Pen with multiple colors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11529824-B2
Application number	US-202117320289-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 14, 2021
Priority date	Jun 12, 2020
Publication date	Dec 20, 2022
Grant date	Dec 20, 2022

Abstract

A writing instrument, in particular a pen, comprising at least two reservoirs for storing colorants or inks of at least two different colors, characterized by at least one pumping means which is designed to be actuated by at least one finger of a user.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A writing instrument, comprising:
at least two reservoirs for storing colorants or inks of at least two different colors;
at least two pumps, wherein each of the at least two reservoirs is coupled to at least one of the two pumps, wherein each pump is designed to be actuated by at least one finger of a user; and
buttons or finger actuation areas;
wherein at least part of these buttons or finger actuation areas are designed to actuate two or more pumps by the force or pressure applied by a single finger.

2. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein each pump comprises a pumping chamber having a volume which can be reduced by using a force or pressure exerted by the at least one finger.

3. The writing instrument according to claim 2 , wherein each pump comprises a flexible membrane or element which can be pressed into the pumping chamber by a force or pressure exerted by the at least one finger.

4. The writing instrument according to claim 3 , wherein each flexible membrane or element changes its shape from a first shape to a second shape when a force or pressure is exerted by the at least one finger, thereby reducing the volume of the pumping chamber.

5. The writing instrument according to claim 4 , wherein the flexible membrane is designed to adopt its first shape after the force or pressure exerted by the at least one finger has been removed, thereby increasing or restoring the volume of the pumping chamber.

6. The writing instrument according to claim 5 , wherein the volume of the pumping chamber is restored to its original volume prior to the actuation by at least one finger of a user.

7. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein each pump comprises at least one valve.

8. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein each of the pumps comprises at least one self-actuated check valve, the writing instrument further comprising a mixing chamber which is designed to mix the different colors provided by the at least two pumps through the self-actuated check valves.

9. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein each pump comprises a first valve, which is arranged between the pumping chamber of the pump and the mixing chamber.

10. The writing instrument according to claim 9 , wherein the first valve is a self-actuated first check valve.

11. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein each pump comprises a second valve, which is arranged between the reservoir which is in fluid connection with the pump, and the pumping chamber of the pump.

12. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein each pump is assigned to a single reservoir for providing a single colorant or ink stored in that reservoir.

13. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , comprising a color indicator which indicates to a user which button or finger actuation area or which buttons or finger actuation areas need to be actuated for selecting a specific color or mixture of colors.

14. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein an outlet of at least one of the at least two pumps is sealed by a valve means and each valve means can be opened using a force or pressure exerted by at least one finger.

15. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , comprising a color selecting means which is designed to partially or fully open one or more valves.

16. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising a mixing chamber, and wherein the mixing chamber has a variable volume.

17. The writing instrument according to claim 16 , wherein the mixing chamber has a volume which can be reduced by using a force or pressure exerted by the at least one finger.

18. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein each pump comprises two self-actuated check valves.

19. A writing instrument comprising at least two reservoirs for storing colorants or inks of at least two different colors,
characterized by at least two pumps which are designed to increase the pressure in the reservoirs, wherein the writing instrument is a pen,
wherein the pen further comprises buttons or finger actuation areas and at least part of the buttons or finger actuation areas are designed to actuate two or more pumps by the force or pressure applied by a single finger.

20. The writing instrument according to claim 19 , wherein the writing instrument comprises two, three or four reservoirs, each storing a colorant or ink of a different color.

Assignees

• SOCIéTé BIC

Inventors

• Duffy David Michael
• Elliott-Bowman Bernadette

Classifications

• B43K7/03

  pressurised, e.g. by gas · CPC title

• B43K5/025 Primary

  with multiple colours · CPC title

• B43K5/1827

  Valves · CPC title

• B43K8/006

  using a spraying system, e.g. airbrushes · CPC title

• B43K5/189

  Pumps · CPC title