U.S. patent number 3,816,006 [Application Number 05/342,080] was granted by the patent office on 1974-06-11 for two color pen action.
Invention is credited to Peter L. Tailer.
United States Patent |
3,816,006 |
Tailer |
June 11, 1974 |
TWO COLOR PEN ACTION
Abstract
A two color pen action has inner and outer concentric
cylindrical cams with first and second writing cartridge carriers
disposed adjacent to each other therein, the outer cylindrical cam
containing two longitudinal cam slots and the inner cylindrical cam
containing right and left hand first and second spiral cam slots,
the cartridge carriers each having a cam follower extending through
a spiral cam slot into a longitudinal cam slot. One cam is fixed to
the barrel and the other cam is fixed to the cap of a pen so that
relative rotation of the cap and barrel selectively extends a
writing cartridge. The inner cylindrical cam extends completely
through the outer cam and has an expanding end portion which
rotatably locks the cams and thus the cap and barrel together. The
first cartridge carrier has a width less than the inside diameter
of the inner cam allowing the first cartridge carrier to be
inserted into the inner cam until its follower is moved into the
first spiral cam slot. The inner cylindrical cam contains a channel
leading from one end thereof to the second spiral cam slot so that
the second cartridge carrier may be inserted in the inner cam
adjacent to the first cartridge carrier with its follower passing
through the channel into the second spiral cam slot.
Inventors: |
Tailer; Peter L. (New York,
NY) |
Family
ID: |
26843224 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/342,080 |
Filed: |
March 16, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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145699 |
May 21, 1971 |
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81666 |
Oct 19, 1970 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
401/30 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B43K
24/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B43K
24/14 (20060101); B43K 24/00 (20060101); B43k
027/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;401/29-32,75-78 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1,270,645 |
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Jul 1961 |
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FR |
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589,077 |
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Feb 1959 |
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IT |
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Primary Examiner: Charles; Lawrence
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of patent application Ser. No.
145,699 filed 05/21/71 which, in turn, is a continuation-in-part of
patent application Ser. No. 81,666 filed 10/19/70, both these
applications now being abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. A pen action for a two cartridge pen comprising, in combination,
two cylindrical cams mounted for relative rotation having inner and
outer cam portions with said inner cam portion extending within
said outer cam portion and with said inner cam portion containing a
cylindrical cavity, said outer cam portion containing longitudinal
cam slots extending to the end thereof and said inner cam portion
containing first and second right and left hand spiral cam slots,
and first and second cartridge carriers having centrally disposed
surfaces contacting each other within said central cavity of said
inner cam portion, said inner cam portion having a channel
extending from the end of said inner cam portion to said second
spiral cam slot, said cartridge carriers each having a cam follower
extending through a spiral cam slot of said inner cam portion into
a longitudinal cam slot of said outer cam portion, relative
rotation of said cylindrical cams alternately extending and
retracting said cartridge carriers, said first cartridge carrier
having a maximum width less than the inside diameter of said
central cylindrical cavity so that said first cartridge carrier and
it cam follower may be inserted in said central cavity until the
cam follower enters and moves outward into said first spiral cam
slot, said second cartridge carrier being slid into said central
cavity adjacent to said first cartridge carrier with its cam
follower riding down said channel to enter said second spiral cam
slot.
2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said inner cam
portion has at least one locking projection thereon springing
outward rotatably locking said cylindrical cams together.
3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said inner cam
portion has one end extending completely through said cylindrical
cam having said outer cam portion, said end of said inner cam
portion having at least one locking projection thereon and said
channel allowing said at least one locking projection to spring
outward beyond said cylindrical cam having said outer cam portion
rotatably locking said cylindrical cams together.
4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said cartridge
carriers have smaller diameter portions extending within said end
of said inner cam portion allowing said locking projection to
spring inward closing at least partially said channel during
assembly of the pen action.
