Notebook

Abstract

To provide a writing instrument that can consistently produce handwriting with a stable and consistent line width. [Solution] The writing instrument 10 comprises a tip member 40 having a base end surface 63 extending in a direction intersecting the central axis A, and a front end portion 42 located in front of the base end surface 63, and a pair of support portions 65 extending forward from the base end surface 63 and positioned outside the front end portion 42, with the front end portion 42 not having a portion that is completely surrounded in the circumferential direction by other members.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a writing instrument.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, writing instruments such as marking pens having a tip member formed of a fiber tip or the like are known. Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a writing instrument in which a pen body forming a writing part is arranged at the tip of a shaft cylinder. In the writing instrument disclosed in Patent Document 1, the pen body is tiltably supported so that the entire writing part comes into contact with the writing surface by the force applied to the shaft cylinder as writing is performed. According to such a writing instrument, there is an advantage that a drawing line of a certain width can be easily drawn regardless of the way of holding the shaft cylinder and the holding angle, and the range of the tilt angle at which the writing part can be brought into close contact with the writing surface can be widened.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In conventional marking pens, the line width of the handwriting may vary or the handwriting may be blurred depending on the angle of the pen tip with respect to the writing surface and the way the user applies the writing pressure.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of such points, and an object thereof is to provide a writing instrument capable of stably forming handwriting having a constant line width.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The writing instrument of the present invention [1] a proximal end surface extending in a direction intersecting the central axis line, A tip member having a front end located forward of the base surface, It comprises a pair of support portions that extend forward from the base surface and are positioned outside the front end, sandwiching the front end, The aforementioned front end is a writing instrument that does not have a portion that is completely surrounded in the circumferential direction by other members.

[0007] The writing instrument of the present invention is [2] The base surface is the writing instrument described in [1], extending in a direction perpendicular to the central axis.

[0008] The writing instrument of the present invention is [3] A first direction perpendicular to the central axis, Having the aforementioned central axis and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, The pair of support portions are arranged in the first direction relative to the front end, The writing instrument according to [1] or [2], wherein the entire front end is exposed in the second direction.

[0009] The writing instrument of the present invention is [4] The front end is capable of bending in the second direction due to the pressure applied when writing, as described in [3].

[0010] The writing instrument of the present invention is [5] In a cross-section perpendicular to the central axis, The aforementioned front end has a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, The pair of support parts are arranged in the longitudinal direction with respect to the front end, The writing instrument according to [1] or [2], wherein the entire front end is exposed in the transverse direction.

[0011] The writing instrument of the present invention is [6] The front end is capable of bending in the transverse direction due to the pressure applied when writing, as described in [5]. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a writing instrument that can stably form handwriting having a constant line width.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and is an external view showing an example of a writing instrument. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the writing instrument of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an enlarged front portion of the writing instrument of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an enlarged front portion of the writing instrument of FIG. 1. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the V-V line in FIG. 4.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings attached to this specification, for the sake of convenience of illustration and easy understanding, the scale, the aspect ratio of the vertical and horizontal dimensions, etc. are appropriately changed and exaggerated from those of the actual object.

[0015] In addition, with respect to the terms used in this specification for specifying the shape, geometric conditions, and the degree thereof, such as terms like "parallel", "orthogonal", "identical", etc., and values of length, angle, etc., they are not bound by a strict meaning, and are to be interpreted including a range where similar functions can be expected.

[0016] [[ID=3十六条]] In this specification, the direction in which the central axis A of the writing instrument 10 extends (the longitudinal direction, the vertical direction in the longitudinal sectional view) is defined as the axial direction da, the direction orthogonal to the axial direction da is defined as the radial direction, and the direction along the circumference around the central axis A is defined as the circumferential direction. Further, along the axial direction da, the side approaching the writing surface such as a paper surface when writing (the lower side in the longitudinal sectional view) is defined as the front, and the side moving away from the writing surface (the upper side in the longitudinal sectional view) is defined as the rear. Further, along the radial direction, the side approaching the central axis A is defined as the inner side, and the side moving away from the central axis A is defined as the outer side.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and is an external view showing an example of the writing instrument 10. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the writing instrument 10. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an enlarged front portion of the writing instrument 10. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an enlarged front portion of the writing instrument 10. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the V-V line in FIG. 4.

[0018] The writing instrument 10 of the present embodiment is, for example, a writing instrument such as a marking pen (marker) or a sign pen (felt pen). In the present embodiment, an example in which the writing instrument 10 is a marking pen will be described. The writing instrument 10 includes an ink storage body 11, a tip member 40, a holding member 50, a proximal end surface 63, and a support portion 65. The holding member 50 is a member that holds the tip member 40. In the present embodiment, the holding member 50 includes a shaft cylinder 20.

