Clip opening / closing mechanism for movable clip

Abstract

To propose a clip opening / closing mechanism for a movable clip.SOLUTION: Provided is a clip opening / closing mechanism for a movable clip, including: a sliding top mounted radially inside a barrel body at the rear end thereof, the barrel body extending in the front-to-rear direction from the rear end at the rear of a writing instrument to the front end at the front of the writing instrument, the sliding top being slidably mounted in the front-to-rear direction of the barrel body; a movable clip disposed at the rear end of the barrel body; and a clip spring disposed between the sliding top and the movable clip and constantly applying a biasing force to the movable clip to rotate it in the closing direction around a rotation support portion. The rotation support portion is formed between the movable clip and the sliding top on the radial inside of the barrel body, and the clip spring is disposed behind the rotation support portion, between the rear end of the clip portion and the sliding top.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to clips used in writing instruments such as ballpoint pens and mechanical pencils.In particular, the invention relates to a movable clip that extends forward from a rear end of a clip section located near the rear end of a barrel body that extends in the front-to-rear direction from the rear end at the rear of the writing instrument to the front end at the front of the writing instrument, and is equipped with a clip ball section at the front end of the clip section that protrudes toward the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body, and that rotates around a rotation support section in a closing direction in which the clip ball section approaches the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body and the rear end of the clip section moves away from the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body, and in an opening direction in which the clip ball section moves away from the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body and the rear end of the clip section approaches the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body, and to a clip opening / closing mechanism for the movable clip. [Background technology]

[0002] Various proposals have been made in the past regarding the clip opening and closing mechanism of the above-mentioned movable clip.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a structure in which a coil spring arranged between a clip member and a cylindrical body constantly resilients the inner wall portion of the tip of the clip member toward the outer wall surface of the cylindrical body, and the connecting portion between the clip member and the cylindrical body serves as a fulcrum so that the inner wall portion of the tip of the clip member can be separated from the cylindrical body; a clip portion protrusion extending toward the cylindrical body is formed on the bottom wall of the clip member, and a cylindrical portion protrusion extending toward the clip member is formed on the outer wall of the cylindrical body; and a coil spring with seat turns formed on both ends is arranged to cover the clip portion protrusion and the cylindrical portion protrusion.

[0004] Patent Document 2 proposes a structure in which a coil spring is inserted between the clip member and the tail cap, which is the member to which the clip is attached, to bias them in directions away from each other.

[0005] Patent Document 3 proposes a spring mounting structure in which a coil spring is mounted in a spring mounting portion between a barrel body and a clip, and the coil spring biases the clip in a closing direction. The spring mounting portion has a plurality of holding portions on both axial sides of the barrel body so as to be in close proximity to or in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the coil spring. The holding portions have a plurality of openings at both ends of the clip width direction between the holding portions, each large enough to prevent the coil spring from passing through but partially expose the coil spring. The space is formed so that the axial vertical cross section of the space between the holding portions is included in a virtual composite cross section formed by overlapping the axial vertical cross sections of the plurality of openings without moving them in the barrel axial direction, at any position in the clip width direction. This is said to prevent the coil spring from falling off and reduce the opening and closing resistance of the clip. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4518915 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 5345002 [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 5705609 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] In conventional clip opening and closing mechanisms for movable clips, as proposed in Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3, it was common for the rotation support part that supported the rotational movement of the clip during the clip opening and closing operation to protrude outward from the barrel body in the radial direction of the barrel body.

[0008] The following explanation will be given with reference to the attached Figures 1 and 2.

[0009] The writing instrument illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is a writing instrument 51 in the form of a barrel body 52 consisting of a lower body 52a and an upper body 52b, with a tip 53 at the front end (left end in Figure 1(a)) and a knock 65 at the rear end (right end in Figure 1(a)), and an operating spring 54, a refill 61, and a rotor 55 arranged radially inside the barrel body 52.

[0010] A clip 59 and the clip opening / closing mechanism of the above-described conventional general structure are provided at the rear end of the barrel body 52 of the writing implement 51.

[0011] The clip 59 extends forward from a clip portion rear end 59b located on the rear end side of the barrel body 52, which extends in the front-to-rear direction from the rear end at the rear of the writing instrument 51 to the front end at the front of the writing instrument 51, and is provided with a clip ball portion 59a at the front tip side of the clip portion that protrudes toward the outer wall of the barrel body 52.

[0012] 1 and 2, a clip opening / closing mechanism is employed in the writing implement 51. A clip attachment part 50 is provided at the rear end of the barrel body 52, protruding radially outward from the barrel body 52, and a rotation support part 62 is rotatably supported by the clip attachment part 50. In addition, a clip spring 60 is provided behind the clip attachment part 50 (on the right side in FIG. 1(a)) between the outer circumferential wall of the barrel body 52 and the surface of the clip part rear end 59b facing the outer circumferential wall of the barrel body 52, which constantly applies a biasing force to both in a direction to increase the gap between them.

