Self-healing seal for a writing instrument

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12005730-B2
Application number	US-202118000094-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2021
Priority date	May 29, 2020
Publication date	Jun 11, 2024
Grant date	Jun 11, 2024

Abstract

A writing instrument may include a self-healing sealing component to prevent the internal components of the writing instrument from drying out.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A writing instrument comprising:
a tubular body terminating in a writing orifice at a distal end of the tubular body;
a reservoir for storing a writing ink which is arranged proximally to the writing orifice;
a nib arranged distally to the reservoir and in fluid communication with the reservoir, wherein the nib is configured to be axially translatable within the tubular body between a first retracted position in which the nib is positioned within the tubular body and not protruding through the writing orifice and a second extended position in which the nib protrudes through the writing orifice;
an actuating means for axially translating the nib within the tubular body between the first retracted position and the second extended position for writing;
a seal component located within the tubular body at or adjacent to the writing orifice which seals the nib and the reservoir from exposure to an environment in the first retracted position,
wherein the seal component is configured to be ruptured when the nib is advanced into the second extended position for writing,
wherein the seal component comprises a self-healing material selected from intrinsic self-healing materials or extrinsic self-healing materials, and
wherein the seal component is configured to at least partly restore its sealing property when the nib is retracted to the first retracted position.

2. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the seal component is configured to close the rupture created by the nib through self-healing when the nib is retracted to the first retracted position.

3. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the seal component is configured to at least partly restore its sealing property in less than 12 hours.

4. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the seal component is configured to at least partly restore its sealing property in less than 6 hours.

5. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the seal component is configured to at least partly restore its sealing property in less than 3 hours.

6. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the seal component is ruptured by the nib or by a piercing mechanism when the nib is advanced into the second extended position for writing.

7. The writing instrument of claim 6 , wherein the seal component comprises one or more predetermined breaking points or lines.

8. The writing instrument according to claim 7 , wherein the one or more predetermined breaking points or lines have a reduced thickness in comparison to other areas of the seal component.

9. The writing instrument of claim 7 , wherein the one or more predetermined breaking points or lines are arranged to create two, three or more leaflets when the seal component is ruptured.

10. The writing instrument of claim 9 , wherein the nib or the piercing mechanism pushes the leaflets in a distal direction when the nib is advanced into the second extended position for writing and wherein the writing instrument is configured to facilitate return of the leaflets to their original position for self-healing of the rupture when the nib is retracted to the first retracted position.

11. The writing instrument of claim 10 , wherein the seal component comprises a shape memory material which facilitates return of the leaflets to their original position for self-healing of the rupture when the nib is retracted to the first retracted position.

12. The writing instrument of claim 10 , wherein the nib or the piercing mechanism has a roughened surface or protrusions which facilitate return of the leaflets to their original position for self-healing of the rupture when the nib is retracted to the first retracted position.

13. The writing instrument of claim 10 , wherein one or more elastomeric elements are provided in or adjacent to the seal component which facilitate return of the leaflets to their original position for self-healing of the rupture when the nib is retracted to the first retracted position.

14. The writing instrument of claim 6 wherein the seal component comprises a resiliently compressible material, wherein the nib or the piercing mechanism compress and push at least a part of the seal component radially outward when the nib is advanced into the second extended position for writing, and wherein the compressed seal component is configured to return to its original shape for self-healing of the rupture when the nib is retracted to the first retracted position.

15. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the nib is made of a fibrous material.

16. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the self-healing material is a crosslinked thermoplastic polymer.

17. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the self-healing material is a crosslinked polyurethane polymer comprising disulfide bridges or a polydisulfide, wherein self-healing involves formation of new disulfide bridges in the polymer.

18. The writing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the writing instrument is a felt pen, a highlighter, or a permanent or non-permanent marker.

19. A writing instrument comprising:
a tubular body terminating in a writing orifice at a distal end of the tubular body;
a reservoir for storing a writing ink which is arranged proximally to the writing orifice; a nib arranged distally to the reservoir and in fluid communication with the reservoir and includes a piercing mechanism,
wherein the nib is configured to be axially translatable within the tubular body between a first retracted position in which the nib is positioned within the tubular body and not protruding through the writing orifice and a second extended position in which the nib protrudes through the writing orifice;
an actuating means for axially translating the nib within the tubular body between the first retracted position and the second extended position for writing;
a seal component located within the tubular body at or adjacent to the writing orifice which seals the nib and the reservoir from exposure to an environment in the first retracted position,
wherein the seal component is configured to be ruptured by the piercing mechanism when the nib is advanced into the second extended position for writing,
wherein the seal component includes one or more predetermined breaking points or lines which are arranged to create two or more leaflets when the seal component is ruptured,
wherein the seal component comprises a self-healing material, and
wherein the nib or the piercing mechanism include a roughened surface or protrusions to facilitate return of the leaflets to their original position when the nib is retracted to the first retracted position, and the seal component is configured to at least partly restore its sealing property when the nib is retracted to the first retracted position.

20. A writing instrument comprising:
a tubular body terminating in a writing orifice at a distal end of the tubular body;
a reservoir for storing a writing ink which is arranged proximally to the writing orifice;
a nib arranged distally to the reservoir and in fluid communication with the reservoir, wherein the nib is configured to be axially translatable within the tubular body between a first retracted position in which the nib is positioned within the tubular body and not protruding through the writing orifice and a second extended position in which the nib protrudes through the writing orifice;
an actuating means for axially translating the nib within the tubular body between the first retracted position and the second extended position for writing;
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Assignees

• SOCIéTé BIC

Inventors

• Duffy David
• Elliott-Bowman Bernadette

Classifications

• B43K23/12

  for pens {(caps co-operating with retractable nibs B43K5/165)} · CPC title

• B43K8/028

  Movable closure or gate · CPC title

• B43K5/17 Primary

  with closing means {(B43K5/165 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B43K5/165 Primary

  with detachable means, e.g. caps, co-operating with the writing element · CPC title