This application is the U.S. national phase of PCT Application No. PCT/JP2018/015915 filed on Apr. 17, 2018, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-084741 filed on Apr. 21, 2017, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
The present invention relates to a writing implement.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2016-026930 discloses a writing implement including a shaft tube, an ink supply core that is housed inside the shaft tube and that is capable of guiding ink by capillary action, and a core surrounding member that covers an outer periphery of the ink supply core. The ink supply core and the core surrounding member are partially exposed from a leading end of the shaft tube. The writing implement includes a displacement means that is capable of changing a relative positional relationship between the ink supply core and the core surrounding member in an axial direction. The displacement means causes the ink supply core to retract relative to the core surrounding member so as to enable the tip of the ink supply core and the tip of the core surrounding member to contact a writing surface at the same time.
In writing implements in which a core surrounding member penetrated by an ink supply core is housed inside a shaft tube in this manner, a phenomenon in which ink guided to the tip by the capillary action of the ink supply core runs between the ink supply core and the core surrounding member and rises into the shaft tube interior is often observed. For example, in cases in which the shaft tube is formed using a material that allows the interior of the shaft tube to be seen, ink that can be seen rising as far as the shaft tube interior is detrimental to the appearance. Not only that, but there is also a possibility of dried ink blocking ventilation holes placing the interior and the exterior of the shaft tube in communication with each other, thus obstructing the interchange of ink and air and preventing ink from being discharged, this being detrimental the writing function.
An object of an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a writing implement allowing the width of a drawn line to be freely changed by writing pressure that is capable of application to a narrow-shafted felt-tip pen or marker pen.
In addition to the above object, an object of another aspect of the present disclosure is to prevent the phenomenon in which ink that has leaked out at the tip of an ink supply core that guides ink by capillary action runs between the ink supply core and a core surrounding member and rises as far as the interior of a shaft tube.
A writing implement according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a shaft tube, an ink supply core that is housed inside the shaft tube and that guides ink by capillary action, and a core surrounding member that is fitted to a leading end of the shaft tube, that is penetrated by the ink supply core, and from which a tip of the ink supply core projects. The ink supply core is configured to retract at a tip of the core surrounding member under writing pressure, and a projection dimension of the ink supply core from the tip of the core surrounding member is from 0.05 mm to 0.7 mm when not being used to write.
A writing implement according to a second aspect of the present disclosure is the writing implement according to the first aspect, wherein the ink supply core includes a flow path configured to guide ink internally by capillary action, the core surrounding member includes a tip opening from which the tip of the ink supply core projects, and a value obtained by subtracting an external diameter of the flow path from an internal diameter of the tip opening is 0.5 mm or less.
Note that this value may be a negative number.
A writing implement according to a third aspect of the present disclosure is the writing implement according to the second aspect, wherein the value obtained by subtracting the external diameter of the flow path from the internal diameter of the tip opening is less than zero.
A writing implement according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure is the writing implement of any one of the first aspect to the third aspect, wherein the core surrounding member includes a tip portion, a rear end portion, and an elastic portion between the tip portion and the rear end portion. The elastic portion enables the ink supply core to retract together with the rear end portion.
A writing implement according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure is the writing implement according to the fourth aspect, wherein the elastic portion is integral to the tip portion.
A writing implement according to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure is the writing implement according to the fourth aspect, wherein the elastic portion is a separate body from the tip portion.
A writing implement according to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure is the writing implement of any one of the fourth aspect to the sixth aspect, wherein the elastic portion elongates rearward under writing pressure.
A writing implement according to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure is the writing implement of any one of the fourth aspect to the seventh aspect, wherein the ink supply core and the core surrounding member are fixed to each other.
A writing implement according to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure is the writing implement according to the eighth aspect, wherein the fixing is performed by impact deformation of an outer peripheral face of a rear end portion of the core surrounding member.
In a writing implement according to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, an expanded location is provided at a tip portion of the ink supply core such that a gap between the ink supply core and the core surrounding member is expanded around an entire periphery of the tip portion.
