Plug structure, liquid cartridge, and writing instrument

Abstract

To provide a plug structure, a liquid cartridge, and a writing instrument.SOLUTION: Provided is a writing instrument provided with: a pen tube; a liquid guide housed in the pen tube; a tail sleeve removably connected to the pen tube; and a liquid cartridge including a container having an opening, and a plug structure provided in the container, housed in the tail sleeve and extending into the pen tube. The plug structure includes: a lid body portion; an elastic connecting portion connected to the lid body portion on a side away from the opening of the lid body portion and having at least one cut-out portion; and an annular wall portion connected to the elastic connection portion and surrounding the lid body portion, in which a ring-shaped gap communicating with the cut-out portion is formed between the side surface of the lid body portion and the annular wall portion, and the liquid guide is pressed against the lid body portion to open the ring-shaped gap.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a plug structure, a liquid cartridge, and a gel ink writing instrument.

Background Art

[0002] A gel ink writing instrument has a liquid cartridge for storing ink. During writing, the refill is pressed to open the valve, and the ink in the liquid cartridge can be guided through the valve to the water supply body and supplied to the refill, thereby providing writing with the refill. A well-known water supply body is usually a sponge sleeve body, which is sleeved outside the refill. The sponge sleeve body communicates with the ink chamber through an ink valve, adsorbs the ink in the ink chamber, and then supplies it to the refill for writing.

[0003] However, when the ink runs out and it is necessary to replace the liquid cartridge, since there is no sealing structure at the opening of the existing liquid cartridge, liquid leakage is likely to occur when taking it out. When liquid leakage is not desired, it is necessary to take out the liquid cartridge with the opening facing upward, which only increases the inconvenience for the user when replacing the liquid cartridge.

[0004] Therefore, how to propose a plug structure, a liquid cartridge, and a gel ink writing instrument that can solve the above problems is currently one of the problems that the industry is trying to solve by investing research and development resources.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] In view of this, an object of the present disclosure is to propose a plug structure, a liquid cartridge, and a writing instrument that can solve the above problems.

[0006] To achieve the above object, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a plug structure includes a lid portion, an elastic connection portion connected to the lid portion and having at least one through-hole portion, and an annular wall portion connected to the elastic connection portion, surrounding the lid portion, and configured to form an annular gap communicating with the through-hole portion between the annular wall portion and the side surface of the lid portion and to abut against the side surface to seal the annular gap.

[0007] In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the annular wall portion has at least one annular flange located on the inner wall surface of the annular wall portion and is configured to abut against the side surface of the lid portion with the annular flange.

[0008] In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the lid portion is configured to be pressed to deform the elastic connection portion and further separate the annular flange from the side surface of the lid portion to open the annular gap.

[0009] In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, there are a plurality of through-hole portions, the elastic connection portion includes a plurality of connection columns, both ends of each connection column are respectively connected to the lid portion and the annular wall portion, and the through-hole portions and the connection columns are alternately arranged annularly.

[0010] In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the elastic connection portion includes an engagement sheet engaged with the bottom surface of the lid portion.

[0011] In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the elastic connection portion and the annular wall portion form a single structure.

[0012] In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the hardness of the lid portion is greater than the hardness of the annular wall portion.

[0013] In order to achieve the above object, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a liquid cartridge including: a container having an opening; a lid portion; an elastic connection portion connected to the lid portion on a side away from the opening of the lid portion and having at least one through-hole portion; an annular wall portion connected to the elastic connection portion, surrounding the lid portion, having an annular gap communicating with the through-hole portion formed between the annular wall portion and the side surface of the lid portion, and being sandwiched between the inner pipe surface of the container and the side surface of the lid portion to seal the annular gap; and a plug structure provided in the container.

[0014] In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the annular wall portion has at least one annular flange located on the outer wall surface of the annular wall portion and contacting the inner pipe surface of the container.

[0015] In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, there is a constricted step portion on the inner pipe surface of the container, and the plug structure is engaged with the constricted step portion.

[0016] In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the diameter of the container gradually decreases from the opening toward the constricted step portion.

