Pen

Abstract

The invention relates to a pen with a refill and a rotary mechanism for adjusting the refill in the longitudinal direction of the pen, wherein the rotary mechanism comprises a spindle and a threaded nut and the internal thread of the threaded nut is divided at least in sections into first thread segments which each extend over less than 360° in the circumferential direction. According to the invention, it is provided that the external thread of the spindle is divided at least in sections into second thread segments which extend over less than 360° in the circumferential direction, the distance in the circumferential direction between second thread segments that are adjacent in the circumferential direction is lesser than the extension in the circumferential direction of the first thread segments and the distance in the circumferential direction between first thread segments that are adjacent in the circumferential direction is lesser than the extension in the circumferential direction of the second thread segments.

Description

[0001] PEN

[0002] The invention relates to a pen with a refill and a rotary mechanism for adjusting the refill in the longitudinal direction of the pen, wherein the rotary mechanism comprises a spindle and a matching threaded nut and the internal thread of the threaded nut is divided at least in sections into first thread segments which each extend over less than 360° in the circumferential direction.

[0003] Pens of the aforementioned type are known. In some cases, the threaded nut is configured in a tong-like manner.

[0004] It has, however, been found that the twist mechanism sometimes tends to be stiff or get stuck, especially if it is made using PET (polyethylene terephthalate).

[0005] The invention is based on the task of further developing pens of the aforementioned type in such a way that their rotary mechanism is reliably smooth-running and does not tend to jam.

[0006] According to the invention, the task set forth is solved in that the external thread of the spindle is divided at least in sections into second thread segments which each extend over less than 360° in the circumferential direction, the distance in the circumferential direction between second thread segments that are adjacent in the circumferential direction is lesser than the extension in the circumferential direction of the first thread segments and the distance in the circumferential direction between first thread segments that are adjacent in the circumferential direction is lesser than the extension in the circumferential direction of the second thread segments.

[0007] In other words, not only the internal thread of the threaded nut of the rotary mechanism is divided, at least in sections, into thread segments, but also the external thread of the spindle. This reduces friction in the rotary mechanism, which increases ease of movement and reduces the risk of jamming and canting.

[0008] The external thread of the spindle can have two or more second thread segments per 360° rotation. It has, namely, been found that even bifurcation of the rotation is accompanied by considerable advantages in terms of solving the above problem.

[0009] It is further preferred according to the invention that the internal thread of the threaded nut has two, three or more first thread segments per 360° rotation.

[0010] In the case of the internal thread, a higher number of partitions than for the internal thread of the threaded nut has proven to be appropriate, wherein even a bifurcation (as is the case with the external thread of the spindle) offers considerable advantages in terms of the above task.

[0011] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the threaded nut comprises slots at least between some first thread segments that are adjacent in the circumferential direction.

[0012] The use of these slots makes it possible for the threaded nut to expand when the turning mechanism is over-tightened, thereby enabling a skip of threads. This prevents blocking or even destruction of the turning mechanism due to over-tightening.

[0013] In accordance with the invention, it may be provided that at least some of the slots are open towards at least one end of the threaded nut.

[0014] This makes it easier to expand the threaded nut to protect the turning mechanism against over-tightening, which increases effectiveness.

[0015] The above measures make it possible to use a wide variety of materials for the manufacture of the pen. This applies in particular to PET. According to the invention, it is, therefore, preferably provided that the pen is made exclusively of PET, apart from the refill material or the filling of the refill.

[0016] This makes the pen particularly easy to recycle.

[0017] In this connection, it is pointed out that the pen according to the invention can be a pen in which the refill material is in the form of a rod. According to the invention, the PET is preferably recycled PET.

[0018] Lastly, the invention also provides a rotating mechanism for a pen of the type described above.

[0019] In the following, the invention is explained in more detail on the basis of a preferred embodiment example with further details. Wherein,

[0020] Fig. 1 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a pen according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0021] Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the pen according to Fig. 1 along the plane B-B,

[0022] Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a refill holder with spindle of the pen according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2,

[0023] Fig. 4 shows partly-sectioned schematic partial views of the refill holder with spindle according to Fig. 3,

[0024] Fig. 5 shows partly-sectioned schematic partial views of a threaded nut of the pen according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, and

[0025] Fig. 6 shows the same views as Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, however with the threaded nut screwed onto the spindle.

[0026] The pen shown in the drawings comprises a protector 10, a cartridge 12, a refill holder 14 with spindle 16, a refill 18 held by the refill holder 14 and a shaft 20. A longitudinal axis of the pen is designated L.