[0013] When the clip 59 shown in Figure 1(a) is in a closed state and a force in the direction of arrow 100 is applied to the rear end 59b of the clip portion against the biasing force of the clip spring 60, the rear end 59b of the clip portion of the clip 59 moves in a direction approaching the outer wall of the barrel main body 52, and in response, the clip ball portion 59a moves in a direction away from the outer wall of the barrel main body 52 as shown by arrow 101 (Figures 1(b) and 2(c)), performing a rotational movement in the open direction.

[0014] On the other hand, when the clip 59 shown in Figures 1(b) and 2(c) is in the open state and the force in the direction of arrow 100 is removed, the biasing force of the clip spring 60 causes the rear end 59b of the clip portion to move in a direction away from the outer wall of the barrel body 52, and in response, the clip ball portion 59a rotates in the closing direction, moving in a direction approaching the outer wall of the barrel body 52, as shown by arrow 102 (Figure 2(a)), and returns to the closed state shown in Figures 1(a) and 2(a).

[0015] In the conventional general structure described above and shown in Figures 1 and 2, not only the clip 59 but also the rotation support portion 62 protrudes outward in the radial direction of the barrel body 52 over the height direction indicated by H in Figure 2(a). The protruding height indicated by H in Figure 2(a) is higher than that of a general fixed clip because it requires the height of the clip attachment portion 50 for attaching the clip 59.

[0016] When storing the writing implement 51 in a pen case or a pocket to carry it around, it is convenient for handling if such a protrusion is not large (not high).

[0017] Also, it is advantageous when writing if such protrusions are not too large (not too high) and are slim.

[0018] Therefore, the object of this invention is to propose a clip opening and closing mechanism for the above-mentioned movable clip, which can slim down the appearance and is less likely to get in the way when writing or when storing it in a pen case or the like. [Means for solving the problem]

[0019] In this invention, the clip opening / closing mechanism of the movable clip is composed of a sliding top mounted on the radially inner side of the barrel body at the rear end of the barrel body, which extends in the front-rear direction from the rear end at the rear of the writing instrument to the front end at the front of the writing instrument, a movable clip disposed at the rear end of the barrel body, and a clip spring disposed between the sliding top and the movable clip and constantly applying a biasing force to the movable clip to rotate it in a closing direction around a rotation support part. The rotation support part is formed between the movable clip and the sliding top on the radially inner side of the barrel body, and the clip spring is disposed between the rear end of the clip part and the sliding top, rearward of the rotation support part, thereby solving the above-mentioned problem.

[0020] The present invention can be exemplified as follows. [1] a sliding piece attached to the rear end of the barrel body, which extends in the front-rear direction from the rear end at the rear of the writing instrument to the front end at the front of the writing instrument, on the radially inner side of the barrel body so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction of the barrel body; a movable clip that extends forward from the rear end of a clip portion located on the rear end side of the barrel body, and has a clip ball portion at the front end of the clip portion that protrudes toward the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body, and that rotates around a rotation support portion in a closing direction in which the clip ball portion approaches the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body and the rear end of the clip portion moves away from the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body, and in an opening direction in which the clip ball portion moves away from the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body and the rear end of the clip portion approaches the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body; a clip spring that always applies a biasing force to the rear end of the clip portion, causing the movable clip to rotate in a closing direction about the rotation support portion, in which the clip ball portion approaches the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body and the rear end of the clip portion moves away from the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body; It is equipped with The rotation support portion is formed between the movable clip and the slide piece on the radially inner side of the barrel body, The clip spring is disposed between the rear end of the clip portion and the slide piece, behind the rotation support portion. Movable clip opening and closing mechanism.

[0021] [2] The movable clip has a clip-side opening stopper portion located rearward of the position where the clip spring is disposed, The slide piece has a slide piece side opening stopper portion located rearward of the position where the clip spring is disposed. Each one is equipped with The rotation in the opening direction around the rotation support portion, in which the clip ball portion moves away from the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body and the rear end of the clip portion approaches the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body, is stopped when the clip side opening stopper portion abuts against the slide piece side opening stopper portion. [1] Clip opening and closing mechanism of the movable clip.

[0022] [3] The movable clip has a clip-side closing stopper portion forward of the rotation support portion, The slide piece has a slide piece side closing stopper portion in front of the rotation support portion. Each one is equipped with The rotation in the closing direction around the rotation support portion, in which the clip ball portion approaches the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body and the rear end of the clip portion moves away from the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body, is stopped when the clip-side closing stopper portion abuts on the slide piece-side closing stopper portion. [1] or [2] A clip opening and closing mechanism for a movable clip.

