DE7341868U - PEN - Google Patents

Description

& CARPENTER

PATENT LAWYERS

Dipl.-Ing. H. Leinweber Dipl.-Ing. Heinz Zimmermann Dipl.-Ing. A. Gf. v. Wengersky

RotentaU, 8000 Munich 2 2nd entrance (Kustermann-Passage) Telephone (089) 2603989 Telex 528191 lepatd Telegr.-Adr. Leinpat Munich

* ^Η February 25, 1977

Our mark S Qg / C

E. Henriksen. Lucerne, Switzerland

pen

The innovation concerns a ballpoint pen with a Housing, a nib arranged at one end of the housing, an ink container and an ink channel between the nib and paint container.

The known gravity-fed ink pens do not write when the nib is raised so high that it is higher than the ink container, as the ink tends to flow back due to gravity when the ink in the narrow gap around the ball is used up . Through this gap, air is drawn into the nib and into the ink container, which can result in permanent impairment of the writing ability of the ballpoint pen, as there are air bubbles in the pen tip

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leading color channel usually obstruct the flow of color when the ballpoint pen is back in its normal writing position is brought. This impairment is independent of whether the paint container or the paint channel are capillary-like or larger.

Efforts have been made to solve this problem, some of which have facilities for Temporary or permanent compression of the air or other gas in the paint container behind the paint supply affect. However, such constructions are unsatisfactory because the air pressure is not always uniform, mostly too high so that the ink flows out at the writing tip, or too low so that the ballpoint pen stops to write until the air pressure has been correctly adjusted by some manipulation. The facilities to carry out such manipulations are relatively complicated and expensive.

Furthermore, devices have been proposed in which by a responsive to the pressure on the writing tip Pump a mechanical pressure is exerted on the paint column in the paint container. Examples of such proposals are contained in U.S. Patents 2,106,046 and 2,762,337. According to the first-mentioned patent specification, a sliding piston pump which, however, is not used in conventional ballpoint pens with a rolling nib. According to the second US-PS is a displaceable writing tip and actuated by this, relatively complicated, and elaborate pump construction is used. This device is also relatively expensive and complicated in production.

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The object of the innovation is therefore to make a ballpoint pen of the type mentioned at the beginning in a particularly simple manner Way to train so that the ballpoint pen writes reliably in every position.

This task is solved in principle as follows. At least part of the color channel consists of an elastic flexible material. It is sealingly connected to both the writing tip and the ink container and normally holds these two components together as a whole. However, the elastic material is deformable, so that when Aufτ applying writing pressure to the writing tip deforms the material, thereby reducing the volume of at least a part of the color channel s is reduced and a shut-off valve installed next to the paint container prevents the paint from flowing back that by the writing pressure regardless of how the ballpoint pen is held, there is inevitably a supply of ink at the writing tip. Otherwise, the protection claims referenced.

Before the innovation is described in detail, some of the terms used should be explained in more detail.

In the context of the invention, the term "writing tip" or "ballpoint pen" refers to a pen with a sufficiently hard ball which is rotatably mounted in a suitable housing in such a way that a part of the 4-way ball protrudes from the housing so far that it is at a writing surface can be brought to rest, wherein the ball can rotate during the writing process on the writing surface. When the ball is turned, a small amount of paint runs out through a gap between the ball and its housing and forms a track on the writing surface. The ball is fixed in the housing with a very small amount of play, whereby the gap

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between the ball and its side seat, by which the paint is guided along the ball, preferably one Width of 0.001 to 0.01 mm, whereby the axial movement of the ball is limited to a maximum of 1/10 of the ball diameter will. The ball rests on a part-spherical lower seat, which is provided with grooves or other passages, through which the ink can flow when the ball is pressed onto the seat while writing. The side seat preferably extends at least to the equator of the sphere. The tiny dimensions of the gap create capillary forces creates that prevent the paint from flowing along the ball if it is not rotating, even if a relatively great pressure is exerted on the paint.