[0019] The shaft cylinder 20 extends in the axial direction da along the central axis A of the writing instrument 10. Therefore, the central axis of the shaft cylinder 20 coincides with the central axis A of the writing instrument 10. The shaft cylinder 20 includes a front shaft 21 and a rear shaft 29 attached to the rear end portion of the front shaft 21.

[0020] The front shaft 21 is a component that forms the front portion of the writing instrument 10. The front shaft 21 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The central axis of the front shaft 21 coincides with the central axis A of the writing instrument 10. The rear shaft 29 is a component that forms the rear portion of the writing instrument 10. The rear shaft 29 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The central axis of the rear shaft 29 coincides with the central axis A of the writing instrument 10. In this embodiment, the rear shaft 29 is intended to be grasped by the user's fingers when writing with the writing instrument 10. However, it is not limited to this, and the writing instrument 10 may be configured so that the user grasps the front shaft 21 when writing. In this embodiment, the front shaft 21 is attached to the rear shaft 29 by inserting the rear end of the front shaft 21 into the front end of the rear shaft 29. For example, the front shaft 21 may be attached to the rear shaft 29 by press-fitting the rear end of the front shaft 21 into the front end of the rear shaft 29. Alternatively, the front axle 21 may be attached to the rear axle 29 by a front axle-side projection formed on the outer circumferential surface of the rear end of the front axle 21 overcoming a rear axle-side projection formed on the inner circumferential surface of the front end of the rear axle 29 and engaging with the rear axle-side projection.

[0021] The front shaft 21 of this embodiment has a flange 23 and a through hole 25. The flange 23 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the front shaft 21. When the front shaft 21 is attached to the rear shaft 29, the flange 23 may contact the front end of the rear shaft 29. The through hole 25 penetrates the center of the front shaft 21 in the axial direction da. The central axis of the through hole 25 coincides with the central axis A of the writing instrument 10. In this embodiment, in a cross section perpendicular to the central axis A, the through hole 25 has a circular shape. The through hole 25 has a stepped portion 26, which includes a surface facing forward. A tip member 40 is inserted into the through hole 25. At this time, the stepped portion 46 of the tip member 40, described later, contacts the stepped portion 26. The barrel 20 (front shaft 21) may be fitted with a front cap that covers the tip member 40 and suppresses the drying of ink in the tip member 40.

[0022] If the inside of the barrel 20 is sealed, the inside of the barrel 20 may become negatively pressurized as the amount of ink stored in the ink reservoir 11 decreases due to repeated writing. When the inside of the barrel 20 becomes negatively pressurized, the flow of ink from the ink reservoir 11 toward the front end 42 of the tip member 40 is obstructed. In this embodiment, a rib 24 is provided on the inner surface of the through hole 25. The rib 24 is formed to protrude from the inner surface of the through hole 25 toward the central axis A. The rib 24 extends linearly along the axial direction da. The front barrel 21 may have a plurality of ribs 24. The plurality of ribs 24 may be arranged at equal angular intervals from each other in the circumferential direction. The ribs 24 may be in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the tip member 40. When the front barrel 21 has such ribs 24, a gap is formed between the outer circumferential surface of the tip member 40 and the through hole 25 in the vicinity of the ribs 24, in particular the region between two circumferentially adjacent ribs 24. Therefore, as the amount of ink stored in the ink reservoir 11 decreases due to repeated writing, air flows into the ink reservoir 11 through this gap, preventing negative pressure from forming inside the barrel 20.

[0023] The material of the retaining member 50 (shaft cylinder 20) is selected considering factors such as strength and ease of dimensional control. The material of the retaining member 50 may be, for example, a resin material such as polypropylene or polyethylene, or a metal material such as brass or stainless steel.

[0024] The ink reservoir 11 is a component that stores ink for forming handwriting. The ink reservoir 11 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The ink reservoir 11 is located inside the barrel 20. The central axis of the ink reservoir 11 coincides with the central axis A of the writing instrument 10. The ink reservoir 11 may be, for example, a component having continuous pores that can be impregnated with ink and stored. Such an ink reservoir 11 may be, for example, a heat-fused fiber bundle, a resin-processed fiber bundle, a resin-processed felt, a needle-punched felt, a porous material such as a sponge, etc. The ink reservoir 11 may also have an outer skin formed of a synthetic resin film or the like on its outer surface.