A writing implement according to an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure is the writing implement according to the tenth aspect, wherein the expanded location is provided by providing a step portion that locally reduces an external diameter around the entire periphery of the tip portion of the ink supply core.
A writing implement according to a twelfth aspect of the present disclosure is the writing implement according to the tenth aspect, wherein the expanded location is provided by providing a ring-shaped groove around the entire periphery of the tip portion of the ink supply core.
A writing implement according to a thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure is the writing implement of any one of the tenth aspect to the eleventh aspect, wherein for a given writing load, a value obtained by dividing a width of a line drawn at a writing angle of 60° with respect to a writing surface by a width of a line drawn at a writing angle of 90° with respect to the writing surface is 0.67 or greater but less than 1.5, and is more preferably 0.9 or greater but less than 1.1.
Note that when this value is less than 0.67, or 1.5 or greater, the width of a drawn line changes, and the writing implement becomes difficult for a user to use under such writing conditions.
The respective aspects of the present disclosure are configured as described above, thereby enabling the width of a drawn line to be freely changed by writing pressure in a narrow-shafted felt-tip pen or marker pen.
In addition to the above advantageous effect, specific aspects of the present disclosure enable prevention of the phenomenon in which ink that has leaked out at the tip of the ink supply core that guides ink by capillary action runs between the ink supply core and the core surrounding member and rises as far as the interior of the shaft tube.
Explanation follows regarding a narrow-shafted felt-tip pen or marker pen as an example of a writing implement 1 according to exemplary embodiments, with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the “front” of the writing implement 1 and its configuration components refers to the direction of a tip of the writing implement 1, and the “rear” refers to the opposite direction thereto. The “axial direction” refers to a direction running through an axis of a shaft tube 10 from front to rear, and the “lateral direction” refers to a direction orthogonal to the axial direction. Unless specifically stated otherwise, common reference numerals in the respective drawings represent the same configurations or components.
Overall Configuration of First Exemplary Embodiment
As illustrated in
The core surrounding member 30 is penetrated by an ink supply core 20. A tip of the ink supply core 20 projects from the tip of the core surrounding member 30. A rear end of the ink supply core 20 extends far enough to stick into a front end of the inner felt 15.
Although not illustrated in
Shaft Tube Structure
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The front grip 12A and the rear grip 12B include a step where the diameter decreases toward the front at a boundary 12C between the front grip 12A and the rear grip 12B. The thickness of the front grip 12A is accordingly less than the thickness of the rear grip 12B.
Plural grooves 12D, each having a rectangular shape that is long in the axial direction, are provided in part of an outer peripheral face of the front grip 12A. Anchor tabs 44 projecting from an inner face of the grip member 40, described later, are fitted into the grooves 12D.
An end portion 12E at the front of the front grip 12A is formed with circular arc shaped convex face in cross-section taken along the lateral direction. The tip shaft 11 integrally formed in front of the end portion 12E is narrower than the end portion 12E.
A rear edge of the rear shaft 12 contacts a lip 62 of the tail plug 60 (see
As illustrated in
The base portion 11A is a portion that extends toward the front with a uniform thickness from the end portion 12E at the front of the front grip 12A. Note that as illustrated in
The diameter reduction portion 11B is a portion extending so as to taper toward the front from a front end of the base portion 11A.
The tip portion 11C is a portion extending toward the front with a uniform thickness from a front end of the diameter reduction portion 11B.
The anchor face 11D is a tip edge of the tip portion 11C, and contacts an engagement tab 33A of an engagement portion 33 of the core surrounding member 30, described later.
Grip Member
As illustrated in
The anchor tabs 44 are formed at the inside of the grip member 40 as plural projecting ridges that project toward the inside and are long in the axial direction. The anchor tabs 44 fit into the plural grooves 12D provided at the outer periphery of the front grip 12A of the rear shaft 12 in order to fit the grip member 40 onto the rear shaft 12.
