The present invention relates to writing stationery, and particularly to a writing tool and a dispensing unit thereof.
EPO Publication No. 0570866 discloses a writing instrument with an exchangeable ink refill. The ink refill of the writing instrument stores ink by an internal wadding, i.e. the ink is not stored directly in the liquid state inside the ink refill. A pointed member is mounted at one end of an ink dispensing unit to pierce through a film on the ink refill. Therefore, when the film on the ink refill is pierced by the pointed member to form a tiny opening, the ink dispensing unit can be connected with the internal wadding to deliver the ink in the ink refill via the tiny opening. Because the opening is too small and the ink in the ink refill is stored in the internal wadding, the ink-delivering efficiency of the ink dispensing unit is not high and some of the ink tends to remain in the ink refill.
TW Publication No. 201511981 discloses a conventional writing implement with a replaceable ink cartridge. Ink inside the ink cartridge can be dispensed after a plug located at a bottom end of the ink cartridge is pressed to open the ink cartridge. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 of the '981 patent publication, an embodiment discloses that a protrusion formed on and protruding from a main body of the conventional writing implement can press the plug, and then the plug is displaced to open the bottom end of the replaceable ink cartridge, so the ink can be delivered from the replaceable ink cartridge to the main body of the conventional writing implement.
Another embodiment shown in FIG. 11 of the '981 patent publication discloses that a protrusion formed on and protruding from the main body of the conventional writing implement is pushed against the plug. The plug of the replaceable ink cartridge is made of a hard material to be not easily destructible. Therefore, when the plug is pushed by the protrusion, the plug will be overturned to open the replaceable ink cartridge and the ink can be delivered from the ink cartridge to the main body of the conventional writing implement.
As inferred from the above, when the plug is displaced or overturned, the movement of the plug may block the replaceable ink cartridge accidently to result in unsmooth delivery of the ink. Besides, with reference to the embodiment indicated in FIG. 11 of the '981 patent publication, the protrusion is too close to an internal periphery of the replaceable ink cartridge, so the replaceable ink cartridge may easily interfere with the protrusion in the process of installing the ink cartridge into the conventional writing implement, making the process not smooth.
When the aforesaid conventional ink-exchangeable writing tool is operated to replace its ink cartridge, an ink dispensing unit or a main body of the writing tool is used to deliver the ink by piercing a film or pushing a plug. Taking the former as an example, an opening being formed on the film is too small to be advantageous to delivery of the ink. Taking the latter as an example, the plug being displaced or overturned may block the delivery of the ink. Thus, either will cause unfavorable delivery of the ink.
To overcome the shortcomings of the conventional writing tools, the present invention provides a writing tool and a dispensing unit thereof.
To solve the problems that the conventional writing tools with the exchangeable ink cartridges each have an adverse effect on ink delivery, the present invention provides a writing tool and a dispensing unit thereof which can lead to a high volume of ink delivery and complete outflow of the ink. Therefore, the present invention has a favorable effect on ink delivery and does not tend to have residual ink.
The writing tool further includes a writing unit, a capillary member, and a replaceable ink cartridge. The writing unit has a tube and a nib mounted at one end of the tube. The capillary member, the dispensing unit, and the replaceable ink cartridge are mounted in the tube. The capillary member has one end abutting against the nib. The dispensing unit has an inbound part, an outbound part, and a dispensing passage communicating with the inbound part and the outbound part. The outbound part abuts against the capillary member. The inbound part has at least one cutting portion, a first coupling portion surrounding the at least one cutting portion, and at least one external passage defined between the at least one cutting portion and the first coupling portion. The at least one cutting portion has at least one cutting edge at a top thereof.
The replaceable ink cartridge has a second coupling portion, ink, and a film. The second coupling portion can be connected with the first coupling portion. The ink is contained inside the ink cartridge. The film can be pierced and cut by the cutting portion to form an outlet for output of the ink.
Preferably, the at least one cutting edge further includes at least one first end and at least one second end, and a height difference is defined vertically between the at least one first end and the at least one second end.