[0023] [4] When the clip-side closing stopper portion abuts against the slide piece-side closing stopper portion, and the rotation of the clip ball portion around the rotation support portion in the closing direction in which the clip ball portion approaches the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body and the rear end of the clip portion moves away from the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body is stopped, a gap exists between the tip of the clip ball portion facing the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body and the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body. [3] Clip opening and closing mechanism of the movable clip. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] According to this invention, it is possible to provide a clip opening / closing mechanism for a movable clip that can be made slim in appearance and is less likely to get in the way when writing or when storing it in a pen case or the like and carrying it around. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] These are cross-sectional views with some parts omitted to illustrate an example of a conventional clip opening and closing mechanism in a knock-type writing instrument equipped with a conventional movable clip, where (a) is a cross-sectional view with some parts omitted to illustrate an example of the clip being in a closed state, and (b) is a cross-sectional view with some parts omitted to illustrate an example of the clip being in an open state by pressing the rear end of the clip toward the barrel body from the state shown in Figure 1(a). [Figure 2] (a) is a partially omitted cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the main parts of an example of a conventional clip opening / closing mechanism in the movable clip shown in Figure 1(a), (b) is a partially omitted cross-sectional view showing the AA line cross-section in Figure 2(a), and (c) is a partially omitted cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the main parts of an example of a conventional clip opening / closing mechanism in the movable clip in the state shown in Figure 1(b). [Figure 3]3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating an example of a case where a clip opening / closing mechanism of a movable clip according to one embodiment of the present invention is adopted in a writing instrument such as a ballpoint pen using a cam mechanism, where (a) is a cross-sectional view with some parts omitted to illustrate an example of the clip being in a closed state, (b) is a cross-sectional view with some parts omitted to illustrate that the cam mechanism and sharpening mechanism are activated by pushing the clip forward in a writing instrument that adopts the clip opening / closing mechanism shown in FIG. 3A, and (c) is a cross-sectional view with some parts omitted to illustrate that in a ballpoint pen or the like that uses a cam mechanism in a writing instrument that adopts the clip opening / closing mechanism shown in FIG. 3A, the clip is pushed back from the state shown in FIG. 3B to the position shown in FIG. 3A by the action of a return spring or the like. [Figure 4] (a) is a cross-sectional view with some parts omitted to explain an example of the positional relationship of each component in a clip opening / closing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention in the state shown in Figure 3(a); (b) is a cross-sectional view with some parts omitted along line BB in Figure 4(a); (c) is a cross-sectional view with some parts omitted along line CC in Figure 4(a); and (d) is a cross-sectional view with some parts omitted along line DD in Figure 4(a). [Figure 5] FIG. 4( a) is a cross-sectional view with some parts omitted to explain an example of the state in which the clip is opened by pressing the rear end of the clip toward the barrel body from the state shown in FIG. 3( a) and FIG. 4(a). [Figure 6] 6(e) is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE in FIG. 6(e); FIG. 6(g) is a cross-sectional view taken along line FF in FIG. 6(e); and FIG. 6(h) is a cross-sectional view taken along line GG in FIG. 6(e). [Figure 7] 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating an example of a clip used in the clip opening / closing mechanism of the movable clip according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4A, where (a) is a front view, (b) is a left side view, (c) is a right side view, and (d) is a diagram illustrating the cross-sectional structure. [Figure 8]8(a) is a cross-sectional view with some parts omitted to explain the positional relationship of each component when the clip opening / closing mechanism of the movable clip according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 3 and 4(a) changes from the clip closed state shown in Figure 4(a) to the clip open state shown in Figure 5, and (b) is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 8(a). [Figure 9] 9(a) is a cross-sectional view with some parts omitted to explain the positional relationship of each component when returning from the clip open state shown in FIG. 8(a) to the clip closed state shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4(a), and FIG. 9(b) is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 9(a). [Figure 10] 10(a) is a cross-sectional view with some parts omitted to explain the positional relationship of each component when the clip is in the closed state shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4(a), following the state shown in FIG. 9(a); FIG. 10(b) is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 10(a); and FIG. 10(c) is an enlarged view of another part of FIG. 10(a). [Figure 11] A cross-sectional view with some parts omitted to explain that when the clip is in the closed state shown in Figure 10(a), a small gap exists between the tip of the clip ball portion facing the outer wall of the barrel body and the outer wall of the barrel body. [Figure 12] 12(c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line HH in FIG. 12(c); and FIG. 12(e) is a cross-sectional view taken along line KK in FIG. 12(c). [Figure 13] 4A to 4C are diagrams illustrating an example of a rotor used in the writing implement shown in FIG. 3, where (a) is a plan view, (b) is a front view, and (c) is a cross-sectional view. [Figure 14] 4A to 4D are diagrams illustrating an example of a knock cam used in the writing instrument shown in FIG. 3, in which (a) is a plan view, (b) is a left side view, (c) is a right side view, and (d) is a cross-sectional view. [Figure 15]15A and 15B are diagrams illustrating an example of a case in which a clip opening / closing mechanism of a movable clip according to one embodiment of the present invention is adopted in a writing instrument having a mechanical pencil structure, where (a) is a cross-sectional view with some parts omitted to illustrate an example of writing, and (b) is a cross-sectional view with some parts omitted to illustrate the state in which the sliding piece that constitutes the clip opening / closing mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention is removed from the writing instrument shown in FIG. 15A and the lead is being refilled. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which dimensions such as length, width, and thickness may be appropriately changed from the actual scale for clarity and simplification of the drawings.

[0027] The clip employing the clip opening / closing mechanism shown in FIGS. 1 and 15 includes a clip rear end 9b and a clip ball portion 9a.

