Writing instruments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12070968-B2
Application number	US-202118254006-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2021
Priority date	Nov 24, 2020
Publication date	Aug 27, 2024
Grant date	Aug 27, 2024

Abstract

A writing instrument extending along an axis and comprising a writing tip and an eraser, a first helical cam propelling mechanism configured to move the writing tip along the axis between a retracted position and a protruded position and a second helical cam propelling mechanism configured to move the eraser along the axis between a retracted position and a protruded position, the first helical cam propelling mechanism comprising a first cam follower and a first helical cam, the second helical cam propelling mechanism comprising a second cam follower and a second helical cam, each of the first cam follower, the first helical cam, the second cam follower and the second helical cam being provided on distinct elements.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A writing instrument comprising a body extending along an axis, the body having a first end and a second end opposed to the first end along the axis, the first end being provided with a writing tip and with an eraser, the writing instrument further comprising a first helical cam propelling mechanism configured to move the writing tip along the axis between a retracted position and a protruded position and a second helical cam propelling mechanism configured to move the eraser along the axis between a retracted position and a protruded position, the first helical cam propelling mechanism comprising a first cam follower and a first helical cam, the second helical cam propelling mechanism comprising a second cam follower and a second helical cam, each of the first cam follower, the first helical cam, the second cam follower and the second helical cam being provided on distinct elements, wherein the first helical cam propelling mechanism is configured to retract the writing tip to an intermediate position between the protruded position and the retracted position, when the eraser is moved from the retracted position to the protruded position.

2. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the eraser and the writing tip are at least in part coaxial, and all or part of the eraser is disposed around all or part of the writing tip.

3. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the writing tip comprises a writing end, and, when the writing instrument is seen perpendicular to the axis, the writing end is concealed by the eraser when the eraser is in the protruded position and the writing end is free from the eraser when the eraser is in the retracted position and the writing tip is in the protruded position.

4. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the first helical cam propelling mechanism and the second helical cam propelling mechanism are configured to be actuated and, when actuated together, the first helical cam propelling mechanism and the second cam propelling mechanism are configured to move the writing tip from the retracted position to the protruded position first, move the eraser from the retracted position to the protruded position after moving the writing tip from the retracted position to the protruded position, and then move both the writing tip and the eraser back to the retracted position.

5. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein one of the first cam follower and the first helical cam and one of the second cam follower and the second helical cam are rotatably coupled.

6. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a first part and a second part, the second part being configured to be rotated around the axis with regard to the first part so as to actuate the first helical cam propelling mechanism and the second helical cam propelling mechanism through relative rotation of the first part with regard to the second part.

7. The writing instrument according to claim 6 , wherein the second part is axially coupled with the first part, and the second part is rotatably coupled with one of the first cam follower and the first helical cam and one of the second cam follower and the second helical cam.

8. The writing instrument according to claim 7 , wherein the eraser is rotatably coupled with the first part and axially slidable with regard to the first part.

9. The writing instrument according to claim 6 , wherein the second part comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is mounted with the first part, the second portion being removably coupled with the first portion.

10. The writing instrument according to claim 9 , wherein the first portion comprises one of the second cam follower and the second helical cam and the second portion comprises one of the first cam follower and the first helical cam.

11. The writing instrument according to claim 9 , wherein the second portion comprises an outer element and an inner element disposed at least in part inside the outer element, the outer element being removably coupled with the first portion, the inner element being rotatable with regard to the outer element and axially coupled with the outer element.

12. The writing instrument according to claim 11 , wherein the inner element comprises one of the first cam follower and the first helical cam.

13. The writing instrument according to claim 11 , wherein the inner element is rotatably coupled with the first portion.

14. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , comprising a pusher configured to push the writing tip.

15. The writing instrument according to claim 1 , comprising a first return spring configured to push the writing tip toward one of the retracted position and the protruded position and/or a second return spring configured to push the eraser toward one of the retracted position and the protruded position.

16. A writing instrument comprising a body extending along an axis, the body having a first end and a second end opposed to the first end along the axis, the first end being provided with a writing tip and with an eraser, the writing instrument further comprising a first helical cam propelling mechanism configured to move the writing tip along the axis between a retracted position and a protruded position and a second helical cam propelling mechanism configured to move the eraser along the axis between a retracted position and a protruded position, the first helical cam propelling mechanism comprising a first cam follower and a first helical cam, the second helical cam propelling mechanism comprising a second cam follower and a second helical cam, each of the first cam follower, the first helical cam, the second cam follower and the second helical cam being provided on distinct elements, wherein the first helical cam propelling mechanism and the second helical cam propelling mechanism are configured to be actuated and, when actuated together, the first helical cam propelling mechanism and the second cam propelling mechanism are configured to move the writing tip from the retracted position to the protruded position first, move the eraser from the retracted position to the protruded position after moving the writing tip from the retracted position to the protruded position, and then move both the writing tip and the eraser back to the retracted position.

17. A writing instrument comprising a body extending along an axis, the body having a first end and a second end opposed to the first end along the axis, the first end being provided with a writing tip and with an eraser, the writing instrument further comprising a first helical cam propelling mechanism configured to move the writing tip along the axis between a retracted position and a protruded position and a second helical cam propelling mechanism configured to move the eraser along the axis between a retracted position and a protruded position, the first helical cam propelling mechanism comprising a first cam follower and a first helical cam, the second helical cam propelling mechanism comprising a second cam follower and a second helical cam, each of the first cam follower, the first helical cam, the second cam follower and the second helical cam being provided on distinct elements, wherein the body comprises a first part and a second part, the second part being configured to be rotated around the axis with regard to the first part so as to actuate the first helical cam propelling mechanism and the second helical cam propelling mechanism through relative rotation of the first part with regard to the second part.

Assignees

• SOCIéTé BIC

Inventors

• Michenaud Etienne

Classifications

• B43K29/02 Primary

  with rubbers · CPC title

• B43L19/0075

  of the pencil type · CPC title

• B43K24/146

  with cam control · CPC title

• B43K24/06 Primary

  operated by turning means · CPC title