Writing implement

Abstract

Lines can be freely varied in thickness, and lines with characteristics such as stops, flicks, and sweeping strokes can be written easily, even with a felt-tip pen, marker pen, or the like. Moreover, a pen-tip does not readily become damaged or worn. A writing implement includes a shaft, an ink supply core such as that of a felt-tip pen or a marker pen, and a core surrounding member that covers the ink supply core. The writing implement is formed capable of contacting a tip of the ink supply core and a tip of the core surrounding member against a writing surface at the same time by using a joint capable of changing a relative positional relationship between the ink supply core and the core surrounding member.

Claims

1. A writing implement comprising: a shaft; an ink supply core that is housed inside the shaft, and that is capable of guiding ink by capillary force; a collector core in contact with a proximal end of the ink supply core; a core surrounding member that covers an outer periphery of the ink supply core such that a portion of the ink supply core and a portion of the core surrounding member are exposed at a leading end of the shaft; and a joint that is capable of changing a relative positional relationship between the ink supply core and the core surrounding member in an axial direction, wherein the ink supply core is moved by elastic deformation of the joint, thereby causing the ink supply core to move relatively rearward with respect to the core surrounding member so as to enable a tip of the ink supply core and a tip of the core surrounding member to contact a writing surface at the same time.

2. The writing implement of claim 1, wherein: the joint is an elastic member disposed at a rear of the ink supply core, and the relative positional relationship between the ink supply core and the core surrounding member can be changed by compression of the elastic member; and the ink supply core is formed so as to be able to move rearward relative to the core surrounding member, from an initial position that is a portion of the ink supply core exposed from the core surrounding member, by the elastic member being compressed with load applied to the tip of the ink supply core.

3. The writing implement of claim 2, wherein an ink supply space including a gap exhibiting capillary force is formed at an inside of the ink supply core, and ink is guided by the capillary force of the ink supply space.

4. The writing implement of claim 2, wherein an ink supply space including a gap exhibiting capillary force is formed at an outside of the ink supply core, and ink is guided by the capillary force of the ink supply space.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A is a front view, and FIG. 1B is a front cross-section, of a writing implement according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-section of a front side of a writing implement according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when at a projecting position.

(3) FIG. 3A is a perspective view, FIG. 3B is a front view, and FIG. 3C is a vertical cross-section, of a joint of a writing implement according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-section of a front side of a writing implement according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when in a retracted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) Explanation follows with reference to the drawings regarding an example of a felt-tip pen or a marker pen, serving as a writing implement 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in which a writing section is provided at a leading end of a shaft 10. Note that in the present invention, the front of the writing implement 1 and its configuration components refers to the direction in which the writing section is provided, and the rear refers to the opposite direction thereto.

(6) Overall Configuration

(7) As illustrated in FIG. 1A, an external profile of the writing implement 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes the shaft 10 that is provided with a tip shaft 11 and a rear shaft 12, and an outer member 20, serving as a core surrounding member 20, fixed to the front side of the tip shaft 11 serving as the writing section. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, an ink supply core 50, serving as the writing section, is housed inside the shaft 10 spanning from the front side of the tip shaft 11 to a leading end of the outer member 20.

(8) Structure of the Shaft 10

(9) As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the structure of the writing implement 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is configured by a cylindrical shaped ink tank 13 having a closed rear end, the tip shaft 11, that has a cylindrical shape with a tapered profile at a leading end, and with a leading end of the ink tank 13 fitted into the inner periphery of the rear end of the tip shaft 11, and the cylindrical shaped rear shaft 12 having a closed rear end and having the rear end of the tip shaft 11 fitted into the inner periphery of the leading end of the rear shaft 12.

(10) As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the tip shaft 11 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and has a tapered profile at its leading end. The outer periphery of the tip shaft 11 is provided with a tip shaft flange 15 at a position approximately of the way from the rear end of the tip shaft 11. The tip shaft flange 15 has an outer diameter that is substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of the rear shaft 12, and the leading end of the rear shaft 12 abuts the tip shaft flange 15. The tip shaft 11 includes, on each side of a boundary of the tip shaft flange 15, a substantially cylindrical tube shaped tip shaft rear portion 14 toward the rear side, and a tip shaft front portion 16 with a tapered profile toward the front side.

(11) As illustrated in FIG. 2, a leading end portion of the tip shaft front portion 16 is provided with a tip shaft front reduced diameter hole 16a having a reduced diameter, into which a leading end of a joint 30 is inserted, and an outer member insertion hole 16b is contiguously provided to the front of the tip shaft front reduced diameter hole 16a and has the outer member 20 inserted therein. A groove is provided on the outer periphery of the tip shaft front portion 16 in the vicinity of the leading end thereof, so as to enable mounting of another member, and an anti-slip grip member 17 is mounted in the groove.