5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said first and
second spiral cam slots are longitudinally offset, said second
spiral cam slot being nearest said end of said inner cam portion,
said cam followers on said cartridge carriers being offset the same
distance as said spiral cam slots.
6. A two cartridge pen comprising, in combination, a barrel, a cap,
a first cylindrical cam having an inner cam portion and a fixed end
portion, said first cylindrical cam containing a central
cylindrical cavity, a second cylindrical cam having an outer cam
portion and an end portion, said inner cam portion being adapted to
enter said outer cam portion, said end portions being fixed in said
cap and said barrel, said outer cam portion containing longitudinal
cam slots extending to the end thereof and said inner cam portion
containing first and second right and left hand spiral cam slots,
first and second cartridge carriers disposed side by side in said
central cylindrical cavity of said inner cam portion, said inner
cam portion having a channel extending from the end of said inner
cam portion to said second spiral cam slot, each of said cartridge
carriers having a cam follower extending through a spiral cam slot
in said inner cam portion into a longitudinal cam slot in said
outer cam portion, and a writing cartridge fixed to each cartridge
carrier so that relative rotation of said cap and barrel
selectively extends and retracts each cartridge, said first
cartridge carrier having a maximum width less than the inside
diameter of said central cavity so that during assembly said first
cartridge carrier and its cam follower may be inserted in said
central cavity until the cam follower moves outward to enter said
first spiral cam slot, said second cartridge carrier being slid
into said central cavity adjacent to said first cartridge carrier
until its follower rides down said channel to enter said second
spiral cam slot.
7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said inner cam
portion has a free end opposite its fixed end portion, said free
end extending through said second cylindrical cam to project beyond
the fixed end of portion of said second cylindrical cam, said free
end of said inner cam portion having at least one locking element
thereon so that said locking element springs outward beyond said
second cylindrical cam rotatably locking said cap and barrel
together.
8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein said spiral cam
slots extend at least 180.degree. about said inner cam portion,
said spiral cam slots being longitudinally offset from each other
and said cam followers of said cartridge carriers being
longitudinally offset from each other the same distance as said
spiral cam slots.
9. The combination according to claim 7 wherein said fixed end of
said first cylindrical cam is fixed in said cap and said fixed end
of said second cylindrical cam is fixed in said barrel, said
longitudinal cam slots in said second cylindrical cam including
lateral, circumferential locking portions at the extremes of cam
follower travel in said longitudinal cam slots.
10. The combination according to claim 7 wherein said fixed end of
said first cylindrical cam is fixed in said barrel and said fixed
end of said second cylindrical cam is fixed in said cap, at least
the ends of said spiral cam slots disposed towards said barrel
forming short lateral, circumferential locking portions.
11. The combination according to claim 7 wherein said second cam
projects from said cap and said cap contains at least one
transverse aperture, and with the addition of at least one lug
projecting from the outer cam portion of said second cam between
said longitudinal cam slots so that the projecting end of said
second cam may be squeezed to insert and disengage said at least
one lug from said at least one transverse aperture.
12. The combination according to claim 11 wherein said cap contains
two oppositely disposed transverse apertures and said second cam
has two oppositely disposed lugs projecting therefrom to enter said
transverse apertures.
13. The combination according to claim 12 wherein said barrel
contains two oppositely disposed transverse apertures and said end
portion of said first cylindrical cam has two spring arms with lugs
thereon, said lugs on said arms entering the transverse apertures
of said barrel fixing said first cylindrical cam therein.
14. The combination according to claim 7 wherein said second cam
projects from said barrel and said barrel contains at least one
transverse aperture, and with the addition of at least one lug
projecting from the outer cam portion of said second cam between
said longitudinal cam slots so that the projecting end of said
second cam may be squeezed to insert and disengage said at least
one lug from said at least one transverse aperture.
15. The combination according to claim 14 wherein said barrel
contains two oppositely disposed transverse apertures and said
second cam has two oppositely disposed lugs projecting therefrom to
enter said transverse apertures.
