Hand-held device, in particular a writing instrument, provided with a blocking device

Abstract

A hand-held device includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is engaged at least in part with the second portion while being movable in translation in an axial direction relative to the second portion. The first portion presents a first distal end while the second portion presents a second distal end opposite from the first distal end in the axial direction. A blocking device is configured to prevent the first portion from moving in translation in the axial direction relative to the second portion only when, considered in the gravity direction, the first distal end is arranged above the second distal end. The blocking device includes a chamber and a ball or the equivalent housed in the chamber.

Claims

1. A hand-held device comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being engaged at least in part with the second portion while being movable in translation in an axial direction relative to the second portion, the first portion presenting a first distal end while the second portion presents a second distal end opposite from the first distal end in the axial direction, and a blocking device configured to prevent the first portion from moving in translation in the axial direction relative to the second portion only when, considered in the gravity direction, the first distal end is arranged above the second distal end, the blocking device comprising a chamber and a ball housed in the chamber, a wall defining a volume of the chamber presents a receptacle configured to receive all or part of the ball when, considered in the gravity direction, the first distal end is arranged above the second distal end, the blocking device comprising an abutment configured to cooperate with the ball when, considered in the gravity direction, the first distal end is arranged above the second distal end, the receptacle being made in a wall forming part of a portion selected from the first portion and the second portion, whereas the abutment is secured to the other portion from among the first portion and the second portion.

2. A hand-held device according to claim 1, wherein the chamber is formed between two walls respectively forming parts of the first portion and of the second portion.

3. A hand-held device according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is formed by a passage extending in the axial direction from the chamber, the passage presenting a width that is smaller than the diameter of the ball.

4. A hand-held device according to claim 3, wherein the abutment is configured to engage at least in part in the passage during the movement in translation of the first portion relative to the second portion.

5. A hand-held device according to claim 1, wherein the ball is metallic.

6. A hand-held device according to claim 1, wherein between two walls is a minimum distance that defines a cavity of the chamber that lies in the range 102% to 125% of the diameter of the ball.

7. A hand-held device according to claim 1, forming a writing instrument extending in the axial direction.

8. A hand-held device according to claim 7, wherein the first distal end is fitted with a writing tip, whereas the second distal end is fitted with an eraser, a friction body, or a pad for a capacitive screen.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention and its advantages can be better understood on reading the detailed description of various embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples. The description refers to the accompanying sheets of figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a hand-held device seen in perspective;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the first and second portions of the FIG. 1 hand-held device, in an exploded view;

(4) FIG. 3 is a detail view of the inside of the first portion;

(5) FIG. 4 is a cut-away view in which the first distal end is below the second distal end; and

(6) FIG. 5 is a cut-away view in which the first distal end is above the second distal end.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(7) FIG. 1 shows a hand-held device 10, in this embodiment a writing instrument, and more particularly a mechanical pencil, comprising a first portion 12 and a second portion 14 engaged in the first portion 12 while being movable in translation in an axial direction X. In this example, the relative sliding direction X between the first and second portions 12 and 14 corresponds to the direction in which the hand-held device 10 extends.

(8) The first portion 12 presents a first distal end 12A fitted with a first head 12B, and presenting an orifice for passing the first head 12B. In this example, the first head 12B is a writing tip, and more particularly a graphite pencil lead that can retract into/extend out from the first portion 12A. In FIG. 1, the first head 12B is extended and projects from the first distal end 12A. In this example, the first portion 12 is formed by two parts 12-1 and 12-2 mounted with each other by screw-fastening (not shown). Naturally, in a variant, the two parts 12-1 and 12-2 could form one and the same part, or the first portion 12 could comprise more than two parts. The first portion 12 houses a lead-propelling mechanism (not shown) for propelling the lead 12B when the first portion 12 is moved relative to the second portion 14 (or vice versa), in addition such a mechanism being known.

(9) The second portion 14 presents a second distal end 14A fitted with a second head 14B, in this example an eraser. In addition, in known manner, by pressing on the eraser 14B in the direction of arrow I shown in FIG. 1, the first portion 12 is moved in translation relative to the second portion 14 in the axial direction X, whereby the lead-propelling mechanism is activated and the lead 12B is caused to move forwards from the first distal end 12A.

(10) A blocking device 16 is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1, the device naturally being located inside the hand-held device 10 and therefore usually not being visible. The blocking device 16 comprises a metal ball 16A and a chamber 16B receiving the ball 16A. An abutment 12D of the blocking device 16, described above with reference to FIG. 3, is not shown in FIG. 1 for reasons of clarity.

