US3146758A

US3146758A - Writing implement

Info

Publication number: US3146758A
Application number: US121710A
Authority: US
Inventors: Zepell Nathan Alter
Original assignee: W A SHAEFFER PEN CO
Current assignee: W A SHAEFFER PEN CO
Priority date: 1961-07-03
Filing date: 1961-07-03
Publication date: 1964-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 1981-09-01

Description

Sept; 1, 1964 N. A. ZEPELL WRITING IMPLEMENT Filed July 3, 1961 INVENTOR.

NATHAN ALTER ZE ELL AT RIVEY United States Patent 3,146,758 WRITING IMPLEMENT Nathan Alter Zepell, Fort Madison, Iowa, asssgnor to W. A. Shaetler Pen Company, Fort Madison, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 3, 1961, Ser. No. 121,710 9 Claims. (l. 1201) This invention relates to writing implements and has special reference to a writing instrument having a writing assembly and an eradicating element movable between concealed and exposed positions.

More particularly, this invention relates to a writing implement having a barrel with open ends, a writing assembly mounted within the barrel for movement between a concealed position and an exposed position projecting through one of the open ends, an eradicating element disposed within the barrel for movement between a concealed position and an exposed position projecting through the other open end, and an operating unit within the barrel between the writing assembly and the eradicating element. The operating unit includes a first portion engaging the writing assembly and a second portion engaging the eradicating element, the first and second portions being reciprocal in opposite directions, there being an arm mounted externally of the barrel for transverse movement thereon between inward and outward positions, the first and second portions of the operating unit being reciprocated in opposite directions to move the writing assembly and the eradicating element between the concealed and the exposed positions in response to movement of the arm between the inward and outward positions.

In the usual pencil or ball point pen of the so-called liquid lead type, an eradicating element, such as an eraser, normally is provided. In such implements, both the writing assembly and the eraser usually are fixed relative to the barrel, although in some instances the eraser is covered by a removable cap or protector.

In instruments of the type described above, there is the ever present likelihood of staining or soiling a shirt or coat pocket or the interior of a handbag, particularly with the liquid lead type of device wherein the marking tip generally is exposed. Also, in such implements the exposed point may be damaged as a result of contact with some other implement which might be carried in a pocket or purse.

' The writing instrument with an exposed eraser is objectionable to many users because of the unsightly appearance of a partially used eraser. Such individuals prefer an eraser covered by a removable cap or the like, but

Ice

FIG. 1 is a broken longitudinal sectional view of a writing implement constructed in accordance with. a preferred embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a broken longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing a change in position of the clip assembly, the writing assembly and the eradicating or eraser element.

Referring now to the drawing, there is disclosed a writing implement having a barrel 10, consisting of a forward portion 12 and a rearward or cap portion 14 secured in axial alignment. As will be understood by those in the art, these portions may be made of any one of a number of well known plastic or metal materials providing the rigidity, strength and long wearing surface characteristics required in writing instruments or similar articles.

The cap portion 14 includes an internally threaded area 16 adjacent its lower open end, the threaded area 16 being releasably engageable with a reduced section 18 extending rearwardly of the forward portion 12.

A writing assembly 20 is mounted within the barrel 10, the assembly including a generally cylindrical reservoir section 22 which is reduced in diameter adjacent its forward end to provide an intermediate shoulder 24. Mounted at the forward end of the reduced section 26 of the reservoir section 22 is a writing point 28 of the type having a rotatable ball 30 for applying a marking medium to a Writing surface. The marking medium may comprise a finely divided dispersion of graphite, carbon black or similar pigments in a suitable vehicle, whereby a line approximating that of regular pencil lead in appearance may be realized.

Extending through the lower end of the forward bar-' rel portion 12 is an aperture 32, which is of smaller diameter than the bore 34 thereby providing an internal shoulder 36. Disposed between the shoulder 36 and the intermediate shoulder 24 of the writing assembly 20 is a resilient element 38, such as a coil spring, which urges the this not only results in the inconvenience of having to i Accordingly, one object of the present invention is the provision of an implement having a writing assembly and an eradicating element which are reciprocal between concealed and exposed positions.

Another object of this invention is to provide an instrument having a writing assembly and an eradicating element which will move simultaneously between concealed and exposed positions.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an implement of the above described type, in which the reciprocal movement of the writing assembly and eradicating element are eifected by a simple manual movement of an externally disposed clip arm.