Preferably, the first coupling portion further comprises an abutting edge annularly formed at an outer periphery thereof, an assembly stroke is an axial distance defined between the abutting edge and an uppermost side of the first coupling portion, and the assembly stroke is larger than the height difference of the at least one cutting portion.
Preferably, the dispensing unit further includes two or more said cutting portions arranged annularly and spaced at intervals.
Preferably, each of the cutting edges of the cutting portions is curved and inclined from the at least one first end to the at least one second end.
Preferably, the dispensing passage is provided with an internal passage surrounded by the at least one cutting portion and communicating with the external passage via at least one guiding gap.
Preferably, the first coupling portion of the inbound part includes at least one sealing rib, and an outer diameter of the at least one sealing rib is not smaller than an inner diameter of the second coupling portion.
Preferably, the writing tool further includes a cap sleeved onto the replaceable ink cartridge for rotatably driving and enabling the replaceable ink cartridge to be installed into the tube.
Preferably, the cap further includes a plurality of push lugs formed annularly at a lowermost side thereof and spaced at intervals, the second coupling portion includes a plurality of abutting ribs formed annularly at an outer periphery of the replaceable ink cartridge and spaced at intervals, and the cap rotatably drives and enables the replaceable ink cartridge into the tube in such a way that the push lugs are pushed against the abutting ribs, respectively.
First of all, directional references, such as “outer”, “inner”, “external”, “internal”, “outward”, “inward”, “downward”, “upward”, “top”, “bottom”, “uppermost”, “lowermost”, “anterior”, and the like, are only used based on conventional orientation of the drawings for identification purposes to facilitate the reader to understand the present invention by reference to the drawings and do not limit the associated elements, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of this disclosure. Also, a person skilled in the art should notice this description may contain other terminology to convey position, orientation, and direction without departing from the principles of the present invention.
With reference to
The writing unit 10 includes a tube 11 and a nib 12. The tube 11 is cylindrical and has a head portion 110, a tail portion 111, and an assembling space 112 formed internally between the head portion 110 and the tail portion 111. A plurality of internal threads 113 protrude and extend spirally from an inner periphery of the tail portion 111. A plurality of discontinuities 114 are formed at anterior ends of the internal threads 113, respectively, for positioning the cap 50. The nib 12 is mounted to the head portion 110 of the tube 11 for dispensing ink (not shown) to write.
As shown in
Referring to
Referring to
In the first embodiment of the present invention, each of the cutting edges 3210 of the cutting portions 321 is curved and inclined downwardly clockwise from the first end to the second end of the cutting edge 3210. Alternatively, each of the cutting edges 3210 of the cutting portions 321 can be curved and inclined downwardly counterclockwise from the first end to the second end of the cutting edge 3210. Lengths of the cutting edges 3210 of the cutting portions 321 can be equal or unequal to each other. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the lengths of the cutting edges 3210 of the cutting portions 321 are unequal to each other, i.e. the length of the cutting edge 3210 of one said cutting portion 321 is larger than that of the other cutting edge 3210. This structure can accurately keep a film (not shown) of an ink cartridge (not shown) from disengaging from the ink cartridge after the cutting edges 3210 annularly pierce and cut the film.
As shown in
An assembly stroke L is defined axially between the abutting edge 3220 and an uppermost end of the first coupling portion 322. The assembly stroke L is larger than the height difference H. The dispensing unit 30 further has a plurality of elongated engaging convexities 35 formed annularly at the outer periphery of the first coupling portion 322 and located between the abutting edge 3220 and the outer annular portion 312. The engaging convexities 35 enable the dispensing unit 30 to be engaged with the tube 11 to prevent the dispensing unit 30 from disengaging from the tube 11. The dispensing passage 33 is defined to include an inner space of the ink guiding tube 311 of the outbound part 31 and the internal passage 323 of the inbound part 32 for delivery of ink (not shown) to the capillary member 20.