(11) The blocking device 16 is described below in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

(12) The chamber 16B is formed between two facing walls 12C and 14C forming parts of the first and second portions 12, 14 respectively. More particularly, in this example, the wall 12C is an inside wall of the first portion 12, whereas the wall 14C is an outside wall of the second portion 14. Each of these walls 12C and 14C has a concave shape 12CA and 14CA. These two concave shapes 12CA and 14CA form the chamber 16B.

(13) The first portion 12 presents an abutment 12D formed by an axial spline. The second portion 14 presents a first passage 14D1 and a second passage 14D2, each of the passages being formed by an axial groove. The abutment 12D is configured to engage itself at least in part in the passages 14D1 and 14D2, and to slide in the passages.

(14) Each of the first and second passages 14D1 and 14D2 leads into the concave shape 14CA (or more generally into the chamber 16B), and they are disposed facing each other, on either side of the concave shape 14CA (or more generally of the chamber 16B) in the axial direction X. It should be observed that the passages 14D1 and 14D2 each present an identical, constant width L that is smaller than the diameter D of the ball 16A. In this example, the width L is equal to 60% of the diameter D.

(15) With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the abutment 12D is permanently engaged in the first passage 14D1, i.e. it is engaged regardless of the position of the first portion 12 relative to the second portion 14. This makes it possible to block turning of the first portion relative to the second portion 14 (and vice versa) about the axial direction X, whereby the abutment 12D remains permanently in alignment with the second passage 14D2. In addition, at rest, i.e. when the user is not moving the first portion 12 in the axial direction X relative to the second portion 14, the abutment 12D is not engaged in the second passage 14D2. Consequently, the inlet 14D21 of the second passage 14D2 forms a receptacle configured to receive the ball 16A in part when, considered in the gravity direction G, the first distal end 12A is above the second distal end 14A. In other words, the receptacle is formed by the second passage 14D2.

(16) Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, when the first distal end 12A is below the second distal end 14A considered in the gravity direction G, the blocking device 16 allows relative movements in translation in the axial direction X between the first portion 12 and the second portion 14. Indeed, since the ball 16A is free to move inside the chamber 16B, in this configuration the ball 16A automatically places itself, under the effect of gravity, at the lowest point of the chamber 16B, considered in the gravity direction. In this configuration, since the lowest point of the chamber 16B is substantially opposite in the axial direction X of the second passage 14D2, the inlet 14D21 of said passage remains unobstructed. Thus, the abutment 12D is not blocked and is able to engage in the portion in the second passage 14D2, whereby the first portion 12 is movable axially relative to the second portion 14. The relative movement in axial translation of the first and second portions 12 and 14 is shown by double-headed arrow II in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, the ball 16A is in a free position while the hand-held device 10 is in its first configuration.

(17) With reference to FIG. 5, when the first distal end 12A is above the second distal end 14A considered in the gravity direction G, and only in this position, the blocking device 16 allows relative movements in translation in the axial direction X between the first portion 12 and the second portion 14. Indeed, in this position, under the effect of gravity, the ball 16A moves until it reaches the inlet 14D21 of the second passage 14D2, this inlet forming a receptacle for the ball 16A and being interposed between the abutment 12D and the second passage 14D2. In this configuration the inlet 14D21 forms the lowest point of the chamber 16B. Thus, the abutment 12D is blocked in axial translation by the ball 16A, whereby the relative movements in translation between the first and second portions 12 and 14 are blocked. In FIG. 5, the ball 16A is in the blocking position, whereas the hand-held device 10 is in its second configuration.

(18) As can be seen in FIG. 4, the axial space E between the abutment 12D and the inlet 14D21, or more generally between the abutment 12D and the wall of the chamber 16B has a length that is equal to 105% of the diameter of the ball 16A, whereby the axial clearance between the first portion 12 and the second portion 14 when the ball 16A is in the blocking position is particularly small.

(19) Since the blocking device 16 is totally independent of the lead-propelling device (not shown), blocking may naturally take place regardless of the configuration of the lead-propelling device. This is generally true regardless of the actuation mechanism of the first head 12B. By way of example, in a variant, the first head is a ballpoint or felt-tip while the mechanism is a ratchet mechanism for retracting/extending the first head into/out from the first distal end 12A. In this situation, the second head is, for example, a friction body or a pad for a capacitive screen. Naturally, any other combination of first and second heads may be envisaged.

(20) Although the present invention is described with reference to specific embodiments, it is clear that modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without going beyond the general ambit of the invention as defined by the claims. In particular, individual characteristics of the various embodiments shown and/or mentioned may be combined in additional embodiments. Consequently, the description and the drawings should be considered in a sense that is illustrative rather than restrictive.