GB785249A - Improvements in or relating to writing instruments - Google Patents

Abstract

785,249. Reservoir pens. DOTTLINGER, A. Sept. 13, 1955 [Sept. 14, 1954; Feb. 8, 1955; March 17, 1955; March 18, 1955], No. 26114/55. Class 146(3) A ball-point pen comprises a barrel 1, a plunger-actuated, spring-loaded reservoir- 20 mounted for sliding movement in the barrel, and locking means for locking the reservoir in operative and inoperative positions comprising a ball 4, the travel of which is restricted by opposed recessesformed in the plunger 3 and in the barrel or a sleeve in the barrel the recesses cooperating to engage the ball and hold it, under the action of the spring in either the operative or inoperative positions of the reservoir. As shown, the plunger 3 Fig. 2, is slidable in a sleeve 2 having an internal longitudinal groove 24, Fig. 10, which accommodates part of the ball 4, the other part of which is accommodated in a groove 25, Fig. 2 in the plunger 3. The reservoir is pressed rearwardly by a spring 19, not shown. Depression of the plunger 3 causes the ball 4 to be released from an abutment 7, Fig. 10, and engage an abutment 8 to lock the reservoir in operative position. In modiflications, the groove 24 is replaced by a U-shaped groove. or an inverted T-shaped groove. In an embodiment having a U-shaped groove 26, Fig. 3 in the sleeve 2 and an annular groove 27, in the plunger, the plunger is enclosed by the sleeve 2 having a closed end. The reservoir 20 is projected by shaking the barrel downwardly to cause the momentum of the plunger and reservoir to compress a retracting spring, not shown, and thereby cause the ball 4 to engage an abutment 8 formed by one end of the groove 26 in the sleeve 2. A further shaking action releases the ball from the abutment and permits retraction of the reservoir 20. In another modification, the sleeve has a transverse groove and the plunger a longitudinal groove for accommodating the ball.