Pin

Abstract

pen with a mine (4) having a working end (41), a housing (1, 2), an electrical connection device (8), a covering device (33), a first adjusting device (6) for adjusting the mine relative to the casing between two positions, namely a) a first position in which the working end of the mine is located in the casing, and b) a second position in which the working end of the mine protrudes from the casing, and a second adjusting device (3, 21, 51, 53) for adjusting the cover device with respect to the electrical connection device between two positions, namely a) a first position in which the cover device releases the electrical connection device, and b) a second position in which the cover device covers the electrical connection device, characterized by the fact that the first adjusting device (6) is locked against adjustment of the mine (4) with respect to the housing (1, 2) when the cover device (33) is in the first position with respect to the electrical connection device (8).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a pen with a lead having a working end, a housing, an electrical connection device, a covering device, a first adjusting device for adjusting the lead with respect to the housing between two positions, namely a) a first position in which the working end of the mine lies in the housing, and b) a second position in which the working end of the mine protrudes from the casing, and a second adjusting device for adjusting the cover device with respect to the electrical connection device between two positions, namely a) a first position in which the covering device releases the electrical connection device, and b) a second position in which the covering device covers the electrical connection device.

[0002] Pens of the type mentioned above are well known. The electrical connection serves, for example, for data transfer or for charging a rechargeable battery contained within the pen. In many regions, a USB-C connector is required as the electrical connection in this case. This will apply, for example, to the EU Economic Area from the end of 2024. On the side of the electronic device, this is a socket compliant with the "Universal Serial Bus Type-C Cable and Connector Specification" of the USB 3.0 Promoter Group. Such sockets consist of a recess with a centrally positioned tab that carries electrical contacts on both sides. Especially in a pen that is kept in a pocket along with other belongings, this recess can become clogged with dirt and dust, preventing reliable electrical contact. This is why the cover device is provided.In the case of a pen with a locking mechanism for retracting and extending the refill (common in ballpoint pens, for example), activating the locking mechanism also results in a longitudinal displacement not only of the refill but also of other internal components. If the relevant electrical or electronic circuit is part of these internal components and the recess in the housing for inserting, for example, a charging plug into the socket is not large enough to allow this relative movement, the forces exerted when retracting and extending the refill can impair or damage the electrical or electronic circuit.

[0003] In view of the above problems, the object of the invention is to avoid relevant impairments of internal components of the pin when actuating the first adjusting device.

[0004] According to the invention, the stated object is achieved in a pen of the type mentioned at the outset in that the first adjusting device is locked against adjustment of the lead relative to the housing when the covering device is in the first position relative to the electrical connection device.

[0005] In other words, if the electrical connection device is not covered by the covering device but rather exposed, and therefore there is a possibility that a cable or the like is connected to the electrical connection device, the electrical connection device should be prevented from shifting within the housing and thereby causing housing parts to strike the cable or the like connected to the connection device. Such striking could lead to reaction forces that could impair or damage the internal components of the pin.

[0006] According to the invention, the locking of the first adjustment device against adjustment of the lead relative to the housing can be implemented in any desired manner. However, according to the invention, it is preferably provided that the second adjustment device has a stop which, in the second position of the cover device, lies in the path along which a lock coupled to the lead in the longitudinal direction of the pencil travels when the lead is adjusted from the first to the second position.

[0007] In other words, the lock prevents the first adjustment device for extending the lead from being activated by striking the stop, which is why no internal components of the pen can be moved.

[0008] The lock can be attached to an insert that couples to the lead in the longitudinal direction of the pen, but is movable relative to the housing.

[0009] The insert can serve a variety of additional purposes, such as holding the mine, holding an accumulator or battery, holding an electrical or electronic circuit, and so on.

[0010] According to the invention, the housing preferably has the stop.

[0011] This eliminates the need to provide an additional component for attaching the lock.

