Pen

Info

Publication number: WO1990001424A1
Application number: PCT/NO1989/000080
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sonja Johansen; Arild Fossum
Original assignee: Sonja Johansen
Priority date: 1988-08-03
Filing date: 1989-08-02
Publication date: 1990-02-22
Also published as: NO883439D0; NO165062B; AU4057989A; NO883439L; NO165062C

Abstract

The invention relates to a pen with a closure device (1) against drying out of the pen tip (4), wherein a movable cap (2), (a) operates the closure device (1), (b) cannot be lost due to blocking devices in both directions, (c) constitutes an ergonomically correct writing thickener, and (d) comprises an integrated fastening clip (7). The cap (2) is arranged in an eccentric relationship to the axis of the pen body.

Description

P E N

The present invention relates to a pen, and particularly a pen with devices for preventing drying out, providing a good writing grip, ensuring that the closure cap cannot be lost and simultaneously providing an integrated fastening clip.

A large number of differently shaped hand-writing utensils of the pen-type are previously known. Fountain pens, ball point pens, indian ink pens and pencils exist in variants which apparently ought to meet all requirements. Still, "ordinary" pen-types often have certain deficiencies which may irritate persons who write much. Among these deficiencies is the fact that ordinary pens have a grip part which is too thin, so that the hand tires from long periods of use, and further that a tightening cap is easily lost, so that the pen is thereafter dried out.

Regarding an ergonomically correct pen grip, there exist writing thickeners to be fitted to ordinary pens, however a pen ought in principle to be correctly constructed from the start, to make additional equipment redundant.

Concerning drying out, there has been provided constructio which aim to prevent this. For instance, US patent 4479732 discloses a pen with an ingenious closure mechanism in the tip, which mechanism is based upon gravity movement of a movable closure part. Said mechanism is complicated, and such a pen will be quite expensive. Ideas relating to ergonomics cannot be foun in connection with this idea.

US patent 2092459 discloses a fountain pen with some of th same general features as the present invention. In connection with a slideable cap, which cap also constitutes the pen's grip member, there is provided a lid for preventing drying out and for protection of the pen tip. The lid opens by means of a mechanical device when the cap is pulled in the rearward direction so that the writing position is obtained with an uncovered pen tip.

However, the present invention constitutes an improvement and a further development of the last mentioned idea. The ergonomic characteristics of the pen have been essentially improved, and at the same time there has been provided a simple and efficient clip device for fastening the pen. These features have been achieved in an integrated totality and in a production technically simple manner, so that an inexpensive and good pen is obtained.

Thus, in accordance with the invention there has been provided a pen with a closure device against drying out and for protection of the pen tip, said closure device being operated by longitudinal displacement of a substantially cylindrically shaped cap, situated outside a substantially cylindrically shaped pen body, said cap being movable between and fixable in, two marked stop positions, said cap also constituting a grip member of the pen, the diameter of said cap or grip member being ergonomically determined so that said cap also constitutes a writing thickener, and the pen is characterized in that the axis of said cap is placed eccentrically in relation to the axis of the pen body, and that said cap has a longitudinal incision substantially parallell to the axes of the cap and the pen body on the side which is situated opposite the axis of the pen body, so that the exterior part of said cap constitutes a fastening clip and simultaneously forms part of the grip member.

The cap and the pen body may be constructed in such a manner that the cap cannot be displaced beyond any of the stop positions without being damaged, so that the cap is impossible to lose in normal use. Possibly the cap and the pen body may be constructed in such a manner that the cap may be displaced beyond one of the stop positions without being damaged, by using increased displacement force.

The pen in accordance with the present invention shall now be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawing figures, which figures show a non-limiting embodiment example.

FIG. 1 shows a side view or rather a section through the pen, in a writing position,

FIG. 2 shows the same as FIG. 1, however in a closed position,

FIG. 3 shows the pen in a head-on view and in a writing position,

FIG. 4 shows the pen in a head-on view and in a closed position, and FIG. 5 shows the same as FIG. 4, but with an alternative closure device embodiment.