[0028] The clip rear end 9b is located on the rear end side (right side in FIGS. 3 and 15) of the barrel body 2 that constitutes the writing instrument 1 (FIG. 3) or 21 (FIG. 15). The barrel body 2 of the writing instrument 1 (FIG. 3) or 21 (FIG. 15) extends in the front-to-rear direction (left-to-right direction in FIGS. 3 and 15) from the rear end (right end in FIGS. 3 and 15) at the rear of the writing instrument 1 (FIG. 3) or 21 (FIG. 15) to the front end (left end in FIGS. 3 and 15) at the front of the writing instrument 1 or 21.

[0029] The clip ball portion 9a is arranged at the front end of the clip portion, which is the front tip side extending forward from the rear end 9b of the clip portion, in a form that protrudes toward the outer wall of the barrel main body 2 (Figures 3 and 15).

[0030] 5 and 11, in a closing direction in which the clip ball portion 9a approaches the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body 2 and the clip portion rear end 9b moves away from the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body 2, and as shown by arrows 105 and 106 in Figures 5 and 11, and in an opening direction in which the clip ball portion 9a moves away from the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body 2 and the clip portion rear end 9b moves toward the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body 2, as shown by arrows 103 and 104 in Figures 4 and 11, is a clip in which the clip opening / closing mechanism of this embodiment is employed. Hereinafter in this specification, the movable clip 9 may be simply referred to as the clip 9.

[0031] As described above, the clip opening / closing mechanism of this embodiment extends forward from the rear end 9b of the clip portion located on the rear end 2a side of the barrel body 2, and is provided with a clip ball portion 9a at the front tip of the clip portion that protrudes toward the outer wall of the barrel body 2, and is responsible for the opening and closing operation of the movable clip 9 that rotates around the rotation support portion in a closing direction in which the clip ball portion 9a approaches the outer wall of the barrel body 2 and the clip portion rear end 9b moves away from the outer wall of the barrel body 2, and in an opening direction in which the clip ball portion 9a moves away from the outer wall of the barrel body 2 and the clip portion rear end 9b approaches the outer wall of the barrel body 2, and is composed of the movable clip 9, a slide block 8 and a clip spring 10.

[0032] The slide piece 8 is mounted at the rear end 2a of the barrel body 2, which extends in the front-to-rear direction from the rear end at the rear of the writing instrument 1, 21 to the front end at the front of the writing instrument 1, 21, on the radially inner side of the barrel body 2, so as to be able to slide in the front-to-rear direction of the barrel body 2 (left-to-right direction in Figures 3 and 15) (Figures 3 and 15).

[0033] The clip spring 10 always exerts a biasing force on the rear end 9b of the clip portion, causing the clip 9 to rotate in the closing direction around the rotation support portion, so that the clip ball portion 9a approaches the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body 2 and the rear end 9b of the clip portion moves away from the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body 2.

[0034] In the clip opening / closing mechanism of this embodiment, the rotation support portion is formed between the movable clip 9 and the slide piece 8 on the radially inner side of the barrel body 2, as will be described later.

[0035] The clip spring 10 is disposed between the rear end 9b of the clip portion and the slide piece 8, behind the rotation support portion (to the right in FIGS. 3 and 15).

[0036] FIG. 1 shows an example of a case where the clip opening / closing mechanism of this embodiment is employed in a writing instrument 1, which is an example of a writing instrument that uses a cam mechanism.

[0037] In the writing instrument 1, a refill 11, an operating spring 4, a rotor 5 (Fig. 13) having a cam groove 5a, a knock cam 6 (Fig. 14) having a cam portion 6a and a slide piece connecting claw 6b, and a return spring 7 are arranged radially inside the barrel body 2, and the writing part protrudes from the tip 3 on the front side of the barrel body 2. The structure and configuration of such writing instruments using a cam mechanism are conventionally known, and the illustration is simplified except for the structural parts that are characteristic of this embodiment.

[0038] 15 illustrates an example of a writing instrument 21, an example of a mechanical pencil-type writing instrument, in which the clip opening / closing mechanism of this embodiment is employed. In the writing instrument 21, a tip pipe 29 is provided at the front tip 3 of the barrel body 2, and a mechanical body 22 is housed radially inside the barrel body 2, with a chuck spring 23, a chuck guide 24, a chuck 26, a clutch 25, a lead holder 27, a slider 28, a cushion spring 32, a joint 33, and the like. This is a conventionally known mechanical pencil-type writing instrument in which a lead 31 housed in a lead tank 30 is protruded into a writing-ready state via the tip pipe 29 by a mechanical mechanism. The structure and configuration of such a mechanical pencil-type writing instrument are also conventionally known, and the illustration is simplified except for the structural parts characteristic of this embodiment.

[0039] As shown in Figures 3 and 15, at the rear end 2a of the barrel body 2, which extends in the front-to-rear direction from the rear end at the rear of the writing instrument 1, 21 to the front end at the front of the writing instrument 1, 21, a slide piece 8 is attached radially inside the barrel body 2 so as to be able to slide in the front-to-rear direction of the barrel body 2 (left-to-right direction in Figures 3 and 15) (Figures 3 and 15).

[0040] The clip spring 10 is sandwiched between the movable clip 9 and the slide piece 8, and the clip opening / closing mechanism is installed inside the barrel body 2 in the radial direction.

