US3819282A - Retractable pen - Google Patents

Abstract

A pen having a writing unit slidably mounted in a barrel for protraction and retraction therefrom by a push button actuated protract-retract mechanism. The pen includes a deflectable spring mounted to a pocket clip and biased against the pen barrel such that a projecting member on the spring aligned with an opening in the barrel normally projects beyond the inner wall of the pen barrel for engagement with the protract-retract mechanism when the writing unit is in a protracted position. Deflection of the spring, as when the pen is clipped to a pocket, disengages the projecting member from the protract-retract mechanism to enable the writing unit to retract in the pen barrel without depressing the push button member.

Description

United States Patent [191 Schultz [541 RETRACTABLE PEN 75] Inventor: Hugo C. Schultz, 'Manchester hlio [73] Assignee: Penn Corporation, Princeton, New .7 .$.1 WH

} [22] Filed: Nov. 2, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 303,265

52 us. Cl. 401/105, 401/111' [51] Int.Cl B43k 5/16 [58] Field of Search 401/104-106,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,905,147 9/1959 Johmann 401/110 X 3,326,189 6/1967 Baer 401/105. 3,637,316 1/1972 Bross 401/104 3,652,173 3/1972 Milleret a1. 401/110 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,561,799 4/1970 Germany 401/104 1 June 25, 1974 1,561,807 4/1970 Germany 401/104 Primary Examiner-Lawrence Charles Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John D. Pope, III

[5 7] ABSTRACT pen is clipped to a pocket, disengages the projecting member from the protract-retract mechanism to enable the writing unit to retract in the pen barrel without depressing the push button member.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures RETRACTABLE PEN This invention is directed to new anduseful improvements in penswith retractable writing tips and more particularly to a pen having provision for automatic retraction of. the writing tip as the pen is clipped to a pocket.

Retractable pens generally include pocket clips for securing the pen in a pocket when the writing point is retracted and the pen is not being used. Occasionally a pen is clipped intoa pocket while the writing tip is protracted. The writing point thus contacts and stains the pocket material.

Among the several objects of the present invention may be noted the provision of a novel retractable pen; a novel retractable pen having provision for automatic retraction of the writing tip as the pen is clipped to a pocket; and a novel retractable pen having a writing tip that can be manually retracted by depressing a push button or automatically retracted as the pen is being clipped into a pocket. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The present invention relates to a novel retractable pen having a writing tip that can be protracted and retracted manually and if necessary automatically retracted as the pen is clipped into a pocket.

In one embodiment of the invention the pen comprises a barrel with a push button member having teeth extending therefrom for engagement with means for locating a writing unit in predetermined protracted and retracted positions with respect to the barrel. The locating means include a rotatable lug member mounted over an end of the writing unit for rotating reciprocable movement in and out of cam slots formed on the barrel interior. A resilient spring member is pivoted to a pocket clip that is secured to the pen barrel, the spring member having a projecting portion thereon projecting intothe barrel interior for engagement with the rotatable lug member when the writing unit is in its protracted position. A depression of the push button member or a deflection of the resilient spring member as when the pen is clipped into a pocket, disengages the projecting portion from the lug member to enable biasing means in the pen barrel to urge the pen unit into a retracted position.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

FIG. 1 is an elevational view partly shown in section of a pen incorporating one embodiment of the present invention wherein the writing unit is in a retracted position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 wherein the writing unit is in a protracted position; 1

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a development of the pen clip shown in FIGS. 1 and 4; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the push button member shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings for a detailed description of the present invention, a pen incorporating one embodiment thereof is generally indicated at 20. Pen 20 comprises a knownwriting unit cartridge 22 disposed in abarrel member 24 made of any suitable material such as plastic. Apush button member 26 disposed at one end ofbarrel 24 comprises a hollowcylindrical base portion 27 having eightteeth 28 extending from one end thereof and astem 29 extending from the opposite end thereof. Eightstub projections 31 are formed on the periphery ofbase portion 27 spaced from, yet longitudinally aligned with respective teeth 28 Aclip member 30 is secured to the exterior ofbarrel 24 nearpush button member 26 in any suitable known manner.Cartridge 22 can be protracted and retracted through anopening 32 at an opposite end ofbarrel 24 and is constantly urged toward a retracted position by a knownbiasing spring 34 inbarrel 24.