An end portion of the front opening 42 is formed with an edge 42A. An inner face of the edge 42A is formed with a concave circular arc shaped cross-section corresponding to the convex circular arc shaped cross-section of the end portion 12E of the front grip 12A. The front opening 42 is formed with a size allowing the base portion 11A of the tip shaft 11 to be fitted therein.
An end portion of the rear opening 43 is formed with an end face 43A that contacts a step face at the boundary 12C of the rear grip 12B of the rear shaft 12.
As illustrated in
The shaft tube 10 and the grip member 40 may, for example, be formed by two-color molding.
Cap
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The closed tip portion of the cap inner tube 52 lies in the same plane as the tip of the cap outer tube 51, and the periphery thereof is surrounded by a continuous peripheral groove 53. The peripheral groove 53 is in communication with the rear half of the interior of the cap outer tube 51 through the through holes 53A.
The tip shaft 11 described above (see
Plural anchor protrusions 55 are formed protruding so as to intersect the axial direction in the vicinity of the rear end of the inner face of the cap outer tube 51. The anchor protrusions 55 undergo elastic deformation on progression from front to rear so as to ride over and anchor to the anchor protrusions 11A1 provided to the tip shaft 11 (see
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Tail Plug
As illustrated in
The insertion portion 61 is inserted into the interior of the rear shaft 12 through the rear opening 14 of the rear shaft 12 of the shaft tube 10 so as to block the rear opening 14 (see
The lip 62 tightly closes off the interior of the rear shaft 12 by making close contact with an end face of the rear opening 14, thereby isolating the interior of the rear shaft 12 from external air.
The head 63 is formed extending from the lip 62 toward the rear, and the cap 50 can be fitted on the head 63 during writing.
In lateral direction cross-section, the tail plug 60 is formed with a circular profile at the insertion portion 61 and the head 63. However, a cross-section profile of the lip 62 is formed in the same round-cornered square shape as the lateral direction cross-section profile of the shaft tube 10. Namely, the profiles are matched such that the lip 62 and the rear shaft 12 have the same profile as each other when the tail plug 60 is inserted into the rear opening 14 of the shaft tube 10.
Note that another writing instrument, not illustrated in the drawings, may be fitted in place of the tail plug 60. By configuring the external profile of such another writing instrument with the same profile as the insertion portion 61 of the tail plug 60 at a portion that is inserted into the rear shaft 12, the shaft tube 10 may be employed either with the writing implement 1 that has a writing tip at one end only, as in the present exemplary embodiment, or with a writing implement that has writing tips at both ends.
Inner Felt
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
A rear end portion of the inner felt 15 is at a position contacting the tail portion 64 of the tail plug 60 fitted into the rear shaft 12.
As illustrated in
Configuration of Relevant Portions
Detailed explanation follows regarding the ink supply core 20 and the core surrounding member 30, these being relevant portions of the present exemplary embodiment.
Ink Supply Core
As illustrated in
The ink supply core 20 is formed by extrusion molding a polyacetal resin, and has a substantially circular tube shaped profile overall from the front side to the rear side. The tip portion 23 has a circular conical profile that decreases in diameter toward the front, and the rear end portion 24 has a circular conical profile that decreases in diameter toward the rear. The body 25 is interposed between the tip portion 23 and the rear end portion 24, and is configured with a circular tube shaped profile having the same external diameter as the external diameter of the locations of the tip portion 23 and the rear end portion 24 from where the diameter reduction begins. The ink supply core 20 may be configured by a bundled fiber core, a sintered core, or the like.
Outer Peripheral Portion
The outer peripheral portion 21 configures an outer face of the ink supply core 20. A tip of the tip portion 23 and a tip of the rear end portion 24 of the outer peripheral portion 21 are formed such that the flow path 22, described below, is exposed.
Flow Path
The flow path 22 is formed along the axial center of the interior of the outer peripheral portion 21. As described above, the flow path 22 is exposed at the tip portion 23 and the rear end portion 24 of the outer peripheral portion 21.
