Refillable free ink writing instrument, kit comprising such a writing instrument, and method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12030337-B2
Application number	US-202118041651-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2021
Priority date	Aug 31, 2020
Publication date	Jul 9, 2024
Grant date	Jul 9, 2024

Abstract

A refillable free ink writing instrument including a body having a rear end, a front end and an ink reservoir disposed between the rear end and the front end, a writing tip mounted on the front end and a plug mounted on the rear end, wherein the plug is configured to close an opening in fluid communication with the ink reservoir, the plug being configured to be removable from the rear end to refill the ink reservoir with water and concentrated ink refill.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A refillable free ink writing instrument comprising a body having a rear end, a front end and an ink reservoir disposed between the rear end and the front end, a writing tip mounted on the front end and a plug mounted on the rear end, wherein the plug is configured to close an opening in fluid communication with the ink reservoir, the plug being configured to be removable from the rear end to refill the ink reservoir with water and concentrated ink refill, wherein the opening is provided with a sealing membrane having one or more cuts configured to allow elastic deformation of the sealing membrane when a predetermined pressure is applied thereto, and the sealing membrane is configured to adopt to states, a rest state in which the membrane prevents ink from flowing out of the ink reservoir and a working state in which the membrane allows introduction of water and of the concentrated ink refill into the ink reservoir.

2. The refillable free ink writing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the plug comprises a portion configured to be in fluid contact with the ink reservoir, the portion comprising a cavity configured to store the concentrated ink refill.

3. The refillable free ink writing instrument according to claim 2 , wherein the cavity is configured to store one or more solid grains or granules, and the cavity is closed by a grid.

4. The refillable free ink writing instrument according to claim 2 , wherein the cavity is configured to store a powder and/or one or more solid grains or granules, and the cavity is closed by a water-soluble membrane seal.

5. The refillable free ink writing instrument according to claim 2 , wherein the cavity is configured to store a liquid, a powder, or one and/or more solid grains or granules, the cavity is closed by breakable membrane seal.

6. The refillable free ink writing instrument according to claim 2 , wherein the cavity is configured to store a liquid, a powder and/or one or more solid grains or granules, the cavity is closed by a movable cover).

7. A kit comprising a refillable free ink writing instrument according to claim 2 and one or more additional plugs, wherein each of the one or more additional plugs is packed in an air-tight pouch.

8. The refillable free ink writing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the plug comprises a pushing portion configured to push a solid concentrated ink refill through the membrane when mounting the plug onto the rear end.

9. The refillable free ink writing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the opening is provided with a cartridge receiving portion, the cartridge receiving portion comprising an opening portion and the plug comprises a pushing portion configured to move toward the opening portion of the cartridge receiving portion when mounting the plug onto the rear end.

10. The refillable free ink writing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more cuts are radial cuts.

11. A kit comprising a refillable free ink instrument according to claim 1 and one or more concentrated ink refills, each of the one or more concentrated ink refills being packed in one of a hydrosoluble pouch, a porous pouch, a meshed pouch, a cage, or a capsule forming a cavity closed by a grid, a breakable membrane seal, a water-soluble membrane seal, or a movable cover.

12. The kit of claim 11 , wherein each of the one or more concentrated ink refills is packed in a capsule having a shape of a funnel for refilling water into the reservoir.

13. A kit comprising a refillable free ink writing instrument according to claim 1 and one or more concentrated ink refills, each of the one or more concentrated ink refills being packed in one of a hydrosoluble pouch, a porous pouch, a meshed pouch, a cage, or a capsule forming a cavity closed by a grid or a water-soluble membrane seal.

14. A kit comprising a refillable free ink writing instrument according to claim 1 and one or more refilling cartridges filled with concentrated ink refill.

15. A method for refilling a refillable free ink writing instrument comprising:
providing the refillable free ink writing instrument according to claim 1 ,
removing the plug,
refilling the reservoir with water,
refilling the reservoir with concentrated ink, and
mounting the plug or a new plug on the rear end.

16. A refillable free ink writing instrument comprising a body having a rear end, a front end and an ink reservoir disposed between the rear end and the front end, a writing tip mounted on the front end and a plug mounted on the rear end, wherein the plug is configured to close an opening in fluid communication with the ink reservoir, the plug being configured to be removable from the rear end to refill the ink reservoir with water and concentrated ink refill, wherein the plug comprises a portion configured to be in fluid contact with the ink reservoir, the portion comprising a cavity configured to store the concentrated ink refill, wherein the concentrated ink refill comprises a powder and/or one or more solid grains or granules, and the cavity is closed by a water-soluble membrane seal.

17. A refillable free ink writing instrument comprising a body having a rear end, a front end and an ink reservoir disposed between the rear end and the front end, a writing tip mounted on the front end and a plug mounted on the rear end, wherein the plug is configured to close an opening in fluid communication with the ink reservoir, the plug being configured to be removable from the rear end to refill the ink reservoir with water and concentrated ink refill, wherein the opening is provided with a cartridge receiving portion, the cartridge receiving portion comprising an opening portion and the plug comprises a pushing portion configured to move toward the opening portion of the cartridge receiving portion when mounting the plug onto the rear end.

Assignees

• SOCIéTé BIC

Inventors

• Bez Arnaud
• Roudaut Etienne

Classifications

• B43K7/02

  Ink reservoirs; Ink cartridges (B43K7/01 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B43K23/12

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

• B43K5/03 Primary

  specially adapted for concentrated ink, e.g. solid ink · CPC title