Means for locatingwriting unit 22 in predetermined protracted and retracted positions include alug member 36 disposed at one end ofcartridge 22, and a cam means 38 formed on the interior ofbarrel 24.Lug member 36 which has fourperipheral lugs 40 is of known structure and telescopically engagesbase portion 27 ofpush member 26; Cam means 38 has aperipheral terminal portion 42 and afirst cam element 44 comprising aridge portion 46 extending downwardly as viewed in FIG. 1 fromterminal portion 42.Ridge portion 46 is bordered on opposite sides by spaced and paralleldeep slots 48, 50 extending downwardly fromterminal portion 42. A relativelyshallow slot 52 extending downwardly fromterminal portion 42 is formed inridge 46 intermediatedeep slots 48 and 50.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 1, anend portion 54 ofridge 46 is continuously tapered such that acrest portion 56 oftapered end 54 is adjacentdeep slot 48 and aroot portion 58 oftapered end 54 is adjacentdeep slot 50. Asecond cam element 60 structurally similar tocam element 44 is formed on the interior ofbarrel 24opposite cam element 44.Cam element 60 includesdeep slots 62, 64 defining aridge portion 66 having ashallow slot 68 formed therein which ridge includes a tapered end similar totapered end 54 having acrest portion 70 adjacentdeep slot 64 and aroot portion 72 adjacentdeep slot 62.

Oppositely disposed parallelflat face portions 74 and 76 are formed on the interior ofbarrel 24intermediate cam elements 44 and 60. The distance betweenflat face portions 74 and 76 is approximately equal to the distance betweenshallow slots 52 and 68.Flat face portion 76 which is typical, extends downwardly fromterminal portion 42 as viewed in FIG. 1 to a level that is approximately equal to the distance ofroot portions 58 and 72 fromterminal portion 42.

Clip member 30 can be formed from any suitable material such as sheet metal and comprises abody portion 77 havingflanges 78, 80 and 82 tacked tobarrel 24 in any suitable manner. A resilientdeflectable spring member 84 formed as an extension ofbody portion 77 has afirst bent portion 86 contactingbarrel 24. De-

flectable spring member 84 also includes asecond bent portion 88 projecting intobarrel 24 through an opening 90.Spring member 84 is biased so thatbent portion 88 normally projects beyond the inner wall surface of barrel 24 a predetermined amount.

As seen in FIG. 1lugs 40 oflug member 36 are urged against pushbutton member teeth 28 in a known manner byspring 34 when writingunit 22 is in a retracted position. As best seen in FIG. 2, a pair of oppositely disposedstub projections 31, 31 are slidably confined inshallow slots 52, 68 to prevent rotation ofpush button member 26. Also, all fourlugs 40 oflug member 36 are slidably confined indeep slots 48, 50, 62 and 64.

In usingpen 20writing unit 22 is moved from its retracted position to a protracted position, as shown in FIG. 4, by depressingpush button member 26 thereby forcinglug member 36 downwardly toward the tapered end portion ofridges 46 and 66.Lug member 36 is rotatably biased in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, in a known manner by the force ofpush member teeth 28 againstlugs 40 in opposition to the biasing force ofspring 34.