16. The combination according to claim 15 wherein said cap contains
two oppositely disposed transverse apertures and said end portion
of said first cylindrical cam has two spring arms with lugs
thereon, said lugs on said arms entering the transverse apertures
of said cap and fixing said first cylindrical cam therein.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There is a great need for a two color pen action which is less
expensive to manufacture, more rugged in operation, and easily
dissambled to change writing cartridges. This invention provides
such a pen action.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A two color pen action has inner and outer concentric cylindrical
cams, the inner cam containing oppositely disposed right and left
hand spiral cam slots and the outer cam containing two oppositely
disposed longitudinal cam slots. Two writing cartridge carriers are
disposed adjacent to each other within a cylindrical central cavity
of the inner cam, each carrier having a cam follower projecting
through a spiral cam slot into a longitudinal cam slot. If, as in
most cases, the degree of rotation of the cams is to approach 180
degrees, the spiral cam slots must be longitudinally offset, one
from the other, and, if the cartridge carriers are substantially
identical and designed to hold cartridges of the same length, the
followers projecting from each carrier should be longitudinally
offset the same distance, relative to each other, as the spiral
cams.
The inner and outer cylindrical cams are fixed in the cap and
barrel of a pen so that relative rotation of the cap and barrel
will selectively extend a writing cartridge held in a carrier.
The inner cylindrical cam extends completely through the outer cam
and has an enlarged, split, spring action end portion which expands
beyond the outer cam to hold the cams and thereby the cap and
barrel together. This allows the easy disassembly of the pen by
merely pulling the cap from the barrel to change writing
cartridges. Either the longitudinal or the spiral cam slots may
include short circumferential transverse portions, at least at the
lower or writing tip end of the travel of each of the followers.
This serves to lock the cartridge carriers from longitudinal
movement when in their writing positions.
Assembly of the pen action may be accomplished by rounding the
sharp edges of the semi-circular section of one of the cartridge
carriers and providing a channel from one spiral cam slot to the
end of the inner cylindrical cam. This allows the cartridge carrier
having rounded edges to be inserted in the inner cam and have its
follower seated in the spiral cam slot not having the channel
extending therefrom. The second cartridge is then inserted into the
inner cam with its follower moving down the channel to expand the
cam which springs closed as the follower of the second cartridge
carrier enters its spiral cam slot. The cylindrical cam containing
the longitudinal cam slots may be formed about the inner cam
although it preferably has its longitudinal cam slots extend to its
end to enable it to be pushed over the inner cam with the followers
entering the longitudinal cam slots.
The pen action of this invention enjoys many advantages inherent in
its construction and arrangement of parts which will become
apparent from the following description and accompanying
drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through the cap and barrel of a
two color pen showing the action of this invention therein;
FIG. 2 is a side view of an outer cylindrical cam containing
longitudinal cam slots;
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal, vertical section through the outer
cylindrical cam of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an end view of an inner cylindrical cam containing spiral
cam slots;
FIG. 5 is a side view of the inner cylindrical cam containing
spiral cam slots taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a side view of a first cartridge carrier with a small
portion of a lower corner broken away;
FIG. 8 is a side view of a second cartridge carrier with a lower
portion broken away;
FIG. 9 is a longitudinal vertical section through assembled
cylindrical cams with two cartridge carriers disposed therein;
FIG. 10 is a plan view of a sheet metal blank from which a
cylindrical cam, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, may be rolled and
formed;
FIG. 11 is a plan view of a sheet metal blank from which a second
embodiment of a cylindrical cam containing spiral cam slots may be
rolled and formed to provide a reversed or upside-down action
according to this invention;
