Pin

Abstract

The invention relates to a pen with a housing having a longitudinal axis, a lead held in a lead holder and a first adjustment device designed to adjust the lead in the direction of the longitudinal axis with respect to the lead holder. According to the invention, a second adjusting device is provided which is designed to adjust the lead holder in the direction of the longitudinal axis between two operating positions with respect to the housing, namely a rest position in which the lead is retracted with respect to the housing, and a working position in which the lead protrudes axially from the housing.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a pen with a housing having a longitudinal axis, a lead held in a lead holder and a first adjustment device designed to continuously adjust the lead in the direction of the longitudinal axis with respect to the lead holder.

[0002] Pencils of the type mentioned at the beginning are well-known. These include, for example, lead pencils, colored pencils, wax crayons, or cosmetic pencils with a wear-down lead. Such pencils incorporate mechanisms that allow for adjustment of the point protrusion. Examples include mechanical pencils such as clutch pencils, twist pencils, and mechanical pencils.

[0003] It is generally not possible to reliably adjust the tip protrusion of the lead to a consistent value with a simple movement. Instead, trial and error is necessary, and the protrusion must be checked. Therefore, retracting the tip after use is often neglected, which, with sensitive lead materials, carries the risk of damage or unwanted contamination of the surrounding area.

[0004] Therefore, the invention is based on the objective of further developing the pen of the type mentioned above in such a way that the tip protrusion of the lead can be easily adjusted to a constant value and there is no risk of damage or unwanted contamination of the environment after use.

[0005] According to the invention, the problem set out in a pen of the type mentioned above is solved by providing a second adjusting device which is designed to adjust the lead holder in the direction of the longitudinal axis between two operating positions with respect to the housing, namely a rest position in which the lead is retracted with respect to the housing, and a working position in which the lead protrudes axially from the housing.

[0006] By combining the two adjustment mechanisms, the advantages of both can be combined in a single device. In particular, the above task can be solved in a particularly simple way through the appropriate design of the two adjustment mechanisms.

[0007] The second adjustment device may be a mechanism that can be switched between two end positions, in particular a locking mechanism (also known as a ballpoint pen mechanism).

[0008] This solution therefore relies on generally known designs of pens.

[0009] The first adjustment device is preferably a continuously adjustable mechanism, in particular a rotary mechanism or a drop mine mechanism.

[0010] The mine protrusion can be adjusted with particular precision using a rotary mechanism.

[0011] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing comprises a first housing part and a second housing part which are rotatable relative to each other about the longitudinal axis, wherein the two housing parts are rotatably coupled in the working position to each of two parts of the first adjusting device which are rotatable about the longitudinal axis.

[0012] In this design, twisting the two housing parts relative to each other shifts the lead relative to the lead holder along its longitudinal axis. Therefore, the lead protrusion can be precisely adjusted by this twisting motion.

[0013] It is conceivable that the first and second housing parts are rotaryally coupled not only in the working position but also in the rest position of the pin with one of the two parts of the first adjusting device that can be rotated relative to each other about the longitudinal axis. Alternatively, in the rest position, at least one of the two housing parts may not be rotaryally coupled to either of the two parts of the first adjusting device that can be rotated relative to each other about the longitudinal axis.

[0014] In other words, according to this embodiment of the invention, the first adjustment device cannot be actuated in the rest position by rotating the two housing parts relative to each other. Rather, the two housing parts can be rotated relative to each other without this having any influence on the longitudinal position of the lead with respect to the lead holder. This prevents unintentional adjustment of the lead relative to the lead holder in the rest position, in which the lead is usually not visible. Instead, the two housing parts can be adjusted without this adjustment adversely affecting the position of the lead relative to the lead holder.

[0015] In order to achieve the above effect, it is particularly preferred according to the invention that at least that part of the first adjusting device which can be rotated relative to each other about the longitudinal axis and which is not rotatably coupled to any of the housing parts which can be rotated relative to each other about the longitudinal axis in the rest position is displaceable with respect to the housing in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

[0016] It is therefore only necessary to ensure that the part of the first adjusting device which can be rotated relative to each other about the longitudinal axis and which is rotaryally coupled to one of the housing parts which can be rotated relative to each other about the longitudinal axis in the working position but not in the rest position, is moved within the housing in the direction of the longitudinal axis for adjustment between the rest position and the working position in order to eliminate or effect the said rotary coupling.

