U.S. patent number RE38,440 [Application Number 10/147,595] was granted by the patent office on 2004-02-24 for writing instrument.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Berol Corporation. Invention is credited to William P. Dowst, Edward J. Mangan, Roy Nicoll.
United States Patent |
RE38,440 |
Dowst , et al. |
February 24, 2004 |
Writing instrument
Abstract
A writing instrument having an elongated barrel comprised of an
outer portion and an inner portion, rotatable relative one to the
other. The point or writing tip is fixed to the barrel inner
portion, disposed at an angle to, and may be offset from, the
centerline of the barrel outer portion. The barrel inner portion is
caused to rotate and move axially relative to the barrel outer
portion by pressure on the writing instrument, or weights attached
to the barrel inner portion, to bring the point into desired
alignment during the writing process. Further pressure on the point
or writing tip causes the barrel inner portion to move to a
rearwardmost position at which rotation of the point or writing tip
is impeded by a gripping structure.
Inventors: |
Dowst; William P. (Reading,
MA), Mangan; Edward J. (Southborough, MA), Nicoll;
Roy (Berkshire, GB) |
Assignee: |
Berol Corporation (Freeport,
IL)
|
Family
ID: |
26851373 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/147,595 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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937400 |
Sep 25, 1997 |
5893674 |
|
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Reissue of: |
154341 |
Sep 16, 1998 |
06062759 |
May 16, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
401/209; 401/207;
401/214; 401/216; 401/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B43K
7/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B43K
7/00 (20060101); B43K 007/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;401/6,209,216,207,214 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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495545 |
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801 614 |
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DE |
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871 258 |
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DE |
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879 811 |
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JP |
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776-706 |
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322845 |
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322846 |
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TW |
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WO 91/14521 |
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Oct 1991 |
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WO |
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WO 91/16210 |
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Oct 1991 |
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WO |
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WO 97/22482 |
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Jun 1997 |
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WO |
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WO 98/13216 |
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Apr 1998 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Nguyen; Tuan N.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Marshall, Gerstein & Borun
LLP
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application
Ser. No. 08/937,400 filed on Sep. 25, 1997 and which designated the
U.S.
Claims
As our invention we claim:
1. A writing instrument comprising: an elongated barrel member
having a longitudinal axis a forward end, and a rear end; a writing
point mounted at the forward end of said barrel; said point being
.[.disposed at an angle with respect to said barrel longitudinal
axis and.]. mounted for freely rotating about said barrel
longitudinal axis and axial movement relative to said barrel; and a
gripping structure disposed between said barrel and said point
along said longitudinal axis for impeding rotation of said writing
point, with said writing point in a rearwardmost position along
said longitudinal axis.
2. A writing instrument as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
writing instrument is a ballpoint pen and said point comprises a
writing tip.
3. A writing instrument as set forth in claim 2 wherein said
writing tip is offset from said longitudinal axis.
4. A writing instrument as set forth in claim 2 wherein said
longitudinal axis is disposed at the centerline of said elongated
barrel member.
5. A writing instrument as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
longitudinal axis is disposed at the centerline of said elongated
barrel.
6. A writing instrument as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
elongated barrel is tubular and further includes: an elongated
member mounted for rotation in said elongated tubular barrel; said
point being fixed to said elongated member for rotation with said
elongated member.
7. A writing instrument as set forth in claim 6 wherein said
gripping structure comprises: a rearwardly facing surface on said
elongated member and a forwardly facing surface on said elongated
barrel, said surfaces being in spaced relation one with the other
with said writing point disposed at a forward location along said
longitudinal axis, and moved closer when said writing point
disposed at a rearward position along said longitudinal axis.
8. A writing instrument as set forth in claim 7 wherein at least
one of said surfaces is of a frictional material.
9. A writing instrument as set forth in claim 8 wherein said
frictional material is disposed on said elongated barrel.
10. A writing instrument as set forth in claim 8 wherein said one
surface comprises an O-ring of resilient frictional material.
11. A writing instrument as set forth in claim 7 wherein said
surfaces are disposed adjacent the forward end of said writing
instrument.
12. A writing instrument as set forth in claim 7 wherein said
surfaces are disposed adjacent the rearward end of said writing
instrument.
13. A writing instrument as set forth in claim 6 wherein said
tubular barrel and said elongated member are cylindrical in
shape.
14. A writing instrument as set forth in claim 6 wherein said
elongated member comprises an ink cartridge.
15. A writing instrument as set forth in claim 6 which further
includes means for rotating said elongated member within said
tubular barrel.