As shown in
Referring to
How the first embodiment of the present invention is operated is shown in
First of all, put the replaceable ink cartridge 40 into the assembling space 112 of the tube 11, sleeve the cap 50 onto the replaceable ink cartridge 40, and then screw the cap 50 into the tube 11 gradually in such a way that the external threads 52 of the cap 50 engage the internal threads 113 of the tube 11. After the abutting ribs 410 of the replaceable ink cartridge 40 are moved to contact the lowermost side of the assembling segment 51, the abutting ribs 410 can push the push lugs 54, respectively, to drive the replaceable ink cartridge 40 to move spirally downwardly along with the cap 50.
After that, the second coupling portion 41 of the replaceable ink cartridge 40 is initially sleeved onto the first coupling portion 322 of the dispensing unit 30 and meanwhile, the first end of each said cutting portion 321 is pushed against the film 42, and the second coupling portion 41 engages the uppermost sealing rib 3221 to seal the second coupling portion 41 and the first coupling portion 322, so none of any gap is formed between the second coupling portion 41 and the first coupling portion 322. In this way, the ink can be prevented from leaking out from the second coupling portion 41 or the first coupling portion 322 when the film 42 is accidentally pierced. When the replaceable ink cartridge 40 is further driven to move downwardly by the cap 50, the second coupling portion 41 can be forced to pass the two sealing ribs 3221 and finally the stepped edge 411 abuts against the abutting edge 3220. In the meantime, referring to
As shown in
As shown in
How the first embodiment of the present invention is alternatively operated is shown in
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The dispensing unit 30 of the present invention forms the at least one cutting portion 321 and the at least one cutting portion 321 forms the at least one cutting edge 3210 for piercing and cutting. The replaceable ink cartridge 40 seals the ink by means of the soft film 42. As the replaceable ink cartridge 40 is mounted onto the dispensing unit 30, the film 42 can be pierced and cut by the at least one cutting portion 321 of the dispensing unit 30, so the ink can be dispensed from the replaceable ink cartridge 40 smoothly into the capillary member 20 and the writing unit 10. Therefore, when it is necessary for a user to replace the replaceable ink cartridge 40 running out of the ink, no residual ink tends to be available nor stain the user's hand. The number, shape, and other structural features of the at least one cutting portion 321 can be changed without any limitation as it depends.
The replaceable ink cartridge 40 can completely cover the dispensing unit 30. Furthermore, the first coupling portion 322 forms the two sealing ribs 3221, and each of the outer diameters of the sealing ribs 3221 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the second coupling portion 41, so the second coupling portion 41 has to be slightly forced to pass the sealing ribs 3221 in the process of the assembly. In this way, leakage of the ink can be prevented from the dispensing unit 30 in the process of the assembly or replacement of the replaceable ink cartridge 40.
The replaceable ink cartridge 40 can be assembled with the dispensing unit 30 by the threaded connection or the forceful pressing. After the film 42 of the replaceable ink cartridge 40 is pierced and cut by the dispensing unit 30, the film 42 still can remain on the stepped edge 411 of the replaceable ink cartridge 40. This prevents the film 42 stained with residual ink from falling off the replaceable ink cartridge 40, thereby avoiding dirtying the user's hand or any nearby object when the replaceable ink cartridge 40 is being replaced. The film 42 having residual ink can be discarded or recycled together with the replaceable ink cartridge 40.