[0041] The movable clip 9 rotates in the opening direction indicated by arrow 104 in Fig. 5 and in the closing direction indicated by arrow 106 in Fig. 9(a) around a rotation support part formed between the movable clip 9 and the slide piece 8. In this embodiment, this rotation support part is located radially inside the barrel body 2.

[0042] The clip opening / closing mechanism, which is disposed radially inside the barrel body 2, is composed of a slide piece 8 mounted inside the rear end 2a of the barrel body 2 so as to be slidable in the front-to-rear direction of the barrel body 2, and a movable clip 9, so that the clip can be knocked by pushing the rear end 9b of the clip forward, as shown by arrow 107 in Figure 3(b). This clip knocking activates the cam mechanism and mechanical sharpening mechanism of the writing instrument 1, 21, causing the refill or stylus of the touch pen, mechanical sharpening mechanism, etc. to protrude from the tip of the writing instrument 1, 21, allowing writing.

[0043] As described above, the sliding piece 8 is attached to the rear end 2a of the barrel body 2, which extends in the front-rear direction, on the radially inner side of the barrel body 2, so as to be able to slide in the front-rear direction (left-right direction in Figs. 3 and 15) of the barrel body 2. Therefore, when the clip opening / closing mechanism of this embodiment is adopted in a writing instrument 21 with a mechanical pencil structure, as shown in Fig. 15, as shown in Fig. 15(b), it becomes possible to refill the lead by pulling out the sliding piece 8 constituting the clip opening / closing mechanism from the rear end of the barrel body 2, as shown by arrow 109.

[0044] Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a slide piece 8 employed in the clip opening / closing mechanism of the movable clip 9 according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4(a). Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a clip employed in the clip opening / closing mechanism of the movable clip 9 according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 4(a). Fig. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of the barrel body 2 employed in the writing instrument 1 shown in Fig. 3.

[0045] In the embodiment shown in Figure 12, the barrel body 2 is made of a material known in this technical field, such as synthetic resin or metal, and is provided with a clip sliding portion 2d at the rear end 2a, and also with slide piece guides 2b and 2c, a spring holding rib 2f, and a cam portion 2e extending in the front-to-rear direction on the radially inner side of the rear end 2a.

[0046] The slide piece guides 2b and 2c extending in the front-to-rear direction on the radially inner side of the barrel body 2 guide the front-to-rear sliding movement of the slide piece 8, which will be described later, and are formed at diametrically symmetrical positions to each other, as shown in Figure 12(e).

[0047] The slide piece 8, which is arranged radially inward of the rear end 2a of the barrel body 2, is cylindrical and extends in the front-to-rear direction (left-to-right direction in Figures 6(a) and 6(b)) as shown in Figures 6(a) to 6(e), and has guide grooves 8b and 8c extending in the front-to-rear direction on both side peripheral wall surfaces that are diametrically symmetrical as shown in Figure 6(h).

[0048] The guide grooves 8b, 8c of the sliding top 8 and the sliding top guides 2b, 2c of the shaft cylinder body 2 are combined in an uneven shape as shown in Figure 4(b), which stably guides the movement of the sliding top 8 in the forward and backward directions, reduces the wobbling of the sliding top 8 from side to side (from side to side in Figure 4(b)), and also reduces the rotation (wobbling) of the sliding top 8 in the circumferential direction.

[0049] Furthermore, the clip 9 attached to the slide piece 8 can also move back and forth in the directions indicated by arrows 107 and 108 in FIGS. 3(b) and 3(c) without wobbling.

[0050] In the illustrated embodiment, the sliding top 8 has rotating windows 8e, 8e at the positions shown in Figures 6(b) and 6(g). The rotating support posts 12 of the clip 9 are rotatably fitted into the rotating windows 8e, 8e of the sliding top 8 so as to be able to rotate in the directions indicated by arrows 104 (Figures 5 and 11) and arrows 106 (Figures 9(a) and 11).

[0051] In this embodiment, by attaching the clip 9 to the slide piece 8 in this manner, a rotation support portion is formed when the clip 9 rotates in the closing direction (direction indicated by arrows 105 and 106 in Figure 11) in which the clip ball portion 9a approaches the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body 2 and the rear end 9b of the clip portion moves away from the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body 2, and in the opening direction (direction indicated by arrows 103 and 104 in Figure 11) in which the clip ball portion 9a moves away from the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body 2 and the rear end 9b of the clip portion approaches the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body 2.

[0052] In this manner, in this embodiment, the rotation support portion formed between the movable clip 9 and the sliding top 8 is disposed on the radially inner side of the barrel body 2. In other words, a clip opening / closing mechanism constituted by the sliding top 8, which is mounted in the rear end 2a of the barrel body 2 so as to be slidable in the front-to-rear direction of the barrel body 2, and the movable clip 9, is disposed on the radially inner side of the barrel body 2.

[0053] Therefore, compared to the protruding height indicated by H in Figure 2(a) described in the conventional structure in which the rotation support part that supports the rotational movement of the clip during the clip opening and closing operation protrudes outward from the barrel body in the radial direction of the barrel body, in the writing instruments 1 and 21 shown in Figures 3 and 5, the protruding height that protrudes outward from the barrel body in the radial direction of the barrel body is suppressed and made low.