16. A writing instrument as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means
for rotating said elongated member within said tubular barrel
comprises a weighted portion of said elongated member disposed on
the opposite side of said longitudinal axis from that of said
writing point.
17. A manually manipulated instrument comprising: an elongated
barrel member having a longitudinal axis a forward end, and a rear
end; a working point for application to a surface disposed at the
forward end of said barrel; said point being mounted for freely
rotating about said barrel longitudinal axis and for axial movement
relative to said barrel; and a gripping structure disposed along
said longitudinal axis for impeding rotation of said working point
with said working point disposed at a rearward position along said
longitudinal axis.
18. The instrument of claim 17 wherein said working point is a
writing tip..Iadd.
19. The writing instrument of claim 1, wherein the point is
disposed at an angle with respect to said barrel longitudinal
axis..Iaddend..Iadd.
20. The instrument of claim 18, wherein the writing tip is disposed
at an angle with respect to said barrel longitudinal axis..Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an instrument having a working
point which is applied to a surface, and more particularly to a
manually manipulated instrument wherein there is a preferred
orientation of the working point during the instrument's use.
Various instruments having a point which is applied to a surface
are available on the market. These instruments include, but are not
limited to, writing systems, such as fountain pens, ballpoint pens,
as well as correction fluid applicators and the like. The writing
instruments, as a general rule, comprise a writing tip or point
which extends from the barrel containing the ink supply, the
instrument being held in the hand of the user during the writing
process. In most of these writing instruments, particularly
ballpoint pens, the writing tips are known to function more
effectively if retained in a perpendicular position relative to the
surface being written on. However, in most instances the writing
instrument is not applied vertically during the writing process,
but is inclined to the writing surface by the user at an angle
which is generally in the vicinity of 60.degree. to the writing
surface.
In the case of a ballpoint pen, typically applied to the writing
surface at about a 60.degree. angle, the rim surrounding the ball
may contact the writing surface and interfere with the smooth
operation of the ball. A danger also exists that application at a
60.degree. angle may provide wear to the ball to the extent that
the ball becomes loosened.
In view of the above, it has been proposed that the point or
ball-carrying portion of the ballpoint pen be oriented such that it
extends at an angle to the axis of the writing instrument barrel to
compensate for the tilting of the barrel during the writing
process. A pen which is typical of this type of instrument is shown
and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,663, issued to Robert L. Brown
and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
It has, however, been found that in employing a pen of the type
described above, wherein the point is disposed at an angle with the
barrel longitudinal axis, orientation of the point is often
difficult and may result in a poor quality of writing being
produced. If the point is not oriented such that it lies at right
angles to the writing surface, the user will have to reorient the
writing instrument, or writing will proceed on the rim of the
point.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a
writing instrument wherein the point extends at an angle to the
longitudinal axis of the barrel wherein proper orientation of the
point to the writing surface is ensured.
Another object of the invention is to provide a writing instrument
of the type set forth above which provides proper orientation of
the point to the writing surface prior to the start of the writing
process.
A further of the invention is to provide a writing instrument of
the type set forth above wherein the proper orientation of the
point to a writing surface is retained during the writing
process.
Another object of the invention is to provide a writing instrument
of the above type wherein the point is rotatable relative to the
barrel but remains fixed relative to the barrel during the writing
process.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a writing
instrument of the type set forth above which is simple in
construction and easily manufactured.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aforementioned objects and other objectives which will become
apparent as the description proceeds are accomplished by providing
a manually manipulated instrument comprising an elongated tubular
barrel member having a longitudinal axis. A working point for
application to a surface is at the forward end of the barrel, and
the point is mounted for rotation and axial movement relative to
the barrel longitudinal axis. A gripping structure is disposed
between the working point and the tubular barrel, along the
longitudinal axis, for impeding rotation of the working point with
the working point in its rearwardmost position.
In a more detailed sense, the instrument may be a writing
instrument having an elongated tubular barrel member with a
longitudinal axis and a writing point mounted on one end of the
barrel. The point may be disposed at an angle with respect to the
barrel longitudinal axis and mounted for rotation about the
longitudinal axis. The writing instrument may be in the form of a
ballpoint pen, in which instance the point comprises a writing
ball.
The longitudinal axis is generally disposed at the centerline of
the elongated tubular barrel and the instrument may further include
an elongated member mounted for rotation in the elongated tubular
barrel, in which case the point is fixed to the elongated member
for rotation with the member.
Both the tubular barrel and the elongated member are preferably
cylindrical in shape, and the elongated member may comprise an ink
cartridge when the writing instrument is a pen.
