Free ink writing instrument with microfluidic valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11117415-B2
Application number	US-201816622682-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 14, 2018
Priority date	Jun 15, 2017
Publication date	Sep 14, 2021
Grant date	Sep 14, 2021

Abstract

A writing instrument including a main body provided with a writing tip. The writing tip being supplied with ink by a free ink-type reservoir equipped with a pressure regulating device for regulating the pressure within the reservoir. The pressure regulating device includes at least one microfluidic valve.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A writing instrument comprising: a main body provided with a writing tip, the writing tip being supplied with ink by a free-ink reservoir, the free-ink reservoir being provided with a pressure regulating device for regulating the pressure within the free-ink reservoir, the pressure regulating device including at least one microfluidic valve arranged in a gas circuit disposed between an inside and an outside of the free-ink reservoir,
wherein the microfluidic valve includes an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber and a regulating chamber, the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber being adjacent and separated by a wall, the wall having a projection that extends towards an inside of the inlet chamber.

2. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic valve is separated from the inside of the reservoir by an element that is permeable to gases and impermeable to liquids.

3. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic valve includes a section arranged on the inside of the reservoir, the section including a non-wettable coating.

4. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , further including a detachable cap configured to cover and protect the writing tip in a protection position, the cap covering a protected portion of the main body in the protection position, the microfluidic valve including at least one channel that opens into the outside of the main body, the channel opening being in a portion of the main body that is separate from the protected portion.

5. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one microfluidic valve includes only one microfluidic valve.

6. The writing instrument according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one microfluidic valve includes a bidirectional microfluidic-valve unit.

7. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one microfluidic valve includes a plurality of microfluidic valves, the reservoir extending in an axial direction and a circumferential direction, the microfluidic valves being distributed in the axial direction and/or the circumferential direction of the reservoir.

8. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure regulating device includes a baffle and/or a porous or fibrous element, the at least one microfluidic valve being unidirectional.

9. A writing instrument comprising: a main body including with a writing tip and a detachable cap configured to protect the writing tip in a protection position, the writing tip being supplied with ink by a free-ink reservoir, the reservoir being provided with a pressure regulating device for regulating a pressure within the reservoir, the pressure regulating device including a baffle and/or a porous or fibrous element, the cap being provided with at least one microfluidic valve for regulating a pressure inside the cap in the protection position,
wherein the microfluidic valve includes an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber and a regulating chamber, the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber being adjacent and separated by a wall, the wall having a projection that extends towards an inside of the inlet chamber.

10. The writing instrument according to claim 9 , wherein the microfluidic valve is separated from the inside of the reservoir by an element that is permeable to gases and impermeable to liquids.

11. The writing instrument according to claim 9 , wherein the microfluidic valve includes a section arranged on the inside of the reservoir, the section including a non-wettable coating.

12. The writing instrument according to claim 9 , further including a detachable cap configured to cover and protect the writing tip in a protection position, the cap covering a protected portion of the main body in the protection position, the microfluidic valve including at least one channel that opens into the outside of the main body, the channel opening being in a portion of the main body that is separate from the protected portion.

13. The writing instrument according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one microfluidic valve includes only one microfluidic valve.

14. The writing instrument according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one microfluidic valve includes a bidirectional microfluidic-valve unit.

15. The writing instrument according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one microfluidic valve includes a plurality of microfluidic valves, the reservoir extending in an axial direction and a circumferential direction, the microfluidic valves being distributed in the axial direction and/or the circumferential direction of the reservoir.

Assignees

• SOCIéTé BIC

Inventors

• Albenge Olivier
• Buge Laudine
• Debrauwer Christelle
• Damiano Anne-Lise
• Evrard Claire

Classifications

• B43K7/10

  Arrangements for feeding ink to the ball points (B43K7/01 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B43K8/18

  Arrangements for feeding the ink to the writing-points · CPC title

• B43K5/1827 Primary

  Valves · CPC title

• B43K8/143

  Arrangements for feeding the ink to the writing-points · CPC title

• B43K8/04

  Arrangements for feeding ink to writing-points · CPC title