Coating implements with material supply – With signal or indicator
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-09
2001-09-11
Walczak, David J. (Department: 3751)
Coating implements with material supply
With signal or indicator
C401S195000, C401S104000, C401S110000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06287036
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a knocking writing utensil, and in particular to a knocking writing utensil for which pictorial indications such as letters, patterns, etc. are provided.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional knocking writing utensil is commonly provided with printed letters and patterns on the surface of its external cylinder. However, such a conventional knocking writing utensil does not provide any variation on its printed indications, and therefore hardly catches a user's attention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing and other problems, disadvantages, and drawbacks of the conventional writing utensil, the present invention has been devised, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a knocking writing utensil capable of varying its indications.
To attain the above and other objects, a knocking writing utensil according to the present invention includes an external cylinder, a writing medium located inside the external cylinder and urged rearwardly, and a rotational cam mechanism. The rotational cam mechanism includes a cam cylinder capable of rotating and moving backward and forwardly inside the external cylinder and regulating rearwardly movement of the writing medium, a cam body rotating the cam cylinder at a predetermined angle each time the cam cylinder is propelled forwardly so that the cam cylinder moves alternately to a forward position and a withdrawal position, and a cam bar capable of pushing the earn cylinder forwardly.
Preferably, a knock body is integrally formed with the cam bar, or is connected to the cam bar, so that a knock operation is feasible. The knock body undergoes a knock operation so that the cam cylinder rotates, as well as moves rearwardly and forwardly, in the axial direction, and makes a tip of the writing medium be projected out of and retracted into a tip of the external cylinder. A window, from which the inside of the external cylinder is visible, is provided at a portion of a circumferential surface of the external cylinder.
Preferably, a rotational drum having indications (e.g., indicia) of letters, illustrations, etc. provided on an outer circumferential surface thereof is located inside the external cylinder to rotate in an interlocking fashion with the rotation of the above-described cam cylinder so that the indications are visible through the window. When the knock body undergoes a knocking operation so that the cam bar is propelled forwardly in an integral fashion with the knock body, the cam bar pushes the cam cylinder forwardly and the cam cylinder rotates at a predetermined angle while it is propelled forwardly. The cam cylinder moves to a forward position and to a withdrawal position alternately each time it rotates at the predetermined angle so as to drive the writing medium. In addition, the rotational drum rotates in an interlocking fashion with the rotation of the earn cylinder so that indications of letters, illustrations, etc. provided on the outer circumferential surface of the rotational drum and externally visible through the window are changed so as to better attract a user's interest.
Further, the rotational drum may be connected to the cam cylinder so as to be movable in the axial direction and non-rotatable relative to the cam cylinder, and is located so as to be incapable of moving in the axial direction relative to the external cylinder. While the cam cylinder moves rearwardly and forwardly relative to the external cylinder as well as rotates, the rotational drum is incapable of moving in the axial direction relative to the external cylinder, and thus, only rotation of the cam cylinder is transmitted to the rotational drum.
Regardless of the rearwardly and forwardly movement of the cam cylinder, the rotational drum does not move in the axial direction. As a result, the rotational drum moves in the circumferential direction in unison with the rotation of the cam cylinder. Thus, the rotational drum having the indications provided on the outer circumferential surface thereof is incapable of moving in the axial direction, so that changing of the indications by the rotation of the rotational drum can be carried out smoothly and neatly. In addition, the rotational drum does not move rearwardly and forwardly and as a result the window can be widely used and it is possible to take a wide area of the outer circumferential surface of the rotational drum for the indications.
Still further, the cam cylinder and rotational drum preferably are connected by a polygonally-shaped bore formed in either member being fitted into a polygonal-shaped external cylinder surface formed in the other member. Thus, both members can easily be connected.
A knock writing utensil according to another aspect of the invention includes an external cylinder, a writing medium located inside the external cylinder and urged rearwardly, and a rotational cam mechanism. The rotational cam mechanism includes a cam cylinder provided so as to be incapable of rotating but capable of moving rearwardly and forwardly inside the external cylinder and regulating rearwardly movement of the writing medium, a cam body, which is located inside the external cylinder so as to be incapable of moving rearwardly and forwardly, rotating at a predetermined angle each time the cam cylinder is propelled forwardly so that the cam cylinder moves alternately to a forward position and a withdrawal position, and a cam bar capable of pushing the cam cylinder forwardly.
A knock body is integrally formed with the cam bar or is connected to the cam bar so that a knock operation is feasible. The knock body undergoes a knock operation so that the cam body rotates while the cam cylinder moves rearwardly and forwardly in the axial direction so as to drive the writing medium. A window, from which the inside of the external cylinder is visible, is provided at a portion of a circumferential surface of the external cylinder. A rotational drum having indications of letters, illustrations, etc. provided on an outer circumferential surface thereof is located inside the external cylinder to rotate in an interlocking fashion with a rotation of the cam body so that the indications are visible through the window.
When the knock body undergoes a knocking operation, the cam bar is propelled forwardly integrally with the knock body. At this time, the cam bar pushes the cam cylinder forwardly and the cam body rotates at the predetermined angle as the cam bar goes forwardly. The cam cylinder moves to a forward position and to a withdrawal position alternately each time the cam body rotates at the predetermined angle, whereby the writing medium is driven. In addition, the rotational drum rotates in an interlocking fashion with the rotation of the cam body so that indications of letters, illustrations, etc. provided on the outer circumferential surface of the rotational drum and visible externally through the window are changed to appear more interesting.
Preferably, the rotational drum is formed integrally with the cam body. Thus, the number of components can be reduced. As the cam body does not move rearwardly and forwardly, the rotational drum moves in a circumferential direction together with the rotation of the cam body, and thus no axial movement occurs in the rotational drum. Thus, the rotational drum having the indications provided on the outer circumferential surface thereof is incapable of moving in the axial direction, so that changing of the indications by the rotation of the rotational drum can be carried out smoothly and neatly.
While the window may be simply a through-hole, it can alternatively be a transparent body provided internally which acts as a magnifying lens. In such a case, since the transparent body for the window is a lens, the letters or illustrations provided on the rotational drum are magnified, thus drawing a user's attention more easily. In addition, the transparent body can prevent dust, trash, and the like from penetrating the writing utensil t
Keda Tadashi
Mitsuya Yoshihide
Kotobuki & Co. Ltd.
McGinn & Gibb PLLC
Walczak David J.
LandOfFree
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