US 5,871,296 AGranted

Clicking-type writing implement

AssigneeMitsubishi Pencil Company, Limited

InventorsKazuhiko Furukawa, Hiroaki Koyama

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Abstract

A clicking-type writing implement includes a writing element having a writing portion at its distal end, a spring for urging the writing element toward the end, and a clicking rod loosely fitted interlocked with the writing element so as to project from a barrel cylinder. Upon depression of the clicking rod, the engaging rib of a rotor in the barrel cylinder and the engaging bead in the inner cylinder engage with each other, so that the writing element projects and stays projected from a front portion of the barrel cylinder. This clicking-type writing implement also has a so-called double clicking mechanism and a safety mechanism. According to the double clicking mechanism, the clicking rod is projected upon depression and is retracted upon further depression. According to the safety mechanism, when the engaging bead and the engaging rib engage with each other, the projecting state of the writing portion of the writing element is maintained, and when the engaging bead is lifted, the writing element is retracted. No cam surfaces are formed on the inner surface of the barrel cylinder. In the inner cylinder, a cam is formed on the front edge of a cylindrical portion inserted and fixed in the barrel cylinder.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A writing implement comprising:

a barrel cylinder, said barrel cylinder having a front end, a rear end, and a longitudinal axis extending from said front end to said rear end;
a writing element in said barrel cylinder, said writing element having a writing portion proximal to said front end of said barrel cylinder;
a spring for urging said writing element toward said rear end of said barrel cylinder;
a clicking rod loosely engaging said writing element proximal to said rear end of said barrel cylinder, a portion of said clicking rod projecting from said rear end of said barrel cylinder;
and
a double clicking mechanism connecting said barrel cylinder and said clicking rod, the double clicking mechanism comprising:
an inner cylinder having a cylindrical portion and a clip, said cylindrical portion adapted to slide axially into said rear end of said barrel cylinder and be secured in said rear end of said barrel cylinder, said cylindrical portion having a front edge, a portion of said front edge inclined along said longitudinal axis to form a cam, said clip positioned externally of said barrel cylinder, adjacent an external surface of said barrel cylinder, said clip extending along said longitudinal axis of said barrel cylinder;
and
a rotor having a cam projection, said cam projection slidably engaging said cam of said front edge of said cylindrical portion of said inner cylinder, slidable movement of the cam projection on the cam in response to movement of the clicking rod thereby causing said writing portion of said writing element to project and retract from said front end of said barrel cylinder.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.