During extrusion molding of the ink supply core 20, a die provided with a narrow gap at a central portion is employed to form the flow path 22 as a narrow gap at a cross-section central portion of the ink supply core 20. The flow path 22 configured by the gap exhibits capillary action and retains ink. In this case, the outer peripheral portion 21 and the flow path 22 are integrally formed in the ink supply core 20.
In the cross-section in
For example, the flow path 22 is formed as a region where an inner peripheral edge includes irregularly-shaped cavities at an axial center portion, such as in the cross-section of the ink supply core 20 illustrated in
Note that in cases in which the flow path 22 is formed by a bundled fiber core or a sintered core having a capillary structure, the outer peripheral portion 21 can be configured with a structure formed by coating the outer face of the flow path 22, such that the outer peripheral portion 21 configures a thickened portion of the ink supply core 20 at the outside of the flow path 22, thereby enabling the outer face of the flow path 22 to be fixed to the core surrounding member 30 without being exposed.
In the ink supply core 20, ink stored in the inner felt 15 is guided to the tip portion 23 by capillary action through the rear end portion 24 that is inserted into the inner felt 15.
Core Surrounding Member
As illustrated in
The tip portion 30A includes the diameter reduction portion 31, a circular tube portion 32, and an engagement portion 33. The central portion 30B is configured by an elastic portion 34. The rear end portion 30C is configured by a tube portion 35.
A through portion 37 is provided penetrating these portions from the tip to the rear end. The ink supply core 20 penetrates the through portion 37 as illustrated in
In the present exemplary embodiment, the diameter reduction portion 31, the circular tube portion 32, the engagement portion 33, the elastic portion 34, and the tube portion 35 are integrally formed to each other, and, with the exception of the diameter reduction portion 31, each has a basically circular tube shaped profile.
From the perspectives of friction reduction during writing, wear reduction, and creep reduction of the elastic portion 34, the core surrounding member 30 is preferably formed from a polyacetal resin.
Diameter Reduction Portion
As illustrated in
A circular tip opening 31A is formed at the tip of the diameter reduction portion 31, and an opening-peripheral edge 31B is formed about the periphery of the tip opening 31A. In the diameter reduction portion 31, the through portion 37 configures a first through portion 37A.
The first through portion 37A includes a stopper face 37A1 that decreases in diameter on progression toward the tip opening 31A. A side face of the tip portion 23 of the ink supply core 20 described above contacts and is anchored to the stopper face 37A1, such that the tip of the tip portion 23 of the ink supply core 20 projects to the exterior (see
As illustrated in
Circular Tube Portion
As illustrated in
The first through portion 37A continues on from the diameter reduction portion 31 to configure the through portion 37 in the circular tube portion 32.
The first through portion 37A in the circular tube portion 32 is formed as a hole with a circular cross-section profile having the same internal diameter as the internal diameter of the rear end of the first through portion 37A in the diameter reduction portion 31. The first through portion 37A in the circular tube portion 32 is applied with a larger internal diameter than the external diameter of the ink supply core 20, thereby enabling the ink supply core 20 to move along the axial direction.
Engagement Portion
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Elastic Portion
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Note that the coil spring is one example of the profile of the elastic portion 34.
The coil spring serving as the elastic portion 34 is formed with a predetermined spring constant adapted for a fine felt-tip pen or marker pen. The ink supply core 20 is applied with a degree of biasing force that allows axial direction movement of the ink supply core 20, described later.
Tube Portion
As illustrated in
At the interior of the tube portion 35, a third through portion 37C is formed continuing from the second through portion 37B in the elastic portion 34 as a circular hole extending toward the rear with substantially the same internal diameter. The rear end of the tube portion 35 is open at a rear opening 35A.
In this manner, the core surrounding member 30 is configured from plural locations on progression from front to rear, and the ink supply core 20 is inserted into the first through portion 37A, the second through portion 37B, and the third through portion 37C through the rear opening 35A at the rear side of the core surrounding member 30.
