US3866992A

US3866992A - Writing utensil

Info

Publication number: US3866992A
Application number: US415385A
Authority: US
Inventors: Otto Katz
Original assignee: AW Faber Castell GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Faber Castell AG
Priority date: 1972-11-15
Filing date: 1973-11-13
Publication date: 1975-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-18
Also published as: JPS4977725A; DE2255943A1; DE2255943B2

Abstract

A writing instrument has a barrel and a writing tip which is to be kept moist. A moistening receptacle has a normally upwardly facing open side provided with a cover having a hole, and a tubular insert which is received in this hole and a largerdiameter outer tubular portion provided with an inner open end in the receptacle, and an open-ended smaller-diameter inner tubular portion located within the outer tubular portion and extending towards but short of the open end of the latter. A terminal insert is partly received in the open end of the outer tubular portion in abutment with the inner tubular portion and is provided with a plurality of capillaries through which liquid can pass from the interior of the receptacle.

Description

[1 1 $866,992 1' Feb; 18, 1975 United States Patent Katz;

[ WRITING UTENSIL Inventor: Otto Katz, Schwabach, Germany Primary Examiner casmir Nunberg Assignee: A. W. Faber-Caste", Stein bei Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker [57] ABSTRACT A writing instrument has a barrel and a writing tip Nurnberg, Germany Nov. 13, 1973 [22] Filed:

21 Appl. No.: 415,385

which is to be kept moist. A moistening receptacle has a normally upwardly facing open side provided with a coverhaving a hole, and a tubular insert which is re- Foreign Apphcatlon Pnomy Data ceived in this hole and a larger-diameter outer tubular 1972 portion provided with an inner open end in the receptacle, and an open-ended smaller-diameter inner tubular portion located within the outer tubular portion 1 and extending'towards but short of the open end of 101. 303 272 l l 3ul 3 9 .9 6 6 U l 5 2 9 6 u l 1 n m C "r .8 ms L -m C WM .m UhF 11]] 2 8 555 [[1 the latter. A terminal insert is partly received in the open end of the outer tubular portion in abutment with the inner tubular portion and is provided with a [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS plurality of capillaries through which liquid can pass from the interior of the receptacle.

3,428,380 2/1969 Danj'czek............................ 3,445,149 5/1969 Kuypers. 3,463,323 8/1969 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB] 8l975 WRITING UTENSIL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION have their writing tip maintained moist in order to operate properly. For instance, in the type of writing instrument just mentioned, an evaporation of the liquid from the India ink in the small-diameter tube the free open end of which is applied to paper or the like for writing purposes, will result in the formation of encrustations within the tube which prevent the needle from moving. This, in turn, prevents the instrument from operating properly because the inward movement of the needle, occasioned by placing of the needle tip which extends outwardly beyond the open end of the writing tube, permits the flow of fluid to the open end of the writing tube. Even if the writing instrument should not become entirely incapable of functioning due to the drying-out of the tip, a proper operation of the instrument would nevertheless be disadvantageously influenced because it would still be necessary to shake the instrument, clean the writing tip or perform other manipulations before the ink would flow freely.

' The problem outlined above has, of course, been recognized previously, and one approach to a solution suggests that a receptacle be provided into which the tip of the writing instrument can be inserted and is then sealed against the ambient atmosphere. However, this still does not prevent ink from drying-out in the narrow passages of the tube, for instance in the narrow clearance existing between the inner wall of the writing tube of a drafting pen and the needle which extends through the tube.

A further proposal suggests a receptacle into which the writing instrument can be in part inserted, and wherein a humid atmosphere is to be maintained. However, experience has shown that this construction is not satisfactory either, because the proper maintenance of humidity in the receptacle is dependent upon a number of variable factors which do not permit a proper control.

It is, therefore, a long-standing desire of the industry to obtain further improvements in this field.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION- Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide such further improvements.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved writing utensil wherein the writing tip of the writing instrument can be reliably maintained moist, that is the ink present at the tip or in the region thereof can be prevented from drying out.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an improved writing utensil which makes it possible to limit the evaporation of the moisture-producing liquid, and which assures that a zone of humidity develops and is maintained in the immediate area of the writing tip where it can afford maximum benefits, rather than remote from this area where it wouldserve no beneficial purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an improved writing utensil wherein the effectiveness of the moisturizing arrangement is maintained uniform over a prolonged period of time, imdependently of the amount of liquid which is available for evaporation and creation of humidity.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a writing utensil which permits a user to maintain all those components of the utensil which are subject to soiling, clean without any difficulty and without anywhere influencing the structure or characteristics of the components as a result of such cleaning.