The term "paint container", or "container" for short, refers to a construction that contains a supply of paint and from which the paint is drawn by its weight When the pen is in a normal writing position. The container comes with a Ventilation provided that the access vsn; replacing the color Air is allowed when it is consumed. It is also provided with a device that prevents that the air mixes with the ink when the container is placed in a position in which it is not normally written so that the color forms an uninterrupted column that extends to the tip of the pen. Examples such devices are slidable drivers in the container, as described in US Pat. No. 3,424,537. Also a Container in the form of a capillary tube has such features.

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As a capillary tube or a color channel with capillary dimensions, a tube or a hole with a diameter so small that the color contained therein forms a meniscus that is stable enough to withstand the force of gravity acting on the color, including those caused by normal shocks To withstand forces. The actual dimensions of the paint channel or capillary tube will vary according to the properties of the paint including its viscosity, surface tension, and the degree to which the paint wets the material of the surrounding walls. "Color" is a color or ink which is suitable for use in ballpoint pens and which preferably has a viscosity of 1500 to 20,000 Cp at 25 ⁰ C and at least sufficient flowability to flow to the writing tip by its own weight, when the writing tip is pointing downwards.

Further details, advantages and features of the innovation emerge from the following description. In The drawing illustrates the innovation, for example, namely show:

Fig. 1 partially shows a ballpoint pen according to the innovation - in section,

2 shows a modified form of the innovation,

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2,

4 shows a longitudinal section of a further modified form,

tr »· *

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Fig. 5 is a section along the line 5-5 in Fig. 4,

6 shows a longitudinal section of yet another modification of the innovation and

7 to 10 further embodiments.

Fig. 1 shows schematically a construction which has the basic principles of the innovation. As shown, the unit 1 having the innovation is accommodated in a conventional holder or housing 2. The unit

I has a tubular container 3, which with a forwardly extending tubular section 4 is provided with a smaller diameter, which is tapered into a Valve seat 5 ends. A ball 6 engages in the valve seat 5 and prevents the tubular section 4 from flowing back the color can seal. A writing tip 7 has a housing part 8 which is provided with a rotatable ball 9 is provided that the color through the color passages 10 and

II is supplied. Even if it's not special in every case is described, the writing tip of each embodiment of the innovation is with a similar ball and similar color passages, as shown in Fig. 1, are provided. The writing tip 7 extends to backwards and ends just before the ball 6, its rear edge with suitable grooves12 or equivalent Passages is provided so that the ball 6 cannot seal in the direction of the writing tip. Kin tubular Body 13 made of an elastic polymer, which represents a connection ε piece, tightly encloses the rear part of the Writing tip and the front part of the tubular section

U /

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4 and lies against both parts in a sealing manner, holding them axially in alignment as shown. As a material for the tubular body 13, any suitable flexible, elastic material can serve as Weichpolyvinyl, Weichpolyäthylen, silicone rubber od. The like. Although in the drawing, the color itself is displayed nicü is to be assumed that the container 3, the tubular portion A and the color passages 10 and "i1 filled with color pind.

If the ballpoint pen shown is held in the normal writing position with the writing tip.:, After shows below, the ball 6 can detach from the valve seat 5, so that the paint passes the ball unhindered to the nib can flow. When the ballpoint pen is used in an upside down position, i.e. with the tip of the pen pointing upwards, The ball 6 tends due to gravity to engage in the valve seat 5 in order to prevent the paint from flowing back to prevent. When the writing pressure is applied to the nib, the tubular body 13 becomes light compressed and obviously tends to reduce the volume of the paint passage in front of the valve seat 5, whereby a little pressure is exerted on the ink and a constant supply of ink is maintained at the writing tip. If the Ball 6 does not firmly engage the valve seat 5 under the influence of gravity, causes the initial loading the writing pressure on the ball of the writing tip so that the ink flows backwards towards the container. By however, the pressure exerted on the ink in the nib, the ball 6 becomes firmly engaged with the valve seat

5 pressed. This is how the illustrated ballpoint pen writes even in the opposite position or even when no gravity is effective or when the ballpoint pen is is in a high vacuum. By releasing the pressure

the pressure from the tubular body is applied to the writing tip or removing the writing tip from the writing surface 13 taken, whereupon it expands axially, so that the writing tip is advanced and more color is out of the container: 3 is drawn into the paint passage between the valve seat 5 and the ball 9 of the nib.