In one embodiment of the writing instrument the elongated member
comprises a weight portion disposed on the elongated member on the
opposite side of the longitudinal axis from that of the point.
In an alternate embodiment, a writing instrument has an elongated
barrel member, a writing point mounted at the forward end of the
barrel, the point being disposed at an angle with respect to the
barrel longitudinal axis and is mounted for free rotation about and
axial movement along the barrel longitudinal axis, relative to the
barrel. A gripping structure is disposed between the barrel and the
writing point along the longitudinal axis for impeding rotation of
the writing point when the writing point is in its rearwardmost
position along the longitudinal axis.
The gripping structure generally comprises a rearwardly facing
shoulder on the elongated member on which the point is fixed, and a
forwardly facing surface on the elongated barrel, the surfaces
being in spaced relation, one with the other, when the writing
point is disposed at a forward location along the longitudinal
axis, and in contact one with the other when the writing point is
disposed at a rearward position along the longitudinal axis. At
least one of the surfaces is of a frictional material and may be
located either adjacent the forward end of the writing instrument
or adjacent the rearward end of the writing instrument. The
frictional material is generally disposed on the elongated barrel
and may be in the form of an O-ring of resilient frictional
material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Reference is made to the accompanying drawing in which there are
shown illustrative embodiments of the invention from which its
novel features and advantages will be apparent, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially in section, showing a
ballpoint pen constructed in accordance with the teachings of the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 1, showing an
alternate embodiment of the structure of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the ballpoint pen of FIGS. 1
or 2 during the writing process;
FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic representations of the ballpoint pen of
FIG. 3, as viewed from the point end of the pen.
FIG. 6 is a side elevational view, partially in section, showing an
alternate embodiment of the ballpoint pen of FIG. 2, providing for
locking of the writing point during the writing process;
FIG. 7 is a view taken within the dash lines at the forward portion
of the structure of FIG. 6, showing details of the structure of
FIG. 6 shown on an enlarged scale for clarity;
FIG. 8 is a view taken within the dash lines near the rear portion
of the structure of FIG. 6 shown on an enlarged scale for
clarity;
FIG. 9 is a side elevational view, partially in section, showing an
alternate embodiment of the ballpoint pen of FIG. 6, showing other
structure for locking the writing point during the writing
process;
FIG. 10 is a view taken within the dash lines at the forward
portion of the structure of FIG. 9, showing details of the
structure of FIG. 9 shown on an enlarged scale for clarity; and
FIG. 11 is a view taken within the dash lines near the center
portion of the structure of FIG. 9, further showing details of the
structure of FIG. 9 shown on an enlarged scale for clarity.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawing and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, there
is shown a writing instrument in the form of a ballpoint pen 10
comprising an outer member or barrel 12 which is cylindrical in
form, having a longitudinal axis BC. The barrel 12 is open at the
forward end and has a cap 14 provided at the rearwardmost end to
enclose that end of the cylindrical body. A cylindrical bearing
member 16 having a conical bearing surface 18 is mounted on the
inner surface of the cap 14 and extends along the longitudinal axis
BC on which the tip of the conical surface 18 is located. A
cylindrical bearing 20 having an inner bearing surface 21 is fixed
to the inner portion of the barrel 12 adjacent the forward end of
the barrel.
An elongated cylindrical member 22 is mounted for rotation within
the barrel 12 providing a sliding fit within the bearing surface 21
and having a conical recess 24 formed in the rearward surface
thereof for mating engagement with the bearing surface 18 adjacent
the rear of the barrel 12. At the forward end of the elongated
cylindrical member 22 there is mounted a writing tip 26, the tip
being fixed to the outer surface of the cylindrical member, but in
spaced relation to the inner surface of the barrel 12 such that the
tip is free to rotate with the cylindrical member 22, within the
barrel 12. A writing element in the form of a cone-shaped point 28
is mounted at the forward end of the writing tip 26, the
cone-shaped writing element having a centerline NC disposed at an
angle to the longitudinal axis BC of the barrel 12. In the present
embodiment, that of a ballpoint pen, a ball 30 which may be of any
type well known in the art is provided at the forward end of the
point 28, the ball being disposed on the centerline NC and spaced a
distance D from the longitudinal axis BC.
An ink supply for the ball 30 is provided by an ink cartridge 32
which may be replaceable element received in the elongated
cylindrical member, or in the instance of a disposable pen, may be
integral with the cylindrical member 22.
Preferably, in the construction shown in FIG. 1 the distance D
between the ball 30 and the longitudinal axis BC is between 0.01
inch and 0.10 inch, while the angle between the centerline NC of
the point 28 is generally in the area of 30.degree., but may be
between 20.degree. and 40.degree..
Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the ballpoint pen 10 of FIG. 1
is depicted in positions assumed during the writing process. As
shown in FIG. 3, the ballpoint pen 10 is positioned by the user
relative to a writing surface S at an angle X from the
perpendicular, as the ball 30 contacts the writing surface. AT the
moment of contact with the writing surface, or just prior thereto,
the elongated cylindrical member 22 may be at a position wherein
the point 28 is not in its neutral position (that is, the position
wherein the centerline NC of the conical point is at right angles
to the surface S), but is offset at an angle Y. When a
perpendicular writing force F is applied to the barrel 12 of the
ballpoint pen 10, a restoring torque T is applied at the point 28
counterrotating the elongated cylindrical member 22 in the
direction that of the angle Y, and the centerline NC of the point
28 is directed at the proper angle to the writing surface S.
As a formula, the restoring torque T is equal to D, which is the
distance of the ball 30 from the longitudinal axis BC of the barrel
12, times the perpendicular force F times the sine of angle X times
the sine of angle Y; or
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, should the point 28 contact the surface
S, as shown in FIG. 5, the writing process will cause the force F
to be applied to the barrel 12 and the elongated cylindrical member
will rotate to move the point 28 and ball 30 to the "neutral
position," as shown in FIG. 4.
In FIG. 2, an alternate embodiment of the invention is shown
wherein all elements as described above are indicated by like
reference numerals to those of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
However, in the embodiment of FIG. 2, a plurality of weights 34, 35
and 36 are affixed to the outer surface of the cylindrical member
22. The weights 34, 35 and 36 are disposed on the surface of the
cylindrical member 22 and positioned 180.degree. from the ball 30
about the longitudinal axis BC. In the structure of the FIG. 2, the
weights 34, 35 and 36 retain the ball 30 above the longitudinal
axis BC when the longitudinal axis is horizontally disposed, or at
an acute angle to the writing surface.
It should be understood that with the construction shown in FIG. 2,
the provision for properly locating the ball 30 on the surface S is
substantially provided by employing the weights 34, 35, and 36.
Therefore, with the construction shown in FIG. 2, the force F will
serve to cause rotation of the point 28 and ball 30 into the proper
alignment for providing the optimum in quality writing. It will be
noted that with the providing of the weights 34, 35 and 36 as a
rotational means, it is not necessary to produce the restoring
torque provided by the distance D in the structure of FIG. 1, as
explained above. The ball 30, therefore, may be located on the
longitudinal centerline BC, or at another location, as desired.
While the "restoring torque" described above is a major factor in
the proper orientation of the point 28 to the writing surface in
the structure of FIG. 1, it should be understood that a variety of
torque forces may be present on a particular writing instrument.
These torques may include, but are not limited to, wobble torque
(impact by change of direction during writing), dampening torque
(impact by bearing friction), and, as in the structure of FIG. 2,
torque imparted by weights.
Referring now to FIGS. 6 through 8, an alternate embodiment of the
invention is shown wherein a pen 100 comprises a barrel 112 having
an end cap 114 and a bearing 116 having a conical bearing surface
118 disposed at the rear thereof. At the forward end of the pen 100
there is disposed a cylindrical bearing 120 having a bearing
surface 121, which serve to support a cylindrical member 122 in the
radial direction. The elongated cylindrical member 122 has a
conical recess 124 at its rearward end, the conical recess 124
being formed in spaced relation with a magnet 125 affixed to the
cylindrical member 122.
The pen 100 is similar to previous embodiments in that it
comprises, at the forward end, a writing tip 126 having a
coneshaped point 128 supporting a rotatable ball 130, and an ink
cartridge 132.
The structure is further similar to that shown in FIG. 2 in that a
weight 134 is provided at one side of the cylindrical member 122,
which weight serves to function in a similar manner as previously
described with regard to weights 34, 35 and 36 on the embodiment of
FIG. 2.
In the present embodiment, it will be noted that a rearwardly
facing surface 140 is disposed on the portion of the writing tip
which is affixed to the cylindrical member 122. Also, a forwardly
facing surface 142, having an O-ring 144 mounted thereon, is formed
on the barrel 112 at the forward end of the pen 100, in facing
relation with the shoulder 140. The O-ring 144 is of a resilient
material, such as rubber, and has a friction surface for contacting
the surface 140.
At the rear of the pen 100, the bearing 116 is provided with a
block 117 of magnetic material, and is mounted in a cylindrical
stop member 146. The stop member 146, in turn, is in contact with a
pad 148 which is formed of a slow-recovery foam, generally an
open-cell type, which after compression by the stop member 146 will
slowly return to its at-rest state.
