Abstract
A manual device including a first portion and a second portion. The second portion being at least partially fitted into the first portion and being moveable in translation relative to the first portion. The first portion having a first distal end while the second portion has a second distal end opposite the first distal end. The second portion also includes a locking device designed to prevent the first portion from moving in translation relative to the second portion only when, considered in the direction of gravity. The first distal end is arranged above the second distal end, and the locking device includes a chamber and a ball or equivalent accommodated in the chamber. The chamber is provided only in the second portion.
Claims
1. Manual device comprising a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being at least partially fitted into the first portion and being moveable in translation in an axial direction relative to the first portion, the first portion having a first distal end while the second portion has a second distal end opposite the first distal end in the axial direction, and a locking device designed to prevent the first portion from moving in translation in the axial direction relative to the second portion only when, considered in the direction of gravity, the first distal end is arranged above the second distal end, the locking device comprising a chamber and a ball or equivalent accommodated in the chamber, the chamber being provided only in the second portion.
2-12. (canceled)
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0042] The disclosure and its advantages will be understood after reading the detailed description provided below of different embodiments provided as non-limiting examples. This description refers to the annexed figure pages, wherein:
[0043] FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of a manual device,
[0044] FIG. 2 is a partial sectional drawing of the manual device from FIG. 1, the first distal end being, considered in the direction of gravity, above the second distal end,
[0045] FIG. 2A is a close-up view of IIA from FIG. 2,
[0046] FIG. 3 is a partial sectional drawing of the manual device from FIG. 1, the first distal end being, considered in the direction of gravity, below the second distal end while the catch is in the second position,
[0047] FIG. 4 is a partial sectional drawing of the manual device from FIG. 1, the first distal end being, considered in the direction of gravity, below the second distal end while the catch is in the first position,
[0048] FIG. 5 is a first variant of the manual device shown in FIG. 1, and
[0049] FIG. 6 is a second variant of the manual device shown in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0050] FIGS. 1 to 4 represent a manual device 10, in this example a writing instrument, and more particularly a retractable ballpoint pen, comprising a first portion 12 and a second portion 14 fitted into the first portion 12 and being moveable in translation in an axial direction X. The direction X of relative gliding between the first and second portions 12 and 14 corresponds to the direction in which the manual device 10 extends.
[0051] The first portion 12 has a first distal end 12A provided with a first head 12B and having an orifice for the passage of the first head 12B. The first head 12B is a writing point, and more particularly a ballpoint that can retract/protrude from the first portion 12A. In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the first head 12B is fitted in the first portion 12 while in FIG. 4 the first head 12B is protruding and projecting from the first distal end 12A. The first portion 12 is formed of two pieces 12-1 and 12-2 snap locked to one another (not represented). Of course, according to a variant, the first portion 12 can comprise more than two pieces. The first portion 12 accommodates a retraction mechanism 18 to make the first head 12B retract/protrude when the button 18A is displaced.
[0052] The mechanism 18 is a ratchet mechanism and comprises, as is known moreover, a lateral button 18A, a piston 18B, a rotary cam 18C and a fixed cam 18D. It is noted that in this example the lateral button 18A and the piston 18B form one and the same piece. The button 18A is snap locked to the second portion 14, thanks to which the second portion 14 and the button 18A are coupled in translation in an axial direction X. Of course, as is known moreover, a non-represented spring allows the rotary cam 18C to be coupled with the body 13, in this example an ink reservoir having a ballpoint 12B.
[0053] The second portion 14 has a second distal end 14A provided with a second head 14B, in this example a friction body. The second portion 14 being coupled with the button 18A, the first portion 12 is displaced in relation to the second portion 14 (or conversely) in movement in translation in the axial direction X by displacing the button 18A in the action direction A. In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the second head 14B is protruding from the first portion (which has an orifice for the passage of the second head 14B) while in FIG. 4 the second head 14B is fitted in the first portion 12.
[0054] A locking device 16 represented in FIGS. 2 to 4 allows the movement in translation of the first portion 12 in relation to the second portion 14 in the axial direction to be blocked only when, considered in the direction of gravity G, the first distal end 12A is arranged above the second distal end 14B (position represented in FIG. 2). In other words, when, considered in the direction of gravity G, the first distal end 12A is arranged below the second distal end 14B (position represented in FIGS. 3 and 4), the locking mechanism allows the movement in translation of the first portion 12 in relation to the second portion 14 in the axial direction X.