Further and additional objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description, when taken with the accompanying drawing, in which:

writing assembly 2th in a rearward direction relative to the aperture 32 at the forward end of the barrel portion 12.

The cap 14 includes a plurality of concentric bores, including a primary bore 40 extending through the major portion of the cap 14, a reduced intermediate bore 42 and a still further reduced bore 44 extending through the upper end of the cap 14. Disposed for movement through the reduced bore 44 is an eradicating element 46. In the illustrated embodiment, the eradicating element 46 comprises a rubber eraser mounted in an inexpensive disposable metal cup 48.

An operating unit is disposed within the barrel 10 between the writing assembly 29 and the eradicating element 46. The unit includes a first portion 50 of generally cylindrical configuration, with a concentric circular recess 52 provided in its lower surface to receive the upper end of the reservoir section 22. The portion 50 is slidable in the primary bore 40 of the cap 14 for movement with the writing assembly 20, as will be de scribed in more detail hereinafter. The operating unit further includes a second portion 54 having generally

circular portions

56, 58 and 6t) slidable in

bores

40, 42 and 44, respectively, of the cap 14. The upper end of the second portion 54 includes a centrally formed cavity 62 of a diameter adapted to frictionally receive the metal cup 48 of the eradicating element 46. Disposed between the shoulder 64 (formed by

bores

42 and 44 of the cap 14) and the shoulder 66 (formed by the circular portions 53 and 6%) of the second portion 54) is a coil spring 68 urging the second portion 54 forwardly within the barrel 16 As can be determined readily from the drawing, spring 68 preferably should be weaker than the spring 38 for a purpose to be described in more detail herebelow.

Mounted externally of the cap 14 is an arm 70 which is formed as a pocket clip. The arm is fabricated from a sheet of flat metal, such as brass or the like, and plated or otherwise finished so as to provide a pleasing or attractive appearance.

Spaced from the rearward end of the arm 70 is mounting section 72 which may comprise a pair of substantially parallel spaced ears which extend through an aperture 74 in the cap or rearward barrel portion 14. The forward end of the arm terminates in a contact member '76 disposed for movement through a lower aperture 7 8 which is axially aligned with the upper aperture '74.

Acutating means comprising an elongated resilient member St is fixed to the mounting section 72 by means of a plurality of deformed clamping portions formed integrally with the mounting section. The resilient member 80 extends within the barrel 1t) forwardly of the mounting section 72 and terminates adjacent the lower aperture 78 for engagement with the contact member 7a. The dependent end of the resilient member S6 is formed so as to provide a substantially transverse lower segment 82, angularly disposed

inclined camming surfaces

84 and 86 and a substantial transverse upper section 38.

The first portion 59 of the operating unit defines a generally rectangular recess 99 which is of a height substantially equal to the axial distance between the apex 92 and the lower edge of the transverse segment 82. The second portion 54 of the operating unit has a generally trapezoidal shaped recess 94 which is of a width substantially equal to the width of the recess 90 of the first portion 50.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the resilient coil spring 38 urges the writing assembly 20 in a rearward direction until the lower surface defined by the recess 99 abuts the transverse segment 82 of the resilient member 80. Such abutment limits the rearward movement of the writing unit 20 and the first portion 50 so as to align the upper rearward surface of the first portion 59 substantially transversely of apex 92. Simultaneously, the resilient spring 48 urges the second portion 54 in a forward direction until the lower surface of the first portion is in abutment therewith. This automatically aligns the lower surface of the second portion 54 substantially transversely of apex 92. As will be understood from the drawing, the edge of the inner or lower surface of the second portion 54 and the adjacent edge of the inner or upper surface of the first portion 50 are beveled slightly as at 96 and 98 to provide a slight lead in with respect to

inclined surfaces

84 and 86.

As pointed out hereinabove, in the illustrated embodiment the spring 48 is preferably weaker than spring 38 in order to assure that in the retracted position of the writing assembly 20 and the eradicating element 46 the portion 50 of the operating unit will fully engage the transverse segment of the outwardly positioned resilient member 80 (see FIG. 2), and the apex 92 of the resilient member camming portion will be properly aligned with the abutting surfaces of the two

portions

50 and 54 of the operating unit.