[0017] In order to achieve the above object, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a writing instrument including: a pen tube; a liquid guide accommodated in the pen tube; a tail sleeve removably connected to the pen tube; a container having an opening; a lid portion; an elastic connection portion connected to the lid portion on a side away from the opening of the lid portion and having at least one through-hole portion; an annular wall portion connected to the elastic connection portion, surrounding the lid portion, having an annular gap communicating with the through-hole portion formed between the annular wall portion and the side surface of the lid portion, and the liquid guide pressing against the lid portion to open the annular gap; and a plug structure provided in the container, and further including a liquid cartridge accommodated in the tail sleeve and extending into the pen tube.

[0018] As described above, in the plug structure of the present disclosure, the lid portion and the annular wall portion are connected via an elastic connection portion. When the plug structure is attached inside the container of the liquid cartridge, the annular gap formed between the side surface of the lid portion and the annular wall portion is clamped between the inner tube surface of the container and the side surface of the lid portion, thereby sealing the annular gap. When the liquid cartridge is mounted in the writing instrument, the liquid guide of the writing instrument presses against the lid portion and elastically deforms the elastic connection portion, thereby opening the annular gap, enabling the liquid in the liquid cartridge to flow through the plug structure to the pen tip and allowing writing. When the liquid cartridge is removed from the writing instrument, the liquid guide is separated from the lid portion, thereby elastically restoring the elastic connection portion and closing the annular gap. This can effectively avoid the problem of liquid leakage when replacing the liquid cartridge.

[0019] The above is only for explaining the problems to be solved by the present disclosure, the technical solutions for solving the problems, and the resulting effects, etc. The specific details of the present disclosure will be introduced in detail in the following embodiments and related drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] In order to make the above and other objects, features, advantages and embodiments of the present disclosure clearer and easier to understand, the description of the accompanying drawings is as follows.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed in the drawings. For the sake of clear explanation, many practical details are described in conjunction with the following description. However, it should be understood that these practical details should not be used to limit the present disclosure. That is, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, these practical details are not necessary. Also, for the purpose of simplifying the drawings, some well-known and commonly used structures and elements are shown simply and schematically in the drawings.

[0022] Refer to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a gel ink writing instrument 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the gel ink writing instrument 100 in FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the gel ink writing instrument 100 includes a pen tube 110, a liquid guide 120, a tail sleeve 130, a liquid cartridge 200, a water supply body 140, a pen tip 150, and a pen cap 160. The liquid guide 120 is housed inside the pen tube 110. The tail sleeve 130 is removably connected to the pen tube 110. The liquid cartridge 200 is housed inside the tail sleeve 130 and extends into the pen tube 110. The liquid cartridge 200 is configured to store a liquid (for example, ink, pigment, etc.). The water supply body 140 is housed inside the pen tube 110 and is located on the side away from the liquid cartridge 200 of the liquid guide 120. The liquid guide 120 is configured to guide the liquid in the liquid cartridge 200 to the water supply body 140. The pen tip 150 is provided at the end of the pen tube 110 away from the tail sleeve 130 and penetrates into the pen tube 110 to communicate fluidly with the water supply body 140. The water supply body 140 is configured to adsorb the liquid in the liquid cartridge 200 and uniformly distribute the liquid inside it, so that the liquid can be uniformly provided to the pen tip 150. The pen cap 160 is removably connected to the end of the pen tube 110 away from the tail sleeve 130 and is configured to cover the pen tip 150 so as not to expose it.

[0023] In some embodiments, the water supply body 140 is a foam, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0024] Refer to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a perspective cross-sectional view showing the plug structure 220 in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a perspective cross-sectional view showing the liquid cartridge 200 in FIG. 2. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, in the present embodiment, the liquid cartridge 200 includes a container 210 and a plug structure 220. The container 210 has an opening 211. The opening 211 faces the liquid guide 120. The plug structure 220 is provided in the container 210 and includes a lid portion 221, an elastic connection portion 222, and an annular wall portion 223. The elastic connection portion 222 is connected to the lid portion 221 on the side away from the opening 211 of the lid portion 221 and has at least one cutout portion 222a. The annular wall portion 223 is connected to the elastic connection portion 222 and surrounds the lid portion 221. An annular gap G is formed between the side surface 221a of the lid portion 221 and the annular wall portion 223 and communicates with the cutout portion 222a of the elastic connection portion 222. The annular wall portion 223 is configured to abut against the side surface 221a of the lid portion 221 to seal the annular gap G.