The profile of the coil spring configuring the elastic portion 34 is not limited to the above, and, for example, may have a square cross-section profile as illustrated in
Fixing of Ink Supply Core to Core Surrounding Member
Explanation follows regarding fixing together of the ink supply core 20 and the core surrounding member 30.
As described above, the ink supply core 20 penetrates the through portion 37 (the first through portion 37A, the second through portion 37B, and the third through portion 37C) of the core surrounding member 30.
In the present exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in
Namely, the ink supply core 20 and the core surrounding member 30 are only fixed to each other at the rear end portion 30C of the core surrounding member 30, and the tip portion 30A and the central portion 30B are not fixed.
Accordingly, the ink supply core 20 is not fixed to, and is capable of moving inside, the first through portion 37A of the tip portion 30A or the second through portion 37B of the central portion 30B.
Note that when a large load acts on the ink supply core 20 during writing, the ink supply core 20 retreats and a cushioning effect is obtained, enabling snapping of the ink supply core 20 to be prevented.
Operation of Relevant Portions
Explanation follows regarding the ability of the ink supply core 20 to retract into the core surrounding member 30 under writing pressure obtained through the configuration of the writing implement 1 described above, with reference to
The writing implement 1 of the present exemplary embodiment includes the ink supply core 20 and the core surrounding member 30, and the ink supply core 20 is configured to retract under writing pressure at the tip of the core surrounding member 30.
The operation of the writing implement 1 to enable the width of a drawn line to be changed freely according to the writing pressure is described next.
First, when intending to write with a fine line, a predetermined writing pressure or lower is applied to the writing implement 1. When this is performed, as illustrated in
When this is performed, as illustrated in
Next, when intending to write with a broader line, writing pressure greater than the predetermined writing pressure is applied to the writing implement 1.
As illustrated in
The ink supply core 20 is not fixed inside the first through portion 37A or the second through portion 37B of the tip portion 30A and central portion 30B of the core surrounding member 30. Accordingly, when applied with writing pressure, the ink supply core 20 attempts to retract.
When this occurs, the ink supply core 20 that is fixed to the tube portion 35 of the core surrounding member 30 pushes the tube portion 35 toward the rear against the biasing force of the elastic portion 34, and as illustrated in
The coil spring configuring the coil spring 34 is set with an elongatable spring constant corresponding to the writing pressure applied to the ink supply core 20 when intending to write with a broad line (this being greater than the writing pressure applied to the ink supply core when intending to write with a fine line).
The tip portion 23 of the ink supply core 20 accordingly retracts slightly such that the tip of the tip portion 23 still projects from the tip opening 31A of the core surrounding member 30, thereby forming a slight gap between the tip portion 23 and the opening-peripheral edge 31B surrounding the periphery of the tip opening 31A.
Ink is also supplied through the slight gap formed between the tip portion 23 of the ink supply core 20 and the opening-peripheral edge 31B surrounding the periphery of the tip opening 31A. At the same time, the tip portion 23 of the ink supply core 20 and the opening-peripheral edge 31B of the core surrounding member 30 contact the non-illustrated paper or the like at the same time, enabling a broader line to be drawn.
In this manner, the writing implement 1 of the present exemplary embodiment enables the thickness of a drawn line to be changed in a felt-tip pen or marker pen including the ink supply core 20 for writing fine characters.
Moreover, since the ink supply core 20 is capable of moving if applied with excessive writing pressure, load acts on the core surrounding member 30, enabling poor writing due to buckling or squashing of the ink supply core 20 to be prevented.
Projection Dimension of Tip Portion of Ink Supply Core from Tip Opening of Core Surrounding Member
Explanation follows regarding a relationship concerning the projection dimension of the tip portion of the ink supply core from the tip opening of the core surrounding member.
A projection dimension H1 (see
This projection dimension is more preferably in a range of 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm, and is most preferably 0.2 mm.
If the projection dimension is less than 0.05 mm, it becomes difficult to write a line. If the projection dimension exceeds 0.7 mm, the distance between the ink supply core 20 and the core surrounding member 30 increases, this being a cause of scratchiness, and increases the likelihood of snapping or buckling of the ink supply core 20 under writing pressure.
