Soft Elastomeric Seal for Writing Instrument Nib
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional writing instruments with retractable nibs face issues such as nib drying out due to evaporation, unintentional stains, and the complexity of sealing mechanisms, which can be costly and inconvenient to manage.
Innovation Solution
A writing instrument featuring a tubular body with a seal component made of elastomeric material with low Shore A hardness, allowing the nib to translate between retracted and extended positions while the seal component penetrates and reseals automatically, preventing evaporation and maintaining ink freshness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex sealing mechanism is used to prevent evaporation when the nib is retracted, then the reliability of preventing nib drying is improved, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the sealing function from a complex mechanical mechanism and concentrates it into a single elastomeric seal component. This seal component is positioned at the writing orifice and automatically seals when the nib is retracted, eliminating the need for complex moving parts while maintaining reliable evaporation prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric seal component performs the sealing action automatically based on the nib position without requiring external control mechanisms. When the nib is retracted, the elastic properties of the seal component cause it to close the writing orifice automatically, and when the nib is extended, the seal automatically opens, providing self-service sealing functionality.
2Device complexity
If a self-healing film is used to seal the chamber when the nib is retracted, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter of the seal component by using elastomeric material with specific Shore A hardness (less than 25, preferably less than 20). This parameter selection allows the material to be soft enough to deform and seal around the nib automatically, yet durable enough to provide reliable sealing without requiring expensive self-healing films.
3Ease of operation
If the elastomeric material has very low Shore A hardness to allow easy penetration when extending the nib, then the ease of operation is improved, but the strength of the seal component decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the Shore A hardness parameter to a specific range (less than 25, preferably less than 20) that balances two opposing requirements: softness for easy penetration when extending the nib, and sufficient strength to maintain an effective seal when retracted. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and seal strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal component is designed to be penetrated slightly beyond its normal thickness during nib extension, allowing the nib to pass through while the elastomeric material deforms elastically. This partial penetration approach ensures easy nib extension while the material's elastic recovery maintains sealing capability when the nib is retracted.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prolongs the storage life of the writing instrument by preventing evaporation, reducing the need for complex mechanisms, and enhancing user convenience by maintaining ink freshness and preventing stains.
Implementation Method 1
The seal component may comprise an elastomeric material. The elastomeric material may have a Shore A hardness of less than about 25.
Implementation Method 2
the elastomeric material of the seal component may retain at least about 80%, more specifically at least about 90% and in particular at least about 95%, of its elastic recovery after being stretched
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a writing instrument comprising a soft elastomeric sealing component to prevent drying out of the writing instrument.