[0025] The tip member (first tip member) 40 is a member that forms a writing mark on a writing surface such as paper. The tip member 40 is made of a material that allows ink to flow through its interior in the axial direction da. For example, the tip member 40 may be made of a porous body having open cells. Alternatively, the tip member 40 may be made of a fiber bundle, a bristle bundle, felt, a resin having capillary passages extending in the axial direction da, etc. Furthermore, the tip member 40 may be made of a porous synthetic resin having open cells.

[0026] The tip member 40 has a front end portion 42, an intermediate portion 45, and a rear end portion 48. The front end portion 42 is the part of the first tip member 40 located in front of the base end surface 63. The front end portion 42 is the part that comes into contact with the writing surface when forming a writing mark on a paper or other writing surface using the writing instrument 10. In other words, the front end portion 42 is the part that forms the writing mark on the writing surface. Therefore, the front end portion 42 can also be called the writing portion. The front end portion 42 may have, for example, a chisel shape. However, it is not limited to this, and the front end portion 42 may have other shapes such as a bullet shape, a rectangular shape, a rectangular prism shape, or a plate shape. The front end portion 42 may have flexibility that allows it to bend and deform in a second direction (transverse direction) d2 (see Figure 5) perpendicular to the first direction (longitudinal direction) d1 in the cross-section due to writing pressure.

[0027] The front end portion 42 may have a ridge portion 43. The ridge portion 43 is the part that constitutes the tip of the front end portion 42 and is intended to come into contact with the writing surface on which handwriting is formed, such as a piece of paper. The ridge portion 43 extends in a direction intersecting the central axis A. In particular, when the writing instrument 10 is viewed from the axial direction da, the ridge portion 43 extends linearly in a direction perpendicular to the central axis A. When the writing instrument 10 is viewed from the side, the ridge portion 43 may extend in a direction perpendicular to the central axis A, or it may extend in a direction inclined with respect to the central axis A. In the examples shown in Figures 1 to 5, when the writing instrument 10 is viewed from the side, the ridge portion 43 extends in a direction inclined with respect to the central axis A.

[0028] The intermediate portion 45 is located between the front end portion 42 and the rear end portion 48. At least a part of the intermediate portion 45 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The rear end portion 48 is located behind the intermediate portion 45. The rear end portion 48 has a shape in which the cross-sectional area decreases as it moves towards the rear. The rear end portion 48 may have shapes such as a cone, pyramidal shape, frustocone shape, or frustocone shape. In this embodiment, the rear end portion 48 has a frustocone shape in which the cross-sectional area decreases as it moves towards the rear. The rear end portion 48 is inserted into the ink reservoir 11 from the front of the ink reservoir 11. Ink can flow from the ink reservoir 11 through the rear end portion 48 and the intermediate portion 45 towards the front end portion 42. A stepped portion 46 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate portion 45. The stepped portion 46 includes a surface facing rear. When the tip member 40 is inserted into the front shaft 21, the stepped portion 46 contacts the stepped portion 26 of the front shaft 21. In particular, in this embodiment, the tip member 40 is inserted into the through hole 25 of the front shaft 21 from the front, and the stepped portion 46 contacts the stepped portion 26 of the through hole 25 and stops. As a result, the tip member 40 is held by the holding member 50 (front shaft 21).

[0029] The writing instrument 10 may further include a second tip member 12 and a rear cap 13. The second tip member 12 may be configured to form a different handwriting pattern from that formed by the front end 42 of the tip member 40. The rear end of the second tip member 12 protrudes rearward from the rear end of the rear barrel 29, forming a writing section that forms the handwriting pattern. The front end of the second tip member 12 is inserted into the ink reservoir 11 from the rear of the ink reservoir 11. Ink can flow from the ink reservoir 11 through the second tip member 12 towards the rear end of the second tip member 12. The rear cap 13 is detachably attached to the rear end of the rear barrel 29. The rear cap 13 covers the second tip member 12 to prevent the ink on the second tip member 12 from drying out.

[0030] The base surface 63 is the base surface of the support portion 65. The base surface 63 is a surface that generally faces forward. The base surface 63 extends in a direction intersecting the central axis A. In this embodiment, the base surface 63 extends in a direction perpendicular to the central axis A. In particular, in this embodiment, the base surface 63 is a plane that extends in a direction perpendicular to the central axis A. However, it is not limited to this, and the base surface 63 may extend in a direction inclined with respect to both the central axis A and the radial direction. Also, the base surface 63 may be a curved surface. In this embodiment, the base surface 63 is provided on the shaft cylinder 20 (front shaft 21). That is, the shaft cylinder 20 (front shaft 21) includes the base surface 63. As will be described later, the base surface 63 may be provided on a member other than the shaft cylinder 20 (front shaft 21).

