US3098467A - Multi-color pressure adjustable writing instrument - Google Patents

Description

July 23, 1.963 B. NGELE, JR

MULTI-COLOR PRESSURE ADJUSTABLE WRITING INSTRUMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 7, 1959 m@ ,m mw V 9 m 4 4 f f a y Nw l f W n B f MULTI-COLOR PRESSURE ADJUSTABLE WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed April 7, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Oiitice rasata? Patented July 23, 1963 3,098,467 MULTE-CLQR PRESSURE ADJUSTABLE f: ING INSTRUMENT Bernhard Nagele, Jr., Goethestr. 59,

Schwabisch Gmund, Germany Filed Apr. 7, 1959, Ser. No. 804,753 Claims priority, application Germany Apr. 9, 1%58 8 Claims. (Cl. 1Z0-14.5)

The present invention relates to a pressure adjustable writing instrument for different color leads or inks and, more particularly, to such a writing instrument, for instance pressure adjustable ball point writing instrument, in which by applying pressure upon a push button or pressure spindle, the lead or pen cartridge is moved into its writing position in which it is locked. When the lead or pen cartridge is to be returned into its ineffective position, further pressure is applied to the push button or pressure spindle so as to slightly further advance said lead or pen cartridge whereby it is unlocked and by means of a spring is returned to its rest position in the interior of the casing of the writing instrument.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved writing instrument of the above mentioned general type.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a multicolor automatic writing instrument which is relatively simple in construction and operation and in which the desired respective lead will be quickly moved into its Writing position and into its rest position by the exertion of pressure upon a push button or the like.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following speciliication in connection with the Iaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through a writing instrument according to the invention with four different leads, one lead being shown in its writing position.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of FIG. l but on a larger scale than the latter.

FiG. 3 is a cross section through the -arrangement of FIG. 2 taken along the line III-III thereof.

FIG. 4 represents a cross section of the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, said section being taken along the line IV-IV of FlG. 2.

FIG. 5 represents a section taken along the line V-V of FIG. 2.

The writing instrument according to the present invention is characterized primarily in that the leads are guided by a cylindrical insert which is non-displaceably mounted in the casing or housing of the writing instrument. In the said insert there is guided a rotatable feed spindle provided with two serially arranged cam members, namely a follower cam member and a return member, between which hook-shaped ends of resilient tongues of the lead carrier-s can be adjusted by rotation of the feed spindle for moving the respective lead carrier into writing position. The respective lead carrier can be held in its writing position by means of a spring-urged transverse bolt. When the spindle is advanced further, the respective lead carrier is released and by means of a return spring is returned to its rest position. The arrangement according to the invention furthermore comprises a locking ring non-disp1aceably mounted in the guiding insert. The hook-shaped ends of the resilient tongues of the lead carriers when in rest position will engage said locking ring in such a way that when the feed spindle is moved into its writing position, said resilient hooloshaped ends and tongues will -be retained in their rest position and only the respective adjusted lead guiding means will be moved `into Writing position. In order to assure this operation, the outer periphery of the guiding insert is provided with a plurality of longitudinal slots corresponding to the number of the lead guiding means, sald resilient tongues of the carriers being inserted into said slots. The rear portion of the guiding insert comprises further continuous slots through which extend the hook-shaped ends of said resilient tongues in such a way that the resilient tongues of the respective lead carrier -being moved will be guided in said slots during its advancing or feed movement. Near the front end of the feed spindle there is provided a cylindrical transverse bore in which is guided a transverse 'bolt acted upon by a locking spring.

The locking ring is rotatably but axially non-displace ably connected to the feed spindle. When advancing the spindle, the follower cam and the return cam engage slots in the guiding insert so that a rotation of the spindle during its movement into writing position will not be possible.

The locking bolt acted upon by a spring will, when occupying its rest position, serve as locking means for the retracted leads while allowing a selection thereof for the movement of a lead into its writing position. The said locking bolt also serves to retain a lead in its Writing position.

