A writing instrument configured to apply a writing material or liquid to a surface, comprising a socket, and a ball arranged in the socket, characterized by at least one first component which is arranged to come into contact with the ball, wherein the at least one first component comprises a first material having surface properties such that the friction coefficient between the ball and the at least one first component decreases when the force acting from the ball on the at least one first component increases at least within a certain range of forces.

An ink composition contains a carbon black and/or an organic pigment, water, a polysaccharide, two or more of diols, and particles of an acrylic resin. The two or more of diols include a first diol having from 5 to 7 carbon atoms and a second diol having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and a content of the first diol in the ink composition is 0.05 wt % or more.

A writing tip assembly for dispensing a free-flowing low-viscosity ink from a writing instrument may include a micro-spring, a writing ball configured to transfer ink to a substrate, and a second ball between the writing ball and the micro-spring. The second ball is configured to transfer ink to the writing ball. A writing instrument for dispensing a free-flowing low-viscosity ink includes an ink reservoir, the writing tip assembly, and a feeder fluidically coupling the ink reservoir to the writing tip assembly.

The ink composition contains titanium oxide particles having an average particle size of 0.1 μm or more and 0.4 μm or less, hollow resin particles having an average particle size of 1.0 μm or more and 2.0 μm or less, a polysaccharide and water, wherein the titanium oxide particles and the hollow resin particles are negatively charged.

The ink composition contains titanium oxide particles having an average particle size of 0.1 μm or more and 0.4 μm or less, hollow resin particles having an average particle size of 1.0 μm or more and 2.0 μm or less, a polysaccharide and water, wherein the titanium oxide particles and the hollow resin particles are negatively charged.

A ball point tip comprising a ball holder having an ink conduit and a ball house, a ball accommodated into the ball house and a leaf spring axially disposed between the ball and an axial end of the ink conduit, the leaf spring having a main body and a plurality of tongues extending radially from the main body, ink passages being formed between the tongues in order to fluidly connect the ink conduit and the ball house, wherein the ball holder and the leaf spring are made of plastic and unitary formed.

A water-based ballpoint pen contains an aqueous ink composition in which resin particles having an average particle diameter of at least 0.3 μm are blended. The water-based ballpoint pen is provided with a ballpoint pen tip including a writing ball. The writing ball is formed from a mixture that includes a hard phase component comprising tungsten carbide, a binder phase component comprising cobalt and nickel, and chromium.

A molten gold writing apparatus that includes a barrel extending from a top end to an open bottom end. A heating element is positioned within the barrel and includes a rechargeable battery. A cartridge includes a refillable chamber configured to hold a solid gold refill and dimensioned to fit within the heating element. The heating element melts the gold refill and allows it to flow to a tip end of the cartridge. A grip is configured to selectively engage the bottom end of the barrel to cover all but the tip end of the cartridge.

A molten gold writing apparatus that includes a barrel extending from a top end to an open bottom end. A heating element is positioned within the barrel and includes a rechargeable battery. A cartridge includes a refillable chamber configured to hold a solid gold refill and dimensioned to fit within the heating element. The heating element melts the gold refill and allows it to flow to a tip end of the cartridge. A grip is configured to selectively engage the bottom end of the barrel to cover all but the tip end of the cartridge.

A metallic ball pen tip for a writing instrument comprising a feeding passage extending in an axial direction, the feeding passage reaching in a recess configured to receive a ball, the recess being defined by a cylindrical wall and a ball seat, wherein the ball seat comprises a plurality of feeding grooves and wherein the ball seat is textured, the texture comprising a plurality of blind holes having a depth equal to or smaller than 50 μm, preferably equal to or smaller than 10 μm, more preferably equal to or smaller than 5 μm, more preferably equal to or smaller than 1 μm, the blind holes having a total surface equal to or greater than 20% of the ball seat, preferably 60% and equal to or smaller than 90% of the ball seat, preferably 85%. A method of manufacturing a metallic ball pen tip.