Coating implements with material supply – Including ball – roller or endless-belt tool – Ball
Patent
1996-10-29
1998-04-07
Stoll, William E.
Coating implements with material supply
Including ball, roller or endless-belt tool
Ball
B43K 300
Patent
active
057356246
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to writing instruments and is concerned with a container for ink for a writing instrument, and more particularly to a valve for employment with a container of that type.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are a number of mechanisms for preventing or otherwise controlling flow of ink from a writing instrument, particularly when the writing instrument is not being used. In fountain pens, for example, ink is drawn out under capillary action during writing and otherwise generally does not flow to the writing tip, the flow of ink being controlled by a small aperture in the ink reservoir known as a "weir" through which air passes to replace ink passing to the writing tip. Such pens often have a "collector" which acts as a buffer to store ink if ink is forced out of the ink reservoir, for example, due to expansion of air in the ink reservoir.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved ink flow control system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a container for ink for a writing instrument, the container comprising: conveying ink from the reservoir to the writing tip; and, on one side to pressure in the ink feed and being subjected on another side to atmospheric pressure, the valve opening when pressure in the ink feed falls sufficiently below the atmospheric pressure acting on the valve, thereby allowing ink to flow from the reservoir to the ink feed.
The valve provides a positive closure during periods of non-writing. The valve further provides reliable control of ink flow during writing. The valve can take up less volume than a collector of a conventional fountain pen, for example, or other writing instrument, thereby providing more space to store ink. The valve can also be used in other types of writing instruments such as fibre-tipped pens and rolling-ball pens. The valve can be arranged so that ink in the reservoir tends to close the valve, which helps to ensure that ink does not pass to the writing tip if the writing instrument is accidentally dropped. The valve can be used in conjunction with a follower, a follower being a plug at the surface of the ink in the ink reservoir which follows the ink down the ink reservoir as ink is drawn off during writing.
The valve may be a resilient member which deforms under pressure to form a flow path for ink to pass to the ink feed. Alternatively, or additionally, the valve or a portion of the valve may translate on opening.
The valve my have a valve body and a valve head which normally seals an ink flow path between the reservoir and the ink feed, the valve head lying within the reservoir and the valve body being outside the reservoir and being subjected to atmospheric pressure on one side and pressure in the ink feed on another side, wherein a drop in pressure in the ink feed causes the valve head to be lifted to open the ink flow path between the reservoir and the ink feed.
The container may be a replaceable refill unit. Alternatively, the container may be provided in a writing instrument.
The container when employed as a replaceable unit may comprise a chamber having a first aperture communicating with the reservoir and a second aperture opening into the ink feed. The valve is then provided with a first arm for closing the first aperture and a second arm for closing the second aperture. The first arm is moved to open the first aperture by differential pressure acting on the valve and the second arm is held in an open position by an external component located on the writing instrument.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Examples of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a writing instrument with a first example of a valve in a closed configuration;
FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the writing instrument of FIG. 1 with the valve in an open configuration;
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view from one side of a writing instrument w
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patent: 3877619 (1975-04-01), Chavez, Jr.
patent: 4544297 (1985-10-01), Grossiord
patent: 4588319 (1986-05-01), Niemeyer
patent: 4671692 (1987-06-01), Inaba
patent: 5172995 (1992-12-01), Felgentreu
patent: 5211495 (1993-05-01), Jozat et al.
Edgerley David Anthony
O'Connor Stephen John
Cekela Chester
Douglas Paul T.
Howley David A.
Parker Pen Products
Stoll William E.
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