US 7,147,392 B2 · Combination writing instrument

Abstract

A writing instrument, which has an inner and outer writing element with separate writing medium reservoirs. The writing elements are coaxially mounted in an outer barrel and axially moveable with respect to one another. A driving mechanism may be actuated to allow a user to selectively extend one writing element. The inner and outer writing elements may have an inner sleeve therebetween to improve, for instance, rigidity of the outer writing element and to prevent contamination of the writing medium reservoirs. An outer sleeve may also be provided over the outer writing element. The outer sleeve can function to hold various components of the outer writing element together, and to allow for clean and easy refill of the outer writing element, especially when the outer writing element is a porous nib with a filler-type writing medium reservoir. The writing instrument is designed so that a user can replace the inner and/or outer writing elements when their respective writing medium have been expended.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A writing instrument having a proximal end and a distal end, said writing instrument comprising:

an outer barrel having an open distal end at said distal end of said writing instrument and a proximal end at said proximal end of said writing instrument;
an inner writing element having a first writing tip and a first writing medium reservoir;
and
an outer writing element having a second writing tip and a second writing medium reservoir;
wherein:
said inner and outer writing elements are positioned in an inner axial passage extending through said second writing tip and said second writing medium reservoir;
said inner writing element is positioned in said inner axial passage through said second writing tip and said second writing medium reservoir;
said first writing tip is in direct operative contact with said first writing medium reservoir;
said second writing tip is in direct operative contact with said second writing medium reservoir;
and
said outer writing element is movable with respect to said outer barrel.

8 more elements

A writing instrument having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, said writing instrument comprising:

an inner writing element having a first writing tip adjacent said distal end of said writing instrument, and a first writing medium reservoir, said first writing medium reservoir having a rear end;
an outer writing element having a second writing tip adjacent said distal end of said writing instrument, and a second writing medium reservoir, said second writing medium reservoir having a rear end;
a driving mechanism operatively coupled to at least said outer writing element;
and
a coil spring positioned about said second writing tip to bias said outer writing element in a proximal direction;
wherein:
an inner axial passage extends through said second writing tip and said second writing medium reservoir;
said inner writing element is positioned in said inner axial passage in said outer writing element;
said inner and outer writing elements are axially moveable with respect to each other;
said driving mechanism is located at said rear end of said second writing medium reservoir;
and
actuation of said driving mechanism causes axial movement of said outer writing element.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Combination writing instrument

Life of this patent

Combination writing instrument

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27