writing instrument

Abstract

Writing instrument comprising a pen (12) and a cap (16) for receiving a writing end (14) of the pen (12), wherein the pen (12) comprises: - a pen body (20) elongated in the direction of a pen longitudinal axis (S), - a fluid reservoir (22) arranged in the pen body (20) for fluid to be applied by means of the pen (12), - a porous application element (18) projecting from the writing end (14) of the pen (12) in the direction of the pen's longitudinal axis (S) beyond the pen body (20), wherein the application element (18) is in connection with the fluid reservoir (22) for receiving fluid from the fluid reservoir (22) by capillary action, the cap (16) includes: - a cap body (30) with a receiving end (32) open for receiving the writing end (14) of the pen (12), - an insert element (34) received in the cap body (30), wherein the insert element (34) has a permanently formed application element receiving recess (36) for receiving the application element (18) when the writing end (14) of the pen (12) is received in the cap (16), so that when the application element (18) is inserted into the application element receiving recess (36) and when the application element (18) is removed from the application element receiving recess (36) the shape and dimensions of the application element receiving recess (36) do not change substantially, wherein the applicator receiving recess (36) is adapted to a shape and size of the applicator (18) such that, when the writing end (14) is received in the cap (16), the applicator (18) is at least partially in contact with the insert element (34) in the area of ​​an inner surface (37) of the applicator receiving recess (36), and wherein the insert element (34) is formed to be porous at least in an area providing the inner surface (37) of the applicator receiving recess (36) such that it has capillarity for the fluid.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a writing instrument comprising a pen and a cap for receiving a writing end of the pen.

[0002] Pens designed to apply a fluid to a surface, such as paper, whiteboard or the like, generally have a porous application element which draws the fluid to be applied to the surface from a fluid reservoir by capillary action, distributes it within its internal volume and then, when an application end of the application element is brought into contact with the surface intended to receive the fluid, transfers the fluid to the surface.

[0003] To prevent the application element from drying out, especially when such a pen is not used for extended periods, or, in the case of pens containing a pigment-based fluid, to prevent the accumulation of particulate components of the fluid in the near-surface area of ​​the pen's application element, STAEDTLER SE, for example, offers the product "Lumocolor". ®The writing instruments sold as "whiteboard pen 301" feature a writing aid, also known as an insert element, in a cap designed to hold the pen's writing tip. This insert element is generally made of a soft, deformable material, such as fiber material, and is therefore, like the applicator element, inherently porous and exhibits capillary action for the fluid contained in the pen. The porosity of the insert element is chosen such that, due to its capillary action, fluid and, in particular, particulate matter contained in the fluid can accumulate in the insert element when the applicator element comes into contact with it.

[0004] When the writing end of a pen is inserted into such a cap, the applicator element, penetrating the insert element (which is, for example, made of fiber material), forms an applicator-receiving recess in the insert element. In this recess, the applicator element contacts the fiber material of the insert element. When the pen is removed from the cap, the inherently deformable insert element can approximately return to its original shape, so that when the pen is reinserted into the cap, it can again be deformed to form an applicator-receiving recess.

[0005] This ensures that when the pen's writing end is inserted into the cap, the applicator is surrounded by the fluid-filled insert and cannot dry out on its outer surface. Furthermore, it prevents particulate components of the fluid present on the outer surface of the applicator from accumulating within the applicator. When a pen is stored with the applicator facing downwards, the fluid's particulate components, such as pigments or resin particles, can migrate from the surface area of ​​the applicator into the insert under the influence of gravity, thus preventing the pore structure of the applicator from becoming clogged in the surface area.Immediately after removing a cap equipped with such an insert element from the pen contained therein, the pen is sufficiently saturated with fluid even in a near-surface area of ​​the application element, so that it can be used without delay to apply the fluid to a surface.

[0006] Since the insert element is deformed each time a pen tip is inserted into such a cap, thus adapting to the shape of the application element, a large-area contact is ensured, reliably preventing the application element from drying out. Because such an insert element can be used in conjunction with application elements of various shapes and sizes, it can be used for writing instruments of different designs without altering its structure.

[0007] US Patent 3,502,417 discloses a writing instrument in which a hard material insert, such as plastic or metal, is housed in a cap designed to receive the writing end of a pen. The insert has a recess for receiving an applicator element, into which an applicator element made of fibrous material is received when the writing end of the pen is inserted into the cap. By receiving the applicator element in the recess of the hard material insert, an applicator element that becomes deformed during an application process is restored to its original shape, corresponding to the shape of the recess.