It should be noted that the stroke ofpush button member 26 is less than the length ofshallow slots 52 and 68 such thatstub projections 31, 31 inslots 52 and 68 are continuously confined therein wheneverpush button member 26 is depressed. However depression ofpush button member 26 pusheslugs 40 oflug member 36 out ofdeep slots 48 and 64 beyondcrest portions 56 and 70. Consequently aspush button member 26 forces lugs 40 beyondcrest portions 56 and 70lug member 36 being rotatably biased will rotate, and biasingspring 34 will urge a pair oflugs 40 againstcrest portions 56 and 70.Lug member 36 will then rotate counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 2 in a known manner due to the biasing force ofspring 34 and the complementary slopes oflugs 40 andcrest portions 56 and 70 such that lugs 40, 40 move towardroot portions 58 and 72.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and abarrel opening 90 is oriented approximately 90 from eitherroot portion 58 or 72.Barrel opening 90 is located at a predetermined level onbarrel 24 such thatbent projecting portion 88 is engageable with one lug 40 (FIG. 5) whenlug member 36 has rotatedlugs 40, 40 oncrest portions 56 and 70 counterclockwise as described towardroot portions 58 and 72. In this manner the engagement ofbent projecting portion 88 with said onelug 40 blocks further rotatable movement oflug member 36 thereby maintainingwriting unit 22 in the protracted position of FIG. 4.

Althoughbent projecting portion 88 has been shown oriented approximately 90 degrees fromroot portions 58 and 72 other orientations are feasible. For example, barrel opening 90,bent projecting portion 88 andclip 30 can be repositioned from the orientation of FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 to an orientation (not shown) in alignment with eitherroot portion 58 or 72 at the same predetermined level onbarrel 24 previously mentioned. Also, if desired bent projectingportion 88, barrel opening 90 andclip 30 can be oriented directly opposite their present location.

Writing unit 22 is moved from its protracted position to the retracted position of FIG. 1 by depressingpush button member 26 downwardly againstlug member 36. The opposing forces ofpush button member 26 andspring 34 againstlug member 36 rotatablybias lug member 36 in a known manner such that when thelug 40 engaged with bent projectingportion 88 is moved past bent projectingportion 88 bypush button member 26lug member 36 is free to rotate a predetermined amount to align all of thelugs 40 withdeep slots 48, 50, 62 and 64. Whenpush button member 26 is released lugs 40 are urged into the deep slots by the biasing force ofspring 34.

Writing unit 22 can also be moved from its protracted position to the retracted position of FIG. 1 by deflectingspring member 84 towardbody 77 ofclip 30. Deflection ofspring member 84 causes bent projectingportion 88 to move outwardly of opening 90 thereby disengaging bent projectingportion 88 fromlug 40. The pair oflugs 40, 40 atroot portions 58 and 72 rotate thereon due to the biasing force ofspring 34 and the complementary engaged slopes oflugs 40 androot portions 58 and 72.Lug member 36 thus rotates to a position wherein all lugs 40 are aligned withdeep slots 48, 50, 62 and 64 to slide therein as previously described.

Spring member 84 can be deflected in the desired manner by clippingpen 20 to a pocket. As pocket material is inserted betweenclip 30 andbarrel 24 it forcesbent portion 86 away frombarrel 24 causingspring 84 to deflect a predetemiined amount sufficient to disengage bent projectingportion 88 fromlug 40 and thereby enable writingunit 22 to retract from its protracted position. If desired, a portion ofbarrel 24 can be formed with a depression in whichbent portion 86 is seated prior to deflection ofspring 84.

Whenpen 20 is clipped to a pocketbent projecting portion 88 remains deflected outwardly ofopening 90. Consequently ifpush button member 26 is accidentally depressed and writingunit 22 is inadvertently moved from a retracted to a protracted position whilepen 20 is clipped to a pocket, writingunit 22 will not remain protracted because bent projectingportion 88 remains deflected outwardly ofopening 90.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art cam elements similar toelements 44 and can be substituted forflat face portions 74 and 76 ofbarrel 24. Further, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, cam means 38 can be of the rotatable type known in the art coacting with fixed lug elements formed on a pen barrel as is also known in the art, with bent projectingportion 88 arranged to engage and disengage from the rotatable cam means in a manner similar to that previously described for engagement and disengagement fromlug member 36.Bent projecting portion 88 can be replaced by any suitable known stud or the like having one end bonded tospring member 84 such that the opposite end projects into barrel opening 90. Other arrangements known in the art can be used tobias spring member 84 towardbarrel 24 to normally maintain bent projectingportion 88 in barrel opening 90.