[0017] According to the invention, the rotary coupling for realizing the rotary mechanism of the first adjusting device and / or the second adjusting device can be implemented in any desired manner. Preferably, polygon profiles and / or a tongue-and-groove combination serve / serve for the corresponding rotary coupling.

[0018] This provides a particularly simple method of rotary coupling, which also has the advantage that it can be created or released, if desired, by simple displacement in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

[0019] However, such disengagement of the first mechanism can lead to a blockage of the second mechanism when moving from the rest position to the operating position if the rotational position of the housing parts has been changed beforehand. If the housing parts are positioned unfavorably relative to each other, a spring on the circumference of the lead insert may collide with a spring in the inner profile of the housing, or, in the case of a polygonal profile, the corners of the polygon on the circumference of the lead insert may collide with the center of the surfaces in the inner profile of the housing, preventing the housing of the first mechanism from retracting into the inner profile of the pen housing.

[0020] This can be avoided by tapering the surfaces of the springs of both mechanisms that first engage. This creates a torque between the housing of the first mechanism and the pin housing, aligning them. With a polygon profile, such a torque can be generated if the surfaces of the polygon profile in the inner profile of the housing, in the direction of travel when switching from the rest to the operating position, widen triangularly, starting with a sufficiently large inner diameter to accommodate the circumference of the polygon profile of the first mechanism, until the inner diameter is completely defined by the polygon.

[0021] With a polygonal profile, such self-centering is only possible if the torque required to adjust either the first mechanism or the two relative, rotatable housing parts of the pin is less than the torque that can be generated between the two mechanisms by this gradual transition of the housing's inner profile from a circular to a polygonal profile. However, this torque decreases with increasing polygonal order.

[0022] On the other hand, a polygon profile with a lower order number (for example, a triangle) requires a significantly larger inner diameter in the rear area of ​​the front part of the housing than, for example, a hexagonal or octagonal profile on the first mechanism. Consequently, the diameter of the pin housing also increases with decreasing order number of the polygon. Therefore, a compromise must be found between small external dimensions and sufficient torque for the polygons to engage when switching from the rest position to the operating position.

[0023] In the present development, the emphasis is on compact dimensions while simultaneously selecting a polygon profile to ensure sufficient torque for boring the core of the rotary mechanism tool during the injection molding process. Therefore, the preferred solution here is to maintain the coupling of the first mechanism to the pin housing.

[0024] According to the invention, the rotary mechanism is preferably self-locking.

[0025] This ensures that pressure on the working end of the mine does not lead to its collapse.

[0026] Finally, according to the invention, an elastic device is preferably provided which pre-tensions the lead holder in the direction of the rest position with respect to the housing.

[0027] This ensures that the second adjustment device can be easily returned to its rest position.

[0028] During the development of the mechanism, it was unexpectedly discovered that the polygon profiles can jam if the tolerances between the profiles of the first mechanism and the pin housing are too generous and the corners of the polygon profiles are rounded too much. This jamming hinders the switching movement from the rest position to the operating position. Therefore, depending on the material combination, both parameters are subject to strict limits.

[0029] For a material pairing with a low coefficient of friction, for example polyoxymethylene (POM) for the first mechanism and polypropylene (PP) for the pen housing, the maximum values ​​for the corner radius R are i of the inner polygon at a key width S of the polygon profile of order number n 0 <Ri<0,004⋅S

[0030] in combination with the tolerance d between the surfaces of the polygon profiles 0 <d<S8⋅(1cosπn−1)

[0031] Alternatively, the addition of a straight guide should be considered when using a polygon profile to prevent jamming.

[0032] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawing. Fig. 1 Views of two embodiments of the pen according to the invention, Fig. 2 perspective views of the individual parts of the pens according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 views of a rotary mechanism in the pins according to Fig. 1, Fig. 4 parameters S, d and R i using the example of a hexagonal profile, Fig. 5 Combination of polygon profile and tongue-and-groove straight guide, Fig. 6 alternative rotary mechanism with tongue-and-groove guide of the front housing part and Fig. 7 Front housing part of the pen, suitable for the alternative rotary mechanism.

