# US 5,348,411 A · Writing implement and a fabricating method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,348,411 A - Document ID: US5348411A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/189,839 - Filed: 1994-02-01 - Granted: 1994-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 1993-02-16 - Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Sakura Kurepasu - Inventors: Tatsuya Ozu; Masahiro Yasunaga; Shigeyasu Inoue - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5348411A ## CPC - B43K 5/1881: {when the writing point points upwards} - B43K 7/10: Arrangements for feeding ink to the ball points (B43K7/01 takes precedence) - B43K: IMPLEMENTS FOR WRITING OR DRAWING (containers, casings or accessories for cosmetic substances, e.g. shaving soap, lipstick, make-up A45D34/00, A45D40/00) ## Abstract A writing implement includes a valve device provided at a specified position along a liquid passage along which liquid to be applied flows. The valve device has a ball valve member, a chamber portion in which the ball valve member is placed, the chamber portion having a cross-section in the form of a non-circular substantially circumscribing the ball valve member, a sealing portion operable to come to contact with the ball valve member entirely along a circumference of the ball valve member to interrupt the flow of liquid, and a restricting portion operable to come to contact with a circumferential portion of the ball valve member to restrict the movement of the ball valve member toward a leading end of the writing implement. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A writing implement comprising: valve means provided at a specified position along a liquid passage along which liquid to be applied flows, the valve means including: a valve member in the form of a ball; a chamber portion in which the ball valve member is placed, the chamber portion having a cross-section in the form of a non-circular substantially circumscribing the ball valve member; a sealing portion defined on a bottom end of the chamber portion, the seal portion being operable to come to contact with the ball valve member entirely along a circumference of the ball valve member to interrupt the flow of liquid; and a restricting portion defined on a leading end of the chamber portion, the restricting portion being operable to come to contact with a circumferential portion of the ball valve member to restrict the movement of the ball valve member toward a leading end of the writing implement. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A writing implement as defined in claim 1 wherein the cross-section of the chamber portion is substantially in the form of a right polygon circumscribing the ball valve member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A writing implement as defined in claim 2 wherein the restricting portion includes a projection projecting inward and an inner end side of the projection is parallel with the wall of the chamber portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A writing implement as defined in claim 1 wherein the sealing portion has a convex circumferential surface projecting inward of the writing implement. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A writing implement as defined in claim 1 wherein the chamber portion and the sealing portion are defined integrally with the liquid passage by a cylindrical body, the cylindrical body being made of synthetic resin added with inorganic matter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A writing implement as defined in claim 5 wherein the cylindrical body is made of polypropylene added with 1 to 10 weight percent of talc. ### Claim 7 A method for fabricating a writing implement comprising a cylindrical body for defining a liquid passage along which liquid to be applied flows, the liquid passage having: a chamber portion for holding a ball valve member loosely: and a sealing portion being operable to come to contact with the ball valve member entirely along a circumference of the ball valve member to interrupt the flow of liquid; the method comprising the steps of: adding inorganic matter to synthetic resin; and molding the synthetic resin into the cylindrical body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A fabricating method defined in claim 7 wherein: the synthetic resin is polypropylene: and the inorganic matter is 1 to 10 weight percent of talc. ### Claim 9 A method for fabricating a writing implement comprising: a liquid passage along which liquid to be applied flows; valve means provided at a specified position of the liquid passage, the valve means including: a valve member in the form of a ball; a chamber portion in which the ball valve member is placed loosely; and a sealing portion being operable to come to contact with the ball valve member entirely along a circumference of the ball valve member to interrupt the flow of liquid; and a restricting portion being operable to come to contact with a circumferential portion of the ball valve member to restrict the movement of the ball valve member toward a leading end of the writing implement; the method comprising the steps of: forming a cylindrical body defining the liquid passage, the chamber portion, the sealing portion, and the restricting portion using elastically deformable material; attaching water-insoluble lubricant to a surface of the ball valve member, the water-insoluble lubricant being in solid phase at normal temperature; and inserting the ball valve member pressingly into the chamber portion through the restricting portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A fabricating method as defined in claim 9 wherein the water-insoluble lubricant attachment step includes the steps of: dissolving the lubricant into solvent other than water to produce a solution; applying the solution to the surface of the ball valve member; and drying the ball valve member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A fabricating method as defined in claim 9 wherein the lubricant is one of either amide oleate or amide stearate.