FIGS. 12-15 are sections taken on lines 12--12, 13--13, 14--14 and
15--15, respectively, of FIG. 7;
FIG. 16 is a longitudinal vertical section through a pen cap and
barrel having a molded plastic pen action therein according to a
third embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 17 is a longitudinal vertical section through the pen cap and
barrel of FIG. 16 showing the pen action therein, the pen being
rotated about a longitudinal axis through 90.degree.;
FIG. 18 is a longitudinal vertical section through the cap of the
pen of FIG. 16 showing the outer cylindrical cam being removed
therefrom;
FIG. 19 is a longitudinal vertical section through the barrel of
the pen of FIG. 16 showing the inner cylindrical cam being removed
therefrom;
FIG. 20 is a section taken on line 20--20 of FIG. 17; and
FIG. 21 is a section taken on line 21--21 of FIG. 17 showing
cartridge carriers with a modified cross section.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in FIG. 1, a pen, according to a first embodiment of this
invention, has a barrel 10 and a cap 11 with a clip 12. As may be
seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a cylindrical cam 13 has an enlarged end 14
and a smaller diameter cam portion 15 containing two longitudinal
cam slots 16 and 17. The cam slots 16 and 17 may have lateral,
circumferential locking portions 18-23. As will be explained, only
two locking portions 18-23 of each cam slot 16 or 17 is used. The
unused locking portions are provided to allow the barrel 10 to be
assembled to cap 11 in two positions of axial rotation. The
cylindrical cam 13 is fixed in barrel 10 by pressing or otherwise
securing the enlarged portion 14 in barrel 10. Cam portion 15, as
shown in FIG. 1, projects upward from barrel 10.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10, a cylindrical cam 25 may
be rolled and deformed to the shape shown from the sheet metal
stamping 26 of FIG. 10. It may also be formed by die casting,
plastic molding, etc. Cam 25 has an enlarged end 27 and a smaller
diameter cam portion 28 which is formed to slide within the inside
diameter of cam 13. Cam 25 is fixed in cap 11 by pressing its
enlarged end 27 in cap 11 or by fixing it in any other suitable
manner. Cylindrical cam 25 contains a longitudinal slit 29 if
rolled. It also contains two spiral cam slots 30 and 31 spiraling
in opposite directions and disposed so that the lower end of one
cam slot 30 or 31 is opposite or 180.degree. displaced from the
upper end of the other cam slot 30 or 31.
In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the cam slots 30 and
31 are also longitudinally displaced, cam slot 30 being above cam
slot 31. This longitudinal displacement is required if the cam
slots 30 and 31 approach extending around 180.degree. of the cam
portion 28. As shown, the cam slots 30 and 31 extend around
270.degree. of cam portion 28 and thus must be laterally displaced.
Cam slot 31 has a tapering channel 32 leading from the end of cam
portion 28 into slot 31. The side of cam portion 28 opposite
channel 32 has a longitudinal slot 33 terminating in a stress
relief hole 34.
Two locking projections 35 and 36 are formed on the lower end of
cam portion 28. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, the cap 11 and barrel 10
are assembled by sliding cam portion 28 through the entire length
of cam 13 so that the locking projections 35 and 36 snap outward
below cam 13 rotatably locking cap 11 and barrel 10 together.
Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8 and 12-15, two cartridge carriers 40
and 41 are provided. These carriers are generally semi-circular in
section and have larger diameter upper portions 42 which fit within
the inner diameter of the central cylindrical cavit of cam 25.
Smaller diameter portions 43 project downward from the upper
portions 42 to allow the inward springing of the lower end of cam
portion 28 when assembling the pen with cartridge carriers 40 and
41 therein. A longitudinal channel 45 has an upper end or
termination 46 and receives and holds with a light press fit a ball
point pen cartridge 47 or 48 therein as shown in FIG. 1. If the
cartridge carriers 40 and 41 are molded, they may be formed in a
two part mold with interlocking mold projections leaving the
channel 45 as shown. Molded cartridge carriers 40 and 41 may
include a flat central upper surface 49 in each upper portion
42.
The cartridge carriers 40 and 41 have cam followers 50 and 51
projecting from them. The followers 50 and 51 are longitudinally
displaced the same distance as the longitudinal displacement of the
spiral cam slots 30 and 31. The side edges 52 of the upper portions
42 are rounded as shown in FIGS. 12-15.