Relationship between Internal Diameter of Tip Opening of Core Surrounding Member and External Diameter of Flow Path of Ink Supply Core
Table 1 illustrates the results of testing to investigate the scratchiness of drawn lines using plural types of ink, in which the internal diameter of the tip opening 31A of the core surrounding member 30, through which the tip portion 23 of the ink supply core 20 projects, is labeled W1 (mm), and the external diameter of the flow path of the ink supply core 20 is labeled W2 (mm). Two types of black ink (ink A and ink B) employed in products of the present applicant were employed. Ink A exhibits surface tension of 50 m/N, and has a viscosity of 2.0 mPa·s. Ink B exhibits surface tension of 35 m/N, and has a viscosity of 4.0 mPa·s. Note that in Table 1, lines drawn by the inventors as five approximately circular swirls with a diameter of approximately 5 cm were evaluated. These drawn lines were graded “A” if no scratchiness was observed, “B” if slight scratchiness was observed, and “C” if clear scratchiness was present.
In Example 1, W1=0.95 mm, and W2=0.49 mm. This resulted in W1-W2=0.46 mm. Regarding the drawn lines, slight scratchiness was observed.
In Example 2, W1=0.55 mm, and W2=0.49 mm. This resulted in W1-W2=0.06 mm. Regarding the drawn lines, out of the two ink types for which slight scratchiness was seen in in Example 1, scratchiness was improved for one type (ink A), and so performance was deemed to be better overall than that of Example 1.
In Example 3, W1=0.47 mm, and W2=0.49 mm. This resulted in W1-W2=−0.02 mm, this being a value less than zero. Regarding the drawn lines, a good result was obtained in which scratchiness was not observed in any of the ink types used.
In Example 4, W1=0.47 mm, and W2=0.56 mm. This resulted in W1-W2=−0.09 mm. Evaluation was almost the same as that for Example 3, and the best result was obtained out of any of the Examples.
In the Comparative Example, W1=1.0 mm, and W2=0.49 mm. This resulted in W1-W2=0.51 mm, this being a value greater than 0.5 mm. Regarding the drawn lines, scratchiness was observed in the lines drawn using both ink types, with scratchiness being more obvious in one type (ink B). In conclusion, this was deemed undesirable.
In this manner, it was found that scratchiness in drawn lines was only slight if present at all when the value obtained by subtracting the external diameter W2 of the flow path of the ink supply core 20 from the internal diameter W1 of the tip opening 31A of the core surrounding member 30 from which the tip portion 23 of the ink supply core 20 projects was (W1-W2) 0.5 mm or less, and scratchiness was not observed when this value was less than zero.
Regarding the relationship between the internal diameter W1 of the tip opening 31A of the core surrounding member 30 and the external diameter W2 of the flow path 22 of the ink supply core 20, from the above results, it can be seen that it is desirable for the value obtained by subtracting the external diameter W2 of the flow path of the ink supply core 20 from the internal diameter W1 of the tip opening 31A of the core surrounding member 30 from which the tip portion 23 of the ink supply core 20 projects to be 0.5 mm or less, and more desirable for this value to be less than zero.
Overall Configuration of Second Exemplary Embodiment
As illustrated in
The core surrounding member 30 is penetrated by an ink supply core 20. A tip of the ink supply core 20 projects from the tip of the core surrounding member 30. A rear end of the ink supply core 20 extends far enough to stick into a front end of the inner felt 15.
A cap 50 is fitted to the tip shaft 11 illustrated in
Shaft Tube Structure
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The front grip 12A and the rear grip 12B include a step where the diameter decreases toward the front at a boundary 12C between the front grip 12A and the rear grip 12B. The thickness of the front grip 12A is accordingly less than the thickness of the rear grip 12B.
As illustrated in
An end portion 12E at the front of the front grip 12A is formed with a circular arc shaped convex face in cross-section taken along the lateral direction. The tip shaft 11 integrally formed in front of the end portion 12E is narrower than the end portion 12E.