in keeping with the above objects, and with others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides in a writing utensil, namely a writing utensil comprising a combination of a writing instrument having a barrel and a writing tip which is to be kept moist, and a moistening receptacle adapted to contain liquid and having a normally upwardly facing open side. A cover is provided on this open side and formed with a hole. A tubular insert is received in this hole and has a larger-diameter outer tubular portion having an inner open end, and an open-ended smallerdiameter inner tubular portion located within the outer tubular portion and extending from a region intermediate the hole into the inner open end towards but short of the latter. A terminal insert is partly received in the inner open end in abutment with the inner tubular portion and provided with a plurality of capillaries through which liquid can pass from the interior of the receptacle so that, when the writing tip is received in the inner tubular portion, the writing tip will remain moist.

Cleaning of the terminal insert, which requires its removal from the outer tubular portion, is facilitated if, in accordance with a further concept of the invention, the terminal insert is cylindrical and composed of two semi-cylindrical portions having juxtaposed surfaces which are maintained out of direct abutment by projections provided on them, and in which the capillaries are formedas capillary channels or grooves, with theinsert having an axial end face facing inwardly of the inner tubular portion and provided with further capillary grooves communicating with the ones in the juxtaposed surfaces.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a partly sectioned and partly broken-away perspective view of a moistening receptacle of a writing utensil according to the'present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates in a perspective view a writing instrument whose tip is to be kept moist by means of the receptacle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a detail of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a further detail of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawing in detail, and firstly to FIG. 2, it will be seen that this Figure illustrates a writing instrumentsuch as a drafting pen-which is to be filled with writing fluid, such as India ink or the like, in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. The filling mechanism forms no part of the invention and is, therefore, not illustrated. It will sufflce to point out that normally the writing instrument in FIG. 2 contains a writing fluid located in a reservoir which is contained in the barrel 25. The front end of the barrel is provided with a cylindrical portion 26 from which the writing tube 27 projects forwardly. In known manner, a needle 28 is accommodated in the writing tube 27, so that it can be present inwardly of the latter upon light contact of the needle 28 with a surface on which it is desired to make markings, with the result that as the needle 28 moves inwardly the open end of the tube 27 comes in contact with the surface to make markings thereon, and at the same time the needle28 opens a passage inwardly of the writing instrument which permits the flow of writing fluid from the reservoir to the open end of the writing tube 27.

The purpose of the present invention is to prevent drying-out of the writing fluid which is located on or in the writing tube 27, and in the region of the latter.

For this purpose, the invention further provides a moistening receptacle 1 which may be made of suitable material, for instance metal or synthetic plastic, and which advantageously is slightly elastic. The normally upwardly facing open side of the receptacle 1 has a cover 2 which, if the walls of the receptacle 1 have some slight elasticity, can be inserted into the open side with a snap action. The cover 2 is provided with one or more openings 3 (in this instance, there are four of these openings) each of which accommodates a tubular insert 4 which is shown in perspective view in FIG. 3. Each tubular insert has an axial passage 5, as shown in the sectioned portion in FIG. 1, which is located within an outer tubular portion of the insert. A wall portion 6 forms within the outer tubular portion an inner tubular portion having a central passage of smaller diameter than the passage 5. The inner tubular portion formed by the wall 6 is identified with reference numeral 7 and extends toward but terminates short of the inner open end of the outer tubular portion having the passage 5, that is the inner tubular end which is located within the receptacle 1 upwardly spaced from the bottom wall 12 of the same.

A terminal insert 8 is wholly on partly (in this embodiment, partly) inserted into the inner open end of the outer tubular portion of the insert 4, in contact with the inner open end of the inner tubular portion 7. It is provided with a plurality of capillaries 9 and is formed with a shoulder 19 which abuts against the outer tubular portion when the insert 8 is inserted into the latter, thus providing for a simple but precise positioning of the insert 8 with reference to the insert 4. The latter is formed at its upper end which is located outside the cover 2 with a shoulder 10 which determines to which extent the insert 4 can be introduced into the receptacle 1. To facilitate gripping of the insert 4 for introduction or removal from the openings 3, the outer end of the insert 4 may be formed with knurling 11 or may otherwise be roughened.

It is advantageous, if as shown in FIG. 4, the terminal insert 8 is of cylindrical configuration and composed of two

semi-cylindrical portions

13 and 14 which are identical in configuration and have juxtaposed surfaces. These surfaces are each provided with a spacing portion 15 which may be in form of a bead or the like, although they may, of course, each be provided with more than one such spacing portion or only one may be provide with one or more such spacing portions. In any case, the purpose of the spacing portions 15 is to maintain the juxtaposed surfaces apart from one another to a slight extent. The surfaces are formed with grooves 16 extending from one to the other axial end of the insert 8, and these grooves form the capillaries 9. The upper axial end face 17, which faces inwardly of the tubular portion 7, is also provided with capillary grooves 18 which communicate with the grooves 16. Knurling 20 may be provided to facilitate engagement of the insert 8.