[0033] Each of the pins shown in the drawings includes a housing 10, which comprises a rotating cone 12, a grip sleeve 14, and a shaft 16. The grip sleeve 14 is encased in a soft grip component 18. The housing 10 has a longitudinal axis L. The shaft 16 encloses an inner tube 17.

[0034] The housing 10 contains a mine holder 20, which in the illustrated embodiments is implemented in the form of a mine tube. A mine 22 is inserted into the mine tube 20.

[0035] A first adjusting device 24, which includes a spindle 26 and a driver 28 in addition to the rotary cone 12, serves to adjust the mine 22 relative to the mine tube 20 in the direction of the longitudinal axis L.

[0036] A second adjusting device is designated by the reference number 30. It includes a pusher 32, a plunger 34, a spacer with switching star 36, and a first spring 38. A second spring is designated by the reference number 40.

[0037] In the second adjusting device of the pen according to the invention, as illustrated in the drawings, it is a so-called locking tensioning device, which is commonly used in ballpoint pens. It serves to lock the lead tube 20 between a position in the Fig. 1 a1) and 1 b1) rest position shown and one in the Fig. to adjust the working position shown in 1 a2) and 1 b2). For example, if in the resting position after Fig. 1 a1) When the push button 32 is actuated, the plunger 34 and with it the spacer with the switching star 36 move against the restoring force of the spring 38, whereby the mine tube 20 inside the housing 10 moves in the direction of the longitudinal axis L Fig. 1 shifts to the left. This shift occurs against the restoring force of the second spring 40.

[0038] If the push button 32 is then released, it is pushed back by the restoring force of the first spring 38; however, due to the ballpoint pen mechanism used (locking mechanism), the lead tube 20 remains in the position shifted to the left, i.e., in its working position after the Fig. 1 a2) or 1 b2), in which the mine 22 protrudes from the casing 10.

[0039] If the push button 32 is actuated again in the working position, the ballpoint pen mechanism (locking mechanism) causes the lead tube 20 with the lead 22 inside it and the spacer with the switching star 36 to move due to the restoring force of the second spring 40. Fig. Move 1 to the right with respect to housing 10, so that the rest position is restored. Fig. 1 a1) and Fig. 1 b1) is reached.

[0040] Both in Fig. In the embodiments of the pen according to the invention shown in Figure 1, the lead 22 in the working position is adjustable in the direction of the longitudinal axis L with respect to the lead tube 20 by means of the first adjusting device 24. For this purpose, the rotating cone 12 must be rotated about the longitudinal axis L with respect to the handle sleeve 14. It is therefore snapped onto the handle sleeve 14, which is why it is rotatable about the longitudinal axis L with respect to the handle sleeve 14, but not longitudinally displaceable with respect to the handle sleeve 14. Furthermore, the rotating cone 12 is rotatably coupled to the lead tube 20 by means of a polygonal inner profile via a correspondingly polygonal outer profile. Therefore, the lead tube 20 rotates with the rotating cone 12. The driver 28 is inserted in the lead tube 20, which is rotatably coupled with the lead tube 20, but longitudinally displaceable. For this purpose, it protrudes with a projection 42 into a slot 44 in the mine tube 20.Furthermore, the projection 42 meshes with the internal thread of the spindle 26, which in turn is held rotationally fixed in the handle sleeve 14. For this purpose, matching polygon structures on the spindle 26 on the one hand and the handle sleeve 14 on the other serve this purpose.

[0041] Because of the couplings described in detail above, rotating the rotary cone 12 about the longitudinal axis L with respect to the handle sleeve 14 causes the driver 28, and thus the mine 22, to move within the mine tube 20 in the direction of the longitudinal axis L. In other words, the first adjusting device 24 is a rotary mechanism. The individual features are chosen such that the rotary mechanism is self-locking.

[0042] This allows the projection of the lead 22 from the housing 10 to be adjusted by rotating the rotary cone 12 relative to the handle sleeve 14 in the working position.