A rear edge of the rear shaft 12 contacts a lip 62 of the tail plug 60 (see
As illustrated in
The base portion 11A is a portion that extends toward the front with a uniform thickness from the end portion 12E at the front of the front grip 12A. Note that as illustrated in
A tip face and a rear end face of each of the anchor protrusions 11A1 are inclined. Of these faces, the tip face has a larger angle of incline. This enables the force required to take off the cap 50 to be reduced while enabling the cap 50 to be attached reliably and imparting a sensation that the cap 50 has been satisfactorily attached or removed.
The diameter reduction portion 11B is a portion extending so as to taper toward the front from a front end of the base portion 11A.
The tip portion 11C is a portion extending toward the front with a uniform thickness from a front end of the diameter reduction portion 11B.
The anchor face 11D is a tip edge of the tip portion 11C, and contacts an engagement tab 33A of an engagement portion 33 of the core surrounding member 30.
Grip Member
As illustrated in
The inner recesses 41 are formed as sunken recesses facing toward the inside on each inside face of the grip member 40 in the vicinity of the rear end. The outer protrusions 12A2 provided at the outer periphery of the front grip 12A of the rear shaft 12 fit together with the inner recesses 41 in order to fit the grip member 40 onto the rear shaft 12.
An end portion of the front opening 42 is formed with an edge 42A. An inner face of the edge 42A is formed with a concave circular arc shaped cross-section corresponding to the convex circular arc shaped cross-section of the end portion 12E of the front grip 12A. The front opening 42 is formed with a size allowing the base portion 11A of the tip shaft 11 to be fitted therein.
An end portion of the rear opening 43 is formed with an end face 43A that contacts a step face at the boundary 12C of the rear grip 12B of the rear shaft 12.
The grip member 40 may be applied with a different color to the shaft tube 10. This color may, for example, be a color related to the color of the ink stored in the inner felt 15.
The shaft tube 10 and the grip member 40 may, for example, be formed by two-color molding.
Cap
The structure of the cap 50 is substantially the same as that of the first exemplary embodiment (see
Tail Plug
As illustrated in
The insertion portion 61 is inserted into the interior of the rear shaft 12 through the rear opening 14 of the rear shaft 12 of the shaft tube 10 so as to block the rear opening 14 (see
The lip 62 tightly closes off the interior of the rear shaft 12 by making close contact with an end face of the rear opening 14, thereby isolating the interior of the rear shaft 12 from external air.
The head 63 is formed extending from the lip 62 toward the rear, and the cap 50 can be fitted on the head 63 during writing.
In lateral direction cross-section, the tail plug 60 is formed with a circular profile at the insertion portion 61, the lip 62, and the head 63. A gently curving concave face connects the outer peripheries of the head 63 and the lip 62. A boundary between the head 63 and the lip 62 is thus not noticeable so as not to be detrimental to the external appearance.
Inner Felt
The inner felt 15 illustrated in
As illustrated in
A rear end portion of the inner felt 15 is positioned directly in front of the tail portion 64 of the tail plug 60 that fits into the rear shaft 12.
As illustrated in
Configuration of Relevant Portions
Explanation follows regarding the ink supply core 20 and the core surrounding member 30, these being relevant portions of the present exemplary embodiment.
Ink Supply Core
As illustrated in
The ink supply core 20 is formed by extrusion molding a polyacetal resin, and has a substantially circular tube shaped profile overall from the front side to the rear side. The tip portion 23 has a circular conical profile that decreases in diameter toward the front, and the rear end portion 24 has a circular conical profile that decreases in diameter toward the rear. The body 25 is interposed between the tip portion 23 and the rear end portion 24, and is configured with a circular tube shaped profile having the same external diameter as the external diameter of the locations of the tip portion 23 and the rear end portion 24 from where the diameter reduction begins. The ink supply core 20 may be configured by a bundled fiber core, a sintered core, or the like.