[0054] As a result, the writing instruments 1 (Figure 3) and 21 (Figure 15) that employ the clip opening and closing mechanism of the movable clip of this embodiment have a slim appearance and are less likely to get in the way when writing or when carrying them when stored in a pen case, etc.

[0055] The clip spring 10 is disposed between the rear end 9b of the clip portion and the slide piece 8, behind the rotation support portion (on the right side in FIGS. 3 and 15) (FIGS. 3 and 4(a)).

[0056] In this embodiment, the sliding top 8 has a sliding top side spring support protrusion 8a that protrudes upward on its upper surface at the rear end thereof, at the position where the above-mentioned rotation support portion is located, i.e., behind the position where the rotating windows 8e, 8e are located and lower in the vertical direction than the position where the rotating windows 8e, 8e are located (Figure 6(h)).

[0057] On the other hand, the clip 9 has a clip-side spring support protrusion 9c on the lower surface of the rear end 9b of the clip portion, which is positioned opposite the slide piece-side spring support protrusion 8a of the slide piece 8 when the clip is in the closed state of Figure 4(a).

[0058] In this embodiment, the clip spring 10 is a coil spring, and is installed between the slide piece-side spring support protrusion 8a and the clip-side spring support protrusion 9c as shown in Figures 4(a), (d), and 5. Therefore, as shown by arrow 103 in Figure 5, when the clip 9 rotates around the rotation support portion in a direction in which the clip portion rear end 9b approaches the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body 2 and the clip ball portion 9a moves away from the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body 2, thereby entering the clip open state, displacement of the clip spring 10 due to distortion of the spring is suppressed, and the clip can always be installed in a stable mounting position.

[0059] As shown in Figures 3 and 15, at the rear end 2a of the barrel body 2, a slide top 8 is attached to the radially inner side of the barrel body 2 so as to be able to slide in the front-to-rear direction of the barrel body 2, and as shown in Figure 4, a rotating support 12 of a movable clip 9 is fitted into a rotating window portion 8e of the slide top 8, and a clip spring 10, which is a coil spring, is provided between the movable clip 9 and the slide top 8.

[0060] The clip spring 10 always applies a biasing force to the clip portion rear end 9b in the direction shown by arrow 105 in Figure 9(a) so that the clip ball portion 9a approaches the outer peripheral wall of the barrel main body 2 in the direction shown by arrow 106 in Figure 9(a) and the clip portion rear end 9b rotates in the closing direction, which is the direction in which it moves away from the outer peripheral wall of the barrel main body 2 in the direction shown by arrow 105 in Figure 9(a), around the rotation support portion.

[0061] Therefore, by applying a force to the rear end 9b of the clip portion in the direction shown by arrow 103 in Figure 5, the movable clip 9 moves in the direction shown by arrow 104 in Figure 5, with the clip ball portion 9a moving away from the outer wall of the barrel main body 2, and the rear end 9b of the clip portion rotating in the opening direction, approaching the outer wall of the barrel main body 2 in the direction shown by arrow 103 in Figure 5, around the rotation support portion, thereby entering an open state.

[0062] In this embodiment, the clip 9 has a clip-side opening stopper portion behind the position where the clip spring 10 is arranged. Also, the sliding top 8 has a sliding top-side opening stopper portion behind the position where the clip spring 10 is arranged.

[0063] The rotation in the opening direction, in which the clip ball portion 9a moves away from the outer wall of the barrel body 2 and the rear end 9b of the clip portion approaches the outer wall of the barrel body 2, around the rotation support portion, is stopped when the clip side opening stopper portion provided on the clip 9 abuts against the slide top side opening stopper portion provided on the slide top 8.

[0064] In the illustrated embodiment, in the closed state shown in Figure 10(a), the wall surface facing rearward (toward the right in Figure 10(a)) of the structural part hanging down from the rear end 9b of the clip part toward the slide piece 8 forms the clip side opening stopper part 9f that the clip 9 has behind the position where the clip spring 10 is deployed (Figures 8(b) and 10(c)).

[0065] On the other hand, in the closed state shown in Figure 10(a), the wall surface facing forward (towards the left in Figure 10(a)) of the structural part rising upward from the rear end of the sliding top 8 forms the sliding top side opening stopper part 8f, which is provided on the sliding top 8 behind the position where the clip spring 10 is deployed (Figures 8(b) and 10(c)).

[0066] When a force in the direction indicated by reference numeral 103 in Fig. 8(a) is applied to the rear end 9b of the clip portion against the biasing force of the clip spring 10, the clip 9 rotates in the opening direction, and the clip-side opening stopper 9f and the slide piece-side opening stopper 8f come into contact with each other as shown in Fig. 8(b). When this happens, the rotation in the opening direction is stopped.

[0067] In this embodiment, the clip 9 has a clip-side closing stopper portion in front of the rotation support portion, and the slide piece 8 has a slide piece-side closing stopper portion in front of the rotation support portion.

[0068] The rotation in the closing direction, in which the clip ball portion 9a approaches the outer wall of the barrel body 2 and the rear end 9b of the clip portion moves away from the outer wall of the barrel body 2, around the rotation support portion, is stopped when the clip side closing stopper portion of the clip 9 abuts against the slide top side closing stopper portion of the slide top 8.