The arm 70 and resilient member 80 will move as a unit substantially transversely of the barrel between an outward position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and an inward position as shown in FIG. 2. When the arm 70 and resilient member 80 are in the outward position, the first and second portions of the operating unit are in abutment with one another, and the writing unit and eradicating element 46 are disposed in a concealed position within the barrel 10. To extend both the writing assembly and the eradicating element, it is necessary merely to press inwardly on the lower end of the arm 70, which pressure causes the arm 70 and resilient member 80 to move inwardly together. Such movement results in the entry of the apex 92 of the resilient member between the abutting first and second portions and 54 of the operating unit,

6. thereby camming these portions in opposite directions within the barrel lit and advancing the writing assembly and eradicating element to the above described exposed positions for use.

Retraction of the writing assembly and eradicating element 46 is accomplished merely by inward pressure on the upper end of the arm '70 above the offset provided on the mounting section 72 for abutment with the cap 14 adjacent the upper edge of aperture 74-. Such inward pressure on the upper end of the clip arm 70 causes corresponding outward movement of the lower end of the arm 70 and the resilient member 89. This results in disengagement of the substantially transverse segment 82 and upper section 88 of the resilient member 8%) from the lower surface of the second portion and the upper surface of the first portion of the operating unit, whereby the writing assembly and eradicating element are moved to the retracted position under the influence of

springs

38 and 48.

When the arm 7% is in the above described inward position, the writing implement cannot be clipped to a shirt or coat pocket, thereby eliminating any possibility of inadvertent soilage. The only way in which the implement can be clipped to a pocket is to first move the arm 7% to its outward position, whereafter the contact portion 76 may be moved manually away from the barrel 10 to receive the outer edge of a coat or shirt pocket. As will be understood, of course, the resilient member 8% permits movement of the arm 7t? in a direction away from the barrel ltl preparatory to placing the implement in a pocket.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description, the present invention provides a mechanism which may be manufactured readily and inexpensively, but which is quite rugged and dependable in operation, requiring no specialized knowledge or handling on the part of the user. It will be evident that the mechanism may be utilized with variou types of writing assemblies, such as the usual pencil mechanism, a fountain pen point unit, or other types of marking instruments in which it is desirable to have an eradicating element or eraser available during use. It will be understood, therefore, that this invention is not to be limited to the embodiment described above, and it is contemplated, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a writing implement, a barrel having open ends, a writing assembly mounted within said barrel for movement between a concealed position and an exposed position projecting through one of said open ends, an eradicating element disposed within said barrel for movement between a concealed position and an exposed position projecting through the other of said open ends, an operating unit within said barrel between said writing assembly and said eradicating element, said unit including a first portion abutting said writing assembly and a second portion engaging said eradicating element, said first and said second portions being reciprocable simultaneously in opposite directions relative to each other within said barrel, a clip arm mounted externally of said barrel for transverse movement thereon between inward and outward positions, and actuating means disposed within said barrel for transverse movement with said clip arm, said actuating means defining a plurality of inclined surfaces, each of said first and second portions having an innner edge disposed for sliding engagement with one of said inclined surfaces, whereby said first and said second portions may be reciprocated in opposite directions to move said writing assembly and said eradicating element between said concealed and said exposed positions in response to movement of said arm between said inward and said outward positions.

2. In a writing implement, a barrel having open ends, a writing assembly mounted within said barrel for movement between a concealed position and an exposed position projecting through one of said open ends, an eradicating element disposed within said barrel for movement between a concealed position and an exposed position projecting through the other of said open ends, an operating unit within said barrel between said writing assembly and said eradicating element, said unit including a first portion abutting said writing assembly and a second portion releasably engaging said eradicating element, said first and said second portions being reciprocable simultaneously in opposite directions relative to each other within said barrel, a clip arm disposed externally of said barrel, said arm having a free end portion movable substantially transversely of said barrel between inward and outward positions, and actuating means including a plurality of resilient elements urging said first and second portions toward each other and an actuating element disposed within said barrel for transverse movement with said free end portion, said actuating element defining a pair of inclined surfaces, each of said first and second portions being provided with an inner beveled edge disposed for sliding engagement with one of said inclined surfaces, whereby said first and said second portions may be moved in opposite directions to move said writing assembly and said eradicating element between said concealed and said exposed positions in response to movement of said free end portion between said inward and said outward positions.