(12) Internal Structure of the Tip Shaft 11

(13) As illustrated in FIG. 1B, a collector 40 made from an ABS resin is press-fitted inside the tip shaft front portion 16. In the collector 40, plural plate shaped members are disposed running parallel to the axial direction. Ink, not illustrated in the drawings, can be held between the plate shaped members. Moreover, a collector core 41, formed from a bundle of fibers, runs through the axial center of the collector 40. The joint 30 is mounted at the front side of the tip shaft 11, namely in front of the collector 40.

(14) Overall Structure of the Joint 30

(15) As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the joint 30 is configured from a substantially cylindrical shaped center member 31, a substantially cylindrical shaped surrounding member 32 formed from approximately from the rear end of the center member 31 to approximately from the rear end of the center member 31, such that gap sections 34 of the thickness of the leading end of the collector 40 are present at the outer periphery of the rear of the center member 31, and an interposing member 33 formed so as to cover the center member 31 from a leading end of the surrounding member 32 to a position approximately back from a leading end of the center member 31.

(16) Center Member 31

(17) As illustrated in FIG. 2, the collector core 41 is inserted into the center member 31 from the rear, and the ink supply core 50 is inserted into the center member 31 from the front.

(18) As illustrated in FIG. 3C, at the inner periphery of the center member 31, a back insertion hole 31a having substantially the same diameter as the collector core 41 is provided at the rear end of the center member 31, and a center insertion hole 31b and a tip insertion hole 31c having substantially the same diameter as the ink supply core 50 are provided from the center toward the leading end of the center member 31.

(19) Moreover, a ring shaped center member flange 31e is formed on the outer periphery of the center member 31, in the vicinity of the rear end of the center insertion hole 31b of the center member 31, and positioned further toward the front than the leading end of the surrounding member 32. The outer periphery of the center member 31 is configured from: a rear circular columnar rear section 31d provided at a position from a rear end of the center member 31 up to the center member flange 31e; a rear circular columnar front section 31f positioned from the center member flange 31e up to the vicinity of a leading end of the center insertion hole 31b; a central circular columnar section 31g positioned from a leading end of the rear circular columnar front section 31f up to slightly further to the front than the leading end of the center insertion hole 31b; and a front circular columnar section 31h positioned from a leading end of the central circular columnar section 31g up to the leading end of the center member 31.

(20) Note that the outer diameters of the rear circular columnar rear section 31d and the rear circular columnar front section 31f are substantially the same diameter as the inner diameter of a leading end portion of the collector 40, and the outer diameter of the central circular columnar section 31g is substantially the same diameter as the diameter of the tip shaft front reduced diameter hole 16a. Moreover, the outer diameter of the front circular columnar section 31h is substantially the same as the diameter of a rear insertion hole 24 provided in the rear of the outer member 20, illustrated in FIG. 2.

(21) Surrounding Member 32

(22) The inner diameter of the surrounding member 32 illustrated in FIG. 3 is substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of the leading end portion of the collector 40. Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 3C, a surrounding member wide diameter portion 32a is provided with slightly widened diameter at the inner periphery of the surrounding member 32 at a position at a rear end of the surrounding member 32. A surrounding member inner projection 32b formed in a ring shape is provided at the inner periphery of the surrounding member 32 at a position approximately halfway from the rear end of the surrounding member 32. The surrounding member inner projection 32b is provided to clamp the leading end portion of the collector 40, using the surrounding member 32 and the center member 31.

(23) Moreover, the outer periphery of the surrounding member 32 is configured from a surrounding member rear outer peripheral portion 32c at a position between the rear end of the surrounding member 32 and the surrounding member inner projection 32b, a surrounding member central outer peripheral portion 32d contiguous to the surrounding member rear outer peripheral portion 32c, and a surrounding member front outer peripheral portion 32e contiguous to the surrounding member central outer peripheral portion 32d at a position up to a leading end of the surrounding member 32.

(24) A ring shaped surrounding member outer projection 32f is provided at a position approximately halfway back from a leading end of the surrounding member front outer peripheral portion 32e. A cutout, not illustrated in the drawings, is provided at the surrounding member outer projection 32f at at least one location in the circumferential direction. The outer diameter of the cutout is the same as the outer diameter of the surrounding member front outer peripheral portion 32e.

(25) Interposing Member 33

(26) As illustrated in FIG. 3C, the interposing member 33 is configured from an interposing member rear circular columnar section 33a with a substantially cylindrical tube shape covering the surrounding member 32 and having substantially the same outer diameter as the diameter of the surrounding member outer projection 32f, a coupling section 33b that is contiguously provided to the interposing member rear circular columnar section 33a, that covers as far as the center member flange 31e, and that has a substantially conical shape, and an interposing member front conical section 33c that is contiguously provided to the coupling section 33b, and that is formed in a gently-sloping conical shape covering as far as the vicinity of a leading end of the central circular columnar section 31g.

(27) The interposing member rear circular columnar section 33a is interposed between a rear end of the surrounding member front outer peripheral portion 32e and the cutout of the surrounding member 32, and covers as far as the leading end of the surrounding member front outer peripheral portion 32e. As a result, the interposing member rear circular columnar section 33a engages with the surrounding member outer projection 32f.