In this embodiment of the innovation, as well as in all other modifications described below, the Ballpoint pen, of course, can also be used in its normal writing position, i.e. with the writing tip pointing downwards will. However, the writing pressure applied to the nib usually causes the pen to work in the manner described, even if it is used with the writing tip pointing upwards.

Fig. 2 shows a paint container 14, which consists of a suitable elastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene or the like is made and the one with a valve pin 15 is provided, in which there is a ball 16 which engages in a valve seat 17 and by suitable projections 18 (see also FIG. 3) held in the valve pin 15 will. At the front end of the container 14 is a writing tip 19 pushed into it, which is provided with a collar 20 on which the container 14 rests. As shown, the container 14 is a capillary tube, but it can also have larger dimensions. Between the valve pin 15, the ball 16 and the valve seat 17 on the one hand and the writing tip 19 on the other hand is the container 14 by molding or otherwise provided with a portion which forms a thin-walled bellows 21, which preferably, r wise is easily deformable in the axial direction. The bellows

can be achieved by softening the container material with heat and "Bubbles" or some other method. Any suitable plastic, such as hard polyethylene or polypropylene, can be used to form the bellows 21 are used, and it is clear that by the writing pressure applied to the nib 19 is elastically deformable in the axial direction and that when this pressure is released, the bellows expands axially, whereof As described above, more paint is drawn into chamber 22 along ball 16.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, a pointed housing 23 is at the front end of a tubular paint container 24 attached. The housing 23 is provided with a bore 25 and a counterbore 26, which limit a shoulder 27. In the bore 25 a solid stake 28 is attached next to the end of the container 24, as shown in Fig. 5 in section. The stake 28 is provided with a flat front surface 29 and a plurality provided by grooves or passages 30, which are distributed at a distance from one another over its circumference. Thus form the passages 30 a connection between the container 24 and the bore 25. A writing tip 31 is with a provided a short, rearwardly extending tubular section 32 and a cylindrical section 33, which can be displaced in the longitudinal direction in the counterbore 26. A shoulder 34 '"on the nib works with the Shoulder 27 together to limit the movement of the writing tip backwards. An essentially cylindrical: Body 35 made of an elastic polymer is provided with a central bore 36 with a larger axial Bore 37 in the body is in communication. The tubular section 32 sits firmly and sealingly in the bore 37,

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wherein the front end of the body 35 rests against the writing tip 31. The bore% extends through the rear of the body 35 which is provided with a circular rib and a circular rim 38 around the opening of this bore. The body 35 is also provided with a peripheral flange 39 which comes to rest on the front end of the peg 28. The rear end of the body 35 is firmly fitted into the bore 25, but has a smaller diameter in its front part 40 for a purpose which will be explained later.

When writing pressure is applied to the writing tip 31, it moves in the bore 26 backwards and deforms the body 35 until the edge 38 comes to rest on the surface 29. The check valve thus formed now closes the color channel between the container and the nib. Constant writing pressure deforms the body 35 further or further compresses it, whereby pressure is exerted on the ink at the nib. As shown the circumferential flange 39 has a greater axial height than the edge 38 and accordingly the natural elasticity of the Body 35 to keep the color channel open until a writing pressure is applied.

The smaller diameter portion 40 of the body 35 reduces the frictional resistance to it the movement of the writing tip 31 inward, and the shoulders 27 and 34 form a positive stop to a To prevent damage to the body 35 when excessive pressure is applied to the writing tip. As can be seen is this embodiment of the innovation, in particular with regard to the formation of the body 35 from elastic Polymer, relatively easy to manufacture.