[0012] According to the invention, the second adjustment device can be actuated in any desired manner. However, according to the invention, an actuating device for the second adjustment device is preferably provided that is rotatable relative to the housing about the longitudinal axis of the pin and is coupled to the cover device in the direction of rotation.

[0013] If the actuating device is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the pin with respect to the housing, the covering device moves between the two positions, namely the first position in which it releases the electrical connection device and the second position in which it covers the electrical connection device.

[0014] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the lock is coupled to the actuating device of the second adjusting device in the direction of rotation about the longitudinal axis of the pin and is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the pin with respect to the housing.

[0015] As a result, the lock is adjusted in the direction of rotation when the actuating device and thus the second adjusting device are actuated, so that - viewed in the longitudinal direction of the pin - it is either located in front of the stop and is therefore not movable in the longitudinal direction of the pin, or next to it and can therefore be moved in the longitudinal direction when the first adjusting device is actuated.

[0016] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the lock strikes the cover device when the second adjusting device is actuated.

[0017] This provides a particularly simple implementation of the rotary coupling of the barrier with the covering device.

[0018] The first adjustment device can be a locking mechanism, as is common in ballpoint pens.

[0019] Finally, it is preferred according to the invention that the electrical connection device is a socket.

[0020] In the following, the invention is explained in more detail using a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a pin according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in two different operating positions, Fig. 2 a partially sectioned view of the pin according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 the rear housing part of the pen Fig. 1, Fig. 4 an actuating device of the pin according to Fig. 1, Fig. 5 an application of the pin after Fig. 1 and Fig. 6 the operating device according to Fig. 4 and the use according to Fig. 5 in assembled state.

[0021] The pen shown in the drawings includes a front housing part 1 designed as a handle and a rear housing part 2 designed as a shaft tube. The two housing parts 1 and 2 are firmly connected to one another, for example by screwing.

[0022] The pen also includes an actuating device 3, which is designed as a plug and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis L of the pen relative to the housing parts 1 and 2. A refill 4 with a working end 41 is arranged in the housing.

[0023] Furthermore, an insert 5, which accommodates the lead 4 and an electrical circuit (not shown), is located in the housing 1, 2. Both the lead 4 and the electrical circuit are movable along the longitudinal axis L with the insert 5 within the housing 1, 2.

[0024] An adjusting device 6 is used to adjust the insert 5 with the refill 4 and the electrical circuit in the longitudinal direction of the pen. In the pen shown in the drawings, this adjustment device is designed as a locking mechanism. Locking mechanisms have long been used to adjust the refill, for example, in ballpoint pens, which is why the adjusting device 6 will not be described in detail.

[0025] A button 7 is used to operate the adjustment device 6.

[0026] An electrical connection device 8 is used to connect the electrical circuit to an external device, which in the case of the pin shown in the drawings is designed as a USB socket.

[0027] The rear housing part 2 is designed with a stepped wall thickness, forming a stop 21. The step is designated by the reference number 22.

[0028] Furthermore, the rear housing part 2 has ribs 23 for connecting to the actuating device 3.

[0029] An opening in the rear housing part 2 is designated by the reference number 24.

[0030] The actuating device 3 is provided with a clip 31 and ribs 32 that match the ribs 23 of the rear housing part 2. This allows the actuating device 3 to be coupled axially to the rear housing part 2, while remaining rotatable about the longitudinal axis L relative to the rear housing part 2.

[0031] A cover device 33 in the form of a shield is formed on the actuating device 3.

[0032] The insert 5 has a support 52 that carries a lock 51 in the form of a web and another web 53. In the assembled state, the lock 51 and the web 53 couple the cover device 33 to the insert 5 in the direction of rotation about the longitudinal axis L. The insert 5 is thus coupled to the actuating device 3 in the direction of rotation, but is nevertheless longitudinally displaceable within the housing 1, 2. The actuating device 3, the stop 21, the lock 51, and the web 53 form an adjustment device for the cover device 33.

