Fountain pen with refillable container

Abstract

The invention relates to a fountain pen (1) comprising a writing device (4) that is translatably movable inside the pen body (2) between a writing position and a position in which the fountain pen (1) is closed, the fountain pen (1) also including a locking column (25) attached to the pen body (2) and passing through the container (6), a head (28) of the locking column (25) bearing against a mouth of the channel (24) in the closed position of the fountain pen (1) and being set back from the mouth of the channel (24) in the writing position, and a resilient element (26) urging the writing device (4) towards the front of the fountain pen (1) in the writing position, the cap (3) comprising a sleeve (35) configured to push the writing device (4) back towards the rear of the fountain pen (1) when the cap (3) is closed.

Description

Description Title of the invention: Fountain pen with refillable reservoir Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a fountain pen with a refillable reservoir. Technical background

[0002] Some fountain pens have a refillable reservoir integrated into the pen body, eliminating the need for ink cartridges. There are several ways to refill the reservoir with ink. Most are refilled by submerging the nib in an inkwell. A removable reservoir system, called a converter, is manually operated to create a vacuum that forces the ink back into the reservoir through the nib. This converter can be used in place of an ink cartridge.

[0003] The pen body is also sometimes used directly as a reservoir. This integrated system significantly increases the ink storage capacity compared to that of a cartridge.

[0004] When you want to fill the reservoir, you usually turn a tip at the back of the fountain pen to extend a piston, then turn the tip in the opposite direction to retract the piston and draw ink back into the reservoir while the nib is immersed in the inkwell.

[0005] Filling with the nib requires the nib to be completely immersed in the inkwell and then cleaned of excess ink, which can risk staining the user's hands. Another problem with having to completely immerse the nib for refilling is that it is difficult to completely empty the inkwell. This results in possible ink waste.

[0006] There are also fountain pens that can be completely opened at the writing element, the reservoir can then be directly refilled with ink, for example by means of a dropper or a syringe. The reservoir then has a very large ink storage capacity because, without an on-board mechanical filling device, it can take the entire available volume of the body of the fountain pen. These fountain pens can however present a more pronounced risk of ink leaks due in particular to the expansion of the air contained in the reservoir in relation to changes in temperature or air pressure depending on the altitude. To best avoid the risk of leaks, some models of fountain pen are equipped with a system for closing the ink supply to the writing system. It is necessary to manually unlock this closing system, by unscrewing the button located on the back of the fountain pen body, to be able to use the pen. A disadvantage of this is that the user must not forget to screw this button back in order to lock the ink supply. Without this, the risk of leaks can be very high. Summary of the invention

[0007] One of the aims of the present invention is to provide a fountain pen offering a large ink storage capacity while avoiding the risk of ink leaks.

[0008] To this end, the subject of the invention is a fountain pen comprising a pen body, a cap and a writing device comprising a refillable reservoir and a writing element fixed to the reservoir and capable of being supplied with ink by the reservoir via a channel interposed between the reservoir and the writing element, characterized in that the writing device is movable in translation in the pen body between a writing position and a closed position of the fountain pen, the fountain pen further comprising a locking column fixed to the pen body and passing through the reservoir, a head of the locking column bearing against a mouth of the channel in the closed position of the fountain pen and being set back from the mouth of the channel in the writing position, the fountain pen comprising an elastic element urging the writing device towards the front of the fountain pen in the writing position,the cap comprising a socket configured to push the writing device toward the rear of the fountain pen upon closing the cap, so that the head of the locking column closes the channel and blocks the supply of ink to the writing element, removal of the cap releasing the writing device toward the front of the fountain pen so that the locking column moves away from the channel, allowing the passage of ink from the reservoir to the writing element.,

[0009] Closing the cap automatically locks the reservoir tightly when the fountain pen is not in use. The mobility of the reservoir and the writing element allows this locking by the action of closing the cap on the pen body. The user does not need to ask questions: when the cap is closed, the ink supply to the writing element is locked. The risk of ink leaks is therefore reduced, or even eliminated. The reservoir locks in a simple and natural way, without the user even having to think about it. This automatic locking system reduces, or even eliminates, the risk of ink leaks from the fountain pen, even though it can have a large capacity.

[0010] The fountain pen may further include one or more of the features described below, taken alone or in combination.

[0011] The reservoir and writing element can be removably attached together, for example by screwing, to allow the reservoir to be refilled with ink. This method of filling the fountain pen with ink is easy to use and clean. It also allows the reservoir to have a large capacity.