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In the embodiment according to FIG. 6, a tubular paint container 41 is provided at its upper end with a shaped piece 42 which has a first bore 43 and a counterbore 44 on it. The counterbore holds a tapered housing part 45 which is provided with a bore 46 which slidably guides a tubular part 47 to which a writing tip, not shown, is attached. The displaceable tubular part 47 extends backwards into the bore 43 and is provided with a substantially cup-shaped body 48 made of elastic polymer, which in turn rests in the bore 43 in a sealing manner. The inner end of the tubular member 47 abuts a shoulder 49 in the body 48 which surrounds a forwardly extending bore 50 in the body 48. The inner or rearward end of the body 48 is designed as a flat surface 51 at the inner end of a section 52 with a smaller diameter. When the body 48 is not loaded or in its normal untensioned condition, the surface 51 is a small distance from the inner surface of a transverse wall 53 & the inner end of the molding 42. The transverse wall 53 is part of the surface 51 axially opposite opening 54 is provided. The body 48 made of elastic polymer is further provided with a passage or an opening 55 which establishes a connection between the chamber formed by the bore 43 and the chamber delimited by the bore 50 in the body 48. As can be seen from the drawing, when If the parts are in relation to one another in the position shown, a continuous color channel is created for the color from the container, through the opening 54, the space between the transverse wall 53 and the surface 51 _r, the chamber formed by the bore 43, the opening 55 and the interior of the tubular part 47 extends to the writing tip.

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7341868 26.0S.77

When a Sohreibtawk exerted on the writing tip the tubular part 47 moves backwards and deforms the body 48 made of elastic polymer so far that its surface 51 on the inner surface of the transverse wall 53 comes to the A-silage. The check valve formed in this way is closed in order to prevent the paint from flowing back to the container impede. Continuous writing pressure deforms the body 48 further or presses it together further, whereby the same Manner and for the same purpose as described in connection with the previous embodiments, a print applied to the paint at the nib. As shown, the molding 42 is with a rear face

56 provided, which are at a distance from the exner shoulder

57 is located, which forms the transition between the bores 43 and 44. A ring 58 is attached to the tubular part 47 and extends radially outward therefrom and into the space between surface 56 and shoulder 57. This The ring serves as a stop to limit the inward movement of the tubular part 47 and thus to avoid damage of body 48 when excessive pressure is applied to the nib.

Fig. 7 shows a paint container 59 which is attached to a tapered housing 60, which is at its front End has a bore 61 in which a writing tip 62 slides. The nib 62 has an ordinary ink passage 63 which extends through a rearward extension 64 of smaller diameter. The housing 60 is provided with a counterbore 65, which is smaller than the bore 61, and with a second counterbore 66, which with a passage 67 communicates which communicates with the interior of the container 59 forms. In the counterbore

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a partially spherical valve seat 68 is provided in which a ball 69 sits loosely. A sealing washer 70 from a any suitable, substantially rigid material sits on the bottom of the counterbore 65 and is with a provided square bore 71 (Fig. 8), a body 72 made of elastic polymer is in such a way on the sealing washer

70 indicates that its passage 73 with the square opening

71 aligns. A larger bore 74 encloses the extension 64 of the writing tip with a seal, while the inner end of body 72 is sealingly and tightly fitted into bore 65. The front part of the body 72 made of elastic Polymer has a smaller diameter, narrowing an annular space 75 therebetween Part and the bore 65 is present.

In operation, space 75 provides enough space for the resilient polymeric body to expand somewhat radially when pressure is applied to the nib. _oa is by which the movement of the writing tip disposed inwardly defying, caused by frictional resistance. The square opening 71 in the sealing washer 70 ensures that there is always a passage for the paint flowing along the ball 69 into the passage 73. The functioning of this embodiment is clear because a writing pressure exerted on the nib 62 puts the ink in the passage 73 under pressure and thereby presses the ball 69 firmly against the valve seat 68, thereby preventing the ink from flowing back to the container and thus onto the The pressure exerted on the paint pushes it forward towards the ball 76 of the nib, regardless of the position of the pen.