Clip 30 need not be formed in one piece. Conventional pen clips can be used withspring member 84 formed as a separate member (not shown) pivotally secured to the conventional clip in any suitable known manner to operate in the manner previously described.Stub projections 31 onbase portion 27 slidably confinepush button member 26 inbarrel 24 in non-rotatable fashion. Although eightstub projections 31 are disclosed, two oppositely disposed stubs inshallow slots 52 and 68 would be sufficient. It is also not necessary that stubs 31 be aligned withteeth 28.

An advantage of the novel retractable pen evident from the foregoing description includes the provision of a pen that can be protracted and retracted by a push button member and also retracted without depressing the push button member. Another advantage is a pen having a writing unit that can be retracted as the pen is clipped into a pocket. The resilient deflectable spring member on the pocket clip functions as an automatic reminder device for retracting the protracted writing unit if the pen is inadvertently inserted in a pocket while the writing unit is in a protracted position. Still another advantage is a pen having a writing unit that always seeks a retracted position while the pen is clipped in a pocket.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. Awriting instrument comprising a barrel including a barrel wall, said barrel having a first opening at one end thereof, a writing unit slidably mounted in said barrel, a push button member slidably mounted in said barrel in non-rotatable fashion, said push button member having teeth extending therefrom, a protractretract mechanism in said. barrel for placing said writing unit in predetermined protracted and retracted positions with respect to said first opening, said protractretract mechanism including biasing means in said barrel constantly urging said writing unit to retract, a rotatable lug member mounted on said writing unit and having a first lug formed thereon such that said biasing means forces said first lug against the teeth of said push button member when said push button member is depressed, at least one of the engaging surfaces of said push button member teeth and said first lug being inclined such that said rotatable lug member is rotatably biased when said first lug is forcibly engaged with said teeth by said biasing means, said protract-retract mechanism further including a nonmovable cam formed on the interior of said barrel, said cam including at least one cam element bordered by longitudinal deep slots such that the first lug of said rotatable lug member is longitudinally displaceable in at least one of said deep slots when said writing unit is being shifted from one of said predetermined positions to the other said predetermined position, said cam element having an end portion continuously inclined from one of said longitudinal deep slots to the other said longitudinal deep slot such that said biasing means forces said first lug into engagement with said continuously inclined end portion when said writing unit is being shifted from one of said predetermined positions to the other said predetermined position, said writing instrument further including a second opening in the barrel wall and a deflectable resilient member provided on said barrel, said deflectable resilient member having a projecting portion projecting through said second opening to block-movement of said rotatable lug member when said first lug is on the inclined end portion of said cam element and when said writing unit is in said protracted position, said blockage of said rotatable lug member by said projecting portion maintaining said first lug on the inclined end portion of said cam element, said projecting portion being deflectable away from said rotatable lug member to unblock said rotatable lug member such that said biasing means causes further movement of said first lug on the continuously inclined end portion of said cam element whereby said first lug moves off said inclined end portion into one of said longitudinal deep slots to enable said writing unit to shift from said protracted position to said retracted position without actuation of said push button member.

2. A writing instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotatable lug member includes a second lug spaced from said first lug, said projecting portion being engageable with said second lug to block movement of said rotatable lug member when said first lug is engaged with the inclined end portion of said cam element and said writing unit is in said protracted position.

3. The writing instrument of claim 1 wherein said second barrel opening and said projecting portion are at a predetermined level on said barrel such that said projecting portion blocks rotatable movement of said rotatable member in said one direction when the lug member of said rotatable member is at said predetermined level with said projecting portion, said push button member being reciprocable beyond said predetermined level to move the lug member of said rotatable member past said pre-determined level out of engagement with said projecting portion, the force of engagement between the engaging surfaces of said push member teeth and said rotatable member caused by said hiasing means rotatably biasing said rotatable member whereby the lug member of said rotatable member moves in said one rotational direction away from said projecting portion.

4. The writing instrument of claim ll further including an elongated pocket clip member provided on said barrel, said deflectable member extending from said projecting portion outwardly of said barrel toward said pocket clip member.

