Coating implements with material supply – Plural tools including projectable and retractable tool – Including individual actuators
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-01
2002-04-09
Huson, Gregory L. (Department: 3751)
Coating implements with material supply
Plural tools including projectable and retractable tool
Including individual actuators
Reexamination Certificate
active
06368001
ABSTRACT:
The invention concerns a pencil having a holding barrel with two ends, a first adjusting sleeve which is held at a first end of the holding barrel in such a way that it can be rotated with respect to the holding barrel, a first refill which is coupled to the first adjusting sleeve by means of a first transmission means having the first adjusting spindle, in such a way that it is displaced upon rotation of the first adjusting sleeve with respect to the holding barrel in the axial direction of the first adjusting sleeve, a second adjusting sleeve which is held at a second end of the holding barrel in such a way that it can be rotated with respect to the holding barrel, and a second refill which is coupled to the second adjusting sleeve by means of a second transmission means having a second adjusting spindle, in such a way that it is displaced upon rotation of the second adjusting sleeve with respect to the holding barrel in the axial direction of the second adjusting sleeve, wherein the first adjusting spindle is tubular and there is at least one first operating position in which the second adjusting spindle projects with its end remote from the second refill into the first adjusting spindle.
Pencils of the kind set forth in the opening part of this specification are known, for example from EP 0 492 266 B1. They may involve for example cosmetic pencils. It will be appreciated however that they may also be pencils or crayons for other purposes, such as for example writing, drawing, painting or marking. The applicator elements arranged at the free ends of the sticks or refills can be of any desired configuration and can be held in any manner. It is for example also possible to use sticks or refills with applicator elements for writing fluids as well as solid refills or sticks.
A problem which arises with the known pencils is that the second adjusting spindle is not reliably supported and guided at its end remote from the second refill, when the second adjusting spindle does not project into the first adjusting spindle. That is the case in particular when both adjusting spindles or refills are displaced outwardly beyond a certain amount.
Admittedly it is theoretically possible to limit the maximum displacement of the two adjusting spindles or refills to an amount such that the second adjusting spindle still just projects into the first adjusting spindle. Limiting the travel in that way however would involve a corresponding limitation on the refill length and thus the refill mass, in particular when using self-consuming refills.
Accordingly the object of the present invention is to improve a pencil of the kind set forth in the opening part of this specification, such as to ensure that the second adjusting spindle is reliably guided or held without correspondingly limiting the maximum refill length.
In accordance with the invention that object is attained in that there is at least one second operating position in which the second adjusting spindle does not project with its end remote from the second refill into the first adjusting spindle, and there is provided a guide means which is not identical to the first adjusting spindle for preventing the end of the second adjusting spindle, which is remote from the second refill, from tilting transversely with respect to the axial direction at least in the second operating position.
In other words, in accordance with the invention the two adjusting spindles or the two refills or sticks can be extended to such an extent, more specifically into the second operating position referred to above, that the second adjusting spindle no longer projects into the first adjusting spindle. Nonetheless, tilting of the end of the second adjusting spindle, which is remote from the second refill, transversely with respect to the axial direction, is prevented, even if not by the first adjusting spindle. On the contrary a separate guide means is provided for that purpose.
In that way the amount by which the two refills are extended is no longer limited by the need to prevent the second adjusting spindle from tilting as referred to above, by means of the first adjusting spindle. Nonetheless tilting is reliably prevented, more specifically by virtue of the guide means.
In accordance with the invention it is preferably provided that the guide means prevents the end, remote from the second refill, of the second adjusting spindle from tilting transversely with respect to the axial direction, in each operating position. In other words, it is admittedly provided that the second adjusting spindle projects into the first adjusting spindle, at least in the first operating position. In that case however the second adjusting spindle does not prevent the first adjusting spindle from tilting transversely with respect to the axial direction. The guide means is preferably provided in accordance with the invention for that purpose.
It will be appreciated that the end of the first adjusting spindle, that is remote from the first refill, can be prevented from tilting transversely with respect to the axial direction. It is preferably provided in accordance with the invention however that the guide means prevents the end, remote from the first refill, of the first adjusting spindle from tilting transversely with respect to the axial direction, in each operating position. That prevention action can be provided as an alternative to or in addition to other prevention actions.
The guide means can in principle be of any desired configuration. Preferably in accordance with the invention however it is in the form of a sleeve. In that arrangement, the sleeve accommodates on the one hand the second adjusting spindle while on the other hand it is itself accommodated by the first adjusting spindle. In that way it can prevent both adjusting spindles from tilting transversely with respect to the axial direction.
Preferably the guide sleeve is closed at its end remote from the second refill. In that way, for example the two refills can be kept separated from each other in liquid-tight and gas-tight relationship, which is advantageous for example when one of the two refills contains a volatile component while the other refill is in powder form. In such a case more specifically there is a risk of the volatile component contaminating the powder.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5306107 (1994-04-01), Kageyama et al.
patent: 0 492 266 (1992-07-01), None
Bachman & LaPointe P.C.
deVore Peyer
Huson Gregory L.
Schwan-STABILO Cosmetics GmbH + Co.
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