Outer Peripheral Portion
The outer peripheral portion 21 configures an outer face of the ink supply core 20. A tip of the tip portion 23 and a tip of the rear end portion 24 of the outer peripheral portion 21 are formed such that the flow path 22, described below, is exposed.
Flow Path
The flow path 22 is formed along the axial center of the interior of the outer peripheral portion 21. As described previously, the flow path 22 is exposed at the tip portion 23 and the rear end portion 24 of the outer peripheral portion 21.
During extrusion molding of the ink supply core 20, a die provided with a narrow gap at a central portion is employed to form the flow path 22 as a narrow gap at a cross-section central portion of the ink supply core 20. The flow path 22 configured by the gap exhibits capillary action and retains ink. In this case, the outer peripheral portion 21 and the flow path 22 are integrally formed in the ink supply core 20.
The flow path 22 is similar to that of the first exemplary embodiment (see
Note that in cases in which the flow path 22 is formed by a bundled fiber core or a sintered core having a capillary structure, the outer peripheral portion 21 can be configured with a structure formed by coating the outer face of the flow path 22, such that the outer peripheral portion 21 configures a thickened portion of the ink supply core 20 at the outside of the flow path 22, thereby enabling the outer face of the flow path 22 to be fixed to the core surrounding member 30 without being exposed.
In the ink supply core 20, ink stored in the inner felt 15 is guided to the tip portion 23 by capillary action through the rear end portion 24 that is inserted into the inner felt 15.
Core Surrounding Member
The core surrounding member 30 is similar to that of the first exemplary embodiment (see
Operation of Relevant Portions
Operation of relevant portions is similar to that of the first exemplary embodiment.
Note that in the present exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in
Ink that has been guided by the flow path 22 in the ink supply core 20 is dispensed from the tip portion 23 that is not covered by the outer peripheral portion 21, and would normally be transferred to a writing surface as a drawn line. However, some of the dispensed ink penetrates the gap between the outer peripheral face of the tip portion 23 of the ink supply core 20 and the inner peripheral face of the diameter reduction portion 31 of the core surrounding member 30 by capillary action and rises toward the rear. However, the ink that rises up loses its capillary action upon reaching the expanded location 70, and does not rise any further toward the rear. This prevents ink from rising up as far as the interior of the shaft cylinder 10.
As in a modified example illustrated in
Drawn Line Width
The widths of lines drawn using the writing implement 1 according to Example 4 (W1=0.95 mm, W2=0.55 mm) were measured using three samples numbered No. 1 to No. 3 at a writing speed of 4.5 m/min, a writing load of 0.98 N (100 g weight), and writing angles of 600 and 90°, drawing a spiraling pattern on high quality paper. Results were as in Table 2 below.
As above, in all of the samples, for a given writing load, the value obtained by dividing the width of a line drawn at a writing angle of 60° to the writing surface by the width of a line drawn at a writing angle of 90° to the writing surface was in the region of 1.00, this being 0.67 or greater but less than 1.5. Accordingly, the change in drawn line width can be kept to within a specific range.
Other
Detailed explanation has been given regarding specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention. However, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and it would be clear to a practitioner skilled in the art that various other exemplary embodiments would be possible within the scope of the present invention.
For example, although explanation has been given regarding exemplary embodiments in which the tip portion 30A and the central portion 30B of the core surrounding member 30 are formed integrally to each other, the central portion 30B may be configured as a separate body. For example, the tip portion 30A and the rear end portion 30C may be formed using the same resin material as in the exemplary embodiments, and a metal spring may be interposed therebetween as the central portion 30B.
Although explanation has been given regarding the inner felt 15 as a means for storing ink, an ink tank may be employed.
The present invention may be employed in writing implements capable of changing the width of a drawn line during writing.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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JP2017-084741 | Apr 2017 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2018/015915 | 4/17/2018 | WO |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2018/194071 | 10/25/2018 | WO | A |
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International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/JP2018/015915, dated Oct. 25, 2018, 9 Pages (including English Translation of ISR). |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20220194120 A1 | Jun 2022 | US |