[0033] The insert 5 is biased rearward by means of an elastic element, such as a spring (not shown).

[0034] The Fig. 1a shows the pencil with the adjusting device 6 in a first position, in which the working end 41 of the refill 4 lies in the housing 1, 2. The other adjusting device 3, 21, 51, 53 is also shown in Fig. 1a in the first position, in which the cover device 33 exposes the opening 24 and thus the electrical connection device 8. In this position, actuation of the adjustment device 6 is not possible because the lock 51 strikes the stop 21 when attempting to press the button 7 and thus move the insert 5 in the direction of the longitudinal axis L.

[0035] Different in the position after Fig. 1b. In the position according to Fig. 1b is compared with the position according to Fig. 1a, the actuating device 3 is rotated relative to the housing 1, 2, so that not only the clip 31 lies over the opening 24, but also the covering device 33 covers the electrical connection device 8. Only in this position of the adjusting device 3, 21, 51, 53 can the insert 5 and thus the refill 4 as well as the electrical connection device 8 be axially displaced, because the lock 51 does not strike the stop 21.

[0036] When the electrical connection device 8 is exposed and a plug could therefore be connected to it, the above construction prevents the electrical connection device 8 from shifting relative to the opening 24 and the plug or the like from possibly striking the edge of the opening, which could lead to damage to the plug, the electrical connection device 8, or the electrical circuit in the insert 5. Rather, the possibility of axial displacement of the electrical connection device 8 only exists in the position in which the cover device 33 covers the electrical connection device 8, which is why no plug or the like can be plugged into the electrical connection device 8. The plug, the electrical connection device 8, and the electrical circuit are therefore protected from relevant impairments and damage.

[0037] The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, the claims and the drawings may be essential both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments.

Claims

[1] Pen with a mine (4) having a working end (41), a housing (1, 2), an electrical connection device (8), a covering device (33), a first adjusting device (6) for adjusting the mine with respect to the housing between two positions, namely a) a first position in which the working end of the mine lies in the housing, and b) a second position in which the working end of the mine protrudes from the casing, and a second adjusting device (3, 21, 51, 53) for adjusting the cover device with respect to the electrical connection device between two positions, namely a) a first position in which the covering device releases the electrical connection device, and b) a second position in which the covering device covers the electrical connection device, characterized by , that the first adjusting device (6) is locked against adjustment of the refill (4) relative to the housing (1, 2) when the covering device (33) is in the first position relative to the electrical connection device (8). [2] Pen according to claim 1, characterized by that the second adjusting device (3, 21, 51, 53) has a stop (21) which, in the second position of the covering device (33), lies in the path along which a lock (51) coupled to the lead (4) in the longitudinal direction of the pencil runs when the lead is adjusted from the first to the second position. [3] Pen according to claim 2, characterized by that the lock (51) is attached to an insert (5) which is coupled to the lead (4) in the longitudinal direction of the pen, but is displaceable with respect to the housing (1, 2). [4] Pen according to claim 3, as far as related to claim 2, characterized by that the housing (1, 2) has the stop (21). [5] Pen according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an actuating device (3) of the second adjusting device (3, 21, 51, 53), which is rotatable with respect to the housing (1, 2) about the longitudinal axis (L) of the pin and is coupled in the direction of rotation to the covering device (33). [6] Pen according to claim 5, as far as related to claim 2, characterized by that the lock (51) is coupled in the direction of rotation about the longitudinal axis (L) of the pin to the actuating device (3) of the second adjusting device (3, 21, 51, 53) and is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the pin with respect to the housing (1, 2). [7] Pen according to claim 6, characterized by that the lock (51) strikes the cover device (33) when the second adjusting device (3, 21, 51, 53) is actuated. [8] Pen according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the first adjusting device (6) is a locking clamping mechanism. [9] Pen according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the electrical connection device (8) is a socket.

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