Coating implements with material supply – Projectable and retractable tool – By screw mechanism
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-10
2001-07-24
Walczak, David J. (Department: 3751)
Coating implements with material supply
Projectable and retractable tool
By screw mechanism
C401S195000, C401S107000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264389
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to writing instruments and, more particularly, to a writing instrument which may be conveniently converted from a compact storage configuration to a lengthened writing configuration. More particularly, a writing portion may be selectively stored within a case or attached thereto for use in writing.
Various devices have been proposed in the art for providing compact writing instruments that are convertible from a storage configuration to a writing configuration, such as the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,982. In addition, devices have been proposed for advancing or retracting a writing element by rotation of the writing instrument housings. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, these devices do not provide the ability to threadably attach or detach a writing element from a case without consequently rotatably advancing or retracting the writing element itself.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a writing instrument which is selectively threadably held in a storage configuration within a tubular housing or threadably attached to the housing in a writing configuration. Further, it is desirable to have a writing instrument in which a writing element may be advanced or retracted without disrupting the threaded relationship between the writing portion and housing portion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A writing instrument according to the present invention includes a front tubular member having an externally threaded end and a conical tip end. The writing instrument further includes a rear tubular member having an internally threaded open end and an opposed closed end. The externally threaded end of the front tubular member may be removably coupled to the threaded open end of the rear tubular member either with the front tubular member inserted in the rear tubular member or extending therefrom. In other words, the front and rear tubular members may be converted from a storage configuration to a use position using the same threaded attachment structures. It should be appreciated that rotation of the front tubular member relative to the rear tubular member plays no part in the advancement or retraction of the writing element itself. A loop or latch is attached to the closed end of the rear tubular member such that the writing instrument may be coupled to a key ring.
An inner front tubular member is disposed in the front tubular member and is not rotatable therein. The inner front tubular member defines an inclined path at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis thereof. A tubular actuator member is coupled to the inner front tubular member and is adapted to rotate relative thereto. The actuator member includes a hub that engages the inclined path and moves between ends thereof as the actuator member is rotated. The actuator member includes a threaded end opposite the hub. The writing instrument further includes a writing refill inserted writing-tip-first into the inner front and actuator members. A tubular knob is attached to the refill opposite the writing tip end and is threaded for engagement with the threaded end of the actuator member. Therefore, the refill and actuator members are rotated upon a user rotation of the knob. Such a rotation causes the writing tip to extend or retract from the conical end of the front tubular member because of the oblique angle of the inclined path and the engagement of the hub therein. It should again be appreciated that extension or retraction of the writing element is dependent upon rotation of the knob rather than of the front and rear tubular members.
Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a writing instrument that may be attached to a key ring and carried in a compact, storage configuration.
Another object of this invention is to provide a writing instrument, as aforesaid, which is easily attachable or detachable from a key ring with a spring-biased latch assembly.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a writing instrument, as aforesaid, having front and rear tubular members which may be threadably coupled or separated without also extending or retracting a writing element from the front member.
A further object of this invention is to provide a writing instrument, as aforesaid, which is easy and economical to manufacture and simple to use.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 260905 (1981-09-01), Klaber
patent: D. 276479 (1984-11-01), Mori
patent: D. 310449 (1990-09-01), Agrippino
patent: D. 332625 (1993-01-01), LaPerche
patent: 3994605 (1976-11-01), McKnight
patent: 4081217 (1978-03-01), Klaber
patent: 4317638 (1982-03-01), Klaber
patent: 4833902 (1989-05-01), Mori
patent: 4974982 (1990-12-01), Neilson
patent: 5547301 (1996-08-01), Kageyama et al.
Ream Dale J.
Walczak David J.
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