Only one writing instrument has been shown in FIG. 2, but it will be appreciated that a writing instrument may be provided for each of the inserts 4, just as it will be appreciated that it is conceivable to use a single writing instrument and to form the receptacle 1 with only a single opening 3 and a single insert 4.

In order to use the writing utensil according to the present invention, and in particular to maintain the writing tip of the writing instrument of FIG. 2 in moist condition, one of the inserts 4 is withdrawn from its associated opening 3 and water is introduced into the receptacle through the thus exposed opening 3. It is not critical if too much water is introduced; in fact, the receptacle 1 may be filled to overflowing. Subsequently, the receptacle 1 is turned until the cover 2 has a sub stantially vertical orientation. When the receptacle 1 assumes this position, excess water will flow out of the opening or openings 3 and, when the receptacle 1 is subsequently returned again to the position shown in FIG. 1, it will be filled with the proper amount of water. The

portions

13 and 14 which are either clean or have been cleaned of any residue, are now placed together so that they assume cylindrical configuration and are then inserted into the inner open end of the outer tubular portion of the respective insert 4, as shown in FIG. 1. The insert 4 with the terminal insert 8 is then introduced into the respective opening 3. The construction is such that the amount of liquid in the receptacle 1when the latter has been fllled in the manner described above-will be located below the upper axial end face 17 of the respective insert 8, to assure that no liquid is contained in respective inner tubular portion 7.

The liquid in the receptacle 1 is drawn by capillary action through the capillaries 9, that is through the capillary grooves 16, and moves upwardly to the capillary grooves 18 which become filled with liquid. When the writing instrument of FIG. 2 is now inserted into a respective insert 4, the portion 26 will move into engagement with the upper open end of the inner tubular portion 7 with which it will-establish a seal, whereas the writing tube 27 will terminate just slightly above the upper axial end face 17 (for which reason the axial length of the tubular portion 7 is appropriately selected with reference to the axial length of the writing tube 27), the spacing being such that the needle 27 does not come in contact with the upper axial end face 17 because it would otherwise be inwardly depressed and permit outflow of writing fluid from the reservoir in the barrel 25. However, the writing tube 27 is now immediately surrounded by a zone of humidity and the dryingout of writing fluid in or on the tube 27 is thus reliably prevented.

The construction according to the present invention is both simple in structural terms and can be readily assembled. The capillary channels which serve to transfer liquid to the most effective zone, that is immediately adjacent the writing tube 27, can be readily cleaned, and the

identical portions

13, 14 can be produced very simply and inexpensively.

Moreover, the effectiveness of the moistening action afforded by the novel writing utensil is entirely independent of the level of liquid in the receptacle 1, and the zone in which humidity is maintained is located not only immediately adjacent the writing tube 27 which is to be maintained moist, but also is small so that the loss of liquid by evaporation is very slow.

In fact, even if the writing instrument is withdrawn from the respective insert 4, the evaporation which can take place is very slow because the surface area which is exposed and from which evaporation can take place is relatively small. Even if the device is allowed to dry out completely, however, it can be readily placed back into use by reintroducing liquid. The device should, of course, be cleaned first but this can be carried out in a very simple and efficacious manner. By contrast, prior-art proposals using a sponge accommodated in a re ceptacle make the cleaning very difficult, because the sponge cannot be readily removed and, once it has been removed, cannot be readily cleaned and reinstalled.

The construction of the inserts 4 makes it possible to withdraw them very readily, and to reinsert them equally readily. The same is true of the inserts 8.

It will be understood that each of the elements de-' scribed above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the type described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a writing utensil, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a writing utensil, a combination comprising a writing instrument having a barrel and a writing tip which is to be kept moist; a moistening receptacle adapted to contain a liquid and having a normally upwardly facing open side, a cover on said open side and provided with a hole, a tubular insert received in said hole and having a larger-diameter axially outer tubular portion having an inner open end, and an open-ended smaller-diameter axially inner tubular portion located within said axially outer tubular portion and extending from a region intermediate said hole and said inner open end towards but short of the latter, and a terminal insert partly received in said inner open end in abutment with said axially inner tubularportion and provided with a plurality of capillaries through which liquid can pass from the interior of said receptacle so that, when said writing tip is received in said tubular portion. the writing tip will remain moist; and cooperating sealing surfaces on saidbarrel rearwardly of said writing tip and in said tubular insert at said region, said sealing surfaces engaging one another when said writing instrument is inserted into said tubular insert so as to seal the interior of said receptacle against the ambient atmosphere.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, said outer tubular portion having an exterior shoulder for engagement with said cover, said receptacle having a bottom wall opposite said cover, and said terminal insert having an abutment for engagement with said outer tubular portion at said open end, whereby the spacing of said terminal insert from said bottom wall is predetermined.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said terminal insert is cylindrical and composed of two semi-cylindrical portions having juxtaposed surfaces, has abutment portions on at least one of said surfaces to prevent tight contact between them and an upper axial end face formed with capillary grooves. and wherein said capillaries are also capillary grooves formed in said surfaces and communicating with said capillary grooves in said axial end face.