In the at-rest state, prior to the writing process, there is a gap
G formed at the forward end of the pen barrel 112, between the
surface of the rearwardly facing surface 140 and the surface of the
O-ring 144, such that the O-ring 144 does not come in contact with
the surface 140. The entire assembly mounted on the cylindrical
member 122 is held in place, as shown in FIG. 7, by the magnetic
attraction between the magnet 117 and the magnet 125, the
cylindrical member 122 being allowed to rotate freely due to the
gap G at the forward end of the barrel 112 with a minimum of
frictional contact being maintained at the conical bearing surface
118 and conical recess 124. The gap G is generally 0.005 to 0.010
inches with the shoulder 140 in the forwardmost position.
Upon applying writing pressure to the writing tip 126 through the
point 128, the entire structure connected to the cylindrical member
122 moves rearwardly with a result that the rearwardly facing
surface 140 is forced toward the forwardly facing surface 142, and
the gripping member in the form of the O-ring 144 prevents further
rotation of the cylindrical member 122 and its attached, related
structure. Simultaneously, the cylindrical stop member 146, which
is slidably disposed in the barrel 112, moves rearwardly,
compressing the pad 148.
When the pen 100 is removed from the writing surface, the pad 148
recovers to its at-rest shape and is effective to move the
cylindrical stop member 146 forward, producing the gap G at the
forward end of the barrel 112, and again allowing rotation of the
cylindrical member 122 and the point 128.
The contact of the O-ring 144 with the surface 140 is thus
effective to eliminate rotation of the writing tip 126 during the
writing process.
Referring now to FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, a further alternate embodiment
of the invention is shown in a pen 200, wherein like members have
been given the same reference numerals as those found in the
structure of FIG. 6.
In the structure of pen 200, as best shown in FIG. 9, the gripping
structure is not located in the forward half of a barrel 112', but
rather in the rearward half of the barrel. A cylindrical stop block
204 which is affixed to the inner surface of the barrel 112' has a
cylindrical bore 206 running through it at the centerline of the
barrel 112. A cylindrical member 122 has an end block 208 with a
rearwardly facing surface 210 in facing relationship with a
forwardly facing surface 212 formed on the stop block 204.
The rearwardly facing surface 210, in this embodiment, contains the
frictional material in the form of an O-ring 214 for contacting the
forwardly facing surface 212. As in the previous embodiment, the
cylindrical member 122 is free to move forwardly and rearwardly
along the centerline of the barrel 112, but is restricted from
forward movement by an attach pin 216 having a round ball 218 at
one end thereof. A shaft 220 extends through the cylindrical bore
206 of the stop block 204 and is threadedly attached in the end
block 208 of the cylindrical member 122. The shaft 220 is designed
to maintain a running fit in the cylindrical bore 206, and the ball
218 provides a minimum contact between the attach pin 216 and the
stop block 204 to ensure a minimum resistance to both rotation and
axial movement of the cylindrical member 122.
In operation, it has been found that the gap G between the surface
of the O-ring 214 and the surface 212 will be produced by the user
in prewriting orientation of the pen 200, with the writing tip 126
in a conventional downward position. The surfaces 210 and 212
generally are being maintained separated over the gap G due to
gravity, to an extent providing free rotation and axial movement of
the cylindrical member 122. However, when pressure is applied to
the point 128, the cylindrical member 122 is caused to move
rearwardly creating frictional contact between the O-ring 214 and
the forwardly facing surface 212 to inhibit rotation of the
cone-shaped point 128 and writing tip 126 during the writing
operation.
Although O-rings 144 and 214 have been shown as elements producing
a gripping structure in the described embodiments, it should be
understood that frictional, mechanical, or other means may be
employed for gripping purposes within the scope of the
invention.
Thus, it should be understood that by employing a modified
structure as that of FIG. 6, or that of FIGS. 7 through 9, a
writing instrument, of the type shown and described in FIGS. 1
through 5, is provided having a further feature of a gripping
structure which is effective to impede rotation of the writing
point after it has been properly oriented by the user.
It should further be understood that while the instrument described
herein is a pen of the ballpoint type, the present invention is
equally applicable to other instruments having a working point
applied to a surface, such as metal roller pens, gel ink pens,
fountain pens, applicators for correction fluid, or the like.
While it is apparent that changes and modification can be made
within the spirit and scope of the present invention, it is our
intention, however, only to be limited by the appended claims.
* * * * *