Ball-point Pen Convertible For Use As A Pointer

Abstract

A ball-point pen is disclosed which is convertible to a pointer and comprises telescoping connecting tubes which can be extended and retracted in stages from an outer tube. An operation button is mounted at the upper end of the outer tube for slidable movement between an outer extended position and an inner retracted position and the button removably carries a ball-point and ink cartridge assembly. A detachable head is secured to the lower end of the innermost telescoping tube and the ball-point protrudes through an aperture in the head when the button is retracted. A resilient clip is attached to the outer tube and operates a slidable pin which controls the position of the operation button.

Description

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a ball-point pen and more particularly to a ball-point pen which is adaptable for use as a pointer by means of telescopic tubes within the pen.

A ball-point pen according to the invention comprises an outer tube, a plurality of telescoping tubes secured within said outer tube, and an operation button supported in said outer tube for movement between a retracted position and an extended position. An assembly of an ink cartridge and ball-point is carried by said button for movement therewith between an extended operative position and a retracted inoperative position, and a head is secured to one of said telescoping tubes and has an aperture in which the ball-point is movable between said extended and retracted positions, said head being engaged with the outer tube so as to be removable therefrom to extend the telescoping tubes in stages to employ the pen as a pointer.

In further accordance with the invention the operation of the button is controlled by means of an actuator for holding the button in retracted position and for releasing the button for movement to the extended position under the action of a spring means.

Said actuator in a particular embodiment comprises a pin slidable in a transverse bore provided in said button, said pin having a projecting surface extending in an opening in said outer tube to hold the button in said retracted position and being retractable in said opening to release the button for movement to its extended position.

In a preferred embodiment a resilient clip is secured to said outer tube and includes a portion facing said projecting surface of the pin to displace the pin when the pen is inserted into a pocket or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view in longitudinal section of one embodiment of ball-point pen according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the pen; and

FIG. 3 is a side view, in a smaller scale of the pen in an extended condition for use as a pointer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawing, therein is seen a pen having an outer tube 1 by which the pen can be held in the hand for writing purposes or as a pointer. The tube 1 contains a plurality of telescoping tubes constituted by an inner support tube 2a and a plurality of outer support tubes 2. The tubes can be extended as shown in FIG. 3 and as will be explained in greater detail later, or the tubes may be telescoped as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the extended state of FIG. 3 the pen can be used as a pointer and in the telescoped state of FIGS. 1 and 2 it can be used for writing purposes.

At the top of the tube 1, there is slidably mounted an operation button 3 which can be depressed from an extended state to a retracted state. A spring 4 is mounted within tube 1 and engages button 3 to urge the button to its extended state.

An assembly 5 of an ink cartridge and a ball-point 5a is detachably connected to button 3 and the assembly 5 extends through the tube 2a with the ball-point 5a extending from the bottom of tube 2a.

A head 6 is threadably connected to a strengthening flange 7 secured to the lower end of inner tube 2a. The head 6 has an aperture through which the ball-point 5a can project in the writing position.

The tube 1 has been illustrated as being circular in cross-section but it is obvious that the tube 1 can have other shapes such as polygonal or the like.

The operation button 3 is provided with a central transverse bore 8, and a pin 9 is displaceable in the bore. The pin 9 is provided with two projections 9a and 9b in a step arrangement at the outer surface of the pin, the projection 9a being of greater diameter than the projection 9b. The pin 9 is urged outwards by a spring 10, and the tube 1 is formed with an opening 11 constituted by a circular portion 11a through which the projection 9a can project, and a slot 11b in which the projection 9b alone can move. The slot 11b opens into the circular portion 11a so that when the operation button 3 is depressed against the opposition of spring 4, the projection 9a projects through the portion 11a and the pin is engaged around portion 11a to be held in an outward position at which time the ball point 5a protrudes from the head 6 in its writing position. When the pin 9 is pushed in against the opposition of spring 10 to a position in which the projection 9b can move along the slot 11b, the operation button 3 is automatically displaced outwards by the spring 4 (as shown in chain dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 2) and the ball-point 5a is retracted into the interior of head 6. Thus the ball-point 5a can not come into contact with one's clothes, hands, or the like to mark the same. In the illustrated embodiment, the depressing operation of the pin 9 is effected by means of a resilient clip 12 secured to the tube 1, but it is of course possible that the arrangement can be modified so that this operation can be effected directly by hand.