[0069] In the illustrated embodiment, in the closed state shown in Figure 10(a), the structural part of the clip 9 extending in the front-to-rear direction forward of the rotation support part is the clip-side closing stopper part 9e provided on the clip 9 forward of the rotation support part (Figures 8(a), 10(a), and 10(b)).

[0070] On the other hand, in the closed state shown in Figure 10(a), the structural part of the sliding top 8 consisting of a flat surface extending in the front-to-rear direction forward of the rotation support part constitutes the sliding top side closing stopper part 8d provided on the sliding top 8 forward of the rotation support part (Figures 8(a), 10(a), and 10(b)).

[0071] The rotation of the clip 9 around the rotation support portion in the closing direction indicated by arrow 105 (Figure 10(a)) is stopped when the clip-side closing stopper portion 9e abuts against the slide piece-side closing stopper portion 8d as shown in Figures 10(a) and (b).

[0072] Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, when the clip side closing stopper portion 9e of the clip 9 abuts against the slide top side closing stopper portion 8d of the slide top 8, and the rotation in the closing direction around the rotation support portion in which the clip ball portion 9a approaches the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body 2 and the clip portion rear end 9b moves away from the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body 2 is stopped, a gap 110 (Figure 11) exists between the tip of the clip ball portion 9a facing the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body 2 and the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body 2 (Figure 11).

[0073] As shown in Fig. 11, the clip-side closing stopper 9e of the clip 9 and the clip ball 9a of the clip 9 move (rotate) about the rotation support part in the same manner. Both the clip-side closing stopper 9e and the clip ball 9a rotate within the range indicated by the symbol R1 in Fig. 8(a).

[0074] Therefore, by appropriately setting the positions at which the clip side closing stopper portion 9e and the slide piece side closing stopper portion 8d are formed, and the shapes and sizes of the clip side closing stopper portion 9e, the slide piece side closing stopper portion 8d, and the clip ball portion 9a, etc., it is possible to make the gap shown by symbol 110 in Figure 11 exist between the tip of the clip ball portion 9a and the outer wall of the barrel body 2 when the clip side closing stopper portion 9e abuts against the slide piece side closing stopper portion 8d due to the biasing force of the clip spring 10 and reaches the closed state shown in Figures 10(a) and (b).

[0075] For example, in the open state shown in Figure 9(b), there is a gap indicated by the symbol L between the clip side closing stopper portion 9e and the slide piece side closing stopper portion 8d, and from this state, the clip side closing stopper portion 9e and the clip ball portion 9a rotate around the rotation support portion within the range indicated by the symbol R1 in Figure 8(a), and the above-mentioned arrangement, shape, size, etc. can be adjusted so that in the closed state shown in Figures 4(a), 10(a), and (b), i.e., when the clip side closing stopper portion 9e abuts the slide piece side closing stopper portion 8d, a gap indicated by the symbol 110 in Figure 11 exists between the tip of the clip ball portion 9a and the outer peripheral wall of the shaft tube main body 2.

[0076] In the closed state, as shown by the symbol 110 in Figure 11, the size of the gap between the tip of the clip ball portion 9a and the outer wall of the barrel body 2 is sufficient to allow the clip 9 to clamp a notebook, pocket, etc. between the tip of the clip ball portion 9a and the outer wall of the barrel body 2 due to the biasing force of the clip spring 10 in the direction of arrow 105 (Figure 9(a)), and to attach the writing instrument 1 (Figure 3), 21 (Figure 15) to the notebook, pocket, etc.

[0077] By applying a force in the direction of arrow 103 (Figs. 8 and 11) to the clip rear end 9b against the biasing force of clip spring 10 to open clip 9, and inserting the end of a notebook, pocket, etc. between the tip of clip ball 9a and the outer peripheral wall of barrel body 2, and then releasing the force in the direction of arrow 103, the end of a notebook, pocket, etc. can be clamped and attached between the tip of lip ball 9a and the outer peripheral wall of barrel body 2. Furthermore, from this state, by applying a force in the direction of arrow 103 (Figs. 8 and 11) to clip rear end 9b, clip 9 is opened, and the end of a notebook, pocket, etc. can be removed from between the tip of clip ball 9a and the outer peripheral wall of barrel body 2.

[0078] The slide piece side opening stopper 8f provided on the slide piece 8 can be inclined relative to the clip side opening stopper 9f, which is made up of a wall surface facing rearward of the structural part that hangs down from the rear end 9b of the clip part toward the slide piece 8 (Fig. 8, Fig. 10(c)). In the embodiment shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 10(c), the structure is inclined rearward as it goes upward.

[0079] This inclination can be set to correspond to the rotation of the clip side closing stopper portion 9e and the clip ball portion 9a, as described above, within the range indicated by the symbol R1 in Figure 8(a), centered on the rotation support portion.

[0080] As described above, since the slide piece side opening stopper portion 8f is inclined, the rear end 9b of the clip portion and the clip side opening stopper portion 9f rotate around the rotation support portion within the range indicated by the symbol R2 in Figure 10(c) from the closed state shown in Figure 10(a).