The construction of the lead advancing mechanism is such that it can be screwed as an entirety into an inner thread of the instrument casing.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the writing instrument shown therein comprises a casing l. Within the upper portion of casing l there is arranged a guiding insert 21 which has `a plurality of external axial grooves 20 corresponding to the number of colored lead carriers to be received by said writing instrument. The various color leads or ball point pen cartridges 17 are detachably mounted in carrier members i8 which in their turn are provided with extensions or tongues ll9` of resilient sheet metal. The radially inwardly bent hooks 22 `of the resilient extensions or tongues 19 extend over a rotatably journalled locking ring Z7 which is axially non-adjustably mounted in the guiding insert 2l. Ring 27 rests against an annular abutment 28 of the guiding insert and has one portion thereof provided with an axial milledout portion 29 through which a follower nose or cam 2.4 on a fee-d spindle 3 may pass.

The feed spindle 3 has furthermore an yaxial guiding groove 30 engaged by a guiding pin 31 on the locking ring 27 in such Ia way that the spindle may be `axially displaced along the said guiding pin 3l, while the spindle and ring remain keyed together.

Spindle 3 is guided in clip screw 32 cl-osing the rear end of the casing l and is furthermore guided within the guid-v ing insert by means of an abutment nut 34. One side of spindle 3` is in addition to the follower nose or cam 24 provided with a return cam 35 which is spaced from follower cam 24 in such a way that the bent-over hook 22 of one of the lead supports can extend between the two cams, when the feed spindle is rotated by means of a push button 23 and is eadjusted for a certain lead.

The feed spindle is near the front end thereof provided with a transverse bore 48 in which by means of a pressure spring 317, a locking `and adjusting bolt 36 with cone-shaped tipi portion is adjustable transverse to the feeding direction of the spindle. The said spring 37 is located in a cylindrical hollow chamber 38 of the locking bolt 36 and rests on one hand against the outer closure closed end of bolt 36 and on the other hand rests against the bottom 39 of the transverse bore 48.

Between the lower end of the feed spindle and the closure member 40 xedly connected to the guiding insert for instance by hanging there is arranged a return spring 14 which has both ends guided by extensions 41, 42. 'The lead carrier or support can be disengaged from writing position by means of an abutment ring or release sleeve as will be described hereinafter. The rear marginal portion 43 of abutment ring il() is shaped conically so as to taper toward the longitudinal axis of said abutment ring 16.

If it is ldesired to move `a lead carrier lor support from its rest position shown in FIG. 2 in-to its writing position, the hook-shaped end of the respective extension i9* is moved into the gap between the follower cam 24J Iand the return cam 35 by rotation of push button 23 which is provided with color markings 44. Thereupon the spindle is moved forwardly by pressing on push but-ton 23 until the transverse bolt 36, due to the locking spring 37 snaps `outwardly beneath abutment 45; At the same time, the cylindrical end 46 below the bolt 36 enters the upper end of the release sleeve 10'. The feed spindle and thus the carrier that has been ladvanced will be held in this position.

When it is desired to return the carrier to its rest position, the feed spindle is advanced Vfurther by exerting further pressure upon the push button 23. As a result thereof, the cylindrical end 46 of spindle 3 further enters the release sleeve 10, and the locking bolt with its cone-shaped tip will be cammed inwardly by the cone-shaped marginal portion 43 oi release sleeve 10 against the thrust of spring 37 until it enters the straight portion -o-f the sleeve. r1`he release sleeve is axially movable and will retract with the feed spindle on account of the frictional engagement of the locking bolt with the sleeve upon releasing push button 23. The release sleeve is about the same diameter as guiding insert 20 yand when lthe feed spindle retracts, the locking bolt will pass from the release sleeve into the guiding insert without engaging abutment 45, whereby the feed spindle and t-he carrier connected therewith will move to retracted position.