To assemble the pen, cartridge carrier 40 is inserted upward in
cylindrical cam 25, the rounded edges 52 allowing follower 50 to
clear the inside diameter until follower 50 falls into cam slot 30.
Cartridge carrier 41 is then inserted in cylindrical cam 50, flat
to flat with cartridge carrier 40, and follower 51 rides up tapered
channel 32 to spring apart the end of channel 32 and enter cam slot
31. Cartridge 47 and 48 may then be placed in the channels 45 of
the carriers 40 and 41 and the barrel 10 with cam 13 slipped over
cam portion 28 of cam 25 until locking projections 35 and 36 lock
the assembled pen together. As cam 13 is slipped over cam portion
28, the longitudinal cam slots 16 and 17 should be aligned with the
followers 50 and 51. This allows the cap 11 and barrel 10 to be
assembled in two positions 180.degree. apart. The six locking
portions 18-23 of cam slots 16 and 17 are provided to accommodate
both assembly positions.
After assembly, cam followers 50 and 51 project through cam slots
30 and 31 at least partially into cam slots 16 and 17 so that
relative rotation of the cap and barrel in different directions
alternately projects cartridges 47 and 48. At the limits of
rotation, followers 50 and 51 will simultaneously be urged
laterally to enter two of the locking portions 18-23. This allows
downward force exerted by the hand of a user on barrel 10 when
writing to be taken up by cam 13 which is fixed directly to barrel
10. This prevents writing pressure from tending to force the cap 11
and barrel 10 apart. As cam slots 30 and 31 are shown extending
through about 270.degree., the cap and barrel must be rotated to
this extent. For a given required longitudinal cartridge travel, a
larger rotation provides a less acute cam drive angle.
As an example of a second embodiment of this invention, cam 25
could be fixed in barrel 10 and cam 13 in cap 11. The cartridge
carriers would then be inserted to project toward the barrel 10.
This would invert the pen action. If cams 25 and 13 were used
exactly as shown in an inverted pen action, upward pressure exerted
by a follower 50 or 51 on a locking portion 18-23 when the barrel
10 was pressed down to write would tend to cause the locking
projections 35 and 36 to release allowing the barrel 10 and cap 11
to start to separate.
As shown in FIG. 11, a blank 26' contains two cam slots 30' and 31'
which would form spiral cam slots when the blank 26' was rolled and
formed. The cam slots 30' and 31' as shown would extend about
180.degree. and would thus provide a more acute cam drive angle for
a given distance of cartridge travel than the slots 30 and 31 of
cam 25. The cam slots 30' and 31' terminate in transverse,
circumferential locking portions 60, 61, 62 and 63 so that the cam
formed from the blank 26' can be used in an inverted pen action
without tending to separate the cap 11 and barrel 10 when writing.
When the locking portions 60-63 are provided, the locking portions
18-23 need not be provided in cam 13.
With a large enough diameter of barrel 10 and cap 11 to accommodate
large diameter cams 25 and 13, the spiral cam slots 30 and 31 may
extend less than 180.degree. about cam portion 28. Such a design
must take into account the required travel distance of the
cartridges 47 and 48 to avoid tip interference and the maximum
permissible drive angle of the cam slots 30 and 31 determined by
the properties of the materials used. In such a case with cam slots
30 and 31 extending through, for example, 120.degree., the spiral
cam slots 30 and 31 and the followers 50 and 51 need not be
longitudinally offset and the cartridge carriers 40 and 41 may be
identical.
Further, while both cams 25 and 13 are shown and described as being
fixed, respectively, in the cap 11 and the barrel 10, the entire
action may be inserted in a long barrel 10 which only allows
portion 27 to project therefrom. Portion 27 may then be formed as a
nob, rotation of which selectively extends and retracts cartridges
47 and 48.