[0055] The locking device 16 comprises a metallic ball 16A and a chamber 16B accommodating the ball 16A. The chamber 16B is provided only in the second portion 14. More particularly, the second portion 14 comprises a first section 14C forming a hollow annular case extending in the axial direction X and accommodating the ball 16A. This case 14C forms a first wall of the chamber 16B. The case 14C has a cut receiving a second section 14D, mounted to pivot around a direction perpendicular to the axial direction X on the case 14C. This second section 14D forms a second wall of the chamber 16B. More particularly, this second section 14D forms a mobile catch between a first position (see FIG. 4) and a second position (see FIG. 2). This catch 14D is, of course, part of the locking device 16. On the side opposite the second distal end 14B in the axial direction X, the case 14C has a constriction 14C1 arranged to hold the ball 16A in the chamber 16B within the second portion 14. On the side of the second distal end 14A, the catch 14D has a bulge 14D1 arranged to hold the ball in the chamber 16 within the second portion 14. According to a variant the catch 14D does not have a bulge, while the second head 14B prevents the ball 16B from leaving the case 14C. Thus, the chamber 16B is arranged only in the second portion 14.
[0056] The catch 14D has a locking projection 14D2 projecting radially to the outside and being arranged to engage with a shoulder 12C1 (i.e. tightly engage in the axial direction with the shoulder 12C1). The shoulder 12C1 is formed by the edge of a window 12C arranged in the piece 12-1 of the first portion 12. More particularly, the shoulder 12C1 is oriented in the axial direction X toward the second distal end 14B. The portion 14D21 of the projection 14D2 oriented toward the first distal end 12B (i.e. toward the shoulder 12C1) is beveled while the shoulder 12C extends perpendicularly in the axial direction X (i.e. is not beveled).
[0057] We will now describe the functioning of the locking mechanism 16 in reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.
[0058] In FIG. 2, considered in the direction of gravity G, the first distal end 12A is arranged above the second distal end 14A. Under the force of gravity G, the ball 16A is displaced to the lowest possible position (from the side of the second distal end 14A) within the chamber 16A. In other words, in this position, the ball 16A is supported against the bulge 14D1. This results in the catch 14D being pushed and locked in the second position. In the second position the projection 14D2 is engaged in the window 12C with the shoulder 12C1. Thus, under the combined effect of the ball 16A that locks the catch 14D in the second position and of the projection 14D2 that tightly engages with the shoulder 12C1, the displacement of the second portion 14 in relation to the first portion 12 in the axial direction X is blocked. The configuration represented in FIG. 2 corresponds to the second configuration described above.
[0059] In this example, in the second configuration, since the second head 14B is held by the second portion 14, the second head 14B cannot be displaced in the axial direction X in relation to the first portion 12. Furthermore, the button 18A being coupled with the second portion 14, it is also not possible to activate the retraction mechanism 18 to make the first head retract/protrude.
[0060] In FIG. 3, considered in the direction of gravity G, the first distal end 12A is arranged below the second distal end 14A. Under the force of gravity G, the ball 16A is displaced to the lowest possible position (from the side opposite the second distal end 14A) within the chamber 16A. In other words, in this position, the ball 16A is supported against the constriction 14C1. This results in the catch 14D being freed. However, the catch 14C does not necessarily shift toward the first position. To do this, the button 18A must be displaced in an axial direction X1, in the direction tending to bring the button 18A (or the second distal end 14A) closer toward the first distal end 12A. The button 18A being coupled in displacement in the axial direction X with the second portion 14, the displacement of the button 18A in this axial direction X1 drags the second portion 14 in this same axial direction X1. The ball 16A having freed the catch 14D, thanks to the beveled portion 14D21, this displacement causes the catch 14D to shift according to the arrow B in FIG. 3, thanks to which the catch 14D is dragged from the second position toward the first position. In FIG. 3 the catch 14D is in the second position while in FIG. 4 the catch 14D is in the first position. The configuration of the device represented in FIGS. 3 and 4 corresponds to the first configuration described above.
[0061] In FIG. 4, considered in the direction of gravity G, the first distal end 12A is arranged below the second distal end 14A and the retraction mechanism of the first head 12B has been activated (in relation to FIG. 3). The button 18A being coupled with the second portion 14, the second portion 14 has been displaced in the axial direction X in relation to the first portion 12. It is noted that thanks to the dimensions of the different pieces (i.e. pieces of the retraction mechanism 18, but also of the second portion 14 and of the second head 14B), when the first head 12B is protruding, the second head 14B is not visible, and conversely. Of course, according to a variant, the second head may be protruding while the first head is protruding or not visible (i.e. whatever the state of the retraction mechanism).