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In FIG. 9, the same parts as in FIG. 7 are provided with the same reference numerals and are no longer described in detail. In this embodiment the MS $ i $ 8§i§8ki $ i i9 MivJÄI. ^e Wf, which has a round opening 78, while the surface of the sealing disk facing the paint container has radial grooves

79 is provided to ensure that the paint flows forward from the container, even if a flat disc spring

80 rests against the sealing washer 77. The flat disc spring 80 according to FIG. 9 can be made of any suitable material and replaces the check valve formed by the ball 69 of Figure 7. This embodiment of the invention operates in substantially the same manner as the embodiment according to FIG. 7, the plate spring 80 being seated on the forward-facing surface 81 of the housing 60, when the nib exerts pressure on the ink by compressing the resilient polymer body 72.

As explained above, all of the above-described embodiments of the innovation operate essentially in the same way Manner, i.e. when a writing pressure is initially applied to the writing tip of the ballpoint pen, this becomes close to the Container located shut-off valve closed after a small shift, and the continuous writing pressure causes applying a feed pressure to the paint located in front of the shut-off valve. In this way, during the When writing, a constant supply of ink is supplied to the ball of the writing tip, even when the ballpoint pen is in is in the opposite position, i.e. when the writing tip is pointing upwards. In any case, the writing tip is through one maximum elastic body connected to the paint container,

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which is designed as a color channel, the deformation of the axially elastic body the volume a? Part of the color channel reduced to exert the pressure described.

The various forms of shut-off valves shown to prevent the backflow of paint to the paint container are for explanatory purposes only. The embodiments of the innovation can be configured with any suitable check valves be used. It is important that the total movement of the check valve between the open and closed position is very small, so that the check valve is immediately after the first application of the writing pressure on the nib without significant movement. Preferably di Nib movement required to close the shut-off valve was kept below about 0.1 mm. This is desirable because too great an axial movement of the ball of the writing tip is disadvantageous. Even if the check valve is closed is, it is advantageous to limit the movement of the writing tip to about 0> 5 mm, since many users have a larger Find a movement distance of 0.5 mm as disadvantageous. In each of the illustrated embodiments, there are stops or such a construction is provided to severely limit the overall movement of the writing tip.

The ink consumption in a ballpoint pen is very low, it is a maximum of 5 mg per 10 m of written line Therefore the speed with which the color column moves in the lines leading to the ball seat is very slow. For example, if the writing speed is 10 meters per minute, the speed of the color is in a 0.5 mm bore, which is normal for a nib with a ball diameter of 1 mm, only about 0.025 mm per Minute. Hence, it can be seen that there is almost no axial movement of the ballpoint pen in relation to the writing tip for

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the continuous supply of color is required while writing.

When the entire ink supply in the ink tank closes the shut-off valve one of the described embodiments has happened, the pen is therefore exhausted because the remaining Color can only be used when the pen is in its normal position with the nib is held down. Therefore, it is desirable that the features of the invention be so arranged, formed and be sized so that the check valve is as close as possible to the nib.

According to the innovation, the shut-off valves described must be designed so that a minimal margin are provided for the flow of paint and a minimal movement of the closing body to close the shut-off valve. In general, such check valves, if they are ball valves, have a diameter of the order of 1 b: 4 mm. This general dimension should be adhered to for every freely movable closing body, even if it is itself is not a bullet. Furthermore, the radial space between such a freely movable :. Closing body and that of the enclosing housing or shut-off part can be kept as small as it is depending on the The type of paint used is compatible with a satisfactory flow of paint. Generally the radial Space around the freely movable closing body preferably about 0.1 mm, but it can also be 0.2 mm in size. Gaps less than 0.1 mm are even considered if the nature of the paint allows. the Axial movement of a freely movable closing body between the closed and fully open position

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should also be kept as small as possible and here too it is advantageous that such a movement does not exceed about 0.1 mm, although movement up to 0.3 mm is allowed. As with radial clearance, can the movement of the closing body can also be less than 0.1 mm, if a special color is only through such a tiny open shut-off valve can flow. As I said, it is desirable that the axial movement and the radial Clearance must be kept to a minimum in order to prevent the shut-off valve from closing almost immediately after touching the Paper or any other surface to be written on through the writing tip.