[0008] US patent 5,176,460 discloses a writing instrument comprising a pen and a cap designed to receive the pen's writing tip. The cap, formed in one piece from a low-porosity plastic material, has a recess for receiving the pen's application element that is adapted to its shape and size. When the pen's writing tip is inserted into the cap, its application element fits snugly in the recess, thus preventing fluid from being released from the application element.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a writing instrument and a method for manufacturing a cap for such a writing instrument, with which improved application quality is achieved while maintaining a long service life of the writing instrument.

[0010] According to a first aspect of the present invention, this problem is solved by a writing device comprising a pen and a cap for receiving a writing end of the pen, wherein the pen comprises: - a pen body elongated in the direction of a pen's longitudinal axis, - a fluid reservoir arranged in the pen body for fluid to be applied by means of the pen, - a porous application element projecting beyond the pen body at the writing end of the pen in the direction of the pen's longitudinal axis, wherein the application element is in connection with the fluid reservoir for receiving fluid from the fluid reservoir by capillary action.

[0011] The cap includes: - a cap body with a receiving end open to receive the writing end of the pen, - an insert element received in the cap body, wherein the insert element has a permanent applicator element receiving recess for receiving the applicator element when the writing end of the pen is received in the cap, so that when the applicator element is inserted into the applicator element receiving recess and when the applicator element is removed from the applicator element receiving recess, the shape and dimensions of the applicator element receiving recess do not change substantially.

[0012] The applicator element receptacle is adapted to the shape and size of the applicator element such that, when the writing end is received in the cap, the applicator element is in contact with the insert element at least partially in the area of ​​an inner surface of the applicator element receptacle. The insert element is porous, at least in the area providing the inner surface of the applicator element receptacle, such that it exhibits capillarity for the fluid.

[0013] In the writing instrument constructed according to the invention, the porous insert element is designed to adapt to the shape and dimensions of an application element to be received in the application element receiving recess. This means that the insert element does not need to be deformed to fit the shape and size of the application element every time a pen tip is inserted into a cap containing such an insert element, but rather the application element receiving recess already has the shape and size suitable for receiving the application element of this pen when or even before a pen is inserted into such a cap.

[0014] This results in essentially no or only minimal forces acting between the application element and the insert element when the applicator enters the applicator element's receiving recess, thus largely preventing deformation of the application element by the insert element. Furthermore, the defined shape of the insert element prevents the wetting of surface areas of the pen outside the application element with fluid. This makes the inventive design of a writing instrument particularly suitable for pens with application elements of comparatively low dimensional stability, such as pens with a brush-like application element, commonly referred to as a brush tip, or pens with a very thin application element, commonly referred to as a fineliner tip.

[0015] Nevertheless, in the writing instrument constructed according to the invention, the insert element, which is housed in the cap body and thus provided as a component separately from the cap body, is designed with such porosity that fluid can transfer from the application element to the insert element when the writing end of the pen is inserted into the cap. This ensures that, when the writing end is in the cap, the application element is surrounded by a fluid-filled body. The risk of the application element drying out or of particulate components of the fluid accumulating in the near-surface area of ​​the application element is thus eliminated.

[0016] It should be noted that, for the purposes of the present invention, a writing instrument comprises any device or pen capable of transferring fluid onto a surface in the form of writing or a drawing. If a body, such as the insert element, exhibits capillarity, this means, for the purposes of the present invention, that the body has a non-zero capillarity.

[0017] In order to protect, in particular, the area of ​​the application element, which is generally used to apply fluid to a surface, from drying out or from the accumulation of particulate components of the fluid, the application element can be in contact with the insert element at least in the area of ​​one application end of the application element when the writing end is contained in the cap.

[0018] Protection against drying out or the accumulation of particulate components of the fluid is particularly efficient when, with the writing end held in the cap, the application element is in contact with the insert element essentially over the area of ​​an entire application section of the application element extending outside the pen body.

[0019] To avoid contamination of the pen body in the writing area by fluid contained in the insert element, it is proposed that when the writing end is held in the cap, there be a gap-like space between the insert element and the pen body.

[0020] To prevent excessive fluid transfer into the insert element, it is proposed that the capillarity of the insert element for the fluid be smaller than the capillarity of the application element for the fluid.

[0021] If the fluid reservoir comprises a porous reservoir body, it is advantageous for sufficient impregnation of the insert element if the capillarity of the insert element for the fluid is greater than the capillarity of the reservoir body for the fluid.