A third embodiment of this invention is shown in FIGS. 16-20. This
embodiment is inverted compared to the first embodiment shown in
FIG. 1. In addition, the entire pen is designed to be molded of
plastic which requires thicker parts than comparable rolled metal
or die cast parts. Barrel 70 has a smaller diameter tip portion 71
to be grasped by a user while writing. A cap 72 is provided with a
clip 73.
An outer cam or cap cam 74 contains two longitudinal cam slots 75
terminating in the stress relief apertures 76. Disposed 90.degree.
about outer cam 74 from the longitudinal cam slots 75 are the two
projecting lugs 77. Cap 72 is molded to contain two transverse
apertures 78 which are entered by lugs 77 to lock cam 74 in cap 72.
As may be seen in FIG. 18, cam 74 may be removed or replaced by
squeezing its projecting end 79 to close the slots 75 and disengage
lugs 77 from the apertures 78.
An inner or barrel cam 80 has an enlarged end portion 81 which
slidably fits in barrel 70. Spring arms 82 have lugs 83 thereon
which enter the transverse apertures 84 in barrel 70. Cam 80 may be
removed from barrel 70 by forcing the lugs 83 inward with the
fingernails as shown in FIG. 19.
The smaller diameter cam portion 85 of cam 80 extends through the
outer cam 74. Cam portion 85 contains right and left hand spiral
cam slots 86 and 87. Slot 87 is entered by the tapered channel 88.
Opposite channel 88 there may be formed a channel 89. Cam portion
85 terminates in the enlarged end 90. Channels 88 and 89 allow the
end 90 to flex inward and spring outward beyond the end of cam 74
to rotatably lock the cams 74 and 80, and thereby the cap 72 and
barrel 70, together when the pen is assembled.
Cartridges 91 and 92 are inserted in the cartridge carriers 93 and
94 having the followers 95 and 96 projecting therefrom. In
assembly, the rounded corners 97 allow cartridge carrier 93 to be
inserted in the central cylindrical cavity of cam 80 until follower
95 may be moved outward to enter cam slot 86. Cartridge carrier 94
is then slid downward, as shown, with its follower 96 moving down
in channel 88 until it enters spiral cam slot 87. Cam 80 is then
placed in barrel 70 and cam 74 in cap 72 and the pen assembly is
completed by sliding cam 74 over portion 85 of cam 80 until the
enlarged end 90 springs outward beyond the end of cam 74. The upper
ends of the cartridge carriers 93 and 94 may be tapered to allow
end 90 to be squeezed inward by cam 74 during assembly. The pen may
be molded of transparent plastic to render the mechanism
visible.
As shown in FIG. 20, longitudinal indentations 98 are formed along
the sides of the carriers 93 and 94 to limit longitudinal warping
during molding.
As shown in FIG. 21, modified cartridge carriers 93' and 94' are
used. Carrier 93' has the cut away edges 99 which allow it to be
inserted easily in cam 80 until its follower enters cam slot 86.
Cartridge carrier 94' extends about more than 180.degree. of the
central cavity of cam 80. The inwardly disposed surfaces of the
adjacent carriers 93 and 94 may be in any configuration provided
the first inserted carrier does not bind across the diameter of the
central cylindrical cavity of cam 80. This allows the first
inserted carrier 93 and its projecting follower to be easily
inserted in cam 80. Thus one cartridge carrier must have a lateral
maximum dimension or width which is less than the diameter of the
central cylindrical cavity of cam 80.
Although cam 80 is shown fixed in barrel 70 and cam 74 in cap 72,
the proportions of barrel 70 and cap 72 could be changed so that
cam 80 fit in a cap 72 and cam 74 in a barrel 70. The cartridge
carriers would be redesigned to be reversed and locking portions
would be provided in cam 74. The pen action could thus be
inverted.
While this invention has been shown and described in the best forms
known, it will nevertheless be understood that these are purely
exemplary and that modifications may be made without departing from
the spirit of the invention.
* * * * *