[0025] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the annular wall portion 223 of the plug structure 220 is sandwiched between the inner tube surface 212 of the container 210 and the side surface 221a of the lid portion 221 to seal the annular gap G. At this time, the liquid accommodated in the container 210 cannot flow out from the opening 211 of the container 210 through the plug structure 220. On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 3, when the plug structure 220 is not provided in the container 210, the annular wall portion 223 in the natural state where it is not pressed is separated from the lid portion 221, thereby opening the annular gap G.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the present embodiment, the annular wall portion 223 has an annular flange 223a1. The annular flange 223a1 is located on the inner wall surface 223a of the annular wall portion 223. The annular wall portion 223 is configured to abut against the side surface 221a of the lid portion 221 with the annular flange 223a1. Due to the design of the annular flange 223a1, the contact area between the annular wall portion 223 and the lid portion 221 can be reduced and concentrated, and the contact pressure in this contact area can be increased, thereby improving the airtight effect.

[0027] In some embodiments, in order to further improve the airtight effect between the annular wall portion 223 and the lid portion 221, the hardness of the lid portion 221 is made greater than the hardness of the annular wall portion 223. Since the hard lid portion 221 is less likely to deform when abutting against the soft annular wall portion 223, the incomplete sealing of the annular gap G can be effectively avoided.

[0028] In some embodiments, the lid portion 221 is made of a hard material such as, for example, metal or a hard plastic material, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the annular wall portion 223 is made of a soft material such as, for example, a soft plastic material or rubber, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the present embodiment, there are a plurality of through portions 222a of the elastic connection portion 222. The elastic connection portion 222 includes a plurality of connection columns 222b. Both ends of each connection column 222b are connected to the lid portion 221 and the annular wall portion 223, respectively. The connection columns 222b and the through portions 222a are alternately arranged in an annular shape.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the present embodiment, both the number of through portions 222a of the elastic connection portion 222 and the number of connection columns 222b are three, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In actual applications, the number of through portions 222a and the number of connection columns 222b can be elastically increased or decreased according to the desired elasticity of the elastic connection portion 222.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in this embodiment, the elastic connection portion 222 further includes an engagement sheet 222c. The same ends of the connection posts 222b are connected to the engagement sheet 222c. The engagement sheet 222c is engaged with the bottom surface of the lid portion 221. Thereby, the elastic connection portion 222 may be stably connected by the lid portion 221.

[0032] In some embodiments, the elastic connection portion 222 and the annular wall portion 223 form a single structure. In other words, the elastic connection portion 222 and the annular wall portion 223 may be made of the same or different materials, for example, by an injection molding process. Thereby, just by connecting the lid portion 221 and the elastic connection portion 222, the assembly of the plug structure 220 can be completed.

[0033] In actual applications, both the lid portion 221, the elastic connection portion 222, and the annular wall portion 223 can also form a single structure. In other words, the lid portion 221, the elastic connection portion 222, and the annular wall portion 223 may be made of the same or different materials, for example, by an injection molding process. At this time, the above-mentioned engagement sheet 222c of the elastic connection portion 222 can be omitted.

[0034] In some embodiments, the inner tube surface 212 of the container 210 has a constricted step portion 212a. The plug structure 220 is engaged with the constricted step portion 212a. During assembly, the plug structure 220 can be continuously moved inward from the opening 211 of the container 210 until it is engaged with the constricted step portion 212a. As can be seen from the above, the constricted step portion 212a can achieve the function of positioning the plug structure 220.