[0012] The writing device may include a first O-ring seal interposed between the writing element and the reservoir.

[0013] The fountain pen may have a second O-ring seal interposed between the reservoir and the head of the locking column in the closed position.

[0014] The fountain pen may have a third O-ring seal interposed between the reservoir and a tail of the locking column.

[0015] The first O-ring and / or the second O-ring and / or the third O-ring are for example made of silicone.

[0016] According to an exemplary embodiment, a reservoir cap and a holding member of the pen body comprise complementary coupling means of the slide type for indexing the writing device with the pen body. The cap has, for example, a cylindrical portion truncated by two mutually parallel planar faces and the holding member has a complementary slide. It is thus possible to index the orientation of visible external elements of the pen body with elements of the writing device, such as for example to align decorative elements or a window of the pen body with the orientation of the nib, for example so that the ink level in the reservoir can be seen through the window while the user is writing.

[0017] It may be provided that a tail of the locking column and a cap of the reservoir have complementary conical bearing surfaces forming a stop for retaining the writing device in the pen body in the writing position. The stops are for example provided in an annular bead of the tail and around an inlet orifice of a cylindrical housing of the cap in which the tail can slide.

[0018] The cap and the pen body are, for example, configured to cooperate by screwing. Brief description of the figures

[0019] Other advantages and characteristics will appear on reading the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, but in no way limiting, as well as the appended drawings in which:

[0020] [Fig. 1] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a fountain pen in the closed position.

[0021] [Fig. 2] Figure 2 shows the fountain pen of Figure 1 in the writing position.

[0022] [Fig. 3A] Figure 3A shows a writing device of the fountain pen of Figure 1.

[0023] [Fig. 3B] Figure 3B shows an exploded view of the writing device of Figure 3A.

[0024] [Fig. 4A] Figure 4A shows elements of the fountain pen of Figure 1.

[0025] [Fig. 4B] Figure 4B shows an exploded view of the elements of Figure 4A.

[0026] [Fig. 5A] Figure 5A shows another view of the fountain pen cap of Figure 1.

[0027] [Fig. 5B] Figure 5B shows an exploded view of the cap of Figure 5A.

[0028] [Fig. 6A] Figure 6A shows a longitudinal sectional view of the fountain pen of Figure 1 in the closed position.

[0029] [Fig. 6B] Figure 6B shows the fountain pen of Figure 6A in the writing position.

[0030] [Fig. 7A] Figure 7A shows an enlarged view of a detail of the fountain pen of Figure 6A in the closed position.

[0031] [Fig. 7B] Figure 7B shows the fountain pen of Figure 7A in the writing position.

[0032] [Fig. 8A] Figure 8A shows an enlarged view of a detail of the fountain pen of Figure 7A in the closed position.

[0033] [Fig. 8B] Figure 8B shows the fountain pen of Figure 8A in the writing position.

[0034] In these figures, identical elements have the same reference numbers. Detailed description

[0035] The following embodiments are examples. Although the description refers to one or more embodiments, this does not necessarily mean that each reference relates to the same embodiment, or that the features apply only to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined or interchanged to provide other embodiments.

[0036] In the description, certain elements can be indexed, for example first element or second element. In this case, it is a simple indexing to differentiate and name elements that are close but not identical. This indexing does not imply a priority of one element over another and such names can easily be interchanged without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0037] The front of the fountain pen is defined as the side of the nib.

[0038] The longitudinal direction is defined as the main direction in which the fountain pen extends.

[0039] Figures 1 and 2 show an example of a fountain pen 1.

[0040] The fountain pen 1 comprises a pen body 2, a cap 3 and a writing device 4 partly received in the pen body 2.

[0041] The pen body 2 comprises a tube 5 adapted to receive a part of the writing device 4, in particular the reservoir 6 (Figures 3A, 3B). The tube 5 is closed at a rear end of the pen 1, for example by means of a rear end piece 7 fixed to the tube 5. The pen body 2 also comprises a ring 8 at the open end of the tube 5, configured to cooperate with the cap 3, for example by screwing.

[0042] The cap 3 is adapted to receive and protect the part of the writing device 4 emerging from the pen body 2 when the fountain pen 1 is closed, in particular the writing element 10. The cap 3 comprises a tube 9 closed at a front end of the pen 1, for example by a front end piece 12.