[0081] The rotation range of the clip portion rear end 9b and clip side opening stopper portion 9f, centered on the rotation support portion in the range indicated by the symbol R2 in Figure 10(c), is the same as the rotation range of the clip side closing stopper portion 9e and clip ball portion 9a, centered on the rotation support portion in the range indicated by the symbol R1 in Figure 8(a).

[0082] As described above, when the clip spring 10 causes rotation in the closing direction around the rotation support axis, and the clip side closing stopper portion 9e abuts against the slide piece side closing stopper portion 8d to enter the closed state, there is a gap 110 (Figure 11) between the tip of the clip ball portion 9a facing the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body 2 and the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body 2, as shown in Figure 3(b), when a force is applied to the clip 9 in the forward direction (direction of arrow 107) to knock the clip in the closed state, the tip of the clip ball portion 9a can perform a smooth click knock without scratching the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body 2, without any discomfort.

[0083] In addition, in a writing instrument such as a ballpoint pen that uses a cam mechanism and employs the clip opening / closing mechanism shown in Fig. 3(a), the clip 9 is pushed back from the state shown in Fig. 3(b) to the position shown in Fig. 3(a) by the action of a return spring or the like, as indicated by arrow 108 in Fig. 3(c). Even in this case, there is no risk that the tip of the clip ball portion 9a will scratch the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body 2.

[0084] Therefore, as shown in Figure 3, for the return spring 7 used in a ballpoint pen or the like that uses a cam mechanism, a spring with a less strong load can be used because a large force is not required to return the clip 9 from the position shown in Figure 3(b) to the original position shown in Figures 3(a) and (c).

[0085] In the closed state, when the tip of the clip ball portion is abutted against the outer wall of the barrel body by the biasing force of the clip spring, the clip spring load is constantly applied to the surface of the outer wall of the barrel body via the clip ball, generating a resistance force.

[0086] With this type of structure, it is difficult to return the clip to its original position with a weak return spring, and it becomes necessary to use a return spring with a load stronger than the resistance force, making it difficult to set up a return spring type structure.

[0087] Furthermore, when attempting to move the clip forward, the clip balls rub against the outer wall surface of the barrel body as they move, which could damage the outer wall surface and cause unpleasant sensations such as a rubbing sensation or strange noises when the clip is operated during use.

[0088] As described above, when the clip spring 10 causes rotation in the closing direction around the rotation support axis and the clip side closing stopper portion 9e abuts against the slide piece side closing stopper portion 8d to enter the closed state, if there is a gap 110 (Figure 11) between the tip of the clip ball portion 9a pointing toward the outer peripheral wall of the shaft tube main body 2 and the outer peripheral wall of the shaft tube main body 2, such inconvenience will not occur.

[0089] The above describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be modified in various ways within the technical scope understood from the description of the claims.

Claims

1. a sliding piece attached to the rear end of the barrel body, which extends in the front-rear direction from the rear end at the rear of the writing instrument to the front end at the front of the writing instrument, on the radially inner side of the barrel body so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction of the barrel body; a movable clip that extends forward from the rear end of a clip portion located on the rear end side of the barrel body, and has a clip ball portion at the front end of the clip portion that protrudes toward the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body, and that rotates around a rotation support portion in a closing direction in which the clip ball portion approaches the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body and the rear end of the clip portion moves away from the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body, and in an opening direction in which the clip ball portion moves away from the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body and the rear end of the clip portion approaches the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body; a clip spring that always applies a biasing force to the rear end of the clip portion, causing the movable clip to rotate in a closing direction about the rotation support portion, in which the clip ball portion approaches the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body and the rear end of the clip portion moves away from the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body; It is equipped with The rotation support portion is formed between the movable clip and the slide piece on the radially inner side of the barrel body, The clip spring is disposed between the rear end of the clip portion and the slide piece, behind the rotation support portion. Movable clip opening and closing mechanism.

2. The movable clip has a clip-side opening stopper portion located rearward of the position where the clip spring is disposed, The slide piece has a slide piece side opening stopper portion located rearward of the position where the clip spring is disposed. Each one is equipped with The rotation in the opening direction around the rotation support portion, in which the clip ball portion moves away from the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body and the rear end of the clip portion approaches the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body, is stopped when the clip side opening stopper portion abuts against the slide piece side opening stopper portion. The clip opening and closing mechanism of the movable clip according to claim 1.

3. The movable clip has a clip-side closing stopper portion forward of the rotation support portion, The slide piece has a slide piece side closing stopper portion in front of the rotation support portion. Each one is equipped with The rotation in the closing direction around the rotation support portion, in which the clip ball portion approaches the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body and the rear end of the clip portion moves away from the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body, is stopped when the clip-side closing stopper portion abuts on the slide piece-side closing stopper portion.

3. A clip opening / closing mechanism for a movable clip according to claim 1 or 2.

4. When the clip-side closing stopper portion abuts against the slide piece-side closing stopper portion, and the rotation of the clip ball portion around the rotation support portion in the closing direction in which the clip ball portion approaches the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body and the rear end of the clip portion moves away from the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body is stopped, a gap exists between the tip of the clip ball portion facing the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body and the outer peripheral wall of the barrel body. The clip opening and closing mechanism of the movable clip according to claim 3.

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