The guiding insert 21 is provided with Ia thread 47 so that the entire feeding mechanism can as an entirety be screwed into a corresponding hollow thread of the casing l. It is understood that lead and ball pen cartridge have been used interchangeably because it is intended to include within the purview of the present invention not only pencils using plural leads but also pens having plural ink supply cartridges.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular oonstruction shown in the drawing but also comprises any modilications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a writing instrument: a casing having Ia writing end, an axially slotted tubular insert in said casing, a rotatable feed spindle axial-ly movable in said insert from a retracted position downwardly toward the writing end of the casing into advanced position, spring means urging said spindle toward its retracted position, a plurality of carriers in the casing respectively provided with tongues extending along said insert and ending in hook-shaped portions extending into the upper ends of the :sl-ots in 'the insert, said spindle being provided with. radially extending means having a recess therein located in the plane of said hook-shaped portions when the spindle is retracted and movable by rotation of the spindle into predetermined rotated positions into selective engagement with any one only of said hook-shaped portions, a spring urged locking member carried by said spindle, an abutment in the insert engageable by said locking member for locking the spindle in said advanced position, means protruding from said casing and connected to :said spindle for moving said spindle into said advanced position and -for moving said spindle beyond said advanced position, means freely reciprocably mounted in said casing sand frictionally engaging and retracting -said locking member` when the spindle is` advanced beyond its advanced position thereby to permit said spring means to return said spindle to its retracted position, retainer ring means rotatably but axially nondisplaceably mounted in the insert engaging beneath said hook-shaped portions for retaining those carriers not engaged by said recess means, Iand abutment means at the end of said insert which is opposite the writing end of the casing engageable with the spindle for limiting the movement of said spindle from its advanced position into its retracted position, said locking member being so angularly related to radial-ly extending means as tot engage a slot of said insert when said spindle is in one of its said rotated positions.

2. A writing instrument according to claim 1, in which said retainer ring means is non-rotatably but slidably coupled to said spindle and has an axial opening that registers with -said recess means to permit axial movement therethrough of said radially extending means and the hook-shaped portion of the carrier coupled to the spindle.

3. In a writing instrument: a casing having a Writing end, :an `axially slotted tubular insert in said casing, a rotatable feed spindle axially movable in said insert from a retracted position downwardly toward the writing end of the casing into advanced position, and vice versa, spring means urging said spindle toward its retracted position, a plurality of carriers in the casing between the Writing end thereof and said insert respectively provided with tongues ending in hook-shaped portions extending into the respective 'slots of said insert, said spindle being provided with radially extending means having 4a recess therein movable by rotation of the spindle into predetermined rotated positions into engagement with anyone `only of said hookshaped portions, a spring urged locking member supported by said spindle and bearing on the wall of the insert, an abutment in the insert engageable by said locking member for locking the spindle in said advanced position, a pushbutton protruding from said casing and connected to said spindle for moving said spindle into said advanced position and also for moving beyond said advanced position, means reciprocably mounted in said casing operable when the spindle is ladvanced beyond its advanced position for receiving the .spindle and locking member and frictionally engaging the locking member and retracting the locking member from abutment engaging position to thereby permit said spring means to return said spindle to its retracted position upon release of pressure from said pushbutton, retainer ring means rotatably but axially non-displaceably mounted in said casing engaging said hook-shaped portions for retaining those carriers not engaged by said recess means, and means for permitting rotation of said spindle in its retracted position only, said locking member being so angularly related to radially extending means :as to engage a slot `of said insert when said spindle is in :one of its said rotated positions.