[0043] The cap 3 also includes a ring 13 at the open end of the tube 9, configured to cooperate with the body of the pen 2, for example by screwing. The interior of the ring 13 of the cap 3 is for example threaded and configured to cooperate with the threaded ring 8 of the pen body 2 to close the fountain pen 1.

[0044] The cap 3 may also include a clip 14, one end of which is for example fixed to the tube 9, near the front end piece 12.

[0045] As best seen in Figures 3A and 3B, the writing device 4 comprises the ink-refillable reservoir 6 and the writing element 10 attached to the reservoir 6.

[0046] The writing element 10 comprises a nib 15 and a sheath 16 receiving the nib 15 and forming a part that can be grasped by the user.

[0047] The reservoir 6 comprises a tube 17 received in the tube 5 of the pen body 2. The tube 17 of the reservoir 6 is for example transparent and for example made of thermoplastic polymer material, such as PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate).

[0048] The pen body 2 may comprise at least one window 18 making it possible to view the ink level in the at least partially transparent reservoir 6. Two oblong windows 18, elongated in the longitudinal direction of the fountain pen 1 and diametrically opposed, are for example provided in the tube 5 of the pen body 2.

[0049] The tube 17 of the reservoir 6 is closed at one end located at the rear of the pen 1, by a cap 19 of the reservoir 6 (figures 3A and 3B). The cap 19 is fixed to the tube 17 for example by screwing a threaded collar 20 of the cap 19 into a tapped part of the tube 17 (figures 3B, 4A, 4B).

[0050] The reservoir 6 extends into the pen body 2, which allows it to have a large capacity, such as greater than or equal to 4ml, such as for example between 4ml and 6ml, that is to say of the order of at least three to seven times the capacity of a conventional ink cartridge.

[0051] The reservoir 6 and the writing element 10 are advantageously fixed together in a removable manner, for example by screwing, which makes it possible to open the writing device 4 to refill the reservoir 6 with ink directly at the front of the reservoir 6, for example by means of a dropper, a syringe or any other external means. This means of filling the fountain pen 1 with ink is easy to use and clean. It also allows the reservoir 6 to have a large capacity because it has no on-board converter. For this, for example, the sheath 16 of the writing element 10 comprises a threaded collar 21 which is inserted by screwing into a threaded part of the tube 17 of the reservoir 6 (Figures 3B, 7A).

[0052] The writing device 4 may comprise a first O-ring seal 22 interposed between the writing element 10 and the reservoir 6. The O-ring seal 22 is for example arranged in an annular groove formed in the sheath 16, for example between an annular shoulder 23 of the sheath 16 against which the tube 17 of the reservoir 6 abuts, and the threaded collar 21 (figures 8A, 8B).

[0053] The writing element 10 can be supplied with ink by the reservoir 6 via a channel 24 interposed between the reservoir 6 and the writing element 10. More precisely, the channel 24 is interposed between a conduit of the writing element 10 connected to the end of the nib 15 and the reservoir 6. This channel 24 is for example arranged in the sheath 16.

[0054] Furthermore, the writing device 4 is movable in translation in the pen body 2 in the longitudinal direction between a writing position, i.e. when the fountain pen 1 is open and can be used for writing, and a closed position of the fountain pen 1, i.e. when the cap 3 is mounted on the pen body 2 covering the writing element 10. More precisely, the tube 17 of the writing device 4 can slide in the tube 5 of the pen body 2.

[0055] As best seen in Figures 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B, the fountain pen 1 further comprises a locking column 25 and an elastic element 26 urging the writing device 4 towards the front of the fountain pen 1 into the writing position.

[0056] The locking column 25 is fixed to the pen body 2 and passes through the reservoir 6. More precisely, it comprises a rod 27 extending into the reservoir 6, a head 28 of which comes to bear against a mouth of the channel 24 in the closed position of the fountain pen 1 (figures 6A, 7A and 8A) and is set back from the mouth of the channel 24 in the writing position (figures 6B, 7B and 8B).

[0057] A tail 29 of the locking column 25 passes through the cap 19 of the reservoir 6 (figure 6A). The cap 19 of the reservoir 6 and the tail 29 have complementary cylindrical shapes allowing the sliding of the reservoir 6 to be guided. The end 30 of the tail 29 is fixed, for example by screwing, in a holding member 31 of the pen body 2. The holding member 31 is itself fixed to the tube 5 of the pen body 2 and / or to the rear end piece 7 or it can be made in one piece with the rear end piece 7 fixed to the tube 5.