[0022] A sufficiently large capacity for fluid absorption in the insert element can be achieved by making the entire insert element porous in such a way that it exhibits capillarity for the fluid.

[0023] To achieve the porosity required to provide capillarity, the insert element can be designed as a foam body, sintered body or fiber composite body.

[0024] The insert element can be made of polymer materials such as polyurethane, polyolefin, melamine resin, polyester, polyamide, or polyacetate. For the sustainable production of writing instruments, an alternative design is particularly advantageous if the insert element is made of renewable materials, such as plant fibers like cotton, hemp, sisal, wood, peat, or fungal mycelium, or animal fibers like wool or felt, or cellulose or cellulose products like cellulose acetate, viscose, or paper. Another alternative design allows the insert element to be made of inorganic materials, such as glass or glass wool, stone or rock wool, clay, or concrete.

[0025] To ensure a stable connection between the insert element, which is designed as a separate component, and the cap body, the insert element can be held in the cap body by force-fit, form-fit, or material-fit.

[0026] In a method for manufacturing a cap for such a writing instrument, it may be provided that the application element receiving recess is formed in the insert element: - before arranging the insert element in the cap body, or / and - when arranging the insert element in the cap body, or / and - after the insert element has been arranged in the cap body and before the writing end of a pen has been inserted into the cap for the first time.

[0027] Since this method manufactures a cap or insert element for such a cap in such a way that the applicator-receiving recess is already present before the pen is first inserted into the cap, while simultaneously ensuring that, once the pen is inserted into the cap, the capillary action of the insert element creates a fluidic atmosphere surrounding the surface of the applicator, this prevents excessively rapid aging of the pen by interacting with the applicator element. Furthermore, it prevents the applicator element from drying out, even with pens that have relatively small or less dimensionally stable applicators. Therefore, immediately after removing the pen from the cap, the pen or its applicator element, in its intended form, can be used to apply fluid to a surface.

[0028] Advantageously, in this method, essentially the entire insert element is provided with the porous material exhibiting capillarity for the fluid.

[0029] To create the porosity required for the capillary action of the insert element, the insert element can be provided as a foam body, sintered body, or fiber composite body. For this purpose, the aforementioned materials used in the insert element can be employed as starting materials in its manufacture, either as fibrous materials or as granular or foamable materials.

[0030] In the process for manufacturing a cap for a writing instrument, in order to achieve a sufficient but not excessive transfer of fluid into the insert element, the insert element can be provided in such a way that the capillarity of the insert element for the fluid is smaller than a capillarity of the application element of the pen to be received in the cap for the fluid and / or is larger than a capillarity of a reservoir body of the fluid reservoir of the pen to be received in the cap for the fluid.

[0031] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. These show: Fig. 1 a first embodiment of a writing instrument comprising a pen and an associated cap; Fig. 2 a writing end of the pen held in the cap; Fig. 3 one of the Fig. 1. A corresponding representation of an alternative design of a writing instrument; Fig. 4 another of the Fig. 1. A corresponding representation of an alternative design of a writing instrument; Fig. 5 another of the Fig. 1. A corresponding representation of an alternative design of a writing instrument.

[0032] In Fig. 1 is a writing instrument, generally designated by 10, that can be used to apply a fluid to a surface. Using the writing instrument 10, one can, for example, write on the surface or create a drawing.

[0033] The writing instrument 10 comprises a pen 12 for applying the fluid and a cap 16 to be placed on a writing end 14 of the pen 12, which protects an application element 18 of the pen 12 against physical impact and any damage that may result from it, and ensures that the pen 12 can be used to apply the fluid immediately after the cap 16 has been removed from the writing end 14.

[0034] The pin 12 comprises a tube-like pin body 20 elongated in the direction of a pin longitudinal axis S. A fluid reservoir 22 is arranged inside the pin body 20, in which the fluid to be applied by the pin 12 is stored. The fluid reservoir 22 comprises a porous reservoir body 23, which exhibits capillarity for the fluid to be stored in the pin, i.e., it absorbs the fluid, distributes it within its internal volume by capillary action, and thus stores it.

