Multifunction writing instrument
AssigneeSociete BIC
InventorEtienne Michenaud
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multifunction writing instrument comprising a body extending along an axial direction and housing at least two writing elements, each writing element comprising a writing tip, a selector device configured to select one writing element from among the at least two writing elements, a retraction device configured to move a selected writing element between a writing position in which the writing tip of the selected writing element projects from the body and a retracted position in which the writing tip of the selected writing element is retracted, and a return device configured to bring a writing element from the writing position to the retracted position when the selector device is activated while a writing element is in the writing position.
Claims18
A multifunction writing instrument comprising a body that extends along an axial direction and houses two or more writing elements, each writing element including a writing tip, a selector device configured to select one writing element from the two or more writing elements, a retraction device configured to move a selected writing element between a writing position in which the writing tip of the selected writing element projects from the body and a retracted position in which the writing tip of the selected writing element is retracted, and a return device configured to bring one of the writing elements that is in the writing position back to the retracted position when the selector device is activated so that a different writing element of the two or more writing elements is able to be moved to the writing position, wherein the body comprises a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion and the rear portion being rotatably movable relative to each other about the axial direction, the selector device comprising a cam rotatably coupled with the rear portion and configured to co-operate with the writing elements while the writing elements are rotatably coupled with the front portion, the retraction device comprising a ratchet mechanism comprising a rotary cam and a plunger cam, the plunger cam being rotatably coupled with the rear portion, the rotary cam being rotatably coupled with the front portion when a writing element is in the writing position, while the rotary cam is free to rotate relative to the front portion when all of the writing elements are in the retracted position, whereby the rotary cam turns so as to release the plunger cam in the axial direction relative to the rotary cam when the selector device is activated while a writing element is in the writing position.
A multifunction writing instrument comprising a body that extends along an axial direction and houses two or more writing elements, each writing element including a writing tip, the body further houses a selector device configured to select one writing element, a retraction device configured to move a selected writing element between a writing position in which the writing tip of the selected writing element projects from the body and a retracted position in which the writing tip of the selected writing element is retracted, and a return device that is coupled with the selector device at least while a writing element is in the writing position such that the return device is able to bring the writing element that is in the writing position back to the retracted position when the selector device is activated so that a different writing element of the two or more writing elements is able to be moved to the writing position, wherein the body comprises a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion and the rear portion being rotatably movable relative to each other about the axial direction, the selector device comprising a cam rotatably coupled with the rear portion and configured to co-operate with the writing elements while the writing elements are rotatably coupled with the front portion, the retraction device comprising a ratchet mechanism comprising a rotary cam and a plunger cam, the plunger cam being rotatably coupled with the rear portion, the rotary cam being rotatably coupled with the front portion when a writing element is in the writing position, while the rotary cam is free to rotate relative to the front portion when all of the writing elements are in the retracted position, whereby the rotary cam turns so as to release the plunger cam in the axial direction relative to the rotary cam when the selector device is activated while a writing element is in the writing position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.