[0058] To ensure the correct angular positioning of the writing device 4 in the pen body 2 during assembly, the cap 19 of the reservoir 6 and the pen body 2, in particular the holding member 31, may comprise complementary coupling means of the slide type 32, 33 for indexing the writing device 4. These complementary coupling means make it possible to block the rotation of the writing device 4 in the pen body 2 while allowing translation in the longitudinal direction between the writing and closing positions.

[0059] Here, for example, the cap 19 has a cylindrical portion truncated by two plane faces 32 parallel to each other, opposite the threaded collar 20 (figures 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B). The holding member 31 has a complementary slide 33 (figures 4A, 4B) allowing the writing device 4 to slide in the pen body 2 in the longitudinal direction with a single possibility of angular orientation.

[0060] Other embodiments are possible, in particular the plug 19 may have more flat faces 32, such as a notched shape having several radial flat faces or it may have a triangular section or the slide 33 may be provided in the plug 19 and the complementary flat faces 32 in the holding member 31.

[0061] It is thus possible to index the orientation of visible external elements of the pen body 2 with elements of the writing device 4, such as for example to align decorative elements of the pen body 2 or a window 18 with the orientation of the nib 15, for example so that the ink level can be seen through a window 18 while the user is writing.

[0062] The elastic element 26, such as a spring, urging the writing device 4 towards the front of the fountain pen 1 in the writing position, is for example interposed between two opposite stops carried by the holding member 31 and the cap 19 (FIGS. 4A, 4B). It is for example arranged around the truncated cylindrical part of the cap 19.

[0063] The tail 29 of the locking column 25 and the cap 19 of the reservoir 6 may have complementary conical bearing surfaces forming a stop for retaining the writing device 4 in the pen body 2 in the writing position. The stops are for example provided in an annular bead 34 of the tail 29 and around an inlet orifice of the cylindrical housing of the cap 19 in which the tail 29 slides (FIG. 7A).

[0064] The stiffness of the elastic element 26 and the locking column 25, in particular the positioning of the stop of the locking column 25 and the length of the column 25, are for example configured to allow a movement of the writing device 4 in the pen body 2 of between 1 mm and 3 mm, such as 2 mm between the closed position and the writing position.

[0065] The cap 3 further comprises a sleeve 35, arranged inside the tube 9 and configured to push the writing device 4 towards the rear of the fountain pen 1 when the cap 3 is closed so that the head 28 of the locking column 25 closes the channel 24 and blocks the ink supply to the writing element 10 (FIGS. 5A, 5B).

[0066] The sleeve 35 is for example formed by a cylinder fixed to the tube 9. The sleeve 35 is for example made of polymer material, such as POM (polyoxymethylene). The sleeve 35 is configured to press on the writing device 4 when the cap 3 is screwed onto the pen body 2, and in particular for example on the annular shoulder 23 of the sheath 16, opposite the tube 17 of the reservoir 6. To facilitate the pressing of the cap 3 on the writing device 4, the annular shoulder 23 of the sheath 16 and the sleeve 35 may have complementary conical bearing surfaces.

[0067] The fountain pen 1 may comprise a second O-ring seal 36 interposed between the reservoir 6 and the head 28 of the locking column 25 in the closed position, to close the channel 24 in a sealed manner (FIG. 7A). This second O-ring seal 36 may be received in an annular groove formed in the head 28 of the locking column 25, for example in an annular shoulder of the head 28 cooperating with a chamfer formed in an annular shoulder of the channel 24, or in a mouth of the channel 24.

[0068] The fountain pen 1 may include a third O-ring seal 37 interposed between the cap 19 of the reservoir 6 and the tail 29 of the locking column 25 to allow the reservoir 6 to slide in a sealed manner. This third O-ring seal 37 may be received in an annular groove formed in the tail 29 of the locking column 25 or in the complementary cylindrical housing of the cap 19.

[0069] The first O-ring 22 and / or the second O-ring 36 and / or the third O-ring 37 are for example made of silicone.

[0070] In use, when the fountain pen 1 is open, the elastic element 26 urges the writing device 4 towards the front of the fountain pen 1, the reservoir 6 coming into abutment against the annular bead 34 of the locking column 25. The ink contained in the reservoir 6 can flow into the channel 24 passing around the head 28 of the locking column 25 to reach the writing element 10 (figures 6B, 7B, 8B).