[0031] The support portion 65 is formed to protrude forward from the base end surface 63. In this embodiment, the writing instrument 10 has a pair of support portions 65. The pair of support portions 65 are arranged on the outside of the tip member 40, sandwiching the tip member 40. In other words, the tip member 40 is arranged between the pair of support portions 65. In this embodiment, the direction in which the pair of support portions 65 and the first tip member 40 are aligned when viewed from the axial direction da is defined as the first direction d1, and the direction perpendicular to the first direction d1 is defined as the second direction d2 (see Figure 5). In this case, the pair of support portions 65 are arranged on the outside of the tip member 40 in the first direction d1. The front end of the support portion 65 may be located behind the front end of the front end portion 42. When viewed from the transverse direction d2 of the front end portion 42 of the tip member 40, the straight line connecting the front ends of the pair of support portions 65 may extend parallel to the ridge portion 43. Also, the straight line connecting the front ends of the pair of support portions 65 may be located behind the front end of the front end portion 42.

[0032] The support portion 65 is intended to contact the writing surface, such as paper, when writing with the writing instrument 10. In this embodiment, the front end portion 42 is flexible and can bend and deform in the second direction d2 due to writing pressure. When writing, the support portion 65 contacts the writing surface, allowing the amount of bending of the front end portion 42 to be controlled within a predetermined range. This prevents the front end portion 42 from being damaged or broken due to excessive bending. Furthermore, by moving the writing instrument 10 while the two support portions 65 remain in contact with the writing surface, the front end portion 42 can form a handwriting line with a constant amount of bending. Therefore, it becomes possible to form a handwriting line with a stable and constant line width.

[0033] In this embodiment, the support portion 65 is provided integrally with the barrel 20 (front barrel 21). That is, the front barrel 21 and the support portion 65 are configured as a single part. This reduces the number of parts that make up the writing instrument 10. However, the support portion 65 may be provided separately from the barrel 20 (front barrel 21). For example, a support member including the support portion 65 may be formed separately from the barrel 20 (front barrel 21), and this support member may be attached to the front end of the barrel 20 (front barrel 21). In this case, the base end surface 63 may be provided on the support member. That is, the support member may include the base end surface 63 and the support portion 65. The support member (support portion 65) may be detachable from the barrel 20. When the support portion 65 is provided separately from the barrel 20 (front barrel 21), the support portion 65 may be formed from a different material than the material of the barrel 20 (front barrel 21). The material of the support portion 65 may be, for example, a resin material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, or polyacetal.

[0034] As clearly shown in Figure 3, the front end portion 42 of the first tip member 40 does not have a portion that is completely surrounded in the circumferential direction by other members. If the writing instrument 10 has a front cap that covers the tip member 40, when the front cap is removed, the front end portion 42 of the first tip member 40 does not have a portion that is completely surrounded in the circumferential direction by other members. Also, if the support portion 65 is detachable from the barrel 20, when the support portion 65 is attached to the barrel 20, the front end portion 42 of the first tip member 40 does not have a portion that is completely surrounded in the circumferential direction by other members.

[0035] In this embodiment, only the pair of support portions 65 are located radially outward from the front end portion 42 of the first tip member 40. Furthermore, only the pair of support portions 65 extend forward from the base end surface 63. As a result, the front end portion 42 of the first tip member 40 does not have a portion that is completely surrounded in the circumferential direction by other members. However, the writing instrument 10 may have other members located radially outward from the front end portion 42 of the first tip member 40, as long as the front end portion 42 does not have a portion that is completely surrounded in the circumferential direction by other members. Furthermore, the writing instrument 10 may have other members extending forward from the base end surface 63, as long as the front end portion 42 does not have a portion that is completely surrounded in the circumferential direction by other members.

[0036] Because the front end portion 42 of the first tip member 40 does not have a portion that is completely surrounded in the circumferential direction by other members, it becomes easier for the user to see the front end portion 42. Therefore, it becomes possible to easily confirm the orientation of the front end portion 42. In addition, if the front end portion 42 has flexibility that allows it to bend and deform in the second direction d2 due to pen pressure, the degree of freedom of bending deformation of the front end portion 42 is improved because the front end portion 42 does not have a portion that is completely surrounded in the circumferential direction by other members.

[0037] In this embodiment, the entire front end portion 42 of the first tip member 40 is exposed in the second direction d2. That is, the writing instrument 10 does not have a member that covers the front end portion 42 from the second direction d2. In this case, the bending of the front end portion 42 in the second direction d2 is not hindered by a member that covers the front end portion 42 from the second direction d2. This further improves the degree of freedom of bending deformation of the front end portion 42.