4, In a writing instrument: a casing having an upper end and a lower writing end, an axially slotted insert xed in said casing, a rotatable feed spindle axially movable in said insert `from an upper or retracted position in the casing toward the writing end of the casing and into a lower advanced position, spring means biasing said spindle toward its retracted position, a plurality of carriers for lead or ink elements in the casing between the writing end thereof and said insert and, each provided With a tongue extending along said insert and terminating in a laterallyextending hook-shaped portion extending into a respective slot of said insert, said carriers having retracted positions where the elements carried thereby are Withdrawn into the casing and having advanced positions where the elements carried thereby protrude from the Writing end of the casing, said spindle being provided with radially extending means forming a radial recess movable by rotation of the spindle into predetermined rotated positions when in retracted position into selective engagement with any one only of said hook-shaped portions in said rest position of said carriers, an outwardly spring-urged looking member carried by said spindle, an abutment in said insert engageable by said locking member:v for locking the spindie in -said advanced position, said locking member bearing outwardly against the inner wall of said insert, and push button means protruding from the upper end of said casing connected to said spindle adapted to Ibe actuated by pressure to move the spindle into said advanced position and also operable for rotating said spindle, said locking memiber being operable for releasably engaging one of the slots of said insert for each said rotated position of said spindle.

5. In a writing instrument: a casing having an upper end and a lower writing end, an axially slotted tubular insert mounted in said casing, la rotatable feed spindle axially movable in said insert -from a retracted position downwardly toward said writing end of the casing into an advanced position, spring means urging said spindle toward its retracted position, a plurality of carriers for lleads or ink Icartridges in the casing between said insert and the writing end of the casing provided with tongues extending along the insert land ending in co-planar hookshaped portions extending into the respective slots of said insert, said spindle compri-sing means extending lradially therefrom provided with recess means, said recess means being coplanar with said hook-shaped portions when the spindle is retracted land `being movable by rotation of the spindle into preselected positions into selective engagement with any one only of said hook-shaped portions, said rotatable feed spindle being provided with la transverse Ibore, locking bolt means reciprocably mounted in said transverse bore, a spring urging said locking Ibolt means outwardly into engagement with the wall of `the insert, said locking bolt having a conical end part and said end part releasably engaging one of the slots in said insert for leach said preselected position of said spindle, a counterbore in the insert in the end toward the Writing end of the casing forming an abutment in the insert lfacing the Writing end of the casing .and engageable by said locking bolt in response to said feed spindle reaching its advanced position to lock said feed spindle and thereby the respective carrier engaged by -said spindle in 'advanced position, means protruding from said casing :and connected to said spindle for rotating the spindle and adapted to be actuated by pressure from the outside of said casing to move said spindle into said advanced position and also selectively operable to Inove said spindle when in its advanced position beyond said advanced position, a sleeve freely reciprocalbly mounted in said counterbore in spaced relation to said abutment operable in response to movement of the spindle beyond its advanced position kfor engaging said locking bolt means and Iforcing it inwardly away from said abutment and friction-ally engaging said locking bolt means, and retainer ring means rotatably -but 4axially nondispl-aceably mounted in said casing positioned to engage the under sides of said hook-shaped portions that are not engaged -by said recess means for retaining those carriers not engaged lby said recess means in a retracted position in said casing, said retainer ring means ybeing keyed to said spindle to rotate therewith and having an axial slot to receive said means extending radially from the spindle.

6. In a writing instrument: a casing having an upper end and a lower writing end, an axially slotted tubular insert in the casing, -a plurality of carriers for leads or ink cartridges in the casing below the insert having tongues extending along the insert and terminating in hook-shaped portions extending respectively into the slots of the insert, a retainer ring rotatably supported in the upper end of the insert engaging the undersides of the hook-shaped portions and having an axial opening in one side to permit any one only of said hook-shaped poritons to pass axially therethrough, a rotatable spindle reciprocable in said insert having an upper or retracted position in the casing toward the upper end of said casing and having a lower advanced position toward the writing end of said casing, said spindle being slidably keyed to said retainer ring, laterally extending means on the spindle having lateral recess means therein in the plane of said hook-shaped portions when the spindle is retracted, said laterally extending means being circumferentially positioned so as to align with the opening in said 4retainer ring and rotation of the spindle into preselected rotary positions causing the recess means selectively to engage said `hook-shaped portions while the others are engaged by said retainer ring, means -for moving said spindle downwardly in the casing together with the carrier coupled thereto to advance the lead or ink cartridge pertaining to the carrier into writing position, a spring urging the spindle toward retracted position, a radial locking bolt carried by said spindle spring urged outwardly thereon and operable for releasably locking said spindle in its advanced position and said locking bolt in said preselected positions of said spindle releasably engaging the slots in said insert to form detent means for said spindle.