3. In a writing implement, a barrel having open forward and rearward ends, a writing assembly mounted within said barrel for movement between a concealed position and an exposed position projecting through said open forward end, an eraser disposed within said barrel for movement between a concealed position and an exposed position projecting through said open rearward end, an operating unit within said barrel between said writing assembly and said eraser, said unit including a first portion abutting said writing assembly and a second portion releasably engaging said eraser, said first and said second portions being reciprocable simultaneously within said barrel in opposite directions relative to each other, a clip arm disposed externally of said barrel, said arm including a mounting portion adjacent its upper end, said mounting portion being movable relative to said barrel to permit transverse movement of the lower end of said arm between inward and outward positions, and actuating means including a pair of resilient elements urging said first and said second portions toward each other and an actuating element depending within said barrel from said mounting portion for transverse movement with the lower end of said arm, said actuating element defining a pair of inclined surfaces terminating in contiguous transverse segments, each of said first and second portions being provided with an inner beveled edge disposed for sliding engagement with one of said inclined surfaces, said inclined surfaces and said transverse segments successively engaging said beveled edges and reciprocating said first and said second portions toward said open ends to relasably retain said writing assembly and said eraser in said exposed position in response to movement of the lower end of said arm from said outward to said inward position. i

4. In a writing implement, a barrel having open ends, a writing assembly mounted Within said barrel for movement between a concealed position and an exposed position projecting through one of said open ends, an eradicating element disposed within said barrel for movement between a concealed position and an exposed position projecting through the other of said open ends, an operating unit within said barrel between said writing assembly and said eradicating element, said unit including a first portion abutting said writing assembly and a second portion releasably engaging said eradicating element, said first and second portions having inner beveled edges and being reciprocable simultaneously in opposite directions relative to each other within said barrel, a clip arm attached to and disposed externally of said barrel, said arm having a free end portion movable substantially transversely of said barrel between an inward and an outward position, and actuating means disposed within said barrel, said actuating means including means resiliently urging said first and second portions toward each other and a cam element disposed adjacent to and movable transversely with the free end of said arm, said cam element having a pair of inclined surfaces disposed for sliding engagement with the inner beveled edges of said first and second portions, whereby said writing assembly and said eradicating element may be moved toward their exposed positions in response to movement of said arm and said cam element in one direction and they may be moved toward their concealed positions under the influence of said resilient means in response to movement of said arm and said cam element in the opposite direction.

5. In a writing implement, a barrel having open ends, a writing assembly mounted within said barrel for movement between a concealed position and an exposed position projecting through one of said open ends, an eradicating element disposed within said barrel for movement between a concealed position and an exposed position projecting through the other of said open ends, an operating unit within said barrel between said writing assembly and said eradicating element, said unit including two separate portions which are in operative engagement respectively with said writing assembly and said eradicating element, and actuating means including resilient means urging said operating unit portions toward each other and a cam element movable substantially transversely from a position laterally adjacent said operating unit portions to a position between said portions, said cam element defining a pair of surfaces inclined toward the open ends of said barrel, each of said surfaces being slidingly engaged with a respective one of said operating unit portions, whereby said portions may be moved simultaneously in opposite directions to efiect corresponding simultaneous movement of said writing assembly and said eradicating element between their respective concealed and said exposed positions.

6. In a writing implement, a barrel having open ends, a writing assembly mounted within said barrel for movement between a concealed position and an exposed position projecting through one of said open ends, an eradicating element disposed within said barrel for movement between a concealed position and an exposed position projecting through the other of said open ends, an operating unit within said barrel between said writing assembly and said eradicating element, said unit including first and second portions in operative engagement with said writing assembly and said eradicating element, said portions being reciprocable simultaneously in opposite directions relative to each other within said barrel, and actuating means including resilient means operatively urging said first and second portions toward each other and a transversely movable cam element having a pair of cam surfaces, said cam element being disposed for engagement of one of the cam surfaces thereof with said operating unit first portion and for engagement of the other cam surface thereof with said operating unit second portion, whereby said writing unit assembly and said eradicating element may be reciprocated with their respective operating unit portions between said concealed and said exposed positions in response to transverse movement of said cam element between inward and outward positions.