[0035] The application element 18, located at the writing end 14 of the pen 12, extends with a transmission section 24 in the pen body 20 in the region of the writing end 14 into the region of the reservoir body 23 and can, for example, be positioned to engage with it section by section. Since the application element 18 is also fundamentally designed with a porous structure exhibiting capillarity for the fluid stored in the pen 12, the application element 18 absorbs fluid from the reservoir body 23 through contact with it and distributes the fluid within its internal volume, so that the fluid also reaches the area of ​​an application section 26 of the application element 18 projecting beyond the pen body 20 at the writing end 14 of the pen 12, and thus in particular also the area of ​​an application end 28 of the application element 18. Through contact of the application section 26, orFluid can thus be transferred from the application end 28 to a surface, for example, a paper or whiteboard. To ensure reliable delivery of fluid from the reservoir body 23 to the application element 18, it is advantageous if the application element 18 has a greater capillarity for the fluid, i.e., a stronger tendency to absorb the fluid, than the reservoir body 23.

[0036] In the Fig. In the illustrated embodiment example, the application element 18 is designed as a so-called brush tip, i.e. as an application element which, at least in its application section 26, is comparatively soft and not very dimensionally stable and is therefore particularly suitable for creating drawings.

[0037] The cap 16 comprises a cap body 30 constructed of a fluid-impermeable material, for example, plastic, which is open at a receiving end 32 to receive the writing end 14 of the pen 12. An insert element, generally designated 34, is arranged in the cap body 30. The insert element 34 is essentially porous throughout its entire volume and exhibits capillarity for the fluid contained in the pen 12, so that the insert element 34, particularly through contact with the application element 18, can absorb fluid and distribute and thus store it within its internal volume by capillary action. Advantageously, the capillarity of the insert element 34 is lower than that of the application element 18 and higher than that of the reservoir body 23.

[0038] On the side of the insert element 34 facing the receiving end 32, an application element receiving recess 36, open towards the writing end 32, is formed in the insert element 34. The application element receiving recess 36 is shaped and dimensioned such that it essentially corresponds to the shape and dimensions of the application element 18. This means, in particular, that a length L1 of the application element receiving recess in the direction of the stylus longitudinal axis S essentially corresponds to a length L2 of the application section 26 of the application element 18 projecting beyond the stylus body 20 in the direction of the stylus longitudinal axis S.

[0039] When the writing end 14 of the pen 12 is inserted into the cap 16, the application element 18, with its application section 26, enters the application element receiving recess 36. Since the shape and dimensions of the application element receiving recess 36 essentially correspond to the shape and dimensions of the application element 18 in the area of ​​its application section 26, a planar contact is indeed established between the application element 18 and the insert element 34 in the area of ​​an inner surface 37 of the application element receiving recess 36 when the application section 26 is inserted into the receiving recess 36. However, essentially no forces that would cause deformation of the insert element 34 are transmitted between the application element 18 and the insert element 34. As a result, even undesired deformation of the comparatively soft, dimensionally unstable application element 18 does not occur.

[0040] The Fig. Figure 2 shows the writing end 14 of the pen 12, which is received in the cap 16. The applicator element 18, with its application section 26, is essentially completely received in the applicator element receiving recess 36, so that essentially the entire outer surface of the application section 26 is in contact with the insert element 34. Since the insert element 34 also exhibits capillary action for the fluid contained in the pen 20 or in the applicator element 18, fluid can be transferred from the application section 26 into the area surrounding it in the insert element 34 and distributed within the internal volume of the insert element 34 by capillary action. This ensures that, with the writing end 14 of the pen 12 received in the cap 16, the applicator element 18 is surrounded by a fluid-containing atmosphere essentially over the entire surface area of ​​the application section 26, or at least at the application end 28 used for applying fluid to a surface.The risk that the application element 18 will dry out in the area of ​​its application section 26, and especially in the area of ​​its application end 28, even if the pen 12 is not used for an extended period, is therefore eliminated. When the writing instrument 10 is stored with its application end 14 oriented downwards, coarser, particulate components contained in the fluid, such as pigments or resin particles, can move into the area of ​​the insert element 34, thus preventing the near-surface pores of the application element 18 from becoming clogged by such coarser or particulate components of the fluid.

[0041] The Fig. Figure 2 shows that when the writing end 14 of the pen 12 is completely enclosed in the cap 16, an axial gap 38 can exist between the insert element 34 and the pen body 20 or an axially oriented end face 40 thereof. By maintaining this gap-like gap 38, which is relatively small in relation to the length L2 of the application section 26, contact between the pen body 20 and the insert element 34 is avoided, thus preventing contamination of the pen body 20, for example, in the area of ​​its end face 40 or the end section thereof surrounding the application element 18.