[0027] The cartridge 12 and the shaft 20 can be rotated relative to each other, but are coupled to each other in the longitudinal direction of the pen. A threaded nut 22 is arranged in the shaft 20, which threaded nut is coupled to the shaft 20 both in the direction of rotation and in the longitudinal direction of the pen.

[0028] The threaded nut 22 comprises an internal thread that is divided into several thread segments. Of these thread segments, three thread segments are labeled with the reference numbers 24, 26 and 28 in Fig. 5.

[0029] The external thread of the spindle 16 is also divided into thread segments. Two of these thread segments are marked with the reference numbers 30 and 32 in Fig. 4.

[0030] The threaded nut 22 is screwed to the spindle 16 of the refill holder 14 by means of the thread segments 24, 26 and 28 on the one hand and the thread segments 30, 32 on the other hand. Due to this screw connection, a rotation of the shaft 20 with respect to the cartridge 12 about the longitudinal axis L of the pen leads to a longitudinal displacement of the spindle 16 of the refill holder 14 together with the refill 18 within the cartridge 12. In this respect, the spindle 16 with the threaded nut 22 forms a rotary mechanism for adjusting the refill 18 in the longitudinal direction of the pen.

[0031] The thread segments 30, 32 respectively extend over a distance D in the circumferential direction, which amounts to 100° in the embodiment example shown. Two thread segments are provided per rotation, resulting in a distance A of 80° in the direction of rotation.

[0032] The thread segments 24, 26 and 28 of the threaded nut 22 respectively have an extension B of 90°, wherein three thread segments are provided per 360°. The distance C between thread segments 24, 26, 28 that are adjacent in the circumferential direction is 30°.

[0033] As a consequence, the distance A between the thread segments 30 and 32 is smaller than the extension B of the thread segments 24, 26 and 28, and the distance C of the thread segments 24, 26 and 28 is smaller than the extension D of the thread segments 30 and 32. This ensures that none of the thread segments 24, 26 and 28 or the thread segments 30 and 32 falls into a space between the respective other thread segments. This ensures safe operation of the rotary mechanism for moving the refill 18 in the longitudinal direction of the pen. Due to the partition of the external thread of the spindle 16 into two thread segments 30, 32 per 360°, the smooth running of the rotary mechanism is ensured and, at the same time, jamming is prevented.

[0034] To protect the turning mechanism from damage due to over-tightening, the threaded nut 22 is provided with slots, one of which is marked with the reference number 34. They are located between thread segments 24, 26, 28 that are adjacent in the circumferential direction and are open towards the end of the threaded nut 22. This allows the threaded nut 22 to expand in the radial direction when the rotary mechanism is overtightened and the thread segments 24, 26 and 28 can skip over the thread segments 30, 32.

[0035] Apart from the refill 18, all parts of the pen are made of recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate). Due to the partition of the external thread of the spindle 16 into thread segments 30, 32 and the partition of the internal thread of the threaded nut 22 into thread segments 24, 26, 28, the required ease of movement of the rotary mechanism is ensured despite the use of this material. It does not tend to jam.

[0036] The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the claims, and in the drawing may be essential both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Pen with a refill (18) and a rotary mechanism for adjusting the refill in the longitudinal direction of the pen, wherein the rotary mechanism comprises a spindle (16) and a threaded nut (22) and the internal thread of the threaded nut is divided at least in sections into first thread segments (24, 26, 28), each of which extends over less than 360° in the circumferential direction, characterized in that the external thread of the spindle (16) is divided at least in sections into second thread segments (30, 32) which extend over less than 360° in the circumferential direction, the distance (A) in the circumferential direction between second thread segments that are adjacent in the circumferential direction is smaller than the extension (B) in the circumferential direction of the first thread segments (24, 26, 28), and the distance (C) in the circumferential direction between first thread segments that are adjacent in the circumferential direction is smaller than the extension (D) in the circumferential direction of the second thread segments.

2. Pen according to claim 1 , characterized in that the external thread of the spindle (16) comprises two or more second thread segments (30, 32) per 360° rotation.

3. Pen according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the internal thread of the threaded nut (22) comprises two, three or more first thread segments (24, 26, 28) per 360° rotation.

4. Pen according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the threaded nut (22) comprises slots (34) between first thread segments (24, 26, 28) that are adjacent in the circumferential direction.

5. Pen according to claim 4, characterized in that at least some of the slots (34) are open towards at least one end of the threaded nut (22)6. Pen according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made exclusively of PET, apart from the refill material or the filling of the refill.

7. Pen according to claim 6, characterized in that the PET is recycled PET.

8. Rotary mechanism of a pen according to any of the preceding claims.

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