WRITING IMPLEMENT WITH MAGNETIC REPULSION

• US 20120057920A1
• Filed: 05/18/2010
• Published: 03/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Societe BIC
• Original Assignee: Societe BIC
• Inventors: Rolion, Frank
• Application Number:
  US13/321,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20120057920A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 401/100
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 24/02 for locking a single writing unit in only fully projected or retracted positions
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 24/06 operated by turning means
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 25/028 combined with means for propelling, projecting or retracting the writing unit

Abstract

A writing implement that includes a tubular body that extends longitudinally between a front end and a back end; a writing member that is movable relative to the body between an extended position in which the writing member projects from the front of the body and a retracted position in which the writing member is housed inside the body; a first magnetic member secured to the writing member and movable with it; and a selection device that includes a second magnetic member and an actuation member A, adapted for moving from a first configuration of the device in which the writing member is in the retracted position, to a second configuration in which the writing member is in the extended position.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A writing implement comprising:

a tubular body extending longitudinally between a front end and a back end;

a writing member that is movable relative to the body between an extended position in which the writing member projects from the front end of the body and a retracted position in which the writing member is housed inside the body;

a first magnetic member secured to the writing member and movable with the writing member; and

a selection device comprising a second magnetic member and an actuation member, adapted for moving from a first configuration of the device in which the writing member is in the retracted position, to a second configuration in which the writing member is in the extended position,

wherein the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member are arranged inside the body and

wherein in the first configuration the first and second magnetic members have opposite magnetic poles in contact with each other, and in the second configuration the first and second magnetic members have poles of the same polarity substantially facing one another, generating a repulsion force which urges the writing member towards a maximum extended position in which the writing member is in contact with a longitudinal abutment of the body and remains backwardly movable, the repulsion force in the second configuration being adapted to cushion a writing pressure, the second magnetic member rotating on a pivot axis by a predetermined angle between the two configurations.

12. The writing implement according to claim 11, wherein the first and second magnetic members have faces in planes transverse to the body in the first and second configurations.

13. The writing implement according to claim 11, wherein the body has locking members which lock the actuation member in positions corresponding to the first and second configurations.

14. The writing implement according to claim 11, wherein the actuation member is radially offset relative to the body.

15. The writing implement according to claim 14, wherein the actuation member is an elongated member extending along the outer wall of the body.

16. The writing implement according to claim 15, wherein the actuation member has a length substantially greater than the largest dimension of the second magnetic member.

17. The writing implement according to claim 14, wherein the actuation member is pivotably mounted on a transverse axis.

18. The writing implement according to claim 17, wherein the actuation member (A) defines a clip.

19. The writing implement according to claim 14, wherein the actuation member is secured to a pin defining the pivot axis and bearing an internal support onto which the second magnetic member is mounted, and wherein the support, the pin, and the actuation member are formed as a single part.

20. The writing implement according to claim 11, wherein the second magnetic member is rotationally movable relative to a longitudinal axis and is secured to the actuation member.

21. The writing implement according to claim 20, wherein the selection device surrounds the back end of the body.

22. The writing implement according to claim 11, wherein the selection device further comprises a mechanism connecting the actuation member to the pivot axis of the second magnetic member, the mechanism being adapted so that the second magnetic member moves forward when the selection device is changed from the first configuration to the second configuration, and the second magnetic member moves backward when the selection device is changed from the second configuration to the first configuration.

23. The writing implement according to claim 11, wherein the writing member comprises a shoulder that is in contact with the longitudinal abutment in the maximum extended position.