In addition, when the replaceable ink cartridge 40 is mounted on the dispensing unit 30, the dispensing unit 30 has the external passage 324 between the at least one cutting portion 321 and the first coupling portion 322 for guiding the ink and the location of the at least one cutting portion 321 is far away from the first coupling portion 322, so the at least one cutting portion 321 can be prevented from interfering with the stepped edge 411 of the replaceable ink cartridge 40 in the process of the assembly, thereby protecting the at least one cutting portion 321 from damage.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing descriptions, together with details of the structure and function of the present invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
106116658 A | May 2017 | TW | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1406903 | Rose | Feb 1922 | A |
1406904 | Rose | Feb 1922 | A |
1712141 | Folk | May 1929 | A |
2045774 | Hirschy | Jun 1936 | A |
2229749 | Little | Jan 1941 | A |
2587683 | Barry | Mar 1952 | A |
2620773 | Tefft | Dec 1952 | A |
2736292 | Tanberg | Feb 1956 | A |
2785656 | Del Piero | Mar 1957 | A |
2802448 | Young | Aug 1957 | A |
2870742 | Hackmyer | Jan 1959 | A |
2919677 | Mansheim | Jan 1960 | A |
2961999 | Torchi | Nov 1960 | A |
3040708 | Simon, Jr. | Jun 1962 | A |
3056194 | Kahn | Oct 1962 | A |
3066652 | Brown | Dec 1962 | A |
3087463 | Kahn | Apr 1963 | A |
3134362 | Green | May 1964 | A |
3145412 | Levy | Aug 1964 | A |
3167056 | Bross | Jan 1965 | A |
3234918 | Gigli | Feb 1966 | A |
3399019 | Koelichen | Aug 1968 | A |
3501225 | Martin | Mar 1970 | A |
3687561 | Phillips | Aug 1972 | A |
3802604 | Morane | Apr 1974 | A |
3812992 | Wolf | May 1974 | A |
3901608 | Phillips | Aug 1975 | A |
3922099 | Christine | Nov 1975 | A |
4139313 | Hori | Feb 1979 | A |
4206714 | Walsh | Jun 1980 | A |
4341328 | Redick, Jr. | Jul 1982 | A |
4415288 | Gordon | Nov 1983 | A |
4498796 | Gordon | Feb 1985 | A |
4722449 | Dubach | Feb 1988 | A |
4781484 | Goncalves | Nov 1988 | A |
4925327 | Wirt | May 1990 | A |
4997301 | Sheu | Mar 1991 | A |
5017035 | Peters et al. | May 1991 | A |
5342136 | Fukami | Aug 1994 | A |
5875928 | Muller | Mar 1999 | A |
6086279 | Yen | Jul 2000 | A |
6629798 | Fukami | Oct 2003 | B1 |
7926682 | Nelson | Apr 2011 | B2 |
8550737 | Ruiz, Sr. | Oct 2013 | B2 |
10219793 | Quintero | Mar 2019 | B2 |
10569594 | Chen | Feb 2020 | B2 |
20060054036 | Kurita et al. | Mar 2006 | A1 |
20080245314 | Brodowski | Oct 2008 | A1 |
20150044370 | Albenge et al. | Feb 2015 | A1 |
20150298487 | Prigent et al. | Oct 2015 | A1 |
20150298488 | Masuda | Oct 2015 | A1 |
20160106964 | Quaglia | Apr 2016 | A1 |
20180186172 | Kurita | Jul 2018 | A1 |
20190168252 | Springhorn | Jun 2019 | A1 |
20200062977 | Schwarz | Feb 2020 | A1 |
20200230996 | Hori | Jul 2020 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2340617 | Sep 1999 | CN |
1749029 | Mar 2006 | CN |
202895998 | Apr 2013 | CN |
0570866 | Nov 1993 | EP |
2977224 | Jan 2016 | EP |
3050712 | Aug 2016 | EP |
878117 | Sep 1961 | GB |
900300 | Jul 1962 | GB |
374008 | Mar 1962 | JP |
473853 | Feb 1972 | JP |
143946 | Nov 1990 | JP |
H02137973 | Nov 1990 | JP |
280999 | Mar 1992 | JP |
2001524896 | Dec 2001 | JP |
20140043381 | Apr 2014 | KR |
201511981 | Apr 2015 | TW |
9515265 | Jun 1995 | WO |
WO-2008074202 | Jun 2008 | WO |
2015041202 | Mar 2015 | WO |
Entry |
---|
Extended European search report. |
RU Substantive Examination. |
IPOPHL's search report. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20180333979 A1 | Nov 2018 | US |