[0042] It should be noted that the in Fig. The defined positioning of the pin 12 in the cap 16, as shown in Figure 2, can be achieved by stop formations acting between the pin body 20 and the cap body 30, which define the maximum immersion depth of the pin 12 in the cap 16 such that, on the one hand, the application element 18 is in the Fig. 2. The pin body 20 is in recognizable, flat contact with the insert element 34, while the gap-like space 38 is also maintained, without any force being transmitted between the insert element 34 and the application element 18 that would effect this defined positioning. In an alternative embodiment, in which the gap-like space 38 is omitted and the pin body 20 can rest with its end face 40 against the application aid element 34, the defined positioning of the pin 12 in the cap 16 can be generated by an axial contact interaction between the pin body 20 and the insert element 34, so that in this case too an axial load on the application element 18 can be avoided.

[0043] The insert element 34, which is dimensionally stable and permanently features the application element receiving recess 36, yet is porous and thus exhibits capillarity for the fluid, can be constructed, for example, as a foam body, sintered body, or composite fiber body made of polymer materials such as polyurethane, polyolefins, melamine resin, polyester, polyamide, or polyacetate. Alternatively, the insert element 34 can be constructed from renewable, natural materials, in particular fiber materials for the production of a fiber composite body. For this purpose, plant-based natural fibers such as cotton, hemp, sisal, peat, or fungal mycelium can be used. Alternatively, animal fibers such as wool or felt, or cellulose or cellulose products such as cellulose acetate, viscose, paper, and the like can be used. The use of inorganic or mineral materials such as glass, stone, clay, or concrete is also possible.

[0044] For the production of the insert element 34 as a sintered body, for example, glass granules with spherical glass particles can be baked together under pressure and temperature, so that a self-contained, porous structure is obtained, the porosity of which is designed in such a way that the required capillarity for the absorption of the fluid from the application section 26 of the application element 18 is achieved.

[0045] The application element receiving recess 36 can, for example, be formed into the insert element 34 with the desired shape and size by using appropriate molds during its manufacture. Alternatively, the insert element 34, with its inherently porous structure, can be manufactured without the application element receiving recess 36 or with a recess that is smaller in shape and / or size. The application element receiving recess 36 can then be produced with the desired shape and size, for example, using a suitable mandrel tool, once the insert element 34 is inserted into the cap body 30 or is already contained within it.

[0046] Since the subsequent introduction or widening of such a recess affects the porosity in the near-surface area of ​​the application element receiving recess 36, manufacturing the insert element 34 with the application element receiving recess 36 molded into it is particularly advantageous. Subsequent introduction or final shaping of the application element receiving recess 36 can be especially advantageous if one and the same insert element or base body is to be used in conjunction with different writing instruments or pens. The shape and size of the application element receiving recess 36 of the insert element 34, which, for example, has standardized external dimensions, can then be produced by a suitable mandrel tool if the insert element 34 is received, or already received, in a cap body 30 associated with a defined pen 12.

[0047] For stable positioning of the insert element 34 within the cap body 30, it can be held in place, for example, by frictional engagement within the cap body 30, such as by being pressed into it. Alternatively or additionally, protruding formations can be provided on the cap body 30, which, through positive locking interaction with the insert element 34 received within the cap body 30, reliably hold the insert element 34 within the cap body 30. Furthermore, it is also possible, alternatively or additionally, to position the insert element 34 stably within the cap body 30 by material bonding, for example, by adhesive bonding.

[0048] The Fig. Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a writing instrument 10, the pen of which has a very finely structured application element 18. Such pens are generally referred to as fineliners. To adequately support the application element 18, the pen body 13 can be designed at its writing end 14 with a support sleeve 42, for example made of metal.

[0049] In association with this very finely structured application element 18, a correspondingly shaped and dimensioned application element receiving recess 36 is formed in the insert element 34 arranged in the cap body 30 of the cap 16. This recess is also shaped and dimensioned such that, when the writing end 14 of the pen 12 is received in the cap 16, there is as full a contact area as possible between the insert element 34 and the application section 26 of the application element 18, but the latter rests at least in the area of ​​its application end 28 against the inner surface of the application element receiving recess 36.

