GB1029358A - Retractable ball-point pens - Google Patents

Abstract

1,029,358. Retractable ball-point pens. J. RITTER, [trading as J. RITTER KOMM. GES.]. Nov. 19, 1964 [Nov. 26, 1963], No. 47261/64. Heading B6P. A rear push-button actuated ball-point pen has an operating member or turn button 5 connected to the push-button 4, Fig. 1, by torsionally elastic intermediate members 6. In Fig. 1, pressing push-button 4, which is provided with serrations 11 to prevent the push-button from rotating relative to the human operator's finger and therefore the barrel 1, results in the storing of torsional energy in the intermediate members 6. A pin 10, integral with the pushbutton, engages the turn button 5 to displace the cams 7 thereof from the grooves 8 on the inside surface of the barrel, which grooves define the retracted position. Upon leaving the grooves, the turn button is rotated by the stored torsional energy in the members 6 so that on releasing the push-button 4, the cams 7 of the turn button engage the grooves 9 on the inside surface of a barrel, which grooves define the projected position of the refill 2. In Fig. 3 the push-button is prevented from rotating relative to barrel by radial ears 14 on the push-button engaging grooves 15 on the inside surface of the barrel. However, since the push-button is integrally formed with the turn-button via the torsional members 6, and therefore rotates at the end of an actuation because the turn-button has rotated, the push-button is formed in two parts 12 and 13 with a one-way ratchet mechanism between the parts. Furthermore, in Fig. 3, the turn-button is formed with a tubular extension 18 having an axially resiliently deformable portion 18a. The refill 3 co-operates with a pressure member 22 axially slidable in the tubular member, and this pressure member engages with a pressure pin formed integrally with the upper portion 12 of the push-button. The operation is similar to Fig. 1 with the cams 20 of the turn-button 17 engaging in the grooves 8 for the retracted position and in the grooves 9 for the projected position under the force of the resilient means 18a. In the projected position, the pressure member 22 will engage the lower surface of the turn-button 17. As an alternative, Fig. 4 (not shown), the grooves 8 and 9 may be formed on the turn-button and the cams formed on the inside surface of the barrel. In a modification of the construction shown in Fig. 1, a stop pin of rectangular crosssection enters a recess in the turn-button and prevents the overstraining of the intermediate members 6. In an alternative construction, Fig. 4a (not shown), the stop pin is attached to the intermediate members and engages both the push-button and the turn-button when the push-button is pressed.