[0062] It is also noted in FIG. 4 that when the retraction mechanism 18 is in a state where the first head 12B is protruding, the catch 14D is locked in the second position and can no longer return to the first position. More particularly, in this example, when the retraction mechanism 18 is in a state where the first head is protruding, the projection 14D2 is no longer opposite the window 12C, such that the catch 14D is locked in the second position. Thus, generally, in this example, if the retraction mechanism 18 (or more generally, the actuation mechanism of the first head) is in a state where the first head 12B is protruding, the locking device 16 is arranged to allow the relative displacement of the first portion 12 in relation to the second portion 14 in the direction X regardless of the relative position of the first distal end 12A in relation to the second distal end (considered, of course, in the direction of gravity G). Thus, for the locking device 16 to block the relative displacement of the first portion 12 in relation to the second portion 14 in the direction X, the retraction mechanism 18 must be in a state where the first head 12B is not visible. In this example, this allows the displacement of the first portion 12 in relation to the second portion 14 to be blocked when, considered in the direction of gravity G, the first distal end 12A is above the second distal extremity 14A, only if the second head 14B is protruding. Actually, it is only if the second head 14B is protruding that it is usable, and its use risks inadvertently activating the retraction mechanism 18, which is prevented thanks to the locking device 16. Of course, if the retraction mechanism 18 is in a state where the first head 12B is protruding and, considered in the direction of gravity G, the first distal end 12A is above the second distal end 14A, the retraction mechanism 18 can be actuated such that the first head 12B is not visible and the second head 14B protrudes, the locking device 16 then blocking, thanks to the displacement of the ball 16A by gravity, the relative displacement in the axial direction X between the first portion 12 and the second portion 14 when the retraction mechanism 18 moves into a state where the first head 12B is not visible (and thus where the second head 14B is protruding).
[0063] FIG. 5 represents a first variant 10′ of the manual device 10. In this manual device 10′, the shapes of the first portion 12′, of the second portion 14′, and of the button 18A′ are different from the first and second portions 12 and 14 and of the button 18A of the manual device 10. However, from a functional standpoint, these modifications have only a limited impact. In fact, the primary difference from the manual device 10 is that the shoulder 12C1′ of the device 10′ is formed by an edge of the distal end 12D′ of the first portion 12′ opposite the first distal end 12′ in the axial direction X, and not by an edge of a window as in manual device 10. This allows, for example, the projection 14D2 to be manually disengaged from the shoulder 12C1′. Furthermore, the shoulder 12C1′ has a beveled section complementary to the beveled section 14D21 of the catch 14D. Moreover, it is noted that the retraction mechanism 18′ comprises a piston 18B′ that is distinct from the button 18A′. Of course, the device 10′ works in a way absolutely similar to the device 10.
[0064] FIG. 6 represents a second variant 10″ of the manual device 10 from FIG. 1. The manual device 10″ is similar to the manual device 10 from FIG. 2 and notably has the same locking device 16. The manual device 10″ only differs from the manual device 10 in that the first head 12B″ is a nib held by a nib-advancing mechanism 15 rather than a ballpoint that can be hidden. Thus, the second portion 14 of the manual device 10″ engages axially with a nib reservoir 15B that extends axially up to the clamps 15A of the nib-advancing mechanism 15. In this example, the second portion 14 engages axially with the nib reservoir 15B by means of a lateral button 18A″. This lateral button 18A″ is coupled with the second portion through a snapping mechanism and serves to activate the nib-advancing mechanism 15. Of course, nib-advancing mechanism 15 can also be activated via the second head 14B″, in this example a pencil eraser. According to a non-represented variant, the lateral button 18A″ and the second portion 14 form one and the same piece. According to yet another non-represented variant, the first variant 10′ is provided with a nib held by a nib-advancing mechanism similar to the one from the second variant 10″.
[0065] Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it is obvious that modifications and changes can be made on these examples without transcending the general scope of the disclosure as defined by the claims. In particular, individual characteristics of the different embodiments illustrated/mentioned can be combined in additional embodiments. Consequently, the description and the drawings should be considered in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive one.