In FIG. 1 the pen in accordance with the invention is seen in a writing position. Reference numeral 1 designates a closure device which is open here so as to uncover the writing tip 4. The writing tip 4 is preferably of a ball-ink or a fiber-ink type, but may as well be an ordinary ball point pen or a pencil A thick cap 2 constitutes a grip member which lies steadily fixed in the shown position, secured in said position by means of a rearward stop groove 5, which groove is engaged by for instance a (not shown) annular spring device on the inside of the cap 2. Then the cap 5 also abuts the edge 6 which constitute a final limitation for the rearward movement of the cap 2 on the pen body 3.

In the shown embodiment example, the closure device 1 is constituted by a rubber lid with a central opening, with a relaxed (equilibrium) position such that the small central hole is closed by folding together, see also FIG. 2 and 4. When the pen tip is pushed through, the rubber membrane 1 is forced outwardly to settle in a taut condition around the tip as shown in FIG. 1 and 3. However, other embodiments may also be produced, for instance a split rubber lid 1' like in FIG. 5, where the lid consists of rubber sections, which sections spread out from each other when the cap 2 is pulled rearwardly so that the pen tip 4 forces its way through. Furthermore a lid of the type mentioned in the above US patent 2092459 is possible, that is a hinged and rigid lid with an open/close device of a mechanical type.

FIG. 2 shows the pen with the cap 2 in a forward-pulled closure position. The rubber membrane is pulled together in the manner mentioned above, and provides a closure which prevents that the pen dries out. The cap 2 now rests in a stable manner against the forward edge 9 on the rear side of the tip of the pen, and is held fixed in this position by means of a forward stop groove 8.

When considering the drawing figures 3 , 4 and 5, the following can be seen: the axis of the actual pen body 3, through the tip 4 , lies eccentrically in relation to the axis of the cap 2. The cap 2 is also cylindrical, and has a diameter in the range 20 to 21 mm, which is the ergonomically recommended size. In addition, the eccentric construction entails that the thick cap 2, simultaneously with being a suitable grip member, acts as a fastening clip 7 for the pen, in that the area of the cap 2 which is situated on top (FIG. 3) of the pen body and constitutes the thickest part of the cap, opens the possibility for cutting a slit parallell to the axes, so as to form the fastening clip 7 thereby.

Thus a writing utensil has been provided, which meets many of the requirements to be set by a person who writes much. The pen is safe against drying out, the cap cannot be lost, the ergonomics is good and the fastening clip forms an integrated part of the grip member. Materialwise/production technically the pen is simple to produce, since all parts are moulded in plastics, except the rubber membrane 1. Mounting of the cap is made quite simple in that the actual pen body for instance may be composed of two parts made to be screwed together. By con¬ structing the rear part of the pen body somewhat slimmer, so that the shown edge 6 does not appear, the cap may be removable in a rearward direction by using a little force, if this is desirable.

Claims

P A T E N T C L A I M S

1. A pen with a closure device (1) against drying out and for protection of the pen tip (4) , said closure device (1) being operable by longitudinal displacement of a substantially cylindrically shaped cap (2) , said cap (2) being situated outside a substantially cylindrically shaped pen body (3) , said cap (2) being movable between and fixable in two marked stop positions (5, 8) , said cap (2) also constituting a grip member of the pen, the diameter of said cap (2) or grip member being ergonomically determined so that said cap (2) also constitutes a writing thickener, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the axis of said cap (2) is situated eccentrically in relation to the axis of the said pen body (3) and that said cap (2) has a longitudinal incision substantially parallell to the axes of said cap (2) and said pen body (3) on the side which is situated opposite the axis of the pen body (3) , so that the exterior part (7) of said cap (2) constitutes a fastening clip and simultaneously forms part of the grip member.

2. Pen in accordance with claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said cap (2) and pen body (3) are constructed in such a manner that said cap (2) cannot be displaced beyond any of the stop positions without being damaged, so that said cap (2) is impossible to lose in normal use.

3. Pen in accordance with claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said cap (2) and said pen body (3) are constructed in such a manner that said cap (2) can be displaced beyond one of the stop positions without being damaged when using an increased displacement force.