[0050] In this configuration as well, the interaction between the stylus 12 and the cap 16 can be such that, when the writing end 14 is completely enclosed in the cap 16, the stylus body 20, in particular the support sleeve 42, does not touch the insert element 34, thus preventing any transfer of fluid contained therein to the stylus body 20. Alternatively, for example, if the consistency of the fluid prevents any risk of fluid transfer back to the stylus body 20 or of clearly recognizable contamination of the stylus body 20, the writing end 14 can be enclosed in the cap 16 in such a way that the stylus body 20, with its end face 40 formed in this case on the support sleeve 42, is in contact with the insert element 34.

[0051] The Fig. Figure 4 shows another alternative design of a writing instrument 10, in which the pen 12, for example, corresponds to the one in Fig. The pin 12 shown in Figure 3 corresponds to this. Complementary to the very finely dimensioned application element 18, the application element receiving recess 36 is formed in the insert element 34.

[0052] While in the previously described embodiments the insert element 34 is essentially cylindrical in its outer circumference, adapted to the shape of the cap body 30, the one in Fig. The insert element 34 is spherically shaped, making it particularly suitable for mounting by pressing it into the cap body 30. Since precise axial alignment of the application element receiving recess 36 already formed in the insert element 34 is difficult when inserting it into the cap body 30, it is particularly advantageous in this case if the application element receiving recess 36 is created or provided with its final shape and size during or after the insertion of the insert element 34 into the cap body 30.

[0053] In the preceding with reference to the Fig. In the writing instruments 10 described in 1 to 4, the application element 18 is essentially rotationally symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis S of the pen, at least in its application section 26 projecting beyond the pen body 20, so that the application element receiving recess 36 can also be correspondingly rotationally symmetrical.

[0054] The Fig. Figure 5 shows an embodiment in which the application element 18, in its application section 26 projecting beyond the pen body 20, is similar to the embodiments described in the Fig. 3 and Fig. The 4 illustrated designs generally have a cylindrical outer circumferential contour, for example with an essentially circular cross-section, but are designed with a wedge tip in the area of ​​which there is a structure that deviates from rotational symmetry.

[0055] To accommodate the non-rotationally symmetric shape of the application element 18, at least in its outermost end region of the application section 26, the application element receiving recess 36 could also be non-rotationally symmetric, at least in its base region, and have a shape complementary to that of the application section 26. This also ensures that there is essentially full-surface contact between the application element 18, or its application section 26, and the insert element 34 in the area of ​​the inner surface of the application element receiving recess 36.

[0056] However, since such a design requires the pin 12 to be positioned in a defined rotational position relative to the cap 16 in order to ensure that significant deformation and thus damage to the application element 18 is avoided when the application element 18 enters the application element receiving recess 36, it is necessary, for example by appropriately shaping the pin body 20 and / or the cap body 30, to ensure that the pin 12 can only be inserted into the cap 16 in a defined rotational position relative to it.

[0057] During a Fig.In the alternative embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, a pointed or conical projection 44 of the insert element 34 can be provided on a base area of ​​the application element receiving recess 36, the angle of inclination of which is complementary to the wedge angle of the application element 18. Since the application element receiving recess 36 can thus be designed rotationally symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis S of the pin, the pin 12 can be inserted into the cap 16 with its writing end 14 in any rotational position. This also ensures that the application element 18 is in contact with the surface of the insert element 34, particularly in the area of ​​its application end 28. While essentially the entire outer circumferential surface of the application section 26 is or can be in contact with the insert element 34, a portion of a wedge surface 46 formed on the application section 26 is not in contact with the insert element 34.However, since this is a surface area which, with such a wedge-shaped design of the application element 18, is generally not used for applying fluid to a surface, the functionality of the insert element 34 for ensuring that the pin 12 can be used for applying fluid, in particular with its application end 28, immediately after being removed from the cap 16, is not impaired.

[0058] The design of a writing instrument constructed according to the invention, with a receptacle for the ink element permanently formed in an insert element and not created by an ink element of a pen in a cap, ensures, on the one hand, that the interaction of the ink element with the insert element does not impair the shape of the insert element, particularly in the case of a very fine design of the ink element. On the other hand, the porous structure of the insert element, which exhibits capillary action, ensures that it can absorb fluid from the pen and store it within its internal volume, thus preventing the ink element from drying out, especially when the pen is held in the cap and oriented upwards.On the other hand, an accumulation of particulate components of the fluid leading to a clogging of the pore structure can be avoided if a writing instrument is stored with the application element oriented essentially downwards, since particulate components of the fluid can enter the pore structure of the insert element under the influence of gravity and also due to the capillarity of the insert element. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 3,502,417

[0007] US 5,176,460

[0008]

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