4. A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said portions are of identical configuration.

5. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said barrel has a cylindrical front section provided with said tip; said inner tubular portion having an outer passage dimensioned to receive said front section, and said outer tubular portion having a center passage dimensioned to receive a part of said barrel adjacent said front section.

6. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said receptacle is of metallic material.

7. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said receptacle has side walls which are at least slightly flexible, and wherein said cover is received with a snapaction in said open side.

8. In a writing utensil, a combination comprising a writing instrument having a barrel and a writing tip which is to be kept moist; and a moistening receptacle adapted to contain a liquid and having a normally upwardly facing open side, a cover on said open side and provided with a hole, a tubular insert received in said hole and having a larger-diameter outer tubular portion having an inner open end, and an open-ended smallerdiameter inner tubular portion located within said outer tubular portion and extending from a region intermediate said hole and said inner open end towards but short of the latter, and a terminal insert partly received in said inner open end in abutment with said inner tubular portion and provided with a plurality of capillaries through which liquid can pass from the interio'r of said receptacle so that, when said writing tip is received in said tubular portion, the writing tip will remain moist, said terminal insert being cylindrical and composed of two semi-cylindrical portions having juxtaposed surfaces, having abutment portions on at least one of said surfaces to prevent tight contact between them and an upper axial end face formed with capillary grooves, and wherein said capillaries are also capillary grooves formed in said surfaces and communicating with said capillary grooves in said axial end face.

9. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said portions are of identical configuration.

Claims

1. In a writing utensil, a combination comprising a writing instrument having a barrel and a writing tip which is to be kept moist; a moistening receptacle adapted to contain a liquid and having a normally upwardly facing open side, a cover on said open side and provided with a hole, a tubular insert received in said hole and having a larger-diameter axially outer tubular portion having an inner open end, and an open-ended smaller-diameter axially inner tubular portion located within said axially outer tubular portion and extending from a region intermediate said hole and said inner open end towards but short of the latter, and a terminal insert partly received in said inner open end in abutment with said axially inner tubular portion and provided with a plurality of capillaries through which liquid can pass from the interior of said receptacle so that, when said writing tip is received in said tubular portion, the writing tip will remain moist; and cooperating sealing surfaces on said barrel rearwardly of said writing tip and in said tubular insert at said region, said sealing surfaces engaging one another when said writing instrument is inserted into said tubular insert so as to seal the interior of said receptacle against the ambient atmosphere.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said terminal insert is cylindrical and composed of two semi-cylindrical portions having juxtaposed surfaces, has abutment portions on at least one of said surfaces to prevent tight contact between them and an upper axial end face formed with capillary grooves, and wherein said capillaries are also capillary grooves formed in said surfaces and communicating with said capillary grooves in said axial end face.

7. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said receptacle has side walls which are at least slightly flexible, and wherein said cover is received with a snap-action in said open side.

8. In a writing utensil, a combination comprising a writing instrument having a barrel and a writing tip which is to be kept moist; and a moistening receptacle adapted to contain a liquid and having a normally upwardly facing open side, a cover on said open side and provided with a hole, a tubular insert received in said hole and having a larger-diameter outer tubular portion having an inner open end, and an open-ended smaller-diameter inner tubular portion located within said outer tubular portion and extending from a region intermediate said hole and said inner open end towards but short of the latter, and a terminal insert partly received in said inner open end in abutment with said inner tubular portion and provided with a plurality of capillaries through which liquid can pass from the interior of said receptacle so that, when said writing tip is received in said tubular portion, the writing tip will remain moist, said terminal insert being cylindrical and composed of two semi-cylindrical portions having juxtaposed surfaces, having abutment portions on at least one of said surfaces to prevent tight contact between them and an upper axial end face formed with capillary grooves, and wherein said capillaries are also capillary grooves formed in said surfaces and communicating with said capillary grooves in said axial end face.