(28) Note that the inner periphery of the interposing member 33 is formed so as to follow the outer peripheries of the center member 31 and the surrounding member 32, and an inner diameter of the rear end side of the coupling section 33b is the same as the inner diameter of the surrounding member 32. Moreover, the inner diameter of the front end side of the coupling section 33b has a tapered shape gradually decreasing so as to transition from the inner diameter of the interposing member 33 to the outer diameter of the center member flange 31e.

(29) Two Color Molding

(30) The joint 30 is a component molded by two-color molding. The center member 31 and the surrounding member 32 are molded by primary molding, and the interposing member 33 is integrally molded onto the center member 31 and the surrounding member 32 by secondary molding. The interposing member 33 is provided with flexibility due to being formed from an elastic resin material at the coupling section 33b.

(31) A thermoplastic elastomer is preferably employed as the elastic resin material in order to perform a molding process using a mold at high temperature. The material of the center member 31 and the surrounding member 32 configuring a primary molded body is preferably a hard resin, such as a PBT resin.

(32) Outer Member 20

(33) As illustrated in FIG. 2, the outer member 20 is configured from a cylindrical tube shaped outer member fixing portion 21, and an outer member taper portion 22 that is contiguously provided to the outer member fixing portion 21 and has a substantially circular conical shape. A beveled outer member tip portion 23 is provided at the leading end of the outer member taper portion 22.

(34) A hole is formed through from a rear end toward the leading end of the outer member 20. Specifically, the rear insertion hole 24 is provided along the inner periphery of the outer member fixing portion 21, and a front insertion hole 25 of smaller diameter than the rear insertion hole 24 is provided along the inner periphery of the outer member taper portion 22 in the vicinity of its leading end.

(35) The outer member fixing portion 21 is fixed to the tip shaft 11 by fitting into the outer member insertion hole 16b. The outer member 20 covers the ink supply core 50. Simultaneously, the front circular columnar section 31h (see FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C) of the joint 30 is inserted into the rear insertion hole 24, and the ink supply core 50 projecting out from the joint 30 is inserted into the front insertion hole 25.

(36) Ink Supply Core 50

(37) The ink supply core 50 illustrated in FIG. 2 is molded by extrusion molding a resin material such as polyacetal. During extrusion molding, a path is formed that guides ink to the tip of the ink supply core 50 by capillary action.

(38) Note that during extrusion molding, the ink guiding path mentioned above may be configured by forming gaps exhibiting capillary force inside the ink supply core 50, or by forming gaps exhibiting capillary force at the outside of the ink supply core 50. Moreover, the ink supply core 50 may be a fiber core, a sintered core, or the like.

(39) Characteristics of the Writing Implement 1

(40) In the writing implement 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the joint 30 is configured from three members. The joint 30 has a characteristic structure in which, even though the surrounding member 32 and the center member 31 are the same primary molded body, they are not continuous to each other in the primary molded body. The interposing member 33 accordingly deforms in the vicinity of the coupling section 33b, such that the joint 30 flexes readily.

(41) Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a relative positional relationship between the ink supply core 50 and the outer member 20 is displaced due to the joint 30 flexing under writing pressure, thereby enabling the ink supply core 50 to move toward a retracted position.

(42) On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 2, when the writing load is reduced and the writing pressure applied to the ink supply core 50 becomes lighter, the joint 30 returns from the flexed shape to its initial shape under elastic action, accompanying which the ink supply core 50 also returns to a projecting position.

(43) Note that when the ink supply core 50 is moved to the retracted position under writing pressure, and writing is started with the tip of the ink supply core 50 and the tip of the outer member 20 both in contact with the writing surface at the same time, the ink held by the ink supply core 50 flows out accompanying the writing. Then, the ink that has flowed out spreads due to capillary action between the tip of the ink supply core 50 and the tip of the outer member 20 that are in contact with the writing surface. As a result, a broader line can be drawn than when writing in a state in which only the tip of the ink supply core 50 is in contact with the writing surface.

(44) Moreover, when the ink supply core 50 is moved to the retracted position under writing pressure, and writing is performed with the tip of the ink supply core 50 and the tip of the outer member 20 in contact with the writing surface at the same time, the writing pressure applied when writing is borne mainly by the outer member 20, enabling the writing pressure placed on the ink supply core 50 that holds the ink to be reduced. This thereby enables wear of the pen tip of the ink supply core 50 to be reduced. Moreover, the ink supply core 50 is covered by the outer member 20, such that even if the pen tip is knocked or receives a shock from being dropped, the ink supply core 50 does not suffer damage that renders it incapable of writing. Moreover, unlike the ink supply core, the core surrounding member does not have holes in its surface, thereby reducing catching on the paper surface to give a smooth writing sensation.

(45) Moreover, due to utilizing the elastic action of the joint 30, the ink supply core 50 moves forward from the retracted position toward the projecting position in a continuous action when the writing load is lightened by removing the writing section from the writing surface with an action that produces a stop or a sweeping stroke. This thereby enables a continuous and smooth transition in the width of the writing, from a broad line to a thin line.