[0035] In some embodiments, the diameter of the container 210 gradually decreases from the opening 211 towards the constricted step portion 212a. Therefore, while the plug structure 220 is continuously moved inward from the opening 211 of the container 210 to the constricted step portion 212a, the annular wall portion 223 is gradually pushed towards the lid portion 221 by the inner tube surface 212 of the container 210, further continuously improving the airtightness of the annular gap G.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 3, please also refer to FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the annular wall portion 223 of the plug structure 220 further has at least one annular flange 223b1. The annular flange 223b1 is located on the outer wall surface 223b of the annular wall portion 223 and abuts against the inner tube surface 212 of the container 210. The annular wall portion 223 is configured to abut against the inner tube surface 212 of the container 210 with the annular flange 223b1. Due to the design of the annular flange 223b1, the contact area between the annular wall portion 223 and the container 210 can be reduced and concentrated, and the contact pressure of this contact area can be increased, thereby improving the airtight effect. And since the annular wall portion 223 mainly abuts against the inner tube surface 212 of the container 210 with the annular flange 223b1 (not the entire outer wall surface 223b), the resistance during the continuous movement of the plug structure 220 from the opening 211 of the container 210 to the stepped portion 212a inside is reduced. In other words, due to the design of the annular flange 223b1, the plug structure 220 can have the advantages of being easily attached to the container 210 and improving the airtightness with the container 210.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the number of the annular flanges 223b1 is three. One annular flange 223b1 is close to the uppermost part of the outer wall surface 223b and faces the annular flange 223a1 inside and outside. The other two annular flanges 223b1 are adjacent to each other and close to the bottom of the outer wall surface 223b. However, the number of the annular flanges 223b1 is not limited to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3. In actual applications, the number of the annular flanges 223b1 can be elastically increased or decreased according to the desired airtightness.

[0038] Please refer to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the liquid fountain pen 100 in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 5. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in this embodiment, the tail sleeve 130 is not fully assembled with the pen tube 110. Specifically, the tail sleeve 130 and the pen tube 110 are screwed together by a screw structure. At this time, since the liquid guide 120 does not contact the plug structure 220, the annular wall portion 223 sandwiched between the inner tube surface 212 of the container 210 and the side surface 221a of the lid body portion 221 abuts stably against the lid body portion 221, thereby sealing the annular gap G.

[0039] Please refer to FIG. 7. This is another partially enlarged view of FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, when the tail sleeve 130 and the pen tube 110 are continuously screwed together towards each other and fully assembled, the liquid guide 120 will push the lid body portion 221 of the plug structure 220. The pressed lid body portion 221 deforms the elastic connection portion 222, and further separates the annular flange 223a1 of the annular wall portion 223 from the side surface 221a of the lid body portion 221 to open the annular gap G. At this time, the liquid contained in the container 210 can flow out to the liquid guide 120 (the path indicated by the thick arrow in FIG. 7) sequentially through the through-hole portion 222a of the elastic connection portion 222 and the annular gap G. As can be seen from the above, when the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted in the liquid fountain pen 100, the liquid guide 120 of the liquid fountain pen 100 presses against the lid body portion 221 and elastically deforms the elastic connection portion 222, thereby keeping the annular gap G in an open state, enabling the liquid in the liquid cartridge 200 to flow through the plug structure 220 to the pen tip 150 and allowing writing.

[0040] On the other hand, when the liquid in the container 210 runs out and a new liquid cartridge 200 needs to be replaced, the tail sleeve 130 and the pen tube 110 can be moved in the reverse direction and separated. During this process, the liquid guide 120 gradually moves away from the plug structure 220 and is separated from the lid portion 221, thereby elastically restoring the elastic connection portion 222 to return the lid portion 221 to a state of abutting against the annular flange 223a1 of the annular wall portion 223 again, thereby sealing the annular gap G. As a result, when the liquid cartridge 200 is taken out from the direct liquid writing instrument 100, the liquid remaining in the liquid cartridge 200 does not leak through the plug structure 220.