[0043] In the resting position, the design is as follows: Fig. 1 b1) just as in the working position, because in this embodiment the rotary cone 12 is also rotatably coupled to the mine tube 20 via relevant polygon profiles in the rest position.

[0044] In contrast, in the exemplary embodiment according Fig. 1 a1) and 1 a2): In this embodiment, the rotating cone 12 is not rotatably coupled to the mine tube 20 in the rest position because the axial length of its inner polygon does not extend to the outer polygon of the mine tube 20. Rather, in this embodiment, the rotating cone 12 is freely rotatable relative to the handle sleeve 14 in the rest position, without such rotation being transmitted to the mine tube 20. In this embodiment, the rotating cone 12 is decoupled from the mine tube 20 in the direction of rotation in the rest position.

[0045] The opposing end faces of the polygons of the rotating cone 12 on the one hand and / or the mine tube 30 on the other hand are chamfered to prevent jamming when moving from the rest position to the working position. The same applies when using tongue-and-groove combinations.

[0046] In both embodiments of the invention, the mine 22 is protected in the rest position without having to be (cumbersomely) inserted into the mine tube 20 by means of the first adjusting device 24, because it can be inserted into the housing 10 together with the mine tube 20 by means of the second adjusting device 30.

[0047] Fig. Figure 4 shows an example of the rotary coupling of the rotary cone 12 with the mine tube 20 by means of polygonal profiles. In particular, the corner radius R i to identify the inner polygon, the key width S of the polygon profile and the tolerance d between the surfaces of the polygon profiles.

[0048] Fig. Figure 5 shows the same rotary coupling, but for a combination of polygon profile and tongue-and-groove guide.

[0049] Fig. Figure 6 shows a version of the mine tube 20 with mine 22 inserted inside and webs for a tongue-and-groove straight guide.

[0050] Finally, it shows Fig. 7 a version of the swivel cone 12 suitable for the mine tube 20 according to Fig. 6.

[0051] The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, claims and drawing can be essential for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments, both individually and in any combination.

Claims

[1] pen with a housing (10) having a longitudinal axis (L), a mine (22) held in a mine holder (20), a first adjustment device (24) designed to adjust the mine in the direction of the longitudinal axis with respect to the mine holder, and a second adjusting device (30) designed to adjust the lead holder (20) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L) between two operating positions with respect to the housing (10), namely a rest position in which the mine (22) is retracted relative to the housing, and a working position in which the mine protrudes axially from the housing, wherein the second adjusting device (30) is a mechanism that can be switched between two end positions, namely a locking mechanism, characterized by , that the first adjusting device (24) is a continuously adjustable mechanism, namely a rotary mechanism or a drop mine mechanism. [2] Pen according to claim 1, characterized by , that the housing (10) has a first housing part (12) and a second housing part (14) which are rotatable relative to each other about the longitudinal axis (L), wherein the two housing parts are rotatably coupled in the working position to each of two parts (20, 26) of the first adjusting device (24) which are rotatable relative to each other about the longitudinal axis. [3] Pen according to claim 2, characterized by , that in the rest position the two housing parts (12, 14) are rotatably coupled to the respective part (20, 26) of the first adjusting device (24) that is rotatable relative to each other about the longitudinal axis (L). [4] Pen according to claim 2, characterized by , that in the rest position at least one of the two housing parts (12, 14) is rotatably coupled to neither of the two parts (20, 26) of the first adjusting device (24) which can be rotated relative to each other about the longitudinal axis (L). [5] Pen according to claim 4, characterized by, that at least that part (20, 26) of the first adjusting device (24) which is rotatable relative to each other about the longitudinal axis (L) and which is not rotatably coupled to any of the housing parts (12, 14) which are rotatable relative to each other about the longitudinal axis in the rest position is displaceable relative to the housing (10) in the direction of the longitudinal axis. [6] Pen according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized by , that polygon profiles and / or a tongue-and-groove combination serve / serve for the rotary coupling. [7] Pen according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the rotary mechanism is self-locking. [8] Pen according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by an elastic device (40) which pre-tensions the lead holder (20) in the direction of the rest position with respect to the housing (10).

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