The provision of the clip is especially advantageous in the illustrated embodiment in that when the pen is inserted into a pocket and the material of the pocket is inserted between the clip 12 and the tube 1, the clip 12 is pivoted to depress the pin 9 whereby the ball-point 5a is retracted into the head 6 to prevent contact of the ball-point 5a with the material of the pocket.

The assembly 5 is inserted in a sheath 13 secured to the end of the operation button 3 so as to be extended and retracted as a unit with the operation button 3. When the ink supply is exhausted, the assembly 5 is pulled from the front end of the tube 1 after removing the head 6 to effect replacement of assembly 5 with a fresh assembly.

To employ the pen as a pointer, it is only necessary to grasp head 6 and pull the same out of tube 1 to extend the telescoping tubes in stages. In this respect, the tubes are successively withdrawn by the successive engagement of projections at the tops of the tubes with inwardly bent portions at the lower ends of the next outer tube.

Thus, according to this invention, the ball-point 5a can be extended or retracted and held at each of these positions by the extension or retraction of the operation button 3. The assembly 5 can be conveniently removed for replacement, from the front end of the tube 1 after the head 6 is removed, and the assembly 5 after insertion is securely held both by the head 6 and the sheath 13 so that during writing, the assembly is not loose and writing can be smooth and easy. Moreover, the pen can be advantageously converted for use as a pointer for teaching or the like in simple manner.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A ball-point pen comprising an outer tube, a plurality of telescoping tubes secured within said outer tube, an operation button supported in said outer tube for movement between a retracted position and an extended position, an assembly of an ink cartridge and ball point slidably mounted within the telescoping tubes and carried by said button for movement therewith between an extended operative position and a retracted inoperative position, and a head secured to one of said telescoping tubes and having an aperture in which the ball point is movable between said extended and retracted positions, said head being engaged with the outer tube so as to be removable therefrom to extend the telescoping tubes in stages to employ the pen as a pointer, said assembly of the ball point and cartridge being retracted within the pen when the tubes are telescopically extended.

2. A ball-point pen as claimed in claim 1 comprising means detachably securing said head to the innermost of the telescoping tubes, said assembly extending through said innermost tube.

3. A ball-point pen as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means detachably securing said head to the innermost of the telescoping tubes comprises a reinforcement flange secured to said innermost tube and threadably engaged with said head.

4. A ball-point pen as claimed in claim 1 comprising means for controlling the operation button for movement between the retracted and extended positions.

5. A ball-point pen as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means for controlling the operation button comprises a spring means acting on said button urging the same to said extended position.

6. A ball-point pen as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means for controlling the operation button further comprises actuator means for holding the button in retracted position and for releasing the button for movement to the extended position under the action of the spring means.

7. A ball-point pen as claimed in claim 6 wherein said actuator means comprises a pin slidable in a transverse bore provided in said button, said pin having a projecting surface extending in an opening in said outer tube to hold the button in said retracted position and being retractable in said opening to release the button for movement to its extended position.

8. A ball-point pen as claimed in claim 7 wherein said projecting surface is constituted by a step formed by a first projection of reduced size on the pin, and a second projection on said first projection, the second projection being of smaller size than the first projection, said opening in the outer tube being constituted of a first portion slidably receiving said first projection, and a slot extending from said first portion, said second projection being slidable in said slot with said first projection depressed from said first portion.

9. A ball-point pen as claimed in claim 8 comprising a resilient clip secured to said outer tube and including a portion facing said second projection, said clip being pivotal on said outer tube at a position displaced from said portion such that when the free end of the clip is pivotally displaced away from the outer tube said portion moves towards said pin to displace said pin.

10. A ball-point pen as claimed in claim 9 comprising a spring acting on said pin to urge the same to a position in which the first projection is in said first portion of the opening and said button is held in its extended position, said spring resisting displacement of the pin by said clip.