5. The writing instrument of claim 4 wherein said deflectable member is a resilient leaf spring.

6. The writing instrument of claim 4 wherein said deflectable member is formed as an extension of said pocket clip member. I

7. The writing instrument of claim 4 wherein said deflectable member is joined to said pocket clip member.

about said pivot toward said pocket clip.

Claims (9)

1. A writing instrument comprising a barrel including a barrel wall, said barrel having a first opening at one end thereof, a writing unit slidably mounted in said barrel, a push button member slidably mounted in said barrel in non-rotatable fashion, said push button member having teeth extending therefrOm, a protract-retract mechanism in said barrel for placing said writing unit in predetermined protracted and retracted positions with respect to said first opening, said protract-retract mechanism including biasing means in said barrel constantly urging said writing unit to retract, a rotatable lug member mounted on said writing unit and having a first lug formed thereon such that said biasing means forces said first lug against the teeth of said push button member when said push button member is depressed, at least one of the engaging surfaces of said push button member teeth and said first lug being inclined such that said rotatable lug member is rotatably biased when said first lug is forcibly engaged with said teeth by said biasing means, said protract-retract mechanism further including a nonmovable cam formed on the interior of said barrel, said cam including at least one cam element bordered by longitudinal deep slots such that the first lug of said rotatable lug member is longitudinally displaceable in at least one of said deep slots when said writing unit is being shifted from one of said predetermined positions to the other said predetermined position, said cam element having an end portion continuously inclined from one of said longitudinal deep slots to the other said longitudinal deep slot such that said biasing means forces said first lug into engagement with said continuously inclined end portion when said writing unit is being shifted from one of said predetermined positions to the other said predetermined position, said writing instrument further including a second opening in the barrel wall and a deflectable resilient member provided on said barrel, said deflectable resilient member having a projecting portion projecting through said second opening to block movement of said rotatable lug member when said first lug is on the inclined end portion of said cam element and when said writing unit is in said protracted position, said blockage of said rotatable lug member by said projecting portion maintaining said first lug on the inclined end portion of said cam element, said projecting portion being deflectable away from said rotatable lug member to unblock said rotatable lug member such that said biasing means causes further movement of said first lug on the continuously inclined end portion of said cam element whereby said first lug moves off said inclined end portion into one of said longitudinal deep slots to enable said writing unit to shift from said protracted position to said retracted position without actuation of said push button member.

2. A writing instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotatable lug member includes a second lug spaced from said first lug, said projecting portion being engageable with said second lug to block movement of said rotatable lug member when said first lug is engaged with the inclined end portion of said cam element and said writing unit is in said protracted position.

3. The writing instrument of claim 1 wherein said second barrel opening and said projecting portion are at a predetermined level on said barrel such that said projecting portion blocks rotatable movement of said rotatable member in said one direction when the lug member of said rotatable member is at said predetermined level with said projecting portion, said push button member being reciprocable beyond said predetermined level to move the lug member of said rotatable member past said pre-determined level out of engagement with said projecting portion, the force of engagement between the engaging surfaces of said push member teeth and said rotatable member caused by said biasing means rotatably biasing said rotatable member whereby the lug member of said rotatable member moves in said one rotational direction away from said projecting portion.

4. The writing instrument of claim 1 further including an elongated pocket clip member provided on said barrel, said deflectable member extending from said projecting portion outwardly of said barrel toward saId pocket clip member.

5. The writing instrument of claim 4 wherein said deflectable member is a resilient leaf spring.

6. The writing instrument of claim 4 wherein said deflectable member is formed as an extension of said pocket clip member.

7. The writing instrument of claim 4 wherein said deflectable member is joined to said pocket clip member.

8. The writing instrument of claim 4 wherein said deflectable member joins said pocket clip at a level spaced from the level of said barrel wall opening such that said deflectable member is inclined toward said barrel from its junction with said pocket clip.

9. The writing instrument of claim 4 wherein said deflectable member is a resilient leaf spring pivoted at said pocket clip, the projecting portion being movable outwardly of said second barrel opening upon deflection of said leaf spring in said predetermined direction about said pivot toward said pocket clip.

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