[0038] The front end portion 42 has a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in a cross-section perpendicular to the central axis A of the writing instrument 10 (see Figure 5). The longitudinal direction of the front end portion 42 coincides with the first direction d1, and the transverse direction coincides with the second direction d2. Therefore, the longitudinal direction of the front end portion 42 is denoted by the numeral d1, and the transverse direction by the numeral d2. In this case, the pair of support portions 65 are positioned outside the tip member 40 in the longitudinal direction d1 of the front end portion 42. Furthermore, the front end portion 42 can bend and deform in the transverse direction d2 due to writing pressure.

[0039] In this embodiment, the entire front end portion 42 of the first tip member 40 is exposed in the transverse direction d2. That is, the writing instrument 10 does not have a member that covers the front end portion 42 from the transverse direction d2. In this case, the deflection of the front end portion 42 in the transverse direction d2 is not hindered by a member that covers the front end portion 42 from the transverse direction d2. This further improves the degree of freedom of the deflection deformation of the front end portion 42.

[0040] The writing instrument 10 of this embodiment comprises a tip member 40 having a base end surface 63 extending in a direction intersecting the central axis A, and a front end portion 42 located in front of the base end surface 63, and a pair of support portions 65 extending forward from the base end surface 63 and positioned outside the front end portion 42, with the front end portion 42 not having a portion that is completely surrounded in the circumferential direction by other members.

[0041] In the writing instrument 10 of this embodiment, the base end surface 63 extends in a direction perpendicular to the central axis A.

[0042] With this writing instrument 10, the front end portion 42 does not have a portion that is completely surrounded in the circumferential direction by other members, making it easier for the user to see the front end portion 42. Therefore, it becomes easy to confirm the orientation of the front end portion 42.

[0043] In the writing instrument 10 of this embodiment, there is a first direction d1 perpendicular to the central axis A and a second direction d2 perpendicular to both the central axis A and the first direction d1. The pair of support parts 65 are positioned in the first direction d1 relative to the front end portion 42, and the entire front end portion 42 is exposed in the second direction d2.

[0044] In the writing instrument 10 of this embodiment, the front end portion 42 can bend in the second direction d2 due to the pressure applied when writing.

[0045] With this writing instrument 10, the member covering the front end 42 from the second direction d2 does not hinder the deflection of the front end 42 in the second direction d2. This improves the degree of freedom of the deflection deformation of the front end 42.

[0046] In the writing instrument 10 of this embodiment, in a cross-section perpendicular to the central axis A, the front end portion 42 has a longitudinal direction d1 and a transverse direction d2 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction d1, and a pair of support portions 65 are arranged in the longitudinal direction d1 relative to the front end portion 42, with the entire front end portion 42 exposed in the transverse direction d2.

[0047] In the writing instrument 10 of this embodiment, the front end portion 42 can bend in the transverse direction d2 due to the pressure applied when writing.

[0048] With this writing instrument 10, the member covering the front end portion 42 from the transverse direction d2 does not hinder the deflection of the front end portion 42 in the transverse direction d2. This improves the degree of freedom of the deflection deformation of the front end portion 42. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 10 Writing instruments 11 Ink reservoir 12. Second tip component 13 Rear cap 20 shaft cylinder 21 Front axle 23 Guard section 24 Ribs 25 Through holes 26 Step section 29 rear axle 40 Chip components 42 Front end 43 Ridge section 45 Middle section 46 Step part 48 Rear end 50 Retaining member 63 Proximal surface 65 Support part A Center axis da axis direction d1 First direction, longitudinal direction d2 Second direction, transverse direction

Claims

1. A base surface extending in a direction intersecting the central axis, A tip member having a front end located forward of the base surface, It comprises a pair of support portions that extend forward from the base surface and are positioned outside the front end, sandwiching the front end, A writing instrument wherein the aforementioned front end portion does not have a portion that is completely surrounded in the circumferential direction by other members.

2. The writing instrument according to claim 1, wherein the base surface extends in a direction perpendicular to the central axis.

3. A first direction perpendicular to the aforementioned central axis, Having the aforementioned central axis and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, The pair of support portions are arranged in the first direction relative to the front end, The writing instrument according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the entire front end is exposed in the second direction.

4. The writing instrument according to claim 3, wherein the front end portion is capable of bending in the second direction due to the pressure applied when writing.

5. In a cross-section perpendicular to the aforementioned central axis, The aforementioned front end has a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, The pair of support parts are arranged in the longitudinal direction with respect to the front end, The writing instrument according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the entire front end is exposed in the transverse direction.

6. The writing instrument according to claim 5, wherein the front end portion is capable of bending in the transverse direction due to the pressure applied when writing.

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