[0041] As can be seen from the above detailed description of the specific embodiments of the present disclosure, in the plug structure of the present disclosure, the lid portion and the annular wall portion are connected via an elastic connection portion. When the plug structure is installed in the container of the liquid cartridge, the annular gap formed between the side surface of the lid portion and the annular wall portion is clamped between the inner tube surface of the container and the side surface of the lid portion, thereby sealing the annular gap. When the liquid cartridge is installed in the writing instrument, the liquid guide of the writing instrument presses against the lid portion and elastically deforms the elastic connection portion, thereby opening the annular gap, enabling the liquid in the liquid cartridge to flow through the plug structure to the pen tip and enabling writing. When the liquid cartridge is taken out from the writing instrument, the liquid guide is separated from the lid portion, thereby elastically restoring the elastic connection portion to seal the annular gap. As a result, the problem of liquid leakage when replacing the liquid cartridge can be effectively avoided.

[0042] Although the present disclosure has been disclosed as above in the embodiments, the embodiments are not intended to limit the present disclosure, and any person skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of the present disclosure should be based on what is defined by the claims attached later.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0043] 100: Direct liquid writing instrument 110: Pen tube 120: Liquid guide 130: Tail sleeve 140: Water supply body 150: Pen tip 160: Pen cap 200: Liquid cartridge 210: Container 211: Opening 212: Inner tube surface 212a: Constriction step portion 220: Plug structure 221: Cover body portion 221a: Side surface 222: Elastic connection portion 222a: Drilled portion 222b: Connection post 222c: Engagement sheet 223: Annular wall portion 223a: Inner wall surface 223a1, 223b1: Annular flange 223b: Outer wall surface G: Annular gap

Claims

1. A lid part, an elastic connection part connected to the lid part and having at least one cut-out part, an annular wall part connected to the elastic connection part, surrounding the lid part, having an annular gap communicating with the cut-out part formed between the annular wall part and the side surface of the lid part, and configured to abut against the side surface to seal the annular gap, and a plug structure including the above.

2. The plug structure according to claim 1, wherein the annular wall part has at least one annular flange located on the inner wall surface of the annular wall part and is configured to abut against the side surface of the lid part with the at least one annular flange.

3. The plug structure according to claim 2, wherein the lid part is configured to be pressed to deform the elastic connection part and further separate the at least one annular flange from the side surface of the lid part to open the annular gap.

4. The plug structure according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of the at least one cut-out part, the elastic connection part includes a plurality of connection posts, both ends of each connection post are connected to the lid part and the annular wall part respectively, and the connection posts and the cut-out parts are alternately arranged in an annular shape.

5. The plug structure according to claim 1, wherein the elastic connection part includes an engagement sheet engaged with the bottom surface of the lid part.

6. The plug structure according to claim 1, wherein the elastic connection part and the annular wall part form a single structure.

7. The plug structure according to claim 1, wherein the hardness of the lid part is greater than the hardness of the annular wall part.

8. A container having an opening, a lid part, an elastic connection part connected to the lid part on the side away from the opening of the lid part and having at least one cut-out part, an annular wall part connected to the elastic connection part, surrounding the lid part, having an annular gap communicating with the cut-out part formed between the annular wall part and the side surface of the lid part, and configured to seal the annular gap by being sandwiched between the inner tube surface of the container and the side surface of the lid part, and a plug structure provided in the container, and a liquid cartridge including the above.

9. The liquid cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the annular wall part has at least one annular flange located on the outer wall surface of the annular wall part and abutting against the inner tube surface of the container.

10. The liquid cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the inner tube surface of the container has a constricted step part, and the plug structure is engaged with the constricted step part.

11. The liquid cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the diameter of the container gradually decreases from the opening toward the constricted step portion.

12. a pipette tube; a liquid guide accommodated in the pipette tube; a tail sleeve removably connected to the pipette tube; a container having an opening; a lid portion; an elastic connection portion connected to the lid portion on a side away from the opening of the lid portion and having at least one through-hole; and a ring-shaped wall portion that is connected to the elastic connection portion, surrounds the lid portion, forms an annular gap communicating with the through-hole between the lid portion and a side surface of the lid portion, and opens the annular gap by being pressed against the lid portion, and a plug structure provided in the container; comprising a liquid cartridge accommodated in the tail sleeve and extending into the pipette tube; a writing instrument comprising.

Images