7. In a writing implement, a barrel having open ends, a first assembly mounted within said barrel for movement between a concealed position and an exposed position projecting through one of said open ends, a second assembly disposed within said barrel for movement between a concealed position and an exposed position projecting through the other of said open ends, at least one of said assemblies having a writing point, an operating unit within said barrel between said assemblies, said unit including a first portion engaging said first assembly and a second portion engaging said second assembly, said first and said second portions being reciprocable simultaneously in opposite directions relative to each other within said barrel, an arm mounted externally of said barrel for transverse movement thereon between inward and outward positions, and actuating means including a cam element having angularly arranged cam surfaces thereon, said cam element being disposed for transverse movement by said arm between said operating unit portions to engage and cam said portions axially away from each other, whereby said first and second assemblies may be moved from be tween their concealed to their exposed positions in response to movement of said arm from said outward position to said inward position.

8. In a writing implement, a barrel having open ends, a first assembly mounted within said barrel for movement between a concealed position and an exposed position projecting through one of said open ends, a second assembly disposed within said barrel for movement between a concealed position and an exposed position projecting through the other of said open ends, at least one of said assemblies having a writing point, means resiliently urging said writing assemblies toward their concealed positions and manually operable means including a cam element movable transversely in one direction toward a position between said assemblies to efiect camming of said assemblies away from each other and toward their exposed positions, said cam element being manually movable in the opposite direction toward a position laterally adjacent said assemblies to permit movement of said assemblies to their concealed positions under the influence of said resilient means.

9. In a writing implement, a barrel having open ends, a first assembly mounted within said barrel for movement between a concealed position and an exposed position projecting through one of said open ends, a second assembly disposed within said barrel for movement between a concealed position and an exposed position projecting through the other of said open ends, at least one of said assemblies having a writing point, an operating unit within said barrel between said first and said second assemblies, said unit including two separate portions which are in operative engagement with said assemblies, and actuating means including resilient means urging said unit portions toward each other, and a cam element movable transversely from a position laterally adjacent said operating unit portions to a position between said portions, said cam element defining a pair of inclined surfaces, the inner edge of each of said operating portions slidingly engaging one of said inclined surfaces during transverse movement of said cam element whereby said portions may be moved simultaneously in opposite directions to effect corresponding simultaneous movement of said first and said second assemblies between their respective concealed and exposed positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 249,230 Doyle Nov. 8, 1881 364,916 Goldsmith June 14, 1887 381,877 Hoffman Apr. 24, 1888 1,518,822 Saadi Dec. 9, 1924 2,881,736 Zepelovitch Apr. 14, 1959 2,988,055 Plaat June 13, 1961 3,079,894 Iohmann Mar. 5, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 805,573 Great Britain Dec. 10, 1958 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,146,758

September 1, 1964 Nathan Alter Zepell It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the grant, lines 2 and 12, and in the heading to the printetl specifications, line 4, for "W. A, Shaeffer Pen Company",

each occurrence, read Au Sheaffer Pen Company Signed and sealed this 22nd day of December 1964.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents ERNEST W. SWIDER Attcsting Officer

Claims

8. IN A WRITING IMPLEMENT, A BARREL HAVING OPEN ENDS, A FIRST ASSEMBLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID BARREL FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A CONCEALED POSITION AND AN EXPOSED POSITION PROJECTING THROUGH ONE OF SAID OPEN ENDS, A SECOND ASSEMBLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID BARREL FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A CONCEALED POSITION AND AN EXPOSED POSITION PROJECTING THROUGH THE OTHER OF SAID OPEN ENDS, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ASSEMBLIES HAVING A WRITING POINT, MEANS RESILIENTLY URGING SAID WRITING ASSEMBLIES TOWARD THEIR CONCEALED POSITIONS AND MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS INCLUDING A CAM ELEMENT MOVABLE TRANSVERSELY IN ONE DIRECTION TOWARD A POSITION BETWEEN SAID ASSEMBLIES TO EFFECT CAMMING OF SAID ASSEMBLIES AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AND TOWARD THEIR EXPOSED POSITIONS, SAID CAM ELEMENT BEING MANUALLY MOVABLE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TOWARD A POSITION LATERALLY ADJACENT SAID ASSEMBLIES TO PERMIT MOVEMENT OF SAID ASSEMBLIES TO THEIR CONCEALED POSITIONS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF SAID RESILIENT MEANS.