[0071] At the end of use, when the cap 3 is screwed onto the pen body 2 to close the fountain pen 1, the sleeve 35 of the cap 3 pushes the writing device 4 towards the rear of the fountain pen 1 by pressing on the sleeve 16 of the writing device 4. At the rear of the fountain pen 1, the reservoir 6 moves back towards the rear endpiece 7 by guiding the cap 19 of the reservoir 6 along the tail 29. The movement back of the writing device 4 brings the channel 24 closer to the head 28 of the locking column 25 until the channel 24 is sealed by pressing the mouth of the channel 24 on the second O-ring seal 36 carried by the head 28 of the locking column 25, which blocks the ink supply to the writing element 10 (Figures 6A, 7A, 8A).

[0072] When opening the fountain pen 1, removing the cap 3 releases the writing device 4 towards the front of the fountain pen 1 up to the stop of the locking column 25, which moves the locking column 25 away from the channel 24 and allows the passage of ink from the reservoir 6 to the writing element 10.

[0073] It is understood that closing the cap 3 causes the reservoir 6 to be automatically sealed when the fountain pen 1 is not in use. The mobility of the reservoir 6 and the writing element 10 allows this locking by the closing action of the cap 3 on the pen body 2. The user does not need to ask any questions: when the cap 3 is closed, the ink supply to the writing element 10 is locked. The risk of ink leaks is therefore reduced, or even eliminated. The reservoir 6 is locked in a simple and natural way, without the user even having to think about it. This automatic locking system makes it possible to reduce, or even eliminate, the risk of ink leaks from the fountain pen 1 whereas this can have a large capacity. Filling the reservoir 6 by dropper or syringe or other, directly in the reservoir 6 which can be detached from the writing element 10 also makes it possible to refill the reservoir 6 with ink properly.

Claims

DEMANDS

1. Fountain pen (1) comprising: - a pen body (2), - a cap (3), - a writing device (4) comprising: a refillable reservoir (6), a writing element (10) fixed to the reservoir (6) and capable of being supplied with ink by the reservoir (6) via a channel (24) interposed between the reservoir (6) and the writing element (10), characterized in that: - the writing device (4) is mobile in translation within the pen body (2) between a writing position and a closed position of the fountain pen (1), - the fountain pen (1) further comprising: a locking column (25) fixed to the pen body (2) and passing through the reservoir (6), a head (28) of the locking column (25) bearing against an opening of the channel (24) in the closed position of the fountain pen (1) and being recessed from the opening of the channel (24) in the writing position, an elastic element (26) urging the writing device (4) towards the front of the fountain pen (1) in the writing position, - the cap (3) having a sleeve (35) configured to push the writing device (4) towards the rear of the fountain pen (1) when the cap (3) is closed, so that the head (28) of the locking column (25) closes the channel (24) and blocks the ink supply to the writing element (10), - the removal of the cap (3) releasing the writing device (4) towards the front of the fountain pen (1) so that the locking column (25) moves away from the channel (24), allowing the passage of ink from the reservoir (6) to the writing element (10).

2. Fountain pen (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the reservoir (6) and the writing element (10) are fixed together in a removable manner so as to be able to refill the reservoir (6) with ink.

3. Fountain pen (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the writing device (4) includes a first toroidal sealing ring (22) interposed between the writing element (10) and the reservoir (6).

4. Fountain pen (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a second toroidal seal (36) interposed between the reservoir (6) and the head (28) of the locking column (25) in the closed position.

5. Fountain pen (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a third toroidal seal (37) interposed between the reservoir (6) and a tail (29) of the locking column (25).

6. Fountain pen (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the first O-ring seal (22) and / or the second O-ring seal (36) and / or the third O-ring seal (37) are made of silicone.

7. Fountain pen (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a cap (19) of the reservoir (6) and a retaining member (31) of the pen body (2) comprise complementary sliding-type coupling means (32, 33) for indexing the writing device (4) with the pen body (2).

8. Fountain pen (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the cap (19) has a cylindrical portion truncated by two parallel flat faces (32) and the retaining member (31) has a complementary slide (33).

9. Fountain pen (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a tail (29) of the locking column (25) and a cap (19) of the reservoir (6) have complementary conical bearing surfaces forming a stop to retain the writing device (4) in the pen body (2) in the writing position.

10. Fountain pen (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the stops are provided in an annular ridge (34) of the tail (29) and around an inlet orifice of a cylindrical housing of the cap (19) in which the tail (29) slides.

11. Fountain pen (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cap (3) and the pen body (2) are configured to cooperate by screwing.

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