As described, the innovation affects a ballpoint pen in which the writing tip, the color channel and the paint container is permanently assembled as a unit and the paint channel is fixed or sealed with the Writing tip and the ink container is connected. The pen can be used as a refillable pen or be designed as a disposable ballpoint pen, in the latter case said parts being permanent and sealing are interconnected and cannot be individually replaced or easily removed.

The axially elastic body is preferably designed in such a way that an ixial movement of the writing tip in the direction of the ink container begins as soon as the writing pressure is applied. It has been found that the best results are obtained if, in a fully assembled pen, which, however, contains no F _a rbe, a force of only 30 g of an axial movement of at least 0.05 mm caused, except that the pen also work can if under the same

Load only causes a movement of 0.01 irrni. When the load is 60 g, the movement is roughly doubled. For example, the material for the axially elastic body, the movement of at least 0.05 mm allowed when applying a force of 30 g, with one The ballpoint pen of FIG. 6, in which the outer diameter of the cylindrical body 48 is 4.5 mm, is a mixture be made of polyvinyl chloride with a hardness of about 40 on the Durometer A scale.

Claims (1)

I 1 ι I tr * I * » ■ »t * • CARPENTER PATENT LAWYERS Dipl.-lng. H. Leinweber Dlpl.-lng. Heinz Zimmermann Dlpl.-Ing. A. Gf. ν. Wengersky R0Mntal7, 8000 Munich 2 2. Ascent (Kustermann-Paeaage) Telephone (ΟΒΘ) 2603989 Telex 528191 lepatd Telegr. Addr. Lelnpat Munich «" «February 25, 1977 UnaerZeichen S Qg / C G 73 41 868
E. Henriksen (New) protection claims: 1. Ballpoint pen with a housing, a writing tip arranged at one end of the housing, a paint container and a paint channel between the writing tip and the paint container, characterized in that between the writing tip (7; 19; 31; 62) and the paint container (3; 14; 24; 41; 59) an axially elastic body (13; 21; 25; 48; 72) is arranged which is designed as a continuous, dense color channel (e.g. 73), which is the color passage (e.g. 10, 11) of the writing tip connects to the paint outlet opening (e.g. 67) of the paint container, and that between the axially elastic body or the Color channel on the one hand and a check valve (5, 6; 15, 16, 17; 28; 53, 54; 68, 69; 80) on the other hand whose closing body (6; 16; 28;) when the axially elastic body is compressed at the paint outlet opening of the paint container is in the plant. -2- 7341868 05/26/77 I I I I IMI 2. Ballpoint pen according to Claim 1, characterized in that that the axially elastic body is eir hollow body. 3. Ballpoint pen according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the axially elastic body as tubular Body (13) is formed. 4. Ballpoint pen according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the axially elastic body is a bellows (21) is formed. 5. Ballpoint pen according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the axially elastic body is a cylindrical The body (35) is mounted so as to be axially displaceable in a bore (25) of the housing or the writing tip is. 6. Ballpoint pen according to claim 5, characterized in that that the color channel is an axial channel of the cylindrical body. 7. Ballpoint pen according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the cylindrical body consists of two sections (4ci, 32) of different diameters. ο. Ballpoint pen according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the axially elastic body with engages one end with a seal on the writing tip. 7341661 05/26/77 • 1 tti * t r t r (t ι y. Ballpoint pen according to one of Claims 1 to ο, characterized in that the writing tip is mounted axially displaceably in the housing. 10. Ballpoint pen according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the closing body of the check valve is a ball (6, 16, 69) (Figs. 1,2,7). 11. Ballpoint pen according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the closing body of the check valve is a plate spring (81) (Fig. 9). 12. Ballpoint pen according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the closing body of the check valve a projection (52) of the axially elastic body (48) facing the paint container (41) is (FIG. 6). 7341861 26 05.77