7. A writing instrument Iaccording to claim 6, in which the said laterally extending means on the spindle consists o vertically spaced cams defining therebetween said recess means and extending laterally from the spindle into the said axial opening in the retainer ring when the spindleis retracted, and with the said recess means defined by the space between the cams -being co-planar with the top of the ring.

8. A writing instrument according to claim 7, in which the said cams on the spindle are disposed in the respective slot of the insert when the spindle is advanced -to prevent rotation of the spindle when in any Iadvanced position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,701,263 Henzel Feb. 5,1929 1,808,171 Larter June 2, 1931 2,162,249 Dur-rler lune 13, 1939 2,557,054 Mansheim June l2, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 541,378 Germany Jan. 11, 1932 253,971 Switzerland Apr. 15, 1948 985,667 France Mar. 14, 19511 912,787 Germany .Tune 3, 1954 1,009,530 Germany May 29, 1957

Claims (1)

1. IN A WRITING INSTRUMENT: A CASING HAVING A WRITING END, AN AXIALLY SLOTTED TUBULAR INSERT IN SAID CASING, A ROTATABLE FEED SPINDLE AXIALLY MOVABLE IN SAID INSERT FROM A RETRACTED POSITION DOWNWARDLY TOWARD THE WRITING END OF THE CASING INTO ADVANCED POSITION, SPRING MEANS URGING SAID SPINDLE TOWARD ITS RETRACTED POSITION, A PLURALITY OF CARRIES IN THE CASING RESPECTIVELY PROVIDED WITH TONGUES EXTENDING ALONG SAID INSERT AND ENDING IN HOOK-SHAPED PORTIONS EXTENDING INTO THE UPPER ENDS OF THE SLOTS IN THE INSERT, SAID SPINDLE BEING PROVIDED WITH RADIALLY EXTENDING MEANS HAVING A RECESS THEREIN LOCATED IN THE PLANE OF SAID HOOK-SHAPED PORTIONS WHEN THE SPINDLE IS RETRACTED AND MOVABLE BY ROTATION OF THE SPINDLE INTO PREDETERMINED ROTATED POSITIONS INTO SELECTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH ANY ONE ONLY OF SAID HOOK-SHAPED PORTIONS, A SPRING URGED LOCKING MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID SPINDLE, AN ABUTMENT IN THE INSERT ENGAGEABLE BY SAID LOCKING MEMBER FOR LOCKING THE SPINDLE IN SAID ADVANCED POSITION, MEANS PROTRUDING FROM SAID CASING AND CONNECTED TO SAID SPINDLE FOR MOVING SAID SPINDLE INTO SAID ADVANCED POSITION AND FOR MOVING SAID SPINDLE BEYOND SAID ADVANCED POSITION, MEANS FREELY RECIPROCABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CASING AND FRICTIONALLY ENGAGING AND RETRACTING SAID LOCKING MEMBER WHEN THE SPINDLE IS ADVANCED BEYOND ITS ADVANCED POSITION THEREBY TO PERMIT SAID SPRING MEANS TO RETURN SAID PINDLE TO ITS RETRACTED POSITION, RETAINER RING MEANS ROTATABLY BUT AXIALLY NONDISPLACEABLY MOUNTED IN THE INSERT ENGAGING BENEATH SAID HOOK-SHAPED PORTIONS FOR RETAINING THEOSE CARRIES NOT ENGAGED BY SAID RECESS MEANS, AND ABUTMENT MEANS AT THE END

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